Ripped Apart Part 3
By Princess Alexandria Princess_alex24@hotmail.com
Brenna's eyes widened in shock as the echo of the impact still seemed to ring in the elevator. When she'd told Dominique about what happened at the Eyrie building she hadn't expected the redhead to become so angry. "I'm sorry." Brenna whispered, once again unsure about why she was apologizing, but clearly she'd done something to upset Dominique.
"It isn't you." Dominique was glaring at something that Brenna couldn't see, but she spoke quickly, if with a bit of a growl. Since it wasn't Brenna Dominique was angry with Brenna moved a bit closer and slowly, cautiously picked up the hand Dominique had dented the elevator door with. Dominique was hurt. Brenna could see some bleeding and worried about broken bones. Dominique had hit it really hard.
"You're hurt."
Dominique finally glanced at her and the near madness in her eyes started to fade. "I'll be fine." The redhead grumbled. Brenna just continued to stare. She'd seen Dominique angry many times, but never like this. It took a conscious effort for her to not step away.
********
Dammit! Demona clenched the hand that Brenna still held while ignoring the pain that caused. Maza and Xanatos were interfering where they didn't belong. Brenna was HERS! They would try and take the girl away, and Demona couldn't allow that. Why couldn't they just mind their own business? This had nothing to do with them, nothing at all. Every time Demona got something that made her at all happy someone took it away… but not this time. No, not this time. She held the girl's hand in her own and stared down into concerned and gentle eyes. Not Brenna. "You didn't do anything wrong." Demona spoke more gently when she noticed the look of guilt on the girl's face.
The elevator was almost to the parking garage. Demona stepped back from Brenna and pulled her damaged hand into the sleeve of her jacket to conceal it from anyone that might still be around. She'd broken it in her anger, and it was still healing from the abuse. Her human form was upsettingly fragile at times. She'd barely even dented the door.
They walked quietly to the limo, while Demona tried to think about how much she should tell Brenna about this mess and the clan. She'd avoided going into detail about the clan before now, because it was one thing to know that the world would be better off without humans on it and another to tell the girl that she felt that way. Brenna was far better than a human, but Demona wasn't sure how she'd respond to knowing what the fight with the clan was really about.
When Gregory opened the door for them, Demona watched as Brenna cleverly put herself between the man and Demona so that he couldn't see the hidden hand. Brenna did it instinctively, moved to protect Demona without any thought. That was what clan was about. Demona moved to sit down, but she continued to stare at the girl who was looking more and more uncomfortable with it. The girl may be human, but it was just an accident of birth. Demona had forgiven her that and she would make sure to protect her child from Maza's good intentions.
********
"Brenna we need to talk." Dominique finally spoke. Brenna had put her book bag away and come downstairs to find Dominique just quietly sitting at the kitchen island.
"Okay." Brenna moved to slide into the seat next to Dominique. Maybe now she'd find out why the redhead got so mad when she heard about Brenna's interview. Brenna had gone over what she'd told the woman several times in her mind and couldn't figure out what could possibly be wrong.
Brenna watched as Dominique sighed while staring at her again. She'd been staring a lot today. "I have a lot of enemies. I didn't tell you before because I didn't want to burden you or worry you." Dominique reached out and petted the soft fuzz on the side of Brenna's head. Dominique rarely hugged her but she'd do this and somehow it was enough. "I had hoped that you wouldn't come to any of my enemies attention, but it looks like they found you before I was ready for them to realize I had you." Brenna's eyes widened. This didn't sound good. Fox hadn't seemed mean or dangerous. She hadn't seemed evil. Was it Fox Dominique was talking about? Dominique turned Brenna in her seat so that she was staring into her eyes. "Xanatos and Maza are behind that interview. I know it. I want you to be careful with what you tell them. In fact I'd like you to avoid them whenever possible."
"Are they… I thought Elisa Maza was a cop. She's a bad guy?" Brenna just stared a bit dumbstruck. Detective Maza had seemed nice too. Brenna didn't like that she couldn't tell the good guys from the bad guys.
Dominique went quiet for a moment. "She isn't a danger per say. She just isn't going to want you with me. Her and the clan will have problems with my having you."
"But it's not up to them." Brenna felt a bit of fear clench at her heart. "It's not up to them, right?" Dominique looked too concerned for this to be nothing. Brenna didn't miss that Dominique had mentioned the clan they never talked about as well.
"They could be a problem, but we'll deal with it." Dominique seemed to sit taller. "I just want you to avoid talking to them, avoid them whenever you see them, and tell me if you ever see them. I don't want them anywhere near you."
"Okay." Brenna spoke softly while still trying to understand the threat. Just talking to these people was dangerous? "Does that mean Angela too?" Angela was part of that clan, and while Brenna hadn't seen the female since that one night in October she still liked to think she'd see her again.
Brenna watched Dominique grit her teeth for a moment. "Yes. Angela can't be trusted…" It seemed to hurt Dominique to even say that. Brenna moved to rest her hand over the woman's and squeezed gently. It had healed on the way home. "She's been blinded by Goliath's ideals, and she… If you see her just don't talk to her." Brenna hated that and didn't want to ignore the female but she'd do whatever Dominique told her to. It wasn't like she'd bump into the gargoyle anyhow. Brenna was always at home at night. "I know." Dominique stared into Brenna's eyes. "I know you like her. I'm sorry it has to be like this… but I can't risk losing you. Just don't talk to any of them."
"Why are they doing this? What are they doing?" Brenna didn't like not understanding. They were obviously in some sort of danger, but Dominique was being so vague.
"Maza is a friend of the clan. My clan." Dominique's grip on Brenna's hand started to hurt, but the woman seemed to notice that and let go. "The clan and that… human… decided that they were right and refused to listen to my views. They judged me without even trying to see the truth I was speaking and they kicked me out." Dominique was managing to growl out her words even though she was in human form. "It is some of our… less civil disagreements… that are probably motivating them to try and interfere, but you are mine." The possessiveness of that statement had Brenna's eyes widening a little as she stared at Dominique carefully. "Mine, and I won't let their lies or blindness threaten that. They think I'm evil, they think I'm a monster, and they will not be willing to allow me to have my own human child without a fight."
Brenna couldn't imagine anyone thinking Dominique was a monster. "You're not evil." She whispered to comfort the woman. It shouldn't even need to be said. Dominique had done so much for Brenna, cared for her. Evil people didn't do that. Why would anyone think she was evil? Brenna wanted to ask, but decided that maybe that question could wait. Dominique looked far from happy. Brenna gave her a weak smile. "And I'm not a child."
"Yes you are." Dominique gave a small hint of a smile. It looked forced and it faded quickly. "Avoid them, and if you can't, don't believe everything they say."
"Okay." Brenna nodded.
"I'll take care of this." Dominique moved to caress Brenna's hair again. It was more touching in a short period of time than Dominique ever did unless Brenna was crying. "You don't have to be afraid. Just be alert. Even though they are my enemies, they wouldn't actually hurt you physically, and I'd never allow that even if they were inclined to take out their anger at me on you. Never."
********
Demona wanted to let the girl remain terrified of the clan and Maza, but she heard herself reassuring Brenna that they wouldn't be that dangerous. Terror would make sure Brenna listened to her demands to stay away, but while Demona knew fear would be a good way to control her human, she didn't want it to be like that between them. Brenna usually did what she was told; only breaking the rules in extreme situations. The girl didn't need more nightmares.
Only half of Demona's attention was on the dinner conversation as she tried to figure out how to deal with the clan and Maza. She didn't need them prying and telling Brenna things the girl wasn't ready to hear. She also didn't want them interfering with the adoption proceedings. They could do some real damage with really minimal effort at this tentative point in her and Brenna's relationship. Demona hadn't had time to introduce some of her more aggressive ideas and beliefs to the girl. It was something best done in small steps, and Brenna was likely to understand if it were done correctly. Brenna wasn't blind to the humans' capacity for evil, even though she was one. Demona watched the girl talking about something her friends said at lunch, but she wasn't really listening today. It was a bit ironic that months of trying to explain to Angela had gotten nowhere, but Demona really believed that it wouldn't take long to get Brenna to understand. Not really. Angela was too much like her father, and somehow… Brenna was more like Demona. Demona would be able to get through to this girl. She just needed time. Time that this problem with Maza might rob her of.
"Brenna, did you ever decide on what you'd use for a topic in your U.S. History class?" Demona asked a bit innocently while watching the girl. The momentary look of guilt answered the question. Perfect. Demona had to start moving a little faster if she wanted to ensure that Brenna would listen to her once the clan told the girl of her past. "You could study the Japanese internment camps during World War 2. That is within the time frame you had to choose from." Demona held in her grin when the girl looked like she'd seriously consider that. The Americans painted themselves as the heroes of that war, but they did their own atrocities, and Brenna would recognize that. The girl already knew about what the Nazi's did, but to see the human's on the good guys side weren't all that perfect would be helpful. Brenna tended to categorize the evil done by humans, it was the rich, or the Nazis, or other groups guilty of crimes she heard about, but once Brenna heard of enough crimes she'd come to the same conclusion that Demona had. It was just the humans, nationality, race, none of that mattered. The entire human race held that capacity for evil. Once Brenna understood that, Demona wouldn't have to worry about this child turning her back on Demona because she'd tried to do something about it.
One thing Demona liked about Brenna is she needed little guidance to see the world as it really was. She'd already started to recognize the truth before Demona had even met her. Demona felt a pang of regret, wishing Angela had that quality, that understanding, that insight.
********
Brenna sat in front of the T.V. pretending to watch the show, but the conversation earlier still bothered her. Why would anyone think Dominique was evil, and what was she hiding? Brenna could tell Dominique was purposely not telling her things. If it were just the Detective and Fox that Brenna was supposed to avoid Brenna probably wouldn't wonder about it as much, but the clan including Angela? Brenna knew for a fact that Angela wasn't a bad guy. If Dominique told her that the Detective, or anyone else was the enemy Brenna would believe her, but not Angela. It wasn't making sense.
She heard the gargoyle go upstairs and sighed. Demona was going gliding even though it was raining. If Demona hadn't been so tense today Brenna might have asked her to stay home, but she could understand the need to unwind. Demona glided to calm down.
********
Demona's fist clenched as she raced towards the city. She dodged buildings coming so close that she could feel the grit of the stone scrape her flesh at times, but she didn't slow down or pull away sooner. She needed the risk of pain, physical pain, to push away her fears. She was afraid… and it made her howl in rage. How dare they put her in this position. How dare they make her feel like this?
She had been lonely for so long, and now… "SHE'S MINE!" Demona screamed into the air. She had fought the clan and lost so many times, with plans, goals that turned to ash. She couldn't afford to lose now, and she had no plan. Her entire plan had been to not let anyone find out until it was legal, to keep it quiet until they couldn't ruin it. She'd kept a low profile, didn't steal or do anything that would put her against the clan while she dealt with Brenna and the custody issues. Her barely planned strategy was ruined when she went to talk at the High School. It was clearly that presentation that brought her back into the clan's radar and threatened everything.
Demona's eyes burned red as she recklessly whipped around the next building and then ran up along the Empire state building before turning sharply. She needed to get lost in movement. She'd be able to think more clearly once she got this out of her system.
The bullet passed by her ear, startling her. Demona turned to see a shadowed figure on the rooftop nearby. The same rooftop someone had shot at her from when she'd barely made it home for Brenna to find. Demona quickly dove down and around a building. A menacing grin and glowing eyes were framed by her wind swept hair as she moved quickly and kept low to get closer. A battle, that was what she needed and this fool decided to give it to her. Hopefully he lasted at least long enough to be worth the effort she was making to surprise him.
She soared up quickly and stared down at the man quickly turning his gun towards her. The hunter mask actually startled her for a moment, but she didn't let that show. "Hunter." She growled at him.
"Demon." His voice was cold and determined, but all hunters sounded like that. Demona dodged his bullets while studying him and noticed the armor wasn't the same as before. It was metal, like an exosuit. This human might have a jet pack, but she couldn't get around to his back to see it just yet.
"I'd heard you gave up the hunt." She dove behind the air vent and landed. There would be one less hunter come morning, and that was always a good thing.
"Not for you." He spoke coldly, but he wasn't moving from his spot. That was suspicious. Demona glanced down at the ground and noticed the small wires that were meant to trick her. She dug her talons into the vent and kept her feet above the ground without letting him know she'd discovered the trick. "I'm Jason Canmore, and I'm the last human you are going to see." The sizzle from the damp ground made her smirk as she faked a sound of pain, the scream she knew well since she gave it twice a day, even if lately it was into a pillow through gritted teeth so she wouldn't frighten her child.
Electricity. That voltage sounded like it would have incapacitated her if she'd really felt it. "Demon…" The human was starting to move, but he walked slowly, and sounded unsteady. "I watched you kill my father, and Jon… Jon is dead now. I know you had something to do with that." Demona steadied herself and listened carefully for his progress. She needed to hit him quickly once he realized she wasn't on the ground. She could hear very unusually heavy footsteps come closer. He wasn't used to that exosuit yet. Just yet another thing not in his favor. He had to need that exosuit to walk, because Demona knew he had been crippled rather recently.
Her fist shot out and caught him solidly on the face plate of that suit, tossing him backwards. Demona made sure her leap after him cleared the electricity trap as she slashed at anything that looked like they could be controls for that suit. The third bulge in the suit proved to do it, and his legs collapsed tossing him to the ground harshly. "No, it isn't I that will die tonight Hunter." Demona's eyes burned as she kicked the gun away from him. He was sloppy and hunters weren't usually this sloppy. Maybe he wanted her to end his life. She'd been forced into those types of mercy killings for hunters in the past.
He screamed as she grabbed the arm he was moving to aim her way. She'd seen exosuits before and knew they could hold lasers in the arms. She didn't give him a chance to use it as she squeezed and the metal groaned as it gave way to her strength. "Your hunt ends tonight Canmore." Demona growled while ripping her free hand down the back of his suit. He tried to twist out of her grip but she wanted to kill something and he'd do nicely. She ignored the pain of his other exosuit covered arm hitting her back. "Ciao." She told him mockingly while moving to the side of the building. He wasn't able to fly, and he was about to regret that.
The sudden slamming of a body into her startled her and she lost the grip on the hunter, sending that man to the ground as she was painfully shoved into the gritty rooftop, to slide a few feet with the weight of her unseen attacker on top of her. Her attacker leaned on Demona's injured back and Demona screamed in pain. She swung around and caught the attacker on the face hard enough to toss him off of her so she could stand up. Demona moved with the grace of a predator as she did, while keeping both the now seated hunter and… oh, Dammit. Angela. She'd hit Angela. Her daughter had attacked her.
Demona shook the shock off and keep an eye on both of them, prepared to fight if she had to, but fleeing was probably the best option. Regardless of Angela's misconceptions, Demona just didn't want to hurt her daughter. "He's a Hunter, dressed for the hunt. What do you think happened?" Her voice held her irritation. Angela was still standing battle ready, but the girl was nowhere near the warrior Demona was.
Her back ached and she had to grit her teeth and endure the pain as she leapt off the building. His exosuit enhanced his strength to the point that he'd actually hurt her while beating on her trying to get her to let go. The upwind caught her wings, pulling them much tighter than was comfortable. It was time to go home. She could feel a few broken ribs, and wasn't in the mood to dodge buildings while that injured.
Her daughter had actually defended a Hunter. It made Demona feel ill that the girl would do such a thing, it was worse than protecting any other human, because the Hunters existed to solely kill gargoyles.
********
Brenna heard the loud thud upstairs and was on her feet instantly. Demona never landed that heavily. Something was wrong. She took the stairs two at a time as she ran upstairs towards Dominique's bedroom. Images of the blood from the last time she'd found the gargoyle on the floor in there crossed her mind, making her move faster. "Dominique!" Brenna called out while still down the hall.
"I'm fine." Demona called back, but she didn't sound it. Her voice was too tight and pained. Brenna didn't even stop to knock, she just threw the door opened.
Demona was hunched over the dresser, obviously in pain. Brenna reached over and turned on the overhead light, because the small lamp on that dresser wasn't showing her enough. Demona flinched at the sudden light and Brenna flinched at what she saw. A purple bruise on Demona's back, it was so large and dark. "You're hurt." Brenna took a few steps closer. She hated feeling helpless when Demona came home like this.
"I'm already healing." Demona gritted her teeth when she attempted to stand up straight. Brenna moved quickly to be by her side.
"Bed." Brenna ordered and moved to carefully help support the gargoyle as they walked in that direction. Brenna didn't know what to think about the fact that Demona was letting her take charge like this. "I don't know what to do." She said after helping the gargoyle to gently sit down so she wouldn't jar her side. Maybe Brenna should go into medicine, if Demona was going to keep coming home every few weeks looking like she lost a fight.
"I'll be fine in a little while." Demona gave Brenna a slight smile while reaching out to caress her hair. "If you really feel like you need to do something I could use something to eat. Healing uses up energy, and I'll need food."
Cooking. Good, Brenna could do that. "What do you want?" Brenna stood up, ready to run out and get to work as soon as she had the information.
"Something with protein. It helps more."
"Okay." Brenna nodded and moved to leave. She stopped before leaving and turned back. Her voice quiet, soft. "I hate seeing you get hurt."
"I know." Demona sighed. Brenna gave Demona a questioning look, but the gargoyle just moved to lay back on the bed carefully to rest. There was more wrong than just the physical damage. Something was really bothering her, and she wasn't going to tell Brenna what it was.
********
Elisa marched into the castle quickly. The clan had called her and told her about Jason's close call with Demona.
"He was dressed for a hunt. She might have actually been defending herself." Angela's voice carried into the hall. Elisa just shook her head. She really didn't envy Angela the pain of having Demona for a mother. "But she was going to kill him, I had to stop her."
"Where is he now?" Elisa demanded as she stepped into the room.
"The hospital. He had some cuts and I was worried his arm might be broken." Elisa grimaced. He was still in legal trouble for the attack on the police station, and it was only his injury that kept him from going to prison. He'd just proven he was still a threat.
"He was wearing an exosuit." Angela stared at Elisa. "I left it on him." On purpose, that was the unspoken message. Angela knew it would get him into trouble, but the girl still held a bit of a grudge. At least it wasn't so bad that she'd left Demona to kill him. Angela wasn't like that. "That rooftop was a trap. He was actively hunting again."
"I'm going to go check on him." Elisa told the others before turning to leave. The courts didn't think they'd need to monitor him too hard since he was wheelchair bound, but he'd at the very least get a monitoring bracelet and house arrest this time. Those exosuits have weaponry, and he wasn't allowed to have that. Elisa needed to find out why he did something so incredibly stupid.
********
Demona carefully rolled over and stared at the sleeping human in her bed. Brenna had refused to leave her alone, in case she needed help going to the bathroom or something. Brenna had cooked, cleaned up afterwards, and coddled Demona like she was an invalid. Demona would have protested even harder than she had, if she hadn't noticed the helpless look in Brenna's eyes. The girl knew that this injury wouldn't kill Demona, but the mere fact that Demona was in pain hurt and worried Brenna.
Demona was now glad she'd never let the girl see her transformations. Brenna really was a sensitive girl. Demona reached out, with only a mild twinge of discomfort to remind her that she'd been injured that night. She caressed the hair that was actually growing relatively quickly on the side of Brenna's head. The girl would need a haircut to make it blend, but she'd look relatively normal come the court date. This human child would be her daughter. Demona felt some satisfaction in knowing she wouldn't let anyone stop that. This remarkable girl would be hers, regardless of what it took to make that happen.
********
"Gregory, I want to go shopping." Brenna told him as she walked towards the limo. He still parked it a block away so that it didn't look like she was showing off. She was going to get her Mother's day gift for her mother taken care of now, she only had a week left until then.
"Yes Ms. McCullen." Gregory smiled at her a little playfully while holding open the limo door. "Where would you like to shop?"
"We could start at Lynati's Flowers." Brenna's voice lost the brief command tone as she tried to think this out. She would order some flowers to be ready for pick up next weekend. All her mother's favorites.
********
Elisa noticed the man Fox had trailing after Brenna as she easily pulled out behind the limo. She had a little time to kill and thought she could try to get a better handle on the girl. The reports didn't tell her enough.
When the limo stopped in front of a flower shop, Elisa pulled over and decided that now was a good time to check out the selection. Mother's day was right around the corner after all. She walked past the man standing by the limo waiting for the girl's return and into the store.
"Can you make special orders?" She could hear Brenna's voice asking the woman behind the counter.
"We do, but we need a few days leeway."
"Oh, that's okay." Elisa slipped behind an aisle and continued to listen. "I need it for next weekend."
"Ah, for your mom?" The woman smiled at Brenna and Elisa almost winced for the girl.
"Yeah." Brenna's voice was weak, a touch fragile.
"Well, let me grab an order form." The woman started looking around in the counter, but after a moment it was clear she wasn't finding what she wanted. "Oh, empty." Elisa watched the woman hold up a tablet without any more order forms on it. "Wait here honey. I'll get another one out of the back room. Feel free to look around, maybe you'll see something she'll like."
Elisa watched Brenna just stand there a bit awkwardly with her hands in her pockets. The girl barely glanced around.
"Can I help you find anything?" The shop owner's voice startled Elisa. She glanced over at the woman. Elisa wasn't really planning on shopping. She was just following Brenna.
"Oh no, I'm fine." Elisa then turned back to the aisle she was in front of and pretended to be checking out the bouquets there. She could see the salesperson that was with Brenna returning. "Actually." Elisa glanced over at the woman next to her. The girl was looking through her wallet trying to see how much money she had before they started ordering, and Elisa couldn't bear to think that Brenna was trying to afford a nice bouquet for her mother's grave. Flowers were more expensive than Brenna probably realized. "I need to talk to you." Elisa gestured over to the girl. She could already see the fact she had to prepay for her order had put a hamper in Brenna's plans. The girl wasn't looking too happy. "That girl is trying to buy a bouquet for her mother's grave. I want to help her out with that, but she can't know."
"Oh." The shop owner's eyes widened a little. "I… let me take care of that." Elisa watched the shop owner walk up to the salesperson and whisper in her ear. She then took the order form from the woman's hand and smiled at Brenna. "It's past Sonique's break time. I hope you don't mind me taking over."
"No that's fine." Brenna moved closer to the counter and Elisa moved to watch the woman lean down and cut part of the order form away out of Brenna's line of sight, probably the part with the prices. She then stood up and placed it on the counter.
"Well, let's see what you'd like." Elisa watched as the shop owner explained what each flower was to Brenna and decided that she would definitely be shopping here for Mother's day as well. Brenna picked out what she wanted a bit hesitantly, glancing obviously at her wallet. She was worried it would be too much. The only hint she ever gave that her mother was dead was once saying something in the past tense about the woman having loved lilies.
"How much would that be?" Brenna looked up at the shopkeeper. The bell on the shop door went off and Elisa pulled back out of sight as she saw Demona's driver enter the shop.
"Brenna." He came closer to the girl. "Is everything alright? It's been a while."
"Yeah, everything's fine. I'm just picking." Brenna gave him a weak smile.
"Alright. I'll just be outside." He nodded and stepped back outside. Was he supposed to be Brenna's guard or bodyguard?
"Well, that will be…" The shopkeeper glanced into Brenna's wallet for a moment when the girl's attention was on the driver leaving. "Twenty dollars."
"Really?" Brenna turned to look at the woman, clearly a bit disbelieving.
"Some of the flowers you chose were actually on sale." Elisa watched the woman lie smoothly. Not bad. "And you ordered enough days in advance to get the discount price."
"How many flowers will this be?" Brenna nibbled on her lip. "I…"
"It should be near the size of that one." The shop owner pointed to a rather large bouquet on display. Elisa felt a small smile touch her lips at the pleased look on Brenna's face. The girl deserved a break. Her luck had been rather crappy this year.
Elisa waited until the girl left before walking up to the register. "So how much?"
The shopkeeper was still doing math. "I'm giving you this at cost. Just give me a minute to figure this out."
While the woman was still figuring out the bill Elisa glanced out the window at the leaving limo. Brenna didn't seem as nervous and scared as Elisa imagined a kid living with Demona would be.
********
Brenna just needed to figure out what to get Dominique now. She'd have to wait until payday next week before she shopped for her, but the woman did deserve a present. Brenna had decided that her mother would understand. Dominique was working so hard to keep Brenna and had done so much for her. The woman was family and Brenna wanted to get her something. It was just hard to figure out what to get her.
********
"Well, we have been busy." Fox said as she sat back in her chair. "We know where she's living, and that she has a relatively set schedule. Brenna gets to school early so that Demona isn't late for work, has a little time before she has to be at NightStone so occasionally she'll stop to shop or go to the library before going in, and they sometimes go out to dinner, but are always home before dark." Fox was staring at her nails, checking out her manicure. That irritated Elisa a bit. "My people can't see the mansion from the street, but that's to be expected. She's scheduled to see a social worker once every two weeks until the court date."
"I specifically asked my people to look for any signs of abuse, or any indication that Brenna was in any danger." Fox stopped with studying her fingers and leaned forward staring at Elisa. "They don't see anything. Demona will yell and rant at her other employees, waitresses, salespeople, but she doesn't yell at Brenna."
"At least not in public." Elisa grumbled as she pulled out the sheet with the girls address on it. Nice neighborhood. "With the social workers keeping tabs on a regular basis maybe she's keeping things relatively normal."
"There is one thing. Brenna has mentioned to her friends that she sometimes stays up late watching movies with Demona." Fox spoke a little more slowly and Elisa looked up into the eyes staring back at hers.
"Either Brenna's lying or she knows Demona's a gargoyle."
********
The weather was nice, no hint of rain, but it was early morning and it was still rather cool. Demona made sure that Brenna took a coat with her. Even though she didn't understand the need the girl felt to torture herself like this, she wasn't about to tell Brenna she couldn't do this. The bouquet was in the back seat of Demona's car, while the girl sat quietly in the front seat staring out at the trees as they passed by. It was still early in the day. Brenna had insisted that she wanted to do this early, she'd always given her mother her gift early in the day.
The woman was dead and yet she still had this level of devotion from Brenna. The girl was tired, and Demona had offered to let her sleep longer, but Brenna still got up.
Brenna looked pale, sad. "I'm sure she'll like the flowers. They are beautiful." Demona spoke just to interrupt the silence and remind Brenna she wasn't alone. She didn't really think the dead cared about things like flowers.
Demona had actually asked one of her employees about this need to visit the grave so often. She'd worried that every month they'd be here. It was a useless ritual that ate up time that her and Brenna could be doing other things. Alice told her that eventually the girl wouldn't feel the need to visit so often, but that holidays tended to see more people in the graveyards. Demona decided that she'd just continue to cater to this need of Brenna's until the girl no longer needed it.
She got out and walked around the car while Brenna was still slowly getting out. Her reluctance was clear in her slow movements, whereas Demona just wanted to get this over with and get Brenna home. She helped Brenna pull on the stubborn sleeve and made sure the collar was sitting right.
"Come with me." Brenna spoke softly. Demona blinked at that. She'd planned to wait by the car until it looked like Brenna needed her, or until it was time to leave. This seemed personal to the humans. "Please."
"Okay." Demona was then led up the hill by the hand. They stopped a few feet from Candace's grave. Her secretary. Demona had never had to think of the death of any human as much as she'd been forced to think about the death of this one. Hopefully that wouldn't last too much longer.
"I got you all your favorite flowers." Brenna spoke to the lifeless stone. The girl kneeled down and placed the bouquet in front of the headstone. They'd only rot here, with no one to enjoy them. "I'm doing okay." Demona felt a bit awkward standing here quietly waiting for Brenna to finish talking to the dead. "I love you." There the tears started. Demona clenched her fists. These visits served no purpose but to cause the girl pain. Brenna stood taller with an effort. "I'm not alone. Dominique is going to adopt me." A watery smile crossed Brenna's face and Demona found herself staring at the girl. She'd wanted Demona here for this. "She cares… and no I don't think hell froze over." Apparently Candace was among the employees that didn't think she was capable of caring for anyone. She'd heard those discussions before at NightStone, but they'd never bothered her before. Somehow today it did. "I love you mommy, but…" Brenna took a deep breath. "she's my family now too." Brenna glanced back at her and Demona felt that although the girl was addressing her mother, she was really talking to her. "I'm gonna be a Destine."
"You don't have to change your name Brenna." Demona took a step closer. Names were important to humans. They used them to define themselves and others. "I wouldn't ask that of you."
"But I can have it if I want it?" Brenna was staring at her with a real intensity. The answer was important to her.
"Yes…" Demona's voice dropped. "It isn't a family name Brenna. I made it up. I'm not even French, I just lived there a long time."
"What are you?" Brenna asked. Nationality didn't really mean that much to her, but Demona smiled.
"I'm Scottish, like you." Brenna was Scottish-American, but the girl smiled at that. Brenna liked having things in common.
"You can have it if you want, but think about it." Demona moved closer and caressed Brenna's hair. "Human's put more value on names than gargoyles do."
Brenna looked a bit embarrassed that her grand gesture hadn't been jumped at. "I love that you would be willing to take my name." Demona spoke softly, and it wasn't a lie. The girl was offering to be family, clan, in a formal way. Demona remembered angrily telling Angela that humans had no place in a gargoyle clan, but looking at this girl who was willing to let go of part of her own identity for that, she wasn't willing to put Brenna in the same category. Brenna belonged in a clan, Demona's clan.
Once that was cleared up they stood in silence for a few moments, while Brenna just stared at the flowers she'd brought her mother. Brenna wasn't ready to give up her mother's name, if Demona really thought that Brenna was she would have just accepted the offer. Having her last name would strengthen her hold on the girl. Maybe by August Brenna would truly be ready. They didn't need to make these decisions until then.
********
Brenna followed Dominique to the car. She'd been nervous and nearly sick before she mentioned her plan to change her name. A large part of her was glad that she wasn't going to be forced to follow through on that.
Brenna fingered the gift in her pocket, but she didn't want to give that to Dominique here. It needed to be separate from what she'd done for her mother.
"Can we eat breakfast at a restaurant?" Brenna asked while they were getting in the car. Brenna had wanted to do her mother's gift first thing, before eating, like they always used to, but now she was hungry. Still, as they drove away she stared out the window towards the hill. She couldn't help but remember going out to eat with her mother last year, and the fun they'd had at the mall afterwards.
"Alright." Dominique gave her a brief smile and pulled out of the cemetery. Brenna would have to think of something other than shopping to do with Dominique today, but she wanted to do something. Mother's Day shopping though, that was something that was just for her real mother.
********
Demona watched as Brenna fidgeted nervously while they waited for their meal to be brought to them. "What is it?" She finally snapped, although with less venom than normal.
Brenna blushed and nibbled on her lip. It was something. "Umm…" Demona watched as the girl's hand once again slipped into her coat pocket, but this time she wasn't wearing it at the time. "Nothing." The hand slid back out, but not before Demona caught a glimpse of a… bow?
"Okay." She spoke softly and made sure Brenna didn't see where her eyes had followed. The girl wasn't good at subterfuge. She had a gift. Demona found that she was both stunned and pleased. It was for her. Brenna had gotten her a mother's day gift. She'd give the girl time to work up whatever courage she felt she needed to so that she could present the gift.
Breakfast went by relatively quietly. Brenna was deep in thought and Demona was similarly afflicted. She was pleased a human considered her mother material? Part of her felt disgusted that she felt this bond with a human, while her own real daughter hated her.
"You know… I…" Brenna started to stammer a bit and her suddenly speaking startled Demona a little. She looked up at the flustered girl. "I'm really glad you took me in." The girl's eyes were glassy. "I…" Demona watched the girl's hands on the table clench as she looked down. "I love you." Brenna whispered it. "In a family way." Demona felt a smirk she tried to conceal as Brenna quickly qualified that comment while blushing.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw the waitress returning and moved to wave her away while staring at the girl in front of her. This was a serious moment that didn't need to be interrupted. Lucky for that waitress she recognized that. "Brenna…" Demona stared at the suddenly vulnerable looking girl. Dammit, she was going to have to say it. Her voice dropped so that just the girl would be able to hear. "I love you too. I'll be very proud to have you as a daughter." Her own eyes widened in concern when she noticed a tear fall from Brenna's eye shortly after that. She really thought that was the right thing to say.
"I… I got you something." The hand dipped into the pocket again. "It isn't much." Brenna looked into her eyes as she handed over a small present. "I… would have liked to get you more."
"I'm sure it's just fine." Demona wasn't really used to proper gift getting manners. She hadn't gotten gifts like this often. In fact since the time of her second clans death, it was just Thailog that had given her a gift, but it was all lies there. This girl seemed incapable of lying about her feelings. While Demona valued the ability to hide such things, she found herself relieved that this time the person in her life was such an open book. There would be no suddenly unexpected betrayals from this one.
Brenna watched her so intently as she unwrapped the small box and opened it. Seated in a bed of cotton was a black string necklace attached to a pendant. Demona picked it up out of the box and brought it closer to her eyes. It was a round pendant, with many symbols on it. A triangle cut the circle in parts and a sun sat in the center of the piece.
"It's supposed to grant safety on journeys." Brenna spoke quietly. An amulet that the humans sometimes claimed had real magic. A protection amulet. Demona blinked as she stared at it again. It held no real power, but that the girl found this for her. It couldn't have been easy to find. Apparently she'd come home damaged one too many times, and Brenna was concerned about her.
"It's beautiful." Demona smiled at Brenna and notice the girl seem to finally breath. It was an attractive piece of jewelry if nothing else. Demona picked it up by the necklace and slipped it over her head. The amulet fell over her heart, and Demona felt it to make sure it was face out.
Her shirt would cover it while at work, but with something like this, Brenna probably wanted her to always wear it. "I like it." Demona smiled at the girl. "Thank you." Maybe she'd explain about real magic and new age pseudo magic to the girl some day, but not today.
********
Elisa leaned against the castle wall while waiting for sunset. In her hand she had a large envelope of things she wanted to share with the clan. This unofficial investigation was starting to frustrate her. Still they had no lead as to what Demona wanted Brenna for. One of the people on Brenna's tail was sounding like he believed those two made a cute family… Elisa's jaw had actually dropped when Fox's spy told her that. Demona was a far better actress than she'd ever considered.
Elisa glanced at the envelope in her hand. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but these pictures only told her that Brenna was really going to hurt when everything came out. The girl was falling for all of it. The adoration in her eyes when she looked at Demona sometimes was just painful to look at. As if losing her own mother hadn't been enough pain for the child this year, she was going to find out that the woman she was obviously attached to wasn't who she thought… Damn Demona! Elisa's jaw clenched. That gargoyle had done many despicable things in her life, but this purposely abusing a child's love… she'd done it with her own daughter, and now Brenna.
The sun dipped below the horizon, so Elisa pushed herself off from leaning on the wall. She had to give them the latest Demona report today. She'd rather be telling them that Brenna was safely away from that gargoyle. Goliath wasn't feeling as patient with this process, but they couldn't go around breaking laws that they didn't like.
As sick as it sounded, Elisa had hoped to find some evidence of the abuse she'd thought Brenna was receiving, but there hadn't been any. Without proof like that, she had nothing to give the social workers to protest Demona's custody request. It looked like they wouldn't get proof like that. Brenna didn't act like an abused child. They were going to have to think of something else. If Demona wasn't thinking it was important to hide her secrets from the girl it could mean that Demona didn't expect Brenna would live to be a threat. They had to move soon.
********
Brenna had Gregory help her carry her books upstairs. This paper for history was a large part of the grade and she'd wasted a week deciding on a topic, so she was going to spend the next week working hard to get it done. This school was a lot more effort than her last. A small smile crossed her lips. She was finally not wasting her time at school, she liked that.
"So you went with the Internment camps?" Dominique followed them upstairs and was glancing at the books that Gregory had put on Brenna's bed before moving to leave.
"Well, yeah." Brenna had to admit it was interesting, and it was Dominique's suggestion. There was no shortage of books about it. Dominique gave her a strange smile that Brenna didn't quite understand.
"Good. Well, I'll let you organize your books. I need to change out of this suit." Dominique's eyes widened a little in their shared secret. Dominique hated wearing those things.
"Okay. I'll be downstairs as soon as I have this put away." Brenna said distractedly while clearing a space on her bookshelf for the latest library haul.
"Oh don't rush. Schoolwork is important."
********
Brenna noticed the poster as she walked up the stairs to school. Internship Opportunities at NightStone Unlimited. They were finally advertising it. Dominique had been waiting until Brenna had chosen her internship. The list was impressive and intimidating. Accounting, Human Resources, Security, Public Relations… the list went on. Brenna's list had been even larger, including Research and Development, and one special internship with the CEO. Brenna had felt a bit embarrassed that she didn't know much about the different offices, but after arguing with herself about seeming too clingy she finally admitted to Dominique that she wanted to see what Dominique did for her job. It wasn't that she thought she'd ever run NightStone, but it really looked like the most interesting internship possibility on her list. The redheaded CEO had seemed pleased with her decision.
"I'm going to apply." Allaine's voice startled her as he walked up behind her. "Do you think I have a shot?"
Brenna managed to not grimace. For some reason Dominique didn't really like him. "I don't know. She doesn't play favorites."
They went inside and split up as she went down the hall to her own first class. One awkward thing about her internship was that she was in charge of the others. They reported to their own departments, and they'd report to her as well. It was Dominique's idea to have Brenna have employees of her own to manage.
"School is almost over." Gencie's sing-song happiness went with her bouncy walk. "Two weeks… two weeks and counting…" Her hands raised above her head as she did a little dance.
"Well did you get the job your family wanted you to have?" Brenna watched as that deflated Gencie's joy a little.
"I'm still looking. I'll find something." The girl grimaced, "Hopefully something good." Brenna almost suggested applying for the internship, but held off. If she suggested it Gencie might think she was going to automatically be in, and Brenna couldn't guarantee anything. Gencie never did understand that Brenna didn't have a lot of influence when it came to work, and really that nepotism thing. She didn't want Gencie saying that at work where the other employees could hear it. Yeah, Gencie was her friend, but… no, she shouldn't work at NightStone. It would just make Brenna's job harder.
********
Demona glanced up from the kitchen table to see Brenna carefully editing her History paper. The girl had already mentioned how she didn't realize that the US Government had done something like that. Demona had barely grimaced as she heard yet another subgroup of humans that Brenna was going to lay the blame on, rather than making the connection. It was still a step in the right direction though. If Demona pushed too hard for Brenna to see it, the girl might pull away. Demona glanced back down at the applications for the internships she'd brought home to look at, but wasn't really seeing them. Another problem Demona had to keep in mind was that she didn't want Brenna thinking that she was in any way evil, like the other humans. That had occurred to her after suggesting the topic for this paper. Demona was going to have to be more careful than she'd originally thought. Humans had done horrible things to themselves and to the gargoyle race, but Brenna was just sensitive enough to accept the guilt for that and she was the last person that deserved it.
"I've narrowed down the list of applicants." Demona interrupted the girl's studying. "Could you look at them and let me know if some are just…" completely incompetent was left unsaid. Most of them would be, but perhaps Brenna could prevent a truly huge waste of flesh from getting in. It wouldn't look good to have to fire one of them the first week, but if they deserved it Demona would do it. Technically as Brenna's employees the girl should take care of those, but then they might try to take it out on her in school.
She handed over the applications when Brenna held her hand out. "I don't know that many people yet."
"Well, if you run across someone that really shouldn't even get an interview you'll save me time." Demona then got up to check on dinner.
After a few minutes of shuffling Brenna spoke a little hesitantly. "Why isn't Allaine in this pile?" Demona glanced at the girl, who'd been placing the applications in three different piles. She had some system going on.
"I didn't care for his application." Demona's voice held her authoritative clip. That boy's being around NightStone would be a disruption.
She watched as Brenna glanced down at the applications for a moment while taking a deep breath. She was actually going to push this, Demona could tell. "I saw his application before he turned it in. It was better than some of these."
Demona turned away from the stove and leaned against the counter with her arms crossed in front of her while she stared at Brenna. "I don't want your boyfriend working there." She studied Brenna's reaction to that and the surprise and then indignation fell away quickly to a determination and a bit of anger.
"He isn't my boyfriend and he's a lot more qualified than Jay Fries." She was actually pretty mad. Demona barely smirked at that. The girl may have the fire needed to be the boss after all. She still was keeping her voice calm, not necessarily challenging Demona's decision, but clearly unhappy with it.
"If you think he's better than Jay, go ahead and take Jay out and put Allaine in the running, but he still needs to interview." Demona gave the girl a hollow victory for now. What mattered to her more was that Brenna had showed more backbone with Demona than she had in a long time. Brenna was starting to feel secure. As long as that didn't get out of hand, that was a good thing.
********
Brenna wandered into the library to wait until her first class started. Her paper was done and ready to turn in. Now she just had to worry about regular assignments and finals.
"Brenna?" A woman's voice behind her startled her. Brenna turned around and her heart sank. Detective Maza. She didn't want to be rude, but Dominique was very clear that she shouldn't talk to this woman.
Brenna just stared at the woman sitting down across from her at the table. "I'm kinda busy." Brenna grimaced at that knee jerk reaction. She wasn't busy. She pretended to start reading for class, even though she'd read it already.
The Detective gave her a measuring glance. "You aren't supposed to talk to me are you?" Brenna's shoulders tensed up at that. She'd hoped to avoid that. "Did you ever wonder why she'd tell you to not talk to a police officer?" The stern tone made Brenna glance at her.
Brenna's voice was quiet and tense as she stood up and started to repack her books into her book bag. "I'm not supposed to talk to you."
"And what will happen if she finds out you did?" The Detective's voice softened. The woman seemed to honestly believe Dominique would hurt her. Brenna stared at her in disbelief.
"Just leave us alone." Brenna tossed her bag behind her with one strap around her shoulder. "I'm sure your nice…" She felt a bit bad about being so rude, but this was important. "But…" She bit her lip. Even this could qualify as talking to her. "I have to go."
She sound of footsteps falling into line next to her own made Brenna feel a bit trapped. She couldn't leave the school once she got there. She'd get written up. She couldn't make a scene. She had to stay a perfect student now. "She's not being honest with you." Brenna jaw tensed as she started to walk faster. There weren't a lot of students in the halls because it was a nice day outside. "Do you really watch T.V. at night with her?" The question was soft and Brenna's eyes widened as she turned to stare at the police detective next to her. It took seconds to realize that Elisa Maza knew about Dominique being Demona, and now knew that Brenna knew. Seconds to realize that was a mistake, because the Detective looked more tense, more determined to talk.
"Just leave us alone." Brenna pleaded while standing in front of the art room. She could hear voices in there and right now she needed to be near the other students to try and drive this woman away. "I'm happy… just leave us alone." Brenna couldn't help but plead. Dominique said that this woman would want to tear them apart. She opened the door and went in quickly. She could see the shadow of the Detective standing in the hall for another moment through the frosted glass on the door, before leaving.
She didn't know any of the people sitting around talking, but she sat down quietly and stayed there until shortly before her first class.
********
"And how did stalking her go?" Fox asked as soon as Elisa came into the room.
"Shut up." Elisa glared at the superior look Fox was giving her. Fox's spies probably told her about that mess as soon as it happened. She just wanted to feel out the girl and maybe get a chance to warn her. It proved to be a big mistake. Dominique Destine called the school and Elisa was called by them and informed that she wasn't to drop by unannounced. It was against their security rules. She was banned from the High School.
"Demona's driver picked Brenna up at the front doors today. He normally lets the girl walk a block so that the kids don't all see she comes from money." Fox wasn't letting it go.
"Well, Brenna definitely knows Demona's a gargoyle." Elisa announced to change the subject. She wasn't enjoying working with Fox on this at the moment. Sure the woman had resources and more time than Elisa did, but she rubbed in the mistakes. Elisa was just hoping that word of this didn't get back to her captain. "We need to get her to talk to us, but Demona told her to avoid us."
"I'm working on that." Fox sat forward at her desk.
"What are you doing?" Elisa finally moved to sit across from her.
Fox just smirked at her. "Brenna loves gargoyles. Angela in particular." Fox motioned between herself and Elisa, "We aren't going to get her to stand still long enough to talk…" The smirk grew wicked, "but I'm betting she won't have such an easy time giving her hero the brush off."
"She's always at home at night."
"I'm working on that." Fox pulled a file out of her desk drawer and tossed it out for Elisa to look at. "Demona's faced many things before, but I'm betting she hasn't faced a begging teenager."
********
tbc…