Chapter IV

The pain from the scar forced her onto her stomach. Her limbs then took on a life of their own and she stared at her arms as they reached out and she started crawling under her bed. Abbie fought against the unseen entity controlling her body but she could not stop herself. The scar wanted her in a certain position and her arms and legs moved to those desired places as something crashed through her bedroom window. Abbie hands suddenly covered her ears as the air in the room became electric with energy. Fire engulfed the room as the objects thrown inside her home exploded. She could not hear herself screaming because of the roaring fire raging around the bed. She was untouched by the flames. Her body perfectly placed beneath the bed.

Edward and the Hessian waited in the woods across the street from Abbie's front door. She would have to exit this way to escape the flames. They could see the fire rising in the house. Smoke began filling the living room. Soon her neighbors would rouse from their dinners and come to see what was happening. They did not need prying eyes and more obstacles to prevent Lord Milan from his mission. Patrick looked down the street and saw people running outside with their cell phones calling for help. The Hessian became unnerved when more people ran towards the house screaming for Miss Mills.

"You aimed too close to her bedroom. What if she is injured Moloch will kill us?"

Edward glared at Patrick and then looked back at the rest of the Hessian. "We will wait right here. She is alive and we will deliver her to Lord Milan."

*()*

Abbie stood behind some trees on the south side of her house watching it burn. The hex on her home would not protect her now. Her home soon would be ashes. A sigh of lament escaped her as she watched the roof cave in under the intense heat beneath it. The scar had saved her life. It took control of her and half dragged and walked her into the kitchen and out the window there. Her favorite part of her home was now burning to the ground. Abbie placed her right hand over the aching scar. Abraham said that it would protect her. Her eyes closed as she rested against the tree. Maybe he did want to keep her safe. The aching turned into full blown pain. Abbie opened her eyes and bit her bottom lip to keep quiet as she scanned the darkness around her. The growling that came from the blackness made the hairs on the back of her neck raise with fright. Her body broke out in sweats. She could feel and hear the leaves beneath her bare feet as she shuffled her them trying to back closer to the tree behind her. Why would Abraham leave her here alone if he knew the demon could track her outside her house? She was bait. He knew that it would come here. Abbie strained her eyes to see into the dark but she saw nothing. The scar throbbed with warning.

A moan of pleasure followed another growl. A scratchy voice filled the darkness that surrounded Abbie. "Yum…. You smell so ripe, female. Soooo beautiful, soooo frightened."

Abbie panicked and started running towards her house but she did not have control of her limbs. She suddenly found herself stumbling deeper into the forest. She was fighting the control and the thing chasing her was gaining. The crackling leaves and breaking branches behind her told her that soon she would see what was hunting her. She gave up her doubts about Abraham. This did not mean that she believed him but just this once she would. Her bare feet began flying over the sharp rocks and leaf litter. She felt nothing as the cold wind blew and part of the night gown caught on branches and ripped away from her body leaving marks on her thighs and stomach. She could see nothing behind her or in front of her. She had no idea where she was going but she knew that she would get there.

Her body crashed through branches unaffected by the cuts and scratches the sharp points caused on her skin. Her hands suddenly raised above head and grabbed a thick low hanging branch. She continued running pulling it toward the ground as she moved along the leaf litter. The deep breathing behind her became stronger. Abbie ducked her head and let go of the branch. She felt the hands of her pursuer skim her loose hair as the thick tree branch slammed into his face and knocked him backwards. The roar from the creature ratcheted up her fear and Abbie's leg moved faster. The speed that she traveled was unnatural. Her body would not be able to sustain it for much longer. Her hands and arms raised in front of her face in the darkness and her eyes closed as branches and limbs scraped by her face and body. She finally broke through the blackness of the woods and ran for a few more feet in the moonlit clearing before she collapsed on the ground exhausted beyond anything that she had ever known. Abbie placed the palms of her hands on the cold earth and slowly turned her head to look back through her hair the way she had come. If it came through the trees, she would have to run again. She could only hear her heartbeat slamming into her chest and her hard pants as she stared at the quiet tree line. Fear was the only thing keeping her conscious. The scar throbbed but she had no energy to heed its warning.

Silence filled the blackness and Abbie relaxed and laid her head on the ground. A horrific scream forced her to start crawling on the ground. She heard the thing break through the trees. She stopped crawling and slowly turned her head to see what was hunting her. Blood dripped from his red colored skeleton like body. He wore dirty ill-fitting clothing over his lesion and sore covered frame. He had no nose or mouth but could breathe and talk very well. He was bald except for a tuft of hair at the top of his head. His eyes were of different sizes but both could see Abbie in the darkness. Clawed fingers lifted the ripped piece of her night gown to his face. Two holes appeared and he breathed in her scent.

"Yum…. soooo sweet…. Soooo ripe…" He heard her weak attempt to scream and chuckled. He watched her try to crawl away and chuckled again.

"Aww my sweet beauty there is no need for you to flee. You should rejoice. Moloch's wants you all to himself."

Lord Milan raised the fabric to the holes in his face again and breathed deeply again. "But I have other plans my beautiful ripe female. I will bless you with my seed and you shall continue my line. You have picked the most perfect setting for our child's conception. Fucking by moonlight is one of my specialties."

The fabric fell from his hand as he raced towards Abbie on the ground. Her voice returned to her as her lungs filled with air and her scream travelled the length of the woods. Lord Milan reached for Abbie as he sped towards her but he met an unbreakable force at the object of his desire. Abraham backhanded the lanky demon and sent his body twirling back into the darkness of the woods. His body crashed into the hard bark and splintered into pieces. Abbie clung to Abraham as he kneeled and picked her up from the ground. He held her tighter hearing her whimpers of pain. He could see the cuts on her skin and feet.

"You knew…. You knew that he would come. I was the bait. You left me alone."

Abraham stared down into her frightened and hurt eyes. "I am here now and your fears and doubts will end today."

Lord Milan's broken body began to repair itself with the help of Moloch's blood. His separated hand found his large eye, crawled back to his face, and stuck it back in the socket. The red skeleton body stumbled back towards the moonlit clearing. He saw his attacker with his beauty in his arms. He was trying to comfort her. He was trying to steal her away from him. He saw her first and he would have her first.

"What are you?" The scratchy voice sounded desperate as it limped back and forth pacing as if waiting for something.

"Is she yours? If she is yours, you have finnnnnne taste."

Abraham said nothing as he held Abbie secure in his arms. She closed her eyes and laid her head on his chest. She listened to his strong and calm heartbeat and knew then and there that everything would be just fine.

Lord Milan did not approach as he continued pacing. "What does she taste like when she is filled with desire to have you inside of her?"

It was a diversion. Abraham could feel the Hessian approaching behind him. Lord Milan stopped pacing and smiled at Abraham. "She will bear me a child and you will die for interfering with my work."

Two Hessian ran towards Abraham from behind as Lord Milan sped towards them snarling with excitement of having the female to himself. He would not comply with Moloch's wishes. Abraham released Abbie's legs and held her tight against his body suspended from the ground so that her toes barely skimmed the tall grass there. He waited until the last second to move back and let the three attackers collide beside him. Abbie heard the cracking of bone and cries of pain as Abraham moved away from the fallen group. A sword came at his back but Abraham spun away, grabbed the man's hand on the handle with his right hand, and took the sword from him. Abbie gripped onto Abraham's shirt as she buried her face into his chest. She knew that it was best if she just hung on to him. She heard the sword cut through the air and then the thump of the man's head falling from his body and hitting the ground. She felt the Horseman's grip tighten around her waist just to check his grip on her body. His heartbeat was still calm. He was in his element. Death was his name and that was what he would take.

Lord Milan roused from his short slumber, saw the interloper standing a few feet from him, and reached for Abbie's dangling legs. Abraham spun away and sliced through the neck of another Hessian coming at him. He reversed the point of the sword and slammed it into the red skull of Lord Milan. Abraham released the sword and Lord Milan fell to the ground with it protruding from his head. Abbie flinched when she heard and felt bullets whip by her. Abraham's right arm joined his left around her body. He turned his back to the bullets to protect her. The ground began to tremble as sound of thundering hooves filled the night air. Daredevil raced towards the gunman on the far side of the clearing and stomped the man into a bloody pulp. Lord Milan groaned on the ground as Abraham stepped on his chest avoiding a knife as more Hessian came from the woods to join the fight. They had no idea who he was with his head. Abraham grabbed the closest attacker by the neck and threw him into two others running towards the group. He looked up and saw ten more heading to the fight. Abbie was main concern. If another had a gun, a stray bullet could harm her or worse.

Daredevil stormed into the crowd of Hessian knocking them all to the ground. Abraham grabbed onto the saddle horn with his right hand and used his strength in his arm to pull them both up towards the saddle. He swung his leg over and pulled Abbie across his lap as Daredevil galloped away.

Edward watched from the ground as the man with the white horse disappeared into the black woods with their prize. Pain radiated from his chest as he slowly stood and walked around his moaning and bleeding comrades. Patrick stood beside Lord Milan's motionless body with a sword sticking out of his skull. Edward gripped the handle and quickly let go. Smoke rose from his hands.

"He's dying." Patrick said as the red bones began to disintegrate.

"He needs more blood." Edward said gingerly closing his hands. More Hessian staggered to their feet as Patrick glared at Edward.

"We don't have any more of Moloch's blood we used it all to raise Lord Milan."

"Then we will use other blood,"

"What kind of blood?" Patrick asked helping one of his fellow Hessian stand.

Edward turned away from Patrick and stared down at the broken and weak body of Lord Milan. "Find a woman, a beautiful young woman."'

*()*

Ichabod mumbled incoherent words in his fitful sleep induced by the warlock studying his face. Henry did not know who he looked like more. He clearly had the witch's power but his father's eyes and nose. Henry smiled grateful that he did not look like the witch.

"Abigail,"

She was still on his mind even though Henry had removed the hex. His constant need to involve himself into Miss Mills' life would test Abraham's patience. He could not kill Ichabod Crane because of Miss Mills. Ichabod would annoy the Horseman of death until the end of time. A smile filled Henry's face. Such an annoyance would be enough payment for all the pain and suffering he experienced because of Abraham's desires.

An odd feeling came over Henry's body and he stood and became still listening to the message from Abraham that ran through his mind. Henry prepared to leave the cabin but Abraham asked him to stay. He needed him to protect Ichabod from harm. He could heal Abigail. Henry set down the jeep keys as the connection to Abraham ended. He returned to his seat at the desk and stared at the wooden surface. Although Abraham had stopped Lord Milan from regenerating, Henry knew that Edward his most cunning officer would know how to repair him. He would require blood from his favorite prey, beautiful young women. The availability of this crop was endless unless Henry instilled fear into the public by reporting the presence of decaying bodies of young women around the city. He knew where the undiscovered bodies of young women laid he had witnessed the killings but had not ordered them. Moloch had butchered the women because of their unwillingness to join his cult. Henry pulled out his phone from his pocket and walked towards the front door heading outside to the woods. The inference would triple with a little help from nature. The call would be untraceable and the public would panic and stay vigilante. Some would stray but most would take heed to the possibility that a killer was on the loose. Lord Milan would not be as strong as he could be with more blood. He was a hard entity to track because of his ability to shapeshift. He was a very dangerous enemy but Henry would help Abraham any way that he could.

*()*

Luke was a mad man searching for Abbie in the woods. The entire police department joined him in the search. Local residents and the fire department also helped with the search of the Hollow woods. The cold and sharp branches did not stop Luke from shining his flashlight into every crevice or dark hole that lay in his path. He found no trace of Abbie.

"I got a body!"

The voice of the tracker filled the woods and brought everyone to him.

His head is missing." Sheriff Reyes said feeling relief flow through her body. Abbie was one of her finest if not the finest officer that she had. She had known her for a long time and had grown close to her over the years. Her instinct to find her officer was more than occupational it was maternal.

Luke looked a few feet away from the body and saw a piece of material on the ground. He moved towards it but one of the forensic technicians grabbed a bag and put on gloves. He picked up the material and the surrounding leaf litter around it. He ran his hand along the top of the bag to seal it. Sheriff Reyes saw the blood on the material and Luke watched her shoulders slump in worry.

"She's tough and smart. She can get out of trouble. She's alright."

"Who would burn her house down? She had no enemies that I knew of. Was this a stalker of some sort?"

Luke had an idea of who would do this. He had seen the man at Abbie's home. Abraham Van Brunt was the last man with Abbie. She must have rejected him and he in turn burned her house and took her away. It all made sense to him but he knew that the others would say that he was jealous and they would be right. However, they did not know how threatening this man could be all they saw was his good looks and his money. Luke saw what he wanted and he was not about to let him have her. He just knew that Abbie was not here in these woods, and as soon as they finished this search, he was going straight to the Van Brunt mansion and find her.

*()*

Daredevil galloped through the dark woods as if it were daytime. He and Abraham had no trouble seeing in the darkness. Abbie struggled to see anything within inches of her face. Her feet began to throb with pain from the sharp branches and rocks that she ran over in her flight from the creatures that hunted her. Abraham's left arm tightened around her waist when he heard her soft moan of pain.

"What was that?"

Abraham placed his face in her dark hair and breathed in the lavender scent before answering her. "Its name is Lord Milan. He was once a very wealthy man that had everything but an heir. He was not an attractive man so he made a deal with the Moloch. If he gave him beauty, he would give him souls. He has the power of shape shifting. It took the priests many years to find him but once they found his alter to Moloch and destroyed it his power left him and then they killed him. He has yet to produce an heir. He is hard to track. The only way that I would find him is if he came to me. You were what he wanted."

"I could have been better prepared if you had said something before leaving. I could have had a weapon waiting for him. Now I am homeless, scarred, and aching because you neglected to tell me this information."

Abraham pulled her tighter against his body and felt the air rush from her lungs in a high pitch gasp. "He would have had you. He is too fast for your weapons. He can be any human but not a demon. Only the power of the scar helped you escape him long enough for me to arrive. The Hessian will pay for burning your home."

Abbie dug her fingernails into the skin of his arm trying to make him relax his hold but he would relax his grip only when he wanted to. His grip began to hurt and as if he knew it, he relaxed the muscles in his arm. Her body heaved as air refilled her lungs. She needed to escape him. She had no idea where he was taking her or what he wanted to do…well she knew what he wanted to do. She was not going to let him have what he desired. Abbie looked around in the darkness for light. She would get free of him and head for…...

She felt his lips on her neck planting small kisses on her skin. Her traitorous body trembled like a shivering dog. Her head tilted to the side of its own volition. The motion of the animal beneath her and the heat running through her rogue body made Abbie feel weak and her eyes closed. Abraham moved his hands to thighs and the healing power within him began flowing to her. His hands slowly moved upwards taking the ripped and bloody night dress higher up her thighs. His kiss moved to her jawline and Abbie moaned feeling his fingers moving across the fabric between her thighs. Her head turned towards his lips, she kissed him, and just as quickly, she pulled away and tried to pull his hands out of her underwear. Abraham chuckled as she struggled to dislodge his fingers from her flesh. "You did not mind when I was touching you on top of the fabric. You are so wet my Lioness."

"Stop calling m….."

The burning rider heading towards them stopped her struggle with the Horseman of Death and Abraham pulled his hands from her flesh and wrapped his arms around his captive when she started screaming.

"It's War!"

"He will not harm you."

Abbie tried to escape as War came closer. It was a natural reaction to something on fire riding towards you with unnatural speed. Abraham moved his lips to her ear and held her tighter. "He will not harm you my dove."

His voice was soft and reassuring. She did not want to believe him but the scar on her breast was silent. Abbie began calming down and Abraham relaxed his grip. War's mount pulled alongside Daredevil. Abbie could feel the flames on War's body dying. His heat diminished and then finally went cool. Abraham looked over at War as they communicated telepathically. Abbie felt all of Abraham's muscles flex against her body. Something was wrong.

"What did he say?"

"Lord Milan is not dead. The Hessian took him away and they are going to revive him." "Why didn't he kill him?" Abbie turned slightly in the saddle.

"Moloch would know and we don't want that yet. We need to make him weaker."

"Isn't he weaker without you?"

A smile claimed Abraham's face. She was starting to believe him. She still wanted to get away from him but she knew that he would always rescue her from harm. "Yes, but he has minions that we must destroy. First, we must keep you safe."

They broke through the forest of trees about two minutes after her conversation with Abraham.

Abbie thought that she had been everywhere in Sleepy Hollow but this place she had never seen. When they reached the top of the grassy hill, she saw the huge lighted estate in the distance. Perimeter lights lit as they galloped towards the house. Abbie did not even need to ask. She knew that this property had to belong to his family. Somehow, he had acquired this land. Abbie looked at War and then she knew.

"Henry Parrish is helping you."

Abraham smiled in her hair. "Make sure you tell him that you figured that out on your own."

Abbie began struggling in the saddle again as they got closer to the house. The two mounts ran around the house heading towards the stables. Abraham easily held the struggling woman as he looked at War. "Go to Henry and stay with him in case the Hessian returns. He will need your help if they do."

War nodded and veered off from them and his body engulfed with fire again as he disappeared into the woods. Daredevil slowed his gallop to a trot, as he got closer to his resting place. The men inside the stables smiled at Abraham until they saw the fighting woman in his arms. Abbie groaned in frustration because she could not escape his grip. She was sure that these people here were under some spell that made them accept Abraham. The air in her lungs escaped from her body as Abraham squeezed her so hard that she saw stars. All the fight left her body as he got down from the saddle. He reached up and pulled her into his body. Their chests smashed together and Abbie felt her bare feet skim the ground. She suddenly woke from her daze, drew her legs up, and wrapped her arms around Abraham's strong neck. She buried her face into his chest waiting for the pain to come. Abraham did not mind her holding on to him. His arms surrounded her body and he held her suspended. The stablemen stared at each other and then turned their attention back to the couple.

Abraham could hold her like this forever but Abbie began to notice that the cuts on her arms were gone. She removed her arms from his neck and slowly let her feet touch the ground. The cool ground felt heavenly. Abraham slowly removed his arms from around her body when she smiled up at him and stood on her own. The two men in the stable stared at her semi naked body in the ripped nightdress until Abraham looked at them with a death glare. The two men looked away and went about their work removing Daredevil's saddle and Abbie seized her chance to escape. She ran under the white stallion and out into the grassy lawn. Abraham had to wait until Daredevil moved to run after her. The stablemen watched the big man run the screaming woman down and tackle her on the soft grass.

Abbie fought for dominance but Abraham just used his body to pin her to the soft earth. His left hand grabbed both her wrists and pinned them to the ground above her head. He held her there until she exhausted herself and lay beneath him panting. She glared up at him as her hair flew around her face from her hard panting.

"What are you going…to do now." Fear filled every inch of her body when his eyes darkened as he lowered his face inches from hers. Her breathing began more erratic when she felt the hard flesh between his thighs laying on her stomach like a boulder. Her traitorous body shook with fear, excitement and then with total terror.

"Don't ever ask me that question again. I'll make you hate me…but in a good way all night and all day long."

He heard her whimper. "Now we are going to get up and walk inside and you are going to behave yourself until we get into your room."

He smothered her cry with his lips. The stablemen stood rooted to the floor watching Van Brunt kiss the woman lying behind him on the ground senseless. Abraham pulled away from her lips and Abbie's soft moan filled his ears. "When we get to your room we can resume this fight."

His weight left her body as he stood. He easily pulled the exhausted Lieutenant to her feet. Abbie leaned heavily on him as he walked towards the house.

Those inside were immediately concerned when they saw her but Abraham assured them that she was all right and only needed rest. Abbie behaved herself. She was unable to do anything else. She was exhausted from running from and fighting him. What energy the scar took from her she had to replace by resting. He easily supported her weight as they walked upstairs. Once in the room he picked her up bridal style and laid her on the bed. She looked half asleep. Abraham leaned over her. "You sleep. There is a sleeping gown in the drawer for you. You can call your people tomorrow. I do not want them here. Lord Milan could be anyone of them and that would put you in danger. I will hunt for him tonight."

Abbie slightly nodded. He watched her for a while longer before he got off the bed and walked to the door. He paused when he saw his reflection in the floor length mirror in the room. His eyebrow raised in astonishment. He was filthy. He would have never been this filthy in his own time it was uncivilized. Henry often talked about washing his jacket and shirt but Abraham ignored his jests. Moloch owned him and he had no thoughts of his own. He could never see what Henry saw. Now he could see. Henry had purposely filled the closets and drawers in his room with ridiculous amounts of clothing. The Warlock would die laughing if he knew the Horseman of Death was contemplating wearing denim.

*()*

Luke quickly walked from the police station and towards his car. He had to go back with his fellow officers to try to keep their spirits high. Abbie was a loved officer. He had to find her and he knew exactly where to look, Abraham Van Brunt. Luke just knew that this man had some hand in Abbie's disappearance. As he walked past the light post, he noticed the Abbie's car was gone. Someone had driven it right off the police lot. Luke was more convinced than ever that Abraham had done something with it. Luke unlocked his car, got inside and the engine roared to life. He sped down the street heading to the highway. It would normally take thirty minutes to get to the Van Brunt estates. He was going to get there in ten.

*()*

Abraham tightened the straps of the sheath around his chest before sliding the axe into its normal resting place. He laced up his black boots surprised at how comfortable they were. The denim fit him well and was very flexible. He needed the ability to move while he hunted his prey. Even though the temperature outside was in the low thirties, Abraham wore a short sleeve black t-shirt over his muscled body. The weather never affected him. He walked out of his room and down the hall to Abbie's room. He opened the door slowly. She was in the bed wearing the new gown and in deep slumber. She had used much energy today and would sleep until mid-morning. Abraham quietly closed the door and continued down the hallway. He would hunt Milan on foot. It would be easier to sneak up on him and faster to kill him.

Luke was about five minutes from Van Brunt's property when he saw a man running through the woods.

'Is that…." Luke slammed on his brakes and turned down the old Woodman's road that ran through the Hollow Woods. He flashed his brights and Abraham stopped running and looked back at the approaching car.

Anger filled Luke, as he got closer. The weapon on the wealthy man's back made him reach for his gun. Luke picked up his police radio. "Possible suspect in the officer Abbie Mills kidnapping sited. I am at old Woodman's road. Suspect is armed and very dangerous. Back up is requested."

Luke got out of his care with his weapon drawn. "Remove the weapon."

Abraham frowned. "Why are you here?"

"I said remove the weapon." Luke aimed at his head. He was a big man and he had to take him down with one shot.

"I have done nothing.' Abraham loosened the straps and the sheath fell to the leaves.

"Where is Abbie? You were the last person with her before the fire."

Abraham continued frowning. "Are you doing this for her? Do you really think that you can harm me now with your gun?"

"Shut up you son of bitch. I don't know what kind of drugs you do but this gun can kill you. Money can't stop a bullet." Luke kept his gun trained on Abraham's head as the big man's frown turned menacing.

"You are wasting my time with your jealousy. She is already mine."

Luke gritted his teeth as his gun shook because of the hate and anger running through his body. "You tell me where she is now or I will take you in."

Luke could have sworn that the man's eyes glowed red but the moon did play tricks in these woods. "You and what army will assist you."

The sounds of sirens filled the air and Luke smiled. Abraham raised an eyebrow at the man's sudden happiness. "You would risk their lives to satisfy your pride."

"There are about twenty cops coming here we are not the one in trouble tonight." Abraham's eyes narrowed as he glared at the approaching police cars. He returned his dark gaze to Luke who still had his gun trained on him.

"You should have kept driving."


Author's Notes

I have edited this chapter of the errors that I found there could be more but... I hope that you enjoy this chapter and continue reading Thank you Frostbytefire