Set in stone.

Running through the rainy streets of Paris Miriam refused to look back at her pursuer. Her feet splashing in puddles soaking her legs and shoes. Her large hooped velvet dress getting heavy in the rain. Breathing hard she pushed harder with her legs the sound of her preditor getting closer. Tears started to stream down her cheeks as she ran alongside Notre Dame. The cathedral was only just coming up to its fiftieth birthday. Such a unique and magnificent building.


Daring now to chance a glance back over her shoulder Miriam saw no threat. The man who was chasing her with ill intent was gone. Fearing he was still around but not an immediate threat she shouted to the carriage that was steadily getting closer.

"HELP ME PLEASE!"

Her French accent rang out loud and clear. Over and over she called. Begging the carriage to hurry. She still ran towards the horses the cobbles underfoot sounded like claps with each footfall. The carriage stopped with the window level with Miriam's face. A young man of around twenty looked out at her. He was dressed smartly in clothes that were the height of fashion for the twelfth century. He had a stiff black coat with gold embroidery. Under his coat was a white shirt with frills running down the middle and large loose cuffs.

"Bonjour madame. Can I help you?"

"Yes, a man is chasing me. Please take me to the Surete Nationale."

The gentleman's face darkened.

"No. I will not take you to the police. My friend is waiting for us."

Miriam didn't start to move back at first. Her initial reaction was to stand open-mouthed with widening eyes. It wasn't until he reached for her that Miriam started to try and move away. With one strong hand, he reached out of his open window and dragged Miriam in. Not a second passed when the driver cracked the reins and the horses started to move rapidly gaining speed through the dark wet streets.

Inside the carriage, Miriam was fighting for her life. Hands felt like they were anywhere and everywhere on her body. Her clothes get pulled and ripped at. She was not done yet she kicked and bit and clawed at her attacker. Screaming all the time. There was another man in the horse carriage with Miriam and the other man and he positioned himself in a way to be able to hold her arms. Hands pushed her dress up and started to pull at her undergarments. Her strength started to leave her body as she knew what was happening and panic stole her breath.

The fourth man of the group was walking closer to them now. Smiling at the anticipation of the prize they had managed to claim. He was seven meters away from the first horse when something fell from the rooftop of Notre Dame. It landed on the back of the two horses drawing the carriage. Blood spewed out of both horses mouths with pressure as their back ends were pulverised under the pressure. The man that was approaching stopped in his tracks dripping blood and horse entails. The shock had paralysed him. A small dark figure emerged from the mess. It was no more than three feet tall but it had wings that curled over its head making it another foot taller even though they were still folded. The small creature stepped out of the bloody mess shacking off what was a horse. The carriage had fallen on its side with the sudden stop flinging the driver away to one side. He smashed in the side of a building and his neck snapped on impact. The creature looked at the man standing still in the road and spoke in a strong London accent.

"Hallo. Are you here with these then?"

Unsure what to say the man just stood looking at what now looked like a demon.

"Come on I ant got all day."

Again the man stood still but this time he managed a nod yes.

"Ok thank you for being honest. Either way, it's bad news for you. I have to kill you now. Sorry."

In a flash, the little creature ran at him. As he moved his joints glowed orange and his footsteps sounded of stone on stone. Just before the thing got I the man it jumped and spread its wings. The wings spanned nearly eight feet from sharp dagger-like tip to tip. The jump got the creature to the man's neck and its wings severed his head clean from his body.

Back at the carriage, a head poked out of the window. He was battered and bleeding. Up ahead a horse-drawn carriage sounded in the night air. Sound travelling with ease to her ears in the almost silent night. No words were said as the creature now air bound flew at him. Before the man could react his head was clamped in one clawed foot. Up the man went ten-twenty feet in the air. Pulled by claws that crushed his skull until there was nothing for the claws to hold and he fell. Down and down fell the lifeless body until it splattered on the cobbled ground.

The woman appeared in the window next. As soon as she was halfway out of the open window she was pulled back inside with a scream. The heavy stone creature landed on the side of the carriage and pulled the door away. Inside the woman was held with a knife to her neck. The man behind her shaking visibly. The demon creature spoke again.

"Let her go now. I will make it quick for you if you do."

A blob of the orange liquid dripped from its shoulder joint and landed on the man's forehead. Sizzling and smoking a hole began to form as the magma burned into the man's brain. He died and let the woman go. Trembling the woman looked at this ugly little monster.

"Are you going to hurt me now?"Said Miriam. Her French seemed to puzzle the demon.

" What? I don't speak frog. Just English I'm afraid."

Miriam did speak English but not as well as she would have liked.

"Oh err. Am I next?"

"Na give me your hand your safe with me now."