Page 10 of Stoney Gazes for Helpful Gorgons

Jack clears his throat as soon as the barmaid is gone. "Okay, so I have a really weird question for you. It's actually why I asked you to meet me."

I raise an eyebrow. "How weird are we talking?"

He clears his throat and shifts in his seat. "Will you try and turn me into stone?"

I blink a few times and Hiss even slithers down onto my shoulder to see what the fuss is all about. In Jack's defence, he doesn't even flinch at the appearance of my snake, which even people who have known me for months sometimes do. "What?"

"Will you try and turn me into stone?"

"I heard," I respond. "I'm just...confused. No one's ever asked me to do that before."

"I imagine no one has needed to ask."

"Why do you need to?"

He looks around, clearly making sure that no one is listening in. "I've been having a bit of a problem accessing the gargoyle part of me."

"Aren't you all gargoyle?"

"What?"

"Well, I'm a gorgon regardless of if I'm using my magic or not." I reach up and tickle Hiss under his chin. He lets out a low hiss that I know is enjoyment and goes to make himself comfortable amidst my braids again. "So surely you're a gargoyle all the time too?"

"I suppose. But I mean I've been having difficulty turning myself into stone and using my wings. I know it doesn't sound like much of a problem, but I can feel the block."

"And you think me using my gorgon magic to turn you into stone is the solution to that?" I don't even know if that'll work.

"I have no idea."

"What if I actually turn you into gorgon-type stone and you're stuck?"

"I wait for it to wear off. It's not permanent, right?"

"No. But I don't know how long it lasts. I've never actually turned anyone into stone."

"Not even when you were a baby?"

I shake my head. "My family are all gorgons, they knew what I was when I was born. Typically, gorgons don't go to school until they're seven or eight to stop us from accidentally turning kids into stone in the playground."

"It would give a new meaning to the Turned To Stone game."

"I never much liked that one. It didn't make sense to me. Gorgon magic doesn't work by touch, so why would touching someone make them stuck like that?"

"Why would crawling through their legs undo it?" he responds. "I'm guessing that doesn't actually work?"

"No."

"It's just a kids game. Didn't you ever play What Time Is It Mr Wolf?"

"Of course."

"But you're not really going around thinking that wolf shifters are going to eat you for asking them what time it is," he says.

"That's...logical."

"Mmm." He picks up his pint glass and takes a sip. "And that's why I said it."

"You really want me to try turning you into stone?"