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Chapter 3
Weeks past and Abigail had yet to return. Marguerite was happy about learning the truth about her parents, but the warning about Sinthar was never far from her thoughts. "A penny for your thoughts, love" John noticed the far away look in his wife's eyes as they hunted. "The jungle is quiet, almost too quiet" she commented. "We could take advantage of the quiet" he slipped his arms around her. "No one ever said there was nothing wrong with quiet" she met his lips eagerly.
Their romantic interlude was broken by the sounds of breaking branches and a voice shouting, "Somebody, anybody help". "Head hunters? Raptors?" Marguerite asked. "Could be" John replied, his senses on high alert. The bushes in front of them started moving. "Easy now, drop your weapons and move your hands where we can see them" they aimed their guns on the moving bush. "Please help me" a man collapsed in front of them.
"How bad is he injured?" Marguerite asked. "A few minor gashes, but his ribs are definitely broken, we should let Challenger look at him" John again looked at the man. Marguerite rolled her eyes. "Would you let him die out there?" John asked. "John, how many times have we let strangers in the tree house who threatened to hurt or kill us? Especially now that we have the children, I will not let him come up" she remained firm as the sound of raptors was heard in the distance. "At least let Challenger clean his wounds and give him fresh food," John begged. "Fine, but as soon as he wakes up, he's gone," she conceded.
"Challenger!" John called out. "John! Marguerite! What's wrong" George called out. "He needs medical attention" John said. "Put him on the bridge" George told them. One of his latest inventions was a bridge that was able to hold objects that were too big for the elevator. "Where did you find him?" Challenger asked, eyeing the man's cuts. "In the jungle. His ribs are definitely broken and from the look of it, those cuts are definitely from a raptor," John said as Kate and Will barreled into the laboratory. "Daddy!" she held up her arms to her father.
"Who's that?" Will asked. "That's no one" Marguerite replied Ned walked in followed by Arthur. "Sorry, Ned, did we pull the kids away from your lesson?" John asked. "No, that's all right, they were getting a bit antsy" Ned replied. The education of the youngest members of the Challenger expedition was equally divided up among the adults, each teaching their own little niche. "Daddy I'm hungry" Arthur whined. "Me too" Kate and Will said together. "Why don't we let Uncle John and Uncle George fix him up and we'll get you some food?" Ned suggested.
From his view, Sinthar observed his prey. The Chosen one was as beautiful as her mother. He would have his fun with her first and of course with her children. Like her mother before her, she was married to her guardian, but he would be easily disposed of. His sister could do a marvelous job on him, but why should he share the fun? No, he would dispose of the guardian and their companions first and then, he would have his fun. But for now, he would be patient. He would have his time and when it would come, it would definitely worth the wait.
"How long has he been out?" Finn asked, as they were finishing up several experiments later that day. "I'd say several hours," Challenger replied as the man began to moan in pain. "Easy now, have some water" Finn helped him sit up as Challenger held the cup to the man's lips. "Thank you, where am I?" the man lay back down. "You're in a tree house in South America. My name is George Challenger and this Finn. Take it easy, your ribs are broken" the man again began to sit up, but the pain forced him to lie down.
"George, Finn, dinner is ready!" Marguerite called out. "As long as she didn't cook it," Finn joked. "One more joke that, Finn, your next meal will be breakfast" Marguerite's eyes flashed in anger. "It seems that the chosen one has developed with an affinity with these mortals, this might present a challenge, but I like a challenge" Sinthar evilly glowered under the mask of the man who lay on the table. It hadn't been too hard to find the man, too many thought they could survive the plateau. He lay dying as Sinthar appeared, offering him his life back if he agreed to let Sinthar borrow his body.
"My beautiful angel of mercy" the man smiled at Marguerite. "Marguerite, do you think John would mind if we gave him some clothes? The clothes he was wearing were torn to shreds," George asked. "Fine" Marguerite walked out. "Look whose up" Ned cheerfully greeted their guest at the dining room table. "Andrew Yardley, Lord John and Lady Marguerite Roxton, their children, Will and Kate, Ned and Veronica Malone, their children, Arthur and Abby" Challenger introduced the rest of the tree house occupants.
"Lord Roxton, thank you for the clothing. I haven't seen handiwork since I left New York" he completed. "Marguerite does a find job on many occasions" John complemented his wife, causing her to blush. "We all have to make some sacrifices" Marguerite replied. "Did you say you left from New York?" Ned asked excitedly. "Yes. The news of your expedition was printed in the New York Times" Andrew explained. "The New York Times, Veronica did you hear that?" Ned nearly burst out his chair. "Yes, I heard" Veronica replied, hiding her growing suspicions
While their guest easily chatted with the group, Marguerite felt uneasy. Something about this man was not right, but she couldn't explain it. Sinthar enjoyed watching her squirm. "Try as you like, Marguerite, you and your children will be mine" he laughed as red spots began to appear on his clothing. "Looks like I've been having too much fun" Andrew said.
"Excuse me, I'll take the kids to bed, then I'll turn in, Finn would you help me?" Marguerite stood up picking Katie who was already asleep and reached for Will, who protested despite the fact that he too, was falling asleep. "Sure" Finn picked up Arthur, who like his compatriots was also fast asleep. John noticed the look on his wife's face and said "Finn, you and George clean up and re-bandage Mr. Yardley's wounds. Ned and Veronica can clean up and Marguerite and I will take care of the kids," he volunteered. "Whatever you say, big guy" Finn replied.
"Marguerite, what's wrong?" he pulled her into his lap after all the children had been changed and put into bed. "Something about him, John, my senses are going off. I can't explain it. You promised that he would be gone and he is still here," a very worried Marguerite explained to her husband. "Marguerite, would you have him sent out at night in the jungle? In the morning we'll give him a pack and that will be the end of it. You're tired, it's been a long day" he pulled them both on to the bed. Kissing her deeply, he wrapped his arms around her, silently praying that whoever this Sinthar character was far away from them. "You have no idea how close I am, Lord Roxton" Sinthar watched the couple embrace.
"Hey, how are you feeling" Veronica cheerfully greeted Marguerite the next morning as she fed Abby. "Ok I guess" Marguerite replied as Abby spilled her bottle all over her mother. "Come here, sweetie" Marguerite took Abby from her mother's arms. "Good morning Lady Roxton" Andrew said. "Good morning" Marguerite pasted on a smile as Abby started to cry. "I know, I know, something about him isn't right" Marguerite tried to sooth the screaming infant.
"Veronica, what do you think of our guest?" Marguerite handed Abby back to her mother. "I don't know, Ned seems pretty excited, why do you ask" the younger woman replied. "He came in just now and Abby started crying. I don't trust him; everything about him says that something is not right" Marguerite explained. "Maybe your right, maybe my mother can help" Veronica again handed Abby to Marguerite before disappearing in a ball of light.
Both women knew of their powers, but only Veronica had started harnessing her power, if only for the delight of the children. When Veronica arrived in Avalon, she saw her mother talking to someone. "Veronica, what a pleasant surprise" her mother turned around. "Lady Dalphton" Veronica gasped. "Your mother was right Veronica, you have become a beautiful woman," she said. Although a spirit, it was obvious that Marguerite had inherited her mother's strong facial features.
"Mother..." Veronica started to say. "We know about Sinthar, Veronica, only Marguerite can defeat him," Elise explained. "Can you help her?" Veronica asked. "Marguerite believes that I am dead, I can only come when called, however the Verando pendant may help" a silver pendant with writing and a crystal embedded in the center appeared. "Give this to Marguerite; it will protect all you from Sinthar. Tell her she must read the inscription" Abigail explained. "Veronica, please don't tell Marguerite, I fear she may not be ready for what is coming if she knows about me" Elise begged. "I promise" Veronica replied.
Chapter 3
Weeks past and Abigail had yet to return. Marguerite was happy about learning the truth about her parents, but the warning about Sinthar was never far from her thoughts. "A penny for your thoughts, love" John noticed the far away look in his wife's eyes as they hunted. "The jungle is quiet, almost too quiet" she commented. "We could take advantage of the quiet" he slipped his arms around her. "No one ever said there was nothing wrong with quiet" she met his lips eagerly.
Their romantic interlude was broken by the sounds of breaking branches and a voice shouting, "Somebody, anybody help". "Head hunters? Raptors?" Marguerite asked. "Could be" John replied, his senses on high alert. The bushes in front of them started moving. "Easy now, drop your weapons and move your hands where we can see them" they aimed their guns on the moving bush. "Please help me" a man collapsed in front of them.
"How bad is he injured?" Marguerite asked. "A few minor gashes, but his ribs are definitely broken, we should let Challenger look at him" John again looked at the man. Marguerite rolled her eyes. "Would you let him die out there?" John asked. "John, how many times have we let strangers in the tree house who threatened to hurt or kill us? Especially now that we have the children, I will not let him come up" she remained firm as the sound of raptors was heard in the distance. "At least let Challenger clean his wounds and give him fresh food," John begged. "Fine, but as soon as he wakes up, he's gone," she conceded.
"Challenger!" John called out. "John! Marguerite! What's wrong" George called out. "He needs medical attention" John said. "Put him on the bridge" George told them. One of his latest inventions was a bridge that was able to hold objects that were too big for the elevator. "Where did you find him?" Challenger asked, eyeing the man's cuts. "In the jungle. His ribs are definitely broken and from the look of it, those cuts are definitely from a raptor," John said as Kate and Will barreled into the laboratory. "Daddy!" she held up her arms to her father.
"Who's that?" Will asked. "That's no one" Marguerite replied Ned walked in followed by Arthur. "Sorry, Ned, did we pull the kids away from your lesson?" John asked. "No, that's all right, they were getting a bit antsy" Ned replied. The education of the youngest members of the Challenger expedition was equally divided up among the adults, each teaching their own little niche. "Daddy I'm hungry" Arthur whined. "Me too" Kate and Will said together. "Why don't we let Uncle John and Uncle George fix him up and we'll get you some food?" Ned suggested.
From his view, Sinthar observed his prey. The Chosen one was as beautiful as her mother. He would have his fun with her first and of course with her children. Like her mother before her, she was married to her guardian, but he would be easily disposed of. His sister could do a marvelous job on him, but why should he share the fun? No, he would dispose of the guardian and their companions first and then, he would have his fun. But for now, he would be patient. He would have his time and when it would come, it would definitely worth the wait.
"How long has he been out?" Finn asked, as they were finishing up several experiments later that day. "I'd say several hours," Challenger replied as the man began to moan in pain. "Easy now, have some water" Finn helped him sit up as Challenger held the cup to the man's lips. "Thank you, where am I?" the man lay back down. "You're in a tree house in South America. My name is George Challenger and this Finn. Take it easy, your ribs are broken" the man again began to sit up, but the pain forced him to lie down.
"George, Finn, dinner is ready!" Marguerite called out. "As long as she didn't cook it," Finn joked. "One more joke that, Finn, your next meal will be breakfast" Marguerite's eyes flashed in anger. "It seems that the chosen one has developed with an affinity with these mortals, this might present a challenge, but I like a challenge" Sinthar evilly glowered under the mask of the man who lay on the table. It hadn't been too hard to find the man, too many thought they could survive the plateau. He lay dying as Sinthar appeared, offering him his life back if he agreed to let Sinthar borrow his body.
"My beautiful angel of mercy" the man smiled at Marguerite. "Marguerite, do you think John would mind if we gave him some clothes? The clothes he was wearing were torn to shreds," George asked. "Fine" Marguerite walked out. "Look whose up" Ned cheerfully greeted their guest at the dining room table. "Andrew Yardley, Lord John and Lady Marguerite Roxton, their children, Will and Kate, Ned and Veronica Malone, their children, Arthur and Abby" Challenger introduced the rest of the tree house occupants.
"Lord Roxton, thank you for the clothing. I haven't seen handiwork since I left New York" he completed. "Marguerite does a find job on many occasions" John complemented his wife, causing her to blush. "We all have to make some sacrifices" Marguerite replied. "Did you say you left from New York?" Ned asked excitedly. "Yes. The news of your expedition was printed in the New York Times" Andrew explained. "The New York Times, Veronica did you hear that?" Ned nearly burst out his chair. "Yes, I heard" Veronica replied, hiding her growing suspicions
While their guest easily chatted with the group, Marguerite felt uneasy. Something about this man was not right, but she couldn't explain it. Sinthar enjoyed watching her squirm. "Try as you like, Marguerite, you and your children will be mine" he laughed as red spots began to appear on his clothing. "Looks like I've been having too much fun" Andrew said.
"Excuse me, I'll take the kids to bed, then I'll turn in, Finn would you help me?" Marguerite stood up picking Katie who was already asleep and reached for Will, who protested despite the fact that he too, was falling asleep. "Sure" Finn picked up Arthur, who like his compatriots was also fast asleep. John noticed the look on his wife's face and said "Finn, you and George clean up and re-bandage Mr. Yardley's wounds. Ned and Veronica can clean up and Marguerite and I will take care of the kids," he volunteered. "Whatever you say, big guy" Finn replied.
"Marguerite, what's wrong?" he pulled her into his lap after all the children had been changed and put into bed. "Something about him, John, my senses are going off. I can't explain it. You promised that he would be gone and he is still here," a very worried Marguerite explained to her husband. "Marguerite, would you have him sent out at night in the jungle? In the morning we'll give him a pack and that will be the end of it. You're tired, it's been a long day" he pulled them both on to the bed. Kissing her deeply, he wrapped his arms around her, silently praying that whoever this Sinthar character was far away from them. "You have no idea how close I am, Lord Roxton" Sinthar watched the couple embrace.
"Hey, how are you feeling" Veronica cheerfully greeted Marguerite the next morning as she fed Abby. "Ok I guess" Marguerite replied as Abby spilled her bottle all over her mother. "Come here, sweetie" Marguerite took Abby from her mother's arms. "Good morning Lady Roxton" Andrew said. "Good morning" Marguerite pasted on a smile as Abby started to cry. "I know, I know, something about him isn't right" Marguerite tried to sooth the screaming infant.
"Veronica, what do you think of our guest?" Marguerite handed Abby back to her mother. "I don't know, Ned seems pretty excited, why do you ask" the younger woman replied. "He came in just now and Abby started crying. I don't trust him; everything about him says that something is not right" Marguerite explained. "Maybe your right, maybe my mother can help" Veronica again handed Abby to Marguerite before disappearing in a ball of light.
Both women knew of their powers, but only Veronica had started harnessing her power, if only for the delight of the children. When Veronica arrived in Avalon, she saw her mother talking to someone. "Veronica, what a pleasant surprise" her mother turned around. "Lady Dalphton" Veronica gasped. "Your mother was right Veronica, you have become a beautiful woman," she said. Although a spirit, it was obvious that Marguerite had inherited her mother's strong facial features.
"Mother..." Veronica started to say. "We know about Sinthar, Veronica, only Marguerite can defeat him," Elise explained. "Can you help her?" Veronica asked. "Marguerite believes that I am dead, I can only come when called, however the Verando pendant may help" a silver pendant with writing and a crystal embedded in the center appeared. "Give this to Marguerite; it will protect all you from Sinthar. Tell her she must read the inscription" Abigail explained. "Veronica, please don't tell Marguerite, I fear she may not be ready for what is coming if she knows about me" Elise begged. "I promise" Veronica replied.