Chapter 34
Complications
Fox's POV
"See, honey, nobody stole Peaches. She was right here. The cleaning lady must have brought her here." I gave Alex Talia's fox.
"But I got Peaches outta the dryer." He sniffed it. Owen said his senses were stronger than a human's.
"Then perhaps Uncle Owen forgot to tell you he was borrowing her. He naps in here when he misses Talia." I lead him to his room.
"I guess." He frowned.
"You have Peaches back and that's all that matters. Now, I have to go to a meeting. I'll be back soon." I tucked him into bed.
"Ok, I love you." Alex wiggled a little.
"I love you too. Enjoy your day off." I turned to leave.
"Mom, be careful." His tone changed. More serious, royal. Alex was no longer my little boy, he was Avalon's prince. "She can't save herself anymore."
I shivered as I closed the door.
Fox's POV End
Kai's POV
"She can't save herself anymore." My prince's voice echoed in my mind.
I bolted out of my den and ran as fast as I could. Humans yelped as I went passed them. I barked apologetically, but kept running. I saw Fox walking into the, the up-and-down thing. It closed before I could get in. I smacked the buttons she had, but it didn't open. I scratched at the door. Fox knew where she was being kept. Mistress needed help, Mistress needed me.
I howled. The door creaked, two haves falling inward. I jumped down. The building screamed. I wondered why it was upset. Wind rushed passed my ears. The door halves sparked and became sharp as they hit the tunnel walls. They were falling faster because they were heavier than me. I nudged them into the wall so they wouldn't get hurt something important.
I landed softly after several minutes. I found a door on the roof and wiggled under it. Fox was still there. She was on the phone. A bag on her shoulder was open. I could find Mistress better from there. I hopped in and got comfy. My tail flopped out.
"I'm fine, David. I heard something falling, but it stopped a few minutes ago. What do you mean inward? What could warp the elevator doors like that?" She frowned.
I nuzzled her side. I didn't mean to scare her or Creator, but I had to come with Fox. She paused, unsure. I whined softly so she would know it was me. Fox rested her hand on my back, her fingers playing with my fur.
"Yes, I'll use the other elevators after I get to the next floor. Are you sure you don't need Owen? I could drive myself in the limo… Ok, but I'll be back as soon as I can." She hung up and moved to put the phone in her bag. I moved so it would go in.
Fox got out of the elevator and walked down a hallway. It had big windows. I could see all the building below, but I could also see another Fox and a spirit fox hiding behind her. It was very big for a fox. It had white muzzle and cheeks with a narrow stripe that continued up to its forehead. Its chest was also white. The rest of fur I could see was fluffy and black.
I barked. Stop mimicking Mistress's mother! It barked back at me. My ears flat on my head, ready to bite and claw the intruder. It did the same. Fox frowned. She looked at the window. Other Fox turned too. Her hand rested on my side. A bark rumbled in my throat.
"Shh, be quiet. There's no need to be upset." She rubbed my fur.
I narrowed my eyes before quieting. I'm watching you. My tail swished as she petted me more. We rode the new elevator down to the lobby. Owen was waiting. I said hi. He raised his eyebrow a little, but I don't think Fox saw it.
"Are you alright, Fox?" He asked.
"I'm fine, Owen, but I think the doors got stuck in the shaft somewhere." She said.
We went to limo and Owen let Fox in. Fox sat, setting her bag. I got out. The limo growled. I laid down and the limo started moving. I slowly stood up. The limo didn't mind. I sniffed around. It smelt like Mistress's family. Mistress didn't ride with them?
I stood, looking out the window. I saw some other, different colored limos. Most of them were a lot smaller than this one. Turning, I saw Owen through a tiny window. I jumped up and through it. I landed next to him.
"No, we cannot smash Thailog. Mister Xanatos would not like if Alexander was exposed to such violence. We are not summoning Macbeth to-" Owen muttered softly.
I sniffed his jacket. There was something in it. It smelled good. I tugged at it. The limo jumped as the jacket opened. A small bag with stuff inside it fell on the floor. I chased it. Sniffing one of the triangle-ish things, I realized it was the source of the good smell. I picked one up, accidently biting it. It was sweet and crunchy. I stuck my face in the bag and spilt it trying to a single triangle. Licking my lips, I laid down as I ate them.
The limo slowed down by the time I was finished. I jumped through the window and settled in Fox's bag. She picked it up and got out. Owen stayed in the limo. We went past the lobby and into the elevator. Some people got on and off before we got to the floor she wanted. There was another lobby up here. Fox walked past the desk and the lady protested. She opened the door to another room and Dominique Destine, Demona's human form, was sitting at the desk.
"I tried to tell her that you were busy-" The lady said.
"Leave us!" She snapped. The door closed. "What do you want?"
"I want to be allies. If not for us, then our children. Angela does consider Talia family." Fox looked her in the eye and then she turned, leaving.
I whined softly, reluctantly deciding to stay with Fox. I didn't even get to sniff around for Mistress. Fox got in the elevator and we got drove back home. I went back to my den. I would have to go with Fox again and the clan too. I could help them find Mistress. That was good plan. I curled up, sleepily.
Kai's POV End
Sevarius' POV
"Mortal." …Luna looked at me with writhing, icy stare.
"I'm working on 'the princess's rival' as fast as possible. It's not easy when you black out the minute stop working." I said.
"No one must know that we are involved. There has to be something more to impede that half-breed…" She growled.
"What's that mean?" I asked.
"The princess will have many children. There has to be something you can do. Remove her womb, taint her eggs. It's not fair, that whore doesn't know how what she has. You mortals breed so much, so fast. You have forgotten our power. Modern humans think we are pixies!" The air grew oppressive as she ranted.
"Luna?" I interjected. "I may have an idea."
She continued to rage, energy palpable.
"Luna!" I shouted.
"WHAT?!" She shrieked.
"I have turned humans into mutates, monsters. Perhaps that would work…" I said slowly. Removing her uterus would get me killed.
It dissipated as she regained her thoughts. "Yes, Seline mentioned that."
"I was denied gargoyle DNA so that is why I had to make mutates. In my attempt to make a gargoyle-like creature, my first batch was made from the genetic material of three animals: large cats, bat DNA, and electric eel DNA. To give the power to fly without eating a disgusting amount of food. They also shoot electric bolts. The second was wolf DNA and the third batch was DNA from armored animals.
I attempted to make more of the armored mutates with a carrier virus, but it was intercepted as it went off. The other failed attempt was to see what would happen if a human mutated with gargoyle DNA, Angela's. I also tried to inject a gargoyle with human DNA, but I again was unsuccessful." I sighed.
"And all the monsters changed after injected?" She asked.
"More or less." I said.
"That won't do. They'll become enraged." Luna shook her head.
"Then what to you want?" I asked.
"We must restore the balance. She has done impossible, dangerous things." Luna looked at the screen. "What does that mean?"
"I am trying to discover what exactly the differences are between father, Owen, and daughter, Talia, mean and how Talia has her abilities. According to my data, her paternal DNA is still changing. But her maternal DNA is also changing too. I believe it's a chain reaction." I pulled up the oldest one.
There were less highlights and there was more space in between mutations. Her maternal DNA had no highlights whatsoever. The most recent one had shown slightly waning growth. It correlated with the way she had been eating for the last few weeks. She hasn't had exercise of any kind since Thailog had captured her. Perhaps her health was more important than we thought.
Luna gasped. Lights flickered down the hall, exploding as they were overcharged, before she hardened. "You fool! This makes her more dangerous! Why didn't you show us this?"
"I don't understand. What does Talia have to do with your princess?" I frowned.
"Talia is our princess!" Luna shouted.
"Oh." I said.
"…You said you tried to infect a human with gargoyle DNA." She frowned.
"Thailog had acquired the 'Mahattan clan's' blood after Talia had run away for 3 months." I explained.
"Is there a way to delay the change? Make it so the… virus won't active until the princess meets her rival?" Luna thought.
"For that to work, I would have to place a key component in the other mutagenic formula in each of them and make it so that they would be transmitted, and activated, through a specific bodily fluid." I smiled. "Blood mostly likely."
"Yes, do that." She nodded. "But you must finish the princess's first. We can't let her slip away."
"There is something I need. To better understand her DNA." I said.
"What is it?" Her lips twisted.
"A bone from her mother. It's been 8 years, but I believe the marrow is still viable. If I can study it, I will know how her mutation will affect Talia." I explained.
"Just a bone?" She asked.
"A medium to large one if possible. If it has to be small, get two or more. Now, do you want Talia to be gargoyle or mutate?" I asked.
She laughed. It was a striking sound. I shivered involuntarily. I swear I could feel my skin began to rot.
Sevarius' POV End
Matt's POV
Elisa's stomach growled. I slid her my quarter sandwich. It was ham and mustard. She scarfed it down with a bit of coffee. She rubbed her eyes. The afternoon sun was brighter than we would have liked. But it was nice to have our own space back.
We had had a rough few years. From being crammed into another precinct's station, having our own be rebuilt (by Xanatos Enterprises no less), and moving back in. Some 'concerned citizens' thought a clock tower might attract gargoyles again. But it didn't stop him from adding one with 'anti-gargoyle spikes.' It was some sort of complex spell that would hide the clan if they were too far from home and make it so that any criminals or even curious kids wouldn't go up there.
"Elisa, you can't work like this." I frowned.
"I can't just stay home with all my food." She looked up at me.
"It's because you're related to Coyote, isn't it?" I asked.
"Probably. It might be because of how close we are to her. There are more people stealing food every day. We have a few more hours of paperwork then we're home free." Elisa stamped the report.
My phone buzzed. I looked at it. It was from an unknown number.
Meet me outside. – Hacker
"I'm going out. You want anything?" I stood, grabbing my coat.
"Hot dog… 2 hot dogs." She answered.
"Got it." I left.
He was waiting outside the steps. "Matthew."
"Is the taskforce or society related?" I asked.
"Can't old friends talk?" He smiled. It wasn't the charm-oozing smile Xanatos often wore. It was one partially laced with real comradery. "Walk with me."
I paused. He wouldn't come without a reason. Whatever he wanted, the Illuminati wanted. And I couldn't allow that. Frowning, I followed. Cars rumbled passed the station. We rounded the corner.
"32." Hacker said.
"36." I replied.
"What do you remember from those books Xanatos delivered to you after you were inducted?" He asked.
"There were a lot of books." I said curtly.
"Does the Third Race ring a bell?" He asked.
I guffawed. His eyebrow raised.
"Yes, it does." I smothered the heat in my cheeks.
"The society has noticed a spike in Child activity after a sudden disappearance. Eyewitnesses say they were looking a 'princess.' And to top it all off, one of your rank has exhausted all our resources on Halflings." Hacker told me.
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"It means Oberon or Titania have found another Halfling child. They have must have made her princess rather than have her serve in one of their courts." He said.
"And I suppose that's a bad thing." I gestured obviously.
"The quarrel in A Midsummer's Night Dream was an understatement. The fact that they themselves aren't looking for her means they think she's not in danger yet." He said.
I hummed. The thought of Talia and Alex being royalty hadn't really sunk in until now. If Oberon was angry for being denied the kids, I didn't want to see what kind of response kidnapping got. But time passed way more slowly on Avalon. Maybe they don't know that Talia was missing for 5 years.
"I don't see how I can help." I shrugged.
"All I want you to do is to keep your eyes peeled for any of Oberon's Children." Hacker said.
"That's what you say now." I noticed a hot dog cart quarter block away.
"You know they can be dangerous to mortals." He said.
"I don't disagree with you on that, but I'm only one man." I told him.
"Matt." Hacker said. I turned. He sprayed me in the face. I felt a pain on my brow.
"What the hell? That fucking stings!" I tried to wipe it out of my eyes. It was smelly, greasy (creamy?), and drying quickly.
"That should protect you for awhile. A mixture of rosemary, dill, and St John's Wort. It worked better if the herbs are fresh." Hacker said.
"Thanks a million." I sneered.
My eyes watered. I managed to calm them down by the time we got to the cart. I bought a few hot dogs and cradled them carefully. We got back to the station. He held the door open as I went inside.
"Remember, keep an eye out." He let the door close.
I went to the eye wash station as fast as I could. Although, it was probably too late to do anything. I walked to our desks afterwards. Everything still had a watery shimmer to it. It cleared up a bit by the time I saw Elisa, but not completely. She had a haze that reminded me of a dust filled breeze.
"You remembered." She took the two as I shed my coat.
"Of course I did. If I got it wrong, don't blame me. I got sprayed in the face. I think it was water mixed with some kind of oil." I told her.
"You're gonna have to report that to the Captain." She chewed.
"I know. Just give me a minute." I sighed.
Matt's POV End
Xanatos' POV
Alex was telling Fox about how he had made cookies all by himself. Puck had taught him how to make them, but Owen wasn't going to pop his bubble. They had sent Adri some. She had gone back for her birthday, March 12th.
I frowned as I remembered my conversation with 'Uncle Peter'. Owen had given me his number after he had cleared the background check. Peter had known about Adri. He had told me that Talia was supposed to born on March 3th. She was born 26 weeks and 3 days premature. She was born early because she was a twin. Her brother was buried quietly. Talia's parents had moved after she was released. They couldn't bear staying. The cost of hospitalizing a premature baby and moving cities had put them in debt. Peter tried to get to them to live with him, but they refused. He realized after her parents died, he was only one left who knew the truth. He was going to tell her sometime after Christmas, but…
The table began to shake. I looked at Owen. His mouth opened and, I swear I hadn't blinked, two women appeared. One was Grandmother, a Child of Oberon. The other I had never seen before.
"YOU LOST MY DAUGHTER!" She choked him with the speed of viper.
"Nān Ganhān, do not scream. You'll endanger the prince." Grandmother tried.
Owen was turning purple. "Talia… kidnapped. Surrounded by… iron."
She dropped him. "Explain."
He rubbed his neck. "An evil gargoyle took her after we had reconciled. He wants to use her to become immortal."
I heard torrents of rain outside. I looked at Fox. She was waiting to see if it would escalate. Alex got up, hugging the woman. She looked at him. Her wrath cooled.
"Hello, little fox." She cooed.
"Hi." He said shyly. We waited before we breathed again.
Now that we weren't in immediate danger, I could properly look over this "Nān Ganhān." She had dark olive brown skin. Her gem-like brown eyes were just as sharp and bright. Pailin rubies and blue zircon decorated her headband. It framed her black, knee length hair. Gold necklaces and bracelets adored her body. Her clothes reminded me of Cambodian royal dancer, with a bright blue sampot hol, but her stomach showed. The white chang pong seemed like afterthought rather than a part of her outfit.
Owen had stood up and dusted himself off. "Grandmother, what's going on?"
"Perhaps it would be best to gather your protectors first. This is not a tale easily told twice." She answered.
"If you say so, Grandmother." He bowed his head and then Puck and the others appeared in the dining hall.
They all were dazed. Adri was in her painting clothes. It was still afternoon in Oregon. Bluestone was haphazardly dressed. A tee shirt and wrinkled pair of jeans. Worn sneakers and novelty socks. He squinted, rubbing his eyes and bridge of his nose. Elisa frowned. Goliath stepped up.
"Why were we summoned?" He asked.
"Visions concerning the princess." Grandmother answered.
"If you are going to cast your magic, cast it now." Goliath looked at his mate for strength.
"Very well. Protectors of the princess fair, must be made aware. Show them the past, of the last hour and half." Grandmother chanted. And after a few moments, I knew.
"Tai gonna have babies." Alex smiled at us.
"That's right. But Luna's vision is over a period of time." Fox smiled back, saying that to reassure herself. I wasn't exactly at ease either.
"So, who exactly are you? Nān Ganhān." Hudson's Scottish brogue was thick as he tried to pronounce the foreign word.
"You may call me Lady Earth. I am one of the three Earth deities of the place you mortals call Cambodia." She frowned impatiently.
"Who has taken the princess?" Grandmother asked.
"Lady Earth, Grandmother, there is something you must know. The gargoyle that took Talia, he was made from my blood. He, Thailog, looks almost exactly as I do, but he has black skin and white hair. He is very smart and tricky. Xanatos, show her the message. It was sent around November 27th." Goliath looked at me. Elisa touched his arm.
"…It won't be easy to watch. Follow me." We went to the Great Hall. Owen had someone come to take our dinner. I dimmed the lights and brought down the projector.
"When'd we get that?" Fox asked.
"I don't like this video." Alex told me, hugging his mother.
"I know, bud. But Goliath thinks it'll help Lady Earth understand." I found the file and pressed play.
Thailog was crouching next to Talia. Talia had "iron burns" on back side of her arms. It looked like a splotchy, irritated red rash. She was asleep, head limply hanging.
"Thailog, what have you done to her?" Angela snarled.
I realized Owen must have spliced in the audio from my office's camera. It wouldn't have made sense to Lady Earth and Grandmother otherwise.
"She was so upset when we learned she hadn't aged since her 17th birthday, we had no choice but to sedate her." He cooed mockingly.
"You didn't call everyone here to mock us." I told him.
"I know you're going to try to rescue her, but I'm ready for you." Thailog smiled, stroking her cheek with his thumb.
"Don't touch my sister!" Alex yelled.
"Alex, she's my sister too." He told him before trailing down her neck and choking her.
She couldn't fight back and was turning blue. Puck cussed him out. I remembered the look he had as he sweated. Adri begged him not to kill her. All the gargoyles snarled. Alex cried.
"Consider this a warning. If you try to get outside help, a sore neck will be the least of her worries."
The video ended.
"MAY HE SUFFER EACH LIFETIME FOR EVERY HOUR HE HAS HER!" Lady Earth screamed.
The building creaked as it swayed. The wind reversed and hurricane force rain left cracks in the windows' glass. My heart pounded. Fox held onto our son. The gargoyles growled, crouching low. Elisa and Matt were torn between their instincts and police training. Adri hid her face in Puck's shoulder. The earth stilled after several terrifying minutes. The wind died to a howl.
"That's a powerful curse, isn't it?" I asked.
"You don't know the half of it. Mortals can freely give power to any deity they believe in. And Lady Earth is still actively worshipped in Cambodia." Puck frowned.
Bluestone opened his mouth to speak, but Lady Earth looked at Puck. "Where is my daughter?"
"We know she's in Manhattan, but that's it…" He shrugged helplessly.
"Why do you keep calling Talia your daughter?" Lexington asked.
I heard a low mummer and realized we telepathically linked again. A mixture of Owen and Puck spoke. "Look, all the major Earth spirits are powerful. The earth has been around longer than any of the Races. Lady Earth even more so since she has the power to control water. If she says Talia's her daughter, then that's it. Nobody's gonna fight her on this."
"Do you remember that explanation Owen gave?" Puck asked and everyone nodded. "Well, magic can sometimes reactivate. But normally, it happens to Fae blooded mortals. When magic reactivates, we can claim the mortals as our… more direct family rather than descendants."
Grandmother spoke. "It's very rare, but the princess is what we call a Chimera because she has multiple different magicks active. Puck's and Lady Earth's. Possibly more. Puck's magic did not destroy her birth father's DNA, only overwrote it."
"I don't understand." Fox frowned.
"In Grandmother's vision, the robin is a symbolic representation of her current magic level. Your mother has a claim on her too, shown as the facial markings. Although, I do not understand why she had gargoyle talons." Owen told her.
Elisa slowly puzzled something out. "Goliath, you told her she was clan. When Xanatos had taken her to her parents' home. Remember?"
"… Yes, I did." His jaw tightened.
Hudson clasped his shoulder. "You cannot blame yourself, lad. Things were dangerous then. It wouldn't 'ave been safe for her."
He breathed out of his nose. "I suppose, Mentor."
Adri wrinkled her nose. "So, what's it mean? She's part human, part Fae, and part gargoyle?"
"Half mortal, half Child. A Chimera Halfling." Grandmother hummed.
"Lady Earth, what sort of powers can we expect to emerge?" Katana asked.
"She will have power over the earth and it will give her power. She will make the land and plants fertile. Crocodiles are her ally. The water from her hair will be able to prevent sickness, soothe thirst, and bless objects." Lady Earth told her. I hummed, intrigued.
"Water? Where's the water come from?" Nash frowned.
"The water libation usually concludes another ceremony. It has three primary parts: the confession of faith, the pouring of water, and the sharing of merits. As the water is poured, a confession of faith is recited by the monks. Then, the merit is distributed by the donors. The earth deities are invoked to witness these ceremonies. Afterward, the libated water is poured on the soil outside, to return the water to them." Owen explained.
"Oh, ok…" He clicked his beak.
Goliath rested his chin on his fingers. "Lady Earth, is it possible that Talia's fertility has been enhanced?"
"Yes, her fertility has been enhanced. She will also be able to enhance others' as well. But you must not forget that Puck's magic is also of influence. His to a lesser extent." Lady Earth reminded.
"Big guy, what's going on?" Elisa asked.
"She's a Chimera and one with fertility powers. Luna's vison said that she'd have mortal wives. It didn't say she wouldn't have any immortal… bedmates." Goliath growled. Puck paled.
"Lord Oberon and Queen Titania will not tolerate it." Grandmother said sternly.
That would only happen if they caught wind of it, but I sincerely hoped she wouldn't keep sexual harassment a secret. Titania had claimed her as her granddaughter. Oberon's reasons for wanting to keep her safe were, at best, to appease his wife and for reputation.
"We'll deal with that after we save Talia." I suggested.
"I suppose that would be best." Lady Earth hummed.
"We must tell our queen-"
"NO!" We bellowed.
They stared at us, surprised.
"Time passes more slowly on Avalon. The longer Thailog has her, the more danger she's in. We can't wait on Oberon or Titania to decide what to do." I explained.
Fox and I avoided Elisa's glare. I knew she was angry with me for creating Thailog. She also, at the very least, blamed my wife for further entangling her in the Third Race. Now with this development, Talia would be coveted by mortals and Children alike.
"I do not want to cause a panic among our people nor do I want the princess to be further harmed. I will tell our queen of my vision. But I cannot withhold everything I have learned from this visit." Grandmother looked at Owen, now having fully switched with Puck, and disappearing quietly.
"If you have not saved my daughter by the end of summer, I will gather my siblings and retrieve her myself." Lady Earth warned before leaving.
Xanatos' POV End
