Chapter Seventeen

Morph raced from the sleeping quarters of the Harlot as though his own life depended on it. As he burst out onto the deck, he spread wings again from his back and lifted into the air. As he flew over the fray, he noticed a few in need of aid. He knew he could not take long to help, but a grin grew over his face as an idea formed and a long, spiky tail sprouted from his rear end. As he flew over the battle, he struck various Piratesses with his tail, always making certain that the spikes tore into their tender flesh.

Still, he could not take long as he knew he had to get the strange green rock called kryptonite as far away from Clark as possible. Reaching the end of the ship, his wings and tail sucked back into his body, returning him to normal, as he dove into the ocean. There, he began to turn again. This time, his skin became hard and gray, and he began to grow in muscle and height. He was turning his very skin to rock as he took on the appearance of a golem!


Dawn thought quickly as yet another Piratess rushed toward herself and Fred. She'd thought that, once the others arrived, everything would be fine. She'd heard Spike's voice somewhere in the midst of chaos and had believed that he'd reach her before anything else bad could happen. She had been wrong for the evil Piratesses had turned against Fred and herself, and though other Pirates, some who she recognized as belonging to Spike's ship, the Destiny's Ghost, had fought them off, they had soon been killed.

Now, she stood with no help in sight, Fred in a huddled, trembling heap on the deck, and yet another Piratess rushing toward them. She knew she had to do something. She screamed for help, but the battle only continued to rage around them, no one seeming to have heard her. Dawn glanced down at Fred, but one sight at the older woman told her she was on her own.

She looked to the nearest body. She had to have a weapon if she was going to stand any chance of getting them to safety. Taking a deep breath, Dawn knelt by the side of the fallen Pirate. With shaking hands, she forced his fingers to part enough that she could slide the hilt of his sword out of his still hand.

She was barely picking up the sword when a great rush of air assailed her from above. She struck out blindly with the sword, and the clanking sound she heard assured her that her blade had just met the Piratess'. She began to fight to the best of her ability, but with no real training to speak of, that wasn't saying a whole lot.


Faith lay still in the pitch black of Judson's cabin without even a single flicker of light to show the truths of the darkness. She was not afraid of the dark, but still her heart felt dead in her chest. Her tears had finally stopped falling again, and she now lay in cold shock, memories playing nonstop through her mind, memories of how Dawson had managed to ignite her blood unlike any ride she'd ever had before; how he'd lied to her with his gentle touch, loving words, and innocent ways; and finally, how he'd beaten her.

How could she have been such a fool? Faith wondered for the millionth time, tears still sparkling in her dying eyes. How could she have let herself fall for such an asshole? How could he have gotten to her when no one else ever had?

She strained again with what little energy she had left against her chains, but she knew they would not budge. If only she could get free, she could stop this pain. If only she could get free, she could kill herself. She could finally get the release that she should have been given when the Raptors had eaten her alive.

She should have let herself go then, but she hadn't. They hadn't let her, but where were they now? Where was Jack, who had taken her on when no one else would have ever dared to enlist a runaway from the Saucy Wench? Where were Lex and Angel, her so-called brothers, and Katrina, her supposed sister? Where was Salem, who, like the others, had claimed he wouldn't let her down, that he wouldn't lie to her? Where was the family who supposedly cared so much for her lowly hide?

She snorted and tried to turn her head, but the spikes sticking into her neck prevented her movement. Family . . . She should have known better than to believe any of them. They didn't really care about her. If they did, they would have found her by now. They wouldn't be allowing this to happen. Could it be? her fading mind wondered suddenly. Could it be that they were all in on this, just as Dawson was?

He'd said something about not having a choice . . . Of course, that was a bunch of bull, but if they'd taken him, they could have taken the others. Then again, she realized, Dawson was probably in on it the entire time. He was probably simply a toy of Judson's, used to break down her defense and get close to her.

Faith didn't know just how long Dawson had been working for Judson, but she did know that that really didn't matter. All that mattered was that he had betrayed her and helped Judson and Lilah to bring her to this point. All that mattered was that she'd been a fool to think she could ever have a family for all those she'd thought were in her family were nowhere to be found when she needed them the most. But at least, Faith thought in relief as she let her eyes shut. At least she wouldn't be alive to feel this agony for much longer.


Flames flared from both of Kat's fists as she fought the Piratesses flame to sword. Screams circled around her and the old, tabby cat perched atop her shoulder as she sent one enemy after another to a fiery death. As quickly as they died, however, she stopped the flames, seeping them back into her body and preventing them from catching the ship on fire.

As she progressed, Kat tried to keep an eye on Ace and the two frightened girls who one of the Piratesses had tried to use to stop them from attacking. One of the brunettes was still trembling and had been knocked back down to the deck, but the other brunette seemed determined not to go down without a fight. Kat had to admire the child's spunk but knew that Dawn could not last for long.

"Capt'n," she called out, and the tabby cat's ears instantly perked even more to alert. "Gi fer Dawn an' the other lass. Get 'em tae safety." She heard Clyde chittering from somewhere ahead of her, and even as she wondered how Ace had managed to get ahead of her, she knew that he was sending his monkey to do the same deed. "Work tigether," she told Captain, "an' be careful."

Always, the cat reassuringly purred to her before leaping agilely off of her shoulder. As Captain sprinted off into the darkness toward the two girls, Kat whirled to meet yet another attacker.


Celina finally unlatched the last of Gabrielle's chains, and the blonde jumped off of Callisto's bed. "We have to find Xena!" were the first words out of her mouth, just as Celina had known they would be.

"You have to have a weapon," she informed Gabrielle. "Here." She held her sword out to her, hilt first. "Take my sword."

"But, Celina, you have to -- "

Celina held up her free hand and, with a tiny flick of her wrist, unsheathed her claws. "Natural weapons, remember?"

Gabrielle nodded as she accepted Celina's sword. She would have preferred her bo staff or sais, but she'd find a way to make the sword work even if she was nowhere as good with it as most of the others were with theirs. "Thanks."

Celina nodded but did not speak. Instead, she turned and ran out of the cabin with Gabrielle right on her heels. She had fought to keep her guard up while healing Gabrielle, but as she returned to the deck, emotions slammed into her. "Bast!" She stumbled backwards, but Gabrielle caught her.

"What is it?" Gabby asked, but Celina shook her head.

"I have no time," she told Gabrielle. "I have to try to save who I can." She ran off, leaving Gabrielle to wonder if she should head after Celina or try to find Xena. Her lover, of course, won out.


The sickening sound of Kyna Chan's head going splat on the deck would not stop playing through Remy's ears, and though he ran desperately away from the thing that he knew was Judson, he knew he would not make it. Once he reached a distance that he knew he could inflict the most damage with his cards from, he began to charge every card he had on him, throwing each at different parts of Judson and hoping to find a vulnerable area.

He almost fell over Autolycus whose eyes bulged out of his head in terror. "Mon, get out of here! You have no weapons that will be effective against such as he!"

"My sword may not be very effective, but I will not leave you." Autolycus ran bravely forward and stuck Judson in the foot with his sword only to find himself being kicked forward and falling over the railing of the ship into the ocean.

He saw something floating nearby and looked, wishing later that he had not, as he saw that it was one of the Goblin creatures that belonged to Jareth. He was different from the others, and Autolycus seemed to recall that his name was Higgle or perhaps Hogwart. He would have to tell Jareth that Higgle was now dead. He slowly made his way back to the ship, hoping to find a way to get back aboard.


In the midst of the fray aboard The Saucy Wench, four circled, three taking each opponent that ran their way and making short work of them while one did the best he could to fight while being constantly shuffled among the other three who were determined to protect him. "HOLY GOD!" the blonde man suddenly yelled.

"What?" the Mexican questioned.

"Where?" the blonde woman asked.

"That monster!" Trent, his face now vastly paled, pointed a shaking finger at Judson, who was chasing after Gambit and Autolycus.

"We have to do something!" Carlos and Trina announced simultaneously.

"We can't go up against that!" Trent exclaimed.

Trina thought quickly. She knew her twin was right. They were mere humans. There was nothing in their arsenal or fighting abilities that could stand a chance against the monster that was now closing in on their crew mate. "I have to do something," she murmured under her breath as she beheaded yet another Piratess.

Though Trina's words were soft, her men still heard them. "You're not going after that thing alone, sis!"

"No, she's not," Carlos agreed. "You and Andrew keep heading after the girls. Get them to safety." His dark eyes met Trent's blue eyes. "I'll go with Trina."

Trent started to shake his head. "I can't -- "

"You have to," Trina told him. "Look, Trent, somebody's gotta help LeBeau, and you and Andrew aren't as good fighters as we are." She knew her admission hurt their feelings but also knew she had to get them closer to safety than going after the Demon, who could only be the shapeshifter Judson. "I'm sorry, but you both know you're not and that we're better. You go after the girls, help the kids get to safety, and if you see anybody who can help us, send them our way. If somebody with more power arrives to fight him, we'll bow down, but somebody's got to help Gambit."


A fist of flame squeezed around a throat, burning the life out of the Piratess. Kat tossed the blonde to the deck, but before she could take another step, the redhead found another blonde blocking her path. Blue eyes gazed coolly into hers, and full lips began to speak a strange language that the Irish woman did not recognize before she could even react to her presence. "De dame van brand, draait uw woede."

Kat didn't know what the blonde was saying, but she didn't like the sound of it. The words sent chills sweeping through her. She held her hands out, but the flames she spread toward the woman bounced off of her invisible protection shield and struck Kat instead. The fire burned into its mistress, but Kat's eyes blazed. She had never been able to be harmed by fire, and she recognized a protection shield when she ran into one. "Sorceress, aye? I'm sure we can find somethin' tae break tha' wee shield o' yers."

The Sorceress had never ceased speaking, however, and her spell was growing close to its end now. She held out her ivory white hands, her palms pointed at the redhead. "Draai uw woede. Draai uw brand. Wil die vernietigen u van de meesten in plaats van me en mijn houdt."

Kat stood as though frozen for a moment, but as the Sorceress stepped away, Kat's emerald eyes spotted Ace in the fray up ahead. He was doing his best to fight the Piratesses that surrounded him left and right. Had Kat been her normal self, she would have been surprised and pleased with his performance, but now her emerald eyes glowed red. "VENTURA," she bellowed, "YE'RE GIIN' DOWN, YE BLOODY BASTARD!" She bent and slammed her fists against the deck. Fire spread from her fists, quickly eating the wood and heading straight for Ace . . .


LeBeau figured that not only was Autolycus now dead but that he, too, was about to meet his maker. He had been managing to dodge every time the grasping hand had gotten ever nearer, and then he saw it become a fist. He had flicked every card he had, and none had seemed to make any damage.

He prayed for his friends even as he saw the giant fist coming straight toward him and knew that he couldn't get away from it. He tried desperately to run as quickly as possible away from it, but he felt it coming toward him. As the massive fist connected with LeBeau, it smacked him into the side of the ship, and LeBeau was no more.


Celina's furry hands caressed the blue fur of the body before her as they ran over him, taking stock of his injuries and trying to start the healing spell. Tears spilled from her eyes. "Damn it, Hank! Come on!" She had always admired Henry's intelligence, and she had been one of the few who could always keep up with the Scientist's sharp, intellectual tongue. He had been a great friend, but now he appeared to be dead.

A sob escaped Celina, and she shook Beast. "Come on!" Her words slipped back into her Alderberan tongue as she desperately tried again to heal him.

It was then that she heard a click behind her head. Her black ears perked, but the rest of her body froze instinctively. She knew that sound, and her fears were confirmed as she felt the cold metal of a pistol press against the back of her skull!

She never heard the bullet, but she did feel the death of her enemy as she collapsed to the deck behind her. Celina turned slowly, her blue eyes wide. She had no idea what to expect, but she certainly didn't expect to find a huge, black man standing before her, smoke still exhaling from his own pistol and a orange cat perched on his massive shoulder. She looked at him questioningly, and he answered her before she could speak.

Bishop gestured with his gun. "Silencer's a wonderful thing." He nodded to Beast. "He set me up with it."

Celina looked back to Hank with tears in her eyes even as Bishop softly told her, "They're gone."

She nodded through the tears that clogged her throat. He was right for she could feel nothing from them, and her empathy coupled with her magical prowess told her that their spirits had already left their bodies. She heard Bishop shift and looked back up to find the big, black man holding his hand down to her. Farewell, my friends, she thought to Beast, Phong, and the long-haired man who laid not too far away from them even as she took Bishop's offered hand and let him help her to her feet.


Captain was well on his way to Dawn and the other brunette girl when he felt that something was terribly wrong with his beloved mistress. His fur shifted, but as he started to turn to look back at her, something else caught his eye. His green eyes rounded. He blinked, and he looked again only to see that, sure enough, a little mouse was at the head of a long line of mice who were making their way right toward him.

As the cat stared at the mice, the head mouse suddenly stopped, sending his mate to collide into his rear and the rest of the line into a series of the same action, much like a line of dominoes. He squeaked in fright, and his whiskers trembled as he dared to talk to the cat. We met King Meesy, he told him. I took him a lockpick in exchange for our freedom. He said none of you cats would hurt us.

Captain eyed the strange, speaking mouse. If you have King Meesy's protection, he finally told him, you will not be harmed, but I have more important matters than a bunch of rodents to deal with. Just at that moment, he heard his mistress yelling at her lover. He turned swiftly only to see the most startling thing he'd witnessed in all his years! His mouth fell open, and his eyes nearly bugged out of his head! What in the Hell could Ace have done to piss Kat off so much! Then Captain saw Kat's eyes and knew that all Hell had surely broken loose.


Ace's blood ran cold as he heard Kat scream his name followed by "bloody bastard". What the Hell had he done this time! He quickly lopped off the Piratess' head that he was fighting and turned to look at Kat only to see angry, blazing eyes staring straight at him and a flame of fire racing straight for his ass! Just what the Hell had happened to his beloved Kat!

He could tell that she was no longer working under her own steam but that some one had cast a spell upon her! He glanced quickly around his beloved even as he jumped nimbly aside from the flames that were quickly eating the deck in his direction. The only possible source that he could see was a blonde that was standing right beside Kat. Taking careful aim, he shot the bitch. Then he fell to his knees and let out with his animalistic help cry.


Though Bishop had never seen a catwoman like Celina face to face, his liking for cats coupled with his knowledge that she was one of Jack Sparrow's people had given him enough reason to trust her. They had been working side by side, doing their best to push their way through the throng of battle and reach each of those injured, when a cry met their ears.

Celina and Cat froze as still as statues at the sound. Bishop was almost as statuesque, but his finger did manage to squeeze his trigger once more and blow yet another head off, a sight that made Celina shiver inwardly.

"What is that?" Bishop questioned.

"Ace," Celina answered. "He needs help. Come on!" She began to fly after Ace but slowed herself just enough so that Bishop would not lose sight of her. His huge boots thundered on the deck as he ran to keep up with her.


Crystal's familiars and Lockheed had fled the dungeon as swiftly as they could, none knowing what to expect when they found her and all being afraid of just exactly what they would find. Of all the frightening images that had ran through the four animals' minds, none could compare to the sight they were finally met with. The dragons hung in mid-air, staring in shock at Crystal's pale, limp body where her broken bones had been braided into the spokes of the wheel. Cindy and Elvira screeched to a halt before the horrifying scene. The wolf collided into the lioness' back, but the big cat didn't even seem to notice.

All were too shocked to even make a single sound, but Jack knew they were there. He turned to look at them with tears in his eyes. "She's still alive," he tried to assure them, "but I . . . I don't know for how long."

"Coo?" Blue questioned, his broken heart clear on his leathery face and in his scared voice.

"I'm not sure," Jack admitted, never one to lie to his cousin's best friends, "but I have to try. I can't keep the enemy off of her, though, and concentrate on it."

Cindy roared, informing Jack that she would protect them, and launched herself at the closest Piratess. Blue took the opposite side, breathing fire over three Piratesses at once. Lockheed and Elvira were about to plunge in when they heard the universal cry of help Ace was yodeling out to the animal world. The two stopped and looked at each other, uncertain as to what to do.

Lockheed was caught between helping the man and helping his new friends, but Elvira's problem was even greater. The thought of Crystal's life hanging in Jack's hands scared her. Although she normally trusted him completely, his uncertainty had her spooked and far too unsure that he could handle the situation without turning at least part of her beloved mistress to ice. If she went to the man, even though he was calling for help, he might know where she could gain further help for Crystal.

Elvira looked to Blue and Cindy for guidance, but both did not even appear to have heard the man. She took a deep breath, looked again at her adopted mother, forced herself to turn her back, and broke into a run. The wolf began to pray for help and guidance even as she ran.

Lockheed started to follow the wolf but stopped when Blue called out to him. He turned to see the other dragon with tears streaming down his blue face, and Lockheed knew instantly where he had to stay. He had to help Blue! He flew into some more Piratesses, burning their beautiful and ugly faces alike to an instant crisp.


Sean had almost reached the cell when he was overrun by a herd of animals. He recognized them as being the ones who had been taken, but why they were running he had no ideal. Was there something down in there trying to eat them?

As the Irish man was desperately trying to figure out what was going on, a Himalayan cat came flying straight for his face. "Out of the way, peasant! Ventura is in need of assistance!" Meesy lightly touched down on Sean's shoulder and pounced from it, kicking him with his hind feet as he leapt to the head of the group and continued running.

Recovering quickly, Sean wondered how the Hell they had managed to hear Ventura when he hadn't heard anything. He stood by out of the way as the herd quickly diminished and then entered the cage. Looking hurriedly around, he finally spotted Emma and made his way over to her.

"Em? Em? I'm nae a ghost! I'm here! I'm giin' tae reach out an' touch ye! Din't be afraid, sweetheart; 'tis only Sean!" Even as he spoke, he reached out and laid his hand upon the woman he loved.

Emma had been continuing to shock herself when Sean's voice had met her ears. Instead of bringing a smile, however, her tears redoubled. "No . . . " she whimpered. "Where are you, Dantalian! What have I done to deserve this!"

"Perhaps I did not want to harm the others, but have I not already paid the price! Have you not already made me see them die all over again and again! Why this!" she demanded. Her whole body shook even as she snatched away from Sean's touch, whose hand she believed to be the Sorceress', and tried frantically to crawl even further back into the wall.

A moan came from the woman who was wrapped in a blanket and laid on the dirty floor next to Emma. The dark-skinned woman's eyes snapped open, and she leapt up to a sitting position. "¿Ayuda?" she questioned weakly, her subconscious having heard Ace's call, but as soon as she had came to, she fell back out, her head hitting the deck hard.


It was Trent's keen blue eyes that caught sight of the growing fire first. "Guys, we've got more problems than -- "

He was cut off by yells from both Carlos and Trina. His head snapped back toward them only to see grimaces on both their faces. Carlos was shaking his head. "Damn! Talk about a pancake!"

"Carlos, that isn't funny!" Trina snapped, her blue eyes blazing sideways at him.

"What happened?" Trent asked.

It was Andrew who answered him. "It was awful. There's nothing left of LeBeau but an oily spot and his mangled torso. I have to take care of him. Poor guy!" Andrew headed in the direction where LeBeau's legs were now only an oily spot on the side of the ship.

"Trina, what in the heck is he -- ?" Trent started to ask only to have his twin break him off.

"Don't ask me! I don't know!" She shot a couple of more approaching Piratesses before racing after Andrew. Just what in the Hell did he expect to do with an oily spot!

Carlos and Trent exchanged a quick look; then, both men headed after Trina.


Even as the sounds of Ace's animalistic cry wrent the air, animals began to respond. They came out of the air and jumped out of the water, making huge leaps as they headed for the ships. Every animal on any of the four ships also heard the cry, and most of them began to make their way as well.

Ace remained in the kneeling position even as the first birds began to arrive, and Ace talked in their own language to them, telling them what needed to be done. He had already sent Clyde to assist getting the two girls to safety, and he glanced that way now, telling him to continue what he had already sent him to do.

The birds circled around and headed straight for the Frolicking Monkey. Getting to his feet, Ace rushed over to the railing and spoke to the animals that were aboard the Frolicking Monkey, instructing them not to fear the birds and that they would help them to come. He was still talking to them when he felt heat rushing toward him. He danced away just as fire struck the area of the ship right where he'd been standing. Had he been one second slower, he would have been charcoal!


Ororo was flying over the two ships, circling both and throwing lightning bolts at the wicked Piratesses she spotted, when she heard the chorusing cry of a multitude of various birds. The Weather Witch looked up, and her blue eyes widened in shock at the sight of hundreds of birds flying in from every direction as though their lives depended on it. She watched in growing surprise and amazement as the birds began swooping in, getting directions from a man she did not recognize but that who did appear to be on their side, and then swooping in to the two rescuing ships, plucking all sorts of animals, and dropping them onto the decks of the Saucy Wench and Harlot. Each animal began fighting even before it hit the deck, and most landed on a Piratess.

Ororo was barely beginning to recover from her shock when she heard a great buzzing noise. She looked up to the east, and her eyes were barely able to make out a swarm of bees flying directly for her! She dodged them, but they did not turn after her. Instead, they continued along their path until, one after another, they began to dive and sting the massive Demon below. The Demon, Ororo realized as she spotted what little was left of the French man, who had killed Remy LeBeau.

'Ro had never much liked the French man, but she had known him to be mostly a good man at heart despite his scoundrel ways. Thunder blasted through the night sky, and a torrent of rain began to pour on the growing fire she'd also taken note of below on the Saucy Wench. Her blue eyes flashed even as she heard the cries of hawks and seagulls swooping down all around her. A mist rose around the Weather Witch, shielding her from view, and then a multitude of lightning bolts began to rain upon Judson.

The bees, who were not having any luck with the Demon at all and only having their stingers break against his rock-tough hide, quickly dissipated, choosing other prey and leaving the angry Demon to begin throwing chunks of the ship and the things on it at Ororo. She managed to skirt each item, however, until he slung Remy's body at her. She was too surprised at the sight of the corpse hurtling toward her to be able to move in time, and the impact sent her falling from the sky . . .


Ouch, Sean thought even as he let go of Emma and looked at the other woman to make sure that she had not busted her head open when she fell. Seeing that she was only out cold and not dead from the blow to her head, he then looked around to see who he could get to describe to Em what he looked like, hoping that that would prove to her that it was truly him. He hated seeing her like this but was afraid to touch her again lest she do more harm to herself.

He saw that Kurt was in the cell and asked, "Would ye mind tryin' tae talk tae her an' tell her that ye're actually seein' me? I din't knae what she's seein', but 'tis definitely nae me. She's terrified!"

"I vill be glad to, mein fruend." Kurt made his way slowly over to kneel beside Sean. "Emma, I'm a friend of Sean's. I am also a Priest. I talked to you earlier, but you told me to go avay. I vould like to tell you that Sean is really here. The voice zat you hear is Sean. I don't know vhy you can't see him. Maybe it's part of ze punishment?"

Emma's ice blue eyes narrowed in on the blue Priest. "I already told you to take your god and shove him," she coldly informed him. "What is this? The deal you worked with them? You'd help Dantalian punish me and derive her sick pleasure from this in exchange for your freedom? I hope you rot in Hell!" She spit at him.

"I am sorry zat you feel zat vay," he said even as his three-fingered hand wiped the spit off his face. "Vhat can I do to convince you zat I am a friend and zat Sean is really here?"

"I have no friends," Emma told the Priest. "They died when Sean did."

"Sean is not dead. I have known him a long time. Ve are friends."

"Em," Sean tried again, "di ye remember the day I took ye fer a walk, an' we paused under the apple tree that Penny liked tae hang out in? I reached up an' took one down an' handed it tae ye. It had a surprise inside. Di ye remember the surprise?"

Emma looked strangely at the empty air where she could hear Sean's voice coming from. Was the Sorceress playing a new trick on her? Was she delving into her mind again? Was there any way possible that the crooning Irish voice that now threatened to caress her ears could truly belong to her beloved Sean? She stared at the space, and her voice was tight with emotion as she admitted only, "I do."


As Ace talked, he walked. He was afraid to stand still. Kat's fireballs were getting too close for comfort! He continued talking first in the feline language and then in the canine language and grinned from ear to ear as he saw the animals line up and the birds swooping down, picking them up, and air lifting them to the Saucy Wench and the Harlot. As the birds brought the animals over to the evil Pirate ships, they picked a target out and dropped the animal upon whichever Piratess they thought the animal was best suited to tear up.

Felines came flying out of the sky with claws unsheathed like whirling, mad machines, their claws flailing against anything they came into contact with. The canines, some of which were big enough to crush anything they fell on, were carried by some of the larger species of birds. The croc was picked up by a condor and dropped gently upon the deck of the Harlot where he immediately began walking across the deck in search of prey, his jaws snapping as though he had already caught something and the sounds of his toenails upon the deck making little tick-tock noises.

Rams were carried by other condors and set upon both ships; they immediately started running, chasing, and ramming other Piratesses. Raccoons, squirrels, snakes, ferrets, beavers, hares, turtles, foxes, skunks, and an assortment of all kinds of other animals rained down upon the two decks. Condors swooped back and forth, carrying horses; bulls; wolves; the larger cat species, such as tigers and lions; a couple of bears; and even a young ostrich. The elephant trumpeted, aching to help, but none of the birds could lift him. The giraffes had the same problem. As the birds finished carrying all that they could, they returned to the decks themselves and began pecking every Piratess they came across.


Sebastian and Wolfie had no ideal what horror had befallen them, but they huddled together with the tiny tiger cubs nestled between them. The tiger cubs shivered underneath them, but the boys kept them protected from the birds that were constantly diving and plucking animals off of the ships. They had been among the few who had not heard Ace's explanation for they had been too busy dealing with the cubs and a bathroom situation at that time.

Willow, however, had heard Ace, and he mewed up at the birds even as he raced across the deck, completely ignoring the crab, the other tomcat, and the cubs who he was still sure would have ate him if given the opportunity. His mew rose to an impatient yowl as he demanded to be carried and dropped to Captain Jack Sparrow.

Sebastian, having heard the gray tabby cat, paused in snapping his claws at the descending birds to holler out at the fool. "ARE YA INSANE, MON! THEY'LL EAT YOU ALIVE!"

Willow sniffed indignantly. You say they'll eat me alive? he meowed in response. What about those things you're protecting!

They're babies! Wolfie barked angrily at him.

Yeah, right, Willow retorted. Whatever, man. I'm going to go where . . . His words broke off into a yowl of surprise as he finally got his wish. The bird carried him until he could see the Captain Willow was pointing out and then released him to fall toward the deck and the on-going battle against the six-armed Spiral.

A seagull dipped for Sebastian, but Wolfie's claws connecting with the feathers on his face made the bird quickly pull away with a cry of pain. The two continued to fight off the crazy birds even as they believed they'd never see the gray tabby again.


"Di ye remember when I gave ye the apple tae take apart an' in the center was a golden ring? I asked ye tae marry me. Di ye remember?"

The tears were surging through her blue eyes again, but there was just the tiniest speck of hope hidden through all the misery. "I . . . I do." Could this be Sean? Was it possible? Her eyelashes batted, and tears raced down her face.

He reached out and gently took them away, bringing each to his lips and kissing it. "I love ye, Em. I thought ye were dead, an' I have lived in memory o' ye since we parted." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the palm. "Ye still hold me heart in the palm o' yer hand." He smiled hopefully at her, even knowing that she could not see him and did not release her hand.


In the sleeping quarters of the Harlot, two pairs of eyes flashed open. Vang roared the same name that Tom exclaimed, "Ace!"

"You two don't need to go anywhere," Katrina told them. "Not yet. Ace will get plenty of help. Be patient. Another few minutes, and your hearts will be more steady." She glanced at Lex, who was gazing down at Clark, hoping his eyes would open. "Soon as Clark opens his eyes, we'll go."

Lex continued to hold Clark's hand and rub it gently. He didn't know how long Clark would be out. He hoped that Morph would destroy that damn kryptonite in such a way that it would never resurface!

Vang growled as he shoved himself up to a standing position. Piper, laying nearby and still holding to Cole's hand, shivered at the sound. She didn't know what he was saying, but he seemed mad -- not that she could blame him.

Vang spoke in English after he'd gotten his barrens. "I have to go, Katrina. I have to find Seraphina." He headed for the door.

"Be careful, my friend. We will join you as soon as we are able. Cole," Katrina turned to him, "maybe you could take Piper and Tom to safety?"

"No," Tom exclaimed, holding tightly to Katrina's hand, "I won't leave you!"

"My darling, it will be a while before your eyes will return. We must get you to safety! I know you can be stubborn, and I would like to have you with me too. Until I can find a spell to help you and Piper's eyes, you're in grave danger. Cole is the best one to help to protect you."

"I will be more than happy to take them and protect them with my life if they will allow me to," Cole spoke. He had not let go of Piper and was still holding her in his arms.

"Katrina, I will not leave you," Tom repeated. "Not now. Not in this."

Piper could understand Tom's determination, but she also understood where Katrina was coming from. Always one who sought peace, she thought quickly. "Cole, darling, you know I love you, and I trust you completely. I know no one else would be better suited to keep Tom and I safe, but it's going to be a while before the others can leave here any way, what with Clark still out and all."

Katrina was being torn between her duties as one of the chief Sorceresses and healers and knew that she was needed everywhere at one time and her wanting also to be able to go to be with Tom. She was afraid to leave him alone again. "Rest, Tom. Nobody's going anywhere for now, not until Clark wakes up."


The Werejaguar was struggling violently against her chains when she heard the cry for help. She did not recognize the voice, but she knew the language by heart and soul. Her need to help increased her strength, and she tore the chains out of the very wall. With the metal links trailing from her wrists and ankles, the Werejaguar raced from the doctor's cabin and into the fray.

It did not take long for Roxanne to spot the man who was calling for help nor for her to locate the woman who was chasing him. The redhead was slinging fireball after fireball at the man, and her eyes glowed red. Roxanne's human side would have never ceased to notice the glowing and would have known instantly that the Sorceress was behind the whole situation, but the Werejaguar did not take the time to think. Instead, she launched herself at the redhead with a fierce roar.

Kat whirled to meet her attacker. Claws raked her face, drawing blood, and the impact threw her to the deck. Her flaming fists shot up into the Werejaguar's body, burning her in the stomach, and Kat's booted feet kicked the beast off of her. As she started to roll to her feet, however, a new set of roars met her ears.

Kat barely had time to recognize the warning before she was rushed by two jaguars. She sent a fireball blazing into one, and it fell to the side with a roar of pain. The sight of what had happened to both her mistress and mate only made the second jaguar even angrier, and Sasha hurled herself at the woman, her head connecting with Kat's chest and sending the Irish woman back down to the deck.

Kat's fists shot fire into the jaguar, but this one would not let up. They began to roll, each fighting as hard as they could against the other, but even as the jaguar's coat was set on fire, she still refused to let up. Instead, her teeth sank into Kat's shoulder, bringing a yell of pain from the Irish woman.

To Be Continued . . .