**Here's part two! I hope you all are enjoying this book so far. It's been fun to write. We still have lots, lots, lots more to come. TONS of epic stuff, people. lol. I've also been writing smaller chapters for ya'll. Easier to read, although I have no idea how long it'll make this story. We'll see! Thanks for reading. At the end of this chapter, we'll see a small snippet of another romantic pair that I absolutely adore. :D Enjoy!**

~PART TWO~

The Goddess of Death

"It is not in the stars that hold our destiny, but in ourselves."

-William Shakespeare

~Chapter Eleven~

Beyond the Realms

The sun slowly set over the Avalon horizon, setting Brooklyn's stone skin in shadow and then, ever so slowly, his stone case began to crack; breaking up his sleeping statue. When the sun completely disappeared behind the Earth's horizon plane, his good eye opened brightly white, and with a great stretch and roar into the night he burst free of his stone skin, sending shards flying everywhere. Next to him, Angela, Broadway and Bronx all exploded with life as well, sending their own shards all over the beautiful gardens in which they ended up staying for the day.

Broadway and Angela gave a big yawn, as they continued to stretch out their bodies, but Brooklyn fell instantly to his knees; his roar turning into a cry of anguish. He braced himself against the soil, took large fists of dirt in his claws and secured himself to the ground. Gasping, he realized that his face was wet from crying as he dryly sobbed. He had been stuck in a nightmare of sorts from the moment he turned to stone. The voice crying and screaming out for him in his head was something he wished to unhear. When he collapsed to his knees, crying and howling out in grief, the others whipped around to look at him.

"Brooklyn!" Angela gasped, then both she, Broadway, and Bronx instantly surrounded him, and knelt by his side. She reached for his face, but he refused to look up.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Angela whispered, keeping her claw on his shoulder piece. But he didn't answer her. Instead, he continued to gasp in and out breaths, his entire body trembled, and tears continued to stream down his face.

Angela glanced up at her mate with worry, and instantly, Broadway took over.

"Brook…? Buddy, come on. Talk to us, what happened?"

Again, he refused to answer.

Shutting his eye tightly, he stayed silent and tried to get a hold of himself. Bronx whined quietly, strode over slowly to him and nuzzled his large face against Brooklyn's downcast one, pushing up on him. At his nudging, Brooklyn took another breath, opened his eye, released the dirt in his claw and placed one on top of Bronx's head. After a few seconds, he finally raised his head up and looked at all of them. Bronx was still quietly whining in concern, and both Angela and Broadway were looking at him with wide, concerned eyes.

"What happened?" Angela whispered again.

Sitting up now, he wiped the tears from his face and exhaled out a deep breath. The pain and pressure in his chest had increased, and it was making breathing extremely difficult.

"I…" he began. "I… had a nightmare or… or a vision, I think."

"What was it about?" Angela breathed.

"Fears." He replied in a shaky voice. "But, I cannot deny what the fears were telling me. The moment we turned to stone I began to hear… a voice."

"A voice?" Broadway asked. "Who's?"

Brooklyn closed his eye, lowered his head again and had to clutch the belongings he brought of his mate's, which were against his chest, for comfort.

"Rose's."

Angela gasped. "What?"

"I didn't see any images, so I'm not quite sure if it was real or not… but… I heard her voice." He continued to explain quietly. "All day long, the minute I turned to stone sleep, I heard her… over and over again. Like an echo of sorts. My bond to her is still dark and quiet, but… her voice seemed to speak to me in that way, I guess." He paused, then sighed and ran a claw over his face. "I don't know guys, maybe I'm crazy or imagining things."

"Or maybe you aren't." Angela whispered. "What was her voice saying?"

He stayed quiet for a moment as the pressure in his chest was making it even more difficult to breathe, let alone speak. Bronx seemed to sense his pain, whined again, and brought himself to perch in his lap; nuzzling his head against his chest. Hot tears fell down his face again, and silently he allowed Bronx's animal instincts to feel the pain from his sorrow and grief.

Bronx's large webbed ears sank low in sorrow, and continued to whine in pain, while pressing up against him. In gratitude for his companionship, he slowly ran a claw through the beast's hair, silently thanking him for the comfort. It gave him strength to answer the others' question.

"She was… screaming, crying, and… calling out… for me." He finally managed to say. At this, Broadway lowered his head as if in mourning and Angela's eyes filled with tears; while slowly reaching her claw up over her mouth.

"She's… she's in pain, you guys." Brooklyn continued in an exhaled, dry sob. "Terrible amounts of pain. I can barely breathe just thinking about it."

"What's happening to her?" Broadway asked in a whisper.

"I don't know." He replied shakily, with his teeth gritted tightly. "I don't even know if I want to know to be honest. She just kept screaming my name in my mind. All day long, I couldn't think of anything else or hear anything else. That's the first time, since her disappearance, that I was truly connected to her, in a way. But she's..." He paused, took a shaky breath, then looked up at them in a haze of pain. "She's suffering. Still alive, maybe yes, but for how much longer in all of that pain I felt her in? I'm not sure..." He sighed heavily, then looked up into their worried faces and begged, "I have to get her back, you guys. I have to. I... I can't continue to live not knowing if she's alive or not. Not knowing... anything. I'm being driven mad out of my mind with worry."

"Oh Brooklyn… we will." Angela said through her own tears. "We must get the sword Excalibur first, and then Titania will help us with a portal. We'll get to her as soon as tonight, hopefully."

Brooklyn clutched her claw back and held on tightly while looking at the horizon with great worry.

"I hope so Angela." He whispered. "I really hope we make it in time to save her."

"Don't think like that Brook," Broadway said, patting his shoulder. "She'll be okay."

Still staring at the horizon, which by now was slowly fading from it's beautiful shades of pink into a darker blue of the night, Brooklyn thought of his mate and the probable danger that she was in. Closing his eye, he clenched his fists tightly, took another deep breath and then opened them. They were right. He couldn't give up now, not when they were so close to getting Rose back.

Taking strength and courage, he stood up and kept staring out at the horizon.

"You're right, Broadway." He then turned to face his brother, who both stood up as well, then placed his claw on his shoulder. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Broadway placed an arm around Angela and held her tightly to his side. "Well… I say let's get going to the lake. The sooner we get to Rose, the better. I say that we-"

"No." Brooklyn interrupted, turning to face them both. "No, I don't want to go to the Lake. Not yet."

At this, both of them looked confused.

"Why not?" Angela asked.

"I want to do as much research as I can before we go." He said, turning to her. "Is there a library here?"

She nodded. "There is, its on the second floor of the castle, in the southeast wing."

"With map books and stories about all of the Children of Avalon?"

Angela thought about this for a moment. "Well… no actually, now that you've mentioned it, not necessarily. That kind of thing is more found in Human libraries… and even then… their books are speculation about our different species more than anything."

"What are you wanting to study?" Broadway asked.

"I want to know as much about the Lady of the Lake before we go there tonight, and Excalibur." Brooklyn said. "Titania told us that a leader with a noble cause may obtain the sword, but we'll have to battle the Lady for it since we are neither Lord Oberon or King Arthur…" He paused and thought deeply for a moment. "I need to know what kind of fight to expect before taking her on."

"I don't know about a library or books telling you those things, but Titania also said that King Arthur is living here on Avalon again." Broadway piped up. "Who better to ask those things than him? Heck, he might even be willing to journey with us to Hel. He's a leader, a King, and a true warrior, like us."

Brooklyn's heart lightened slightly. "Yes…" he whispered. "Yes, of course! She did say that King Arthur was living here!" He then paused. "But… where? Where is he living?"

"Maybe Guardian Tom or Catherine might be able to tell us." Angela offered.

Brooklyn nodded, feeling hope for the first time since coming here, and quickly put his plan together.

"Okay. Here's what we'll do then. You two go ahead and join the Clan, find some food, check on your egg, feed Bronx, and whatever else you need to do. Okay? We'll reconvene back together in the south courtyard, where the Clan lives, in one hour. Then, we will go and find King Arthur together. Once we find him and get the information about the sword, and what we need to know to face the Lady of the Lake, then we'll go pay her a little visit."

"Cool, sounds like a plan to me." Broadway said, nodding. "But… where will you be for that hour?"

"I'll get some food as well, but I'm going to the library to study Hel's map." Brooklyn said. "I might even take a quick flight around Avalon, just to get an idea of it's layout. Find out where the lake is… and other landmarks; hideouts, caves, the volcano, and whatever else. I'll need to draw them out since it'll be mirrored to Hel."

"That's smart." Angela said softly. "Will you want company?"

"No thanks, I should be just fine." He replied with a smile. "Do you guys have your communicators on you still?"

Nodding, they both reached into their belts and pulled out the small radio devices brought from back home.

"Perfect." Brooklyn said, bringing his own out from a small pouch on his belt and placing it in his ear. "Keep them on you guys and we'll communicate if we need anything."

"Speaking of communicating… have you spoken to Goliath yet?" Angela asked.

"No. I haven't." He replied. "I was about to, but I have no idea if the mobile phone Xanatos gave us will work past the magical shields of Avalon and go into the mortal world, but I will try. You guys go on ahead and do whatever you need or want to do… I'll try to contact Goliath, and we'll meet in the courtyard in one hour."

Nodding again, both Angela and Broadway turned away from him, taking Bronx with them and walked towards the castle.

He watched them go and when he was alone again, he turned towards the horizon; glaring. Bringing out Rose's necklace from that same pouch, he held it gently in his palm and looked down upon the red jewel in between two silver angel wings and set his jaw firmly. Tears were threatening to fall again, but he refused to let them out. Clenching it in his fists tightly, he grabbed the large cell phone on his belt, turned it on, then dialed the one and only number that was saved. He hadn't much experience working with telephones, but he prayed that this worked.

When he dialed the number, the phone continued to ring, and ring, and ring; but no one was picking up. He listened to the silence and continued praying that this would work. But the phone kept ringing, and he wasn't sure if the cell phone would make it to the mortal world. Sighing out in frustration, he held the it up to his forehead, and closed his eye.

So much for technology and science in a world of magic, he grumbled in his mind and didn't know what to do now. Without the phone working, he didn't know how to communicate to Goliath without actually leaving Avalon, but that wasn't going to happen without finding and bringing Rose home first. Bringing the phone away from his ear, he almost clicked the button off, when a miracle happened.

Static, then- he finally heard his leader's deep voice from the receiver.

"Hello?"

Brooklyn jumped, gasped, and quickly brought the phone back up to his ear. "Hello? Goliath? It's Brooklyn… can you hear me?"

"Brooklyn!… I can barely hear you… but that's alright. I can't believe this works!" Goliath's voice said, but it was very difficult to hear. But the phone call worked, somehow, it made it through to the mortal world and though the connection was weak, it was a miracle in his mind.

"I know!" He gasped. "It's crazy! How is everything?"

"Too good to be true, I am afraid to admit." Goliath answered. "How are you? How are the others?"

"We are-" He began, but stopped.

What should he say? Good, fine, alive...? He wasn't any of those things, but Broadway, Angela and Bronx were. "They are good. We are all safe."

"And Rose?"

His leader's question stabbed him in the heart. "I... alive. I think... I hope." He sighed heavily. "I don't really know to be honest."

"Where are you guys?"

"Avalon still." Brooklyn replied. "You?"

"Still in Japan, with Clan Ishimura." Goliath replied. "It's been a week here, and about thirty warriors, including their leader, Kai, have said that they would help out. I'm about to leave to London to speak with the other Clans."

"Cool, I'm glad they are willing to help us fight." He said quickly, as the statick in the phone was getting worse with every passing second. "Uh, listen, I can barely hear you, Goliath, so I'll hurry and get this update across to you. Rose is still alive, I think, and in Hel, but she's in serious trouble. I've found a way into Hel by Queen Titania. There's a war meeting tomorrow night that Lord Oberon is having with all of his armies. Do you think you can retrieve more Gargoyle help by then? That should give you at least another week, your time, to do so."

There was silence on the other line, and for a mad moment, Brooklyn thought the call dropped, but then he heard Goliath's voice, as though he were nothing but the size of a beetle.

"We'll be there. That should give us enough time to gather more help. Are you all safe?"

"Yes." Brooklyn said. "Angela, Bronx and Broadway are all safe."

"Good, I'm glad you all are safe." Silence- then, "how are you holding up?"

His leader's question shook him almost to his core, then he felt gratitude. Incredible awe for his leader. In all of the chaos, he cared about everyone's safety, including his well-being.

"I'm alive…" He said dryly. "I think I will be okay again when I bring Rose home."

There was more silence between them, then Goliath's deep voice was heard, as if they were speaking through a long tube. As if it were his conscious telling him what to do, rather than him.

"Bring her home then, Brooklyn. Do what you must… we'll be there to help you soon."

"Thank you, and don't worry, Goliath. I will." He promised in a low voice.

"I'll see you all tomorrow night, your time, then."

"'Till tomorrow." Brooklyn agreed. "Be safe."

"You too."

There was a soft, click, and then the line went down. Brooklyn lowered the phone from his ear, turned it off, and then placed it back on his belt. When Xanatos gave him and Goliath the cell phone, it was a serious uncertainty that it would work- but now that he knew it did… even if it was hard to hear his leader- it brought him a little bit of comfort that he wasn't quite alone in this world.

Pocketing Rose's necklace, he took another deep breath, then walked out of the gardens towards the Castle. He was going to get in, get food, and then get away from everyone. His mind was reeling with Rose's voice, which seemed to be still echoing around his mind.

Her scream.

It was the most unnerving and terrifying sound, especially when he couldn't get to her and see for himself what was going on. She was in great pain, in grave danger, and instantly he thought about her safety and their unborn child. He needed to get to her. The need was physically pulling on his heart, and instantly, he had that much more focus and drive in getting his mate back. Nothing was going to get in his way until he had her and their child back, safely, in his arms.

That was a promise he was going to keep; never again to break.

Goliath hung up the cell phone, turned it off, and placed it back on his thick black belt. He had been curious when he would hear from Brooklyn, knowing they were in a different realm and a different time-plane, but he was amazed that the phone call actually worked. He doubted it, but man's technology and science was still very impressive to him. Sighing out heavily, he rested his claws against the edge of the bridge, in which he was standing, and began to think deeply; as he often found himself doing.

Looking around, they had been living with Clan Ishimura for a week in their beautiful village, and it had been nothing less than bliss for all of them. Last time he, Elisa, Bronx and Angela were here was on their Avalon World Journey, and they only had a night to get to know the Clan before they had to leave again, but the week spent here was nothing short of paradise.

Kai, the leader of the group and Akira's biological father, welcomed them with open arms. He was especially fond of Lexington and instantly approved of their mating. Bushido was still a practice between the Gargoyles and the Humans… and that's what made it so nice for everyone. They could walk amongst the humans, without worry that they would be scared, or attack them. There was a mutual respect so strong, it was heart-warming for Goliath to see and be immersed in.

Especially since his own mate was a Human. Elisa would often pull him close to her, unafraid to show his love and affection for her, and smell the soft whiffs of jasmine in her long black hair. They would stroll the streets under the waxing moon, and his heart would jump when she would whisper how much she loved him, and that they should live here when he stepped down as leader. When he essentially retired as Hudson was.

However, by the time he did that… in perhaps another thirty to forty years, Elisa's shorter human life would most likely be close to over. He tried not to think about the differences in their life-span, though it was often on both of their minds. They both decided to live each night in fullness and that their time spent together would be full of passion, adventure, and true love. Never to miss out on an opportunity with each other. Here, they were able to take a week in being with each other while the others enjoyed their own time. Being alone with her, as much as he was, was almost like a second Honeymoon for them. Bringing them closer together as a couple, and reiterating the deep feelings of love in which they've always had for each other.

Being in Ishimura, Japan, was incredible still and a place that neither he, Elisa, or even Hudson wanted to ever leave from. However, this week of bliss wasn't meant to be forever. They still had work to do… and work they've been working on. Xanatos had flown them with his personal jet and had been working on building weapons with his company, just south of Tokyo, the whole time. They were far north from there, but he said that he would return for them at the end of the week.

Now that it was the end of the week, they knew that one day and night had passed in Avalon since Brooklyn, Angela, Broadway and Bronx left- and their time to leave was at hand.

But he felt bad.

Hudson, Lexington and Akira were in bliss here, as was Elisa, and he wished he didn't have to tear them away from this place of paradise. Akira was especially happy. Happier than he had ever seen her…

She showed her comfort well enough in Manhattan, but being back with her rookery Clan- she shined a little bit brighter. With a stab of his heart, he didn't realize that she had been home-sick all this time that he's known her, and felt terrible ripping them away from this comfortable life and state of bliss that Clan Ishimura had with their humans. She and Lexington spent the entire week together, where she enthusiastically showed her mate every special place to her. And they were also in a Honeymoon phase with each other.

However, that time was almost soon up.

They all knew that the others would need their help. Kai, and the rest of the Clan, agreed to help- and thirty of their strongest warriors were coming to join their aid in Avalon. Xanatos ordered another jet to come and pick them up by tomorrow night, to be brought to the Castle in Manhattan, where there, they would use Titania's mirror to bring them into Avalon. The same would be for the London Clan, and the Mayans, if they chose to help in this aid of protecting the world, their homes, clans, and the Humans.

Placing his claw on the beautiful bridge he was standing on, he closed his eyes and listened to the peaceful sounds of the night. Letting this rare and peaceful moment stick with him a little while longer.

The cherry blossoms above him were swaying gently in the soft evening breeze, the small creek beneath him was flowing, and with his good hearing, he heard, in the far distance, that various people and the Gargoyles were talking with great amounts of amity with each other. It was heart-warming to hear. Further on, children were laughing while playing with some Gargoyle beasts. This place was what Goliath wished for his own Clan in their community of Manhattan. He hoped for it… though it was possible that it would never happen in his life-time.

But still, he wished for it to be their reality.

One day.

The small village of Ishimura was truly paradise. Last time they were here, they couldn't enjoy it as much as they would like as there was an important reason they were there and needed… but now… he could sit back and enjoy himself for a small moment. Or at least enjoy himself as much as he could. As leader, he rarely was able to relax. Though he had a wonderful time here, he often found himself thinking about the others in Avalon, and worried horrendously for them.

He trusted Brooklyn with all his heart to keep everyone safe, and he was a good leader. But more than that, his Second was smart, thoughtful, thorough, cunning, and strong. Brooklyn rarely let a battle get too far out of his control, as he was always one-step ahead of the fight. However, he did worry that the pressure and burden upon this particular fight, would be enough to crush him. That's why he had his daughter, Broadway and Bronx go with him.

Angela was back home in her own homeland and knew every inch of Avalon, but still, they were there to retrieve another member of his Clan, Rose, from Hel. Their journey was extremely dangerous. Brooklyn said, during their phone call, that his mate was in pain and grave danger… and that was something he didn't doubt. He worried greatly for Brooklyn and Rose's well-being, so much so, thinking about them made his own heart race. He prayed every night to the Gods that Rose was alive when Brooklyn found her… and prayed that Brooklyn didn't fall any deeper into the grief that he was holding inside of his damaged soul. Inside of his broken heart.

He hated thinking this way, but being older and wiser and knowing Brooklyn as well as he did, he worried that one night, when the weight became too great to bear, that his Second-in-Command's life would end. Brooklyn wasn't suicidal… but he also wouldn't put that kind of terrifying behavior behind him… especially when it came to how deeply in love, and involved he was with his mate, and soul-mate, Rose.

"There you are, big guy!" A soft female voice suddenly said behind him, making him start slightly. "I've been looking all over for you."

Turning around, he saw Elisa, who was dressed in a light blue silk kimono dress with beautiful pink cherry blossoms on it. She was walking over the small bridge towards him, smiling lovingly at him. Her long, straight, black and blue hued hair was blowing in the breeze, and her dark tan skin seemed to glow in the moonlight. The silk gown clung to her stunning curves perfectly and it took everything in him not to claim her and shed her of that silk, as they had done almost every night being here. Her beauty made him instantly smile warmly, and his heart pounded with every step she took towards him.

She was beautiful… stunning even, but not only that, she was strong, smart, and truly the most kind and selfless human he had ever met before in his entire life. He was the luckiest Gargoyle alive to have her as not only his best friend, but as his mate. Elisa crossed over the bridge, and when he opened his large arms and wings for her, she instantly came in and clung to his strong body. He loved the feeling of her soft, womanly curves against his hard chest. She was everything soft, but tough- and brought out the softness out of his rough edges.

Wrapping his arms and wings around her, he held onto her tightly and breathed in her beautiful scent. Seconds ticked by as they held each other tightly. When he was with her, time seemed to slow down and nothing mattered except the beautiful woman in his arms. After a moment, Elisa slowly looked up into his face; her honey-colored eyes piercing through his dark ones, and smiled with her pink lips. Her eyes told him how much she loved him, as did the heat in her body he often sensed from her.

Though they kept their intimate life more quiet, they both were creatures of great intimate passions and lived for moments of hot, sexual pleasures. That was another thing, his lioness of a mate, brought out from both of them. Gazing intently into his eyes, she slowly caressed her hands up his face, and in one swooping motion he crouched down, wrapped his arms under her backside and lifted her body up, so that their faces were inches from each other.

Elisa instantly wrapped her arms around his neck, combed her slender fingers through his long, dark brown coarse hair, tangling it in her fists, and then crushed her lips to his. With a deep growl, he held onto her tightly, being careful not to rip her clothes off right then and there. They kissed passionately, their hot breaths meeting with intensity as they both seized this moment as theirs.

Goliath opened his mouth to let her in, and with one hot breath, their tongues met. Everything about his mate drove him crazy. He was well-used to controlling his mating instincts by now, but with every touch and kiss from her he felt like he was just barely into adolescence and maturity. Back when hormones raged through a Gargoyle male in searching for a female to mate and create an egg with.

They continued to passionately kiss for a few minutes when Elisa suddenly released his lips, pulled away and offered him a small smile.

"Wh-?" He asked breathlessly. "Why did you stop?"

"Because you're distracted." She said with an adorably knowing grin.

"N-no, I'm not, I'm…" He began to say, but then stopped. There was no use in covering it up, she was the only one who seemed to see through him. She sometimes knew him better than he knew himself. Sighing heavily, he gently placed her back down on her feet, but kept her in his arms and clutched her hands in his. "Yes. I'm sorry, my love. I am."

"I know." Elisa said softly, kissing his bicep. "You've been at unrest for some time, Goliath. I can see that you've tried to relax, and being here has been… almost a vacation for you… but-"

"But we aren't here to vacation." He said heavily. "Gargoyles rarely do such things, nor do we abandon our protectorate." He then looked out to the horizon, still clutching her small, soft hands in his large rough claws.

"Talk to me, then." She whispered softly. "Tell me what's on your mind."

With this, he growled out a deep sigh. "Oh, Elisa… I miss Coldstone, Coldfire and the Castle. I miss Brooklyn, Angela, Broadway and Bronx… I miss… Rose." At her name, he hung his head down and turned away from Elisa now. "I miss our normal lives, Elisa… as normal as they once were. But more than that, I am in a constant state of unease and anxiety over Brooklyn's well-being, as well as Rose's."

"I know. I am too." She said gently, then rested her forearms down on the bridge. "Have you heard from Brooklyn yet?"

"I actually have. Just now." Goliath said, nodding. "The phone call worked."

She gasped, amazed. "It did? It worked even across realms?"

"Yes." He said softly. "The connection was choppy, but it was Brooklyn and I could hear him just well-enough to have validated our plan in rejoining them. That, and knowing that all of them are safe."

"Have they found Rose yet?" Elisa gasped out, but Goliath shook his head, looking distraught.

"No, she's still in Hel and is apparently… suffering… a great deal."

Elisa's eyes fell slightly, thinking deeply for a few seconds.

"How does Brooklyn know that?" She finally asked. "Has he spoken to her? Is their soul-connection working again?"

"I do not know." Goliath exhaled. "The connection was so weak that we kept our conversations simple and to the point. I do not know details, other than they are safe, we are going to meet them in another week, tomorrow night, their time for a war meeting. He said that he has a plan in getting Rose back… but… I could hear the despair in his voice. Things are bad and getting more desperate for him by her not being safe. I worry for his well-being if he does not find Rose soon, or if he finds her… and it's too late."

"Poor Brooklyn, and poor Rose." Elisa whispered, resting her head against his large bicep. "I can't imagine the pain they are both enduring."

"I can't either." He paused, then turned and looked over at her. "I... I have often thought about if this were you, Elisa. What I would do if you were taken away from me, to a place of great evil and suffering. And... the very thought is unfathomable."

"Well… luckily that's not the case." Elisa said, tucking a long strand of hair behind her ear. "We have to keep thinking positively for them. Their love is powerful… like ours is. We may not have such a connection to our souls as they do, but true love is still true love. He's doing what I know you or any of the other Gargoyles would do for their own mates. Or for each other."

Smiling sadly, he cupped her face in his claws and nodded, "Yes, and we shall." He then pulled her into an embrace, and combed his sharp claws gently through her long, dark hair. "I would claw my way through this entire world and all of Hel to get you back from any evil, Elisa. I've told you this before-" he pulled away, gazed deeply into her eyes and then leaned down to meet closer to her face. "I will always be there to catch you and I'll always be your protector."

"As I will always protect you." She whispered back, and with a smile from both of them, he pressed his lips down to her soft ones.

"I know."

Together, they clung to each other, kissing and passionately sharing this moment with each other, under the beautiful moon, stars, and cherry blossom trees. Slowly, heat spread between them, like it had every night, and there was no denying their feelings anymore. Nor allow this peaceful moment together be spent doing anything, accept sharing their love with each other.

Elisa gasped out impatiently, jumped up onto him and spread her legs across his hips, grasping onto his long hair once again- kissing and claiming every inch of his mouth. Every part of him was in a constant battle while being here. He wanted to give Elisa every part of himself, every moment, but he also couldn't stop thinking about his responsibilities to his Clan.

But that then went back to her; his mate, and his responsibilities to her. They have had to battle for moments like this back home, but here, it was whenever they wished. And by Gods above, he wanted to.

Spreading his long wings out suddenly, he jumped up onto one of the branches of the tree and took off into the night. Elisa giggled, but wrapped her arms around his neck, not needing to ask him where he was taking them. She already knew and was continuing to kiss him madly, moaning out against his lips; while pulling herself even closer to his rock-hard body.

After a ten minute flight out of the small village, they came to a deserted hill-side near the strong mountains, which overlooked the small village where they had come each night. Still kissing fiercely and madly, Goliath gently laid his mate down onto the soft, green grass and smiled as the moonlight shined in her brown eyes. It almost felt wrong to be selfish, to choose her and love her so tenderly, yet fiercely, when he had so many other things in his mind. However, the heat he felt from her in this moment, and the way she bit onto her soft, inviting lips, did him in.

Running his claw into her silky kimono outfit, and taking her bare breasts in his palm he marveled in how soft her silky skin was. It was so different to his own, yet so very similar. Elisa fumbled with the rest of the outfit and exposed her in nothing but underwear. Sliding his claws over them and her groin, making her groan out loudly, he took special care in lowering his weight to her body. Elisa was strong and together they have found a rhythm in how they could have intercourse with each other, but they still took it slow. Savoring every inch that was claimed between them.

Goliath found out very quickly upon first mating with Elisa, that while she was in an aroused state, she was just as fierce, if not more so, than a female Gargoyle. She was confident in her body, mind, and sexuality; and often expressed it while he watched in awe and let her take over their love-making. But not this night. He could sense her great desire for him, and thus, he would give his all to her.

Wrapping her arms and legs around his strong frame to bring him closer to her, they kissed passionately, slowly undressing each other and kept up their nightly tradition of making love under the bright moonlight. With shared breaths, every touch of their bodies, and every kiss and stroke of their tongues… they promised to always love and protect each other. When they became one, and he was pulsing himself in and out of her slick, hot center, with her crying out his name in gasp-like breaths, that promise of love and protection for each other was forever cemented into their hearts and souls.

No matter what horrors awaited them when they left this place.