Lone Clone
By Princess Alexandria
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Prompt: Trust – section 17
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I felt the awkwardness like a heavy fog that we were gliding through, sticking coldly to my skin. I was silent, because I really couldn't think of anything nice I wanted to say to the male gliding beside me.
"Lilith." His deep voice finally spoke and I sighed quietly as I glanced over at him. "I know we haven't really talked." It took a lot of effort to not roll my eyes. Of course we didn't talk, he made my skin crawl and he looked like I might be doing that to him as well. I liked keeping my distance from him, and his insistence on showing me back to the castle wasn't welcome. I didn't want to know him. Now I couldn't figure out how to say that and not be rude, so I just nodded. "It's a little jarring to find out someone has made a clone of you, and I am sorry. I did try harder with Thailog, and it's really not fair to you that I haven't tried harder with you because he turned into such a disappointment."
Oh no, I thought with dread, realizing he was trying to create a 'moment' between us. "Look, it's okay. I consider Fox my donor, you're off the hook. I don't expect big commitments or emotions here. I just needed you to show me to Demona, that's all." I told him. "I don't need anything from you." I stressed those words. I really didn't want anything either. I knew it wasn't all that fair, I was just as guilty of judging him by Thailog as he apparently was with me, but all my grievances with him were really based on him. It was just the skin crawling that wasn't something he earned, my distrust and disgust with his actions were all earned.
I knew he wasn't evil, I felt a strong desire to believe he was, but I could tell it wasn't true. He was just in my way, and he was blinded when it came to us clones, but he was probably a good male. How great for him, it still didn't change the fact that I didn't want any connection to him. "I was going to suggest you join the Labyrinth clan, but I can see that wouldn't work for you. Even if Delilah hadn't been so aggressive, you don't really fit with them." He spoke on and I just climbed up in the air, with him keeping pace with me. "Fox's suggestion that you live at the castle might be a good one." He spoke and I found my head turning to the side quickly to stare at him in a bit of shock. "Yes I know neither of us would be comfortable at first, but I think we'd adjust."
"I'm fine where I am." I told him and could see the doubtful look on his face.
"I know there is little chance of you finding a mate with our clan, but we have connections with other clans. Angela is clearly not a lesbian." Goliath sighed. "Our clan rarely turns out gay gargoyles. Once we thought one of my rookery sisters might have that tendency, years ago, but she apparently wasn't. I believe the elders were rather relieved when she and I started seeing each other, since her life in the clan would have been rather lonely without other lesbian gargoyles around."
I turned to stare at the buildings under us as I let those words travel over me. Something about them bothered me, aside from the lonely aspect. "I thought you were Demona's mate before the spell that froze you in stone." I asked, almost afraid, and a bit hopeful as well.
"I was." I felt a small thrill as I suspected Demona wasn't as straight as that clan thought either. I felt a wave of giddy making hope. "Demona was a late bloomer in her attraction to males, but she was. Other than that I only heard stories of an ancestor that was gay and had long since crossed over before I was hatched. We don't hold to the human's prejudice, but we do regret the hatching of a gay or lesbian gargoyle simply because the chances of more than one in a clutch is unlikely."
"So Delilah's attitude isn't a gargoyle one." I muttered as we leveled out our climbing, seeing the castle in the distance even with us.
"No, sadly that was a very human hatred she was programmed with." Goliath spoke and it felt a bit nice to hear, but I was still stuck on the questions I desperately wanted to ask about Demona but didn't dare. "In this modern world perhaps it may come down to you mating with a human. I hear it is much more prevalent in their race, even if they express so much hatred toward homosexuals." I must have made a face, because he sounded a little defensive. "Some humans are noble and good. If you get over their lack of wings and tail they can be attractive in their own right."
"Maybe some day I'll be that desperate." I muttered. I was starting to feel hope that I wouldn't have to sink to that, what with the questions about Demona's sexuality not being answered to my satisfaction yet. But if Demona wasn't interested I figured I'd be starting to pay more attention to the humans. If Goliath could do it I'm sure I could too, but I'd prefer to not have to. I liked the idea of gliding along side a lover, or being wrapped up in their winged embrace. Humans just couldn't do that. Not to mention I'd have to be so very careful not to break them.
Still, lonely is lonely and I would bet a human female would learn my anatomy rather easily. They were trainable I'm sure, if they didn't run screaming.
"Consider the offer. If you join our clan I will do what I can to find out more about the clans I know exist to see if there is someone out there for you. Any clan would be willing to give up their lesbian sister if she could find a mate." He spoke and I just grimaced. A mail order bride, why didn't that make me feel like I'd find true love? I'd be settling for whoever was gay too.
I'd rather find someone I was attracted to for real, someone I respected. That mental image came with blue skin in my mind and I sighed heavily as we moved to land on the castle's courtyard. Once I got Demona out of this mess maybe I'd ask about her younger days and if she really had any inclination to do more than tease me. I wondered if I said the word Bisexual to Goliath if he'd even know what that was. Perhaps Demona was bisexual.
Once we had stone under our feet he turned to me fully. "I know you have trouble trusting me because Thailog planned to use you so horribly, but while you do make me uncomfortable, I do want what's best for you. I want what's best for all of my clan." I felt a small sick feeling when he held his hand out to shake. I did it, but his calling me clan just made me feel guilty. He was offering too much trust to me, and I knew I wasn't worthy of it. I was spending all my time trying to thwart him in his underground prison efforts. I didn't like shaking his hand while I knew I was preparing to stab him in the back. He'd regret this night sometime soon. It was a shame, he was making pretty offers I might have jumped at before I found Demona.
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Prompt: Weakness – section 18
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Fox was waiting for me. I could see her red hair as I landed. I nodded politely at Goliath and then started to walk towards my female donor. "Lilith, did you get your answers?" Fox spoke and I grimaced at the lie I was telling. Fox misinterpreted it. "I see. Well, anything we can do to help, we will. David and I can have access to the best scientists in the world in a matter of days."
I felt like a worm, and the shame hurt in my chest. I stopped in front of her and just stared at her a moment as I tried to think. "Maybe they could check the others? Just to make sure they're okay?" This was what I was here for, but Fox's offering before I asked really impressed me. If I really were desperate like this, well, Fox seemed like I could count on her.
"I believe that can be arranged." Fox smiled just a little, but her eyes were concerned.
"Thanks." I muttered and glanced to the side to see Goliath giving us one last look before going inside. "I should probably go." I muttered, thinking of all the stealing I had to plan.
"I really wanted to talk to you first." Fox spoke a little faster. I looked back at her. "There are things I think you should be aware of about what you might have inherited from me. I sure wish my mother had told me." The last sentence was too quiet for a human to hear so I didn't respond to it and let her know I got the hint she wasn't happy with her mother. "I'm not completely human." Fox spoke and I felt my jaw open just a little as I stared. "I'm half of what is known as the Fey. I just found out shortly after Alexander was born, and my son has magical powers." Fox stared at me and I had wide eyes. Magic? I knew it was real, and had heard about the Fey, but this was the mystery in my DNA. This was the odd connections that couldn't be explained by the Doctor that made me. While I had no significant amount of human in me, because of the sifting he'd done with my genes as I was created, he wasn't able to filter out the Fey in me. I stood still and blinked stupidly as I considered that.
I had no idea what it meant to have that rogue DNA, but my half brother of sorts could do magic, that was interesting. I was created a scientist, but I sure wouldn't turn down the possibility of magic also. "Magic isn't as easy as it seems. I'm a full half Fey and I can't do any unless the situation is really stressful." Fox spoke a bit more softly. "Alexander showed promise very young, obviously. There is a chance you won't have any powers Lilith, I just can't tell either way."
"Okay." I sighed and shelved the magic idea and my fascination with the idea for now.
"Your grandmother is the Queen of the Fey." Fox told me and I found myself blinking stupidly again. What was the right response to information like that? I found that there wasn't one so I just stared at Fox until she grinned just a little. "Speechless?" She teased.
"This is just a lot to take in." I muttered and turned to stare at the starry sky. This far above Manhattan a few stars were able to shine past the city lights. "I mean, being a clone is odd enough. People don't know how to treat me now."
"Everyone here is aware of my dual heritage. They learned when I did. They are already aware that you may have inherited more than your looks from me." Fox had a dark look in her eyes for a moment. I didn't really care for that, but I was a little used to being the last to know about me, who I was. I was programmed and there were people out there that knew more about what all I knew than I did. Being the last to know wasn't new to me, but it did irritate me. "Also, the clan and I have a rather tense relationship. I hope it doesn't color their impression of you, but it may. I'm sorry." Fox spoke softly and I turned to face her, concerned.
"I'm fortunate, very fortunate to have a connection to you. I see how the others react with their clones and you don't do that." I spoke firmly. Of all the people here, it was Fox I would miss when my betrayal was realized. Maybe she'd been right, and I was a momma's girl. "I know you were on the wrong side of the law." I spoke more quietly of my programmed knowledge. "And the wrong side of the clan. I really don't care. I don't think I'd care if you still were, except to worry about you getting hurt." I barely knew her, but I felt a strong connection. I felt a little foolish for such a strong display when we weren't very close yet, but Fox smiled and it seemed I hadn't done something too strange.
It took just a moment to realize that I had a weakness now, and it was Fox. I had plans, schemes to create and hatch, and I was finding myself balancing along a fine line in this battle, a line between my clan leader and my female donor. I didn't want to disappoint either one of them. It was an impossible situation, and I sighed heavily again while looking out over the city. I had to just enjoy this while it lasted, because I had responsibilities that didn't include this place. "I need to head home." I spoke quietly, but in reality I needed to case out a few potential shops that may have what I need, and if I was lucky steal and hide a few things.
I was going to have to risk doing my day's sleep in the city again, so that I could use that time I'd normally travel back to Demona's home and back for other things without making the clan suspicious. My stomach clenched at the necessity and a bit of fear. Even Demona wouldn't approve of this, but I needed her back before I got too comfortable around here.
