"Dreams"
by Lisette:  Lisette_1@lycos.com

Created on: 06/21/99

Revised on: 08/30/01

Legalese: Nothing here is of my own creation.  Goliath and his crew belong to Buena Vista and Disney.  A portion of the story was taken directly from the Gargoyles' episodes, Awakenings: Part One and Hunter's Moon: Part Three.  The characters of Talika and Lisette, on the other hand, are of the others creation and should not be used without her express permission.  In no way will a profit be made from this.

Author's Note: This story is the eighth part of the Talika series. 

Brief summary: Dreams, the windows to a person's soul, can be the most dangerous weapon of them all.

Rating: PG-13 due to language and content

    The cool Autumn breeze whispered past the silent ears of the sleeping city in the dark enshrouded night.  But higher up, the soft breeze had been transformed into a howling wind that roared in between the towering buildings, in between every nook and cranny.  Because of that wind, no clouds were to be seen, the last remnants having been blown away long ago.  Instead, the bright moon shone eerily down on the dark night, further illuminated by a dark sea of bright stars.  Still, despite their brightness, the fierce wind only made the stars' light look cold and unforgiving.  All in all, it wasn't the most inviting night to be out -- a fact that Lisette was well aware of.

    As long as she could remember, Lisette had always been sensitive to the moods of others.  This night, it felt as though she was sensitive to the very night itself.  Shivering, she hugged her pale blue arms tightly around her thin form as the wind buffeted her form from every angle.  Silently thanking Angela for suggesting the French braid that now securely tied her long blond hair behind her, Lisette glanced over at her companion.  Like always, Goliath glided on as stoic as ever, obviously unaffected by the wind or the night's strange influences.  Shaking off the feelings of foreboding that nearly choked her with their oppressiveness, Lisette caught a strong wind current and caught up to her leader.

    Sensing another's presence, Goliath turned his head and watched as Lisette winged up beside him.  Surprised, he then noticed her small frown and the way that she had wrapped her arms around herself.  Worried for a moment, Goliath quickly wondered if this patrol was the cause of her discomfort.  It had been a week since he and Lisette had been buried alive beneath the old warehouse and tonight was their first patrol together since.  Earlier, when Goliath had announced the patrol teams, sending Brooklyn and Broadway in one direction and Lexington and Angela in another, Brooklyn had jokingly wondered aloud as to whether it was wise sending Goliath and Lisette on a patrol together.  At the time, Lisette had laughed with the rest and had playfully punched the Second in the arm.  Now, he wasn't so sure that her actions were genuine.  "Are you cold?" Goliath finally asked, concern entering his voice as he broke the comfortable silence that had fallen between them.

    Startled, Lisette turned her bright blue eyes to the massive lavender gargoyle that glided beside her.  "No... I do not feel the cold wind's bite in this form," Lisette replied, indicating her lithe gargoyle form.  "It is just this night... it is very ominous, no?"

    Slightly surprised, Goliath turned and surveyed the dark night.  To him, the night was beautiful with a bright and full moon and millions of twinkling stars above.  Smiling wryly, Goliath realized that his earlier thoughts of Elisa were probably of some influence upon his opinion.  Shaking his head, Goliath once more turned back towards the young mage.  "I find the night invigorating, which is surprising seeing as how our opinions are usually reversed."

    Smiling, Lisette slowly nodded her head.  "True, but..." she trailed off as her sharp vision traced a single figure slinking across a dark rooftop before disappearing inside a skylight.

    "What is it?" Goliath asked slowly as he followed Lisette's gaze down to the roof of the Museum of Natural History.  Groaning inwardly, Goliath briefly wondered as to why this place seemed to attract trouble.

    Glancing once more at the familiar building before turning back to her leader, Lisette nodded her head.  "I saw someone go into the museum through the... glass window?" she trailed off, forgetting the English word that she was looking for.

    "The skylight?" Goliath supplied as he began his descent.

    Nodding her head, Lisette quickly followed as a familiar feeling of excitement and adrenaline began filling her veins.  Groaning quietly at this realization, Lisette silently followed Goliath to the broken glass.  "I have not just influenced Brooklyn, but he has influenced me as well," she murmured in exasperation as she realized the excitement was catching from him.

    Overhearing her words, Goliath smiled softly before bringing his fingers to his lips for silence.  At her nod of understanding, Goliath slowly crouched down and took in the dark room below.  Moving quietly, he then slipped through the hole and allowed for his strong wings to carry him to the ground so far below, with no sound but the soft rustle of his wings.  A moment later, Lisette was beside him as they slowly began creeping through the dark building.  While he was accustomed to seeing the oddities that lined their path, Lisette obviously found them intriguing.  And when they passed through the dinosaur exhibit, Goliath almost slipped up by laughing aloud at her obvious fright of the displays.  But then he was all seriousness once again as they neared the Egyptian room and heard a soft rustling from within.  Moving slowly and carefully Goliath inched forward and peeked into the room.  Instantly, his eyes lit upon a blue gargoyle form with fiery red hair trailing down her shoulders -- a gargess who was busy stuffing scroll after ancient scroll from a nearby display into a bag that was slung over her shoulder, illuminated only by the bright moonlight that poured through the skylight above her.  Suddenly, he felt Lisette by his side, and by the way she tensed he knew that she recognized not only Demona but the laser gun that rested by her feet as well.  Worried, Goliath turned to her, expecting to see fear in her large blue eyes -- instead, he saw only anger that made her eyes burn red.

    "After you," she murmured quietly, trying to calm her anger.

    Nodding, Goliath stepped into the room and allowed the bright moonlight to illuminate him.  He couldn't help but think that should Demona make Lisette even angrier that she already was, she'd be taking another trip to Antarctica this night.  Once more forcing back the smile that was clearly inappropriate for the occasion, the look of solemness that was so common for him returned.  "Demona, put the scrolls back," Goliath said, finally gaining the gargess's attention.

    As Demona turned and her eyes locked on Goliath's strong form, she felt her face drain of all color and the world melt away.  "Goliath!" Demona whispered fiercely, a single tear stinging her eyes as the scrolls were forgotten.

    Puzzled by his enemy's reaction to his appearance, Goliath took a step back as she took a step forward.  Demona looked as though she had seen a ghost as the bag of scrolls slipped unnoticed off of her shoulder and to the floor below, a single scroll clutched tightly in one hand.  And then it hit him -- to Demona, he was a ghost.  The last time he had seen Demona was almost a year ago when she had shot him with the poisoned dart that was meant for Elisa.  In a fit of anger, his love had then sent Demona to Norway... the gargess didn't know that he wasn't dead.  But before any more words could be spoken, Lisette joined Goliath in the moonlight and glared at the fiery gargess.

    Once more Demona's reaction was immediate as she backed up a pace and scrutinized the new gargess.  She was younger than herself with pale blond hair that was pulled back in a braid that was similar to her daughter's, pale blue skin, and was wearing a white halter top and loin cloth that mimicked her own and glowed softly in the moonlight.  While Demona knew she had never seen this new gargoyle before, at the same time, she looked familiar.  Scrutinizing the gargess's face, Demona thought back to the last time she had thought she had found a new gargoyle... in the end, it turned out to be the human that she so despised... Elisa Maza.  Then it hit her.  "Maza!" Demona roared in sudden anger.  The gargess looked almost exactly like a younger version of the hated human.

    Surprised, Lisette felt her anger be replaced by confusion as she glanced quickly at Goliath before returning her gaze to Demona.  "No, my name is Lisette.

    Thrown off by the soft voice and the obvious French accent, Demona floundered for words.  The voice definitely didn't belong to the annoying detective.. which meant that it was a new gargoyle?

    "Yes, we have met," Lisette continued as though Demona had spoken aloud, her voice growing hard.  "But you never gave me the opportunity to introduce myself before you shot me with.. with.." Lisette sputtered, her eyes glowing red as she searched for the word.

    "Your laser gun," Goliath supplied with a low growl.

    "What?" Demona gasped in disbelief.  She would never shoot another gargoyle... unless it was one of Goliath's clan that is.  A human, yes, but even that she hadn't done since that time that she.. was.. sent to Antarctica?  Gasping, Demona finally recognized the new gargess for who she really was.  "You?" she roared, her eyes blazing red.  "You're the one who sent me to that blasted continent!!"

    Nodding the affirmative with a grim smile, Lisette prepared herself and her magic for the dive for the laser gun that she knew would come.  That would be Demona's only assault against them besides for her own talons, and Lisette was ready and waiting for either.  Unfortunately, the attack came in a way that she wasn't expecting.  Just as Demona began heading towards the laser gun, Lisette let loose the blast she had prepared and sent it clattering across the floor.

    Smiling, Demona saw her chance as the young one did exactly as she had been expecting.  The second that the being's attention was diverted away from herself, Demona sprang into action.  Quickly, she murmured a short spell under her breath as a flash of white light flew from her finger tips and impacted with the gargess.

    "Lisette!" Goliath roared as the magic connected with the distracted mage and slammed her back into the wall behind her.  As she fell to the ground, Goliath saw that a silver chain now tightly encircled her.  Growling, Goliath turned back just in time to see Demona's tail swish through a jagged hole that she had created in the skylight above them.  "Demona!" Goliath roared as he moved beneath the light, ready to give pursuit.  Suddenly, a small groan reminded him of his clan member and his responsibility to her.  Shaking his head, he quickly decided to leave Demona for another night.  She had only gotten away with one scroll in the end and had even left her laser gun.

    Turning, he walked back to where Lisette was struggling to her feet, her arms and wings bound tightly and painfully to her sides in the iron chain.  "Are you alright?" Goliath asked, trying his best to hide his smile and the laugh that were threatening to come forth at Lisette's predicament.

    "I would be doing better if I was not restrained as I am," Lisette growled, noticing Goliath's guarded amusement.

    Swallowing his humor, Goliath stepped forward and slid his hands over her flat stomach and under the tight chain.  Grunting, he pulled with all of his might, quickly understanding why she had been unable to remove the restraints by herself.  Finally, several exhausting moments later, the magical chain crashed to the floor, finally freeing the trapped mage.

    Smiling her thanks, Lisette gently rubbed her aching limbs.  "Thank you for telling me that Demona was a sorceress," she murmured sarcastically as she stretched out her sore wings, her smile softening her sharp words.

    Shaking his head, Goliath gingerly picked up the laser rifle and slung it over his shoulder before hopping through the second hole that Demona had created and landed gently on the roof.  As soon as Lisette was beside him he quickly took to the air.  "You never asked."

    Ignoring his comment, Lisette quickly arched her neck to look back at the building.  "What about the scrolls?" Lisette called out as they began heading back towards the Aerie Building.

    "If no one heard the fighting, then they definitely heard you hitting the wall," Goliath chuckled, pointedly ignoring Lisette's glare.

    "A lot of help you were," was Lisette's muttered reply.

    "In any case, the guards can deal with the scrolls."

    "And what of the one she got?  Why did she want them?"

    "I'm not sure," Goliath replied, a frown appearing, "but let us hope that she did not get what she wanted."

Dominique Destine's Manor

    Growling in anger, Demona quickly strode through her empty mansion till she stood in her favorite room -- the one that contained all of her spell books and scrolls that she had accumulated throughout the centuries.  "That little wench!" she roared, not caring if she woke her neighbors.  Then again, by now they were probably accustomed to all of the strange noises that originated at the gloomy manor.  The only thing that prevented her from going into a murderous rage, though, was the image of the gargess flying into a far wall.

    As the image flashed before her mind's eye once again, Demona felt a small smile pull at her lips.  At least she had taught the wench a lesson.  After her recent encounters with magic and the third race, Demona had searched diligently until she had found a relatively simple and easy spell that would conjure up a chain of iron and link it around her victim.  She only wished that she could have stayed long enough to find out if the stranger was in fact fae, human, or gargoyle.  Growling, Demona quickly shook her head.  She was still trying to decide what Maza was!  One minute she was a weak human, the next a gargoyle, and then she was using fairy magic.  That little mystery had been puzzling her ever since she had.. shot Goliath.

    Goliath was alive.  Strangely, Demona felt her heart soar at that news.  But how could that be?  Goliath was her enemy who always managed to foil her plots!  Could it be that she still did love the stubborn fool?  To that, she had no answer.  She'd like to think that she had gotten over those feelings long ago.  Then again, after she had thought Goliath dead, she had gone through a period of mourning during her forced visit to Norway.  But then, something had come over her and she was desperate to find a way to bring him back.  At the time, she had convinced herself that she was just doing it so that she could rule the clan through him... now she wasn't so sure.

    Still, she had been on a quest to bring her ex-mate back from the dead, buoyed with hope that it was possible by such proof as Coldstone.  Which led her to the Museum of Natural History.  She had heard rumor that there was a spell that could be useful towards her cause hidden somewhere within one of the many Egyptian scrolls to be found in the museum.  A spell that was written by the ancient people who had been so obsessed with the line between life and mainly death, themselves.  Now, the spell was needed no longer.

    Shrugging her shoulders, Demona tossed the Egyptian scroll into a corner on a pile of others and retreated to her desk.  She had lost too much time already and had to return to her main goal once again: finding a way to commit genocide against the human race while leaving hers intact.

Castle Wyvern

    "So, what do you think Demona was after?" Broadway asked after Goliath and Lisette had finished filling the clan in on the escapade at the museum.

    "Obviously the scrolls," Brooklyn replied lightly as he draped one arm over Lisette's pale blue shoulders.  While to the others he appeared clam and collected, on the inside he was seething.  Ever since Demona had tricked him into betraying Goliath so long ago, his dislike for her had been obvious to all.  But then to hear how Demona had attacked his love... well, that was pushing his buttons if nothing else was.  Obviously during his short time with her, Brooklyn's protective instinct had widened until it included Lisette as well -- much to her displeasure.

    Scowling at his rookery brother, Broadway turned back to the clan.  "You know what I mean.  What was in the scrolls that she could use?"

    "Magic to kill all the humans, probably," Lexington murmured, his large eyes somber.

    "Do you really think Mother is still trying?" Angela asked quietly, pained by the thought that her own mother would be still trying to do such a horrific thing.

    "We don't know, Angela," Goliath answered slowly as the clan turned their attention to their leader.  "Which is why we must have someone guarding the scrolls at all times.  The odds say that the scroll that she was after was not the one that she happened to hold onto and get away with."

    "But who will guard during the day?" Angela asked.

    Turning, Goliath looked directly at Lisette.  "We will take turns guarding by night while Lisette will watch during the day."

    "All day?" Brooklyn asked, his voice tinged with disappointment as he realized that Lisette would then spend her evenings sleeping and that he would never get to see her now.

    Knowing Brooklyn's worries, Goliath smiled slightly.  He would feel the same way if Elisa was ever moved to the day shift -- he had felt the same way during the Hunter's Moon.  "I will speak with Elisa and see if she can take watch part of the day.  For now, I want you, Lexington, to head over to the museum -- the police should be finishing up soon.  Radio us if you hear or see anything slightly suspicious, and Lisette, I want you there by sunrise."

    "And until then, I would like to work with young Lisette," Owen stated calmly, surprising the clan as he stepped out of the shadows, his hands clasped behind his back.

    Groaning quietly, Lisette turned towards her teacher.  "How long have you been standing there?" she asked meekly as she started towards Owen.

    "Long enough to hear that Demona had gotten the better of you," was Owen's answer as they began leaving the room.

    "But no one told me that she was a sorceress," was Lisette's quiet reply as they disappeared from sight.  "And she used iron."

    "It matters not," came Owen's clear retort.  "You underestimated your opponent and became cocky.  It is time for a lesson with Alexander in which you will both learn humility and how to avoid attacks of iron."

    As the voices drifted away, Brooklyn turned to his clan with a skeptical eye.  "Are we sure that Puck is the one to be teaching her about humility?"

    "Or any of the third race for that matter?" Lexington added, a small smirk appearing on his green face, having heard stories of Goliath, Angela, and Elisa's encounters with the third race during their World Tour.

    Hiding his own smile and holding back his retort, Goliath quickly nodded towards the door that would lead to the courtyard.  "Get going, Lexington, and remember to call if you see anything," Goliath ordered as he turned towards the library -- he had a certain detective to get a hold of.

Central Park -- two weeks later

    Sighing softly, Elisa snuggled closer into Goliath's warm embrace that shielded her from the cool October wind.  Smiling, she tilted her head back till it rested gently on Goliath's shoulder, watching the bright full moon through the break in the thick trees around them.  Even though the clearing had almost been a place of tragedy when Demona had attacked them all those months ago, Elisa and Goliath still traveled there to be alone and take in the night's beauty.  Which is exactly what they had been doing for the last hour, sitting side by side with the thick grass cushioning beneath them.  "For how long will we guard the museum day and night?" Elisa asked quietly, breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen between them.

    "Until we are sure that Demona is no longer after the scrolls," Goliath answered quietly, his eyes closely following the fiery trail of a shooting star.

    Smiling softly, Elisa slowly shook her head as she waved away an insect.  "Demona has never struck me as the patient type.  I think that if she was still after them she would have struck by now."

    "But is that a chance that you're willing to take?" Goliath questioned as he tore his eyes away from the heavens above and quickly lost himself in the deep, endless sea of brown that composed the warm eyes that he so loved.

    Sighing, Elisa gently reached up and touched Goliath's lavender cheek.  "After Hunter's Moon, none of us are willing to take that chance, which is why the clan has been helping so much without complaint... although I believe that there will be mutiny if Lisette is forced to go all day again," Elisa chuckled, a small grin on her face as she leaned once again against the hard planes of Goliath's broad chest.

    Shaking his head, Goliath felt a smile pull at his lips, something that was happening quite often lately.  "Either that or Brooklyn will lead the march against me for how little time he gets to spend with Lisette," he chuckled as he pulled Elisa closer to him.

    Relishing in the feelings of comfort and security that Goliath radiated, Elisa nodded knowingly.  "But what can we do?  The museum must be guarded during the day and with me having to work all night... well, I'm only free to cover four hours or so before my shift starts.  That leaves only Lisette to cover the first twelve hours alone."

    Speaking of which, what time will you be relieving her tonight?" Goliath asked as he gently began rubbing his hand down her arm.

    "Hmm," Elisa murmured as her skin tingled beneath his soft touch.  "Five o'clock," she sighed as she turned and climbed to her knees before her love.  "But we didn't come here this.. morning," she said as she glanced at her watch under the bright moonlight, "to talk business."  Smiling, she slowly inched forward till her soft lips brushed Goliath's, her eyes boring into his.  "I love you," she murmured.

    "Always and forever," Goliath replied in his low bass voice as he finished the distance between them and locked her in a soft kiss that slowly grew more passionate.  Always and forever.

    Sighing, Demona allowed the wind currents to carry her wherever they desired as her troubled thoughts filled her mind.  For the last two weeks her life had fallen into a boring routine: Dominique Destine by day, running Nightstone, and gargess by night, sleeping and trying to find a way to end the world as she knew it.  Still, in the back of her mind throughout it all, the puzzling question of her feelings for Goliath remained.

    Do I love him? Demona asked herself as the wooded mass of Central Park began drifting slowly below her.  She knew that love was blind to thought, common sense, and logic, but still she fought her feelings.  I can't be in love with that fool... can I? she asked herself once again as memories of their past flooded her mind.

    "Angel of the Night," Demona murmured sadly as she once more took note of her surroundings.  She had come full circle since then, turning from Goliath's angel to the human's demon.  By the hundreds of trees below her, it was obvious that she was above Central Park.  Suddenly, a flash of red caught her eye through the muted sea of greens and browns.  Curious and eager for a distraction from her thoughts, Demona tilted her wings till she was now gliding low over the trees.  Suddenly, a clearing appeared below her and Demona felt her eyes widen in first surprise and then anger at what she saw.  Biting her lip to prevent her roar of fury, Demona quickly gained some altitude and turned back toward her manor.

    Demona had no fear of being spotted.  No, Goliath and the human were too preoccupied to have noticed her presence.  Now, Goliath and the human trash would suffer and pay.  For what, she would not allow herself to decide, too fearful of her own answer.

    Pulling back from Goliath slightly, Elisa looked into his onyx eyes.  "Did you hear something?" she asked breathlessly, a small frown appearing on her face.

    Goliath pulling her close once again and putting his soft lips to hers was his only response.

Destine Manor

    "I hate them!  I hate them all!" Demona roared as she stormed into her study.  Fury had made her eyes glow a deadly red as she stomped into the room, clearing off a table with one broad swipe of her arm.  "They both shall pay for this!" she screamed, all soft thoughts of her ex-mate that had troubled her the last two weeks forgotten.

    Growling, Demona turned round and round as she surveyed the room.  Suddenly, her eyes lit upon the pile of scrolls that lay in the corner.  "Let's see what I got," she murmured in a deadly voice as she gained a hold of her anger.

    Striding forward on her long legs, Demona snatched the ancient Egyptian scroll from the pile and opened it quickly.  Instead of the Latin that she was accustomed to, instead she found strange picture drawings.  "Hieroglyphics," she murmured, unconcerned as she walked briskly over to her work table.  There, she quickly flipped open an ancient book and turned the aging and brittle pages till she found the marked page she was searching for.

    "The words I see I cannot read so take them away and bring forth the one I deem.  English be the spoken word, so bring it forth and let it be heard," Demona chanted as she read from the tome and held the scroll tightly in her hands.  The spell was relatively simple and she used it quite often to convert spells that were in languages she was unfamiliar with into something she could read.  Smiling evilly, she watched as the magic did its work as the hieroglyphics disappeared to be replaced by English.  Eagerly, she read the spell as a strange gleam entered her eyes.  "Perfect," she murmured.  "Just perfect."  The spell was simple and she just needed to wait until the coming dawn and collect a few items from her collection.  Then she would be ready to release her wrath.

Castle Wyvern

    Unable to suppress his yawn, Goliath climbed onto the parapet on the highest tower of Wyvern.  It had been a long night and he looked forward to the peace that stone sleep would bring.  He only wished that Elisa could have seen him to sleep.  Then again, he understood her wish to sleep seeing as how she had been rising earlier each night to help watch the museum.  Smiling softly, Goliath turned to watch as his clan assembled below him, ready to join him in slumber.  And with the night he had, he knew that only good dreams would follow.

Elisa's apartment

    Humming softly to herself, Elisa left the small bathroom in her apartment and padded down the hallway to her large bedroom.  Yawning sleepily, she pushed Cagney to the side and crawled beneath her soft comforter, her sheets smooth and cool against her bare legs and thin boxer shorts.

    Glancing at the rising sun, Demona knew it was time.  Smiling eagerly, she quickly scooped up the scroll and placed it on the cleaned table beside a small wooden bowl filled with a dark liquid, sitting within a circle of candles.

    "Dreams which are the windows to the soul," Demona whispered quietly, reading from the scroll as she dropped a single dark brown hair into the concoction, "hold the darkness of a lifetime..."

    As the sun appeared over the horizon, Goliath settled into his thinker's pose, his limbs turning to stone as sleep claimed him at last.

    "With the key in the slot the heart is full," Demona continued as she dropped a single long strand of black hair into the bowl, "and must be released from within..."

    Sighing, Elisa felt her eyes slip shut the moment that her head touched her pillow.  With her raven locks fanning out in stark contrast to her white pillow, Elisa slipped into sleep.

    "Turn the key and allow them to roam free and let the darkness and evil inside," Demona whispered, her voice growing stronger with each word.  "Let the dreams go free to ride," she finished with a flourish as the contents of the bowl flashed the color of fire before disappearing.

    If anyone had been watching, they would have seen a similar fire flash around Goliath's stone form and the sleeping one of Elisa.  But none saw save Cagney who was incapable of saving her mistress or her mistress's love from the torturous hell that they were about to endure.

    "It's done," Demona murmured, her face expressionless and her body drained.  "Goliath and the human will relieve the worst moments of their pitiful lives over and over again until they are slowly driven insane.  I have just created their own personal hells for each of them..." Demona murmured slowly before falling to the floor unconscious.

The Museum of Natural History

    Sighing softly, Lisette slowly paced around the large room, always keeping the Egyptian scrolls in sight.  While she was trying to remain inconspicuous, there were only so many days that one could spend the entire day in the exact same area of the museum without raising curious looks from the guards.  And then there was the boredom.

    The first few days had been amazing as Lisette inspected everything that she could while staying within sight of the scrolls at all times.  By now, though, two weeks later, Lisette found herself bored out of her mind.  Even the book that she had brought did little to alleviate her restlessness -- not to mention her aching body from sitting on the hard benches all day long.

    Overall, she was sure that Goliath had no idea what he was asking of her.  Then, when you tied in the fact that no food was allowed in the part of the museum she was in... well, Broadway's large meals that he prepared for her each morning were the only thing that sustained her all day long.  In the end, she was just lucky that the museum had a strict policy of if you paid admission and behaved, they could care less about a person's reason for being there, how long they stayed, and how odd they appeared to be.

    "Elisa, you better be here at five on the dot," Lisette murmured under her breath as she ignored a guard's pointed stare and studied an Egyptian mummy for about the hundredth time in the last two weeks.  "Or else I shall perish from boredom."

    Smiling softly, I unwrap the white bandage from my hand and flex it experimentally.  Sure enough, the lavender skin is smooth and the wound is healed.  Then again, did I honestly expect anything else?  Sighing, I hear the Captain of the Princess's guards, my friend, clear his throat to gain my attention.

    "Those Vikings may return at daybreak, Goliath," he says to me, his voice solemn as he stands beside my mate.  "I say take all your gargoyles and make sure they're gone!" he cries, his voice briefly masking the loud chirping of the crickets that are out this warm night.

    "I agree," my mate quickly breaks in, her eyes flashing as she shakes her head, her long masses of red hair flaring around her -- only exemplifying her wild beauty.  "Let us go out in force and put an end to these pigs once and for all!" she cries.

    Sighing, I turn to regard them both.  The Captain stands tall and proud, albeit a bit heavily, a strong sight and a great opponent.  My mate.. beautiful as ever, stares at me unwaveringly, the second in command of my clan and my only love.  Their advice was something that I always deemed worthy of serious thought.  I ponder their words before slowly sighing out my answer.  "Hmm... too dangerous.  I don't want to leave the castle unprotected," I murmur as I flex my hand once again.

    "Their leader swore he'd be back," the Captain breaks in quickly, his voice urging me to listen to his words.  "It's best to harry them for away now and not take that chance," he continues, his thick Scottish brogue masking some of his words.

    Sighing, finally their words do make sense.  "Very well," I growl, "but I shall do it," I proclaim, knowing that a strange gleam has entered my eyes.  "I can scare these cowards away without any help!" I proclaim with a small laugh, a laugh that would drive fear into any human's heart.

    But not my love.  Quickly she steps forward and shakes her wild mane once again.  "That's too dangerous for you.  Let me come along at least..."

    Turning, I face my love and step closer.  "You and the others will stay with the castle," I say in a voice that brooks no argument.  She may be my mate, but I am still leader of this clan and my word is stone.  But then, seeing her expression of worry, so odd for my fierce and brave mate, I soften.  "You are my best warrior," I say as I grab her shoulders, lifting one hand in the air to further add strength to my words.  "I leave you in command."

    "No, I cannot let you," she breaks in quickly, shaking her head, her eyes so scared as they stare into my own.  Why would she be so frightened for my safety?  Why would this concern her so?  Ah.. but that just shows how much my mate truly cares for me.

    Gripping her shoulders tighter, I pull my love closer and stare deep into her eyes.  "I won't go alone... remember, you and I are one, now and forever," I murmur softly, meaning every word of love that I spoke as I slowly release her and walk away.....

    ....Soaring high above the barren and rocky land that marks my homeland, I scan the ground beneath me with a trained eye.  Suddenly, down below me and leading into a copse of thick trees I see a trail of horse tracks.  "There," I say as I sweep closer and then land, my mentor landing beside me.

    "It's them, right enough," my mentor confirms as he gently fingers the fine tracks left by the horses, his one good eye taking in every detail.  "But the tracks are very light for carrying armored men," he adds, a small frown on his face.

    Pausing, I put my hand to my chin and consider my mentor's words briefly.  The tracks don't feel right, but then again, I can't pass up such an opportunity.  "They're not far ahead," I say as I quickly stand.  "Come!" I command as I scamper on all fours into the trees, knowing that my mentor will be right behind me....

    .....Sighing, my mentor looks at me as we fly between the massive trees, hot on the Vikings' trail.  "It's not long until sunrise..." he trails off as he glances up at the sky, barely visible through the thick trees.  "Perhaps we should return..."

    Before he even has a chance to finish, I quickly interrupt him as I spot our query below.  "There they are!" I cry as I quickly begin a steep dive, roaring out my anger and causing the few humans to run.. the few humans?  In confusion, I slowly land on the hard ground and watch in confusion as the wild and frightened horses stampede around my mentor and I.  This is not right.. there were hardly any humans... "They were leading the horses to decoy us from the castle!" I cry out, realization flooding me as I turn and begin hurrying through the trees, panic squeezing my heart....

    ....As we exit the trees, I already know that we will never make it in time.  Already, I can see the bright sun begin its fiery ascent into the sky.

    "We're too late!" my mentor cries as the stone sleep slowly closes over us both.

    I already know and I growl that awareness to the sky as my skin slowly closes over and turns to stone....

    ....Flying side by side my mentor and I hurry towards our castle, our home.  Soon, the castle comes into sight and I breath out one word as all becomes clear: "No..."

    The castle is backlit by red fire with smoke pouring into the dark night sky.  All around I see swords, arrows, and battle axes strewn about as the fires burn on, unattended by the castle inhabitants.. there don't seem to be any castle inhabitants.  All are slaughtered with their bodies lying around or missing, for the castle is devoid of all life... and the bodies.  As we draw closer I see the piles of crumbled stone that mark the perches that my thriving clan once occupied.  Here and there a piece of a face, barely recognizable, could be seen -- or an arm, leg, hand.... they were dead.  And then, I was landing softly on a familiar perch and staring down in horror at the crumbled stone that marked the death of the one I loved.  Shaking my head, I fall to my knees and pick up a handful of the stone.  With shaking hands, I then bring it to my chest, my eyes closed.  And then, they snap open as I whisper the truth aloud, "My... angel of the night," I gasp as the pain burns me deeper than anything I ever before knew.  I want to scream how impossible that is, that she couldn't be dead for I just sat with her the night before.. just looked into her beautiful and loving eyes as I reminded her of my love and my vow to her... she can't be gone.  Not my angel of the night.. not her...  And then, I'm dropping the stone as I turn my head to the side, the pain too much to bear, too much to hold in.  And then I CAN'T hold in the pain and grief as one sob escapes my lips before I quickly stand and lift my fists up to the sky, my wings flared around me and roar my agony and hurt, the unfairness of life, to the unforgiving sky before collapsing back to my knees.

    "Why didn't ye just take the clan with ye, lad?" a sad and heartbroken voice breaks in on my muddled thoughts from behind me.

    With teary eyes, I slowly turn and regard my mentor.  The old warrior is nearly broken by grief as he surveys the ruins of my clan.. of his clan.. of OUR clan.  They are all dead.

    "Why didn't ye just take the clan with ye like the lass asked?" he repeats as he falls weakly to his knees, a single tear coming to his dark eyes as they stare at me in accusation.

    Hearing his words, I feel my heart shatter even further.  Why DIDN'T I take them with me?  Both the Captain and.. my Angel had asked me to.. had ADVISED me to take the clan with... why didn't I listen?  Oh God, if only I had listened then they would still be alive.  All of them would be alive... my Angel of the Night would still be alive and in my arms right now.  "Oh God," I moan, my eyes snapping shut as I feel the world fall away.  "Oh God, no!" I sob, the tears burning my eyes as I realize the truth.  I killed my clan.  "NOOO!"

    And then, the voices of my clan fill the night air around me.  "Goliath!" they call, their voices filled with pain and accusation.  "Why didn't you take us Goliath?!"

    And then, the Captain of the guard is standing before me, his eyes burning with hatred.  "Ye killed your clan!  Why didn't ye listen to us?" he asks, pity showing on his old face... pity and anger.

    "I'm so sorry," I moan, my eyes squeezing shut as I try to block out their accusations and their pointed questions.

    "Goliath..." a soft voice whispers, interrupting my tortured agony.

    Gasping, I quickly open my eyes and stare in horror at the one who stands before me.  Even now her wild beauty shines through as she seems to float in the air before me.  Her wild and tangled red hair rustles in an unfelt breeze as the tears drip down her pale face.  "Oh God, please not you too!" I moan, my heart begging for relief from my pain.

    "Goliath... why didn't you take us away like I had asked you to?" she whispers, her voice like bells on the wind, every bit as angelic as her name.

    "I'm so sorry," I moan, my heart shattering to fragments so small that never again will they be pieced together.

    "I loved you, Goliath... and you killed me.. you killed us all," she whispers before slowly fading away.

    "NOOO!!" I scream, the tears no longer trailing but pouring down my lavender cheeks unchecked.  "My Angel, come back!" I plead to the heavens above as even my mentor disappears from around me.  "Please come back!" I whisper, my hard exterior shattered and broken.  "Please don't leave me... I'm so sorry...."

    Smiling softly, I gently run the brush through the fine golden curls before me.  Even as the brush pulls the soft hair straight, the moment it's free, the golden locks, the color of sunshine, bounce right back up into its springy curl.

    "Are you making me pretty, Mommy?" the little girl asks as she turns away from the yellow tulip she had been playing with and regards me with shining blue eyes.

    "Oh, Hope, with your father's hair and eyes, I couldn't dream of making you anymore beautiful than you already are," I sigh with a bright smile as my daughter turns back to playing with the flower, apparently satisfied with my heartfelt answer.  Shaking my head, I tilt my face up till the bright sun warms my dark face and radiates off of my silky raven locks.  Unable to stop my smile from growing, I gently smooth out my soft satin blue veily skirt and halter top as I stand and move across the smooth stone till I'm kneeling before my beloved daughter, setting the brush to the side.

    I have to be the luckiest woman in the world.  The people of Earth are finally at peace under Caleb and my combined rule with only a few small factions upset with their immortal king and queen.  To top it off, Titania and Oberon had recently come together and moved the troublesome and tricky second race of fae, their protectorate, to the enchanted isle of Avalon that had been created by the four protectors, leaving our people with an even greater sense of peace.  And then, as if to award us for our hard work, the Creator blessed Caleb and I with a child... Hope.  And hope she is, to the people and to myself.  The tiny child, born four hundred years ago to us, seems to age one year both physically and mentally for each one hundred years that passes.

    At first, Caleb and I had been worried sick over this fact, but by now, we have come to accept it.  After all, we're still unsure as to whether or not our child shares our immortality or not, and until the question is answered, we plan on spending every second possible with our cherished daughter.

    And with the beautiful flowers of the garden surrounding us and my angel dressed in a simple white summer dress, Hope truly is beautiful.  While it is true that my daughter has her father's coloring, her chubby child's body has the shape and form of my own.

    "Where's Daddy?" Hope asks suddenly, her voice petulant as she looks at me with her large blue eyes, so shaped like my own.

    "He's helping some people solve their problems.  Don't you remember, sweetie?" I ask softly as she gently picks up a bright red rose and sniffs the satin petals.

    "How come you're not helping?" Hope asks, showing the insatiable curiosity that only children her age possess.

    "Because it's Daddy's turn to help and my turn to play with you!" I reply as I surge forward and begin tickling my daughter.  Laughing and giggling, as mother and daughter, we tumble back onto the stone path as the tickling continues.  Laughing so hard that tears are streaming out of my brown eyes, I listen to my daughter's girlish squeals of protest for a few seconds longer until I halt the assault and draw my giggling girl into my arms.  "I love you, my child," I whisper, the love shining in my eyes.

    "I love you too, Mommy," Hope whispers as she nestles up against my soft skin.

    Suddenly, a soft cry breaks the quiet peacefulness of the gardens.  Startled and instantly alert, I slowly stand and gently place my daughter on the hard stone walkway.  "Hope, stay here for a moment and wait quietly while Mommy checks something out," I whisper quietly to my daughter who looks up at me with large, frightened eyes.  Seeing my daughter's fear, I feel a moment of indecision that is quickly pushed aside -- Hope will be the safest right where she is.

    Turning, I then slowly move down the path in the direction of the cry, turning back often to assure myself of my daughter's safety.  Then, I reach a dead end where I am faced with the choice of turning left or right.  Undecided, I once more turn back to my daughter... and scream in horror at what I see.

    "No!  Hope!!" I scream as a single human male steps before my tiny and frightened child and thrusts an eight inch long blade to the hilt in her small chest.  "NO!!!" I scream again as I bring my hands before me and shoot a powerful burst of energy at the strange man, killing him instantly.

    And then I am beside my baby where she had fallen to the white stone.  Already, the stone and her white dress are stained a bright red.  "Hope," I sob as I lift my daughter's limp body into my arms, staring into her unseeing blue eyes.  My daughter is dead.

    Screaming out once more, I reach down and pull the jagged knife from my daughter's chest and throw it into the roses.  Then, I reach down gently and close my daughter's blue eyes for the last time, my own hands smearing Hope's blood across her pale face till it looks as though she is crying red tears of blood.

    Sobbing, I bury my head into my baby's chest and gently tousle her blond curls.  With Hope dead, all hope for the future is dead as well.  The bastard had stabbed my baby in the heart, killing my child instantly.  All questions of her mortality had been answered in that instant, and I wished more than anything that I could go back and do it again, take my baby with me when I investigated the noise that was no doubt made by the man himself.  My one moment of poor judgment and inattention had cost my beloved Hope her life.

    It's my fault, my fault that my baby is dead.  And then, a high pitch wail fills the gardens.  Mutely, I realize that it is me that I hear, sobbing and wailing my grief to the world.  I never should have left Hope's side.  If only I had thought... if only I had thought my daughter -- my baby -- would still be alive right now.

    Suddenly, a strangled cry fills the garden.  Stunned out of my sobbing and wailing, I jerk my head up and meet the grief stricken eyes of my beloved husband.

    "Oh God, Hope!" Caleb cries out, his voice cracking as he stumbles over to his daughter and I, his arms wrapping around me.  "Oh my God, what did you do to Hope?!" he cries out as he turns me forcibly till I am facing him.

    "What?" I gasp, feeling as though my heart had been shattered for a second time and as if the blade had been stabbed through my own heart as my love's handsome features twist into a mask of anger.  I had blamed myself for my daughter's death, but I had never, never except for in my worst nightmares, imagined that Caleb would do the same.

    "What have you done to our daughter?!" Caleb roars as he takes Hope's lifeless body from me and backs away.  "This is all your fault!!"

    "Caleb, I..." I cry out, the tears streaming down my face.

    "This is all your fault," Caleb repeats, his blue eyes ice cold and hard.  "Hope is dead because of you!"

    Crying out, I stumble to the ground on my knees and lift my hands to my ears, quickly shaking it from side to side as the emotions overwhelm me.

    Suddenly, Hope stands before me, her small face expressionless and her large blue eyes empty.  "You killed me Mommy," she whispers, her small child's voice breaking my heart even further as the red blossoms over her chest and as a trail of red blood drips from her small lips.  "It's all your fault!"

    "No," I whimper, an agonized wail building from within me.  "NO!!!"

The Museum of Natural History

    Slowly, the feelings of annoyance for her detective friend were turning to worry.  Elisa was supposed to have relieved Lisette from her post over two hours ago, and so far, there was no word from her and no one was answering at Elisa's apartment.

    "Ah zut," Lisette whispered as she once more glanced at the simple but elegant silver watch that was clasped on her small wrist.  "Where are you mon amie?" Lisette murmured quietly, the temptation to transport to her apartment almost unbearably strong.  Still, she knew that she couldn't abandon her post.  Even if Demona never returned for the scrolls and all was in vain, Goliath, her leader, had ordered her to stay at her post until relieved and so she would.

    Suddenly, her stomach growled loudly, reminding her and all the other patrons milling nearby that it had been thirteen to fourteen hours since the last time she had eaten.  Groaning, she fought the sleep that was threatening her as she realized she had been up for the last eighteen hours as well and still had another two hours to go until sunset and her gargoyle relief.  To make matters worse, Matt, Xanatos, and Fox were all out of town and Owen wasn't answering his cell phone.  In essence, Lisette was all alone, cut off from her friends and wondering what was going on.  "Elisa, mon amie, where are you?"

    Sighing, I cape my massive lavender wings around my broad shoulders as I wait patiently on the narrow dam, with pounding water on one side as it cascades over the dam and water as smooth as glass on the other.  Anytime now.. anytime now.

    Then, as if reading my mind, a large aircraft, the one from before, suddenly appears from out of the calm glass of water like an angry beast.  Turning, I face it head on as anger marks my features.  As it hovers there, a panel then slides open from beneath as three small crafts, black and red with fire shooting out of the tales, fly from the monster aircraft.  Instantly, they fly into the dark night sky and begin shooting white fire at me.  The Hunters had finally emerged and were about to receive my anger for destroying my home and for attacking my daughter.  I had almost lost her because of them, and now they would pay.

    Knowing that I am an easy target on the bridge, I quickly dodge the bullets and dive off into the dark night sky.  The game is now afoot.  Turning, I grab a piece of metal and tear the bar from the dam.  In one quick moment, I then launch the projectile at the flying machine that is hot on my tail.  Smiling in grim satisfaction, I watch as the spear goes through the windshield of the machine, causing it to crash on the top of the bridge, the Hunter, unfortunately, falling to safety.

    And then I am diving and swooping again, avoiding the onslaught of the other two as they follow my every move.  Suddenly, I hear a crash resound in the night air from behind me.  Turning quickly, I watch with shielded amusement as Broadway pounds into the female Hunter's machine, the missile that she had launched at me missing me easily.  As Broadway wings up to my side, I quickly look at my clan member with a frown.  "I ordered the clan to stay behind," I said, my voice deep and filling the night sky.

    At this, Broadway's ever-present grin only widened.  "The clan did stay behind," he replies with a smile, "but Elisa needed a lift."

    Shaking my head, I can't help the smile that breaks my own grim countenance.  Suddenly, a beam of white fire passes between the short space that is between us, causing us to dive to the sides in surprise.  Knowing that the time for talk is over, I quickly pull some sharp moves and angle back up towards the top of the dam, the leader of the Hunter right on my tail with a plan already forming in my mind.

    As soon as I reach the top, I quickly land on the hard pavement and hide behind a section of concrete and wait.  Then, as the Hunter tries to roar by, unaware of my position, I lash out with my massive tail, catching the Hunter across the chest and sending him falling onto the outside ledge of the dam.

    Quickly I advance on the man as I hear the other winged craft land behind me.  Lost in my rage, though, I could care less as I grab the man by the front of his battle armor and lift him a good two feet into the air, suspended over the crashing water below.  Growling, I switch my hold till I am holding the Hunter with one hand and turn back to glare at the female Hunter with glowing eyes.

    "Stay back!" I command as I turn back to my query, only to find the man throwing a strange round device at me.  As I gasp in surprise, the object bounces once off of my chest before six wires burst out of the sides and wrap around my torso.  A second later, they light with hot white electricity, causing me to drop the man on the ledge as I roar in agony.

    As I tumble to the ground, the device falls to the cement, and a second later I am on my feet once again.  Now, though, Elisa, my love herself, jumps between us with a panicked look as she puts one hand to me and one to Jason, the Hunter, her back to him.

    "Stop it, please!  Both of you!!" she pleads, her eyes large as her long raven locks blow in the wind.

    "Not while they live!" Jason roars back as he shoves Elisa out of the way, almost sending her over the dam in the process.  But neither of us notice this, Jason too consumed with his fury while mine only builds as memories of the kiss I had witnessed between the two surfaces.  Now, jealousy as well as hatred brims within me.

    And then, as a long blade slides out of a slot in the Hunter's wrist and as he darts forward to impale me upon the deadly steel, I pull back my fists and then hit the man powerfully.  Then, in slow motion I watch as the Hunter flies back towards the edge of the dam... and my beloved Elisa as well, who was running forward once again in hopes of stopping the madness.

    As Jason's body connects with Elisa's, the two tumble back together and over the dam.  Even as I am running frantically forward and diving after her over the ledge, I can hear my anguished scream join the others.  "NO!" I roar as I dive over, barely hearing Broadway's cry of "Elisa!" and one of the Hunter's cries of "Jason!"

    And then I am over the ledge and diving, my eyes locking on Elisa's dropping form, her cry cutting into my heart.  As I draw closer, I reach out desperately for her flailing hand as her large brown eyes lock with my own.

    "What have you done?!" she cries out as her body is lost in the roaring water, disappearing before my very eyes.

    And then I'm pulling back up, an anguished cry coming straight from my heart as I realize that I had just destroyed Elisa Maza.  Even though we had yet to admit it, I know that I have just killed the one that I love more than I have ever loved another.  I have just killed the one who had loved me and trusted me with her life.  I killed Elisa.

    Quickly, I continue my dive until I too am hidden beneath the pounding water, my body bruised and beaten as I search desperately for the one I had lost.  When there is no more breath to be found in my body, I reluctantly surface and face the desolate sky.  Gasping for her, I turn in circles as the water shoves me past.  "ELISA!!" I roar, only to be echoed by her sweet voice.

    "What have you done?  You've killed me, Goliath!  I trusted you and you've killed me!"

And then her cry is joined by the clan:
    "You killed her!"
    "All your fault!"
    "Elisa!!"
    "Father, she's dead!"
    "You've killed her!"

    "No..." I whimper as the voices surround me and tear at my mind.  "NO!!  ELISA!!!"

Castle Wyvern

    Slowly the sun glided along its timeless path until it finally disappeared over the horizon, never knowing what its simple act meant to some of the Earth's inhabitants -- and even the majority of that class didn't know.  But as if it had been rehearsed for some well designed play, the six gargoyle statues on the lower battlements that curved around the highest tower of Castle Wyvern began cracking as one.  And then, as an eerie white light filtered between the numerous cracks, the six stone statues burst into life as sharp stone shards went flying in all directions.

    Yawning, Angela stretched her massive wings out as she tilted her head back so that she could greet her father who always towered above them... and froze in shock.  Like always, Goliath still towered above them, but this time, his towering frame was still frozen in stone.  "Father!" Angela screamed in horror as she threw herself at the tower and began frantically scaling the wall, her talons piercing the hard stone.

    Alerted and startled by her screams, the rest of the clan quickly turned and followed her movements to the top of the tower where Goliath's stone form rested in his thinking pose.  As one, the gargoyles quickly rushed to the top of the tower, some by following Angela up the wall while others took to the air.  In the end, they all reached their goal at much the same time.  Startled, they found Owen already at the top, staring at Goliath's stone form in puzzlement.

    Ignoring Owen's presence, Angela rushed up to her father and gently ran a talon over his frozen visage.  "Hudson, why didn't Father awaken?" Angela asked slowly, a tremor in her voice.

    "I don't know, lass," Hudson answered as he gently rubbed his chin, his good eye taking in every detail of the statue.  It was very rare to see one of his own kind cloaked in stone.. and very bad as well, for that usually only happened when a gargoyle passed into death.  He could only hope that this wasn't the case.  "Perhaps th' lad would know?" he asked, nodding towards the manservant.

    "Yeah, what were you doing up here?" Broadway asked gruffly as he eyed the man wearily, stepping forward to rest a gentle hand on his love's shoulder, hating to see her in pain.

    "I came up here to inform Goliath that Mr. Xanatos and family would be out of town for the next few days and found him in this condition," Owen said quietly, indicating Goliath's stone form.

    "Do you think it could be magic?" Angela asked, the fear shining through her eyes.

    "Or maybe that's a fake statue and the real Goliath was taken somewhere like Xanatos did once with Hudson," Lexington suggested, his eyes growing wide.

    "I can assure you that no one has been near the castle all day," Owen quickly interrupted.  "Security would have notified me..."

    "And how do we know that you're not lying and that Xanatos is really behind this?" Broadway interrupted, his eyes glowing white as he smashed a fist into his large blue hand for emphasis.

    By this time you could see not only Owen's exasperation, but his annoyance as well.  "I already told you that Mr. Xanatos was out of town."

    "A likely and convenient story..." Broadway broke in before Brooklyn's booming voice broke in above the others.

    "ENOUGH!!" Brooklyn roared, his eyes blazing white as all eyes quickly turned to him.  "Until we wake up Goliath, I'm in charge and I'm saying right now that arguing over this isn't going to help him."

    "But Xanatos..."

    "I don't think he's the cause of this, Broadway," Brooklyn quickly interrupted, his voice more subdued.  "We're allies now, remember?  He had no reason to take Goliath or put up this facade."

    "Then what..." Lexington began to ask as a sudden beeping filled the quiet night.  Confused, Lex quickly reached into the bag that was attached to his belt and withdrew a tiny cellular phone that Xanatos had given the clan.  Snapping it open he quickly held it to his ear.  "Hello?" he asked.

     Instantly Lisette's voice filtered through the phone and into the night air.  "Where are you guys?  No, wait.  More importantly, where is Elisa?!"

    The moment Brooklyn heard Lisette's voice, he quickly started towards the phone and accepted it from his rookery brother.  "Lisette, where are you?" he asked quickly.

    "Brooklyn?" Lisette's voice filtered through, obviously surprised by the sudden change in speaker.  "Ummm, I am at a pay phone outside of the museum which just closed..."

    Surprised at her answer, Brooklyn quickly shook his head.  "What are you still doing there?"

    "Waiting for someone to get over here and relieve me before I collapse due to hunger and exhaustion," was her annoyed reply.

    "But I thought Elisa was..." Brooklyn trailed off as his eyes rested on Goliath's stone form.  "Never mind.  We have more important things to worry about," Brooklyn murmured quietly.  "Lisette, I needed you here five minutes ago."

    "Excuse me?" was the baffled reply.

    Sighing, Brooklyn quickly shook his head.  "I need you to get to the castle as fast as you can," he rephrased.

    "But Goliath told me to..."

    "Lisette," Brooklyn gently interrupted as he looked once more at Goliath's frozen form, "Goliath's a stone statue right now.  He's not exactly in a place to argue."  Silence was his only answer.  "Lisette?" he asked as a sudden flash of green light appeared before the clan.  When it disappeared, Lisette stood in her human form, looking different in a pair of blue jeans, a long sleeved white Nike shirt, and large, dark circles lining her blue eyes.  "Wow, that was quick," Brooklyn murmured as Lisette stepped up to Goliath's side.

    "What has happened?" she asked, her eyes never leaving the hard planes of the granite form.

    "I don't know," Brooklyn answered truthfully as he stepped up to Lisette's side, snapping the phone shut and handing it back to Lexington.

    "Aye, we don't even know if it be Goliath that be sittin' before us," Hudson added grimly as Lisette gently placed her small hand on the statue.

    "No, Goliath is definitely in here," Lisette murmured, a soft green glow encompassing her hand.

    "Lisette!" Owen's voice broke in sharply.

    Surprised at her teacher's angry tone, Lisette spun away quickly and turned her wide blue eyes to Owen.  "What is wrong?" she gasped, worry entering her voice.

    "Have I not taught you to never mix magics?" was his reply as a tight frown covered his face.  "What has been with you lately?  Even Alexander has been listening better than you!"

    Shocked and turning red from Owen's dressing down, Lisette fought the tears that pooled in her large blue eyes.  She would not give Owen the satisfaction of seeing how his words hurt her.  Also, even though it killed her not to do so, Lisette would not speak up against the manservant and explain that she knew better than to do such a thing and that she was merely trying to figure out what had happened.  No, Owen was testing her.  Because of her past and the incident with Demona two weeks ago, she knew that Owen believed her greatest weakness was her pride.  She would prove him wrong.

    Surprised himself at Owen's words, Brooklyn watched as Lisette visibly struggled with herself before closing up, her face like a mask that hid her true emotions.  Shaking his head, Brooklyn slowly stepped beside his love.  Lisette was a person who was led by her emotions, which was one of the things that he loved most about her, allowing her to care for others so much.  On the other hand, Brooklyn knew that Owen was trying to break her of that and was trying to get her to act with an emotional unattachment.  It looked as though he needed to have a small talk with Owen later.

    "What did you mean about mixing magic?" Lexington asked slowly, missing the conversation and the tension that was felt around him.

    "Does that mean that Father is under a spell?" Angela asked quickly, her eyes darting back and forth between Owen and Lisette.

    Tearing her eyes away from the cold eyes of her teacher, Lisette turned to regard Goliath's stone form.  "Yes.  From what I could sense, he seems to be under a mortal's spell and is dreaming," she murmured, deciding not to mention the intense sense of anguish that his stone form radiated.

    "Well, what do we do?" Broadway asked as he wrapped his large blue arm comfortingly around Angela's shoulder.

    "I can do nothing beside get Elisa," Lisette immediately replied as she turned to Brooklyn, knowing that the decision now rested with him.  "Owen was right by saying that I cannot mix my magic with that surrounding Goliath," she murmured as she pointedly ignored the urge to glance at the manservant.  "Especially when I do not know what spell has been cast."

    "And you think Elisa will?" Brooklyn asked quickly.

    At this, Lisette frowned softly.  "I cannot say for sure, but with her powers as Talika... well, she would be better able to help than Puck or I."

    "Okay, then where do we find her at?" Broadway asked eagerly.  "She should be at work, right?"

    At his question, Lisette's frown only deepened.  "Elisa was supposed to relieve me from my watch this afternoon at five... but she did not show," she murmured, her eyes troubled.  "She does not answer her telephone and Matt is out of town."

    "That does not sound like Elisa -- to not show up when promised," Angela whispered, her own frown growing.

    "Well, talking about it isn't helping Goliath any," Brooklyn broke in sharply as he took control of the situation.

    "Broadway, Lex, I want you both to go to the museum and keep an eye out for Demona -- we can't forget our duty," Brooklyn ordered quickly, ready to do something, anything.  "Lisette, can you take us to Elisa's apartment?" he asked as he turned to his love, knowing that she could provide the fastest form of transportation when time could be of the essence.  "We'll start and work from there."

    "Of course," Lisette agreed as Broadway and Lexington dove off of the parapets, reluctantly leaving their leader's side.

    "Angela, Hudson, I want you both to stay here and guard Goliath with Bronx!" Brooklyn called out quickly as he hurriedly stepped to Lisette's side.  Nodding his ready, he then watched as Lisette raised her arms above her head, causing them to disappear in a flash of green light.

    "Tis no less impressive," Hudson said thoughtfully as they were left in silence once again, "when th' lass be in her fine dresses or else in th' other stuff."

    At Hudson's words, Angela managed the briefest of smiles as she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Goliath's stone form, paying no heed to the rough granite.  "I love you, Father," she whispered as a single tear trailed down her cheek and dropped onto Goliath's stone cheek, painting the stone a darker shade of gray as it seemed that the tear was Goliath's tear itself.

Elisa's apartment

    As the green light disappeared from around them, Brooklyn and Lisette found themselves in Elisa's unoccupied and darkened living room.  "Looks like no one's home," Brooklyn muttered as he stepped up to the door to the apartment and he flicked on the light switch... and felt his eyes lock on the golden chain which was still drawn on the door.  The chain could only be applied from the inside, which meant that...

    "Elisa?" Lisette quickly called out, having come to the same conclusion after following Brooklyn's fixed gaze: Elisa must still be in the apartment.  "Elisa!" she called out again as she hurried down the short hallway and burst into the dark bedroom, instantly releasing a gray furball that zipped into the open rooms beyond.  "Elisa?" she asked again as she flipped on the lights, squinting under the sudden onrush of light.  When her vision cleared, her eyes instantly alighted upon the form cowering under the heavy comforter.  "Elisa?" she asked again, her voice hesitant now as she stepped forward and knelt on the carpet before her friend.  What she saw shocked her to the core.

    It appeared that Elisa was in a very deep sleep.  So deep, in fact, that Lisette knew that all of the shaking, cold water, shouted words, and hard slaps in the world would do nothing to awaken her.  Then, when you added in the fact that she could sense the strange magic that enveloped her friend... well, it wasn't good.  Still, the fact that worried her most was the intense and similar feelings of profound anguish that she had felt from Goliath.  Inherently, she knew that had her leader not been encased in stone, he too would be acting as Elisa.

    "What's wrong with Elisa?" Brooklyn asked as he quietly stepped behind Lisette.

    "She is under the same spell as Goliath," Lisette whispered as she gently reached forward and brushed a sweaty strand of pure black hair away from Elisa's strained face.  Even as she did this, Elisa tossed and turned back and forth, a small cry slipping from her lips.

    "From their link?" Brooklyn asked, wincing as the proud Elisa moaned and cowered beneath her covers, a broken and battered figure.

    Shaking her head slightly, Lisette slowly stood once again.  "I cannot say for sure, but from what I have heard of the link that was formed between them, they feel and experience things from one another to a lesser degree.  On the other hand, I feel the magic of this spell equally as strong between them both."

    Sighing, Brooklyn reached down and gently gathered Elisa's small form in his arms, wrapped tightly in her soft comforter.  "Come on, let's get her back to the castle."

    Nodding slowly, Lisette joined Brooklyn in the center of Elisa's bedroom.  As she raised her hands above her head, though, Elisa's quiet words made her freeze.

    "No..." Elisa murmured in her sleep.  "Caleb... Hope..."

    Surprised, Brooklyn jerked his head up and met Lisette's wide blue eyes.  "Caleb?  And wasn't Hope..."

    "Her daughter?" Lisette questioned.  Shaking her head, she once more raised her arms above her head.  "I wonder what she is dreaming?" Lisette murmured as they disappeared in a flash of green light.

    As the green mist slowly dissipates from around me, I stand tall beside my two friends, protectors of the second race.  Titania, as proud and regal as ever in her billowing clothes of satin steps away from her beloved husband and regards the dank cave that we now occupy.  With somber eyes, she turns away from Oberon and looks at me in pity.  "Caleb is here, Talika," she murmurs quietly as she sashays forward and places a comforting hand on my bare shoulder.

    "Hope has been dead for less than a month," Oberon adds, his words as blunt as always.  Yet, for once the mighty Lord Oberon, as he now prefers to be called, wore a look of sympathy and sadness.

    Still, the grief and horror that had marked me at my baby's brutal murder was as fresh as ever.  Four hundred years was far too short of a time to spend with your child, especially when you have a life span as long as mine.  Caleb used to joke that I was older than the very dirt itself... Caleb.  Silent tears streak down my face as I think of my beloved husband -- the man that I have always loved.&nbssp; At first, Caleb and I had tried dealing with our enormous grief, but as my anger turned towards myself, my love's anger turned towards those we protected.  Caleb blamed the entire human race for a horrid mistake that one man had made -- and already paid for with his life.

    "Talika, my friend," Titania whispers as she breaks me from my thoughts, taking in my haggard appearance.  I certainly didn't look like Queen of the first race right then.  "Are you sure you want to do this now?  You're weak and haven't even had time to grieve for your child yet."

    "I am no weaker than Caleb," I respond, my tired eyes flashing green -- in pain and anger.  At first, when my love had left my side to start administering his 'justice' to our people, using his full powers without prejudice or discrimination, I had hid alone in our chambers, ignoring their cries for help and pleas for mercy.  I hid alone and cried for my beloved Hope, who I had loved more than life itself.  And then I cried for my husband, my lifelong partner and the man that I loved above all others, who was surely destroying his own soul with his actions.

    By the time I had finally emerged from my room, a few days had passed and thousands were dead by my husband's hand.. by their king and protector.  I could ignore the cries of my people no longer.  And so I rose to the sky and battled the one I love.  With our powers being equal, it would have been a useless fight... if it were not for Caleb's shock and refusal to hurt his queen that is.  During the last battle, I had left my beloved drained and weakened and had used that opportunity to seek help from my friends.  Now, it was time to end it.  "Besides," I continue, trying to mask my pain, "if we wait, there will be no one left to protect."

    "Well then," Oberon says quickly, his blue face paling slightly at my words, "let us end this."

    Sighing, I know that my fellow protectors cannot possibly fully understand what is happening.  They have never had a child together, and after Hope's death, I doubt they ever will.  Still, I cannot do this without their help.  Suddenly, a slight movement causes us to turn and watch as Caleb walks slowly into the room, his blue eyes locked on mine... so much like my baby's eyes.

    "What are you doing here, my Dark Angel?" Caleb asks slowly as he circles around my weary body.

    "Caleb, this must stop!" I plead, tears once more pooling in my brown eyes.  Deep inside, I realize that I still have hope of reaching the goodness inside of my husband that I know is there.  "The humans are not to blame for what happened to our daughter..."

    "Of course they're not," Caleb agrees quickly, causing my heart to soar.  "You are," he finishes, causing my heart to plummet just as quickly.

    "What?" I gasp as I stare in shock at my beloved.  This was not the way that it was supposed to go.

    "You should have taken Hope with you," Titania murmurs as I turn to regard her with wide eyes.

    "She was a defenseless child.  Why did you leave her unattended?" Oberon asks, his expression haughty as his glowing green eyes bore into my own.

    "I..." I sputter as my two friends and love form a tight circle around me.

    "And why did you come here now?" Caleb continues, his voice devoid of all compassion.

    "To stop you from hurting the first race..."

    "So, first you destroy our daughter and then you come to put your husband, the man you should love, into a painful and dark sleep with this?" Caleb asks, his blue eyes turning stormy as he withdraws a black angel from behind his back -- an angel of dark matter that Oberon and Titania had shaped for me.

    Instantly, a scream of pain escapes my lips as I tumble to the ground, the rough stone biting through the thin satin and scraping my legs.  Still, the physical pain was nothing compared to the pain in my heart.  What was I doing?  I had killed my daughter, and now I was trying to do the same to my husband in a way that he would find no peace or release.  "Oh God," I whisper, my voice choked with pain.

    "You killed your own daughter!" Titania accuses, her eyes filling with hatred and tears.

    "You were going to destroy your husband," Oberon growls, "the one whom you should love most of all!"

    "Mommy, why wouldn't you help me?" Hope sobs as she appears before me, her golden curls now limp and her eyes dead as blood red tears drip down her cheeks to join that which already stains her white sundress.

    "I loved you..." Caleb trails off sadly as a scream erupts and quickly fills the cavern.

    Oddly, it takes me a moment to realize that it's mine.  "NOOOO!!" I scream as I curl up into a ball in the middle of the cold stone floor.  "No," I whimper again as the voices surround me and fill my head, their accusing words all that I hear.

    Sighing, Brooklyn slowly strode forward, Angela and Hudson parting to the side, and stepped beside his frozen leader.  Without a word, he placed Elisa's slight form on the stone floor, still wrapped tightly in her blankets.

    "Elisa?" Angela asked tentatively as she stepped forward and gently placed a cool lavender hand on the woman's sweaty forehead.

    "I'm sorry, Angela," Lisette said quietly as she knelt beside the gargess.  Reaching forward, she gently took one of Elisa's hands in hers.  Numbly, Lisette realized that they both loved the woman differently than the others.  Angela and Lisette both loved, respected, and looked up to the detective.  To Angela, Elisa was a surrogate mother of sorts, while to Lisette she was both her mentor and like an older sister.  Overall, to see Elisa in this condition was a large blow to them both.  "I'm sorry," she repeated as she gently released Elisa's hand and placed her own on Angela's shoulder, "but she is under the same spell as Goliath."

    Instead of the sadness that she had been expecting, Angela instead radiated a blinding anger.  "Who would do this?  Who would do such a thing to my parents?!" Angela roared as she backed away quickly, her eyes finally clouding over with tears.  At the first soft body she encountered, Angela quickly turned around and buried her tear streaked face in his chest, sobs wracking her body.

    Sighing, Lisette slowly climbed to her feet and shared a look of understanding with Brooklyn as he tried his best to comfort his clan sister who clung to him with an iron grip.  Turning, she started moving and then stumbled as her strength temporarily fled her weary limbs.  If it wasn't for Owen who was instantly by her side, a nasty fall would have followed.  "Oh, thank you," Lisette murmured as she regained her balance and smiled weakly at her teacher.

    To her great surprise, though, instead of the noncommittal look that Owen usually had, the manservant and trickster in disguise now wore a concerned frown.  "When is the last time you have eaten?  Or slept for that matter?" Owen asked quietly, his worried questions meant only for her own ears.

    "Does it matter in comparison to our other problems?" Lisette asked, her finely shaped eyebrow rising slightly as she waved at Goliath and Elisa's prone forms.

    "Yes, it does," Owen answered firmly as he grabbed her arm and began steering her towards the stairwell.  "Without food or sleep your body has become weak.  You will be of no use to us in this condition."

    At Owen's words, albeit said in a clinical and cold manner, Lisette felt her heart warm.  So, the ice man did care after all she thought to herself quietly.  But then, Owen's last few words registered in her mind.  Or not.  Sighing, Lisette twisted out of Owen's grip and shuffled back onto the tower.  "Je vais dormir quand je meurs.  I'll sleep when I'm dead," she retorted quickly, reverting back to the excuse that Craigen had always given her at her pestering and quickly translating the words.

    "And you will eat then as well?" Owen replied evenly, his voice kept low, still trying to keep their conversation from the others' ears.

    To that, Lisette had no come back.  Shaking her head, she quickly switched tracks.  "I cannot help them anyway," Lisette murmured, her eyes locking on Elisa's pale features, hating her feeling of helplessness more than anything else she could imagine -- she had been helpless one other time before, and she would not be in that spot again.  "Can I?"

    Sighing, Owen slowly shook his head.  "You should never mix magic," Owen admitted, "and without the counter spell or even knowing the terms..."

    "If only Elisa was not affected," Lisette sighed, interrupting his words.

    Nodding slowly, Owen couldn't help wishing the same thing.  After all, despite being a member of the third race, there was nothing within his power that he could do.  And even if there was something, he would have to wait till the Xanatos family returned with Alexander before he could emerge from his mortal shell -- perhaps too late.  And even though Lisette did have a magical prowess that rivaled his own, she still didn't have the proper training to access it completely and use it properly.  Even if she did, once more he knew of no way to beat the spell without first knowing what the spell was.  On the other hand, Detective Maza, being Talika the immortal protector, gave her an advantage over them.  If anyone would know what to do, she would be the person.  Sighing, Owen slowly shook his head and met Lisette's tired eyes.  Instantly, a pang of worry filtered through him.  Somehow, the young woman had managed to find a way into his heart.  Then again, after prompting Lord Oberon's wrath once already because of other mortals and his affection for them, he refused to allow anyone else in.  That alone was the reason for Owen's coldness and why he had been so hard on the young woman as of late.  "Yes, Detective Maza's aid would be helpful," Owen finally admitted as he turned his gaze to the unconscious woman.  "But there is no way to un-cast the spell..." he trailed off as a sudden light entered his student's eyes.

    "Maybe not," Lisette conceded as she frowned thoughtfully, "but why can't I transfer the spell from Goliath and Elisa to myself?"

    At her question, Owen's eyes quickly narrowed.  "And how would you propose to do that?" he asked, his voice sharper than he had intended.  "I haven't taught you anything..."

    Completely missing the urgency in Owen's words, Lisette slowly shook her head as her mind drifted back to the battle against Caleb.  "Elisa, or rather Talika, taught me a spell that would take the pain of another and transfer it to me..." Lisette murmured as she tried to remember the words to the spell.  "Perhaps it will work for this as well if I change the words a little..."

    "No," was Owen's firm reply as his mind began to spin.  "It's not possible," he stated, unsure if his words were accurate.  After all, anything was possible when it came to magic, and even though he did believe that the only chance of breaking the spell completely did rest with the Detective, he was unwilling to risk his student for that chance.

    Surprised at his answer, Lisette quickly shook her head as she turned her bright blue eyes on her teacher.  "But is it not worth that chance?"

    "No, it's not," Owen replied as Lisette began moving towards the parapet.  Sighing, he knew that she would not listen to him and that he had to protect Lisette from what she was about to do.  But he also knew that words would be ineffectual.  With that and magic out of the question, that left only the physical approach.  "Please forgive me," he murmured under his breath as he lifted his arm up and brought it down sharply and quickly, aiming for the special spot on the back of her neck that would knock her unconscious.

    Suddenly, as though sensing what he was about to do, Lisette quickly dropped to the ground and turned, missing his chop as she swept her foot out before her as she had been taught.  With a grunt of surprise, Owen felt his feet be swiped out from beneath him as he fell to the hard stone floor.

    Hearing Owen's cry, the three gargoyles quickly turned and watched as Owen clambered to his feet and began exchanging blow after blow with Lisette.  "Brooklyn?" Angela asked softly as she stepped out of his comforting embrace to watch the scene in amazement.  "Why are Owen and Lisette fighting?"

    Shrugging his shoulders, Brooklyn watched the exchange in dumbfounded amazement.  "I have no idea," he murmured as Owen got a roundhouse kick past Lisette's blocks, catching her squarely in the chin.  Wincing, Brooklyn started forward, intending to stop this madness when Hudson reached out and stopped him with a strong hand.

    Shaking his head slightly, Hudson nodded to the fight where Lisette was slowly clambering to her feet, a thin trickle of blood trailing down from her lips.  "Bad blood 'as been brewin' between these two for quite a while.  It be high time that they get it out in th' open."

    "So," Lisette began as she stood tall once again, her voice growing sad, "your teaching has turned from humiliating me to attacking me?"

    Ignoring her words, Owen straightened his tie and stood before his student.  "I see that you have been working with Mr. and Mrs. Xanatos in the gym," he commented stonily.  On the inside, he was proud of her performance, yet at the same time, he was angry at himself for not having knocked her unconscious with that last blow.  He wanted her out almost as bad as the desire to not hurt her.

    "Obviously not enough," Lisette murmured, angry that Owen had gotten through her defenses.

    At her words, Owen's calm facade faltered.  "I already stated that you are too weak.  You need food and rest," Owen stated as he started forward and grabbed her arm with a steel grip.

    "You better be careful, monsieur, or else someone might think you care," Lisette replied, her voice lacking bite as she swayed slightly.

    "That's because I do care," Owen replied quickly without thinking.

    Surprised, Lisette stared up into his cold blue eyes and saw a sparkle of warmth that she had never seen before, save when the Puck was training young Alexander.  "Then you will understand why I must do this," she replied slowly, her eyes beginning to glow green.  "I'm sorry," she murmured as she lashed out at her teacher with her magic, wrapping his torso in a glowing chain of metal as she turned to step forward and kneel between Goliath and Elisa.  She knew that she needed to take the magic from both in order to prevent their link to work against them.

    "Stop her!" Owen yelled as he struggled futilely in his binds, his sharp words spurring the gargoyles into action.  All the while, Owen cursed Oberon for making him unable to do more.

    "Lisette!" Brooklyn cried out as he rushed forward, having no idea what was going on.  Then again, if something was happening that spurred Owen-something-up-his-butt-Burnett to lose his cool, Brooklyn was worried.  Then, almost as he was upon his girlfriend, Brooklyn saw her blue eyes flash green.  Instantly, he put on the brakes and was almost to a stop when he crashed into an invisible barrier.

    "I am sorry, Brooklyn, but we cannot solve this without Elisa.  She will be able to solve the problem," Lisette murmured as she reached up and placed one hand on Goliath's stone statue and the other on Elisa's prone form.  "Plus, this way I will get the sleep that I need," she said with a small smile at Owen.

    Not amused, Owen quickly shook his head.  "I can guarantee you that it will not be a peaceful sleep," he muttered as Hudson struggled to break the chains that surrounded him.

    Hearing his words, Lisette shrugged her dainty shoulders at the group.  "This is the only way that I can help and I refuse to be helpless ever again," she explained.

    "Brooklyn, she can't..." Angela began, her face twisted in concern.

    "Shhh, Angela," Brooklyn broke in as he watched his love visibly try to relax and concentrate.  Even though he disliked the idea of placing Lisette in danger as much as the rest, he also knew that this was something that she had to do.  Also, as temporary clan leader, it was up to him to decide the best way to save their leader -- unfortunately, this was it.  Lisette had a point, for Elisa was the best bet they had.  It was all up to her... if she would ever awaken.

    Shaking her head, Lisette blocked out all outside noises and distractions: the wind which gently tousled her pale blond hair, the murmured words of the others, and even the beating of her own heart disappeared into the background as she focused on her memories of that fateful night so long ago.  "Forces of magic that I command," Lisette murmured as the words echoed in her heart, "come forth and do as I demand."  She knew that the words were different, but it was as though they were shaping to her very own soul.  "Release the magic that binds these two and wrap me in its turbulent hues."

    With the last word of the spell spoken, the magic that had trapped and tortured the souls of two noble protectors fled their bodies and then surged through the hands of Lisette and coalesced into one powerful spell that rested over her heart.  Instantly, the fatigue that she had been fighting surged over her, making her limbs heavy as she drifted into sleep, unaware of the hell that awaited her.

    With his eyes locked on Lisette, Brooklyn watched as she smothered a large yawn with her hand as she slowly began stretching out on the hard stone beside Elisa, her thin arms wrapping around the woman's body.  He wanted to yell at her and tell her to fight the sleep, but as Owen's chains and the invisible barrier disappeared, Brooklyn knew it was useless.  Sighing, he then moved forward and gathered Lisette into his arms -- and just in time too, for a second later, Elisa bolted awake, a heart wrenching wail cracking her voice as Goliath's stone shell shattered, sending him tumbling to the floor where Lisette had just occupied.

    "Father!  Elisa!" Angela gasped as she rushed forward, her eyes wide as Elisa curled into a small ball, crushing sobs escaping her lips as Goliath stayed where he had fallen on his hands and knees, his eyes squeezed shut and his shoulders shaking.  "What's wrong with them?" she asked as Goliath jerked violently away from her touch.

    "They're still lost in the memories of wherever they were," Owen answered as he once more straightened his suit.  "It will take them time to emerge into the 'real' world."

    "Not too long, I hope," Brooklyn murmured as he looked down at his love.  Already her face was drawn as soft moans could be heard.  "Come on, let's bring them inside."

    Nodding in agreement, Angela and Hudson each grabbed one of Goliath's arms and hoisted him between them.  Turning further, he saw that Owen had Elisa cradled in his arms.  They were a broken clan.

    The tears stream down my face unchecked as I'm forced up the winding stairs to stand before the leader of my demolished clan, his body still frozen in stone and wrapped tightly in chains.  All around me the screams of my clan echo in the darkening sky.  Soon, their words of pain and pleadings for help change into words of hate as they blame me for their deaths.

    "Shut up, witch!" the Captain of the Roman army roars at me as he slaps me forcibly across my face, so hard that darkness swarms up to clutch at me with tiny, piercing fingers.  But I would get no respite from this hellish night that easily.

    As the sun sets over the distant horizon and the bleak night steals over the land, my leader breaks from his stone sleep only to discover the remains of his clan and himself imprisoned in chains.  He turns quickly and focuses on my weary face.  "Lisette?" he cries out, his voice panicky.  "What has happened?  Why didn't you stop this?!" he roars, his voice changing to that of one in anger.

    "The iron!" I gasp weakly, displaying my own chained arms that leave me as nothing else but a defenseless girl.

    "Why did you allow yourself to be chained?" the leader roars again, his anger and grief now so intense that his eyes blaze a hot white light.

    "The witch," the Roman Captain breaks in, his words meant for the gargoyle but his eyes locked on me, "allowed her anger to blind her so that we could take her from behind."

    "But," I begin weakly before I realize that there is no defense for myself.  What the Captain spoke was the truth.

    "So my clan.. my love and mate," the leader says, his voice a deadly whisper as I turn to meet his cold eyes, "are all DEAD because... because... because you allowed yourself to be taken from behind?!"

    "I... I am sorry... so sorry," I cry softly as the tears pour down my cheeks.  "It is my fault!  All my fault!" I sob as the truth finally hits me: everyone in my clan, everyone, died senseless deaths that could have been avoided if I hadn't made the most obvious mistake in the book by leaving my back unprotected.  They all died senseless deaths because of me.

    And then the voices rise and speak my guilt aloud.  "You killed my clan!" the leader roars as he jumps from his parapet to stand menacingly before me.  "It's thanks to you that we were able to destroy the demons!" the Roman Captain adds as he stands beside my leader.  "You killed us?  Why didn't you help us?  You could have saved us all!  You betrayed your clan!" come the very real voices of my clan, blowing in on the wind as their shattered stone forms appear before me, some missing arms, legs, and heads... all accusing me of the truth.

    "Oh my God, help me!" I scream as my heart and mind split in two, tears streaming down my face.  "Please... help me..."

    "Oh mon Dieu, aidez-moi," Lisette whispered in a tiny voice as silent tears dripped down her drawn face.  "S'il vous plâit... aidez-moi..."

    Sighing softly, Brooklyn wanted nothing more than to gather the sleeping girl into his arms, but he knew from the experience he had gained during the last three hours that she would only recoil from his soft touch.  Like Elisa had been, his love was now curled into a fetal position, her arms still wrapped in her white Nike shirt, wrapped tightly around her legs.

    Shaking his head, Brooklyn gently covered Lisette with a light Afghan and then turned to look at Angela with worried eyes.

    Sighing, Angela turned her eyes away from Brooklyn and then turned her attention back to Elisa and Goliath.  Upon entering the Castle, Brooklyn had led the group to Lisette's spacious bedroom where both Lisette and Elisa had been deposited on the large king size canopy bed.  After much debate, Angela and Hudson had finally laid Goliath's large frame on the plush carpeting beside the side of the bed that Elisa occupied.  Slowly, as the hours passed, you could see the tension leave their bodies.  While that caused hope to blossom within her, at the same time she couldn't help but worry for her friend who was steadily getting worse, wishing that they would wake sooner.

    As if hearing her thoughts, Elisa and Goliath's eyes snapped open as one as they both sat up quickly.  Turning, they both then moved to each other until Elisa was cradled in Goliath's arms with Goliath hanging on for dear life.  "I'm so sorry," Goliath murmured as he prayed that this was real and that his love was really alive and there in his arms.

    "Hope," Elisa murmured quietly as she clung to him like a lifeline, trying to banish the remnants of her troubling nightmare back into the furthest abyss of her mind.

    Surprised at the sudden movement from two who had been still for so long, Angela, Brooklyn, Hudson and Owen watched in stunned silence for a moment before stepping forward.  "Father?  Elisa?" Angela asked as she hesitantly put a hand on her father's lavender shoulder.

    Instantly, Goliath recoiled from her touch and acted as though he was trying to shield Elisa from harm.  But when he finally looked up and met Angela's concerned gaze, the group was instantly struck by his haunted eyes.  "I am sorry, Angela," he mumbled slowly as he climbed to his feet, Elisa standing before him with his arms wrapped tightly around her waist from behind.

    "What happened?  What are we doing in here?" Elisa asked as she waved airily at the room, her large chocolate brown eyes holding the same lost look as Goliath.

    "We were hoping that you could tell us," was Brooklyn's reply as he stepped forward, uneasy at seeing his strong leader so stricken.

    At this, Goliath frowned softly.  "The last I remember is turning to stone at sunrise this morning... and the dreams."

    Nodding knowingly at her love, Elisa shook her head.  "Same here.  Just the dreams and going to bed this morning," she acknowledged before a panicked look covered her features.  "Wait a minute!  It's sunset already?" she gasped as she turned to leave, taking in the dark night through a large window.  "Oh no!  I was supposed to relieve Lisette at five and have to be at work in a half hour!"

    "Detective Maza," Owen broke in, halting her with his words, "the sun set over three hours ago."

    "What?!" Goliath and Elisa asked simultaneously as Goliath unconsciously tightened his hold on his beloved.  "How is that possible?" Goliath asked slowly, his low timbered voice taking on some of its customary strength.

    "You both were under a spell," Angela replied slowly as she sighed in relief.  It finally seemed as though her father was returning to normal.

    "A spell?" Elisa asked in confusion.

    "Aye, lass, that ye both were," Hudson agreed quietly.

    At his mentor's words, Goliath finally accepted their words as truth.  Turning, he regarded his second-in-command levelly.  "Tell us what has happened," he ordered, his eyes piercing.

    Nodding his head, Brooklyn stood taller.  "When we awoke this evening we found you encased in stone, still asleep," he explained, his voice slow and even.  "Lisette..." here, Brooklyn faltered for the briefest of moments before steeling his emotions.

    Noting this, Elisa exchanged worried looks with Goliath before focusing once more on the brick red gargoyle.

    "Lisette said that you were under a magic spell, a mortal's spell.  With no other ideas, we went to your apartment, Elisa, and found you under the same spell and in a deep sleep..."

    "Brooklyn, where is Lisette and the others?" Elisa interrupted, her mind whirling at all they had been told, thankful to get her mind off of her dreams, which were no doubt the result of the spell.  "Where are Broadway and Lexington?"

    "I sent them to guard the museum," Brooklyn answered, his face pained.

    "And Lisette?" Goliath rumbled, concern pushing away his guilt and anguish.

    "Lisette realized that the only real possibility of ending the spell was with your help, Elisa," Brooklyn answered, his face turning into a mask that hid his true emotions.  "So, she twisted the spell you had taught her around so that she was under the spell and you both were freed."

    Shaking his head, Owen quickly spoke up before the others, surprising them all.  "I told them to stop her!" he said, his face twisted in anger and concern.

    "And even if we could have, I wouldn't have allowed it!" Brooklyn snapped back, obviously at war within himself.

    "Why not?" Angela asked slowly, surprised at her clan brother's answer.

    "Because what Lisette did was for the best of the clan, Angela," Goliath stated, answering for his young second.  "As clan leader, all personal feelings must be set aside for what is best for the clan."  Shaking his head, Goliath sympathized with his second, for he knew that he had to choose between his duty to the clan and his desire to protect the one he loved.  At Brooklyn's choice, Goliath felt a surge of pride.  He had picked his second well and realized that his clan would indeed be well lead should anything ever happen to him.

    "She can do that?" Elisa asked aloud as she puzzled over Brooklyn's words, completely missing the conversation around her.

    "I didn't think so," Owen answered with a sigh of his own as he led Elisa over to the young woman's side.  "But I have been wrong before," he admitted as Elisa sat on the bed beside his student, a large frown on her face as she saw Lisette for the first time.

    "Lisette?" she whispered as she gently reached out and touched her, only to have her recoil sharply from the contact.  Shaking her head, Elisa bit her lip at the flood of tears that poured down the young woman's face.  Suddenly, in a flash she saw her little Hope curled in the same way Lisette had been.  She looked almost exactly like a younger version of the French mage, only with curly fine locks and tears of blood replacing Lisette's clear ones.  Clenching her hand in a fist, Elisa quickly snapped her eyes shut, willing the nightmare image away.  A few seconds and calming breaths later, Elisa finally opened her eyes and was relieved to see Lisette's familiar visage once again.

    "Elisa?" Goliath asked, concern echoing in his voice as he stepped behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder, only then noticing that his love was still clothed in her bedclothes of a pair of boxers and a thin tee-shirt.

    Sighing, Elisa slowly shook her head.  Reaching out, she gently but firmly placed her hand on the sleeping girl, not allowing her to shy away.  Then, she concentrated on the young mage, murmuring beneath her breath as a pale green field formed around Lisette's form.  "She is growing weaker," Elisa finally murmured as she stood back, her eyes distant.

    "What?" Brooklyn cried out as he took Elisa's position beside Lisette.

    "The spell that she is under is twice as powerful as was for me and Goliath for it had both of ours combined."  At the blank and worried looks she was receiving, Elisa quickly explained.  "The dreams are twice as bad for her, which means that it takes half the time for her to get to the point where we were when we awoke."

    "Dreams?" Angela asked, puzzled by Elisa's words.

    Shaking her head, Elisa met Goliath's haunted eyes.  "From what I can tell, the spell makes you relive your worst memories...."

    "Well, that can't be too bad, can it?" Angela asked, unaware of the enormity of the situation.  After all, she had led a pretty sheltered life on the enchanted isle of Avalon where a thunderstorm was unheard of.  She never had to live through the Wyvern massacre.  No, she was still under the impression that just because you survived something once that you could do it again.

    Well aware of this fact, Elisa slowly shook her head.  "It's worse because it's different this time -- twisted," she clarified quickly, "and the pain is worse, both physical and mental."

    Nodding his head slowly, Goliath met Brooklyn's eyes.  "I relived the massacre at Wyvern and Hunter's Moon," he admitted, his eyes shadowed.  "It was even worse than the first time for I lost everyone and alone carried the blame."

    "But it wasn't your fault," Brooklyn argued, not liking what he was hearing one bit.  If what they were saying was true, then Lisette was really in trouble, for they all knew that Lisette's relatively short life was filled with plenty of painful ammo for this spell.

    "Perhaps," Goliath admitted, "but in the dreams you always are."

    Wincing, Elisa shook her head.  "Thank God, in a way, that I have so much to feel guilty for in my life that I didn't get a chance to reach the twenty-first century," she murmured, trying to smile.

    All this time, Hudson had remained silent as he listened to the others and puzzled over a single question.  Finally, when satisfied that there could be no other answer, he decided to speak out.  "It 'ad to 'ave been Demona who cast this spell," he said, his voice gruff and sure of what he spoke.

    "Mother?" Angela asked, her eyes wide.

    Sighing, Elisa slowly nodded her head.  "Demona is the only one of our enemies that could do something like this and who had a grudge against Goliath and I."

    "But, I know that Mother does not like you, Elisa," Angela mumbled, her words causing everyone to crack a smile at the big understatement, "but I know that she still loves Father."

    "Obviously not anymore," Brooklyn murmured wearily as he gently took Lisette's warm hand into his.  Already the green light that surrounded her and that marked the spell's strength was growing dimmer.  Normally, he would find this as a good thing and would feel relieved.  Now, though, he knew that if the spell was wearing itself out then there was becoming less and less of a chance for the young woman to come out of this unscathed and now even more emotionally scared then she already was.  Shaking his head, he quickly brought the conversation back on track.  "So, if Demona is the one who did this, do we go to see her?"

    "No," Elisa quickly interrupted as her eyes flashed green.  "Leave Demona to me," she stated as she raised her hands above her head and prepared to teleport to Demona's manor.

    Before she could do so, though, Goliath stepped forward and placed a restraining hand on her shoulder.  "Because you are going to use magic to get there, I am assuming that you plan on using intimidation."

    Surprised more at Goliath's desire to detail her plans for no obvious reason than the fact that he was correct, Elisa slowly nodded her head.  Could it be that he knew her that well already so that he could interpret her every action?  Smiling, Elisa realized just how much she truly enjoyed that idea.

    "Then, I suggest changing, my love," Goliath said with a small smile as Elisa finally noticed that she stood only in a striped pair of boxer shorts and a man's oversized tee-shirt, her face flushing in embarrassment.  "I think that your intimidation will be hampered when presented in your bed clothes."

    "Very funny, Big Guy," Elisa muttered as she quickly snapped her fingers.  In a flare of green magic, the simple bed clothes were instantly replaced with the wispy royal blue skirt and halter top with the golden highlights that spoke of power and prestige.  "Is this more intimidating?" she asked with a bright smile as she brushed her long, silky locks over her shoulder in a wave of darkness.

    Gulping silently, Goliath couldn't help but realize how unearthly beautiful Elisa, no, Talika was, with her darkly tanned skin offset by the royal blues.  She truly was a goddess.

    Seeing Goliath's appreciative reaction, Talika silently debated about wearing the familiar outfit more often when a quiet cry from Lisette reminded her of her mission.  Instantly she was all business as the smile was replaced by a look of grim determination.  Without any further ado, she then disappeared in a blinding flash of green light.

    "Please be careful, Mother," Angela whispered quietly as she hoped for both Demona and Elisa and turned back to Lisette's tossing form.

    "Oh mon Dieu!  Tuez-moi maintenant!" the sleeping girl murmured, causing all color to drain from Brooklyn's face.  "Hurry Elisa..."

    As the man slowly lowers the burning torch to the sea of hay that surrounds me, I struggle uselessly in my iron bonds.  My mind screams that this can't be happening, that I, Lisette, am not about to be burned at the stake while all around me Romans and my native people of Gaul stare at me with hatred and fear.  But then, as the hay and straw begins to pour forth an acrid black smoke that clogs my nose and burns my teary blue eyes, I know that this is real.  "Please, I am not a witch!" I cry out as the crackling of the hungry fire eats away below me.

    But the people, my people, don't care about me or my pleas to logic.  All they care about is their naive fear of what they do not understand: me.  "Burn, Witch!" they being to chant as the fire draws near to the pole that I am painfully bound to, inching ever closer to the hem of my tattered blue dress.

    And then, in a flash of light, the leader of my clan stands before me.  The proud gargoyle is a sad sight with limbs twisted in ways they never should be and blood trickling down his face.  Beside him stands the Captain of the Roman army, hatred lining both of their faces.  "You must burn for your sins," the Captain murmurs, his dark eyes flashing.

    Tearing my eyes away from the two, I watch in growing horror, fear, and pain as the fire roars closer, searing my skin as my chains begin to absorb the heat.  "Please," I cry as I stare deep into my leader's eyes, "I did everything I could!"

    "You shall pay for what you did to my clan," he growls, his eyes cold and hard as the said clan appears around him.

    Gasping, I find my eyes drawn to their battered forms, many limbs missing from their figures.  Then, and only then, does the fear I feel give way to grief and sadness as the tears pour down my cheeks.  And then, my moan quickly turns into a scream of pain as the fire finally licks at my bare feet.  Screaming out in pain, I jerk my eyes downward as the fire traces the soft material of my dress and then quickly consumes it.  And then, my screams of pain turn to agony as the fire builds around me, burning my clothes, my hair, my flesh.  "Oh God, kill me now!" I scream as I feel my body melt under the intense heat from all around me.  Yet even as I scream this my mind knows that I do not deserve release.  For killing my clan, I shall forever burn.

Destine Manor

    Groaning, Demona slowly put her taloned hand to her head as she pulled her aching body off of the hard floor in her spell room.  Shaking her head, she glared at the offending scroll which had cost her a day of her busy life.  "Easy spell?  I think not," she growled, her eyes burning red.  The small bonus of sleeping through her painful transformation just wasn't worth the pounding headache or the blinding exhaustion she now felt.  All she wanted to do was crawl upstairs into her soft, warm bed.  Sadly, she wouldn't get that chance quite yet.

    "Demona, stop where you are," a single voice rang out, so familiar yet so different as it made her want to cringe before royalty.

    Sighing, she slowly put her hand on the wall for support as she turned to glare at the intruder behind her.  "What do you want, human?" Demona asked.. and then felt her jaw drop.  "Maza?!" she croaked as she truly looked at the human that did in fact exude a feeling of power -- like royalty.  Strangely, she had to fight the urge to fall to her knees and bow deeply to her worst enemy.  "Must be more tired than I thought," Demona mumbled as she forced her glare to replace her look of astonishment.

    Frowning, Elisa allowed her eyes to flare a bright green in anger.  "Where is the spell that you cast against Goliath and I?" she asked, her voice ringing in the small room.

    At the skimpily clad Detective's question, Demona felt some of the fog clear from her aching head.  "How did you get in here?" she questioned, her eyes wide as she backed away.  "The spell..."

    "None of your spells will ever affect us," Elisa quickly broke in, lying through her teeth.  "Your magically poisoned dart and this little dream spell didn't work and all it is, is a waste of time and energy."

    Little?! her mind seethed.  "But," Demona protested weakly, shaking her head in denial.  If magic would not work against her enemies, then what did she have left to defeat them with?  Her bare hands?

    "Where is the spell?" Elisa repeated, enjoying every second of Demona's confusion.

    At her words, Demona's eyes unconsciously snapped to the offending scroll.

    Following her eyes, Elisa quickly stalked over to the table and snatched up the parchment.  Unable to hold back her smile, Talika quickly froze Demona's taloned feet to the floor and skimmed the parchment.  When she got to the bottom, her smile instantly disappeared as she turned the aging scroll over, hoping to find more written on the back.  When she didn't, her eyes snapped to the blue gargess who was getting madder by the minute.  "Where's the rest?  Where's the counter spell?" Elisa ground out, her eyes glowing green.

    Unimpressed, Demona hissed at the woman standing before her as she struggled to remove her feet from their frozen position.  "If you both are unaffected by my magic, then why do you need a counter spell?" Demona growled, her eyes burning red.

    "I need it for Lisette," Elisa murmured absently as she studied the spell once again, only realizing her slip after it was too late.

    "I got the little witch?" Demona asked in surprise, temporarily forgetting her anger as a small surge of pride filled her.  She had no idea how the little wench that had caused her so much trouble could have been affected, but she wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

    Sighing, Elisa placed the scroll back on the table and faced her mate's ex.  "Demona, where's the counter spell?" she asked wearily, tired of the games.

    At the detective's question, Demona slowly leaned back against the wall and crossed her arms casually across her chest.  "There is no counter spell."

    "What?!" Elisa cried as she stood taller, instantly searching the gargess's eyes for signs that she was lying.  To her great dismay, all that she saw was truth shining through with no room for deception.

    "The ancient Egyptians obviously didn't believe in a change of heart or mind," Demona answered with a small smirk.  Even though she didn't ensnare her true targets in the spell's web, the effort wasn't completely wasted if one of Goliath's clan somehow fell prey instead -- especially since it was the little witch that had caused her so much grief earlier.

    At Demona's casual words, Elisa felt her anger quickly build before dropping just as quickly.  "Demona, when will you get over your anger and focus on the results of your actions?"

    Bristled by the Detective's obvious pity, Demona's angry tirade was only halted by the weariness in her voice.  She was familiar with the weariness for it was only expressed by those who had lived too long and had seen too much.  It was a weariness that she shouldered after living for a thousand years.  Quietly, she wondered how this woman could gain this weariness in her short life.

    "Maybe next time you should think about your daughter before you try destroying her father," Elisa murmured before disappearing in a flash of light.

Castle Wyvern

    As the light flashed brightly in the large room, everyone turned hopeful eyes to the sole person who appeared.  Then, their eyes dropped as Elisa moved quietly across the room, the swishing of her blue jeans the only noise as she sat wordlessly on the bed beside the pale girl.

    "She's getting weaker," Brooklyn murmured from across Elisa as he nodded towards the pale green field that surrounded Lisette -- a field that was growing lighter by the second.

    "Did Demona give you the counter spell?" Goliath asked from beside the bed, his large arm wrapped around Angela's shoulders.

    "There is no counter spell," Elisa murmured as she gently placed a hand on the young woman's sweaty forehead.

    "Now what do we do?" Owen asked as he stepped out of the shadows and into the soft amber light of the shaded lamps.

    "She doesn't have long," Brooklyn added from his position beside the enchanted mage, squeezing her hand gently.  "Earlier she was screaming as though.. she was being burned alive," he continued.  "She was begging for God to just kill her."

    Wincing at the young gargoyle's words, Elisa closed her eyes against the wave of fresh memories that assaulted her mind.  Yes, she could easily see how the young woman could be brought to the point where she would prefer death over the hell she endured.  Shaking her head, Elisa quickly focused on Owen's question.  "We must allow for the spell to exhaust itself without causing Lisette any more harm."

    "An' how do ye propose to do that, lass?" Hudson asked as he gently scratched Bronx behind his ears.  For the entire night Hudson had struggled to keep the doggoyle by his side and out of the way of the others while the mutt wanted nothing else than to stay by, first Goliath and Elisa, and now Lisette's side.

    "By guiding her through the dreams," came Elisa's simple reply as she shrugged out of her red bomber jacket and gently took the young mage's hand in hers.  What worried her now was that the young woman was beyond the point of shying away from her soft touch.

    "You can do that, Elisa?" Angela asked in wide-eyed amazement, drawing strength from her father.  "You can enter her dreams?"

    "Under normal circumstances, such a thing would be difficult at best," Elisa stated as she closed her eyes and began picking at the threads of magic.  "... but because of the spell, I should be able to..." she trailed off as she found the small hole that she had been searching for.  "Bingo," she murmured as she threw her consciousness through the hole and into Lisette's hellish dream beyond.

    Instantly, Elisa's senses were assaulted by a barrage of smells, sounds, and unfamiliar sights as Lisette's dreamscape slowly built around her.  Shaking her head to clear it, Elisa slowly picked herself off of the hard stone steps and brushed the dirt from her jeans.  Glancing up, she saw that she was in a tower of an old stone castle, a château in this case, the worn stone radiating a deep coolness.  Sighing, Elisa breathed in the smell of pine trees, stables, and something else that she couldn't identify that filtered in through a nearby window.  Slowly she began walking up the winding staircase that she had been deposited in, her black boots clapping softly off of the stone.

    Suddenly she heard the soft tapping of slippered feet from further up and quickly backed against the wall, desperately trying to hide in the deep shadows of the tower.  In truth, Elisa had no idea how this dream thing would work and was hesitant to find out.  And then, the person who approached came into view.

    "Lisette!" Elisa cried out as she stepped out, causing the girl to jump back in surprise.  Quickly, Elisa realized that the label of girl was indeed fitting for the young mage appeared to be no more than twelve or thirteen years old.  Still, in the striking burgundy gown and with part of her long blond tresses fastened securely behind her, the girl was still an enchanting figure.

    "Oh, mon Dieu!" Lisette cried out as she jumped away from the voice and backed into one of the hard stone walls.  With wide, frightened blue eyes she watched as the owner of the voice left her veil of shadows, revealing a striking woman with raven black hair that was clothed in strange, form-fitting clothing.  As her heart beat slowly stilled, Lisette peered up into the woman's concerned gaze.  "Mother?" she whispered slowly, tears filling her eyes.

    Groaning, Elisa quickly shook her head as she finished off the distance between herself and the girl, taking her small hands in her own.  "No, it's Elisa... don't you remember?"

    "Elisa?" Lisette questioned, her brow tightening in confusion.  Suddenly, a bright smile spread across her face, twin dimples appearing.  "Elisa!  Of course I remember you!" she cried out, her arms wrapping instinctively around the older woman.

    Smiling, Elisa relished in the comfort the girl's small arms brought before stepping back and staring at her intently.  "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice tight with concern.

    "Of course," Lisette responded quickly, her expression showing her confusion.  "Craigen just relieved me of my studies for the evening!  I was just heading down to patrol with Petite and the rest of the clan... would you like to join me?"

    Sighing, Elisa quickly realized that she must have arrived at the beginning of one of the dreams.  Also, from Lisette's age and references, it was obvious that the dream was taken from a memory from Lisette's time in France.  Then again, that could be used to her advantage.  Obviously the girl had memories of both the present and the past -- memories that would conflict and help her to see Lisette's dream for what it truly was.

    Taking in Elisa's hesitation, Lisette's smile only grew.  "But of course!  You probably already have plans with Goliath!"

    Jumping on that, Elisa felt her dark eyes bore into Lisette.  "Who's Goliath?"

    At her friend's question, Lisette looked at the older woman as though she were daft.  "You, of all people, should not be asking that question..."

    "Humor me," Elisa interrupted, growing slightly impatient.

    Shaking her head, the girl shrugged her dainty shoulders.  "Goliath is the leader of the clan and your mate."

    Smiling, Elisa squeezed Lisette's hands gently.  "But how can your leader and Goliath both lead the clan?" she asked.

    Instantly Lisette frowned softly as she thought of the paradox, causing Elisa's smile to grow.  Then, the frown disappeared as Lisette grinned up at the detective.  "Because they each lead their own clan, silly!" she cried out, a small laugh escaping her lips.

    Groaning, Elisa quickly shook her head.  She had forgotten the most important rule to dreaming -- the subconscious mind which controlled the dream would always make the most obvious of inconsistencies seem natural.  How else could people dream of Freddie Krueger, mermaids, or other such fictitious creatures yet seem so real?  "Lisette, you're dreaming!" Elisa finally cried out in frustration.

    "What?" Lisette asked, concern showing in her eyes for her friend.

    "Lisette, this is all a..." Elisa trailed off as heavy footsteps echoed off of the stone steps.  Without another word, Elisa quickly moved into the shadows and watched with narrowed eyes as a young man stepped into view.  Shying lower into the smooth darkness, Elisa saw that the man was about twenty years old with dark brown hair captured in a string of dark leather.  Even she had to admit that he was ruggedly handsome with strong shoulders, an even build, and dark breeches that showed his physique.

    "Good evening, my lord," Lisette said quickly, her eyes downcast in a show of submissiveness and respect as Craigen had taught her, curtsying low on the wide and curving step.

    "Rise up, my lady," the young man said quietly as he stepped forward, causing Lisette to step back, the rough stone wall scraping against the soft material of her dress as her back rubbed the wall.  "My father, the lord, is not here," he offered in explanation.  "You need not show such formalities when we are alone as now," he murmured as his fiery gaze raked boldly over her form.  Even though she was quite young, the girl was rapidly blossoming into a young woman.  Already she was a ravishing sight and had easily caught his hungry attention.

    "Of course, Lord Louis," she responded, still looking down as she felt the man edge near.  "Although we are hardly alone..." she murmured as she felt a tingle of fear creep upon her as the lord's son stood quietly, no doubt eyeing her as he had been as of late.  Curse her luck for having her chance upon him!

    "Alone enough," the man murmured.

    "Were you looking for Craigen, my lord?" she asked hopefully.  After all, Craigen's chambers were the only rooms to be found in this tower.

    "I already found who I was looking for, my lady," Lord Louis the third answered quietly as he stepped forward once again.  Now, he was standing directly before her, towering a full head above her as he gazed wantonly down on her blond locks.  She was trapped and he knew it, and by God, this little beauty would be his.  "What do I call you, my lady?" he asked quietly as he slowly brought his hand up and gently trailed it down the soft velvet material that covered her small shoulder, her arm shaking beneath his touch.  "Is it my lady, mage Lisette, or something else?"

    "Please stop, my lord," Lisette whispered, dismayed at how weak her voice sounded.  But she couldn't help it.  Already she was risking his wrath by asking such a thing -- one just never questioned the lord's son.

    "What is wrong, my pet?" Lord Louis asked, his voice low and thick as he stepped the final step closer, his hard body pressing her against the wall.  Taking his hand away, the young man quickly lifted the girl's chin and crushed his lips against her petal-soft ones.  Sighing, he quickly darted his tongue into her small mouth and felt her recoil in surprise.  Smiling, he pulled away and admired her full lips before turning his deep gaze up to meet her bright blue eyes.  To his amazement, he saw that the girl's eyes burned with indignant anger and shock -- both held in careful check in fear of the consequences of openly displaying either.  "Do you not like it, chèrie?" he murmured as he raised an experienced hand slowly up till he cupped one of her small breasts in his large hand through the material of her dress.

    Gasping, Lisette tried to slide away from the offending touch only to have the man thrust his pelvis forward, effectively pinning her against the wall while leaving his hands free to roam.  "My lord," she moaned, tears pooling in her eyes as she weakly lifted her hands to push him away.

    Reacting instantly, the Lord quickly stepped back and pulled the girl roughly from the wall and pinned her to him.  Smiling wickedly, he quickly arched his neck and began ravishing her neck with rough kisses.  "This first time won't be easy," he murmured as he jerked Lisette's small hands behind her back, easily holding her slim wrists with one hand as he once more backed her into the wall.  "But I can't resist your temptations any longer..." he trailed off as he once again began kneading her soft breasts through her dress.

    "Well, you damn well better start!" Elisa cried out as she rushed forward out of the shadows, her eyes flashing in anger.  She had sat in the shadows, forcing herself to wait for Lisette to defend herself from the brute.  But soon, it became apparent that the girl wouldn't strike out.  Yet, to her dismay, the man didn't even react to her sudden outburst.  Nearly growling in anger, Elisa quickly threw a punch at the man -- only to have her fist pass right throough him as though she were but an apparition.

    "Next time, we will have more time, chèrie, and I shall enjoy you more thoroughly," the man continued, his voice a low moan as he nibbled on Lisette's neck, his hand painfully exploring her as the tears dripped through her thick lashes.

    "Lisette, you must fight him!" Elisa cried out, her compassionate eyes turning to the girl she loved as a daughter.

    "Oh Elisa," Lisette moaned as she tried to deny what was happening to her, to ignore the obvious violation of her body.  Strangely, it was as though the Lord didn't even hear her words to her friend.  "If I fight the Lord's son, I shall be severely punished..." she murmured.

    "No you won't!  This is just a dream, Lisette!" Elisa pleaded, wishing more than anything that she could stop the man herself.  She was a cop, for God's sake, this was her JOB!  But she had stated it best: she was nothing more than a guide to the young mage -- only Lisette could prevent what was happening.  "You can fight him!"

    At this, Lisette laughed bitterly and then winced in pain.  Before the tears could start, the girl quickly tuned out what was happening to her body and focused on her raven-haired friend.  "If only this was but a dream..."

    "It is a dream..."

    "You do not feel pain like this in dreams," Lisette whispered quietly as a single tear trickled out.  "I would not feel his hot breath on my neck, his rough kisses, or his hands on me in dreams!" Lisette cried bitterly, trying to block out his groans of pleasure.

    "And in a dream Brooklyn would come to your rescue, wouldn't he?" Elisa bit back, shocking the girl into listening with her harsh words.  "Well, in this dream Brooklyn's not going to save you -- you gotta save yourself!"

    "Save myself..." Lisette murmured, wincing as the Lord's son pressed himself against her, his passion and urgency growing.  Instantly she came to her decision: any punishment was better than this.  "I warn you one last time, my lord," Lisette hissed, her eyes demanding his attention.  "Stop this."

    Surprised, Lord Louis paused in his mad pawing and regarded the little wench.  "I think not," he replied, his voice husky as he slowly slid his hand down her body, pausing over every supple curve till he reached her waist line.  Smiling, he then slowly began pulling the heavy material of her gown up, revealing her smooth legs an inch at a time as he pressed himself firmly against her.

 At this, a cold shard of fear flared within her... fear and anger.  "NO!" she cried out as she called upon her magic -- only to realize that she had no magic to call upon.  "Elisa!" she cried out, panic filling her voice as a cold breeze caressed her bare thighs.  "My magic is gone!"

    "Then fight him with your hands!" Elisa cried out as the man slowly spread his legs around her and began caressing Lisette's legs -- before tugging at his own breeches.

    Gasping at his move, Lisette reacted on instinct.  With her hands still painfully pinned behind her, that left only one real thing to attack with.  "NO!" she screamed again as she brought her knee viciously up, catching him openly between the legs.  With a groan of agony, Lord Louis the third slowly backed away from the young girl before disappearing altogether, finally releasing Lisette.  Crying out, the young girl then quickly tumbled into Elisa's waiting arms where they both then fell to the hard stone stairs.  "What is going on?!" Lisette sobbed brokenly.

    "You're under a spell," Elisa murmured as she stroked the girl's soft hair.  "Don't you remember taking the spell from Goliath and I?"

    At Elisa's quiet words, Lisette's sobs slowly stilled as she turned her tear-stained face to the detective.  "I remember..." she murmured, her voice filled with wonder.  "So... all this," she said, indicating their surroundings with a wave, "is a part of my dream?"

    "Every last bit of it," Elisa replied with a small smile.  "Right now you're lying on your bed with the clan gathered around you."

    "It was so real," Lisette mumbled, still able to feel his rough hands on her body.

    "One quirk to the spell..." Elisa trailed off as she watched Lisette's composure literally crumble before her.  As tears streaked down the young girl's face, a haunted look of self-loathing entered her large blue eyes.  "Lisette?" Elisa asked anxiously as the young mage withdrew from her embrace and wrapped her thin arms around her knees.

    "I remember the other dreams," Lisette whispered bleakly as she felt her heart crumble within her.  "They were awful..."

    "Shh... it wasn't real," Elisa whispered as she tried to draw the girl into her arms once again, only to have her draw away.

    "Not real?" Lisette asked in disbelief, her haunted eyes finally meeting Elisa's.  "I can still hear my clan scream my guilt!" she cried, causing Elisa to wince in sympathy.  "I can still feel the agony as the fire eats my flesh... torches my hair... burns me alive," Lisette whispered, her voice hollow.

    "Oh God," Elisa murmured as she stared at the young girl in shock.  She knew that the spell was going to be worse for the young mage, the magic now twice as strong.  Still, she had no idea just how bad the dreams would be.  "Lisette, I..." she trailed off as she watched the young mage's eyes grow wide in terror.

    "Elisa!  What's happening?" Lisette cried out as the walls and stairs began disappearing from around them.

    "You're heading into the next dream!" Elisa guessed as she felt herself begin to disappear as well.  Sighing, she knew what it meant.

    "Next dream?!" Lisette gasped as she quickly climbed to her feet.  "I thought this was over.. that you came to rescue me, Elisa... Elisa?!" Lisette screamed as she found herself in a misty void, the last traces of her dream disappearing completely -- along with the detective.

    "Don't forget that this is a dream..." Elisa's strained voice floated in the misty realm, seeming to come from all directions.

    "Elisa?!  What's going on?" Lisette screamed as she whirled in place, a cold knot of fear ruling her heart.  She couldn't face another dream, especially not alone... at this point, she feared her sanity couldn't take it.  "Where are you?!"

    "... can't go... you..." came Elisa's disembodied voice.

    "Elisa?!" Lisette screamed, the knot growing tighter.

    "... remember... clan......... faith............."

    "ELISA!!!" Lisette screamed once again, the salty tears streaking down her face as she fell to her knees.  "Please don't leave me..." she whispered desolately to the swirling mist, alone in her hell once again.

    "I'm sorry," Elisa murmured as she slowly opened her eyes and looked down at Lisette's sleeping form.  For a moment, the beautiful young woman lying before her was a shock, having become accustomed to her younger self.

    "Elisa?" Goliath asked softly as he moved around to the other side of Lisette's large canopied bed till he was standing behind his love.  "Are you alright?" he asked quietly as he gently rested his large, lavender hand on her shoulder.

    "The spell kicked me out," Elisa muttered angrily as she gently released Lisette's hand and clambered back over the bed till she was standing beside Goliath.  "How long was I out?" she asked as she squeezed her love's hand gently, flashing him a small smile to reassure him before moving around the bed to join the others.

    "About an hour," Brooklyn replied from beside Lisette, her slim hand still clasped in his own.

    Smiling softly, Elisa realized that in the hour that had passed, not much had changed.  Brooklyn now sat in a chair that someone had pulled beside the bed, an alert vigil with Bronx sleeping at his feet.  A small fire crackled in the fireplace, tended to by Hudson as Broadway and Lexington sat huddled in a corner with Angela, their eyes locked on her own.  Even Owen had remained, his cold and expressionless mask doing nothing to hide the worry in his eyes.  "What are you guys doing here?" Elisa finally asked as she turned back to the trio hunched in the corner, arching a slim eyebrow at the pair.

    "They were worried about their clan sister and I decided that their presence was needed most here," Goliath answered for them, throwing a small nod in Angela's direction.

    Elisa quickly understood -- Angela and Lisette were obviously very close and the support that her love and clan brother could offer would be a help.

    "How is she?  What happened?" Brooklyn finally asked as he gave up waiting for Elisa to supply the information.  At her silence, he quickly continued.  "The spell is almost done... is that good or bad?"

    "I'm not sure," Elisa answered honestly.  "I was able to get through to her and remind her of the spell in the last dream.  Because of that, I think that this final dream will be the worst..."

    "And?" Owen asked, his voice cracking as his blue eyes bore into the detective.

    "If she remembers my warning and that it's only a dream then she'll be fine.  If not..." Elisa trailed off, not wanting to voice the words aloud for superstitious fear of making the statement real.

    "Then it's all up to her now," Brooklyn murmured as he turned his eyes back to his love.  "I know you can do it," he whispered, squeezing her hand gently as he used his brick red hand to brush an errant strand of blond from her forehead.  "I have faith in you."

    Sighing softly I roam the ramparts of Castle Wyvern, the soft wind gently caressing my long blond hair.  My mind is a whirl of thoughts and half-remembered dreams -- and it's the dreams that concern me.  They're wispy, like veils, but so troubling that they demand my complete attention.  Yet to make matters all the worse, the dreams are tangled and intertwined with my own memories, confusing me further.

    There was a misty dream of that fateful day when my clan had been destroyed.  It's no secret that I've always held guilt for the part that I played in my clan's destruction -- I will never forgive myself for what my blind anger caused.  Even as I think this the tears cloud my eyes and the pain fills my heart -- pain that is as strong as it was two to three years ago when I had awoken from my enchanted sleep.  This, I somehow know, is because of the dream... all because of the dream.

    And then there's the second dream.  In my memories, I know that Craigen had saved me from the stake with my legs being the only part suffering from the wrath of the flames.  Yet, in my dream no one had saved me and I had burned...  Wincing, I turn my face into the cool night breeze and attempt to still my beating heart.  My wandering has taken me to Wyvern's highest tower where I stand in silence and try to stop the war that's raging within me.  The pain... the pain from my dream is more real and vivid to me than the real pain I had actually endured.  I can still feel the sickening way my skin seemed to melt off...

    "No," I murmur aloud as I quickly clamp my hands tightly over my ears, trying to block out my own anguished screams.  Quickly I focus on the third dream, perhaps the most puzzling of them all.  Lord Louis III had almost... he almost... to me.  It's an awful thought that brings waves of nausea to me.  I can still feel his rough hands on my body, touching me in ways he had no right to... I feel dirty because of his touches.  Yet I know that no matter how hard I scrubbed, I'd never get rid of the feeling of his hands... his mouth on me.  But that's what makes this dream so confusing and disturbing!  I know, I know how real the dream is.. how real his touches were.  But at the same time, I know that it was a dream for it NEVER happened like that.  Oh, the Lord's son did stop me on those stairs that night, but Petite, my gargoyle friend had appeared at the window.  Her presence had halted his advances and after the pointed look she gave him, he never tried again.

    Or did he?  Elisa had said that it was all a dream... but what if she was wrong?  The pain, the guilt, the touches.. they were all too real to be dreams.  What if they were real and my memories were the dreams?  What is real anymore?  What if this isn't real?  What if I'm dreaming right now?

    "Oh, mon Dieu aidez-moi," I moan quietly as I fall to my knees, the tears coursing down my wet cheeks.  I need help and I'm so confused... Elisa had been there for me before in the dream.. but now... what if that was real and only Elisa was imagined?

    "Lisette?"

    "Brooklyn?" I gasp as I quickly jump to my feet and turn.  There, standing behind me with his eyes filled with concern is the brick red gargoyle that I love, his unruly white hair trailing over his shoulders.

    Instantly he moves towards me and enfolds me in his strong arms, his massive wings wrapping around us and shielding me from everything -- everything but my own troubled thoughts.  "You're trembling," Brooklyn murmurs, his soft breath rustling my hair.

    "I do not know what is real anymore," I whisper, the tears trailing down my cheeks and onto his soft skin.  Suddenly, a horrifying thought occurs to me.  "What if you are not real and this is all a dream?!" I cry out, stepping back slightly as I stare up into his dark eyes.

    "Does this feel real to you?" Brooklyn murmurs as he slowly lowers his head and kisses me softly.

    Sighing, I return the kiss with all my heart before slowly pulling away.  "I was so scared," I murmur as I lean back into his comforting embrace.

    "I will always be here for you... you're safe now," comes his soothing response, instantly calming my fears and pushing my worries aside.

    "Brooklyn, did you find her?" a low bass voice calls out, breaking in on my thoughts.

    Surprised, I turn away from my love and watch in surprise as our clan alights on the stones before us.  "Ah, I see that you did," Goliath continues as he places Elisa lightly on the stones.

    And then I hear more footsteps as David Xanatos, Fox with little Alex in hand, Owen, and Matt Bluestone join us on the tower from the open stairs of the castle below.  "What... what are you all doing here?" I ask, my voice filled with the wary hesitation I am feeling.

    "We've come to make sure that what you did to your last clan isn't repeated with us," Elisa responds for the group, her dark eyes glittering.

    "What?!" I cry, taking a step back only to run into the hard planes of Brooklyn's chest, finding scant comfort in his presence now.

    "Well, my dear," Xanatos says with his trademark smirk, causing my skin to crawl, "frankly, with what we heard of how you pretty much decimated your last clan, you've become a liability to us... you're more trouble than you're worth."

    "You cannot mean that!" I gasp, my hand flying to my mouth as tears come to my eyes.  Instantly the dying voices of my clan fill my head with their screams of agony and their cries of hatred for what I had caused.  Even my own clan knows of my guilt.  I am to blame.

    "Your magic is very strong," Owen cuts in, his eyes shooting daggers at me, "yet already you go against my wishes at every chance you get."

    To this, I have no reply as a cold metal quickly pins my arms to my side.  More hurt than surprised, I slowly turn my eyes away from the iron chain that now imprisons me and look into the eyes of my love.  "Brooklyn," I whisper, my voice choked with tears and heartache, "you are with the others?"

    With eyes gone cold, Brooklyn looks down at the end of the chain he holds and then smiles his crooked smile at me -- a sad smile.  "I must protect my clan from all threats... including you."

    "Especially me," I murmur as I stumble to my knees, my tears burning in my eyes and blinding me.  All around me on the wind I hear the voices of my dead clan, the roaring of a hot pyre of flame, and the soft moaning of a young man.  All filter around me as my heart is shattered once more and as my tears course down.  "My fault, my fault," I moan as I crumble the rest of the way to the hard stone floor, the iron chain clattering and grating around me as I curl up into a tiny ball.  "Ma faute... ma faute...."

    "Ma faute.. ma faute..." Lisette murmured as the green veil of magic that surrounded the young mage lightened until it was almost nonexistent.

    "She's not going to make it," Elisa whispered sadly as she turned away from the pale girl and slid into Goliath's arms, tears pooling in her large brown eyes.  "Maybe I should take it..."

    "NO!!" came the resounding answer throughout the room.  They all knew what the detective was going to say and none of them wanted her to be suffering anymore than they wanted it for Lisette.

    "Don't give up on her yet," Brooklyn murmured as he leaned forward and gently caressed her soft cheek, her hand held tightly in his own.  "I know that you can do it, Lisette.  I love you..."

    "I love you..." the words whisper on the wind, soft yet overpowering the screams of the others.  And then, the words of another reach my ears.  "... remember... clan... faith......"

    Opening my eyes, I slowly uncurl and climb unsteadily to my knees, my clan standing before me.  "This isn't real," I murmur, my eyes raking over their faces... they look so much like they should, but I know now the truth.  "None of this is real... I'm still dreaming."

    "And I suppose that you were dreaming when your clan was butchered because of your mistake," Goliath growled, his eyes flaring white.

    Wincing at his words, I quickly close my eyes and search my heart for the truth.  Opening them, I then smile at the group, albeit shakily.  "You are not my clan and I am dreaming.  My clan would NEVER turn against me... my love would not turn from me," I murmur as I stare at the dream Brooklyn.

    "Was the kiss a dream?" he asks, his voice low.

    At his words, I falter for only a moment.  "You are not real," I reply, my voice hard and cold.

    "Wasn't the fire real?!" he suddenly booms as the flames appear out of nowhere and begin licking at my body and clothing.

    "You are not real!" I scream even as the intense pain I feel as my skin is sloughed off feels real enough.  "You are not real!  Not real!  Not real!" I begin screaming, tears pouring down my face.  "Pas vrai!  Rêves, sortez de mon tête!"

    As the screams erupted from Lisette's throat, the group quickly staggered back in surprise -- save one.  "Lisette!  Lisette!!" Brooklyn cried as he bolted from his chair and quickly sat on the bed, the mattress giving way under his weight and sending the young woman tumbling into his arms.  Instantly her eyes snapped open as tears streamed down her face, giving her the appearance of a caged animal.

    "Laissez-moi tranquille!" she cried as she began striking Brooklyn blindly, her eyes squeezing shut.  "Laissez-moi tranquille!  Fermez la porte de mes rêves.  S'il vous plaît, pas des rêves!" Lisette sobbed brokenly.

    Having no idea what Lisette had just said in her rapid fire French, Brooklyn quickly ignored her small fists and drew her closer to him.  "Shh... it's alright," he murmured as he tried to comfort her with his presence.  "It's all     over now..."

    "Is it?" Lisette broke in, Brooklyn's words of comfort having broken into her hazy thoughts.  "What if this is another dream?  What if you are not real either?" she cried out, her large blue eyes turning panicked.

    "You can feel this, can't you?" Brooklyn asked quickly as he hugged her tighter, desperate to take away her fear.

    At his words Lisette tore herself out of his strong arms and scurried off of her bed.  Gasping, she could feel herself begin to hyperventilate as she saw the clan stare at her in shock... or were they her clan?  As a strangled cry escaped her lips, Lisette rushed to an unoccupied corner of the room where she quickly slid to her knees.  As the tears streamed down her face and as the sobs wracked her body, the young woman hugged the wall.  "I felt the fire, Lord Louis's hands, and your kiss!" she cried out, her body shaking, "but NONE of them were real!  NOTHING is real anymore!!" she screamed, causing tears to flow down Angela's cheeks and looks of horror to appear on the faces of the others.

    "Lisette," Brooklyn cried weakly as he approached his love, his voice broken by seeing her in such emotional and psychological torment.

    "Don't," Owen quickly called out, halting the gargoyle with his intensity.  "She has formed an electrified barrier around her."

    Gulping, Brooklyn did as told and stood still, his soft eyes on his love, her body wracked with sobs.  "We've got to help her," he moaned as he turned back to the clan, his eyes begging for help.

    Sighing softly, Elisa left Goliath's side and slowly moved till she was standing beside Brooklyn's tall form.  "Lisette," she called softly.  When she got no response, she unconsciously straightened her shoulders and stood taller.  "Lisette!" she called out again, her voice hard.  This time she got the response she was looking for as the young woman's head snapped up, her large blue eyes wary.  "Don't you remember what I said?" she continued in a softer voice.  "You must trust the clan -- have faith in us."

    "I do not think I can," Lisette murmured weakly as she surveyed the clan, "not again.  My heart cannot take any more..."

    "Isn't it worth the chance?" Elisa broke in, her brown eyes showing her sincerity.  "Isn't it better than being alone, which you will be if you don't take this chance."

    At Elisa's words, Lisette felt her mind clear and the voices of her dead clan fade away.  If she took this chance and it all was a dream her heart would surely die a quick death, for she wasn't lying when she said that she couldn't take anymore.  Then again, if she didn't trust the clan, her heart would surely suffer the same fate -- only in this case the road would be longer, slower, and more painful.  In the end, Elisa was right -- it was worth taking the chance.  Still, she knew that she was too far gone to initiate anything, and in the end, the only thing she could do was drop her magical ward before collapsing into a ball of tears.

    Hesitant, Brooklyn waited for Elisa's nod before slowly approaching the devastated woman.  When before her, he slowly got to his knees, wary of his touch sending her away, and whispered quietly, "I love you..."  Before he even had a chance to finish, Lisette was away from the wall and in his arms, her own wrapped tightly around his neck.  Surprised, he knelt in shock for a brief moment before wrapping his own strong arms around her slim waist.  Idly, he heard Goliath and Elisa shepherd everyone from the room as he gently cradled the crying mage into his arms and carried her over to her bed.  Moving slowly, he then leaned against her array of fluffed pillows and arranged Lisette so that she was snuggled up against his side, her head lying on his chest as her arms wrapped tightly around him and his around her.

    Even though Lisette had, in truth, been asleep for most of the night, Owen had been right when he said the rest hadn't been peaceful.  Now, she felt the drain of the experience and her emotions.  "S'il vous plaît... hold me until I am asleep," Lisette murmured as she breathed in Brooklyn's comforting scent.  "You will help to keep the nightmares at bay..."

    "I'll be right here, always..." Brooklyn responded as he heard her breathing slow.  He just hoped that her sleep would be dreamless -- she deserved the rest.

One month later

    Humming softly to herself, Lisette continued to stretch lazily in the empty gym.  Standing, she then rolled her shoulders in order to work out any last kinks, her blond pony tail flopping behind her.  Sighing, she calmed her emotions before slowly beginning her exercises.  Suddenly, her balance was interrupted as someone cleared their throat behind her.  Surprised, Lisette turned quickly and found a smile come to her lips as she spotted Owen, dressed in his white karate outfit that served as his workout clothes, standing behind her.  "Bon nuit, mon professeur," Lisette called out, her grin growing as she formed a fist and placed it into her open palm, bowing low.

    Owen, as stoic as ever, hid his smile at his student's greeting and bowed in return.  "Spending your night from patrol working out?" he asked, arching his eyebrow in a traditional Owen-like manner.

    Smiling slightly, Lisette looked down at her black spandex shorts and halter top and then down at her white tennis shoes and socks.  "Whatever gave you that idea?" she laughed as she sunk down in a defensive crouch.  "Care to spar with me, monsieur?" she asked, her eyes shining.

    "Oui, bien sûr mademoiselle," Owen replied in a nonchalant voice, shocking the young mage into silence.  Seeing that as an opportunity that couldn't be passed up, Owen quickly darted forward and in a flurry of moves flipped the speechless mage lightly to the mats below them.  "Never allow your opponent to catch you off guard," he instructed as he held his hand out.

    Shaking her head, Lisette accepted the proffered hand and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet.  "Touché, sensei," she laughed as she dropped into her defensive crouch once again.  "Maintenant," she murmured as she began to circle the wary majordomo, "what really brings you to see me this night?"

    "I... have heard that you have refused Detective Maza's offer once again to clear your memories of the nightmares," he admitted, watching his student's expression closely.

    At the mention of the horrible ordeal that she, Goliath, and Elisa had suffered one short month ago, Lisette's merry blue eyes became haunted.  Even now the memories hurt her and caused her heart to shrink with fear.  "You have heard correct," she finally acknowledged as she blocked one of Owen's chops and launched her own roundhouse kick.

    As Owen deflected that move, he slowly met the young woman's eyes.  "What I want to know is why you keep refusing when it's obvious that the memories pain you."

    Sighing, Lisette slowly straightened and allowed Owen to see the truth reflected from her clear blue eyes.  "Because I sincerely believe that an experience like that, no matter how horrible, makes a person stronger when they live through it.  The memories are difficult, but they make me a stronger and better person."

    At his student's wise words, it was Owen's turn to be shocked into silence and Lisette's turn to take advantage of his distraction.  The end result, of course, was Owen lying on the mats and Lisette helping him up.  "I suppose I should follow my own advice," he muttered as he brushed off his white pants.

    Laughing, Lisette planted her hands on her hips and shook her head, her wide blue eyes sparkling.  "Oui, monsieur, that would be wise."

    Unable to hold back his own smile, Owen indicated the mats.  "Shall we?" he asked as the young woman quickly nodded her agreement and began sparring with him once again.  Shaking his head, he realized that if one smile from the precious girl was enough for his cold exterior to crack, then he had indeed allowed her into his heart.  He would now risk Oberon's wrath for three people: David and Alexander Xanatos and Lisette, the young French mage.

    Sighing softly, Elisa snuggled closer into Goliath's embrace as she watched the heavens above.

    "... so the spell was so powerful that it actually created something new to try and destroy her rather than build on her memories?"

    Shaking her head, Elisa once more focused on her and Goliath's conversation.  "Yes... the spell was thrown off when I entered the equation and needed to up the arsenal on her."

    At Elisa's words, Goliath felt himself shiver in the cool night air, simultaneously drawing Elisa's warm body closer to his side as his wing draped around them both.  For some reason the library had seemed oppressive this night and soon the couple had found themselves sitting on the parapet that lined the highest tower, their legs dangling over the edge.  "The way you talk," Goliath murmured, "it's as though the spell was a sentient being capable of malicious thought..."

    "It acted as though it was," Elisa agreed as she idly picked out the bright constellations.  "But there is one thing that I have learned from this whole mess..."

    "To never let you go?" Goliath murmured as he leaned down and brushed a kiss against her raven locks.

    Sighing happily, Elisa snuggled closer.  "Exactly," she agreed as she turned to stare up into Goliath's onyx eyes.  "Promise me something," she whispered, her brown eyes bright and shining with love.

    "Anything," was Goliath's immediate reply.

    "Promise to love me forever..."

    "Always," Goliath murmured as he bent low and caught her soft lips with his own.  Always and forever...