Thank you guys so much. I'm am beyond pleased that you are all enjoying this so much. Here's chapter six!! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Gargoyles.
Another Spell Broken
Chapter Six
Brooklyn glided low over Central Park, silently following the Quarrymen in their pursuit of Lex. Checking to see if Audri was still following him, he increased his speed, flying over the Quarrymen and past Lex.
"What are Quarrymen?" Audri whispered, suddenly appearing next to him. Brooklyn looked over, surprised that she had caught up to him so quickly. "It's a group of humans who hate gargoyles. They want us all dead." he said.
Audri gasped. "Dead!? Whatever for?" Brooklyn shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. They haven't succeeded yet and they've been trying for well over a year."
Audri nodded and looked down to where Lex and the group of Quarrymen were, a small cry escaping her when Lex stumbled and hit the ground. Looking closer she could see something dark covering his entire arm. Blood. "Lex is hurt." she said softly. "Yeah, I saw. Come on." Brooklyn said, angling downwards to land.
The two landed a few yards in front of Lex, Audri reaching out to catch the smaller gargoyle as he rushed past them. "Lex, it's me! It's Audri." she said, trying to stop Lex as he lashed out at her. Brooklyn came up behind Lex and grabbed his arms, pulling them back behind him. "Knock it off Lex. We're here."
Lex looked at Audri with wide eyes, then turned his gaze to Brooklyn. "Christ. I thought you guys were Quarrymen! You scared the shit outta me." he said. He shook his head, a groggy feeling starting to overpower him. Sagging back against the grass he leaned heavily on his good arm and looked carefully at the deep gouge in his arm.
Brooklyn looked up at Audri. "Can you take stay here with him while I go help Angela and Broadway take care of those guys?" Audri nodded a reply. "Please be carefully." she whispered. Brooklyn smiled at her and with a curt nod, quickly went to help his other clan members.
Audri watched him go, a tiny feeling of worry settling in the pit of her stomach. Not being able to do much more at the moment she focused on Lex and set to work examining his arm. The wound was deep but nothing too serious. The blood had clogged at least and had stopped flowing. "Are you all right Lex?" she asked. Lex moved to push himself to a sitting position, wincing as pain shot up his arm. "I'm...fine." he said.
Audri ripped a length of cloth from the hem of her skirt. "You must get this clean as soon as we get back to the castle. We would not want to risk infection." she advised as she wrapped the cloth tightly around his upper arm. "What happened?"
Lex watched Audri's hands work, deftly tying the ends of the cloth in a secure knot. "I was flying too low. Bastards came out of nowhere. One of them shot at me and caught me in the arm. I lost control. Next thing I know my arm's covered if blood and I'm being chased by freakin' Quarrymen." He snorted in disgust and felt a wave of dizziness sweep over him.
"Come on." Audri said, holding out a hand to Lex. He took it and she helped him to his feet, steadying him as he swayed back and forth. "Feeling a bit dizzy." Lex said with a humorless laugh. Audri smiled down at him sympathetically. "Aye. You lost quite a bit of blood my friend." she slipped her arm under his, supporting his weight against her and scanned the area for the rest of the clan. "I wonder where everyone else went?"
Lex opened his mouth to answer when he saw a shadow move behind her. The silence around them was suddenly broken by an audible click and followed by the unmistakable hum of electricity. "Audri, look out!" he yelled, pushing her out of the way just as the hammer of the lurking Quarryman swung down. Lex jumped back but was unable to escape being hurt completely. The hammer clipped his chest, ripping away a small amount of flesh and sending a jolt of electricity through his body. Lex flew back and hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop.
Stunned, he lay there aching in places he never knew he could ache before. Unconsciousness came for him, beckoning to him with the promise of no pain. But he couldn't be much of a hero to Audri if he was out cold, he thought. As much as it pained him to do so, Lex pushed himself up and sat back on his knees with an exhausted sigh. He saw Audri getting to her feet not far from where he sat. Behind her, with a hammer poised and ready, stood the Quarryman.
Lex blinked several times, feeling incredibly dizzy. He had to warn Audri. "There....he's... he's behind you!!" he shouted weakly a moment before dizziness gave way to unconsciousness and Lex slipped into the darkness.
Behind her? Audri's head snapped up when she realized just what Lex was talking about. With a sick feeling in her stomach she spun around quickly on the balls of her feet and came face to face with the masked Quarryman. "Hey there pretty." he said in a voice laced with disgust. He swung at her and Audri quickly dropped down, kicking her leg out and knocking the man off his feet. Releasing a startled cry he fell to the ground, landing at an odd angle on his head, his hammer landing with a loud clang beside Audri. She quickly grabbed it and got back up, determined to get to Lex and make sure he was okay.
Kneeling down beside Lex, she sighed with relief to see his chest rise and fall. His breathing was not as even as she would have liked it to be but he was far from any serious danger. "Lex, can you hear me?" she asked, running her hand lightly across his brow ridge. Nothing. The poor thing was unconscious. Audri sat back on her heals. So now she was alone with a hopefully-still-unconsious Quarryman. Where was everyone?
Audri sighed again and turned to check on the Quarry man who was still....not lying where he should have been! Where had he gone? She'd only turned her back but for a minute. She whipped around in the other direction and gasped in surprise as a hand closed around her wrist and yanked her up. "On your feet, you stupid bitch!" snarled a voice close to her ear. Audri winced. The unconscious Quarryman had obviously not hit his head hard enough. Audri glared up into the masked face. "What will you do? Hit me with your little stick?" she asked disdainfully. The man merely laughed and drove his fist into her stomach. Air rushed out of her and she fell to her hands and knees.
"Nope. I'll hit ya with my fist, how's that?" The man said walking slowly around Audri and picking up his hammer. With a mean bark of laughter the Quarryman snapped down the handle of the hammer, charging it for impact.
Audri gasped for breath, one hand clutching at her stomach, the other supporting her weight. The bastard hit hard, she'd give him that. "Now I'll hit ya with my stick." She heard the man say. She lifted her head and pushed her hair out of her eyes to see the Quarryman looming above her with his hammer lifted high over his head. She threw herself backwards just as the hammer came down and crushed the pavement where she had been seconds earlier. Blue bolts of electricity scattered on impact.
Shrugging, the man raised the hammer once more. "Let's try that again, Whadaya say, pretty?"
"If she knew what it meant, she would probably tell you to go screw yourself." a voice said from behind the Quarryman. Audri's heart began to race. She knew that voice! The Quarryman spun around and his arms sagged, the hammer dropping to his side. Taking the chance while she could, Audri jumped up and ran to where Brooklyn stood, his eyes glowing fiercely.
"Are you okay?" he whispered when she reached him. He pulled her behind him and out of harms way. "Fine. Lex is badly hurt though. We must get him back to the castle."
Brooklyn nodded and turned his frightful gaze back to the lone Quarryman. "All your guys are down and mine will be here in a bit. Still feel like sticking around?" he asked. A deep growl formed in his throat causing the human to visibly shake. "That's what I though." Brooklyn brought his fist back and slammed it into the mans face, knocking him out cold.
"Hmm...now why did I not think to try that?" Audri mused, a small smirk turning up her lips. Brooklyn smiled at her but it never reached his eyes. Right away Audri knew something was not right. "What happened?" she asked.
"Nothing...it's nothing." he said. Audri didn't believe him. She gave him a quick once-over, her gaze landing on his left arm hanging limp at his side. "I would assume that does not feel very good." she said, walking up to him.
A weary laugh escaped Brooklyn. "Yeah, you could say that."
"I could put it back into place for you." she said, brushing her talons lightly across his neck, taking caution not to come to close to the joint of his shoulder. "Really?" he asked. Audri nodded. "Okay."
With permission given, Audri walked around Brooklyn and gripped his upper arm firmly. "Are you ready?" she asked.
"Go for it."
Audri closed her eyes, gritted her teeth and yanked hard, hearing the bone snap back into place with a loud crack. She didn't know who it had pained more, herself or Brooklyn. "Is that better?" she asked quietly. No response. She carefully leaned over his good shoulder and peered up at his face. His eyes were shut tight. "Brooklyn?" Audri whispered. Brooklyn raised his head slightly in answer, then gave a deep half sigh/half growl and opened his eyes.
"Mmm...damn." He experimentally lifted his shoulder. A dull throb now existed where the sharp pain had before, but at least his shoulder was back to where it should be. "Thanks Audri." he said, gently pulling the little female in front of him and curved one arm around her slim waist. She smiled shyly, her cheeks turning an adorable shade of red.
Unbidden, his mind suddenly went back to earlier that night, showing an image of Audri and himself locked in a passionate embrace on a rooftop. He could still feel her soft lips against his, warm and inviting. Did she feel the same thing? Was she feeling it now as he was? He tilted her chin up, thinking that maybe the answer he was looking for was in her beautiful eyes. Instead he caught sight of a small read scrape on her cheekbone.
"What happened here?" he asked, lightly tracing the skin around the small wound. Audri looked up at him in confusion and raised her hand, wincing when it came in contact with the tender flesh. "It must have happened when Lex pushed me out of the way of that Quarryman. Everything went so fast...I did not even notice."
Brooklyn immediately felt bad. He shouldn't have left Audri and Lex alone like that, what with Lex already being injured. "I'm so sorry Audri. I shouldn't have left you and Lex. I didn't think there would be any other Quarrymen around."
Audri shook her head at him. "you did what you had to do. Do not be sorry for that. Lex and I are fine. All Lex needs is for his wound to be cleaned and a night of stone slumber should have him cured in no time." She looked over to where Lex lay, his groggy movements indicating that he was starting to come out of his unconscious state. "It looks as if he is coming around. We should get him back."
Brooklyn nodded and watched Audri as she walked across the grass to Lex, fully appreciating the gentle sway of her well curved hips. Her matter-of-fact tone made him smile. She would make a very good mother someday. Brooklyn quickly stopped himself before he could conjure up an image of Audri with a bright blue eyed, white haired gar-child clinging to her skirts. 'Wishful thinking my friend' he though, 'wishful thinking.' At least for now it was.
He turned around to see what was taking Broadway and Angela so long and saw the two walking slowly toward him, hand in hand. He waved them over. "Did you get them all taken care of?" he asked. "Yeah, for a while at least." Broadway replied with a quick glance over his shoulder. "Those vile men never give up." Angela said, her lips curling into a sneer.
Brooklyn silently agreed with her as the three made their way over to where Audri was helping Lex to his feet. The Quarrymen would never give up. Why they couldn't realize that gargoyles were not out to harm people was beyond him. The only ones they had ever hurt were the ones who deserved it. Like, well...the Quarrymen. And obviously he wasn't the only one who disliked them, he though upon approaching Audri and Lex, Lex grumbling about how idiotic Quarrymen were in their black pants and black shirts, with stupid masks, toting "big freakin' sledge hammers that barley any of them had the actual muscle to work properly."
"I mean really...think about it" Lex was saying. "Why do the damn things hurt so much?! It sure as hell isn't from the morons swinging em. It's from the electric charge." He swayed and Audri was there to catch him, a patient smile curving her lips. "Come Lex. We must get you back home." She said softly. Her eyes raised to meet Brooklyn's in a silent plea.
Understanding what she wanted, Brooklyn stepped forward and hooked his arm through Lex's. "Lean on me Lex. I'm going to carry you home, all right?" Lex nodded slowly.
With his rookery brother leaning heavily against him, Brooklyn took one last look around. "Okay guys, lets get back to the castle."
Once back home, Brooklyn and Broadway were immediately bombarded with questions by Goliath. Managing to escape with a quick wave to Hudson, Audri and Angela managed to escape any interrogations and went to he kitchen with Lex to get his wounds properly taken care of. Audri quickly cleaned both of Lex's injuries with the peroxide Angela had given her. While working on putting a new bandage around his arm, Audri looked up at Lex. "So how are you feeling, Lexington?"
The smaller gargoyle regarded her through drooping eye lids. "Better. Tired, but better." he said.
"Here, eat something." Angela placed a large bowl of chips, a dish of salsa and a few cans of pop down on the counter. She and Lex immediately dug in while Audri watched with mixed confusion and amusement. Quickly picking up on how to eat the flat objects, she reached for one and dipped it into the thick red sauce. Upon her first taste, Audri fell in love with the spicy taste. "Mmm..these are very good. What are they?"
Lex picked up her unopened can of pop and pulled the tab up. "Chips and salsa. Classic snack food." he said, handing Audri the can. She took it from him and turned it slowly in her hands. "It's pop. You drink it." Lex explained. Hesitantly Audri raised the can to her lips and took a small sip, finding it much to her liking.
"It will get much easier Audri. I know things are very confusing at the moment, but we all went through this and we'll all help you as well." Angela said.
Audri smiled at her, genuinely touched by the other females caring tone and understanding. "Thank you." she said, surprised by the choked up sound of her voice. She took another sip of her pop in hopes to wash down the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat and sat on one of the high kitchen stools.
Irritated voices drifted down the hallway and into the kitchen where the three sat. "My, they do not sound very pleased, do they?" Audri asked.
"I know exactly what they need." Angela piped up, going for the large stainless steel refrigerator and the stack of 20 ounce steaks Broadway had packed in there for supper. "And what is it that they need?" Audri asked with an interested smile. "Food of course." Angela said brightly. Audri laughed softly. "Of course."
Brooklyn and Broadway entered the kitchen shortly after with glum expressions. "Hey guys, what's up?" Lex asked with a note of caution.Broadway shrugged his broad shoulders. "Just Goliath being Goliath. He feels that Audri isn't quite ready for so much excitement."
At that Brooklyn rolled his eyes. He leaned against the counter next to Audri. "Goliath thinks that we should allow you time to become adjusted before we take you on any of our 'crazy adventures'." he said using his talons to form quotation marks in the air.
Audri stared at him for a moment and then burst into peels of laughter. "Oh, he is just like my father. Always so protective." her laughter died away but her eyes continued to sparkle with suppressed humor. "I will speak with him, Brooklyn." she said, her hand alighting upon his shoulder. "And then you may take me on however many adventures you wish."
Was it just him or was there a teasing glint in her beautiful azure eyes. Audri blushed and quickly averted her eyes, her attention resting on Broadway as he prepared the steaks. She had been teasing him! And flirting! A broad grin split Brooklyn's face. Oh, she was good.
"So have you ever had a steak before?" Broadway asked Audri. She nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, aye. But never like this. McGregor's cooks always managed to burn everything." she said. Her fascinated gaze never strayed from where the steaks lay on the flat surface of the grill that partially covered half of the counter.
Broadway smiled as he flipped one of the steaks over, the meat making a delicious sizzling sound as it hit the grill. "Well then, you're in for a treat."
An hour later, Audri was walking down the hallway to the living room with a full stomach and a satisfied smile on her face when a hand closed around her wrist and pulled her into a dark corridor. Her startled yelp was cut off by a hand that came up to cover her mouth, but any beginnings of panic were quickly smoothed away when a gentle voice she knew all too well spoke up. "Hush Audri. It's just me." She heaved a great sigh and leaned back against the wall behind her. The hand slid away. "Hello Brooklyn." she said sweetly.
Brooklyn smiled down at the beautiful female. Even in the dark her eyes managed to glow, as if lit by some inner fire. "Hey." he said softly. "I wanted to apologize again about everything. Something...terrible could have happened to you and Lex." he shook his head, trying to rid himself of the images that had plagued him since returning to the castle. Images of Audri hurt and bleeding. He felt something warm touch his face and slide in a soothing motion across his cheek. A hand. Her hand. He opened his eyes to see Audri's gazing back up at him.
"What matters, Brooklyn, is that you were there when I needed you. You stopped him." she smiled at him and laughed softly, the musical sound hanging in the air. "My hero."
Brooklyn chuckled. "Hero, huh?" Audri nodded. "Well," he started, an idea forming in his head. "You know...hero's always get rewards." He leaned closer to her and saw her eyes flicker and cloud with passion. "Oh, do they?" she asked in a slightly breathless voice. "They do." he replied, closing the gap between them a bit more. "Well then, by all means, claim your reward."
Brooklyn did just that, bending his head and claiming Audri's lips in a searing kiss that shook them both to the very cores of their beings. Her arms immediately circled his neck. He wrapped one arm around her waist and crushed her body against his, molding their bodies to one another. She whimpered and he caught it with his mouth, his desire for her escalating to a whole new level as she opened for him, her tongue dancing out to meet his. He was dying. She was going to be the death of him. The way she was pressing her luscious curves against him was destroying every rational thought he had. When her hands came down and the tips of her talons lightly caressed the sensitive joint between his wings, Brooklyn was unable to stop the low growl that rose in his throat. He quickly broke the kiss, knowing that if he would let things keep going the way there were, he would never have stopped.
Staring down into Audri's passion glazed eyes, Brooklyn tried his hardest not to look down to where her full breasts rose and fell with every breath she took. She stared back up at him with a mixture of surprise and awe, her lips slightly parted and swollen from his kiss. "God, Audri." he said in a hoarse voice. Pulling her to him, he wrapped his wings around her in a protective embrace. "Do you have any idea what you do to me?"
Audri snuggled closer to him. "The same thing you do to me, Brooklyn." she whispered. She moved her arms, wrapping them around his waist. It felt so good to be held by him. His strong arms around her, the warmth from his chest filling the small world he had created for them.
"Audri." his voice called softly to her. A small "Hmm?" was all she could manage in ways of a reply.
Brooklyn smiled down at the top of Audri's head and brushed his talons through her long silvery strands of hair. He made a quick decision, damning all consequences and tilted her head up, their gazes once again locking. "I'm not finished yet." he said with a sinfully rakish grin. Audri's full lips formed a surprised "o" and Brooklyn bent to kiss her once more when Goliath's voice called out, effectively evaporating the haze of passion that surrounded them. "Audri?"
"Damn it!"
"Bloody hell!"
Brooklyn and Audri looked at each other and laughed, covering their mouths with their hands to keep the sound from escaping. "I suppose I had best go see what he wants." she whispered, looking into the hallway as Goliath walked past, unaware of Audri and Brooklyn still holding each other in the darkened corridor.
"Yeah. You go ahead. I'll wait here." he whispered back. Slowly he released her from his winged embrace and took a step back. "Angela wants to watch a movie tonight so we'll all be in the living room later." Audri smiled up at him and nodded. "I shall be there shortly." She leaned up and gave him a quick kiss, her talons brushing against his beak in an affectionate caress and then went after Goliath.
"I am here Goliath!" She called, waving to the large lavender gargoyle when he turned to face her. "Ah, Good evening Audri, I trust if finds you well? I have been searching for you." Goliath said, waiting for him to join her. "Aye, Goliath. Very well, I was just out exploring." she cast a quick glance over her shoulders, seeing Brooklyn leaning against the wall in the corridor, his arms crossed arrogantly over his chest. She smothered a laugh and walked up to Goliath. The two walked a ways in silence through the hallway lined with age-old tapestries.
"So are you adjusting well enough?" Goliath asked. Audri considered his question. "Aye, well enough." she said. Reaching out she grabbed his arm and stopped him. He turned to face her, brow ridges lowered in concern. "Is everything all right?"
Audri looked up at him and felt a feeling of melancholy recognition flutter through her. She had seen that look in her fathers eyes many a time when he was worried about her. As she had done centuries ago before with her father, Audri sought to reassure Goliath that everything was fine.
"Goliath, I understand your concern for my well-being. In all truth it is good to know that even though you do not know me all that well, you still care." she said with a smile. "The past is done. There is nothing I can do to change that but put it behind me and start anew. I have mourned and shall continue to do so for the rest of my life. But I will not let it hinder me from enjoying my life now. You...your entire clan has been so wonderful to me. I am happy here."
Goliath heaved a deep sigh and smiled down at the little female. "Forgive me. I only wish for you to not be overwhelmed with all that is going on." he said. He laid a big hand on her shoulder. "I know Goliath, and I am not overwhelmed. Far from. All of you have done so much to help me understand. I thank you."
"You are very welcome. From now on I will worry less." he said "But only less, not completely." Audri laughed. "I think I will be able to handle that." she said.
"Now, I believe my daughter has a movie that she would like to watch. I shall not be joining you. I'm...going over to Elisa's for a while." Goliath said, a slight blush staining his cheeks. Audri found it endearing. "Thank you again Goliath. Shall I tell the others that you will not be joining us?" she asked. "No, that will not be necessary. I do believe they'll all figure it out. Go...watch your movie." he gave her a gentle shove forward.
"I shall see you at sunrise then Goliath! Have a nice time with Elisa and tell her I say hello." Audri called out over her shoulder as she trotted to the living room.
Brooklyn had already made a place for her right next to him and she sat down as Angela started the movie. For some reason unknown to her, Broadway had brought two boxes of Kleenex and handed one to her and one to Angela mumbling something about "chick flicks." Hudson reclined in his chair with Bronx laying beside him. Lex, Brooklyn and Audri took up the couch, and Broadway and Angela settled their selves in the love seat. The movie began.
Through the movie, Audri and Brooklyn continually moved closer until his arm was draped across her shoulders and her thigh was resting comfortably against his. By the end of the movie she was curled up in a little ball next to him and clutching a Kleenex while tears streamed down her face. Brooklyn would admit that the ending was incredibly sad but he was a guy. Guys didn't cry. He looked over at Angela and Broadway. Angela was much in the same state as Audri and Broadway was actually sniffling. 'I stand corrected.' he thought.
The credits rolled and Lex picked up the remote, pressing the rewind button. "Are you two going to be okay?" He asked the two females. Audri sniffled and sat up, dabbing at her eyes. "That was so sad! The way he cried for her when she died, that was so touching."
Angela nodded in agreement also wiping away tears. "When the men cry, it always gets me."
The trio rolled their eyes in unison. "Yeah, same here." Lex said in a voice dripping with sarcasm. Audri picked up a throw pillow and tossed it at him. "Oh hush up." she said laughingly.
"Aye lads, ye have to give them a break. I'll even admit the story was a sad one." Hudson said, his eyes unusually bright. Angela smiled at the elder gargoyle. "Thank you Hudson."
They all got up and slowly straightened up the living room, chattering amicably until dawn started to approach, then made their way out of the castle and to their perches. Audri hopped up to her designated spot, which was convenienly placed next to Brooklyn and stretched her arms above her head, emitting a loud yawn.
"Rough night?" Brooklyn asked once upon his own perch. Audri smiled over at him. "Oh terribly so, what with all the excitement." she replied. Brooklyn laughed. Audri looked into the deep brown eyes of the gargoyle she was starting to fall in love with, the gargoyle who had kissed her with such passion. She had to ask him if he felt the same. "Um, about all of...um..you know-." her voice drifted off.
Brooklyn understood what she meant though. "Tomorrow?" he asked. Audri nodded. "Tomorrow." she said. His hand reached out and cradled the side of her face, an unspoken promise in his eyes. Tomorrow.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gargoyles.
Another Spell Broken
Chapter Six
Brooklyn glided low over Central Park, silently following the Quarrymen in their pursuit of Lex. Checking to see if Audri was still following him, he increased his speed, flying over the Quarrymen and past Lex.
"What are Quarrymen?" Audri whispered, suddenly appearing next to him. Brooklyn looked over, surprised that she had caught up to him so quickly. "It's a group of humans who hate gargoyles. They want us all dead." he said.
Audri gasped. "Dead!? Whatever for?" Brooklyn shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. They haven't succeeded yet and they've been trying for well over a year."
Audri nodded and looked down to where Lex and the group of Quarrymen were, a small cry escaping her when Lex stumbled and hit the ground. Looking closer she could see something dark covering his entire arm. Blood. "Lex is hurt." she said softly. "Yeah, I saw. Come on." Brooklyn said, angling downwards to land.
The two landed a few yards in front of Lex, Audri reaching out to catch the smaller gargoyle as he rushed past them. "Lex, it's me! It's Audri." she said, trying to stop Lex as he lashed out at her. Brooklyn came up behind Lex and grabbed his arms, pulling them back behind him. "Knock it off Lex. We're here."
Lex looked at Audri with wide eyes, then turned his gaze to Brooklyn. "Christ. I thought you guys were Quarrymen! You scared the shit outta me." he said. He shook his head, a groggy feeling starting to overpower him. Sagging back against the grass he leaned heavily on his good arm and looked carefully at the deep gouge in his arm.
Brooklyn looked up at Audri. "Can you take stay here with him while I go help Angela and Broadway take care of those guys?" Audri nodded a reply. "Please be carefully." she whispered. Brooklyn smiled at her and with a curt nod, quickly went to help his other clan members.
Audri watched him go, a tiny feeling of worry settling in the pit of her stomach. Not being able to do much more at the moment she focused on Lex and set to work examining his arm. The wound was deep but nothing too serious. The blood had clogged at least and had stopped flowing. "Are you all right Lex?" she asked. Lex moved to push himself to a sitting position, wincing as pain shot up his arm. "I'm...fine." he said.
Audri ripped a length of cloth from the hem of her skirt. "You must get this clean as soon as we get back to the castle. We would not want to risk infection." she advised as she wrapped the cloth tightly around his upper arm. "What happened?"
Lex watched Audri's hands work, deftly tying the ends of the cloth in a secure knot. "I was flying too low. Bastards came out of nowhere. One of them shot at me and caught me in the arm. I lost control. Next thing I know my arm's covered if blood and I'm being chased by freakin' Quarrymen." He snorted in disgust and felt a wave of dizziness sweep over him.
"Come on." Audri said, holding out a hand to Lex. He took it and she helped him to his feet, steadying him as he swayed back and forth. "Feeling a bit dizzy." Lex said with a humorless laugh. Audri smiled down at him sympathetically. "Aye. You lost quite a bit of blood my friend." she slipped her arm under his, supporting his weight against her and scanned the area for the rest of the clan. "I wonder where everyone else went?"
Lex opened his mouth to answer when he saw a shadow move behind her. The silence around them was suddenly broken by an audible click and followed by the unmistakable hum of electricity. "Audri, look out!" he yelled, pushing her out of the way just as the hammer of the lurking Quarryman swung down. Lex jumped back but was unable to escape being hurt completely. The hammer clipped his chest, ripping away a small amount of flesh and sending a jolt of electricity through his body. Lex flew back and hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop.
Stunned, he lay there aching in places he never knew he could ache before. Unconsciousness came for him, beckoning to him with the promise of no pain. But he couldn't be much of a hero to Audri if he was out cold, he thought. As much as it pained him to do so, Lex pushed himself up and sat back on his knees with an exhausted sigh. He saw Audri getting to her feet not far from where he sat. Behind her, with a hammer poised and ready, stood the Quarryman.
Lex blinked several times, feeling incredibly dizzy. He had to warn Audri. "There....he's... he's behind you!!" he shouted weakly a moment before dizziness gave way to unconsciousness and Lex slipped into the darkness.
Behind her? Audri's head snapped up when she realized just what Lex was talking about. With a sick feeling in her stomach she spun around quickly on the balls of her feet and came face to face with the masked Quarryman. "Hey there pretty." he said in a voice laced with disgust. He swung at her and Audri quickly dropped down, kicking her leg out and knocking the man off his feet. Releasing a startled cry he fell to the ground, landing at an odd angle on his head, his hammer landing with a loud clang beside Audri. She quickly grabbed it and got back up, determined to get to Lex and make sure he was okay.
Kneeling down beside Lex, she sighed with relief to see his chest rise and fall. His breathing was not as even as she would have liked it to be but he was far from any serious danger. "Lex, can you hear me?" she asked, running her hand lightly across his brow ridge. Nothing. The poor thing was unconscious. Audri sat back on her heals. So now she was alone with a hopefully-still-unconsious Quarryman. Where was everyone?
Audri sighed again and turned to check on the Quarry man who was still....not lying where he should have been! Where had he gone? She'd only turned her back but for a minute. She whipped around in the other direction and gasped in surprise as a hand closed around her wrist and yanked her up. "On your feet, you stupid bitch!" snarled a voice close to her ear. Audri winced. The unconscious Quarryman had obviously not hit his head hard enough. Audri glared up into the masked face. "What will you do? Hit me with your little stick?" she asked disdainfully. The man merely laughed and drove his fist into her stomach. Air rushed out of her and she fell to her hands and knees.
"Nope. I'll hit ya with my fist, how's that?" The man said walking slowly around Audri and picking up his hammer. With a mean bark of laughter the Quarryman snapped down the handle of the hammer, charging it for impact.
Audri gasped for breath, one hand clutching at her stomach, the other supporting her weight. The bastard hit hard, she'd give him that. "Now I'll hit ya with my stick." She heard the man say. She lifted her head and pushed her hair out of her eyes to see the Quarryman looming above her with his hammer lifted high over his head. She threw herself backwards just as the hammer came down and crushed the pavement where she had been seconds earlier. Blue bolts of electricity scattered on impact.
Shrugging, the man raised the hammer once more. "Let's try that again, Whadaya say, pretty?"
"If she knew what it meant, she would probably tell you to go screw yourself." a voice said from behind the Quarryman. Audri's heart began to race. She knew that voice! The Quarryman spun around and his arms sagged, the hammer dropping to his side. Taking the chance while she could, Audri jumped up and ran to where Brooklyn stood, his eyes glowing fiercely.
"Are you okay?" he whispered when she reached him. He pulled her behind him and out of harms way. "Fine. Lex is badly hurt though. We must get him back to the castle."
Brooklyn nodded and turned his frightful gaze back to the lone Quarryman. "All your guys are down and mine will be here in a bit. Still feel like sticking around?" he asked. A deep growl formed in his throat causing the human to visibly shake. "That's what I though." Brooklyn brought his fist back and slammed it into the mans face, knocking him out cold.
"Hmm...now why did I not think to try that?" Audri mused, a small smirk turning up her lips. Brooklyn smiled at her but it never reached his eyes. Right away Audri knew something was not right. "What happened?" she asked.
"Nothing...it's nothing." he said. Audri didn't believe him. She gave him a quick once-over, her gaze landing on his left arm hanging limp at his side. "I would assume that does not feel very good." she said, walking up to him.
A weary laugh escaped Brooklyn. "Yeah, you could say that."
"I could put it back into place for you." she said, brushing her talons lightly across his neck, taking caution not to come to close to the joint of his shoulder. "Really?" he asked. Audri nodded. "Okay."
With permission given, Audri walked around Brooklyn and gripped his upper arm firmly. "Are you ready?" she asked.
"Go for it."
Audri closed her eyes, gritted her teeth and yanked hard, hearing the bone snap back into place with a loud crack. She didn't know who it had pained more, herself or Brooklyn. "Is that better?" she asked quietly. No response. She carefully leaned over his good shoulder and peered up at his face. His eyes were shut tight. "Brooklyn?" Audri whispered. Brooklyn raised his head slightly in answer, then gave a deep half sigh/half growl and opened his eyes.
"Mmm...damn." He experimentally lifted his shoulder. A dull throb now existed where the sharp pain had before, but at least his shoulder was back to where it should be. "Thanks Audri." he said, gently pulling the little female in front of him and curved one arm around her slim waist. She smiled shyly, her cheeks turning an adorable shade of red.
Unbidden, his mind suddenly went back to earlier that night, showing an image of Audri and himself locked in a passionate embrace on a rooftop. He could still feel her soft lips against his, warm and inviting. Did she feel the same thing? Was she feeling it now as he was? He tilted her chin up, thinking that maybe the answer he was looking for was in her beautiful eyes. Instead he caught sight of a small read scrape on her cheekbone.
"What happened here?" he asked, lightly tracing the skin around the small wound. Audri looked up at him in confusion and raised her hand, wincing when it came in contact with the tender flesh. "It must have happened when Lex pushed me out of the way of that Quarryman. Everything went so fast...I did not even notice."
Brooklyn immediately felt bad. He shouldn't have left Audri and Lex alone like that, what with Lex already being injured. "I'm so sorry Audri. I shouldn't have left you and Lex. I didn't think there would be any other Quarrymen around."
Audri shook her head at him. "you did what you had to do. Do not be sorry for that. Lex and I are fine. All Lex needs is for his wound to be cleaned and a night of stone slumber should have him cured in no time." She looked over to where Lex lay, his groggy movements indicating that he was starting to come out of his unconscious state. "It looks as if he is coming around. We should get him back."
Brooklyn nodded and watched Audri as she walked across the grass to Lex, fully appreciating the gentle sway of her well curved hips. Her matter-of-fact tone made him smile. She would make a very good mother someday. Brooklyn quickly stopped himself before he could conjure up an image of Audri with a bright blue eyed, white haired gar-child clinging to her skirts. 'Wishful thinking my friend' he though, 'wishful thinking.' At least for now it was.
He turned around to see what was taking Broadway and Angela so long and saw the two walking slowly toward him, hand in hand. He waved them over. "Did you get them all taken care of?" he asked. "Yeah, for a while at least." Broadway replied with a quick glance over his shoulder. "Those vile men never give up." Angela said, her lips curling into a sneer.
Brooklyn silently agreed with her as the three made their way over to where Audri was helping Lex to his feet. The Quarrymen would never give up. Why they couldn't realize that gargoyles were not out to harm people was beyond him. The only ones they had ever hurt were the ones who deserved it. Like, well...the Quarrymen. And obviously he wasn't the only one who disliked them, he though upon approaching Audri and Lex, Lex grumbling about how idiotic Quarrymen were in their black pants and black shirts, with stupid masks, toting "big freakin' sledge hammers that barley any of them had the actual muscle to work properly."
"I mean really...think about it" Lex was saying. "Why do the damn things hurt so much?! It sure as hell isn't from the morons swinging em. It's from the electric charge." He swayed and Audri was there to catch him, a patient smile curving her lips. "Come Lex. We must get you back home." She said softly. Her eyes raised to meet Brooklyn's in a silent plea.
Understanding what she wanted, Brooklyn stepped forward and hooked his arm through Lex's. "Lean on me Lex. I'm going to carry you home, all right?" Lex nodded slowly.
With his rookery brother leaning heavily against him, Brooklyn took one last look around. "Okay guys, lets get back to the castle."
Once back home, Brooklyn and Broadway were immediately bombarded with questions by Goliath. Managing to escape with a quick wave to Hudson, Audri and Angela managed to escape any interrogations and went to he kitchen with Lex to get his wounds properly taken care of. Audri quickly cleaned both of Lex's injuries with the peroxide Angela had given her. While working on putting a new bandage around his arm, Audri looked up at Lex. "So how are you feeling, Lexington?"
The smaller gargoyle regarded her through drooping eye lids. "Better. Tired, but better." he said.
"Here, eat something." Angela placed a large bowl of chips, a dish of salsa and a few cans of pop down on the counter. She and Lex immediately dug in while Audri watched with mixed confusion and amusement. Quickly picking up on how to eat the flat objects, she reached for one and dipped it into the thick red sauce. Upon her first taste, Audri fell in love with the spicy taste. "Mmm..these are very good. What are they?"
Lex picked up her unopened can of pop and pulled the tab up. "Chips and salsa. Classic snack food." he said, handing Audri the can. She took it from him and turned it slowly in her hands. "It's pop. You drink it." Lex explained. Hesitantly Audri raised the can to her lips and took a small sip, finding it much to her liking.
"It will get much easier Audri. I know things are very confusing at the moment, but we all went through this and we'll all help you as well." Angela said.
Audri smiled at her, genuinely touched by the other females caring tone and understanding. "Thank you." she said, surprised by the choked up sound of her voice. She took another sip of her pop in hopes to wash down the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat and sat on one of the high kitchen stools.
Irritated voices drifted down the hallway and into the kitchen where the three sat. "My, they do not sound very pleased, do they?" Audri asked.
"I know exactly what they need." Angela piped up, going for the large stainless steel refrigerator and the stack of 20 ounce steaks Broadway had packed in there for supper. "And what is it that they need?" Audri asked with an interested smile. "Food of course." Angela said brightly. Audri laughed softly. "Of course."
Brooklyn and Broadway entered the kitchen shortly after with glum expressions. "Hey guys, what's up?" Lex asked with a note of caution.Broadway shrugged his broad shoulders. "Just Goliath being Goliath. He feels that Audri isn't quite ready for so much excitement."
At that Brooklyn rolled his eyes. He leaned against the counter next to Audri. "Goliath thinks that we should allow you time to become adjusted before we take you on any of our 'crazy adventures'." he said using his talons to form quotation marks in the air.
Audri stared at him for a moment and then burst into peels of laughter. "Oh, he is just like my father. Always so protective." her laughter died away but her eyes continued to sparkle with suppressed humor. "I will speak with him, Brooklyn." she said, her hand alighting upon his shoulder. "And then you may take me on however many adventures you wish."
Was it just him or was there a teasing glint in her beautiful azure eyes. Audri blushed and quickly averted her eyes, her attention resting on Broadway as he prepared the steaks. She had been teasing him! And flirting! A broad grin split Brooklyn's face. Oh, she was good.
"So have you ever had a steak before?" Broadway asked Audri. She nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, aye. But never like this. McGregor's cooks always managed to burn everything." she said. Her fascinated gaze never strayed from where the steaks lay on the flat surface of the grill that partially covered half of the counter.
Broadway smiled as he flipped one of the steaks over, the meat making a delicious sizzling sound as it hit the grill. "Well then, you're in for a treat."
An hour later, Audri was walking down the hallway to the living room with a full stomach and a satisfied smile on her face when a hand closed around her wrist and pulled her into a dark corridor. Her startled yelp was cut off by a hand that came up to cover her mouth, but any beginnings of panic were quickly smoothed away when a gentle voice she knew all too well spoke up. "Hush Audri. It's just me." She heaved a great sigh and leaned back against the wall behind her. The hand slid away. "Hello Brooklyn." she said sweetly.
Brooklyn smiled down at the beautiful female. Even in the dark her eyes managed to glow, as if lit by some inner fire. "Hey." he said softly. "I wanted to apologize again about everything. Something...terrible could have happened to you and Lex." he shook his head, trying to rid himself of the images that had plagued him since returning to the castle. Images of Audri hurt and bleeding. He felt something warm touch his face and slide in a soothing motion across his cheek. A hand. Her hand. He opened his eyes to see Audri's gazing back up at him.
"What matters, Brooklyn, is that you were there when I needed you. You stopped him." she smiled at him and laughed softly, the musical sound hanging in the air. "My hero."
Brooklyn chuckled. "Hero, huh?" Audri nodded. "Well," he started, an idea forming in his head. "You know...hero's always get rewards." He leaned closer to her and saw her eyes flicker and cloud with passion. "Oh, do they?" she asked in a slightly breathless voice. "They do." he replied, closing the gap between them a bit more. "Well then, by all means, claim your reward."
Brooklyn did just that, bending his head and claiming Audri's lips in a searing kiss that shook them both to the very cores of their beings. Her arms immediately circled his neck. He wrapped one arm around her waist and crushed her body against his, molding their bodies to one another. She whimpered and he caught it with his mouth, his desire for her escalating to a whole new level as she opened for him, her tongue dancing out to meet his. He was dying. She was going to be the death of him. The way she was pressing her luscious curves against him was destroying every rational thought he had. When her hands came down and the tips of her talons lightly caressed the sensitive joint between his wings, Brooklyn was unable to stop the low growl that rose in his throat. He quickly broke the kiss, knowing that if he would let things keep going the way there were, he would never have stopped.
Staring down into Audri's passion glazed eyes, Brooklyn tried his hardest not to look down to where her full breasts rose and fell with every breath she took. She stared back up at him with a mixture of surprise and awe, her lips slightly parted and swollen from his kiss. "God, Audri." he said in a hoarse voice. Pulling her to him, he wrapped his wings around her in a protective embrace. "Do you have any idea what you do to me?"
Audri snuggled closer to him. "The same thing you do to me, Brooklyn." she whispered. She moved her arms, wrapping them around his waist. It felt so good to be held by him. His strong arms around her, the warmth from his chest filling the small world he had created for them.
"Audri." his voice called softly to her. A small "Hmm?" was all she could manage in ways of a reply.
Brooklyn smiled down at the top of Audri's head and brushed his talons through her long silvery strands of hair. He made a quick decision, damning all consequences and tilted her head up, their gazes once again locking. "I'm not finished yet." he said with a sinfully rakish grin. Audri's full lips formed a surprised "o" and Brooklyn bent to kiss her once more when Goliath's voice called out, effectively evaporating the haze of passion that surrounded them. "Audri?"
"Damn it!"
"Bloody hell!"
Brooklyn and Audri looked at each other and laughed, covering their mouths with their hands to keep the sound from escaping. "I suppose I had best go see what he wants." she whispered, looking into the hallway as Goliath walked past, unaware of Audri and Brooklyn still holding each other in the darkened corridor.
"Yeah. You go ahead. I'll wait here." he whispered back. Slowly he released her from his winged embrace and took a step back. "Angela wants to watch a movie tonight so we'll all be in the living room later." Audri smiled up at him and nodded. "I shall be there shortly." She leaned up and gave him a quick kiss, her talons brushing against his beak in an affectionate caress and then went after Goliath.
"I am here Goliath!" She called, waving to the large lavender gargoyle when he turned to face her. "Ah, Good evening Audri, I trust if finds you well? I have been searching for you." Goliath said, waiting for him to join her. "Aye, Goliath. Very well, I was just out exploring." she cast a quick glance over her shoulders, seeing Brooklyn leaning against the wall in the corridor, his arms crossed arrogantly over his chest. She smothered a laugh and walked up to Goliath. The two walked a ways in silence through the hallway lined with age-old tapestries.
"So are you adjusting well enough?" Goliath asked. Audri considered his question. "Aye, well enough." she said. Reaching out she grabbed his arm and stopped him. He turned to face her, brow ridges lowered in concern. "Is everything all right?"
Audri looked up at him and felt a feeling of melancholy recognition flutter through her. She had seen that look in her fathers eyes many a time when he was worried about her. As she had done centuries ago before with her father, Audri sought to reassure Goliath that everything was fine.
"Goliath, I understand your concern for my well-being. In all truth it is good to know that even though you do not know me all that well, you still care." she said with a smile. "The past is done. There is nothing I can do to change that but put it behind me and start anew. I have mourned and shall continue to do so for the rest of my life. But I will not let it hinder me from enjoying my life now. You...your entire clan has been so wonderful to me. I am happy here."
Goliath heaved a deep sigh and smiled down at the little female. "Forgive me. I only wish for you to not be overwhelmed with all that is going on." he said. He laid a big hand on her shoulder. "I know Goliath, and I am not overwhelmed. Far from. All of you have done so much to help me understand. I thank you."
"You are very welcome. From now on I will worry less." he said "But only less, not completely." Audri laughed. "I think I will be able to handle that." she said.
"Now, I believe my daughter has a movie that she would like to watch. I shall not be joining you. I'm...going over to Elisa's for a while." Goliath said, a slight blush staining his cheeks. Audri found it endearing. "Thank you again Goliath. Shall I tell the others that you will not be joining us?" she asked. "No, that will not be necessary. I do believe they'll all figure it out. Go...watch your movie." he gave her a gentle shove forward.
"I shall see you at sunrise then Goliath! Have a nice time with Elisa and tell her I say hello." Audri called out over her shoulder as she trotted to the living room.
Brooklyn had already made a place for her right next to him and she sat down as Angela started the movie. For some reason unknown to her, Broadway had brought two boxes of Kleenex and handed one to her and one to Angela mumbling something about "chick flicks." Hudson reclined in his chair with Bronx laying beside him. Lex, Brooklyn and Audri took up the couch, and Broadway and Angela settled their selves in the love seat. The movie began.
Through the movie, Audri and Brooklyn continually moved closer until his arm was draped across her shoulders and her thigh was resting comfortably against his. By the end of the movie she was curled up in a little ball next to him and clutching a Kleenex while tears streamed down her face. Brooklyn would admit that the ending was incredibly sad but he was a guy. Guys didn't cry. He looked over at Angela and Broadway. Angela was much in the same state as Audri and Broadway was actually sniffling. 'I stand corrected.' he thought.
The credits rolled and Lex picked up the remote, pressing the rewind button. "Are you two going to be okay?" He asked the two females. Audri sniffled and sat up, dabbing at her eyes. "That was so sad! The way he cried for her when she died, that was so touching."
Angela nodded in agreement also wiping away tears. "When the men cry, it always gets me."
The trio rolled their eyes in unison. "Yeah, same here." Lex said in a voice dripping with sarcasm. Audri picked up a throw pillow and tossed it at him. "Oh hush up." she said laughingly.
"Aye lads, ye have to give them a break. I'll even admit the story was a sad one." Hudson said, his eyes unusually bright. Angela smiled at the elder gargoyle. "Thank you Hudson."
They all got up and slowly straightened up the living room, chattering amicably until dawn started to approach, then made their way out of the castle and to their perches. Audri hopped up to her designated spot, which was convenienly placed next to Brooklyn and stretched her arms above her head, emitting a loud yawn.
"Rough night?" Brooklyn asked once upon his own perch. Audri smiled over at him. "Oh terribly so, what with all the excitement." she replied. Brooklyn laughed. Audri looked into the deep brown eyes of the gargoyle she was starting to fall in love with, the gargoyle who had kissed her with such passion. She had to ask him if he felt the same. "Um, about all of...um..you know-." her voice drifted off.
Brooklyn understood what she meant though. "Tomorrow?" he asked. Audri nodded. "Tomorrow." she said. His hand reached out and cradled the side of her face, an unspoken promise in his eyes. Tomorrow.