In A Prison Of Lies

By Princess Alexandria

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http://pub17.ezboard.com/fgargoylesxfrm5

Day 3 – Sunday – August 17^th

Trini's hand shook when she put the glass to her lips. It was surprisingly easy to fake being almost too weak to even hold a glass. She hated to show weakness, but she'd swallow her pride to stay as free as possible. MacBeth's face was a mask, and she had no idea what was going on in his head. She didn't like that, it made it harder to know how to try and manipulate him.

He took the glass from her hand when she was done and set it on the nightstand. The quiet in the room made Trini tense. His moving to lean over her and stare down into her eyes didn't help her with that feeling. "You talk in your sleep." MacBeth said quietly and it started Trini's heart pounding. What did he hear? "There is no Marie is there?"

Trini had to turn her head quite a bit to avoid looking at him, since he was so close to her. God, he would tell the clan. Of course, another part of Trini's mind added, the clan probably already knows. The Oregon clan had never seen anyone with Demona but Trini. They even knew her real name. Maybe she could shock him, make him think twice about what he was planning to do. Trini turned steely gray eyes to him and spoke coldly. "Demona is my wife. I am Marie."

MacBeth was visibly shocked at her honesty. He recoiled from her. Trini continued to stare at him. "You plan to kill my wife right in front of me, and you say you don't plan to hurt me. I can't imagine anything hurting more than that." She was consciously using the human terms for mates to make the human see how truly heinous his plans were. Lies had not worked with this man. The captain's method of brutal honesty might. Her voice stayed cold, "I am not her pawn, I'm her queen. She doesn't risk me in petty battles with the clan. She doesn't try to make me betray anyone, because she knows that I won't stand for that." She sneered at him, noting his quietness. He was letting her talk as long as she wanted to since he was finally getting the information he wanted. Trini hoped he chocked on it all. "Demona married a half human female, and that's what's bothering you isn't it? She married you for money, and she married me for love." Her grin was evil. "But I am enjoying your money. You saw my pretty car."

When MacBeth leaned over her again to stare into her eyes she flinched and hated that she wasn't able to control that. She still managed to stare back defiantly. He took a deep breath and his eyes seemed to burn into her. "If you’re her mate, why do you only live with her part time? You stay every other night at the castle." His eyes narrowed and Trini could see that he fully believed she was a spy. It was a reasonable conclusion to draw given that information.

"That isn't any of your business." Trini dismissed the question with an air of what she hoped was indifference. Everyone already thought to worst of her. What he thought didn't matter, just what the people she cared about thought mattered. She'd find a way to explain this to Delilah. The time of lies was over, and it was this man hovering above her that had ruined that, forcing Trini to deal with the fallout. She looked away from his intense eyes. The fallout was always coming, he just sped it up. She wanted to blame him for the cold reception she knew she'd get when she went home, but if he hadn't done that, Elisa would have figured it out. She added with just a hint of less venom. "I'm not a spy. I have other reasons for living at the castle." It felt a little strange for it to be her relationship with Fox that she was hiding now, while being honest about her relationship about Demona. MacBeth didn't know that Trini had other people that would want to save her, and it was important he didn't figure that out. "I'm part Fey. I need training."

The way his eyes narrowed angrily at that rather innocent excuse surprised Trini. She really wished he'd get off the bed and give her more personal space. "You were talking about that as well." His voice held a growl. "You’re a Weird, aren't you?"

Trini's skin paled just a little more at the anger in his voice, unsure of what he'd do to her for that. "My grandmother is Selene." She told him honestly, hoping that he'd be as afraid of that Fey as other people were. "I just met her this summer." She also didn't want him thinking they'd raised her, because that might make her a bigger target for his rage.

"It isn't love that made Demona marry you." MacBeth gave her a cruel smirk. "She just wants to get to your family for doing that spell on us."

Trini clenched her fist, angered by his arrogant assumption that Demona wouldn't love her. "She was with me before I knew, and when I told her she was upset, but she didn't hold it against me." She took some pleasure in the falter in his smug smirk. "Demona stayed to fight you in Seattle, to protect me. She cares about me." She growled, "And now that she finally has love, because I do love her, you want to take her from me." She didn't realize that her eyes flashed green for a second, but his eyes widened almost imperceptivity as he leaned back a little more giving her space. Trini ignored the tears starting to trail down her cheeks as her voice held nothing but anger. "So help me, if you take her from me… I will make you pay." She realized that was stupid after she said it, because it was hard to torture a dead man.

MacBeth got off the bed and started to pace the floor. Trini tried to subtly wipe the tears from her face while he wasn't looking. "I'm going into my first breeding season very soon, probably this week. The way I feel it could be in just a day or two. We've been waiting for this, looking forward to this. She didn't want me to suffer a Breeding season alone. You took me away from my mate when I needed her. We rushed our joining so that it would be done before she flew me, and then you just…" Trini went quiet as more tears feel down her cheeks. Dealing in words and guilt was harder than the captain made it look. She stared at him, waiting for him to respond.

"Trini, she's a killer." He started to talk as if she were an ignorant child that simply didn't know better than to love Demona. "She's been a killer for a very long time, and it just needs to stop." Trini would have interrupted him here, but he was talking quickly and not giving her the chance. "We both were given a long life, forced to have it because of the Weird Sisters. It's time."

"She doesn't want to die!" Trini growled at him, hating that he thought he had the right to make that decision for Demona. "I don't want her to die!"

"She's just going to try to kill off the humans again." His body got tense as he paced. "We couldn't figure out what that ring did, but it probably will help in her plans to kill off the human race. She isn't changing. She never will."

"That's not what it does!" Trini's skin was flush with anger. She didn't know what that ring did, but she knew it didn't do that. When he just stopped pacing and stared at her, waiting for an explanation on what it did do, she couldn't give it.

"I'm going to go get you some food." He spoke with little emotion and then left Trini alone. Trini glanced around the room and thought she noticed cameras. She wasn't going to risk getting up and letting him know she was stronger than she was letting on, and she wasn't yet strong enough. God, it was so frustrating having to defend Demona against people that just wouldn't listen to what she was saying. Trini knew that right now, her mate wasn't planning anything like that.

When he brought a tray in with a sandwich, obviously something that hadn't been cooked, and set it on the nightstand, Trini eyed it longingly for a second before ignoring it. He just found out she was a Weird, and Demona's mate. He could very well have poisoned this meal on purpose. "What is it with you lass?" He sounded irritated at her lack of interest in the food. "You haven't eaten in days."

"I can't…" Trini gritted her teeth, frustrated with this whole mess. She was hungry. She wanted to eat, but she just couldn't trust it was safe.

"You drank the water. I could have poisoned that just as easily."

Trini's eyes snapped up quickly and she stared at him with disbelief and fear. She hadn't even remembered to watch out for the water. She should have known better.

"I didn't poison you." MacBeth sat down on the foot of the bed and stared at her. "I didn't touch you while you were out, and I didn't poison you. Obviously if I'd planned to kill you I would have done it by now. I had more than enough opportunity. Just eat." He sighed, "You're even more paranoid than she is." He got up and left her alone again.

Trini slowly, hesitantly moved to take the plate. She put it on her legs and carefully opened up the sandwich to check for the chalky residue of a tranquilizer. She couldn't verify that it wasn't in the mayonnaise so she took the top piece of bread off completely before eating the rest. Her body was tense as she imagined he was preparing for Demona's rescue attempt. Couldn't he see that if Demona was actually rescuing someone, she wasn't the heartless monster that everyone claimed she was?

Trini felt like she should be able to walk or run, but she didn't try it. MacBeth was sitting in the bedroom again. He seemed to be ignoring her as he looked over a stack of papers he'd brought in with him. The gun he had sat on the table, but he'd be able to pull it on her faster than she could get to him. He obviously still planned to go ahead with the murder.

Trini couldn't even pretend to be looking at the magazine that he gave her. Her mates had to be in Paris by now, and could be on their way to this trap. She felt for the sun, since the clock was facing him and not her. It was almost dawn.

"Well, it looks like she's going to wait until tomorrow night." MacBeth spoke to her without looking up from the papers he was looking at. Trini grimaced at the thought of being with him another day. Also, the ache… the need for her lovers was getting strong. If MacBeth didn't insist on watching her constantly, she could at least try to appease it. Oh God, another day without them would be hard.

She was about ready to admit she could stand and ask for a chance to shower. He seemed too twitchy. Her pheromones must be pretty strong. She'd been just waiting until she was sure the rescue wasn't coming. It wouldn't do to be in the shower when her mates came to save her. She had just opened her mouth to ask, when an alarm filled the silence.

MacBeth tensed up for a moment and glanced at the clock. "This isn’t like her. She's attacking right before dawn, when she won't have her strength." He was talking more to himself than to Trini, but Trini didn't miss that because of her hearing.

Trini was surprised to feel a magical touch from Fox, but held it as long as she could. Fox was trying to locate her, and Trini hoped that she was able to push her magic long enough for Fox to figure out where in the mansion she was. The iron in her system made it hard to do.

MacBeth was reaching to grab his gun and Trini shoved the covers off of her. She'd take him out herself if she had to. He wasn't going to kill her mate. Her eyes burned red as she glared at him. She could see his own eyes hardening as he saw she was able to stand.

The glass of the large bedroom window shattered as someone flew right threw it. The gun went off and Trini's heart seemed to stop. He'd managed to fire before she even registered what was happening. The clank off the metal happened shortly before MacBeth was rammed into, slamming him painfully against the wall. The metallic gleam shocked Trini and she just stared and blinked for a moment before she realized that she was looking at an exosuit. Fox pulled back and punched MacBeth in the face, before he moved his legs under her, knocking Fox to the ground. That suit wasn't good for hand to hand combat. Trini could see Fox had trouble with it and moved forward to protect the redhead if she could.

The voice was slightly metallic as it came out of the suit. "Trini is coming with me…" The growl in Fox's voice surprised Trini. Her Fey mate rarely got this angry. "I will lock you up in a cell and leave you there for a VERY long time. You won't even recognize the world when you get out!"

"I don't think so." MacBeth spoke a little too calmly. "She's staying here until I get Demona." The sun came up and he fell to his knees, screaming in pain. Trini's eyes widened when she realized Domi was close enough for him to feel that. Apparently Fox had been expecting it and she managed to get up off the floor and slam her fist into his face again. Trini then heard the familiar sound of the tranquilizer gun go off and he went limp.

Fox glanced at Trini and Trini couldn't see any of her face behind the mask. "Demona said he had a dungeon. I'm going to lock him up in there."

Trini just nodded. She would have stepped forward to lift the large male for her mate, but she wasn't strong enough yet. Fox noticed her hesitation and the metallic edged voice sounded concerned. "Your still weak, aren't you?"

"Yeah." Trini answered with a sigh as she moved forward anyhow.

The sound of the bedroom door opening started her heart pounding and Trini turned to face it while changing her fingers to talons. The red haired female that came in made her slump in relief. "Domi…" Trini gave her mate a weak smile, but then glanced back at the captive.

Domi came right up to Trini and pulled her into a strong hug. Trini buried her face in her lover's hair and felt some of her tension melt away. Domi was safe. Trini's getting captured didn't get her killed. She noticed over Domi's shoulder that Owen was next to the desk that MacBeth had been working at. He glanced at the papers that had absorbed MacBeth's attention for most of the night.

"It appears that MacBeth is grief stricken." Owen said as he continued to study the papers. Domi released Trini and moved towards Owen, to take those papers out of his hands and study them herself.

While Domi read the papers, Trini turned to Fox. Her Fey lover had lifted the mask that covered her face and was glaring down at MacBeth like she'd like to kick him. Fox spoke softly to Trini without even looking at her. "I can barely feel your magic." Fox sighed heavily and her anger seemed to melt a little. "He won't stop trying. Now that he knows that taking you WILL get Demona's attention, he will try this again."

Trini moved closer and hugged Fox, in spite of the hard casing her body was in. She then kissed her lover's lips gently before pulling back.

Fox took on a resigned expression as she turned to face Owen. "Owen, can you help me get him down to the dungeon?"

"I'll show you the way." Domi put the papers she was looking at down and opened the bedroom door wider so that Owen and Fox could drag MacBeth's unconscious body through it. Trini glanced down at the top paper. It was a printout from some newspaper's webpage. It showed a woman about Trini's age. Glancing quickly at the story, Trini learned she'd been killed in a store robbery. She pushed that paper aside and didn't quite understand what she was looking at for a moment. She picked that paper up and read the list of names and the strange placement on the paper. It was a family tree. Trini picked up the newspaper article again and checked the name before glancing at the last active branch of MacBeth's family tree.

"Oh Shit." Trini grimaced and put the papers down to start to follow the others down to the dungeons.

They had locked him in the same cage he'd used to get Trini into this country. It was the first thing Trini noticed when she came into the room. She passed Fox and Owen heading back upstairs for something. Trini felt cold just being in this place. She watched Demona out of the corner of her eye. The immortal was glaring at the cage. She then walked up to Trini and gently took a hold of her chin. Trini allowed her lover to tilt her head so she could see the rash on the side of her face.

"I was laying on the iron too long." Trini spoke quietly. "I think it will heal." She hadn't seen it, but suddenly she worried that it had made her hideous. She had enough scars on her body. She didn't need more.

"We'll make sure you get lots of sun today." Domi spoke quietly. Neither of them had mentioned the events in the dream realm.

Fox's re-entry into the dungeon along with Owen broke the soft silence between them. "He left his defense grid inactive so that you could get to him in person Demona. You were right." Fox's mask was up so that they could see her face and Trini could see Fox studying her carefully. The hug she'd given Fox after being rescued wasn't fulfilling enough, because that damned exosuit denied her the feel of her lover's body.

"Demona…" Fox sounded a little guilty as she studied MacBeth's broken nose.

"Don't worry about it Fox." Domi spoke so gently to Fox that Trini was surprised. "I didn't want you to pull your punches because of me. If I could have kill him for this without…" Domi's voice developed the familiar growl. She turned to look at Trini. "I'm sick and tired of not being able to protect you properly. First that Bitch and now him!"

"He won't get another chance to go after her." Fox's voice was eerily cold as she stared at him. "We have somewhere to keep him for a while."

Trini opened her mouth to protest, but then slowly closed it. It was safer for her and Domi if he weren't free, but she wasn't really very happy with that solution. She glared at the cage bars, not really seeing him. The sisters did this to them. He wanted to die, and killing Demona was the only way he could do that. Trini finally realized how very sick and twisted that spell was. They were the only two immortals on the planet for a long time and they could never trust each other, even if they wanted to.

Trini left quietly as Fox and Domi started to talk about transporting him and the facilities that he would be imprisoned in. She walked up the stairs and back into the bedroom. She heard the front door open as Owen came back in to help load the cage in the back of the van they'd brought. Trini picked up all the papers that MacBeth had been looking at and slipped them back into the large envelope they'd come out of. She was at least going to make sure he didn't lose this. It seemed important to him. It was hard to believe that he'd spent the last thousand years keeping track of his descendants, and it was tragic that he'd outlived them all. Trini felt a pang of remorse about the plan to cage him after finding this out. It wasn't that long ago that she thought she was completely alone in the world.

She stared out the large bedroom windows at the dawn with her arms wrapped around her body.

"Trini?" Fox's voice entered the room shortly before the redhead did. She was no longer in the exosuit. Trini glanced at her lover from her spot leaning on the wall and staring out at the sun.

"My family did this to them." Trini turned back to stare blankly at the blue skies. "If I want to die, I can do it myself. I don't have to face forever alone if I don't want to." Trini felt Fox rest her hand on Trini's shoulder, but she just continued talking quietly. "and I wouldn't have to rob someone else of their life to end my own." Her voice became bitter. "The terms of that spell are sick. I doubt they even thought about what they were condemning MacBeth and Demona to. As bonded fey, they would never feel alone like that. I doubt they ever understood what loneliness was."

Trini felt Fox's arms wrap around her waist and it felt good to have her lover there, but she needed to talk. "People are not toys. They had no right to treat them like that." Trini glared out at the cloudless sky, thinking it really should be raining. "They just did their magic and went back to Avalon so they could continue to screw each other and ignore the pain they caused." Fox's quiet sound of surprise put a bitter smile on Trini's lips. "I forgot to tell you my family is incestuous?" Her voice held a bit of a growl. "That Phoebe hits on me constantly?" She'd never said anything about that to her mates out of some strange feeling of loyalty to her family, but seeing this mess they'd made of Demona's life by tying her to a suicidal man angered her. "That they have rings like ours, because they married each other?"

Trini's voice more tearful when Fox made no sound and was just letting her talk. "She's hunted Fox. So many people hunt her." Trini took a deep breath. "I don't like people using me against her. I told myself that I'd never let anyone do that again, never again." Trini's body was shaking a little. "He was using me to try and kill my mate. I told him she was mine, and he was going to do it anyhow, because HE'S tired of living he was going to take her away from me." Trini pulled Fox's arms around her more tightly, but then just turned in those arms to hold Fox tightly. Thank god no one was after Fox like that too.

Owen's at the presence interrupted them. "We are ready to go." Trini nodded and slipped the envelope with MacBeth's papers off the desk as Fox took her hand and led her out of the mansion.

Trini sat in the back seat of the large van with Owen. She glanced back at the black sheet over the cage that took up most of the space behind them in the van.

“We heard he had a van to transport a cage home after he got off the plane.” Fox must have seen Trini’s expression. She was curious why her mates had brought a van. It seemed too lucky that the cage actually fit. Fox’s voice held a hint of regret. “We knew we couldn’t just grab you and run. He’d be back, and better prepared. The plan was to capture him.”

Fox wasn’t completely happy with this solution either, it was easy to see and if Trini’s magic were still strong enough she was sure she’d feel some guilt coming off of her lover. MacBeth was a friend of the clan. This was going to complicate things, and the fact that other than his desire to die by killing Demona, he was a good man just made it harder. Trini sighed and stared out the window, while Fox drove them into town. MacBeth hadn’t touched her, even though she was helpless and her pheromones were thick in the air. He never tried to hurt her. The poison was an accident.

After a period of quietly listening to the radio, Owen spoke quietly. “Can I see your hand?” That made Trini stare down at her hands, and the one that had the pink rash had to be the one he was after. It was closest to him to she was able to move it over easily. His hands were warm as he gently held her hand and guided it closer to his eyes to inspect her injury.

Trini glanced up and could see that Domi was watching this carefully in the passenger side vanity mirror, with her eyes full of jealousy.

"Most Fey avoid long term exposure to iron on their skin." His eyes were intense when he stared at her. "You don't appear to be permanently damaged. With your gargoyle healing you should recover."

Domi's voice was icy. "If you are completely done… Dr. Burnett, perhaps you could get your hands off my mate."

Owen let her hand go and Trini pulled it back into her own lap, while staring at Domi. Trini's gargoyle mate was upset with Owen touching her. Trini's eyebrow rose in a silent question, wondering how Domi could feel at all threatened by Owen.

"We could have the plane ready to go quickly." Owen ignored the tension in the air much better than Trini was able to. "It would be best to get him secured as soon as possible."

Domi's voice was halfway directed at Fox, Trini could tell by the glance she gave Trini's other mate. "Trini, you're almost ready to be flown. It might be easier to do that here, where the clan can't interrupt." Domi's eyes seemed greener and more intense.

"Mating over Paris." Fox gave Trini a teasing grin while she drove. "That does sound better than New York." Trini blushed a little at that and wondered if she'd ever get used to her lovers talking about her sex life. At least they hadn't gotten too specific. Trini grimaced, or at least she didn't think they got specific.

The drive was rather quiet, as if no one wanted to risk waking MacBeth, even though with the drugs that Owen had given him it was unlikely that they could. Domi was giving Fox directions to a hotel occasionally, but that was all the talking that filled the van. Trini felt a little shaky and clenched her fists often to try and push away the sexual ache that hit her in unpredictable waves. She noticed Domi watching her carefully in the mirror.

Trini glanced at the van pulling away from the hotel with Owen at the wheel and an unconscious MacBeth in the back. It felt strange having him leave to take the immortal man back to New York, while leaving her, Domi and Fox here in Paris. Trini glanced at the signs that were in French and realized that she'd never been this far away from home before. She didn't even speak the language here.

She pushed her sunglasses up a bit more, worried that her red eyes might be noticed by someone. They started to burn in the van and wouldn't stop. Just like this ache to touch one of her lovers wouldn't stop, but although it made Trini a bit shaky, she was able to walk around as if she didn't feel it.

When she turned towards the hotel she saw Fox was holding the door open for her and had been waiting. Trini picked up the small bag of luggage that Fox had brought for her and hurried up to get inside. She noticed Domi was already talking to the check in clerk, in French, and it sounded so natural coming from her lips. Domi and Fox both had some luggage. They must have assumed they'd be staying in Paris a little while.

Once Domi had the key they went to catch the elevator to the top floor. They had the penthouse. Trini glanced at her lovers while they waited for the elevator to reach the lobby. She had questions, but it was best to wait until they were alone. Her biggest question had to do with Fox staying with them on the night of Trini's Breeder's moon. Trini was pretty sure it would be tonight, either that or the torment tomorrow would be unimaginable, if this was just the lead up to it.

They stepped into the elevator after it emptied, but two young men rushed to catch it with them. Trini noticed Domi's grimace at having to share the ride. Fox pushed the button they needed and stepped back to let the thin blonde man push another, a few floors before theirs.

Trini could only pick up her gargoyle mate's growl because of her enhanced hearing, but she knew what it was about without turning to look at her. Trini could feel the men's eyes on her. One smiled at her flirtatiously and the hunger in his eyes made Trini cringe internally. Her pheromones were about as strong as they were going to get right now, and she hadn't been able to shower that scent off of her in days. She also probably looked like hell with the rash on her face, but these men didn't see any of that. The blonde said something, but Trini didn't understand a word. When he reached out to touch her injured check her eyes burned more brightly, but the sunglasses hide that. "Si tu la touches, je repeins les murs avec ton sang!" Domi hissed at him. He recoiled a little in surprise at the same time that the elevator door opened. He and his friend got out quickly, while noticing the glare in Domi eyes.

Trini didn't know what Domi had said, but the threat was clear. She watched as Domi's hands clenched and released a few times. She was very tense.

They followed Domi to the hotel room door, and when it opened Trini stared around the room with wide eyes as she stepped inside. It was huge for a hotel room. Remembering the hungry look on the men's faces in the elevator Trini moved towards the bathroom. "I need a shower." Her pheromones were affecting Domi. It had to be why she'd been getting so possessive. Fox's eyes were hungry looking as well.

Trini felt much better after having been able to wash her hair and she slid into the robe, even though she had clothes. She didn't feel like getting dressed, and it wasn't likely they'd go out today to sight see anyhow. She looked at her reflection, finally. She leaned forward and stared at the odd shaped pink splotch on her cheek. It had better heal. She was glad she hadn't seen it before now, or she would have been painfully embarrassed to walk into the hotel lobby where people could see her.

"I ordered some lunch." Domi spoke as soon as Trini opened the bathroom door. She looked out towards Domi's voice and noticed the balcony. They were both out there and had left the seat fully in the sun for Trini. Trini glanced further out the window and didn't see any buildings higher than this one that might be able to see the balcony. She pulled her tail up above the hem of the robe, which fell to her knees, and walked out there. The smell of food made her hungry. She hadn't eaten that much of that sandwich, and her worry that he'd done something to it had made her far too tense to enjoy it.

They ate with companionable conversation for a while, before Trini felt the shift in Fox's emotions before she even said anything. "Trini, about the dream realm…" Fox was watching Trini intensely and Trini set her fork down on the plate. She was done anyhow.

"I'm sorry you guys had to see that." Trini spoke quietly, very embarrassed about what had happened.

"You let her go." Domi's voice was accusing.

Trini stared down at her empty plate, unwilling to look at either lover for this conversation. "I had to. She's…" Trini sighed heavily. "She's me. I can't leave a part of me stranded like that. She's a much bigger part of me than…" her voice got quieter as she was reluctant to finish this. "than you realize." The silence after that comment made Trini tense. She started to play with her rings nervously. "I couldn't leave her there."

"Trini…" Domi started to talk but just stopped. Trini looked up and could see that Domi was clenching her fists, but she wasn't talking.

"I know you hate her. I'm not too fond of her either." Trini took a deep breath, ignoring the way she spun her single silver ring constantly while talking, but Demona noticed it. Fox was just watching them both with a thoughtful look on her face. "but she's my warrior. She's the one that fights. I wish I didn't need her, but I do."

Fox's voice was gentle, but concerned. "I've never heard of something like what we went through. My doubles were hit, and I didn't feel it. I saw you were in pain when Demona hit the captain." Fox's hand reached out to stop Trini's nervous hands and stared into Trini's eyes. "And you are starting to sound like you have multiple personalities. IF she is a part of you, that that is a part of you and it isn't a separate person. That is what the captain is upset about isn't it?"

Trini took a shaky drink from her glass before trying to answer. "She's upset because I left her on that island, made it like hell, and only call when I need to have her save me. She's upset because I hate her, hate having to be her, and wish I didn't need her, but I realized that I do need her." Her voice took on a bit of a growl. "because I'm always going to have to fight." Trini got up and moved to stare over the city. Her tail fell down below her robe and she paid it no attention. "I've been lying to myself just as often as I lie to everyone else, and she won't let me get away with it anymore."

She glanced over at Fox and hated that she felt she needed to ask this. "Why is David willing to share with me? Why doesn't he mind that I live in his house and monopolize his wife's time? He wants something. The captain thinks he's after my power or my immortality. I've just been too scared to question it because I don't want to lose you." It was Domi that was quiet now, but she was obviously very interested in having Fox answer. Fox looked a bit upset. Trini's voice softened, but she still wanted to know. "I have Domi, and I can't imagine someone new coming along that I'd have to share with. I knew when you and I got involved that David was there, but I couldn't share you with anyone else, anyone new. Why is it so easy for him? If I could just have you to myself… I wouldn't let anyone else move in. What is he getting out of this?"

Fox's hands clenched and seemed to shake a little. "He does like you Trini." When Trini just stared at Fox waiting for more of an answer Fox seemed embarrassed. "I had to sell him on the idea of your moving in. He was willing to share me with a casual lover, but we were getting serious fast." Trini watched the blush cover Fox's face, but she was answering. "I told him that together you and I would become a formidable magical force. I appealed to his desire to have power at his disposal. I, " Fox sighed heavily. "I also said that having our own immortal to watch over Alex in times of danger would be handy." Trini could see the shame in her Fey lover's eyes. It was pretty much what Trini had been expecting to hear, but hearing it somehow made her feel like she was being used. Trini turned to stare over the city again in silence. The bond made it clear to her that Fox did love her, but if she hadn't had that evidence, at this moment she'd start to doubt it. She was a useful tool for David, and that was why she was living at the castle. It wasn't the sort of revelation that made you all happy and warm inside.

"So he wants the warrior." Trini spoke quietly, just because she felt like she should say something. "Is that why you were willing to teach me how to fight?"

"No, I wanted you to know how to defend yourself, because you leap into danger all the time without thinking about what will happen to you. I wanted you to know how to protect yourself, because it was so painful for me to wait outside that operating room as the doctor removed that bullet. I know you'll survive those wounds, but I don't want you to even get them." Trini nodded weakly to let Fox know that Trini knew she was loved and this wasn't a trick to use her power.

After a moment of quiet Domi spoke. "The captain said something about Delilah." Trini clenched her fist as she watched the clouds. Domi probably remembered every single word of that conversation.

"I'm not planning to seduce Delilah." Trini spoke softly, while wishing that she could just walk away from this talk, but it was better to get it out there while they were so far away from Delilah. She turned to look at Domi's face and sighed. "I don't want you rushing off to attack her like you did with Elisa.

"Are you attracted to Delilah?" Domi's voice was a little harsh.

Trini's face showed her guilt. "I'm not going to get into a relationship with Delilah."

"And that's not what I asked." Domi's eyes would have been burning if it were night, as was they were cold.

"Fine, I am attracted to her." Trini's voice got a little louder. "I am not stupid enough to try and have her, but she is a sweet, tender, and loving female and…" Trini took a deep breath to try and calm down. It was herself that she was angry at and she didn't need to take that out on Domi. She stared back out towards the sky while she spoke more calmly. "I like the way she looks at me. Her innocence is attractive, but I wouldn't cheat on you."

Domi's voice held more than a hint of a growl, and Trini could hear her getting up from her chair to come closer. "So that kiss in the car was the first one?"

Trini paled a little and her fists clenched. Her voice was quiet, "When Goliath broke my arm Owen gave me some pain medicine. I wasn't thinking clearly when she asked me to teach her how to kiss. We've kissed before." Domi's arm reached out and shoved Trini into the wall. Trini felt her heart pounding as she stared into the angry face of her lover. Fox was starting to stand, but a glance from Trini stopped her. Trini would deal with this.

"I told you that I didn't want you cheating on me! Especially not with HER!"

Trini's voice was much calmer than she felt. "And I didn't. I just taught her how to kiss and she went out on her date with Lex." Trini reached out to rest her hand on the arm holding her pined to the wall. She could escape if she wanted to, but it wasn't what she wanted. Domi just stared at her with cold eyes wanting more. "It wasn't romantic, wasn't sexual. I did it because she wanted to know how, and at the time it made sense to give her that. I told her that was all it would be."

"And if she decides she'd like other lessons?" Domi growled at Trini while pushing her further back into the wall.

"I won't." Trini stared into her lover's eyes. "I never once intended to teach her more than how to kiss."

Domi just stared at her in silence for a while, obviously battling with her own thoughts. Trini's voice was soft, tender, "I won't ever hurt you like that. She's my best friend, and that is all she will ever be."

"So your ring isn't white because of her hair?" Domi's face was being kept carefully blank. Trini could tell her lover didn't want her to know what she was thinking or feeling.

Trini hadn't even thought of that. "I don't… no. It's still silver because it's not active. It may be a very long time before that ring becomes active." Trini glanced down for a moment, but the quiet growl Domi gave her made her look back up into her lover's eyes. "I love you." Trini spoke quietly while caressing the arm holding her still.

Trini licked her lips as her breathing got a little harsher. Her eyes were burning and her sunglasses were still in the bathroom. "Rough." Trini growled as the needful wave of desire hit her again. "Please." She moaned softly as Domi shoved her back into the wall more harshly. "Claim me." She'd never wanted rough from this mate before, but Trini started to imagine that Domi would be so good at it.

"You tell me something like that and then you want me to pleasure you?!" Domi's voice held disbelief. The arm holding Trini to the wall fell back to Domi's side and Trini felt a wave of shame push her arousal away. Domi was right. She knew that Domi wouldn't want to stop an argument for sex, and Fox was here anyhow. She stared down at the ground. She hadn't told Fox about those kisses either. She'd intended to at the time, but her embarrassment kept her quiet.

"I'm sorry." Trini whispered and started to move carefully around Domi to head for the balcony door. She didn't look up at Fox, feeling too embarrassed about her admission and her being turned down by Domi.

"Where do you think you're going?" Domi's voice held a threat and Trini's fists clenched as she fought the need starting to overtake her.

"I need to go." Trini spoke quietly, her face flush with shame. She needed a release so badly that her body was starting to shake. "Please… I can't fight now." Everything her mate did made her need it more. She needed some space. She needed to get control of herself.

Fox looked a little concerned as she reached out to touch Trini's slightly shaking arm. "Trini, what is it?"

"I just…" Trini backed away and entered the cool living room. "I…" Her eyes stared pleadingly at Fox. She didn't even register the constant growl coming from her own throat as her need started to make it harder to think.

Fox's voice held the firm command that she sometimes used in the bedroom. "Stop." Trini ceased her backwards retreat, but her body started to shake more.

"I need." Trini whined out. "Oh, God…" she started doing the soft sexual whimpers that Demona had told her she liked while staring at Fox's regally standing body. "I need… please…" Her body was shaking as the sexual ache ravaged her body. "Oh God… Oh God…"

Fox strode towards her fearlessly, but she should be afraid. Trini clenched her fists and bowed her head. She was losing control. With her head bowed she didn't see Domi following Fox inside and giving Trini a strange look as she took in the struggle Trini was having.

"Make it stop." Trini whimpered quietly to anyone that might be listening before the strange sound filled the air. She felt her legs become cold and she couldn't move them. She stared down to see the gray of stone starting to encase her body. "Oh no…" Her voice cracked as it moved up her body and she turned pleading and fearful eyes to a surprised Domi a moment before consciousness left her.

Trini was encased in stone as both lovers took small steps closer. Fox's eyes were wide in shock. "She's stone."

"Dammit, she never wanted this to happen." Domi reached out to touch Trini's cheek, while staring into the fearful expression frozen on Trini's face. Her voice was quieter, "Maybe she won't always do this." Domi turned concerned eyes to Fox. "It could just be her body's response to the iron… or her breeding season." Fox just nodded uncertainly and moved to sit on the couch.

"We have hours before sunset." Fox sighed as she glanced at the fear on Trini's face.

"I'm going to fly her tonight. If you can't handle that you may need to get a separate room." Domi said as she sat down in the chair, with a challenge in her voice.

Fox gave Domi a weak flirtatious smile. "If you need any help, just let me know."

Domi's eyes narrowed. "Did you know about Delilah?"

"I don't really think we need to worry. Trini was so upset that her pheromones were affecting Delilah, that I don't think she has any intention of sleeping with her." Fox ran her fingers through her hair. "I'm more concerned with her alter egos than I am with what she may or may not wish she could do with Delilah." Fox sighed and stared at Trini. "Should we move her into the sun more?"

Trini opened her eyes and was actually surprised to find herself in the dream realm. She didn't know that gargoyles dreamed in their stone sleeps. She looked around the sky and noticed the clouds still hovered over the island.

"Trinity child." The soft voice of her grandmother made Trini turn around. All three sisters were watching her with some concern. "We answered your call for help."

Trini stared at them, trying to figure out what they were talking about. Phoebe answered for them all. "You were afraid of your needs. We delayed them until sunset."

"It was you that turned me to stone?" Trini was confused about her feelings on that. She was spared from hurting her lovers accidentally with her out of control desires, but she was stone. They had messed with her body. Was she going to turn to stone every day now?

"Your body always had the potential to go to stone." Selene seemed a little irritated. "We just helped to encourage it because you were afraid you'd seriously injure one of your females."

"Why are you snapping at me?" Trini glared at Selene.

Phoebe came closer and her aura of peace was somewhat calming. "Selene is just upset." Trini forced herself not to flinch away when Phoebe reached out to touch her hair. "You've been hurt again, and there is no taking vengeance in this case. It makes her upset when there is no recourse." Phoebe's voice got even gentler. "You hurt yourself. We… It upsets us that you are that…" Phoebe's words trailed off helplessly.

Trini clenched her fist. She didn't even notice that clouds getting darker over the island behind her, but Luna glanced at them in silence.

"You are about to go into your Breeder's moon." Luna spoke softly, changing the subject. Trini noticed Phoebe step back a little, in some sort of agreement that it was Luna's time to talk. These three really did have a strange relationship. "We thought some last minute pointers would be useful before your instincts take over for you. In this matter, you are all gargoyle." Luna's lips turned up into a slight smile, "Oh, and Happy Birthday."

Trini was a little stunned. With everything that had happened with MacBeth, she'd forgotten it was her birthday. That reminded her… Trini's eyes became a little colder.

"He's trying to kill my mate." Her voice was demanding. A tone she never took with these three. "I don't like him being tied to Demona like that." The smile on Luna's lips faded, and Trini didn't seen Selene's angry glare, since she was behind her.

"The spell we used on those two is permanent. We cannot alter it."

Trini's eyes burned. "You did that to them and left them ALONE in the world. You don't even seem to realize how cruel that was." Trini's voice cracked with her pain at confronting her family like this, but if she didn't stand up for her mate with them, then she had no honor. "If you ever… EVER… hurt my loved ones or try to control them again, I will disown you." Tears fell from her eyes as she told the only family she had this.

"Trini, we had a debt to pay…" Phoebe started to explain but it just pissed Trini off.

"They aren't pawns for you to use. They aren't toys for your amusement. These are PEOPLE, with feelings and rights of their own. You LIED to them to get them to agree to that spell. You put in that sick, twisted clause that ensured that the only other person Demona could have…" Trini's face was reddening as her voice rose. "You are never alone, you told me that. Perhaps you need to be for a while, so that you can truly understand that pain." Trini took a few steps away from the sisters and stared out at the island.

"Was I supposed to be immortal, or did you trick me into it without my knowing it?" She asked without taking her eyes off the dark clouds. The captain said that these sisters had done something to her. Maybe it was time to find out what that was.

Selene answered. "You were always meant to be immortal. It's woven into your blood. It just didn't activate until you had grown up."

Trini thought for a moment, "Did you let those doctors hurt me? I was begging for help then and I didn't see you." Her hands clenched again.

"You are seeking to be angry." Luna answered with her normal mystical air. "You are looking for crimes to accuse us of. Your season has made you too emotional. We should talk after the gargoyle takes you."

Trini growled low in her throat. It was like they were telling her she had PMS and really shouldn't bother herself with this right now.

She stared down at the grass at her feet. "I wanted family that I could be proud of. I wanted it so bad I didn’t see…" Tears obscured her vision. If she didn't love them this would be so much easier, but she did. She loved them all, and it was their spell that was going to render Trini alone some day. Their spell tormented her lover for an eternity. At least when her mother used to hit her, Trini knew what to expect. The type of abuse these sisters did left her defenseless.

"Oh Trini." Phoebe's voice cracked, and Trini knew they were listening in on her thoughts again. She didn’t have the strength to protest. She just started walking away. The sisters stood still and just watched her. If they wanted to wait until after her Breeding talk seriously, they could wait. She wasn't up to playing at family with them now.

"Well, it might float." Trini grimaced at the boat she'd found along the shore. She probably had a while before she'd wake up, and was already bored. She told herself it was her boredom that made her push that feeble looking boat into the water and start rowing for the other shore. A self depreciating half smile crossed her lips. She just was checking on the local monster, to make sure she was alright.

Trini had never done much with boats before, but she managed to get that one to the island in one piece. She did almost flip it over a few times on the way though. She pulled it up onto the island, so that it wouldn't get pulled out into the water again, and hid it in some brush.

The quiet of the island was eerie. She walked past places that used to have buildings, and there was nothing. She saw no evidence of anyone. Trini whispered to herself as she continued down the paths trying to find any building, anyone. "Where are they all?"

"They weren't real." A familiar voice spoke from behind a tree. Trini watched as her pale double stepped out looking weary. "Not even my Fox and Demona were real. I live here alone, and unlike Marie, I realize it." Trini felt a pang of pain for this woman at that moment. The captain really did seem like a separate person to her here. Maybe Fox was right to seem concerned about Multiple personalities.

"I'm free from MacBeth." Trini found herself saying stupidly. Now that she was here, she didn't know what to talk about with the captain. The captain's smirk let her know the captain thought that was pretty stupid as well.

"I know what you are up to. I see it all, experience it all too." The grin grew wicked. "Tonight ought to be truly fun. I don't intend to let her catch us too easily. We'll make that gargoyle work for it."

Trini frowned. "Why? I want her to touch me."

"You weren't listening when the clan was talking about the Breeder's moon were you?" A slightly disgusted look crossed the captain's face. "It seems the chase is a large part of it. If we give in too easily, she may think we aren't worthy or something. You really should have asked more questions about the specifics. You were just too embarrassed to do it." Trini opened her mouth to protest being talked to like this but the captain wasn’t slowing down. "She's hinted to what she wants. She's been training us for this night for a while."

Trini's eyebrows rose in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

The captain's smirk was far too flirtatious. "The gliding with you holding on to her, the way she wants you comfortable with being able to move around on her body in the air. You knew that was sexual from the beginning. That's why you wanted her that first night, and why you ache for her every time she takes us out like that." The grin grew. "And that game of tag… practice in running? For her to get some idea how you run so it would be easier for her to catch you?"

Trini's eyes widened. "But we weren't together when we played tag. She didn't know she'd be flying me."

"You are so niave. It's almost like talking to Marie sometimes." The captain leered at her and Trini clenched her fists, fighting the creepy feeling that gave her. "She was after you long before you offered to have sex with her at the cabin. She was sniffing around the moment she found out you were gay." The captain's voice got softer, more seductive. "Remember her caressing your hair that night? The way she softly asked if you had a mate? She was interested."

"No, that can't be." Trini stared at her double in confusion.

"Don't think it's because you are all that." The sneer made Trini's stomach clench a bit. She knew that the insults were back. "She probably knew, like I do, that sex is the best way to control you. She may have liked you, she may have even been grateful for the protection in Canada, but like David, she probably saw the benefit of having her own immortal Fey in the house." The look of sympathy was so faked as the captain started to circle Trini like a shark, "And one so abused by humans to. You're her protégé, you know that? That's a strange sort of relationship you have with that one. Bonded in Pain." The smile was mocking and Trini glared. "Forever Insane."

"She's not crazy." Trini growled.

The captain waved her arm as if dismissing Trini's comment. "And all those genocide attempts? That's normal?"

"Don't insult my mate!" Trini took a step closer, while her eyes burned.

"Enough of this. I'm going to rev you up so you are ready to race tonight." The captain's voice was a sensual purr. Trini's eyes widened in shock as she was pushed up against the large tree trunk behind her. The captain leaned very close and whispered seductively in Trini's ear. "I'll help make you so responsive tonight she'll want to cry with her pleasure." Then those cruel lips leaned down to kiss and nibble on Trini's neck. Trini's breathing started to come faster, and she was upset with herself when she noticed she wasn't fighting back at all.

Domi was dressed in her loincloth and halter when she came out of the bathroom. Trini was frozen in stone near the balcony door, which Domi moved to open as the sun started to dip towards the horizon.

"How is she supposed to run?" Fox looked up from her magazine to stare into Domi's eyes, before glancing out the balcony.

"She can do it." Domi moved closer to Trini and tenderly caressed her hair. "I won't let her get hurt."

"I can still suit up and run backup. There is enough time."

Domi looked down at the rings on Trini's hand, which had been reaching out towards her when the hybrid was turning to stone. "I… appreciate the offer Fox, but I think I can catch my own mate. Also I haven't done that spell in days. My… instincts might label you as competition, and that wouldn't be good." Domi moved to sit on the chair opposite Fox to wait. "I've seen males get into some vicious fights over a female on the breeders moon."

Fox's lips curved up in a slight smile, but she said nothing, just pulled her magazine up to continue reading.

When the sun set Domi's scream was heard before the cracking of stone started. Fox stayed in her seat and watched Trini intensely as the stone cracked and then was thrown from her body when she broke free. The growl Trini gave while doing that was loud and echoed off the walls.

Trini blinked in shock for a moment before she realized that she had awoken. She stared down at the chips of her own stone skin in a little shock. The pulsing of her heart beat in her pheromone ducts drew her attention to that part of her body, and she realized that the ducts were spasming lightly, filling the room with her scent. It was strong enough for her to be able to notice it now, and the feel of it being pushed from her body was arousing.

Her eyes burned brilliantly in the darkened room as she spun around to see her blue mate. A wicked smile crossed Trini's lips as she noticed Demona inhaling deeply. The gargoyle's eyes were burning and the look of hunger she sent Trini's way ignited Trini's passion even more. Fox was watching both female from her place on the couch and Trini stared at Fox with her head tilted a moment. She managed a wicked smile before turning to run out the balcony door and leap off the balcony. She was so in to her need to run she didn't notice Fox's scream. She impaled herself on the building across the way and climbed fast. The fact that she was only dressed in a robe, which was quickly falling open didn't even register. The cool summer air felt good though.

She could hear her lover's wings behind her and a mischievous grin covered Trini's lips as she quickly dodged right, and watched Demona pull up before hitting the roof when she missed grabbing Trini. Trini laughed and leapt off the building onto a shorter one. She rolled and got up quickly, never even noticing the way the rough rooftops were scraping her skin. She gave her burning eyed and serious looking lover a seductive smile and started to run as Demona approached her position. Her body shook with need but she didn't stop. She wanted to run… to be caught, claimed, desired enough to be chased. She also wanted to prove to Demona that she wasn't weak. She was worthy, very worthy.

She was halfway to the next rooftop, flying through the air after having jumped, before she saw the humans. Trini's eyes widened as she noticed the rooftop café occupants turn to stare. She froze for a moment trying to determine her next move, completely unmindful of the fact that her robe was wide open. The humans had a full view of the front of her body.

She gasped in surprise when she was grabbed and pulled up into the air by Demona. The gargoyle growled loudly at the small staring crowd as they glided over their heads. Trini paid them no more attention as she tried to twist in Demona's arms. She finally got into a position that allowed her to kiss the gargoyle. Trini pulled Demona's head down and gave her a heated kiss while moaning out her need. The kiss grew more desperate and Demona pulled Trini's body tighter to her own. Trini wrapped her legs around the gargoyle and growled low in her throat while pulling her head back to latch her teeth onto Demona's throat.

"Yes!" Demona pulled Trini almost painfully closer. Trini barely winced at Demona's talons left thin lines of blood behind where she gripped Trini's hips tightly. The gargoyle's head moved so fast after Trini released her bite that Trini wasn't aware she'd moved until those sharp fangs cut into her skin and blood started to well up from the deep bite. Demona growled low in her throat and held Trini in that position for a painfully long time. Trini gasped when the fangs were removed and Demona started to lap at Trini's blood. Each pass of that smooth tongue over her injured flesh both hurt and soothed.

"My Mate." Demona stared into Trini's eyes with something that looked almost like disbelief, and her eyes were burning so intensely. Trini's felt the intrusion and threw her head back to moan loudly as Demona pushed her tail deep into Trini.

"Yes… Oh, Yes…." Trini writhed in Demona's arms before coming to her sensed enough to reach one hand behind the gargoyle and she started to caress Demona's wing joints. Demona quickly started to gain altitude, but the glide was rocky as the wings quivered.

"I wont let you fall." Demona whispered in a shaky voice to Trini and Trini felt her heart melt.

Trini's entire body was shaking but she stopped the caress to Demona's wing joints to caress her lover's cheek. "I trust you completely." Trini spoke solemnly and noted the glassy look in Demona's burning eyes at that comment. She could see the tension in Demona's body and leaned up closer to kiss her brow ridges. The gargoyle had forgone her jewelry tonight. "Let go. I won't break." Trini whispered while resting her head against Demona's cheek. The low growl in her mate's throat seemed to vibrate her body after that.

The rough bites that trailed along Trini's neck left her skin tingling. That talented mouth latched onto Trini's eartip. She started to keen loudly and thrusted her body towards her mate. She could feel the points of Demona's nipples pressing against her own uncovered breasts. The robe whipped about in the wind, doing nothing to cover her.

She was surprised when Demona moved to start to glide on her back but took advantage of that to lean down at push the halter top up and started to suckle roughly on the exposed breast. Trini's throaty growl seemed to arouse Demona even more.