Project Daylight
by Foxx Laveinth (FoxxLaverinth@yahoo.com)
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Gargoyles characters. They are the property of Disney and Buena Vista and other people more important than me. I'm just borrowing them for a while.
PREVIOUSLY ON GARGOYLES…
The Magus nearly collapsed on the steps up to the altar. It was by will alone that he was able to prop himself up on the rectangular stone in the center. He heard the three sisters approach him from behind, but hadn't the strength to turn and face them.
"You merely delay the inevitable!" cried one.
"Where is the sleeping king?!" asked another, noticing Arthur's absence.
The Magus ignored their questions. He had to defeat these three and he had to do it soon. But how? His energy was nearly spent and there was nothing that could…
Iron.
He drew all the energy he could from the magic of the stone tablet and turned with an exclamation of pain towards the pieces of fallen armor that lay on the floor behind the sisters. The strain of using this borrowed magic was almost unbearable, but with last ounces of his strength he managed to cast one last spell.
"Iron armor… swords and riches… form a chain… to bind these witches!" The Weird Sisters barely had time to register their surprise as glowing chains of iron encircled all of them, binding them together. They fell to the floor with cries of outrage. The sorcerer, drained beyond repair, fell upon the tablet behind him in a heap.
-----
"Oh, Magus," Princess Katherine muttered, not for the first time, as she gazed upon the dying form of her advisor, "What have ye done?"
"Princess… I-"
"Shh… Lay still now." she interrupted him as he tried to lift his head. "We'll get ye back to the palace… and then…"
"No," the Magus shook his head. "No, Katherine. I think… I should like to stay here." The Princess backed up a bit, grief stricken, as Goliath stepped forward.
"I… owe you a great debt, Magus," the large gargoyle rumbled.
The sorcerer looked at him in surprise, managing to raise his head up a bit this time. "You…? But… I cursed your clan!"
Goliath shook his head. "You saved my children."
The old, white-haired man let out a grunt of pain, and his head fell back down on the makeshift pillow they'd supplied him. "Oh, I'm so tired…" he practically whispered. "I think I should… like to rest…"
"You cannot leave me now!" cried Katherine, in tears.
"Never…" the Magus breathed out, even as darkness began to consume him, "…my Princess…"
--AVALON part 3--
Robyn Canmore watched the scene unravel before her in stunned fascination. She had thought the other gargoyles would be allies to the Demon in her attempt to destroy humanity, but the leader had just destroyed his clan's ability to benefit from that plan. Clutching her wounded brother in her arms, she turned numbly to the detective.
"I don't understand…" she said softly. "He risked his life to save us all?"
Elisa turned to her with a tired but almost proud expression on her face. "That's what he does," she said. "That's who he is."
--HUNTER'S MOON part 3--
Hudson flipped through the channels on the television until he finally found one that looked interesting. There on the screen was Travis Marshall, a well known reporter who often covered any gargoyle related stories. It wasn't so much that man he was interested in, as it was his guests. He turned the volume up.
"Our guests," he was saying, "are Assistant District attorney Margot Yale and Medieval scholar Lennox MacDuff." The camera focused on the gray bearded man. "Lennox, you believe we should reach out to these gargoyles?"
The man smiled. "That is correct, Travis. All we need to do is approach them with tolerance."
--THE JOURNEY--
CHAPTER ONE: STRANGE ALLIANCES
The Island of Avalon was a mystical wonder created centuries ago by the leaders of the Third Race - a race of immortal and mythological beings. For many millennia the island had never been trod upon by the feet of mortals. That is, up until the last thousand years or so. For the last millennium, a clan of gargoyles as well as three humans had made the land their home while the fair folk had abandoned it on a sojourn to the mortal realm. Two humans still remained, they and their clan finally welcomed among the immortals by the Lord of Avalon himself.
Up until the last couple years, death had never been a part of Avalon. Even the grass, when crushed beneath the feet of the islands inhabitants, sprang back up after a few moments as though it had never been harmed. No one had ever been killed there. How do you kill a member of an immortal race?
However, a battle had been recently waged on the island, and in that struggle two people had fallen victim to the boon of mortality. Two beings had died in the land of the eternal.
One of these poor mortals was a man of evil intentions who had eventually been devoured by his own foolery. He sought great power by means which were not his to control. His soul had been destroyed - disintegrated by the very instruments of his magic. Nothing of him remained. Even the talismans used in his enchantment had been taken from the island.
In this the land was pacified. The death was acceptable if no trace of it remained.
However, there was one other death on that same day. A human sorcerer had tapped into the very power of Avalon in order to defeat three of its children. He was old, and the magic had overwhelmed him in the end. It drained him of what energy he had left, and eventually killed him. His body lay on the very stone tablet King Arthur had slept on before his awakening by the island's mortal dwellers.
There had been no decay. His body was as intact now as it had been the day of his death. Though that had merely been a couple weeks in Avalon's time, on any other place on earth there would be obvious signs by now that the man had been dead for a while. Yet here, there was nothing. If you did not closely examine him and find no breath or heartbeat, you might swear he still lived and was merely sleeping.
But he was dead, really and truly.
And the island was not happy.
+ + + + + + + + + +
Queen Titania stirred restlessly on her throne. There was something in the air, something that was making her distinctly uncomfortable. She looked over at her husband. If he felt it, he was not showing it. He seemed to be quite enjoying himself at the moment, watching a display of magical skill by two of his children. She sighed, trying to join him in his merriment.
After a few more minutes of this, her husband noticed her melancholy mood. "You seem distracted, my queen," he said with a small smile. "Does the performance not suit your fancy?"
Titania returned his smile. "It's not that, my lord," she answered gently. "I believe I am becoming a bit restless from sitting inside for such a time." She rose. "I think I shall take a walk around the island a while. Some fresh air might brighten my spirits."
"Yes, that is a pleasant idea," he remarked casually. "Go and enjoy yourself. We hope you have a merry jaunt."
"I shall try, my lord Oberon," she replied with a bow before vanishing.
She reappeared on the shores of Avalon's lake. She paused for a moment to take in the beauty of her surroundings. It had been some time since she had been able to take a moment to herself and just bask in Avalon's glory. There was no other place on earth that could compare to the splendor that was this Fay created island.
Titania found it difficult to enjoy it for long, however, as the disturbing feeling became stronger. She could feel it in her soul: Something was wrong. The island was off balance somehow.
That was when she heard it.
Somewhere off in the distance she could hear the sound of a harp playing. It was a strange, haunting melody. It was a beautiful lament that sent chills down her spine. She didn't believe it came from any of the children - the sound just wasn't right. The Queen of Avalon began to slowly move towards the sound.
As the sound became louder, she realized the source originated from somewhere outside the Hollow Hill. She also found that she wasn't the only one who'd heard the music.
The "Jackal God" Anubis looked up as she approached. He shook his head sorrowfully. "Queen Titania," he said with a short bow.
Oberon's wife regarded him with curiosity. "What brings you here, Anubis?" she asked. "Are you responsible for this melody?"
The god of death shook his head again. "No," he replied before pointing a finger off towards something behind him. "The harp player sits on the stairway. Can you not see him?"
Titania's followed his gaze towards the foot of the stairs leading into the Hill. At first, she saw nothing. Then, looking harder, she began to make out the faint form of someone sitting at the base. The figure was iridescent, barely distinguishable from the rest of the scenery, and yet it was the origin of the music. It was a human, or had been, that was clad in white robes with long hair of the same color. He appeared to be somewhere in his mid to late twenties, tall with pale skin. It appeared as though he was unaware of their presence, so caught up was he with the sad melody he created from the small stringed instrument in his hands.
"Who is this spirit?" the Queen asked after a few moments.
Anubis sighed. "He is a specter denied freedom," he remarked sadly. "His body lies in yonder hill, unable to properly decay due to the magics of Avalon. I have tried to help him return to earth, but his unnatural death upon this island has tainted his soul with the same dilemma." Again he shook his hound-like head. "There is nothing I can do for him."
Titania watched the ghost a while longer in silence. Anubis, seeing that his Queen was in a strange mood, decided leave her and return to the palace.
The music continued for some time, and Titania found herself lost in it's enchanting melody. There was a sense of longing to its tune, whether it was the ghosts desire for freedom or for something more she could not tell. It was a strange tune, (One only someone who'd lived as a mortal could play) she thought to herself.
Suddenly, the music stopped, and the Queen of Avalon was almost willing to beg him to continue. Then she realized he was looking at her with hollow, spectral eyes.
"So you can see me, then," she said softly, taking a couple steps closer to him.
The ghost nodded his head once in reply.
"Can you speak?" she asked.
The spirit frowned, then opened its mouth as if to respond. After his lips had formed a few words with no sound issuing from them, he sadly shook his head.
Then what if I spoke to you this way. Can you answer me now?
Her response to this telepathic type message was for him to look extremely startled. He glanced around himself in confusion before focusing on her again. She smiled at him, and he realized her intent.
If I speak this way, my lady, he replied almost timidly, can you understand me?
I can indeed. She grinned at the sudden look of happiness and relief that washed over his features. He stood up and approached her, bowing reverently.
My lady Titania, came his thought. It is good to be able to speak with someone again.
She regarded him more carefully now that he had stood and was in full view. There was something about him, something familiar, and she could have sworn she'd heard of his description before. Anubis's words came back to her then. This was the man from the Hollow Hill - the one who had died in the battle with the Archmage. Princess Katherine often spoke of him.
Her brow creased in worry. It would not do to have the Princess know of her old friend's misfortune. Something would have to be done.
Then it hit her. As a spirit of this island he could be granted the assistance of its King. There might just be something she could do for him after all.
Come with me. She motioned for him to follow and he did so, casting one last glance over his shoulder at the Hill before their departure.
+ + + + + + + + + +
Brooklyn looked up from the cards in his hand with a smug expression. Across from him sat Broadway, Angela, and Lexington. Each had their own hand of cards and were scrutinizing them carefully.
Lexington scratched his bald little head and rearranged his cards so that they were in a different order. Happy that things were as they should be, he then looked over at Broadway. The large gargoyle had a perplexed expression on his face. He started to try and take a peek at Angela's hand, but the female gargoyle caught his movement and smirked, pulling her cards out of his line of sight before he could get a good look at them. When he found out he'd been caught, Broadway immediately looked away and tried to act innocent.
"So," Brooklyn drawled out slowly. The smug look hadn't left his face. "Broadway… do you have any FIVES?"
The turquoise gargoyle looked at his hand and frowned. With a few grumbled complaints, he tossed a five of spades to his red skinned friend. The clan's second-in-command grinned at him. "Why thank you, Broadway. You're very generous."
"How come you always know what cards I have?" Broadway whined.
"Simple deduction," Brooklyn answered. "I pay attention to what cards you ask for."
"Oh? Is that how you do it?" his friend asked. "I was wondering how everyone kept figuring that out."
Brooklyn shook his head as Lexington took his turn. The little green gargoyle turned to Angela with a look similar to the one the red gargoyle had worn moments before. "All right, Angela," he smirked. "Got any twos?"
Goliath's daughter smiled right back. "Go fish."
Lexington looked stunned. "No twos? But I was so sure you had one…" He narrowed his eyes at her. "Are you cheating?"
"What?!" asked both Broadway and Angela at once.
"Hey," the larger of the two remarked. "Just because Angela got one past you doesn't mean you have to accuse her of being a cheater!"
Brooklyn chuckled. "You're such a sore loser, Lex," he commented.
"Am not!"
The sound of female laughter soon had all of them turning to the room's entrance, where Eliza Maza had just walked in. Hudson stood next to her, an amused expression written on his face as well. The group of young gargoyles cheered up at the sight.
"Hey, Elisa! Hey, Hudson!" Lexington greeted them cheerily.
"Evening, Lads," the old gargoyle responded.
"If you guys can pull yourselves away from your game for a while," Elisa said, "I have some news."
Broadway grew serious. "It's not about the Quarrymen, is it?" John Castaway's little group had caused them a great deal of trouble over the past months. Things had quieted down a bit after Castaway had been sent to jail, but there was still a threat. After all, Tony Dracon had been able to run his operation from jail. Who was to say Castaway couldn't do the same?
Much to his relief, Elisa shook her head. "No, the Quarrymen are hanging low for a while. They lost some of their public support after that train incident."
"So it's good news, right?" Angela asked hopefully.
The detective shrugged. "It's hard to say. It could be taken either way, but because of recent developments I'd say it's reasonably good."
"What is it?" asked Lexington.
"It's MacBeth," Elisa answered calmly, "or Lennox MacDuff, rather, as he calls himself nowadays. He's got himself a job working for Xanatos - a rather higher up one at that. You could be seeing him a lot more often."
The trio and Angela looked thoughtful after this announcement. "Do you think we can trust him?" Brooklyn finally questioned.
"I remember him arguing in our favor on the news a while back," Hudson replied. "And last we all saw from him it appeared he was finally on our side. I believe he no longer means us any harm. Demona, maybe… but not any of us, I'd wager."
Angela crossed her arms. "So, what's his job?"
"Apparently," Elisa smirked, "he's in charge of 'Gargoyle Security', or something like that."
"Makes sense," Brooklyn muttered. "Guess he's the best qualified."
"Wow, we really WILL be seeing him more often!" Angela remarked thoughtfully.
"Let's just hope we're actually on good terms," murmured Lexington.
+ + + + + + + + + +
The black convertible pulled to a stop in front of the MacDuff manor. The blonde driving it peeked over the top of her sunglasses in astonishment. She slowly exited the vehicle, barely taking her eyes off the site before her.
"A manor…?" she asked aloud in awe. "More like a castle. You would think you would hear more about a type of place like this near Manhattan. Wonder why I never saw it in the brochures…?" She shook her head a few times in wonder, then turned back to her car to retrieve her briefcase. Once she had that firmly in hand, she put on her most professional air and strode towards the doorway.
It opened before she even knocked.
"Miss Canmore, I presume?" The man on the other side of the door asked. He was an older man, somewhere in his fifties or so it appeared, with gray hair and beard, though rather well fit. He actually towered above her by about a foot or so. He was dressed in a dark suit with a plain blue tie.
"Yes, I am Robyn Canmore," she answered him.
He smiled at her. It was a type of genuine smile she hadn't seen for ages, and though she didn't show it she felt slightly comforted. He opened the door wider, allowing her to enter. "Then come on in!" he said with a chuckle. "Make yourself at home."
She found the inside of the estate to be just as grand as the outside, which was no small feat. It was furnished splendidly with antiques of all sorts: from Ming vases to Italian sculptures to… was that a REAL suit of armor in the doorway? She let her eyes wander briefly as she followed the man into his study. Half the items in his home were worth a fortune by themselves. It was a good thing he had security camera's all over the place, though how anyone could have enough money to afford all these things plus the security it took to keep them safe was beyond her. He had to be pretty loaded.
"Here we are," the man said, ushering her into a smaller room. He had a small table and two well-furbished chairs set up in one corner, and coffee (still hot it seemed) had been prepared for the both of them. "Please sit down." He motioned to one of the chairs and she took a seat, laying her briefcase across her lap. He sat down in the chair across from her and prepared to get down to business.
"A friend of mine referred you to me," he said shortly. "Have you had a chance to speak with Mr. Xanatos?"
Miss Canmore nodded. "It was he himself who told me to come and see you. He said you had a job for me as Mr. MacDuff's personal assistant."
"I am Mr. MacDuff," the man replied with a smile, validating her earlier assumptions. "I don't suppose he told you what it is exactly that I do?"
Here she shook her head. "No. He said you would tell me yourself. Is it very confidential?"
MacDuff startled her now by laughing. "Ha ha! Not as much as it used to be, Madam, not as much as it used to be." He settled himself down, but still looked amused. "But we would like to keep things as quiet as possible, yes." He reached for his cup of coffee and took a small sip of it. He looked thoughtful for a moment, stroking his beard with one hand. "The truth is, I am to be in charge of some… rather unusual security measures. Xanatos has some strange… friends… that need special looking after."
The woman's mouth suddenly went dry. She knew where this was going.
"I believe you are familiar with gargoyles, Miss Canmore?" MacDuff said casually.
He watched her response to this statement carefully. Xanatos had filled him in on Robyn Canmore's previous association with the gargoyles and it had not been a very friendly relationship. The Canmores had been the Hunters, a group of people who had spent centuries hunting down and destroying gargoyles - mostly the one they referred to as "the Demon." Demona. Robyn had two brothers. The three of them had, only a few months before, been responsible for the destruction of the clock tower above the police station while on their mission to kill Goliath's clan. At the end of their long struggle with the clan, the eldest brother, Jason, had wound up paralyzed from the waist down - shot by his own brother accidentally while protecting Goliath. He'd seen the error of his ways, but it had cost him. The youngest brother, Jon, had gone insane after the incident and eventually became the leader of the Quarrymen under the alias of John Castaway.
Robyn, however, had witnessed how the gargoyles had saved the human race from destruction. According to Elisa Maza, she realized, as Jason did, that the feud had to be brought to an end. She, along with her brother, Jason, had been taken to Riker's Island after being found guilty of terrorism, among other charges. During her stay there she'd had plenty of time to think over things. Her family, the gargoyles, the Demon, everything swam through her head all those days in prison. She might have gone mad like her brother with guilt instead of vengeance had she not been visited on several occasions by a new friend of hers.
She still couldn't believe Elisa Maza had wanted to visit and talk with her after all she had done to the Clan. The Police woman had been very forgiving. It seemed she understood the Canmore's hatred of Demona - the immortal gargoyle had been responsible for more than her share of trouble over the centuries. Elisa had spoken to her of her own adventures with the gargoyles, and they both learned of each others views and sympathized. Though Robyn didn't think she'd ever get over the fact that the cop and the gargoyle leader were an unofficial couple.
It was through Elisa that Xanatos had heard about her. Apparently, he was very interested in her knowledge and skills. Her resume was quite impressive, she had to admit. Of the Hunter threesome she had been the brains of the outfit, and Xanatos was interested in putting her abilities to good use. Somehow he'd pulled a few strings here and there and was able to get her released on early parole. She still wondered how he'd done it, what with the charges she'd been faced with.
Right now she was trying her best to hide her reaction to MacDuff's question, but it was obvious she was uneasy. She didn't hate Goliath's clan, but protecting them would be going against her brother. Despite his recent actions it was doubtful she would want to directly oppose him.
"I'm asking you to assist me in protecting the gargoyles from harm - especially during the day when they are most vulnerable," he continued. "We are also to make sure word about them is kept as favorably as possible. There are those who would want it otherwise."
Robyn was now sipping from her coffee as she listened to him. He could only guess what was going through her mind.
After a moment, she looked up at him. "You are aware of my past history, are you not, Mr. MacDuff?"
"Aye, that I am."
"Then you understand why this would be a difficult decision for me?" she asked, setting her cup back on its saucer.
MacDuff grew solemn. "I understand all too well. The choice was not an easy one for me either."
Robyn raised an eyebrow at this, but said nothing. The man looked up at her and gave her a small smile. "I, too, once wore the Hunter's mask, child."
He heard her quiet intake of breath. "That has always been a Canmore's duty," she said lowly. "I was not aware anyone other than our clan hunted the Demon."
Lennox MacDuff's smile widened, though it didn't seem to be filled with the same mirth it had been before. "Oh, it wasn't Canmore who started it. Actually he was the third, though I would understand how the vendetta would carry on from there." He sipped his coffee again. "I hunt Demona for my own reasons."
Robyn still had many more questions to ask him along that topic, but things were slowly becoming clear to her. There were obvious reasons why she was the one they wanted for this position. She'd had previous contact with the gargoyles and felt she had done them wrong (apart from Demona). She also knew a good deal about their main opposition - her brother. Now she was aware of what she had in common with the man she was to work for.
Xanatos was a smart man to consider this pairing.
She took a deep breath. That knowledge didn't really make this decision easier. "If you would have me, Mr. MacDuff, I will accept the offer to work for you." She did her best to smile.
The man returned the gesture. "Welcome aboard, Miss Canmore."
+ + + + + + + + + +
Titania, Queen of Avalon, stood before the trio known as the Weird Sisters. Her new companion floated next to her, curious to see why she had brought him to these despised witches. Three pairs of eyes stared up at him in a mixture of anger, fear, and surprise.
"I see you recognize this spirit," Titania spoke to them quietly.
"My Queen," the blonde haired one replied, "It was our hope to never lay eyes upon this man again."
"Then you will be very disappointed," the Lady said with a stern look. "You will be seeing a great deal of this poor soul from this point on."
"You would have us align with this petty magician?" the dark haired one asked in shock, gesturing towards the frowning ghost.
Titania smiled at this. "He was obviously not so 'petty' that he couldn't ensnare the three of you," she teased.
"Using magic stolen from this island, my Queen," the third sister - one of white hair - answered. All three of them looked angry. Extremely so. The wife of Oberon was certain that had she not been their mother they would have erupted on her or burned her to a cinder. As it was, she was the one in charge of things here.
"Yet, you are to blame for his predicament, are you not?" Titania asked. Before she could get a reply, she continued. "Your actions are what resulted in his demise and now his soul is being denied rebirth because of his place of death."
"But, my Queen…"
"Therefore!" she cut off any further argument with an upraised palm. "It will be your duty to see to it that this man makes himself Proven."
The three sisters stared at her in horror. "You can't be serious!" the blonde one nearly shouted.
"Our Lord Oberon will never accept it," the black-haired one agreed.
"Your Lord Oberon already agrees," a new voice said smugly from behind them. Turning, the sisters found themselves face to face with their father. He seemed to be in a rather good mood. A startling good mood. This didn't necessarily bode well for them. "The boy would make an interesting changeling."
A… what? the spirit asked, suddenly beginning to understand where this was going.
The third sister sighed. "If… If it pleases your Lordship…" she murmured.
"It does indeed," the King of the Fay remarked with a royal smirk. He then turned upon the ghost, who appeared quite startled with this turn of events. "So what do you say, spirit? We are giving you the opportunity to start anew as a servant to the Fair Folk." His expression turned serious. "Not many are given such an opportunity."
The spectral figure bowed humbly before Oberon. His thoughts wavered in his anxiety. I… I… I… T-thank you… most graciously… my Lord… he paused, trying to calm himself. …but…
"But?" the King asked, startled.
…but …I am …not certain that …the I-immortal life is …one that… (That I'd like to have), he finished for himself. However, to them it ended with …that I am …worthy of…
"Your worthiness is what you will be judged for," Oberon replied in what he believed was a reassuring tone. "If you are not exactly Fay material, then We will see to it that your death is finalized. Either way, you will removed from this forced limbo that you are in now." He turned to his wife. "You are very lucky to have received Our Queen's favor."
...Thank you, my lord.
"There now, it's settled!" Oberon said merrily. He then clapped his hands once, and a brilliant glow surrounded the unprepared spirit. "You true form will be created from your soul! My Queen, a new Fay's creation is always such a marvel, is it not?"
"Indeed, my husband."
The bright light created from the ghost's transformation attracted the attention of every creature in the great hall of the palace. Many of them watched, transfixed, as a form began to take shape at the center of the glow. Oberon and Titania raised an eyebrow each as the figure became clearer.
Things were not entirely as they had expected.
Whereas they had expected to see a fully formed, human, version of the figure they'd seen as a spirit, they were instead greeted by a rather interesting sight. "Hmmm…" Oberon murmured in wonder.
The Magus blinked his eyes several times. At first, he was a bit excited. He could actually feel the floor beneath his feet again, and when he waved his hand he could feel the slight breeze that ran along his skin. He stretched his arms above his head experimentally… and ended up staggering backwards. Something in his balance wasn't quite right. He straightened himself up, using his tail a bit in the effort.
His tail?
He gasped in shock, turning his head sharply to one side in order to get a better view of the wings he now had sprouting from each shoulder blade. His knees buckled, and he fell to the floor on his rear.
"Oh my," he said softly, much to the amusement of several of Oberon's children.
"How intriguing!" The Lord of Avalon said, coming to stand beside him. "You are the very first We have seen, human-born, that has chosen their true form to be that of the first race. Very interesting indeed."
The Magus looked down at his gargoyle talons and blinked some more. (The fates have it in for me, don't they?) he thought wryly.
+ + + + + + + + + +
Dr. Anton Bartholomew Sevarius was a very optimistic man.
Some would say it was because of the line of work he was in. When working with genetics like he did it helped to have a positive attitude towards things. If you were unhappy you were more likely to make mistakes. Such foul ups could be expensive, not to mention a waste of time and valuable 'guinea pigs' on occasion. Yes, being an optimist helped in this instance, but Sevarius preferred a different explanation.
He had cloned an entire clan of gargoyles, accidentally double crossed Xanatos, turned four innocent human beings into mutates… and lived to brag about it. Now there was something to be proud of.
"And that won't be the end of it, will it, my boy?" the good doctor asked a large, grotesque, gargoyle-like statue in one corner of his lab. "We'll make anyone pay who's ever crossed us, won't we."
There was no response, of course. He didn't expect any.
The large clone he had made from all the gargoyles together was now permanently stone, just like the other clones he had created. There had been a slight miscalculation in their programming it seemed. He had not anticipated such an error, and it bothered him.
Not too much, however. He never did really like them all that much anyway, with the exception of 'Little Anton' here.
"I'll find a way to fix you, son," he said sincerely. "Don't worry." It was all part of his next plan, anyway. His new plan would be his best ever - mostly because it was his own. No one was pulling his strings this time. Anton Sevarius didn't answer to anybody else but himself anymore.
"Hey!" a sharp female voice interrupted his thoughts. "Where are you, Doc? Dr. S.? Helloooo! Anybody home?"
Sevarius sighed, rolling his eyes skyward before answering. "I'm in my office, Hyena."
The cybernetic woman nudged his door open with her shoulder. Her arms were laden down with a mound of papers. "I brought all the files you asked for," she said with a huff as she set them down on his desk. "Honestly though, Doc, I hope you have something more exciting planned in the near future. I didn't sign on to help you just to be your secretary."
"Yes, yes, I know," the geneticist answered irritably. "We're all itching for a little action around here. Don't worry, I'm about ready to initialize the next phase of our little project."
Hyena scoffed, crossing her arms. "'Our' little project? Hmph. Didn't know Jackal and I were included. Thought we were just the cannon fodder."
True, that had been his original intent.
He had come to realize though, that he and the pair of cyborgs shared many common grudges. It only made sense that they should team up against a common enemy - as long as they were working UNDER him, that is. It also helped that, for the moment anyway, he was getting their help free of charge. He told her as much, and she laughed - which made him instantly regret it. He hated her irritating laugh.
"Heh," she chuckled. "Don't worry. Jackal and I realize we owe you for busting us out of the slammer. You get a month. After that, you're paying us full."
"Yes, yes."
Hyena stood there watching him sort through the papers a few moments longer before shrugging and heading towards the door. His voice stopped her before she reached it.
"Does Jackal have the list?"
"List?" the woman asked, confused for a second or two. "Oh! That list. I think so. I'll ask." That said, she poked her head out the doorway and called him as loud as she could down the hallway. "HEY!! BIG BROTHER!! THE DOC WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE LIST!!"
Savarius muttered something under his breath about incompetent help just before he heard Jackal's reply of "WHAT LIST?!"
"YOU KNOW!!" Hyena responded, still at the top of her voice. "THE LIST?!"
"OH!" came the reply. "THAT LIST!"
"WELL, DO YOU HAVE IT?!"
"NO, I GAVE IT TO YOU!!"
"Hm?" Hyena seemed to think this over. "Oh yeah!" she popped open a small compartment on her left wrist and pulled out a rolled up strip of paper. "Forgot I had it in there. THANKS BRO!!" After her final yell, she grinned and forked over the list. "Here it is."
"If I knew you were going to scream down the hall I would have called him on the 'com and saved myself the headache," the doctor murmured as he accepted it.
"Aw, can I help it you have no sense of humor?" the cybernetic woman asked innocently.
Sevarius snorted. "Get back to work."
Hyena smirked. Work. Right. She wasn't sorting papers for the rest of the day if she could help it. She'd grab Jackal and they'd go grab a meal somewhere. It wasn't as if Sevarius would even care. He'd probably be glad to have them out of his hair for a while.
"Sure, boss," she said, giving him a smart salute. She then did an about-face and exited his office, much to his relief.
"Undignified cybernetic lunatics…" Sevarius muttered to himself. If they hadn't been the best muscle he was going to be able to hire for a while he would have gladly left them to rot in prison. People like them were the reason he'd helped Demona create a virus he knew she'd want to use to destroy the human population with. Not many humans lived up to his standards, and he could always genetically alter himself to survive the plague - one of the benefits to being a scientific genius.
He turned his attention to the list he now had clutched in his hand. It was really no longer than a receipt one might receive after a trip to the grocery store. He unrolled it carefully, scanning down the list of names in silence.
Then he laughed.
"Oh, yes, my boy," he cackled evilly. "Vengeance will be great indeed." Finally his plans would be coming to fruition. No longer would he be trod on and scoffed at. He would see genuine FEAR in his opponents eyes before his project was over, oh yes he would. The day would soon come when the name Anton Sevarius would send chills down people's spines at the very thought of it.
Indeed, 'optimist' was an understatement.
+ + + + + + + + + +
Owen Burnett met the interesting duo almost the moment they entered the Eyrie Building. They were escorted unto the top floors without having to make any type of ID check along the way.
There were benefits to being one of the higher-ups at Xanacorp, MacDuff admitted to himself as he and Robyn were admitted into Xanatos' private office. For an office it was rather large, and the entire back wall was glass, allowing him to keep some tabs on the gargoyles, he imagined. It also appeared to be a bit drab, with everything being in stark grays and blacks. It looked very twenty-first century, and he couldn't help but wonder on how the simpleness of it all made it that much more impressive. Anyone else probably would have found the set-up to be very intimidating. No doubt that was exactly the way Xanatos liked it. The man himself was sitting expectantly behind his desk, and he stood as they entered.
"Ah, if it isn't my two newest employees," he came around his desk to greet them each with a strong handshake. "Welcome to your first day on the job. I trust you two have gotten to know each other?" They nodded. "Do you have any complaints about your new assistant, Mr. MacDuff?"
Lennox shook his head. "None at all. She has proven herself to be a very reliable woman."
The CEO of Xanatos Enterprises nodded his own head and smiled before turning to Robyn. "And you, Miss Canmore? Are you all right with this position? I realize I'm asking a great deal of you."
"Whatever problems I may have had, my conscience has taken care of," she answered politely. "I am honored to have been asked to fill this role."
Xanatos looked very pleased. "Good! I will have Owen show you to your offices in a moment." He then handed each of them a disk. Both were unlabled. "Both of those disks contain instructions as well as passwords for accessing some of the higher level security files. They also have the start-up information for a couple of important programs you're going to need."
The duo nodded. They then spun around as they heard the door open behind them. A man entered - a red-head in a tan trench coat.
"I believe you are both acquainted with Detective Maza," Xanatos continued. "This is her former partner, Matt Bluestone. He's our inside man at the precinct. Any information you need from there you can get from him."
Matt shook each of their hands.
Robyn nearly laughed out loud. "Our inside man is the leader of the Gargoyles Task Force?"
"Yep," Bluestone grinned. "I was their friend first and foremost. It's great that I get to work with the two of you." He winked. "…Even if you do have horrible reputations."
"Both of which are in the process of being cleared as we speak," Xanatos remarked with a wink. "As far as their backgrounds are concerned it's now all 'unknown' and 'confidential'. Just a few of the perks of this job."
"Heh," Bluestone muttered. "Welcome to the MIB."
"Your offices are just down the hall. Owen will point them out." His right-hand man nodded from his position in the doorway. "Mr. Bluestone and I have business to discuss."
The blonde-haired man motioned for them to follow him. He led them a few meters away from Xanatos' office to where their own were located. They were side-by-side, and connected by a doorway between them.
"Mr. Xanatos apologizes for his abruptness. He will see each of you again in two hours. Please get yourselves situated in your new workspace. If you'll excuse me." With that, he turned and strode off.
MacDuff turned to Robyn. "After you," he said with a flourish, bowing and motioning her in. She smirked, and they both made their way to their desks.
Robyn took the disk she'd been given out of her purse. Looking over at her computer, she found that it had already been turned on, and the words 'WELCOME, MISS CANMORE,' were running across the screensaver in bright yellow letters. She tapped the mouse, sending the message away, and entered her disk into the drive. It immediately began installing several new programs, as well as a few files for her to look over.
After a few minutes of waiting, the computer beeped - announcing the completion of the installation. She hit 'okay,' and suddenly the background of her computer changed. A simple blue symbol stood out on a background of black. It was a circle with a line coming down and overlapping it's left side - almost like a strange 'd' or 'p' - and a sun-like shape to the right of that.
A small text box suddenly popped up in the center of her screen.
"Welcome to Project Daylight," it read.
+ + + + + + + + + +
Titania watched the Magus with wry amusement as he paced the floor behind her and her husband's thrones. It had taken him a little while to adjust his balance to this new form, but he seemed to fit it well now.
The Sorcerer's "rebirth" had so far been kept secret from the island's clan, with special care taken to ensure that the princess didn't learn of it. This was more out of the Magus's request than her own, but she saw the reason for it. It might prove too much for the old woman to handle right now.
Nevertheless, she could tell by her husband's expression that this constant pacing was getting on his nerves.
"Magus," she called suddenly, causing the gargoyle to stop sharply and raise his head to face her. "Oberon and I have some matters to discuss with the Three. Why don't you take a walk around the island? Visit with some of my children."
"But the clan-"
"They will not see you," she interrupted him, anticipating his remark.
He hesitated a moment in his reply. He had no doubt really that Titania would keep him shielded from anyone he did not wish to see him, but he wasn't certain if he felt up to walking around and seeing a family he would not be able to speak to.
"Please," the Queen spoke softly. "For your sake as well as mine."
The Magus sighed. Then he nodded and headed for the door.
--
He decided he would avoid the palace grounds altogether. That was how he eventually found himself wandering into a strange part of the forest that he didn't believe he'd ever seen in the forty or so years he'd been on the island. The plant life was unlike anything he remembered seeing. The air also seemed particularly moist and warm here. Was this the doing of the fey? Surely this hadn't been here before.
"Jade? Is that you? I had not expected you back so soon," a strangely accented voice suddenly spoke up from among the foliage.
The Magus looked around for its source. "No…" he responded as he searched, "I do not know of this… Ha-day… that you speak of."
A blue-ish head poked around from behind a nearby tree, startling him. It was a female gargoyle, but not one of his clan. He didn't remember having ever seen her before. "Ah! A gargoyle amigo, but not Jade, yes? Funny, I don't believe I've seen you around. I will admit to not being here long, though, so it's not surprising." She came out fully, revealing an armful of what appeared to be extremely large flowers, roots still attached. "Have you come to see how the Little Green is doing? It's amazing how well the plants have taken to this soil."
The Sorcerer blinked. Little Green? This was something he had no knowledge of. "Pardon my ignorance, but I'm afraid I was never told of who you and your companion were. Might I inquire as much?"
She smiled. "Of course, amigo!" she said happily. "I am Turquesa. My mate Jade and I are from the Guatemalan gargoyle clan - that is in South America - that guard the rainforest pyramid. The forest is slowly being destroyed by the humans. It was the human Elisa's idea for us to bring some samples to this island where they would be able to grow and thrive. Would that we could have brought the whole forest…" she sighed, her smile vanishing. "I hope Zaphiro and Obsidiana fare well without us. They are the last two of own clan alive besides Jade and myself."
As the newly-made gargoyle's mind spun with a long list of questions he wanted to ask the strange female, he tried his best not to startle her too much with his naiveté. "I have been on this island for so long," he muttered. "I'm afraid I have become lost in your words." He paused, watching as she began digging through the rich soil with her claws. "Tell me, though. Are all the clans so small nowadays?"
Turquesa stopped for a moment, and her expression became pained. "Our clan was not always so. We were once large, but many years ago the rest of our kind were destroyed by poachers. Only four of us remain - those that were to guard the clan to begin with. A lot of good the pendants do if we are not there to make use of their power."
"Pendants?"
The turquoise gargoyle looked startled. She hadn't thought much about that slip up. After the last incident with the strange cybernetic duo they had tried not to mention the jewels that much. She hoped this gargoyle was trustworthy enough and that no one else was listening in.
"Yes," she muttered. "These." She lifted the turquoise jewel around her neck into the light. "They keep whoever wears them from turning to stone during the day. They were created so that our clan would always have guardians to protect it." She sighed, letting the pendant drop back down against her chest. "But in our haste to protect the forest from those that would destroy it, we left our own people vulnerable to attack."
The Magus watched her, his own mood saddened a great deal. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."
She shook her head. "No, it is good that we don't forget our failures so we do not have to worry about repeating them."
They were silent a moment. As Turquesa began planting the large flowers in the ground, the sorcerer thought upon the truthfulness of her words. He'd felt their sting long ago.
"As for other clans," the Guatemalan gargoyle continued after a moment. "I know only what I have heard from Goliath and his traveling companions, or the fey on the island. Most clans are small, yes. I have heard of those in London and in Japan. I have heard mention of some in Egypt, as well, but I don't know if that's been proven."
"So few," the white gargoyle murmured, head bowed.
"Better than none," Turquesa answered. "Gargoyles haven't been a prominent race on this planet since the time if the Titans - or so I hear from those on this island. I wasn't even aware before then that we were EVER a prominent race. The fact that we still exist at all, given the nature of humans to fear and destroy us, is cause for some measure of hope."
The Magus stood suddenly, causing the turquoise gargoyle to scoot back an inch in surprise. The expression on the sorcerer's face was one of astounded realization.
"What is it?" the gargoyle from Guatemala asked.
"I…" he stuttered, "Thank you. You've been most helpful. I need to go. Maybe I'll see you again sometime." He then stood and began walking quickly away from her.
"Wait!" she cried after him. "Where are you going?"
"To do something important with my life for once!!" was his over-the-shoulder reply.
Turquesa could merely wave her farewells as the newly-made gargoyle dashed off towards Oberon's Palace.
+ + + + + + + + + +
"You want to do what?" Oberon asked, eyebrow raised.
"I want to leave the island," the Magus replied, apparently not caring who he was talking to. "I need to help save a dying race from extinction. Surely there's something I can do to help them."
"And what makes you think We're just going to allow you free passage off the island?" the Fairy King responded calmly. "You forget, human-born, that by Our decree no fey is to leave this island unless We so command it. What if We have no desire for you to leave?"
"But he is not yet a fey, my husband."
Both heads raised simultaneously as Queen Titania made her entrance. She was accompanied by the Three Sisters, whose expressions turned readably sour as they noticed who their Queen referred to. Titania smiled.
"He is not yet a fey. He has yet to be proven. Would you not agree, husband, that the boy's proffered mission would a suitable test of his merit?"
Oberon seemed to think over this a moment. A low 'hmmmmmn' escaped his throat as his masculine need to hold superiority wrestled with Titania's feminine ability to get exactly what she wanted out of him. As was usually the case, he decided to 'humor' her.
"That is a good point. You are lucky, boy, that the Queen seems to show such favor in you." He rose, crossing his arms before his chest regally. "The Sisters will accompany you, to make sure of your progress."
END CHAPTER 1.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
MACBETH: "Madam, they burned witches like you in the Middle Ages!"
MARGOT: "Mister, you're living in a fantasy world!"
by Foxx Laveinth (FoxxLaverinth@yahoo.com)
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Gargoyles characters. They are the property of Disney and Buena Vista and other people more important than me. I'm just borrowing them for a while.
PREVIOUSLY ON GARGOYLES…
The Magus nearly collapsed on the steps up to the altar. It was by will alone that he was able to prop himself up on the rectangular stone in the center. He heard the three sisters approach him from behind, but hadn't the strength to turn and face them.
"You merely delay the inevitable!" cried one.
"Where is the sleeping king?!" asked another, noticing Arthur's absence.
The Magus ignored their questions. He had to defeat these three and he had to do it soon. But how? His energy was nearly spent and there was nothing that could…
Iron.
He drew all the energy he could from the magic of the stone tablet and turned with an exclamation of pain towards the pieces of fallen armor that lay on the floor behind the sisters. The strain of using this borrowed magic was almost unbearable, but with last ounces of his strength he managed to cast one last spell.
"Iron armor… swords and riches… form a chain… to bind these witches!" The Weird Sisters barely had time to register their surprise as glowing chains of iron encircled all of them, binding them together. They fell to the floor with cries of outrage. The sorcerer, drained beyond repair, fell upon the tablet behind him in a heap.
-----
"Oh, Magus," Princess Katherine muttered, not for the first time, as she gazed upon the dying form of her advisor, "What have ye done?"
"Princess… I-"
"Shh… Lay still now." she interrupted him as he tried to lift his head. "We'll get ye back to the palace… and then…"
"No," the Magus shook his head. "No, Katherine. I think… I should like to stay here." The Princess backed up a bit, grief stricken, as Goliath stepped forward.
"I… owe you a great debt, Magus," the large gargoyle rumbled.
The sorcerer looked at him in surprise, managing to raise his head up a bit this time. "You…? But… I cursed your clan!"
Goliath shook his head. "You saved my children."
The old, white-haired man let out a grunt of pain, and his head fell back down on the makeshift pillow they'd supplied him. "Oh, I'm so tired…" he practically whispered. "I think I should… like to rest…"
"You cannot leave me now!" cried Katherine, in tears.
"Never…" the Magus breathed out, even as darkness began to consume him, "…my Princess…"
Robyn Canmore watched the scene unravel before her in stunned fascination. She had thought the other gargoyles would be allies to the Demon in her attempt to destroy humanity, but the leader had just destroyed his clan's ability to benefit from that plan. Clutching her wounded brother in her arms, she turned numbly to the detective.
"I don't understand…" she said softly. "He risked his life to save us all?"
Elisa turned to her with a tired but almost proud expression on her face. "That's what he does," she said. "That's who he is."
Hudson flipped through the channels on the television until he finally found one that looked interesting. There on the screen was Travis Marshall, a well known reporter who often covered any gargoyle related stories. It wasn't so much that man he was interested in, as it was his guests. He turned the volume up.
"Our guests," he was saying, "are Assistant District attorney Margot Yale and Medieval scholar Lennox MacDuff." The camera focused on the gray bearded man. "Lennox, you believe we should reach out to these gargoyles?"
The man smiled. "That is correct, Travis. All we need to do is approach them with tolerance."
CHAPTER ONE: STRANGE ALLIANCES
The Island of Avalon was a mystical wonder created centuries ago by the leaders of the Third Race - a race of immortal and mythological beings. For many millennia the island had never been trod upon by the feet of mortals. That is, up until the last thousand years or so. For the last millennium, a clan of gargoyles as well as three humans had made the land their home while the fair folk had abandoned it on a sojourn to the mortal realm. Two humans still remained, they and their clan finally welcomed among the immortals by the Lord of Avalon himself.
Up until the last couple years, death had never been a part of Avalon. Even the grass, when crushed beneath the feet of the islands inhabitants, sprang back up after a few moments as though it had never been harmed. No one had ever been killed there. How do you kill a member of an immortal race?
However, a battle had been recently waged on the island, and in that struggle two people had fallen victim to the boon of mortality. Two beings had died in the land of the eternal.
One of these poor mortals was a man of evil intentions who had eventually been devoured by his own foolery. He sought great power by means which were not his to control. His soul had been destroyed - disintegrated by the very instruments of his magic. Nothing of him remained. Even the talismans used in his enchantment had been taken from the island.
In this the land was pacified. The death was acceptable if no trace of it remained.
However, there was one other death on that same day. A human sorcerer had tapped into the very power of Avalon in order to defeat three of its children. He was old, and the magic had overwhelmed him in the end. It drained him of what energy he had left, and eventually killed him. His body lay on the very stone tablet King Arthur had slept on before his awakening by the island's mortal dwellers.
There had been no decay. His body was as intact now as it had been the day of his death. Though that had merely been a couple weeks in Avalon's time, on any other place on earth there would be obvious signs by now that the man had been dead for a while. Yet here, there was nothing. If you did not closely examine him and find no breath or heartbeat, you might swear he still lived and was merely sleeping.
But he was dead, really and truly.
And the island was not happy.
+ + + + + + + + + +
Queen Titania stirred restlessly on her throne. There was something in the air, something that was making her distinctly uncomfortable. She looked over at her husband. If he felt it, he was not showing it. He seemed to be quite enjoying himself at the moment, watching a display of magical skill by two of his children. She sighed, trying to join him in his merriment.
After a few more minutes of this, her husband noticed her melancholy mood. "You seem distracted, my queen," he said with a small smile. "Does the performance not suit your fancy?"
Titania returned his smile. "It's not that, my lord," she answered gently. "I believe I am becoming a bit restless from sitting inside for such a time." She rose. "I think I shall take a walk around the island a while. Some fresh air might brighten my spirits."
"Yes, that is a pleasant idea," he remarked casually. "Go and enjoy yourself. We hope you have a merry jaunt."
"I shall try, my lord Oberon," she replied with a bow before vanishing.
She reappeared on the shores of Avalon's lake. She paused for a moment to take in the beauty of her surroundings. It had been some time since she had been able to take a moment to herself and just bask in Avalon's glory. There was no other place on earth that could compare to the splendor that was this Fay created island.
Titania found it difficult to enjoy it for long, however, as the disturbing feeling became stronger. She could feel it in her soul: Something was wrong. The island was off balance somehow.
That was when she heard it.
Somewhere off in the distance she could hear the sound of a harp playing. It was a strange, haunting melody. It was a beautiful lament that sent chills down her spine. She didn't believe it came from any of the children - the sound just wasn't right. The Queen of Avalon began to slowly move towards the sound.
As the sound became louder, she realized the source originated from somewhere outside the Hollow Hill. She also found that she wasn't the only one who'd heard the music.
The "Jackal God" Anubis looked up as she approached. He shook his head sorrowfully. "Queen Titania," he said with a short bow.
Oberon's wife regarded him with curiosity. "What brings you here, Anubis?" she asked. "Are you responsible for this melody?"
The god of death shook his head again. "No," he replied before pointing a finger off towards something behind him. "The harp player sits on the stairway. Can you not see him?"
Titania's followed his gaze towards the foot of the stairs leading into the Hill. At first, she saw nothing. Then, looking harder, she began to make out the faint form of someone sitting at the base. The figure was iridescent, barely distinguishable from the rest of the scenery, and yet it was the origin of the music. It was a human, or had been, that was clad in white robes with long hair of the same color. He appeared to be somewhere in his mid to late twenties, tall with pale skin. It appeared as though he was unaware of their presence, so caught up was he with the sad melody he created from the small stringed instrument in his hands.
"Who is this spirit?" the Queen asked after a few moments.
Anubis sighed. "He is a specter denied freedom," he remarked sadly. "His body lies in yonder hill, unable to properly decay due to the magics of Avalon. I have tried to help him return to earth, but his unnatural death upon this island has tainted his soul with the same dilemma." Again he shook his hound-like head. "There is nothing I can do for him."
Titania watched the ghost a while longer in silence. Anubis, seeing that his Queen was in a strange mood, decided leave her and return to the palace.
The music continued for some time, and Titania found herself lost in it's enchanting melody. There was a sense of longing to its tune, whether it was the ghosts desire for freedom or for something more she could not tell. It was a strange tune, (One only someone who'd lived as a mortal could play) she thought to herself.
Suddenly, the music stopped, and the Queen of Avalon was almost willing to beg him to continue. Then she realized he was looking at her with hollow, spectral eyes.
"So you can see me, then," she said softly, taking a couple steps closer to him.
The ghost nodded his head once in reply.
"Can you speak?" she asked.
The spirit frowned, then opened its mouth as if to respond. After his lips had formed a few words with no sound issuing from them, he sadly shook his head.
Then what if I spoke to you this way. Can you answer me now?
Her response to this telepathic type message was for him to look extremely startled. He glanced around himself in confusion before focusing on her again. She smiled at him, and he realized her intent.
If I speak this way, my lady, he replied almost timidly, can you understand me?
I can indeed. She grinned at the sudden look of happiness and relief that washed over his features. He stood up and approached her, bowing reverently.
My lady Titania, came his thought. It is good to be able to speak with someone again.
She regarded him more carefully now that he had stood and was in full view. There was something about him, something familiar, and she could have sworn she'd heard of his description before. Anubis's words came back to her then. This was the man from the Hollow Hill - the one who had died in the battle with the Archmage. Princess Katherine often spoke of him.
Her brow creased in worry. It would not do to have the Princess know of her old friend's misfortune. Something would have to be done.
Then it hit her. As a spirit of this island he could be granted the assistance of its King. There might just be something she could do for him after all.
Come with me. She motioned for him to follow and he did so, casting one last glance over his shoulder at the Hill before their departure.
+ + + + + + + + + +
Brooklyn looked up from the cards in his hand with a smug expression. Across from him sat Broadway, Angela, and Lexington. Each had their own hand of cards and were scrutinizing them carefully.
Lexington scratched his bald little head and rearranged his cards so that they were in a different order. Happy that things were as they should be, he then looked over at Broadway. The large gargoyle had a perplexed expression on his face. He started to try and take a peek at Angela's hand, but the female gargoyle caught his movement and smirked, pulling her cards out of his line of sight before he could get a good look at them. When he found out he'd been caught, Broadway immediately looked away and tried to act innocent.
"So," Brooklyn drawled out slowly. The smug look hadn't left his face. "Broadway… do you have any FIVES?"
The turquoise gargoyle looked at his hand and frowned. With a few grumbled complaints, he tossed a five of spades to his red skinned friend. The clan's second-in-command grinned at him. "Why thank you, Broadway. You're very generous."
"How come you always know what cards I have?" Broadway whined.
"Simple deduction," Brooklyn answered. "I pay attention to what cards you ask for."
"Oh? Is that how you do it?" his friend asked. "I was wondering how everyone kept figuring that out."
Brooklyn shook his head as Lexington took his turn. The little green gargoyle turned to Angela with a look similar to the one the red gargoyle had worn moments before. "All right, Angela," he smirked. "Got any twos?"
Goliath's daughter smiled right back. "Go fish."
Lexington looked stunned. "No twos? But I was so sure you had one…" He narrowed his eyes at her. "Are you cheating?"
"What?!" asked both Broadway and Angela at once.
"Hey," the larger of the two remarked. "Just because Angela got one past you doesn't mean you have to accuse her of being a cheater!"
Brooklyn chuckled. "You're such a sore loser, Lex," he commented.
"Am not!"
The sound of female laughter soon had all of them turning to the room's entrance, where Eliza Maza had just walked in. Hudson stood next to her, an amused expression written on his face as well. The group of young gargoyles cheered up at the sight.
"Hey, Elisa! Hey, Hudson!" Lexington greeted them cheerily.
"Evening, Lads," the old gargoyle responded.
"If you guys can pull yourselves away from your game for a while," Elisa said, "I have some news."
Broadway grew serious. "It's not about the Quarrymen, is it?" John Castaway's little group had caused them a great deal of trouble over the past months. Things had quieted down a bit after Castaway had been sent to jail, but there was still a threat. After all, Tony Dracon had been able to run his operation from jail. Who was to say Castaway couldn't do the same?
Much to his relief, Elisa shook her head. "No, the Quarrymen are hanging low for a while. They lost some of their public support after that train incident."
"So it's good news, right?" Angela asked hopefully.
The detective shrugged. "It's hard to say. It could be taken either way, but because of recent developments I'd say it's reasonably good."
"What is it?" asked Lexington.
"It's MacBeth," Elisa answered calmly, "or Lennox MacDuff, rather, as he calls himself nowadays. He's got himself a job working for Xanatos - a rather higher up one at that. You could be seeing him a lot more often."
The trio and Angela looked thoughtful after this announcement. "Do you think we can trust him?" Brooklyn finally questioned.
"I remember him arguing in our favor on the news a while back," Hudson replied. "And last we all saw from him it appeared he was finally on our side. I believe he no longer means us any harm. Demona, maybe… but not any of us, I'd wager."
Angela crossed her arms. "So, what's his job?"
"Apparently," Elisa smirked, "he's in charge of 'Gargoyle Security', or something like that."
"Makes sense," Brooklyn muttered. "Guess he's the best qualified."
"Wow, we really WILL be seeing him more often!" Angela remarked thoughtfully.
"Let's just hope we're actually on good terms," murmured Lexington.
+ + + + + + + + + +
The black convertible pulled to a stop in front of the MacDuff manor. The blonde driving it peeked over the top of her sunglasses in astonishment. She slowly exited the vehicle, barely taking her eyes off the site before her.
"A manor…?" she asked aloud in awe. "More like a castle. You would think you would hear more about a type of place like this near Manhattan. Wonder why I never saw it in the brochures…?" She shook her head a few times in wonder, then turned back to her car to retrieve her briefcase. Once she had that firmly in hand, she put on her most professional air and strode towards the doorway.
It opened before she even knocked.
"Miss Canmore, I presume?" The man on the other side of the door asked. He was an older man, somewhere in his fifties or so it appeared, with gray hair and beard, though rather well fit. He actually towered above her by about a foot or so. He was dressed in a dark suit with a plain blue tie.
"Yes, I am Robyn Canmore," she answered him.
He smiled at her. It was a type of genuine smile she hadn't seen for ages, and though she didn't show it she felt slightly comforted. He opened the door wider, allowing her to enter. "Then come on in!" he said with a chuckle. "Make yourself at home."
She found the inside of the estate to be just as grand as the outside, which was no small feat. It was furnished splendidly with antiques of all sorts: from Ming vases to Italian sculptures to… was that a REAL suit of armor in the doorway? She let her eyes wander briefly as she followed the man into his study. Half the items in his home were worth a fortune by themselves. It was a good thing he had security camera's all over the place, though how anyone could have enough money to afford all these things plus the security it took to keep them safe was beyond her. He had to be pretty loaded.
"Here we are," the man said, ushering her into a smaller room. He had a small table and two well-furbished chairs set up in one corner, and coffee (still hot it seemed) had been prepared for the both of them. "Please sit down." He motioned to one of the chairs and she took a seat, laying her briefcase across her lap. He sat down in the chair across from her and prepared to get down to business.
"A friend of mine referred you to me," he said shortly. "Have you had a chance to speak with Mr. Xanatos?"
Miss Canmore nodded. "It was he himself who told me to come and see you. He said you had a job for me as Mr. MacDuff's personal assistant."
"I am Mr. MacDuff," the man replied with a smile, validating her earlier assumptions. "I don't suppose he told you what it is exactly that I do?"
Here she shook her head. "No. He said you would tell me yourself. Is it very confidential?"
MacDuff startled her now by laughing. "Ha ha! Not as much as it used to be, Madam, not as much as it used to be." He settled himself down, but still looked amused. "But we would like to keep things as quiet as possible, yes." He reached for his cup of coffee and took a small sip of it. He looked thoughtful for a moment, stroking his beard with one hand. "The truth is, I am to be in charge of some… rather unusual security measures. Xanatos has some strange… friends… that need special looking after."
The woman's mouth suddenly went dry. She knew where this was going.
"I believe you are familiar with gargoyles, Miss Canmore?" MacDuff said casually.
He watched her response to this statement carefully. Xanatos had filled him in on Robyn Canmore's previous association with the gargoyles and it had not been a very friendly relationship. The Canmores had been the Hunters, a group of people who had spent centuries hunting down and destroying gargoyles - mostly the one they referred to as "the Demon." Demona. Robyn had two brothers. The three of them had, only a few months before, been responsible for the destruction of the clock tower above the police station while on their mission to kill Goliath's clan. At the end of their long struggle with the clan, the eldest brother, Jason, had wound up paralyzed from the waist down - shot by his own brother accidentally while protecting Goliath. He'd seen the error of his ways, but it had cost him. The youngest brother, Jon, had gone insane after the incident and eventually became the leader of the Quarrymen under the alias of John Castaway.
Robyn, however, had witnessed how the gargoyles had saved the human race from destruction. According to Elisa Maza, she realized, as Jason did, that the feud had to be brought to an end. She, along with her brother, Jason, had been taken to Riker's Island after being found guilty of terrorism, among other charges. During her stay there she'd had plenty of time to think over things. Her family, the gargoyles, the Demon, everything swam through her head all those days in prison. She might have gone mad like her brother with guilt instead of vengeance had she not been visited on several occasions by a new friend of hers.
She still couldn't believe Elisa Maza had wanted to visit and talk with her after all she had done to the Clan. The Police woman had been very forgiving. It seemed she understood the Canmore's hatred of Demona - the immortal gargoyle had been responsible for more than her share of trouble over the centuries. Elisa had spoken to her of her own adventures with the gargoyles, and they both learned of each others views and sympathized. Though Robyn didn't think she'd ever get over the fact that the cop and the gargoyle leader were an unofficial couple.
It was through Elisa that Xanatos had heard about her. Apparently, he was very interested in her knowledge and skills. Her resume was quite impressive, she had to admit. Of the Hunter threesome she had been the brains of the outfit, and Xanatos was interested in putting her abilities to good use. Somehow he'd pulled a few strings here and there and was able to get her released on early parole. She still wondered how he'd done it, what with the charges she'd been faced with.
Right now she was trying her best to hide her reaction to MacDuff's question, but it was obvious she was uneasy. She didn't hate Goliath's clan, but protecting them would be going against her brother. Despite his recent actions it was doubtful she would want to directly oppose him.
"I'm asking you to assist me in protecting the gargoyles from harm - especially during the day when they are most vulnerable," he continued. "We are also to make sure word about them is kept as favorably as possible. There are those who would want it otherwise."
Robyn was now sipping from her coffee as she listened to him. He could only guess what was going through her mind.
After a moment, she looked up at him. "You are aware of my past history, are you not, Mr. MacDuff?"
"Aye, that I am."
"Then you understand why this would be a difficult decision for me?" she asked, setting her cup back on its saucer.
MacDuff grew solemn. "I understand all too well. The choice was not an easy one for me either."
Robyn raised an eyebrow at this, but said nothing. The man looked up at her and gave her a small smile. "I, too, once wore the Hunter's mask, child."
He heard her quiet intake of breath. "That has always been a Canmore's duty," she said lowly. "I was not aware anyone other than our clan hunted the Demon."
Lennox MacDuff's smile widened, though it didn't seem to be filled with the same mirth it had been before. "Oh, it wasn't Canmore who started it. Actually he was the third, though I would understand how the vendetta would carry on from there." He sipped his coffee again. "I hunt Demona for my own reasons."
Robyn still had many more questions to ask him along that topic, but things were slowly becoming clear to her. There were obvious reasons why she was the one they wanted for this position. She'd had previous contact with the gargoyles and felt she had done them wrong (apart from Demona). She also knew a good deal about their main opposition - her brother. Now she was aware of what she had in common with the man she was to work for.
Xanatos was a smart man to consider this pairing.
She took a deep breath. That knowledge didn't really make this decision easier. "If you would have me, Mr. MacDuff, I will accept the offer to work for you." She did her best to smile.
The man returned the gesture. "Welcome aboard, Miss Canmore."
+ + + + + + + + + +
Titania, Queen of Avalon, stood before the trio known as the Weird Sisters. Her new companion floated next to her, curious to see why she had brought him to these despised witches. Three pairs of eyes stared up at him in a mixture of anger, fear, and surprise.
"I see you recognize this spirit," Titania spoke to them quietly.
"My Queen," the blonde haired one replied, "It was our hope to never lay eyes upon this man again."
"Then you will be very disappointed," the Lady said with a stern look. "You will be seeing a great deal of this poor soul from this point on."
"You would have us align with this petty magician?" the dark haired one asked in shock, gesturing towards the frowning ghost.
Titania smiled at this. "He was obviously not so 'petty' that he couldn't ensnare the three of you," she teased.
"Using magic stolen from this island, my Queen," the third sister - one of white hair - answered. All three of them looked angry. Extremely so. The wife of Oberon was certain that had she not been their mother they would have erupted on her or burned her to a cinder. As it was, she was the one in charge of things here.
"Yet, you are to blame for his predicament, are you not?" Titania asked. Before she could get a reply, she continued. "Your actions are what resulted in his demise and now his soul is being denied rebirth because of his place of death."
"But, my Queen…"
"Therefore!" she cut off any further argument with an upraised palm. "It will be your duty to see to it that this man makes himself Proven."
The three sisters stared at her in horror. "You can't be serious!" the blonde one nearly shouted.
"Our Lord Oberon will never accept it," the black-haired one agreed.
"Your Lord Oberon already agrees," a new voice said smugly from behind them. Turning, the sisters found themselves face to face with their father. He seemed to be in a rather good mood. A startling good mood. This didn't necessarily bode well for them. "The boy would make an interesting changeling."
A… what? the spirit asked, suddenly beginning to understand where this was going.
The third sister sighed. "If… If it pleases your Lordship…" she murmured.
"It does indeed," the King of the Fay remarked with a royal smirk. He then turned upon the ghost, who appeared quite startled with this turn of events. "So what do you say, spirit? We are giving you the opportunity to start anew as a servant to the Fair Folk." His expression turned serious. "Not many are given such an opportunity."
The spectral figure bowed humbly before Oberon. His thoughts wavered in his anxiety. I… I… I… T-thank you… most graciously… my Lord… he paused, trying to calm himself. …but…
"But?" the King asked, startled.
…but …I am …not certain that …the I-immortal life is …one that… (That I'd like to have), he finished for himself. However, to them it ended with …that I am …worthy of…
"Your worthiness is what you will be judged for," Oberon replied in what he believed was a reassuring tone. "If you are not exactly Fay material, then We will see to it that your death is finalized. Either way, you will removed from this forced limbo that you are in now." He turned to his wife. "You are very lucky to have received Our Queen's favor."
...Thank you, my lord.
"There now, it's settled!" Oberon said merrily. He then clapped his hands once, and a brilliant glow surrounded the unprepared spirit. "You true form will be created from your soul! My Queen, a new Fay's creation is always such a marvel, is it not?"
"Indeed, my husband."
The bright light created from the ghost's transformation attracted the attention of every creature in the great hall of the palace. Many of them watched, transfixed, as a form began to take shape at the center of the glow. Oberon and Titania raised an eyebrow each as the figure became clearer.
Things were not entirely as they had expected.
Whereas they had expected to see a fully formed, human, version of the figure they'd seen as a spirit, they were instead greeted by a rather interesting sight. "Hmmm…" Oberon murmured in wonder.
The Magus blinked his eyes several times. At first, he was a bit excited. He could actually feel the floor beneath his feet again, and when he waved his hand he could feel the slight breeze that ran along his skin. He stretched his arms above his head experimentally… and ended up staggering backwards. Something in his balance wasn't quite right. He straightened himself up, using his tail a bit in the effort.
His tail?
He gasped in shock, turning his head sharply to one side in order to get a better view of the wings he now had sprouting from each shoulder blade. His knees buckled, and he fell to the floor on his rear.
"Oh my," he said softly, much to the amusement of several of Oberon's children.
"How intriguing!" The Lord of Avalon said, coming to stand beside him. "You are the very first We have seen, human-born, that has chosen their true form to be that of the first race. Very interesting indeed."
The Magus looked down at his gargoyle talons and blinked some more. (The fates have it in for me, don't they?) he thought wryly.
+ + + + + + + + + +
Dr. Anton Bartholomew Sevarius was a very optimistic man.
Some would say it was because of the line of work he was in. When working with genetics like he did it helped to have a positive attitude towards things. If you were unhappy you were more likely to make mistakes. Such foul ups could be expensive, not to mention a waste of time and valuable 'guinea pigs' on occasion. Yes, being an optimist helped in this instance, but Sevarius preferred a different explanation.
He had cloned an entire clan of gargoyles, accidentally double crossed Xanatos, turned four innocent human beings into mutates… and lived to brag about it. Now there was something to be proud of.
"And that won't be the end of it, will it, my boy?" the good doctor asked a large, grotesque, gargoyle-like statue in one corner of his lab. "We'll make anyone pay who's ever crossed us, won't we."
There was no response, of course. He didn't expect any.
The large clone he had made from all the gargoyles together was now permanently stone, just like the other clones he had created. There had been a slight miscalculation in their programming it seemed. He had not anticipated such an error, and it bothered him.
Not too much, however. He never did really like them all that much anyway, with the exception of 'Little Anton' here.
"I'll find a way to fix you, son," he said sincerely. "Don't worry." It was all part of his next plan, anyway. His new plan would be his best ever - mostly because it was his own. No one was pulling his strings this time. Anton Sevarius didn't answer to anybody else but himself anymore.
"Hey!" a sharp female voice interrupted his thoughts. "Where are you, Doc? Dr. S.? Helloooo! Anybody home?"
Sevarius sighed, rolling his eyes skyward before answering. "I'm in my office, Hyena."
The cybernetic woman nudged his door open with her shoulder. Her arms were laden down with a mound of papers. "I brought all the files you asked for," she said with a huff as she set them down on his desk. "Honestly though, Doc, I hope you have something more exciting planned in the near future. I didn't sign on to help you just to be your secretary."
"Yes, yes, I know," the geneticist answered irritably. "We're all itching for a little action around here. Don't worry, I'm about ready to initialize the next phase of our little project."
Hyena scoffed, crossing her arms. "'Our' little project? Hmph. Didn't know Jackal and I were included. Thought we were just the cannon fodder."
True, that had been his original intent.
He had come to realize though, that he and the pair of cyborgs shared many common grudges. It only made sense that they should team up against a common enemy - as long as they were working UNDER him, that is. It also helped that, for the moment anyway, he was getting their help free of charge. He told her as much, and she laughed - which made him instantly regret it. He hated her irritating laugh.
"Heh," she chuckled. "Don't worry. Jackal and I realize we owe you for busting us out of the slammer. You get a month. After that, you're paying us full."
"Yes, yes."
Hyena stood there watching him sort through the papers a few moments longer before shrugging and heading towards the door. His voice stopped her before she reached it.
"Does Jackal have the list?"
"List?" the woman asked, confused for a second or two. "Oh! That list. I think so. I'll ask." That said, she poked her head out the doorway and called him as loud as she could down the hallway. "HEY!! BIG BROTHER!! THE DOC WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE LIST!!"
Savarius muttered something under his breath about incompetent help just before he heard Jackal's reply of "WHAT LIST?!"
"YOU KNOW!!" Hyena responded, still at the top of her voice. "THE LIST?!"
"OH!" came the reply. "THAT LIST!"
"WELL, DO YOU HAVE IT?!"
"NO, I GAVE IT TO YOU!!"
"Hm?" Hyena seemed to think this over. "Oh yeah!" she popped open a small compartment on her left wrist and pulled out a rolled up strip of paper. "Forgot I had it in there. THANKS BRO!!" After her final yell, she grinned and forked over the list. "Here it is."
"If I knew you were going to scream down the hall I would have called him on the 'com and saved myself the headache," the doctor murmured as he accepted it.
"Aw, can I help it you have no sense of humor?" the cybernetic woman asked innocently.
Sevarius snorted. "Get back to work."
Hyena smirked. Work. Right. She wasn't sorting papers for the rest of the day if she could help it. She'd grab Jackal and they'd go grab a meal somewhere. It wasn't as if Sevarius would even care. He'd probably be glad to have them out of his hair for a while.
"Sure, boss," she said, giving him a smart salute. She then did an about-face and exited his office, much to his relief.
"Undignified cybernetic lunatics…" Sevarius muttered to himself. If they hadn't been the best muscle he was going to be able to hire for a while he would have gladly left them to rot in prison. People like them were the reason he'd helped Demona create a virus he knew she'd want to use to destroy the human population with. Not many humans lived up to his standards, and he could always genetically alter himself to survive the plague - one of the benefits to being a scientific genius.
He turned his attention to the list he now had clutched in his hand. It was really no longer than a receipt one might receive after a trip to the grocery store. He unrolled it carefully, scanning down the list of names in silence.
Then he laughed.
"Oh, yes, my boy," he cackled evilly. "Vengeance will be great indeed." Finally his plans would be coming to fruition. No longer would he be trod on and scoffed at. He would see genuine FEAR in his opponents eyes before his project was over, oh yes he would. The day would soon come when the name Anton Sevarius would send chills down people's spines at the very thought of it.
Indeed, 'optimist' was an understatement.
+ + + + + + + + + +
Owen Burnett met the interesting duo almost the moment they entered the Eyrie Building. They were escorted unto the top floors without having to make any type of ID check along the way.
There were benefits to being one of the higher-ups at Xanacorp, MacDuff admitted to himself as he and Robyn were admitted into Xanatos' private office. For an office it was rather large, and the entire back wall was glass, allowing him to keep some tabs on the gargoyles, he imagined. It also appeared to be a bit drab, with everything being in stark grays and blacks. It looked very twenty-first century, and he couldn't help but wonder on how the simpleness of it all made it that much more impressive. Anyone else probably would have found the set-up to be very intimidating. No doubt that was exactly the way Xanatos liked it. The man himself was sitting expectantly behind his desk, and he stood as they entered.
"Ah, if it isn't my two newest employees," he came around his desk to greet them each with a strong handshake. "Welcome to your first day on the job. I trust you two have gotten to know each other?" They nodded. "Do you have any complaints about your new assistant, Mr. MacDuff?"
Lennox shook his head. "None at all. She has proven herself to be a very reliable woman."
The CEO of Xanatos Enterprises nodded his own head and smiled before turning to Robyn. "And you, Miss Canmore? Are you all right with this position? I realize I'm asking a great deal of you."
"Whatever problems I may have had, my conscience has taken care of," she answered politely. "I am honored to have been asked to fill this role."
Xanatos looked very pleased. "Good! I will have Owen show you to your offices in a moment." He then handed each of them a disk. Both were unlabled. "Both of those disks contain instructions as well as passwords for accessing some of the higher level security files. They also have the start-up information for a couple of important programs you're going to need."
The duo nodded. They then spun around as they heard the door open behind them. A man entered - a red-head in a tan trench coat.
"I believe you are both acquainted with Detective Maza," Xanatos continued. "This is her former partner, Matt Bluestone. He's our inside man at the precinct. Any information you need from there you can get from him."
Matt shook each of their hands.
Robyn nearly laughed out loud. "Our inside man is the leader of the Gargoyles Task Force?"
"Yep," Bluestone grinned. "I was their friend first and foremost. It's great that I get to work with the two of you." He winked. "…Even if you do have horrible reputations."
"Both of which are in the process of being cleared as we speak," Xanatos remarked with a wink. "As far as their backgrounds are concerned it's now all 'unknown' and 'confidential'. Just a few of the perks of this job."
"Heh," Bluestone muttered. "Welcome to the MIB."
"Your offices are just down the hall. Owen will point them out." His right-hand man nodded from his position in the doorway. "Mr. Bluestone and I have business to discuss."
The blonde-haired man motioned for them to follow him. He led them a few meters away from Xanatos' office to where their own were located. They were side-by-side, and connected by a doorway between them.
"Mr. Xanatos apologizes for his abruptness. He will see each of you again in two hours. Please get yourselves situated in your new workspace. If you'll excuse me." With that, he turned and strode off.
MacDuff turned to Robyn. "After you," he said with a flourish, bowing and motioning her in. She smirked, and they both made their way to their desks.
Robyn took the disk she'd been given out of her purse. Looking over at her computer, she found that it had already been turned on, and the words 'WELCOME, MISS CANMORE,' were running across the screensaver in bright yellow letters. She tapped the mouse, sending the message away, and entered her disk into the drive. It immediately began installing several new programs, as well as a few files for her to look over.
After a few minutes of waiting, the computer beeped - announcing the completion of the installation. She hit 'okay,' and suddenly the background of her computer changed. A simple blue symbol stood out on a background of black. It was a circle with a line coming down and overlapping it's left side - almost like a strange 'd' or 'p' - and a sun-like shape to the right of that.
A small text box suddenly popped up in the center of her screen.
"Welcome to Project Daylight," it read.
+ + + + + + + + + +
Titania watched the Magus with wry amusement as he paced the floor behind her and her husband's thrones. It had taken him a little while to adjust his balance to this new form, but he seemed to fit it well now.
The Sorcerer's "rebirth" had so far been kept secret from the island's clan, with special care taken to ensure that the princess didn't learn of it. This was more out of the Magus's request than her own, but she saw the reason for it. It might prove too much for the old woman to handle right now.
Nevertheless, she could tell by her husband's expression that this constant pacing was getting on his nerves.
"Magus," she called suddenly, causing the gargoyle to stop sharply and raise his head to face her. "Oberon and I have some matters to discuss with the Three. Why don't you take a walk around the island? Visit with some of my children."
"But the clan-"
"They will not see you," she interrupted him, anticipating his remark.
He hesitated a moment in his reply. He had no doubt really that Titania would keep him shielded from anyone he did not wish to see him, but he wasn't certain if he felt up to walking around and seeing a family he would not be able to speak to.
"Please," the Queen spoke softly. "For your sake as well as mine."
The Magus sighed. Then he nodded and headed for the door.
--
He decided he would avoid the palace grounds altogether. That was how he eventually found himself wandering into a strange part of the forest that he didn't believe he'd ever seen in the forty or so years he'd been on the island. The plant life was unlike anything he remembered seeing. The air also seemed particularly moist and warm here. Was this the doing of the fey? Surely this hadn't been here before.
"Jade? Is that you? I had not expected you back so soon," a strangely accented voice suddenly spoke up from among the foliage.
The Magus looked around for its source. "No…" he responded as he searched, "I do not know of this… Ha-day… that you speak of."
A blue-ish head poked around from behind a nearby tree, startling him. It was a female gargoyle, but not one of his clan. He didn't remember having ever seen her before. "Ah! A gargoyle amigo, but not Jade, yes? Funny, I don't believe I've seen you around. I will admit to not being here long, though, so it's not surprising." She came out fully, revealing an armful of what appeared to be extremely large flowers, roots still attached. "Have you come to see how the Little Green is doing? It's amazing how well the plants have taken to this soil."
The Sorcerer blinked. Little Green? This was something he had no knowledge of. "Pardon my ignorance, but I'm afraid I was never told of who you and your companion were. Might I inquire as much?"
She smiled. "Of course, amigo!" she said happily. "I am Turquesa. My mate Jade and I are from the Guatemalan gargoyle clan - that is in South America - that guard the rainforest pyramid. The forest is slowly being destroyed by the humans. It was the human Elisa's idea for us to bring some samples to this island where they would be able to grow and thrive. Would that we could have brought the whole forest…" she sighed, her smile vanishing. "I hope Zaphiro and Obsidiana fare well without us. They are the last two of own clan alive besides Jade and myself."
As the newly-made gargoyle's mind spun with a long list of questions he wanted to ask the strange female, he tried his best not to startle her too much with his naiveté. "I have been on this island for so long," he muttered. "I'm afraid I have become lost in your words." He paused, watching as she began digging through the rich soil with her claws. "Tell me, though. Are all the clans so small nowadays?"
Turquesa stopped for a moment, and her expression became pained. "Our clan was not always so. We were once large, but many years ago the rest of our kind were destroyed by poachers. Only four of us remain - those that were to guard the clan to begin with. A lot of good the pendants do if we are not there to make use of their power."
"Pendants?"
The turquoise gargoyle looked startled. She hadn't thought much about that slip up. After the last incident with the strange cybernetic duo they had tried not to mention the jewels that much. She hoped this gargoyle was trustworthy enough and that no one else was listening in.
"Yes," she muttered. "These." She lifted the turquoise jewel around her neck into the light. "They keep whoever wears them from turning to stone during the day. They were created so that our clan would always have guardians to protect it." She sighed, letting the pendant drop back down against her chest. "But in our haste to protect the forest from those that would destroy it, we left our own people vulnerable to attack."
The Magus watched her, his own mood saddened a great deal. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."
She shook her head. "No, it is good that we don't forget our failures so we do not have to worry about repeating them."
They were silent a moment. As Turquesa began planting the large flowers in the ground, the sorcerer thought upon the truthfulness of her words. He'd felt their sting long ago.
"As for other clans," the Guatemalan gargoyle continued after a moment. "I know only what I have heard from Goliath and his traveling companions, or the fey on the island. Most clans are small, yes. I have heard of those in London and in Japan. I have heard mention of some in Egypt, as well, but I don't know if that's been proven."
"So few," the white gargoyle murmured, head bowed.
"Better than none," Turquesa answered. "Gargoyles haven't been a prominent race on this planet since the time if the Titans - or so I hear from those on this island. I wasn't even aware before then that we were EVER a prominent race. The fact that we still exist at all, given the nature of humans to fear and destroy us, is cause for some measure of hope."
The Magus stood suddenly, causing the turquoise gargoyle to scoot back an inch in surprise. The expression on the sorcerer's face was one of astounded realization.
"What is it?" the gargoyle from Guatemala asked.
"I…" he stuttered, "Thank you. You've been most helpful. I need to go. Maybe I'll see you again sometime." He then stood and began walking quickly away from her.
"Wait!" she cried after him. "Where are you going?"
"To do something important with my life for once!!" was his over-the-shoulder reply.
Turquesa could merely wave her farewells as the newly-made gargoyle dashed off towards Oberon's Palace.
+ + + + + + + + + +
"You want to do what?" Oberon asked, eyebrow raised.
"I want to leave the island," the Magus replied, apparently not caring who he was talking to. "I need to help save a dying race from extinction. Surely there's something I can do to help them."
"And what makes you think We're just going to allow you free passage off the island?" the Fairy King responded calmly. "You forget, human-born, that by Our decree no fey is to leave this island unless We so command it. What if We have no desire for you to leave?"
"But he is not yet a fey, my husband."
Both heads raised simultaneously as Queen Titania made her entrance. She was accompanied by the Three Sisters, whose expressions turned readably sour as they noticed who their Queen referred to. Titania smiled.
"He is not yet a fey. He has yet to be proven. Would you not agree, husband, that the boy's proffered mission would a suitable test of his merit?"
Oberon seemed to think over this a moment. A low 'hmmmmmn' escaped his throat as his masculine need to hold superiority wrestled with Titania's feminine ability to get exactly what she wanted out of him. As was usually the case, he decided to 'humor' her.
"That is a good point. You are lucky, boy, that the Queen seems to show such favor in you." He rose, crossing his arms before his chest regally. "The Sisters will accompany you, to make sure of your progress."
END CHAPTER 1.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
MACBETH: "Madam, they burned witches like you in the Middle Ages!"
MARGOT: "Mister, you're living in a fantasy world!"