The Return of Constantine, Part 2
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Destine Manor
Demona had seen the Xanatos Enterprises chopper fly northward at disturbingly urgent speed towards his private airfield. She knew without really knowing just why Xanatos was going there so late at night. He was going to the cave and no doubt he had Goliath with him. She had just come from there, using a strange breed of magic of course, after a failed attempt to get inside the dwelling and take the case for herself. She was determined to try again and maybe this time she would succeed.
Hissing between her teeth, she peered down at a scroll she had been reading in hopes of finding a new way to reach her goals. What it said surprised her; "An isle of glass and stone shall be the home of a warrior king, whom shall raise the golden case from its darkened tomb. In his hands it shall reside, but my descendant shall win us a boon. But beware this warrior king, the descendent of the Guardian of Atlantis. Head the mark upon his brow lest we lose the world that is rightfully ours!"
"Beware the Guardian descendent," Demona breathed to herself as she turned round to a magical mirror that resided in one corner of her room, and her thoughts turned to the strange incident several nights ago when she had witnessed a power beyond anything she had ever experienced. She shook her head. "Why do I get the feeling that it is Goliath I must fear? He surely could not be a Guardian. Even the Guardian would not fall below their honor to become mated to a human! That is something the Son of Odomus would do, yes, but a descendant of the Guardian . . .?"
She shivered with disgust and snarled as she lifted her hands and tolled three times on a tiny silver bell. With suddenness and overpowering strength, a storm billowed through her attic and a brilliant red light surfaced within the mirror.
"Too often do I allow him to soil what it means to be a gargoyle!" she snarled as she stepped towards the mirror, her eyes still caught in a hypnotic gaze. "Tomorrow night will be the last night he shall ever see. And for me, tomorrow night . . . tomorrow night will be the end of my devotion."
Demona stepped into the mirror and disappeared in a flash of light.
*********
Wyvern, Scotland
"Well," Xanatos smirked as he looked back at a sleeping Goliath. "It looks like the books did the trick after all, eh, Fox?"
Fox looked behind her to see the two gargoyles resting peacefully in their stone state. "Certainly does," she commented as she piloted the helicopter into a landing position. The cliff where Castle Wyvern once stood was below them, and the caves where the artifacts were found were just ahead. She gently set the helicopter down near the marker that had been lit to guide them in. Once settled, she cut the engines and unbuckled her seatbelt.
"Quite the welcoming committee," Xanatos commented dryly as he unhooked his seat belt and climbed out of his seat. He glanced at the sleeping Goliath as he passed by. "Sit tight, Goliath. We'll be ready for you and Hudson by night fall."
As he opened the side door Fox finished flipping some controls and then joined him outside. The men and women came forward to greet them in excitement. A familiar face was among them: it was Darien.
"Mr. and Mrs. Xanatos," he greeted and shook their hands. "It's good to see that you could make it. We've gotten just about everything ready and are waiting for you to look at the case. It's still in the cave, though. It was embedded in the earth deeper than we had first thought. But anyway . . ." he stopped and looked around. "Wait a sec. Wasn't someone else supposed to be here with you?"
Xanatos and Fox exchanged glances. "This particular, ah, gentleman, will be joining us later tonight," he explained. "He's resting right now."
"At a time like this?" Darien asked in bewilderment. "Well, when did he plan on joining us?"
"Later tonight," Fox replied. "Now, may we see the artifacts please?"
"Uh," Darien muttered, scratching his head. "I guess so. Uh, this way."
Fox nodded as Darien took the lead and led them down into the cave. Battery powered lights lit up stone steps as they walked deeper and deeper into the cave and within minutes they had come to the highlight of the expedition.
Several feet ahead of them lay the stone, skull-shaped dwelling in which the golden case was kept. Several men and women were hard at work trying to dig it out. It was in full view and glittered like a gem, literally. Everyone moved out of their way as they approached and they got a good long view.
"As you can see," Darien said, "the case will still need some cleaning. But it's still very impressive. Probably the most unique artifact I've uncovered."
"It's beautiful," Fox agreed. She looked at her husband quizzically. "Why do you suppose Goliath doesn't want it opened?"
Darien looked at her in confusion. "Goliath?"
Xanatos glanced at him. "The guy who'll be here tonight," he said as he shook his head. "To tell the truth I have no idea why Goliath says we shouldn't open it. But, if he says not to open it, we won't." He stood and turned to Darien. "Anyway, let's get this top side and cleaned up. I want the tent and everything inside it to be ready when Goliath awakens at sunset."
"Sunset?" Darien repeated in surprise. "Mr. Xanatos, who is this guy, anyway? A gargoyle?!"
Xanatos shrugged as he turned from the dwelling. "Perhaps," he said, "and perhaps not."
Darien stared after them in astonishment for a moment then walked out of the dwelling scratching his head.
* * * * * *
Later that night . . .
Demona snarled. She didn't know why she'd materialized here. The case had been removed hours ago and her chance to steal it was gone. Goliath's presence unsettled her. She was more agitated than she expected and felt like something was holding her back.
Think child!
She jumped and looked around.
Goliath is protecting the world! He is your Guardian! Release Constantine and you destroy all you hold dear, including yourself!
Demona shook her head violently and staggered back. The voice was distantly familiar, but she would not hearken the warning given. "No! Goliath is no Guardian, nor will he ever be!" she snapped savagely. "That prophecy is just a story for hatchlings. It will never come true!"
She turned towards the dwelling that had been the Arch Mage's final resting place. Long ago, she, Goliath and Hudson had engaged him in battle and poor Hudson had lost sight in one eye as a result. After that battle, Goliath had become leader of Clan Wyvern. Oh, how proud she had been of him, rising to such status with grace, honor and humility.
"How much has changed," she breathed with a touch of sadness, remembering how, even then, she had felt the pull she felt now; the pull to rescue and free HIM. At the time she had been frightened and had not understood the reason or meaning for the pull she felt. Yet now she knew that it was blood that linked them, connecting families together. It was a curse, a pre-programmed command to ensure HIS survival, and there was no turning back.
She shook her head again. "No time fretting about what might or might not be," she hissed. "I must do what I must do. Constantine will walk the Earth again this night!!"
With that, Demona left her hiding place in a high outcropping overlooking the cave and rushed towards the surface.
* * * * * *
Piercing roars shattered the night's silence as two large male gargoyles woke to the night. The helicopter shook as they burst to life and then a strange hush fell over the crow of curious workers as they waited on bated breath to catch a glimpse. The first gargoyle to appear was huge: he stood over eight feet with a wingspan of at least twenty feet when full spread. His flesh was a subdued hue of purple, delicate lavender that seemed to contrast his heavily muscled physique. His dark hair cascaded to the small of his back and his noble face burned with intelligence. His clothing was odd by their standards, as well. It seemed almost old English.
The second male was stouter and big belled with a tanish-bronze hide. He too had an intelligent face yet it was decorated with a snow white beard and his hair stopped at his shoulders. His wings seemed torn with age and his clothing looked as though it had seen better days but his stance was resolute and firm. Both of these strange beings were warriors, and proud of it.
Most of the workers present muttered between themselves and took several paces back. They'd been briefed by Xanatos and asked not to speak of this occasion with anyone outside of work. They understood why now but some wondered if perhaps Xanatos was in over his head. These beasts looked as though they could crush the helicopter and each of them with their bare hands.
"Ah, Goliath," said Xanatos pleasantly as he approached the giant without fear. "I'm glad to see you finally decided to join us." He gestured for Goliath to follow him towards the tent. "If you'll come with me, we can show you what we have."
Goliath nodded and followed Xanatos inside the large tent. He ignored the astonished looks the humans gave him. He was more interested in the case. It seemed to almost haunt him; appearing with savage urgency in his dreams one moment and then completely vanishing the next. The other artifacts he passed, while beautiful and nostalgic in their own right, paled in comparison.
As he walked the length of the tent, items like rotting book shelves, amazingly preserved books, a table and chair sat at attention as though being inspected by some high ranking military officer. A decorative set of candle holders sat on a table just to his right and some of them still contained the remains of spent candles. Several scientists and workers were busily cleaning and maintaining each item as he passed, but all stopped when they realized just who or what was among them.
One woman screamed and dropped to her knees as he passed. Another almost knocked over a table with several strange trinkets strewn over the top. A gentlemen standing beside the table and chairs grunted with shock when a woman passed out in his arms. Other men stood as far away as they could staring at Goliath and Hudson. Some seemed to believe they were seeing things, and others believed they were looking at Hell's minions.
"Everyone relax," Xanatos called as he came to a stop near a large table in the center of the tent. "These beings will not harm anyone, and before anyone asks, no, they are not demons. They are an ancient race and might be able to help us understand some of these artifacts."
The workers looked at each other.
"Their names are Goliath and Hudson. Please show them the same courtesy that you would show me."
Everyone gulped.
"Hmmm," Hudson grumbled, ignoring the intense stares. "'Tis quite an impressive collection ye've obtained, lad."
He turned to Darien who started and swallowed nervously. "Ah, yes, well . . ." he stuttered, still amazed at hearing the beast, or being rather, speak. "It has been quite a find. But, our main object of interest is right here." He gestured towards the table in the center of the tent. The golden case was sitting on top of the table while workers cleaned whatever residue was left from the cave. Even with all that sediment covering its outside, its beautiful golden casing glowed like a diamond in the dark. "We're still cleaning it but Xanatos told us that you'd want to see it right away."
Goliath held his breath as he gazed at the case. He barely heard a word Darien said. He was overwhelmed with awe and dread. The case seemed more real than he wanted it too now that he stood before it. As he reached out to touch it, he felt as though he were touching a part of his past. A million different sensations ran through his fingers and thus through his soul. He could almost feel the lingering essence of Odomus after sealing the case and the dark sorcerer, Constantine, inside it. Nothing save one's foolish and selfish desires could release him.
Goliath shivered when Constantine's presence within stirred at his touch and withdrew his hand. The sheer evil that writhed inside the case was overwhelming and nauseating. Even though he stood, he felt as though he had been thrust to the ground and bound by sharp cords as unimaginable tortures consumed his weary flesh. He wanted to avoid this creature. He wanted to throw this case into the deepest sea and be done with it.
"Quite beautiful, isn't lad?" Hudson commented, and looked at his young friend when he made no reply. "Lad?"
Goliath shook his head as he looked at his mentor, a look of fear and rage contorting on his face. "I feel him, Hudson. It is Constantine!"
Xanatos regarded him. "Constantine?"
"Who's Constantine?" someone asked.
Goliath turned to look at the woman who had spoken. "Constantine was an evil and powerful sorcerer of Scotland's fourth century. He once tried to dominate its people and his source of power was the Heart Stone. With it, many forms of demons and monstrosities were released upon the world. Both our people began dwindling. It was the bravery of our ancient leader, Odomus, and his mate, the Lady Dragon, which saved all our ancestors from destruction."
Outside the tent, Demona approached with the stealth of a leopard and paused when she heard Goliath's voice. Two men lay still behind her, no longer able to sound an alarm. She padded closer to the tent opening and peered inside. Her eyes widened when she saw the case. It glowed a subtle, angry red. Constantine knew she was there. He was waiting for her.
"Goliath, I'm not sure I understand how Constantine and the Heart Stone wound up inside the case," Xanatos stated and Goliath sighed.
"While the Heart Stone fed Constantine his power, the Golden Case absorbed it," he explained. "Constantine is now inside both the Heart Stone and the case, trapped there by his own magic and odomus's righteous cunning. It was afterwards that the case was buried to hide it from any greedy fool who might seek to take it as his own. And until now, it has remained under the Guardian's protection."
"Was trapping Constantine inside both the case and the heart stone the only way to defeat him?" asked Xanatos.
Goliath nodded.
"That's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard!" someone snapped.
"Yet it is true, lad," Hudson noted with a growl as he glimpsed at the case. "It is both lore and history, and now, more than e'er, fact. Can we deny such truths when it stares us in the face?"
"But magic and demons and monsters are, well, they're just fairy tales!" Darien muttered.
"Are we fairy tales then, lad?" Hudson challenged.
Outside, Demona's rage boiled over. Strange and ancient emotions and sensations crawled through her veins. The longer she stood there the less she began to feel like herself while inside the disbelief and amazement of current events fluttered over the worker's heads like a fog. Darien looked between the two large gargoyles and the case. It gleamed innocently in the dim light of the tent, but most of his excitement to open it and reveal its contents were gone. He still doubted what he had heard, but some part of him believed.
He sighed. "First that crazy woman shows up and now this," he muttered, irritated that he was even listening to all this nonsense.
The gargoyles and the Xanatoses looked at him. "What woman?" said Xanatos.
Darien looked at him, perplexed. "Dominique Destine. She showed up raving about this land and the artifacts here belonging to her family. She nearly got out of control until we brought security in. She disappeared and nothing else has happened, but . . ."
"Demona was here?" Goliath snarled.
"Blazes!" Hudson hissed, and both warriors turned to glare at Xanatos.
"I wasn't aware of this," he said defensively. "Why wasn't I notified?"
"It was in the log I sent you," Darien said.
"Hmm," Xanatos said, very concerned as he glanced at the case. "What on earth could have drawn Demona here? How could she have possibly known about it?"
"Soo," someone in the back drawled. "Aren't we going to open it, or what?"
Goliath glared at him. "No," he hissed.
Xanatos turned in surprise when he spotted movement out of the corner of his eye. At first he thought it was the tent opening swaying in the breeze, but his eyes widened when he spotted Demona stalking towards Goliath, her eyes blazing a strange mixture of angry red and mesmerizing green. She seemed uncharacteristically mad and her silent footsteps wobbled as though she were drunk.
"Goliath!"
He shouted the warning the same instant the case lit up in an eerie glow. Everyone in the room jumped back with cries of alarm and scattered when it began tremble and jolt as though something inside were trying to get out. Demona chose that instant to attack. She launched into the air, soared over Xanatos's head and landed behind Goliath with less grace than was natural to her.
"Demona!" Goliath snarled.
She laughed at him, and it was not her usual mocking laugh. Something was different. For an instant Goliath thought he'd heard another voice mixed in with her own.
"What the blazes are ye doin'!?" Hudson snarled, drawing his sword as he rushed to his leader's side. He too had noticed the strangeness in her appearance. He recognized sorcery when he saw it, but he couldn't remember a time when the sorceress herself had ever been entranced by anyone, save the Weird Sisters.
"My business is my own, old soldier!" Demona snarled, strangely panicked. "And if you are wise, you will not interfere!"
Goliath and Hudson snarled as they stepped in front of her, blocking her path to the Golden Case.
"Are you mad!?" he cried. "Constantine would destroy us! He has no love for gargoyles!"
Demona snarled at him as Fox appeared behind her. "NO!" she screamed. "He will leave us be! Or if nothing else, he will let my daughter be. For after the favor I grant him this night, he will owe me that much!!"
Goliath and Hudson stared at her in horror as she roared and leaped at them. Hudson leaped in front of her to protect his leader, but yelped in surprise when he was flung aside at her mere touch. In an instant, the tent was bee's nest of screaming, panicked humans. They dashed to and fro, some of them trying to decide if they should help or simply flee a nightmare come to life as Goliath and Demona locked arms and struggled for supremacy.
"What is wrong with you?!" Goliath grunted, stunned at the unnatural strength Demona brandished. "You are possessed, surely!"
"Fool!" Demona screamed as she managed to knock Goliath to the ground and pinned him there, holding his hands in her own. "It is over for you! Constantine does not deserve to be trapped the way he is! He will be freed, and when he is, you will die!"
"NO! You fool awaken! He is using you! Don't do this!" Goliath roared, struggling against her strength. He could feel Constintien's powers growing. Constantine was helping Demona, granting her a strength that she could never have on her own, and it was leaving Goliath helpless. Yet he wondered how Constantine was even doing so while trapped inside the case. What was the link?
"Demona!!"
Demona whirled around as Xanatos, Hudson and Fox rushed her, weapons drawn. She merely laughed at them and with a gesture created a magical field that shielded her from the bullets of Fox's gun, the slash of Hudson's sword and the angry fist of an alarmed and angry Xanatos. Fox had to drop and roll to escape the bullet shot from her own gun. Xanatos and Hudson simply bounced off the shield and crashed to the ground a few feet away.
"You cannot stop me now!" Demona snarled, laughing with someone else's voice as strange red bubbles surrounded everyone in the tent and held them as a powerful wind threatened to blow the tent and everything inside it away.
"Constantine will live again this night!"
"No!" Goliath snarled, his thoughts traveling to his clan, his daughter and his beloved Elisa as he struggled against her strength with renewed determination. She turned to him, spittle dripping from her blood-red lips, and dug her talons into his hands. He cried out in pain and tried to pull away, but she held him fast.
"You will say no more!" she hissed furiously. "You were the one who placed the needs of the human race over that of your own kind! You were the one who loved the human race more than you ever loved me! You have asked for this!"
Pain covered Goliath's face. He shook his head, desperately trying to get her to see reason. "You know that is not true! I have always lived for my clan, and for you! But you . . . you had started to live for yourself!! You were the one who betrayed me! And you were the one who abandoned the clan to their deaths the night of the Viking's raid!!"
Demona screamed at him and racked her talons along his arms down to his chest. He cried out in agony as she leaped off of him and onto the table.
"Goliath!" Hudson roared, pounding on the strange bubble as though it would break and set him free by his strength.
"It no longer matters, either way, Goliath!" Demona told Goliath, and he couldn't help but shiver at the utter wickedness and coldness that dripped from every word. "This night is your last!"
Goliath roared and struggled to his feet, but even he became imprisoned in a glowing red bubble of magic. He pounded on the inner walls as Hudson had done, but they would not move.
"Demona!" Xanatos cried, watching helplessly as she held the glowing case before them. "If you do this, you'll destroy all life as we know it!"
The flame haired female turned to him with the cat's own grin, her eyes blazing a sickening green. "That is the general idea!" she snarled, and this time the second voice they thought they'd heard earlier rang out loud and clear.
"Set me free, child!" a voice drawled from within the case. "Release me!"
Demona quickly obeyed without thought to the consequences of her actions and racked her talons – still stained with Goliath's blood - across the lock. "Rise Constantine!" she cried. "Rise and rule this world!"
"No!" Goliath's roar was drowned out by the blast of energy that escaped the case. Everyone was knocked several feet away by a powerful shockwave, still held in the strange bubbles. Demona was less fortunate. Somehow the red bubbles offered ironic protection, shielding those inside from severe injury as they crashed to the ground, but she was thrust into a boulder which had moments ago been located outside the tent before it had been blown away by the explosive force of Constantine's power. Many of the artifacts were gone.
Though protected by the magical bubble, Goliath had been closest to Demona. He cried out in pain when his body slammed into the rocky earth, temporarily stunning him. He moaned and watched a pillar of red light shoot towards the sky.
"Goliath!" Hudson cried, struggling to reach his leader as the howling wind threatened to lift him off the ground. Fox and Xanatos crawled along the ground to reach each other and held on for their lives as they stared in horror at the magical storm that swirled into life high above their heads. Lightning danced and spiked in all directions with the madness of rage itself. Thunder crashed overhead with such force that shock waves left wholes of gouged out earth all around them. Only the strange bubbles protected them from death caused by such powerful sound waves. They felt the brunt of the storm's rage, but it did not kill them, yet all screamed and cried, holding onto each other or whatever else they could find, as a strange and hideous man rose like a ghost out of the case, appearing very much like a zombie rising from the grave, and stared at them. His skin was pale green and scales crept along it like strange warts. His eyes were a sickly, demonic yellow with slits like a cat's eye. His clawed hands stretched to the sky and he screeched enthusiastically, his black robes swirling about him with maddening fury.
"I am free!!" Constantine bellowed victoriously, laughing evilly as he clenched his hands into fists. "Free at last!! Vengeance will be mine!!"
Goliath roared and leaped at the case. It didn't even occur to him that he had somehow leaped through the magical bubble, causing it to burst.
"What!?" Constantine cried, looking down as a strange gargoyle ran for the case. "Stay down ye beastie!!"
Laughing wildly, he pointed a finger at Goliath and sent him flying backwards with a cry of agony as red lightning hit him square in the chest. He crashed into Hudson, whose bubble popped as he hit it, and fell to the earth. Fox gasped and struggled to her feet. Xanatos tried to hold her back, but she was determined to help. Her own bubble wavered slightly as she discretely moved towards the chopper. There was a weapon there she could use if she could just reach it.
Laughing with delight, Constantine increased his power and grew to three times his normal size. He stared down at them all, mocking their weakness with his terrifying gaze. His gaze fell last to Goliath who stood with Hudson's help.
"Well, well, well," he sneered. "Isn't this interesting?" He leaned down enough to get a good look at the two. "So, gargoyles still roam Scotland, eh?"
Neither were prepared when Constantine reached for them. Hudson was pushed down while Goliath was lifted off the ground, but Hudson didn't stay down long. He leaped high enough to slash at Constantine's hand but yelped in surprise when his blade simply bounced off the sorcerer's skin. He landed awkwardly and watched as Constantine scrutinized his leader's appearance. He seemed almost amused with Goliath's appearance until recognition spread over his face. The grin disappeared and his eyes began to burn red.
"Can it be?" Constantine growled and brought Goliath a little closer to his thin face. He studied the shape of Goliath's face, physique, the color of his flesh, the shape of his wings and even the length and color of his hair. "No, this cannot be! I destroyed the son's of Odomus!"
Goliath gasped. What was that he just said?
"Let the lad be, blast ye!"
Goliath turned his head to see Hudson running towards them as quickly as he could. The roaring winds made flight to dangerous, but Goliath knew the old warrior would brave a broken wing if only to protect his leader.
Constantine laughed. "Naughty, naughty!" he chided and blasted Hudson with a wave of green energy.
"Hudson!" Goliath cried, watching as Hudson collided with the side of the helicopter.
"Hudson?" Constantine laughed. "An unusual name, but fitting for one so fat!"
Goliath snarled at him.
Fox hid behind the helicopter when Hudson slammed into it and prayed it didn't topple over. So far this ghost, or whatever he was, hadn't noticed her and Xanatos sneaking away. If she could continue to use his distraction and get their weapons they might stand a chance. Xanatos came up beside her and waited as she slid the opposite door open and fished out a pair of large guns from a hidden compartment. Steadying themselves against the wind, they released the safeties and dove for cover behind the boulder Demona had hit and took aim.
Constantine glowered at Goliath and began squeezing with all his strength. Goliath roared in pain and gasped for breath when the air was pushed out of his lungs. "Be thou a true son of Odomus, my young beast?" he mocked hatefully as he watched Goliath try to free himself. "Yes, I think you are. And this son of Odomus must die!!"
"Dream on, shadow man!!"
Constantine started and looked up as Fox and Xanatos stood from behind the boulder and opened fire. He didn't even have time to contemplate the odd weapons before laser fire ripped through his shoulders and arms. He screamed in rage and let Goliath fall to the ground as he drew away. Goliath coughed as life giving air filled his lungs again.
"FOOLS!!"
Constantine reached for the sky and called the lightning down to earth. Xanatos and Fox were seized in its power and dropped to the earth with cries of pain.
"Fox! Xanatos!" Goliath cried and scrambled to his feet, but hadn't even risen to his knees when Constantine's hand had slammed him into the rocky earth and held him there with crushing strength.
"Not so fast, Son of Odomus!" Constantine snarled, "You are MINE!!"
Goliath snarled and twisted around enough to dig his talons into the sorcerer's hand. A terrible feeling of failure crushed his heart, but he was startled once again when strange white light shot from his hands, traveled up Constantine's arms and ensnared him with power. At the same moment, a separate blast of white energy struck Constantine in the shoulder from high above while Xanatos fired shot after shot at Constantine's figure. Fox sat on the ground at his feet, still too winded and her weapon useless as she watched the great sorcerer draw back again.
"Darien!" Xanatos yelled. "Close the case! Move it!"
The archeologist barely registered his name being called. His bubble had burst moments ago and it was taking all of his strength to stay standing in the roaring winds. When Xanatos shouted for him again, he understood and did as told. He was more terrified than he would ever admit, but even he wanted to see this strange creature leave. Nothing so horrible could ever possibly be real!
He picked up the lid from where it lay near another large stone a few feet from where he stood. Why it hadn't been blown away completely he didn't know but he didn't think much on it either as he carried it back to the table where the case itself stood like an anchor to Constantine's power. He could see the Heart Stone within glowing an unholy red as it fed Constantine his power.
Having had enough of being shot at, Constantin waved a hand and released a shock wave that knocked Xanatos on his back. He would have done more but Darien's approach changed his mind. "No! My power!" he cried and tried to reach for the young man, but he was too late.
With a determination he didn't think he had, Darien slammed the lid shut over the case. With a blinding flash and a thunderous crash, Constantine's power was cut off.
"NOOO!!" Constantine cried, stretching towards the sky in defeat as the power he still held in his hands was sucked into the case. Darien didn't even have to try to hold the lid shut. The case seemed determined to stay closed and though he didn't see it at the time, the hinges actually reattached themselves and molded together. Not even Constantine could have pried it open now.
"You fools!" he roared, drawing away from the case so he wouldn't be imprisoned again. "You've not seen the last of me! I will have my revenge!"
With what little power he still had, he let out an insane scream and vanished.
Immediately, a deadly calm fell over the site. The remaining bubbles fizzled out and the workers and researchers were free to stare around them. The lightning ceased, the thunder quieted and the clouds began to disperse as though they had never been there at all. Everyone was dirty and shaken. Hudson came too from where he lay near the helicopter. Fox and Xanatos helped each other stand, but Goliath sat where he had fallen, staring angrily at the case. The madness was over, but the worst was yet to come. He couldn't help but wonder if this was why he'd been fed those strange dreams; to stop Constantine from returning.
"Lad?"
He turned when Hudson approached and with his mentor's help stood on shaky legs. His arms still burned and bled where Demona had scratched him, but that was the least of his worries. Constantine was in the world again because of her selfishness. The death of the world as they knew was upon them.
As Demona began to come too, Goliath and Hudson approached her, their eyes blazing in fury. Fox and Xanatos joined them while Darien and another researcher sealed the case shut with chains cast in iron. When their task was complete they followed their employers towards the fallen female and waited at a distance to see what would happen. During the chaos, it had been impossible to decipher whether or not she had been possessed or acting of her own accord. Darien supposed it had been a little of both but he was less eager to approach her than he was Goliath and Hudson.
When Demona at last came to and sat up, she didn't seem to recognize where she was. She was alarmed to find herself surrounded by so many humans and less than pleased to find Goliath and Hudson standing over her. It was when she saw the blood on Goliath's arms that she remembered what had happened and glanced at the table where the case still sat, now bound in chains.
She roared as she jumped to her feet and stumbled when her body protested the sudden movement. "You fools! What have you done!" she cried. "You've ruined everything, you horrible, retched beasts!"
"Silence, Demona!" Goliath roared, his hand flying and smiting her against the cheek. "I never, ~never~ would have imagined that it would have been you! Don't you even realize what it is you have done!!?"
Demona glared at him. "What are you talking about?" she sneered.
"You speak of the evils of humanity, of your vengeance," Goliath snarled and tried to stop the bleeding on his arms. "But you . . . you have just released a demon from HELL! YOU HAVE SENTENCED YOUR RACE TO DEATH!!!" He shook his head. "You fool! You wicked, foolish WENCH!!"
Demona screamed at him and would have attacked him for a second time had two things not happened; the first was Hudson stepping in the way and striking her with a double fisted punch, and the second was the appearance of a strange, but terribly familiar mark on Goliath's brow ridge.
"The Mark of the Guardian!" she gasped.
"The legend I heard as a boy was true," Hudson glowered sadly. "Constantine's descendent did free him this night."
Demona stared at him. "You lie! There is no descendent here! I freed Constantine so that he might be our ally against the human race! But you -!"
"We do not desire him as an ally, you fool!" Goliath told her, and Demona actually stepped back. "We do not seek war against humanity. We never have! All that you have done, you have done for yourself. Angel would never agree to such cold-blooded murder!"
"She is my daughter!" Demona snarled. "She knows no better and I will do what I feel is best for her."
Goliath remained silent a moment. "She is my daughter, too, Demona! But unlike you, I do not allow my own selfish desires to overshadow my responsibility to her, the clan, or my protectorate!"
Demona stared at him in rage.
One woman in the background cringed. "You – you had a daughter? With her!?"
Demona whirled on her. "You stay out of this!"
"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Goliath commanded and Demona paused when she noted the look on his face. "Don't you understand, Demona? Because of you, Angela will be the first to suffer his blood-lust! He is not indebted to you in any way. He will betray you the way you betrayed me, and at his own convenience!"
"You lie!" Demona cried, stepping away from him.
Goliath shook his head and sighed. "Return to your home, then, Demona," he told her warily. "Return home and wait for Constantine's 'gratitude'. He will show you all that you fear. He will grant you nothing but your own well-deserved humiliation!"
"NEVER!" Demona cried and looked at Hudson, almost as though she were pleading him to tell Goliath he was wrong.
"Why do ye look at me, child?" Hudson asked her sadly. "The lad is right. Return home and ye'll see fer yerself the error of yer ways."
Demona stepped away from them, horrified and angry, yet unwilling to believe. "No, you lie! Both of you! You never accepted my views!"
Goliath and Hudson just looked at her. When they said nothing, it was more offensive than their usual bitter arguments. She roared in fury and flared her wings, trying to intimidate them. Only the humans seemed afraid of her, and while in a fit of rage, she disappeared.
For a moment, silence resumed. All present looked at the gargoyles as though they could offer further explanation or any suggestions on what they could do now. Everyone sought comfort in the aftermath of Constantine's return, but very little if any was offered.
Goliath shook with fatigue and pain as he slammed a fist into the boulder. Several people jumped when the top shattered from his strength and drew a little off. Hudson rested a comforting hand on Goliath's shoulder and glared at the space Demona had just vacated.
"That beast! Is nothing sacred to her!" he snarled.
Hudson sighed sadly. "She will discover very soon just what it is she has done lad. I think when she sees what reality truly is compared to what she desires it tae be . . ."
"It will do no good," Goliath growled. "What is done is done."
"We need to stop him," Hudson noted.
Goliath shook his head. "We do not have the power to do so. We may have the Heart Stone and the Golden Case in our possession for now but that will not last. He will come for them. We need power to combat his strength, but not even Oberon would have strength."
"What do we do lad?" Hudson wondered, and Goliath lowered his head.
"I do not know."
"Come with me, Goliath," Xanatos said as he stepped forward. "We need to clean those wounds. We can figure out an attack plan later."
Fox turned to the workers. "Why don't the rest of start cleaning up and try to salvage any artifacts that might have survived. And put that case where no one will see it for a while. I'll be back to help you in a moment."
Reluctantly, everyone turned around and began to do as asked, but none of them did so without looking over their shoulders or at the starry sky with more than a little fear.
* * * * **
DESTINE MANOR; MANHATTAN, NEW YORK
Her return home was less satisfactory and less joyful than she would have anticipated. She'd been home now for a few hours but her rage and shock had left her feeling drained and forlorn. Her eyes still blazed like demonic beacons as she sat in a less than comfortable chair. Her tail twitched with each tick of the clock and she kicked with a leg as though trapped in boredom.
Growling angrily, she stood and paced the room. Her agitation increased with each passing moment until she could no longer contain it. A small case found itself flying across the room where it impacted with a wall and spilled its contents all over the floor. She glared at the offending mess as though it were the cases fault and walked over to clean it up.
"Curse that Goliath!" she snarled. "He has foiled my plans again! Whatever it takes, I will see him fall at Constantine's feet!"
Soft, cruel, maniacal laughter echoed through the attic. She turned with a gasp to watch as a red glow filled the room not more than three feet before her. A figure formed within the glow and she knew who it was before he had fully materialized.
"Constantine!" she cried, and in her shock found her thoughts going back to Goliath's words in Scotland.
"It is so wonderful to be remembered," he sneered as he approached and she stood out of the way as he stooped to pick up the broken case. "Even after so many centuries, my legend still lives on." He grinned wickedly. "And now, it will begin anew, thanks to you, Demona of Clan Wyvern."
Demona glared at him. She didn't remember having ever said which clan she belonged to – or used to belong too. "How do you know me?" she asked him cautiously.
Constantine idly rummaged through the small case. "Well, the events of tonight allowed me to deduce your name easily enough," he chided casually as he looked out the window to see a bright yellow sun hanging in the air. "But my! It is daylight here! And on a completely new continent! Oh ho, ho, ho!!! Those fool philosophers were wrong! This Earth is not flat at all, but round as the sun and full of more life than they could have ever dreamed!!"
He laughed maniacally as he turned back to Demona. "Yet this city of yours is a marvel, isn't it? Such fine towers of glass and iron. Nothing of this sort could have ever existed in my world." He studied Demona a moment. "Nor in yours either, I dare say."
Demona snarled impatiently. "What do you want, Constantine?" she asked.
Constantine turned to her with a glare that made her uneasy. "Your clan Leader, Goliath and his mentor, Hudson, were right you know," he told her in a strange tone as he walked back over to her. "My descendent did release me this night."
In one smooth move, he tossed the small case to Demona, who caught it in surprise and removed the last scroll from a hidden compartment underneath the small case's lid.
"A scroll?" she said, puzzled as she noted how beautifully preserved it was. "But – But there was no other compartment! I used every spell I could think of! I pried at every angle!"
Constantine laughed at her. "This particular compartment could be undone by my hand alone, my dear Demona," he chided nastily. "And that is for good reason."
Demona glared at him. "Why is that?"
"It is quite simple," Constantine chuckled carelessly, yet his eyes gleamed with cruel pleasure at the irony of Demona's situation. "You are so much like me, child. Yet you do not realize it! You are very much a part of this human world, just as Goliath!" He laughed mockingly. "You ~are~ every bit a human, Demona of Wyvern!"
Demona nearly crushed the case in her anger. "What are you talking about, Constantine!?" she snapped, barely containing her anger. She knew better than to strike out at him.
Constantine sighed as he stared at her a moment, his lips pulled back in a horrible, toothy smile. "You were always wondering what the missing link was, were you not, Demona of Wyvern?" he asked her darkly. "Always wondering what that nagging feeling was. Always wondering why you felt glad you didn't know."
"Get – to – the – point!" Demona sneered, and yet she found herself trembling.
"You want to know how I know you, Demona of Wyvern?" Constantine asked coldly.
"YES!" she blurted out, disgusted with his careless mocking.
"I know you, Demona of Wyvern, because of the visions I had before my defeat at the hands of that blasted ODomus and his foolish mate, Lady Dragon!" Constantine snarled furiously, his eyes glowing a bitter red at the recollection of his tow most hated enemies. "I saw you and I knew you before you were even hatched! You were foretold in the heavens to be the one to set me free!"
"But – But the legends say . . ."
"That my descendant would, quote 'set flesh against magic to unlock the Golden Chest that traps his majesty. In Wyvern lo, he will be free to crush the world of all who oppose him!' End Quote. Yes?"
Demona stared at him. A horrible fear and realization began to fill her bosom.
Constantine sighed impatiently and sat the scroll on top of the case Demona carried in her arms. "I say, if you gargoyles were any slower, I would die of old age and be dust by the time you figured anything out. Read the scroll, Demona of Wyvern and pay attention to what is painted there."
Slowly, shakily, Demona took the scroll in her left hand and sat the case down with her right. Then, she began to unfold the last scroll and when it opened, she gasped in shock.
"No," she breathed, shaking her head.
Constantine laughed at her. "Go on, Demona of Wyvern. READ IT!"
Demona glared at him then looked back down at the scroll and began to read. "'In Wyvern, lo would be hatched a demon of human and gargoyle union. Hair as red flame, skin azure as the stone she bears from dawn to dusk, she will grow in both beauty and hate, a destroyer of all. In a time of philosophy and greed, she will set the Great Lord free by setting flesh against magic. The descendent of Constantine will restore his majesty and power to the world!'"
She stared wide-eyed at the paper; her hands shook as she looked down at them. Her talons were still stained with Goliath's blood, although it was now dried and brown and cracking at her fingertips.
"Flesh against magic," she breathed, startled and nauseated.
Constantine laughed at her. "You see?" he sneered. "You failed to recognize the fact that it was ~you~ who set me free, that it was ~you~ who found the prophecy and that it was ~you~ who would grow in hatred and beauty." He snarled at her. "You are my descendant, Demona of Wyvern."
Demona sat where she was for a moment and then screamed as she tried to tear the scroll into pieces, but it would not tear. It was bound by magic stronger than anything she had ever touched.
Constantine laughed. "You should have listened to them," he told her coldly. "You should have paid attention to the subtle hints within the scrolls you were able to study. The answer was even there! But you ignored it! You overlooked it! You have put yourself on such a great pedestal of superiority that you have suddenly realized that you are not so superior after all. You are no different than a human!!"
"YOU LIE!!" Demona screamed, and leaped at Constantine.
In one smooth move, Constantine blasted Demona with the same power he had used against Goliath and the others. She cried out in pain as she was flung against an opposite wall and struggled to break away from the magic that imprisoned her.
Constantine laughed as he watched Demona struggle. "You were a fool to believe that I could ever be indebted to you!" he sneered, and then sighed. "It was my own folly that created you, I will not doubt it. But she was lovely and she was mine!"
Demona gasped at that. Had he wronged a female gargoyle, or had she been just as evil as he?
"Nevertheless, Demona of Wyvern," Constantine continued with a yawn of unconcern. "The only gratitude you will receive from me for having freed me is the fact that you will live on as the rest of the world burns and dies at my feet! Including your precious daughter!"
Demona screamed in anguished terror. "NO! She belongs to me!"
Constantine raised an eye brow. "Does she?" he asked snidely. "Oh, you should not have mentioned her, dear Demona. She would have remained safe."
Demona snarled then grunted as another wave of pain coursed through her and he laughed. "You poor, pitiful fool! You honestly believe that your little girl will appreciate out right murder? Well, consider yourself lucky that she will be spared the pain and humiliation of watching you destroy an entire world! She will die by my hands instead of dying at the hands of enemies that you have created through the ages by your own evil!!"
"NOO!!!" Demona screamed tearfully, and then suddenly found herself free. She slumped to the ground with a groan and then sobbed softly.
"Poor, poor Demona of Wyvern," Constantine chided softly as he went over and mockingly stroked her hair. "You will survive as my slave to watch your world crumble and die. Only those that remain loyal to me will survive. But you and that Macbeth will remain alive, for the magic that binds you is something that even I cannot break. It is indefinite and sure – almost like love, yes? True love that remains unbroken by selfish, hateful desires born of bigotry and hate."
Demona shook her head. His every word was pointed directly at her and how she had wrought her own destruction. She tried not to listen and refused to believe, but the obvious truth in his words would not leave her in peace. She had told herself for centuries that it had been the human's doing. It was infuriating having her own faults thrown back in her face.
Constantine sneered at her and waved a hand in the air. Every scroll in the room came to life flew towards her, bathed in a sickly green glow before they began to bind her from head to toe. She snarled in surprise and struggled to free herself, but heavy magic flowed in the scrolls and they slowly began draining her power and life force.
"What are you doing!?" she screamed.
"Ensuring that you do not try to warn your daughter, or her beloved clan," Constantine told her as he turned from her. "This is also to ensure that I have strength to live by until I have the Heart Stone in my grasp again. Being immortal, you will not die. But you will suffer. Yes, that you will do." He turned to her one last time with a wicked smile. "Farewell for now, Demona of Wyvern. I will see you at my feet when my throne is raised above this world!"
With that said, he departed in a flash of red flame as his maniacal, evil laughter filled the night air.
"NOOOO!!!!"
The End.
