In A Prison Of Lies

By Princess Alexandria

Reviews can be posted at:
http://pub17.ezboard.com/fgargoylesxfrm5

Author's note: Due to a time difference between where Trini started out and where she ended up, as well as a period of unconsciousness, a day is missing.

Day 1 Part 1 – Friday – August 15^th

Trini groaned as she started to regain consciousness. Her eyes were slow to open and the sight of bars greeted her. MacBeth had captured her. It had been so easy for him. She silently cursed herself and her stupidity that was putting her mate in danger.

When she heard someone coming she finally looked past the bars. The stone walls were decorated with some weapons. The table in the middle of the room was bare. The whole place seemed bare, and along one wall was a cell, which looked to be in the middle of a remodel. Sheets of metal were being installed along the walls and the floor and ceiling already had it. Trini had never seen iron used like that, but she was pretty sure that is what he was doing. He was putting her in an iron cell.

She tried to push out her magic but she couldn't even feel her own magic. She started to breath faster in fear as the footsteps were getting closer and she wasn't even strong enough to sit up yet. She stared at the doorway as MacBeth came in carrying a tray. "I brought you some dinner." He sounded like he was a host, not a kidnapper.

"Let me go." Trini tried for demanding, but only got pleading. Every single time she'd been caged in her life something horrible happened.

He set the tray down and took a step to squat down beside the four by four cage Trini was curled up in. Trini flinched away from him. Her face was pale and her breathing too fast. "I'm not planning on hurting you." He looked puzzled.

"Please, let me go." Trini used every bit of her strength to push herself up into a sitting position. She wrapped her arms around her legs. She wasn't able to make the effort needed to hide her fear. "Don't hurt me."

MacBeth's eyes widened just a little as he stared at her face. Trini felt pain where she'd been lying on the floor. "You've got a rash." She slowly reached up to touch her cheek and felt the raised and inflamed skin.

"Iron hurts me." She spoke quietly. Maybe the sick feeling she had wasn't the drugs. She probed at her tender cheek and then noticed one of her hands was also affected. She held it in front of her and stared at the angry red rash over the part of her skin that had been in contact with the floor during the flight and she knew wasn't going to be healing quickly. She didn't see the brief look of regret on MacBeth's face.

MacBeth stood up quickly and Trini pulled her arms back around her legs while she stared at him. "I brought you some dinner. I'll get you out of that little cage once I've finished with the cell." Trini just watched him cautiously as he went to grab the tray he brought in. It had a sandwich and a bottle of water on it. He glared at her in warning and unlocked the cage. Trini tried to tense her body to leap out, but she was too weak. She didn't think she could stand. She had to watch her one chance of escape close after he set the tray at her feet. "I'm going to get back to work on the cell so we can get you out of there."

"You could just let me out now." Trini stared at him. Silently willing him to do it. Elisa was so wrong about him, but Trini wished that she'd be the wrong one. He didn't even acknowledge her as he walked over to the cell and started to work on the iron panels for the walls.

Trini stared down at her food. It was probably drugged. Her stomach complained loudly that she was hungry and she felt so thirsty, but she wasn't falling for this trick again. She pushed the tray into the corner and tried to ignore it. The doctors had taught her about caution years ago. She wasn't going to fall into the same traps this time. She just stared at him while he worked to build her a bigger cage.

She noticed him glance at the uneaten food after he finished with one wall. He was starting to sweat with his efforts. "I'm not going to poison you."

"Like I'm going to believe that." Trini glared at him. "You have the clan pretty fooled. Elisa actually thought you were an honorable man." He grimaced and went back to his work without speaking to her for a while. Trini spent that time looking around the room for anything that she could use to get away. She was only feeling a little better, she wasn't recovering as quickly as she should from the drugs and she knew it had to be the iron doing that to her. It was her fey heritage that gave her the healing powers she had. The magic that she no longer could feel was what protected her.

Trini watched him work and then turned her eyes to the windowless walls. "I need sunlight. You're going to kill me if you keep me in that cage without any sunlight." She wasn't sure if that was true, but the fact that she didn't know scared her. Iron was forever. She swallowed as she stared at the rash on her hand. It was a reminder of how very vulnerable she was now. It wasn't healing yet.

"Nice try." She was upset when he barely acknowledged her concerns.

She stared out at a blank wall, not really seeing it. "She's not going to come for me. I can't live a long time in iron without any sun. I already feel sick." She hadn't felt this nauseous in years.

He turned from his work to look at her. "Your tricks won't work with me. You just want your magic back, and I won't fall for it." Trini fell silent in frustration. Maybe if she passed out and died he believe her, but it wasn't looking like anything else would get through to him.

Her bond to Fox was broken. She silently pleaded with her bond mate anyhow, begging Fox to not let Demona come. Trini knew that Demona would rush to save her. MacBeth was right in that. Trini didn't want to bury her immortal mate. Tears started to gather in her eyes, and Trini sighed deeply. She was going to have to do whatever it took to get away. She couldn’t let anyone use her to hurt her mate. Never again. She sat up a little straighter as she tried to prepare herself. She was still weak. He was an ancient warrior. Well, maybe if he thought he killed her he'd send her body home. "When I die, I want to go home." That stopped his work. He turned to stare at her and Trini swore she saw some shock there. She stared into his eyes. "Send my body back to the clan." She couldn't ever admit that Destine Manor was home too. He needed to doubt that Demona was coming. If Trini's mate did that, in spite of Trini pleading with her not to fall for a trick like this, she'd need any edge she could get. "Delilah will worry if she never sees me again. She'll look forever, and I want her to go on with her life." Tears started to fill Trini's eyes as she thought of the worry that Delilah, Fox and Domi would be going through. Elisa probably thought she did run off. "Lex can have my computer. It's better than his." She started to give him her will verbally and the tears started to fall. "Delilah can have anything she wants. Fox can deal with the rest."

"Stop talking like your going to die. You'll be okay. Dylan will be dropping by every day, and if I don't answer he'll come in here and find you. He'll let you go."

Trini didn't bother looking at him. "Demona just got joined. Do you know that? She found a mate that loves her very much and they got joined a few days ago." She sighed and tried to keep the tears out of her voice, even as they poured out of her eyes. "Over half the clan went to the ceremony."

"What?" He sounded shocked. Trini turned her head to look at him then.

"She wants to live. She's not going to risk that for me." Trini took a shuddering breath. "Even if I were the spy you told the clan I was, she wouldn't risk leaving Marie for a spy whose cover was blown." He turned back to his work, but Trini could see he was deep in thought. Good. She went quiet and let him think about that.

Trini didn't even notice when she passed out again. She looked out towards the ocean and the dark island in her mind and knew that she had somehow managed to fall asleep. The island's dark clouds were dark and violent looking. Trini tore her eyes away to look at the rest of the landscape. The three cities were absent, and the castle that had stood on the ridge was gone as well. Trini was surrounded by an empty field and that island. She wasn't even going to think about heading for the beach down below the ridge. That was too close to that island for her comfort.

The trip from New York to wherever MacBeth held her captive had left her with no dreams. Seeing this realm without her mates influence was disturbing. She cast out for Fox or the sisters but she was alone in a desolate dreamscape.

In the distance she noticed the space that normally held the castle was blurry, and slowly a castle seemed to fade into existence. It looked almost transparent, but it was something more interesting than the field. She started her walk towards it.

The uneasy feeling that she was being watched made her turn back towards the island and glance around it nervously. It wasn't close enough for her to make out any details. She started to walk faster towards the castle. She'd feel better within those walls. The creepy feeling of being watched didn't go away until she got much closer to the castle. Who would be watching her in this realm? It had to be her imagination. Trini tried to push the uneasy feeling away to focus on the castle.

It was on the ground. That was strange, seeing it like that. As she walked closer it seemed to become more solid. By the time she was right next to it and reached out to touch a stone it was solid. She changed her hands to talons and climbed the wall to get in. The entrance was closed.

From the top of the wall she just stared around at the people wandering around. They seemed ghostlike, with no sounds traveling up to Trini. She watched as humans wandered around the castle while glancing fearfully at the many gargoyles in the courtyard occasionally. Trini watched a young blue female with red hair being cornered by a group of several young boys out of sight from the others in her clan. The humans looked menacing. Trini moved quickly to scale down the wall and head in that direction. The female was looking just a little older than Alex, but Trini knew who it was. The lack of sound didn't interrupt the pure viciousness of the boys' body language. Trini started to growl as Demona started to glance around nervously. The boys were so much bigger than the little gargoyle.

As Trini made her quick progress towards the scene, she didn't even notice that no one seemed to see her. She got there just in time to reach out and try to grab the fist being aimed at Demona's face, but it went right through her hand and Trini watched with wide eyes as it knocked the little female down. "You fucking bastard." Trini growled as she turned back to the three boys that still didn't seem to see her.

"Look at the little beast cry." The boy that had hit Demona taunted and Trini was barely able to hear it. Trini looked down towards Demona while planning to get closer but found her missing. Trini turned to glare at the boys that she was unable to touch and they were missing as well. It felt like she was in a castle full of ghosts.

Trini was tense as she started to wander around the empty castle looking for anyone. It hurt her to think that Demona was being treated like that when she was a hatchling. Why hadn't anyone seen what the humans were doing to her? How could her clan have been so blind as to let anyone treat their young like that? Trini angrily wiped at her eyes.

When she opened her eyes she was shocked to see the cell finished and MacBeth missing. How could she pass out with all the noise he made while attaching those metal slabs to the wall? She started to really worry about her health when she realized that she didn't feel any stronger than she had earlier. She tried to feel for the time and was relieved to feel at least one ability remained, although a relatively useless one in this case. It was morning. Trini glanced down at her watch and it showed a completely different time zone. She must be far away from home.

She scooted closer to the opening of the cage and tried to pry it open. She wasn't able to budge it. She stared at the lock and tried to pull enough magic together to hit it, but nothing came to her. She stopped when she heard the footsteps coming. She started to look around the walls and noticed the camera. That's how he knew she was awake again.

She smelled the food before she saw it. It reminded her again how hungry she was, and it felt like torture. She couldn't eat it. MacBeth came into the room pushing a cart of food. Far more than Trini would be able to eat even if she intended to. She watched quietly as he wheeled it to the corner of the room and left it there while he came to her cage. She could see him glancing at the rash on her cheek before looking into her eyes. "I have breakfast." He pulled out some keys. "Once we get you in the cell I'll give you some."

Trini's body tensed up. She wasn't strong enough yet, but maybe she'd get lucky. She forced her body to relax and tried not to let him know her plans. He opened the cage door and stood back to let Trini crawl out. The cage was too short for her to stand, and her body protested when she was finally able to. The cell door was opened and he motioned for her to go into it. Trini took a deep breath and kicked at him with all the strength she had left. Her foot contacted his side and she started towards the door to the dungeon, which he'd left open. She didn't make three steps before she was tackled to the ground. She tried to squirm out of his grip, but he grabbed an arm and held it tight, pushing it up higher on her back and causing her pain. "I'll break it if I have to." He growled as Trini continued to struggle, but she was too weak to get out from under him.

Trini screamed out her frustration, the gargoyle sound echoing out into the halls. She finally stopped her struggles and went limp. "Let me go. You have to let me go." Trini pleaded with him as she turned her face so it wasn't shoved into the ground. He was on top of her, and her heart was pounding in fear.

"There won't be any escape." He pulled her up by her arms, from behind her. She was trying to fight, but the grip he had… So what if he broke her arm? Trini growled and resumed to struggle even harder, while ignoring the pain of his grip. He finally shoved her hard into the cell and slammed the door shut before she was able to spin around and leap out. She growled at him loudly, her eyes burning red. She was breathing heavily.

"Okay." He spoke in a calm manner that gave no hint to the struggle Trini had just made. "I figured we could eat together, so that you can see I’m not poisoning you."

"You are poisoning me. This iron is poison." Trini spoke through gritted teeth.

He ignored her and walked over to the cart, wheeling it closer to the cell bars. It had eggs, pancakes, orange juice. He dished up two plates from the cart and slid one through the gap in her bars meant for such things. Trini glared at him but took it and set it on the bed that sat in the cell. She glanced around and also noticed the toilet and sink partially hidden by a wall. She continued to glare at him while he poured her juice and handed that through the bars. Trini fought the urge to slice his arm when he did that. He didn't know she was armed with talons, and that might come in handy later. She took the juice but made no motion to drink. She moved to just sit on the bed and wait. He made a production of tasting each type of food and drinking the juice, but she didn't follow suit. "So, I know you're hungry. You haven't eaten in almost a day. Why aren't you eating."

"I'm waiting to see if you die. Immortals can afford to eat poison." Trini sneered at him and continued to watch him as if watching someone beneath notice. The attitude was just to piss him off, but he just shook his head and continued with his meal.

"You really aren't very trusting are you?" He spoke in a conversational tone.

"I've been fooled before. I'm not falling for it again." Trini spoke quietly. She was too tired to keep up the hostile act if he wasn't going to respond to it.

"What happened?" He pried. Trini tensed up.

"None of your business." She glanced at his plate and he was halfway through with everything. She started to slowly, hesitantly eat. He nodded his approval, but Trini ignored that.

She was only able to eat some of the food before a sharp pain in her stomach stopped her. She grimaced and dropped the fork on the plate immediately. "Oh God." She took a few breaths, as deep as she could without causing the pain to start again.

"Are you alright?" MacBeth had the nerve to sound concerned. He'd poisoned her! She almost gave him an angry retort, but was forced to stop and run to the toilet. She lost all the food she'd eaten. Her body was shaking a little and she felt hot.

Her voice was weak when she spoke. "You could just slit my throat. It would be more merciful." She doubled up as her stomach started to cramp. She gritted her teeth and tried to endure the pain quietly.

"I didn't poison you." He stood up and moved towards the cell door. Trini watched helplessly as he opened it. She was in too much pain to escape. Her stomach cramped again and she curled up into herself some more. A cold sweat covered her body. She flinched when she felt his cool hand touch her forehead.

"You're burning up." He sounded surprised. Like she could fake this. She groaned and rested her head on the cool toilet seat. "I'm so sorry." His voice was a mixture of shock and regret. "I didn't even think about the cookware."

"Iron?" Trini turned wide eyes to his face. "You used iron?" Tears of pain and fear filled her eyes. She went quiet as the pain wracked her body. When she started to shake she spoke softly, hoping that he would at least try to keep her alive. "I need sunlight to counteract iron. Last time I had iron poisoning I almost died. I might go into a coma. God Dammit, I can't believe you fed me iron."

"I didn't mean to do that." MacBeth squatted next to her and studied her face. Trini stared at him with wide eyes. She could actually believe this was an accident.

"I got really weak last time. I couldn't move." She was speaking as quickly as possible because she was worried she might not have much time. "My pheromones…"

"I wouldn't do that to you." MacBeth looked concerned as Trini started to sway a little. "I do have some honor."

Trini chuckled humorlessly. "Well, you got your wish. I'm gonna be lucky to be able to sit, let alone try to run off." Her vision was starting to fade. Her voice sounded far away to her own ears. "I always thought Fox would be the first one to die." She spoke softly and he just managed to stop her from collapsing to the ground when she blacked out. MacBeth stared down at her pained face and moved to pick her up. He carried her unconscious body out of the cell and then out of the dungeon.

Trini felt cold when she found herself in the dream realm again. She was where she always entered the realm and the feeling of being watched was even stronger. She spun around to stare with wide eyes at the island. The dark skies had spread out and it looked like a storm was ravaging the island. The sky was getting a little darker as those clouds worked their way towards the mainland. They were no longer restricted to that dark island. Trini turned to see that the castle was still there. She started towards it quickly.

When she got closer she could see several gargoyles and humans standing on the castle walls looking out towards the ocean. Trini glanced out towards what they were looking at, but she couldn't see it from the ground.

"Stranger!" The clear and loud voice startled her and she turned back to stare at the castle. The gargoyle on the wall was looking right at her, and saw her. "Things are looking like they are going to get bad. You need to get inside the castle right now." The female had blonde hair and long horns that ran over her head and curved up behind her head. Trini just nodded a little shocked that the ghosts would notice her. The castle gate was starting to rise so she hurried and jumped up to make it inside before the castle was in lock-down.

Inside the castle humans were running around. Some for hiding and others seemed to be gathering weapons. Trini glanced up at the walls and decided to see what it was that was coming. Hopefully she wasn't here just before the Vikings. She didn't want to see that.

Once she made it to the castle walls she stared out at the waters, where others were still staring. There was a large black ship, that Trini could swear was coming from the dark island. "Who are you stranger?" A familiar voice called from right next to her. Trini turned her eyes and stared at a slightly younger looking Demona. This Demona saw her, but didn't recognize her.

"Trinity." She spoke quickly and noticed the gargoyle glancing down at the running humans with a disgusted sneer. She spoke more softly, "Are those Vikings?"

Demona raised one eyebrow and moved to stare out at the ship. "No, it's not a Viking ship, but I still don't like it." Trini resisted the urge to take the gargoyle's hand as she stared out at the mystery ship.

"I don't like it either." She turned to say more, but the sound of wings and the feel of wind next to her made her turn to see Goliath land. He gave her a nod and focused on Demona.

"The Captain of the Guard has report that this ship is from the island." He announced in a matter of fact tone. His voice softened when he addressed her, "Stranger, there may be a battle. You should seek shelter."

Trini looked around the castle at the humans, and she recognized Elisa handing out weapons. She also saw Fox and David talking with some of the human guards. They were all dressed in the clothes of the period, and even though Fox's eyes traveled up to them she didn’t seem to recognize Trini. "No, I can fight too." Trini spoke distractedly as she realized this wasn't a memory of Demona's. This was chaos created in her own mind. That was reinforced when Delilah landed next to them, wearing leather and looking focused and dangerous, every ounce the warrior.

"Are you sure?" Goliath asked and Trini turned back to see Demona and him studying her. She realized she must not look like much of a fighter. She did a mental inventory of her body and she felt like she normally did here. There was no evidence of the poison that she knew was wracking her real body.

"I can fight." She answered minimally and noticed some guards and several groups of humans glaring at them.

"Well, I'm not one to turn away an offer of help." Goliath smiled at her and Trini didn't notice the normal superior attitude or get the feeling that he thought he had the right to order her around. "If you want to fight, you might want to go see the woman down there handing out weapons. See if there is anything you can use."

Demona spoke up. "You'll need to change your clothes as well. Those don't look like they'll fare well." The female then turned her full attention to Goliath, but Trini had the feeling she was dismissed for now. She started down the wall, feeling a bit lost. It was so strange talking to people that she knew, but they didn’t know her.

Elisa barely looked up from her inventory. Trini didn't see any weapon that she could use. Using an unfamiliar weapon might be worse than no weapon at all, because the enemy would be able to use that against her once they took it from her. She bypassed Elisa and moved towards Delilah, who was talking with Lex and a few other gargoyles Trini didn't recognize.

"Delilah?" Trini asked quietly and a few gargoyles turned her way.

Delilah looked at her with a searching expression, like she was trying to figure out if she knew Trini. It was obvious when Delilah decided she didn’t. Her face hardened a little. Trini plowed ahead with her question. "I need clothes. I'm going into battle. Do you have anything like you're wearing I could borrow?" This was her dream realm, and her tail was a weapon. She wanted it out for this. She noticed the hateful looks that the local humans gave her for talking to a gargoyle, and she just couldn't imagine what it would have been like growing up here. It was a wonder the entire clan didn't hate humans.

"I've got some extra armor." Delilah finally spoke. Her voice was so self-assured, and held a strength that Trini rarely heard in her friend. "I'll get it for you stranger, but you best return it after the battle."

"I will." Trini nodded while staring after Delilah. The female climbed the wall and came back a few moments later with the leather outfit. Trini took it and started to glance around to try and find someplace to change.

"Over here." Delilah guided her to a dark corner and spread her wings to serve as a privacy screen. Trini blushed but she quickly started to remove her clothing. Delilah stared at her tail for a while before just helping her put the armor on. It was brown leather and fit tight to her body. Delilah also helped her with the metal that went on the shoulder and the bracers for her arms.

"What are you?" Delilah finally asked when Trini was dressed. There was no mirror to see the look, but the leather made Trini feel like Xena.

"I'm part gargoyle." Trini spoke with a confidence she didn't feel. When Delilah lowered her wings Trini could see fewer humans in the castle. Those that couldn't fight must have hidden.

Trini marched across the courtyard with her head held high, feeling very conscious of the stares in her direction. She climbed back up the wall, this time without the ladder, by using her talons and pulled herself up to stare out at the incoming enemy alongside her future mate and Goliath. She felt the measuring stares. "Can we see what these enemy look like?" Trini spoke with authority.

Goliath handed her a telescope so Trini aimed it at the ship and stared. The people on the boat wore all black but Trini didn't look too hard at them. She searched the ship for the person that was in charge, and Trini gasped when she saw who their captain was. The black hair was tied back, exposing elfish ears. The captain's skin was deathly pale and her eyes held a cruelty that made Trini feel sick. The wings this creature had were ripped beyond a gargoyle's ability to heal and she'd never glide. There was a burn scar over the one arm that seemed to have melted the skin. When those gray eyes seemed to capture Trini's own they held the stare. The captain knew she was being watched and she smiled.

"Oh God." Trini slowly handed the telescope to Demona, who had her hand out for it.

"That female looks almost exactly like you." Demona spoke after having spotted the enemy.

The large bed only took up a small part of the room. Trini laid curled up on her side, her body shaking and her skin flush with fever. Her eyes moved around rapidly underneath her closed eyelids and her breathing was raspy. The windows in the bedroom were all open letting in as much sunlight as possible.

MacBeth came in carrying a bowl of cold water and some towels. He stood still at the doorway and just stared at Trini for a moment before moving to set the bowl on the nightstand nearest her. He sat down on the bed and shoved her sweat soaked bangs out of her face. His eyes narrowed and he moved his hand to the side of her face and tucked some hair behind her ear. "Fey ears. I didn't notice that before." She didn't make any indication that she heard him.

He dipped one towel into the cold water and rung it out. He placed that gently over her forehead with a concerned look on his face. He touched Trini's burning cheek and then picked up the hand she had a rash on. She still made no indication that she noticed him. He stared down at her rings, two red and one silver. He then placed her hand over her chest and got up to leave.

Trini could hear the enemy approaching. The mass of warriors coming off the ship was astounding. Archers stood on the castle walls ready to fire into the oncoming mass. Trini stood on the wall watching the gargoyles take to the air, taking the battle to their enemy. Demona was busy ordering troops but Delilah grabbed Trini and leapt off the castle walls towards the incoming forces.

Delilah landed next to Goliath and Demona on the ground. Right on the path the enemy was marching up. The rest of the clan was still airborne, and Trini's heart was pounding as she stood with the three on the ground.

Goliath looked grimly at the captain's progress towards them. "We will give her one chance to turn around before we attack." He addressed them and Trini paled. She had a very bad feeling about this, but as the captain and her force rounded the corner she was too late to suggest anything else.

"So if it isn't the mighty Goliath." The captain's smirk was as cold as her eyes. Trini's body tensed as the captain came closer with a few others. She stared at the two with the captain and felt a wave of shock. The Demona standing with the captain was just a few shades darker blue and her hair a more fiery red. She wore black jewelry instead of gold. Trini glanced over at Goliath’s second and could see the shock in her eyes a moment before she covered it up. The person standing to the captain’s right was just as disturbing. A Fox with hair cut short and a savage aura about her. She had a scar on her cheek and no tattoo.

Trini looked past the trio as they crossed the distance to them and noticed the others in their party looked familiar as well. There was an Elisa with half her head shaved glaring at Trini with a silent threat in her eyes. She was the first one to pay Trini any attention, even though she looked just like their leader. Trini noticed doubles for all the clan, and so many more people that seemed familiar.

The three walked away from their forces as if completely unafraid of being closer to Goliath's forces. The captain and her lovers... or generals... stopped about twelve feet away from them. “You are not welcome here.” Goliath addressed the captain and glared down at her. Trini noticed that the woman didn’t seem at all intimidated. “If you turn around right now I won’t order my clan to attack.”

The slow smile that crept across the captain’s lips showed she wasn’t the least bit concerned. “Goliath, you don’t have what it takes to stop me.” Trini’s eyes went wide as the woman eyes moved to stare at her. Her voice held scorn. “Trinity, you cling to the wrong side. These people don’t understand what it takes to survive. The strong survive… we are meant to lead, not follow the weak minded or close minded fools of the world.” Trini felt the rest of her awareness fade away as all her attention focused on her doppelganger. The green fire of the doubles eyes was intense and intimidating. “You know this is true. Goliath will lead this clan to their ruin like he did before and the castle will fall. It always falls. We have power… the power to destroy our enemies wherever they may be. The power to show those that would control us, hamper us, that we are not one to be trifled with. You do not need to take their insults, their ridicule…” The red eyes narrowed, “It was your weakness that lead to our pain, each and every time, but I will forgive you if you join with me now. If not, there will be no where you can hide to escape my wrath.” The captain hissed at her and Trini took a step back, breaking whatever spell she’d been under.

The noise of a battle assaulted her ears and Trini glanced around in shock. Through the green haze of the force field around Trini and the captain she could see the two forces were fighting fiercely. Trini turned to stare up at the airborne warriors and watched as the blonde gargoyle that had invited her into the castle fell after receiving a sword to her chest. She was dead before she bounced off the ground. Trini stared in shock. She'd never seen the good guys go down before, although she had seen more than enough death, this one was tragic. She heard the pained wail from another warrior and looked into the sky to see a male wrestling with his own attacker while staring down at the fallen female as if it was his life she was bleeding out. They were mates. It was so obvious from his pain.

A familiar angered roar made Trini look off to the right. The castle’s Demona was in a fierce battle with a Delilah dressed in black. Trini felt her heart stop before the good Delilah swooped down to assist Demona and the dark attacker fell from the skies as well. Trini watched as the dark Delilah tumbled out of the sky, her neck at a bad angle. She felt frozen as she watched.

“Bitches!” The captain hissed as they watched the captain’s Delilah land with a jarring impact. That shook Trini out of her trance and she glanced over at the captain and saw the scarred arm being raised and the green glow start. She leapt for her double and shoved her arm off, ruining her aim. The bolt hit one of the invaders on the ground. Trini barely took the time to recognize Matt before moving to hit the captain hard. Her punch never landed. She found herself knocked to the ground by a black tail much like her own. The captain stood over her with a sneer on her lips. “Somehow I knew you wouldn’t see reason.”

“Can I have her?” Fox’s voice startled Trini. She glanced over to see the short haired woman staring at her with a hunger that was more frightening than it really should be. Trini hadn't even noticed her there before now.

The captain smiled conspiratorially at her Fox. “I’m sure you have all sorts of interesting games you want to play with her, but I have some plans of my own.”

Trini growled and got up quickly. She ran away from the fey and towards the battle on the other side of the force field that the enemy had erected around the three of them. The magic bolt that struck her in the back did little more than almost knock her down. It was the force field that kept Goliath's clan from being able to take the battle to the captain and her bond mate, but Trini stepped through it with no problems, barely feeling the magic touch her skin. It was suicide for Trini to try and take on a bonded pair without her own mate. She glanced back after she was out and could see the surprised look on both Fey’s faces. Apparently that force field was supposed to keep Trini inside.

When Goliath swooped down to grab her she almost fought him, but she could see the castle forces retreating, and didn’t want to be left behind. On the glide back they weren't followed. Trini glanced around at the others bringing up the rear of the retreat and could see they all carried someone. Some obviously dead, others injured too badly to glide. It looked like they lost, but when she glanced at the ground and all the dark clad warriors down there; she could see that both sides took damage.

They landed on the castle walls and Trini glanced around at the injured. Her heart fell when she saw a distraught Delilah staring down at the body of her mate. He hadn’t made it. There were several dead that were brought back, rather than left for the enemy to taunt them with. Trini knew that the captain would have no problems using the castles dead as a statement, a truly gory statement.

“Those witches are impossible to attack!” Goliath set her on her feet as he addressed Demona and a few other gargoyles. Trini turned to look out in the distance, and was disturbed with the ease that the incoming forces were able to rob their own dead for weapons and armor. The captain suddenly stopped talking to her Fox and Demona and marched over to one warrior kneeling beside their fallen Delilah. His head came off easily with her sword. Apparently some dead were off limits.

“We did managed to harm the others though.” Demona stepped closer to Trini to stare out at the enemy. Her voice got a little quieter as she spoke just to Trini. “This is magic isn’t it? I know of no spell that can duplicate an entire castle worth of inhabitants, but those were our doubles.” Trini turned to look into her mate’s eyes and wished that she could draw comfort from her, but she wasn’t hers here. Demona was studying her carefully, and the clan leader was watching this. “You have magic. You escaped from that barrier the witches erected. Do you know what is going on?”

“I have no idea.” Trini moved to stare out at the forces getting ready to march to the castle. No idea at all how her dream realm got so screwed up.

“What did she want with you?”

Trini swallowed and turned back to the slightly suspicious eyes of Goliath and Demona. “She wanted me to join her.”

“My double just tried to kill me, I didn’t get any offers to switch sides.” Demona spoke a little coldly.

“There is no reason to suspect Trinity.” Goliath reprimanded Demona gently. “There is obviously something going on here that is… more than it seems.”

Trini turned to stare at him in shock. The Goliath she knew would have been the first to point fingers. She glanced over at Demona and noticed her relax her stance. Goliath told her to ease up and she just did it. “I think…” Trini really hoped telling them what she knew wouldn’t ruin the little trust the clan leader seemed willing to give her. “that the captain is me. A part of me.” She flushed in shame. If was horrifying that a monster like that could be hiding in her soul.

Goliath and Demona studied her quietly for a moment. “Well, if you have any ideas of what she is going to do, you should tell me.” Goliath spoke almost gently. “You are officially our advisor now, and we need anything you can tell us.” Demona just nodded her agreement when Trini found herself glancing at the blue female. They just accepted that strange statement at face value.

Trini took a step closer to the wall and stared out at her double in the distance. She gave a heavy sigh. "Delilah will get a burial before anyone else moves." Trini voice trailed off quietly. The captain may seem like a monster, but Trini could see her kneeling over the form of her dead friend. She felt a wave of pain at the loss. "Then she'll attack with everything she has. Whoever took Delilah out better really watch their backs." Trini felt tears fill her eyes, knowing that the two gargoyles that meant the most to her were responsible for that death. She glanced over at their Delilah, who was wiping her tears away and coming their way. She knew that she wouldn't be able to punish someone with her friends face for her death, but that captain might have other ideas.

When she glanced back at Goliath and Demona she felt a wave of pain at the look they shared. It was clear they were a couple. Trini looked away and studied the people in the castle. "Has anyone told them that they will be fighting an enemy that looks like the people they love?" Trini felt a pity for the scared looking humans at that point.

"I'll inform the humans." Goliath spoke before leaping down to glide over to what looked like an older military man.

Delilah still moved towards them and stood stiffly in front of Trini and Demona. "We lost five and ten more are too seriously injured to glide into the fight." She gave her report with a barely shaking voice. Trini glanced over to see the sympathy in Demona's eyes for a moment before the command mask fell into place.

"We need to prepare for a full assault. Apparently her Delilah was a favored warrior. Trinity believes that the witch will hit us with everything she has." A touch of concern entered Demona's voice. "Delilah, you need to be careful. We don't know what magic she's capable of and she's likely to go after us specifically."

"I will be ready." Delilah's eyes flashed red and she returned to the groups of gargoyles. Trini was surprised at the high rank Delilah seemed to have. Her eyes followed her friend and she ached to follow her and comfort her, but not in the middle of the battle. Delilah would need her anger. She didn't noticed Demona's speculative gaze until she managed to tear her eyes away from the white haired female.

"The witch favors Delilah because you do, doesn’t she?"

Trini took a deep breath, "Probably." She watched the captain gently pick up the fallen Delilah and carry her towards the ridge. Trini felt the ache in her own heart as she saw what the captain was about to do. Her top two warriors, Fox and Demona flanked her on the walk. When Delilah's body was sent into the sea Trini just stared in complete silence.

The hand on her shoulder startled her. Demona had moved closer without Trini even noticing. Trini allowed herself to lean into the blue female. This shade of her lover did manage to give her a little comfort. Goliath's landing nearby ruined that as Demona stepped back and stared out at the enemy with a warrior's gaze again. "They are still too numerous."

"So we will just have to be fiercer and plan better." Goliath answered her.

MacBeth opened all the windows of his bedroom to let air in. Trini was still pale, and thrashed in the bed weakly to the horrors of her own dreams. "Demona, please be careful." She whispered and he stopped to turn and stare at her. He quietly stepped closer to check on her fever again, by touching her forehead. She didn't even notice him.

He sat down on the chair that now sat beside the bed. "She'll come, and then Dylan can take you home. I'm having him check in twice a day now, so that when I die you aren't left alone for long. You seem to be recovering. The fever isn't as bad. You can't have eaten much of the iron." He rubbed his beard and sighed. "I can't believe that I missed that. I've never actually caught a fey before. I had no idea iron was so bad for you. I'm sorry."

Trini was staring at the collection of weapons again. She couldn't afford to be unarmed, she realized that now, but she didn't know how to use anything. Demona's voice calling to her startled her, but she continued staring at the swords. She didn't want to have to use one. She didn't think she could kill someone with a friends face.

"What's going on here?" Demona spoke and Trini glanced up surprised at the confusion and worry in the gargoyle's voice.

"I can't pick a weapon. I don’t know how to use them."

Demona stared into Trini's eyes. "Why is there a battle here? What's going on?" Trini blinked at her and then began to notice the gargoyle looked a little older.

"Blue? Is that really you?" Trini took a step closer as she stared at her.

Demona's eyes softened, "Yes. We are coming to get you. It's MacBeth that has you right?"

"Yes." Trini moved out of the way of the weapons table and towards a less crowded corner of the castle with Demona. "I don't know where I am, just that the time difference is big." Trini took a deep breath, hating to worry Demona. "He put me in an iron cage, and didn't believe me when I told him it was hurting me. He also…" Tears came to Trini's eyes. She could see Demona's concern growing. "he forgot he couldn't cook with iron skillets. My body is suffering from iron poisoning. I'm in a coma. I tried to escape so he couldn't get you, but I was too weak." She took a shuddering breath. "I'm so sorry I got captured. Please… Please don't fall into his trap."

Demona's eyes hardened. "How badly are you hurt?"

"Even when I regain consciousness, I won't be able to fight." Trini could hear the raged cry of the enemy and glanced over at the walls as if she could see through them to the oncoming warriors. "I have to pick a weapon. She's going to try and kill us all."

Demona started to fade like she did when waking up. "Who is she?"

Trini stared into her lover's eyes, wondering if it would be for the last time. "I love you, and even if I don't make it I'll love you forever. Take care of Fox for me." She took a deep breath once Demona was gone, and then forced herself back to the table. She grabbed a dagger and a sword. She'd have to learn as she went.

MacBeth sat on the bed working slowly and gently to get Trini to drink. "Come on girl. You need to drink. Just a little, you can do it." He held the cup to Trini's lips and gently tipped it into her mouth. After about the third try, Trini started to respond and swallowed the very small mouthfuls he gave her. "That's a good girl." His voice showed his relief. He continued to help her drink until she stopped trying to swallow. He then set the cup on the nightstand and lowered her to the bed again. "We'll try that again in an hour. You need more than that." He then reached out for her hair and stopped himself just before brushing it tenderly out of her eyes. His own eyes hardened and he walked away from the bed towards the windows to watch the fading sun. "I don't know how it will affect you, but I'm bringing fans up here." He looked over at her unconscious body. "The air in here is just too…" He sighed heavily, "Fans will help."

"Trinity." Goliath moved to her side quickly. "I want you to stay in the castle. The clan will try to take the battle to them again, but we can't risk losing you in this." Trini opened her mouth to protest that she wanted to fight. It was her own double that was causing this, so she had a responsibility to help. His eyes softened. "You are the only person that seems to have any idea what she's up to. You were right about the burial, you may be right about so much more, and we need that edge. We can't risk your getting killed. It might cost us the war."

Trini paled as she realized how much everyone was depending on her. She wasn't a warrior like them. Fox and Demona hadn't taught her how to fight with swords and plan major battles. She was no General. She glanced around at the scared human guards gripping their swords so tightly their knuckles were going white. She watched as gargoyles fastened their weapons on their hips, and the expression of quiet determination on their faces. Her eyes found Delilah placing her fingers gently over Lex's dead lips and saying a final farewell before standing up to march over to Demona, who was giving those gargoyles too injured to glide weapons and instructions. Even they would be fighting, injured and broken limps forgotten, if the enemy got into the castle. These people were warriors, and they were scared. Trini would be a distraction on the field as they all tried to protect the one they considered their most valuable advisor against the enemy with her own face. "I understand." Trini said softly and nodded. She'd wait and fight if the battle came into the castle, not a moment before.

She watched the clan leap off the wall and prayed to that god that she rarely talked to, and usually didn't believe in. She knew with her mind that these people weren't real, but her heart said something completely different. She didn't want to have to bury her friends, real or not. She took a deep breath when the sounds of battle intensified.

She stared at the redhead tending to the injured like a field medic. Fox wore a dress and seemed softer, just like her counterpart seemed much harder. Trini walked over toward her to finally speak to the woman with her bond mates face. She pushed out her magic lightly, but felt no answering call from this Fox. Fox's next patient was a slightly built male gargoyle with a broken wing.

"Can I help?" Trini spoke as she came closer. She knew nothing of medicine, but just waiting for the battle was too stressful. She'd rather keep her mind on other things.

"Well, are you any good with medicine?" Fox spoke with a gentleness that was still a surprise even though everything Trini had seen of this Fox since getting her hinted at it. Trini stared at the redhead for a moment. The long red hair curled gently about her face and she seemed softer, and didn’t carry the warrior's grace that the real Fox had.

"Not really, but I can learn." Trini finally spoke when Fox's eyes became questioning.

Trini had been following Fox around with the bandages for a while. She even helped to set bones, because she was stronger, and found she had a gentle touch with resetting bones. It probably came from her experience on the other side of it recently. She had started out by resetting the male's wing when it became obvious that this Fox wasn't familiar enough with the anatomy to do it well. She'd smile encouraging at those that looked scared, and tried to look like she wasn't concerned. She'd overheard some of them talking about her new status as the leader's advisor, and knew that she had to appear strong or they'd assume she knew something bad was on the way, or that they couldn’t win. The human's earlier hostility was forgotten as they focused on the battle, but Trini could still see that the human's and gargoyles rarely talked. It was just a few humans that interacted with the clan.

When the archers started to move quickly everyone knew that meant the enemy was within range. Those in the courtyard did another check of their own weapons as they prepared for the captain's forces to scale the wall. The familiar screams of Demona at least let Trini know she was still alive. She moved to march up to the human's military leader and started to speak in an authoritative voice. "What is the status of the battle?" She was pretending to be much higher in the military hierarchy than she really was. The clan had believed she was now a leader, and she'd use that leverage however she needed it.

"The clan is fighting bravely, but we have never gone up against a force like this before." He spoke quietly so that the others wouldn't hear them. "No gargoyles have ever attacked the castle. The clan sustained injuries but did manage to weaken her forces. Unfortunately they got through the line and are coming faster than our archers can hit them. We are going to see fighting in here." Trini nodded and headed over to the force of injured gargoyles. She wished that she could hide them to keep them safe. She'd just spent what felt like an hour helping to patch them and some of the humans back together. If the captain took the castle, she'd search it to make sure she got everyone. Trini knew that the captain would want to make sure that no one was in a position to come back and attack her after this battle was won. What bothered Trini is she still didn't know why the captain was invading to begin with. What was there to gain by this?

"Well, they are going to try and come inside." Trini reported to the gargoyles. The human she'd talked to was addressing his own troops. "You saw what they looked like. You know what we are up against." She took a deep breath, her voice becoming deeper, stronger. They thought she was a leader, so she was going to have to become one. "I expect the humans here to falter once they see the enemy. It's one thing to be told and completely another to face yourself or your loved ones in battle." Quite a few of them nodded their heads, agreeing with her. Trini wasn't looking forward to this at all, but she'd do what needed to be done. Trini waved the nurse Fox over to the clan, and the woman came while staring at her in puzzlement. Once Fox was there Trini started again. "There are two with magic on their side. One looks like Fox here, with short hair, and the captain is the other one… she looks like me. Depending on the types of loses that they suffered to get into the castle, these two may be the most dangerous." Trini couldn't look at the woman next to her while she said this. "If however, either one of them is a viable target, taking just one out may severely affect the others ability to do magic. It was never really clear how that worked with the bond, but I think it's a safe bet. If you do manage to injure or kill one of them, you need to get away from the other fast. I expect that the captain has a very vicious sense of vengeance, and her Fox may be the same way."

Trini finally looked up into the solemn, and in some cases sympathetic eyes of the clan members that she had never met in real life. "We can win this battle, but it will not be easy." She then looked back down in a little shame. "I've never been in a battle like this before, so I can't lead you in the fight. I don't even know how to use my own sword."

The slight male whose wing she helped set spoke up. "We will do what we can to keep you safe in the battle. Goliath told us that you are the key to ending this war, and we can't risk losing that." He then stepped forward. "We have a few minutes. Let me at least show you how to hold your sword."

After the very short tutorial Trini moved to catch up with Fox. "You don’t know how to fight do you?"

"No, I'm a healer." Fox spoke with her head held high.

Trini's voice softened. "You need to take shelter. This is no place for a healer." She could see Fox's expression become stubborn. Trini pressed on, "You are going to be a target, and we will need a healer after this is over." These versions had no idea how very close she was to them. Trini hadn't even mentioned this was a dream realm, because there was just something about it that made her wonder if these people were real on some level.

The loud pounding on the castle gates startled her. "Go, hide." She ordered Fox and moved back to get ready to fight. She had to just hope that Fox listened to her. The castle gate creaked loudly as it started to give way. The injured clan moved to stand with her to wait for it. The wood started to splinter and the gate went down.