Masked

IX

"Okay so the first thing that happens is someone has to give you this clear liquid called moonshine. The person has to drink it and stand in the full light of the moon. It's almost as if you're becoming a werewolf was how I looked at it. Well anyway, the drink is full of the gargoyle's DNA and some other things that not very people are sure of is in there. Then the human feels like he or she is in unbearable pain, almost like they have broken their shoulder blades. The bones around their spinal area will change and wings will begin to grow. It's a long and painful process because the wings will grow out slowly. You do bleed a little but it all stops once your wings are done forming. You remain human for the most part so you just have to worry about the wings. That's pretty much it," I ended. To be honest, I wasn't sure how I remembered all of the process but I had.

Lacie said nothing as she just stared at me, slightly horrified.

"Well?" I pressed gently.

"That just seems really painful," she shook her head, "did your parents have to go through that?"

"Yes," I shivered sadly and tried not to think about her going through that process. Hearing her scream from the dagger being in her was bad enough. If she screamed from this, which I knew she would, it would be a thousand times worse.

"I'll give you time to think about it," I said and tried to figure out her reaction to the whole thing.

 After a few minutes she whispered, "I want to do it."

I saw she was serious about her decision. "Okay, we'll just have to discuss this with my parents when they get back."

Lacie curled up next to me with her head on my chest. I looked down into her eyes and couldn't get over how beautiful she was.

"I love you Michael, no matter what," she kissed me gently.

"Same here Lacie," I kissed her back and pulled her closer to me as we waited for my parents to return.

"Want to go in the hot tub while we wait for them to return?" I asked her. It had been a few hours and none of them had showed up yet.

"Totally," Lacie ran upstairs to change.

I walked into my room and grabbed some bright blue trunks. Then headed downstairs and sat in the water with my wings against my back. Lacie walked out onto the deck in a dark green bikini that had some beading which made her eyes glow.

She smirked, "what is it Michael?"

"Lacie, you look,"

"What? Hot? Ugly? Incredible? Sexy?" she teased.

"All of those except ugly," I said while checking her out.

She stepped in smiling and scooted next to me.

"You look pretty hot for a gargoyle too Michael," she giggled.

"Thanks," I said, unsure of what else to say really and continued staring.

"Wow, do I really look that good in a bikini," she teased.

I nodded, completely speechless as she crawled into my lap. Leaning forward, she began to kiss me passionately. Her arms wrapped around my neck as she pulled herself as close to me as possible. I laid my slightly clawed hands on her waist and felt her shiver. Lacie giggled and moved her hands to my chest. She moved them up and down in a comforting yet flirtatious movement which even made me shiver. Her hands went back to being around my neck as I pulled her hair out of the pony tail and watched the black hair fall around her face. Her hair shined like the darkest night in the sun with her bright blue eyes reflecting like stars. I just gazed in awe at how her beauty could change with just something as simple as wearing a swimsuit.

She pulled back, "how long are you going to just keep staring at me and do nothing?"

I chuckled at her face before admitting, "probably a lot."

She laid her head on my bare chest, "I love you Michael."

She didn't wait for me to respond because she knew I felt the same way about her. I pressed my lips against her hair as we just sat there motionless for awhile. I kept waiting to hear for my parents and Amelia to arrive but they still hadn't. 'Damn, Amelia must've found something she really wanted, or she's good at stalling,' I thought as Lacie listened to our heartbeats keeping time.

"Amazing isn't it?" she looked at me.

"Yes," she replied and got out of the water. I glanced at her legs and how the muscles quivered as she stepped out.

She caught me looking and gave me a curious expression as I tried not to blush, "er.. sorry Lacie. I just can't get over how toned you are. You're like some flawless angel."

We both went inside and I flopped on the couch as she began to walk past me.

"I'm going to go change," she started as I grabbed her waist and pulled her towards me.

"No you aren't," I teased and kissed her gently.

She pulled away, "I don't want your parents to see me in this."

I laughed at her remark, "trust me. They won't care."

She sighed, "well I want to change so I can shower and get into warmer clothes."

I pulled her back down again and murmured, "but you'll have to shower again when we go back tonight. Plus I like you better in this."

Lacie shivered and I could see her cheeks turning pink, "I promise to go tonight, just let me change at least."

"Okay, but I'm taking you up there."

I swung Lacie over my shoulder as she screamed with delight while I took her upstairs. Turning the corner, I went to my bedroom.

"Michael this isn't the bathroom,"

"I know," I set her onto the bed and laid down beside her.

"You sly dog," she tried to get up again but to no avail as I pulled her towards me and kissed her deeply. She kissed me back and tried to start walking towards the bathroom but gave up when she knew I was going to just push her back down again.

I finally let her go and watched as she retreated to the bathroom. I got up quickly and showered as well before changing and heading downstairs to the computer. When I reached the bottom step I saw Amelia crying, my mother looking disappointed and my dad frowning.

Mark then said something I wished I had never heard, "Michael Ryan Owen. You're in huge trouble."