We sneak about to find what it was they were looking for. It was all shady and illegal since they were digging in a national park in the middle of the night. We follow him through the hole and into a large cave. Inside that cave was a woman. She was not happy and who could blame her she was bound by a magic chain.
"You miserable Haloe! How dare you steal from me?! And then think that you can just subject me to slavery!" The woman shouted at Coyote. Her fury was matched with the small earthquakes that came. Coyote ignored her. This angered her further and the heat in the cave was growing with the level of lava that was now becoming apparent. This time Coyote spoke to her.
"Calm yourself Pele. Getting angry like that won't change anything. Unless you are now willing to give that which Xanatos has asked for?"
"You and your ill-bred creator shall burn within my fire's pleading for a death that shall not come and be turned into something that not even Nanaue would have feasted on!" The fire literally formed around Pele but could not even lick the chains she was bound with.
"Come now. Pele that temper of yours has caused enough trouble thorough out the years. When all you need to do is tell us where the stone is and no more damage can be done to your (cough) lovely home." Coyote makes a gesture to the large cave. Behind him, now that we could see, where other robots were digging at the walls of the cave. The stone must be powerful if Xanatos went through the trouble of subduing the one goddess who had less hormone control then a pregnant woman. Pele isn't known for being volatile for nothing.
"Your pathetic incompetent master shall never have the power to control the stone. He thinks himself a god, but in truth is a delusional man with a mere puppet made of metal born from my flames." Pele said her voice rather soft with a cunning smile.
"Delusion is falling upon you Pele. The stone will become Xanato's and with it the world will indeed form to his will. As you have done to Hawaii for thousands of years."
"I only add and change the land of my people. This Xanatos wishes to turn the entire world's land into what his vision is even if it were to destroy all others homes."
"Only those that aren't smart enough to follow him when they had the chance. Everyone else they may miss those old fossil homes, but shall soon find solstice in there new homes."
"Says the robot destroying mine." Pele's earthquakes were starting to form again. This was the time to talk with the others. We huddle.
"Is that woman really Pele?" Angela asked.
"She's beautiful, deadly, volatile and given to rage easily and has shown power over volcanic activity including fire. I feel confident with no doubt of being wrong that this Pele is the real Pele." I say. Hibby I notice is not listening to the group instead watching the activity below intently.
"Besides if this were but a fake Xanatos would not have wasted his time. This stone does it sound familiar to you?"
"The only thing I know about stones and Pele is that you are cursed if you take volcanic rock off the island. But this stone has me for a loop."
"The stone is the first volcanic rock that Pele had formed when she became the goddess she is. Because the stone was so perfect and filled with beauty that Pele prided herself on, she decided that it would become her strongest charm. With it she created the islands. It is an object that has been lost in stories long past, but I believe it was done so on purpose. In hopes that people like Xanatos wouldn't know of it or its power." Hibby said looking back at us only occasionally as her eyes focused mostly on the progress below.
"How do you know that Hibby?" Angela asked.
"Hibiscus. After time has passed then you shall call me Hibby." The others turn to me.
"Don't take offence it is the same with all new people for her." Hibby shifted again forming into a gecko as she scaled down the rocks. Guess Hibby is ready for action, but while she is subtle. The gargoyles and I are more dynamic. Pele was at first angry towards us possibly thinking that we were more of Xanato's posse. But soon just became impatient with us. Goliath and Angela swoop down with Bronx and launch him at a small wall of robots. Bronx goes to town turning them into a nice pile of scrap metal. Elisa and I join in and get swept away by Angela being thrown to the side. But I used the water in my pack to make a bubble that barely made enough stop us from hitting the spikey side of the cave. This also created the side effect of a spring and we tackled a few robots down for the count. Unfortunately the emergency airbag depleted all of my water so I had only fire to work with and well it was still not my best element to use.
"You have to focus anger that is already inside of you!" Pele shouted. I am not sure that it was meant for me. "Of course I am talking to you! You used the element of water and you show the yearn for fire. Focus the fury bottled inside to bend fire to your will!" She looks at me and then to the lava and with a little assistance from her it began to bubble upwards but it wasn't lasting long. The chains obviously were zapping her strength. It was amazing she was doing this. In haste I use anger from times past to swish around the lava into a min spiral tornado that I launch at a group and it hit three of them. I look back to Pele and she nods in approval at least I hope it was approval. We fight the good fight on and on till the stone made an appearance that shifted the tides.
"Well Goliath and friends this has been very entertaining and all. But I have the stone and I shouldn't be any later with giving it to Xanatos."
"THAT IS MY STONE!" Pele shouted ringing the sound across the stones and I think our bones. But what made the situation worse about it was that now Pele was free. Didn't matter if you were on her side or not if she was seeing red it was best to stay out of her way. I yell to the others to get out of there. Thanks to the air drafts the Gargoyles were able to glide us out of the volcano. The lava took and destroyed Coyote's chance of giving the stone to Xanatos, but it also took Hibby. She was still in there before we got a chance to grab her. The tears flowed.
"Do not fear young one. Your friend is safe with my thanks." Pele said appearing to us in a shower of gold. "This brave form changer sought the appearance of a common rat and chewed away the infernal bonds of my restraint."
Hibby in gray rat form appeared on the goddesses shoulder and was handed down to the ground by Pele herself. She turned back into my human friend that I glopped.
"I thank all of you for your feat. For this you shall be given these 'Ohelo berries are but one reward."
"We don't…"
"You will take the berries." She said and you know it was the final word. We took the berries. We would need something to eat on the canoe ride. They are good at least I think they are. I only had them once before. I think it was during a festival or something like that.
"The second reward is this. Whenever you or your clan comes to these islands you shall always be protected." Goliath bowed before the goddess in thanks and we soon followed.
"Goddess Pele, are you too a child of Oberon?"
"I know of Oberon and his brood as well as gargoyles, once long ago they too lived on this island. But I am part of another noble family. You have had dealings with his children haven't you?" She asked him as the fires began to cool into solid stone. Goliath answered that yes we had had dealings with Oberon's vast and sometimes problematic children also including the lord himself in that statement. "Gargoyle you and your fellow travelers are on your way home. For that I give you this to take with you to Manhattan." She gave me a volcano rock in a well carved wood box. Okay so she wants Goliath to take a volcanic rock off the island and curse himself?
"This special lava rock is for Xanatos and him alone. It is to serve as a reminder of his misdeeds and that if he ever shows his face on any of my islands again. I will have him thrown into the fire for a slow miserable death. That includes if he or his robotic minions should touch this rock. Before I disappear I have to warn you of something." Pele was looking at me. I had a felling it dealt with the need for control over fire. She and I walk a little out of the way. She was going to let me have it and didn't want to make it worse in front of the others.
"You need to learn to control the power you have, it is more than obvious. But that is not what I have to warn you about. When you return to Manhattan you must restrain yourself from using your powers."
"I know this is not the best idea. But why should I refrain from using my powers?" I expect the words from her mouth to be you dare to question me, but she rolls her eyes.
"Think of it as a test to see if you deserve your powers. Just because one has powers does not mean they should use them all the time. A challenge will come that shall use all of its strength to force you into using your powers, but you must not. Dangers will come from using them. After time has passed then you shall be able to use your powers." She then moved away from us to look out at the rising sun. "You may rest here for the day gargoyle warriors. I must bid you farewell. May we meet again!" her voice cracked out like thunder as she clamped her hands and disappeared from our sight. The gargoyles turn to stone and sleep with Hibby turning into a pigeon to sleep on Angela's shoulder. It was an urban pirate look.
The sun set and the gang woke up and we headed back to the house for one last dinner with the Kealohas and Hibby. Or so I thought.
We were well enough away from shore when Hibby appeared out of my bag as her ferret form.
"How far at sea are we?"
"HIBBY?!"
"Hi." She said cheerily bounding out of the bag and skimming along the edge. She stopped to rest upon the figure head of the boat. "So this is what it feels like to be at sea."
"What are you doing here Hibby?"
"Going to New York with you; of course."
"Hibby, why are you coming with us?"
"It's time I did some travelling. That's it. No other reason."
"What should we do with her?" Goliath asked.
"We are too far from shore to turn back. I guess that means she stays with us." Elisa said rubbing the ferret's head. She was quite pleased with herself. The little show woman. I knew I could have thrown her over board without guilt because she could easily turn into a seal, fish, shark or whatever animal that was safest to swim as at night. The fog rolling in convinced me otherwise since it meant that we were not in normal water and Hibby was not going back home anytime soon.
Goliath POV
"Oberon is gathering his magical children home to Avalon. I wish Avalon would send us home."
"You and me both." Elisa said looking at me.
"Better make that four." Ilaria said to the sound of Bronx barking in agreement. Would have been five but Hibby or Hibiscus our latest travel companion's home was the place we had just left. The place is known as Hawaii. It had once been home to Ilaria as well.
"I miss the trio and Hudson."
"I miss Juniper and Brook…The others too." Ilaria said looking away towards the sea.
"I would do anything to see Manhattan's spires again." A bolt of lightning from the heavens sought fit to respond and struck at our vessel. After its bright light came a dark and horrible dream formed by the trickster Puck. All those I had known were harmed in that nightmare of disturbing probability of a dismal future. Xanatos used his mutants and robots to control the world. And with them he destroyed many of my friends and clan. Even little Hibiscus was not spared from this horrid nightmare that I shall see to never happening. However something still confuses me about the encounter with the maddening trickster. It was after I had realized that this world Puck had created was fake and I was in anger speaking to him. He had said the reason for his deception was so that I could give him the Phoenix Gate. He then asked me if it was a dream or a prophecy. To which I had answered that it was a dream. He had left something important out of that nightmare. Actually it was someone he left out.
"Ilaria was not a part of that world in anyway. At first I had thought she had fallen into the river with the others. But when it came to battling Xanatos she was not there with Elisa, Angela or Hibiscus."
"Ah yes, Ilaria. The gorgon girl. She does strike a chord of interest with me, but she was too much to deal with in this scenario and her little friend worked better being powerless and all that jazz. It is all that jazz right? I have heard it before by humans but I am not sure that I was using it correctly."
"That little friend. Hibiscus is one who can take the form of any animal she wishes."
"Really. Now that does seem interesting. But like I said it is the gorgon girl who holds my mind at this time."
"You find her interesting so that is why you left her out?"
"Goliath if it were that transparent I would not have put together that dream at all. No there is something hidden from view about my decision and one day you may find out what it is. Or perhaps you already know." He said looking back behind his shoulder towards me before turning to fully face me. I felt prepared to come at him with force if he will not answer me.
"Well which is it?"
"Mmm hmm. Like I'd tell ya. Wake Up!"
And that was the last of the conversation. What does he know about Ilaria that he is keeping secret? After I had gotten rid of the Phoenix Gate I recounted my dream to the others. But I fibbed a little about Ilaria in the dream. Instead of saying she wasn't there, I said she was captured and taken captive like Hibiscus. I did that to avoid question that I had no answer for. Ilaria is a question to me. During this whole odyssey we have taken Ilaria has changed. She has found family, learned her family's past and found powers she hadn't had known before. Her powers bring questions to my mind. Are they something that will be permanent? Are they a side effect of a gorgon being on Avalon? If she had these powers all along why is it now that they have appeared? Or was she waiting for a time to show them in what was safety?
Whatever the answer we will find out in time. Time that turned to one of joy. As we arrived to find our home. New York City was there in front of us. As bright and alive as it was when we had left. It was not the place of desolate waste and horror that was in the dream that Puck had shown me. The dream was false after all. I knew that part of me was still concerned that he may have shown me the truth. Yet my eyes do not deceive me now as I see all that there is to see. Humans bustling about the city happier than they had appeared in the awful dream were seen. Well most of them at least. We come to our home in the clock tower eager to reunite with our clan and introduce the new friends we had brought from our journey. The trio and Hudson were inside. Lighting flashed as Bronx entered first among us as he dove from the high steps to the companions down below. Happy was he to see Hudson my mentor and dearly missed friend. I glide down with Elisa in my arms Brooklyn and Lexington run to greet me. Broadway lifted Elisa into the air. Ilaria came down the stairs softly she wasn't sure she felt in place with our clan yet. But after all that we had been through she has proven herself as a clan member. Lexington was the first to greet her then came Hudson and Broadway. Brooklyn was more rigid in his notice of Ilaria.
"Hey, you are alright."
"Yeah, I am."
"Look about the dropping you in the…"
"Brooklyn, you didn't do anything wrong."
"If it wasn't for me, you would have…"
"Not gone around the world visiting exotic places, save the world and visit home for a while. I can't thank you enough actually." She said to him as a blush rose to her cheeks. But soon attention faded from her to Angela the new addition to our Manhattan Clan. I introduce her to them and she was welcomed. I informed them of the other clans of gargoyles around the world that meant we were no longer alone.
Broadway introduced him and the rest of the trio to Angela and offered her a half-eaten box of chocolate. Upon the sight of the chocolate box Hibiscus popped her head out of the hood of Ilaria's cloak in her white ferret form.
"Is that chocolate?" She said scaring the trio and Hudson.
"Did that creature just talk?!" Hudson said.
"What is that?" Broadway said watching her move down from Ilaria to the floor to beg for the chocolate.
"It looks like a rat." Brooklyn declared.
"Hey, this is not the form of a rat. This is a ferret form. A rat looks like this." She morphed into a brown rat tapping her tail in glee. "See?"
"Before you guys have your mouths fall to the floor. This is Hibby or Hibiscus to the rest of you. She is a form changer and my friend from Hawaii. Hibby show them your normal form." Hibiscus's head shifts to the side and her faces shows question to Ilaria's request. "I mean your human form."
"Oh." She turns into the same girl we had met before Grey hair and big blue eyes that gave her the perfect what was it called? Puppy dog pout? Yes that was it. She had a perfect puppy dog pout. They began asking questions when Juniper walked in and embraced Ilaria telling her to never do anything like this again and that she had so much school work to do now that she was back and that she was grounded. They left us shortly after with Ilaria saying she would come over tomorrow night.
Ilaria POV
We were going to go back to the apartment when we left the clock tower slash police station. But Juniper remembered something that Owen some guy who works for Xanatos, still don't like that guy, needed her to take care of. Some tech issue I bet. We go up through the elevator and into Xanatos's home. It was once we were at the top that something felt really wrong. I don't know if it was the pounding rain, flashing lightning or the fact that everyone looked so somber, but something was not right.
I was proven this when some time passes and the alarm starts to blare and we get stuck up here. Juniper was well to put it lightly she was pissed with Xanatos and trapping her and me into a building. Then he went into explanation and boy was it an explanation worthy of a myth. Apparently Fox is the child of a mortal, Renard, the guy we met in Prague and Titania the queen of Avalon. Since she has no magic and her child was just born then he may have some magical abilities. Titania and Oberon want to take the child to Avalon. That is just wrong. What do they think gives them the right to take a child?!
As Xanatos discusses things with Juniper. I go to see how Fox was doing. She was watching over her baby with a weapon at her side. She pointed it at me before lowering it upon realization that I wasn't one of the invaders to come.
"Oh it's you. I see you got home safely."
"As safe as you can get when battling for the safety of the world."
"Glad to hear its nothing big."
"Ms. Xanatos…"
"Call me Fox. I prefer it."
"Okay if you want. Fox are you doing okay? I mean as well as can be expected from the series of circumstances that have led to this point?"
"Let me sum up how I feel right now. All I really want to do is knock that pompous ass off his self-righteous block."
"Well that's good to know." I lean in to look at the baby who is playing with a little rattle. I wave my fingers about and he giggles and grabs one of my fingers. He has a good grip on it as he tugs it about. The moment of peace was shattered as the sounds of Oberon at the gates sort to speak. We wait and listen. In curiosity I run outside to see what was going on. At this time Oberon had gotten past the gates and was battling with Xanatos and the gargoyles! How did they know about this? We found out about this like a few minutes ago. Doesn't matter now, if they can keep Oberon busy and somehow defeat him then the child will be able to stay with his family. I notice from the television screens that some of those gargoyles going up against Oberon aren't my friends but iron and mechanical robots that lay on the ground. I run to where the battle was now. There was no way I was going to let him take the child. I will use my new found abilities to…wait I can't use them. The realization stopped me in my tracks. Pele had warned me about using my powers and said that it would be dangerous for me to use them. On the staircase I find Owen coming up. He didn't have his jacket on and that struck me as odd. But the look in his eyes told me that he was serious and well logic came in and I followed him up.
"Finally all the nuisances have been eliminated." Oberon said. He turned to the sound of Owen's voice. And he did not look good. As in he looked really aged, not sick. Owen rolled up the sleeve of his stone hand. Hudson told me about how he got that hand before the Great Avalon Experience. Oberon asked him if he really thought a stone fist could defeat him. Owen sighed and placed his glasses in his shirt pocket. He took a short breath and began to spin around really fast when the rotations ended he was not Owen anymore, but Puck! Puck, the imp who had popped around me so often! Oh so help me if he is the one who told Xanatos about me he may have to be given back to Oberon.
"But it is such a good explanation. And I have brought visual aids." He used his magic to transform rock into Queen Titania. "Once upon a time. I spotted Queen Titania posing as the human Anastasia. The rock took human form did a flip and hit Oberon knocking him to the ground.
"You dare attack me?" Oberon asked more bored than annoyed.
"Don't interrupt. I'm on a roll." The rock Anastasia took hold of Oberon's arms restraining his movements. Puck started to do a little dance. "I was intrigued. What was so special about these mortals that would make the queen live about them?" Another statue formed this time it was Reynard's form. "I decided to join the employ of Anastasia's husband Reynard in order to find out." This statue launched stones at the king of the fair folk.
"But who to be? What role should the Puck play?" he knocked on the wood of a potted tree and it transformed into someone that looked a lot like Owen, but with a bowtie. "That's when I noticed Preston Vogel. The stiffest and most wooden mortal on the face of the earth. Preston wood grabbed Oberon hoisting him into the air and then tossed him like an apple core. "A trickster has played many parts over the millennia. But never that of straight man. I determined to out Vogel, Vogel and created Owen." The tie came back and gripped Oberon. The two stone statues of Anastasia and Reynard changed into Fox and Xanatos. Coming to a conclusion Puck found working for them was much more fun. Puck revealed Owen as Puck and gave him the choice of a wish from him or a life time of service from Owen. Xanatos chose the life time of service from Owen and I chose to get downstairs and inform Fox of what has just happened on the roof. I ran into the room scaring her into thinking that it was Oberon who came in. Thankfully she saw me and didn't pull the trigger. Quickly I told her what happened and well speak of the devil he showed up in the room. Along with a certain queen slash grandmother. While they were distracted I did something daring. I took Alexander out of his crib and fluffed the sheets enough to look like he was still in there. Then I took the baby boy and ran out of the room undetected by the three. I went along and hide in corners for seconds and then resumed looking for a room to hide Alexander in. I found one. In it was a laundry basket that was perfect to keep him safe for a short time and hide him for a while. I leave the room. Only to find a super angry Oberon in the hall and with him was Titania levitating Fox, Xanatos, Goliath and Puck.
"I am sick of these games. Tell me where the child is!"
"What child?"
"Do not play games with me mortal!" He zapped me back into hitting the wall. I feared that I was going to black out, but to no luck as my body lay in pain. I tried to stand up again. But could only sit up, with effort.
"You are becoming a thorn in my side. A deep thorn. Now tell me again where the child is." He said leaning in. I kept my mouth firmly shut. Resisting to set fire to his ass or freeze off his pointy ears. But Alexander started to cry. Oberon smiles like he had won and advanced to the room. Fox's voice was soon heard as she shouted no! The force of her words formed a green beam of light to hit Oberon and send him back into a wall.
"You hurt him with that one. Do it again." Puck asked. I smile at his joke. I admit though I wouldn't mind seeing that again.
"I can't. I'm trying." Fox said. Titania came towards her to ask how she did that. Fox said to her that she didn't know. She just couldn't let him take her baby, a true mother. Oberon came in ready for another fight. But Goliath silenced him.
"Wait your majesty this changes everything." Titania removed her spell on them allowing them to move and see healed me enough to move without pain. Xanatos went to the aid of his wife to help her on her feet. I went to go get Alexander from where I had hidden him. When I came back Goliath kneeled before Oberon and spoke. "Fox's outburst renders this battle unnecessary. If she can tap a talent so woefully underdeveloped then the child can certainly be taught to harness his powers here. Then he needn't go to Avalon to realize his whole potential. He can stay with his parents. Frankly it would be less trouble for you." Oberon ponders this.
"But the gathering has begun who will train the boy in the use of his powers?" Goliath pointed to Puck and asked what about him. Oberon repeated the question.
"I've got a sunny disposition and I'm always kind to animals." Puck said. Titania endorsed this remark to Oberon. Oberon decides to grant Puck to stay and teach the boy but there was to be a catch. Magic always has a catch doesn't it?
"You are eternally banished from Avalon, Puck. Never again will you sample its paradise." Puck wasn't happy about this as he protested to Oberon.
"No wait! Not eternally!"
"We hereby strip you…" Puck interrupted him.
"Wait Oberon. Before you do what you feel you have to do. I have one last thing to do while still in this form." Oberon looked at the imp with his eyebrow drawn up in curiosity but offered no resistance yet. You never know with Puck, but I was pretty sure he wasn't going to go off to hide. Instead he poofed next to me and tilted my chin up to look into his eyes.
"A finale worthy of the name Puck." He said before landing his lips on top of mine. This was not what anyone had expected one of those being me. His lips left mine in order to say, "That was indeed something to keep me going." His eyes twinkled at the comment and my face was turning pinker than pepto bismol. Owen came back and he apologized to Oberon and me about the kiss. Oberon and Titania went back home to Avalon leaving us. Juniper reappeared saying the other gargoyles were fine now and wondering why I became a statue.
"How would you like a baby sitting job?" Fox asked and this was enough to break me out of it.
"Really?"
"You didn't have to, but you tried to protect my son even against his high and mightiness. That qualifies you for the job."
"I would love to, but there are a few conditions I need to address."
"Don't worry about Puck's lips. Owen is more controlled about that." Xanatos said. Blush alert all over again.
"It's not that. There is something else we need to discuss, Mr. Xanatos. Among those an apology is sorely needed." I said wondering if he was going to ask about what apology.
"Ah, yes. The trying to clone your D.N.A. issue we had some time ago." Fox looked at her husband with a small sense of disgust.
"Don't forget kidnapping me and the creepy scientist you hired."
"Would it help you to know that Anton has been fired?"
"An apology would also be a nice addition as well as a promise to stop with the illegal activities of cloning and kidnapping of minors. And I do mean a promise. No breaking it."
"Well…"
"David." His wife warned him. Knowing that going up against two women was not the best move at this time so he agreed and we shook on it. They had a date set for next week for me to babysit. Juniper agreed, but was more instant on getting home without a repeat of what just happened with Oberon and Titania.
For the next two nights I don't get to see the gargoyles during that time which really sucks. My brain was getting fried with all the catching up on missed school work I had to do. Juniper can be a real gladiator sergeant when it comes to this kind of stuff. The night was almost over when I snuck out to visit the gargoyle, but didn't make it that far. I barely got out of the elevator before the doorman had me heading back up in the elevator to a waiting Juniper with more papers to do. The third night allowed me some leniency as I had only two more assignments to finish and they were not going to take too long to do. So I get to see my friends in the clock tower. Including Hibby as she decided living in the tower with gargoyles would be better than having to share the apartment with Rosebud and Juniper's rules.
Hibby is the first one to greet me in the form of a red bat.
"Ilaria! You finally came for a visit, please come in. Come in!" Hibby turned human again and pulled me inside where there wasn't anyone in there but her.
"Sorry you came on a night where everyone was out."
"It's okay. I can wait. Plus Juniper had me take the last of my work with me. Something to do while I wait, even though its mind numbing."
"Okay. Please take a seat. I was going to go explore the upper parts of the building anyway." Hibby took back her bat form and glided out of here. It takes two homework assignments to have me fall asleep on the desk.
I awoke to the sound of the three gargoyles I called friends arguing over something outside. I rose up from my seat and went to see them.
"Hey Guys." No one heard me.
"Hey Guys." I say a little louder, but again no one hears me say anything.
"HEY GUYS!" This time they heard me. "What's got all of you so riled up? Cockroach in the sandwich again?"
"No, these mutton head messed up my chance to capture a ruthless mobster." Broadway said.
"What?! It was you who messed up me!" Both Lexington and Brooklyn shouted. This spurred another great debate between the three of them. On the railing I saw Angela look like she had to see this all night. I walk over to her.
"You okay or are the boulder buddies bothering you?"
"They aren't what's bothering me the most; they still are just not the most. I'm worried about Goliath and Hudson they haven't come back yet."
"Don't think too much of it. I'm sure they will be back soon. It's not even…" I look at the clock and see that I am in huge trouble. "Holy crud is it really that late?!"
"What's the matter?!"
"I was supposed to be home an hour before dawn! Now I might even be late for school! I gotta go Angela, see ya tomorrow night hopefully." I said as I rushed back into the clock tower grabbed all my homework and then made a mad dash for the exit. Hoping that by some miracle this would not all blow up in my face.
Hibby POV
Oh Ilaria looks like a train wreck. Maybe I should tell her that Juniper called to say that she doesn't have school for the next few days due to remodeling issues? I should. I twist and form the atoms within my structure to form into a bird but think better of it and turn back into my first form. I find her at the elevator debating between going down the stairs or waiting for the elevator. She was frazzled, but not unnoticing of what was going on around her.
"Ilaria."
"Not now Hibby. I am very late and will be in so much trouble when I get home. In addition to missing so much school and having to make up on all of it, I will be late to class and Juniper is going to be upset with me over missing curfew. I do not have time for any questions you may have…So be patient and just ask them later!" I felt my mind go into dead pan mode with the way she was talking. She was obviously still tired from the study sessions she has been going through and with the whole thinking she is late she will crash and burn at some point, still better tell her what she needs to know.
"Juniper called and said that classes are dismissed for the next few days." She stopped moving for three seconds. The time it took for her brain to register what was just spoken to her. She turned around and through blood shot eyes she stared at me.
"Did you say I don't have class today?"
"A few days to be exact." I stated. Her shoulders drop in relief over the worry she had held. But that soon turned to her fainting dead way to the floor. I had said she would crash and burn but I did not think that it would happen so soon. I was also uncertain that she would attract a crowd when she had done so.
"Is she alright?" one woman asked. Another asked the same question two steps away from the first. A man in uniform came closer. He was dark skinned and had a mustache I had seen him make his rounds before when I explore the city. Seems like a decent fellow with a good moral ground. Already he was getting the crowd to back away in order for her to breathe. He took the time to check her pulse and she that she was breathing properly.
"Are with this girl?"
"Yes, her name is Ilaria and shouldn't we move her to a couch?" he nodded in approval/ Together we pick her up and carefully make our way through the busy police station hall to lay her down on the couch.
"Excuse me, but do you know where I could find a Detective Bluestone?"
"What do you want with Matt? Your friend is out cold. I think a hospital may be"
"Matt Bluestone is a friend of ours. He is also dating Ilaria's guardian. I was hoping that perhaps if he was available he may be able to give her a ride home. All she really needs to get some rest. She missed a lot of school and has been working hard to make up for it."
"And wore down herself in the process. Sounds like my eldest. Alright I'll go see if I can find him. You stay here with your friend, I'll be back shortly."
"Of course." It didn't take long for Matt Bluestone to appear and he said he would gladly take Ilaria home and that was when I made myself scarce.
Returning to my new home of steel and stone. With gears of all sizes formed into one machine with but a single function of keeping the time. A place that encourages thoughts and thoughts I seem to have never run dry. I find it a place of oddity for me to enjoy living in. Spending much of my time in a beat up old shack within forested land. A simple and meager life that kept me content. Only having to earn money for food when foraging grew scarce. I spent much time alone as well. Only a few I called friends. Now I am in a city filled with millions of people. Among those people are creatures called gargoyles. I live with them instead of on my own. I am so different from them and yet so alike. As we are both evolutions of a different scale from others. But they know how their transformations started and changed. As they were born to families who knew what they were. I know nothing about who I am or what I am. All I have to who I am is what I know of that night. That is all I have. A name chosen by me for the first thing I saw as welcoming and a fear of those who belong to science and medicine. A fear I know well enough to end, but for whatever hidden reason I cannot shake away.
I must do something other than think about fears. I must start something new. Something that I have put away for a long, long, long time. I will look for who I really am by finding the family I must have somewhere. But who can I ask? Detectives Bluestone and Mazda certainly have possibilities, but with the work they put in to protect this city and keep the secrets of the gargoyles from the city that they protected in silence. Who else could I ask? Juniper, maybe but she was a woman of science not of family searches. On the one hand she does have access to a man who has legions of connections with every factor imaginable. Perhaps he is the one who shall help me. But how to get his attention?
Matt POV
When you punch out for the day you expect that you can go on home and relax then surprise your girlfriend with a visit that will lead to a date. But for me the surprising your girlfriend part was the first and foremost part of the day, but it involved something else.
"Hey Matt. Oh my god! What happened?" The exact words she said when she opened the door and saw me holding up Ilaria.
"I didn't see what happened, but one of the cops told me a friend of hers said she was tired and fainted." I said while bringing Ilaria into the house and with Juniper's help laid her out on the couch. She was half awake at this time. Juniper went over and placed her hand over Ilaria's forehead checking to see if she had a temperature.
"Well she doesn't feel warm. At least she isn't sick as well. With all this work that she has been doing to catch up she must be exhausted."
"Both of you are. With all those night shifts you have had in the past few weeks."
"It's nothing different than usual."
"Still both of you should relax every now and then. How about I go down to that little deli you love pick up some sandwiches and then swing by Blockbusters and pick up a movie?"
"Get something funny."
"Mrs. Doubtfire sound good enough?"
"That and Billy Madison."
"Got it. Be back soon." I said giving her a kiss on the check before leaving. It was in my car that I figured out this was going to be the first time that I had been around Ilaria as Juniper's boyfriend. She likes me as a cop I suppose. But now that I am dating her guardian, things may change. What if she doesn't like me because I am dating Juniper? If she doesn't like me then will that end things between Juniper and me? I like Juniper, a lot. Maybe love even, but she loves Ilaria like a little sister. What if I cause a riff between the two?
"Hey Matt!"
"Oh Elisa, what are you doing here?" I didn't expect to see my partner at Blockbuster. I would have thought that she was at home or visiting Talon.
"Broadway heard about some old film noir that he wanted to see, so I told him that I would pick it up. What about you? You and Juniper got a date?"
"Sort of. Ilaria is joining us."
"The first introduction date. About time, the way I hear you and Juniper are getting pretty serious. Ilaria is going to have to get use to you."
"I hope she does."
"You are already sweating about her being alright with you and Juniper dating. Matt relax. As long as you don't try to be someone you're not around her then things will go well. Just don't act like you have to make up for her not having a father around, believe me she hates that."
"I'll take your word for it."
"Catch you later Matt." She went off towards the old film section while I headed to the check out. Her pep talk was enlightening but it didn't exactly help my nerves.
Juniper POV
"How much you want to bet that Matt is freaking out on the inside?" My ward said with the strength that was starting to find her again.
"Why would he be freaking out?"
"You know the whole first time hanging out with the kid deal that he is on right now." I hadn't thought about that.
"Well what about Matt being my boyfriend."
"Not much, really. I mean he's a good guy and I can tell you like him and all but I don't know him well enough yet."
"So what you are saying is that you are open minded with him?"
"More than the last guy you dated. The Snob."
"He was not as bad as that."
"But he was such a jerk."
(Ding Dong) Matt's here. I trot over to the door and open it for Matt with sandwich bags and blockbusters movies. I asked him if he needed a hand, he said he had it. Quickly putting the bags on the counter. Where Ilaria was resting her head in her hands.
"I see you're up."
"You don't have to sound so sad about it."
"Ilaria."
"I'm joking, June. Isn't it tradition for the kid to mess with the new boyfriend of your guardian?"
"Just don't overdo it. He brought sandwiches and movies." This peaks her interest.
"Did you get egg salad?" She asks him seriously.
"And a big pickle just the way that you like it." He held up the bag that held her sandwich.
"I approve." She said snatching the bag from his hands and flopping down on to the couch. We joined her after the movie was put into the VCR.