Spirals
Chapter Eleven: By Any Means
***
Layne sat on a stone bench at the edge of the courtyard. The trees had gotten all their leaves back, and many of the flowers were in bloom. The past winter was finally behind them and things seemed to be settling down.
Kevin strolled over and stood beside her. "Where on earth did Xanatos get those flowers? I don't recognize them," he said, thought not necessarily to Layne. Even though a month had passed since he was released, and restricted to the castle, tensions were still high between him and the clan. They stopped blaming him for Layne's capture in New Jersey only two weeks ago, when Brooklyn blew up at him, and Layne had to calm him down.
"He probably genetically engineered them," Layne responded just as distantly. "Did you ask him?"
"Yep."
"And?"
"Nope."
Layne sighed in frustration. "Beltaine is next week and they won't even let us build a small bonfire."
Kevin shrugged. "With only the two of us? What's the point?"
"It's not just us. I bribe - I mean, talked Brooklyn into coming, and Angela said she'd come. Broadway is using it as an excuse to try some new recipes, and even Owen is coming."
Kevin's browridges shot up. "Owen? Mr. I've-got-a-stick-up-my-butt? Why?"
Layne chuckled at the description. "He's not that bad. Besides, he's coming as Puck, to teach Alex about the old holiday." She sighed. "But David won't let us have the fire."
She stood up. "I guess I'll try…again. Thanks, Kevin, for helping,"
"No problem. I feel kinda bad about everything my clan has done. And you've all been nicer than should be expected, and treat me better than my own clan did."
Layne smiled. "Come on, let's go find Owen, and then David will have to give in."
"And if that doesn't work, we can hold him out the window until he says yes."
"Uh, that'll be Plan B."
As they left the courtyard, they ran into Brooklyn, who gave Kevin a quick glance before focusing his attention on Layne. He kissed her and handed her a bouquet of wildflowers. "Hello, my love."
"Hello to you too," she said taking the flowers. "We were just going to gang up on David, wanna join?"
"Is this about your bonfire? I guess that means that Xanatos is still worried you'll set the stonework on fire…again."
"That was an accident!"
The two males laughed as they went into the castle.
"Was there any sign of Eros and Crystal?" Kevin asked.
"No," Brooklyn sighed. "Not for the last few months."
"They can stay gone for all I care," Layne said harshly. Brooklyn and Kevin said nothing, and they couldn't really blame her for being hostile. After all, that clan had kidnapped her, drugged her and messed with her mind until she'd nearly lost it. Soon after her first conversation with Kevin, she'd given Fox the silver belt and told her to sell it. She didn't want to have any reminders of her time in New Jersey.
When Brooklyn started to think about his mate's grudge, it reminded him of his own feelings about Demona. He knew it was time to change the subject. "So, how was work?"
Layne's expression softened. "Found a chalice that turns any liquid into blood, and a magic mirror that communicates with its mate."
"Where's the other mirror?" Kevin asked.
"At the bottom of some ocean. I had a nice conversation with an angelfish, though."
They almost ran into Elisa, who was reading a newspaper and humming to herself. She looked up with a huge grin on her face.
"Great news! City legislation just passed a law prohibiting vigilante groups targeting gargoyles. No more Quarrymen."
All three young gargoyles smiled. Layne and Brooklyn shared a hug. Kevin opened his arms out to Elisa but she just grabbed his hand for a handshake.
"I never thought this day would come," Brooklyn said, spinning Layne around in circles.
"Where's Goliath?" Elisa asked. "I need to tell him."
"He's not back yet," Layne told her.
"He told me he'd be back by one," Elisa frowned, checking her watch.
Xanatos silently approached the group and handed Brooklyn a piece of paper. Layne read over his shoulder and gasped.
"What?" Kevin asked, all the joy from only a minute ago gone, replaced by uneasiness.
Brooklyn crumpled the note in his fist. "They have them. Eros and Crystal have Goliath, and Angela, too. They're being held hostage, and will be killed if the 'Goddess' doesn't give herself up."
They all stared at Layne, except Brooklyn, who stared at the floor.
"I'll go," she said quietly, taking Brooklyn's hand. His grip loosened enough for her to take the paper from him.
"No," he said. "It's a trap. We'll go rescue them. I'm not giving them another shot at you."
She stepped away. "I have to. There's more to this than you know, and I don't want anyone else hurt because of it. I'll be alright. I've been practicing," she smiled.
It didn't comfort Brooklyn in the least.
***
Layne read the ransom note over again. The last sentence was the give away:
'Bring the wand.'
No one would know about that except her. Surely not Eros or Crystal.
She pulled a black box out from under the altar in her room. Inside was a wooden wand, about a foot long, a ring of silver and a purple gem at one end.
Funny, Layne thought. This is what started this whole thing, last summer. And now, it's going to end it.
She pushed the empty box back in place and left via her window.
***
"Here she comes!"
Eros looked to where Crystal was pointing. He signaled to someone in the shadows and got ready to greet their Goddess.
Layne landed gracefully and looked around. Brooklyn had told her about the Cloisters, but she'd never been here before. It really was beautiful. Unfortunately, she didn't have time to admire the landscaping. Eros stepped forward and looked her over.
"You are as magnificent as I remember, my Goddess."
Layne ignored the comment. "Where are they?"
"Right here," said a familiar voice coming from the shadows. Goliath and Angela emerged from one of the doorways, followed by Demona. Goliath and Angela both looked like they'd been tranquilized, but were otherwise unhurt. Demona had her laser rifle charged and ready, of course.
"Did you bring it?" The crimson haired gargoyle asked.
Layne pulled the wand out from behind her. "Let them go."
"Do you give yourself up?" Eros demanded.
"Of course she does," Demona snapped. "She's one of the good guys." Demona shoved Goliath forward.
When they'd reached Layne's position, she told them to leave.
"No," Goliath argued. "We can't leave you here. You can't face them alone."
"I said go!"
Angela looked at her friend, then back at Demona. She glared at her mother, then turned away abruptly.
Demona frowned as her daughter turned to leave.
Once they were out of sight, Eros took hold of Layne's hand. "Welcome back, my Goddess."
"Give it to me!" Demona demanded.
Layne calmly held out the wand.
***
The entire clan was waiting when Goliath and Angela returned. Elisa jumped up into Goliath's arms while Broadway and Angela also shared a loving embrace.
Goliath set Elisa down and approached his second-in-command who was staring out at the horizon. "Why did you let her go alone?"
Brooklyn kept his eyes focused. "The ransom note said for her to go alone. I was ready to get everyone together, but she made me promise not to follow her."
"I think she has a plan," Angela said. "She'd never go up against those three without one."
"Three, lass?" Hudson asked. "Who else?"
"Demona," Goliath answered. "It seems that they've teamed up. She wanted something Layne had."
"She knew!" Brooklyn screamed. "She knew Demona was behind this. She said there was more that we thought. I can't believe it." He slammed his fist into the wall.
Lex put his hand on Brooklyn's shoulder. "She'll make it Brook."
***
Layne calmly held out the wand.
As Demona reached for it, there was a blinding flash of light. She stumbled back, covering her eyes in pain. Eros and Crystal shut their eyes and turned away.
Eros blinked the stars out of his eyes and looked at Layne.
She was now dressed in all black. A low cut body suit, the bottom of the v-neck covered by a gray belt. She also had thigh high boots and gloves, with a cape over her wings. Her face was half hidden by a hood. The wand had become a six-foot scythe, with a large purple gem at the end.
"M-m-my Goddess!" he stuttered.
"I was afraid of that. I just didn't think she'd take the risk." Demona ran forward, firing at Layne, who easily deflected the shots with her blade.
"You brought this upon yourself Demona. I won't be as easy on you this time."
"This time?" Crystal gasped. All the pieces of Demona's story were now coming together. "This is what she took from you, isn't it? This weapon."
"Yes," Demona hissed. "And she used the Morrigan's power to kill me once, I won't let her do it again." She grabbed Crystal and pulled her close. "You two get behind her."
Layne levitated just inches off the grass. She held the Scythe in both hands. She'd been waiting over a year for this. She'd do more than kill her this time.
Demona lunged forward, her gun blasting. With little more than a thought an invisible wall came between her and Layne. The blaster exploded from the impact and the immortal was thrown back. Eros leapt and attempted to tackle Layne from behind, but he passed right through her and landed on the grass beside Demona. Crystal could only stare at her Goddess, awed by how truly divine she seemed at that moment. Layne's eyes were a uniform silver and her face emotionless.
Layne held out her hand and Eros floated upward. With a gesture, he was flung into a column.
She approached Demona, who was beginning to regain consciousness. She raised the Scythe over her head. Demona opened her eyes and saw the figure above her.
Not again.
Layne brought the blade down. Crystal screamed as the metal blade sank into Demona's chest. Demona's scream was lost before it had begun. Layne's eyes remained fixed on the blood flowing from the wound. She licked her lips and closed her eyes in concentration.
The crystal began to glow, a brilliant lilac color. Silver energy flowed from Layne's hands into the handle, then into the blade, and finally, into Demona.
Her skin lost its lovely azure color and her wings and tail disappeared beneath her. The transformation Demona went through every dawn was taking place in the middle of the night.
Layne removed the Scythe and looked over the bloodied blade. She smiled, the only sign of emotion since her transformation.
***
Brooklyn kept his vigil at the wall. She's been gone too long, he thought. The sky was turning gray, and it wouldn't be long before dawn came.
When he finally saw something, he had to look twice to make sure he wasn't imagining it. Layne slowed herself down and let Brooklyn grab hold of her. He pulled her close and held her tight.
"I thought I'd never see you again. I'm never letting you out of my sight again."
"Beloved, I can't breath," she gasped. Brooklyn let her go, but still held onto her hands.
"I want you to stop doing that," he told her. "I never want to be without you again."
Layne touched his cheek. "I'm all right. I don't think we have to worry about Demona for awhile, or Eros and Crystal for that matter."
She stepped away and went inside. Brooklyn immediately followed her. "What do you mean? What happened?"
Layne stopped outside her room and leaned her back against the door. "I was able to stop them, that's the important part." She clutched the wand to her chest. "Now, I have to put this away."
Brooklyn took the wand as she opened the door. "What would Demona want with this? It doesn't look very special to me."
Layne took the wand back and put it in her box. "Believe me, we don't want her getting her hands on this."
She pulled Brooklyn to her and kissed him. "Don't worry, I don't intend to do anything like that again."
***