Chimera prime: To answer your question I haven't actually decided, I was thinking about asking everyone when it got closer to the point of Avalon. Would you like Dakota to go to Avalon or stay behind?


Chapter Dedicated to:

lilani127

Chimera Prime

Amber

MonstarzGirl

Silverwolf

brittneyangel


Chapter 9: Invitation

Inside Castle Wyvern Broadway stood in the kitchen as he stirred the stew he was making, and he tasted the stew as he sighed in delight at the taste.

The small TV room was occupied by Hudson and Bronx who were cast in the glow of the television screen, as they watched Donald Duck struggling to what seemed like glue off him. Hudson stared somewhat interested as he stroked his beard thoughtfully, as Bronx sat on the floor munching on a bone that he had been given earlier to munch on.

In the main hall Lexington and Brooklyn sat at a table as they played a game of poker, while Dakota sat perched on top of the table as she watched in fascination. Brooklyn looked at his hand and up at a smirking Lexington who showed him his hand as he grumbled, and stood up unfurling his wings having lost the game as Dakota lightly laughed and placed a light hand on his shoulder.

In a room not too far away sat Goliath who was reading a book in the light of the moon, as he sat on a high ladder.


Farther in the city in prison sat David Xanatos lying down on his bed in his prison cell, as he stared up at the ceiling wide awake. Next to him pinned to the wall was his calendar showing that he would soon be released on the 31st of October. In the morning Xanatos sat a table with two other men, as he stared bitterly at his food.

"Just like mom used to cook, if mom was a prison cook," he muttered bitterly as he spoke more of to himself than to the two men.

Later that day Owen had arrived for his visit with Xanatos in the usual room with a piece of glass separating them.

"All in all, I would say my stay has been a learning experience," replied Xanatos, as he summed up his stay.

"One more week and you're free. You've never said what you want done about the gargoyles. It would be easy enough to destroy them during the day," Owen said showing somewhat of a hint of a smile.

"I suppose, but it seems like such a waste, but still I can't have them on foot when I get home," Xanatos said contemplating his choices as he tapped his fingers together in thought.

They were interrupted as the door opened and in stepped a security guard. They both looked up surprised as Owen looked down at his watch and back up before saying, "I believe I have ten minutes left," Owen stated.

"Take all the time you want, I'm here with a proposition for Mr. Xanatos," the security guard said with a stoic expression.

"I'm listening," Xanatos said, deeply interested as he leaned forward.

"I understand you have a small infestation," he said cryptically as he pulled a chair towards him and sat down.

"I don't recall phoning pest control," replied Xanatos as he shook his head.

"I'm familiar with these uh pests, for a price I'll take them off your hands," he elaborated as he raised his hat a little to see Xanatos more clearly.

"I see, and how would you go about this Mr….?" questioned Xanatos, seeking a name from this mysterious stranger.

"They call me Macbeth," smirked Macbeth.


*Sunset*

Dakota's Pov

I let out a growl as I shed my stone skin and turned around as I folded my wings and saw Elisa, standing with a strange man. I narrowed my eyes as I hopped down from my perch and moved my gaze across the man. He wore all back with a silver metal belt around his waist, and a cape around his shoulders.

"Who's your friend Elisa?" asked Lexington as he moved forward but I wrapped my arm around him stopping him from going any closer.

"Is this guy bothering ya?" asked Broadway as he glared at the man.

Bronx tentatively sniffed the man before growling and letting out a bark in dislike. I cautiously released my hold on Lexington as I moved forward, to where Brooklyn was as he softly grabbed my hand to reassure me.

"I'm here to offer you an invitation, leave this drafty old castle, and be guests at my home," he offered and I scoffed at him.

'Good luck with that, Elisa has been trying to convince Goliath for weeks, and simply asking him isn't going to get you anywhere.' I thought as I rolled my eyes at the man.

"I'm afraid we'll have to refuse," Goliath replied darkly showing no remorse for not accepting the man's invitation.

"I'm afraid I'll have to insist, I'll not stoop so low as to attack you while you slept, but now," he said threating as he revealed some weapons around his face. I immediately tensed up and glanced at Elisa who had moved behind Broadway as he had stepped forward.

"I don't like your attitude, I think you better leave," warned Broadway as he stepped in front of the man.

My eyes widened as I saw him grab Broadway's arm and throw him into Hudson and the toppled over the tower ledge. He then threw these smoke balls at us, and we all struggled to breathe as we coughed. I saw Bronx running and he collided into Lexington sending them sprawling to the floor. He then fired an electric net at them and electrocuted them, and I growled enraged as my eyes began to glow violet.

I ran forward, and he gave me a swift kick which sent me sprawling over the tower ledge, and groaned as I struggled to push myself up, and I saw Brooklyn falling and I quickly ran over to him and tried to help him up before the man shot another net at us and I was knocked out.


"I don't want to here anymore," Goliath said angrily to Elisa.

"You're not safe here," Elisa persisted trying to get through to Goliath.

"No you don't understand we've lost our clan, our world, our time, this castle is all we have left. WE will not abandon it," Goliath said with finality as Elisa.

"What you need a castle to fall on you? Read my lips you're not safe here," Elisa said slowly as she spoke with a softer tone.

"What if the next freak job Xanatos hires shows up with a sledge hammer at high noon? I can't protect you during the day," Elisa said as she followed Goliath who was trying to walk away from her.

Ignoring her he walked up to Hudson and Broadway, "I'm going to find them. You're going to stay here and protect our home," ordered Goliath as he quickly scaled the castle wall and glided away.

"Why won't he listen to me, it's obvious that you can't stay here," sighed Elisa as Hudson and Broadway looked at each other.

"I think Elisa's right," agreed Broadway.

"What you say makes sense lass, but Goliath is our leader I cannot go against his wishes," he said solemnly.

"Your loyalty is admirable, but he told you protect our home," Elisa said softly as she placed a comforting hand on Hudson's.

"Aye, that he did," Hudson sighed softly as he covered her hand with his.

"Hudson you and I both know this isn't your home anymore," Elisa reasoned as the group stood in a small circle with each other.


I groaned as I lifted my hand up to my head, I felt something shift beneath me and realized someone was holding me. I sluggishly opened my eyes and sighed in relief when I saw Lexington and Brooklyn.

"Dakota, are you okay?" Brooklyn asked worriedly as he cradled to his chest protectively.

"My head hurts but beside that I'm fine, how long have we been here?" I asked as I placed my hand on Brooklyn's check and glanced over to Lexington.

"Only for a couple of hours," responded Lexington, as I carefully sat up and sat between them.

"Are you alright?" I asked Brooklyn and Lexington as I started to look over them for injuries.

"Yeah, as long as you don't touch the bars," Lexington said sourly as I looked at him in confusion.

Brooklyn carefully raised a clawed finger and lightly touched the cage bar, and I gasped and pulled his arm back as his finger was zapped with electricity. Brooklyn opted for joining our hands and wrapping one of his wings around me, and I leaned my head against his shoulder tiredly.

"Who is this Macbeth anyway?" spat Brooklyn detestably.

"I… the name's sounds familiar," pondered Lexington as he scratched his head, "wait I remember Goliath was talking about a play called Macbeth, by some new writer name Shakespeare," finished Lexington.

"Uh huh, have you read it?" asked Brooklyn as Lexington shook his head no.

"I have," I told them as their heads turned to look at me.

"When did you ever have time to read it?" asked Brooklyn as he looked at me surprised.

I playfully glared and said," When you were avoiding me," as Brooklyn sheepishly looked away and said, "oh."


*Castle Wyvern*

"Goliath isn't going to like this," Hudson said warily as Broadway, Elisa and he headed for the main hall.

"He doesn't have to like it he just has to realize he has no choice," Elisa assured him.

"Elisa's right we're sitting dorks here," Broadway added.

"Ducks, Broadway, sitting ducks," laughed Elisa.

"Come we can't leave the Grimorum in Xanatos' hands," Explained Broadway as eh pushed the doors of the main hall open.

They quickly moved into the room and towards the Grimorum kept in the glass case, but we're stopped as Owen stood moved in between them and the book.

"I'm afraid I can't allow this, this book is the property of David Xanatos," Owen said firmly with his always serious expression.

"And who's going to stop us, you?" questioned Hudson.

"Indeed," said Owen as he swiflty managed to kick Hudson's fee t out from under him causing him to fall on his back.

Owen pulled out a gun and pointed at Broadway and Hudson, "You're trespassing," he warned as his gun was knocked out of his hand as Elisa threw one of her crutches at him.

Broadway growled and picked Owen up as he threw him out of the way, and picked up the discarded gun and crushed it in his hand. They moved froward as Hudson lifted the glass case and threw it against the floor causing it to shatter.

Broadway handed Elisa her crutch as Owen started to pull himself up.

"We'll be leaving now," Hudson said as he turned to face Owen, and they exited the room.


Gargoyles were not meant to be locked in cages, we liked our space and freedom, and being locked in this cage was awful but that fact that we couldn't get out was just damn irritating!

"Ouch," said Brooklyn as he continued to zap himself on the bars, and it was becoming quite…annoying.

"How many times are you going to try that?" asked Lexington annoyed not hiding his annoyance at Brooklyn's antics.

"Until you figure out a way to get us out of this," Brooklyn said rudely and I normally would have whacked him on the head but I was starting to get irritated about being in this cage!

Brooklyn turned to look at me and frowned as he noticed me trying to pace in the cage, but having no room at all.

"Dakota you need to calm down," Brooklyn said calmly as he tugged on my hand.

"How can I be calm when he's locked us in cages like were wild animals!" I yelled as I felt my eyes starting to glow violet.

"I know, but you need to just relax, we'll think of something," added Lexington

I nodded and took a deep breath as I stood with my arms crossed and my head down thinking of a plan. The silence was interrupted by Brooklyn continuing to zap himself on the bars.

"Ouch"

"Ouch"

"Hey, you know I'm getting tired of this," Brooklyn said tiredly as I moved myself down into Brooklyn's lap.

"Hey did you notice how the lights dimmed when you did that," pointed out Lexington.

"Oh sorry no, I was too busy writhing in agony to notice," Brooklyn said sarcastically as I gave out a small laugh.

"Yes, but what has that got to do with anything?" I asked.

"It looks like electrifying these bars takes a lot of power, hm. Maybe we can divert enough electricity in our cage, and let Bronx break out of his," noted Lexington.

"Okay but how…oh," Brooklyn said dejectedly realizing what we would have to do. "Terrific," he added sarcastically and I gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

I got up from Brooklyn's lap, and Brooklyn quickly followed my lead as he stood next to me.

"Get ready," said Lexington as we moved our hands in position to grab the bars.

"Now," yelled Lexington and I held back a scream as I felt the electric currents running through my body and forced myself to hold on.

"Go for help Bronx," grounded out Brooklyn from next me.

"Bronx hurry!"

I let go as soon as I heard Bronx break his cage, and collapsed onto the cage floor. I looked at Bronx and he whimpered as he tried to step closer to me, but the cage bars were blocking us.

"No you have to go get help Bronx," I said quietly not having the strength to move.

"Go get help Bronx," Lexington added weakly as he pointed to the door.

I looked at Brooklyn and groaned as I tried to push myself up, and carefully wrapped one of my wings around Lexington as I leaned him against my shoulder, and moved Brooklyn's head onto my lap as I softly brushed my fingers through his hair.

They slowly began to regain their strength and we all stared at the door anxiously. I smirked as I heard a familiar growl, as it echoed against the walls.

"Bronx, found Goliath," stated Lexington.

"Yeah," Brooklyn said somewhat darkly as we all knew that human, Macbeth, stood no chance against Goliath.


We soon heard the sound of feet running and we smiled relieved as we saw Goliath enter the room, he smashed the control panel, and we quickly ran through Macbeth's home as we tried not to breathe in any of the smoke from the fire. We watched as his home slowly began to crumble as the fire began to burn and eat away the castle till it would soon be nothing but ash.

"Let's go home," said Goliath as we swiftly took off and made our way back to the castle. Brooklyn and I easily lifted Bronx up as we glided over the city, and I was able to see the castle, we were stopped by Broadway's voice.

"Goliath," we turned around to see Broadway, Hudson, and Elisa on a nearby building.

We quickly landed and Goliath moved forward clearly angered that Hudson had left the castle.

"What are you doing here, why aren't you guarding our home" Goliath yelled frustrated.

"You don't live their anymore," Elisa said boldly as Goliath turned his anger towards her.

"What!" he yelled and I quickly pulled Elisa back and slightly hid her from Goliaths view.

She placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me a small smile, but shook her head and moved out from behind me.

"I found you a new home," she said as she tried to reason with him.

"How dare you. I told you that castle is our home!" he continued to yell as he stepped closer to Elisa towering over her small form.

"No, Goliath she's right, it's suicide to stay there" intervened Broadway as he pushed Elisa out of the way and I put a hand on her shoulder, telling her to stay back. I moved to stand next to Lexington and he put his arm around my waist.

"Lad their right you know, it's just a place of stone and wood. Home is more than that Goliath home is the seven of us," Hudson said wisely as we all smiled from behind him at Goliath.

"Where ever we can be together, and safe is our home," he continued as we all moved toward Goliath and stood around him.

Goliath growled clearly contemplating what Hudson had said, and growled startling all of us. We moved back and I felt Brooklyn slightly pulled me closer to him protectively.

"Come Goliath let's be going," Hudson said encouragingly.

"Give me one minute," he said, as he flew towards the castle.

Goliath quickly entered the main hall where Owen was sweeping up the glass made by the case for the Grimorum.

"I've a message for your master, we're leaving but we will be back. We will be back to claim which is ours." warned Goliath as he exited the castle to rejoin his clan.

"I'll deliver you message," said Owen as he continued to sweep up the glass.

Goliath leapt from the tower as he glided down to the rooftop where we awaited him.


*The Next Day*

"Welcome home Mr. Xanatos. I'm sorry to tell you that the Grimorum is gone as are the gargoyles. However I think you'll find this interesting" Owen said as he handed Xanatos a device which showed Macbeth fighting the gargoyles.

"Fascinating," commented Xanatos, as he smirked down at the handheld device.

"Well it seems like we have a new player in the game, but we'll worry about that later," said Xanatos.

"I'm home, that's all that matters now," stated Xanatos, as he stared at his home.


*Clock tower*

"Uh, it's very uh…..nice," I said as I struggled to find a nice word without hurting Elisa's feelings.

I could tell everyone else was just as skeptical as I was, and we were trying to look at it in an optimistic light.

"I'll ah…I bet I could get this thing working again," commented Lexington as he looked at the unmoving cogs and gears of the clock already a plan beginning to form in his mind.

"Why would you want to?" said Brooklyn not at all trying to hide his discontent.

"It's not so bad, over there's room for the television," Hudson said optimistically as he pointed to a corner of the clock tower.

"Okay it's a fixer upper, but a few throw rugs and flowers it could be home," Elisa said trying to warm us up to the place.

"It's perfect Elisa, we should be perfectly safe here," I said as I smiled at her, and she gave me a grateful smile.

It was true though we were just above the police station and no one would ever need to come up here. It was the perfect hiding spot we were hidden in plain view.

"Yes, as long as we're together, its home," Goliath said warmly to us.

The sun was beginning to rise and we all jumped up onto the ledge in front of the clock tower, and turned to stone.


Hope you enjoyed this chapter and please review. Okay I meant to have this out earlier today, but the exterminator came to our house today, and so we had to leave the house, it was just extremely hectic. I'll try my hardest to get chapter 10 out but it will probably be out tomorrow and it may be short deoebdign on certain things.I honestly want to thank all of you for being patient and reviewing. Your reviews keep me going, and you motivate me to write. On Christmas as a special I will be posting Chapters 12 and 13 together as a holiday present to all of my readers.