The idea of going on patrol with them would have sound great, if it was coming from a policemen or woman that you knew and if you were actually going to go riding in a squad car or maybe a boat. However that is not the case with me and what they want me to do. They think that I will go with them on a patrol in the sky.
"It's…It's alright. You guys go on patrol. I will just stay here and read a book."
"Oh come on. It's your first night in the clock tower after Xantos kidnapped you. Don't you feel a little stir crazy?"
"Nope. Not a single feeling of going stir crazy." I said with my arms held out in a way similar to a w. Blinking after doing so may not have been a good idea. Because just then Brooklyn came over he moved with such an animal like quickness that I nearly fell back when I saw him staring back at me face to beak.
"Are you not telling us something?"
"Wha-at could you possibly mean?"
"Like do you have an issue with us?"
"Us what?"
"Gargoyles, you know us."
"You guys saw me transform into a half reptilian creature of Greek mythology that can turn people to stone with a single glance. Which I happen to be right now. If there is a problem it relies on me trying to make sure I don't turn people stone for the next couple of nights." Brooklyn gets this look like he is confused and then he closes his eyes and puts his hand under his chin. Stroking his chin as he nods as if he was listening to a song.
"Oh I get it. Look you do not have to worry about turning someone into stone." If I bothered to say this I would have but my mouth is hanging open right now in a premature attempt at uttering what. His arm swoops around and glides me closer towards the others. "We will be too high in the sky for anyone to actually get a glimpse at your eyes. We can even have the scarf tied around your eyes if you want, but it could ruin the whole flight experience."
"Believe me you don't want to wear the blindfold. The lights are so amazing from above." Lexington said as he moved me closer to the ledge of the tall skyscraper. I look down from the tall structure where the people look like little ants going about. My heart pounds to their massive movements. Sweat begins its trek down my brow while my throat runs dry with the large lump that currently wasn't going down. "Which one of us would you prefer to go with?"
No response came from my throat instead my actions as I ran inside the clock tower falling down onto a pillar, refusing to let it go. My eyes remained glued shut. Forcing out all the distractions of what had just gone through my head.
Elisa POV
I had just come in for a check up on Ilaria, nothing too special just the usual how are you doing, do you want something to drink or eat? You know that sort of thing when surprise, surprise I find her shaking in fear and clutching a pillar like her life depended on it.
"Okay you guys what happened?" I demanded as I walked up the steps to the door way they were all gathered there each with a look of utter confusion. I doubt I was going to get much.
"We don't know how to answer that, lass. The little one here took off in a fit of fear and then started humming that strange ballad."
"Strange ballad?" I hadn't taken note that she was humming something before now I could hear it. The tune sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. However that wasn't important right now. What was, was finding out what caused her to act like this.
"Okay from the beginning, what happened before she ran in here?"
"Nothing much we woke up, started talking for a little while, getting ready to take her out on patrol, told her not to worry about turning anyone to stone and then she just started freaking out." Broadway said the others nodded.
"Wait a minute you were going to take her out on patrol?"
"We wanted the girl to feel like she wasn't imprisoned here. The night air may have done her some good." Goliath replied. I began shaking my head to and fro lightly. Goliath looked down at me with a questioning glance.
"I know that your heart was in the right place big guy, but you guys shouldn't have tried to take her out on patrol."
"And why not?"
"Because Ilaria has aerophobia."
"Aero-phobia?"
"It's the fear of flying. Ilaria has such a bad case of it that when she came over her on a plane they had to basically give her a tranquilizer to calm her down."
"How do you know this Elisa?"
"Juniper told me when I was escorting her to her car with Matt. She was worried that you may want to take her out flying."
"Apparently she hit the nail on the head." Broadway said starting on a hoagie.
"Is there any way we can help her?" Lexington said with worry in his voice.
"I'm not sure what we can do. Except let it take its course until she feels calm again." Bronx who had been behind Brooklyn came out into the open heading right towards Ilaria. He sniffed her once and then twice before licking her cheek. I watched as she opened her eyes for what I guess is the first time since she had come in. She reaches out to Bronx and holds him. He like the lovable mutt that he is was lapping it up for as much as it was worth. His tail was wagging three hundred miles a minute.
"Or we could let our therapy dog do his stuff. Why don't you guys go ahead on patrol? Bronx and I will stay behind and see to it that the little lass will be alright." Goliath nodded to his mentor before he and the others headed out. I could see each was worried about Ilaria, but knew that they had a job to do and frankly so did I.
"If you are sure you've got this then I'm going to head out with Matt."
"I got it lass. Now be off with you." I took one look at Ilaria and Bronx before heading down the stairs. I am going to give Juniper a call before my shift ends.
Ilaria POV
I was feeling really stupid in a way. I should have just told them about my fear of flying. Instead I have failed miserably at just avoiding it with trivial excuses. It is such a stupid fear to have.
"Don't start belittling yourself for being afraid." I looked up at Hudson so one of them had decided to stay here.
"I have seen many a warrior crumble in the face of fear in my life. The only shame in it is when you let it get to you in such a way as this."
"It's not like I try to get this effect. It just happens."
"When did you start to fear flying?" I went back to scratching the back of Bronx's ears absent minded to the world. "Talking about it may help you overcome it one day."
Bronx nudged my arm away. I look at him and in his eyes I could see that he was encouraging me to start talking. I blinked once then twice thinking it over. In the end it was the puppy dog eyes that won me out.
"It was out at a zip line. My dad and I were at a small one. To see if I could like it and if I did we were going to go to the longest zip line in the world on Maui. At first I was psyched to be doing that. I had heard so much about how much fun it was that I couldn't wait to try it."
"Little lass, would you mind telling me what a zip line is?"
"A zip line is…well…how can I explain this? Imagine two poles that are a good distance and height apart. There is a strong piece of rope that is connected to the two poles. On that rope is a device that is attached to a harness that you were. You use it to travel on the rope to the other pole. Do you get what I am saying? Because I am not sure how else to explain it."
"I believe that I understand what you are talking about, but why you see it as enjoyment is a bit of a loss to me."
"You see when you are on one of those you feel this sense of what it is like to…"
"To do what, little lass?"
"To feel free. The feeling of the wind and the speed you are going gives the sensation of flight and that sensation is like freedom that you have never had."
"If you don't mind my saying it sounds more like you like flying than you fear it."
"I didn't say I didn't enjoy the zip line when I was on it. It was what happened while I was on it that caused my fear." One breath and I went on. "As I have said I enjoyed it the whole experience was new to me and breathtaking, but somehow in the middle of it the rope snapped. I remember it like it was in slow motion. I remember looking behind to on the other side seeing my dad cheering me on and smiling at his encouragement. Then his face changed. It morphed into panic. He had seen the rope break itself and could see me starting to fall. I don't remember much after that. I recall waking up in the hospital. It was nothing short of a miracle that I not only lived but got away with a mild concussion and a few broken bones. After I healed up my Dad and I went out again to a zip line. I couldn't do it. I fainted upon seeing it. Then it started to progress to airplanes and now you know the whole story."
"Ilaria, do you want to get over this fear?"
"I don't know how to answer that. Practically there isn't much of a reason for me to get over this fear, but if I let it stay it could get worse at some point."
"All this fear talk truly isn't doing us any real good. How about some tea to calm the nerves?"
"Tea sounds lovely." Hudson moves at a leisurely pace to the cabinet and begins to put the tea together. I still sit by the pillar and pet Bronx who I believe just loves the attention he is receiving. Or he thinks I have a dumpling on me. Either way he seems happy.
"The others will be here in a few hours or so. Sometimes it's hard to tell with the younger ones. If there is a concert in the park they may stay to watch it, but you had them worried."
"I'm sorry about that."
"Little lass it is not something that you need to feel sorry about. You have a fear of flying and we knew nothing about it. It is best that we move on from the experience for now."
"Hudson, what was it like in Scotland?"
"It was a far different place from here. Especially since it has been many years since I called that land home."
"Do you miss it?"
"As a general rule we the elders think much of the past. Only in some brief moments do I feel nostalgia. Not as much as when I had first came here mind you. Do you miss your home land?"
"I miss the islands. But I think I miss the people there more."
"Any one in particular?"
"My neighbors the Kealohas. They are a nice couple. Every year on their family reunion dinner they would invite my father and me. Nani would make the best haupia for desert. Anytime I think about it I get hungry for it."
"What is hau? Hanupa?"
"Haupia, it is coconut pudding. Really good much better than poi in my opinion, but I love coconuts. Anyway One year we asked why. They said that we were hanai. Meaning adopted. Nani and Akela never had kids, they said that my father was like their son and I their granddaughter. They were upset when Juniper and I had to move. But they promised to look after Rosebud when we had to leave her at home. They even promised not to take her to any luaus." This sentence taught me never to hold in a laugh because it equals a snort.
"What is a luau?"
"It is a type of feast. The signature dish of it is a roasted pig."
"I see. And poi?"
"Smashed taro root normally served as a side dish."
"Is it tasty?"
"It's alright. Like I said before I prefer haupia."
"I remember little lass. I remember." He passes me a cup of tea which I thank him for and then he sits down in his chair and takes a sip of his. The conversation goes to pleasantries and common things such as that together we finished a couple of cups of tea. It was on the fourth cup that Hudson looked up and said.
"Oh would you look at that. They're back already." Indeed he was right the group of gargoyles was back and surprised to see that I was no longer hugging a pole and humming. Instead I was seated on a box next to Hudson sipping tea. The awkward silence came on.
"Look if this makes the awkward silence go away. I forgive you guys. Even though I don't see the direct need for it since none of you had prior notice of my fear of flying. In which case I should be apologizing to you: for not coming clean about my fear. Since that is the case I apologize for not telling you guys."
"Its water under the bridge." Lexington said as he went over to the fridge to get something to eat. Broadway followed suit. The two began to fight over something and the ruckus was becoming larger. The fight resulted in them tripping over their own feet and slamming down on to a table that launched a bowl into the air. Brooklyn in quick haste grabbed the bowl before it could smash itself on the ground.
"Wow that was wikiwiki Brooklyn."
"Wikiwiki?" He said it with curiosity but his eyes looked slit as if he may have thought that I had just insulted him.
"I said that you were quick or speedy."
"Oh, where do you get these words?"
"I grew up listening to them on the islands. It's sort of one of the hazards of living in a community rich in interesting culture and history."
"What is it like living on an island?" Lexington said since the flying bowl was the end of the argument the two were having.
"Not much different than living on a continent, except that your life tends to involve the ocean in a large way. Whether it is just for fishing, swimming, boating, surfing, scuba diving, ocean studies, and weather and so on."
"What is surfing?"
"Surfing is a sport that was invented in Hawaii thousands of years ago. You ride waves on a surf board. It's good for the soul."
"Doesn't sound like something hard to do."
"Oh but it is harder than it looks. You have to stay balanced, be sure not to slip off the board because you didn't use enough wax on it in the first place and when you start doing moves make sure you don't get a wipe out."
"I know what that means."
"Good you are learning." Goliath came in still looking somber to me.
"It will be dawn soon." That triggers all of them to go out onto the balcony and strike their poses. Once the light begins to show they do their thing and turn into stone. While I close my eyes for some much needed rest. It was noon when I woke up and like a deli angel he brought me lunch.
"I hope you like ham and brie." He said as he placed the deli bag on the table along with another bag.
"Is there a pickle?"
"Yes there is a pickle."
"Then I am sure that I will love it. What's in the other bag?"
"Oh it's some food for the fridge. Thought that the food stock would be a little low since there is an extra mouth to feed since you arrived."
"Thanks. I think." He started to walk away but turned to look at me again.
"Don't look so glum." I wasn't aware that I was looking glum. "In a few days you will be back home and Zantos will not draw the connection of you and the gorgon of being one and the same." He soon left me to my lunch that was soon interrupted.
"He seems like the glass half full type."
"Ah! Who's there?!" Sharply I look around in all directions looking for the source of the voice. Like a mirage from the desert he appeared out of the walls. It was the same curious person from before the self-proclaimed Puck.
"What is your deal with sneaking up on me?"
"I enjoy the look on your face when you are startled. It is rather comical." Well this guy is not gaining any points towards friendship. He still looks as cocky as he was last night.
"Is there any reason that you come over here?"
"Like I have said to you before. You are a curious creation of snake scales and human flesh. I wondered what you may have looked like as a human."
"Let me guess the mental image doesn't live up to the actual image or something along those lines."
"Far from it actually for I had not one mental image run through my mind as I came to see your human form."
"What are you exactly?" I know weird time to bring up this question but it has been bugging me.
"Puck."
"That is who you are not what you are. I mean are you some kind of spirit?"
"In some ways and form yes I am in others I am quite different from those. I am commonly known as what is a child of Oberon."
"Oberon as in from the Shakespearean play A Midsummers Night Dream?"
"One and the same with his lady fair Queen Tatiana."
"Jalapeno. They are real."
"That is quite a funny thing to say for one who is a gorgon. But it seems you have led the sheltered life so I shall not hold it against you for not knowing what lies beyond this world. Alas my time grows thinner with you for I must be off as duty calls me. How droll a thing to have." He said with a round-about of his eyes as he was exiting the through the door.
"You have duty? What did you put on your job application?" He chuckles a little at the joke I had made. He then turns it into a smirk.
"Surprising is it not? Perhaps one day we shall discuss it, but for now I bid adieu with you again." He did a bow before flying out of the door and into the skyline. A skyline that was still not yet the glowing orange of sunset. It was still a few hours till then. I went back to my sandwich and ate comfortably. Then went on to read the books or watch some TV. While watching a cooking show I thought of something else to do. Time passed soon and then there was that sign of sunset. I put on my glasses as I went out to the balcony to say good morning or would it be good night? Good morning or good night? What do you say when you are greeting waking up gargoyles? I'll stick with good morning. When they wake they shall see something most pleasant. Their bodies shook as their stone shells were soon gone like a blanket taken off a sleeping child.
"Morning."
"Morning Ilaria." Lexington said hopping down from his pillar and giving a last shake from some stone that still clung to his skin. A sound came from Broadway's stomach, a sound we all know too well.
"Hungary Broadway?"
"When isn't he?" Brooklyn playfully bantered.
"Well that's good. I have a surprise for you guys. Come on in."
Brooklyn POV
"Surprise?" I wonder what she did. She better not have done some spring cleaning, when Elisa did that it took me a week to find my motorcycle magazines and my new pair of sunglasses.
We enter the clock tower room and find a set table with food.
"I hope you guys like pancakes. There's regular, blueberry and banana cinnamon. The maple syrup and butter are on the table. Broadway which would you like?"
"How about one of everything." She nods and turns her attention to Lexington.
"What about you Lex?" She asked while preparing Broadway's plate.
"Blueberry sounds good enough for me." She had finished their plates and then asked Goliath and Hudson what they wanted getting their orders finished. Finally she asked me.
"Surprise me." She had gotten this little smile on her face as she started two more plates. She set one of them down in front of me and the other she placed in front of a seat she took. They smelled good sweet and savory. I took a bite and was taken away by the spicy taste of cinnamon with the gooey sweet bananas.
"Well what do you guys think?"
"Wish you came to stay with us sooner. These are great!" Broadway said while practically nose diving into the pancake maple syrupy mess he was making.
"They are that good?"
"Better than when we tried to make them, not that there is really a comparison since we burned they all." Lexington said finishing up the last of his meal. I remembered that time when we were staying at the castle that was once our home. The kitchen didn't stop smelling like smoke and burnt tar for three days.
We had finished the meal and Ilaria began to clean the dishes with help from Lexington.
"Tonight Hudson and I shall take downtown and Broadway, Lexington check up on our friend Zanatos. See if there is any activity going on. Brooklyn you stay with Ilaria." The four of them went off into the star studded sky leaving me alone with her.
"Brooklyn, have you heard of someone named Puck?"
"Yes, why?"
"He was here earlier."
"He was? What did he do? Did he say anything to you?"
"Okay don't get mad."
"Did he do something to you?"
"I said don't get mad. He didn't do anything all he did was come by to see me."
"Why would he want to see you?" She looks a little upset at me. Did I do something wrong?
"He said something about seeing a gorgon is interesting and he was curious about what I would look like in human form. And then he left. How do you know him?"
"Let's just say that we had an alteration with him and an old enemy some time back. He's not a real danger to us so much as an annoyance. Anything else happen that we should know about?"
"Nothing else happened. But I do I want to talk to you about something."
"Oh yeah and what would that be?"
"Do you think that you could help me overcome my fear of flying?"
"Why do you think I can help you?"
"When I was left alone here during the day I did some thinking and I remembered that day you saved me from those robbers. You had to take me up into the air and fly a little with me. During that time I didn't get as scared as I should have been. Granted at the time I had just been kidnapped, but I still was comfortable with you and flying."
"So you think that if I help you, you will be done with your fear?"
"The fear will still be there, but I would be able to deal with it better. Please will you help me?"
"Fine. We need to start off small. But how to get to one of the lower ledges without gliding?"
"I can wear a hoodie and go through the police station then meet you in an alley."
"Fine but stay near a fire escape. I'll head down there first."
It didn't take long for me to make it down to the alley. Not long after I had arrived Ilaria came with her hood drawn carefully over her hair and part of her face to hide her growing scales and snake hair.
"Did anyone notice you?"
"Nope, not even Elisa and Matt." She took off her hood and shook her snaky hair about. When she stopped the snake heads began to move about observing the new surroundings. It was hypnotizing watching the way her hair moved like this.
"What are we going to begin with?"
Most of the time we are given with her staying directly with us was spent with getting her comfortable with staying in the air a short distance from the ground, when she wasn't doing light cooking. Gradually working in an extra foot or two off the ground each session. Even when she returned home we still worked together on it. There were still times where she would get panicky and we couldn't go any further and would wait a day for her to get calmer again, but with luck that didn't happen as often as I had originally thought. She was really pushing herself to do get over this fear. Lexington and Broadway came to help, but for the most part it was just Ilaria and me. When we weren't trying to get her to overcome her fear we would talk about things. Mostly about things we liked or didn't, things we thought funny, what she did during the day and sometimes we would ask each other questions like would rather do this or that or if we were… These questions are the ones we sometimes had the most fun with.
"Okay if the clan was to live in Hawaii and we had to come up with new names what names should we have?"
"Do you want an actual Hawaiian name or a Hawaiian word for a name?"
"How about I will just let you pick one for us?"
"Any name right?"
"Any name so long as it makes sense."
"Okay let me think on it for a second." She went through her phases of thought which involved many interesting facial expressions. From pursued lips and scrunched eyebrows to wide eyed amazement at hitting eureka.
"Well for Lexington I would have to pick Akamai for it means intelligent. For Hudson I would pick Hanauma Bay in order to stick with the theme of his name. Broadway would be Hau'oli since he is happy and joyful. Goliath I feel would be Kahuna for he is an expert leader. Bronx gets Keiki because is some ways he is like the child of your group. Nalu is for you."
"What is Nalu?" It didn't sound like an impressive name not like Kahuna.
"Wave. That one you are going to have to figure out on your own." Speaking while swinging her legs back and forth while her no longer snake hair blew in the light breeze.
"You had to have a reason for the name choice." I added believing that this would lead her to giving me the answer.
"And I do, but it would be interesting to see why you think I chose it for you." She looked very proud of her avoidance of answering my question.
"I will think on it later. Right now I have to ask you something."
"What?" She said smiling a tiny bit if this goes badly then she will have a look of panic about her.
"I think that you are ready to go on a patrol with us. The question is will you come with us?"
"When?" she said in deep thought.
"Tomorrow night. I can come to pick you up on your building's balcony if you want."
"I think it would be best if I met you guys at the clock tower. I just would feel better about it and if I did scream it wouldn't catch the neighbor's attention." She finished with a weak smile that didn't disguise as much of her nervousness that she had wanted.
"Okay tomorrow night. Wear something warm it can get chilly for humans up there in the air."
"Got it. I should get back to the apartment. If I don't get there before Juniper comes home or I will really be in the soup. Good night."
"Good night." She hopped down the stairs and out the door.
(Skip to tomorrow night)
Ilaria POV
I was deciding on a sweater versus leather jacket. I have to be honest this northern weather has thrown me for a loop. Normally the weather was warm and inviting even during the winter months. It was not often that I had to wear a jacket even if I did wear one it was a light jean jacket. Moving here I have to have a jacket on almost all the time. I think the leather jacket with a light sweater under it would be for the best.
Outfit decided now it is time for deciding what I need in my bag. Rock climbing, camping and general life taught me to always keep a bag handy. I only had one but it went with everything I owned and was water proof, durable, just large enough for what I needed and didn't feel weighted down when I had everything in it.
"Okay let's see what is needed. Apartment keys? Duh. Snack/protein bars in case I am hungry later. Wallet with Id, for obvious reasons, even though I am not sure how helpful it will be in the air. But you never know. A book because I just don't leave the house without one anyway. My pocket knife. Just in case. Water bottle and oh yeah mini first aid kit with emergency flashlight. I think that's everything. Oh yeah I need to feed Rosebud before I leave. I head to the kitchen and cut up some cucumbers and mix it with grain pellets for mini pigs and then call for her.
"Rosebud! Dinner time!" She came grunting with her little tail wagging the whole way it didn't stop wagging when I placed her plate down for her to eat. She tried begging for more but she had had enough and it was time to let her out to walk. I left the door open just a crack for her to get in and out without trouble. What was a little troubling was the leap of faith to be taken next when I had come to the balcony of the clock tower.
"Are you ready?" Brooklyn asked.
"Um…I don't…Whoa!" he had moved quickly to glide while I griped around his neck to the point where I feared that he would choke. My eyes stayed closed as I went about counting the seconds to keep my mind from wandering to the fact that I am in the frickin air!
"Open your eyes. Trust me. The world from above is not as scary as you think." I consider his words and wince a little to the beginning of opening my eyes. Then gradually I open them. I look ahead instead of down where the lights danced along the horizon I felt no longer apart of the world. Something much more lay before me.
"It's beautiful."
"We are going to land near the park. This part you may wish to close your eyes again."
"Kay." I did as he said and felt the decent unfortunately I also felt the loss of grip as I fell into the water. I came up without trouble only a little cough.
"Ilaria are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I will swim to shore and meet you there okay?"
"I'll see if I can find a place to land." He was off and so was I as I went to find a place to swim on the way through the lake I see something. A small boat, maybe I can get a ride to shore on it. But as I continued forward I saw three beings I didn't expect to see.
"Goliath, Elisa? Bronx? And I'm sorry I don't know who you are." Elisa reached a hand out for me to take as she pulled me up.
"What are you doing out in the lake?" The third guy, who was wearing Arthurian armor, placed his cloak over my shoulders. And went back to rowing soon after.
"I was out flying with Brooklyn and I slipped off his back and landed in the lake. I told him I would swim to shore and meet him there. Then I saw the canoe and wanted to see if I could get a ride instead of having to swim the rest of the way. Speaking of which do you mind?"
"I'm afraid that we can't. The spell has been said and there is no turning back now." The fog that had started up was now growing as he continued on.
"What do you mean? Shore isn't that far away."
"We are not heading to shore. We are heading to save the eggs from the Archmage."
"What eggs? Who's the Archmage? And what?" Goliath was the one to take up the slack.
"The eggs refer to the gargoyle eggs that Tom here with the help of Princess Katharine and the Magus have guarded for a thousand years. The last half of our clan."
"Is this all connected to the story of how you came to Manhattan that you still won't tell me about?"
"Perhaps now is the best time and after our tale is told through me, Tom shall inform us of the other." As Goliath and Tom spoke to me of their tales. I was taken into a world of betrayal, royalty, honor and magic so deep I felt tears meet my eyes. After the tale was finished we came to an island and greeted by more gargoyles. A female with skin coloring and hair similar to Goliath's and a male with blonde hair and green skin he had longer horns. Apparently some of them were the eggs. We had to move quickly to avoid the Archmage, but that didn't work out as he had come in the form of sand to attack us. He gave his warning of death to us all and then he left. Creepy guy. So we trekked on foot to the castle where other gargoyles flew about and others we were soon to find were in pain. An elder woman ran to Tom and embraced him as an elder man looked away in pain. Meanwhile the Princess Katharine as I am guessing that she is her was more than happy to see Goliath. We were more informed of what had happened a graybeard human named Macbeth and a gargoyle once important to the clan was Demona had been helping the Archmage attack the gargoyles.
The dawn soon came as the gargoyles went into sleep and then came to night. The gargoyles Angela, Gaberial (the ones who met us on the shore) and Goliath left to deal with the Archmage. I was left with Elisa and the three new people I have just met and the threat of death from a psycho wizard hanging over everyone's head.
"What do you need me to do?"
"Look Ilaria the best thing for you to do is to stay out of everyone's way. You aren't experienced with these sort of things and since I am in charge of you. I can't let you get hurt."
"So you want me to hide?"
"It's the best move we have for you, but if things start going further south…"
"Elisa let me help. With so many enemies afoot it is best to have everyone help."
"Then stay here while the Magus and I look for the sleeping king." I didn't protest as they left I went to help soak the towels in the herb water for the wounded.
"Like this princess Katharine?"
"Just right Ilaria. Work fast now. We want them to heal quickly."
"Right." I worked hard to help with healing on was helping the third or fourth gargoyle when a massive headache hit me.
"Ah!" I jerked my hands to my forehead to rub the pain away accidently breaking a bowl of water.
"Ilaria what is it?!"
"My head!" It hurt to even say that.
"Come dear and sit." She placed her hands softly on my shoulders as she placed me in a chair. I sat for a long time feeling the throbbing pain of scratching nails against my brain as I tried to mentally shut off the pain. The pain was most intense and it took my other senses from noticing my changes. As quick as the pain came it left like that. In relief I fell onto the back of the chair. Gradually opening my eyes to the lighted sight. Surprised to find the princess staring at me in fear.
"What are ye?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You are as green as the monster of the loch with the scales to match and your eyes hold the devil of the snake."
"Devil of the…Oh My God!" I ran to a mirror and saw my transformation had come early. My scales were back my eyes reptilian and my teeth fang like, but my hair was still hair. Surprising a thought occurred to me with the dawn of realization.
"Princess, did I just look into your eyes just now?"
"Are you daft? You saw it yourself that my eyes were locked upon your snake's eyes!"
"This is really weird." Goliath soon entered with pack that had grown by two with the addition of Boudicca and Bronx.
"Shield your eyes everyone!"
"Goliath it's not working."
"What?" his eyes were still shut.
"My gaze is not turning anyone to stone for some reason and I transformed before my usual cycle." His eyes open and he thinks.
"The island is magical it could be tampering with your gorgon blood. Thus forcing you to change early and rob you of your cursed gaze."
"Why now? Why not those hours ago when we arrived here?"
"That we can dwell upon later for now we still have the Archmage to deal with." He relayed what had happened and how Bronx and Boudicca helped save them from the Archmage. Suddenly the doors squeaked open as Elisa and the Magus revealed one of the most famous kings in History. The no longer sleeping King Arthur.