In New York the new addition to the gargoyle clan was proving herself to be a great new addition. A bit reserved, but otherwise a pleasant enough female. Still she could not replace their lost friend.
"What was this Ilaria like?" Hudson looked cross believing that she had somehow insulted the elder she was quick to add on to her question. "She must have been something if she has gained this much respect and love from your clan members. I wish to know a little more about her. That is if you do not mind telling me about her that is."
"Ilaria she was well she was a surprise addition to our group. One who appeared to accept us from the… how is it people say these days? From the get go?" The Hawaiian gargoyle nodded her head to say that what he said was correct. "Not many like her out in this world that is for certain. Do you know that she would come by and set aside time to help me and Broadway with not just learning how to read but other subjects as well. Such as the history of this country for one and in turn I would tell her stories of our clan's past. Always had time for this old war horse she did." Hudson's wave of nostalgia caused guilt to well up inside of Aliikai. "She was a bit of a spitfire that's for sure." The eldest gargoyle sighed. "But only when the timing suited her. A little like you when you and Brooklyn had that spout some time ago."
"It was barely three hours ago."
"It still was some time ago." The Elder protested.
"But you are saying it like the event happened years and years ago." She said with a sense of faux annoyance.
"Truth be told your reaction spurs it, because it tickles me." Aliikai smiled at Hudson before taking off from the ledge of Xanatos's estate in the sky. Hudson followed suit and unknown to them they were being watched.
"Strange this new addition to the gargoyle clan." Owen replied in his usual monotone. He observed how his boss was taking note of the new addition as well. "Do you suspect something Mr. Xanatos?
"About her loyalty to this clan, then no I see nothing to suspect still she does bear the weight of curiosity. Be sure to keep a good eye on her Owen."
"Of course Mr. Xanatos."
The times were changing with the aid of a dark voluminous cloud on the horizon that would create a new look for all the characters in this play. Some shall rise to the occasion to become the future and some shall fall into sad disarray. Unless the future holds another clue or two in order to create something far different from what we anticipate.
One of those clues resides in the decision to be reached on the Island of Avalon with the disappearance of the newest child of Oberon's line.
Meanwhile on the Island of Avalon.
A dark figure with head held high strutted like a peacock across the floor towards the rulers of this realm. He made sure to bow with grace and dignity to the king and queen as well as to wait for them to reply first.
"Raven, why have you come before us? Have you found the missing one so soon?"
"Lord Oberon, you give me too much credit. I am sorry to say that as of now I have not found Ilaria yet. However I have some idea of where it is that she has gone."
"You do?" Titania truly surprised by his words.
"If you know of her whereabouts then speak now." Oberon demanded. In a cocky manner Raven responded thusly. "My lord it is not as simple as that for you see this is a complicated matter that we are dealing with here."
"I am starting to believe, my child, that you are just as unsure of her location as the rest of us." Oberon was growing both bored and annoyed by Raven's cocky attitude for the sake of his comfort he would have to explain things quickly.
"You see my lord and lady that I do have perhaps the idea of the only location she could be at. New York City." Oberon repeats the last three words as if to see if the taste suited his tongue. "New York City, the big apple and home of the previously thought last gargoyles. The clan Manhattan: which is led by that one gargoyle who stood up against you more times than one. He also lived to tell the tale. The one place that is only logical for her to go to as it was her former home."
"We cannot make blind judgments on where her location could be. A variable of this is how we would guess such a location as her hideout to distract us and create a strain with the humans. Though your point does bear some respectable weight there are still some unanswered questions in this. Such as how could she have gotten off the island and do you know for certain if she is truly there?"
"I intended to answer all of these questions, my lord Oberon." Oberon lifts his brow in surprise. "You see my lord for me to bring you proof that she is where I am certain she is I need to gain special permission from you."
"I see where you are going with this. It has all become too transparent." Raven did not answer his ruler. "You desire to go to the mortal realm and you are using the search for Ilaria as an excuse to leave the island. Oh Child of mine, a tricksters touch you appear to be losing if it is all too easy to guess a true motive of yours."
"I am afraid that you are wrong on this account my lord Oberon. I do wish to leave the island to find Ilaria, because she is the gift that I desire once this challenge ends." There was a collective peek of interest in what Raven had said. The crowd muttered about with flinging gossip till silenced by the next speaker. The queen of Avalon.
"You wish to go to the mortal realm in order to find Ilaria so that you may marry her?"
"I do indeed Lady Titania. There is no other as suited to my tastes as she is. The fact that she interests me is quite an accomplishment. It would give her reason to stay here if she were to be married to me. Don't you agree lord Oberon?" Lord Oberon thought on this and would have given an answer had Grandmother let her voice die.
"Do not be so quick as to agree to his request without proper thought." Grandmother parted through the crowd. She was not surprised to find that Raven was giving her the stink eye as she moved closer. "He has not found her with all conclusion therefore he cannot receive your generous gift."
"None of Oberon's children are allowed to step out of Avalon at this moment. I know where she is and I will find her, but I need his permission to enter the realm of mortals to bring her back." Raven brought back his impish smile to the royal couple as if he were in control without interruption from Grandmother.
"That in its self sounds far too similar to a gift request than what should be so humble."
"A gift to leave the island once to complete the task, is that what you are getting at?"
"It appears that you Raven are the one getting slower with old age instead of I." The children of Oberon snickered at Grandmother's quip.
"Then you can chop it up to grief that the one that I desire for a bride is the one who is missing. Emotions are a funny thing in the sense that when someone who is cared for is suddenly gone then the mind is fuzzy on what use to be so clear."
"The sentence you have used can become a double edged sword for you Raven."
"Enough. I shall review what has been said with council from she who is my Queen and consort. There will be a dove released when our decision has been made."
Back on the Island of Manhattan
The constant watching over the new addition were rather straining on the Child of Oberon as he was met with a constant distraction of the changing variety. The current flavor of the day was a Golden lion tamarin. The little funny monkey had climbed upon the head of his Owen form. She griped with her back feet carefully to look at him from upside down. Her little paws or hands brought up the position of a standing rabbit.
"Whatcha ya doin?"
"Nothing that concerns you." Owen placed the little creature down onto the table and she quickly returned to her spot on his head. "If you don't mind Miss. Hibiscus I would like you to climb off of my head."
"I do mind." She said the tips of her little mouth curving into a smile. "I wonder what you are doing. If I sit here then I can figure out what you are doing since it does appear that you are not going to tell me willingly." Her dark black eyes took on an evil little glint as her tail lowered down. It moved about as if it were its own creature the tip was pointed directly within his eyesight. "I have my ways."
The little minx leapt into attack mode using all her appendages including tail to tickle torture Owen. Puck the elaborate creator of this character was surprised to learn that he was ticklish. Owen tried to win the battle of wills but the furry little creature scaling his form was the far stronger opponent. Great belly laughs gave out from the normally stoic man, loud and a little painful. But the greatest pain would come to Owen's pride when Xanatos, his boss, appeared out of nowhere.
Not many things could ever shock the self-made man but this little show came pretty close to it.
"Owen." The little monkey grew scarce. Actually she grew wings to become a fly and buzz away. "Found something to amuse yourself with while on watch?"
"It is not like that Mr. Xanatos. You see Miss…." Upon the realization that she had fled the scene the man sighed. "I had a rather persistent uninvited visitor come to see me. Her idea of information gathering is to use some rather unconventional methods for anyone but a three year old."
"Hibiscus. That does explain things nicely. Speaking of explaining things. What do you have for me on this newcomer?"
"I am sorry to report Mr. Xanatos that there is not much that I can report on potentially new developments on this Aliikai. She appears to be just as her image portrays. A gargoyle of the islands of Hawaii. She follows the portal with the others, protects the citizens, tries to get along with the majority of the other clan members. There is a bit of tension between her and Brooklyn. No surprise when you give it a little thought. In a sense we were all betrayed by the goddess Pele when she was unable to bring back your new found niece Ilaria and instead sent us the new addition to the gargoyles. Him being attracted to your niece….."
"Excuse me. But did you say attraction?" Owen looked surprised by his boss's reaction to the word.
"I was lead to believe that you were well aware of the gargoyle Brooklyn's affections upon Ilaria."
"I am well aware of this infatuation of the two. The word attraction I suppose it had an effect on me that I was not prepared for. In fact I might not ever be prepared for such things." This bothered both Puck and Owen. They could see what Xanatos's words meant. Xanatos did not have to confirm aloud what the Puck was able to see. The man was in state of conflict within himself over the idea of Ilaria and Brooklyn being brought together again. Should the relationship be allowed to thrive? The two were so far apart in species that it felt as if a migraine were coming from thinking about it. Brooklyn was a gargoyle. Pureblooded in variety, a gargoyle plain and simple for generations. Ilaria had three bloodlines in her veins. Gorgon, Oberon and human resided within her genetic makeup. Should she and the male gargoyle choose to become mates would they be able to breed? Could she be strong enough to carry a child of such powerful bloodlines to term? If she did bring forth a child such as that into this world would the child be a burden upon the earth? A child with the magic of Oberon, the strengths of a gargoyle, the fearful abilities of the gorgon and the darkness that lies in all human hearts…that child would surely become a monster. He already in a way fathered a monster. One monster that still clawed at his mind like a dreadful conscience whenever his thoughts seemed to drift.
"I owe much to the gargoyles for what they have done for my son. Should I not return the favor and aid them."
"Aiding them in their best interests would be the smart thing to do. However aiding is not the same thing as solving the problems they face."
Owen left at the silent request of his employer and went about his way through the castle. His eyes searched every corridor and within each corridor every nook and cranny. For those who are expecting a ninja or clever thief there is disappointment to be found. No ill intended person is to be found at this time or place. Instead it is but a merry prankster who wishes to see Robin Goodfellow. From an unseen crack hidden behind a flowered vase out crept the quick footed skink. The flashing blue tail hidden from light so as not to alert the target of its presence shifted back and forth for balance. Changing from lizard to cricket the strong legged creature leapt to the floor and followed the target right at his heel. The tiny creature did not have to worry about an accidental note being played as the cricket was female and did not sing. However she was very much at risk of being stepped on should he decide to double back. Thus another transformation occurred in the form of something quite foul and frightening. A cockroach. The stomach turning insect marched forth along the leg of the man's trouser up to his shoulder where she sat and waited patiently for him to notice her. When he did she let out a cheerful. "Hi!"
"A cockroach? Not bad, but still not enough to warm my tundra climate for a second time. Had you chosen Fox or Mr. Xanatos you would have been squashed."
"I know that. Why else would I have chosen to perch upon your shoulder instead of theirs in this form?"
"You are a glutton for punishment perhaps Hibiscus?"
"Not a glutton or a fool. Just wise enough to see a truly gentle man."
"A gentleman am I? An interesting thing to say to one such as myself. Take into account my history and tastes for life and you will have not an image of a gentleman but a trickster."
"A trickster whose tricks are meant to liven the world and seek merriment. Not blood or war. You have not the taste for golden apples as did Eris."
"Nor the box of Pandora's. A silly little girl who caused a great deal of turmoil for all of man." A curious thing happened to Hibiscus's mood. Her face grew into a scrunched up frown and dark clouds beneath her eyes, but it vanished with a literal blink of an eye. "Isn't it just like a man to blame a woman for all the troubles? According to the myth the true fault was upon Zeus who created both the box and the woman Pandora in order to release those evils upon mankind."
"Ahh but he did warn Pandora did he not?"
"In order to spur her curiosity that he placed upon her with Hermes aid upon her creation. Be sure to keep that well in mind. However I find that sometimes men show more curiosity than they admit."
"So you are saying that it was the fault of two men?"
"More like four men. Well two male gods and two titans. Prometheus and his brother Epimetheus have blame to share. Epimetheus used all of the gifts to animals leaving man nothing, thus Prometheus stole fire and then taught man how to cheat. His punishment came, but Zeus desired more and gave Pandora and her box to Epimetheus. In this way one could say that this was to be Epimetheus's punishment for his excess towards animals."
"As both a woman and an animal… In a sense you are animal, and do not try to bring Darwin into this. His theory was that we came from the same branch as apes not that we were direct descendants of apes. To the point you are saying that evil was casted upon you and when to was of someone else's doing?"
"I merely point out that it is quick to blame a lynchpin but it shall not always the true cause of everything."
"I find it so fascinating that you who were found without much memory and little schooling yet it seems to have such a clever mind."
"Hibiscus and her father did see that I was schooled. Greek myths a natural thing to learn about for many. But to put things in a better perspective for people of high knowledge it comes in stranger places." With that the creature changer took off from Owen's shoulders and disappeared around the corner in her human form. Only once did she look back at him and it was at that moment that the Puck and Owen found themselves with something more than what they had thought they could ever feel.
Hibiscus continued to move throughout the stone walls and floors of the immense building. With no destination to reach or a place to be what more could she do than walk about. In one little corner of the castle she came across Lexington who was walking about the turrets as if looking for something of importance. Normally this would have interested the curiosity of this shape shifter but not now her mind was not registering what was happening around her. She did not see the romantic date of Broadway and Angela or else a clever prank or two she would have pulled. She did not bother Hudson back at the clock tower or follow Elisa on her patrol. She did not check on Brooklyn nor did she play with Bronx. The next thing that she did not do was check up on this Hawaiian gargoyle that had entered the fold some short time ago. But perhaps the most shocking was the way that she now seemed to take route in doing nothing in one corner of the clock tower. On the cold stone floor she merely sat down. Her mind a million miles away from where she was and that place was even further away still for it lay in her past.
"There is defiantly something wrong with her." Lexington whispered to his rookery brothers. They nodded their heads in agreement. For they had lived with Hibiscus in their clock tower for some time and knew that if she were standing still like this it was a strange sight indeed when one takes into account that she stays that way well into a second night.
"Perhaps it she isn't feeling well? Anyone thought to take her to the Vet?" Brooklyn comments
"Hey it just occurred to me…"
"About time." Again it was Brooklyn who spoke up.
"What if this is part of some colossal prank that she has in store for us?"
"I don't think that's the case this time Broadway. I hope it is but I have a feeling that it isn't." Lexington then took the initiative to ask how Hibiscus was feeling. "Hey Hibiscus, do you mind if I sit here?" She says nothing. "I'm going to take that as a yes." He plops down next to her and receives nothing but a blink in acknowledgement of his presence. "I heard that there is going to be a magic show in the park tomorrow night. I'm sure it's going to be a good show on its own but maybe a white rabbit could steal the show?" Lexington smiled wide and his eyebrows rose hinting at Hibby to take the hint and either agree with him or add something to what he said. Nothing was his reward. Thus he pressed on. "A white rabbit is too overdone I suppose. Perhaps a um dove? No ya see 'em in every other magic show. I know a snake! That is sure to get their attention!" Hibiscus blinks again but other than that again there is nothing. The green gargoyle took a pose to think of what he could do next. If a verbal approach wouldn't work with Hibby perhaps, he thought, a physical one would. He struck like the snake he mentioned earlier and shook Hibby to and fro. This seemed to bring her out of her stupor.
"What was that for Lexington?!"
"Hibby you're speaking again!" Lexington was joyful at the revelation that he hugged a confused shape shifter. Hibiscus gave him a second or two before pushing him away from her in order ask what it was that he was doing. "For almost two days you have been sitting here staring into space."
"Oh. I did it again." She says as she brushes away some strands of hair from her face. At hearing the words she spoke Lexington and his rookery brothers (who decided to join him and her) ask that this had happened before. "Hey don't look shocked enough to think that this is a regular thing or anything like that. It just has happened before a few times."
"Few as in a Broadway size few?"
"Hey!"
"Just a few as in just a few, okay? Look it's no big deal just leave it alone. Besides I think that I need to get some air." Hibiscus did not stand to hear anything else from her friends as she transformed into a hawk and flew out into the sky. The trio watched and thought on which one of them it will be that should follow after the hawk. In the end it was decided that perhaps she just needed air for the moment but when she returns they would talk then. The talk ended up being postponed for the next night as Hibiscus needed more air than she expected. Her past dreams were plaguing her again.
Dreams of no substance save that of color and feeling. Cold, harsh blues and greens that seemed to soothe against the white specks of light. Then there was another larger form of white that showed itself this one held a golden seal of some kind she could not see it for the light blinded her. Again there were colors. These ones were lighter than the ones that brought calm feelings to her mind. Then dark ones came of browns and blacks that tied with red, green, yellow and blue mismatched and loving. Why was there not a solid shape in the menagerie of colors to be seen?
Such questions would have to be placed on the backburner for now there were things that needed to be noted such as a secret rendezvous of the two lovers.
"Brooklyn? Brooklyn!" The teal skinned gargoyle half whispered half yelled out. Her eyes darted amongst the darkened park scene. A rustle in the bushes alerted the presence of the one she sought.
"Is anyone else with you?" he said gruffly. His arms crossed over in front of his chest.
"No. I am alone with only you in sight." At this the red skinned gargoyle released a sigh of relief and put his arms down. He said to her that's good before embracing her with arms and wings.
"Keeping up this pretense is getting harder each day."
"And yet your acting is getting better each day there have been a few times where I could strike you for your rudeness to me."
"A strike from you a blow to my soul."
"Since when did you become the poet?"
"What you don't like it? I could do the rebel thing. I got Lex to build a bike what's having him build another?"
"And ride across the country with only the open road leading us?"
"It's not a bad idea to try one day. Just call me James Dean."
"The actor or the sausage?" She teases.
"Oh ouch. Tell me why I put up with you again?" He asks pulling away from her.
"Because you love me." She says to him pulling him closer. He pulls away only to take her by the hand to lead her to something special.
"Enough to do this." He pulled away the branch of the tree to reveal to her a simple carving of a heart with their names written inside of it. "I know it's a bit of a cliché and nothing really big or fancy, but I can't help but feel that it is…"
"Perfect." She finished.
"Way to beat me to the punch." She giggles as the two come closer together. A wind chills the air giving Brooklyn the perfect excuse to cover her in his wings. Ilaria enjoyed the warmth from her lover's wings but she knew they could not risk staying like this for long. She broke away from his touch.
"We need to get back to patrolling the city."
"And going back to the boundaries I know I know. When the day comes that I can hold you in public again without fear of someone seeing may be the day I never let you go." Ilaria smiled warmly at him before climbing the tree and gliding away. "Because that day Oberon won't be a problem to us anymore. Will he Pele?" From the shadows the normally brightly colored goddess stepped out. A cloak of black shoot coated all around her to shield her presence from ever watchful eyes.
"In time he will not be a problem for the two of you. As I have intended since the first time that you had contacted me to get her back."
"How much longer do we have?"
"I cannot tell you. These things take time and patience. Patience I might add that has not been your strong suit as of late."
"Must you remind me of that every single time that we meet?"
"Must you be the one who has been acting far more volatile than even I as of late?"
"If I am volatile I have every reason to be. If one thing should go wrong then I will lose her completely. A fact that has been loitering over my head for the past three months now. Just one little slip is all it takes for Oberon to come back for her."
"Avalon's ruler is one who is far too stubborn with his own laws and decrees that he does not seem to fathom the effect of them upon others that were to take refuge in them. I know your pain and I will try to end it. But time is what is needed. To create a mist around her so that she may return but become undetected is a delicate art."
"Do you need me to find anything?"
"Nope. I just need to meet with you again. Two weeks from now. Here."
"I shall see you then Pele."