-The disclaimer is in chapter 1 if you're looking for it.
Chapter 6
"How is dinner?" John asked after he finished lighting the fires to keep unwanted visitors away.
"The best chicken bush Arthur I've ever had. How long was I sleeping?"
"Seven years".
"It felt like a lifetime without you" she finished her dinner and leaned into him, breathing in his masculine scent.
"So tell me how everyone is" she asked.
"George is the same, always tinkering in that lab of his, he and Finn have become lab partners, she is quite intelligent, despite the occasional odd sayings. Ned and Veronica moved to Avalon a few years ago".
"Abby must be seven, eight by now and Arthur, he must be as tall as Ned".
"Abby is quite the charmer, she's got Ned's penchant for story telling and Arthur, he is more like Veronica than Ned" he explained.
"What about our offspring?" she continued to ask.
"Will is turning out to be quite the hunter and a ladies man, I've been approached by several Zanga about a match between Will and their daughters" he chuckled at the memory.
"A chip off the old block" she remembered her son as a bouncy, intelligent child who if they ever would return to London, would do fine as Lord Roxton.
"Kate is just like you. After you disappeared, George and Finn convinced me to put up that picture of you with your parents and there's been a few times when we had to take a second look at the picture," he explained.
"I miss them so much" she said.
"You'll see them soon" John forced down the image of his sick daughter. "Do you know what I missed most of all?" she faced him.
"Do tell". It was as if the years had melted away as they temporarily forgot the world around them.
"You may have freed her; Guardian, but the Chosen One and her daughter will perish" Skathina observed them before disappearing.
"John, whatever happened to Miss Montague?" Marguerite asked.
"I'll go on watch, you sleep" he avoided the question.
"I slept for seven years; I think I've overslept just a bit"
"Marguerite" His tone changed from loving to protector.
"Fine, wake me up in a few hours, you also deserve some sleep" she quickly fell asleep.
"Lord Roxton" Abigail appeared several hours later.
"Lady Protector" he motioned for her to sit down.
"I see you found her" they turned to watch Marguerite sleep.
"Yes".
"You're a very lucky man, Lord Roxton. I see so much of my Tom in Veronica and the children. I often think that he would be so proud of Veronica and love Ned" for a moment, Abigail was lost in her memories.
"That's Neddy boy for you, honest to a fault and loyal to the end" he had come to think of Ned as a younger brother as the years had passed.
"I have a confession to make, when Veronica asked me if I knew anything about the prophecy, I lied," she admitted.
"How so?".
"I know much about the seven year prophecy, more than I told Veronica. We have been preparing for the prophecy for many years now, but only Marguerite can defeat the demon and save Kate," she narrated.
He remained silent as Abigail continued narrated.
"This vial contains a remedy to the poison; however, Skathina must be vanquished for your daughter to completely heal. I must go, there is much to do" the protector disappeared.
Skathina watched as the Protector ascended to Avalon. She smiled as a plan formed in her mind.
"Help me" the girl cried out, her body bloody and bruised, she limped to the gates.
"Over there" the guard pointed out the figure to his companion.
"You stay here" the second guard disappeared.
"Mateo, where are you?" the first guard watched for any sign of the girl and his friend.
"Right here" the world became dark.
"Easy enough" Skathina passed through the gates.
Inside the palace, the children were already asleep as Finn approached Abigail.
"Hey, Abby".
The Protector couldn't help but smile; most approached her with a respect and a tinge of discrepancy, but Finn had a relaxed attitude and sense of self that she had come to appreciate.
"Shouldn't someone be sleeping in Kate's room, just to make sure nothing happens? Challenger says she isn't contagious".
"Thank you for the advice, Finn, but we all are all protected, if the demon should get in, she would be caught long before she reaches the palace" Abigail replied.
"Ok" Finn started to walk away.
"Finn, if you wish, you may inform the guards that you have my permission to sleep in Kate's room, just make sure you tell the steward that you will be needing the pillow and blanket" Abigail consented.
"Secure, huh?" the demon watched the exchange between the Protector and Finn.
"You asked for the extra pillow and blanket?" Skathina, posing as a servant girl, bowed.
"Yea, thanks" something about the servant girl was odd, but Avalon wasn't exactly normalville.
Skathina knew that Finn wasn't going to be the right one, her suspicions had already been raised. Mr. Malone wouldn't work either; the Protector's daughter was always close by. The only other candidate was the Professor. During her time in the tree house, he seemed to babble on and on, especially about Arthur Summerlee. "Perfect" she knew exactly what she was going to do.
"George" he awoke to see Arthur standing by his beside.
"Arthur, what the bloody hell are you doing here?".
"We can save the child, but not here, at the tree house" Skathina couldn't help but chuckle, he was a man, like all men, easily manipulated.
"We cannot, she is safest here".
"You know perfectly well that science is always superior to magic" even as a spirit, Arthur Summerlee used logic first and imagination second.
"I suppose you're right, what about the guards?" Challenger conceded.
"I'll take care of the guards and Finn, you take the girl" the fake Summerlee directed.
He ran quickly through the palace, checking for the palace guards. Stepping over the unconscious guards in front of Kate's room, he lifted the girls into his arms.
"Uncle George?" Kate's eyes fluttered open.
"Give her this" the fake Summerlee handed Challenger the vial.
"Sh, go back to sleep, everything is ok" her eyes closed.
"How do we get out of here?".
"This way" they ran out to where a golden chariot waited with the demon child holding the reins.
"You" Challenger exclaimed as the demon reverted to her true form.
"Yes, me. You will obey me, Professor" his mind became dark as Skathina's voice shone through the darkness.
"Yes Madam".
"Take us to tree-house, pet" the chariot disappeared into the night.
"Milady, the Chosen One's daughter and Professor Challenger have disappeared" Abigail was woken up by her maids.
"How did the demon get in?" Abigail demanded.
"We don't know, Majesty,".
"What's going on?" Ned and Veronica ran out of their room.
"Kate is gone and George with her".
"What happened?" a large red bruise marred Finn's face.
The story was related to Finn.
"I'll find Roxton, they should be close enough to the Tree house by now" Veronica disappeared.
"I'll check on the other children" Ned also disappeared.
Back at the tree house, Challenger placed Kate on her bed.
"Say good night old man" George dropped to the floor.
"Pet, would be so kind and put the good professor in his bed?" they disappeared.
"Now, for the best part" the demon turned her attention to the girl.
"Home sweet home" the tree house appeared in the distance.
"Roxton" a breathless Veronica appeared.
"Marguerite" she exclaimed.
The women stared at each other before enveloping themselves in a hug.
"We must get back to the tree-house, Skathina has Kate, I'll be faster my way" all three disappeared.
Skathina felt the child's life forces draining, soon there would be no one standing in her way.
"Get away from my daughter, bitch" the demon lay unconscious on the floor, the blast, knocking her out.
"Mum, it hurts".
"I know, drink this" Roxton gingerly lifted his daughter up.
"Take her outside now" Marguerite ordered as Skathina started to move.
"Mum, no".
"I love you all" Kissing her daughter and husband, taking one last look at Veronica, Marguerite turned to face the demon.
"We meet again, Chosen One" Skathina laughed wickedly.
They fought, neither winning until Skathina forced Marguerite to the floor.
"Say goodbye, Chosen One" Skathina screamed as pain ripped through her body.
"Abigail".
"Get out of here, Marguerite; this is not your fight anymore".
"She nearly killed my daughter" Marguerite protested.
"Go, Marguerite, now" she felt blackness surround her.
Is Skathina gone? Will Roxton have the guts to tell Marguerite that he married Skathina? How will she take it?
So, what do you think? Send some love and I'll work on the next chapter.