1 - A Voice From The Other World... - Chapter III
#3 of Shadowdancer
Shadowdancer
By Dracon
[Notice: The characters and events within are inspired by the "Gargoyles" TV Series and as such credit goes to the creators of said series. If any characters appear in the story from said series, those characters belong to their creators.
Should anyone wish to use the characters or events within in their own works, permission is hereby granted to do so. I just ask that you let me know if you are going to do so and provide credit in your work.
Underage viewers should not read this series, and all readers do so at their own risk.]
"A Voice From The Other World..."
----Chapter III----
Jamie looked around the room for inspiration. Truly, this was an amazing mess she'd gotten herself into. She'd all but promised to lead a rescue mission for a woman she'd never met, using magic of all things.
Something she had no idea how to use, of course. Her first thought was to try looking at one of those tomes, but doubt plagued her. What if she couldn't actually use magic?
And, did she really even want to return to her world? There, she was nothing, just another college student, but here, she might be able to make a place for herself with this so-called clan.
Deciding to delay her study for the time being, she instead followed her instinct and checked the computer system to try and figure what all is different in this world.
Out of curiosity, she attempted to look at major holding companies, trying to find rumors that might hint at which ones Branson controlled. There were only a few, surprisingly, that she was not familiar with.
One that caught her eye was the "Xanatos Enterprises" company, which seemed to have its grip on many high-tech industries. It didn't appear to be Branson's company, however, as its CEO was well-known as a charismatic man, certainly not someone who hid in the shadows.
Branson appeared to have covered his tracks fairly well, as she looked for several hours and could not find anything that directly pointed to him.
Frustrated, though also somewhat proud of Branson, she decided to look at that tome on theory to pass the remaining time before sunrise.
When she opened it, she noted that it seemed fairly recent, yet there was a stamp on the inner cover that read "C 1412", which seemed to indicate a year. 1412 A.D., perhaps?
The tome was typed, which really threw that theory for a loop, and expertly bound. She flipped toward the first real page, past the table of contents, and noticed a blue-colored leaf bound into the book. When she examined it, she discovered a note from Jessica.
The note read, "Archival Note - On the Nature of the Elseworld, 1412 C.E.
This tome was originally written in Italy by a scholar with magical training, as a collection of theories about what I call the Astral Plane. While many of them are hopeless out of date, like the work of Newton, they still provide a useful simulative layer to aid in visualization. This copy is translated from the Italian, with footnotes added. Printed in 2019, recommended for novice magic users."
That explained the odd appearance, and reconciled the date nicely.
It also seemed much more user-friendly than the obscure, ancient, crumbling tomes of the old horror stories Jamie had read. She scanned through the introduction, trying to wrap her mind around what it was telling her.
The book asserted that there was (yet another!) world connected to ours, generated in some obscure way by life in our world.
Yet, it also claimed that there was also some element of our world generated by this "Elseworld", providing an odd chicken-and-egg scenario to puzzle over.
Jamie read for several hours, engrossed in the material. While she had expected it to be either utterly dry and boring or else utterly hokey and new agey, it was actually written in a very down to earth, matter-of-fact manner.
She noticed a faint discomfort while she read, but couldn't quite place it, and assumed it must just be from sitting too long in one position.
The book explained the basics of magic, albeit in very archaic terminology and analogy, but the footnotes from Jessica helped her follow along.
It appeared that magic use was essentially the act of applying one's will to energy from this 'Elseworld' to coerce it into performing the task at hand.
Generally, this relied on some sort of focus to act as a conduit for the energy, the commands to be performed, in the form of words, gestures, or thoughts, and a great deal of concentration on the part of the wielder to ensure that it acted in a controlled manner.
Jamie found herself growing frustrated with the book over time, though, because while it provided a number of fascinating theories as to how this magical energy functioned, it did not furnish any advice on how to actually make use of it.
She still harbored some doubts as to the validity of the theories, given that she had lived all her life without any faith in magic, but the style of the theories in the tome made it seem less 'mystical' and more like some previously unexplored aspect of science, and Jamie found that much easier to accept.
She stretched, feeling slightly stiff because of how long she had been resting in one place. Standing, she noted that something felt somehow off, though given how unfamiliar this form still seemed, it was hard to tell.
It took her a moment to realize what it was that was bothering her. She raised her arms, and held them in front of her. It required more of a bend than before; her bosom must have grown somehow!
She returned to the closet, removed the light outer shirt she'd put on, and examined herself in the mirror once more.
Yes, they appeared slightly larger than before, projecting a little bit further. They felt warm against her claws and faintly... tight, and examining them sparked a faint memory.
She started to stroke her nipples, and a low moan arose in her throat from the sensation.
She looked at her claw, and her eyes went wide as she sees a thick, white liquid on it. She raised her claw to her face, and noted that there was a faint shimmer to the liquid, almost a prismatic effect.
Licking at it, Jamie tasted a rich flavor unlike anything she'd tasted before.
She paused, and thought about this for a moment. Not only was her new form an absolute amazon of a... Gargoyle, was it? She also seemed to be... lactating. Of course, maybe that was normal for women of this species.
The milk certainly tasted wonderful, though. She looked around from habit, grinned, and raised a warm, heavy breast in her arms.
Her biceps strained against the weight, and she tilted the dainty nipple to her mouth, drinking deeply of her own bounty. After an extremely satisfying minute, she switched to the other breast, tried to even them off.
A thought occurred to her. With Elayne 'on staff' here, perhaps she was be the right person to ask about this phenomenon.
She thought of asking Branson, but wasn't sure she trusted him quite that far, yet. Especially given how they met! She put on the over shirt, and checked the map to figure out a reasonable route to the workshop.
She knew she was close when she felt the walls rattle with the heavy bass from Elayne's sound system.
She knocked on the door of the workshop, but did not get an answer back, presumably unheard through the music. She walked in and shouted, "YO, ELAYNE," as Branson did.
Elayne motioned toward the stereo, turned with a single graceful step, and put up her goggles. "Hoi, Jamie! Whatcha need?"
Jamie cleared her throat, and asked, "Umm... could I ask you a personal question?"
The smaller gargoyle shrugged and said, "Sure. Anything for you. Fire away!"
With a moment's hesitation, Jamie tried to figure out the best way to phrase the question, and finally decided to ask it plainly. "Elayne, do you... produce milk?"
This was apparently not the question Elayne had expected, and a moment of silence stretched between the two of them, but she took a deep breath and spoke calmly. "No... we're like humans that way, that only happens when we're with newborns. Well, newly hatched, anyway."
This made Jamie even more confused then before, and she queried, "So why do I, then?"
"You've got me," Elayne shrugged, and then said with a laugh, "But if you figure it out, you tell me, okay? Sounds like a wicked trick. Jessica had it figured out, she never told me how, but it was easy enough to see, y'know?" She poked Jamie in the breast to emphasize her point.
Jamie smiled, a little embarrassed. "Yeah, I kind of figured that out myself. It was awfully startling, let me tell you."
With a mischievous smirk, Elayne agreed, "I bet! Probably kinda fun, though, right?"
Blushing, Jamie nodded, "Just don't tell Branson or Trent, though, okay?"
A twinkle in her eye, Elayne nodded, "Sure thing, just us girls. Oh, by the way, since you're here, I've got something for you." She walked over to one of the cabinets along the wall, Jamie in tow, and opened it with a thumb press, revealing a startling array of glittering metal.
It took Jamie a moment to realize that these were weapons, and there must have been at least two dozen of them!
"Elayne! What in the world is this? What kind of an army are you supplying with all this?" Jamie said with a gasp.
Elayne chuckled, and shook her head. "This is just for the four of us, as well as a few extras I've made up along the way. You never know when you might need some superior firepower. But here, I got this fixed up for you."
With an unladylike grunt, she pulled a massive, wavy-bladed sword off the rack and held it out on her two hands toward Jamie. She picked it up, carefully, and was puzzled by the weight of it, or rather, the lack thereof.
It seemed like it should have been quite heavy, by the way Elayne reacted to it, but in Jamie's hands, it seemed solid, but not all that weighty. "How heavy is this, Elayne? You seemed to struggle with it a little."
Elayne sighed, looking slightly envious. "That thing weighs about 30 pounds, girl. You're just very, very, very strong. Go on, give it a swing. Jessica did a number on it, but I've got it put back together, and better than before, I think."
Stepping back, Jamie did so. While she was no expert on swords, it did seem to move well in her hand, cutting through the air with a deceptively high whistle. She noted the well-placed balance of the blade, whether holding with one hand or two. It seemed to fit her hands well, obviously custom-fitted.
She looked at Elayne. "Did you... make this blade?"
Smiling, Elayne nodded. "Yup. One of my better pieces of work, I think. Do ya like it?"
Jamie agreed, "Yes, it's very impressive. But... what is it? I've never seen one like it."
Elayne walked over to one of the shelves and pulled out a thin book. She handed it to Jamie, commenting, "Jessica gave me this as a pattern, some interestin' philosophy in there. It's called a Keris sword, and it's as much a magical focus as a weapon, according to the book. This one is made from meteoric iron alloyed into high-carbon steel, then machine folded. Oh yeah, and the edges have a thin layer of tungsten carbide electroplated to them. Gives it a nice kick, heh."
Jamie looked at it in awe, saying, "I just wish I knew how to use it."
Elayne frowned, but then brightened back up. "I'll give you a few tips now, and see if Trent might want to show you more tomorrow. He's good with a sword, y'know?"
Thinking that was be a good idea, Jamie also asked about Branson.
Shrugging, Elayne shook her head. "He's never used one, near as I know. He likes to use his hands, or his pistols. Speakin' of which, if you see him before I do, let him know I've got the Carnivore fixed up for him."
She motioned for Jamie to set her sword down on the workbench and then tied it into an elaborate sheath.
Elayne reached into the cabinet and pulled out two long, padded crosses. She tossed one to Jamie and gripped the other tightly. "This is called a 'boffer'. Recreationists sometimes use 'em to train in sword fighting. Duct tape around padding around PVC pipe. Tough, gives a good swing, but you probably won't do more than give a bruise."
Elayne gave the oversized woman a half-hour long lesson on how to use them. She did not actually fight against Jamie, since there was such a disparity of size and strength, but still guided the larger gargoyle along.
Finally, though, she called a halt. "Okay, if I try to teach you much more, you're going to pick up bad habits. I'll leave the rest up to Trent. You've got a good head for it, though, you're picking it up quickly."
With that, she took the boffers back and sealed up the cabinet again. Jamie thought of asking what good swords would do against gunmen, but looked at how happy Elayne seemed, and decided to hold off.
Looking at the clock, Elayne commented, "It'll be dawn in about two hours. I've still got some work to be done, maybe you'd like to give me a hand?"
Jamie was a little nervous about the idea. "I've never done metalworking before, maybe I should pass..."
Elayne laughed and said, "You think I was trained? Hah! Nahh, all you need are the right tools and some common sense, and I don't think that'll be a problem for ya. Just give it a shot, alright?"
With a recommendation like that, Jamie found it hard to refuse.
Elayne gave Jamie the simpler work and performed the more complex herself. Jamie found the work challenging, but not impossibly so. There were reference manuals in the workshop to aid her, and Elayne was always willing to offer advice when needed. After she had gotten so frustrated with her research, this work, which she could actually understand, helped to relax Jamie. She had started to wonder if she would be able to be of any help to this clan, but that concern started to fade.
With only half an hour to go before sunrise, Elayne called a halt to the work. "We usually meet up on the roof a little early and discuss what we did during the night. Kinda like sitting around the dinner table, y'know?"
Jamie nodded, saying, "Branson mentioned he'd been worried when Jessica didn't show up at 'the usual time', which would make sense, given that I 'showed up' a few hours before dawn."
Elayne and Jamie arrived on the deck first, but Trent arrived a few minutes later. Elayne flagged him down and discussed Jamie's training with him. "She seems to have a good feel for the blade, but she just doesn't have the skill yet."
Trent seemed a little wary, wondering aloud, "Look, Elayne, I know you want to help, but she's not even going to be here for long, you know that."
Elayne shrugged, saying, "Who knows how long that'll take, and what could happen by then. Look... Trent... do it for me, would ya?"
Shaking his head in surrender, Trent said, "Alright, alright. You're making a mistake, but I'll do it."
He turned to Jamie. "I'll give you an hour after sunset t' get ready, and you may want to get on some simpler clothes."
Puzzled, Jamie asked, "Why's that?"
He shrugs, saying, "You'll heal, they won't. I daresay you're prob'bly not much of a seamstress, and I'll be damned if I'll do it for you."
A door slammed, the three turned to see Branson, and Jamie was surprised to see how distraught he looked.
His hair was disarrayed, looking like he had been running sweaty hands through it, and his eyes were bloodshot and raw. A sudden realization hit her like a lightning bolt; the reason he'd left so abruptly earlier hadn't been anger... it was sorrow!
While the other two were stunned into silence, Jamie dashed forward.
Knowing that, at least inadvertently she was the one reasonable for his sorrow, she felt a responsibility to try and comfort him. She wrapped her arms around him, curled her wings around the two of them.
He collapsed into her strong arms, sobbed in her embrace.
His melancholia burned itself out quickly enough, which left him numb and feeling hollow inside. She tried to reassure him, but he pushed against her.
She let go, and asked what was bothering him. He wiped at his eyes, swallowed to clear his throat. "It's... Jessica. I can't... feel her, Jamie. I can't feel her presence."
Jamie realized that she must have reminded him of... her. She suddenly understood why he pushed away. "I'm sorry, Branson. I didn't know."
He shook his head, shaggy hair waving, "How could you? You did what you thought was right, that's the important thing."
Heading to the far side of the roof, Branson said sadly, "Just leave me be, give me time."
Considering going after him, Jamie decided to heed his wishes. Looking at the other two, she asked for advice.
Distraught, Trent said, "Nothing for it, then. I've been here long enough to know that Branson knows what he's about. Give him that time he needs, he'll be good as new."
Frowning, Elayne had to agree with that assessment, though it hurt to do so. "There's not much time left before sunrise, places everyone!"
Jamie found a solid place to perch, but heard a metallic rasp to her left. Glancing from side to side, Jamie saw Elayne crouched down, one hand extended in a beckoning motion.
But to the left, she saw Trent, and the sight made her gasp. He stood perfectly erect, a large broadsword grounded point-down on the roof, with both hands on the guards, his wings fully extended, looking for all the world like some sort of avenging angel.
Before she could say anything, though, the first morning rays reached her, and she froze into stone...