Chapter four
Scotland 992 AD
Castle Wyvern Battlements
Just after sunset.
Young Brooklyn put his arms around Jessondra as they sat there watching the stars come out.
"Jessondra, do you love me?"
Jessondra looked at him puzzledly. "Of course I do. Why would ye ask a silly question like that?"
Young Brooklyn paused a moment before reaching into the pouch on his belt.
"I want you to have this." He said and gently placed a ring on her finger.
Jessondra gasped. "My love. . ."
"I understand that when two humans love each other, they exchange such tokens. I want you to remember that you and I are one, now and forever."
* * *
New York 1994
Elisa's car
Jessondra fingered the ring, remembering the moment. It had happened exactly two years before the massacre. New tears threatened to fall from her eyes.
Elisa glanced over. Although Jessondra had told her entire life story to her, Elisa found it hard to swallow. If what this girl said was true, she was over a thousand years old and didn't look a day over twelve. And then there were the gargoyles. Elisa herself had met them only three days prior to this, and had gotten into a lot of trouble already. She was tracked down by a crack commando team bent on industrial espionage, killed at least two of them, and arrested the guy who had released the gargoyles from the spell.
"Say Jess, is there something else you want to say, before we get to children services?"
"Nay. And my name is Jessondra, not Jess."
"That's another thing sport." Jessondra glared at her. "Your name, isn't exactly normal."
"So? Be there a problem with it? Tis what I was named by my guardians."
"Yeah. We need something else, less formal, to call you."
"Your name is Detective Maza. Be there something less formal to call you?"
"Of course. My name is Elisa. Elisa Marie Maza, but just call me Elisa. So what's yours?"
"I already told you. Jessondra."
"No middle name, or last?"
"Nay."
"Alright. So something less formal to call you in public. What about Jesse?"
"Very well, if it will make ye happy and leave me alone."
"Then Jesse it is."
Jesse turned back to the window and stared wondrously at the passing skyscrapers and cars and people. Never had she seen so many people in her entire life. Elisa chuckled as they pulled into Children Service's parking lot.
* * *
The meeting with the board had gone extremely well, as did the one with the social workers, and now the Maza's were about to get their first foster child, age fifteen and a half, name Jessondra Michelle. Elisa didn't think she would pull it off, but she did. It's amazing the actual power a police officer had in this city.
Now there was just one more thing. Clothing. Jesse was still clad in a loincloth and halter top.
"Hey sport,"
"Would ye please stop calling me that?"
"Sure. How about we stop and buy you some new clothes."
"What wrong with what I'm wearing."
"Well to tell you the truth, it's a little out of date."
"Ye just dinna stop! Ye criticize my name, ye criticize my clothes! What next? My hair? My voice?"
"Look sport, I'm only trying to help you fit in. If you go around New York dressed in that, you're liable to be shot."
"Fine! Ye win."
Elisa smiled and pulled into the nearest Kmart.
* * *
Half an hour later, Elisa had Jesse clothed in a pair of flare jeans, a sweater, she had pulled her hair up in a ponytail, and had been 'fixed up' with light makeup. And they were back in the car again.
"You look great, Jess."
"This has got to be the greatest amount of clothing I've ever worn, in my entire life."
"Aw, c'mon it can't be that bad. At least you won't freeze."
"In case ye haven't noticed, 'tis not a tad bit frigid out here!"
"Will you lighten up?"
Jesse looked at her puzzledly.
"Never mind."
* * *
"I've got a lock on them sir. They're headed up main street toward the outskirts of town."
"Don't lose them." Xanatos said then hung up the phone. "Shall we?" he said motioning to the guard, and started off toward his cell.
* * *
"I'm telling you sport, you're gonna love my parents. You don't mind living in a multiracial family, do you?"
"Multiracial?"
"But I guess it doesn't matter anyway. You probably have never seen a black or Native American before have you?"
"Black? Native American? Are they like Vikings?"
Elisa laughed. It was a nice laugh and made Jesse feel more comfortable.
"No, they just have different colored skin, like mine." She held one of her hands up to Jesse's to show the differences in coloration.
"Oh."
She remained silent for the rest of the trip until they pulled into a driveway to a country style house. Elisa got out of the car. Jesse didn't budge.
"You comin' out sport? You know how to work the door."
"Elisa, what if your parents don't like me?"
"Is that what you're worried about? Come on." She opened Jesse's door and pulled her from the car.
But they weren't alone.
Across the street, the two were being watched through a pair of binoculars.
* * *
"Xanatos!? Phone call for you."
The guard opened the door and led him back down the hallway where the phone
sat off the hook.
David picked up the phone, then glanced at the guard. "Privacy?"
The guard rolled his eyes and walked away.
"Xanatos here."
"Yeah, sir. I've got her. She's at the Maza home."
Xanatos' eyes narrowed. "Bring her to me."
* * *
Elisa led Jesse through the house to the living room and told her to sit on the couch.
"Stay here. I'll go get them."
She left, returning a few minutes later with a dark-skinned woman and a white-haired man.
"Mom, Dad, this is Jesse."
Diane smiled and extended her hand. Jesse cautiously took it.
"Hello Jesse, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Diane, Elisa's mother, and this is my husband Peter."
He also extended his hand and shook hers. "Hello."
"Hi." Jesse answered shyly. "Tis a pleasure to meet ye as well."
"Aw. What an adorable accent she has."
"Mother!"
"Come now Elisa. Where is she from?"
"I be from Scotland."
"Oh really?" Diane asked. "What part?"
Jesse opened her mouth to answer but was stopped by Elisa.
"That's not really important is it?" Jesse caught the hint and shut up.
"Elisa, what has gotten into you."
"Well she's had a long trip, she's probably tired."
"Very well. She can have your old room. It was fixed up for our foster children."
Elisa led Jesse into the back room and shut the door.
"Okay sport, here's the deal. Don't tell anyone your past, alright?"
"Why?"
"People will think you crazy and put you away."
"Huh?"
"Let's just keep it a secret, okay? Like sisters do."
"Sisters. Okay."
* * *
There was a knock at the door. Diane ran to answer it. A commando team shoved in past her.
"Nobody moves and nobody gets hurt, we just came for the girl!" The leader shouted.
"How dare you come in here. Get out or I'll call the authorities!" Diane yelled
The Commando leader shoved her out of the way and began to search, thoroughly.
Books, nic nacs, dishes, all went to the floor as the team swept over the rooms.
* * *
Elisa heard the commotion, and told Jesse to hide.
Drawing her gun, she ran back out to the living room.
"Police! Freeze!"
The Commando leader laughed at her. "Well, look what we have here. The bitch from the park!"
He drew his own weapon.
"You heard me. I said freeze!" She repeated.
"Yeah? Who's gonna make me?" He asked and started firing.
They dove behind furniture to avoid the laser blasts. Elisa peered around the chair and started firing her own gun. She hit the man right in the chest. Another commando started firing, her weapon.
The diversion Elisa had created had given Peter enough time to get his gun and join the fray.
The blonde was hit by one of his bullets and fell, leaving one unharmed.
"Now once more, I said freeze."
The commando put his arms in the air obediently.
* * *
The commando team was locked up in the rescue vehicles. One in a squad car, two in an ambulance, all three in handcuffs.
During the fight, Jesse had crept out of the bedroom and had seen the entire fight. What she had seen had frightened her beyond her wildest dreams. Weapons that spout fire, and thunder? She had collapsed in a fit of frightened tears. And that's where they found her. Diane helped her to her feet, and helped her over to what was left of the couch.
She cradled Jesse's head. "Shh. It's okay now. They're gone."
"Why were they after me? I've done nothing," Jesse sobbed.
"Those were Xanatos' goons." Elisa said putting her gun back in her holster. "No doubt it was he that sent them."
"But why?"
"Don't know, but I intend to find out."
Scotland 992 AD
Castle Wyvern Battlements
Just after sunset.
Young Brooklyn put his arms around Jessondra as they sat there watching the stars come out.
"Jessondra, do you love me?"
Jessondra looked at him puzzledly. "Of course I do. Why would ye ask a silly question like that?"
Young Brooklyn paused a moment before reaching into the pouch on his belt.
"I want you to have this." He said and gently placed a ring on her finger.
Jessondra gasped. "My love. . ."
"I understand that when two humans love each other, they exchange such tokens. I want you to remember that you and I are one, now and forever."
* * *
New York 1994
Elisa's car
Jessondra fingered the ring, remembering the moment. It had happened exactly two years before the massacre. New tears threatened to fall from her eyes.
Elisa glanced over. Although Jessondra had told her entire life story to her, Elisa found it hard to swallow. If what this girl said was true, she was over a thousand years old and didn't look a day over twelve. And then there were the gargoyles. Elisa herself had met them only three days prior to this, and had gotten into a lot of trouble already. She was tracked down by a crack commando team bent on industrial espionage, killed at least two of them, and arrested the guy who had released the gargoyles from the spell.
"Say Jess, is there something else you want to say, before we get to children services?"
"Nay. And my name is Jessondra, not Jess."
"That's another thing sport." Jessondra glared at her. "Your name, isn't exactly normal."
"So? Be there a problem with it? Tis what I was named by my guardians."
"Yeah. We need something else, less formal, to call you."
"Your name is Detective Maza. Be there something less formal to call you?"
"Of course. My name is Elisa. Elisa Marie Maza, but just call me Elisa. So what's yours?"
"I already told you. Jessondra."
"No middle name, or last?"
"Nay."
"Alright. So something less formal to call you in public. What about Jesse?"
"Very well, if it will make ye happy and leave me alone."
"Then Jesse it is."
Jesse turned back to the window and stared wondrously at the passing skyscrapers and cars and people. Never had she seen so many people in her entire life. Elisa chuckled as they pulled into Children Service's parking lot.
* * *
The meeting with the board had gone extremely well, as did the one with the social workers, and now the Maza's were about to get their first foster child, age fifteen and a half, name Jessondra Michelle. Elisa didn't think she would pull it off, but she did. It's amazing the actual power a police officer had in this city.
Now there was just one more thing. Clothing. Jesse was still clad in a loincloth and halter top.
"Hey sport,"
"Would ye please stop calling me that?"
"Sure. How about we stop and buy you some new clothes."
"What wrong with what I'm wearing."
"Well to tell you the truth, it's a little out of date."
"Ye just dinna stop! Ye criticize my name, ye criticize my clothes! What next? My hair? My voice?"
"Look sport, I'm only trying to help you fit in. If you go around New York dressed in that, you're liable to be shot."
"Fine! Ye win."
Elisa smiled and pulled into the nearest Kmart.
* * *
Half an hour later, Elisa had Jesse clothed in a pair of flare jeans, a sweater, she had pulled her hair up in a ponytail, and had been 'fixed up' with light makeup. And they were back in the car again.
"You look great, Jess."
"This has got to be the greatest amount of clothing I've ever worn, in my entire life."
"Aw, c'mon it can't be that bad. At least you won't freeze."
"In case ye haven't noticed, 'tis not a tad bit frigid out here!"
"Will you lighten up?"
Jesse looked at her puzzledly.
"Never mind."
* * *
"I've got a lock on them sir. They're headed up main street toward the outskirts of town."
"Don't lose them." Xanatos said then hung up the phone. "Shall we?" he said motioning to the guard, and started off toward his cell.
* * *
"I'm telling you sport, you're gonna love my parents. You don't mind living in a multiracial family, do you?"
"Multiracial?"
"But I guess it doesn't matter anyway. You probably have never seen a black or Native American before have you?"
"Black? Native American? Are they like Vikings?"
Elisa laughed. It was a nice laugh and made Jesse feel more comfortable.
"No, they just have different colored skin, like mine." She held one of her hands up to Jesse's to show the differences in coloration.
"Oh."
She remained silent for the rest of the trip until they pulled into a driveway to a country style house. Elisa got out of the car. Jesse didn't budge.
"You comin' out sport? You know how to work the door."
"Elisa, what if your parents don't like me?"
"Is that what you're worried about? Come on." She opened Jesse's door and pulled her from the car.
But they weren't alone.
Across the street, the two were being watched through a pair of binoculars.
* * *
"Xanatos!? Phone call for you."
The guard opened the door and led him back down the hallway where the phone
sat off the hook.
David picked up the phone, then glanced at the guard. "Privacy?"
The guard rolled his eyes and walked away.
"Xanatos here."
"Yeah, sir. I've got her. She's at the Maza home."
Xanatos' eyes narrowed. "Bring her to me."
* * *
Elisa led Jesse through the house to the living room and told her to sit on the couch.
"Stay here. I'll go get them."
She left, returning a few minutes later with a dark-skinned woman and a white-haired man.
"Mom, Dad, this is Jesse."
Diane smiled and extended her hand. Jesse cautiously took it.
"Hello Jesse, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Diane, Elisa's mother, and this is my husband Peter."
He also extended his hand and shook hers. "Hello."
"Hi." Jesse answered shyly. "Tis a pleasure to meet ye as well."
"Aw. What an adorable accent she has."
"Mother!"
"Come now Elisa. Where is she from?"
"I be from Scotland."
"Oh really?" Diane asked. "What part?"
Jesse opened her mouth to answer but was stopped by Elisa.
"That's not really important is it?" Jesse caught the hint and shut up.
"Elisa, what has gotten into you."
"Well she's had a long trip, she's probably tired."
"Very well. She can have your old room. It was fixed up for our foster children."
Elisa led Jesse into the back room and shut the door.
"Okay sport, here's the deal. Don't tell anyone your past, alright?"
"Why?"
"People will think you crazy and put you away."
"Huh?"
"Let's just keep it a secret, okay? Like sisters do."
"Sisters. Okay."
* * *
There was a knock at the door. Diane ran to answer it. A commando team shoved in past her.
"Nobody moves and nobody gets hurt, we just came for the girl!" The leader shouted.
"How dare you come in here. Get out or I'll call the authorities!" Diane yelled
The Commando leader shoved her out of the way and began to search, thoroughly.
Books, nic nacs, dishes, all went to the floor as the team swept over the rooms.
* * *
Elisa heard the commotion, and told Jesse to hide.
Drawing her gun, she ran back out to the living room.
"Police! Freeze!"
The Commando leader laughed at her. "Well, look what we have here. The bitch from the park!"
He drew his own weapon.
"You heard me. I said freeze!" She repeated.
"Yeah? Who's gonna make me?" He asked and started firing.
They dove behind furniture to avoid the laser blasts. Elisa peered around the chair and started firing her own gun. She hit the man right in the chest. Another commando started firing, her weapon.
The diversion Elisa had created had given Peter enough time to get his gun and join the fray.
The blonde was hit by one of his bullets and fell, leaving one unharmed.
"Now once more, I said freeze."
The commando put his arms in the air obediently.
* * *
The commando team was locked up in the rescue vehicles. One in a squad car, two in an ambulance, all three in handcuffs.
During the fight, Jesse had crept out of the bedroom and had seen the entire fight. What she had seen had frightened her beyond her wildest dreams. Weapons that spout fire, and thunder? She had collapsed in a fit of frightened tears. And that's where they found her. Diane helped her to her feet, and helped her over to what was left of the couch.
She cradled Jesse's head. "Shh. It's okay now. They're gone."
"Why were they after me? I've done nothing," Jesse sobbed.
"Those were Xanatos' goons." Elisa said putting her gun back in her holster. "No doubt it was he that sent them."
"But why?"
"Don't know, but I intend to find out."