All the characters appearing in Gargoyles and Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles are copyright Buena Vista Television/The Walt Disney Company. The Unseelie Court belongs to the TGS. 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 two days after "The Test." 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.
On the Nile
By SN
Email:
Sam_Nary
Avalon
"Sisters," Titania said in a stern voice, "I do not approve of the manner in which you have dealt with Anansi."
"Anansi was seeking to betray your command that all Fey recognize Oberon's decree of the Gathering and that Oberon's Law remains the Fey's law," Phoebe protested.
"The spider left Avalon knowing that it was against your decree," Selene added.
"And with full intent to break Oberon's law, now that he is not here to enforce it," Luna finished.
"Anansi still did not deserve death for such a minor offense," Titania answered, "Our court has already suffered enough death. We need not have more."
"It has quelled Banshee and Raven's inclinations to return to the mortal realm," the Sisters answered in unison.
"Do not kill any more members of this court," Titania commanded.
"Yes, Queen Titania," the Sisters answered unison.
Titania settled back onto her throne in Avalon's main hall and looked at the Weird Sisters. Each of them was lined up in a straight line, and standing perfectly erect, as if they were soldiers on a battlefield.
"How is Demona's progress in restoring herself?" Titania asked.
"The demon has provided Demona with the knowledge she needs," Selene answered.
"We are no longer needed to guide her," Phoebe added.
"Keep an eye on her," Titania commanded.
"We will watch her," Luna answered with a bow.
Egypt, Near the Great Pyramids
"Wow, Ms. Destine, I didn't know you were really interested in all of this mythical stuff," a man in a khaki safari outfit said in a fairly strong English accent.
"I am interested in a great many things, Dr. Wedrington," Demona answered, "Especially since I've left Nightstone, I have had a considerable amount of free time."
Dr. Wedrington looked back at the large pyramid they were standing near.
"Yes, well," Dr. Wedrington said, "This pyramid was made for a great General in the ancient Egyptian army many years ago. Now yes, pyramids were normally built for Pharaohs and Pharaohs alone, but there is a rumor that this general performed such a historic deed that the Pharaoh had the general buried in the pyramid, while he took a simple peasant's tomb."
"What deed did he do?" Demona asked, "I've only heard of this pyramid recently and that was mostly rumors as to what lies within."
"Yes, there is quite the rumor that a great artifact is buried with the general inside the tomb," Dr. Wedrington answered, "It is said to have been given to the Pharaoh by either Isis or Osiris, there is even a rumor that Anubis had power over the talisman. According to the legends, the artifact is supposed to be a gift to protect the general's soul. From what and for what purpose, I'm not sure."
"So what great deed did this general do?" Demona asked again.
"Well, according to legends about this pyramid, the general…" Dr. Wedrington began.
Ancient Egypt
People ran in every direction in search of cover, as soldiers moved to try and stop the madness that covered Egypt. Lions and cheetahs, animals not normally found in the desert had come from nowhere and were attacking innocent people where they lived. Meanwhile, the general Emon-Rii gathered soldiers around the Pharaoh's palace. These creatures had to be stopped.
"General, what could be doing this?" a soldier asked.
"I do not know," Emon-Rii answered, "This can not be the work of the Gods, for we have not sinned."
"Yes," the soldier added, "and the people have been loyal to the Pharaoh as well. Demons must be attacking us!"
Another soldier came running up, "General! The gargoyles have all been killed!"
Emon-Rii looked at the soldier in shock, "What!"
"The gargoyles were all killed general!" the soldier shouted, "Their eggs too! It was some strange woman with a lion's head!"
Suddenly the image of the woman that the soldier had described appeared in front of them.
"I am Sekhmet," the lion-headed woman announced, "Leader of the African faction of the Unseelie Court! You are to bow to us as your rulers and your Pharaoh is to be brought to me for execution!"
Emon-Rii grabbed one of he bronze spears that the soldiers were holding and threw it at the lion-headed woman.
"You will not have the Pharaoh!" Emon-Rii shouted, "He was chosen by Osiris to rule!"
The bronze spear pierced the Unseelie's chest, but other create a ghastly looking wound caused Sekhmet no major injury.
"Foolish mortal," Sekhmet roared as she kneeled on the ground, pulling the spear out of her, "You think bronze can harm me! I am a goddess! You should do as I say! You will bring me your Pharaoh!"
"You are not as great as Osiris and he chose the Pharaoh to rule," Emon-Rii yelled, "If you are the Goddess Sekhmet, you have much to answer for!"
Sekhmet roared and fired twin beams of fire from her hands at Emon-Rii and his soldiers around him. The beams however, were aimed too high and they instead hit part of the Pharaoh's palace, causing a few columns to collapse.
"You are not the Goddess," Emon-Rii said, "If you were, we would be dead by now!"
Sekhmet got to her feet slowly, "Children kill them as you killed their idiotic protectors!"
The various cheetahs and lions charged toward Emon-Rii and his soldiers. Archers from the roof of the palace fired their arrows taking out a few as they charged and wounding others. One large lion leaped at Emon-Rii, and the general was forced to drop to the ground. He thrust his sword out to let the lion fall on it. The soldiers armed with spears and swords managed to repeal the attack, but with heavy casualties. Out of ten that were earlier there, only three now remained, including Emon-Rii.
"We won't survive another attack if she regroups her animals," one of the soldiers said.
"We must stop her," Emon-Rii muttered, "We can not let her have the Pharaoh, and she must be punished for what she's done to our guardians."
"To bad bronze can't hurt that witch," the other soldier commented.
"Bronze?" Emon-Rii questioned, "Of course! She said bronze can't hurt her! Into the palace! The Pharaoh met with the Hittite ambassadors a few months ago! They gave him a dagger made out of a strange metal. It is too heavy to be bronze or brass. Perhaps this can harm our attacker!"
The Pharaoh paced quietly inside his private chambers. Several soldiers were guarding him, and he was nervous. He heard the cries of the beasts outside and the death screams of his other soldiers. Suddenly Emon-Rii and three soldiers burst into the room.
"Pharaoh, where is the dagger the Hittites gave you?" Emon-Rii asked, "A woman with the head of a lion is leading these vicious animals in the attack against us and is invulnerable to bronze. The new metal in that dagger might help us!"
The Pharaoh gave a surprised look to Emon-Rii, but went and collected the dagger the Hittite ambassadors had given him. Emon-Rii took the dagger and rushed out, his soldiers following.
"Don't worry, Pharaoh," Emon-Rii shouted back, "It will be returned to you or I will die!"
Emon-Rii ran into the lion-headed woman who had identified herself as Sekhmet in the halls. The Unseelie fired two beams of fire and killed the remaining two soldiers. Emon-Rii meanwhile, struggled forward, the Hittite dagger in his hand. Sekhmet's last blast had singed the Egyptian general's arms, but he still did not drop the dagger.
"You dare oppose me?" Sekhmet growled.
By the time she finished her curse, Emon-Rii had got close enough to Sekhmet to stab her. His blow, however, missed the Unseelie's vitals. The dagger was lodged in her shoulder.
"Iron!" Sekhmet screamed, "How did you get iron?!"
Emon-Rii watched the Unseelie drop to the ground in pain. The animals behind her also dropped to the ground. The general moved to place a foot on his enemy's stomach to hold it down and removed the dagger.
"No I will kill you for attacking Egypt," Emon-Rii said sternly.
Sekhmet's eyes flashed emerald for a second, "I'm afraid not! By taking the dagger out of me, you've actually helped me!"
Sekhmet flared a massive pillar of flames above her, incinerating Emon-Rii to nothing more than ashes in seconds. The iron dagger, however, survived and lay at her feet.
Sekhmet looked at the dagger and looked back to her obedient animals, "It is time we retreat my children! They have found iron somehow and we are no longer invulnerable to them."
With that Sekhmet vanished, seemingly into thin air and her animals turned and left. The Pharaoh and a few soldiers appeared in the now deserted hallway a few moments later to find Emon-Rii's ashes.
"The witch has killed the general," a soldier commented.
"Yes," the Pharaoh said, kneeling to pick up the dagger, "But he drover her off first. Apparently the Hittites know something we don't. This witch feared their weapon. We could learn something. And Emon-Rii was the one to show it to us. His sacrifice will not go unrewarded. No. He shall be buried in my pyramid and I buried in his peasant's tomb!"
The Pharaoh then turned to a scribe anxiously scribbling hieroglyphics onto a papyrus scroll.
"So let it be written," the Pharaoh said, "So let it be done!"
Present
"This Sekhmet killed of a clan of gargoyles to get at the Pharaoh?" Demona asked.
"And then Emon-Rii according to the legend," Dr. Wedrington answered, "You wouldn't believe how many gargoyle related legends we've discovered since that clan in New York was discovered. More people all over the world are either claiming to have seen them or have references to the species. I heard this part of the legend in one of the local shops. How did you hear about this pyramid?"
"I have some friends who past this way before," Demona explained, leaving out that they were the Weird Sisters, "They didn't know that this is a new pyramid."
"They do all look alike, don't they?" Dr. Wedrington chuckled.
"Yes, well lead the way," Demona instructed as she began to follow the doctor up the side of the pyramid.
There was a small opening in the top of the pyramid that Dr. Wedrington and Demona climbed through.
"So Doctor, what chamber do you think the artifact is in?" Demona asked.
"Probably in the same room as Emon-Rii's ashes," Dr. Wedrington answered, "Why are you interested in it, Ms. Destine?"
"Let's say I have a personal interest in ancient artifacts," Demona answered.
The former gargoyle and the English archeologist slowly walked through a dark passage.
"Now we must be careful, Ms. Destine," Dr. Wedrington warned, "There should be a vertical shaft up ahead; once we get there, it will be a long climb because the Egyptians didn't put stairs in these things and nor did they put in iron rungs. No one wants to fall."
"Right," Demona answered.
As they walked deeper into the tunnel, Dr. Wedrington pulled a flashlight from one of the side pockets of his shorts and flicked the switch on. The light from the flashlight illuminated the vertical shaft that Dr. Wedrington mentioned. The doctor was the first to descend, placing his hands and feet into carefully carved niches in the brick. Once Dr. Wedrington and his flashlight had descended down the shaft a few feet, Demona pulled out her own flashlight that she kept in her back pocket. Once she turned her flashlight on, Demona slowly began to follow Dr. Wedrington down the vertical shaft.
"So which way to the burial chamber?" Demona asked once they reached the bottom of the shaft.
"It should be straight ahead," Dr. Wedrington answered, "That is if the rumors on this pyramid's construction are accurate."
"I hope they are," Demona responded, walking forward.
It didn't take long for Dr. Wedrington to catch up. They soon came up to a pair of large double doors made out of intricately shaped bronze. The doors, however, had withered over time, and crashed with a tremendous crash when Demona and Dr. Wedrington began to open them. The two were quite lucky not to get crushed by one of the doors.
"That would give new meaning to the word 'flattened'," Dr. Wedrington chuckled.
Demona ignored the joke and walked into the burial chamber. It was large. Hieroglyphics and paintings lined the walls. Two gold statues, one shaped like Anubis and the other apparently like Isisstood at the foot and head of what appeared to be a coffin designed to look like a pharaoh. On top of this coffin, was a small urn, with hieroglyphics and symbols and pictures of Osiris.
"The Burial Urn of Osiris," Demona muttered, stepping toward it.
"You know what it is?" Dr. Wedrington asked.
"I'm involved in more things than simply business," Demona answered, "Sorcery is one of them. I find it helpful."
"Sorcery isn't real," Dr. Wedrington answered, "That story about Emon-Rii was overdone to exemplify his heroism. More the likely, a large number of rabid animals had escaped from a zoo or something. The Egyptians worshiped cats through Isis and there are many mummified cats."
"You believe that there are gargoyles in New York correct, Doctor?" Demona asked.
"Yes," Dr. Wedrington answered, "But that's different, people have actually seen them and they have been captured on tape."
"Have you ever seen the Eiffel tower?" Demona asked.
"No, not in person," Dr. Wedrington answered.
"Do you believe it exists, even though you've never seen it?" Demona asked again.
"Yes, but that's hardly comparable with sorcery," Dr. Wedrington argued.
"Have you seen God then?" Demona asked.
Dr. Wedrington quit arguing.
"I know this may be hard to believe, but sorcery does exist, and I know a fair deal of it," Demona said, "However, there is a spell I must cast that requires this urn."
"You can't do that!" Dr. Wedrington protested, "This pyramid must be preserved, and if anything is taken it can only be taken to a museum where it can be properly examined and the displayed."
"Calm yourself, doctor," Demona sighed, "I do not need to move the urn in order to cast the spell. You see, the ingredients in the urn are designed to protect the soul of Emon-Rii by making it as hard as a rock. All I need to do is cast one minor spell in Arabic and then my need for it is done."
"Let me take a few pictures first," Dr. Wedrington said, pulling a camera from a satchel he had been carrying.
"Take your time," Demona said politely, "I must wait for dusk anyway."
"What?" Dr. Wedrington asked.
"I will explain," Demona growled in an annoyed voice.
Ancient Egypt
The Pharaoh and several priests stood in the completed tomb built for Emon-Rii. Gold statues of Isis and Anubis stood at the head and foot of the general's ornate 'coffin'. One priest held the Burial Urn of Osiris in his hands, and placed it on top of the coffin that normally held a pharaoh's mummy, but this time held the ashes of Emon-Rii.
"The General Emon-Rii was a great Egyptian," the Pharaoh said, "Among the greatest of us. If I didn't already have an heir, I would surely have chosen him to succeed me."
"Yes," a priest affirmed, "A gift from the Gods. That is why we place the Burial Urn of Osiris here. It is consecrated with Osisis's power and spirit."
"And the shattered stone shells of our guardians?" the Pharaoh asked.
"They are inside the urn," another priest answered, "That way, Emon-Rii and our guardians shall journey into the afterlife together."
"The gargoyle's stone shells combined with the powers of Osiris will also keep Emon-Rii's soul safe from all who would seek to harm him," a third priest said.
The Pharaoh then nodded, "Good. Grab your torches and let us depart. For we can not journey to the afterlife with him."
The priests respectfully nodded and bowed. Shortly thereafter, they left, leaving Emon-Rii's tomb dark and ignored.
Present
"The priests used Osiris's god-like powers to use the innate powers of the gargoyle's stone shells to protect Emon-Rii's spirit," Demona explained, "Like his soul is rapt in a permanent stone sleep."
"Stone sleep?" Dr. Wedrington asked.
"During the day, gargoyles sleep encased in stone," Demona growled, "During this time they heal almost any wound they suffered during the night. This daytime hibernation is referred to as stone sleep."
"You seek to gain that sort of protection?" Dr. Wedrington exclaimed in a surprised tone, "But why? You're human! And a remarkably powerful human! And if you know sorcery, if sorcery is even real, you shouldn't need this 'stone sleep'."
"We must be who we must be," Demona answered, "I'm going to let you in on a little secret my nosey professor, I was hatched a gargoyle. Not born a human. A powerful wizard cursed me to be in this human form. All I want to do is to return myself to my true form."
"Turning yourself into a rock during the day won't make you a gargoyle," Dr. Wedrington snorted.
"I don't have time for this," Demona growled, and then pointed one arm and commanded in Latin that Dr. Wedrington go to the nearest tavern and not return to the pyramid until after the next day.
The doctor as if in a trance, then turned and left the chamber climbed up the vertical shaft and left the pyramid. As he left he saw three women in Victorian style dresses, and if he had any control over himself he would have asked them what they were doing there, but instead, he walked right by them. The Weird Sisters only watched the doctor leave.
After he disappeared from sight, the three Fey chuckled to themselves, "What have you been up to?"
Dr. Wedrington continued walking across the hot desert sands until he returned to his hotel room. He remained in the trance that Demona had put him under. As he walked into the nearby town, he accidentally bumped into a young woman with rather dark tan hair.
"Excuse me," the woman said politely.
Dr. Wedrington, still in his trance said nothing.
"What a rude mortal," the woman muttered under her breath.
The woman watched as Dr. Wedrington walked away. As he did so, the woman's eyes slowly changed from a hazel color to a golden yellow color.
"This is interesting, I haven't sensed the Mage's power in centuries," the woman though, "It will be well to see what my master's ally has been up to."
Five minutes later, Dr. Wedrington sat down on the bed in his hotel room, intent on getting some sleep, when the same woman that he had earlier bumped into walked into the room. Two cheetah-like creatures followed her. Once the two animals were in, the woman closed and locked the door.
The woman waved an arm, and after a brief flash of emerald light, Dr. Wedrington felt the trance being lifted off of him.
"Tell me, Dr. Wedrington, what is your association with the Mage?" the woman asked.
Dr. Wedrington looked at the two cheetahs and nearly jumped out of the window in fear.
"Don't worry," the woman said, scratching of the cats behind its ears, "My pets won't hurt you, unless I tell them to. Now, what is your association with the Mage?"
"I know of no Mage," Dr. Wedrington answered, "I'm here to take a look at the pyramid to Emon-Rii, and preserve its secrets so that future generations may be able to marvel at it in the future."
"Emon-Rii," the woman snarled, "The man dared to fight a Goddess, he deserved his death. Why the Pharaohs gave him a pyramid to rot in, I'll never know. On top of all this he was a peasant."
Dr. Wedrington did nothing for a few moments as the woman shifted her appearance, taking the form of a woman with a lion's head. The doctor shuddered in horror and inched toward the window.
The woman waved an arm and Dr. Wedrington was magically flung to the bed and held down by strange binds.
"Relax, doctor," the lion headed woman said, "I am Sekhmet. I do not seek to harm you, yet."
"You…I've heard stories about…" Dr. Wedrington stammered.
"All probably made to denounce my Godhood," Sekhmet snarled, "The story of Emon-Rii is chief among them. Who is at the pyramid now?"
"A woman, red hair, called Dominique Destine," Dr. Wedrington said quickly, fear edging his every word.
"What is the CEO of Nightstone Unlimited doing in Egypt?" Sekhmet demanded.
"She said she's left Nightstone," Dr. Wedrington answered, "Wanting to do something about making herself a gargoyle or something like that."
Sekhmet smiled, "And she seeks to use Osiris's power and the gargoyle stone shells inside his burial urn to begin the process. Interesting."
"What do you plan to do to me?" Dr. Wedrington asked.
"I have a master in need of servants," Sekhmet answered, slowly removing Dr. Wedrington's outer garments, leaving him in his underwear, "The trance you were in reeks of the Mage's power, but if Dominique Destine is the one who cast the spell I must be cautious. My master and the Mage were relatively week allies. Sort of like Roosevelt and Stalin, the only thing that kept them from fighting each other was Hitler. However, I can not be certain that Miss Destine will follow the same alliance so I need personal servants as well to draw her out and away from the pyramid, where my power will be more effective."
Sekhmet nodded to one of the two cheetahs standing beside her, and the large animal stepped forward, its mouth salivating.
"What are you going to do to me?" Dr. Wedrington demanded.
"I intend to alter you so that you fit my needs," Sekhmet smiled as the cheetah sank it fangs into Dr. Wedrington's leg.
Pyramid of Emon-Rii
The Weird Sisters found Demona in Emon-Rii's burial chamber, the former gargoyle's eyes intently fixed on the sarcophagus and the burial urn on top of it.
"I was wondering when you three would show up," Demona muttered.
"You know we are never far away, Demona," Luna answered.
"We are here to make sure you do not cause trouble," Phoebe added.
"Now, where is the archeologist who is supposed to be studying this find?" Selene finished.
"I sent him back to his hotel," Demona shrugged, "He was getting nosey into things he couldn't believe and couldn't shut up about. My mind is currently questioning whether or not my old mission to destroy humanity was correct, but I am quite certain that I am entitled to my privacy. I shouldn't have to explain my quest to every single person who comes along."
"True, but your quest is going to lead you to others," Selene countered.
"Not all of them really need to know," Luna admitted.
"But that doesn't mean you can toss them aside," Phoebe finished.
"We believe that Dr. Wedrington will be most displeased if he finds out that someone else gets his name in the history books for documenting this pyramid and not him, even though he actually found it first," the Sisters then said in unison.
Demona looked down for a moment. Perhaps what she did was rude, but it would be dusk soon and she could cast her spell and her stay in Egypt would be over and Wedrington's problems would not be hers.
Little under half an hour later, the sun set over the Egyptian desert and Demona straightened herself up to cast the required spell to begin her path to become a gargoyle again. Slowly Demona extended her arms over the Burial Urn of Osiris and began to speak clearly in Arabic.
Demona spoke clearly in Arabic, "Osiris, a gargoyle out of form calls on your power to restore its safety. Return to me my stone sleep!"
The urn soon rose up from the sarcophagus and glowed a brilliant yellowish glow and soon the entire room was bathed in the golden light. When it had faded away from the chamber Demona had been knocked to the floor and was sitting with her back leaning up against one of the chambers walls. The Weird Sisters continued to stand in a half circle as if nothing had happened.
"Do you feel anything?" the Sisters asked.
Demona smiled weakly, "Yes, my body can sense the moving of the sun again. I will return to stone sleep when the sun rises."
The sisters then looked to one another and then said, "Then if you've satisfied your wishes, you must now tend to the archeologist you forced out earlier today."
Demona left the pyramid in a slightly annoyed manner. She didn't want to have to deal with Dr. Wedrington again. She had got what she wanted and he would get what he wanted tomorrow. However, as she came out of the exit she saw something that startled her. Four anthromorphic creatures stood at the base of the pyramid. Two were cheetah-like creatures and two were lion-like creatures.
A woman with a lion's head, and wearing the robes of an Ancient Egyptian queen stepped forward, "Well Dominique Destine, I'm glad to have at last met you."
"Who are you?" Demona growled angrily.
The other three creatures noticed Demona's visible hostility to the lion-headed woman and growled bank in an aggressive manner.
"Please, Demona," the lion-headed woman chided, "There is no need to become aggressive here. We are all friends. I am called Sekhmet. These three magnificent creatures are my hand servants."
Demona watched as Sekhmet moved to rub the ears of the two anthromorphic cheetahs, which were both female, and then to stroke the mane of the large male anthromorphic lion.
"If you are the Sekhmet that was attacking Egypt that caused this pyramid to dedicated Emon-Rii then I doubt that we are friends here," Demona snarled, "You are evil."
Sekhmet silently snarled at the woman standing atop the pyramid, and she was about to retort with a command to her servants, but decided to try a different tactic. She reached out with her mind to look at the woman's past. After all, Dominique Destine was a member of the business elite and would likely have secrets that could be used to her advantage. However, what the lion-like Unseelie saw was the trapped figure of a sky-blue female gargoyle with flaming red hair and a brass colored tiara. This was obviously something that was not going to allow her to manipulate her, since she also sensed a great deal of manipulation already. But she did find some information that might be useful.
"Come now, Ms. Destine," Sekhmet said, "It is apparent that we are both more than we claim to be. Isn't that right, Demona?"
Demona's eyes widened at the mention of her true name.
"How did you guess that name?" Demona stammered.
"I am a fey, Demona," Sekhmet answered, and then added in a more arrogant tone, "I know many things. You have to choices. One you can submit to my authority or two you can die."
"I will not serve you," Demona snarled.
The large male lion bared its teeth and the two cheetahs came to stand in front of it.
"Dr. Wedrington doesn't like your tone," Sekhmet commented, "And I don't like it either. You are outmatched and outnumbered. If you will not serve me, than I will make your death swift if you surrender."
"Dr. Wedrington?" Demona stammered.
Sekhmet teased the fur under the male lion's muzzle, "I ran into him on my way here and learned that someone had used the Mage's powers on him. Then I learned that you were the one to cast the spell. He has been quite helpful, and if you hadn't put a trance on him, I wouldn't have found you."
Demona's eyes widened. The Sisters were trying to warn her of something earlier and she ignored it. The powers she had been taught by the Mage and the knowledge she gained in winning in the battle with Anansi, told Demona that whatever Sekhmet had done, it was permanent. She had done something disastrous yet again, and it brought to mind only more words that Goliath had spoken a few years before.
'There is good and evil in all of us, human and gargoyle alike. You should know that more than anyone. Don't you see? None of this would have happened if it hadn't been for YOU!'
"You will have wished you hadn't messed with me or the Doctor," Demona growled, "Fulmenos Venite!"
The lightning bolt knocked the lion-headed woman to the ground, scattering dust throughout the air.
"Kill her!" Sekhmet commanded.
The transformed Dr. Wedrington and the two cheetahs charged up the pyramid steps. Demona sensed no magical powers emanating from the three anthromorphic animals, and pointed her arms at her charging attackers and chanted in Latin. Sekhmet was surprised to see her servants vanish into thin air.
"What have you done you witch?" Sekhmet roared, shaking the earth with her own powers, causing a few of the top pyramid bricks to fall of to the earth below.
"I've dropped them off in the Nile," Demona smiled, "You've already figured out that I was trained by the Mage in the arts of sorcery. Now it's my turn to ask a question, you do know that he wanted the extermination of the entire Third Race?"
"The Mage had a deal with my Master to get rid of Oberon," Sekhmet corrected, "It is Oberon he has trouble with. And why are you referring to the Mage in past tense?"
"First of all, the Mage would have likely double crossed your master," Demona said, "I had a deal with him and he double crossed me. Second of all, the Mage is past tense. He is dead."
"Dead?" Sekhmet asked, half in disbelief.
"As a doornail," Demona answered, "Fulmenos Venite!"
Sekhmet dodged the second lightning bolt and created another massive localized earthquake. This one was far stronger than the one before and some of the pyramids lower and middle bricks began dislocate themselves
Demona began to descend the stairs to attack the evil Unseelie. She chanted in Latin, and shaped the sands into strong hands and gripped Sekhmet tightly, pulling her to the ground. Demona then threw another powerful lighting bolt at Sekhmet. The blast hit her, and caused the Unseelie to scream with pain, but the bolt also destroyed the 'sand hands' that Demona was using to hold Sekhmet still.
Sekhmet slowly pulled herself to her feet. She was slowly discovering that Demona was not so easy a foe to defeat. This meant that the Mage would not be easy and perhaps nearly impossible to beat. The lion-headed fey refused to give up however, and took a few tactical steps back.
Sekhmet then chanted:
"Sorceress trained by a master,
fall and be crushed to death,
by falling plaster!"
Emerald energy filled the air and suddenly, the earth around the pyramid shuddered and then lifted into the air. Demona watched as Sekhmet added more and more magic into her spell. The pyramid lifted higher and higher into the air, leaving a large crater in the earth. After a few seconds the pyramid began to rotate in mid air. Demona's eyes opened with shock as she realized what Sekhmet planned to do. Demona fervently tried to grip the pyramid's bricks as it rotated, but without a gargoyle's talons, she soon fell down into the crater, landing with a decisive thud. Demona then moved to shield herself as the pyramid, in its upside down position, fell on top of her.
Sekhmet grinned evilly as the dust settled over what was formerly a pyramid. Not even a sign of Demona remained protruding through the rubble. As the dust cleared, Sekhmet walked to the one object that survived. The Burial Urn of Osiris.
"I had not doubts that Osiris would see to your survival," Sekhmet chuckled to herself as she picked up the artifact.
Sekhmet then looked up to see three water drenched forms come walking out of the darkness.
"My servants!" Sekhmet greeted the two cheetahs and lion, "That witch didn't hurt you too much?"
The animals all answered in positive sounding grunts and growls, and made large smiles with their anthromorphic mouths, that their elongated teeth made look rather threatening.
"Good my children," Sekhmet said with a smile, "Now let us depart."
Unknown Location
"Master," Sekhmet said softly, almost purring as she entered what looked like a 17th century library.
The lone male figure standing by the windows turned to face the lion-headed Sekhmet.
"Yes," the figure answered.
"I have recovered the Burial Urn of Osiris," Sekhmet said with a bow.
"Good," the figure answered, "Take it to the artifacts chamber and place it with the Holy Grail. It will be needed to secure our ultimate invincibility."
"Yes my lord," Sekhmet answered.
Egypt
Demona erupted from the rubble of the pyramid in a great rage.
"Where is she?" Demona roared.
"Sekhmet has already left," the Sisters answered from behind her, "And she took the archeologist with her."
The Weird Sisters's answer brought Demona to her knees.
"I've failed," Demona muttered.
"And you've caused pain," the Sisters answered, "The transformation into one of Sekhmet's werelions is quite painful. Far more than your former nightly and daily transformations."
Demona only looked down at the sand beneath her. Luna stepped forward from her sisters and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Fear not, Demona," Luna said.
"There is a way to cure him, in time," Phoebe added, "We must catch him first."
"And remember that there is a time when you would not have even cared that a human was in suffering," Selene encouraged, "Even if you didn't cause it."
"The clan will not forgive me for this," Demona muttered, "This is worse than with those three girls and their dog."
"There is much they will not forgive you for," Selene said.
"And more that they will not trust you about," Luna added.
"But always remember that these are consequences that you will always have to deal with," Phoebe finished, "And they will be WORSE if you do nothing to reform."
Demona looked toward the east and sighed, "It will be dawn soon. I should find a safe place to sleep."
Demona eventually made it to another series of abandoned ruins of another old Ancient Egyptian palace and managed to duck herself into a position that would keep her hidden from tourists. She quietly stood facing east as the sun rose. As the rays of light reached her body, Demona felt her muscles and skin tighten and harden into stone for the first time in years.
Before stone sleep overcame her, Demona thought, "Now for my skin color."
The End
