Chapter 57

For a long time they'd all stood there, staring at Helen. None of the wanted to hurt her, not when they knew she was just an innocent caught up in the crossfire. Ni was clearly planning to keep this as dirty and underhand as possible and there was nothing any of them could do about it. Or was there? Slowly Taylor's eyes began to examine their surroundings. All he needed was a single, small carving or graffiti or something… He could do whatever he needed to after that, he just needed a starting point.

It took him a few moments, but he eventually spotted the remainder of a gargoyle bust on the roof edge of one of the nearby buildings. Focussing his attention on it, he willed it to come to life. In his chest his heart pounded like mad. He'd never brought anything into existence before without touching something directly connected to it. He had no idea if this would work and all he could really do was pray now was a good time for his powers to make a dramatic advancement.

For a long time the stillness of the bust resembled the eerie stillness of the situation they were trapped in and, as Taylor became close to the point of completely giving up, he finally spotted a tiny amount of movement from the wrecked gargoyle. Keeping his concentration up, he willed it to pull itself from the wall it was embedded in. Painfully slowly it obeyed his command, forming itself into an almost faceless winged beast.

Flicking his gaze back towards Ni and Helen, he prayed neither one of them had noticed what he'd just done. From the looks of their faces, if they'd spotted anything, they weren't letting on. Taylor wasn't sure if he was relieved or disappointed about that. But either way he knew it gave him an opening to see just how much he could do with his powers without having to make any obvious movements. Switching his focus back to the gargoyle, he willed for it to change shape. He knew exactly what he wanted it to become and he fixed the image firmly into his mind.

Again there was a long expanse of nothingness, as the gargoyle silently circled overhead. Feeling it was at risk of drawing attention to itself if he didn't sort it out quickly, Taylor changed what he was willing for it to do. Now bidding all his concentration on the idea that he could control its actions. To his relief the gargoyle set out on a definite course, taking it beyond where Helen and Ni were standing. With his heart pounding hard in his chest, he continued to will one goal and one goal only into the damaged creature. To find his cousins and, if possible, help them escape.

'Do you think we should make an appearance of our own,' Mokuba smirked at her, as the sent of his brother's power reached them both.

'Then who'll be left to guard the children?'

'Their locked in Serenity,' he rolled his eyes, 'they're not going anywhere and we both know it.'

'I don't know,' she pressed her lips together, 'I have this feeling like we're overlooking something.'

'More like we're being overlooked,' he shook his head. 'Look, if we're truly accepting our new position in life then surely we need to be out there proving we're up to the task.'

'You make it sound so simple.'

'It is,' he shrugged, 'we both know it is. So what do you say?'

'I still don't like the idea of leaving the kids on their own.'

'Then maybe we should take them with us.'

'And give them a chance to escape?'

'No, to give them a chance to see their waited for saviours fall.'

'I don't know, I think that's even more risky than leaving them here on their own.'

'Come on Serenity, we both know we should be out there.'

'Do we?'

'Yes, we do. I know you can feel it just as much as I can. That's why we can smell their power. Because they want us to go out there and take it from them.'

'You can't be sure of that.'

'Can't I?'

'No, you can't, but you are right about one thing.'

'What's that?'

'I do so want to be out there when they fall.'

Grinning darkly, his pale eyes met her even paler gaze.

'So then, why don't we listen to what we're telling ourselves and get out there?'

'Because of the children,' she remained firm, 'we can't leave them on their own and we can't take them with us. And we both know whoever has to stay will never forgive the other for leaving.'

'But we need to be out there, even you've admitted that.'

'I didn't say I needed to be out there, just that I desired it.'

'And there's some kind of difference.'

'Mokuba,' she half scolded him, 'act like yourself.'

'I thought I was.'

'No,' she shook her head, before moving herself away from him slightly, 'you're not. You're acting like…'

'A demon?'

'Yes.'

'Then I was right, I am acting like myself.'

'No.'

'What do you mean, no?'

'I mean…' she hesitated for a moment. 'I'm not sure what I mean.'

'You're not used to the whole demon thing yet, are you? You're forgetting it will change us.'

'We've already changed. Or rather you've already changed.'

'And you think you haven't?'

'I don't know,' she shot him a look, 'have I?'

'I think so.'

For a few moments they silently held the others gaze. Then a shared grin spread across both of their faces and they mutually began heading towards the door.

'They won't even know we're gone,' Mokuba chuckled darkly, 'so what's the harm?'

'I can't think of any right now,' Serenity shared his amusement, 'and I do so want to be there when they fall.'

'And they will fall, because our children are meant to belong to us.'

'And they will,' she laughed, 'because nothing can prevent the inevitable from happening.'

'Nothing at all.'