I Shot the Sheriff

(Inspired by the song by Bob Marley)

“Found her on a gurney…”

“Her id says she’s Corrine Canmore.” Corrine saw darkness and felt like lead had been poured over her body, everything felt too hard. Only her name drew her attention. It didn’t last long.

“You’re vice, you don’t normally look into these cases Maza.”

“Corrine is a friend of mine.” A voice spoke and Corrine felt a small spark of recognition. Her head rolled to the side and she groaned with the motion, but she found darkness again.

Her bones ached, and it pulled her back from the darkness. Corrine groaned as her hands spasmed, and then she felt a hand over her own, warm. “Father always thought you were a disappointment, but he’d really roll over in his grave now.” An angry woman’s voice spoke quietly, and Corrine felt her breath in her ear. Corrine fought with the darkness, sensing this was danger. “A traitor is worse than a gargoyle.”

“Freeze!” A voice yelled and Corrine’s hands twitched. She felt wind and a jerk of her body that made her aware of pain. “Get the IV out of her, get it out!” The voice was angry, maybe scared.

Corrine’s body was jerked again and the pain went away as darkness filled her mind again.

……………………….

There was a scraping sound, which drew a slight frown from Corrine as she became aware of it. “You Canmore’s sure know how to bring excitement where ever you go.” A feminine voice spoke from Corrine’s side and Corrine started to try and open her eyes. It took a while, it felt like they’d been glued closed, and they appeared to weigh so much.

The bright light burned her eyes and Corrine closed them quickly, this time more slowly opening them to see a white paneled ceiling. Her ears took in the steady beeping sound to her left, and the sound of paper shuffling on her right. Corrine took as deep a breath as she could and felt the pain radiate outward. She slowly turned to her side, and for a moment the red hair had the beep of her heart monitor, as she realized that was what it was, sound off a little faster, but the shade was wrong. That calmed her down.

“What?” Her voice was weak and cracked, but the woman turned to look at her and the tattoo over her eye wasn’t a complete surprise, even though Corrine had only talked with this woman once.

“Conscious are you?” Fox smiled at her and moved to set a newspaper to the side while scooting closer. “I should call the nurse.”

“Angela’s okay right?” Corrine asked, her mind fuzzy on what happened after she’d shot Jason. Oh god, she’d killed Jason, Corrine felt tears gathering in her eyes.

“Yes, she’s okay. Disturbed you’re in here and rather withdrawn from what I overheard last night, but okay.” Fox moved closer, her voice dipping lower. “There was an attempt on your life very early this morning, that’s why I’m here. Elisa had to take the attacker in, and well, we still don’t know where Jon is.” Fox’s eyes moved to the door. “There are police out there, but given how easily Robyn got in, the good detective finally swallowed her pride and asked for help.”

Corrine stared up at the ceiling, her mind sluggish and pained. “Robyn tried to kill me.” She knew it would happen if she stood against her family, and with what happened with Jason, it was guaranteed, but still knowing it and KNOWING it were two different things. The beep of her heart monitor was picking up a bit much.

Fox let her have the silence, but the nurse came in and checked the monitor with some concern before looking down and seeing Corrine had her eyes opened. “Are you in any pain?” The woman asked, glancing down at Corrine’s arm. Corrine followed her gaze to see an IV in her arm, and a half memory came to her.

Robyn wasn’t even waiting to ask any questions, she didn’t even care enough to try and give Corrine a chance to explain, even though Corrine had chosen to try and talk to her siblings before it all began, even though she’d explained why she wasn’t on their side.

Corrine normally felt a like an outsider, like she wasn’t a full part of anything, but now she felt completely alone. Except she was in a room with a woman she barely knew.

“Detective Maza caught her injecting something into your IV, and they removed it quickly. I still haven’t heard what it was.” Fox answered and Corrine nodded just a little, going quiet. She stayed quiet so long she drifted off from the increased dose the nurse gave her to keep the pain down.

……………………….

The doctor was busy looking at the chart and writing, so Corrine turned to stare out the window. She’d been moved, and that was how she saw the guard outside her door. He’d followed Corrine as the transport bed was pushed through the halls and into an elevator without saying a word.

Corrine had a good view of the top of the building across the way and the sky.

The doctor left and Corrine looked up to see the guard glancing in the room. “I’ll be out here.” He finally said.

“You aren’t a cop are you?” Corrine finally asked.

“No ma’am.” His answer was expected. Cops wouldn’t be quite so professional about guard duty. Not like this. “I was hired to make sure that there are no more attempts on your life.”

It hadn’t been a day since Robyn tried, and apparently she wasn’t the only one to think Jon might give it a go too. She didn’t used to think her youngest brother the most dangerous one, but the look in his eyes when he pulled the trigger worried her.

She was tired, constantly tired, but Corrine turned the television on once she was alone, just to have the sound of voiced. Fox had left when the guard arrived and Corrine couldn’t really blame the woman. Watching Corrine sleep couldn’t have been all that interesting.

When the news started she almost changed the channel, not wanting to deal with it now, but she stopped as she saw Dominique Destine fill the screen. She’d seen Demona’s human form before, but not when she knew it was her. Corrine watched avidly, turning the volume up a bit more so she could hear it rather than have it been a soft murmur of noise to comfort her.

“As I understand it my former assistant, Robyn Corey, has been arrested. Her accomplice is still at large, but I hold the utmost confidence that he will be brought to justice as well.” Dominique spoke and there was no hint to the thick French accent Corrine had heard before. She suspected it had been there to keep Corrine from realizing who Dominique was. Corrine watched the female’s eyes, stared at her tamed and tied back hair.

The hair reminded her vaguely of the onetime she’d brushed the gargoyles hair and tied it back, and she wondered, a little hopefully, if Demona had remembered that when doing it up.

“I am very grateful for Detective Conover for his heroic attempt at a rescue.” Dominique spoke and Corrine could hear the slight irritation in her voice, most wouldn’t catch it apparently because none of the reporters in the room seemed to notice. The words were stunning and it took a moment for Corrine to realize that Dominique was claiming Jason had tried to save her, not kill her. “I am positive that without his sacrifice, I would not be here today. I would also like to thank his partner, Detective Maza for her quick thinking in this affair.”

It was no secret that Demona didn’t like Elisa. Corrine watched the rest of the questions that grew more useless as time went on, but her mind was stuck on the fact that this was the plot hatched to keep Demona’s secret. Her brother would be buried without the Canmore name. Somehow that bothered Corrine. He’d be buried with the fake name he was wearing at the time.

The scene changed back to the newsroom and Corrine focused just a moment on the reporter, “And that was the news conference at Nightstone Unlimited earlier today. On other news…” She stopped listening again and turned the volume down.

…………………………

Fox had given Corrine the lie she was supposed to tell the police before she’d left and Corrine spent some time rehearsing it in her tired mind, knowing that now that she had been moved out of the ER and was conscious, she’d be seeing them.

Elisa must be sick, trying to frame someone else for murder. Corrine looked out the window and fought her tears. The darkening sky told her that the gargoyles would be up soon.

Her heart monitor started to beat faster and Corrine gripped her hands as the pain in her back and legs startled her. Her hands started to hurt as well. She would have worried it had something to do with her being in the hospital, except this had happened last night as well.

The nurse was in her room rather quickly even as the pain stopped and Corrine had no idea what to say to the questioning look she got. “Are you alright?” the nurse finally asked and Corrine just nodded. Under the covers her fists slowly unclenched.

After the nurse left, Corrine stared out at the darkening sky and decided that she needed to talk to Demona about this. She had a strong suspicion that she should ask Demona to look at her spell book and translate that spell she’d used. The distraction of magic was welcome, over her rather dark thoughts.

The police came and then went. They were under the impression that Corrine had seen Robyn and her accomplice bring a suspicious bundle into the building. She’d told Jason, who was nearby and she knew was a cop, because he was her friend Elisa’s partner. She’d shown him where the building was and stayed outside, but Robyn found her there and shot her. At that point Corrine could pretend to know nothing of how she got to the hospital.

Corrine wasn’t thrilled with the lie, but Robyn had tried to kill her later that night, and the police assumed it was something Robyn did to cover up the shooting in the first place. Jon was getting away with shooting her, but getting framed for shooting Jason. It was a mess and really, it wouldn’t be too hard to have this fall completely apart, ruining Corrine and now Elisa’s life. Elisa had to have something good on Robyn to think they could get away with this and have Robyn confirm it.

Corrine was asleep when she felt a gentle touch on her hand. Thinking the nurse was back to check on her, she opened her eyes, and then her heart monitor sounded off a little faster as she stared up into Demona’s tender expression. It hadn’t been an expression Corrine had seen since she was thirteen and recovering from the abortion and right before Demona took her back home.

“I would have come sooner if I could have.” Demona spoke quietly, and her eyes traveled to the door for a moment. “But I had to deal with the press and the police.” Demona looked back at her and Corrine slowly risked moving her arm to take the hand Demona had rested near her own and squeeze it. Demona stopped talking a moment and stared at their hands, before gently squeezing Corrine’s hand back. “I didn’t intend for you to sacrifice yourself for my daughter Corrine.”

Corrine’s eyes watered and her voice was rough. “It’s okay.” Corrine’s words trailed off as she couldn’t really think of any response to that. “How is she?”

The gentle touch to her hair, pushing a piece out of her face had Corrine staring back up at Demona’s face. “She’s shaken. She is upset that you almost died saving her. She didn’t say much at all last night, after I went back.” Demona held Corrine’s eyes just with the force of her personality. “Had you ever killed before?”

Corrine’s eyes teared, “No, I’d hoped I’d never have to.” She whispered. “But I am a Canmore, it was rather inevitable wasn’t it?”

“No,” Demona whispered and was quiet a moment, “You are Corrine of the London clan, and often clan members have had to kill to protect the clan.” Corrine’s eyes widened, seeing what Demona was saying. Demona had absolved her of the stain of her family name. It sounded like she might have also been forgiven for being human. The pain of the last night she’d seen Demona when she was seventeen had made both conditions crosses to bear, and it was like a weight on her heart was lifted, she hadn’t even realized was there.

Corrine struggled with what to say, and she looked away as she did it. There were no words, so she whispered weakly. “I heard they arrested Robyn, I saw your press conference, but Jon is still out there.”

“I’ll take care of that.” Demona answered, her voice still soft.

“Be careful.” Corrine spoke it like a plea and Demona watched her for a moment, seeming to be thinking, debating, internally.

“When I said a Canmore will never kill me Corrine, I meant it.” Demona sighed. “I don’t want you to lay here worrying that he’ll manage what the rest of the Camores never has. I will survive, I always do.” Corrine noticed that Demona didn’t use the common words ‘your family’.

“Still, be careful.” Corrine spoke as Demona started toward the window.

Demona just smiled at her and stepped out, “I’ll visit tomorrow.” Demona spoke before closing the window from the outside by hanging from the wall.

It took Corrine little time to fall asleep again, but if it weren’t for her surgery and the IV, she might not have been able to.

………………………..

Corrine liked how the beds moved, so it just sat her up when her breakfast was delivered. There was some pain, but Corrine didn’t complain, because she didn’t want her pain killers, they made her too drowsy and even though she was in the hospital, she didn’t like the idea of sleeping all the time.

Her breakfast was only started when Corrine saw the detective step into her room, and through the temporarily opened door she saw her guard. Elisa nodded to her, but Corrine noticed the dark circles and sluggish walk. “Hello.” Corrine spoke and stopped eating as she watched Elisa give her a weak smile and come up to the side of the bed.

“The doctor won’t tell me very much, how are you?” Elisa spoke gently.

“Lucky apparently. An inch or so in another direction and I would have died long before I got here.” Corrine answered quietly. It was eerie how close she came to it. She’d been rather convinced she was going to die that night, and any slower in getting here and her loss of blood would have killed her. Demona saved her yet again.

“How long are you going to be in here?” Elisa glanced around the room. “I think this is my old room.” Elisa muttered and Corrine studied the detective.

“They don’t tell me. I think they’d rather not commit and end up lying.” Corrine answered.

“Yeah, I remember that.” Elisa pulled a chair closer. “Eat, go ahead and eat. It doesn’t taste any better cold.”

Corrine felt a bit awkward eating when she had a visitor, but she took a bite of her eggs obediently, understanding that they’d taste worse cold. They tasted pretty bland now. “I was here after an accident last year. Broadway was playing with my gun, he didn’t understand they were dangerous.” Elisa spoke and Corrine thought of his panic when he saw Jason dead, or his insistence that guns hurt people. He was rather childish seeming, and sounded like a child that had been traumatized by the event.

“If you give me the number, I could call Una to tell her what happened.” Elisa said after a bought of small talk.

“That’s not necessary, I took care of that.” Another voice spoke and Corrine put her orange juice down to see Dominique Destine in her doorway.

Corrine studied the human clothes, which were more professional than she’d seen Dominique in Paris. Seeing her like this had a smirk on her lips which she didn’t even notice. Dominique looked at her and narrowed her eyes. It seemed like a warning and Corrine blushed as she realized she was about to treat her like she’d treated her in Paris. Oh god, she’d been talking to DEMONA like that, it just suddenly dawned on her and Corrine felt embarrassed enough to look away.

“Well, I need to get to work. I’m still on day shift.” Elisa spoke up after a tense moment and Corrine looked over at the detective, catching that the woman was leaving them alone.

“Thanks for dropping by.” Corrine said with a smile.

“No problem. I’ll check on you later, maybe bring you some books or something.” Elisa said with a wave.

“No need, I took care of that as well.” Dominique said while pulling out a stack of three books. Corrine watched the redhead walk up to her and hand them over. Corrine looked down to see her favorite author when she was younger, she still liked that author today even.

“You remembered.” Corrine spoke quietly, staring down at the books. She looked up to see a small smile on Dominique’s face, looking almost smug, and behind her a watchful and curious Elisa hadn’t finished leaving just yet. Elisa seemed confused as she left.

“Of course I did, you used to drone on and on about what you were reading.” Dominique sat down carefully on the edge of the bed and Corrine held the books tightly in her hands. They were new, even though they’d been printed a while ago. She could feel the newness on them and it was proof that Demona, Dominique, had gone shopping for her. As a millionaire, Corrine knew the best gifts weren’t expensive, just well thought out.

“Thank you.” She said as she caressed the books just a moment longer, but a irritated sigh from Dominique came before the woman took the books from Corrine’s hands and put them on the bedside table.

“Honestly Corrine, they are just some books.” Dominique sounded irritated, but Corrine knew better. She looked into the redhead’s eyes, past the different skin tone, and could see Demona in them. Demona was pleased her gift was appreciated.

“First time I saw this form of yours, I thought it was odd Demona was walking around during the day.” Corrine admitted quietly. “Too bad I gave that idea up so quickly.”

“Well, at least for a moment you caught on. I can’t say everyone did.” Dominique spoke just as quietly and Corrine found herself staring, studying, the human form again. It seemed strange to see Demona like this.

“Scottish gargoyles look a tad more like humans.” Corrine muttered, thinking that if Una had a human form there would be no identifying her. Dominique grimaced and Corrine gave her an apologetic look. “Why didn’t you tell me in Paris? I spent months looking for you and you were right there.”

“I had plans in the works, and there were males I didn’t want to know about you.” Dominique actually answered quietly before taking a deep breath and sitting taller. “Robyn tried to kill you, and I’m concerned that Jon will try and finish what he started as well. I’d like to have you moved as soon as it’s possible for you to be.”

“Okay.” Corrine wasn’t sure where she’d go, but more security couldn’t hurt, and then she could call home. She wasn’t willing to do it from here. “You spoke to Una?”

“Yes.” Dominique said and Corrine was a little disconcerted that it was so easy for Demona to call the shop and yet she never had. There was no way she wouldn’t have known Corrine had joined the clan if she had. “She’s concerned about you. She’d like to hear from you, as soon as possible, and I believe she’s looking for healing spells. I don’t have any, so we’ll see if she can find something and I’ll help you cast it.”

Corrine couldn’t stop the smile on her face, and she blushed. “You’ll cast with me?” Her voice was soft and hopeful. It was a dream she used to have when she started learning magic.

Dominique sighed and shook her head, a slight hint of a smile on her face. “Corrine,” It was all she said, but the motion at the door still seemed to stop something important. The aide seemed friendly as she took the dishes, and asked if Corrine needed anything, but Corrine still resented the umpteenth visit from someone. The nurse would probably be in soon as well. “I should go to work.” Dominique’s words depressed Corrine and she just nodded, but Dominique moved closer and caressed the hair out of Corrine’s eyes. “You look like hell Corrine. After you heal, don’t ever end up in a place like this again.”

“I’d like to say okay.” Was all Corrine could say, but she knew this was always a possibility for her. Dominique didn’t look pleased with the answer, but she patted the books in a silent message to read, before leaving.

A hospital room was a lonely place, Corrine decided. When the nurse came and fussed over her, Corrine had to set the book down, but she still felt alone. It would have been nice if Katara could have visited, but no one knew about gargoyles. Visits at night took so much risk, one Demona had managed, but she did pay the man out in the hall to watch Corrine’s door. Demona never said it, but the look that man gave Dominique on the way out said it all.

……………………….

Corrine stared up at the ceiling as the nurse replaced her bandages, resisting the urge to see the damage done to her body. Still her heart ached for her vanity, as she imagined lovers seeing the angry red scars and the repulsed look on faces. The bandage was taped back into place and the nurse smiled at her before leaving. She cursed herself for her vanity, but she also remembered how she’d felt when her father broke her nose and it healed so badly. Demona had soothed that pain. Corrine couldn’t ask for that again, but it put her scar into perspective for her. It too, would heal. Maybe never enough to avoid mentioning she’d been shot, but enough to let lovers get past it perhaps. She had more important things to worry about, she needed to just let this one go.

Daytime television was horrible, brain numbing and she worked hard to find a station even worthy of background noise. Corrine read through the third of the books Demona had given her, between naps.

Corrine started to feel a bit tense as she noticed sunset was nearly here. She took a deep breath, sadly becoming used to this after four days, and set her book aside. She stared out the window at the darkening sky and gritted her teeth as she felt it start. By now it was clear she was feeling Demona’s change, and she wondered at why, and why it hurt like this. She groaned a little as her back spasmed, and then her legs. Her hands shook as the pain hit them and her heart monitor was very busy. Once it stopped Corrine took as deep a breath as she could and tried to relax, knowing she wouldn’t be alone long. Not with those readings from her body.

Corrine did her best to unclench her poor muscles, and the nurse was in the room in very little time. Corrine had her blood pressure taken, and various other readings from the machines on her taken. She had also been asked a few times how she was. This couldn’t go on much longer or she’d be pressured to talk and no nurse would believe magic did it. The looks she got made her really dread sunrise, when it would happen again. She could see that just one more time would be all it would take for her to be interrogated.

The phone mocked her from her bedside table. She’d never used it, not wanting to bother Demona, even though the gargoyle had given her a phone number. Corrine had memorized it she’d stared at it so many times, but never felt like interrupting the gargoyle.

With a slight grimace Corrine reached out, she moved more slowly as she felt stitches start to stretch, but she didn’t manage to pull the phone too her. She hadn’t even told Demona about the spell, because either her visits were too brief or there was a chance of being overheard. Corrine didn’t want anyone to add padded walls to her room of she started to talk about magic spells.

“Hello.” Demona sounded a bit irritated and Corrine regretted for a moment that she’d called.

“Demona, it’s Corrine.” Corrine felt foolish.

“Are you alright?” Demona sounded concerned, and the irritation at the call was gone. It made Corrine feel a bit better.

“I cast a spell when you were missing and it’s backfired a bit.” Corrine admitted quickly and quietly, watching the door for any aide or nurse that normally ran through her room. “One more sunrise and I think they’ll bring in a bright light and interrogate me as to what’s happening to me.”

The silence was a little too long, and for every nano-second that passed Corrine wondered if her heart monitor was starting to speed up the beat. “What did you cast and why are you just mentioning this now?” The irritation was back in Demona’s voice and Corrine took a deep breath, trying to mentally prepare herself for the coldness that may be coming her way.

“Some sort of protection spell. I’d never cast it before, but I had to do something.” Corrine swallowed, sure her next admission would get her in trouble. “It might have been a bone protection spell, I hadn’t translated it fully.”

“You cast a spell you didn’t fully understand on me?” The words were delivered slowly, clearly, and sharply.

“I couldn’t let them hurt you.” Corrine’s voice was shaky. It was met with silence.

When Demona spoke again, her voice was softer. “And how it is backlashing on you?”

“Pain.” Corrine answered quietly, once again making sure no one was coming into her room. “My bones hurt twice a day.”

“This isn’t just a small ache is it?” Demona spoke and Corrine swore she could almost hear the click click of the gargoyle pacing the floor.

“No, it’s more than that, enough to set my heart monitor off each time which is why the nurse is watching me so carefully.” Corrine admitted and then she saw the aide come in with dinner. “Thank you,” She said to the aide, pulling the phone from her head to do so.

“You aren’t alone?” Demona spoke with some more irritation.

“It’s why we never talked about this before, they come in all the time.” Corrine spoke quietly as the aide left.

“I want to study your spell book, see what you cast.” Demona sounded frustrated. “Dammit, Corrine, I have fey magic all over me. Did Una ever tell you about fey magic?” Corrine’s eyes widened. “You’re lucky all you got was pain, mortal magic can’t match them. I don’t know how you managed to do what you did, to affect Puck’s spell. It shouldn’t have been possible.” Corrine’s eyes widened even further. She’d heard the name Puck before, but had no idea he was real. “I’d hoped the side effect was fading.” Demona whispered and Corrine got the feeling the gargoyle was talking to herself with that one.

Corrine didn’t know what to say, but Demona spared her coming up with something by speaking again. “I’ll call Xanatos and tell him you should be moved now. We were planning to have you moved in two more days.”

“Xanatos?” Corrine asked, not sure how she felt about that. No one had appeared to trust him.

“I don’t have a facility Corrine.” Demona spoke softly. “He does.”

“Oh,” Corrine felt her disappointment like a physical ache.

“I will visit you. We need to figure out that spell.” Demona proved she understood with those words and Corrine nodded, even though that wasn’t really something Demona could see.

“I’m sorry for casting a spell I didn’t understand. I was just so scared.” Corrine spoke, her shame in her voice.

“I can’t say I didn’t do things like that right after my apprenticeship.” Demona sighed. “Be ready to go.”

Corrine hung up after their goodbyes, feeling tired. Still she looked around, realizing that there was really very little she could do to get ready to go. She was still rather stuck in bed, unless she moved very carefully and called the nurse to help her do even that. Corrine sighed and decided to let whoever came for her pack for her as well.

………………………….

It didn’t seem to take too long for the guard came in with a group of three people, and Corrine could see he felt a bit uncomfortable with them, unsure. Corrine trailed her eyes over the woman that moved to the side of her bed with a small smile on her lips. “Corrine Canmore?”

“Yes.” Corrine answered, noticing a man moving to the cabinet and opening it up. That was the first time Corrine saw where her clothes had ended up, and he was putting them in a bag. “Xanatos sent you?” Corrine looked back at the woman by her side, noticing the woman glancing at the monitor attached to Corrine.

“Yes, we’re moving you to his facility.” The woman nodded to the third person and the man slipped back out the door. Corrine’s guard stood inside the door, watching everything carefully. The woman spoke again. “I’m Dr. Kerry, and I’ll be taking care of you.” She nodded over to the man putting Corrine’s books in a bag. “That’s Dr. Phillips.” He waved at her with a small smile and then moved to put the bag on the chair and moved to her side. “We’re going to have to hook you up to the portable monitor and we’ll wheel you down to the van.” Dr. Kelly explained.

It was a confusing mess of motion as Corrine was unhooked from the wires and then transferred to the gurney the third man brought in. Her guard watched it all carefully and followed as the three doctors took her from the room, with an audience of several stunned looking doctors and nurses in the halls.

The men easily lifted her and the gurney into the back of a non-descript van that on the inside looked like an ambulance. Xanatos had all of this. It made Corrrine a bit more leery of the man, but Demona had set this up, so she didn’t know what to think. Why could he possibly need doctors and nurses at his beck and call at night and his own personal ambulance?

Corrine laid in the back of the ambulance and was a bit surprised to hear soft music playing and feel such a smooth ride. The ambulance seemed to glide through traffic and Corrine felt when the vehicle tilted down. She was pretty sure they were moving into the Xanatos Enterprises parking garage. The doctor, the woman, moved to open the back door and the two men she’d brought with her lowered Corrine’s gurney back out and onto the ground.

Her guard was paying incredible amounts of attention to the parking lot as he followed the group into the building. Corrine laid still and was wheeled into the elevator, her guard coming in last. It felt surreal. He didn’t leave the elevator when everyone else did. He just nodded at her and Corrine realized he’d lost his job with her move. The way she was wheeled out let her see the door close as he left.

She was wheeled passed what looked like a lab, and Dr. Kerry opened a door that Corrine was pushed through. The room was larger than her hospital room, and contained a few chairs that looked somewhat comfortable for a change. The sheets were still white, but the walls were light pink. The lamps and table, the large screen television, and the decorative touches of paintings and fabrics made the room seem like a nice hotel. The view of the city out the large window was amazing, and Corrine could tell they were well above most of the buildings in the city. It was a definite improvement. The only proof it was a hospital room sat on one wall, the bed and the oxygen tank, and various wires coming out of the wall and toward the bed.

She was transferred to the bed and Dr. Kerry glanced at Corrine’s robe. Dr. Kerry glanced at the men. “We don’t actually have a nurse, we’re all currently researchers, but we all did our time in the hospitals. “We will be rotating shifts and checking in on you often. If you have any problems you can press the call button.” Dr. Kerry moved a device out from the side of the bed onto the bed and it held a big red button.

The female doctor was the one left with her as the other two left and Dr. Kerry pulled out a stethoscope. “I think we should do a bit of a check up, make sure you’re doing fine. I’d also like to change your bandages and check on the work that’s been done.” The woman smiled and Corrine just nodded. The process was familiar now, other than the slightly rushed feel to it all.

Corrine felt odd realizing she was the only patient, and wondered if that would mean more or less privacy.

The move was done by other people and she’d only had to do a little bit, but Corrine found herself exhausted as soon as she was alone. She had been about to turn on the television and see how many stations she had, because she suspected she had a lot of them, but with her hand on the remote Corrine just took a moment for a deep breath and put it back down. She was asleep in very little time.

She woke up to the doctor in the room, checking her vitals. That seemed normal and Corrine was used to it so she was about to close her eyes again, when she saw a hint of purple out of the corner of her eye. Corrine looked toward it to see a gargoyle sitting in one of the comfy chairs, watching Corrine’s heart monitor in sullen silence. The way wings seemed to be carelessly tossed over the edges of the chair and the way her body slumped into the seat concerned Corrine. Angela looked depressed, not just unhappy. The female also hadn’t noticed that Corrine was looking at her yet.

It was rather interesting that Angela could be here when the doctor was. That was a new one to Corrine, and she could have spent her time thinking about that, but she decided to ask about it later. The doctor gave her a meaningful look as Corrine turned to her and nodded toward Angela. Corrine nodded back that she understood she wasn’t the only one concerned about the female’s apparent mood.

Corrine waited until the doctor had left before reaching out for the bed’s controls. As she adjusted it up to a sitting position Angela appeared to startle and her wide eyes stared at Corrine. “Hey Angela.” Corrine smiled gently and spoke softly. Something about Angela seemed so young and fragile in that moment. It was also when Corrine realized that Angela didn’t seem as young as the teenage gargoyles she knew, not normally, just today.

“Corrine.” Angela moved to sit up and a hand rested on the bed for a moment, without touching Corrine, but Corrine got the impression Angela wanted to touch her. Corrine reached out and took her hand, squeezing it. “There was so much blood.” Angela whispered. “Why did you do that?”

Corrine flinched as she remembered the blood under Jason, thinking about the blood on her own hand after she’d touched her wound as well wasn’t pleasant. Corrine just had to guess at what Angela was asking, hoping she was right. “I promised Demona I’d watch out for you.” Corrine squeezed Angela’s hand before the female could take it away. “And I like you, I couldn’t let my family kill you.”

“I just froze.” Angela’s voice cracked. “I looked up from the body and he was aiming at me and I just froze.” Corrine had a hard time hearing Jason referred to as ‘the body’ and she flinched, but Angela didn’t seem to notice.

Taking a deep breath, Corrine focused her attention on Angela’s face until after a silent moment Angela finally looked back at her, looking into her eyes. “It happened very fast Angela. I didn’t see you freeze. Sometimes when bad things happen it feels like it is taking forever, that time is going by and years could happen in that moment, but you didn’t freeze more than a second if you did at all. It wouldn’t have made any difference if you hadn’t.”

The female seemed to try and consider that, and Corrine could tell it would take Angela a while to accept it, but the way she nodded made Corrine at least feel confident that Angela would consider her words. Corrine let out a long breath and smiled at Demona’s daughter, glad to see her and feeling like the pain and the fear Corrine went through with being shot were definitely worth it.

Something about this scene reminded her of the time Demona found her in the cave, thinking she’d killed a gargoyle and Demona told her the trick her father had played on her to make her think she was a killer. She remembered the fear and guilt she’d felt and swore she could see those emotions starting to break down in Angela. Corrine’s heart felt stronger, being on the other side of these emotions. She wondered if Demona had felt like this, seeing the guilt and pain fade out of her own eyes years ago.

Angela stayed a little longer, but she was clearly distracted. Corrine wasn’t surprised to see an excuse to leave come out of Angela’s lips, and didn’t feel rejected. She could understand needing time to think. She just made sure to give Angela a reassuring smile as she left.

Corrine sighed contentedly as she settled the bed back down and tried to fall asleep again. From the clock, she gathered she had a few hours before sunrise.

……………………………

“I don’t think you want to be asleep when it hits you.” The voice startled Corrine out of sleep and her eyes shot open. Demona was staring down at her with a searching look on her face. “It’s never pleasant to have it interrupt your sleep.”

Corrine glanced at the clock and saw she had just a few minutes to sunrise. Her eyes trailed back to Demona and the slightly obvious apprehension in her eyes as they both waited for it. “You won’t tear your stitches?” Demona asked as the time came closer.

“It isn’t that bad.” Corrine answered, wondering at why Demona looked at her like Corrine was going to claw her own skin off when it hit. It took Corrine a moment to start to wonder how painful had it been for Demona? It must have been pretty horrific to make Demona this nervous that Corrine was experiencing it.

Demona’s skin started to change and her back curled backwards a bit just as the pain hit Corrine. Corrine gritted her teeth, but watched, seeing pain in Demona’s face as wings started to disappear. Demona appeared to shrink as the ache moved to Corrine’s legs, and as the pain hit her hands Demona’s hands spread out wide and changed.

Corrine took a shaky breath and tried to unclench her muscles as Demona looked up, wearing all her normal clothes and looking human as well. It was strange seeing her like this. Corrine heard the hammering of her heart monitor and grimaced as Demona looked up at it.

“You didn’t scream.” Demona spoke but she was moving forward, looking over Corrine’s blanket covered body.

“It hurts, but not that much.” Corrine swallowed trying to get that pain roughed sound out of her voice. “Why, did it hurt you worse?” Corrine stared up and saw Demona’s slight grimace.

“It was pretty bad.” Demona admitted and Corrine was almost surprised Demona admitted it. Corrine didn’t like that at all, but the fact Demona admitted it gave Corrine a small warm feeling.

“Then why do you do it? I know you can’t have wanted to be human.” Corrine finally asked.

Demona stared to pace and Corrine saw the way Demona’s jaw clenched. The silence was tense, but then Demona turned to face her. “I really hadn’t planned on this.” Demona waved a hand at her body, and Corrine found her eyes travelling the way of the hand, taking it all in. Demona really was a nice looking woman. “I asked to not be turned to stone with the day. Finding safe places to spend the day was getting harder and harder and I had no desire to wake up trapped by my enemies.” Demona growled. “That fey twisted my wish and I ended up as what I hate the most.” Corrine swallowed at the anger in Demona’s words. “I’ve found ways to use this, but no, it was not my plan.”

“At least you don’t have to fear being killed during the day.” Corrine whispered. That was always one of several nightmares she’d had, that someone she cared about would be smashed. “And maybe you could do things you haven’t been able to do before.”

Demona went silent and Corrine felt awkward. “Have you been doing things you couldn’t before? Are there things you wanted and can have now?”

“Where are these questions coming from Corrine?” Demona spoke after another awkward silence and Corrine sighed as she looked away.

“I want to show you the daylight world. Is there anything left to show you?” Corrine damned her heart monitor as it caught her attention. Her nerves were nearly shot, but she went for it. “Can I take you out?”

“You want a date?” Demona sounded stunned, and Corrine blushed.

“I want to spend more time with you.” Corrine admitted it softly. It didn’t need to be a date; she just needed to spend time with Demona. She’d love to have a date, but she knew better than to even think for a moment she could have that.

Demona stared at her and Corrine felt like she was about to be rejected harshly again, but Demona just seemed to be thinking. “I had thought that once this situation was dealt with that you’d just leave.” Those words started the ache in her heart, but Corrine did her best to protect her heart better than she had the last time. It proved unnecessary after a moment more, “Since you will be a key witness in putting Robyn away, you’ll need to stay a bit longer. We also need to figure out the spell you cast. We’ll be doing things together Corrine.”

“Oh, well good.” Corrine tried to hide the disappointment at it just being work, because it was still something. It was more than she’d had before.

“I was thinking that we need to plan for once you are healed.” Demona continued and glanced around the room. “You shouldn’t really live alone, and that building you are staying in doesn’t have the best security. Until Jon is taken care of he might attempt to get to you.”

“What are you thinking?” Corrine finally asked, her own mind on trying to decide if she should spend more and try and find a more secure apartment until this mess with her family was over. She couldn’t go home to London until it was, she couldn’t risk being followed home.

“Perhaps you could stay here and look after Angela.” Demona spoke as if she was thinking out loud. She then looked at Corrine, “She looks very troubled lately and she won’t talk with me.” Demona sighed. “She had a very shelter life, hunters, this world, the dangers are all new to her.” Demona stared into her eyes and while the face was slightly different, Corrine felt like her mind was adjusting slowly to the new look. “I don’t trust easily Corrine. Don’t make me regret this.”

“You won’t.” Corrine promised.

Demona’s voice softened. “Don’t get shot again. I don’t think Angela is ready for someone to sacrifice themselves for her.” Corrine nodded. Demona’s eyes hardened again. “And don’t sleep with my daughter. I know you are rather free with your,” Corrine’s blush was becoming painful and her eyes wide at the words. She prayed that Demona wouldn’t finish that sentence.

“I know I’m not worthy of a gargoyle mate.” Corrine’s eyes teared up as she stopped Demona’s words before they came. “I know what I am, don’t worry.”

Demona frowned and Corrine wished she’d stop staring, but then the female nodded and looked away. It gave Corrine a moment to wipe at her eyes and try and calm down. “I’m glad you know what you are,” Demona spoke without turning around, “She’s my only daughter Corrine, and I am not likely to have another.” Demona spoke quietly and then moved for the door. The way the words were delivered so gently, it felt like half of an explanation. Clearly Delilah didn’t count, and Corrine wondered at what all Demona meant, but she didn’t ask. It wouldn’t matter.

She watched Demona turn around at the doorway to say one last thing. “I’ll be back later. I’d like to see your spell book when I return.”

“Okay.” Corrine had left it here, so getting it back shouldn’t be hard.

Once she was alone, it took just a minute or two for the Doctor to come and check on her. It made Corrine think that she and Demona were being given privacy, and she wondered if the Doctor had really just waited for the visit to be over.

…………………………….

Demona was sitting back in the chair reading from Corrine’s spell book, looking very casual, when Corrine woke up. She’d asked Owen for it back and had left it on the bedside table for when Demona came back. She’d just expected to be awake when that happened. Corrine was sleeping a lot. The doctor said it was the blood loss and the trauma to her body and that she shouldn’t fight it. Still Corrine felt extra lazy.

Corrine glanced at the clock, and sighed. It was nearly nightfall. They were going to do this again. That would explain why Demona was dressed in her night clothes, because Corrine knew the woman couldn’t have worn that all day. It would end up on the news if she had.

“Are you wearing anything underneath that loincloth, or should I pray for a breeze?” Corrine asked groggily, and then blushed at her own words as Demona just stared at her with a somewhat disapproving look on her face.

“You only do this when I’m in this form.” Demona spoke after a moment and Corrine wished she’d thought before engaging her mouth.

“Sorry.” Corrine gave as apologetic of a face as she could manage.

“Do you like this form better? Why do you do this?” Demona pressed and Corrine wished the redhead would just let this go.

“No, you, I,” Corrine sighed heavily and swallowed hard before trying to talk again. “I don’t treat gargoyles like that. I’m sorry, you look,” she stopped herself before saying it, knowing Demona knew the next word was human. “It’s just a habit.”

“Well, break it.” Demona’s voice was cold and Corrine blushed in embarrassment. She felt like she should say more, but the door to her room opened and Owen stepped inside.

“It’s nearly sunset.” He spoke and Corrine wondered why he was there. Her eyes must have said that as well, because he turned to her. “I have some familiarity with the spell you got tangled in. It was decided I should observe both of you to see if I can determine what happened.”

“Some familiarity.” Demona scoffed and sounded a bit angry. “You cast the damned thing.” Corrine stared at Owen again, remembering that it was Puck that cast that spell. She didn’t say anything, but her eyes did narrow at him. He wasn’t even ruffled by the hostility.

Demona fell forward and Corrine felt the pain in her back as wings started to spread from Demona’s back. Corrine clenched her fist and did her best to pay attention to what was happening with Demona. She could see pain in Demona’s face, but it was like Corrine’s. There was no screaming. Once it was over Corrine took a few deep breaths and tried to relax, but she did see Demona recovered faster.

“Did you find the spell she cast?” Owen asked Demona and Demona reached down to pick up the spell book, bringing it to the side of Corrine’s bed.

As the book was held out, opened, to her Corrine took it and stared down at the page it was opened to. “Is that the one?” Demona asked her.

Corrine recognized it quickly and nodded. Demona then held the book out for Owen and he took it gently in his hands to read it. Corrine wasn’t too pleased with him even touching her spell book now, knowing he’d been responsible for this pain and more to begin with.

“Hmm.” Owen muttered as he read the spell. He looked up at Corrine and then back down at the spell again. “You have some skill, since you were able to make this work at all. The backlash is from Puck’s magic being stronger than yours, and only because of the state of mind you were in when you cast it, I’d assume, does it work at all.”

“So what is going on?” Corrine stared him in the eye and demanded the answer.

“You cast the spell, and it protects her bones. It’s an odd sort of medical spell to have, but it is working. The problem is the shape changing spell is more powerful so when her bones change it isn’t fully breaking, but it fights your spell. It would normally just break any spell you cast, but you cast that one with everything you had. That spell won’t break even under the onslaught of greater power, because you were desperate to protect her. Desperate enough to wish any harm hit you instead.” Owen’s answer silenced any response and Corrine took a deep breath and risked looking over at Demona. Demona was staring at Corrine like she’d done something confusing and amazing all at once. “It’s true isn’t it? If you could have taken her place for any torture you imagined they’d inflict on her, you would have.”

Corrine didn’t answer him, she just held her hand out, wanting her spell book back. He handed it over rather slowly.

“You were willing to pay any price, and that’s how you were able to affect the spells already on her.” Owen spoke slowly and turned to Demona. “It can be reversed, if you care to spare her this pain. Goodnight. I do have to get back to work.”

Focusing on the spell, Corrine managed to not look up even as she felt Demona’s eyes on her. Corrine worked to try and decipher more of it, even though she knew she could just ask Demona for a translation. Corrine wanted a moment of silence, but her mind was making too much noise. She really would have welcomed being able to take Demona’s place, to spare her anything.

“We’re taking that spell off.” Demona spoke after a long moment. Corrine looked up to see Demona leaving. Corrine stared after Demona, considering that. She wasn’t so sure they should change anything, not if the pain was so much more for one person.

…………………………………….

She was in a wheelchair and she’d been allowed to sit in the kitchen for her meal. Even though her room was nice, staying in the same four walls all the time had grown tiresome. Her call with Una had been emotionally exhausting, but good. Corrine was starting to feel so alone and Una’s mothering was more than welcome.

Una was upset she couldn’t find a healing spell, and it was the first time Corrine realized how much more fragile she was than the rest of the clan. They wouldn’t have needed one without a human in the clan, their stone sleep may have taken a few days, but if they’d made it to dawn they would have healed. Corrine was going to take a while. Sure Una was still looking, but if she didn’t find one yet, it wasn’t likely she’d find one. Healing spells were more of a human witch spell, and Una had already told Corrine her next job was to find a bunch of them and start her own spell book with them. Corrine had the impression Una never wanted to not be able to help again.

“Are you feeling okay? Did you want to do something else?” Angela was speaking again and Corrine sighed as she looked at the female. The clan, in Corrine’s opinion, was stupidly still patrolling, but at least they left Angela behind. Corrine was a bit concerned how Angela was acting.

“Relax.” Corrine spoke quietly and glanced at her newly refilled glass. “Angela, you don’t owe me anything. I was doing what I had to do.” Corrine looked back at the female, who was sitting across from her.

Angela looked like she wanted to argue, but she went quiet, and starting to gently slosh her own glass of juice. The both watched the liquid dance. “Why do they hate us so much?”

Corrine sighed heavily at that question. “We were taught to hate you all.” Corrine admitted it quietly, remembering those lessons that never took hold on her. “It started when we were too young to even understand what was going on.” Corrine stared off to the side, looking at Angela’s wing more than her face. “Sometimes there isn’t a good reason Angela. This is one of them. They hate because our family has always hated. They don’t listen because our family never has.” Angela shifted and Corrine looked back into her eyes. “To realize they were wrong would mean accepting the fact that Canmore’s are monsters, that the people they looked up to as a child were nothing more than beasts. Even I didn’t want to know that, and I had her.” Corrine felt her heart ache at the burden such knowledge was. “Everything they’ve been taught, everything they’ve fought for is wrong. It’s no wonder they didn’t want to hear me. I knew they wouldn’t.” Corrine looked back down at her nearly empty plate. “O always knew they wouldn’t.”

“Did you always know it would come to this?” Angela asked gently, which was probably the only reason Corrine considered answering.

“I was thirteen when I finally understood how evil the blood in my veins was. That’s when I started to suspect this was coming. My family hated Demona for killing the monster that hurt me and I couldn’t tell them because I knew they wouldn’t listen. Life would be a bigger hell than it already was if I said anything then, but I knew it was going to get really bad.” Corrine could see Jason’s body laying on the floor in his own blood in her mind. “I stayed away so it might not hurt as much when it happened, but it still hurts.”

The touch on her shoulder was a surprise and Corrine, startled, pulled back a bit, but then arms and wings pulled her into a hug. Corrine was surrounded by lavender.

They decided to try and watch a movie, to distract Corrine really. Corrine tried to pay attention, but she was grateful when it was over. She was exhausted and just couldn’t stay up much longer.

“Shall I return you to your room Ms. Canmore?” Owen spoke, announcing his presence. Corrine glanced at Angela with an apologetic expression.

“I need more sleep.” She told Angela, which Owen took as permission. Corrine found herself being pushed down the hall.

Owen walked with her in silence for a while, almost long enough for Corrine to forget how her tired body was moving around. “You’ve avoided cancelling the spell you cast for three days now. Excuses of being too tired aren’t going to hold up much longer. Why aren’t you willing to cast the cancelling spell with her?”

“It isn’t really all that bad.” Corrine spoke back at him, but couldn’t really see him. Her voice went quieter. “Was it really painful for her?”

“It was a spell that came with a great deal of pain. I believe Puck thought the lessons learned might be worth the cost.” Owen answered in that strange way he had, not admitting he was Puck.

“It was much more than what I feel wasn’t it?” Corrine pressed on, her face a determined mask.

“Much more.” Owen was studying her, she could feel it even though she couldn’t see him. “And that’s why you won’t give it back isn’t it?”

“I was the one who cast the spell. She can’t take it from me without my help.” Corrine had struggled with how to just keep putting this off, until it was just too late or Demona gave up. “I’m not giving it back to her.”

“So you’ll live the rest of your life experiencing that pain twice a day, for her.” There was no reading his emotions or thoughts from his tone of voice.

“Yes, I will.” Corrine spoke with quiet conviction.

“Good luck with that Ms. Canmore.” Owen said just as they got to her door. He started to wheel toward the bed. Corrine sighed heavily as he said that and then nothing else as he helped her to carefully stand and maneuver onto the bed.

………………………….

Demona was very busy, but still Corrine had felt let down that she was not seeing her every day. Not even every other day. And when Demona did visit she stared at Corrine with puzzlement when Corrine gave her excuses as to why she couldn’t do magic that day.

Corrine glanced around her new room. She needed a checkup occasionally, but she didn’t require a hospital room anymore. This room was just as nice. Corrine’s eyes trailed over the furniture rather than look at the gargoyle sitting across from her. She didn’t need an excuse tonight, because her breathing was a little out of control and her skin was pale. No one was going to ask her to do magic tonight.

“I promise it was quick.” Demona spoke quietly and Corrine just nodded. She couldn’t talk. Images of a little boy filled her mind, playing in the sand. A little boy begged her to read to him. Corrine even saw the man that handed her the keys to his vehicle when Jason was going to make her hunt. Tears started to trail down Corrine’s cheeks and she just nodded, it was all she could do. “It was necessary.” Demona whispered and Corrine made a gasping pained sound, as quietly as she could.

“I knew, I knew this was coming.” Corrine’s voice cracked and her body started to shake. “I knew what you were doing, but,” Corrine bent forward, trying to cradle an ache she couldn’t fully identify. “I knew, I knew,” her voice was slightly shocked sounding to her ears and Corrine started to rock a bit back and forth, just repeating them.

Blue arms pulled her out of her chair and into the body that had been seated across from her. Wings wrapped around her as Demona rocked her gently on her lap. Corrine struggled to breath, and her hands grasped at Demona desperately. “I knew.” Corrine’s voice came out like she was pleading in a whisper, clutching Demona to her and burying her head into Demona’s shoulder. “It’s okay, I knew.” Corrine managed to get it out, and Demona started to caress her hair. It was just like the night she’d been attacked by her father, Demona was comforting her the same way, even though Corrine had grown considerably since then and barely fit in Demona’s arms. Corrine would have been blushing at being treated like a child if her face wasn’t already rosy red with her attempt to repress her tears.

“I thought they were out of your life now.” Demona spoke with a hint of irritation, but it was just a hint. Corrine struggled to swallow so she could attempt to talk.

Her voice was hoarse, horrible, when she managed to make words come out. “I’d only seen them twice since I left for college.” Corrine rested her forehead on Demona’s shoulder, breathing in her scent. Demona smelled different now, the stone scent just wasn’t there. Corrine distractedly missed it.

Demona made some small sound, and Corrine interpreted it. “I know, I know, but even though they weren’t a part of my life, I just feel.” Corrine struggled with words. Her voice got softer. “I know it was necessary, I don’t blame you, but I still see him as a little boy in my head and it hurts.”

“Just stop.” Demona’s voice was cold and Demona pulled Corrine back enough to stare into her eyes. Corrine felt a moment of fear at the expression on her face. “Stop thinking of the past.” It was an order, and Corrine’s fear faded as she realized Demona just wanted Corrine to stop hurting. “That never helps.”

An order like that was impossible to follow, but Corrine nodded, understanding the sentiment behind it. She did what she could to try and not think about it, but trying to not think about something meant you were thinking about it. It was a cycle she didn’t know how to break. Demona’s expression relaxed just a bit and Corrine grimaced at the way her stitches pulled in this position, but then Demona tugged on Corrine’s let, adjusting her.

Corrine glanced down at the couch they were sitting on, and blushed to see her legs were straddling Demona’s now. She hadn’t noticed her leg between the gargoyle’s lets until the gargoyle moved it. Corrine looked up slowly, feeling too shy to fully meet Demona’s eyes. She took in the way Demona supported her back, and the closeness of their bodies.

In the past Corrine had had sex with women in this position. Her thoughts froze Corrine’s body for a moment, and for a second, she succeeded in not thinking about little boy Jon.

Corrine’s eyes traveled over the gold tiara Demona wore, then down to her face. Demona was beautiful, she always had been and always would be, as far as Corrine could tell. Corrine stared at the red lips in the middle of a blue face, and leaned forward. Demona froze as Corrine kissed her gently, but then jerked back violently. Corrine felt the pressure as she was pushed off of Demona’s lap and yelped as the ground assaulted her ass. She twisted to stop her fall and flinched as her side hurt from the jostling. Her stitches pulled and Corrine had tears in her eyes from the pain.

Demona stood up suddenly and glared down at Corrine, but the red in her eyes faded as Corrine took a gasping breath. “Are you hurt?” Demona asked, rather than yell at her and Corrine was still shocked enough to just now realize why she’d been pushed to the ground. Corrine looked down rather than into Demona’s face. Her impulsiveness may have cost her everything, and tears started to fill her eyes. Demona’s voice was more urgent. “I’ll get the doctor.”

Corrine carefully shifted, but she was well aware she’d definitely hurt herself. She shook her head slowly as she started to get up, but then hands were on her, helping her, lifting her. Corrine looked up with wide eyes to see Demona looking rather serious as she lifted Corrine off the ground. Corrine didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry.” She whispered, thinking about that kiss. It had been a dream of hers for most of her life, but she had no idea why she actually did it.

“The doctor’s on his way.” Demona spoke as she turned with Corrine in her arms and started to walk toward the bed. It was enough to know they weren’t talking about the kiss. Corrine went quiet and Demona hovered nearby but not too close as they waited for the doctor.

He came in and Demona stepped further away, but she didn’t leave the room. Corrine looked up at the doctor who was unwrapping the bandage. “What happened?” Dr. Phillips asked.

She sighed and then spoke softly. “I tripped.” Corrine lied to him. He gave her a searching look and then looked down at the wound.

“Well you tore a couple stitches, not too bad, but you’ll definitely scar now.” His words had her flinch and Corrine looked up to see Demona look away from her and folding her arms as she studied the painting on the wall. “I’ll have to restitch it, and this time be careful.”

“Okay.” Corrine spoke as he pull a bag up and set it on the nightstand. It looked rather old fashioned, but he pulled out bandages, and the tools he needed. “Now?”

“Yes, now.” He was focused and Corrine looked away as he started to work.

Corrine moved her head to see Demona watching her, and Demona mouthed ‘I’m sorry’. Corrine nodded briefly, but she understood. Demona had no love of humans, not like that. Corrine was lucky Demona cared at all.

The doctor left and Corrine found herself alone. With her thoughts, she didn’t want to be alone. Jon and Demona haunted her and Corrine tried to combat that with mindless weeknight sitcoms.

…………………………

Demona didn’t visit much the next few days, and even though Corrine knew she was busy with her company and the trial that had started about her kidnapping, Corrine couldn’t help but think the kiss had a lot to do with it.

When Corrine caught sight of her, in a red business suit and her human form, in the courthouse she couldn’t walk up to her. Elisa escorted Corrine to the trial. The trial lasted much longer than the day Corrine was there, but that one day felt like a decade. It was the last day of the trial.

Corrine felt sick as she watched Robyn glare at her for a moment, before turning to hear the guilty verdict. Sentencing would be done later.

Robyn took it so well, and Corrine felt the tears trailing down her own cheeks as Robyn was escorted out. Robyn turned and stared at her a moment, before the bailiff encouraged her to keep moving. Corrine could only stare. Robyn had been declared guilty of kidnapping, and the brother Robyn didn’t know was dead, no one knew he was dead yet, was framed for murder. He’d never see a trial on that, which was good in some ways, because Corrine couldn’t testify on that.

It was in the halls, before they stepped outside where the reporters were waiting to catch Ms. Destine, that Dominique came closer. “Tonight, we’re cancelling that spell and then you’re going home.” It was an order and Corrine’s heart ached at the dismissal. It was quick, but that might have been because reporters were nearby and Elisa was coming over. Ms. Destine stepped out into the masses and it was her being there that made it possible for Elisa and Corrine to sneak passed the reporters and away.

Elisa let her sit in silence as they drove to the airport directly after the trial. Elisa even helped get her bags out of the trunk and onto a carrier, because Corrine wasn’t risking her stitches just yet. “The clan wants to know what you decided about mates.” Elisa asked, and Corrine struggled to care.

“Honestly, I think all those males need to grow up a bit more before they are considered. I’d take Angela in a heartbeat if I thought they’d give her, but the males,” Elisa looked angry. “I can’t see them listening to our rules, and I can’t see sending one of my clan sisters into danger here. I’m not impressed.” Corrine sighed. “Maybe I’ll re-evaluate later, but you’d need to tell Broadway to grow up, Brooklyn to learn to control his temper, and Goliath to learn to listen to other people’s advice before I’d ever approve it.”

“Goliath said he wasn’t looking for a mate.” Elisa spoke and her expression turned thoughtful and worried that he was included.

“If one of my clan ended up with one of those males there is a good chance they’d have to join this clan, and as he leads now, I can’t send anyone here. If he doesn’t accept that this disaster that was my family isn’t the only threat out there, then I can’t approve this even if all the males became ideal mates. The living situation is poor, the security is poor, the financial situation is going to fall apart, because you can’t support this clan growing and they have no money of their own. The clan needs an overhaul to be considered.” Corrine gripped the cart with her luggage. “Goliath can call me and debate all he wants, but until he takes some action I won’t approve this. I am willing to advise him on what needs to be done, if he is willing to listen to the advice.”

“I’ll tell him.” Elisa sounded like an unhappy messenger. Since she was going to be giving messages, Corrine turned to her.

“Tell Demona I’m keeping what I stole.” Corrine saw a confused expression fade as Elisa caught on, but Corrine moved to leave.

It was a little painful to push it, but she only had to go a few steps to find someone to check her luggage in with. Elisa pulled away and Corrine let out a heavy sigh.

Demona was going to be surprised when Corrine wasn’t there to do magic tonight, but Corrine wasn’t giving the pain back. It was her family that caused so much of Demona’s misery in the past thousand years, and just because that family line was ready to end, didn’t mean reparations weren’t due. Corrine had no problem being the one to do that. With this last thing, she felt like she was free of the burden of her legacy, and that was worth the pain to her. Her karma was cleaned of that. She had new stains on her soul, but her karma was cleaned of that.

Her last name may be Canmore, but she wasn’t a Canmore. Robyn would surely agree with that, and she was all that was left.

…………………………….

A/N: This is the end of the first “story” but I added a short story of Corrine’s future at the end of this “entry”. It’s called “Next Contestant”