Gargoyles- The Heart of Darkness (2)

by Sunmoonlight

Newly-mated pair, Brooklyn and Rose have finally found the life and love in which they both had fought for. But Rose's dark past, and magical forces beyond their control have come back; threatening to tear them apart. Will their love and powerful soul-bond be able to survive the test? Or will the darkness destroy everything they've created together completely?

33. Chapter 33- The Prophecy: Part 1

~Chapter Thirty-Three~

The Prophecy- Part 1

Rose and Elisa had returned back to the Castle a short while later, and she was exhausted again. So far, her pregnancy nausea had been controlled by the glorious and amazing miracle of modern medication, but noticed that she had to use the restroom a lot more than normal, and before nightfall, she craved food like a true starving beast.

Pesky hormones.

She rummaged through the fridge and warmed up a plate of burritos and tacos- with lots of cheese- and scarfed them down quicker than she dared admit. Elisa ate dinner with her, using the opportunity to have herself completely ready to begin her shift, after saying a quick hello to Goliath. The sun was almost down, and both were waiting anxiously now for their mates to wake up.

Minutes passed and with Rose's stomach completely full, they relaxed on the couch, where she already felt like she could easily doze off and fall asleep. When a hand touched hers, she opened her eyes and found Elisa smiling at her; telling her that she did, in fact, doze off.

"Tired?"

"Yeah…" she sighed heavily. "Story of my life. I swear this is all the hormones. I'm just so tired all the time now, I can't seem to sleep enough." At this, Rose yawned, and Elisa rubbed her hand again.

"Well, I think you have a perfectly good excuse to get ready for bed and lie down."

Rose snorted. "At seven o'clock at night?"

"Hey, you were going to stay in bed all day had I not come and dragged you out." Elisa said with a grin. "But I see why you probably need it. So, go on. Take a bath or something to help relax you, lie down in bed, and I'll tell Brooklyn where you're at- although he'll probably already know. I'll tell Goliath that Talon's Clan has been notified about the plan and that he'll tell the Clones about it, and they all will be ready to come help if need be."

Rose smiled. "Thanks, but no thanks. I want to greet Brooklyn and the others when they wake up. We can tell them together about the good news."

Elisa stood up, and nodded, linking arms with her as they walked out towards the platform.

"Okay… but that's not all the good news you should share with them." She said, and Rose smiled nervously. She didn't know why but a part of her didn't want anyone else to know about her pregnancy yet.

The air was warm and humid when they walked outside to greet their frozen Clan, who were moments from waking up. They both walked up to the ledge and rested near their mates, breathing deeply as the humid summer air blew through their long hair.

Goliath and Brooklyn were frozen in a fierce pose next to each other, Akira and Lexington next to Brooklyn, Hudson and Bronx next to Goliath, and Angela and Broadway on the end, on Goliath's side.

Rose glanced up at her beautiful mate and gently placed a hand upon his stone thigh, loving him and couldn't wait until he woke up. As if her touch activated his skin to crack, or her subconscious mind knew when the sun would go down; his stone thigh suddenly began to crack underneath her hand. Then loud cracking noises were heard all around them as their Clan began to wake.

Rose and Elisa backed up, giving them all space to roar and shake their skins off; and within a few seconds- each Gargoyle awoke, roaring loudly into the peaceful night, and shed the skin off in an explosion of stone. Even though Rose had seen them awaken many times in the nine months of her being a new member of the family, it still was the most awesome thing she's ever seen, and Elisa seemed to feel the same way, after almost three years.

"That never gets old." She said softly, smiling at the Gargoyles who were now stretching their bodies and wings out, yawning loudly.

Goliath jumped down from the ledge and smiled at them, but only had eyes for Elisa.

"Good evening ladies."

"Good evening." They said in unison.

He walked over and instantly scooped Elisa up into a tender hug and kiss, so Rose slipped off to the side, giving them space and everyone else grins.

"Good evening, lass." Hudson said, grabbing her hand in passing. Akira and Angela hugged her tightly in greeting then walked inside, while their mates gave her high-fives. She was grateful to everyone that they didn't seem bothered by her behavior last night, or her magical explosion, but still treated her as if she were still… her.

When they walked past her to go inside, Rose's fingers tingled pleasantly and instantly something fiercely powerful turned on inside of her, making her go weak in the knees. She needed her mate, and needed him now. Brooklyn jumped off the ledge to face her and when she saw his face, his chiseled body, his smile… all of her depression from earlier melted, and the love she felt for him was overwhelming; as was her sudden desire to make love to him.

With a huge smile she ran across the platform as fast as she could and jumped into his arms. Brooklyn caught her mid- jump with a smile on his own face and held onto her tightly; breathing in the sweet scent of her hair.

"Hi, my love." He murmured in her hair.

Spinning her around a few times, he gently placed her down on her feet, cupped her face in his claws and kissed her lips deeply. The moment their lips met, Rose's body seemed to heat up in a great fire, and a sudden desire for him melted her into his arms.

More, she needed more.

Their kiss was deep and whole- but too clean and gentle. She wanted and needed him to tame the sudden fire within her. When he let her go, he chuckled at her thoughts that were firing through his own mind and system; arousing his own mating instincts for her as well, and wasn't shocked when she pushed him back towards the ledge and pressed him against the wall; kissing him madly.

She didn't know if the Clan was still there, but by the way he was holding and kissing her back- she doubted it. His mouth opened to hers, his claws ran down the back of her shirt and pulled it up just enough to run his claws up to touch her skin. When he did, she gasped out against his lips and pushed her hips forward into his; making him laugh.

"I was gonna ask if you were doing better…" He teased against her lips, as she kept kissing him. "But… I kinda figured that out for myself just now."

"Good." She breathed, pulling away from his lips and grinned at him, while caressing her hands over his strong chest. He growled softly in pleasure.

"Are you hinting at something, my love?"

Rose giggled. "Hmmm, yes. Yes I am. Tonight is a new night… and I'm hungry… If you know what I mean." But he didn't quite catch on as he raised his eye bones up at her, and laughed nervously.

"Then eat food…"

Rose leaned her head back and laughed at him and brought her body to his again. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, and pressed her lips to his ears.

"Not that kind of hunger… silly." She then licked the side of his neck, and forced a taste of her desire to melt through his skin and into their soul bond. Upon feeling it, he moaned and dug his sharp claws into her back for a moment before relaxing.

He understood her now.

"Oh." A deep growl formed in his chest again and she pulled away, grinning mischievously. She trailed a finger down his chest and teased him sensually.

"I'm thinking that you and I can spend some… one on one time with each other. What do you think about that?"

Brooklyn stared at her with wide eyes, cleared his throat and tried to speak, but she took him by the claw and led him inside, smiling seductively, and he followed after her, looking elated. "Damn, I'm one lucky Gargoyle aren't I? It's not very often I get dessert before dinner…"

Rose giggled, pressed a finger against her lips to quiet him and lead them through the living room, past the Clan. They were all beginning to gather in the kitchen to eat dinner, and of course, one of them saw them slip by.

"Hey Brook! Rose!" Broadway called out. "Are you guys going to eat with us?"

"Nope!" Rose called out, still leading her mate away. Brooklyn and Broadway met eyes and with a knowing smile, Broadway rolled his eyes, laughed, and knew exactly where they were going.

"Oh… well, have fun you two."

Brooklyn winked at his brother and quickly walked through their hallway. When they got closer to their bedroom, he scooped her up into his arms, making her squeal out in laughter quietly, and burst through the door. He shut it behind them with his tail, locked it, and then quickly put her down on her feet. Instantly, she claimed his mouth with hers in a frenzy and began to back him towards the bed.

Brooklyn snorted in laughter against her lips, and braced himself over her when she threw them both onto the bed. She pushed him on his back and then slowly climbed on top of him, straddling his waist and began kissing him fiercely. He was enjoying this spontaneous foreplay completely, but her desires were random and out of nowhere; and he needed to be sure that she was really doing okay.

"Uh… babe?" He asked a bit breathlessly as she ran her lips and tongue down the length of his beak and headed towards his neck.

"Hmm?"

"Not that I'm not…" Her tongue and touch made him groan and close his eyes in delight. "Um… enjoying this, because I am. Oh man… I am. Or… complaining… but… um… "

"What's the problem?" She asked him, sitting up and tossing her long hair away.

"No problem at all. Just wondering what the occasion is?"

"Do I need an occasion to make love to my husband?" She asked lightly, running a finger down the chiseled peck plate of his chest and his strong abdomen. She then slowly leaned down and kissed him again- his body melting under her. "We never got to actually become one last night…"

At the feeling of her lips against his skin, he groaned out in pleasure and hummed happily.

"True."

"And um… my hormones, well, to be honest they lit up in a sudden mating frenzy when I saw you awaken." She paused with her lips over his and said, "So, that's why I'm doing this right now. I just… oh, I just need to feel you, babe!" Then she leaned down and kissed him passionately again.

"Okay, okay," he laughed and used his hips to swing her down onto her side onto the bed. He leaned over her, kissed her gently and then whispered, "Just slow down, my angel. I will make love to you, but let's talk first. I want to know how your day was…and how you are doing… other than feeling hungry."

At this, Rose groaned, but it wasn't out of desire but dread."No, that's okay, I would really rather have hot, steamy sex with you instead of talk about my day." Before he could argue, she sat up and quickly removed her shirt, leaving her to be in a thin black lacy bra and the levi shorts she was wearing; his eyes widened at her. She then jumped out of the bed, stood, and began to undo the button of her shorts, moving too fast for her to actually do it.

Brooklyn pushed himself off the bed suddenly, knelt down in front of her and took her slightly shaking hands in his, kissed her palms delicately, and then whispered, "Allow me, my love."

Rose's heart was pounding as he carefully undid her shorts and slowly slid them down to the ground, leaving her in the matching black laced bottoms she put on earlier.

"Hmm." Brooklyn mused, running his claws down the fabric, over the curvature of her hips and then wrapped his larger hands around her thighs. He gently pressed his lips over her groin, kissing her deeply and made her gasp out; before raising his lips up to her exposed abdomen. "Someone has been waiting for me all day long apparently… "

Rose thought she was going to pass out at the feeling of his lips against her groin, so she grabbed onto his hair and touched one of his horns; watching him slowly kiss his way up her body. He stopped at her stomach, kissed her gently and then leaned his face back to look at her.

When he did, his eyes went wide.

"Rose… your baby bump is showing a bit more!"

She opened her eyes and placed a hand over her exposed stomach. Like Elisa had said, there was a small bump, a bit bigger than before, but underneath clothes it still wasn't noticeable.

"Yeah, I noticed that today too." She told him, as he looked up at her in amazement. "Elisa pointed it out to me actually..."

He froze, and then slowly stood up at his full height, making her head crank up to look him in the eyes. "Wait, Elisa knows?"

Rose nodded. "She came in to check up on me today because I stayed in bed, and from seeing my prenatals and nausea medication, she figured it out. Then she saw my abdomen in that nightdress I was wearing last night, and so I told her the truth."

"Oh…" He said, surprised. "What did she say?"

"She said that she's really happy for us, but I was worried about what she was going to say."

"Why?" He asked, gently running a claw down her hair, and giving her pleasurable chills.

"Because her secret I haven't shared with you, is still not mine to tell."

"Will you tell me?" He asked softly. "I won't share anything."

Rose smiled at him, thought hard about it, and then finally nodded. It wouldn't make any sense to him if she didn't. "Elisa and Goliath have had many miscarriages… babies that she's lost, that they both have been unable to conceive…"

Brooklyn's face suddenly fell, and it was something he truly didn't know. "What? How long has this been going on for? Goliath hasn't mentioned a thing to any of us…"

"Probably because it was always impossible for a Human and Gargoyle to conceive… that is… until we did. It's just… I don't know, it feels like I was slapping her in the face." She paused and then smiled up at him. "But I'm a more positive note, she and Goliath are choosing to adopt a child and Elisa's application was accepted to be an adoptive parent. So, hopefully it'll happen soon for them."

"Oh wow…" He whispered, shaking his head and placing both claws on her hips. "That's crazy! I mean, I'm so happy for them because they truly deserve to have the very best. But, that's also so sad about Elisa. I had no idea…"

"And you still don't." Rose hinted back in warning.

Brooklyn smiled, took her hands in his and gently kissed the tips of her fingers. "Right. Don't worry, my love. I won't say anything, but thank you for telling me. I'll be sure to keep an eye on Goliath and make sure he's doing okay, and I'm glad Elisa is doing well, and knows about our pregnancy. She wasn't mad or upset?"

"No," she shook her head. "She was really happy for us."

"Oh good…" Brooklyn muttered and then slowly brought his face down to hers. Their lips meshed in a sensual dance for a few seconds before he opened to her and let their tongues slowly slide in; and a moan broke out between them. To her delight, his groin pulsed against hers, and could feel him growing more aroused.

He pulled away, and then whispered, "I'm so happy for us too."

Rose closed her eyes, heat filled her abdomen as she crushed her body to his, wanting and needing to feel more of him.

"Me too." She whispered back.

Brooklyn continued to kiss her passionately, ran his claws gently down her neck and cupped one of her breasts, which made her moan. "Is it my imagination… or are my favorite girls getting bigger?"

Rose laughed out loud, but then gasped when he trailed this thumb across her nipple over the lacy material, and his groin moved against her stomach.

"Hmmm, it's possible." She whispered, her stomach turning molten. "Pregnancy can do that type of thing to a woman and uh… they are also really… reactive to touch."

"Are they now?" He growled, trailing his lips lower down her neck."Whatever should I do to please them… and to please you?" As he did this, his large palms gently but deeply massaged her large breast, making her tip her head back, needing more still, then looked at him- her eyes melting into his.

"Use that mouth of yours to find out."

Brooklyn's eyebrows raised higher towards his horns and hairline and looked in awe. She then moved her hands from holding his neck, down the length of his chest and abdomen, and lightly rubbed her palm along him- making him gasp and dig his claws pleasurably into her skin.

She then raised her lips to his ears. "And I can use mine."

Brooklyn's heart began pounding, his palms sweat and his cock lurched against her, wanting and needing her too. "Oh Rose… my sweet, beautiful mate."

She gently rubbed her hand along the length of him, pressing her hot body against his, and to her own betrayal, tears suddenly filled her eyes. The emotions felt almost too intense for her hormones. She let him go, wrapped her arms around him and dug her face into his neck.

"I've missed you all day."

"I've missed you too." He whispered, unsure why she was stopping, but then caught sight of her tears. He pulled back, and gently cupped her face. "Are… are you okay my love?"

"Yes." Rose said, wiping her tears away. "I'm fine. I promise, I'm just so happy to be with you. My pregnancy hormones are making everything a little crazy for me. That's all."

"I'm sorry." He smiled sympathetically at her and trailed a talon down her face. "But you said that Elisa came in to check up on you today? Did you stay in bed?"

She nodded, pulled out his arms and slowly walked over and sat down on the bed. "Yeah, I did. I… I had a hard morning."

"With what happened with Emily?" He guessed.

She nodded. "Yeah, that, the fire, almost losing Katie… the Draugr… Kevin…" she trailed off, and he instantly walked over, lowered himself onto his knees in front of her and laid his head upon her thighs, holding her hands in his.

"I'm so sorry, my love. Tell me what's weighing down your mind and your heart. Let me help you."

"Last night caught up to me this morning, that's all." Rose explained softly. "I was triggered, really depressed, utterly exhausted and just… didn't have it in me to be productive. But I feel a lot better now."

Brooklyn watched her sadly and sighed, "I had a bad feeling that this would happen when the sun came up. Babe… I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault." Rose said gently.

"Yeah, but I'm sorry I'm never around when you're going through those difficult moments. I wish I could be…"

"I know." She said with a smile and held his claw tightly in her hand. "It's okay, I love you. But um… I gotta actually tell you something. I kind of made a brash decision while I was in that mind frame of depression… and endless crying."

Hearing that she was crying earlier, he moaned quietly and held her hands tighter. "What happened?"

"I quit my jobs. Both of them." She whispered. "I just… I can't work until all of this is over. We will be okay financially for a while, and I'll work again when I'm able to, but that's what I did." She glanced up and looked upset. "I'm sorry. Are you mad?"

"No." He narrowed his eyes in confusion at her. "Not at all. I don't expect you to work… especially at two jobs that only add to your stress. Part of me is actually relieved that you did. As long as you have a roof over your head and food in your stomach and are happy… then I'm happy."

"Thank you babe." She said softly, taking a hand and caressing his beak, which was still rested so close to her groin, making her bite her lip. Calming the fire down in her mind, she then said, "Elisa actually took me to visit the Labyrinth Clan today and got me out of my depressed thoughts. We asked them to join our… army…"

"What did they say?" Brooklyn asked, now interested in a very different way, as this was his idea to start an army to face off against Hela's.

"They said they would join. Just give them the word and they'll come."

"Good." He sighed in relief, and then stood up. "I'm glad. I didn't think Talon would say no- but with his and Maggie's new baby, it was debatable in my mind." He then looked over at the door then back down at her longingly, and glanced over her half naked body with desire. "I should go let Goliath know…"

Sighing, she laid down on the bed and scooted herself up to her pillow, and then glanced over at him.

"Elisa said that she would tell him." She said softly. "But I can see Goliath or one of the others coming to tell us to have a meeting soon, no doubt."

"Yeah." Brooklyn said a bit sadly, still watching her longingly. Torn between his desires, hers, and his duty to the Clan. "I… I should go talk to him and get more of a plan figured out."

Rose's heart panged, and through their connection he could feel her pain- and deflation. "Okay…you do what you need to do." She paused, sighed and then sat up, meaning to get dressed. "I'll just um…"

"No." He suddenly said, crossed the few steps over to her and placed his claws on her shoulders; slowly pushing her back down onto their bed. He crawled up over her and lingered inches above her body. "No." He repeated quietly. "I can always talk to them all later. Right now… I want to be with you." He lowered his lips to hers and gently began kissing her, igniting the fire in both of them again.

"Right now…" he kissed her deeper. "I want to please you, my beautiful mate." His words made her melt even more into the mattress, and relief flooded through her.

"Thank you." She whispered through tears, and with a chuckle, he wiped them away.

"Tears of joy?"

"It's my hormones." She laughed shakily. "As is the powerful feeling you're getting from me. They're making me horny… like I'm not already impregnated."

At this Brooklyn laughed, crawled on top of her and kissed her stomach tenderly.

"Awe…you poor thing. Is our Terminegger baby giving you a hard time, and making you extra...?" He lowered his lips to her breasts and kissed her cleavage- making her groan- "sensitive?"

"Unbelievably." She milked dramatically, pouting her lip. "And yes, poor thing is right! You try growing a half- Gargoyle baby inside of you. When you do, I don't want to hear you whine or complain."

Brooklyn chuckled, but gazed lovingly down into her eyes. "I won't ever complain." He whispered. "I still can't believe you're pregnant, Rose. I… I am so happy that we are having a child. You are the love of my life and I'm so happy that we have created life with our love."

At this, she smiled too and gently touched his face. "Me too, you make me so happy as well." She then paused. "Does the Clan know about our pregnancy yet?"

"No, I haven't said anything." He then raised an eye bone at her. "Do you want me to tell them?"

"We can tell them together… later. I don't want to right now." She then closed her eyes and sighed. "Lately, all I've wanted to do is sleep, eat, pee, and make love to you." She then stretched her arms above her head, and looked up at him, unable to stop her teasing smile. "What have we done?"

At her beautifully, inviting body and posture, he growled out quietly in pleasure and slid his body over hers, kissing her all the up from her stomach, to her breasts, neck, then lips, his groin teasing the rest of her; making her moan pleasurably.

"We're bringing the greatest gift into this world, that's what we've done." He whispered against her skin. "And I'm more in love with you because of it."

"Ah, I thought I was your gift?" She fake pouted. He continued his caressing of his claws up her body, and his chest rumbled with a deep laugh.

"You are, my love. Every… " he kissed her lips, "stunningly…" he kissed her neck, "beautiful… " kissed and licked over her breasts, making her gasp, "inch of you." He then caressed his talons all the way up to her hands and slowly intertwined them through her fingers. His lips and tongue made the same sweeping movements in her mouth that his body was doing over hers. She clenched her toes as his aroused groin ran over hers, making her mouth go dry.

Rose sighed heavily with eyes closed, as his lips moved down her jawline and claimed the sweet spot on her neck. She slid her hands out from his, wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and moaned- as he swept her tightly in his arms; molding them together. But then her stomach growled angrily, making them both freeze, and he snorted out a laugh.

"Hungry?"

"Gah! I don't know how… I just ate!" He laughed at her again, but she smiled and brought him closer to her. "Besides, there's only one thing I want right now that'll satisfy my hunger."

"Oh yeah, and what's that?" He asked while trailing his talons down her neck, over her tender breasts, and then down to her thin and lacy underwear. He slid his talons under the fabric; touching her skin and easing slowly towards her sensitive center on her upper thigh.

"You…" She breathed.

"What about me will satisfy you the most, my love?"

"Ohhh…" she gasped, his touch sending sparks charging through them both, but as he trailed closer her stomach suddenly rumbled again. He stopped, snorted and threw his head back laughing, making her snarl.

"Someone is hungry."

"Brooklyn!"

"I can feed you… but first… " He breathed, now spreading her legs apart with his claw, making her gasp out even more loudly.

"Hmmm… where should I begin my love? Should I begin here with these beautiful twins…?" He lowered his lips down to her breasts, and began to slowly kiss and run his tongue over her cleavage and the lacy material, lingering and licking where her nipples were, making her cry out and arch her body up into his mouth. Pleased by her reaction, he grinned cheekily at her, then slowly lowered his lips and tongue to her abdomen.

"Or…" he breathed against her skin. Going lower and lower.

Rose held his head as he went down to her underwear, curled her toes in and cried out loudly.

"Or… I can start here…" he lowered her lips to her groin again, keeping his claw firmly under her underwear and against her upper thigh, while he dug his tongue against the fabric, making her see stars. If the lace was gone and her legs spread a bit more…

"So… tell me my darling wife…" he whispered, looking up at her and sliding his body over hers. "Where should I start? And what'll please you the most?"

She could only moan out in pleasure and felt her body melt under him. He grinned at her and then crept his claw closer to her sensitive center, against her skin, under the lace fabric.

"Or should I guess…?" He raised his lips back up to hers, and his tongue stroked inside her mouth slowly, giving her a taste of what he could do with it. Rose cried out in his mouth as he slid his talon slid in and stroked her. When he felt how wet she was, his entire body gave a shudder, making him gasp out in pleasure with her.

"Good Gods, woman!"

Rose arched her body up to him and trusted him as he slowly slid his talon further inside of her. Brooklyn groaned at the feeling of her, the wetness that was ready for him, and swore he was going to black out. His breathing intensified as her body slid against his talon, his heart was pounding, and it was taking everything in him to not explode and find his great relief. For now, he wished to please Rose- and could feel her own release building. He closed his eyes and froze as she pumped herself against his talon. She only did this for a few seconds before she started to gasp and cry out; the way he filled her made her instantly shatter.

Crying out, Rose's entire body shuddered, trembled and came to him, making him dig his other claw straight through the soft mattress. Tears suddenly streamed out her eyes and happiness coursed through her, but he could feel that she wasn't done yet. No where close… He stayed frozen, while watching her come until she stopped releasing. Last night and all nights, he only pleased her on the outside if he used his hand, but never had gone inside of her, but from now on was going to do that.

It was delicious to watch.

Rose fell against the mattress, panting heavily after her first release, her build up for more love-making; instantaneous. He could feel the heat from her body, instinctively begging for him, all of him, to claim her. And his body was beyond ready to sink deeply inside of hers, to become one. Her face was wet with tears, and when he slowly and carefully pulled out from her, he was drenched with her. Her beautiful scent filled his nostrils, arousing him further and made it nearly impossible to stay away. As he glanced over her half-naked body, her nipples were hard against her thin, see-through bra, and her mating instincts literally screamed at him to claim her.

Brooklyn's eyes widened in great hunger, growled in pleasure, and with a wordless whip of his belt, his loincloth fell away from him, showing her the beautiful sight of his arousal and full length of him.

It was on.

Rose's mouth went dry, her abdomen went molten again, and instantly she was going insane with desire. She needed him- every glorious inch of him right now inside of her.

"Enough play." Brooklyn growled in pleasure at hearing her thoughts, his eyes lighting up bright white. "You're mine and I'm going to devour you, my love."

She grinned at him. "You're going to devour me, huh?" Then beckoned him with her finger to come to her. "Good."

He remained silent, but growled more deeply and crawled towards her. His eyes were burning with desire through his excited state, and their bodies were magnetized and pulsing for oneness. He centered himself over her and ran a claw up the side of her body as he came to her. She bit her lip as she sat up, eased her underwear off and threw them to the side, and then lowered her bra. He watched her undress with great hunger and was trembling at how beautiful she was to him. She then tossed the bra to the floor and then laid herself down, and opened her legs for him- an invitation he did not miss.

"Devour me then." She breathed in sensual tone, and he instantly pounced.

With a loud growl he crushed his body into hers and his lips came down on hers; kissing and licking her. He braced his claws on her hips, adjusting her to him, and then inserted himself as quickly yet as carefully as he could into her so she wouldn't be in any pain. But she felt none- only pleasure and insane love for him. Within seconds he was inside of her- filling her up completely.

Groaning and gasping she clawed at his back, wrapped her arms and legs around him and brought her body closer to his; effectively inserting him further and deeper into her body. Brooklyn gasped and moaned out loudly at how she felt to him, wrapped an arm around her waist, and then carefully lowered them both back down to the bed.

"Oh Rose!… Ohh… Holy Gods… " He gasped, his entire body shuddering at how she felt to him. She was insanely hot, wet and ready for him to claim her, and by Gods, he was ready for her too. Crushing his lips and tongue back down to hers, their bodies molded together, and he braced his claws on either side of her head; one claw grasping the headboard and the other the side of the bed as he rocked himself deeply, but slowly into her.

In and out, over and over again, he rocked inside of her, making them both want to already scream out their pleasure. She was so beautiful to him; her body, mind, soul, heart… everything. So beautiful, so divine, and every inch of her, inside and out, belonged to him. As did every inch of him belong to her. They rocked each other, gasping, kissing and tasting each other deeply; making the bed rock and creak under their weight and movements. Every push he made inside of her was bringing her closer to heaven… closer to him… and with every touch she made on his body was making him dizzy with desire.

Minutes passed as they made love and reveled in their oneness- but as Brooklyn went deeper and faster inside of her, whispering how much he loved her, she detached from his lips, needing to breathe air, and tightened her grip around his neck. Using every lasting inch of her strength to simply hold onto him and give to him full control over her. Deeper and deeper he went inside of her, faster, and faster- claiming her and giving her his all. They kissed madly as their bodies pulsing passionately into each other's, and with as close as they were, it was never close enough.

"I love you, Brooklyn." She whispered, gasped out at another strong stroke from him, and ran her hands down his back; over the length of his wings. "Oh, I love you."

At her words and touch, his breathing increased, his strides deepened and quickened inside her, and his lips suddenly found hers again. She continued to play with his wings, and his fists tightened on the bed frame above them, making them moan under his strong grip. His strides within her were driving her crazy, the way his body felt against hers, inside of her, she could barely breathe.

"I love you." She breathed again against his lips, tears wetting her face… he felt so good to her...

"And I love you, my angel." He whispered back, his voice barely audible. "Ohhh, Rose, ohhh babe…I love you!"

With every stride in her, his tongue all over hers and her name falling off his lips; she finally shattered. A scream fell off her lips, her body arched up to his, and she was holding onto him with everything she had. She had released many times before with him, but nothing quite like this moment. Magic burst out of her, lighting up hers and his bodies, and burst out of them creating small lights all around them like stars.

Grasping onto him with all of her might, she continued to arch her body into his while crying out his name, over and over and over again.

Seconds passed, she gasped out and collapsed against the mattress in full submission to him, and felt every inch of his body tense up. His muscles felt like rocks, and he was going even faster. She only got two breaths in before she knew that his release would be loud. Quickly, shooting a hand in the air, she released more magic, this time on purpose, to create a magical shield to cover their room and create a sound barrier.

When it was done, she then helped him come to her. She grasped onto the inside of his wing at the same time as she ran her hand over his back in between his wings, and purred his name in his ear like a prayer, a reverent homage, and he came a deafening roar, one that shook the bed and walls around them, he crushed himself into her with a force that took her breath away.

With a loud CRUNCH, the headboard he was clutching onto broke as his grasp crushed the wood. Grunting and panting, he continued to fill her; both ignoring the splinters of wood that fell all around them, and she was glad that she placed a shield around their room.

When he was finished, Brooklyn groaned and collapsed upon her, his body trembling and utterly spent. Both of them were breathing erratically, and laying un-moving in each other's arms. After a few minutes of silence and gasping, he lifted himself up off her to look into her face, and both of them were still glowing pleasantly from their soul-bond that her magic had illuminated somehow.

Like two glowing sticks.

Happiness was dripping off every inch of him, and with a laugh, they both gasped out in joy and amazement at what they looked like to each other, and how powerful their love-making was.

"Look at you…" He whispered, running a talon along her lightly illuminated skin, with his own illuminated talon "I see it. I see our soul bond." He paused, and she was unable to speak, as tears filled his eyes and he reverently ran a claw over her. "So... beautiful."

Soft magic was flowing in between them, running in every vein in their bodies, and it was almost as if they could see each other's souls. She grinned back and then instantly kissed him deeply, holding him close, and pushing herself further up him, so they were even closer in oneness. Moaning, he kissed her back for many more minutes, staying one as they did.

After a long while of passionately making out, Brooklyn pulled away, held onto her jawline, and breathed in her ear. "I love you Rose. More than anything, my angel. That was… as always… breath-taking."

"I love you too, and yes, yes it was." She whispered back, kissing him gently, and hugging him to her. He kissed her lips, then trailed down her neck, then to her further joy, he lowered himself to give her growing, tender breasts some attention. She gasped out again as he sucked on her nipples and rubbed himself inside of her as he did so- giving her secondary sensations of true pleasure. She closed her eyes, arched her head back, and then ran her fingers through his long hair; his wings. At her touch, his body trembled violently in pleasure, and when he suddenly broke away and was trembling while breathing in pants in her face.

"I like it when you do that." He whispered, and she grinned.

"Ha, I know you do." Then added softly, "I like it when you take all of me."

"Me too… oh baby, me too."

She grinned, kissed his forehead and pulled his face down to rest on her chest. He moaned happily, held her tightly to him, but then jumped, lifted his weight off of her, and looked nervous.

"What's wrong?" She asked with narrowed eyes.

"I'm not squishing our child… right?"

At his sincerely worried question, Rose didn't know whether to laugh or roll her eyes, but with a snort, she pulled him back down- so his full body weight was on her again, and sighed, "No, it's alright. The baby is just fine. Relax."

With a sigh of his own, he did, and both of their bodies slowly faded back to normal and didn't glow anymore- but Rose's magical stars all around their dark room did not, and with a smile he looked all around.

"I like what you've done with the place." He teased softly, and she laughed.

"Yeah… I don't know how I did that, but all I can tell you is that you…" she paused, kissed him on the lips tenderly and then whispered, "... took me to the stars."

Brooklyn growled again, pushed himself further into her and kissed her deeply and wholly.

Seconds went by before they released each other and stuck to just lying there in silence, and enjoying the feel of each other. Rose closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around his head and gently ran fingers through his long mane of white hair; then with another hand gently tickled his back. With each gentle touch along his back, she then moved to the length of his wings, and with a jolt of his cock in her, he reacted, and she grinned wickedly.

"Looks like I've found a new place of pleasure for you."

"Yeah… same." He looked up at her and stared warmly into her eyes. "You were so wet for me, my love. Oh my Gods, it was breathtakingly good love-making, one of our best I think."

"It was." She whispered, now feeling completely numb as he took every part of her desires and fulfilled them. "Who knew your wings would be so sensitive."

"Yeah, I broke the damn bed, so that should tell you exactly how amazing that felt when you did that."

Rose laughed, raised herself up and gently nibbled on his ears, instantly making him wrap her tightly to him in his arms.

"Good to know… but you also broke the tub earlier when I accidentally found them out." She whispered, then ran her tongue over the side of his face and he growled in response to her.

"Keep this up and we'll head straight to round two." He warned, making her laugh again; but he silenced her with his lips, taking them wholly, tenderly and passionately. When he was done, he raised his face and stared down into her eyes. He then laid them on their sides, while still staying one, and looked up at the star-light magical creation she made.

"Rose… this is beautiful." He whispered, urging her hips to spread over him so they could stay one. "You're so beautiful."

She smiled. "Thank you, though I'm not as beautiful as you are."

And he snorted."Absolutely not… it's impossible for that to be."

She laughed at him, and the sound of it made him growl in pleasure. He leaned forward and kissed her lips wholly. Their lips danced together, their bodies tangled into one, and when he released her, he caressed her face and whispered, "I love you more than anything in this entire world, Rose."

"Do you?" She teased him, and he nodded, pulsing inside of her once again and pushing himself deeper into her, making her gasp out, and he grinned.

"Yes… yes, I do."

"Good… because I love you too." She breathed, paused, then said, "But… uh… do you love me enough to do me a favor, actually?"

He smiled, trying not to laugh."Yes, anything my love. What do you need?"

"Food." She said simply. "Lots of it, please. I don't know how, but I'm starving again."

At this, he laughed, lowered his lips to her stomach to kiss, and then ran a claw over where their child was.

"After all that 'feeding' I gave you, you're still hungry?" He teased with a grin.

"For food, yes, and for you… yes again." She whispered, with a smile. "We used up a lot of energy, so you should eat something as well. Bring some dinner in and we can eat in bed… naked, and then uh… we can see if it leads us anywhere."

Brooklyn grinned mischievously at her and growled, "I like the sound of that. Can I eat it off of you while I do so?"

Rose laughed. "Whatever you want sounds wonderful to me."

"Hmmm…good, because that sounds perfect to me too." He mused, pushing himself inside of her deeper and growled at her moan. "So what does my sweet mate and our sweet baby crave right now?"

At this, she squealed out in excitement, making him beam with pure joy. "Okay, I'm glad you asked. I want ice cream, chocolate, and um… pickles sound soooo good- definitely bring those. Ooh, maybe some peanut butter, beef jerky… maybe some more of those tacos that were in the fridge… those were so delicious!"

Brooklyn's eye bones raised high into his hairline and then he snorted out a laugh.

"Random much?"

Rose shrugged, then wrapped her legs tightly around his backside and forced him deeper inside of her again, making him growl in pleasure; gaining all of his attention.

"I'll make you a deal, my darling Gargoyle mate. Get me those things, no matter how random they are, I don't care- I just want them, please. And then when you come back…" She brought lips up to his and stroked her tongue over his, kissing him passionately, then forced his claw to run over her breasts- making him gasp out and pulse inside of her- then she pulled away from his mouth and smiled.

"I want to go for round two and let your wicked mouth claim all of me again…"

With an amazed look, he gasped out a laugh and instantly nodded. "Yes, ma'am. One strange meal for my sexy pregnant wife, coming right up."

---

While he was gone, Rose used magic to fix the bed, took down the shield but kept their cool magical stars up, and dug herself deeply into the sheets, playing around with the small magical lights she somehow created. After a few minutes, he came back out of the bathroom dressed in his loincloth, and they smiled at each other. The room was half bathed in the light from her magical starlight. He wrapped his wings around himself, walked over to her and gently kissed her forehead.

"I'll be back, my love."

Rose thanked him and smiled as he left the room, dreamily thinking about him and the night they had. Minutes passed, and he was a lot quicker than she thought he would be, and nearly screamed out in happiness when he came back with almost exactly what she asked. He placed the food down in front of her, shut their bedroom door and locked it, before he took his loincloth off again and climbed into the other side of the bed next to her, molding his naked body to hers.

Rose ate silently in pure bliss, scarfing down a sandwich, a stick of cheese, and some peanut butter; and he couldn't stop watching her as he ate his own sandwich. After she was finished, she opened up a pickle jar, picked a long dill, and bit into it, instantly moaning in happiness.

"Oh my gosh, babe…" She said through her bites. "I don't even like pickles, but this is so good! I could cry!"

"That's so weird how pregnancy affects eating patterns." He laughed while watching her with great interest and finishing his sandwich. "Or how you're craving certain foods for our child, that you didn't before."

Rose nodded and took another large bite of the pickle. She moaned loudly, and strangely, her running her mouth over that pickle and moaning, was turning him on.

"Should I leave you two alone?" He teased her. "You're giving that pickle quite the show, babe."

Rose snorted out a laugh, but decided to slowly run her mouth and tongue over the length of it, teasing him. Upon seeing her do that, he froze mid-bite and stared at her with a gaped-open mouth. At his reaction, she burst out laughing and nearly choked on the pickle when he tossed his sandwich down, threw the food away from her, and tackled her body to the bed, claiming her mouth with his.

Still naked and tasting like food, they both didn't care. Their bodies suddenly craved a massive round two of intense love-making and it was as if round one didn't truly fulfill them, even though they exhausted themselves.

"I'll go first and please you again…" He growled in her ear. "But I want you to show me what you can do with that dirty mouth of yours, Rose." He then crawled on top of her and claimed her tender breasts in his mouth- his tongue ran over her hard nipples, sucking and claiming them fully in his mouth; making her cry out again and arching her body forward. He continued this for a good while, and decided to pulse a talon inside of her- finding that she was, yet again, drenched; and continued to do this until she came a third time.

Moaning and panting after her release, she collapsed on her pillow and then turned over to him. With a wicked grin, she pushed him off of her and onto his back and crawled towards him. With a glance down at him and his beautifully aroused length, she lowered herself down to him- kissing and licking him as she went and whispered, "You're mine."

At the first stroke of her mouth and tongue on him, his world went black, and he too was taken to the stars...

---

Hours passed of passionate love-making under Rose's magical stars in their room until they both collapsed after their last releases, and couldn't move. They laid in each other's arms, until Rose quickly had to relieve herself on the toilet. While she did, Brooklyn cleaned himself up, got dressed, and then brought all of the food and scraps back to the kitchens. By the time he came back, Rose was already wrapped up in the bed, deeply asleep.

It was nearing eleven o'clock, and they had spent over three and a half hours making love, on and off, but she had exhausted herself into a deep sleep; and he was right there with her. Brooklyn smiled at Rose from where he stood in their bedroom after he shut the door behind him, she was so beautiful to him. The magical starlight she had created during their first amazing round of love-making was slowly fading, and he could see that she was still naked under the blankets.

Smiling, he walked over to his side of the bed, took off his loincloth again, and slipped under the covers with her; wrapping her in his wings, and then using the blankets to drape over them. He told Goliath that he wouldn't go on patrol tonight and just needed to be with Rose, but luckily for him, the rest of the Clan planned on staying in and doing their own things anyway; so it wasn't a big deal.

With Rose's naked body against his, in his wings, he kissed her head tenderly and closed his eyes- willing himself to take a nap and sleep next to his precious wife. Wrapping his arms around her, he placed one palm on her slightly bumped stomach and held their child close to him. As he dozed off, their connections flowed calmly and peacefully between them. Offering them completely tranquility. These were the moments that he lived for.

Rose and this baby were his dream come true, and with every moment he spent loving her, laughing with her, worshiping her body and simply being in love, made him want to burst out into tears of joy every time he thought about what he had. He watched the magical stars fade down to a few, as his presence pulled her into a full deep sleep, allowing her magic to fade. He watched the remaining five stars disappear until they were enveloped in pitch darkness; and Rose was fully out. Sighing happily, he closed his eyes and took advantage of the blissful, peaceful moment he had with Rose and held her tightly as they both slept.

---

Hela's chamber was silent, empty, cold, and the perfect place for her dark soul to be at the moment. She had just returned from yelling at Kevin for failing her, yet again, but no more was she going to put up with failure. She wouldn't allow anyone else to fail her- Kevin had one last chance to bring her daughter to her- and she still had one last thing to do to further her daughter's journey complete. Just one more nightmare… vision…

But as her long, black fingertip lingered over the basin of magical waters that gave her a portal into Rose's mind… she hesitated.

Why was she hesitating?

She had been staring into the waters at her daughter and her Gargoyle mate for some time now. She gave them space while they made love, but now that they were sleeping in each other's arms, naked and peaceful- she suddenly didn't know if she could deliver the last vision to her.

Hela's heart was long gone at this point, but part of her did not enjoy watching her daughter suffer. Her daughter found love… a love that she too had once known. Tears went to fill her eyes, but then that pain was filled with rage; and that rage reminded her of why she was doing this. Of what Oberon did to her, and what he took from her.

Rose's suffering was necessary.

Without it, she would never be ready to join them in Hel and become who she was truly meant to be, but they were running out of time. The curse was almost ready, and they needed her home. Three days, mortal time, she was giving Kevin three more days to bring her daughter in, before she took matters in her own hands and brought her home herself.

Three hours in Hel… before her daughter will be hers once again. Hela's fingers still lingered over the magical waters, still hesitating. Her daughter had endured so much, all from her, but still had remained so good… so pure. And it was all thanks to her asinine Gargoyle mate. He kept the light burning bright within her… a light that needed to be snuffed out if their evil plan was going to work.

Raising her firm jawline up, she forced her magic to drip off her black fingertips and into the waters that connected her to her daughter. It was necessary and Rose had to see who she truly was. Hela watched as the blackness encompassed her daughter's mind, and her sleeping mate was still unaware of what was coming, as she started to shudder and gasp at the ice-cold darkness that filled her mind, entrapping it.

She smiled darkly, knowing her job was done, but then something happened. A pull of familiar magic entered the mortal world; her realm, and instantly Hela stood up, her hazel eyes turning bright red. Someone powerful entered her realm through Avalonian magic… and she knew exactly who it was.

Her eyes narrowed and her teeth bared dangerously.

"Titania…"

Hela instantly jumped up and portaled into the dungeon where Demona had been working tirelessly in watching over the curse. When she saw Hela enter, Demona gave a small bow, but saw her face and froze.

"What's wrong?"

"How is the curse coming along?" Hela asked instantly.

"It'll be ready for Rose in two days' time…" Demona answered her darkly. "Then after her contribution is there, it'll be one month more, and then the world will be ours."

"Good." Hela said, happy that the timeline was still on track. "I will, most likely, be collecting Rose on my own here in a few hours. Kevin is working with ten more Draugr that I've given him as his last army to use. He's training them now, but plans on bringing Rose to me in a few more hours. Three days in the mortal world."

Demona raised an eye at her. "You really think he can beat Goliath's Clan?

"With ten Draugr, him, and myself fighting them?" Hela grinned evilly. "Yes, yes I think we will be just fine."

"You're going to the mortal world?" Demona asked in surprise, as it was risky to leave the curse without her magic to stabilize it.

"Yes…" Hela answered with a hiss, and grinned evilly. "Right now, actually. My sister is there somewhere… and I'm going to track her down and destroy her once and for all." Hela whipped her long black cape around and then grinned darkly at Demona. "Once I take out the Queen… Oberon will have to come out from hiding behind the Asgardians and finally fight us… to only find that our curse will wipe out everyone who fights against us."

She waved her hand and summoned a portal, then turned to face Demona again.

"I shan't be gone long…"

Then walked through and disappeared.

---

Rose and Brooklyn remained sleeping in each other's arms, and everything was peaceful.

One hour had passed since they went to bed and by now, it was nearing midnight. Rose's sleeping mind was in a place of peace, darkness, and tranquility, thanks to her mate next to her, but then in an instant- something came over her and felt wrong. A cold darkness entered her body, making her shudder in his arms and gasp in a breath of air. She tried to move to alert Brooklyn and wake him up because of the familiar chains in her mind, but she couldn't move, she couldn't think. Her body and mind no longer was hers.

A sudden upheaval in her mind sent her to a familiar place, one that she didn't want to go to, but couldn't move or scream to not take her again. All she could do was plummet into the darkest depths of her soul in another realistic nightmare…

An icy cold darkness suddenly settled over her head and chest, ensnaring her senses, trapping her mind, and then she was falling into icy darkness. She gasped out, trying to get air and push against the pressure that was crushing down upon her lungs and chest, but couldn't. She was free-falling into a black void and couldn't scream, couldn't think or breathe, until she slammed down into a vivid and real-looking place.

When she opened her eyes and the crushing sensation passed, allowing her to freely breathe again, she was no longer in her warm bed, but up top the Castle platform in a place as hot as the fire she endured a few nights ago…

Rose gasped, looked down at herself and saw that she was wearing nothing but a skimpy night dress- one that showed everything underneath black, sheer fabric. She didn't know where it came from, nor was she wearing anything like that before bed, but it didn't matter. She just prayed that she wouldn't see Kevin here or endure what he would do if he saw her barely covered up like this.

The air around her was hot, dry, and like the whole world had been set on fire.

Looking around, she was still at Castle Wyvern, but the Castle was no longer in Manhattan. Looking around, she didn't know where in the world she was… until she stepped closer to the ledge, glanced out and saw the burning red sky, the ashen air, and hills of dead vegetation all around them. Then she knew because she had been here once before in her last nightmare-

She was in Hel.

No longer did she try to fight her way out, but set her jaw firmly and looked around to face what was being shown to her. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary for a moment, but the more she walked on the stone floor, which was hot against her bare feet, she finally realized how quiet it was.

How eerily quiet.

The sky was neither dark nor was it light out, but if it were dark, shouldn't the Gargoyles be here? Or if it were light, shouldn't they be in stone form?

Rose walked slowly around a corner where Brooklyn's nightmares often led his mind day after day… the same place her mind was leading her to, where Kevin killed her all those nights ago in January. She walked across the platform, descended the stairs and then finally saw strange piles of stone in different parts of the platform, and slowly her heart sank.

As she got closer to the piles of dusty stone, she suddenly saw various pieces of what belonged to random Gargoyle body parts.

Wings, faces, claws… and it dawned on her. This was where the Clan was and they had been smashed to pieces. Her world started to collapse again as if she was falling deeper into this nightmare, further away from the light, further away from reality.

"No…!" She gasped out, turning around in circles and looking at each pile of stone with horror. "No…NO, NOOOOO! Please, don't let this be true…!"

She turned around, unable to handle seeing the piles of stone, but saw another pile of bodies near her that made her freeze in her grief.. Stepping closer to them, she gasped, covered her mouth and couldn't move. Right in front of her, lying bloodied and dead... was Emily. And next to her Chris and their daughter, Katie. All of them, not only killed, but slaughtered. Blood was pooling underneath their bodies, Emily's hand reached out to Rose, blood oozing through the cracks of the platform stone, like hers once did.

Their eyes were open and fixed- their faces holding a look of shock and fear.

"NOOOOO!"

She sobbed hysterically, fell to her knees, and still couldn't seem to breathe- this was too much. All of this was too terrible. Her Clan and family surrounding her, Emily and her family slaughtered… all of them, dead. She wished the nightmare would grant her the same mercy. She kept screaming and crying, the nausea in her stomach so strong she was sure she was going to vomit.

A small pull from inside her was almost tugging her to wake up, but she couldn't wake up. The nightmare's magic was still claiming her and showing her more of this true hell…

Sobbing and holding her stomach, she suddenly felt a presence behind her, so whipping around, Rose turned and suddenly saw there was someone standing right behind her. Enraged with grief, dark magic shot through her right as she whipped a long- silver sword out and faced the being with bared teeth.

"Who are you!? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY FAMILY?!" She screamed out in her tears, unable to stomach the death and destruction around her. Whoever this being was… she was responsible for their deaths, and Rose would kill her if it was the last thing she would ever do.

"I am Death… and I have come to claim what's rightfully mine."A female hissed in an echoed voice that sent shivers down her spine. Her voice was calm, unworldly, beautiful, and yet so very familiar.

Rose's breath caught in her throat, and stared up at her in horror.

"Y-you are the Goddess of Death?!" She whispered, feeling afraid for the first time, past her unbearable grief and pain. "You are Hela?"

The voice suddenly hissed out a laugh; mocking and leering at her.

"I am the Goddess of Death, yes… but I am not Hela." The female suddenly turned, and Rose couldn't feel her body out of fear and absolute shock.

There, in front of her stood…

Herself.

A very dark projection of herself.

"I am you." She whispered with an evil, white, and fanged smile. "And you are me."

The twin Rose in front of her was slightly gaunt, but powerfully dark and fiercely terrifying. Her skin was pale white, her long auburn hair pulled over to a long braid to one side, and her once hazel eyes were a burning bright yellow color. Her teeth were shiny and bright white, like Kevin's, but were slightly fanged.

Under her black cloak, this death-Rose was wearing a slightly revealing black, leather bikini-like top; tight black pants and boots with weapons draped on a metal belt. Her eye make up was darkened, and she wore dark red lipstick that almost looked black. She was a dark beauty, a pillar of power and lustful control. With a small whip of her wrist her dark twin easily wielded a long, thin silver sword- the same one she was holding, and Rose could only stare at herself in horrified shock…

"We are not our mother or our father… but something much stronger and much greater."

Rose tried to back away, but her dark self was holding her there frozen, and she was now completely in her own dark soul's mercy. She then slowly started to approach her, smiling a mocking smile.

"Don't be afraid of who you truly are, Rose." The Dark Rose whispered, stepped closer to her. "This is who you were born to be." She continued to come closer, trailed a fingertip against her skin and breathed against her skin, bringing her dark red lips to her ears. "It's our destiny to bring death, chaos and a firm order to this world… to be the next Goddess of Death."

She then raised her thin sword up to Rose's neck, the metal so real and cold against her skin. She closed her eyes in terror as her dark twin grinned at her fear. "But…" her twin continued to whisper in a deadly calm voice."In order to do that and become who you're meant to be... you have to let go of what's holding you back."

At this, Dark Rose pointed her long sword out to her fallen and smashed Clan, Emily's bleeding and frozen corpse… at Chris and Katie's; and Rose's eyes widened at what her dark soul was telling her.

What she was showing her.

Just then, a whoosh of wind was felt behind her, and when Dark Rose turned back to her, she dropped her cloak to the cobblestone floor and showed her the most magnificent pair of black wings attached to her back. They were half avian, half dragon-looking… and were easily the size of Goliath's. They trailed carefully behind Dark Rose's boots as she walked along the cobblestone ground..

"In order to become me… you just have to let go of the person who is holding us back from our great potential, Rose." Her evil twin continued to whisper. "To the male whose soul-bond has in fact, shackled you to the light which is against your very nature… against our nature." Dark Rose pointed her sword to another pile of shattered stone nearest to Emily and her fallen Clan. And Rose instantly recognized the clawed wings, horns and parts of his beaked mouth- which was all reduced to rubble. Her eyes widened, heart shattered and all life seemed to leave her body.

She was dying at the horrible sight in front of her.

"But don't worry…" Dark Rose continued to hiss as Rose's world slowly slid into darkness, leaving her voice to be the only thing around her. "I've taken care of him for us. Without our mate holding us back… we can finally be who we were born to be."

In the pitch dark blackness, Rose could only see the shattered face of Brooklyn's face in that rubble, and she too crumbled. Without his bond and connection tied to her soul, she was lost, empty and nothing.

She was nobody.

She screamed, and screamed and screamed… and that's all she could do.

---

"ROSE!"

Someone was shaking her shoulders, but she thrashed out against his hands. Not hands, claws. He was strong, but she was stronger and was dying.

"ROSE! BABY! WAKE UP!

Pain was everywhere, her head, throat, stomach and limbs. Yet someone was still screaming.

No, not someone. Her.

"WAKE UP! ROSE!" Brooklyn's voice roared above her own, and he was trying everything he could to hold her down, but she was still screaming a high-pitched and desperate scream. Still caught in that horrible place… she was trying to wake up, but couldn't. She was trying to breathe, but suddenly couldn't do that either...

A panic filled her as she was choking and was unable to breathe. The darkness from the dream still held her hostage and was trying to suck all the life from her. She was truly going to die if she couldn't breathe...

Just then, an explosion of light burst through her entire body. Brooklyn's connection slammed through the wall of darkness that held her hostage and he entered her soul like a chariot of flame and light. He filled her entire being and soul with bright light and was fighting away the demons like an internal war, like the knight in shining armor and warrior that he was. With every force of light, she felt her soul being released by Brooklyn.

He was fighting for her, just like he said he always would.

But she hadn't fought for him…

"Breathe!" His loud and worried voice suddenly commanded, as he held her neck up and kept her airway open, but she still couldn't. "Breathe Rose!… Damn it!"

Apparently she hadn't been breathing for a few seconds, and still couldn't. A horrible choking noise was heard and her throat was constricted, as if someone invisible was choking her out. With another explosion in her mind, his connection slammed through hers again and his thoughts entered hers. With his mind now controlling hers, she heard his voice loud, clear and commanding in her; telling her mind and body to do as he said.

BREATHE!

And finally she did.

Rose gasped in air, her body arching as she did so, and her throat felt like it was on fire. It was hot, dry and hoarse from all of her screaming. The heat from the dream faded and she was finally back in her bed, soaked to the bone with sweat. The bedroom came back to her view as she looked around, gasping, and Brooklyn was holding her down, lingering on top of her naked body with his own, panting heavily.

She coughed violently, gasping and breathing in air which thankfully came with ease and filled her lungs, making her mind more clear and her body less numb. But the panic was still there. Rose grabbed onto her throat, breathing frantically, and started sobbing. Brooklyn instantly cupped her face, opened his wings, and hovered over her, his eyes wide with panic and worry; his own body trembling. But seeing his face reminded her of the dream. Of the horrible, horrible vision.

"Thank the Gods you're awake and breathing again, Rose!" He gasped. "Are you okay? What… what the hell happened?!"

She didn't answer him as something sickening lurched in her stomach. Pushing him off of her, she couldn't make it to the toilet, so she leaned over the side of the bed and vomited all over the floor; wishing she didn't eat all that food before bed, as it was now a horrible mess on the floor. Brooklyn didn't care or look disgusted as he held onto her hair and supported her as she kept retching, over and over again, until there was nothing left to heave. Sobs wracked through her, and all she could do was hold onto the sheet on the edge of her bed and cry hysterically.

Her entire body hurt from how exhausted she was, her mind truly spent from dealing with this darkness. She shakily raised a hand up and waved magic over the vomit, instantly wiping it and the smell clean off the floor and bed, then she laid face-first on the sheets and cried some more.

"Rose?" Brooklyn croaked, his body and voice shaking, lifting her up to turn her on her back. "Baby, please talk to me." Their room was pitch black dark, so he quickly leaned over her and turned on the bedside lamp- flooding the room with soft light and she got to see his face for the first time. He was pale red and looked utterly terrified. She must have scared him out of his sleep by her screams, but it was too horrible, the dream was too horrible to share.

"Rose?"

"No." She moaned, still crying and trying to turn away from him.

"Baby… please… what did you see?" He asked, trying to get her to face him. She froze, and thanks to their connection it was clear that he knew she had another nightmare- one that he either didn't or couldn't enter. Regardless, he knew that's what she experienced because of his experiences with them as well.

"How did you know?" She gasped.

"I… I felt you thrashing in our sleep. I woke up right when you started screaming, but I couldn't get you awake, and I couldn't join your mind like I've done in the past. Then… then you stopped breathing and were choking… you couldn't breathe. Gods, I thought you were going to suffocate to death, Rose, you scared the shit out of me." He paused, cupped her face and laid over her body. "I know you had a realistic nightmare. Tell me about it please, what did you see?"

"I can't…" Rose sobbed. "I can't tell you… it was too horrible!"

"Please, my love, let me help you! What's-"

Rose continued to sob as she sat up and then wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, legs around his bare waist and held him close. He held her tightly to him, and wrapped his wings around them both for privacy. He then scootched himself around so that his back rested against the backboard of the bed and held her close as she sobbed.

"This one was the worst one yet! Oh, Brooklyn, I don't know what to do!" She whispered, ran her fingers through his hair and couldn't seem to get his shattered body out of her mind.

"Shhhh, I'm here, my love. Tell me about it and I'll help you through this. I wasn't here for your last one, but I'm here now."

Rose pulled away to face him and her facial expression broke his heart. She looked so scared, so opposite from the beautiful goddess he brought out with their love-making earlier. The light in her eyes was gone and her soul blackened by the nightmare. He felt how dark she was lost when he forced himself to enter into her body and fight off the magic bonding her, and he was scared for her.

"When will this end?" She begged him. "I… I can't keep doing this! I can't keep seeing death… so much… so much damn death."

"What was the nightmare about?" He asked again quietly.

She closed her eyes, leaned forward and nuzzled her face into his neck. Her arms were like iron bars around his neck, and their bodies meshing into one. If she wasn't so upset, it would have turned quickly sexual the way she was pressed against him, but right now, that was the furthest thing from his mind. His mate was in distress, more upset than he'd ever seen her, to the point she couldn't breathe for a moment.

Minutes passed as she cried, her entire body trembling against his, and still- she wouldn't tell him what she saw.

"Rose… baby?" He whispered urgently. "Talk to me… let me help you!"

"I'm the next Goddess of Death!" Rose suddenly cried through her sobs, her body shaking- and he froze.

"What?" He gasped.

"These nightmares… these… visions! That's what all of this is about!" She cried out. "All of these attacks and darkness within me… it's been leading up to this!"

"Leading up to what?" He asked, trying to follow her explanations. "You need to be more specific, babe. Explain it from the very beginning, please."

She clutched her chest, took a series of deep, gasping breaths and then looked into her mate's eyes. The sweet eyes that burned so brightly, despite the dark room around them, the eyes that have always held her heart and soul. So she told him the full story, hoping those eyes still saw the goodness within her and loved her.

"I was in Hel… which is a bright red, burning world, and Castle Wyvern was there." She explained. "And on the platform where I died were piles of stone. When I got closer to examine them, it was the Clan. The Clan was dead and in another pile… was Emily's family- all slaughtered… there was blood everywhere…" She paled, and went to vomit over the side again, but nothing came. Brooklyn held her hair and shoulders to support her, but when she came back up unable to let anything out, she continued, still gasping for breath.

"Then… then a figure was standing on the platform… and… and it was me… Brooklyn. A dark, twisted, evil version of me- with golden eyes, and wings… like a full Fae. She was the darkness inside my soul, but in physical form. She said that I was the next Goddess of Death; that I was needed in Hel- and you and the Clan were holding me back from my destiny."

Brooklyn stared at her with wide-eyes but listened as she gasped, leaned her head back against the bed frame and cried for a few minutes. Then, she lifted up and shook her head, tearfully gazing at him. Her lips trembled as she took his beaked jaw in her hands, and pressed her forehead to him.

"She then showed me another pile of stone… and… and it was you, Brooklyn. She… I… did that to you… to Emily, Chris… Katie… to the whole Clan! She then said that I had to destroy our soul bond if I was to become who was meant to be… the light that's inside of me needed to die… and seeing you dead… I was dying. Then I heard your voice and you then entered inside me and forced me to wake up. And that was it… but… it was horrible Brooklyn. I… I would never do that to any of you… but I'm so scared! This can't be our future… that horrible creature couldn't be me!"

Rose closed her eyes, unable to look into his eyes to see his reaction. She reached out and wrapped her body to his, needing to feel his love and comfort; gasping and sobbing in his chest. "I'm so tired… I'm just so damn tired…"

Brooklyn stayed frozen for a moment, then slowly and carefully wrapped his arms around her naked body, rubbing his claws up and down her back.

"Shhh, Rose, it's going to be okay." He whispered. "We'll figure this out."

"How?"

"I don't know." He whispered, moving some of her hair away from her wet face. "All I know is that we will.' Rose closed her eyes and cried silently, and they remained silent for a few minutes. Brooklyn thought deeply about what he could say that would make her feel better. Then… he got it.

"My love? Can I ask you something?"

Rose looked up at him, sniffed and then nodded. "Of course."

"Is this inner-dark Rose, the Goddess of Death, someone you want to be?"

Her eyes narrowed and stared at him with disbelief and almost disgust. "No… not at all."

"Then you won't." He said softly. "Look… may I be honest with you on what I think about all of these nightmares?"

Rose sniffed, took a deep breath and faced him. He was being extremely calm, and so would she.

"Okay."

"I know how terrifying these nightmares are because I've lived in one before, and it still haunts me. Alright? I'm not discounting that they aren't scary and how they don't torment you… but… as often as yours are happening, I don't feel surprised by them anymore. And they are almost too dark, too... unrealistic."

Rose stared at him in slight confusion, trying to understand what he was saying to her, and he gently continued to explain himself. "They feel forced now, and contradict the person and soul I know you to be. They don't seem realistic to me anymore, because this darkness isn't you. Yes, you may have some darkness within you- but so do I. And yes, Hela and Demetrius might be who conceived you… but they aren't your family, and they aren't the amazing people who raised you…" He paused, and she slowly looked up into his eyes, understanding where he was coming from now. "Rose, you have control over your life. I feel like these nightmares are being sent to you to entrap you in that fear, but you have the power to fight that fear, because the dark person you sometimes feel inside of you, or see in nightmares, isn't who you truly are. Does that make sense?"

"I guess." Rose said quietly.

"Babe, you are in control of your own actions." He continued to say gently. "Your life is yours to control, it's yours to live." He paused, thought deeply for a moment and continued to hold her close to him. Then he glanced up at her. "Rose… as I have thought about things, these past few months, I've come to the conclusion that these dreams and visions are not your destiny, but merely hiding your true destiny by hiding the light that burns so brightly inside of you. I don't know how else to explain how I feel about them, but I've been a part of them and they are from an evil being. It could be from Hela even. However, the visions that I feel do truly matter, are the ones we used to have from our connection bond when we first found each other and fell in love. Those images are what I believe our future holds. Not what you're seeing." He paused, and then cupped her face gently.

"I know how taxing these nightmares are on you and your soul, but… babe… they aren't real. I think some might be true to a point, like Kevin being brought back to life, but ultimately, this is your life. Even if that winged being you saw, is who you are underneath, you never have to act upon her. This nightmare was sent to scare you… to throw our beautiful… and wonderful night off." He paused, as she continued to sniffle and breath raggedly, but his words slowly started to calm her down.

"Tonight… as we both came to each other… we shone like the sun, Rose." He whispered. "You and I… our love and bodies glowed with our soul-bond and our love. And it's these moments I hang onto. I trust you with my entire soul, life and heart, sweetheart, and because of that light, you aren't the Goddess of Death and never will be. That's what the Death Gods want you to think to tear your worth down, but they have no power over you which you give them… so don't give them any more of you." He then paused again, and anger suddenly filled his eyes. "And for making you suffer like they are… they will pay. I will make them suffer for all they are putting you through. That I will promise you."

Rose stared tearfully at him, sighed, cocked her head to the side while cupping his face and finally smiled. She breathed in a breath of fresh air, and knew he was telling the truth. His words were so sincere, so logical, that it did make sense.

"Thank you, my love. You've given me a lot to consider… and I know you're right… but it doesn't change the fact that I'm scared. I can't lose you, Brooklyn…" She then leaned forward and hugged him tightly.

"I know it's scary. I'm scared too… and these nightmares… yeah, they are horrible. But I'll be here to pull you out of them, and we will fight Hela and end all of this madness." He mumbled in her hair, stroking her back. "As long as you don't give into them, they won't win." He pulled back from her, cupped her face and then kissed her forehead. "And Rose? You'll never lose me."

"How can you be sure?" She begged quietly.

"I can only hope, babe. Just like what I mentioned about the visions we receive through our soul-bond when we first met and fell in love. Those images were beautiful and displayed happiness… peace and hope. And because they were from our soul-bond, which these nightmares are not, I have hope that they are projections to get you to fear, and aren't real. That's my opinion, but I'm going to stick with it."

Rose slowly nodded, wiped her tears away, and he smiled at her.

"Do you remember when you were last in the hospital, after Christmas? When Kevin attacked the Castle the first time?"

"Yeah." She said, and he helped wipe her tears away. "I do… that's when we first realized that we could heal each other through our bond."

"That's right." He whispered, nodding. "And it was one of the coolest and greatest gifts… because not only could you heal others… and for whatever reason, I'm the only one who can heal you. And that is… well, that is very sacred to me. It makes me feel so special, and honestly, it's like I'm your own personal sun that heals and rejuvenates you- like it does for us Gargoyles during the day."

At this Rose choked out a laugh, and he smiled brighter at her.

"I'm serious! I know that kinda sounds corny, but it's how I feel about it." He paused, then said, "And with these nightmares… yeah, they are horrible. I still have dreams about you dying, and am reminded about when Kevin did kill you, but I've been really trying to focus on the present and take things as they come."

"Since when did you become so positive?" Rose asked, finally smiling at him.

"It's taken time, and I'm still skeptical about a lot but I'm trying- and I'm trying for you. You've been so strong through all of this, and when you're feeling weak I want to be your strength. So… that's where I'm sitting with all of this. If more danger comes, then we'll take that on, but for now…" He paused, smiled gently at her and held her jawline tenderly. "Each time I'm with you, you make me into a better Gargoyle. And… every time we make love…" He paused again, and slowly lowered his claws down to her exposed chest. "I see light, happiness, and peace. You are my own personal Heaven, Rose."

Rose smiled endearingly at him, and leaned into his touch. "Thank you my love, and you are mine."

"I want to show you something, or, well… remind you of something." He whispered, pulling her closer to him and hid their naked bodies in his wings. "Let's see if I can make this work…"

Rose watched as he closed his eyes, rested his forehead against hers, pressed his claws into her back and instantly activated their connection, making their minds and bodies one. When they were one, he suddenly pulsed more of his love into her bond, and gave her the vivid images of their bright future together that were stored in his mind… ones she's seen before… and could never forget them.

It was nearly sunrise and they were standing together on a small cliff, overlooking their charge. Just below them was a sandy beach, and the ocean was breaking calmly onto the shore, in front of them. Brooklyn was standing behind Rose, and had lovingly wrapped his arms around her abdomen, holding her close to him; his wings around them both. Rose and Brooklyn's long hair was gently waving in the soft breeze as they gazed out to the horizon.

Below them was the sound of squealing children's voices, and a Gargoyle-beast's happy barks. Rose closed her eyes, reached her hands up to take hold of his face from behind her and was smiling blissfully. Brooklyn lightly grazed his claws up the side of her body and held onto her arms; placing intimate kisses on her neck, arms and the side of her face. He loved her and she loved him, and both loved the life in which they both created together…

Rose blinked through her tears and looked up into his face, her eyes full of sudden hope.

"Yeah, I… I remember that vision…"

"We were making out in the hospital bathroom... trying so hard not to make love to each other." Brooklyn explained softly, and then laughed at himself, making her laugh out loud as well.

"Yeah, you had a thing about wanting to make love to me in unsanitary places."

Brooklyn snorted and flicked her nose, making her laugh again, which was the most beautiful sound ever for him. That hopefully meant that she was going to be okay and that they would make it through this night, after all.

"I'll take you anywhere… just as long as we are together and happy." He whispered, holding her naked body to his. They stared deeply into each other's eyes, connecting on a deeper level, and Brooklyn could feel her relaxing and feeling better- while she felt his incredible love for him.

"That vision was so clear in my mind, Rose, and has been my beacon of light through this darkness ever since." He whispered. "And it's that future that I'm choosing to focus on."

Rose's eyes filled with tears and she smiled at him and then nodded in agreement. He pulled her closer to her and wrapped his arms and wings even more tightly around her.

"I love you with all of my heart, Rose Connelly. You are my light and the love of my life. No matter what happens with Hela, I'm not afraid of you and I'll never give up on you. You are my mate and my wife. If you do not wish to become the next Goddess of Death, then you won't, because I won't let it happen." He pulled her closer to him, and together they molded their bodies to each other, almost becoming one again, and continued staring deeply into each other's eyes.

"I'm here for you, Rose, and I'm not going anywhere. I love you."

Melting and feeling much better, lighter, Rose whispered, "I love you too, with everything I am… thank you for loving me and being here to help me through this."
"Of course." He said softly, grinned at her and then whispered, "We'll take on all of our troubles together, and honestly at this point… what more could happen?"

He grinned cheekily at her, and she snorted out a laugh. "Hold your tongue."

Brooklyn laughed. "You can do that if you want."

"Beast."

He dipped his head back and laughed out loud again, making them both laugh, and with their naked bodies pressed together, they both slowly leaned in to kiss each other once more. But then-

BOOM!

Their door burst open and an explosion of bright white and green light filled their room. They both jumped, Rose yelped and Brooklyn instantly went into defensive mode to protect her. His eyes lit up bright white as he held her impossibly close to him, and hid their bodies in his wings, keeping her modest.

"What the-!?" He growled out, turning them around and held his claw up to maim whoever was daring to bother them, especially after a Gargoyle mating; but Rose suddenly felt a strong but familiar magic crush through her with the light show. It wasn't dark magic like the one she was used to, but had light properties that their soul bond had; and because they were still connected, what she felt, he felt too.

And he gasped at the similarities.

Rose held onto him tightly and looked over at the visitor with fear still, but as the light faded, a beautiful elven woman with long, straight reddish orange hair, and light green skin was seen. She was wearing a beautiful two-piece, flowy gown that reminded Rose of what an middle-eastern royalty would wear. The pants were tight against her legs, a top piece that showed most of her large chest and had an exposed midriff. Layers of flowing fabric were streaming down her outfit, and she wore a head piece that looked to be a crown of some sort.

Rose could tell that this woman was some sort of Queen or royalty- and from her elven ears and almost perfect body and beauty; she could tell that this was a member of the Third Race.

But who was she? She had never seen her before in her life.

To her further surprise, Puck entered their room right behind her- obviously looking completely mortified to be in the same room as them while they were naked, and it seemed obvious that he had begged her not to bother them, but she came in anyway. Rose was so confused by what was going on, but Brooklyn gasped, held onto her tighter and seemed to know who this woman was.

"Queen Titania?!" He asked in disbelief, and she instantly gasped, turning to face her.

"The Queen of Avalon?!" Rose asked him. "Is that her?!" Queen Titania… Hela's sister… and the person they have been desperately trying to get a hold of for months.
"Yes." He murmured.

Right then, the beautiful woman stepped closer to them and didn't seem phased that they were naked in each other's arms, hidden by his wings. Brooklyn's arms tightened over Rose the closer she got, and his eyes were no longer bright white in defense mode- but his body was still wary and ready to attack their visitor if they were in any danger at all.

"Are you Rose?" The Elven Queen asked, her voice echoing in the room slightly- reminding Rose about her nightmare she had… her own dark self having a very similar presence.

Powerful and beautiful.

"I… I am." Rose whispered, trembling slightly as her magic flowed through her; and it was so familiar.

"I am Titania… Queen of the Fairies and of all Avalon." She said seriously, her bright green eyes staring deeply into her hazel ones. "We need to talk… immediately. Get dressed and kindly meet me out in the living room where I will be with the rest of the Clan. This is a matter of life and death, so please make haste..."

With that, she turned away and left the room as quickly as she came; leaving them to stare after her with wide open, gaped eyes and mouths. Both not believing what had just happened. Puck paused at the door to follow after her, but then looked at them, shook his head and drawled, "Really? I finally hear back from Titania and you two couldn't bother to be wearing clothes!?"

"We would have if we would have known that company would come, burst through our locked door, and demand to be seen in public immediately." Brooklyn bantered back.

Puck shook his head at them and sighed heavily. "I can't believe we walked in on you two having sex. How mortifying. But I should have known and expected nothing less from you two."

Brooklyn didn't have time to flip him off or snarl at him to get out, before he too left the room; leaving them to sit in silence. They continued to mull over their visitor, and were clinging to each other; ignoring his words. Rose then leaned into Brooklyn and stared at him with imploring eyes, with an eyebrow raised.

"What again were you saying about nothing else happening…?"