"Do it,” I breathed.
Shaking his hands like a safe cracker about to breach a vault, Crash revealed the red armor plating of his true form. Tugging on his trousers, he knelt down on the sidewalk and placed both of his hands flat on the concrete. Before us, the black husk of the house began to shimmer allowing a few scattered glimpses of its true form beneath. A wave of gold-hued energy rippled from Crash's hands and washed up the front of the house. As it reached the top, the wave folded back into itself and, with an audiblepop , produced a shower of yellow sparks that rained around us. The illusion cracked and fell to the ground like shattered glass revealing the intact house beneath. "Impressive,” I said with a smile.
"Did that little fireworks show for you, love,” Crash noted as he stood up. His hands were already disguised as human again. “Thought you might get a thrill out of it." I couldn't help laugh at the charming criminal. “Thank you." "I suppose you want me to go in with you again,” Crash said without any reservation, “just in case." I wasn't sure, but I think he was starting to enjoy working with me. Leaning close, I patted the Raze Demon on the shoulder. “I'd love the company, Crash." "All right then.” the Raze Demon started toward the house. “Let's quit mucking about on the front lawn and get inside."
"That's kind of odd,” I paused and commented. Crash stopped and looked back at me. “What?" "That.” I pointed up to the gable above the door. There, perched perfectly on the peak with its clawed fingers curling over the lip, was a large, black, grotesque, stone gargoyle. It peered down at us with horrible, wide eyes and its serpent tongue snaking from its mouth. “Don't usually see those in rural neighborhoods."
"Maybe the wolves thought it looked cool,” Crash theorized. “And anyway, it's just a big rock,” he said, turning back to the house. “Let's get this done." I nodded but couldn't seem to take my stare from the statue. It was hauntingly beautiful and because of the three dimensional nature of it, it looked like it was watching me. Two sharp horns jutted straight up from its head while its batlike wings were folded neatly to its hunched back. The gargoyle's body was thin and wiry, but it seemed powerful nevertheless. Finally pulling my attention away, I started up the front steps toward Crash. “At least this one isn't upside down,” I noted as I unsnapped the safety loop on my holster. With the masking spell gone, the scent of death hung heavily on the house. I wasn't certain if there were still bodies inside, or it was simply the lingering result of the Cleaners’ work. Wrapping my hand around the door handle, I twisted slowly and carefully opened the door. I wasn't sure what to expect, but tried to be ready for anything. Werewolves were known for their extreme security measures to protect against intruders. An axe hinged to the roof behind a front door killed a Cleaner I knew. The booby trap was activated as soon as the Cleaner opened the door and it easily cleaved his skull in two. Peering up
Shaking his hands like a safe cracker about to breach a vault, Crash revealed the red armor plating of his true form. Tugging on his trousers, he knelt down on the sidewalk and placed both of his hands flat on the concrete. Before us, the black husk of the house began to shimmer allowing a few scattered glimpses of its true form beneath. A wave of gold-hued energy rippled from Crash's hands and washed up the front of the house. As it reached the top, the wave folded back into itself and, with an audiblepop , produced a shower of yellow sparks that rained around us. The illusion cracked and fell to the ground like shattered glass revealing the intact house beneath. "Impressive,” I said with a smile.
"Did that little fireworks show for you, love,” Crash noted as he stood up. His hands were already disguised as human again. “Thought you might get a thrill out of it." I couldn't help laugh at the charming criminal. “Thank you." "I suppose you want me to go in with you again,” Crash said without any reservation, “just in case." I wasn't sure, but I think he was starting to enjoy working with me. Leaning close, I patted the Raze Demon on the shoulder. “I'd love the company, Crash." "All right then.” the Raze Demon started toward the house. “Let's quit mucking about on the front lawn and get inside."
"That's kind of odd,” I paused and commented. Crash stopped and looked back at me. “What?" "That.” I pointed up to the gable above the door. There, perched perfectly on the peak with its clawed fingers curling over the lip, was a large, black, grotesque, stone gargoyle. It peered down at us with horrible, wide eyes and its serpent tongue snaking from its mouth. “Don't usually see those in rural neighborhoods."
"Maybe the wolves thought it looked cool,” Crash theorized. “And anyway, it's just a big rock,” he said, turning back to the house. “Let's get this done." I nodded but couldn't seem to take my stare from the statue. It was hauntingly beautiful and because of the three dimensional nature of it, it looked like it was watching me. Two sharp horns jutted straight up from its head while its batlike wings were folded neatly to its hunched back. The gargoyle's body was thin and wiry, but it seemed powerful nevertheless. Finally pulling my attention away, I started up the front steps toward Crash. “At least this one isn't upside down,” I noted as I unsnapped the safety loop on my holster. With the masking spell gone, the scent of death hung heavily on the house. I wasn't certain if there were still bodies inside, or it was simply the lingering result of the Cleaners’ work. Wrapping my hand around the door handle, I twisted slowly and carefully opened the door. I wasn't sure what to expect, but tried to be ready for anything. Werewolves were known for their extreme security measures to protect against intruders. An axe hinged to the roof behind a front door killed a Cleaner I knew. The booby trap was activated as soon as the Cleaner opened the door and it easily cleaved his skull in two. Peering up