The Mission From Hell
Chapter 9 Part I
"Turned Tables"
By: Deep Shadows and EckoStalker
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Author's Notes: This is chapter nine folks and there are only ten chapters of this story... How will this end, will our duo survive this mission from hell and live to tell the tale or will the tale die on thier lips...? Sorry about the being dramatic part...

DISCLAIMER: Most of, if not all, of the Monsters/Creatures mentioned in this story can be founf in Magical Beast and Where To Find Them by The Mighty JK Rowling...Most of the otrher stuff is ours... Like Alexis, our bad guys and the over all scene...


A few days later...

"I'm not buying it." Jackson spoke; chin in his hand as he sat slouched at the table where the committee was seated in the small room at the warehouse.

"But sir, the other team has nothing on the couple on the east end, and we've tailed the couple we've already tried to apprehend enough to think that their just a simple couple trying to make it work in America." Andrew spoke, head of the team of agents.

"What makes you so sure of this?" Jackson questioned, watching him intently.

"Well, the one attempt at bringing them in didn't go too well, but they had refrained from using any type of magic at all, and we were... well..."

"Go on." Jackson urged him. Andrew looked a little embarrassed as he mumbled.

"We were solely beaten back by the male with... with only a frying pan. Surely if they were in a predicament to be caught they would've used magic to avoid it." Andrew spoke, ignoring the few snickers from the other occupants of the room.

"Why haven't you tried again to bring in this couple?" One man asked him, backed up with accusatory murmurs.

Andrew looked a little lost for a moment, then composed himself and explained. "We drew back for a few days and proceeded to keep a close and constant watch on them as we recovered from the encounter. We were ready to move in once more, but the couple showed no sign of being spies which confused us, never leaving their apartment within those few days, and later joining in on events that I doubt any agents would actually do. One involved actually becoming engaged. Tell me, do any of you recall spies ever going that far for a cover story?"

"Not a good enough excuse! We are still being infiltrated, and you guys say you have nothing on any of these couples?" One man yelled out angrily.

"He is right. This is no excuse. We can't be sure about any of them now." A man agreed calmly.

"For all we know, both couples could be our spies and could be taking turns trying to bust us. We can't risk anymore gentlemen; we have to find these people soon before we're ruined. We've too much at stake to have this blow up in our faces." Jackson spoke up loudly and with slight frustration at the continued failures to figure this out.

"What do you propose we do then Jackson? You've already said we can't just outright kill them, and your trusted agents can't even bring a simple team of two people, one a female, in for questioning!" A man scoffed, and the agent Andrew gave him a quick indignant glare.

"Francis, you don't think often do you. Well, probably for the better, but that's not the point. I know exactly what we're going to do." Jackson spoke, sitting back with a smug look on his features. The room of people looked at him curiously, quiet with interest.

"Gentlemen, I have a scheme in mind. Our drop off date is drawing ever closer. Any spy worth his salt would see this as a perfect opportunity to try and pull something; it would be their last chance. I can guarantee our friends will be visiting on that day, which is not far off. But this time, we'll be ready for them. No more sitting back and waiting for them to strike. This time we'll catch them in the act, like children with their hands caught in the cookie jar. Helpless." Jackson eluded tauntingly, his audience leaning forward in their seats with eagerness.

"Well? What's this brilliant plan that you have in mind?" Francis spoke impatiently, sounding a bit mocking. Jackson looked at him calmly, a huge grin spreading over his face.

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A few more days later...

Severus and Alexis moved though the snow filled alleyway, their faces covered by black masks that covered their noses and mouths. It was mostly for the cold, but Alexis had mad a huge stink about how they made them seem ninja-ish, what ever that meant. Severus was cold to the core, and they had only been outside for twenty minutes. They were back tracking themselves, making so that their coming footprints would not lead back to the apartment. After twenty more minutes of mindless navigation though snowdrifts that matched themselves, they approached the warehouse. Alexis looked to Severus and pointed up, signifying that she was going to do her 'monkey act' as Severus liked to think of it and turn off the cameras. He watched as the black clad woman climbed up a pipe with serpentine agility and then gestured for him to keep moving. He moved along the walls, keeping in the shadows with one hand on his wand.

"...Any sign of notice Ass?..." Alexis's voice asked him over the ear piece and Severus looked around the corner of the building that he had come to, searching with narrow eyes for any guards.

"None at all, bitch." He replied and he could hear her snickering. He watched as she crouched on the edge of one roof and then leapt to the other, taking care of that camera.

"You're going to fall and break your neck." He hissed at her and she snorted in his ear.

"...You only wish..." Her voice echoed over the radio as he moved to the next building, blending with the shadows like death itself. He moved though the snow, his eyes focused on the ground surrounding the warehouse, looking for dogs or men, though after Severus killed one of the dogs; he doubted that the men would set the dogs loose again.

He moved toward the back entrance and saw a singular guard in front of the door. He snickered as he made a noise loud enough for the fool to hear, making the guard rush forward. Severus waited until the man was there and Severus hit him in the face solidly, knocking him on his ass and kicking him in the face, knocking him out. Severus smirked in satisfaction.

"I've always wanted to do that..." He mused as he turned around the corner, hearing Alexis landing on the roof above him. He got to the door that he had forced entry upon more times than he could count and he knelt by it, feeling Alexis leap to the ground right behind him, watching his back. He heard the lock click and he opened the door, stepping in as Alexis backed in. He drew his wand, his senses telling him something was up.

Severus stuck to a wall like glue, his eye adjusting to the darkness quickly as he scanned for anything out of order. The only thing he noticed was that there were exceedingly more crates of creatures, which had been steadily growing. Alexis was on the other wall and Severus walked over to the wall that had the motion sensor and disabled it for the millionth time.

"...Clear?..." Alexis asked and he looked at her and then looked around, seeing nothing but crates.

"Clear." He replied and then proceeded to move down the wall, holding his wand as he crept along. He watched as Alexis took her running jumps from crate to crate, her form of showing off. He got to just below the catwalk leading to the office and Alexis leapt to the ground next to him off of the crate.

"Give me a lift." She told him and he sighed, kneeling down and cupping his hands to give her a boost up to the catwalk. As he was lifting Alexis up though, his senses went haywire with warnings and he dropped Alexis to the ground.

At that particular moment, the lights flashed on and Alexis leapt to her feet drawing her wand as Severus rose up, pulling his wand as he realized that they were surrounded.

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Alexis scrambled to her feet, ignoring the fact that Severus the Dork had just dropped her, as she gaze darted about nervously, the shadows moving as forms materialized into the light from all around them. She stepped away from Severus slightly, thinking to herself as she smirked grimly in anticipation of the fight to follow.

Not too bad.. Only about eight or so of them... I can take 'em... But that thought vanished as around her more and more big, burly-looking men slinked out of their hiding places, numbering about thirteen of the assailants, all armed with wands and miscellaneous weapons including bats, metal poles and chains.

Ooh, this could be more of a challenge... Alexis thought as she winced slightly, stepping back towards Severus. They were slowly herded by the horde of people out into the openness away from the numerous crates, Alexis and Severus now standing back to back, watching grimly. Alexis looked over her shoulder up at Severus and hissed. "This is all your bloody fault."

Severus looked down at her like she was nuts and replied. "What did I do now!"

Alexis thought a moment, but couldn't really come up with anything. So she shrugged and answered. "I don't know, I just had to blame it on something."

Severus sighed deeply, rolling his eyes as he looked back at the circle of wizards, who stared back with arrogant smirks. Alexis tensed, waiting for the first move, but the group continued to stare, and she was getting pretty annoyed. She finally rolled her eyes and growled as she unsnapped her nunchucks from her belt, twirling them in her left hand and she held out her wand with her right. "Well, let's get this party started then!"

She stepped out and called loudly. "Impedimenta!"

Severus called out a spell right after her, then both dove to the floor as a barrage of spells erupted around them, both throwing up shield spells and struggling to hold them as the spells attacked them ruthlessly.

"Now that's more like it..." Alexis spoke, leaning against Severus's back as she continually renewed the shield spell. Severus scoffed at her, but refrained from speaking as he concentrated on holding off the curses as well.

The relentless barrage lessened somewhat, to Alexis's immense relief, and a few of the assailants started to run forward under protective cover from their companions at the two spies. Alexis found it easy enough to break away. She rolled away from Severus and dropped her shield spells, jumping to her feet and swinging her nunchucks in a swirl of attacks at the three advancing men. She cracked the first one easy enough in the face, breaking his nose and sending him to the floor. But the other two jumped over him and lunged at Alexis, who backed up a few steps and went into defensive mode as one swung a metal pole at her.

She was knocked forward by another man who had appeared behind her, and immediately rolled under her pole-opponent, who accidentally clobbered his buddy upside his head. Alexis snickered, but was then slammed in the back, knocking the breath out of her. She fell to her knees painfully, shoulders throbbing as she saw the bat swinging at her again. She swung her nunchucks at it and they wrapped around the wooden tool. She then yanked and pulled the bat out of the man's hand, growling as she rose to her feet, trying catching her breath.

No such luck though as three more men ran at her, her being forced to bring up her nunchucks in a swirling attempt to stave off their attacks as she was pushed backwards. Her eyes widened as she thought desperately to herself. There's too many of them... I don't have enough time to be on the offense...

She duckedas a man threw a punch at her, and then kicked out at him. But the victory was short lived for one man whipped a chain out and snapped it at her, catching around her wrist and nunchucks.

She cried out painfully as he yanked it back, making her drop her nunchucks and making her see stars from the pain in her wrist. She growled angrily. "Wrong move mister..." She turned her wrist, ignoring the lancing pain and grabbed the chain, yanking it back and making the man stumble.

She had no chance though to attack though as a body slammed into her, arms pulling her down as the body covered her almost completely. She struggled slightly, but froze just as a green spell flew right past the man who grasped her back.

She looked up and recognized Severus holding her down. He looked up then and let go of her, and she stared at him with amazement at the stunt."Um... thanks..."

"Don't thank me yet..." He spoke grimly as Alexis followed his gaze. Most of the opponents were still up and moving, now reorganizing and grouping in to close in on them in one solid mass. Alexis knew that all that brute strength would most likely put a nice damper on their defense, but she was determined to give them hell when they did so. She thought briefly of using her flame powers, but she knew Severus was too close and would get burnt to a crisp if she did. Well... if I happen to get a few feet away from him, I might have a chance to... She thought, though with not much conviction.

She backed up with Severus till their backs hit the wall of one very large crate, no place now left to go as they tried to regain their breath to further the battle. She looked up at the panting Severus beside her, who was watching the approaching wave of assailants draw in closer with a growing look of angered hopelessness in his eyes.

She sighed, looking to the group as she spoke to him. "Severus?"
He didn't look at her as he answered. "Yes Whyte?"

Alexis bit her lip for a moment in deep thought, wondering what she could say to him, and Severus looked down at her in confusion. Finally, Alexis shrugged and spoke. "Nevermind."

Severus seemed to have a small glint of amusement in his eyes as he replied. "Likewise Alexis. Likewise."

Alexis nodded resolutely, bringing up her wand in anticipation and pushing aside the pain of her bruised self while wishing she had been able to retrieve her nunchucks as she tensed for the first wave of attacks. Suddenly a bright fiery blast erupted, blinding her. She turned away quickly, eyes closed tight as she clutched the nearest thing with instinctive reactions.

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Severus looked at their growing enemy with a mixture of anger and fear. Anger at his own stupidity of not listening to his instincts earlier and fear at the fact that they may very well get their asses handed to them. He counted heads and found that it was him and the Weird Wonder versus thirteen magically and physically armed men.

Just fucking peachy... Severus thought as he inventoried their assailants with their barbaric chain, bats, and clubs, all they need were axes and they'd have been able to pass for the Vikings. Severus felt Alexis move toward him and he shook his head, drawing his wand, seeing as he never carried any other weapon on him besides his boot dagger. For that, he cursed himself.

Severus and Alexis slowly were maneuvered out of the safety and protection of the crates to which they could hide and Severus was trying to logically find an escape. Alexis was now at his back, her smaller form pressed back against him. He was watching, waiting for the first move, the first aggression. Alexis was instead the first to make a sound.

"This is all your bloody fault." She hissed at him and he looked down at her like she had fallen off her rocker.

How is this my bloody fault... I didn't summon men to come kick our asses... He thought as he replied. "What did I do now!"

She thought for a moment, making him angry because it made him think she had forgotten their present situation and she then shrugged, replying. "I don't know, I just had to blame it on something."

He sighed at her, rolling his eyes as he returned his focus on the more imminent problem, getting out of here alive. He felt Alexis tense against him and she unsnapped her confounded nunchucks.

At least she is carrying a weapon, you moron... Though she will most likely succeed in knocking me out with them... Severus though as he heard Alexis summon them to their death.

"Well, let's get this party started then!" She stated as she stepped away from him and followed her utterance with a jinx. Severus, taking the initiative, yelled out.

"Expelliarmus!" Disarming his first opponent expertly. He saw and felt the wave of magic coming toward him from both sides and he threw up a shield spell, praying Alexis had the presence of mind to do the same. This time his hope was not in vain as she pressed against him, obviously struggling as much as him to hold back the barrage of spells coming toward them.

"Now that's more like it..." Severus heard her say and he scoffed at her arrogance, but held his comment as he threw up yet another shield spell. Had he not been in a life or death situation, he would have yelled at her.

Severus saw the diminishing amount of spells and had two large juggernauts rush forward to him. He made a fist around his wand and a fist with the other hand, knowing he was really no match for an iron bar and a bat, but willing to go down trying. He ducked the first swing, kicking the man in the shins as the other brought the bat around and slammed him in the side. The same side that had been injured before when he had to help Alexis.

"Oh, you bastard!" Severus stated through a grimace as he grabbed the man by the ear and head butted him, something he had not done in many years. He successful knocked the man back, but managed in making his head ring. He had no time to think of that thought as an iron pole was swung at his head with deadly force. He ducked and side stepped, knife handing the idiot on the neck, sending him flying on to his companion. He saw Alexis in a fight of her own, her nunchucks having been tossed from her hands. He was about to turn to his own fight when he heard the beginning of a spell that made him run like his feet were on fire.

One of the not fighting attackers had just thrown a killing curse at Alexis as Severus grabbed her and yanked her to the ground as he covered her with his body, himself narrowly missing the green jet that passed them and hit a wall. He saw Alexis go to hit him, but recognized him as she stared at him in amazement.

"Um... thanks..." She stated and Severus shook his head, not having the time for this.

"Don't thank me yet..." He told her grimly as he gazed at their attackers. Most of them were still up and moving, with the exception of Severus's bashing buddy, and they were regrouping and moving in as one solid mass. He let Alexis go as he began to back up, Alexis following him at his side. He began to think of anyway known to him to escape, but everything lead to either him dying, or leaving Alexis to die, which didn't sound bad, but was against the rules of partnership.

They backed up until Severus heard a solid thud of his back hitting a crate.

We're screwed... Utterly, without fail, screwed... Severus thought as he inhaled, ignoring the returning ache of his side. He was actually panting with exhaustion and pain, but he needed to think about the approaching doom. He looked at Alexis out of the corner of his eye and wanted to sigh.

She is about to make a 'before we go down' speech... Severus thought and as if on cue, she spoke not looking at him.

"Severus?"
I hate being right sometimes... He thought as he answered, not looking at her, but glaring straight ahead.

"Yes Whyte?" She was silent for a long time and he looked down at her in confusion.

What is going on in that head of hers... If she tells me she has to go the bathroom I am going to kill her... He thought as he watched her bite her lip. Then she shrugged and spoke.

"Nevermind."

That was interesting... For a moment there, I thought she was actually going to say something deep... But that's too unlike her... Severus thought with amusement as he replied understanding, yet not understanding at the same time.

"Likewise Alexis. Likewise."

He watched as she nodded, seemingly telling herself and her fate she was ready for death as she raised her wand. Severus tensed for the first and probably the last barrage of attacks.

Suddenly an explosion ripped out in front of them and Severus, assuming it was the final moments of his final battle, turned and covered Alexis with himself.

On a whim, in that instant, he whispered to Alexis as he tried to protect her.

"I'm sorry..." He stated as she clung to him.

He waited there for a moment, wondering why death had not come and he opened his eyes, seeing that he and Alexis we alive and way to close for comfort. He let her go as he looked at what had appeared before him and Alexis, between them and the bad guys.

"Hey guys, need some help?" Vicky asked as she held a large gun in her hands, pointing it at their assailants. Alexis looked like she was about to explode in joy and Severus, though he couldn't believe he was thinking it, he was glad for Vicky and Erica for once in his life. Erica stood next to Vicky, laden down with bottles that looked to hold explosive liquids.

"Even though we're mad at you, we can't let you die, that's Artimis's job to kill you." Erica replied as she nodded at Vicky.

"Let's rock and roll!" Vicky yelled as she cocked the gun and the pulled the trigger. A large blue bubble came out. Severus wished that he had died a moment ago.

"Damn it, wrong gun, let's make due with what we have!" Erica shouted as she sent a bottle flying, it hitting and exploding a back wall.

"What was that a moment ago?" Alexis asked and Severus looked at her like she was crazy.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, knowing what she was talking about, but willing to deny it.

"You said something when... we grabbed each other in defense..." Alexis stated and Severus sighed.

"Oh shit?... That's all I said... Look at those two; we're all going to die..." Severus stated as he covered his eyes for a moment as he witnessed Vicky fill the room with bubbles while Erica blew everything up. But then Severus saw the impossible. The bubbles were deflecting the spells. He looked at Alexis and she looked smug as she held her wand again, gesturing for them both to join the fight. He nodded and rushed forward, mildly thankful for the cover of the obnoxious bubbles.

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Alexis clung to Severus as the explosion superheated the air around them, Severus to her confusion, pulling her around to where she was shielded by his body. Too shocked to question, Severus also added as icing to the cake. "I'm sorry..."

He's WHAT! Oh well... we're going to die anyway... Alexis thought, tensed for the first waves of painful death. But they never came. She looked up, seeing Severus staring down at her. She immediately pushed away from him, shaking her head as she looked towards where the bad dudes once stood.

Several were nowhere in sight, and the rest were groaning and sprawled on the floor in front of two silhouetted people. Looking closer, she recognized them as Erica and Vicky, Vicky speaking chipperly, holding a large weapon in both hands. "Hey guys, need some help?"

Alexis could've kissed them right there, if it wasn't too weird. Fate dareth not come for me yet... Alexis thought mockingly to herself, feeling poetic as she heard Erica explain their sudden arrival. "Even though we're mad at you, we can't let you die, that's Artimis's job to kill you."

Well, that's real nice... love ya too guys... Alexis thought grimly, shaking her head as she leaned down and picked up her dropped wand, Vicky hollering. "Let's rock and roll!"

Alexis tensed, expecting a loud report of firing, but instead a huge bubble popped out of the gun and Alexis saw their enemies rising to their feet with anger.

"Damn it, wrong gun, let's make due with what we have!" Erica shouted, throwing another explosive and Alexis turned to look at Severus.

She had to make sure what he said before it bugged the hell out of her. "What was that a moment ago?"

"What are you talking about?" He covered, not meeting her gaze.

"You said something when... we grabbed each other in defense..." Alexis stated wonderingly, knowing he said it but wanting him to confirm it.

"Oh shit?... That's all I said... Look at those two; we're all going to die..." Severus growled roughly, distractedly looking to Vicky and Erica. He did! He's horrible at covering up stuff like that... wow... She thought, but pushed it aside as the first few assailants were on their feet and making their way towards them with fury. Alexis smirked, looking up at Severus expectantly as she waved her wand. He nodded in agreement, and Alexis dove forward into the growing wall of unpoppable bubbles from Vicky's bubble gun. She knew what they were; she had helped test it out when they first got it. She jumped as several spells exploded around her, but smiled as the bubbles sent them bouncing back at their casters, making them obsolete.

"I think we have a little better chance now..." Alexis spoke as she jumped up on the nearest crate, jumping along a few until she found a group of the dark wizards desperately trying to find a way to rid of the bubbles Vicky was insanely creating, laughing the whole time as explosions echoed throughout the complex thanks to Erica, mingling with the fearful screams and calls of the beasts within the crates. Alexis crouched down, tensing herself, then jumped and flipped, landing on one of the men and knocking him painfully to the ground.

"Hey fellas, didja miss me?" Alexis spoke sweetly as the three others turned around with surprise. Two immediately pulled out their wands as one pulled out a thin metal rod. Alexis's eyes widened as the rod sparked, and she recognized it as an electric cattle prodder.

She gulped, then growled and stuffed her wand in her pocket. She concentrated, attempting to call her flame powers from within her. But like before, the magic slipped from her mind, and she stood there in gaping confusion. She tried again, holding up her hands as she stared at them, willing them to burst into flames and reassure her. Not even a wisp of smoke appeared.

She looked up with wide eyes as the four men closed in on her, and she knew this couldn't just be a bad coincidence. She then drew in a sharp breath, knowing there was only one person who could've done anything about this. She yelled out in a scream of anger. "YOU ASS!"

She hoped Severus had heard it, for behind it was a promise of pain if he didn't give her a good answer when she got a hold of him.

She ducked to the ground as a man lunged at her, and she kicked out sharply in anger, growling curses under her breath the entire time as the man fell into a buddy of his. She pulled out her wand, hissing. "Stupefy!" And one of them fell to the ground in a dead faint.

Then it was as if her every nerve was on fire as she went rigid, pain coursing in waves along her body and making her see stars. It let up for a blissful moment, and she slumped to the ground, breathing shallowly as her side throbbed where it felt a red hot iron had been pressed against it. She looked up as the man with the electric prodder jabbed it at her again, but she rolled away, it hitting the ground right where she would've been, sending up a shower of sparks.

She swept out a foot and tripped the man, lunging atop of him and taking a handful of his hair, slamming his head back into the concrete and knocking him out cold. She nodded, but then gasped as a hand latched onto the back of her neck. She spun around and swung out with her fist, but the man grabbed it and twisted. She cried out as her already injured and bruised wrist burned with pain, and the man lifted her to her feet, throwing her roughly against a crate.

Alexis slumped against it, fighting for breath and trying to ignore her pain as the man pulled out his wand. She heard the spell and dove to the side, the spell instead blasting a huge hole in the crate. There was an animal-like scream of fury, and a large, grayish-purple beast exploded out of the crate, waving two huge and sharp horns atop its head and bellowing. Alexis dimly recognized it as a Graphon as it charged straight at the man who had blown a whole in the crate, trampling him under foot as it stampeded with wild confusion into the fray of chaos, rumbling towards a blasted opening in the warehouse.

Alexis pulled herself up along another crate, shaking her head in surprise as she watched it go. "It had a bit of cabin fever I guess..."

She gritted her teeth and pulled herself up on top of the crate, looking out over the chaotic scramble of humans, bubbles, and isolated fires. Several different animals were racing about the complex, taking out anything it their way. She saw Erica hiding behind one crate and busily making more explosives as Vicky kept up a steady cover fire of unpoppable bubbles at the six or so remaining assailants. But Severus was nowhere to be found, and Alexis could already hear the back-up bad-guy crew approaching.

"Well, this was a beautiful disaster." Alexis grumbled, looking towards one enormous crate where growls and squeals erupted. Her breath hitched in her throat and her eyes widened in fearful shock as a glimpse of the huge beast inside bucked about. But it wasn't the beast that frightened her, but the dark haired, pale faced man it was tossing around like a rag doll.

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Severus threw a series of spells ahead of him through the wall of bubbles. He saw his desired target fall and he moved though the bubbles. His side was killing him in that 'you-broke-something-you-idiot' kind of fashion. He moved out of the way as a wayward bat flew towards him, thrown by one of the fools trying to put themselves out from Erica's fire. Vicky Adkins on the other hand, was laughing like a bloody maniac, shooting an enormous wall of bubbles.

"Kids." He said to himself as he was bashed in the back with something hard. He felt to the floor, coughing as he tried to regain his breath. He felt himself being flipped over and he kicked his foot up and caught his assailant in the groin. Severus winced in pain and shakily got to his feet, hearing Alexis yell at him loudly.

"YOU ASS!"

"She knows." He thought grimly as he figured she had tried to use her flame powers and failed. Well, he'd get his ass kicked by her later. He stunned the groaning man behind him, fighting to ignore the screaming pain in his back as he turned to face his next assailant.

He was back handed by a large fist and he stumbled back, seeing a man who towered him by at least a foot. Severus stood up, holding his wand in one hand and clenching his other hand in a fist. A bottle fell past his head and he ducked as it hit a crate behind him. The blast made him stumble once more and he doubted if he would be able to keep up with all this chaos. An iron pole flew to his feet and he picked it up with his other hand, hating being unarmed. He raised it up and looked at the beast of a man in front of him. The man looked at him with a smug smirk and then his face changed to one of fear as he lowered his bat, backing up slowly.

Severus felt smug, thinking the man had backed away because of him. That was until Severus felt a presence behind him and his hair was moved by a wind above him that smelled foul. Severus slowly turned around, inch by inch, until he found himself face to face with a large, upset, male Tebo.

"Oh shit..." Severus hissed as he watched this beast toss his head and Severus felt himself being tossed into the air like a rag doll.

The warthog-like beast's tusks tore into his side and he yelled in pain as he was thrown against a wall. The beast came at him again and tucked its head, throwing him at yet another wall. Severus saw it coming very fast and he knew that this was going to hurt. The last thing he saw was the grain of the wood as his head made contact with the solid wall of the crate.

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Alexis jumped off of the crate that was her vantage, shoving back her pains and sprinting towards the Tebo crate. The only comprehensible thoughts in her head were that Severus was in trouble, and she had to save him. Everything else was of secondary importance. It wouldn't do to have him die on her watch.

She slowed as she approached the blasted apart crate, seeing the Tebo flipping its tusked head in agitation, stamping its saucer sized hooved-feet impatiently as its beady eyes stared at the human slumped against a wall. Even as she watched, it disappeared, reappearing as it lifted Severus in the air and throwing him into the opposite wall. Severus slumped to the ground, unmoving as the beast reared, snorting angrily.

"Okay Alexis, you majored in classes like this... no problem... a giant warthog with the ability to disappear at will. I can take it..." Alexis told herself with a wavering voice, taking a deep breath before running up into the crate.

She stepped in front of the prone Severus, holding out her hands as she spoke calmly. "Okay piggy, nice piggy... don't hurt the little human okay?"

The Tebo snorted, stamping its feet angrily once again, and Alexis didn't think it was in the mood to talk right at the moment. It vanished in a shimmer and Alexis tensed, trying to predict where it would appear next. She heard the thundering clops of its hooves and jumped to the side as the wall splintered behind her by two huge ivory tusks.

It reappeared and backed up, pulling part of the wall with it on its tusks as it turned in the partly demolished crate, narrowly avoiding stepping on Severus as it ran at Alexis with all its animal fury. Alexis backed up a step, and then as it lowered its head, jumped forward and under its legs, scrambling out towards Severus. She stood and was hit by its back leg as it turned, throwing her into the nearest wall with a solid thud.

She slid to the floor, head spinning painfully. She fought back the dizziness though as she grabbed Severus and attempted to pull him out towards the blasted entrance of the giant crate. The Tebo turned around, squealing loud enough to deafen her and stomping chips in the ground as it tried to rush at her again.

Alexis dropped Severus and turned, shooting out her hands and grabbing the beast by its large tusks, bracing with her feet. It pushed her back a few feet, but she gritted her teeth and yanked its head to the side, making it lower itself slightly and halt in confusion. She trembled with the pained exertion of holding it at bay, and heard Severus groaning behind her.

She growled out through clenched teeth, sweat on her brow. "Get... out of here... Severus..."

She heard nothing and risked a glance behind her, seeing Severus looking at her in dazed confusion from his position on the floor.

She grit her teeth, and then hollered angrily. "Get the fuck out of here you idiot!"

Severus snapped partially out of his trance of watching her and turned, trying to crawl out of the crate.

"Looks like you could use a little help girl..." Alexis heard Erica's voice, and the Tebo struggled to rise to its feet, but Alexis bore down on the tusks, lowering it painstakingly to the floor. But she knew she couldn't hold on to it much longer, her wrist was already giving out and her shoulders and back were yelling at her in their language of pain.

"NO! Grab Severus and get him away!" Alexis yelled as she slid back another foot. Erica seemed confused as she protested. "You sure-"
"Get him out!" Alexis hollered angrily, and the Tebo snorted, disappearing once or twice, but Alexis kept her shaky grip. She gave Erica a few minutes to get Severus out, and then drew in a breath as she tensed for her next stunt. She stepped forward and let up her pressure on holding the huge beast, and it jerked its head up, Alexis keeping her grip on its horns. Her arms felt as if they were almost yanked out their sockets, but she kept hold as she dangled in front of the giant warthog's nose.

She growled at the pig through gritted teeth. "Time to go..."

She then kicked out hard, hitting it squarely between the eyes. She swore the Tebo went cross eyed as it stumbled, and Alexis jumped away as it crashed in a daze to the floor. She rolled painfully out of the crate, then shakily drew her wand and breathlessly cast a charm that fixed the crate, caging the beast once again. She slumped back on her knees, breathing raggedly and looking to her side, seeing Erica standing there over Severus. Vicky ran up, yanking something out of her pocket.

"There's about fifteen more dudes coming, so we've gotta get out of here! Grab a hold of this; it's a portkey to your apartment." Vicky ordered breathlessly, holding out a glove. Alexis didn't argue as she grabbed the front of Severus's shirt with one hand and the portkey with the other. She felt the familiar yank behind her navel as the world spun around them, and she almost felt as if she were going to be sick from it as the magical device transported them to safety.

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Severus awoke wanting to die. He groaned in pain as he reached for his aching side. Bringing his hand up to his face, he could see his own blood on his hand.

Blood.. Pain... Dying... Damnit... Severus thought incoherently, unable to grab a hold of thoughts as they rushed past. His body hurt so bad, the pain was murderous. He heard someone speak to him and he looked up to see something that could not exist.

Alexis was braced, holding what looked to be a two toned Tebo by the tusks at bay. He looked at her in confusion, trying to figure out was going on. She hollered at him angrily and frantically.

"Get the fuck out of here you idiot!" He heard her and he partially registered that he was not safe and needed to get out of here. He turned and began to crawl as fast and as carefully as he could, his body screaming at him as he struggled to pull himself to safety. He watched as a pair of neon orange boots appeared before him, accompanied by a voice.

"Looks like you could use a little help girl..."

He registered the voice as familiar and not addressing him so he continued his pain filled exodus. He heard more yelling, but ignored it as he viewed the end of the box he found himself in coming closer with each movement.

Suddenly someone grabbed his arms and yanked back hard, making him yell out in pain as he was being dragged out of the box. His side screamed in pain and he almost passed out from the pain. He felt the blood from his side seeping out of him.

The dragging ceased and Severus laid on his back, looking up at a woman who seemed to glare at him. She was talking to another woman beside her, who was looking the direction he had just been dragged from. He felt her touch his side and he yelped in back, thrusting himself away from the contact. The woman who was looking the other direction caught Severus's attention as he pulled something out of her pocket. He heard them speaking amongst themselves, but he was in so much pain that listening even hurt. He wished that he would just roll over and die. Suddenly he felt his chest being grabbed and Alexis was holding his shirt.

The next instant Severus wanted to die, puke, and scream all at once, but did none as he was portkeyed away from wherever he had been. They thudded to the ground and Severus exhaled in pain, biting his lip to take his mind of his wounds. He looked up at the familiar ugly yellow-white ceiling and sighed, his head lulling back as he passed out from blood loss.


On to Part II
Hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as we did writing it...
Deep Shadows