A/N: I figured I wouldn't get as many reviews as my other stories. I know that this section doesn't have a lot of following, but maybe after the first three chapters more than a handful of people will review. Even though there were only a few, you guys have encouraged me to continue my story to the bitter end. So thank you.
-Also, I want to apologize for any and all historical references that I get incorrect. I did not do any extensive research for this story as it is only for my leisure. I am taking everything off the top of head. I will also be changing Brooklyn a bit to fit my storyline. In the beginning he will be more stand offish, trying hard to prove that he can live up to what Goliath needs him to be when and if he is ever to become the leader of the Gargoyles. Just so you know I am doing it on purpose.
Chapter 1: Guardian of the Night
I traveled in the cloak of darkness. Few people knew what my father had sanctioned me to do. I understood though. Who would willingly want people to know that they have sent their only daughter off to be the servant to the devils children? Our people would be up in arms in minutes hunting me down only to rescue me so that, hours later, they can hang my Father from the dead man's noose. I sighed shaking those dark thoughts from my head as I leaned further back to hide my figure from peering eyes that might see me on this disserted stretch of road.
The carriage rocked and swayed with gentle ease as we moved through the early darkness, the sun only setting minutes before hand. We would make it to Castle Wyvern in only a few short hours. Not nearly long enough for me to come to terms about my sudden departure from my home. I could barely believe it myself that only yesterday I was running through the fields to get back home only to be shipped off from it the next evening. It was all so strange.
In the mist of my musing the carriage came to a sudden stop. I immediately set up straight fearful as to why my coachman would make the sudden halt. He had been strictly ordered by my Father to not do such as thing. Not when creatures as fearsome as the ones I would be serving were running about the woods. I leaned towards the door, holding my breath to listen as I heard the coachman speak in a startled voice. However his words were muffled by the shifting of the horses and the swishing of chains.
I clenched the cushioned bench beneath me as I waited for what would occur next. These were dangerous times even without mystical beings flying about. As the seconds ticked by I could only fear the worst. Praying Highway Robbers hadn't decided to prey upon the single stagecoach that occupied the road between the two kingdoms. I felt movement as my belongings were being unloaded from the back of the coach. My previous idea that Highway Robbers had indeed decided to prey upon us only solidifying as the minutes ticked on. After what I assume was end of the seizure of my belongings the back of the coach suddenly lifted back to its original height.
I prepared for the worst.
I have heard what happens to beautiful young women who are found stranded on the sides of roads by Highway Robbers. It only took me a moment to decide that I wouldn't be a victim like so many other women before me. And if I did become one I would do it with all the grace and honor I could muster. So taking a deep breath and straightening the front of dress I took hold of the carriage door and stepped out of my coach.
"Greer why have we stopped we still have another hour at the very least…," I stopped mid sentence as I stood face to face with one of Satan's devil children.
"So'ry Princess we're changing mounts. Your Father decided to have us meet half way," Greer explained to me. However the information barely processed through my brain as I looked upon the gigantic beasts before me. They looked exactly how the stories of old said they would look. My mouth fell open and then closed quickly as I regained my composer. No need to embarrass my Father and my people by acting a fool in front of these creatures of the night. I am a Princess after all. So I did my best to stop the shaking that had over taken me and dipped into a low curtsy.
"It's a pleasure," I said not looking up from the floor to afraid to see my childhood monsters in the flesh.
As I rose from my position I could hardly bring myself to look them in the eyes. These creatures looked at one another as if they were having a private conversation with one another. Then they looked back down at me as if I was the lower, more grotesque creature.
"All of this over some human woman?" one of the creatures spoke. I assumed she was female from the lithe voice she carried and the long blonde locks that cascaded about her. As I studied her closer I realized how human her face really was. Her high arched eyebrows so similar to that of the women in my own village, lips full and red along with a slender body. It was all of course hidden behind the long tail, bat like wings, indigo skin and grotesque bone structure.
"Goliath orders," the other one, shorter than his female counterpart said in clipped words. His long white hair shone brightly against his rustic red skin. My attention immediately diverted to him. A leader, his tone spoke to me.
"Who is Goliath?" I all but demanded as I looked between the two. My head held high as I addressed them as lady of my stature would address anyone below me.
"Our leader," the woman spoke as if this was something I should have already known. I still didn't uncoil my body from its position of grandeur as I continued my questioning.
"And what are your names?" I asked slightly miffed that neither had bothered to introduce themselves to someone of my significance. Again they exchanged another look as if again I had said something odd.
"I do not understand why humans have such a fascination with names. Why must we categorize ourselves?" the woman spoke to her comrade with obvious intelligence.
"Goliath says it's so they have a feeling of connectivity to one another. It is why he allowed them to name him," the red one spoke to the sapphire one.
"Well what do you call one another?" I asked them as I watched their exchange. Again slightly upset that they decided to ignore me. It was all very alien to me.
"Brother and Sister. We are of the same race thus of the same origin," the blonde one replied to me. I shook my head at the absurdity of the situation. It was as if I was discussing philosophy with my old tutor over the diversity of names. I decided to drop the subject; it would probably be explained to me in further detail by a human when I arrived at Castle Wyvern. I looked about us in the night. I suddenly became aware that we were standing in the middle of the pitch black road with no other mode of transportation in sight.
"If we're switching coaches where is the other one?" I asked again confused on how exactly they believed for me to get to Castle Wyvern. I couldn't believe it if they asked me to walk the remaining distance.
"Horses have a natural fear to us," the blonde began and the burgundy skinned one interrupted with "which they should."
"So we will have to glide," the blonde concluded.
"Glide?" I asked obviously not liking the idea one bit.
"You'll get used to it," the blonde responded as she loaded my luggage onto her shoulders and arms. It was while I was watching her that I realized how powerful these creatures truly were. I turned to Greer knowing my time with the last person from my home was soon to be over.
"Goodbye Princess," he murmured as he knelt to bow before me, his arm crossing his chest in our family stance. I knelt beside him and hugged him dearly. He was my guardian even before I could walk and leaving him now was like leaving my older brother.
"I will come back someday," I whispered to him as we hugged one another, tears prickling my eyes as we pulled apart. He pulled us both to our full heights, wiping away my tears as a small smile danced across his aging features.
"Of course you will and if not, I'll always come and visit," he said to me giving me a hope I hadn't felt in the entire trip here. I nodded my head as I turned from him to face my future with the monsters from my dreams.
"I am ready," I said as I moved forward. The red creature hoisted me up into his strong arms, cradling me carefully against his broad chest. He and his counterpart both took hold of the carriage I had used to make my trip this far. Their elongated nails penetrated the strong wood as they raised themselves up on top of the carriage. With a look from one another, me clinging to the red one for dear life, they opened their large wings and took off into the night. Both the blonde and red beast flapped their large bat-like wings to get up further into the night sky, leveling out just above the tree tops.
I tucked myself closer into the crimson skinned creature, terrified to look down. His arms tightened around me as I did so, tucking my head underneath his chin. I felt oddly safe even a hundred feet up in the air with nothing below me. But the panic still didn't leave me as we crossed the distance.
"Do not be scared, we are not far," the red-one spoke to me his deep voice vibrating through his chest.
"I am not scared," I stated more out of reassurance to myself than to him.
"Of course not," he responded and I looked up to see what I assumed was a slight smile on his face. We fell back into silence; the wind whipping at my skirts a we turned and weaved slowly through the air. I took a chance and looked down and immediately regretted it. It only caused me to cling tighter to the creature holding me.
"What am I to do at Castle Wyvern?" I asked with a stuttered voice trying to distract myself from the impending fall if it was to ever occur. He said nothing at first and I figured he wasn't allowed to speak to a mere human without proper authority.
"From what I gather you will be doing more than just helping around the castle. I believe Goliath would like for you to teach us how to be more acceptable to humans," the red skinned one spoke in a low careful voice. As if, if he spoke any louder he might frighten me.
"But you're around humans all the time," I countered not believe that I would be much help if they haven't learned enough already.
"Our humans only tolerate our presence, the ones who actually socialize with us have grown too accustom to our ways. We need an outsider to show us what we need to improve upon," the red-skinned creature explained to me.
"Why?" I asked still confused as to why they would even need me for this.
"Why do we want to become more acceptable to humans?" he asked and I nodded my head underneath his. "We have been around this country for a very long time. We are tired of being feared from the people we are sworn to protect. We are no different from you. We still feel emotion, anger, happiness, fear, joy and even some of us love," he explained the obvious regret evident in his voice and yet I still didn't understand but I accepted it for what it was. The rest of my flight was left in silence as we transcended the distance to Castle Wyvern.
When we landed I was greeted by an array of people and creatures. At first the red-skinned one was hesitant to let me go, but he gently conceded and allowed me to slip from his grip. I quickly straightened my skirts and pulled my hair back behind me as I was approached by a beautiful woman in long white and blue skirts. I never did bother to turn around to thank him for the ride. I was too busy trying to be presentable to my hostess.
"Good evening Lady Alexandra," the woman spoke to me and we both bent to curtsy to one another.
"Good evening to you…," I let my sentence trail unaware of what this woman's name might be.
"Princess Katharine," she answered as she braced me a familiar like hug. I felt relief wash over me as she did so. I didn't feel nearly as alone as I should have. "We welcome you to our home."
"Thank you," I respond before she turned to begin introducing me to various parties of the house. The Captain I soon realized was the liaison between the Gargoyles and the humans of Castle Wyvern. While everyone else it seemed pretended that only Goliath, a tall, strong Gargoyle, was the only one who seemed to exist within Castle Wyvern.
The Princess and I began to walk about the Castle as we discussed my duties here at Castle Wyvern.
"I was not privy to much of the discussion between your Father and Goliath's clan. But from what I can gather you will be their social liaison between our two races. Goliath feels the need to associate himself with the human race. Saying it will help them better protect us if we know more about our habits. The details are scarce on my part but Goliath I am sure will fill you in quickly," Princess Katharine explained to me and I nodded my head in understanding. It was then that she left me at the dividing line between the humans and the Gargoyles. Both Goliath and the red-skinned one were waiting for me on the other side. I bid my farewell to the Princess and took my first steps over the line between humans and Gargoyles.
"Good evening," Goliath spoke to me with a deep authoritarian voice that brought shivers to my arms. I lowered myself, not completely like I had when I had first met the people of his kind before. He nodded his head in acceptance as he ushered me forward. "I hope you don't mind, my brother will be joining us."
"Of course not," I responded as we made our way through the small Gargoyle village. I could feel the eyes of the red one on my back as he walked behind Goliath and me.
"I am sorry you were placed in this predicament. We normally do not associate our selves so closely with the human race. But my clan and I believe that the era of Gargoyles is coming to an end. The only way that my race will be able to survive the next few thousand years is to assimilate ourselves within the human race. Since they are the ones that seem to be thriving the most in this new world of ours," Goliath stated and I slowly began to acknowledge the fact that they weren't as stupid as everyone made them out to be.
As I walked between the two Gargoyles I noticed that every Gargoyle that we passed was of a different shape and of a different color. However there was a few that resembled one another. This I assumed meant that they were related in some form or another. I was taken around the small village and shown what the Gargoyles did in everyday life. Sparing seemed to be the main highlights of their days. A few would tend to the smaller Gargoyle children and Gargoyle eggs, but for the most part they trained for battle.
We rounded a corner and took a few set of steps up to a small balcony that over looked the Gargoyles area of the castle. It was so surreal. I looked out over the land, so familiar to my own that I felt a tugging of my heart.
"We are not what the humans make us out to be," Goliath informed me not taking his eyes off of a stunning red-headed Gargoyle that was sparing below us. "We are just like you. We only look different on the outside."
I looked over at him as he looked adoringly down at the female Gargoyle below. I saw her look up and catch him watching her. She only smiled softly before moving to attack her opponent. I saw that look once before. It was years ago when I was very young. It was right before my Mother died, she out talking to one of the locals whiles my Father and I watched her from my window above. He had loved her so much and the look Goliath had now mirrored that of my Father's all those years ago.
"You love her?" I ask "The red headed one?"
Goliath turned to look at me. As if for some reason he had forgotten I was there standing next to him. So consumed was he looking down upon this creature he held dear to his heart.
"Yes," he replied slowly looking from me to the crimson one beside me. I turned my head to look at him, his white hair shinning in the night, his dark eyes staring at me in silent confusion. A moment of silence seemed to overtake all of us. My blue eyes never leaving that of the dark brown of the crimson creature beside me.
"My Brother here will be your guardian," Goliath interrupted and we both broke our contact with one another.
"Wait what?" the red demon asked. "I don't think that would be the greatest idea Goliath."
"I agree," I added, "I am more than capable of taking care of myself."
"No," Goliath stated and from the way the red Gargoyle tilted his head I realized the conversation had been closed. Being the lady that I had grown up to be, I knew better that to talk back to the authority figure. "I do not want her injured during her stay with us. People are already are hostile to the Captain because of his close association with us. A woman will only feel the brunt of their frustrations more." He explained to us and I could on a level understand his reasoning. The lines between humans and gargoyles had been clearly drawn. The red demon and I would most definitely be crossing them with this new socialization effort.
"Of course," I replied with a bow of my head.
"Excellent; my Brother will be your night time guardian and will remain in your presence at all times during the night. I believe Princess Katherine is working on getting you a more proper escort for during the day. However we both know once you've become more adjusted to our schedules, night will become your day and the day your sleeping hours," Goliath summed for me as the red one motioned for me to follow him inside the castle. I curtsied low for Goliath before quietly following the crimson demon into the heart of Castle Wyvern.
I followed him silently as he lead me up a flight of narrow, stone steps. I could see doing so was rather hard for him. His bulk seemed to take up as much space as possible as we moved up the winding stairs. His feet clicked across the stone in an eerie sort of way while the valances sputtered shadows across the walls. I lifted my skirts high above my ankles, afraid that I might trip on them a tumble into the darkness below us.
"Goliath believes placing you away from the humans and gargoyles will allow you some better privacy," the red demon, my guardian, explained to me. "He says humans prefer silence every now and again."
"Yes, we do," I replied softly to him as we finally made it up the last few steps into my new quarters. He was right. My new room was far away from many of the humans. It was a tower that over looked the dividing line of both the human and gargoyle realms. A small balcony led outside, perfect for my night time guardian to perch whilst I am in my room. "What happens at dawn?" I asked as I moved about my new quarters. I noticed that my luggage had already been brought up and placed at the foot of my bed.
"We turn to stone," he answered, "the process heals us if we are injured and allows us to conserve energy."
"Oh," was my simple response. It was odd that any creature would turn to stone during the day only to awaken at night. It only confirmed the stories I had heard as a child. They truly were demons of the night.
"What is it that I am to call you?" I asked him as I finished my sweep of the room. It was large and barely decorated. It is so unlike my room at home, where it was plush and full of memories. I looked backed at the red creature that stood awkwardly in my room. He shifted as the searched for an answer, his long tail shifting from side to side as he thought. "You don't want me to just call you Gargoyle do you? I think that would cause a bit of confusion after awhile" I pressed further.
"Do you have to name me?" He asked and it was in that moment that his whole demeanor changed. He seemed so unsure, so young.
"Well I don't have to. It will just be easier in the long run. I mean what if I need you or if I am looking for you? I can't just go around saying have you seen my Gargoyle? Now can I?" I clarified for him. He cocked his head to the side his white mane falling about his shoulders, contrasting beautifully with the rustic red of his skin.
"I suppose that will cause a problem, especially for the humans," he agreed, his eyes never leaving mine.
"Humans are funny about those kinds of things. If I start saying your mine they'll get the wrong impression I am sure," I further explained as my hands began to play with a piece of my skirting.
"Then whatever name you deem worth of me is fine," the red creature spoke and I couldn't help but feel connected to this creature in front of me. So calm and reassuring yet uncertain in his own being was he that I couldn't figure him out like all the others. He just didn't fit.
"My Father has traveled most of this world. Many of the people that he meets in these different lands come every so often to visit us. One of them was a man from the Netherlands. He was a very tall and proud man. He had hair as white as snow, just like yours," I paused as I remembered my younger years. I was so young and naïve then. "His name was Christoffer Cobous. He spoke a strange language called Dutch. He taught some of it to me. One of those words he taught me reminds me of this place." I said to him as I looked down at the ground. "Breukelen."
"Breukelen?" He asked slightly confused. "What does that mean?"
"It means broken land," I stated "that's what this place is. A broken land, divided between two races with very little means holding it together. "He looked at me silently as if taking in the name and rolling it around in his head.
"Breukelen it is then," he replied and I couldn't help but smiling. Maybe this wouldn't be so terrible after all.
A/N: BAM! Read and Review. I know this chapter isn't spectacular but the next one should be. Gotta get the ball rolling. Unfortunately it will be a very slow rolling ball until it gathers momentum.