Chapter Three: Startling News
"Grahh!" Goliath bellowed into the stiff wind as his stone covering shattered, raining bits of skin on the unsuspecting people in the streets below. It had not been a restful sleep, anxious and dark dreams had haunted him as he remained trapped and for once he had wished that he could wake before the sun set. He knelt down again looking in the direction of Elisa's building wondering silently if she was feeling better. He stared unseeing for long moments remembering the look on Elisa's face the night before. He was more convinced than ever that she had avoided him on purpose and still he could not comprehend why.
Goliath frowned again remembering the note that Elisa had left for him, suddenly doubting that she was going to appear tonight to speak with him about her mysterious "appointment" yesterday. The frustration and anger built up in him again. He desperately fought against it not liking being in that kind of mood toward Elisa.
He stood again and unfurled his wings preparing to glide down and join the rest of the Clan for the night. He was determined not to tell the others about the events of the night before, nor his misgivings about Elisa's odd behavior. That was something that she and he were going to have to work out.
As Goliath made ready to leap into the sky he heard his name come softly from behind. He tensed his muscles, sinking his claws into the stone beneath his feet and wrapping his perch in his strong tail to prevent actually leaping off the ledge. He mantled looking over his shoulder at Elisa standing at the top of the stairs. She looked better physically, though she looked as if something weighed heavily upon her mind.
Goliath turned clasping his wings around his shoulders and stepped down from the ledge to greet her, "I was just thinking about you," he said his anger and doubt dissolving quickly at the sight of her. He reached out to embrace her but pulled back as she shied from him, "Is something the matter?" He asked even when he already knew the answer.
"We have to talk, but not here… in private," Elisa started gruffly, not meeting his eyes.
"No one will disturb us up here," Goliath said evenly, crossing his arms over his chest as an edge of anger crept back into his mood.
"No, somewhere else…or had you forgotten that the walls have ears in this castle," she replied caustically.
"Very well, Elisa," Goliath sighed, becoming quickly tired of the suspense. There was obviously something seriously wrong, and why she would not just tell him was beyond his comprehension.
Elisa stepped closer to Goliath and allowed herself to be picked up. Goliath noted angrily that she looked as if she wanted to be anywhere but in his arms. He scowled as he asked, "So where do you wish to go?" stepping onto the ledge.
"The clock tower will work," she said simply looking out over the city. Goliath nodded leaping with greater force than necessary into the currents. He allowed them to drop further than normal before fanning his enormous wings and catching the breeze. Elisa gripped his shoulder tighter, shooting him an angry look for the not so pleasant surprise, but Goliath ignored it. It only took them moments to cross the expanse of streets and sky to reach the clock tower, their home for nearly a year while Zanatos held thrall over their castle.
He landed lightly reminiscing suddenly about the time that they had lived here. He noted that the city had done a fine job of reconstructing the tower after the Hunter's had destroyed it in an attempt to kill the Gargoyles. He wandered away a moment looking over the large face of the clock, smiling slightly. Then he remembered why they were here and turned back toward Elisa. She was doing much the same looking over the rebuilt structure with a far away look in her eyes.
She seemed to sense him looking at her for she froze, looking back over her shoulder at him and he watched as her face flushed red. She looked away and then down. Goliath saw her heave a sigh and then look back at him. She still would not speak, seeming unable to find her tongue.
Goliath moved nearer the wall of the balcony leaning one elbow on it as Elisa took suddenly to pacing before him, he crossed his arms and cocked his head to one side, wishing that Elisa would share with him what was wrong. "So?" Goliath asked trying to push her into an explanation. She stopped and looked at him leaning on the face of the clock opposite him. Her face was lined with emotions, fear, anxiety, guilt, and depression all played across her face in quick succession. The more Goliath watched her the more the butterflies in his stomach came back. She was always in control, as long as he had known her it had been such. To see her so close to the edge of losing it was very disturbing to him.
"I went to see a doctor yesterday," Elisa finally said breaking the unnerving silence that had come between them, "He was able to determine why I was so sick."
"And that would be?" Goliath asked evenly letting none of his whirling emotion seep through.
Elisa looked him straight in the face when she replied, "I'm pregnant," Goliath stiffened in shock his wings coming away from his shoulders, "I didn't know how to tell you, that's why I wasn't there yesterday."
"But…" he stammered, a hard knot tying into his gut, he felt his body shaking, "I thought that you…. that I was…whose…?" That day six weeks prior had been everything he had dreamed of, he had gotten his fondest wish. And he had thought that Elisa had been just as pleased. He had thought her dedicated to their love for each other. He felt betrayed, angry at her, and angry with himself as he realized that it could never really be the way he wanted it to be. Certainly she would find someone of her own kind to relate to, to even love. That rationalization did nothing to ease the pain that rolled like waves through his body. He turned his face away hiding both his anger and threatening tears.
Elisa was shaking her head, "You don't understand, Goliath. I've never been with anyone else," Goliath looked at her oddly his head cocked to one side and his eyes narrowing, "The baby's…" She paused again in uncertainty, then she shrugged and said, "yours."
Goliath straightened sharply for the second time in the ten minutes they had been here, his wings mantling as if he was about to flee her, "What?!" he asked incredulously, unable to do anything but stare at her for long moments. Slowly he closed the distance between them sitting back on his heels to lessen their height difference and looking her in the face, "But… how?" He stopped himself, suddenly knowing the answer to his own question, looking away a moment, and remembering that night not so long ago when they had spent the day in each others arms, "Mine?" he asked one last time regarding her with a sidelong glance. Elisa nodded in answer. If it was possible for Goliath to become pale he looked it now as he stood and slowly walked back to the parapet. He leaned heavily on the brick, his head hanging low and his wings drooped reflecting his uncertain mood, "Is that why you have been so… distant these past nights?" he asked softly.
"I… just don't know what to think," Elisa said truthfully, "I mean all that keeps coming to mind is what the baby's going to be."
Goliath looked over his shoulder at her, looking angry, "You mean what species the child will be." Elisa's mouth was a thin line and her jaw was working when she nodded. Goliath looked back out over the city, "I was human that night…"
"That means nothing Goliath," She said exasperated throwing up her hands and turning away from him, "You were only human due to magic, and that may not change your genetics," She answered him with logic, then she admitted, "I'm scared. I mean will the baby survive? If it does, do I give birth, or will I lay an egg?" she laughed without humor at the irony of it.
Goliath looked at his clenched fists remembering the words that Titania had spoken when he had adamantly requested a day in Elisa's arms and he was right, he wanted to curse the cryptic, conniving Lady of Avalon , wondering if her purpose had been just this, "I am sorry," he said instead, "I had not thought this would happen."
Elisa moved to his side, leaning on him suddenly for emotional as well a physical support, "Neither had I, Goliath, neither had I," She went silent sighing, "What do we tell the others?"
Goliath shook his head, "I don't know, Elisa."
"It's not something I am going to be able to hide for long. They have to be told sometime."
"The Clan is not going to like this," Goliath uttered softly.