Chapter Thirty-eight

Somewhere

Never, in a million years, would Cole have willing carried a Halliwell into danger, but as he shimmered, he felt Prue grab him and he couldn't just simply throw her back into the room. A second later, he realized that not only did he have Prue, but he had the Book, as well. Prue clasped the Book tightly with one hand against her breast even as she held on tighter to Cole, afraid he would lose her somewhere before they got there.

When Cole shimmered them both to stand beside Piper, Prue did not, at first, realize what was going on, and then her eyes, like all the rest, looked upward. "Oh my Gods! Auntie 'Ro!" she exclaimed.

"I'll go up and get her," Cole told the others, "but you've got to find something in that Book to help her! I don't want to hurt her!" Despite his confident words, Cole could only hope that he could handle things once he was fully astride the situation. He realized he was probably going to end up having to hurt Ororo and hoped that Piper would understand and that he would not have to do too much damage to 'Ro. She was not going to be easy to take down, however.

A Shore

Wolverine did not know what the small creature was. He kept looking from Didymus to the cat, wishing Didymus would talk to the cat but doubting that it would even with sweet Elizabeth's voice so persuasively buttering him up.

"But . . . But . . . " Didymus was leaning into Elizabeth's touch even as he flustered. "But what if I fail, fair lady?"

Elizabeth stroked his fur with her fingertips and smiled at him even more brightly. "If you try, I am sure you will succeed. How could any Knight so cunning and brave as yourself possibly fail?" When he still hesitated, Liz turned her lips downward into a pout. "Won't you please try it, generous sir, even if only for me?"

"For you, lovely maiden, I would fight any monster, dare any danger!" He looked nervously at the kitten who Will still held. "I shall even try this, though it is quite unheard of. Really, a dog conversing with a kitten . . . " He stepped up to Will, cleared his voice, started to speak, and then paused as the earth shook.

Elizabeth met Wolverine's gaze with a proud smirk and a wink that seemed to say that she had known all along it would work. She froze, however, and her grin vanished as the ground shook again.

The earth trembled so greatly that Wolverine's feet almost fell out from under him. He wondered what the Hell it was this time! It was just one lucky disaster after another! Anything to prevent him to be able to go take care of and help his 'Ro! He hoped and prayed that the ones who had gone after her had saved her already. He turned in the direction that the footsteps were coming and braced himself, his mind screaming, WHAT THE HELL CAN IT BE NOW?!?!

Jack took a step in front of Will and the kitten. This also placed Elizabeth and Didymus behind him. He didn't know what was coming, but he wasn't going to let him get to his family. He stood beside his father on shaky legs, praying that he'd have the strength to fight whatever was coming.

Will turned to Elizabeth and pressed the tiny kitten gently into her hands. Her hands appeared steady, but as he passed her the tiny feline with the tail of a fish, he could feel her slight trembling. His eyes met hers. "Protect him, and keep yourself safe."

"I . . . "

Will rose a brow and looked pointedly from Elizabeth to the kitten and back up again to Elizabeth.

She nodded. "I will."

"And you," Will said, quickly turning to Sir Didymus, who he had seen how Elizabeth had handled him, "allow us to do the battling this time, comrade, while you protect yon fair maiden and the little one she holds." His lips twitched, and he had to fight to keep from grinning. He swallowed his laughter as the earth shook again so mightily that he almost fell and had to catch Didymus and Liz both to steady them.

"I will do my best," Sir Didymus yipped as he drew his sword. "Good luck, my friends! If you need me, call!"

Will nodded. "Thank you, Sir." He turned his back on the others and hurried forward. He had barely stepped into place on Jack's other side than whatever huge beast it was stepped again. This time, the ground shook so much that the whole group did fall down. Before they could get back to their feet, Will spotted a hand grasping the tops of a few trees and pulling them aside. He looked at Jack with large eyes at the face he could now see peering down at them.

Will & Jack's Bedroom

Delvira had stepped aside only to let Crystal and her animals pass so that the other animals would stop coming. Now she flew back in front of the mirror and hissed at him, her fangs bared. "Show me Jareth! I must reach him!"

Normally, Phillip would have hesitated at the tone that Delvira used, but as she was the wife of Jareth, he did not. Like the others gathered in the room, he wondered what was happening to Jareth, what had happened to Delvira, and if he was okay. The image flickered on, and Delvira roared. "I knew it! Those fucking bastards! I'll slay every one of them! I'll burn them all to ashes while they still breathe!" She dashed into the mirror, screaming Jareth's name at the top of her lungs.

"Damn!" Phoebe breathed. "Is that -- ?! It can't be! . . . Can it?" She stared at the image of Jareth making wild, passionate love to a woman who looked identical to Delvira.

Cordelia looked at the mirror and snatched her gaze away, her face only slightly less red than Joxer's. She looked to Angel for an explanation. "How can that be possible? Would they have . . . Surely they would not have delivered him to Helvira, even if she does still live?"

"The Council can, and will, do anything they want to do against them," Angel told Cordelia. "If it's not Helvira, then it's one of the shapeshifters that can assume anything they want to look like. I won't feel sorry for them when Delvira gets her claws on them; she'll make them pay big time. I don't think it's Helvira, but the Council would not be above summoning her spirit to do their dirty deeds."

"Phillip, show me Spike and Kyna." He had a dread feeling about them in the pit of his gut. Something awful was happening. He could sense it even though he couldn't see it. He held on to Cordelia for a moment longer as the picture swirled and changed. He could not believe the horror that lay before his eyes. Spike and Kyna were in a cave, back to back, in the midst of more Vampires than he'd ever seen except at a Vampfest. They looked to be the main course. "Gotta go!" Angel told Cordy. He kissed her very quickly and was gone through Phillip before Cordelia could react. "Change picture immediately, and don't come back to me no matter what Cordy threatens you with! She can't fight Vamps!"

A Cavern

Angel appeared next to Spike and Kyna. "Damn it, Phillip; I didn't mean in the midst of it! I would've liked the element of surprise! Hello, Spike," he called as he ducked an incoming blow. His fists shot out underneath the Vampire's outstretched arms, and the Vamp fell back at the force that plowed into his stomach. "Kyna!" He didn't have to ask what was going on. He would have liked to have known what started it, but as the Vamps continued to plow into them, Angel fought to the best of his ability. He longed for a stake or something else to actually dust the other Vampires with, but, regardless, he had no intention of losing or of losing his family.

Spike grunted as he staked another one and met the next one with a sharp kick to the face. "Hullo, Pops!" he teased with a fang-filled grin. "Didn't think you'd make it! Welcome to the foray!" After dusting another Vampire, he caught the next fist that flew at his face with his teeth and ripped a piece of skin. The Vampire screamed. Spike spit the skin out and dusted the Vamp before moving to the next one.

Kyna leapt into the air, both her legs kicking out and into the chests of two who had decided to rush her at the same time, as most of them seemed to be doing. As they fell back into two more Vampires, another two rushed at her. She dusted them swiftly, then took a split second to grab another stake from inside her jacket. "Angel!" She called his name as she ducked a hand that was going for her neck. The hand clutched empty air, and Kyna shot her stake home before tossing the other two to Angel and retrieving a fresh second stake. She instantly returned her full attention to the battle.

Quickly grabbing another Vampire's shoulders, Angel knocked his head against the other's and let him fall back into his brethren while he grabbed the stakes that hurtled his way. "Thanks!" he called back as he grasped the two stakes in his hands. He twirled them around once, then drove them straight into two Vampires. Even as their dust rained down to join that of those who had gone before them, he moved on to the next two. He dusted them swiftly, and their dust mingled with the two before them as they all rained down together. With a fangy grin at the progress that was being made, Angel continued on.

Will & Jack's Bedroom

Cordelia's hands beat helplessly at the darkened glass of Phillip's surface. "Ouch!" the mirror cried out. "Stop that! It hurts! I can not help it; I must not let you pass!"

"What do you mean you must not let me pass?!" Cordelia demanded angrily. "Angel needs help!"

"But you may not help him!"

"Who says?" she questioned. "That darned Council?! Well, I've got a thing or two to say to them!"

"It's not the Council."

"Then who is it?"

"Angel."

Cordelia's hazel eyes shot wide with frustration, aggravation, and surprise. "Ooo!" When she got her hands on him . . . But wait. Maybe he'd wanted her to help with Connor instead? After all, as she didn't see the lad in the room, chances were that he had gone over to help his fathers. "Phillip, show me Connor."

If Phillip had had eyes, he would have rolled them. If he had had a head, he would have shook it. As it was, however, he could only show Cordelia the image she requested. Her forehead creased as she watched the happenings taking place before her. Connor and James Hook appeared to be stuck in some kind of . . . some kind of giant cake?! "What in the world?!" she mused aloud.

"I NEED SOME ONE TO TAKE SOMETHING TO CAPTAIN HOOK!" the booming voice of Rubeus Hagrid suddenly called up from down below.

Cordelia looked in the direction of the loud, rumbling voice. She had no idea who was calling out, but that really didn't matter. Whatever it was, it must be something to help James, but why couldn't the person take it to him himself? She shrugged and headed toward the kitchen.

A Shore

"Holy shit!!! It's the biggest damn giant monkey I've ever seen!" Jack backed up against Will. "I have a feeling it wants me; don't let it get me! Please don't let it get me!"

Wolverine had moved closer to stand back by Jack and Will. "It'll have to come through me first, son." He popped his claws and waited. He had never been quite sure why Jack was so terrified of monkeys, but he knew the boy always had been and that Devil that had inhabited Barbossa's monkey had never given Jack a moment of peace. He had only made Jack's fears worse. But a giant monkey?! How low the Council was stooping!

Will was surprised at how quickly Jack had managed to scuttle backwards against him and at the panicked exclamations that poured from his lover's mouth. He put a hand on his love's shoulder and squeezed him reassuringly. "It won't lay one filthy paw on you, my love, not if we've anything to say about it." He kissed Jack's tanned cheek from behind and stepped around and in front of his beloved. He now stood beside Wolverine and glanced worriedly down at the short man who he could hear growling out of the corner of his eye. Then, as he immediately returned his attention to the ugly, giant monkey, Will drew both swords.

Jack fussed at himself for his reaction. After all, this wasn't the same monkey that had belonged to Barbossa. It wasn't the monkey that had attacked him as a child. He looked at the scar that had been attacked by that monkey. It was red; it usually stood out, in Jack's mind, more than any one else could see. "Gods, how I hate monkeys!" he moaned aloud. "Why do they always look for me?!" His trembling hand went to his sword. There was no way that damn monkey was going to catch him trembling on the ground, like a crab! He wasn't sticking his head in the sand like an ostrich, but his face blanched white as he realized that the monkey had not taken his damn eyes off of him for even one second! "It's gonna get me!" Jack said. "I know it; I can feel it! Why the Hell is it always me with monkeys?!" He waited for the attack, a prayer trembling on his lips. "Aphrodite, save me, please!"

Will & Jack's Bedroom

Autolycus picked a sword up and held it in his hand. "I'm going to where Elizabeth is," he told Joxer.

"Ya can't! There's already three over there!" Joxer reminded him.

"Then I'll find some other way. Phillip, show me Elizabeth." Never in a million years would Autolycus have imagined a giant monkey, and he watched in shock and amazement as the monkey's huge hand came down over the top of the small group of defenders. It bypassed the group and landed squarely around Jack, picking him up despite the fact that Jack was hitting him over and over again with the sword.

As the monkey had reached down to them, Will and Wolverine had rushed forward to meet it and put themselves between it and Jack, but the hand had merely reached over them as though they were not even there or, if they were, they were merely bugs. Will yelled in horror as the hand plucked Jack up, and Wolverine cursed a blue streak. The blacksmith thought quickly and, as the hand started to pull away, he sheathed one sword, ran as fast as he could, and leapt onto the hand. Will clung to the hand, determined not to let the beast take Jack away from him, but the monkey only shook its hand increasingly violently until Will, at last, had his grip snatched away from him and knocked to the ground.

"Will!" Elizabeth cried as she rushed forward, never seeing the green tentacle that snuck out of the water and coiled quietly around Didymus' ankle.

"Phillip, I want to go in there and help them."

"You can't. I can't send you to Jack."

"Then send me to the damn monkey!"

"What monkey?" Joxer demanded to know as he drew even closer, his eyes going as round as saucers. "You wanna go to th-th-th-th-th-that thing?!" he managed to stutter out.

"Got to," Autolycus told him. "I've played around long enough with you, trying to keep you out of trouble. Now I've got to go defend my woman." He jumped through the mirror and landed on the huge monkey's head. He began to poke the monkey with his sword. "LET HIM GO!" Toly kept yelling over and over again, emphasizing his words with a blow each time, but they seemed to bounce off of the monkey as though the monkey was a rubber ball. He could not cut the tough, sinewy skin. He could see the giant monkey squeezing Jack even tighter, and far below, he could hear the others hollering as they were attacking the monkey from below.

Phoebe had witnessed the changing images in the mirror and had turned to the Book. She was still sitting on the bed, but now she was hurriedly flipping through the ancient book with the tabby cat watching intently from right behind her elbow. She didn't know what the cat's problem was, but she didn't pay him any attention as she hurriedly flipped through its pages. For the life of her, she couldn't imagine how Jack and the others could possibly fight a gigantic monkey. The birthday cake that wanted to eat James, Smee, and their boys was bad enough, but a giant monkey?!

"There has to be a spell that can help somewhere in here," Phoebe muttered, more to herself than any one else. "Summoning, vanquishing, vanquishing again, teleportation, rainstorm, tracking, vanishing, vanquishing . . . Nothing to fight giants? Nothing to stop a monkey? Come on! There's gotta be something in here!" She flipped the pages harder, and then they suddenly seemed to take over with a force of their own.

Phoebe held her hands over the book and watched in amazement as the pages turned swiftly until she was far closer to the end of the Book than she had been. She murmured over the spells to herself before looking back at one in particular. She murmured quietly to herself as she reread the spell. She looked at the mirror again and watched as the men continued trying, still with no luck, to defeat the monkey though, at least, the money was roaring in pain now. "That oughta help." Pressing the Book close to her chest, she stood up. "I'm going in," she announced to the few who remained in the room.

No sooner were the words out of her mouth than Phoebe ran at the mirror and jumped into its glass. As she passed through Phillip, clinging tightly to the Book and ducking her head instinctively, she whispered to the mirror. "Don't let Joxer come after me. Poor baby. He wants to be a fighter, but he isn't." She knew she also was not a fighter, but at least she had her magick to help. "Protect him, Phillip." Her world exploded into blinding colors that flew past her.

Joseph & Rogue's Bedroom

Lorne's face turned a paler shade of green when he saw Kennedy and the sword still protruding out of her. "The first thing we have to do," he said quietly, "is to get the sword out. The second thing, I have to put this around her neck." He looked at Rogue. "You get the sword out." Then he turned to look at Bishop, who was very pale. He wanted to get Bishop out of the room before the big guy fainted. "You're a great buttkicker," he told Bishop. "Phillip might have need of you."

Bishop's hand had been stroking the cat who rode on his shoulder. "Are you sure?" he asked Lorne. "I don't mind staying."

"Phillip probably needs you desperately," Lorne told him. "There's a lot of mess going on, a lot of people needing help. The necklace will do most of the work in here."

Bishop stared at the green Demon. He thought his name was Lorne, but he wasn't sure. Was he speaking the truth, or was he lying so that he could get the two women alone and steal their souls? Did he dare to leave them alone? He didn't answer Lorne, just looked at him.

Lorne figured the big guy was in too much shock to be able to do anything at the moment, so he turned back to face Kennedy. Poor child, he thought. She has been through too much, and to lose the love of her life . . . I can understand her reasoning. He brushed her hair back out of her eyes even though the child was unconscious, Lorne had wanted to touch her in some soothing manner. He tried to keep his mind off of Crys and his worry about what was happening on the other side of the mirror at the North Pole. Had their combined efforts truly killed Frostbite, or could he be lurking out there, just waiting to get his grubby paws on his beloved? He took the necklace and placed it around Kennedy's neck.

Rogue had moved to Kennedy's side, and she now had the hilt of the sword firmly in her hand. "When I put the necklace on her," Lorne told her, "pull the sword right then. The necklace will do the rest."

Rogue trusted Lorne but didn't know if the necklace would actually work. She believed Lorne believed it would work, and she believed in Lorne. She closed her eyes tightly and pulled the sword as the necklace was settling around Kennedy's neck. Gods, please let this work! she prayed. She opened her eyes and watched as the necklace glowed. The necklace's blue glow bathed Kennedy's body. Rogue watched as it seemed to gently caress her friend's body.

Bishop backed out of the room, shaking his head. Too much sorcery, he thought. The world seems to evolve around it these days. He continued back to the room he had been in before where Phillip was. "Phillip, I've been told to report to you. Do you have need of me?"

Somewhere

Hansel stared at Faith's face, willing his little sister to awaken so that he could tease her, let her tease him, they could get out of this Hellhole, and everything would be all right. He did not know how long they had been here now, the four of them gathered around Faith's unconscious body and remaining silent as they each listened and cringed either outwardly or, at least, inwardly at the sounds of the sandworms who continued, even now, to jump up, gnash their teeth angrily, and dive back into the sand. One would think they would have calmed down by now, Hansel thought, but he guessed that as long as they could smell fresh prey, they would continue.

His blue eyes gazed at Faith's face. It was a miracle that she showed no sign of harm now, but still she had yet to awaken and he was beginning to fear that she might not. He felt Chong's hand cover his gently, and he glanced up, his unspoken emotions clear in his eyes. He smiled sadly as Chong lifted his hand, wrapped his fingers around it, and kissed the back of his hand before settling their hands back together onto the ground. "She will be all right."

Hansel nodded and looked back down at Faith. She should be, he knew. After all, she'd been through much worse. But he still couldn't help fearing . . . His thoughts broke off as her face twitched. He leaned forward, watching expectantly and hopefully as Faith's eyes slowly fluttered open.

Dawson had not moved from Faith's side. He still held her hand and, when her beautiful eyes opened, he hoped that he was the first sight she saw. When her eyes did open, he was gazing lovingly down into them. He wasn't too sure he liked Hansel being as close to Faith as he was, especially since he was naked, but he could tell that the man loved Faith. If Faith didn't love him in return when she woke up, Dawson would get rid of Hansel even if he had to fight him to do so. He smiled a gentle smile when he saw Chong touching Hansel; he knew there was a lot of love between the two. But still he was kind of shaky about Faith. Was Hansel telling the truth? Was Faith his little sister, or was something else going on that both he and Chong were unaware of? Only time would tell.

"Faith?" he queried, hoping she was now able to answer.

The first sound out of Faith's lips was a groan, but then she sat up so quickly that she almost bumped heads with Dawson and Hansel. "Dawson," she cried, "you're alive! What about Jack, Lex, Salem? Have you seen them? Are they okay?!"

"Easy, sweetheart," Dawson told her. "They were never here in the first place, only me. Salem wasn't even here. It was a test. I think you passed it, but you got hurt. We were worried about you. Somebody's here to see you," he told her as he moved a little bit out of her eyesight so that she could see Hansel's worried face.

The very second he realized Dawson was beginning to move so that he could have a moment with Faith, Hansel hid his worry and cocked a grin instead. When she looked at him in surprise, he grinned bigger. "Welcome back to the land of the living, little bitchy."

Faith grinned before realizing that Hansel was naked. She glanced between Dawson and Hansel and asked quietly, "You two getting along?"

Hansel cocked his head toward Dawson. "The kid's got big claims. You finally fall in the big one?"

She smiled. She'd continue to accept Dawson for now, but if things went downhill and the worst started to happen, she'd have to find a way to push him away. None of her worry showed in her gaze, however, as she replied with the same drawl Hansel was using, "Hook, line, and sinker." Concern flickered in her gaze. "But are you guys sure they weren't here? They seemed so real . . . It all seemed so real . . . "

"It was an illusion," Sam told her, stepping forward so that she could see him. "I don't know what happened. I don't think that they intended for you to be hurt, but you were. I healed you. You're gonna be all right now, Faith. I'm going to return home, and I'll send something for you two," he said, looking at Chong and Hansel. "Meanwhile, don't stand up." He orbed, and then he was gone.

"I'm trying to get along with him," Dawson told Faith. "He claims to be your brother. You have a lot of brothers. Most of them I trust, but I don't trust him." He glared at Hansel.

"Yeah, and with blondie's big mouth, I can guess why." She gently gripped Dawson's chin in her hand and turned his head so that he again looked down upon her. "You're the only one I've ever ridden twice and the only one I've ever wanted to ride more'n once. 'Sides if we hadn't been drunk and desperate, I never would've ridden Hansel in the first place. He's not my type, but he is my brother. We go as far back as Jack and I do."

"Then, as your brother, I accept him," Dawson told Hansel and held his hand out. "But if you ever get your eyes back on Faith again, you and I are gonna fight. She's my all. She's my Angel, my darling, and I love her with all of my heart. I can't live without her, although the Fates keep trying to tear us apart."

Hansel was still grinning cockily and was just beginning to reach his hand out for Dawson's over Faith's prone body when a great tremble passed through the mountain. "What the -- ?" Faith did not even have time to get the words out before the mountain cracked and the four began to fall . . .

A Shore

Will slowly lifted his head off of the ground. He spit out dirt and looked ahead through bleary eyes to where Wolverine was still valiantly attempting to fight the giant monkey who held his beloved Jack captive. "Will, are you okay?" He could feel Elizabeth's hand on his back and knew, from her touch, that she was kneeling beside him, but her voice sounded a hundred miles away.

Will reached out, felt for the sword that he had dropped, found its hilt, and wrapped his hand around it. "You're in no shape to fight, Will! Let me go for you!"

"No," he ground out as he forced himself to his feet. He almost fell back down immediately, but Elizabeth caught him and helped him to steady. "You've got to listen to reason! It's not going to do you or Jack any good if you go after him only to -- "

Sudden, sharp yipping snatched their attention to where Didymus was now dangling upside down from the end of a long tentacle. "Sir Didymus!" Elizabeth cried. She felt a rush of wind pass her and turned back to see that Will was racing after the monkey with both swords now held high and a battle cry thundering from his lungs. She shook her head, turned, and rushed to help Didymus.

"Stay away, fair maiden, but do catch!"

"What?" Elizabeth only had a brief moment to contemplate the dog Knight's words before a coconut shell that seemed to be mewling at the top of its nonexistent lungs hurtled at her. She caught it just as the monster sucked Didymus into the water.

Somewhere

They ran side by side, Erik running as fast and hard as he could but Joseph running only as fast as he could without outrunning his brother. He refused to leave him behind and wished that he could simply fly them out of the danger they were now facing but knew that they would only place them more readily in the Dementors' sights. No, they had to stay on the ground, but maybe if . . .

Joseph whirled around at the sound of Erik's yell. He turned to help him up, but Erik tried to wave him off. "Go. Go on without me. I won't let them take you too."

"They're not taking either of us!" Joseph exclaimed. "I won't lose you again, and I'm not going to leave you!" He reached to his brother and was troubled at the sight of Erik's wrinkled, paled face covered in sweat and the sound he made as he struggled and gasped for breath. His body was too old to run as they were having to do. Joseph tried again to help Magnus but was again brushed off by his hands.

Erik forced himself up to a sitting position and then looked into Joseph's eyes. "You can not let me slow you down."

Joseph shook his head. "We're going to have to face them."

"What? We can't face them! We could never win! Our lives -- "

"Though I've missed you, brother, I didn't realize it before. I didn't even remember you, and I was happy, very happy, with Rogue."

Joseph moved to get to his feet but stopped when Erik caught his arm. "What if it's not enough?"

"It will have to be," Joseph returned, "because I will not leave you, my brother. I will either defeat the Dementors or we will go out together. Just as it always should have been."

"What of your Rogue?"

Joseph's face saddened, and Erik's heart felt for his little brother. "I pray it will not come to that, but we have no other choice."

"There is always a choice!"

"No," Joseph spoke as he slipped his hand inside his brother's cloak and felt for his wand, "there isn't." He felt Erik go stiff with fear even before he felt the blood in his veins go as cold as ice. He looked up as his fingers closed around a thin piece of wood and felt fear clog his own throat as he witnessed the two Dementors, circling like starving vultures above them.

"Run!" Magnus cried. "Leave me! You have to, Joseph! Go!"

But Joseph ignored his brother even as Magnus shoved him away from him. He ignored the Dementors as they swooped closer in. Instead, he pictured Rogue. He remembered her touch, recalled the sweet taste of her lips, felt again her body moving against his . . . He thought back over all the times they'd been together, each time she'd kissed him or let him kiss her, every time she'd dared to touch him or allow him to caress her . . . He felt each touch and tasted each kiss again. He remembered the love, happiness, and pride that had swelled in him when she had finally told LeBeau to get lost. He recalled the way she'd looked at him when he had helped her to control her powers for the first time. He heard again her whispered words of love. He remembered the first time they'd made love and saw again the trust and love that had shone in his beloved's beautiful, green eyes.

Finally, just as the Dementors were closing in upon his brother, Joseph brought up one last memory. He clung to it. He gazed again into Rogue's eyes, once more felt her touch, heard the tinkle of happiness in her voice . . . As the words she'd spoken to him that night, the words that always meant so much to him every time he heard her say them, echoed again in his mind, he rose Magnus' wand. As he clung to the memory of the first time Rogue had told him how much she loved him and always would, Joseph's voice thundered out. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!!!!"

The response to Joseph's spell was immediate as a huge, silver animal leapt from Erik's wand and chased after the Dementors. As soon as they were out of sight, Joseph gripped Magnus' arm and pulled him to his feet. "Now, let's go while we have a chance. It's been too long since I cast a spell. It may or may not keep them away, so we best hurry while we can!"

Erik nodded, and the two again ran side by side as they hurried to put as much distance between themselves and the Dementors as possible . . .

A Shore

Jack had to fight his rising panic. He knew that, if he panicked, it would all be over with. He barely had room to move slightly around inside the confiding hand. He could hear his dad hollering and figured that he was fighting with all that he was worth. He could hear Will hollering, but he couldn't see either of them. He kept striking at the huge hand, hoping that it would open and let go of him. Even if he fell to the ground, it was better than being in the monkey's hand. How could such a horrible thing exist and be after me like this?! Jack thought.

Taking his sword, he tried to drive it straight through the monkey's hand, but it did not work. I have the Council to owe a payback for this, Jack reminded himself. I won't let them win! He searched his mind for a clue, but he had not the foggiest idea as to how to bring down the giant monkey. He felt the monkey take a step and his teeth bump together, causing him to think of another thing he had that he could use against the great simian - his teeth! Jack bit down as hard as he could on the palm of the hand. He was rewarded with a roar of pain. He bit down even harder.

The House

A huge, shadowy bulk filled the bottom of the staircase, and Cordelia looked down at it apprehensively. Her hand touched the rail, but she neither proceeded nor backed up though part of her wanted to run in the opposite direction. "W-Who . . . " She swallowed hard, firmed her voice, and spoke up again. "Who's down there?"

"I am," Hagrid's voice boomed back up. "I have a package that must be carried to James Hook. Professor Xavier has just sent me word that James Hook is in desperate need of this." He looked up at the stairs and thought he had never seen a more beautiful woman. "Who are you?" he asked.

Cordelia wished for some sort of light, a candle or a lantern, anything that she might use to light the big man below her so that she could be sure of what she was going into. She slowly began to walk down the steps, her hand grazing the rail lightly as she proceeded down. "You still have not told me who you are," she told him, using her most gentile tone. "I believe I recognize your voice, but I can not see you to be certain. Are you the Giant from earlier?" she questioned. "Rubeus Hagrid, I believe?"

"Yes, ma'am, Rubeus Hagrid at yer service." He gave her a box and then stood and watched as she gracefully descended the staircase. "I don't know if yer'll be able to carry the package or not. It is rather heavy." He pointed to the bag that sat at the bottom of the stairs. "Are you the only one who's up there now? You might not be strong enough to carry that."

"The rest are quite busy with other things," Cordelia said with a smile as she neared the friendly Giant. Her hazel eyes turned to the large bag that sat next to him. "I'm sure I can manage," she spoke determinedly before lightening her tone again, "and my name is Cordelia Chase." Taking a firm grip of the bag, she tried to lift it but was unable. She hid her grimace well. She'd help James and, in so doing, undoubtedly, Angel's son, one way or another. She might have to drag the bag up, but by Gods, she'd get it to them one way or another! She began to drag the bag toward the staircase.

Hagrid looked dubiously at Cordelia, trying to pull the bag. "I wish I could carry it fer ya. It's gonna be very hard to take up those stairs. You sure there's no one else?"

"Trust me, Hagrid," Cordelia spoke slowly between quiet grittings of her teeth as she lugged the bag upwards. "Of the three people left in the room, I'm the best one for the job." She didn't even want to consider what Joxer or, for that matter, Phoebe would do with this thing. "What's in here, any way? It feels like a ton of bricks!"

"Salt, an' James Hook will need it desperately. Unfortunately, that's not all Xavier told me. They're never very clear on their orders; they just tell ya what they want done an' how soon they want it done most o' the time." He slowly turned away and went back to the kitchen. He figured that this time tomorrow, the girl would still be trying to get it up the stairs, but there just wasn't anything he could do about it. He glanced around the room at all the food that had been prepared and no one had come to eat it. We'll just have ta do somethin' about that, Rubeus, ol' boy, he told himself. He promptly stacked a plate high, sat down, and began to eat. Never once did it cross Hagrid's mind to send a bag of food to James' group, and if it had, he would have wondered how the girl could have possibly managed it if she had managed the salt.

Will & Jack's Bedroom

Joxer screamed Phoebe's name as she jumped through the mirror. Clinging to his sword tightly, he went to jump behind her only to collide with Phillip's smooth glass. "PHILLIP," he screamed, "LET ME THROUGH! LET ME THROUGH AT ONCE! I MUST GET TO MY PHOEBE! SHE CAN'T FIGHT THAT THING ALONE! I'M JOXER THE MIGHTY! I COULD DO HIM IN!"

"You help Phoebe?" Phillip bellowed condescendingly. "Stop beating my glass! You couldn't fight your way out of a burlap sack!"

"Yes, I can! Give me a chance! Let me in there!"

Phillip warned, "Do not hit me again, Joxer," just as Joxer's fist hit Phillip. "If you continue, you will break my glass and Phoebe will never get back."

Joxer backed up and stared angrily at Phillip. "Why won't you let me through? I need to be with my Phoebe! She needs me! I can too fight!" He sniffled. "Nobody'll let me, though. Why won't you let me through?"

"Phoebe told me not to."

Joxer couldn't stop the tears. Not even Phoebe wanted him! He sat down on the floor and began to cry. Xena and Gabby didn't want him, and now his Phoebe didn't want him. Maybe he wasn't worth wanting? He continued to wail and call Phoebe's name, and Phillip and the others did their best to block him out.

A Shore

Elizabeth was torn between going to help Will, Jack, and Wolverine and diving in after Sir Didymus. Normally, there would have been no contest, but she knew that the small dog Knight, no matter how courageous his heart might be, stood little to no chance against whatever had pulled him into the water. Where had her sword gone? Liz wondered. She'd be no use to any one without it. The moonlight glinted against silver, and she hurried toward it.

Elizabeth fell back in shock when Phoebe suddenly dropped out of the sky and onto the ground. It took the blonde a moment to recover from her shock, but then she hurried over. "What are you doing here?"

"What do you think I'm doing here?" Phoebe retorted as she sat up, her aching head spinning.

The moonlight shone on the ancient book Phoebe still clutched to her breast, and Elizabeth offered the girl a hand. "Sorry," she said as she pulled her to her feet. "I just know you're not a fighter."

"I'm not," Phoebe admitted, "but I think this will help." As soon as she was steady, Phoebe held the huge book out in her arms and began to read the spell. A rustling wind tried to turn the pages for her, but Elizabeth caught the page and held it still. She peered over the younger woman's shoulder as Phoebe read the spell.

Phoebe's voice rose as the wind rose.

"Changing seasons changes all.
Life renews as creations call.
Nothing is immune; everything transmutes.
So take this monkey and give him roots!"

The monkey was already howling angrily by the time the spell finished. As Phoebe read the last word, both women looked up to see what good the spell would do . . .

Somewhere

Xena had finally ceased calling Aphrodite when she had realized that Ditey, for whatever reason, was not going to answer. She wondered why She was letting them down. Had they unknowingly done something to anger Her? Was She not allowed to help them here? Surely the Council could not even have sway over Her? Yet She was ignoring them . . . Why?

Xena came to a momentary stop beside Prue, who was kneeling, holding the Book, and wishing desperately for a light. The Pirate Princess knew that, despite its wealth of information, the Book would do them no good right now. She felt Piper come up beside them to check on her sister and knew Gabrielle was headed their way, as well, as Cole shimmered upward. She trusted Cole's abilities but knew that an unleashed Weather Witch was not at all a good thing to cope with.

As Cole appeared on top of Ororo, he snaked his arms quickly around her. She screamed louder as she struggled against him, kicking, hitting, and clawing, but he held her firmly and pinned her arms to her sides. Her fingers stretched out, tossing more lightning bolts, and the group below scattered just in time to avoid being hit.

Xena stayed on alert both for more lightning bolts and for Cole's return. The very second she saw him rematerialize, she flipped to him. Flipping over him where he held Ororo, who was fighting with all she had and blasting him with winds and rain though no lightning bolts, which surprised and relieved both he and Xena, Xena landed behind them. She turned swiftly and expertly struck Ororo's neck. She fell out in Cole's arms.

To Be Continued . . .