Taking over me

(inspired by Evanescence’s song)

By Princess Alexandria

October 1996

Corrine stared at the letter one last time, before folding it in half. She slid it carefully into the envelope and had to jiggle it a little to get it in. The envelope was thick with pictures, a short history of her family’s insane crusade, and now the letter pleading for caution. Corrine sealed the envelope and started to write a human man’s name on it. Her handwriting was carefully done.

This really was a desperate move, but Corrine was behind by too much to be more careful and research more. There was enough in the newspapers for her to be pretty sure David Xanatos knew of gargoyles, and that some had lived with him. He was likely an ally to a clan, or perhaps he held a place in a clan like Corrine did. One thing for sure, he was Corrine’s most solid lead.

Corrine couldn’t risk this not getting to him, so she was dressed in a stolen UPS uniform. The hat was put on as she stood and she glanced around the apartment she’d leased in Manhattan. It was nice, and had a balcony. Corrine sighed, still thinking it was lonely. She’d been in New York for a month now, and with the time difference she couldn’t call home as easily as she’d been able to do it from France.

Corrine double checked her clipboard to make sure it looked authentic and started out for Xanatos Enterprises. Since she wasn’t able to steal a UPS truck, or she could have but thought it wasn’t worth the risk, she drove to a few blocks away and walked the rest of the way. The crowded streets were so different from home, but the flow of people seemed organic and organized. She walked among the herd of people, confident in her anonymity. She’d seen her family in the distance a few times over the past month, but they hadn’t seen her. The crowds helped, that and Corrine’s careful disguises. She couldn’t let them know she was there. This battle may well come down to the element of surprise and she wanted to have that in reserve just in case.

Corrine pushed those concerns about her family that were always there as she saw the entrance to Xanatos Enterprises coming up on her left. She shifted through the crowd to come out of the flow of people right next to large glass doors. She also pushed aside her concern for Demona and the unknown clan here. She had to focus on being a UPS carrier.

She approached the security desk, because she knew they’d have to let her up. She’d already checked on this and it was proper procedure. “Delivery for David Xanatos.” She spoke and the two guards looked up from their monitors.

“You can leave it here.” One spoke, his voice weary.

“He has to sign for it.” Corrine smiled at him with a ‘what can you do?’ expression on her face.

“Okay.” He studied her and Corrine had the impression he was looking for weapons. He didn’t look all that hard. “Go on up to his office. If he isn’t there you may end up getting Mr. Burnett’s signature.” Corrine just nodded and didn’t comment that she didn’t want to take that one either.

As she rode the elevator up she had company enter and leave. But the further up she went, the fewer people were there. Finally she was alone and she just watched the floor readout as she gripped the package containing her major betrayal of her family and the clipboard.

Once the door opened she stepped out and glanced around. Based on the signs she turned left and started for his office.

“So what do you have for me?” A charismatic man smiled at her and Corrine smiled just a little back as she stepped into his office. Mr. Burnett had let her in for her signature when she’d been a bit reluctant to let him sign for this. Corrine had no idea how much David Xanatos’ personal assistant knew about the gargoyles in the city, but she wasn’t about to bring other people into this if it wasn’t necessary.

“Well, far as I can tell I’ve got a big envelope filled with stuff.” She spoke carefully, so she could maintain her fake American accent. She stepped forward with her envelope. “Your guess is probably better than mine.” She told him as she first gave him the clipboard. “You need to sign for it.” She told him as he studied the fake form for just a brief second and then pulled the pen she’d attached to the clipboard. Once she had his signature she handed over the packet, pretending it was just her job to do it.

She nodded to Mr. Burnett as she passed him on her way out, trying not to respond with anything other than some small gratitude to the fact that David Xanatos had given her a twenty dollar tip. She always felt guilty at the shop if someone tipped her, knowing she was much better off financially than they were and they just didn’t know it. Finally she was getting money from someone richer than she was. She just pocketed it and promised herself the first desperate looking homeless person she saw would get it.

As she took the elevator down she didn’t let herself take that big deep breath she wanted. He had it now, something was in motion. Hopefully it helped.

Once Corrine found herself back in her apartment she stared into the mirror. She reached up and slowly pealed the fake cheek bones off her face and rubbed at her tender skin. She removed the dark rimmed glasses and then pulled on the nose until the larger nose came off. She sighed, grateful to the air that could now touch her skin. Corrine put the items she’d pulled off of herself back into the large makeup case and moved into the bathroom to wash off the spirit gum that had held it in place.

She was going to have to keep looking, but with such a large city and her family having such a large head start, Corrine was going to have to change her approach. She was going to have to follow them, and try and slip in before them. Her family were Canmores, they’d lead her to gargoyles.

…………………………………

Corrine walked into the precinct her brother had just started working at. It had to have taken him a long time to set up the fake identity to withstand the police checks, but he’d apparently made the decision to use it quickly last night and since Corrine didn’t have that much time to prep an identity she stepped into the precinct in a navy blue shirt and with a toolbox. Her closet was getting rather full with all the uniforms she’d been buying or stealing lately.

She handed the work requisition she’d mocked up to someone and was pointed to her brother’s desk. As she worked on installing the software and hardware to spy on his online activity under the guise of fixing the older machine to be compatible with the system, she thought of the conversations she’d overheard from the listening devices she’d planted in their rooms two weeks ago.

Getting those devices placed had been another tense moment, where she worked fast just in case they returned. Corrine had learned about their fake identities and had investigated the buildings Jason and Robyn would be closest to. She was alarmed to see evidence of gargoyles on the building sides. It was their first day at the new jobs and Corrine had to pick which building she needed to protect first. She went for this one because she had a better chance of searching the entire place quickly.

Corrine prayed nothing was happening at Nightstone as she did this. The work that went into the fake identities her family used made her think it wasn’t a one day slip in job like Corrine normally did. It gave her hope she could warn both nests in time.

Once the computer was done she stood up and glanced around. The place was filled with police and she really wished the place had been filled with something else. She picked up her toolbox, which was a lot lighter than it looked and glanced around for the bathroom.

She walked across the large room filled with desks as if she belonged and slipped into the bathroom. There were four stalls and someone was in one, so Corrine put her toolbox down next to a sink and started to comb her fingers through her hair, waiting. She worked to tame the muss that happened as she crawled under Jason’s desk.

The stall opened and Corrine smirked as she saw the person was guilted into washing her hands because there was a witness. She could tell by the first step being toward the door and then the slight shift to the sink next to Corrine. The detective, a woman with short hair who had to be about forty, nodded and left. That was when Corrine moved to the door and locked it, before she quickly turned to the window and started to pull her fake nose off as well as other bits she’d put on her face to change the shape a bit. She washed her face quickly and pulled her hair back into a ponytail, it was rough, but she didn’t want to spend the time making it neat.

Corrine quickly untucked her shirt and unbuttoned it. She dropped it next to her toolbox as she leaned down and opened it. She moved the top tray and pulled out a janitorial top she’d ‘borrowed’ from the company that did the cleaning of this precinct. She put it on and tucked in the shirt, looking up into the mirror as she neatened her appearance. It was a risk to use her own face here, but Jason should be out for a while and Corrine needed to take advantage of the fact she’d already snuck past the front desk. Once she was satisfied with her appearance Corrine leaned down again and pulled out the envelope she’d prepared for the clan if she found them and a gun she hoped not to need. She tucked both into the waist of her pants and under her shirt, before fixing her appearance again. Corrine tossed her computer repairperson shirt back into the toolbox and closed it up. She carefully opened the bathroom door and, noticing it was clear, slipped out to the hall. The janitorial closet was near her and she glanced around before picking the lock, before slipped her toolbox inside and pulling out the mop bucket and mob, along with the closed sign that went with it. Corrine filled it with water from the janitorial closet hose and wheeled it out. She hated mopping, but she shouldn’t have to do too much, if any at all.

Gargoyles would be up, Corrine knew this for a fact. She wandered the halls carefully and opened unlabeled doors, looking for the stairs up. She found them and carefully pulled the mop bucket in with her, before closing the door. She leaned the mop handle on the wall and walked around the mop bucket to go up the stairs. It was daylight, so she wouldn’t disturb anyone, but Corrine always entered a nest quietly. She couldn’t get over the feeling she could wake them up and disturb them, even though she knew that wasn’t possible.

The ticking was low and consistent and Corrine found herself staring up at the clock on the building from the inside. She glanced around the large space and her eyes widened to see proof of someone living here. There was a tv in one corner and Corrine heard a slight hum that drew her eyes to a refrigerator. “Oh God, they found a clan.” Corrine muttered, upset with the proof that Jason really did have a good lead. She’d hoped she was wrong.

Corrine moved to the door next to the clock and slowly opened it. The breeze was a bit chilly in October, but Corrine stepped out and stared at the small gargoyle on a ledge. Her eyes slowly moved over the stone forms of a large overweight male, and a beaked male. She found the larger male, and then their female. She found an older male with a beard and a four legged creature. Corrine stood still, just a few feet from the doorway staring at the clan. This was a nest, they made a nest on the top of a police station. That was rather a bold move for them, Corrine thought as she slowly walked around.

The young female had a pained look on her face. She was partly stooped over. Corrine stared a moment, surprised to see Scottish stock here, in America. She walked carefully around the clan, and when she got to the large one her eyes widened in recognition. There was a statue of him in London, an actual statue, but she stared at the real thing. His name was Goliath, and this was the male that brought back Griff. He was also the one that gave such lousy advice to her clan. Corrine felt a small bit of relief that it was his clan, because she could now tell him how wrong he’d been. She could fill in the gaps he apparently had about the dangers out there.

It was his ignorance of those dangers that brought the Canmores to New York. Corrine sighed heavily as she considered that. Hopefully she’d stopped things from descending to that in her own clan.

Glancing over at the sun again, Corrine decided to sit up against the wall, partly protected from the wind and wait.

…

It was the sound of footsteps that drew Corrine’s attention away from her memories, memories of the gargoyle that had changed her life. Corrine sat on the top of a police station considering what her life would have been if she hadn’t had Demona in it. She wondered if her family would have made a hunter out of her, and was afraid they could have. Demona saved her from that as well, she knew that. Corrine blinked as she heard the footsteps and turned to see the door open.

A woman walked out as Corrine reached for her gun and Corrine paused, seeing the confidence the woman had as she walked up to Goliath’s frozen form. “Hey Big Guy.” The woman spoke and Corrine studied her, taking in red coat and easy manner with the stone forms, and she knew that this woman knew they weren’t really statues.

Corrine started to stand up and found the woman whipping around and staring at her in shock. Corrine was halfway up when she saw the woman’s eyes widen further and her arm whipped into her coat. Corrine started to raise her hands even as the gun came out of hiding, and she moved more slowly and deliberately.

She understood the fear this Detective may feel. If a stranger were in Katara’s nest as Corrine came to visit she’d pull a gun too. “It’s okay.” Corrine spoke softly and waved her hands slowly up and down, trying to encourage the woman to lower her gun. The sound of cracking made the woman tenser and she glanced over at the nearest gargoyle and then back at Corrine. Her gun wasn’t wavering. “I already know about gargoyles.” Corrine spoke gently and smiled just a little, trying to disarm the woman with charm.

“Don’t move.” The woman seemed to growl out her words, just as the gargoyles did their waking growls.

“Elisa?” A deep voice spoke and Corrine risked turning just a bit to see the large gargoyle looking at the detective in confused concern, before following the aim of the gun to Corrine.

“Hello Goliath.” Corrine gave him a weak smile. He wouldn’t know her, but she needed them to think twice about what they were doing here, or Corrine could get hurt.

“Elisa, what is going on here?” Goliath spoke to the woman, who clearly was called Elisa.

“I found her up here when I came to see you.” The woman spoke and her gun was still pointed in Corrine’s direction.

“You don’t have to hold me at gunpoint.” Corrine finally just said it, even as the rest of the clan stepped closer, just leaving the space between Elisa and her opened. Corrine noticed the female of the clan was moving slowly and grimaced at one point in pain.

“I think I do. You’re a Canmore.” Elisa spoke and Corrine’s eyes widened. “I’ve heard of you lot. You will not be hunting this clan. So was that what Jason was doing today? Keeping me away so you could sneak up here?” The clan seemed to tense and Corrine felt a bit of fear at the glowing eyes and hostile body language she received suddenly.

“One of them was here?” Someone sounded stunned and Corrine just stared, shocked that they knew. Goliath hadn’t acted like he’d known about the dangers out there when he met the London clan. It had to be her care package for David Xanatos, but she hadn’t included any information about herself in it. That would have been crazy, and would result in just what she was getting now, hostility and mistrust. “Well, two I guess.” The speaker glanced at her and then back at Elisa.

“I’m not a hunter.” Corrine spoke up after her moment of shock at being recognized faded. “But they are here. They’re dangerous.”

“We know.” A bitter voice spoke up and Corrine saw the red male point to the lone female. “They attacked Angela last night.”

“Oh Damn.” Corrine turned to look at the female, her own eyes sympathetic. “I’m so sorry. I’ve been trying to find you all to warn you.” She looked over at the detective who was lowering her weapon. “I guess David Xanatos got you the information I sent him?”

“It came from Xanatos then.” Goliath spoke and Corrine could tell just from his tone that Mr. Xanatos wasn’t a member of this clan.

“I don’t know how many of the clan’s nests have been discovered, but if you have one near Nightstone they need to be warned as well. Robyn is working there, and Jon, I don’t know what Jon is up to. Maybe if the news station has a nest it would make sense, but he’s a reporter. I don’t know what nest he’s targeting.” Corrine rubbed at her forehead and sighed heavily. “You can’t take chances with them. You all should move, Jason’s the most bloodthirsty one. This nest isn’t going to be safe for another day.”

“Nest?” Elisa spoke up and Corrine glanced around to see a few confused faces. That confused her.

“Well, they are targeting other places too, or they’d all be here.” Corrine frowned.

“They’re after Demona too.” Someone spoke and Corrine’s eyes widened as she turned to stare the red male.

“And I gather we should warn Talon, now that we know this is true.” The older male spoke and Corrine was still staring at the red male.

“She’s here?” Corrine hadn’t found any sign of her when she was looking, but knowing there was a clan around Corrine couldn’t indulge in a specific hunt for the female. “Oh god.” Corrine lowered her eyes and took a deep breath. “Where is she?” She looked up, her eyes fearful. Her family really was on Demona’s trail.

“Don’t worry, she is not here.” Goliath spoke and Corrine turned to him.

“But if the others find her.” Corrine stared at him seeing he wasn’t nearly as concerned as Corrine was. “You don’t understand. They hate her more than any other gargoyle, and what they plan to do to you is horrifying enough.”

“You sent that information. Why?” The female spoke and Corrine turned to her.

“Because they are monsters.” Corrine stared a gargoyle in the eyes as she said it. “We’ve been breed and trained to be monsters, and I can’t let them,” Corrine went silent for a moment. “It’s wrong and I have to stop them.”

“Perhaps we should go inside to talk.” Goliath spoke and Corrine slowly walked with them inside. A few went in before her and Goliath waved his hand to have her go before him.

Corrine was aware she was still watched, but these gargoyles were not as hostile as before. “How did you get information on me? I didn’t include that.”

“I did a little digging.” The detective answered. “Found out there was a fourth Canmore.”

“How did you know my name?” Goliath asked as a few gargoyles moved to sit or perch around the clocktower. Corrine didn’t bother sitting, she just leaned a little on the side of the couch.

Corrine glanced at Elisa, and decided this must have been the human with Goliath when they went to London, what did they say her name was? Corrine couldn’t remember, but it must have been this woman. “Una told me.”

That had Goliath staring at her incredulously. “Una?”

“I’m a member of the London Clan.” Corrine told them while staring at the large male right in his eyes. “When I told her my family was on the move she told me there really were gargoyles here. I hopped on a plane as fast as I could, but this is a huge city and it took me longer than Jason to find you.”

“She made no mention of the fact she had a human in her clan.” Goliath spoke after a moment and Corrine smiled just a little at Una showing some caution.

“You were there a day or two. I would hope you don’t know all my clans secrets in that amount of time.” This was off topic and Corrine was eager to move the discussion to the fact these gargoyles had to move tonight, but she understood that they’d need time to trust her.

“Well, when you put it that way.” Elisa gave Corrine a hint of a smile. “It makes some sense.”

“Only some.” The female gargoyle spoke. “Why would a Canmore join a clan? Why are you different than the others?” Corrine watched the female touch her own shoulder and Corrine got the impression it still hurt even after a stone sleep.

“I’m sorry they hurt you.” Corrine spoke more softly, gently as she looked at the female. “it must have been bad for you to still feel it.”

“Angela almost died last night.” The chubby gargoyle spoke and Corrine cringed at the thought. Still she made a point to remember that name.

“It was last night?” Corrine’s mind was racing as she put a few pieces of the puzzle together. Her voice was a little urgent as she glanced around the place. “And my brother is suddenly working here. Maybe we should have this discussion somewhere else.” Her eyes traveled to the stairwell a tad nervously. “They don’t know about me.”

“And you suspect they’ll be an ambush lass?” The older male spoke and Corrine just nodded. “She may be right Goliath, with the Canmores actions I can’t believe they don’t know we’re here.”

“At least I didn’t let on that I recognized him today.” Elisa spoke. “But I don’t know why they’d bother with all this if they know where the clan is.”

“They are probably looking for proof there aren’t other nests before they strike.” Corrine explained, but she wasn’t comfortable that her family thought of it. “Once they do strike the other nests would be warned.”

“Other nests?” this time it was Angela that asked.

“You don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Corrine glanced around at the clan. “You broke your clan up to smaller groups too, didn’t you?”

“No, this is all that remains of my clan.” Goliath spoke and Corrine found herself looking at the small group and the solemn look in their eyes. She didn’t think they were lying.

“But Nightstone?” She asked after a moment.

“Demona is not a member of this clan.” There was a hint of anger and Corrine was a little confused.

“You said something about Talon?” She furthered her question.

“He is the leader of a different clan, kinda.” The smallest one answered and Corrine bit at her lower lip.

“There are three separate groups we need to warn?” Her voice rose at the end of that. “Oh hell.” This was going to make things more complicated. She was getting somewhere with this group, but if she had to do this again with Talon he might not listen. And then there was Demona, and Corrine didn’t know what to think about that.

“What’s the matter?” The large male asked and Corrine sighed heavily.

“Ever heard the term ‘divided we fall’?” She muttered. “Without clear communication between clans they could be wiped out one by one without warning the others. This could be used against all of you.” She sighed. “We need Demona’s help. She knows what my family is like. I’ll go to Nightstone and see if I can find her.” This was not how she wanted a reunion to be, and Corrine felt sick that she was going to have to approach the gargoyle and ask her to kill Corrine’s family.

“That is probably not a good idea.” The red male spoke up and Goliath nodded in agreement.

“She needs to know.” Corrine spoke up, but she was really getting bad vibes whenever Demona came up with this clan.

“Yes, and as of right now you are our only source of inside information, lass. If we really do need Demona’s help we’ll send someone else.” The older gargoyle spoke and Corrine didn’t like the unspoken message she was hearing.

“She has to be warned.” She pushed off of the side of the couch as she looked around. “They hate her.”

“And the club gets larger every day.” The red male muttered quietly and Corrine turned to stare at him.

“Brooklyn, not now.” Goliath spoke and the red male seemed to sit taller. Goliath turned to Corrine. “You’ve given us much to think about.”

She didn’t like that tone, and she had images of Una in the beginning, before Una took her seriously. “If you are still here during the day there is a good chance you won’t wake up.” She spelled it out to them. She stared down at the floor. “I can’t be in two places at once, and I have to be at Nightstone if they attack.”

“You’re going there to ‘protect’ Demona?!” Brooklyn sounded stunned and Corrine glanced around at the others.

“I can’t let a Canmore kill her. I can’t.” Her voice was cold as she considered what she’d have to do to prevent that. “You need to find a safer place, because honestly, if they come after you here, it will be all three and even with me here someone would get smashed.”

“Maybe you guys could move in with me for a little while.” Elisa spoke and her voice was cautious sounding as she looked around at the clan. Corrine nodded in understanding. She’d often wished she could keep all of her clan in her house and safe, but her clan was considerably larger.

There was a slam and Corrine’s body tensed up as she started to reach for her gun while turning her body toward the sound. “I might have another alternative, Detective.” A man spoke and Corrine didn’t relax as she took in his red body armour. She slowly looked up to see his face and her eyes widened for just a moment.

“Xanatos!” Goliath seemed to hiss out the word.

……………………………..

Something was definitely off, Corrine thought, as she slipped into Elisa’s car and looked up to see the clan gliding off toward Xanatos’ skyscraper. The clan had argued loudly and clearly did not trusting the man, up until the point Elisa whispered in Goliath’s ear and Goliath yelled out for silence. Now they were on their way to another place where her brother Jon had already investigated, because even though David Xanatos was under hunter suspicion, he had a much more defensible place.

Corrine knew enough to know that Elisa must have told Goliath it was necessary, but Elisa wasn’t really happy looking. She was tense and she’d threatened the man before tugging Corrine by the arm down the stairs. Corrine had the sense that Elisa would have liked to use her handcuffs on Corrine as well. This whole scene, along with the angry vibes Demona’s name brought out in the clan, made it hard for Corrine to even know who the allies and enemies were.

Once again her experiences as a child were handy, because Corrine just stayed quiet and tried to not draw too much attention to herself. It was a survival skill in her family and it was working. Or it was until Corrine noticed Elisa glanced at her just after pulling out into traffic. “So, you joined a clan?”

“Yes.” Corrine smiled just a little, while she turned to glance out the side window. “I had to cut all ties to my family and make sure they didn’t know where I lived, but I managed.” Corrine turned to see the detective studying her while she stopped at the traffic light. “Once I found the clan, I couldn’t leave them. Eventually they just adopted me.”

“Why are you so different from the others?” Elisa asked and Corrine sighed heavily as she thought of all the different reasons she was different. The biggest reason apparently lived over the Nightstone building. With the tension Demona’s name brought ever time it came up, Corrine shortened her answer.

“A gargoyle saved me when I was a little kid.” Corrine added in her head, ‘she saved me so many times.’ “I knew better than to tell my family, but after that I could tell I was being lied to. They never were just monsters and they weren’t better off dead.”

“How young were you?” Elisa asked and Corrine watched the detective glance at her, before turning to pay attention to the road again.

“Five. My uncle had taken me out to learn how to track gargoyles so I could find them and kill them.” Corrine spoke coldly about her training. “Training for that starts young in my family. We started our training to be killers before we went to grade school.”

Elisa looked horrified and Corrine just turned away to stare out the window. It was horrifying. “My uncle was thrilled when we ran into a real gargoyle and he tried to kill her. She killed him instead and I was left alone in the middle of the forest.” Corrine watched people walking along the sidewalk as she spoke. “She picked me up and took me to safety. I would have died out there.” Corrine smiled softly for just a moment and her voice softened. “I remember her holding me and the wind was pushing my hair into my face. I just stared at her, terrified, even though I knew she was saving me, because all the stories I grew up with were playing in my head. Was she going to eat me? Was she going to bring me to her nest to feed me to her young? I was left next to a house with a swingset in the yard after she asked me if I knew my phone number or address. I couldn’t speak, but I nodded and she told me to tell the humans in that house what they were.” Corrine remembered being gently pushed toward the house and the nervous steps she’d taken to do what she was told. She’d whispered her phone number so quietly to the woman who answered the door that the woman had kneeled down next to her and gently asked her to repeat it.

“Wow.” Elisa spoke and Corrine glanced over at her again. The detective appeared thoughtful and was staying quiet. Corrine just turned to stare out the window again, this time looking up to see if she could see any gargoyles out there.

They were rather quiet and Corrine didn’t bother interrupting the silence. Her mind was filled with Demona, her family and her concern over what was going on. The traffic was pretty bad, being work traffic and the city. Corrine wondered if the gargoyles were going to be unhappy with waiting for them, but when the car stopped Corrine waited for Elisa to turn it off before getting out of it. Security let them through and Elisa appeared to know where she was going so Corrine just stood in the back of the elevator as the detective hit the top most button.

Less than ten minutes later Corrine found herself standing in a large room of the castle on top of the skyscraper just looking at Elisa. She glanced at the door to the outside again, and found Elisa copying her, looking concerned. The clan hadn’t arrived yet. It wasn’t a good sign and Corrine was starting to consider backtracking the route they may have taken to see if she could find out what happened. They were gliding over the traffic, they should have been there long before Elisa and Corrine.

“Maybe we should look for them.” Corrine offered after another minute went by. Elisa turned to speak to her, but then the door finally opened. Xanatos in his body armor strode into the room, and after a moment Corrine relaxed as she saw a gargoyle follow him in.

“We were attacked.” The red male spoke, and Corrine remembered his name was Brooklyn. Corrine’s eyes trailed over his form, and then the next gargoyle walking into the room, looking for damage. Because she was carefully checking on Angela she didn’t notice the red male march up to her. “You’re family ambushed us. They had homing devices on us.” He growled out accusingly and Corrine just stared up into his hatred filled eyes, and waited for the accusations. She’d been here before with a different clan, and in spite of all the times her friends had told her she wasn’t a Canmore anymore, this male’s eyes said something different.

“That’s enough Brooklyn, the lass did warn us.” Another voice spoke and Corrine looked up to see the older gargoyle step inside.

“But Hudson, how do we know she didn’t plant those on us herself?” Brooklyn’s voice rose and Corrine just sighed quietly, wondering if her last name was going to cost her again.

“A little faith.” Hudson gave Corrine a small nod and Corrine gave him a weak smile, a brief one. “Lass, this beasty here is Bronx.” He patted the head of the strange gargoyle and Corrine got the distinct impression he was a dog. Her clan didn’t have one of those, so she stared a moment longer.

“Did anyone get hurt?” Corrine asked him, as Goliath stepped into the building.

“Unfortunately, no.” Brooklyn muttered quietly and Corrine’s eyebrows drew together in confusion, but her body froze as Goliath moved to the side and another gargoyle was standing in the doorway. Corrine’s jaw dropped opened and she took a step forward before she even realized she’d moved.

“Demon?” Her voice was high and shocked.

Demona’s head jerked away from looking at Angela, who had been beside her and she turned to stare at Corrine with wide eyes for a moment. Corrine just stared back. “Demona?” Corrine repeated more controlled and less shocked. Demona looked the same as she did years ago, which was to say amazing. Corrine swallowed hard, because there was a lump in her throat.

“I see you have one of the Canmores.” Demona barely turned to talk to Goliath, her eyes blinked and then she wasn’t looking at Corrine anymore, she’d faced Goliath. “Tell me, are you taking prisoners now?” Demona asked him, and Corrine thought there was a hint of a threat in her voice. She’d like to think Demona was protective of her still, but she couldn’t tell what inspired Demona’s anger now.

“No, she came to us to warn us. We haven’t had the time to ask a lot of questions yet.” Goliath spoke but Corrine was still watching Demona. “She was rather adamant that you were warned though.” Demona looked over at her again and Corrine clenched her fists and started to open her mouth to speak, but a slight shake of Demona’s head stopped her. Corrine’s eyes held her confusion, but she didn’t ask the million of questions she had.

“So, now that we’re all here.” Goliath turned to her and Corrine had to work hard to pull her eyes off of Demona to look at him. “How do you think you can help?”

Corrine felt like they’d just shown a spot light on her and started filming live as she stood there with everyone watching her. “I’ll think of something.” She muttered, hating the sick feeling in her stomach. “I have money enough to buy some security, but,” Corrine glanced around at the castle. “I didn’t expect this, I don’t have more than this, but you all are welcome to as much money as I do have.”

“That’s not a small amount.” Elisa spoke up, but Corrine saw her glancing suspiciously at Demona a few times while also trying to look at and talk to Corrine. Corrine’s eyes kept traveling to Demona as well. “You’re a millionaire.”

“It’s all blood money.” Corrine looked away from the people watching her and took a deep breath. “I would love nothing more than to lose it all to gargoyles.” She looked back up and talked a bit softer, to Demona. “I’ve already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars protecting the London clan. I’ve covered up what I could of their presence.” Her eyes traveled to Goliath. “That money was almost completely wasted when they started to patrol, but now that they aren’t doing that anymore, I’m doing what I can to cover up the few sightings that happened.” She watched Demona’s eyes widen just a little, but Demona didn’t ask any questions and Corrine felt exposed and ignored.

“I mostly live on the money I get working for Una.” Corrine added, her attention just on the blue female even though many other people were listening to her. “She refused to not pay me, and she keeps giving me raises even though I tell her I don’t want them.” Demona finally fully looked at her and Corrine bit her lower lip. “I used some of that blood money for things, but only if I know my father would have hated that I spent it that way. I bought a condo to live near the clan, I pay for anything I do for them out of it, and I would give you every last dime happily.” She said those words just to Demona and some shuffling and a small gasp let her know that people knew who she was offering her fortune to.

“I don’t need your money Corrine.” Demona finally spoke to her and Corrine felt her eyes become a little watery. The words were a tad harsh, but she’d heard angry from this gargoyle before, and she wasn’t angry.

“Perhaps we should adjourn to the meeting room.” A blonde man appeared and spoke, so Corrine tore her eyes away from Demona to look at him.

“Good idea Owen,” Xanatos turned to the room and smiled. “Shall we?” and just like that, he was in charge. Corrine glanced at Demona and then at Goliath, and decided to watch Xanatos carefully, because both gave the man a suspicious look.

Corrine stood to the side of the doorway, taking in the large room, the large table, and the obviously high tech equipment built into the table. She watched as Xanatos waved her to the chairs with a smile, and also the others. She watched as Angela sat down as soon as she could, clearly very tired.

What Corrine did was slowly approach the table, her eyes on Demona, and Demona stared her in the eye as Demona selected a seat next to Angela. Corrine watched as the other gargoyles gave the other seat next to Demona a wide berth with some relief. She pretended to glance around the room a bit longer as gargoyle after gargoyle didn’t take the seat she wanted.

Corrine sat down next to Demona and took a deep breath as Elisa took the seat across from her and beside Goliath. Corrine didn’t fully understand why she wasn’t supposed to talk to Demona here, but when she turned to look at Demona she once again got the subtle shaking of the head. Corrine looked away, but her hand ached to just reach out and reassure her that Demona really was right next to her.

“Okay, now that we are all here,” Xanatos started to talk but Corrine glanced around the room and didn’t see everyone they’d said lived in the city.

“Where’s Talon?” She asked, and felt a soft touch on her leg, that ended in a feeling of being wrapped up by a snake. She glanced down just as she felt a squeeze to her leg, and that resulted in another sharp squeeze. The blue tail was wrapped around her calf.

Corrine almost whimpered as she stared at it, but the increasing pressure told her to look up again. Demona was touching her, connected to her. Corrine thought it was pathetic how happy she was to see some evidence that the female remembered her, remembered her enough to care to try and control her at least.

“Talon and his clan are secure and I’ll tell them about this meeting later.” Elisa spoke up and Corrine was about to disagree when her leg was squeezed again, so she just nodded. That eased up the pressure.

Corrine rolled her ankle a little and tried to swing her leg back and forth a bit, to tell Demona to ease up on the tension. The meeting was important, so Corrine did her best to focus. She talked as well, but when she felt the squeeze she’d stop talking about whatever it was she was going to say. Corrine noticed a pattern in the censorship. Demona didn’t want the clan to know that Corrine already knew Demona.

Corrine didn’t like even thinking about it, and as the others suggested idea after idea it hurt to have to repeatedly point out that peace talks just wouldn’t work with Jason. They wouldn’t.

Finally after she’d said that for the fifth or sixth time, because every option they came up with involved reasoning with the Canmores, Brooklyn snapped at her, “Well, what do you suggest then!”

“I always knew they’d have to die to stop. Jason is beyond saving, maybe Jon could be talked to, but with Jason alive it won’t happen.” Corrine spoke and the pain in her leg let her know she’d spoken too fast for Demona to stop her, and Demona wasn’t happy with her. The shocked looks the clan and Elisa gave her started to make Corrine uneasy. Xanatos just gave her a measuring stare.

“We don’t kill.” Goliath spoke coldly.

“I can’t believe you just told us to kill your brother.” Angela sounded stunned.

“It is war Goliath, and it’s a war that has been going on for a thousand years.” Demona spoke finally, but Corrine could feel her unhappiness in the air. Demona knew they wouldn’t consider this, and Corrine wished Demona could have just told her that.

“I don’t want my brother dead. I do love him, I love them all.” Corrine’s voice cracked as she looked around the table at a few disgusted expressions. “But I do know they won’t stop. Once they kill you all, they’ll go after my clan as well. I have eggs to think of.” There was a small squeeze to her leg, but Corrine didn’t get the impression it was hard enough to be anything but surprise. “I’m the only member of my clan awake during the day. If we don’t stop my family here, I’ll have to do it alone there.” Her hands squeezed into fists and Corrine turned to Demona, her eyes pleading. “I don’t want to have to do this alone.”

“I can’t condone murder.” Elisa spoke and Corrine turned to her sharply.

“Well, I think of it as preventing murder.” Corrine took a shaky breath. It took all her focus to stay strong, but she stared the detective down. “What would they get for ‘vandalizing a statue’ detective? They’d pay a fine and go their way, and no one but us would know someone died. We can’t go to the police, we can’t do any of the other things people do, because there won’t be real justice, not without risking the entire clan in the process.” Corrine stared down at the table. “We’re Canmores. None of us expect to live until we’re 40. We all learned that our deaths would most likely be violent and by the hands of the Demon. Listening to stories about our ancestors I heard a warped sense of pride in those that managed to make her kill them. They’re hunters, and maybe you can’t understand that, but I can and I do.”

No one spoke and Corrine rested her head in her hands, as she leaned on the table. “This has been going on so long, and it just needs to stop. It just needs to stop.” She whispered. “Demon, please just stop this, end it.” She pleaded to the gargoyle next to her quietly. “They’re after you because of father. They won’t stop.” She admitted quietly. This time Corrine’s calf wasn’t squeezed painfully, it was gently caressed, as if Demona was trying to soothe her; that just made Corrine tear up and start to cry quietly into her hands. Demona did care, despite what she may say, she did care.

“Let’s take a break. Maybe we’ll think better afterwards.” Goliath spoke after a moment, and Corrine heard people getting up and walking out. The tail on her leg fell away, and Corrine missed it. The hand on her shoulder had her looking up, but she’d expected to see Demona, not the lavender female she did see.

Angela looked compassionately at her and caressed Corrine’s shoulder. Corrine glanced around and saw Demona leaving the room. Demona stared at her just for a moment, but there was no hint that she cared in her eyes. Corrine’s shoulders slumped and Angela left her alone. The others took a break, but Corrine sat in that chair in silence, her heart aching.

…………………………………

After tossing and turning for what felt like hours, Corrine was finally able to sleep. She knew she’d be up all night again, so she didn’t bother setting her alarm clock. When she woke up, for once, Corrine didn’t rush out of the place to seek gargoyles or to spy on her family. Corrine ate a leisurely breakfast and read the newspaper from beginning to end. She knew where all the players were, to some degree, now.

Before it started to get dark, Corrine slipped out to buy more groceries, along with a large red piece of cloth, that she tied to the balcony of her apartment, letting it flutter in the wind. Corrine stared around at the darkening sky and sighed as she turned to put her groceries away.

She wasn’t able to focus on the movie as she sat in front of it. Her mind traveled back to a time when they’d used the red flag as a signal all was clear. It had been after Corrine’s father was killed. Demona had visited more often after that. Corrine would wait until her mother left for work and she’d put her towel out on the balcony to flap in the breeze, and if Demona was so inclined she’d visit. Many times that sign went out, when Corrine was feeling extremely down, and when she found out she might be pregnant she’d put out every red piece of cloth she had, hanging from several bars of the balcony. Demona had come immediately that time. It was their signal, sometimes ignored, but it was the only way Corrine could call the gargoyle.

When she gave Demona her address last night, no one needed to say how Demona would know which room was Corrine’s. So many years ago they’d developed a language, a method, and it didn’t require any thought now to slip back into it.

The soft sound on the balcony had Corrine taking in a deep breath as she turned to see the shadow of the female right outside her door. Demona slipped open the door and stepped inside, but still Corrine couldn’t tell what Demona was thinking. Corrine didn’t say anything as Demona closed the door behind her and stood there, staring at Corrine. “I really didn’t expect to see you here Corrine.” Demona finally spoke.

“I had to come.” Corrine shifted in her chair, but she didn’t get up. She just stared back, able to fully stare without worrying about witnesses. “I had my family under surveillance and when they came here it was pretty obvious they were hunting.” Corrine shifted back in her chair to sit up taller. “I tried to warn you that they were after you, but I didn’t find you.” There was a hint of accusation in her voice.

“Yes, Paris.” Demona spoke and Corrine felt a twinge of pain that Demona really did know she was there. “I had too much going on at the time Corrine, and it was just better to stay away.”

“Fine.” Corrine looked away, as if she were watching the television. “but you should know they blame you for father’s death. I expect this will not be a normal hunt.”

“They always blame me for some death.” Demona spoke and Corrine looked up at her, Corrine’s eyes were haunted.

“I’ve read the journals, and I don’t think the hunters of old ever came after you with all their money, the best technology, and never more than two working together.” Corrine took a shuddering breath. “You killed father for me, to spare me going through more nights like that. I’ll die before I let them touch you for that.”

Demona finally moved away from the door to gracefully sit on the other chair in the room. “You still worry a Canmore will kill me, don’t you Corrine?”

“And you still care about me, even if you said you lied about it all.” Corrine spoke quietly of the night they’d spent on a rooftop in Paris. “I owe you my life Demona, and I’ve lived it the best I could so you will never think back on all you did for me and regret it. I’m doing everything I can, and I know it will never be enough.” Corrine bit her lower lip and looked away. Her voice had started to shake and she tried to calm down so it wouldn’t do that.

“I’m a member of the London clan. I really thought when I approached them there was a good chance they’d kill me for being a Canmore.” She turned to look into Demona’s eyes. “but I went unarmed to them and hoped for the best, because they were there and you weren’t. I needed…” Corrine’s words trailed off. She needed Demona, but she couldn’t say that. Demona just sat and let her speak, which was new. “I showed them all the things you were interested in knowing about the hunt. They accepted me as clan, and I’m grateful every day for that. I wouldn’t have that if it weren’t for you.”

Corrine took a few more deep breaths, doing her best to control the urge to cry. “I have the gift of magic, and I never would have even walked into that magic shop if it weren’t for you telling me it was real. I’m Una’s apprentice, her second. I wouldn’t be that if it weren’t for you.” Demona looked like she was going to speak but Corrine spoke first. “I’m godmother to an egg that I will do anything to make sure is hatched one day. I will help raise a generation of gargoyles, if I live that long, rather than a generation of Hunters. I have that because of you.” Her voice was raspy, and her throat hurt even though her words were quiet. She’d say it all this time, because once again, there was no guarantees there’d be another time.

“I will give you anything and everything you need to defend yourself against my family.” Corrine’s jaw clenched. “You didn’t make a mistake saving me, saving me over and over again.” Corrine went quiet, the words she’d rehearsed in her head a million times over the years finally said. She’d always worried she wouldn’t get to say it in her lifetime, but it was done now and Corrine just stared at a surprised looking gargoyle sitting on her chair.

“I never said I made a mistake.” Demona spoke and then stood up. Corrine watched the blue female start to pace. “You don’t belong here Corrine. I’ve moved on from playing with little girls.” Corrine heard the harsh words and this time she didn’t let the words stab her in the heart. She used the memory of Demona trying to secretly comfort her the night before, the memory of the harsh words said in Paris so long ago that were clearly lies, and she just stood up and faced Demona.

“Some people say when you save someone’s life you are responsible for it. Other people say when someone saves your life you owe it to them to live it as they’d want you to.” Corrine stared in silence until Demona turned to face her. “You aren’t responsible for my life, if that’s what you’re worried about. I believe in the second saying, and I won’t ask you to save me this time. I wouldn’t mind if you did, but I won’t ask.” Corrine took a deep breath and glanced out the window. “You don’t want anyone to know we know each other.” She changed the subject suddenly and Demona shifted as if adjusting to the change.

“They won’t believe the threat if they knew, and that would be all it would take to give the hunters a chance to kill them all.” Demona explained, her voice still cold. “I don’t want Angela hurt again.”

“She’s the only female. She’ll be a target.” Corrine grimaced, knowing it was thoughts of breeding that made the family target Angela. Without that one gargoyle the clan would die out, even if all the others survived.

“She’s my daughter.” Demona’s words shocked and hurt Corrine. All that time they talked together, all those years, and Demona never mentioned she wasn’t alone. Corrine’s hurt must have showed, because Demona continued to talk. “I just found her. I’d hate to lose her now.”

Corrine let out a long breath. “If this gets out, my family will go after her harder. They don’t know that father deserved to die.”

Corrine was still mulling over the pain her family would try and cause Demona if they knew Demona cared about someone. Demona spoke softly. “This will become bloody, and you know it. I want Angela safe.” Corrine looked up at Demona and saw the intense eyes staring at her in silent command. “Goliath will make a mistake, and it could be fatal. I don’t want Angela hurt.”

Corrine nodded, she understood.

“Are there still only three Canmores?” Demona asked and Corrine had to look away and bite at her lip to keep the pain out of her voice. They’d had this talk before, and Corrine still wasn’t in the count.

“So far, it’s still three.” Corrine shifted to face Demona fully. “You said you’d kill them years ago.”

“I became busy.” Demona gave a weak excuse firmly, and Corrine just nodded absently. “Once this is over I want you to leave.” Demona spoke again and Corrine started to wrap her arms around her body as if cold, but she was actually starting to feel a bit numb. “Don’t follow me again Corrine.” Corrine just nodded her head, but she ached inside.

Demona was on the balcony and Corrine looked up in time to see her move to stand on the railing. “I love you.” She whispered nearly silently as Demona took off.