The gargoyles landed on a nearby rooftop and looked back up at Castle Wyvern. They were probably far enough away now that they could relax.

With a frown Goliath looked over the faces of his clan, "Where's Brooklyn?"

Hudson pointed back to the castle, "There." They saw a faint, distant figure jump from the castle and glide towards them. "Keeping behind a few lengths in case of trouble, no doubt."

"Yes…" Goliath murmured to himself, casting a glance back at Broadway who carried Bianca over his shoulder.

"Should we wait for him?" Lex asked.

"No…" Goliath decided, "We're still too close to the castle. Best to move further out before we stop. Besides, I'm sure Brooklyn knows where we're heading."

Brooklyn moved as quickly as he could. He could see the gargoyles up ahead, but they were still too far away to call out to them. All he could do was hope that they stayed put long enough for him to reach them. Hearing a familiar sound, Brooklyn looked up.

"Oh great…" He groaned, going into a quick dive.

"Do you hear that?" Angela asked. The gargoyles all looked up as a helicopter passed overhead. It was definitely Macbeth's.

Goliath growled, "That was close, but I don't think he saw us…we must stay quiet and move quickly."

"He's heading for the castle..." Hudson muttered, "But I thought the police took his helicopter, how did Macbeth get it back so quickly?"

"Guys!" They all looked up as Broadway yelped out in pain. Before they knew it Broadway fell right into them, knocking Goliath and Hudson off of their feet. They all looked up in horror as Macbeth's helicopter quickly circled back around, coming right towards them.

"What happened?" Lex shouted.

Broadway shook his head in a daze, "I…I dunno, one minute I had her and then-" Goliath got to his feet just in time to see Bianca. She was off and running at breakneck speed, already at least two building tops away.

"But how did she…" Angela murmured.

"No time!" Goliath shouted, "We need to bring her back now before-" It was too late. Goliath barely had time to jump out of the way and avoid a shot from the helicopter's canon. He quickly discovered that it wasn't a shot, it was a net. Goliath was clear, but Hudson wasn't so lucky. The net dropped on him, and Hudson roared in pain as an electrical current surged through it. "Hudson!" Goliath howled angrily as his old friend dropped to the ground unconscious. "Go, bring her back." He ordered Broadway and Lexington, "We'll take care of Macbeth." Her eyes glowing, Angela let out a war cry and took to the air, Goliath following close behind. Macbeth was ready for her. He threw open the door of the helicopter and mounted a large gun on his shoulder.

"Come on then." He grunted, waiting for her to move a little closer. When Angela was in range he fired the gun. Gracefully, she ducked the first blast only to receive the second electrical bolt square in the chest. Broadway saw as Angela began to fall and with a cry of horror flew to her aid.

"Broadway no! We need to-" With a sigh Lexington turned and continued to give chase to Bianca by himself, but he was still many lengths behind the frantic girl. Broadway caught Angela just as Goliath reached the tail of the helicopter.

"Just the gargoyle I wanted to see." Macbeth said coolly. Before he had a chance to speak, Macbeth flipped a switch on the inside of the doorway, electrifying the exterior of the hull. Hearing the dull hum of electricity Goliath hastily released his hold on the aircraft and began to fall. Macbeth took this opportunity to aim and hit the retreating Broadway in the wing with a bullet. Goliath stretched his wings out, caught an updraft and made his way back up to Macbeth. No longer able to support both him and Angela on a torn wing Broadway plummeted out of control, just barely able to manage a crash landing on a nearby fire escape. As Goliath approached Macbeth leapt out of the helicopter and ignited a jet pack, ramming right into Goliath. They wrestled breathlessly for a few moments mid air. As Macbeth grabbed Goliath's wing with one hand, the gargoyle ripped the jetpack from his back. The propulsion tank flew off into the sky leaving Macbeth to fall. He kept firm hold of Goliath's wing dragging him down with him. Goliath haphazardly collapsed on the rooftop, Macbeth landing right beside him.

"Goliath!" Lexington yelled out, scrambling back towards them both. Without a second thought Macbeth whipped out another gun and shot a bolas at the small, swiftly approaching gargoyle. Lexington fell, totally entangled in the heavy rope. As he feverishly worked to extricate himself, and as Broadway slowly clawed his way back up the side of the building with an unconscious Angela on his back, Goliath and Macbeth found themselves alone, cautiously circling one another.

Bianca paused to catch her breath. She must have outrun them by now…heaving a sigh of relief Bianca looked around. Finding the right moment to run was easier than she'd anticipated. They were all thrown into confusion when the helicopter arrived, and once Hudson confirmed it was Macbeth…well, that was all she needed. She'd jumped on the opportunity and made a break for it. So far, so good. Now that she had put enough distance between her and them she just had to find Macbeth. It was strange; when she was pretending to be unconscious she'd heard the helicopter heading in this direction, back towards the castle, but now she didn't see it. Bianca had been concentrating so hard on escaping she hadn't heard the aircraft circle back around, or processed that the ensuing sounds were anything more than the gargoyles yelling. She turned back around and saw, now many rooftops away, Goliath and Macbeth circling one another, ready to fight. With a gasp she opened her mouth to shout out to him. Before Bianca had a chance she was tackled from behind, knocking the wind out of her. Pinned to the roof, she struggled to yell out to Macbeth again just as a hand clamped over her mouth.

Brooklyn whispered, "Sorry Bianca, I can't let you do that." Furiously she writhed beneath him, desperate to pull herself free. "Calm down, just relax, please!" Brooklyn pleaded, "The Illuminati are trailing him, they'll be here any second now. If he comes after you so do they, and then that's it. I'm sorry, but Macbeth can't see you." Bianca tried to jerk her head free to no avail. "I'm trying to help you, don't you get that!" Brooklyn said, frustrated. Bianca shot him an expressive glance of anger. Wincing, he murmured, "Please, don't look at me like that. Do you think I like doing this to you? Believe me, this isn't what I want. I just- I can't let anything to happen to you, that's all." Incredulously, she narrowed her bright eyes. "Please believe me Bianca." Brooklyn said gently, "I want to protect you. You do believe me, don't you?" he asked plaintively. Underneath him Bianca had stopped struggling. She looked up at him with wide eyes and nodded slowly.

David Xanatos gazed out the window of his office, hands clasped behind his back, his brow furrowed.

Elisa Maza walked in, "Well? Did they make it away alright?"

"Not quite, Detective." He sighed, pointing to the hovering helicopter.

"Macbeth!" Elisa said in a panic, pulling out her gun. "Have the Illuminati shown up yet?"

David shook his head still quietly staring out the window, "No, but rest assured, they will."

Loading her gun Elisa rolled her eyes, "Your confidence overwhelms me."

Turning around Xanatos asked, "Would you prefer mindless optimism, Detective?"

"No, but I could use some help." She snapped back, "What building is that?"

"Just an old apartment complex. If you're going to go you should hurry."

Elisa nodded, "And what about you?"

"I can't be directly involved. If the Illuminati finds out I'm helping you at all I'll lose my life."

"I see, so you're willing to help as long as it doesn't mean actually sticking your neck out, how chivalrous of you. What a valuable friend, Xanatos, it would be a shame to lose your life, wouldn't it?" She answered dryly.

"If I do, you'll lose the connection to the Illuminati." Xanatos countered, looking her square in the eye. Elisa hesitated. Interpreting her sudden silence, Xanatos smiled coldly. "Well…seems we're all capable of a certain amount of pettiness, aren't we? Good day, Detective Maza."

"We'll discuss this later." She called back running out of the room. David Xanatos remained motionless by the window until he was certain Elisa was out of sight. Hastily he pulled out his phone.

"Detective Bluestone?"

Meanwhile…

"Where is she?" Macbeth demanded quietly.

Goliath shook his head, "Macbeth, please let me explain…"

"To hell with your explanations Goliath, bring me the girl." He snapped back.

"What is she to you?"

"That's none of your business. You have no right to interfere, even less to hold an innocent child against her will."

Goliath put his hands up, "It was for her own protection. We are not your enemies Macbeth, we did not mean-"

He cut him off, "Don't hand me that. I know perfectly well what you think…you think that she belongs with you, that you have some greater right to her because she's of your kind."

"You have been acquainted with me long enough to know that if that is really what I thought I would have told you so openly. It is not in my nature to be secretive or manipulative. Our clan has no claim on Bianca, nor do we pretend to. Now may we speak rationally?"

Hesitantly Macbeth nodded, still on his guard, "Very well, I'm listening."

"Do you know of the secret organization called the Illuminati?"

"Aye…it's centuries old, supposed to run much of the world, I think. What do they have to do with it?"

Goliath explained, "They have a morbid interest in 'studying' gargoyles. The Illuminati have been trying to hunt down our clan for some time now with little success. Somehow they found out about your 'friend'. They've been tracking you ever since, waiting for an opportunity to capture her. Last night in the park we were lucky enough to intervene, but not before the agents of the Illuminati shot her with a sedative. Seeing as they had agents following you, and since you did not appear to be in any humor to discuss the matter last night, we took it upon ourselves to protect Bianca for the time being, until such time as the Illuminati were dissuaded."

"I see." Macbeth murmured, putting his hands down. Goliath, taking this as a truce, went over to Hudson who had since regained consciousness and helped extricate him from the net. "And why should I believe you?" Macbeth asked warily, watching as Angela and Broadway finally reached the rooftop. Angela began to approach Macbeth, but Goliath raised a hand to halt her, sending her off to help untangle Lexington.

"We are both men of our words." Goliath answered, "And I believe you know that." He paused, attempting an apology, "I am sorry Macbeth, but believe me, I had no other choice open to me."

"Just as you say…" Macbeth sighed. "I apologize Goliath, to you and your clan. It seems I may have…overreacted."

"Overreacted!" Broadway snorted, "I'll say!" Lexington elbowed him and Broadway dutifully lapsed into silence. Thankfully, Macbeth was too preoccupied to respond. Instead he mused, "But if this is all true then why hasn't the Illuminati descended upon us yet?"

Goliath scanned the skies, his mood darkening, "I assure you, they were following you. They probably saw our struggle, how many of us there were and sent out for backup…it won't be long now."

"Where is Bianca, will she be safe?" Macbeth asked anxiously. The gargoyles were caught off-guard by the tone of worry in his voice.

"You seem uncommonly concerned for her safety." Observed Goliath.

Macbeth answered evenly, pointing to Angela, "No more than you would be for hers." Shocked, Goliath opened his mouth to ask a question, but never had the chance. A large laser blast ripped through the air forcing them all to take cover.