Chapter 29

The Reckoning

Elizabeth stood on the roof with Angela, Goliath, and Brokolyn as they were watching a building. Mosquitoes were buzing around and landing on the gargoyles and Elizabeth. Elizabeth swatted at one.

"If the boredom doesn't get us, the mosquitoes will." Brooklyn grumbled as he swatted one as well. Angela sighs.

"How much longer do we have to sit here?" Angela grumbled.

"Patience. With all the recent thefts of high technology. Our best move is to stake out research facilities." Goliath said. A rumbling comes.

"What's that?" Elizabeth said. She gasped as the building exploded. Elizabeth shielded her eyes as another blasts comes.

"Okay, you convinced me." Brooklyn said. A machine comes up out a hole in the roof. Elizabeth walked closer to the side and looked at the robot. It was holding a box and the robot had a tail. The robot turned and Elizabeth saw that it was Demona.

"Demona?" Elizabeth asked. Brooklyn growled.

"My mother?" Angela asked. Elizabeth still couldn't believe Angela was Demona's daughter. She more nice like her father. Goliath grumbled.

"Demona must be gathering weapons for another offensive." Goliath said. Elizabeth was swooped up by Brooklyn.

"Then let's offend her first." Brooklyn said. He flew off towards Demona. Angela and Goliath right behind him. He sets Elizabeth on the roof and tackles Demona off the building. Elizabeth ran to the side. She still could not break through the spell that held her Gargoyle form in unlike she did when she found out her true form. She moved out of the way as Demona flew up with Brooklyn on her back. "This tan can won't save you." Brooklyn dug his claws in.

"Oh, but it's a very clever tin can." Demona said. Elizabeth's eyes widen as Electricity runs through Brooklyn.

"Brooklyn!" Elizabeth yelled, watching in horror as Brooklyn was kicked away and he fell. Elizabeth ran to the side.

"I got him." Angela called. She flew down but Brooklyn hit the roof. Elizabeth sighed when he stired. She pulled out her gun as Demona turned on Goliath.

"I should've known. You always travel in groups and brought your human girl with you." Demona said seeing Elizabeth standing on the edge of the building.

"We are a clan, Demona. That's something you forgot long ago. Elizabeth is part of our family." Goliath said, earning a smile from Elizabeth. Demona lifts up her arms and open fire on Goliath. Goliath moves out of the way and heads for Demona. Deona flips up and lands on Goliath's back.

"Goliath!" Elizabeth shouted. Angela looks up to see them falling and she runs up the roof. Elizabeth ran back then ran towards the edge and jumps where Brooklyn is and slids down the roof as Angela flew up to Demona. "Brooklyn you alright." Brooklyn groans as he sat up.

"Stop this fighting." Elizabeth and Brooklyn look up to see Angela facing Demona. Brooklyn gets up and Elizabeth and him run up the roof to watch.

"You!" Demona turned on Angela. I saw you in Paris. Who are you?" Goliath lands on a roof and jumps up to go after Demona. "I know every remaining Gargoyle." Goliath tackles her out of of the sky. Demona lets out a yell.

"She is not your concern." Goliath growled. He starts pounding the robot and Elizabeth heard Demona and Goliath's screams as electricity runs through them. Goliath tossed the robot away and it hit the top of a roof. Brooklyn scooped Elizabeth up and jumps to catch an air current and brought them up to float in air to watch as the robot comes to a stop. The hatch opens. Demona gets out and walks away.

"She's ok." Elizabeth said as she held onto Brooklyn's neck. An explosion comes sending Demona flying. Goliath flies down. Brooklyn and Angela follow as Demona hits the ground and lays unconsious. The Gargoyles land as Goliath knelts next to her to feel a pulse. Brooklyn sets Elizabeth down.

"Is she?" Angela asked. Goliath looks up.

"She is alive." Goliath said. Angela kneels next to her. It amazed Elizabeth how much the two look alike but Angela had Goliath's skin tone and hair.

"She looks so peaceful." Angela said. Brooklyn sighed.

"Yeah. Wait till she wakes up." Brooklyn said. Goliath turned away from Demona as he stood.

"We cannot release her." Goliath said.

"What options do we have?" Angela asked, standing up. Goliath turned towards his daughter.

"Long ago, we banished Gargoyles who turned against the clan." Goliath said.

"Yeah, but where could we banish her to?" Elizabeth asked.

"She has a point." Brooklyn said. Angela hand her hand to her chin, thinking.

"Humans lock their criminals away in prison. Maybe we could do the same." Angela said.

"During the day, Demona is human and we turn to stone. There's nowhere safe we could safely guard her." Goliath said.

"No. But I know a place." Elizabeth said.

To Talon's place. After explaining the situation to Talon with the other Gargoyles. Elisa was visiting her brother when they arrived. Goliath set Demona on the bed and walked out. Talon shut the door.

"Then it's agreed. We will guard the prisoners during the day and you will stand watch at night." Talon said.

"I'll come after school to watch her to give you a break." Elizabeth said. Talon nodded.

"Do you realize what you're commiting yourself to." Elisa said.

"There is no other way." Goliath said. He turned to the Gargoyles. "We will take our turn in a nightly rotation. Elizabeth can help with morning watch." Elisa smacks a mosquito that bites her. Elizabeth swats one as well.

"Sorry. I'm afraid we have mosquitos down here and worse." Talon said, pointing to another cell and Elizabeth groans to see Fang in the other cell next to Demona.

"Oh great." Elizabeth mumbled. Fang walks up to the cell door.

"Hey! Hey! I resemble that remark." Fang said.

"Fang is serving time for trying to force his way into power down here." Talon said. Elizabeth crossed her arms.

"Yeah, yeah. But I'm expecting the govenor to commute my sentunce any minute now." Fang said.

"I say throw him out to the streets." Elizabeth said, earning a chuckle from Talon. Angela grabs the bars to her mother's cell as Elizabeth walks up to Brooklyn.

"I'll take the first watch." Angela said. Goliath looks surprised.

"Perhaps it's best if you don't." Goliath said. Angela turned on her father.

"Am I member of this clan or not?" Angela said.

"Of course but..." Goliath was stopped as Hudson put his hands on Goliath's shoulders to stop a fight between the two.

"Take the first watch, lass. Just remember, she may be your mother, but she is capable of anything." Hudson said. The Gargoyles, Elisa, and Elizabeth left Angela with Demona.

Two months went by and the watching was every night with Elizabeth helping in the morning. It was almost sunset as Elizabeth sat on the chair finishing some work on the laptop she brought with her.

"Seems this time your hard at work." Demona said as she sat on the bed, watching the human.

"Trying to get things ready for when I graduate." Elizabeth said, not looking up.

"A human that rather do school and help fight crime with the Gargoyles. And your stuck watching me." Demona said. Elizabeth ignored your taunts. "You know you could never give Brooklyn kids being human. I'm sure he wants it." Elizabeth looked up and smirked.

"Hate to break it to you Demona. I'm not a human. I'm a Child of Oberon and Queen Titania. This is a temporary form. My true form is Gargoyle." Elizabeth said with pride in her voice. It seemed to shut Demona up. Talon came in.

"Sunset is almost here." Talon said. Elizabeth shut her laptop. "Still can't believe your actually a Gargoyle."

"I never felt right. More a night owl then morning and always trying to learn new fighting techniques. Glad I know the truth." Elizabeth said. Talon nodded. Demona's screaming came and they watch as Demona turned from human to Gargoyle. "Avalon that has to be painful." Demona stopped screaming as she finished transforming.

"Maggie has food for you, Liz. If you want to grab food before you head out with Brooklyn." Talon said.

"You got her?" Elizabeth asked, looking at Talon.

"Go." Talon said, waving his hand. Elizabeth took one last look at Demona before she went to find Maggie.

Brooklyn and Goliath found her and Maggie talking and laughing.

"Hey guys." Elizabeth said. Maggie excused herself.

"How was your day?" Brooklyn asked.

"Well finally told Demona the truth about me. She was pushing some buttons. Seemed to shut her up when I told her who my parents really are." Elizabeth said. Brooklyn chuckled as he pulled her into a hug.

"That might stop her from messing with you." Brooklyn said. They walk down to the cell to free Talon. Elizabeth and Brooklyn were gonna say bye to Talon before they left for date night.

"They're all yours." Talon said as they came up to him.z

"Hey, Yo, Goliath." They turn and look at Fang who was looking at them through the glass. "How many Gargoyles does it take to screw in a light bulb huh?" Elizabeth rolled her eyes as Demona stands up.

"Well, well. If it isn't my judge and jury. Surprised Elizabeth is still here." Demona said.

"Here to say goodbye to Talon and heading out with Brooklyn." Elizabeth said.

"You chose your own fate, Demona when you turned against your clan." Goliath said

"Clan? You don't know the meaning of the word." Demona said.

"And like you do?" Brooklyn asked.

"Don't provoke her. Let's go." Elizabeth said. The room started to shake.

"But I'll teach you." Demona said with a smirk. Elizabeth and Brooklyn share looks as the room shakes got worse. Talon stopped walking and turned.

"That doesn't sound like a subway car." Talon said. Elizabeth grabbed her gun that was on her hip as a blast comes through the roof. Brooklyn shoves her out of the way and she turns to see rocks knock the Gargoyles and Talon to the ground. Elizabeth ran to them. The smoke clears and someone landing on the ground comes. Elizabeth turned and gasped. Thailog was standing in the room.

"I hope I haven't come at a bad time." Thailog said.

"Thailog, my love." Demona said, making Elizabeth almost gag. Demona backs away from the cell door. Thailog notices Elizabeth raise her gun and uses his tail to knock it out of her hands and then knock her to the ground. She lands next to Brooklyn, grunting in pain. "Your timing is impeccable." Elizabeth looks to see Thailog shoot the bars to the cell and Demona runs out and hugs Thailog. Demona grabs the gun from Thailog. Elizabeth looks and sees her gun not to far away. She rolls onto her stomach and crawls to the gun.

"Hey, Demona I've always respected you as a fellow inmate. Some of my best friends are half gargoyle half human with bad attitudes." Fang said. Elizabeth grabbbed her gun. Demona shot at a mirror as Elizabeth saw her gun was broken. She swore under her breath as Demona walked up to Thailog.

"he's a fool but he may be some use." Demona said. Elizabeth tossed the gun as She turned to see Fang pull his sheet off.

"I can work with that." Fang said. Demona and Thailog jumped through the hole in the roof. "Hey! Wait up!" Fang jumps to join them. Elizabeth ran to the hole and saw them gone.

"Liz. You alright?" Elizabeth turned to see Brooklyn, Goliath, and Talon standing up.

"Looks like date night is on hold." Elizabeth said. Brooklyn nodded.

"Hurry. We must not loose them." Goliath said. Brooklyn picked up Elizabeth as they jumped through the roof.

"I need my spare gun. Thailog broke my favorite." Elizabeth said as they stepped outside..

"Brooklyn. Swing to the tower and get the others and so Elizabeth can get her other gun. I'll send word where to meet us." Goliath said.

After going to the Clock tower and getting the others and Elizabeth's other gun. Goliath sent them a message to meet thaem at the carnival. The Gargoyles arrive at the Carnival to see Goliath and Talon on top of the Farris wheel. The Gargoyles land. Hudson between Goliath and Talon and the Trio with Elizabeth above them. Angela landed in a crouch in front of Talon. Brooklyn set her down as they looked down at what looked like the house of mirrors. Elizabeth felt uncomfortable.

"Nobody's come or gone, so I scoped the place out. There's three ways in. A service entrance at th rear, an air vent on the roof and the front door." Talon explained. Goliath nodded.

"We will take them from all sides." Goliath said. He turned towards the others. "Hudson, you and Talon go in through the back. You four take the roof." Elizabeth and the trio nodded. "Angela. Come with me." Brooklyn picked up Elizabeth and the Trio fly towards the roof. They land and Broadway knocked down the air vent. Elizabeth jumped down first. The trio follow. They found themselves in what looked like a maze. Broadway went one way and Elizabeth walked with Brooklyn and Lexington. Brooklyn opened a door and Elizabeth had to stop from screaming as a bug like creature comes out.

"Very funny." Lexington said. Footsteps turn and they spin to see two gargoyles that looked like Brooklyn and Lexington behind them. Brooklyn kept a hand on Elizabeth, pushing her back.

"What in Avalon." Elizabeth whispered. The two tackle their identicle selves down and they start wrestling.

"They're clones of us!" Lexington said. Elizabeth grabbed Brooklyn's clone and pulled him off Brooklyn. The clone whips around and throws Elizabeth into the wall, knocking her out as Brooklyn jumps on him as Lexington is knocked out and the clone throws Brooklyn into a wall and everything goes dark for Brooklyn.

Elizabeth woke up to her arms chained up the wall next to Angela. Brooklyn was in a pillary. Talon was tied to a circle thing that spun. Lexington sat in a chair chained and Hudson was on a stretching table. Goliath and Broadway were chained to the wall as well. Elizabeth looked around to see they were kind of in a dungeon. Elizabeth saw Demona approach Goliath. Elizabeth clutched her fists.

"Well, Goliath, what do you think of my new clan." Demona said. She turned pointing the gun at the gargoyles. Elizabeth gasped. All the clones looked like the clan. "That's Brentwood, Hollywood, Malibu and Burbank." Elizabeth and Brooklyn share looks. "I named them myself." Demona had a evil smirk on her face.

"If you consider these poor creatures to be your clan, you have sunk even lower than I imagined." Goliath said.

"Now, Now. That's your freinds genetic makeup you're insulting." Thailog said, walking up to Goliath. Elizabeth bit her lip. Now what had her brother pay to have these creatures done. They were getting close again after Alex was born. He wouldn't try to ruin it. Thailog turned to the clones and walked up to them. "Of course they are a bit primitive." He petted Brentwood, Lexington's clone, on the head. "I've kept their programming simple." Thailog turns to the others. "Obey Thailog." Thailog laughs. "It's all they really need to know. But enough about me." Thailog slowly approaches the others. "But enought about me. It's time to get rid of all of you." He points his gun at Angela. "Starting with her." Goliath's eyes widen. Demona jumps in front of Angela.

"No! She belongs to me." Demona said. Elizabeth realized Demona finally knew the truth of Angela.

"My dear, you've known she was your daughter since before we staged your capture. And you've still been unable to turn her." Thailog said.

"You knew the whole time?" Angela said anger in her voice as she glares at her mom. Demona turned to look at her.

"I had to make you understand." Demona said.

"She's been playing you Angela like she plays with us. We warned you it would happen." Elizabeth said, earning a death glare from Demona.

"Your right, Liz. Now I understand perfectly. All this was a a charade staged to turn me against my father, to trap and destroy my clan. You are capable of anything." Angela said. Her eyes glowed red. "I hate you." Demona looked hurt. Elizabeth felt a bit bad as Demona looked down and started walking away.

"You see? You're better off without her." Thailog said, pointing a gun at Angela. Angela closed her eyes.

"NO!" Demona tackles Thailog as he pulls the trigger but Demona was able to get the gun in the air and Thailog shoots the ceiling. Demona and Thailog struggled till Thailog punches her off him. Elizabeth gasps as Thailog turns on Demona. Fang runs.

"Coward." Elizabeth whispered.

"You disappoint me, my dear. Fortunately, I prepared for such a development." Thailog said. He looks away from Demona. "Delilah. Melanie." A door opened and two female Gargoyles walk out and Elizabeth gasped. The brown one was almost dressed like Elizabeth with white hair. The other was white with black hair.

"Yes, Master Thailog." Delilah said.

"What can we do?" Melanie asked.

"Look familiar, my ex love. I combined your DNA with that of the human Elisa Maza and another with Elizabeth Xanatos. To create Delilah and Melanie. They are the perfect programmed companions. Obedient and lovely. They'll do anything for me." Delilah and Melanie came up to Thailog. Demona looked like she wanted to murder him. "Destroy them, Delilah. Melanie. Destroy Elizabeth." Brooklyn growled.

"As you command." Delilah and Melanie said. They picked up their guns and came up to the girls. Thailog turns and shoots at Demona. She moved to what looked like a door knocker on the wall.

"Goliath! Save our daughter!" Demona yelled. She lifts it up and pushes a button. Goliath, Angela, and Elizabeth were free. Elizabeth jumps at Melanie and tackles her to the ground. The gun flew out of Melanie's hands. Goliath tackles Angela out of the way as Delilah fired at Angela. Delilah aims a gun at Goliath. He uses his tail to knock the gun out of her hand and frees the other gargoyles. Elizabeth and Melanie were rolling on the ground fighting. Demona tackles Thailog through the wall. Goliath goes after them. The Gargoyles attacked the clones and they were wrestling. Fang blasts at Talon, who rolls and Fang makes a run for the door. Talon turned on him.

"You won't get away that easy." Talon said, blasting at him. Fang runs out the door. Delilah reaches for a gun, but Angela kicks the gun out of her reach.

"Don't even think about it." Angela said and the girls started wrestling. Hollywood, Broadway's clone, knocks Broadway into the chair. Brentwood tackles Lexington to the ground. Elizabeth grunts as Melanie kicks her hard off her and she hits the wall. Brooklyn comes over and helps her up. Lexington was struggling.

"We can't beat these guys one on one." Lexington said. Elizabeth and Brooklyn share looks and nod. Brooklyn goes over to Lexington and Brentwood.

"So let's use teamwork." Brooklyn said. He pulls Brentwood off Lexington and tosses him. Melanie goes to get up and feels a tap. She turns and Elizabeth punches her hard in the face sending her flying. Hollywood runs at Broadway who moves out of the way and Hollywood puts his head through the wall. Hudson was pinned to the ground by Burbank.

"Aye." Hudson knocks Burbank off him. "But we'll need some room to move." Hudson runs for the hole. Elizabeth right on his heals after she grabbed a gun and the trio follow with the clones right behind them. They reach the roof and Brooklyn quickly scoops up Elizabeth and they take off with the clones behind them.

"Split up." Brooklyn ordered. The Gargoyles split. Burbank was behind them as they flew towards the ferris wheel. Elizabeth fired some shots at him. Broadway jumped on him.

"I'll take it from here." Broadway said. Brooklyn flew off. Elizabeth gasped.

"Brooklyn. The rollar coaster." Elizabeth said. Brooklyn looked. The Rollar Coaster was on fire and two Gargoyles were fighting on it.

"Avalon. Demona and Thailog are fighting on it." Brooklyn said. Broadway and Hudson made Burbank and Brentwood colide in air and fall to the ground. Brooklyn flew around just in time to see Thailog tackle Demona and knock some burning wood down. Goliath flew out of the way towards them.

"You alright?" Goliath asked. Elizabeth nodded. Goliath and Brooklyn flew towards Talon who was watching the fire with an unconsious Fang on the ground. They land on the ground. Brooklyn set Elizabeth down. "Have you seen Angela?" Talon got a worried look and they turn to see Delilah and Melanie coming out of the smoke in chains. Angela shoved them forward. Goliath ran over to Angela. "Are you alright?"

"I've been better." Angela said. Lexington flies and lands in front of them. "Where's Demona?" Lexington points.

"Look." Lexington said. The Gargoyles and Elizabeth look at the Rollar Coast. Elizabeth put her hand to her mouth when she sees the whole coaster is in flames. Thailog and Demona were fighting on top of the Coaster. A wood starts falling making them gasp as the coaster starts to call.

"Master?" Delilah asked.

"Mother!" Goliath had to grab Angela from running into the fire. The Coaster colapses. Angela was crying. Lexington, Broadway, and Hudson bring the other Clones over to them. Brooklyn put a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder. Elizabeth wondered if the two survived the fall. Would be a miricle if they did.

"No Thailog." Brentwood asked. Elizabeth was surprised they could talk, but all of them were busy fighting to realize they could talk.

"What now for us?" Hollywood said. Elizabeth and Brooklyn look at each other.

"Without Thailog, these guys don't know what to do or where to go." Broadway said. Goliath let Angela go as she walked towards the distruction.

"Yeah, but we can't just bring them back to the clock tower, can we? I mean. They kind of give me the creeps." Lexington said. Talon was thinking.

"Talon. What are you thinking?" Elizabeth asked, knowing that look. Talon gave her a smile then approaches the clones.

"They can come live in the Labyrinth with my cloan." Talon said.

"You our master now?" Burbank asked. Goliath turns to see Angela on her knees sobbing.

"Better than that. I'll teach you how to think for yourselves and use verbs." Talon said. Elizabeth came over and put a hand on Talon's shoulder.

"You'll be in good hands with Talon." Elizabeth said. Her and the Garoyles turn towards the burning coaster.

"Is she really gone?" Angela asked as Goliath put hands on her shoulder.

"I don't know." Goliath said as he looked at the fire.

"The last thing I said to her was I hate you. But she sacrificed herself for me. How can it end this way?" Angela said.

"She knew how you truly felt. And Demona's love for you was the first goodness she has show in a long, long time." Goliath said. Elizabeth knew he was right. She saw something new in Demona protecting her daughter that she had never seen before. "For her, it may have been a new beginning. A new beginning for us all."

AN: One more chapter before we are on Hunter's Moon and onto the Goliath Chronicles. Till next time