Chapter 105

Once the Hotchner children were back in their own seats, Joey fixed her mother with an irritated look. "This isn't another bad lady, is it?"

Kahlan shook her head. "Well, we don't know for sure, but I don't think so." And it better damn sight not turn out to be one!

"This is because Dad's a vampire, isn't it?" Wyatt asked.

Jack's eyes shot to his brother's. "Why do you ask that? Just because you don't like it, don't blame this on. . ." Jack started, and the anger in his tone wasn't missed.

"I'm not blaming Dad! But think about it, if this was just about some normal person abducting him, he would have been able to get away from them," Wyatt insisted.

"Wy's right. Daddy should have been able to handle anyone," Joey added, and then they all looked at Kahlan.

She nodded. "We believe it is supernatural related, yes."

Wyatt stood up in a rush. "If this is that guy who changed him, I'll kill him!"

"Wyatt!" Jack yelled in shock.

"And I know how to do it, too! I've been researching and. . ." Wyatt continued.

"It's not them," Kahlan cut him off. "Now, sit down and calm down."

"You're sure it's not them?" he asked warily but slid back down into the chair.

"Yes! In fact, they've been helping us look for him," she told him sternly, and silently thanked God that they were because she could tell by the conviction in Wyatt's tone and determination in his eyes that he meant every word. She was also silently proud. That's my boy, she thought and then mentally cringed because she was pretty sure her husband wouldn't have approved of that. Oh well.

"Who is 'they'?" Jack asked to get the conversation moving again.

"Sebastian, the man who changed Dad, and all of the others in his supernatural family. They were supposed to come over, so we could meet them, but Dad went missing. They're good people, and I think you all would like them," Kahlan explained.

"Did Daddy like them?" Joey asked.

"Yes."

"Then they must be alright," Jack put in.

"So then, where are you all? Have you gotten any leads?" Wyatt asked.

"A couple, and we're running them down, of course, but. . ." Kahlan started.

"But since this is supernatural, it's going to be harder than anything you or Dad's team has done before," Wyatt mused.

Joey huffed. "Poppi and Mommy will still find him!"

"Of course, they will," Jack agreed with a grin.

"And since I know you won't let us help. . ." Wyatt started.

"Mom won't let us help because it would be too dangerous, and Dad wouldn't want us to," Jack butt in.

Wyatt sighed. "If you would have let me finish, I was going to tell Mom that since we can't help out there, that we would help here, and do everything we can so she didn't have to worry about us. That way she could take all the time she needed to do whatever wherever."

"Oh, sorry," Jack told him and then looked at his mother. "But, yeah, we've got home and Joe, so you can concentrate on Dad."

Kahlan smiled at her boys. "Thanks, guys."

Joey huffed again. "I don't need you babysitting me! I can take care of myself!" she insisted.

Wyatt reached over and mussed her hair. "Mom would like the house to still be standing when she brings Dad back, squirt."

They all laughed as Joey shoved his hand away. "Shut up, Wy!"

XXXXX

As Hotch led the way down another passage with the torch held high, he silently wondered if they would ever find the exit. No, there must be an exit. If they train us in the pits so we'll be ready for the arena, then there must be a way out. Unless Red doesn't care about who makes it to the pits or not. Hmmm. . . but I would think that with the attention the warlock has already given me that he really wants me to make it to the arena. He winced. I wonder if Red knows that. He sighed. He wasn't sure if making it out of the maze just to make it into the pits was worth it knowing that the arena was his final destination.

The sound of a stomach growling behind him made him cringe. But I really don't want to starve to death in this maze, either. He mentally frowned. Can I even starve to death now?

"Have you tried taking that collar off?" Copper asked as he moved to be beside Hotch.

"Of course," Hotch told him and then looked back at Tucker. "You have, too, I bet."

Tucker nodded. "Yep, but mine fits too tightly for me to even get my fingers under it. Yours is really loose, though."

Hotch pulled at the collar. "Yes, I even thought I might be able to break it with as thin as it is, but I can't," he told them as he demonstrated.

Copper's eyes narrowed. "Do you think that maybe you can't, that the magic of it prevents the wearer from being able to?"

Hotch shrugged. "I don't know. I don't know anything about magic."

"You're thinking that maybe someone else might be able to get it off, someone like you?" Tucker asked as he stopped and looked at the faun.

Copper smirked. "It's just a thought, but yours is so strong looking that I don't think I would be able to get that open even if it wasn't magical."

"Then try his," Tucker offered as he gestured to Hotch.

Copper nodded and turned to the vampire but paused when Hotch took a step back from him. "You don't want me to try?"

Hotch relaxed his torch carrying arm. "While I would give anything to get this damn cursed collar off, I'm worried about you trying."

"What do you mean?" Tucker asked with furrowed brows.

"What if something happens?" Hotch asked.

"You think there's some sort of booby trap on our collars? Is that even possible?" Tucker asked in shock.

Hotch shrugged. "I don't know. Remember, I'm the new guy."

Copper studied him. "You're immortal, so even if something were to happen. . ."

"It's not me I'm worried about."

Copper shrugged. "I'm willing to try if you're willing to let me. Either it'll work, or it won't."

When Hotch ran a hand through his hair out of habit and the chain hooked to the shackles hit him in the face, he silently huffed. If I can get this damn collar off, then I can get these shackles off and maybe find a way out of here.

He stood up straight, squared his shoulders, and nodded. "Alright, try it, but I take no responsibility if something happens."

Copper chuckled. "Got it." He stepped up to Hotch and reached up for the thin collar. His slight pause told Hotch that he was nervous, but he swallowed and grabbed it with both hands. He held it for a second and then smiled at both Hotch and Tucker as he turned it around until he had the clasped ends. "See? Nothing's going to. . ." he started as he tried to pull, but then a high-pitched scream escaped him as a bright light flashed and he was blasted backwards against the wall.

"Copper!" Hotch yelled and went to him. While the faun had obviously been affected by the collar, Hotch had felt nothing.

"I'm alright," the faun got out as he panted. "It just knocked me off my hooves."

"Did that hurt?" Tucker asked as he knelt down next to him.

Copper looked down at his hands. There was a red line going across his fingers where he had been clutching the collar. He shrugged. "It was like a really hard shock, like I had stuck a fork in an electrical outlet." He looked at Hotch. "Did you feel that?"

Hotch shook his head. "Sorry."

Copper waved his hand as he got up. "Remember, not your fault. I agreed to try. I'm just glad it didn't shock you, too."

Tucker stood up and sighed. "I was really hoping that was going to work."

Hotch frowned at him.

"What? If he would have been able to get yours off, then you would have been able to get mine off."

"Well, since that didn't work, I guess we have to find our way out the hard way, and I suggest we get back to it," Copper suggested as he started down the passageway again.

"Maybe we're getting close," Tucker offered as he moved to catch up to the faun.

Copper nodded. "Maybe."

Hotch held the torch up and brought up the rear. We can hope, can't we?

XXXXX

After unloading the dishwasher, Kahlan made her way upstairs to make sure Joey was getting ready for bed, but she found her daughter's room empty. She frowned and turned back around.

When she got to the family room and saw Goliath standing at the back door, she knew Joey was outside, and she sighed. She must be telling Fuzzy and them goodnight.

Expecting to find Joey in her chair and holding a bat or two, she was surprised to see her empty-handed, sitting on the table, and staring up at the sky. She shut the door and went and sat beside her youngest. "What ya doin, Pumpkin?"

Joey's exhale was long. "Thinking."

"About what?" Kahlan asked even though she already knew the answer.

"Daddy."

Kahlan nodded. "Anything in particular?"

Joey looked up. "Even though Daddy might be seeing different stars right now, it's still the same sky I'm looking at, right?" she asked as she looked at her mother.

"Yes," she answered even though her gut was telling her that her husband was probably stuck inside somewhere.

"Is wishing on a star like birthday wishes where if you tell them they won't come true?"

Kahlan smiled. "I don't believe so. Why, did you wish on a star?"

Joey nodded. "And I know I probably should have wished that Daddy would come home, but I thought that was too big. I didn't want to seem greedy, so I just wished that Daddy, no matter where he is or what he's doing, that he truly knows how much I. . . we love him."

Kahlan wrapped her arm around her and pulled her in close. "He knows, Joe. He definitely knows."

XXXXX

As the three males walked along, Hotch kept glancing behind them.

Copper noticed. "What is it?"

"I don't know," Hotch admitted as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I thought I heard something."

They all stopped and listened, but the only thing that could be heard was the hissing and crackling of the torch.

"Maybe this maze is just getting to me," Hotch said as he turned to start walking again, but a low growl made them all flinch.

"Or not," Tucker said as he tensed. "What do you think it is?" he asked in a soft whisper.

"I have no idea, but I don't think we want to find out," Hotch said and then grabbed the lycan's arm and shoved him down the passage. "Move!" he ordered to the others in hushed authority.

Copper only nodded as he took off at a trot.

Tucker and Hotch were right on his heels, but a primal scream behind them spurred them on even faster.