In Her Father’s Shadow – By Princess Alexandria

 

Day 1

         Trini opened the door to her apartment and was grateful that it hadn’t been robbed or anything.  Unlike Trish, she just left it without a sitter.  She tiredly dropped her luggage at the door and marched off to bed.  She’d deal with it all after a few hours of sleep.  It was only 2 am here, but her body was still on New York time, and she’d barely had any sleep last night.  She smiled at the memory of what her and Fox did instead of sleep.  She didn’t regret that.

 

         Trini woke up to her alarm at 9 am.  She wanted to get as much work done before Domi came as possible so that they could just have fun, so she was on a strict diet of just enough sleep until the job was done.  She trudged out of her bedroom and just looked around her apartment.  She wasn’t going to miss it at all.  The small one bedroom apartment had worn brown shag carpet, broken tiles in the bathroom, and chipped kitchen cabinets.  The view was non-existent and the building next to hers blocked much of the sun.  The only good thing about this place was that it was cheap, and as a student she had needed that. 

         Her furniture wasn’t any better.  She wasn’t going to waste any money bringing it with her.  The only decent piece was her mattress.  She was willing to spend the money so she could sleep well.  Her couch was olive green and the upholstery wearing on the arms.  She had an orange chair, and a scratched up coffee table.  Her tv and stereo sat on another coffee table.  Everything was from the Goodwill, and looked like it came from the seventies.  Her stereo she had actually bought new, and it was of decent quality, because she loved her music.  The tv had been her mother’s.  That was one of the few items from her mother that didn’t go right into storage.  Her bedroom had a scratched up dresser that’s drawers fell out if she wasn’t careful and a scratched up desk. 

She could have had better things, but her body started to change shortly after she got the full time job.  She saved her money for an emergency, knowing that if she changed too much she sure couldn’t count on her family to help.  She didn’t care for the type of help her mother might give her.  She saw the picture of Broadway in February, and started to save even more so she could go to find that clan.  She’d requested this summer off so she could find the gargoyles, knowing that it would wipe out her savings quickly.  If David hadn’t given her money, she wouldn’t even have money for food right now.

         As she looked around the depressing dive that had been her home she realized how truly odd her life was.  Even without her triple heritage and all that entailed, the fact that someone from this apartment was in love with a millionaire was just mind-boggling.  She just shook her head and went to see if her old car would start after sitting so long so she could go get groceries and some supplies to start packing stuff up.  Most of it was going back to the Goodwill she got it from.  And if she could get rid of it before Domi saw it, all the better.  After seeing the luxury that Domi lived in, her apartment was even more of an embarrassment. 

 

         Trini worked hard cleaning out old clothes that she couldn’t wear, things she had saved for god knows what reason, and items that Fox already had for the rest of the day.  She took two carloads to the Goodwill, and arranged for them to come get her furniture later in the month.  She also cleaned quite a bit.  She may have crap, but it was going to be clean crap when Domi came.

         Anything that she was going to bring, but didn’t need now got boxed up and put in the bottom of her closet.  The closet was practically empty anyway.  She only had a few outfits that she could still wear; she used to wear tighter pants and occasionally some truly sexy slinky dresses when she went out dancing or sang at a club. 

Singing, that was something she hadn’t done in a while.  Trini smiled at the memory of that.  She was usually so reserved and shy in college, but on the stage… with a few drinks in her… she had been wild.  She commanded the room.  She sang for a group of guys that were trying to start a band.  They were in her history class sophomore year.  That only lasted for two quarters before she had to give it up.  Her grades fell to a C average so her stepfather had threatened to stop paying for school.  He had just been looking for an excuse to do that so her mother wouldn’t have room to argue.  When she was singing she felt for a brief moment how it felt to belong.  She gave that up for her family, because she needed the money.  When Robbie completely flunked out a quarter later and no threats were made, she was pretty angry, but didn’t say anything.

When they tried to tell her writing would be a waste of her time later on in her college career, she decided that she didn’t care.  She was the one stuck living her life, not them.  Her stepfather and mother stopped paying for school, hoping that it would change her mind.  Trini just found a way to get student loans.  Problem solved.  She received quite a few glares about that, of course those loans were going to be due soon, she grimaced.

         Looking at her closet again, Trini studied the one dress that she’d never be able to wear, but she just couldn’t bear to toss out.  It was going to New York to sit in that closet unused for years.  It was a short red dress that came to her mid-thigh.  It was cut low in front and had shown an almost indecent amount of cleavage.  When she used to wear it, she could see that several men and women were interested in what they saw.  She remembered Robyn’s assessing gaze as she walked up to her the first time in the club.  She had been admiring women’s beauty for years by the time she was nineteen, but… she had never hit on anyone, and certainly never had a woman hit on her.  Trini shook her head at her own behavior.  It had been entirely too easy for Robyn to dance her into a corner and start to kiss her.  Trini hadn’t even tried to resist.

         Robyn… she had long blond hair that she parted in the middle, but it looked good on her.  Her own dress was just as short as Trini’s had been.  She had high cheekbones that Trini had thought gave her and elfish appearance at the time.  Her eyes had been pure seduction, making Trini feel like the prey to this sexual hunter.

         At nineteen and faced with such a beautiful woman kissing her, Trini was more aroused than she had ever been in her life.  Even so, she slowed the kisses and then stopped them.  She was too different, so couldn’t just jump into bed with someone, no matter how tempting it was at the time.  Her scars… would be too hard to explain.

         Robyn had looked a little impatient for a moment, but then smiled at her.  “I’ll be here tomorrow night as well.  I’m Robyn.”

         Trini had stared into her blue eyes and made a decision, she was skipping class tomorrow night.  “So will I.”  She forgot to introduce herself.  It seemed so odd to make out with someone and not even know her name. 

         Trini went to the bathroom to make sure her lipstick wasn’t too smudged.  The girls in the dorm would have tease her, not to mention Robyn’s lipstick wasn’t the same color as hers.  As she was leaving she noticed Robyn sitting with two other men at a table.  She was a little obsessed with the blond woman, so she hid to listen to the conversation for a moment.  “Well, that explains why you completely bombed with her Jason.”  The blond man turned to the guy beside him that looked vaguely familiar.  “I’m sorry about this Robyn.  We had no idea she went that way.”  He turned to the blond woman that Trini was watching. 

         Someone bumped into Trini, so she turned and saw someone from school.  After some polite small talk she looked back to find the table empty, and Robyn gone.

         Trini had met Robyn for dancing the next night, and that had led to dating.  Robyn had even gone to a couple of her gigs and danced seductively while she sang.  They dated almost daily for two weeks before Trini finally felt ready to have sex.  Ready… that was a joke.  Robyn had her so ready she was practically jumping out of her skin.  She would have done anything for it, including taking off her clothes and risking rejection.  She hated the way her back looked, and there were no good lies to explain the odd shaped scars.

         Trini smiled as she remembered that night.  The sex had been bumbling and awkward for her.  Robyn needed to teach her everything.  She was a terrific teacher. 

         She had been lying on top of the covers of the bed in Robyn’s hotel when Robyn’s brother knocked on the door.  She was worried that he would know she was there, so she stayed very quiet.  She had found out it was Robyn’s brothers that she’d seen at the table with her the first night.  “I’m kind of busy right now Jon.”  Robyn spoke with a steely voice through the door that she refused to open.  Trini pretended to still be asleep when Robyn gazed over at her.

         “So?” Jon asked edgily. 

Trini could see Robyn’s robe covered body tense as she stared over at Trini’s back.  “Normal.”

“I guess dad’s records were a little off.” Jon sighed, then added embarrassedly, “You didn’t actually…”

“No, of course not.”  Robyn walked away from the door and went into the bathroom.  Trini was completely puzzled about what they were talking about.  When Robyn came back out she was naked, and started touching Trini again.  Trini just surrendered to her, gasping and moaning as she came for the fourth time that night.  She was more than eager to reciprocate after that.

The next night in her own dorm room she found the letter telling her that Robyn had left.  Trini could feel tears on her face from the remembered pain.  For a long time she wondered if it was her fault.  She stopped accepting offers to dance, even if they were with women.  She stopped going out dancing shortly after that.  It was at that time that she also stopped singing.  She threw herself into school and forgot about everything else.  She felt the weight of her differentness heavily for the next few years.

It took her five years to kiss another woman after that.  If Elisa hadn’t been so gentle and caring, Trini might never have been with her.  And unbelievably… when it started to rain… it poured.  Five years of celibacy, and then two women within days of each other.  It just didn’t make any sense.  Trini packed the dress in with some of her other clothes that she wouldn’t be wearing soon, and put it in the closet.

Looking through the empty closet and storage spaces, the apartment began to feel even more empty and lifeless.  Trini heated up a late dinner and sat to watch a little TV.  Everything else in this apartment would have to wait until closer to moving day to be packed up.  At least having a small apartment kept her from keeping to much junk.  She watched Star Trek: The Next Generation and ate her dinner.  That outfit that they made Counselor Troy wear in the first episodes was horrible, but she did have a nice voice and pretty eyes. 

When the phone rang, Trini leapt over the back of the couch and picked it up quickly.  Gee… a little too eager?  She thought to herself.  “Hello?”

“Well, I did it.  I had to really juggle things, but I can be there Saturday.”  Demona’s voice sounded tired. 

“Saturday?  Great.  Do you have an arrival time?  I’ll pick you up.”  Trini was smiling now.  She’d have to work like hell to get ready for the move so that they had time together, but she’d find a way.

“Five.  I’ll be in at five.”  Demona’s voice softened.  “How are you doing?  Still sleeping okay?”

That woman was amazing.  She was the one attacked and she worried about Trini’s sleep.  “I’m doing okay.  I just don’t dream anymore.  Normally that would upset me, but since the dreams I’d been having were so crappy, I don’t mind.”  Trini thought she could hear Demona sigh in relief.

“Oh, well that’s good then.”  Demona sounded a little awkward.  “I need to get back to work.  I’m trying to finish everything before I go.” 

“Okay.  I’ll see you later.”  Trini said more softly, “I miss you.” before she even thought about it.  She became embarrassed.  She’d seen Domi just yesterday. 

“Get some sleep.”  Demona’s soft… almost affectionate sounding voice replied before she hung up.  Trini turned off the TV and went to do just that.  It wasn’t that late here, but she was still tired anyhow.

 

Day 2

         Trini left the University of Washington at 10:30 am.  She’d decided to quit in person, she knew that any ending deserved that much.  Her boss took it very well, almost like he expected it.  She was done with school now, maybe several people left working there after that.  She also stopped by to see her faculty advisor to let her know she was moving to New York.  She gave her the new address so that her novel could be returned to her after they approved it for her degree. 

She felt a little odd now that she was leaving school.  She’d been in school steadily since she started kindergarten.  God… kindergarten was hell.  She started it just weeks after that… operation.  She felt dead inside watching the kids play.  They all seemed so happy.  Trini shook herself out of those painful memories and continued to drive towards the part of town that had the storage unit.

The storage unit was large.  It contained things that her mother had specifically said she could have in her will, as well as some other items that Travis, her stepfather, didn’t want.  She still remembered his cold stare as he told her she could take any of that crap she wanted.  He was a heartless bastard.  Trini was glad that her mother never shared her secret with anyone, even him.  He would have sold her out if it made him money.

         Trini was sweating in the summer heat as she pulled each box out one at a time and went through them.  Her mother had been a bit of a pack rat; so much of the stuff actually was garbage.  Trini sighed as she realized that she had been wasting money storing this stuff for six months because she didn’t want to go through it. 

         After she took the first load to the dump she finally had enough room to look at things inside the storage unit, out of the sun.  She also had room to make two piles:  one to go to the dump or Goodwill, and one of what she would keep and look over later at the apartment.  The pile for the dump grew at a must faster rate, so Trini took a few more loads over that day, before it was too late to do it.

         Trini did a lot, but still had much more to do when she left that night to go home.  She tiredly unpacked what she had deemed worth considering keeping and put it in the corner of the living room. 

She was dirty, sweaty, and was pretty sure that some spider webs got in her hair.  She took a long hot shower.  While she was washing her tail, she started to think about Fox’s massage.  She started to try and massage it herself.  It felt good, but just not as good.  When she started to wash the base of her tail… that felt good.  It was very hard for her to reach it, but she started to rub it with her soapy hands, while biting her lip at the pleasure it gave her.  She was starting to feel very lucky to have so many parts of her body that were sexual.  It gave masturbating a variety that others didn’t have.

She was beginning to really believe that if she just rubbed a little longer she could come this way.  Trini’s breath was coming in ragged gasps as she felt the orgasm approaching.  It felt different than the ones she had before, maybe a tail induced one was different.  The phone rang.  Trini shakily turned off the water and got out of the shower… damn, just a few more seconds…  It could be Demona or Delilah.  She had to answer.  The cell phone was in her pants pocket, so she was able to answer by the fourth ring.

“Hello?”  Trini was a little dismayed to hear her voice was deeper, huskier.

“Trini?  Is that you?”  Delilah’s voice made Trini blush.  She felt like she’d been caught in person.  Of course anyone calling at that moment would have gotten that response from her.  She stood naked, and shaking slightly from her almost release, while dripping water onto the bathroom tile.

“Yeah.  What’s up Delilah?”  Trini tried to make her voice sound a little more normal.  Her need was fading a little, so that helped.

“You can tell who I am over the phone?”  Delilah sounded pleased that Trini hadn’t confused her for Elisa.

“You sound different.”  Delilah sounded younger, and unsure of herself, but she didn’t need to know that.  “How is the clan treating you?”  Trini grabbed a towel and dried herself off with one hand while she talked.  Her shower and playtime was over.

         “They’ve been great!”  Delilah sounded so happy.  It made Trini smile.  “I went on patrol last night and helped them with a few muggers.  After that we had pizza.”  Her voice got a little quieter, “They actually talk to me.”  Trini could hear tears of joy in the voice.

         “You are a great person.  Maybe they’ll be able to see that now.”  Trini told her fondly.  Trini walked out of the bathroom and since she couldn’t get into her pajamas one handed sat down on the bed to talk.  Delilah had stories about the patrol she’d done with Lex and Angela.  They seemed to be treating her okay, and Trini was glad to hear that the males weren’t going overboard with trying to get into Delilah’s pants, but weren’t ignoring her either.  Hudson must have really gotten through to them.  Delilah finally let Trini go when she heard the yawn that Trini was trying to cover up.

         Trini went to lie down on her back, but her tail was a little sore from her earlier attentions.  She moved onto her side and fell asleep, never bothering with the pajamas.

 

Day 3

 

         The phone woke Trini up.  She answered it with a sleepy voice.  “Hello?”

         “Geez Trin, you sleep all the time.”  Robbie’s voice was a bit irritated.  Trini glanced at the clock.  It was only 8:45 am.  It wasn’t even remotely late. 

         “Whatever.  What do you want?”  She felt a bit grumpy at being woken up like that.

         “We’ll be flying in today.  I need you to pick us up.”  We, which means Robbie and that bitch of a wife he has.  Trini was busy trying to get the moving ready, or she’d end up wasting Domi’s time here.  Robbie always expected her to drop everything whenever he came to town.  His father lived here, why didn’t he ever ask the old man to do it.

         “I’m sorry Robbie, you should have called me earlier.  I have plans.”  Trini finally told him no to something.  “I’m sure Travis can do it, call him.”  She also wanted to put off the conversation about her move and the new look as long as possible.  She hadn’t mentioned either to him.

         “What?!  But Trini we’ll be arriving at 4pm.  Couldn’t you juggle your plans?”  He sounded really put out.  Maybe he didn’t like his father either.

         “No, I can’t.  I have a friend coming to visit me this week and I have things I need to do.”  Trini’s voice was firm. 

         “Trini, it’s just a couple hours.”  Robbie continued to nag a little angrily.

         “Why don’t you call your dad?  He lives closer to the airport anyhow.”  Trini sighed, “I really don’t have time.  I have too much to do.  I barely have time for the picnic tomorrow.”

         “Thanks for nothing!”  He hung up loudly.  Great… this will just make that family thing tomorrow just that much more unpleasant.  It wasn’t like any of those people were her family anyhow.  It was Robbie and Travis’ family, and she was only there for them to ridicule and talk about.  None of them approved of her, after the way Travis described her.  Once she moved, she wasn’t coming back… ever.  She looked at the cell phone and made a mental note to not answer any more calls unless they came from New York.  Otherwise Travis would lecture her about not being helpful, and how she was a selfish bitch once he found out he was going to have to go get his own son.

 

         Trini’s alarm had been set for 9 am so she decided to get up and go back to work on the storage unit.  She’d made a lot of progress yesterday, especially after she had room to work inside the unit without anyone seeing how easily she could really move those boxes around.  It would probably take her at least twice as long if she had to hide her strength.

         She had to ignore four phone calls while she was going through the storage unit.  She closed the unit door and worked frantically, building up a sweat as she quickly went through boxes and sorted them in the keep or toss piles.  She took a few more carloads to the dump and a few loads home.  She was still working on it after six, but she made her home visits very quick, so that if Travis decided to drop by in person to bitch she wouldn’t be there. 

When she brought the last few boxes of things she was considering keeping up she noticed the note on her door.  It was his handwriting.  She put the boxes down first and then grabbed it off the door.  She glanced over it.  Basically it said what she thought it would.  She was a selfish bitch, and that he’d wasted his money on her for years.  It also had an angry remark about her rude behavior and how she had better show up tomorrow.  Trini sighed.  That party was just getting more fun by the minute.  If she didn’t go, that controlling old man would probably come by that day or worse, that night.  She didn’t want Domi to see what served as her family.  He had gotten a million times worse after her mother had died.

 

         Trini took a shower to get the grime off of her and then dressed for bed.  She ate dinner and watched some TV.  She was a little concerned that her tail still felt a bit sore.  She hadn’t been that rough with it the night before.  She glanced at the large pile of boxes in the corner of the room.  She’d deal with that later, she’d deserved a little break today.  The storage unit was empty.  Towards the end of the day she’d just tossed the remaining boxes in her car so she could go home. 

         When the phone rang at about ten Trini checked the number first before answering it.  “Hello?”  It wasn’t a local number, so it was someone she wanted to talk to.

         “Hello Lover.”  Fox’s husky voice replied.  “I miss you.”  Trini’s heart skipped a beat.  Fox could sure be sexy when she wanted to.

         “I love you.  How are things going?”  Trini felt a little bad.  It was Fox’s anniversary and she had to spend time trying to cover up what Trini had done.  She had no idea what she was telling David she was doing.  Hopefully it was not the truth.

         Fox’s voice became more serious.  “Well, I’ve talked with some people in Canada.  Things are getting done, it’s just a delicate process.”  Fox became a little more upbeat, “David and I have done a lot of dancing and…”  Trini could hear the grin in Fox’s voice, “other things.  So it isn’t all work.”  Good, she didn’t ruin her anniversary.

         “Well, good on all counts, right?”  Trini realized that Fox couldn’t talk too freely on this line, or she would have been more specific.

         “So far it looks good.”  Fox paused, “Elisa didn’t go.  She’s just having records sent to her.”  Domi’s plan, as underhanded and disturbing as it was, worked. 

         “She’s getting our records, right?”  Trini was still nervous.  She sat back down on the couch.

         “Yes, complete updated records via me.”  Fox sighed as Trini heard a door open over the phone.  “I love you, I need to go.  David and I have some plans.”

         “I love you too.  Please have fun.”  Once Fox hung up, Trini felt quite a bit lonelier.  She turned off the TV and started to sift through the boxes in the corner.  One box that she kept sat in the corner, unnoticed, in spite of the gentle green glow coming from it. 

 

Day 4

 

         She woke up early, so that she could get ready for the picnic at her stepfather’s house.  Domi had done her a favor coming in today.  She was going to be able to cut her visit with the family short, and not stay for the fireworks this year.

         Trini took a deep breath as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.  She’d painted her fingernails, so that she didn’t have to hear about how stupid it was to have black ones.  It took several coats of pink to cover it up.  She taped her ears back and fluffed out her hair.  The baseball cap would have been the subject of too much conversation.  She put on her baggy pants, to hide her tail, and a shirt dark enough to not show the line up her back.  Although her family tended to nit-pick at her, she doubted that they would notice the eye color change.  She was wearing clothes that Fox bought her.  It helped to remind her that she wasn’t really alone.

         She nervously did more tidying of the apartment while she waited until it was time to go.  She was going to show up as late as it was possible to without getting the lecture about it.

        

         When Trini parked in front of the large house, she could see that everyone else was already there.  Most of Travis’ family lived in the area.  It was a pretty decent area too, that man wasn’t hurting for money, but he was nowhere near being rich.  Trini put her keys in her pocket and left everything else in the car.  It made a getaway easier that way.  They might object to her needing to leave early.

         She could smell the hamburgers being barbequed as she walked around to the backyard.  She stood staring at the scene in the backyard for a moment, steeling her resolve before moving into sight.  Travis was laughing and drinking a beer as he flipped the burgers.  His brother-in-law, Warren, was making some sort of hand gestures as he told Travis a story.  Tina, Travis’ much younger sister was sitting with her mother at the picnic table talking.  She was only about ten years older than Trini.  Trini’s sensitive hearing enabled her to hear her name being brought up.  They don’t waste anytime getting to it.  They were already talking about how ungrateful she was.  Travis’ family was under the mistaken impression that he was actually helping her once in a while.  Robbie and Carol, his wife and the girl that had taken joy in tormenting Trini in school when she was a kid, came out of the back door of the house to join everyone on the deck.  Trini sighed, here we go, she thought as she walked out to join them. 

         Travis glanced up at her disapprovingly, “What the hell did you do to your hair?!”  Well, that took even less time than Trini thought it would.

         She forced a smile to her face.  “I had it colored.  I was sick of brown.”  She could tell he hated it. 

         Tina got up from her seat and walked over.  “Well, maybe my hairstylist could fix it.  It’s just too… black.  Honey it makes you look too pale.” 

Trini mentally gritted her teeth.  “Thanks, but this was actually the look I was going for.”  I know it makes me look pale, nothing I can do about that, Trini thought to herself.

“You look like one of those vampire wanna-be’s.”  Travis complained.  The dark clothes that Trini was wearing might have had something to do with his comment.  When one of the burgers caught fire, it took his attention away from Trini.  She took that opportunity to wander over to the drinks and get some lemonade. 

“Always trying to be the center of attention, aren’t you Trini?”  Carol whispered to her.  No, Trini hated being the center of attention, especially with these people.  She just always ended up in that role.  Trini ignored the barb and took a drink.  She was glad she took the time to deal with her nails now.  She sat on the outskirts of the conversations for a while, nodding and pretending to listen. 

They were all seated and eating when Robbie addressed her.  “So, how was New York?”  He asked in a friendly way.  Trini noticed that everyone turned to hear about her vacation.

“It was great!  I went to Cats, with a few friends of mine.  If you only get to see one play, see that one.”  Trini smiled at him, but her nerves felt a little shot.  Very little of what she’d done in New York was stuff she could share with these people.

Trini heard Carol mutter to herself, “friends, yeah like I believe that.”  Trini gritted her teeth and forced herself to not say anything about that.  She shouldn’t have been able to hear it anyhow.

Trini took a deep breath and just jumped into it, “I’m moving there in a couple of weeks.”  This caused the stir she knew it would.

“New York!  Are you crazy, you’ll get murdered!”  Tina exclaimed.  “I’m surprised you weren’t mugged or worse already, spending a month in that city.”  Trini almost grimaced, because she had experienced the ‘worse’.  Tina was actually right about something for once.

“Where will you live?”  Robbie actually sounded concerned.  He was halfway decent to her most of the time.  He was just really selfish.

“I’m moving in with a friend.”  Trini’s eyes softened, “It really is better for my writing career to live there right now.”  Once she said that, she knew she’d made a mistake.  That was something she shouldn’t bring up with this family ever.

“Writing.” Travis snorted.  “You’ll never make any money doing that, and if you think I’m going to wire you money when you get into trouble you can just forget it.”

Trini’s eyes narrowed, “I’m not going to need your money.”

Tina butted in, she always pretended to care, but her comments were usually just disguised ridicule.  “How long do you think this friend of yours is going to want to support you?  It’s hard to get work in that city.”  She paused and then added, “It isn’t some male friend.  You aren’t just shacking up with someone you just met are you.  Because he is just using you for sex… you know that don’t you?”  Whoa… she didn’t even hide that insulting jab very well at all.

Carol whispered to Tina, “Get real, who would date her.  She’s a freak.”  Tina grinned a little, but then covered it up.

Warren chipped in, “Who’s going to hire you?  That is a city based on business.  You should have majored in that.”  Of course he would say that.  He owned a local research firm.

“I already have two offers to work at multi-billion dollar companies.”  Trini’s pride took over her mouth.  “I’m still shopping around, but I’ll have a job within a couple of weeks.”  She hated hearing about how she was stupid to pick creative writing as a major.  “I’ll still be able to write in my spare time, and when I start getting published I’ll start writing full time.”

She could see that no one believed her about the job offers.  “Which companies?”  Carol asked snidely.

“Xanatos Enterprises and NightStone.”  She should never have brought that up.

         Warren looked at her with vicious glee in his eyes.  “I’m meeting with the NightStone CEO next week, so if you need me to I could put in a good word for you.”  Domi was meeting with this asshole?  Trini raised her hand to cover her mouth, because a slow grin was forming.  She strongly suspected she would be a real bitch in business dealings.

 

         Trini was coming out of the bathroom in the house when Warren walked up to her.  Everyone else was outside, and the look in his eyes made her nervous.  He was going to try it again, she could just tell.  His voice was quieter and deeper, “I could try and put a good word in for you with Dominique.  We both know you don’t have any job prospects.”  Trini hoped he tried to call her that to her face.  She had everyone that actually worked for her still calling her Ms. Destine.  Being that familiar with her could cause her to be even less friendly with the lecherous human. 

When he reached a hand up to touch her face, she glared and batted it away.  “Don’t touch me.”

“I’d might be able to get you that job at NightStone for real.”  Warren actually thought he could buy her now.  “You just need to be friendlier.”

“I don’t need your help.  Keep your damned hands to yourself!”  Trini tried to slip past him.  His fat body was taking up most of the hallway. 

She was shocked when he pushed her into the wall.  His hand was groping her breast as he used it to pin her to the wall.  He’d never been this aggressive before.  Her heart hammered in her chest as she grabbed the offending hand and shoved it away roughly.  “Don’t you ever touch me again!”  She hissed at him and turned to march out the front door, listening carefully for any attack.  She wanted to put that asshole through the wall, but… no one else would believe her if she told them what he did.  They’d probably have her arrested.

“Fucking Bitch… when you’re homeless on the streets of New York you’ll be letting anyone have a taste for a little cash.  You’ll be calling me then!”  He growled at her.  She left without talking to anyone, she needed to get out of there.

 

Trini parked the car and wandered into SeaTac airport early, she’d be waiting for Domi forty-five minutes if her plane was actually on time.  She went to sit at the terminal and started to read.  Her mind wasn’t really on the magazine at all.  She couldn’t believe that Warren had done that.  The more she thought about it the angrier she got.  She had to force her thoughts away, or her eyes would start to burn red.  She started to think about more pleasant things, like Fox. 

When they started to get off the plane, Trini sat still and waited.  Domi came out carry a bag and glaring at the slow moving older man in front of her.  Trini could see a few other passengers eyeing the redhead.  Trini couldn’t help but grin.  She had obviously been a little harsh with some of the other passengers.  Several people glared at her or seemed cowed. 

She walked up to Domi and took her bag for her.  She whispered quietly to her, “Making friends with the locals I see.”  She stood back and grinned at her.  Domi looked at her a little sternly, but it didn’t faze her.  Domi was looking good.  Her hair was down, and she was wearing black pants and a red shirt.  They started to walk towards the luggage pick up.

“Did you bring a lot?”  Trini smiled at Domi, who finally gave her a little grin back.

“We should get a cart.  I packed for every possibility.” Domi’s eyes sparkled.  That made Trini a little concerned about what Domi had with her. 

 

Once they were in the car Domi sighed.  “That was the worst flight I’ve ever taken.  Humans don’t know how to make their children behave, they let them run around like animals.”

Trini chuckled, “I had the spoiled brat crying child next to me for three hours on my flight.  I can sympathize.”  Trini had envisioned swatting the kid a few times; she could only imagine the thoughts Domi must have had.

 

Trini warned Domi that the apartment wasn’t much to look at as they turned onto her street.  It was almost six when they parked and started unloading the considerable amount of luggage Domi brought with her.  When Trini noticed Domi start to struggle with a larger and heavier bag in the trunk, she walked up behind her and whispered, “If they’re heavy don’t try to move them.  I can get it easier” Trini grinned at Domi’s annoyed expression, “during the day.”

“Well, fine!  These three need to be taken up.”  Domi pointed at the heaviest luggage.

When Trini took the first few bags up to her apartment, she rolled her eyes.  Another note was on the door.  She just unlocked the door and brought the bags she was carrying in.  She left it there as she went down to help Domi with a few more.  The redhead hadn’t wanted to leave the bags unattended, so she was playing guard.  It made Trini really curious as to what she had with her.

Trini didn’t even glance at the note as she brought in more luggage.  She didn’t want it ruining her evening.  She could only imagine the lies Warren told about her abrupt disappearance.  When she heard Domi trudging up the stairs she opened the door for her and grabbed the note off of it.  “I could have gotten those for you.”

Domi glared at her, “I am not helpless.  I am capable of taking care of this myself.”

“I never said you weren’t.”  Trini managed to take a bag out of Domi’s hands to put with the other stuff she’d brought.  She stared at the pile, “You are just visiting right?  You aren’t moving in?”  She turned a teasing look to the redhead.  She set the note down absently on the counter and headed to the bathroom.  “I’ll be right out.  I have hangers in the closet, you can unpack your clothes.”

When Trini came out of the bathroom her eyes widened at the sight of a pissed redhead reading the note she’d carelessly left out.  “Who is this Travis that thinks he can talk to you like this?!”  Trini didn’t know what the note said, but it upset Domi.

“That’s my stepfather.  I had lunch over at his place today.”  Trini sighed.  “It didn’t go so well.”

“That filthy human doesn’t have the right to talk to you like this!”  Domi’s face was becoming a little red.  Trini took a few steps closer and took the paper out of Domi’s hand.  She was going to have to read it now.  Trini could see why Domi was upset right away.  It started off with some very powerful lines.

 

You Fucking Whore,

 

I can’t believe that you would try to prostitute yourself out to Warren.  I always knew you were worthless trash.  You probably bend over for any guy with a big wallet.  Is that how you were able to afford the trip, whoring yourself out to parties of men on the weekends?…

 

It just got better after that.  Warren claimed that Trini had come on to him, going so far as to rub up against him suggestively.  He said that she needed money for the move and asked if he’d be willing to part with some… she’d reward him for it.  Trini’s eyes burned red.  “I didn’t do that.  Warren lied.”  She said quietly.  She didn’t want Domi to think she was like that.

“Of course you didn’t!”  It didn’t sound like Domi had even for a moment considered that she had.  Trini felt a little better with her support.  “Who is this Warren?”  Trini could tell that she was considering inflicting considerable harm.

“He’s the man you’re meeting with on Monday.  He owns Sterlin Inc.”  Trini watched as Domi’s eyes narrowed dangerously.  “He was offering to try and get me a job with you if I fucked him.”  She paused, “He’s my stepbrother’s uncle.”  Trini could see the wheels turning in Domi’s mind.  She was already plotting something. 

 

Domi was quiet while she unpacked her clothes.  Trini helped her with it.  She was wondering if it was such a good idea to tell her about Warren.  “Domi, I hate him, but I don’t want him dead.”

Domi turned to glare at her.  “He touched you, didn’t he?  He put his filthy human hands on you!”  Trini’s eyes widened at how perceptive Domi was.  Domi’s eyes narrowed dangerously, “That fucking bastard!”

Trini felt a little humiliated.  Domi didn’t need to protect her from him; she could deal with him herself.  “He just tried to feel me up. I stopped it.”  That was why he was spreading these lies now.

 

Later, after the sunset they sat and watched the news.  Trini didn’t even think about what she was doing, she reached out and started to stroke Demona’s wings like she’d do for Delilah.  She ran her fingers slowly along the suede-like flesh in a caress while she watched the weather.  “What are you doing?”  Demona’s strangled voice made her realize what she’d been doing.  She blushed, she had never touched Demona’s wings like that before.  She didn’t have permission.

“I’m sorry.  When Delilah and I watch TV I do that… I wasn’t thinking.”  She quickly apologized and pulled her hand away.

Demona gave her an odd look and then changed the subject easily.  “Trini, I was planning to ruin Warren’s business.  What do you think about helping me?”  Demona turned a fanged grin to her. 

Trini thought about all the passes that he had made ever since she turned sixteen.   She still felt dirty where he had touched her that afternoon.  She smiled, “If I can help at all, count me in.”  If she supported this sort of thing, maybe Demona wouldn’t feel the need to kill him. 

Demona reached out and caressed Trini’s tail briefly through her pant leg.  “I want you to pose as my personal assistant.  It should scare him.  I’ve already set things into motion, by the time of the meeting on Monday, I will be able to inform him that he no longer has a job.”  Demona laughed wickedly, “You can be there when he falls.” 

“He is going to blame me.”  Trini pointed out.  She could still feel the tingling that brief caress to her tail caused her.  Demona used that caress as a way to cheer Trini up, but she had to know what it felt like, didn’t she? 

“Do you really care?”  Demona was studying her face, “He tried to touch you, to trick you into mating with him.  He had to know that I would never just hire someone that a small businessman like himself mentioned to me.  In fact… I would usually make sure that person never got hired.”

Trini stared at the wall for a moment.  He really deserved this.  “No, I guess I don’t care.”

 

Day 5

 

Demona set out her own laptop and started to get to work on the destruction of Sterlin Inc., while Trini went through more boxes and found more stuff that she didn’t want to keep.  The large pile in the corner of the room was steadily shrinking.  She got tired, but continued to work for a while longer before she remembered that it would be ridiculous for her to try and stay awake while her guest was.  She would be passing out in no time if she tried to keep up with Demona, because she only needed a few hours of sleep.

She walked up behind Demona and just watched her type for a while, "You only have four talons, but you type almost as fast as I do."  Trini grinned at her.  She then moved closer and started to rub Demona's shoulders by sliding her hands underneath the caped wings.  The gargoyle looked so tense.  Her muscles were like steel.  Trini stopped when she felt that Demona was actually getting tenser with her touch.  She pulled away and pretended that nothing had happened.  She had to learn to stop touching the gargoyle so casually, she wasn't used to it.  Trini was surprised that even though Demona was  clearly uncomfortable with her touch, she never said anything about it.  “Blue… I had to wake up kind of early today.”

Demona looked up from her computer.  “Go ahead and go to bed.  I’ll be up a while longer, I usually don’t go to bed until after the sunrise.”

Trini blushed, “Ummm.  Are you okay with sharing a bed with me again?  It’s okay if you’re not, I could just set up out here.”  Trini indicated the couch.

Demona was quiet for a moment, and looked at Trini with a little… uneasiness.  “I’ll get into bed later.”  She said quietly and got back to work on whatever she was typing.  Trini realized that she was dismissed.  She guessed that she was told it was okay to share a bed.

Trini fell asleep shortly after laying down at three am.  She made sure to stay on her side of the bed, so that when Domi came to bed she had somewhere to go.  Trini’s bed was smaller than Domi’s had been, it was only a full sized one.

 

Trini woke up to Domi’s muffled scream.  A while later she watched as Domi quietly opened the bedroom door and came in.  She was trying not to wake Trini… it was really kind of sweet.  When Domi started to undress and change into something to sleep in Trini closed her eyes again to give her privacy.  Trini felt her get into the bed, and she quietly waited for Domi to slowly fall asleep.  As soon as she was, she scooted closer and pulled Domi’s body to hers.  It seemed to help with the nightmares that Domi suffered from last time, but the proud woman would never ask for this.

Trini let herself nod off, but she slept very lightly with Domi in the bed.  She was able to wake up in what she hoped was shortly after a nightmare would start and murmur comforting noises while hugging the redhead.  It always settled Domi back down.  The gargoyle turned human would probably be mortified to find out that Trini was doing this for her.  She always tried to look so strong. 

Trini didn’t wake up when she felt the woman beside her start to move.  Even in her sleep she managed to do what she had been doing for Domi since the woman laid down.  She hugged Domi to her and muttered, “It’s okay… I have you…”  Domi opened her eyes and stared at the closet in front of her.  She glanced at the arm around her waist.

“This is why I sleep better with you?”  She whispered to herself.  Experimentally she moved as if in a bad dream. 

Trini pulled her tight to her body and started to stroke her hair.  “I have you honey… It’s okay… I have you.”  Trini murmured almost unintelligibly in her sleep. 

Domi’s eyes widened.  She carefully maneuvered herself out of the bed.  Trini felt the absence of the warm body beside her quickly.  Her eyes opened, “Domi?  Are you okay?”  She asked sleepily as she studied the tense woman looking through the closet.

“I’m fine.  I’ll take a shower now.”  Trini noticed that Domi’s voice sounded a little upset.  She sat up and studied her.  Domi seemed to feel the gaze because she turned around.  Trini could see that whatever was bothering her; she didn’t want to talk about it.

“The towels are under the sink.”  She told her, and saw that Domi was a little relieved that she didn’t push it.

 

Trini got out of bed while Domi was still showering.  The woman was probably going to run out of hot water soon, she’d been in there a long time.  Trini got dressed and started making breakfast for the two of them.  There wasn’t enough hot water for her, and she didn’t need a shower bad enough to take a cold one.

         Once the breakfast was ready, Trini went to knock on the bathroom door and let Domi know to hurry up.  “Domi… I made eggs.”  She spoke through the door.  Domi wasn’t in the shower anymore, the water had shut off a few minutes ago.

        

         They sat and ate breakfast around 9 am.  “Trini, it doesn’t look like you have very much more to do with the move.  Why are you staying two weeks?”  Domi glanced at the boxes in the corner, “That shouldn’t even take a day to go through.”

         Trini’s cheeks colored.  “It would have taken at least twice as long to clean out my mother’s stuff if I were human.  I kind of hurried a bit because I knew you were coming.  Also, I thought that I’d need to sell a lot of it to have money for food and moving costs, but David gave me cash before I left.”  David had given her far more than enough cash.

         “Xanatos…”  Domi sneered, “Watch your back with that human Trini, he’s cunning and dangerous.”

         “And this is coming from the expert on cunning and dangerous?”  Trini grinned at her.  The only worry she had about David was that he’d want to watch her and Fox have sex.  He hadn’t made that too much of a secret, he’d come right out and told her that.

         “I’m serious.”  Domi spoke sternly, “He’s obsessed with immortality.”  She paused, “He knows about yours doesn’t he?”

         “Yes, he does, but he seems more interested in my relationship with Fox.”  Trini’s posture straightened up. 

         Domi’s eyebrow raised at that, “Xanatos is a strange man, being willing to share like that.  How does that work?”

         Trini blushed, “Ummm.  I’m not quite sure how it’s going to work.”  She looked down at her plate, “I don’t have any experience with this sort of thing.”

         “You’re moving into their home.  Are you sleeping in their bed with them both?”  Domi leaned forward, obviously curious about this strange arrangement.

         “No, I have my own room.”  Trini bit her lip lightly, “I’m pretty sure that the three of us can work something out.”  She could see that Domi still couldn’t get over the strangeness of it all.  She understood that, it still made her feel strange.

 

         Trini came back into the apartment from dumping the garbage to find Domi idling looking through one of her mother’s photo albums.  She moved to sit beside her and explain the pictures.  These pictures were from when she was little.  Domi smiled slightly at the picture of Trini building a sand castle.  They looked at several pictures of Trini from her early grade school years.  “You have sad eyes.”  Domi studied a few pictures and then looked up at Trini.

         Trini’s eyes grew more somber as she looked at the pictures from kindergarten.  She did look sad in them all.  “I lost my wings a month before school started.  It was a hard year for me.”  She whispered.  Domi started to caress her tail again as she looked at her with concern.  She always seemed to know exactly where Trini’s tail was in her pants.

         “You were a cute child.”  Domi pushed some hair out of Trini’s eyes.  She then turned her attention back to the photos and flipped the page.  “This page feels heavy.”  Domi started to study it.  She opened the photo album and pulled the page apart.  Trini just watched her as she found an envelope of hidden pictures between the pages.  When Domi poured the pictures out, Trini gasped.

         “I… I didn’t think she had ever…”  Trini stared in shock at the pictures of her from before the operation.  Domi looked with wide eyes at the pile.  Trini grabbed the top one and studied it.  It showed a four year old girl flapping her wings and laughing as the dandelion seeds flew into the air.  Her pitch black wings actually had been a good match for her tails coloring.  She ran her hand along the image of her wings longingly.  “She should never have kept these.”  Her voice cracked as she put the picture down and took a few shaky breaths.  “I have to burn these.”  She started to quickly try and put the pictures back into the envelope.  Domi’s hand over her own stopped her.  “Why would she keep these?”  Her eyes shown with unshed tears as she looked at Domi imploringly. 

Domi set the photo album on the table and picked up one of the photos.  She quietly spoke, “Your wings were very pretty.  Darker than midnight.”  She pulled Trini into a hug and held her tightly.  “Humans can be so cruel.  I’m sorry that they hurt you like this.”  Trini clung desperately to Domi as her emotions raged.  Her mother had told her she was a beast, a monster… so why did she keep the pictures of her with her wings?  Her mother had hated them so much she had them removed!

         “You should keep these pictures Trini.”  Domi stroked her back, “It’s all you have left of what they took from you.  Keep them and let your anger give you strength.”  Trini pulled away from the embrace and nodded.  She would keep these, she would hide them well, but she would keep them.

 

         Domi started to help Trini go through the boxes.  “I was thinking that if we finished up with the move early, we could stay in a hotel.”  Domi told her as she searched through a box of jewelry.

         Trini looked around the apartment and could understand Domi’s desire to stay somewhere nicer.  “If you want… but I don’t have enough money for that.”  Trini was a bit embarrassed with that.  From what she'd seen, Domi's taste in hotels was on the pricey side.

         Domi looked up, “Trini… I am a very successful businesswoman.  I can afford to pamper both of us for a few weeks.”  Domi smiled at her, “You deserve that.”

         Trini felt a bit awkward, “Domi… you know that I’d be your friend even if you were poor, don’t you?  You don’t need to throw money at me.”

         Domi’s voice got deeper as she stared at Trini.  “I know that.”  Her body was tense as she obviously chose not to say something else as well.  When Trini stepped closer to her something in the jewelry box started to glow with a green light, drawing both women’s attention.

         Trini reached out with wide eyes to remove the necklace with a large glowing pendant from the box and spun it in her hands so that they both could look at it.  She could actually feel the magic coming off of it without Fox’s help.  It was gold and shaped like a triangle with two long sides.  If it were worn it would point down.  “This is Fey magic.  I feel it.”  She murmured to Domi.  It glowed brighter in her hand.

         Domi’s voice was full of caution, “Trini, we don’t know what it’s supposed to do.  You should put it down.”  Trini just stared at it in awe.

“TRINITY!”  Domi spoke loudly, trying to get her attention.  As soon as that was said, the glow grew intensely and a beam of green light shot out to the middle of the floor, causing both women to jump back nervously.  Trini felt a bit of fear and reached out for Domi’s hand, pulling her closer.  A green column of light solidified into the shape of… a gargoyle. 

A male gargoyle’s ghostly form appeared in Trini’s living room.  “Trinity Child…”  A deep male voice, full of compassion, spoke as his form became clearer, if still transparent. 

Trini turned wide disbelieving eyes to Domi for a moment.  “Do you see it?”  It was too hard to believe.

“Yes…”  Domi and Trini studied the figure of the male gargoyle with black powerful looking wings and long black hair.  He was a head taller than Trini, and was well muscled.  His skin was pale, but still a human shade, very near Trini’s own.  He had a black tail that swept across the floor, not seeming to touch the boxes that it went right through, like a ghost.  He was handsome, with high cheekbones and a strong chin.  His ears resembled Pucks, being much larger than Trini’s.  His talons, on both his hands and feet, were black.  Trini knew who she was looking at, even though he looked to be about her own age.  It was all too obvious.

“Dad?”  She took a step forward, only to find Domi holding her back.  She glanced at her friend with confused eyes, and then back at the still figure of her father.  “It’s my dad, isn’t it?”

         “Trini… it’s a spell.  He’s not really here.  It’s like a hologram.”  Domi explained as she pulled Trini back away from the figure of her father.  “I don’t know if its safe… don’t get too close.”

         They both silently stared at the image.  It had stopped moving, waiting for something.  “It does look like he could be related to you.”  Domi took a step closer to study him, making Trini nervous.  Domi hadn’t wanted her that close, but she walked right up to him now to look into his face.  “Handsome.”  Domi glanced at his wings; Trini could guess what she was thinking.  His wings were probably what hers would have looked like… they were impressive.  The standing still was just too bizarre.  She wished he would just do something.  The image suddenly caped the wings, making it look like a long black cloak.  Domi took a step back when it moved.

         “Trinity Child… this spell is tied to you.  You are the child of three: human, fey, and gargoyle.  I hope you have already found out about that, or this will be a real shock.”  The image smiled at her, but his green glowing eyes obviously didn’t see her, “The spell that was caste on this amulet will help to guide you to my clan.”  He paused as Trini watched with wide eyes as he appeared to wave his hand and a map appeared before him.  It was Oregon.  “I left a few items for you with my Clan before I left them.  Your grandmother gave them to me for you.”  A spot on the map became highlighted.  “You need to go and get them soon.  You will need them.”  He grinned, making him look even younger and more attractive.  “I hope you are well.  I love you Trinity.  I wish that I could have seen you grow up… that I could have seen you at all.  I’m sure that you are a beautiful female.”

         When the image disappeared Trini continued to stare at the place he had been with an open mouth and wide glassy eyes.  She was very pale.  “What?”  Trini whispered, “What just…”  Domi glanced once more at where the image had stood, then walked over to her.  They stood in silence for a moment, “Domi… would you mind if we went to Oregon?”  She really didn’t want to go alone.

         Domi tried to tell her how this might be a trick, but Trini was pretty firm in her desire to see what her father had left for her.  She finally agreed.  They’d leave Tuesday morning.

         They both worked hard on getting ready for Monday.  Domi finished the arrangements to deal with Warren, and Trini packed like a maniac.  She’d have to send the boxes ahead tomorrow, because they might be a while in Oregon.

         When Trini heard Domi’s growl at her computer she stopped working.  “Domi, let’s go out to eat.”  She’d wanted to be able to go out in public and not hide her friendship with the woman.  Domi obviously needed a break. 

 

         They found a nice restaurant to eat at on the piers.  Trini hadn’t even ever noticed it was there before.  They were able to sit and look out over the water as they had a late lunch.  When Domi left to use the restroom, Trini waved the waiter over and warned him that everything needed to be perfect, because the redhead really had a temper.  She didn’t want to see the young man get verbally ripped to shreds.  He appeared to appreciate the warning.

         “Trini, I know that I asked you to pose as my personal assistant.”  Domi started to talk after the waiter walked away, after making sure that they liked their food, “but I want you to know that I’d like it if you actually took the job.”  Trini could see that Domi was studying her face. 

         “Domi… you don’t even know if I’m qualified.  I’m not.  I’ve never had a position like that, ever.  Owen… looks like he does everything, knows everything that goes on.  I don’t think I’m capable of that.” 

         “I wouldn’t expect that of you… but I do think you are selling yourself short.  I saw you with Debra, I saw how you dealt with the phones.  You could grow into the job easily.  I know that you are definitely smart enough.  I would just like to have one person around that I felt… I could trust.”  Domi set her fork down, “I’m surrounded by incompetent humans all day long.  I’m tired of it.”

         “Domi…”  Trini’s voice become a bit quieter, “You can’t trust me, not with what you’re trying to do.  Your vendetta against the humans… I can’t support that.”  Trini could see that Domi was upset, and took this as a personal rejection.  She reached out and took her hand quickly, wanting to make her understand.  “Domi… please…”

         Domi hissed at her as she pulled her hand away, “You know what they’re like… you’ve suffered horribly at their hands.  They crippled you!  How can you defend them?!”

         Trini sighed, seeing this afternoon going to hell.  “Some of them are horrible, vicious monsters.  I know that, even they know that.  But they aren’t all like that.”  Trini glanced around the restaurant nervously.  This wasn’t a conversation they should be having here.  Luckily it was late for lunch, they appeared to be the only people in that part of the place.

         “They are vile disgusting creatures… that need to be eradicated before they finally succeed in killing us all off.”  Domi’s face was getting a little red with her anger.

         “I have people I care about, people I love that are human.  I don’t want to lose them to your blind hatred.”  Trini hissed back, letting her anger get the better of her.  She took a deep breath and added, “This isn’t really the place for this conversation, is it?”

 

         Domi paid for lunch, and they walked out, not speaking to each other.  Trini unlocked her car door to let Domi in, but decided that something needed to be said.  “Domi, I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have brought that up.”  It would always be a sore subject between them.  Trini had told herself that she would just avoid the subject when her and Domi became friends.  She didn’t do that very well.  “And I definitely shouldn’t have brought it up when we were out.”  Trini knew that Domi’s hatred was wrong, but arguing about it wouldn’t help.  It just made Domi more insistent that killing was the best solution.

Domi glanced up at her sharply, clearly surprised at the apology.  She didn’t say anything as she got into the car.  Trini went around the back and got in to drive.  As she was turning onto the street she lived on, Domi reached over and lightly caressed her tail.  “It’s okay.”  She murmured quietly.  “I sometimes forget just how torn your loyalties are.  It can’t be easy.”  She was still caressing absently, making it difficult for Trini to drive.  The delicious tingling sensation had her wanting to just pull over and feel it.  Trini realized that it was turning her on, and that was a little upsetting. 

         Trini grabbed Domi’s hand and just held it, to prevent any more absent caresses while she answered her, “It isn’t easy.  The other night, when Hudson and Delilah found you and wanted to fight, I felt so helpless.  I knew that something like that would happen, but I just wasn’t prepared for how that would make me feel.  I don’t want anyone I care about getting hurt.”  She had to take her hand back to put the car in park.  They quietly went up to her apartment.

         Once they were inside Trini continued, “I’ll probably be on patrols with them once in a while.  Goliath seems to see it as a bonding experience, and… I just like the chance to go gliding.”  She admitted a little more quietly, “I like helping people too.”  She knew that Domi wouldn’t approve of that.  “I don’t know what to do when we run into you.”  Her voice sounded desperate and pained.  Trini sat on the couch and just stared at Domi.  “I guess I could just avoid patrols… but that’s the only time I get to glide.”  Trini liked being in the air, even if it wasn’t under her own power.  She knew that the confrontations between the clan and Demona would still happen if she weren’t there, but then she wouldn’t feel like she had to pick a side.

         “You don’t need to do that.  We’ll figure something else out.”  Domi sat down beside her.  “Do you want me to take you out tonight?  We could take a air tour of Seattle.”  Trini looked over to see Domi smiling softly at her.

         “I’d love that.”  Trini reached over and took Domi’s hand.  “Thank you.”

 

         Once Trini finished with the packing she started to help Domi go over the papers for the meeting tomorrow.  Domi patiently explained what she needed to do and Trini found that it wasn’t all that hard to follow her instructions.  She was a little ashamed at herself once she realized that she was looking forward to the meeting tomorrow.  She was getting to pay Warren back for years of sexual harassment in a very powerful way, thanks to Domi.

 

Day 6

 

         Trini was bent over yet more paperwork, steadily working away.  Demona came up behind her and put her hands on Trini’s shoulders as she leaned over to see how far along she had gotten.  When she felt the warmth of Demona’s body behind her she leaned back into her a little without even noticing her action.  “I think I finished it.  What do you think?”  She indicated the notes that she had taken.  Demona picked up the notes and looked over them quietly for a few moments.  It made Trini a little nervous, she hoped that she did a decent job.

         “Looks good.”  Demona set it back down on the table.  “So, you want to go out now?  I could use a break.”  Trini’s eyes widened.  It had gotten so late; she just assumed that they weren’t able to go tonight.  Glancing at the clock, she noticed that they still had a few hours until sunrise. 

         “Sure?”  It was more of a question than a statement.  Trini stood up and stretched.  “Umm. How do you want to do this?”  Her apartment wasn’t very high up.  She was on the second floor of the five-story building. 

         “We’ll climb to the roof and take off.”  Demona was already opening a window.  Trini followed her out and up the side of the building.  She noticed that once Demona got to the top, she just watched Trini’s progress.  “You need more practice.  You could move faster than that, even with those shoes on.”  Demona told her as she pulled herself up over the ledge. 

         “Gee… thanks.”  Trini said sarcastically as she straightened her hat.  She was a little tired, so she wasn’t really pushing herself too hard.  She knew she could do better.  She smiled at Demona to take some of the sting out of her words. 

         “Come here.”  Demona picked her up easily and then leapt off the building.  Trini’s heart hammered a little until they caught a breeze and pulled up.  They glided over the city, with Trini pointing out different things, like the college she went to, and her favorite dance club when she was going to college. 

         “It’s nice to go gliding like this.”  Trini leaned her head into Demona’s shoulder. 

         “Who else takes you out?”  Demona turned slowly to head back towards the apartment.  They’d been out almost an hour. 

         “Delilah and Angela.”  Trini glanced down at the people walking along the streets.  They looked so small from this high up. 

         “Angela… how are things going with you and her now?”  Trini could hear Demona’s voice soften when she talked about her daughter.

         “She still glares at me.  She isn’t really talking to me at all.  It’s so ridiculous, I’m not interested in any of those males, let alone hers.”  Trini’s voice rose a little.  It was so unfair that Angela was treating her like she was some sort of man stealer.  "She is being nice to Delilah though.  I had been a bit worried about that."

         Demona was quiet for a moment, “If things are like that, why did you let her take you gliding?”  They were slowly circling the apartment building.

         “Goliath was going to take me… I’m not comfortable with that.  I asked her to do it.”  Trini could hear in her voice that she had all sorts of issues with letting him take her.  She knew that Demona could hear it as well.  She stiffened up; worried that Demona would ask her why she didn’t want Goliath to do it.  Aside from him being a male, Trini just didn’t like depending on the gargoyle that Elisa was with.  It made her feel more inferior to him than she already did.  She also was afraid that he would figure out that she had been with Elisa.  If he carried her, she wouldn’t be able to walk away if the conversation took a bad turn.

         “Do you have a problem with Goliath?”  Demona sounded completely baffled, and Trini could understand that.  He did seem like a decent enough guy.  Demona glided in the wide-open window and landed setting Trini down on her own feet.

         “I don’t…”  Trini had no way to answer this.  She just stared at Demona helplessly.  These damned secrets were getting so hard to keep.  “I can’t talk to him.  I’m hiding too much.  It’s so hard to keep track of all the lies.”  She didn’t have anyone that she was completely honest with.  She was even lying to Fox about her relationship with Demona, and about how horrible their time in Canada really was.

         “I see.”  Demona said minimally and moved to get something to drink.  She poured Trini some juice as well.  Trini sat down and waited for Demona to sit down too.

         “I’m lying about a hell of a lot more than just you.”  Trini realized that Demona might think that she was the reason she was being distant with the clan. 

         Demona gave her a small smile, “You are getting a crash course on lying aren’t you?”  She paused to take a sip of her juice.  “You need to tell them about being gay soon.  If you don’t they will continue to try and set you up with a mate in the clan.”  Trini’s heart beat a little faster when Demona said the word gay.  She had told the gargoyle about that, but they never talked about it since. 

         Trini’s voice was quiet and a little frightened when she spoke, “If I tell them, and they don’t approve it will make living there hard.”  Trini was surprised to feel Demona caressing her hand.  She turned to watch the gargoyle gently stroking her hand, never once cutting her.

         “Trini… the Breeder’s moon is coming this year.  It’s…”  Trini could see Demona struggling for words to describe it.  “It’s a strong instinctual need to mate.  Unbearably strong.”  Trini was a little embarrassed that Demona seemed to feel the need to tell Trini about the birds and bees.  “If a female doesn’t have a declared mate by the time of the Breeder’s moon all the males would compete for her.  You need to make it clear to them that you aren’t available.”  Demona sounded very concerned.  Trini noticed that Demona’s caress was tender.  There was something so intense in her eyes when she talked about the Breeder’s moon.

         Trini sighed.  “I’ll talk to Fox about it.”  She couldn’t take her eyes off of the blue hand over her own.

 

         Trini went to bed shortly after her talk with Demona.  She just lay there staring at the ceiling for a while, trying to make sense of the day.  Her father’s image was jarring to see… but she was more concerned about Demona.  None of the males would want to mate with her, and frankly absolutely none of them deserved her or could handle her.  It took a special kind of person to be with Demona, someone who knew when to press a point and when to let it go.  She needed someone who wouldn't hold her past against her and could handle being with an immortal.  Demona needed someone who could respect her strength but still be there when she was vulnerable, without making the gargoyle feel weak about accepting help.  Most importantly the gargoyle needed someone who could help her get over this hatred and fear of humans.  Was there anyone like that?

Trini didn’t know what she would go through on that night not being able to mate, but the look in her eyes made Trini think it wouldn’t be pleasant.  When she woke up to the muffled scream, she waited for Domi to come in.  She wasn’t going to pretend to be asleep.  As soon as the door opened quietly, she asked.  “Domi… what happens to a gargoyle that has no mate on the Breeder’s moon?”   

         Domi looked startled to hear her voice.  She moved to start changing her clothes, paying no attention to the fact that Trini was awake.  Trini averted her eyes.  “Well, it’s terrible.  I don’t want you to go through that.  It’s a horrible aching need that can’t be stopped.  It makes it hard to think, or even move.”  Trini could tell by the tenseness in Domi's body that she had experienced this quite a few times.

         When Domi got into bed Trini moved onto her side and looked at her, "How many times has that happened to you?" 

         Domi turned to stare into Trini's eyes.  She had a slightly haunted look on her face.  "I've only had a mating flight on the Breeder's moon once.  That was when I had Angela."  She glanced away, "That was over a thousand years ago.  The other gargoyles... the ones that survived the humans betrayal were placed under a spell.  They slept for a thousand years, but I... I was later placed under a different spell.  I became immortal.  I was awake the whole time."  Trini was shocked.  No one had ever told her this story.  She was alone that entire time?  Trini felt her heart ache for the gargoyle.  That sounded like a nightmare.  "While my mate was in that stone sleep, I didn't feel right taking another mate... not that I ran across many gargoyles in that time.  Humans were hunting us and killing us in our sleep."  The bitterness in her voice was clear, but she didn't raise her voice.  This was a quiet confession.  Trini was careful to not move or draw attention to her, because it looked like Domi was just reliving the past out loud, not really meaning to tell Trini all of this.  "I saw so much death, so much pain.  The clan doesn't understand.  They refuse to see what the humans are really like.  If they had seen the things that I had seen in those thousand years, if they had experience... what I had experience in the hands..."  She trailed off, alarming Trini with what obviously wasn't being said.  Humans had hurt her on several occasions.  Domi turned her tired eyes to Trini and reached out to caress Trini's cheek, "Even in your short years, you've come to understand it far more than they do.  I hope that Angela doesn't need to go through the type of pain that we have in order to finally see it."  Trini watched as she shook herself out of her past and rolled over to try and sleep.  "Get some sleep, we have a big day later."

         Trini just stared down at Domi, with a disbelieving look on her face.  Like she'd be able to sleep now.  She rolled over onto her back and stared at the ceiling again.  She was still trying to digest what Domi had told her when she heard Domi talking in her sleep.  "Oh, Trini... Oh God Trini, No."  The pain in her voice tore at Trini's heart. 

She rolled over and hugged Domi to her, kissing her temple. 

"You can't be dead!  You told me you were immortal... you can't be dead."  Domi was crying in her sleep.  This was different than the other nightmares.  "I didn't know... I didn't know."

With tears in her eyes, Trini pulled Domi closer and started to comfortingly murmur in her ear.  "I'm okay... I'm alive..."  It took far longer to get Domi to settle down this time.

 

Trini managed to get a few more hours of sleep before it was time to get up.  When Domi got up and made a beeline for the shower again, Trini was glad that she'd taken one last night.  She got dressed in a suit that she'd brought back from New York.  It made her look a little intimidating, which is what she was after for today.  It was black slacks and a black jacket that flared out at her hips and came to mid-thigh.  She wore a cream color silk shirt underneath it.  She thought she looked like a cross between a personal assistant and a bodyguard.  It was perfect, because that was exactly what she planned to be today.  If that fat man tried anything she was putting him through a wall today.  A brick one if it was available.  Trini knew he had a bit of a temper, and if he made a single move towards Domi... he was going to see hers.  Trini found a very dark pair of sunglasses and put it in her pocket, just in case her eyes started to glow.  There was a good chance that they might today, and even though it would look odd to wear sunglasses inside, she may have to do that.  Luckily her night vision was so good that it wouldn't really hamper her.  Trini was practicing stern looks in the mirror.

"Well, if things don't work out with NightStone, you could always join the secret service."  Domi was leaning on the doorway watching Trini with amusement in her eyes.  She was still just wearing a robe.  Trini hadn't even noticed the water shut off. 

She took her sunglasses off and blushed.  "He pisses me off.  I thought the glasses might be a good idea, because I'm sure my eyes will glow."

Domi straightened up.  It looked like she hadn't considered that.  "Can you see in those?"

Trini grinned at her, "My night vision is pretty good.  I can see with these on."  She held up the glasses, but then folded them up and put them in her pocket.

"We can make that work for us.  It'll make you more mysterious and unreadable.  It should unnerve him to not be able to see your eyes."  Domi moved to look through the closet.  The knock on the door was expected.

"Do we have everything that we want to keep in the bedroom?"  Trini asked before leaving the room.

"All my stuff is here."  Domi started to undo her robe, so Trini left quickly.  She made sure that the door was shut firmly and went to let the movers in.  That woman had no modesty!

 

Trini oversaw the movers as they took the boxes away.  She was surprised at the respect that she seemed to get.  Once they left Trini looked around the living room.  All the boxes were gone, but she still had that ugly furniture.  The Goodwill people weren't coming until late that afternoon.  She'd rescheduled.  She also planned to take any canned or boxed food she had left to the local food bank on their way out of town tomorrow.

When Domi came out of the bedroom dressed for work, Trini couldn't resist asking, "Is red your favorite color?"

Domi grinned at her, "Yes... observant of you."  It wasn't really that observant.  The woman had more red clothes than any other color.  This must be the third different red dress suit Trini had seen on her.

 

They went out to a late breakfast and Domi explained to Trini what she wanted her to act like and what she wanted her to do during this meeting.  Trini paid extremely careful attention to every detail.  She didn't want to screw this up.  This meeting would take a couple of hours.  When they got back to the apartment the limo that Domi had ordered drove up.  It was part of the intimidation techniques that Domi was trying to use.  Trini's blue beat up Ford Escort station wagon wouldn't have the same effect.  They went upstairs, gathered their paperwork, and left for the meeting.  Trini was pretty nervous, but she was able to conceal that well.

 

         They drove up to the building that housed Sterlin Inc just a few minutes before the eleven o’clock meeting.  Trini had warned Domi that Warren would have tried to ask her to lunch, which is why he set the meeting up for this time.  Like Warren would be able to charm Domi with a nice lunch, he was so stupid.  He also expected Domi to be alone, Trini grinned evilly at the businesswoman as she put her sunglasses on.  Domi’s eyes were sparkling.  She was going to enjoy this just as much as Trini was.  Trini had gotten over her guilt about doing this pretty easily.  He was an ass and so was his wife.  Let them see what it was like to struggle for money for a little while, maybe they’d learn something.

         Domi turned to her before they got out, “Oh… Trini, about Travis.  I found out that he doesn’t really own that house.  It was your mother’s.  In fact a lot of his money was your mother’s.”  Domi grinned evilly at her, and Trini realized slowly what she meant.  She wanted to get that money for her, by taking it away from Travis.  “I have some extremely good lawyers ready to take the case if you want them to.  We could have that little mistake cleared up in no time.”  Trini sat there a little stunned.  She’d been scrapping by ever since her mother died, and he had her money.  It’d been her mother’s money that he didn’t want to use for her education, but easily spent on Robbie.  It was her mother’s money that bought Travis a new car after her death, but Trini had to scrape together the money to go to New York, when that was so important.  When she needed to go there so badly.

         “We are going after that!”  Trini growled.  Domi smiled and opened the door.  Trini followed Domi out of the limo and into the building quietly.  They would talk more about Travis later. 

         Trini kept her face carefully blank as Domi informed the receptionist that they were there.  She was going to be more of a background player for a while; this was really Domi’s area of expertise.  Still, when Warren came out with a grin to show Domi to the meeting room and his grin was slowly replaced with disbelief upon seeing Trini, she had to fight to keep the grin off of her face.

         “Trini… this isn’t really the time to talk.  I have an important meeting with Ms. Destine.”  He looked at her sternly.  At least he had the brains to not call her Dominique.

         Domi’s stern voice answered for her, “Ms. Stephens is my new Personal Assistant.”  Trini watched as Warren paled a little and then tried to cover with a weak fake smile.

         “Well, congratulations.  The meeting room is right this way ladies.”  He turned to lead them down the hall.  Trini followed Domi quietly, but inside she was anxious to see that bastards face when he realized how very screwed he was.  He didn’t own this place anymore, and he didn’t know it.  She noticed Domi hand the receptionist a memo as they pasted by her.

 

         They sat through Warren nervously explaining what his company did for about forty-five minutes.  Domi’s impassive face really threw his concentration, and Trini… he kept looking, or leering at her when he thought Domi was studying his handouts.  Trini heard Domi grinding her teeth when Warren leered at Trini.  He was completely oblivious to how pissed his sexist behavior was making Domi.  Trini used the cover of the table to reach over and gently caress Domi’s leg in an effort to calm her down before she exploded.  The grinding stopped, and Domi gave her a small nod before she started to talk in a calm and controlled voice.

         “Well, Mr. Sterlin… this company definitely does look like something that would benefit NightStone.”  Warren’s eyes widened a little.  He was trying to sell Domi on his services.  He wanted to get a contract to work on some of the projects that NightStone brought in.  If he managed that he would be completely rich.  It was almost painful to see his hopes getting up, but not enough for Trini to regret this.

         He beamed at Domi, “Well…”

         Domi cut him off, “Ms. Stephens… can I see those notes of yours?”  Trini nodded and opened up her briefcase, it was something that Domi bought for her.  She handed over notes on what Domi had actually already memorized.  She just liked to have the papers in front of her.

         As Domi started to read Trini just watched Warren’s face.  “While I do approve of the company… there are some problems with the current management.  I see here that in the past five years alone there have been seven cases of sexual harassment that resulted in the female losing her position, and no action being taken against the male.”  These were different lawsuits that were dismissed or currently going on.  Warren’s pudgy face was losing color, and he was starting to open his mouth to try and explain why he had found it easier to get rid of his female employees rather than his drinking buddies, or in two of the cases… himself.  Trini watched him as Domi cut him off yet again.  He turned to glare at Trini.  “Well, I am sure that you can understand how that cannot be tolerated.  I have already begun the process of finding new management for this facility.”

         Warren’s face began to get a bit red, which made Trini push her chair back a bit in case he tried anything.  “Wait one god damn minute here!  What the hell are you talking about, this is my company!  If you think I’ll make changes in my management just for a contract you are a crazy bitch!”  His voice was rising.  Trini felt her vision going red at that insult to Domi, but forced herself to sit still.

         Domi coolly answered, “I’m not thinking that you’ll do that.  You are being replaced.  My company bought you out this morning.  I own this place.”  Warren’s eyes bugged, as he started to breath a bit heavier.  “Your replacement should be here by the end of the week.  She can deal with the other changes in management.”  Oh, Trini didn’t realize the new boss was a woman… that had to sting his male pride.  A little smirk crossed her lips.

         When Warren leapt to his feet, “You fucking bitch!”  He screamed as he advanced on Domi, who remained cool and seated while nodding to Trini.  This was Trini’s show.  Trini used her arms to brace herself on the table as she cleanly leapt over to stand between Domi and Warren. 

She felt her heart beating quickly as she stood in front of him and calmly informed him of his options.  “You will need to clean out your office by 1:30 today and leave the building.  We expect all keys to be returned to us, or there will be some legal action.  Due to the sexual harassment charges on you, you will only receive a minimal severance package.”  It was at this point that he was done listening.

“You fucking little whore.  I can’t believe that you would do this to your own family!”  He advanced on her menacingly.

Trini felt like she was channeling Owen’s calmness, “Well, as you all have so often reminded me… I am not family.  Now… if you proceed to show aggression, we will be forced to have you removed from the premises and if that is the case… I will make sure that your personal belongings are…”

         Warren growled and pulled his arm back to hit her.  Trini stood still for a while; to make sure that it was clear to the hidden camera in her briefcase that he was the one to swing first.  Right before he made contact she dodged and he lost some of his balance.  Trini grabbed at his arm and pulled it behind his back painfully, bending him over the table.  “Gee… I’m afraid that you will have to be escorted out.  Really a bad choice you made.”  She leaned down to whisper to him.  “A lot of bad choices.  As you can see I don’t need your help getting a job… but, after we are done with you… you won’t be able to find anything.  Tina is going to need to start working.”

         When the door opened, she was surprised to see Domi letting in the security guards. 

         “Yes… If you’d escort Mr. Sterlin out I would appreciate it.”  Domi addressed the main security guard.  That was one of the more polite requests Trini had ever heard Domi make.

         “Of course Ms. Destine.”  He told her and started over to where Trini was standing with the now pitifully crying man.  Trini backed away and let them handle it.

         Once they were alone in the meeting room, they sat back down.  “Well, that was fun.”  Trini grinned at Domi. 

Domi laughed.  It was such a beautiful joyous laugh.  “You were terrific.  I should bring you every time I do one of these.”

         They stayed for a while longer issuing memos and informing the staff that there had been a change.  Trini could hear some people talking about her as she talked with the receptionist explaining what to do about the meetings that Warren had made for the week.  The women here had apparently been quite glad to get rid of Warren, and while it was Domi that made it possible, they had seen the hatred in Warren’s eyes for her.  They were calling her the Terminator.  Trini figured it must be the sunglasses, which she still hadn’t taken off.  She was starting to feel a little uncomfortable with all the attention coming her way.  Domi was in a meeting with a few of the mid-level managers, while Trini dealt with the records, receptionists, and the delegating of the task of moving of Warren’s things.  She whispered to the poor woman that got the job of packing that if she saw anything she liked, it was hers.  That made her grin.

 

         Trini and Domi got back to the apartment at about three.  They packed up their belongings.  Trini had far fewer bags than Domi did.  Once the furniture was taken away they started loading up the car.  Both of them changed into more comfortable clothes for the move, Trini really liked that suit she had worn and didn’t want to get it dirty.  They checked into a very nice local hotel.  They planned to leave first thing in the morning for Oregon, so she had to take care of all the moving today.  Neither of them had wanted to sleep on the floor that last night. 

         When Trini saw the room, her eyes widened.  It was even nicer than that one in Canada.  When she followed Domi into the bedroom with her things, Domi turned to her, “Oh, I got you your own room.  I thought you might like at least some privacy once in a while.”  Trini just raised her eyebrow at that and went to find this other bedroom.  She didn’t really like that she wasn’t sleeping with Domi.  Those nightmares were still too strong for Domi to get any real rest.  Still, she wasn’t going to force her way into Domi’s bed, that wouldn’t be right either.  It was probably Domi that wanted the privacy.

 

         They had skipped lunch, so they went out for dinner around 5pm.  Domi made her dress up and took her to a nice restaurant.  They talked about the day and Trini could see that Domi was proud of the way she handled that.  It made her feel good to win the woman’s approval. 

         “Trini, I have some businesses in Oregon.  I’d like to stop by and do a few surprise visits since we’ll be there.”  Domi took a sip of her wine.

         Trini could understand Domi not wanting to make a separate trip for that.  They should hopefully have plenty of time for that.  “Okay.  No problem.”

         “Oh, normally when I’d do a surprise visit, I’d bring someone with me to take notes.  Can you?”  Domi looked a little sly, and Trini knew why.  She was being roped into playing the personal assistant again.  Did Domi think that if Trini did the job for a while, she’d forget it wasn’t really her job?  Still, it’s not like Domi had anyone else right now.

         “Okay, I’ll do it.  It has to be simpler than today was.”  She sighed.  She’d been so tense today that her shoulders still ached.  She thought wryly, she heals from bullet wounds quickly, but tension takes her out all day.

        

         They browsed a few shops and got back to the hotel room about an hour before sunset.  “Trini, I need to work on getting ready to do those visits.”  Domi told her as she started to unpack her laptop.

         Trini studied the redhead, “You know… this is less of a vacation for you than I had hoped.”

         Domi grinned a little guiltily, “This is actually more than I’ve ever taken.  I…” She paused, “I enjoy spending time with you, even if it is while we’re working.”  Trini could see how much of an admission that was for Domi.

         Trini’s voice softened, “Me too.”  She grinned, “Well, I guess I’ll let you get to work.”

         “Why don’t you write?”  Trini felt a little anxious when Domi asked that.  Her mood plummeted.

         “I can’t.  I haven’t been able to…”  She sighed, “I’m going to have the Doctor check and see if I healed alright.  I… lost it.  I can’t write.” 

         Domi stopped what she was doing and stared at her.  “What?”  She was looking a little pale, “But you love to write.”

         “I know.”  Trini took a deep breath, “Maybe I just need more time to heal, or maybe when I start being able to dream again…”  This just caused Domi to get a little paler.

         “You think not dreaming might be affecting this?”  She sounded a little upset.  Trini figured that with Domi’s nightmares, she must wish she didn’t have to dream.

         “That was how I used to get my inspiration.  I would wake up and start writing.”  Trini shrugged her shoulders and tried to change the subject.  “So, how many companies do we need to visit?”  That worked, they talked about work for a while. 

 

         Trini was watching TV when her cell phone rang.  She could feel Domi’s gaze on her back as she did. “Hello?”

         “So… have you ever had phone sex?”  Fox’s mischievous voice reached Trini’s ears, making her grin.

         “Fox… how are you doing?”  She nodded to Domi that she was going to take this in her bedroom.  Domi just smirked at her as she closed the bedroom door.  

         “I’m fine.  Everything is fine.  I miss you.”  Fox’s voice got softer, and Trini realized that this was a personal call.  She started to relax a bit.  She was worried that Fox had found out about the rape.  She glanced at the door as if she could see Domi on the other side.  She wouldn’t like that at all.

         “I miss you too.”  She smiled softly. 

         Fox’s voice took on a slightly shy quality.  “I want to.” 

         Trini’s eyebrows squeezed together, she didn’t understand that, “What?”

         “I want to have phone sex with you.”  Fox replied huskily, making Trini blink in shock.  Domi was right in the other room.  She swallowed hard.

         “Fox, I’ve never done that, I don’t know what to do.”  Trini could feel the blush covering her face. 

         Fox’s voice got deeper, “You just do whatever I tell you to do.  You do it and pretend that it’s my hands touching you… making you come.”  Trini moaned, oh… she needed…

         Breathlessly she spoke into her phone, “I miss you… oh god, you are so sexy.”  She could almost see Fox’s sexy smirk in her mind.

         They were on the phone for almost an hour.  The sun had set and Trini didn’t even notice it.  She finally found out that Fox could indeed talk her into an orgasm.  She almost dropped the phone as she came.  After she hung up she just laid on her bed, naked… enjoying the moment.  That is until she remembered that she would actually need to leave that room and face Demona after having done this.  Her blush covered her whole body as she could hear Demona getting something out of the fridge.  Her ears were more sensitive than a human’s, but how long had Demona been a gargoyle while she and Fox had been having phone sex?  She heard Demona close the fridge…not very good soundproofing at all… Trini grimaced.  She hadn’t been loud, but she wasn’t quiet either.

         It was too early to just go to bed, and she needed to go to the bathroom.  She was going to have to deal with this now.  Trini got dressed in her pajamas and took a deep breath before opening the door.  When Demona started to clap she turned beat red and just ignored her to rush to the bathroom.  She could hear Demona laughing through the bathroom door.  She started to laugh as well.  This was ridiculous.  She wondered if she should open the door and take a bow, but chose to just continue with her business.

 

Day 7

 

         Trini had endured some teasing from the gargoyle about her phone call with Fox, but Demona dropped it easily.  Now Trini was just watching some TV while Demona worked.  During a commercial she called over her shoulder, "You're a work a holic... they have meetings for that sort of thing!"  She grinned to herself and watched the commercials.

         Demona's voice in her ear startled her, "Well, I'd say something rather rude and obnoxious back... but we agreed to drop it."  Trini started to blush.  She was bringing up that phone call again.  She was never going to live that down.  Demona stood back up and chuckled, "It is so easy to make you blush."

         "Do you do that because red is your favorite color?"  Trini taunted back.  She had become a bright shade of red by now.

         "Of course."  Demona's teasing tone left her, "I was going to order something... we ate too long ago.  What do you want?"

 

         When the large ice cream sundae came, Trini was feeling like a kid again.  She grinned at Demona as she rushed to open the door.  Once everything was safely inside and the door closed Demona came back out from where she'd had to rush to hide.  Trini wouldn't have really opened the door with her out and visible, but she did like making the gargoyle run.  "You are pretty handy to have around some times."  She smirked at Trini, "When I go on business trips by myself, I just can't have night room service."  When she got behind Trini she whispered into her ear, "Don't think I won't get even for that little stunt!"  Trini slowly reached into her sundae and lifted a small handful of whip cream, turning quickly to smear it on the gargoyles nose.  She laughed and began to run, only making two steps before she was tackled to the ground.  Demona flipped her around and straddled her.  "What has gotten into you tonight?"  She used one of her talons to wipe off her nose.  She was grinning, so Trini knew she wasn't in any trouble.

         "I just feel so hyper!" Trini felt so wired... maybe it was the way they had crushed Warren, or maybe it was Fox.  It could also be that she no longer lived in Seattle.  She was now just a visitor, and that felt good.  It could also be the fact that she was so way past tired that she was energetic.

         Demona spoke wryly, "Oh, so then you make me buy you ice cream.  You're only going to get worse."  She shook her head in mock disappointment.  Looking up at Demona, Trini felt like this was one of those truly happy moments that people get and try to hold onto.  She just felt so good; her heart felt like it had grown to twice the normal size.

         “I love you.”  Trini said it before she even realized that was what she was going to say.  They both froze in shock.  Trini’s eyes were wide.  She had no idea how she was going to get out of this one.  She didn’t mean to say that.

         Finally it was Demona that rescued her.  “You just want to avoid retribution.”  She grinned at Trini and reached out with one hand to grab a bit of whip cream off the sundae, smearing it with joy all over Trini’s face.  “It won’t work.”

         Trini started to chuckle.  Part of her was so thankful that Demona was going to let that one pass.  “This is a bit harsh, don’t you think?  I only got your nose.”  Trini could feel whip cream all over her face, even though it was a thin layer.

         Demona grinned down at her wickedly, “Don’t forget this next time you try and ambush me.  I always payback tenfold.”

 

         They ate their snacks, with Trini growling playfully when Demona would steal some of her ice cream.  Her growling couldn’t be described as anything but gargoyle, it reverberated in her chest.  She didn’t realize that she could do that, so she started to just play with her growling for a bit, until she looked up to see Demona staring at her quizzically.  “Oh… Um…”  Trini blushed again, “I didn’t know I could growl like that.”

         “Okay, for a minute there I thought you had actually lost your mind.”  Demona grinned at her.  Trini thought of a few bad jokes about her head injury, but when she remembered how Demona was crying last night about that incident, she kept them to herself.  Just because she was ready to laugh about it didn’t mean that anyone else would ever get to that stage, especially Demona, who had apparently seen the whole thing.  “Maybe we could do some tests… play around with what your able to do.”

         “How do you think we could do that?”  Trini felt a little nervous.  Testing sounded serious.

         “We could play a game of tag.  That could be a start.”  Trini blinked at that.  Demona started to grin.  “I just want to see how your abilities stack up to a full gargoyle.  It’s a hatchling game that helps to build coordination.”  When Trini gave Demona a confused look, “hatchling… child” That made more sense.

         “You’ll just fly away and I’ll be sitting there looking like a fool.”  Trini hadn’t played tag in forever.  The idea of chasing Demona sounded fun, but she felt childish for thinking that.

         “Wingless.  I won’t glide.”  Demona was serious, actually serious.

         “If we do it in the woods I’ll beat you so bad.”  Trini grinned at her challenge.  She could climb buildings, but… her ability to climb trees was something that she’d practiced since she was a child.  Her mother and her had lived out in a rural area for a while.  That was also when she practiced throwing rocks.

         Demona grinned, and Trini felt a little intimidated.  Maybe that was a bad bet.  “We’ll stop somewhere in Oregon.  We’ll see about the beating though.”  The sparkle in Demona’s eyes made Trini realize that she was definitely in for a world of hurt.

         “Okay.”  She really couldn’t back out now, she’d set some of the ground rules.

 

         The high that had given Trini all that energy bombed out quickly.  She fell asleep on the couch while watching TV.  Demona looked at her fondly before picking her up and carrying her to her bed.  Demona froze for a moment when Trini snuggled up to her in her sleep, but then just smiled softly and put her down on the bed.  “You’re an affectionate little thing, aren’t you?”  She whispered to Trini.  Her face became a bit worried as she kissed Trini’s forehead, exactly where the bullet had hit her.  “I hope you can write again.”  More quietly she whispered, “I’m sorry.”

 

         Trini was surprised to find herself in bed when she woke up to the early morning muffled scream.  She had to fight the urge to go to Domi’s room.  She knew that this was going to be a bad night for her.  She could just feel it.  The nightmares had gotten a bit worse each night.  Domi wanted to do this alone.  Trini must have been caught.  Domi must have figured out what she did at night and the proud woman rushed to get them separate beds.  Why couldn’t she just take what Trini was offering?

         Trini damned her hearing when the nightmares started.  Tears came to her eyes, but Domi wanted to do this on her own.  When it got so bad Trini felt like she was hearing the rape itself… she couldn’t take it anymore.  With tears streaming down her face she marched over to Domi’s room and quietly entered it.  Domi was a fool to try and deal with this alone.  She crawled into the bed and pulled the thrashing woman to her.  “I have you.  I won’t let them hurt you anymore.”  She petted Domi’s hair, her voice was full of pain and tears but she continued murmuring comforting words.  It took a long time to get Domi to settle down, but once she did, Trini pleaded with the unconscious women, “Please don’t make me go through this again.  Let me help you.”  She lay in Domi’s bed, wide-awake.  She felt sick, she’d never seen the nightmares get that bad, she always stopped them before they got anywhere near that bad.  She stayed wide-awake as she watched over Domi.  She noticed that it was probably time for the woman to wake up, so she quietly snuck out of the room.  For a warrior, Domi slept pretty soundly around Trini.  She was hoping that she wasn’t going to have to sneak in and out of her bed for the rest of the trip.  She had no idea how to bring it up in a way that wouldn’t make Domi lash out.  That woman seemed to feel like she had to be invincible.  No one could do that alone.

 

         Trini went to take a shower before Domi woke up.  Otherwise she might not get one for a long time.  Trini started to get a little concerned about the showers that Domi took.  Had she always taken such long hot showers, or was that something that was new?  Was she still trying to scrub the touch of those men off of her?  Was she still crying in the shower, where no one could see?  Trini had no idea how to help Domi, she had no training, no experience… but she was the only one that Domi trusted.  She started to cry.  She felt so helpless, she couldn’t be there to hold Domi every night, she was going to have to work hard to even be able to see her once in a while after they got home to New York.  She hated those Quarrymen; she wished that she could kill them again.  Resurrect the assholes and kill them again.

         When she got out of the bathroom, Domi was waiting.  She gave Trini a concerned look.  “Have you been crying?”

         “Soap.”  Trini’s minimal answer was so obviously a lie.  She trudged towards her bedroom to do her hair and get ready to go.  She could feel Domi’s stare, but eventually she turned and went to take her shower.

        

         After they ate they packed up the car and started off for Oregon.  They only got a few miles on the city streets before a BMW pulled up beside them and started honking the horn angrily, indicating that Trini should pull over.  Trini turned to glance at the car and gave a thin-lipped grimace.  “Oh, look… It’s Travis.”  She muttered.

         Travis’ face was red with rage and for a moment Trini thought he might actually ram her off the road.  “I’m open for suggestions.”  She paused.

         “Well, you know my vote is to just kill that asshole.”  Domi glared out Trini’s side window at Travis, who still didn’t seem to notice her. 

         “While I can admire that plan… I don’t think that will work right now.”  Trini sighed.  “Will you hand me my cell phone?”

         Once she was armed with that she called Travis.  When it started to ring, she shook her phone once in the window to indicate that she was the one calling.  He picked up his phone angrily.  “You little bitch!”

         Trini calmly interrupted, “Is your seat belt buckled?  If it isn’t you better get that done pretty quickly.”  She glanced sideways and verified for herself that he was strapped in. 

         As expected he ignored her warning.  Trini was just waiting for him to say the wrong thing.  “Warren told us what you and that redheaded cunt did.”  Trini gripped the steering wheel tightly.  She hated people insulting Domi.  As soon as she felt her vision changed she turned to glare at Travis.  She had to move her car quickly as his face showed disbelief and he swerved out of control.  She hung up and threw the phone into the back seat.  “Fucking asshole… try telling that to the cops.”  She could hear him screeching to a halt just short of hitting a parked car.

         “What did you just do?”  Trini glanced to see Domi looking back with satisfaction at Travis’ almost accident.  A police car pulled up to his car.

         “The cops are going to think he’s drunk.  Amazing what tricks of light will make a man see.  Glowing eyes… it’s ridiculous.” 

Domi started to chuckle with her.  “You called him to let him piss you off?  That’s original.”

 

         It only took a couple of hours to get to Portland.  The weather there was a lot nicer, Trini had to wear her sunglasses.  The first place Domi wanted to visit was in that city.  They were going to go scare those poor slobs and then get some lunch.  Domi liked to keep her employees frightened of her, she thought it made them work harder.  Trini just thought it would make them too nervous to do a decent job, but this was her business.  Trini made a motion to take off her sunglasses, but Domi’s hand on her arm stopped her.  “Keep them on.  You made a real impression at Sterlin Inc. with them.”

         “What?”  Trini didn’t get that.  Domi wanted her to wear the sunglasses inside?

         Domi grinned wickedly at her, “The humans seemed to think you looked intimidating last time.  I want these people to feel intimidated.”

         Trini whispered to her as they entered the building, “You don’t think you’re scary enough?”

         Domi gave her a toothy grin that reminded Trini of a shark, “Oh… I’ll be scary enough.  I just want to try this.  Humor me.” 

         “Okay.”  Trini shook her head and smiled at her ‘boss’.  She then composed herself and became focused on the job at hand.  She needed to be a bit intimidating.  She would just not show any friendly behavior and keep an emotionless face as much as possible.  No need to go further than that, she was with Domi after all.  That alone made her intimidating.

 

         Trini was surprised when she was placed in the position of helping Domi fire another employee.  This one had apparently misused company equipment.  It cost NightStone a chunk of change.  When Domi indicated that she should speak, Trini treated it like it was Warren, since that was the only experience she had.  Luckily this guy didn’t feel the need to fight.  He looked devastated as security took him to clean out his office.  Trini was going to have to talk with Domi about why she felt the need to make Trini the bad guy. 

         Trini followed Domi into the meeting and sat beside her at the table.  There were four managers in attendance.  “May I have your notes?”  Domi spoke with a chilling voice that Trini knew wasn’t directed at her.  She calmly handed over what she’d written during the tour with Domi.  She could hear one of the further away managers murmur something about her sunglasses.  She turned her gaze to him and stared until he looked appropriately cowed.  He had to wonder how she could hear that.  Domi wanted the humans intimidated, job done.

         “I had no idea you were dropping by Ms. Destine.”  The closest manager spoke, obviously uncomfortable with Domi’s silent study of the notes.  Trini almost shook her head.  He was just inviting trouble.

         “No, of course not.  I wanted to see how incompetent you are when left on your own.  I wasn’t disappointed.”  Domi’s voice was chilly as she started to list the items that she wanted addressed within a week.  It was an impressive list.  The secretary taking the minutes was very busy keeping up with her.  None of the managers interrupted her. 

         Trini noticed Domi glance at her several times during the meeting while the different department managers gave their reports.  She had no idea what those glances meant, so she just continued to pay attention to the person giving a report.  She noticed that one man seemed a little too nervous, even taking account that Domi was a truly harsh boss.  Trini studied him carefully, since no one could see where she was looking behind her sunglasses, she was able to see him when he thought everyone was looking at someone else.  He had something to hide.  Domi leaned over and whispered to her, “You see it too?”  Trini nodded.  “Suggestions?”  Domi was testing her, she could tell.

         Trini leaned over, “I think his department needs an audit.  The man we fired may not be the only one costing us money.”  She didn’t even notice that she was considering herself a part of NightStone when she said that.  Domi’s eyes lit up for a moment, before she leaned back in her chair and turned a critical eye to the last speaker.   

         When they were getting ready to leave, Trini excused herself to go to the bathroom.  As she walked down the halls, she noticed that eyes turned to her.  She had just assumed that everyone was watching Domi as she marched around the place… they were watching her too.

 

         “Domi, why did you bring me into the firing of that man?  You were doing a fine job on your own.”  Trini took a sip of her lemonade.  Lunch was on the way.

         “I want to see how you’d handle it when you weren’t expecting it.”  Domi studied her.  Trini realized that Domi was testing her, trying to see if she really was Personal Assistant material.  She’d never agreed to wanting the job, she explained why she didn’t the last time it was offered.  Domi just wasn’t giving up.  If it weren’t for her projects to kill humans, Trini would love to work for Domi.  Working for her gave her a chance to be near her, and Domi was making her work… she wasn’t giving her a pity job.  Trini realized that Domi was trying to sway her decision by showing her what it was like to work with her.  She sighed; she didn’t know what to do.  She liked aspects of the job.  She could actually see herself doing it.  But if she did, and Domi found a way to destroy humanity… she’d have to betray her.  Of course, Domi could still find what she was after without Trini around, and then Trini wouldn’t know until it was too late.  If she took the job… she’d always be worried that she’d see something that she had to respond to.

         “What are you thinking?”  Domi asked her softly as she took a sip of her drink.

         Trini gave her a slightly irritated look, “Do you really want me to tell you here?”  She glanced around, and felt a little better in finding that they didn’t have anyone sitting very close to them.

         “Yes.”  Domi set her drink down.

         “I like working with you.  I like the job, but… you can’t trust me.”  Trini shook her head, “That’s never going to change.”

         Domi looked a little irritated, but she didn’t yell, “We can find away to work around our… philosophical differences.”  Trini didn’t understand why Domi was so desperate to have her as an employee.  She wasn’t anything special in that regard.  Trini wasn’t stupid, she realized now that part of the reason that Domi had agreed to come to Seattle with her was so she could do a little recruiting. 

         “Why do you need me so badly that you’d risk that I’d betray you?  That’s what I would have to do if you found what you’re after… you know that.”  Trini stared at her, waiting for a reply. 

She watched as Domi’s hand snaked out to caress hers, paying no attention to the fact that they were in public.  She was so intent on watching the caress, that she didn’t hear the camera go off, or see the man with the white beard and hair tuck the camera in his coat.  When he was jostled by a group of rowdy teenagers he bumped into a table.

Domi hissed in pain unexpectedly, startling Trini.  “We need to get out of here.”  She stood up and threw some money on the table.  Their lunch hadn’t even arrived, but Domi looked worried, so Trini didn’t question her.  She just got up and started to follow her.  She watched as Domi glanced around the restaurant, looking for someone.  This made Trini really tense.

They got into the car and took off quickly.  Trini waited until they were on the freeway heading to another city before she spoke.  “Care to tell me why we did that?”

Trini waited while Domi remained quiet for a moment.  “I never told you the conditions of my immortality.  I think I should.”  Domi spoke quietly.  “I was linked to a human male, MacBeth.  If I kill him, or he kills me… we both die.  It’s the only way we can die.  Another twist of that spell… if we are near each other… we can feel each others pain.”  Trini turned her eyes from the freeway to stare at Domi briefly.  She wished she wasn’t driving right now.  “I felt his pain in there.  He was close.”

Trini reached out her hand to grasp Domi’s.  “Is he after you?” 

“I don’t know… but he might be, and I’d rather not face him today.”  They both sat in silence for a while.  Trini was upset at the thought that someone could kill Domi.  She didn’t want to lose her.

 

Trini pulled up into the parking for the cabin resort that Domi had booked for them.  They had a cabin to themselves, with the next nearest cabin barely visible in the distance from theirs.  They were in the woods, and far from any city.  They were however, much closer to the Oregon Clan.  This was a good location for them to set up base while they searched for the other gargoyles.  Trini could see a hot tub out the back window of the cabin.  She didn’t want to know how much this was costing Domi.  “Maybe if he comes… I should deal with it.”  Trini spoke softly.  “I’m immortal too.”

Domi glanced at her sharply, “No… he won’t find us.”  Domi reached out and started caressing Trini’s tail through her pants.  “No… just let me deal with it if we ever see him.” 

“But… he can’t kill me.”  Trini looked deeply into Domi’s eyes.  “I’ll heal.  You…  I don’t want to lose you.”  Trini’s eyes had a pleading look to them.  “I could at least buy you time to run.  I may not be able to fight very well, but I could do that.” 

Domi reached out and brushed Trini’s hair out of her eyes.  Her voice was soft and her eyes full of compassion.  Her employees probably didn’t even know she could look like that.  “Oh, Trini… He’s my problem.  We don’t know the limits of your immortality.  We lost him in Portland.  We’re miles away.  You don’t need to worry.”  She reached out and started to caress Trini’s tail again.  She ran her fingers up and down the coil near Trini’s knee.  Trini had to bite back a moan… it felt so good.  The tingles traveled up her tail and centered on her sex.

Trini threw open her door and leapt out.  Her voice was a little loud, “I’ll get the luggage.”  She moved to the back of the station wagon.  Domi was next to her studying her intently in mere seconds.  That caress… was too intimate, but she didn’t want to admit that.  Domi rarely reached out for anyone, Trini couldn’t tell her she was going too far.  She might stop seeking affection at all from her.  Those tender moments that they shared were too precious for Trini to give up.

“Here, let me help.”  Domi took a few bags of their groceries.  When Domi went into the cabin to cook dinner, Trini looked up at the sky.  They’d made it with little time to spare.  Sunset was probably only about a half an hour away.  She was hungry, and hoped Domi knew how to cook.

 

Trini eyed the two bedrooms, damn.  With a sigh she started putting her luggage in one room and Domi’s in the other.  It was going to be another long night.  She was so tired… she only had a couple hours of sleep the last two nights.  Domi came out of the kitchen.  “I need to change.”  She quickly went into the bedroom that Trini had deemed Domi’s.  Trini winced at the scream that came out minutes later.  It felt like she was always hearing Demona suffer in one way or another. 

When the bedroom door opened again, Trini just walked up to her and hugged her.  Demona stiffened in surprise, but then hugged Trini back.  “What brought this on little one?”  Demona murmured in her ear as she held her.  Trini was puzzled as to why Demona called her little… she wasn’t really that much shorter.

Trini felt too tired to come up with a lie.  “I just need to be close to you.”  She made no motion to let go.  She snuggled closer when she felt Demona petting her hair.

“Trini, what’s wrong?”  Demona pulled back to look into Trini’s face.

Trini’s voice was quiet and she could hear it was pained.  “I don’t like hearing you suffer.  It’s hard to take.” She hugged Demona a little tighter, “I love you.”

Demona just froze and stared at her in shock.  “Love?”  Her eyes were lightly burning red from some sort of churning inner turmoil.  Trini felt like she had hurt her by admitting how she felt.  She sighed and pulled out of the frozen embrace.  Maybe Demona had a problem with her being gay after all.  Her throwing a word like love around… it was pushing it.

“Don’t worry… I won’t hit on you.”  Trini said a little bitterly as she turned to go into the kitchen.  There were all sorts of levels of love, Demona was assuming too much.

The hand on her shoulder stopped her fleeing, “No… Trini wait.”  Demona forced her to turn and face her, even though Trini didn’t want to.  She was embarrassed and hurt.  She just wanted to be alone for a little while.  When she saw the concern on Demona’s face, her rigid body started to relax.  “That’s not it.  I’m not afraid that you’ll try something… I just.”  Demona paused, obviously a little emotional.  “I just haven’t heard anyone tell me that and mean it in a very long time.  Even my own daughter hasn’t said that.”

“She loves you.”  Trini reached out to caress Demona’s cheek.  “I can tell she loves you, it’s just that clan… they probably make her feel like a traitor for it, so she says nothing.”  Trini pulled her into another hug.

 

         The hugging got to Demona after a little while and she had to pull away.  It didn’t hurt Trini’s feelings that time.  She realized that Demona just had a low threshold for affection.  It was higher than it had been, Trini felt like she’d made progress.

 

 

         After dinner and cleaning up Demona didn’t pull out her computer.  That was unusual.  “Trini… do you feel up to a game of tag.”  She grinned at her and glanced meaningfully out the window into the forest.

         Trini took a mental inventory of her body.  If she did it now, she would get her ass kicked really badly and more importantly, look bad in front of Demona.  “I’m a little too tired for that.  How about tomorrow night?”

         Demona stepped forward with concern on her face, “You’re already tired?  Are you not sleeping well?”

         Trini sighed.  How could she answer that?  She had snuck into Domi’s bed last night and because she wasn’t supposed to be there, she had to stay awake so that she could sneak back out before she was discovered.  She had probably only slept two or three hours that night.  “Not too well.  If I go to bed a little earlier tonight, I should be fine for tag tomorrow.”

         “Why aren’t you sleeping well?”  Trini glanced around the cabin, as if searching for inspiration for the answer.  Demona spoke a little more sternly.  “Why?”

         “You talk in your sleep.”  Trini whispered.  “When I’m not there… you…”  Trini trailed off.  The look of horror on Demona’s face made her wish that she’d just lied.  “Never mind.”  She whispered.

         “What did you hear?!”  Demona’s voice rose in anger. 

         Trini looked into the narrowing eyes glaring at her.  “You keep reliving the rape.”  She glanced away from the devastation on Demona’s face when she used that word.  Trini realized that they had never said that word out loud.  “I tried last night to stay away… I knew you wanted me to stay away.  But…”  Trini turned to Demona and looked at her.  She was looking like she didn’t want to hear this.  “I couldn’t take it anymore.  I couldn’t take hearing you like that.  You’re in so much pain.”  She took a deep breath and continued, “I… I stayed up watching over you.”

         Trini waited for Demona to say something.  The red glow of Demona’s eyes intensified as the gargoyle spun around and quickly dashed out the back door.  Trini watched her climb a tree and glide away too quickly for her to stop her.  “Damn it!”

         Trini stared at the gargoyle as she glided away.  Demona was obviously trying to get far away.  Trini wanted desperately to chase after her… but she had no wings.  She would never catch her.