Waiting for Darkness (Prelude to From Darkness Comes Light Saga) by Black Blade (Eddie of Clan Winslow, Amy K. Cyrway) blkblade@mailexcite.com ***DISCLAIMER: *sigh* I'm really getting tired of this . . . but if I want to continue writing fanfic . . . the few persons--I use that term loosely--that I used who are not mine are copyrighted by the titans Disney and Buena Vista and I mean no infringement whatsoever. (YES! I DARE YOU TO SUE ME!!! YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET MUCH...I'M A COLLEGE STUDENT!!!) Everyone else, Clan Winslow, the Outklaws, Wentworth and Kellie, Lilith, and Caligo, are mine. Wait. How would Caligo and Lilith work? Same with Luach, I guess. Thanx go out to Mercedes, Sombrero (my rookery sibs), Blitz (my best bro on campus), Whitbourne, Stormy, Kellie, Al, DemonSpawn--I know too many people!!! Everyone else one Station 8, I guess that would sum it all up.*** *** Nightstone Unlimited Waterville, Maine branch November 15, 1997 Midnight Demona tried all the doors. Locked, as her new assistant left them. Then how did whoever it was sneak in? She had already investigated the vents. Too small for even a human child to crawl in. The trespasser, she had already come to realise, was close to seven feet tall and muscular. A gargoyle...? Probably one of those damned Outklaws, she snarled to herself. But then how did he get in? She caught another glimpse of the perpetrator down the corridor. Posing to strike, Demona snarled and leapt, her talons fully extended as she grasped onto the other's shoulders, pinning him to the ground. "You haven't lost your edge, love," a thick, aristrocratic accent reached her ears as he suddenly...changed...melted into the shadows, dropping her onto the linoleum floor. She stood up quickly, her mouth open with surprise. That voice...very familiar...but it wasn't Thailog...nor Goliath... certainly not Luke, he died long ago.... "Don't tell me you've forgotten," the gargoyle reappeared behind her, wrapping a strong arm around her shoulders, the other holding a bottle of very well-aged Italian wine. "Milan? 1492?" "It cannot be..." Demona turned to face the other gargoyle. "Caligo? You're still alive?" "It takes more than a Hunter to keep me down," the grey male laughed, picking her up into a hug. "But it was hell searching for you these past few centuries. You've been a very busy woman." Old feelings welled up inside her, stronger than she had ever felt with anyone else in the past century. She ran her hands through his thick mane of jet black hair, pulling him into the light some more. "You haven't changed a bit," she whispered, tracing the contours of his beak with a steady hand as she gazed into his infinite grey eyes. "Though you have, love," he muttered. "I've three daughters now, Caligo," she sighed. "All that look like their mother, I'll wager." He bent down and kissed her. "And you were so worried about not being able to have children." Demona savored the kiss, comprehending that the past two relationships were a waste compaired to Caligo's shear power. In fact, she thought Goliath paled in comparison against him at present. Of course, he was the only male who could share eternity with her. "I feared the Hunter had killed you, Demona," he stroked her silky red hair. "Let's return to my home," she suggested. "We can have some...privacy... there. You can tell me how you managed to track me down to this backwater town." "I'll follow you anywhere," he murmured, kissing her hair. "My car is down in the parking lot." "Your--my love, how on earth did you manage to acquire that?" "I'll tell you on the way." She kissed him again. "I just cannot believe you've returned to me after all this time!" "I cannot believe I've found you," he grasped hold of her hand as she led the way down to the parking lot. *** The Wentworths' Home First Rangeway, Waterville "Harry, are you still up there?" The muscular young man on the roof of the three story house cringed at the sound of his mother's voice. "Yes, Mom." "What are you doing up there, anyway?" He glanced at the suitcase of Sam Adams, the carton of cigarettes, the walkie-talkie, and the binoculars, and answered, "Stargazing." "Well, I'm going to bed. Please be quiet when you come back in." "Yes, Mom. Goodnight." "Goodnight, Harry." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the yard light snap off. Good, he exhaled, grabbed a can, and cracked it open. Taking a swig, he picked up the walkie-talkie. "Yo, Maus!" he beckoned. "Mauser, It's Wentworth. Do you copy, over." He waited for a response. "Copy, no," a rough female's voice answered after a minute. "Reproduce, in spite of popular demand, unfortunately." "Hello, Eddie," Wentworth greeted. "Where's the proud papa?" "On his way to see you, with Chaz and the Moronic Duo. He forgot his walkie-talkie here." "Well, then, you might want to hear this." "Does it have to do with Maus' bitch-in-law?" "Heavily," the human set down his beer and took the binoculars in its stead, bringing it to his face. "I've got her car in scope." "1979 Porshe 911, black, convertible, loon vanity plate `Destine'. I know it." "Good. It's right now coming in from KMD as we speak. She has a passenger." "Is it that Dr. Frank-N-Furter dude? I have a bet with Smith and Wes he wears a black teddy under his lab coat." "No, but I could find out for you. My sis got the assistant's job down at Nightstone." "Tell her congrats," Eddie muttered, deadpan. "Anyway, I think it's another garg!" "What? Who?" Wentworth put the walkie-talkie between his shoulder and his ear as he adjusted the focus. "None I know of. He's a big one, though. Can't make out a colour, but he's dark. It's really hard to see through those tinted windows. Kellie!" "Ow!" the female on the other end protested. "What do you want, wormboy?" a woman inside whined. "Go get my night vision goggles." "My exsistance is only to serve you," she grumbled. "Come on! I'm spying on your new boss!" "Oh! Since you put it that way..." There was a slight thud, and his older sister climbed out of his bedroom window, holding his night goggles, wearing only baby girl pajamas underneath a thick housecoat. "Great, sis," he rolled his eyes. "Beavis and Butthead are coming over, and you have to provoke them." "So, what's going on?" she demanded, settling down next to him. "Well, I had to supply Chaz with some smokes, the rest of them want beer, and I may--may--have enough funds to bail Colt." "You?Mister-Got-Sent-To-A-Collection-Agency-Because-He-Skipped-Two-Payments-On-His -Truck-'Cuz-He-Bought-His-Girlfriend-A-Diamond-Ring-And-She-Broke-Up-With-Him-Two- Days-Later--" "Shut up, sis,"he ordered as he strapped on his army-surplus night goggles and turned them on. Glancing up at the sky, he nodded, and whispered, "There's my boys." Kellie also looked up and noticed four dark figures coming toward them. "Yep; they're not just your only friends with wings; they're your only friends period," she muttered. "There also my only friends who can get away with getting stoned during the day--Hey!" His sights returned to the Porshe heading three doors down across the street. The green tint of the night vision made it harder to make out colours, but otherwise the clarity was much better. "Hey, ape-boy!" Mauser touched down first, saw the Sam Adams, and helped himself. "Hey, bat-freak!" Wentworth grumbled. "I got your bitch-in-law in my sights. She's got some other garg with her, a big one, too. Bigger than Mag, from what I can figure." He took off the goggles and handed them over. Mauser shook his head and squinted at the two figures entering the small mansion. "I've never seen him before." The Outklaw leader mumbled. "He looks kind of chummy-chummy with her," Wes commented, landing quietly andgrabbing a beer. Smith landed a little less quietly, loosing his footing and tumbling off the roof, falling into Mrs. Wentworth's rose bushes with a slight yelp. "It's a good thing Mom's a heavy sleeper," Wentworth grumbled. "Eddie said Chaz was with you." Maus smirked and flipped his thumb toward the Destine residence. "He's spying," he whispered melodramatically with a wink. Replacing his night goggles, the human stared at the elm trees in her front yard. Sure enough, he saw the characteristic Nike hat and cigarette glow of the Outklaw second-in-command glaring down at the two shrouded figures closing the door behind them. *** Caligo took off his cloak and, streaking his wings, glanced around the large house. "So this Puck' made you human by day?" he smiled cock-eyed, more of a statement. "I would see where that would be most benefactory." "I have found advantages of it, yes," the azure gargoyle nodded, heading upstairs. "I'll be back in a moment. Make yourself comfortable." Caligo nodded, setting the wine bottle down. He had saved it for five centuries, the only memory he could grab before the Hunter raided their lair all those years ago. Hopefully, he smiled as he located the wet bar and took two crystal wine glasses from the cabinet, it hadn't turned to vinegar. Tenatively, he popped the cork and poured a little wine into one of the glasses. Taking a sip, his smile became broader. Perfect. He heard light footfalls coming from the stairwell. Taking the chiller from the fridge under the bar, he placed the bottle in it and turned to face Demona carrying at her hip a baby gargoyle female with dark blue skin. Her short white hair was curly and her bright green eyes stared up at Caligo with intense curiousity. She was roughly a year by human standards. Most disturbing, however, was the fact she had no wings. "This is Lilith," Demona introduced. The grey gargoyle stared deep into her eyes, his face falling. "Her father..." "Dead and burning in Hell, if I was so lucky," she growled, shifting the child to her other hip. Caligo sighed with relief. "I would hate to kill competion in the presence of his child," he shrugged, taking the wine and pouring it into both glasses. Demona set Lilith down in a playpen and took the proffered glass. "What brings you to the New World?" She questioned. "Last I remembered, you wanted nothing to do with it." "True," he stared out the bay window. "But when I was in Paris, I could not help but to notice the Monster of Notre Dame story. I went to investigate, and caught a glimpse of you, but before I could trace you down, you had left. I then found a transaction slip on the roof of Macbeth Manor on Rue du Sainte, about Nightstone Unlimited. Alexander Thailog, eh? Was that her father?" He nodded to the child. "Yes, though I don't want to talk about it any further." "Then we won't." He held up his glass in a toast. "Instead, I would love to become part of your life once more, with your permission, of course." Demona's green eyes widened, surprised at his proposal. "I've searched for half the millenium for you, love," he added, his hand unmoving from its current postition. "Caligo," she finally whispered, "I don't know what to say. I love you, yes, but...we've been separated five-hundred years...I don't know if we can just pick up where we left off." "Then we can start over from the beginning. Hello, milady, I am Caligo, and I am madly in love with you." For emphasis, he bowed deeply to her. Demona laughed, and for the first time in who-knew how long really meant it. "Still the gentleman, I see," she stated with a smile. "With my breeding, I have to be," he smirked, standing straight. "You and your lineage...I've never seen a gargoyle devoted so much on his genealogy." "I like to keep track of what family I have." "The strangest gargoyle I've ever known," she stepped into his embrace. "And the handsomest." "Speaking on family, that is another matter I must ask you about." He lifted her chin and stared into her eyes with infinite grey pools. "I heard some other gargoyles besides us survived the Wyvern massacre by a magic spell. I know it's farfetched, but I have a feeling my son may have been one of the survivors." Demona froze, horrified. "Your son is lost to us, my love," she hissed, her voice hard. "So it is true. He does live!" Caligo beamed. "But why do you say he is lost to us?" "Because Goliath was also one to survive." This brought Caligo's mood down, and his eyes glowed with vehemence. "Where is he?" The male growled. Demona smiled somewhat. Caligo's hatred for Goliath still flowed after all these centuries. This could prove useful. "In Manhattan," she retorted. "A human who betrayed me a year ago, Xanatos, bought the castle and set it atop of his ungodly building." "Humans never cease to amaze me. He managed to move the entire castle...?" His curiosity overtook his hatred momentarily. "The fool." Demona added. "Would you be insulted if I asked a few more questions about my son?" "Why should I?" She laughed shortly, leading him to the couch. "Ask away." He sat, glancing at Lilith in the playpen. She played quietly, and every once in a while she would look up at him and smile shyly. "Has he chose a name for himself yet?" "Oh, yes," Demona nodded, sipping the wine and giving it an approving nod. "He goes by Brooklyn." Caligo suddenly perked up, but not necessarily from his discovery. "My love," he whispered. "Are these windows soundproof?" "That has never been a concern of mine. Why?" "Because," he hissed, his form suddenly becoming darker as he seemed to...flatten...into the shadows, "I think we have some company." *** Chaz swore, dropping his cigarette. Did that dude just say he was Brooklyn's old man? Easing out of his tree, he glanced up at Mauser and the others and nodded toward the east. Heading home, will meet you there. Maus flipped him a thumbs up. You're all clear. Running low to the ground, the lithe grey gargoyle snuck around the back of the house and into the woods surrounding it. He had gotten no more than a few hundred feet when he felt a cold wind on his back. Since it was mid-November, he dismissed it and continued along the trail. And suddenly, he was jerked up by an unknown force. "Shit!" He cursed, flailing out at his unseen attacker. "What is your business, boy?" the voice demanded. Chaz panicked, probably the first time in his life. "Speak up! What is your business?" "Y-y-y-your Brook's dad?" he muttered. The darkness around him suddenly solidified, and Chaz found himself staring at a gargoyle about a half-foot taller than him and at least twice his weight and several shades darker. "You know him?" "Yeah," Chaz regained some of his calmness. "We met up with him and his human friend back in May. Cool dude,too. Listen, man, Demona is bad news. She's still pissed about ‘Monika hanging with us, mainly because our fearless leader knocked her up." The larger gargoyle relaxed somewhat, and looked quizzically at him. "You know, pregnant?" "And why should Demona not want this?" "Because she hates Monika's mate with a passion." The other gargoyle released his hold on Chaz. "You know my son..." he whispered. "It's fortunate someone does, I suppose. I personally haven't seen him in a thousand years." "Were you separated from the clan when they were turned to stone? Brook told us his clan's story when he was up." "In a way," He nodded. "I am Caligo." "Name's Winchester, Chaz to my buds. Dude--Caligo--I'm sorry for spying, but usually Demona's up to no good. We don't like the way she moved in on our--" he stumbled on his words, "--protectorate." Caligo smiled cock-eyed. "It's gargoyles like you who give our race a good name," he nodded. "But where there is good, there has to be evil somewhere. Demona has good qualities somewhere. I see them when she is around people she trully cares for." "We haven't seen them yet, sir, pardon my bluntness." Caligo only nodded a third time, then, quickly, vanished into the shadows. Chaz held his breath, then exhaling with a sigh of relief. "Man, that's a story to tell the gang," he hissed. *** "What was it, Caligo?" The grey gargoyle stared down at the azure female. "Could you tell me about your other daughters? I just encountered one of--Monika's?-- friends." "Did you kill him?" "He was friends with my son and your daughter. I cannot bring myself to kill innocents." "Annoying insects," she muttered, leaning back on the couch. "They call themselves the Outklaws, but I can bare with them better than Goliath's clan anyday." "About Monika?" "I'll kill the bastard who got her pregnant. Simple as that. If he ever shows up around here, I will not hesitate to kill him." "Why? That child is one more of your blood. Why be angered by that?" "If you knew Mauser, you'd understand." "You act like these gargoyles were human." "Let's just say that they were heavily influenced by humans." *** Mauser cracked open his fifth beer. "I'm heading back. No new activity acting up tonight," he stood, took a long guzzle, and crunched the empty can on his forehead. "You knuckleheads can stay here for all I care, but, I've gotta check on the little missus." And, with a quick thanks to Wentworth, he grabbed the cigarette carton and glided off eastward. Wentworth yawned. Kellie had already turned in fifteen minutes ago. "Dammit!" He exclaimed. "Sometimes I envy you dudes. Party all night, get stoned by day, and get away with it." "Yeah, we oughta get back too. I want to spy on Eddie and Mag tonight," Smith nodded. "We can always watch the Playboy Channel through the scrambler," Wes pointed out. "Whatever, dudes," the human stooped to enter his window. "I'm going to bed. See you later." "S'later, bro!" Wes and Smith saluted, and, taking the remaining beers, followed Mauser. Wentworth stole a look back at the Destine Residence and wondered if it was worth getting into this situation. He did, however, owe it to Colt to help out in any way possible with the Outklaws. *** "What?" Eddie stared at Chaz after he had told his story. "That's impossible. Brook told us--" "Brooklyn apparently knows Demona, and he didn't tell us," Chaz pointed out, taking a drag off his cigarette. "For obvious reasons, however, I see why he wouldn't." "But it's impossible for his father to be alive," Eddie argued blatantly. "Brook told us that save for himself, his rookery brothers, their dog, the leader, and the elder, his clan was destroyed. End of story." "Is it? I don't know about you, Ed, but this is getting deeper and deeper ever since we met Brook and Arin," Chaz stood from the stump he sat on. "I'm just telling you what I know. I thought I was a goner, the way he approached me, like he wasn't really a gargoyle, but some sort of...demon..." he shrugged. "Ed, I've been thinking about what Avaon is always talking about. What if there is magic in the world? It sure the hell wasn't science that froze Brook and his clan into a stone sleepfor a thousand years, nor what sent Avaon here, nor what sent Brook and Arin here. We just have to realise that there is an unexplainable force that could very well classify as magic in this world." "You have a point there, amigo." The greem female nodded in agreement. "But why would this dude--" "--Caligo--" "--Caligo show up here in Maine rather than the Big Apple, where Brooklyn would be?" "Demona." "What?" "Apparently, he has an old flame in the bitch," Chaz stamped out his butt and lit up another. "But what disturbs me the most was what he said before he left me. Something about where there is good there is also evil." Eddie retorted naught to this, only stared off into the night sky. "Ed?" "I'm thinking." Chaz nodded, and left her to her thinking. *** THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME... I have with me an idea that will span the aeons. Caligo came to me while I was writing Where the Winds of Limbo Roar, and filled out here. Revealing little by little, this fanfic will conclude sometime in the future, after the Clone Wars. Meanwhile, As I wait for Mercedes and now Sombrero to finish their fanfic (A Moment of Rage is filling out nicely, and Sombrero has now two fanfics in process, one which may or may not become part of my own "From Darkness Comes Light" series. Unlike "Gliding on the Winds of Time" and "...Love and War", "From Darkness Comes Light" will not go in chronological order, mainly because it jumps from present to 15th century Milan to 21st century Manhattan to 10th century Scotland to 23rd century interstellar dogfights. Also, there will be some fanfic with no purpose to do with "From Darkness Comes Light", like side stories with Clan Winslow (who, sadly to say, do not hold a strong part in this saga, and no, in spite of popular belief, Eddie is not related to Brooklyn, at least not directly), or crossovers. This has been an interesting year in writing for me, and I just wna to thank everyone who read my works in the past. I love comments, and even take critisism! (Why is it that a lot of people liked South Park Horrors? It SUCKED!) Otherwise, stay tuned, and watch for the "From Darkness Comes Light"! Next Fanfic: The first official "In Darkness Comes Light"! "Revenge of the Black Sword" 21st century Brooklyn. Shock Troopers! Black Sword! A bad-assed Bronx cop! Lexington! And, of course, Luc! --Black Blade "My Cosmic Song Goes On For Eternity"