Thanks everyone for the FB. Some of the text is from the Harvest and lyrics are to "Where is my Mind?" by The Pixies although the Placebo cover is what basically guided this part. - G

Part 10

With your feet on the air and your head on the ground
Try this trick and spin it, yeah
Your head will collapse if there's nothing in it
And you'll ask yourself
Where is my mind?

Michael scowled as he shifted in his seat. The two of them had spent at least twenty minutes in Courtney's hideout, willing her to show up. Twenty awkward, drawn out minutes. Twenty more minutes that he wasn't with Tess.

He needed to stop worrying so damn much. She was the most powerful of them all, she could deal with it, if there even was anything to deal with. But maybe he was worried because she was so powerful and she'd been taken down that easily.

He had to stop watching The View when he skipped school. Barbara, Joy, Star and Meredith were fucking with his brain.

"This isn't gonna work. She's not just gonna stroll up to her hideout while we're sitting here watching her." Maria huffed, her arms resting across her chest as she glared at him.

He always thought she looked best like this – surly and annoyed. Whereas Tess looked best when she was smiling and in his arms.

Michael was certain there was a reason for that – but he didn't want to dwell on it. He just wanted her back. And wait? Why was Maria mocking him? This was her brilliant plan – her Nancy Drew moment, as she phrased it.

"This was your idea."

"That's not the way I remember it."

Of course not. Maria Deluca was never wrong. How could he have forgotten that?

"Ok, so now it's my fault."

"Yes. You know what? Just to make things simpler, from now on you should consider everything to be your fault, ok? Ok."

Fuck. This was about more than the damn stakeout. This was about the creepy wall of shit at Courtney's apartment. And that could only mean one thing – she saw the pictures of him and Tess.

Fucking great. He'd have to deal with this now when all he wanted was his damn girlfriend back and Courtney dealt with. Obviously neither thing was going to happen anytime soon.

Sighing, Michael scratched at his eyebrow and asked the inevitable question. "What's your problem?"

"I don't have a problem."

"Whatever." He didn't want to deal with this right now. In fact, he was praying that she would just drop it. That would be fantastic and they'd go back to talking about nothing over a nice awkward silence.

After a momentary pause, he met her green eyes as she shifted to face him. "Are you dating Tess?"

No such luck on either avoiding this or not talking at all. He was a fucking winner tonight.

Yes, Michael thought to himself as he feigned ignorance.

"Excuse me?" The half assed denial fell from his mouth without a second thought. He was more than happy to tell Maria the truth; he just didn't really want to deal with the fallout.

"I saw the pictures on that board of you two. So, are you dating or are you just like, cleaning her mouth with your tongue?"

"We're dating. Not that it is any of your business." Why not go with the truth – both parts of it. They stopped dating in May, after destiny, so it didn't concern her, as far as he was concerned.

"Hello!" Maria exclaimed flailing her arms in the air and pointing at herself. "Ex-girlfriend here! I have a right to know!"

"Critical piece of information here – ex-girlfriend." It was harsh, it was cruel, almost, but at the same time it was the truth, and it was past time she realized it. He was sick of her thinking that there was a chance for them, that they could just somehow get back together.

"Men," Maria sighed, exasperated, as she threw her hands dramatically up in the air. It was always like this with her, and he certainly didn't miss it. "So, you're really dating, huh? I could totally tell that this would happen."

Great, just great. She was going to say something ridiculous about Tess moving onto the next available man when it became clear that Max wasn't buying. This was exactly how he wanted to spend his fucking evening.

"Maria, if you're going to say it's about destiny and moving on to the next…"

"Michael! I am not that cruel!" Maria interjected, clearly picking up on his train of thought. Which, of course, meant that a part of her was thinking it.

But he didn't want to get into it. Instead, an awkward silence settled over the two of them.

After a few minutes, Maria smoothed her hair and turned toward him, a look of disbelief painted on her features. "I'm not! I was just going to say, okay, wow. I thought I'd be pissed about this. I really thought I'd be furious. But the thing is – you guys I don't know make sense or whatever. Plus I went to this psychic like last week or two weeks ago – I don't remember, and she was like – the next 48 hours were critical for my love life."

That was the best he was going to get from her – and he knew it. And, it was very adult of her, albeit unexpected. He didn't know what to say, so he decided to respond with humor. "Maria, I don't want to hear about how you bought a vibrator."

"Um, ew, pig! Do you kiss Tess with that mouth?"

Maria was shrieking, but he knew that her answer was her unsaid confirmation that she accepted his relationship. Not wanting to ruin the moment, he simply returned her comment with a smirk, waiting for her reply.

"You hound! Okay, whatever, so Madam Vivian, my mom's spiritual advisor, told me that these 48 hours were critical – and so I was desperate to find you, which clearly didn't work because I haven't even seen you in forever – so I was like all sad and depressed."

"And you got to know Jose that much better?"

"I hate you so much right now," Maria huffed, brushing a stray piece of hair off her face with a grin. "Anyway, Alex was there and I had this bottle of liquor and we kind of got drunk. And we realized some stuff – so anyway, we're together too. Just thought you should know."

"Romance and body shots? Sounds kinky," Michael teased, scratching his eyebrow as he rolled his eyes. He was happy for her – that she was getting over whatever they had. It was going to come out sooner or later that they simply weren't compatible, and they could at least be mature about it.

"You're disgusting."

Maria paused, then turned toward him. "But if we can talk reality here for a second, I think she booked. Out of town."

Absolutely not. If the attack on Tess was any indication, the skins were here to stay – and Courtney had a definite plan.

"No dice. She wouldn't do that. She's obsessed with me."

"I guess that makes 2 of you, then, doesn't it?"

Cute, Deluca, real cute.

"She'll show up sooner or later."

"How 'bout sooner?"

Jumping to his feet, one thought was running through his mind – Oh, shit!

---------------------

She could sense something was off the second they entered the house. It wasn't overwhelming – but it was there, nipping at the back of her consciousness. Inhaling, she brushed an imaginary wisp of hair off her face as she took her seat on the couch.

Tess tried to listen as the others made idle conversation about Whittaker, the highway, but she was overcome with a sense of dread. If only Michael was here, she mused, before souring.

What was all that bullshit she was thinking in the car? She was strong enough to do this. She could totally handle this.

Inhaling, she pushed her palms down on her knees. There was something off here. Why had everyone stopped talking? What was going on?

Shifting, she noticed someone move out of the corner of her eye. He was short and young – like a teenager. God, why couldn't she see well? Why had she been relegated to a corner?

Isabel was talking now, but all that registered was muddled female voices and a mouth opening and closing. Her own fears were drowning out everything else as her apprehension overcame her. Something was wrong and every cell in her body was screaming at her to leave – but she sat rooted in place.

Maybe it was the fear. Maybe it really had paralyzed her? Maybe she had been so overcome by emotion that she couldn't move? Could that happen? God, why did she hate science?

That had to be it. Why had she agreed to this again?

Oh god, the old broad was talking. Why wasn't she hearing – why did it feel like she was drowning? Why did she feel like a guest in her own body?

The bile was rising in her throat, as her thoughts grew more panicked, more rushed, more desperate. Why wasn't anyone noticing? Why couldn't they see that she clearly was uncomfortable?

Why couldn't she focus? Was this what it was like to be high? Had she gotten delirious?

"Nicholas, there you are! Come on in here. Come on, say hello."

It was like her stomach had been coated in lead. Dancing dark eyes were trained on her and she opened her mouth to scream – but no sound came out. In fact, she couldn't even open her mouth. And Nicholas continued to mock her with his eyes, while feigning sadness.

This was a trap. And she couldn't even do anything to warn them.

She strained her face muscles to force a frown onto her face, but all that came of it was a dull ache and another amused grin from Nicholas. Maybe, maybe if she could just get out of the house – if she could just get one of them to follow her.

God, it wasn't that hard, was it? She wasn't an invalid, she knew how to walk – one foot then two. What was happening? She couldn't focus on anything – her head hurt too much.

Something had just happened – something important. What was it? Oh, right, Nicholas. St. Nicholas? It wasn't Christmas. Was it?

"If Vanessa was like your mother, well I'm like your Grandmother."

What was going on? Grandma? Why did her head hurt? Where were they? Where was Michael?

Michael. Michael. Michael. Michael.

Maybe if she just focused on him – maybe it would make sense. He helped her before, right?

Blinking, she shook her head as her mind cleared. Jerking suddenly, she threw the rice krispie treat that had been in her hand onto the coffee table. What the hell had just happened? Her head was killing her and her muscles ached and she really needed to go to the bathroom.

"Excuse me, where's the restroom?"

It didn't even sound like her voice. She didn't even remember thinking about asking the question. In fact, she just was reflecting on needing to use it and all the sudden out comes the question.

"Down the hall on the left."

Nodding, she lifted herself off the sofa and followed the directions. Maybe this was her chance – maybe if she just could get out of here, it'd all be okay. After all, there had to be a window or something right?

Pushing the door open, she brushed a stray piece of hair off her face – it'd be okay. She was getting control of her body again – she just had to keep focusing on Michael, getting out of here and fixing whatever was wrong. No big deal, right?

Inhaling, she shut the door quietly behind her and let out a silent plea. This had to fucking work. She was finally thinking for herself again, regaining control of her body.

Her body jerked and turned as she fell over herself on the way to the window. She had to get out of here. She just had to. Gripping the handle, she pushed hard against the glass – willing it to open.

Damn thing was stuck. It was fucking stuck. She couldn't get it open. Why wasn't it opening?

Clawing wildly at her hair, Tess pressed all her weight against the painted over glass. She had to get out of here. She had to get Michael – she just fucking had to do something to warn them.

If she trusted her powers, she'd use them right now. But that'd only let Nicholas know that she wasn't under whatever he'd done anymore. And she couldn't have that. Not when she was so close. Not when she was able to do something to save them.

"Fuck," Tess hissed, her arm slipping out of position, the window still painted shut. The harsh sting of a splinter cutting through her fingertip caused her to pull the bleeding digit into her mouth.

There was no time for this. She had to get out of here. Her mind was screaming as she surveyed the room, looking for something to help her lift the damn window. Finally deciding on a toilet bowl brush with a thin, metal handle, she gripped it and began to dig at the edges of the painted over frame.

Peeling at the paint, her heart pumping so loudly that she could barely hear the metal carving on the wood. Her mouth was dry and her stomach was knotted, but she just needed to get a little more of the condensed paint off and then – freedom.

It was gone. The paint was gone in one corner!

Scrambling, she shoved the brush into her back pocket and immediately pressed her palms against the glass. The window whined and bristled against her weight, but it was finally starting to move. She could feel the resistance lessening and she squealed with delight as fresh air hit her face.

She did it! She did it!

Grinning widely, Tess pressed down on the windowsill and brushed her bangs off her face as she prepared to hoist herself over the ledge.

She could save them. She could make a difference. They'd forgive her later when they saw what she'd done.

Suddenly, the window flew down from its perch, crashing against her fingertips, crushing them.

"Oh my god! Fuck!" Tess screamed, not needing to try to bend her fingers to know that more than half were probably broken. Stupid fucking house, she just needed to get out of here.

Wrenching her bloodied hands from under the shattered glass pane, she bit her lip as she pushed it open again. It was harder now, with broken fingers and cracked glass – but her resolve was stronger.

"Going somewhere?"

Oh god, oh god oh god. She was too late. Nicholas was here and she had nothing to say for her efforts except for broken fingers and bloody palms.

"Leave me alone!" Tess bellowed, pooling her energy into her palms. She had to fight him; she could do this – for herself, for her friends, for her planet.

Power flowed into her fingertips; her only thought to destroy him. Cells cracked and burned, marring her view, as her energy consumed her entire being. She had to do this, she had to – it was her one shot and she was going to take it.

Everything was so much brighter, so much louder. Her head was growing heavy and she felt like she was going to pass out from sensory overload.

Electricity sparked from her fingertips as she began her attack. Wincing through the pain, she fired her blast, determined to hit him. Screams ripping from her mouth, power flowing out of her so fast she could barely register it, Tess was consumed by only one goal – to destroy him.

Air was rushing past her and, for a second, she felt like she was flying. Was this what it was like to use this much power? You literally felt like you were floating?

White-hot pain ripped through her body, shattering muscles and bones with alarming speed. Sputtering for air, Tess moaned in agony as sharp tears ripped at her eyes, pieces of tile ripping into her flesh.

Red. All she could see when she tried to will her eyes open was red. It was consuming her being – staining her fingers, her shirt, her limbs in vermillion, scarlet and crimson. Her head drooped and spun, the weight too much to hold up without a fight – and she was tired. It would be so easy just to rest for a while. She'd deal with whatever else later.

Oh god, did she have a concussion?

Violently rubbing at her eyes, she could make out the blurry outline of feet moving closer. She had to get out of here, her mind screamed, the realization encompassing her thoughts.

Sobering, she tried to push herself up off the ground, her weight pressing down on her arms. Sharp, violent protests ripped from her muscles, and she bit down on her lip, the acrid taste of fresh blood hitting her tongue.

Wobbling and shaking under her own weight, Tess tried, in vain, to push back the tears that were spilling from her eyes. Grunting, she pushed her body upwards, rejoicing when she felt her knees curl under her.

With a sharp jerk, her head snapped backward, screaming in pain as hair was being ripped from her head.

"You never were a bright girl, were you Ava?" Nicholas mocked, his mouth mere inches from her ear

"Fuck you." Tess was seething, struggling against his grasp in vain. He was so strong, and there was so much blood and she was so weak.

"Is that an invitation? You can scream as loud as you want – the room's been soundproofed." Nicholas leered as he ripped at her hair and used his free hand to cradle her breast.

Trembling at his touch, the bile rose in her throat as his hand drifted upwards, under her shirt. His fingers were like ice, she mused, unwilling to think about what might happen. Cold digits thumbing her nipple as she began to cry, unable to form words to express her revulsion, praying, by some miracle, the others would come to her rescue.

Searing, ripping pain rushed through her as he twisted her nipple, pinching it so hard that she felt it was going to fall off. Her body fell forward as he let go of her, slamming her eyes shut right before colliding with the floor.

Scrambling, Tess clawed at the tile, determined to get away from him. Screaming in agony as Nicholas' foot grinding against her left palm, she felt like passing out. Her eyes were beginning to roll, only aware of the throbbing in her hand and her failure.

"Sorry to disappoint. I like a challenge and you bore me. Oh if your people could see you now! The great Queen Ava a sobbing teenager who fails to protect herself from even a simple attack! Pathetic, really."

Tess let go of a breath she didn't even know that she was holding. He wasn't – he wasn't going to do that. However, his words weren't lost on her – she was weak, a pathetic recreation of predecessor. How could she save a planet when she couldn't even save herself?

"And don't you have a King to deflower?"

"Never," Tess moaned reaching for something to throw at him with her good hand. Wincing as Nicholas pressed his shoe into her right hand, halting her movement, she swallowed a lump in her throat – realizing that she was also swallowing blood.

"Silly girl, it's not like you have a choice in the matter. Pretty soon, you'll be spreading your legs, practically impaling yourself with Zan's hard cock. All for the good of Antar – at least your fidelity survived your reincarnation."

Biting her lip, her thoughts wandered to Michael. This would destroy him, but the sense of foreboding was eating at her – he was right. She couldn't fight him, he was too strong, and she was pathetic. A waste of life, a terrible queen, there was only one alternative – but that was dependant upon whether or not she survived this exchange.

"And then you'll kill them. One by one – violent and unexpected. It'll be poetry, I promise – and I'm sure that you'll agree that we save Rath for last. Once we're fully involved in our little arrangement, you'll want nothing more than to torture him, kill him a little each day. Maybe even fuck Khivar while he watches? Cut off his cock and let him bleed out? Shove a sword up his ass. Doesn't that make you wet Ava?"

No. No. No. No.

Her mind was screaming at her as Nicholas laced his fingers into her hair, sending her image after image of Michael dying and her holding the bloody weapon, a satisfied smirk on her face.

She couldn't. She wouldn't.

Her head jerked forward, vomit pouring out of her mouth as another vision took over her senses.

Naked, she'd fired a gun at him, laughing as he hit the ground – blood pouring out of him. Without even so much as a goodbye kiss, she'd finished the job, a knife peeling the skin off of his still breathing body. Turning to Nicholas, she kissed him hard, allowing him to enter her – their bare bodies coming together next to Michael's dead body, blood coating their skin like a mark of victory.

"NO!" Tess boomed, her skin sparking and burning as power rushed out of her, willing Nicholas to die. She would never, she could never, Michael meant way too much to her. Shrieking, she jerked away from him and fired her blast, collapsing against the floor from shear exhaustion. Her lids drooping as darkness enveloped her; she hoped that she'd gotten him this time.

Sharp, stinging pain ripped across her face and she recoiled, too tired to do anything. Maybe this was the rescue party? Maybe they'd thought about her?

"I'm done with foreplay," Nicholas announced and she tried to struggle against him as he dragged her by the hair over to him. Everything was so heavy, so hard and she couldn't move.

Was this what dying felt like?

Moaning as electricity was violently being pushed into her head, cells and memories realigning while Nicholas laughed condescendingly she felt herself falling, slipping under. It was like she was floating, a part of her body but not and it took her a moment to realize what, exactly, was happening.

She was a failure. She'd fought and failed. Conceded defeat to the enemy – a man, who wanted nothing more than to destroy them – and use her to do it. What would happen now? What would happen to Michael? God, she couldn't become that person – that horrible person who did those things. That wasn't her. It just wasn't her at all. He was Michael.

She loved him. And now he'd never know. The silent declaration repeated itself over and over as he pumped more energy into her mind, until she couldn't feel anything at all.