Demona

Physically, Demona is a female gargoyle with a shock of red hair and pale blue skin. She is usually armed with a mace, a particle beam cannon, or both. Her human form is that of a red-haired woman with pale skin and green eyes, bearing a striking resemblance to her gargoyle form (so similar, in fact, that the musculoskeletal structure of her human and gargoyle heads are virtually identical, according to a computer program by Robyn Canmore). Like Dominique, she also has long, sharp fingernails, giving her a somewhat unsettling appearance, as if she weren't entirely human. Like all female gargoyles, her eyes glow red when she is angry; however, even in human form, Puck's transformation spell can fail, and her eyes will glow if she becomes angry enough. She usually wears a gold tiara, a pair of earrings, a bracelet, and an anklet as jewelry. She also seems to have a predilection for halter tops that reveal her midriff and hang off one shoulder. Its height in gargoyle form: 2 meters (6 feet 7 inches), Its height in human form: 1 meter and 75 centimeters (5 feet 9 inches)

Above all, Demona is her own worst enemy. She has spent a thousand years alone, and that solitude was a determining factor in creating the Demona we know today. It has affected her to such an extent that, for a multitude of reasons, she even chose "SOLA" as her access code during the climax of her fight with Macbeth in the Eyrie Building. Even now, Demona still deeply hates and fears humans and desires the destruction of the entire species, despite being able to fully transform into one during the day (a gift she has received no understanding of). However, she hates some humans more than others, such as the Hunters, Macbeth, and especially Elisa Maza. Demona's hatred of humanity is fueled, in part, by her repressed guilt. Deep down, she knows she is partly responsible for the Wyvern Massacre, but she refuses to consciously admit it and thus makes the human race her scapegoat to avoid facing the blood on her hands. Unlike Macbeth, she does not wish to die. She possesses a "gift" that makes her death impossible: an extraordinary capacity for self-deception. She is never at fault for anything. Nothing will stop her. No one deserves her to sacrifice herself for them (it isn't true, but she believes it). Moreover, she still intensely craves power, hoping that when she finally destroys humanity and the gargoyles rule the world, she will rule them. In fact, the human name she chose, Dominique Destine, means divine destiny. The Archmage instilled in her an appreciation for power, but it is doubtful she acknowledges that influence. Demona is also very goal-oriented. She has no hobbies or interests, and dedicates her efforts to research, study, practicing her sorcery, investments, and other steps toward achieving her goal. Having escaped aging, she understands it no more than Xanatos understands true immortality, and therefore has no patience for it.

Demona is a cunning and resourceful opponent, a dangerous warrior, and a skilled sorceress. However, her anger and hatred often interfere with her plans; for example, in the heat of battle, she makes the mistake of using her laser cannon as a club instead of firing it. Furthermore, she frequently alienates or betrays her allies, thus losing their support forever. Fortunately, this has caused all of Demona's attempts to destroy humanity to fail.

Gargoyle Physiology: Demona possesses the inherent physical abilities of a gargoyle: super strength, super durability, gliding, prolonged youth, etc. But this pales in comparison to her true strengths.

Sorcery: Demona was secretly instructed by the Archmage, becoming a capable and dangerous sorceress, which allowed her to use almost any magical artifact she could get her hands on, such as the Grimorum Arcanorum or the Mirror of Titania.

Tech expert: Demona would also develop a deep knowledge and use of science and technology in the 20th century, using high-tech equipment and weaponry where sorcery failed.

Human Form: Currently, Demona transforms into a human during the day thanks to a magical gift bestowed upon her by Puck, becoming human at dawn and reverting back to a gargoyle at dusk. The process is extremely painful, and Demona's only consolation is that if Macbeth is close enough, he can share her suffering. Even in her human form, Demona does not see herself as human and continues to think of herself as a gargoyle, refusing to consider the possibility that the differences between gargoyles and humans are largely superficial. She also prefers to get a few hours of sleep during the day in her human form as Dominique, rather than sleep at night (and although Puck's transformation spell compensates for this to some extent, the lack of sleep still does nothing to improve her mental outlook). Immortality: As part of the pact Demona made with Macbeth upon meeting the Strange Sisters, she not only regained her original body but also became immortal and eternal; she does not age and will quickly revive if killed. This spell also ensures that she can only die if she kills Macbeth or he kills her. Demona can still be temporarily killed or wounded, however, she will not suffer a catastrophic injury. If Macbeth is close enough when such an event occurs, he will feel her pain—and vice versa, thanks to the magical bond between them. The same applies to sensations of pleasure.

Manipulation: Probably Demona's most dangerous weapon is her mind, as she can fabricate ingenious plans, backup plans, all deceptive and selfish, and she is also a skilled manipulator.

Angela: The only exception to the hatred she currently harbors in her heart is Angela, for whom she feels strong maternal feelings, but these have not yet been enough to sway her. Even the biological bond matters to Demona, though she would never admit it, as such a trait is atypical for her species. Thailog: Demona's relationship with Thailog had little to do with Thailog personally, and more to do with his resemblance to Goliath, the contrast in their personalities, and her desire to be with someone she believed could share her worldview.

Elisa Maza: Of all humans, Demona hates Elisa Maza the most. She knows of the mutual feelings between Elisa and Golaith, and she feels terrible envy. Furthermore, Elisa doesn't fit Demona's view of all humans, whom she considers evil, treacherous, and hostile toward gargoyles, which worries her even more.

Goliath: A thousand years ago, Demona and Goliath were companions. However, even when they were together, she was somewhat deceitful and manipulative toward him. Her decisions that led to the massacre were based on the love she felt for him and his clan, and she was devastated to find him under the wizard's curse. After Goliath's awakening, she initially hoped to convince him to help her destroy the human race. When he refused, her love for Goliath suddenly and completely transformed into murderous hatred. She couldn't possibly believe that Goliath could ever forgive her for the massacre. She was certain that he hated her, and she wanted to hate him first and even more to escape that pain. Furthermore, Goliath's persistent belief that humans and gargoyles could coexist seemed utterly irrational to her. She was determined to oppose him at every opportunity, hoping that he would finally understand that she was right. Deep down, she still loved the Goliath of her imagination, but the real one disappointed her. Of all the adversaries Goliath has faced, she is the most lethal.

Demona was born in 938. By 971, she was Goliath's mate and a respected member of their clan. Like the rest of the clan, Demona originally had no formal name, though Goliath often referred to her as his "Angel of the Night." In 971, she and her sister fought alongside Mentor and the rest of the clan against the forces of King Culén. However, the young Demona had already begun to develop the weaknesses that would lead her down a dark path. Showing a keen interest in magic, she secretly entered the service of the Archmage as his apprentice, where she primarily served as a servant and errand girl. The Archmage treated her harshly, but through his teachings, she developed an aptitude for sorcery. He also taught her to read stories like "Bell the Cat," which she, in turn, taught to Goliath. In the year 975, the Archmage ordered her to steal the Phoenix Gate from Princess Elena. Immediately after Demona stole the Gate, an older version of herself appeared with a replica of the Phoenix Gate and transported them both to the year 994, accompanied by an older version of Goliath (both from the year 1995). There, the older Demona showed the younger Demona the aftermath of the Wyvern Massacre and Goliath's petrified form on the battlements, urging her to use the Phoenix Gate to avert disaster and destroy humanity. The younger Demona was horrified by the coldness and callousness of her future self and refused to become like her, but she was also disturbed by what she had seen. The future Goliath did his best to comfort her, encouraging her not to worry about the catastrophe and to remain true to her love.

The young Demona then returned with the two time travelers to the year 975, where she hid the Archmage's Phoenix Gate, pretending to have lost it. The Archmage, furious, dismissed her as his apprentice on the spot. Afterward, Demona and Goliath attended Prince Malcolm's wedding; there, she broke the Phoenix Gate in two, giving him one half as a token of her love and keeping the other for the same purpose. As the years passed, Demona became one of the greatest warriors of her Clan, protecting the humans of the Castle, but tormented by her vision of the future and increasingly angered by the way humans treated her and her kind. In 984, her former master, the Archmage, attempted to seize control of Wyvern, but was defeated. In a final attempt to kill Prince Malcolm, the then-human leader, the Archmage shot him with a poisoned dart that only a spell from the Grimorum Arcanorum could cure. The Clan leader, later known as Hudson, was tasked with retrieving the book and decided to take Goliath, by then the Clan's second-in-command, now known as Demona, with him. Together they tracked the Archmage to a cave and managed to retrieve the book and return it to Wyvern Castle, thus saving Prince Malcolm's life. Demona expressed many doubts about Hudson's advanced age and his ability to lead, and it was this, coupled with Hudson's own feelings on the matter, that convinced him to abdicate and allow Goliath to assume command. In reality, Demona wanted Goliath to lead purely for her own benefit, and Goliath soon appointed her his second-in-command. In 987, Demona and Goliath conceived a child, and the following year Demona laid the egg in the clan's nest, alongside many others.

By the year 994, Demona, resentful of the human prejudice against her clan, conspired with the Captain of the Guard to betray the humans inhabiting Wyvern Castle, handing them over to Hakon and his Vikings. They both urged Goliath to take the entire clan and expel the Vikings from the castle, intending to capture him during the night, taking advantage of the gargoyles' absence. But Goliath, reluctant to leave the castle undefended, only took Hudson. The Captain, desperate for the plan's success, decided that Hakon should attack during the day. Demona was alarmed, knowing that during the day the clan would be trapped in their stone slumber and defenseless. However, she didn't dare warn the other gargoyles, fearing that doing so would reveal her involvement in the conspiracy, so she fled alone and hid on the beach. She awoke that night and, upon returning home, found her clan massacred by Vikings. Horrified and grief-stricken, she hid when Goliath returned to the castle, too afraid to confront him. By the time she returned, Goliath and five other survivors had already been subjected to the Wizard's stone-sleep spell.

Looking up at her companion's petrified body, Demona cried out, "What have they... what have they done to you?" At that moment, her mood shifted from grief to anger and hatred, burying her guilt beneath her rage toward humans, blaming them for her misfortunes to avoid facing her own responsibility for her actions. She saw Princess Katharine, the wizard, and Tom below, loading the eggs from the nest onto the cart and driving away, but she made no effort to follow, for she was incapable of confronting the eggs. Instead, she kissed the stone Goliath one last time and slipped away, sending herself into exile.

After spending several years alone, Demona met a boy named Gillecomgain, whose face she disfigured during a petty theft. Gillecomgain became the Hunter, a mercenary and assassin seeking revenge against her and her kind. Demona continued to wander Scotland, attacking any human who crossed her path and stealing food to survive. By 997, Demona led a scattered clan of gargoyles, survivors of clans wiped out by humans, including her Second Clan. Learning from the lessons of the past, she arranged for the clan to sleep in different locations, so that if one cell was discovered and destroyed, the others would survive. Demona's entire Sruighlea cell was later massacred by King Constantine and Gillecomgain. Among their remains, Demona found a wanted poster for Mary and Finella and discovered that they possessed the Grimorum. Shortly after, Brooklyn, a time traveler, approached Demona and explained his presence by pretending to have escaped the Wizard's curse. At Brooklyn's request, Demona reunited her scattered clan to aid Kenneth III (the Sinister) in his fight against Constantine, though she secretly planned to betray him after Constantine's defeat and use the Grimorum to subjugate Scotland. After Brother Valmont used the Grimorum Arcanorum to unleash a rain of fire arrows during the battle, Brooklyn severed his hand to retrieve the Grimorum. Demona managed to seize the book and reverse its spell, though not its consequences.

After Constantine's defeat, the phoenix appeared to take Brooklyn. Knowing he couldn't allow Demona to keep the Grimorum, Brooklyn offered to safeguard the book while she searched for her half of the Phoenix Gate, leading her to believe she needed it to control the Phoenix.

As the years passed, Gillecomgain, now an adult and the Huntsman, had become one of Demona's worst enemies and a danger to all the surviving gargoyles in Scotland. In 1020, the Weird Sisters persuaded Demona to attack the Huntsman at Moray Castle, where he had been sent by Prince Duncan to kill Findlaech and Macbeth. Despite her hatred of humans, during the battle Demona chose to save young Macbeth and Gruoch, even at the cost of letting Gillecomgain escape. In 1032, Macbeth and Demona faced Gillecomgain together again. This time, Macbeth managed to save Demona's life, and the battle ended with Gillecomgain's death. Later, the elderly Demona made a pact with Macbeth to defeat a common enemy: their cousin, Duncan I of Scotland. Macbeth desired Demona's aid to protect his kingdom, while she longed to regain her youth so she could lead the last of her kind. The pact was facilitated by the Doom Sisters, who swapped ages between them, making Macbeth 51 and Demona the gargoyle equivalent of 35, Macbeth's age at the time. In doing so, they also made them immortal and ageless, only able to die if one killed the other—a detail the sisters conveniently omitted to mention at the time.

Macbeth himself soon came to admire Demona's fighting prowess, and in time he became very reliant on Demona's clan for support in the war against Duncan's forces. In the final battle against Duncan, Demona's devastating attacks so impressed Macbeth that he exclaimed, "You fight like a demon!" After becoming king, Macbeth called her "Demona" (Demon) for the first time, a name she found very flattering, and at the same time appointed her his chief advisor. The two became great friends. [17]

Finally, Demona's trust in Macbeth vanished after hearing him consider betraying her to gain the support of the English. Fearing this would happen, she entrusted her forces to Canmore, Duncan's son, and the English armies. Canmore, in turn, betrayed her, murdering the last member of her clan.

In 1093, Demona traveled to Northumbria and reunited with her clan. There she met a young gargoyle, Angelika. Demona warned the clan leader about the destruction of her clan at the hands of humans, but they refused to believe her. Only Demona and Angelika survived Malcolm III's massacre. Demona, despite Malcolm III believing he had killed her, killed him for destroying her clan and Angelika's. She allowed Angelika to join her and became her mother.

Demona and Angelika then joined forces with the Norwegian king Sigurd Magnusson, his forces and the Norse clan during the Norwegian crusade in 1107. Demona found herself alone again, the last gargoyle alive in Scotland, and eventually fled to other parts of the world. Demona would not ally herself with a human for nearly a thousand years. During that time, she amassed a considerable fortune and plotted her revenge against humanity, while being pursued by both Macbeth (who first hunted her for revenge and then simply to end her long life) and a new breed of Hunters descended from Canmore, who had somehow learned of her survival and decided to hunt her down.

Growing increasingly bitter towards humans, she finally decided that she must destroy them all, partly as the only means to ensure her survival and that of what little remained of her race, and partly as a means to consummate her revenge.

Sometime before 1994, Demona allied herself with David Xanatos, obtained the Grimorum Arcanorum for him, and told him about the curse that weighed on the gargoyles of Wyvern Castle. This led Xanatos to move the castle to Manhattan and awaken Goliath and the rest of the clan. After many centuries, Demona was happily reunited with her partner. Despite her and Xanatos's attempts to manipulate them, the clan refused to join in their revenge and actively opposed it. Later, she helped Xanatos resurrect one of Wyvern's dead gargoyles, Coldstone. During one of her attempts to assassinate Elisa Maza, Demona received a "gift" from the magical being Puck: after asking him to allow her to walk in daylight without turning to stone, he granted her wish, but at a price. While she was a gargoyle at night, during the day Demona transformed into what she despised most: a human. The transformation was incredibly painful and caused Macbeth pain whenever he was near, as part of the spell that bound them. Although initially enraged by Puck's trickery, he came to understand the advantages of his human form and subsequently adopted the alias Dominique Destine. He also attempted to exterminate humanity on numerous occasions; first, by turning the human population of New York into gargoyles, and when that failed, by trying to turn them to stone at night so he could crush them at will. This curse was thwarted, not only by an alliance between Goliath and Xanatos (which ended his alliance with him), but also by the unexpected intervention of Macbeth and then the Weird Sisters.

The Sisters took Demona and Macbeth, hypnotized them, and used them as reinforcements in their plan to seize control of Avalon alongside the Archmage. After the Archmage and the Sisters were defeated, the Avalon Clan sent them back to the outside world with no memory of what had happened.

Avalon took Demona and Macbeth to Paris, where Demona met Thailog, Goliath's clone, and fell in love with him. With the immense fortune and resources she had accumulated over the years, she and Thailog founded a company called Nightstone Unlimited, of which she became CEO under the alter ego of Dominique Destine. She used the company to further her goals, something she couldn't do as Gargoyle, and conspired to steal Macbeth's fortune and, failing in that attempt, create her own version of the Manhattan Clan through cloning. Some time after returning to New York with Thailog, Demona learned from Sevarius that Angela was her biological daughter. She tried everything to convince her to join her, but without success. Demona, Thailog, and the Clones then captured the clan, but when Thailog tried to kill Angela, Demona discovered he had grown fond of her daughter and turned against him, freeing the Gargoyles and ordering Goliath to save her. Shortly after, Demona hired Sevarius to create the CV-1000 Carrier Virus and set Operation Clean Slate in motion. On the night of the Hunter's Moon, she used the Fulfillment Spell inscribed on the Medici Tablet to fuse the carrier virus with a box of D/I-7 detergent she had stolen from Xanatos, creating a powerful plague designed to destroy all intelligent life on the planet, and invoking the magic of the Praying Gargoyle to protect the gargoyles. Fortunately, when Demona revealed her plan, Goliath intervened at the last moment and destroyed the Praying Gargoyle, forcing Demona to abandon her plan. However, she managed to escape.