The Dark Season: Gargoyles

By Robert Desilva

The gothic cities of St. Viktersburg and New Holland are caught off guard by a new and evil menace. Similar to vampires, this threat comes in the form of Countess Eva Sandagaul-one of the world's most beautiful women. Her cursed existence unravels and soon reveals her family secret. As a result, a chain reaction of events spiral out of control causing Thomas Dikane and Xavier Nokovic, two of the most powerful men on earth, to go head to head for the first time. Eva reluctantly takes command of her species during their unyielding quest for human flesh and blood. With a crisis that spans two cities, Thomas is forced to exchange his life for the immortality of one child wedged in the middle of Eva's revenge during the dreaded dark season.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Desilva
• Release date: Dec 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311015273

Robert Desilva

Robert Desilva began writing for fun and for a sense of accomplishment when he was just twelve years old. This included winning awards for original plays he wrote in junior high. He has completed what he calls the Dark Season Series. This series consist of four novels that all contain a common theme. During the last four years he has written, "Young Vampires-chronicles of the Hunters," "A Gothic City," "The Dark Season-gargoyles," and "Vampire Hunter-the Genesis 1890," which was completed in 2014. He finds writing gothic - sci-fi material the most fun because there is less limitations for the characters. This allows him to contrast romance and violence in his stories-making certain one element does not over play the other.

Book preview

The dark season

Gargoyles

SMASHWORDS edition

Robert Desilva

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the expressed written permission of the author. Uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means is prohibited by law

Copyright 2013 Robert Desilva

All rights reserved

All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is coincidental

The gothic cities of St. Viktersburg and New Holland are caught off guard by a new and evil menace. Similar to vampires, this threat comes in the form of Countess Eva Sandagaul-one of the world’s most beautiful women. Her cursed existence unravels and soon reveals her family secret. As a result, a chain reaction of events spirals out of control causing Thomas Dikane and Xavier Nokovic, two of the most powerful men on earth, to go head to head for the first time. Eva reluctantly takes command of her species during their unyielding quest for human flesh and blood. With a crisis that span’s two cites, Thomas is forced to exchange his life for the immortality of one child wedged in the middle of Eva’s revenge during the dreaded dark season.

Prologue – The Dark Season: Gargoyles

Utter blackness engulfed them as he picked Danielle up in his arms. She let out a small moan as she struggled to awaken from her poisonous sleep. The blood from her chest seeped through the torn slits of her dress and onto his coat. He pulled out an ultra ray device with his right hand and flung it against the wall, which cracked and exploded. Light too bright to look upon with the naked eye streamed forward through the designed openings. He dashed toward the entrance. He reached the door, but all he saw was a wall. He was amazed and mystified. For a second, he thought he had lost his mind. Then, he remembered how easily gargoyles could manipulate solid stone to their advantage. There was silence as the light behind allowed him to see his surroundings. He felt as though he was buried deep underground. The St. Dane’s church bell rang-shattering the night air. He had to act fast. He only had eleven strikes left. The bell sounded like the ocean crashing onto the shore followed by a wave of thunderous echoes that sent shudders down the spine. This added to the nervousness of all the onlookers involved. He gently laid Danielle on the floor. Even though everyone around him began to panic internally, Thomas, true to form remained as cool as ever. To him, there had to be a way out.

He quickly scouted his surroundings as the bell tolled again and again. He spotted the gargoyle statue he passed earlier upon entry. He noticed the huge sledge hammer embedded in its claws. Rather than attempt to crack the thick stone around the hammer he used another approach. He took the palm of his hand and pressed hard and short as he exhaled a breath of air. The statue cracked and suddenly crumbled into pieces as the hammer fell to the ground. This was a variation of an ancient martial art form known as Dim-mak. This enabled him to crack an object at the ends, while at the same time, leaving the object in the middle undamaged. Despite the weight, he raised the hammer like a small stick.

The light inside the tower slowly began to fade. He ran up to the wall that didn’t face the staircase on the other side, but instead, faced the river. Danielle moaned again and then opened her eyes slightly. She was very groggy and whimpered incoherently.

Her voice was very weak. She closed her eyes again and fell asleep. The bell rang for the last time. One second later, from a distance, he heard an enormous boom from outside. The explosives were going off beginning at the bottom of the bridge. Determined and driven by the weak cries of an innocent little girl, he swung his mighty hammer against the wall as the charges went off in succession. He swung again and again and again. The wall stood firm but he would not be denied his resurrection from the tomb he was sealed inside of. He swung faster and harder as each explosion grew closer. The wall began to crack.

One explosion went off in the rear of the tower. Fire erupted due to an accelerant added to the surface by Eva’s henchmen. Flames raced up the hall and surrounded them. He began to tire. His muscles tightened up and grew numb from the stress of so much exertion. His heart pounded almost too fast for him to catch his breath. He was exhausted. His strength was fading fast. The hammer, which felt light as a twig at the start, gradually seemed to weigh more than a wrecking ball. He took a deep breath and reared back once more as fire raced over the floor, up the walls and the ceiling. He swung one last time with all of his spiritual and physical might. The hammer struck the wall with such impact that the sound resembled another explosion. The damaging noises to the bridge drew ever closer as the solid mass of concrete crumbled and came crashing down. Chunks fell outward and into the dark depths hundreds of feet below.

Thomas quickly ran over to Danielle and scooped her up as flames rapidly closed in on them. He pulled out a thin wired cable with a hook and put it around her. He then hooked the piece onto his belt as her head rested on his shoulder. The bridge buckled and made a racket similar to the movement of the ground during the shelling by the great guns used during World War II. Then, the entire floor underneath shook and shifted like an earthquake as the bridge began to collapse. He hurried over to the escape hole he created. As everyone moved back and to the side of the bridge’s exit ramp, Xavier, his family and all those present saw their images from the ground and gasped with horror. Kerri covered her mouth as did the others. People that were in the vicinity heard the explosions and witnessed the action. People on the streets panicked as parts of the structure began to drop into the gray waters of New Holland.

Thomas held Danielle tight as he stood on the edge of the tower’s floor. As the entire bridge gave way he utilized the only option he had left. He leapt off and out into the air. The noise from the bridge’s disintegration sounded like the detonation of a bomb. The towers, the steel and the frame plunged into the water. The dust of so many components caused an enormous cloud of smoke from the explosions and debris, which rose up to the sky to meet the structure on the way down.

Victoria, Xavier, Kerri, the Hunters, the police and all those who were within view, watched helplessly as Thomas and Danielle disappeared in the smoke and dust clouds on their way down their doom.

CHAPTER ONE

New Holland usually didn’t receive a lot of rain in the month of September. Even more uncommon, were the number of thunderstorms they were experiencing. The entire region had recently been battered with high winds and violent tornados. If residents were looking for a bad omen for the upcoming dark season, the tenacious weather was a clear one.

The summer was long and very hot. New Holland was the warmest of the big cities in Europe. When the long night hours began, the temperatures dropped gradually. This particular night was unseasonably cold and wet. Lightening cracked the skies and struck trees, and vehicles were turned over by strong winds.

In the most affluent neighborhoods of the east side sat the most beautiful homes owned by the wealthiest people in not only Europe, but the world. The mansions were separated by acres of land in many instances. Garages were bigger than most residential homes in the middle class areas. They housed such vehicles as Boxers, Bentleys, Ferraris, Mercedes and Rolls Royce. But none housed a car as significant as the glossy, black BMW sedan parked on the property of a dark, yet, beautiful mansion that was by chance, the largest in the neighborhood. Located at 143 Raven Brooke Manor, the property seemed a bit too mysterious for most of the city’s elite. They were often spooked by it. Regardless, these expensive homes were not completely immune from the dangers of property damage any more than homes inhabited by the poor.

On this night, most of the lights inside the three story-thirty room structure blacked out due to the severe storms. The backup generator had yet to be installed in the owner’s newly constructed underground space, who themselves had moved in just one week earlier. There were only three people home at the time. The only light that worked was located downstairs in the dining room, which shined on a young woman in the kitchen who was at the sink washing a few dishes. The lightning flashed so rapidly that the inside of the residence resembled daytime. Thunder repeatedly and violently shook the foundation and rattled the windows with each bolt that cascaded down through the clouds.

While the young woman tended to her chore at the sink, a man drove into her garage and parked. He stepped out, paused briefly and surveyed his surroundings and noticed that the place was almost completely dark. As the young woman slowly washed her china, upstairs in one of the bedrooms were two little girls barely five years old. They repeatedly jumped up and down on their beds as they played. They laughed and squealed in delight. Neither they, nor their mother downstairs, seemed aware of a man from outside who somehow entered their home without a sound. He stood in silence and looked around the living room. He slowly approached the young woman in the kitchen from behind. He stopped when he heard the happy voices of her two young girls. He instead, gripped the banister and started upstairs to the second floor. He walked past a couple of rooms until he reached theirs. Their door was closed, but he could still hear them having the time of their lives. He slowly turned the knob, and then quickly flung the door open. The girls were startled and halted their play immediately.

After a second they screamed, Daddy!

They jumped down off their beds and ran toward the man who entered. He was none other than Xavier Nokovic. He stepped further inside and knelt down on one knee as his two daughters Danielle and Pessia, threw themselves into his arms. They were identical twins in every physical aspect. They both had their mother and father’s features. To the outside world only their family could tell them apart. As he hugged and kissed them, a voice interrupted them from behind.

Alright that’s enough of that.

He turned and looked at his beautiful wife Victoria, who left the kitchen and came upstairs once she heard the ruckus. She leaned against the doorway with her arms folded.

Have you been good today? He asked.

Both girls looked at their mother, who raised one of her eyebrows in anticipation of their answers.

Yes daddy we behaved today. Danielle answered as Pessia shook her head in agreement.

Victoria rolled her eyes to the ceiling, smiled and shook her head in playful frustration. Xavier told them to get ready for bed. Victoria informed him that she put them to bed a half hour before he came home and that they hadn’t listened to her. He lightly chastised them for not obeying their mother. He encouraged them to go over and give her a hug. They ran to her and grabbed her tight. They puckered up their lips as she leaned down and kissed each one good night. They ran back over to him. He walked them across their large room hand in hand to their beds, which were next to each other with one-night table between them. They got under the covers and lay down. He sat down on each of their beds and playfully rubbed noses with them-a ritual he did every night before they went to sleep. They giggled as his nose tickled theirs. How they loved their father. Once he completed that task he turned their battery operated, emergency lamp down low and closed their room door as he exited. He gently pushed Victoria up against the corridor wall and kissed her.

We’re really going to have to talk about them. They’ve gotten so that you’re the only one they listen to around here, she complained.

I know. But you know they always have a hard time going to sleep unless I’m home, he reasoned.

Yeah I noticed, she replied. The storm blew out most of the electricity except for a light or two on the first floor. The City’s electric company said they’d be back on later tonight.

So what are we going to do until then? He enquired in a romantic voice.

I have some ideas, she said.

Whatever they are, we’re going to need the lights I assume.

She shook her head in disagreement.

"Uh uh…what we’re going to do doesn’t require any lights."

She pulled him into their bedroom and closed the door behind them. Their passion hadn’t waned over the past five years of their marriage but instead, increased. The heat between them always sizzled just beneath the surface when they were near each other.

The two produced two gorgeous children from their union. Danielle was the oldest twin by just a few minutes. Victoria named Danielle and Xavier named Pessia. They looked like gothic angels. They were a beautiful mixture of his jet black eyes and hair, his caramel colored skin, angled shaped face and cheeks. That mixture also included Victoria’s lightly bronzed skin, golden blonde hair, sparkling greenish-blue eyes and full red, curvy lips. As a result, both girls possessed her skin tone, and long, wavy-dark, auburn hair. Their multi-colored eyes included the perfect balance of gray in the middle-outlined on the edge with a spectacular shade of sea blue. Their eyes were exquisite and the most beautiful in the entire Nokovic family. They had their father’s face shape but their mother’s lips. They were the new jewels of the gothic Royal family.

Although a Goth; Xavier purposely gave Pessia an ancient Celtic name that originated from Scotland. He came across the name just before her birth and fell in love with the moniker. He wanted to give her the most beautiful name in the world and it was as far as he was concerned. He felt if anyone could say, Russia, then they could easily enunciate the short e sound in her name.

Danielle was his first born but he had a feeling that one day Pessia would be the first to achieve greatness. Xavier developed a great admiration for the Scottish. After all, they were his secret, yet, closest allies who helped him in many untold ways to defeat the deadly and fanatical government of the late Prime Minister, Brent Olenhoff. Their heroism and fearless support left an eternal impression on him that inspired his loyalty. He was proud to have them as friends because they fought together and defeated their nemesis.

He and Nathan McClendon became close friends who helped each other continuously to stomp out the remaining sparks of the Visigothic Empire. They were still a threat, but were a mere shadow of themselves since the death of their King, Dwayne Valdis and his son Marc, who Xavier slew in a final duel to the death. Many simply fled the city or the country in fear of their lives.

Five years had passed since Xavier and Alexis secured a place in the new millennium for their people. He and Victoria married after he discovered she was also an immortal. Their wedding was a grand ceremony attended by people from all walks of their inner society. Nathan, who was also admired by Alexis for his bravery and assistance, invited him to attend. He felt out of place around so much royalty. She refused to take no for an answer and when he showed up, she seated him in middle of her family. She introduced him as a great friend to not only her and Xavier, but to all her people. She pledged that he would always have her support in any righteous battle he was involved in. He put his life on the line as a spy within a government that would have executed him without trial or hesitation had he been caught helping her.

Xavier and Victoria lived at the palace for five years-the entire length of their union. His family loved his children. Alexis was renewed with new life to have her first set of grandchildren. As they did in his upbringing, Darcia and her daughter Lazette, Jacqueline, and Alexis spoiled them ridiculously. However, after a time, Xavier felt that Victoria needed her own domain as any woman did. As a result, he bought a huge, thirty room mansion just ten minutes away by car. He paid an easy twenty-three million for the property, which had every amenity a human being could want. In addition, he added many of his own changes and improvements.

His new home came with acres of land. He immediately had a brand new fence constructed to wall off his property from others. This wasn’t an attempt to be anti-social. He was being careful and conscientious. He had Max and Victoria’s new two-hundred-pound Leopard. On top of that, they owned two, full grown Lionesses that belonged to the twins. They were given to them when they were three years old and loved them as much as any child could love a pet. They were born from a lioness owned by Jacqueline. As cubs, they slept on Danielle and Pessia’s beds and like all the other pets around the palace, were very close to them and extremely protective. Still, he couldn’t chance them straying off his property and roaming the streets. If one of them ever got out and killed someone he would be responsible. Even worse, he wouldn’t be able to live with himself.

The twins were full-blooded immortals at birth like Xavier, but their powers began to mature at a much earlier age. Their gifts showed in the way they controlled their pets. They communicated with them as easily as Xavier did with Max.

For five-year-old girls, they were extremely strong. Also, their ability to shape shift, although limited, was a startling revelation. Pessia demonstrated hers two days after moving into their new home. She was playing with some toy, doll house pieces on the wooden coffee table in their living room. She dropped one on the floor, which bounced under the table. Victoria was busy about the mansion putting items where she wanted them and unpacking others. She entered and noticed that Pessia didn’t bend down under the table to reach her toy. Without any forethought, she instinctively stuck her arm through the top and reached down into it in an attempt to retrieve the piece. She managed to get as far as her elbow. Witnessing how easily her daughter’s flesh manipulated itself and became part of a foreign, solid material, Victoria dropped the box she was carrying due to her astonishment.

She walked over to Pessia and gazed down at her.

How did you do that?

Easy, I do it all the time mommy-see?

She stuck her arm through the top of the table again as easily as one moves through the air and then looked up at Victoria with a smile. Danielle was playing at the other end of the table and got their attention.

I can do it too mommy. Watch me, It’s easy.

She proceeded to place her hand through the coffee table, but only got as far as her forearm. They appeared puzzled because of the look on Victoria’s face. They couldn’t understand what the big deal was. They didn’t think that what they accomplished was unusual or special. They thought everyone could do what they did.

How long have you two been able to do that? Victoria enquired.

Not long, Danielle answered. We started doing this just before we left grandmother’s house.

Their gift had begun to develop early. Xavier’s didn’t begin until he was a full grown man. The two girls simply went back to playing as though nothing significant had taken place.

To be immortal and possess supernatural abilities is a wonder. To see those abilities manifested in children that she and Xavier created was extraordinary-even for her. To see them do the impossible just astounded her, especially at such a young and innocent age. Both parents were very excited, but their powers also presented a problem.

Victoria and Xavier had to enroll them in private school for kindergarten one day with all the other rich kids who came from snobby families. The Ostrogoths hadn’t completely constructed their own national education system-yet. They either home schooled their kids, sent them to the public institutions their community operated on very rare occasions, or sent them to private schools. However, in less than a year, Xavier and Victoria would have to choose. Their dilemma was one that all immortal children faced no matter which gothic sect they came from. They obviously had the freedom and choice to send them to private school. However, they still ran the risk of their powers being revealed, which would make them a target for other kids and teachers who were jealous or even worse, afraid of them.

Immortals usually progressed five times faster than ordinary children once they reached five or seven years old. That meant sooner or later, they were faced with curriculums that were extremely easy-so easy that school became boring due to the lack of challenge. At the same time, parents, including Xavier and Victoria, refused to home school them.

Kids need friends, interaction away from home, different cultures, a camaraderie with those of the same culture as well, and relationships in order to grow. They need to dream together in order to bond and have a sense of belonging to someone else besides the people they live with. Xavier and Victoria didn’t want their daughters to miss out on their elementary years. They also were not going to deprive them of their teen years.

He always regretted not knowing how it felt to go out on Friday nights with his dates and watch school sporting events like football, hockey, basketball, or hang out together, catch a movie and do the silly, fun and crazy things adolescents do. He was envious of the teen and college crowds of the modern era. When he attended high school, the events that 20th century students enjoyed didn’t exist. By the time such organized activities came along over a century later, he had already graduated college at the age of sixteen. And to keep from progressing too quickly, he purposely entered wrong answers on tests and other school work all through his education just so he wouldn’t leave his classmates behind. Some were not a part of his society but were his friends-much to the dismay of Alexis. He didn’t want his children’s mental abilities to move them along too fast and cause them to miss out on the best years of their lives. He and Victoria were determined on this matter. Although Danielle and Pessia had the ability to live endlessly, they were only going to be children and teenagers once. And when those years were over they would be gone forever.

Xavier and Victoria didn’t know exactly what they were going to do. Sending them to school each day under heavy guard would disrupt their surroundings. They had time to decide. The new age of private schools had sprung up all over New Holland since the arrival of the Goths. They were rich and powerful. Alexis assured both of them that their worries about Danielle and Pessia’s education would be worked out. After all, her grandchildren would be attending school with tons of other kids from prominent families, but still on the outside of her community, which didn’t sit well with her. So she vowed to have her own school system set up by the time Danielle and Pessia were ready to attend.

The twins were extremely close and obviously shared the same identical physical traits. Except in some ways, their personalities were different. Danielle was kind of bossy-talked a little more, and was more outgoing like her mother. But she didn’t take to strangers, especially people her parents didn’t really know. Pessia was a bit quieter and reserved and was a thinker who at such a young age, didn’t always reveal what was going on in her head. In that respect, she had already