Chapter Thirteen
Conspiracy

Brooklyn emerged from the council chambers, or perhaps more pressingly, from the secret chamber that contained so many secrets of Atheia.

"The important thing," The headmaster said, "is to remember that they are mortal. They live an incredibly long time, and they're very strong, but they are not ageless, and they are not invulnerable."

"Y'know, the way you keep reassuring me, I'm starting to think I should be even more worried than I already am." Brooklyn said dryly.

"Well be worried, but don't be terrified." Headmaster said.

"I'll keep that in mind." Brooklyn said.

The headmaster nodded, he was wearing his hood again so Brooklyn couldn't tell whether or not he was looking at him or towards him, and he guessed the headmaster could "see" well enough with the hood on, maybe even better than he could without the hood?

"I must prepare a strategy . . . it will be dawn soon, but if you like I can summon Braids to finish your tour of the castle."

Brooklyn wasn't so sure that was a good idea. Interesting as Braids seemed he wanted to meet other females, and that could be hard if he was already walking around with one.

"I would like to uh . . . strike out alone." Brooklyn said.

The headmaster nodded, "Very well. Enjoy the evening; I will contact you when I have figured out how we're to . . . accomplish this." He bowed slightly, then turned and left.

Brooklyn stood in the courtyard; he took a deep breath, moved his hand over his head to smooth back his hair, and set off towards the nearest largely female group of gargoyles he could find.

He stood not five feet away from them when it hit him!

'What do I say?' He wondered.

Several thoughts ran through his head, and many of them led to being laughed at.

"Well maybe I am having second thoughts!" A voice hissed nearby, Brooklyn's ears perked up.

"I've told you we cannot be seen together! Not in public, such matters are better left to the privacy of—"

"If we go through with this everyone could die!" The first voice snapped!

Brooklyn crept up close to an old looking shed, perhaps used to house garden tools. Clearly the source of the voices, but who was talking? One of them sounded female . . .

"What of Taneal, and the others?" The first voice asked. "She is too wise for a child, she will notice the change in you—"

"She will notice nothing. She grieves too heavily for the loss of her father! Our plans will go without hindrance and anyone who interferes will be dealt with."

"As we dealt with Daemon?" The first voice asked weakly.

"Exactly, his death was necessary for the success of our ambitions. None of this would be possible if he were still alive, it was for the best."

"But it felt . . . wrong."

Brooklyn's eyes narrowed, it didn't take a genius to figure out that these two, who ever they were, had taken a hand in the death of someone named Daemon! A murder perhaps?

"Daemon had to be silenced. He was a fool and as long as he trusted us he was harmless. But he got closer to the truth every day. Do you know what would have happened once he discovered us?"

"I know, but did we have to—"

There was a loud squeal, "Cousin!" The gargoyle Devi cried, skipping over to Brooklyn, he frowned as she approached and the voices fell completely silent.

"Are you lost, cousin?" Devi asked. Before he could answer, she continued, "Oh you're not the only one! I just cannot find Danica! That one, she just goes about doing as she pleases ever since her . . . accident."

"Accident?" Brooklyn raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, I shouldn't speak of that." Devi smiled, "Danica would be mad."

Brooklyn frowned, had Danica been one of the voices he'd heard? "Tell me about Danica." He said.

"Oh her!" Devi said, taking Brooklyn's arm and leading him away from the small shed, "what would you like to know? I consider her my closest comrade; she is something of a role model to me really."

Brooklyn nodded, "Okay, so . . . Rose said she was a princess?"

"Well . . . I suppose. She is—was the daughter of King Daemon and Queen Isis, but both of her parents are dead."

"I thought the canyon queen was alive and well?" Brooklyn said. Very well in fact, she had been quite attractive . . . not that this was the time for such thoughts.

"Oh her! That is the new queen; she became Daemon's mate after Queen Isis died of illness."

"But . . . gargoyles—"

"Only choose one mate? Yes . . . but as unusual as it seemed at the time, she comforted him in his time of need, and they fell in love. They seemed so happy together no one complained . . . except Danica. Danica felt that her father had betrayed the promises made to her mother, though I do not see what good promises are to the dead."

Brooklyn shifted uneasily. Could Danica have killed, or ordered someone to kill her father? As princess she would have had authority over other members of the clan . . .

"She is a fine warrior," Devi pointed out, "She has skill with the sword that has been complemented by anyone who has ever instructed her."

"A truly inspiring warrior." Brooklyn said without enthusiasm. "I don't suppose you know why she's sneaking away . . . perhaps to see a male?" Brooklyn asked.

"Oh . . ." Devi smiled, "I see . . . well you are in luck, prince Brooklyn!"

"Luck?" Brooklyn asked.

"Oh you wear your desire plain on your sleeves," Devi smiled, squeezing Brooklyn's wrist, "though I do not know where she is going, I do know that my lady Danica is not being courted by any males. She is never gone that long, if you understand."

Brooklyn shook his head, "Nuh-no I—I didn't mean, I'm not—"

"She once fancied Dark Eyes," Devi went on, "but ever since her accident she refuses to speak to him . . . civilly that is. You saw how they are together now . . ." Devi shrugged. "They avoid each other now, rare is the time they will be seen together, and never by choice."

'I've told you we cannot be seen together' the female had said . . . had Danica and Dark Eyes conspired against their old king? Perhaps in an attempt to take over? Was the current queen their next target?

"You should make a move cousin. She never told Dark Eyes how she felt, so he will not grudge you, and she would be thrilled to know that someone admires her!"

"What? But I—really?" Brooklyn asked in spite of himself. Danica had been rather attractive too . . . no! She might be a murderer, how could he be attracted to her?

Maybe there was something wrong with him! Was he really that lonely?

Well . . . yes . . . maybe.

"Oh yes! Ever since her accident she has been afraid that no male will ever be interested in her, it's part of her reason for being so . . .well, quick-tempered. If she knew that you were interested . . ." Devi began to giggle to herself!

Brooklyn frowned, well maybe if Danica was some evil murderer it wouldn't be such a bad idea to get close to her . . . but if she wasn't . . . she was beautiful anyway and it still wouldn't be such a bad idea to get close to her.

Brooklyn considered it, but before he could say anything Braids appeared and latched onto his arm.

"No fair! You were supposed to let me give you the tour." Braids said with an odd pout that Brooklyn found attractive, though he wasn't really sure why.

Oh Lex would never shut up about this one, here he was with two pretty females, and one of them was trying to set him up with her other hot friend, it was dream come true but the timing was all wrong! Why did there have to be a war? Why did there have to be giant slobbering rat monsters?

"Come Brooklyn!" Braids said, gently tugging him away from Devi, "There is so much I've still to show you!"

"Uh . . . well—" Brooklyn began but Devi just waved after them,

"Enjoy yourself then! I shall speak to Danica for you, Prince Brooklyn!"

Brooklyn shook his head, was that a good idea? He hadn't decided whether or not he wanted that! But Devi skipped away too quickly!

Brooklyn resigned himself to allowing Braids to show him more of the castle . . . after all, she was attractive too—doh! He needed to stop thinking like that! There was a personality under those golden braids, and whether or not that personality was attractive should dictate his interest, not just her body . . .

Well . . . it was an attractive body—doh!

Loki leaned back against a tree, he was weary now, it was almost dawn and he almost expected Thor to pop up out of the bushes at any moment and demand he return to the lair.

And he would . . . after he'd spoken to the captain.

She walked through the garden towards the place she usually chose for her meditation, or prayer, or . . . well frankly Loki wasn't sure what she did there because she tended to hear anyone approaching somehow and draw her blade almost immediately.

He watched her walk past, and whistled sharply to catch her attention.

As the turned, the expression on her face was a weary one, but it brightened slightly upon seeing him. He smiled and said, "What's new pussycat?" Oh by the queen's fire was that so not cool! Maybe it had been a hundred years ago . . . well technically the line didn't see much use in Athea a hundred years ago . . . and despite being a world removed unto itself it could be argued that Athea was as technologically advanced as humanity had been a thousand years ago, so clearly Loki had used the phrase nine hundred years before it became hip, he was therefore the trend setter.

But no time to think about things like that now.

"Why would you ask me that?" Hiromi blinked.

Loki shook his head, "Never mind. Uh, hey, how's the uh . . . books?"

"Uh . . . okay." Hiromi shifted uncomfortably.

Loki nodded, his stomach felt funny around this human, he had to take control here! He needed to say what he wanted to say and leave before she made him feel any funnier! "Great. Now look, I just wanted to say your old man was a worthy rival. That's why I got rid of him."

Hiromi's ye twitched, "I see. I suppose those words would comfort him."

Loki scoffed. "Yeah right. Look, all I want to know is: can you fill his shoes? Can you handle the job?"

"Why do you care?" Hiromi scowled.

"Hey!" Loki practically yelped, realizing she was annoyed for some reason, queen's fire, who in his right mind could understand women? Especially when they belonged to another species! "Do not assume that I don't care . . . about the game." He added quickly, so she wouldn't realize—no wait he wanted her to realize he was interested! Curses he was messing this up again!

Okay, be calm, as long as he knew he was messing up he couldn't possibly continue . . .

"Athea will fall sooner or later. I want to know if you're up to the task of preventing that fall a bit longer." Loki grinned, "I gave you gifts girl, why do you never use them?"

Hiromi turned away, "Because they are evil things, you want me to be more like you, an evil vindictive monster?"

"Not at all. But those are very attractive qualities," Loki smirked, "besides what is evil to you is not evil to everyone. What is good and righteousness to me may well be evil to you. I for one believe that for the strong to protect the weak is wrong. If you protect them they rely on you, how can they become strong? You do more damage than those who wish to destroy them. But do you really think me evil? After I saved you, after I saved the boy? The others, they would have slain you both."

"Evil is not always predictable." Hiromi said coldly, "And how do I know it was you who saved anyone? Perhaps you called for my blood and it was the other who demanded I be spared."

Loki stared into her eyes, "Do you truly believe I would do that?"

She averted her gaze, "No . . . but I do not understand you."

"Nobody does. I like it that way." Loki smirked, "But as for gifts . . . well I have one in mind now, one that will please you and all of Athea . . . but it is no ordinary gift. If I give this gift to you, I will need something in return."

"Then how can it be called a gift?" Hiromi demanded.

"Call it what you will, but in return for a minor price I offer a means to save all Athea."

"A means?" Hiromi scoffed.

"A means. As I've said, helping the weak prevail over the strong is evil in my sight. But to give someone as strong as yourself a new weapon with which to achieve victory . . ."

Hiromi shifted uneasily, "What . . . is the price?"

Loki grinned wickedly, "Nothing serious. There is just the small matter of those Gargoyles who came through the portal . . ."

To Be Continued . . .

Author's Note: Now juggling three stories (and some you don't even know about) updates might slow down. As you know ACT 1 is finished anyway, and progress has been made on ACT 2, but actually getting online to post them will be the problem as the clock ticks away the time in my days, I'll try to keep posting once or twice a week, but if I dont it isn't because the story "died" I'm just busy.