Important Note: I must say this is NOT the original Act 2: Part 8 I had prepared. It's the same basic story though, the entire book was lost when my laptop decided to break. I have decided to rewrite everything. This gives me an opportunity to correct whatever issues my readers have with Act 2 since it seems ever since Act 2 began hits and reviews have plummeted, normally I'd not mind the reviews, but the hits do bring me pause. If they're at all accurate only a hand full of human beings are actually reading this, so I must say, where have I gone wrong? Help me to correct this so that in the future I'll know what is and is not appropriate when writing a story. Thanks!

Part Eight

The Long Patrol . . .

Brooklyn soared through the night along with Braids and two others.

Angelo of the Castle Clan was a total pretty boy. He had long flowing black hair, a bronze complection that went well with his golden bracers and anklets. His wings were feathered, perhaps the reason for his name. He had a sword at his hip, and a spear in his hands.

Iron Claw had a scarred and muscular body, however he was short. Probably not much taller than Lexington, his hands were covered in dirty, bloody gauntlets. Apparently the jungle hero didn't believe in washing his hands after battle.

Brooklyn looked at Braids, she looked really pretty, there was a certain attractive quality she possessed when her face was serious and her eyes searching, something that didn't exist when she was hanging on to him for the fun of it.

Quite suddenly Angelo barked, "I see them!"

"Really? Only just now?" Braids sighed.

"To the left, among the trees." Iron Claw agreed.

Brooklyn glared at the tree line, he saw nothing.

"Seems they're just observing us. I see three." Iron Claw said.

"Five." Braids corrected, her hands on her daggers.

"That means nothing," Angelo said, "It only means that there are at least five."

Brooklyn peered closer . . . he saw a flash of movement, glowing red eyes in the darkness. A small head with round ears, like a demonic teddy bear without a nose.

"I see them!" Brooklyn gasped.

"Quiet!" Angelo hissed, "Not so loud canyon boy, they'll hear you!"

"Excuse me, Prince Brooklyn is a member of the Manhattan clan!" Braids spat.

Angelo didn't seem to care, he gripped his spear, "Let's go!" He said, and he dove towards the trees.

Brooklyn frowned, "No! Wait!" He shouted. He dove after Angelo.

"Slaughter, kill, let's begin!" Iron Claw cried, hurtling himself towards the battle.

If Braids did anything, she did it quietly, and Brooklyn didn't see her. He quickly caught up to Angelo, the larger male swept his hand back to throw his spear, Brooklyn barreled into him, grabbing him around the waist!

They both plumetted to the ground, hitting it hard.

Brooklyn groaned and got up, there was a low hiss from the trees.

Angelo's spear landed harmlessly in a tree trunk, missing its intended target. His spiked elbow shot back, knocking Brooklyn in the fave, "Fool!" He roared.

"Quiet, they'll hear you." Braids said mockingly as she landed next to them.

Brooklyn ignored the pain in his cheek and looked at the woods. Hissing, eyes glowing red six big rats emerged from the woods.

Angelo raised to his feet, he drew his sword, Iron Claw slammed into the ground "What is going on? Why are you just standing there? Let's kill!"

"No wait!" Brooklyn said.

If looks could kill Angelo and Iron Claw would be arguing over which of them had just slain the prince of the Manhattan clan. "What?" Angelo demanded venomously.

"They're not attacking us." Brooklyn said.

"They're our enemies, they die!" Iron Claw explained as if he were explaining something annoyingly simple to a small child.

The rat Brooklyn had seen before bounced out of a tree and onto Angelo's spear, the rat's ears were rounded instead of cropped and pointed, he was smaller than the rest, he seemed to have paws instead of hands, all things considered he looked rather like a cute baby bear as he slipped off of the spear and fell on his bottom.

It didn't take a genius to tell that this was a child.

Braids folded her arms, "They're not the advance scouts of a war party, or there wouldn't be a child. I'm sure they are spies though."

"All the more reason to kill them." Angelo said.

"Why?" Brooklyn asked.

"What do you mean?" Angelo demanded, "They're spies! They have to die!"

"What are they spying that the rats don't already know?" Brooklyn scoffed, "The gates are smashed, they did it, they know it."

Angelo scowled, "I saw we kill them all, the child as well!"

"They didn't come to fight." Braids said in exhasperation, "Do not misunderstand, I am all for a little skirmish, a little brawl . . . but not if all they're doing is looking for their brat."

Brooklyn nodded, "Agreed."

"They've never spared our lives." Angelo hissed. "Why should we spare theirs?"

"Because that way they'll owe us." Braids shrugged.

Angelo scowled, "I'll be talking to your father when we return, you've always been crazy but now you're daft!"

"Can we kill them now?" Iron Claw asked.

"Oh yes." Angelo nodded, and the two older males charged forward.

Brooklyn was annoyed, but he couldnt just let them get themselves killed! He drew Daemon's sword, he felt a gentle tingle move through his arm as he held the sword up high. It was well balanced, and surprisingly light, he glared at the rats.

"Demon! Demon!" They screamed, and without hesitation they fled, taking with them the lost infant.

Brooklyn sighed in relief. He smiled weakly, "Now we don't have to fight." He said.

Angelo glared at him, he ripped his spear from the trunk of the tree–it had sunk in only about four feet from the ground, and hurled it into the woods.

There was an agonized scream, Brooklyn shuddered as Angelo smirked at him. "You think you scared them off? They're cowards anyway."

"I never said–" Brooklyn began but now Iron Claw interrupted him.

"All I wanted was to kill a few rats, it's not like they cant afford it, they got lots of warriors stupid! We can kill some and it doesnt matter, but let them live and they come back to fight again. You stupid and new, so is okay this time. Next time we'll kill."

Brooklyn eyes narrowed. "Of course." He said, choosing to say nothing more.

However he wondered . . . given how close the spear had come to the tree the rat creature child was in . . . had Angelo been aiming for the child? Or had Brooklyn's attempt to stop him thrown off his aim? Had Brooklyn been the one to put the rat creature baby in danger?

Somehow, as he wateched Angelo stalk into the woods to retrieve his spear, he doubted it.

He turned to Braids now, "You saw them first, didn't you? Why did you wait until Angelo spotted them to react?"

"The first one I saw was the child." She shrugged. "Given that they didn't look like warriors to me, I assumed the others were looking for their child. Lot of fools letting it get so close to our territory . . . I've never had any strong desire to harm children, Prince Brooklyn. Given your reluctance, I guess it didn't oppose the 'gargoyle way'?" She smirked at him.

Brooklyn smiled weakly, "No gargoyle worthy of the name would harm a child." He said.

"Ah. Then we're in agreement." Braids said darkly, glaring at Angelo as he emerged from the tree line, the head and the upper third of his spear covered in blood.

Angelo smirked, "Our patrol isnt finished. Maybe we'll get another chance."

Iron Claw bobbed his head hopefully. Brooklyn looked at Braids . . . how could these gargoyles be . . . like this? He'd have to ask her later . . . maybe he'd ask Danica, she seemed to know a thing or two about hatred as well.


Leif stood over her, she was helpless, asleep and undefended.

Almasy shook his head, "I hear she used the fiery serpents again, did she?" He asked.

"Who told you that?" Leif asked calmly.

"Yido." Almasy shrugged.

Yido, one of the elite soldiers that had come with Leif and Hiromi on their attack. Leif smiled weakly and nodded. "She used her fiery serpents."

"So it must have been bad." Almasy reasoned. "She swore she'd never use them again."

"She did." Leif nodded. "And it was. But that's what I need your help with."

"What do you mean?" Almasy frowned.

"Havent you wondered why you feel a connection to her?" Leif asked. "It's no silly childhood crush, you just assumed that was what it was since you had no idea why else you'd feel so interested in her. In reality she's the closest thing you've ever found to yourself, she's a Veni-Yan Kari . . . and so are you."

Leif smirked beneath his hood as Almasy gapped at him. Smirking seemed very unlike him, it was almost as if someone else had just moved his mouth.

"But you're a Kari, and I don't like you very much . . . I uh . . . I mean . . ."

"Excatly what you said. I don't care. The fact is I'm a Kari of shadow, she's a Kari of light. We're opposites. You too are a Kari of light, that's probably why you don't like me. I've always rather liked you. Like the little brother I never wanted." Leif removed his hood and shook his head, he looked at Almasy seriously, "That is why I need you. Hiromi is hurt, she cant help me with the spell I want to cast, and I cant do it alone. Of all the Veni-Yan Kari in this castle, I believe the three of us, with that young gargoyle, are the three most capable of successfully casting this spell."

And their powers . . . will become our powers . . . we will suck them dry . . . and we will be free. The voice in Leif's head thought.

Leif ignored it. That wasn't what he was trying to do, he told himself, he assured himself . . . and yet the idea he had in mind had only appeared there after the voice appeared in his mind.

He watched Almasy, the boy looked overwhelmed. Leif took a deep breath, "Almasy we're going to cast a spell that will change the face of the war. It will not end it, may not even help us acheive victory . . . but it will change everything."

Because we will be free and we will have all of your power!

Leif twitched, nearly shouting at himself to shut up. He watched Almasy calmly, then turned back to Hiromi.

Light and shadow . . . how he'd fallen in love with her was a mystery to him, none the less he loved her. To see her on the verge of death bothered him, but knowing that it was because of him that she'd broken her oath and used the fiery serpents again . . . he clenched his fist. The locusts stirred.

Suddenly, and without warning his arm shot up to his shoulder, he slammed his fist into said shoulder and felt the satisfying crunch as one of the locusts died.

His reward was a searing pain through his body, the voice in his head was so loud he could have sworn he could hear it through his ears!

These are your only allies, do not harm them again!

Leif smirked, though the little act of rebellion had suddenly robbed him of all his strength and he was forced to lean against a wall, he was satisfied.

This time the smirk felt right, as if he truly were the one smirking. There was something wrong with him, something inside of him . . . but it didn't have complete control just yet.

To Be Continued . . .

Author's Note: To every reviewer, and the most loyal Queen in particular, thanks for your support of this story thus far. I will not lie, the only reason I decided to rewrite instead of waiting for repairs is because someone out there actually cares enough to review as the chapters go along and I felt like giving an update before too much time passed. Unfortunately too much time has passed, none the less I hope someone is reading this chapter.

Now as for there being no way out for our good guys, well that's what makes the story exciting . . . I hope.