Heart of Stone

41. Preemptive Strike

“What's this about?” Andy asked. They were all gathered together, but Mary still hadn't told them why.

She and the gargoyles sat facing the group. Watching everyone's reaction was as close to a strategy as she and Robbie had been able to come up with. “I'll let Meris explain.”

He turned to Robbie. “If you will assist me.”

Robbie had set up a connection between his laptop and a television set to make it easier for everyone to view the images. He hadn't had a chance to explain the set-up to Meris beforehand though.

“It works like Mary's laptop.” He spoke softly. “Whatever you do will project there.”

The gargoyle ran his finger experimentally over the touchpad and watched the cursor move. “Ah, thank you.” Meris began to speak, calmly recounting the facts that had so upset all of them the night before. Mary scanned the faces in front of her. At first, all she could see was worried curiosity. Even after Meris started scrolling through photos, all she could see in front of her was concern. She began to think this wasn't going to work. Her mind started to race, wondering what their options would be if no one reacted.

“This next image, was the one we found most concerning,” Meris said. The photo taken from the house came on the screen. Mary watched expressions of shock bloom in front of her, but all the color drained from Veronica's face.

“Veronica?” Mary said. “Are you alright?”

“I-” The older woman started to tremble. “I had no idea it would end up there. Oh God I think I'm going to be sick.” Caroline gripped her hand. All eyes turned to her.

“What do you mean?” Robbie asked.

“I keep in touch with my granddaughter by e-mail. She and my daughter haven't been getting along and she asked if she could stay with me for awhile. Of course I didn't want to say anything about what's going on here, so I tried to help her work it out with her mother. I've never been much of a peacemaker, and I succeeded in making things worse. I had both of them asking me to take Emma in. I had to tell them something. Neither of them believed me when I said I was here and couldn't leave. It broke my heart when Emma said I didn't care about her. I sent the photo to prove what I was saying was the truth. I didn't even have the beginning of an idea...” she looked at Mary and then Aiden. There were tears in her eyes. “I am so sorry.”

“I think we need to take a break,” Robbie said.

No one protested, they all still looked too shocked.

Mary got up and went over to Veronica. Aiden followed.

“Aiden, I don't even know how to apologize enough.” The older woman was still trembling.

He dropped to one knee in front of her. “You had no ill intentions, that much is obvious.”

“That doesn't change the fact that I've ruined everything.” Veronica tried to keep the tears in her eyes from falling.

Caroline handed her some tissues.

“No you haven't. The fact that this is a topic of conversation at all changes things,” Mary said.

“Mary is right. Decisions would have had to be made whether or not that image had been among the ones we saw,” Aiden said.

It took fifteen minutes for Veronica to calm down again. By the time she did, everyone else was getting restless. Aiden gave Mary his arm to lean on while she got up.

“I feel terrible about this.” Her voice not above a whisper.

“You had no way of knowing what would be uncovered. This was the best way.” His tone was equally soft.

They sat and let Robbie call the room to order again. “I think it's clear that operating in secret is no longer an option.”

“Why not? For all we know this is nothing more than a bunch of children who have nothing better to do with their time,” Caroline said. “We have no proof that they actually know anything.”

“Maybe they don't, but in a public forum, there might be someone else who does,” Quentin said.

“What if it isn't about actually knowing anything at all?” Mary asked.

Everyone looked at her strangely.

“I'm sorry, you'll have to explain that.” Robbie said.

“This whole time we've been trying to figure out why he's bothering with the crowd because he wasn't drawing any power from them, or at least not nearly enough to do anything.”

“Yes, unwilling subjects in that state really don't have anything to give.” Robbie said.

“But they do draw attention,” Nigel said, understanding dawning in his eyes.

“You can't mean-” Andy paused. “That's positively ridiculous.”

“Is it?” Ramona said. “The last time it started with rumors of demons and plague. He used the fears of the population to draw his power and when he had enough he carried out his plan. This time the crowd is his red herring.”

“He can't have known it would make it to the Internet though.” Andy said.

Robbie shook his head. “Everything makes it to the Internet eventually. Besides, it damn odd. Even if he didn't start the discussion himself, someone driving by or trying to make a delivery tells someone and they send it in an e-mail or instant message to a friend. Maybe one of the police tweets about it just as a 'saw a strange thing today' kind of thing and the curiosity of ten other people is piqued. It would be only natural to speculate about what might be going on, as well.”

“All he has to be is wait and guide that speculation.” Gordon said.

“We're idiots.” Ramona said.

“We were distracted by what was in front of us,” Nigel said. “That doesn't make us idiots.”

“It makes us damn short-sighted,” Andy said. For the first time in a long time, there was no sneer evident in his voice.

“Maybe so, but agonizing over it won't help now,” Nigel said.

Robbie nodded. “Nigel's right. We could debate where we went wrong from now until doomsday, that isn't going to get us anywhere. Where do we go from here?”

“We wait.” Ron said.

“If we wait that gives him the advantage,” Ramona said.

“Why?” Andy asked, the sneer was back.

“Think back to when you were a child and you were accused of something. Even if you didn't do it, no matter what you said, it sounded bad,” Ramona said.

“What does that have to do with this?” Ron asked.

Calvus looked at Aiden, Mary recognized that he was asking for permission to speak. Aiden nodded slightly.

“Because unless one is highly prepared in advance, defending almost always places one in a position of weakness,” Calvus said.

“In this case, we would be left to answer the allegations they make,” Meris said. “Those allegations and the view of us defending against them will be the only view of us the public has.”

“Are you saying that you want to...” Robbie paused. “to introduce yourselves, to the world first?”

“We wish to control this,” Aiden said. “The only way to control it is to do it on our terms. We will be forced into defense often enough.”

The room fell silent.

“There may be an advantage in that,” Nigel said slowly.

“Explain,” Robbie said.

“Mary?” Nigel said.

Mary blushed and looked down at her swollen stomach. “Go ahead. It's not like it's a secret.”

“Mary is reaching the point in her pregnancy where she needs more rest and monitoring than I can provide her at home. It would be safer if she were hospitalized until the baby is born.”

“Immediately?” Ramona looked worried.

“No,” he said. “But within the next few weeks certainly. It would be considerably easier to find a hospital - and safer for Mary - if all the specifics of her condition are known.”

“And I will not be separated from her.” Aiden said.

Nigel smiled. “There is that too. Anyway, I have a few private facilities in mind, but I think there would be less turmoil if Aiden's existence wasn't a complete shock to the staff.”

“Do the rest of us have any input in this?” Andy asked.

“No,” Aiden said. “We are grateful and we know we will continue to need your assistance, but in this matter the final decision must be mine.”

“And if we don't continue this assistance?” Ron asked.

“We will.” Quentin's voice was firm.

“Of course we will.” Ramona said.

Plans were made quickly to wake the final two gargoyles. They decided on attempting the first waking in an hour, the second in four days. Meris had been designated as the one gargoyle who would deal with the media, though Mary wasn't entirely certain how that decision was made. She was fairly certain that it was because he was the only one who said he would do it. Robbie and Quentin both had contacts in major news agencies so they spent the time discussing the best ways to bring the news out.

Mary spent the time relaxing and preparing to wake another. The waking was the one thing she wasn't certain of. Cerex had been awake for such a short time and she wasn't sure how the scarred female, or any of the others, was going to deal with public attention. She knew Aiden was right though, and she had to trust him on this.

Aiden carried her to the garden. She was sure that hearing Nigel articulate the delicacy of her condition had worried him.

Without incident, they wakened an elderly male named Arris. He seemed fascinated by Mary's pregnancy, to the point that Mary was almost embarrassed. Esme assured her it was because of the confusion of waking.

The next few days sped by, and it became clear that Esme had been right. It was also clear that Arris was far more physically frail than the others. By the second night, he had acquired a stout limb which he leaned on heavily.

“Can he hunt?” Mary asked Esme the next evening. She and Cerex usually spent time with Mary every evening. It helped Cerex with her English and provided Esme a chance to make certain Mary was alright.

“No, but that happens to many of our kind who reach advanced age. We will care for him.” She said.

“He seemed so confused in the beginning.”

Esme smiled. “You want to know if his mind is sound.”

Mary felt bad for asking the question. She couldn't quite meet Esme's eyes. “Sometimes that happens to human beings, maybe it doesn't-”

“It happens to us as well.” Esme nodded. “For Arris, I am certain it was the confusion of waking again after so long. He has shown no signs of it since.”

Arris's English was progressing much more slowly than anyone would have expected, but four days later Aiden decided it was best to go ahead with the final waking. They'd all been monitoring the buzz online, but nothing more definitive had come out. There was certainly nothing in the mainstream media. Aiden didn't want to risk waiting. They made arrangements with Robbie and Quentin's contacts. Mary tried to just stay out of that part of it. She knew she couldn't be of any real assistance and she wanted

Again, he brought Mary out to the site. Mary was glad that this part was finally going to be over. She hated the uncertainty of it, and lately the wakings themselves took so much out of her.

The waking itself happened without incident. As usually, the young male they woke took a defensive, angry stance. Unlike all the others, he attacked Aiden. Mary screamed and tried to rush forward. Robbie and Nigel both stopped her. Aiden easily fended off the attack. Calvus and Jerel held the new one still. Aiden exchanged a few words with them. They took the new one off into the darkness and Aiden approached Mary and the others.

“You're hurt!” Mary's couldn't take her eyes off the three thin scratches on his chest, crimson blood was beginning to drip down from them.

“It is nothing, child.” He stroked her cheek gently, and then managed a smile. “Perhaps it is a sign I should begin training again.”

“What happened?” Robbie asked.

“Keldon is a juvenile. In your terms, an adolescent. Our adolescent males go through a period of making displays of dominance and unfortunately, Keldon is going through that phase. Waking after so much time and his drive to assert himself suppressed his wisdom momentarily. I do not think he would attack anyone else, but I do not feel it is wise that he meet any of you just now.” Aiden explained.

“What will you do with him?” Veronica asked.

“I will give him the fight that he so desires and teach him his place. He will not be harmed by it, but he will learn.” Aiden said firmly.

*~*~*~*~*~*

When Aiden returned later that night, the thin scratches had been cleaned and there were no other injuries that Mary could see. It put her a little more at ease. The next night when they met Keldon for the first time, the young male was quiet, respectful, and sporting several large bruises. Still he appeared to be unharmed, just as Aiden had said. The crowd was still present, and still advancing on people trying to enter, but they had lost of their single-mindedness since the curiosity-seekers began arriving and mingling with them.

The days were a blur of research and hurried discussions. When the evening finally arrived Mary felt like it was too soon. She was waiting in the library with Aiden and trying to control her trembling.

Aiden pulled her gently into his lap. “This is the right thing to do.”

“I know.” She snuggled against him. One of his large hands stroked her swollen tummy.

“Tell me what you fear.”

The rumble of his voice was comforting. “I'm afraid someone is going to feel so threatened by your existence that they're going to hurt you or one of the others. I don't know what I would do without you.”

“You will not lose me, child.” He was stroking her arm and the side of her stomach. His touch and the sound of his voice seemed to soothe the baby. He was still inside her at the moment.

“People do awful things to other people who are different. Other sentient beings-”

“And there are just as many who offer kindness to all. We must let this happen and see where it takes us. I worry for you.”

“Me? I'm fine.”

He chuckled. “My son sleeps under your heart, I would worry about you for that reason alone.” He sighed. “Aside from that though, you will bear the brunt of the criticism. It is different for us. This is our nature. You made the choice to be my mate, and to birth a baby that is not fully human or fully gargoyle. I worry your kind will see that as a betrayal of your humanity.”

She shrugged. “I can't control what they say, or what they think. As long as you still love me and the baby, I can deal with whatever they say.”

He kissed the top of her head. “Until I am returned to the Earth.” There was a hitch in his voice.

Before Mary could say anything else there was a sharp knock at the door. Robbie entered.

“Everyone is set up just off the back terrace.” He sounded more nervous than Mary had ever heard before. “Are the two of you ready?”

Mary looked at Aiden and struggled with a smile. “As ready as we'll ever be.” He kissed her softly.

“We had agreed that I would speak first, just as a general welcome. Then you, Meris and Esme will arrive and I will leave the introductions to Meris. He's prepared a statement and will then take questions. Aiden, you and Mary can choose to answer questions if you like, or you can leave that to Meris and I. Is that still how you want things to go?” He asked.

Aiden nodded. “I believe that is the best way.”

Robbie looked at her. “Mary?”

“Aiden's right.”

“Shall we then?” He smiled and helped Mary to her feet.

The entire group was waiting in the hall. Aiden started up the stairs to wait with the other gargoyles. Mary took a deep breath and walked out onto the terrace with the others, her head held high.

She let Nigel steady her while she sat, and tried not to stare at the sea of people in front of her. She didn't think she had ever seen so many cameras or lights. The faces in the harsh glare were expectant and skeptical at the same time. She had no idea what Robbie and Quentin had said to get them all there, but to see so many, she was sure that it had been something dramatic.

Mary knew he was going to say something general, so she didn't bother listening. She was certain that everyone could hear her heart pounding. She didn't even know Robbie's announcement had ended until she heard the leathery flapping that she knew would signal the arrival of the gargoyles. Everyone looked toward the sky. The three of them landed just in front of the gathered crowd. Someone in that sea of hardened faces screamed. Still cameras flashed, video cameras came to life.

Mary could only see the three backs, but she could tell that all three were nervous from the way they carried their wings. For a moment, they stood still. When Aiden nodded, he moved behind Mary. Esme stood next to him. Meris began to speak.

“Thank you all for coming and allowing us to meet you.” He used no notes, but his voice was calm. Looking at the audience, Mary could see that the shock still hadn't worn off. “My name is Meris. The other male I arrived with is Aiden, and the female is Esme. We are gargoyles. It is our nature to become stone during the day while we rest and flesh at night. For centuries, we shared your world with you. You protected us as we rested, and we protected you and your lands when darkness reigned. There were those who felt threatened by our very existence, and those people endeavored to destroy our kind completely. They almost succeeded. There were humans who kept a few of us safe during those dark times and through the intervening centuries.” He gestured to Mary and her group. “These are the descendants of those brave people. The have brought us back from oblivion, and now we are ready to share your world again. We are not monsters, and have no thoughts of being conquerors. We want nothing more than to quietly coexist with you as equals. I thank you for listening. If you have questions, I will do my best to answer them.”

There was silence. For a moment, Mary wasn't certain that there would be any questions at at. Her heart was still pounding in her ears. She looked up at Aiden, and that's when everyone began shouting questions at once.