PART FOUR

Chapter 8

Try, try again, she thought to herself, wanting to summon anything, any trace of the magic she knew was within her. But not a drop was at her disposal, not even her fangs could be brought out. And he was closer to her, looking at her as if she was a chore, not with any of the passion she knew he had looked at her with in the past and she knew that that hurt her deeper than anything physically that was about to happen.

"I don't want this…" she said as he was within arms length of her. "You Don't either…deep down….if I had my magic, I could try to break her hold over you but this magic…."

"Look, she didn't take memories away from me or anything and I know I am supposed to care for you….but whatever was there…its gone…and I have to do what she told me…its for the good of our people-" he started but there came a resounding slap as she struck him hard across the face, hard enough that she was, for a moment, relieved to see a flash of anger in his slightly glazed over eyes, that his own sharp teeth came out for a moment before he retracted them, almost as if ashamed. "She's got a hold over you, she forced you into this…both of us into this. And I didn't want to be let go if it meant leaving you behind here. I would rather do whatever I could to try to save you than abandon you. And you….I know if you were in your right mind you would risk everything to help me. And now…with the magic she's put into you, what she's turned you into, she wants you to be nothing more than a baby maker. And she wants you to…." she couldn't bear to put her thoughts to words, it was a painful realization as to what she was so close to enduring. Tears filled her eyes as she knew what was coming, what she felt coming. The bars separating her side of the large dwelling had vanished and yet it wasn't useful, she knew they were both stuck in this place as long as the queen wished it. He turned his back to her for a moment, as if struggling, fighting the impulses she suspected were within him. He had only made it a few paces away from her as she tensed up again, knowing he was trying to do right but the power of the spell used on him to make him so…she shuddered as she stepped to the pool of water near his bed that she now saw could be lowered into water as well. This place was beautiful with a side of creepy, the creepy getting stronger the longer she remained here. She had to find a way out of here, to at least get to her friends above. And if she could somehow become bait to lure him up with her…..she started to feel her magic again, much to her own surprise. Nowhere near enough for her to do any real damage, but she knew there was enough to defend herself…or so she hoped. Or perhaps she could escape through the pool of water that she had heard was bottomless and yet there was only a vertical descent.

Desperate, she jumped into the water and felt the vibrating magic around her lower half as legs turned to a tail that was as powerful as well as anything she had ever felt. And she wasted no time getting herself as far from him as she could sensing him pursue her. Summoning a weak blast of her light, she managed to get a hole blown out through the rock and could make out moonlight above and therefore, she knew the surface was not terribly far away. But then she felt her power wane again and felt arms grabbing her from around around the middle, spinning her around. He grabbed at her like a rabid dog, forcing himself on her, trying to kiss her, to start something she knew couldn't end well. Not in this way, not this time. And it was in the glow of the water around them that her worst fear came true. Not wanting to see just how such a thing was possible with the anatomy they both possessed, she had a feeling that there was enough similarities to plain humans to make anything possible. She clenched her eyes shut as she tried once more to fight him off but soon felt that most personal of violations as he, for all intents and purposes, had raped her. That he had indeed done what he was ordered to do, what she feared was going to happen. Though it had only lasted a few minutes, they had been the longest minutes of her life. It hurt, not the physical pain-she knew somehow he had tried to make her comfortable and yet there was a stranger looking at her through those eyes. And weak form the encounter, she had no choice but to allow him to swim her back to the suite and emerging from the water first, he helped her up and out, carrying her to the bed where the queen soon appeared, looking almost relieved.

"Looks like your magic is stronger than I thought and I am impressed…..won't be long before you can join me in the grotto. And as you can sense within yourself by now, the deed has been done." Camellia said with a contented sigh, patting her round belly and nodding at the stomach of the exhausted prisoner. "You'll be glad that I chose that dress for you. We could be twins! I will have him bring you when I send the signal….the only time I give him permission, the power to leave the confines of this building. And believe me, guards are going to be on the lookout when he brings you to join me. Probably within a few hours."

She was choked up by rage, anger, hurt, betrayal and sadness at what had just happened to her. Tears were rolling down her face as she tried to process what had just happened to her. Flopping down, on the bed, she lay on her side, her back to the two of them, her, instinctively feeling her stomach with a hand. No doubt she knew she was in the family way. And when the queen left, looking serene and rather pleased, there came a change in the air, her back had been facing him, not wanting him to see tears he wouldn't care a thing for anyway. But it was to her surprise, she heard something, and felt something in their bond. He was kneeling at her side and was gently trying to get her to look at him. "I…..fought it off…too late….I wanted to…I did everything I could to-" he was stopped by a angry glare by her but as she looked into his eyes, they were clearer, more focused. That glassy look was gone and she could only see him there.

Chapter 9

She turned her back again, not being able to bear knowing what had happened and as much as she didn't want to blame him for shat happened, there was also a definite reminder of what had happened and it was rapidly growing within her. That this was to be her possible fate, to be a incubator, to help the queen with the population of these people…it sickened her and everything that had happened over the past couple days had certainly taken a toll on her. Sobs racked her body and she fought his arms at first but as she felt the gentleness that was there and sensed that he was himself….more or less…she turned around and almost leapt into his arms. "This…has….been…..awful….." she gasped in between her tears and deep breaths that she didn't really need to take but it was hardwired into her that when she cried, she breathed hard. But she tensed again as he tried to hug her to him, rather, she pulled away and didn't want to be near him. She felt confused, conflicted as she paced the room. "I don't know how to get this magic out of us let alone…." she winced as she felt her stomach again and as they both looked, they could see her expand ever slightly, but enough to see that surely if faeries had rapid pregnancies, then these sea people….these me people certainly had them beat hands down. "How can we possibly get out of here when our powers are compromised….." she revealed the bands on her wrists. "At least you seem more or less yourself….."

"I don't feel like it….honestly, I feel like I am a fraction of my strength. But I can be resourceful and I will get you out of here."

"Us." she corrected as she winced again. Clearly, she was starting to feel discomfort and there was only a couple hours before things changed again. "I don't want to live like this…..I have a feeling that the only one what can undo what's been done is her and now, she wants to keep us both here…..for her own purposes." she instinctively patted her belly and she looked pained and turned from him. "I don't know how we can come back from this...after everything we have been through…..its funny how this may be the thing that ends everything for good." there was a bitterness in her voice and it took him aback though he couldn't blame her for how she felt, knowing his part in her current state.

"I never wanted, never meant to hurt you. Don't lie to me I know I did back there…and seeing you like this…" he tried to get her to look at him but she stubbornly refused, though he sensed she was in as much pain as he was. "If I can get you out of here, then I could be happy knowing you were at least safe." she knew she was hurting him with the silent treatment and yet she couldn't help it. She wanted nothing more than to get her hands on Camellia. ""She was planning on getting a nap in before coming to fetch you….probably both of us….." he slowly remembered that which the queen had told him. With the haze in his mind gone, he was able tot think clearer. "Let me get you safely through that hole we made. She likely still thinks I am under her control."

She knew how risky this plan was no doubt the queen would have posted guards around the gaping hole that could lead them to freedom. And yet that he was willing to risk himself again for her safety…she felt the anger melting away, her anger instead redirected back at the one responsible for this mess. "I won't leave you behind for her….use." she said, finally looking at him.

"I will be right behind you and maybe our friends can still help somehow." he replied and holding out a hand, she tensed and shook her head.

"I need time…I can't…I just…." she stopped talking and simply jumped into the pool that led down and then upward, following the now familiar path. And they approached the light, the surface, knowing full well that they were unable to have use of their legs, only tails. And so that in itself was to provide another headache neither wanted to deal with now. But they had nearly reached the surface, they swam up side by side when they heard the shouting and felt hands grasping for them. She knew she had to act and using the feeble bit of magic she could, she propelled her Viking upward with a forceful blast just as hands reached at her. And then everything seemed to go dim, fading into shadows and soft muted tones. But she knew she had sent him to safety. Relatively speaking, considering his current condition.

Chapter 10

They had managed to get themselves a new vessel and as they saw something fly up out of the water, propelled by what could only have been light-Jason recognized the light anywhere-they gaped as the net they cast out was pulled in with a most unexpected and yet welcome prize.

"What the hell?" it was dark again and Pam was staring at the sight before her. "Tell me I am not seeing what I am seeing."

"I wish this were some kind of joke….but it is all too real and Sookie is in deeper than you know….she managed to work enough magic to help save me….for how long I don't know…but to forewarn you all here, I am certainly not in the mood for any jokes at my expense. Even in this state of affairs, I can certainly do some damage." Eric said and to prove his point, he cut through the net with the barbs that could pop out on command. And the group assembled that was once scattered thanks to the assault by Camellia could only stare.

"Um….ok so….I guess first thing is first….we need to see where to go from here…." Jason said, almost wanting to suggest that they find a large fish tank but as Eric told them all that had happened in the past hours, he became more adamant that they do some deep sea diving. "Harpoon the bastards and that bitchy fish what caused all that!" Jason said, raising his voice and all assembled looked at him a good long time. Jess and Hoyt had managed to get some new tazers and some other things that they could find around the marina after learning what they had and Pam and Willa, along with Lafayette had made certain that everyone present were armed with some weapon…some way to fight.

"How in the world are we supposed to fight off me people? And oh yeah, I guess we need a fish tank for you because I ain't losing track of you again." Pam said, glancing at her maker, who for now was covered with some wet towels from the waist down, something that was not going to last for long. She would be the one to dare make a crack at his expense at a time like this and with a playful yet stiff slap, he sent her sliding across the deck of the party boat that had been "borrowed" to replace the damaged one from earlier. She got to her feet and glowered down at where he was sprawled, laying on his side, propping his head up with a arm and looking at her with a amused grin. But the fact his skin, already pale as it was, was already looking a little more pale was a sign they had to figure out something better for him. He slumped down , his face hitting the floor of the boat and it was clear life was slipping away from him., but there was no way they were chancing losing him by tossing him in the water. Not again. But as if a answer to their prayers, there came a glow from the water. And soon, they were joined by a blonde figure that they first suspected was their other missing family member. But the truth was about to be revealed to them all.

TO BE CONTINUED