The Bringer of Bad News

[MARIUS DAKANIS]

It was well into the early twilight before Marius was finally released from the detainment facility. He'd clipped too many wings to count but there were only a few feathers that he ended up tucking away for safe keeping in his lab coat. He felt guilty leaving all those poor people back there at the camps while he was able to walk out free, but was he really free? He was to go back the next day and the next. The hospital would be left understaffed while him along with other respectable doctors and nurses were taken from their sick patients to maim those poor souls.

On the way back into the city he'd managed to make two different phone calls. One was to Liam who he asked politely to meet him at Abby's house and gave him the address. He tried to keep things short, telling him that it was important that they spoke in person. The other was to Abby to let her know that he was coming over and that Liam would be meeting them there as well. It wasn't his house and he knew it was rude to invite someone without making sure it was okay with Abby first but this was a very special circumstance. He didn't care how rude he may be right now there was more pressing matters at hand. He glanced down at the speedometer, noticing he was definitely driving a little faster than he probably should while his thumbs kept knocking against the steering wheel nervously.

Twenty minutes later Marius found himself at Abby's, already let in by his girlfriend and wasting no time to grab her in a tight embrace. He had his lab coat strewn over his arm and he buried his face into the top of her head. "Something awful as happened," He told her trying not to sound too frantic, keeping his voice low. He wanted to wait until Liam got there first but then maybe that wouldn't be such a great idea? Maybe he should tell Abby what he knew before Liam showed up.

"There was no virus, Abby. It was all just a set up. All that construction they were doing out in the woods? It's a prison! A prison for Guardians." To anyone else he probably would have sounded a little nutty, but Abby was a said Guardian and knew Marius wasn't known for tall tales. He moved towards her dining table and slung his lab coat over the back of one of the chairs before gripping it and heaving a deep sigh. It was probably the first time he'd actually been able to take a breath without worrying someone might shoot him for it.

[ABIGAIL JAMES]

The whole day was kind of weird for Abby. She had gone to City Hall as instructed and got the vaccine, which she knew would relieve Marius. That wasn’t the weird part. What was weird was they were escorting people from the line right after they made it through the scanners. Didn’t they have to test them too? And the people whose strips turned purple…they went into a room and never showed up again. It was really odd and made her feel anxious. They must have been sick, but where would they take them? And why would they be exposed to each other? Might she get sick later? She wished Marius was there so she could ask him questions, but she would just have to ask later. With a Hello Kitty bandage on her arm, thanks to the doctor’s mishap where he got the boxes of regular Bandaids and kid Bandaids mixed up, she headed out to her car and went right home. She hoped none of her students ended up with the virus…

When she got home, she was anticipating some side effects from the vaccine, but there was nothing. So she took a nap with the TV on, cared for the few plants she had kept in her house from outdoors, and practiced her magic some. Ever since the darkness began, her magic had been off and weaker, but it was getting slightly better the more she adjusted to it. Even when the spell came out right, it was weaker than it was before the tree split open. Still, she had faith that it would get better with time. When her phone rang, she was just finishing her practice when she saw it was Marius. She answered the phone cheerfully, but was immediately brought back down by his tone. He sounded so anxious, telling her he had invited Liam to come over because he needed to talk to them. What was going on? She wanted to ask, but he sounded pretty insistent that they speak in person, so she told him it was fine and she would be waiting for him. While she waited, she made some lavender and vanilla tea which had a wonderful calming affect usually.

By the time Marius arrived, the tea was brewed and hot, and she sat in the chair right by the door, waiting for him. The car door slammed and she immediately opened the door, seeing the frantic look on his face. His arms immediately came around her when she shut the door, and while she was surprised, she held tight around his shoulders. It was obvious he needed comfort and she was more than willing to provide it. She felt him nuzzling the top of her head and she just closed her eyes, frowning with worry. “Something awful has happened.” Her eyes came up to his, showing so much concern. “What? What’s happened?” she asked, her hand brushing along his cheek gently.

“There was no virus, Abby. It was all just a setup. All that construction they were doing out in the woods? It’s a prison! A prison for Guardians.” Abby felt a surge of fear run through her. A prison for Guardians? But how? Who told the world of their existence? How did anyone know? Marius moved away to put his coat on the back of a chair at the table, her eyes following his movements with a wide-eyed stare. “But…but they injected me with something. At City Hall they gave me something and they let me go.” Then she remembered the people being take away… “But then…there were people they took away. Those people never came back…” She looked up at him with big eyes. “What kind of Guardians did they take? Are they going to come for me?” The thought terrified her. She didn’t want to end up in some prison, forced to do labor and be separated from her boyfriend. That was the worst thought of all…being separated from Marius.

[MARIUS DAKANIS]

Marius waited until Abby asked all of her questions, still trying to wrap his own head around it all. He'd spent the entire day remaining as stoic as possible but now that he wasn't clipping wings or watching guards shove the butt of their rifles into the backs of the shifters he was able to really process what the hell was going on. "It was a placebo. They administered sedatives to shifters and the Avisailles. Some sort of blood test must have popped up the results. I don't know." He hadn't been at the testing facilities. They'd done some blood tests at the hospital for the volunteering staff before giving them directions out to the detainment center.

"I don't know what all they know. Just that they're clipping the wings of the Avisailles so they can't fly. They're practically caged." He had to sit down. He pulled the chair out and sat right down, leaning forward and putting his face in his hands as he heaved a deep sigh. He had to pull himself together so with another deep breath he rubbed his face and brushed his fingers through his hair before looking up at Abby's worried face.

"I won't let them take you. I had to clip wings. I had to clip Melanie's wings.." He'd told her all about Melanie and he still couldn't believe that their reunion had to be like that. Melanie's words were back in his head, telling him to tell Abby just how he felt, not to waste time.. he wanted to. He just knew that Liam was likely on his way over and he couldn't find the proper words just yet. His head was still buzzing with everything else that happened that day. "There was someone else there too.."

[ABIGAIL JAMES]

“It was a placebo. They administered sedatives to shifters and the Avisailles. Some sort of blood test must have popped up the results. I don’t know.” Abby remembered the strip of paper she was forced to bleed on and how the woman waited for it to change. After a minute or so when it didn’t change color, she had smile down at Abby and moved to unwrap a syringe, telling her it wouldn’t hurt a bit. Those tests…were they just for Therians? They didn’t detect her, so maybe they were only meant to detect Therian blood. There had been a lot of incidents lately where the police and doctors could obtain Therian blood. All of this bounced around in her confused and shocked mind. “I don’t know what all they know. Just that they’re clipping the wings of the Avisailles so they can’t fly. They’re practically caged.” It sounded horrible. Those beautiful wings being clipped? Would they ever be able to fly again? While she wanted to ask, Marius looked so weary as he pulled the chair out and slumped into it, running his hands over his face. He must have gone through so much today. She moved close to him, wanting to hold him, but he looked up at her before she could put her arms around him and bring him close. Her poor Marius…

“I won’t let them take you.” Abby felt her heart pick up speed at this promise, both loving and worrying that he was making that promise. She didn’t want him to get hurt because of her. “I had to clip wings. I had to clip Melanie’s wings…” At first she was worried who this Melanie was, but when he explained, she felt even worse for him and sad enough to cry for Melanie. She was the reason Marius came to Scriptor Bay, the reason Abby and Marius had met at all. Without Melanie there would be no Marius and Abby…she owed so much to a woman she had never met, and she wanted to help Marius find a way to break her out of that prison. Her hands ran through his hair comfortingly as he explained Melanie, elaborated on what he had to do to her, but she knew nothing she could do would make it right again. The only thing that could make it right would be to get Melanie out.

“There was someone else there too…” Abby’s brow furrowed. “Who?” she asked, but before he could answer, there was a knock on her door. It confused her at first, but then she remembered Liam was on his way there and figured it must be him. She leaned down at kissed Marius’ forehead tenderly before she moved to the door, wanting him to know how utterly concerned she was for him. When she opened the door, Liam looked at her with semi-surprised eyes and then he gave an anxious sort of smile. “Hey Abby.” She returned his smile with a sad one of her own. “Hey Liam, come on in.” She stepped aside so the man could walk in and he gave a quiet thanks before stepping over her threshold. Why had Marius invited him over anyway? Was it just to tell him what was going on too, in case the police department needed to look into this or get involved somehow? It was possible, but he looked deeply worried about whatever it was he needed to tell Liam.

[LIAM AVERY]

It had been an awful day for Liam. He’d gone to the hospital as instructed in his letter and received his vaccine. It took a while for him to move through the queue, watching as some people were pulled aside right at the scanner. He had to wonder…why were they pulled aside? Only something strange on the scan would get that to happen…perhaps they were Avisailles. It made him completely anxious about Flynn. He would go to her place immediately after this to make sure she was okay. Inside, they administered blood tests and from what he gathered, if your test stayed red, you got the vaccine; if it changed, they took you somewhere else. Were they infected? That must have been the case. He was relieved when his blood test stayed the same, but it was also confusing. Didn’t they always warn you about side effects? The doctor or nurse who gave him the vaccine told him nothing about how it might affect him, and Liam didn’t feel any differently. He tried to shrug it off, though, and he left by the door instructed. The first thing he did was call Flynn.

Of course, she didn’t pick up. He left a message asking her to call him back when possible. From there he went to Flynn’s apartment and waited outside it. An hour passed and he hadn’t heard anything. Then two hours…he tried calling her some more, but she didn’t answer and his heart was starting to hammer in his chest. What happened to her? She might have still been in line, so he decided to go back to his apartment and wait until she called him. But she never did. Six hours of torment and he went racing back to her apartment to find she STILL wasn’t there. He went to her work and she wasn’t there. He went to Sunshine’s Too and it was closed. He went to the tree and she didn’t appear. No matter where he went in the city, she wasn’t there. Where had she gone? It wasn’t like her to worry him like this! And the streets were all but dead, as if all the people in the world had disappeared but a few who were wandering like him. Were they looking for lost loved ones too?

When evening fell, Marius called him sounding a little urgent and asking him to meet him at Abby’s. It was a little out of the blue, but he said there was something he needed to tell him in person. Well…maybe he had some information about Flynn. Fear hit him like a ton of bricks. She was at the hospital…something happened to her…she was sick. She had the virus that killed ninety percent of the people it infected. Flynn…Flynn was in trouble. His stomach was roiling, and he raced to his apartment to get his car and head over to Abby’s. The whole ride there he was tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, his left foot bouncing beneath the wheel. He couldn’t get there fast enough and every red light made him curse. His GPS gave him the route and soon he was pulling onto a quiet street with small houses lining it. Abby’s house would have been more obvious if her garden was still intact but the ground was disturbed all around the garden.

He rushed up the steps and knocked on her door, bouncing as he waited for Abby or Marius to answer. Finally Abby’s face appeared in the doorway, a sad smile on her face. “Hey Abby,” he greeted with an anxious sort of smile. “Hey Liam, come on in.” Liam did as she bid, finding Marius seated at a table, hunched over with an anxious face. That didn’t bode well at all. He froze for a long moment, dreading what Marius had to tell him and feeling like he might be sick. Liam stepped forward slowly, trying to put his smile back on as he extended his hand to Marius. “Hello, Marius. What, uhh…what did you need to talk to me about?” he inquired. Abby came behind him and motioned for him to sit in a chair with a small smile, grabbing another for herself. He didn’t care about sitting, he wanted to know if this had anything to do with Flynn. She was all he cared about at the moment.

[MARIUS DAKANIS]

Marius didn't want to appear to be coming apart at the seams in front of Abby so when he heard the knock at the door he took the brief moment she walked away to take a deep breath and force it out. He assumed that it was Liam at the door and he found himself right when he heard Abby greet him before letting him inside. He didn't get a chance to tell Abby who else he'd seen at the camp but now she'd find out right alongside Liam. He wondered about Liam now, his intrest in the man heightening as he reached up to give Liam's hand a quick shake before resting his elbows on the table.

"Hello, Marius. What, uhh... what did you need to talk to me about?" He didn't answer him right away but just watched him. His light blue eyes gazing at the man and wondering if he was just a man like Marius was or if he was more. He didn't suspect him to be an Avisaille since they were all locked up outside the city now. Liam must have known about Flynn. How could you keep something like a pair of wings a secret from your loved one? He must have known and if he didn't? Well he was going to find out tonight.

Marius looked over to Abby, searching her face for any kind of help but even she didn't know what he had to say, but he decided to start the same way he had with Abby only with a little more tact. "Do you recall that building with all the construction just on the outskirts of the city? They turned it into a prison of sorts." He reached up and ran a hand along the length of his face again, trying his best not to get too worked up again. Those poor women. Even the men were helpless but it was the women that he'd been given for the day.

"I'm going to assume it's safe to say that you know all about the Guardians of Scriptor Bay. About the tree, the different types of people, the whole bit." He wanted to see if there was any recognition in Liam's face to give him away before continuing. "This isn't news for you. Not with the company that you keep.." he didn't mean to sound harsh and in no way was he trying to discriminate, but he had a feeling that the way he chose his words could have been a little different. "Today was a set up. The testing and the vaccines that were distributed, it was all a cover up for something larger."

He hated being the bearer of bad news and didn't know a better way to say it so he was blunt. "They took all the Avisailles to this prison. All of them." Marius' eyes darted back to Abby for a moment, wanting to let the news sink in deep before he reached an arm behind the back of the chair into the pocket of his lab coat and pulled out a small piece of cloth that was holding something inside. When he set it on the table it came undone to show the blue and white colored feathers. "They're clipping their wings." He fell silent and swallowed the dry lump that was in his throat and felt the tension in the air as he waited for someone else to say something. Anything.

[ABIGAIL JAMES]

Abby could see how nervous Liam was and she wondered what he was nervous about. Come to look at him more closely, he looked awfully disheveled. What if…? Whenever Abby saw Liam, she couldn’t help but think of Flynn. Did Marius know something about Flynn? Was that why Liam looked so anxious? No…that couldn’t be it. Could it? Before Marius spoke, he looked to Abby, but she had nothing to offer him. There was no way to offer help when you didn’t know what the other person had to say. Poor Marius…if only there was something she could do to help. She wanted to hold his hand, but he seemed focused and she didn’t want to break his concentration.

“Do you recall that building with all the construction just on the outskirts of the city? They turned it into a prison of sorts.” So far, so good. That’s how he began with telling her. Abby looked at Liam’s face, but it was tight with concentration. He was obviously anxious to hear the rest, so she looked back to Marius as he continued. “I’m going to assume it’s safe to say that you know all about the guardians of Scriptor Bay. About the tree, the different types of people, the whole bit.” Again, Abby looked back to Liam, but only after giving Marius a confused look. Why would he assume that? Liam only nodded in return, which surprised Abby further. He knew?! “This isn’t news for you. Not with the company that you keep…” Liam’s brow lowered suspiciously, as did Abby’s. The company that he kept? What did Marius mean by that? What company? “Today was a set up. The testing and the vaccines that were distributed, it was all a cover-up for something larger.” Liam’s face paled some and Abby’s browed was knitted anxiously, wanting to know the details that Marius obviously knew.

“They took all the Avisailles to this prison. All of them.” Now Liam’s face was completely drained of color as his bright blue eyes grew wide. The men stared at each other for a very long moment, Abby looking between them for some clue as to what the hell was going on. Marius reached behind him into his lab coat, pulling out a small folded cloth. He placed it on the table and it fell open to reveal black, blue, and white pieces of feathers. Liam looked like he might throw up as he slowly reached an unsteady hand to grab the feathers. “They’re clipping their wings.” Liam’s eyes were on the feathers, Marius’ eyes were on Liam, and Abby’s eyes flitted between them. For a very long moment, Liam just sat looking at the feathers, his jaw clenched. He grabbed the longest piece, holding it up as if to confirm it was really there. “Flynn…” And that’s when she put it together. Abby’s hands flew to her mouth. “Flynn is an Avisaille?!” she exclaimed, looking from the feathers to Liam’s face and watched as he nodded. Immediately her brown eyes began to swim with tears. Oh, Flynn! Poor sweet Flynn! “Oh my God…Liam, I’m so sorry!” The man brought a hand to his hair, grabbing a fistful in agony. Her eyes came to Marius now, one tear rolling onto her cheek. “You saw her? You saw Flynn?” That made Liam’s head snap up.

[LIAM AVERY]

He was found out. Marius knew what Liam was, or at least that’s what he assumed when the man said he assumed Liam knew about the Guardians. But maybe not… “This isn’t news for you. Not with the company that you keep…” The Gargoyle’s brow lowered as he stared at the other man. No, this wasn’t about him. His gut clenched… “Today was a set up. The testing and the vaccines that were distributed, it was all a cover-up for something larger.” He could feel the color draining slowly from his face. What happened to Flynn? “They took all the Avisailles to this prison. All of them.” The slow drip of the blood from his head became a flood as his stomach fell to the floor. No…no, it couldn’t be true. Marius reached behind him and pulled something from his lab coat…a piece of cloth that fell open on the table…Liam’s heart fell straight through the floor and he stopped breathing as a quivering hand reached out to pull the package closer. Magpie feathers…Flynn’s feathers in pieces. “They’re clipping their wings.” She couldn’t fly. They knew what she was and she couldn’t fly away. She was trapped and scared and her wings were broken. He didn’t know what to do. He felt sick and dizzy. His world had turned upside down. To hold back his nausea, he clenched his jaw so tight his teeth were grinding together, his fingers reaching out slowly to pick up the longest piece of black, blue and white feather. It was what he had of his beautiful, sweet, innocent Flynn.

“Flynn…” Abby suddenly seemed to get it as her hands flew to her face and she gasped loudly. “Flynn is an Avisaille?!” His eyes could barely lift from the feather, but he managed to do so, looking up at her glistening brown eyes. He nodded, wishing he could cry too. There was only one time in his life when he remembered crying, and that was when his mother died. This…this was almost as devastating. “Oh my God…Liam, I’m so sorry!” He could feel the tears burning in the back of his eyes, and the agony of being without Flynn rushed over him in a tidal wave. His hand flew to his hair, grasping a thick handful and tugging, as if the physical pain could release the emotional once. How could he save Flynn when she was in a fucking prison?! Just for being what she was! If they hurt her…it made him mad with rage to think about it. He would kill every person who laid one finger on her. His dearest, dearest love…All he wanted was to protect her from the evils of the world, keep her innocent and sweet, but he had failed.

“You saw her? You saw Flynn?” Abby’s words shocked him to attention and his bright blue eyes snapped up to Marius. Of course he saw her! He knew what she was, had gotten pieces of her wings! “You saw her! Please, Marius, is she alright? Is she hurt? Did she tell you anything?” He needed to know everything. He needed to know how she was faring, if she would be okay. What would happen to his love while she was imprisoned? He shuddered to think of it, wanting only to set her free. Then he thought of something. Marius had her wing clippings…how…His eyes turned up to him almost in disbelief. “How did you get these feathers? Did…did you clip her wings?” It mostly saddened him to think of it. She must have felt betrayed…but Marius wouldn’t do that voluntarily, would he? No, it couldn’t be…he waited for an explanation.

[MARIUS DAKANIS]

"Flynn..." Marius' expression tightened and he looked down at the table, at the bundle of feathers. "Flynn is an Avisaille?!" It had been such a shock when she had entered the infirmary to get her wings clipped. She looked terrified and confused just like every one of the Avisailles who came in to get their wings clipped. Only a few of the males struggled and tried to fight against the guards to get out of getting their wings clipped but all the women seemed to be very compliant even if they wished they were somewhere else. Part of him wished it hadn't been him there helping in the wing clipping but at the same time he knew he was a familiar face to a few of them. There were even a few nurses from the hospital there that recognized him and he'd never in a million years pegged them as Avisailles.

"Oh my God...Liam, I'm so sorry!" Marius nodded sadly and forced himself to look back over to Liam. "As am I. Truly sorry." He spoke in a soft voice and then looked to Abby again. He wanted to get up from the table and just hold her. To kiss her and tell her how much she meant to him, but he wouldn't do that yet. Because he knew he'd feel horrible and guilty with Liam sitting there missing his own girlfriend. "You saw her? You saw Flynn?" He wished he would have had enough time to talk to Abby about it before he said anything to Liam, get her over her shock first before dealing with another person.

"You saw her! Please, Marius, is she alright? Is she hurt? Did she tell you anything?" He wanted to answer all of their questions at once but he had to sort them out, "I saw her. And so far she's fine. She's scared just like everyone else there is. They took a woman I knew from when I was a boy.. and they're keeping the women together so they'll have each other." He didn't know if Melanie knew Flynn or not but even if they didn't then maybe they would still be able to console one another. Maybe he could get hold of one of them the next time they were sent to the infirmary and he could instruct them to find one another and stay together. That way at least they would have each other.

"How did you get these feathers? Did...did you clip her wings?" This was where Marius ended up shifting in his seat and grew uncomfortable. He looked between the pair of them before his eyes settled on Liam since it was his question. "I didn't have a choice.." He spoke softly and then glanced to Abby to see her reaction. Would Liam grow angry with him or would he understand? Marius figured Liam to be the understanding sort but this was a very unique situation. "I didn't hurt her. She'll be able to fly again eventually." He hovered his hands over the table like he was ready to calm Liam down if he had to. "She asked if I had seen you.. they took the shifters the.. Therians, was it?" He looked to Abby for confirmation. "We're going to do everything we can to get them out of there, yes?"

[ABIGAIL JAMES]

Abby was relieved when Marius said Flynn was okay, that she was with others like her. Of course she was with others like her, but there was some small comfort knowing she wasn’t completely alone. Liam seemed relieved by the news too, even though he was still understandably upset. And then the question came about Flynn’s wings. Abby already knew Marius was forced to clip Melanie’s wings, but had he clipped Flynn’s too? She must have been so upset. Would she have gotten comfort out of the fact that it was Marius or would she have felt betrayed? Knowing Flynn, she probably wouldn’t know exactly what to feel, but the sight of a friendly face at least must have been comforting. Marius looked very uncomfortable, though, and she realized she had probably put him in an awkward position bringing up that he saw Flynn. She was so dense sometimes.

“I didn’t have a choice…” Abby caught his glance and she gave him a sad one of her own. Poor Marius…poor Flynn…poor Liam…this was just a shitty situation all around. Liam let out a long breath and she looked to him worriedly. He looked very conflicted. She couldn’t fathom what was going on in his mind except that he looked like he was trying to keep his cool. “I didn’t hurt her. She’ll be able to fly again eventually.” Liam pinched the bridge of his nose, pressing into the corners of his eyes as they squeezed shut. This was obviously very hard for him to bear. Surely he couldn’t be mad at Marius, though; Marius hadn’t wanted to do it! He had to know that…Marius’ hands hovered over the table, still watching Liam. Abby was anxious, hoping Liam wouldn’t start a brawl. She would be forced to whip out some binding magic if he did…

“She asked if I had seen you…they took the shifters the…Therians, was it?” Marius’ eyes flitted to her and she nodded for him. Being a Guardian’s boyfriend had its perks for a man like Marius, it seemed. “We’re going to do everything we can to get them out of there, yes?” Abby nodded firmly, prepared to start a full on rebellion against the camps. She may have been the closest kind of Guardian to a human that there was, but she was a Guardian still, and those were her fellow Guardians. This was a declaration of war against the Guardians, but she was certain the human officials who sanctioned this weren’t aware of that yet. They probably thought Avisailles and Therians were the only Guardians out there. Well, they had another thing coming to them.

[LIAM AVERY]

Pinching the corners of his bright blue eyes was the only thing that seemed to soothe the pain in Liam’s chest and head. Marius had cut Flynn’s wings. He had to collect himself, and shutting out the world was the best way to do that. Marius didn’t have a choice…he had been held there against his will, forced to do those awful things to the Avisailles. Clipping their wings…it was like the Gargoyles losing their stone form. It stole their power, rendering them as ordinary as humans; you could wish to be human when you weren’t, but when it actually happened it was horrifying. And Marius had stolen her power…it didn’t matter that her wings would grow back, she was helpless now, and she must have been acutely aware of it. But he knew that even though he wanted to be angry, furious with Marius, he couldn’t be. It wasn’t fair to him and Liam was more rational than that.

“She asked if I had seen you…they took the shifters the…Therians, was it?” Liam nodded, but he peeked to see Abby nodding as well. He hadn’t put it together before in his shock, but now it was apparent she knew all about the Guardians. But how? What was she? Not a Therian or an Avisaille, and certainly not a Gargoyle…a Blurr? Maybe. A witch? Possibly. Just an informed human? Quite possible as well. “We’re going to do everything we can to get them out of there, yes?” That was an unnecessary question in Liam’s mind. Of course he was going to do everything he could to get Flynn out. And it occurred to him why Flynn asked if he was there. With a heavy sigh, he brought his hand back to the table, his emotional turmoil still written on his face though his anger had passed. He continued to look at Flynn’s feathers though, the evidence of what she was plain as day on the table. “Flynn was wondering if any other Guardian groups had been taken. That’s why she asked about me.” His eyes shifted from Marius to Abby, his brow furrowed as he considered telling them what he was. He could trust them, even though Marius was working at the camp. It was obvious in his face, his eyes, that he didn’t want to be there and it killed him to have to go back again. “I’m a Gargoyle.” Both of them widened their eyes at him, Abby’s growing to twice their normal size. “A Gargoyle?! But…but I thought you couldn’t come out in the daylight!” Liam shook his head. “I can’t…but this darkness changed things. I’m practically human now, but I still have a good deal of my strength. And you? What are you?” Abby’s eyes fell to the table as the smallest of smiles turned up her mouth. “A witch. Well, a Geomancer.” He nodded appreciatively. “Well…pleased to make your acquaintance.” He was trying to be light, but his face didn’t show it. Still, Abby gave a gracious quirk of her mouth, amused. “You too.”

With another sigh, Liam sat back in his chair again, running a hand through his dark brown hair. “Well…I’m sure the council will get involved soon once the word spreads and our leader has come up with his plan of action. For once, I think he’ll team up with the Blurrs on this, and any other Guardian willing to fight. Snow may not like the other species, but he still finds all Guardians far superior to humans. This will royally piss him off.” Liam glanced to Marius, realizing he might not understand their politics. “Each group has a leader and a small band of people who serve that leader. Beneath the leader and the small group that serves him or her is a council. Gargoyle politics are known to be much crueler and harsher than other groups, and if this leads to rebellion, then it would certainly be the Gargoyles to jump in first. Especially now since the Therian and Avisaille leaders must be in the camps too.” Rubbing his face, he felt completely drained and helpless. “There’s nothing we can do now but wait it out a few days. When I know more about what my people are going to do to support a rebellion, I will let you know immediately. A rebellion will need recruits from every group.” Looking up at the pair of them, they looked absolutely determined to participate. Well, Snow had three recruits at the very least.

[MARIUS DAKANIS]

“Flynn was wondering if any other Guardian groups had been taken. That’s why she asked about me.” Marius had thought it was just because he was there that Flynn thought Liam would also be there. He did work with the police after all. But Flynn was asking for a different reason.. ”I’m a Gargoyle.” Marius blinked a few times before his eyes grew wide with comprehension to what Liam was saying. He didn’t know as much about the other species as he did about the Avisailles but that was because he’d known one who told him all that he knew. Abby had filled him in on other types and what she knew but they were still so unknown to him. Gargoyles had never been something he believed in, but then again how could he think that people with wings sprouting out of their back was okay but turning to stone wasn’t? Scriptor Bay was the illogical city.

“A Gargoyle?! But…but I thought you couldn’t come out in the daylight!” “I can’t…but this darkness changed things. I’m practically human now, but I still have a good deal of my strength. And you? What are you?” “A witch. Well, a Geomancer.” It must have been obvious by the way he had asked for confirmation from Abby about the Therians that Abby was a Guardian and Marius was not. Suddenly he felt a little self conscious about being the only human in the room, not that he showed it at all but he felt very plain. He watched as the two tried to be pleasant in their greetings after their newfound knowledge of one another.

He watched Liam sit back and sigh, then listened to him talk about something called ‘the council’ that made him cock a brow up curiously and it must have been obvious that he didn’t have the slightest idea about what Liam was talking about because he went on to explain it to him, breaking it down as different forms of supernatural politics. It was like an overload of information for him to process, between finding out that his and Abby’s friends were Guardians to leaders and politics that were kept secret from the human race.. it was all so much and he sat there in silence trying to let it all sink in.

”There’s nothing we can do now but wait it out a few days. When I know more about what my people are going to do to support a rebellion, I will let you know immediately. A rebellion will need recruits from every group.” He felt bad for Liam and with one look at Abby he could tell she felt the same. But the one thing that Liam had going for him was that he wasn’t in the camps, and he had him and Abby there for support. At least Liam would be able to do something to help those who were imprisoned and that was what was important right now. “You have us. And if there’s anything that you need don’t hesitate to ask.” He looked to Abby, “I need to find Melanie’s partner. He’s in the city somewhere, and I’m sure once I tell him what has happened he’ll join us as well. I just don’t know where to find him. I can check the hospital records but he’ll only be in our system if he’s ever been treated.” There was so much that they needed to do but Liam was right, it would have to wait a few days.

“I have to go back there tomorrow. I don’t know what they’ll have me doing until I get there, but I’ll keep going back for as long as possible.” He hated the idea and it showed on his face. He’d seen enough in that one day to last him a lifetime of guilt. “Maybe I can find a weakness in their system. Maybe a sympathetic guard who realizes what they’re doing is wrong.”

[ABIGAIL JAMES]

Abby was still trying to process that Liam was a Gargoyle. It was weird that the Guardians couldn’t tell one from another on a regular basis. He just didn’t seem like a Gargoyle, either! Gargoyles were terse and tough and mean from what she had heard, but Liam was none of those things. Well, maybe tough, but he seemed so kind and gentle when he was with Flynn. She wondered what he was truly capable of as he explained Gargoyle and supernatural politics to Marius. Witch politics were much more flexible than the politics of the other races, but even they had an authority to answer to. Marius looked like he was drinking in all of the information Liam provided, obviously fascinated by the man sitting across the table from Abby. There was much and more Liam could teach him about Guardians and their politics, but now wasn’t the time. This talk of rebellion made her feel nervous, but excited too. Rebellion…she wanted to be a part of that. The Guardians had to stick together, take care of each other as much as they took care of the city. It was only fair. They didn’t choose to be Guardians and they had as many rights as regular people. What a way to thank them for their protection of the city…

“You have us.” Marius’ deep, calm voice called her attention to him. “And if there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask.” He was so kind and she wanted to reach out and grab his hand, but with Liam there it seemed cruel. She smiled gratefully at him and then nodded at Liam. “Absolutely. We’ll do whatever we can to help.” Her boyfriend looked to her again, and she gazed back at him attentively. “I need to find Melanie’s partner. He’s in the city somewhere, and I’m sure once I tell him what has happened he’ll join us as well. I just don’t know where to find him. I can check the hospital records but he’ll only be in our system if he’s ever been treated.” Abby nodded and wondered what she could do to help with that task. She didn’t have any access to any public records. “I’ll check the police records and any other public records I can get access to. It might take a day or so, but I can locate him if I get his name.” They could work together to get Melanie’s partner involved…but she might go with Marius when he went to make sure there were no punches pulled. Or should Liam go with him? Either way, she didn’t want Marius to go alone. That worried her too much.

“I have to go back there tomorrow. I don’t know what they’ll have me doing until I get there, but I’ll keep going back for as long as possible. Maybe I can find a weakness in their system. Maybe a sympathetic guard who realizes what they’re doing is wrong.” Abby could see how much he hated the idea of going back. What more would they make him do? They had already forced him to clip wings, but there had to be worse things in Marius’ future. She didn’t want him to go back—she wanted him to stay as far away from that place as possible, but she knew he might get in trouble for that. She just had to suck it up and let what happened happen. “I don’t know what I can do to help, but when we have more of an idea about what’s going to happen with the Gargoyles, then I can help get the word out and spread awareness. The city is going to be forced to admit to stuff when people start asking questions, but they’ll do their best to cover this up. When we know more, I’ll be able to help more.” She was determined to get in on this and help. Her friend was locked away! Poor, sweet Flynn was locked away for nothing other than having wings. It wasn’t right and Abby was going to do everything she could to assist in correcting it.

[LIAM AVERY]

“You have us. And if there’s anything you need don’t hesitate to ask.” Liam was actually very grateful for the offer, even if there wasn’t really anything the pair could do for him at this point. Flynn had been stolen from him and he knew it would take some before that could be rectified. How would he sleep without her? He had gotten so used to her presence there beside him that he would feel too strange sleeping without her. Liam sensed a very hard couple of very coming up, but when he got Flynn back, he was never letting her go again. “I need to find Melanie’s partner. He’s in the city somewhere, and I’m sure once I tell him what has happened he’ll join us as well. I just don’t know where to find him. I can check the hospital records but he’ll only be in our system if he’s ever been treated.” That caught Liam’s attention. There was something he could help with that would take his weary mind off Flynn. “I’ll check the police records and any other public records I can get access to. It might take a day or so, but I can locate him if I get his name,” he offered. Marius seemed grateful for the offer and Liam would take pleasure in doing him the favor. Anything that could keep him busy over the next several days until he knew how the other Guardians would handle this.

“I have to go back there tomorrow. I don’t know what they’ll have me doing until I get there, but I’ll keep going back for as long as possible. Maybe I can find a weakness in their system. Maybe a sympathetic guard who realizes what they’re doing is wrong.” Liam nodded his agreement with this. Whatever plans for rebellion came up, they would need people on the inside to give them information on the weaknesses of the camp. They would also need to know the layout of the camp to find the best place to penetrate and free the Avisailles and Therians. Some scouting would be required, which would most likely be dangerous. Liam would risk anything to get Flynn back. “I don’t know what I can do to help, but when we have more of an idea about what’s going to happen with the Gargoyles, then I can help get the word out a spread awareness. The city is going to be forced to admit to stuff when people start asking questions, but they’ll do their best to cover this up. When we know more, I’ll be able to help more.” He gave her a weary smile. Everything she said was true, and while he appreciated the help she was offering, knowing she would probably be very good at spreading the news, it made him feel so tired. A revolution just to get Flynn back? There would be so many repercussions for their actions, and while he was willing to do that, he didn’t know how he felt about recruiting others for a rebellion. They could get seriously hurt because of this. But if they were willing to make the sacrifice…

“Thanks for the offer, Abby. Like I said I’ll keep in touch with both of you and let you know what I hear. In the meantime I can help locate your friend’s partner. What was his name?” Marius gave the name Kevin Whitfield. That was an easy enough name to remember, but he made a note of it in his cell phone so he wouldn’t forget. “When I find him, I’ll call you. If you find him first, let me know.” He sounded as drained as he felt. His hands rubbed over his face one more time, letting it sink in that Flynn was gone. He wouldn’t smell her hair tonight as they fell asleep, nor would he kiss her awake in the morning. She wouldn’t be there to stroke his cheek and tell him she loved him. It made him feel so heavy with sadness. He needed to get her back…but it couldn’t happen today. His hands dropped from his face and he sat up again, grabbing the cloth of Flynn’s feathers and put it in his pocket. He would carry those feathers until he had her back. “Thank you for telling me Marius. And for bringing me this,” he said, gesturing to his pocket. “I should go, though. I have a lot of processing to do.”

He got to his feet, watching as the couple did the same, and he wondered if he would be strong enough to leave. He extended his hand to Marius, clasping it firmly. “I’m glad I got to hear it from you and not someone else.” As he shook Marius’ hand, Abby made her way over to him. He was a little shocked when her arms clasped tightly around his neck, his hands instinctively coming to her back. “Don’t worry, Liam. We’ll get her back.” The words sent comfort searing through his veins and he closed his eyes tight, embracing her in thanks. How he wished it was Flynn he was holding instead of Abby, but this woman’s words brought some amount of relief. When he let her go, she had in her eyes again, and he had to look away before he did the same. “Thank you,” he all but whispered. Clearing his throat, he moved to the door and turned the handle before smiling back at his friends. “I’ll see you two.” With that husky greeting, he nodded and stepped out into the bitterly cold night. He didn’t want them to see his tears.

[MARIUS DAKANIS]

Marius walked Liam to the door with Abby saying their farewells and being sure that they would stay in touch with one another. They were going to have to wait and see what would happen, what exactly the new Guardian prison intended to do with their captors. They couldn't just hold them indefinitely, it was against their rights as human beings. But Marius knew there would be plenty of discussion about whether or not they were truly human beings or not. He wasn't even sure if this was going to be in the news or if it was going to be kept secret. He imagined they wouldn't be able to keep something like this a secret for long. Employers would wonder where their employees went, loved ones and friends would worry. There was no way this would be kept a secret and if they thought they could then they were fools.

When Liam left he turned to Abby and held his arms out wanting to hold her and she didn't leave him hanging. When she was in his arms he ran a hand over the back of her head, flattening her hair a bit so that it wouldn't end up in his face too much when he rested his chin on top of her head. He didn't say anything for a while, just holding her as they stood there by the door. His heart went out to those in the facility but he couldn't forget about those on the outside as well. Liam was going to track down this Kevin for him so that took some of the tension off of his shoulders. Now he just had to worry about Abby.

"Just in case, how about you stay indoors? Don't go running errands, don't go to the hospital, don't go anywhere. I don't know what I would do if something happened to you. I suspect things are going to go downhill in the city for a while. People will be outraged, there will be people rioting for both sides I imagine." He spoke into the top of her head and stroked her hair again gently before moving his hands to her arms and rubbing up and down the length of them before he gently pulled away and held her there so he could look into those precious brown eyes. "Promise me you won't go out without me." His eyes showed he was pleading with her while his voice was soft.