~Chapter Thirty~

Revelations

Rose was stuck in a very numb place as she watched Chris, Emily and Katie walk away down the alleyway. When they disappeared around the corner she wanted to crumble to the ground, and almost did until Brooklyn slid his arm around her waist, keeping her upright. Their minds were connected and she could sense his great worry for her, but she couldn't hardly feel anything in her own numbing thoughts.

"Sweetheart?" He asked quietly, holding her tighter against him.

Silence.

When she didn't answer him and continued to stare blankly down the alleyway, he stroked a talon down a non-bloodied part of her cheek and whispered, "Rose?"

"They are going to move to Oregon." She whispered, trying to keep her voice even.

"Who?"

"Chris and Emily."

"How do you know that?" He asked quietly.

She blinked, turned to face him finally, and exhaled out a heavy sigh. She was so tired and in pain that she melted into his hold, laying her head upon his collar bone. Her legs felt like jelly and her entire body was shaking. He must have known she couldn't stand anymore because with one swift move he scooped her up in his arms. If he was exhausted from his brawl in the flames and smoke with Kevin, it didn't show as he carried her slowly back over to the Clan.

"Because their house is a complete loss now and they now have no good reason to stay anymore." More hot tears fell down her face as she closed her weary eyes and cried into his neck.

"Did you read their minds or something…?" He asked her quietly. "How do you know that's what they were going to talk to you about?"

"Because they are both easy to read, and it's something I've known in my gut, ever since Emily told me that they were considering taking the job. Emily doesn't want to go, but Chris does. And now that their apartment is destroyed, he'll probably think that it's what's best for them."

"And what do you think?" Brooklyn asked softly.

"It doesn't matter what I think." Rose whispered back, another wave of emotions hitting her and she silently started to cry more.

"Yes it does."

She stayed silent for a few seconds, then sighed, "You won't like what I'm thinking about doing."

"Try me."

She glanced up at him, knowing she was about to open up a can of worms with him, and then sighed, "I think I should wipe their minds with my magic so they forget who I am. That way… they will move away, far away from all of this mess, and I can't hurt anyone else. That's what I think…"

Brooklyn froze, stopped walking and looked down at her with wide eyes. He wouldn't have taken her word so seriously if he didn't already see her wipe Samuel's memories a few nights ago, and she was right, he didn't like that. She had already lost so much- it was foolish to lose the human family she had.

"Please don't joke about doing that."

"Who says it's a joke?" Rose asked angrily, looking up into his eyes. "I will do what is needed to protect the people I love." Including you-

He seemed to hear those words, and even though she wasn't thinking them they both knew that's what she meant. If she was willing to wipe Emily and her family's memories, and was now powerful enough to do so, what would stop her from attempting it on him and the Clan to keep them safe? He knew her… and though she would only do it out of love and protection, it was not an option for him. Brooklyn opened his mouth in a snarl to argue with her, but Goliath placed a claw on his shoulders, tearing them both away from their semi-private conversation.

"We must take this conversation to a rooftop. Come, we are too exposed here, and the Police are doing scans of the area."

Nodding, Brooklyn instantly obeyed and walked them towards a wall where all of the Clan was ascending quickly. Goliath scooped Elisa up and scaled the walls with her clinging onto him; and when Brooklyn went to do the same thing, he glanced down at Rose and growled, "We'll discuss this later…"

She met his angry gaze with her own and nodded stiffly. She rested her head against his neck, tired, weak, weary and unable to fight anymore, especially with him. She tightened her grip on his neck, but gasped out in pain. Her hands were broken, stabbed, and destroyed. All movement impossible to keep herself tightened to him.

"I can't hold on…" She whispered. "My hands."

Pain rippled through him through their connection, and overpowered his anger. When he spoke next, his tone was gentle and comforting. "Use your elbows to keep tight around my neck then, my love, and I'll do the rest."

Nodding, she did as he instructed and when she was secure to him, he scaled the wall with one arm tightly around her body, while skillfully using his legs and his one claw to climb. He was a lot slower than usual climbing with three limbs, but he made it up the wall closely following behind Goliath and Elisa.

When they made it to the top, he jumped over the ledge and carefully eased himself onto his backside, keeping her in his lap and rested his own back against the ledge. His wheezing was getting worse, and when he coughed roughly a few times, Rose's heart sunk.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." He answered a bit roughly. "I'm more worried about your injuries than mine. I think I just breathed in too much smoke, but I should be fine."

"Then let me heal you." Rose said softly, but he coughed out a hoarse laugh.

"No offense, but you can't even let me into your mind right now, babe; and that's okay. You're exhausted, besides, it is I who needs to heal you."

Rose stared into his dark brown eyes and opened her mouth to speak when Elisa suddenly came over, knelt down in front of them, and placed a hand on hers and his shoulders.

"I agree with Brooklyn here. I really think you should go to the hospital, Rose, you're in pretty bad shape." She said softly. "Your face and nose has been broken, you're bleeding everywhere, and your hands… I don't really know what happened there… were they burned?"

"No, Kevin nailed me to the floor with a knife." Rose said in an emotionless tone, and the whole Clan gasped out in horror. Elisa's eyes widened, and Brooklyn winced.

He did WHAT?! Rose gasped out in pain as his voice echoed through her brain, so he stopped and stuck with verbal communication. But by the look on his face, he was speechless and unable to fathom her going through that pain. All that time he spent trying to get to her, the Draugr's powers cut their connection off, and when he arrived at the burning home, Kevin was on top of her- but she didn't have a knife nailed in her hands and she must have ripped them free. He closed his eyes, and felt himself becoming sick. He wished that he got to her a lot sooner than what he did, and wished that Kevin's curse upon their lives didn't happen in the first place.

"He nailed you to the floor?!" Akira asked in a gasp, stepping forward with her claws up against her mouth. "With a knife?"

"Yes." Rose whispered, looked down at her bloodied hands and could barely move them. "But it's okay, you guys don't need to fret. It's over and done with, and to be honest with all of you… this isn't the worst thing he's ever done to me."

Akira clasped her mouth with her claw, as tears welled up in her eyes, Elisa bit her lip and looked away, and both Lexington, Angela, and Broadway looked sickened. She could feel Brooklyn's rage and nausea in his own body swirling through their connection, and Goliath's hands turned into tightly clenched fists upon her words. He turned to look at Hudson, who was clenching his own sword's hilt with white-knuckles of rage.

"Don't worry guys, my hands don't even hurt that badly anymore." She continued lightly, trying to comfort them. She didn't want Kevin's wounds to be a big deal, even though it was. "My head hurts but I don't need to go to the hospital. I just need a moment with Brooklyn to heal and I'll be fine."

Goliath came over and placed a claw on Brooklyn's shoulder. "Heal her then, please Brooklyn, and then let's discuss things further."

Behind them, the apartment building was still burning but was aggressively being put out by the firefighters, and the flames were slowing and simmering down.

"I'm alright for a moment. Let's talk." Rose said, standing up with Brooklyn standing up behind her to help keep her upright.

"Rose, there's no need for you to be in pain…" Goliath said softly.

"There's too much I have to tell you guys, so my healing can wait." Rose said to him seriously, and with this, his eyes widened.

"What's going on?"

"Kevin told me why he's here…why he was brought to life, and why Hela wants me brought to Hel and it isn't good, I'm afraid."

Goliath's eyes widened even more, and at this piece of news Brooklyn quickly placed his claws on her shoulders. "What did he say?"

"Hang on… before you do, can you please catch me up as to what happened tonight?" Elisa suddenly asked, stepping forward. "I thought you said on the radio that this was a Draugr attack?"

"It was, but Kevin was in charge of them and sent two Draugr to surprise me with a visit." Rose said numbly. "When they failed, then he attacked me personally."

"Where are the Draugr now?" Goliath asked seriously.

"Dead." Rose said. "I killed them." At this, Goliath looked impressed and was gaping at her, while the Clan gave out various sounds of amazement.

"Wow! Check out Rose, my sister, the bad-ass Draugr slayer! That's eight that you've slaughtered now!" Broadway said with a bright grin, stepping forward. "Good on you, Rose! They aren't easy demons to fight!"

"Thank you, but no it's not good, I'm afraid." Rose said, looking at him with a serious expression. "The more I have to kill, the more that'll come back out of vengeance and revenge. These two were younger and pissed off." She then pointed to her bloodied up face. "Believe it or not, one of them did this to me first and Kevin finished it off. But the Draugr broke my nose when he punched me in the face."

"Jeez, I'm so sorry. It looks so painful…" Elisa said, grimacing at her injuries. "So, what happened after you killed them then? How did the fire start?"

"I decapitated the one who punched me, because he tried to go after Katie, and I set the other one on fire with my magic…" She then turned, looked to the smothering home behind them, paused, and then turned back to the others with tears in her eyes. "I am the reason we nearly lost Katie tonight… the reason my best friend's family is homeless. When the Draugr burst into flames, it spread all over the home, and I couldn't extinguish it because it was made from dark magic- MY dark magic."

She paused again and closed her eyes as the Clan remained silent. "I don't regret killing the Draugr because they were going to kill Katie, but I'm the reason for all of this… mess… and it isn't over. I have a horrible feeling that until I turn myself over to Hel and all creatures involved, these attacks won't stop... not until I give in."

"Which you won't." Brooklyn suddenly said, his arms crossed over his chest staring her down. She stared back at him and wasn't afraid to rip into him in front of the others for the same fight they always had, but she couldn't. Not after him, once again, risking his life to save hers.

"But this won't stop, Brooklyn." She repeated tearfully, placing her bleeding hands on his crossed arms. "I don't know what to do anymore, too many people are getting hurt because of me… it's tearing me apart." Brooklyn opened his mouth to speak in anger, but seeing her in that much pain made his heart sink. Sighing out heavily, he wrapped her in his arms again and ran his talons down his hair, choosing to comfort her instead of react in anger.

"We'll figure something out, my love." He whispered, lightly kissing her on the side of her head. "Katie breathed in too much smoke and it got scary there for a moment, but you healed her, Rose. She's breathing just fine now, and is going to be okay. Everyone else has survived and no one else has been hurt."

"But what about Chris and Emily? How can I tell them what happened? They'll want to know why their house is burned down… and I owe it to them to tell the truth!"

"Yes, you probably do owe them that, but it'll be okay." He whispered. "Emily will forgive you because you saved Katie's life, Rose. None of us did that, except you and Elisa. But at the end of the day, it was you and your magical healing abilities, my love."

"You did too." Rose whispered, looking up into his eyes. "You saved both of our lives, Brooklyn. Had you not come for us, Kevin would have dragged me through that portal into Hel, and Katie would have died in that fire."

"I'm no hero." He said softly. "I'm just doing my duty as a Gargoyle and what's right; which is protecting the innocent and keeping my mate out of trouble…" He paused, cracked a teasing smile and lightly touched her chin, "which… she finds herself in... quite a bit."

Rose cracked a smile, despite the situation. "She sounds like a giant pain in the ass. Whatever are you going to do to keep her out of trouble?"

"Whatever it takes."

Whatever it takes. His words resonated with her and left a bitter taste in her mind slightly. Normally she would have swooned at him, but the way he was looking at her, the intensity and serious nature of what was happening, and his protection over her… she knew that he really would do whatever it took to protect her. He had died for her once… and would do so again. But too many times she almost lost him while he was protecting her, and they've both endured too many nightmares with that hellish fear of losing each other. She shook her head, forcing that fear out of her mind, and gently placed her hands on his chest while leaning into him.

"Thank you for putting up with me, my love. I'm sorry for all of these attacks… I wish things were different; peaceful."

"They will be, one day my love. One glorious day, we'll be free of this mess." He whispered back, hugging her tightly. "But for now, we'll continue fighting and never stop until we've reached our destination. I promise you that."

Rose looked up at him, smiled, and then looked over at the Clan.

"Thank you all… for helping me with this, sticking by my side, and putting up with me."

"Hey, it's what family is for." Lexington said, as Akira smiled and nodded. The rest of the Clan nodded in agreement, but Elisa suddenly spoke up with her hand on her chin, still thinking hard.

"So… these Draugr are gone, but can we suspect that more will return again?"

Rose nodded.

"And you said that fire and decapitation kills them?"

"That's what I've found out so far in the eight I've been faced with, yes." Rose replied. "And that's good enough for me… I'm happy that they can die, but they are not pleased about it. I think they've been ordered not to kill me- but can harm me. As long as I'm brought to Hel alive."

"Is that what they are doing for sure?" Akira asked. "They've been ordered to bring you to Hel?"

"Yes."

"To your parents or whatever for? If they want you so badly, why haven't they come?"

Rose stared at Akira, swallowed and took a deep breath.

"Kevin mentioned to me… that they are doing some sort of an 'experiment' which involves me. That's why they need me…and as for why they haven't come for me themselves… I don't know, but I'm counting my lucky stars for that."

"What kind of experiment?" Hudson asked, a growl forming in his chest.

"No idea."

"But then… you mentioned Kevin," Elisa asked, pushing the conversation along and doing what she did best, which was gather evidence to piece the mystery together. "What happened to him? Is he gone?"

"I don't think so…" Brooklyn said in a dangerously forced calm voice, with his claws clenched in tight fists. "I kicked him into the fire, but I have no doubt that he somehow lived through it. I don't think he perished."

"Why do you think that?" Elisa asked. "If the Draugr can be killed by fire, why wouldn't he be dead… again?"

"I have no idea the details behind it… but I also agree with Brooklyn." Rose said weakly, growing dizzy. "It's my guess that he can't be killed because of the spell Hela and Demona used to bring him to life, and can't die easily." Suddenly, her head started pounding, her vision swam sickeningly, and it was getting harder for her to keep conscious. Brooklyn's hold tightened around her as he sensed her growing weaker.

"What will that spell do that is different?" Elisa asked.

"Makes it harder for him to die, is my guess." Rose replied, gratefully holding onto her mate for support. "I stabbed a sword clean through him and it did nothing to stop or slow him down from hurting me. Then I stabbed his eye out- which should have penetrated his skull- but it didn't make a dent of a difference either. Because of that, I too have a feeling that Kevin's alive." She paused, then continued bitterly. "He's like a cockroach. You can't kill him... or at least not while he's my supposed mother's pet."

She sighed, ran a hand through her hair and was surprised that it met something wet. When she pulled it away and looked, blood oozed down her arm, and then slowly dripped onto the rooftop, making her grow weak in her knees. It now made sense why she was dizzy and about to pass out. Seeing all the blood, Brooklyn gasped out in horror.

"Okay, enough of this, babe. Let me heal you." He quickly lowered her down to their knees, and better scooped her into his arms, but she weakly declined.

"I'm fine, I'm not bleeding out. We can spare a few minutes more..."

"No, Rose. Please, let me…"

"Please, Brooklyn, I have to finish this conversation before… I… pass out and forget any details." She muttered, then placed a hand over her forehead as the world spun. A few seconds passed by as she closed her eyes. Then, when she opened her eyes again, she was shocked to find that the Clan had closed in on her; all looking concerned at the blood dripping down her face.

"No, I don't think we've seen the last of him, Elisa, not even close." She weakly said, as her hand and Brooklyn's pressed against her bleeding scalp. "Kevin will be back and when he does he'll possibly have even more Draugr, and maybe he'll even bring Hela with him this time, who knows. All I know is that I've been a fool for letting my guard down. This is all my fault, I'm sorry everyone, truly."

"It's both of our faults." Brooklyn said softly. "But we won't be off our guards anymore. In our defense, we didn't know if Kevin would actually be back to hunt you down, even though you found his body dug up and gone. But now that we know the spell of resurrection was performed, worked and he's officially back, it's set in stone that we'll hunt him down and end his existence- once and for all."

Elisa held her chin for a few minutes, thinking deeply, then turned to Goliath, who was watching Rose bleed and getting weaker by the second.

"What are your thoughts? What can we do about Kevin and the Draugr? Even the Gods of Death who are pulling Kevin and the Draugr's strings?"

"I do not know." Goliath said with a deep sigh. "I've been thinking about this a lot for the last few nights, and each solution is as impossible as the next. Every attack has been when Rose is isolated or alone and usually catches all of us off guard. Every time the Clan arrives on the scene, they disappear again. I have a gut feeling that Hela is wearing us down, and think Rose was right. With Kevin back leading the charge and playing puppet to Hela, things are only going to get worse from here. These attacks won't stop unless we do something to stop it all."

"Same with the Draugr." Angela said. "They will keep coming… but they can only come at night which gives us a chance to fight them. So if Kevin does use them as a backup force- can we suspect that he'll always attack at night, because Draugr can't be out in the daylight?"

"I don't think so, not anymore. By doing so would only blind us more by thinking that can't happen." Rose said, leaning into Brooklyn's chest more. "We don't know for sure that he was able to survive the flames, but knowing Kevin, I don't think he's gone. According to how I see it, he's back and is more lethal, dangerous, bloodthirsty and cutthroat than ever before."

She shuddered at that thought unwillingly. "And as for always attacking at night… I'm afraid he'll try anything he can at this point to get to me. I could see him taking me during the day while you guys are asleep, because he knows that weakness about your stone sleep, but that's just a guess of mine. This attack is the first that he's shown his face to us since his last attack back in January. Which leads me back to what I was needing to tell you." She paused, swallowed and then said in an even voice. "He said that he has been sent to bring me back to my parents in Hel, so that I can activate a… a curse."

At this, the Clan gasped, and Goliath was suddenly in front of her.

"Curse?! What curse?"

"I don't know." She said weakly and was seeing four of Goliath's faces through her spinning vision. "Kevin didn't say much after that. He said that I was needed for an experiment, and that I was a crucial part of it. My parents are planning on cursing all of Avalon and our world with something dark… and deadly." She paused again, and took a deep breath, which only made her dizzier. Brooklyn pressed his palm to her forehead, keeping her body against his, and kept her somehow from falling into her unconsciousness.

"Puck… told me about a vision he had this morning when I trained with him, that I feel all of you should know about, as well."

"Vision?" Brooklyn asked, his voice strangely far but still near to her.

"Yes, a vision." She replied quietly, closing her eyes and speaking to them. "He said that in the near future, all of the mortal and magical realms with every creature, race member and human on the Earth started screaming; males, females… and children. He said the sounds, feelings were so horrible and frightening that it shook him to the core- but then the vision went dark, and all screaming voices were suddenly silenced. He believes it was a world annihilation, caused by the Death Gods. All of them, not just my parents. He sees death in the future and believes that I was created to fulfill that purpose. To be a weapon for their cause of taking over not just Avalon… but this entire world."

"How? How would you fulfill that purpose as a weapon?" Broadway asked, sounding very afraid.

"I don't know the details of that, I'm sorry." Rose whispered. "I guess I will find out soon. The truth is bound to make itself known eventually, and I have a feeling... I'll find out some more at the next attack."

"No you won't." Brooklyn's voice growled, then she felt him looking up at the others. "We will stop this… we have to!"

"It sounds like the spell Demona was once trying to use back at that battle with the hunter's at St. Damien's Cathedral." Elisa's voice suddenly said. At her words, Brooklyn froze under her arms, the entire Clan stilled, and Rose snapped open her eyes to look at her.

"What spell?" She asked her. "Demona's cast another spell other than the Resurrection with Coldstone?"

"Demona has performed a lot of spells and magic over the years through her knowledge of sorcery." Goliath growled bitterly. "Some successful but most, luckily, not."

"What did she try to do?"

"The Clan stopped Demona from using a spell that was combined with a virus and disinfectant cleaner from 'Xanatos' Industrial Supplies.'" Elisa explained, giving Goliath a loving look- as if that moment sealed their own mating fate and love; then she looked back at Rose seriously. "That spell, had she succeeded, would have disinfected the entire planet from all Human life. A praying Gargoyle idol was used to protect the Gargoyles from the plague, but it would have taken all of us Humans out."

"When did this happen?" Rose asked in a gasp, having never heard about this story from anyone, including Brooklyn.

"Two years ago." Brooklyn answered with a small growl, as if recalling some more bad blood moments between him and Demona; and hating her for it.

"And you guys stopped her?" Rose asked in awe, looking at each Clan member.

Goliath nodded. "Aye, we did. But with Demona now involved with the Gods of Death… Elisa might be onto something… truly horrifying." He then stood up, and began pacing while thinking out loud. "If Oberon is either unable or unwilling to save the mortal realm from death, and the Death Gods have risen in numbers and powers… and… Demona has given them access to that spell…" He looked up, and gasped in horror. "They could twist it to their own horrible imaginations and have the power to do so."

"But would they?" Angela pleaded in a whisper. "When we visited Egypt, Anubis- one of the Gods of Death seemed to be fair and reasonable in his understanding of the balance of life and death. It wasn't until Jackal turned into his Avatar that life all around the area was temporarily destroyed. But even then, Anubis, through Emir as his avatar, fixed it all because it was against the natural flow of life… surely the Death Gods can't take away life against the natural flow of time and life?"

"I have a terrible feeling that they can, but have been held back by Oberon's powers. But if he's been either unwilling to help or unable to… " Goliath said, still musing, his thoughts quickly coming together. "And if Rose is the key to making that curse happen somehow, then it would make sense why the Death Gods are summoning all the forces of Hel to retrieve Rose from us."

"Anubis?" Rose asked with raising eyebrows. "The Egyptian God of Death? He… he's real?"

"Yes, he is one of the Children of Oberon founded out by the Egyptians thousands of years ago, where they worshiped him as their God of Death." Goliath answered seriously. "We met him on our Avalonian world tour, and was the only Death God we've ever run into. Since then, we've learned through this experience that there are more than one of them; your parents being the leaders of them, but this shouldn't surprise us… as we know that Puck isn't the only master of mischief. Raven, Anansi, and Coyote; the one that took the younger form of Peter Maza, Elisa's father, are all tricksters. It would make sense that there are more Third Race members that have taken on the powers of other categories. If Anubis, Hela and Demetrius are Gods of Death, and team up… or if there are others we don't know about, it could be catastrophic."

Angela made a noise as if to disagree, but Goliath pressed, "regardless if Anubis seemed responsible over his powers or not, but we can't discontinue that he isn't somehow involved because we simply do not know enough yet."

"So, if they perform a curse… one that cleanses all life with all their powers combined, it could wipe out the planet." Rose said slowly, piecing it all together in her own head. "And if I'm somehow a key to this curse… and they get to me…Puck's vision would come true, and it would be world annihilation. The end of all life."

The Clan stayed quiet after her horrible words and seemed to settle deeply into their minds.

"Awesome." Lexington replied sarcastically. "We've lived a thousand years to only watch the world end. Can't wait."

Rose's heart sunk, hearing his worry through the dry sarcasm, but Akira placed a claw on his arm in comfort, as she stepped forward and seemed to be having an epiphany. "This is terrifying to think about, yes my love, but we have so much hope still. We have Rose."

"What?" Rose gasped out in a laugh. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, 'Kira. Why in the world would I be your guys' hope? If anything, I'm the cause of all of this crap."

"Maybe so, but it would explain all of this." Akira said with a small smile. "The storms, the Draugr only attacking you and no one else yet, Kevin being resurrected, Puck's vision you mentioned... it's all to break you from us." She paused and then gasped, as if another revelation came to her.

"What?"

"I know why…" Akira suddenly whispered, more to herself as she looked down at her and Brooklyn. "Your bond! It's your guys' soul bond! That's why the Death Gods have been struggling to bring you into Hel, Rose! We've seen its magic and it's made of pure light magic which is something that cannot thrive in Hel, nor why the Draugr can't seem to keep you in their grasps. Your guys' love and connection is its own destiny, one that I don't think the Death Gods foresaw happening." She suddenly started pacing slowly. "If you are the daughter of Death, Rose, Hela's and Demetrius' child- or so the Draugr and Kevin have told you, then that means that they'll need your soul completely dark to accomplish this curse, somehow. But it won't work as long as you're with Brooklyn and with us."

She paused, turned to the Clan and looked in awe. "Gargoyles are the defenders from all things evil! That is our purpose and why the Draugr are terrified to take us all on by themselves, and why they've struggled to get Rose through that portal. Brooklyn has almost always been there to stop them because of their soul bond and love!"

The words slowly sank into Rose's mind and together, her and Brooklyn looked at each other; a truth being felt within them at Akira's sudden revelation, and it made sense to them.

"That… makes sense." Brooklyn whispered, blinked, then looked up at her. "But… regardless of our soul bond and the light magic that binds Rose and I together, the Death Gods are strengthening in their numbers and forces. I can feel it deep within my instincts, so while our bond may have worked so far at pushing them back, it won't work for too much longer." He paused, looked down at her for a few seconds, and then looked up at Goliath, his face full of resolve. "Which means our course of action is clear."

"What do you mean?" Goliath asked with narrowed eyes.

"We have to go to Hel, and put a stop to her parents' plan and curse." Brooklyn announced with full resolve. "Until we stop them, Rose is right, they won't stop coming for her. Especially now that we know that Puck has had a vision. I'm not one to fully believe him, but in this case… I do believe him."

Silence passed between everyone, and Rose slowly looked into his eyes with fear and uncertainty, but he refused to look back.

"You want to declare war on… Hel?" Lexington asked him slowly, and shook his head, scoffing slightly. "Do you hear yourself right now, Brooklyn? Hel is the evil equivalent to Avalon! We are talking about powerful Death Gods, who have thousands of Draugr as their army- and dark magic way beyond what we are capable of fighting. It's suicide to think of doing that…"

"Do you have a better idea?" Brooklyn snapped. "We can't just keep sitting here and taking these attacks!"

"And how do you plan on doing that, Brook?" Broadway added in. "I mean, sure it's a nice thought and might work because our Clan is strong, but we aren't an army."

"Then we will make one!"

Everyone stared at Brooklyn with amazed eyes, and Rose couldn't tell if they were thinking it was a good idea or he had gone nuts.

"How?" Goliath said seriously. "I agree that we can't keep taking these attacks, but rushing off into Hel to take on the Draugr and the Death Gods is not feasible, Brooklyn."

"Then we reach out to all of the Gargoyle Clans across the world." Brooklyn declared, holding Rose tightly to him, while staring his leader down. "Goliath, you said you've met at least four surviving Clans in London, the Mayans, Akira's Clan of Ishurma, and Angela's rookery Clan in Avalon. I say that we ask them to join us to help protect our Clan and the world. Not only that, but we can ask the Mutates in the Labyrinth, the Clone Clan, and Coldstone and Coldfire to stand by our sides, and I know they will."

"I know my brother and his mate will stand by us, yes. And the others… possibly will." Goliath said, stewing the idea over. "But, I really don't know if the other Clans around the world would be able to or willing to fight in a fight that isn't theirs…"

"But it is!" Lexington said. "It's all of our fight!"

"True…"

"Well, we really don't know unless we ask, right?" Angela asked Goliath hopefully. "I think Brooklyn is on to something, and I know Gabriel, as well as my other brothers and sisters will help us fight, without a doubt."

"I too believe that my Clan would be honored to help out." Akira said softly. "Save for a few warriors who'll stay behind to protect the village, I know they will stand by our sides."

"Griff and his Clan would help out as well." Angela said hopefully, pressing the idea into her father's mind even more. "Or at least Griff will for sure, he's not one to say no to a fight."

"This is all a good idea, but there is a problem with all of this." Hudson suddenly said.

"What?" Rose asked.

"Time." He replied simply. "I don't believe we have enough time to travel the world and recruit fellow warriors. It'll take months, if not at least a full year, ter make all this happen. Goliath, Elisa, Angela and Bronx were only gone six months, our time, but only six weeks through Avalon's travels because time moves more slowly. If it takes a year to recruit warriors to join us, then only one month will pass in Avalon and Hel- and who's ter say that they won't have already made their moves against us by then? We would be short; especially if some of us split up to make that journey. It would be the end of us for sure, so I say no matter what we do, we stick together."

"So you're saying we should give up because it's going to take a lot of time, hard work and effort to make this happen?" Brooklyn asked his elder a bit angrily.

"Nay, that's not what I'm sayin'." Hudson said, shaking his head. "I'm just looking at this possible solution from all angles, Brooklyn. That's what a leader does." He then gave him a knowing look, giving him a piece of wisdom to chew on.

"There's still one more problem." Rose said quietly, and everyone looked at her. "Even if we got an army together, it wouldn't touch the numbers of Draugr I saw in my own vision. The Draugr will fight, despite their fears of Gargoyles because they'll have more comrades on their side, but it would be a slaughterhouse for us. And… magic. None of you have any to protect from the Death Gods." She paused and closed her eyes briefly. "Puck… also mentioned that… I'm not only a key to this curse, but a weapon. That's why he's trying to train me again and why I went ahead and trained with him. If I am on your guys' side, we are trying to get me to strengthen my ability to shield and make it possible to spread all around the Castle, and even all of Manhattan if we can."

"That'll kill you, Rose." Brooklyn said, looking down at her with wide-eyes. She could feel his shock that she trained with Puck earlier, despite them agreeing that she would, and was just now telling him about all this. "I'm not saying that you aren't strong, because you are… and you're only getting stronger with your magic. But the last time you took on six Draugr and shielded us from them, your heart nearly gave out. So how do you plan on shielding all of Manhattan without dying?"

"For all of this to end and protect all we hold dear? It's worth a try, right?" Whatever it takes.

Brooklyn's face paled as she whispered that last part back in their mind, almost making her pass out from effort. He looked up at the Clan, as she felt heavier in his arms, and knew it was time to heal her. With one look at Goliath, his leader stood up and got the hint.

"I… will contemplate this a bit more." Goliath suddenly said, standing up. "There is much we have to consider. But for now, let's return to the Castle. Brooklyn… heal Rose, visit Katie at the hospital, and then meet us in an hour. We will come up with a plan from there."

With one nod to Goliath, he closed his eyes and felt him enter her soul. She closed her own eyes, relaxed in his arms allowing Brooklyn to enter her soul, and heard the Clan standing up and with a whoosh of air; they took off running before taking off into the sky on their wings.

Now alone, Brooklyn pressed his forehead to hers, placed his claw on her abdomen and together they allowed their connection to flow together, making their souls one. Rose allowed her magic to flow from her hands and into his body, giving him permission to use its powers and instantly he sent it, and their connection, all over her body- along with the hot-liquid sensation from their soul bond to heal her.

"Rose, my beautiful mate, love and wife… " he whispered out loud, his voice sending shivers down her spine and echoing in her mind. "Heal completely, and be well once again."

The sensations flowed through her, but they both braced for what they knew what was coming.

The hot-liquid sensation of magic flowed through their bodies, healing every inch of them, but when it reached Rose's face, it suddenly felt like it was being split open. Her face, head, nose and hands, suddenly cracked and began to burn as if she were on fire. And at the intensely brief pain, she could only scream out into the night, fighting the urge to lose consciousness.

Brooklyn winced at causing her more pain, but pushed through the cracking of her skull, nose, and hands as they healed back to normal. He held onto her so tightly that she couldn't move or wiggle during the quick moment of true torture, and all she could do was scream and cry in his shoulder, gripping his arms and wishing for it to be over.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Brooklyn kept whispering as he pushed more of that healing through their bond, wishing for her to get past the pain more than anything. Finally, after a few seconds her pain quickly washed over her, and then faded away.

Rose exhaled a large breath of relief when the pain subsided and all that was left to feel was the soothing hot sensation of their soul connection healing her. Tears fell down her face from the pain, and she was left swallowing down bile. She relaxed in his arms, closed her eyes and gulped down air- but with every passing second, she felt stronger, better and like she was whole once again. Her face no longer hurt, all cuts and bruises faded and her hands healed up- showing no sign that Kevin pierced a knife through them.

Minutes passed, the pain subsided completely and she was left feeling refreshed. Her magic faded and their connection slowed down, before it went away completely. Brooklyn looked even more tired, but physically better as her magic also healed him. Their skins were no longer black from the soot, but Brooklyn's was his normal brick-red color, and hers a light tan. They looked clean, but she was planning on bathing herself and him when they got home; and would get creative to share the tub.

Rose gazed up into his dark brown eyes, and the relief that filled his eyes was enough to tell her that she looked like she hadn't been caught in a fire, beat up, or sleep deprived. She smiled up at him and touched his face lightly.

"Are you okay, my love?" He asked with worry still in his eyes and tone.

"Yes, I am… again… thanks to you." She breathed, and without wasting a moment she pulled down on his face and crushed her lips to his. Their connection burst to life again upon them touching, and like a live wire, it pulsed and vibrated between them as they kissed. Brooklyn moaned, wrapped his arms tighter around her and cupped the back of her head with his other claw. They kissed passionately for a few minutes, allowing themselves a moment to re-connect and share their gratitude for surviving another near death situation.

Rose pulled away, but kept inches from his face.

"I love you, Brooklyn." She whispered. "With all that I am… and I'm so sorry for all that we've been forced to endure this past month. Thank you for saving myself and Katie's life from the fire, you are so brave, and your strength and patience never ceases to amaze me, my love."

"You're welcome, and I love you too." He said softly, still gazing deeply into her eyes. "We'll get through this together."

She smiled at him, but then it faded and fear filled her heart.

"I'm scared, Brooklyn. Do… do you really think it's possible to gather an army of Gargoyles to fight? Ones that'll be willing to stand by our sides for all mankind's sake and to risk injury or maybe even death to fight against Death Gods from the Third Race?"

"I don't know." Brooklyn answered honestly. "I can only hope they will be willing. The Gargoyle Clan Goliath met around the world seemed to have the same value system in place that we had back in Scotland. But that's just from what Goliath explained to us, and the opinion I formed on my own. But I suppose there will only be one way to find out until we ask and make happen."

"Was Hudson right though?" Rose peered deeply into his eyes. "Will there be enough time to gather an army?"

"Again, I'm not sure." Brooklyn sighed. "All I can do is hope, Rose." He then sat her up in his lap, stood up and brought her with him to their feet. He gently wrapped one arm around her waist, while the other claw gently reached up and touched her newly-healed face timidly; as if she were still in pain and he didn't want to inflict more discomfort and stared back into her hazel eyes.

"I don't know what to think about this curse, or the fact that you've nearly been taken from me, yet again, but I'm going to fight against Hel, Rose. I will find a way to free us from these chains and to finally live our lives in peace. Together… you, me, the Clan, and…our child." He paused, and then looked down at her abdomen. His claw tenderly slid down from her face, down to her chest and then settled over where their child was, but was met instead with her red shield.

His eyes widened in shock, and he whipped his face up to look at her questioningly, but she smiled lovingly at him, pressed her own hands against his and willed the shield away with a thought. It faded and he was then able to touch her skin again.

"What was that?" He asked in awe.

"A shield." She explained softly. "When I felt the Draugr's presence coming, I quickly made a shield to protect our child from them and placed it all around my womb. I think it was effective because the Draugr's icy powers encompassed me, but not our child. I feel no pain, cramping or issues… and I feel strongly that our child is perfectly fine." She smirked as Brooklyn gazed at her in amazement. "Puck wants me to push my shields out to cover mass amounts of land which I can barely do. But at least I know that I can protect the smallest and most important of lives and protect it with a tiny, but equally powerful shield." She shrugged casually. "It must be the strength of a mother's love."

Brooklyn's expression of awe melted at her words, and with a gasp, he crushed his lips back down onto hers and kissed her feverishly. The relief of hearing that she protected their child, brought him more joy and amazement for her that he was left speechless. She was his mate, through and through, capable of the same powerful love and protection that he felt for her; and if she could be that powerful, then so could he in his own ways and abilities.

In his arms was the woman he loved, and she was carrying his child. With that fact, he suddenly felt that Hel didn't have the power to stand in his way of protecting them. As he kissed her quickly and feverishly, his tongue swept inside her mouth with slow and deep strokes and his arms tightly holding her body to his. Wanting and needing to feel her and express his true gratitude for all he had.

After a few minutes of passionately kissing her, when he released her, Rose's eyes were still closed as if she were reminiscing how that felt to her, before she slowly opened them.

"I have no doubt in my mind that your love protects our child, my love. Just as mine protects you." He whispered, taking her hand in his, then kissed it. "I'm so glad that you and our child are okay, Rose. I thought of you and our child the entire flight trying to come to you, and it made me sick with worry. I'm sorry that you were injured so horrendously, my love, and I wish I got there quicker to stop the Draugr and Kevin from hurting you. But I'm so glad that our child is protected, and that you are now free of harm and pain." He paused, caressed her cheek with a talon and whispered, "You truly are a force to be reckoned with, my love. And since you are my mate and my equal. You give me strength to push and fight on because I've watched you rise like the warrior you are, not backing down from a fight and giving your all to protect and defend our unborn child. You give me hope and strength to step up and be a leader, despite my fear of failure. It is because of you that I now feel that I can, and am, capable of commanding a whole Gargoyle army and take on the gaping wide jaw of Hel, unflinchingly and without fear."

He tilted her chin up, kissed her lips gently and whispered, "It is because of you, my love, that we have so much to live and fight for, not the other way around. I know you blame yourself for all this darkness, but it's not your fault that this destruction is happening. That's on the Death Gods of Hel… your parents. You've brought nothing but joy, peace, love, and unspeakable happiness to me, and you're giving me a child, Rose. The first of its kind, you're giving to me. That gift, as well as your love, is priceless and I can never try to pay back, but I will try. I want to live up to what you deserve, Rose. You deserve a mate who'll make you and our child proud; one who is the strong warrior, Gargoyle, mate and father I've always longed to become, and it's all because of you, Rose. And I thank the Gods for that push to be better and to reach my potential. I thank the Gods for you, because with you by my side, all of this would not be possible."

Rose's throat was constricted with emotion and had no words to say at the moment. Saying 'thank you' didn't seem suffice to express what she was feeling, and how he made her feel. So, she tried the next best thing. Closing her eyes and pushing all of the wordless love she had for him, into their bond, she created a shield around them as they crushed their lips together.

Brooklyn could feel how much she loved and appreciated him, and it made his physical body want to quake under the intense power he felt, but her knees did buckle upon feeling his love for her. He grasped onto her body tighter and didn't let her fall. Kissing passionately, they held each other tightly and silently promised to be each other's strengths and to officially fight this fight together. Side-by-side, with one mind, soul, heart and strength.

"Whatever it takes?" Rose breathed against his lips, thinking about all that they were going to do to fight; to protect their love, their Clan and family, and their unborn child.

Brooklyn pressed his palm against her abdomen, holding their child as he kissed her deeply on the lips, sliding his tongue sensually in her mouth. After a few minutes, he detached, knelt down on one knee before her, kissed her abdomen sweetly, and then gazed up into her eyes with her hands clasped in his.

Rose's eyes widened and locked on his, as he knelt before her as if proposing. Making a vow.

"Whatever it takes." He agreed. "We'll do this together, my love. Always together."

Smiling down at him, she then knelt before him, offering up her own vow and choosing to be an equal as his mate. Taking his claws in her hands, she pressed her lips to his knuckle, then agreed.

"Together, always."