Hello everyone!
As you've probably noticed, I have new thumbnail image for this story! I got it commissioned from Mike-O [ PUPPERCASE] on Twitter; he's a cool guy and a great artist, so you should definitely check him out! He's been doing a few commissions for me, with this being the most recent one. It features Elijah Robbins, as well as the NYC skyline at night [not to mention a few gargoyles!]. I wanted a real cover page for this story, one that perfectly captured what it was about, and Mike did a fantastic job bringing our protagonist [or at this point, shall I say antagonist] to life! I hope you all like it!
And now, without further delay, here's Part Three of the 'Longest Night' storyline, AND the thirtieth chapter of this story!
Enjoy!
Most conversations will go like this: This is Mab talking/possessed Elijah, and this is Japanese. Italics and other bolded words in sentences are for emphasis.
The Longest Night - Part Three
Hudson POV:
8:59 PM
"So we have no way contactin' Xanatos or the others, and we may or may not have an unknown enemy after us," Dingo said, standing near the living room fireplace with a frown on his face. "I swear, after this mission's done, I'm quittin' the Squad."
"Ye say that every time," Hunter replied, rolling her eyes a little, frowning at him. "And ye always stay. Act professional fer once!"
"I'll show ya professional," the Australian muttered.
"We have more pressing matters," Hudson said, crossing his arms as he gave them each a disapproving look.
The group was gathered in Robbins' library, all the curtains and blinds in the house shut tight, trying to think of what to do next. They had no way of contacting Xanatos or the others, and since they had no idea what was going on with the theatre in New York City, they had decided to stay inside until further notice. Matrix had split himself into several humanoid figures, with all except one patrolling the rest of the house and the outside perimeter for any potential danger. However, with no plan of action or word from the other group, they were starting to get a little impatient.
"I don't like it," Broadway sulked from the couch, looking at the nearby window. "Stuck inside with nothing to do, and no idea what's happening with Angela or the others." Bronx growled a little in reply, laying next to Gilly on the carpet.
"Not much we can do but hope that the others are alright," Jeffrey spoke up, sitting in his regular armchair. While he sounded calm, one could tell by the somber expression on his face, and the way he gripped his cane in his hands, that he was worried about Elijah. "We've all been in difficult situations before, and I trust that whatever Goliath's group is doing, that everything will turn out well in the end."
"I hope so," Hudson replied, sitting down in his armchair adjacent to the author's. "Though I have te agree with Broadway; being cooped up in here has not exactly been easy."
"Again, there's not much we can do," Macbeth said, examining the various volumes and books the library had to offer. "Until we get word from Xanatos or the others-"
"Like that's gonna happen anytime soon," Dingo interjected. "The phone's not workin' for whatever reason, whether it be magic or some techno-bullshit, and if we leave, we might get ambushed or walk right into a trap back in Manhattan!"
"Then maybe we should leave," Lex said, crouched on the back of the couch. "Sitting here isn't helping anyone, and there's no guarantee that Jeffrey is in any danger here; in fact, if the others aren't answering, it probably means they went after Elijah instead." He winced, briefly glancing at the blind author before continuing. "I say we go, since doing something is better than doing nothing!"
"Finally, someone gets it," the Australian said, grinning at the smallest gargoyle. "Matrix, go get your buddies."
WILL DO, the AI replied, quickly leaving the room.
"No way," Hunter snapped, walking over to Dingo. "We're staying here until we have a course of action!"
"Sheilah, we're gonna be as old as them by the time we come up with a plan," the man retorted, pointing to Hudson and Macbeth.
"I'm still spry enough to kick your arse," the Scottish man said.
"I second that," Hudson added.
"None of that," Robbins spoke up. "The last thing we need is-"
His sentence was cut off as the phone suddenly rang, startling everyone. The group turned to look at the phone, seeing the blinking light as the shrill noise echoed rang through the room again. Everyone was on edge, wondering why the phone was suddenly working. Hunter moved to answer it, but Macbeth stopped her.
"It's probably for Jeffrey," he said, turning to the blind man. "He should answer it." The homeowner nodded, getting up from his seat and walking over to the table. Hesitating for a second, he picked up the phone.
"... Hello?" His eyes widened a second later. "Elijah!" Everyone was shocked by this reveal, but quickly became relieved; Broadway and Lex smiled, and Hudson sighed with relief. "What happened? Where are you? Are-" The author became silent as he listened to his nephew, nodding and saying 'I see' a few times. Finally, a little over a minute later-
"So you're safe," he asked, tapping his cane against the table edge as he listened to the reply. "Thank goodness you're all okay. Any sign or word from Goliath or Angela-" He went silent again. "Okay. I'll wait up for you. Do Amanda's parents know about-" He nodded. "Okay. I love you, and see you in a while."
Jeffrey put the phone back on the receiver, letting out a loud sigh as he stumbled. Gilly and Hudson instantly rushed to his side, and the gargoyle caught his arm, helping him into his chair. The others quickly stepped forward, but Hunter waved them back, saying he needed room.
"I'm fine," the blind man said, holding up his hand. "I'm just… I'm just glad he's okay."
"He's safe?" Broadway asked.
"What happened?" Lex queried.
"The Quarrymen," Jeffery replied. "Like that note said. And Thailog, too." The gargoyles were shocked at this revelation, and Bronx growled a little. "Elijah thinks it was just a coincidence, since they didn't come for him; they just showed up and started destroying stuff and threatening people. Fortunately, the others arrived in time to stop them, but the Quarrymen set the theatre on fire and escaped before they could stop them."
"Burned down," Dingo asked, the blood draining from his face.
"They were able to evacuate everyone in time. The group got a few injuries, but made it out too; they're probably back at the castle by now, and Elijah's on his way here. Don't worry," he added, "he didn't acknowledge the group so he wouldn't reveal our connection with you."
"Smart lad," Hudson stated.
"Is he on his way home with the other students," Macbeth asked.
"Yes. They went to New York together, and were planning on coming back together." He sighed again, sitting back in his seat. "I'm glad he's okay, and that he kept his head in the situation and got himself and Amanda out of there. He was frightened of the Quarrymen and Thailog, and he wishes you had been there too, since all of you together could have probably stopped them."
There was a short period of relieved silence, and the group exchanged a few weary smiles. Hudson was upset that he had not been there to help the others with the Quarrymen, but he was glad that Elijah was fine.
"Well, I guess that means we can leave," Lex finally said. "If that was the attack, and no one's showed up here-"
"But there's still the question as te why the phone wasn't working earlier," Hunter spoke up. "And fer all we know, the theatre attack could be a diversion, or a way of luring us into a trap."
"I don't think so," Hudson said. "The note ye received said they were attacking the theatre, and they did. And based on what Elijah told Robbins, it was pure coincidence that he was there at that time."
"But what about that note," Macbeth asked, a thoughtful expression on his face. "We still don't know who sent it, and it's too much of a coincidence that Elijah was at the very theatre got attacked. And there's one other thing… Mr. Robbins, did Elijah say anything about us?"
The author frowned. "Yes. I told you he said-"
He abruptly stopped talking, his hands tightening on his cane once more. Hudson didn't understand why, and he wasn't the only one; Dingo and Broadway also looked confused, though Hunter and Lex quickly gasped, their eyes going wide. A few seconds later, the aged gargoyle realized what they had realized, and he felt as if a cold fist had closed over his heart.
"Ye never told him that we were here," Hudson said in a low voice. "Yet he said he wished we had been there te help the others…"
Broadway's eyes widened.
"That's impossible," he stated. "How could he have known we were here? Maybe he guessed we were here when he saw that we weren't with Goliath's group."
"That's a stretch," Dingo said, "but a bit… it's a stretch."
"Maybe it wasn't Elijah," Hunter suggested.
"That's possible," Lexington agreed. "They probably used a device to make themselves sound like him. But why would they want us to think that it's him?"
"I've never heard of a device that could simulate a person's voice and make it sound natural," Macbeth spoke up, a troubled look on his face. "Jeffrey-"
"It… sounded like Elijah," the blind man said, his hands shaking a little. "He sounded scared and out of breath-"
"But how could he have called us but we couldn't call anyone else," the Scotsman asked. "Based on Matrix's scan-" His eyes widened. "Where's Matrix?"
"I sent him to get his other copies," Dingo replied. "But-"
"I found him."
The group whirled around, shocked to see Elijah standing in the doorway of the library, a smile on his face. However, they were even more shocked when they saw a silver puddle floating in the air next to him, surrounded by a glowing green aura. Jeffrey immediately got to his feet at the sound of his nephew's voice, and Macbeth and Hunter instinctively drew their weapons, aiming them at the teenager.
"NO," Hudson cried.
"I agree," the deaf teen said, waving his hand. Macbeth's and Hunter's weapons flew from their hands, sinking into the silver goo [which had to have been Matrix]. "There's no need to fight; I don't plan on staying long."
That's… That's not Elijah, Hudson thought
"Who are ye," Macbeth demanded, reaching for his boot and drawing a dagger. However, that too was pulled from his hand by an unseen force. "Where's Elijah?!"
The teenager snickered a little. "I am Elijah! Just… better." He turned to his uncle, his smile widening. "Hello, Uncle Jeffrey."
"Elijah," the blind man asked.
"Stay back," Hunter demanded, moving to stand in front of the man. "Who are ye, really?"
"Oh, Robyn," the teen sighed, causing the woman to flinch. "You're so… strong headed, to put it lightly. A skull as hard as stone, if I'm gonna be technical." He cocked his head a little. "Pity your father's wasn't as strong; maybe he would've survived his tumble off of Notre Dame!"
Hunter's eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open slightly; she had the look of someone who had been sucker-punched, and the shocked look on her face did not match her strong personality. Hudson had no idea what kind of tumble Hunter's father took, but he could tell that whatever the Elijah look-alike said, it had rattled her. Even Dingo looked concerned, and rounded on the stranger.
"What've ya done to Matrix," the Australian demanded, pointing at the floating ball of silver goo.
"Just had to contain him for a bit," the teenager replied, walking into the room, the floating ball following him. "To be honest, I had already rounded up the other hims when this one came running into the hall; it took quite a bit of magic to keep him or you from noticing anything."
"Magic," Macbeth repeated, a steely expression on his face.
"Yes, Macbeth, magic." The teen held up one hand, examining it as a green glow floated between his fingertips. "Mab has taught me a lot these past few months." His grin turned sinister as he turned to the Scotsman. "You know, she can help you with your little… problem, if you're willing to pay the price."
"Willing te- MAB?!" The man's eyes widened. "No-"
"The Fourth Eye of Mab," Jeffrey asked, jumping to his feet [a still shocked Hunter simply stepped aside, her hands shaking a little]. "But that means… No!" He stared in the general direction of his nephew. "How did you find it?!"
The Fourth Eye of… It took Hudson a few seconds to remember why that name was familiar, and then he gasped, looking at Elijah in a new light. That wasn't an imposter; it WAS Elijah, but one who had found the Eye. Meaning…
"Hiding in an overhead fan," the boy asked, letting out a quick, cold laugh. "Ha! Not too bad of a hiding spot, but I guess it was just bad oversight that being friends with Xanatos and the likes of them-" He indicated to the gargoyles. "-would lead to some severe property damage down the line!" He sighed. "Then again, you are blind, so-"
"ENOUGH," Hudson roared, his eyes glowing as he drew his sword; Broadway, Bronx and Lex also leaped to their feet, eyes glowing as well. "Not a word more, witch! If ye want te say a thing about our kind, say it te us face te face! Don't use that boy as your puppet!"
Elijah laughed again.
"Oh, you senile old fool! Mab isn't in control of me!" He shook his head, chuckling a little. "No, she's helping me. She's shown me a better way of thinking, and has given me the power to change the world for the better!" The teen turned his head to the left, showing the group his ears. "Look! No hearing aids! I'm hearing everything like a normal person, all thanks to Mab!"
"It's a lie, it has to be," Lexington said. "Elijah's our friend; he would never say such horrible things about us!"
"Wouldn't I," the teenager asked, slowly walking towards them. "If I recall correctly, you and Broadway rarely came here, and when you did, you seemed more interested in my computer games and the contents of the kitchen and didn't give a shit about MY likes and interests!" He stopped a few feet away from them, casually leaning against the couch. "And Hudson, you only want to read and talk about your old clan in Scotland. If I wanted a history lesson, I'd watch Carmen Sandiego! And Bronx-" He turned to the garg-beast. "You're basically another dog, so there's not much else to say."
The collected group was shocked, hearing these words coming from Elijah's mouth. All of them had talked about the Eye before, and knew the stories about people who had encountered it in the past. All of them went crazy, caused some damage, and then died. And somehow, the Eye vanished and reappeared in another part of the world, ready for another victim… Hudson was angry, yes, but not at Elijah; he knew better than to think that his words were genuine. Mab had to have twisted his mind, made him think that they were his enemies and made him dislike them. They needed to think of a way to stop Mab, and-
"You can't stop her," the teenager spoke up, startling the aged gargoyle from his thoughts. He rolled his eyes when Hudson gaped at him. "Your thoughts are very loud; you might as well be talking to me!"
"My thoughts-"
"He can read minds," Dingo gasped, earning him a sharp glare from Hunter, who had gotten over her earlier shock.
"Yes," Elijah replied, turning to the Australian with a wide grin. "I already did that with Fang earlier. Did you know that he was beaten as a kid, and he copes with that pain by cracking jokes and acting like an asshole?"
"What," Broadway asked, and Hudson silently agreed; they knew Fang to be crude and mean-spirited, but they had no idea that he had been mistreated as a child.
"And let's see with you…" The teen looked Dingo in the eyes. "Mom left you as a kid, raised by criminals…" He gasped a little, his grin widening as he turned to Hunter. "And a serious crush on your boss!" He laughed. "Oh man! Is this a bad sitcom? What accent would your kids speak with?"
Hudson had never seen two adults look so embarrassed; Hunter and Dingo turned beet red, and instantly leaped away from each other, as if the other had the plague. They were looking at the ceiling, the floor, the bookshelf… anywhere but at each other. Once their eyes briefly bet, and Dingo turned away so fast that he tripped over Bronx and nearly landed on Gilly.
"Ha ha! Now," Elijah continued, still looking at Hunter, "let's see if the feelings are mutual!"
"Elijah," Macbeth snapped, bringing the boy's attention to him. "No more games. Ye mentioned Fang; did ye see the other group?"
"Of course I did," the teenager replied, turning to the Scotsman. "They were closest to the theatre at that time. I would've come straight here afterwards but I had a brief stop to make-"
"Ye sent the notes, didn't ye," Macbeth asked. "That's why Matrix couldn't find a computer or digital source; ye sent them by magic."
"And the Internet, of course," Elijah elaborated. "Xanatos' computer was the best, since he has access to part of the Illuminati records, but one that included the Redemption Squad. It took a while, a few sleepover visits, and a lot of magical manipulation of security cameras and security guards; not to mention staying below Owen's radar." He tapped the side of his head. "But then again, Mab was able to make you all think that the stone got taken to a secure location months ago, and that was before she met me!" He turned his head aside, as if listening to someone. "I'm getting to that. And no, I'm not saying you're not powerful-"
Macbeth suddenly sprang forward, reaching out towards the teen. The boy reacted with lightning speed, jumping up into the air, flipping around so he landed feet-first on the ceiling. Now, he appeared to be standing on the ceiling, looking down at them as he wagged a finger at the Scotsman.
"Nice try, old man, but you're gonna have to do better than that," Elijah said, a green glow surrounding his hands. The nearest armchair slid across the carpet and hit Macbeth from behind, forcing him to sit down. Ropes suddenly appeared and bound him to the chair, preventing him from moving. The formerly deaf teenager then jumped off the ceiling, nimbly landing on the floor. "You know, Mab would've been willing to break your curse if you weren't so violent." The man's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't say a word. "Imagine, still living forever, but not having to kill or be killed by Demona. You'd be free from this cat and mouse game you've been playing for centuries." He sighed. "But Mab wants someone she can trust. Someone who won't stab her in the back, and someone that's… frankly, young." He stood up straight, addressing the rest of the group. "Someone like ME!"
"Elijah," Jeffrey said firmly, pushing past Hudson and Broadway in order to approach his nephew.
"Oh, here we go," the teenager said. "Some sage wisdom from the old, blind man! How cliché!"
"Elijah," the author said again, showing no signs of being hurt by the boy's words. "Please, just listen to me for a little bit."
"Why should I," Elijah retorted, walking up to his uncle; Hudson felt himself take a few involuntary steps back, as if he were a puppet on a string, and saw that everyone else had done the same, leaving the nephew and uncle alone in the middle of the room. The gargoyle tried to step forward, but found that he couldn't move. "All you want to do is talk; you never take action or DO anything! You just sit on your ass all day and write or read while the rest of us actually DO something!"
"Elijah, please." The teen groaned, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms, and after a few moments of silence, the blind man continued. "I know that this isn't really you, and that there's only one person to blame... Me."
Hudson was shocked by what his friend said, and even Elijah's eyes twitched, though he remained stoic as he frowned at his uncle.
"I haven't been thoughtful of you and your feelings," Jeffrey continued. "When Xanatos and the gargoyles asked me to hide the Eye here, I should have taken your safety into account, or at least trusted you with the knowledge of what I was hiding. I never thought that you were in danger, but I should have known better that there was a small chance you might find it." He stepped forward, his hand outstretched, stopping when he touched his nephew's shoulder. "I didn't trust you enough to tell you about this, and I wasn't there for you." He reached his hand up, touching the teen's face [Hudson saw Elijah flinch, but let the hand stay there]. "I don't know what Mab has told you or is still telling you, but know that I still love you, and want nothing but the best for you. And... I've heard the stories about the Eye; it will kill you if you don't stop this now, so I'm begging you to give it up." The man blinked, and the aged gargoyle saw a few tears in his eyes. "Come back to us, Elijah."
The formerly deaf teenager did not reply, simply staring at his uncle. But Hudson noticed something in the boy's eyes; a trace of sorrow, and something akin to guilt or shame. Elijah's limbs loosened, and he slowly uncrossed his arms. He slowly reached up and touched his uncles face, mimicking his stance.
"Uncle Jeffrey," the boy whispered, putting his other hand on his uncle's face, holding it in place. "You... I..." A shudder ran through the boy, and he straightened up, a frightened expression on his face. "I... I'm sorry, I-" He shook his head, his face scrunched up in frustration, as if trying to block something out. "Please, just let me help-" A few seconds later, he sighed, opening his eyes again. "I'm sorry, but this is gonna hurt."
Jeffrey's eyes widened, but before he or anyone else could react, the teen's hands suddenly burned with a green fire, engulfing his uncle's face. Some of the others screamed, but the blind author screamed the loudest, clawing at his nephew's hands, trying to pry them off his face. Hudson, suddenly finding himself able to move, ran forward to help his friend, but balked as he ran into an invisible wall. He roared, hammering on the unseen force with a fist, eyes glowing as he watched Elijah calmly burn his uncle's face, slowly forcing him to his knees. Finally, the boy let the man go as his hands extinguished, and the man fell to the floor, covering his face with his hands, and his sunglasses fell off and landed on the carpet. Hunter actually screamed, and both Gilly and Bronx were scratching at the invisible wall, trying to get through. When Elijah straightened back up and turned to the group, his eyes were glowing.
"A small mercy for him," the teenager said, but something was wrong with his voice; it sounded like him, but there was a strange curtness and tone in his voice. "A small mercy for all of you, really; the other group got worse off, but Elijah insisted that I spare you." The teen waved his hand, and Broadway and Dingo flew across the room, slamming into one of the bookshelves and causing a rain of novels to land on them. Elijah walked through the gap they left, heading straight for the sliding door, which opened of its own accord. Before he stepped outside, he turned towards Hudson. "Feel free to call the others; they'll no doubt fill you in on my intentions, but it won't' do any good." A sinister grin came onto the boy's face. "I will be reborn tonight, and I will NOT be taken down by a bunch of monsters and their human friends!" Swirling back around, the teen strode into the yard and jumped into the air, flying away and vanishing into the distance.
Gilly barked, and Hudson turned in time to see the dog run forward. She instantly ran to her master's side, nuzzling his head and whimpering. Realizing that the invisible wall was gone, the aged gargoyle rushed to his friend's side, kneeling down next to him. In the corner of his good eye, he saw the ropes that had bound Macbeth had vanished, and the Scotsman had quickly gotten to his feet, an uncharacteristic look of horror on his face. The floating silver blob landed on the ground, the green aura gone, and Matrix rose in its spot.
"Robbins," Hudson said, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Robbins, are ye alright?! Can ye speak?!" The blind man only breathed heavily in response, still crouched on the floor with his hands over his face. Off to the side of the room, Hunter and Lex were helping Dingo and Broadway to their feet, the latter two looking dazed and battered.
"Hu... Hudson," the blind author finally gasped through his hands.
"I'm right here," the gargoyle said, watching as the man slowly pulled his hands away from his face. "I'm right here, and-" His words faltered and failed as he got his first look at the man's face. As he straightened up and it caught the light, the aged gargoyle heard the others gasp as well. The man's face... it was...
...Normal.
There were no burn marks on his face, which should have been impossible, seeing that Elijah's hands had been lit on fire and pressed against his skin for at least twenty seconds. But there his face was, as smooth and unblemished as a newborn. But Hudson noticed something else, and gasped again as he saw that the scarring around the author's eyes had healed and vanished. And his eyes... They no longer had an opaque film covering them, and his irises were a vibrant green. They blinked a few times, squinting in the light, his pupils shrinking as they adjusted to it.
"I... How am I..." Jeffrey's words were cut off as his eyes landed on Hudson, still blinking and squinting. Eventually, as the seconds passed, he opened them wide, his mouth falling open with shock as he stared at the gargoyle. A shocked gasp left his mouth, and he slowly reached forward, touching Hudson's face.
"His eyes," Lexington whispered. "Are they..."
"Amazing," Macbeth whispered, in spite of the severity of the situation.
"...Hudson," the author whispered, a few more tears brimming in his eyes. "Is... Is that really..."
"Ye... Ye can see me," the aged gargoyle said in a hushed voice, staring at the formerly blind author Jeffrey Robbins.
[][][]
Elijah POV:
9:22 PM
Elijah and Mab landed behind a lone gas station, several miles north of New York City. The glow had faded from the teenager's eyes, and he turned to the wall with a furious expression.
"What was that about," he demanded, glaring at his shadow the moon cast on the wall. "I thought you said you'd let me do the talking and stuff; why'd you try to take over for me?" His shadow shifted and rippled, changing into a tall, feminine figure that loomed over him.
You were starting to crack, Mab replied. Your uncle's words were starting to affect you, making you rethink our plan.
"No they weren't," the teenager retorted, frowning at the faerie. "I could care less about what he said!"
You fixed his eyes, she reminded him. There was no need for that.
"I wanted to."
There was no reason to.
"But I did, didn't I," Elijah muttered, crossing his arms. "You taught me how to use these powers, so why shouldn't I use them? Besides, you never had a problem with me getting rid of Jerry's cancer!"
The shadow suddenly swooped forward, nearly knocking the teen off his feet. He felt like he had been doused in cold water, and his head burned as he felt Mab's fury.
DON'T YOU DARE-
The cold and the burning and the noise suddenly died away, and the shadow returned to the wall.
I... Apologize, the faerie said, her voice clipped and tense. It's just... I have had many pupils in the past, but none as strong or talented as you. Elijah could sense a warmth come off of her, enveloping him like a hug. It made his uneasiness vanish somewhat, and he smiled. None of them could have handled the complexity of the Ceremony, but you can. I just don't want you wasting your energy and talents on others; you have the rest of your life to do that.
"I know," the teenager admitted, loving the warmth. "I just... wanted him to be proud of me, you know? Be proud of all that I could do now."
He will be, Mab promised. Especially after the Ceremony.
Yes... after the Ceremony, Elijah thought, smiling at the thought. He couldn't wait until then; the faerie had been training him, talking to him, and guiding him for months, leading him to this moment where his full power would be realized. While he had had his doubts and concerns at first, namely the unborn children, Mab assured him that he could simply bring them back afterwards. Besides, she had told him, it would be a pretty cool way of showing off your powers to your parents.
"Mom and Dad are gonna be so proud of me," he whispered, a wide smile on his face. "And all of us; them, Uncle Jeffrey, Amanda, the gargoyles... We're gonna live together and be one, big happy family!"
Yes, Mab said, though the teen noticed a serious, if not indifferent, tone in her voice. Now let us be off; we still have another unborn to get before Excalibur arrives. And knowing Puck, he'll have a few tricks up his sleeves...
[][][]
Amanda POV:
?:?
"Elijah!"
Amanda woke with a start, her eyes flying open as she immediately started to breathe heavily. For a second, she thought she was in the theatre, and that any second, she would see Elijah surrounded by a green light as risers flew through the air. However, when she heard no loud crashing or yelling noises, she sat up, looking around with confusion.
"Amanda!" She turned to her right to find Nashville crouching over an unconscious figure; a feline-like woman with gargoyle-like wings. She was visibly pregnant, and her breathing was somewhat wheezy as she stirred in her sleep.
"What's going on," Amanda asked. "Who is she?"
"Maggie, from the Labyrinth," Nashville replied, straightening up and walking over to the girl, helping her to her feet. "She's a mutate like Fang, but one of the good ones."
"Talon? The name sounds familiar."
"Did Elijah-"
The gargoyle broke off abruptly, a troubled expression coming over his face. Amanda also became quiet, thinking about what she had seen. Her boyfriend had just... She couldn't explain what happened to him. One minute, he was getting ready to perform his solo, and the next, he was throwing armored men with hammers around like they were rag dolls. With his mind. It sounded crazy, and if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she never would've believed it. And then... when he had turned to her with those glowing eyes and that... that face! All full of anger and hatred... It wasn't Elijah. It wasn't him, and that uneasy feeling she had felt beforehand suddenly made sense. Then, she was suddenly knocked to the ground from behind, and the last thing she recalled was her head slamming against the stage floor.
"My head," Amanda muttered, feeling her scalp for any bumps, and finding none. "I hit my head, but... it doesn't hurt."
"She probably healed you," Nashville replied solemnly, walking back over to Maggie. "Or Elijah; I can't tell the two apart."
"Tell who apart," the girl asked. "Did you see Elijah too? Did he-"
"I don't wanna talk about it," the young gargoyle snapped, his wings involuntarily [by the looks of it] flexing a little, and his hands shook. He looked down at the pregnant mutate. "If I were you, I'd be more concerned about where in the world we are."
"What do y-" Amanda finally looked at her surroundings, her mouth dropping open with shock. All around them was nothing; just an endless expanse of black nothingness. There was nothing in sight, and looking up, she saw no light source above them [she wondered how she could clearly see them]. The ground was flat and smooth, and for a moment, the girl felt a thrill of vertigo as she looked at nothing around her. "Oh..."
"Yeah, we've been in here for a while, I think," Nashville said. "I woke up a while ago."
"But where is here," the girl asked, kneeling down on the other side of the pregnant mutate, not wanting to look out at the expanse of nothingness that pressed in on all sides. "How did we get here? Where's Elijah, and how could he..." She frowned. "Did you see what he did at the theatre? He-"
"I saw the aftermath. We're fortunate no one was killed." The gargoyle sighed, looking down at his hands. "I'm sorry; I'm sounding pretty rude, aren't I?" Amanda didn't reply, and he nodded. "I just... It's been crazy tonight, and a few weeks ago..." He finally looked up at her. "That's not Elijah."
Amanda felt her breath catch a little, shocked that her uneasy feelings and thoughts from earlier were shared. But there was something else in Nashville's eyes; a fear and pain that almost scared her. He continued.
"A few weeks ago... on the night you guys were watching that Braveheart movie... I... found something in Elijah's room." Nashville's hands were shaking, and he put them under his armpits in an effort to keep them still. "I thought it was a rock, but it wasn't, and then he showed up and... And..."
To Amanda's surprise, the gargoyle started to cry, tears streaming down his beak and dripping onto Maggie. She wasn't expecting him to do that, but as he cried, she remembered how young he was. Sure, he had been born about twenty years ago, but he was technically the equivalent of a 10-year-old. She got up and walked over to his side, hugging him. He leaned into her embrace, crying into her shoulder, and they stayed like that for a few moments. The girl wondered what he had seen that had upset him so much, and she was almost tempted to force him to continue hugging her as he pulled away, wiping his eyes.
"S-Sorry," he muttered, sniffling a little. "I j-just... I've been so scared these past few weeks, and I... I p-promised Elijah I'd keep quiet, and I-" He took a shaky breath. "B-Basically, he wasn't Elijah, and it wasn't a stone. It was... an Eye."
A chill seemed to come over the two kids, and they both shuddered. Amanda whirled around, having sworn she saw someone out of the corner of her eye, but she saw nothing there. She felt scared, but knew that she had to press on and hear the end of the story.
"Nashville," she said in as gentle a tone as she could muster. "What... What happened next?"
"It... It looks like a marble, a green marble, but it's an eye," the young gargoyle explained. "It belongs to someone named Mab... She's the one that's doing all this magic stuff, with the glowing green stuff and the powers and the-" He flinched suddenly, his hands flying to his shoulders, feeling his wings. Amanda was freaked out by his movements, but something nagged at her brain.
"Mab... I've heard that name before..." The girl racked her brains, finally remembering it. "I remember! Elijah and I read Romeo and Juliet in English class back in January! There's a monologue a character gives about a 'Queen Mab.' She's some kind of evil fairy, and bewitched people or something; I don't really remember." She shook her head. "But... they can't be the same-"
"She was evil," Nashville interrupted, slowly lowering his hand. "She... She said that if I told anyone about her and Elijah, she would..." More tears brimmed in his eyes. "She said she would kill my sister. And Elijah... he agreed with her. He t-told me that he would stomp-" The gargoyle started to cry again, reaching out to Amanda for another hug. "And then... Then the glow faded and he smiled at me... As if nothing had happened! But every... every time he looked at me... I knew!"
The girl had no idea how to respond to what she had heard, and for some reason, she felt like crying herself. This Mab fairy had... possessed her boyfriend? But he seemed aware of her actions, and... agreed with them? He must have, if Nashville said he did; she noticed that the gargoyle had distinguished between when Mab was talking versus when Elijah was talking. And what she had seen Elijah do at the theatre... No. That had been Mab, and again, she felt a thrill of fear run through her.
She was reminded of this movie she watched as a kid: Labyrinth. A teenage girl accidentally wishes for a goblin king [David Bowie] to take her baby brother away, and is surprised when he does so. Realizing the error of her ways, she embarks on a perilous journey through a magical and twisting maze to get him back. She had liked the movie, even if it had creepy puppets and some scary scenes, but right now, she felt like she was trapped in a more horrifying tale. Her boyfriend was working for [or with] an evil fairy person, and seeing that she had lit the theatre on fire, she was not a kind individual. And now, there was no doubt in her mind that Mab had trapped her, Nashville and Maggie in this empty place, with no way out. What was she supposed to do? Even if she found a way out, how would she stop this evil queen and save Elijah?
Well, you're not gonna cry, Amanda told herself, blinking the tears away. Now's not the time for crying; you're smart, and you can figure out a way out of this.
"Okay," she said aloud, slowly pulling out of the hug. "There's no way Elijah would do something like that."
"But he told me he would," Nashville protested, wiping at his eyes. "I could tell he was saying it and not her."
"Then maybe she did something to him to make him act that way," the girl replied. "If she's evil, then it would make sense to make Elijah think like her. I-" She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I've felt these past few weeks that he's been different... as if something had happened to him. I asked him once, and he just smiled at me." She bit her lip. "I've known Elijah a little longer than you; he wouldn't threaten to kill or hurt anyone. Mab must've done something to him, maybe put some sort of spell on him, or mind control."
The young gargoyle wiped away the rest of his tears, his expression brightening slightly. He looked almost hopeful, but mostly scared.
"So... he doesn't really wanna hurt Egwardo," he said. "He's just under a spell?" He smiled. "I'm glad! I don't like thinking that my friend's evil." His smile faded. "But... how do we help him? I don't even know where we are!"
"Neither do I," the girl agreed, looking out at the endless stretch of nothingness. "And how come only we are here? Where're the other choir kids, or the clan? Or-" Her eyes widened. "ART! He appeared out of nowhere, saying something about Elijah-"
"AAUGH!" The two kids whirled around to find that Maggie was awake, breathing heavily and holding her stomach. A few seconds later, their eyes widened as they saw a liquid start to pool out under her. Amanda screamed, at first thinking that it was blood, but a second later, she realized what was going on as the pregnant mutate screamed again.
"Oh my gosh, she's going into labor," the girl cried, rushing to Maggie's side.
"What's labor," Nashville asked.
"She's about to have a baby!"
"WHAT?!"
"It's... It's coming," Maggie said between breaths, grabbing Amanda's hand in a vice-like grip. "It's comAAUGH!" She cried out again, baring sharp teeth.
"O-Okay," Amanda stammered, trying to figure out what to do. "Just st-stay calm, and... breathe! Yeah! Breathe in and out, and stay calm!" She had no idea if that was helpful [the people in medical shows always told pregnant women to breathe in and out], and she had no idea what she was supposed to do; babies were born in hospitals, with doctors and nurses and medical equipment... all she had in her pockets was her wallet! Not to mention Maggie was a mutate; did that mean her pregnancy and birth would differ from a human's?
"She's giving birth," the young gargoyle gasped. "But it's not the Equinox! How's the egg here this early?"
"Not the what," Amanda asked, flinching as the mutate's broken water pooled against her knee.
"The egg," Nashville explained. "Gargoyles have eggs and-"
"Not humans," the girl snapped, trying to ignore the pain in her hand; Maggie was clutching it so tightly that she was cutting off the circulation. "And I don't think mutates lay eggs, either!"
"What, so the baby just pops out," the gargoyle asked incredulously.
"YES! Now take off your shirt, I need something to mop up the water!"
"Use your own shirt!"
"I'm not taking my shirt off!"
"Do you even know what you're doing?"
"No!"
"Then maybe she could lay an egg!"
"FORGET ABOUT THE EGG!"
"Calm down, both of you!"
Amanda and Nashville whirled around, both of them screaming when they saw the spectral figures standing behind them. A large group of see-through, ghost-like people stood nearby, watching them. Amanda, after getting over her shock, noticed that some members of the crowd were gargoyles, but none like she had ever seen before; some of them wore armor, and others were female [which was surprising; the only female gargoyles she had seen were Angela, Katana, and Coldfire]. The humans were also dressed strangely, like they had walked straight out of a Renaissance Fair, and all of them were looking at the trio with shocked and fearful expressions.
"More of them," one of the women whispered, earning a few murmured agreements from her friends.
"Perhaps they know Art," a small gargoyle suggested.
"Excuse me," a bearded man near the front of the group said, his eyes glowing and hollow-looking. "Who are you, and-" His question was cut off as Maggie let out another gasp, breathing heavily. "What ails that gargoyle?"
"She's... She's about to have a baby," Amanda replied, staring at the see-through figures with fear.
"And she's not a gargoyle," Nashville added. "She's a mutate."
"A what," another man asked.
"She's-" Maggie cried out again, tears streaming down her face. A few of the women and a couple female gargoyles walked forward, going over to the mutate's side. Amanda gasped when one of their arms brushed against her; it was cold, and surprisingly solid.
"I used to be a midwife when I was alive," a middle-aged woman said, kneeling down at Maggie's feet. "How long ago did the water come out?"
"A few minutes ago," the alive girl replied, stepping back as the spectral figures started to tend to the pregnant mutate, some of them whispering soothing words as two of them took her hands.
"Wish we had some buckets of boiled water," the lead woman muttered, lifting the edge of Maggie's dress to check on her. "The baby'll be born in a few hours, I reckon. But I don't think we can..." She looked over at Nashville. "Take off your clothes."
"W-What," the alive gargoyle gasped.
"Are you deaf? Take off your clothes; we need towels!"
"I still don't see why gargoyles need clothes," a gargoyle in the back of the group muttered.
"The rest of us do," one of the humans muttered.
"Clothes, NOW," the woman barked again, and Nashville quickly tore off his shirt, handing it to her. "The rest of you, keep back and let us work!"
"Excuse me, young lady." Amanda turned around to find the bearded man from earlier standing behind her, a worried expression on his face. "Would you by any chance know anyone by the name of Art or Elijah?"
"Y-Yes," the girl replied, a little freaked out that she could see through the man's body. "They're both classmates of mine, and Elijah... He's my boyfriend." She shook her head. "But something's wrong with him; he's under the control of-"
"Queen Mab," the man replied, nodding his head sadly. "Come this way with me; we have much to talk about."
[][][]
Yama POV:
9:43 PM
After Fang quit and ran off, everyone came under the consensus to not worry about him and focus on defending themselves and Katana's egg from Mab, getting in contact with the group in Weisman, and see if they could get any help from the Labyrinth clan.
Apparently, the Eyrie Building had been attacked by magical forces before, and had a sophisticated defense system. The man called Owen activated it, and several automated drones flew up and surrounded the building. They formed a perimeter, and suddenly, a bright yellow force field spread out between the machines, encasing the building in a large, rectangular-shaped box. It would do a bit to slow Mab/Elijah down, but they would eventually break through. Xanatos prepared his fleet of metal, animatronic gargoyle machines he called the Steel Clan, all of which were made with real, pure iron [which, according to Owen, was the only thing that would harm a faerie], setting them around the building to intercept anyone and anything that broke through the force field. The city police officers inquired about the sudden force field, and down on the ground, a crowd had gathered to stare at the golden box with shock. Xanatos had given them some excuse, and the officers started with crowd control, blocking off the streets around the building, as well as crowd control.
Sometime before 9:30, they finally got in contact with the Weisman group, and both of them had a lot to share. Yama was the one who took the call, as the others were busy building up the castle's defenses, explaining to Hunter all that had happened, from the attack at the theatre, to the information Owen had given them, and Fang abandoning the group.
"Mab attacked your group," the Scottish woman asked, her tone betraying her shock and horror at the situation. "And kidnapped Nashville and Amanda?"
"Yes," the gargoyle replied, standing on one of the castle's parapets, looking through the glowing field at the city beyond. "She also attacked me and the others, said something about Fang-"
"I'd rather not talk about him at the moment," Hunter interrupted. "And if he decides to show his face after all of this is over, I get first dibs at beating him up."
"Understood... Though I call second."
"Deal."
"What happened with your group? Elijah said he was heading your way after leaving the theatre. Did anyone get hurt or taken on your end?"
He could almost see the woman frown. "Well... not exactly." She then proceeded to tell them about Elijah's visit, everything he said, and how he had healed his uncle's blindness. By the time she finished talking, several minutes had passed.
"That is... interesting," Yama finally said all of this new information turning around in his head. This threat was much more serious that he had originally thought, and he started to wonder if their defenses would be strong enough. "So Elijah, under Mab's influence, I suppose, sent the messages to us and Macbeth to get us to come here? Did he say why?"
"Nay, but I'm more concerned with what Owen told ye about this 'Ceremony," the woman replied. "So he suspects that she'll be going after a mutate's child and a gargoyle's egg?"
"Yes. Fox and Xanatos woke up their son so Owen could teach him how to cast protective spells."
"Alex?"
"Their infant son."
"Their... He's a baby? As in... a child?"
"And he's talented with magic, from what I've been told. I'll tell you all about him later; for now, just know that we're preparing for Mab to attack."
"You said 'Mab,' as if she's separate from Elijah," Hunter said.
"In a way, she is," the Japanese gargoyle replied. "When he first appeared to us, it appeared to be Mab talking through Elijah, but later on he spoke to us as himself. If I were to guess, when his eyes are glowing, it's Mab. No glow, it's Elijah."
"Ye... You're right," she said. "I remember at one point, Elijah seemed to be talking to someone else that wasn't there. And this Fourth Eye of Mab... is that where she is?"
"It's the source of her power. Owen says that we need to get Elijah to freely hand it over to us, and then destroy it."
"But the last time we were here, they told us that the Eye gives its user great power and corrupts them, turning them evil."
"Yes."
The Scottish woman sighed. "Next time we get an anonymous message for help, we should screen it before we go."
"NOW you're sayin' that," Dingo's voice snapped from Hunter's side of the line. "I said that from the beginning!"
"Ye did not!"
"I think we should focus on the problem at hand," Yama stated, cutting their argument off. "We need your group to get over here as soon as possible; we're going to need all the fighters we can get. We're still waiting to hear back from the Laby-"
"Yama!" The gargoyle turned around to find Brooklyn briskly walking towards him. "We just got word from the Labyrinth. Elijah and Mab attacked Talon and kidnaped Maggie. They also set a few tents on fire as a diversion; a few people were hurt, but they were able to put the fires out." The one-eyed gargoyle had a serious expression on his face. "If they have Maggie, then they're coming here next. How's the other group?"
"Fine," Yama replied. "No injuries or anyone taken; I've told them to get over here as soon as they can for extra support."
"Okay. Come join the rest of us in the courtyard; we need to be ready for anything." Brooklyn left as quickly as he had arrived, heading back into the castle.
"Did you get that," the gargoyle asked Hunter, knowing that she knew Japanese.
"Parts," she replied. "Who got kidnapped?"
"The pregnant mutate; its clear that Mab plans on coming here now to get the gargoyle egg."
"We'll come as soon as we can."
"Give me your word that you will," Yama said, a small frown on his face as his tone became more serious. "This egg is my clan's future, and I will give my life if it means it will live. I don't expect you to give your life, but I expect you to lead by example and help the rest of us."
The woman did not reply, and he could imagine her shocked expression. He knew he was being harsh, but Hunter came from a long line of gargoyle killers, and only seven months ago did she turn over a new leaf. Sometimes, he sensed her apprehension, standing in the same room as her, and there had been many times that the gargoyle had caught her staring at him with a wary and almost suspicious expression. Almost as if she was suspicious of him, or expecting him to just go feral and attack everyone. He didn't say a word about it, but now, with his clan's future and other innocent lives in danger, he needed to know that she would put her prejudices aside and help.
"... I give ye my word," Hunter finally said, her voice somewhat clipped. "If ye don't believe me, or if ye think I'll do anything te not protect that egg, then I'll go before your clan to face the consequences."
Yama was surprised by her response, but nodded. "I'll hold you to that."
"I know ye will. We're on our way." The phone clicked, and the gargoyle lowered the mobile phone from his ear, looking out at the force field once more.
I promise, he thought. I'll protect you, for the future of our clan. He thought about his mate, Sora, back in Ishimura. While Owen had said that Mab couldn't kill anyone before midnight, they had no idea if she had any plans to get around this rule, and since they were the only ones stopping her from taking the egg, then her wrath would surely be on them. Making up his mind, he made his way back towards the castle's interior; he would send a message to Ishimura, in case he did not survive.
He hoped Sora would understand.
[][][]
John Castaway POV:
9:52 PM
John was beyond upset; he was livid, and sitting in his office, he yelled and shoved everything off his desk, scattering it across the floor. His Quarrymen had been set up for an ambush; they had been betrayed by Thailog, and now a good chunk of his forces were in a hospital.
When the former gargoyle hunter first got contacted by Thailog's assistant Shari, he had assumed that this was another wealthy buisness wanting to support the Quarrymen, without making a public statement on the demons. However, when he learned that he had a plan to kill the gargoyle monsters that plagued this city, John had leaped at the chance, and immediately asked for information. His info checked out [John had suspected Xanatos for being a gargoyle-lover for some time, but now it was confirmed], and they both came up with a plan to capture the beasts. And it seemed simple; corner them in a theatre, attack and capture them, and then execute them. The Canmore line would finally be able to rest, knowing that the last of the gargoyles had been slain.
However, things had not gone according to plan. First, John heard reports that his people only saw one gargoyle, and that he was in the very back of the theatre with Shari. Before he could process why she was with a demon, pandemonium erupted; he couldn't listen to all the details, but he heard loud crashing and screaming as one by one, each of his Quarrymen's communicators went dead. The man had instantly turned on the news, and soon, it was broadcasting details about a fire at the theatre, said to have been started by the group of Quarrymen that had disrupted a high school choir competition being held there. Some of the people they interviewed were clearly shell-shocked, claiming to have seen a lone boy attack and destroy most of the theatre, but when the Quarrymen were found unconscious in the back alley and taken out of the building, the media's suspicion began to grow. When one eyewitness mentioned that the Quarrymen had shown up right before all hell broke loose, it was the beginning of the end. Now, all the channels were reporting that the anti-gargoyle group was most likely responsible for the fire, and in the distance, police sirens started to wail.
This can't be happening, John thought, striding over to a picture on his office wall, tearing it away to reveal a safe. He had contingency plans in place for an event such as this, but he had not expected it to have happened so soon. And he had been tricked by a gargoyle! A monster! That only added insult to injury. Thailog had clearly lured his men to the theatre, and the other gargoyles had no doubt attacked them and set the building on fire, intent on disparaging the Quarrymen's good name. Opening the safe, he took out a briefcase full of cash and other important documents, setting the rest of its contents on fire with a lighter. He then did the same to a pile of books on his desk, and a minute later, his office was starting to burn.
"Sound the fire alarm and follow me," the man ordered his secretary as he walked out of the room. "Has everyone else left?"
"Yes, sir," the woman replied, setting her own desk on fire with a lighter. "They've all gone back to their homes, and I've destroyed any records of them ever being a part of this organization, except for your copy." She pointed to his briefcase. "Where will we go?"
"South," John replied, leading her down a back staircase that led to the back of the building. Fortunately for him, he had not been in the Quarrymen headquarters when the news broke forth; he had been in his home, in the off chance that their radio signal was intercepted [he couldn't have his Quarrymen implicated in anything, but it was too late for that now]. Fortunately, his followers there had been instructed on what to do, and by the time the police arrived, half of the building was up in flames, any evidence there gone. They managed to arrest a few stragglers, and the former Canmore hoped that they would keep their mouths shut, deny everything, and act calm when they were eventually released for lack of evidence. It must have taken the police to find out where he lived, but judging by the distant sirens that were steadily getting closer, he didn't have much time before half the NYPD was on his tail.
"I thought for the longest time that there was only one demon left in this world," he said, leading her out into the alley where a car was waiting for them. "Then, I found a whole nest of them. And now, one that somehow runs a corporation, posing as a human." The man growled a little, climbing into the driver's seat. "Who knows how many of them are out in the world now. Hiding, breeding, waiting to strike..."
His secretary shuddered. "We'll catch them, Mr. Castaway." She got into the passenger's seat, a determined expression on her face. "I promise we will."
John couldn't help but briefly think of his sister, who had that same, assured and confident tone of voice. However, he quickly pushed that traitor out of his mind, and smiled at the young woman.
"Yes, indeed we will," he replied as he turned on the car and drove off into the night.
[][][]
Mab POV:
10:04 PM
Elijah was starting to crack, and Mab knew it.
Every one of her victims did, at some point; through a combination of realizing that what they were doing was wrong, combined with the stress on their bodies from all the magic they were wielding, they started to crack. She guessed that she had a few hours left before she would have to either retreat into her Eye and wait for some one else to pick her up, or to complete the Ceremony and return once more. All she had to do was keep Elijah's mind preoccupied with hatred for his friends and loved ones, so he wouldn't think about trying to go against her.
But the evil faerie knew it would be difficult; Puck would have no doubt told them how to defeat her. They would surely try to appeal to him, talk some sense into him. She considered making the boy deaf again, so he couldn't hear them, but the last thing she needed during a fight was a deaf slave. She used his body and senses to perceive the world around her, so if he was deaf, so was she. So right now, she started to consider if she could come clean and drop the ball on him now.
Mab needed two babies to give herself a physical body once again, as well as regain her full power. However, Elijah had been one of those humans that valued life, so she had to do some fibbing to convince him. She told him that the Ceremony would bring his dead parents back to life, and because of his past guilt and sorrow about their deaths, he had lapped that up as eagerly as a puppy would lap up food. Of course, there was no way to bring a human or any living thing back from the dead; the only reason the Ceremony would work for her was because she technically wasn't dead. Her son Oberon had defeated and trapped her over a thousand years ago, but she had managed to condense all of her power into one of her eyes, sending it out into the human world before she was locked up. Usually, right before she consumed whatever victim she had at the moment and trapped their soul in her Eye, she would tell them the truth, only to watch the horror on their faces before their body crumpled into dust.
However, the former Queen of Avalon decided to wait a bit; Elijah was strong, and she wanted to use him as long as she could before having to take full control of him. Besides, his attitude and talking back was not at too concerning of a level. Yet. Besides, they already had one of the children, and once they got the other, they simply had to wait for Excalibur to arrive, and then the Ceremony would begin.
And then this world will be mine, she thought, looking through Elijah's eyes as they flew towards the distant lights of New York City.
Once again, a pretty intense chapter. We learn more about Mab's plan, see her and Elijah's various perspective, as well as what happened with the group in Weisman. The part where Elijah heals his uncle's sight was a particularly fun scene to write, as was the scene with John Castaway [Hunter's younger brother]. And, of course, Amanda, Nashville, and Maggie are in the Eye, and Maggie's going into labor! The next chapter should be VERY interesting!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
-aggiefrogger
I do not own Labyrinth or David Bowie at all.