The three of them, Demona, Angela and Bolin, stared in disbelief at the screens where a figure that appeared to be Demona left Garia's room carrying something in her hands.
"That's not possible," Bolin said firmly. "She was on the upper battlements when I left her, on the opposite side of the castle from our rooms. There is no way that she could have made it from there, to the rooms, and be there again to meet with Angela a few minutes after I left her."
"He's right, father," Angela said, shaking her head. She pointed to the time stamp on the lower corner of the video. "I was already outside with her when this recording was made."
Demona said nothing, but was tapping a taloned finger thoughtfully against her chin.
"I do not doubt you, daughter," Goliath said, frowning at the screen as if he were looking for something to help identify the mystery figure. "But the question remains to be who this is."
"I would be more concerned with what they took," Demona pointed out.
"Has anyone spoken to Garia?" Angela asked.
"I have," Goliath admitted. "She was to go to her quarters and see if anything of hers was missing."
"Shall I go find her?" Bolin asked.
Goliath nodded, "Thank you, Bolin."
With a nod to the large leader, Bolin set off to find the small Scottish female.
Demona stood still, her arms crossed over her chest and glaring at the screen that had been paused on what appeared to be her. She seemed to take an unconscious step forward, almost as if she could reach out and touch the image.
"How is such a thing possible?" Angela asked her father quietly.
"Magic," Goliath responded in a low thoughtful voice. "But there are creatures that exist in the world that are able to change their appearances."
Angela frowned. "We've met a few with that ability," she admitted. "But most of them were Oberon's children. Shouldn't they be locked away on Avalon?"
"The fae have already proven to be quite resourceful in ways to get around Oberon," Goliath pointed out.
"Like Morgana," Angela remembered suddenly. "The way she reached out to her half fae son, and helped to plan the attacks on the castle."
"Yes," Goliath said.
Demona turned to face her daughter and former mate. "I thought that had been resolved," she snarled. "Oberon took their powers."
Angela and Goliath shared an uneasy look.
"If there is something," Demona gestured to the screen, "running around the castle and posing a threat, I think you would need someone with my talents to help capture it."
"She's not wrong," Angela said softly, looking to her father as the clan and council leader. "With her, and our few magic users, perhaps…"
"No," Goliath said firmly. "If this is indeed something, or someone, threatening the clan, then we shall take care of it."
"Don't be stupid, Goliath," Demona spat out. "It doesn't become you."
Goliath's eyes illuminated briefly in a show of temper.
"Father," Angela said, laying a hand on his arm. "Let us speak with Garia first, and not make hasty decisions."
Goliath took a breath, his eyes fading to normal, as Bolin entered the room followed by Garia and Bronx.
"Garia," Goliath greeted the small female. "Thank you for coming."
She nodded a greeting. "I have gone through my room," she began without preamble. "One of my journals is missing."
"A journal?" Angela asked.
"Aye," Garia replied, her brogue getting thicker with her rising anger. "I have two. One for council business, to refresh my memory when need be when a meeting be called, and one to chronicle my adventures here so far from my homeland."
"Which one is missing?" Demona asked.
Garia fisted her hands in frustration. "T'was the one of my adventures. It be missin'."
Goliath frowned, rubbing a talon over his chin as he puzzled over this.
Garia glanced at the screen, jerking in shock at the image of what appeared to be Demona coming from her room. "What be the meanin' of that?" she asked, pointing to the screen.
"At the risk of being the lady that protests too much," Demona said snidely, "That isn't me."
"She was outside with me at the time," Angela said firmly.
Garia frowned. "Then who be that?"
"That is what we are trying to figure out." Goliath said firmly. He turned to Bolin, "Gather any of the human wing members who are magic users, and bring them to the Great Hall. We will do the same. We need to have an accounting of where everyone was when the cameras caught this image."
Bolin bowed deeply, then retreated back to the hallway.
"I assume that you need me there?" Demona sighed.
"Yes," Goliath said, reluctance on his features. "We know that it wasn't you, but perhaps your skills will come in handy when questioning the others."
"Oh, really?" Demona growled out, giving him a side eye glance. "Now you want my help."
"Mother," Angela admonished. "Please."
Demona sighed loudly. "For you, I will try, Angela. But be warned that I can only take so much."
"Of course," Angela said softly.
Demona turned to storm out of the office, leaving Goliath and Angela to follow.
Bronx got up from where he had laid down and walked to the screens that still held the frozen image. After a moment, he swiped out with one of his powerful front legs, raking his talons over as many screens that he could reach, causing a small explosion of sparks and glass.
Somewhat mollified, he let out a deep huff before following the others.