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Decisions & Dreams
Sao Miguel, The Azores, Portugal November 2, 1997
Manuel Antonio Perreira, one of the top lawyers in all of Ponta Delgada, the capital city of Sao Miguel, sat at his desk, typing. He was working on acting upon the last wishes of one of his biggest clients. Among his clients were a few members of the Dracon family of New York City. He had been one of the Dracon family's lawyers for many years, and had taken care of their financial accounts abroad as well as covered their tracks numerous times when they had done some wrong in Portugal. Now, here he sat, writing a document that was needed to secure part of the final piece of the Dracon estate. Since Anthony Dracon had been killed nearly a year before and Dominic Dracon had died in prison only a few weeks prior, he had to act upon his final wishes, as per his will. Manuel had read and re-read the final will and testament of Dominic Dracon that had been signed in front of him back in July. Manuel remembered the conversation with Dominic when he asked him to witness his revamped will.
"Mr. Perreira, I'm serious. I need to change my will." Dominic had said over the phone.
"But, senhor," Manuel had countered. "We just went over your will a few months ago."
"I know, but I will soon have my grandson or daughter with me. I'm going to fly to New York City in a few days to retrieve him or her, and would like to be assured that the will is complete to my specific requirements."
"Very well, Senhor Dracon. I will be over to your office in a few hours, if that is alright."
"Yes, most definitely."
That day, Manuel Antonio drove in his Peugeot Citroën to Dominic Dracon's private office and brought the new and improved will for him to sign and finalize. He sat before him at his desk, read him all the amendments to the will, and waited for his approval.
"Senhor Dracon, are you sure that you want to sign over your entire fortune to your grandchild?"
"Yes, Mr. Perreira. At least then, when I inevitably die, he or she will be taken care of beyond all of their wildest dreams, and want for nothing."
Manuel turned the page and read the other amendments to the will, and when Dominic agreed, he signed the papers, initialed here and there, and signed again. Manuel remembered Dominic's frail and age-spotted hand worked vigorously to sign everything and initial everywhere he asked him to authenticate the document and legalize it. He remembered thinking how this powerful man in front of him resembled his grandfather's build and stature, but that his own grandfather died when he was only 85, while Dominic was pushing a hundred.
Manuel knew that the Dracons were known as a crime family in America, but in Portugal, they had done minor things, and their cronies were usually guiltier than they were. Manuel had to do his part as the family's lawyer and sign their releases from local jailhouses, and accompany them to court dates, but for the most part, he wasn't really privy to the Dracon business dealings outside of Portugal. So he never really knew where this child came from, or how he got to have a different last name. He decided not to ask, but rather to investigate on his own. The will said exactly what Dominic had requested. It named a sole heir to the fortune—his infant grandson named Adam Maza who lived in America with his mother, the widow Elisa Maza Dracon…
Meanwhile, in Manhattan…
The sun had risen just twenty minutes before she stepped into the room. Three and a half month old Adam Maza lay in a crib lent by Fox Xanatos in one of the spare bedrooms in the castle. Elisa watched over him protectively, her arms folded in front of her. She watched him sleeping and frowned. She had been given a lot to think about over the next twelve hours, and her decision would effect this sleeping child most of all, she decided. She had been reluctant, she knew, because of this reason alone—she needed to make sure that how her heart told her to answer would be the wisest course of action when thinking about the future of her only son. Adam stirred slightly in his sleep, and sighed so sweetly that Elisa leaned down into the crib, smoothed out his hair and planted a loving kiss upon his cherub-like forehead.
"Tell me what to do, Adam…I need to do right by you, and make the right decision for you, not for me…" Elisa said quietly to her sleeping son. She pulled the cover over him and leaned on the side of the crib rails to gaze at him. "Should I say yes to Goliath? God knows I want to, I've always wanted to…but then you came along, and now it's not only my future I have to consider." She looked around the room. It looked homey, inviting, and yet it was probably the largest spare bedroom in the castle. This would most likely be the room she would choose when moving into the castle. Not only was it within a few steps of the Great hall, but it had already been equipped with an adjoining 4 piece bathroom, a massive window overlooking the city and a king-sized bed. Also, beside the room, there was a slightly smaller room. Elisa had a forethought that this room would be suitable for Adam to move into once he outgrew the crib. This decision to move into the castle was one that had already taken great consideration, but now the idea of marrying—or mating with—Goliath was something that was going to take a great deal more thought. Elisa sat upon the king sized bed and watched the crib, deep in thought. She was so deep in thought that she didn't hear someone walking behind her.
"I take it you've decided?"
"What's that?" Elisa asked, turning around to see Fox Xanatos standing behind her. Fox stood in the doorway, smiling.
"I said, I take it that you've decided on how to answer Goliath's proposal. Am I right?"
Elisa shook her head. "Not exactly."
Fox was slightly surprised.
"Really? I would have thought that it would be a no-brainer for you. You've been head over heels for that man—I mean gargoyle—since you met him." Fox stated.
Without taking her eyes off of the crib, Elisa replied, "It's more complicated than that, Fox." She sighed. Their past feuds aside, Elisa knew that Fox would probably be the right person to talk to about her questions. "I have to think about him before thinking about me. You of all people know how that goes."
Fox nodded and walked towards her. She sat down beside Elisa upon the bed. "I do. But I also know that following our hearts usually results in the best interests for our children. I see your point, but think about it. This castle is the safest structure in all of Manhattan. Even the Trump Tower doesn't have the type of security that we have here. David made sure of that when I was pregnant with Alex."
"That's not what I'm worried about, Fox." Elisa hesitated momentarily before continuing. "I…I love Goliath, and nothing would make me happier than to be his, but I have to be sure that this would be best for Adam."
"And why wouldn't it be? I've seen the way he holds him, and the way Adam responds to Goliath. He adores that boy as if he were his own. There's no denying it."
Elisa pulled out the engagement ring from its box in her pocket and showed it to Fox. Fox gasped at the glimmering sight.
"Wow. All David got me was the Eye of Odin…" She said before she giggled. "It's gorgeous."
"I know. I never thought I'd be the type to want to wear a diamond ring, but it's his ring. I mean, I know Xanatos gave it to him, but…"
Fox smirked. "Yes, well, consider it another penance. We owe Goliath and the clan everything we have and more for the safety and protection of our son. Anything he ever wants is his. David told me that he had asked him if he could marry you and move you into the castle. I thought it was cute."
"That sounds like something he'd do." Elisa smiled. Adam began to cry quietly in the crib, and Elisa rose from her seat and picked him up. His cries silenced as she held him in her arms. She looked back at Fox. "My son will need a father, that's for sure. I just don't know if it's wise to make Goliath step into that role."
Fox rose to meet Elisa and Adam. She took Adam's tiny hand and kissed it.
"Listen, Elisa, we've never been the best of friends or anything, and I sure as hell don't try to presume to tell you what to do, or what is best for your life, but I know that he loves you and Adam. What is best for you tends to be what's best for your child, too." She tussled Adam's hair playfully and walked away from Elisa and Adam. She turned at the doorway and said, "You will make the right decision. For both of you."
Elisa looked down at her son who had been watching her in awe for a few moments.
"What is best for you, baby?"
Elisa turned away from Adam and picked up the phone on the bedside table to make some phone calls. After the calls were made, she felt tired and rested upon the comfortable bed. It was there she slept until after sunset.
---
As the sun lowered into the horizon, the gargoyles awoke with a loud cry. Goliath reanimated out of his frozen pose of shock, half expecting to be greeted by Elisa to tell him that she hadn't meant what she said before, and that she wanted to marry him. She wasn't there, nor would she be, he knew. Disheartened, he unfurled his wings, and glided to the lower level of the castle, where the others slept during the day. As he arrived, he saw the looks on the others' faces. They were all, in their own way, excited and relieved to see him.
"Father! I'm so happy to see you!" Angela blurted, embracing him as he approached her. Surprised, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Why? What happened?"
"I had a terrible dream. I dreamt that you had perished instead of Thailog in the explosion last night."
Brooklyn and Tachia stepped towards father and daughter. "I had the same sort of dream. I saw pain, anguish, and torment." Tachia said, clinging to her mate. Brooklyn nodded. "Same here. Odd…But it's great to see you, Goliath."
Eosine, Lexington and Hudson were next in conveying the contents of their own dreams.
"Thank the Lord, you are safe!" Eosine praised, walking quickly towards Goliath and the others. "The dream I was given this day was terrible." Lexington and Hudson nodded.
"It can't be a coincidence that we all had the same sort of dream. Goliath, what happened?"
"Yes, lad, you seem to know more than we do." Hudson added. Goliath inhaled deeply before answering.
"Your dreams were accurate. At least for the first time around. Last night's events were originally ended with my death…" He looked around at the confused faces of his clan. "I will explain everything, but first, have you seen Elisa yet this evening?"
The clan shook their heads. Goliath exhaled in disappointment. He wouldn't be surprised if she had left the castle during the day with Adam. Brooklyn then realized that last night was the night Goliath was going to propose that Elisa move into the castle and become his mate.
"I nearly forgot, Goliath. Did you ask Elisa?" Brooklyn asked excitedly.
"Yea! How did things go?" Lexington added, his look just as excited as Brooklyn's, until they both noticed there was a distinct look of sadness in his eyes.
"She…needs to contemplate things first. I am not sure how to proceed now. She seemed so…unsure of things."
Eosine smiled and rested a gentle pink hued hand upon his forearm. "Goliath, do not let that worry you as much as it is. I recall that I made Lexington wait for my answer to him all those years ago." Lexington let out a good-humored snicker.
"Yea, made me sweat it out for nearly a week before she gave me her answer." He turned to Goliath. "Don't worry, Goliath. Elisa loves you."
"Yes, father, give her time." Angela placed a hand on his shoulder comfortingly. He looked down and nodded.
"Perhaps it will be best." He sighed. "I will seek her out after I tell you the story behind your dreams."
---
About an hour later, after the clan had been completely made aware of Anubis' hand in the events that nearly left them without their leader, Goliath excused himself and was going to seek Owen Burnett or David Xanatos, whomever he could find first. Along the way, he heard a baby cry down the corridor. To him, that sounded precisely like Adam's sweet cries. Instinctively, he followed the cries. As they ceased, his keen sense of hearing allowed him to hear the comforting voice of the child's mother. Elisa had been in the building the entire time he'd been awake.
As he entered the room where mother and child were, he noticed that the bed sheets were disheveled and disordered from recent use. He looked up and saw Elisa feeding Adam his bottle with her back turned towards the door. Goliath stood watching the scene as silently as possible. This could be her room, he thought, and I could be helping her with these menial things. I could be that boy's father…
"Why did you wake mommy up, hmm?" Elisa asked the infant in her arms, "You were hungry, that's why, right baby?" She smiled at her son. Sure, being waked from sleep at all hours wasn't fun, but she knew that she would do anything for him, no matter the time or place. She breathed in and a pleasant scent filled her nostrils. The musky scent was all she needed to be alerted of Goliath's presence behind her. It was already after sunset…
Elisa turned to see her love standing in the doorway.
"Hi Goliath." She smiled lovingly to him, which warmed his heart.
"Hello my love. Have you been in the building the entire day?"
Elisa walked around the king sized bed and sat down upon the closest edge to Goliath. She wordlessly motioned for him to take a seat beside her. He did as he was told.
"Yeah, I made a few phone calls to my insurance company and made sure Cagney was alright. Then I really had no where else to go, so I stayed here."
Adam slowed his sucking on the bottle of milk and closed his eyes. Elisa looked down at the angel in her arms and grinned. Goliath never took his eyes off of the two.
"I see."
Feeling his gaze upon her, Elisa felt her cheeks deepen in color, which usually never happened. She placed the bottle on the wooden bedside table, and held Adam carefully to facilitate his burping. She rubbed his back softly until she finally felt his gas. She kissed his forehead and laughed.
"There you go, Adam." She looked at Goliath. "Do you want to hold him?" She asked sweetly. Goliath blinked. "Certainly, Elisa." Gently, he took the child from Elisa's arms and held him as comfortably as if he were a gargoyle hatchling. Elisa smirked, titling her head to one side to get a better view of this heartwarming scene. After a few moments of watching Goliath and Adam, Elisa decided that her decision had finally been confirmed. She cleared her throat, suddenly tense and nervous about what exactly to tell him.
"Goliath," Elisa began. "I'm sorry for last night. I needed time to think about…everything."
Goliath looked up from the child and fixed his gaze upon Elisa dubiously.
"I now understand why you need time. I know that your decision will affect Adam as well. I nearly forgot how important a role parenthood is."
"Hm. I highly doubt that, Goliath. But, yes, he is the main reason." She paused, watching her son. He was nearly falling asleep again. "Do me a favor, Goliath? Can you put him into his crib?" Goliath nodded, rose and walked over to the dark wood crib. As gently as physically possible, he lowered the infant into the crib, pulled the covers over him, and touched his forehead briefly before taking his place beside Elisa again.
"Now, as we were saying, you're right. I have my son's best interests to think about before my own." She said, the tone of her voice showing minimal emotion. This worried Goliath.
"I understand this, my love, which is why I've decided not to pry. I give you as much time as you need to come to your decision." Goliath said almost sadly, his baritone reaching an all-time low.
"Thank you, Goliath. I love you for that." Elisa smirked, digging into her jeans pocket for something. She pulled out the engagement ring box. Goliath's eyes widened at the box. Elisa held the box up to eye level in her open hand. He stared at the box for a few moments before another word was uttered. Elisa opened the box and took the round cut diamond ring out of the box. She let the box fall upon the bed, and held the ring between her index finger and thumb. She then extended the ring to Goliath. Dumbfounded, he stared at it.
"Hold it. I need you to do something else for me." She said with a sudden air of mischief. He did as he was told and held it in his right hand. Elisa smiled reassuringly, as if to tell him not to worry. She reached and took hold of his left hand with her own left.
"Ask me again." She stated simply. Goliath finally caught onto what she was setting up. He exhaled with relief and began.
"This world was new to me three years ago, and I thought that I would never find my place within it, until I met you. My Elisa, you showed me the best parts of the city and of this century. Most of all, you awakened a part of myself I thought long dead—my heart. You mean the world to me. To be without you is to become lifeless. It would make my life complete if you would be my mate, my wife, my soul mate." Elisa smiled sweetly up at him.
"Yes, of course I will, Goliath." She said emotionally. Goliath then placed the ring upon her slender ring finger. Elisa suddenly wrapped her arms around his muscular neck, nearly toppling him over with the strength of her embrace. He lifted Elisa and placed her right in the middle of the king sized bed. He then took a seat beside her, and looked down on her beauty. He brushed a few stray hairs from Elisa's face.
"Sorry I made you suffer like that." Elisa began, but Goliath silenced her gently.
"No apology needed, Elisa. That boy over there deserves the best."
Elisa laughed. "He already has the best. You are going to be the best father to him. I know it."
"I can only hope so, my love."
---
Dominique Destine lay upon her bed in the estate awoke with a start right before sunset. Her transformation being second nature to her, her body told her when to prepare for it, no matter her state of consciousness. She changed into her normal gargoyle form and rubbed her head. What sort of dream did I have? Why is there so much torment in my soul this evening? The memories of Goliath's near death hit her like a ton of bricks, and she gasped at the flood of scenes playing in her memory.
Her associate had been killed in the blast that was meant for that whore, Elisa Maza, and she still hadn't achieved her goals. How was she going to rid Goliath of his human poison? Demona stood up and began pacing back and forth, struggling to deal with the memories of her grief after Goliath's death in her nightmares, and dealing with the fact that Elisa was still alive instead of Thailog. Yes, Thailog was a nuisance that surely was a poison on this earth, but Elisa Maza was more so, at least to Demona. She cursed at her stupidity for thinking that Thailog would actually be able to pull it off. He shared Goliath's DNA, but she had forgotten what he was—an imitation. Once you make a copy of something, the quality decreases dramatically. She hadn't accounted for that.
So what do I do now? How do I remove this whore from his life once and for all? She knew at least her involvement in the plot had not yet been discovered; otherwise she would have been attacked by the Manhattan clan hours ago. This might actually work out in her favour after all…she decided to play up the good Demona routine for just a while longer. She smiled devilishly and walked towards the window. Unfurling her wings, she opened the door to the balcony and leapt off, headed for the Eyrie Building.
The clan was assembled in the Great Hall when Elisa and Goliath came in, obviously grinning about something wonderful. Tachia, who had been reading 'Wuthering Heights', was the first to see them. She turned another page of the book and smiled when she saw them approaching the rest of the clan. She nudged Brooklyn discreetly.
"It appears there is good news to be shared this night, love." She whispered to him. He stopped flipping through the channels on the television and looked up. His beaked face lit up with a smile. It was a long time coming, he thought.
Goliath cleared his throat and waited to get the clan's attention. "Everyone, we have some news we'd like to share with you." He beamed with pride as he held Elisa's small hands in his. "It's the best kind, too." Elisa added, smiling joyfully. "Goliath asked me—"
Before she could continue, Demona came running into the Great Hall. "Goliath! You're safe! And Elisa! You're alright, too! Thank the Dragon!" She exclaimed, rushing towards the couple. Goliath instantly released Elisa's hands as Demona approached. She took him by the shoulders and smiled in a relieved manner.
"I had the most horrible dream last night! All that happened last night…it was terrible!" She acted. It seemed to be working on all but one person in the room. And that person had no idea why she had this gut feeling that she was lying…
"Yes, Demona. We are fine, though we cannot say the same for Thailog." Goliath mentioned.
Demona shook her head. "No matter, Goliath. Thailog was the devil incarnate. He deserved the fate he received. I'm just so relieved that you two are alright." She smiled at Elisa slowly. Elisa didn't buy it.
"Sure, Demona. Whatever you say." She said quietly, rolling her eyes. Elisa was still in her good mood from being proposed to and she didn't really want to start a fight at that particular moment in fear of ruining her wonderful mood. Goliath turned to regard her silently, studying the reaction to Demona's words in her face.
Demona turned to look around the room, but really, she was scoping out the reactions of the rest of the clan's faces. She wanted to gage if they were buying her act. They were.
"Well, Goliath, Detective, I just wanted to ensure that you both were safe. I will be off now." She started walking away from the Great hall when a voice summoned her to return.
"Stay a while, Demona," Elisa said sharply, "Goliath and I have an announcement to make." Demona turned around and hid her surprise well. She replaced that look with one of genuine interest.
"Oh?"
"Yeah, Demona. Goliath just proposed to me, and I accepted. I'm going to be his mate." Elisa looked up at Goliath, who smiled contentedly back at her. There suddenly was a roar of cheer that echoed through the castle from the clan. From Demona, however, not a sound came. She stood, barely, watching the happy couple embrace, and then being surrounded by the rest of the clan as they hugged Elisa and shook Goliath's hand. Demona just watched in shocked silence. She decided that her next plan must be put in place before the ceremony takes place. She swallowed her anger and rage, discarded her feeling to have her eyes glow bright red, and smiled at the couple.
"That is…welcome news. Congratulations, Goliath, Detective." She nodded at both. "Now, I'll let you alone to celebrate with your clan." She smiled again, and walked out of the Great hall. She was not stopped this time. The clan watched her leave the Great hall quietly. Once she disappeared, the happy chatter continued. The clan was overjoyed that Elisa accepted Goliath's proposal, and that they would be seeing a lot more of Elisa and Adam now that they would be moving into the castle.
After the celebration of sorts in the Great Hall, Goliath pulled Elisa aside.
"Elisa, why did you act so…pertly with Demona earlier?"
"I remember having a suspicion that she was Thailog's associate. Don't ask me how, but my detective senses were tingling."
Goliath raised an eyebrow. "My love, she seemed genuine, and surely she has no reason to wish us animosity now. Look at all that she has done for the clan and the Labyrinth clan in recent months. She did not have to come here to check on our wellbeing."
She looked skeptical. "I guess, but I still don't trust her. She's always had an ulterior motive to everything she's EVER done. This could just be another one of her schemes to wipe humans off the planet or to kill you. She came too close to killing us all on the night of the hunter's moon. We never DID know what became of that virus…Who knows…" Goliath wrapped his wings gently around Elisa's shoulders, creating a warm and comfortable cocoon around his future mate.
"We gave it to Xanatos that night. He has it hidden in a vault to ensure that no one knows of its existence. There is no way it can be broken into or destroyed. He made sure of that."
Elisa nodded. "I hope so, babe." She relished in the feeling of his wings around her.
"So, when should I move in my charred things?"
---
Manuel Antonio read the paper again and again.
iI, Dominic Michael Dracon, do hereby sign my financial estate entirely to my youngest grandchild upon my death. /i
Manuel had some work to do now. To find this Adam Maza and have his guardian or parent sign the paperwork. After that is done, the child would be a millionaire.
---