In A Prison Of Lies

(Part 5 of the Trinity saga © 2003)

By Princess Alexandria

Princess_alex24@hotmail.com

Reviews can be posted at:
http://pub17.ezboard.com/fgargoylesxfrm5

Day 5 part 1 – Tuesday – August 19^th

Trini didn't call for Fox as she sat in the conference room waiting for this confrontation. She'd buffer her lover from the embarrassment and accusations as best as she could. These gargoyles would look down on Fox for sharing Trini with Demona, and Fox didn't deserve that.

Broadway was seated in the space that Delilah normally took, on Trini's side. Goliath may have had something to do with that, but Trini wasn't sure that Delilah hadn't chose to not offer her support. The look that Goliath gave Broadway made Trini think that he was there to keep her in line. It was then that Trini realized that she was looking at the upset faces of people she'd come to consider friends. Angela, Broadway, and Lex had grown on her and she couldn't blast any of them if things got out of hand.

The rest of the clan filed in and Trini tried not to watch the looks of suspicion and in Brooklyn's case, hostility aimed at her. Trini took a few subtle deep breaths and tried to stay unemotional and calm. No one was talking, as they waited for the last member of the clan, Elisa was on her way. Trini had been able to overhear Brooklyn telling Goliath that outside of the conference room.

The clans' reaction to her hurt, but she would survive. Trini stared down at the wood table. She'd made this decision a long time ago. Domi had warned her what Goliath and Brooklyn would do if they found out about Trini's friendship with Domi, and that friendship had blossomed into much more since then.

Elisa slid in and took her seat at the other end of the table, at Goliath's side. She really looked like she wished she didn’t have to be here. Trini wished that she wasn't there too. This whole mess put such a dark cloud over the love that they'd once shared. Trini found herself staring at the detective as Elisa set out a file and seemed to be staring at it too long. The way Elisa's body looked tense and weary at the same time made Trini feel even worse about what this was doing to Elisa. The detective probably really regretted ever letting Trini into her life now.

Trini took a deep breath and decided to just jump in with what Goliath and Elisa were obviously getting ready to reveal. "It was my father that came from the Oregon clan. I dragged Demona there because he left me a message that he wanted me to go." She noticed Goliath's eyes jerk up to her face, but his eyes held nothing but silent rage. Trini turned her head to face Delilah as she spoke. These were things that she wanted to tell her friend privately, but that wasn't possible, and it was better if it came from her own mouth. "We took what the Weird sisters left for me, my rings." She could hear the shocked gasps and angry growls from the others, but she kept her attention on Delilah. The white haired female looked shocked. Trini was going to have to shock her some more. "I threatened that clan and held them hostage so that I could get us out of there safely, and so I could get the only thing that I had from my father. So I could get some sort of tie to my family. I thought he was dead, and it was all I would ever have of him."

"So you threatened to kill the females?!" Goliath growled, verifying what Trini already knew. He'd found out it was her that did that.

"I didn't have enough magic to do it, but I couldn't fight them off." She clenched her fists and fought the desire to snap at him. "I made empty threats and prayed for sunrise."

"My god…" Brooklyn hissed out. "You went around terrorizing them with Demona?!"

Trini growled, her emotions already frayed from the tension. "If they'd only listened to me for even a second I could have avoided that, but they just looked at me and saw a freak… a monster… they didn't want to hear what I had to say." Her voice rose a little even though she was trying to control it.

"Maybe it's because they have eyes." Brooklyn hissed at her.

She was getting so tired of people treated her like she was a monster. "Like you look normal? Maybe that's why you can't get laid." She lashed out without even thinking about it, but the cold hurtful words reminded her so much of the captain that she regretted them instantly. She looked away from him to try and read how Delilah was taking this, but the female was showing she was much better at hiding her emotions than Trini would have ever figured she could be.

"Enough!" Goliath's voice held a growl as he interrupted whatever Brooklyn was getting ready to say back. Trini turned to glare at him. He was glaring just as strongly back at her. "Well, you obviously found out we contacted the Oregon Clan. They identified you. If you thought that this little confession would help…"

Trini took a deep breath and glanced at Delilah as subtly as she could. "I just didn't think she should hear it from you." There was no point hiding why she was doing this. It must be obvious. She was so desperate to not lose another friend to her lies that she wasn't hiding her emotions well enough. It also hopefully made the clan realize that Delilah wasn't in on whatever they thought Trini guilty of.

Elisa looked down at the file in her hand and started to move around some of the papers. Her voice was pure detective when she spoke. "Well, I have other things here that I'm sure you'd rather tell Delilah than have me do it." Elisa then looked up at her and Trini couldn't tell if Elisa was playing her or if she really had something. She swallowed nervously, wishing she had a glass of water. The steel in Elisa's eyes didn't soften at all.

She almost opened her mouth to ask what Elisa knew, but stopped herself in time. She stared down at the table and tried to figure out how to deal with this. How many secrets did she want to hold onto if they weren't already out? Trini glanced over at Delilah with a pleading look in her eyes that she didn't even realize was there. She then started to really look around the table at the others. Lex's face was surprisingly giving nothing away. Angela was staring at her as if Trini would suddenly do something completely strange and dangerous. Brooklyn had his arms crossed in front of his chest and he was obviously still upset about her comment to him. Hudson looked slightly sympathetic, which made her nod hello to him. Broadway was seated next to her, but she didn't care if they noticed her looking around now. Her pride got her into this mess, she could sacrifice a little of it if that could get her out of it. He looked uncomfortable in his role as guard.

Trini stared back at Elisa, trying hard to figure out what the detective was holding. She started to think of all the things that could have come out of the talk with the Oregon clan. She took a deep breath and cleared her throat so that she could do this. The deeper, more calm voice of Marie spoke. "My full name is Trinity Marie Stephens Weird. I sometimes go by Marie."

Several jaws dropped, but Trini could see that Elisa knew that already. It made her feel a little better about having to give up that secret. It was coming out anyway.

Brooklyn laughed cruelly. "So Demona was lying. She doesn't have a mate." He seemed viciously happy with his false impression that Demona was alone.

Trini kept her Marie voice going, finding that it helped to calm her in some strange way. It was like it wasn't her having to endure this interrogation. "No, I am very much her mate." That did surprise Elisa. Trini watched her ex's eyes grow wide and her skin pale for a moment before Elisa started to cover it with her detective persona. Trini addressed her comments to her ex for now. "She joined with me and last night she flew me over Paris. I was out of town because I was going into season. I told you I wouldn't be sticking around for that."

"Does mother know about Fox?" Angela's voice was a growl. Trini turned to see that it looked like Angela wanted to hit her. Trini almost got mad at her for that, but then realized that Angela just wanted to protect her mother from a broken heart.

Trini was using her real voice now. "I told you things with Fox were complicated. That's what I meant. Elisa may not have been willing to share me with my bond-mate, but Demona understands."

The angry hiss from Goliath reminded her that he thought the clan didn't know about her relationship with Elisa. Trini turned red eyes to him with a sneer. "Get real. They all already know about Elisa and I. They've known for a while."

His voice was amazingly in control when he spoke. "So that's why Demona attacked Elisa in her apartment? You told her?"

After a deep breath Trini answered. That whole mess was an embarrassment and she'd rather forget it. "I wanted to be honest with my lover. I didn't realize that it would force Elisa to be honest with hers." She was surprised that she was making hurtful jabs at Elisa now. She was pointing out that Elisa had been a liar as well. Lying about their relationship had hurt Trini, made her feel like she'd been used. It was disturbing how clearly she was able to see her own emotions and motivations now.

Elisa's voice was cold and obviously meant just for Trini. "How long have you been with her? Were you with her when we were…" Her voice trailed off as her face reddened with anger. Elisa was thinking Fox wasn't Trini's only indiscretion while they'd been together.

"It was AFTER we broke up." Trini glared at Elisa for thinking such a thing.

"When!"

Trini took a deep breath to calm herself. "We started out as friends. It grew." She could see Elisa was going to continue to press for a when they'd gotten together. "We became friends after she kidnapped me. I invited her to Seattle with me when I left to pack up my stuff. It was supposed to be a vacation for her, but she went and made a few business appointments that I helped her with. That's how I started working for her." Trini started to speak faster. "I am keeping an eye out to make sure she isn't going homicidal again, but she hasn't done anything since I started there. Even though I love her, I would stop her if she tried that."

"My grandmother helped me by creating my gargoyle illusion so that I could meet Angela face to face." Trini glanced over at Demona's daughter's glowing eyes and clenched fists. Trini spoke gently, "I didn't want to lie to you like that. I was more honest with you as Marie than Trini could be. The only thing I lied about that night was what I looked like."

Trini's words shook Angela out of her shock, but the red glare of her eyes made Trini wish she'd stayed quiet. "You fucking slut! You're cheating on my mother!"

"I told you things were complicated with me." Trini spoke softly. "But Demona understands. She knows about Fox, and she still wants me."

Angela smashed her fist on the table hard enough that Trini heard something crack. Her voice held a venom that seemed solely reserved for Trini. Trini had never heard her talk to anyone else like this, but this anger was directed her way periodically. "What's so complicated? You are a slut and can't keep your hands off of anyone! You did something to her to make her want you, didn't you?! Your pheromones? A spell?"

"It's more likely Demona did something to Trini in Canada." Brooklyn glared at Angela when he said that, and Trini was shocked to see he seemed to believe that. He sent Trini a look of pity. "A mind control spell or something."

"No." Trini growled out at him. "She didn't do anything to hurt me. She never has, and she never will." She then turned to Angela, feeling that she was talking to far too many people at once. She wanted to see how Delilah was dealing with this, but the others kept drawing her attention. "I can't do spells like what you are suggesting, and we loved each other before the pheromones started."

"So that story you told us that first day about how she treated you with the kidnapping was a lie? You've been lying to us from the very beginning?" Goliath interrupted Trini's conversation with his daughter.

"Yes, I was lying from the start." Trini snapped at him. "I didn't want anyone to try and tell me I couldn't be friends with her. I don't let anyone tell me who I can and can't care about. You should know that by now. She didn't make me chose, but she knew that you would. She was right. You think you can order me around."

"You're screwing the enemy and giving her our secrets!" Brooklyn yelled out suddenly, obviously upset that he was wrong about Demona manipulating Trini.

"I have no secrets to give." Trini's eyes flashed red as she glared at him. "And she has NEVER put me in the position to betray the clan." She leaned forward, her own voice cold, "What were you holding out hope that Marie would leave Demona and come running into your manly arms? Did you think you would get to fly her on the Breeders moon and laugh into Demona's tearful eyes? We are one, for now and ALWAYS!"

The silence that descended on the room after that had Trini just on edge as the interrogation had. She sat back and glared at Goliath. He was just staring at her, and Trini couldn't tell what he was thinking.

It took a conscious effort to unclench her fists and stop being so tense. She didn't want this to become nothing more than a screaming match. She looked over at Delilah and it helped to reign in her temper. Trini could truly see how hot-headed she could get at that moment. Delilah looked so sad and hurt. Once she realized Trini was looking at her she tried to cover it up, but Trini started to regret her outburst. She didn’t want Delilah to see a monster when she looked at Trini. Trini was going to have to work harder at being someone that Delilah would still want to be around if she didn't want to lose her only friend. The type of relationship they had was different than what Trini had with either of her mates, and Trini valued it. Demona wouldn't mind her telling the clan off, but it was Delilah that may have to pay for it, not Demona. She noticed that it looked like Lex was holding Delilah's hand out of sight, and Trini glanced at him with a grateful look in her eyes for just a moment. She wasn't doing a good job of protecting her best friend right now, but at least she had him to help her.

"Is it her immortality?" Elisa spoke with little emotion, drawing Trini's eyes away from the couple on the side of the table. She noticed how stiffly Elisa was sitting, and she started to pray that she wouldn't out her as an immortal to the clan. Goliath had already told MacBeth how to catch her with his last thoughtless comments. Armed with the knowledge of her immortality he could leak that to someone that could truly torture her. He may not intend for it to happen, but he was so blind to the way of human cruelty sometimes.

Trini sat still for a moment trying to think of how to address this without giving anything away. "Her immortality had nothing to do with my falling for her."

"What? Do you think she has some spell that can give you forever? Are you after immortality like Xanatos?" Goliath interrupted Elisa and Trini's staring match.

Trini gave a cruel smile. "Immortality isn't on my shopping list. If David ever really thought about all the pain that would cause him, he wouldn't want it either. Living forever, alone… watching anyone you may care about die. Who would ask for that?" She noticed a shadow of pain cross over Elisa's eyes at Trini's unintentional baring of her soul. She glanced over at Angela. "Demona will have to watch her daughter and grandchildren age and die." A part of Trini that she was glad she could keep quiet thought that Angela might be lucky to age, with the Quarrymen out there still. The humans could kill the girl, and if that happened there would be nothing that would stop Demona from seeking vengeance on the entire race. Trini wouldn't be able to stop her. "And every death will tear out another piece of her soul." Her voice held her own heartache at the pain she knew Demona would endure, but she was grateful that she wouldn't add to her lover's pain. Immortality may be a burden, but now that they could share it together it wouldn't be an impossible one. Her thoughts traveled to the suicidal man in the holding cell under the Eyrie and she felt a wave of sympathetic pain for him. She hoped that her lover never had to experience the complete death of her family. She mentally shook herself out of the dark thoughts. She wasn't here to get the clan to understand her lover. They'd probably just use Demona's pain against her, assuming that she didn't really feel any.

Trini felt eyes on her and turned to see Delilah staring at her intensely. She and Elisa were the only ones that knew Trini would be there to see Demona through all that. When Delilah opened her mouth to speak Trini felt like her heart stopped. Was her friend about to betray her?

Delilah's voice was barely a whisper. "So that's why Marie invited me to the joining." Trini stared at Delilah helplessly. Did Delilah do that to draw the attention away from immortality, or was she still stuck on the fact that Trini was joined to Demona?

"You're family. No matter what happens here, you will always be a part of my clan." Trini felt tears in her eyes and had to take a few deep breaths to help push them aside. She stared down at the table, finally noticing the crack Angela put in it. "Even if you decide to hate me, you can always call on me if you need me." She hated saying this with an audience, but she really didn't think Goliath would give her any one on one time with Delilah anytime soon.

"You've kept more from me than I imagined."

Trini looked up into Delilah's eyes and didn't like what she saw. The female was distancing herself emotionally. "I was going to tell you everything tonight. If Goliath hadn't interrupted us, I was going to tell you."

"I was worried sick when she took you." Delilah's voice held accusations that Trini had no defense for. "I lost my clan because I wanted you safe so badly that I terrified men to try and find you. They hated me for becoming a monster."

"You were never a monster." Trini's voice was tearful and she damned her pride that made her feel embarrassed for hurting in front of the clan. "I would have…" She trailed of with the familiar comment.

"I thought you were in danger."

Trini barely kept herself from telling Delilah that she had been. Her eyes tried to convey it, but Delilah wasn't even looking at her. Trini watched helplessly as Delilah stood up and left, without even asking Goliath's permission. Goliath was staring after the female in concern, but Trini couldn't take her eyes off of Delilah's back long enough to see it. She felt like her heart was breaking. She'd screwed up too badly, and Delilah wasn't going to forgive her. Once Delilah was out of sight she moved to stare at the cracked tabletop, willing herself not to cry. Her face started to go blank of any emotion, the only evidence that she was hurting was the fact that her skin was pale. Lex got up and followed Delilah out. Trini really wished that she could do that.

"So what really happened when she took you?" Goliath pushed again, and She was losing all patience. She felt a little ill. It had to be her nerves, but her stomach ached. The only reason she endured this interrogation had walked out the door. She looked up to snap at him, to yell, scream… but then she noticed Angela. Maybe Delilah wasn't the only reason she was here.

What could she tell them? She had to keep so much a secret about that, but this was her chance to show Angela her mother wasn't a monster. That Demona had shown her mercy before they'd become friends. She didn't even realize that she was staring at Angela for a long time, or that everyone noticed it, even Angela. Goliath's eyes started to burn when Trini just continued to stare.

Trini focused her answer on Angela, telling just her, and ignoring that the others would hear this too. At least some good should come out of this. When she started to speak she was upset to hear her voice shaking. She missed Delilah's gentle strength and support already. She'd been able to pretend it was there as long as her friend was willing to be in the room with her, but her leaving made it painfully clear it wasn't. "She originally planned to let a doctor examine me, but she changed her mind when she saw how scared I was." She hated looking weak. Trini grimaced but continued. "She treated me well."

"If she treated you so well, how did you get shot?" Elisa's voice was cold. "Do you remember that yet?" Elisa's voice rose a little, "Or how about the fact that you didn't used to have nightmares before she took you, but afterwards you screamed like someone was killing you, and looked half dead from exhaustion for days."

Oh God. Trini felt sick. This was exactly what she was supposed to avoid talking about. Well, Fox had said if all else fails… "I don't want to talk about that." Trini replied coldly.

Elisa's eyes seemed to narrow dangerously. She didn’t like that answer at all, but it was Broadway that spoke first. "You were shot?" He seemed horrified by that fact.

Trini turned her chair so she could see him, and he looked a little pale. "It healed up in a few days. I'm fine now."

"What happened Trini." Elisa pushed again.

Trini took a deep breath. "I don't want to talk about it. Drop it. I'm sure there is something else you want to accuse me of, some horrible crime you want to lay at my feet. Lets get to it already."

"You do remember now, don't you?" Elisa spoke evenly, calmly. Trini looked down, unwilling to stare into those accusing eyes. Elisa was questioning her about one of the worst parts of Trini's life as if it were nothing more than shoplifting. A small crime that Trini had committed, rather than the hell it truly was, and Trini could never tell her what had happened. Trini just went quiet until Elisa or someone else changed the subject.

"So, you say that Demona is fine with sharing your affections with Fox?" Hudson seemed a little embarrassed by that topic, but he wasn't shying away from bringing it up. "How is Fox dealing with the fact that you've joined with Demona? Or that you live there half of the time?"

Trini had almost forgotten that angle of questioning. She took a deep breath. "She wasn't really very happy that I fell in love with Demona, but Fox…" Trini paused as she tried to think of how to do this without giving away the fact that Fox and Demona were friends now. There was no doubt in Trini's mind that they were friends. "is a very selfless lover. Once she realized that I'd… made a decision, she warned me, but I explained that Demona wouldn't hurt me. I told her to trust me." This was going to make Trini sound like a shit, but she was already the least popular person. "She has me and David, she realizes she doesn't have the right to tell me to not seek a second lover." Hudson looked a little flustered by that, and his next words made Trini cringe a little too.

"I thought you were with both Fox and Xanatos. I saw you coming out of their bedroom."

"That was just an embarrassing mistake." Trini felt her face flush. "I went in there to borrow a shirt, and didn't realize they were… busy in the bathroom."

"I never heard about this." Goliath turned to stare at the elder gargoyle with obvious disapproval, even though it was muted from his respect for his elder. He then turned to stare at the other gargoyles. "Is anyone else keeping things from me?"

Trini barely kept herself from fidgeting nervously as he waited to see if any of the clan knew any of Trini's secrets. Over half the clan knew her big one, and if they were already mad at her would they keep it?

Broadway cleared his throat nervously and Trini felt her heart sink. She started to try and figure out the best way to run if she had to. "When you told me to guard Trini, she… she invited me into her room. I guarded her from inside her room, while watching t.v." He stopped there. No talk about murder or rape. Trini felt like collapsing in relief, but she didn't dare show any emotion like that or Goliath would know that wasn't everything. Trini risked a glance to Angela, and the female was still glaring at her. She'd been doing that since she'd sounded like such an insensitive lover, forcing Fox to share. She was mad, but she wasn't ratting Trini out.

"Mother deserves a mate of her own." Angela spoke coldly, ignoring the current conversation. "Not one that treats her lovers with such disrespect!"

Trini snapped at her. "I know she deserves more, but I'm giving her all that I can!"

Angela looked about to verbally lash out, but Goliath snapped out an order. "Angela!" It stopped her speaking, but she glared at Trini. Trini could image all the words Angela wanted to call Trini anyhow. Angela's silence didn't stop her ability to communicate her displeasure.

"Well, I can guess it wasn't you robbing the museum with Demona." Brooklyn glared at her. "Demona had to carry you away after your… joining." Trini didn't like the way his voice indicated that her joining to Demona wasn't worthy of respect. "You kinda need wings to glide."

Trini clenched her fists and resisted the urge to hit him as hard as she could. She didn't see the sharp look Elisa sent his way after that wing comment, but he didn't notice it either. "I can't believe Demona settled for a wingless half-breed." He continued his hurtful words. "How did she manage to fly you? Did she have to carry you the entire time?"

"Shut up Brooklyn." Elisa growled at him. Trini looked up, surprised that Elisa was defending her. She stared at her ex-lover intensely, trying to figure out what Elisa was thinking. Goliath was staring at Elisa too, before turning to glare at Trini.

"So you actually plan to continue to live here? To bounce back and forth between two lovers?" He sounded disgusted at the whole concept.

Trini growled, "Yes, while you…" She forcefully stopped herself from attacking his relationship with Elisa and just went quiet.

"While I what?" He seemed to get bigger in his desire to hear the rest of what was obviously going to be an insult.

"Nevermind." Trini glared at him. "It isn't any of my business, remember." She would give him that. It wasn't, not anymore. He looked a little surprised at that. "Are we done here?"

"Not quite." Elisa had her cop voice out again. "What about that ring from the museum. Who helped her if it wasn't you? And what does it do?"

Trini didn't want to risk saying anything here. She wasn't sure if just admitting out loud that it was Demona would get her mate into trouble. It was a real crime to steal, and both of her lovers had done that. "I don't know. It hasn't come up."

"Get real!” Brooklyn complained loudly. "She was out gliding with someone else, and you don't think to ask her about it?!"

Trini decided to pull the conversation away from that. "She's very faithful. I don't need to worry." She smirked at him cruelly.

"Yes, she is." Angela's voice was cold as she revisited her favorite topic. Trini sighed heavily as the female continued to rag on how evil loving more than one person was.

"I'm done here." Trini pushed her chair back and stood up. Broadway stood up as well, and was blocking her path. It didn't scare her that he did that. He was glancing at Goliath to see if Trini was allowed to leave. Trini glanced at Goliath as well. When she spoke her voice was filled with sarcasm. "You can have some time to talk about how evil I am and how I will destroy all good in the universe. I'm going to get ready for bed. I have to work tomorrow. Perhaps I can find a way to use paperclips to kill all life on earth. Being a super villain is hard work."

Goliath waved his arm, dismissing her. Trini had a few words to say about his lordly attitude, but she kept them to herself. She was at least grateful that she seemed free to leave without a guard.

Once she got back to her rooms she could see that Fox wasn't there yet. Trini felt a little disappointed. Seeing a friendly face right now would have been nice. She just went into the bathroom to have her shower. It would help her relax a little, because she felt tired, but didn't think she'd be able to sleep.

She came out of the bathroom in her robe, with a towel around her shoulders which she was using to dry her hair. "What are you doing?" Trini asked as she noticed Fox fumbling around in the drawers of Trini's desk.

Fox turned to look at her with a serious expression on her face. "I'm taking all the paperclips away." Trini saw the beginnings of a smirk on her lover's lips and was surprised to feel the urge to smile back.

"But baby… I need those. It's harder to create the Apocalypse using staples."

"I'm sure you'll manage." Fox set the paperclips down on the desk and moved towards Trini seductively. "You are an evil genius."

Trini laughed and wrapped her arms around Fox's neck and stared into her eyes. "Thanks. I needed that." Trini pulled Fox tight to her body and enjoyed the feeling of love that Fox was pushing out towards Trini with her magic.

Trini watched as Fox undressed for bed, and felt a wave of guilt upon seeing the redhead's body. That morning in Paris she'd tried to be gentle, to not hurt her mate, but she wasn't completely successful. There were some bruises on Fox's hips, and some scratches on her back. There was also heavy bruising around the bite mark, but at least Trini hadn't managed to break Fox's skin. Her hiss of pain had stopped Trini in time.

Trini got out of the bed and walked up to Fox. The redhead just stared at her quietly as Trini reached out to lightly pet the bite mark. "I'm so sorry." Trini's voice crack with her guilt. She'd marred her lover's beautiful skin.

Fox caressed her cheek, but Trini found herself unable to look Fox in the eye. Trini always hurt the ones she loved. It was a curse of sorts. "No, baby… I knew what I was getting into when I ignored your warning. I knew this could happen." Fox glanced at the bite on her shoulder. "It's not really that bad. I'll heal up in no time."

Trini sighed and nodded while turning away to get back in bed. Fox's arms wrapping around her from behind stopped her progress. "I may have tricked you into it. I wanted you to bite me. I wanted you to claim me like I saw you claim Demona." Trini allowed herself to be held while she puzzled over that comment. Fox spoke more quietly. "I wanted Demona to see you claim me."

Trini started to turn around, so Fox released her hold so that Trini could. Fox looked a little guilty. "I needed you so much. It was hell waiting for you to return." Fox wrapped her arms around herself and looked so vulnerable. "I started to hate her for taking you when I needed your touch so badly. I knew it was the pheromones, but I just couldn't make myself air the room out or leave." Trini's guilt grew. She should have thought about how being there when she went into season would affect Fox. She'd known that Fox felt the pheromones, but she never once considered how she'd feel watching Demona fly Trini when Fox couldn't. Trini pulled Fox closer and just held her. "I wanted her to see you claim me, I wanted…" Fox went quiet for a moment, but she continued her confession. "I wanted her to see you make love to me."

Trini took a deep breath, but didn't pull away. "Are you falling in love with her?" Trini felt bad for asking when she felt Fox tense up in her arms. Trini didn't need an answer after that. Fox had at least some feelings for Demona. She leaned in to kiss Fox's cheek, and whispered as gently as she could. "I'll show you how she makes love. I'll take you the way she takes me." Trini found Fox's shocked eyes staring at her and smiled softly. She was surprised by her own wish that she could get Demona to want her Fey lover for Fox's sake, but Demona had shown no interest in Fox that way.

Trini stepped away from Fox and dimmed the lights to the point that Fox would barely be able to see. Trini's own eyesight compensated easily, so her vision wasn't impaired. Not being able to see Trini might help Fox surrender to the fantasy that it was someone else in her bed. Trini felt a small wave of pain at that thought, and was grateful that the darkness covered her grimace.

"Trini…" Fox started to protest quietly when Trini caressed Fox's arm. "You don't need to…"

"Shh." Trini whispered gently. She didn't want Fox reminding herself constantly that it was Trini she was with. Trini pulled her magic in tightly, to prevent Fox from feeling her and reassuring herself that it was her lover she was with. "Come now, little Fox. Let's go to bed." Trini put Demona's inflections into her voice; sounding a lot more like the gargoyle than herself. Fox's soft moan let her know that Fox would enjoy this fantasy.

Trini stared up at the ceiling while listening to Fox's even breathing. Fox had no trouble falling asleep after Trini made love to her, but Trini was finding the simple task of sleep far too hard for her.

Fox had screamed out another woman's name in bed. Trini had done everything she could to be like her other mate for Fox, and apparently it was successful.

She slipped out of bed. She wasn't going to be able to sleep anyhow. Trini put her nightshirt back on and wandered out to the living room. From there she sat on the couch and stared out the window at the stars. It would be sunrise soon, and then she could leave her room to get more juice. Her fridge was out.

Was she always going to feel like hiding in her room at night? It just seemed easier to stay in her room than risk facing any of the clan, to risk facing Delilah. Tears started to fall down Trini's cheeks as she forced herself to remember her friend getting up and walking away. It kept replaying in her mind as she cried silently, not wanting to wake Fox up. Trini lost something so very precious tonight.

She hadn't wanted to be so confrontational. She'd fully intended to cooperate as much as she could without endangering Fox or Domi. Trini had hoped that she would be able to make them understand, but all she managed to do was push them all away. She couldn't control her temper even when it was hurting Delilah. She'd lashed out at Elisa. It didn't go at all like Trini had wanted it to, and Trini knew why. She'd fucked up again.

Once the sun rose Trini grabbed her robe and headed out the door towards the kitchen. She made sure to close the door to her rooms quietly so that she didn't wake Fox. That female was the only person in this building that believed in Trini. That was a somber thought as she poured a tall glass of juice.

The cold voice behind her startled Trini so bad she almost dropped the juice container. She managed to regain her hold on it in time to keep it from falling to the ground. Her heart hammered. She was definitely on edge. "I think it's relevant now." Elisa spoke cryptically.

Trini put the carton away before turning to face Elisa. "What are you talking about?"

"You've been lying to the clan, and I'm sure we haven't even begun to find out everything." Elisa glared at her. "You've attacked Goliath on Demona's behalf. Whatever you had going on with Delilah is looking pretty suspicious." Trini took a deep breath, hating this. Why couldn't Fox live alone like Domi? Why did the very people Trini wanted to avoid wander the halls of her home? "The clan needs to know you are immortal, in case they have to go against you."

"What?!" Trini's voice got loud, so she forced herself to get quieter, but she spoke just a quickly. "I'm not about to attack the clan. They don't need to know. They'll…" Trini's eyes were burning.

"I'm not asking, I'm just giving you the courtesy you didn't give me and warning you that I AM telling him. I want him prepared for when Demona finally warps whatever good was once in you."

Trini took a shaky breath. "Please don't." Trini's voice was weak. "Don't betray me. Please." Having the clan know was scary, but… Elisa was the only human to never betray Trini. "Please… not you…" Trini found tears falling from her eyes and looked away to stare at the fridge, embarrassed by her weakness.

Elisa's eyes softened, along with her voice. "Trini… I look at you now and I barely know who you are. I don’t see the gentle, playful woman that I loved. You've become haunted and violent. Whatever you may think you feel for Demona, she's slowly killing you. Her hatred is clouding your mind." Trini turned back to stare at her ex, and let her see the tears falling down her face.

"She isn't hurting me. I love her, and she's not the monster that you all see. When she's with me… she's so gentle and loving." Trini took a shaky breath. "I won't say it's always easy with her. She does hate… and I understand it too well, but she loves me. I'm half human and she loves me." Trini stared into Elisa's slightly confused eyes and spoke with more confidence. "She loves me enough to not make me chose, to not argue about my living with her enemies. She loves me enough that she's never tried to use me against anyone. The clan and you haven't been able to give me that. You want me to leave her, or spy on her; you want me to hurt her. She's never asked any of those things of me. She's even agreed to not hurt the people that I care about." Trini turned away and picked up her glass. Her hand was shaking enough that she worried she'd spill some. "Given all that, it isn't Demona that's looking like the bad guy."

Trini walked to the doorway and spoke without turning around to look at Elisa again. "I'd ask you to not betray me, at least not until you are sure that I am the monster you think I am… but you're human. It really is asking too much of a human to not betray me when every other human I ever cared about has." Trini couldn't see Elisa's shocked expression as she said that. She didn't want to. She was honest about her feelings, even though it did make her sound prejudiced. Maybe she was. Trini walked away, and Elisa didn't follow her.

Trini sat on her couch and slowly drank her juice. The sun was starting to shine into the windows and Trini moved to be laying directly in the sunbeam. Too bad the sun couldn't heal her emotional pains. She tried to relax, thinking that perhaps the sun could help with her stress tense muscles, but it seemed beyond the sun's abilities as well.

She listened to the soft breathing of Fox in the other room for a little while. Fox must have been tired. She didn't even notice that she was sleeping alone.

After sitting in the living room for an hour hoping to get relaxed enough to sleep, Trini just gave up. It wouldn't be the first night she did without sleep. She quietly snuck into her closet and changed into her work clothes. She no longer had to shower twice a day, because the pheromones were gone, so that wouldn't wake Fox up. Trini then finished getting ready in the bathroom before grabbing her purse and leaving quietly after setting a note on her computer monitor for Fox to find.

Trini left the Eyrie building at 8 am after eating breakfast alone. She almost went outside to see how Delilah looked, but couldn't bring herself to do it. The appointment for the counselor was at eleven so she had a few hours to kill.

Once she was in the parking lot she double-checked her wallet. She felt strange about using it, but Domi had told her that this account was theirs. She put the credit card back in her purse and got out. Everyone knew the mansion was her home now; she might as well start treating it like home. She needed some furniture for her new office. Domi had told her it was cleared out and just waiting for her.

An hour later she'd selected her new desk, bookshelves, chair, and filing cabinets. She was at the counter waiting for the salesperson to come back so that she could arrange for delivery.

"Trini?" A male voice spoke from behind her. Trini turned and noticed the red hair before he stepped closer.

"Hey Matt." Trini smiled weakly at him, but wondered if it was a coincidence that he was here or if she was being followed.

"What are you doing out so early?" He smiled as if he had no idea what was going on. Could Elisa have neglected to tell him about her?

"I'm getting furniture." She rolled her eyes with a smile. It was a furniture store. There really wasn't much else to do there. "I am setting up a home office." She'd treat this casually. "A place to write."

"Oh." He moved closer to lean against the counter while Trini waited. "I broke my coffee table. I'm not getting glass again."

"Ms. Stephens?" The salesman returned and Matt straightened up. He was waiting until Trini was done with business. Damn. "I can arrange for a Saturday delivery."

"Good." Trini smiled at her. She'd finally have a place of her own in Domi's home. Matt wandered over to look at the entertainment centers that weren't that far away and Trini quietly gave the address information and paid with the credit card.

"You know they charge more for Saturday deliveries."

"Well, I want to be there to set it up how I like it." She not so subtly moved her car keys into her hand. "I have more shopping to do before work, so I better get going."

He seemed to brighten that a topic of conversation showed up. "Where are you working now?"

"NightStone." Trini smiled at the shocked look on his face. "So you know I don't want to be late to work. I hear the boss actually forces tardy employees to eat their watches." She held her watch up and raised her eyebrow. "Mine has lots of metal, I might break my teeth." She chuckled at the look on his face. He looked like he'd believed her for a second, just a second, but the shocked disbelief that crossed his face was funny. "I'll see you around Matt."

Trini went and purchased a computer and all the accessories she needed. She'd have it delivered as well. Having an expensive computer system sit in the trunk while working would make her worry that it was getting stolen, and work was going to be stressful enough without that.

She still managed to get to the counselors fifteen minutes early. She was nervous, but she had told Fox she could do this alone. She'd heard Alex asking about doing something with his mother last night, and he sounded so disappointed when Fox told him she needed to take Trini somewhere. It only upset Fox to listen to her anyhow. It was better if she just got over her fear and dealt with this.

Trini sat in Vicky's waiting room glancing at the magazines. "Trini? Why don't you come on back?"

Once the door to the office close Vicky spoke. "No Fox?"

"It's too hard for her to listen to me." Trini sat down in the chair. "I don't want to put her through that."

"So, has anything happened since the last time you saw me that you'd like to talk about?"

Trini took a deep breath and moved to stare out the window. "You could say that. I don't know how much you know about the clan."

"I've been briefed."

Trini turned to look at her counselor. "I'm not exactly getting along with the people that I live with."

An hour later she just sat in the car fixing her makeup. Counseling was supposed to make you feel better, but Trini felt worse than she did when she went in. Vicky wasn't shy about making Trini think about how much of the mess with the clan was her own fault. Trini had already figured that out. Delilah's leaving her had been solely Trini's fault. Losing Delilah actually hurt more than losing Elisa had. Trini didn't want to start thinking about that, but Vicky had forced her too. Trini had made the comparison without thinking about it, but the minute it left her mouth Vicky had latched onto it. Delilah was more than a friend. She was family. She was a hybrid like Trini, human and gargoyle, and she was put down for what she was so often that she'd started to believe it. They'd both shared that problem, the sense of not belonging, until they found each other. Trini had instantly liked Delilah, and part of that may have been because when she saw Elisa's uncomfortable reaction to the clone, she identified with Delilah. The clone's gentle nature brought out Trini's protective urges, and part of that was because she saw an innocence in Delilah that Trini had lost a long time ago. That's why it hurt more, because she'd bruised Delilah's innocence. She was Delilah's first friend, and her hurting Delilah would leave wounds that may never heal. She turned up the radio to pull her thoughts away from the session and started to drive to work.

Trini rode the elevator up to the top floor in silence. She just stared ahead at the floor readout and ignored the other employees around her. When they all got off on their various floors, leaving Trini to travel up to the executive floor alone she felt relieved. She straightened her sunglasses and stepped out into the familiar hallway. It had been over a week since she was forced to take that leave. It felt like much longer.

Carrie was typing a memo, and Trini barely nodded to her on her way past to her office. She felt her shame clearly as she did that. She was running from her own receptionist. Maybe she would have been better off getting fired. Then she wouldn't have to see these people again. She had no idea how many people knew that she'd screwed up so badly.

She closed her office door, wanting some privacy to compose herself. Maybe doing the therapy before going to work wasn't a good idea. She was still too emotional, and her role here at NightStone didn't call for that.

When she noticed the pencil holder sitting on her desk she stared at it for a while. Then she moved her attention to the pile of mail.

She was working an hour before her door opened. Trini glanced up, and felt a wave of relief that it wasn't Carrie. Domi tilted her head as she looked at Trini and then closed the door behind her.

"You're wearing your sunglasses."

"I'm not having a good day." Trini answered quietly and stared out her window. That view of the Eyrie wasn't so nice now. She didn't want Domi thinking Trini regretted her decision. She loved Domi, and in choosing between Domi or the clan, there was no contest… but she had lost friends in the deal, and it hurt. Trini forced her voice to sound less troubled. "I've got to catch up on all the work I missed."

Domi moved to sit in the chair opposite Trini and her voice was gentle. She wasn't in her boss persona. "Is that why you closed the door? You always work with the door open."

"I…" Trini started to deny it, but she just sighed heavily. "I’m too embarrassed. I can't face Carrie. She knows."

Domi's voice got harsher. "You are in here hiding from the receptionist?" Obviously Trini wasn't supposed to feel this shame. Domi thought she was weak.

"I…" Trini went quiet and just stared at Domi. "I'm sorry."

Domi took a deep breath and seemed to calm down. "I didn't even know you were coming in today, until Fox called and asked me how you were doing." The gentleness returned. "It didn't go well last night, did it?"

Trini gave Domi a weak fake smile. "Well I'm not in prison. That's something."

Domi sighed. "He went on the moral high ground and treated you like a wayward child or did he just assume you want to see a river of blood going down every main street in New York?"

"I'm thinking it's the blood."

"Damn, they really don't know you, do they?" Domi seemed surprised by that. "What about Angela and Delilah?"

Trini snapped the pencil in her hand before realizing she was clenching her fists. "Angela thinks I'm a slut and wants me to stay away from you. I think that she wanted to hit me. She broke the table." Trini took a shaky breath, "And Delilah walked away. She couldn't even look at me anymore. I lied to her too much, and now she's gone." Trini didn't see the slightly satisfied look on Domi's face when Trini mentioned Delilah being gone, because she was staring at her broken pencil. She almost added that Elisa was threatening to tell the clan about Trini's immortality, but she couldn't guarantee that her lover wouldn't decide to kill Elisa for that, so she kept it to herself.

After a moment of quiet, Domi reached out to caress Trini's hand. "I love you."

Trini put the pencil down and gave Domi a small smile. "I love you too."

Domi sat back in the chair. "Andrea wants us to come for dinner. She's upset she missed your birthday. I forgot about it entirely. I'm sorry."

"We were busy." Trini smiled at the memory of what they were busy doing. "I think it was the best birthday I ever had."

"Oh, you think?" Domi raised an eyebrow teasingly.

The knock on the door interrupted the moment. "Ms. Destine, the package you wanted has arrived."

"Well, I better get back to work." Domi stood up. "And you should open the door or take a walk. It will be worse if the humans realize you are hiding. Go out there and show them you are still the boss." Domi grinned wickedly. Trini just nodded and watched as Domi left her office door wide open when she left. A walk? She hadn't done that yet, since Domi wasn't comfortable with Trini's pheromones being spread through the offices. Trini had been doing basic secretarial work until after her Breeder's moon. That meant it was time for her to start being more of a boss. Great, she comes off of a forced leave to become the one in charge. That won't look normal.

Trini took the walk to the soda machine with her sunglasses on. She noticed the few people that she passed in the halls noticing that, but Domi had said it was intimidating, so it had a duel purpose.

She was standing in front of the machine trying to decide what she wanted when the familiar voice of the mail clerk interrupted her thoughts. "Ms. Stephens, you have a good vacation?" Trini turned sharply to see if he was mocking her, but he looked sincere.

"It was fine."

"Where did you go?" He leaned against his mail cart with a smile. He acted so young. It was hard to believe he was almost Trini's age. "Carrie was betting on Europe, but I voted for Mexico."

"Paris." Trini made her drink selection, wanting to get out of this conversation. Carrie was speculating on her vacation? Carrie knew it wasn't a vacation at all. Trini was feeling a sense of shock and gratitude. Her secretary had covered for her.

"That's great." He was staring at her sunglasses, but Trini just stood taller. She was the boss. A small smile came to her as she walked back to her office. Carrie was definitely worth keeping.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Carrie smiled as she grabbed her purse and left. Trini had worked with Carrie for an hour talking about ideas to make the front office run more smoothly. In order to have time for that meeting she borrowed a receptionist from another office so that they wouldn't be interrupted. Carrie was smart, and Trini found a few of her ideas would be worth looking into. In the beginning Trini had felt awkward and wondered if she should say something, but something in Carrie's eyes told her it wasn't necessary.

Domi came out of her office fifteen minutes after five. "Well, shall we go see what Andrea has in mind for dinner?" This was the first time they'd all three be together since Domi and Trini became a couple. It should be interesting.

Trini drove them to Andrea's, leaving Gregory to take the limo back to the house. Trini parked next to the alley that she'd been kidnapped from days before. She glanced warily into it even though she knew he was locked up. When she pulled her eyes away she noticed the concerned look in Domi's eyes. She'd noticed Trini looking too long.

"He's locked up Trini."

"It was so easy for him." Trini sighed and opened the car door to get out. "So incredibly easy."

"Fox and I can teach you to fight, but warrior instincts take time to develop. MacBeth and I have had time. You haven't." Domi closed her door and walked around to Trini. "Well, we better get to Andrea's. We need to be out of here well before sunset."

Trini felt Andrea staring at them from the kitchen yet again. Andrea was looking for some outward sign that Domi and Trini really were a couple, but Domi was acting like she did in the office. No hint of intimacy. She was actually even a little more distant.

"Well, it should be just ten more minutes." Andrea came out of the kitchen and sat on the edge of her couch. "So how was your birthday? Domi told me she took you to Paris." Andrea turned a teasing grin to Domi. "I didn't get Paris when I turned 25."

They talked about travel while they ate. Andrea had been to more places than Trini had. That surprised her, because the artist didn't seem like the traveling type.

Once Domi excused herself to go to the bathroom Andrea's face became more serious and she moved closer to Trini while keeping her voice down. "I saw you run into traffic the other day. Some older man was chasing you. What's going on?" Andrea's eyes shown with concern, as she was apparently waiting until they were alone to bring this up. Trini stared at Andrea for a moment, stunned that she'd been seen. She had no idea how to respond. "Trini, are you alright? Are you in some sort of trouble?"

"Not any more." Trini stared into Andrea's eyes. "It's one of those things I can't talk about, but it's taken care of now."

Andrea sighed. "You sound like a spy. All sorts of secrets and you tell me nothing."

That hit a nerve with Trini. Her lies and secrets were irritating Andrea, and right now, the artist was the only friend she had left. "He was trying to kidnap me. He was captured, but we need to keep it quiet."

"Oh God." Andrea reached out and took Trini's hand. "Did your ex send him?"

"No." Trini almost growled that out. "He's a separate problem." Trini glanced towards the bathroom door.

"And how are things going with your ex?" Andrea leaned back and let go of Trini's hand.

"She isn't stalking me, but she does think Domi is a big mistake." Trini turned to look at Andrea, suddenly remembering the clans' idea of telling the artist the truth about Domi. Would Domi lose her friend because of her own lies? Trini was going to have to talk to Domi and see if her mate had ever considered just telling Andrea the truth. If Andrea already knew it before the clan decided to interfere with Domi's life, the artist might not abandon Domi. "You know Domi cares about you a great deal, don't you?" Trini asked Andrea quietly.

Andrea gave Trini a small smile. "She's not the type to just say it, but yes. I know. She's the best friend I've ever had."

"Good." Trini sat back a little when she heard the bathroom door open.

Once Domi sat back down Andrea smiled at them both. "Let me get your present." Andrea seemed very happy with whatever she was getting and Trini started to wonder what the artist got her. Andrea didn't need to give her anything.

Andrea came out carrying a painting and set it on the empty easel that was in the corner of the room. It was the one of Demona. Trini looked harder and saw that the wings had been fixed. "I know you wanted this." Andrea turned to smile broadly at Trini's shocked expression. Andrea could have gotten a lot of money for that painting, and she was giving it to Trini.

"Oh God. Thank you." Trini knew better than to protest that the gift was too good, but it was. Trini got up and moved to pull Andrea into a hug. She whispered into Andrea's ear. "Thank you."

"I saw the way you looked at the painting. I couldn't sell it to someone else knowing you wanted it that badly."

"She's the most beautiful gargoyle in the world." Trini smirked at the painting, knowing this time that the woman behind her was the topic of conversation. How many times had she talked about Demona's beauty in front of Domi and not realized they were the same person? Her mate must have a pretty big ego by now. She deserved it.

"Do you know where you'll put it?"

Trini grimaced a little. It would look really good in her living room at the Eyrie, but putting it there was asking for trouble.

"You could put it in your office." Domi interrupted, knowing where Trini's mind had gone. "I even know which wall it would look best on." Trini turned to smile at her mate.

"Oh, can I come and see?" Andrea's energetic voice drew Trini's attention back to her. Trini gave Domi a helpless look. She didn't know how they wanted to deal with this. Andrea didn't know Trini lived in two homes, or where she lived really. Trini had skirted around that question when if finally came up.

"Maybe next week you can come to our house for dinner." Domi answered surprising Trini with her admitting that Trini lived with her. Trini was so used to being the secret lover that she almost grabbed Domi and pulled her into a hug for being willing to acknowledge her. "The new furniture should be set up by then."

Trini turned to see a wide smile on Andrea's face. Good, she was taking it well. "You two are living together?!"

"Trini lives with me half of the time and stays at her apartment for the rest of the time so that she's in the city." Domi answered easily. She didn't sound upset with the set up, which Trini was grateful for. They visited for another half hour before leaving. Trini carefully set the painting in the trunk before they drove home.

Shortly after sunset Demona came into the kitchen and Trini was surprised to see the playful gleam in Demona's eyes. "I have your wings upstairs. Do you need help getting suited up, because you are learning to glide tonight."

"I haven't been able to practice in a while." Trini was getting excited with the idea of gliding. To actually glide on her own would be like heaven.

The phone started to ring and Demona grimaced. "You go get suited up, and I'll double check it before we go out. It's in the room that's going to be your office." Trini just nodded because Demona had picked up the phone.

The look on Demona's face let Trini know who called. She may have time to practice moving the wings before they took off, because Angela would have a lot to say, and none of it good. Dammit, the girl may ruin Trini's night with Demona. Why couldn't she call when Trini was at the castle?

Trini fastened the last buckles and carefully placed the headband on her forehead. She made sure to be in the middle of the room so that she had lots of room to maneuver the wings. She was just starting her practice when she noticed Demona walk into the room, so she caped the wings and watched her mate for a hint to her mood. Demona gave her a fake smile, so Trini knew the short talk with Angela hadn't gone well. "Taking off from the house is a more advanced skill. I think for a while you need to only take off from much higher buildings. I'll carry you up and then we can practice."

"Honey, are you okay?" Trini stepped forward and caressed Demona's cheek.

"Yes. She'll get over it." Demona pulled Trini into a hug, and Trini was a little disappointed that the wings kept her from feeling her lover's arms around her. "She doesn't understand how happy you make me. I'm more than willing to sacrifice having you all to myself so that I can have you."

Trini felt a wave of guilt that she was causing Demona trouble with her daughter, but the gargoyle held Trini so gently, so lovingly, that Trini knew she wasn't being blamed for whatever had happened.

Demona picked Trini up effortlessly and leapt off the balcony. They glided up higher than they normally glided. It was a buffer zone, so that if Trini didn't do well, Demona would have time to save her.

Trini was feeling a little nervous. "How are we going to do this?"

"Spread your wings and catch the air. Once you are gliding we can cover things like turning." Demona smiled at her.

"Okay, and how do I start?"

Demona's grin grew wicked and Trini started to feel her heart beating a little faster. "I hear baby birds are thrown out of the nest." As soon as she said that she tossed Trini out of her arms and Trini almost panicked as she started to fall. Finally she spread her wings but it took longer to find the air current, and she started to hope that Demona was following her down. When she suddenly started to hover, she laughed loudly.

"I'm gliding!" Trini yelled out in her joy. Her mate moved to glide beside her, but not too closely, because Trini was wobbling pretty badly. Trini's tears started to obstruct her vision. "Oh God… I was always meant to do this." She felt so right, so good in the air. She knew she was graceless, and that didn't bother her at all. She was airborne.

They'd been practicing gentle turns and going up and down for an hour. Demona wasn't rushing Trini, she wanted her to master the very basics before moving on to more challenging things. Trini had started to get embarrassed by how wobbly she was in the air, but Demona kept telling Trini that she was doing very good for a beginner. The gargoyle was so patient in teaching Trini this, and it made Trini wonder how many gargoyles Demona had taught to glide.

Trini was concentrating so hard on controlling her wobble that she didn't see the shadow coming closer in the sky. She didn't notice her until she moved in to glide so close to Trini that Trini panicked, thinking she was about to hit something. Her wings came in close to her body, to try and protect her from the collision and she started to fall. Demona glared at Angela and dove after Trini, while speaking loudly, hoping that Trini would hear her. "Catch the wind. Angle your body and catch it."

Trini didn't hear Demona, but she pulled her upper body up enough to be able to spread her wings and stop her fall. Her heart was hammering.

"Good. You did good." Demona moved to glide beside her. Trini then noticed a silent and glaring lavender female flank her other side. Demona looked over Trini and her voice was a little angry. "Trini doesn't know how to turn sharply. You could have hurt her with that stunt."

"I didn’t know Trini could glide." Angela sounded a bit frosty and Trini really didn't like having a hostile gargoyle near her when she was so unsteady on her wings.

"This is my first time out." Trini spoke softly. She wasn't going to argue with Demona's daughter now.

"Come, let's head home." Demona spoke more gently. "Angela, you can follow us in after I shut down the security system."

Demona and Trini started down, but Trini was plucked from the air and cradled in Demona's arms. Trini turned to look at her lover. "I didn't think you'd want to fall on your face with her watching. Landing takes lots of practice."

"Thanks."

Demona turned her body and set down easily. Once she let Trini go she went inside to turn off the air defense system and then came back out to wave Angela down.

Once Angela landed she glared at Trini and then ignored her as she followed Demona inside to their bedroom. "Mother, I want to talk to you."

Demona sounded weary, "And you actually came all this way to see me." She was obviously not thrilled with the conversation that was about to take place.

Trini didn't know what to do. She felt out of place. This argument was about her, but it was between Angela and Demona. Should she stay and be a part of it, or leave and let Demona talk with her daughter in privacy?