Chapter Nineteen
Aphrodite was finally beginning to feel much better despite the pain that She could still feel. It had overpowered Her at first, but it never took long for a Goddess to overcome mortal pain. She knew exactly what was happening with Faith, and She longed to be there to be able to help both her and Dawson.
Yet the Goddess could not help thinking that some one else might be better suited for Her helping role this time. Though She'd taken a personal liking to Dawson and Faith and had been working hard on setting the couple up, Faith actually belonged to Ares, and She'd also been working even longer on getting Him to open up His heart.
Dark eyes gazed intently into Ditey's eyes. He was glad to see that She was quickly recovering as He was eager to take a hand in the mischief that was afoot, but He felt that She had something to tell Him. "Out with it," He told Her. "What do You want Me to do now?"
"Ares, I know You usually don't keep much of an eye on Your subjects when they're not fighting," Aphrodite paused to nibble on Her bottom lip a brief second and buy Herself some time for the perfect wording, "and it's not really what I want, but I do think You might want to peek in on Faith." She gave Him a look of innocence. "I'm afraid the poor girl's as stubborn as a certain War God We both know."
"Stubborn? I'm not stubborn! I just know I'm right, and I stick to it!" He stroked His beard a moment. "You really think she's like Me?"
"Oh, yes," Aphrodite persisted, her voice almost a purr. Too much, She added silently. "And I do know she and the kid could use some help." She ran Her tongue over Her top lip. "I mean, I know You usually don't care that much about most of Your subjects, but . .. Well . . . Fighting and dying really aren't My forte." Her eyes looked directly into His.
"I can't have her dying! I'm not ready for that! I've got big plans for her!" Without further ado, He popped out and rematerialized where Faith was.
Aphrodite smiled. She closed Her eyes and allowed herself to concentrate on what was happening with Faith. She wanted to see Ares' reaction to what the poor girl had fallen into. She hoped He'd finally let His guard down, even if just a little. A head flew by Her, and the Goddess opened a single, wary eye.
Emma could barely believe what was happening. She smiled through the tears that redoubled, all liquid drops of hope and relief that she had longed for for more decades than she could have ever been able to keep track of. "Sean, you'll do no such thing."
She had to fight to keep her voice from revealing her emotions, and it still warbled even as she grinned. "You're not screaming me into this wall, lover, when all we need is a key or a pick." Her eyes shone up into his. "And Sean . . . " She bit her lip lightly as she forced herself to allow her voice to trail off.
"Aye, darlin'?" Sean asked even as he nibbled at her lip.
She reached a finger up and began to trace his handsome face, beginning at his left temple and sweeping over his face in a circular motion. "We're going to kill that Dantalian bitch, but . . . I don't believe she counted on you ever coming for me, or getting through to me for that matter."
"Because . . . Now that I know it's you . . . " Her fingertip touched him on the very tip of his nose. "I can see every bit of you, and my Gods," she sighed, "if age hasn't somehow made you even more delicious to look upon!" A huge smile was now on her shining face.
"Em, ye look more beautiful e'ery second I'm able tae gaze upon yer lovely features! An' damned, if me loins aren't killin' me, but we can nae di anythin' here! It would nae be fair tae Kurt, who is truly one o' me best friends, albeit he is a Priest!"
Kurt missed all the conversation as his hands were still on his ears, waiting for a scream that had not come. Sean reached over with a foot and touched him. Kurt looked down in surprise, removing his hands. "Ze lock didn't come off?" he asked.
"The scream did nae come," Sean told him.
"Vhat!" Kurt asked in amazement.
"Em wouldn't let me scream. I would've never dared tae suggest it if I had thought fer one second it might've hurt her. Kurt, this is Em, the love o' me life."
"Zank ze Gods!" Kurt told her. "I am pleased to meet you, and I am very happy to see zat you have put ze light back into mein friend's eyes. I love Sean like a brother, but he was dyin' before my very eyes! He only wanted his Em! I can not say zat I blame him. Alas, I vant only mein Katzchen!" he sighed sadly.
Em quirked a brow at Kurt. "I know you don't belong to Aphrodite, so how in the world do you plan on doing anything with your Kitty?"
"I plan to give up mein Priesthood for without mein Katzchen, I do not vish to live." He quirked an eyebrow back at her. "I know of zis Aphrodite. In fact, I have seen her, but yet I do not belong to Her. Or do I?"
He sat full on the floor. "Ve are all Her children, and She is ze Mother of us all. She does not require her Priest to be celibate? I zought Sean had given up ze Priesthood when he met you. I did not realize. I never zought to ask."
Emma turned questioning eyes upon her beloved. "The last I knew him, he was still a Priest in secret. He merely did not have the time he once had to worship her. My guess would be that he gave Her up when he felt, as I had, that They had all betrayed us?"
"I turned me back upon me Goddess when I lost ye. I ne'er dared tae look at Her again until now. She took me back, but I am nae longer her Priest. I am nae worthy o' that position so She does have an opening," he told Kurt with a grin. "Ye should take that up with her after all this mess is o'er, an' She does nae require ye tae stay celibate, but if ye di have relationships, it must be wit' one ye love or it must be dedicated tae her."
Kurt nodded solemnly. "I only vant to do it vith mein Katzchen, and I love her. How do ve get ze collar off of Emma if you do not scream, Sean?"
Sean looked at Kurt. "Em says we have tae pick it off or get a key."
Celina continued to work on Kat's guarded mind as Ace fought to keep his beloved under his physical control and Bishop shot any Piratess who dared to get too close. Within seconds that seemed like hours, Celina had lured Kat into releasing her guard in full. Kat's body went limp under Ace's hold, and a soft snore met their ears.
"What do we do with her now," Ace asked, "and will she be able to sleep the spell off?"
"It depends on the spell," Celina replied, reopening her eyes and moving instantly to the Werejaguar. "Ace, I know you want to stay with her, but I suggest Mr. Tall and Dark takes her to the ship and you see if you can help Elvira. The wolf," she added, realizing he might well not know who she was referring to. Placing one hand on the Werejaguar, she reached out with her left hand to the burning jaguar and began to concentrate on healing both.
Ace got up and moved away from Kat, allowing Bishop a chance to pick her up. "Stay with her, Bishop. If you have to, knock her out. Take care of her." He leaned back down and kissed Kat gently on the lips.
Bishop scooped her up and turned around only to find Captain in his pathway. "What do you want, Captain?" Bishop looked seriously down at the cat. "You want to guard Kat, too?"
Though the old tabby cat knew that the man could not understand him, he still meowed his response. He could never have harmed Kat and had to stay away from her in her time of need, but now that she was subdued, he would not leave her side again.
"Hang on, buddy," he said. "Climb up here, and hang on tight. I'm going to have to swing over to the ship, carrying all of you at one time, because I can't leave Kat alone. She might be faking it."
Without a further word or second of hesitation, Captain shot up Bishop's back and took his free shoulder. Bishop swung over, carrying his precious cargo to the Frolicking Monkey where he took Kat to her quarters and laid her gently upon the bed.
"We have to watch her carefully. She could wake up at any time, and if she's still under that spell, Gods help us all! Make sure I don't go to sleep," he told both cats even as he took a position on the chair in the open doorway so that he could watch the battle's progress.
Cat watched curiously as Captain darted underneath the bed. He rummaged around, making such a racket that even Bishop's attention was distracted from the battle. A hind paw shoved out a box, and then both hind feet kicked a larger box out from underneath the bed. He walked back out from under the bed and circled the larger box before standing up on his hind legs and shoving the lid off with his front paws.
Bishop gazed down into the box loaded with junk. "What are you after, Captain?" he asked the cat, wondering why the cat was playing in a box full of junk.
Captain jumped into the box and began kicking items out. Scarves, other pieces of silk, collars, leather items, candles, feathers, and even a vine were all kicked out of the box without a second glance. Then he picked up something shiny with his mouth, looked at Bishop, and dropped it out of the box with an air of importance. He then went back to rummaging.
Bishop shot the handcuffs a mystifying glance. "What am I to do with these?" His answer was Captain's scraggly tail pointing at Kat. "Chain Kat to the bed? Might be a good idea."
He took the handcuffs and brought both of Kat's hands up to the head of the bed, chaining her to the headboard. He continued to watch Captain with interest, wondering what the cat would pull out next.
Finally, Captain found what he had started the whole search for. He backed slowly out of the box, dragging a long coil of rope with him.
Bishop took the rope, tied Kat's feet to the bed, and then ran the rope around the bed, tying her securely to it. "Captain, people don't give cats quite as much credit for being as smart as most of you are. You're one smart cat, Captain, and I'm proud to know you." He reached down and gently patted Captain upon the head.
Then he gathered the remaining stuff, put it back in the box, and slid it back under the bed. He didn't know what Ace and Kat used those things for, and he didn't want to know. He returned to his chair, staring back out at the battle and leaving Captain to hop onto the bed and nestle down onto his mistress' chest, his green eyes never ceasing to stare at Kat's face.
Once again, Morph crashed his hands together and squeezed the kryptonite as hard as he could between them. His hands squeezed so hard against each other that tiny pebbles fell from his hands. "Damn it!" he muttered underneath his breath, having absolutely no idea that he had company.
"Lex was wrong; this isn't working. Come on, Morph. Think. Think!" His free hand hit his own head. "There has to be a way to destroy this thing, but how!"
Janeesa could not believe her luck as she recognized the human language coming out of the golem's mouth! He can't see me in the dark, she thought, and without a warning to Robbie, she glided upward through the water. "Hey, you!" she called up in a very, deep voice. "Why you trying to bust that rock?"
Morph's eyes rolled heavenward. The last thing he needed right now was another bitch to have to fight off! He tightened his grip around the rock and turned toward the voice. "Show yourself!" he demanded, his eyes sweeping the darkness.
Robbie almost fainted with fright. He frantically tried to pull Janeesa back under the water, but she pushed him away. "I'm not an enemy," she called to him. "I answered the call of distress. I am here to help. Are you a golem, or are you a human trapped in a golem's body?"
She could feel Robbie tugging at her again. "Let go of me!" she told him. "Maybe this was what we were called for?" she whispered so that only Robbie could hear.
Morph's well-trained eyes finally found the speaker in the darkness. The sight of the two together surprised him vastly for he had not seen one like the female in a very, very long time, though he had heard of a recent encounter with the species. "You have nothing to fear from me," he told her. "I know what you are and will not harm you if you are on our side."
Robbie shook all over as though he had a flea that just wouldn't leave him alone. He knew what they were! Did he want to eat them! He started trying to pull Janeesa away again, but she firmly pushed him on his nose.
"Stop that, Robbie! We are here to help!" Again, she spoke to the golem. "You didn't answer my question. I am a friend. Maybe I can crush the rock?"
Morph eyed the female creature's fragile body. He knew he could take her easily if she turned out not to be a friend despite her claims. "First, I am not human or golem," he admitted. "I'm a shapeshifter. Secondly," his hand opened just enough that she could get a peek at the glowing, green rock, "I must destroy this rock. It . . . It is killing a very dear friend of mine."
"First of all, if that's true," she told him, "you must get it far away from the ship, because any fragments of the destroyed rock could reach him. Would they not also kill him? It needs to go underwater, way down underwater, and then be destroyed. But it sure is pretty! Are you sure it has to be to destroyed? Can it not be contained in something?"
Morph knew the female spoke sense and kicked himself silently for not having thought of what she had just told him. Clark was probably still dying, as he had not gotten it far enough away! He sighed deeply, wishing he had a brain on his shoulders like his wife's, her sister's, or even Tom's. "I am sure," Morph answered in the golem's gravelly voice even as he began to demorph.
She watched as he demorphed, hoping he would change into some kind of water creature that could go underwater for long distances as she had thought of a perfect way to get rid of it. Robbie was still pulling her, and this time she went with him.
Once Morph had regained his human appearance, he tucked the rock securely away into a pocket, buttoned it, and began to change once more. This time, he maintained his human form but added to it. Green gills sprouted from his white face, his feet turned into fins, and a dorsal fin grew from his back. His nose turned from human to cat, and he sniffed the air in search of the scents of the maiden and her pet.
Janeesa told Robbie, "You need to stay here until Herbert returns. I will be okay, and if he comes back before I return, then come in search of me. We must destroy this evil rock!"
"Aw phooey!" Robbie told her. "I wanted to keep it for a treasure!"
"We'll have to get you another treasure," Janeesa told him. "This one's purely evil!" She swam away from Robbie and to where she had left the man. His appearance was so strange she had to put her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing.
"Go ahead," Morph assured her. "I like to hear people laugh. I didn't know where you had gone," he also explained, his nose returning to normal, "and needed the nose for tracking your scents."
"I have told Robbie to stay here and wait for our other friend while I take you to the place where we can get rid of that thing. Follow me, and I'll show you."
Morph cast a longing look at one of the ships, a deep sadness written in his brown eyes, but he quickly shook it off. Katrina would not allow anything to happen to Celina, and the rock had to be destroyed to save Clark. Be safe, my beloved, he thought to Celina. Blessed Bast and Aphrodite, protect my love, please, and keep her safe. He then turned back to the maiden. "Lead me . . . ?"
Janeesa nodded and swam away from Morph to lead him to the place she had in mind.
Jack finally got a firm grip on the thing that had landed on his head. He pulled it off and held it in front of him only to realize that it was the same, damn cat that he had seen at the house when it had been on fire! He had dropped the cat to the deck before he realized that maniacal laughter was filling the air. Where there had been frantic fighting seconds before, blood and carnage now abounded and Spiral stood, still laughing.
Jack realized, as he looked around, that most of them were either half dead or dead completely. No one was moving. "Thanks, cat," he whispered down to the cat, trying not to draw Spiral's attention and realizing that he, too, could have been part of that. "Twice, you've saved me. I owe you something big. Now save yourself. Get out of here!"
He looked at each grouping, and as the realization of what had happened to them dawned upon him, he fell to his knees. He was the only one able to still fight, and he knew he did not stand a chance. Spiral had to be taken down, but he knew he wasn't the man to do it.
He thought Enzo might have been wounded, and if Enzo couldn't do it, there was no way he could. He knew that Fonzie and Mike were dead, because he could see their bodies separated and laying in two different spots. Bile rose in his throat as he continued to look at the blood and wonder what to do next -- how to find out who was alive and get them to safety without alerting her?
Relief flooded his soul when he saw Rogue and Joseph. They were hovering in the sky and taking in the scene, as well. If any one could take the bitch out, it would be those two! Jack decided to stay where he was and, at the first opportunity, pull the injured away to safety.
He was afraid Hansel was dead as his back was torn all open and it looked like his legs were almost cut off. Tears welled up in his eyes. He had known Hansel and Derek forever. They had been part of his first crew, and they were still part of his family. He fought the tears; he had to keep his brain clear! Derek was under Hansel and might just be alive!
Ace knelt down beside Elvira. "What's wrong, girl, and what can I do to help?"
Begging eyes turned up into the strange man's questing gaze. Elvira whined and whimpered, telling Ace of the situation her mother was in and asking if he had any way to help at all.
Ace answered her in her own language. "Celina can help. Let me explain to her what's going on." He stroked Elvira's head gently as he turned to assess Celina's progress with the injured.
"Celina, we have desperate need of a healer. An awful thing has happened!" Although Elvira had not gone into complete details, Ace had seen mental pictures in his head, and he now showed those to Celina, knowing that one picture was worth a thousand words. "What can we do to help?"
Celina's fur stood on end at the sight, and she thought quickly, a solemn expression on her face and sadness haunting her blue eyes. She did not answer him yet but finished healing the Werejaguar and the first jaguar, a spell having extinguished the fire on both, and moved to the other jaguar. She checked her injuries quickly, and the knowledge that they would not bring death assured her that the cat could wait.
Celina's gaze turned to the night sky, and she saw the birds attacking. Her eyes were drawn to the condors, and an idea began to form. "Have the condors carry these three to the ship," she told Ace. "Make sure they set the Werejaguar before your friend. Hopefully, he'll have enough sense to find something to chain her with." She stood.
Ace began talking in bird language to the condors who swooped down, picked the jaguars up, and carried them to the Frolicking Monkey. They were out cold. The Werejaguar was laid right in front of Bishop, who was so surprised that he fell out of the chair. Need more chains, was his first thought. Where can I find more chains? "Captain, more chains?" he asked hopefully.
Captain had heard the bodies hitting the deck outside and had left Kat just long enough to check on the situation and make certain that they were not under attack. He was already wondering the same thing as Bishop before the man turned to him for help. The cat cocked his head, musing to himself in thought.
The elephant overheard the man and cat talking. He knew where chains were. He had heard the blonde Vampire talking to Ace before and comparing notes about chaining their women. The Vampire seemed to have quite a lot of chains, and the elephant had once wanted to see what was going on but couldn't figure out a way to get over to the other ship. He quickly told Captain about the other chains.
Captain stood at attention as the elephant spoke to him. He nodded and mewed a compliment on the pachyderm's good work and excellent memory. Then he padded around in front of Bishop and again sat at attention to get his attention in turn.
"Where's the chains, Captain? Show me," Bishop told him. He could not believe that the elephant and the cat had just had a conversation and wished that he could have heard it!
Captain sniffed. The only humans who actually got away with commanding him were Kat and Ace! He pointed with one paw at Destiny's Ghost. Then he gestured with the same paw to the captain's quarters aboard the Monkey.
"Thank you, Captain, but we need somebody big and strong to watch over Kat while I'm gone to get the chains. Do you think you could get the elephant to help?"
Captain's voice raised in a yowl. The elephant saluted the cat with his trunk touching his forehead, and heavy feet pounded upon the deck as a young rhino came into view.
Bishop looked at the rhino and prayed he wasn't charging him. All he needed was somebody to watch Kat so he could get the chains! It looked like he was going to have to fight for that privilege! "Move, Cat. You don't want to be run over!"
The orange cat mewed in a funny voice, leaving Bishop with the distinct feeling that he was being laughed at. Captain shook his head. He pointed to the rhino and gestured the pachyderm into the cabin. Whereas the elephant could not squeeze its bulk into the cabin, the rhino was still young and small enough that it could enter the room, though it didn't leave too much room for others to enter. Both cats then looked pointedly at Bishop.
Bishop saluted both Captain and the pachyderms before leaping across the railing to Destiny's Ghost and heading for the chains. He knew he could tell his tale of the animals in the future but that no one would ever believe it! In fact, if he had not just seen it with his own two eyes, he would never have believed it in a million years -- an elephant had just saluted a cat and an elephant and rhino both were eagerly obeying that very cat!
"If Emma vill trust me," Kurt offered, "I can pick ze lock with my tail."
Sean and Emma both looked oddly at Kurt. "I may be a Priest now," he explained, "but I was a Pirate before."
That explanation was enough to satisfy Sean. "How 'bout it, Em?" he asked, turning to his beloved and still not releasing her hand.
Emma's blue eyes turned from the imploring gaze on Sean's handsome face back to Kurt's fuzzy, blue face. She glanced curiously at the pointed, blue tail she could barely see swinging in and out of the Priest's robe. "Why not?" she asked, still uncertain if she was dreaming, dead, or if this was all real. She would have asked Sean, but if he was her dream or was dead, as well, he might not know himself.
Kurt nodded. "Very vell," he announced, turning around from Emma as Sean reluctantly left her side to give him plenty of room. "Hold still, please." He looked over his shoulder, and his yellow eyes watched his tail's movements intently.
His tail raised to Emma's lock, and the pointed end slid into the lock. It began to wriggle, and Kurt tongue's stuck slightly out between his fangs as he concentrated. His pointed, blue ears wriggled in sync with his tail as they listened to the clicks, and his yellow orbs stayed focused on the lock.
Kurt had barely began working on Emma's lock when Kitty's astonished voice sounded. "What in the world are you doing, Kurt!"
Kurt, Sean, and Emma looked up to see Kitty's head barely sticking through the ceiling accompanied by the head of a redhead none of them recognized. "Kurt?" Rachel repeated in disbelief. "But he's a blue Demon! You'd look at a Demon before you'd look at another woman!"
"Ray!" Kitty admonished. "Hush!" She walked down the air with the redhead by her side. They were holding hands, but when Rachel's other hand came into view, they saw it rested on the floating body of Elizabeth Swann.
Sean looked at Kitty with a strange look on his face. Was Kitty interested in women? He would never have thought it in a million years! He kept glancing back at Kurt, the expression on his face making Sean want to laugh. He hoped his friend had not heard the conversation between the girls.
Kurt had heard the conversation but chose to ignore it. He figured if he had any chance at all with Kitty, he had best forget what he had heard, and he wanted that chance even if it was one in a million. He continued to concentrate on the lock, hoping it would open at any second and free Emma. He was rewarded with the sound of the last click as the collar fell apart into his hand, and he tossed it to the floor.
Joseph's blue eyes peered into Rogue's beautiful face as the whistling wind whipped his long, white hair behind him. "Ready, love?" he whispered.
"Ah love you, Joseph!" Rogue called to him. "Goddess help us, but Ah'm ready! Be careful!"
Joseph's eyes peered into Rogue's green orbs. "You be careful, my heart, and I love you too." He did not even have to touch Spiral to do his part, but his beloved would have to fly far too near the six-armed monster for his liking. Were there any other way, Joseph would have gladly spared Rogue from the danger, even if it meant sacrificing his own life, but he could not see any other possibility of taking the heartless bitch down.
Turning in the air, Joseph focused on Spiral. His hand reached out toward her; his curling fingers glowed blue. Suddenly, her helmet shot down over her head, covering her eyes and stopping her laughter.
Before the bitch could react, Rogue flew in, grasped her around the neck, and twisted it. Rogue tensed as she felt Spiral's blades slicing near her body, but when they stopped without ever touching her, she knew that Joseph had used his control of magnetism to snatch the swords away. Rogue kept twisting Spiral's neck until it twisted completely off. Then throwing it into the ocean, she swooped out of the way and began to help Jack collect the wounded.
Joseph, still hovering where Rogue had left him, closed his eyes and breathed a sigh and prayer of gratitude and relief. Then he followed his love.
Celina and Ace wasted no time in following Elvira to where her mistress had been left hanging for dead on the wheel. Though Ace was surprised at the blue boy breathing ice over the wood of the wheel, Celina was not. She could also sense his fear and flew straight to him.
"Jack," she spoke gently, trying to place a reassuring hand on his shoulder only to have her fingers pass straight through his body, "I know you're scared, but there must be a safer way. I am a healer and a Sorceress. Hold back a moment, and let me consider this. I am certain I can come up with a spell that will not put Crystal in as much danger as this method does."
Jack Frost nodded and ceased his work. He looked up into Celina's eyes with tears in his own eyes. "Please help her if you can, Celina. I'm used to breathing ice over big things or a vast amount of little things, not having to pick my way so carefully! I don't want to hurt her!"
"I know you do not, my friend," Celina purred reassuringly, her tail swishing in the night air, "and we will find a way to free her without endangering her further. Now, you and Ace help the others keep the enemy at bay and give me a moment to think here?" She began to fly around the instrument of torture, examining each little bit and how Crystal's body hung against it even as her own body began to burn with a familiar feeling.
Ace had seen many horrible sights in his time, but none had ever prepared him for the condition that the beautiful woman was in. He did not have a single word to offer as to how to get her off of there, but he did know how to comfort Elvira and he talked to her and told her, realizing that there were other animals there that belonged to this woman somewhere on the ship and that Elvira could tell them what was going on.
"Celina will do everything she can to free your mistress, but it will take some time and it will most likely be very painful. I know you will stay nearby. If I am needed, come for me. I will do all I can, which in this case, unfortunately, is not much except pray. I suggest that you do so also." He bowed his head for a quick moment, and Elvira followed his example though she didn't know if a prayer would really help or not.
"Blessed Ladies, hear my plea. Help to save this wonderful woman. She has friends and family that need her greatly. Ease her pain." He opened his eyes and touched Elvira one last time on the head. "See you soon, little one," he spoke softly one last time before he slipped away to check on his animal friends and see if any needed help in fighting.
Connor reached his fist back as far as he could and let go, hitting Zora full in the face as hard as he could. Tears came to his eyes. He knew she'd hate him tomorrow, but he was relieved to see her go out cold! He quickly unlocked the collar and removed it from her but kept the other chains on her.
Cordelia screeched as Spike hurtled toward her. His back slammed into her front, but the stake only barely missed his side.
Spike braced himself for the worst. He'd never get to hold Kyna again or kiss her beautiful lips! He closed his eyes, expecting the stake to burst into his hide at any moment, only to feel his back connecting with a woman's breasts!
Where was the stake! he wondered, and he stood very still. "You're not going to hit me with that thing, are you?" he asked. "Can I have it? The kitty cat's not going to be able to do Drusilla in. I've got to hit her with the stake or she'll take the kitty cat out."
Cordelia's heartbeat thundered in Spike's ears. "I . . . I suggest you move very . . . . " Her words were drowned out by Drusilla's scream. Cordelia's eyes snapped back to the Vampiress, and she almost fainted at the sight she was met with! "Oh my Gods!"
Connor's eyes went to the scene that had Cordelia screaming. He could not believe what he was seeing! Thank Gods, he thought, I knocked Zora out or that could be me now! He looked down to the floor where Zora was laying, still having chains on her arms and legs. He hoped they would hold.
Kurt was freaking. "Sean! Sean, look! Don't let Emma see!"
Sean stood to look. "Do something! Get tha' cat off o' her!"
"I'm about to," Spike said as he stepped forward with the stake in his hand, driving it home into Drusilla's heart. "Good-bye, bitch!" He had expected that the tiger might turn on him for dusting the hole he had just been plugging away into, but instead, to Spike's utter amazement and bewilderment, the tiger merely kept pumping away at the floor and the dust that was now Dru! "Damn! Gotta knock him out!" Spike called out to the others. "Need some help, guys!"
Connor raced over to lend a hand to Spike, but Lorne hung back. "He's not getting a hold of me!" he said in a very high-pitched voice.
Cordelia stayed frozen to the wall, but Emma's voice came from directly behind Sean's shoulder. "My goodness, men! What's all the fuss about? He's merely as horny as a typical teenager!"
Vang's actions had torn Kitty's attention and concern away from Kurt, and she had been staring at him in shock when the blonde's exclamations made Rachel laugh. Kitty blushed, and her brown eyes darted to her oldest friend. She shook her head. What in the world was wrong with Ray that a tiger pumping away into a Vampiress and then into nothing could make her laugh after all that she'd been through!
Emma closed her eyes calmly, and Vang fell into unconsciousness.
Spike took charge again. "We had best get them to the hold of Destiny's Ghost. There are chains there that will hold them until tomorrow."
"Kurt," Sean asked, "can ye handle 'em?"
"One at a time, mein fruend; one at a time." Grasping ahold of Vang, he bamfed, taking time out only to chain the cat when he reached the hold. Then he returned for Zora.
Sam Wilder had finally returned to heal any that were in need of healing. What he found aboard the Harlot turned even his strong stomach. Jack had pulled Hansel off of Derek and had him laying, stomach down, waiting to be helped.
Derek was sitting at Hansel's head and holding his beloved's hand. "He saved me!" he said between his tears. "Please save him! Don't let him die! I can't live without him!"
Jack nodded at Sam, knowing that he would have his work cut out for him and wishing that he could help. He stayed beside Hansel and Derek, watching over them and protecting them from any of the other Piratesses who might show up.
Sam closed his eyes and touched Hansel. He knew the boy was in a lot of pain. He had almost had his legs completely cut off, and his back looked like bloody ribbons. Seconds later, he sighed in relief as Hansel began to respond to him.
When he had done all he could, he moved over to what he took for a dog, albeit a strange dog. He removed the bullet and began to heal the dog. Some White Lighters would balk at healing animals, but having the ability to help the smaller beings was one of Sam's greatest pleasures. He smiled when he saw Frisket's tail attempt a weak wag.
AndrAla smiled weakly as she saw Frisket's attempt to let them know that he would be all right. She knew that Enzo's refusal to lift his head right now would prevent him from seeing him, and she reached up a hand to tenderly touch her beloved's green cheek. "We're both gonna be just fine, Sparky," she whispered to him, knowing that there were tears of the little boy in her man's eyes.
No one had called Sam's attention to AndrAla's leg, but he saw the bullethole and the blood. He now reached out to take care of the blue-haired lady. He thought she must be quite a lady, because she was not concerned with herself but more concerned with the huge man who was by her side. He smiled at her as her leg closed. "I'd tell you to rest, but I know you won't."
AndrAla smiled at the healer. "I will when I can," she promised.
Enzo turned his head at last to peer at the wounds of the two beings who were most important to him, and he let out a whoop as he realized that they were well again. Even as he released the whoop, he gathered both into his muscular arms and hugged them tightly.
Sam smiled at him. "You need to take both of them to safety. They both need to rest. If you need me, call for Sam Wilder and I will come."
Enzo grinned, and his gold earring jiggled as he nodded his head. "Thank you," he spoke solemnly.
"You're welcome, son. I'm glad everything turned out all right." Sam walked slowly over to where the girl was kneeling, trying to stop the flow of her own blood with the one hand she had left. Tears were in her eyes, but he could tell from the expressions fluttering over her dark-skinned face that she was fighting them.
"Sit down with your back against the ship. I know it's hard, but you need to try to relax so I can put your arm back on." He waited for her to comply.
Kennedy was just beginning to slide down against the wall of the ship when she heard Willow cry out her name. Even as she lifted her head, the redhead was racing toward her. "Baby, what happened!" she asked, tears in her green eyes. "Who did this!"
"The bitch's already dead, Willow!" Rogue called hurriedly. The last thing she wanted to see this night was Willow's completely unleashed side.
"Sam's going to heal me, Will," Kennedy assured her though her eyes wouldn't meet those of her lover.
Willow knew exactly what Kennedy's problem was, and she kicked herself for having spoken so openly about Oz and Tara earlier that day. She kissed Kennedy's soft, brown hair, then sat with a reassuring arm around Kennedy's whole side. "It's all right, baby. I don't think any less of you. I'm just thankful you're alive, and I love you, Kenn."
Kennedy smiled at Willow through her tears. "I love you too, sweetheart." Her dark eyes then turned to the White Lighter, and she nodded to him. "I'm ready."
Sam lifted the arm and connected it back with the body it had come from. Closing his eyes, he concentrated and began the slow healing process. He was relieved when he felt the mending begin.
Jack was getting worried. Hansel still had not moved. Shouldn't he have at least opened his eyes by now? He would get Sam to look at him as soon as he was through with Kennedy if Hansel had not moved.
Derek was still holding Hansel's hand and blaming himself for Hansel trying to save him. "Damn it, Hansel! Don't you die on me! Seemed like it took us forever to find each other even though we were right there together! I won't lose you! I won't!"
Jack knew just how he felt. He'd feel the same way if it was Will laying there. In fact, he had already felt that way. Where was Crystal? If Sam couldn't heal him to the point that Hansel could live, Crystal could. Jack had every faith in her.
His eyes made their slow journey, seeing his people in clusters and still knowing that others were missing. Was Crystal below or above deck? Was she in any shape to help? Just as Jack made up his mind to go in search of Crystal, Hansel turned over. The minute he moved, Derek was all over him.
Hansel was barely coming to when he felt familiar lips, lips he had longed to feel and finally had for the first time that night, raining kisses upon him. His blue eyes fluttered open, and he gazed up at Derek. "Miss me, I take it?" he asked with a flirtatious grin. Then he reached up and brought Derek's lips to his own.
Jack still decided to go in search of Crystal. He was worried about her and those he could not see. Somewhere, others were needing help, and he could not stand to watch his friends having their moment of joy when he wished that he was having one with Will.
Ace was not paying a lot of attention to his feet, which caused him to be clumsy at times and made him stumble when he least expected it. He could hear barks, meows, scratches, caws, and other animal sounds, and they drowned out anything that was near to him. Therefore, he did not hear what he now fell over until he was on level with it.
His eyes looked at Didymus, who still was barking like an idiot. Didymus aimed his spear on Ace, his eyes glazed over with insanity. "Don't hit me with that thing! I think you're on my side," Ace told him.
Didymus shook his head as though he had so many ear mites he could not hear anything. "Bad Pirates must die!"
"Who do you belong with, little guy?" Ace asked, hoping that he could figure out from the answer if this was a good Pirate or a bad Pirate. He thought he heard the little dog bark out King Jareth. "Did you say Jareth? Jareth is one of the good Pirates, and I'm on his side."
Didymus stopped trying to hit Ace with the spear, but he couldn't seem to stop barking. Ace reached out and closed the little dog's mouth with his fingers, and it looked as though the little dog was going to blow apart as his body puffed out!
"Calm down now! We will find Jareth. He is probably in grave need of our help." He slowly released the little dog's mouth, who immediately went back to barking. "Hush!" he whispered. "You'll give us away!"
It was at that moment he heard three sets of swords click above his head. "Uh-oh!" he said with one of his trademark grins. "Looks like they got us already!"
He reached out and tossed the dog straight upward, whose barking mouth went immediately to work on the first Piratess' face, allowing Ace the chance to do a maneuver Kat had taught him, whipping his feet around and knocking the other two Piratesses down. He jumped to his feet and began to battle with the two.
Janeesa took Morph to a place where long ago, a Pirate ship had sunk. Robbie and she had been in and out of it many times, playing games, and she thought that it would be a very safe place to put the evil thing. There were some kegs in there, she remembered, that had lids. If they crushed it and left it inside with the lid on it, if any fragments were left, they would not get out. She entered the ship from a hole in its side and waited on the other side for the man to appear.
Morph followed right behind the maiden, his skin crawling with each step. His sad eyes swept the destruction of the ship. He noted a few skeletons and bowed his head in deep respect.
Janeesa could not believe that, though this man appeared to be human, he was bowing his head to Pirates and most humans hated Pirates! She wished again that she could talk to him telepathically since they could not communicate underwater. She pointed to one of the barrels that had a lid, swam over, took the lid off, and then turned to look expectantly at the man.
Morph swam after the female and looked into the barrel she had opened. To an untrained eye, the barrel would have appeared to have been filled with nothing greater than mud, but Morph recognized soaked gunpowder when he saw it. Still, though, the kryptonite had to be destroyed.
He looked questioningly at the female, wishing he could communicate with her. Then a thought came to him. Wasn't her species telepathic? He tapped a finger to his lips and then to his head.
Janeesa knew what he was trying to tell her, but she had already tried and had gotten nowhere. Making up her mind to try it one more time, she nodded and then telepathically told him, It has to go in the barrel.
But it must be destroyed first, Morph answered her, thankful that she had understood him and glad that they now had an open stream of communication.
She was extremely surprised that he had heard her and glad that she could now communicate with him. It must go in like this, she stuck her finger down into the muck and made a hole. Put it right there. Then go outside the ship.
Morph eyed the female warily. Why was she wanting to get rid of him? Did she think she could explode the kryptonite? The gunpowder will not work, he told her. The water ruined it a long time ago.
No, but my voice will, Janeesa told him, and it could be very painful to your ears. Wait for me outside.
Ah, Morph thought to himself. He took the kryptonite from his pocket and shoved it deep into the gunpowder. Then he gestured with his hands for the maiden to watch him. He pointed to his ears, made a waving motion at each as though he were a magician performing a trick, and promptly sucked his ears into oblivion.
Her mouth fell open such was her surprise at the man's abilities! Still, he was not equipped with the lungs that she had! With a smile, she peered into the barrel and kept her eyes intent upon the glistening, green jewel.
She began soft and low, and her voice kept growing until it was so high-pitched it could not be heard by normal hearing. Then she continued on. The animals in the sea were used to her. Some swam as far away as they could. Others grabbed for mud to daub in their ears, and others slapped their fins into their earholes, praying that it would soon end.
She finally stopped as she was rewarded with the sight of the kryptonite bursting apart. She immediately slapped the lid on it and looked at Morph with a huge smile on her face. There! We did it! Now we need to bury it in case some one finds it!
Morph held out his arms and swam backwards a few spaces from the maiden. His skinny, human arms then began to change. They grew thicker and stronger. Flesh turned to shell. Sleeve and skin merged and swirled until they became one shade of bright red. His hands grew into pincers to fit his now-huge arms.
She shook her head. This man had a full bag of magic tricks and knew how to use them! She would like to count him as a friend. The best way to start off by being a friend was to introduce oneself.
My name, she told him, is Janeesa. If you ever have need of me, you have but to ask any seacreature. They will find me.
Thank you, Janeesa. You have just saved my friend's life, Morph told her even as he began swiftly digging. He dug through wood first and then started clawing his way deeply into the ocean floor. I am called Morph.
It is good to know you, Morph, and I am glad we could save your friend. The sooner we get this thing buried, the safer he will be. Morph nodded and continued digging even as he prayed that Celina was all right.
Ares looked at Dawson who was still on his knees in front of Faith. He had arrived just in time to hear her question to Dawson, but it took Him a moment to recover from what He saw in the room. There was no way in Hell He was letting Faith die! He had big plans for the woman!
He didn't say anything, just looked between the woman and the boy, moved his hand, and telekinetically ripped Faith off the spikes. Her chains burst apart even as she was hurled away from the table and to the floor. With another move of His hand, the blood in the vials began to flow through the air straight back into Faith.
Dawson's eyes flashed open for one second, and he thought all Hell had finally broke lose! The torchlight falling upon the flying blood was more than the poor boy could take. He crawled over to where Faith was and put his hand gently on her head. He did not know who the strange man was but recognized him as having given him Faith's sword before. He figured He was one of Aphrodite's.
Faith had not thought she had any movement left in her, but when Dawson's hand touched her skin, she finally managed to react. She snatched herself away as though he'd burned her and began to scuttle backwards from both men, her eyes wild.
"Who in the Hell are you!" He may have freed her from the spikes, but now He was throwing her own blood at her? She started to say more but was stopped with the impact of her own blood returning to her body.
As the blood entered Faith's body, the holes began to close. Ares wasn't sure He was doing a very good job, but He hoped He was as it was very important to Him that He did not lose this woman. "Surely you recognize Me, Faith? After all, you've done My work for Me for years! I'm very proud of you! I thought it was about time I took an interest."
Her dark eyes narrowed in on the stranger, forgetting about Dawson for a moment. "What the Hell is this!" she demanded. "Another game!"
"Let Me introduce Myself and set your mind at ease. I'm Ares. Dawson's innocent." He looked at Dawson, whose mouth had fallen open at the sound of His name.
"Ares?" Faith repeated. "What? I'm supposed to believe that You're the God of War now? I'm not the idiot you bastards think I am!" Yet even as she spouted the words, Faith began to doubt. Who else could have returned her blood and be healing her though never touching her? If He wanted to hurt her, why heal her? So that He could rip her open all over again?
"I see that your mind is full of doubt and confusion. Again, I tell you Dawson is innocent. Judson was playing him. Dawson would never hurt you. He loves you, and a man will do strange things for love, even to the point of doing things he's never done before."
"You're the first person I've ever healed, Faith. I've killed quite a few in my time, and yes, I am the God of War. I didn't ask for the role, but My Father thought I'd do a good job and He gave it to Me even though I protested."
"I am very proud of the things you've done for Me in the past, and I look forward to the things you'll do in the future. Rest for a while. I have to see a Goddess about a stallion." He popped out.
Dawson could not tear his eyes away from Faith. The color was beginning to return to her skin yet he did not move any closer to her. It made him angry to know that Judson had taken his form to hurt Faith. He vowed he'd get even.Faith was at a loss, but she dared not move from the corner she'd scuttled backwards into. With Ares gone, her wild eyes were left to stare instead at Dawson. Was this real, or was she hallucinating? Had she finally died? That might explain the insanity of the situation, but if she had, was this Heaven or Hell?
