Chapter 38

Rachel groaned miserably, tossing her arm over her eyes. The oppressive white had gotten real old real quick. The colorless blinding white room had given her a migraine not too long after she'd been thrown into the tiny cell. Not too long after that her joints had started to get stiff, unable to really stretch out.

She'd been trapped in there for three days according to her Pipboy. Rachel groaned again, curling into a ball around her grumbling stomach, desperately trying to ease the ache in her spine and the throbbing behind her temples. She hadn't seen another living soul since she'd been imprisoned. Rachel had gotten water from the toilet in the corner but there was nothing for food and she was starting to feel it.

She'd already tried unsuccessfully to jimmy the door. She'd cried, screamed, and kicked the walls. Once she'd calmed down she'd gone over every inch of the room and there was nothing.

No way out.

No way to escape.

Brandy stuck close to Severus in the Tunnels.

She had almost let her fear get the better of her when Garret had quietly shaken her awake. She'd fallen asleep at her desk again. Brandy had silently brushed and braided her hair, all the while wondering if this was going to be the last time. She'd pulled on the armor Severus had given and she'd strapped the gun to her hip with her jaw set stubbornly against her own trepidation.

Standing in the work room, ready to go meet the boys she'd almost given in and stayed behind. Then she'd met the eyes of the girl dressed for war in the mirror and steeled her resolve.

Now, they were in the cramped tunnel that ran under the kitchen yard of Dominic's fortress waiting in the stifling, putrid, air for it to be time to move.

Severus and Joshua were both smoking but Brandy had refused when Joshua had offered a cigarette to her. They'd been there for half an hour, arriving right before dawn. It was be soon.

As if her thoughts had called to Ike Joshua's radio crackled. Ike's voice sounded strong as he broadcasted over all the squad leader's radios. "All teams…Move in."

Both men flicked away their cigarettes and Joshua went up first, lifting the grate an inch and checking for any wayward guards wandering around. He signaled that the coast was clear and Severus followed, Brandy bringing up the rear.

The kitchen yard was always quiet this early in the morning. It was one of the biggest reason's they'd picked the kitchens as their entrance point. Outside the door they could hear the chatter of the kitchen maids and smell the bread baking in the brick fire ovens.

Joshua put a hand on the door handle but Brandy stopped him by grabbing his sleeve, shaking her head. When he lifted his brow she pointed at herself, mouthing. You'll scare them.

Joshua's jaw clenched, he didn't like it but he nodded and waved her ahead of him. Brandy slipped into the hot kitchen and three pairs of eyes over the short veils cooks wore landed on her.

"Good morning," Brandy smiled politely. It was odd, but now that she was doing something useful she didn't feel nearly so nervous.

They all looked her up and down before a girl with flour up to her elbows cleared her throat. "Who are you? One of the Rebels?"

"Eloise," Brandy kept her smile in place and her voice soft. "You don't recognize me?"

She squinted and her eyes snapped wide. "Brandy? I heard you'd been killed during that prison break along with all the other girls."

Brandy shook her head. "That was a lie. We all made it out. The rebels rescued us and they've been keeping us safe."

"I told you!" another girl with a spoon in her hand said. "I just knew that the Barron's people were lying."

"Thank heavens!" Eloise unfastened her veil and smiled wide. "My little sister was among you."

"Ivy's safe," Brandy assured the head cook. "Now, listen very carefully. The rebels are storming the Castle as we speak. It's all out war. Grab what you can and hide down in the tunnel in the yard. We'll take you someplace safe once we find and free Angel."

"What- who's we?"

Brandy nodded towards the door. "Boys, come in."

The girls all paled when Joshua and Severus enter the kitchen but then Eloise turned to the other two girls. "Katie, Tiana, gather the other serving girls as quietly as you can. Be careful not to alert the Barron's men. Go, quickly."

The two girls nodded and left. Eloise grabbed a key from her apron and handed it to Brandy. "I'll go to the nursery and get the children organized. That key with get you down to the Lockers, the guard down there will have the one to the cells." She squeezed Brandy's hands, casting a nervous glance over the smaller girls shoulder at the ghouls. "Good luck you three."

Together they worked their way through the servant's tunnels. It wasn't long before both distant and much closer gunfire echoed all around them. Scarred slaves hurried past them while mercenaries snarled curses and insults in the distance.

It took twenty minutes but between Brandy and Severus they made it down to the Lockers without getting lost, shot or captured. Joshua was impressed when Severus slid forward, efficiently snapping the on duty guards neck before he'd even noticed them.

Brandy stared down at the dead man on the floor, she stomach rolling just a little. Severus noticed her turning pale while Joshua picked the man's pockets. He reached out one large hand and she flinched involuntarily. Severus froze and Brandy met his eyes guiltily. Severus relaxed a little, resting his hand on her shoulder.

"I am dangerous." He said very softly, forgiving her for being afraid.

"I know," she said told him quietly, covering his hand with hers. "But that's not all you are." Brandy squeezed his hand and the moment passed.

"Got it." Joshua said and the three of them moved forward cautiously, ready for more guards or traps. There were five tiny white cells. Only one of them was occupied. Joshua swiped the keycard he'd picked off the guards body and the door hissed open.

Rachel was curled in the fetal position on the floor. Her hair was greasy and there was dried blood on her face. Joshua dropped to his knees, shaking her gently. "Rachel? Rachel can you hear me?"

She groaned, her eyes fluttering open. "Joshua?" she asked in a hoarse whisper.

"Sorry we're late. Can you stand?" he asked.

Rachel nodded, stiffly moving. He helped her get her feet under her and together the two of the stumbled into the hall.

"Here," Brandy pressed a warm round of bread into Rachel's hands. "I nicked this from the kitchen for you. I remembered they only feed you guys a couple times a week down here."

Rachel tore into the bread, fingers shaking slightly. She devoured the bread and then downed a bottle of purified water Joshua gave her, coughing as she tossed the bottle aside.

Rachel took a few deep breaths and finally looked up at her rescuers. "I missed you guys." she panted, "Thanks for coming to get me."

She looked at the boys and then Brandy. "Hey, look at you in armor. A girl after my own heart."

Brandy blushed. "Thank you miss."

Rachel nodded. She was weak and still ravenous but she wasn't so for gone that she wasn't able to be herself. "Tell me what's been happening top side. Is Charon okay?"

"He's surviving," Joshua assured her, keeping Rachel on her feet with a steadying arm wrapped around her waist. Joshua helped Rachel into the guards office and sat her on an office chair. "Last I saw he was hurt but he had a defensible position and he and Commander Roberts were waiting each other out. Claws is with him."

"Thank goodness," Rachel nodded, the fog starting to clear from her head. She quickly glanced around, looting the small room with her eyes. She singled out the safe and asked if they'd opened it yet. They hadn't but the same keycard that had opened her cell also gave them access. Rachel was delighted to find her missing equipment inside. She quickly strapped on her weapons and her wings. "And the rebellion?"

"Storming the Castle now. It's all out war."

Rachel nodded, stretching out her sore muscles. Adrenalin from the promise of the fight to come was staving off her weakness and exhaustion. "And Dominic?"

"Alive and somewhere in the castle the last I knew." Joshua told her.

"Good," Rachel growled. "Cause I'm gonna kill him."

"You should let us get you out of here." Joshua argued. "You were shaking ten minutes ago."

"I know, but I'm not as bad as I could be. I'll be alright."

Joshua didn't look happy but there wasn't much he could do to stop her either. "Don't die." He sighed finally. "I'd hate to survive this long only to have Charon kill me back home."

Rachel grinned, standing on much steadier legs. "It's a promise."

They moved fast, the path back up into the castle taking them through the Baron's private zoo. Rachel hit all the emergency release buttons on the way by, letting the trapped animals back out into the city.

They hit the kitchens and Rachel stopped short. "Where are the maids?"

"In the tunnel outside." Brandy told her.

"Good, get them back to Sanctuary."

"You're going after Dominic?" Joshua asked, although he already knew the answer.

"Yes." Rachel nodded.

Severus immediately stepped towards her even as his eyes fell on Brandy. It was the first time since he'd been bound to his contract that he remembered honestly wanting to be able to make his own choice.

Rachel was already shaking her head. "No, I can handle myself. Stay with them and get the slaves back to Sanctuary."

He nodded, side stepping back to Brandy's side.

Rachel left them quickly, taking the servants door that would take her up to Dominic's suite.

Joshua, Severus and Brandy went straight into the tunnels. There were dozens of servants crowding the tight space. They were all silent as the girl and ghouls descended the ladder, both confused and frightened in the darkness.

In the silence the radio on Joshua's belt crackled and Rachel's voice invaded the air. "Heads up boys and girls. This is your Angel, I'm alright thanks to our friends. The Castles on fire and I'm on my way up to Dominic's rooms. Anyone in the castle should start working their way out."

Ike's voice replied. "Hear that people, we have our Angel at our backs! Happy Hunting Ray!"

The servants all started murmuring excitedly and Joshua grinned out at them. "All right people, follow me. We'll get you out of this shit and somewhere safe."

The mass of people shifted to let them to the head of the group and they were almost at the front when a hand grabbed Brandy's wrist. "Brandy!"

It was Tiana, the woman still had her wooden spoon clutched in her hand. "Eloise isn't here."

A spike of fear jabbed down Brandy's spine and Joshua looked at her sharply. "What is it?"

"The nursery!" Brandy told him and he blanched, eyes flicking over all the frightened faces around them.

"I'll go." Severus said, already turning back.

Brandy moved with the larger ghoul. "I'll go too."

"Be careful!" Joshua yelled after them. "Good luck!"