Chapter One

Cordelia had been the only one not knocked out. She wondered why, but when the Priest caught her looking confused and helpless, he turned to her with his lips hovering between a smile, a smirk, and a sneer and reminded her, "You're lucky daddy doesn't want you hurt, Princess."

She stared at the blonde man. Lucky? Lucky! He was just trying to get to her, she knew, and tried to ignore him. She turned her attention back to the others and watched as Darla approached her beloved Angel. She wanted to run to stop her, but her captor held her firmly in place. She watched as Darla wrapped a thing that looked like a collar around his shoulder. She wasn't sure what the device was called but knew already of the teeth that would bite into her beloved's skin if he were to struggle when he awakened. Her own arm was already aching from her cuff.

After securing Angel's shoulder in the thief catcher, Darla moved on to latch a collar around his neck. Then she stuck a metal rod into the back of the collar. She looked up at the top of the rod and thumped the bell so that it rang. When Darla moved away from Angel, Cordy's gaze did not follow her but stayed on her beloved. She knew the others were getting the same treatment as they had with identical strange instruments, but it was Angel who her heart cried for. Dear Gods, she thought, what was going to happen to them?

The clearing of a throat brought Cordelia's attention back to the blonde Captain even as Callisto spoke. "We can't wait for them to wake up. Sorceress, have Emma wake them."

It was then that Cordelia's attention was brought back to the mysterious woman in white. Just what was with the blonde? she wondered. Emma had been the one who had pretended to be Carl earlier and she had helped the other women to capture them, yet at the same time, they had turned on her and treated her like she was an animal and the woman still had tears in her eyes.

Emma had not moved when Callisto spoke, and it took the Sorceress commanding her again before she reached out to the others. She closed her eyes and forced herself to concentrate past the images that lingered in her mind. She spread a strong mental suggestion out to the captives and waited for them to awaken. She knew they would think they were in Hell and also knew that hardly anything could be closer to the truth.

Angel opened his eyes slowly. He could feel a metal collar around his neck, and when he tried to move his arm, something stuck into him. If he had been fully human, he would have been bleeding. He looked around, and his eyes met with Cordelia's. He knew he could not do anything to help the situation at the present time and prayed that one of their member had escaped, because if even one managed to escape, he could rescue some of them.

His eyes then connected with Darla as she was stooped over Connor, checking his collar again. What was she doing here, he wondered even as his dazed mind began to clear, and what was the bitch doing to her own son? Did she even know he was her son? "Darla," he called out to her, "what's going on here? Do you know that that's Connor?"

Darla's face rose to look at Angel, and the Vampiress sneered at her former mate. "You don't think I can smell what you put in me?"

"You always were a bitch," he told her, but he did not make a move to rise. He had seen these instruments of torture before and knew what they were.


Wolf opened his eyes. He looked around for Elvira. He didn't see her. He shifted in order to be able to see better, hoping to find her, and his eyes connected on a woman that was her identical twin. He knew for a fact that it was Helvira. "What did you do with her?" he asked the woman he hated. If she had killed her, when Wolf got free, she'd pay for it.

Helvira turned from inspecting Jareth to smile at Wolf. "I see the puppy's awake. Don't worry," she crooned as she slid toward him, "your little bitch is fine." The dark light of her smile met her black eyes. "For now."

"Where is she?" Wolf asked. He ignored the 'puppy' remark. He knew just what this bitch was capable of. His eyes went to Jareth, who looked back at him with despair in his eyes.

Jareth was wondering the same thing: Where was his beloved? What had this bitch done with her? He demanded, "Where's Delvira? Did you kill her, bitch?"

Helvira answered them both with a devilish smile. "They're in the same place." She said no more to them but called instead to Callisto and Anamaria. "Are we ready to burn them?"

"BURN THEM!" Jareth screeched even as his right leg reached out and kicked Helvira in the ass.

His foot connected, sending her stumbling forward just a bit, but she turned back to him with a dark fury in her face. "Yes, burn them, and don't worry, Your Majesty," she spoke his title mockingly. "Your time will come, or did you forget our first encounter? Did you so soon forget your betrayal? Forget pumping inside me?"

"SHUT UP, BITCH! I thought you were my wife! I'd've never touched you in a million years if I'd've thought you were some one else! You fooled me into betraying her yet she forgave me, knowing you for what you are! I'm not afraid of you."

"You will be," Helvira returned with a cold smile. "You will be very afraid of me before all's said and done, Jareth, and you will be inside me again."

"LIKE HELL I WILL! YOU KILL DELVIRA, AND I'LL KILL YOU, BITCH, IF IT'S THE LAST THING I EVER DO!"

"Such brave words," Helvira mocked, "but so foolish too. You'd better silence your tongue before I cut it out." Turning back to the Captains, she asked, "Well?"

Anamaria had been watching the exchange in interest, but when Helvira again called to her, she nodded. "Burn it."

Helvira turned to look at the house they were gathered before. "Say good-bye to your sweethearts, boys," she told them even as she began flinging fireballs at the house.

"BITCH!" Jareth and Wolf both screamed at her. They struggled only to be stung by the sharp points that were in their harnesses.


Cole was moving a lot slower than they were. He had already tried to shimmer several times, and it wasn't working. What the Hell was wrong? He looked at Piper with a hopeless look and shook his head, hoping that she'd understand that he couldn't shimmer. Just what the Hell had they done to them?

Piper caught Cole's gesture and nodded. She had known he would not stay sitting there in chains if he could shimmer, and she, too, had been trying to use her power with no luck. She had not even managed to freeze a fly she'd spotted, let alone any of their enemy.

Prue was sitting next to Piper. She, too, had tried to use her powers but to no avail. She hadn't been able to move anything. She looked at Paige, who simply shrugged and shook her head. Then Prue looked for Brendan.

She did not like the way they had been captured and chained without a chance, and she knew who this bitch was who now held them captive. She hoped Brendan would look at her so that she could let him know that she loved him and that no matter what happened, she'd always love him, but she could not even get near him as he was held prisoner close by Jareth and Wolf and the bitch was hovering over them.

Brendan did not catch Prue's look. He did not hear the shouts rising around him from both Jareth and Wolf nor did he notice the other women rushing forward to beat them back to the ground as they tried to attack Helvira. All he saw was Helvira, and the one thought that kept circling in his mind was that she had him again at last and his loved ones would pay for Jack's rescuing him.


Wolverine had already tried to flex his claws and failed. He had wanted to use them to cut through the chains and free them. He looked around and noticed that there was some of their family missing. Most especially, Jack was not there. Neither was James but he saw Smee, Frederic, and Connor. He knew that if James was alive, he would have his family freed. He also feared that Jack was dead.

His eyes were swift to glance around, and then he spotted Gabrielle but no Xena or Joxer. He saw 'Ro and then Clark but no Lex. He figured that the only ones who were still alive were the ones who were now prisoner and no one would escape. He hung his head even as he trembled inside. He'd never felt more miserable in his entire life and without any hope at all.

Kitty had been dumped unceremoniously beside her father. She had been watching the happenings in silence and waiting for an opportunity, for though her powers were gone, she refused to be left helpless. When she saw Wolverine hang his head, however, she tried to move toward him only to be slammed roughly back down to the ground. She looked up at the woman who stood behind her . . . and she froze as she stared at her mother.

Elektra looked down at the girl. "Stay where you are, Pryde."

"You . . . know who I am?" Though Kitty knew that Elektra had been aware of her, she had never before realized that she knew her real name. After all, when they had fought before, Elektra had always referred to her as Shadowcat.

Elektra nodded but simultaneously retorted, "Do I look like I care?"


Ororo had seen Logan looking at her and had tried to catch his eye to relay what she had already deduced, but he had missed her attempt as he had continued to scan their people. She watched him as he hung his head in defeat, and her heart cried out. She wanted to be able to help him, to reassure him, but she knew it would have to wait for she would never be able to reach him with so many of their captors standing guard.

Knowing that she was helpless to do anything to help her beloved, her attention moved from him to her godchildren. She saw the fear and confusion in their faces, and she began trying to catch any of their attention. It was Phoebe who looked at her first, and Ororo was surprised at the tears that raced down her cheeks. "Joxer," Phoebe mouthed, and 'Ro finally realized that not all of their people had made it.


Judson was growing rapidly tired of preventing one of the captives from waking. The Sorceress had instructed Emma to awaken them all, but there was one he did not want to be awake. He wanted her to think that she was alone, and it would never do for her to see the others now. Therefore, each time Faith started to stir, he knocked her out again until finally he shouted, "STOP WAKING THIS ONE UP, FROST!"

All faces snapped up and looked at the blonde Priest when he had yelled. Who was he? was the question on all their minds. Those that knew Faith the best began to put two and two together and realized that this was the Demonic Priest Faith had always carried the sword for. They had surely fallen into Hell, and there would be no rescue for them!

Dawson had been laying on the ground beside Faith, his hands clenching as he wished that he could put them around the damn Priest's neck and squeeze till he killed him. He had made one move toward trying to help Faith and had received several bloody cuts from the cuff that was around his right arm. The pain and futility of the whole situation made him stop. He sat up and reached his hand out toward Faith but couldn't quite touch her. His eyes made contact with the rogue Priest, and he tried to convey all the hate that he felt to him.

Judson peered down at the boy. "What are you staring at, boy?"

"The biggest piece of crap I've ever seen! How dare you beat a woman!"

Judson's fist plowed across Dawson's mouth for his first comment, but even as he pulled back, dusting his hands off as though he'd just touched crap himself, he informed him, "She's not a woman. She's a bitch."

"She's still a woman!" he dared to tell him.

Judson eyed him, trying to deduce just how much the boy cared about Faith. Could he use him to his advantage? "You must've wanted a ride."

Dawson did not even look at him again, and he did not answer him.

Judson shrugged even as he plucked Faith's unconscious body from the ground. "She'll be too busy to ever see you again, kid."

Dawson still did not grace him with a comment, because he knew it wouldn't get him anywhere. However, he got to his feet and continued to stare at the Priest. Oh, if only he had a sword, the special one, but he knew he couldn't get his hands on it!

Judson peered down at Faith's face. "I've waited too long for this," he murmured, "and you'll pay for it all." He began to head toward the Captains, still carrying his bounty.


The minute Katrina's eyes opened, she was on her feet. She had tried her powers to no avail and now awaited a chance to use her one remaining weapon -- her deadly claws. She waited until one of their captors came near, and the minute their back was turned, she jumped, bringing her claws down her back and clawing for her heart.

The woman screamed in pain and began trying to knock Katrina off of her. The captors who were nearest ran to help but were met with Tom and Celina. All three cats rode their targets, scratching, clawing, and biting for all they were worth. Fists rained down upon them, but they continued until a massive arm yanked Celina off of her target. Celina struggled, her claws raking the air in desperate attempts to reach the six-armed woman who now held her. Spiral held a gun to the catwoman's head and called to the other cats. "Unless you want this one's brains blown out, you'll cease immediately."

Katrina slipped to the ground on her feet and looked at her sister in despair. She knew she could do nothing to help and now feared what might happen to them. Tom fell to his feet beside his wife and looked just as helplessly at Celina even as Celina's foot finally managed to make contact with her captor's leg.

Spiral, however, did not even seem to feel it as she sneered at the cats. "That's better. Captain," she called out louder to Anamaria, "I think it's time for the mutilation shears."

With a name like that, Katrina knew they couldn't be anything good and only prayed that they were not about to get their fingers cut off. If that happened, she knew they'd all bleed to death. She stood very still and waited to see what they would do next, wishing she had her sword.

Spiral did not move from where she stood before them, a strong arm wrapped around Celina's neck and her pistol still pointed at her head. It was Anamaria herself who walked over to them, carrying an instrument that gleamed in the sunlight. She looked at the two as she recalled all that she had researched of Jack's crew. "You," she pointed the shears at Katrina. "You're his wife. You're her older sister." She smiled coldly. "That makes you the perfect one to go first."

Tom could not help speaking up. "I'll volunteer."

Katrina shook her head. "No, Tom." She looked at the woman and the awful instrument. "What are you going to do to us?" she asked, keeping eye contact with her the whole while.

Anamaria returned the redhead's glare but did not answer her question. "You," she pointed at the orange catman, "will stand down and wait your turn, because one step in the wrong direction will send that one," she gestured to Celina, "to her grave."

Tom fell silent though his tail still twitched. He ached to stop her from touching his beloved, but he knew there was nothing he could do.

"You," Anamaria returned her attention to Katrina, "will hold out your claws."

Katrina trembled but did as she was told, thankful that it was not to be her fingers. She held her claws out unflinchingly.

Anamaria stepped forward but paused as yells erupted from behind them. They were quickly silenced, however, and when the African American turned her head to see what had happened, she saw one of her crew standing over a brunette man who was now holding a bleeding jaw. "You will all stand down," she clarified, "and watch while these . . . " Yes, she decided, it was time that they let them know that they knew exactly who and what they were dealing with. " . . . these Lewises get what they have asked for."

Turning her attention once more to Katrina, Anamaria gestured to two of her people. "Hold her still." Two strong arms gripped Katrina on either side as Anamaria opened the shears and situated the blades around Katrina's first claw where it met her fur. She turned the screw, bringing the blades together and popping the claw off.

Katrina wanted to scream as it was extremely painful. She had never felt that much pain in her entire life and thought she might even pass out by the time the bitch had reached her last claw. She grew extremely quiet although she wanted to scream. Tears ran down her face, and the minute she was turned a loose, she sank to the ground, all fight gone from her.

Tom had tried to stay still to protect Celina, but as he had seen the dark-skinned woman cutting his beloved's claws off, he had had to fight. His struggles had soon been stopped, however, as Darla had wrapped her arms around him and used her Vampiric strength to hold him to the spot. His struggles grew even fiercer as Katrina sank to her knees, and he cried for her, aching to reach out to her and hold her.

Anamaria moved forward and grabbed Tom's jaw with her free hand. "Your turn now, catboy, and you'd better stop moving or I might decide to cut something else off."

Tom glared at her. "You -- "

Anamaria made a sound in the back of her throat and shook her head. "Do I really have to remind you?" she asked, pointing to where Spiral still held Celina. "You know I can turn her on to your Katrina just as easily."

That silenced Tom. He did not speak another word but held out his claws. Anamaria repeated the same procedure with his, and though the physical pain that shot through him was worse than anything he'd ever before imagined, what hurt him even more was the knowledge that his love was hurting just as terribly.

When Anamaria was done with Tom, she stepped away. "Let him go," she told Darla. The Vampiress released him, but instead of dropping to his knees, Tom turned to Katrina. He started to stumble toward her, but Darla sneered and kicked him straight into her instead.

Katrina fell over but lay very still. She gathered strength from Tom, wishing that she could hold him, but her bonds kept her from being able to embrace him. She could not look at Celina when the bitch started cutting her. She could not stand the thought that her baby sister was being hurt just as badly as her and Tom. She had gotten her claws split a few times, but they were nothing like being cut completely off. She thought they would probably never grow again. She fought against her tears but was powerless to stop them.

Tom ached to hold Katrina but could not for the cuffs that bound his arms still. He was already bleeding from the cuff on his arm, but he didn't care and moved again, sending the teeth biting even more into his fur. He tried to ignore the pain as he did the one thing he was capable of to let Katrina know he was there for her and would care and love her regardless of whatever might befall them -- he brushed his lips gently across her fur.

While Tom struggled to comfort Katrina, Celina tried desperately to be as strong as her sister and brother-in-law, and Darla now held Morph back. Anamaria glanced at the two catpeople on the ground as she worked on Celina's claws. She hadn't managed to get a single scream out of any of them, and she liked screams. Turning back to Celina, she bit the shears down even harder, breaking off not only a claw but also a small piece of her finger. Celina could stand it no longer; her scream echoed in the silence.

Katrina winced, opened her eyes, sat up, and looked at her sister. She could not believe the blood that seemed to be flowing everywhere. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" she screamed at Anamaria. "SHE'LL BLEED TO DEATH!"

At those words, Roxanne ran over, took Celina, and led her away. Katrina marveled that her sister was taking away so quickly without Anamaria raising a stink. "Where are you taking her?" she begged them to tell her.

Roxanne turned around and looked back at her. "I'm a doctor. I'll stop the bleeding and bring her back to you." She looked disapprovingly at Anamaria, thinking, Some Captain you are, bitch! You can't even cut claws off without causing further injury!

"Nice job controlling your people, Callisto," Anamaria smirked at the other Captain.

"We can't have them bleeding to death, Anamaria," Callisto reminded her, "not if we want the full bounty from Sinister for these . . . freaks. That's not, however, to say that we can't do whatever we want to them as long as it's fixable." She smiled evilly.

Anamaria nodded in agreement as she turned toward Katrina and Tom. "You might want this," she told them and flicked the piece of Celina's finger she had taken to them.

Katrina collected it and slipped it into her pocket. It was her sister's finger, and she didn't want any of them left behind. One day, she'd make this bitch pay just as soon as she could get the instruments of torture off of her. Now she stood close to Tom and waited to find out what they would do to them next.


Judson was walking amongst the group when a blue glow caught his eye. He turned toward it and was surprised to see a crystal necklace glowing. He looked at the blonde woman who sat by a green Demon, of all things, and a slow smile spread over his face as he thought of the extra money she would bring. Then he remembered the crystal. Walking over to it, he snatched the necklace off of her. "We can't have that," he told her with a grin.

Crystal gasped and stared. One second, the necklace had been safely around her neck, and she had been seconds away from contacting Jack. The next, it was in the hands of the enemy. "You . . . don't want to do that."

"Don't I? I know who you are, Frost, and you'll be with your uncle soon enough." Turning from the pair, he looked at Helvira, who had finally finished emblazing the house. "Helvira, catch!" He threw the necklace, and she caught it deftly.

The Vampiress frowned at the blue crystal. "Well, I guess it's pretty . . . "

Judson resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "You can use it," he explained, "to keep your captives alive and torture them even longer." That made Helvira smile.

"ALL RIGHT!" Callisto bellowed. "HAUL YOUR ASSES UP AND START MOVING! ANY TROUBLE, AND WE'LL SHOOT THE ONE NEXT TO YOU!"

Several of the newcomers to the crew stared at the blonde in disbelief. Shoot the one next to you? Surely that wasn't normal Pirate protocol? After all, shouldn't the one causing the trouble be the one to be shot?

Gabrielle, however, knew just what Callisto was thinking. The bitch knew there would be less trouble if she threatened the lives of those they held dear instead of merely their own lives.

To Be Continued . . .