Disclaimer: The characters of Gargoyles belong to Buena Vista Television, Disney, inc. This is a work of fanfiction, and is being written without consent or knowledge of the aforementioned company. Lucia Dominguez, Keith Polasky, Sharon Lewis, Cesar Ramierez, and Rachel Vitreum are my characters. Lina and Maya are Denis DePlaen's, and are concepts used with his consent for this story. Any mentions of Time Lords or Dr. Who are property of BBC and are used out of fun for a great sf series.
Rated PG13 for some language and mature situations.
Last Rest Denied
Part 3: Hot Zones
Written by: Trynia Merin
Synopsis by Malkavien@lft.be
"Care to explain what the hell is going on here?" Talon asked no one in particular.
Mona sniffed the air curiously. "Can I see the victims? I might be able to help..."
"What can you do?" Talon asked
"Please, let her help," Rachel said. "She might have a unique perspective on the disease..."
"What are the symptoms," Mona asked as she moved up to Talon and Rachel.
"Pallid skin, rashes..." Maggie ticked off on her fingers. "They just keep dropping like flies..."
Angela also followed, a bit surprised at how quickly Mona was taking charge. Talon stormed after her, still demanding an explanation. A mass of convulsing crowd shuddered. Rashes spread over white and tanned skin. Moans rose up in a collective din as the small group entered the main chamber. Jaws clenched and unclenched spasmodically, muffling the chorus of pain.
"Let her try," Angela gripped his arm as Maggie showed Mona the makeshift infirmary, down one side passage. A number of cots and mattresses had been set up, with nearly the whole floor covered with the ill.
Mona leaned down by one woman, who glanced up at her with frightened eyes. "Shh, it's okay," Mona whispered, carefully glancing into her eyes and examining the skin. The woman trembled, her jaw clenched spasmodically. A frown came over her face.
"How long has this been going on?" she turned to Talon, who stood near her with hands on his hips.
"About the last two days..." he shrugged. "But that doesn't explain why the hell..."
"Nepharyn 4," she whispered. "Toxic, deadly to humans. Smells like apples..."
"What?" Maggie asked.
"Nepharyn 4?" Rachel frowned. "Mona, are you certain?"
"Yes..."
"It looks like tetanus to me," Talon snorted.
"Then how would you account for the odor?" Mona whirled on him.
"Whatever. But if they die, you're responsible!" Talon pointed. He stormed off towards a side chamber, for two figures had suddenly moved into the throng, an Indian man, thin boned with a plump black woman at his side. They moved to Talon, embracing him. Mona and Rachel began to look at the other victims. The more she examined, the more concerned she got.
"What is she doing here!" Elisa Maza suddenly snapped. She had just come in, with Maria Chavez.
"Exactly why I want you..."
"Mom, Dad... Derek?" Elisa rushed up to them. "What are you doing here?"
"Get them out of here, this instant!" Mona cried, rushing up to Elisa and Maria. "This disease is..."
"Who is that..." Diane and Peter Maza turned from their Son, seeing the female gargoyle rushing up to them.
"Mona..." Chavez got out as the gargress approached them.
"You have to get them out of here! This disease is lethal to humans..." Mona shouted. "This place must be sealed off at once..."
"Elisa, who is that, and what is..." Diane got out as she suddenly dropped the stack of blankets she was carrying. Suddenly she started to cough, and convulse, dropping to the floor.
"Mom!" Derek and Elisa shouted, as she collapsed.
"Let me through!" Mona pushed past them. Elisa blocked her, but Chavez pulled her aside, as Rachel restrained Talon. Mona dropped to Diane's side, quickly looking her over. Diane's hands clamped on her throat as she began to convulse.
Grimly Peter Maza gripped his wife, sweat on his hands as he cried, "Diane! Can you talk... say something..."
Her face flushed blue, and Peter desperately tried to lay her flat. Mona helped pushed her down, clearing her air passage. "She's not breathing!" Peter shouted.
"Get me some epinephrine, now!" Mona shouted. Maggie scuttled off quickly to the medicine cabinet.
"Diane, hold on!" cried Peter, steadying her as Mona listened.
"No breathing," she whispered, and tipped Diane's head back. Inhaling deeply she gave a rapid breath. Peter clamped to find a pulse.
"No pulse!" he gasped.
"Start CPR!" Mona muttered, and continued to breathe. Peter didn't even stop to think that this was an inhuman gargress. He crossed his fingers, feverishly pressing down on his wife's chest.
"Mom... get away from her!" shouted Elisa.
"Shut up!" Chavez hissed. "She's saving her life..."
"Let me go!" Talon shouted. Then Maria Chavez looked at him peculiarly.
"Derek, is that you?" she asked.
"Yes... I mean no... I mean that's not important now, my mother's dying..." he snapped.
"She's saving her life!" Chavez repeated, and then looked at him in shock. "What the hell happened to you?"
"Dr. Sevarious," he growled.
"Captain... are you just going to stand there and..." Elisa cried.
"Maza, shut up, and that's an order. And you, Talon, Derek... where is that epinephrine..."
"Right here!" Maggie rushed up, giving it to Mona.
"Take over," Mona shouted to Talon. He stopped at his mother's side, taking over the rescue breathing automatically. Elisa stood numbly to one side, Maria's hand on her shoulder.
"Get them out of here!" Mona shouted. "It's not safe for humans! And someone get some isolation suits and seal this place off pronto! Call Xanatos!"
"I'll do that right now!" Angela nodded, and rushed towards a phone.
"Come on!" Rachel pulled Elisa and Peter Maza away. They were put into a side room, which was separated from the main chamber by a glass barrier.
Diane coughed, glancing up into the faces of the gargress and her son. Elisa turned as she fought against Rachel, who struggled to push her and her father away.
"Captain!" shouted Elisa, as Peter Maza pulled his daughter away. The rest of the hour faded into a blur as Mona and Derek worked over her mother.
Meanwhile, Mona slipped up Diane's shirt. Quickly she inserted the needle into Diane's chest, right between the breastbone and two ribs. Her taloned thumb did not shake as she pressed the plunger home. Talon continued to give rescue breathing to his mother, as Maggie moved in to continue the chest compressions. Angela had reached Fox at the castle by now, and Chavez was anxiously waiting nearby as Rachel moved to seal off the room with plastic draperies.
"Ria you shouldn't be down here..." said Rachel as Chavez helped her to fix the next set of seals. All the air had to be pumped out. Steel Clan robots already tromped in, laying their medical supplies down. Huge plastic draperies and a stack of suits were slowly accumulating.
"I know... but you need all the help you can get..." said Maria. "And don't you think it's weird that I haven't been affected, while Diane and Peter have?"
"You only just got here..."
"Ray, I've been here for fifteen minutes, and I'm fine..." she said. Elisa and Peter were waiting tensely in the small side room, while Maggie had pumped them full of epinephrine. Already Elisa and Peter were starting to convulse. Only the injections had calmed them enough so they could watch Mona's ministrations on Diane. Who was now laying on a cot, breathing. Talon pulled up an oxygen tank, securing the mask over his mother's face. Mona continued to check her pulse, wiping sweat from her crested brow. Odd, that look in her eyes was nothing but pure concern.
"I need a centrifuge, and a blood sample. I've got to make an isolation of the antigens in my own blood, and try and make an extract..."
"But you're a gargoyle!"
"Nepharyn 4 is a toxic gas, that mimics Ebola and Tetanus. It's a nerve gas, and all I need to do is isolate the agents from my blood..."
"It's too risky!" he snapped.
Chavez moved over, leaning at them.
"Maria, you shouldn't be in here without a suit!" Mona scolded her.
"I think I have your source of serum," said Rachel. "She's been in contact with the Nepharyn 4 for half an hour and she's still all right..."
"Why is that?" Talon demanded. "And why aren't we affected?"
"Nepharyn is ineffective against Gargoyles and Sevarious mutates," said Mona. "Now get me a syringe..."
"Already here," Rachel handed her a plastic wrapped one, her claws already wrapped in rubber gloves.
"Still I think it's better Ria, if you take some epinephrine ASAP," said Mona to her. She nodded, as Mona prepared a shot. Rachel fixed up the syringe, rubbing Mona's inner elbow as she plunged in the syringe, and pulled out a sample. Shortly she did the same for Chavez, the red blood seeping quickly into the demarcated lines.
"I hate shots..." Maria muttered, as Mona thrust a needle into her upper shoulder quickly. "But since you're taking stuff out..."
"Got it," Rachel quickly took both tubes, and rushed off to the makeshift laboratory further down. Plastic rustled distantly as she entered the airlock.
"Now, get out of here, pronto," Mona pleaded. "There's no good in you becoming affected..."
"I've always been a quick healer," Chavez remarked, and then felt a bit dizzy.
"The Nepharyn might not affect you now, but it will in time... you are only human after all," Maggie pleaded, and helped her friend into the room where Elisa and Peter were sequestered.
"By the way," Talon gruffly muttered to Mona.
"What?"
"Thanks."
"No problem. But it remains to be seen if this will help."
"She wouldn't be alive now if you didn't," Talon folded his arms. "But it had better work..."
"For everyone's sake," Mona nodded, glancing up at him.
Mrs. Jones admitted the Latino woman in. "She is here... Mrs. Florez. I assume you got her phone call..."
"You bet I did! Puercos!" Spat Maya. "So where is she..."
"In the library studying..."
"Good. At least your employer has the good sense t' keep her nose in the books. Speaking of... is he in?"
"As a matter of fact...."
"Mrs. Jones... who is it?" came a Scottish accented voice from the side room. Lennox MacDuff strode in casually, comfortably dressed in his usual academic outfit.
"Signora, a pleasure as always. Dinna worry... she's all right..."
"That's what I wanted to know. What happened..."
"Right this way..." Macbeth said. Then turned to Mrs. Jones. "Could you bring my evening coffee into the drawing room this time? Make it for two..."
"Certainly, Mr. MacDuff..."
As he led her in, he noticed her glancing up at the stained glass window thoughtfully. Macbeth was beginning to wonder if that was more trouble then it was worth!
"Quite a place you have, Senior," she turned to look at him when they sat down.
"It's been my home for quite some time..."
"So who was it... and what was it. The details..."
"Cesar Ramierez," said Macbeth slowly. A dark look crept into Maya's face.
"Caramba! I told her that the boy was nothing but trouble! Just like his father, and grandfather."
"Cesar family? why do they all bring trouble."
"And the death of old friends of mine, killed during their stone sleep, back in Cuba..."
"You knew the Havana Clan?!" Macbeth gasped. For a moment his steely grey eyes widened in shock. They stared at Maya, struggling for recognition. What was it about her that seemed so damned familiar?
"As you did yourself and Rachel, amigo." Maya finally said. A twinkle came into her eyes when she saw Macbeth's battle to remember an elusive wisp of memory.
"Pica?!? is that ye, lass?!" Macbeth suddenly asked. It all made sense now!
"In the flesh, Mac..." she laughed. "Been a long time..."
"I scarcely believed it was you..." he gasped, taking her hand. "Tis been nearly fifty years!"
"And you aren't a day older, are you, Lennox MacDuff?" she asked with a knowing wink.
"Well er..." he fumbled.
"Or should I say, Lennox MacLaren? Or Macbeth?"
"Point taken," he nodded. Mrs. Jones quietly brought coffee in, and set the tray before them.
"That's fine, Mrs. Jones. Could ye see we are not disturbed for quite a while?" he waved her with a smile.
"Of course sir. But what about Miss Dominguez?"
"Make sure she has what she needs t' be comfortable. I'll check on her myself straight away."
"Certainly."
"As a matter of fact, why don't you go ahead and go home for the night. I'm quite fine as it is..."
"Thank you!" Mrs. Jones said, a bit surprised. "But Mrs. Florez..."
"Is more then welcome to stay as well," he nodded.
"I'll get another room ready before I leave then sir?"
Both friends soon tucked into the shortbread and fruitcake his housekeeper had brought. The hot coffee washed each bite down between words of conversation.
"But what ever happened to Rachel?" Maya asked him later.
"We... parted on rather odd terms. She.. vanished without a trace in a plane accident... and I thought for certain I would never see her again. I had... lost hope that she would ever be found alive. But then... she returned about three years ago, as a professor of geology in San Francisco."
"But aren't you two professor at the same University now?"
"Aye. But I had gotten on with my life, and so had she. The feelings were still there, but I had come to know that she had suffered her own loses... and things could never be the same..."
She sighed. "Ah, what a shame. But Lucia is quite taken with you now, isn't she?"
"I have deep affection for your niece," Lennox said softly. Grey eyes softened as they regarded Maya.
"I can see that. So you fancy her, eh?"
"Indeed I do," Macbeth admitted. "She is an extraordinary young woman. You should be most proud of her."
"And you see yourself going on to the next level... in this... relationship?"
"I assure you my intentions are purely honorable," Macbeth reiterated, sipping his coffee slowly.
"Mm hmm," Maya nodded. "So where is she now?"
"Resting," Macbeth said. "This way..."
Lucia buried her face in the pillow, sobbing even when Macbeth had carried her gently upstairs. He had lain next to her for close to an hour, kissing away her doubts. Till at long last she fell fast asleep, and he left her to sleep off her ordeal.
Now that Maya had come, Macbeth thought it best to risk waking her. Slowly he strode into the room, its ornate furniture shadowed in cool darkness. It was not the Master bedroom, but a smaller nicely furnished guestroom with a full bed instead of a king.
"Lucia, m'dear," he whispered, leaning over her on the bed as Maya joined him. Gently he brushed a hand through her dark locks, stroking softly as he lay a kiss on the back of her neck. She still wore the long skirt and floral blouse she'd gone to campus in, her platform sandals on the floor by the bed.
"Mmn," she moaned, shaking her mass of curls as she turned over. Macbeth pressed a kiss to her lips gently.
"It's all right. Yer safe here. And ye have a visitor..."
"Chia," Maya whispered, leaning over Macbeth's shoulder. "I'm here..."
"Aunt Maya," she gasped. Panic filled her face when she sat up abruptly.
"I heard all about what that bastard did. And I swear he won't get away with it!" Maya gritted her teeth. She noticed the nasty bruise on her niece's cheek, and the bruise marks that swelled on her caramel flesh, where Cesar had grabbed her arms fiercely.
"Auntie no!" she shivered. Macbeth held her gently, as she trembled against his chest.
"This is war," Maya glared. "You must tell Maria..."
"But the police already know," said Lucia. "Molly told them..."
"That's something," Maya snorted.
"But if Aunt Maria knows... she'll stop at nothing..." Lucia stammered.
"Exactly. It's time those Puercos get what they deserve."
"I am sure Captain Chavez will do her utmost to help," said Macbeth, looking at her carefully. "If I know her..."
"You know?" Maya looked at him.
"Yes," he nodded.
"I don't want to be the cause of more violence," Lucia snapped. Macbeth's grip tightened around her.
"We must fight this," Maya nodded. Macbeth shared her steely defiance.
"I'm so tired of the fighting," Lucia cried. "First Carlos, then Keith and Sharon almost go... then Rachel... and now... me..."
"Sleep m'love," he whispered, hushing her. "Jest sleep. It'll all be look a sight better in the morning..."
Laying on a cot, Chavez glanced out at Mona, who continued to inject the fallen victims. Yawning, she climbed to her feet. Slowly she kicked off the high-heeled shoes, slipping her feet into the cheap disposable slippers that had come with the hospital gowns and other various supplies provided by Xanatos. Elisa slept fitfully, near Peter Maza. Rachel tirelessly schlepped tray after tray of the anti nerve gas serum.
The last few hours vanished into the tune of whirring centrifuges, clanking test tubes, and silent whispers of injection plungers. Walking up to her friend, Maria gripped her shoulder.
"You okay Ray? You're looking a little rough around the edges... let me take over..."
"Ria, I'm glad you're still all right..."
"No worse for wear. But Mona..."
"Is a real trooper, as you'd say."
"Let me help with this round..." Maria offered, and followed her friend out into the main infirmary.
"Nice footwear, Ria," Rachel pointed to her slippers.
"Oh, the latest down here... and less murder on the feet then my pumps. But look, there's something I've been wondering about. Why haven't I been affected?"
"I have a few ideas about that," Rachel muttered.
"Ray, Ria," Mona sighed, as she saw her friends beginning the next round of injections. "Good... how many more..."
"Twelve more in the last few hours. Talon's bringing them all in here..."
"So this Nepharyn 4, you know all about it," Rachel muttered. "Strange thing, since I only knew it existed in 2145, Mars Colony, when the Free Earth society used it to attempt a hostile takeover of Lowell City..."
"It did exist... in 2020," said Mona. "Which makes me wonder why it was here and now..."
"Yes," Chavez nodded. "Is it possible it could have been invented and you didn't know about it?"
"No. Dr. Sevarious had just developed it when it hit the Labyrinth..."
"Isn't it funny that it just suddenly hits when you showed up?" Chavez asked, her cop instincts kicking in. "I mean you only just arrived yesterday..."
"Oh shit," Mona muttered.
"You're not thinking what I think you are?" Rachel asked.
"Dr. Sevarious..." Chavez asked. "In this... time... could he have developed this nerve gas earlier maybe..."
"No... impossible..." Mona muttered.
"Unless..." Rachel muttered, her eyes widening in horror. Mona shared her look.
"Wait a minute, you don't think that..." Chavez picked up on their meaning.
Turning over, she struggled once again to wrap herself in sleep. No end of weird dreams paraded through her head, those last memories of prom night reforming. Black silk upon caramel skin whispered under his fingers. His words were soft and gentle coaxing. A hushed cry sounded from her lips, which was followed by a shout of pain as he thrust home. He did not let her adjust to his size and stiffness. That strange excitement built up and spilled over as tears slipped from her cheeks. Grunting, he moved off and asked her why she was crying.
"Hey you, don't cry! That's not allowed!"
"It was so... so..."
"Come on now, girl! You really are a virgin! What do I have t' do, make ya sleep with a hundred other guys before I break ya in?"
His words were said in jest, but they stung. She flinched and pulled away.
"Now look, you are gonna want this, so make it worth both our whiles okay..."
"You want me to sleep with others?" she snapped. "Other men? Like some kind of whore?"
"Don't even catch me seeing you think about being with another man," he snapped.
"Cesar I didn't mean..." she stammered.
"You're my girl, okay?" Cesar continued, and his voice rose steadily in pitch and volume.
"But Cesar... why did you say if you didn't mean it..." she started to cry. Anger broiled over his sweating face as Cesar raised his hand high. Hot tears spurting down her cheeks, she pushed him away.
"Hey now... I was only joking," he flubbed, and roughly grabbed her shoulder. "Look, you got no sense of humor... I didn't' mean it..."
"You didn't? But why did you say it then?"
"You're just tired. Let's just get some sleep now..."
Tears formed on her cheeks, and at that moment she wished she was anywhere but by his side. Even as he lay with his back to hers, butt pressed up against hers she flinched away. Till somewhere in sleep he pulled her roughly to himself with his arms wound possessively around her. Mingled comfort and sickness welled up in her stomach. Only now did she realize why. The next time or the next after that she had thought nothing serious would explode, till that time he had raised his hand...
"Bitch, how dare you look at another man!"
"I didn't do anything! Carlos and I... we were just talking..."
"You don't talk to other men, you don't look at them! You're mine!"
"I don't belong to you! I'm not a jacket or a wallet or a car, damn you!" she screamed. "Why are you doing this! I didn't mean..."
"Liar!" he hollered. A sickening smack crossed her face, and she landed with a thump on the bed, her tears smarting hot out of her eyes.
"I'm not a liar!" she screamed. Suddenly she felt her face flush hot with anger. His scowl, and that laugh grated her ears. Something inside her exploded that had not be let loose before this. How dare he!
"You're the one with the problem!" she screamed, and threw herself on him, nails raking against his face.
"I did nothing! Nothing!"
Lucia felt herself surfacing out of what seemed a black pit. Her fist slammed against wood, the pain spreading into her hands.
"Bastard!" she screamed. "How dare you! How dare you!"
Realization hit as her eyes took in the blur of morning dawn. Here she was, in a queen-sized bed, legs tangled in sheets. Silk clung to her sweaty body like a second skin, and she almost lost her balance as she landed into thick soft pillows again. Her knuckles throbbed, and then she realized she had hit the ornate headboard. Sense tumbled in. She was safe, far away from him and his slaps and accusations.
Wait, she had not remembered that right? If only she had hit him back... scratched out those leering eyes that reproached her, would he have stopped? What if she had squeezed that accusing throat which only uttered lies? When his stinging slaps and hurtful words had seared her, why didn't she fight back?
"Why didn't I fight back?" she asked, voice a frightened sob as she curled up on the bed. "Why?"
"You mean to say that Dr. Sevarious... your Doctor Sevarious... might be here in this timeline also?" Maria asked.
Rachel moaned. "Great Rassilon this was enough of a headache..."
"Wait, can't this world's Sevarious have invented the gas yet?" Maria suggested.
Rachel shook her head, "Nope. It would involve nanotechnology more advanced than the Matrix is, which is currently the top."
Mona sighed, and then felt the odd changes coming over her. She winced, her face contorting in pain. Inside it felt as if she were being ripped apart. "Ahh... ergg..."
"Mona..." Maria gripped her arm.
"It's... all right..." she gasped, inhaling as the pain subsided. Before their eyes, her skin flushed pink, the wings shrinking like deflating balloons as they retreated under her halter-top. High arched feet twisted back into human ones, with five toes. Extra fingers sprouted from her hands, as they were human again.
"I'm okay really," she assured them.
"Madre de Dios you have to go through that every day?" Maria asked, holding her hand tightly.
"Yes. I'm used to it by now..."
"So Sevarious... your Sevarious is here then," Rachel reiterated.
"Damn..."
"I hate to think of what he's got planned. But how did he escape, if you say my universe was destroyed... unless Lexington used that dimensional teleporter..."
"Dimensional teleporter," Rachel muttered. "This is even worse then I thought... dammit!"
"So you mean there are more doubles out there?" Maria scratched her head. "Damn is right!"
"I am sorry... I may have well endangered us all..." Mona shook her head.
"Chica, you couldn't have planned everything," Maria rubbed her back. "Stop taking the weight of this world on your shoulders..."
"She's right," Rachel nodded. "Last time I tried that I almost had a nervous breakdown..."
"Ray, why am I immune, if Dr. Sevarious hadn't invented this gas yet?" Maria asked.
"Good question," Mona also glanced at Rachel, who coughed.
"Well... it's rather... complicated..." Rachel coughed.
"Ray, you shouldn't be ashamed," Maria scolded her. "Mona's a friend."
"Wait... were you two... involved?" Mona asked, a mischievous smile on her face.
"Many moons ago, ancient history," Ray coughed.
"Oh, you stinker," Mona nudged Maria, who was smiling broadly.
"Don't tell me you're ashamed of what we had," Maria whacked Ray on the knee.
"Not at all I just didn't know if Mona here was into that sort of thing..."
"Come on I've been alive for a thousand years!" Mona groaned. "I've seen everything! It would explain why you're' immune, Maria..."
"It wasn't what you think of automatically..." Rachel coughed. "It has to do with a blood transfusion, I gave her... a few years back..."
"You mean when I had that gunshot wound... when I made Detective Sergeant?" Chavez asked. "Ray here donated two pints of blood. I've got a rare type, AB-... and Ray here was the only donor available..."
"I was reluctant, for I'm not exactly human," said Rachel. "Not that I wouldn't give anything to help Ria... but I was afraid certain questions would be asked. You see, Time Lord blood has many similarities to human blood, but transfusions tend to alter the body chemistry of the recipient. Ria... that would explain why you're immune to Nepharyn 4. Your immune system is centuries advanced compared to other humans."
"Why?" Chavez asked.
"Time Lord DNA has coding for regeneration. Our bodies are capable of entering a coma that enables healing. Also we can sustain great damage to our bodies, above and beyond Human capabilities."
"So you mean I have your blood..." Chavez asked.
"Holy..." Mona muttered.
"Which means Ria, you could well live a rather longer life then you'd been expecting..."
"How long?" Chavez asked.
"Two hundred years... at least," Rachel hung her head. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you... but I wasn't sure of the impact of human and Timelord blood transfusions..."
"Holy shit," Chavez muttered, the reality of Rachel's words sinking in. "I will... be around for a while then..."
"You make it seem like a bad thing," Rachel said, gripping Chavez' knee.
"Well I guess you'll have to put up with me for another 2 centuries," Chavez shook her head.
"Speaking of which, why haven't you turned to stone?" Maria Chavez asked Rachel, who looked at them both oddly.
"I... don't know..." Rachel glanced at them both, in shock.
"Lass?" someone shook her shoulder. Sleep passed away again from her like a curtain. All around her the morning hues painted the room a soft white and pink. "Lucia?"
"Lennox?" she stammered, turning over to face him. Tear swollen eyes looked into his soft steely gaze.
"Whist ye have ye been crying yet again?" he asked. The bed shifted while Lennox sat on the edge of it. Reassuringly his hip brushed against her blanketed one.
"I'm sorry I can't stop..." she glanced.
"What are ye apologizing for?" he asked, slipping a hand over her cheek as she looked away. "There's na need for it... trust me..."
"If only I had fought back whenever he hit me..." she threw off his gentle touch, burying her face in the pillow. "Why did I just sit there and let him..."
"Lucia, it wasn't yer fault," he said. "Dinnae dare think it was! If anyone is at fault it is he. He's the one with the problem! By nature or nurture he learned that hitting women was socially acceptable, even though God knows he has nae right!"
"Why don't I believe it... I want to but yet I keep thinking if I had said something differently... or done something differently..."
"Yer safe nau," Lennox stroked her back. Again the bed shifted when he lay down next to her and embraced her from behind.
"Why didn't I hit him back? I could have... for Pete's sake! But I just sat there like a coward... and let him hit me!"
"Don't even say such things, my love," Lennox shushed her. "You had nae warning of what he was to do. Trust me when I say yer no coward, but a very brave lass for recognizing that it was a bad relationship."
"He's still there..." she stammered. "When I go back... I'll have to face him... eventually..."
"You have nothing to fear from him as long as I have anything to say about it..."
"I feel awful getting you involved in this..." Lucia sobbed against him. "Your academic career could be at stake! There's no telling what lengths those bastards will go to to ruin you! If they find out that I'm here... there's no telling what scandal! I should have never..."
"Lucia, look at me," Lennox gripped her chin. She whimpered, not able to meet her gaze with his.
"Lennox... it's my fault..."
"Please... look me in the face... lass..." he urged, tilting her chin so her eyes fixed into his. "If ye need t' remain here for a few days, you're more then welcome, till you determine what course of action to take..."
"But I can't just hide here, when he's there. Getting away with this!"
Lucia gripped Macbeth's hand.
"Och lass ye need time t' gather yer strength..." he shook his head. Still he fingered her chin gently.
"Even if I do stay, I feel like I'm running away from my problems..." Lucia sighed.
"The decision to remain or take your leave is yours, and I trust your judgment. But remember you are not alone in this predicament. I doubt sincerely this Cesar will stop his foolishness..."
"I don't know what to do, Lennox," she glanced at him. "Part of me wants to stay here, and forget it ever happened. But the dreams just keep coming. I find myself asking a million times why I didn't just leave him..."
"Ye should be proud of yourself for leaving him when you did. You showed maturity and wisdom by removing yourself from a detrimental relationship, when many lasses your age might have persisted."
"I know that, Lennox," she sighed, as he wrapped her in his arms. Still, he lay beside her on the bed, her chest pressed up against him. Only the blanket separated her from him. Strange how he was fully clothed, and she was in her nightgown. "But it doesn't help me feel that much better. I just wish I had done something... that I didn't feel so helpless now."
"Perhaps I can remedy the situation," he smiled mischievously.
"You've already done so much..." she sighed, kissing him gently before his ear. Lightly she ran her tongue along the outside, eliciting a gasp of pleasure from him.
"Well, That wasn't what I was going to suggest, even though I'm perfectly willing to..." he sighed. "But after all, you are her niece, and both guests in my home..."
"What did you have in mind?"
"Self defense," Macbeth said. "So no one will dare lay a hand on you again..."
"Really? You would! Oh you're wonderful!" she seized his face and planted a firm kiss. He deepened her gesture slowly, deliciously moving his mouth over hers. It was the first time in so many hours she had not flinched at his touch. Even though she knew he meant no harm, the trauma of Cesar's visits had unleashed a slew of bad memories.
"Won't my aunt... wonder why you're not down there eating breakfast by now?" she laughed when they pulled apart to breathe.
"I had best see that yer aunt is enjoying her repast..." Macbeth reluctantly pulled out of her embrace. "And that there is indeed some left for us..."
"Hmm," she laughed. "I'll be right down!"
"Mona!" Chavez gasped, as her friend suddenly began to convulse. "Ray! Something's happened to Mona!"
"Damn it!" Ray spat out, resorting to a very human expletive. "I should have foreseen this!"
A rash began to spread over Demona's face, flushing it an ashy tinge. She wheezed, her heart pounding fast in her chest.
"Epinephrine!" Ray cried, as Maria grabbed the hypodermic. Without hesitation, Ray shredded the shirt to expose part of her bare white chest. Grimly Maria slipped the needle in betwixt the breastbone and two ribs.
Just then, Rachel gasped. "I... can't... stop it..."
Before their eyes Rachel's skin fused to pure stone. Still she held Demona in her talons, upright and gasping.
"Shit," Maria muttered. She jammed the plunger down, hoping and praying she had the heart. Human anatomy in college seemed like a distant memory. Head thrown back against Rachel's stone chest, Mona gasped desperately for breath.
"Hang on girl, hang on!" Chavez firmly shook her. Quickly she grabbed the automatic inoculation gun, fitting in a new cartridge for the anti-gas agent. Unfortunately such a thing couldn't be used for the epinephrine, for it had to go directly into the heart, below a cage of bone. She jammed the muzzle of the inoculation gun into Mona's clenching arm. There was a "phutt" of compressed air as Chavez pulled the pneumatic trigger.
Eyes rolling into the back of her head, Mona shuddered. Within seconds her quaking muscles subsided to gentle twitches. Rachel's stone talons held her upright. Maria Chavez did her best to ease Mona out of the stony grip and onto a palate. Even though her friend knew she would be all right because of the toxin, there was no guarantee that something else might not go wrong. After all, she had just been hit. The others down here had enough treatments.
"Easy girl... I'm getting you help..." she urged, and rushed out into the main corridor. "Talon! Maggie! Get me Fox! Mona's been hit..."
"What..." Maggie almost dropped the tray of water bottles she was schlepping into the temporary ward.
"Mona... when she transformed... she got hit..." Maria huffed. Stopping, she hugged her chest as she caught her breath.
"Didn't you give her the anti toxin?" Maggie asked.
"Yes... but she's slipped into some sort of sleep..."
"She should be all right... but I'll call Fox at the building to be sure..." said Maggie, rushing to the phone. "Stay with her..."
NYU, that next day:
Cesar Ramirez was just getting settled into the fraternity. It wasn't easy for a mid semester transfer, but he had succeeded in the best way. With his new brothers.
Angrily he thought of wiping blood from his face, cursing redheaded, uppity Irish women. They could not mind their own business. Although in passing glance that girl Molly was rather a nice treat to the eyes. Good hips and nice ass. But Lucia, was whom his desire burned for. The gargoyle lover. Maybe he could have Molly as an added bonus, or share her once this was done.
Oh he'd seen her picture in that rally. Amongst those students. How sweet it would have been to be the one to convince her of her error. But she was corrupted now, and had to be reeducated slowly, carefully.
"You okay, man?" Arthur Davidge asked him.
"Yeah... just a little setback..."
"Yo, why don't we go for a pizza and a brew. There's a good place on campus..."
"All right. But I have a stop to make first... you know that girl..."
"Your girlfriend? Sure. I take it she wouldn't listen..."
"No..."
"Well, then, she's been brainwashed by those gargoyle lovers. We might need some more persuasion..."
"Yes... have anything in mind?"
"I heard from Roger Doyle that she often runs to the park. Maybe we can find her there. If not, we can catch her this afternoon when she shows up for work at the Javastop."
"That's what I was thinking..." Cesar nodded. Both roommates readied themselves, slipping their jackets on overtop of what equipment they concealed.
They all ate breakfast in the "drawing room". Large French windows overlooked his garden, and the large forest in back.
"I'd best be going now," Maya Florez announced. She daintily wiped her mouth with the real cloth napkin on her lap.
Lucia was just working on her second plate of scrambled eggs and fruit salad. She reached for another croissant from the abundance on the plate to once side.
"Volunteering again, Auntie?" she asked.
"Our friends need lots of help, considering they have had a strange illness come over them. But I've had it on good authority that someone recognized it an is even now pulling the worst of them out of it?"
"May I inquire the institution?" Macbeth asked, after a sizable draught of orange juice. The pitcher was filled with fresh squeezed juice, which was thick with sweet pulp.
"A homeless shelter," she shrugged.
"Come nau, no secrets between friends," Macbeth laughed good-naturedly. Putting down his juice glass he reached for the coffeepot. "Can I freshen that up for you Senora?"
"No thanks, I've had my quota," she answered, holding up a restraining hand.
Lucia was grateful that they were getting along so well. The scrambled eggs mingled with cheese and mushrooms were ambrosia, and the orange juice was sheer nectar.
"I'll have a refill," Lucia passed her cup. He obliged with a fresh shot of the hot java, and followed it up with fresh cream. Not two percent milk, but whole.
"He knows about the Gargoyles, Aunt Maya. And Aunt Maria..."
"All right," Maya sighed. "Well, it's the Labyrinth. OR that's what its inhabitants call it now. Derek and his girlfriend help them out normally. But they've fallen under a strange illness. And Fox Xanatos has been helping out there with medical supplies already..."
"Hmm, I would be more then happy to..." Macbeth started.
"No need senior, but it's awfully sweet of you to suggest. You've got your hands full as it is. I'll be fine..."
"At least let me have my driver take you there," Macbeth offered, rising from the table. "I'll make the arrangements..."
"A perfect gentleman he is," Maya grinned at Lucia.
"I'm glad you think so," Lucia smiled.
"Darn sight better then some. You don't let this one get away..."
"Even if he is three times my age?" Lucia raised an eyebrow.
"Nowadays since people are living longer, does it matter? A hundred years ago you would have been married off anyway! All young women would be so lucky... But anyway..."
Macbeth returned, and sat down again. "It's all arranged. Just let him know where to let you off..."
"Thank you Senior," she smiled, and pressed a kiss to his cheek as she got up. "Now you two behave yourselves..."
She crossed over to Lucia, and pressed a kiss to her lips as well. She whispered, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do..."
"Aunt Maya!" Lucia groaned. Macbeth grinned to himself as Lucia grimaced.
"Whoo, what digs," Molly muttered. Already the gardener had led her to the front door, which was paneled in rich mahogany. It was late morning, and Molly O'Keefe still couldn't get over the vast open spaces. Tall trees abutted the tall castle that seemed to be transplanted from France itself. She wondered if she dared even grab the knocker for fear of mussing the polished brass. Instead she settled for ringing the doorbell. A humming noise came as the door clicked open. Lucia stood behind it, glancing at her thoughtfully.
"I'm so glad you're not hurt..." she breathed.
"I was hoping ya were okay," Molly O'Keefe breathed. "I didn't see you for three days..."
"I was...sorta…. like not myself..." Lucia shrugged. "I'm really sorry..."
"Tosh, don't apologize! You weren't the one who acted like a bastard! How come you're staying in here, in the first place?!" Molly asked, looking very bewildered.
"Er... well... it's a long story..." Lucia muttered.
"Don't just stand there, let the girl in," called Mrs. Jones from behind Lucia's shoulder. "Come on in. There's lemonade and sugar cookies..."
Lucia groaned, but let Molly in. The red head whistled cheerfully as she took note of the huge foyer. Green eyes drank in the rich paintings and thick plush carpet underfoot while they watched Mrs. Jones urged them into the kitchen, down to one side.
"Wow, and I thought I was in New York!" Molly muttered. "I brought some of yer clothes from school. Thought you might need them..."
"Well I do have stuff here," Lucia said, helping to get the bags. "But I appreciate the thought... are you okay?"
"Me, I'm foine," she laughed. "But I was wondering where ye were for the last night or so. But I'd be guessing you've been crashing here then?"
"Well..."
"This way ladies..."
"Uh, Mrs. Jones, would it be okay if I uh... took it up to the room or something. Molly and me... we kinda wanna catch up..."
"Girl talk and all!" Molly grinned, helping to pick up a plate of sugar cookies as Lucia took a pitcher and two glasses from the huge center island. The kitchen itself was the size of two dining rooms, nearly as large as the one in their dorm hall.
"Not at all! Talk to your little friend! You have much to catch up on," Mrs. Jones caught Molly's wink. "Just make sure to keep the crumbs off the carpet now... they've just vacuumed..."
"All righty then!" Molly said. "But the suitcases..."
"Are already on their way up," Mrs. Jones nodded. "Run along now..."
"First class eh? This the Ritz or a museum?" Molly joked. They sat in the goodly sized room Lucia had occupied for the last few nights. Not the master bedroom, it was a smaller chamber in one of the towers, with a good view of the ocean bay far below. Before long both girls were sitting at the small dressing table as if it were their dorm room back home.
"I appreciate you doing this..."
"Feh, think nowt' o it," Molly devoured another sugar cookie. "Tis what a friend is for. But you could do me a favor in return..."
"What?"
"Tell me about yer gentleman friend." Molly winked, tossing her head around the room. "He must be in really good with Professor MacDuff. Is he a relative of the good Professor then?"
"Well..." Lucia sighed, settling on the bed as she began to unpack one case. Molly must have brought half her closet up here!
"I bet you come here for a secret rendezvous..."
"Well, he's handsome, smart, and gallant," she started.
"Details, girl..."
"Mm well, he's strong. Very buff. You wouldn't believe it for his age..."
"Mm, age?" Molly laughed.
"Loves fencing, history, and hunting..." Lucia added.
"How is he between the sheets? A good snog?"
"Molly!" she groaned, blushing.
"Ah hah, thought so!" Molly laughed. "Yer hooked right enough! So who's this stud muffin of a man... as if I didn't know. Who bagged ye... come on, we're roomies... what cousin or nephew or son of the good Professor is he?"
"okay! okay! I'm telling you! no need to scream like a banshee! You know that new professor in history?" she asked. Molly looked stunned for a sheer minute, her eyes perfect circles with her rounded mouth.
"Not Dr. Summers," she groaned.
"No! The silver haired gentleman with the beard," she felt her face flush hot. "He's older..."
"Professor MacDuff? Ye mean the Professor and ye are... and not a relative of his...." Molly's jaw dropped.
Blushing, Lucia nodded. "Lennox himself."
"Ooh lass, yer making me fair jealous! But isn't he a wee bit auld..."
"I thought the same at first, but he's soo wonderful!" she hummed as she thought about their first time.
"I'd have t' agree with ya there!" Molly grinned, and swigged down the last of her lemonade.
"He's so gentle," Lucia sighed, hugging the pillow as she lay back in the bed. "When he kissed me that first time... I could have fainted..."
"Wait, he kissed ye... how on Earth did ya pull that one off?"
"Well it was during a history lesson. I was so nervous my shirt was accidentally unbuttoned, and he was looking at me with a very shocked expression. I couldn't resist, and kissed him them and there..."
"Ye kissed him? Oho, ye are wicked! I've corrupted ya through and through!"
"Well, it wasn't that easy to convince him. It all blurted out of me at once... and then I thought he'd hate me. And then something very weird happened..."
"Oh?"
"I told him men my age were... jerks. And he wondered what I meant... Then I blurted something about not being able to kiss...."
"And?" Molly nudged her.
"He asked me to demonstrate what I meant!" Lucia giggled spasmodically.
"Oho ye are a shrewd one! And did he kiss ye then?"
"Well I kissed him. Then he said something about young people always being in a damn rush, and he put his arms around me, got very close so my cheeks were tickled by that beard of his... ooh it feels soo soft like velvet, and he was breathing right into my face. I almost died and went to heaven. Then... he kissed me so softly I melted inside..."
Both of them erupted into laughter, pitched with screams of shared girlish delight. "Aww I can't believe it!
Ye are a vixen!" Molly laughed, clapping her on the back. "So... did you and he... nudge nudge..."
"Did we ever!" she sighed. "We went back here... when he said something about continuing this in less academic settings... and ooohhhh I'm still tingling all over when I think about it..."
"Hmm," Molly giggled. "This the room?"
"The master bedroom! We're talking a king size canopy, twice the size of this one here! I wondered if I had gone to Buckingham palace!"
"Whoo, what fun!"
"He used protection. The first gentleman I was ever with that didn't ask. He assumed...." Lucia nodded.
"Cesar never..."
"Forget Cesar! I want t' know about yer professor..." Molly smacked her playfully on the knee.
"The feel of those muscles against me... it's so strong and shivery," she muttered with a laugh. "It's like making love to a... racehorse who's a thoroughbred...."
"And how did you feel the next day? Worn out?"
"Like a marathon!" she breathed. "It ached at lot... but it was that nice kind of pain... he was so considerate... he didn't rush... which made it even more... delicious when we finally did!"
"It gets better each time," Molly grinned.
"Ye deserve him," Molly nodded. "And what's this... he gave ye a present..."
"Yes, only yesterday," Lucia nodded, showing her the pendant.
"Hmm, he's a Moray is he?" she asked with a slight laugh. "Haven't seen that family in a fair while!"
"Well," Lucia felt a bit awkward. "His name's MacDuff though..."
"Still that means little when ye look at bloodlines..."
"But what was your first time like?"
"Mm," Molly sighed wistfully. "That'd be a while back..."
"Okay, your last boyfriend..."
"Ah, Rory," she sighed, deeply. "I miss him much I do. That lad had the best stayin power I ever had the fortune t' witness. Strong, a bit lithe, but ooh so lively he was! If ye got past the sulking!"
"Sulking?"
"Nae jobs fer him in Ireland. Didn't know a trade, and I tried to convince him to come here to America," Molly shook her head. "Twas all I could do t' loosen him up. You wouldn't believe how tight his back was! Like a guitar!"
"Magic fingers?" Lucia laughed, making a massaging motion.
"That fair near helped. But you know what was the best foreplay?"
Lucia blushed, "Uh..."
"He loved hearing my stories," she giggled. "Got him in the mood. Then, a little bit of tongue in the ear... and soft voices, and he was putty in me hands..."
"Tongue in the... ear?"
"Don't knock it till ya try it," Molly smiled. "And he was very partial t' a bit of going down upon too..."
"I couldn't..." she flushed very red. "He's... old fashioned..."
"Works wonders when they are stressed," Molly nodded. "A few times of that... and he learned t' relax much better... especially in the moors at night... and trust me, there's no a man old nor young that doesn't like a good blow job..."
"Ohhh noo..." Lucia felt herself wanting to die of embarrassment.
"Heh, don't act so pure and mighty now," Molly teased her. "I've seen the way ya eat a Popsicle. It's just the same..."
"Molly... you are terrible," Lucia groaned. Just then a knock shattered their girl talk. Molly squealed with surprise.
"Yes?" Lucia asked.
"May I have a moment, m'dear?" asked a familiar voice. Molly cast a knowing wink to a very mortified Lucia.