Chapter 14: A Close Call

Chapter 14: A Close Call

The lecture hall buzzed with the low murmur of students settling into their seats, the scratch of pens on paper, and the soft whir of laptops booting up. Amelia sat near the front, her heart racing with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Today's Gothic Architecture seminar promised to be particularly interesting, but she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had plagued her since her encounter with the living shadows in her apartment.

Professor Whitmore strode into the room, his tweed jacket and salt-and-pepper beard giving him the quintessential appearance of an academic. He set his briefcase on the desk with a thud and surveyed the class with keen eyes. "Good morning, everyone. Today, we'll be diving deeper into the symbolism and function of gargoyles in Gothic architecture. I trust you've all done the assigned reading?"

A collective murmur of assent rippled through the room. Amelia nodded along with her classmates, though her mind was far from the dry text they'd been assigned. Her thoughts lingered on the very real gargoyles she knew, on Gideon's strong presence and the Elder's dire warnings.

As Professor Whitmore launched into his lecture, Amelia found herself more engaged than ever before. Every detail about the placement of gargoyles, their varied forms, and their purported protective properties resonated with her newfound knowledge.

"Now, can anyone tell me why gargoyles were often placed at specific points on Gothic cathedrals?" Professor Whitmore asked, his gaze sweeping across the room.

Before she could stop herself, Amelia's hand shot up. The professor nodded in her direction, a look of pleasant surprise on his face. "Yes, Ms. Chen?"

Amelia took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "Gargoyles were strategically placed at corners, intersections, and high points of the cathedral not just for drainage purposes, but to create a network of protective guardians. Their positions allowed them to watch over all approaches to the sacred space, symbolically warding off evil from every direction."

A hush fell over the classroom. Professor Whitmore's eyebrows rose, clearly impressed by the depth of her answer. "Excellent, Ms. Chen. That's a remarkably insightful observation. Can you elaborate on how you came to this conclusion?"

Amelia felt a flutter of panic in her chest. She had spoken from her direct experience with Gideon and the other gargoyles, not from any textbook. Thinking quickly, she replied, "I've been doing some independent research, Professor. I found some old texts that discussed the spiritual significance of gargoyle placement in medieval architecture."

Professor Whitmore's eyes lit up with scholarly interest. "Fascinating! I'd be very interested in seeing these texts. Perhaps you could share your sources with the class?"

Amelia's mind raced, searching for a plausible explanation. "Of course, Professor. I'd be happy to compile a list. Some of the texts are quite obscure, though. I found them in the special collections section of the library."

The professor nodded approvingly. "Excellent initiative, Ms. Chen. I look forward to reviewing your research. Now, let's continue our discussion on the symbolic nature of gargoyles..."

As the lecture proceeded, Amelia felt a growing sense of unease. She had narrowly avoided exposing her secret, but Professor Whitmore's interest in her "research" could prove problematic. She would need to create a convincing paper trail to support her claims.

When the class ended, Amelia gathered her things quickly, hoping to slip out before the professor could question her further. But as she reached the door, she heard his voice calling out, "Ms. Chen, a moment please?"

Steeling herself, Amelia turned back to face Professor Whitmore. He approached her with an enthusiastic smile. "I must say, Amelia, I'm impressed by your sudden expertise in this subject. Your insights today were remarkably... vivid. Almost as if you had firsthand knowledge of gargoyles."

Amelia forced a laugh, trying to keep her voice steady. "Oh, I wish, Professor. I've just been really captivated by the subject lately. Something about gargoyles just... speaks to me, I guess."

Professor Whitmore's keen eyes studied her face. "Indeed. Well, I'd be very interested in discussing your research further. Perhaps you could stop by my office hours this week? I have some colleagues in the field who would be fascinated by your findings."

A cold knot of fear formed in Amelia's stomach. The last thing she needed was more scrutiny from experts who might see through her hastily constructed explanations. "That sounds great, Professor," she managed to say. "I'll check my schedule and let you know."

As she hurried out of the building, Amelia's mind whirled with the implications of what had just happened. She had always been a good student, but her sudden leap in knowledge was bound to raise suspicions. She needed a plan, and fast.

Lost in thought, she didn't notice the figure falling into step beside her until he spoke. "Quite the performance in there, Amelia. You've certainly piqued the professor's interest."

Startled, Amelia turned to find Lucas walking alongside her, a curious expression on his handsome face. Her heart sank further. Lucas was the last person she wanted to deal with right now.

"Oh, hi Lucas. It wasn't a performance. I've just been doing a lot of extra reading lately," she said, trying to keep her tone casual.

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Extra reading that gives you insights even Professor Whitmore hasn't considered? Come on, Amelia. What's really going on?"

Amelia quickened her pace, hoping to shake off her persistent classmate. "Nothing's going on, Lucas. I'm just passionate about the subject."

"Passionate enough to risk academic dishonesty?" Lucas pressed, keeping up with her easily. "Because if you can't produce those 'obscure texts' you mentioned, that's what it might look like."

Amelia stopped short, turning to face Lucas with a mixture of anger and fear. "Are you threatening me?"

Lucas held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Not at all. I'm worried about you, Amelia. You've been acting strange lately – disappearing at odd hours, coming to class with bags under your eyes, and now this sudden expertise. If you're in some kind of trouble, I want to help."

For a moment, Amelia was tempted to confide in Lucas. The weight of her secrets felt overwhelming, and the idea of sharing the burden was alluring. But Gideon's face flashed in her mind, reminding her of the promise she had made to protect the gargoyles' existence.

"I appreciate your concern, Lucas, but I'm fine," she said firmly. "I've just been throwing myself into my studies lately. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a lot of work to do."

As Amelia walked away, she could feel Lucas's eyes on her back. She knew this wasn't the end of his questioning, but she had more pressing concerns. Somehow, she needed to create a believable set of sources for her gargoyle knowledge before her meeting with Professor Whitmore.

Back in her apartment, Amelia paced anxiously, her mind racing. She couldn't risk exposing the gargoyles, but she also couldn't jeopardize her academic integrity. The runes she had discovered in the cathedral might provide a solution, but using them came with its own risks.

A soft tap at her window interrupted her thoughts. Gideon perched on the fire escape, his massive form a comforting sight. Amelia quickly let him in, relief washing over her.

"Gideon, thank goodness you're here. I've gotten myself into a bit of a situation," she said, launching into an explanation of what had happened in class and her conversation with Lucas.

Gideon listened intently, his brow furrowing with concern. When Amelia finished speaking, he was silent for a long moment, considering their options.

"This is... complicated," he finally said. "We can't risk exposure, especially not with the growing darkness the Elder sensed. But we also can't allow your academic standing to be compromised."

Amelia nodded, grateful for Gideon's calm approach to the problem. "I was thinking of using some of the information from the runes I found. Not directly, of course, but as a basis for creating some believable 'sources' for my knowledge."

Gideon's expression grew troubled. "That could be dangerous, Amelia. We still don't fully understand the power of those runes. Using them, even indirectly, might draw unwanted attention."

"I know," Amelia sighed, sinking onto her couch. "But what choice do I have? I need to give Professor Whitmore something, or he'll think I've been making everything up."

Gideon paced the small apartment, his wings twitching with nervous energy. Suddenly, he stopped, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Perhaps... perhaps there's another way. What if we could provide you with real historical sources, ones that wouldn't raise suspicion but would support your knowledge?"

Amelia leaned forward, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

"The Elder," Gideon explained, "has access to texts and artifacts that have been passed down through generations of gargoyles. Most are too dangerous or revealing to share with humans, but there might be some that could serve your purpose without exposing our secrets."

Hope blossomed in Amelia's chest. "That could work! But... would the Elder be willing to help? He's been so cautious about sharing information lately."

Gideon nodded solemnly. "Leave that to me. I'll speak with him tonight and explain the situation. Your safety and your ability to continue your research are crucial to our cause."

As Gideon prepared to leave, Amelia caught his arm. "Thank you," she said softly. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Gideon's expression softened, and he drew her into a gentle embrace. "We're in this together, Amelia. Never forget that."

After Gideon left, Amelia felt a renewed sense of purpose. She spent the rest of the evening compiling notes and preparing questions for Professor Whitmore, carefully avoiding any information that couldn't be explained by normal research methods.

The next evening, Gideon returned with a small, weathered leather pouch. "The Elder agreed," he said, a note of relief in his voice. "These are copies of some of our oldest texts – nothing too revealing, but enough to support your claims about gargoyle symbolism and placement."

Amelia carefully opened the pouch, her eyes widening at the sight of the delicate parchments inside. The writing was faded but legible, in a mix of Latin and what appeared to be an older, more obscure language.

"Gideon, this is incredible," she breathed, gently unfolding one of the documents. "But... how am I going to explain where these came from?"

Gideon smiled, a rare mischievous glint in his eye. "The Elder suggested a cover story. These are supposedly from a private collection belonging to a reclusive scholar of medieval architecture. He's allowed you to study them on the condition of anonymity."

Amelia grinned, relief and excitement coursing through her. "That's perfect! Thank you, Gideon. And please, thank the Elder for me. I know how much trust this represents."

As she carefully examined the documents, Amelia felt a renewed sense of responsibility. These texts were more than just a way out of her academic predicament – they were a tangible connection to Gideon's world, a bridge between human knowledge and gargoyle wisdom.

The next day, Amelia arrived at Professor Whitmore's office with a mix of nervousness and anticipation. The professor greeted her warmly, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the leather pouch she carried.

"Ah, Ms. Chen! I've been looking forward to this. Please, show me what you've brought," he said, gesturing for her to take a seat.

With carefully rehearsed movements, Amelia removed the parchments from the pouch, explaining their supposed origin as she did so. Professor Whitmore listened intently, his excitement growing as he examined the documents.

"This is... remarkable," he murmured, gently tracing the faded script with a reverent finger. "The level of detail here about gargoyle placement and symbolism is unlike anything I've seen before. Amelia, do you realize what a significant find this is?"

Amelia nodded, allowing herself to share in the professor's enthusiasm. "I do, Professor. That's why I've been so excited about my research lately. These documents shed new light on how medieval architects viewed gargoyles not just as decorative elements, but as integral parts of a building's spiritual protection."

For the next hour, Amelia and Professor Whitmore pored over the texts, discussing the implications of various passages and debating interpretations. Amelia was careful to present only the information she could plausibly have gleaned from normal research, using the gargoyle texts to support and expand upon existing theories.

As their meeting drew to a close, Professor Whitmore sat back in his chair, a look of deep satisfaction on his face. "Ms. Chen, I must commend you on your initiative and the quality of your research. This is truly groundbreaking work."

Amelia felt a flush of pride, tempered by the knowledge of how close she had come to exposure. "Thank you, Professor. I'm just grateful for the opportunity to study these texts."

Professor Whitmore leaned forward, his expression turning serious. "Amelia, I'd like to discuss the possibility of you presenting some of this research at an upcoming conference. With findings like these, you could make quite a splash in the academic community."

For a moment, Amelia's heart soared at the prospect. Then reality came crashing back. More attention was the last thing she needed, especially with the growing darkness threatening the city.

"I'm honored, Professor, truly," she said carefully. "But I think I need more time to fully analyze these documents before presenting anything publicly. And of course, I'd need to get permission from the collection's owner."

Professor Whitmore nodded understandingly. "Of course, of course. Take your time, Amelia. But do keep me updated on your progress. This could be the beginning of a very promising academic career for you."

As Amelia left the office, clutching the precious pouch of documents, she felt a mix of relief and trepidation. She had successfully navigated this close call, but at what cost? The professor's interest in her research would only grow, and maintaining the delicate balance between her two worlds would become increasingly challenging.

Walking across the campus quad, Amelia's thoughts turned to Gideon and the other gargoyles. The trust they had placed in her by sharing these documents weighed heavily on her conscience. She was walking a dangerous line between two worlds, and one misstep could have disastrous consequences for both.

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the grass, Amelia couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. The darkness that had invaded her apartment seemed to lurk at the edges of her vision, a constant reminder of the larger threats looming on the horizon.

Clutching the leather pouch closer to her chest, Amelia quickened her pace. She had survived this close call, but instinct told her it was only the beginning. The battle for the city's soul was escalating, and she was caught in the middle, armed with ancient knowledge and a growing understanding of just how high the stakes truly were.