Chapter Twenty-four
All Sides of the Mirror
Will had been unable to wait for the boys and had forgotten all about them by the time a knock came on his door. "Who's there?" he called without turning around or even taking his eyes from the mirror. "Show me Jack again," he whispered to Phillip.
"It's us, Mister Turner, Connor and Dawson," Dawson was quick to reply.
When Will heard Dawson, he recalled that he had invited them up to discover the mirror and accompany him in watching the others. "Come in," he told them, "and close the door behind you."
Dawson's eyes quickly looked around the huge room, and then they were drawn straight to where Will sat, cross-legged on the floor. He had been extremely surprised to see Donkey on the bed and Will on the floor. He wondered what was going on, and then his eyes were drawn to something moving on the wall. "What is that?" he asked in a very quiet whisper.
"How can the court room be here!" Connor questioned in a trembling voice. He could see his fathers, Zora, and Vang. Were they aware that he was here? "Zora!" he cried out even as he raced to the wall. His hand touched the moving picture without going through the mirror. "How can this be?" He turned and looked down at Will. "What kind of magic is this!"
"I don't know the first thing about magic," Will told the boys, "and I wish we could touch them and join them, be with them . . . But at least we can see them and know they're all right."
"How long has this been going on?" Connor asked Will even as he sat down on his left, his eyes glued to the picture.
Dawson quietly sat down on Will's other side, his eyes desperately seeking for Faith.
Will's eyes still had not left the reflection in the mirror. "I'm not sure how long it's been happening. Eddie woke me up to show it to me." He shook his head, thinking to himself that he wasn't sure if Donkey had simply awakened him to show him the mirror because he'd known he'd want to see Jack or if it had also been at least partially due to his desire to get on the bed. "Faith's there, Dawson," Will added, sensing the boy's concern as they had not seen Faith in some time. "Phillip, show us Faith." Then he recalled the others on the other side of the mirror. "Wolverine," he questioned, "I had to step out. What did I miss?"
"Lex, calm down! I know what I'm doing, and I know you don't have any magic! That's not why I chose you!" Faith whispered urgently to Lex, who appeared extremely stressed out.
"Wolverine?" Dawson mouthed as his eyes made contact with Connor's. Where was he, and how was it that they could hear Faith's voice? He wanted to reach out and touch her again, but he knew that all he would feel was something smooth and not know what it was, so instead he turned his full attention upon Faith and what she was telling Lex. Why was Lex so worried that he didn't have magic? Oh, no! he thought. They're fixing to have a test!
"Are the tests about to begin?" Connor queried even as Wolverine's voice came through the mirror. "How can he be there and us here!" Connor demanded.
"The first test's 'bout to begin, Will. Faith has ta defeat the Spellmens ta keep Salem. If she loses, it's over for him, an' he's back to bein' a cat wit'out a chance o' a pardon. She chose Jareth an' Lex. Jareth, I understand, but why in the Hell did she pick Lex! Boy ain't got no magic, an' they have ta defeat three Witches!"
A woman's voice then carried through the mirror. "I'm sure the girl knows what she's doing, Wolverine," Rachel tried to assure him. "I don't get it either, but I can tell there's more to Faith than just being a hottie."
Connor's mouth fell open in a huge grin. "Leave it to Ray and Wolverine to get back to the trial! How did you get there! Can we get in too?"
"We're not at the trial, . . . " Rachel paused. "Connor?"
"Yeah, it's me. If you're not at the trial, where are you?"
"The beach. We're using the mirror that's here."
"Ya really think we'd be wastin' time yammerin' if we were at the trial, kid?"
"Probably not. I wonder why we can hear each other, but they can't hear us. Phillip, can you take us to the trial?" He didn't have a clue as to what Phillip was, but since Will had already talked to it and it had shown them Faith in response, he knew something could hear them.
"No," the answer came seemingly from the image itself. "It is forbidden."
"Can they hear us?" Dawson asked. He wanted to tell Faith that he loved her very much and to stop being stupid and choose somebody beside Lex. He knew Lex meant the world to her, but she needed a magic being to help them to fight.
As Phillip again answered negatively, Lex appeared to be as desperate as those watching for Faith to choose some one else. Indeed, his hands even grasped her shoulders as he pleaded, "Faith, think about this! You need a magic, a Sorcerer, or at least a Witch!"
"Yeah," Faith agreed. "That's where Jareth comes in, but I need some one I can trust too, Lex. Some one with a cunning brain able to whip up a strategy that might actually work. Ya know I'm not any damn good at planning, just killing and fucking."
Dawson blushed at Faith's comment. He did not doubt, for a second, as he had seen positive proof as to Faith's words, but it was an embarrassing thing to actually hear them out loud. Will and Connor also blushed, and not a single one of the young men dared comment on Faith's admission.
The North Pole
Lorne reached one shaking green hand up to touch the necklace that was at his throat. Chills ran down his spine even as he realized that he was head first in a snowbank with only his butt sticking out. It was not so much the cold that gave him the chills but the realization that Crys had given him her only means of protection, and he knew she had had no intentions of ever returning to them. He wanted to cry out at the injustice of it. He had to find his love and convince her that, together, they could overcome their dreaded enemy.
Not too far from him, Angel found himself also head first in a snowbank. He did not feel the temperatures and got to his feet without very much effort. Anger boiled in his veins. If it had not been for a quirk of fate, he would have been on top of his sister when she had gone through the hole, and now that self-same quirk of fate had come with them. He didn't know whether or not he could trust Delvira. After all, she had been instrumental in helping his sister escape his watchful eye.
He sniffed the environment only to be met with a smell he would not have expected to be with them. He growled. "CORDELIA!" he yelled through clenched teeth. Just what the Hell was she playing at! Why had she followed them, especially when he thought he had given her the slip? Was Delvira at the root of this, as well? He saw Lorne's butt sticking up out of a snowdrift, walked over, and began to tug at his friend to release him from the snowbank. As of yet, he did not see Delvira but knew she had to be there.
Black eyes slanted sideways to look at the young woman dressed in white who was now trembling. Delvira knew Cordelia would claim that the tremble she quickly stopped was from the snow if the men heard them, so she stepped over to her and murmured softly, her voice low enough that the others would not have been able to overhear her if not for their advanced senses. "Ease up, girlfriend. He's just acting like his sword's up his rear, because he's worried. 'Course," she continued with a slight shrug of her thinly-clad shoulders, "that shouldn't give him a right to be an ass, but that's a male for ya."
A sound that sounded both like a cough and a chuckle to the women's ears brought Delvira's gaze to the lioness who stood on the top of another snowbank, her long tail cutting out at the frosty wind. Delvira forced a smile. "I can see you know what I mean," she told Cindy, who nodded in return. Delvira's attention then went to the other two animals who had leapt in after them, neither of which she was any more surprised to see than she had been Cindy. She noticed that Elvira was looking at her tail as she helped Blue dust the snow off of his wings with gentle hands. "You okay, girl? Just barely made it, didn't ya?"
Elvira looked at Delvira and, like Cindy had earlier, nodded. Her eyes were sad, but then Delvira saw a flash of strong determination swallow the sadness. "We'll get her back," Delvira told her. "We would've already gotten her back if not for the damn Council popping up when it did. At least we know where she's at." Delvira still had not spoken a word to the two-legged males. She knew Angel was pissed and was still waiting for him to make a remark. If he ticked her off, she'd try not to take out her frustrations on him, but she damn sure wasn't promising anything. On the other hand, she couldn't help but to feel sorry for Lorne. The green man wasn't a fighter, but he was determined to get his lady love back. His feelings for Crystal reminded her of her own love for Jareth. She'd see him through this, regardless of his self-appointed protector.
"Blue, fly up and take a look around. See if you can spot your mother or some one who might know where she is. Cindy, Elvira, try to catch her scent." With those commands spoken and already starting to be followed out, Delvira herself began to sniff. Crystal had definitely landed here, and the emotions she could smell in the girl's scent seemed even stronger than the last time she had sniffed her.
The House
"Honey, you've been through a lot today. I know you're exhausted. Perhaps it would be best if I was to chain myself tonight."
Morph raised one of Celina's hands and tenderly kissed the back of it. His eyes continued to gaze up into hers. "I won't have it, darling. I can take whatever you can give out. I've always been able to."
"But still, you should not have to -- "
"I will not allow you to chain yourself," he insisted, "not when I can enjoy the rewards of leaving you free and wild." He grinned and winked at her, and a smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.
"But, Morph, really -- "
"No buts, love." He leaned in and kissed her lips, silencing her protest. She had barely began to give in to his kiss when a deep growl sounded from behind them. Celina's eyes flashed open, but Morph continued to kiss her, ignoring the interruption. The big cat growled again, this time sounding both louder and closer. Still, Morph kept Celina's face cupped in his hands and his lips upon her mouth. The third growl sent a rush of hot air over his rear end, and Morph's eyes finally snapped open. "What is it, Cindy!"
"That's not Cindy," Celina whispered, her arms holding Morph tightly to her body. "Stay still," she warned quietly.
Morph's eyes were now wide and wild with worry. There was a big cat on his rear end, and it wasn't Cindy but instead one that even concerned his wife! There was no way that that could be good! He froze and listened as Celina spoke to the jaguar.
"Can I help you, young one?" The jaguar answered her with a throaty rumble, and Celina frowned. "Why, of course, we'll help! You should have come to us sooner! Now back up so that Morph can move." She smiled at the jaguar, and Yasmine backed away just enough that Morph could run.
Morph did not run, however, but stiffly rose off of where he had pressed Celina against the wall when she had first started to show signs of running from him. He looked at the jaguar. "Isn't that -- "
"Her name is Yasmine, and yes, her mistress is Roxanne. Come, love; we must help her."
Morph frowned. "Do we have to?"
"Morph!"
Celina's exclamation was almost drowned out entirely by Yasmine's furious roar, and Morph held his hands out as though to fend off both females. "Kidding, just kidding!" He followed behind them with his hands stuffed into his pockets. He had not truly been kidding, but as long as the little white lie worked . . . He sighed. Why did Celina always think she had to help the whole world? It was a wonder they ever got anywhere with her piracy skills!
The House
Elvira had seen Brendan leave the room and had understood what was going on. Then she had remembered that she was no longer a mere Vampire and could no more trust herself than Brendan could trust himself. She hoped Gonk would be all right but had no one to entrust him to for she couldn't very well bother the girls right now, Ororo was far from being available, and Delvira had yet to come home.
She cast a glance down at the poodle who sat loyally by her bare feet. "Gonk." He cocked his head, looked at her expectantly, and whined softly. "When Delvira gets home, stay with her. Don't follow me." She left, heading in the direction Brendan had and following his manly scent.
Brown eyes looked worriedly at all the strangers. She wondered who she should approach but knew that she could not approach any of them. Instead, she stayed behind as the others began leaving until she overheard the Vampire speaking to her canine companion. The woman slipped after the Vampiress but remained on her guard. She wondered where Roxanne had gone, but one glance at the failing light outside told her she didn't have time to find her.
All Sides of the Mirror
Dawson was so agitated that he couldn't help himself. He got up and walked across the small space that separated them from the picture. His hand went out to touch Faith. Who was there that might could help? Sure couldn't be James and Smee. His eyes went slowly around the picture. Captain Jack would be of no help. Who was there that had magic? He stroked her image gently, wishing that she could feel his touch.
Connor, too, looked at their people at the trial. Who had magic besides Jareth? Faith had really not had a choice, he saw. Jareth was the only magic worker that he knew about. He looked at Will. "Are any of the rest of our people there magic beings?"
Will shrugged helplessly. "I told you. I know nothing about magic. Ororo's the Halliwells' godmother, but I've only seen her control the weather. Wolverine?"
"Kyna Chan's the only one there that can do magic outside o' Jareth. Leave Faith alone. She knows what she's doin'. She trusts Lex with her very life. I wish I could help 'em, too, but all we can do is wait an' pray." His hand had constantly been stroking 'Ro. "It's not as though we can yell at her about Kyna. The girl probably don't trust Kyna any way. Ya know she trusts very few."
Jack had almost leapt to his feet in protest as Faith had thrown her chance away. Why had she not chosen Kyna! Then she would have had two powerful Sorcerers to help her defeat the Spellmens! What help would Lex be! He had to clamp his hand over his mouth to keep from yelling at her about her choice. He could see that Lex was arguing vehemently with her to no avail. What good could Lex be against a Witch!
Kyna shook her head. She knew Faith did not like her, but the girl was making a foolish choice and foolish choices led to shallow graves.
Jareth knew that he was the only obvious choice and figured that the girl did not know about Kyna Chan. He looked at Drell. "Can I object to this choice of Lex Luthor? Perhaps Faith does not know that we have another Sorcerer on our team?"
Faith whirled away from talking with Lex to glare heatedly at Jareth. "I know what I'm doing, Pretty Boy," she growled, "but maybe I did make a mistake in choosing yer fancy ass."
"You need magic!" Jareth told her. "You do want to win? Those are three Witches that we're going against! They have all the advantages; we are at a disadvantage! We can not afford to lose Salem to begin with!" Even though her words of anger hurt his feelings, he would not let it be seen. Why did she always think of him as being a pretty boy? True, he was rather glamorous, but he was also deadly. His eyes met hers.
Faith was now headed across the court room toward Jareth and looked as though she might well attempt to kill him when she was reached him. "Why do ya think I chose yer pansy ass? I figured you'd pull out all your magical stops to save the man you once followed! And don't tell me we need to win this one! I know! That's why I picked you and Lex, you dumb ass! I'm not just picking willy nilly here! I have my reasons, an' as for as saving Salem goes, I'd lay down my own life for him!"
"As would I," Jareth told her, "but we don't need such an unfair disadvantage. Perhaps I could give Lex magic?" he said in a voice that he hoped only Faith could hear. "But then he would not know how to use it. It could cause more trouble. You're the Captain. What do you want to do?"
"Birdboy's the Captain, not me. I just happen to be your leader in this, and I've made my choice." She looked up at Drell. "I know you're bursting apart wanting to say something. Spit it out!"
"GLADLY. I WAS MERELY ENJOYING THE SHOW." He had hoped it might have gotten violent, but that did not seem to be happening. Too bad, he thought with a shrug of his shoulders. "YOU MADE YOUR CHOICE, BUT AS YOUR PARTNER IS SABERHAGEN, HE MAY ALSO HAVE A SAY. THE TWO OF YOU WILL BE THE LEADERS OF YOUR SIDE IN THIS. SALEM?"
"I say Faith knows what she's doing," Salem announced with a twitch of his tail. "Everybody, calm down. She wants Jareth and Lex. I trust her, and it's my hide on the line. Kyna may be powerful, but Faith doesn't trust her and no amount of magic in the world can make up for trust."
"True, true," Lex found his audible voice. "Though, I wonder, Drell, you say that Faith and Salem will both be in this for they are partners. What of our partners?" he questioned. "Will Wolf and Joseph also be taking part in this battle?"
Faith turned to look at Lex and, for the first time since Dawson had been taken away, grinned. Then she looked quickly up at Drell with no trace of that rare grin.
"YES. THE THREE PAIRS OF YOU AGAINST EACH SPELLMAN IN TURN. SPELLMENS, PICK YOUR OPPONENTS BUT CHOOSE ONLY FROM THESE THREE PAIRS."
Damn, Faith thought, feeling Salem against her right leg. He would let those blonde bitches pick.
The House
Elvira realized she was being followed half-way to the basement or, at least, that's where she presumed Brendan was headed. She began glancing over her shoulder but could not get a clear shot of her follower. The scent the air carried was not one she recognized and carried with it something that was not quite danger but definitely not right either. Turning a corner in the hallways that appeared to have grown more numerous than they had previously been, Elvira dipped behind a staircase and hid in the shadows therein. She watched as the woman walked around to the steps, glanced up them, and then further down the new hallway.
The woman had dark skin and long, black hair and was dressed in a torn gown that Elvira noted had originally been made with very fine fabric and probably had quite a number of petticoats under it. Now, however, it barely covered the woman. As the stranger turned again, presenting her with her back, Elvira struck. She darted out from the shadows and grasped the woman from behind. "No screams," she whispered, her black nails touching the elongated neck of the other woman. She didn't want the others disturbed from their attempts to retire after all that had happened to them recently unless it was of absolute necessity. "Why were you following me?"
"¿Qué? ¡Ningún entienda! ¡Ningún Inglés! ¡Déjeme por favor ir! ¡No signifiqué ningún daño!"
Elvira's black eyes widened with surprise, but she did not release the woman yet. "Quiénes son usted," she questioned in the Latina's own tongue, "¿y por qué usted me seguía?"
"Mi nombre es Theodora Todd. No deseo al impend sino tengo en ninguna parte ir. ¿No puedo satisfacer estancia la noche?"
"¡Me no dirigen a un dormitorio, y uniforme si fuera, no quisiera que usted acostara abajo con mí!"
"No puedo acostar abajo. Usted es a. . . ¿a era, no es usted?"
"Si."
"Estoy también. No deseo por favor dañar ningún. ¿Permita que le acompañe? ¿Encadéneme, por favor?"
Elvira released Theodora, and Theo turned to look at her. The Vampiress studied her brown eyes, reading the truth, nervousness, concern, and, above all, fear in them. She forced herself to crack a grin she didn't feel for her heart was still with Wolf as she wondered what was happening to him, Jareth, and the others. "¿Por qué usted justo no dijo tan?" Grabbing the other woman's arm, she began to run after Brendan. "¡Adelantado! ¡No tenemos mucha hora!"
The Court Room
Wolf was quick to join Jareth, his tail jerking wildly. Which Spellman would they get? Would they attack simultaneously, and if they managed to defeat the Spellman, could they move over and help against the other Spellman? He raised his hand. "Your Honor, when we defeat our opponent, can we move over and help the next group?"
"THE FIGHTS WILL RAGE SIMULTANEOUSLY, BUT YOU MAY HELP ONE ANOTHER AT PERIL TO YOURSELF."
Aslan cleared his throat. "Drell, you appear to have forgotten that there is a condition on the Spellman's part."
"Oh, yes, of course, Aslan." Drell humphed quietly. "MAGIC IS ALLOWED, BUT THERE IS TO BE NO TRANSMOGRIFICATION OF YOUR OPPONENTS AND NO KILLING."
"Damn," Faith muttered. "I'll get 'em one day, Salem. Don't worry about that." She had vowed to kill these three bitches for all the torments they had put Salem through, and she would . . . one day, just not today.
Lex looked at Joseph, who had come to stand beside him. "Do you have any powers?" he whispered.
"Yes. I control magnetism."
Lex quirked a brow. "Magnetism?"
Before Joseph could answer, Drell's voice again bellowed out. "THE DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. ZELDA SPELLMAN AGAINST JARETH AND WARREN WOLFSON THE THIRD. HILDA SPELLMAN AGAINST LEX LUTHOR AND JOSEPH. AND SABRINA SPELLMAN AGAINST FAITH AND SALEM SABERHAGEN. EVERY ONE ELSE, MOVE BACK! IF YOU ATTEMPT TO HELP, YOU, YOUR PARTNER, AND THOSE YOU AID WILL BE SEVERELY PUNISHED! LET THE GAMES BEGIN!"
As the other Pirates pulled reluctantly back, the three Spellmens rushed onto the floor, each heading toward their opponents. "I don't usually go for bald guys," Hilda told Lex, "but you're sort of cute."
"Thank you, madam," Lex quipped back with a sinister grin, "but I don't do women, especially the ugly ones."
As Hilda screeched her protest and began throwing fireballs at Lex which he repeatedly ducked for her aim was terrible, Sabrina looked at Faith with a smirk. "You could just hand him over. That'd save us both a lot of trouble."
"Go to Hell, bitch!" Faith exclaimed and charged. She raced over the small distance that still separated them and swung at the blonde. Faith's fist caught Sabrina in the gut, and she fell back, holding her stomach and wheezing for air. Faith's foot then struck out only to slam into a brick wall. Pain shot through her leg, and she fell back, landing on her side and barely missing Salem, who darted out of the way just in time. Sabrina's face smiled back at Faith from the wall. "He said we couldn't transmogrify our opponents. He said nothing about changing our own selves."
Returning to her human form, she darted in. Faith's hand shot out and caught her throat as Sabrina's fingers grazed Faith's hair. She managed to catch a handful of black hair and yanked hard on it even as Faith squeezed her throat.
The Island
Roxanne eyed the sun that was about to complete its sinking over the ocean. In a minute more at most, it would be gone entirely, and the moon would be out instead. "Sasha, I have no more time to argue. I do not know where Yasmine has wandered off to this time, but keep watch over the both of you. Slip inside when the others are not looking and stay there. I'll return in the morning. I'll be all right."
Sasha growled just as the door opened. Yasmine quickly sprinted to her mistress' side, and Celina looked from the agitated big cats to their worried mistress. "You are not going anywhere other than the basement, Roxanne."
"Surely you do not think that you are going to capture me now!"
"Look, lady; she came out here to help you and -- "
"Morph," Celina placed a stilling hand on his chest, "calm down. Roxanne, I . . . "
"Go!" Roxanne suddenly snarled at the couple as she doubled over, one hand wrapping around a column and the other going around her stomach. "Go now and take Sasha and Yasmine with you! Please, if you have any love for animals -- " Her words broke off into a yowl.
Recognizing the first signs of change and knowing that her own transformation would not be long in coming, though a life of training had taught her to be able to delay it a few minutes, Celina knew that they could not afford to waste any further time. She reached out with her mind and telepathically knocked Roxanne unconscious. The Latina crumpled to the floor, and Morph, understanding the situation entirely though his wife had not spoken a word of warning, rushed forward and picked Roxanne up into his arms. By the time he had straightened and turned toward the door, Celina was already holding it open. They ran for the basement, Celina shouting commands in the feline language to Sasha and Yasmine and telling them that they must go no further than the basement door. If they felt they owed them for helping their mistress, they would obey her at least that much. Morph prayed they'd listen but doubted that they would.
The North Pole
Angel wiped the snow completely out of his face. He was wet, and he didn't like to be wet. He turned slowly around, looking and sniffing until his nose connected with another scent. One that he had been seeking for. "Delvira, I have you to thank for this? And thank you, I do. But why did you allow Cordelia and the animals to come? They'd've been oh so much safer back at home." He spoke through clenched teeth, hoping he didn't piss the lady Vampire off, because if he did and the result was a fight before they even got started good, he knew it would not be a good thing. One of them would not walk away from it.
"Would you care to enlighten me your reasons for doing such?" Angel could be as eloquent as Jack when the need arose. He just didn't like doing it; he liked the more direct approach. What he felt like doing now was walking over, grabbing her by her throat, and demanding that she send Cordelia and the babies home, but he also knew it wouldn't work with Delvira.
He now had Lorne on his feet. He was not surprised to see tears tracing slowly down Lorne's face. "Don't worry, my friend. We'll find her. Her scent is strong. She didn't think we'd follow."
Lorne wiped his tears away and grasped the necklace more firmly. "It's not that, Angel," Lorne told him. "Look!" He held the necklace for Angel to see. The sight made Angel go weak in the knees. "She never had any intention of coming back!" Lorne moaned afterwards. "What will happen if she gives herself to him? We've got to reach her before she tries that!"
His eyes followed Blue's movement in the sky. Seeing Blue, he knew the other two were nearby and then looked behind Delvira and saw both Cindy and Elvira. He knelt and held his arms open for his children. In his heart, he vowed that, if it was too late, when they found Crys, he would defend their children with his dying breath.
Angel's hand went out and gripped his best friend's shoulder. "We'll find her, Lorne," he repeated, "though we may have to cross through Hell to get to her. Cordelia's here," he stated as a fact. Angel's eyes swept toward Cordelia. "Why didn't you stay home?" If something was to happen to his beloved in this Gods-forsaken land, he'd walk into the sun!
Cordelia finally managed to tear her eyes from the picturesque fairy tale land to look at Angel. The hurt and fear she read behind his anger in his carefully-guarded expression made her own angry look soften. She gazed into his eyes from the distance that separated them, the chilly wind tousling her long, raven hair. "You're my family, Angel, and Crystal is my sister too. I refuse to be anywhere but beside you when you need me, and whether or not you want to admit it, you do need me."
Their moment was interrupted by Elvira hurtling into Lorne's arms. The wolf had been hunting for her mistress' scent and had, at first, missed the Demon's request for her presence. As soon as she'd seen him, though, she'd known he needed her and all but flung herself into his arms.
Delvira was still ignoring Angel. She looked instead at Cindy. "She's been this way twice, hasn't she?" The lioness nodded. "Even more upset the second time through," the Vampiress murmured, "but if we want to find her, we'll head that way." She turned to look south.
Who are you, a voice laced with anger suddenly demanded inside Lorne's mind, and where did you get the necklace you wear? Answer me now, or I swear I'll turn you into ice!
The Court Room
"So you are the legendary Goblin King?" Zelda asked Jareth, circling him and observing his and Wolf's actions. "I always thought you'd be green and ugly."
"Should I take that as a compliment, madam?" Jareth questioned. "And you are the great Zelda Spellman? How does some one with the brains that you are reported to have become messed up with these two uglies?"
Wolf said nothing but watched for an opportunity, wondering what the ugly, blonde bitch would throw his way. Was it to be a war with words between Jareth and herself? He hoped it didn't involve him as his brain was on the blink at the moment.
Jack's hands gripped the seat he sat in. He wanted to rush forward and help, but he had been warned and struggled to remain in his seat. He winced when Faith's foot kicked the wall. He hoped it was not broken. His poor sister was always getting injuries. Only fools rushed in like Faith, and he worried for her safety greatly. He knew she was not a fool but was only letting her temper rule her.
James' eyes went to Hilda. He always did like the ugly women before he had had Smee. He tried not to reflect upon the ones he had had in the past. How best to defeat one? he thought. He heard her remark to Lex and thought, You tell her, Lex! Ugly, cold-hearted bitch! Hit her! Hit her! He grabbed Smee in his anticipation, wishing it was him hitting the bitch. He longed for activity and had never been one to sit on the sidelines.
Smee squealed when James grabbed him, but though he struggled, he could not break free. All the strength that James wished he could use against Hilda was instead being used to keep Smee in his arms, and yet James' gaze did not divert from the beginning trial!
The Basement
Brendan looked up as the door to the basement burst open. He had barely finished chaining his feet when he had heard hurried footsteps but would never have thought it was any one coming to join him. His surprise grew as he realized that it was Elvira and a woman he did not recognize rushing down the long, winding staircase. "What are you doing here?" he demanded. "Get out!" He wished that he could see how the moon's progress was coming so that he'd know how much time was left. "Elvira, you know what I'm about to become! You can't be down here!"
"Get used to it, big boy!" Elvira retorted snappingly as she hurried Theodora over to another set of chains that hung on the wall opposite Brendan. "Wolf bit me, and this girl's one of us too, so you don't get a choice!"
"Find somewhere else!"
Elvira snapped the chains onto Theodora's feet as Theo fastened a chain around one of her own arms and hands. "Can't do it! There's no time! Now be a good little wolf, finish fastening your chains, and shut up!"
Though he regretted it, Brendan knew that he could not argue Elvira's point. The moon was quickly rising, and soon the changes would be upon them. "Well, at least hurry!" he exclaimed.
"I am hurrying!" Elvira snapped back as she secured Theodora's last chain and checked all her fastenings. "I don't want to hurt Prue any more than you do! Or the others, for that matter!" She raced across the room and quickly began sliding herself into chains.
"¿Usted no necesita algún encadenarle, también?"
"No se preocupe de mí, novia. Me utilizan a las cadenas." In English, Elvira muttered more to herself than any one else though Brendan could still hear her and blushed at her words. "I'm just not used to wanting to stay in them for longer than a good, old-fashioned screw session." As she finished locking herself in, she looked around the room again and noted the other sets of chains on the wall. There was a set further on Brendan's wall quite a bit of ways away from him. There was a set not too far down from Theodora's place, and there was a set that hung next to hers. That set had to be meant for Wolf, and Elvira wondered what he was doing now and prayed that he was okay.
Elvira's thoughts were shattered by the beginning of the changes overtaking not only herself but Brendan and Theodora as well. Brendan threw back his head in a long howl, and the women soon joined him. As the familiar changes ripped through their bodies, they struck up a cacophony of yells and screams and pulled at their own chains. The sounds coming from Theodora were something that neither Brendan or Elvira was used to, however, but they barely managed to open their eyes and catch a glimpse of the dark fur spreading over her body before the pain caused them to writhe terribly again. Their eyes shut, and they gave in to the painful changes . . .
The last thing Elvira saw before the wolf completely claimed her was the door opening and Morph and Celina entering. Morph was carrying a woman Elvira didn't quite recognize but whose dark complexion made her think she might be of the same race as Theodora and the two might be linked. As Morph carried the woman to another set of chains and the couple began locking her in for the night, Elvira's mind gave in to the wolf who howled.
Morph was fighting to stay calm when Celina turned from finishing locking up Roxanne and looked up at him from underneath veiled eyes. "Baby, wh-what is it?" he asked shakily. Celina reached up and ran a hand over the side of his face and down his throat. "H-Honey, I-I-I'm no-not s-sure th-this is the best placeintheworldforthis . . . "
Celina was giving him no room to argue, however, for the full moon had transformed his normally loving wife into a cat who could not think past her own primal urges. She started to push him back but then fell back onto all fours. Morph looked at his transforming wife, up the stairs, and then back at Celina. Grabbing the clawing, hissing, and spitting Siamese cat, he raced up the stairs and headed with all the speed he could muster for their bedroom . . .
The Court Room
Kurt was fervently praying. He scarcely felt Sean standing beside him or Kitty on his other side, but he did feel Emma trembling. He did not realize that he was still holding her arm. His eyes opened for one brief moment and looked at the beautiful woman. He hated the pain that had passed through her. What was she thinking now? Did she wish that she was one of those out fighting?
A fireball ripped past Sean's head. "Where the Hell did that come from!" he demanded even as his eyes turned and saw that one of the fireballs that Hilda was throwing had come very close to him but nowhere near Lex. "Ugly bitch! I wish I had one tae throw back at ye!" He grabbed Kurt and Emma and pulled them to the floor as several other ones hurtled over their heads.
"You'd think eventually you'd trust my phasing, Cassidy," Kitty told Sean for she had not released his hand and had immediately rephased him when the fireballs had started their way.
"I trust ye, Captain, but it's jest safer on the floor. I'm glad the bitch's aim is so awful, though! She'd've done poor Lex in by now otherwise!"
Unlike Kurt, Kitty, and Sean, Emma had made no reaction to the fireball or to being tossed down upon the protection of the floor. Instead, her eyes remained shut as she concentrated. It was only after the fireballs had passed from their direction to a new one elsewhere in the room and she heard a voice within her head that she gasped aloud. Emma, do not make me report you. Cease your activities, or I will have no choice.
Forgive me, Xavier, she replied with much more politeness than she felt, her body turning even stiffer, but I had to try.
I understand, and I am sorry for what you've gone through, Emma. But I can not let you interfere. It would be breaking the rules. Give them a chance; I am certain they will pull through.
Emma's eyes flashed open and looked out as Lex yelled. The young man seemed to be pulling his rear end in a bit of a ways past his back, and Emma realized that he had narrowly avoided one.
It was just at that time that a strong hand clamped Jack's shoulder. "I know what you are thinking, Captain Sparrow, and it must not be done," the calm voice of Kyna Chan informed her co-Captain. She had been standing behind him for a short while now but had just then made her presence known.
"You almost got me!" Lex exclaimed. "I suppose it's good for us that your aim is so terrible!"
Hilda glared at Lex. "Well, if you'd hold still . . . " She threw out her hands, but instead of more fireballs, a cage suddenly dropped down around Lex. It was then that Hilda felt a tap on her shoulder. "Sabrina, I'm busy here. Deal with your own." But the blonde still looked behind her, and Joseph's fist plowed into her face.
The House
Cole trailed behind Piper and Prue. He had already made sure that everything was locked up tight.
Piper hesitated as Prue did not release her hand even when they neared their bedrooms. "Uh, Prue?"
"What, Piper?" Prue asked.
"I'm . . . I'm not sleeping with you tonight." She blushed. "Unless you need me to, of course."
"No, but my room's right next to yours." She kissed her sister on the cheek when they reached their rooms and hugged her. "I'll wake you in the morning. Sweet dreams, both of you." She knew fully well that Cole and Piper would not get to sleep for quite a while. She smiled at the name plates on her sister's door. Only Prue did not have an & on her door. It said just Prue, and she frowned at it. Maybe one day, she told herself, it will say Prue & Brendan. She opened the door, walked in, and shut the door quietly behind her. A lonely howl echoed, and Prue knew it was Brendan. She lay on the bed and pretended that he held her even as she fell asleep.
The Court Room
Joseph shook his head as Hilda fell to her knees. "I have never been one to hit a woman, but drastic times demand drastic measures." He looked at Lex and smiled as he realized that the cage consisted of metal bars. He pointed his fingers upward, and the cage lifted off of Lex. As Lex watched in amazement, Joseph redeposited the cage around Hilda.
Even as Sabrina pulled Faith's hair, tearing a few strands from her head, Faith's hands remained persistently around the blonde's throat. She was quickly losing air, and her thoughts were dimming. She had to break free! Somehow . . . Some way . . . Water suddenly splashed into Faith's face, and she moved one hand to dry it from her eyes and clear her vision. As soon as she got the water out of her face, she realized that her hand was empty. Looking down, she saw Sabrina growing out of the puddle of water she had become. Faith moved quickly, stomping onto the blonde's tiny frame and grinding her bare heels in. She wanted to cry with the pain that shot through her leg, but she would not give in to it.
"You know how it is," Zelda told Jareth with a flip of her hair. "Unfortunately, you don't get to choose family. These two are my curse. What are you doing after this? If you're not tossed back into the Labyrinth, that is?" One of her eyes was drawn to the flapping tail of Wolf's coat, and she recalled that he truly was a wolf. What did wolves fear?
Wolf had not taken his eyes from Zelda even though the battle raged around them and he longed to know what was going on. He did not trust this one. She seemed to be the brains of the family. What would she try on him? She didn't like him, he could tell, and she definitely wanted to get into Jareth's fancy pants.
Jareth, even now, had not taken his eyes off of Zelda. Why, the woman was brazen enough to flirt with him in the midst of battle! He'd love to see Delvira's claws upon her! "After the battle, madam, I hope to be reunited with my beloved. Unfortunately, she was returned to our home, and I am a free agent at the moment at your disposal." He waited to see if she would attack him or Wolf first. He'd dispose of her, all right, head first into the Bog of Eternal Stench! He smiled at her deviously.
Zelda noted the deviousness in Jareth's smile, recalled that he was married to that . . . thing she'd seen hanging on him earlier, and finally struck upon a plan. "Ah, yes," she commented aloud. "You'll have to forgive me, Sir. I forgot you were married, though what you see in her I can not begin to fathom . . . " As she waited for Jareth's response, she acted simultaneously and three-fold upon Wolf. An iron gag appeared over his mouth to silence him; an invisible wall separated him from Jareth; and a snapping turtle became attached to his tail!
Wolf's fingers were frantically clawing, trying to tear the gag from his mouth, when the snapping turtle grabbed his tail! He felt as though a piranha was aloose in his pants! His claws reached for the turtle, and he began circling in a frantic effort to reach the nasty, little thing! He could not even let Jareth know what was going on as they had been separated by a wall that had appeared out of the middle of nowhere! He could not see the wall but had struck it and bounced off, falling to the floor. He knew it was there; he had the bruises to show for it!
Jareth had not clue one of Wolf's dilemma. He could see Wolf standing there, calmly waiting to see what Zelda was about to do, his arms folded across his chest and a disdainful look upon his face. Jareth did not raise to the bait about Delvira. He didn't care what Zelda thought of his beautiful wife. He loved her with all his heart, and he knew that she loved him. He also knew that, if she was there, she'd make mincemeat out of Zelda. He was growing tired waiting for Zelda's attack. "Madam, you fatigue me," he told her, growing more disdainful at every minute that she delayed her attack.
Zelda smiled. "Then let us get busy, shall we?" No sooner had the words left her lips than bricks began to rain out of thin air over Jareth's and Wolf's heads. She did not expect the bricks to do much to Jareth, but she figured that it might help against Wolf, who was still fighting against the snapping turtle she'd conjured. Her smile grew. What a stroke of genius it had been to make Jareth see Wolf as though nothing was wrong! Even now, the man thought his companion was merely ducking the bricks, same as he was! She threw back her head in wicked, amused laughter.
To Be Continued . . .