Elisa wasn't proud of herself, but after she'd gotten off of work, she'd swung by the local all-night convenience gas and convenience store and picked up a couple of their cheap pizzas.
She tried hard to make sure that her kids ate right, but honestly she was so damn tired after her shift tonight and knowing that she would be returning to the castle mid-crisis, the pizzas would hopefully be a calming treat for the kids. She even picked up enough for the twins, and a back-up in case the Xanatos kids were there.
And then a spare for her, because she hadn't stopped to eat during her shift.
Carrying the six, steaming pizzas up the elevator and to the castle levels, as the elevator doors opened, she was greeted by Wing members.
"Oh, jeeze," Elisa huffed. "Before I submit to the inquisition, guys, could someone take these before I drop them?"
No one moved.
"Seriously guys," Elisa ground out, "The heat from these things feels like it's burning my arm. A little help, please?"
"How did we meet?" a voice called out.
Elisa heaved a sigh that came straight from the depths of her irritated soul. "Do you mean, 'how did we meet face to face', or 'how did we meet as you were covered head to toe and attempting to kidnap Nayeli and I'?"
There was a shifting in the crowd as three of the Wing members hurried forward to take the pizzas from her arms.
"Gee, thanks guys," Elisa said, rubbing at her arms.
"Sorry, Hope Bringer," the unknown man said, bowing deep in a deference that made Elisa grit her teeth. "I really wish you guys would stop that," she said, unable to hide the irritation in her voice. "My name is Elisa. Call me that or Maza, but stop with the Hope Bringer stuff."
She looked around at a group of startled eyes, as that's all she could see above the masks that they all wore on their lower faces.
"Ungh," Elisa said, rubbing her hands over her face.
"Sorry, Elisa," Shen said, pulling his mask down so that she could see his face. "But some of us have grown up with the idea that you were to be addressed only by the title that befits your position as the mother of the Promised One. It will take us a little time to readjust."
Elisa sent him a withering look. "Where is everyone?"
"The clan are still in the children's play room," Shen said. "The children are in the flight training room."
Elisa frowned. "Are they planning to stay there until sunrise?"
Shen shook his head, gathering the pizzas from the man who had taken them from Elisa. "I do not know," he said. He said something in his native Chinese in a firm tone, and the others once again took up a post outside of the elevators. "I have these members guarding the elevators, should he try to come up this way," he said, walking beside Elisa as they made their way to the playrooms. "The rest are patrolling the hallways. Everyone will be in pairs, so that any single member seen will be suspect."
Elisa nodded her head. "That's a good idea. As far as I know, Proteus can only change into one living thing at a time."
"Your friend Taurus told us that that was the case," Shen said. "If the clan needs to leave that room for any reason, they too shall go in pairs. That should help us to ensure everyone's safety."
"And identity," Elisa added.
"Exactly."
Elisa sighed. "The clan has to be hating this," she said, running a hand through her hair. "They're not used to being held indoors."
"They are getting a bit restless," Shen admitted. "I am hoping that having you here will be a calming influence."
Elisa almost laughed out loud. "Me? A calming influence? Shen," she said, patting him on the shoulder, "Poor delusional Shen. We really need to hang out more if you think I'm a calming influence. I'm telling you right now that Nayeli did not get her ability from me."
"We must agree to disagree," the man said, coming to a halt at the door. He passed Elisa the pizzas and palmed the reader to get the door unlocked, then held the door open for Elisa to go through.
Elisa moved inside and realized that everyone except the Wing members were, indeed, inside the playroom. She'd once thought the room to be borderline cavernous, with its large and open floors. There were a few short walls separating a couple of the corners for things like televisions for movies and one that held every gaming system known to man. Recently, the Xanatoses had a few improvements made. They had not only soundproofed the door and upped the security with the palm scanner, they had a door built into the back corner that led into what had once been the adult gymnasium to create the kids' indoor training gym.
Now that the entirety of the Gargoyle population as well as a few humans were inside it, Elisa felt claustrophobic just walking into the room.
With a quick glance, Elisa took in the sight. Small clusters of gargoyles had formed, conversations seeming to range from the serious to the animated, judging by the facial expressions and gestures.
Broadway and Angela seemed to be having a rather intense conversation between the two of them in the farthest corner, and considering the look they were getting from Demona, Elisa could guess that she was the cause.
Demona, standing by herself, seemed to have taken up a post outside of the gym room where Shen had told her that the children were.
Taurus was standing by himself as well, leaning against a wall and looking bored. Being stuck in here must be killing him, Elisa thought. Honestly, she was surprised that he was still there. She thought he would have insisted on patrolling the castle with the Wing members.
The rest of the room's occupants seemed to be spread out and talking quietly in groups, with the exception of Goliath.
He, in the spirit of being a leader and protecting everyone who he saw as being under his care, had taken up a solo sentry position beside the door. He had been standing so close to the door, that Elisa had almost bumped him with the pizza boxes as she made her way inside.
"Hey Big Guy," Elisa said, her vision partially obscured by the stack of boxes. "Would you mind…"
Goliath was already scooping the boxes out of her hands before she could finish.
"Thanks," Elisa blew out, shaking her arms out. "I brought pizza for the kids. I should have asked if you all had eaten yet."
"Do not worry about us, Elisa," Goliath said. "But I think the children would greatly appreciate the pizza."
"I hope so," Elisa replied, her eyes taking in the room. "How are you all doing?"
"As well as can be expected," He sighed. "The Wing members have promised to tell us when the castle has been cleared, and we will be able to move about again."
Elisa frowned. "They're still checking the castle?"
"Hey, it's a lot of castle," Brooklyn said, moving to stand near the couple.
"Fair point," Elisa said. "Are the Xanatoses still here?"
"No," Brooklyn said. "They all left a few minutes ago, and are going to stay in their private rooms with their boys so they can help keep watch with the cameras."
"Well," Elisa picked up the top pizza boxes off the stack that Goliath held, "That leaves me with an extra pair of pepperoni pizzas if you want…"
Like magic, the pizza in her hands disappeared, and Brooklyn hurried towards the others.
"Alright," Elisa blinked in surprise then continued to drawl out slowly. "I'm guessing they were hungry."
"Maybe so," Goliath frowned.
"I should have called ahead," Elisa apologized. "Maybe I could have picked up a few more extra…"
"No," Goliath shook his head. "We were able to eat earlier, so do not worry about us, Elisa. The young ones," he nodded his head in the direction of the youngest clan and council members, "Never seem to have enough to eat."
"Well, if there's any left after Nayeli and Liam have at these, I'll make sure to bring them out," Elisa promised.
Goliath nodded, carrying the pizzas for Elisa as they made their way through the room and to the door of the gym.
Elisa and Goliath didn't speak on the trek through, moving with the ease and comfort of a couple who had been together for long enough that conversation wasn't necessary in times like these. Elisa caught sight of Taurus, standing near a group of the council members and saw the frowning look that he sent in their direction.
"Uh, oh," Elisa thought. Knowing Taurus's feelings towards humans, and having been on the receiving end of it once before, she had a feeling that he had caught on, at least in part, to her and Goliath's relationship.
Great. Just what they needed right now.
Elisa averted her eyes, and focused on not tripping on anyone on the way. Goliath stopped her at the door, near where Demona was standing guard, and in a quiet tone told her about Nayeli and how she had been acting.
Elisa frowned.
"How long ago did this start?" Elisa asked.
Goliath shook his head. "I do not know," he admitted. "But Liam was with her when she began acting oddly."
"I'll talk to both of them," Elisa promised. "and try to figure out what's going on."
"The twins were there too," Demona tossed their way. "They may know something as well."
Elisa blinked at Demona in complete shock. "Did you just speak to me without threatening me?" she asked.
"Don't push me, human," she snarled.
"There we go," Elisa said with an exaggerated sigh of relief. "Had me worried for a moment there."
"Elisa," Goliath murmured in warning.
"I can always do more than threaten," Demona said, the beginnings of a smile crossing her face.
"Demona," Goliath snapped.
"Fine," the two females snapped back at him.
Goliath fought the urge to roll his eyes like a hatchling, but instead reached forward to open the door. He held the pizzas out to Elisa and gave her a gentle push through the door.
Once the door was shut, he watched as Demona's shoulders relaxed just enough to be noticeable.
He noticed, and wondered what she was doing. He gave a mental shrug and made his way back to the doors to stand guard.
He moved so that he was in a position to watch over the room as a whole. Something had made his daughter react oddly, and if it was due to someone in this room, he wanted to keep an eye out for trouble.
The only thing that he could think of was that it was Taurus, as he was the only stranger here.
He would be keeping an eye on him as well…