Chapter Thirty-three
The House
Piper turned wordlessly into Cole's loving arms and buried her face against his strong chest. Though she'd intended to, she did not ask him for answers for she sensed he had none and was as helpless as the rest of them. That thought scared her even more, chilling her to her very core. There had to be some way! She fought to keep her tears from falling, and then a thought came to her. He could . . . If he would . . . And he might if she . . . A cuss slipped from her mouth.
"Piper, honey, why are you cussing?! That's not like you!" Cole whispered against her hair. What horrible thoughts had crossed his beloved's mind? He hoped she'd tell him so that he could help her. He was glad her sisters had not caught the cuss word. They'd never let her live it down! Piper never cursed, and yet she had just uttered one of the dreaded cuss words!
Piper closed her eyes and hid her face against Cole's chest for another moment as she summoned all the strength and will power that her elders had instilled in her over the years. She had to do this for she could find no other option, no other chance of saving them. She had to do this for her sisters, for her family. She prayed Cole would understand.
She stepped back from him and raised her head so that her eyes met his. Her hands cupped his handsome face, and she tried, in that moment, to memorize everything there was about his breath-taking image. She slowly leaned up on her tip toes and pressed her lips to his. She kissed him long and deep, her tongue thrusting against his, and she tried her best to savor every drop of his taste, believing it would have to last her a lifetime, before stepping back and dropping back down to her normal standing position.
"Cole, sweetheart," she spoke, "you know I love you, but I have to go talk to Prue right now alone." Her hands lingered on his face. "Look over my sisters for me, please, love." She turned and ran after Prue before he could ask her any further questions.
Cole looked after Piper in stunned shock. She was up to something. He knew it, but he had no clue except that her lingering words were to look after her sisters. Then an idea came to him that was so far-fetched that he tried to deny it but found he could not. She's going after that bloody White Lighter! She's going to sacrifice herself! He immediately shimmered right along behind her, hoping to intervene with the White Lighter. How could he be in here? he wondered and searched anxiously around, hoping to find him so that he could smite him mightily before Piper ever reached him.
Hansel had barely decided to flip a coin when his blue eyes had been drawn to the running forms of the two men he loved beyond words. He had watched as they'd ran, desperately trying to outrun the other. Derek was no match for Chong's speed and agility, but his white-skinned lover tried valiantly nonetheless and arrived only a few seconds after Chong. Their argument over him made him grin until their fists raised.
Then his eyes flashed and fear struck him. He didn't want them fighting that way! Actually, he didn't want them fighting at all! He needed to stuff them full of his special brownies and drown them in rum! That would definitely put them at peace! But until then . . . "Boys," he exclaimed, "there's plenty of me to go around!"
Derek's and Chong's fists continued to close in on each other's faces. Hansel's panicked eyes darted wildly between the two. There was no way he could kiss them both simultaneously, and if he kissed either one first, it would only piss the other one off more! "Come on, honeys!" he exclaimed. "Don't fight!"
His hands moved to the other thing he thought might get their attentions in time. He cupped their swords through the fabric of their pants. His fingers massaged them, and his thumbs ran along their staffs, pressing hard against their pants so that they'd be sure to feel every inch that he touched. "Can't we make love instead?" He pouted seductively up at them even while wondering where the Hell Faith was. He'd been so concerned over his loves that he'd completely missed his sister's yell.
James' mustache twitched, and his threatening hook almost grabbed Freddy.
Smee retightened his grip on Connor's forearm and swung his young one behind him as he stepped between him and his father. He placed a hand upon James' hook while making a tisking sound of disapproval. "Now, James, we can't be gutting our own children, even if they have taken complete leave of their senses. We'll simply have to have the Sorceresses do another spell, if . . . " He glanced nervously at both their children. " . . . when," he carefully amended, "we get out of here. In the mean time, we'll just have to keep him from unclothing the rest of the way."
"And, Frederic, honestly, how many times have I told you that girls or women are never to be trusted? They're all the same! They're all . . . " He stopped himself again. " . . . untrustworthy females, seeking to do a male in, rather it be his life, his family, or only his money! And now here you are, presenting your . . . your . . . your . . . " His blush deepened even more as he squeaked out, " . . . your valuables to one who you don't even know! By the Gods, I think I would have rather you'd continue to try to do us in!"
James had to smile when Smee stumbled over not saying the "bitch" word. He was proud of him. He stuck his hook behind his back. "Now, Freddy, we have got to find your clothes. They've got to be here somewhere. Keep those undies on!" His mustache quivered so at Frederic's fingers reaching for his underwear band that it almost popped off of his face. His hook quickly snagged a hold of the band and jerked Frederic's underwear back up; he ignored the painful grimace on his son's face. "And just precisely what female has caused you to go so crazy?"
"Now her," Smee whispered, standing on his tip toes and receiving a bit of boost from Connor, who had already figured out what his father was going to say, "you can gut, my dear!"
"I have to curb my temper," James said evenly while showing his white teeth. "I don't want to gut our future daughter-in-law, Smee. If Freddy has gone so ga-ga over her, perhaps she feels the same about him. It's about time he took a mate! Personally, I wondered which way he would swing since he has never been one to look at either sex. The girl must have bewitched you, Freddy! Point her out. I'd like to see what she looks like!"
"So would I!" Frederic told him to which all three of his relatives' jaws gaped open. "She won't take her hood off!"
Mouse smiled sadly as she watched Bob snap to. She'd always secretly admired his ability to do what his Guardian protocol demanded must be done, but she silently reprimanded herself this day. It wasn't the Guardian protocol that had him on his feet and at the ready but the need to protect his family, their family. It was odd, she thought, watching him through eyes of deep purple. Despite all their many trysts in the past, they still had not ended up together but yet were in the same family unit. Her gaze trailed back to Ray, and her wistful smile grew. She'd have it no other way! She headed back to her love, Enzo, and AndrAla, determined to pull them together.
"Madam, I do apologize!" an indignant voice exclaimed as the hefty man carefully rolled off of where he had landed and got to his feet. He turned to offer the lady a hand but only saw Phong looking up at him. The look his old friend gave him clearly told him he'd thought he'd taken leave of his senses. The much bigger man scratched the back of his furry head with a blue hand. "I . . . I do not comprehend. I could have sworn . . . " His blue eyes widened. "Who said that?"
Phong looked quizzically up at his old student. He was in such a severely damaged state that it was extremely difficult for him to do anything, even speak, so he merely laid there, watching Hank and trying to get his tongue to form actual words.
The next word out of Hank McCoy's mouth made Phong's eyes grow as round as saucers for the voice that came from his friend's mouth certainly did not belong to Beast! It was familiar and very, very feminine. "Kennedy! Kenn, baby, where are you?! Darn it, Blue, move your butt! I've got to find her!"
Beast clamped two large hands over his mouth. "Oh my stars and garters!" he mumbled against his own fur. How had Willow's words just came out of his mouth?!
Hank's words were incoherent, but Phong still knew what he cried. However, his ears had caught hold to another voice, and he rose his own into a desperate call. "BOB?!" Could it be? Could the Sprite he loved as a son actually be here, wherever here was?
Brendan was glad Prue was babbling for it was her rushed exclamations that had kept him from doing what he ached to do: throwing his arms around her and holding her close. He was so greatly relieved to find that she was all right that, at first, holding her was all he could think of, but then he shook himself, never once realizing that he was naked. He reached out and gently grasped Prue's shoulders in firm hands. "Prue, I don't have time to explain, but we have to find a way to get your sisters and yourself out of here. There has to be a way! Has Cole tried to shimmer yet?"
Prue's hand gently touched Brendan's cheek. She breathed deeply. "I . . . have no idea," she told Brendan. "He's with Piper. I heard her calling him, and only death would keep him away from her." She wished it was the same for Brendan, and yet she felt hope for them because had he not just sought her out when he could have been anywhere else in the room, including with his brother or father, who seemed to be in dire straits as well? "We must go to your father and my aunt. She's in bad shape. I don't know what Cole can do, but I am sure that if he can, he will."
Brendan's eyes had trailed to Cole and Piper as he'd listened to Prue's words. He had known Cole for many years now, and one look was enough to tell Brendan that Cole had no more answers than the rest of them did. "Prue," he spoke as Piper came running toward them, "I believe your sister must talk to you." He looked down into her face and dared to lift her face with his finger so that her eyes met his. "I can not explain now, but please believe me. You four must protect each other above all else."
Prue's mind was totally dazzled by Brendan's concern. It was as though Brendan thought that the Wizards were there to get them and were just using the Pirates as something to play with. "Don't leave, Brendan! Where are you going? I need you with me!" Her heart called out to him even as she thrilled at his very touch. "Stay. Please?" She feared what her sister was about to tell her. She looked back to where Piper had been with Cole and did not see Cole. "Maybe he shimmered out?" she suggested hopefully.
Hook, Smee, and Connor looked immediately to the one cloaked figure in the room. James dragged Frederic along with him as he walked over to where the lone figure lay on the floor, unconscious. A small, bristly creature wearing a mask stood guard upon the girl's body. He perched atop her chest with his fists raised, ready to defend his mistress. James figured if the girl was as ugly as sin, maybe Frederic would come to his senses, so he reached out with his hook for the hood only to be met with a face full of raccoon! He had to drop Frederic to defend his own self. "SMEE, GET IT OFF OF ME!" His hand and hook flailed miserably at the small baggage of fur that ripped mercilessly into his face with claws and teeth. He stumbled and almost fell again.
As soon as he was freed, Frederic reached again for his underwear band. Smee released Connor to beat at the beast who'd attacked his love, and Connor promptly leaped back onto his brother. He snatched his underwear back on him and returned to swatting his hands every time he made a move to strip.
"GET OFF OF MY JAMES, YOU NASTY LITTLE BEAST!" Smee yelled, beating at the furry beast and making the critter holler even more. Smee suddenly yelped, jumped straight up into the air, and caught his immense rear with both hands. He landed hard, but the hard landing put out the spark of the fire.
Ace raced forward and grasped the raccoon. "YOU'RE ALIVE! YOU'RE ALIVE!" he yelled, doing his best to hug the raccoon who continued to struggle fiercely even against the animal lover.
Janeesa moved forward to stand beside Urian and Salem, her hand resting on Rian's shoulder. "Why does he cry?" she asked.
"For the same reason," Urian's deep voice answered Janeesa quietly, his tone choked by tears he was barely holding back, "that so many of us fear." He held Salem close to his chest with one strong arm while his other hand reassuringly stroked the ebony cat. His face pressed close into Salem's side. "We will not abandon you," he whispered, forgetting, for the moment, about the superior hearing of a mermaid. "We did not abandon you then, and we will not abandon you now." His voice shook, and he almost broke down as he added in an even quieter, smaller voice, "Even if you have forgotten about some of us."
Salem's head rose, and he looked up at the muscular human called Urianotalon through blinking, tear-filled eyes. "I have not forgotten you," he assured him in a rumbly but shaky voice and called him by a name that was, and still is, unpronounceable by the human tongue and unwritable on a keyboard.
Salem's words brought tears rushing to Urian's eyes. "I thought -- "
Salem shook his head. "I could never forget any of my sons, unless I was forced to."
Janeesa wanted to comfort the both of them and couldn't stop her own tears from falling. She slipped her arm around Rian's shoulder and reached down with her other hand and stroked Salem, as well. She wasn't sure what was going on or how the black cat had become the center of all the chaos, but she'd do her best to stand beside both of them and protect them to the best of her ability. Oh, if only there was water, she'd fight those Wizards with her tail! She'd give them a beating they'd never get over! She didn't realize that her tears fell both on Rian and the kitty.
Janeesa wondered why the cat had been cursed. Could he have been a man before? He had to be, she thought, since he had called Rian his son. She longed to ask questions of both of them but feared she'd never get any answers.
His kiss seared her to her very core, and she trembled in his arms. She ached to melt into him. Gods, how she needed him, how she wanted him, how she loved him and only him in ways she'd long ago given up thinking were even possible for her! She knew she loved him, but she also knew that she should not, could not, condemn him. Slowly, regretfully, she broke off the kiss, but her hands had moved to his face and they stayed there, her fingertips pressing against loose strands of his lengthened blonde hair. "Dawson," she breathed his name, and again her tears began falling. "Dawson, I . . . " She shook her head. "I can't condemn you, and that's what we're facing here: condemnation. They create the greatest Hells they can for those who fail to win their freedom! It's been a month! There's no way in Hell that we won!" "I would love to have you by my side," she dared to admit. "There's nothing that would make me happier than to live out the rest of my days with you, with our family, a family I probably never would have accepted if not for you! But I can't condemn you! You're way too good of a man for me to condemn you, and even if you weren't, I love you! I love you too much to condemn you!"
Her words were saying one thing. Her kiss had said something else, and yet her eyes were telling Dawson still another story. "Condemn, Faith? I was condemned a long time ago. You saved me! You hold my heart in the palm of your hand, and whatever condemnation that we face will be upon both of us! I don't believe that the Gods will allow such tragedy to happen again! But even if it does, my place is by your side." He turned her palm over and kissed the center of it before curling her fingers around it. "You have my love in the palm of your hand, sweetheart. I will not leave you ever again. What you face, we face together. And as soon as your family catches up to you, they will face it with you too."
He looked past her to where he could see Katrina and Tom standing and waiting impatiently, hoping and praying that Dawson was going to make it and calm Faith down. They loved her, and they accepted Dawson into their family, as well. Katrina knew they belonged together just as she and Tom belonged together. She squeezed Tom's hand gently and smiled at him. "I think she's going to be all right, love, as long as she's got Dawson, and we'll be all right as long as we're together. What we face, we face together."
Prue knew Brendan was naked. She wanted to look and run her hands over him but did not dare. She pulled her apron off and gave it to Brendan. "Sorry, but it's all I've got," she told him.
Brendan looked at Prue's offered apron in confusion. Then, suddenly, it struck him. He snatched the apron and swiftly wrapped it tightly around him. Every inch of his skin was red as he exclaimed, "My Gods! My lady, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I -- I should have realized! I was just so . . . . so concerned . . . !"
Brendan had no idea that Prue's attention had been distracted to movement approaching him from behind. The eldest Halliwell stared, her eyes as wide as plates and her jaw slackened with shock, as a being who looked exactly like her beloved Brendan and was equally as naked closed in on him from behind. The other Brendan approached the true Brendan on silent feet, stopping only when he was within kicking distance. His leg kicked out, and his foot stopped just short of the real Brendan's bare bum.
It was then that Brendan's identical twin grinned sheepishly at Prue and reverted to his own self. He winked at the startled woman, who was fighting a giggle. Wings started to grow from his back even as he turned around and plucked a certain Himalayan cat up off of the floor. He took off in his continuation of his search for his beloved Celina before Prue could change her mind. His prank seemed to have helped the poor girl, however, and he truly hoped it had.
"That really was in poor taste," Meesy harshly informed Morph. "Is it really necessary we locate Celina before you attempt to go through the roof?"
"Yes!" Morph exclaimed. "I have to know that she's all right, and I have to be near enough to her to protect her if the Wizards attack before I can finish trying!"
Jack wished for the privacy of their bedroom as he watched Will slowly do a striptease. Though his man was not performing an actual tease, no striptease could have turned Jack on more. It was all he could do to keep from moaning. "You need to keep that on, too, Will. You're the Captain. You have to appear dressed." Whispers resounded around the room as some of the Pirates began to hear Jack calling Will Captain. What was going on, and why was Will being called Captain? Had Jack totally lost his mind?
Will heard the murmured words but dismissed them. Let the others think what they would. It wasn't their opinions that mattered; it was Jack's. "Love, you are the Captain for I follow you and I would follow you anywhere, but I think you can see now that I was right. The Wizards aren't here to help us. They're here to condemn Salem, his people, and those who stood for them. You're in that number, my love, and I'll fight to the death to save you from their vicious grasp."
"You refuse to be Captain, Will?" Jack asked, a twinkle in his eye. "I can't say I blame you."
He shoved off his shirt and gently slapped Jack in the chest with it. "As much as I hate to cover up your delicious vision, my heart, you need this far worse than I do."
"Thank you for the shirt, love." He slipped into it before turning around to face the Wizards yet again.
"LET US OUT OF HERE, MERLIN! I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU INSIST ON KEEPING US HERE, BUT IF YOU'RE TRULY ON OUR SIDE, YOU WILL LET US GO!" He continued to hold on to Will's hand. If Merlin blasted them, so be it, but at least he'd have the pleasure of his true love's touch as his last feeling and thought!
"Come on," Kitty offered, reaching a hand for Rachel's arm and trying to ignore the mermaid's fierce glare. "I'll help you up. I don't think Janeesa's sister is too happy with your position . . . " She was about to say more when she heard Kyna call to Kurt and her Captain's mind went immediately to that conversation.
"I'm perfectly happy with Ray's position," Tessa snapped, her eyes blazing even more, "not that it's any of your business!" If only she had her tail, she could knock those long legs right out from under the little would-be Piratess!
"I can help my own self up," Rachel said, a bit more snappily than she intended. She knew she had to find a way to help the others against the Wizards, but she was enjoying laying on top of Tessa. She liked the way her soft curves felt underneath her body. "Why don't you go see to your man?"
"Maybe you should go see about your man!" Tessa quickly agreed. "I'm taking good care of Ray! We don't need you, but he might need you!" She snuggled in closer to Ray, not wanting to break their contact. Her head brushed Rachel's breasts, and Tessa glared meaningfully at Kitty from that position. Didn't the girl have a brain? Couldn't she figure out that Rachel was no longer hers, that she now belonged to Tessa?
For a fleeting moment, Tessa wondered where her sister was and hoped she had gotten further with Rian than what she had managed to get with Ray. She wasn't giving up, and she wasn't letting Ray go! Only she could get rid of that blasted Kitty! She thought, with a gleeful grin, of standing, pointing fingers at that damned Kitty, and yelling, "SHE DID IT! SHE DID IT!" Kitty would be cannon fodder in a heartbeat!, she thought. With Kitty out of the picture, Ray would definitely be hers!
Captain Pryde looked down at the black-haired mermaid with anger lacing her brown eyes. "You're taking good care of her?! What in the Hell makes you think you could protect her against them?! If you've got something to share, spit it out!"
Rachel flinched inwardly at Kitty's words. After all these years, could she really think that the only way some one could take "good care" of somebody was to protect them from their enemies? Could she not see that there was much more at stake where she was involved than her mere life? Like her heart, for instance, or even her soul? A heart and soul that had been tortured for twenty years with unrequited love? "Damn it, Pryde; just go see to your furball!"
Oops! Ray's green eyes flashed with sudden realization. She had just called Kurt a furball, hadn't she?! Kitty was going to blast her now, for sure! She hadn't meant to let it slip out, but the man was covered with blue fur from head to, she presumed, toes! How could Kitty even look at a furry, blue man who resembled a Demon and preached the Good Book over her?! How could she be that blinded by gender, and how in all the seven seas could that turn her on?!
Rogue's gloved hand reached out and touched Erik's shoulder. "If only we could get out o' here, shugah, ya could go ta him! Ah don't know how ta get us out o' here." She was glad to have the comforting arms of her beloved around her, but her heart bled for Erik, who she had come to know and love as a brother. "Why would they hurt Charles?" she asked the question that was bothering all of them.
"I don't know," Erik breathed, the agony in his voice causing Joseph to release Rogue with one arm and reach out to his brother. He placed a hand on Erik's other shoulder as Magnus repeated, "I don't know. I never would have thought they would, but if I find out that it was them who did that to him, they'll have to kill me to keep me from tracking every one of them down and slowly torturing them until there's not a single drop of life left in their lowly hides!"
Though Erik's words chilled Joseph, he was not surprised by them for he would have felt the same if he had been in Erik's position and his beloved Rogue in Charles'. He glanced at Rogue, wondering if his brother's darker side might scare his lady wife. "I . . . " He felt Erik tense and quickly looked back toward the Wizards just in time to see Merlin approaching Charles. The long-haired Wizard was stumbling but remained determined to reach Charles.
"I'll kill him . . . " Erik hissed, and everything metal in the house shook. "I'LL KILL HIM!!!"
"Shugah, Ah have ta try to break us out o' this thing, ta get us out o' here. Move back, an' give me some room." Rogue's green eyes searched for some one to give her extra power. "CLARK," she called, spotting the dark-haired youth, "COME HELP ME. MAYBE WE CAN BREAK OUT THE BACK WALL IF WE HIT IT AT THE SAME TIME?"
Clark lifted Lex into his strong arms and flew them to where Rogue was calling them. It was only a short space, but if he could save his love some energy, he would. He set him gently upon his feet and turned to face him. "You know I have to try, love."
Lex looked dubiously at the wall and then back to Clark. If any one could break them out of this mess, it would be his love. He touched his face gently. "I know you have to try. I'm completely behind you. Do what you can, my love, to get us out of here."
Joseph admired Lex's strength to let his beloved go. He turned to his own love with a nod. "Just come back to us," he told them both, "in one piece each."
Rogue kissed Joseph. "For luck," she told him. "We'll do what we can." Then she turned back to Clark. "Ready?"
While Rogue had taken a moment with Joseph, Clark had taken one with Lex. He poured every bit of love he had for him into that one kiss, just in case, Gods forbid, he might not make it back for a second one. As he parted, he made no flirtatious comment but gazed deeply into the most beautiful pair of eyes he'd ever been blessed to see. "I love you." Lex had barely returned his words and sternly reminded him to make it back to him before Rogue called to him. Clark gazed adoringly at his beloved one more time, then turned to meet the woman he barely knew but trusted as an alley. He nodded.
"On the count of three . . . One . . . Two . . . Three!" Rogue hit the wall with everything she had, praying that Clark hit it at the same time.
Clark flew into the wall with double fists, his entire strength poured into the punch. He felt the wall cave in a split second before he was thrown back.
Rogue hit the wall and bounced off of the barrier like a rubber ball, landing on top of Clark. "Damn!" she moaned even as she felt hands pulling her off of Clark and knew them to be her beloved Joseph's. They had failed miserably, and she knew she didn't have the strength to try it again.
Upon the look on Prue's face, Brendan lowered his head in even greater shame and murmured his deepest apologies yet again. He had no clue that Morph had swept by.
Prue lifted his chin and kissed him gently. "There's no need to be ashamed, Brendan. You have a glorious body! That's not what I was blushing from. Morph almost kicked you in the rear! I think that man is full of the Devil!"
Prue's gentle kiss poured liquid fire into every inch of Brendan's body. A howl grew in his throat and nearly burst forth from his lips. He struggled to contain himself, his sword straining against the thin fabric of Prue's apron. "Mo-Mor-Morph, you say?" he managed sheepishly at last.
"Yes, Morph! He was carrying a cat, and he stopped and turned into you! You were about to kick your own self in the rear! He just couldn't resist!" She burst into laughter. "Sorry, dear, but it was rather funny, seeing you kicking your own self in the butt!"
Brendan could only blush in return.
"Prudence Halliwell," came a stern voice from behind Prue, "this is no laughing matter! Brendan, if you don't mind, I need to talk to my big sister alone, please."
"Piper?" Prue turned around to look at her sister. "What do you need to talk to me about, and do I even want to hear it?" She looked back at Brendan for a moment. "Just stay here, dear; I'll walk with her and come right back. You're up to something, aren't you?" she questioned. They had only walked a few paces away when Prue turned, grabbed her sister's arm, and demanded, "What is it?" Whatever it was, Prue felt more than confident about keeping her in the trap and talking her out of whatever it was.
Some one was calling yet again for a healer. Katrina could hear them. She followed the sound of the voice and discovered Jareth clinging to Delvira. "What happened?" she asked Jareth. Looking at Delvira, she noted the Vampiress looked a bit ruffled and rather smashed.
Jareth looked up at Katrina with tears in his eyes. His handsome face was contorted with intense sadness, anguish, and self-loathing. "I fell on her!"
Biting her black lips against the pain, Delvira raised a pale finger and pressed it to Jareth's lips. "Hush, my darling, and do not kick yourself. It wasn't your fault. It was those damn Wizards!"
Ludo howled again at the mention of Wizards.
Katrina's and Tom's ears wriggled back and forth as they heard another nearby, gravelly voice announcing yet again, "BFG Giant, not human bean!" They looked in the Giant's direction and stared in shock for he had shrank to a mere six feet. Katrina returned her attention immediately to Delvira, and Tom resumed his watchful guard.
"Ludo, shut up!" Jareth demanded. "We have a healer!" He, too, had been surprised when none of Ludo's friends had managed to break through the house's walls. Where had Ludo been hiding? he wondered. He'd thought he'd been dead until today when he'd suddenly found Ludo in the midst of them upon awakening. "Where have you been, Ludo?" Jareth asked him.
Katrina placed her hands on Delvira and began to heal her. Katrina was surprised at the extent of the damage to Delvira's body. Practically every one of her bones was broken, and she wondered how Jareth simply falling on her had broken her. She concentrated, making sure that she didn't miss any bone in the healing process.
"We've got to go talk some sense into my sister," Angel told Cordelia, breaking off their kiss. "We can't do much to help with the ice, but we can lend moral support to her." Still holding on to Cordelia, he began to walk toward where he could see the ice wall forming and continuing to build.
Along the way, Angel pondered upon who could help Crys. Perhaps the telekinetics? But then he heard Kyna calling to the telekinetics. They were already forming a group. "I guess we should be the next line of defense," Angel told Cordy. "We need Spike." He looked across the room where he could see Spike with Kyna and made a motion to both of them to join.
Hansel's reaction had taken Chong by surprise. If it hadn't been for the fact that Hansel had also grabbed Derek at the same time, Chong would have forgotten all about fighting! He would have thought of only one thing: getting Hansel alone and showing him how much he loved him. He scowled fiercely at Derek.
Derek was leaning into Hansel's hand, wanting, burning, and even aching for more. He moaned with pleasure as his stallion nudged wildly against Hansel's hand. Could he get rid of Chong by giving him to the Wizards? He could always put the blame on Chong. Would Hansel believe it, or would he be mad at Derek? Derek didn't want to take that chance, even though part of him wanted to yell out, "Here! He did it! He did it!"
"Now," Hansel purred slowly up at his loves in a deep, husky voice, "do you think . . . " As he spoke, he continued rubbing their enlarging members. Years of experience had made him an expert, and he knew just how to touch, caress, and stroke them to bring them almost to the overbubbling point with nothing but his hand. " . . . we might be able to make friends . . . or, at least, allies until we've dealt with the Big, . . . Bad . . . Wizards?" He was no longer worried about Faith for he could clearly hear his sister jumping her own man's butt.
Chong was sighing and glancing every now and again at Derek. He could put up with him just a little while longer! As long as Hansel kept rubbing . . . He was almost there! Just a little more!
Derek looked at Chong as though the man had gone nuts. Be friends with him?! A slight increasement of Hansel's motions upon his steed had him almost instantly rethinking his rushed judgement. Instead, he began to slowly think, Yes, that's . . . possible . . . ! Possible! Anything! Anything! Anything . . . . ! "Anything to please you, love!" he finally managed to groan out. "Just don't stop now!"
"Baby," Chong breathed as his almond eyes rolled back into his head, a humongous grin lit his face, and his sword exploded within its sheath. This had not been the way he had wanted to take Hansel, but Hansel had taken him! He hadn't had much choice in the matter, but oh, it so didn't matter now! His eyelids fluttered helplessly.
Derek fought the bucking urges that were threatening to overwhelm him. Not only did he not want Hansel's attention to come to an end but he also didn't want to have the same silly look on his face that Chong had on his! It was useless, though. Hansel had him, just as he'd always had him, but now he was determined that he should make friends with Chong! If he told him no, it would only upset him and bring the delicious sensations he was creating in his vessel to an abrupt, and all too soon, end! He didn't want them to end . . . not now, not ever! "That could be . . . arranged . . . Maybe . . . . Maybe . . . later . . ?" he thought as he, too, shot off.
"Not yet," Kurt told Kyna truthfully. "I'm still . . . lingering under Cupid's spell," he told her with a sly wink. He wasn't about to reveal that he and Kitty had traced it. Those who didn't know, he figured it was none of their business, and those who did know would keep their mouths shut. He didn't want them to think that he and Kitty were any different than the others, who had been shot by Cupid's arrows. He did love Kitty with all of his heart, but he didn't know how much she had truthfully spoken to him and how much that had happened or been said between them had only been Cupid's arrows. "I vill try it once."
Spike rose a brow at Kurt's comment that he was still lingering under Cupid's spell. Kyna shook her head but indicated to her husband that she would prefer him not to call the Priest upon his lie. She knew well that Cupid's spells were over and had been since Merlin had shouted his command. There were two things that neither of them could deduce. One was the wonderment of how Merlin had managed to reel a God in under his control. The second was why Kurt was pretending that he had still been suffering from one of Cupid's spells.
Kyna stepped to the side with Spike and whispered to him as they watched Kurt's attempts. "Merlin's command may be a secret command, known to Aphrodite's people. We could possibly ask Sean about it, but that's not important right now. Whatever Kurt's reasoning for hiding behind Cupid's spell is, allow him that discretion, love. I believe he's still having trouble with his denouncement."
Spike nodded but couldn't help musing as he scratched the back of his blonde head and swore that that donkey who'd ran past them a few minutes earlier had left behind a flea over the idea that a man who looked like a Demon could be stupid enough to dedicate his life to Christianity in the first place. Kyna patted his arm, and he shoved the thoughts aside as he proudly tucked her arm into his.
The smell of brimstone permeated the room. "Verdammt!" Kurt looked sadly at Kyna and shook his head. "Nein. Just in ze room. Sorry for ze smell, but it did not work."
"The scent is not important, my friend," Kyna assured Kurt. "You tried, and we thank you for that." She mentally worked down her checklist of possible solutions. Cole could not shimmer. Delvira's portals, or any others for that matter, would be too easily followed. Kurt could not teleport. She glanced at Crystal's activities and gave a nodding smile of approval at the Elemental's work. They needed a barrier against the Wizards. If nothing else, it would buy them some time.
Kyna's commanding voice swept through the small space they were trapped in. "Any and all telekinetics, if you can, please assist Miss Frost in her efforts. Captain Pryde, have you attempted to pass out of the barrier?"
Tessa's blue eyes darted between Kitty and Ray. Her ears could scarcely believe that she had called the man a furball! She almost laughed out loud but knew that that would be the final straw and seaweed would hit the tail. She smiled sweetly at Ray. "Maybe we can help Miss Frost?" she asked timidly, hoping to defuse the bomb that was quickly growing and, if it exploded might threaten to end the rest of their existence! Now was not the time to fight for Ray completely, although she had definitely shown her interest. One day soon, Captain Pryde, you'll no longer be able to hurt Ray! she said to herself. In the meantime, she smiled up at Ray.
Kitty froze at Kyna's words. She could have kicked herself! She hadn't even tried! "Well, since you obviously don't want my help any way," she snapped at Ray, "I should go see to my people. Stupid me. I thought I'd make sure my best friends were all right first." She ran at the barrier, phasing through people and animals as she ran, passed through Crystal's expanding ice wall, and went further.
To Be Continued . . .