It was near sunset when Elisa went to visit Castle Wyvern. As she entered the lobby of the Eerie building, the security guard stood from behind his desk in center of the room. He smiled and nodded as she walked by. No words were needed. She knew her place as he knew his. She was welcomed at the building no matter the time. She entered the elevators and received her silent ascend up to the top of the building which came to the lobby of the Castle Wyvern. The lobby was once the Dinning hall for the inhabitants of the castle.
Upon her arrival, Owen waited. When she stepped off the elevator, Owen silently escorted her to the top of the parapets of the castle. It was a tradition the two of them shared. When they reached the tallest tower, Elisa broke silence.
"You know you don't have to escort me here every time I come."
"I know," Owen answered. "But you know yourself, habits are hard to break."
"A habit you got into since you began your life as Owen Burnet. I know you are really the prankster Puck."
Owen turned to her. "So you know my true identity? When did you learn this?"
"Since the Gargoyles came back to the castle. So what's it like having to be trapped in a human form?"
"Frankly Detective, it's annoying. But you do know that I'm not completely grounded to human."
"I know that all to well. I've been told that you are the guardian to Alexander and if his life is in danger, you will once again be able to be your true self. I guess you shouldn't have ignored the call of the Gathering."
"How do you know about that?" he snapped.
Elisa smiled. "Did I strike a nerve?"
Owen straightened his back and pushed up his glasses. "No."
Elisa turned from Owen. "Don't you have more important things to do?"
"Good day, Detective." Owen turned and walked back into the castle.
"Finally, alone," she said to herself. "She looked up to the stone statue of her husband to be. "We have much to talk about big guy."
Elisa leaned over the side to watch the sun go down. She found it so peaceful being so high up. She could barely here the constant sirens below and the best part was, she could not hear the sounds of tires squealing across the pavement or busy cars passing by the building. It was complete bliss.
Her bliss of quiet was cut off when she heard cracking. She looked up to see the sun was now completely down and the Gargoyles were waking from their stone sleep. She stood back until all stone shards were no longer flying in all directions.
She walked over to the large lavender Gargoyle. "Hey big guy."
The Gargoyle in question turned and quickly had a brood smile. "Elisa, I've missed you."
He quickly got off his perch and grabbed the small woman, clasping her close to his warm body. One would think after being stone for several hours that a Gargoyle body would be chilled but they weren't. They were as warm as the afternoon sun in the summer.
"I'm sure you have," she responded as she was placed back on her feet.
"What brings you up here?"
"Can't I visit my husband to be?"
Goliath laughed. "Of course you can but shouldn't you be home getting some rest."
"I'm not too worried, I have tomorrow. The week is now over, so now I can go back on my normal shift. So I have tomorrow off and then back to busting cases at night."
"It will be nice. It's been lonely without you there at night. Matt is a good unofficial partner but he is not as good as one woman I know."
Elisa smiled, "Well I'm back with the good action."
"Let's say hi to the others." Goliath grasped her hand, linking with his arm before venturing into the castle. When they reached the dining room, the rest of the Gargoyles were seating down to breakfast.
"Guess who has come to see us," Goliath announced as he walked in.
"Elisa!" Angela exclaimed. "We haven't seen you much. We've missed you during our patrols."
"I've heard. Today was my last day on day shift so I have tomorrow off to rest up, then it will be back to business as usual."
"That's great," Brooklyn cheered. "Got time for breakfast?"
"Sure why not," Elisa agreed. "What are you cooking?"
"We're having something different this time. Earlier today Xanatos had a big dinner prepared and there's lots left for us," Broadway smiled.
Elisa chuckled. "Turkey with all the trimmings?"
"It's duck," Owen answered as he walked in. "Will you be staying for dinner Detective Maza?"
"Yes. I haven't had duck in years."
"Well let's eat," Broadway announced.
After breakfast was over with, Goliath set up the patrol units and they went on their way. Angela and Brooklyn took the east end while Broadway and Lexington went west end. Hudson was going to help Matt patrol. When it was just Goliath and Elisa, they took a peaceful stroll around the castle.
When they reach the library, Goliath's favorite room, Elisa decided it was time for the two to have a discussing about the upcoming wedding. "Goliath, we need to discuss plans."
"I agree. While the others on patrol, there will be no one to bother us. What did you want to talk about?"
"Well for one what do…what did your clan do when you'd take a mate?"
"You mean was there any sort of ceremony or ritual? Yes. It was just an exchange of tokens of sort. Demona and I were the ones who started it. It was when Princess Katherine's parents married. We watched from the windows of the chapel and thought it was nice seeing an exchange of rings. Demona and I did the same and then encouraged others to as well."
"Wasn't that when Hudson was leading the clan?"
"Yes. Why do you ask about rituals?"
"I wanted to know so I can keep in mind of the Gargoyle way."
"Elisa, my love, if you want a real human wedding, with a white dress and trimmings, by all means plan one. Just don't expect me to where a tuxedo."
Elisa outright laughed. "It would really hard to make one to fit around your tail."
Goliath also laughed.
"Excuse me," Owen announced himself. "But there are couple visitors who wish to see Detective Maza."
"Who would want to see me?" Elisa asked. No sooner were the words out when she gasped to see her mom and dad.
"What a pleasant surprise," Goliath answered. "Welcome to Castle Wyvern."
"Thank you, Goliath," Peter said. "This is a big castle for being on top of a skyscraper."
"This castle is actually over 1000 years old?" Diane asked.
"Yes. My clan shared this castle with the humans who lived here."
"What happened to your clan?" Diane asked.
"They were killed during the day by Vikings who took the Captain of the Guards as their ally. The Captain tried to protect my kind but he couldn't. He just wanted to scare the people who lived in the castle. Of course Demona also played a part in it as well."
"Demona, she is mother of your daughter, Angela?" Peter asked.
"Yes. But wounds are starting to heal with Demona. If it weren't for Angela, the wounds would forever be opened."
"That's sad," Diane answered as she took a seat on a half rounded sofa. Goliath and Elisa sat at one end while her parents sat in the other. "What about the people who lived here?"
"Before they left, the Magus thought the Princess was killed so he turned the surviving clan to stone. I asked to be turned to stone and asked her to take of the eggs that were soon to hatch. After the massacre, Princess Katherine took her people to her Uncle's castle. She took care of the eggs like they were her own."
"And Princess Katherine is still alive after all these centuries. How has she survived?"
"Mom, we met Princess Katherine on a mystical island called Avalon. When we were there, she told us the story of how her Uncle was murdered and she ended up being forced to marry the murderer. On the eve of her wedding, she, the Magus, a little boy and the unhatched eggs, left the castle. The Magus used one last spell from The Grimnorum Achinorum, which took them to Avalon. And the reason why she's still alive is for one day here it's only one hour there."
"I see." Diane decided to stop with her twenty questions. "Dear, your father and I have had a long talk and we decided that if we can accept Derek for who he has become, we can accept you marrying Goliath."
"You mean that?" Elisa smiled. She stood and walked over to her parents. She first hugged her mom then her dad.
"Elisa," Peter said. "We're happy for both of you and would be proud to be at your wedding. And I'll be there to walk you down the isle. That is if there will be isle to walk down."
"That is just what Elisa and I were discussing when you arrived. If Elisa wants a traditional human custom wedding, then she'll have one."
"Have you guys planned anything else?" Diane rushed out. She was now getting excited. This would be the first wedding in the Maza family.
"Slow down, Mom," Elisa chuckled. "We haven't even gotten that far yet. Besides Goliath and I would like to have a long engagement so things can settle down."
"That's understandable," Peter agreed. "With all those Anti-Gargoyles and the fact that the Mayor has made them official citizens of New York."
"Even if you are going to have a long engagement, you should start thinking about the plans. Like are you going to hire a wedding planner? Who will be bridesmaids? Are you planning on bridesmaids? Who will cater? When should the wedding be? How many guests will there be? Should it be a theme? Of course it will be after dark…"
"Diane," Peter butted in. "Slow down. Elisa hasn't had time to even discuss things with her fiancé. You must at least allow her to have some time to talk about it before you go parading in on their parade."
Diane looked at her husband then to Elisa who was now sitting beside her. "Sorry, dear. I just got a little head of myself. This will be the first wedding for one of my children and hopefully not the last. And I want everything to be perfect."
"Mom," Elisa smiled. "I would be happy if I just get married by justice of the peace but I'm not planning that. And to answer some of your questions, I'm not going to hire a wedding planner. It will be a small wedding with close friends. I'll get the cook here in the castle to cater. And the rest I can't tell you, yet."
"Elisa, why don't you show your parents around the castle," Goliath suggested. "I'm going to head out and help Hudson and Matt patrol."
"You sure you don't mind," Elisa said.
"Why would I mind? This is your parents first time here and it's advisable for you're to give the grand tour. You could also let them know what certain rooms used to be."
"Ok. Mom, Dad, if you follow me." Elisa walked out with her parents in tow.
It took Elisa a little over three hours to give her parents the tour. She started from the courtyard of the castle grounds and worked her way up to the tallest tower. When her parents had a view of the city from the parapets, they were amazed.
"Elisa, this is amazing," Diane breathed.
"I know. It's one of my favorite spots. Well besides this is Goliath's normal perch. But the view is lovely and it's quieter up here. Not even a park is this quiet. The only thing that's missing up here is the sound of birds."
"But this is one way to get away from the noise of the city," Peter said.
"Where do the other Gargoyles perch?" Diane asked.
"Sometimes they are up here with Goliath, sometimes Goliath will go down to the next level, which is where the others mostly sleep. Once in a while, they'll perch on other walls but not often. It still brings back too many memories of when they lived a thousand years ago."
"It takes a long time for wounds to heal, and sometimes they never heal," Peter said. "I speak from experience."
"Everyone does things they regret," a voice responded high in the air.
Elisa looked up to see the one female Gargoyle who caused Goliath pain. "Demona. What brings you here tonight?"
"To see if Angela was here or is she on patrol?"
"She's with Brooklyn. They should be back soon. They usually skim across the city, come back and then head out again to do a more thorough patrol," Elisa answered.
"I'll wait for her in the courtyard." Demona then landed on the ground.
"Demona meet my parents, Diane and Peter Maza. Mom, Dad, this is Demona."
"We're told you're on a long road to heal," Peter said cautiously.
Demona snorted.
"Demona," Elisa warned. But turned to her parents. "She's not very comfortable around humans."
Demona turned. "I'll be in the courtyard." She quickly swung her wings out and leaped off the building, gliding down to the low level of the castle.
"Sorry about that," Elisa apologized.
"She doesn't seem to be very nice," Peter crossed his arms.
"Yeah but she's trying. If she doesn't, she'll lose her daughter forever and that's something she doesn't want."
"I can see her point," Diane said. "It was real hard to cope with Derek's new…life but we adjusted."
"That was an adjustment for everyone," Elisa said. "So how's Beth?"
"Beth is doing fine," Peter said. "She's coming home for a visit. She'll be arriving by plane tomorrow. And yes she knows about your engagement."
While Demona waited in the courtyard for her daughter, she watched Elisa talk to her parents. It angered her to learn that strange humans knew of her betrayal and greed. But at least they didn't condemn her. Demona didn't have to wait long before Angela and Brooklyn arrived back.
"Mother!" Angela yelled as she came out of the sky.
"Angela," Demona smiled. "How are you?"
"Fine. Brooklyn and I just returned from our short patrol."
"I was told," Demona said. "The Detective's parents are here."
"I've always wanted to see them again."
"I'm going to talk to Elisa," Brooklyn said. He quickly turned and walked away. Though there was a truce between the clan and Demona, his grudge towards the Gargoyle would never change. She used him to get to Goliath and he wasn't sure if he'd ever forgive her.
Angela looked at her mother, "It will take a long time. He's never really told me what you did that angered him."
"It's nothing worth mentioning. I hurt him and I'd like to leave it at that. If he wants to tell you, he will. The whole clan knows."
"I know, and sometimes it's nerve wracking. They know what happened but they won't tell me all that has happened since their time of waking. Especially when the events evolve around you."
"For a long time, I blamed Elisa Maza for turning Goliath against me but it was actually me."
"Mother, as much as I want to visit with you, I can't. Brooklyn and I have to head back out again. We just came back to get a couple things then head back out again."
"Elisa said you skim across the city first then go back and do the patrol again."
"Yeah, it was something that Goliath wanted."
"Well you better get going," Demona opened her arms, which Angela quickly walked into them. "Ask Goliath if you can take tomorrow night off. I'd like to spend some time with you."
"I'll see what I can do." Angela moved away from her mother and she watched as Demona walked away.
She walked over to where the gates to the Castle. She half turned. "Shut the door behind me. Before I lost my alliance with Xanatos, he had the doors unsealed so I may be able to leave without having to climb walls."
Demona pulled the lock off the door and swung the doors opened with a huge creek. Something Demona would fix. In the days when the castle was on the ground, the Gargoyles had no reason to exit the castle from the doors, but since the castle was so high up, it was just as easy to go through the doors as it was to just climb the walls.
Angela walked to the doors and closed them when Demona was out of sight. She then went into the castle to find Brooklyn. She easily found Brooklyn with Elisa and her parents.
"Hey Elisa," Angela called.
"Demona gone?" Brooklyn asked.
"Yes. So you met Elisa's parents?"
"Yup. Goliath isn't here he went off with Matt and Hudson. I just reached him with the radio and he knows our situation."
"Good let's get back out there."
"Angela," Elisa said. "Could I have a moment with you."
"Sure."
Elisa and the female Gargoyle walked into the next room. When they were out of hearing shot of her parents, Elisa spoke.
"I don't know when the wedding will be but I was wondering if you would like to be part of the wedding party?"
"What's a wedding party?"
"You know the movie we watched a while back, 'Runaway Bride' and with one of the weddings that didn't happen, she had a few girls to stand beside her?"
"Yeah. I thought that movie was neat, it really showed me some strange points about humans."
"Well those girls are classified as part of the wedding party."
"You're asking me to stand up with you when you marry father?" She watched Elisa smile. She smiled too. "I'd love to."
"Good. Well you better get Brooklyn and go. Tell Goliath that I'm heading for home. I'm leaving with my parents."
"Ok. See you tomorrow night. That is if you're coming."
"I know you probably will ask Goliath if you can have tomorrow off to spend some time with Demona. But before you go with her, you'll see me."
Angela walked back into the lobby with Elisa in tow. When the two Gargoyles left, Elisa silently escorted her parents to the elevators where Owen was waiting.
"Good night," Owen answered.
"Well this is a slow night," Matt said.
"Every time you say that, you get a call," Goliath said through the radio.
Matt chuckled. "So is Elisa back."
"Yes, she has tomorrow night off and then it will be back to business."
"I hate it when the captain separates us. We make a good team with you guys of course. Any Wedding plans?"
"Beginnings of plans. We didn't get far as her parents arrived. So I decided to help you out. Wait!"
"What is it?" Matt rushed out.
"I see a woman being chased by a couple guys, if you ask me…"
"Rapists," Matt finished. "Let's move."
Goliath and Hudson picked up their speed. They predicted where the lady was heading and quickly landed on the ground. They weren't waiting long before the girl came running down an alleyway. They stood in darkened corner.
"Somebody help me!" she screamed. She abruptly stopped running just before running into a large Gargoyle.
"Don't hurt me," she trembled.
"I'm not here to hurt you."
"There you are bitch," one of the two men grinned.
"All we want is a little fun. We won't hurt you, unless you force us too."
"Ye will not be hurting anyone," Hudson said from the shadows beside the woman.
"Who said that!" the second growled.
"We did." Goliath stepped out followed by Hudson.
The two men suddenly trembled in fear. "Oh shit," the first said. They started to back up.
"Ye know ye won't get far, so why don't ye surrender." Hudson brought out his sword to emphasis his meaning.
They turned in time only see two cops standing behind him with the guns raised.
"Freeze!" Matt yelled. "You're under arrest."
Goliath walked towards the men. He grabbed them by the scruff of the their jackets so they wouldn't get away. "That was easy," Goliath smiled.
"Thanks," the girl said. She grasped her long brown hair and pulled it into a ponytail with an elastic that was on her wrist.
When the cops had the men in custody, Goliath turned to the girl. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, just a little shaken," she said. "You do help people."
"We have been for a couple years now," Hudson answered.
"Miss," Matt interrupted. "If you would please follow me downtown so we can take a statement of this action."
The girl nodded.
"If it's all right," Goliath suggested. "I can take the girl to the police station."
The girl's eyes sparkled. "I'd love to. I always wanted to know what it would be like to fly."
Goliath grasped her arms and began to climb the nearest wall. Hudson wasn't long in following him. When they were high enough and knew the air currents were strong, they jumped off the wall. The girl gave a slight gasped.
"Don't worry, I won't drop you."
"I trust you. It's just that it startled me is all."
"I've had that reaction a few times. Tell what is your name?"
"Lilly. I'm from Canada. But I'm been living here in the city for the past six years."
"Well Lilly, I'm called Goliath, leader of the Gargoyles."
"So you're the leader. At least the papers aren't lying about your stature. Are you the biggest?"
"Yes. For someone who was almost a victim, ye are calm."
"I've been a victim before," Lilly said sadly. "And I will not allow it to run my life. I'm just glad you were in the neighborhood when you were. So what is your name?"
"They call me Hudson."
"When you have given the police your statement, would you like a lift home?" Goliath asked.
"You wouldn't mind?"
"No. Gargoyles are there to protect."
"And that is a very good tradition. When I was little, I used to love reading up on, what I thought was mystical Gargoyles. When I moved out on my own, I used to collect Gargoyle figurines but my ex-boyfriend, destroyed them all when I went to visit my parents for a weekend."
"Was he the possessive type?" Hudson asked.
"Too possessive. He always wanted to know what I was doing, where I was going and who I hung out with. Some of those figurines I really liked."
"I'm glad you got away from him. I may have only been here for three years, but I've seen much."
"Well we're at the police station. I'm going to land now."
"Ok." Lilly watched closely as Hudson landed on the roof while Goliath landed. She watched how he glided down and when he neared the ground, he curled his legs in for landing. His wings flapped a little, barely disturbing anything on the ground. She was able to feel the muscles move while he landed. When he was on the ground, he bent down to allow Lilly off his back.
"Thanks."
Goliath bowed. "I'm glad to be of service to my lady. I'll be on the roof with Hudson. Detective Bluestone knows me so when your statement is complete, he can escort you to the roof."
Lilly smiled. "Thanks again."
Goliath watched the woman walk into the station. When she was gone, he made his way up to the roof to wait for her.