Chapter 13 [Cave]

Unbeknownst to the Image, the Horseman had detected its intrusion. He inspected every corner and crevice of the granite lined space looking for clues to the interloper's identity. If he had eyes, he would've glared toward his prisoner.

Moloch was no where to be found either….

Katrina smiled brazenly at her former fiancé. "He's free….Moloch…failed."

He backhanded her hard across the face. How he wished that toad, the former policeman, could be his voice once again. No matter the slap sent the message he needed her to know.

She spat at him. "Poor Abraham! How far you've fallen! As much as I am sorry for your condition, you do not own me. You sold your soul. Ichabod and I could've helped you…It's on you."

He clenched his fist in silent rage before turning away. He drew his sword and dipped it in a pool of mud to his right. Then he scratched a message on the floor in front of her.

"THOU DISHONORED ME"

With one swift move, he sheathed his sword again and turned his back on her.

Her heart felt heavy at the sullen reminder of their situation. She silently choked back a sob before mouthing another silent prayer for her love's safety.

The Horseman braced himself for trouble. Now that Ichabod was free, he knew exactly what his former friend and nemesis would do next.

When, however, would be the question….

Meantime the rescue party materialized in a dark flash just out of sight of the cave's entrance. Granted they needed a second to adjust from the sudden jaunt across town. However they were there….

"I shall never get used to that," Ichabod complained.

"He's done that around you before, Crane?" Jenny wondered.

"Yes. While it is a very convenient trick, it is still disconcerting. We are supposed to be fighting the forces of darkness, not allying ourselves with them," he pointed out while surveying the terrain.

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, Captain," Jennifer reminded him.

AH GOT US 'ERE! SHADDAP! the Image snapped. It could feel the Horseman's emanations nearby. WUSSIE'S STILL PISSED 'BOUT 'ER. YEAH! CAN'T 'MAGINE WHY. It glared at Ichabod.

"She never loved him. She loves me. Like you would understand?" he countered.

It got right in the colonial's face. AH GIT IT, DUM'ASS! BIG BRO LOST A WOMAN CUZ A' THA' CRAP! 'KAY! DON' START! It snarled low while stepping back. AH TOLD YA 'FORE!

"Yes you did. It doesn't make any difference!" he argued.

HONOR'S A BIG DEAL, CRANIE! CUZ A YA, WE'RE HERE! KAY? ALWAYS GOTTA CLEAN UP A'TER TWERPS LIKE YA'LL! SMARTEN UP, JACKASS! It considered the scene again. LES'GO! WE GOTTA MOVE! It vanished into thin air again.

"Even the shadow man's lecturing you now, Crane. Life must be a bitch," Jenny interjected.

"You aren't helping, Ms. Mills," he retorted. "Bad enough we need that thing but…."

"He is NOT A THING!" Jennifer snapped. "And he's right, Captain Crane. You and your wife opened this can of worms. You caused this mess. Now we all have to deal with it. From what Ms. Mills tells me, we're here because the Horseman in there feels scorned and shamed. He has a reason." She folded her arms across her chest. "You shamed him, Captain. Papa was shamed over my Aunt Karen in much the same way! HE GETS IT! So not ANOTHER WORD! Let's just get Katrina out of there!" Just wait here. I'll get her." She zipped off at super speed into the cave.

"Honestly!" he groused.

"You heard her, Crane. After this, we'd better get Abbie out of Purgatory. Case closed," Jenny insisted pointedly.

He wanted to retort but knew she was beyond listening. Why was it his fault that Katrina loved him and not Abraham? It was *she* who broke off the engagement. He didn't drive her to that point. Had he? And, as for Lieutenant Mills, wasn't she the one who got in his face about the Greater Good? She chose to make the sacrifice. Why should he get the flack on that one? Parrish betrayed them all not him….

Rubbish! He silently stewed and waited for the results….

Katrina felt a sharp and sudden breeze urging her from her daze. She looked around anxiously wondering if Moloch was up to something. Then a hand brushed up against hers. "Who?"

"It's okay. Katrina, right? We're here to rescue you," Jennifer pointed out. "Don't move." She snapped one of the vines.

"I don't know how you got in here but if Abraham catches you…." Katrina's eyes went wide as her fear approached. "Run!"

The Horseman saw Jennifer and moved to stop her. He wouldn't shoot his machine gun due to Katrina being in the crossfire. He grabbed his ax and moved in for the kill.

"RUN!" Katrina warned.

Jennifer frowned. "An axe? Really? Look, I know you're upset. You've got a reason. But talk about overreacting…."

The Horseman swung his axe wildly.

"You really need to move on, Pal," Jennifer advised. "You're going to make the uncle really upset. In fact…." She snapped Katrina's remaining vines. "Time to split, Lady." She grabbed the witch and rushed back out at super speed.

The zombie-like avatar glared about the cavern in anger and confusion. He could not understand how Jennifer had rushed in and out so fast. He had been cheated out of Katrina and his vengeance apparently. He would find them. He would get her back and deal with Ichabod. He would….

A low growling came from the shadows in front of himself.

The Image floated into view. Its 'hand' glowed bright emerald from the Horseman's demonic ties and Moloch's residue in the cave. STILL DOIN' T'IS? AH FEEL YER PAIN BUT SHE AIN'T WORTH IT!

The Horseman stared at the Image. While he didn't recognize the shade form, he recognized the voice and the glowing symbol…

…from Saratoga and later fighting in this very vicinity….

…the very same possessed man who'd taken out many of his men and frustrated his superiors' aims….

…Dubois…

And now, even after the impudent colonial's death, his ghost was back. And once again, he stood between him and his aim.

The Horseman had endured enough. Anger flared within his breast. He hefted his axe and charged his adversary in berserker fashion. Over and over, his axe passed ineffectually through the shadow creature. With each miss, his anger increased steadily. Then he tried to stab it with his sword but with no results that way.

This one would not keep him from Katrina or Crane….Both for his master's sake and his own vengeance's need.

YA HAD YER CHANCE, WUSS! The Dark One pasted his immortal foe with a fiery burst.

The Horseman shrugged off the attack without much of a response save to take another swipe at the shade creature.

TRY THIS! The Image threw a psychic pulse knocking its enemy up against the wall. It hit the ceiling with another causing a rockslide.

Before the Horseman could react, the rocks had covered him.

JUS' STAY 'WAY, FOOL! The Image shook its head. It could understand the other's reasoning. Frankly it still wanted vengeance for losing Angie's predecessor in much the same way as the Horseman had lost Katrina so many years before. But it would never serve the demon and its cronies who'd inflicted this fate on its head.

Nothing…nobody…was worth that kind of betrayal….

Unlike the Horseman and despite what he was, he had Duty first…Pity be damned in the process… He Screamed shrilly both in pain and frustration.

For several seconds he watched. Then he told the imprisoned adversary. S'RRY. THIS AIN'T THE WAY! DEAL W' IT! With that it vanished into the shadows once more.

The rock pile jerked a little, went still and moved a little more. Eventually the Horseman would work his way free. Still that wouldn't be for a while yet….

[The Woods—Fifty yards out of view]

Ichabod paced back and forth just about wearing out a line in the dirt. He endured a storm of contending emotions raging within his gut….

Anxious worrying about Katrina and Abbie….

Indignation for the lectures from his companions….

Guilt over his role in said actions….

We will set this right. We have to! He grumbled to himself.

"Planning on replanting that strip of grass, Crane?" Jenny presumed. For her money, she would have rather been taking the Horseman or doing something else besides sitting on the sidelines.

Then again having two of the heavy hitters that her sister's inquiries aimed at on the team made things easier too….

"I'm anxious, Ms. Mills. My apologies," he cut into her thoughts.

"We all are. We just need to keep our heads on straight," she reminded him. "Focus, Crane."

"I am." He frowned, letting his lips twist angrily. "I am trying to deal with this battle and adjust to your time and its quandaries! How can I fight it if I can't do it like I did before?"

"Then you fight by what works," she told him frankly. "Look at Mr. Dark and Scary. It's still dealing with life as it did back in our day and then in yours. Take a page from its book. Do the same. Granted we need you to deal with the twenty-first century. Maybe your choice of weapons may change. The war is constant." She rubbed his shoulder. "Promise me your head will stay in the game."

"It shall. You have my word on that," he agreed.

"Better." She allowed him a smile. "We all need each other."

He nodded before he went back to pacing. Then he felt a breeze waft past his ear and rustle his hair. As if by proximity, his heart slowed its anxious beat. His lungs sucked in a calmer breath.

"Ichabod?"

He smiled warmly. His heart skipped a beat joyously. His eyes sparkled as if beholding the first rays of a spring dawn after a long winter's night. He turned to find his beloved in equal awe and joy behind him. "Katrina!" He rushed toward her.

Halfway between themselves, they swept each other up in their arms. Their mouths planted a hungry lip lock on each other satiating all concerned with love-sustaining energy and vibes. Their hearts beat as one.

"I thought Jeremy had killed you," Katrina admitted hesitantly. "Thank God he didn't." She buried her face in his chest and held him close.

"I wasn't going to let that happen," he informed her while doing the same. He buried himself in her warm embrace.

"Hate to interrupt, Folks," Jennifer intervened. "We do need to get out of here. We'll get you both looked at when we're safe."

"Safe? Where?" Katrina demanded. "Moloch can reach us anywhere!" She turned and saw the Image floating into view. "A demon!"

"Mayhaps, my Dear. Tis part of Captain Dubois," Ichabod informed her.

"Your companion from the Saratoga campaign? Truly he is a valuable friend," Katrina realized. She walked over to the Image. "Thank you."

YER WELCOME! LES GIT! It made their quintet disappear in a dark flash before heading for the car and then for points north.

Yet another point for the good guys. Moloch, however, would be heard from yet….