3I do not own Gargoyles, but Ariana and Morgan are my characters. You first see these two in the story WitchHunt, a collaboration piece I did with gargoyleslady (Now Shadowchild28).
Ariana stood on the parapets looking at the night sky. The moon was full, bathing the young sorceress in silver light. The cool air chilled her skin beneath her black cotton dress.
"Miss Caelum."
Ariana slowly blinked before turning to face Owen. Owen had a slight frown of concern.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," replied Ariana.
There was a dreamy distant tone to her voice that Owen did not like. So was she hearing the call? Puck had been hearing the call of Avalon. Avalon was not calling him or Iris, but Ariana. Why?
"It's almost time," said Ariana.
"I don't understand," said Owen.
Ariana smiled kindly. "No one does."
"Perhaps if you explain it to me, Miss Caelum, I will understand."
Ariana thought for a moment. "Okay. But I hope you have plenty of time. It's a long story."
Puck couldn't help but shine through. "What is time to an immortal?" Owen asked with a wry smile.
Ariana smiled back.
Puck was not sure what it was that made Ariana interesting. Her physical appearance was curious to say the least and her personality was that of a trickster. If Puck didn't know any better, he would believe that Xanatos had a daughter.
Ariana and Owen went inside and into a sitting room. Owen poured two glasses of water, adding a slice of lemon to one. He handed the one with lemon to Ariana.
"It must have been around the same time the gargoyles woke up here in New York," said Ariana. "I was in foster care at the time. It was a complete nightmare. At the time, I knew some magic and I found a spell to locate my blood relatives in my spell book, the Grimorum Argentum. I thought I could handle it."
"But something went wrong," Owen said.
"Very," said Ariana.
1994 A.D.
Ariana woke in the middle of the night. She heard noises, noises that told her to get out of her room. She couldn't do this anymore.
Her long white hair fell in her face as she reached under her bed and grabbed her spell book. She then opened her window. The air was cold considering Ariana was only wearing shorts and a tank top, both white. She climbed out onto the roof and opened the book. It was time to use the spell.
Her bedroom door opened. She didn't have much time. Finding the spell, Ariana focused on what she wanted to do.
"Tempi et intervalia explorare sanguis identicus!"
Silver mist surrounded Ariana and she was gone.
984 A.D.
The apprentice of the Archmage was suspicious of his master. His master sent him to be without supper. The apprentice would not be able to slip out unseen. The Archmage would catch him if he tried; the rooms were so close together.
The apprentice heard strange chanting and caught bright light peeking under the door. He could not understand what was being said, but the apprentice had a bad feeling it was not good. Should he report to Prince Malcolm? No, the Archmage would kill him if he told.
Getting into bed, the apprentice decided to be ignorant about his master's doings. Closing his eyes, there was a flash of silver light. The apprentice jumped up and gasped. In the middle of the room with an equally shocked expression was a young woman who easily could have been the apprentice's twin. She had the same long white hair, same opaque blue slanted eyes, narrow face, long slender hands, and pale skin. She was dressed scandalously, her arms and legs bare.
The woman's lips parted and a scream began to rise in her mouth.
"Please, do not scream!" the apprentice quickly said. "You will get us both in trouble."
She closed her mouth. Her eyes darted around the room. The apprentice could see that she was scared and confused. He got out of bed and approached her, getting on the floor a few feet from her. He put out his hand to her. The woman took the hand he offered to her. The apprentice smiled and noticed a book laying open in front of her. She saw he was looking at it and she quickly snatched it up.
"I will not take it," he said kindly. He frowned slightly. "Can you understand me?"
She nodded.
The apprentice smiled. "Can you tell me your name, my lady? Or how you came into my room?"
She stared at him for a second before erupting into a fit of giggles. "'My lady'?" she repeated. "That's a first. My name's Ariana. As for popping up in your room, apparently I did a botched job on a spell." She looked at the apprentice before smirking. "Maybe not entirely."
The apprentice frowned. The way she spoke was unlike anything he ever heard before. "Your spell?"
"I was trying to locate a blood relative," said Ariana. "But I wasn't expecting to make such a jump back in time. And I seriously doubt that I'm anywhere close to home. I'm kinda afraid to ask, but where and when am I?"
The apprentice gave her a gentle smile, hoping to comfort the strange woman. "You are at Castle Wyvern in Scotland. It is the year of Our Lord 984."
Ariana's face fell. "984?" she squeaked. She let out a whistle. "I'm a long way from home." She looked at him. "It may be best if I don't tell you."
"I understand."
"What's your name?" asked Ariana.
The apprentice stared. "My name?"
"Uh, yeah," said Ariana.
"Most just call me 'the apprentice' or 'the Archmage's boy'," he replied.
"Well, I want your name," said Ariana.
"Myrddin."
"Hello, Myrddin," said Ariana.
They smiled at each other for a long moment, feeling a connection between them, like they were family meeting for the first time in a long time. Myrddin noticed that Ariana was shivering.
"Here," he said, getting up and walking over to his clothes chest. "You cannot be walking around in your underclothes." Myrddin handed her one of the gray robes that the Archmage made him wear. He then got her a pair of his old shoes that he had outgrown. They would fit Ariana nicely.
"Thank you," said Ariana, adjusting the robe.
Myrddin stared at Ariana with a smile.
Ariana looked at him. "Careful. I might take that look the wrong way." She batted her eyes at him.
Myrddin gasped and blushed, quickly looking away.
Ariana smirked. "It's fine." She sighed. "I have a feeling that we're stuck in this room."
"My master sent me to my room. I suspect he is planning something sinister," said Myrddin.
Ariana frowned. "Then why don't you do something about it?"
"He is my master," Myrddin said fearfully. "I cannot defy him. He is too powerful. I am only an apprentice. He has many more years of experience and the Grimorum Arcanorum."
"So you're going to sit here and wait for something bad to happen?" asked Ariana. She held up her spell book. "Isn't there someone you care about? What if your master goes after them?"
Myrddin thought about young Princess Katherine. "You are right," he said. "Let me see your spell book."
Ariana handed Myrddin her spell book.
"Grimorum Argentum," Myrddin said.
"What's that?" Ariana asked.
"The name of this spell book," said Myrddin. "The Archmage talked about a family of sorcerers called the Argentum Magi. I do not know much about them."
There was a noise outside the door, a chanting. Ariana and Myrddin looked at each other. Listening carefully they heard what was being said.
"Go and destroy Prince Malcolm," said the Archmage.
Myrddin gasped. "No," he breathed.
"I think it's safe to say that we have to do something now," said Ariana.
There were footsteps coming to the door.
"He is coming!" said Myrddin, pushing Ariana behind the clothes chest. "Hide!"
Ariana hid and Myrddin jumped back into bed. The Archmage came in a second later. He walked over to Myrddin and shook him awake.
Myrddin opened his eyes, looking as drowsy as he could since he was supposed to be asleep. "Yes, master?" he asked. "What is it?"
"Take this, boy," said the Archmage, pressing a medallion into Myrddin's hand.
"What is this?" asked Myrddin.
"Don't ask questions," snapped the Archmage and he left.
Ariana came out of hiding and Myrddin got up.
"What is that?" asked Ariana.
"I do not know," said Myrddin.
Ariana took out her spell book and began searching for answers. She kept looking at the medallion and then at illustrations in the book. The marks on the medallion looked like some sort of protection design.
"Here!" said Ariana, putting her finger to an illustration that matched the marks on the medallion. "It's a talisman to defend against a succubus. The marks are supposed to deter them from attacking the possessor."
"The Archmage is using a succubus to attack the prince," said Myrddin. "We must do something!"
Ariana was already flipping through pages of her spell book to find a solution to their problem. "The only thing I can find that may work is enchanted iron," she said. "But where are we going to find that?"
"Iron is easy to find around here," said Myrddin. "I may be able to enchant it."
"Then all we have to do is find the succubus," said Ariana.
Myrddin put his ear to the door. "It sounds like the Archmage has retired for the night," he said. "As long as we are silent, we can move around freely."
They immediately found their plan difficult. It should have been so simple, but Ariana was not from this time or place. One look from someone in the castle and she would be called a witch and be thrown into the dungeon. She was glad that Myrddin had found a spell to make her invisible. Like a thief in the night, Ariana slunk behind Myrddin like his own shadow, keeping well within earshot of his whisperings.
"First the iron," Myrddin was muttering to her. "Then we shall see if we can find a spell in your book to enchant it."
"That sounds good," Ariana whispered, putting her mouth close to his ear.
They went outside and hurried over to the royal blacksmith to see if they could find the iron they needed.
"It would help if we would know what shape we needed," muttered Ariana, searching through some scrap pieces that would not be missed.
"I did not think of that," said Myrddin. He moved over to where there was more scrap.
"Ouch!" yelped Ariana. "You stepped on my foot."
"Sorry," replied Myrddin. He began searching the next pile of scrap. "I think I found a piece," he said, holding up a jagged piece. "What do you think — oh, where are you?"
"Ouch!" Ariana yelped again. "Oh, for heaven's sakes!" She snapped her fingers and became visible. Myrddin stared at her, his mouth open. "What?"
"How did you do that?" he asked. "I have to say an incantation to cast and remove a spell. And you need your spell book to access your magic, too. You snapped your fingers."
Ariana shrugged. "I picture what I want to do and I do it," she said. "Sometimes I have my spell book with me, like now — it's under my clothes. Isn't it the same for you?"
"No, it is not," said Myrddin. "How long have you been practicing magic?"
"I'm fourteen now, so about seven, eight years," replied Ariana.
"Who is your mentor?"
"I have none," said Ariana. "I teach myself."
Myrddin gasped. "That's dangerous. And insane! You could hurt yourself. A spell could backfire and you could do serious injury to yourself. You can even die!"
"Hello? How do you think I wound up in this mess in the first place?" asked Ariana. "Let's just find what we need and get. I've got a bad feeling about all this."
Myrddin nodded and they went back to searching the scrap iron.
After several minutes, Ariana sighed in frustration. "We're not getting anywhere." She walked over to where there were some knives finished on a table. "These would do, wouldn't they?" She held one up for Myrddin to see.
"That would be stealing," said Myrddin. "We could be hanged for that."
"Considering what it is for, I doubt anyone would mind," said Ariana. "We can always put them back when we're finished with them."
Myrddin was going to argue with Ariana, but a noise outside stopped him. "Someone's coming!"
"Invisibilis," whispered Ariana, and she disappeared from Myrddin's sight.
Myrddin hid in the shadows.
What Ariana saw made her cover her mouth and even though she was invisible, she hid. It was a monster of sorts. It was bipedal, tall, looking a little overweight, with four fingers on each hand tipped with talons, wings, and a long tail. Its coloring was brown, and it had white hair and a white beard, its face looking old. It wore a loincloth, leggings, and an armored vest of sorts. Its eyes were accustomed to darkness and easily made out Myrddin's pale hair and gray robes.
"And what would ye be doin' in here, lad?" it asked, its voice deep and gravelly.
Ariana could tell the voice was male and she stopped calling the monster "it".
"My master wanted me to get some scrap metal," replied Myrddin.
Ariana selected two long, narrow daggers from the table and tucked them under robes. As soon as she touched them, they became invisible.
"A little late in the evening to be teaching," he said. He looked at Myrddin closely. "What are you really up to, boy?"
There was a clatter as Ariana knocked several knives and axes to the floor. She quickly moved away and to the door. The monster pushed Myrddin aside and came into the work area.
"Come out!" he called, his eyes burning white.
Ariana touched Myrddin's shoulder. "Let's go," she whispered.
Myrddin ran back into the castle with Ariana right behind him.
"That was close," he whispered to Ariana once they were safely in an unused room of the castle.
"What was that?" asked Ariana.
"A gargoyle," replied Myrddin. "That particular one is the leader of the gargoyle clan. They protect the castle."
"There are more?" asked Ariana.
"Yes," replied Myrddin. "It is wise not to cross them, Ariana. They may see you as a threat."
Ariana swallowed hard. "I don't want to think about what they'll do to me."
There was a shout of agony that echoed throughout the corridor. Myrddin and Ariana looked at each other before rushing out to see what it was. They found a guard lying on the floor, his eyes glazed over and his breath highly irregular.
"Think it's safe to say that the succubus is on the loose," said Ariana, glancing below the belt of the guard.
"What do we do?" asked Myrddin.
"Over here, men!" a guard from down the corridor shouted.
"Right now, I would say we get out of here," said Ariana.
The two of them ran off. They ran up the stairs to find a place to hide for the time being. That place happened to be the royal wing where Prince Malcolm and Princess Katherine slept.
"We cannot be here," said Myrddin.
"It's perfect," said Ariana. "Now we can keep an eye on the prince. Let's get these daggers enchanted awhile. I do not want to be caught off-guard."
They found a dark corner and opened Ariana's spell book. Ariana found how to enchant the iron so it could harm a succubus.
"This requires a powerful sorcerer to cast the spell," said Myrddin. "I do not think I can do it."
Ariana shook her head. "I cannot read Latin very well."
"It is not in Latin," said Myrddin.
"What?" Ariana looked at the spell again. She gasped. "Spanish! Spanish is something I understand."
They placed the daggers in front of Ariana.
"Are you sure I have cast this?" asked Ariana. "The incantation is simple enough."
Myrddin nodded. "It requires a great amount of magic," he explained. "You appear to have plenty to spare."
"If you say so," she said. Ariana looked at the daggers and then at the spell she had to recite. "Hierro frio destrue la demonia de sexual."
There was a bright light that exploded throughout the corridor. When it faded, the blades of the daggers were glowing.
"I can see why you didn't want to cast that one," said Ariana. She felt like she was going to be sick.
"Are you all right?" asked Myrddin.
"I'm fine," said Ariana. "I don't think I can use the invisibility spell anymore."
They each picked up a blade and slipped it under their robes.
"How much attention do you think we attracted?" asked Ariana.
Myrddin listened carefully for a moment. "None by the sound of things. The guards are probably tending to their own and searching for the one who harmed him."
"Good luck finding her," said Ariana. "That succubus is probably searching for the prince right now. That guard was an appetizer. Prince Malcolm's the main course."
"All we can do now is listen and wait," said Myrddin. "I do not like the idea, but what else can we do?"
Myrddin pulled up the hood of his robes and reached out to Ariana and pulled her hood up as well.
"As long as no one looks at our faces, we should be able to move without suspicion," he said.
There was a shriek that made them both jump.
"Princess!" cried Myrddin.
"Myrddin, wait!" Ariana called as he dashed off. "Oh, darn it!"
Myrddin burst into Princess Katherine's room. She was sitting up in bed staring at the wall. She looked at Myrddin and pointed to the wall. "There was something there! I saw it move. It disappeared when I screamed."
There was another yell of agony from a man. Myrddin went to the princess and Ariana ran toward the yell.
"Oh, great," she muttered.
She found another guard on the floor in the same state they found the first though this man was only mildly stunned.
The guard was trying to speak.
"I already know," whispered Ariana. "I am trying my best to find it."
Prince Malcolm rushed into his daughter's bedchamber. "Katherine!"
"She is all right, your majesty," Myrddin quickly said. He was sitting on the bed, holding the crying princess.
Prince Malcolm came over to them. "Katherine, what happened?"
"It was moving over there," she cried, pointing to the wall.
"What was?" asked the prince.
"A shadow," replied Princess Katherine.
Prince Malcolm smiled kindly. "It was only a shadow, Katherine. It cannot harm you."
"It did not belong there," Princess Katherine cried, now more out of frustration than fear.
Meanwhile, Ariana was tending to the guard. She heard footsteps in the corridor. Ariana forced herself to become invisible and she darted to an alcove to hide in case the spell failed.
An old man with a long white beard and long white hair dressed in black and gray robes came around the corner.
"Stupid creature!" he spat.
Ariana recognized the voice. This was the Archmage.
"It goes after whatever man it can find," he growled.
Ariana pressed herself further into the shadows. Her foot scraped across the stone floor.
"Who's there?" demanded the Archmage.
Ariana thought this was insane that he could hear her foot move across the floor. Then again, guilty conscience could make anyone jumpy. Maybe she could use this to her advantage.
The Archmage heard a woman humming somewhere. He looked around and saw no one. The voice was sweet and inviting.
"The succubus," he breathed in horror, reaching for his protection talisman. The Archmage could not find it. He panicked, looking at every dark corner. The singing became louder. "Leave me alone!" the Archmage cried out, his voice quivering.
It took almost everything Ariana had not to burst out laughing.
The Archmage turned and ran out of the corridor.
Ariana put her hand to her mouth and snickered. Wait until Myrddin heard how much of a coward his master was.
"What a wuss," she whispered into her hand.
Now to go help Myrddin.
"What is going on?" The old gargoyle leader appeared on the princess' balcony.
Prince Malcolm looked up and smiled. "She had a bad dream," he said.
"It wasn't a dream!" insisted Princess Katherine.
Prince Malcolm walked over to the elder gargoyle. Together they walked outside.
"She says she saw a shadow that was not supposed to be there," Prince Malcolm said easily.
"She may have seen such a thing, my liege," said the gargoyle. "There have been strange happenings on this night."
Prince Malcolm frowned. "Such as?"
"I found the Archmage's boy in the blacksmith's forge earlier this evening," said the gargoyle. "He was up to something. He said his master was teaching a lesson and he needed pieces of iron. I didn't believe him. When I was about to confront him, there was a crash. I investigated, but found nothing. It was enough time for the lad to run back into the castle."
"You don't believe the boy would hurt Katherine, do you?" asked Prince Malcolm. "He's very attached to her."
"Aye, that be true," said the gargoyle. "I don't believe the lad would intentionally harm the princess. The Archmage frightens the lad. He may do something just to avoid punishment."
Prince Malcolm turned to look through the window at his daughter. The apprentice was trying to calm her and lull her back to sleep. Something about his expression appeared strained. Was the boy trying to protect himself by serving the Archmage? Was the Archmage trying to harm his daughter?
Myrddin felt himself being watched by the prince and the gargoyle. He busied himself with trying to calm Princess Katherine. He almost jumped out of his skin when there was a light tap on his shoulder and he could not see anyone.
"Go back to sleep, princess," Myrddin said. "It was nothing. Don't worry." He smiled at her.
Princess Katherine got back under the covers and tried to sleep.
Myrddin got up and quickly exited the room, soft footsteps following close behind him.
"Ariana?"
"I'm here," she said. She became visible. Her face was pale and her cheeks were flushed as if she were feverish. "I don't think it's such a good idea for me to keep doing that."
Myrddin reached out and caught Ariana's waist as she began to sink to the floor. Ariana placed her full weight on him. Myrddin found how light she was. Yes, he had seen her when she first appeared in his room in nothing but her underclothes, but that had given him a poor indication of her weight. She was so light, too light to be healthy.
Ariana giggled. "You should have seen the look on the Archmage's face when I pretended to be the succubus. He almost wet himself." She laughed.
Myrddin shushed her and led her to a place where she could sit and rest for a moment.
"That girl's cute," said Ariana. "That's the princess?"
"Yes," replied Myrddin. He looked at Ariana critically. "We should return to my room. You need to rest."
"No," said Ariana. "I can keep going. Besides, what if that thing shows up again? We may only have one shot at getting it. No, we should stay nearby."
Myrddin nodded. Ariana was right. He wished that he could be brave like her. Instead he slunk in the shadows like a complete coward, afraid of what the Archmage would do to him. How many times had Myrddin witnessed the sadistic experiments of his master? It was understandable that he did not want to cross his master.
Ariana was taken to the far end of the royal wing and sat in the room where Princess Katherine was tutored. Myrddin kept alert for anyone who may come into the room.
Myrddin felt something in his pocket. He took out the talisman that the Archmage had given him. Walked to the window and opened it.
"What are you doing?" asked Ariana.
Myrddin hurled the talisman out the window and into the sea.
"The succubus wouldn't come near us if I kept that," he said, closing the window.
Ariana nodded.
"Ariana, I have something to ask," Myrddin said, unable to meet her eyes.
"What's that?" asked Ariana, tilting her head questioningly.
"How did you become so brave?" asked Myrddin.
Ariana laughed. "What do you mean? I'm not brave," she said.
"Yes, you are," said Myrddin, now meeting her eyes. "You are not afraid to face a succubus. You transported yourself back in time. I have done none of that. I am not brave enough to face my own master."
"But, Myrddin, you have," said Ariana, smiling. "You have faced him. You are going against him right now for trying to help the prince and destroying the succubus." She got up and walked over to him, pulling her hood down. "Myrddin, I think the question you should be asking is where does your loyalty lay? Do you serve the Archmage or Prince Malcolm?"
Myrddin stared at her. Where did his loyalty lay? With the man who was his master and yet mistreated him? Or with the man who showed him kindness?
Ariana could see that Myrddin made a decision.
Later that night, they felt a chill in the room. The door was closed and so were the windows. Myrddin and Ariana looked at each other. Saying nothing, they got up, pulled up their hoods and drew their enchanted daggers, and left the room.
There was a muffled cry that came out of Prince Malcolm's bedchamber. Ariana and Myrddin found the guards that were supposed to be protecting him lying unconscious on the floor, victims of the evil that lurked within.
They burst into the room to see the dark shadow looming over Prince Malcolm. Prince Malcolm thrashed in his sleep, unaware that the succubus was upon him.
Myrddin rushed forward and stabbed it in the back. It let out a shriek and whirled on the young magus. Ariana cut its hand. It turned to her and sent her flying across the room.
The commotion woke the prince. By the now the succubus had moved for Myrddin. Prince Malcolm sat up and let out a warning cry. Ariana's enchanted dagger struck the succubus in the back. Myrddin thrust his blade into its chest. It made a sickening gurgling sound before it disappeared.
"What sorcery is this?" Prince Malcolm asked.
Myrddin let out a sigh and put his hood down. "It's dead. Thank the stars."
Prince Malcolm got out of bed and went to Myrddin's side. "Are you all right, lad?" he asked.
"Yes, your highness," said Myrddin. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Prince Malcolm said with a smile. He looked at where the succubus had been. Two long narrow daggers lay on the floor.
Myrddin followed the prince's eyes. "Oh, no," he breathed, remembering his friend. He got to his feet and hurried to the other side of the room. "Ariana, are you all right?"
Ariana moaned and Myrddin got her to her knees.
Prince Malcolm walked over to them, frowning at the sight.
"Can you stand?" asked Myrddin.
"I can try," said Ariana.
Myrddin helped Ariana to her feet, Ariana putting her full weight on him once more.
"Sit her down, lad," said Prince Malcolm, motioning to his bed. "This brave woman deserves a rest."
The gargoyle leader burst into the room. "What's going on in here?" he asked, looking around. "I found the guards unconscious outside your room. Are you all right, my liege?"
"I'm fine, old friend," said Prince Malcolm, smiling. He turned to Myrddin and Ariana. "These two saved my life."
The gargoyle calmed some.
Prince Malcolm kneeled in front of Ariana, trying to get a glimpse of her face. Ariana pulled her hood up farther.
"There is no need to be shy, lass," the prince chuckled. He pulled her hood back and jumped. He looked at Ariana and then to Myrddin.
"Your highness?" the gargoyle asked.
"They could be twins!" Prince Malcolm said in shock.
Ariana pulled back her hood to show her face. The gargoyle's eyes went wide.
"This does not leave this room," said Prince Malcolm said to the gargoyle and to Myrddin. "Lad, tell us what happened."
Myrddin told them everything from the plot of the Archmage to Ariana's magical arrival to the enchanted daggers to how they saved the prince.
Prince Malcolm was furious. "I will see to it that the Archmage is banished for this." His expression softened momentarily as he looked at Myrddin. "And you shall be rewarded."
The prince left the room calling for his guards.
Myrddin turned to Ariana. "What will you do?" he asked.
Ariana pulled out her spell book. "Try to get home," she said. "Hopefully there's a spell in here that will take me home."
"Good luck to ye, lass," said the gargoyle.
Ariana nodded to him.
"I hope I can see you again," said Myrddin slowly. "You said that you were looking for a blood relative when you came here. Well, I know no blood family here in Castle Wyvern. Even if we are very distant cousins, it is a joy for me to know that I have someone out there. No matter where in time they reside."
"I hope one day I can see you again, too," said Ariana.
There was a bright flash of light and Ariana let out a cry of surprise. When the light faded, Ariana was gone.
"The next thing I know I'm back on the roof and no time had passed," Ariana finished. "Turned out to be my little foster sister coming into my room because she had a bad dream. I thought it was something else."
"So Hudson knew you from a thousand years ago," said Owen. "Why did he not say anything?"
Ariana shrugged. "Who knows? I changed a lot in the past few years. He probably never made the connection until he saw me with my hair white instead of silver. And maybe he just didn't want to say anything. Either way, it doesn't bother me."
Ariana looked at her watch. "I better go. I have to be at the health food store to open in the morning. I don't want to sleep through my alarm clock again."
"I will show you out," said Owen.
"Thanks," said Ariana.
They walked to the elevators together.
"Good night, Miss Caelum," said Owen with a bow.
"'Night, Owen," said Ariana.
Ariana had left a few things out of her story. She didn't want to share them with Owen because she wasn't sure what had happened herself. She did not go home right away. Instead she appeared on a bluff, a strange woman in front of her. The woman had given her the locket that Ariana wore around her neck. It was later that Ariana found out what the locket was for. Inside was a mirror that showed Ariana anything she asked. There was also a lens that when the two halves of the locket were opened completely, she could look through it and see the true form of something or magic in an item. Ariana had used it once to see what Owen truly looked like.
When Ariana met the gargoyles, they had told her their adventures. She learned who that woman might have been. It was a possibility that the woman Ariana met that night was Titania, Queen of the Third Race.
Ariana went home. Morgan was in bed and Ruth was roaming the kitchen.
"You are home late," said Ruth.
"I stayed longer than I thought," said Ariana. "Good night, Ruth."
Ariana went back to her bed and went to sleep.
