Lone Clone
By Princess Alexandria
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Prompt: Renfield – section 19
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I was very grateful to wake up again, and I took a moment to take a deep breath in relief as I looked around at the rooftop I’d turned to stone on. I was so far away from safety it had terrified me to sleep here, especially after what almost happened to me last time I’d turned to stone in the city. I glanced around at the darkening sky and then at the city below me. No one would expect me for another hour and a half, so hopefully I could get some of my supplies before then. I’d determined last night that there were three possible places in the city, and I was now standing across from the one furthest from the Eyrie building and the clan. They wouldn’t have started patrol yet, I was counting on that as well.
The tense anticipation of my crime was a nerve wracking and also exciting feeling as I stood there and looked down at the building I was about to break into and steal from. I needed some circuitry and I could adjust to break into the security of that see through cage holding Demona, and unfortunately, like Demona said, I needed weapons to fight out way out of that place. The Mutates were naturally armed with electricity they could toss at us from a distance, and gargoyles didn’t have such things. I was actually more worried about the Mutates than I was about Goliath’s clan. For once their tendency to avoid me might be useful. They didn’t want to hang out with me in Demona’s prison.
I noticed a man step out of the building and turn to lock the store up. It was closed. That was good, better, than I deserved really. I jumped off the building and glided quickly down into the alley next to his building.
The door wasn’t a challenge, but I was pretty sure there was a silent alarm. I moved quickly into the place, and my wings were tight to my body to keep from hitting anything, but my tail did accidently send a display into a tumble on the ground. The loud clanking made me hiss in shock a moment, but then I did my best to ignore the mess I’d made as I moved further in.
He had some promising looking items, and I didn’t have time to read the backs or look over them in detail so I started tossing them into a trash bag I’d found under his counter. I left the cash register alone and I did my best to not make any more mess than I had. I wouldn’t vandalize that man’s business as well, I had limits. As thefts go, I wanted him to consider this one not that bad. It would be best if it took him a long time to realize what I’d taken too.
I had the components of what I hoped would become an interface for that sophisticated cage they had my clan leader in and was just standing up when I heard fast moving cars and sirens in the distance. With a heavy sigh I rushed to the door I’d come in at. There weren’t enough gargoyles in the city for a glimpse of me to not give Detective Maza all she needed to know if word got to her.
I closed the door behind me and leapt up at the alley wall, with the bag hanging from my belt for now. I noticed the headlights hit the alley below me as I made it to the roof. I ran quickly to the other side of that rooftop and leapt off while grabbing my bag of goodies tightly in my arms. I had another store to break into and then all of this to hide, all before I stopped by the Eyrie.
Goliath wanted to provide a body guard of sorts for me, since Delilah had attacked me in the Labyrinth. It was an annoyance, and I really thought that I could probably fight off Delilah if I had to. It hurt my pride a little, but more irritating was that it ensured there was always a gargoyle around me. I’d just have to up the creepy clone factor, perhaps try and talk like Fox a bit, and they’d leave me alone. I considered that as I glided a few miles and then stopped on another rooftop.
I hide both bags on a roof that was between the Eyrie and Demona’s home and I planned to get it on the way home. I’d need time to assemble a device, which meant I’d not be freeing Demona tonight or tomorrow. I didn’t like that. If I just didn’t turn to stone, if I was like Demona, I’d have it built and ready to go tomorrow. Well, I still needed weapons and perhaps a few other things. I hope she was serious about being okay locked up a bit longer; I didn’t want her disappointed with me. I was doing the best I could with what little I had.
The Eyrie was really incredibly tall, I thought, as I glided up higher and higher so I could land on it. I felt a bit awkward when no one was coming out to greet me. I took a few slow steps into the building and heard the television and a few male laughs.
I walked into a movie night, and I didn’t see Goliath or
Angela, just the Trio and Hudson. I
looked down and added
“You know what, I think Demona
needs a Renfield.
She’s immortal and older than that Dracula guy.”
“Who’d follow her around hoping to be made immortal?” Broadway muttered.
I was a little surprised when all of the young males laughed. “Xanatos.”
“That’s not even funny lads.”
“I don’t live all that close.” I half explained myself without lying.
“You could stay here at least until this mess is cleared up,
you’d be welcome lass.”
“I need to get going. Who’s playing my body guard?” I spoke up, hoping it wasn’t one of the young males. My prayer was answered when a feminine voice spoke.
“I will.” Angela said and I turned to see her in the doorway. Her voice softened. “I heard what happened with Delilah and I thought it couldn’t hurt for her to see me with you. She needs to get over that programming and seeing other females around you might help.”
“Most likely she’ll just accuse me of perverting you.” I mutter as I move toward the doorway.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing a little of that perverting.”
“
We leapt off the castle quietly as I considered the female beside me. She proved to be rather perceptive, because I was unhappy going back to that place and she let us glide in silence. I needed the time to prepare for seeing my clan again and Angela just squeezed my hand after we landed, before leading me into the tunnels.
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Prompt: pervert – section 20
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I felt a bit tense as we stepped out into the more well lit area and I looked around for the clan I now was hoping not to see. They weren’t there, just the mutates and a few odd humans that looked rather ragged. I glanced once more just to be sure. “I know my way to Demona from here.” I told Angela, but the female just stared at me a moment.
“It’s been a while since I talked with mother. I think I’ll go with you.” Angela spoke and I had to work to not grimace. I wasn’t sure I could talk her out of it without seeming suspicious. My heart sank, I needed some time alone with my clan leader, I needed guidance. I was feeling so lost and ill equipped for what I needed to do, and I needed to tell her how long I thought it would take me to try and do it.
“Okay.” I muttered, because I wasn’t in a position to deny her. I sure wished I was though.
Talon didn’t slow us down much, he just said hello and then continued with what he was doing. I nodded back and semi-lead the way to Demona. Fang’s voice reached us well before we were there.
“If I were locked up with that loud mouth, I think I’d kill him.” I muttered in my sympathy for Demona and my own reluctance to walk near the mutates cell. Angela hissed a little and I glanced at her. She was giving me a disapproving look, so I just sighed and didn’t say more about Fang.
I turned to glare at the wall, but when Fang whistled I kept my face impassive. “whoa, and here it isn’t even my birthday.” He called out lewdly. We were going to have to walk past his cell and he was already irritating. “Hey sexy things, how about you two slip into my cage and I’ll show you a real good time.”
“I’d rather rip your intestines out.” I muttered, but then I glanced over at Angela. “But Angela was talking about you all the way here. I think she’s interested.” I gave a shocked Angela an evil grin.
It was amused to find Fang targeting Angela with lewd comments and whistles after that. “Sexy purple hotty, I’m just the man to scratch your itch.” He called out to her and I watched as Angela started to walk a bit faster. I didn’t rush though, she she couldn’t just leave me behind so she had to slow down. “You have great tits, you know that?” Fang yelled out his version of a compliment to Angela and I found myself glancing down at her chest a moment. She glared at me then, and I just smirked.
“You finding it hard to not want to kill him yet?” I spoke quietly as I glanced over at the male and found even I was surprised to see him flashing us. “What a pervert.” I shook my head, but it was amusing to see Angela blushing. Perhaps Fang would encourage Angela to keep her visit here brief.
“That wasn’t very nice.” Angela growled at me once we’d gotten past his cell.
“Now imagine not being able to leave when you get sick and tired of him.” I spoke a little coldly and nodded toward Demona’s cell. It was a little obvious, but I just hated that Demona had to listen to this. Demona was unbelievably attractive, so I knew Fang had to be yelling sexist and disgusting things at her. I was pretty sure solitary confinement would be preferred to Fang’s company.
Angela sighed and her shoulders seemed to relax, just before we stepped in front of Demona’s cell. “Hello mother.” Angela spoke first and I watched as Demona stood up and took a step closer to us. I hated seeing her here.
“Daughter.” Demona spoke with a tension that I never heard her use with me.
“Hey, incest. Not usually my thing, but I’d pay to see a purple and blue skin flick.” Fang yelled out.
I felt a blush cover my face at his words, one that was matched by Angela. Demona’s eyes just burned red. I glanced around at the cell walls, not looking at either of them for a moment, as I tried to get that image out of my head.
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Prompt: non-sequitur – section 21
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I wasn’t left alone with Demona for any length of time. It was all I could do to not show my irritation at Angela’s never ending presence. Demona and I had to talk about the cloning process, Dr. Sevarius, and science the entire time I was there. I couldn’t tell her about my progress, or that I couldn’t show up the next day and get any work done on the device I needed to make. I couldn’t tell her that I missed her either.
I really was sick and tired of Angela by the time we were ready to leave. It must have shown on my face for a moment when I turned to leave Demona’s cell, because Angela gave me a slightly startled look. I did my best to calm it down, but my fists needed to be consciously uncurled. I liked Angela, I really did, but she was forcing me to act when all I wanted to do was finally be myself and ask for comfort from my clan leader.
Demona could just say a few words and make me feel better, I knew she could, that she would, if she knew how I was feeling, but I couldn’t even say anything. I sighed as we started to get closer to the pervert’s cage. Perhaps it was better I couldn’t talk to Demona right now. I didn’t want her disappointed in me. Perhaps after she’s free would be a better time to admit I have some guilty feelings about this. I wouldn’t want her to think I want to leave her there, because that’s not what I want at all. I just don’t like this spy game I’m playing or that I’m starting to like people I’m working against.
“Hey Grey Babe, you ever go down on purple there? She as tasty as I think she is?” Fang called out and I glanced over at Angela’s blush and angry clenched fists.
“She tastes like heaven.” I mutter to him flatly, not because I wanted to speak to him at all, but because if he was irritating enough Angela wouldn’t come with me again. He whooped loudly and then started to whistle. His words to Angela were enough to make a construction worker blush and I just stared ahead and did my best to ignore what I’d instigated. It was a little hard, because sure he was a disgusting pervert, but some of what he said or asked was funny.
“What was that?” Angela spoke in a harsh clip as we got far enough away from Fang’s cell to not hear him very well anymore.
I tried to not do it, I really did, but a small evil grin was too hard to fight. Some of his crude comments had been a bit amusing after all. I was in the process of covering my amusement up when she grabbed my arm a bit too tightly. “You think that’s funny?”
“Well, he had some good questions. Do you use your tail for that?” I pretended to cough to cover up my chuckle. Her eyes burned red for a moment, but it faded.
“Sister.” She made that one word a long and irritated sound. “I don’t appreciate being the butt of sex jokes or harassment. I’m shocked that you actually played into that. You are my sister, by blood.” It sure sounded like a scolding.
“Does that mean I don’t get to go down on you?” I grinned evilly and felt rather proud of the shocked look on her face. She wouldn’t come back here, I was pretty sure. “Relax, I’m not even remotely attracted to you.” I turned to walk as she let my arm go. “It’s actually rather amazing how not at all attracted I am. I mean, I’ve felt a little spark of something with most females, nothing big enough to really pay attention to, but you… It’s like you could be a wall. I feel absolutely, positively, nothing.”
“Gee, thanks. I feel better now.” Angela sounded a tad snarky to me.
“You should, I mean you must be the only female I consider completely unattractive.” I turned to give her a small grin.
“Well, not that females are interesting to me at all, but you do absolutely nothing for me either.” Angela spoke back and there was a hint of a grin that I had to do something about.
“Yeah, I bet you’d be attracted to
“You are sick. Did Thailog program you that way?” My heart ached just a moment and my grin faded as I looked away. It wasn’t a good feeling. The silence after her words made it clear she’d shocked herself as well. “I’m… oh sister, I’m sorry.” She spoke softly and I swallowed hard and just nodded.
We weren’t interrupted and I didn’t bother speaking as we walked through the main area for the tunnel out. The silence was awkward and I found myself thinking about how much of what Fang said I understood, could even visualize. I had been programmed with more than enough sexual knowledge to understand. It wasn’t nice to think about.
“The first time I actually had time to talk with my mother was down there.” Angela spoke quietly. “I’d help to lock her up.” This non-sequitur drew my eyes to her, after I’d been avoiding looking her way for a few minutes. “I don’t feel good about that. My mother has done some really horrible things, but seeing her in a cell, even if she deserves it.” Angela went quiet.
“I hear my donor hasn’t been an angel either.” I mutter and turned to stare at the tunnel. I would prefer to address the illegalness of locking people up without a trial, but perhaps Angela already understood that.
“The first time we captured her it was a trick to create the clones.” Angela spoke in a distracted way. “She’d stolen the males blood while they watched her.” I glanced over at her again. “But she didn’t know about Delilah, I could tell she didn’t. Were there any other clones she didn’t know about?” Okay, my heart pounded a bit hard at that question, wondering if she’d figured out my lies. “Is there another clone out there? One of me? Perhaps one that Thailog succeeded in keeping?”
Oh, this was about something else. I was relieved. “Not that I know of.” I just reached out and slowly took her hand in mine as we walked in the dark tunnel. I imagine it would bother her to think that.
“But Thailog, he’s sick enough to want someone related to him by blood isn’t he? He wanted you after all.” I felt Angela’s arm shake a bit in my hand, but she gripped my hand with her own. “He’d said things like Fang said to me when I met him. He’d suggested things I thought physically impossible.”
Oh hell, now I felt guilty for setting her up. I sighed heavily and turned to face her. In the dark I could still see her relatively well. “Yes, he was sick enough to really do it, but I don’t know that he could. My blood was handy, they already had it. Delilah was made from a lover he already had and Elisa. I suspect if he’d made a clone of you he would have brought her.”
“That makes sense.” Angela sighed. “I just, the way you talk about not being attracted to me, that’s what blood siblings should be like. You really aren’t, are you?” Angela stared at me and sure I could tease her, but not now.
“No. I can see you are very pretty, but I don’t feel anything.” I told her seriously.
“That’s the way its supposed to be.” Angela nodded. “I thought maybe because he was a clone his instincts were off, but he just was sick. Sick and dangerous on so many levels.” It was my turn to nod and I turned to start walking, but she held me still with her hand in mine. “Lilith, I’m sorry he made you for that, and I want you to know I don’t think of you like that. Whatever he wanted you for, it has nothing to do with who you are. I’m sorry I said that, I didn’t mean it.”
My eyes ached with tears that wanted out, but I just squeezed her hand and she finally let me go. “I need to head home soon.” I told her, my own non-sequitur, because I didn’t really want to talk about this. Still, I thought I’d accept her apology. “And I can’t come tomorrow. The woman I stay with needs my help with something.”
“But we’re okay?” Angela asked.
“Yeah, we’re okay.” I told her.
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Prompt: Mirror: Section 22
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“Fox.” I spoke softly as I watched her staring into her mirror and putting some red lipstick on. The device I’d created was tucked into my clothes and poked me often. It was the result of hours of work and I was relatively confident it could do the job of unlocking that cage. It wasn’t comfortable to smuggle it in under my breasts, but it wasn’t visible that way. I won’t even talk about the gun strapped so far up my inner thigh I should marry it.
“Yes Lilith?” Fox’s voice was soft and teasing and I just stared at her reflection, seeing her looking at me through the mirror. I’d come tonight because I didn’t think I’d be welcome tomorrow night. I felt a bit sick, because while I was glad to be ready to free Demona I was going to miss this. My donor was smiling at me and I didn’t think I’d see that again. Her smile faded. “What’s wrong?” She asked what I couldn’t really answer. I just sighed heavily as I considered lies I didn’t want to tell.
I stared down at the ground so I didn’t see her turn around, but I did see her shoes enter my line of sight. “Tell momma all about it.” Fox spoke in a slight teasing tone, but I could hear some concern.
I forced myself to look up at her and I just stared for a long tense moment, trying to memorize what I saw in the mirror any time I looked. The tattoo and red hair changed her appearance, along with the human skin tone, but it was a very familiar face to me. “Everything with Demona is just taking so long.” I sighed heavily, sure that my truth would be misinterpreted. “I just wish it wasn’t so complicated.”
“David and I have some brilliant scientists looking over the other clones’ blood.” Fox’s eyes softened as she thought what I had expected she would. “We could look at yours too.” It was a gentle offer, and I stared down at my arm, thinking of the blood under my skin. I could give her just a little, just to be sure I was okay. I didn’t have the time to do more than occasionally think about my research lately, and I was sure if I were a human I’d have an ulcer with all the worrying I did about this.
“You’d tell me right, no matter what?” I asked, thinking about the split I was bout to make with this clan. “No matter what?” I looked up into her eyes, stared into them.
“Yes, it’s your body and I’d tell you.” Fox reassured me and I nodded. I’d give my blood to her, she had given hers to me after all. Fox would find a way to tell me what the results were, even after I left. I just got that feeling about her. I had a good donor, better than any other really. I trusted her. I sure hoped that she wasn’t going to learn not to trust me.
We went down the elevator, and I donated a good deal of blood. More than Fox thought they needed right away, because I didn’t expect I’d be around later to give more. “I should get going.” I spoke quietly as the doctor left with my bag of blood. I felt just a little dizzy, but it wasn’t too bad when I stood up.
“Yes, and David should be ready to go soon.” Fox stared at me a moment as we moved toward the elevator again. “You can always talk to me if you need to.” She offered and I smiled just a little at that.
“Of course momma.” I whispered and she rolled her eyes at my teasing.
“You best be going or if David sees you he’ll spend all night telling me about his twin fantasies again.” Fox spoke as we stepped out of the elevator a bit later and I blushed at her evil smirk.
I swallowed and gave her a weak smile, before I left to find the clan. Someone was going to be escorting me to the Labyrinth again, but I was hoping to get them to leave me alone once I was there this time. I hadn’t visited in two nights now, and I had to prove to Demona that I hadn’t forgotten her for a moment in that time. I’d worked so damned hard to be ready tonight. The fact that this was so hard was just proof I needed to do this tonight, before I started to like anyone else around here.
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Prompt: candle – section 23
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As I made my way to the main room, where I expected to see the gargoyles, I walked quietly looking around the old castle walls. Demona grew up around this castle years ago, they all did. I tried to imagine a hatchling running and playing in the hall I walked down now, but I didn’t even know what a young gargoyle would look like.
I wondered what I would have looked like as a hatchling. I sighed at the thought and did my best to push it from my mind. If I really wanted to know I could ask Fox for her baby pictures, we were nearly identical after all, I thought with a hint of bitterness.
A darkened room drew my eyes as I saw an orange flickering glow. I slowed my walk and stared in, to finally identify the glow as a candle. I noticed the table, the tableclothe, and the two gargoyles sitting at it eating what appeared to be a romantic dinner.
It looked like Angela wasn’t going with me tonight, I noticed, but I stopped walking and stared in as unobtrusively as I could to watch my ‘sister’ and her boyfriend holding hands and the soft look on her face. It looked like love. I stared a little longer, before forcing my eyes away and I started my walk down the hall again.
Maybe she’d let me see the hatchling, so I could imagine what I might have looked like, I thought, considering the normal path of relationships for gargoyles. Angela would have a hatchling, my niece, someday. I hoped that I wasn’t so hated around here I didn’t get to meet her.
I hope the tests they do on my blood show I’ll live long enough to meet her. My throat felt tight at that thought, and I gritted my teeth and tried to push the tears that threatened to grow away.
I could hear the males talking as I approached the room with the TV, and that helped pull me out of my mood a little. I had to get one of the young males to come with me today, because they were most likely to abandon me there and I couldn’t afford to have another visitor hang out at Demona’s cell with me like Angela had, not tonight.
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Prompt: lust – section 24
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He ditched me so fast it would be insulting if I didn’t want him to. I found myself alone before I even got out of the entrance tunnels.
As I started across the larger room, Talon moved to walk along side me. “How have you been doing?” He asked. I glanced at the large mutate and sighed just a little.
“I’m fine.” I gave the stock answer to such a question.
“Have you found anything out? Is she cooperating?” His last words were a touch angry. I didn’t like that.
“Some, and Fox is having researchers look at my blood. Maybe they’ll figure it out.” I told him and watched a very obvious grimace at my words.
“Don’t trust Xanatos.” He told me firmly. I felt my eyes burn a bit.
“I’m trusting my donor.” I informed him. I wasn’t stupid enough to trust Xanatos. “Fox wants to help me.”
“I’m not so sure she’s better.” He muttered and I managed to not growl.
“She’s my momma.” I tried to grin, to make it a joke, but my eyes must be obvious, because he dropped it fast.
“Okay, well, I better get going.” He broke off from me just as we got to the tunnel I needed to take to get to the jail.
There was a quiet walk down the tunnel, where I found myself walking slower than necessary. I could feel the gun with every step and it was embarrassing. What was more embarrassing was the fact that it was Demona’s gun, and she was better with a gun so I’d be giving it to her. Right after it had spent the entire evening very intimately attached to me.
I also was hoping she didn’t have to use it. Killing someone here would be a mess and guarantee I was put on the most wanted list. I’d always have to look over my shoulder when I was gliding in the city, because they’d want to beat me down hard if someone got killed tonight. How could I ask Demona to not fight back though? These mutates were tough, and they had natural weapons we just didn’t have.
I felt sick, my stomach was twisting and I didn’t think it would take much more to make my body shake. I sure wasn’t a brave warrior, I hope I wasn’t too much of a disappointment. I just wished that I could unlock her cell and we could just easily walk right out of here. It would be nice.
The pieces of my device were itchy under my breasts, and I sure wasn’t going to take any of my smuggled in goods out in front of Demona. I clenched my fists just a little in preparation as I started to step along the side of Fang’s cage. Wishing he was asleep did no good. I saw him stand up quickly.
“Hey gray babe. You want a little of this?” He shoved his pelvis forward and back a few times and grinned wolfishly. It was rather disgusting. “Bet you’ve never had something this big between your legs.” He grabbed his crotch and I couldn’t stop a small grin, thinking about the gun between my legs now. It was bound to be much bigger than the tool he was talking about.
The grin was a mistake, because he moved quickly toward the clear walls and took it up a notch. “Once you’ve done Mutate, you never go back. I’m seriously hung like a wild animal.”
I know, I’d seen it last time. I didn’t comment, I just kept walking at a steady pace and did what I could to ignore him.
“You’re really hot babe, you know that? I could totally rock your world. Rock, get it… Gargoyle… Rock.” He laughed, I didn’t. “You know, those boulders you’ve got are great.” He actually sounded like it was supposed to be a compliment, not a violation, to say that to me. I couldn’t help turning to glare at him. He was keeping pace with me as I walked around his cell. “Seriously, I could push them together and,” I hated that he didn’t need to finish what he was saying before I understood it. I felt like my mind betrayed me by giving me a visual image of his words, I felt dirty.
I didn’t speak, and he didn’t stop. I sighed heavily once I was out of sight of the mutate, but my feet slowed as I approached the other cell.
She was sitting on the edge of her bed, staring right at me as I moved into view of her. I stared back, taking in the way she leaned forward a little. “You’re back.” Demona spoke and I felt like apologizing.
“I’m ready.” I told her, to explain my absence for two nights. Demona stared at me, seemed to be studying me. She wasn’t responding to my words at all. I found myself fidgeting just a little as I waited for a response.
“When midnight came and went I was thinking I might not see you tonight either.” Demona spoke quietly and I moved just a little closer to the damned cell walls to hear her. “We don’t want to leave too soon. This needs to be timed carefully Lilith, so that they have less help available, but not so late you’re in your stone sleep and I’m unable to glide.”
I nodded, but I didn’t like it. I’d prefer to just hurry up and get this over with.
“Do you have my gun?” Demona asked and her eyes seemed to move over me. I blushed as I thought of where it was.
“I have the small one.” I told her quietly, very aware of my blush. “I couldn’t sneak the other one in.” I sighed and looked away. “Can we get out of here without…” I bit my lower lip nervously and looked back at her. “I don’t want to kill anyone getting out of here.” I told her and Demona grimaced, her body shifting as she crossed her arms in front of her, and she leaned back onto the wall behind her. “I only have the one gun, and you’ll have it because I really think you’re probably better at weapons than I am, but…” I sighed and looked away.
“Your not a warrior.” Demona spoke slowly and I felt a wave of shame. I knew gargoyles valued warrior skills above others really. I was a scientist not a fighter, not like this. I looked over at her to see her staring at me, her eyes moving over me again, as if measuring me. “Not every gargoyle can be a warrior. In my old clan there were several gargoyles who took on more nurturing roles. I think in that time you would have been a nursery worker, or perhaps you would have tried to study magic with me, but you wouldn’t have been a warrior.”
“Our clan is small. Is it okay that I’m not really…” I asked her, my heart feeling a little tight as I did it.
Demona had a small smile for a moment after I spoke, but that faded slowly with some thought in her mind that I couldn’t hear. “You’ll find I’m a tad bit more flexible in this day and age than Goliath is. As long as you can defend yourself, as long as you can keep yourself safe, I won’t demand that you become a warrior.” Her eyes became a bit harder. “But you must understand that while I don’t demand you become a warrior, I AM a warrior. These people you’ve been walking around and visiting, they are my enemies. It isn’t always how I would have chosen it to be, but it is how it is.” I felt that torn feeling again, knowing I was standing between two warring forces and I felt helpless in the face of that.
“I understand.” I muttered, but while I understood, I hated it. There was no saving this; I was going to look like the bad guy to the clan. I’d known this was going to happen and I strongly suspect that even if I do nothing other than release Demona from the cage, I’ll be treated like the biggest traitor they’ve ever let into their midst once this was over.
“Good.” Demona nodded and then glanced all over me again. “Where is my gun?” She asked, and I found myself blushing painfully again. I didn’t really want to tell her.
“Nearby.” Was all I muttered, but she was tilting her head and staring at me as if she knew I wasn’t telling her everything. I turned to look at the controls for her cage. “Gee, look at that. How did they ever manage to afford a lock like that?” I sounded pretty awkward.
“At least tell me you put the safety on if you have it where I think you do.” Demona sounded amused and I couldn’t really look her in the face at the moment, but I suspected she was grinning.
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Prompt: Cooperation – section 25
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I sighed heavily as I heard Fang’s voice, “Hey Grey Babe, I can’t hear you. Is your mouth full?” His voice was suggestive and I felt a wave of embarrassment at his words and just glanced at Demona for a moment before staring at the controls for her cage again. “Demona taste as good as she looks?” He compounded my embarrassment. “Personally I think muff diving is overrated. A real man knows how to please a woman and it isn’t with his tongue.”
“Yes, and while that is fascinating, if you don’t go quiet I’ll still be very pleased to have your tongue cut out and nailed to the wall.” Demona spoke with an irritated, almost weary tone. I suspected she knew it wouldn’t work, nothing shut him up. That mutate was likely the most annoying creature in existence and while I didn’t like a lot of violence, I did, just for a moment, enjoy the idea of cutting his tongue out.
“Just a little longer.” I muttered as I considered the time and my not so slowly dying patience. We’d talked about the research I wanted to do, if someone else walked by we talked about the good Doctor that created me and the process he used, and we avoided any mention of the escape. Demona told me that while Fang had been partially useful last time she’d escaped this place, she really didn’t want to deal with him again. It was better if he didn’t know our plans.
I couldn’t imagine what he’d ask for as payment to keep his mouth shut, so I was very careful to not let anything slip.
“Not much longer.” Demona whispered to me and I nodded that I understood. The feel of the device I’d hidden on my body had faded from my attention most of the time, but once in a while I was very aware that it was digging into sensitive skin. Everything was. I sighed and leaned back against the wall across from her cell more heavily. Would it really kill anyone to put a chair in here? My feet were a little tired, so it was good I wasn’t planning to run long, and most of our run would be in the air. “How long will it take?” Demona mouthed and I tilted my head as I tried to estimate this. I wasn’t really sure, I was guessing. If it took me too long we’d be hard pressed to escape, unless Demona abandoned my stone form here as she ran. I sure didn’t want to wake up in her cell later. But if I called it too early and we ran with lots of night there would be nearly ten people chasing us, and I sure didn’t want to calculate my odds of outgliding that many people.
I felt a sick nauseous feeling in my stomach and I gave serious thought to ulcers again, as I sighed and stared at the lock I had to outthink. I had to estimate this, and I found the confidence I had in my work faded a bit at that question. “Maybe five minutes?” I answered conservatively. I hoped to do it in three, the longer it took the more chances to be caught way too soon. I’d love it if we were already home and I was in my stone sleep before they figured out we’d left, but it wasn’t likely. What was going to take more time was getting out of here. I had no estimate for that, but it seemed Demona did. She was telling me when to free her after all, so maybe she’d planned more than I was able to.
I heard the footsteps, and Fang’s changing monologue, so I
stared into Demona’s eyes. Someone was coming. The slight scratching sound with every step
told me gargoyle, and I suspected it was
“Hey, it’s getting late.”
“I can’t.” I turned to face him and noticed his fidgeting and the glare he sent the wall, as if he could see Demona from there even through it. “Look, I’ve wasted too much time. I’ll just sleep here and get started right away when I wake up.” I glanced at a corner meaningfully. My voice softened. “Delilah doesn’t seem to come in here, I should be fine.”
He took a few more steps toward me and again glared at Demona, but this time he could see her. “Look, you could stay at the castle and someone could bring you back.”
“Do you think Delilah will come back here?” I asked, pretending to not understand he was upset with leaving me alone with Demona. It was ridiculous if you considered that I was always alone with her here, no one stuck around once we started talking science. “I could fight her off, she just surprised me last time.” I muttered a little bitterly.
“It isn’t.”
I hid a small smirk and then turned to look at Demona. “She’s
really brilliant. I’m sure that we’ll
figure this out soon.” I complimented Demona openly and watched her grin and glance at
“Well, you are rather intelligent yourself Lilith.” Demona praised me
and even though it was being done to worry
“Thank you.” I told her, and then focused on him, my smile fading a little. “So thanks for the offer, but I really need to work with Demona on this. We might unlock this soon.”
Demona’s eyes looked amused as she
looked at me, and I did what I could to not smirk at
He left rather slowly, very reluctant looking and I finally did grin back at the wickedly grinning Demona. “I think we made him uncomfortable.” I told her.
“I’m sure the clan will hear about how I’m brainwashing you soon.” She shook her head and sighed, before pushing off the wall. “He’s rather hot headed. I was almost ready for him to try and drag you away.”
“But then he’d have to touch me, and I’m a disgusting clone.” I sighed as I stared in the direction he’d gone. I noticed the movement out of the corner of my eye and turned to see Demona’s hand pressed to the prison’s see through wall.
“There is nothing wrong with you. He’s a fool.” Demona stared at me, reaffirming my right to exist and I pressed my hand over where hers was. She smiled just a little at me, and then it turned a bit wicked. “He’s going to feel like an idiot tomorrow when he finds out about you and I. Thanks for cooperating with me, it’ll just drive him crazy later.”
I stepped out of her sight once she’d nodded to me, after a few more minutes of small talk, and I felt awkward and embarrassed as I reached under my top to pull one half of the device out, the tape pulling a bit too much at the sensitive skin of my breasts.
My hand was reaching up for the other half when Demona’s voice startled me, she’d moved to the corner of her cage closest to me. I jerked at how loud her whisper sounded to me, afraid for a moment she could see me. “I wonder where you hid everything?” The voice was teasing and I blushed as I finished pulling the other half of the device out of my shirt.
“None of your business.” I muttered, a slight smile on my face at the teasing.
“I’m going to have to use that gun you know.” Demona spoke as I was clicking the two halves of the device I’d made together. I grimaced as I remembered the gun. It was still riding rather high. I should probably get that out before she was able to leave the cell and see me do that. “I think that makes it my business.”
I bit my lower lip as I set the device against the cells controls and watched the digital readout flash as the computer started to interface with the cage’s controls. As I waited for the complete interface I reached down and undid the strap holding the gun to me. It felt warm in my hands, and the removal left a small patch of my thigh feeling cool. “I kept it warm for you, is that enough info?” I spoke as I distractedly reached out to start the process of breaking the code to the door.
Demona chuckled and I felt a little less nervous about being caught as my embarrassment covered it up. I hit a few more buttons on my device, and stared at the small readout that used to belong to a cell phone. I stopped touching it and scratched at my poor tape pulled skin for a moment while another program ran. “So after I do all this, do you think the password will be Talon’s birthday?” I muttered as the readout started to show a few matches.
“I’m betting it will be the Detective’s cat.” Demona muttered and I leaned to the side to look at her. She was just standing there, patiently waiting, if you didn’t look down the see the tapping foot. Not as patient as she looked. “How is it going?” She spoke a little more softly.
I glanced at the readout again. “I have the first letter matched so far.” I watched another letter appear. It wasn’t a birthday. It was some word. “So what’s the cat’s name?”
“Cagney.” Demona drawled and I stared at the letters already selected.
“Nope, you lose.” I told her with a small grin, but my heart was hammering and I was trying very hard to hear anything coming my way. “Starts with an A N.”
“Angel.” Demona seemed to growl a little. I glanced at her, staring at her expression. I didn’t quite understand it, but I looked back at the readout and she was right, a G came up next. “Sentimental fool.” She muttered and I slowly reached out to touch the keys on the device.
I’d love to ask why she was irritated by the password, but we didn’t have time. “Ready?” I asked as my fingers hovered over the keys.
“I’ve been ready for days.” Demona spoke and I felt a bit disappointed that it had taken me this long. I punched in the keys and a red light started to shine into my eye.
“Shit.” I muttered at the proof there was a retinal scanner. “Gimme another minute.” I started to type as fast as I could, to try and stop the alarm that was about to go off.
“What happened?” Demona demanded, but I didn’t stop to answer right away. I set off another program I had created just for this, but I hadn’t expected to need it. I held my breath as I waited to see if it worked. The soft click sounded and I let the breath I’d held out.
“Retinal scanner.” I explained as I unplugged my device. The cage door slid to the right and I turned to see Demona stepping out. “I had to bypass it.”
She held out her hand and I handed her the gun. Demona grinned as she grabbed the handle and I almost chocked when she brought the gun closer to her face and sniffed. “I’ll make sure to give your boyfriend back to you when I’m done using it.” She teased.
“Stop it.” I muttered as I wrapped my hand more tightly around the interface I’d created.
“Shy about your new love?” Demona continued to tease, but then her expression became more serious. “Thanks Lilith, but we need to get going. Follow me and do what I tell you and we’ll be fine.”
I wondered about that as I followed her away from her cell. My heart was racing and we hadn’t even started running yet. We were in this together though, and I’d done my part. The rest was hers, and she seemed to have some idea what to do, so I just followed.
………………………………………
Prompt: disillusionment – section 26
……………………………………….
We stopped in front of Fang’s cell and even though I’d fantasized about killing the creep I started to feel uncomfortable as Demona stared at him and his eyes widened. “Do you think you can unlock this idiot’s cell too?” She asked and I turned to stare at her, my own eyes wide now. I did not want this bastard joining our clan. My mouth started to open, but when her eyes narrowed I just took a deep breath. I could do it, but why? I just nodded.
“Oh, thank you. Thank you.” Fang spoke and then his chest seemed to puff up. “I’m man enough for both of you.” I just closed my eyes and groaned at his fantasy, but while I thought I’d done it quietly, Demona turned to face me.
“Just hook up your device. We don’t have time to wait.” What? I needed to control the device. It didn’t unlock things by itself. Demona’s eye ridge rose a little and I started to get the impression something was up. Demona turned to Fang before I could speak. “Look, we don’t have time to wait. It takes about fifteen minutes for the device to cycle through passwords. Meet us on the roof of the Empire State building.”
“With bells on.” Fang grinned and I just sighed, before moving to the controls. I’d worked hard on this device. I was going to lose it. I pulled the wires out of it and started to attach it. It wasn’t even turned on and Demona spoke to me, impatiently.
“Let’s go now.” She turned to Fang. “If you aren’t there by five minutes to sunrise we’ll leave without you.” Her voice was harsh and then she grabbed my arm, not even giving me time to activate the machine, even though it wouldn’t do anything without me and started to pull me toward the hallway and the exit. “Come along Lilith, and remember to be quiet and just do what I say.”
I glanced back at the strangely quiet Fang and it dawned on me why we wasted time with him. He wasn’t ratting us out now, he was quietly waiting for his own escape that wouldn’t be coming. How stupid could he be to think we’d want him with us, I thought with some disgust and then some shame when I remembered that for a moment I’d believed we were breaking him out too.
He was going to be rather disillusioned when the sun came up and he was still waiting.