Chapter 9

Retribution

"At their current speed they should reach the castle walls by dawn," Duncan said while squinting through the binoculars. He could see them biting and snarling at each other, all the while maintaining a haphazard march toward the castle. They look as if they're out for blood.

"What was that HeMan?"

"I said I've never seen so many of them in one place before."

"I know. They are naturally solitary creatures. With this drought shrinking their swamps and Beastman most likely messing with their heads, they don't look too happy." He turned away from the sight and waited for Stratus to descend atop the ridge beside them.

"I spotted Trap-Jaw and Clawful in the midst of that herd." Stratos reported.

"That means that both Skeletor and Beastman escaped the castle, doesn't it. No way could those idiots have orchestrated this mess by themselves," Buzzoff said.

"You may be right, but we need to find Beastman fast. Try your best not to hurt the beasts, just steer them away. Stratos, you and Buzz Off deal with Trap- Jaw and Clawful and see if you can find out from them where Beastman is. The rest of us will have to find a way to turn that herd away from the castle."

"Aye."

"Keep an eye out for Skeletor, I have a feeling he may have a few more surprises in store."

"This seems very familiar to me," Buzzoff thought aloud after the others had left. "You know with the Unilobe and that smelly guy—"

"Buzzoff, stop talking to yourself and let's go," Stratos urged, already soaring ahead.

"Right."

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Ram Man glanced nervously at the woman he'd been assigned to protect. Since they had arrived Evil- Lyn had been becoming more and more agitated; now she was growling. He did not want to admit it but he was a little afraid of the woman.

"What are you looking at," she snapped and he quickly turned his head in the opposite direction. Zodac shook his head sadly.

"Excuse me, I must leave—"

Ram man jumped up from his seat like an eager school boy, "You need help?"

Zodac smiled knowingly, "—use the facilities, and no, I don't believe I'll need any help." He closed the door behind him.

Ram Man, quite embarrassed, reluctantly sat back down.

"I'm, I'm …sorry." It took all of her will power to wrench those words out of a throat clutched by pride. She couldn't believe she was apologizing to this dolt but he looked so uncomfortable and unhappy. Besides, his obvious nervousness around her was making her angrier.Normally, if there was a wound, she'd be the one with the salt ready to rub it in. "I had no right to snap at you." Damn these blasted hormones,she thought, they're probably what're making me so …soft. "Oh," it was suddenly clearer to her, "You must still be thinking about how I put you under a spell while masquerading as a Siren. I …am sorry about that," And this cursed conscience! "But you certainly don't have to worry about anything like that happening again."

Ramman's mouth gapped open at her unexpected apology and after a few moments of staring—his mind trying in vain to make sense of it all—he decided that she must have taken more of her share of that old woman's medicine. "Umm…it's…it's alright. You must be really stressed right now; I can understand that."

She was stressed, and angry; mainly because she was scared and basically helpless. Damn you mother.

There was a knock on the door and Zodac escorted Ramona inside.

Ram Man took the opportunity to escape, still not completely comfortable in his former enemy's company; in fact, her apologies, two in as many minutes, creeped him out even more. "I'll give you two some privacy," he said and ducked out the door to stand in the hallway with Zodac.

"I came as soon as I heard. How are you?" the woman began earnestly.

Evilyn looked into the old woman's face, a little wary as to why she was so concerned for her—a practical stranger. "Why are you here?" she asked mildly.

Ramona's usual stern mask softened a bit, "Why? I'm here for you of course." This only served to confuse Evilyn more, for all she could see in Ramona's face was genuine concern.

"Well…let's have a look at you then."

Evilyn groaned in annoyance but submitted to the usual poking and prodding that accompanied these exams. "Hmm…you're healing well enough I suppose…could be better though," she poked and fussed some more. "Are you drinking that tonic I made for you?" Evilyn's top lip curled in revulsion, but she nodded. Ramona tightened the splints around the broken leg and noted with satisfaction that the bruises around her patient's neck appeared less inflamed than last time. "Too bad it's not fast enough," she said to herself while adjusting the bandages supporting her cracked ribs.

"How have you been sleeping," she asked without looking up from her work.

"I haven't."

Ramona stopped and looked sternly at her, "And how are you supposed to recover if you don't rest. You may not care enough about yourself to take care of your body but don't forget that there is someone else in there," she pointed at her stomach, "that needs you healthy."

"It can be a tad difficult falling asleep after watching the father of your baby buried and having the man who killed him hell bent on destroying you too. But you're right," she said sweetly, sarcasm oozing from every word, "I'll just have one of the Masters bring me some warm milk later, that should do the trick. Owe! Watch it!"

Ramona had pulled the bandages a little too vigorously. "Sorry!" her tone as saccharine as her patient's.

"And don't you ever assume that I do not care about my child."

"Forgive me," Ramona said sincerely.

Evilyn looked at her uncertainly, uncomfortable with this element of tension that had developed between them. Despite the acerbic attitude, she did like the woman. She enjoyed watching her boss the Masters around, and truth be told, Ramona had cared for her with an almost maternal ferocity.

"I will stay with you the rest of the night to make sure you rest. Let me just make you some tonic first." Evilyn could not help the look of dismay that crossed her face. Ramona laughed softly. "It can't be that bad child."

"I am in enough pain as it is!" Ramona ignored her and continued stirring the concoction she was making. Evilyn actually pouted, "How could something so foul be good for me."

"Now, now little one, be a good girl," she said and thrust the glass into her patient's unwilling hands.

Evilyn scowled deeply but accepted the glass anyway. "I hate to be called that, I am not a child."

"Of course you aren't dear," Ramona's tone implied differently. They did not talk again for a while, each preoccupied with her own thoughts.

"I had a daughter once," Ramona said suddenly.

Caught off guard by the sudden confession, Evilyn wiped the trail of liquid that had spilled on her chin. "Oh?"

"Yes, but I was a terrible mother I was too caught up in my own affairs …too selfish I suppose; now she has left me." She waved the statement away into irrelevance with an impatient gesture as if regretting she had introduced the subject. The chair creaked loudly as she pulled herself up and made her way over to the window. She opened it wide and the heavy night air rushed into the room. Each woman closed her eyes, filled her lungs and welcomed it. She stood facing the night, and with her shoulders drooping uncharacteristically, Ramona looked every inch the old woman. "It takes a special talent to raise a child, I think. Some people can sing fantastically, some cannot; some can sacrifice themselves, their dreams, for another; some will not." She said softly and stared unseeing into at the black sky.

"Are you saying that I am not capable of loving this child?" Her voice was thinly controlled. Evilyn's agitation had been growing with each word; now her voice trembled under the weight of the emotion she was feeling. "You do not know me. None of you know me. How can you when I have only just begun to know myself." She swallowed thickly and calmed herself before going on. "When I found out about this …my child, I was ….horrified, and more so when my mother cursed me because of him; my own mother!" Ramona looked stricken. "She, like you, like everyone here, believes that my innocent baby does not deserve to be born to someone as wretched as me. She believes that I cannot do this. What I cannot do is defend myself anymore to people who wish to pass judgment upon me. For your information, I already love my son and he hasn't even been born yet," her expression softened a bit at the thought but continued fiercely. "And I loved his father." She wheeled herself closer to where Ramona was standing; her eyes and voice hard. "If you insist on staying here you will keep your tongue between your teeth or I will remove it, this I promise you."

After a few tense moments of contemplation, Ramona actually smiled and returned to her seat. She looked almost proud. "Calm down child. I was not implying that you did not care for your child. I was going to say that from what I have seen from you so far, I am sure you will make a far better mother than I ever was."

Evilyn reddened a bit, but she was not sorry for what she said. "Okay then. It's good that we understand each other."

"It is very good."

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The guard ran through the halls of the castle, his heart thumping loudly in his chest, but not from his exertions—it was looking more and more likely that he was going to have to fight those things. The Masters had been trying their best but the sun was lurking beneath the horizon and soon those beasts would be at the castle walls.

His family had been so proud of him when he enlisted two months ago. His cousin Tye had been in a year already and he said that you rarely risked your neck because the Masters took care of everything. He said that the girls really liked the uniform; they had a good hearty laugh at that. No one was laughing now; the monsters were coming.

Captain Teela had already recruited the services of every guard in the castle and now she wanted to send word to Ram Man and Zodac, to get at least one of them to reinforce the ranks. He eagerly volunteered for the task of errand boy, anything to escape the horrible screeching and snarling which sounded closer every minute. He rounded the corner that led to the infirmary and collided with a very large fist.

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"Do you hear that?" Evilyn interrupted their discussion on the best herbal remedies for everything from gas to wasp-stings. They listened intently for a few moments before Ram man's bulk tore through the door and landed across the room from them. They looked at his unconscious body in shock; smoke rose languidly from the charged remains of his armor, which no doubt covered severe burns. Ramona instinctively ran to his side, leaving Evilyn staring through the splintered remains of the doorway at the figure standing there.

Skeletor. Her mouth formed the words but she could not find the breath to say them. He had found her.

He stepped over Zodac's prone form and moved slowly into the room. He hoped that she was afraid; he wanted her on her knees begging for his mercy. There was a time when all he had to do was look at her, his eyes smoldering crimson, and she would instantly know her place. Now, he noted, his fury rising at the same time, her chin was raised defiantly and she eyed him with eyes black with loathing. He growled deep in his throat, furious that she had stolen even this small victory from him. He flew at her and wrenched her out of her seat.

"How dare you? How dare you?" he hissed.

"Put her down," Ramona's demand went unheeded.

"You traitorous bitch; I should have made sure you were dead. I promise you I won't make the same mistake twice." He looked into her face as if seeing her for the first time. Her treachery had taken his breath away; it repulsed him. He released her suddenly as if fearful that she would infect him in some way. She landed heavily back in her chair and glanced at Ramona, her eyes demanding: stay where you are and for goodness sake, keep quiet!

"How dare you?" she said in a low, dangerous tone, "You tried to kill me remember. But it was fated that we would end up like this Skeletor. I have tolerated your incompetent blunderings long enough; your total lack of common sense. It is a wonder I've been able to endure this long. Overlord of Evil?" she made a disgusted sound, suggesting that the mere notion was ludicrous. "You are lord of nothing. Years of scheming for the Eternian throne—you have accomplished nothing. And look at you now—a common thug and murderer. You have degenerated into something vile—less than a man—you useless piece of —"

The slap resonated throughout the room and had Evilyn lying on floor before she realized what had happened. Ramona watched in fascination as Evilyn's face metamorphosed from dazed confusion to white hot rage.

"I hate you!" she screamed and thrashed trying to get up despite her injuries. Ramona dashed to her side in an effort to calm her.

"Now, now dear, this is not helping."

"Why did you have to kill him, Skeletor? He did nothing to you! Nothing! He was just a carpenter; he had nothing you would want!"

"I will end this now. Get away old woman, least you die with her."

"You will not touch her!"

He snarled and raised his ram head staff high above his head in preparation for his retribution.

Energy built up in the ram head setting it aglow. When he released it, the glow seemed to hover in the air for a moment before hurtling toward them. Evilyn watched it in horror. Knowing Skeletor always had to have the last word she had hoped to stall him with her insults, hoping for Duncan, for somebody, even He-Man to rescue them, but she failed. She had failed to protect Carr from her life; now their baby was going to pay for her sins as well. She shut her eyes tightly and prepared herself.

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The impact was deafening. Dust and torn up brick from the wall and ceiling covered the bed to their left but they were still alive.

She reopened her eyes slowly, unsure as to why she was still breathing.

"I said, you will not touch her!" Ramona's usual craggily voice rang out as clear and rich as it was familiar.

Evilyn turned her head slowly and looked at the woman on the floor beside her. The woman's right hand was extended to maintain an invisible shield that had protected them by reflecting the blast to their left; while her left arm supported her daughter's head off the floor. "Mother?" Evilyn whispered, bewildered.

"You didn't think I'd leave you defenseless did you." She smiled slightly though her face showed signs of the strain she was under.

"Argg!" Skeletor roared in frustration. "Another witch!"

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Ch 10 when will you be done?

Soon darling, soon.