The characters of Gargoyles belong to Disney/Buena Vista television. Carolina Maza/Caroline Duval is the creation of me.
Author's note: There are references to terrorism in this fic. In this post 9/11 world you can't be too careful.
Bad Girl: It Begins
New York City 2018 A.D. Columbia University
The students watched her walk in with confidence in her step. A new student to
welcome into Columbia. Wearing grey dress pants to match her stark white blouse the
raven-haired beauty walked with a confident swagger into her step as she looked
over her fellow students with disdain. More than several of the schools male
population offered to show her to her new classroom but one glare from the girl
sent them cowering to he corners. With a turn she surveyed her surroundings and
gave a disgusted sigh. "Ugh, where is my Biochemistry class."
She felt someone tap her shoulder. "What!" she snapped.
A rather handsome looking jock looked over at her appraisingly. "I wonder if perhaps I may be of some assistance gorgeous."
The raven haired beauty gritted her teeth. "Get lost creep! I'm perfectly capable of finding this room on my own."
The jock's face turned beet red but then he just shook it off. "Fine have it your." He walked away. "Bitch," he muttered.
The girl turned to face all the others. "And what are you looking at?! Get out of my face."
The rest of the students dispersed quickly without a sound. Some gave the girl a hostile look while others just avoided eye contact.
Hmm, that's better. Show these cowardly humans boss. The girl strode confidently down the hall with her head held up high. Caroline Duval Desty searched for her first class.
Nightfall…
Brooklyn landed on the castle parapets as he went to report to his leader. Every night Brooklyn dreaded going up to his leader in what was now a nightly ritual.
The large leviathan sat in his thinkers pose as he looked out towards the Manhattan skyline. The clicking of talons on stone alerted him to a prescence. He sighed and turned around.
Brooklyn was struck by how old he looked. None of his hair had even begun to show signs of graying but his face showed creases that were too much even for the craggy features of Goliath. His face was worn with deep creases running along his face. His muscular arms and chest were covered in scar tissue from talon marks marring his once vibrant lavender color that had now faded. He had lost weight as Brooklyn withheld a gasp at the ribs poking visible from his once impressive frame.
It was his eyes that held Brooklyn the most. Where once were the fire onyx, eyes of his leader were replaced by hollow orbs that had a sad distant look to them. He carried a sense of hopelessness that shook Brooklyn to the very core.
"Any sign of her?" He asked flatly.
Brooklyn looked at his leader with a sad expression. "No, Goliath. It's the same tonight as it was last night and the night before that and the night before that for the last six years. She's gone Goliath. You have to accept that."
Goliath turned around and once again looked at the skyline. "Would you accept it if it were your own daughter Brooklyn, would you accept that she disappeared without a trace?"
Brooklyn looked on his leader with a desperate expression. "Goliath, I don't know what else to do. No it wasn't my daughter that's disappeared nor was it my mate that died but you have to help me help you."
He gave Brooklyn a disgusted look. "Help me?" he snorted. "I am far beyond help Brooklyn. My angel leaves me and now my daughter too, this is far too much any person should bear."
Brooklyn brought out his claws in a pleading gesture. "You're right Goliath. This is way too much for any one person to handle. Please let us help. PLEASE!"
He smiled a sad smile to Brookln and gently shook his head. "No Brooklyn. Just… Just leave me be."
Brooklyn nodded his head slowly. "Allright Goliath. Allright."
Brooklyn leapt off his leaders' perch to the awaiting gargoyles in the courtyard. Corsica walked up to him. "My love! How fairs our leader."
Brooklyn shook his head sadly. "I tried. I tried but he doesn't want to let me in. I can't do anymore for him."
Angela looked to Brooklyn with tears in her eyes. "Brooklyn what are we going to do? It's like father has lost the will to live. Have you seen how much weight he's lost. He's killing himself."
Brooklyn looked to Angela with a sad smile to his beaked countenance, "I know Angie and believe me I've tried oh how I've tried! Hudson can you say anything him? He's closer to you."
Hudson limped forward using his cane for support. The old soldier seemed to age fifty years since the disappearance of Carolina. Though he could no longer glide the old warrior seemed to draw strength from places even the young ones couldn't. By all accounts he should have died ten years ago but he stayed on. Some greater power seemed to have sensed that Hudson was still needed. "I've already done all I've can Brooklyn. The lad just can't get over the loss. Who can blame him."
"But you're closest to him Hudson. You practically raised him. Please try again Hudson. We can't just stand by while Goliath destroys himself. Pleeease."
"Allright lad. I'll try my best." Hudson limped off up the steps to Goliath's perch. Though he could no longer scale rock the elderly gargoyle went up Goliath's perch to have a talk with his student.
Goliath looked off into the distance staring solemnly at nothing in particular. When he heard the approaching click of talons on stone he closed his eyes and sighed. "Yes mentor?"
"Hullo lad." The old warrior said unsurely.
"Hello Hudson…so how have you been?"
"The same as always, worried sick about our leader. Goliath," Hudson said with an exasperated tone, "ye've got ta let go of the past Goliath. She is gone."
Goliath suddenly whirled around with fury lit eyes. "I know she is gone Hudson, don't you think I know that she is dead for and gone for the past six years?!! Do you think I can get over that loss Hudson?!! Do you?!!"
Hudson gave Goliath a neutral look. "I wasna' bout Elisa lad, you've got let her go. You've got ta let both of them of go."
Goliath turned once more towards the parapets his once strong talons sinking into the ancient stone. "Think you I could forget such a thing mentor? Too lose Elisa was one thing but to lose Carolina as well…"
Goliath felt a weathered yet strong hand on his shoulder. "I know lad, I know. Ya do na have ta bear that pain alone lad. We are clan Goliath. You seem to have forgotten that ye have a clan to support ya. We'll always be there for ya."
"I know old friend, I know. I'll be all right it's just that…"
"Allright?" Hudson asked incredulously, whirling Goliath around. "Forgive me lad but ye, like as Brooklyn would put it, shit. You have aged ten years before our very eyes," Hudson's eyes began to glow, "ye are starvin' yourself to the point of not even existing," he roughly seized Goliath's arms, "and what do you tell me of this?!!" he roared.
"Mentor I…"
"Have you ever thought about how this puts Angela and Diana?!! They see ye and your self mutilatin' and they hide away and cry away in Broadway's and my arms!! Goliath ye've got to stop!! Nothing we can do will bring back Elisa or Carolina!!" He seemed to calm down some as the glow from his eyes died away. "Goliath, we know you are in pain. Tis' the same pain we feel over their loss but you've got to pull together. There ain't no sense in lamenting bout' things that have no remedy ye got ta push on."
Goliath sighed. "I know that is what I must do mentor but how?"
Goliath felt the Hudson's weathered hand around his massive wrist. Hudson lifted their intertwined hands up. Goliath looked down at the warrior's handshake.
Hudson smiled at his pupil. "By lettin' yourself draw strength from those around you who care."
Goliath finally gave his mentor a tired smile. "Yes, that is what I will do." He turned and went to descend down the castle steps.
Hudson looked after his departing form inquisitively. "Where are ya going lad?"
"I'm going down to the kitchen. Tell Broadway that I'm starving."
At that Hudson chuckled and followed his pupil down. "That I'll do lad, that I'll do."
Undisclosed mansion…
A raven haired gargoyle glided towards the mansion which was her home. With a flutter of her wings she landed flawlessly on the balcony. Turning to look towards the city a scowl came upon her tan face. She hated this city! This was where her pain started, more importantly this was where he was, the object of her hatred.
The girl shook her head to get unpleasant thoughts out of her head. Or rather unpleasant thoughts of what she would do to this certain someone soon. She turned around and opened the windows that lead to her room.
She frowned down on her surroundings. The room was dark there was no doubt about it. But she shrugged it off. Her superior eyesight could discern the shapes and even read in the dark if need be. Her eyes lit crimson as she smiled nastily. Ah yes her senses were far superior to anything of a pitiful human.
The hellish red died down in her eyes. Human, that was what she was. Her mother, she had been a part of that puny race. She gave out a shuddering breath one filled disgust but also with despair. She was human as well. Her gargoyle blood was diluted with the markings of humanity. Her benefactor didn't tire in reminding her every day and night at how inferior she was to her.
She knew! Damnit she knew that she was inferior to her. Oh how she would like to purge the stench of humanity out of her. As she had heard her benefactor had once tried to purge the plague of humanity long ago. The blue demon even offered to use a spell to purge herself of the ailment but a part of her was hesitant… She shuddered at the memory of what happened next.
Three years prior…
The blue's eyes took on the color of blood as she grabbed the youth from her designer shirt. "You pitiful creature I give you the chance to purge yourself of your weak side! Don't you see that you are below me as long as you hold on to your humanity?"
The next thing she knew was that she was on her knees gasping for breath as the creature gave her a right hook right into her abdomen. The creature then began to slap her hard across the face leaving three small gashes along her cheek where her talons had grazed her.
Carolina screamed as the demon pulled her up by her raven locks and with a wild animal screech slammed her hard into the nearest wall. The youth's pleas were choked off by the blood gushing from her broken nose and falling into her mouth. Then the creature proceeded to slam her again, and then again, and then again ignoring the pleas from the girl to stop.
Finally drooping her. The elder gargoyle looked superiorly to the whimpering, cowering, creature on the floor. She looked to her in absolute disgust at the way her wings attempt to cover her shivering form.
"What are you?" Sneered the creature.
Carolina whimpered as she cowered away from the thing. "I am nothing." She whispered.
The things eyes burned hellish red. "What did you say?"
"I am nothing!" she screamed.
The demon's eyes went back to their normal color as she gave Carolina a satisfied smirk. "Good. Now get out of my sight!" She screeched as she kicked the youth in the abdomen. Her taloned feet left three diagonal gashes across her belly.
As the demon left Carolina Maza was hunched over sobbing quietly. She whispered, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry Demona. I'm sorry mommy."
Carolina shook herself out of her thoughts. No use thinking about past memories now. She went to let herself out of the room. She walked down the stairs as quietly as possible hoping to avoid the demon's wrath.
"You're late," a flat voice told her.
She braced herself and turned to the chair where the demon was sitting in it with her back turned to her. She steeled herself and went forward.
"I'm sorry Demona it took me longer than expected to deliver the product to the Phoenix's Heaven. They were unsure if the bio-toxin would work."
"Did you explain the workings of the Red Death?"
"Yes, Demona I told them this particular bio-toxin was a variation of Anthrax bonded to a powerful allergen. The workings of it such that once a person is infected with Red Death they will have an allergic reaction to it and sneeze, the person next to them will be infected and then will infect the next person. But you know Biochemistry is not my strong point is Genetics. But the explanation I gave to them seemed to satisfy them. Soon Red Phoenix will release the weapon in Latgonia not even President Pax will be able to stop them."
Demona waved a dismissive hand to her pupil. "There is no reason to bother me with the details child. What matters to me is that those terrorists release the weapon and wipe out one more corner of humanity for me. I do declare," the she-devil then slipped into a Southern drawl, "sugah it is of must vital impuhtance that we do this test run our products. My I do declare honey that it was such a fine idea of yours to sell off Nightstone and dedicate ourselves to exclusively creating biological weapons." Her Southern faded as she smiled showing off a nasty gleam to her fangs. "Now we give the humans a push in the right direction."
Carolina gave an equally nasty smile. "Why do all the hardwork of trying to destroy the humans when all we have to do is supply them with the weapons to destroy themselves with?"
Demona chuckled. "So Carolina, how goes the work with the prion scrapie proteins?"
Carolina held up her head a little higher visibly preening. "I've modified a batch to be able to be laced on any foodstuffs available."
"Excellent, if the humans thought a few cows dying was bad just wait till they see what happens when thousands of humans start going mad and dying."
Carolina's face took on a worried quality. "Are you sure that this type of disease can only affect humans and not gargoyles?"
"Of course my dear, if gargoyles were to become infected by the prion protein they too would be infected but stone sleep would cure them. The prion proteins would be destroyed when the gargoyles entered stone sleep."
"Ah so I see. Well at least that is one less worry."
Demona's face took on a thoughtful quality. "Carolina why don't you check up on Kodak and Shenzu I'm going to retire for the evening See that they are comfortable."
Carolina gave Demona a devilish smile. "Of course."
Carolina only now noticed that as Demona got up she carried with her a bouquet of red roses in her hand. "And who's are those from she inquired as she looked curiously at the bouquet.
Demona returned Carolina's devilish grin with one of her own. "Oh you'll find out. In the mean time why don't you see to our guests." With that Demona turned and left.
Shaking her head Carolina went up the stairs to the guest bedrooms of their two newest guests. Kodak and Shenzu two gargoyles that they had encountered on their world travels away from Manhattan, she braced herself and opened the door.
Inside she marveled at the two behemoths before her. Kodak was a male bear gargoyle who towered over her with his arms crossed and a stern visage this gargoyle loomed over her. He wore a green loincloth and a yellow chest plate over his huge and muscular frame. His countenance looked quite impressive but this brown bear gargoyle was soft spoken with compassion in those great green eyes as he looked to her. There was no hate in that face even for the humans who had smashed his clan in their sleep while he was away hunting. When Demona and Carolina had found him they saw the great hulking creature hunched over crying over the loss of his clan.
Demona swore revenge on the humans but Kodak stopped her saying that it wouldn't be worth it. So she offered him a home instead.
Looming over Carolina, Shenzu was tall and muscular as Kodak but still shy a foot over the behemoth's impressive height, more so because he hunched over and walked on his knuckles. Whereas Kodak was found in the American Northwest Shenzu was found in the heart of Africa. His lineage was easily seen because this gargoyle was a gorilla-like gargoyle covered in fur as black as night. Shenzu's story was almost identical to Kodak's story in that his clan was also destroyed by humans. He too wanted nothing to do with the humans but wished them no harm.
These two were so similar in many aspects but also different. Kodak had feathered wings reminiscent of the London clan while Shenzu had bat-like wings not unlike the Manhattan clan's yet they differed in that they looked more the mutate's wings. Shenzu's eyes like Kodak's held a tired look to them but also a peaceful serenity in his ice-blue eyes.
"What brings you here Caro?" asked Kodak in his soft gentle voice.
"Demona asked me if you guys are comfortable."
Shenzu responded, "We are fine my lady," he said in his soft growl, "but that does not seem to be the only reason you have come here."
Carolina strode up to him and ran a hand over his fur covered yet powerful chest. "No, that isn't the only the reason I've come here." Her hand gracefully crazed the tent now evident in his loincloth.
Kodak with his tenting evident responded. "Kid you are just too much. Who's it gonna be this time me or him?" He gestured with his paw-like hand to Shenzu.
Carolina's face took on a devilish quality. "How about the both of you."
Kodak and Shenzu's grin were all the invitation that Carolina needed. They undid their loincloths to show her their arousal pointing directly at her. They went with deliberate steps to her.
"Now there's some good boys." Her devilish grin staying plastered on her face as she turned down the lights and the room faded to black.
The End.
Author's note: The prion protein does exist. It is the cause of a disease known as Human Spongiform Encephalitis. What happens is that this protein causes other proteins to become prion scrapie which causes degeneration in the brain leading to madness and then death. You are probably more familiar with the disease as it happened in England Mad Cow Disease.