CONGRADULATIONS TO THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO FAVORITED, REVIEWED AND FOLLOWED! (If you would like the message I wrote for you to be deleted please tell me and I will do so immediately. Also if you would like me to delete your username as well from this chapter, message me and I will do so. I understand that some people don't want to be mentioned which is fine, but I just wanted you all to know your support is appreciated.)
Chapter Dedicated to:
Trying to Put Pen to Paper: Thank you for reviewing, I'm so glad you like it, and I hope you enjoy this chapter as well! I really want to thank you for sticking with me, even though in my first story I had trouble with updates and everything you stuck with me so thanks. You also helped me with ideas, and you're just amazing! (Sorry, if this dragged on too long, but again thanks!)
Vigatus: Hello, new reader! I'm so happy when I see a new person who reviewed my story, it makes me so happy! Thank you, I'm so glad you like it, and just thanks for reviewing. It literally brightens my day. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and have a wonderful day!
Netvolts: Good to see you again! I'm so glad you decided to keep reading it means so much to me. I hope this one is even better and that you enjoy this one as well. Thanks for adding it to your favorites!
Umbra1219: It's great to see your name again, and I'm so glad you liked the first chapter. You really boosted my confidence, when I saw that an old reader had returned! I promise it will be worth it, as I feel that my writing is slowly improving, and thanks for your support!
wolfblade17: It's great to see you again! I'm happy that you added me to your favorites even though this story just started out. It always makes me happy to see a previous reader come back because they liked it enough to want to know what happens next. It really does mean a lot to me and all I can say to convey that is thank you so much!
Dark Fox Tailz: Hi! When I first started out writing Beasts and Monsters you were the first to follow it and I remember how surprised and shocked I was. I didn't expect my story to get any reviews at all, but when I saw that you had followed my story! I was so excited, you were one of the first ones that helped me write, and to have your continued support is fantastic, thanks!
Scotland-Lassie: Thank you! You were one of the first two to follow my story so you really helped me write this chapter! You were one of my silent supporters, and I'm extremely grateful, again it's always nice to see an old reader come back. I hope you enjoyed my last story well enough and that you will enjoy this one too! Also I love your profile picture, it's extremely cute! Please continue to read and enjoy!
Also thanks to those who read, even if you didn't comment I hope you all enjoyed it! So without further ado, here is the chapter.
"True love is in no way simple, or easy. It takes time, patience, & understanding. If you really love one another, you will smile your way through anything." Nishan Panwar
Down in the slums of Manhattan were the homeless people who had come to New York with the hope of a fresh start, and making it big. Sadly, however, they were faced with harsh reality causing them to lose everything, and have to live on the streets. It was a particularly cold night as most were standing around a fire in a trash can, but alone in a corner was Maggie, Maggie Reed. She like the rest had lost everything, but she didn't want to admit she was like the rest of the people there, which was lead her to saying yes when she was approached by the mysterious man that fateful night.
"I'm not like these others," Maggie told the man as she stared at the two who were gathered around the fire, before looking back at the man.
"Of course you're not. I can see that," he assured her as he stepped forward wearing a trench coat and a high class cane.
"I haven't been in New York long, this is just a temporary setback," Maggie whispered more to herself than the man.
"As it happens, I need a temporary assistant. Easy work and it pays well, plus much nicer surroundings than these," he told Maggie as he wrapped an arm around her quivering shoulders from the cold air, as he waved his cane towards the homeless people.
"Wh…What would I have to do?" asked Maggie, as she stared curiously at the man knowing that this was possibly her only chance to change her life, but sadly as the man smiled down at her, she didn't realize just what she was getting herself into.
This was the last time any of the homeless people in the alleyway ever saw Maggie, as she walked with the man out of the alley, and somewhere much worse.
Airport
It was a sunny and cheerful day in New York as Elisa's brother, Derek, tested out a new plane as he did loops and all sorts of moves in the air. Below Elisa having stopped by for a visit was talking with a man at a hot dog cart ordering her lunch.
"You know what the Zen master says to the hot dog vender? Make me one with everything," Elisa jokes as the vender hands her the hot dog and sighs aggravated.
"Like I haven't heard that one before," he says annoyance clear in his voice as he wipes of his hands.
Now don't think too poorly of this man he like many others had come to New York with big plans, so you can imagine his dismay when he ended up being a hot dog vender at an airport. Granted he had it better than the ones who had nothing, but he didn't know. He was just a normal bystander in New York with thousands of other people just trying to make a living. Elisa had noticed this as she had made small talk with the man and couldn't help but smile at the normalcy of it, when just months ago she had been living the same mundane life. Before she had met the gargoyles Elisa's life was ordinary, she got up went to work, came home, it was a regular life. The ones most humans seem to lead, but now however she was introduced to gargoyles that had been turned to stone for a hundred years. It was hardly mundane not that she could complain seeing as she had bonded with the gargoyles, and was told that they had considered her a part of their clan, family.
Elisa slightly shook her head before turning her gaze back to the vender, "I'm looking for Derek Maza," she stated as she wiped her mouth for any remnants of hot dog away, and threw away her napkin.
"Oh yeah, you're his sister right, yeah he said you would be coming by," mentioned the vendor as he pointed to the plane that was starting to make its descent to the ground.
The plane skidded to a halt as Derek climbed out of the plane, as Elisa rested her weight on her right food, and placed her hand on her hip.
"New toy?" she asked.
"One of the perks of working for Mr. Xanatos," Derek said somewhat aggressively.
"Missed you at dinner Sunday," Elisa commented as she casually moved her hair over her shoulder, trying to make conversation.
"I was busy," he retorted without looking at his sister, seeming annoyed with her.
"What Xanatos not believe in letting employees visit their family," she bit back starting to get annoyed with her baby brother's attitude.
"Here we go again! How many times do I have to keep saying this, Xanatos isn't the reincarnation of Snivy-Whiplash, and even is he is I can handle it!" Derek angrily said as he glared at his sister.
"Hey, whoa, it's your life," Elisa said giving up as she turned her back to him, not wanting to get in a fight.
"You got that right," agreed Derek as he turned his back too.
"But I think you're fooling yourself," Elisa muttered quietly to herself, though Derek still heard but remained silent.
"Look, just promise me you will call if there's trouble," sighed Elisa, her worry for her brother overriding her slight annoyance with him.
"There won't be, but okay I promise," Derek relented as he turned to reface his sister.
"Cross your heart," said Elisa as she made a cross over her own heart.
"And hope to die," finished Derek as they both smiled and Elisa hugged Derek.
Clock Tower
The sun slowly began to sink as the gargoyles kin began to crack and then shattered as the gargoyles let out their growl like yawns as they walked inside. Some of their stone skin falling down all the way to the concrete and onto some unsuspecting humans.
Dakota covered her mouth a she let out a tired yawn, and leaned against Brooklyn as Goliath announced who would be patrolling tonight.
"Dakota, Broadway, Brooklyn, you three will be patrolling lower Manhattan," ordered Goliath as Dakota couldn't help but sigh and nod along with her Broadway, and Brooklyn.
Dakota while she did look up to Goliath, hated patrolling while she was a warrior she was used to an occasional fight here and there in Scotland. Life was simpler then they didn't have a huge city to protect just a small castle with some ungrateful humans, but here they had a huge city to protect with if anything more ungrateful humans who now had machines and devices to actually use against them. Yes, times were much simpler when all she had to worry about was a human throwing a sword around. Dakota jolted up from her leaning position against Brooklyn as he had been nudging her with his elbow.
"You okay?" he asked as Dakota smiled and nodded as she kissed him on the cheek in thanks.
Dakota and Brooklyn were now in human terms considered dating, they were rarely ever apart, and if they were they constantly worried about the other. Considering how dangerous it was here it was understandable, that they were a little worried about being apart, and considering the fact that they didn't have strength in numbers here increased their worry. Dakota and Brooklyn locked hands as they jumped down to glide to lower Manhattan soon joined by Broadway.
Gen-U-Tech
A large alarm went off as a bright red light began to glow, and a man in white fell to the screaming as he was pushed to the ground by what looked to be a large female cat with bat wings. As the alarm continued to ring throughout the building she ran into two other people in white and quickly pushed them aside with her superior strength and managed to run out of the building a she let out a feline like growl. Two men quickly ran out behind her with two tranquilizer guns as they looked around for any sign of the creature. As a man impatiently tapped his finger against the head of his cane.
Lower Manhattan
"Hey look," Brooklyn said as he pointed to a shadowy figure running into an alleyway.
"Demona?" questioned Broadway.
"Let's find out," Brooklyn said as his eyes narrowed and he released Dakota's hand and they descended down to the figure.
As they landed they soon saw that the figure wasn't Demona, but someone else.
"Hey that's not Demona," Broadway pointed out as Dakota couldn't help but slightly roll her eyes.
"Thanks for pointing that out Broadway, I didn't notice," Dakota said half-heartedly sarcastic as her expression softened toward the clearly frightened female.
"Get away from me," said the female as she continued to back away from the three gargoyles clearly frightened.
"No, don't be afraid we won't hurt you," Brooklyn assured, and Dakota quickly whipped around as she heard sirens.
They all watched nervously as humans climbed out of the can all with guns.
"There she is," said one of the men.
"But she's not alone," warned another man.
"Tranq them all let the doc sort it out," the first man said as the three gargoyles ducked out of the way, as tranquilizer darts started to fire at them.
Dakota quickly hid beside Brooklyn behind a dumpster as the female hid behind another dumpster.
"Bad neighborhood," Brooklyn chided as he grabbed the females wrist only for her to struggle and yell, "Let go of me!"
I saw the humans approaching and quickly grabbed Brooklyn pulling him away from the humans and the female, as she yelled, "Help me!" to them and my eyes narrowed slightly.
"Don't go with them!" yelled Brooklyn and I looked down at him sadly as he pulled away from my grip and jumped behind the dumpster Broadway was hiding behind. I quickly joined them as I heard Brooklyn say, "We have to save her," and I couldn't help but feel my heart twinge a bit at the tone of his voice.
"If you say so," Broadway said skeptically looking at me sadly for a moment before helping Brooklyn push the dumpster into the truck and I moved to help as it slammed against it.
We quickly jumped over the humans that had moved out of the way and Brooklyn quickly dug his claws into the van where the female was and began to scratch only for him to be hit by a dart.
"Broadway come on we're out of here," I said and he nodded understanding as I grabbed Brooklyn and we glided away as the vans quickly sped away.
"No…I got to save her..." Brooklyn whispered tiredly and I handed Brooklyn to Broadway as I turned to look at the side of the building trying to hide the twinge of jealousy I felt.
Castle Wyvern
A black and red helicopter circled the castle as it finally landed in the courtyard where Owen dutifully waited with a report for Xanatos. As soon as Xanatos was out of the helicopter Owen quickly strided towards his employer.
"We have just received some fascinating expense reports from Gen-U-Tech," informed Owen as he held out the documents detailing all of Gen-U-Tech's purchases.
"Yes, their R and D team is working on….something special for me," supplied Xanatos as he grabbed the expense report from Owen.
"Something involving armed mercenaries?" Owen asked somewhat curiously.
"Not to my knowledge," responded Xanatos as he looked over the report seemingly distastefully.
"Perhaps it's time to pay a visit," Xanatos decided as he made his way to go inside the castle.
"Mercenaries, huh? Maybe I'll come along," offered Derek, as he stepped forward from watching quietly the exchange of information.
"I'm sure that won't be necessary Derek," Xanatos said brushing off his offer.
"It's what you're paying me for, might as well get your money's worth," explained Derek, as he tried to persuade Xanatos to let him come along.
"Might as well," chuckled Xanatos, as he slightly smirked at Derek.
Clock Tower
Broadway and I quickly glided back to the clock tower, and the tranquilizer had just worn off and Brooklyn was beyond mad.
"As soon as they left, we caught the first updraft back," Broadway finished explaining as I looked at the stone flooring.
"She was so frightened," Brooklyn said sadly, and I slowly looked up at him, and scoffed.
Everyone turned to look at me questioningly and Brooklyn turned to glare at me.
"Okay, granted she was frightened, but it wasn't of those humans it was of us," I explained as I gestured to Broadway, Brooklyn, and myself.
"She needed our help," Brooklyn said angrily, and I felt my own eyes narrow.
"Are we talking about the same person, from where I stood she didn't want our help," Broadway said backing me up as he placed a hand on my shoulder, clearly agreeing with me.
"She wanted mine!" Brooklyn said defiantly.
"Oh yeah, her backing away from us and pleading for the humans to help her, and not fighting back as they got her away from us really screamed help me," I said bitterly as I rolled my eyes.
"Lover boy took this off her wrist," explained Broadway as he held out a metal bracelet, and I couldn't help but wince at the term 'lover boy.'
"It's definitely a tracking device, digital, long range, expensive," listed off Elisa, as she examined it.
"The symbol on the bracelet was also on the vans," I murmured as I gently took the bracelet from Broadway and showed Elisa the words that clearly printed Gen-U-Tech.
"Gen-U-Tech," Elisa mused trying to think of where she may have seen or heard of it.
Elisa promised to look into it, and get back to us tomorrow night. Brooklyn grudgingly agreed, and before Elisa left I was surprised to hear her say, "Hey, Dakota can I talk to you for a second?"
I nodded and walked over with her to the stairs that led down to the police station below.
"Are you okay?" she asked, as she placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I said avoiding her gaze, suddenly finding the brick tiled walls very interesting.
"It's okay to be jealous," she said softly and I quickly turned my gaze to her now angry.
"I'm not jealous," I said gritting my teeth at the accusation.
"It's only natural, but you know Brooklyn loves you," she continued and I again refused to look at her.
Did he love me? I know I was probably being over dramatic and I admit a little jealous, but aren't I allowed to? I mean I do feel bad for her but it's so blatantly clear that she doesn't want our help, but the way he spoke about her so….passionately couldn't help but spark jealousy inside of me. Is it so wrong for me to be mad that he's taking so much interest in a girl we know nothing about?! I don't think I'm being unreasonable….right?
Elisa sighed as she looked at the lone female gargoyle, and sighed. She often forgot how Dakota was still technically young adult in gargoyle years, and how like most girls she could be insecure about something's. Even though Dakota could be sarcastic, and occasionally ooze confidence she was still a girl with her insecurities and fears. Elisa couldn't help but feel sympathy for the female, she had lost almost everything, and here she was feeling that she was about to lose the one person she cared very deeply for.
Dakota was surprised as she felt herself being embraced by Elisa, and returned the hug.
"It's going to be okay, but you also need to realize that she may be in danger and need help. This girl isn't going to change your relationship, you know Brooklyn cares about you," comforted Elisa as she smoothed down the female gargoyles hair.
"I know, but is it enough?" I whispered as I pulled back from the hug to look Elisa in the eyes.
Elisa stared at me with no response, and I said, "That's what I thought," as I walked back towards the rest of my clan.
Gen-U-Tech
Inside the laboratory stood Xanatos, Derek, and the geneticist Dr. Anton Sevarius. Sevarius was by no means a young man with the gray showing in his light brown hair, and the hunch as he walked with his cane, His skin was pale from the lack of sunlight he received as he was constantly in doors except for certain occasions. He had thick black eyebrows, and two black beady little eyes. He wore a white lab uniform and he held himself with an arrogance that could rival that of David Xanatos.
"I think it's time for an update on our project Sevarius," Xanatos said somewhat annoyed as he stood impatiently in front of Sevarius.
"Of course," Sevarius assured as he gripped his cane and walked around the room towards his projector his cane making a click sound as it repeatedly hit the floor.
He pressed a green button causing the screen to lower and a projector to appear from behind the wall.
"You asked me to generate a designed creature based on a gargoyle, I considered cloning a living specimen but none was available," said Sevarius as he used his cane to point out certain things in his presentation and Derek looked slightly horrified at this information.
"Or has that changed?" continued Sevarius as he sneered at Xanatos.
"No, it has not," replied Xanatos.
Sighing Sevarius went on, "So I turned to gene splicing, to breed for desired traits. The composite genotypes would give our creation the strength of a, speed, and agility of a jungle cat. Plus a bat's ability to fly," explained Sevarius as the creatures then appeared on the screen.
"And with human intelligence?" Xanatos questioned as he continued to stare at the screen.
"Yes, yes of course, but the problem with the energy of the wing muscles would need to eat an equivalent of three cows a day. To maintain its strength," said Sevarius almost sounding slightly aggravated.
"So how do the gargoyles do it? Not to may cows in Manhattan."
"I surmise that they store solar energy while hibernating in stone every day," Sevarius said as the screen showed the gargoyles Goliath and Hudson as stone.
"Unfortunately, that trait is unknown in the animal kingdom, but there is another way to meet their energy needs. Electroficus Electricus. The electric eel, they store energy in specialized organs, electro receptors adapting this might solve our problem," Sevarius continued as he typed on the controls causing a tank to appear with electric eels swimming around.
"Yeah, well this is all a pretty impressive theory, but the big question is why you hired mercenaries," Derek questioned as he pointed at Sevarius.
"Oh, uh, yes it seems one of the test subjects escaped," Sevarius said as he turned around not meeting Derek's gaze.
"Test subjects!" Xanatos said surprised as Derek's eyes widened in shock.
"Oh, don't worry we got her back look," Sevarius assured typing again on the controls to then have cat like anthros with bat wings appear behind glass walls.
Two who had a more male physique were in one cage, and in the other was Maggie sitting curled up in a corner holding herself.
"You grew these from scratch, this quickly?" Xanatos asked not believing that at all.
"Well, no that would have taken too long. I used a shortcut human protocols, human test subjects injected with a mutagenic formula," Sevarius said sheepishly.
"What!" yelled Xanatos outraged.
"This is what you've been funding here?" Derek asked clearly angry as he pointed at the unfortunate humans who had been subjected to the experiment.
"I swear I had no idea. No that's not true I was fooling myself, I knew Sevarius had a bad reputation. I wanted results so badly that I ignored it, but don't worry we'll make it right. We'll find a way to reverse the mutation," Xanatos assured Derek.
"No, I won't let you destroy my work!" shouted Sevarius as he pulled out a tranquilizer gun aiming at Xanatos only to have Derek push himself in front of him being hit with a dart instead of Xanatos.
Derek quickly got up and jumped over the table as he tackled Sevarius to the ground and grabbed the gun, "Go ahead try something, I'd love to do that again. That's funny I'm not feeling sleepy?" Derek said slightly confused as he pulled the dart out from his shoulder.
"Fool, that wasn't a tranquilizer that was a dart loaded with the mutagenic formula, the same formula I used on them," laughed Sevarius.
Derek held his head as Sevarius sat in a chair as Xanatos stood in front of him.
"You better have a cure," warned Xanatos.
"I do, right up here," assured Sevarius as he lightly tapped his head.
"But why would I help you destroy my work?" Sevarius said his tone showing how preposterous of an idea he thought it to be.
"There's a couple of police detective's here, Doc. There investigating a kidnapping," the man over the screen said as he showed Elisa Maza and her partner Detective Bluestone.
"By all means doc, invite them in. Let's give them the slide show, introduce them to the finished product," taunted Xanatos as he gestured towards the mutates.
"You wouldn't dare, you bankrolled everything," surprised Sevarius looked at Xanatos with blatant fear on his face.
"You're right, we'll both go down for this but I've been in prison before, have you?" Xanatos said menacingly as he clutched Sevarius by his lab coat before pushing him back into the chair.
"The police, the press, the public, they'll crucify you, and if they don't I will," vowed Xanatos.
"I can begin to work on the antidote right now," Sevarius said somewhat desperately.
"How are you feeling?" asked Xanatos, as he walked over to Derek who was uneasily rubbing his head.
"Pretty lousy," Derek said pained.
"Just say the word and I'll have her brought up here. Don't worry about me this is my fault as much as Sevarius's," Xanatos said referring to his sister who was on the screen.
"No, I can't face her now maybe when he's cured me," Derek said worriedly as he started to break out in a sweat.
"Alright you heard him get rid of them, and get to work," ordered Xanatos.
"Oh!" yelled Derek as he clutched his stomach in pain.
"Derek what's wrong?" asked Xanatos as he tried to look at Derek,
"Help me," he whispered as he looked up at Xanatos, his eyes beginning to form into that of a cat and his teeth began to grow sharp and pointy like fangs.
Clock Tower
To say things between Brooklyn and I had been tensed would be an understatement. Brooklyn was clearly mad for the things I had said about the female, and instead of either of us apologizing like adults, we had stuck to just not talking with each other. Instead of our usual kiss and embrace as we woke up Brooklyn ignored me and walked inside.
"Dakota, I would like to speak with you," said Goliath, and I suppressed my groan this week just got better and better.
"What did I do?" I asked as I clutched my arm with the other, looking up at Goliath hoping this wouldn't be about Brooklyn and me.
"It's about Brooklyn and you," I silently wondered if I had done something bad a thousand years ago to be forced into this situation.
"It's clear that you and Brooklyn aren't getting along right now, and I won't tell you what to do. However, if the female does need help we will offer it to her," Goliath said firmly as I nodded silently.
Goliath sighed as he placed a hand on my shoulder and I looked up to meet his gaze, "Love is never easy, but if you can overcome this obstacle together you two can survive anything," said Goliath, and I allowed a small smile to make its way on my face, as Goliath gave me his own smile and lightly squeezed my shoulder before heading in leaving me to my thoughts.
Please review!
Okay, in this chapter I tried to be more descriptive, and you will notice I didn't completely finish this chapter because I'm thinking about whether I should do something or not for the ending, and I thought it was nice idea to stop it here. Note that the next chapter will probably be shorter than this, but it will be out quicker due to that, I assure you, you won't be waiting long, it will probably come out Monday or Tuesday, maybe even tomorrow if I finish my project for science early. Thanks again for reading, and I hoped you enjoyed it. I'm sort of also trying out different points of view you may have noticed, and sorry if it's confusing at some parts hopefully it isn't. Also if you have read this far, can you please tell me what you think of Dakota as a developing character and her and Brooklyn's relationship. If you don't please still review even if you just write good, I'm fine with that it shows that you like it and encourages me to write.
Again, if some of you would like to be removed from this or simply have the message deleted tell me and I will do so. Also if you would like not to be mentioned tell me, and I will not mention you anymore. I say this because someone message me before and asked me to not mention them so I completely understand, and I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable if I mention them.