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Alternate Lives 3: Past Sins	By : Kingcobra Category: +G through L > Gargoyles Views: 3677 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Gargoyles, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Alternate Lives 3: Past Sins
- 1
DISCLAIMER: Angus, Ardath, and any other original characters are mine. The Gargoyles who are featured on the show belong to Disney, and to Greg Weisman, who is GOD.

PREVIOUSLY on “Gargoyles”:

Orius took the object and inspected it, a smile forming on his blue-toned face, before looking up at the group of monk-like figures, all of whom stood before him silently. "Thank you, Niko. You may go now."

Niko turned to leave, his companions joining him, when Orius stopped him. "Niko?"

The monk turned.

"This device will need guardians to watch over it, protect it from harm, for all of eternity. That task will fall to you and your companions, my trusted friend."

***

The green gargoyle smiled at his mate.

"I love you."

Brooklyn smiled back. "Love you the most," he grinned and kissed him deeply.

***

'Do not speak. Just listen.'

Ardath, feeling skeptical, crossed his arms over his chest. "This ought to be good."

'You have a calling, Ardath of Israel. There is a gargoyle here whom goes by the name of Brooklyn. You must seek him out. If you do not, then this world, and everything you know and cherish, will be destroyed. Only making an allegiance to his clan will save you and everyone else.'

"Oh, yeah? Is there something coming?"

'Evil. Pure, untainted, unreasonable. You and Brooklyn will be the key to salvation.'

***
"Brooklyn?"

The red male blinked in surprise. "How did you..."

"Name's Ardath. I've been looking for you."

***
Brooklyn placed his talons on Lex's shoulders, forcing the green youth to look up at him, Lex's face wearing a disapproving frown. "Lex, I'm not interested in Ardath. Okay?" Brooklyn smiled. "Why would I trade one mate, who I love with all my heart, for another, who I barely even know? You and I are one, Lex. Now and forever."
***

Hearing a large WHOOSH sound, both gargoyles turned, as one, just in time to see a large flame descend onto the floor of the room, and quickly vanish away, leaving a familiar sight behind. The gargoyle was of medium height, only slightly shorter then Brooklyn, with skin that could be compared to the color of the sky, and brown hair. His wings were also brown, and he was dressed in a light gray loincloth, and jet black pants. He was holding the Phoenix Gate.

As the figure’s eyes focused on them through the lengthy brown hair, he smiled. Not a warm, loving expression, but a cold, twisted glare of hatred and fury that made Brooklyn’s hair stand up on the back of his neck. This was clearly no friend.

A thought that was made even more obvious when the gargoyle raised a gun and shot at them. Brook and Lex dived out of the way of the bullet, but Brook lost his footing, and being completely off-balanced, collapsed onto his butt on the floor. Lex had slipped and hit his head on the nearby table, and was now lying there, unconscious.

Brook had no time to worry over his mate, though, before the chamber of the gun was poked into his neck roughly, the gargoyle sneering as he kept his finger on the trigger, a cold, sadistic smile forming.

--Alternate Lives 2: Phoenix Guardians
Alternate Lives 3: Past Sins

By King Cobra3 (kingcobra_582@hotmail.com)
WARNING: Language, Violence, Angst, Yaoi, and graphic male/male Sexuality. Rated R. All children under 18 should stay away.
CASTLE WYVERN, MANHATTAN, NEW YORK

2003 A.D.
“Miss me?”
Angus was almost laughing. After all these centuries, FINALLY, revenge would be his!
‘Oh… fuck…’
Brooklyn tried to gather a calmed breath, a feat made almost impossible, given the fact that there was a laser gun poking him in the chin, the face of an angry Gargoyle sneering at him, at the safe end of Angus’ wielded weapon. He had to reason with this stranger who, Brooklyn was slowly realizing, was not a stranger at all, but an old friend.
An old friend who now seemed to be an enemy.
Shit. It was too bad Lexington was out cold. Even worse that there was no one else in the room to provide him with assistance. Brooklyn had to handle this himself… somehow.
“Okay, okay, just… calm down, okay?” Luckily, Angus was allowing him to stand, the barrel of the weapon slowly following Brooklyn’s movement as he got to his feet, the deadly tip always aimed at his face.
Tackling him would be a death wish, given the proximity of the gun’s closeness, so the other only way would be to talk reason into him. “Let’s just have a friendly little talk, all right? No one has to get hurt here.”
Angus jerked his head towards the prone shape lying on the floor to Brooklyn’s left. “That’s a bit late, don’t you think?”
Despite the great rage that suddenly flared up, the brick-skinned Gargoyle forced himself to act composed, keeping his urge to attack and pummel Angus for what he’d done to his mate suppressed. “I know you’re angry, okay? And I can still remember why.” Brooklyn recalled the night Angus had been exiled from the clan. He also remembered thinking back then how unfair it had been, and how he’d wanted to comfort his friend before Goliath had ordered all of them to no longer associate with the rouge. “You were wrongly banished, and we ignored you after that. Tried to pretend you never existed. I know what it’s like to feel ignored… rejected…” Despite his situation, memories of being rejected by first Maggie, then Angela flashed in his mind before Brooklyn shoved the flashbacks away. “…unwanted… and… and…”
“…and Lonely…” Angus finished the thought for him, vulnerability appearing on his face. The hard expression softened, and Brooklyn knew straight away that he was getting through to this male. Good. So far, so good.
“Angry…”
“Lonely…” Angus echoed Brooklyn’s dark thoughts, his former emotions. “All alone.”
“Lonely, yes. But no matter how bad things get, you have to always remember that they will get better. There is always sunshine after the storm. You were alone, and I can understand your emotions. How long exactly you felt like you were unloved I don’t really know. But believe me when I say… that you don’t have to be anymore.”
Angus’ hand shook as he lowered the gun slightly. Brooklyn reached for the gun. “You don’t need this, though, so just… let me have the gun… alright?”
The Gargoyle’s face changed as he snapped back into his madness, causing his companion to back up a few steps in surprise. He kept the nozzle pointed right at Brooklyn’s face.
“Oh, I’ll let you have it, all right… asshole…”
***

Ardath strode down the Castle Hallway, perplexing questions still plaguing his thoughts. What was it that was coming? The voice had said it was something evil, so he obviously had to be careful. Especially in this strange, but beautiful, new world that he had been sucked into. Keep an eye out for anything and/or anyone suspicious, because odds were that the evil would eventually present itself at some eventual time.
All Ardath really knew was that he would play an important role in this fight, but as what? A Warrior? As a Martyr? Was he meant to die and rejoin with Arlon on the other side?
Perhaps he was, and, if it was the final page in his life’s story, Ardath did not fear it. Hell, he welcomed it. It had been too crushing, being alone without his love.
Of course, then he had met Brooklyn.
He’d had had a crush on the red-skinned garg. Hell, he still DID carry a secret affection for Brooklyn. But, unfortunately for Ardath, Brooklyn already had a mate to be in love with, and to spend the rest of his life with. So that was out. It was tradition that once a Gargoyle’s mate died, said Gargoyle would be alone for the rest of his/her days.
Thus, nothing would ever come of Ardath’s feelings.
Damn.
Ardath pushed aside all of these thoughts as he emerged into the Great Hall, and his observing eyes took in the scene playing before him.
‘What do we have here?”
Then Ardath saw the gargoyle who was keeping his weapon trained on Brooklyn.
Ardath’s jaw dropped in pure shock.
“A-Angus?!?”
***
Keeping his face forward as best as he could, lest he lose it, Brooklyn shifted his eyes, looking, stunned, at Ardath out of the corner of his eyes. How did Ardath know Angus?
Angus looked at Ardath, dropping his anger for the moment as he fixed his gaze on the new gargoyle. Something about this guy was familiar, because he knew that he knew him from somewhere. The only problem was that Angus couldn’t remember where.
Who WAS this male?
Then, his memory placed Ardath, and Angus smiled as he recalled him at last. Yes, he was familiar, and, for him anyway, it had been such a long time since they’d last met. So long, in fact, that Angus was slightly bewildered, just for a second, that Ardath didn’t look any older since they’d last seen each other. He still looked so young. Sorcery?
Perhaps. And perhaps not.
***
This was weird, watching these two just staring at each other, seeing the clear recognition between them. But whatever the history was between these two, it didn’t change the fact that Brooklyn had a psychopath pointing a deadly arsenal at him.
Completely baffled by this unspoken tension between the two, Brooklyn decided to use Angus’ momentary state of distraction to his advantage. He had to, or else he would most likely end up very dead.
His talons grabbed Angus’ lethal bazooka at the same time that his tail swept forwards, knocking Angus onto his back, and wrenching the weapon out of the enraged gargoyle’s hands in one movement. Angus let out a shout of rage and pain as he found himself literally head over heels, and then, on his back, the wind somewhat knocked out of him, causing him to pant heavily.
Ardath approached, all shock faded from his features. “What the hell was that about?”
“Uh, an old… friend…”
‘Not just yours, Brook…’ was Ardath’s unspoken response. He was still in too much shock to react. NEVER had he expected to see Angus again!!
A loud groan rang in their ears right then, and Brooklyn, still wielding the bazooka, glanced behind him to see Lex sitting up and rubbing his head, where a large, purple bruise was forming. Brooklyn was surprised at himself. He had almost completely forgotten about Lex in all the excitement.
“Babe, you okay?”
The olive male got to his feet, a little shaky, his head still spinning somewhat. “Yeah, Brook, I’m fine. Bruised, but fine.”
Brooklyn laughed. “Poor baby. Gimme a few minutes and then I’ll bandage your wound for you.”
Lex nodded as Brooklyn turned back to Angus, who had regained his breath, and was now staring up at him, glaring at him in complete hatred. Brooklyn pointed the bazooka at Angus’ chest.
“Move. NOW.”
***
CASTLE WYVERN, DUNGEON.
“So, why now?”
Brooklyn waited. And waited.
“I can wait here all night if I need to. I want some answers.”
Angus, shackled to the wall in the Castle’s prison, said nothing.
Brooklyn frowned. “You wanna play the part of the mime, I can deal with that. But sooner or later, you will talk. I want to know how you’re still alive, how you got here, and why you waited so long to attack us.”
Angus spit at him.
Brooklyn’s eyes glowed and, losing all control, he back-handed Angus.
“Now fucking TALK!”
His angry blow and threats had the complete opposite effect of what Brooklyn had expected. Instead of conceding his information, Angus began to laugh maniacally.
Seeing that any further interrogating would be useless, Brooklyn angrily struck him one last time, before storming out of the dungeon.
***
CASTLE WYVERN, BROOKLYN AND LEXINGTON’S ROOM.
Lexington looked up as Brooklyn entered their shared bedroom a few minutes later, carrying a wet cloth and gauze bandages, while dabbing at his left eye with another wet cloth. “Remind me never to stand too close when interrogating someone.”
“He spit on you, huh?”
Brooklyn nodded. “Like a Camel.” Tossing the used rag away, Brooklyn sat on the large bed in front of his mate, and set the bandages right next to him, on the surface of the dark velvet bedspread. “Come here.”
Lex obeyed, and with a “This is gonna hurt,” Brooklyn gently pressed the cloth, which was soiled not from water, but from sterilizing alcohol, against the bruised area on the left side of Lex’s head, just above the left ear. The Gargoyle winced, but stayed still and, despite his discomfort, he never made one peep as Brooklyn pulled the cloth away and began applying the bandages over the sore area.
“I know it’ll heal during stone sleep, but having you in pain the rest of the night wouldn’t be fun for either of us.”
“You can say that again,” Lex grumbled, running his hand against the bandages, barely even touching them. “So what did our prisoner have to say anyway?”
“His name might as well be Jack Shit, cause that’s all I got out of him.”
“That bad, huh?”
Brooklyn nodded. “Understatement of the Year, Lex.”
Lex stretched out on his back on the bed, groaning as he stretched his body, the muscles rippling beneath his flesh, before he looked up seductively at his lover. “You in the mood for a little wrestling?” They had been planning a night of lovemaking right before the stranger had arrived and interrupted their fun before it could even start.
“Maybe when you’re feeling better, Lex. But I’ll take a nap with you, if you want.”
Lex sighed, vaguely disappointed, but reluctantly accepting of the refusal for private exhibitions of affection. “Okay.”
Accepting of it for now, anyway.
As Brooklyn flopped onto his back, Lex snuggled up to him. Brooklyn wrapped one arm around Lex’s left shoulder, and the two fell asleep, both of them already drained of energy from the evening’s activities.
And it would be another seven hours before the sun rose.
***
This was certainly nothing new, being chained in some filthy prison cell. It had happened to him before, at various times across the different centuries. None of them had ever managed to hold him, for he had picked up some handy tricks over the millennia. He’d be damned if this would be the first inescapable prison. Alcatraz might not even have been able to hold him for long.
That gargoyle, though. Not the beaked fool with the white-hair, but the other one. Someone who had shared a part of his past with him. A Gargoyle who was very familiar to him.
Angus pondered, for one brief second, where Arlon had been.
Ardath had NEVER gone anywhere without his beloved Arlon.
So exactly what the hell had happened?
No matter.
Angus would escape from this rattrap, but it was not yet the time. Not yet the right moment.
He would wait until the time was right, until they were all weakened, off their guards. He had friends in high places that would tell him when to strike. Then, and only then, he would escape.
And he would destroy every member of Goliath’s clan with his own hands.
But in the meantime, he would be patient.
Angus would take his dear sweet time.
***
CASTLE WYVERN, B AND L’S ROOM.

3 HOURS LATER.
“So, you feeling better yet?”
Lex reached up and, very carefully, leery about any possible pain, yanked off the gauze, sighing in relief when the pain did not come. It had healed completely. Thank whoever for stone sleep. “Yeah, like a million computer modems.”
Brooklyn rolled his eyes good-naturedly. Of course Lex would compare his health to something technological.
“Now then…”
Brooklyn looked at him and grinned, because Lex’s grin had twisted devilishly as he curled his talons. “You’re SO gonna be punished, my love. You’ve been a bad, bad, bad, boy. Daddy’s gonna have to show you who’s fuckin’ BOSS.”
Laughing, Brooklyn held Lex at bay with one arm while he snickered. “You’d like to think, Lex.”
“You sure as hell bet I do!” And with that, the smaller male grabbed Brooklyn’s wrist, and started running his itching talons madly across Brooklyn’s arm, catching his mate off guard, and drawing laughter, from both him and Lex, as the brick-red gargoyle lost his balance, and collapsed onto his back painfully.
L:ex’s smile faded into a worried expression. His mate wasn’t moving, and his eyes were tightly closed. Was he unconscious? “Brook… you okay?”
No answer. Shit. Had he seriously injured his mate somehow?
All of the worries Lex had had suddenly vanished in the blink of a eye once he got too close, and Brooklyn suddenly came to life, laughing as he grabbed his mate, and pulled Lex down onto his stomach. Brooklyn sat on his legs, to hold the squealing gargoyle in place, Lex’s cries falling on deaf ears, and began tickling his mate gently but fiercely in various parts along the neck and the ribs, Lex’s protests becoming uncontrollable laughter.
“How do you like me NOW, my love?!”
Lex rolled onto his back, Brooklyn’s mischievous fingers ending their assault on his nerves, and smiled. “You asshole,” Lex whispered, but Brooklyn knew from the tone that the smaller male didn’t mean it. Lex was just responding to the surprise attack.
“Yeah, but you love me.”
Lex, relenting, answered without any hesitation. “Yeah.”
The snow-haired youth cupped Lex’s chin in his right hand, smiling as he looked truthfully into his mate’s large eyes. “I love you, too, Lex.”
They kissed right then, Lex opening his mouth to allow access to the large tongue that was poking against his lips. Brooklyn moaned as he sat up, pulling Lex onto his lap without breaking the passionate embrace, Lex’s tongue tickling the back of his throat.
The Olive-Green male moaned as Brooklyn’s right hand slipped inside the back of his loincloth, squeezing and massaging the thick husk of flesh and meat he found there. Lex, in response, kissed him harder, wrapping his legs around Brooklyn’s waist, keeping his left arm wrapped around Brooklyn’s upper back, while the right hand ran itself through that beautiful cotton-toned hair that Lexington had always secretly found irresistible.
Brooklyn pushed Lex gently away, settling him on the floor, for a few seconds, causing him to whimper in dissatisfaction. Lex had been wanting to shower his passion upon his mate since the previous night, and, finally, it had seemed like his currently insatiable appetite would be satisfied. At least, until Brooklyn had shoved him off of him.
Had his mate only been teasing him, testing his desires?
Brooklyn ignored his disgruntled grumbling and stood up, staring down at Lex, whose expression was that of a child whose mother refused to buy them a piece of candy at the store. “I’m going to go take a shower.”
Lex said nothing.
Brooklyn grinned. “You wanna join me?”
Lex was suddenly ecstatic. “You don’t have to ask me twice!” He answered, jumping to his feet. Good. It hadn’t been a tease after all.
Smiling, Brooklyn took his hand, and the two walked out, still holding hands, on their way to the Castle’s bathroom/shower room.
As soon as they were inside the room, Brooklyn wasted no time locking the door behind him, so as to avoid any accidental discovery, or any humiliation, and then he turned back to Lex, leaning down enough to leave a trail of kisses along his right shoulder and arm, while unbuckling Lex’s loincloth.
Lex, too, was working on undoing his lover’s only garment, swallowing hard when he saw that beautiful large member come into plain view. THIS was what Lexington of Clan Manhattan had been waiting for for the last Twenty-Four hours.
Brooklyn grinned. “Like what you see?”
Lex’s breath was glass in his throat. “Always.”
Brooklyn picked Lex up in his arms, and kissed him. Lex wrapped his arms around Brooklyn’s neck, kissing him back, as his lover started carrying him to the shower stall on the opposite end of the room, breaking the kiss and setting Lex down once they’d reached the shower area, so he could turn on the hot water.
His lover flinched as the water scalded him. “Too hot.”
Brooklyn turned the nozzle, decreasing the density. “Sorry.”
“S’okay.”
Instead of answering, Brooklyn grabbed the bar of soap from one corner of the shower (luckily, the shower also doubled as a bathtub.) and, grabbing Lex by the shoulders and spinning him around to face the white-tiled wall, began scrubbing his mate’s shoulders and back.
Lex moaned. “That feels so good.”
Brooklyn smiled and continued “soaping” him, rubbing that self-cleansing bar across the back of Lex’s head, because, since he was bald, shampoo would be useless. Pointless, even. Lex willingly moved beneath the spray of water once the back of him was completely covered in soap, and Brooklyn gave him the bar of soap, admiring the view as Lex started casually running the soap across the front side of his body.
After the soap was washed off of his face, Lex squinted under the pressure of the water, and caught the admiring look on his lover’s face. Okay, then, if Brooklyn liked what he was seeing…
Making sure that his mate was still watching him, (as if he would be watching anything else at the moment!) Lex made a show of sensually moving the bar soap across his neck. Brooklyn’s eyes shone with fervor, and Lex laughed inwardly at his own seductive display while the soap moved downwards, across his chest, then his stomach, and then his…
Brooklyn looked REALLY interested now. Lex grinned, and, instead of cleaning himself under the water, folded his arms across his chest teasingly.
Realizing quickly what his mate wanted, Brooklyn stepped forward, his wet talons starting at the top, wiping the soap out of his lover’s scrawny-yet-muscled neck, and his eyes followed Lex’s show, working his way downwards Lex’s body very slowly, running across his talons across the soft flesh of the sopping torso and stomach. Lex’s moans filled the air.
“Lower… God…. Take it lower, Brook…”
And Brooklyn did as requested.
Lex gasped in pure pleasure as Brooklyn’s talons brushed against his member, sending a shudder down his spine, and arousing Lex even further.
‘Oh, Jesus, Brook... How much I love you...’
But Brooklyn already knew that. And Lex knew that he knew.
And Brooklyn knew that Lex knew that he knew.
And he knew of a particular way to show Lex his love for him.
The smaller mate flinched, gasping, as Brooklyn’s hand wrapped around something, squeezing it gently, those sexy red talons running up and down upon Lex’s hardened shaft.
Then Brooklyn had dropped onto his knees, and suddenly…
Lex moaned, and while he did so, he also couldn’t help thinking in the back of his mind that it was good the shower water had already cleaned the soap off of his cock, because otherwise Brooklyn would’ve had an unexpected surprise waiting for him. The thought itself was enough to make Lex chuckle in between moans.
“What’s so funny?” Brooklyn had stopped what he had been doing to look up at him, surprised.
‘Goddamn it, Brook!’ was Lex’s instant thought.
“Nothing!! Just don’t stop!! JESUS CHRIST!!!”
Brooklyn obeyed, his smile at Lex’s frantic outburst unseen.
While Brooklyn sucked, he slipped his talons around Lex’s wrist, sliding easily over the hips and behind them, to cup Lex’s ass, increasing both their passion, and his mate’s loud groaning.
Lex’s talons, which had been buried in his mate’s white hair on the back of his skull, tightened their grip, nearly fatally, as he came in Brooklyn’s mouth. Despite the brief pain, Brooklyn didn’t even grunt. He couldn’t, due to the hot, sticky seed that was suddenly making its’ way down his throat, some of which he couldn’t even swallow and thus spilled down onto the shower floor and washed away down the drain in the floor.

On shaking legs, Brook managed to stand, and grabbed Lex roughly by the waist, insistently grinding his hips against the smaller male’s, drawing surprised gasps from Lex.
The smaller Gargoyle kept groaning, his cries causing Brooklyn to thrust against him, brick-red arms wrapping around Lex’s lower back and pulling him closer, the larger male longing to feel his love pressed tightly against him with each thrust.
Lex ran his hands across Brooklyn’s ass, fondling his long red tail, moaning with jerk of Brooklyn’s glistening hips, beads of sweat running across his bald forehead. He could feel himself starting to release his seed, but before Lex could do so…
“Hey, why’d you stop?!?”
“Just testing your endurance, Lex.”
“Well, don’t!” The green male responded, sounding desperate.
“Okay, then.”
Brooklyn shoved Lex, as gently as he could, against the shower wall, beneath the onrushing spray of steaming water, and pressed his hardened erection into Lex’s inner thigh again.
Lex moaned again, louder this time, as Brooklyn began to grind again. This was incredible, even better then the last time that they had made love, and Lex never wanted this to end, though he knew better. Aside from him and Brooklyn’s strong relationship and their love for each other, nothing lasts forever.
Well, that may have been true, but from the soft, pleasant rhythm of the taller male who was pressing his cock against his and thrusting, as well as the teasing but brief break in action a few seconds ago, Lex knew that Brooklyn would make sure this would not be just a quick fuck. Brooklyn wanted him to enjoy it.
And enjoy it Lex did, squeezing Brooklyn’s muscular ass as they continued moving in synchronization, his red-fleshed lover leaving a trail of kisses across his neck and shoulder as they kept going, Brooklyn’s hips gyrating into a now more forceful, more violent, mode of affectionate love, his lips catching Lex’s.
Lex returned the kiss, and Brooklyn slipped his tongue between Lex’s lips, enjoying the taste of Lex’s mouth. Lex responded by fighting his tongue with Brooklyn’s as they French-kissed, during the middle of a bout of mind-blowing sex.
Brooklyn’s seed splashing onto his flesh was enough to make Lex let loose, and he came with a roar, both males’ eyes flashing white at the exact same moment, his partner not stopping to spite him this time.
Brooklyn pulled himself off of his mate, and Lex, panting from the force of his lover, grinned.
“Jesus, Brook…” Lex struggled to catch his breath in the steam emanating from both the water and his mate.
Brooklyn only grinned back. “Maybe we should shower together more often.”
“Count on it.”
***
CASTLE WYVERN, LIBRARY, 20 MINUTES LATER.
“So, where do you know Angus from?”
Ardath blinked at the unexpected question, which had come from the mouth of his unexpected visitor. Brooklyn had scared the crap out of him.
Ardath set the book down and settled back in the Library’s reclining chair, stretching, hoping that the shape of his masculine body would appeal to the red gargoyle.
There was no response. Only a curious, and slightly impatient, stare.
When Ardath saw that it wasn’t working, he grumbled in the back of his mind and relaxed, plopping his hands into his lap as he looked at Brooklyn. “What do you mean?”
“When you saw Angus back there, in the Great Hall, I thought you were gonna shit yourself. It wasn’t a look of shock or surprise. It was an expression of recognition. Which means to me that you know him already.”
“So?”
“So, I want to know exactly what your connection with him is.”
Angus blanched. He wasn’t prepared for this interrogation, and he sure as hell wasn’t prepared for the glare Brooklyn was giving him. Goliath’s second-in-command was looking at him like he was a dangerous criminal. “It’s… personal…”
“Spill.”
Ardath sighed. Why had it come to this? Knowing that he had no options, he decided to humor Brooklyn. “It happened when I was still in the desert, with my clan, before they all perished and the Phoenix Gate dragged me here.”
“What did?”
“The humans feared us, but we always banded together. Protecting each other. Like any good clan should. Arlon and I had grown up together, and, over time, we fell in love and became mates.” Ardath smiled, memories of an earlier, happier time flowing through his mind. Then he frowned. “Angus was also of our clan. But, unlike the rest of us, he excelled in making trouble. Not only for the clan and I, but every person he ever met. His sense of mischief and wrong-doing was out of control, so much so that Arlon banished him from the clan.”
“Then what happened?”
The gargoyle sighed. “He allied with a human. A sorcerer. My clan had always lived in harmony with the people of Cairo, and it was peaceful for many times. But that was before Angus returned, with his filthy human ally.”
“What’d they do?” Brooklyn, despite himself, was intrigued. In some ways, the manner in which Ardath was describing the prisoner in the dungeon reminded him of the way Brooklyn himself felt about Demona.
“They used the Phoenix Gate to go back in time. And they turned the ancestors of our human friends to fear us. In such effect…”
“History had been changed. The people you had once befriended suddenly did not know you, and, in effect, they feared you.”
“In a nutshell, yes.” Ardath closed his eyes to keep the tears from flowing. “They had driven us out, and I lost my beloved Angus to the harsh desert winds.”
Brooklyn bowed his head in sympathy. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault; it’s that bastard Angus’. Though why he would do this is beyond me.”
“Revenge – it’s the simplest motive evil knows.”
Ardath raised an eyebrow. “So you know about vengeance, then.”
“Something like that, yeah.”
Once again, Brooklyn thought about Demona.
***

CAIRO, EGYPT, 1985 A.D. (Ardath’s POV)
We kept fleeing. Racing through the dunes, the glow of the desert moon bearing down upon them, and without mercy, for as we were bathed in the light, there could be no escape. No place to hide.
The maniacal gargoyle youth behind them could still see us. And he had turned Judas on the sorcerer, killing the human with his own magical spells. If the Gargoyle, the one who had called himself Angus, would attack his own ally like that, then surely he would not hesitate to take our lives as well.
Thus, running was our only option.
But my beloved Arlon was growing too tired, too drained of energy to keep going, and too injured, as well. Their pursuer’s laser weapon had blasted a severe hole in his shoulder, and Arlon was fading fast, collapsing onto the sand with a loud THUD.
I quickly dropped to my knees, temporarily ignoring the rapidly approaching footsteps of our relentless attacker, only a half-mile away, gently pulling my lover’s head onto my lap, trying to save him, tears spilling down my face as I attempted to keep my sobs restrained. I could not give in to despair, for both of our sakes.
“Come on, my love,” I addressed him as he tried to smile, as I tried to pretend that everything would be all right, though we both knew differently. “We must be going, if you and I are to make it through this.”
Arlon laughed a laugh that quickly became pained wheezing.
“Foolish Ardath,” he called him, just like he always did when Ardath was being too idealistic, though this time there was no annoyance in his voice, only unrequited love and emotional sadness. “I’m dying.”
Then the sobs finally came.
“NO! No... You... you’re just injured, but... it’s not serious. Just get up, and we’ll find you some assistance... dawn’s almost here... Arlon? ARLON!!!”
Even when I had pleaded with him, knowing ultimately that it was useless, but not wanting to believe or accept it, Arlon, my partner, my soulmate, had gazed up at me with only love in his fading eyes.
“I love you...” Those were the last words he said as he slipped away, taking his last breath.
“ARLONNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!”
I held the sobs back no longer. Even as the youth approached, drawing ever closer, I could not, WOULD not, stop wailing over the loss of life on this tragic day.
Possibly for the rest of my life.
***

CASTLE WYVERN, MANHATTAN, NEW YORK

2003 A.D.
Brooklyn, newly awakened, sighed deeply from the parapets as he watched the last of the crimson skyline fade to a dark hue as the last of the day faded into night. It had been a terrible time for him and Lex, not to mention the rest of the clan, since Angus had shown up, completely unexpected, to threaten them all.
What was even worse was that Brooklyn did not know why.
Perhaps he could get some answers, however. And he knew of one way to find out. Questioning Angus in the present was not an option, but what if he ‘borrowed’ the Phoenix Gate and jumped into the past? Perhaps he could talk with the younger counterpart, get some information.
No.
He shook his head, wisps of cotton-like hair falling into his eyes in the process, surprised at himself. Brooklyn could not – WOULD not – do that. Intervening into the past would not change a thing, given what he knew about Goliath’s experiences with the Gate. History was immutable.
And, even if it hadn’t been, there would’ve been the fair chance that he would screw up his own present, as well as his own future, and the Clan’s Second did not wish to experience what his life would’ve been like if it had been altered. No Clan, possibly, and, even worse, no Lex.
Brooklyn suddenly shuddered. And not just from the troubling perspective.
“You okay, Brooklyn?”
Lex. The small gargoyle was staring at him, watching him brood, with a worried expression on his beautiful face. Brooklyn grinned, drawing a content expression to his beaked face.
“I’m just fine, Lex. Wanna go for a walk?”
“Sure. Where?”
Brooklyn shrugged, having no clue. “Just around the Castle, I guess.”
“Ok, then.”
And they did, Lex following his mate as they strolled through the stone corridors, neither male heading anywhere in particular, just wandering aimlessly, until Lex suddenly stopped in front of a thick mahogany door.
The red-fleshed male kept walking for several feet, clearly lost in thought, until he was snapped out of his inner perspective by the fact that his mate was not at his side, and turned around. “Why’d you stop?”
Slightly amused, Lex grinned at him. “I bought a present for Alex and left it in our room. Thought since we were here anyways…”
“You’d grab it and bring it to him now?”
“Yeah.”
“What is it?”
“A Jack In The Box.”
“I’ll get it.”
Lex moved aside, staying in the hall near the door, as Brooklyn entered their shared bedroom.
***
BROOKLYN AND LEX’S ROOM
Goliath’s Second entered, gazing around the room in slight boredom. A Jack In The Box. Heh. Kids seemed to enjoy the weirdest toys. Brooklyn had the brief thought that if he had been a human child, he would’ve enjoyed a large, real motorcycle. He wouldn’t have been able to ride it, but it would still have been enjoyable.
And, thinking this, Brooklyn knew inwardly how stupid it was, and allowed himself a brief chuckle at his own inane imagining.
“What’s so funny?”
Lex, still in the hallway. Why was he staying out there, anyway? ‘Like he has any reason to come in. This is just gonna take a second, and it doesn’t require the both of us.’
“Nothing. Just thinking to myself.” Lex let it go at that without a response, and Brooklyn looked up, at the small rocking chair in the corner of the room, where Lex would sometimes sit in and tell Alex, who would sit on the floor, stories about their hatchling adventures in Scotland.
‘Nope, this job only needed one. There it is.’
And there it was.
Just sitting on the chair.
Brooklyn reached out to take it, to carry the small item with him back into the hallway, to where his mate waited patiently. So they could give the kid his present and find something to do for their personal alone time. Unfortunately, this was when everything suddenly went to hell, and Brooklyn suddenly vanished in a burst of light, his lean arms still outstretched.
5 seconds later, Lex poked his head into the room. “Brook?”
***
UNKNOWN TIME AND PLACE
‘You cannot undo what has already been done.’
WHAT THE HELL?!?? What the hell was going on? Where was he? What was this? The last Brooklyn remembered was reaching out for that damned toy. Now this. Was he dreaming?
‘This is not a dream.’
He looked around, searching for the source of the voice.
“Somebody there?”
‘I am always here. As the Rivers forever run, and the day eternally fades into evening, so too shall I be near.’
Brooklyn wondered for a milliliter of a second if maybe he wasn’t just losing his marbles. “Great, now I’m hearing voices. Next thing I know, Goliath and Xanatos will be locking me away.”
‘You are not going insane.’
He blinked.
‘You must see the truth. The answers you seek I will provide you with.’
And Brooklyn suddenly found himself elsewhere, in a world far from the noises and familiar elements of Manhattan. A world that was now strange to him, in a sense of having not been there in centuries.
And yet his surroundings too were also familiar.
Brooklyn stared at the castle, fully restored on its’ hilltop location, looking the exact same way that it had when he had been a hatchling.
Then he looked.
And he knew.

***
SCOTLAND

973 A.D.
Hakon smiled in his wicked cruelty, already savoring the sweet taste of almost sweet victory. It had been so easy, raiding those last three villages in the previous few hours. But they had been small camps, with few residents, and even less plunder. His men had been less then satisfied.
However, the real prize stood before him. In the form of Castle Wyvern.
True, he had racked this location before, but majestic areas like this already tended to rebuild themselves, to recover, quickly. Which meant there must surely be more booty within the glorious stone walls.
Treasure that was meant to be taken.
“Onward, my men!”
They attacked.
***
‘Mother! NOOO!!’
The hatchling wept over the shattered form of his rookery mother. She had been warm and full of life two nights before when they had gone to their daily rest, and when he had failed to return last night, busily playing with his friends much too late and unable to return to his home in time, the young one had spent the day trapped in stone form.
Miles away from the Viking Raid that had taken her life.
Now she was nothing more then dust, and shattered pieces of stone, and he wept. It was all his fault. If he hadn’t been so blind as to leave his guard post, where he had been appointed by Goliath to watch the horizon for signs of invaders, he could’ve warned them, and his mother would not have been smashed.
Her death had been needless.
And it had happened because he had been foolish.
Too caught up in the fun moments of being young.
The man, the muscled blonde Viking with the beard, had led the charge, and he had seen them from a great distance, but too far away to fight back.
Or even to shout a warning.
It was a miracle that the majority of the clan had survived. Goliath and his mate had taken the young ones into the forests for warrior training and recreation, and they too had taken too long in their activity.
But she hadn’t. She had been smashed. Ashes. Grit. His mother. The only one who had ever loved him. Dead. Pieces. No more. No longer would the sunshine of her smiling face shine upon him. Dead. No more time with her. Dead. No more mother.
Dead. Dead dead dead DEAD!!!
He broke down into a screaming, sobbing, pitch of wails.
‘MOMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’
With only a stone shell forever locked in the expression of unseeing terror to keep him company, the young Angus wailed.
***
UNKNOWN TIME AND PLACE
Brooklyn gasped in shock, preparing to move in to comfort the young hatchling who had been weeping over his shattered mother, when he suddenly found himself in a void. It was bright, and endless. The Gargoyle did not know where or when or whatever he was, but from the looks of it, it was a portal. A cataclysm of bright colors, and eternally flowing rhythm.
“Where the… What the hell?”
‘This is the passage of time. Unknown to mortals, but routinely traveled by the hands of fate. This is where your answers have lived. Now you know all.’
Brooklyn folded his arms over his broad chest in skepticism. “Great. I’m being addressed by a living, breathing, fortune cookie.”
‘There is only one path. No routes around it. Lives always go down a differing, yet pre-determined route.’
“Thank you for the insight, Plato. Now mind telling me why you dragged me here?”
‘If history is altered, then your clan can never exist in their present state. You will all still exist, but back in your former time, trapped there permanently. The course of time must not be interrupted, lest the destiny of all close to you, perhaps even the entire planet, will be shaken, and the universe will plunge into oblivion.’
“Well, that sure as hell can’t be good. So, oh mysterious voice, what can I do to stop it?”
‘It’s all in the book.’
“Huh?”
‘Look for yourself, young one. The answer is within.’
“Within what? Look, if you’re gonna drag me here, at least tell me who or what you are. I want answers.”
‘Very well, then.’
And with that, Brooklyn saw everything. And what he saw changed everything.
***
AVALON

1983 A.D.
‘Fluminus Benite!’
The deadly lightning bolt zapped towards the defiant guardians, gathered upon the beach. There were perhaps 5 in all. And they all appeared that they meant serious business.
But all of them put together were no match for this threat.
“The Archmage,” Brooklyn growled. But how? Goliath, Hudson, and Demona had killed him more then a thousand years ago!
And yet here he was, attacking these angry hooded monks, with his powerful magics. Magics that Brooklyn knew from stories he had heard from his elders as a hatchling that were only capable with the possession of the Grimorum Arcanorum.
Brooklyn squinted his eyes, trying to see from his apparently invisible position, but he saw no book. ‘This just keeps getting better and better...’
‘You have no idea.’
“YAHHHH!!!” Brooklyn jumped, then his body language switched spontaneously from surprise to restrained anger. “Dammit! Stop doing that!”
‘This is what has taken place. The humans have inhabited this isle for centuries, due to the time stream that flows differently here then in your world. But they have never known of us, for we had lived in the shadows, dwelling in darkness, serving only the royal family of the land of Avalon. It should not have even been possible for us to been found, and, yet...’
“’The royal family of the land of Avalon’, huh? Lemme guess. Oberon’s kin.”
‘Correct. Look upwards, at the castle.’
Brooklyn did so, the sounds of the mass slaughter still plaguing his ears and his jaw dropped at the sight of Angus, standing on a parapet, watching the Archmage overpowering the Monks.
“Why is he here? What IS this?”
‘The one that is known as Angus lost his mother during a Viking attack as a hatchling...’
“Yeah, I remember that. It was a rough time for him. Broadway, Lex, and I felt sorry for him, and we tried to befriend him, but he would not associate with us. He became withdrawn.”
‘He longed for her resurrection. After your leader banished him wrongfully, this youth became insane. Lost all feeling. All emotions. All save one. A single desire.’
Brooklyn’s eyes widened with realization. “He’s trying to use the Phoenix Gate to bring her back.”
‘And such a thing would rip the very fabric of time and space itself. What has been must happen. It cannot be undone, for it is all set in stone. But he is still attempting to make the change, and, by doing so, is threatening the very survival of certain members your clan.’
“What do you mean?”
‘There was meant to be death on that sad day, back in ancient Scotland. If his mother survives, then the weakest Gargoyle among you will be taken in her place.’
“Lex…. Oh, god… no…”
‘You asked who I was, what I was. Look upon what you see now.’
The male did, and his mind reeled at what he was seeing. All the monks, save one, were lying blooded upon the sand, all dead. The lone survivor was fleeing towards the forest, with the Archmage following him, not running, but actually FLOATING in high speeds.
‘I was fleeing to the sanctity of our home within the island itself, to the Phoenix Gate, which was what these villains desired. Which was what saved me. The very item, which we protected.’
“So, then… you are…”
‘Yes, Oberon’s ancestor had appointed us to guard the Gate. To keep it safe. We are... we were... the Guardians. Now there is only I. And There is also you, to keep watch over it at your castle. You must look within its’ pages to stop Angus, and you must protect that which is most valuable.’
“Huh?”
But there was no more response. The strange voice was gone. The vision was gone. And suddenly, Brooklyn was back home, sitting on his butt on the stone floor of the castle parapets, and his clan, plus Puck and Ardath, were all looking at him like he was a shark out of salt water.
“Brooklyn?!” Goliath’s voice was shaken, uncertain.
“Whoa…”
***
CASTLE WYVERN

2003 A.D.
The billionaire frowned in his activity, his brown eyes scanning the smooth handwriting of the ancient text that he had lying open on the smooth glass surface of his mahogany desk. It hadn’t been easy, searching through all of the dusty volumes at the library, searching for any reference on Angus that he could get his wealthy hands upon.
But at least, he had located a volume which could answer his, and the clan’s, questions. Blowing the dust off of it, he opened the ancient hardwood cover, and began skimming through it, eyes shifting horizontally, scanning each line, until he came across what seemed to be a prophecy, written on the dusty pages.
“For he shall travel across time,

Fueled by rage and despair.

Pure vengeance shall rule his mind,

And violence dwelling inside his heart.
Those closest to him will try to stop him,

But they will fail entirely.

For he shall seek the return of a loved one,

Damaging the time stream.

And only one shall end him forever.”
David Xanatos raised his left eyebrow. ‘What an interesting dialect. A doomsday prophecy, perhaps?’
Perhaps he should show these verses. Allow Goliath to try to make sense of it.
No.
Scratch that idea. At least for the time being.
When Goliath had informed him of all that had been happening the last several weeks, the man had been stunned, almost horrified, though in typical David Xanatos fashion, he had retained his composed demeanor in a apparent mood that had bordered upon calmed interest. But on the inside, he had been horrified, for once, in his wealthy, less-then-politically correct life.
This Gargoyle, this stranger, shows up out of nowhere thanks to the Phoenix Gate and attacks Brooklyn and Lexington, only to be overpowered and imprisoned? It was fascinating, from a morbidly curious standpoint. In the old days, Xanatos would most likely have allied with, and later exploited, this Angus for his own personal gain, his own needful purposes and strong sense of self-interest.
But that was then. This was now. And even people like David Xanatos can change.
Now, instead of exploitation of anyone, particularly the clan, the billionaire assisted them. Lent a hand, when he could do such a thing, when the situation didn’t threaten anything he loved. When it didn’t endanger either his wealth, his family, or his stone-faced right-hand man. Because though he hadn’t always, and even now rarely ever, shown it, very, very deep down, Xanatos cared for the Gargoyles. Every single one of them. They were more to him than just Guardians defending their castle as well as his home and headquarters in the interior of the Eyrie Building. They were more then mere allies. They were friends to him, and his family. For example, Lexington’s close devotion to his mystical son Alex. And, as such, he was friends with them.
So, using them for his own purposes was out of the question. Infinitely, and forever.
‘Now, as for Owen…’
Walking away, whistling as he carried the volume beneath the safe tuck of his right arm, the billionaire decided that it was time to go find Owen.
And, as a possible aftermath, find Puck as well.
‘Let the right hand do the dirty work, for once.’
***
CASTLE PARAPETS, THAT EVENING
“He wants to WHAT?!”
Everyone in the vicinity winced reflexively at Goliath’s enraged roar.
Well, almost everyone. Brooklyn was gone somewhere, and no one knew exactly where. It was like he had just vanished into thin air. Puck, the only one to retain his nerves, only sighed, both used to the Gargoyle’s quick anger and annoyed by it. “He wants to go back in time and change what had happened to his mother. Given the situation at hand, as well as the book’s descriptiveness, that’s the best motivation for his behavior that I can come up with.”
Goliath only growled softly in his throat, as he looked down at the ancient works that were nestled in the fae’s hands. He was in a bad situation, both him and the clan, and it seemed that they were nothing more then mice in a trap. No way out. No exits. There was also no way to tell what effect, if any, that would have on both their present and their futures, but Goliath nor his clan had any intention of making that risk.
There was also the further infuriating news from Lexington that Brooklyn had disappeared. Had simply vanished into thin air, without rhyme or reason, and without any explanations.
Then, without any warning, it happened.
A flash of light. Brilliant, and yet unexpected. Beautiful, and yet completely alien.
A familiar shape fell out of it. Though, “flung out of it” would be more descriptive. Thrown by who or what, no one had any idea. But once the shape was dispelled from its’ grasp, the light faded, and the Gargoyles and the Fae were allowed a better glimpse of this figure, who was sitting on the floor before them.
Goliath was in shock. He hadn’t been expecting this to happen. He knew that his Second had been gone somewhere, but no one, not even Broadway or Lexington, had known where. And then to just have him literally drop right out of the sky…?
“Brooklyn?!”
“Whoa…”
Brooklyn seemed slightly zoned by the trip, but Lexington was the first to move, gently throwing his mate’s left arm over his shoulder, and helping him to stand, the taller male swaying slightly. Almost drunkenly.
“Are you okay, Brooklyn?”
“What happened?”
“What the hell was that?”
Endless questions were not helping Brooklyn regain his focus, was not shaking him out of his confusion, and Lex recognized this, when he looked into Brooklyn’s unfocused eyes.
“You guys! Just knock it off!” This was directed to all, even Goliath, who looked startled (and slightly fearful? Why, Lex did not know or care, but it still weirded him out.) that the small green one would speak to them in such a aggravated manner. “Give him a few hours to get his shit together before bombarding him with pointless questions!”
They all looked surprised at his outburst. Such an angry response was so out of character for someone of Lex’s size and stature. Goliath was especially awed, slight fear and memories of the Evil Lex that he had seen in Puck’s deceptive “future” plaguing his psyche.
But that had been just a dream.
Right?
Of course it had been. Puck had been a trickster, after all. A great master of manipulation. Twisting things around and playing games with others for his own ends.
Goliath banished the thoughts aside as he watched Lex drape his arm around his weary mate’s waist and help him walk into the depths of the castle.
***
Xanatos’ Office
Thank god for small favors. He had found Puck in little time, checking the first place Puck would be in the Castle. The fae had been unhappy about being taken away from young Alex’s magic lesson, but he understood that dire situations require dire actions, and he morphed back into his stiff-jawed persona. “You wanted to see me, Mr. Xanatos?”
“Yes, Owen. There’s this –“
“Yes, sir. I have already known. I’ve known since Angus’ arrival. Feeling the kind of power that one like him would possess is elemental to someone of the fae nationality.” Xanatos nodded. Just what he had thought.
“So, what can you do about it? Is there anything that any of us can do to stop him?”
“He came through the time stream with the assistance of the Gate. There may be a spell I can perform that will enable one more use of the Gate, thus trapping Angus in a permanent period of time. But the spell required is one of a great magnitude of energy. In short, it will leave the Puck’s powers nearly completely drained for a good while.”
“Do it. I will go alert the Gargoyles to the current news about their little friend.”
“Yes, sir.”
Castle Wyvern – Dungeon

The Very Same Time
“Just tell me why.”
Angus stared holes through Ardath, and the gargoyle flinched. Knowing that his enemy was silently plotting his ultimate death, the male brushed his quick bout of fear aside, and reacted in anger. With his fist.
Angus’s head snapped back and he slowly turned to look back at the object of his hatred, spitting blood as he did so, eyes shimmering with deep resentment and strong hatred. “I will… end you, my friend.” This last part was accompanied by another spit of crimson, this time in Ardath’s direction.
“No threats. Just tell me why you are doing all this. Wasn’t killing my mate enough for you? Now you want to destroy my clan? You piece of filth…”
“They are not your clan. They barely know you. How can you call them your clan?”
“Clan is about family. Family means those who care about you. These Gargoyles care about me.” Angus snorted, and Ardath’s curiosity was suddenly piqued about something, a previously unspoken question that had just dawned on him. “Tell me, have you ever known what it’s like to be cared about?”
For a moment, vulnerability played across Angus’s face, then it was replaced by rage and that twisted hatred again. “Fuck… you.”
“You have, haven’t you? You’ve been close to someone in your past. Where is this person now? Did something happen? Something to take this loved one away from you?”
Now Angus simply looked pained, instead of angry. “Please. Just shut up.”
“No.”
“Please.”
It was at this unexpected plea that Ardath knew he had struck a nerve. His voice became soothing, his tone soft, as he reached out, touching Angus’s shackled hand. “Please tell me. I… I want to know…”
“What the hell do you care? I’m scum to you.”
“Maybe because I know what it’s like to lose someone, thanks to you.” For a moment, Ardath recalled Arlon’s untimely demise, and he had to force himself not to weep. “And because I feel sorry for you.”
“You feel sorry for me? Then let me go.”
“Why should I?” Goliath had given Ardath the keys to Angus’s shackles and the dungeon doors, because since he had the most experience with this foe, he would have the least likely reason to release him.
Angus laughed bitterly. “Cause if you do, I can bring your precious mate back.”
Ardath hesitated.
***
Castle Wyvern – Brook and Lex’s Room

5 minutes later
“You alright, my love?”
Brooklyn chuckled, the last of his lightheadedness from his wild ride fading away. “Yeah, Lex. I’m fine.” He gave Lexington’s talons, which were resting comfortingly on his left shoulder a squeeze. “But thanks for the concern.”
“What happened?”
Brooklyn paused for a second, debating, trying to choose whether or not to reveal what he had seen in his vision. But then, he remembered what the strange voice, the Phoenix Guardian, had said about his mate. HIS Lex.
“Sit down, and I’ll tell you everything.”
So Lex did, and Brooklyn did.
The Olive-skinned garg was stunned, taken aback. He didn’t know what to say about this bizarre tale, the unsettling revelations.
But he didn’t need to think about it long, before their door slammed open, and both lovers glanced up quickly at the deranged looking Angus looming in the doorframe, holding an unconscious Ardath in the air by the back of the neck. He dropped the gargoyle’s limp form to the floor, and cracked his knuckles.
“Now... it’s play time...”
Brooklyn instantly attacked with a lunge.
But it didn’t get the job done.
Angus, with a demented snicker, punched him brutally in the underside of the beak, sending Brooklyn flying back towards Lex, who tried to move out of the way of the onrushing form. Unfortunately, he wasn’t fast enough, and Lex was smashed against the wall, his back smashed between his mate and the stone wall. They both hit the floor, unconscious.
Angus grinned. “Way too fuckin’ easy…”
***
Castle Wyvern – Great Hall
It was a while before he came to. “Urgh…”
Glancing to his right, reality returning to him, Brooklyn’s eyes fell upon his mate, who was still out, and he snapped wide awake, his rage and desperation and his fear for Lex’s life and his own acting as a adrenaline boost. He tried to move his arms but it didn’t take long for him to realize that they were tied behind his back with a thick rope. “Where’s Goliath?”
“How should I know?” Angus smiled, that insane gleam back in his dangerous eyes. “Like it matters. Once you two are dead, he’ll be next, followed by the rest of your pathetic clan.”
“No… I won’t let you get away with this…”
Angus only pointed a laser cannon at Brooklyn’s face. “Like you could stop me?”
“Ugh…. Ow….” Lex was coming around. Angus only glared at the stirring green shape draped at his feet.
“I WILL get away with this. Now get back!” When Brooklyn didn’t do so, Angus growled and back handed him fiercely, sending him flying through the air, clean across the room, to land painfully upon his back.
“Brooklyn!” Lex scrambled towards him, trying to get to his mate, to make sure he was okay and still breathing.
But a few feet was all he got before Angus dropped the laser cannon and suddenly kicked him in the ribs, and Lexington yelped in pain, rolling onto his left side. Angus’s foot viciously caught Lex in the chin, knocking him backwards.
With a growl, Angus reached down, wrapping his fingers around Lexington’s throat and lifting him into the air, smiling in his madness, as his fingers tightened, and Lex began to kick, struggling in vain to suck air into his lungs.
Brooklyn slowly awoke to consciousness. What the hell was…?
Then he looked over to where Angus was standing, holding Brooklyn’s mate by the throat, six feet off of the ground, with one hand, and crushing his talons tightly around Lexington’s throat, strangling him, laughing as Lex’s struggles began to weaken.
Puck suddenly teleported into the room, and scanned the area, quickly taking in everything that was happening. “Looks like I got here just in time!” He leaped towards Angus, snapping his head to the side with a kick.
Too bad it didn’t even faze him.
Angus, with his other hand, fired his laser cannon, and the projectile grazed the fae, sending Puck to the floor.
That was all it took for Brooklyn. Something within snapped, and he charged, intent on saving his lover and putting an end to this evil before it was too late.
But suddenly…
“Talos Inaffecte!”
Puck fired a magical projectile attack at Angus, hitting the Phoenix Gate, which only flashed once in bright gold, and then faded to its’ usual color. Angus looked over at the weakened fae, and, dropping the victim in his talons, walked over to him, kicking Puck in the chin once. Puck’s head snapped back, and he fell backwards, blood flying.
“Dumbass. What was the point of that attack? I barely felt it!”
Puck, through a mouth full of crimson, began to chortle, and Angus growled. “Shut up!” He picked Lexington, who was apparently now unconscious, and moved to finish the choke job.
“You’re the dumbass.”
Angus glared over at the white-haired youth. “What?”
“Don’t you think we had this all planned out? Why did you think Ardath let you out to begin with? You really didn’t think he would side with you, did you?” Brooklyn snorted. “You stupid bitch…”
Angus looked around him, at all the Gargoyles who had moved from their various hiding places, and all of whom were now completely surrounding him. “Give it up,” Goliath growled. “You… cannot win…”
Angus ignored him, focusing only on Brooklyn. “You lie.”
“Do I?”
“Yes.”
“No.” Angus started to turn toward Ardath in shock, and was met with a right hook to the face, breaking his jaw, but it didn’t drop him. Merely stunned him slightly. “That was for Arlon, fucker.”
“Des La Grate Muri Tempi Et Intervalia!!”
Angus, hearing the chant, turned away from Ardath, and dropped Lexington to the floor, as he looked, stunned, at Brooklyn, who flung the Phoenix Gate at him. “Here, catch!”

He caught it all right, and a flame suddenly appeared from nowhere, enveloping the rage-filled villain in it’s interior. Instead of disappearing, Angus laughed psychotically. “Fool! Do you not know that I control the Gate, that I am it’s master?!”
Brooklyn smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. “Not this time. We found a spell that can send you anywhere I want.”
“Wherever you send me, I will return from there.”
“Guess again. After this, it can never be used. Not by you, me, or anyone else.” Brooklyn’s eyes flared white, and he growled in righteous anger. “You’re fucked.”
“What…?!” Suddenly, the flame vanished instantly, taking Angus with it. Brooklyn, relieved that his mate was alive, shook Lex’s shoulder until he woke up. Lex then scrambled to his feet, and looked up at his mate in surprise.
“Where did you send him?”
“Nowhere.”
000 A.D.

Interior Of A Random Volcano
Where was he? What the fuck was this?
“Des La Grate Muri Tempi Et Intervalia!”
No response. Why the hell wasn’t…?

Then he remembered what Brooklyn had said before the jump. It couldn’t be used again. The gate was useless. Brooklyn had been right. Angus was fucked.
Angus looked around in a slight panic. There was too much steam, too much smoke. He couldn’t see where he was, or how to get out. Then, just before the onrushing lava swarmed over him, burning him, smothering him, silencing him forever, Angus screamed once.
“Nooooooooooooooo…….!!!!!”
Then there was nothing.
Castle Wyvern – 2003 A.D.
“You okay?”
Lex grinned, and took Brooklyn’s outstretched talons, allowing his mate to help him to his feet. “I’ll survive. Close call, though.”
Brooklyn held him close. “Sorry about that. But we had to make Angus believe that he was unstoppable. Puck drained his complete energy, just enabling his spell, which he found in the Grimorum, and disabling Angus’s Phoenix Gate. He’d filled the rest of us in on it, and we worked out a plan. I wouldn’t have let you die, Lex. I’d have let myself be killed first.”
Lexington smiled, love shimmering in his eyes. “So, it’s over then?”
“Yeah, I sent that bastard back to the very moment of Creation. He’s dust.” Brooklyn quickly glanced over at Angela, who was helping Puck to his feet, the fae looking quite exhausted.
“Then…” Lex glanced at Ardath, who was watching, smiling. “What of him?”
“I will leave. Goliath has informed me of a clan in England, run by one called Griff, with even fewer members then this one. Perhaps, I will be of assistance.” Ardath shrugged, then grinned. “Besides, the way Goliath had described him, this Griff sounds pretty cute…”
Everyone laughed then, and Lex smiled at Brooklyn. “So, everything’s okay, then?”
Brooklyn grinned, kissing him quickly. “As okay as our lives in Manhattan can be.”
Everyone laughed again.
The End.

STATUS

Began: 3 – 15 – 2005

Ended: 4 - 28 – 2005
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Alternate Lives 3: Past Sins