Chapter 8


Later, down in the study


Nick, Rachel, and Derek all stood around waiting for the news. "So, how much longer do you think it will take?" Nick finally broke the silence.

"I'm not sure," Derek answered.

"Em's very quiet," Nick stated as he looked to the closed door across the hall.

"Em?" Rachel inquired curiously.

"Emily Rose," Nick said with pride. "Emily after my grandmother, Rose after Alex's."

"It's beautiful, Alex will love that," Rachel assured with a smile. Suddenly the door across the way swung open, and three men, priests, emerged into the study, one holding little Emily. Nick hastily moved to the man with his child and scooped her into his arms.

"So, what's the verdict?" Nick asked as he looked his daughter over.

"There's nothing wrong with the child, she has no markings," One of the Priest spoke.

"What do you mean, nothing wrong?" Nick asked.

"We thought you'd be pleased to know that your child is healthy," Another of the Priests said to Nick.

"I am but, if it's not Emily then who is it?"

"Alex," Rachel stated. Nick and Derek looked to her, stunned. "She was acting so strange before and she didn't even want to see the baby."

"Well, that's not too surprising, Rach, she didn't want her, remember?" Nick pointed out.

"Think about it, Nick, the way she spoke, she sounded…"

"Just like Parker did, when he was possessed," Nick finished as Rachel nodded her head.

"Where is Alex now?" Derek asked.

"She was still upstairs resting when I last checked," Rachel answered. They all rushed up the stairs to Alex's room, leaving the confused Priests to stare after them. They entered the room to find that Alex was gone. Derek moved to the phone on the nearby nightstand, picking it up he dialed down to the main gate.

"Yes, this is Dr. Rayne, has Miss Moreau been down there?" Derek asked and awaited the answer. "I see, no, no it's ok, thank you," With that Derek hung up the phone.

"So?" Rachel said with questioning eyes as Nick stood by cradling his Daughter.

"Alex left over an hour ago," Derek stated.

"What? She was in no condition to get out of bed, let alone leave the island," Nick said.

"Well, this was no usual birth, we have no idea how it affected Alex's body," Rachel stated.

"At least we can track her, right?" Derek questioned Nick.

"Right, I'm on it. Could you…" Nick said as he gently handed Emily to Derek, who nervously took the child. The infant frowned and made a small fuss. "Shhh, Em, Uncle Derek is gonna look after you for a while so daddy can bring mommy back home, ok. So be a good girl," As if understanding the baby calmed down. "You guys can monitor me from the control room, everything is already set up. There's no visual, but you'll still be able to track my every movement. And Derek mind her head, and she likes to be rock, but don't bounce to much because her she just eat," Nick gave instructions as if he had been a father for years. He then turned and headed out. Derek looked after him and then down at the small child in his arms, and finally to Rachel who stood smirking at him.

"Uncle Derek?" Derek repeated making a face of dislike as Rachel giggled at him.


Later, downtown San Francisco


Nick watched the handheld receiver as he traced the trail Alex left, he rounded a corner and the signal stopped. "What the hell?" He whispered to himself.

"Lookin for me?" Alex's voice rang out as her form stepped from a doorway. She smiled at him brightly. Nick instinctively retrieved his gun, aiming at Alex. "Now ya aint gonna shoot me, are ya?" The possessed Alex asked as she slowly moved towards Nick.

"Don't make any sudden movement," Nick commanded.

"Why, is there a bee on me?" The demon asked with a chuckle. "What's wrong?"

"You left the island and didn't let anyone know."

"And that's a crime and cause for ya to be aim'n yo gun at me? I was jus doing a little baby shoppin."

"Well, we're going back to the island now, so…"

"Naw, I don't think so. Tired of being cooped up. Sides, you might try ta tie me up again and exsosize me again."

"That's the plan," Nick said still aim his gun.

"Well, I don't like that plan, no sir. C'mon boy, we don't have ta go back. We can run off tagether, you and me. Don't tell me ya don't wanna. I know ya do. You wanna nother taste of this brown suga. I know ya do," The Miner said as he ran a finger across Alex's neck and down her cleavage. "Ya member how good it felt don't ya, how sweet she tasted. Well c'mon boy, right here, right now, up against that there wall."

"Shut up!" Nick warned.

"What? We both know ya want ta. I mean afta all I chose her for ya," Nick's face formed a confused look at the demon's words. "I was in yo body, feelin yo emotions, yo lusts, desires, and guess who I saw there," The demon smiled evilly and Nick's jaws clenched in anger. "That's right, yer sweet Alex, I just acted out the things you wanted ta do to'r. When I held'r down and tore in to'r, I was jus actin out yer fantasies, doing whatcha wanted ta do, ya should be thankin me. I gave ya yer most inner desires, and a brat ta boot, and this is the thanks I git?"

"Nick?" Derek's voice rang in Nick's earpiece. "We've been doing some research since you left and I think we've discovered a way to get the spirit out of Alex."

"I'm listening," Nick said causing the Demon to watch him strangely.

"The mines," Derek stated. "Get Alex to the mines, that's where the spirit has been cursed to for all eternity, if you get Alex back there it should leave her body and go back on its mission of eternal damnation."

"That's all I needed to hear," Nick said and then aimed the gun at Alex's shoulder, and shot.

"Ahhhhh…ya shot me ya sonofabit…" The Miner yelled before rumbling to the ground. Nick rushed to Alex's slack form, scooping her up in his arms. "What did ya do?" It asked in a near whisper.

"Tranquilizers, you really didn't think I'd hurt Alex, did you? It's like you said I want her and I can't very well have her if she's dead or possessed, now can I?" Nick quickly raced to his Mustang, gently placed Alex's now unconscious body in the passenger seat. Nick raced the car to the outskirts of town, to the mines.