Gargoyles are the property of Disney and Buena Vista. No copyright infringement is intended. The Agony of Memory “You killed us.” “What?” Demona spun around, dropping into a crouch. “Who’s there?” A older female gargoyle with dark green skin and brown hair stepped out of the shadows. “Remember me, Demona? You were my favorite. I taught you to hunt, to fight. I took you for your first flying lessons. You repaid my love by killing me.” “No!” Demona cried. “No! I swear it to you! I did not kill you!” “I am dead, young one. Who else is there to blame?” “It was Goliath’s fault!” Demona cried. “I tried to warn him! He wouldn’t listen.” “Goliath did not send the Vikings against us. Goliath did not betray us.” The new speaker was a male, red skin, with dark hair. “I didn’t betray you,” Demona whispered. “I would never-” “You betrayed us all.” “No. No, please, please...” “We trusted you,” Gruoch said sadly. “We trusted you, believed in you, and you turned against us. You claim it is the humans you cannot trust, but it is you who cannot be trusted.” “You LIE!” Demona leapt at Grouch, intending to take her by the throat, choke the lies and hateful words out of her. Instead she flew through Grouch, landing on her face. “Still, you betray me,” Grouch said. “Will you kill everyone, child?” “Do not call me child, old crone!” Demona snarled. “I have lived longer than you could dream!” “And still you have not learned,” Grouch said sadly. “I had thought better of you.” “She learns slowly,” Phoebe said. “And harshly. I fear that the truth may destroy her.” “She cannot deal with such grim revelations,” Luna said. “You pathetic witches!” Demona whirled to face them. “You dare to call me weak?!” “What would you have us call you?” Phoebe asked. “I am strong!” Demona hissed. “I have survived the centuries on my own! I have defeated foes who would have left the mightiest men whimpering in defeat!” “And yet, you cannot admit you are wrong,” Goliath said. “Sad.” “You dare to judge me? You, off all people, Goliath?” Goliath shook his head. “I judge no one, Demona, save myself. I can only pity you.” “Pity, my love? Is that all you feel for me?” “And disgust.” “My love,” she whispered. “You cannot mean it.” “I do.” Elisa Maza stepped out of the shadows to join him, taking his arm in hers. “The past is just that, Demona.” Demona laughed bitterly. “You discard me for that human cow? How far shall you fall, Goliath?” “My clan did not die because of me,” Goliath said. “I tried to save what remained of my clan, not abandon them.” “And they have become as soft and spineless as you,” she spat. “Lass, have ye nae learned anything?” Hudson regarded her sadly. “Concern for others does not make you weak. In many ways it strengthens you. Would Goliath have been able to defeat you if he did not care about the rest of us?” “If not for Goliath opposing me, our enemies would be dead! Gargoyles would finally have peace for all that the humans have done to us!” Demona “What have they done to you?” Xanatos asked from behind her. His wife and son stood at his side. “The massacre of Clan Wyvern? You arranged that, not Hakon. The Hunters? You trusted Duncan. MacBeth? You betrayed him. Me? Face it Demona, we probably could have ruled the world together if you hadn’t been so firm on your ‘kill mankind’ stance.” He shook his head. “You say you are strong because you have survived the centuries alone, but you didn’t need to. You could have had friends, allies and family. You say you are strong because you have defeated great foes. But you have been defeated many times. You say you are smart, but you can’t even keep your own daughter.” “Leave Angela out of this!” Demona screamed. “Leave her out of this!” “Why? After all, Mother, I am a part of this, am I not?” Angela regarded her mother solemnly. “I loved you once, before I knew you. Now, I fear you.” “Angela, don’t say that,” Demona begged. “I would never hurt you.” “You wouldn’t hurt me? You tried to kill my father. My clan was almost completely obliterated because of you. And you have tried to kill what few of us remain many times,” Angela said bitterly. “And still you say you would not hurt me?” “Never, daughter. I would sooner die.” Angela turned away from her, toward Goliath and Elisa. “You would die for your pride, Demona. You would die for your vengeance. But you would not die for me. It’s not in your nature.” “No! Angela, please!” Demona sank to her knees. “Please, of them all, you are the one who means the most. Do not forsake me, I beg you.” “Why shouldn’t she?” Demona looked up, startled to find herself alone. “Who said that? Who’s there?” “You remember me, don’t you?” As Demona stared a young female gargoyle appeared before her. Her dark blue skin and flaming red hair, her voice and stance, all proved her to be Demona. “Who-? How is this possible?” Demona demanded. “No two gargoyles look alike.” “I’m you.” “You speak foolishness.” “Do I?” She regarded Demona with a calm coolness. “You betrayed me, too. And I think that hurts you the most, doesn’t it?” “I-I don’t...” “Don’t understand?” The younger one laughed. “No, I’d rather think you wouldn’t. I am you Demona. As you once were. A young woman, who wanted nothing more than her mate and her clan. But you betrayed that when you valued your pride above all else. And those you loved died, except for five clanmates and a pet. And the eggs, of course, but you did not know that.” Her tail lashed the air savagely. “Although I’m forced to wonder how much you truly cared for any of them.” “What? They were my Clan!” “Earlier that night, before everything went wrong, you protected those silly young ones from a group of humans, remember? But did you do it because they were the children of your clan? Or because their attackers were human?” Demona did not answer. She was suddenly tired, and scared and very, very lonely. The young Demona watched her sadly. “I could have been Goliath’s mate for the rest of my life. I could have had my clan and my daughter. But instead I became you. And that hurts you the most, doesn’t it?” “I-I have done what was right. I have tried to avenge the dead.” “You have learned nothing.” She waved her hand at Demona, almost a dismissive gesture. “When you can say that I am right, only then will your peace come.” Dominique awoke with a gasp, heart pounding, and eyes wet with tears. She looked around the room, almost desperately. No Goliath, no Xanatos. No Angela. Dominique Destine, the woman who was Demona, sank down against the pillows, sobbing quietly. And the dreams would keep coming. ______