Chapter Eighteen

Emma's heart thundered in her ears. Could it be? Was this real? Was he alive? Was he here with her now in this Hell of a place? But why couldn't she see him? What if this was all merely a new ruse by the Sorceress who tortured her so? Yet could her body, so weary and exhausted of living, so far beyond ready for the grave, possibly betray her to the point of tingling the way it did when this person kissed her palm, when they wiped the tears from her eyes? Why would Dantalian bother to be so gentle?

"S-S-Sean?" Her voice trembled as much as her body did, but finally she wanted to believe. Still, she was scared. Her hand moved from his grasp to run up his body. She remembered every line of his handsome body by heart. She'd long to trace it so many nights. Her fingers ran into the fabric of his shirt. "Take . . . Take your shirt off."

Sean quickly took his shirt off and knelt even closer to her so that she might be able to reach and touch him. How his skin longed for her touch! He prayed that she'd finally believe him! He trembled when her hand reached out and timidly touched him.

Kurt moved away, hoping that he was not about to see the deed that had been denied him for so long.


Though Kurt was concerned over what he might be about to witness, those outside the cell were too busy to notice what was happening with Sean and Emma. Spike was still fighting Drusilla while Lorne continued picking Angel's locks and Cordy continued to check over him. For once, the Princess was unusually quiet. She didn't want to add to Angel's worries, but she couldn't keep her own fears from her hazel eyes. She'd never seen anybody in the shape that he was in, and it scared her to see him with every inch of his body covered in bruises and burns.

Spike threw Drusilla against the iron bars of the cage. One hand was tight around her throat as his other brought out another stake from the inner pockets of his trench. Drusilla grinned at him. "Nah huh huh. I'm not going to go poof like Mommy." Before Spike could even begin to figure out what his ex-lover had in mind, she raked her deadly fingernails through the fabric of his pants and into the flesh of his member.

Spike bellowed in pain. Without thinking, he released her, dropped the stake, and stumbled back while holding his most sensitive of areas. Dru smiled as she closed in on him. "William's been such a bad boy. It's time to bring you home, pet," she crooned to him. She reached out with a hand to caress his face, but her flesh had touched his for only a brief heartbeat before she drew her claws down the side of his face.

The sounds had snapped Cordy's attention away from Angel for just the briefest moment, and her hazel eyes caught the direction of the stake. She watched it roll and realized that, while it could kill Angel or the blonde man apparently called either William or Spike as she'd heard both names, it was also the only means of killing Drusilla. She looked again at Angel where Lorne still struggled with his bonds, and then, her mind made up, began to creep toward where the stake had ceased rolling in the shadows.

She had barely began to move when a roar made her freeze and almost caused her heart to jump out of her throat. Her hazel eyes snapped to Zora, whose wild, green eyes peered back at her from under a fallen shock of blonde hair. "Ace . . . " she managed to speak before being taken by yet another shock.


James made his way slowly along the deck, wondering just where in the Hell his family was being kept. He continued poking his nose into every door he could find, and if he got lucky and found a bitch in there, he either tore their guts out with his hook or ran them through with his sword. Both of his weapons were now very bloody, and as he moved stealthily along, blood constantly dripped from his hook and dropped onto the wooden deck.

He had not found one single clue of where his family was being held, and he could not find the doorway to go down to below deck. He was considering ripping up several boards with his hook and going down that way when he heard the sound. His blood froze within his veins, and his heart skipped a beat. The hair on his body, his long, black hair, and even the hair of his mustache all stood straight out on end!

"NO! IT CAN'T BE!" he screamed out. "WE LEFT HIM IN NEVERLAND! HE CAN'T BE HERE! THAT MEANS THE DAMN BOI'S HERE!"

He continued to move slowly along, looking to the left and the right, but other than a wide assortment of land animals fighting the Piratesses and birds dropping from the sky to tear out the bitch's eyes, Hook did not see any scaly, green animals. He breathed a sigh of relief, paused, and listened. The tick tock seemed to have disappeared.

He paused again to whip out his handkerchief and wipe the sweat from his face. The hanky was so wet that he could have wrung water from it. As it would be of no further use, he threw it away.


Janeesa had been swimming for most of the day. The day had been gorgeous for her birthday, and she had had a most wonderful time. Her family had given her a huge party, and now that it was night, she was resting, just floating and trying to recover from the activities of the day.

Her pet, Robbie, had just jumped across her several times and now brought his bottlenose up to her to be rubbed. They exchanged greetings and hugs, and he gave her a birthday kiss. It was at that moment that both of their ears were accosted by a horrendous sound. They looked at each other, recognizing a universal distress cry, and both took off swimming in the direction it had come from.

It lead Janeesa and Robbie out from the safe grounds of their home, but Janeesa did not pay attention to it. Whatever had given that cry desperately needed her help, and she was determined to give it. She did not have time to go home and get any others to help, so it was left up to her and Robbie.

They swam until Janeesa had to rest and yet did not seem any closer to where the sound had come from. At this rate, Janeesa knew that when she got there, she would not be able to give any help and began to look around for some other means of quick transportation. Just when she'd about given up hope, she heard a most welcome sound, and she saw another of her friends, Herbert, approaching. Herbert, she telepathically told him, some one is calling for help, and I just can't get to them! Can you help Robbie and me get there?

With pleasure, Janeesa. I was heading there myself. Can Robbie stay aboard?

Janeesa looked at the huge orca whale and then at Robbie. Robbie nodded. If I can hold on to a fin, I can keep up.

"Then climb aboard!" Herbert told them in a deep voice. He was always happy to be of assistance.

Janeesa swam up and sat on Herbert's back, but Robbie grabbed a hold of a fin. "Hold on tight now! Here we go!" Herbert warned, and they were off to the rescue.


Upon reaching a door, Dawson reached out and turned it with a shaking hand. He did not know what he would find inside but did expect the door to be locked, which it wasn't. It opened slowly to pitch blackness. He could not see a thing, but the smell almost gagged him, making him want to throw up.

Could Faith be in there? Aphrodite had said that she was, and Dawson believed Her. He looked around and saw a torch hanging on the wall outside the door. Picking it up, he stepped inside the door and gagged at what he saw. He threw up immediately.

Blood was everywhere, dripping down the walls with other slimy things he did not want to think about. There was some kind of crazy drawing on the floor that Dawson did not recognize, but he did recognize the spikes sticking up into Faith's back. "OH MY GODDESS!" he screamed out loud. "FAITH!"

He moved forward, hoping she was not dead yet. He could see her eyes closed. He looked on the table and saw little bottles that were collecting her blood. There was so much of it that he did not see how she could be alive. "HELP ME, APHRODITE! SHE'S BLEEDING TO DEATH! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!"

What in the world was his problem now! Faith wondered. He'd already whipped her back and left her with all these metal things cutting upwards into her body. Why was he now calling for Aphrodite, and just what in the Hell made him think that a Goddess, let alone the Goddess of Love, would give a damn about an ass like him or a bitch like her? "What the fuck's your problem now?" she demanded, her voice low and weak. "If you wanna hurt me some more, just go ahead and get it over with. Don't stand there screaming."

Dawson shook his head. Faith was out of her mind in accusing him of this! He would never hurt her! He loved her with all of his heart, and he could feel every one of those spikes ripping through his own body! He wished it were so and that Faith was whole and not hurting.

"I am crying out for help, Faith! I can not take you off of that! I don't know how! I didn't hurt you! I just now got here! I got your sword." His words tumbled out over each other. "Don't move! Lay still! Aphrodite will send some help!"

Faith tried to force a laugh, but a cough of blood was all that came out. She just let the blood stay on her lips and didn't bother to even try to lick it off. "Are you just fucking insane, or are you trying to play with me again? I'm not that much of an idiot! You were just here! You whipped me! You helped Lilah put me into this!"

"It had to be Judson, Faith! I swear to you, I did not do this to you! I would never hurt you! I love you too much!" He wondered what was taking so long for the Goddess to send help.

"I lost my sword on the way over, but I have yours. Your special one. Aphrodite gave it to me. I can't use it! I don't know how! You never finished teaching me! Though I would kill Judson with my bare hands if I could!"

He came around and knelt down where she could see him if she opened her eyes. "Most of us were taken prisoner, the others left for dead, but Jack came. He's here. He brought the others with him. They are all fighting on deck."

He reached up a trembling hand and touched her face. "I swear to you I would never hurt you, Faith. Would God that I could have those things in me and not you! You would know what to do! Me, I don't have any idea!" He did not even realize he was crying.

Part of her ached to look at him and to believe in what he told her, but her mind knew better. She'd seen Dawson. She'd felt every blow he'd given her with each time his whip had set upon her back.

An unbidden memory surfaced in her mind, called up by a force she had no clue of. Had not Judson taken half the form of her mother when he had fucked her? He was a shapeshifter. Could it have been that he'd merely used Dawson's form to get to her? Used Dawson's appearance as he had her mother's and Snow's?

"Dawson?" she croaked out his name, her eyes finally daring to open and try to look upon him. She could barely see him, though, for she couldn't move her head. "Tell me . . . Tell me one reason why I should believe you." She wanted to, but did she dare to?


Things were happening much too fast for Ace. He did not know where the Werejaguar or the other two jaguars had appeared from. He had not been surprised when Kat had put all three down to the deck, though. The only good thing about the disruption of the attack was that it had given Ace a chance to get around behind Kat.

He jumped her from behind and bore her down to the deck, talking to her the whole time and hoping to break whatever spell she was under. He knew that if he failed and something happened to her, it might as well happen to him as he did not want to live without her.

Where were the Sorceresses? He knew there was at least five amongst all of their people. Jack had at least three, and Spike had two. Had they all been done in! Still holding tightly to Kat, he let go with another scream for help.

Just as the last sound of the scream stopped echoing, the ship was butted from the ocean. Hammerhead sharks had now joined the fray and repeatedly kept hitting the ships.

Bishop, Cat, and Celina fell onto the scene just as Ace ceased yodeling once more. Their eyes shot wide at the sight they were met with. "Blessed Bast!" Celina cried as she took in the sight of Ace fighting to keep Kat down onto the deck and the wounded felines to their sides.

"Kat?" Bishop questioned in surprise. "Ace, what in the Hell's going on?"

"Mew?" the orange cat added.

"Kat is under some kind of spell. She's trying to kill all of us instead of the enemy!" Ace managed to gasp out. "She just about killed the jaguars, and she definitely wants to kill me and I wasn't talking with my ass!"

Celina thought quickly. She had to get to the jaguars. The Werejaguar and one of the four-legged jaguars were still on fire, and the other did not appear to be in all that much better shape. She heard another four-legger come onto the scene and sensed the wolf's broken heart. "We will be with you soon, little one," she assured Elvira without looking at her.

"What do we do?" Bishop asked, but Celina did not answer him. Instead, her blue eyes narrowed in on Kat's glowing red eyes. The telepath closed her eyes and began to concentrate.

Kat was still fighting against Ace's hold, and her fists were constantly trying to reach him. Flames licked hungrily at his skin even as Celina began feeding her mental suggestions. Kat's body began to grow still under Ace's hold. "Do not let her up," Celina warned, her voice low and her eyes still closed in concentration.

Despite the pain of his burns, Ace did not let go but continued to cradle Kat as tenderly as he could regardless of the fact that he couldn't let her up and had to be rough with her. He began to talk to the hammerheads even as he held Kat, instructing them as to which ships to attack and telling them that there were still captives in the hold.

The hammerheads listened and went deeper, coming up under the ships and beginning busting their heads against the flooring.


Hook continued on his way, hoping to find some way to get to his family. Up ahead, he could hear a melodious voice singing a song that seemed to be drawing him steadily forward. Maybe the singer could show him the way? A moment later, his brain was wondering where? On the way to where? He couldn't remember!

Then he saw her, the most beautiful creature he had ever seen! Long, luscious locks of blonde hair streamed out in the air behind her like a golden wave, and her arms reached out for him, only him, with such a beckoning motion that set his loins on fire and made him ache to enter her sweet embrace! James couldn't even remember his own name! He couldn't remember anything, except that this woman wanted him! He almost floated through the air in his effort to reach her side!

She kept reaching for him, and her song continued pouring through his ears and into his heart until there was only her! He finally reached her. He knelt before her, offering his sword and his hook to her. He glanced upward with fluttering eyelashes and beseeching eyes, begging for her love though he did not deserve it.

Enchantra stooped just low enough to give her target a view of her ample bosom, then her hands reached out to his face. She caressed his ugly face, then began to lead him to reach up to her lips. Her voice lowered as she continued to sing to him, her breath washing across his face and making his mustache quiver even more. As she raised his lips to hers and set her own upon his, she continued to caress his face with one hand, but her other hand ran slowly down his body to caress his hook.

James could not believe his incredible luck! Not only had he found a golden Goddess of a woman, but she wanted only him and wasn't afraid of his hook! No one had ever caressed his hook before! They all seemed afraid of it yet she stroked it as though she loved it! He could hardly wait for her caressing hands to touch his stiffened member that even now strained against his trousers as though it would burst forth and sing its own song!


Emma trembled even more as her hand slowly ran up Sean's arm. Her fingers touched the scar that one of their students had once given him on his shoulder. The child had become addicted to a drug, and it had taken everything that both of them could do to hold Monet down through her withdrawal symptoms. Then she'd gotten hold of the knife . . .

Emma let the memory go as her hand trailed further. Her fingers ran up his shoulder but dared not touch his face yet. They trailed lower instead, circling the nipples she'd lavished with attention in their lovemaking and gently feeling every bit of the scar he'd once taken for her in the heat of battle.

The body she touched had every scar Sean had had and every line she'd ever kissed. The feel of his heartbeat underneath her palm brought back even more memories of their sessions together, and she breathed his name as more tears fell from her eyes. Slowly, her hand began to work its way back up even as the knowledge dawned first in her terrified heart. This had to be him! It could be no other! This had to be her Sean, returned to her at last!

She had felt the ship being rammed, though none of them knew it was by whales, dolphins, and sharks. Could she be dead? Could that be why he had been returned to her at long last? She didn't know. All she did know was that Sean was here; they were together again, rather living or not; and that was all that mattered! "Oh, Sean!" she cried out. Her arm collar's teeth bit into her skin, but she didn't even notice as she threw her arms around him and her lips sought out his . . .

Her kiss overwhelmed him to the point that it wiped out all remembrances of danger and his loins reacted immediately. Kurt chose this moment to frantically whisper Sean's name. "Sean, ve've got to get out of here!"

He reluctantly tore his lips away from Em. "Em, sweetheart, I will be beside ye the whole time, even though ye can't see me. Nae one will e'er part us again. I have tae get ye tae safety, an' the first thing I've got tae di is tae get the damn collar off o' ye. Ye're bleedin', darlin'. Close yer ears. I am giin' tae scream at it. That should release ye."

Kurt immediately covered his ears, and his pointed tail jerked as he braced himself for the scream that he knew was about to erupt.


Though LeBeau's legs had been separated from the rest of his body, his corpse was still heavy and weighed Ororo down as she entered the water. Her legs kicked vigorously as she struggled to shove Remy off of her. His still hands had become tangled in her hair, and as she shoved against him, she heard something crack. She feared she had broken one of his bones but reminded herself that he was dead and she was nowhere near ready to join him.

Shoving the French man's corpse away, Ororo turned and was just starting to head for the surface when movement caught her eye. She started to turn back to see what was behind her when something slimy caught her ankle. She kicked against it, but the tentacle tightened. She kicked harder, and her hands struck against the other tentacles that reached for her body.

The beast's tentacles wrapped around Ororo's legs and started to pull her closer to it. All she could see of it was slimy, dark skin and a cavernous mouth. A tentacle grabbed her arm, but her one remaining free hand pointed at the monster and let loose with a bolt of lightning. The creature roared as the lightning struck it, and its breath alone was enough to make Ororo dizzy.

Her face scrunched, but she would not succumb to the awful scent. Instead, she continued striking it again and again until, finally, it released her and fell back. She wasted no time in turning and swimming rapidly for the surface.


Chong ran as fast as he could. The scent of the woman he was hunting clung to his nostrils, but he did not see her anywhere. Lots of women turned to look at him. Some even tried to strike him down with their swords while others attempted to grab his member which was still swinging free in the breeze, but he dodged them all.

He only wanted the one. He had never had sex with any other woman that was quite so good. He had about given up hope when he finally spotted her in a cluster of three women, who were fighting amongst themselves. Even as he watched, she struck down her opponents. He called out to her. "Hey! Wait for me!"

The sound of the Chinese man begging her to wait for him surprised Silver Fox. She turned to look at him, and her amazement grew even more as she realized that he must have started running after her as soon as he was freed from his chains as he was still completely naked. She didn't have to wonder what he could want as his sword was still hard as a rock and sticking out in front of him. She wet her lips, considering the tempting offer, but she didn't have long to consider it as a bullet blazed directly into the back of her head.

"NNNNOOOO!" Chong screamed even as he raced forward and caught her as she fell. "YOU CAN'T BE DEAD!" Just who the Hell had killed his woman! He laid her gently on the floor and checked her signs, but she was definitely gone, the back of her head blown off into smithereens.

He looked but could not see who had done it. His sword became limp and hung forlornly. He walked slowly back to see if he could find clothes. Since he couldn't get fulfillment, he thought he'd better get dressed before one of the other bitches decided that they wanted what he had.


Connor could not believe that Zora was still fighting the collar, it was still shocking her, he had begged her to stop, and she was still continuing! Couldn't some one set him free so that he could get that damn thing off of her! He was about to call her name when a name he could have sworn he'd heard before came off of her lips.

Ace? Wasn't that the guy who talked with his butt, the one he'd heard had made a monkey come out of some guy's ass? Why was she calling Ace! "Zora! Why do you need Ace! And please stop shocking yourself! Hold still! They'll get it off soon!"

Angel was barely hanging on. He wished that Lorne would hurry and get him loose. "She's not doing it to herself on purpose, Connor. She's trying to morph! Tonight is the full moon. She's a Werecat. Might not be a good idea to turn her aloose right away. She's not in her right mind." His words came out so softly that he could only hope Connor heard him.

Lorne nodded even as he withdrew the pick from the last lock that held Angel and it fell open. He was barely able to catch Angel's slumping body. "Don't take the chains off of her yet, Connor! I'm going to release you next," Lorne told him as he laid Angel's body gently down on the flooring and began to work on Connor. "Don't know what kind of control she has on herself when she's morphed, and if something was to happen for her to attack you, when she came back to herself, it would kill her."

Barely conscious, Angel's hand sneaked to his throbbing member and gently managed to pull the offending object off. He threw the cock ring, but it did not go too far. He could still see it laying on the floor even as he passed out from lack of blood and too much punishment.

Connor shook his head. "I know that to be maybe truth, Lorne, but I can't just let her keep shocking herself! She has to be able to morph. I'll take the locks off of her as soon as you free me."

"Do you know how?" Lorne asked.

"No, but I'm watching you. I'm a quick learner."

It did not take Lorne long to release Connor, and as soon as he was free, he turned his back and removed the cock ring. He threw it, never realizing that it landed next to Angel's. He then took the pick and began to work on Zora. A sound at the door caused all eyes to go immediately to the door.


Delvira's black hair and dress whirled around her pale body as she turned in the heat of battle, her blade meeting that of yet another bitch's. As she fought against her, meeting her sword stroke for stroke, she threw out her free hand and sent a fireball hurtling into three others. They fell together, burning, screaming, and doing her work for her as they fought to put out the fire.

Delvira's sword continued to clang against her opponent's until she finally slipped past the other Piratess' guard. She brought her sword up, cutting into the woman's stomach and slicing upwards through the rest of her body. It was just as her sword was exiting her enemy's body through the bitch's skull that a sword struck her own back. Red-hot pain flared across her back, but she whirled to meet her attacker nonetheless.

Her new opponent's attention was drawn to her sword, but Delvira's free hand already had a fireball formed as she brought it around. She launched the fireball into the other woman's groin, but as the bitch fell away, screaming in panic and frantically beating against the flames, a scene just a few feet ahead caught Delvira's attention.

The first thing Delvira noticed was that there was a woman moving in on James. The second was that he was actually enjoying it, enjoying some bitch's caress when his Smee was in desperate need of being saved! Delvira let another fireball rip.


When Jack had first started fighting Spiral, he had thought, Big deal. There's four of us. She's only got six arms. We can handle her! However, now after what seemed like hours, they were still fighting her, had been joined by two of Kyna's crew, Kennedy and Mike, and she was still almost whupping their butts!

In fact, Spiral hadn't completely let loose yet. She was simply tiring them out to the point that he knew one fatal mistake on their part and she'd take them all out! He was thankful that Will was safe and would be able to go on without him, and he was getting ready to make his final peace with Aphrodite when something fell out of the sky on him, clawing and sticking him with countless needles. What the Hell was it! he thought as he fell back and began to fight with whatever was on his head.

Spiral was growing tired of playing the little humans' games. She was a mutant so far beyond their pathetic genetics that it was a true shame, almost a crime in and of itself, that she should have to waste her time and talents dealing with six losers. In fact, as something came flying out of the air and landed on one of their ugly faces, she had finally had enough.

Spiral twirled until she was nothing more than a swift flash of silver and blades. Her swords cut as rapidly as she twirled, and her five standing opponents had lost their weapons before they even knew what happened. Spiral was just beginning, however, as her blades then began to slice out at their actual bodies. She sliced Fonzie in two, her sword entering in his member and running all the way through him from bottom to top. Another of her swords cut Mike in half, leaving his top half to fall off of his bottom half and both to spatter to the deck.

Kennedy, hearing her crew mates' screams and knowing what was happening, leapt back, but she was not fast enough to avoid Spiral's sword all together. She screamed as Spiral sliced one of her arms straight off of her body. She gripped the injury with a hand even as her arm smacked down onto the deck.

Hansel had one thought in his mind as Spiral increased her attack: He had to get Derek to safety! He grabbed hold to his lover and threw him to the deck, but like Kennedy, he was not quick enough to completely avoid Spiral's blows. Her swords cut into his back, bringing a crimson river of blood, and against the backs of his knees.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Spiral paused in her spinning to see who was bellowing, which fool mistakenly thought he could stop her. Her questing gaze found a big, green man flanked with two women. One woman had long, blue hair and was skimpily clad in blue-green leather while the other had black hair, pale skin, and a black dress that left even less to the imagination.

Matrix's good eye had his target locked onto Spiral, and he pulled the trigger of his gun even as AndrAla and Elvira threw nails. Matrix shot at Spiral several more times just as she began to spin again. Both the bullets and poisoned fingernails simply bounced off. The nails embedded harmlessly in the deck, but the bullets were scattered. Doyle screamed as one blasted into his heart.

Another breezed past Elvira, but Enzo screamed as a third bullet lodged itself in AndrAla's leg and she went down. Frisket was also hit in the side. Their injuries brought Enzo to his knees, and his hand trembled as he laid his gun on the deck. His muscular green arms reached out to gather AndrAla and Frisket close to him even as Spiral stopped spinning and threw back her head in a cold laugh that sent shivers racing through all that heard it.


Trina, Trent, and Carlos were still chasing after Andrew when Judson hurled Remy's body at the white-haired woman throwing lightning bolts from the sky. Trina finally managed to catch up with Andrew and grabbed his arm even as Judson turned around. "Andrew, what in the world are you thinking! LeBeau may have been a friend, but you can't fight that to protect his body!" With her free hand, she shoved her rain-slicked hair out of her face so that her blue eyes could get a clearer look at her beloved's face. Just what in the Hell was he thinking!

"It's my job, Trina. I have to get him, and there are a lot of others around here I have to get as well. My time is nearly up. I have a question for you. Have you made up your mind yet?"

Trina looked at Andrew as though he was losing his mind. She knew what decision he was referring to, but he was also speaking insanity. Besides, what kind of a time was this to see if she'd made up her mind on a decision that she'd been avoiding like the plague despite claiming to be thinking about it! "Andrew, what in the Hell are you talking about?" she demanded. "You're a Pirate; that's your job!" She looked at him strangely, her blue eyes narrowed. "You're not going to try to pull a LeBeau and clean their bodies off, are you?"

Andrew turned around and looked into the eyes of the woman he loved. "I only have ten minutes left, Trina, to wait for your decision, but I can see that it's not coming. You are still torn between Carlos and me. You always will be, and I, my dear, will always love you, but I can not always be near you. He only gave me a year, and in ten minutes, my year will be up." He looked downward in the darkness, feasting his eyes upon her one last time.

Trina gripped his other arm, Judson's movements as he turned again and began to stomp his way back toward his cabin going completely unnoticed. "Andrew, what are you talking about! Who only gave you a year!" There were tears in her eyes. "You're not making any sense!"

"Be safe, my beloved," he told her. He could feel the minutes ticking away rapidly. "I will be as close as I am allowed to be, and if you speak my name, He may even allow me to hear you. I am but a lowly servant to Him, but you shall always be the Queen of my heart." The wind and the ocean kept blowing against Andrew, making him look more Demonic by the moment. He knew the minute he began to glow as Trina's eyes gave him away.

"Andrew, whatever you're doing or about to do, don't!" Trina pleaded. "I didn't know my time was limited on making the decision! Don't go! Don't do this to me, to us!" she cried. "I . . . I still don't know who in the Hell you're talking about, but whoever it is, tell me! I'll find a way to free you! I'll kill him if I have to!"

He reached out a hand and caught one of her tears. "You can't kill Zeus. He is Supreme Lord over all of us. He gave me a year off from my duties so that I might woo you. He was sick of me moping around, not getting my job done." He took a step backward from her. "And my job, my dear . . . You really don't want to hear it, but I am, at long last, allowed to tell you. He wouldn't let me tell you before. I am the . . . Angel . . . of Death."

Trina stared at him, her jaw slack and tears and rain both running down her face. That settled it! Her baby had just gone insane! She had suspected it might happen if she didn't take him away from the life of a Pirate; she just had never thought it would happen like this! She started to respond to him, but even as she struggled to think past her shock of just what to say, two figures leaped at Andrew.

Even as Carlos and Trent passed right through Andrew, he caught Trina to him for one last kiss. "Good-bye, my love! I will always love you! But Carlos is a good man. He will be good for you." He then disappeared from sight.


Herbert sensed something big coming up, and he paused. "Ships! Humans! You should not go any closer! If they saw you, they'd capture you! They would eat Robbie and experiment on you!"

Janeesa told Herbert, "But that's where the cry came from! It must be one of ours they have captive!"

"Then stay here!" Herbert told her. "I will investigate. If I have to, I'll rip the bottom out of the boat. I will return."

As soon as they had gotten off, Herbert charged forward.

Janeesa was floating again in the water, resting, when she saw a light and could not figure out what it was. Surely it will not hurt to investigate? she thought to Robbie. If we're careful, it won't see us.

I'm not sure that's a good ideal, Robbie thought back to her.

Coward! she taunted him, knowing full well he would not resist that, and she swam forward toward the light. She hid behind a rock and peeked out, surprised to see a golem trying to crush an itty, bitty rock in his hands. Wonder why he's trying to crush that? she asked Robbie.

I don't know. It looks like a jewel! So bright and shiny! I'd like to add that to my collection!

Maybe we can talk to him? Janeesa did not wait for Robbie's confrontation but began to try to reach the golem's mind, if he had one. He's an idiot! she told Robbie a moment later. I can't find his mind! I don't think he has one! Maybe that's why he's trying to crack the rock? If you cause a distraction, maybe I can get the rock away from him?

That's not safe, Janeesa! Robbie told her. We don't need you caught by anything!

Well, we'll just have to wait for Herbert to return. Herbert can get it! She settled down to wait.


Enchantra's bosom had pressed against James' shoulders as her fingers had caressed his hook and slowly began pushing it toward his heart. Then, suddenly, the blonde felt a great rush of heat that she knew had absolutely nothing to do with her current prey. She screamed as the fireball exploded into her from behind.

Hook looked at his beloved and could not figure out, at first, why she was screaming. Then he saw that her back was on fire! Who would dare to do this to her! He jumped to his feet and began to beat the flames out of her, hoping to save her.

The crocodile had been looking for bigger and better prey than he had been finding. Most of what he had found had gone down too easily. He was bored as there was no fun to be had, but then he heard that strange, funny man he had seen before talking whispery love crap to a woman. She was a strange woman, at that. Some kind of smoke was coming off of her!

The croc rushed over only to see the man beating the woman, trying to knock the flames out. What was she screaming? He did not know what she was screaming, but the evil was coming off of in her rolls. He couldn't stand the screeching, and the only thing he could think of was to bite off her head which he did. He began to chew noisily, his leathery lips smacking together and blood and brains oozing out from between his pointed teeth.

James screamed and started backing away on all fours as quickly as he could. He backed up until he could back no more and then buried his face in his knees. He trembled like a leaf. What had just happened! Why had he been with a woman! His mind was a complete blank on the subject.

The smacking made him lift his head, and he realized there was a crocodile. He screeched again and looked around for something to climb up. The only thing he saw was Delvira, who was heading his way, and as quick as a wink, he climbed up Delvira, clinging to her cut back as though his life depended on it.

"JAMES, GET YOUR ASS OFF OF ME!" Delvira thundered. "I SWEAR! WHAT IN THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU! DID YOUR GENDER FINALLY CATCH UP WITH YOU OR SOMETHING!"

"NO! IT'S A CROC!" He pointed a shaking finger at the animal who was standing calmly still, chewing the charred remains of the burned woman.

"Yeah, a croc who's chowing down on the bitch who almost killed you!" Delvira shot back. "Now you have until I count to three, or I'll make you get your ass down myself!"

James quickly slid to the floor and then hugged her leg. "Don't let him get me! Don't let him eat me!"

Delvira kicked at him as she struggled to get her leg free. "I don't even let my servants slobber all over my heels, and he's not interested in your scrawny ass, any way! He's got plenty of food right there!" She sighed, and her black eyes dropped to look down at him. "Besides," she spoke more gently, "we've got to find our men, remember?"

"Yes!" his trembling voice answered her. "I need Smee to protect me from that awful beast!" His voice was very high-pitched, and his mustache quivered so that Delvira couldn't help thinking it was about to burst off of his face!

The croc moved slightly, changing his position so that he could get a better grip on his food. James was so scared that his hook ripped right through the floor, and he fell through, pulling Delvira down with him.


Cordelia had barely grasped the stake when a tiger came hurtling through the door with a roar so loud that it shook the very bars of the cell. Vang took one look at where Connor was working on Zora's bonds and breathed a sigh of relief. He started to speak but was interrupted by a crooning voice.

"Oh, what a nice, little kitty cat!" Drusilla crooned. "Did you come to play?" she stretched a hand out for him but kept her other hand around Spike's throat.

The tiger glared at the Vampiress but looked back at Connor. "Don't release her, Connor. She can't control herself on full moons. I probably will not maintain control for much longer myself. You have to knock her out."

Then his gaze turned to Drusilla, and his tail cut through the air. "Yes," he announced, his fangs gleaming in the flickering light of the torches, "the kitty cat came to play."

Connor's hand paused in mid-air. "But she's hurting herself, Vang! How do I knock her out? Just hit her? She'll hate me for it tomorrow!"

"Then we'll tell her I did it, but do it!" Vang roared even as he rushed past Connor. He leapt on Drusilla, his claws and fangs ripping into the Vampiress' flesh, but as he pounced, his massive shoulders brushed Spike, sending him back toward Cordelia and the stake . . .

To Be Continued . . .