"He's very close by," I mutter as we close in on the marina.

"Gabe," Mac say's stopping the furious pace that I set. "I can't believe that this is real. This is too much." I know that she's never been a firm believer in the supernatural or the occult. It was never her job. Cold hard facts was her job. Knowing when to break out the guns or knives or bare fists was what she was trained for. She knows that world not the fantasy world that Judson and I seem to be able to handle. Though, Judson wasn't eager to believe when it came to things outside the realm of normality.

"I need you," I tell her, barely about a whisper. I'm not even sure that she was able to hear me, until I see her small, reassuring nod of okay. As though we never stopped and Mac never had any doubts, we start back the rapid pace that I set earlier.

The feeling of hunger in the pit of stomach binds tighter as we approach a short row of warehouses. Staring at the row of the five rundown buildings, I push the feeling out. I know which one he's in. The one in the middle. There must nothing there, if he's using it. Bring us to rest in front of the salt and wind worn building I stare hard at it before I tell Mac that this nightmare is almost over, "He's in there."

"Are you sure?" she asks, shifting me in her arms so that she could see my face, to read me. I see the worry in her eyes as I do my best to reassure her that I know we're in the right place.

"I'm sure."

Taking a deep breath, I do my best to summon all the strength that I have left and let go of the warm support she'd offered. She can't go in there, it isn't safe for her. The Captain is sure to do anything he can to trick me into joining him, and I can't let him use her. I know that she wants to help, but not getting herself killed is the only way she can help me. Squaring my shoulders as best I can, I move away from her and toward the door to the warehouse. "Stay here," I tell her in the strongest voice I can manage.

"What!" her shocked voice filled the air along the dock.

I have to smile the closer I get to the door of the building and further away from her. I can just see her standing there with her hands on her slender waist, blue eyes wide with shock and fear as I head for what she is certain is my doom. She may be right about the doom part. I hope to God that she's not.

Don't look back, I tell myself as I open the gray security door and step through. Stale sea air and wet cardboard assault my sense of smell as I enter the building. Closing the door, I realize that the hunger that'd nearly driven me to madness at the hospital had subsided. I can't help but allow a small sigh of relief to escape me. No, I tell myself. Now is not the time to relax. Fight now, relax later.

Walking to the center of the empty warehouse I do my best to sense the man who'd drawn me here. I know that he's here. I can feel him. I just can't see him trough the darkened shadows of the open empty space.

"Captain!" I shout into the deepening dark, tensing the muscles in my jaw. "I know that you're here!"

"And I you," came the almost snooty reply from somewhere above him. "I must say, my little avenging angel, that you are the first person in almost two centuries to find me so soon. Most denied what was happening and died ignoring the pains they felt. But you . . ."

"What did you do to me?" I shout into the darkness, interrupting whatever string of praising words he had planned to say to woo me to his side.

"I gave you a gift," a harsh voice said softly into my ear. The hair on the back my neck stands on end as I realize that The Captain was able to sneak up on me. "A gift that needs to be finished," a rough hand rakes down the side of my face in an almost affectionate manner as The Captain speaks, "or you'll die."

Swallowing the fear and bile that I feel rising in my core, I turn to face the immortal madman. "How long would I have if I walked out that door right now?"

"A week. Maybe," he said with a shrug.

"Why?" I ask sounding like a small child.

"I don't know. Just the way that this works." The Captain shrugged again, not caring if he really answered the question or not.

"You want my father's money." There was no question to it. That's the only reason he wanted me. He wanted Judson because of his mind, but me he wanted for the trust fund. No shrugging lie could hide that fact.

"I told you, you were smart, did I not?" He smiled at me. "Now that we know why we're all here, shall we finish what we started last night?"

TBC