When they landed, Brooklyn, Broadway, Angela and Hudson collapsed. Lex and Xanatos came to greet them.
"You really look like you've been through the wars." Xanatos said.
"What happened to her?" Lexington said.
"Demona used a spell to put her in a temporary stasis. She will be unconscious for an hour." Goliath said.
"Goliath, how can you still be standing? She gave us all quite a beating." Brooklyn said.
"I have more important things to worry about." Goliath said, looking at Elisa in his arms.
"This way, Puck and Alex have erected a magic proof force field. It should contain her until we can strip her powers." Lex said. Goliath carried her in to where Puck and Alex were.
"Lay her in the circle and the field should erect automatically." Puck said. Goliath put her down as though she was sleeping. He stroked the side of her face then he left her. Once he was out of the way, the force field went up. Goliath walked out and saw the others barely standing. Xanatos was waiting with them for Goliath.
"Goliath, is she contained?" Xanatos said.
"Yes, she is contained in the force field." Goliath said.
"Good, because I found out about that amulet she's wearing." Xanatos said.
"What can you tell us?" Goliath said.
"Have any of you heard of a Sorceress called Zathandra?" Xanatos said.
"I have heard stories of her power." Goliath said.
"She was a powerful Sorceress who gave the Grimorum to the Magus. She had a passion for destruction and she hated humans. She decimated the village she was living in and the remaining villagers had to stop her and the only way to stop her was to contain her in the amulet. So they got 3 witches to bind her to the amulet, but before she got banished to the amulet, she cursed it so that the next woman to wear it and read the inscription on it would release Zathandra and she would take possession of her soul." Xanatos said.
"So Elisa is possessed by the spirit of an Evil sorceress?" Brooklyn said.
"Is there any way we can release the sorceress and save Elisa?" Goliath asked.
"It'll be tricky." Xanatos said.
"Can't we just remove the amulet?" Angela said.
"The power of the amulet is tied to the life force of the wearer. If you remove it, then You'll kill her." Xanatos said. The others looked shocked. "Look, I'll spend the rest of the day trying to find away to save her."
"Thank you. It is almost sunrise. We must rest." Goliath said. Then the others all went to their turrets. They turned to stone as the sun rose.
Zathandra woke up and tried to escape, but her powers were weakened after the fight. She meditated. Meanwhile, Xanatos had been doing more research on Zathandra and found something disturbing. Fox walked in and saw his face.
"David, what's wrong?" She asked.
"Read this!" Xanatos said. Fox read what he had pointed out.
"That can't be right, it can't be true." Fox said.
"He's not going to like this." Xanatos said.
Zathandra had been trying all day to get out of her confines, but her power was tied to the night, and she was weak. It was sunset and the Gargoyles woke up loudly. They were all refreshed and regenerated. Xanatos went to Goliath.
"Can we talk?" Xanatos said.
"Of course, is she still contained?" Goliath said.
"Yes, but that's not why I want to talk to you." Xanatos said. Then he and Goliath went into a separate room. Xanatos shut the door.
"What is going on Xanatos?" Goliath asked.
"I've got something to tell you and I don't think you'd want the others to hear this. There is a way to stop Zathandra." Xanatos said.
"Why don't you want the others to hear?" Goliath said.
"It requires the ultimate sacrifice, in order to defeat her, she has to die!" Xanatos said.
"What? That must be wrong." Goliath said.
"I've checked and checked, it's clear." Xanatos said.
"None of them will be able to do it." Goliath said.
"None of them can….you have to do it." Xanatos said.
"No, no I cannot do it." Goliath said.
"Goliath, I can't imagine what that must feel like. But it says that the only one that can stop her is the one who has control over the host's heart. That's you." Xanatos said. Goliath was in shocked silence.
"What about separating them?" Goliath said.
"You can't, even though Elisa is in there, she has no control. Zathandra is making it so that she can't escape. If Zathandra dies, she takes Elisa with her. Elisa is dead already Goliath, there's no way to get her back alive." Xanatos said.
"I cannot do it." Goliath said.
"It's up to you, but if she escapes then she'll destroy all of humanity. You have to choose between your heart and your nature. To save the city you have vowed to protect, you have to sacrifice the woman you love." Xanatos said. Then he turned to leave. "It's your choice." Goliath was left feeling distressed. He was angry at what he had to do, that he had to choose between his heart and his nature. He trashed the room he was in and roared loudly, and then he slumped down amongst the wreckage. Hudson burst in; he saw the mess and then Goliath.
"What happened in here? Is everything alright, lad?" Hudson asked, going to him.
"Xanatos told me of a way to stop Zathandra. It requires Elisa to die." Goliath said. Hudson was speechless. "And I must be the one to do it."
"How do you feel about that lad?" Hudson said.
"How do you think I feel? I have to choose between the woman I love and the city I have sworn to protect. If I cannot choose, then she will destroy humanity. I cannot allow that." Goliath said. A tear rolled down his face.
"Lad, I don't know what to say. It's your decision." Hudson said. Goliath was silent for what seemed like forever.
"I know what I have to do." Goliath said quietly.
"What should I tell the others?" Hudson said.
"They are not to know." Goliath said. Suddenly, there was a loud crash and the castle shook. Goliath and Hudson rushed up and saw the room where Zathandra was destroyed. She had escaped.