The rain smacked the chiseled statues surrounding the rooftop of the church. The water censored the noises of the world outside as I heard footsteps and voices in the church attic, where the gargoyles stood guard. ‘Must be Father Romero, but who is he talking to?’ I thought, removing myself from the pew, and walked over to the antique attic door with paint chipping off.

Closing it behind me, I ascended the stairs as the voices grew louder. “Will you lads stop it!” A female said with an accent and a troubled sigh. “I swear you two are wee lads, constantly needing attention for yer mammies milk.”

I bent and peeked through the keyhole. “What on earth?” I muttered as I assumed to be looking at humans talking. One of them was human, while the two others were living gargoyles. One of the living statues shifted its head to the door, separating them from me. The floor creaked under its weight as it neared the door.

As its hand reached for the doorknob, I descended the stairs out of fear of being caught. After moving from the door, I turned and bolted for the corner of the steps for someone, or something,  to grab the back of my collar and began pulling me towards the door. Clinging my heels to the stairs as a last attempt to flee, it failed me as I lost a shoe when I was being tossed into the room as I hit my head against the wall.

Feeling that my bell was ringing, I rose with my hand on a dusty table as I stared at the stone creatures. “What are you?” A tone of fear in my voice as my eyes grew wide in disbelief.

The only woman of the group walked towards me as she cleared her throat and changed into one of them with her wings outstretched. Coming closer as I peered into her eyes, noticing that they were genuine sapphires as she helped me to my feet. “Gargoyles lad. Think of us as a physical manifestation of angels.”

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The one who threw me was leaning against the wall as another gargoyle was on the table, both watching me.  “What now? Will you kill me or erase my mind because I notice of your existence?” I asked, looking at them as the group reverted to their human forms and smirked.

“While we would erase your memory of this event… we won’t.” Said the person sitting on the table, as he stopped laughing and removed himself from it. “I am Ezekiel, the guy who threw you is my half-brother; his name is Samuel, and the strawberry redheaded enchantress near you is Catriona, as you can tell from the accent, she is from Scotland, and our Queen. Samuel and I are both from England.”

“Since we are doing introductions, my name is Kyle. Kyle Kenway.” I responded as I shook Ezekiel’s hand and acknowledged the other members. Silence filled the room as rain beat harder on the surface world.

“Since you know of us, there’s a choice for you now, child.” Samuel answered as he glanced at the others with a firm nod as he walked towards me. “We want you to join us.”

I studied the strangers as I thought about the possibilities, about how choice could change my entire life. “If I join, would I be in slumber until the sun sets? If not, would I be able to live a normal, mundane life?” I asked them as it was Catriona who gave me answers.

“You won’t be an immobile statue when the sun’s up lad, and you will live as one of us if you wear an amulet.”  She said, holding up her own for me to see. The brothers followed her action, and I noticed that they each wore the same.

“If you wish to join us, we will have to contact me wee sisters' coven that we have an allegiance with to give you your own.” She asked as I nodded my head. And with that, lightning struck the church, signaling the new chapter in my life. An episode of war shrouded in secrecy for eons from the lives of the mundane.