Day and Night

Eleven

The man named Macbeth watched warily, the steel grey haired man drawing the eyes of many women. Despite his age he was strikingly handsome looking fit and vigorous in his stylish tux. Of course no one there really knew how old he was, except for David Xanatos and the transformed Gargoyle Demona.

Dominique Destine, rather. With a frown he studied the attractive redhead, a woman he had foolishly once thought he loved. It had all been manipulation, of course, part of a plan by her and Thailog, but it had hurt him none the less. He supposed he had been vulnerable, but t still stung to be tricked that way.

He saw David Xanatos cutting through the crowd, possibly concerned with the possibility of him starting a fight in his hall. Macbeth smiled slightly as he sipped his drink, wondering if he knew that he and Demona had already met? Either that or he was coming to check out the damage.

"Lennox, sorry I didn't have the chance to see you sooner," Xanatos said smoothly, "thank you for the generous donation."

"And how do you know it was generous?" Macbeth had to ask.

"You don't do things in half measures," Fox Xanatos noted agreeably, bringing drinks for her and her husband. "I hate to be pushy," she added warmly as she passed David his drink, "but please don't murder Demona at the party. It would just ruin the tone we're going for."

That got a snort of amusement from Macbeth, which was probably Fox's intent. At least it broke the tension a bit, and he smiled slightly as Macbeth sipped his drink. "Dominique seemed rather startled to see me," he noted, "she didn't see the guest list?"

"We didn't give her the full list," David admitted.

Macbeth shook his head, "Are you trying to start something?"

"Would she have talked to you otherwise?" Fox challenged. Calmly she continued, "You two need to end the feud, before it destroys you both."

Macbeth studied the two of them thoughtfully. "You two are really serious about reforming, aren't you?" Macbeth mused, more to himself than to anyone else.

"I wouldn't put it quite that way," David said with a slight shrug of his shoulders, "let's say my priorities have undergone a shift."

The two moved off, leaving Macbeth alone for the moment. He knew about the birth of Xanatos' son, of course, and he was well aware the changing power a child could have on you. It reminded him of his own children, lost ages ago, and a wife he had once loved more than life itself.

He really didn't feel like eating, but Macbeth sat himself at the table with the other guests. Keeping up with the conversation took minimal effort, and he was amused by some other people he saw. There was Elisa Maza, looking distinctly uncomfortable in a dress, as well as her new partner, a Matt Bluestone. He had faced the woman in the past in battle and it amused him to see her like this.

Once lunch was over there was more tedious mingling, this time relieved by Demona herself. She introduced her pretty friend to Maza, then left her there before Demona advanced to where Macbeth was standing. He sipped his drink and then put it on a passing waiter's tray, deciding he needed his thoughts clear.

"Macbeth," Demona said bluntly, "are you hunting me, tonight?"

Macbeth sighed, remembering the times he had worn the mask of the Hunter, trying to end both their lives. He sometimes thought he had been mad, wearing the mask of his old enemy and trying to kill a gargoyle and her clan.

Macbeth met her eyes, "I'm not hunting you tonight, Dominique. It's far too public for any of our battles, anyway."

A wry smile tugged on Dominique's lips as she agreed, "Very true. Do you think I could talk to you a moment?"

Macbeth looked at her curiously but nodded, "Certainly, let's go outside."

The afternoon sun was warm on his skin as they stood on the outer wall of the castle, the glass doors behind them looking oddly out of place in such a structure. He supposed Xanatos added them later, for whatever reason. There was a comfortable breeze blowing, and he could see birds off in the distance.

"I cannot make up for what I did to you, Macbeth," Dominique admitted after a moment, her own gaze off in the distance, "a life time of effort wouldn't do it."

"Hmm," Macbeth grunted, but he was faintly surprised by how mature she sounded. Much of the time she had reminded him of a petulant child, not a grown woman. The birds seemed a bit closer as she sighed quietly.

"I want to preserve the Gargoyle race," Dominique said, "it has been my guiding purpose. But because of my battles with Goliath's clan, and you too, I think I have finally realized I have been going about things the wrong way."

"If that's true," Macbeth challenged her, "if saving Gargoyles is your purpose, what are you doing going out at night and saving humans, hmm?"

Dominique actually blushed, which nearly made Macbeth laugh. It was SO out of character for her. Looking over her shoulder he saw the shapes nearing the building, and froze a moment. "What?" Dominique demanded.

"Those aren't birds," Macbeth growled.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Dominique heeled around, seeing the things nearing the castle by air and cursed softly. She wasn't sure if Macbeth had encountered the creatures, but she recognized them instantly. The cat like faces, furred bodies, batlike wings... she knew them TOO well.

"Those are creatures made by Anton Sevarius," Dominique said flatly as she turned to hurry to the doors, "and I doubt they are friendly."

"Has Xanatos done something to annoy him?" Macbeth asked conversationally even as the beast-things began to land, snarling as the people inside screamed in panic. They liberated some chairs and used them to try to brace the doors shut, but neither was confident it would work.

David Xanatos looked clearly cross as he and Fox were ushering guests deeper into the castle, even as the creatures began to hammer mindlessly at the doors. "Sevarius again?" Elisa growled, somehow producing a pistol from the slinky dress she was wearing.

"This happens to you often?" Bluestone asked dryly.

Elisa shrugged, "Often enough."

A door splintered and one of the beast things began to force through, even as men and women screamed in panic and fear. Dominique looked around crossly, wishing she was armed, then she noticed the decorations along the walls. "Xanatos!" she yelled from where he was standing near the crossed swords on the wall, "Toss one here!"

With a surprising show of strength he got a sword free and heaved it over to her, then tossed another to Macbeth. Arming himself he advanced to join them as the creatures moved forward, and he was soon joined by Fox.

"I thought this place was well defended," Macbeth shot at Xanatos even as he parried a monster's claw strike.

"It is, but I didn't want guests getting fried," Xanatos noted dryly as he cut a clawed hand off with a fast strike.

Nearly ten of them crammed through the broken door, not even thinking to unjam the other side. Watching them Dominique decided they were nearly mindless, sniffing around and attacking wildly. The only one that seemed to have any smarts was a creature with a cybernetic eye, who watched the fight from a distance.

"Dominique, be careful!" Alicia called frantically from where the studious young woman was trying to usher out the rest of the guests.

Dominique actually blushed, which amusingly both Macbeth and Xanatos noticed. "I will," she called as she ducked under a claw swipe then coldly disemboweled the monster.

"Think these were people?" Fox asked, using a sharp knife in each hand. The four were staying bunched together, positioned to block access to the wider hall and to watch each others backs.

"I hope not," Macbeth growled, "I'd not with this fate on anyone."

A bullet whizzed by and hit one of the creatures, punching into the head and sending it staggering backwards before it fell. Turning her head slightly Dominique saw that Maza and Bluestone had positioned themselves to fire into the monsters without hitting the fighters.

Fox stabbed at one, driving it backwards then the stronger Macbeth cut it down. They were left with just six of them, and the beasts seemed confused, milling about as they tried to figure out how to get past the group of defenders.

Finally, the cybernetically changed one advanced a bit, studying them warily. There was a hissing sound, then shockingly a familiar voice came out of a necklace it was wearing. "Well, this isn't going as planned," it noted conversationally.

"Sevarius," David growled out. "What do you want?"

Anton Sevarius sounded amused, "Who says I want anything? After all, you paid me off quite well after you fired me."

"Uncle?" Alicia said weakly, edging closer to look at the cyborg with mild horror.

"I didn't see you over there, dear niece," Anton noted mildly as if this sort of conversation happened daily, "how have you been? Is my sister still well?"

"Y... yes, but what is...?" Alicia stammered.

"Oh good, I'll try to get a visit in as soon as I can," Anton's voice said breezily.

"Anton, focus," Fox barked. She calmly met the cyborg's gaze as she asked, "What are your creations doing here Anton?"

The cyborg actually managed to look wounded as Anton's voice said, "Can't a man want to stop in and see his old friends?" He laughed, suddenly, nearly cackling as he mused, "No, I suppose not. My pets, kill yourselves please."

'What...,' Dominique jerked in shock as the creature nearest to itself ripped it's own throat out in a spray of blood and gore. "Ack!" she yelped.

Each one of the creatures killed itself as they watched in shock. "This was a test, you see," Anton noted conversationally, "and it seems this new combat type hasn't worked out. Well, I guess it's back to the drawing board." The cyborg shuddered and convulsed, then simply collapsed.

"Eep," Alicia made a soft sound then simply crumpled, unable to take any more.

Dominique rushed over and caught her before the girl hit the floor. She was comforted to feel a strong and steady pulse, and decided the stress was simply too much for her.

Eliza Maza walked over, a odd look on her face. "Matt called emergency services and the cops on his cellphone," she noted mildly, "they should be here soon."

"Thank you," Dominique sighed, cradling Alicia in her arms.

Fox and David were nearby, talking quietly. "Well," David Xanatos noted, "this will be the last time anyone asks us to host a charity lunch. Would that count as a good thing?"

"David!" Fox scolded, but she was smiling wryly.

Macbeth sauntered over as he asked mildly, "And how are you going to explain this away?"

"Terrorists," Fox offered briskly, "the government uses that all the time. Besides, it might even be true, considering how cracked Sevarius must be..."

To be continued...