The next night, Goliath still said that Brooklyn could take Sil to the park, but patrol had to come first. Then dinner. Only after that would the two of them be free to go.
Sil had greeted them as they woke up, like usual since he had come here. He would wait to eat until they came back this time.
From a building close by the Eyrie Building, there was a certain blue-skinned, redheaded female gargoyle using binoculars to watch the castle. She was trying to get a better look at the new creature that had come into the world when Brooklyn had been returned to them. She wasn't going to let a chance slip by her to get this creature on her side. She continued watching.
The clan took off on their patrol, leaving together this time. Even Hudson and Bronx came. It must have been serious if they were going too.
Demona saw the whole clan leave the castle. This would be her best chance to get in and talk to this creature. She saw that he was left behind. He didn't look too pleased.
She waited for the clan to get a good distance away before she left her place on the building. She glided over to the castle.
Sil was going to go to the TV room while he waited. He didn't get far as he heard a landing happen. Had Brooklyn come back? He took a look and he saw it was a gargoyle, but not the one he thought it was.
"Hey!" Demona called to him.
"You calling me?" Sil put a hand on his chest, referring to himself.
"Yes. Come here. I'd like to talk to you." she stated.
Chamberlain remembered some things that Brooklyn had said about this female gargoyle. He would be wary, but he went over to see her. But then, Demona wasn't so different from himself in some ways.
He got closer to her but kept his distance. "Hmm, yes? You, Demona?" Sil asked.
"Yes, I am."
"Why you here?"
"I would like to find that out too, about you. Who, and what are you, Creature?" Demona demanded.
"Am Skeksis, from planet Thra. Name is SkekSil. Lord Chamberlain." Sil replied.
"Do you always talk like that?" she asked.
"Chamberlain always talk like this."
"Whatever. I came here to talk to you about if you would be interested in having a job?" Demona declared.
"Hm? What sort of job? Sure, want one to be part of this world. Also told you are immortal. That true?" he asked.
"Yes, it's true. As for the job, you would come and live with me at my facility, Nightstone Unlimited. It's full of possibilities." she explained. In reality, she was planning on getting him to be studied.
"How you become immortal, Chamberlain wants to know. Hmm?" Sil asked.
"It's not important. All I will say is that it was given by some magical sisters a long time ago. Do you want a job or not?" she demanded.
Sil put a finger to his mouth, thinking. "Hmm, want a job, yes. But not leaving castle. Would have to leave this clan?" he asked.
"Yes. You will have much better facilities than this. A real job. But what are your gifts, anyway?" Demona asked.
"Advisor. Politics. If for science reasons, not much into that. Help once in a while, but just not Chamberlain's best understanding of." Sil explained. "But wouldn't mind becoming immortal. Can Demona help with that?"
"No. Summoning magical beings isn't as easy as all that. But decide now. Do you want to work for me or not?" she demanded, getting fed up with him.
"Brooklyn say you try to harm him and clan many times." Sil declared.
"Only because they forced me to do so. They all love humans so much. Humans are nothing but a plague on this planet. I will see to it that humans are destroyed if it's the last thing I do! Decide now, or never!" Demona ordered.
"Not want to leave friend Brooklyn. But not minding have job." Sil stated.
"Well, you would have to leave him. He's nothing but a weakling." Demona proclaimed.
Sil was beginning to see her as a threat if she was calling his friend a weakling.
"Not going with if call friend weakling!" Sil growled at her.
"I can be your worst enemy too, Chamberlain." Demona warned him.
"Leave! Now!" Sil tried to get her to leave.
"Oh, but I can force you to come too." she cracked a smile. She tried to get in close to him.
"Not try it!" Sil growled at her.
She got close enough to him to try to grab one of his arms, and that made him snarl at her. He had his mouth wide open, baring his teeth at her and he was ready to use his talons if he had to.
Demona backed off. This creature looked friendly-like, but at the same time, he could be fierce too.
"Fine but know this; you will be on my enemy list too!" she declared, "If you choose humans over the clan."
"I choose the clan. Not you!" he snarled at her.
"Fine! So be it!" Demona recoiled and flew off. She would try another time.
Sil relaxed as he watched her fly off. But then, he was startled when she let go a piercing banshee-like scream. He had never heard a sound quite like that before. It sent a chill down his spine.
"It's good that you didn't side with her, Chamberlain." Sil heard a voice and turned in a little panic. It was just David.
Sil sighed in relief.
"Chances are she would be leading you into a trap as it was. It's hard to know what she's been up to these days, but she knows science and sorcery." David explained. "She betrays almost anyone sooner or later."
"Hmm. Know things about doing that if needed. To keep enemies at bay. Know how to scheme myself to keep from getting in trouble or get out of trouble." Sil retorted.
"It's amazing you chose the clan over her. But keep in mind that she could have really harmed you. The talons on a gargoyle are capable of maiming stone and steel. It's even worse for flesh. And she's had centuries of fighting experiences." David declared.
"So has Chamberlain. Not as young as once was, though. But know not to show enemy weakness. Skeksis ways teach that. I remember what Brooklyn say about her." he replied.
"Well, the clan will be glad you turned your back on her. If you had chosen her, then we would know that you couldn't be trusted. Then you wouldn't be allowed to stay here." David said.
"I choose Brooklyn friendship. Not had any for long time. Wanted friend, and Brooklyn be close friend in long time." Sil stated.
"The clan will be back soon. Just go and wait on them. But we will keep our eye out for Demona. She just can't be trusted, period." David said.
After that, while waiting for the clan's return, Sil went to the TV room to watch what he wanted.
...
Soon, the clan returned and had breakfast. They were all so ready for it to happen, and Brooklyn wanted to take Sil to the park.
Chamberlain told them about what happened after they had left, that Demona had come, and asked if he wanted to work for her. He had turned her offer down.
"Good, that you didn't go work for her. She would have just been luring you into a trap." Brooklyn declared.
"She's had every chance to prove herself to us and she blew every chance she had." Broadway added.
Angela was the only one who still truly had hope for her mother. Maybe she would change, one day. Especially if she wanted back in the clan bad enough, but it would be a miracle if they would ever trust her again.
The clan had a touch of trust with Sil for turning his back on Demona's offer to join her. Even though he had done some things like that in the past too, but this was the present, and Sil was wanting the clan to trust him.
After dinner, Brooklyn would be taking him to the park.
...
Soon, they were on an edge to the castle. Chamberlain looked down. "We flown before, but I never been this high up before."
"It's okay. I'll do the gliding. You just hold on." Brooklyn said and he now lowered himself down. He had his wings ready, though just relaxed.
Chamberlain took his place on his back and grabbed onto his shoulders. He rested his chin on Brooklyn's left shoulder. He took one look over the city and closed his eyes. Simply looking when they were about to take off just didn't go easy on him.
Brooklyn raised himself back up and with a hunch and a leap, he jumped. Chamberlain felt his feet leave the ground. He really hoped he wasn't going to fall off. He held on with all the strength he had in his arms.
When they had been gliding for a while, Sil managed to open his eyes and making sure to keep looking ahead of him instead of down, he saw all the buildings in the city. It was HUGE! Way bigger than any Gelfling village he had ever seen either. It was a beautiful sight to behold too. The lights were all so bright they even turned the night into day.
They soon arrived over the park. He felt Brooklyn beginning to go lower and began flapping his wings as they got lower to the ground. And it wasn't long before he felt his feet touch soft ground. He finally let go. Sil was ready to be on the ground again. He let out a big sigh of relief that he hadn't fallen off.
"So, what do you think?" Brooklyn asked.
Sil looked around. There were no buildings close by, but then he saw one that looked like the castle back on the skyscraper. "What's that over there?" he asked, pointing.
Brooklyn looked. "That's Belvedere Castle. It's a landmark here in the park."
"Anyone live in it?"
"Nope. It's just a tourist attraction. But Demona and her human counterpart, MacBeth also took us there one time as prisoners for Elisa to come and free us." Brooklyn explained.
Sil listened intently. "I not know she had counterpart."
"I guess I didn't tell you that yet. Yeah, she does. Even if you fight her, don't expect to be able to kill her. MacBeth is the only one who can kill her, we found out." the red gargoyle declared.
The thought did cross Sil's mind, and it reminded him of his counterpart.
"Brooklyn, have something else to tell about SkekSil." Sil spoke nervously.
"About what?"
"You met me and other Skeksis on Thra, but you not meet Mystics, right?" Sil asked.
"What are Mystics?"
"You not know them then. Good. But back at beginning of one thousand trine of Great Conjunction on Thra, Skeksis come to be, and we find we have other creature counterparts too, called Mystics. They also called urRu. Our lives bound as one. If Sil's counterpart hurt or dies, it happen to me too. And when Skeksis die, body turns to dust." Sil exposed his biggest secret of all to Brooklyn, who looked on in shock. "And not knowing what lies in next life, just not want to die."
It took a bit for Brooklyn to reply. "Well, it's interesting you told me that. Most creatures don't have to deal with that. If you've lived this long, then your other half may be wanting to live too. You might even call him your brother, of sorts." Brooklyn declared.
"Not want him for brother. But know he is, whether like it or not." Sil glared at the ground.
The two friends began to walk in the park along the path. As late at night as it was, there weren't many humans here in the park, which was good.
"City so big. Much bigger than even Gelfling villages on Thra." Sil complimented.
"Yeah, it took a while to get used to. Back when Xanatos used to be our enemy, Elisa found us a temporary home above the police precinct where she worked and she could come up and visit us about every night, up until some human hunters destroyed our home and now, we have this Quarryman problem started up. Our existence used to be a secret, but now, the whole city knows about us. With your looks, you could even be mistaken for a gargoyle." Brooklyn explained.
"I not have wings." Sil stated.
"I know, but neither does Bronx. But you're exotic looking enough to pass for one of us." Brooklyn said.
"Understand what Brooklyn saying. Skeksis new to world. Much to learn about." Chamberlain replied.
"Yep." Brook said.
The two of them continued along the path. They eventually came upon a man trying to mug another one. They stayed out of sight at first.
"Now this is the kind of scum that we gargoyles go after and stop from hurting the innocent." Brooklyn growled, his eyes setting aglow. "Stay here."
Brooklyn set out to defend the man being mugged. Sil watched to see what his friend could do. He hadn't really had a chance to see him in action on that just yet.
"Give me your wallet, pal. Or otherwise..." the mugger held up his gun.
The scared one whimpered but took out his wallet and was about to hand it over, but then, both of them heard some moving bushes, and some growling.
Sil hadn't seen where Brooklyn had gone. He was just watching the humans.
There was a branch creaking somewhere. Then, a red creature jumped onto the mugger's back, knocking him down. Brooklyn roared his anger. He grabbed a hold of the gun and pulled it away from the man.
The victim was scared witless as he saw the red gargoyle. To him, it seemed like a demon. He turned and ran away.
Brooklyn crushed the gun with his left hand. Then he threw the man into a tree. It knocked him out cold.
When Sil saw that the action was over, he came out of hiding. "Was quite something." he complimented.
"It's always risky doing this kind of business, especially if they have a gun on them." Brooklyn replied. His eyes returned to normal. "But this is our calling. New York is our castle, as Goliath once said. It goes beyond our ancestral home now."
"Gargoyles guardians to city." Chamberlain understood.
"Yes, we are."
"What do about him?" Sil asked.
"He'd probably be out of jail and back on the street within a day." Brooklyn said, quoting one of Demona's lines from a while ago. "But I could drop him off at a nearby precinct with the gun as evidence. I would have to leave you here for a few minutes. I couldn't carry you and him. Or I could get you to a rooftop, where it would be safer for you, then take him to the precinct." Brooklyn explained.
"Chamberlain not run off. Like being in park." Sil replied. "You go take him to place."
"Alright. I'll be back soon." Brooklyn said.
The red gargoyle went over and picked up the man and the crushed gun. He walked until he found a rock place that he could take off from. Sil had gone with him until it was time.
"You stay close by this rock, but out of sight, Chamberlain. I'll be back." Brook ordered.
"Yes. I stay here."
Sil watched his friend take the human away. He walked to some nearby bushes and sat down. He waited for a little while. But it wasn't long before Brooklyn returned.
They were now able to continue with their walk through the park. But soon, Brooklyn felt the need that it was urgent they return to the castle before sunrise.
"Do want to see more of park." Sil stated.
"We can do it another night. It's getting too close to sunrise." Brooklyn replied.
"Alright." Sil reluctantly gave in.
The two of them found a taking off spot and Brooklyn flew them back to the castle, getting there in time before the sun came up. It was another day of sleeping and finding something to do to pass the time. At least Sil's first trip to the park had been an interesting one.