The Art of a Monster

Ch 12.June/13/2009

Valeria, Beth, and Stela stepped out of a dress shop with bags in their hands.

"I'm glad that there's not many people here today." Stela said as they crossed the brick road. The streets of the downtown market were, for the first time in June, not busy and crowded making it the perfect evening for shopping. Valeria couldn't help but notice a few people in the streets looking at her with rather harsh faces. She could tell that they were jealous. She was wearing her blue limited edition dress after all. Every girl in Krimson wanted one. She has one because her father managed to buy the last one, the original. Valeria sighed, perhaps she shouldn't have worn that dress. Stela looked at the faces of the people and then at Valeria.

"You do realize that they are just jealous, right? That is your favorite dress and it looks better on you than anyone else. Don't be afraid to flaunt it." Stela said as she nudged Valeria lifting her spirits. They turned a corner to go into another shop before Valeria stopped. Beth and Stela took a few more steps before they realized that Valeria was behind. They stopped and looked back to see her face lit up and smiling.

"Valeria?" Beth said with confusion and concern.

"I forgot that he said he was going to be in the market today." Valeria said as she caught up with Stela and Beth.

"Who?" Beth asked as she looked around to find the person Valeria was talking about.

"You remember Stefano, right? He's the one that walks me home every night. The one that shows up to recitals. He texted me yesterday that he was going to the downtown market to take pictures of the statues on the old cathedral at sunset." Valeria explained while looking at a man in a blue suit with a camera.

"Are you sure that's him?" Stela asked as they watched to man turn towards them.

"Yes." Valeria replied as Stefano noticed them. He smiled at the sight of Valeria in her blue dress.

"Come on. Let's go talk to him then." Stela said before they crossed the road to the cathedral. Valeria knew how Stela was going to act. She would observe them. Make sure that they wouldn't hurt Valeria. If they do, they might never see the light of day, or, at least a part of them wouldn't.

"Hello signore. Hello Valeria." He said making the three of them blush from his accent.

"Hey Stefano. I forgot that you were going to be here to take pictures." Valeria said before she looked up at the gargoyles.

"Yes. The gargoyles at the top are my main focus. Now is the perfect time. The sun is setting turning the sky red. I just need the right pictures and then I can finish them on my computer. But they are really high up and..." Stefano said before he paused.

"And what?" Stela asked with slight concern.

"I forgot my tripod. If I had it, I could get better quality." Stefano said as he looked up. Valeria looked at Beth and Stela. She smiled. She had an idea.

"Stefano, we can be your tripod." She said as she grabbed Beth and Stela's hands. Stefano watched with confusion as they got into place and position. He was then astonished when they were in their final form. They became a beautiful sculpture. It had three legs, two arms, and a head that was going to be replaced by the camera.

"Volah. A human tripod." Beth said in triumph. Stefano smiled before giving them the camera. He then took out a second one and pointed it towards them.

"You don't mind if I take a picture of you 3, do you?" He asked. Valeria smiled as she aimed the camera towards the gargoyles sitting on the clock tower.

"Go ahead. We don't mind." She replied before taking several pictures. Stefano smiled as he took pictures of the human sculpture. It was very inspirational. More than gargoyles with a crimson sky.