Repercussions Chapter 9

A/N: This story is kicking my butt. I'm trying to keep Betelgeuse in character, but this subject matter tends to lean toward raw emotions. It's hard to not go completely ooc, but I'm trying. Thanks for hanging in there with me, and to all who read and reviewed you guys are awesome…

Lydia opened her eyes and glanced at her surroundings. It was dark, and a thick fog hung heavy in the air. There was a musty smell, not unpleasant, but slightly sweet. She sat up slowly, smiling sardonically at the headstones around her.

"I hope you don't mind the morbidity," came a soft voice from the darkness, "I thought you might like it." Lydia squinted a bit, trying to put a face to the disembodied voice.

"I do," Lydia replied, "I've always liked cemeteries." A soft chuckle emanated from the shadows.

"So much like Barrett," the voice said, "he was a morbid soul, even when he was alive." Lydia stood, and dusted herself off.

"Barrett," she said softly.

"Yes," the voice replied with another chuckle, "he always hated that name." Lydia took a deep breath. She had never really thought of him as once being alive. He was the embodiment of cadaverous, so much so that any shred of humanity was eclipsed. She met him as a ghost, so a ghost was all she knew. His past was unknown, and as of right now, so was their future. She wanted to know about his life, she needed to know. She sighed heavily.

"You can't change his past, Lydia, or what happened to him….any more than I could," the voice said, "he is what he is because of it." Lydia couldn't stop the tears that began to form.

"Why can't they see that he's been through enough?" she asked.

"Perhaps they don't want to see it," the voice said, "or perhaps they see him the way he wants to be seen. Perhaps they see him as nothing but malicious, because he has shown them nothing but malice." Lydia sighed again. He had been malicious for over six decades, she doubted that he would change now.

"Lydia…he has changed. You know that."

Lydia smiled slightly. He had changed, and she did know it, but no one else seemed to. Before she could say anything, a figure emerged from the shadows. She had long dark hair and brown eyes. They actually looked a lot alike.

"What are we going to do?" Lydia asked. Isabel extended her hand, Lydia took it.

"We'll find a way," Isabel replied.

Betelgeuse awoke with a stretch and reached for Lydia. When he didn't find her beside him, he sat up. The note Lydia had placed on his chest fell into his lap. He picked it up and juiced on the light.

Beej,

Had some things to do, be back soon….

Love,

Lydia

He groaned, juiced up a cigarette and flopped back onto the sofa. He hoped she wasn't doing anything crazy. That girl could find trouble almost as well as he could. He grinned at that. It wasn't everyday that he found someone as messed up as he was. He congratulated himself on his taste in women. The thought of Lydia brought him back to reality. He had no idea how, but he knew that they would get married. Even with the whole world against them. He knew that he wasn't exactly Mr. Popularity, but he had to find a way. Truthfully, he had even thought about going to see Juno, but he realized what a ridiculous idea that was. She would probably have him exorcised on the spot. He needed a plan, and for that, he needed Lydia.

Lydia stood quietly, waiting for Isabel to speak. How were they ever going to find a solution? She glanced at the woman, trying to decide if she should say something. Suddenly, Isabel turned to face her.

"The book…" Isabel said. Lydia's eyes widened. The book, of course.

"There was a spell that might be useful," Isabel said, "the one about disengaging conjoined souls." Lydia remembered seeing that one.

"But what would happen?" she asked.

"I don't really know," Isabel replied, "but we should find out." Lydia nodded slightly, unsure just what that meant.

"How do we do that?" she asked, Isabel smiled.

"We ask a ghost…" she replied.