Demona had walked on the Earth for more than a millennia. She had found countless allies, and even more enemies. When she was younger she would have a crisis about the fact that while she always ended up losing her friends, families, and allies, her enemies just kept on coming back generation after generation.
Macbeth. The Hunters. The Quarrymen. And many others that Goliath and his clan didn't even know about. They hated her, some for what she was, and some for who she was. While many of her enemies wanted her dead, there were a few that she despised even more because they wanted her capture.
There were humans who saw her as a prized specimen. The Vincent family were some of the worst. She'd had a bad run in with Michel Vincent in the early 1800s, and he had sent hunters after her so he could lock her in his private zoo.
She'd ignored him for a bit, but when he became a menace she struck him down before he could turn her into his pet. Michel had been gone, and that should have been the end of the story. However, she'd been going through a foolish and merciful phase at the time. She had left Michel's daughters, Isabelle and Laura, alive.
Demona had thought that she had struck the fear of god in the girls, but when Michel died they inherited his estate, including that ridiculous private zoo of his, and they picked up on his last wish of catching Demona.
It had been nearly 200 years, and the Vincent family was still after her. Sometimes the hunt skipped a generation or two, but then a rich brat with too much time and money on their hands would learn about their ancestors, and they thought that hunting Demona was a worthy pastime. It was humiliating and annoying, but nothing that Demona couldn't handle. The worst part about it was that she kept on being caught off guard, because sometimes she was pursued by the Vincents for the better part of two decades before they fell back, and sometimes she wouldn't hear a peep from them for fifty years.
The Vincents also weren't like the Hunters. They didn't have a set, traditional way that they did things. They all had their own styles. Michel had been a hunter, so he'd pursued her himself, but his daughters had preferred to hire someone else to do their dirty work for them.
Some Vincents hired bounty hunters. Some of them tried to find her stone form during the day to capture her when she couldn't fight back. She had learned to always watch her back, but ever since the Puck had cured her she had gotten sloppy. Nobody knew her human form, so Dominique didn't have the same enemies that Demona did. In fact, as Dominique she would often find her old enemies and make a deceitful alliance between them.
She was so used to manipulating and blindsiding people, and so careful to take every precaution, that she never expected to be fooled herself. So when a young man by the name of Matthew Clutch came to Dominique with a business proposal involving a gargoyle 'pet', she hadn't thought twice about meeting with him, even though she'd had her suspicions about who he was.
Some careful research confirmed her suspicions. Matthew Clutch was not related to the Vincents by birth at all, though his cousin, who was like a sister to him, had married into the family. Neither the cousin nor her husband seemed interested in Demona or any other gargoyle, but Matthew had been intrigued with the potential addition to his private collection.
Demona wanted to know more about Matthew. She needed to know if he was planning on going after her, and just how he intended on doing so. And if he was just interested in any gargoyle whatsoever, perhaps she could use that to her advantage. She didn't intend on letting him enslave or own any gargoyle, but she could let him think he was in control while she got all the information she needed.
So Demona, as Dominique, went through with the meeting. She said she was willing to give him the resources he needed to capture and contain a gargoyle, for a price. Matthew had just laughed.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about the capture." Matthew said. "I was already able to procure a rather handsome specimen. It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be."
Dominique sat up in her seat. "You've captured a gargoyle?" It must have been a recent event, because she hadn't had anybody in her traitorous old clan come to her, demanding that she return the gargoyle that she didn't have. She wouldn't exactly say she was concerned about her old clan, but she was certainly curious about how Matthew had managed such a thing, and who he got his hands on. A part of her was wondering just what Matthew had in mind for his new pet.
Of course, she was dubious about his claims. "How do I know you've actually caught a gargoyle?" Dominique asked. "I've seen quite a few creative hoaxes."
"Well, it turned to stone at dawn, just like the stories claimed." Matthew said. "I'll provide proof, of course. I won't just ask for something for nothing."
Dominique would give Matthew credit, he wasn't one of those arrogant rich boys who thought that they should be given what they wanted, just because they wanted it. He knew that there were transactions involved. You had to give a little to get a little.
"I hope you don't think a statue will be enough to convince me." Dominique crossed her arms. "Everybody knows what Manhattan's gargoyles look like. Anybody with enough money on their hands can commission a convincing replica, but that wouldn't make it a gargoyle."
"Understandable." Matthew leaned back in his seat. "I know you don't meet anybody after dark. I can send you an email tonight with a link to a live video of our little gargoyle friend, and then we can meet tomorrow to discuss specifics."
Demona had a dozen different ideas how she could turn on Matthew, and she would spend the night plotting things out. First, she needed to know if he really did have a gargoyle, and which one he had. That would be just one more variable that she could work with. Knowledge was power, and it was a weapon she wielded well.
They concluded their meeting, and Demona was sure that neither of them actually trusted the other.
Demona went home and planned for a bit before she settled down for a few hours and took a nap. She wanted to be rested for tonight.
Demona got the email five minutes before sunset, which she actually appreciated. She could open the video and see the captured gargoyle before they woke from their stone sleep. It soon became clear who Matthew had caught, and why it had been so simple for him.
She recognized Brooklyn immediately. If he was truly there, and this wasn't an elaborate ruse, then Brooklyn would be the easiest target. It wasn't because he was incompetent. Of the young ones, he was probably the most mature and patient, and he was a decent fighter.
Brooklyn's weakness was that he was uncertain, and he was lonely. Demona always kept a close eye on her old clan, and she'd noticed that Brooklyn would frequently be by himself. He would go out patrolling on his own when his brothers were tired and wanted to relax. When the others wanted to go out and do something fun, while Brooklyn would join them most of the time, it wasn't uncommon for him to stay home.
There was always a look of longing in his eyes. He was reaching an age where he craved a mate, and even when he was young Brooklyn had been more sensitive than his rookery siblings. He craved affection, but was uncertain and somewhat shy, and he didn't know how to take what he wanted. He was too submissive. Demona had tried to bring him out of his shell when he was a child, to encourage him to take more initiative, but the trauma of what their clan had been through had clearly set him back.
Brooklyn clearly didn't want to be alone, but he didn't want to bring the others down with his negative emotions, so he distanced himself from them instead. It was a slippery slope, and if Goliath didn't do something soon then he would lose his new second. Brooklyn could grow bitter and angry, and he would turn on Goliath's precious humans. He could drown in his loneliness and isolate himself so much that he became a shell of his former self. The most ideal situation that Demona could imagine was that Brooklyn would leave the clan for good, realizing that the best way to protect himself emotionally was by getting away from an environment that was full of so much pain for him.
Demona tried not to have regrets. She'd been alive for too long to linger in the past. But she did wish that she had waited a bit longer before trying to sway Brooklyn. She'd shown her hand too soon, and his personal pain had made him wary of her. If she had waited until now to go after him, when he was scared and alone, and oh so desperate for interaction and validation, then he would be hers. Neither of them would have to be alone.
But it was too late for that. Brooklyn wasn't going to forgive her, and she wasn't going to waste her time trying to win the approval of a naive child.
Demona couldn't watch the entirety of Brooklyn waking from his stone sleep, because she underwent her own transformation at sunset. It happened fast enough that she could turn her attention to the video just as Brooklyn finished stretching from his sleep. She smirked as Brooklyn wasted no time. He roared, his eyes glowing white as he lunged towards Matthew. He was pulled back by a collar around his neck. Matthew clearly wasn't a fool, but at least Brooklyn didn't just roll over without a fight. Living among humans hadn't tamed him completely.
"Now now, little one, behave yourself." Matthew said. His voice was dripping with a sickening patronizing tone that made both Demona and Brooklyn growl. "We want to make a good impression for my guest." He looked right at the camera, not even hiding the fact that he was recording their interaction. Brooklyn glared at the camera with a venomous fury that she wasn't used to seeing from him.
"What do you want with me?" Brooklyn growled. Whatever it is, you're not going to get it."
Matthew just chuckled. "Oh, I think I will." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone. He called, and Demona heard her phone ring. She answered.
"What do you think?" Matthew asked. "Convincing enough for you?"
"Impressive." Demona admitted. She tapped her claws on the table. "But that chain won't hold him for longer than two minutes."
"Well, that's what I'm coming to you for." Matthew just sounded amused, like he wasn't at all concerned that Brooklyn would break free from his chains and tear Matthew apart. He probably wouldn't be so harsh, but Demona hoped he would at least break a few bones. "Why don't you stop by tomorrow afternoon and help me set up a more…permanent situation?"
"If you think I'm going to stay here for another second you've got another thing coming, you-" Brooklyn's threat broke into a pained shriek as Matthew pushed a button. Brooklyn's whole body grew tense as he screamed before he suddenly slumped to the ground. Demona could see scorch marks around his neck. He was wearing a shock collar. A really strong one from the looks of it.
"I think that's enough of that." Matthew said far too pleasantly. "You'll learn some manners."
Brooklyn just groaned and curled in on himself, draping his wings protectively over his body. The shock must have been stronger than she had thought.
"I'll see if I can find something for you." Demona said. "You know it won't be cheap."
"I'm not worried about money." Matthew said. He sounded more arrogant than Xanatos. Demona wanted to scratch that smug look right off his face, but it would have to wait another day. She needed to know how he had caught a gargoyle. If he'd just gotten lucky, or if he'd carefully planned this, targeting Brooklyn specifically, and waiting until he had a window of opportunity.
"I'll come tomorrow." Demona said. She hung up. She watched Matthew on the screen as he put his phone away, looking very content. He stepped towards the camera, reached out, and the feed turned off.
Demona sighed and stretched. She would need to make herself comfortable. It would be too risky to go out tonight. If Goliath's clan saw her, they would be suspicious. Especially since Brooklyn had been gone for at least a day. They wouldn't be panicking about his absence yet, but they'd be worried enough that they'd get on her tail about it if she gave them a chance.
No, it was best that she lay low for a while. It was just for the night. And tomorrow she could put her plan into place. What that plan was, she didn't know quite yet, but she had time to think about it. She had considered just putting Matthew in his place, but he'd pulled Brooklyn into this game, and he made an interesting pawn indeed. If she made a show of saving him from Matthew, maybe Brooklyn would listen to her again.
There were so many possibilities, and just a day to filter through them. It was going to be a busy night.
Brooklyn breathed harshly as he stared at the man in front of him. His stomach was twisting with fear, frustration, and a fair amount of humiliation. He couldn't believe he'd let himself get caught. He'd just been out on a glide yesterday, trying to clear his head. He'd felt a pain in his shoulder, and he'd quickly lost consciousness. He hadn't woken until after dark the next day. Or maybe it had been even longer than that. He had no idea what kind of tranquilizer had been used on him. He didn't know anything.
"This is going better than I could hope." His captor said. He loomed over Brooklyn. "I think you're the key to everything."
Brooklyn dug his claws into the ground. It was the only movement he could make. He'd been tazed before, but this shock had been intense, and he felt like the electricity was still running through his veins. He couldn't move more than just growing tense, and he couldn't keep his hands from shaking.
"Whatever you want, you're not going to get it." Brooklyn ground out. Just talking seemed to take all his breath out of him. "My clan will come for me." Of that, he was certain…mostly. There was an annoying voice in the back of his head that told him that the others would think they would be better off without him.
"Oh, I'm counting on it." The man said. "You see, I'm a bit of a collector, and while you gargoyles are all so fascinating, there is one in particular that I have my eyes on, and you're going to bring her right to me."
Brooklyn blinked and just stared at the man, confused. He was being used as bait? As humiliating as that was, it was also confusing. Who would be drawn into a trap specifically because of him?
The man approached Brooklyn and actually knelt by his side. Brooklyn growled and grew tense, about to strike, but the man clicked his tongue and held up the device that had the button to the collar. Brooklyn froze. He didn't want to be patronized, but he especially didn't want to be electrocuted again. It would probably knock him out for another day.
He forced himself to relax, squeezing his eyes shut tight as he felt the man start to gently stroke his hair, as though he was petting him. He hated this.
"There you go." The man nearly purred. "Isn't this nice? You aren't quite my fierce demon prize, but you're a beauty in your own right. Maybe I'll end up keeping you after all."
Brooklyn shuddered. The man was talking about him like he was an exotic pet, or a rare antique. Brooklyn knew that there were plenty of humans out there who saw gargoyles in this way, but he'd never been in the hands of one before. It scared him and made him feel small and pathetic.
It took Brooklyn a long moment to realize the implications of what the man had said. "Fierce demon? You're not seriously after Demona." He looked at the man, and seeing his expression it was clear that he was, indeed, serious. Brooklyn still felt fear and humiliation, but he couldn't help but laugh.
"You're trying to use me as bait for Demona?" Brooklyn laughed, but his voice also cracked with pain. "I thought you knew what you were doing. She won't fall for it."
"We'll see." The man sounded so sure of himself, but he didn't know Demona the way that Brooklyn did. She was careful. She wouldn't fall for any human's traps, but especially not this one.
If there was one thing Brooklyn knew for sure about Demona, it was that she wouldn't fall for a trap just to save him. She didn't care about him enough to do that. She didn't care about him at all.