Lone Clone
By Princess Alexandria
………………………..
Prompt: Bathing – Section 6
………………………..
I’d been at her house for two more nights, training until my wings ached each night and then when she thought I couldn’t train any more I would start on the computer files. I felt like I was making some progress physically, but the files were full of things I didn’t understand well enough to be sure. I glanced around at what had become my desk and looked at the stack of books that Demona had gotten me. I wanted to make sure that they hadn’t done something to me, so I worked hard, but now I needed a break. I’d been at it for a while. “Demona?” I called out and listened to the quiet of the house. There was no answer.
With a sigh I started to close the computer file I’d been looking at and opened up the internet. Typing was a little difficult for me, but I could use the mouse like a pro, so I clicked and slowly typed what I needed, which was something fun to read. I’d seen Demona reading some book the other night, but looking at her collection it was all, well, not too interesting to me. I had the impression she didn’t read for fun very much since her library was business and science oriented. I was sick of science and didn’t have an interest in business.
When I found the site I was impressed. A site dedicated to buying books. I looked around and found a few novels and a couple non-fiction books that looked pretty good. That’s when I glanced back at the science books on the table I used as my desk and sighed. I had no idea if she’d buy these for me, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask. She was the clan leader after all, not that she’d ever said it, but that came with the responsibility to make sure her clan was happy as they could be. A few books weren’t asking too much. I repeated these thoughts in my head as I started to look for Demona.
I also didn’t know the address so I could have the books shipped. I thought I heard something upstairs so I started up there and slowly made my way to a door that sounded like it had someone behind it. “Hey Demona?” I called out as I opened the door, but I froze as I stood there in the doorway looking in. Demona was laying in a tub of water with bubbles, her hair wet to her head and that tiara she always wore wasn’t over her eyeridge. I blinked, but I couldn’t look away.
“What are you doing?” I asked as I stared, but the bubbles and water were thick and deep, so all I saw was her shoulders and folded wings. They showed that she was naked in that tub.
When she looked at me I got the feeling I wasn’t really welcome, and that I’d embarrassed her. I stood still, unsure of what I should do. Should I turn around and just leave? “I’m bathing.” Demona finally answered and I heard the water shift as she did. She stared at me and I knew I was blushing a little as she wrapped her arms over the ledge of the tub and stared at me. “The stone sleep cleans you, but I don’t have that anymore.”
“Oh, I never thought,” I muttered as I considered that. “It must be nice to not be vulnerable like that though.” I said it, but she was shifting and the bubbles were moving and I was finding it hard to think.
“Yes, well, be careful what you ask for.” Demona’s eyes flashed red just a moment and I watched them fade back to normal. “Remember that Lilith, if a Fey offers you anything be careful. They always twist things and you are never happy with what you end up with.”
I nodded, and managed a word, “Okay,” but my eyes were stuck
on how the water made her skin glisten in a very pretty way. Blue skin looked nice wet, and her hair was
so red. Her lips curved just a little
into a smirk and I found I was staring and blinked and looked away. “Sorry I interrupted your,” My mind searched
for the word. “
“That’s okay.” Demona reassured me and I nodded, not knowing what else to do. I stood still and when her wings moved up and shifted a bit I found myself watching them move the water, and the bubbles around. I could see a wave and water distorted view of her body and there was blue and no clothes at all in there. “But staring like that is pushing it a little.” She spoke and my eyes snapped back to her face, where she had a confident smirk. “I’d say this is new, and I’ve been around a long time. More than a couple of months.”
“What?” I asked, and this time I kept my eyes on her face. It was hard, but I was managing it.
“None of my sisters ever stared at me like you do.” Demona spoke and I blushed hard and looked away altogether, to study the small bottles and things on the bathroom counter. “Lesbian gargoyles are so rare I’ve never seen one before.” I grimaced, thinking that my slim chance of finding a mate were now zero. I was probably the only living Lesbian gargoyle in the world, and even if someone were out there, I was a clone too. Not a point I wanted to think about.
When she shifted and then stood up my eyes widened and I was quickly losing the battle to not look. Water cascaded off of her body in rivulets and her skin was glistening. Her nipples were a deeper blue and briefly I thought of my own deeper gray nipples and gargoyle coloring, but that was just a moment. I wasn’t capable of much thought on a whole.
A soft laugh pulled my eyes back to her face, where she was shaking her head slowly from side to side. “Definitely different.” Demona smirked and turned to grab a towel off of a towel rack. “What was so important you needed to find me?”
I stared at she started to towel off her arms, and torso. I stared with wide eyes, until I managed to pull my eyes away and looked at the interesting assortment of bottles near the sink. “Um, I wanted to buy a couple of novels, and maybe some other things.”
“You could make a list and I’ll pick it up during the day.” She spoke and I felt a bit of envy that she could do that. I listened as Demona stepped out of the tub, and could hear her talon’s click on the bathroom floor as they made contact with it.
“I found a website. They deliver right to the door.” I told her and her small hmm sound didn’t sound convinced.
“I’m not here during the day to guard you.” Demona spoke quietly. “I don’t feel comfortable with a human in the yard where you sleep. I’d rather take your list to a bookstore.” I turned to look at her at that moment. My eyes trailed over her face and she looked serious. She wanted to protect me. I felt shaky inside and I stared into her eyes.
“Okay.” It felt kind of nice to be cared about like that. When she moved to lift the towel to her hair, leaving her body bare as she dried her hair, I blushed again and looked away. “I’ll go make that list.” I rushed the words out and moved backwards toward the door.
As I made my way down the hall I heard her chuckling. She’d been teasing me the entire time. It finally registered and I looked back toward the bathroom door as I tried to figure out how I could make such a fool of myself. The memory of her body answered my question. She was so beautiful.
………………………….
Prompt: purring - section 7
………………………….
I saw her turning sharply around the edge of the building and I took a deep breath to prepare for my own attempt. These buildings were so close that I anticipated a problem if I even made the turn. My eyes widened to see that I didn’t have room to have my wings spread as I made the turn and the tips of my wings painfully banged into the buildings on both sides for a moment before I could pull them in. “Damn it!” I hissed and then I focused on just making it out of the narrow opening as safely as I could. The wind pushed me around and it was a struggle to not ram into brick on one side of me or the other.
Demona was easily staying in the center, her wings pulled tighter to her and I tried to copy her form, but now my wings were hurting in a new way and I didn’t like the shooting pain of ramming them into something, the ache that wasn’t fading as fast as I’d like. I watched as she darted up and down and my eyes widened as I realize there were clothes lines there.
I narrowed my eyes and focused hard on the area in front of me, having to pull up fast as I saw a line. I went two more windows and then I had to dodge down. My heart was pounding as I felt my tail snap that line, at least it wasn’t my head. I was about ready to just rise up and out of the obstacle course, but another line appeared in front of me and I had to dive to avoid it. My foot snapped that one and tshirts started to float to the ground as I just clenched my jaw and decided to finish this. I moved my arms out in front of me so that I didn’t get a line to my throat, because at this speed that could kill me.
I had to dodge three more times before I finally broke out from between the buildings. I looked around and I couldn’t see Demona anywhere as I rose higher into the air.
“How many did you hit?” Her voice was suddenly above me and I felt my heart stop for just a moment, before I found her taking the space next to me.
“You like to scare me don’t you?” I muttered, embarrassed at being caught again, and also unwilling to admit to how many lines I did hit.
“So how many?” Demona moved to glide upside down under me again and I stared down at her.
“At least two.” I admitted. She just nodded.
“We’ll do that weekly until you can tell me none, that you dodged them all.” Demona barrel rolled and was now on my other side. “This is how you gain control. A sharp turn and the ability to dodge can save your life if someone is shooting at you.”
Originally I wanted the lessons so I could feel artistic, feel confident. Knowing her reasons for teaching me made me feel a bit scared. Taking a while to learn art was fine, taking a while to learn to survive was not. I also wanted to impress her, to make sure she thought I was worth all this effort. I was taking up a lot of her time every night after all, I wanted her to feel like it was doing some good. I just nodded to her that I’d do this obstacle course, that I understood why it was necessary.
“How are your wings?” Demona asked and I concentrated on that part of my body. They still hurt, but not in a tired way.
“I might be bleeding.” I finally spoke, it wasn’t something I could check in the air, but it still hurt. “My wings scraped the buildings.” I explained.
“Well, your large wingspan has its drawbacks.” Demona spoke and I looked over at her to see that wicked smirk again. I blushed and looked away, unsure what the words meant, but I was starting to think it was sexual. I sure wasn’t going to ask though.
I don’t know what came over me, but my voice lowered a little and I gave her my own wicked smile. “Is mine really so much bigger than yours?”
Demona stared at me and smiled, before starting to angle up, so I rose up higher in the air with her. “It’s not the size, its what you do with it.” She chuckled and I knew at that moment that I’d been right, she had a naughty mind. Her voice was a bit more normal before I could think of a response. “Come on, let’s land over there and I’ll take a look at your wings.”
We stopped on the top of one of the tallest buildings on the block. Once I landed I tried to pull one of my wings up and in front of me so that I could see. A blue hand stopped my wing before it came into my view. “I said I’d look.” Demona told me and then she moved to look at the wing she now held in her hand. “You lost some skin, and yes you did loose a little blood, but this isn’t bad. I was worried about bones when I saw you hit wall.” I stayed quiet as she moved to look at my other wing, thinking it was sad that I just paid attention to me and I hit lines and she apparently watched us both and hit none.
Oh, but if she could teach me that I would be so happy, I thought as she looked at the other wing. “This is nothing you can’t wait for the stone sleep to fix.” Demona told me.
“Thanks.” I spoke softly, liking her gentle touch as she checked me for injuries.
Demona moved to stand a little closer right in front of me and I was a little startled to see her reach up and touch my hair. Her talons caressed a bit of it that was resting in my face at the moment. “Is your hair obstructing your vision?” She asked and I froze as I found her caressing my hair again slowly and gently. She pushed the piece up and behind my ear. “Maybe we need to consider a new style.”
“It wasn’t in my way.” I spoke finally, and then she moved to run her talon through my hair and I could feel her touching my head, petting me. It took me a moment to remember I was supposed to be defending my hairstyle, which admittedly came with hair in my face occasionally, but I liked it. My hair wasn’t overly long, only reaching my shoulder blades, but I left it to be wild. I’d seen the lavender female of the other clan tied hers back, and I didn’t want that.
My head bowed a little as she continued to play with my hair and I embarrassed myself a moment later when I realized that strange noise I was hearing was me purring.
“Okay, but if I decide it is in the way, we’ll look at changing it.” Demona spoke softly and the petting stopped shortly after I had cleared my throat and stopped the rumble of contentment.
“Okay.” I whispered, missing the soft touches already.
“Let’s head back.” She spoke a little louder and I followed her off the side of the building as we called the nights training short. I wasn’t sure why we were doing that, since I could still glide with scraped wingtips.
…………………………………
Prompt: - To Cry section 8
…………………………………
I woke with a roar and stretched. Demona wasn’t pleased that I still curled up for my stone sleep, she said something about being a warrior, but I had only uncurled a little in the month I’d lived here. The smell of the cool air was crisp and I took a few steeps forward and stared over the edge of the large balcony she’d had me move to while the gardeners worked on the yard. I looked out into the yard and noticed that the leaves that had littered the grass were now gone.
The yard looked a bit barren in the Fall months and it was a bit sad to see it all die. I looked forward to seeing it in the spring, all blooming. I was starting to really believe that I’d get to see that too. I now owned a bookshelf and it had books. She’d purchased me furniture, and a computer of my own.
While looking out into the yard I noticed the truck was gone, which I’d never seen but Demona told me they had a truck. She stayed and worked from home while they were here, but that meant that she’d been going in to work later and gliding back well after sunset all week. It cut into our schedule.
I could have glided out to her for training, but she didn’t want me out alone yet. I was better at gliding, but not good enough to dodge bullets, I knew that. Was it just luck I hadn’t been killed before she found me? Demona said once I was good enough she’d let me out alone occasionally. I was fine waiting, being alone was over-rated, but maybe she needed more time to herself.
I slipped inside and made my way to the kitchen for a snack, before working on the DNA. I was getting really sick of all the studying, but it was starting to make sense now. It was a little fascinating how my genes were spliced together to make me a gargoyle, instead of something between the two. And Fox’s genes were strange as well, there were notes about things that just didn’t make sense to me or the Doctor, and connections that had been made spontaneously to the gargoyle strands that the Doctor couldn’t explain. Being unexplained was a little unnerving, but to know that something about me wasn’t planned was also nice. I don’t know what about me, aside from why they wanted to kill me, wasn’t planned. Was my hair different? Was it my skin color? I just didn’t know and now I wanted to.
I ate and then I stared at the fridge and grabbed something else as well. Demona wanted me to gain weight and so I was supposed to eat more than I wanted of things that had protein. It was still novel that I could even eat what I wanted, but with all the exercise we got I wasn’t gaining much. I didn’t know why she wasn’t wasting away. Maybe she ate all day non-stop just to keep up with the energy demands. Or maybe what I considered a harsh workout was nothing at all to her.
I worked on the Doctor’s notes for hours and as time started to get really late I started to worry. All week she’d come back late, but always with some time for us to glide. I stared at the clock and realized that this was the latest yet, and she still wasn’t back. I looked back at the notes, but I was finding it hard to concentrate now. Now I was wondering if the most graceful gargoyle in the world hadn’t been able to dodge fast enough. I knew she was immortal, but captured or nearly killed were still very bad.
Finally I just turned off the computer and stood to stretch, but I found myself pacing in no time. The thoughts in my head were rather dark and I tried not to think them, but where was she? I’d seen her every day since I got here and soon I’d need to go out onto the balcony for the day and she still wasn’t here? If she wasn’t close to the house yet she’d be human before she made it.
I pulled a piece of paper out of the printer and wrote on it. My handwriting was a bit hard to read, so I worked hard on it so she could. “Please leave me a note if you won’t be here when I wake up.” I wrote big and filled the page. Now I just had to figure out where to put it. I even took the pen with me so if she didn’t have much time she could even just sign the note for me.
Knowing she’d check on me I taped the note to the inside of the balcony door, the door to her bedroom, before I went outside to wait for the sun. I stared out at the sky, hoping to see her, but for the first time in a long time I turned to stone standing up fully, searching the skies.
……………………………
I roared out as I became conscious again. Before even glancing at the yard I turned to rush to the door, and my note looked untouched. My heart sank as I hurried into the house. “Demona!” I yelled out as I looked in the bathroom I’d found her in before, and then I looked in each of the upstairs rooms before calling her name out again as I went down the stairs. No one was answering.
In the kitchen nothing had been moved. My shoulders slumped as I looked for any evidence that she’d come home, but I was finding none. I moved to look at the answering machine that had blinking lights. Normally Demona checked her messages from her secretary during the day so I’d never seen it blink. I stared at the machine, wanting to make sure I understood how to make it work before I touched it. I even grabbed paper to take notes for her, but I really hoped that her voice was on it. I finally, hesitantly, pushed the largest button.
The hum of the recording filled the air. “Ms. Destine? I know you said you’d be coming in later this week, but it’s almost time for your meeting with the research department and you aren’t here. Should I reschedule?” A female voice asked and I just listened. A click showed the end of the message and then that same voice spoke again. “Ms. Destine, the research department has been waiting fifteen minutes. I’ve rescheduled them for next week. I hope that’s okay with you. Are you coming in today or tomorrow? I have some reports you’ve been waiting for.” The machine went silent and the blinking stopped. I sighed heavily and put my pencil down. I didn’t like this, this didn’t feel right.
I ate, and then I really tried to focus on my research. My concentration was so bad I finally gave up and learning new things and focused my little attention on writing down what I’d already learned. I paced, I watched the news for any hint of trouble, and I wandered outside searching the skies. By the time the night was almost over I was sick, my stomach was clenching and I was scared. The note was still on the door when I went outside to greet the day and I prayed it would have more writing on it when I woke up, or better yet that she’d be there waiting for me.
…………………..
I woke up and rushed to the note. My throat was tight as I saw no difference. Calling out to her I checked all the rooms again, a repeat of the night before. I finished in front of the answering machine, which was blinking again. “Please. Please, Please.” I prayed before pushing the button again. “Ms. Destine, this is Candace.” The voice from yesterday filled the kitchen. “Are you alright? I have the reports, and you did say you were going to be in every day this week, but it’s nearly five and I haven’t seen you yet.” I felt sick, I hadn’t eaten yet, but I felt sick. “I hope everything is okay.” Candace spoke gently and I took a little comfort in it, but I hurt. My body started to shake and a small whimper escaped my lips as my vision became blurry with tears. She was my only clan and she was missing. A cough turned into a sob and my body curled up, as if that would stop the pain, but my whimpers and crying hurt my throat.
I missed her. I was scared for her, and I didn’t know what to do now. I had to do something, but I didn’t know what to do. Oh God, Demona please be okay, my mind cried. “Please, Please, Please.” I prayed in a tearful whisper.
…………………………………..
Prompt: Memorial Statue – section 9
…………………………………..
I was sure that if I found her she’d have complaints about what I was doing, but it was all I could think of. I’d left a new note in the mansion telling Demona what I was up to in case she came back. I glided high and didn’t bother with the obstacles we’d normally dodge around as I made my way into the city. I wasn’t supposed to go out alone, and I was very nervous about guns. It was a new fear, but then if Demona was captured by someone what chance would I have?
I still had no idea who’d done this. I just knew the list of potential suspects was far too large and the situations Demona might be in ranged from irritating to horrifying. I felt helpless and useless, and still I was going to try to help her.
I could see the castle in the sky in the distance and I knew I couldn’t just glide up to it and expect a welcome. I had to be sneaky to get what I wanted. I had to come up with a plan. I sighed as I landed on a building and rested a moment as I considered this. I wasn’t made for sneaky, I didn’t feel overly clever. I took a deep breath and considered the issue. I never wanted to see this clan and I risked capture myself if I didn’t do this right.
Fox was sneaky and clever, I thought as I took off again. If that were genetic it was in me somewhere. I just needed to bring it out.
I really would have rather dealt with the other clones in this, but they were prisoners underground and I couldn’t bump into them and make it look like an accident.
I kept going past the castle and started to angle over to
I know that Demona hated the humans and didn’t want anything to do with them. I knew the clan thought it was our job as gargoyles to protect them. I fell somewhere in between myself. I didn’t hate the humans overall, but I was very cautious about getting involved with them in any way. Humans were unpredictable, some of them were cruel, and they had a tendency to lash out at what they didn’t understand.
All that being said I think I have more distrust of the male of any species than I do of humans overall, so seeing that large man following the female human concerned me. Sure I’d only met two males, and one female in my life, but seeing things in a distance I knew males were rather violent. The history I’d been programmed with alone showed how dangerous males were, and how they discounted women as a whole.
Maybe that’s where they messed up my programming I thought for a moment. I followed the jogger and the man not dressed for jogging following her as I considered that. If I didn’t think so little of males I still think I’d be a lesbian, because it was the female form I found attractive, but I couldn’t be sure. Did it really matter if my orientation was genetic or a result of my programming? I sighed as I considered that I’d never have an answer as to why I was so rare, but before I could analyze those thoughts further I noticed the male human grab her. He was arrogant, because he did it in the lit part of the path.
I gave a roar and dove down, grabbing him by his hood in one hand and his arm with the other, yanking him off of her. I tossed him into the statue and heard the loud clunk before he fell to the ground. He didn’t move and I stood there staring at his still body until I heard him groan. I turned to look at the jogging female and she had wide eyes as she stared at me.
“Call the cops?” I asked with a weak smile, but that only made her eyes widen further. I turned back to the man on the ground and then up at the military form of the statue. Didn’t that just figure? Were there even statues of females in the park? I almost wanted to look and see, but the person I’d saved was out of shock enough to scream now. I turned and ran for the trees so I could hopefully climb them and get into the air.
I was in such a rush to get away from her screaming that I didn’t pay enough attention to where I was going. I slammed into something and started to fall as the wind abandoned me. “Watch it!” An angry voice yelled out and I gasped as I struggled to turn and catch the air again.
“Jalapena,” Another voice spoke up and I finally managed to turn enough to see three males, the three males I’d been avoiding for months. The red one looked like he was just gaining control of his gliding as well; he must have been what I hit. I really wished I was better at gliding, that was an embarrassing way to bump into them.
I also didn’t like the shocked stares I was getting as they just looked at me and didn’t speak.
…………………………………….
Prompt: Ring – section 10
…………………………………….
I turned to glance at the air in front of me and could see it was a good idea to gain altitude. I moved up and it took a few moments before I heard the males near me again.
“Jalapena.” Was whispered again and I just frowned a little at that, wondering what it meant.
“Hi.” I spoke as I aimed for the roof of a nearby building.
“You’re a clone.” The large blue male spoke and I grimaced at the words. He didn’t say I was a gargoyle, just a clone. Not good, I didn’t like that. “I’m Broadway.” He smiled just a little.
It seemed like the smaller green gargoyle pushed his brother
out of the way to get closer. “I’m
“I’m
“I’m Lilith.” I told them and watched the males stare at me.
“We’re the local clan.”
“I don’t spend a lot of time in the city.” I lied.
Demona and I were in the city three times a
week at least. I felt like they’d see
the lie on my face, but
“I know every part of this city.”
“Well, that’s nice, but I need to get back to work.” I spoke, hoping that the plan I’d hatched suddenly would actually work. “It was nice meeting you.” I smiled and started to move back to the edge of the building to take off, while hoping they’d try and stop me.
“Whoa, Whoa, Whoa.”
“I have to find Demona.” I told
them, but I kept all concern for her out of my voice.
“Why are you looking for that bitch?”
I turned to stare at him a moment, studied him until he seemed to fidget. “She is partly responsible for creating me, and I need answers.” Actually Demona had known nothing about my creation, but I wasn’t looking for Thailog. I hoped that they’d believe this. “I found something.” I lied, I was looking for something in my DNA, but I hadn’t yet found something. I hoped that there was nothing to find. “There is something in my DNA that doesn’t belong there, and I want her to tell me what it is.”
The glowing eyes seemed to change and I saw them all give me a sympathetic or just pitying look. I’d based my lie on my fears and they seemed to think it had a ring of truth, because while they seemed somewhat polite before, they now seemed to puff up as if to say they could protect me. “Is it bad?” Broadway asked. I responded with the most clinical and jargon filled explanation I could come up with, tossing out large words and phrases too fast for them to grasp even if they understood a word of it. I watched three males blink and nod, as if they understood it all and it was hard to not grin. They couldn’t have understood it, because half of it was made up.
“Goliath needs to hear about this.”
“I don’t have time to give reports, I need to find her. There is no telling how long I have, or if
it’s fatal.” I spoke up quickly and
turned to the ledge again. Someone
reached out to grab my arm and I turned to glare at him.
“Maybe we can help.
We know where she is, we just need to talk to Goliath and I’m sure he’ll
let you interrogate her. I’ll even hold
her down for you.”
While I wasn’t happy with them, I was happy to find the guilty party so quickly. I knew they were a possibility, and no matter what Demona’s relationship with them was, I knew she was better off in their hands than Thailog’s or the other suspects I’d had.
As I followed them to the castle I did my best to stay focused, because it dawned on me that this clan was stealing all of what was supposed to be MY clan. They took the other clones, and now they took my clan leader. It was like they ran a kidnapping ring, but they’d never see it that way. Regardless, it was me that they kept robbing.
…………………………………….
Prompt: Blood – section 11
…………………………………….
I found myself landing silently compared to the three males again and I turned to stare at the doorway into the castle I stood on. This place belonged to the husband of one of my ‘parents’. I felt awkward standing there in the courtyard, and the shadow of someone coming outside didn’t make me want to relax either.
“Did you guys forget something?” A feminine voice spoke and I found myself flanked by the males as the sole female of this clan stepped out from the shadows. I stared at her and could tell that her wide and surprised looking eyes were staring at me.
“We found her in
“Hi, I’m Angela.” The lavender female stepped forward and I managed to smile just a little. I liked her voice, and she was pretty. What I really liked was that she hadn’t called me a clone right off. At least she had manners, the males of the clan needed to learn from her.
“I’m Lilith.” I took her hand as she held it out. This was one of only three other female gargoyles in the city, and she was attractive and had a nice voice. I was actually surprised that I wasn’t actually attracted to her, I could see all the reasons to be attracted, but I just didn’t feel it. Angela didn’t make me feel awkward and excited like Demona did. Considering her boyfriend was here that was fortunate.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Angela’s voice was pitched to be soothing and welcoming and in spite of my reason for being here I did start to relax.
“Come on, you’ve got to meet Goliath.”
“He’s with Elisa in the living room.” Angela told us, but I didn’t know where the living room was. I was going to have to follow someone. No one was moving yet, they were all content to just stare at me. I sighed heavily.
“I want to go get Fox.”
Angela started to lead and I followed, with the pack following us both. I wondered if growling at them would make them go away, but then I needed the males. They thought they were my heroes, and I could use their leverage to get to Demona.
As I followed Angela I started to study her, taking in her brow ridge and mentally comparing it to my own. I glanced at her wings, but they were like Demona’s, not mine. I didn’t really see much in common, other than generic gargoyle traits. In a way she was my sister, we shared a blood link, but she took after her mother more than her father I determined. The coloring was all Goliath, and her hair was like his. My coloring was a bit more like Thailog’s, and it was a byproduct of the cloning process. Most likely any clone made from the lavender male would come out some shade of gray.
As I stepped into a larger room I growled softly for a moment as I stared at the large male. I received a few odd looks, “Sorry, he looks like Thailog.” I muttered, embarrassed at my mistake.
“What’s going on?” Goliath spoke and I felt any soothing Angela had managed to give me fade. He even sounded like Thailog. I really hated Thailog. Goliath stared at me, and the soft gasp lower finally helped me tear my eyes off of him to look at the human standing next to him.
They were closer suddenly, and I had the human’s name from my programming. That was Detective Maza, Goliath’s human mate, or mate-to-be. I looked at her again and then at Goliath and they were still moving, but no one seemed to realize that I’d faded out on them.
“A clone.” Goliath spoke and I felt like growling at him again. Clearly manners were a female thing, because I’ve yet to meet a male gargoyle that didn’t offend me.
My gendered impression of manners was quickly countered by
an old male gargoyle with a beard who I hadn’t even noticed was in the
room. “Hey lass, I’m
“I’m Elisa, and this big guy is Goliath.” The human spoke up and smiled at me, but she seemed a little uncomfortable with me. I glanced at Goliath, but much preferred to talk with her. He gave me the creeps, looking like that bastard. I knew it wasn’t fair, and that of all people I should understand. I was being judged just as much as him and I was aware of it. People saw my face and compared me to Fox.
Demona hadn’t done that long, just a few moments. She hadn’t continued to stare at me like Goliath was doing. I wasn’t looking forward to him finding out who other than Fox donated blood for me.
“I’m Lilith.” I spoke
to Elisa, and then glanced over at
“Lilith needs help.”
Detective Maza looked puzzled for
just a moment, but then she appeared to decipher
“How could she? As
far as I know Demona wasn’t involved in creating the
clones.”
I felt a bit shaky, seeing things possibly falling apart. “I was the prototype. I was made first.” I could have lied too, but I just said that and hoped they’d think Demona had been a part of my creation.
“Why didn’t we see you before?” Goliath spoke and I could only look at his face a moment, before I focused on comparisons again. His voice, his body were all Thailog. The way he spoke was different though and he stood a little differently too.
“I managed to escape quickly.” I spoke up quietly and glanced around the room. “I’ve never actually met the members of my clan.” I told them, but then I thought that if these people didn’t shove my clan underground I might have met them by now.
“She’s like Delilah, she looks like a human but she’s a gargoyle.” Elisa spoke and then turned to me. “They practiced splicing the DNA together with you didn’t they? You’re the first made from two people.”
Again I wished for idiots, but that wasn’t what I got. Still, I knew more about science than most people, so maybe if they started to really ask questions I’d still be okay. “It was a very complicated process.” I knew that from the notes.
“Clearly you have some Fox in you.” Elisa spoke up and then just stopped. I knew the question was implied, and it would make me look like a jerk to force her to say it, so even though I didn’t want to answer I was going to have to. I needed these people right now.
“They still had some blood left over from making Thailog.” I told them and glanced at Goliath again. His eyes widened. “I’m a clone of Goliath and Fox Xanatos.” I spelled it out for anyone not paying attention.
………………………………………………..
Prompt: Wardrobe Malfunction – section 12
…………………………………………………
I felt awkward and impatient as I sat in the kitchen. I wanted to storm the dungeon in this old castle and free my clan leader, but I wasn’t even sure Demona was being kept here and I wasn’t armed. I was programmed with the ability to fight, but I didn’t think I could take down an entire clan and a human cop.
Broadway gave me a plate of food and smiled. I sighed as I put it down in front of me and stared at it. It reminded me of the first meal Demona gave me, even though it wasn’t the same thing. Her meal came with promises and caring. His meal was just a polite gesture. I missed her.
“Hey guys.” A voice spoke and I froze, my eyes widening. The voice sounded familiar. I turned to see the redhead stopped in the doorway and staring at me. I didn’t blink as I stared back. That blue tattoo really made her, my, our, face look different. It was confusing to see what I would be as a human standing in front of me, holding a baby. My eyes dropped to the baby in her arms and I felt a small wave of something, I wasn’t sure if it was irritation or jealousy. She was able to grow a clan, and her baby looked happy and strong. I wasn’t sure if I was upset with her, and her ability to not be alone, or with him, having a childhood denied me. “Okay, I think I would have remembered you if you were a part of this clan.” Fox spoke up finally and I looked back up at her.
“I’m Lilith.” I told her and I promised myself that I’d look into that damned nametag, because I’d never said my own name so much in my short life. For just a moment I felt the evil urge to call her momma and see if she freaked out, but I easily suppressed it. My eyes moved down to stare at the baby again. He shared her DNA as well. I felt a confused feeling of clan for a moment as I stared at them, but I wasn’t their clan. They didn’t even have clans. I looked back into her face and I was glad she had that tattoo, it made her look different and I was growing more uncomfortable as time went on. It didn’t help that I knew the gargoyles were watching us, being entertained by this, and not understanding. This was my DNA donor, I attributed more of myself to her than to Goliath, and she stared at me like I was the most bizarre thing she’d ever seen.
“Well, I knew he had daddy issues with Goliath, but I didn’t know it extended to David.” Fox spoke as she came closer. I moved the bar seat toward her to face her as she stared. “Thailog really outdid himself this time.” I was a little impressed that she’d guessed correctly so easily, and a little proud of her. Still my cover story meant I couldn’t confirm her guess for her. I just didn’t say anything then, and the baby helped, because he was now staring at me.
The baby started to tug on Fox’s dress, and I realized that the woman was dressed for going out. Her red dress looked rather nice, but I blushed as the baby got a good tug in and Fox turned quickly to pull the dress back. I looked away and noticed that most people were watching me and didn’t seem to notice that Fox had become a flasher, or that she could move really fast to cover that up.
“Whoops, looks like someone is hungry.” Fox muttered as if this were normal. I glanced around to see that Elisa had a small blush on her cheeks as well, so I wasn’t alone in witnessing the wardrobe malfunction.
That baby actually gurgled at me. I stared at him and stood up, taking a step closer to look into his little face. He was staring at me too. “What’s your hatchlings name?” I spoke to her and I smiled just a little at her, trying to change the subject in my mind, which was still stuck on the flashing.
Granted I’d never seen a baby, but from what I’d been programmed with I was under the impression that the baby shouldn’t notice a whole lot around him yet, but he stared at me. I know I looked a bit like his mom, but I didn’t think he’d notice. I didn’t want to just ask if he had that weird thing in his DNA that Fox did, whatever it was the Doctor couldn’t identify, but I searched for anything in him that I could point at in myself. Fox’s DNA was a puzzle and I was curious.
“Alexander.” She spoke up and I felt an urge to reach out to him, but I stopped and turned my attention to her. She was looking over my shoulder at the others.
“I know, it’s strange.” Elisa spoke up, almost like the voice of experience. “Lilith is a clone of you and Goliath.” The detective explained and I noticed a red eyebrow raise, but Fox was taking this rather well. She responded more like Demona, I thought, sure there was a moment of study, but none of the stunned disbelief, and I suspected some disgust, that the gargoyles gave me.
“Well, and I thought I only had a son. You’d think a mother would know these things.” Fox spoke slowly, with a hint of teasing. I did notice Elisa grimace at that. I remembered Delilah and what Demona told me about that clone. Apparently Elisa didn’t accept Delilah as easily and Fox is seeming to accept me.
I turned a little and could see Goliath was uncomfortable as well. I was the second clone made from him, you’d think he was used to it by now. I turned back to Fox, preferring to talk to her. “Surprise, it’s a girl.” I spoke quietly with a hint of a smile.
Fox grinned just a little at me and then readjusted her hold on Alexander. “So Lilith, what brings you here? I’m not going to breast feed you too.” I looked away and blushed a painful red at the teasing.
My eyes started to glow when
“D.N.A.” I repeated firmly and then gave him a glare. “I believe my donor asked me.” I felt like growling and he looked surprised and went quiet. I turned to look at her and noticed the studying, searching look. I blushed under it.
“She didn’t yell at me when I told Goliath.”
“She’s a momma’s girl.”
Fox spoke lightly with a teasing smile and I felt like I’d like to turn
invisible and slip out of the room.
Knowing I’d have to explain why I was there yet again didn’t make me
want to stay and repeat myself either.
Maybe I should have just let
I wasn’t a Momma’s girl, I thought even as I spoke. I just preferred the donor that didn’t look like the bastard that wanted to use me as a sex toy. She also hadn’t stolen my clan from me. And I’ll admit to a lot of curiosity about her odd genetics that had the Doctor puzzled.
Fox also wasn’t calling me a clone every chance she got.
A little later no one was taking me to Demona. I listened to their talk about needing to arrange it and realized that Demona wasn’t in this castle. They were keeping her somewhere else, and I suspected I knew where. They’d most likely buried her underground like they did with the rest of my clan. Out of sight, out of mind. Bastards.
“I’m going to go feed this little monster before he ends up breaking my dress.” Fox spoke up and I was disappointed to see her go. Still that baby had been rather fidgety and tugging at the dress again. “It was nice meeting you Lilith.” Fox addressed me before she left.
I wasn’t sure what to do now. I was stuck waiting another day to see Demona. I glanced around at the size of this clan and the human member of it, wondering how I could make my own exit for now.
…………………………………………..
Prompt: sibling - section 13
…………………………………………..
I moved to the window and stared out at the city in silence, ignoring the loudness that was the trio of males. I was grateful that Demona’s home was quieter, more relaxed, now that I saw this place.
I hadn’t figured out how to leave just yet. Sure I could just walk out and glide off, but I needed to get Demona and I felt useless just waiting, but I knew I had to wait.
“Are you doing okay?” A gentle feminine voice spoke up and I looked to my side and saw Angela watching me.
“It feels weird being here.” I told her and then glanced out at the city again. “It’s loud.” I told her while listening to the males argue.
“At least they aren’t trying to impress you. I was ready to beat them bloody when I met them.” I watched Angela glance at the males.
“So should I be grateful they’re disgusted by what I am or upset that I’m not worthy of the irritation?” I spoke a little bitterly and Angela’s eyes moved back to me rather quickly. I turned back to the city lights.
“I think they’ll get used to it and then you’ll miss this quiet time.” Angela moved just a little closer. I could feel her near my wings and pulled them tighter to my body.
“I should go home.” I sighed, thinking it was time to make my exit, but I felt like I was abandoning Demona if I did it. I turned to her and she looked surprised. “I can come back tomorrow. I still need to talk to her.”
“You’re leaving?” Angela asked and there was a hint of disbelief. “You could stay.”
My voice got quieter and I leaned a little closer to her. “Goliath, he looks like Thailog, sounds like Thailog. I can’t,” I sighed. “Once Thailog had me alone it was clear what he wanted me for. I shared his blood and he wanted me to share his bed. I can’t stand to hear your father speak, and every time I catch him out of the corner of my eye I tense up.” I admitted it quietly and I could see her argument in her eyes. “I’d just feel better at home.”
“He isn’t like that.” Angela still spoke up.
“Maybe he isn’t, I hope it wasn’t something in Thailog’s genetics that made him evil, because I share that. You share that too.” I added the last bit as I considered this. “But evil or not, I’m just not comfortable.”
“Sister, don’t go.” Angela put her hand on my shoulder. “Not yet at least. There is still a lot of night left, and I want to get to know you.” I was a bit stunned to be called sister. Sure, Fox teased about being my mom, but it was teasing. Angela said the word sister like she meant it. That word did something to me I couldn’t ignore and I felt torn between hope and anger. Did she consider Delilah a sister? Why was I given this privilege and not Delilah, because if Delilah was a ‘sister’ then she’d be up here in the clouds with us wouldn’t she? What was being a ‘sister’ worth? I felt angry, betrayed by the word that I could see was worthless, because if a clone was worthy of that type of title they’d be here with this clan.
I also felt a small spark of hope that it wasn’t a lie, and that even more clan was out there for me, but that hope died quickly. My clan was Demona and just as she couldn’t return to this clan, I couldn’t join it. Joining this clan for Angela, and the nearness of Fox wasn’t a good trade, because it came with that Thailog shaped male that stared at me and the males that would, if Angela was right, start to annoy me soon.
Regardless of my mixed up feelings, I needed their trust so I could betray it. I sighed heavily and rested my hand on the windowsill as I stared out at the city. “I didn’t expect to gain a sister tonight.” I muttered, and it was the truth. This would have thrilled me in other circumstances, but it just made me sad now, sad and tired.
“Don’t forget that adorable baby brother too.” Angela sounded amused.
“My baby brother is older than I am.” I sighed and turned to look at the room and the others again. “Want to glide?” I asked.
“Sure, I’m sure we could even get the guys…” Angela started to sound a little more upbeat and I turned to stare at her.
“To stay away?” I finished her sentence with a hopeful look. “Just us girls tonight?” I was going to take Angela on a race, and try and burn some of my frustration away. Jabbering males wouldn’t help me calm down. Angela looked torn for a moment, but then she smiled and I knew she wanted some girl time too.
“Just let me tell Father what we’re doing.” She spoke and I cringed, wondering if she was also calling him my father, because it just seemed sick to me. I don’t think I’ll ever get over what Thailog was doing in creating me, or the fact that I was actually his sister and he didn’t tell me because he wanted to make me his consort. I just thank god that I wasn’t attracted to him, because if I had been I was sure I’d be physically ill every time I thought of him now.
I was a lone clone, but I had a disturbingly large family in my genetic material. I watched as my newly declared sister spoke quietly with Goliath, and then I moved my eyes to the Detective listening in. I wished I could get that cop to arrest the large gargoyle next to her for kidnapping, but it really wasn’t very likely.
…………………………….
Prompt: - Mind - section 14
…………………………….
Once out I spent a fun hour playing tag with Angela, and it was easy to tell her I’d see her tomorrow and leave without a huge fuss. Sure she made some fuss, but unless she was willing to fight me for it she couldn’t make me stay in that castle for the day.
My trip home was quiet and I felt weary inside and out, but still I glided as fast as I could for home. Tomorrow I’d see Demona, and I’d have to figure out how to save her. I had only been in one fight and that was against humans, but chances were that would change soon. Sure Angela wanted me to stay much longer, but I needed what was left of this night to make plans.
I landed in our backyard and walked up to the backdoor. I now knew the security code and I used it. “Demona?” I yelled out, just in case she hadn’t needed me to escape. The silence was disappointing.
As my computer was booting up and started a list of things I needed to look up, hoping that they’d inspire more hidden programming in my mind to become conscious. I needed any edge I might have. It was odd and I’d never actively sought out what all I might know, but now I was hoping I was a very well rounded clone, a clone meant for planning and fighting. With my medical and science knowledge it was possible this other part wasn’t fully developed, but I had hope. My mind was a mystery to me.
I flipped through web pages as fast as I could, seeking something to release more of my programming to me. I felt the time loss as I stared at the guns and ammo page and barely took the time to check my mind to see I knew how to use weapons like that, before I continued my search. I stared at maps of the city and the tunnels and found a smaller bit of information hidden in me. I flipped through information on any random thing I saw, followed links, and only read a little of everything to see if it sparked in me. Usually nothing happened, but still those last three hours of night were very educational for the things I did learn. I wasn’t programmed with an innate ability to plan rescues, but I wasn’t just a Doctor’s assistant. Sadly what fighting ability I had uncovered seemed to be all I had.
I found in my mind proof that I was meant to be the scientific brains behind Thailog’s business sense and strategic evil. I had information on engineering, electronics, chemistry, physics, and other useful aspects that meant I really knew how to pull apart and repair a laser gun better than I knew how to use it. Didn’t that just figure, when I need to be James Bond, I find out I’m Q? I was supposed to be behind the scenes, but with such a small clan I couldn’t fulfill that role. I had to be in the thick of it.
I just managed to get onto the patio as the sun rose and I sighed just as I turned to stone.