Chapter 4 [Minutes Later]

Deborah stepped out of the woods surrounding the cabin in frustration. She'd witnessed Katherine's duress at the university but couldn't do anything there thanks to the immortal professor. Now she observed a rival coven safeguarding Katrina as well?

The Althanorian priestesses had proved bothersome pests over the previous two centuries. Bad enough they'd stepped between their efforts to stop Katrina from giving birth to her twins and almost helped her to escape their vengeance. They'd help to keep the Sisterhood's central coven trapped on the accursed land for decades.

From the mist portal she'd seen on the porch, she knew the accursed Cybelle had taken the Cranes to Althanor however she needed to know where Katherine was headed.

I will discover where you all are. Then we will finish this! We can be patient! She nodded knowing where she could possibly get some answers. Waving her hands, she disappeared from view once more.

[Sleepy Hollow Police Department]

Abbie parked her blazer in front of the brick precinct building. She sipped on her coffee and considered what awaited Ichabod and her on that particular day. She was prepared for another grueling day in the archives.

Apparently Ichabod had reached an agreement to work on a display with the New York State Museum on a permanent exhibit in the latter's branch in the Hollow. He would add some details to the public perception of the Revolution. Granted he wouldn't reveal anything about Moloch or the other demons' influence on events. Rather though the main actors' secondary activities spoke messages more quietly perhaps but just as profoundly as the primary battles and innovations.

Just hope you don't reveal anything crucial, Crane! Leave him alone, Abbie. He wants to share what he is with the world. Let him have his fun. She got out of her vehicle, collected her purse, slid her shades into place and took another sip from her drink. Then she made her way into the precinct.

"Good morning, Lieutenant Mills. Captain Irving wanted to speak with you," Richards greeted her.

"Uh, okay. Thanks," Abbie replied. She furrowed her brow. "Now what?" She crossed the bullpen and made her way over to Irving's office. As she progressed, she noted that Ichabod was nowhere to be found. "Wonder if Crane got himself in the doghouse again? Terrific." She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Guess I'd better get this over with." She knocked on the ajar office door. "Captain?"

"Come in, Lieutenant," Irving invited curtly with a beckoning curl of his right index finger.

"What's up, Captain?" she queried while coming in and shutting the door behind herself. "Something wrong?"

"Take a seat, Mills. I was about to ask you the same question," he replied frankly. "Notice anything about Crane this week?"

"He's wrapped up in that museum deal with the state. Beyond that, there are no demonic things to deal with," she supposed while sipping on her coffee.

"How's his wife doing? Crane seemed pretty stressed out the last few days. Then today he booked off to spend time with her. Sure everything's okay?" he presumed.

"She's seems out of it the last few days, Captain. Crane told me that she's been having nightmares. I'd tell her to get checked out but Purgatory does hell on the head. I was there. I know," she told him.

"He might want to do something. Maybe those priestess friends of hers might help?" he suggested. Seeing his phone's light blink at him, he picked it up. "Irving."

"Captain, this is Sergeant Richards. Did you have an 8:45 with a Ms. Edmonds? She says it's urgent," Richards announced.

"Not that I recall. Did she say what it's about?" he wondered.

"All she said was that she's concerned about someone," Richards reported. "I can send her back to you."

"That's not necessary. We'll be right there. Thanks, Sergeant," he assured her. "You know anything about an Edmonds lady coming in this morning, Mills?"

"Nope. Why?"

"We've got a visitor. Let's see what she wants." He checked his pistol in his sidearm holster. "I don't like this."

Abbie motioned toward the door. "Play it cool, Captain."

"Oh I plan to, Lieutenant. Cool as a cucumber. That's me. Just watch my back." He opened the door cautiously and peered out across the bullpen area. He could see Richards working on her log. He also saw a tall woman in a white blouse and a long blue skirt standing by the desk sergeant's post. He approached with care watching her with every step of the way. "Good morning. Ms. Edmonds, is it?"

"Indeed. And are you Captain Irving? My name is Deborah Edmonds. I was hoping to catch up with Mr. Ichabod Crane if I could?" Deborah sized up the duo as well. She knew of course who they were. Still she didn't want them figuring out who she was…not just yet anyway.

"Sorry, Captain Crane's not going to be in today. Might we take a message?" he supposed.

"Pity. Colonial history is a longtime hobby of mine. I'd love to speak with him concerning his life if the opportunity offers itself," Deborah replied cryptically. "You are his partner, no?"

"Yeah I am. Sorry. I don't know anymore that Captain Irving does at the moment." Abbie suppressed a shiver. She sensed that something was off about the visitor. There was something else about her. "Maybe there's something you can help me with, Ms. Edmonds?"

"If I can. What pray tell would that be?" Deborah presumed.

"Maybe you can help me with this?" Abbie held a crucifix in the sunlight between them.

The witch hissed at the symbol and took a step back.

"Is something troubling about that, Ms. Edmonds?" Irving queried.

At that moment, Jenny Mills walked through the door with a box of donuts in her hand. "Hey, guys. Brought breakfast. Figured Old English could use some treats before his….." As she saw Deborah, her eyes went wide. Within half of a heartbeat, she had dropped her burden and drew her revolver. "WHOA! What the Hell are you doing here, Lady? You're supposed to be DEAD!"

"I believe you are mistaken. I am so easily confused," Deborah denied.

"Yeah at the golem's hands and then before that at our resident dark Image-whatsis' mitts! Sis, Irving, she's Deborah Melville, Katrina's successor within the Sisterhood of the Radiant Heart." Jenny clarified.

"You mean she's one of the witches who banished Katrina?" Abbie drew her revolver. "Hands where I can see them, Lady!"

"So I see you all know. Pity. I fancied the game. I know where the traitor and her spouse hide. I also know where the missing child is. You will not stop me!" Deborah summoned a massive windburst and used it to stun every officer in the structure. "Fools. Let us see who threatens whom." She considered Abbie's unconscious form. "Pity the goddess will not let me kill you. But still I can send a message!" She raised her hands again, eliciting white sparks from her fingers as she drew more and more energy from the air around them.

Hey, Bitch! Ya ne'ver learn, DO YA?

She wheeled about to find the Image floating above Jenny's unconscious form. "YOU! You will not stop me this time!"

It chortled at her snidely. Ya ain't gonna do to 'em wha' happ'ned to Dee Dee and Penny. Its eyes glowed making the room's temperature drop dramatically. Ice crystals formed on the walls. Frost covered the floor. Dark energy glowed from its 'hands'. Yer bright lady don' work like tha!

"You would side with such traitors, Creature! I know where the bastard daughter is! I will seek her out when my compatriots and I are ready! You have not learned, have you? What you and Dubois did with the Forsaken was SIN!" she spat.

It screamed shrilly and uncorked a dark fiery blast angrily at her.

She deflected it with an energy barrier. "This time, Creature, we are ready for you and yours!"

COME AN' GIT SOME THEN! AH'LL REALLY WHUP YA NEXT TIME! BEAT IT!

"Next time, Creature." She considered Abbie. "Witness indeed to be siding with a bastard demon like you." She laughed tauntingly while disappearing into thin air.

DAMMIT! The Image hissed to itself. Then it noticed Jenny sitting up and rubbing her head. Ya'll okay?

"I'll live. Damn. You sure make an entrance, don't you?" Jenny groused.

Got rid a' 'er. Stoopid Lichtiebitch couldn't even keep 'em out of our hair. Wha'ver! Watch 'em. Cranie an' Kat'ina safe. Gotta check w' Little Woman an' Big Bro. With that the Image melted away into the shadows.

"Watch them. Yeah that's a big 10-4 right there," Jenny groused while checking Irving and Abbie over. She considered the breakfast strewn all over the place and smashed to crumbs. "So much for a great start to the day."

"What the Hell?" Irving slowly opened his eyes and shivered. "Who turned on the damn freezer in here? What did that witch do?"

"And how are we still alive?" Abbie queried while dealing with the pain jabbing at every nerve ending in her body. "Jenny?"

"Yeah I'm okay. That witch blew us all over the place. I was knocked out. Next thing I know, the cold jarred me awake. I heard Dubois' resident shade thing arguing with that witch and standing up to her. It drove her off. Still she knows where Crane and Katrina are. And there's some mystery daughter or something? You know anything about that, Abbie?" Jenny explained.

"Only kid I know of is Henry Parrish. He's still stuck in Purgatory," Abbie denied.

"Meantime….I've got to get medical assistance in here." Irving stood and stretched to ease the pain in his limbs. "You…both get to Wabash. If Dubois' demon's involved, that'll be the coven's next target. Catch up with Crane if you can."

"What about you, Captain?" Abbie insisted.

"I'll handle things here. You both go on. Call Brother Caldwell on the way. Understand?" he ordered.

"You bet. Hang in there," Jenny agreed before leading her sister from the disheveled station.

"So much for a quiet day," Irving groused before dialing the phone and speaking to emergency services.

The day had started off so well…..