My apologies. The document manager was off-line yesterday, preventing me from loading a new chapter. --elle

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Chapter 94

Athens

Denara curled in the overstuffed leather armchair in the magistrate's office, hugging her stuffed bunny. Her short blade was still hidden deep within the animal… but she didn't think she needed it right now.

"Please," she lisped… using her most correct Greek, "He's only frightened and confused. If you let me talk to him… I can calm him down."

The magistrate eyed her as he shook his head. "My dear child… he's currently under sedation in a holding cell. He attacked several of my men with a bladed weapon. He has much to answer for."

"Did anyone die?"

The magistrate shook his head and then ahhed with a smile as a severely dressed young woman in a business suit entered.

"Diana… I appreciate your coming down here." He pointed at Denara with a smile. "This is the child."

"Are you Denara?" the woman asked pleasantly.

Denara clutched her rabbit and nodded. How did they know her name?

"Well your parents are waiting for you. They've been concerned ever since you were kidnapped. I'll be taking you to them as soon as we've had a medical team check you over."

"No! I have no parents!"

The magistrate laughed. "Everyone has parents! Be glad that you will be returned to them."

Denara narrowed her eyes. "What I meant was, my parents are dead. Ursa is my guardian," she said carefully, fingering the rabbit's back seam. These were mortals… but she didn't trust them.

"This Ursa is a madman… He stole you from your parents," Diana said kindly. "You are likely too young to remember what happened." She smiled warmly and reached to pat the four year old's head.

Denara allowed it, but she glared. Ursa's little adventure had evidently garnered the attention of the very people they were attempting to hide from. Now, the only way Denara might help… might rescue them both… was to be what she appeared to be… a child. And she hated being a child… she hated the way people treated her… as though she were too young and too small to understand what was happening. Perhaps she could use that. Curling up in the chair she seemed to shrink into the upholstery and just stare with a wide-eyed innocence she did not, in fact possess. She enclosed the rabbit in her small arms protectively.

"I want to see him," she finally lisped.

"Absolutely not!" the magistrate exclaimed.

"Please! He listens to me!" Denara begged. "I can calm him down so that he doesn't hurt anyone else."

Diana tilted her head. "Perhaps it would help, Alexandros."

The magistrate settled back in his chair. Even now he could hear commotion in the holding cell. The big man had awakened and evidently was shaking the bars while roaring loudly. If the child could calm him down… perhaps he should allow it… even though his superiors had said "No!"

"Very well," he nodded, "but only if I am there to supervise."

The woman nodded. "I wouldn't expect anything else."

Denara sighed with relief and wondered if either of these people spoke French. Ursa tended to use a patois of French, English, Latin and German. Would these mortals understand what she would tell him? Rising to her feet by scooting from the big chair… Denara allowed Diana to take her hand while Alexandros led the way.

As soon as he saw her… Ursa paused in his tirade. He knelt by the bars and sadly held out one hand.

"Ma cher, Ursa must be freed. Ursa must go to Nick!" Ursa's expression was filled with immense sadness.

Denara attempted to come close and reached out one small hand… but she was held back. Quietly she began to speak. "Ursa… you need to be quiet and not hurt anyone," Denara met his gaze. "We will be free… but it may take time. Promise me you will not hurt anyone else… unless they are hurting me."

"These not hurt you?"

Denara glanced up. "Not yet… but people claiming to be my parents are coming. I will need you then. Wait for the right moment and then come for me."

Ursa nodded and quietly settled back on his heels.

"What did you say to him?" Diana asked.

"Just to be quiet and not hurt anyone," Denara said with a small smile. She hated this role… but she'd done it before… she could do it again.

"Sounded a bit like French and English," Alexandros said scratching his head. "And something else…" He cleared his throat and motioned to one of his officers. "Keep and eye on him. We will likely transfer him to a better facility soon."

Denara smiled and winked at Ursa, hoping he understood.

He nodded once more as he settled more comfortably on the floor of the cell… calm and patient. Then he lifted his voice and began to sing the old Gregorian chants. The music echoed and reverberated against the stone wall at the back of the holding cell… and for a moment seemed to transfix everyone who could hear it.

"Beautiful…" Diana breathed out. "Simply beautiful."

Alexandros nodded. This man was definitely a puzzle. He glanced down at the precocious child. She definitely seemed to be the brighter of the two… and he felt there was more going on here than what he'd been told. He gestured back to the office. "Let's get her on the way to hospital to be checked out. Her parents are likely anxious to see her."

Diana nodded and clasped Denara's hand as she led her away.

Denara cast one eye back at Ursa, whose eyes were closed as he sang. "Please come for me when you can…" she prayed silently, hoping that somehow he understood. She was also concerned about his need to see Nick. Had something happened? Was Ursa somehow aware of their dark-quickened companion? Had Nestor found a way out? She had no way of knowing.

-----

Niebos

At dawn, Valeraine had rubbed her bleary eyes and sighed deeply. Nick had not slept… so neither had she. He'd thrashed in the restraints most of the night and moaned unintelligibly. By dawn he'd quieted… as if waiting for something.

Valeraine did not like the leer on Nick's face. He seemed to be far away… and focused on something only he could see and hear. Occasionally… a twisted chuckle issued forth and he'd writhe up and down suggestively. Then breathe out in a contented sigh.

Valeraine drew her knees up and leaned her head on them as she ran fingers through her blonde hair. Most of it was loose from the braids. She knew she looked awful.

Madame Kouris would likely be in here soon with the breakfast tray. Valeraine could already smell food aromas and here the soft clatter from the kitchen. The girl had possessed little appetite recently, and Madame was continually clucking over her and urging her to take a shower, a walk, or anything that would get her out of this room. Madame would watch.

Valeraine shook her head tiredly. It was so tempting to think about those things… and about true sleep. Sleep that would allow her to sink into oblivion and forget Nick's obvious degeneration. But she didn't dare chance it.

All Nestor would need was a moment. And in that moment… he'd find a way.

The door opened as Elena Kouris entered. On the tray was a steaming bowl of thin porridge for Nick and some soft bread. For Valeraine she'd prepared scrambled eggs and crisp bacon. A handful of fresh grapes lay to one side.

"Good morning, child. How is our patient today?"

"He's had a rough night, Madame." Valeraine watched as Elena set the tray on the table.

The old woman straightened and clasped her hands together as she looked at Nick. "He seems calm now. Perhaps this would be a good time for you to take a small break."

Shaking her head, Valeraine picked up the bread and leaned close to Nick. She tore the bread into small pieces and offered it to him.

Nick snapped at the bread and smacked his lips as he gummed it. He was evidently hungry this morning. Valeraine leaned back and grasped some grapes. She peeled them and fed them to Nick one at a time… and then offered him some juice.

"You should eat, too," Madame said softly. "Before it gets cold."

Valeraine nodded. "I will Madame. But Nick first."

Elena shook her head and stood at the foot of the bed. "This is too much for you. You really need to rest and eat… or you will exhaust yourself. What will happen then?"

Valeraine hesitated. She was already so tired that it was an effort to keep her eyes open. Her mind was already having difficulty thinking things through. She sat back.

"Let me finish feeding him, Madame. Then… if he's still quiet… I will."

Elena Kouris nodded relieved. "I will watch over him as if he were one of my own."

Valeraine continued to feed Nick, aware that by his expression… he was evidently planning something.

Once she finished feeding him… and he remained quiet… Valeraine gobbled her own cooling breakfast… aware that she was hungrier than she'd been in days. Perhaps in just accepting that she needed to take a break… she'd sloughed off all the tension that had kept her stomach in knots.

She warned Madame that no matter what… not to take the restraints off, and assured that the old woman understood to call for her if she noticed any change in Nick… Valeraine left for a bath.

Within the warm water she stretched out and allowed the warmth to leach from her all the tension of the past few days. At Ste. Genevieve… she could always trade off a bit with Ursa or even with Luke. But Ursa was gone… and Luke was dead.

Valeraine found herself crying. She slowly sank below the water and let it flow over even her face. When she felt calm… she floated upward and opened her eyes. While Luke had never meant as much to her as the dead Marie-France… she had been fond of the young immortal… the old woman who'd had a long mortal life before joining them.

Idly she wondered if Phillip had managed to find the other children. She'd had no word from him. But then he'd told her it might be some time. The Greek immortal had been worried to leave only Valeraine here to watch Nick. He knew she'd needed help… but there was no one else. If Ursa remained here… the Watchers would come once more.

And in the outer world… Phillip had said Ursa would need Denara. So Valeraine was alone. She closed her eyes… sleep beckoned… and she no longer had the strength or the will to remain awake.

Was it only moments then when she heard a commotion? The bath water was cold. Valeraine leaped from the tub and grabbed a towel to wrap about her. Hurriedly she headed to Nick's room.

Madame Kouris was leaning over Nick trying to calm him. He was lurching about attempting to get free. He strained against the restraints. One gave way and Nick's palm rose swiftly to pull the old woman down so that he could tear at her throat with his mouth. Even without teeth… he closed his mouth on her, bit hard and tore.

Valeraine grabbed up a knife and swiftly threw it so that it soon perched between Nick's sightless eyes. He collapsed back… but almost immediately seemed to revive… drawing in a great breath. He'd released Madame and reached with his free arm to maneuver the knife out somehow.

In the meantime, Valeraine pulled Madame away and grabbed something to help stem the tide of blood flowing from the old woman's throat. Behind her she heard Nestor's cackle and turned.

With the knife rammed through his palm… the immortal had sliced through the remaining restraints and had climbed out of the bed. Even now he was lurching toward the door.

Valeraine pulled her small blade from where it lay beneath her chair and rammed it into Nick's back again and again.

Nick staggered and managed to pull away. He roared at her and fell towards her… wrapping his arm about her as he plunged his knife into her.

Valeraine fought the darkness closing in. She felt the knife being pulled out and then felt it pressed against her throat.

As she succumbed to the darkness… she heard Nestor's distinctive cackle.

-----

Valeraine woke and managed to cough. Her throat hurt. Raising a hand to it… she felt a bandage. Of course… their throats did not heal quickly.

"Lie still," a voice said.

Valeraine opened her eyes. She was in a bed and the village doctor was leaning over her. "You've had a nasty experience."

Valeraine tried to speak, fearful of what had happened to Madame and to Nick. No words came out.

"Rest easy. Niko heard the fight and shot that man in the back. His body is in the morgue. You were lucky."

Valeraine shook her head. They had to be told! She had to tell them… but there was too much damage. Nestor's stroke had severed her vocal chords. They'd heal in time… at least she hoped so. Impatiently she slammed her hands on the covers and then made a writing sign… asking for pen and paper. They had to be warned that a monster was loose on the island.

The doctor patted her hand. "Later… now you need to rest." He turned toward his bag and selected a vial and a syringe. Expertly he began to fill the syringe and then he tapped it to remove the air. He smiled at her as she shook her head and tried to get him to understand.

She felt the needle pierce her arm and the cold fluid creep in and up her veins. Still she fought to be understood… but all too soon the world wavered before her eyes and the voice of the doctor faded. She felt herself taking a great breath and then breathed out… relaxing into the welcome embrace of oblivion.