Rivals A. L. Balestra (balestra@glasscity.net) Started: September, 1996 Finished: (work in process) comments welcome Note: Gargoyles and the characters are the property of BVTV and the brain-child of G. Weismen. The auther of this story holds no claim. Chapter 1 *Over one thousand years ago...* A Gargoyle with no name stood on the high tower of the Castle Wyvern as the Humans called it. His clan that guarded the castle had no use for names. The only exception being their leader, Goliath. The Captain of the Guards called him that because of his great size and strength; but to his clan, Goliath was simply Leader, and to this gray-skinned, white-haired Gargoyle, Goliath was Brother. As Gray-Skin looked over the castle below, another male Gargoyle came up the steps to join him. This Gargoyle had black hair, tan skin, and a dark and dour expression. "A fine night, is it not, My Brother?" Dark and Dour asked. "It is", Gray-Skin answered, "But why are you back so early from patrol. Is something wrong?" "Well, no, My Brother. What could be wrong?" Dark and Dour hesitantly replied. Anger began to fill Gray-Skin, "What are you hiding? Out with it!" "I shouldn't! It will only hurt you, My Brother". "Tell me!" "Why tell you, Brother", Dark and Dour stated, his mouth twisting into a sly smile, "when I can show you. Look." He pointed a talon-like finger toward the courtyard below. Gray-Skin turned and looked, and his face fell in disbelief. His Love,... His Mate was in the arms of Goliath. She was crying, her face buried in her hands. The Leader rocked her back and forth, and tenderly stroked her beautiful golden hair. "You see, My Brother, they betray you", Dark and Dour suggested. Gray-Skin felt his soul being ripped apart. His heart was heavy with sorrow, but beginning to fill with rage. How could she? How could they? He shut his eyes to the truth, and a single tear fell down his cheek. "No...", Gray-Skin moaned softly. "Yes, My Brother", Dark and Dour asserted as he placed a clawed hand on Gray-Skin's shoulder. "Sadly, yes..." * * * *The present day...* The greenish glow from the computer screen was the only light in the dark room. Her clawed fingers typed rapidly, hitting the keys with a violent fury. *I shall not fail again*, she thought, her eyes burring red like embers in a newly started fire. It had been over a year since _Operation: Clean Slate_ failed. Her ultimate plan to rid the Earth of the vile Humans had taken her centuries to prepare. She had other schemes in the past, other plans to make life miserable for the Humans... to get her revenge. But this last plan had cost her the most, and had taken her the most effort over the many centuries of her endless life. And it was because of this that made her defeat all the more bitter, at least in part. There was one other thing... *Goliath*, she thought, her eyes burning with even greater intensity. Never in all her long, immortal life had anyone been able to stop her. The Hunters... a minor annoyance. Macbeth... just a foolish old king who lost his kingdom. No one had been able to even slow her down until... Goliath. Ever since she convinced that fool Xanatos to bring the ruins of Castle Wyvern to New York to free Goliath and his clan from the Magus' spell of eternal stone, her former mate has caught her at every turn, and foiled her every carefully laid out plan. *Not this time*. Her eyes narrowed. This time she would stop _him_, Goliath and his clan... and Elisa Maza... that wretched Human harlot. None would be spared... except Angela. Yes, she will join her. She will have no other choice in the end. And with them all out of the way, there will be nothing to stand between her and her ultimate destiny. "Yes", she whispered as a sly grin crept across her face. She tapped out the last few key strokes to finish the program. With it copied to diskette, she removed it from the drive and held it up between her talon-like fingers. "This is the key to my greatest victory. Once my plan is complete, no one will stand in my way ever again". The door behind her opened, and a white light shone in the dark room. In the light was the silhouette of a Gargoyle. Sounds of mechanical joints and hydraulic muscles accompanied the movement of the creature as it lumbered further in the room. A silver glint of steel shinned as the light reflected off the beast's metal hide. "Ah, Coldsteel, My Brother", she purred. "Is there anything to report?" "I found someone, Demona", Coldsteel answered. "Someone you should see". * * * *She's never coming back...* The night air was strangely cool for the eternal Summer of Avalon. Waves of the mystic sea washed up onto the beach of this magical isle... up to the talon-like feet of a young male Gargoyle. He sat there, with his knees to his chest, and his wings wrapped around him like a blanket. His face hung low with utter despair, as he stared into the shadowy mists that obscured the horizon. *She is never coming back!* he thought, as a single tear flowed down his cheek. When the impact of his thought hit him, tears flooded his eyes, his chest heaved with great sobs, and her buried his head in his knees. Ever since the night Angela, Goliath, Bronx, and Elisa had returned to Avalon... ever since her and Angela and Goliath fought Oberon for the clan's right to stay... ever since she left again to help Goliath and Elisa to find their Manhattan, he has waited for her return to Avalon... to him. But she never came back. "Gabriel?" The young Gargoyle lifted his head in response to his name. He turned to see where the voice came from. From up the beach and from the fog, a familiar shape came. "Princess? Is that you?" Gabriel called out, choking back his tears. "Aye, it's me", Katherine stated, as her face came into view. "Ye are out here yet again?" "Yes", Gabriel sighed. "I keep hoping I'll see the skiff coming from the mists... that she'll come back...". "But it has been only a little more than a fortnight that she has been gone, Gabriel", the Princess asserted, as she knelt beside the young Gargoyle. "Yes, a fortnight _on Avalon_, but in the outside world... She has been gone more that a year". Gabriel sighed and turned his head to look at the shifting mists. Princess Katherine knew he was right. And as she looked at his tear-streaked face, she knew what this meant to him. "I should have gone with her", Gabriel murmured. "What?" "That time she returned... with Goliath and Elisa... when we fought Oberon, Angela invited me on to the skiff with her...", his voice trailed off. "Then why did ye not go with her, Lad?" "I don't know", he said, shaking his head. "I just don't know". But he _did_ know. He was afraid to go with her. Afraid of leaving his home... the only home he had ever known... the only _place_ he had ever known. He had always been the careful one... not like Angela. Ever since they were hatchlings, Angela was always the one to charge forward into the unknown, while he always hung back, to be were things were known and under his control. Fear of the unknown, that was his problem, but it was never a problem with Angela. That's what he admired about her... That's why he loved her. "Maybe she forgot about me,... I mean,... about US", he blurted out. "No. Never Gabriel", the Princess insisted, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. "She would not forget about us; about her home. We are her family. You are her rookery brother". "Her rookery brother... yes, just her brother. I always wished I could have been more to her". Katherine looked at Gabriel with eyes of concern. She had always suspected, maybe even wished that there would be something more between them.. between Angela and Gabriel... than being mere rookery siblings. she never pretended to know anything about Gargoyle relationships, but it seemed to her that the two of them were meant to be together. They seemed right together. Angela and Gabriel... together. At least that seemed true for Gabriel, but Angela... "Why did I let her go?" Gabriel asked, more to himself then to Katherine. "Because ye love her, Gabriel", she answered. "Ye love her enough to know ye can't hold and possess someone to truly love them". She knew this to be true. She knew from experience. she knew the Magus let her go... because he loved her. But the Magus lost her to Tom,... and then lost his life. All because he loved her. She hoped it would not be the same for Gabriel. But Angela had not returned. "Maybe she found someone... else...", sighed Gabriel. "Ye don't know that for sure. Ye don't know why she hasn't come back. Maybe there was something she needed to do to help Goliath and his clan in Manhattan. Maybe that is why she had been long in her return". "Maybe, Princess. Maybe", he sighed, as his chin lowered to his knees. He then stared at his feet. Princess Katherine glanced at the horizon and saw the tale-tell glow of the coming dawn. "Come on, Gabriel. We need to return to the palace. The sun will rise soon", she said as she stood. "No", Gabriel said. "I think I'll stay here today". The Princess didn't argue. She just touched his shoulder for reassurance, then turned to leave. As the sun began to rise and its rays of light began to pierce though the mist, Gabriel saw something he could not believe. An empty skiff appeared out of nowhere and sailed up on to the beach near Gabriel and embedded itself in the sand. *I can find her now*, he thought. *I can find her and she can come back... to me*. The light of morning shone brightly as his thoughts were carved in his stone mind. * * * The skyline of Manhattan glowed with the dimming light of day. On the highest tower of Castle Wyvern, atop the tallest building in the world - the Eyrie Building - Detective Elisa Maza stood. There also, like a sentinel, was Goliath in his threatening pose, showing to all that this was his city to protect and defend from all evil. Just below him, stood his warriors... his clan... his family. Hudson, his mentor; Brooklyn, his second-in-command; Lexington and Broadway, his loyal and brave soldiers; Bronx, his faithful hound; and Angela, his daughter, just stood there. They where just lifeless stone statutes... or at least they appeared to be. Even Elisa appeared motionless and stone-like, awaiting the coming dusk, as she had done so many times before. As the sun dipped below the horizon, life stirred within all on the tower. The darkness of night was coming. A crack! And then another appeared on Goliath's chest, and then the cracks spread all over is stony form. Elisa caught her breath... and held it. With eyes burning white-fire and with a thunderous roar, Goliath burst from his stone skin, reborn to the night. His clan in turn, exploded out of their shell-like skin, and screamed a greeting to the night and a warning to the darkness. After the Gargoyles had returned to life, so did Elisa, breathing in the evening air with a vigor and a new found peace. It was a new, better time for her friends, and her love. The past year had been the most difficult for the Gargoyles in their New York home. Ever since the Hunters had reviled their existence to the public, they have had to struggle to earn the trust of those they had sworn to protect. Jon Castaway and his Quarrymen led the charge against Goliath and his clan, claiming they were monsters and a danger to humanity. It was only when the Gargoyles risked their lives to save a train full of people that opinion about them turned in their favor. *"Angels In The Night"*... that was what the media had dubbed them. But that was three weeks ago... "Elisa!" Goliath exclaimed as he rushed to her, and embraced his love in his massive arms, then wrapped his wings forward to enclose them both. "I have missed you". "I've missed you, too, Big Guy", she returned softly as she hugged him back, enjoying the warmth of his body, and his love. "Hey! Elisa's here!" Lexington cried as he lifted himself over the parapet to stand before the two of them. In turn, the other clan members climbed the high tower to join their leader. Goliath and Elisa broke their embrace the moment they saw the small Gargoyle. Goliath was a little irritated with the intrusion on their private moment, but Elisa took it with some amusement... Not to mention a little embarrassment. "Lass, where have ye been all this time?" Hudson inquired. "Yeah, it's been a week since we've seen you", Broadway included. "Sorry, Guys", Elisa apologized. "But I had to work overtime: the afternoon through night shift all this week". "Why? We have been patrolling the city all week and haven't noticed anything unusual", Goliath stated. "Except the city been too quiet. This city hasn't had half the crime it usually does in the past two weeks. The numbers on all types of crime are down. But the Captain wanted to make sure the department wasn't missing anything, especially any Quarrymen that may be still in hiding, so she had us go over the city with a fine-tooth comb", Elisa explained. "It seems now she's satisfied, and has eased up a bit. I finally got the night off". "Well, hey, Elisa, why shouldn't crime be down? The scum of the city know we're on the beat. 'Angels In The Night', remember", Brooklyn bragged. "We have crooks so scared they won't dare show themselves". "That maybe so, Lad, but we shouldn't let our guard down. That is the surest way to invite trouble", Hudson corrected. "Hudson is right", confirmed Goliath. "We cannot afford to become lax in our duties. Hudson, Bronx, and I will patrol the city tonight. The rest of you have the night off, but stay alert. You may be needed". "I'm coming, too!" Elisa blurted out. She jumped into Goliath's arms, hugged him around his neck, and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "It's been boring all week. I'm going to need some excitement". Hudson picked up Bronx, and then he and Goliath leaped from the tower, allowing an updraft to fill their wings and carry them into the night. "Well, we got the night to ourselves", Broadway said to his peers. "What are we going to do?" "I'm going to surf the 'net", stated Lex. "I've got a ton of e-mail to reply to, also". With that he scampered off in to the castle. "I know what I'm going to do. I'm still working on that 'Soul Edge' video game. I've beat the game with only half of the characters so far. You want to watch, Angela? I can show you some cool moves I figured out", suggested Brooklyn. Broadway narrowed his eyes, and his face twisted in displeasure, as he glared at Brooklyn in his forwardness. He should know better then that. But Angela wasn't paying that close of attention. It seemed she was a thousand miles away. "What?... Um, no thanks, Brooklyn. I'm not interested". "Maybe you would like to see a video, Angela? Maybe 'Willow' again? I know it's one of your favorites", Broadway said. "Sure. That sounds great", Angela said plainly, without much excitement. * * * The sun was a bright ball of fire as it disappeared into the sea, and then the mists of the evening slowly rolled in. Cracks began to appear all aver Gabriel's form the moment just before the stone shards of his skin scattered all over the beach. His mighty roar filled the night air, and his eyes burned white. After the last of his deep, stone-sleep had left him, he saw the skiff that had dug into the beach the night before. He realized then that he had not been dreaming. Tentatively, Gabriel approached the skiff, and examined it closely. It appeared not to be damaged at all. He even noticed that a long rowing pole laid inside the skiff. It was all ready for a long journey. But was Gabriel ready? At first, Gabriel thought about returning to the Palace to gather supplies, since he did not know how long it would take to find Angela, but then he thought better of it. If he delayed, he might lose his nerve, or the others may convince him not to go. Besides, he felt he would find Angela very soon. The skiff did appear to HIM. It was fate... destiny. He placed his shoulder against the bow to push the skiff from the sand and into the sea. "Gabriel?" A voice came from behind him. He turned to see a familiar shape come from the mists... but it was not the Princess, like he thought... "Ophelia! What are you doing here?" "You didn't return to the Palace last night... I was worried about you, so I went out to look for you as soon as I awoke. The Princess said something has been upsetting you..." She gasped when she saw the skiff. "Where did that come from?" "It... It appeared last night... just before the sun rose", Gabriel stammered. "I'm going to look for Angela with it". "But why?" Gabriel was shocked by Ophelia's question. Didn't she care about Angela? "Maybe it is a sign. Maybe Angela needs help... maybe she needs me". He then pushed the skiff into the water, entered the craft, and began to push off. "Tell the others I will be back soon", he called Ophelia. Ophelia stood on the beach, all still and quiet. Gabriel was going out into the unknown all alone. Could she let him go? Then, she made a fateful decision. With one bound from the shore, she leaped into the skiff, and sat down in it to settle the small boat. "Maybe she needs both of us", she mused as Gabriel pushed the skiff into the engulfing mists. * * * Deep in the Castle Wyvern, Xanatos sat before the large computer in his office. On the main screen, the image of Brooklyn, Broadway, and Angela entering the castle could been seen. Other smaller screens showed different sites both in and around the castle, even to the street below and buildings off in the distance. "Don't be such a voyeur, David", Fox quipped, holding Alexander in her arms. "The Gargoyles have a right to their privacy. They're not the enemy anymore, you know". "I know, Dear. I'm just checking out the new security camera system. With this, we'll have not only a complete view of everything inside the castle and the building, but everything within a 2-kilometer-radius of the building". "Also, Ma'am", Owen included, "We have installed motion and sound detectors and pressure sensitive panels both inside and outside the building and castle. Plus, we have radar out to 25-kilometers, and seismic detectors below the building in the event someone should try to infiltrate the building from below ground". "But that's just the tip of the iceberg", Xanatos continued. "The force-field generators have been completely refitted and the field even extends under ground. Also, I installed force fields in strategic places inside the whole building and castle, to block intruders from moving within. And I had 20 Iron Clan robots redesigned to be faster, stronger, and smarter. I also had a small factory built below the building to generate dozens of Clan robots if we need them at a moments notice. I'm also thinking about reinstalling the ion cannons in case of a large assault on the castle. The whole package is integrated into this main computer to organize the defense of the building. The AI I'll be installing soon will work by detecting the enemy, and then mobilizing the all the defenses to neutralize the threat". "But what about the security guards that you employ?" asked Fox. "Don't worry", reassured Xanatos, "In case of a real emergency, the building will be evacuated. But in case anyone is left inside, the security system will leave them alone or protect them, if needed. The system will recognize them as Xanatos Enterprises' employees and a non-threat. I even put in a contingency for Detective Maza". "Great, David", mused Fox. "You've turned our lovely home into an armed garrison. But is all of this really nessisary? The Gargoyles are no longer feared by the public". "Just because the Quarrymen have been exposed for the villains they are, does not mean we are completely safe, Ma'am, defended Owen. "All of us still have enemies. Both us and the Gargoyles". "David...", Fox pleaded. "But it is all for our protection... for Alexander's protection", argued Xanatos, looking at his son, who had fallen to sleep in his mother's arms. "We can't afford to be lax when it comes to the safety of our son. Our security has been compromised to many times to take any more chances. With the new system, we're never going to have any trouble ever again". "Unless we invite the trouble in, Sir", Owen remarked. * * * Later that night, Angela stood on top of the high tower, leaning over the parapet. She had left Broadway's side before the movie was over. She just couldn't bring herself to see the ending. It was too close to real life for her. She glanced out at the city below her. How different this Manhattan was from her home on Avalon. Just then, she happened to look up and see Goliath, Elisa, Hudson, and Bronx winging their way back from patrol. She saw them land in the courtyard below. Broadway come from inside the castle to greet them. Angela could not quite make out the conversation going on between all of them, but she did hear the burst of laughter from a comment Broadway made. Perhaps it was about Lexington, as Broadway was making motions with his fingers as if he was typing on a computer keyboard. Angela continued to spy on them until she noticed Elisa looking up and seeing her. Angela also saw Elisa motion to Goliath and Broadway, and point up at her. Both her father and her love said something to Elisa, and then the Human woman nodded her head. Angela then saw all of them enter the castle. When the courtyard was empty, the young female Gargoyle turned and sat down with the parapet to her back as she held her knees to her chest. Moments later, Elisa arrived at the high tower. When she saw the young Gargoyle, she smiled. "Hey, Angela! How are you doing?" Elisa asked cheerfully. "Did Broadway send you up here... or my father?" Angela asked back, accusingly. Elisa's smile lowered, and the expression on her face changed to one of concern. "Angela... Broadway and Goliath are only worried about you. We all are". "Why?! There's nothing wrong with me!" snapped Angela. "I think there is, Angela. Broadway told me that for the past week, you have been distant from everyone. You barely speak to him or the others, and when you do it is only a few words in reply, or you snap at them. This isn't like you at all". Just then, Bronx appeared at the top of the tower stairs. When he saw Angela, he barked once, and tail wagging, charged at the adolescent Gargoyles. When he reached her, he licked her face once. Angela only smiled weakly at the gargoylian hound for a brief moment before a look of sadness reappeared. Bronx sat down and whimpered. "You see", Elisa pointed put, "Even Bronx senses something wrong with you". Angela looked into the eyes of this Human... her friend. A person with whom she had traveled with, adventured with, and fought along side with. She was the woman who had once brought her back from death itself. Angela trusted Elisa with her life. But did she trust Elisa with her soul? "Elisa, if I tell you something, do you promise to never tell any of the others?" "Of coarse, Angela", Elisa promised, as she knelt down beside her. "Anything you tell me will never leave this tower". Angela sighed before she began her explanation. "I guess it all started those three weeks ago, when I thought... when everyone thought that Broadway and the others had been killed. I had never felt so frightened and alone in all my life. I didn't know what I would do, or what would happen to me, and I feared they would take Bronx away, too". With that, she scratched Bronx behind his ear. Bronx growled with delight. She continued: "Thankfully everything turned out all right, but I began to wonder how I would get by if I was ever truly alone. What could I do? Where could I go? When I began to think about Avalon. About Princess Katherine, Guardian Tom, and Gabriel and Ophelia and all my rookery brothers and sisters. My birthplace; my home. But the skiff sank after we came to Manhattan. There's no way back for me". With that, tears welled up in her eyes, and with a sob, ran down her cheeks. "There are times I can't even remember what Avalon was like... like I was never even there!" Elisa placed her arms around the young Gargoyle's shoulders. In all of their journeys and adventures together, and then the joy of finally coming home to Manhattan, Elisa never realized how attached Angela was to Avalon. She cursed herself for not realizing. She should have known! She did know what home sickness was like after all. "You shouldn't give up all hope, Angela", comforted Elisa. "There may still be a way back for you". "But how?" Angela sobbed, as Bronx nuzzled up close to her. "I don't know, but I assure you, I'll do everything I can to find a way", promised Elisa. But in the back of her mind, she mentally kicked herself for not remembering the spell that Tom had used to transport Goliath and her to Avalon. Angela gulped back her tears, "Thank you, Elisa, for trying to make me feel better. But you will not tell the others, especially Broadway? I don't want them to think I don't love being with them here. That I don't love him". "Like I said before, what was said here will not leave this tower. But I don't think there is anything you could say or do that could make the others think less of you... especially Broadway". With that, Angela smiled. "Detective Maza, there is an urgent phone call for you", announced Owen Bernet as he appeared at the top of the steps. Both Angela and Elisa jumped at his voice. Even Bronx looked surprised by his sudden appearance. Elisa stood to face him. "Who is it?" she asked. "It is your partner, Detective Matt Bluestone", Owen stated as he handed the cellular phone to Maza, then turned to leave. Angela, as well, saw this as her cue to leave. She picked up Bronx and glided down in a spiral to the courtyard, before Elisa could stop her. Elisa merely sighed. "What is it, Matt?" Elisa answered as her put the phone to her ear. "Headquarters just got a call the police in Atlantic City. It seems they got a confirmed sighting of a Gargoyle flying over the city", Matt said. "And the Chief wants our 'Gargoyle experts' to check it out. Unofficially, of course", Elisa said, finishing Matt's thought. "Yes. But there's more, Elisa. It seems this Gargoyle is not your run-of-the-mill kind. Witnesses said it looked like a robot. Like it was made of steel". * * * *I'm glad I didn't go it alone...* Gabriel stood at the bow of the Avalonian skiff, surrounded by a fog that obscured everything around him. The only things he was sure of was that it was still night and that they were on the water in the middle of somewhere. It was the wondering where that somewhere was that scared him to death. He turned to look back at Ophelia, who was managing the rudder. He was thankful for her help, and her company. But she has always been a good friend. Finding Angela would be much easier now with her help. *"Avalon doesn't take you where you want to go. Avalon sends you where you need to be..."*. The Guardian's words to Elisa echoed in his mind. *By Angela's side... that is where I need to be...* Gabriel became so lost in his own thoughts that, before he could react, a sound like the screeching of a thousand ravens set free, cut though the air. The male Gargoyle wailed in pain as he clapped his clawed hands over his fin-like ears. But even with his ears covered, he could still hear the screeching, and hear Ophelia howl in pain. Then a ball of flame shot down from the sky and struck the water behind the skiff. *"I'm free!"* whispered the source of a mysterious, unearthly voice. From behind the skiff, the water surged and rose into a towering wave, crashing down upon them and smashing the skiff into pieces. The wave pushed them deep into the salty water. So deep, in fact, that an undertow caught them both. As Gabriel struggled against the current, with his arms and wings flailing wildly in desperation, he lost sight of Ophelia. But at that moment, survival seemed to be the most important thing. He had to reach the surface! But the undertow had him in its grasp, and would not let go. *Angela...* And then, darkness. * * * It was a cool evening, with the sea breeze blowing over the New Jersey beach near Atlantic City. But Coldsteel could not really feel the air around him. His new body provided him with many things - greater strength, greater endurance, awesome weaponry, the ability to truly fly, and the ability to walk in the daylight. But there were things he had lost, too. Like, for instance, the pleasure from the taste of food, or the joy of feeling the wind fill his wings. And even though he was awake during the day, he couldn't feel the warmth of the sun's rays on his skin. The light just reflected of his steel body. He was always cold. *No!*, he thought, *I'm better now! Better that I ever was! Better than Goliath, even better than Coldstone! I'm even better than...* Another name had come to mind, but it vanished like the mist with the coming of the dawn. But all thoughts of doubt and confusion were left behind as his jet-powered wings carried him off over the beach. But something caught his cybernetic eye. On this abandoned beach, lying in the sand near the water's edge, was a motionless figure. With a roar from his engines, Coldsteel swooped down to investigate. Sometime later, Coldsteel slid open the glass sliding door to the beach house. He laid the unconscious being on the couch, and proceeded toward a closed door. Upon opening the door, he found Demona sitting at a computer in a darkened room. Demona turned and purred, "Ah, Coldsteel. My Brother. Is there anything to report?" "I found someone, Demona", Coldsteel answered, "Someone you should see". "And you brought him here?" Demona scolded. She gritted her fangs. "How could you be so foolish as to bring someone here?" "I don't think you'll be as upset when you see our 'guest'", informed Coldsteel. With that the robotic Gargoyle lead his partner into the other room where a young male Gargoyle, with gray-green skin and orange hair, lay unmoving. Though the blue tint of his bionic eyes, Coldsteel could see her displeasure morph into sinister curiosity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TO BE CONTINUED...