Chapter 15 – The Rescue

"But we can't stay here." Helga said as she touched his arm softly. "Godric. We need to find a way out of here." Helga pointed to the sky which was slowly turning grey as it always did just before dawn. "We can't stay here, anybody could find us here."

Godric didn't even seem to hear her as she stood up. "I guess I'll have a quick look around then." She said to herself as she looked back up the alleyway. Everything was completely still and quiet except for Godric's sobs. The soft grey light from above gave an eerie look to the entire street giving her the creeps. "I wish I had my owl right now. She could show dad where we are."

There was a bright flash of flame in front of her as Helga finished her sentence scaring both her and Godric as Pyre appeared on the edge of a bin in front of her.

"Pyre!?" What are you doing here?" She asked as she reached out to pat him when he suddenly vanished in another puff of flames. Helga slowly sat back down next to Godric and cuddled up to him as well. "Maybe you're right," she said as despair grips her once more.

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A great flash of flame appeared right in front of Alexandria shocking her off the chair and onto the floor. Pyre landed softly on the covers of Helga's bed where Alexandria had been sitting since she learned the children were gone. As she looked up at the large bird she felt as though he was trying to convey something to her. Pyre began to sing softly warming Alexandria's spirit and he reached out his claw. Alexandria pulls the small lock of dirty blonde hair from his claw and looked at it closely. She suddenly ran out the door and rushed to Max's office. As she went to bang on the door it swung open and Thomas glared at her from inside. Max was sitting behind his desk with Binns standing behind him as Thomas smiled at Alexandria.

"Remember," Thomas said, as he turned his gaze back to Max, "if you ever want to see them again, you will submit to my demands." Thomas just laughed as he walked out the door shoving past Alexandria.

Alexandria watched his retreating back until it turned the corner. As soon as Thomas was out of sight she rushed into the office, swinging the door closed. She walked briskly over to her husband who was deep in thought.

"Max, I think Pyre found them." She said as Max leaps from his chair.

"What do you mean dear? Where are they?"

She handed Max the lock of hair that Pyre gave her as he swooped onto her shoulder cawing happily. Max fingered the hair for a minute. Then he ran around the desk and grabbed Pyre's tail as he took flight again. Alexandria gasped as both Pyre and her husband disappeared in another flash of flame.

"Good luck dear." She said as she fell into the chair behind her.

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Helga's eyes were heavy with sleep when a bright flash startled her. She recoiled away thinking that she was back in her cell. When she opened her eyes she could see a dark figure standing in front of her and she gripped Godric tighter while fishing for her wand.

"Thank god you're safe." Said Max walking forward and igniting his wand to illuminate the scene.

Helga leapt at her father and hugged him tightly as she cried into his shoulder. "Dad, I missed you so much. How did you find us?"

"Pyre showed me where to go. That bird will never let anything happen to Godric." He said as he held his daughter tightly. "But right now we need to get you all back to the castle. It's not safe here."

Max let go of Helga and turned to rouse Godric and Rowena.

"Come on Godric, we need to get you all home." Only then did he notice that Rowena wasn't moving. "Oh god, what happened to her?" He asked Helga.

"She was tortured, by Thomas. And I couldn't help her." Godric replied holding Rowena as fresh tears leaked from his eyes.

Helga watched as Max looked into the troubled teen's eyes. He looked around the dark alley for something. He leapt up again and returned with an old newspaper. Helga watched as it glowed blue for a moment before he passed it to her.

"Here, you and Godric use this to get home and I will bring Rowena back myself." He told her as she nodded.

"No. I'm not leaving Rowena again," Godric stated as he pulled Rowena closer, refusing to allow Max to touch her.

"I'm going to be a few seconds behind you Godric. But I don't think she could handle travelling by portkey at the moment. Please just let me take her and go back with Helga." Max pleaded.

"NO!" Godric exclaimed, pointing his wand at Max. "Get away from her now." He ordered, completely hysterical.

Max put his wand on the ground and looked straight into Godric's eyes. "I promise you, everything I own, that no further harm will come to Rowena. You have my word Godric. Just let her go for a minute and we can help her."

Godric slowly lowered his wand and loosened his grip on Rowena as Max reached out and took her from his arms. Godric held her arm right until her fingers slipped through his own.

"Come on Godric. Hold this." Helga said as she helped him hold onto the newspaper.

Godric didn't take his eyes off Rowena's face for one second, not until the world around him dissolved into a great blur and he felt himself being whisked miles away in a matter of seconds until his legs buckled underneath him as he hit the floor of Max's office.

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The moment the children hit the floor, Alexandria grabbed them both in a great big hug.

"Thank god you are both safe. I was so worried." She said as she squeezed them tightly. "I thought I was never going to see you again." She sobbed out as she began to cry.

Helga hugged her mother back but Godric just sat there exactly where he fell not moving, not smiling, and not happy. The warmth of Alexandria's hug didn't seem to penetrate the hopelessness he felt at having failed Rowena. Max suddenly appeared in the doorway alone.

"Cuthbert I need your help right now. Come with me." He ordered.

"Where is Rowena?" Godric demanded when he saw Max. He pulled himself free of Alexandria's hug and rushed at Max with fury in his eyes. "You promised you would bring her back to me. Now, where is she?" He demanded again his voice becoming menacing.

"Godric wait. She needs the doctor right now. Just let us help her and then you can see her." Max explained as Godric came towards him. "I need you to stay here right now. Please just wait."

Godric rushed towards the door and tried to get past Max who grabbed his arms and pulled him back holding him from getting past. "Calm down Godric. You can't do anything more for her right now. Just be patient."

"No. She needs me. I can't leave her again." Godric strained through clenched teeth as he fought against Max's grip wriggling about trying to get free.

"Cuthbert, help me please," Max begged as Godric felt the spell connect with his side and he turned and glared at Binns who looked as though he had been hit by the stunner. The next one hit him squarely in the chest and Godric fell down unconscious.