Spirals

Chapter 7b: Aries' stone

***

Layne stared up at the deep violet canopy of her bed. She was alone now, in every sense of the word. Eros had just left, but he'd be back, she knew that.

But Brooklyn…

Her stomach twisted as she thought of him. She recalled her last memories of him, walking away from her, the look on his face. It was killing her thinking of him like that.

She closed her eyes and remembered what Eros had said before he left. "I'll never leave you, my Goddess," he'd whispered in her ear.

She never felt the warm tears fall down the sides of her face. Why does my life have to be so difficult? She wondered.

Suddenly, she sat straight up and got out of the bed. She re-wrapped her dress and clipped the chain belt. She walked to the window and gripped the sill.

"What are you going to do?"

Layne didn't have to look to know that Opal was standing on her shoulder, and that Ruby was on the other.

"I'm trying to make a decision. Tomorrow night, I'll either be in Brooklyn's arms, or Eros'."

"I vote Eros," Ruby chirped.

"Shut up, she's choosing Brooklyn!" Opal shot back.

Layne watched the eastern sky lighten. She stared out the window, which she knew was bolted shut, at the sunrise. She lifted her right hand and touched the glass. She scratched symbols into the transparent surface with her talons.

Her tiny advisors watched on with interest.

"What the hell?" Ruby murmured as the sun's ray poured into the room.

***

"Crystal, wait!"

The albino stopped and turned to see Eros walking towards her. "Yes, Eros?"

"I was just curious, but after you told the Goddess that her friends had left, did you speak with her again?"

Crystal shook her head slowly, unsure of what he meant. "No, but I heard that you went to see her afterwards. Has she calmed down?"

Eros smiled. "I think I managed to settle her down. Is that for her?" He pointed down to the tray Crystal was holding.

"Of course. I cannot ignore my duties, even if…" her grip tightened on the tray.

Eros reached out to steady the tray. "I'll speak to her about her taking her anger out on you. I'll see if I can't deflect some of it for you," he smiled at her.

They continued down the hall to the Goddess' room. Eros nodded to the guard and he unlocked the door. Eros went in, followed by Crystal.

"Good evening, my Goddess," Eros greeted.

Layne turned from the window with a slight smile. "Good evening Eros, Crystal."

At least she's not upset, Crystal thought, but she seemed to be in a strange mood. Eros went over and kissed the back of her hand.

"I'm glad you decided to stay with us, my Goddess." He glanced over at the window. "What's that?"

"Nothing," she said. Except my destiny, she added silently. The spell was supposed to show her the right choice. She looked into Eros' eyes and her smile widened.

***

Brooklyn roared as he burst free from his stone prison. He looked around, half expecting to still be in his prison cell. All he saw was the warehouse he hadn't seen in almost a week. Bronx shuffled over and scratched at one of the crates.

"Okay, boy, I'll get you something to eat. That stuff Charles gave us wasn't that good." Brooklyn climbed up the stairs to the second floor, where the office was. He opened the refrigerator, tossed a steak to Bronx, and gabbed himself a leftover drumstick.

He sat down on the old couch and stared at the phone. He should call them. Last night, he got in too late to reach the phone. Now, it was right in front of him, and he still couldn't do it. How could he tell the clan the Layne was gone? He could hardly believe it himself.

But he had to do it. As he reached for the phone there was a crash downstairs.

"Someone's breaking in," he told Bronx, who was already out the door. Brooklyn was halfway down the stairs when he stopped in his tracks.

There was no one. "It's just a crate that fell," he sighed. He turned around and went back upstairs. He picked up the phone and punched in the number of the clan's private line.

***

Lex sat at his computer, trying to find anything useful on the recent Quarrymen activity. His hour-long search came up fruitless.

The phone beside him rang, and he picked it up. "Hello."

Lexington nearly dropped the phone. "Brooklyn? Brook, is that you? Where've you been?"

"No, he's over at Elisa's. We haven't heard from you in a week! What happened to you?"

"Yeah, I'll patch you through, but I expect the whole story when you get home. Hold on." Lex pushed a couple buttons on the phone set.

"Xanatos, it's Lex. Brooklyn's on line two."

"Thank you." David pushed the flashing button. "Brooklyn?"

"Of course, immediately. Did you find what you were looking for?"

"Are you alright?" David asked. There was a tired tone in Brooklyn's voice.

"Fox'll be there later tonight, she has to put Alex to bed first."

"Don't mention it."

"Right, bye." Brooklyn hung up the phone. He looked at Bronx, who had returned to his meal sometime during the conversation. He wondered what had happened to Layne, and if he would ever see her again. Pushing those depressing thoughts out of his head, he picked up his bag and began cleaning up.

***

The helicopter set down on the warehouse roof. Fox stepped out under the slowing blades and looked around. Bronx and Brooklyn were sitting on the edge of the building.

"Where's Layne?"

Brooklyn remained silent as he climbed into the aircraft with his and Layne's bags.

"Brooklyn? Where is she?"

"Let's just go home, Fox. I'll tell you and the clan at the same time."

Fox frowned, but climbed in anyway. "Alright, let's go home."

***

"There they are!" Lexington pointed at the approaching silhouette. They stayed at a safe distance until the doors opened. Bronx jumped out and bowled into Lex. He slobbered all over the small gargoyle before jumping up on Hudson.

Brooklyn brought the bags out with him and gestured for the others to wait until he was out from under the spinning blades. Broadway and Lex enthusiastically greeted Brooklyn.

"Where's Layne?" Angela asked.

"It's a long story," Brooklyn sighed. "I'll fill you in over a decent meal."

***

Broadway had really out done himself this time. The table was full of delicious foods. He must have started cooking when he first heard they were coming home. The entire clan sat around the table. David and Fox, and even Owen join them, and Elisa and Matt, who'd just gotten off duty.

"Well," Elisa started, "Tell us."

"Did you meet any other gargoyles?" Lex asked.

Brooklyn looked up from his half-eaten helping. "For the first four days, we went through the Barrens, finding nothing, as you know. Then they found us."

He went on to tell about the hunting party that had found them, and the clan who believed Layne was their Goddess in corporeal form. He talked about being separated, about being held against his will, and finally, his escape.

"Then they let me go. Layne couldn't get away."

"Then we'll go rescue her," Goliath said.

"It's not that simple, Goliath. There's at least forty in their clan. We'll never get to her, they'd kill us first. We can only hope that she finds a way back to us."

"That doesn't sound like the Brooklyn I know!" Hudson shouted.

"Do you think I wanted to leave her there! I had no choice, they weren't letting me stay!"

Goliath gave Hudson a worried glance, then looked at his second. "We understand, but you're not alone in your loss. We were all fond of Layne, and we wish there was something we could do."

Xanatos stroked his beard. "Maybe I can come up with something."

"You would do that?" Brooklyn looked at him.

"I feel guilty, like it's my fault. If I hadn't suggested you go there…well, I'll do my best to help get her back."

***

Layne sat on the edge of her bed. She didn't even look up when Eros entered the room.

"You are now allowed out of this room," he told her. When he got no response he knelt down to her eye level. Her eyes were glazed and unfocused. He pulled a silver necklace out of his belt.

"I thought you might want to have this back."

Layne absently took the pentacle charm.

"I've seen that design before," Eros said. "On your hip."

Layne didn't move. Eros frowned. "Please say something, my Goddess. If something is wrong, I'll make it right. I live only for you, and I only want you to be happy."

Layne let the talisman slip to the floor. She looked up at Eros with clear eyes. She reached out and pulled him in for a kiss.

"I know, Eros. Nothing's wrong, now that you're here."

***

Brooklyn finished unpacking his stuff, then took Layne's bag to her room. He put all her things away, then went through everything in the room.

When Angela came to check on him, he was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding one of Layne's necklaces.

"Brooklyn, are you going to be all right?" She sat down beside him.

"I don't know, Angela. I can't believe she's really gone. I thought we’d always be together. Forever."

He showed her the necklace. "It's a pentacle," he told her. "It's a symbol of her faith. She always wore one under her shirt." He laughed, "And she had one tattooed on her hip."

He put the black cord around his neck, the silver charm rested at mid-chest. He started to cry.

Angela could think of nothing to say, so she simply put her arms around him and tried to provide a little comfort.

***

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