Chapter Thirty-one

Jack & Will's Bedroom

Ignoring the concern over whatever the mirror was now showing, Dawson spoke up again and once more demanded to see Faith. The mirror's reflection shimmered and then revealed the sight of Faith falling. She had managed to grab his double and Salem and had somehow gotten herself beneath them. Dawson immediately knew what she intended -- to give her own life in trying to save theirs -- and screamed at her.

The real Dawson made a decision and jumped through Phillip. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, but once they had, he looked up only to find the air empty. His panicked gaze instantly turned to the ground as his heart hammered in his ears. His eyes fell upon Faith, and his heart almost forgot to beat entirely before then picking back up at a pace even faster than his feet's running pace as he raced across the sand to his love.

Dawson fell on his knees beside Faith, and his trembling hands checked her for breathing. She was breathing shallowly but was unconscious. Even in the darkness, he could see some of the blood that poured from her prone body and noticed some of the odd angles that her bones were laying in.

What Dawson did not see were the bodies of his double or Salem. Remembering Jack and Lex, he leapt to his feet and ran to the edge of where he had seen them fall. He glanced up again and realized that it was forever to the ground. Looking at the ground, he still found no sign of Jack or Lex and so quickly returned to Faith's side.

How badly was his beloved hurt? A fall like she had taken could have killed anybody, but yet she still breathed . . . For how long? he wondered fearfully. He knelt beside her, his voice pleading with her to return to him. "Open your eyes, Faith. You're not dead. You saved us!"

Tears were falling down his face. He could not believe that his poor love was always getting hurt and constantly coming so close to death, and he vowed to find a way to keep her from suffering such once the trials were over. He would become a better Pirate so that he would be able to take better care of her, whether she wanted him to or not. His tears fell upon Faith's face.

The Beach/Jack & Will's Bedroom

As soon as Dawson had leapt through Phillip, Phillip had returned to showing his previous request. At first, Trina didn't see Andrew. All she saw was a family gathered around an old woman on a bed. Then, from the dark shadows at the head of the bed, a glowing light appeared. She leaned closer for a better look, and then a sob broke free from her mouth as Andrew appeared.

Carlos eyed the mirror, his blade still at the ready. There was Andrew, sure enough. He was alive and glowing! The Mexican's eyes widened. Could the nonsense he had told them last night actually be the truth?

Somewhere

The best part of Andrew's job was collecting the blessed souls that would be reunited with the Heavenly Father. He smiled at the old lady and held out his hand. He hated the grief her passing would bring to the family, but he never dwelled on it. He simply did what he was told and collected the souls that were ready or not so ready, as in some turbulent cases where he even had to fight with the unwilling soul to leave the body. He had one now that he was dealing with at the headquarters, and he did not know how it would turn out. They had been fighting with it for quite a while, but it was extremely reluctant to go and straining mightily to return to the Earth even though its body no longer existed.

The old lady's spirit took Andrew's hand and smiled. He paused just long enough for her spirit to look back at the frail, old body laying on the bed with her family gathered in grief. The spirit felt joyous despite the fact that it had had to pass to get in the state that it was now in. She could not remember ever being so light and carefree, and Andrew led her steadily onward and deposited her safely back at the gates of Heaven before returning to the headquarters.

He felt a presence growing ever closer, and he looked around but saw no one. There had been many who had tried to get in, but unless they were actually fetched, they could not gain Heaven.

He could hear the angry shouts of the being they were trying to get to pass. The closer he got, the louder the shouts became, and he knew that his Superiors were not having much more cooperation out of the being than he had had. He couldn't blame the being. After all, he himself had not wanted to return but would have liked to have continued being a Pirate and actually having the woman who he loved in his arms and by his side, but his time had run out and he had had to return.

He flew in, went to his desk, and began to fill out paperwork. How many did that make that day? he wondered and saw that there was quite a stack of folders on his desk. He would have to ask for some help later to catch up on the paperwork. There was just too much of it! Too many people had been dying lately, and for every one that passed, there was paperwork that had to be filled out! He did not try to get closer to the being who was giving so much trouble. He wished he could return it to its earthly dwelling.

It was then that the alarm sounded. Why were people fighting to get into Heaven? Andrew wanted to know. It had to be one of the more boring places in existence. How could they read a small, earthly-bound book written by men, reportedly written by God when he knew Zeus had never penned anything in His life, and take it to be the Gospel truth and that the streets of Heaven were lined with pure gold?! That was just another one of the many myths that were in "The Bible".

Andrew had never stopped to consider just how many myths were in there. He had once tried to read it all the way through, but the untruths were such that he could not wade through its muck. After all, who better than he to know the real truths? In the past, they had had everything from adventure seekers to just ordinary people who wanted to get in and had used spells cast by others to help them get in there! None had ever gotten past this point, and none ever would!

Andrew's robe reappeared so that he would look more official, and he prepared to meet the intruder . . .

Somewhere

Ace was getting tired and hungry. He and Spot had travelled for quite a time. He knew Spot was hungry. Off in the distance, he could see some trees, and for a brief moment, he thought he saw fire. "Maybe there's food over there?" he told Spot.

"Food," Spot grumbled, his gut rumbling loudly. Was the hairless monkey about to let him get something to eat? He was beginning to wonder about him. Did he not ever eat?

The closer they came, the more snaps and snarls they heard. Something was definitely about to have dinner! From high off the ground, Ace looked down. He could see wolves running all around, and then his heart stood still in his mouth for they had his Kat! They were pulling her down out of a tree!

"Spot, I want that hairless monkey!" Ace told the huge T. Rex. "If you have to fight those hairy beasties, use your tail and knock them into the trees! As soon as we rescue the monkey, we'll go get food!"

This was a game that Spot could understand! He liked it! He raced forward, growling, looking for the nearest hairy beast. Why wouldn't the monkey let him eat it?! It looked good! Why, he could eat it in one bite, but he owed it to the monkey to obey him for the present time! After all, the monkey had saved him, and if the monkey wanted the other monkey to eat, maybe he'd throw him a few bones? Spot made contact with the nearest wolf and slammed his tail into him, knocking him against a nearby tree and knocking him out cold.

Somewhere

Despite the wild thrashing of the beast, Wolverine clung determinedly to the hole that he had been digging ever wider. He saw Will surface and gasp for air even as it dawned upon him that he could dig forever and still not get Jack out of the brain of the damned creature! He immediately jumped back into the water and began cutting on the side closest to him. Where was the damn thing's gut any how?! He knew Jack had to be in there by now! The water was so churned up with blood that he couldn't get a clear shot, but he kept digging determinedly any how. When he glanced back at Will, the boy had gone under again.

Didymus was now alone on top of the monster, but he was not afraid, he told himself. After all, a brave, stalwart Knight such as himself feared nothing. "HAVE AT THEE!" he yelled as an arm tried to reach him and cut at the beast's tentacle with his small sword.

Wolverine couldn't help wanting laugh at the determination of the little guy. If even half the Pirates had that much strength and guts, they would be an unstoppable force! They could take over the damn Council and make them pay! The thought curled up warmly inside his insides and began to rest in his already-hardened heart.

He'd make them pay for what they had done to his family, and Gods forbid, but if Jack died, the Pirates would have a just reason for attack! An eye for an eye, Wolverine had always believed, but this was getting ridiculous! His woman was in a fucking plant, and his son was in the belly of this damn thing! One thing at a time, he reminded himself. First I get Jack out, an' then I'm goin' for 'Ro! An' if that damn mirror tries to stop me, I'm gonna bust its glass out!

Elizabeth felt something touch her shoulder and whirled around. Her blade stopped a mere inch from cutting into Will, and she glared at him, her eyes questioning his intelligence. Will pointed at her and then jerked his thumb up toward the water. She nodded, not foolish enough to argue with him on a point she knew was valid, and left him to continue with the monster. As she passed upward, she saw Wolverine and swam closer.

This time, Wolverine saw Elizabeth bob up. What the Hell was the woman doing still in the water?! She would never take any one's advice! Hard-headed bitch! He had to grin to himself. Every time he opened his mouth, he got another pile of water in it, and the blood tasted awful, bitter, and gross. He had tasted some awful things before in his life, but this had to be the worst!

How much longer before they got Jack? Wolverine decided to go further underneath and see if he could get any bigger holes below. He barely missed getting sliced by Will's sword! He added his own claws to digging the hole in the thing. At last, he had the right area as he could see some guts and excrement trailing out!

Elizabeth took another large gasp of air and dove back underneath. She looked around for Wolverine but didn't see him anywhere. She shook her head. Why was the man wasting time with the other areas of the monster? Sure, it would weaken and distract the beast, but Jack was in the stomach and probably had very little time left!

Holding tightly to her sword, Elizabeth swam back towards Will. As she approached him this time, she saw movement beside him. She peered closer and recognized Wolverine's form. It was about time! She swam in next to the two men and resumed slicing the beast's gut.

Kents' Farm

It did not take Lex long, once he began to stir in his sleep, to realize that the lips he felt were not merely those of the Clark in his dream but the real thing. His blue eyes fluttered open, and he found himself gazing into Clark's baby blues. His lover was gazing lovingly down into his eyes as he kissed him passionately, and the silver light of the full moon surrounded Clark like a glowing halo. His hands stroked Lex's face tenderly.

Lex reached up to Clark, and Clark did not disappear. He put his hands on his muscular shoulders, and he could feel their movement as they rose and fell underneath his hands. His hands roamed Clark's body, and he felt every inch of it. This was truly the real thing, no daydream, no illusion, but his beloved Clark, who had snuck out of the house and come to cheer him up!

Talk could come later. Later, Lex could find out how Clark had come to be here, and they could figure out together why he was here in the first place when he should have been back home. For now, though, Lex allowed himself to get lost in his lover's touch and the heated passion that sang between them . . .

Somewhere

Hansel had only lowered his sword when he'd seen Faith fall. He had never realized when Chong had lowered his or had looked at him worriedly. All he had been able to see was Faith falling to her death. When he had seen Dawson jump through the mirror to go to her, he had started to follow but had stopped when the mirror's image had changed. "Go back to Faith, you damn fool!"

"Stay on Andrew!" an unseen, female voice had sobbed.

"FAITH!" Hansel had roared.

"You will simply have to wait," Phillip had coldly informed the blonde man. Hansel had threateningly tapped the mirror with his sword. "Keep your blade to yourself or I'll never show the girl again." It had seemed to Hansel that the mirror had shown the damned Angel or whatever it was forever, but once Faith and the boy who was undoubtedly her latest conquest showed again, Hansel leapt swiftly. Never once had he given a single thought to his naked state.

Chong saw Hansel disappear into the mirror. Holding the sword aloft, he jumped also. He had been naked for so long that it felt like a natural, comfortable state. He was ready for anything except the fact of seeing Faith laying so still on the ground. Was the girl dead? Dawson was bent over her, trying to revive her, and did not look up at their entrance but continued to plead with Faith, telling her how much he loved her and asking her to please open her eyes.

Hansel knelt on Faith's other side but didn't reach out to her. He wondered just exactly who Dawson was, how Faith had come to mean so much to him (he was acting as though he loved her and hadn't he vowed to them on his love for Faith that he was truly who he appeared to be?), and whether or not Faith cared as deeply for him in return. Hansel looked down at Faith in deep concern. "C'mon, little bitchy, wake up. You've been through worse. I know you have." His words sounded more confident than he felt.

Chong tried to assess the situation from the standing position but found that he could not without actually laying his hands upon Faith. "Move, Hansel," he said as he knelt beside him. "I need to check her out. I pray that she has broken nothing in the fall, but unless I actually touch her, I will not be able to tell."

His skilled hands began checking her body out slowly. A grave look came upon Chong's face. "We had best not move her until we can get a healer here. Those idiots seem to have wanted your Faith to die." He looked upward at the fall from the ledge from where Faith had fallen. He then glanced around, taking in their surroundings and realizing that there were no other bodies around. "The others must have been an illusion. There are no other bodies here."

Dawson looked at Chong. "It's a miracle she's alive! I hate the sick bastards who did this to her! If I could get my hands on them, I'd kill them! Did they intend for her to die?" he asked aloud, knowing he wouldn't get an answer.

"Who are they?" Hansel questioned. He craved to get his hands on whoever had done this to Faith and kill them slowly. "Where are we?"

"Who they are," Dawson told the both of them, "is the damn Council! Where they are, I have no idea! If I did, I wouldn't be kneeling here, trying to wake up my darling! I'd be slicing and dicing," he said in a stiff, angry voice that didn't sound like himself at all. "The sick bastards wanted her to die, probably because she defeated the Spellmens so easily!"

"Phillip," Dawson called, "which of our healers are available? We can not move Faith until she is healed or we risk her life!"

The Beach/Jack & Will's Bedroom

The sight of Andrew had brought tears streaming from Trina's face, and when he had disappeared behind the Golden Gates and the image had returned to Faith, she had yelled at the mirror. "SHOW ME HIM AGAIN!"

"I can not," Phillip told her reluctantly. He prided himself on being hard, but tears, especially those of a woman or an enchanting man's, always managed to tear at the heart he supposedly no longer had.

"Please," Trina pleaded with him, her hand touching his surface, "let me see him! Just one more time!"

"I can not show you any of what is past those gates, milady. I'm sorry." His voice broke. "Please stop crying before you get me to start too."

Carlos' heart was breaking as he listened mutely to their conversation, his sword finally having lowered. He had forgotten all about the others in the room as his heart ached. Trina would never love him. She loved Andrew, and evidently, he was far better for her than he could ever be. After all, Andrew was an Angel, and he was but a mere mortal man with many troubles. He sighed deeply.

"Then . . . can I . . . " Trina's mind whirled. She hadn't thought she was ready to face Andrew. In fact, she knew she wasn't, but she had to see him again. She had to touch him, if she could . . . She had to know why in the Hell he hadn't told her the truth and warned her that their time might be limited! "Let me through," she stated. "Let me through, and when he finally comes out of there again, I'll be ready and be waiting for him."

"I . . . " Phillip paused. He knew he should not, but the broken hearts he felt from Trina and Carlos both were ripping him apart inside. If he had had a physical head, he would have hung it. "All right," he announced at last, returning his reflection to showing the Golden Gates.

Trina jumped before Phillip could change his mind. Carlos snorted. He never would have thought that he'd go to Heaven while still alive, but he had to follow Trina. He leapt, sword still in hand.

Somewhere

When he reappeared this time, Kurt found himself in a long, cool building with low ceilings. He turned around slowly as he took in the sight of the room. It was beautifully decorated, and he thought he might have been here before. But where was here? He continued to look around, spotting an altar and noting that the room held numerous religious statues and crosses, each lovelier than the last.

He smiled and sighed with relief. He was in a church, a sanctuary! He was safe! There should even be people there to help him! Spying a light, he began to walk toward it. As he neared the light, he could hear voices raised in a joyous song that lifted up the Lord and spoke to his heart. He was already humming along with the singers before he stepped into the room. Upon entering, he could see that it was a room full of Priests. He was truly safe at long last!

Kurt smiled and started to speak to explain to the Priests that he was one of them and tell them how he had come to arrive there when he noticed that they had all stopped singing and were now glaring at him with hatred burning in their eyes and angry looks upon their faces. He had seen such fury and hatred before. His smile vanished. He tried not to panic. He opened his mouth but was cut off by angry yells from all around.

"DEMON!"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

"TRAITOR! YOU SHOULD NOT BE IN THE LORD'S HOUSE!"

"YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS HERE, YOU FOUL, LOATHSOME BEING!"

"LEAVE OUR CHURCH! LEAVE THE LORD'S BUILDING AND HIS TRUE FOLLOWERS ALONE!"

Kurt was stunned. They were attacking him, not helping him! Why?! Was it because he looked like a Demon? "Mein brothers," he called out to them, spreading his arms wide and opening his hands with palms facing upwards, "I come in peace! I may look like zis, but mein heart belongs to ze Lord!"

"LIES! ALL LIES!"

"THOU SHALT NOT LIE IN OUR HOLY FATHER'S HOUSE!"

"SILENCE HIS MOUTH!"

"But zey are not lies! I speak ze truth!" Kurt dropped his hands and started to back up as the angry Priests began to crowd around him.

"YOU LIE! YOU FOLLOW ONE WHO CLAIMS TO BE A GODDESS, BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE GOD!"

"YOU HAVE DENOUNCED YOUR PRIESTHOOD IN FAVOR OF A WOMAN WHO CLAIMS TO BE A GOD AND ANOTHER WOMAN WHO IS A WICKED PIRATESS! EVIL, EVIL WITCHES, THEY BOTH ARE, IN LEAGUE WITH THE DEVIL HIMSELF, AND AS YOU HAVE DENOUNCED THE CLOTH AND JOINED THESE TWO, YOU, TOO, ARE EVIL!"

It was only then that Kurt realized that somehow these Priests knew that he no longer worshipped their God but worshipped Aphrodite. He was one of Aphrodite's Priests, Pagan, not of their kind, after all! His eyes looked wildly around for a door, but he did not see one.

"WE MUST SEND HIM OUT, BRETHERN!"

"YES! WE MUST TAKE THIS DEMON OUT BEFORE HE CAN HARM OTHERS!"

"IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD AND HIS HOLY SON, WE MUST SEND THIS DEMON BACK TO HIS TRUE FATHER, LUCIFER, BEFORE HE CAN HARM EVEN MORE OF OUR LORD'S PEOPLE!"

Kurt really did not want to bamf into the unknown again, but as the Priests were now rushing forward, their arms flailing wildly in their attempts to attack him, he knew he had no choice yet again but to do just that. Even as one grew close enough to reach him and slapped him, Kurt bamfed, his face stinging from the slap and his heart and soul from their rejection.

A Forest

Kat had already been in one heck of a fix and being stupid enough to think that things could get no worse when the ground shook. While still desperately clambering and clawing in her attempt to stay on the branch, the Irish woman looked out ahead, and her mouth fell open as she saw a Tyrannosaurus Rex heading straight her way! A Gaelic cuss exploded from her lips even as she began trying to raise a hand off of the limb.

No sooner had Kat's hand risen off of the limb than another wolf grabbed her legs. This time, the wolf almost succeeded in bringing her down, and she was forced to grasp the limb again with both hands. The T. Rex was upon them already, and as his tail slammed into a nearby wolf, Kat raked her brain for some way to help the poor animals and keep from getting eaten by either party herself!

Somewhere

Joseph had awakened to the sound of his brother's yell. His bleary eyes were just beginning to focus when he saw Magnus jumping through the brushery. Joseph's brow creased as he studied Erik's hurried behavior and paled face. He was acting as though his trousers were full of ants, and Joseph instinctively knew that there was much more than these accursed Amazons bothering him. The women were even now turning round to face the man who was screaming at them to put him down.

"You're going to get it now!" he called to them. "I tried to tell you I wasn't interested! There," he lied, "is the reason why! I am not at all interested in women!" He was glad Rogue could not hear his lies.

"We don't care if you have a man," one of the women snapped at him. "We just want your seed!"

"His salmon does not run upstream," Magnus told them, "so why don't you just hand him over and no one will get hurt?" He sounded much braver than he felt.

"Is that true?"

"Quite," Joseph agreed for the first time.

"Well, then, I suppose you are useless, but he's not."

"Look at him, Miranda! He's too old to be of any use!"

"Maybe, but we could still try."

"Why waste time having to be plugged by that thing when we can find other males? I still say we should return to the centaurs."

"Those beasts were getting too involved the last time! Need I remind you that that horse wanted to raise Justine's son himself?! Or that Aribelle's also wanted a say in the matter?!"

"Enough bickering, you two! We'll just take the both, and those who want can try them out!"

"Why are his hands glowing?" one of the blondes asked.

"BECAUSE, YOU INSOLENT WENCHES, YOU ARE NOT TAKING JOSEPH!" Obeying the directions that he gave them, every piece of metal, weapon and otherwise, left the woman it was on and pointed straight at the hearts of the one he had devised was their leader and the one who carried Joseph. "NOW RELEASE HIM OR MEET MY WRATH!" The chilling coldness was approaching again, and the Dementors would not be long in coming. He could feel their approach in the pit of his stomach. A beefy arm suddenly wrapped around Magnus' throat.

A Cavern

Kyna's heart ached as she read all the frantic emotions in her love's eyes. "No," she told him, laying a gentle hand on his frigid cheek, "I do not doubt you, my love, and I know you are you. No other could ever kiss me the way you do, or ignite the feelings in me you do with the briefest of touches." Her loving eyes hardened. "But I must do this myself."

Relief washed over him, but fear remained, changing to a new concern instead. He snarled, "Just because the bloody Council -- "

"It is not the Council that causes me to make this decision, my sweet. I must do this," she repeated, trying, and failing, to fight down her own fear.

"You can't -- " His dark eyes, filled with concern for her, the woman he loved more than the afterlife or even unlife, pleaded with her. "Let me kill him for you."

"I can not."

"Kyna, if you kill him, you'll hate yourself! He's not your husband, but he still wears his image!"

"I may hate myself," she admitted gravely to the sneering, hooting calls of certain Council members, "but if you kill him, I may end up hating you, and I refuse to take that risk, my beloved." Several members nodded their heads at that, staring and glaring defiantly at those who now scowled, sneered, and snorted.

Her words chilled his heart, but he understood.

Somewhere

As Rogue approached the light, she saw two people who she didn't think she would ever see there. "Trina?!" she called out. "Carlos?!" She slowly descended to stand, gazing at her two friends. "What are you doing here?"

"Carlos?!" Trina whirled and spotted the other man who plagued her heart. Her mouth dropped open, but she quickly shut it. "What are you doing here?!"

Carlos forced himself to remain calm as he looked at Trina. She seemed even more beautiful here, with Heaven's golden light cascading down upon her. "I couldn't let you come alone."

Trina glared at him, her blue eyes cutting through him. "You heard me."

He nodded.

"What about Trent?" she questioned, looking around as though she expected him to drop out of the sky at any moment. "Is he coming too?"

Carlos shrugged. "I imagine it depends on whether or not he reaches the mirror in time." He then looked at Rogue. "I know why she's here and how I got here, but why are you here?!"

"Ah'm not sure. Ah asked Phillip ta send me ta Joseph. Ah have no clue as to where here is or why Ah was sent here." She kept looking around. There were three sides of darkness and one of golden light. "Where is here?" The sound of ringing bells was so loud that it was hard for her to hear the other two talk.

Carlos could hear the rushing of something, but he wasn't sure what it was. He retightened his grip on the sword he wielded. He didn't know what good a sword would do against Angels, but if they tried to harm Trina, himself, or Rogue, he would do whatever he could. He brought his sword to the ready even as he shook his head at Rogue. "You'd never believe me."

Trina, too, was looking around, but her eyes continued to return to the massive door that blocked their pathway. Andrew had gone past this door. She knew he had for she had seen him. But she didn't need two others, or even one, with her when she confronted him. "Phillip, can you hear me?" There was no answer. She tried again. "Think you could take these two back?"

"I'm not leaving you," Carlos told her, glancing at her anxious face. "You can talk to him. I'll even give you privacy, if possible. But I'm not leaving you here!"

Rogue looked at both of her friends' disturbed faces. The anger shot forth from Carlos' face. "Ah asked you where we are! At least tell me what we're up against before they get here!" She could now hear the sound of wings, many wings. Was it birds?

Carlos sighed as he glanced again at Rogue. He knew she'd never believe him, but he also knew that she wasn't about to stop asking. "Heaven."

Somewhere

Autolycus looked at Joxer. "Who do we have available? Brendan's locked in chains. I'd like to be able to have a sneak peek on the cats; it must be a wonderful experience!"

Joxer thought a minute and scratched his head. "Xena and Gabby went through already. Crys is at the North Pole. That doesn't leave anybody but Sam. Where is Sam?"

"Sam!" Autolycus called out loud. "How do we get in contact with him? Where are the Halliwells?" He got to thinking. "The only Halliwell who's still here is Paige. The rest have gone through to rescue people."

"SAM!" Joxer started calling his name.

"SAM!" they called together.

Kents' Farm

Lex soon found himself on top of Clark, his knees in the hay on either side of his lover. They were still kissing with ever-growing passion, and their hands brushed against one another as they worked together to loosen Clark's pants. Pushing first his trousers and then his underwear down, Lex brought Clark's eager stallion out of the gate with gentle hands. He left Clark's lips to kiss his sword with a promise of things to come soon. Clark's sigh of pleasure was music to Lex's ears, but as he felt him tugging on his pants, Lex returned his mouth to Clark's and began to help him to get his own pants off.

They were just beginning to unbutton Lex's pants when the quietness around them was exploded by furious shouts. The screams were combined with the running of feet, but before Lex could even begin to think of a way to cover Clark and himself before his parents could find them, Jonathan and Martha were in the hayloft with them! Lex looked at Clark. He expected to find fear in his beloved's face but was shocked to see his face paled, his body trembling, and tears running down his cheeks!

As Lex stared at Clark, the assurance that everything would be all right poised on the tip of his tongue, something slammed into the back of his head. He fell across Clark, whose trembling he could feel even more now. He tried to get back up but was immediately hit again. He cried out in pain as Jonathan beat him with a two-by-four and Martha struck him with a broom. Both were hitting him non-stop, and the blows from Jonathan felt as though they were meant not just to hurt him, stun him, or even knock him unconscious but to actually kill him!

Now their yells became clear. "GET AWAY FROM OUR SON!" The names they called him, ranging from "bald jerk" through "damn Luthor" to "sick bastard", assaulted his ears. "GET OFF OF OUR SON!" "GET OFF OF OUR SON!" "I'LL KILL YOU WHERE YOU LAY!" "HOW DARE YOU!" "HOW COULD YOU RAPE MY CHILD?!" "I'LL SEND YOU TO HELL, WHERE BOTH YOU AND YOUR FATHER BELONG!" All these yells and more thundered down upon Lex. His mind whirled. He could hear Clark crying and realized that his own face was wet.

He did not want to leave Clark, but he had to move or Jonathan would do just as he threatened and kill him where he lay, right there on his beloved Clark! Lex finally managed to get away from the pair of them and half-ran, half-stumbled across the hayloft. His hands blindly groped until they fell across the pitchfork he'd noted earlier. He grabbed it and used it to keep them at bay.

Clark was sobbing openly now, and Lex wanted to yell at him to help him but could not find his voice. He knew that these were his beloved's parents, but what had happened to Clark's declaration that he would tell them how they felt? Why was he not now doing so? Why was he letting them attack him so?! He peered out at all three of the Kents from the blood and tears that ran in his eyes, his heart beating deafeningly in his ears and feeling as though it might well shatter into a million pieces at any time . . . Why was Clark not helping him?! A sob broke from Lex even as he blocked the blow of Martha's broom with the pitchfork.

The North Pole

Lorne continued his song, a part of his brain remaining on praying to Aphrodite and any other Gods that were listening, hoping that They would help. He reached deep down within, took the last bit of strength that he had, and sent it forth in his song, growing even louder as the combined fireballs burst into Frostbite. Suddenly his voice was no more, and he fell to the snow, his eyes and nose bleeding. He clutched at his throat, knowing that, even if he could never get a note out of it again, it would all be worth the cost if it had only done Frostbite in.

Once the sound had stopped, Angel got shakily to his feet and looked toward Frostbite. He ignored the bleeding from his ears, walked over, reached out, and placed a hand on Lorne's shoulder. Lorne, whom he had thought had no power at all to fight, had just done an incredible thing! He prayed that it was worth the cost he knew Lorne had paid.

Cordelia had fallen to her knees behind Lorne, but her eyes had stayed on Frostbite. She had seen the song shattering ice throughout the evil Elemental's body, the ice from Jack (at least she presumed it was Jack) ripping into weakened ice in his other areas, and the fire blast into his chest. As Frostbite howled and screamed in pain and Lorne's song came to an abrupt end, Cordelia turned to check on Crystal. Her ears were hurting. Her head ached so badly she could scarcely think, but when she saw the blonde, she knew she had to act.

Unable to get to her feet yet, the Princess crawled over the snow to her adopted sister and placed her hands on her ice-covered shoulders. "Crystal Frost, open your eyes!" She shook her, the cold her hands touched spreading quickly through the rest of her body. "Open your eyes! You will not have allowed them all to risk everything just so that you can die! I know you're stronger than that! I know you are! Open your eyes," she demanded, using an angry tone as she thought that might work best, "and look at Lorne! Look at him!"

Delvira sent a third fireball hurtling towards Frostbite and then fell to her knees. She turned her head and looked, through her blood-filled vision, toward the others. Angel was moving, she noted, and Cordelia was talking to Crystal. She couldn't hear what they were saying, though, and looked back up toward Frostbite. She smiled weakly as she saw that he was seeping away into the darkness and still screaming with pain.

Crystal's blue lips parted in a gasp. "L-Lorne . . . Wh-What? Is he -- ?"

"He's alive," Cordelia told her, "but only barely. Open your eyes!"

She heard quick movements through the snow and looked up to see Cindy and Elvira loping swiftly towards them. Both animals reached their mistress at the same time, and Cordy moved to the blonde's head to give them room. Their tongues licked Crystal's ice, their voices rising in anxious growls, whimpers, and whines.

Blue was cooing fiercely, but it still took him a couple of minutes before he was able to break through the hold the man who had arrived in the last seconds of the battle had on him. As soon as he finally broke free, he screeched and soared toward Lorne. He could see the light of the blue crystal and knew that it could save Crystal.

"It's okay, Blue!" Jack told the dragon.

Cordelia looked up, surprised to hear the Elemental's voice beside her. She had not even heard him approach. Jack took off his own necklace as he knelt beside Crystal and dropped it over her neck. The snowflake crystal began to glow immediately. He prayed it was not too late and took Crystal's ability to talk as a good, albeit not sure, sign.

Somewhere

Piper watched through the tears that filled her eyes as Gabrielle worked on Ororo. She ached to help but did not know how she could except by staying out of the healer's way.

Gabrielle kept her eyes on Ororo, but she could feel Xena's steadfast, guarding presence and knew that Piper was crying and felt helpless to aid in saving her godmother. As Gabby crushed some leaves together and applied them over the mixture of herbs she had already sprinkled into one of the open wounds from the plant's teeth, she called out to the younger woman. "Piper," the Witch was by her side in an instant, "hold these leaves to her wound until it stops bleeding." Piper's hands replaced Gabrielle's the second they lifted, and Gabby moved on to Ororo's next wound.

As she worked on Ororo, examining every inch of the Weather Witch's prone body, Gabrielle's mind flashed back to others she had seen with so many holes in their flesh and bones and so much blood covering their bodies. Had it really only been two days ago that Ororo and Piper had both lain dying after being attacked by Raptors? She shook her head but did not comment aloud. She had always loved adventure and excitement, but dangerous perils were starting to fill their lives even too much for her lately. Where was the occasional moment of peace and tranquility? Why did their people continue to be attacked and brought to the brink of death? At least, they had managed to save most of them so far, and for that, she could be thankful to the Gods, especially Aphrodite . . . She continued to work without stopping upon Ororo and prayed that her herbs would work to save the day yet again.

Xena watched Gabrielle work. She had always admired her abilities. In the back of her mind, a small nagging began. She had already been looking for her chakram and had not been able to locate it, and she knew that one of the sai that Gabby used had been taking. She wondered who had dared to rob them of their prized weapons, and she wished that they had them now. She had not the foggiest clue as to where they could have disappeared.

She also didn't like the fact that it seemed that their lives now were one continuous disaster after another. She feared that there would come a time something would arise that she would not be able to handle. She had never doubted herself before, but then she had always had her chakram. Without it, she felt naked. She moved forward, kneeled beside 'Ro's body, took some of the herbs Gabby had already fixed, and began to apply them to 'Ro, her mind ever alert except for that one nagging fear. She wondered if their enemy could be watching them now.

Somewhere

Sam had been resting and had finally fallen into a jerky sleep, one where he could hear if he was being called. The third time he heard his name called, Sam opened his eyes. He had been having a really bad dream about Them wanting to replace him. He thought he'd been doing a good job. In fact, he had been enjoying his new assignment and a chance for staying out of the bottles. Why were They bothering his dreams? He shook himself awake and then orbed to where Joxer and Autolycus were. They seemed to be staring into a mirror, and both turned to greet him as he appeared in the room.

"We've got big trouble, Sam."

"Who's hurt?" were Sam's first words.

"Faith," Joxer answered, his great concern clear.

"Where is she?"

"Through there." Autolycus pointed.

"What is there?" He reached his hand out and touched it. Although it appeared to be glass, it was not solid, and Sam's hand went through. He pulled it back quickly and looked at it. "I can see that this is a portal. I'm going through."

"You can not. You will have to orb there; They will not allow me to allow you to pass."

Sam wondered who the mirror was and why They had sent him here (could they really be helping or did they have something else in mind?) but knew that now was not the time for questions. He had to save Faith before it was too late. He orbed and reappeared beside the men gathered around Faith. He knelt beside her and put his hands on her. They glowed as he began to heal her.

She had so many broken bones in her body that it was ridiculous! What had happened to the young woman? He blocked his mind to any outside interference and totally concentrated upon Faith. There was time for questions after he had healed her. If this was part of the trials, those bastards were even sicker than he thought!

Dawson had not moved away from Faith. He kept touching her gently and praying that Sam would succeed in healing his beloved.

Chong had moved away and was checking out the area, hoping to discover where the others might have gone. The Council's powers were great, and Chong felt that They might have hid some evidence or clue as to where the others were. He had seen them fall to their certain deaths just as he had seen Faith fall. It smelled of black magic, and he did not like the reek of it.

Hansel had started to pull his sword on the stranger who had suddenly come up to them, but when the older man had knelt beside Faith and gently put his hands on her and those hands had began to glow, Hansel had realized that he was a healer. He didn't know where he had come from but was grateful for him and hoped that he would be able to heal Faith. He was about to relax his guard when he felt the ground beneath his feet tremble. He turned, his narrowed, blue eyes scanning the desert ground. He noticed a trembling passing through the earth and raised his sword. His mouth was open to warn the others when the sand blasted out in front of Chong and a beast reared up . . .

The North Pole

As Prue and Phoebe worked on Cole, Eddie had wandered over to some animals he could see laying on the ground, hoping that he'd find one that was awake and able to tell him what was going on. "Can any one hear me?" Eddie asked, not realizing that he, himself, could not hear himself. At first, there was no answer. Nothing moved, and then a tiny creature unlike anything Eddie had ever seen before wriggled, trying to get his attention. He lowered his head and saw . . .

Oh my Gods! A snake! He backed up three steps as quickly as he could and sat down. It was the strangest snake Eddie had ever seen, but he knew it had to be a snake. Would it talk to him or bite him? It looked like it was made of ice, and yet its little lips were moving. Eddie couldn't hear a thing. He lowered his face once again toward the creature. "Please don't bite me," he begged in a quivering voice. "I have to get close enough to read your lips."

"I would not ever bite you, you silly thing! You'd leave a bad taste in my mouth! I only eat minerals. A very bad day," the creature said slowly, giving the other animal that was highly unusual to him, a chance to read his lips. "Our Crystal returned to face that awful Elemental. She sent us away from her. We would've done our best to help."

"Where is she?" Eddie asked. "We have come to help."

"No one can help," the small creature said with a sad shake of his head. "There is no way to kill him. One of your people must have died a really awful death," he continued as the noise had now stopped coming.

"What makes you think that some one died?"

"The noise has stopped now. They are straight that way. What's left of them. In his clearing." The tiny creature shook despite himself. "We must leave. He has won." A small tear trickled down his face, and without a backward glance, he slithered away from the weird creature.

To Be Continued . . .