Brooklyn opened his eyes and blinked several times. His vision was blurred after passing through the Phoenix Gate and after it cleared he found that he was standing on a mountain pass. Down below him were several tents. He could see many soldiers walking back and forth throughout the camp. They were all wearing sets of chainmail armor and carrying long swords that were belted at the hip. On their chest was a red dragon crest painted on.

"Where the hell am I?" Brooklyn asked as he stepped forward to get a better look. Then he noticed a green female gargoyle being dragged off to a tent by two of the armored men. I have to help her. He went to leap off of the edge when something struck his head from behind. He fell to the ground unconscious and a large grey gargoyle stood over him.

"What should we do with him my Queen?" The large gargoyle asked as Demona stepped up to him. She cupped his chin so she could see his face.

"He's not one of ours, but I could swear I've seen him before." Demona stated in confusion. "Take him to the dungeons. I will interrogate him later." Demona said as she walked away.

"Shouldn't we help her?" The blue female gargoyle with horns like Brooklyn's asked. Demona froze and thought for a moment. She felt tears stinging her eye lids as she realized they couldn't do anything for her.

"With only five of us here now we're not strong enough to attack them. Our reinforcements should arrive before dawn. I only hope that she can survive what those barbarians have planned." Demona growled.

They carried Brooklyn up to the cave that they were hiding out in and the large grey gargoyle threw Brooklyn into the crudely made dungeon that Demona crafted from the mud and stone using spells she learned from the Arch-Mage.

I know I've seen him somewhere before. Demona thought irritably as she tried to remember where she may have met him. For some reason thoughts of Wyvern and her beloved came to her mind whenever she looked at him.

"My lady, we found this in his pouch while we were searching him." Demona stared at the Phoenix Gate that the small blue gargoyle was now holding up to her.

"Thank you, continue your patrols." Demona ordered as she studied the Phoenix Gate. How could he have this? Demona thought irritably. She walked to her chest and pulled her key out of her pouch to open it. She sighed heavily before she opened it. Inside the chest was several portraits she took from Castle Wyvern. There were several of her and Goliath and she looked over each one as her memories came flooding back to her. She saw one portrait that made her stop and stare at it for a moment. The gargoyle she had just locked in the dungeon looked just like one of the hatchlings from Wyvern How is that possible? She asked herself in surprise.

"It's still here." She said in shock as she lifted her half of the Phoenix Gate that she had broken in half as a symbol of their love. To this day she was not able to find Goliath's half. Does he being here now mean Goliath's alive and we're destined to meet in the future? Demona thought as excitement began to fill her. I need to know and he better have a damn good answer. She thought as she took her half and the full phoenix gates and put them in her pouch and picked up the portrait of the clan before locking back up the chest. She went to the dungeon and cast the spell to remove the door.

Brooklyn sat up as he saw the door disappearing and growled menacingly as Demona walked in.

"It is you isn't it my old friend?" Demona asked happily as she took a seat next to him. "I'm sorry we had to put you in here, but we didn't know where you came from and you were about to jeopardize our position here."

"I should be in Castle Wyvern. How did I end up here?" Brooklyn snarled. "Either way you're here so I can do what I need to do." He stood up and his eyes began to glow white as he walked slowly towards her. "I'm here to kill you to stop you from destroying the clan." Brooklyn said menacingly.

"Our clan has already been destroyed by the Vikings." Demona replied bitterly.

"No, not that time. Although, we know you had a hand in that as well." Brooklyn informed. She stared at him in shock. "You told us the same night you tried to kill us."

"Assuming, I believe you. Why would I try to kill you when all I have done is try and save us from these barbarians that mean to destroy us?" Demona asked. She crossed her arms over her chest and waited for a response.

"I don't know, you never felt like explaining yourself." He replied bitterly. Demona nodded and thought over what he said for a moment.

"Normally, I would kill you for making false accusations however I found this." She held up the Phoenix Gate. "And you look just like one of my clan from Wyvern. So, I'll give you the opportunity to help me fight the barbarians that mean to kill us all if you tell me what happened so I can fix our future."

"Why would I trust you?" Brooklyn asked suspiciously.

"Because I believe you care for our people as much as I do and if I have lost my way as you claim then perhaps you came here to help me find myself." She handed him the portrait. "So, what's it going to be?"

TO BE CONTINUED IN:

CURSE OF THE AZURE WARRIOR P.2

DEMONA'S

ROAD TO REDEMPTION