Chapter Text
1995 A.D., February 10th, 2:35 AM, ET
David Xanatos stood in his office in the western quarter of the castle, contemplating the horizon. The majority portion of the original stone wall had been replaced with gleaming steel frames and thick glare-resistant glass, allowing for an unimpeded view of the setting sun when it spilled a spectrum of warm light over the clouds. Xanatos had come to view the office’s position as more practical than aesthetic, as it allowed him to know when, if not where, the gargoyles of Manhattan were waking up. Considering how frequently his plans had intertwined with them lately, he found it a useful reminder.
Sunset had long passed, however, the sky a dull navy and black, and his expected guest had kept him waiting far longer than he thought she would. Xanatos frowned outward at the far off lights of the city, weighing in his mind the appropriate response to this obvious power play. His partnership with Demona, as enriching as it had been in the beginning, had lately shown signs of tension that were beginning to tarnish the affair, and it did not seem as if it could continue on for much longer in the (mostly) amenable way they had begun. Demona’s pride and self-declared crusade against humanity was always going to eventually result in the termination of whatever partnership they had managed to cultivate (certainly Demona had entered into the partnership knowing it was merely a temporarily alliance), but still, he had hoped to get a bit more milage out of it. Ancient sorceresses with absolutely no regard towards human laws were hard to come by.
And as such, though it was a clear show of disrespect for his time, Xanatos would have to let the snub pass unremarked upon, if not wholly unaddressed. He moved to his desk and busied himself with a few expenditure reports that he really needn’t bother with. Not five minutes had passed, when, as if summoned by his feigned indifference, Demona arrived, throwing open the door to his office. Owen stepped in behind her.
“Demona is here to see you, sir,” Owen said, and after just long enough of a moment had passed, Xanatos (who had heard the sounds of Demona’s approach echoing on the flagstones outside well before she had entered) looked up, finally acknowledging the glowering gargoyle who stood before him.
“Demona. Lovely as always to see you. Just finishing up a report —“
“That can wait,” Demona snapped, her irritation at being ignored for forty seconds obviously dwarfing whatever irritation Xanatos may have felt being kept waiting for the past two and half hours. “Let us discuss the proposition I have for you. I do not have all night.”
With deliberate delicacy, Xanatos closed the folder on his desk, and sat forward, giving Demona his full attention. He did not stand.
“As I mentioned to you before, we have an unprecedented opportunity,” she began at once. From within the fold of her cloaked wings, she withdrew a worn and brittle roll of parchment. “I have a spell that can only be cast with…certain requirements. Fortunately for the both of us, and with some thanks to you both, I have recently come in to possession of what is needed. The spell will imbue the one that casts it with enormous power. Power I can in turn share with you,” nodding at Xanatos imperiously, as an afterthought. “There is just one item I need, one that you can provide. Lend me the Coyote Diamond, and by the end of a week’s time we’ll both have access to power so great all of our ambitions can be realized.”
Xanatos said nothing first, considering each word of her proposition carefully. “I see,” he said, standing at last. “Well, enormous power does sound appealing. Anything you can tell me on what specifically this power does, exactly?”
As he predicted, Demona’s lips hardened into a thin line and she tucked the spell away, displeased by his question. “Elemental power,” she answered begrudgingly. “The world’s natural resources would become your own. The opportunity to enrich yourself can’t be lost on you, can it?”
“I suppose I can see how handy that would be,” Xanatos said, slowly walking pace by pace beside his window. “Control the city’s water supply, take advantage of the mass panic. Or blanket the city in a massive snowstorm, maybe, and make a killing on parkas?”
Demona’s expression became even more hardened with displeasure. “Be glib if you want,” she answered him. “I don’t care what you do with your share of the power. Merely let me borrow the diamond for just a night, and you could increase your riches ten-fold.”
“Hm,” Xanatos, said, taking his seat again with a casual shrug. “Tempting as that is, I’m actually not all that interested in mere capital gain at the moment. Seems like a very rudimentary use of complete control of the elements in any case — wouldn’t you agree, Owen?”
“I would, sir,” Owen replied from his position at the back of the room. “I would rather think a more interesting use of elemental power would be controlling a natural disaster to wipe out a competitor. Or —“
“I care little for what you would do with it,” Demona snapped. Xanatos watched as Demona, no doubt remembering she needed his help, paused to compose herself, her expression relaxing into practiced detachment. “Regardless of what either of us uses this power for, it’s a fleeting opportunity. I must be able to cast the spell seven days from now, when the moon is fixed within the eighth house. If the timeframe passes, it will not align for another two hundred years.” Demona fixed him with a knowing look. “It’s an opportunity I’m sure I can wait for, if needed. But you’re not one to let any opportunity slip past you, are you?”
Xanatos had to smile at the obvious goad, despite himself. “True,” he admitted. “Very well. I’ll lend you the diamond. Come back before you cast the spell a week from today, and it will be ready for you.”
“What?” Demona’s narrowed eyes glowed the faintest trace of red as she grit her teeth. An uncomfortable tension filled the stately office, though outwardly, all three occupants looked largely unaffected. A moment passed, and Xanatos recognized the telltale signs of Demona's self-control battling her formidable temper. Finally, she breathed out, and spoke in a terse voice. “I would prefer to take it now. I have much to prepare and I will not have time to come here out of my way.”
“The diamond is currently in an upstate research lab,” Owen explained, and Xanatos was gratified to see his aid's hand move away from a discreet panel on the wall that would summon security. “It’s involved with a few intricate tests, and is not immediately available.”
“Is there a great hurry?” Xanatos asked, watching Demona closely. “After all, you said the spell can only be cast a week from today. I’ll have it here and ready for you as soon as the sun sets on the 17th. Unless, perhaps you’d like to cast your spell here, as you’ve done in the past? You’d be welcome to the tower.”
“No,” answered Demona, whose tone had become sour. “I will be back a week from tonight, then. Make sure it’s ready.” Without waiting for a response, Demona turned and stalked out of his office.
“Feel free to see yourself out,” Xanatos said dryly. After the sounds of her footsteps had faded, he turned to Owen, who stood poised for a command. “Well?”
“An interesting proposition,” Owen’s tone held only the barest trace of skepticism. “Though one can’t help wondering what Demona intends to use it for.”
Xanatos turned to the window, where the heavy clouds of the upper atmosphere hung, now obscuring his view of the city below. He saw nothing but his own reflection. “True. The part about how both of all of our ambitions would be realized could be a tad concerning, given what Demona’s are.”
“I can have the diamond relocated to one of our most secure facilities, if you’d rather not indulge Demona’s plans this time,” Owen suggested.
“No,” Xanatos said after a moment of consideration. “Have the diamond brought here. After all, we have a week to decide how we’re going to proceed. Besides,” Xanatos said, turning to face Owen with a smile. “Demona was right. I’m a sucker for a rare opportunity.”