All the characters appearing in Gargoyles and Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles are copyright Buena Vista Television/The Walt Disney Company.
No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder.
All original characters are the property of Storyseeker.
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The clan all stared in amazement at the four photographs, each with the same child within it. The little girl was dressed differently in each photo, but aside from that, there was no mistaking the resemblance.
"It's her," Lex could only gasp the obvious.
"No kidding," Brooklyn snorted, but still couldn't stop looking at the pictures.
Goliath's face was a mystery, as he had remained silent all throughout.
"The lass must be immortal," Hudson declared.
"Must be," Broadway confirmed.
"What if the girls in these pictures are all just look-alikes?" Angela said unsure. At the disbelieving looks she was getting, she shrugged. "I admit it doesn't sound likely, but these are all photos of the Venes family. Members of a family always look alike in each generation."
"Perhaps, miss Angela," Owen replied. "But all of these girls don't just look alike, as officially speaking… none of them were ever born. There are no records of their births ever taking place, or that any of their mothers were ever pregnant at the time when they should have been born. That cannot be a coincidence."
"Agreed," Goliath finally said. "So what is she, Owen? A demon, or an Oracle?"
Owen sighed. "I cannot say, " he admitted. "If she is a demon, then she or the Venes have managed to disguise her true form extremely well, as I cannot sense any nether-worldly force around her."
"Is there any way for us to find out?" Hudson asked.
"Yes, " Goliath interjected. "I'll go ask her."
Before anyone could even raise an eye-ridge at his suggestion, he had already left the room.
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Sarah Vene sat on the floor, playing with her crayons as usual. She didn't even raise an eyelid at the sound of the door opening, and the large footsteps of what could only be a gargoyle, coming towards her.
"What are you?" Goliath simply asked, his voice low and not in his usual menacing anger.
Sarah stopped drawing for a second, and then slowly raised her head up to his.
"You wish to know my origins?" she asked. Goliath had already noticed that her voice had always seemed a lot more mature than her early years, but it was only now hat he realised that it was more than just mature… It sounded ancient.
"Yes," he replied.
"What do you wish to know?"
Goliath took a deep breath. "For starters, just tell me who are you? Are you really one of the Venes?"
"What makes you ask that?" she cocked her head at him.
"I didn't notice until recently," Goliath began, "but you really don't look anything like the rest of your family. Plus, there's the fact that we now know that you're a lot older than your siblings, at least over a century old, perhaps older. You tell me?"
Sarah shrugged. "I long since lost track of my age, decades ago. It became unimportant to me."
Goliath tapped the control panel on the cell door, and stepped into the child's, or whatever she was, cell.
"Who are you?" he repeated.
The girl cocked her head again, her eyes looking as though they were searching for something.
"Sarah Michelle Foster," she finally said. "Daughter of Angelus and Martha Foster."
"Goliath kneeled down beside her. "So you're not one of the Venes by blood then?"
"I'm not one of the Venes at all," Sarah shivered. "My family were simple farmers back in the old west, a century ago. None of us were into magic, most of us didn't even believe in it… Until I came along, that is."
"So you're an Oracle then?" Goliath deduced.
"Yes and no," Sarah looked ashamed for some reason.
"What do you mean?"
Sarah sighed and looked straight at him, here eyes betraying her true age. "I was born before the turn of the century," she began. "At the moment of my birth, my parents knew that I was unlike others. I never cried like normal children, and I seemed to possess a gift for knowing when danger was afoot and such. But none of that mattered to us."
Goliath watched, as she paused for a moment before continuing. "As I said, our lives were simple and joyful. I was the youngest of six children and my siblings and I were very close. They took care of me when my parents could not, and together we all lived and worked on our farm. But paradise never lasts long, as I was soon to find out, even as a child."
"What happened?" Goliath asked interested.
"The Venes are what happened," she replied without any true emotion. "They came to our state, buying new acres of land for their own farms and to mine oil. It wasn't long before they came knocking on our front door, making us an offer for our home. Father politely refused them, but they were persistent. When they wouldn't go, father got angry and tried chasing them out with his shotgun, but he was soon to learn that that was a mistake… You never threaten a Vene."
Goliath wondered if Sarah's father had managed to live to a ripe old age, or if at all?
"Edward Vene was the then Vene, who came to our home," Sarah said. "When father threatened him, I knew he would make an example of my father for no one to ever dare defy him. I could sense what he was about to do and stepped in, shouting at my father to stop, and that the devil was in that man." Sarah paused and sighed. "That was the biggest mistake of my life, as by doing so I had revealed my gift to Edward."
Goliath had a sneaking suspicion of where this was heading. "He wanted you instead of the farm?" he asked
Sarah nodded. "Funny thing was, although I was only three at the time, he made his proposition to me and me alone. He left the rest of my family out of it and whenever one of them tried to intervene, Edward silenced them, thankfully not permanently though." She picked up a red crayon and started drawing again. "He said no harm would come to my family and they would be left to live in peace on the farm, which would forever grow a bountiful harvest and be protected from all outsiders."
"And you trusted him?" Goliath asked unsure and a little amazed.
"No," she admitted. "But I knew what he would do if I refused. There was no choice to make. I accepted his offer and he took me from my family, despite their objections… I never saw them again." A small solitary tear escaped her eye. "The Venes wanted to use my visions to aid them in locating more oil, but I could only sense danger and occasionally see one or two visions of the future."
"So you were of no real use to them then?" Goliath asked confused.
"Yes… but they had the power to change that," Sarah shuddered.
Goliath had a feeling of dread come upon him. "How?"
Sarah idly drew on her piece of paper with the red crayon. "Do you know what a Seer is?"
Goliath held his breath for a second. "One of our allies just told us that it's some kind of demon." He revealed.
"Your Fey friend, correct?" Sarah smiled slightly at Goliath's raised eye-ridge. "Remember, I am an Oracle."
"Ah, right, of course," Goliath said, still slightly taken back.
"Anyway," she continued. "You are correct about the Seer. It is a demon, often referred to as the being of many eyes. The reason for its much number of eyes is that it sees all, from the past to the future. In other words… its visions far exceed my own."
"So why didn't the Venes use that abomination, instead of you?"
Sarah shrugged. "Because I'm more easy to control than a demon. A demons vision powers are not the only thing greater than mine. If a Seer were to be let loose on the world, then it could cause absolute chaos, destroying everything in its path and knowing everyone's first move before they even thought of it."
Goliath nodded in understanding. "So they chose you instead?"
"No," she said gravely. "They chose both of us."
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Bedford Hotel:
Cecile's eyes sprang open, her trance interrupted. "DAMIEN!" she screamed out her brother's name. "Will you keep that racket down!"
A short shrieking came from the other room, and Damien came in a second later with a tiny kitten dangling loosely from his hand, a kitten that was wearing a tiny suit that greatly resembled one of the hotel chef's uniforms.
'Oh no,' Cecile thought, sighing inwardly, 'not again.' At this rate, the hotel was going to need some serious recruitment soon.
"I take it dinner wasn't to your satisfaction?" Thailog asked casually, eyeing the dressed kitten.
Damien responded with only a sneer.
"Damien," Cecile spoke coldly. "Normally, I wouldn't care less about the help or what you do to them… but dad has mentioned countless times to us to keep a low profile and not to attract any unwanted attention."
"Bah," Damien snorted. "How's he gonna know?"
Suddenly, the phone started ringing. Cecile sighed and went to answer it. A moment later her face, which was normally all cocky and full of confidence, was now ashen white and filled with worry.
"Be careful what you say, dear brother," she whispered venomously and then spoke into the phone again. "Hello, father."
Cecile. A low voice could be heard on the line, one that Thailog with his sensitive Gargoyle ears could hear perfectly. The voice sounded more or less like a normal man in his middle years, but there was something else too. He voice had something like an ancient echo to it, older than its years, but also filled with darkness.
Thailog knew how twisted and evil the Vene children were, so he could only imagine what their parents must be like.
Mind telling me why I have gotten a bill from the Penthouse, asking for over $100,000 in compensation to the damages caused recently?
Cecile gulped. "Well, you see, daddy…" she stuttered a little. "It's like this… Ummm, you remember those Gargoyles you said you were interested in, here in Manhattan. Well, the boys and I were thinking… "
Stop babbling, girl! Cecile's father's strong voice sounded down the phone. I do remember the clan. I should do, considering I made sure to arrange that the Canmore family would learn about them, and head out there to lure the clan out of hiding.
"Yes, father," Cecile replied. "But things didn't go quite according to plan, as the Canmores were unsuccessful in containing the clan and… "
Why would I want them to do that? Her father asked suddenly.
Cecile paused. "Well, I assumed that you would want the beasts captured?"
Yes, but not by those reckless fools! I only sent those Hunters out there because I knew they would be enough to lure the Gargoyles, if there was indeed a clan out there, out of hiding and reveal their existence to me. If the Hunters had succeeded in capturing them, then that would have been a shame to loose some rare creatures, but not a big loss. I only wanted them to find them, nothing else. Now tell me…what have you been up to, young lady?
Cecile sighed. "Damien, Nathan and I tried to capture the Gargoyles."
Very well, I respect that. But tell me, what has that got to do with the thousands of dollars repair?
"We first went to the Gargoyle's home, which unbelievably is in that new castle they built in New York, on top of the tallest building in Manhattan. Its owner, David Xanatos, is hiding them there. We tried it civilised at first by going to them and offering Mr. Xanatos a substantial fee for his troubles, but… we were rejected.
Not surprising. Her father said. And then?
"We could have taken them right there and then, but… Well… "
What? Her father's voice was starting to loose its patience.
Cecile felt a little hot under the collar. "Well, it had been a boring past couple of weeks, so we… We thought we would have a little fun with them." She tried unsuccessfully to defend herself. "We just gave them the old warning to start with. You know, 'we'll be back' and giving them a taste of our powers and all that. Then we summoned the Midguard Serpent to terrorise downtown and a dragon to attack their home."
So far, all you have done is easily forgivable. I would have done the same thing myself probably, if in the same situation. But that still doesn't explain how our penthouse is in ruins?
"Well," Cecile clicked her teeth. "Well, needless to say that the clan wasn't too happy with our attacks. You know how obsessed those things are with protecting? So they decided to launch a counterattack. They located where we were staying at our penthouse and tried to do away with us all."
There was a silence on the other line for a long while, so silent that Thailog couldn't even hear any breathing coming from either side. Until at last, Cecile's father, who he remembered being called Abraham Vene, spoke.
You mean to tell me that one tiny clan of Gargoyles broke into one of our homes, and you allowed them to rage through it, destroying everything in their path?
"Not quite, daddy," Cecile defended herself. "We were all set for them. We didn't believe for one second that they would find us, but if they did then we wouldn't be unprepared."
So how did they get the better hand of you then?
Cecile sighed. "They had some help, help that none of us expected or could have ever prepared ourselves better for."
Help, what kind of help, and from whom? What possible defence could they have that can be immune to our power?
"Would you believe King Arthur and Excalibur?" Cecile replied.
There was a long silence, which had Cecile in high anxiety. Finally her father responded… King Arthur, eh?
"Yes, father," Cecile hoped this would be enough of an excuse for her father not to incinerate her.
I know of Arthur. Unlike what the historians believe, we Venes were once tutors to none other than Morgana Le Fey, Arthur's half-sister. We know of nearly all that went on at that time. We know that Arthur had been mortally wounded in his last battle, but there was never a tomb or a grave, so we concluded that his teacher, Merlin, must have seen to his resurrection, but we never found out what had become of either of them.
"But after so many centuries," Cecile said confused. "How could he still be alive? Arthur was no halfling, no Fey blood in him, so how could he live through over 1500 years?"
A number of reasons could be the cause, daughter… suspended animation, a leap through a time portal…or perhaps a bit of both?
"Eh?"
I recall from my studies that the Fey of which you spoke of, live on an island that exists outside of our time and space. Time there passes slower than that in our world. Plus, it is said that the air of Avalon has mystical healing properties, so it is reasonable to say that maybe Merlin more than likely brought Arthur there to recuperate.
"Yes, that would be logical. Xanatos even has one of the Fey working as his manservant."
Interesting. That piece of information might prove very useful later. Does Xanatos know what his manservant truly is?
"He should, considering that he changed into his true form right before he attacked us and turned Damien and Nathan into donkeys."
There was a slight chuckle at the other end. So the boy's foolish jackass attics finally caught up with them, eh? Hopefully it will teach them some self-control at long last.
"I also gained myself a manservant, father." Cecile smiled darkly. "One who will definitely prove useful to us in defeating the Gargoyle clan, and maybe in defeating Arthur as well."
Intriguing, but before I ask who he is… I wish to know more of this supposedly King Arthur. You are certain that it is he? I'd hate to find out that this so called timeless king turns out to be nothing more than a fruitcake with an authentic looking blade that fooled you.
"Yes, I am sure." Cecile assured him. "He used the sword against us and despite all the endless hours of teachings you've graciously given us… Nothing could have prepared us for the power that that blade wielded on us."
Most intriguing. Her father's voice sounded so intent on all the information she had of Arthur, it was one of the few rare times when she had ever had his full attention. What are you planning to do now?
"We're planning to just weaken the Gargoyle's defences, daddy," Cecile reported. "We've already started by sending off a small plague of Adroanzi. We've got other things planned, nothing certain, but we'll ensure that by the time we initiate the true attack, they'll be nothing even vaguely resembling warriors of the night, as they've been so described over the centuries. They'll be like putty in our hands, so to speak."
Her father sighed. You always were a poor student when it came to battle drills, Cecile. He added sharply. Magic is not something to be used so lightly, and it is definitely not something that should be wasted so!
"Well, what would you have us do then?" Cecile replied sharply, forgetting her respect. "Just stand by and wait for them to attack us and then use our magic?"
Her father remained deadly silent. Contact, Lightning. He owes us a favour or two.
Cecile snorted. "Lightning's a thief! What possible reason would you have for using him? And anyway, he never does anything for free, and he charges an arm and a leg and you know his stupid code… He only goes… "
I'm well aware of his conditions, daughter! But I also know that when it comes to someone of his skills and talents, there's none finer than him.
"So you want us to hire him to steal that sword from his almighty highness, himself?"
No. I agree with your original plan of weakening the clan's defences before the true attack. Have Lightning go after something of this David Xanatos. I understand he's gathered quite a collection in the past few years, and him and Lightning have a history together already. Just choose something that Xanatos would no doubt have under his tightest security, and have Lightning go after it.
Cecile sighed. "As you say, father."
Lightning has never gone after something in Xanatos's actual building. It will be beneficial for us to know Xanatos's strengths and weaknesses in his own home, and Lightning can find all that out for us by going in after whatever it is that he prizes most.
"Ah, an information gathering mission," Cecile understood now.
Correct. Now see to it.
"As you wish," Cecile prepared to put the phone down.
Oh, and Cecile…?
She paused.
INFERNO!
Cecile blinked, and then screamed, as she felt her hair blaze and burn, as it burst into flames.
Don't… EVER talk back to me! He said before hanging up.
Thailog stepped back, watching the running and screaming Vene, with her head all alight. A great part of him took immense delight in watching the girl of his nightmares get tortured herself, but another part of him also took great fear. He knew that the adult Venes must be powerful, as their children were so, but if this Abraham could do this from another country and on the phone… Lord, help them all.
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Eyrie:
"What do you mean they chose both of you?" Goliath asked in confusion.
Sarah finished what she was drawing with her red crayon and held it up for Goliath to see. It was a crude drawing, similar to what Owen had shown them earlier of the Seer.
"This is what I am now," she replied.
Goliath's eyes widened. "You're… a Seer?"
"Partly," she said, placing the paper on the floor. "When it became clear to the Venes that my visions were of no real use to them, they decided to attempt charging my powers with a little demon energy. They summoned the Seer from its hell dimension, and through ancient stolen magic, they merged the demon's life force with my own."
"They made you part demon?"
Sarah nodded. "When we merged, I gained the Seer's superior power of precognition. Its powers were of course greatly diluted because of my humanity, but they were still among the greatest in the world. With them, I was able to see future events of the next century with uncanny accuracy. I told the Venes where all the oil was from Texas to New Jersey." Sarah then looked a little regretful. "I also warned them of any incoming dangers that might threaten them, dangers like the one you and your clan brought."
Goliath looked a little unsure at the old child. If she had told him this just a few hours ago then he would be screaming murder, but now… Now after hearing all about her past, he couldn't help, but feel some pity toward the abused being.
"I suppose you didn't really have much of a choice."
"As much as a mouse has when trapped in its cage," she replied.
"Is that why you haven't aged since then?"
Sarah nodded. "The demon's unholy blood keeps my body as it was when it and I were first joined. I can neither age, fall sick nor suffer injury, as its power keeps me sustained and will continue to do so for all time."
"Can the curse not be removed?"
Sarah shook her head. "The Venes took great deals to ensure that once the spell was cast, it could never be removed. I am of no use to them as a simple child again, with minimal strength in magic. But that's not what the worst part is."
"You mean there's more?" Goliath asked, horrified at what this family would do to gain power.
"You forget," she explained while looking up with her innocent eyes that were full of history and insight. "I do have a demon locked inside of me, remember?"
"Yes?"
"Like a Werewolf, every so often I undergo a terrifying transformation, where the demon inside of me needs to be unleashed for a certain amount of time. While I am in that state, the demon rampages out of control, destroying any and all that gets
Goliath began to feel uneasy. "When do you undergo these transformations?"
"At various times," she shrugged. "It all depends on how long I'm able to contain the demon in me. It's literally a wild animal, urging to get out and cause chaos. I keep it locked down for as long as possible, but it gets stronger over time and eventually breaks out."
Goliath remembered what the Seer had looked like in the picture that Owen had shown them and wondered if she turned into something like that?
"Fortunately though," she continued, "the demon doesn't stay in control forever. When it takes command of my body, I can see and hear everything that it does, but can do nothing about it. Eventually it wears out its energy and weakens. When that happens, it looses its hold and I take back command."
"How long does the demon stay in control?"
"It depends on how much energy the creature wastes when awake." She explained. "The longer it remains dormant, the stronger it becomes, and the stronger it is when it awakes, the more energy it has to keep it around… Fortunately, that's all the energy it has at that moment. It uses the same energy for everything else, including causing chaos. The more power it uses, the quicker its energy runs out and the sooner I come back."
"Do your… keepers, keep you locked up when you undergo this change?" Goliath asked.
Sarah smiled lightly, without humour. "Do you honestly think that the Venes would care about what happens to everyone else, other than themselves?"
Goliath gripped his fists tightly.
"They don't keep me around, as the demon has no comparison when it comes to targets." Sarah made circles with a black crayon. "It attacks anything and anyone that crosses its path. So when the change occurs, they simply make sure that I'm not around them when it does."
"They simply let you out into the public and do nothing when it attacks innocents," Goliath concluded.
Sarah nodded.
Goliath mentally swore. He should not be surprised at the Vene's lack of morality and concern for others, but nevertheless he was enraged and disgusted at it. Whatever humanity their family might have once had, must have been bled out of them long ago.
Sarah suddenly stiffened. "I knew you would be coming to see me about my past tonight, Goliath," she said.
Goliath was about to ask her why, but then realised that that would be a stupid to ask someone who could see into the future.
"It seems fate intended you for this," she continued. "Finding out about me and my little… problem."
"Why?" Goliath asked confused.
"I suggest you let yourself out of this cell," she answered, as her fists began to tighten. "You will soon see what I mean."
"What are you…?" Goliath paused, as he looked straight… into Sarah's five eyes, staring right at him, and as more eyes continued to open all over her face.
"Jalapena!" Goliath swore.
To Be Continued…
