Ariana took a trip to the fabric store in the early evening. The sun was down by the time she left. Her arms were full with the fabric she just purchased. Ariana was currently wearing one of her creations, not one from the collection though. Today's look was a red tunic with intricate embroidery at the collar, black jeans, a black sash, and Manny around her shoulders.

"You know," she said to Manny, "that blue fabric would look nice. What do you think about changing fabrics? It would take some time, but I could do it."

Manny liked the idea. It noticed the fabric Ariana was talking about as well and liked it. But it was expensive. It signaled that it liked the idea.

Ariana skipped along a back alley with no fear. She could handle herself in any situation, even without a gargoyle watching over her.

There was a crash and a snarl followed by shouting and cursing. The snarl sounded like a gargoyle. Ariana raced to investigate. There was a group of Quarrymen pinning down a blue gargoyle with red hair.

"Demona?" breathed Ariana.

Even though it was Demona, no one deserved to be the prey of the Quarrymen.

"Let go of her!" shrieked Ariana.

They turned to her.

"You defend this monster?" asked one of them.

Ariana dropped her shopping bags. "You bet!" she snapped. Ariana raised her hands, palms out. A silver pulse came forth from her hands and knocked all the Quarrymen back.

Demona watched in amazement as Ariana dashed up to her and cast a spell to release her of her bonds.

"You okay?" Ariana asked

Demona snarled and jumped away. "Why did you help me, human?"

"Because even though you've done horrible things in the past, you don't deserve this," said Ariana.

Demona frowned. "Who are you? How do you know what I've done?"

"Goliath and the others told me," said Ariana. "I know who you are, Demona. I know what you did."

Ariana retrieved her shopping bags. "You should go. They'll wake up soon."

Demona picked up one of the weapons the Quarrymen were carrying and prepared to shoot one in the head. The weapon was sent flying from her hand. She turned to see Ariana was pointing one finger at her.

"Leave them," said Ariana.

"Why? They were going to kill me!" snapped Demona. "I will kill them before they will kill me."

"You're already immortal," said Ariana. "What else could you want?"

"Revenge!" cried Demona. "I want blood for blood for what the humans did to my clan."

Ariana clicked her tongue and sighed. "Clearly we won't be getting anywhere anytime soon." She walked over to Demona and cast another spell.

Demona looked around to see that they were on the rooftop overlooking where they were moments before.

"How did you do that?" asked Demona.

"You're not the only sorceress in Manhattan," said Ariana.

"What is your name?" asked Demona.

"Ariana Caelum."

"Where are you from?" asked Demona. "Where does your family hail from?"

Ariana shrugged. "Beats me. I was put in foster care before I could ask my parents that question."

"You are very powerful for someone your age, Ariana," said Demona.

"So I am told," said Ariana. "I'm told I'm an Argentum Magus."

Demona's eyes went wide when she heard this. "The bloodline has been wiped out, hasn't it?"

Ariana shook her head. "I'm in possession of the spell book of the Argentum. I've had it for years. Funny thing about that spell book — it always seems to find an Argentum whether they know they have magic or not. And it only opens for an Argentum, too."

Demona had an idea. "You know, Ariana, you have the power and I have experience. Together, we could rule the world."

"Yes, and the first chance you got, you would have me killed," said Ariana. "Because that's how you are. You are so full of hatred to the ones who killed your clan that you fail to see the true culprit in it all: You."

"You don't know what they did!" yelled Demona.

"Does it matter?" asked Ariana. "What's done is done. Goliath tried to fix it with the Phoenix Gate, but failed."

"I will have blood for blood!" snarled Demona.

"Then kill yourself," Ariana shouted back. "If you want the blood of the ones responsible for the slaughter of your clan and for all the bad things that have happened to you, start with yourself."

"You little witch!" Demona advanced on Ariana.

Ariana raised her hand high into the air. Demona saw that she was about to cast a spell and tried to close the gap between them to keep Ariana from casting whatever spell she was casting.

"Videre veritatem!" shouted Ariana.

Demona was sent tumbling back. She curled into a ball and cried and screamed.

Ariana stood over her. "View the memories you long buried. See the truth you refuse to see. See that you are the cause of all your misery. Perhaps one day you will be free."

Ariana walked away, leaving Demona on the rooftop. She would be over her fit soon enough, but the spell would last for days, maybe even weeks. Ariana was very angry when she said it and she poured quite a bit of her own power into the spell to make it more potent in case Demona knew a counter spell.

Ariana returned to the castle and began to work on her collection for the night. She had less than three weeks to have everything ready to go. She still had a bit of work to do, but most everything was done. Model selections went off without a hitch two days ago and Ariana had all of the shoes she would need. Tomorrow Fox was going to take her to where the fashion show was being held and they would meet with the coordinator of the event.

The day of the fashion show was at hand. Ariana got there early with her models and began setting up. The competition was going to be fierce and she had to be fiercer. Ariana wished she would be able to see the gargoyles wake, but she had to be here.

The models were dressed and had their makeup on. Ariana was going to be one of the last to present her collection. She wished she was one of the first, at least then she wouldn't have time to get jittery and throw up. As things stood, Ariana was about to throw up what little she had in her stomach, having skipped lunch and dinner to keep from having this problem.

"Ariana."

She heard her name being called somewhere in the noise that was backstage. She was more focused on what she was going to say to the crowd. It didn't have to be long, but she had to say something. She was so nervous!

"Ariana!"

"What?" Ariana cried out of frustration.

A man grabbed her and turned her around. Ariana pulled away, but the grip on her arms was firm.

"Let go!" barked Ariana.

"Ariana, it's me," said the man.

Ariana looked at the man. He was pale with messy white hair that fell down his back, about her age with a narrow face and chocolate brown eyes. He was dressed in a black leather jacket, red T-shirt, black jeans, and black cowboy boots.

"Brooklyn?"

"Who else?" Brooklyn chuckled. "This was Alex's lesson for tonight; gargoyle to human transmutations. He'll turn me back at the end of the night."

"What are you doing here?" asked Ariana, shaking her head.

"Supporting you," said Brooklyn. He looked her over. "And it looks like you need it. Are you okay? You look sick."

"I am so nervous," said Ariana. "I think I'm going to be sick."

"You're not going to be sick," Brooklyn assured, giving her a much needed hug. "You're going to be fine and you're going to win this."

Ariana looked around. "I don't know about winning," she said. "But I'm glad that I'm here."

Brooklyn smiled. "I thought you would bring Manny with you."

"No, it would just get underfoot," said Ariana. "I don't want to get choked because someone steps on it."

The crowd clapped as the first designer took the runway.

"Here we go," said Ariana.

"You'll be fine," said Brooklyn, kissing her. "You'll see."

The rest of the night was a blur for Ariana. Seven other designers showed off their collections before it was Ariana's turn. Ariana went out there gave her intro and waited. One at a time, her models went out to show off the clothes she created. At the end, they all paraded out with Ariana bringing up the rear with the last model. She took her bow and went backstage.

Ariana stood with Brooklyn, holding his hand tightly. They were going to announce the winners after the show and everyone left. Ariana and the other designers took the runway.

"Ariana," one of the judges said.

Ariana snapped her opaque blue eyes to him.

"You have a very interesting collection," said the judge. "You showed off different looks with different colors, all of them wearable, and you had a theme. You took your inspiration from gargoyles, right?"

"Yes," said Ariana.

"Very creative," said the judge.

They moved on to the other designers.

Brooklyn was waiting for Ariana. She finally came out after a few of the other designers left one at a time.

"Well?" he asked.

Ariana shook her head. "I didn't win," she said.

"What?" asked Brooklyn. "You put everything you had into that collection."

"I know," said Ariana. She smiled. "It's okay."

Brooklyn frowned. "You're happy you didn't win?"

"Yeah," said Ariana. "I learned a lot over the past two months. There's a lot of work being a designer. I'm content designing for Fox and her crowd. It doesn't bother me at all. I don't have to be an international designer."

"But I thought that's what you wanted," said Brooklyn.

"I thought so, too," said Ariana. "Maybe one day I will be, but for now, I'm not ready for it. There is way too much pressure involved. Besides," she kissed Brooklyn on the cheek, "it keeps me from you. Do you want me shut up in my workroom all the time trying to crank out piece after piece?"

"No," said Brooklyn. "I want to spend time with you." He reached into his jacket pocket and took out a wallet. "I have some cash," he said. "Do you want to get a bite to eat?"

"Please," said Ariana. "I haven't eaten since breakfast."

They started to leave when they were stopped by a red-haired woman in a dark business suit. Brooklyn looked at her and jumped in front of Ariana.

"What do you want, Demona?" he growled.

Demona looked at Brooklyn. "Is that you, Brooklyn?"

"That's right!" snapped Brooklyn. "How are you human when the sun is down?"

"I'm not," said Demona. "It's an illusion spell. I am still very much a gargoyle."

Brooklyn shrank back a little.

"It seems that you, on the other hand, are full human," said Demona. "I could kill you without breaking a sweat."

"If I was not around, maybe you could," said Ariana. "But I'm here. Think before you act."

Demona turned to Ariana. "And I have," she said. Demona lowered her head. "The spell you cast, it made me relive my most painful memories. I saw what I did. And I am sorry."

Brooklyn stared. "It's a trick! She's lying!" he burst out.

"Maybe," said Ariana. "But that spell I put on her did make her remember all the memories that she wished to forget, the memories that proved that she was the cause of all her own suffering and more."

Brooklyn whirled on Ariana. "You cast a spell on Demona? When? Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"Because I knew you would react this way," said Ariana. "You are very protective of me."

"And for good reason!" said Brooklyn.

"I know no amount of apologizing will ever be enough and I can do nothing to atone for what I have done," said Demona. "I want this fighting to stop. I'm tired of being alone."

"I know," said Ariana.

"What?" cried Brooklyn. "You can't be serious. You're falling for this? She's a master manipulator, Ariana."

"I know that," said Ariana. "But I know when someone is truly sorry. You want this fighting to stop, so be it, Demona. Your daughter will be glad to hear it."

Brooklyn growled. "She won't be welcome in the clan," he told Ariana. "And you have no right to offer clanship."

"I know," Ariana said evenly. "And I'm not giving her any. I didn't invite her to be a part of the clan. I am simply stating facts."

Ariana turned to Demona. "I'll be keeping a close eye on you," she told the gargoyle.

"I would not expect less," said Demona. She turned and walked away.

Ariana turned to Brooklyn. "Now, about that bite to eat."