Chapter Eleven

Magie Noire

A flash of silver reflected off the surface of the moon's smooth face, the two blades bounced and slid off one another and sharp golden sparks danced off the blade of the swords. The two blades rested against the other, the metal trembling as the two Greeks pushed down upon the blades with every ounce of strength each possessed. The battle fought would have been one young Greek hatchlings would have loved to hear, but neither Leo nor Aries wanted the battle to be made known to anyone else.

It was a grudge match, one to be fought to the bitter end, not a match used to show off one's skill on the battlefield. Aries leaned forwards on his stronger leg, his left one, as he snarled at his father. Leo returned the glower, his teeth pulling back over his teeth. There was no hint or shadow of remaining sanity in Leo's eyes, he was too far gone for redemption. Leo had lived for year with his burning hatred until it eventually turned him insane.

Aries only supposed that ending his life would be a small mercy, as well as providing Aries with some satisfaction. Of all the nightmares he had ever suffered over years - that of fire or of blades - were because of Leo. If Leo had shown even a hint of tolerance or understanding then perhaps there would have been no need for all of the pain. If Leo had been a good father then there would have been no need for grudges, or death.

Aléc resigned himself to watching, despite every thought that screamed at him to assist. One eyed remained on the fight, and the other on Kenji and Rosá who with every second seemed to move closer to him. Aléc was fairly confident there would be no need for him and Rosá to fight, she had seen his power and knew better than to fight him. And, of course, she knew if they were to fight Aléc would not hold back as his sister's betrayal still cut deep.

But Kenji...

There was a flash of silver and something past the tip of Aléc's beak, bracing against his skin, as the sharp object became embedded into the soft ground besides him. Aléc turned to Kenji, who held between his knuckles two more kunai and his other hand moved to the hilt of his katana. He slowly pulled it out, the soft purr of metal as the hungry blade was being drawn into battle.

"I... don't want to fight you, Kenji," Aléc offered.

"I hate to inform you of this," Kenji began, "but there is a need for me to do battle with you."

"I won't fight you!" Aléc cried.

Kenji put away his kunai and charged, pulling his katana from its sheath in one quick flash of silver. He swung his sword, it sliced through the air and cut the front of Aléc's shirt as the Franch gargoyle pulled back. Kenji came at him again, pushing forwards and jabbing his katana's tip forwards. Aléc barely managed to avoid the blows, falling back and tumbling over his own steps as he avoided the blade.

Aléc looked down at his shirt, at the thick incision. He was thankful that it was just the his top that had been slashed, if it had been him he doubted he would have survived until morning. As the tip of the blade came towards him, Aléc took another step back. His foot caught on a small groove in the earth, Kenji swung for Aléc's head. Aléc fell backwards and landed on his back, the blade made a noise as it sliced through the air and missed its target - a type of whistling sound.

Kenji swore in Japanese and lifted his sword, Aléc pushed on his hand and jumped up. His foot caught Kenji's chin, Kenji's head snapped back with a loud crack and blood came out of his mouth as he staggered backwards wildly. Aléc landed on his hands and knees, running into the forest on all fours. Kenji pushed his head back and felt his mouth, pulling his hand back to look at the blood on his palm.

His eyes burst into a glow of bonfire white and he began to give chase, Rosá ran after him and grabbed his arm, pulling it back as she clutched at it feverishly. Kenji turned to her, blood dripping down his chin and onto his dusty tunic.

"You said you weren't going to hurt him!" Rosá reminded him. "The deal was you were going to leave my brother alone!"

"Stupid woman!" he hissed and blood splattered across her cheek. "We only fed you such lies just so you would leave us to the homosekushuaru!"

Kenji pulled his arm back, dragging her with him, and then flung his arm backwards. Rosá's grip loosened as he swung his arm and she fell backwards into the bushes, landing awkwardly as she hit the floor. Aléc had heard Rosá and Kenji argue, but had no time to look back. He had to stay close to Aries, to keep an eye on the sword he had created. If it broke down during the fight, then Aries could be in serious trouble.

Aléc took a turn as he ran, running around the rim of the forest as he turned back towards the scene of the fight. He thought he heard Kenji, but could not be sure. He jumped to his feet and stopped, turning around slowly as he listened out for any sounds. It was silent, all except for the clatter and clang of swords as Aries continued to battle Leo.

I hope Aries is alright, Aléc thought. The idea of Aries fighting the man who scarred him and wounded him so severely emotionally just makes my blood run cold.

There was a snap of a twig, Aléc jumped and whirled to face a quivering bush beside him. Aléc raised his fists defensively, they trembled and the look on his face was of fear, not a look that generally drives fear into the heart of the enemy. A squirrel jumped out of the bushes and came towards him, sniffing at his feet. Its noise twitched as it looked up at him, it rubbed its face and Aléc lowered his fists.

Aléc sighed in relief and smiled, crouching to smooth out the squirrel's fur. It squeaked in approval at his soft touch, sniffing at his talons. Aléc was surprised to see the squirrel, and even the bear that attacked him days previously, in fact it was an all just a little bit peculiar. The island was dying, the trees withering away, so how had the squirrels and bears managed to survive?

What if... what if it had all been staged? What if the bear was in fact not a bear, but a holographic projection? Rosá was capable of such magic, while she herself could not perform many tricks of the trade her strongest points were illusions. What if the bear was not real, but merely another manipulation of the mind? Aléc looked carefully at the squirrel, at the texture of it. It seemed real, and it felt... Aléc pressed down harder on the squirrel and his finger passed through the image like a talon through water.

Kenji jumped out of the bushes from behind him, pulling a kunai from his pouch and throwing it. It hit Aléc in the arm, he cried out in pain and clutched his blooded shoulder. Kenji pounced and pushed Aléc to the floor, standing on his back with his one foot against his head and the other pushing down on the kunai.

"Good job, Rosá," Kenji smiled. "You may leave now."

Rosá stood, appearing from the bushes. She rubbed her arm and turned to Aléc, tears gathering in her eyes and a small dribble of blood running down her forehead and mixing into her soft fur. Aléc stared at her, trying to comprehend that his sister was going to leave him in the hands of Kenji. She trully had betrayed him, he could never forgive her. While he always thought of himself as a forgiving person, betrayal was not something he took kindly too.

Kenji looked at Rosá, frowning at her. She took the hint and left, her head hung low in disgrace as she went her way. Kenji pulled the kunai from Aléc's arm and flicked it into one Aléc's legs, he cried out in pain. Kenji turned him over and stood on both of his legs, pushing down hard on the joints. Aléc whimpered in pain, feeling tears forming in the corners of his eyes as Kenji raised the sword high.

He dived the katana into the side of Aléc's stomach, he screamed. Kenji smiled at the noise and his eyes rolled back into his head, a look of ecstasy coming across his face.

"Excellent," he purred. "That's the noise I wanted to hear him make..."

He pulled the katana from Aléc's body and grabbed him by the cuff, slamming the bottom of the handle into Aléc's face. There was a gush of blood as the handle left a deep bruise and blooded cut, Kenji released Aléc and dug the katana along Aléc's leg, leaving a deep blooded line.

"What I told you before, of why I left the clan, is the truth," Kenji continued. "In my clan I was hatched second, therefore my name is Kenji - meaning 'healthy second son'. The gargoyle who had caused so much trouble within my clan was named Ichiro, meaning 'first son'."

The tip of the blade continued to pierce the flesh of Aléc's leg. Aléc whimpered in pain, feeling his bones creak as Kenji placed more pressure on his knees. He tried to move, but felt small sharp bursts of pain all throughout his body that made him tremble and shake with pain.

"We have had homosekushuaru in our clan before," Kenji persisted. "Usually they left the clan when they were very young, in search of others like them. But Ichiro was different; he stayed when others at his age would have left years before. And what made it worse was how everyone accepted this perversion!"

He walked away from Aléc, going to stand by Aléc's feet and nudged him. Aléc slowly got to his feet, feeling the blood on his forehead mix into eyelashes and obscure his visions. Kenji nudged him with the blade, forcing him upwards. He struggled to get to his feet, but his trembling legs somehow managed to keep him afoot. Kenji smiled at the weakened gargoyle, still nudging him for the fun of it.

Aléc began to wonder why Kenji was telling him such a thing, was it because he needed to tell someone? Or did he just want Aléc to know how much he hated him because of this other gargoyle?

"Rumours spread," Kenji examined his blade as a wistful look came across his face. "People gossiped on how Ichiro was to become clan leader, after our current leader Kai. I confronted Kai about the issue... but he offered no difference of opinion."

"You know what," Aléc suddenly smirked. "It sounds to me like you was jealous of Ichiro. Did you want to be leader? Was you angered that Ichiro, someone you believed to be inferior because of what he is, was to be leader instead of you?"

"You know nothing!" Kenji roared in anger. "I was not to be leader! I was resigned to my fate! But why should Ichiro get it? Because he is first born, because-"

"Wait..." Aléc cut in as a look of realization came across his face. "You don't hate Ichiro because he's gay, you hate him because he's first born and is getting the position you want!"

Kenji took a physical step back, starring at Aléc with wide eyes as the fiery white glow dimmed in his eyes. Then he charged, ramming an elbow into Aléc's chest. He wheezed in pain and tried to inhale, but was cut short when Kenji elbowed him in the face. Aléc staggered back into the trunk of a tree, squinting through the veil of crimson and tried to summon magic to his hands.

He could feel Aries' sword wavering, any second now and it would break and Aléc had to make sure that did not happen. Aries had to win the fight. Kenji came charging towards him, katana aimed directly for his chest. Aléc panicked, trying to summon his magic whilst trying to create a shield. Kenji's blade drove into Aléc's chest. The blooded blade seeped through the trunk of the tree, small crimson droplets dripping off the tip and landed on the ground below.

...

Aries swung the blade hard in a downwards direction, Leo's blade rattled under the pressure and he found himself being pushed back. His feet pushed hard against the ground, as he was pushed back his feet left deep gouges in the soft dirt. He grounded his teeth and hissed, trying to push back against his son's massive bulk. He had never expected Aries to be so strong, his strength rivalled that of Leo's father, Aries II.

"You are getting too old for this," Aries sneered. "Give up! Before I cut off your venomous head!"

"Never," Leo hissed. "I cannot meet Virgo again in Paradise until I kill you!"

Aries pushed down harder on the blade, then sharply pulled back and swung his blade again. Leo was too slow to react, the blade caught his shoulder and a thick stream of blood exploded from the wound in one quick flash of scarlet. Leo hissed in pain, biting down on his tongue as a white glow took his eyes. He son was stronger than him, it seemed all those lessons did in fact pay off.

"Do you think my mother would want to meet you in Paradise?" Aries growled. "You took away her only son, she would have loved me despite what I am! Besides" - a dark look came across Aries face as he grinned menacingly - "there's only one place you're going, and that's down underground with Hades."

The glow vanished from Leo's eyes, Aries insult cut deep. Leo had always served the gods, obeying them by following each of the old traditions. He treated his children as Zeus would have treated his, strictly and even cruelly at times if necessary. His deeds would not be rewarded by an eternity in the Underworld, he would spend an eternity with Virgo in Paradise and in her arms.

Leo charged and swung his blade, Aries raised his own to block the upcoming blade. Leo's blade skimmed against the surface of Aries, and Aries blade shattered. Against the touch of the opposing blade, Aries' magically created one splintered into dozens upon dozens of small glass shards that fell to the floor and disintegrated into tiny sand-like grains. They landed delicately to the floor, the once powerful blade was gone.

Aries stared at his hand in shock, at his empty palm that once held the powerful blade. Why had it broken? He knew little of magic, but he knew that Aléc was powerful; the power came off him like a smell. So why had it broken? Aléc should have easily been able to keep the blade, yet it had broken which meant...

Aries' eyes widened in panic. Leo came for him, grinning and swinging his sword. Aries rolled beneath the slashes, rolling away from Leo and ran into the forest. Leo gave a triumphant cry, seeing Aries sudden change of tactics an act of cowardness. He watched Aries run, then after a moment of watching with a satisfied smile he decided to give chase.

...

Aries ran into the forest, tearing down twigs and branches that got in his way. There was a stench on the air that he didn't like; blood. Panic had him now, a cold and painful sensation that grasped at his heart and squeezed it to the point Aries felt like he was going to die. He followed the scent and came to the scene of the crime, Kenji stood over a stiff figure that lay bleeding on the floor and he wiped a thick layer of blood off his katana.

Aries froze at the sight of Aléc, the French gargoyle was still, his beautiful hair lay in messy knots around him and a thick trail of blood was seeping from over several cuts. Kenji looked up and spotted Aries, suddenly Kenji did not look so smug. Kenji raised his sword defensively, but Aries ignored him and went to Aléc. He lifted his mate up, pressing his ear to his chest. He held his breath, waiting for any sign of life, and then there was a faint thud of Aléc's heart.

A look of relief came across Aries face; he pulled away from Aléc's chest and looked up to Kenji. As much as Aries would have loved to tear Kenji's head from his neck, he knew that Aléc would bleed to death if his wounds were not treated. Aléc's only hope of survival would be for them to pull back, and then attack later when they were healed. Aries got to his feet, knowing that if they were to regroup then he would first have to knock Kenji unconscious before they could get away. He charged, his eyes aflame with a deep white hatred and his lip pulling back over his teeth as he snarled.

On the floor, Aléc twitched and he began to shiver as pain took him. He contorted in pain, wrapping his arms around his chest where he felt the deep gouge from where the blade hit him. He looked up to find Aries charging towards Kenji, he tried to cry put in protest. No one should fight when angered; it clouded their judgement and reaction time. He opened his mouth to cry out, but he coughed out blood instead.

Aléc heard a thud of heavy feet, he tried to turn his head but a figure jumped over him. Leo. Aries was charging towards Kenji, unaware that behind him Leo was also charging with his blade at the ready. Aléc coughed out blood again, managing to gurgle out Aries name. Aries whirled around to face Aléc, just as twin blades pierced his flesh. Aléc cried out, "NOOO!" and tears began to flood down his face as Aries stood there, trembling as blood seeped out of him.

Aries looked at Aléc with a look that froze Aléc's blood, the look of fear. He had never seen Aries look frightened before, it scared him. Kenji and Leo removed their blades and Aries fell to his knees, coughing out blood. Leo smiled triumphantly, raising his sword high above Aries head. Aries tried to get to his feet, but all of his strength had left him. Aléc forced himself to his feet, trying to summon magic.

He was in too much pain; he couldn't get the magical veins within him to function, to flow. No. Kenji rammed the hilt of his sword into Aries' gut, he wheezed and coughed out even more blood. No. No. Leo smiled, the look of triumph still layered across his face as he turned to face Aléc. He decided to kill the French gargoyle before killing Aries, he wanted Aries to witness the death of a loved one and experience the same soul crushing pain that was felt when you was completely powerless to save a loved one.

"You said that you was to cut off my venomous head," Leo laughed at Ariea. "You was wrong, Aries, you will suffer the same fate as the Gorgon Medusa."

No. No. NO!

A strong burst of fire erupted in Aléc's veins, black tendrils of fire running up through his veins and throughout his body. He felt his power explode within him, but it was not the normal magic, it was not white magic. It was black magic. He didn't care though, if he needed to use black magic then he would. The magic came around him, engulfing him in a circle of hot power that caused the ground to ripple with energy. The air was alive with black sparks of electricity, black fire-like magic travelled up along his arms and hugged the shape of his body.

Aries felt the change on the air; he turned to Aléc in alarm and watched as a black glow of darkness took hold of his eyes. Aléc took a step forwards, the ground beneath his feet blackened as if scorched. Kenji felt the air grow stale, he turned to Aléc and gasped.

"You - You should be dead!" he cried. "How...?"

Aléc growled deep in his throat like a demon, he over-stepped his beret that had fallen onto the floor and his own bobble was torn from his hair by the tendrils of energy. His hair flared around him, dancing around him like black velvet fire. Leo raised his sword in defence. Aléc raised his hand and Leo's sword crumbled into dust, it fell to the floor and Leo stared in awe at the grains of sand that slipped between his fingers.

Aléc continued to walk towards them, the floor scorched beneath his steps and the ground hissed in protest wherever he walked. Leo and Kenji took a step back, a branch fell down to Aléc's face; he grabbed it and the whole tree suddenly withered and died. The tree's bark shrunk and turned grey, the wood crumbling beneath the soft touch of the wind, the remaining leaves turned to ash and fell and the branches twisted in on themselves.

"D-don't let him touch you!" Kenji hissed. "He's death itself!"

Leo barred his teeth, but saw the fight was lost. He ordered a retreat and he and Kenji dashed into the forest, Aléc growled like a deranged beast and lunged towards them. Aries pushed himself up to his knees and he outstretched his arms to act as a wall, Aléc stared at him shocked.

"What are you doing?" Aléc screamed. "We have to kill them! They have to suffer!"

"No," Aries argued. "You will not kill them - I will!"

"Why you?" Aléc argued. "Why not me?"

"Because you are the purest being I have ever met," Aries cupped his love's face, not fearing the black flames that seemed to have no effect on him. "You are not a killer, my love. I, on the other hand, am. I am capable of taking life as easily as it is for me to breathe. Please, let me have this."

The black glow dimmed from Aléc's eyes, his eyebrow ridges pulled together sadly. "Aries..." blood began to dribble from the corners of Aléc's mouth. "I'm dying... I won't last till dawn. The fire is the only thing keeping me alive, but they only exist to kill, its taking every inch of my power to not kill you."

Aries kissed his forehead, "Do not worry," he whispered. "If you die, then I'll soon join you. But I promise you, you will not die this night."

Aries wrapped his strong arms around Aléc and the flames gave away, fizzling away into nothingness and Aléc went limp in his arms. Aries fought back a sob, feeling a thick flow of blood seeping from the hole in Aléc's chest. He really wasn't going to last till dawn, and neither was he. Aries' legs gave way beneath him and he collapsed, still clutching Aléc as he fell to the floor.

And they lay there, the lovers, bleeding and shivering as the cold kiss of death came their way.

...

He could smell the scorched ground, the smell of the Black Flames that had come to take the ground and the life of a tree. He came to the two gargoyles, the smell of blood mixing with that of the flames. He saw they were both alive, but for not long. He had to act fast if he was going to save them, crouching low besides them he lay his hands on each of them. White magic appeared from his finger tips, enclosing around the lovers and worming its way into their wounds.

There came a hiss as the wounds healed themselves, the internal damage knitting back together. The wounds healed, Aries and Aléc fell into a deep slumber and the figure ran his fingers through Aléc's raven locks. He picked up the beret and hid it within his cloak, smiling sadly. He never imagined Aléc's journey would be so hard, he should have known better than to not warn him properly.

...

The first thing Aléc noticed when he awoke later that night evening was that he was alive. It came as a bit of a shock, as he expected to awake in a bright heavenly place, so divine and pure, where his mother would be waiting for him. When he did awake he found Aries leaning over and starring at him, a sight just as pure white and divine. Yet still as shocking, as both of them were alive.

"A-Aries?" Aléc croaked. "I'm not... dead?"

"No, my love," Aries replied. "You are very much alive."

Aléc pressed a hand to his forehead, trying to figure out what happened. Aries helped him up, Aléc's hand went to his chest where he found there was no longer a hole in his chest. He was completely healed, and he was positive he had not been the one who had healed the wounds. Aléc never really had much talent for healing wounds, small scrapes and cuts were all he was capable of.

So who...?

Aries seemed to have read his thoughts, as he grabbed Aléc's chin and turned his head in the direction of a figure sat by an open fire. After a moment Aléc realized they were back in the hollow of the volcano, who was this stranger and why had he saved them? It didn't make sense, why should someone go out of their way to help a pair of strangers?

"W-who is that?" Aléc whispered.

"A fae," Aries replied. "He introduced himself as Orgon."

"Orgon?" Aléc repeated.

"You sound like you've heard it before," Aries noted.

"I have," Aléc confirmed. "Papa used to tell me that Orgon was a powerful fae, one of Oberon's special faes he would use in battles because of how his powers were greatest when they destroyed. But apparently he fell in love and left Oberon, but was cursed when he disobeyed his master."

The fae suddenly got to his feet, turning to face them with a smile on his face. He was dressed in fine clothes, a scarlet tunic with a fine belt, weaved together from what appeared to be bright jewel shaped twigs, he wore a long purple robe with half of it thrown over his one side to reveal his tunic beneath and golden lace hanging from the hood. He had long black hair the same colour as Aléc's, just as silky and smooth in texture and held in a plait. His skin was a fairly bright tone of peach and his eyes a dark liquid shade of brown, beautiful and smooth and tone and texture. His pointed pierced ears were decorated in fine jewels and gems.

"He loves colour and jewels as much as you," Aries whispered.

Aléc frowned and stared at the fae; he got to his feet and approached the fae, starring at his liquid brown eyes. The fae stared back, looking a little uncomfortable as he fidgeted under the gargoyle's gaze. The fae looked away and pulled something out from beneath the folds of his tunic, a black beret that he placed in Alé's hands. Then, slowly, a look came across Aléc's face and he pointed a finger at the fae.

"P-papa?" he gasped.

The fae and Aries stared at Aléc; Aries began to scowled Aléc for making assumptions, when the fae began to laugh. When he laughed his jewels would jingle and shake, making a soft melody that mixed well with his deep throaty voice. Aries stared at the fae, wondering how it could be Phillip when the two were so different, not only in appearance, but voice, height, stance. Everything.

The fae placed a hand on Aléc's shoulder, "I never expected you'd figure it out so soon," he smiled. "Son."

"Pa...pa," Aléc suddenly began to cry and wrapped his arms around the fae, crying heavily.

Orgon sighed and stroked Aléc's hair soothingly, after a moment of crying he pulled his son away and set him on the floor. The day's turmoils had been too much for Aléc, he couldn't take so much pain and fear of death in one day. It was healthy for him to let it out, rather than bottle it. He joined them on the floor, looking at the wet patches left by his son's crying. He noticed the look Aries was shooting in his direction and decided to explain.

"There is a lot I have to explain, isn't there?" he chuckled.

"Yes, there is Phillip," Aries said.

"No," he raised a finger. "My name is Orgon; would you please refer to me as such?"

"O-of course, Orgon," Aries replied.

"Good," Orgon replied. "Now, Aléc just told you of my tale, correct?" - Aries nodded - "Good that saves time. Well, as Aléc said, I did fall in love, with Elicia. As a psychic with the ability to foresee the future I saw Elicia, and went searching for her when I met her in France. I fell in love straight away, but I knew that she was to die in the future."

"But you stayed with her anyway," Aries pointed out.

"Yes," Orgon confirmed. "I was deeply in love; the fact she was to die did not bother me. But Oberon found out about my feelings for her, he ordered that I return to Avalon or face a life as a gargoyle. It didn't bother me, except for the fact I am the type of fae who needs the magic of Avalon to survive. It was a curse, Oberon could have kept me alive, but he chose to let me die when I left."

"Y-you're dying?" Aléc asked as he wiped away the tears.

"Yes," Orgon repeated. "However, its been taking me a very long time to succumb to death. Elicia knew of what I was, so she made me promise 'Stay with our son, don't you dare join me in paradise without ensuring our son is safe!' Thankfully, since I knew of my fate years before I even became a gargoyle I had made preparations for you."

"What kind of preparations?" Aries inquired.

"Up in the Arctic Circle there is a clan of gargoyles that will welcome you as members," Orgon began. "They live deep within the ice, where I created a new world, one that defies the rules of normality. I created the gargoyles and the life within it, I instructed the elders to love all gargoyles - regardless of sex, race, or where they find love - and they speak every known language - I thought such a thing would be helpful."

"You created a clan... just for me?" Aléc asked.

"Well, yes," Orgon answered. "I wanted it to be a safe haven, far from humans or troubles, where they don't judge. It's perfect. But..."

Aries frowned; he should have known that there was going to be a catch. It all sounded too good to be true, but what exactly was the 'but'? Was it the fact it was so far away? Or was there something else that they needed to do before they could even find this clan?

"Leo and Kenji will not stop until both of you are dead," Orgon continued. "I would love to kill them myself, but I used the last of my power healing your wounds and preparing a gift for you. By sun down I will be gone, fragments of a memory as I join Elicia in paradise. So its up to you two to kill them."

"Papa..." Aléc fought back tears. "I just... I can't accept that you'll be dead... That I'll never see you again."

Orgon smiled and patted his son's head, "Don't worry," he soothed. "I'm leaving behind a gift, the last of my magic, but it'll work only as long as you're not as so stupid as to use black magic again!"

"I won't use it," Aléc promised. "Never again, I promise! I'll be good!"

"Good," Orgon approved. "Now, before I give you this gift, I need you to understand that it is for Aries to use - but it will only work if Aléc remains submerged in his white magic."

They both nodded to show that they understood. Orgon got to his feet and went to the entrance of the cave, he looked about him before turning to face them with a smile on his face.

"Tomorrow evening you must fight Kenji and Leo," Orgon told them. "Once they are dead you can travel to the Arctic Circle and find the New World Clan."

"And I'll never see you again..." Aléc said remorsefully.

"Unfortanutely, yes," Orgon sighed. "But the weapon will be made from a part of me, so I'll always be with you in a sense. Now, sleep."

As he said those words the sun rose and the two gargoyles became encased within the stone flesh, Aléc felt a few more tears run down his face as Orgon turned to face the warm sunlight with a smile on his face. Aries and Aléc became encased in the stone, and did not see as Orgon's flesh began to crack like shattered glass. Slowly, the shards began to spread quickly along his body and small fragments began to split away as the sand-like shards were pulled away from his frame and were scattered along the winds.

Orgon glanced one final time to his son, the smile still on his face.

He trusted Aléc to do the right thing, to be who he should be and to be the gargoyle he was raised to be. Aléc would be kind, generous and beautiful like Elicia. He knew Aries would take care of his son, if not then Orgon would have to come back as a ghost and haunt Aries for eternity. Orgon only prayed for Aries and Aléc success, Elicia would never forgive him if she knew that he had failed.

But Orgon had faith in his son; all that was needed was for Aléc to have faith in himself.

To Be Continued...