"Dreams -- Part Two"
by Lisette: Lisette_1@lycos.com

Created on: 06/21/99

Revised on: 08/30/01

Legalese: Nothing here is of my own creation. Goliath and his crew belong to Buena Vista and Disney. A portion of the story was taken directly from the Gargoyles' episodes, Awakenings: Part One and Hunter's Moon: Part Three. The characters of Talika and Lisette, on the other hand, are of the others creation and should not be used without her express permission. In no way will a profit be made from this.

Author's Note: This story is the second part of the eighth installment of the Talika series.

Brief summary: Dreams, the windows to a person's soul, can be the most dangerous weapon of them all.

Rating: PG-13 due to language and content


Dreams -- Part Two

The tears stream down my face unchecked as I'm forced up the winding stairs to stand before the leader of my demolished clan, his body still frozen in stone and wrapped tightly in chains. All around me the screams of my clan echo in the darkening sky. Soon, their words of pain and pleadings for help change into words of hate as they blame me for their deaths.

"Shut up, witch!" the Captain of the Roman army roars at me as he slaps me forcibly across my face, so hard that darkness swarms up to clutch at me with tiny, piercing fingers. But I would get no respite from this hellish night that easily.

As the sun sets over the distant horizon and the bleak night steals over the land, my leader breaks from his stone sleep only to discover the remains of his clan and himself imprisoned in chains. He turns quickly and focuses on my weary face. "Lisette?" he cries out, his voice panicky. "What has happened? Why didn't you stop this?!" he roars, his voice changing to that of one in anger.

"The iron!" I gasp weakly, displaying my own chained arms that leave me as nothing else but a defenseless girl.

"Why did you allow yourself to be chained?" the leader roars again, his anger and grief now so intense that his eyes blaze a hot white light.

"The witch," the Roman Captain breaks in, his words meant for the gargoyle but his eyes locked on me, "allowed her anger to blind her so that we could take her from behind."

"But," I begin weakly before I realize that there is no defense for myself. What the Captain spoke was the truth.

"So my clan.. my love and mate," the leader says, his voice a deadly whisper as I turn to meet his cold eyes, "are all DEAD because... because... because you allowed yourself to be taken from behind?!"

"I... I am sorry... so sorry," I cry softly as the tears pour down my cheeks. "It is my fault! All my fault!" I sob as the truth finally hits me: everyone in my clan, everyone, died senseless deaths that could have been avoided if I hadn't made the most obvious mistake in the book by leaving my back unprotected. They all died senseless deaths because of me.

And then the voices rise and speak my guilt aloud. "You killed my clan!" the leader roars as he jumps from his parapet to stand menacingly before me. "It's thanks to you that we were able to destroy the demons!" the Roman Captain adds as he stands beside my leader. "You killed us? Why didn't you help us? You could have saved us all! You betrayed your clan!" come the very real voices of my clan, blowing in on the wind as their shattered stone forms appear before me, some missing arms, legs, and heads... all accusing me of the truth.

"Oh my God, help me!" I scream as my heart and mind split in two, tears streaming down my face. "Please... help me..."


"Oh mon Dieu, aidez-moi," Lisette whispered in a tiny voice as silent tears dripped down her drawn face. "S'il vous plâit... aidez-moi..."

Sighing softly, Brooklyn wanted nothing more than to gather the sleeping girl into his arms, but he knew from the experience he had gained during the last three hours that she would only recoil from his soft touch. Like Elisa had been, his love was now curled into a fetal position, her arms still wrapped in her white Nike shirt, wrapped tightly around her legs.

Shaking his head, Brooklyn gently covered Lisette with a light Afghan and then turned to look at Angela with worried eyes.

Sighing, Angela turned her eyes away from Brooklyn and then turned her attention back to Elisa and Goliath. Upon entering the Castle, Brooklyn had led the group to Lisette's spacious bedroom where both Lisette and Elisa had been deposited on the large king size canopy bed. After much debate, Angela and Hudson had finally laid Goliath's large frame on the plush carpeting beside the side of the bed that Elisa occupied. Slowly, as the hours passed, you could see the tension leave their bodies. While that caused hope to blossom within her, at the same time she couldn't help but worry for her friend who was steadily getting worse, wishing that they would wake sooner.

As if hearing her thoughts, Elisa and Goliath's eyes snapped open as one as they both sat up quickly. Turning, they both then moved to each other until Elisa was cradled in Goliath's arms with Goliath hanging on for dear life. "I'm so sorry," Goliath murmured as he prayed that this was real and that his love was really alive and there in his arms.

"Hope," Elisa murmured quietly as she clung to him like a lifeline, trying to banish the remnants of her troubling nightmare back into the furthest abyss of her mind.

Surprised at the sudden movement from two who had been still for so long, Angela, Brooklyn, Hudson and Owen watched in stunned silence for a moment before stepping forward. "Father? Elisa?" Angela asked as she hesitantly put a hand on her father's lavender shoulder.

Instantly, Goliath recoiled from her touch and acted as though he was trying to shield Elisa from harm. But when he finally looked up and met Angela's concerned gaze, the group was instantly struck by his haunted eyes. "I am sorry, Angela," he mumbled slowly as he climbed to his feet, Elisa standing before him with his arms wrapped tightly around her waist from behind.

"What happened? What are we doing in here?" Elisa asked as she waved airily at the room, her large chocolate brown eyes holding the same lost look as Goliath.

"We were hoping that you could tell us," was Brooklyn's reply as he stepped forward, uneasy at seeing his strong leader so stricken.

At this, Goliath frowned softly. "The last I remember is turning to stone at sunrise this morning... and the dreams."

Nodding knowingly at her love, Elisa shook her head. "Same here. Just the dreams and going to bed this morning," she acknowledged before a panicked look covered her features. "Wait a minute! It's sunset already?" she gasped as she turned to leave, taking in the dark night through a large window. "Oh no! I was supposed to relieve Lisette at five and have to be at work in a half hour!"

"Detective Maza," Owen broke in, halting her with his words, "the sun set over three hours ago."

"What?!" Goliath and Elisa asked simultaneously as Goliath unconsciously tightened his hold on his beloved. "How is that possible?" Goliath asked slowly, his low timbered voice taking on some of its customary strength.

"You both were under a spell," Angela replied slowly as she sighed in relief. It finally seemed as though her father was returning to normal.

"A spell?" Elisa asked in confusion.

"Aye, lass, that ye both were," Hudson agreed quietly.

At his mentor's words, Goliath finally accepted their words as truth. Turning, he regarded his second-in-command levelly. "Tell us what has happened," he ordered, his eyes piercing.

Nodding his head, Brooklyn stood taller. "When we awoke this evening we found you encased in stone, still asleep," he explained, his voice slow and even. "Lisette..." here, Brooklyn faltered for the briefest of moments before steeling his emotions.

Noting this, Elisa exchanged worried looks with Goliath before focusing once more on the brick red gargoyle.

"Lisette said that you were under a magic spell, a mortal's spell. With no other ideas, we went to your apartment, Elisa, and found you under the same spell and in a deep sleep..."

"Brooklyn, where is Lisette and the others?" Elisa interrupted, her mind whirling at all they had been told, thankful to get her mind off of her dreams, which were no doubt the result of the spell. "Where are Broadway and Lexington?"

"I sent them to guard the museum," Brooklyn answered, his face pained.

"And Lisette?" Goliath rumbled, concern pushing away his guilt and anguish.

"Lisette realized that the only real possibility of ending the spell was with your help, Elisa," Brooklyn answered, his face turning into a mask that hid his true emotions. "So, she twisted the spell you had taught her around so that she was under the spell and you both were freed."

Shaking his head, Owen quickly spoke up before the others, surprising them all. "I told them to stop her!" he said, his face twisted in anger and concern.

"And even if we could have, I wouldn't have allowed it!" Brooklyn snapped back, obviously at war within himself.

"Why not?" Angela asked slowly, surprised at her clan brother's answer.

"Because what Lisette did was for the best of the clan, Angela," Goliath stated, answering for his young second. "As clan leader, all personal feelings must be set aside for what is best for the clan." Shaking his head, Goliath sympathized with his second, for he knew that he had to choose between his duty to the clan and his desire to protect the one he loved. At Brooklyn's choice, Goliath felt a surge of pride. He had picked his second well and realized that his clan would indeed be well lead should anything ever happen to him.

"She can do that?" Elisa asked aloud as she puzzled over Brooklyn's words, completely missing the conversation around her.

"I didn't think so," Owen answered with a sigh of his own as he led Elisa over to the young woman's side. "But I have been wrong before," he admitted as Elisa sat on the bed beside his student, a large frown on her face as she saw Lisette for the first time.

"Lisette?" she whispered as she gently reached out and touched her, only to have her recoil sharply from the contact. Shaking her head, Elisa bit her lip at the flood of tears that poured down the young woman's face. Suddenly, in a flash she saw her little Hope curled in the same way Lisette had been. She looked almost exactly like a younger version of the French mage, only with curly fine locks and tears of blood replacing Lisette's clear ones. Clenching her hand in a fist, Elisa quickly snapped her eyes shut, willing the nightmare image away. A few seconds and calming breaths later, Elisa finally opened her eyes and was relieved to see Lisette's familiar visage once again.

"Elisa?" Goliath asked, concern echoing in his voice as he stepped behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder, only then noticing that his love was still clothed in her bedclothes of a pair of boxers and a thin tee-shirt.

Sighing, Elisa slowly shook her head. Reaching out, she gently but firmly placed her hand on the sleeping girl, not allowing her to shy away. Then, she concentrated on the young mage, murmuring beneath her breath as a pale green field formed around Lisette's form. "She is growing weaker," Elisa finally murmured as she stood back, her eyes distant.

"What?" Brooklyn cried out as he took Elisa's position beside Lisette.

"The spell that she is under is twice as powerful as was for me and Goliath for it had both of ours combined." At the blank and worried looks she was receiving, Elisa quickly explained. "The dreams are twice as bad for her, which means that it takes half the time for her to get to the point where we were when we awoke."

"Dreams?" Angela asked, puzzled by Elisa's words.

Shaking her head, Elisa met Goliath's haunted eyes. "From what I can tell, the spell makes you relive your worst memories...."

"Well, that can't be too bad, can it?" Angela asked, unaware of the enormity of the situation. After all, she had led a pretty sheltered life on the enchanted isle of Avalon where a thunderstorm was unheard of. She never had to live through the Wyvern massacre. No, she was still under the impression that just because you survived something once that you could do it again.

Well aware of this fact, Elisa slowly shook her head. "It's worse because it's different this time -- twisted," she clarified quickly, "and the pain is worse, both physical and mental."

Nodding his head slowly, Goliath met Brooklyn's eyes. "I relived the massacre at Wyvern and Hunter's Moon," he admitted, his eyes shadowed. "It was even worse than the first time for I lost everyone and alone carried the blame."

"But it wasn't your fault," Brooklyn argued, not liking what he was hearing one bit. If what they were saying was true, then Lisette was really in trouble, for they all knew that Lisette's relatively short life was filled with plenty of painful ammo for this spell.

"Perhaps," Goliath admitted, "but in the dreams you always are."

Wincing, Elisa shook her head. "Thank God, in a way, that I have so much to feel guilty for in my life that I didn't get a chance to reach the twenty-first century," she murmured, trying to smile.

All this time, Hudson had remained silent as he listened to the others and puzzled over a single question. Finally, when satisfied that there could be no other answer, he decided to speak out. "It 'ad to 'ave been Demona who cast this spell," he said, his voice gruff and sure of what he spoke.

"Mother?" Angela asked, her eyes wide.

Sighing, Elisa slowly nodded her head. "Demona is the only one of our enemies that could do something like this and who had a grudge against Goliath and I."

"But, I know that Mother does not like you, Elisa," Angela mumbled, her words causing everyone to crack a smile at the big understatement, "but I know that she still loves Father."

"Obviously not anymore," Brooklyn murmured wearily as he gently took Lisette's warm hand into his. Already the green light that surrounded her and that marked the spell's strength was growing dimmer. Normally, he would find this as a good thing and would feel relieved. Now, though, he knew that if the spell was wearing itself out then there was becoming less and less of a chance for the young woman to come out of this unscathed and now even more emotionally scared then she already was. Shaking his head, he quickly brought the conversation back on track. "So, if Demona is the one who did this, do we go to see her?"

"No," Elisa quickly interrupted as her eyes flashed green. "Leave Demona to me," she stated as she raised her hands above her head and prepared to teleport to Demona's manor.

Before she could do so, though, Goliath stepped forward and placed a restraining hand on her shoulder. "Because you are going to use magic to get there, I am assuming that you plan on using intimidation."

Surprised more at Goliath's desire to detail her plans for no obvious reason than the fact that he was correct, Elisa slowly nodded her head. Could it be that he knew her that well already so that he could interpret her every action? Smiling, Elisa realized just how much she truly enjoyed that idea.

"Then, I suggest changing, my love," Goliath said with a small smile as Elisa finally noticed that she stood only in a striped pair of boxer shorts and a man's oversized tee-shirt, her face flushing in embarrassment. "I think that your intimidation will be hampered when presented in your bed clothes."

"Very funny, Big Guy," Elisa muttered as she quickly snapped her fingers. In a flare of green magic, the simple bed clothes were instantly replaced with the wispy royal blue skirt and halter top with the golden highlights that spoke of power and prestige. "Is this more intimidating?" she asked with a bright smile as she brushed her long, silky locks over her shoulder in a wave of darkness.

Gulping silently, Goliath couldn't help but realize how unearthly beautiful Elisa, no, Talika was, with her darkly tanned skin offset by the royal blues. She truly was a goddess.

Seeing Goliath's appreciative reaction, Talika silently debated about wearing the familiar outfit more often when a quiet cry from Lisette reminded her of her mission. Instantly she was all business as the smile was replaced by a look of grim determination. Without any further ado, she then disappeared in a blinding flash of green light.

"Please be careful, Mother," Angela whispered quietly as she hoped for both Demona and Elisa and turned back to Lisette's tossing form.

"Oh mon Dieu! Tuez-moi maintenant!" the sleeping girl murmured, causing all color to drain from Brooklyn's face. "Hurry Elisa..."


As the man slowly lowers the burning torch to the sea of hay that surrounds me, I struggle uselessly in my iron bonds. My mind screams that this can't be happening, that I, Lisette, am not about to be burned at the stake while all around me Romans and my native people of Gaul stare at me with hatred and fear. But then, as the hay and straw begins to pour forth an acrid black smoke that clogs my nose and burns my teary blue eyes, I know that this is real. "Please, I am not a witch!" I cry out as the crackling of the hungry fire eats away below me.

But the people, my people, don't care about me or my pleas to logic. All they care about is their naive fear of what they do not understand: me. "Burn, Witch!" they being to chant as the fire draws near to the pole that I am painfully bound to, inching ever closer to the hem of my tattered blue dress.

And then, in a flash of light, the leader of my clan stands before me. The proud gargoyle is a sad sight with limbs twisted in ways they never should be and blood trickling down his face. Beside him stands the Captain of the Roman army, hatred lining both of their faces. "You must burn for your sins," the Captain murmurs, his dark eyes flashing.

Tearing my eyes away from the two, I watch in growing horror, fear, and pain as the fire roars closer, searing my skin as my chains begin to absorb the heat. "Please," I cry as I stare deep into my leader's eyes, "I did everything I could!"

"You shall pay for what you did to my clan," he growls, his eyes cold and hard as the said clan appears around him.

Gasping, I find my eyes drawn to their battered forms, many limbs missing from their figures. Then, and only then, does the fear I feel give way to grief and sadness as the tears pour down my cheeks. And then, my moan quickly turns into a scream of pain as the fire finally licks at my bare feet. Screaming out in pain, I jerk my eyes downward as the fire traces the soft material of my dress and then quickly consumes it. And then, my screams of pain turn to agony as the fire builds around me, burning my clothes, my hair, my flesh. "Oh God, kill me now!" I scream as I feel my body melt under the intense heat from all around me. Yet even as I scream this my mind knows that I do not deserve release. For killing my clan, I shall forever burn.


Destine Manor

Groaning, Demona slowly put her taloned hand to her head as she pulled her aching body off of the hard floor in her spell room. Shaking her head, she glared at the offending scroll which had cost her a day of her busy life. "Easy spell? I think not," she growled, her eyes burning red. The small bonus of sleeping through her painful transformation just wasn't worth the pounding headache or the blinding exhaustion she now felt. All she wanted to do was crawl upstairs into her soft, warm bed. Sadly, she wouldn't get that chance quite yet.

"Demona, stop where you are," a single voice rang out, so familiar yet so different as it made her want to cringe before royalty.

Sighing, she slowly put her hand on the wall for support as she turned to glare at the intruder behind her. "What do you want, human?" Demona asked.. and then felt her jaw drop. "Maza?!" she croaked as she truly looked at the human that did in fact exude a feeling of power -- like royalty. Strangely, she had to fight the urge to fall to her knees and bow deeply to her worst enemy. "Must be more tired than I thought," Demona mumbled as she forced her glare to replace her look of astonishment.

Frowning, Elisa allowed her eyes to flare a bright green in anger. "Where is the spell that you cast against Goliath and I?" she asked, her voice ringing in the small room.

At the skimpily clad Detective's question, Demona felt some of the fog clear from her aching head. "How did you get in here?" she questioned, her eyes wide as she backed away. "The spell..."

"None of your spells will ever affect us," Elisa quickly broke in, lying through her teeth. "Your magically poisoned dart and this little dream spell didn't work and all it is, is a waste of time and energy."

Little?! her mind seethed. "But," Demona protested weakly, shaking her head in denial. If magic would not work against her enemies, then what did she have left to defeat them with? Her bare hands?

"Where is the spell?" Elisa repeated, enjoying every second of Demona's confusion.

At her words, Demona's eyes unconsciously snapped to the offending scroll.

Following her eyes, Elisa quickly stalked over to the table and snatched up the parchment. Unable to hold back her smile, Talika quickly froze Demona's taloned feet to the floor and skimmed the parchment. When she got to the bottom, her smile instantly disappeared as she turned the aging scroll over, hoping to find more written on the back. When she didn't, her eyes snapped to the blue gargess who was getting madder by the minute. "Where's the rest? Where's the counter spell?" Elisa ground out, her eyes glowing green.

Unimpressed, Demona hissed at the woman standing before her as she struggled to remove her feet from their frozen position. "If you both are unaffected by my magic, then why do you need a counter spell?" Demona growled, her eyes burning red.

"I need it for Lisette," Elisa murmured absently as she studied the spell once again, only realizing her slip after it was too late.

"I got the little witch?" Demona asked in surprise, temporarily forgetting her anger as a small surge of pride filled her. She had no idea how the little wench that had caused her so much trouble could have been affected, but she wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Sighing, Elisa placed the scroll back on the table and faced her mate's ex. "Demona, where's the counter spell?" she asked wearily, tired of the games.

At the detective's question, Demona slowly leaned back against the wall and crossed her arms casually across her chest. "There is no counter spell."

"What?!" Elisa cried as she stood taller, instantly searching the gargess's eyes for signs that she was lying. To her great dismay, all that she saw was truth shining through with no room for deception.

"The ancient Egyptians obviously didn't believe in a change of heart or mind," Demona answered with a small smirk. Even though she didn't ensnare her true targets in the spell's web, the effort wasn't completely wasted if one of Goliath's clan somehow fell prey instead -- especially since it was the little witch that had caused her so much grief earlier.

At Demona's casual words, Elisa felt her anger quickly build before dropping just as quickly. "Demona, when will you get over your anger and focus on the results of your actions?"

Bristled by the Detective's obvious pity, Demona's angry tirade was only halted by the weariness in her voice. She was familiar with the weariness for it was only expressed by those who had lived too long and had seen too much. It was a weariness that she shouldered after living for a thousand years. Quietly, she wondered how this woman could gain this weariness in her short life.

"Maybe next time you should think about your daughter before you try destroying her father," Elisa murmured before disappearing in a flash of light.


Castle Wyvern

As the light flashed brightly in the large room, everyone turned hopeful eyes to the sole person who appeared. Then, their eyes dropped as Elisa moved quietly across the room, the swishing of her blue jeans the only noise as she sat wordlessly on the bed beside the pale girl.

"She's getting weaker," Brooklyn murmured from across Elisa as he nodded towards the pale green field that surrounded Lisette -- a field that was growing lighter by the second.

"Did Demona give you the counter spell?" Goliath asked from beside the bed, his large arm wrapped around Angela's shoulders.

"There is no counter spell," Elisa murmured as she gently placed a hand on the young woman's sweaty forehead.

"Now what do we do?" Owen asked as he stepped out of the shadows and into the soft amber light of the shaded lamps.

"She doesn't have long," Brooklyn added from his position beside the enchanted mage, squeezing her hand gently. "Earlier she was screaming as though.. she was being burned alive," he continued. "She was begging for God to just kill her."

Wincing at the young gargoyle's words, Elisa closed her eyes against the wave of fresh memories that assaulted her mind. Yes, she could easily see how the young woman could be brought to the point where she would prefer death over the hell she endured. Shaking her head, Elisa quickly focused on Owen's question. "We must allow for the spell to exhaust itself without causing Lisette any more harm."

"An' how do ye propose to do that, lass?" Hudson asked as he gently scratched Bronx behind his ears. For the entire night Hudson had struggled to keep the doggoyle by his side and out of the way of the others while the mutt wanted nothing else than to stay by, first Goliath and Elisa, and now Lisette's side.

"By guiding her through the dreams," came Elisa's simple reply as she shrugged out of her red bomber jacket and gently took the young mage's hand in hers. What worried her now was that the young woman was beyond the point of shying away from her soft touch.

"You can do that, Elisa?" Angela asked in wide-eyed amazement, drawing strength from her father. "You can enter her dreams?"

"Under normal circumstances, such a thing would be difficult at best," Elisa stated as she closed her eyes and began picking at the threads of magic. "... but because of the spell, I should be able to..." she trailed off as she found the small hole that she had been searching for. "Bingo," she murmured as she threw her consciousness through the hole and into Lisette's hellish dream beyond.


Instantly, Elisa's senses were assaulted by a barrage of smells, sounds, and unfamiliar sights as Lisette's dreamscape slowly built around her. Shaking her head to clear it, Elisa slowly picked herself off of the hard stone steps and brushed the dirt from her jeans. Glancing up, she saw that she was in a tower of an old stone castle, a château in this case, the worn stone radiating a deep coolness. Sighing, Elisa breathed in the smell of pine trees, stables, and something else that she couldn't identify that filtered in through a nearby window. Slowly she began walking up the winding staircase that she had been deposited in, her black boots clapping softly off of the stone.

Suddenly she heard the soft tapping of slippered feet from further up and quickly backed against the wall, desperately trying to hide in the deep shadows of the tower. In truth, Elisa had no idea how this dream thing would work and was hesitant to find out. And then, the person who approached came into view.

"Lisette!" Elisa cried out as she stepped out, causing the girl to jump back in surprise. Quickly, Elisa realized that the label of girl was indeed fitting for the young mage appeared to be no more than twelve or thirteen years old. Still, in the striking burgundy gown and with part of her long blond tresses fastened securely behind her, the girl was still an enchanting figure.

"Oh, mon Dieu!" Lisette cried out as she jumped away from the voice and backed into one of the hard stone walls. With wide, frightened blue eyes she watched as the owner of the voice left her veil of shadows, revealing a striking woman with raven black hair that was clothed in strange, form-fitting clothing. As her heart beat slowly stilled, Lisette peered up into the woman's concerned gaze. "Mother?" she whispered slowly, tears filling her eyes.

Groaning, Elisa quickly shook her head as she finished off the distance between herself and the girl, taking her small hands in her own. "No, it's Elisa... don't you remember?"

"Elisa?" Lisette questioned, her brow tightening in confusion. Suddenly, a bright smile spread across her face, twin dimples appearing. "Elisa! Of course I remember you!" she cried out, her arms wrapping instinctively around the older woman.

Smiling, Elisa relished in the comfort the girl's small arms brought before stepping back and staring at her intently. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice tight with concern.

"Of course," Lisette responded quickly, her expression showing her confusion. "Craigen just relieved me of my studies for the evening! I was just heading down to patrol with Petite and the rest of the clan... would you like to join me?"

Sighing, Elisa quickly realized that she must have arrived at the beginning of one of the dreams. Also, from Lisette's age and references, it was obvious that the dream was taken from a memory from Lisette's time in France. Then again, that could be used to her advantage. Obviously the girl had memories of both the present and the past -- memories that would conflict and help her to see Lisette's dream for what it truly was.

Taking in Elisa's hesitation, Lisette's smile only grew. "But of course! You probably already have plans with Goliath!"

Jumping on that, Elisa felt her dark eyes bore into Lisette. "Who's Goliath?"

At her friend's question, Lisette looked at the older woman as though she were daft. "You, of all people, should not be asking that question..."

"Humor me," Elisa interrupted, growing slightly impatient.

Shaking her head, the girl shrugged her dainty shoulders. "Goliath is the leader of the clan and your mate."

Smiling, Elisa squeezed Lisette's hands gently. "But how can your leader and Goliath both lead the clan?" she asked.

Instantly Lisette frowned softly as she thought of the paradox, causing Elisa's smile to grow. Then, the frown disappeared as Lisette grinned up at the detective. "Because they each lead their own clan, silly!" she cried out, a small laugh escaping her lips.

Groaning, Elisa quickly shook her head. She had forgotten the most important rule to dreaming -- the subconscious mind which controlled the dream would always make the most obvious of inconsistencies seem natural. How else could people dream of Freddie Krueger, mermaids, or other such fictitious creatures yet seem so real? "Lisette, you're dreaming!" Elisa finally cried out in frustration.

"What?" Lisette asked, concern showing in her eyes for her friend.

"Lisette, this is all a..." Elisa trailed off as heavy footsteps echoed off of the stone steps. Without another word, Elisa quickly moved into the shadows and watched with narrowed eyes as a young man stepped into view. Shying lower into the smooth darkness, Elisa saw that the man was about twenty years old with dark brown hair captured in a string of dark leather. Even she had to admit that he was ruggedly handsome with strong shoulders, an even build, and dark breeches that showed his physique.

"Good evening, my lord," Lisette said quickly, her eyes downcast in a show of submissiveness and respect as Craigen had taught her, curtsying low on the wide and curving step.

"Rise up, my lady," the young man said quietly as he stepped forward, causing Lisette to step back, the rough stone wall scraping against the soft material of her dress as her back rubbed the wall. "My father, the lord, is not here," he offered in explanation. "You need not show such formalities when we are alone as now," he murmured as his fiery gaze raked boldly over her form. Even though she was quite young, the girl was rapidly blossoming into a young woman. Already she was a ravishing sight and had easily caught his hungry attention.

"Of course, Lord Louis," she responded, still looking down as she felt the man edge near. "Although we are hardly alone..." she murmured as she felt a tingle of fear creep upon her as the lord's son stood quietly, no doubt eyeing her as he had been as of late. Curse her luck for having her chance upon him!

"Alone enough," the man murmured.

"Were you looking for Craigen, my lord?" she asked hopefully. After all, Craigen's chambers were the only rooms to be found in this tower.

"I already found who I was looking for, my lady," Lord Louis the third answered quietly as he stepped forward once again. Now, he was standing directly before her, towering a full head above her as he gazed wantonly down on her blond locks. She was trapped and he knew it, and by God, this little beauty would be his. "What do I call you, my lady?" he asked quietly as he slowly brought his hand up and gently trailed it down the soft velvet material that covered her small shoulder, her arm shaking beneath his touch. "Is it my lady, mage Lisette, or something else?"

"Please stop, my lord," Lisette whispered, dismayed at how weak her voice sounded. But she couldn't help it. Already she was risking his wrath by asking such a thing -- one just never questioned the lord's son.

"What is wrong, my pet?" Lord Louis asked, his voice low and thick as he stepped the final step closer, his hard body pressing her against the wall. Taking his hand away, the young man quickly lifted the girl's chin and crushed his lips against her petal-soft ones. Sighing, he quickly darted his tongue into her small mouth and felt her recoil in surprise. Smiling, he pulled away and admired her full lips before turning his deep gaze up to meet her bright blue eyes. To his amazement, he saw that the girl's eyes burned with indignant anger and shock -- both held in careful check in fear of the consequences of openly displaying either. "Do you not like it, chèrie?" he murmured as he raised an experienced hand slowly up till he cupped one of her small breasts in his large hand through the material of her dress.

Gasping, Lisette tried to slide away from the offending touch only to have the man thrust his pelvis forward, effectively pinning her against the wall while leaving his hands free to roam. "My lord," she moaned, tears pooling in her eyes as she weakly lifted her hands to push him away.

Reacting instantly, the Lord quickly stepped back and pulled the girl roughly from the wall and pinned her to him. Smiling wickedly, he quickly arched his neck and began ravishing her neck with rough kisses. "This first time won't be easy," he murmured as he jerked Lisette's small hands behind her back, easily holding her slim wrists with one hand as he once more backed her into the wall. "But I can't resist your temptations any longer..." he trailed off as he once again began kneading her soft breasts through her dress.

"Well, you damn well better start!" Elisa cried out as she rushed forward out of the shadows, her eyes flashing in anger. She had sat in the shadows, forcing herself to wait for Lisette to defend herself from the brute. But soon, it became apparent that the girl wouldn't strike out. Yet, to her dismay, the man didn't even react to her sudden outburst. Nearly growling in anger, Elisa quickly threw a punch at the man -- only to have her fist pass right through him as though she were but an apparition.

"Next time, we will have more time, chèrie, and I shall enjoy you more thoroughly," the man continued, his voice a low moan as he nibbled on Lisette's neck, his hand painfully exploring her as the tears dripped through her thick lashes.

"Lisette, you must fight him!" Elisa cried out, her compassionate eyes turning to the girl she loved as a daughter.

"Oh Elisa," Lisette moaned as she tried to deny what was happening to her, to ignore the obvious violation of her body. Strangely, it was as though the Lord didn't even hear her words to her friend. "If I fight the Lord's son, I shall be severely punished..." she murmured.

"No you won't! This is just a dream, Lisette!" Elisa pleaded, wishing more than anything that she could stop the man herself. She was a cop, for God's sake, this was her JOB! But she had stated it best: she was nothing more than a guide to the young mage -- only Lisette could prevent what was happening. "You can fight him!"

At this, Lisette laughed bitterly and then winced in pain. Before the tears could start, the girl quickly tuned out what was happening to her body and focused on her raven-haired friend. "If only this was but a dream..."

"It is a dream..."

"You do not feel pain like this in dreams," Lisette whispered quietly as a single tear trickled out. "I would not feel his hot breath on my neck, his rough kisses, or his hands on me in dreams!" Lisette cried bitterly, trying to block out his groans of pleasure.

"And in a dream Brooklyn would come to your rescue, wouldn't he?" Elisa bit back, shocking the girl into listening with her harsh words. "Well, in this dream Brooklyn's not going to save you -- you gotta save yourself!"

"Save myself..." Lisette murmured, wincing as the Lord's son pressed himself against her, his passion and urgency growing. Instantly she came to her decision: any punishment was better than this. "I warn you one last time, my lord," Lisette hissed, her eyes demanding his attention. "Stop this."

Surprised, Lord Louis paused in his mad pawing and regarded the little wench. "I think not," he replied, his voice husky as he slowly slid his hand down her body, pausing over every supple curve till he reached her waist line. Smiling, he then slowly began pulling the heavy material of her gown up, revealing her smooth legs an inch at a time as he pressed himself firmly against her.

At this, a cold shard of fear flared within her... fear and anger. "NO!" she cried out as she called upon her magic -- only to realize that she had no magic to call upon. "Elisa!" she cried out, panic filling her voice as a cold breeze caressed her bare thighs. "My magic is gone!"

"Then fight him with your hands!" Elisa cried out as the man slowly spread his legs around her and began caressing Lisette's legs -- before tugging at his own breeches.

Gasping at his move, Lisette reacted on instinct. With her hands still painfully pinned behind her, that left only one real thing to attack with. "NO!" she screamed again as she brought her knee viciously up, catching him openly between the legs. With a groan of agony, Lord Louis the third slowly backed away from the young girl before disappearing altogether, finally releasing Lisette. Crying out, the young girl then quickly tumbled into Elisa's waiting arms where they both then fell to the hard stone stairs. "What is going on?!" Lisette sobbed brokenly.

"You're under a spell," Elisa murmured as she stroked the girl's soft hair. "Don't you remember taking the spell from Goliath and I?"

At Elisa's quiet words, Lisette's sobs slowly stilled as she turned her tear-stained face to the detective. "I remember..." she murmured, her voice filled with wonder. "So... all this," she said, indicating their surroundings with a wave, "is a part of my dream?"

"Every last bit of it," Elisa replied with a small smile. "Right now you're lying on your bed with the clan gathered around you."

"It was so real," Lisette mumbled, still able to feel his rough hands on her body.

"One quirk to the spell..." Elisa trailed off as she watched Lisette's composure literally crumble before her. As tears streaked down the young girl's face, a haunted look of self-loathing entered her large blue eyes. "Lisette?" Elisa asked anxiously as the young mage withdrew from her embrace and wrapped her thin arms around her knees.

"I remember the other dreams," Lisette whispered bleakly as she felt her heart crumble within her. "They were awful..."

"Shh... it wasn't real," Elisa whispered as she tried to draw the girl into her arms once again, only to have her draw away.

"Not real?" Lisette asked in disbelief, her haunted eyes finally meeting Elisa's. "I can still hear my clan scream my guilt!" she cried, causing Elisa to wince in sympathy. "I can still feel the agony as the fire eats my flesh... torches my hair... burns me alive," Lisette whispered, her voice hollow.

"Oh God," Elisa murmured as she stared at the young girl in shock. She knew that the spell was going to be worse for the young mage, the magic now twice as strong. Still, she had no idea just how bad the dreams would be. "Lisette, I..." she trailed off as she watched the young mage's eyes grow wide in terror.

"Elisa! What's happening?" Lisette cried out as the walls and stairs began disappearing from around them.

"You're heading into the next dream!" Elisa guessed as she felt herself begin to disappear as well. Sighing, she knew what it meant.

"Next dream?!" Lisette gasped as she quickly climbed to her feet. "I thought this was over.. that you came to rescue me, Elisa... Elisa?!" Lisette screamed as she found herself in a misty void, the last traces of her dream disappearing completely -- along with the detective.

"Don't forget that this is a dream..." Elisa's strained voice floated in the misty realm, seeming to come from all directions.

"Elisa?! What's going on?" Lisette screamed as she whirled in place, a cold knot of fear ruling her heart. She couldn't face another dream, especially not alone... at this point, she feared her sanity couldn't take it. "Where are you?!"

"... can't go... you..." came Elisa's disembodied voice.

"Elisa?!" Lisette screamed, the knot growing tighter.

"... remember... clan......... faith............."

"ELISA!!!" Lisette screamed once again, the salty tears streaking down her face as she fell to her knees. "Please don't leave me..." she whispered desolately to the swirling mist, alone in her hell once again.


"I'm sorry," Elisa murmured as she slowly opened her eyes and looked down at Lisette's sleeping form. For a moment, the beautiful young woman lying before her was a shock, having become accustomed to her younger self.

"Elisa?" Goliath asked softly as he moved around to the other side of Lisette's large canopied bed till he was standing behind his love. "Are you alright?" he asked quietly as he gently rested his large, lavender hand on her shoulder.

"The spell kicked me out," Elisa muttered angrily as she gently released Lisette's hand and clambered back over the bed till she was standing beside Goliath. "How long was I out?" she asked as she squeezed her love's hand gently, flashing him a small smile to reassure him before moving around the bed to join the others.

"About an hour," Brooklyn replied from beside Lisette, her slim hand still clasped in his own.

Smiling softly, Elisa realized that in the hour that had passed, not much had changed. Brooklyn now sat in a chair that someone had pulled beside the bed, an alert vigil with Bronx sleeping at his feet. A small fire crackled in the fireplace, tended to by Hudson as Broadway and Lexington sat huddled in a corner with Angela, their eyes locked on her own. Even Owen had remained, his cold and expressionless mask doing nothing to hide the worry in his eyes. "What are you guys doing here?" Elisa finally asked as she turned back to the trio hunched in the corner, arching a slim eyebrow at the pair.

"They were worried about their clan sister and I decided that their presence was needed most here," Goliath answered for them, throwing a small nod in Angela's direction.

Elisa quickly understood -- Angela and Lisette were obviously very close and the support that her love and clan brother could offer would be a help.

"How is she? What happened?" Brooklyn finally asked as he gave up waiting for Elisa to supply the information. At her silence, he quickly continued. "The spell is almost done... is that good or bad?"

"I'm not sure," Elisa answered honestly. "I was able to get through to her and remind her of the spell in the last dream. Because of that, I think that this final dream will be the worst..."

"And?" Owen asked, his voice cracking as his blue eyes bore into the detective.

"If she remembers my warning and that it's only a dream then she'll be fine. If not..." Elisa trailed off, not wanting to voice the words aloud for superstitious fear of making the statement real.

"Then it's all up to her now," Brooklyn murmured as he turned his eyes back to his love. "I know you can do it," he whispered, squeezing her hand gently as he used his brick red hand to brush an errant strand of blond from her forehead. "I have faith in you."


Sighing softly I roam the ramparts of Castle Wyvern, the soft wind gently caressing my long blond hair. My mind is a whirl of thoughts and half-remembered dreams -- and it's the dreams that concern me. They're wispy, like veils, but so troubling that they demand my complete attention. Yet to make matters all the worse, the dreams are tangled and intertwined with my own memories, confusing me further.

There was a misty dream of that fateful day when my clan had been destroyed. It's no secret that I've always held guilt for the part that I played in my clan's destruction -- I will never forgive myself for what my blind anger caused. Even as I think this the tears cloud my eyes and the pain fills my heart -- pain that is as strong as it was two to three years ago when I had awoken from my enchanted sleep. This, I somehow know, is because of the dream... all because of the dream.

And then there's the second dream. In my memories, I know that Craigen had saved me from the stake with my legs being the only part suffering from the wrath of the flames. Yet, in my dream no one had saved me and I had burned... Wincing, I turn my face into the cool night breeze and attempt to still my beating heart. My wandering has taken me to Wyvern's highest tower where I stand in silence and try to stop the war that's raging within me. The pain... the pain from my dream is more real and vivid to me than the real pain I had actually endured. I can still feel the sickening way my skin seemed to melt off...

"No," I murmur aloud as I quickly clamp my hands tightly over my ears, trying to block out my own anguished screams. Quickly I focus on the third dream, perhaps the most puzzling of them all. Lord Louis III had almost... he almost... to me. It's an awful thought that brings waves of nausea to me. I can still feel his rough hands on my body, touching me in ways he had no right to... I feel dirty because of his touches. Yet I know that no matter how hard I scrubbed, I'd never get rid of the feeling of his hands... his mouth on me. But that's what makes this dream so confusing and disturbing! I know, I know how real the dream is.. how real his touches were. But at the same time, I know that it was a dream for it NEVER happened like that. Oh, the Lord's son did stop me on those stairs that night, but Petite, my gargoyle friend had appeared at the window. Her presence had halted his advances and after the pointed look she gave him, he never tried again.

Or did he? Elisa had said that it was all a dream... but what if she was wrong? The pain, the guilt, the touches.. they were all too real to be dreams. What if they were real and my memories were the dreams? What is real anymore? What if this isn't real? What if I'm dreaming right now?

"Oh, mon Dieu aidez-moi," I moan quietly as I fall to my knees, the tears coursing down my wet cheeks. I need help and I'm so confused... Elisa had been there for me before in the dream.. but now... what if that was real and only Elisa was imagined?

"Lisette?"

"Brooklyn?" I gasp as I quickly jump to my feet and turn. There, standing behind me with his eyes filled with concern is the brick red gargoyle that I love, his unruly white hair trailing over his shoulders.

Instantly he moves towards me and enfolds me in his strong arms, his massive wings wrapping around us and shielding me from everything -- everything but my own troubled thoughts. "You're trembling," Brooklyn murmurs, his soft breath rustling my hair.

"I do not know what is real anymore," I whisper, the tears trailing down my cheeks and onto his soft skin. Suddenly, a horrifying thought occurs to me. "What if you are not real and this is all a dream?!" I cry out, stepping back slightly as I stare up into his dark eyes.

"Does this feel real to you?" Brooklyn murmurs as he slowly lowers his head and kisses me softly.

Sighing, I return the kiss with all my heart before slowly pulling away. "I was so scared," I murmur as I lean back into his comforting embrace.

"I will always be here for you... you're safe now," comes his soothing response, instantly calming my fears and pushing my worries aside.

"Brooklyn, did you find her?" a low bass voice calls out, breaking in on my thoughts.

Surprised, I turn away from my love and watch in surprise as our clan alights on the stones before us. "Ah, I see that you did," Goliath continues as he places Elisa lightly on the stones.

And then I hear more footsteps as David Xanatos, Fox with little Alex in hand, Owen, and Matt Bluestone join us on the tower from the open stairs of the castle below. "What... what are you all doing here?" I ask, my voice filled with the wary hesitation I am feeling.

"We've come to make sure that what you did to your last clan isn't repeated with us," Elisa responds for the group, her dark eyes glittering.

"What?!" I cry, taking a step back only to run into the hard planes of Brooklyn's chest, finding scant comfort in his presence now.

"Well, my dear," Xanatos says with his trademark smirk, causing my skin to crawl, "frankly, with what we heard of how you pretty much decimated your last clan, you've become a liability to us... you're more trouble than you're worth."

"You cannot mean that!" I gasp, my hand flying to my mouth as tears come to my eyes. Instantly the dying voices of my clan fill my head with their screams of agony and their cries of hatred for what I had caused. Even my own clan knows of my guilt. I am to blame.

"Your magic is very strong," Owen cuts in, his eyes shooting daggers at me, "yet already you go against my wishes at every chance you get."

To this, I have no reply as a cold metal quickly pins my arms to my side. More hurt than surprised, I slowly turn my eyes away from the iron chain that now imprisons me and look into the eyes of my love. "Brooklyn," I whisper, my voice choked with tears and heartache, "you are with the others?"

With eyes gone cold, Brooklyn looks down at the end of the chain he holds and then smiles his crooked smile at me -- a sad smile. "I must protect my clan from all threats... including you."

"Especially me," I murmur as I stumble to my knees, my tears burning in my eyes and blinding me. All around me on the wind I hear the voices of my dead clan, the roaring of a hot pyre of flame, and the soft moaning of a young man. All filter around me as my heart is shattered once more and as my tears course down. "My fault, my fault," I moan as I crumble the rest of the way to the hard stone floor, the iron chain clattering and grating around me as I curl up into a tiny ball. "Ma faute... ma faute...."


"Ma faute.. ma faute..." Lisette murmured as the green veil of magic that surrounded the young mage lightened until it was almost nonexistent.

"She's not going to make it," Elisa whispered sadly as she turned away from the pale girl and slid into Goliath's arms, tears pooling in her large brown eyes. "Maybe I should take it..."

"NO!!" came the resounding answer throughout the room. They all knew what the detective was going to say and none of them wanted her to be suffering anymore than they wanted it for Lisette.

"Don't give up on her yet," Brooklyn murmured as he leaned forward and gently caressed her soft cheek, her hand held tightly in his own. "I know that you can do it, Lisette. I love you..."


"I love you..." the words whisper on the wind, soft yet overpowering the screams of the others. And then, the words of another reach my ears. "... remember... clan... faith......"

Opening my eyes, I slowly uncurl and climb unsteadily to my knees, my clan standing before me. "This isn't real," I murmur, my eyes raking over their faces... they look so much like they should, but I know now the truth. "None of this is real... I'm still dreaming."

"And I suppose that you were dreaming when your clan was butchered because of your mistake," Goliath growled, his eyes flaring white.

Wincing at his words, I quickly close my eyes and search my heart for the truth. Opening them, I then smile at the group, albeit shakily. "You are not my clan and I am dreaming. My clan would NEVER turn against me... my love would not turn from me," I murmur as I stare at the dream Brooklyn.

"Was the kiss a dream?" he asks, his voice low.

At his words, I falter for only a moment. "You are not real," I reply, my voice hard and cold.

"Wasn't the fire real?!" he suddenly booms as the flames appear out of nowhere and begin licking at my body and clothing.

"You are not real!" I scream even as the intense pain I feel as my skin is sloughed off feels real enough. "You are not real! Not real! Not real!" I begin screaming, tears pouring down my face. "Pas vrai! Rêves, sortez de mon tête!"


As the screams erupted from Lisette's throat, the group quickly staggered back in surprise -- save one. "Lisette! Lisette!!" Brooklyn cried as he bolted from his chair and quickly sat on the bed, the mattress giving way under his weight and sending the young woman tumbling into his arms. Instantly her eyes snapped open as tears streamed down her face, giving her the appearance of a caged animal.

"Laissez-moi tranquille!" she cried as she began striking Brooklyn blindly, her eyes squeezing shut. "Laissez-moi tranquille! Fermez la porte de mes rêves. S'il vous plaît, pas des rêves!" Lisette sobbed brokenly.

Having no idea what Lisette had just said in her rapid fire French, Brooklyn quickly ignored her small fists and drew her closer to him. "Shh... it's alright," he murmured as he tried to comfort her with his presence. "It's all over now..."

"Is it?" Lisette broke in, Brooklyn's words of comfort having broken into her hazy thoughts. "What if this is another dream? What if you are not real either?" she cried out, her large blue eyes turning panicked.

"You can feel this, can't you?" Brooklyn asked quickly as he hugged her tighter, desperate to take away her fear.

At his words Lisette tore herself out of his strong arms and scurried off of her bed. Gasping, she could feel herself begin to hyperventilate as she saw the clan stare at her in shock... or were they her clan? As a strangled cry escaped her lips, Lisette rushed to an unoccupied corner of the room where she quickly slid to her knees. As the tears streamed down her face and as the sobs wracked her body, the young woman hugged the wall. "I felt the fire, Lord Louis's hands, and your kiss!" she cried out, her body shaking, "but NONE of them were real! NOTHING is real anymore!!" she screamed, causing tears to flow down Angela's cheeks and looks of horror to appear on the faces of the others.

"Lisette," Brooklyn cried weakly as he approached his love, his voice broken by seeing her in such emotional and psychological torment.

"Don't," Owen quickly called out, halting the gargoyle with his intensity. "She has formed an electrified barrier around her."

Gulping, Brooklyn did as told and stood still, his soft eyes on his love, her body wracked with sobs. "We've got to help her," he moaned as he turned back to the clan, his eyes begging for help.

Sighing softly, Elisa left Goliath's side and slowly moved till she was standing beside Brooklyn's tall form. "Lisette," she called softly. When she got no response, she unconsciously straightened her shoulders and stood taller. "Lisette!" she called out again, her voice hard. This time she got the response she was looking for as the young woman's head snapped up, her large blue eyes wary. "Don't you remember what I said?" she continued in a softer voice. "You must trust the clan -- have faith in us."

"I do not think I can," Lisette murmured weakly as she surveyed the clan, "not again. My heart cannot take any more..."

"Isn't it worth the chance?" Elisa broke in, her brown eyes showing her sincerity. "Isn't it better than being alone, which you will be if you don't take this chance."

At Elisa's words, Lisette felt her mind clear and the voices of her dead clan fade away. If she took this chance and it all was a dream her heart would surely die a quick death, for she wasn't lying when she said that she couldn't take anymore. Then again, if she didn't trust the clan, her heart would surely suffer the same fate -- only in this case the road would be longer, slower, and more painful. In the end, Elisa was right -- it was worth taking the chance. Still, she knew that she was too far gone to initiate anything, and in the end, the only thing she could do was drop her magical ward before collapsing into a ball of tears.

Hesitant, Brooklyn waited for Elisa's nod before slowly approaching the devastated woman. When before her, he slowly got to his knees, wary of his touch sending her away, and whispered quietly, "I love you..." Before he even had a chance to finish, Lisette was away from the wall and in his arms, her own wrapped tightly around his neck. Surprised, he knelt in shock for a brief moment before wrapping his own strong arms around her slim waist. Idly, he heard Goliath and Elisa shepherd everyone from the room as he gently cradled the crying mage into his arms and carried her over to her bed. Moving slowly, he then leaned against her array of fluffed pillows and arranged Lisette so that she was snuggled up against his side, her head lying on his chest as her arms wrapped tightly around him and his around her.

Even though Lisette had, in truth, been asleep for most of the night, Owen had been right when he said the rest hadn't been peaceful. Now, she felt the drain of the experience and her emotions. "S'il vous plaît... hold me until I am asleep," Lisette murmured as she breathed in Brooklyn's comforting scent. "You will help to keep the nightmares at bay..."

"I'll be right here, always..." Brooklyn responded as he heard her breathing slow. He just hoped that her sleep would be dreamless -- she deserved the rest.


One month later

Humming softly to herself, Lisette continued to stretch lazily in the empty gym. Standing, she then rolled her shoulders in order to work out any last kinks, her blond pony tail flopping behind her. Sighing, she calmed her emotions before slowly beginning her exercises. Suddenly, her balance was interrupted as someone cleared their throat behind her. Surprised, Lisette turned quickly and found a smile come to her lips as she spotted Owen, dressed in his white karate outfit that served as his workout clothes, standing behind her. "Bon nuit, mon professeur," Lisette called out, her grin growing as she formed a fist and placed it into her open palm, bowing low.

Owen, as stoic as ever, hid his smile at his student's greeting and bowed in return. "Spending your night from patrol working out?" he asked, arching his eyebrow in a traditional Owen-like manner.

Smiling slightly, Lisette looked down at her black spandex shorts and halter top and then down at her white tennis shoes and socks. "Whatever gave you that idea?" she laughed as she sunk down in a defensive crouch. "Care to spar with me, monsieur?" she asked, her eyes shining.

"Oui, bien sûr mademoiselle," Owen replied in a nonchalant voice, shocking the young mage into silence. Seeing that as an opportunity that couldn't be passed up, Owen quickly darted forward and in a flurry of moves flipped the speechless mage lightly to the mats below them. "Never allow your opponent to catch you off guard," he instructed as he held his hand out.

Shaking her head, Lisette accepted the proffered hand and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. "Touché, sensei," she laughed as she dropped into her defensive crouch once again. "Maintenant," she murmured as she began to circle the wary majordomo, "what really brings you to see me this night?"

"I... have heard that you have refused Detective Maza's offer once again to clear your memories of the nightmares," he admitted, watching his student's expression closely.

At the mention of the horrible ordeal that she, Goliath, and Elisa had suffered one short month ago, Lisette's merry blue eyes became haunted. Even now the memories hurt her and caused her heart to shrink with fear. "You have heard correct," she finally acknowledged as she blocked one of Owen's chops and launched her own roundhouse kick.

As Owen deflected that move, he slowly met the young woman's eyes. "What I want to know is why you keep refusing when it's obvious that the memories pain you."

Sighing, Lisette slowly straightened and allowed Owen to see the truth reflected from her clear blue eyes. "Because I sincerely believe that an experience like that, no matter how horrible, makes a person stronger when they live through it. The memories are difficult, but they make me a stronger and better person."

At his student's wise words, it was Owen's turn to be shocked into silence and Lisette's turn to take advantage of his distraction. The end result, of course, was Owen lying on the mats and Lisette helping him up. "I suppose I should follow my own advice," he muttered as he brushed off his white pants.

Laughing, Lisette planted her hands on her hips and shook her head, her wide blue eyes sparkling. "Oui, monsieur, that would be wise."

Unable to hold back his own smile, Owen indicated the mats. "Shall we?" he asked as the young woman quickly nodded her agreement and began sparring with him once again. Shaking his head, he realized that if one smile from the precious girl was enough for his cold exterior to crack, then he had indeed allowed her into his heart. He would now risk Oberon's wrath for three people: David and Alexander Xanatos and Lisette, the young French mage.


Sighing softly, Elisa snuggled closer into Goliath's embrace as she watched the heavens above.

"... so the spell was so powerful that it actually created something new to try and destroy her rather than build on her memories?"

Shaking her head, Elisa once more focused on her and Goliath's conversation. "Yes... the spell was thrown off when I entered the equation and needed to up the arsenal on her."

At Elisa's words, Goliath felt himself shiver in the cool night air, simultaneously drawing Elisa's warm body closer to his side as his wing draped around them both. For some reason the library had seemed oppressive this night and soon the couple had found themselves sitting on the parapet that lined the highest tower, their legs dangling over the edge. "The way you talk," Goliath murmured, "it's as though the spell was a sentient being capable of malicious thought..."

"It acted as though it was," Elisa agreed as she idly picked out the bright constellations. "But there is one thing that I have learned from this whole mess..."

"To never let you go?" Goliath murmured as he leaned down and brushed a kiss against her raven locks.

Sighing happily, Elisa snuggled closer. "Exactly," she agreed as she turned to stare up into Goliath's onyx eyes. "Promise me something," she whispered, her brown eyes bright and shining with love.

"Anything," was Goliath's immediate reply.

"Promise to love me forever..."

"Always," Goliath murmured as he bent low and caught her soft lips with his own. Always and forever...

THE END