a/n: Thank you for the reviews and viewings! This story is not coming out as quickly as I would like it to. I have so many thoughts and they just don't want to behave and fall in line! And Irving and Reyes pretty much flat out refused to play along.
Bleak
Chapter Nine
Crane stood in front of the kitchen sink, cursing inwardly as he filled a small, metal mixing bowl with warm water. Recovering from the shock of seeing Frank Irving at the cabin's door had taken far longer than Crane would care to admit. Yet upon seeing the bloodied gash across Sheriff Reyes' forehead, he had been quick to remove her from the former captain's hold. He had not waited for an explanation of her injuries; rather, he had carefully placed her unconscious form on the sofa and had moved promptly to retrieve the medical supply kit. Turning off the water, he pulled the kit from the countertop and returned to the living area. As he knelt and placed the items near the sofa, his eyes remained on Abbie and Irving. Neither had moved from their positions, Abbie stiff with her firearm trained on Irving, Irving lugubrious in front of the open door. Crane approached Abbie, standing closely behind her as he reached around her body and gently placed his hand over hers.
"Crane," she warned as he carefully encouraged her to lower her weapon.
"I know," he whispered quietly near her ear. His eyes pinned Irving. "We must tend to the sheriff." Reluctantly, she engaged the gun's safety and moved to the sofa. Irving closed the door and nodded his appreciation.
"Thanks for calling off the guards."
"Do not make the mistake of thinking I am doing you any favor."
"Understood," Irving nodded. Crane tightly clasped his hands behind his back and stood protectively to Abbie's left as she cleaned the blood from Reyes' face.
"You better start talking, Frank," she muttered.
"I don't know where to start," he sighed. "Leena was at Tarrytown to see me. She was only there…she had just stepped into my room." He ran his hands over his face. "Before she had a chance to say anything, there was a flash of lightening, and then I saw Henry standing in the hallway behind her." Irving nervously wrung his hands. "He just…smiled and laughed all weird like he does. The lights went out and the thunder…it was so loud." He frowned and his gaze became distant, fixating on a point on the floor. "When the lights turned on…I checked the hallway. I don't know how the other patients got out of their rooms; there were people everywhere. But no sign of Henry; he was gone. And Leena…she was on the floor." He looked at Crane. "I saw the blood; I tried to wake her up but she didn't respond."
"She's been out this whole time?" Abbie questioned.
"Yeah."
"How the hell did you get out of Tarrytown with an unconscious woman?" she bit.
"Like I said, there were people everywhere. The guy three rooms down from mine was screaming and punching. He bit another patient. The guards were trying to restore order." He shrugged. "I took advantage of the situation."
"Why didn't you have the doctors at Tarrytown look at her?" she asked.
"What was I supposed to tell them?" he scoffed. "Oh, the lights went out, all hell broke loose and the sheriff is incapacitated on the floor? Ah, don't worry about it. It was just the Horseman of War dropping by to say 'hello'." He shook his head. "They would never have believed I wasn't responsible for Leena's injuries."
"Does Tarrytown not have regulated hours for visiting?" Crane asked.
"It does," Abbie answered.
"Then how is it that the sheriff was able to see you so late at night?"
"Perks of the job," Irving answered. "I've gone to see witnesses and perps well after the doors are closed to visitors."
"Witnesses and perps," she echoed. She tossed the bloodied rag into the bowl and rested her elbow over her bent knee. "People that had ties to the case you were working. What is Reyes working on that involves you?"
"Nothing," he answered. "Honestly? I thought she came baring bad news. About the two of you." He stepped to the sofa and leaned the heels of his palms across the back. "Just because I'm stuck under Henry's bullshit doesn't mean that I don't care about what happens to the two of you," he snapped. Abbie stood.
"Well, forgive me if I don't—"
"Lieutenant." Crane placed his hand on her arm. "Perhaps this is not the time for arguing." He tipped his head and lifted an eyebrow. "Join me in the kitchen?"
"Yeah." She looked a Frank and pointed a stern finger in his direction. "Do not move from that spot." He lifted his hands in surrender.
"Lieutenant," Crane started quietly as the entered the kitchen, "I do not know what to make of this. Irving's great escape seems rather…" He rolled his hands at his loss for words. "Henry's appearance at Tarrytown preceding the very moment Irving absconds…"
"If that's really what happened." She bit at her bottom lip. "We've always known there would come a point in time when Irving would do Henry's bidding. Maybe we've reached that point."
"And the good sheriff's involvement?"
"I don't know." Abbie rubbed the tips of her fingers across her forehead. "All right. He's all yours for the moment. I'm going to call Jenny." Crane bowed his head and returned to the living area. Abbie made her way into the bedroom, quickly rounding the bed to reach the phone on the nightstand. She placed the call and impatiently tapped her fingers against her thigh.
"Crane?"
"Jenny, it's me."
"Abbie? How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. Listen, I need you to come back to the cabin."
"What? Have you seen what's going on outside?" she asked. "It's practically raining ice, Abs."
"Well, you're going to have to brave the roads, Jenny. You'll make it."
"How do you know?"
"How do I know? I know because Irving made it." Abbie waited through a moment of quiet. "I'm taking your silence to mean you're—"
"Half way out the door," Jenny finished. "Can't let Frank outdo me. I'm on my way."
SH
Katrina took a deep breath and closed her eyes as Jonathan lit a candle and placed it in the middle of the kitchen table. As he sat across from her, she tightly palmed a small, grey stone. She focused her attention, her thoughts, allowing her mind to channel through the stone and into a world of communication. Releasing a calming breath, she opened her eyes and gently dropped the stone into a small bowl of water resting on the table between her and the candle. She dipped her index finger into the water and used the clinging drop of liquid to trace a circle on her forehead. Jonathan watched intently as she placed two more circles on top of the first. Katrina leaned forward over the bowl and mentally searched for Irving's presence. Her eyes fluttered to a close, her face contorted into a soft frown. After a moment, she sighed loudly and sat back in her chair.
"It is not working," she spat, turning away from the bowl.
"Your connection to Captain Irving is fledgling, Mother. Perhaps it is too soon."
"No," she replied with a gentle shake of her head. "The ability to view is instant."
"Brother has a hold of the captain's soul. Could his claim interfere with your spell?" Katrina lifted her eyes and peered over the candle's flame.
"I had not considered that possibility," she admitted. "And in addition to the spell to keep Henry from knowing how I am now linked to the captain..." She nodded gently. "Perhaps it is too much too soon." Jonathan stood and moved to Katrina's side.
"Mother," he started, kneeling beside her, "it has undoubtedly been a trying day. With everything considered, perhaps you should retire for the remained of the night. Regardless of the upper hand your magic allows you, exhaustion will only set back what you have achieved." She placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Always the protector," she smiled. "Though you are correct; the day has been rather long. And the sun will rise in a few short hours. I must be prepared for our walk through the woods." Jonathan took her hand and helped her to her feet. Placing her hand in the crook of his elbow, he guided her through the manner and to her chambers.
"I am certain by morning you shall see all the captain perceives." They stopped in front of her doorway and he offered a small bow. "Rest well, Mother." Katrina smiled, entered her room and closed the door. He moved through the hallway and entered his quarters. Standing in front of the full-length mirror, he tilted his head. He studied his reflection.
He waited.
SH
"Well, she's going to need stitches," Jenny stated as she examined Reyes' injury. "But I'm more concerned about the fact that she hasn't woken up yet." She gingerly repositioned the gauze patch over the wound and looked at her sister. "Has she moved or mumbled or anything?"
"No," Abbie answered.
"Could she be under some kind of spell?" Jenny asked.
"It is most certainly a possibility," Crane answered. "Well within Henry's abilities. However…" Jenny nodded knowingly.
"It makes the head banging unnecessary." She stood and crossed her arms in front of her chest. Looking across the room, she watched Irving pace beside the length of the dining table. He moved slowly; spoke quietly, incoherently to himself. The anguish and confusion on his face seemed genuine in Jenny's opinion; though she knew appearances were often quiet deceiving. "Unless Henry wanted to make it look like Irving's doing."
"Or it really is Irving's doing," Abbie added.
"Abs."
"We don't know what happened at Tarrytown, Jenny. I've been trying to get a hold of someone, but no one is answering the phone."
"I can help with that," the younger sister smiled. "Where's your laptop?"
"On the table." Crane and Abbie watched as Jenny bypassed Irving and planted herself in one of the table's wooden chairs. She opened the laptop and her smile widened as her fingers began working over the keyboard. "Jenny?"
"I can break into their security system," she explained. "We can look at the surveillance footage." She looked at her sister. "Just give me a few minutes." Abbie nodded and turned to face Crane.
"Lieutenant," he said quietly, "was Captain Irving medicated at Tarrytown?"
"I don't think so," she answered. "Why?"
"His behavior," he answered absently. "After his initial explanation of occurrences, he has done nothing other than pace and gabble."
"Do you think this may be some side effect of Henry's control?"
"Perhaps," he nodded absently. "Let us hope your sister finds something of use on the security footage."
SH
Jonathan breathed deeply through his nose, inhaling the smell of sulfur that hung heavily in the thick air. Opening his eyes, he peered through the brown fog to the shards of glass plastered the cave wall. They formed an asymmetrical, five-pointed star, a mirror that reflected his image in broken pieces. The corners of his mouth lifted in a tight smile and he turned to greet his master.
"Moloch, my lord," he said with a bow of his head. "The spell is cast. My connection is strong. And with the rise of the sun, I will relay the message." The hooved being before him nodded his approval.
"What of Katrina?" Moloch questioned.
"She has no suspicions. She believes Henry's possession of the captain's soul is hindering her ability to see through Irving's eyes." He tipped his head to the side. "Are you certain you wish for me to dispose of only one Witness?"
"Ichabod Crane must fall to your sword," Moloch replied. "Ichabod Crane alone."
"As you wish." Jonathan bowed again, lifting his eyes when his ears registered the sound of breaking glass. He straightened his posture and stepped forward, running a finger along the crack in the full-length mirror.
SH
"Well," Jenny started with a sigh, "whatever happened at Tarrytown remains a mystery." She spun the laptop, allowing Abbie and Crane a view of the screen as they advanced towards the table. "The twenty minutes around Frank's ordeal is nothing but snow." She sat back in her chair. "Every single camera."
"How is that possible?" Abbie asked.
"Henry is well acquainted with Tarrytown," Crane stated. "He would certainly know the placement of the cameras."
"Yep," Jenny agreed. "And I'm sure he knows some trick to erase what was recorded." She leaned her elbow on the table and rested her chin on a clenched fist. "Want the rest of the bad news?"
"Must there always be more 'bad news'?" Crane questioned with a sigh.
"After the blank space…" She reached around the screen and tapped a key. "No panic at the disco." Abbie narrowed her eyes as she watched the recordings of empty hallways. "None of the patients leave their rooms."
"So Irving is lying to us." Abbie slammed her palm on the table. "Damn it!"
"Lieutenant—"
"Don't tell me this isn't the time for swearing," she warned him. "Reyes can't tell us what happened because she's still out cold on the couch. And Irving is…" She gestured to the captain, sitting in a chair at the far end of the table, staring blankly across the room. "Who the hell knows what's wrong with him." She huffed and walked away.
"How long are we going to let him sit like that?" Jenny asked. She stood and moved to stand in front of Irving. Bending at the waist, she leveled their eyes. "I swear I haven't seen him blink in at least fifteen minutes." She waved her hand through his line of sight and then snapped her fingers close to his face; he showed no reaction. "It's like he can't see me," she muttered. Jenny straightened and regarded Crane. "If this really is because of Henry…" She took a breath. "Seems to me if a coin can instantly take over its holder then someone with Henry's abilities shouldn't have technical difficulties like this."
"I concur," Crane nodded. "Though we have no inkling as to Henry's plan of action. This may very well be part of his ruse."
"Hey, guys." Abbie rolled her wrist, motioning them towards the sofa. "I think Reyes is waking up." They moved to Abbie's side as she knelt on the floor. "Reyes?" she whispered. "Ma'am? Can you hear me?" Reyes mumbled quietly, forcing her eyes to open.
"Mills?" she called groggily. "I'm…my head…what happened?" Abbie placed her hands on Reyes's shoulders and carefully held her in place.
"You should rest," she said. "You have a nasty gash across your forehead." Reyes looked between Abbie and Crane, frowning with confusion as she took in the unusual state of his clothing.
"Did I miss the memo about the pajama party?" she asked quietly.
"I guess so," Abbie smiled gently. Reyes tried to lift her head. "Don't try to sit up." Ignoring her lieutenant, Reyes quickly but gingerly pulled herself into a sitting position. Her hand immediately went to her temple as her pulse throbbed through her head.
"I don't…remember…" she mumbled. "Frank…" Her eyes snapped open and she grabbed Abbie's arms. "Where's Frank?"
"He's here, with us," Jenny said, kneeling beside her sister.
"He was…" Reyes closed her eyes with a wince. "He called me, said he was…was in danger."
"He's safe," Jenny assured, wanting to calm the sheriff.
"He called you?" Abbie asked.
"Yes. He…he said it had something to do…with what you do. That…Moloch." Abbie flicked her eyes upwards and met Crane's. "I tried to call you, Mills. You didn't answer." She took a breath, trying to clear her head. "I forgot your phone wasn't working; I didn't have time to type up an e-mail. And I didn't think I should…involve the other officers, so I went to Tarrytown to see what Frank needed." She looked at Abbie. "Before I could get through the parking lot and to the building, a young man approached me," she explained slowly. "He said…thanked me for getting there so quickly. When I asked him what he wanted, he just said he wanted me to see."
"See what?" Abbie asked.
"I don't know."
"Did you recognize the man?"
"No," Reyes answered. "He did identify himself." She frowned. "Jonathan?" She nodded and looked between the sisters. "Jonathan. I don't remember anything after that." She dropped her eyes and shook her head. "Nothing until this moment."
"Okay," Abbie nodded. "Okay. Ma'am, why don't you rest? Jenny, you got this?"
"No worries," she answered.
"Crane? I think you and I need to chat."
"Agreed, Lieutenant." He joined his hands behind his back and followed Abbie through the cabin.
"All right, then," Jenny smiled. "I'm going to get you a glass of water and an ice pack." She brushed the hair from Reyes' face. "I should maybe clean this up a bit again." Reyes nodded and looked around the cabin.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"This is Sheriff Corbin's cabin," Jenny answered. "It's a base of operations of sorts. Well, when we're not holed up in the Archives." Reyes turned around and spotted Irving on the other side of the room.
"Oh," she breathed, noticing his lack of movement. "What's wrong with him? I thought you said he was safe."
"Yeah, well, safe is a relative terms these days." Jenny placed her hand on Reyes' shoulders, taking her attention away from Irving. "He's as safe as he can be right now."
"I should have…I should have been prepared for…something. I could have helped him." Jenny dropped her eyes.
"The fact that you were willing to help him is…very much appreciated." She looked up, locking her gaze on Irving. "But there's nothing you could have done. Right now, there isn't anything any of us can do."
SH
"And the plot thickens," Crane commented as he closed the bedroom door. Abbie nodded as she sat on the mattress.
"Can we just have one bout," she started, falling onto her back, "just one that has an easy fix?"
"Oh, come now, Lieutenant," he smiled, sitting next to her. "Where is the fun in that?" He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, receiving the smile she gave in return.
"So Irving escaped from Tarrytown," she started.
"That much we know to be fact," he agreed.
"But we don't know why, we don't know what happened to Reyes, and we don't know what her involvement in this whole thing may be." Abbie sighed and lightly tapped her fingers on top of her stomach. "What would the host want Reyes to see?" Crane's gaze shifted to the nightstand on her side of the bed, a frown gently forming as he noticed the small stack of book on top of it.
"The host wants Reyes to see," he mumbled absently. He stood and rounded the bed, his hand quickly sorting through the books as he reached the small piece of furniture. "Your sister, in all of her snapping in Irving's face, commented that it was though he could not see her." Abbie sat up and watched as he lifted a book, reading the words printed along the spine. He returned to his place on the mattress. "Katrina gathered several books from the Archives," he explained. "Spell books with which she hoped to strengthen her powers." He flipped through the pages.
"And you just happened to read them, too?" she teased.
"Yes, well, there were…several nights during which sleep eluded me," he defended. "Here." Abbie took the book and skimmed over the indicated page.
"This spell…it allows a person to see through someone else's eyes." She turned to Crane. "Do you think Henry is using Irving and Reyes to spy on us?"
"Not Henry," he said with a slight shake of his head. "Do you recall our conversation about Katrina returning to Abraham?"
"Katrina," Abbie sighed. "She's good at infiltration."
"Precisely." She closed her eyes and the book, leaving a finger between the pages. "She has already made one venture to spy on us." He raised an eyebrow and held back a small smile. "Something tells me covering Irving and Reyes with a sheet will not be as effective as—"
"Really?" she interrupted. "You're gonna pull that?"
"Your use of the spare bed linens to cover the reflective surfaces was rather…excessive."
"So it was Katrina, not Henry that Irving saw a Tarrytown," she said, ignoring Crane's goading. He nodded. "She casts the spell; she helps Irving escape." Abbie tapped her fingers on the book's worn cover. "What about Reyes? Why would Katrina need two spies?"
"Perhaps the sheriff's presence was simply reason to put Irving in the same place as you and I," he offered. "Would you have allowed Irving to enter the cabin had he arrived unaccompanied?"
"Probably not," she replied. "Reyes gives Irving an excuse to be here and if she's here, she might as well be a part of the plan."
"Two heads are better than one." She met Crane's eyes, silently conveying her question. He lifted his hand to her cheek.
"It is not you and I in that sense," he said quietly. "Katrina's desire to protect the host from us is well-known. I believe she is keeping an eye on us to ensure we do not follow through with our intent to kill it." She lifted an eyebrow. "Perhaps it is a little of both," he acknowledged. He shifted to face her fully. "As I expressed to you earlier, nothing will prevent me from staying by your side." He leaned into her, placing a soft kiss on her lips.
"We have to find a way to break that spell," she said quietly.
"Agreed." He pressed his lips to hers again.
"Katrina cannot be allowed to figure out our plans again." He hummed his agreement against her mouth. "And I don't want her, or anyone for that matter, being privy to any of this."
"Nor do I," he whispered. Abbie found herself lying on the mattress once again, her head cradled in Crane's hand, his weight settled carefully over her. His hand found her wrist, gentling wiggling her hand from its grip on the spell book. He laced his fingers with hers and pinned her hand to the bed as his lips played teasingly over her mouth.
"Abbie!" Breaking their connection, the two looked towards the door as the sound of Jenny's panicked voice filtered through the cabin. "I think you need to see this!" she yelled.
