Hi guys, I'm finally back!
I'm so sorry this chapter took forever to get done, but I was having trouble with motivation in my mental self. Who hates that feeling?! No worries, I'm all better now, and hopefully, this chapter is alright for you lot. I'm trying to decide whether to continue with my other series of Maddy Valiant of WFRR or not. I'm not giving up on it, but since a lot of you fans love this series, I took a break on the other one for that reason.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy it!
And keep on reading!
In the rougher parts of Manhattan, an abandoned garage no one ever uses was being put to good use for the four young gargoyles. Inside the garage, Lexington was creating his very own motorcycle from scratch. Since he was inspired by the first one he encountered, he was determined to ride an actual one. Watching his work were Broadway, Brooklyn, and Chelsea, who were watching their rookery brother at work. Turning off the blow torch, Lexington took off his visor to see his progress.
"Isn't it finished yet?" Broadway asked impatiently. "We've been here every night for a week."
"Come on, you've ridden one of these before." Brooklyn insisted.
Chelsea turned to Brooklyn with a raised eyeridge. "More like his curiosity took the better of him and crashed the bike in the end." She said it as a joke.
Lexington ignored Chelsea's comment as he slowly lifted the bike off from its side and stood it upright.
"You've rode a horse once," Lex replied to Brooklyn. "Could you build one from spare parts?"
Brooklyn shrugged, then walked over to a table where two different motorcycle helmets were. He picked up one of them, then busted two holes on top of it for his horns to stick out. He tried it on, and it fit perfectly.
"Why bother with a helmet?" Broadway asked in a teasing manner. "Your heads hard enough."
That made Chelsea chuckle as Brooklyn wrapped his wings around his waist to make him look like he was wearing pants. He then turned for Chelsea who helped him slip on a black bikers jacket.
"Hey," Brooklyn replied turning around with his new look. "It's all part of the look."
"It suits you." Chelsea commented with a smile, which Brooklyn looked away as a blush was forming on his cheeks.
Lexington slipped the kickstand down as the bike stood up. "There, it's ready."
"Alright!" Brooklyn jumped on the bike as he placed a pair of shades on. Before he could start, he turned to Chelsea with a smirk. "You want to go for a spin?"
Chelsea chuckled, then crossed her arms. "It's a date?" she asked in a teasing manner.
"Well uh…" Brooklyn scratched his neck as his face was forming another blush under his helmet.
Chelsea chuckled again, loving how she can always get him to blush, as she took the other helmet on the side creating two thick lines for her horns to fit and put it on. She then wrapped her wings around herself, then took the other black jacket and slipped it on.
"Wonder how we were able to find these two lying around?" Chelsea asked as she inspected the jacket that fitted well with her body.
"Not a clue." Brooklyn shrugged as Chelsea climbed on behind him.
When he felt Chelsea's arms around him, Brooklyn revved up the engine, and both gargoyles were out of the garage in a flash.
"Go for it!" Lexington shouted.
"Looking good!" Broadway added excitedly.
"Aw boy to ride!"
"Yeah!"
"Their flying!"
"Whoo!"
They both stopped cheering, realizing something as the engine faded in the distance.
"Hey, don't we get our turns?" Broadway asked, which the olive gargoyle shrugged.
Unbeknownst to them, they were being watched by someone in the shadows.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn and Chelsea were having the time of their lives on the bike. They were speeding down the road with the wind in their wild manes and two equal grins on their faces.
"This is amazing!" Chelsea cheered with her arms up.
"I completely agree!" Brooklyn cheered. "I love this bike!"
As they were driving downtown, the same figure that was spying on Broadway and Lexington was following them through the air.
Down the same road, two cops were enjoying their break with donuts and coffee. Their break was soon cut short as Brooklyn and Chelsea were speeding down extra fast, making the cops turn on their flashers.
Hearing the police sirens, Brooklyn turned to his left rear mirror, noticing the cops were chasing them.
"Ooh, not good. Not good." Brooklyn spoke, shaking his head.
"What?" Chelsea turned to Brooklyn with a raised eyeridge, then looked back seeing the cops were chasing them. She gulped, then held onto Brooklyn tighter. "Oh we're toast."
"Not yet." The hot head reassured as he made a sharp turn into an alleyway.
"Hit the light!" the officer shouted to his partner, who turned on a light that was shone on Brooklyn and Chelsea.
Brooklyn narrowed his eyes as he made the motorcycle go up a makeshift ramp. Chelsea felt Brooklyn wings twitch in her grip and knew what he was planning. Just as the motorcycle was in the air, she let go as Brooklyn spread his wings gliding over the wall, getting away from the cop car.
The cops stared in disbelief at what just happened. "You want to call that in?" the partner asked.
"Call what in?" the officer asked. He looked down at his box of unfinished donuts before throwing them out of the window. "That's it. I'm off sugar."
Brooklyn drifted his bike to a stop. He took off his shades and gave a sigh.
"Okay," Chelsea breathed. "That was way too close."
"Yeah," Brooklyn nodded. He put his sunglasses on, then straightened his back and wrapped his wings around himself.
"Okay, as much as this is fun, maybe we should stay the speed limit next time," Chelsea suggested.
"Now where's the fun in that?" he replied in a smile.
The female gargoyle laughed as the hothead revved up the engine. Suddenly, they heard a familiar sound to their bike out of the alley. Both of them turned and saw a gang of motorcyclists speeding down the road.
"Yes! Kindred spirits." Brooklyn grinned.
Chelsea turned to him with an unsure look but didn't say anything. She has this strange feeling if they rode out with this group, but she didn't want to ruin Brooklyn's fun nor her own.
Slowly coming out of the alleyway, the hothead discretely joined them, which the bikers did not seemed scared at them. One of the bikers saw the duo and grinned.
"Hey," the biker spoke. "Righteous hog, man!"
The biker, who looked to be the leader, slowed and stopped his bike in which Brooklyn did the same. When Brooklyn hopped of the bike, he turned to Chelsea to help her off.
"Are you sure about this?" she whispered in his ear.
"Don't worry." He murmured, then turned to the bikers who came over.
"That's some cherry rig, bro." the leader spoke.
"Glad you like it." Brooklyn grinned. Chelsea stood next to him, an awkward smile on her face.
"Where'd you get it?" Another biker asked.
"My friends and I made it."
Chelsea turned to Brooklyn and couldn't help but smile. Ever since waking up, the hothead started taking the liking to the biker gangs that roam down the streets below. She wasn't sure whether to be happy, or a little freaked out because of some stories she read in either newspaper articles or magazine read she found that Manhattan have some "dangerous" gangs.
"What?" She turned back to the gang and saw their horrified faces. "It's a freaking monster! Get him!"
Chelsea was being pulled by one of the bikers as the rest jumped on Brooklyn, punching and kicking him out of anger and fear.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Brooklyn demanded as the bikers continued their punching until he got them off him as they tumbled, leaving his jacket in tatters. He got up and gave a growl.
"You wanna fight? You got it!" the red gargoyle growled as he let loose his wings, tearing his jacket in the process.
One of the bikers grabbed a monkey wrench and ran toward him to strike his head. That didn't work thanks to the gargoyle to pick him up and toss him toward the other bikes that tipped over like dominos. Another biker came up to him and the gargoyle tossed him toward the other one.
"I was just trying to fit in!" Brooklyn shouted.
Meanwhile, Chelsea grunted as one of the bikers was pulling her away from Brooklyn and the other bikers. She struggled, trying to get out of the man's grip.
"What are you doing?!" she demanded. "Let me go!"
"Hey, we're just trying to get away from the monster." The biker acknowledged, keeping his grip on the disguised gargoyle.
Chelsea growled as she glared at the man. "That monster happens to be my friend!"
"What?!" the biker turned to Chelsea with a wide-eyed look. He then looked at her as if he were studying her. Then with a grunt, he yanked her helmet off of her to reveal her horns were real.
The man shrieked and dropped Chelsea to the ground. He pointed a finger at her. "She's a freak like the other one!"
That instant, Chelsea gasped as the other bikers surrounded her and looked to be ready to dogpile her. The female snarled as she looked to be ready for a fight. One of the bikers instantly teared her jacket off of her to expose her wings, making the rest of the gang take a step back and gave her disgusted looks. The lead biker took out a gun and took aim at her.
"Let's see if you're bulletproof freak!"
Chelsea gasped as she had no chance to escape. Brooklyn, who was in a dogpile by the rest of the bikers, heard what was going on. He roared in fury as he threw them away like rag dolls. He looked over and saw Chelsea being surrounded by a few other bikers, and a gun pointed at her.
"NO!" The red gargoyle yelled as he ran and tackled the biker to the ground. The hit from the tackle made the biker let go of the gun. As it hit the ground, it went off, and the bullet hitting the gas tank of his motorcycle causing it to explode. This made Brooklyn sent into a greater rage.
"MY BIKE!" he howled; eyes glowing bright. He turned to the bikers, claws and fangs bared.
While the other bikers were distracted, Chelsea swiped a few away with her tail, and ran to stand by Brooklyn. One of the biker gangs threw a chain at Brooklyn, which wrapped on his arm, and the gargoyle used it to his advantage by tossing him away. Another one tried to attack Chelsea, but she tossed him away toward a wall. The lead biker found his gun and began firing at the two gargoyles. Brooklyn saw this, so he grabbed Chelsea by her arm, and made off into an alleyway. They quickly scaled the wall, and made it to the roof to take off into the skies.
After getting far away from the gang as possible, they both landed on a rooftop that was surrounded by fence. Brooklyn straightened up, then turned to Chelsea who was slightly panting as she slowly rose to her normal height.
"You alright?" Brooklyn asked.
Chelsea turned to the hothead, still panting from what she endured. She nodded. "Besides being surround by punks, and a gun being pointed at me." She sighed. "I'm okay." She then gave a look of concern as she came over to him inspecting his slight noticed bruises on his chest. "But what about you? You got beat up pretty bad with those…humans." She said that last word with a bit of venom in her voice.
"Don't worry about me," Brooklyn answered. He had a look of hatred edged on his face, but suddenly disappeared when he heard her concerning voice. "I'm alright. Just-" He froze, then both he and Chelsea turned behind them. They both heard a whooshing sound as a figure hid in the shadows. They were not alone.
Brooklyn stepped forward as he pulled Chelsea behind him. "Broadway? Lexington?"
"None of the above." Answered a voice who was neither there friends. Coming out of the shadows was someone they weren't expecting…
"Demona?" Brooklyn nearly yelped.
"Don't be afraid." Demona told him in a calm voice, slowly walking toward him. "I just want to talk."
Brooklyn began backing away along with Chelsea who was equal as nervous.
"Yeah right…" the red gargoyle answered. "Last time you just wanted to blast us away with a bazooka."
"That was then…" Demona reassured.
"That was then?" Chelsea spoke with a crossed face. She gripped the railing that was behind her and was looking over Brooklyn's wing. "Demona, that was more than a 'that was then' experience. You tried to kill us with a high powered gun, betrayed not only Goliath, but also all of us. How can we trust someone like you?"
"I know what I did was wrong my child-"
"Don't, call me that." Chelsea snapped, cutting Demona off with a glare. She looked away with a hurt look and tried to hide her face behind her friend.
Brooklyn looked behind Chelsea with a look of concern, then looked back at Demona with a glare. "I don't know why you're here Demona, but we want nothing from you." He gestured to Chelsea to jump on the railing, which he followed. "So this is goodbye."
"Wait! Please!"
Something about Demona's pleas made both gargoyles stop and look at her with suspicious looks.
"I'm sorry, I never should have attacked the both of you and the rest of the clan." She looked away with a look of sorrow. "I was crazy with rage and fear. If only you two knew what I'd gone through for hundreds of years, dealing with the humans."
"What?" Chelsea gasped.
"Hundreds of years?" Brooklyn repeated Demona's last words, then gave a look of puzzlement. "I thought you were under the sleep spell like we were."
"It's a necessary ruse. A long story, centuries long." The former second explained. "I would like to tell you both if you would let me."
Brooklyn turned away shaking his head. "I don't trust you Demona…"
"Neither do I." Chelsea added looking away slightly.
"But my ch-"
"I said don't call me that!" Chelsea snarled as she spread her wings like fans and jumped off the railing looking ready to attack. Brooklyn jumped in front of her and held her by her upper arms.
"Don't." Brooklyn whispered in her ear. Chelsea's demonic red eyes diminished as she looked at him with a jarred look. Brooklyn turned to Demona who stepped back with her hands up.
"I know you both have a reason to not trust me because of what happened here," Demona spoke again. "But we all have a history. We were a clan, family, rookery brothers and sisters who fought the same battles, and shared losses that were beyond compare. Does that count for something?"
Brooklyn stood his ground, having a relaxed presence as he was holding Chelsea in place.
"I know you and Chelsea have no reason to trust me, but I just want a moment to talk to you." Demona looked over at Chelsea with a slightly hurt look. "Both of you."
Brooklyn sighed, letting go of Chelsea who was calm from her temper. The hothead turned to Demona and faced her.
"Alright," he relented. "I'm listening."
Chelsea turned to the hothead with wide eyes. "Brooklyn what are you-"
"Head back to the castle Chelsea," Brooklyn turned to her. "I'll handle this."
"And leave you alone with her I think not." She shook her head like he was insane.
"Chelsea," Brooklyn held the female gargoyle by her shoulders. "You don't have to worry about me. I need to know what she has to say."
Chelsea gave Brooklyn a look of concern, but she knew she can't get past him because of how stubborn he can be. She looked down with a sigh, then looked back at him.
"You sure about this?" she asked with worry.
"I'm sure." He nodded.
Chelsea sighed again then shook her head. That moment, Brooklyn let go of her as she made her way to the railing. She gave Demona one final glare before she jumped off the fence and glided off into the night.
Brooklyn looked down with a look of defeat. Sometimes he didn't like seeing Chelsea upset or angry as she was before, but he knew Demona's betrayal hit her more than the rest of the clan, especially Goliath. He knew he had to make it up to her if she will let him.
"I'm sorry she couldn't stay." Demona spoke, cutting Brooklyn out of his thoughts.
Brooklyn turned to Demona, a look of untrust edged on his face. "So, what do you want?"
Chelsea landed at the castle and went about her own business. As she wrapped her wings around herself, she couldn't stop thinking about Brooklyn talking to Demona by himself and doesn't understand why he didn't want her there with him. Guess from her trying to attack her once idol made him concern for her wellbeing. She wasn't sure.
She later spotted Broadway and Lexington who were in the hall walking toward the TV room. When they asked them where Brooklyn was, all she answered was he was out joyriding. She didn't want to tell them about Demona because she didn't want Goliath to worry, nor wanted to get her friend in trouble (Even though staying with Demona is probably the worst idea in the world).
When they all entered, Hudson was watching a comedy show with Bronx laying in front of his feet, and Goliath reading a ton of books as usual.
Goliath looked up from his reading with a raised eyeridge. "Where's Brooklyn?"
"He's out joyriding." Broadway responded pretending he was revving an engine.
"Joyriding…" Goliath repeated, then went back into his book.
Back at the fenced rooftop, Demona was trying to speak to Brooklyn.
"I want to help you, help all the gargoyles." Demona spoke as she stood behind him. "Those humans you and Chelsea met. What did you do to provoke them?"
"I did nothing." Brooklyn snarled, looking away from the red-headed female. "They just attacked us."
"Exactly," she said placing her claw on Brooklyn's shoulder. "That's what humans are like."
Brooklyn didn't looked convinced. "But, Goliath says when they get used to us-"
"They were used to us a thousand years ago." Demona stated, cutting him off. "Yet it didn't make them see us as equals. That made them betray and destroy our kind."
Brooklyn's face fell. From what Demona is saying is ringing with truth. He was not denying it.
Demona continued. "You don't know the depths to which humanity can sink my young friend, but I do. Over the centuries I have seen things that would blast your soul." She then opened her large wings. "Come, let me show you what man-kind is really like." She offered her claw in which the young gargoyle hesitantly took. Both of them then jumped off the building and flew over the city.
The two gargoyles perched on a nearby rooftop when a scream echoed toward their ears. Brooklyn looked down when he saw a woman being mugged. When the mugger ran down the streets with a purse, the woman turned to the streets with a shocked look.
"Help, police! Police!"
Brooklyn growled as he was about to jump down to help, but Demona stopped him.
"What would you do?" Demona asked. "Capture him for human justice." She looked down with a discouraged expression. "He'd be out of jail and back on the street in a day."
Brooklyn gave her a sad look before Demona flew off. He sighed as he jumped off to follow her. They later landed in front of an apartment building to hear a couple arguing. Brooklyn walks up as he looks in the window.
"Look, his grades stink." The man argued. "His friends are hoodlums."
"What do you care?!" the woman exclaimed. "You're never home anyway!" She then threw a vase that hit the wall, in which the man ducked away.
Brooklyn turned to notice someone was running out towards the door. He moved out to see the couple's son running out of the house with a weeping expressing.
"They can't share their homes without fighting." Demona spoke as her eyes glowed demonic red. "And you think they will share this world with us?"
As Brooklyn was starting to piece everything together, Demona was showed him a murder scene from up on top of a rooftop. Police were taking pictures as a cop was placing a gun inside an evidence bag, and the body being placed into a vehicle.
"They hold each other's lives completely without worth." Demona turned to Brooklyn who was looking down at the scene with a downward expression. "Do you really think they would accept us with open arms?"
Brooklyn sighed, with realization from what he saw. "No..."
"And that's not the worst of it." She continued. "With this much violence is our midst, we will lose what clan we have left." Demona crouched down next to Brooklyn with a small frown. "Remember, Chelsea would have been dead if not for your quick reflexes. If she perished, Goliath would be grief stricken in finding that a human killed her." She gently caressed Brooklyn's beak as she continued. "With that being said, we must make Goliath see the truth, humanity will never trust or accept us."
"Even what you say is true, not all humans are bad. Elisa is our friend and hasn't lied or betrayed us."
"Perhaps the policewoman is an exception. But can she keep you safe from humanity?" Demona explained as she rose to her talons. "Only we can protect each other Brooklyn. We must be united and strong, and willing to deal with the humans as they would deal with us. Goliath thinks we can hid in their midst like mice, and hope for their understanding. This is not possible. Remember what happened to Goliath, Chelsea, and Lexington. They were hunted like animals because Lexington trusted the Pack."
That made Brooklyn turn to Demona unexpectedly. "How did you know?"
"If you think I'm wrong, then show yourself to them." Demona dared, not answering his question.
Brooklyn looked down the streets, a hesitated look on his face.
"Very wise my young friend." Demona spoke. "They would shoot you down like a dog."
Brooklyn looked down at his talons as he thought what Demona told him. Yes, they have been hiding away and only relying on hope for the humans understanding them. But is that enough, and will it work? He then remembered Chelsea for almost getting killed. Her being surrounded, and not being able to escape, he would be devastated in losing his friend to the humans…he can't let that happen. He didn't want her or any of his clan mates to get hurt all because of the violence the humans are showing now. There is no hope for the humans understanding them.
With that in mind, he stood up and turned to Demona. "Let's say you're right. What can we do? Goliath still believes humanity will accept us eventually."
"Goliath must be made to see the truth for the good of all." Demona explained. "There is a way Brooklyn. The Grimorum Arcanorum." She placed her claws on the hotheads shoulders. "Bring it to me. There is a spell of truth in its pages. With it I can open Goliath's eyes. Once Goliath understands, the rest will follow."
Brooklyn looked back down the streets with a downward expression. As he was looking down, he did not noticed Demona's smirk.
The rest of the clan were standing at the tallest tower, waiting for Brooklyn to return. Chelsea was getting worried since it was not only close to dawn, but also that she left him with Demona…she better not be doing anything bad she thought with bitterness.
Her thoughts ended when Brooklyn's silhouette soon appeared over the horizon. She gasped when he landed on the corridor but gave a look of concern when she saw his frown.
"How was your…joyride?" Goliath asked, not even phased at Brooklyn's frown.
Brooklyn jumped as he went to his perch. "Uh…Illuminating."
Just as he walked up to his perch, Elisa came running up the steps. "Goliath! I'm glad I caught you before dawn."
"Yes Elisa," Goliath greeted turning to her. "Is something the matter?"
"There will be." Elisa answered. "Xanatos's sentence is almost up, he'll be out of jail in a month."
"So you said this before, why does this concern you?"
"It concerns YOU; you and the others will have to find a place to live. But don't worry, I think I have found the perfect place."
Goliath shook his head. "There is no need for that. Xanatos has been beaten, the castle is ours now."
As Goliath and Elisa went at it, Chelsea and Brooklyn were having their own conversation on their perches.
"Brooklyn, what happened out there?" Chelsea spoke, then looked over her shoulder to make sure the other clan members weren't eavesdropping. "What did Demona want?" she asked in a whisper.
Brooklyn didn't look at her as he gazed at the city with a frown. "She…showed me things."
"What things? What did she show you?"
"Demona opened my eyes that….that…" Brooklyn paused. He couldn't seem to say the last word that lingered in his lips. Why can't he say it to the friend he held close?
Chelsea sighed as she gazed at Brooklyn with a small frown. "You don't have to tell me." She then thought of something. "Was it because of what happened?"
Brooklyn got out of his frown-like state, then turned to Chelsea.
"With the bikers." Chelsea corrected; she then gave him a sympathized look. "Brooklyn that wasn't your fault, you didn't know that was going to happen."
"Well it did," Brooklyn blurted out, a snarl creeping on his face. "They had no right in just attacking us because of who we are."
"They were scared Brooklyn, they had no idea of who we were, and just took that as fear."
That made Brooklyn looked at her with a glare as he rose from his crouched position. "Why are you defending them?" he asked harshly.
"What?" Chelsea gasped, completely thrown off at his change in mood.
"Why are you siding with the humans?!" he demanded.
Chelsea was completely thrown off by Brooklyn's outburst. "Brooklyn I'm not. I was just-"
Before she could continue, the sun rose above the clouds, encasing the gargoyles in stone where they stood. Brooklyn gave a hard glare while Chelsea gave a look of shock.
Sunset came sooner than expected as the gargoyles stood as stone statues. When the sun disappeared, the gargoyles broke out of their stone encasings. Each stretching their stiff muscles and wings as they yawned. Jumping off the tower were Goliath Hudson and Chelsea who glided down toward the main part of the castle. Bronx followed the three gargoyles by running down the stairs.
"Ah lets get some breakfast." Broadway announced.
Lexington turned to Brooklyn who was in a sulking position even after Chelsea left. "Uh you're coming Brooklyn?"
"Maybe later…" the red gargoyle answered still in his sulking state.
Broadway and Lexington looked at each other, then flew away to join th other gargoyles as they left the hothead gargoyle along on his perch.
When he knew he was alone, Brooklyn jumped off and flew down toward another part of the castle where the Grimorum was kept. As he entered the room, he kept his guard up to make sure no one was following him. When he didn't see anything, he entered the room and went to where the magic book was kept. He broke the lock, gently took the book out, and left the room as quick as he can.
Later he arrived at the Cloisters where Demona told him to meet her there when he got the book. He landed in the middle of the courtyard with the book in hand. He looked around, not knowing where Demona is.
"I knew you'd come," Demona spoke in the shadows.
Brooklyn turned behind him and Demona walked out of the shadows with her wings capped.
"I brought the book." The hothead spoke.
"Excellent," she praised, then took the book and brought it to her chest. "Now all I need it Goliath," she turned to him with a questioning look. "But how to get him here?"
"I'll handle that," Brooklyn assured. "Anything to make him see the truth."
Demona turned to him. "Take your time. The spell required is complex. I'll need to study it."
Brooklyn nodded, leaving the red head alone opening the book and searching through the pages. Unbeknownst to her, she was being watched from a hidden area.
Later, Brooklyn glided back to the castle, and saw Goliath perched on the tower battlement in a thinking-like state. When the red gargoyle landed next to him, Goliath turned to him.
"Goliath," Brooklyn started. "I found a fascinating place."
Goliath straightened his back, looking intrigued. "How so?"
"Its like the world we came from. Its called the Cloisters. Would you like to see it?"
That made Goliath interested, making the duo jump off the tower, and gliding down toward the center of the Cloisters courtyard. The leader gazed around with a calm gaze at the quiet surrounding.
"It's beautiful," Goliath commented. "I wish we brought the others."
"Its good that you didn't, because we wanted you here alone."
Goliath turned, seeing Demona stepping out of the shadows clutching the Grimorum to her chest and a small grin edged on her face. Brooklyn slowly went to his side, making the leader give a look of shock not knowing what is going on.
Goliath shook out of his shock, then got into a battle stance as he glared at his ex-mate. "Demona…so you did survive?"
"I always survive." Demona answered, flipping the pages as she looked at him.
"The Grimorum?!" the leader turned to the red gargoyle. "Brooklyn what is happening here?!"
"Just listen to her Goliath. Please?" Brooklyn pleaded. "She has something very important to say to you."
"He's right Goliath. Listen and obey." Demona ordered as her claw rose up and wiggling her fingers. "Sine Dubio Instantatum."
After saying the incantation, a wave of green magic formed on Demona's arm, which made Goliath and Brooklyn looking with uneasiness. Trying to stop her, Goliath ran to her until the green mist was shot at him. The leader roared as the green energy enveloped him, seeping into his eyes mouth and nose. Goliath shook his body and covered his eyes as the mist slowly disappeared.
Brooklyn looked at his leader with uneasiness. "Goliath?"
Demona smirked as she closed the book in a hard clap, and the same green energy flashing for a second. Goliath rose again, but slower as he uncovered his eyes, revealed to be the same green as the mist. This made Brooklyn confused.
"What is this?" Brooklyn demanded. "I thought the spell was supposed to open his eyes!"
"It will, watch." Demona answered, then turned to the leader. "Humans are our enemies."
"Humans are our enemies…" Goliath repeated, but in a monotone-like state.
That made Brooklyn step back. "No this wasn't the plan," he gasped. "I wanted to free his mind not enslave it!"
"You wanted him to know the truth." Demona replied. "Now what we tell him will be the only truth he knows."
"You're insane!" Brooklyn growled, then charged at Demona. "Give me that book!"
"Brooklyn wait, you must trust me." Demona coaxed.
"I was a fool to trust you!" Brooklyn retorted with a snarl as his eyes glowed white, then stood to his full height to intimidate her.
"Goliath restrain him!" Demona commanded.
Still in his drone-like state, Goliath stalked toward Brooklyn who was distracted by taking on Demona. Brooklyn grunted as he was grabbed by his leader as Demona escaped. The red gargoyle broke free of Goliath's grasp by kicking him in the gut and tried to reason with him.
"Goliath, it's me Brooklyn stop!"
The leader ignored the red gargoyles pleas as he kept attacking. Brooklyn dodged Goliath's grab as he made his way toward an entrance to the church area. Jumping from column to column, he broke down the door with much force, and ran toward the shadows as Goliath followed in pursuit.
"Wait! Brooklyn! I won't hurt you." Demona called, slowly walking into the center of the room. "Don't you see? This is the only way. This is only temporary. He will obey whoever holds the spell. We can protect him from his naivety until we reach our goals." She assured as she looked around the supposed empty room.
As she went deeper into the room, she didn't notice Brooklyn coming out of the shadows heading to Goliath. When he tried to lay a claw on the leader, Goliath grabbed his wrist with much force in a growl.
Brooklyn grunted. "Goliath, listen to me. You can't let Demona control you. You got to snap out of it."
Not hearing him at all, Goliath threw him toward one of the columns. He slumped on the ground, struggling to get up.
Demona walked to him as she opened the book. "I hate to do this, but you leave me no choice." As she flipped through the pages, Brooklyn looked up at her in a hateful glare.
"Sine Dubio-" Before Demona could continue, a loud screech was heard in the church and Demona was tackled down by a flash of blue. The red head grunted as she lost her grip of the book and it landed in the shadows behind a tapestry.
Brooklyn stood up and gasped who saved him. "Chelsea-"
"Brooklyn get the book!" Chelsea exclaimed as she struggled to hold Demona down on the ground. Demona turned to see Brooklyn running for the book.
"Goliath stop him!" Demona ordered, but the lavender gargoyle stood still like a statue.
Chelsea grunted as she tried to keep Demona down. "Give it up Demona! It's over!"
Demona growled, then looked over the female to see Brooklyn looking through the pages. She snarled as she glared at Chelsea with demonic red eyes.
"Never!" Demona shouted as she used her clawed feet to kick Chelsea in the abdomen and freed herself. With her out of the way, Demona ran to Brooklyn, jumped on him, lifted him up in the air, and grabbed the book.
"You fool! Do you think I have come this far just to let you stop me now?!" she scolded as she threw him aside. She walked back to Goliath as Chelsea approached Brooklyn who was slowly coming to his feet.
"Brooklyn are you okay?" she asked nervously.
"Yeah," the red gargoyle nodded, then turned to her with a look of confusion. "But how did you know I was here?"
"I knew something was wrong when you snapped at me last night," Chelsea answered with a frown.
Brooklyn looked away with a look of regret. Chelsea took his face to make him look at her in the eye.
"But I knew Demona had something to do with that, so I followed you to make sure." Chelsea finished. Brooklyn just stared at her, not knowing if that was her true reason or not.
Chelsea went to say more, but both young gargoyles heard Demona commanding Goliath. They turned to her as she walked toward the leader.
"Goliath, destroy them!" Demona ordered holding the Grimorum in the air. However, Goliath didn't move a muscle from where he was standing.
Demona brought the book in front of her. "I hold the book; you must obey me."
"You hold the book Demona," Brooklyn spoke. "But I hold the spell." He snarled holding out ripped spell pages.
Demona gave a look of shock, then looked in the book to see a few of the pages were missing.
"Goliath take her!" Brooklyn ordered, then the leader growled as he went after the red headed female.
Demona dodged his attack, then clubbed her hands together to bring him down. Goliath snarled as he went to follow her, only for Demona to bring a tapestry down on him. The she-gargoyle picked up the Grimorum and jumped to the second story. Goliath ripped the tapestry into two and followed her in hot pursuit. Running on the second story, Goliath slammed her through a broken window and plummet down. Demona kicked Goliath away and flew away with the lavender gargoyle in tow again. Brooklyn and Chelsea jumped out of the window following the duo in hot pursuit.
Demona was a good few feet from Goliath who was still listening to Brooklyn's orders. Opening the book, she took out a few pages to use in the future. Above her, Goliath stooped in slamming Demona toward the ground. As they rolled on the ground, they destroyed a tree into a thousand pieces, and the she-gargoyle threw Goliath off of her.
Turning to a big boulder, Demona lifted it with ease, threw it to Goliath, who jumped and hit a tree instead.
"Even with no will of your own, you're a force to be reckoned with." Demona growled.
In the distance, Brooklyn gave a loud screech as he and Chelsea were upon she and Goliath. The red headed gargoyle dodged the leader, picked up the Grimorum, and aimed it at the river.
"You've won. This time."
"NO!" Brooklyn exclaimed as Demona dropped the book, and the red gargoyle dove after it.
Before Demona could escape, Chelsea slammed into Demona again.
"Oh no you don't!" Chelsea exclaimed as she and the Demona rolled on the ground.
Demona got the upper hand though as she punched Chelsea in the face, and the young female rolled off of her and was face first on the ground.
"Like I said, you won for now." Demona stated getting to her feet.
Chelsea lifted herself off as she snarled and her eyes glowed demonic red. Demona gave a soft frown but shook it off as she turned to the cliffs.
"Until we meet again…" Demona turned behind to the young gargoyle. "Chelsea."
With that, Demona jumped off the cliffs and into the night. Chelsea sighed, lifting herself up and dusted her dress off. She then turned to Goliath who stood like a motionless being. She came over to it with a look of worry.
"Oh Goliath…" Chelsea muttered, placing a claw on her leader's face gently. She then heard motion behind her as Brooklyn landed back on the cliff with the book in his claws. She went to stand in front of him, then both of them turned to Demona's dying figure as she screeched off into the night. The red gargoyle sighed as he turned to the other two.
"Come on…" he spoke to both gargoyles. "Lets go home." Brooklyn still carried the book with Chelsea gliding next to him, and Goliath following them both like a servant as they headed back home.
When all three gargoyles arrived, Brooklyn explained to the rest of them who were in a circle about Goliath's situation.
"I've gone through the Grimorum page by page, but I don't know how to reverse the spell Demona put on Goliath." Brooklyn explained.
"Demona must have ripped it out when we were chasing her." Chelsea stated skimming through the ripped pages in case they missed something.
"You mean he's going to be like this forever?" Broadway asked.
"I don't know if you can understand Goliath, but…I'm sorry." Brooklyn shook his head. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't let Demona talk me into stealing the Grimorum…" Brooklyn looked down in shame as Chelsea and Hudson placed comforting hands on both of his shoulders.
"How are we going to help him?" Lexington asked. "We can't defeat the spell."
Elisa, who had been quiet the whole time, was thinking about the whole situation they were in. She then realized something. "Wait a minute. We don't defeat the spell, we use it." She stated walking to Chelsea. "Here." Chelsea gave the pages to Elisa as the cop turned to Goliath who was still under the spell.
"Okay big guy," Elisa started. "I'm holding the spell, and that means you have to do what I say." She took a deep breath. "Goliath, I order you to act for the rest of your life exactly as you were if you were not under a spell."
Everyone waited in suspense if Elisa's idea would work. Just like their prayers have been answered, Goliath rumbled a growl as he shook his head. When he opened his eyes, the green glow was gone, and his eyes were returned to normal. He looked at his clan with a straight face, then turned to Elisa with a smile.
"Very clever Elisa," Goliath grinned. "It worked."
The gargoyles all cheered as Brooklyn walked to Elisa with a smile.
"I knew Demona was wrong about you at least." He said. "Any species that has you for a member can't be all bad."
Elisa chuckled. "Thanks…I think."
Brooklyn's smile dropped as he turned to Goliath. He shook his head. "Goliath, I'm sorry…"
The leader held his claw up. "You already apologized." He informed him. "Even if I could not respond, I did hear you."
"What Demona said sounded true at the time-"
"Of course it did," Goliath replied. "It's a half truth that she has thoroughly embraced. But its not the whole truth." He looked over at the brightening sky. "Come, the sun is rising, and I for one could use some rest."
When the gargoyles dispersed, Brooklyn happily gave Elisa the Grimorum as he went to his perch. When Chelsea walked past him, he realized that he needed to apologize to her from snapping at her. Even from helping him, he wasn't sure if she was mad at him.
"Chelsea," Brooklyn turned to her.
Chelsea turned around as he looked at the red gargoyle. "Yeah?"
"Um…" he began, rubbing the back of his head as he stood in front of her. He breathed. Why is it so hard to talk to her sometimes? He looked back her. "About last night...I'm sorry for snapping at you, and thinking you were siding with the humans."
Chelsea just stared at him as he continued.
"From what Demona showed me about the darker side of humans, I had these mixed feelings whether they can be trusted or not. So when you sounded like you were siding with the humans, I let my anger out on you, and-"
Chelsea stopped him from continuing by wrapping him tight in her arms and released him a second later. Brooklyn just stared at her dumbfounded.
"Brooklyn, I understand." She told him with a slight blush on her face. "You were angry, and Demona just caught you at a very emotional state."
Brooklyn looked away as he jumped on his perch. "I should have let you stayed…I should have listened to you," he whispered.
"No, what you did was right." Chelsea jumped between him and Goliath's perch. She turned to him. "You didn't want me to see what Demona had endured, and frankly I still can't believe what she thinks of the humans." She then looked onward with a small frown. "Wonder what happened to her?"
Brooklyn gazed at her with a small frown. Seeing her like this…it just doesn't feel right to him. He doesn't know why, but he thinks he should do something. Forgetting his own problems, he paused for a moment, thinking, then turned back at Chelsea.
"Hey," Chelsea turned at Brooklyn, who continued. "How about we go gliding tomorrow? Just the two of us, and forget that this ever happened?"
Chelsea looked at friend as he heart felt it was beating faster than usual. She then smiled. "I'd love too." she nodded.
Brooklyn beamed as he saw her beautiful smile, then turned as the sun was mere seconds to rise. Suddenly, Lexington spoke up.
"Hey, what happened to the motorcycle?"
Brooklyn and Chelsea stood stiff and looked at each other with wide eyes, then turned back to the green gargoyle. The red gargoyle drooped his ears.
"Umm…It blew up." He admitted sadly.
"Oh," Lexington shrugged, then turned to Brooklyn with a look of shock. "WHAT?!"
When the sun rose, Lexington's shocked features stayed frozen in stone as the rest of the clan turned to stone. Elisa smiled seeing the sun rising over the city. Looking at each of the seven statues (including laughing at Lexington's gawked look), she made her way into the castle with the Grimorum in hand.