Free Stone Guardian by Kassanna Page A

bright and busy with people going about their business. She smiled when some of them glanced curiously her way. Once she had her bearings she strolled over to the elevator bank. Self-conscious, with folks closing in around her, she hummed and said a silent prayer the doors would open quickly. She breathed a sigh of relief when they did.
    Crossing the threshold she pressed the button with the R and hoped the letter stood for roof. Folks filed in behind her, filling the small area and crowding her. Ember pressed closer to the wall. The elevator jerked and groaned as it started its upward motion. She kept her eyes on the numbers rolling across the console above her. Ember chewed the inside of her cheek and ignored the conversation going on around her.
    Someone tapped her bare shoulder.
    “It’s nice to see you again.”
    She glanced around and met the rheumy eyes of the elderly gentleman from the night before. “Sorry, hi.”
    “Surely Mr. Fortescue hasn’t left you to your own devices?”
    Ember noticed the way some of the others perked up at the mention of Timur’s name. “No, he’s resting.”
    A warning bell chimed before the doors opened and a few folks walked off. Then they were moving again. The old man continued their conversation. “I can imagine, considering what I witnessed last night when I came in from walking Reginald.”
    She tried to change the subject. “Reginald?”
    “My Yorkie, Lord Reginald the Third.” He beamed up at her.
    Ember nodded her head in understanding. “I love animals. I enjoy the company of exotic creatures. Matter of fact, I’m hoping to get my hands on a rare breed this evening.”
    “Do tell, I adore unusual pets.” The elevator chimed again and the elderly man stepped off and looked back at her. “Enjoy your stay. Speaking of beasts, you really don’t have to look far. You’d be surprised to find out what could be standing right next to you…sometimes.”
    The couple in the cab with her snickered.
    Ember narrowed her eyes and stared after the guy until the doors closed. The last folks hopped off on the next floor, leaving her to ride the rest of the way in silence. She had more questions than answers, and as for Timur, he had a lot of explaining to do.
    Flowers were in full bloom, their colors vivid against dark green leaves. The garden stretched across the wide expanse of the roof. She fingered the petals as she passed, pushing back the stems to get a better view of the ground. Pebbles crunched under her feet and she stepped gingerly as she moved deeper into the shrubbery. He was around there somewhere, she could feel it. Tingles spread along her nerve endings. She passed a thicket of bushes and looked around, sure she’d heard her name. A sliver of pale gray caught her eye in the brush. She stuck her hand through the branches, touching smooth cold granite.
    Briefly, she was transported back to her nightmare and her heart rate picked up. All around her she could feel things watching her. A blur of memories filled her mind, all of Timur making love to her. The images moved like a movie on fast forward and ripped her from the dreadful daydream that had gripped her. Ember inhaled deeply and pushed the branches aside.
    She came face to face with a statue she knew was Timur. A grotesque caricature of what he actually looked like. The sharp features which made him attractive were exaggerated to make him horrendous. His ears were horns and his eyes were slanted to a ninety degree angle. Fangs the length of daggers cut across both his top and bottom lip, and his hair was carved out wide around his head like a lion’s mane. He was crouched low, his knuckles pushed into the peat and mulch covering the ground. Timur gave the appearance that he would leap out at any minute.
    Ember caressed his cheek. “Well, hello there sexy. Bet you thought I wouldn’t find you.”
    He stared out and she got the impression he was looking beyond her.
    “So, umm, thanks for locking me in the