No Sister of Mine

(inspired by No Son Of Mine by Genesis)

By Princess Alexandria

When Corrine arrived at Xanatos’ building she was pointed to the elevator Elisa had used the night before. She rode it up alone and she just stared at the readout as she considered who may be there when she got there. Demona may have come back, since no plans had been created the night before. Corrine had to pretend just seeing her didn’t hurt. Corrine wondered if it would have been better had Demona not been here, because Corrine was having trouble concentrating and she couldn’t afford that now.

When the elevator doors opened Corrine followed the sounds to the room with the clan in it. She stood unnoticed for a moment, and every second that passed where she could look at the back of gargoyles made her tenser. “Dammit, where is the security here?” She muttered and the voice next to her startled her.

“I assure you Miss Canmore, that if you weren’t expected you never would have been able to get into that elevator.” She turned to look at David Xanatos. “And even with that, you are under surveillance as well.” She just nodded to him and turned back to the room. They didn’t fully trust her, but that was better than trusting too blindly.

“Lass, you’re finally here.” Hudson spoke and Corrine felt somewhat welcomed. In her search of the room, she still hadn’t seen Demona. She forced herself to pay attention to the gargoyle talking with her.

“So, shall we meet?” Corrine asked, but didn’t want to do it without Demona. She was going to be outvoted and this clan would dictate the first action, she knew that, but hopefully Demona could help keep it from being a huge disaster if she were there to back Corrine up.

“Elisa’s not back yet.” Hudson told her. “Would you like dinner lass? Broadway cooked and I believe there are some left overs.”

“I’m not all that hungry.” Corrine grimaced at the idea of eating. Hudson just rested a hand on her shoulder a moment and stared at her.

“It’s there if you need it lass.” He moved away and Corrine was left to socialize. The males were surrounding a computer, and Angela was lazily looking at the books on the shelf, clearly unhappy or tired. Corrine started toward her, knowing she’d need to stay near Angela often to protect her. She should work on making that seem natural now.

Corrine found herself staring more intently at Angela as she got closer, and she could see some resemblance to Demona. “Are you feeling any better?” Corrine found her voice was softer as she spoke to Angela.

“I feel fine, but father doesn’t believe me.” Angela spoke and Corrine stared a moment longer, which was all she needed to know who Angela’s father was. He was easy to pick out, but unless Demona had said something, Corrine wouldn’t have guessed who Angela’s mother was. That was good, it meant her family might not figure it out too quickly.

Angela shifted to lean against a bookshelf and stared at Corrine. “Elisa told us that a gargoyle saved you as a child, and that was why you’re not like the others.” It was a statement, but also clearly a question. Corrine sighed.

She admitted quietly. “I really don’t think I’d be alive today if she hadn’t been. She saved me a few times, usually from my family.” Her mood was darker as she considered that.

“It was really that bad?” Angela asked gently and Corrine was a little startled at the question. She looked up into rather compassionate eyes.

“It was pretty bad.” Corrine admitted quietly. “Canmores don’t have children, they have future soldiers. My mom tried to make up for what she could, but she couldn’t get me away from him.” But Demona had, she’d done a damn fine job of it. “I didn’t want to be a hunter, so I didn’t try as hard as I could to learn, and that only made it worse.”

“I’m so sorry.” Angela seemed at a loss for what to say, and Corrine took pity on her and tried to smile.

“Still, I wouldn’t have traded knowing gargoyles for all the abuse I faced.” She reached out and gently rested a hand on Angela’s arm. “When she saved me, my life became better. Just knowing her made my life better.”

“Who was she? What was she like? Is she still out there?” Angela was battering her with questions, but even though she could imagine Scottie doing this, Angela sounded older. Her questions were slower, more thoughtful. Corrine frowned just a little at that thought. Did Angela have an egg, or was she part of the next generation?

Corrine was at a loss as to what to say. She had a million things she could say, but she couldn’t let on that it was Demona. She looked into Angela’s eyes and just grimaced a moment. Angela started to look puzzled. “She was amazing.” And still is, Corrine thought to herself. “She spent time with me when my mom was at work sometimes, and I think all my best memories of childhood are of those nights.” Corrine smiled just a little as she remembered a few nights where Demona played with her as a little girl. Her smile faded as she remembered being cleaned up after the rape, and the hugs she’d received from a female whose eyes wouldn’t stop burning red in anger, even though she managed to try and talk in a soothing voice to a traumatized child. “She was amazing.” Corrine whispered.

Angela looked a little taken aback by Corrine’s words, but then she grinned. “You said amazing twice.”

Corrine grinned and did her best to ignore her own blush. “Well, she was twice as amazing as most amazing people.” Angela looked about ready to tease Corrine when the noise level from the trio died down. Corrine turned to see Demona receiving a few suspicious looks, and when Demona’s eyes traveled to the corner Corrine and Angela were in Corrine was suddenly very aware of how closely she was standing to Demona’s daughter.

Corrine took a half step back from Angela. “I guess it’s ineffectual meeting time.” Corrine muttered. Angela gave her a minor disapproving look, but Corrine moved to follow Demona, and then Goliath into the meeting room.

After a few more hours of the painful meeting, something had to be agreed on, regardless of how crappy it was. Corrine knew they had to act in some way, because they couldn’t argue over this for a week and think her family wouldn’t find them. The plan was weak, but the local clan wanted to give Corrine’s family a chance, and Corrine was the only one that could hope to make them listen. Corrine felt sick, because the clan had no idea how much Corrine was going to have to expose of herself and how much it would hurt when her family didn’t listen even then. Still, their optimistic talk, while unlikely, had made Corrine start to hope just a little that they could come out of this, that the Canmore legacy could be put down without killing all the Canmores. It was dangerous to hope, she knew that. She would never trust her family, never let them set foot in England. And she would never let them hurt Demona, never.

Maybe Jon would listen, Corrine wasn’t sure about Robyn, she knew Jason was going to try and kill her. Goliath didn’t understand, not at all. He was stubborn and naïve. Corrine couldn’t remember a time she was like that, hopeful and willing to think the best of Canmores. Demona didn’t agree with the plan to send Corrine in first to talk. When they stood up to leave the meeting room, Demona caught Corrine’s eye and Corrine nodded. They’d need to talk again.

Corrine slowed her escape from the room by moving to the map of the city that was displayed on the screen. She inspected the area around where her family was staying, a place she’d told the others about today, along with the information that she’d put bugs in the room. Sadly that had started the plan that currently was in use. When she heard Demona come step up behind her Corrine continued to stare at the map. “I can’t do this without admitted why you killed father.” Her family was after Demona because of that, and it would have to come out, along with the fact Demona was the gargoyle she’d mentioned to the clan.

“What do you think the chances of this working are?” Demona asked, but Corrine had heard, at length and at volume, that Demona expected complete failure.

“Jon let me escape last time I saw them. I might be able to stop him at least.” Corrine answered. Swiftly after that she found herself spun around to face Demona.

“Let you escape? What happened?” Demona looked angry. “And why didn’t you mention this?”

“Jason decided to steal my keys when I went to visit, he wanted me to agree to be a hunter.” Corrine answered, “It wasn’t like he chained me up, but Jon was pretty convinced I’d die in under five minutes against a gargoyle so he helped me leave.” Corrine gave a single, unhappy, chuckle. “You know, that was the first time anyone in my family put my safety first.” Corrine glanced around the room, knowing they were alone or Demona wouldn’t have approached her, but still checking. “It would be nice if I could do that for him once, to just try.”

“Okay.” Demona spoke quietly. “Hold off on admitting it, but if you think it will work to at least drive a wedge between them or split up their forces, do it.” Demona sighed. “At that point, the clan can’t believe we made the threat up.” Demona turned to leave and Corrine turned back to the map. She picked which subway she’d be taking. With all three of the Canmores working during the day, in their covers, she was going to have to go visit them for dinner tomorrow. Somehow she didn’t think she’d have much of an appetite.

…………………………………..

The next night, shortly after sunset, Corrine found herself standing outside of an apartment door, feeling rather sick to her stomach. Well, her visit should surprise her family more than her last one did, she thought, resigned, as she knocked.

Robyn looked so classy in her business clothes, Corrine thought as the door opened. Robyn stared at her for just a second, before her eyes widened. “We need to talk.” Corrine spoke softly, but firmly.

“Corrine, what are you doing here?” Robyn asked without moving. Corrine had really surprised her.

“I heard you came to New York, and I really need to talk to all of you.” Corrine repeated and found Robyn moving back to hold the door open to her. Corrine’s heart ached as she nodded to her sister and stepped inside.

“Corrine?” Jon sounded stunned and from the loud clank coming from the kitchen and the sudden footsteps coming her way, Corrine was betting Jason was shocked as well. Corrine stood in the middle of the living room, doing her best to not think of the people who were most likely listening in using the listening devices Corrine had planted in these rooms herself.

Jason was in the doorway and he stared at her suspiciously. Her timing and finding them here couldn’t really be more suspicious. Corrine gave him a weak grimace of a smile. “We need to talk.” She told them all, but she was looking at Jason.

It didn’t take two minutes for them to be seated around the dinner table, but there was no meal. It was still cooking, but Corrine wasn’t sure she could eat it even if it were ready. She felt her heart pounding a bit more than sitting really required. “What are you doing here?” Jason asked. “How did you find us?”

Corrine glanced around the table for a second. “I had you under surveillance, so I’d know when you went out on a hunt.” She had to put all her cards on the table now, and Jon looked rather surprised. Robyn was looking a bit confused. Jason let little of what he was thinking show. “It took a little while to find where you were in New York, but we needed to talk before this goes too far.”

Corrine took a deep breath. “A gargoyle saved my life when I was five.” She spoke firmly, trying to get them to listen. “I would have died left out in the forest, we were in the middle of it all. I know father asked how I got away, but I wasn’t so stupid as to tell him. He would have punished me, as if a five year old could hunt a full grown gargoyle.” Jon’s eyes were getting bigger. “She took me to safety and told me what to do so that I’d be okay.”

“Was it the gargoyle that killed Uncle Thomas?” Jason spoke and he was clearly unimpressed.

“Was Uncle Thomas the one to attack her and leave her little choice?” Corrine snapped back. “He was barely armed and the only adult in the area. Why the hell would he risk that? He was insane and he almost got me killed.” Corrine glared at Jason. “She knew I was a Canmore, and she still saved me. Would Uncle Thomas have spared a young gargoyle if there had been one after the battle, if he’d won and found a tiny little helpless one?” Corrine chuckled humorlessly. “And I didn’t know until later that she fully expected me to try and kill her when I grew up. She saved me in spite of that.”

“I’d been wondering about this.” Jon spoke softly, still obviously thinking. “I didn’t think they could all be evil.”

“No, they aren’t. That’s why I had to find you before you killed one.” Corrine looked at Jon, hoping he’d listen.

Jason almost growled. “They are, they are an abomination.”

“No, we’re the abomination.” Corrine turned to glare at her older brother. “We kill without questioning it, and have for a thousand years. I’m surprised Canmores didn’t join Hitler, because we’re just as bad. Whatever gave us the right to start this holocaust? There is no excuse for,”

Jason’s voice rose as he interrupted her. “They’ve killed our kin for hundreds of years!”

“They’ve defended themselves for hundreds of years. If I walk down the street and someone tries to shoot me, I’ll defend myself, so would you.” Corrine’s voice rose just as loud. “If it were me, after going through this with our family for so many years, I would have just hunted the rest down and finished it. That’s what I would have done, but she waits for us to hunt her. She gives us the chance to walk away. Walk away!”

“The Demon is the most evil of them all.” Jason glared hostilely at her and Corrine turned to see Robyn watching her carefully, but saying nothing.

“She did kill father, and there was no mercy there.” Robyn finally spoke and Corrine watched Jon slowly nod in agreement. Corrine stared down at the kitchen table in silence. “You haven’t been around and then you come here to tell us to stop. You weren’t there when she killed father, you didn’t hear her laugh.”

“But maybe the other gargoyles we found aren’t evil, maybe we don’t have to hunt them.” Jon sounded hopeful. “But the Demon, she is evil.”

“No, she’s not.” Corrine whispered, her voice defeated and pained. She looked up and stared at Jon, the one she had the most hope for. “Do you remember why I wasn’t there that night?”

“Not really.” Jon spoke and Corrine turned to Jason. Jon had been rather young at the time.

“Father said you were sick.” Jason spoke.

“And did you wonder why I had so many bruises and a broken nose at his funeral?” Corrine asked him, stared at him. “Father sent you three out to have a nice dinner so he could have me alone.” Her voice cracked. “He’d determined I was never going to be a hunter, which was what I wanted, but I had no idea what he’d expect of me if I couldn’t fight.” Her eyes traveled to Robyn. “He raped me, he beat me while he raped me.”

“Father wouldn’t do that!” Jason objected loudly. Robyn looked stunned.

“He did.” Corrine swallowed hard. “And when Demona visited me she helped clean me up and took care of the wounds she could. She promised me he’d never touch me like that again and then she left.” Corrine could see disbelief in their faces. “She killed father to protect me. I’d been seeing her regularly for years, and she did that FOR me.” Corrine felt a moment of apprehension thinking of the people listening in on this conversation, but she couldn’t let herself think of that now.

“You’re insane.” Jason muttered, sounding stunned. Corrine turned pleading eyes to Jon.

“Father beat us, he was cruel, and you don’t think he’d rape? For Christ sake HE had two women and wouldn’t let my mother escape, why do you think I’d be spared?” Her voice rose. “You had the mother he married, maybe you got to see something in him that wasn’t a monster, but I never saw that.”

“He never did that, your mother seduced him and he was stuck taking care of her because Canmores don’t abandon their kids.” Jason argued, but Corrine turned to Robyn.

“Did he ever touch you Robyn?” Corrine asked softly, she’d always wondered.

Robyn looked up, glaring at Corrine. “Never, father never would have done that.” Corrine’s heart started to sink. She was glad her father hadn’t hurt Robyn like that, but if Robyn had been able to back her up their brothers would have had to believe.

“Good. I’m glad you were spared that.” Corrine felt her tears trail down her cheeks as she looked away, her mind replaying the memory of that night. “Father decided he wanted more children, and he was going to make me deliver them.” She remembered his comment before he broke her nose. “But I fixed that, I made sure I was sterilized. I’d never give him more children to screw up with our legacy, never.”

“Stop your fucking lies!” Jason yelled at her. “You don’t want us the hunt and you’ll say ANYTHING to try and stop us. Well, no, they are all monsters, you can tell just by looking at them, and she’s the biggest monster of all. We’ll kill them and then we’ll get you whatever psychiatric help you need Corrine.” His voice was softer toward the end and Corrine looked into his face to see he really did think she was sick.

Her eyes traveled to Jon, who was silent and staring at the table in front of her. “They don’t deserve to die. And she was just saving me. Father was the monster, not her.” She looked at her other two siblings and they clearly didn’t want to hear more. “If you hunt her, if you hurt her, or the others, you have no sister and I’ll make sure that is drilled into your heads.” She made her position clear. “She saved me, she saved me so many times, I won’t let you hurt her.” Her voice was harder.

“Get out.” Jason spoke coldly and Corrine stood up.

“I love you all.” She told them, her voice soft. “But don’t think that will make me hesitate, because it won’t.” She slammed the door on her way out, her family still sitting around the table.