Spirals

Chapter Ten: What a Predicament

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Layne awoke gasping for air. She stumbled backwards. Luckily, Brooklyn was there to catch her when she fell off the wall.

"Layne?"

She looked up at her mate and seemed to not recognize him for a moment. Then she flung her arms around his neck and hugged him.

Brooklyn nodded to the rest of the clan and they went inside for breakfast, leaving the two of them alone.

"My love, are you all right?"

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. I just had a very disturbing dream."

"About Eros and the others?" he guessed as he set her back on her feet.

Layne nodded. "I dreamt that I had never left them. I kept thinking how wrong the situation was, but I didn't care." She lowered her head and Brooklyn put his arms around her.

"Shh, it's all right, it was just a dream," he assured her, running his fingers through her hair. "You did come back, you're here with me and the clan. I thought we settled this last night."

"We did," she smiled. "Don't you hate it when you're not fully awake. I felt like I was in both places at once. And you know what?"

"What? You can tell me over breakfast."

Layne slipped her arm around his. "It was so real, like it had really happened."

"Maybe it did, and you somehow changed time," Brooklyn suggested.

Layne smiled and shook her head. "Didn't Goliath say that that wasn't possible? But I'm talking more of an alternative reality type of thing."

Brooklyn was about to reply but Goliath approached him. A second later, Elisa and Xanatos joined him.

"We need to see you," Goliath said.

"Why?" Layne asked. "What's happened?"

Elisa explained. "A strange gargoyle turned to stone on my balcony yesterday. I think he's from New Jersey, but he doesn't match your descriptions."

"Where is he now?" Brooklyn asked.

"I had a helicopter pick him up just after Detective Maza contacted me. He's being held in one of the extra rooms," Xanatos told them. "We were just going to question him, would you care to join us?"

"We'd love to," Layne said, pulling Brooklyn along.

"What about breakfast?" Brooklyn asked.

Inside the room Xanatos had led them to was a cage, and inside the cage sat a male gargoyle. He had dark blue skin, black hair, and a beak. He was looking around the room from a sitting position in the middle of the cage.

Layne approached the bars. "Kevin," she stated.

He looked up at her with indifference. "Hello, Goddess. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Layne rested her hands on her hips. "My name is Layne. We need you to tell us why you're here?"

Kevin looked around. "I don't know. I just woke up here."

Layne pinched the bridge of her nose in an attempt to stop the oncoming headache.

"Why are you here, in Manhattan?" Brooklyn clarified.

Kevin shrugged. "We were sent to bring the Goddess back."

"We got that much from Eros and Crystal's attack," Layne said. "But I don't see what you get out of this."

"I didn't want to come here!" Kevin shouted. "My brother ordered me to lead this stupid rescue mission. I don't care if you go or not. That's why I left, because I don't want to be a part of this." He threw up his arms then crossed them over his chest.

Layne left the room, followed by the others.

"What are we going to do with him?" Goliath asked.

"I don't know. I believe him when he says he doesn't want to take me back. That would require work on his part," Layne added sarcastically. "We'd better keep him here, just in case. We should get him something to eat, though."

Brooklyn took her hand. "We'll bring him something after breakfast."

***

Crystal sat on the ground, playing with the sand while Eros paced the strip of beach.

"She said she'd come back," he growled.

"We just woke up," Crystal told him. "I'm really starting to worry about Kevin."

"Why?" Eros snapped. "He's nothing but a spoiled brat. He never wanted to help anyway. He's probably headed back to New Jersey."

"I'm afraid he isn't," a new voice told them.

Both gargoyles looked surprised as Demona stepped into the moonlight.

Crystal put a hand over her heart. "Don't do that!"

Demona smirked at the young girl, amused by her lack of alertness. "Your friend has been captured by the clan here, the same one who took La…I mean, your Goddess away from you."

Eros' eyes lit up. "Where did they take him?"

"I thought you didn't want him back," Crystal asked, smirking.

"I don't! However, the Goddess may be there. Where are they?" The question was directed at Demona.

"Castle Wyvern, on top of the Eyrie building. But we can't go get them just now."

"Why not?" Eros demanded.

"It's too heavily guarded. If you'll come with me, I'll be happy to help you come up with a plan."

Eros grinned widely and began packing up their things.

Crystal looked at Demona suspiciously. "Why are you helping us?"

Demona smiled. "You know what they say, 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.' That clan is my enemy. They stole my daughter, just as they stole your Goddess and your friend. Besides, I have a score to settle with Layne."

Eros flung his pack over his shoulder and tossed Crystal's to her. "What could our Goddess have possibly done to you?"

"She stole from me. She's also an unnatural creature with dangerous powers. I don't want her to do to others what she's done to me."

"And what was that?" Crystal asked, standing up.

"That's not important at the moment. We need to go. They'll likely get this location from your friend." She disappeared into the shadows again. So quickly, that Eros and Crystal almost lost her.

Demona chuckled. Almost, she thought, it's almost time. Then I can take my revenge on that demon witch.

***

There were three sharp raps on the cell bars. Kevin looked up as Layne slipped some food between the bars. There was a sandwich, an apple, and a bottle of cola.

"I thought you might be hungry," she said.

Keeping his eyes on the food, Kevin replied, "I don't think you're a Goddess."

"Neither do I."

He picked up the sandwich and inspected it. "It's all right," Layne told him.

"We drugged your food, why wouldn't you drug mine?" He seemed satisfied and took a bite.

Layne froze. "You what?"

Kevin looked up at her. "So you didn't find out after all. Well, it makes no difference now, I might as well tell you. You were drugged. They gave you a large dose after the council meeting, and then smaller doses were put in your food. It was designed to make you more willing to stay with us…them."

"Like brainwashing? That's…barbaric!"

"Look, I don't really like it. Lance told them to do it if you didn't cooperate. Makes no difference now, the effects wear off."

Layne took several deep breaths in order to regain her composure. "All right, if you disagree with their methods, you'll help us. First, where are Eros and Crystal?"

Kevin finished off the sandwich, then gave her directions to the cave. "Is that all?"

"No, I also want to know if they have anymore of that drug."

Kevin looked around. "I have most of it in my pack. I think Eros took a vial with him, though."

Layne picked up his bag. "It's in a blue box," he told her. Layne found it and looked inside. There were several vials of a pale blue liquid, with one missing.

"Thank you," she said as she closed the box.

"Sure. Hey, can I have some more of these sandwiches?"

"As soon as I get back," she called over her shoulder as she left.

"Back from where?" Brooklyn asked, suddenly appearing beside her.

Layne kept walking as they talked. "To find Eros and Crystal. Kevin says they're in a cave. It's near Hudson's friend Robbin's house, I think. If I get there soon, I might be able to take them by surprise."

"Hold it!" Brooklyn stepped out in front of her. "I'm not letting you go out there by yourself. Hell, I'm not letting you near them, period. I'll go, with Goliath and Broadway. Just tell me where to go, and we'll get them."

Layne sighed and repeated the directions.

***

An hour later, Owen found Layne mulling over an ancient text. The notepad beside her was blank. He placed his flesh hand on her shoulder and she jumped.

"I'm sorry Layne, I did not mean to startle you."

"It's all right, Owen, I was just lost in thought."

"I highly doubt you were thinking about your work." He looked pointedly at the empty notepad.

"Ah, who am I kidding? I'm worried about them. Eros is a formidable enemy, who will stop at nothing."

"I was afraid of that. That's why I brought you this." He handed her a large book with a navy-colored cover and gold latch. "I was keeping it until we really needed it."

Layne opened it and scanned the first page. She continued to flip through the pages. "These are all offensive spells. Most of these will kill them. Do you really think I'll have to use these?"

"I sincerely hope not, but it won't hurt to be prepared. None of us want to lose you, Layne."

Layne closed the book and hugged it to her chest. "You included?"

He nodded and cleared his throat. "Me included. I know Brooklyn would be lost without you, and the rest of the gargoyles see you as clan. Mr. and Mrs. Xanatos are also here for you."

"Thank you."

"Is something else bothering you?"

Layne blinked in surprise. "No, except for what we were just talking about. Why?"

"You just seem out of character lately. You've been that way for awhile."

Layne sighed. "Angela said the same thing. I noticed it to. I don't think I'll ever be the same again." She reached over the desk and grabbed a blue box. "I got this from Kevin. It's the drug they used in an attempt to brainwash me back in New Jersey."

Owen arched a pale blonde eyebrow. "Brainwash?"

Layne handed him the box. "Can you have it tested in one of the labs? I want to find out exactly what it does to the body. And the mind."

Owen took the blue box. "Of course, immediately. You should have yourself tested as well. Your immune system should have flushed it out, but it may explain why you've been…not yourself."

Layne nodded and followed him out.

***

Bronx lay in front of the library fireplace. Layne was asleep beside him, her navy spell book open in her arms. Broadway came in and saw her. He knelt down and gently shook Layne's shoulder.

"Layne?"

Her eyelids fluttered open. "Broadway? You're back, did you find them?" She sat up and closed the book. She was hopeful that they had captured her tormentors, but the look on Broadway's face told her otherwise.

"I'm sorry." He reached out to help her up. Bronx got up and followed them out of the library. "We found the cave, but they were gone. There was evidence that they had been there earlier this evening, but they must have left." He smiled weakly. "So what have you been up to?"

"Besides worrying? Owen gave me this book, and I've been studying the spells for awhile."

"We'll beat this," he assured her. For some reason, Layne wasn't so convinced.

***

Just before sunrise, Owen approached Layne as she prepared to sleep.

"Layne, the lab just finished the tests on the drug you gave them." He handed her a file folder.

Layne took a quick look at the results and frowned. Brooklyn overheard the conversation. "What test? What drug?"

Layne sighed and handed the folder back. "It's nothing, beloved. Thank you, Owen," she said.

"There is one thing," Owen said. "It looked like one vial was missing. Do you know where it is?"

Layne shook her head. "Kevin said that Eros may have taken it. Why?"

"I'm just worried that he may find a way to replicate more. I'll start the scientists on something to prevent the effects."

"Thank you Owen. You're always one step ahead aren't you?"

"More like two," he replied.

Layne smiled just as the sun appeared above the horizon. Owen gently touched his fingers to her stone lips before leaving.

***

Chapter Eleven

Spirals index