Avery’s Bad Day

by Christi Smith Hayden (cshayden@juno.com)

All Gargoyles characters property of Disney and Buena Vista Television.

All other characters and story concept copyrighted 1996 by Christi Smith Hayden.

Story #7

Avery’s Bad Day

The oiled lambskin parchment was carefully rolled out on the mahogany table. Gently, lit silver candlesticks were placed to hold down the corners and to keep the edges from curling. It was covered with cryptic, runic writing and a large five-pointed pentagram in the center. Waiting besides it was a blue and orange Federal Express box. A curve-bladed knife made short work of the packaging.

Inside, two small bundles emerged from the safe cocooning of the Styrofoam pellets. They were swaddled in bubble wrap and an inner wrap of soft flannel. Her agents abroad had done an excellent job securing the medieval pieces she requested.

The first was a Roman-style torque with a large insect-flecked amber stone. The parchment identified it as the Druid’s Eye. It had Celtic religious origins and was once used in their midsummer rites. She placed it in its assigned position on the diagram.

The second item was a sapphire pendant suspended from an intricate silver chain. She was not above admiring it for a moment, holding it up as the flickering light changed its many shades of deep blue, like looking into the ocean’s depths. It was rumored to come from Camelot and was called the Tear of Gwenivere. It took its place on the parchment.

She crossed the room to the wall safe, hidden behind an expensive painting, to fetch the items she already had in her possession. She brought out a small wooden chest and returned to the table.

A few nights ago, she had liberated the Merlin Medallion from the Metropolitan Museum. Recently sold to the museum by an anonymous party in London, it was a simple bronze disc with a flying falcon etched upon it, soaring up to a quarter-sized piece of faceted quartz. Legend said Merlin left it with the infant Arthur to guide to his destiny as the once and future king. It completed a triangle on the parchment.

Solemnly, she placed the silver chalice called the Mirror of Morgaine in the center of the diagram. The enchanted object had been in her possession for three and a half centuries and if filled with the purest spring water, was a potent scrying tool. She opened the waiting bottle of Evian and poured it into the vessel. Thrice widderskins she passed her hand over the objects, casting the charms first in Latin, then in English.

"Five are needed to form the chain

To summon power for my gain

Search, the missing links to find

Reveal their locations to my mind."

The water in the shallow silver bowl began to swirl and shimmer. Images began to form on the surface. A fortress-like mansion appeared, battle flag flying from its walls, followed by a castle rising above the clouds. A vicious smile slowly crossed her face as she leaned over and blew out the candles. The red-headed woman turned on the electric lights and checked the time. She still had several hours of daylight left. Plenty of time, Dominique Destine decided, to go out to Long Island and ‘borrow’ something from her old friend, MacBeth.

Matt Bluestone looked up from his computer monitor at his partner’s approach and stretched. "You know, Elisa, somebody’s been a busy little jewel thief."

"Oh?" Elisa perched on the corner of the desk. "What do you mean, Matt?"

"I came in early to see if Interpol had anything in their database on the Merlin Medallion and found two other thefts in the last month, one in Paris from a convent’s private collection and another from a small museum in Wales." The auburn-haired detective drummed his fingers on the desk. "I’m not sure what the connection is but it’s bugging me."

"Any similarities? Made by the same artist or something?"

"Only that they’re all medieval jewelry with really big gemstones."

"Medieval?" Elisa frowned.

"Yeah, ages differ according to each item but the average age is between a thousand to fifteen hundred years old. They’re priceless antiquities if nothing else." Matt wrinkled his forehead and asked, "Do you suppose we’re dealing with some sort of wacko collector? Just gotta have it syndrome?"

"I wonder if Goliath knows anything about the history of these things? He was around a thousand years ago," Elisa said thoughtfully. "Run out a hard copy and we’ll drop by the castle later."

MacBeth was dog-tired and all he wanted to do was to put his feet up for a few hours with a good book. As Lennox MacDuff, he was in demand as a lecturer at several schools and as a consultant for choice museums around the country. Lately, he felt he lived more in his car than in his house.

He knew something was wrong the second he drove into the garage. The security systems had been disabled and his entry codes were nonfunctional. Fortunately, the hidden weapons locker had escaped detection and MacBeth selected a suitable plasma weapon. The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the stained glass windows, casting long shadows which gave excellent cover as he searched the house. There was the sound of glass breaking in the den.

MacBeth burst inside. A tall redhead had her hands in one of his display cases. "Hold it right there!" MacBeth ordered. "Back away nice and easy."

The woman turned slightly and smiled at him. "Why, MacBeth," she said, "Is this anyway to greet an old friend?"

"Demona." MacBeth glowered at her and aimed his weapon.

The sun set and the agonizing act of Demona’s transformation to gargoyle had them both writhing in pain. Unfortunately, she was more used to it and recovered first. MacBeth saw her aim the small pistol at him and pawed futilely at the tranquilizer dart in his chest before everything went black.

"Honey, I’m home!" Brooklyn called as he let himself into their suite of rooms. As a wedding present, Xanatos and Fox had enlarged Avery’s quarters, giving them a separate bedroom for a bit more privacy and adding a small kitchen. Brooklyn always had his evening meal alone with his mate and all the intimate activities that usually followed. Tonight, however, he was in for a disappointment.

The apartment was dark. He switched on the lights and looked around. He checked all the rooms, neatly tidied, but no Avery. Her laptop was out on the table. Sometimes she left a message on it if she had to be out. No such luck, it wasn’t even open. He turned it on anyway. It hummed to life and asked for a password.

Brooklyn pursed his lips. He was a notorious newspaper reader, reading the New York Times cover to cover but mostly, he had gotten hooked on the Times crossword puzzle. What would his adorable little tyrant use as her password? Something obscure, something not normally associated with Avery. He toyed with the end of his thin braid for a few seconds and then got an evil grin on his face. Brooklyn punched in his guess.

T - W -I - N - K - I - E

Password Accepted

"Ha, ha, so there, Lex. Look who knows computers now," Brooklyn muttered to himself. He viewed the screen that popped up. The background was a field of, what else, Texas bluebonnets. There was an icon marked Schedule. He selected it.

There were not many things on today’s entry.

March 20, 1997

10:00a Playgroup with Alex

2:00p Workout with Fox

4:00p Dr. Appt.

The last one caught Brooklyn’s attention. Doctor appointment? She hadn’t said anything to him about needing to see a doctor. Avery was always perfectly healthy. Unless, his mind reeled at the prospect and he began to smile in spite of himself, maybe she suspected something. He bit his lip. Something wonderful. Something she might want to keep from him as a surprise.

The rest of the clan was surprised to see Brooklyn join them for dinner. For the past three months, they were lucky to see him before midnight. Angela raised an eyebrow. "Well, hello, stranger," she greeted the second-in-command, "Did Avery kick you out?"

Brooklyn smiled sheepishly. "Uh, she’s off somewhere. Running late, I guess."

Angela exchanged a look with Broadway. The large gargoyle had raised his eyebrows too. Something was up. Brooklyn was acting very pleased with himself and very nervous. He was sitting where he had a clear view of the clock and the hallway, in anticipation, Angela thought. Any minute, dinner or no dinner, he was going to start pacing, she could tell by the way his tail was flicking.

 "Lad," Hudson said, "do try t’keep yer tail still. Yer shakin’ the table."

"Oh, sorry." Brooklyn got up and started pacing. Angela hid her face in Broadway’s shoulder to keep from laughing.

Goliath regarded his second-in-command with dignified amusement. "Brooklyn, is something the matter? You seem occupied."

"Nothing really, Goliath. Avery had an appointment this afternoon and she’s late getting back, that’s all." He went back into the hall. "Maybe she went back to the apartment."

The clan watched him go. Broadway commented, "I don’t remember the last time I saw Brooklyn this nervous."

Lex looked up from his laptop. "Aw, he’s just having Avery withdrawal." He picked up his computer and left the room.

"I wonder what kind of appointment she had," Angela said thoughtfully. She exchanged a look with her father. "You don’t suppose?"

Goliath raised an eyebrow. "It’s possible. Brooklyn told me Avery follows a human reproductive cycle. Humans are fertile all the time." He indulged in an uncharacteristic grin. "Besides, they have been working at it most diligently these past few months." The clan chuckled in agreement.

"Now, enough of that," Hudson said. "If the lass said nothing of this to any of us, it’s clear she means to surprise her mate. Let’s not spoil things for them by gossipin’ behind their backs."

"True, old friend," Goliath agreed. "It is only right and proper that mates share such things first."

They heard the service elevator rumbling in the back of the kitchen. Avery came in, looking like a drowned cat. She blew a strand of wet hair out of her face.

"Avery!" Angela exclaimed, getting up and coming over to take some of her things. "What happened to you?"

Avery sighed. "This has been the absolutely worst day of my life!" She flung her stuff up on the cabinet by the sink. "I’m almost to the building and this big idiot truck drives up and splashes a huge wave of ice water all over me." She pulled off her shoes and drained the excess water into the sink. "And that’s just to top it off. I had to take Alex to play group and all the kids were wired and screaming in that subsonic frequency native to the Terrible Twos. Fox was in a snit over some crazy thing Xanatos did so she was in a bad mood. I had a doctor’s appointment and he got hung up at the hospital so I had to wait around in his office for a day and a year." She shook her head. "I don’t know how things could get worse."

 Broadway asked, "Do you want some dinner? There’s plenty left."

"What is it?" Avery wandered over to look at the spread on the table.

"Barley soup. It’s one of Hudson’s favorites."

Avery took a whiff and grimaced, covering her mouth. "Thanks anyway, Broadway. Maybe some other time." She went collect her things oblivious to fact that Brooklyn had come back into the room just in time to see her reaction. He broke into a huge grin. The other gargoyles were also exchanging optimistic looks which they all hid quickly by the time Avery had turned around again.

Brooklyn met her halfway across the room. "Hey, where’ve you been? I’ve been worried."

"Sorry." Avery kissed him on the beak. "It’s been a long day." She walked past him towards the door. "I’ll tell you all about it later."

Brooklyn stood there for a second. "Later?" he repeated. He caught up with her. "Wait a minute, is everything all right?"

Avery raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, come on!" Brooklyn lowered his voice. "Are you pregnant?"

The color drained right out of Avery’s face. She stared at her mate. Then she looked at the other gargoyles that were gazing expectantly at her. She shook her head and covered her eyes. "Oh, Lord," she muttered, "It got worse." Quick as a wink, she hooked her finger under the curved end of Brooklyn’s beak and marched him down the hall.

"Hey!" Brooklyn protested as Avery lead him into the gargoyles’ suite, not noticing Lex in the corner with the computer. "What’s the big idea?"

"I don’t know. You tell me."

"Oh, come on, sweetheart. I thought, well, I was hoping that you were going to say you were pregnant."

"Oh, really?" Avery shifted her weight to her other hip and stared at him with a dangerous glint in her eye. "And where did you get that idea, oh rampaging stallion of the bed chamber?"

Lexington began edging towards the door. He was thanking his lucky stars Dennis had warned him about this. If the sarcasm was any indication, Lex definitely wanted to be out of the blast zone. He ran right into Hudson and Bronx in the hallway.

"Hudson, this would be a really good time to take Bronx for a walk," Lex said anxiously, blocking the hall.

"Don’t be daft, lad," Hudson protested. "’Tis almost time for my shows."

"Not tonight, it isn’t."

"YOU BROKE INTO MY COMPUTER! HOW COULD YOU?!?!" Avery was in full voice. Lex and Hudson both cringed.

"It was just laying out and I thought—"

"I think yer brains are jest about as fluffy as yo’ hair! Now ya have evahbody thinkin’ you’ve knocked me up! How could you?" Avery’s Texas accent suddenly resurfaced in all its flaming redneck glory. "Of all the addle-pated, bonehead thangs t’do!"

"On second thought," Hudson said, turning around and walking away, "Come along, Bronx, we’ll be taking a very long walk tonight."

Lexington stayed in the hall, listening in perverse fascination.

"Well, what was I supposed to think?" Brooklyn shot back. "You didn’t tell me about it. You’re healthy as a horse. What other reason would you have for seeing a doctor?"

"Foah yo’ information, I had t’get glasses."

"Glasses? What for?"

Avery’s voice took a sharp edge. "Ah expect it’s because Ah got between a red gargoyle and a lunatic cop and hit mah fool head. Mah eyesight hasn’t gotten any better so Ah had t’get glasses."

Angela hissed. "Lex! It’s not nice to eavesdrop!"

"Hush," he hissed back. "I’ll tell you what you missed later."

"And what reason did I have for that, little miss flirt?" Brooklyn retorted hotly. "You didn’t have to lead him on, you could have told him you were mine, dammit!"

"Ah did. He knew Ah wuz involved wi’ somebody!"

"And you probably flirted with him after that, too. You even pulled Lex’s chain, for crying out loud. He damn near flew you before I got to!"

"You’re lucky that you married me first. The way you drag yo’ tail, you would have nevah caught me!"

"Oh, yes, I would," Brooklyn growled. "No matter how fast you can fly, I will always catch you."

"Not hardly," Avery growled back. "Ah can fly in the middle of the day. Try catchin’ me then."

Lex heard her moving and he and Angela dashed down around the corner out of sight. Avery stomped down the hall towards her rooms, the proverbial black cloud trailing along behind her. Brooklyn barreled out the room, in an absolutely foul temper and headed outside.

Lex looked at Angela. "Yow," he commented. "Dennis was right. She does have a bad temper."

"I say we give them some time to cool off," Angela suggested, "and then, perhaps they could be persuaded to make up."

Elisa and Matt walked into the Great Hall at the height of the shouting. They looked at each other with raised eyebrows. "So," Matt quipped, "you get the feeling we’ve walked in on a domestic disturbance?"

"If so," Elisa replied, "I want to know where the cameras are because if it happens here, it’s bound to get on an episode of ‘Cops.’"

"Or ‘Wild World of Animals,’ whichever."

Goliath and Broadway walked in. "Elisa!" the gargoyle leader said lightly, "How are you?"

"Fine." Elisa knew him well enough that she knew by his tone of voice something was up. "What’s with all the yelling?"

"Brooklyn and Avery have had a disagreement."

Matt sidled over to Broadway. "What really happened?"

"The honeymoon is over," Broadway answered with a little smile. "Avery was having a bad day and Brooklyn put her over the edge."

"Ouch!" Matt winced. "I remember those kind of fights. Better him than me." He pulled out a sheaf of papers from the inside pocket of his overcoat. "We think we’ve found a connection to the museum job. There were two similar robberies in Europe early this month. Do the names the Druid’s Eye or the Tear of Gwenivere mean anything to you?"

"Gwenivere is from the legend of King Arthur," Broadway said with a shrug, "other than that, those names mean nothing to me. Goliath?"

The tall lavender gargoyle thought a moment. "I assume these things are also jewelry?"

"Yeah," Elisa said. "All medieval pieces over a thousand years old, not unlike some people I know." She bumped him with her hip.

"Hmm." Goliath gave her a rueful smile. "The Druid’s Eye. The Magus spoke of a ceremonial necklace of that name. It had a large golden stone. It had some ritual use, I believe."

Matt checked his notes. "Yeah, the museum in Wales where it was stolen from describes it as having a three inch long amber nugget. Can you remember anything about the Tear of Gwenivere or the Merlin Medallion?"

"The names are familiar." He turned to Broadway. "Go find Brooklyn. He might know them." The big gargoyle left.

"Brooklyn?" Elisa laughed. "Somehow, I just can’t picture a tough guy like him as a jewelry expert."

"He wasn’t always a warrior, Elisa. When he was only a few years out of the rookery, he served as Queen Moraine’s page. She was Prince Malcolm’s stepmother and a most gracious and learned lady. She taught Demona and I along with the other children in the castle and continued to do so until her health began to fail. Brooklyn was one of her last students and served her until her death. Queen Moraine would have certainly been aware of any unusual ornaments worn amongst the high born."

Brooklyn was outside perched in a recessed alcove in the castle wall, out of the wind. His wings were wrapped around him and only his cottony white hair gave away his presence. Lexington climbed up and hauled himself inside the alcove besides the red gargoyle. He offered Brooklyn one of the two beers he had tucked in his belt.

"Here," Lex said. "Dennis told me after you and Avery had your first big fight, you were going to need a beer."

Brooklyn raised an eyebrow and took the bottle. "I wish he had warned me. I just found out I’m married to a ninety-eight pound walking time bomb." He popped the cap and took a long sip. "Thanks, Lex."

"No prob." They sat for a while, not talking, just sipping their beers. "So," Lex began cautiously, "Feeling better?"

"Not really." Brooklyn sighed. "Mostly I just feel let down. Disappointed, I guess."

"About what?"

"I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I was really, really excited thinking she might be pregnant. This from me, mister thrill seeker. A year ago, I wouldn’t have even considered it. And the thing that kills me, is that Avery didn’t seem at all happy about it. I mean, taking care of other people’s kids is her life. You’d think she’d want a few of her own!" Brooklyn said sadly, "Maybe she doesn’t want to have mine."

"That’s ridiculous," Lex snorted. "She chose to be your mate, didn’t she?"

He smiled ruefully. "True, and up to now, it’s been wonderful. Still, it hasn’t been perfect. Avery’s a manipulative wench sometimes. If she wants something, she always finds a way to make me do it and make me think it’s my idea."

"I thought you liked that." Lex nudged him. "Aren’t you the one who calls her ‘your adorable little tyrant?’"

"Yeah, yeah, rub it in, will ya?" Brooklyn finished his beer. "Well, Goliath’s probably ready to go on patrol. Let’s get to it."

MacBeth was mad as hell when he woke up amongst the shards of broken glass on the den floor. He got up and staggered to the broken display case. It had housed his collection of antique jewelry and military decorations. Most of them had personal meaning for him and if Demona had taken any of those, he swore she wouldn’t live long to enjoy them. It was hard to determine exactly what was missing with all the debris but finally he concluded only one piece was gone, a cloak clasp. He had wore it himself with his family tartan, in days gone by. It was an unusual design, a white enameled dragon and a red enameled dragon encircling a large ruby, based loosely after the story of Merlin.

MacBeth frowned. By itself, the clasp was harmless but if legend served, combined four other enchanted gems, the results could be disastrous. He stalked through the house, shedding his professorly tweeds.

Broadway came back inside with Brooklyn and Lexington trailing behind. "Here he is, Goliath," he said. "He and Lex were on their way back in."

"Good." Goliath eyed his second-in-command. The red gargoyle seemed almost as moody as he was in his bachelor days. He handed the printouts to Brooklyn. "Do you remember any of these names from the old days?"

Brooklyn flipped through the pages. "The Lady of the Lake took pity on the lovelorn queen who was torn twixt two loves and could not shed a tear for fear of revealing one love to the other. She drew a sapphire from the deepest pool on Avalon and bound it with a silver chain." A curious thing happened as he spoke. The roughness slipped out of Brooklyn’s voice, a cultured, almost scholarly accent taking its place and his eyes took a faraway look. "She placed the jewel around the sad queen’s neck and said, ‘Behold, this is the Tear of Gwenivere. May it be a symbol of the tears you cannot shed and may you find peace from your heart’s sorrow.’ And the Lady sank back into the lake, blah, blah, blah." He handed the papers back. "There’s several more quatrains in the epic but that’s all that mentions this thing."

 Elisa was staring at him curiously. "Brooklyn, I am surprised."

He shrugged. "Epic poetry was the Harlequin Romance of the tenth century. Queen Moraine used to make me read it for hours." He rolled his eyes. "In Latin."

"Perhaps MacBeth might know something," Lexington suggested. "He’s set himself up as an expert on medieval history and he was awake for all of it."

"Matt and I will go out to Long Island and talk to him," Elisa said. "You guys keep an eye on the museum district tonight."

"Agreed." Goliath kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Be careful. Where there’s MacBeth, Demona is not far behind."

"Don’t worry." Elisa patted her holster. "You know what a careful girl I am."

 There was a tapping at the door. Avery stalked across the apartment to answer it in her robe, fresh out of the shower with her hair in a towel. Angela was standing outside.

"Hi," she said smiling, "I’ve got a good ear if you want to talk." She held up two mugs. "It’s a little cold for ice cream. Will hot chocolate do?"

Avery grinned and opened the door wider. "Come on in, Angela. I’m never been in such a bad mood that I would turn down chocolate." They sat down on the couch.

"So, feeling better?" Angela asked solicitously, sipping her drink.

"Some," Avery admitted. "At least, my hair doesn’t smell like old tires any more. The guys go off on patrol?"

"Yes, Elisa came by. She and Matt are still trying to track down the theft at the museum the other night." She looked at her friend. "Brooklyn was very depressed."

"Good." Avery unwrapped her hair and began drying it savagely.

"You should have seen him earlier." Angela laughed. "It was all I could do to keep a straight face. He came in and he was so excited and nervous, like a hatchling. Brooklyn’s so funny when he’s nervous. I don’t think he’s even aware that he paces."

Avery smiled in spite of herself. "Yeah, he’s pretty cute when he does that, huh?"

"You mustn’t mind our interest in you and Brooklyn," the lavender gargoyle said gently. "We’re all just very hopeful, that’s all. Father is looking forward to having a rookery again." Her eyes danced. "When you turned your nose up at dinner, we all saw it as an encouraging sign."

"Well, that’s understandable," Avery said, "but I’ve never liked food that looks pre-digested. If I turn down enchiladas, then get excited." She sighed. "I’m still miffed Brooklyn went through my laptop. He saw my doctor’s appointment on my schedule and misunderstood it."

"Getting glasses is not a difficult thing. Why didn’t you tell him?"

"Ever since October when I cracked my skull, my eyesight has been messed up. It got a little better and for everyday things I’m okay, but every time I try to read, the type is blurry and I get these awful headaches. I’ve got a stack of books I’ve started that I’ve never been able to finish." Avery sighed. "I didn’t tell Brooklyn because he still feels guilty about it. He’s never said anything but sometimes he’ll be running his fingers through my hair, brush across the top of the scar and then he freezes for a few seconds. He acts like nothing’s happened but I know he’s thinking about it."

"Perhaps when he comes back from patrol, you can patch things up. In the meanwhile, Broadway built me a roaring fire in the library. Why don’t you get dressed and try out your new glasses on one of those unread books?" Angela suggested "I would appreciate the company."

"Okay," Avery said, getting up from the couch. "I’ll just be a few minutes."

"I’ll meet you there," Angela said as she left the room.

Deep in the shadows, Demona watched as the gargoyles left the castle. She had already seen that doddering old fool Hudson take Bronx to the park and she had read about the charity event sponsored by Xanatos that he and his family were attending tonight. Only one gargoyle remained in the castle and she would have to proceed carefully indeed.

MacBeth, clad in his black body armor, rushed into the hangar. The Harrier was a bit too conspicuous for the city and he could feel his link to Demona drawing him there. He prepped the hoverbike and ran it through its pre-launch checklist. If Demona was going to try the High Magic with the stones, it would have to be tonight, the night of the Vernal Equinox when everything reached alignment. He was going to need some help to stop her this time.

"Mother?" Angela said, stopping dead in her tracks in the doorway of the library.

Demona schooled her features carefully before turning around. She put the book in her hand down very carefully. She looked at her daughter with a gentle expression and spoke softly. "Angela." She gave a genuine smile. "Daughter, how are you?"

"Fine, Mother," Angela answered. She raised an eyebrow. "Why are you here?"

"I saw the others leave and noticed you were not with them. I wondered if you were all right." Demona moved a few steps towards her daughter into the center of the room so they could see each other plainly. "I-I’ve thinking of you a great deal lately and I’ve been watching the castle for a chance to speak to you."

"Whatever for? You’ve always been a bit distant to me."

"How old are you?" Demona asked. "I’m not sure how time passes in Avalon but I have been wondering. Are you due to rise soon?"

Angela nodded understandingly. "In a few months, perhaps in high summer."

"I thought as much." Demona looked at her daughter frankly. "I want you to know despite our differences, in this circumstance, if you need me for any advice or guidance, it is yours." She smiled and came closer, holding out an open hand. "When my first time came, I had the elder females of my clan to rely on. I never had the opportunity to be a mother to you and I have not treated you as I should but I owe the memory of those who helped me. Daughter, when your time comes, please consider me your elder. Your father need not know."

Angela wavered. Her brain was crying out "Beware! She is your enemy!" but her heart was looking into her mother’s eyes. She seemed so sincere, and her offer was a gargoyle tradition, passed down through the generations. Not even Demona would be so perverse as to taint such a sacred rite. Angela’s eyes watered. Somewhere there was a speck of good in her mother’s heart. She held out her hand.

"I accept your offer, Mother," Angela said quietly. "Thank you."

Mother and daughter embraced and as Angela went limp in her arms, Demona lowered her gently to the floor. She tossed away the spent hypospray she had concealed in her other hand. "I hope you will forgive me, daughter, but this night’s work does not involve you."

Pulling the black and green hockey jersey over her black unitard, Avery was feeling more like her old self. She twisted her hair up into a comfortable ponytail and stuffed her feet in her scruffy sneakers. The new glasses sat on the dresser in their case and reluctantly, Avery slipped them on with a big sigh. She took a book at random and looked at it. The type was finally crisp and clear the way it was supposed to be, not fuzzy. She looked at herself in the mirror and made a face. She looked like a little old lady.

Book tucked under her arm, she skipped down the hall to the library, just for the heck of it. Avery skidded to a stop as she came around a corner face to face with an unknown gargoyle, a blue-skinned female with fire engine red hair. In a sickening moment of realization, Avery noted the resemblance between this gargoyle and Angela. This had to be the Demona everyone talked about. She had a bag slung over her shoulder and an energy weapon very similar to those in Xanatos’ private armory. It was pointed at Avery.

"Who are you?" the strange gargoyle demanded harshly.

Avery peered at Demona timidly through her new glasses. "Please, don’t hurt me. I beg your pardon, but you are much bigger than me," she said in a very small but clear voice, "I will do anything you say. Please, don’t hurt me." She allowed her lip to quiver.

Demona sneered at her. Clearly, this was the sort of behavior she expected from humans. "You are one of Xanatos’ servants, are you not?"

"Yes, ma’am. I am the nanny."

"Then you are allowed into much of the private chambers, yes?"

"Yes, ma’am."

"I am looking for a piece of jewelry, perhaps you have seen it. It is a large amethyst, eight-sided, set in a filigreed silver mounting resembling willow leaves."

Avery controlled her reaction. She allowed her eyes to light with recognition. "Yes, ma’am. I have seen it. It’s kept in one of the private suites."

"Show me," Demona said imperiously, pushing her down the corridor.

Walking as stiffly and acting as timidly as possible, Avery’s mind raced. The easiest solution would be to just give her the Memory Stone. In an hour, the bond to her bloodline would bring the enchanted stone back to her. Avery allowed herself a little inward smile. It would probably really piss off the Miss Clairol reject to no end. The plasma weapon the strange gargoyle was carrying did worry her though. Avery had to keep up the helpless act. She did not want to set off any fireworks if she could help it.

Avery stopped and activated the thumb lock on her door. She preceded Demona in, and said, "The jewelry piece you described is kept here, ma’am. May I fetch it for you?"

Demona strode into the room, glancing around haughtily. "Yes, human. Bring it to me."

Avery went into her bedroom and unwrapped the Memory Stone from the pair of socks she normally rolled them up in. Dorm life had taught her to never to put valuables in plain sight and never where you would expect to find them. She took her new glasses off and put them on the dresser. While her back was to the door, Avery pricked her finger on the clasp and put a single drop of blood on her brooch. The amethyst absorbed it and Avery whispered,

"By the blood of She who holds the Stone,

Return to me, and me alone.

Protect the Keeper and guard her well

Honor the pact and the Avalon spell."

The tie to the bloodline was all very well but a little insurance never hurt.

Demona was studying the pictures on the wall. She was paying especially close attention to the family picture with the purple gargoyle Spike, his human wife and their blonde daughter. Avery bit her lip. She’d forgotten about her little photo gallery on the wall. The red-haired gargoyle glared at her and then back to the picture. "What is this? Who are these people?"

Avery didn’t like her tone of voice. "Those are family pictures." She held out the Memory Stone. "Is this what you were looking for?"

Demona snatched it from her, all the while studying her face intently. "This child is you, isn’t it?" She grabbed Avery by the hair, exposing her pointed ears and the nubby ridge on her forehead. Demona’s eyes blazed. "My God! You are half gargoyle! How is this possible?"

"The usual way?" Avery said, grabbing Demona’s wrist. "My parents had sex."

Demona suddenly switched attention to the silver jeweled ring on Avery’s left hand. "Queen Moraine’s ring! It’s been missing for over a thousand years!" She jerked Avery up to her level, the tiny woman dangling in mid-air. "How did you come by it?"

"Y’know, you really need mouthwash in the worst way."

Demona backhanded her. "Answer me, freak!"

"It’s my wedding ring," Avery said calmly, carefully licking her split lip. "My mate gave it to me."

"MATE!!" Demona roared. "What sort of gargoyle would debase himself with you?" Demona threw the hybrid across the room.

Avery rolled to her feet in the kitchen. She snatched the first thing she could reach. "I guess you’re just jealous ‘cause you’re not getting any!"

"That was supposed to be my ring! Give it to me!" Demona hurled herself across the room.

Avery kicked the psychotic gargoyle in the stomach as she passed, lifting the heavy cast iron skillet over her head and smashing it against the base of Demona’s skull. She ran for the door. She needed room to maneuver and, besides, Avery really didn’t want to trash her own apartment.

A blue blur tripped the hybrid gargoyle and she landed on her face, knocking the wind out of her. Demona stripped the ring off her finger and threw a stunned Avery through the apartment window.

"Too bad you don’t have wings, freak," Demona said smugly. She put the amethyst brooch and the silver ring in her bag. She checked the time. "Perfect. Just an hour until the moon reaches its apex and I can begin the enchantment." She strode from the room.

The wind rushing past revived Avery and she began to control her freefall. Regretfully she shucked her Dallas Stars hockey jersey and unfurled her wings. She caught the thermals that swirled around the Eyrie Building and shot back up to her window. The other gargoyle was long gone.

Avery looked at the long scratch Demona had left on her ring finger and her eyes narrowed. She rushed into the bedroom and pulled out the khaki duffel bag she kept under the bed. It contained all of Leroy’s thoughtful if somewhat inappropriate presents to his beloved niece over the years. He believed firmly in giving things you’d like to get yourself.

Avery strapped her leather tooled Western belt around her waist and stuck a pair of police-issue nightsticks in it. A large can of pepper spray was clipped on next. She took out the pistol grip shotgun, shook her head, and put it back. She chose to take her lariat instead.

Avery had blood in her eye and she was out to string somebody up. Texas style.

Elisa and Matt came in through MacBeth’s open garage, guns drawn. The medieval style mansion had been left wide open and apparently the alarms were all off-line. They found evidence of a scuffle in a downstairs room and a broken display case. Matt picked through the glass gingerly with the end of a ballpoint pen.

"It looks to me like our jewel thief has been here tonight," Matt said thoughtfully. "Hard to say what’s missing but I bet MacBeth knows."

Elisa went down on one knee and examined some deep scratches in the hardwood floor. "I know something else." She looked up. "We’ve got trouble with a capital D."

She found Angela laying in the library floor, a spent hypospray nearby. Avery snapped it open and sniffed it. Standard sedative, Angela should shake it off in an hour or so. Her pulse was strong and she didn’t seem to be having any side effects. Avery pulled an afghan off one of the sofas and covered the sleeping gargoyle. She shut the doors behind her.

Long ago when Avery first began to use the Memory Stone, it used to dream to her, or at least, that’s how she thought of it. Things would come to her in dreams and when she was awake, she found she could do them. Once she lost the Memory Stone and it called to her until she found it. The trail the stone was leaving her now was so tangible, she could almost see it, a wafting streamer of purple energy twisting through the castle.

The Memory Stone lead her outside and off the castle walls towards the river. The March night was frigid but Avery took a running start and vaulted into the sky. She zipped up to her usual high cruising attitude and ignored her chattering teeth. Avery concentrated instead on what would be the best way to tackle a thousand year old gargoyle with an attitude problem.

MacBeth was relieved when he spotted the gargoyles. He slowed down to hail the large lavender leader. "Oi, Goliath. I’d like a word with ye!"

"No tricks, MacBeth." Truce or no truce, Goliath was wary.

"Nae, we’ve no time for that," the silver-haired Scot replied. "Demona’s foolin’ around with magic again."

Queen Moraine. Demona hadn’t thought of the exiled monarch in years. When her husband had died, his eldest son sent his stepmother to the remote Castle Wyvern, hundreds of miles from everything she knew. Moraine had obeyed her new liege dutifully and without question, the daft old besom. Still, Demona admitted grudgingly, Moraine had made no distinction between human and gargoyle when she began teaching the children in the evenings when the chores were finished. All she wanted were those who were willing to learn.

She and Goliath were the only two of their rookery siblings to excel at lessons and it was that distinction that made the Archmage chose her as his apprentice. Moraine had looked reproachfully at her when Demona told her but did not try to interfere. Demona never understood that, Moraine’s unquestioning obedience. She had coveted the queen’s ring, however, the vivid stones in their unusual settings. It had been made in a land beyond the sea, commissioned by the late king especially for Moraine, the timid little rabbit.

Demona patted her bag. Now the ring was hers and when she was human, she would take a great delight in wearing it. The brilliant colors were better suited to her than that mousy little freak.

Avery caught up to her at last. The bigger female was cruising along below, using her enormous wingspan to glide effortlessly. There were some convenient tall buildings coming up that Demona was going skim over. Avery reached over and thumbed open the pepper spray. She smiled and said to herself, "Ah feel th’need, the need fer speed." She folded up her wings and dove.

A cloud of burning, stinging fire blew into Demona’s face. Coughing uncontrollably, eyes tearing, she swatted futilely at the air trying to clear it. A pale blur passed in front of her but she was more concerned about the buildings looming up in her impaired vision.

MacBeth grabbed at his eyes. "Demona must be close. I can feel something happening to her." He guided the hoverbike down to a rooftop and the gargoyles followed.

"What is she up to?" Goliath asked. "We are investigating a series of jewelry robberies."

"Aye, she took the Dragon’s Heart from me." MacBeth’s eyes were tearing. "What else is missing?"

Avery drove her heels into Demona’s back. The blue gargoyle was driven into the coarse gravel of the rooftop while the hybrid sprung nimbly off. Demona’s wing talons raked across her arms, leaving long bloody scratches.

The gargoyles stared as MacBeth fell to his hands and knees. "Never mind me, somebody’s beating the crap out of Demona, that’s all. What’s missing?"

"The Druid’s Eye, the Tear of Gwenivere and the Merlin Medallion," Broadway answered.

"Oh, damn," MacBeth grunted. "She needs only one more and it’s never been located but four might be enough for her purposes. The stones form a focal point to harness the High Magic of Avalon. With them, legend says, one would have the power to crack the world."

Demona brushed off the bits of gravel embedded in her face as she rose to her feet. "You." She glared at the tiny hybrid gargoyle before her, bouncing on her toes, nightsticks flush against her forearms. "You don’t know who you’re dealing with, little fool." She leaped at Avery.

"Wrong, baby," Avery said glibly as she dodged, swinging her nightstick out, hitting Demona in the ribs with a resounding swack. "You took some things of mine. I’m gonna get ‘em back." She jumped over Demona’s tail as it swung at her and whacked it for good measure.

Demona howled.

"Auuggh!" MacBeth gasped and clutched his rib cage. "I should have stayed in Long Island."

"Describe the last stone. Maybe we know of it."

MacBeth forced himself to breath. "The only description I have of it is that it is a large amethyst in a silver setting. It’s been the most difficult to pin down. It disappeared about five hundred years ago. The legend says that it belonged to Queen Titania of Avalon."

"Listen up, you fat old cow!" Avery said firmly as she blocked Demona’s strikes with one nightstick and struck with the other in the tonfa fighting style her commando uncle had taught her. "You give me my stuff back and I’ll go easy on you."

"Freak!" Demona roared. "How dare you threaten me?" She charged at her.

Avery popped her wings and let Demona’s own velocity toss the little hybrid overhead. "Get this through that thick skull of yours," she said as she landed. "The ring and the brooch. Give them back."

"Enough of this!" Demona snarled. She brought out the plasma weapon.

One nightstick whipped out, smashing the blue gargoyle’s knuckles. The gun went flying. Avery dashed in and punched Demona square in the face with the pommel of the other and danced right back out. Demona looked at the blood she wiped from her face. Her eyes went wide with shock and rage. "I shall rend you limb from limb!!"

"Only if you can catch me, you big blue heifer." Avery smacked her in the head one last time and dove off the building, heading back to the castle. Demona’s anger overcame her reason and she came roaring after the hybrid.

Goliath stopped and looked at Brooklyn. "The Memory Stone. It’s the last one. Demona doesn’t have it yet."

"Where does Avery keep that?" Lexington asked. "Is it in the vaults with the other valuables?"

"No, in her dresser," Brooklyn said slowly with a stricken expression. "She keeps it rolled up in a sock." He leaped off the building and began streaking back towards the castle. Lexington and Broadway were close behind.

"Who is this Avery?" MacBeth asked, staggering up to his hoverbike.

"She is Brooklyn’s mate," Goliath answered. "If Demona is up at the castle, she is in very real trouble."

"Remind me to send them a wedding present," MacBeth said absently, "if the bride survives."

Avery put into overdrive as they raced across Central Park. She heard Bronx howling below as she passed. Demona’s wingspan was twice hers and she was gaining. Avery checked the can of pepper spray. There was still a bit left. She arched up and left a contrail of stinging irritant. Demona’s cries of disgust were music to her ears.

She tucked her wings as she zipped towards the castle tower, slipping off her lariat at the same time. Avery skidded to a stop, and turned to face her opponent, finding the loop in her rope by touch alone. Time slowed down as it always did when she was roping, feeling the rope rotating against the tips of her fingers, gauging the distance, shifting her weight for the throw and watching the loop spin through the air as it was released.

The rope caught Demona past the shoulders, snagged up tight against the wing joints. Avery braced herself with a foot against the wall as she jerked Demona back in the finest Texas calf-roping tradition. The jerk snapped the strap on the bag and it fell down into the courtyard below. Demona collapsed with a thump but before she could struggle to her feet, Avery was on top of her. She grabbed a double handful of screaming red hair and drove Demona’s head into the bricks.

"I" pound "HAVE HAD" pound "ENOUGH" pound "OF YOU!!!!" Avery studied her clinically. Bruised and bleeding, Demona looked good and unconscious now. She began tying her up very thoroughly. She had quite a bit of rope left over. Avery eyed the large iron ring in the tower roof and grinned very wickedly.

"Lads!" Hudson called as he sailed their way with Bronx. "What’s going on? Avery just passed over the park like the devil himself was chasing her."

"Oh, shit." Brooklyn pushed himself a little harder and Lexington put on an extra burst of speed as well.

Hudson looked at Broadway puzzled. The big gargoyle explained, "You were close. We think Demona’s at the castle."

"Oh, bloody hell."

Avery was in the courtyard digging through Demona’s bag when the gargoyles landed. Brooklyn rushed up to her. She looked at him and smiled, cracking the bloody crust on her lip where Demona had hit her. He knelt besides her. "Are you okay?"

"I’m feeling a lot better," she replied absently. Avery fished out the Memory Stone and pinned on her unitard. "I had a real crazy gargoyle visit while you were out. She’s got a real pissy attitude." She finally upended the bag, dumping the contents on the pavement. "Where is it?"

"What are you looking for?" Brooklyn asked.

"She took my ring!" Avery was nearly in tears, scrambling through Demona’s possessions. "It’s got to be here somewhere."

As she shook out a piece of soft leather, a silver circle rolled out and came to rest against Brooklyn’s foot. He looked at his frantic mate and smiled. Avery was going to pieces because she thought the ring he had given her was gone and nothing else mattered. He felt insanely pleased about that. Brooklyn reached out and caught her hands. "Hey," he said gently as he showed her what he found, "I think this belongs here." He put it back on her finger.

Avery sniffed tearfully and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. "Thanks," she whispered in his ear. It felt good to hold her again. He stood up, lifting her to her feet as well. She was cold and shaking and he warmed her up with his wings.

"Where are the others?" Goliath asked. "You didn’t face Demona alone, did you?"

"Well, yeah." Avery wiped her eyes. "Hudson and Bronx were at the park and she tranked Angela."

"Is she all right?" Broadway asked, already heading inside. "Where is she?"

"Angela’s in the library and her vitals were good last time I checked."

Brooklyn looked at her incredulous. "You took on Demona? By yourself?"

"What’s the big deal?" Avery pulled away from him and scowled. "Honestly, sometimes you act like I can’t take care of myself. You wouldn’t think anything of Angela fighting."

"That’s different!" Brooklyn bristled.

"No, it isn’t! While you were nosing around in my schedule, did you notice the workouts I do with Fox every afternoon?"

"Yeah, but—"

"Fox does not do ‘Buns of Steel’! I’m her sparring partner. I spend an hour everyday fighting Fox or Owen or even occasionally Xanatos. I may not have the black belts to show for it, but I can fight them to a standstill or better!"

Brooklyn looked at his furious mate, standing there shivering in only her black unitard and sneakers. He had thought her muscles were getting more tone and definition but it never occurred to him how she might be doing it. "I’m sorry," he said simply.

Avery blinked. His response deflated the angry tirade she had been prepared to give. She wrapped her wings around herself and said, "Well, okay, then."

MacBeth arrived on his hoverbike. "Where’s Demona? Did she get away?"

An angry roar drew their attention. "I guess she’s awake again," Avery said. When they stared at her, she chewed on her fingernail. "I kinda strung ‘er up and left her hangin’ off the tower."

"Oh, this I’ve got to see," MacBeth said with a rueful grin and strode off towards the tower. Goliath and Brooklyn flew on ahead.

Trussed up and hanging head down, Demona was hissing and snarling as she bounced off the tower wall. Avery had taken no chances on the vindictive gargoyle getting free. She tied up Demona’s hands, feet, wings and strapped her tail down. Brooklyn burst out laughing. He recognized the way she had done it. Avery tied the Sunday roast up the same way.

Brooklyn couldn’t resist leaning over to look at her while he and Goliath were hauling her up. "Hi, Demona," he said cheerfully. "I see you met my mate. Bad-tempered little thing, isn’t she?"

"You! You mated that abomination!" Demona spat at him. "You will weaken your clan with her human blood!"

"Who I mate is my own business, Demona," Brooklyn said coldly. "Where it counts, my beloved is more gargoyle than you." He grabbed her when she reached the top. "And another thing, Queen Moraine gave me that ring freely of her own will. I earned it and I chose to give it to the one I love. If you ever try to take it from my mate again, you’ll have me to deal with too."

"Marvelous!" MacBeth said admiringly to the little blonde gargoyle that followed him to the base of the tower. "Lovely job, lass!"

Avery shrugged. "Hey, I wasn’t the girls junior champion calf roper of Shackelford county three years runnin’ for nuthin.’"

"You realize Demona is not going to forget you for this."

"I should hope not. I was being nice," Avery said. "Next time, I’ll have to be rough on her." She shivered. "If you’ll pardon me, I believe I’ll go inside. I’m freezing out here."

Brooklyn sailed down from the tower. He looked after the retreating back of his mate. "Swell," he muttered, "now what have I done?"

"Congratulations, Brooklyn!" MacBeth said, clapping his hand on the red gargoyle’s shoulder. "You’ve married quite a woman!"

"Thanks," Brooklyn replied with a wry smile. "I guess I have."

"A word of advice, lad. Never go t’bed angry with each other." MacBeth looked at Brooklyn sympathetically. "If you’re as smart as I think you are, you’ll make sure you’ve made up with her before the sun rises." He grinned. "I was married once. I know!"

Much later, Brooklyn let himself back into their rooms. Xanatos had returned and he, MacBeth and Goliath were arguing about what to do with Demona. They could do without him for a while. The apartment was dark again but he could see a ribbon of light under the bathroom door and he could smell her gardenia bath salts. He opened the bathroom door slowly. Avery was in the tub, head lying back, eyes closed. He swallowed. "I just wanted to say good night," he said quietly.

Water swirled as Avery shifted position, leaning against the side to look at him. "You’re not staying?" she asked.

"I-I thought you might still be mad at me." Brooklyn said, leaning against the doorway. "I made a complete fool out of myself earlier and I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have gone through your stuff."

"Well, I’m sorry too," Avery said quietly. "I was having a bad day anyway and you jumped to conclusions and took everybody with you. I didn’t want to tell you about needing to get glasses because I know you still feel guilty about it. I wasn’t happy about getting them anyway."

"Are we making up?" he asked, a little smile dancing around the corners of his mouth.

"Yeah." She bit her lip. "So, why is it so important to you that I get pregnant?"

"If you haven’t noticed, there’s not many gargoyles in the world," Brooklyn said ruefully. "Goliath and Hudson both make a point of asking me about it at least once a month. I think before he dies, Hudson wants to see the clan with a full rookery and hatchlings playing at his feet." He looked at her warmly. "And for a while tonight, I was looking forward to having a child with you."

Avery gazed back at him, slowly smiling. "Sean Connery or Clint Eastwood?" she asked impishly.

Brooklyn raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

Avery reclined in her bath, stretching her legs sinuously. "Are you going to be Sean Connery and hand me a wash cloth so I can get out or are you going to be Clint Eastwood and get in the tub with me?"

Brooklyn struck a thoughtful pose, tapping his beak with a finger. "Decisions, decisions, hmm." He moved away from the doorway, the door swinging shut behind him. Water sloshed across the bathroom floor.

Epilogue

The making up part was so good, Brooklyn thought blissfully as he lay in the darkened bedroom with his arms around his mate, the fight was almost worth it. He wondered if the others had decided who was going to take Demona yet. If Elisa had shown up, it was going to be a four-way tug-of-war. Oh, well. Goliath knew where he was if he needed him.

Avery had been studying her ring. "Honey?" she said thoughtfully. "Demona said this was somebody else's ring. What was she talkin' about?"

"Ah." Brooklyn scratched behind his ear. "It's kind of a long story."

"I've got the time." His mate trailed her hand down his torso and began applying some encouragement. "So, start talking."

"Well, since you're being persuasive," Brooklyn said, smile widening across his face. "Once upon a time there was a noble and gracious lady named Queen Moraine. She was the second wife of the king and when he died, his eldest son exiled her to Castle Wyvern, the most remote and distant corner of his kingdom. Prince Malcolm, the younger brother, ruled there and accepted his stepmother’s presence in his castle with sincere affection just short of love.

"After a time, Queen Moraine determined that there a number of things she could do at Castle Wyvern to make herself useful. She had been sent to a convent for her schooling as a girl and had done very well; she had hoped to be allowed to re-enter the convent after her husband's death and take vows but this request had been denied by her stepson, the new king. She persuaded Prince Malcolm to allow her to give the children of the castle a basic education and he permitted her to conduct lessons for two hours in the evening after chores.

"One evening she noticed two gargoyle children sitting outside on the windowsill, paying very close attention to the lessons. Later that night, she went to the gargoyle leader, the old warrior they called Elder. She told him about the children and at first, he was angry."

"'Troublesome whelps!'" Brooklyn growled in a spot-on imitation of Hudson's brogue, "'I'll find th' little imps an' tan their hides. They'll trouble ye n'more, milady.'"

Avery giggled.

"'No, no,' Moraine said, 'I care not whether my students are human or gargoyle, all I ask is that they want to learn and to be willing to work hard for their knowledge. If your children want to attend the lessons, please, let them know they are welcome in my classroom.' With that, Queen Moraine became a special concern of all the gargoyles in the castle and true to her word, when the first gargoyle students came timidly to her door, she welcomed them and bade them to sit with the others and continued on with the lessons as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"We watched after her from that point on, year after year. Teaching the children gave her a reason for living and what she gave us was immeasurable. But time began to creep up on her and Moraine's health began to fail. She had to give up the lessons. Goliath tried to take over for her but he was promoted to leader and had other responsibilities. Demona was studying with the ArchMage. The one who would become the Magus took over teaching the human children but his classes took place in the daytime and he would not hear of teaching gargoyles.

"Queen Moraine took to her bed soon after. All she had for company was her maid, Gweneth, and one of her last students, a homely young gargoyle Moraine called her Crimson Cavalier. Gweneth, while she was a good-hearted and capable girl, was rather limited mentally so Moraine relied on Crim for her entertainment. She would have him read to her for hours, romantic epics in Latin and French, transcribe letters to friends at court, and mostly just to have someone to talk to.

"The young gargoyle did not always find this an easy task. His rookery brothers were busy with their warrior training and he was getting left behind. They would tease him when he came around, and say he was becoming a fine lapdog for the old lady. The only ones who didn’t were his two closest friends. It became harder as the years passed and Crim began to notice the young females. He was not especially attractive, with his beak-like snout and his warrior skills were far behind the others. They spurned him.

"Moraine noticed the change in her Crimson Cavalier, even though her sight had long since left her, and she had a private word with Goliath. He began to tutor young Crim and turn him into a better warrior but only after the queen had finished with his services for the night. At last, Moraine crept closer to death. Alone with the young gargoyle, she asked, 'Are you lonely, my Crimson Cavalier?'

"Crim could never lie to her. She knew him too well. 'Milady, there is no one here that wants me. I've become a better warrior but I am so ugly. The girls won’t even look at me when they talk to me.' He sighed but it did not ease the tight feeling in his chest.

"She looked at him with her sightless pale blue eyes and smiled. 'My old Mother Superior used to say before death, the veils are thin between worlds. I've been dreaming about you, my dearest Crim. There will come a day, more years from now than you can possibly imagine, in a city far away, when you will look into the eyes of someone who will see only your heart and nothing else will matter to her.’ She reached over and slipped off her silver jeweled ring that hung loosely on her wasted finger. ‘This is for you, my faithful page. You could have given your duty to a human but you did not. You have endured cruel taunts from your siblings and you ignored them. You kept your temper when the tension in your body made you want to fly in rage.' Tears shone in her eyes as she whispered, 'I wish I were a gargoyle, for I would be proud to call you my son.' She pressed the ring into his hand and they held hands the rest of the night, until Queen Moraine drifted away into eternal sleep.

"Crim went on with his life. He became a first-class warrior and a few years later, he and the last remnants of the clan fell into a stone sleep that lasted a thousand years." Brooklyn looked down at Avery, head pillowed on his chest, asleep with Moraine's ring pressed against her cheek. "And my darling, I woke up here." He stroked her hair and smiled. "I'll admit, I had given up all hope of having a mate. Then you came to the castle and the first time I looked down into your lovely amethyst eyes, I knew Moraine was right. All you saw was my heart and it was yours from that moment on."

The sky was beginning to lighten up outside the bedroom window. Brooklyn sighed regretfully and slid out of bed, barely disturbing Avery. He dressed quickly and returned to kiss his mate. "Aw, I love the way you smile in your sleep. Sweet dreams, my dearest love." He crouched in the corner of the room as the sun peeked over the horizon.

Avery opened her eyes sleepily and watched her mate turn to stone with a mysterious smile on his face. "Sweet dreams, my Crimson Cavalier."

The End