Chapter Twenty-nine

"GET OFF OF ME, MORPH! I'VE GOTTA GET OVER THERE! WILL'S IN THERE SOMEWHERE! WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY BOY! THE SHIP TILTED! COULD HE BE DROWNING! OH GODS, NO! SAVE MY WILL!"

"Ow!" Morph complained, rubbing his head where he'd hit it on the railing. His brown eyes fell across Celina's body where she lay in the spot he'd brought her to before going back across the ships and continuing his argument with Rachel. "It's a good thing she's not awake," he commented to himself, "or I'd be hurting three times as much!"

"Why! What did you do!" Eddie asked, his eyes, as big as saucers, staring into Morph's face. "Where'd that redhead go! She was going to help me get over there!"

It was then that the voice of the woman on both males' minds thundered above them. "I SWEAR, IMPUDENT MALES NEVER CHANGE!"

"HEY!" Morph exclaimed sharply. "I CAN GET IT UP WHEN I WANT TO!"

"I don't know what you're getting up!" Eddie told him. Raising his voice so that the redhead could hear him, he continued, "I JUST WANT TO GET OVER THERE! GOTTA FIND MY WILL," he stated as matter-of-factly as he could. "MAYBE YOU SHOULD SEND ME TO THE ONE THAT'S STILL UP RIGHT?" he begged the redhead.

Then, looking back at Morph, he added, "HE'S ON HIS OWN! I DIDN'T TELL HIM TO DO ANYTHING! I'M SURE NOT GETTING INTO TROUBLE FOR WHATEVER HE DID! I GET INTO ENOUGH OF MY OWN!"

"Man, I don't think . . . " Morph started, staring up at Rachel, whose red hair and dress seemed to flow around her like fire. He silenced when she started shouting again. He felt sorry for the two men who were telekinetically held around her.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT BEFORE YOU LET YOUR SON GET ON ONE OF THESE DAMN SHIPS!" Carlos and Trent dropped unceremoniously on top of Morph; at the same time, Rachel snatched Donkey off of the deck.

Morph just laid where he had been knocked to. He knew better than to get up!

"YOU DON'T LET WILL DO ANYTHING! WILL TELLS YOU WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO!" Donkey tried talking to the enraged woman. "I TOLD HIM TO PUT A SHEET ON! DID HE DO IT! NNNOOOO! HE WENT RUNNING OVER THERE NAKED!"

"HAD TO GET TO HIS PRECIOUS JACK! DIDN'T WAIT FOR ME! NNNOOO, DIDN'T THINK ABOUT POOR, OLD DONKEY!" he said, making himself sound especially pitiful and allowing tears to well up in his big, brown eyes. "JUST JACK, AND I BET THE CAPTAIN AIN'T EVEN TAKING CARE OF HIM!"

Rachel had never met a bigger idiot than this jackass seemed to be. Her voice lowered, appearing to become calm once more yet laced with anger. She still had to shout to be heard. "SO YOU WANT TO GO OVER TO THE SHIP THAT'S NOT SINKING?" she questioned him. "YOU REALLY WANT TO GO AFTER YOUR SON, A SON YOU DIDN'T EVEN CARE ENOUGH ABOUT TO STOP HIM FROM GOING OVER THERE?"

"I TRIED TO STOP HIM, AND YES, PLEASE PUT ME ON THE ONE THAT'S NOT SINKING! YOU CAN'T TELL WILL NOTHING!" Donkey insisted. "HE TELLS YOU, AND HE THINKS POOR, OLD DONKEY'S STUPID!" He felt like braying again but didn't know if that would help his cause.

What was she going to do -- drown him out here! He worried as she held him half-way between the two ships. "HEY! THERE'S SOMEBODY DOWN THERE!" Donkey called out as he glanced dolefully downward.

That was the final straw for Ray. She hoped the donkey couldn't tell that it was a mermaid he was looking at even as she spun him through the air and then dropped him over the Harlot's deck. "YOU," she added, glaring down at the brunette, "CAN GO STRAIGHT TO HELL!" Then she flew down toward the ocean.

"THANKS!" Donkey called as he picked himself up. "I think?" he muttered. "She didn't have to drop me!" His head was spinning round and round. He tried shaking his head, but that only made him dizzier. "Crazy woman! WILL, I'M COMING!" he called to the air and began to trot hurriedly forward, sniffing the air for any scent of Will.


Zora sighed, reopening her eyes and knowing it was too late to argue with him and that Connor only had her best intentions at heart. Even despite the fear and the urges that now welled up inside her, however, it still felt incredibly good to have that damn collar off. "Connor, if you're persistent in this, I need you to do one other thing for me, but I need you to do it fast, before I change."

"What's that, Zora?" Connor asked.

"Strip me," Zora told him, sensing the second that shock set in to those who heard her words. Her pleading green eyes met Connor's gaze. "Please, Connor. This jacket was my father's. I can't lose it; it's the only thing I have left of him. Just rip off the front."

"Rip off the front?"

She didn't answer him. She knew he was confused and didn't quite understand her request. If they'd been alone, she would have explained further. If there had been any way for him to slip the jacket's sleeves off over her chained arms, she would have asked him to take it off entirely. Yet they weren't and she couldn't, so she remained silent and hoped that he would comply with her request. Her wild, green eyes shone with emotion as she gazed, almost begging, into his eyes.

"Okay," Connor spoke at last. He reached out and pulled the jacket with a yank. It fell off of her into his hands, revealing her nakedness. "SPIKE, TURN YOUR HEAD!" Connor told him, but he was only partially aware of the words he shouted.

Though Connor had never seen a naked human before, he had seen naked mermaids, but their breasts had looked nothing like Zora's. Theirs had been thin, small things, and he remembered thinking that the sun must have been baking them away. Zora's, however, were round and large. The flickering torchlight danced over them, and they seemed to him to be like two ripe melons, just waiting for him to come forward and pluck them.

His blue eyes stared at the forbidden peaks that heaved before him, and the strange sensations returned. They were even louder this time as his hands ached to touch her soft, supple skin. His mouth watered as though he was dying of thirst, but the only thing he wanted to drink was the nectar from her hard, rosy nipples. Connor was a mere second from reaching out to touch Zora when Spike's voice yanked him back to reality.

"I already did," Spike replied, smelling all the emotions that were running rampant through both teenagers. "The only woman I want to see naked is Kyna."

Connor shook himself and tightened his hold on Zora's father's leather jacket. "I'll take care of it," he told her, "until you're able to get it again."

"Thank you," Zora breathed, wishing she could touch him. Her fingers longed to caress his face and run through his thick, brown hair. They arched in the need to rip his clothes off of his body, and her palms sweated in their want to run all over his hard body. Her own body ached to thrash against his, and her inside burned for his steed.

Connor started backing up, his eyes never leaving Zora's face. "I won't be far. I know you've got to go through this. If I could help you, I would, but I don't know what to do." Connor continued backing until he was out of the cage, and Spike started to follow.

Zora knew that Connor's maleness could help her. It would ease her pain entirely, but in so doing, she would kill him. "You can't," she told him, knowing that Spike's nose would smell the lie but hoping Connor wouldn't realize she was lying to him. Then, the pain shot through her body, and her body began to twist wildly as she roared.

Zora's roar almost completely deafened out the small voice that questioned, "Can . . . Can I get down from here, please?"

Connor looked to see who was asking and saw that Dawn was awake. "Dawn?" he called to her.

Dawn's big, brown eyes were glued to Spike, however. "Spike?" she almost whimpered. "Why . . . Why'd you chain me?"

"You were under some kind of spell, bit," Spike said as he walked toward her, "but it seems to be passed now." He reached up and snatched the chains out of the wall. "We'd better get Fred out of here, too," he said as he set Dawn's feet on the floor and then reached up and got Fred, who was still unconscious.

Connor came back to help Dawn walk toward the outside of the cell. She seemed rather dazed and out of it; he would never have imagined that she was loathe to walk with him and was instead longing to be escorted and much, much more by a certain married Vampire.

Once outside, Connor turned to look back inside at Zora one last time and again felt the burning in his pants at the sight he was met with. He could see fur sprouting on her, but as he had already seen her in her tiger form, he was not alarmed. He hoped that she'd be better in the morning and forced himself to turn his back on her and continue on out the door.

Zora's yowling roar echoed in the sleeping quarters that had now grown still and quiet but would not remain that way for long. The sound stirred two who had been deep in unconsciousness, and Zora continued to thrash as the transformation took her completely over . . .


When her fur had been set on fire, the Werewolf had not stopped running until she had ran straight into a wall. Then, she'd fallen backwards and began to roll on the floor. She was still rolling on the floor, desperately trying to extinguish the fire, when yipping sounded. The Werewolf's angry eyes turned toward the poodle, and Gonk whined when he saw the fire ablaze on his mistress' chest.

The Werewolf's claws snatched at the poodle, but Gonk danced away out of her reach, knowing better than to allow the wolf to catch him. Lifting his nose in the air, he sniffed. There was so much water all around that it was hard to tell what was what, but there were a few barrels scattered throughout the hallway. Trotting over to one of them, Gonk pressed his nose to the barrel and inhaled deeply.

The Werewolf had returned to rolling and was only succeeding in catching the hallway on fire when she heard the poodle's excited yipping. Ceasing her rolling, the Werewolf turned to look at the dog, and Elvira's mind surfaced just enough to alert herself that Gonk was trying to tell her something.

The Werewolf hurried over on all fours, drew back a massive arm, and began to descend on Gonk and the barrel. With a frightened whine, Gonk ran out of her reach, leaving her claws to slice into the barrel. Both were surprised when water did indeed rush out as neither would have thought that the Piratesses might have had such trouble with prisoners setting fire to their ship before that they had left water handy.


Janeesa had watched silently from below, waiting for Kitty to answer. She had seen most of the action from above and had had a hard time keeping a straight face. She wanted to laugh. Maybe Ray wasn't as bad as she'd thought? She was funny!

Rachel was now heading straight for her, and she could see her. It wouldn't do for her to laugh in Ray's face, so immediately she decided to pretend she was angry. "YOU'RE NOT KITTY! WHERE'S KITTY?" she demanded before the mutant could say anything.

"Don't," Rachel warned, running her fingers through her short, red hair and trying to calm herself, "start with me. You're hot and all, but you don't want to see what I can do if I'm ticked off. Yeah, I'm not Kitty, but I'm not the big, bad Boogeywoman either."

"Kitty's left for the other ship. I'll be glad to help you with whatever's going on, though, and I'm sorry I'm late in answering. I heard you calling, but I couldn't give away your identity and had to lose a couple of stupid males."

"One of them I saw was Morph. He gets into a lot of trouble, doesn't he?" She had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing. "And, no, I'm not," she answered Ray.

"He's a real pain in the butt," Rachel agreed, wiping the tops of her breasts off where he'd dared to fall across her, "but you're not what?"

"You said I was hot. It's cold out here! I've never been so cold! This white stuff is freezing me!"

Rachel floated down next to where Janeesa stuck out of the water. "You don't understand," she explained. "I meant hot as in . . . " Her green eyes gazed again upon Janeesa's long, flowing hair that reminded her of fire and silk at the same time. She looked once more at the mermaid's lovely, white face and allowed her eyes to skim lower to the luscious breasts that made her mouth water. "Beautiful," she concluded, her eyes returning to Janeesa's.

Janeesa determined not to answer Ray, because what Ray felt and the way she looked at her made her feel very nervous. "I came to help. Evil's coming. You told us to leave, but we're not going until we're sure you're safe. Tell Kitty. We're here if she needs us." She withdrew a small pace from Rachel. "Don't say those things, Ray, or I can't stay!"

Rachel nodded, accepting the fact that the mermaid had no interest in her. "It's all right, Janeesa," she replied sadly. "I'll just pretend you're Kitty, though if you ever do run into one of your kind who . . . is a female who likes females, would you introduce us?"

"I like females!" Janeesa told her, which almost caused Rachel to laugh in derision. "We can be friends, but you make me nervous. You talk so strange. How can one be beautiful?" Her mind was filled with questions that could never be answered by Robbie or her other friends. She had long since given up asking, but now Ray seemed to have the answers!

Ray's green eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Janeesa, her anger seeping away. "Beautiful . . . " She mused aloud, trying to think of a way to explain it. "Beautiful is . . . pleasing to the eye. It makes me . . . " She stopped, reminding herself that Janeesa, like Kitty, did not share her romantic feelings. "Let's just say it makes me, and would make every heterosexual man, happy to see you and leave it at that, okay?"

"Why?" Janeesa asked with a shy smile. "I look the same as the rest of my people in body form. Only my face is different, and none of us think we're beautiful. I've never heard that word before."

Rachel smiled sadly. "I'd like to be able to tell you, Janeesa, but to do so would . . . cause you great discomfort. I don't want to do that. I'd like for you to be comfortable with me."

Janeesa smiled at her. "I'll try, I promise, to trust you. Friends?" she offered.

"Friends," Rachel agreed. She would have liked to have offered her hand to the merwoman but knew better than to touch her. "But, Janeesa, it really isn't safe for you . . . or Robbie," she noted, gesturing with her head to the dolphin who was trying to hide, "here. Great evil is coming, and it isn't something that you can fight."

"We will help. Remember: call us." She ducked below the surface of the water before Rachel could argue with her more.

Robbie stared at Rachel before diving after Janeesa. That was the strangest female he'd ever been around! Something was wrong with her! Maybe she just didn't know how to act around merpeople? He'd have to keep an eye on her! He hurried to catch up to Janeesa.

Rachel sighed. That hadn't gone well. Janeesa didn't need to be there, but Ray recognized her own determination in the mermaid's eyes and knew that arguing with her would get her nowhere. Instead, she flew upwards to see where else she could help. As she was flying, she recalled that Janeesa had called Morph by name. So he was the male that she'd met! Rachel thought. Nonetheless, she was glad to be rid of him.


Kurt jumped to his feet. "You're Hercules! Zeus is your Father! And yet you came to see me! Zank you!" he said as he bowed his head. "Vhich path am I to follow? Since you vere sent to me, am I to worship you?"

Herc sighed. Kurt was going to find out sooner or later, no matter what he did. "I came to you for more than one reason. I was drawn to this whole . . . " His brown eyes flicked over the two sinking ships and the pouring snow. " . . . mess for more than one reason. For one, we share common friends. For another, . . . let's just say that the being you have worshipped before is not far from Me."

"As for which path you are to follow, I must tell you, My friend, that you should follow the hardest." His eyes returned to Kurt's face in an attempt to catch the Priest's yellow eyes. "Always follow your heart. That is what I would advise any one."

Kurt gazed into Hercules' brown eyes. "I vill follow mein heart, but I vill not be a Priest again." He expected to be struck down by lightning at that moment. He closed his eyes against it, and his body trembled.

"If the Priesthood is not in your heart, and I know it is not, then you should not follow that path," Hercules gently told him. "Your path falls with your beloved, but it will not be an easy path to follow."

"Nozing in life zat is vorth anyzing is ever easy," Kurt told him as he opened his eyes and looked down at 'Heed, who still had not woken up. He shook him just a little bit and whispered, "'Heed, vake up! You're going to miss Hercules!"

Hercules smiled as He watched the furry, blue Demon shaking the small, purple dragon. For a moment, He left the two alone to allow His eyes to scan the deck. It did not take Him long to find the two He sought, and He smiled as He watched a certain warrioress in black leather quickly climbing ropes to make sure everything was secure. He sighed deeply.

"I have something I must tell you," He spoke, His gaze returning to Kurt, "and a request I'd like to ask."

"Anyzing!" Kurt told Him excitedly. "I vill do anyzing you ask me to!" He had not missed the sigh nor had he missed seeing where Hercules had been looking. A feeling of peace had entered into his heart, and he felt better than he had in a long time. "Vhat do you vish?"

"You may find this hard to believe," Herc warned, "but it is truth. There is a mermaid in the ocean below, and she waits to help where she can. What is coming with the snow . . . " His eyes looked gravely into Kurt's. " . . . will be here before the others are ready. Go to the mermaid. Her name is Janeesa. She will answer you, and she will help. Remind her of an old legend, and she will know what to do."

"A mermaid?" Kurt said aloud wonderingly. "I zought zey only existed in legends! I vill go to her at once. Is zat all you vish, mein . . . " He'd almost called Him Lord and was afraid it might gripe Him.

"There is at least an ounce of truth in every legend, Kurt." Hercules' eyes glanced again to Xena. He shouldn't . . . but how could He ignore the chance? Taking a deep breath, His eyes turned back to Kurt. "There is one I would like to speak to but who I can not. She can tell you nearly everything you'd like to know about Me . . . and My other main name. Would you . . . Would you tell Xena I miss her?"

"Zat I can do," Kurt told Him with a smile. "She misses you too. Vhy can you not go to her?"

"It would not be fair to her," Hercules tried to explain, "and I am not supposed to connect with those I knew before leaving the mortal realm. Also . . . warn Autolycus to try to stay out of trouble; Elizabeth is not a woman who would take lightly to the . . . things he likes to do." A wry grin played over Hercules' mouth.

"I vill do this, mein Lord," Kurt said with a small bow of his head. "Is there anything else I can do to help?"

Hercules mused silently. He knew He really shouldn't, and He knew Zeus was going to be mad at Him . . . But He just couldn't help it! It had been far too long since He'd had a way to get word to His friends! Sure, He saw Iolaus constantly even to this day, but He still missed the others, some more than most.

Hercules smiled, His brown eyes shining. "Yes, if it would not be too much of a bother." He knew Kurt's answer before he could speak it and continued on. "Let Gabrielle know I'm keeping an eye on Xena and herself, and remind her not to hurt Xena. And congratulate Joxer on Phoebe. It's far past time that he found a good woman to love him."

"You know everyzing zat is going on? Can you tell me if it looks good for Katzchen and me in the future, being togezer zat is? Vill she accept me, or . . . is zere somezing going on between her and Rachel?"

Hercules couldn't help a sad chuckle. "I can not blame you for wondering that, My friend," He told Kurt. "After all, I Myself once loved a woman only to lose her to another woman. However, your situation with Kitty is much different than My situation was. Kitty's heart belongs to you. She is afraid, but Rachel has nothing to do with that fear. Nor do you."

"Can you tell me vhat mein Katzchen fears, so zat perhaps I can allay her fears?"

"I fear only time will most likely, but Kitty has lost many who have been close to her."

"She fears losing her family? Don't ve all? Maybe a Pirate's life is not ze best for all of us. Most of us don't know any ozer vay, but I know zat zere is. Zere has to be -- a safer way! Is zis vhat you're telling me?"

"Yes," Herc told him. "Kitty is not the only one with this fear. Many of you have it, but she has it especially hard right now. You must remember she just lost her mother this very night, and though she has loved many, she has very few left."

"Vhat can I do to help her?" Kurt asked. He was taking everything that Hercules was telling him to his heart. He had to get it right! Too much was riding on it!

"Be there for her," Hercules advised, "when she needs you the most, and it will come to pass, in time, that she learns not to be so afraid. Be patient, and your patience will be rewarded." Suddenly, His head snapped up, His narrowed, brown eyes going toward the dark heavens. "We must away," He warned, "and you must reach Janeesa."

"Vait! Before you go!" Kurt called out. "Vill I see you again?"

"We may meet again in person one day," Hercules replied, "but I can not promise that we will. I can, however, promise you that I am always listening." He smiled sadly. "Xena will explain the rest if you ask her and tell her that I have told you she may, and when she does, you will understand and know which way to turn." Hercules flickered out.


There seemed to be millions of mice in the galley. They kept coming out of every pore and ran over both Jack and Wesley in their haste to get away from the others in the room. Jack looked at 'Ro, wondering when the spell would end, even as he reached out and removed the cock ring from Wesley. He tossed it at the mice, who squealed and ran even faster, hoping that the ring would not land on one of their necks. "Do we need to kill all of them?" Jack queried, still looking at 'Ro.

Ororo contemplated their situation even as Kitty took a leap over the mice. Landing near a cabinet where a rack of knives sat, she sheathed her sword and reached for the knives. Then, she began throwing each with perfect aim, and more mice blood ran over the floor.

At last, Ororo's eyes turned back to meet Jack's gaze. "We need to leave them in here. By the time the spell wears off, or she finds a way to break it, he will be here. He'll finish the job for us."

Jack wriggled his pick on the last lock, and it popped free. "I'll carry him. Let's get the Hell out of here!" he told the others. He picked Wesley up over one shoulder and headed for the door.

"Jack," Ororo spoke softly, her blue eyes observing the way Jack carried Wesley over his shoulder, "that might not be the best idea."

"It's the quickest," Jack told her. "We've got to get him to a healer."

"There could be internal bleeding," Ororo replied, "and we've no idea where the healers are right now."

"Then what do you suggest, Mother?" he asked, pausing outside the door to look back at her. He was surprised that the mice had not ran out the door when he opened it. They were still running all around the room, squealing in terror.

"I could use the wind to keep him still and straight. There's less . . . " she chose her words carefully, "possibility that . . . he will be harmed further that way."

Jack gently laid Wesley on the deck and moved back so that 'Ro's winds could pick him up. "We need to hurry," he said as he turned back to look at Will and Kitty, who was hurriedly tying knives onto her belt. Jack pulled off his coat and handed it to Will. "Put this on. It'll keep you warm."

Will accepted the coat with a smile despite the danger that was all around them. "Thanks, love. Eddie tried to get me to use a sheet," he admitted, shrugging his shoulders as he slipped into Jack's jacket, "but I didn't have the time." As he pulled Jack's coat closed around him, he allowed himself to inhale deeply and let Jack's wonderful scent play over his senses.

"Wouldn't have stayed on," Jack told him. "All that fighting we just did, you wouldn't have had anything left of it. We've got others that we have to help to rescue."

Will nodded even as Kitty sprinted toward the group, phasing through the blood-soiled table as she did so. "Jack," Ororo spoke quietly, her voice barely audible to Jack and Will as her eyes sought her son's. Finally catching his gaze, she told him in a quiet but firm voice, "When this is all over, we need to have a talk." She hoped her gaze would let him know the importance of what she needed to tell him and that it had nothing to do with their earlier conversation.

More bad news, Jack thought, but he didn't say anything, just nodded. "Don't come down there, Mom. It's even deeper, and I can't wait for you. Go with Wesley, and please take care of both of you." He hugged her and then headed off as fast as he could go toward the hold.

Will chased behind Jack, knowing better than to ask about the secret meaning Ororo and Jack had exchanged with their eyes. Kitty paused in the galley's doorway, looking at Ororo. "You're not going, are you?"

"I can not," 'Ro answered simply, lifting Wesley, herself, and Kitty into her winds and following behind the men. It took her only a second to bring them up abruptly behind Jack and Will.

"Mom!" Jack called back. "I know you're back there!" He never turned but continued at a fast pace to the hold.

"I realize you do, my son, but you should also know that I can not turn my back to this situation." Without warning, Ororo lifted Jack and Will into her winds, as well, bringing Will to involuntarily release a yelp of surprise, and flew them all toward the hold at a speed faster than they could ever have ran at.


Sam glanced anxiously around, hoping to see some one who could help him subdue the Werecreature. He knew the door would only hold her for a little while. He saw three men in a group and didn't look closer, but then he saw an Angel flying upward, her red hair floating all around her head. "Hello?" he called to her, hardly daring to believe that he would get an answer from her. Must be a figment of my imagination, he thought yet she was dressed in a mortal's ripped gown.

Rachel stopped in mid-flight and turned to look at the man who seemed to be calling to her. As her green eyes gazed in question at the stranger, Morph, who had just been pushing the Mexican man off of him, ceased his actions and quickly drew the man back over him.

Rachel flew nearer to the man who was still looking at her. "Did you call me?" she asked.

"Yes! I was wondering if you had seen some one who could lend me a hand."

Rachel's bare feet landed on the deck. "I can," she offered. "What do you need?"

"We have a Werecreature to subdue. Although I am grateful for your offer of help, I don't see how you can do anything about the situation. I have her trapped in the infirmary. The door is locked, but it will not hold her long."

"If you'll take me to her," Rachel told the man, "I can knock her out."

"I thought about that," he admitted, "but I'm not allowed to do that. I am a healer. I can not hurt some one. How can you knock her out? We can't go in the room."

Though Rachel was glad to find a healer as her back was caught in the greatest physical pain she had ever felt, she did not make mention of her own pain. Instead, she assured the man, "I can handle her. I'm a telepath."

"She's in here," Sam told her as he led the way. "You knock her out; then we'll have to find some one who can carry her down to the hold and chain her. That's where we've been carrying all the Werecreatures."

"I can handle her," Rachel repeated calmly. "If you'll stand back so that you will not be in the way?"

Sam nodded. "I can't open the door. It's locked from the inside."

"That won't be a problem." Ray waited for him to step away.

Sam stepped out of the way and continued watching the girl. Rachel walked forward, not even thinking about the sight that the torn back of her dress presented the healer with. She put her hand on the knob, telekinetically unlocked the door, and opened it. A growling beast rushed at her in a blur of red and white.

Ray held up a hand, her green eyes narrowing in concentration. Telekinetically holding the clawing, gnashing Werecreature back, Rachel gave it a strong mental suggestion. The creature fell out instantly, its fur beginning to disappear even as it hit the deck.

The minute she had changed completely back, Sam scooped the woman up into his arms. "We will take her down and chain her and then, young lady, I want to look at your back."

Rachel nodded but did not speak. Instead, she merely let him lead the way. As they started to walk, however, Ray recalled the three injured she'd carried to the Ghost's deck as well as that blasted Morph's poor, unfortunate wife. "I will let you look at my back," she told the healer, "but first I have four others who need your attention."

Sam smiled even though he knew she could not see it. "I will take care of you, as well, my dear. Thank you for the help."

"You're welcome," was all Rachel said as she wondered where Kitty was and if the love of her life was okay. If they lived through this, she could just see Kitty's face when she told her of those stupid males above deck, the foolish donkey who'd allowed his burrito to go to the enemy ships and that damned Morph who dared to touch her breasts and then was stupid enough to grin about it! She sighed again as she remembered Janeesa. The mermaid's naivety was charming, but why was it that Rachel was always drawn to women who would never look at her like she did them!


Kurt could not believe it! He had actually talked to the son of Zeus, Hercules! He knew nobody else would believe him! And vouldn't you just know it? he thought, looking down at the unconscious dragon laying beside his three-toed feet in the snow. 'Heed missed ze whole zing!

Even though his heart was heavy-laden with what was about to happen, he was still happy. They had not forgotten about him! He was worthy! Had not Hercules said so? He could not wait to find Janeesa and to talk to Xena about Hercules! Still carrying 'Heed, he ran toward the ship's railing. "JANEESA! JANEESA, IT'S OKAY! I'M A FRIEND!"

Janeesa, who had been waiting nearby, did not recognize the new voice. Who could it be? Should she show herself? Even while she hesitated, she heard the voice telling her, "HERCULES SENT ME!"

She popped her head out of the water instantly. Was Hercules back? How could that be? "YES?" she called upward.

Kurt looked down. Sure enough, as Hercules had told him, there was a mermaid! He laid 'Heed on the deck and bamfed downward. Clinging to the side of Destiny's Ghost on a level with Janeesa, he told her, "Hercules said to tell you zat you can help. Somezing about an old legend." Kurt looked at her in confusion.

Janeesa smiled. This had to be the blue Demon Kitty had told her about! He was rather handsome, she thought. Aloud, she said, "It's a very, very old story all about a whale. I will have to get Herbert. He will be more than happy to help!" She dived immediately under and went in search of Herbert. At last, she knew what to do to help!

Kurt bamfed back to the deck just in time to see 'Heed rubbing his eyes and sitting up. "Did you see Him!" Kurt exclaimed in wonderment.

"Coo?" Lockheed looked up at Kurt in puzzlement. Evidently, the mirage must have lasted longer for Kurt than it had for him. 'Heed shook his head and commented once more, "Coo coo!"

"Ve must find Katzchen at once. Ve have good news and bad news." Kurt picked 'Heed up and went bamfing in search of Kitty; the little dragon was soon coughing and holding his nose.


Though the rammings against the ship had caused them to slide to the other part of the cell, Smee had resumed working on Frederic's locks as quickly as possible. It had still taken him quite some time to free his boy as his hands were shaking, his body was trembling, and his vision was blurred by his tears, but at long last, he heard the final lock click free.

The minute Frederic was free, he turned, took the pick from Smee, and began to work on James' bonds. Salem watched the boy working on his father's chains from his perch on James' head.

Smee looked one last time upon the man he had always loved and would continue to love as long as there was anything left of him and one of the two boys that they had brought up as though they were their own flesh and blood and who he could not have loved more even if he had been. Smee sniffled. Frederic would never be his flesh and blood. James would never want to have real kids with him even if it were possible. He didn't want him now. He no longer loved him. Nothing would change those facts.

Smee watched the two, knowing both were absorbed in the process of undoing James' locks. He shook even more as he glanced toward the hole. He knew what he had to do. He started to walk toward the hole as memories of the times he'd spent with James, Frederic, and Connor flashed through his mind.

Frederic was engrossed in releasing James and did not notice that his other father was moving around. The first indication he had of it was when James' eyes shot wide in terror and he shook his head so violently that Salem fell off. "What!" Frederic asked him even as he released James' gag.

"STOP HIM!"

"Huh?" Frederic asked. He turned his head around to see what his father was carrying on about and saw that Smee was heading for the hole. "DAD!" he yelled, scrambling to get to his feet.

"Frederic, it's for the best," Smee sobbed, not turning around as he came to stand right before the hole. "James can care for you much better than I ever could." Even as he was speaking the last, he brought his hands together in front of him and bunched down. "I'll always love you all, but . . . you . . . you deserve better." He jumped into the air and turned into a dive, his hands unclenching and one going instead, as it had every time he'd dove over the years, to hold his round, red nose.

"NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!" James yelled, scrambling to his feet and running for the hold. His hands were still tied behind him. He couldn't reach him, so all he could do was dive behind him.

Frederic gave the pick back to Salem. "I gotta go get 'em!" He got up and ran behind them, diving once he got to the hole.

Salem watched two of his favorite men falling into the darkness, and his teary, green eyes looked back to Jareth. He needed to be everywhere at once but knew he couldn't be. His gaze turned to Delvira, and he spit the pick at her face even as he chased after Smee, James, and Frederic.

The metal pick hit Delvira's face, and she shook, trying to shake Salem's slimy saliva off of her pale skin. Peering after the black cat who her husband had once followed after, she was just in time to see him diving after the others. At least, she thought, if they don't get swallowed down there, maybe Salem can help them get their underwear unbunched? Remembering what had happened to cause Smee to want to take his life, she thought more somberly, Poor James!

Then reaching for the pick with her free hand, Delvira looked around the cell again. Cole was working on the door, and of those who remained in the cell, Prue was the most powerful. Her black eyes skirted around the cell, trying to find the Halliwell. It was then that she realized that it was Carl's foot she was holding onto! Carefully releasing the Gnome's foot, she began to slide across the floor to the oldest Halliwell, her fingers tightly holding the pick.


Two alert, spotted ears perked in the darkness as two beings listened closely. They listened, both as still as statues, as the boy, the Vampire who shared his bloodline, and the two weak damsels headed away from the holding cell. The creatures listened until the others could no longer be heard, and only then did they begin to move.

They turned to each other, their long tails swishing and their front paws reaching out to one another. Their deadly claws unsheathed, hooked into the locks on each other's chains, and set to work. It took the jaguars only a couple of minutes to free themselves. Then, together, they stood and padded over to where their mistress hung on the wall.

The jaguars talked in low growls and tail swishes, discussing their situation. They knew their mistress would not have wanted them to free her Werejaguar form, but they also knew danger was not only coming in the air but was already all around them. These people were not to be trusted!

As soon as they had finally agreed, the second jaguar, who was only younger than the other by a few months, lowered herself. Her muscular legs stretched out as she flattened herself against the planking beneath their paws. The first jaguar crawled carefully onto the second's back, and then the younger one began to stand. It was a balancing act that few big cats would have dared to try, but they knew they could do it. They could do anything to help their mistress, and indeed, after several minutes, they had her free.

The Werejaguar flexed her muscles, then spoke to her pets. "Thank you, my darlings," she growled softly to them. "But before we go," her glowing eyes turned to the Weretiger, who was still chained to the wall but had stopped yowling and was instead watching the jaguars apprehensively, "Mother's horny."


When Helvira had set the Werewolf's fur on fire and the shebeast had ran, howling, from the room, Brendan had not known what to think. He had been too tired to contemplate the matter much and had simply slumped against the wall of the cell, glad that at least one danger was gone. He had just been released from another shock when his dazed vision saw a thick, dark blur racing past him. Her howl told Brendan that the Werewolf had returned, and fear again tore at his heart.

Brendan had seen the Vampire waging his own against Helvira, but he knew now, as the SheWolf raced through the holding area, that Vampire and Werewolf would soon begin fighting over Helvira. When that happened, there was no telling what damage might incur. At the very least, they would do each other in or Helvira would use their distraction to her advantage and do them both in herself. Regardless, the prisoners would soon be facing whichever one remained standing.

That meant that Helvira would soon be turning her attention back to them. Brendan used what little strength he had left to struggle against the chains, but he knew it would do no good. There was no way out of this nightmare, no way to escape this Hell that they had fallen into! He couldn't even get himself free, much less Prue or his father.

It was then that Brendan was taken by yet another shock, but this time, the wolf came closer to the front. He wanted out! He had to save his pack, his mate! As Brendan's head knocked backwards against the wall and a long, chilling howl escaped him, the wolf swiftly snuck past both the human's defenses and the magical collar that was keeping him down.

Brendan's muscles flexed, and a thick mat of fur began quickly spreading over his naked, bleeding body. His writhing body jumped forward, snatching at all four chains at once, even as the shock doubled. Still, the wolf inside persisted, fighting against the chains and the shocks, until the collar's spell tripled what it was giving the beast.

At last, Brendan fell back against the wall, the Werewolf subdued and the shocks ceased. He breathed heavily, sweat trickling over every inch of his body. He hurt everywhere, and as he let go and relaxed against the wall, his body slid. His right arm dropped.

Brendan stopped, puzzlement creasing his soaked brow. How had his arm managed to move? Brendan forced his head to lift, and he squinted upwards at where his arm had been chained to the wall. The chains hung on the wall, but his arm was down by his side!

Brendan's exhausted mind had barely began to register what had happened when he felt something icy breathe against his neck. He raised his free hand and felt of his collar. His eyes shot wide with shock. The collar had turned to ice! His hand moved over the iced collar, but before he could even finish checking it, it began to crack.

Brendan's eyes widened! Oh Gods, no! The collar was the only thing keeping his wolf down! Without the collar, he'd be yet another danger to Prue, Wolverine, and the others! "No!" he whispered frantically. "Stop!" He felt something lifting his arm but had no time to think about it as his collar shattered!


Elizabeth had been swinging between Destiny's Ghost and the Harlot for some time when her feet finally connected with the Harlot's railing. She tried to steady herself, but she still slipped. The fall yanked the rope out of her hands and sent her tumbling onto the Harlot's deck. She landed in a snowbank, but the fall still hurt her back and snow slipped into her cuts. She whimpered against the pain but got to her feet nonetheless.

Shivering in the cold, Elizabeth peered out at the ship's deck, but she could see nothing but the snow that continued to fall and the darkness that threatened to close in upon her. Slowly, she began to make her way, her trembling lips parting repeatedly in the calling of Autolycus' name. Receiving no answer, Elizabeth continued to call but also started calling for Will and Jack. One of her guys had to be out here somewhere! She shook again and pressed her arms even closer to her chest.

Elizabeth had not gone too much further when she thought she heard something behind her. She whirled around, but nothing was there. She walked a few more paces, then again heard the sound, whirled around, and once more found nothing. The third time she heard the sound, Elizabeth knew some one or something was following her. "WHOEVER YOU ARE," she demanded, "COME OUT!" Her teeth chattered in the cold, but she added determinedly, "I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU!"

"You should be," a soft voice hissed from behind her. The stranger's breath fell across the back of Elizabeth's neck, but even as the hairs on her neck stood even stiffer in alert, she whirled around. That was her mistake, however, for the person had been waiting for her to turn. Claws slashed across the blonde's face with such a swift fury that Elizabeth was knocked off of her feet.

Elizabeth landed on her back on the snow-covered deck. She tried to look up at her attacker and see who or what it was, but blood ran into her eyes. Her backed up hurriedly, her hands clutching at the snow. "AUTOLYCUS!" she screamed. "WILL! JACK! ANGEL!" She heard movement and knew her attacker was headed for her. Elizabeth quickly threw the snowballs she'd gathered at where her attacker sounded to be.

A deep, rumbling purr met Elizabeth's ears as her enemy easily evaded the snowballs. Elizabeth threw another one, and the purr stopped and spitting began. She must have hit her attacker, but Elizabeth still could not see for the blood in her eyes. A hiss and the patting of skin to dump off the snow assured the blonde she had indeed hit her target.

Quickly, Elizabeth tried to scramble to her feet. She could not get a firm hold, however, and continued to slide down in the snow until a yowl sounded from ahead of her. Elizabeth looked up, blood running over her pale face, and screamed again for Autolycus. She did not get a chance to scream for Will or any of the others as Catra yowled and jumped her, her claws slicing through anything they were met with.


A wailing sob escaped Dawson as he shook, coming, at last, to what he felt was an inevitable conclusion. Finally turning to face his father again, he looked at Mitch through his tears and announced, his voice sounding dull and distant, "It's all right, Mitch. I have the answer for both of us."

Thinking of how he could do it, Dawson remembered the dagger he had used and wondered where it was. Looking around the cabin, he saw where it had skidded across the floor and hit the wall. He got to his knees and began to crawl toward it. "If I can just get my hands on that . . . " he thought, half-murmuring, half-speaking aloud, " . . . I can put Mitch and me both out of our misery."

Mitch looked at Dawson with a grin on his face and an evil gleam in his beady eyes. "That's right, boy. You're heading in the right direction. You've got the answer for both of us. Why didn't I think of it before?"

"Because you were too busy beating me to think of it." Dawson's hand closed around the hilt of the dagger, and he turned once more to face the man who'd brought him into this Hell of a so-called life. "I'LL SEE YOU IN HELL, MITCH!" he yelled as he turned and plunged toward his father.


Salem dropped through the huge hole like a small cannonball following behind the others. As he fell after them, thoughts sped through his mind. He worried for Jareth and Sean. He wondered what was happening to Faith and prayed for her safety, as well. Then, as the splashing grew closer, his thoughts grew slower, and he began to look around until his thoughts came to a freeze all together.

It was cold out here, the kind of cold that came with intense snow and ice, but that was the least of his worries. Smee, James, and Frederic had already disappeared, and he was surrounded by chomping sharks and ramming whales and dolphins. What amazed the would-be world leader, however, was the fact that the sharks were biting up into the ship; the whales and dolphins were ramming the same area of the ship; and they actually appeared to be working together for a common goal and not taking any note of him!

It was then that one of the sharks turned in the water to peer up at him. Its beady eyes glistened hungrily, and the sides of its mouth pulled back to reveal two rows of huge, glistening teeth that grinned eagerly up at him. Before Salem could even begin to fully panic, however, he was surrounded by what seemed to him to be four big walls. He tried to swim backwards but wasn't able to as he felt himself sucked down between two new rows of teeth! He tried to yowl, but the water washed his cry away and rushed into his mouth, pulling him down even further . . .


Faith's bleeding and battered body shook and trembled as she wept, no longer caring about anything else. All that mattered was that the one man she had ever dared to love, the one being in all the world who she would have given everything and anything to protect, was now dead because he had come to save her. Dawson was dead.

Judson's footsteps echoed in the cabin even as blizzard winds howled outside and snow piled onto the closed door. "I tire of these games," his voice sounded dull to Faith's ears. "I tire of you being such a weakling. It's disgusting," he sneered. "It sickens me to see how one boy -- how one worthless, piece of shitt boy could make some one as wild a bitch as you once were care so disgustingly much!"

"I'm tired of you, Faith, and I'm tired of dragging this out," he stated as his hand hooked underneath her chin and he tilted her head, forcing her to face toward him. "It's time I finished you off."

"Then do it!" Faith spat out. "Do it! I don't care any more! You wanna kill me, kill me! Dawson's dead! I can't fight you! I can't even touch you as long as your telekinesis keeps me away, and you won't give me a chance to fight you straight so that I can kill you for him! It doesn't matter! He's dead! So just do it and be done with it!"

She was ready to die. In fact, she was far past ready to die. Dawson was the only thing she'd truly had left to hang on to, and now with him gone, she ached to breathe her last. This time, she wouldn't back down. The others could all come rushing in at the last minute if they wanted to, just as they had when she'd been attacked by the raptors back on the island. It didn't matter. She'd know their words were lies this time, and besides, not a single one of them was worth holding onto life without her Dawson for.

She should have died a long time ago. Then, Dawson wouldn't be dead, because of her. Now, his spirit probably thought she'd hated him, that she'd wanted him dead. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

"Just do it," she repeated to Judson. Her vision blurred by the tears that wouldn't stop falling and that she had no intention of trying to control, she looked past his legs to where she knew Dawson's corpse was. She would breathe her last with her eyes still gazing upon him.

Judson raised his hand, and Faith's sword flew to his hand. He pulled back with the blade raised to go directly at her neck, and as her executioner's arms dropped, Faith screamed out one last time. "I LOVE YOU, DAWSON! I HONESTLY, TRULY LOVE YOU, DAWSON LEERY!" The blade met Faith's neck.

To Be Continued . . .