All the characters appearing in Gargoyles and Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles are copyright Buena Vista Television/The Walt Disney Company. Characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel are the property of Warner Bros. and created by Joss Whedon. All characters are being used without permission of their creators. No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder. All original characters are the property of SN.
Note: I'm disregarding the events in the "Goliath Chronicles", with the exception of "The Journey" because I do not wish to use the rest of the "Goliath Chronicles" as canon to my story. This story takes place immediately after "Demonic Interlude." This story also ignores the continuality in the Buffy/Angel universe. The events in Angel's 5th and Buffy's Final Season have already occurred in this story.
Demona's Journey
By SN/TVfan
Email: Sam_Nary
Los Angeles
Demona walked quietly and nervously through the busy streets of the southern California city known as Los Angeles. Walking with her was a trio of women, each with a different hair color. One black, one a sort of golden color, and one that was silvery white.
"Why are we here?" Demona asked, "You told me, before you vanished last time, that I need to use a non-Latin based light magic before I can be a gargoyle again. You also told me that Latin based magic is practiced in United States and Canada. Last time I checked, Los Angeles was a city in the United States."
"True," Selene answered, "But that doesn't mean that dark magic can't help you."
"We merely said that dark magic was more dangerous," Luna added.
"There are people here that are well versed in dark magic," Phoebe continued.
"They can help you find out which forms of dark magic are safe to try and which forms are too dangerous," the Sisters then said in unison.
"An investigative agency is involved in black magic?" Demona questioned skeptically.
"Yes," the Sisters answered in unison.
"This I must see," Demona chuckled to herself.
Wolfram and Hart
Angel stood quietly, trying to hide an obvious jealousy, as he watched the one woman he truly loved, Buffy Summers, kiss the recently resolidified vampire known only as Spike.
"I can't believe you're alive," Buffy said quietly.
"Believe it, luv," Spike smirked, "Angel here's done all the work though."
Buffy turned her head to look at Angel.
"We still don't know exactly how Spike came back," Angel replied, "All we know is that he's come back to life."
Suddenly a phone began ringing from a side office. Wesley went to answer it.
"Hello, Angel Investigations and Wolfram and Hart, how may I help you?" Wesley said.
"This is Angel Investigations, correct?" a voice on the other side said.
"Yes," Wesley answered, "How may I help you?"
"I need your help," the voice said again.
Wesley returned to the main office about five minutes later.
"Excuse me," Wesley announced, "I'm sorry to interrupt the merry-making, but, um, Angel we have a case."
"A case?" Angel asked skeptically.
"Yes," Wesley answered, "A woman just called. She said she requires the assistance of Angel Investigations and will be here in an hour."
Angel turned his head to Buffy, and asked, "Would you and the others care to join us? These things tend to get out of hand."
Buffy shrugged, "I guess so. Willow and Giles aren't back yet from their search to find the new slayers in the world and their mission to get the new Watcher's Council on track. Faith is watching Dawn. Everything should be safe."
Abandoned Warehouse
Drusilla slowly opened her eyes, having just received a new vision.
"The Demon of the Night as arrived," the insane vampire said, "In pain she is."
Drusilla then smiled, "I will make her better."
Wolfram and Hart
Demona and the Weird Sisters were greeted by a rather business-like Englishmen.
"Hello, ma'am, I'm Mr. Wesley Wyndam-Pryce," the man said, "If you'll follow me, please."
Demona quietly agreed and followed Wesley. The Sisters followed her. He eventually led her to a room with a long table in it. The room's floor plan was relatively similar to one of the conference rooms she had at Nightstone. Seated at one end of the table was a man with brown hair and a rather muscular figure. There was something about this man that Demona seemed to recognize, but she put it aside for a few moments. Setting immediately to his right was a blonde woman and a man with bleached blonde hair. Then there was another man with dark hair, an African American man with a shaved head, a woman with brown hair, a green skinned creature with red eyes and horns, and the man, Wesley, took a seat to the right of the green skinned creature.
"Hello, my name is Angel," Angel greeted, "May I offer you a seat, Miss…"
"Destine, Dominique Destine," Demona said slowly, "And it's Ms. Destine to you."
"Touchy," the dark haired man said.
"Xander…" the blonde woman said slowly, looking at the dark haired man.
Demona took her seat and motioned for the Sisters to do the same.
"These are my associates, Luna, Selene, and Phoebe Avalonis," Demona said.
"Triplets?" Xander asked with rather leering eyes.
"Xander, do you want me to put out your other eye?" the blonde woman asked, "Try being polite here."
"Sorry," Xander sighed defensively.
"Yes, we are sisters," the Sisters answered in unison.
"Whom may I ask are your associates here?" Demona asked.
Angel paused for a moment; something about this woman's voice was vaguely familiar. Almost hauntingly so.
Angel then gestured to the people sitting to his right, "These are Buffy Summers, Spike, Xander Harris, Charles Gunn, Fred, Lorne, and you've already met Wesley."
Demona paused and looked at Spike, "Your name is 'Spike'?"
"What of it?" Spike growled defensively.
"It is a… interesting name," Demona responded, and she then turned to Fred, "And your name is Fred? What is it short for?"
"Winifred," Fred answered, "Please just call me Fred."
"May I ask why you our help, Ms. Destine?" Angel asked.
"Wait a minute," Buffy interrupted, "You said your name is Dominique Destine? Aren't you the CEO of Nightstone Unlimited?"
"I am taking a brief break from my responsibilities with the company," Demona answered, "Now, I'm to understand that you are involved in things that are not exactly considered 'normal'?"
"Yes," Angel answered.
"Do you know about Manhattan's gargoyles?" Demona asked.
"Gargoyles? You mean like those waterspouts on buildings?" Xander interrupted.
"No, the creatures of myth," Demona corrected angrily.
"Not extensively," Angel answered.
"Well you see, I'm supposed to be one of them," Demona continued.
All eyes, except for those of the Weird Sisters then focused on her.
"How is it that you're human?" Gunn asked.
"Do you know of a wizard known only as the Mage?" Demona questioned.
Wesley's eyes widened, "Yes. An evil wizard supposed to have existed since Roman times and is extremely powerful in magical arts. He could make Dark Willow look like an amateur with the power he throws around."
Buffy winced at the mention of Dark Willow. The slayer and her group of 'scoobies' still bore emotional or physical scars from the events surrounding Tara's death.
"The Mage in his efforts to rid the world of all who would oppose him stripped me of my gargoylehood," Demona continued, "I now seek to regain my true form."
"How can you be a gargoyle and be a corporate CEO at the same time?" Fred asked.
"In an effort to make better relations between my kind and yours I asking a being of great power to allow me to be human during the day," Demona answered.
"We need to find the Mage," Wesley announced, "He is dangerous. The Watcher's Council's old files indicate that mythically, gargoyles should be humanity's allies against demons. The Mage has killed more humans than all demons, vampires, werewolves, and other assorted monsters combined. Now he has wronged one of the few creatures that would help humanity. He must be stopped before he does anything worse."
"He'd probably also know how to reverse the spell he cast," Buffy offered, "Where would we find this 'Mage'?"
"Finding the Mage is irrelevant," Demona said quietly.
"What? You just said he was the wizard that cursed you," Spike argued, "I'd want some payback if I were you."
"I have already received my vengeance for the Mage's actions," Demona replied, "The Mage was killed by my clan."
Demona glanced over to see Wesley breathe a sigh of relief.
"If the Mage is dead, there is only one being that I can think of that might be able to help you, Ms. Destine," Angel said, "But I'd advice not making contact with her."
Demona decided to play ignorant, "What? What do you mean?"
"Well," Angel began, "The only gargoyle that I know of that lives in Manhattan is named Demona. She is not one to be trusted."
"How so?" Demona asked, "Tell me about this 'Demona'."
"Well, for one thing, she hate humanity for a reason that I've never known," Angel answered, "The only way you would have a chance of her helping you would if you could prove to her that you are truly a gargoyle the instant you meet her."
"How do you know this?" Demona asked curiously.
"I've met her," Angel answered.
London, 1779
Angelus quietly led an unsuspecting woman down one of London's abandoned back alleys.
"Are you sure this way is shorter than on the streets?" the woman asked.
Angelus looked over his shoulder to check for any possible intruders or policemen, and saw none. He then turned to the woman and grabbed her firmly by the shoulders.
"It is shorter," Angelus began, revealing who and what he truly was, "But not safer."
Before Angelus could sink his fangs into the woman's neck, he heard something that sounded like a bat's wings fly over him. He looked up onto the roof of one of the buildings that made up the alley way to see what looked like a demon. Azure blue skin, pterodactyl like wings growing from its back, a tail, talons, and two glowing red eyes.
"This world keeps getting weirder," Angelus chuckled, and then quickly guzzled down the woman's blood before this new demon could either stop him or steal his dinner from him.
When Angelus had finished feeding, he looked up to see that the creature was gone. The vampire only shrugged and dropped the woman where he killed her and continued up the alley.
Darla noticed the puzzled look that was on Angelus's face when the vampire returned to their hideout for the day.
"Nothing good to eat?" Darla asked.
"No, there are still lots of humans out there to feed on," Angelus answered, "But there is apparently some strange new demon out there as well."
"A new one?" Darla asked.
"Yes," Angelus nodded, "We must contact her. Perhaps she can help us spread terror mayhem and destruction and kill any slayer we come across."
Darla smiled, "You must meet her first."
"And that will be difficult," Angelus sighed, "This demon has wings."
The Next Night
Demona awoke from her stone sleep above London's public library. Her own mind was puzzled by what she saw the night before. A human had killed and drank the blood of a human. In all her years Demona had never seen humans do this.
"Could this be what they referred to at Wyvern as 'vampires'?" Demona questioned to herself, "No matter, he is human in form, and apparently powerful. He must die."
Demona then leaped from the library and began to glide over London in search of the mystery attacker. She didn't have to search long. She soon found the same man leading another woman down a dark alley. The woman looked like she was from the poorer classes.
"I say again, sir, I have no idea what you're talking about," the woman said, "I've never seen any demons."
The man paused and then looked up. Demona knew that he had spotted her and was then shocked to see that the man was smiling. Demona then did nothing as the man snapped the neck of the woman he was escorting with his fists.
"Come down here," Angelus called to Demona.
Demona silently growled but leaped from the roof, and used her wings as parachutes to make a soft landing in the filthy alley.
"I knew I'd find you again," Angelus smirked, "All I have to do is lead an innocent victim to his or her doom."
"You are epitome of everything that is wrong with the human race," Demona growled, "I ought to kill you myself. Why were you looking for me?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Angelus asked, "I'm a vampire, you're a demon. We'd make quite a team."
"I am a gargoyle," Demona growled, her eyes glowing red, "And from what I understand there isn't much that separates vampires from humans. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you?"
"Partnership," Angelus offered, "Vampires can't summon apocalypses to get rid of all humans without help. Preferably a demon or … gargoyle apparently, but evil humans and witches will work too."
"Don't you feed off of humans?" Demona countered, "What do you have to gain by wiping them out?"
Angelus smiled, "The fun of it."
"I have no wish to partner with a vampire," Demona growled, "However, since it appears that you seek humanity's destruction I guess I shouldn't stop you. But if you seek me out again, I will kill you."
Darla had just finished feeding off a young teenager when Angelus returned to their lair. She saw right away that he was in a bad mood.
"Don't ask," Angelus growled.
Present
Demona positively gasped as realization suddenly hit her. The leader of Angel Investigations, Angel, was the vampire Angelus that she had met in a London back alley. She had learned much since that encounter about these creatures of the night. She studied partially to try and build up a possible argument to differentiate gargoyles from the demon world, and to prepare to eliminate these creatures once her plans for humanity were complete.
The most prominent thing she had learned about vampires is that they didn't have a soul. Yet a magical 'sixth sense' that she had gained as a result of the Mage's tutelage told her that everyone here HAD a soul.
"This Demona doesn't exactly sound like the type of character my clan would like to associate with," Demona remarked, feeling it was best to keep things hidden for now.
"She wouldn't be," Angel answered, "We'll need to study this for now. Do you have a number we can reach you at Ms. Destine?"
"Yes," Demona answered taking a slip of paper from her pocket, and then scribbling a cell phone number on it with a nearby pen.
She handed it politely to Angel and turned to leave, as she reached the door she turned and said, "I will remain in the area. Let me know when you have anything."
Buffy turned to Angel as Dominique Destine and her associates left.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Buffy muttered.
"Tell me about it," Angel sighed.
Streets of Los Angeles
Two vampires quietly followed Demona and the Weird Sisters as they walked down the street. They were careful not to be seen, and even more careful not to be found Angel's crew.
"Shouldn't we just jump her?" one vampire asked.
"Attack a powerful gargoyle sorceress that's currently pissed about being trapped in a human form?" the vampire retorted, "Are you brain dead? We're supposed to trail her. Drusilla will arrange her kidnapping later."
Demona's Hotel Room
"He's a vampire!" Demona yelled, "You've got me working with a vampire!"
"So?" the Sisters replied.
"So?" Demona growled, "What do you mean 'so'? I assumed you want me to try and side with humans from now on! Why do you have me partnering with a vampire? They are even more evil than I was!"
"That is questionable, in our opinion," Phoebe said.
"Besides," Luna added, "Angel and Spike have had their souls restored. You should know that."
"How can they have a soul?" Demona yelled again, "Vampires don't have souls!"
"These two do," Selene countered, "And the fact that they are vampires is irrelevant. What matters is that they agreed to help you."
"You are still immortal by our spell," Phoebe added, "You have no fear of being killed and or sired by any vampire."
"That doesn't mean I have to trust them," Demona snarled.
"You have to trust someone, Demona," Luna answered.
"You have long betrayed your clan's trust," Selene said, "And they will not help."
"Will you now risk betraying two souled vampires and their supporting humans who trust you enough to be willing to help?"
Demona paused for a moment, thinking about her conversations with the clan while she was in Wyvern's dungeon. Goliath and his quest for peaceful coexistence. Demona had always thought it would be doomed to failure. Yet, the Quarrymen, Xanatos, the Pack, even herself had been unable to defeat and kill them all. Now Xanatos had allied with the clan and she had discovered she had a daughter. Flesh and blood.
"Is it right to demand justice for those who do wrong?" Demona asked herself.
"No," the Sisters answered in unison, "But it is wrong to demand outright genocide for an entire race because one person does something wrong. If it where, while you would be right, keep in mind, that would also make Jon Canmore, and every Hunter before him, right as well."
"Don't read my mind," Demona growled.
"We must if your destiny is to be fulfilled," the Sisters answered.
"We make our own destiny," Demona retorted.
"That remains to be seen," Luna said, as the Sisters faded away again.
Shortly after the Weird Sisters vanished, leaving Demona alone in her room, there was a quiet knock on the door. Standing in the doorway was a dark haired woman with a fairly pale complexion for southern California.
"Yes?" Demona asked.
"I need to speak with you, I work for Angel," Drusilla said, "May I come in?"
"Sure," Demona sighed, "How did he find anything so quickly?"
"Actually," Drusilla smiled as she stepped up behind Demona, "He didn't!"
Demona turned to see the insane vampire punch her directly in the face. Lacking the strength of a gargoyle, the blow sent her flying backward into the bed frame. Demona rolled as Drusilla dived at her, and quickly pointed her arms at the vampire.
Demona began to chant in Latin, but was surprised to see nothing happen.
"Little magic birds block Demon of the Night's powers?" Drusilla smiled.
Demona leaned away, seemingly terrified for the first time in her life.
"Don't worry," Drusilla then added, as she backhanded Demona, knocking the immortal gargoyle-now human-sorceress unconscious, "Mummy will make it better."
Los Angeles Airport
Buffy sat quietly in one of the airline terminals. Willow and Giles's plane was more than an hour late, and Buffy was getting board.
"Come on, they'll be okay," Xander said, "Stop pacing. You'll wear the rug out."
"It's not them I'm worried about," Buffy answered.
"This doesn't happen to concern a corporate CEO/gargoyle, would it?" Xander asked.
"I don't know, she just seemed to be giving off some really creepy vibes if you know what I mean," Buffy answered, "Something is telling me she didn't tell the whole truth about who she is and how she got like this."
"Don't worry, I'm sure you and Angel's crew will figure everything out," Xander said confidently.
"I'll still feel better when I have Willow and Giles here to help," Buffy answered, "They seem to know more about these things. They've been to England an all. This is the farthest I've ever gone."
"You've gone no further than LA?" Xander joked.
"Not all of us had a car that broke down every three miles to drive to the desert with," Buffy joked back.
Wolfram and Hart
Wesley sat in the conference room with a mountain of different books piled in front of him.
"Any luck?" came a voice behind him.
Wesley turned to see Angel standing in the doorway.
"I'm afraid not," Wesley sighed, "There is little written on the Mage in these texts. Much of what is written is repetitive. There is nothing in here about the nature of his magic other than that it is different from the types of magic that we are most familiar with."
"How so?" Angel asked.
"The spells that vampires and demons can manipulate is what is popularly called black magic," Wesley answered, "It can be cast in almost any written language and can give the user almost unforeseen power, but comes with a disastrously heavy price. These books only say that the type of magic that the Mage used was the opposite of that. And that's all it says. I'd need either more information about how the Mage's magic works or the nature of the spell that he cast on Ms. Destine itself. Something that none of these texts have."
"How about finding out more information about Ms. Destine, herself?" Angel asked, "There is something about her voice that I find sort of familiar."
"She is almost as mysterious as the Mage," Wesley answered, "I tried calling Nightstone's offices for a possible background check, but it appears that the company is battling it out with Xanatos Enterprises and couldn't be bothered. I've also checked old news reports that Wolfram and Hart have kept on file. You wouldn't believe how many news reports from New York these guys have."
Before Angel could ask, Wesley walked to the other end of the conference table and picked up a pile of tapes.
"What are these?" Angel asked.
"News reports from WRVN," Wesley answered, "They cover everything from Nightstone and Dominique Destine to the gargoyles that are supposedly living there. But they haven't caught a gargoyle on film yet."
"You want me to watch these?" Angel asked.
"It couldn't hurt," Wesley sighed, "Gunn and Fred couldn't make heads or tails of them. Although they did remark that every image of Dominique Destine was done during the daily light hours with the exception of a few Halloween costume parties."
Angel only looked back at him and sighed, "I'll get these back to you as soon as I can."
Angel then left Wesley to his work. As he headed toward his office, he saw Spike coming out of another office, with a coffee mug in hand.
"Whatcha got there? Late night movies?" Spike asked in a teasing voice.
"No, these are news reports from New York," Angel answered.
"Still trying to figure out WHO Ms. Destine is?" Spike asked.
"Yes, and if you don't want to help, then stay out of the way, Spike," Angel said slowly and walked by.
Spike only growled silently and walked down the hall.
It seemed to take forever for Angel to get through all of the news reports. They included everything from the reported bombing of a NYPD precinct clock tower and the activities of a group called the Quarrymen, to the business affairs of Nightstone Unlimited and Xanatos Enterprises. However, it was a report on a charity Halloween costume party that caught Angel's eyes the most.
The screen showed a rather uptight looking woman in what appeared to be a "wonder-woman" costume, standing at a podium. A dark shadow stood several feet behind her.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen," the woman on the screen said, "My I introduce the woman who has funded this little party, Dominique Destine!"
Angel watched the screen as the woman in costume stepped aside and the shadow behind her came forward. As the shadow came into the light, Angel nearly fell out of his chair when he saw the gargoyle on the screen. Azure blue skin, flaming red hair, golden tiara, arm band, and anklet, tattered loin cloth and halter top, two pterodactyl like wings, and two glowing red eyes.
"That isn't a costume!" Angel exclaimed.
Wesley practically fell out of his chair as Angel rushed in.
"Are you still looking for more information on Dominique Destine?" Angel asked in a rushed voice.
"Yes, why?" Wesley asked back.
"Have you found anything new?" Angel asked.
"No," Wesley answered.
"Try looking under her first name," Angel said slowly, "Try looking under the name 'DEMONA'!"
Abandoned Warehouse
Demona woke up slowly. Standing in front of her was the vampire that had attacked her earlier. She also noted several different vampires walking around different corners of the room. She tried to get up, but found herself tied down by heavy iron chains.
"How did the Demon of the Night become human?" Drusilla asked.
"My name is Demona," Demona growled, and then adding to herself, "I haven't had a title like that in years."
Demona struggled against the chains for a few seconds before finally given up. She still could not feel her powers. She was helpless and at the mercy of a vampire. A light in her mind suddenly clicked as she remembered a similar incident.
'Is this how you welcome all your guests?'
'Any who might turn on me. And you're not a guest. You serve the human, and now you can serve me.
'Serving humans is fun. They have a sense of humor. You have none.'
'Perhaps not, Puck, but I have you.'
"What do you want from me, vampire?" Demona demanded.
"Little bird has great power in the arts of magic," Drusilla answered.
"And the vampire has a very little brain," Demona interrupted.
Drusilla only growled at her captive, "Demon of the Night will help restore my Angel."
"You want me to remove Angel's soul?" Demona asked skeptically.
"Demon of the Night is smart," Drusilla noted, "Mummy is willing to help Demon of the Night restore herself."
"The 'Demon of the Night' doesn't work with vampires," Demona growled.
"If you want your freedom, you will," Drusilla retorted.
Wolfram and Hart, Two Hours Later
"Anyway, as I was saying, this woman is giving off major bad guy vibes," Buffy said as she opened the door, letting Giles and Willow in, "I think we could really use your help on this."
"Well, we'll do whatever we can," Giles said, "But I'm afraid there isn't much that we can do."
Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles walked into an office in chaos.
"What's going on?" Willow asked.
"Angel's figured out WHO Dominique Destine is," Gunn answered as he hurried into a room.
Buffy and the others shrugged and followed Gunn in. Angel stood at the head of the table, with Wesley standing nearby.
"Giles," Angel began.
"Yes," Giles answered, "Buffy thought that Willow and I would be needed to help."
Angel nodded, "Well, since we're all here it's time to get down to business."
The group took a seat.
"I've looked over the news footage from New York, and I've determined that Dominique Destine is really the gargoyle known as Demona," Angel stated.
Giles eyes widened, "Demona?"
"Yes," Angel answered.
"What's going on?" Willow asked, "I thought you were looking for a way to return Dominique Destine to what she truly was, not discover who she truly was."
"You can't be too careful," Gunn said, "From what Angel told us earlier about the true nature of Demona, it's a good thing we decided to a background check. Send Ms. Destine a note that says we don't help demons."
"I with you," Xander agreed.
"Technically, Demona is only a Demon in name," Angel answered, "She is a gargoyle."
"She wants to kill humans," Gunn argued, "No difference. She stays human and therefore she doesn't kill off humans."
"If I may," Wesley interrupted, "The behavior that Ms. … Demona exhibited earlier was not one of someone trying to wipe out humanity. From what I've read in Wolfram and Hart's collection of resources on Demona, is that the gargoyle has a deeply troubled past."
"What happened to cause a certain outcome is irrelevant," Gunn argued, "We all make choices. She chose the wrong ones. I'll bet she even agreed to help the Mage and got burned."
"She came to us for help," Angel retorted, "If she were seeking to use us, we would not be here discussing it. I told you that I've met Demona. She is a very direct… gargoyle. If she wants to enslave you, she will come and enslave you. I don't think this is a situation were we can afford to not help her. I would like to talk with her myself."
"Do so on your own time," Gunn said, "I ain't gonna work to give a genocidal maniac her ability to wipe out humanity."
"I'm with you," Xander agreed.
Before anyone could do anything, Xander and Gunn walked out.
"I was afraid this would happen," Angel sighed, "Anyway, we need to keep working on trying to find some cure for her."
Angel was about to say more when a brilliant flash of light filled the room and Xander and Gunn were teleported onto the floor of the conference room. When the light died down, the Weird Sisters remained.
"What are you doing here?" Angel asked in surprise, "Aren't you supposed to be with Ms. Destine?"
"We are required to be where we are required to be," Luna answered.
"We are the Sisters three," Selene added.
"A warning we must give to ye!" Phoebe finished.
"Did anyone just fall into a weird Shakespeare place?" Willow asked.
"Shakespeare mentions us yes," Selene answered.
"You have our names, but the three of us are known by a different name," Phoebe added.
"We are the Weird Sisters, servants of King Oberon and Queen Titania," Luna finished.
"What warning do you have?" Spike asked from a corner of the room.
The Sisters then created a spell that created a magical equivalent of a hologram showing Drusilla's face.
"This being holds the subject of your argument prisoner as we speak," Phoebe said.
"You have the choice to save her," Phoebe added, "Or leave her and curse humanity."
"In accordance with Oberon's Law, we can not interfere," Luna finished.
The Weird Sisters then vanished once more. Everyone that remained was in a state of shock.
"Drusilla's captured Demona," Angel said slowly.
"We must rescue her then," Buffy said, "Even if she is an evil gargoyle, leaving her with Drusilla is dangerous."
"You'll need a plan first," Giles pointed out.
Abandoned Warehouse
Demona watched the insane vampire pace in front of her for what seemed like ages.
"Why won't Demon of the Night help?" Drusilla asked, "I offered a fair deal."
"You're evil," Demona answered.
"The same can be said of Demon of the Night," Drusilla answered back, "I will free you if you help me."
Demona silently pondered the vampire's offer. She did want to be a gargoyle again. Part of her mind did want to see humanity pay for their crimes against gargoyles. But at the same time, she remembered her conversations with the clan while she was in Wyvern's dungeon. Elisa's comments on 'death is death' and 'all must be mourned equally' rang in her ears. If her studies were correct, this vampire would destroy humanity for, as Angelus once said to her, the 'fun of it'. Demona decided that even if she weren't questioning her original mission in life, aiding this vampire to eradicate humanity for 'kicks' was not the type of campaign she wanted.
"Go to hell," Demona growled.
Outside the warehouse, Angel, Gunn, Xander, Willow, Spike, and Giles hid behind a dumpster across the street. Buffy came running back from the warehouse's direction.
"Drusilla's holding her there," Buffy reported, "And Ms. Destine doesn't look too pleased at being held prisoner."
"So she's not thinking on partnering with Dru?" Spike asked.
"Not from the looks of it," Buffy answered.
"So what do we do?" Xander asked, "Charge in?"
"This is one of the few times when that would work," Angel answered, "Demona is immortal. Drusilla can't simply kill her."
Drusilla back handed Demona again as the immortal gargoyle-turned human remain trapped in chains.
"If you won't help me, Demon of the Night," Drusilla said, "Then I will beat it out of you."
Demona only growled at the vampire. Drusilla was about to dish out more physical abuse when one of Drusilla's lackeys came running up.
"It's Angel and the Slayer!" the vampire screamed in a hurried voice, "They're attacking. They got a witch with them."
Demona silently sighed with relief as the messenger delivered his report. People where coming to help her.
"Get everyone you can find and stop them!" Drusilla yelled, "Demon of the Night won't listen to reason."
The vampire ran off with a great amount of nervousness and gave yelling commands to others scattered throughout the warehouse. Demona smiled as she watched these demons rush off into battle in utter confusion.
"What amuses the Demon of the Night?" Drusilla asked.
"Your confusion," Demona answered smugly, "You don't know HOW many are attacking you and yet you rush off to fight them. Though I am entirely thankful for it. It means that I'm saved."
Drusilla grabbed her captive by the throat and lifted her into the air, "That doesn't mean I can't escape with you."
"You'd abandon your own side just to accomplish whatever insane goal you have?" Demona demanded, "Not exactly the most honorable thing to do."
Drusilla didn't answer while Demona secretly realized that she'd just used a similar argument that the clan had used against her during her various schemes.
"Vampires are not supposed to be honorable," Drusilla said finally, "We're supposed to be evil."
Demona watched Drusilla for a second, but the sound of a great crash distracted her. She turned her head to see that the door at the far end of the warehouse had been shattered. The blonde girl, Buffy, led a group of people in a charge into the warehouse. Many of the vampires there dived at her or tried other various martial arts type moves, but none of them succeeded. Demona watched Buffy slam a wooden stake into the chest of each attacker. Other members of the group drove other vampires away with similar weapons or crucifixes.
"You've lost," Demona sneered.
"I can still hold you hostage," Drusilla growled, and pulled Demona in front of her.
Demona struggled as best she could against the vampire's grasp, but accomplished nothing. Drusilla was backing away slowly, still as yet, unnoticed. Suddenly a redhead in the group saw the vampire and her hostage. Demona watched the girl raise an arm up and begin to chant something, but she was too far away to hear what the girl is saying. Suddenly a blast of green energy shot out of the girls hand and then wrapped itself around both Demona and Drusilla. Demona was knocked to the ground, while Drusilla was thrown through one the warehouses walls.
Angel arrived first to remove the chains from Demona.
"Are you alright…Demona?" Angel asked.
"So, you figured out WHO I really am?" Demona mused.
"We had to," Gunn said stepping forward, "You didn't tell us everything. I quite frankly say we imprison you now and start looking for a way to kill you."
"We can't do that," Angel argued.
"Sure we can," Gunn retorted, "Just because we've saved her from Drusilla doesn't mean that she's still a genocidal maniac. We HAVE to kill her, somehow."
Demona brought herself to her feet shakily, "Thank you for saving me. If you're going to ask why I didn't come straight forward with the truth, I think you have your answer there with your friend. And Gunn, you may already know this, but you are working for a souled-vampire. At one point he was just as evil as you accuse me of being."
Gunn only growled at her.
"What about the stuff with the Mage?" Angel asked, "Was that true?"
"Yes," Demona answered, "The Mage cursed me to live in this human form. Right now, all I seek is to return to what I truly am. If you are worried about my opinion of humans… My past concerns of them are currently…in question. All I'm focusing on is finding the right spell or spell caster to become a gargoyle again."
"Try Africa," Spike offered.
Demona turned her head to the other souled-vampire of the group, "What?"
"There's this cave in Africa where a very powerful demon lives," Spike answered, "He might have the power to restore your gargoyle form."
"How do you know?" Demona asked.
"Because he's the one that restored my soul," Spike answered.
"Did you ever get his name?" Buffy asked.
Spike shook his head, "No, he sort of, felt me coming. He should feel her coming too."
"Why didn't you mention this earlier?" Angel asked.
"Slipped my mind," Spike answered as he placed a hand on Buffy's shoulder.
Demona suddenly felt her powers return to her. The spell the Weird Sisters had cast had worn off.
"I do not truly know what to think of humans, anymore," Demona began, and then gesturing to the group before her "But I can assure you that you are decent and honorable."
After saying that, Demona slowly disappeared and a series of one hundred dollar bills dropped at Angel's feet. As he picked up the money he read a small note card attached to bills. It read 'keep the change'.
Eastbound Airline
Demona sat quietly in a cramped couch seat on a non-stop flight to Africa. The Weird Sisters had reappeared. Thankfully for Demona, they were the ones in the other three seats next to her.
"I don't suppose you three will tell me why you made it impossible for me to access my powers?" Demona asked, "I could have easily dealt with that vampire if you hadn't done that."
"You are right," Luna answered, "If your powers remained, Drusilla would have died a thousand deaths at your feet."
"You are a strong warrior, Demona," Phoebe added.
"But even the strongest of warriors have had to rely on the aide of others," Selene finished, "This is something you have never done."
"You have made few allies in your life and when you have, you have trusted them to do very little," the Sisters then said in unison, "While your individual perseverance is admirable, it has also lead to your greatest defeats in life because you can not trust others to help you when you need it."
Demona thought about that for a minute. Her betrayal of Macbeth. The destruction of her clan. The Sisters were obviously making a reference to this incident. She betrayed Macbeth because she feared that the king would betray her. She never trusted Macbeth enough to control his own soldiers or to at least talk to her. She then thought of something Goliath had said to her some four or five years ago.
'My strength has never depended on brute force, Demona, but on true friends.'
"So this was all a test to make sure that I could put my faith in someone other than myself?" Demona asked.
"That, and to find the tip on Africa," the Sisters answered in unison.
The End
