Episode Five: A Sick and Twisted Turn of Fate

The Disciples arrived at the island late at night. Elvina made the call that they'd sleep, then complete the ceremony the next day. Nash and Jessica exchanged looks of slight relief, knowing that their friends had a little extra time to come for them. The two were escorted into the dark shrine. It was so dark that the two captives could hardly tell each other from one of the Disciples.

It wasn't until they were thrown in a more "classic" jail cell that they were finally left alone. Nash used what little magic he had and sparked a small fire in a small pile of hay. "How long until you think the others come?" asked Nash.

"I don't know," said Jessica, rubbing her arms. "It's cold in here."

"That's probably partially due to the fact you're arms and part of legs are completely bare," said Nash. "Come a little closer to the fire if you're cold."

Jessica slowly crept over to the fire and kneeled before the warm glow. She saw Nash slowly drawing something in the dust on the cold, hard floor. On a closer look, she saw he was drawing a picture of what appeared to be Mia. "You really miss her, don't you?"

"I can't wait until I can hold her in my arms again," he said. "I'm sure you must miss Kyle, too, especially after what happened back there."

"He can take a lot," said Jessica. "I bet he woke up a few minutes after he got knocked in the head."

Nash just slowly nodded. "What do you think'll happen tomorrow?"

"I don't know, but at least they aren't going to make us get married or something," said Jessica.

"That would suck!" said Nash, laughing for the first few times in the past few days. "Us? Married? Oh man, one of us would be dead within the first week!"

"Hour?" said Jessica. "Actually, I think that this whole mess has brought us closer."

Nash looked up at Jessica like she'd grown a second head. "Closer?"

"Yeah," said Jessica. "Normally we're at each other's throats. But we've been really good about not getting into an argument as of late. Think about it. For once we've gotten along!"

"I'd say we subconsciously formed a truce because of the drastic measures of our current situation," said Nash.

"Yeah, you're probably right," said Jessica, yawning. "Sleepy tired. . ."

Nash stifled his own yawn. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea. G'night," he said.

"Good night, Nash," said Jessica.

"'night, Jess."

The following morning, there was still no sign of their friends from inside their jail cell. "Right now, I'm going to admit I'm more bored than nervous," said Nash.

"Boredom is good," said Jessica. "Now come help me construct my hay bridge."

"There's a fine line between boredom and insanity, Jessica," said Nash. "A VERY fine line."

"What happened to that truce you were talking about?!" said Jessica.

"I'm just saying you're really close to loosing it," said Nash. "A hay bridge?"

Jessica looked at her creation. "You're right, it stinks." She then knocked it over. "I AM loosing it."

"No I saved you from loosing it," said Nash. By now he was absently playing with a piece of hay, bending it and flicking it.

A door near their cell opened. This caught the attention of the two captives. They saw Elvina enter, that grin from the night before plastered across her face. "Come," she said. She opened the door. "If you dare so much as try to run, your companion dies."

Nash and Jessica reluctantly left their cell and followed Elvina. The shrine was now lit with black fires that set everything to an almost greenish hue. "What's happening to us today?" asked Jessica.

"You'll see, young one," said Elvina. "To the first of the final preparations."

"Oh, what's that?" asked Nash. "Are you going to bathe us in live worms, or are you going to stick needles all over our bodies one at a time to prolong the pain?"

"No, but they both sound like fun," said Elvina. "Not today. I have more important things to do."

"Live worms?" hissed Jessica. Nash shrugged. "I certainly hope you didn't learn that from Ghaleon."

"I read it in a book once," he said. Jessica groaned and continued to follow her friend and their captor down the dark, dreary hallways.

Their destination, to Jessica's surprise, was an entrance to a bath. There were two doors leading to opposite sides of the room, one with a female standing on the outside, the other with a male on the outside. "Get these two cleaned up," she said. "You both know what to do."

The female, who had curly red hair, took Jessica to one of the doors while the man, a dark skinned man with no hair, led Nash the other war.

Jessica liked the bath. The water was warm and soapy and smelled nice. Plus her bathroom attendant, Maria, was very nice, despite the fact she brought up her doom a few times. "I really think you're a nice girl, too bad you're going to have to be killed," she said. "Luckily we're still a day away from that."

"Another day?!" said Jessica. This was a surprise. The clan had captured her and Nash almost four days ago. Yes, it was day five now of their week. Only two days remained for her to reunite with her friends. Plus she had to bust Nash out as well as herself.

Maria dumped another bucket of water over Jessica's head. "There, that should do it," she said. "Let's get you dried off and ready." Jessica stood up and Maria handed her a towel. Jessica wrapped it around her body and dried off. The attendant towel dried her hair and brushed it out so it was long and silkly blonde.

When Jessica looked into the mirror, she almost smiled. She felt a lot better, knowing that Kyle and her friends were on their way. Maria then handed Jessica the dress she'd been wearing for the past several days. "It's been cleaned and fixed up," said Maria. "You're going to look so cute!"

Jessica blinked. What was that woman talking about? "Um, yeah," she said, slipping into the dress. Maria then handed her the boots, which Jessica also pulled on. "Where am I going next?" But the bathroom attendant had mysteriously vanished. If they aren't killing us today, than what ARE they doing?

That was when Elvina stepped in. "Ah, Jessica, good to see you're ready. Nash is. . . finishing up."

Even in a situation like this, Nash is STILL obsessing over his hair, mused Jessica. She followed Elvina outside. "Elvina, exactly what-"

"Silence!" said Elvina, just as Nash was ushered outside by the male bathroom attendant. The leader of the Black Fire turned to Nash and smiled. Nash stared at Elvina with confusion. "Good, you're finally finished. Now let's get going!"

"Wow, someone's in a hurry," Nash whispered.

"I heard that you little- never mind," said Elvina.

Once they reached their destination, Nash evaluated the room. A gray table with two weird straps, a red thing and a white thing, two pillows on the floor, and lit candles on either end of the table. Elvina had a wide, Cheshire cat grin. She led Nash over to the pillow in front of the red thing- which Nash discovered was a knife- and made him kneel on the pillow. She then strapped his right hand onto the table. Jessica was then led to the other pillow, where her left hand was strapped down.

Elvina grinned. "I love this ceremony. Really, I do."

"Uh oh," said Nash. "What are you gonna- AH!" The mage screamed when he felt the blade of the red knife slice across his palm. He cringed as the crimson blood seeped out of the incision. He tried to clasp his fist to stop some of the sting, but Elvina held his fingers down so his palm remained expose to the air. Jessica was experiencing the same pain, tears streaming down her cheeks. "What the hell did you do that for!?"

Elvina ignored Nash's objection and un-strapped the two now injured hands. As she did, she chanted a few words in a tongue neither understood. Then, without letting either fist close before she was ready, pressed the bloody palms together. She clasped their fingers down, locking the two hands together.

Nash was beyond confusion, and he could tell Jessica was, too. Elvina said another chant, and suddenly, Nash felt, different. A sick feeling entered his stomach, followed by a strange feeling of an incredible calm. He slowly opened his eyes and saw Jessica seemed to have come out of the same daze. Elvina released their hands and, to Nash's shock, saw that any sign of the incision was gone. Jessica's cut was also gone, a look of utter bewilderment on her face as she ran her other hand over the previously injured palm.

"Bring them back to their cell. We'll finish tomorrow," said Elvina. Two Disciples had entered the room and escorted them back to the cell they'd spent the previous night in.

Once the guards left, Jessica and Nash wasted no time trying to figure out exactly what it was that Elvina had done to them. "Well, what did she do?" asked Nash. "I don't think that was your healing power."

"It wasn't," said Jessica, staring at her palm. "I think when our blood started mixing something happened."

Nash looked at his hand. "So your blood is in my hand?"

"By now your veins and arteries have carried it to other parts of your body," said Jessica. "Same with me and your blood."

"That's. . . gross," said Nash.

"Well, whatever happened, we have to look into it," said Jessica. "Maybe-"

"There you guys are!"

The two looked up and were overjoyed to see their friends. "Kyle! Get me out of here!" pleaded Jessica. Kyle ran over and grasped the bars above where Jessica had placed her hands.

"I'm going to rip this thing off!" said Kyle. But, his efforts were useless. Luna, on the other hand, had a key and easily unlocked the door. Nash and Jessica eagerly exited the cell, Jessica sharing an embrace with his fellow females.

"Let's get out of here," said Alex. "Nash? Jess? Full story once we're back with Willamina."

"Oh, that's not a problem," said Jessica. As she spoke, Kyle had gotten behind her, ready to place his hands on her shoulders and give her a kiss. Just as his fingertips made contact, a sudden shock was sent through both of the people. Jessica just jumped, while Kyle was sent flying backwards. "Kyle!"

"Ah!" cried Kyle, grasping his not slightly burnt hands. "Jessica, what did you-"

"I didn't do ANYTHING!" said Jessica. "I, I don't know what happened."

Mia gasped. She nervously walked over to Nash and lightly placed a finger on his shoulder blade. She yelped as she was sent reeling backwards a few feet. "Mia!" cried Nash.

"That's it, we're out of here NOW," said Alex.

Once the group was safely back at the docks, the two former captives were given a change of clothes. Nash was more than happy to get out of the red outfit and into a pair of jeans and shirt. Kyle also tossed him a denim jacket, which he gladly took, considering the cool weather.

Jessica seemed equally happy with a pair of black bell bottoms and pink sweater. Kyle was keeping his distance though, as was Alex. Nash could tell Jessica was upset that her fiancé and one of her good friends was ignoring her. Nash also could tell that Mia and Luna were edgy around him, too.

"Hey." Nash looked up to see Jessica standing next to him. "You look. . . weird."

"I'm, I'm afraid to touch Mia. You, you saw what happened to Kyle," said Nash. "I, I don't know what's happened to us, but, I'm scared."

"I am, too," said Jessica. "We haven't got the slightest clue as to what Elvina did to us, but I'm sure Willamina has the answer."

"What seems to be the problem? You've done everything I wanted a day early!"

The group looked over to see Willamina had joined them. Mia stood up. "Well, Nash and Jessica had a kind of bad run-in, and something happened to them. Bad."

Willamina looked over at the two in question. "Let's go back to the In Between so we can figure out what happened to you two. Uh, why are you so-"

"Look, I've spent the past few days worried sick about Jessica. I love her more than anything. Then a day or so ago I see her tied up being carried about by the Disciples of the Black Fire, and when I tried to hug her when we found them, I couldn't touch her," said Kyle.

"The Disciples?" said Willamina. She turned to Nash and Jessica, who nodded. "This is serious. I've dealt with them before. Come."

". . .and then she sent us back to our cell," said Nash. The travelers had since re-grouped in the In Between, Jessica and Nash sharing one of the couches since the others were afraid to go near them. "Willamina, after we told you about that last ceremony you've gone completely white in the face."

Willamina gulped. "I think I know what it is but I need to see it for myself. If I know the Black Fire clan well enough, then I might be right. Alex? I know you aren't going to want to, but please tap Nash on the shoulder, then Jessica."

"If it'll help figure out what's wrong, I'll do it," he said. He boldly walked over to the two. Nothing happened when he tapped Nash's shoulder. When he got close to Jessica, he was sent flying backward into a wall. Luna stood up and immediately went to his aide. "I'm, I'm okay," he said. "Wow."

"Mia? Tap Jessica, then Nash. And someone, be ready to catch her," said Willamina. Kyle got at the ready, giving Mia a nod. Mia tapped Jessica on the shoulder and smiled. She then reached for Nash. Once her fingertips brushed against his cheek, she, too, was sent reeling backward. Kyle caught her, but fell into the opposite couch. Mia sniffled.

"Willamina, will you get to the point!?" said Nash. Jessica nodded.

"All right. Now, please hold each other's hands," said Willamina.

"Won't we both be sent flying backwards?" said Jessica.

"Trust me," said Willamina.

Nervously, Nash looked over at Jessica and took her hand. Nothing happened, even when he placed his free hand over her untouched skin. "Nothing, nothing happened," he said.

"Just as I thought," said Willamina.

"What did that woman do to them?" asked Luna.

"She married them."