Author's note: I must endorse my buddy, Ingram's work. It is very realistic and is written very well. His saga is riveting and I have a (VERY) small hand in editing that bad boy. Read on my friends! Read on!
PS: Thank you for ALL the emails I have received and continue to receive. I love reading them ! Feel free to continue emailing me! Tell me how I am doing now that my ficverse is turning another page... Carrying a Torch
9:03pm, July 31
Demona sat brooding in her bedroom on a warm night in July. She had just finished watching the news report about that detective Maza giving birth to a child whom she had named Adam, and then how the child had been kidnapped shortly after birth, and how the heroic efforts by the gargoyles, who were now public entities, to rescue the child had resulted in the apprehension of Dominic Dracon. Demona watched this news report on WVRN and felt her loathing of Elisa Maza heightening to the umpteenth degree. Scenes flashed upon the screen of Elisa holding her newborn son, smiling, though looking exhausted, and thanking the gargoyles for helping her to bring back her son.
"That wretched whore!" Demona had cried, throwing the remote control at the television screen. "The nerve! Thanking the clan for something that was never their business to begin with!" She spat out angrily.
"Detective! Detective! How do you feel"
"How is your son doing"
"Had you ever come into contact with the gargoyles before this incident"
"Do you speak to them on a regular basis?"
The reporters threw out question after question to Elisa. Though she was bombarded with question after question, she remained calm and relaxed, and continued smiling. She turned to one reporter who didn't appear on camera, and said, "My son is doing wonderfully, and I'm alright. To answer your question," she pointed to another reporter off-camera, "Yes, I had been in contact with the gargoyles before hand. I just thank goodness that they were there to help me that night, because otherwise, I would have lost my son."
One reporter then asked, "Is it true that you delivered your son at the Eyrie Building, which is the headquarters of Xanatos Enterprises?" Elisa thought for a moment before answering.
"Yes, and before you ask what I think you're going to ask me, yes, David Xanatos and I are friends. He had a great doctor that I trusted, and so I felt I would benefit from Mr. Xanatos' facilities."
"One final question, Detective Maza? Is there any validity to the rumours that Mr.
Xanatos is harbouring the gargoyles atop his building?" Elisa shook her head undecidedly.
"Not that I know of, but you'd have to ask him about that." She then waved her hand and said, "Excuse me; I have to get back to my son now. Thanks for your time everyone." With that, she turned away from the camera. The camera then focused upon the reporter, who sent it back to the station.
Demona shut the television off immediately after that. She was fuming with anger and frustration. To cool off a bit, she decided to take an evening glide around the city. She walked over to the large bay window of her room and spread her wings to catch a current.
She took flight and soared as high as she could above the city. Her thoughts swam in her mind. She was incredibly angry and outraged.
Something confused her, however. Why was she so very mad at Elisa Maza? Besides the fact that she had helped the gargoyles thwart her attempts to destroy all humanity a few times, as well as saved the clan from destruction at Demona's hands a few times as well, what was making Demona so furious at Elisa?
She flew over Times Square, trying to piece together why she was so upset over the news that Elisa had become a mother. Obviously, she knew about this fact. Angela had even had the courage to invite her to attend Elisa's baby shower a nearly a month ago, though she must have known that Demona would reject the invitation. She knew it was inevitable that the detective would give birth, but why was this news suddenly so disgusting to Demona?
It was just like her daughter to try to get her involved, though. She was such a good gargoyle. Angela always tried to look past someone's past mistakes and make a fresh start with them. Since that meeting where Angela had invited Demona to the shower, she had not seen her daughter. She frowned at herself for being harsh with her daughter. What had she said to her? Oh yes…
"Mother, you are all alone in this world. Except for me, that is. I don't want you to be alone when you have family—a clan—that will always be here awaiting your return to us."
Demona scoffed out loud. The clan is definitely not awaiting my return with open arms as Angela said, she thought. Goliath has decided to turn his back on tradition and gargoyle custom and has befriended and most probably mated with that whore, Elisa Maza! He has become a human lover, and has forgotten the true gargoyle way. He and I were mated, and in gargoyle tradition, and that means forever! Though he has forgotten, I will never forget that vow we made to each other all those centuries ago…
She realised just then that the flame still burned within her for Goliath. Though she had tried to kill him on numerous occasions, she knew there was a fine line between love and hate, and that tonight she knew which side of that very thin divide she was on.
She had not intended to glide past that part of the city, but when she realised that she was only a few blocks away from the detective's new apartment, she couldn't help but want to see if she were there with her son.
Demona had no intention to cause her harm—at least not tonight.
Sure enough, as Demona glided towards the apartment,
the light shone through the window, telling Demona that she now had to be careful upon her approach so as not to be seen. As she swooped closer, she saw the distinct outline of a large gargoyle through the sliding door to the balcony. Blast,
Demona thought, Goliath is there. I must tread carefully now.
Demona stopped on the roof of a neighbouring apartment building so as to be able to see what was happening undetected. She gazed in the direction of Elisa's apartment, and saw exactly what was going on. Goliath stood in front of the sliding door with his arm around Elisa's shoulder while she held her son in her arms. They were both peering down at the child, who was barely moving. Demona could see the serene look on Goliath's face as he studied the slumbering child in Elisa's arms, and Demona's blood boiled suddenly. Unaware of why she was suddenly so angry, she forced herself to look away from the scene for a few moments to gather her thoughts again. Before she could truly do that, she saw from the corner of her eye, that there was some movement again from the apartment.
Goliath had opened the sliding door and appeared to be saying his goodbyes to the detective for the evening. She still held the sleeping child in her arms. Goliath stroked her hair away from her face. Demona could see that he said something to her that made her grin sickeningly. She said something in reply that Demona was almost thankful she hadn't heard. He then bent his head down towards her and rubbed his brow ridge to her forehead, kissed her lips softly, and then enfolded her and her son within his wings briefly before spreading them again and departing into the night. Demona cringed at the scene, but had remembered why her blood boiled.
Her mind drifted back to a time when she was not alone, or consumed by revenge or hatred. Back in 994, when things were simpler…
990, Scotland…
Goliath and his friend, the gargoyle female that would eventually be named Demona, were gliding outside of the castle limits together, enjoying another clear night and some time of peace together without wars or fighting to think about. Goliath had actually come up with the idea of their gliding away from the castle. He said he had something to talk to her about in private.
As they glided through the damp Scottish air, she couldn't help but be a bit curious as to what they needed to speak about, and where they were actually going. This proud and incredibly handsome young gargoyle, who was surely in line to be the next leader of the clan in the coming years, had grown more and more in friendship with her over the last few weeks. They were almost inseparable, and confided in each other first over any other in the clan. In human years, they would be nearly 17, though they had both already reached full gargoyle maturity. The youth and innocence in both gargoyles' eyes was unmistakable. Both had yet been untainted by loss, anger, vengeance, and hatred.
She harboured serious feelings of attraction to him,
but was unsure if his feelings were reciprocated. She favoured him over all the others of their hatching year, both in intellect and appearance. He was strong, and resourceful. On more than one occasion, his quick thoughts had helped the clan defend the castle successfully from invaders. His lavender skin was flawless, as was his wingspan. His ebony hair shone in the moonlight and made every female swoon. His face was the subject of many a stone dream from the female gargoyle population. Also, his noble manner and confident speech had made him quite popular with all the females of their year, and not just his close friend. So when he had approached her and asked that they speak in private, she was all too quick to reply with an excited, "Yes!"
When they finally reached their destination according to him, they landed upon a cliff which overlooked the castle and the surrounding area. It was a marvellous sight to take in. The castle truly was a wonder to see,
even at night. The torches lit throughout created tiny speckles of light that magnified its radiance ever more at night. She was in awe. The young male pointed to the castle, and said, "Isn't it incredible?"
"Oh yes," She replied. "Our home is lovely at night." She beamed and turned to face him.
"My friend, besides this splendid view, why are we here? You said you needed to speak to me with regards to something important…"
The handsome male looked as if he were trying to find words just then. He found them a moment later and began.
"As you know, the mating season is nearly upon us."
"Yes, that is true. Before we know it, it will be here and then gone." She replied.
"A few of our rookery brothers and sisters have already picked their mates for the impending season."
He nodded. "Indeed. It is a wonderful thing to be mated with the right gargoyle. My wise brother, for example, has picked a fine mate. You know to whom I refer."
"Yes, the dark skinned gargoyle. She is exceptionally beautiful. Her skin is immaculate."
He nodded slightly so as to agree with her, though he didn't really agree that she was exceptionally beautiful. She was decent he supposed, but he preferred gargoyles with blue skin, especially the one standing before him, praising the looks of another female. He laughed internally.
"Yes, I suppose, but she is a skilled huntress as well. That is a great quality to have in a mate, wouldn't you say?"
"Oh, yes. I would have to agree. That is indeed a good ability to possess. I sometimes wish that I had more skill in that field, however."
"You have great skill as a huntress as well, my friend. You are a far better huntress than the dark skinned one." He felt warm from her look upon him. "—At least from the evidence I have seen."
She blushed at his compliment. "You do not have to flatter me, friend."
"I do not attempt to flatter you. I speak only truth."
She stared out onto the scene of the castle before them. "In any case, I sometimes wish that I were as beautiful as she…I was cursed with this wretched blue skin…"
He stepped closer to her. "No, it was not a curse. Your skin is one of your many lovely features. It suits you, and I daresay that you are much more beautiful than the dark skinned one as well," Again, he felt flushed. "—I mean, uh, to me." She turned to him, and looked happy but confused.
Now was the time to tell her the reason for bringing her to that cliff.
"Friend, I wanted to confess something to you." He said, looking at her meaningfully.
She was still confused.
"What have you done, my friend? Whatever it is, we can decide upon a course of action together with the rest of the clan…"
"Well, it isn't what I have done. It is rather what I wish to do now." She grew in confusion, but said nothing. When she kept her silence, he continued.
"My friend, my dear friend, I must confess to you that I have grown to care a great deal more for you than the boundaries of friendship would allow." At this point, he took her hands into his.
"I have fallen in love with you. I would die a content and happy gargoyle tomorrow knowing that you had consented to becoming my mate." Her jaw dropped. "What say you?" He asked hopefully. She was still in disbelief. He had just asked her to be his mate. This was something that she had been hoping for, and it had happened! She composed herself, beamed happily, nodded and said, "I say yes!" With that, he released her hands, and pulled her towards him, wrapping his arms, and then his wings around her.
993, Castle Wyvern
Goliath returned from a meeting with the head of the Guard for Princess Katharine. He had been named Leader of the clan a few months ago,
and had needed to attend meetings with security every night before gliding to meet his mate, who was now his second in command as well. This evening, his angel of the night had remained with the hatchlings because she was deep in thought. Her thoughts were of the egg she had laid only weeks ago. Goliath came to search for her and found her in the rookery with their egg. She heard footsteps coming from behind her and turned to see the smiling face of her mate.
"My love, are you alright?" He asked sweetly, kneeling down beside her and taking her hand in his. She looked at him lovingly.
"Yes, my mate. I was contemplating our egg. I know that hatchlings belong to the entire clan but I cannot help but feel protective of our egg." He smiled.
"I understand, night angel. But what you say is right. This child is the child of all of us."
She turned back to the egg, cleaning it of some dust it had already accumulated on its shell.
"This hatchling will be strong and courageous, just like its father." She smiled at Goliath. He touched the egg with his hand and smiled as well.
"And beautiful and cunning just like its mother." He leaned over to his angel and touched his brow ridges to hers.
"I do wish that I have given you a male hatchling, love."
"A male would give the clan great joy, including myself. I have heard superstitions that say that if a male is produced, both the male and female are strong and healthy."
"In that case, my love, it surely will be a boy." She turned back to Goliath. "I love you. And I am so proud to have had your hatchling."
"And I love you, my Angel of the Night. You and I are one, now and forever." He stood up, holding her hands, causing her to rise as well. They then enfolded one another in each other's wings. She felt so comforted, so loved, so precious. This feeling, she thought, will never end. He loves me with his entire being. Nothing and no one will ever come between us. This hatchling is proof of our love. By the dragon,
how in love we are!
The embrace ended, and she looked once more upon the egg they had created together. Bending and extending a hand to the egg, she said, "I shall see you soon, my child." Rising again, she took Goliath's hand and walked out of the rookery with him.
--------
Of course! That's why Demona was angered by Elisa's bastard child and the sight of Goliath and Elisa together. She had wished to give Goliath a son, but her dream was not fulfilled. When Xanatos had reawakened the clan, Demona had visions of having another egg with him, but she instantly saw that his human-loving nature had grown to intolerable levels, and had to sway him back to the gargoyle side before even thinking about mating with him again. She had tried,
though. She tried on different occasions, but with no luck. He had forgotten their vow to each other at Prince Duncan's wedding, and had lost a part of his gargoyle nature. He had given up, not her. It was his fault that they were not still mated,
and that she was not a part of the clan. More specifically, especially now, it was Elisa Maza's fault. Ever since she had befriended the clan, Goliath had turned away entirely from Demona. Her anger mounted until she roared loudly.
"AH! That damned human! Every attempt to rid myself of her has failed miserably, and only brought them closer together. There must be some way to destroy her!" She yelled out in frustration. "Angela was right. I am alone in this world. I shouldn't be alone, though. I should be at Goliath's side, instead of that infernal human." She said aloud.
She was extremely bitter towards Goliath for choosing another, but Demona felt that this phase in his life would pass and he would return to her in time. Demona smiled to herself.
"If the detective were truly gone, he would have to return to me—if only for comfort and remembrance of times past." She chuckled to herself as her mind began brewing evil plans. "That's it exactly!" She cried. Still laughing her maniacal laugh, she spread her wings and headed for her estate once more. There were phone calls she had to make.
August 1, 1:18 pm Elisa's apartment
Elisa enjoyed an uneventful sleep that morning and for the first two hours of the afternoon, except of course for the crying of her son in the next room. Though she was exhausted from the events of the last few days, and being hounded by the press, she rose from her bed every time contentedly to check up on her tiny little boy. Finally, after a few more hours of sleep since he cried, she decided that now would be the time to awaken for good.
She rose from her bed, slipped her light robe on, her fluffy slippers on, and walked out of her bedroom to check up on Adam. Once in his room, she opened the blinds slightly, to allow her to get a good look at her son in the afternoon light. It was a gorgeous August afternoon, and the sun's rays burst into the baby's room, causing the room to look alive and ecstatic. Elisa smiled to herself as she peered down at her son. He was still sleeping. She had already changed his diaper and fed him nearly two hours ago, so he was taking advantage of the fact that he required nothing but sleep at the moment. Elisa brought her hand to his angelic head to smooth out the little puff of hair upon his head. It looked as if it had doubled since the last time she saw it.
"We'll have to cut your hair in no time, Adam." She mused quietly. She stood at his crib for what felt like only a minute when she heard a knock at her door. Looking down at herself to make sure she was decent to receive visitors, she walked out of the baby's room, shut the door almost completely, and walked to answer it. Looking through the peephole, she saw the welcome faces of her parents.
She unlocked the door, turned off the security alarm (installed by Xanatos), and opened the door, ready to receive massive embraces. She wasn't disappointed.
"Elisa! My darling, how are you?" Her mother said as she gathered her eldest daughter in a fierce hug.
"Good mom. In pain right now, though." She joked, as her mom nearly crushed her ribs with the hug. She released her, and then stepped out of the way for her father to join in the hug.
"How's Adam?" Peter Maza asked as he hugged his daughter warmly. She motioned to the nearly closed bedroom door.
"Wanna see for yourself, dad?" She asked with a smile. Wordlessly, she led the way to Adam's bedroom, opened the door, and let her parents enter the room first. They walked up to the crib and awed.
"He is an angel."
"I can't help but see a resemblance to you when you were that age, Elisa."
With her arms folded across her chest, she smiled as she approached the crib behind them.
"Yeah, but I probably wasn't nearly as perfect as him, though." She reached into the crib and adjusted the light blanket over him, and then stroked his forehead. "He should be ready to eat in a little while. Then you guys can hold him. In the meantime, do you want some coffee and sandwiches?"
"Sure, honey. That sounds good."
The three Mazas sat on Elisa's new leather couch,
each with a cup of coffee in their hands.
"Man, am I glad that I can drink coffee again! I thought I would go crazy without the java…" She took another sip of her coffee and smiled.
Peter laughed. "Being a cop probably didn't help that much." Elisa and Diane laughed along with him.
"You can say that again, dad." She giggled, and then sipped her coffee again.
"So, Elisa, how has it been being a mother?" Diane asked as she stirred her coffee.
"It's interesting. Adam is only three days old, but he's already growing before my eyes. Pretty soon he'll be walking!" She laughed. Peter drank the last drop of his coffee and then rose to put the mug in the kitchen.
"…Or going off to Police academy." He smiled, suddenly looking wistful and walked into the kitchen.
"Or graduating from university." Diane added.
"I know what you mean, guys." Elisa replied. Just then, the newborn cries of Adam Maza echoed throughout the apartment through the baby monitor and through the semi-closed door of his room. Elisa rose from her seat.
"Be right back with Adam." She said, walking towards the room. Her cooing could be heard from the living room. Diane Maza smiled at her husband as Elisa walked back into the living room holding her son delicately in her arms.
"Mom, can you hold him for just a second while I get his milk?" Diane beamed as she outstretched her arms.
"Of course! Let me see my grandson." Elisa put Adam into his grandmother's arms deliberately, then turned to the kitchen again. Peter Maza took a seat beside his wife and gazed upon his first grandchild while Elisa grabbed a small bottle of milk from the kitchen and returned.
"Elisa, you aren't breast feeding?" Diane asked when she saw the bottle in her daughter's hand. Peter cringed.
"Do you two have to talk about that with me around, Diane?" Diane chuckled lightly.
"Sorry, Peter. But the question remains…" She persisted. Elisa shook her head.
"Mom, let's just say I tried, and it was painful, so I'm doing it this way."
She pointed to an empty box that had the picture of a woman and her child, along with some sort of machine on the box. Peter decided against asking what the box was for, since he had a pretty good idea. Again, he cringed, and Diane nodded her head, then looked down at her grandson who was still crying for his meal. Elisa sat on the other side of her mother and took her son out of her arms. She began rocking him slowly back and forth. "Shhh, little one. Here you go, baby. That's right. Momma's here." Elisa cooed, putting the tip of the bottle at the baby's mouth. He greedily began sucking on it. As they watched this touching scene silently, Diane and Peter Maza joined hands. They both had tears in their eyes.
Diane brought her mouth to Peter's ear. "Maybe we should go, darling. Any longer,
and I'll be crying like Adam was a moment ago." Peter nodded, and rose.
"Elisa, honey, we're going to leave you two alone now. We'll pass by tomorrow"
Diane kissed her daughter on the top of her head, and then made towards the door.
Elisa got up as she still fed Adam and walked with them to the door.
"Thanks for stopping by mom, dad. We'll expect you to be over tomorrow."
Peter touched his grandson's head, followed by Diane. "Bye Adam. See you tomorrow"
She said, then looked up at Elisa. "We love you, dear. We'll see you tomorrow. If you need anything—"
"Yes, mom, I'll call you guys. Thanks for everything. See you." She smiled and watched as her parents left the apartment. Closing the door behind them, locking it and turning the alarm on, she turned back to her primary objective. She walked back to Adam's bedroom and sat with Adam on the rocking chair. He had slowed down on his sucking and was now closing his eyes sleepily.
"You sleepy again, huh? Are you? That's ok, baby. Momma's going to make sure you get all the sleep you need. Yes, that's right little one." Elisa whispered.
Nightstone Unlimited, 3:08 pm.
Dominique Destine sat at her desk, and dialled a ten digit phone number. She was calling France.
"Bon soir, monsieur Levesque. Ça c'est Dominique Destine. Avez-vous fait comme j'ai demandé? Vous l'avez trouvé ? Oui…ah, mais oui. Ça c'est très, très bien. Merci beaucoup pour votre information, monsieur Levesque. Je vais vous contacter bientôt.
Au revoir." (Hello Mr. Levesque, this is Dominique Destine. Have you done as I asked? Did you find him? Yes, oh yes…that is very good. Thank you for your information, Mr. Levesque. I will contact you soon. Good bye.)
She hung up the phone looking very satisfied with herself and her latest phone call.
She turned from her desk and chuckled.
"Now that I know he is alive, everything will fall into place, and I will finally rid myself of Elisa Maza once and for all!" She turned back to the phone and picked the receiver up.
"Stacey, book me a flight to Paris for first thing in the morning."