Chapter 58: Sisika Penitentiary

"Any problems comin' in?" Sadie asked Arthur as him and Lilly got to Doyle's tavern.

"Nah," replied Arthur.

"Guess they know now we ain't in the city."

"Who? Mr. Milton's friends?"

All three people leaned against the bar counter. "Yeah, they've had patrols out ever since you boys disappeared. Well, at least you're alive," said Sadie.

"For now, yeah."

Lilly smacked Arthur's chest gently. "Would you stop that?" she asked sternly.

Arthur looked at Lilly. He was displeased, but he huffed in remorse. "Sorry."

Lilly decided to keep silent for the rest of the conversation. Sadie spoke up again. "What happened in..."

"Guarma?" Arthur finished the sentence for Mrs. Adler.

"Yeah."

Arthur coughed. "Nothin' nice."

"What happened to Dutch? 'Cause he seems..."

"I don't know. Seems as...what began happenin' in Blackwater, began happenin' in Guarma. A quick decline, I guess." Arthur walked towards the door and the girls followed.

Lilly frowned as she talked. "Now wait a minute, Arthur. This "quick decline" isn't his fault."

"I know," Arthur said with exasperation, "because of the snake."

Sadie looked at them both with a puzzled expression. "The snake? What snake?"

Lilly sighed. "It's a long fuckin' story if I'm bein' honest, Sadie. So what happened when we disappeared?"

"I started gatherin' people up as best I could after you left. And John...you know that part." The three walked down the street to their horses and mounted up. "Follow me," Sadie said.

Arthur and Lilly trailed after Sadie through the streets of Saint Denis. "So, what's your plan here?" Arthur asked Mrs. Adler.

"Well, I figure before we do anythin', we need to make sure John's even still at this prison."

"And how do we do that?" Arthur asked skeptically.

"We need to get up high enough to get a proper look at the place."

"What?" Arthur laughed. "It's on an island, ain't it? Unless you're plannin' on learnin' how to fly."

Sadie grinned. "That's exactly what we're gonna do. I've found us a hot air balloon."

Lilly's face automatically scrunched up. "Wait a minute, why do we need a hot air balloon? Adair can fly."

Sadie gave yet another grin. "The hot air balloon is just a distraction for Adair to get John out."

Arthur's jaw dropped. "You ain't serious..."

Sadie nodded. "Now the pilot, or whatever you call him, he thinks we're just in it for a lesson, a bit of a tour." Sadie let out a giggle. "He's quite the character. I think you'll like him. Anyway, you fly in, Adair stays on the shore hidden, and when you see John, you give Adair a signal and hold the guards off while she grabs John. Adair can either put him in the balloon or fly him out on her own. Think Adair can handle that, Lilly?"

"I can, and I will," Adair said in Lilly's head.

"She's all for it," said Lilly.

"Yeah but how is she gonna go in unseen?" Arthur asked.

"I will shapeshift in an animal, of course," Adair spoke again in Lilly's head.

"She's gonna shapeshift," Lilly conveyed to her husband.

"Oh. Wait, she can fully shapeshift? Into what?"

"Every animal on this earth," Adair said.

"Every animal on this earth," Lilly repeated.

Arthur chortled, shook his head, then looked at Sadie. "You know...I'm impressed. You've really stepped things up, ain't you?" Arthur said to Sadie.

"Hey, we didn't know if you was even comin' back," Mrs. Adler said. "We basically lost our leader, our co-leader, the right hand man, the left hand woman, and almost every able bodied man in the group. Karen gone fully into the bottle from Sean bein' gone, Strauss was a bag of nerves, Swanson...well, Swanson's actually gone and cleaned up his act. So I guess it ain't all gone to shit. I'm just happy you were able to find us."

Lilly blinked a few times. "But things should be back to normal soon, I should think."

"Not with the way Dutch has been actin'. Somethin' is goin' on with him. He's changed."

So Lilly, Arthur and Hosea weren't the only ones who noticed something was going on. Lilly sighed. "Well, I might as well tell you now. Someone or somethin' is influencin' Da."

Sadie looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"I had a vision about a snake whisperin' in his ear. And we got a rat, which is the same person as the snake."

"Well, shit."

"Yeah."

"Oh, by the way, I've been huntin' O'Driscoll boys. Killed two of the sons of bitches at a camp site last week."

"What?" Arthur asked with shock in his voice.

"Yeah, seems they've drifted down this way now."

"You've been a busy woman, Mrs. Adler."

Lilly spotted the yellow and white striped hot air balloon and smiled. "Wow."

Sadie chuckled. "She a beauty, ain't she?"

"From here on the ground, yes," Arthur commented.

The three people got off their horses. "Mr. Bullard!" Sadie called out.

"Hmm?" a man in the balloon basket lifted his head. Lilly thought he looked a little ridiculous with his pilot hat and glasses.

"Mr. Bullard."

"Ah, Mrs. Adler. It's good to see you, good to see you," Mr. Bullard said as he climbed out.

"These are my friends I told you about. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan."

"Ah yes, Arturo Bullard, at your service, sir," he bowed, "madam, at your service."

"Arthur Morgan," Arthur introduced himself. "This is my wife, Lilly."

Mr. Bullard put a hand on Arthur's shoulder and looked at the balloon. "Well, it's a nice fresh day for flying, sir." Arturo escorted Arthur to the basket. "A day like today and Icarus would have made it across the sea."

Lilly snorted and looked at Sadie. "Guess that's a good sign for Adair to be flyin' today."

"Of course," responded Sadie.

Lilly looked over at Arthur. "Mo chuisle. Cad é an comhartha?" [My pulse. What is the sign?]

"Croith," Arthur replied. [Wave.]

"Okay." The men continued their conversation and Lilly laughed at Mr. Bullard saying women couldn't fly and that Mrs. Adler was a "delicate flower". When they ascended in the balloon, Lilly and Sadie burst into hysterics. "Delicate flower, my ass. Wait til that guy sees Adair!"

"Now, one hates to be coarse, but on the subject of ablutions. Liquids over the side, solids...do your utmost to levee the situation until we land," Mr. Bullard explained.

This made Arthur laugh a little as he held on the chain to go higher. "Okay, Mr. Bullard."

"I had a client once who fell foul to a rotten oyster on the ascent. A decidedly harrowing experience for all involved. Keep going, sir. We need to get up above the clouds. It really is stunning up there, you'll have seen nothing like it."

As they got higher into the clouds Arthur took a look down and his eyes went wide. Not only was the view of the earth below beautiful, but he saw Adair flying through the air and that sight was amazing. Her wing span was bigger than he originally thought. Arthur saw her auburn hair flowing in the wind as she looked up and gave him a wave. "Oh...my God," Arthur said in astonishment.

"Yes, heavenly indeed. Quite remarkable, isn't it?" Mr. Bullard said, obviously not seeing what Arthur was looking at. If he had been, he'd be losing his head over it. "And feels like we have a nice westerly wind so keep her around this height. This particular vessel is state of the art, sir, imported from Europe. You won't find more than a couple of these on this side of the...oh my, that's a rather large bird down there, isn't it?"

Arthur laughed. "It sure is."

Adair smiled up at Arthur before increasing her flying speed by descending down. She laughed from the wind rushing through her hair as she dropped before opening her wings and coming to a stop for a moment. Adair spotted the island, hummed with excitement and began oscillating her wings again, heading in the direction of the island.

"So, if I may ask, what got you interested in the pursuit of aviation?" Mr. Bullard inquired of Arthur.

"I didn't exactly. Mrs. Adler thought she'd surprise me," Arthur replied. Arthur could see the island now.

"A very nice woman, and no shrinking violet."

"Definitely not."

"I prefer slightly more feminine attire on a lady, but variety is the spice of life, as they say. Or is it though? Did you know they locked up the man who wrote that in a mental asylum?"

"I did not, Mr. Bullard."

"See that building up ahead on the island? That's the infamous Sisika Penitentiary." Something must have caught Bullard's eye because he moved over to the south side and took off his glasses. "My God, that large bird we saw earlier isn't a bird at all. It's a...it's a woman!" he gasped. "And she's flying! She'll catch the vapors for sure is she's not careful!"

This made Arthur burst into laughter.

Adair landed on the shore of the island just south of a barn, making sure she was not seen. She cracked her neck as her wings shrunk into her back. She shivered from the feeling and started losing height. Her body shrunk into that of a red hawk with deep, sapphire blue eyes. She flew up onto the barn and kept a lookout, seeing the air balloon hovering near. With her sharp eyesight, she saw Arthur pull out his binoculars while the other man seemed to be panicking. She waited for the sign. After a few minutes, he waved and pointed down at where John was supposed to be. Suddenly there were bells and Adair saw John get on his belly in the fields. Bullets started flying toward the balloon. She had to hurry. Adair changed into her regular form and jumped down from the barn, running toward the man. Her wings came out and she picked him up and flew up. John let out a squeal and Adair laughed as her wings flapped.

"Do not get hysterical, Mr. Marston," she said to John.

"A-A-Adair?" John looked up at her. "What the hell? You got wings?!"

Adair laughed. "Yes, you silly mortal, I-" Bullets started zinging around them and Adair got higher. "Hang on, I shall get you to Arthur and Mr. Bullard."

Adair zigzagged through the air towards the hot air balloon. Arthur was reaching out for John when he shouted at her. "Adair watch out!"

Adair turned her head and saw a giant chained arrow strike her leg and puncture it. She screamed out and almost lost her grip on John. She was close enough to throw him. "Arthur! Catch!" she yelled and she threw John into the air.

Arthur held out his arm as far as he could as John was hurled towards the balloon. John was actually screaming and if not for the direness of the situation, Arthur would have laughed at him. Arthur clasped hands with John and the basket shook about, scaring Mr. Bullard into a fit. "This is most irregular indeed, sir!" Mr. Bullard yelled.

Arthur pulled John in and watched as another chained spike hit Adair in the wing. He started shooting at the guards operating the shooting mechanism but Adair went down all the same. How could things like that actually hurt a goddess? He watched in horror as he saw a familiar face through his binoculars. Leviticus Cornwall. Arthur made Mr. Bullard let go of the balloon chain. "Take me down! I need to go get her!"

"But Arthur!" John said. "We can't!"

"I am not leavin' my wife alone with Cornwall! He'll kill her!" Arthur barked angrily.

"That's your wife?!" Mr. Bullard asked in a high pitched tone of voice.

"Yes! Now take me down!" John grabbed the balloon chain and pulled. "John, what are you doin'?!"

"You'll just get killed goin' down there!" John snapped. "Now how's that gonna help Lilly and Adair?!"

"But I can't just...he'll kill her!"

"Arthur, we can't do anythin' for her now, but we will get her back."

"He's right, you know," came a familiar voice. Arthur, Mr. Bullard and John turned to see The Morrigan standing in the basket. "Hello, Arthur."

Arthur approached her. "Morrigan. They've got Adair! How did they take her down?"

"Iron. Those things were made of iron."

"Excuse me, but do you mind telling me what in the bloody hell is going on? I'm shaking like a leaf! My heart is pounding! I-"

The Morrigan pressed a hand to man's forehead. "Sleep." Mr. Bullard shut his eyes and slumped down. "There. Now, those weapons were made of iron. It burns us on contact, and if enough gets in or on us, we can die. Technically."

"Wait, what?" Arthur asked. "I thought you guys were immortal?"

"Immortal, yes. Invulnerable, no."

"So what about those gems they used on Lilly?"

"Those are enchanted gems, and unfortunately I have no idea how they got their hands on such items. Whoever enchanted them, whoever is working with Leviticus, knows old magic."

"How old?"

"Old magic that has been around for thousands of years."

"Jesus Christ," Arthur said. "So, how do we get her back? Cornwall is going to kill her!"

The Morrigan smiled. "Not yet, he won't. Mr. Pierce convinced Leviticus to keep her alive until the twins are born. He doesn't believe in killing innocents, you see."

"Oh thank God!" John said as Arthur kept them at a level height.

"How did he even know we were gonna be here?" Arthur asked.

The Morrigan sighed. "The rat still lives, as does the snake."

Arthur frowned. "So Molly didn't...oh God," Arthur fell on his rump and bent his knees up. "How did they know? How did they fuckin' know?"

Dutch paced back and forth in his tent, glaring at Sadie, John and Arthur. "I told you to wait. I told you to wait! Now my daughter has been captured! Again!"

Arthur shut his eyes and lowered his head. "I know."

"Dutch, this was my plan. Don't be mad at Arthur," Sadie said.

Dutch turned and growled at Sadie. "I'll be mad at whoever the hell I want!"

"Dutch, calm down," Hosea said. "I'm pretty sure Lilly or Adair can get themselves out easily."

The Morrigan shook her head, sitting on a bookstand. "No, she will not. They have her in iron chains and enchanted collars by now and I am sure Adair is refusing to let Lilly out as a means to protect her, so there is no way Lilly or Adair can free themselves."

Hosea and Dutch stared at the woman. "Who are you?" Hosea asked her.

"I'm The Morrigan, Adair's mother."

Hosea and Dutch both sighed. "Well, is there any way you can help?"

The Morrigan nodded. "Of course I can. But I need an oak tree."

"An oak tree? Why?"

Arthur chuckled. "Visions, I take it?"

Morrigan smiled at Arthur. "Clever man."

"There's plenty of oak trees around. One is by our tent," Arthur stated.

The Morrigan walked out and the group followed them. Jack came running to John and John picked him up. "Hey there kid, I missed ya."

"I missed you too, Pa!" Jack giggled. "Who's that pretty lady?"

"She's someone who's gonna help us find Lilly."

"Did Lilly get taken away again? Is she okay?"

"I hope so."

"Good. We can't go to Ireland without her."

The Morrigan placed a hand on the oak tree next to the Morgan's tent. She shut her eyes as if listening to something only she could hear. A warm breeze came through and seemed to swirl around her, moving her long red hair about. Arthur watched her as did the rest of the camp. "Who is that?" Tilly asked.

"That's the woman who brought Lilly back to life," Arthur explained.

The gang gathered around and murmured at the woman. "Where'd she come from?" Abigail asked him.

"Ireland, I guess."

"What's she doin'?"

"She's uh, you know? I ain't too sure what's she's doin'."

"They are keeping Adair chained in the depths of the prison," The Morrigan said. "Adair, my child, can you hear me?"

Arthur went and stood next to The Morrigan. "Ná é a rá. Níl a fhios againn cé hé an francach," he whispered. [Do not say it. We don't know who the rat is.]

"I must say your Gaeilge is coming along nicely, Arthur, but do not worry. The brathadóir and the nathair will not be able to get the word out that I am here." [The rat and tje snake]

"Why not?"

The Morrigan opened an eye with a smile on her face. "If they try to, Brian and James have my orders to eat them. But let us talk of this later. I must speak with my daughter."

Arthur nodded and took a step back. "Does she hear you?"

"Yes." The Morrigan shut her eye again. "She is in pain from the iron shackles but she refuses to let Lilly out. Lilly is not happy about it."

Arthur approached again. "Why?"

"Because...oh my, such language," Morrigan said with a chuckle. "What a mouth on that girl."

Arthur laughed. "I can only imagine."

The Morrigan looked at Arthur curiously. "You can do more than imagine, Arthur Morgan. Take my hand." The Morrigan held out her hand and Arthur grabbed it. "Now, put the other one on the tree."

Arthur did as he was told and gasped loudly.

Lilly sits in darkness, alone. Arthur walks through the darkness and approaches her. "Lilly," he says. "Are you alright?"

Lilly lifts her head and gets up. "Arthur? Is that you?"

Arthur chuckles. "Yes it's me, woman!"

Lilly smiles and runs into him, kissing him with a deep, affectionate kiss. He wraps his arms around her and kisses her as well. "Arthur, how are you here?" she asks him.

"The Morrigan is connecting us somehow. I'm at an oak tree with her."

"Oh. Did John make it?"

"Yes, John made it just fine."

"Good. Oh, Arthur!" Lilly hugs him tightly and Arthur does the same to her. "I'm sorry for gettin' kidnapped. Again."

Arthur chortles. "Don't you worry, mo ghrá. We'll get you out somehow, I promise."

Lilly and Arthur kiss again and Lilly giggles. "This is very strange."

"Is this what it's like when Adair is out and you're in?"

"Sometimes. Which is why I'm so mad that Adair won't let me out."

"She's protectin' you and the babies."

"I know, but still, I'd feel better if-ow!" Lilly pulls back and touches her arm. "Oh no...they're torturin' her again."

"Why?"

"To get me to come out. It's how they got her to come out when I was flogged."

Arthur gapes at her. "That's why they did that?"

"To confirm that I was Adair, yes, but I-ow!" Lilly touches the back of her head. "Assholes..."

"Why do they want you to cone out?"

"Uncle Levi wants to talk to me and I ain't talkin' to that mother fuckin' mingin."

Arthur laughs and holds her close. "Tá grá agam duit," he says to her. [I love you.]

"Tá grá agam duit," [I love you.] she repeats. "And make sure you drink the goats milk. I made some earlier today, it should be cooled by now."

"Arthur, we must not maintain the connection any longer. It will strain your physical body too much if we do," The Morrigan says.

Arthur kisses Lilly once more. "I'm comin' for you, understand?" he says, holding her face in his hands and kissing her again. "I'm comin' for you, mo stór."

Arthur took a deep breath and started hacking away as he walked from the tree. He coughed up blood and grabbed his hankerchief, covering his mouth with the cloth. People tried to help him but he waved them off. "I'm okay, just gimme a minute."

He continued coughing as Dutch approached him. "You alright, son?"

Arthur spit on the ground and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just...I'm fine."

The Morrigan looked at Dutch and smiled. "Sir, your daughter is safe for the time being, but we must get her out soon. I fear the captivity will put a strain on her and the bairns."

Arthur looked at The Morrigan. "So, what do we do?"

The Morrigan smiled. "She shall be moved by train in three days time to a place called New York City. Leviticus plans on taking her to Ireland for the remainder of her pregnancy. You boys have experience with robbing trains, yes?"

Arthur chuckled. "Uh, yes ma'am, we do."

"Good. This should be easy for you. Now, the train will leave from Saint Denis in three days at midnight. You have until then to plan and execute. Oh, and she will be in an iron plated cage of some sort. One with no windows."

"You're talkin' about a train container, I think."

"Yes. I will see you boys in three days time in Saint Denis." And with that, The Morrigan started walking out of camp.

Arthur ran after her. "Well, wait a minute, Morrigan."

She stopped and turned around with a smile. "Yes?"

"Well, the babies and my wife. Will they be safe until we rescue her?"

"Yes, for the most part. Any other questions?"

"No."

"Not even about healing your tuberculosis?"

Arthur sighed. "I'm only concerned about getting my wife back right now. If you and I meet again, I'll ask."

"Oh, you'll be healed. Just not yet."

Arthur blinked at her. "Re...really?"

The Morrigan walked to him and enveloped him in her arms. "Yes, Mr. Morgan. But all in due time."

Arthur hugged her as well. "Thank you."

The Morrigan pulled back and smiled. "You're welcome. Now, you better get to planning. Remember. Saint Denis train station, midnight, in three days. Do not be late." And with that, The Morrigan walked down the trail and disappeared into thing air.

Adair was on her knees, chained down to the floor by her ankles, legs, wrists, arms, and neck. Her wings were also chained down by iron and any movement made by her was complete and utter torture. She was in a dark cage somewhere under the Sisika Penitentiary. A door opened and Leviticus Cornwall walked in. He bowed at the waist and chuckled.

"My my, what a magnificent creature you are, Adair, daughter of The Morrigan and The Dagda, Goddess of Hunting, War, and Death," said Leviticus. Adair said nothing, but she glared at him intensely. He stood up straight. "I would like to speak to my niece."

Adair still said nothing, and Leviticus pulled out a cane with an iron tip. He hit Adair in the face with it and she groaned.

"I want to speak to Lilly."

"You cannot speak to her, you devious mortal!" Adair growled. "She does not wish to speak with you."

Leviticus cocked his head. "Oh, so she can hear me. Well, that makes this easier. Lilly, since you can hear me, I would like you to know that when the twins are born, they shall be in my care. And I promise to raise them as my own. And I will always speak highly of their mother."

Adair scowled at him. "He canna take 'em away from me!" Lilly sobbed in Adair's head.

"He will not take them from you, lass. I shall make sure if it."

"Oh really? All the way from down there?" Leviticus asked.

Suddenly Lilly had an idea.

"My vision. Tell him how he dies."

Adair smiled evily. "Oh clever, Lilly. That is a good idea."

Leviticus scoffed. "What's a good idea?"

Adair smiled up at the man maliciously. "We know how you die, old man. Would you like to know?"

Leviticus chuckled. "Oh? Sure, why not?"

"You get shot."

"By whom?"

"Ha! Wouldn't you like to know, but Lilly and I will be there to laugh in your face when you perish."

The door opened again and Mr. Pierce came in. "Sir, it's time."

Leviticus nodded, swung the cane and hit Adair in the face again. She groaned then cackled softly. "All you do is lie, little goddess."

Leviticus turned and walked out. When he slammed the door shut, Mr. Pierce cringed and looked at Adair. "What did you say to him?"

"Oooooh, we should tell him how he dies, too."

Adair cackled again. "You know how you are going to perish, little human? You get eaten by Lilly's brothers."

"Lilly's brothers are dead," Pierce said in disbelief.

"No, they are not. They have been reincarnated, too. Why else would Lilly choose to name them Brian and James?"

"Her wolves? Her wolves are truly Brian and James?"

"Yes. And you and Brutus will be eaten alive by them both. In fact, I might even join in." Adair started cackling loudly as Mr. Pierce left the room in a hurry, but she got louder even when he had gone.