Author's note: Thanks to everyone who has given me such great feed back. Yes, the Cavendish name is taken from the first Hellboy story. But, as you will soon see, it's not the same character.

I wake up to the sound of a door shutting. I open my eyes and look around. I'm lying in a bed, and there are various machines and cabinets around a windowless room. I'm in some sort of medical facility. I sit up and groan. Just about every part of me still hurts. I then realize there's an I.V. in my left arm. I must have really over extended myself to have them put that in. The bag looks to be pretty full. It's probably just been changed and the nurse leaving must have been what woke me. I look down and realize that all I'm wearing is a hospital gown, complete with the breezy opening in the back. My arms are covered in scratches, and I can feel them on my face and neck as well. I probably got them during the ride. My hair falls in my face and I realize someone has taken my hair out of its braid.

As I continue to examine the room, I notice a clock on the wall. 8:26 PM! Helen's going to have kittens! She always gets worried if I'm late. It must be the mother in her. I need a phone now.

I look around for my clothes, but I don't see them. I get out of bed and start going through the cabinets, dragging the I.V. stand with me. I do find some sterile gauze and medical tape. I use the pinch valve to stop the flow of fluids and then I carefully remove the needle in my arm, using the gauze and tape to seal up the hole it leaves behind. I go through some more cabinets and find another gown. I put that one on like a jacket. At least no one is going to get a free show. My feet are freezing on the tile floor, but I don't find anything that might pass for socks.

I go to the door and put my ear near the crack. I don't hear anything, and I can't "feel" anyone in the hallway. I quietly open the door, slip into the hallway and close the door behind me. The hall ends to my left, so I go right and go around a corner. I continue wandering the halls for some time. This place is huge, but I can't seem to find a phone anywhere and it's amazing that I haven't seen anyone else. I eventually end up going past a large metal door and a short time later I'm in hallway with strange glass cases in it. The things in these cases are giving off some strange vibes, and they're giving me a serious case of the willies. I quickly go down the hall and out the door on the other end.

I enter what looks to be someone's private library, which, blissfully, has carpeting instead of tiling. Low and behold, there's a phone on the desk. I step further into the room, and then I see the glass wall to my left. It's a window into a giant aquarium, and there seems to be something in there.

I take a few steps closer to the glass. I see something swimming in there and it's the most incredibly beautiful creature I've ever seen in my life.

"How beautiful," I whisper.

"Thank you."

I practically jump out of my skin. No one has been able to sneak up on me since I learned how to control my powers. I spin around so fast my hair flies around my head. I look about the room, but I don't see anyone.

"Who said that?" I ask as I try to get my rapidly beating heart out of my throat.

I hear something thump against the glass. I turn back around, and there is the exquisite creature looking at me. If at all possible, its blue and green mottled skin is more beautiful up close.

"I did," says the voice. This time I see its lips move and I realize the voice is coming through a speaker.

"Oh," is all I can manage to say as I stand there, stunned. After a few moments I manage to regain my composure. I stand a little straighter and say, "Hello, I'm…"

"Margaret Susan Cavendish. Heiress. You're named for both of your grandmothers. Birthday: April 8th, 1974. Parent's died when you were only nine, raised by your paternal grandmother."

"Yes, thank you," I interrupt, a bit perturbed. I realize that the being in the tank must be a male. At least that's what his voice sounds like. I also notice he's wearing only a pair of skin tight black shorts. "I am well aware of who I am. Would you be so kind as to tell me who you are, please?"

I see nictitating membranes cross over his eyes like he's blinking and his gills slightly flutter. I also notice someone coming into the room. I don't sense any thing bad about the new comer, so I ignore him for a moment.

"I'm Abe," the one in the tank finally answers. "Abraham Sapien."

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Sapien," I say with a slight nod. I turn around to see who has entered. It's the same man I ran into earlier, before I passed out. I address him, "And you would be…?"

"Hellboy," he grunts, not looking very happy. I get a better look at him this time. His right hand is abnormally large for him and seems to be made of stone, he has two strange circles on his forehead, and he has a tail. He's also at least a foot taller than I am.

"How do you do, Mr. Hellboy," I say. Given the strange circumstance, I think Grandmother would be proud. Not only have I pretty much retained my composure, but I've done it while freezing my tush off. She always said that it didn't matter if the world was falling down around your shoulders, you should always maintain your composure.

"It's just Hellboy," the large man practically growls. "What are you doing in here?"

"She's looking for a phone," says Abe.

I turn and look at him again. I can feel my brows coming together slightly.

"How did you know that?" I ask him.

"Abe's telepathic," Hellboy grunts. "What do you need a phone for?"

"I need to call my ranch manager and let her know I'm all right," I answer, turning back yet again, feeling a bit like a yo-yo. I'm not very comfortable with Abe's abilities. There are some things that no one outside the family should know.

"Dial 9 and wait for a dial tone," says Abe. "Then you can phone out."

I turn back once again, thank him, and then I head for the phone. Hellboy just scowls at Abe. He then sticks a cigar in his mouth.

"Please don't smoke that around me," I say as I pick up the receiver. "I find the smell most unpleasant."

He just glares at me and lights a match. I dial nine as I take the oxygen away from the match. It goes out. I get a dial tone and start dialing. He lights another match, and that one goes out too. I hear the phone ring on the other end. Another match is lit and it goes the way of the others. Doug answers in the middle of the second ring. Another match is doused.

"Hello?"

"Good evening, Doug. It's Miss Cavendish. May I speak to Helen, please?"

Another match goes out.

"Miss Cavendish! Thank goodness. Helen's been worried sick about you. Are you all right? Where are you? When are you coming home?"

And another goes out.

"I'm fine, Doug. Thank you for asking. As for where I am, I can't say right now. I'm not sure when I'll be back either. May I speak to Helen, please?"

And another.

"She's out waiting at the gate. She's waiting for you."

"Oh dear. Tell her I'm sorry for causing her such worry, and that she should lock the gate. I'm not sure when I'll be home, but I'll call if can make it back this evening."

And another.

"I'll do that."

"Thank you, Doug. Good bye."

"You're welcome, Miss Cavendish. Good bye."

I hang up the phone as Hellboy lights the last match in the box. It goes out like all the others. At this point he's absolutely fuming. I turn around and look over at Abe. He's curled up in a ball and rolling around in the water. He's laughing so hard that we can't hear anything. Hellboy looks like he wants to hit something.

"Now, gentlemen, if one or both you could please answer my questions, I would be most grateful," I say. Hellboy looks at me. He's still scowling, but at least he doesn't look like he's about to haul off and hit something. Abe uncurls himself and comes to the glass. He has what appears to be a smile on his lips. He's trying, rather unsuccessfully, to keep from snickering. "Could you please tell me where my horse is? And what has happened with my clothes?"