MANHATTAN, NY
Once at the condo, Skyler disarmed the alarm system, and the group split.
Skyler hurried to the front door and waved at the security camera there, hoping that Wing members were watching so that they'd know something was wrong.
Puck took Alex by the hand and ran into the spacious bathroom to use the mirror there.
Lei-Ji took over Nayeli's care, talking to the girl in soothing tones and coaxing a small smile out of her with the promise of cookies.
Skyler knew that Elisa would probably not thank her for giving the girl a lot of sugar this late at night, but figured that they could be forgiven.
"What has happened?" Michael finally broke down and asked.
Skyler shook her head. "I can only tell you what I heard," she said, but I'm not entirely sure what's going on, myself. Something about the previous queen of the Fae being here, and…"
Michael's body gave a small jerk in surprise. He had been raised on Avalon and had heard the stories. "You mean, queen Ma…"
"Don't," Puck snapped out, his voice coming from the bathroom. "Don't say her name. It will get her attention faster than our using power to call for Oberon and Titania."
Michael clenched his jaw shut.
"I believe I know who you are speaking of," Lei-Ji said softly, Nayeli happily digging into a bag of chocolate sandwich cookies.
"Okay," Skyler said, huffing out a breath. "I have no idea, so I'll try to follow along without you mentioning names, but first," she said, picking up the phone, "I need to call Elisa."
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Elisa answered on the second ring, as the "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison customized ringtone that Lex had programmed in for the condo began playing. Normally, when she was this deep into the thick of things, she'd opt to call back as soon as she was free…but no one was supposed to be at the condo tonight.
Elisa hit the button to answer the call, and gave an abrupt, "What's wrong?"
"Elisa," Skyler's voice came through. "Thank God." And with that, she gave as short a version as she could, but that hadn't been hard since she didn't know a lot to begin with.
"Stay there," Elisa demanded. "I have most of the Manhattan clan here. I'll send some to you, and some to the castle. Who all is with you now?"
"Michael, Lei-Ji, Griff and Jade on the Gargoyle's side," Skyler said. "Nayeli, Puck and Christopher are here with me. Liam, Christopher and the twins are still at the castle," she admitted. "I tried to alert the Wing and the rest of the gargoyles there to something coming before I left."
"Good. Stay there," Elisa said firmly, and disconnected the call. She looked up and waved her arm at the clan to get their attention. "Guys," She called out.
As a group, they reacted to the tone of her voice and hurried towards her.
"Trouble," she said. "Sounds like Fae trouble. Skyler, Nayeli and a few others are at the condo," she said to Goliath. "But everyone else is still at the castle, and Puck thinks that whatever is coming is there. I need you guys to split up, some to both places." She looked at Goliath, her expression showing her struggle. "Nayeli has Skyler, a few Gargoyles, and the Wing members there," she said softly. "Liam is at the castle with the other kids. I don't…" She ran her hand roughly through her hair, closed her eyes and tried to fight the panic. Both of her children were possibly in danger, and they were in two different locations. "Okay," she said. "They think the trouble is going to the castle, Goliath, so you go there. I'm closer to home anyway, so I'll grab Matt, get away from this mess, and go to the condo."
Goliath nodded. "Angela and Broadway, come with me," he said gruffly. "Brooklyn and Hudson, you go with Elisa."
"No," Elisa said. Turning to Brooklyn and Hudson. "Go ahead without me. I will be there as soon as I can, but you'll be there faster without waiting on me. Go!"
She shouted the last word as she turned and ran back towards the police in search of Matt.