THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS AN AREA DESCRIBING PREDATORS HUNTING AND THE INEVITABLE RESULTS. PLEASE BE WARNED AND SKIP THE MARKED SECTION IF THAT KIND OF THING BOTHERS YOU.
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Nathan and Josiah's heads were close together as they spoke in hushed whispers for a long time. Nathan's body language revealed relief as he settled back in his chair.
A desultory game of Spades had started up between the youngsters. Ezra Standish was proving himself more than capable of playing pool despite his broken arm, clearing the table three times before Buck got his first shot.
"I think we need to find those diaries of Barbara E. G. Petrie." Mary Travis broke the morose silence that had fallen over the room.
Chris scowled, "Forget the damn things. We need to get out of here and get Ivy to a hospital."
"Any suggestions on how to do that, Christopher dear? I was hoping the journals might give us a clue on how to get out of here." Mary's darkened eyes glittered feverishly.
"I suggest we wait right here until we're rescued," Sydney Crooks protested.
Chris sighed as an argument broke out between the lady reporter and the college professor. All too soon, everyone was involved as the strain began to show on ragged nerves.
Nettie's shrill whistle cut the air bringing the heated words to a halt. "Dr. Jackson, all this childish bickering hasn't woken Ivy." The nurse spoke in concern.
Nathan immediately went over to examine the girl.
"Now stop acting like children and talk things out," Nettie lectured the sheepish 'children'.
"Nettie, would you please come here? We need to change this dressing," Nathan called.
Nettie took a deep breath and wiped all expression off her face before going to join Jackson at Ivy's side.
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Voices were kept at a more reasonable level as the rest of the group decided on a strategy, the consensus being they should go ahead and search the house. Any action was deemed better than doing nothing.
"DOGGONE THAT BOY!!" Nettie's raised voice captured everyone's attention.
Once more, Vin's spot was empty.
"I'll check the bathroom." JD threw over his shoulder as he headed for the small room.
"How does he do this? One of us should have noticed. I thought I was keeping a close watch on him," Larabee fumed.
"Not there," JD reappeared.
"Did he take the cards?" Ezra asked softly.
Buck checked Vin's area. "Looks like it, them and Pony."
"Is there a card under or around the dragon?" Standish asked thoughtfully.
"Seven of diamonds under its front paws," Buck responded.
"Then I would suggest we ascertain where Mr. Tanner's most recent path might lead," Ezra suggested while rubbing his injured arm.
"Not you Standish, Josiah either. You both need to rest, and trotting all over kingdom come is not what the doctor ordered." Nathan decreed. "Since Ivy can't be left on her own, I'll be staying too. Not like we can depend on that one for help."
Everyone's eyes followed Nathan's gaze to the good professor, who was gingerly lowering himself onto a pillow in the rockermuttering to no one in particular. It was quite obvious that he was not planning to move in the near future.
Angel and Tony exchanged a look, and in that moment a mutual decision was reached.
"You might need some help, Doc. Angel and I will be happy to stay and help out in any way we can," Tony offered. "That way Nettie can go and help look for Vin."
"Thank you," Nathan relaxed slightly.
"I guess I could stay and help out too," Jock Steele volunteered reluctantly.
"NO !" Nathan, Ezra, and Josiah chorused emphatically.
At Chris' muttered, "Oh Hell", Buck slapped the man on the back and with laughter in his voice proclaimed, "Let's get huntin'!"
"Wait! It is imperative that you not disturb the cards or whatever our young Mr. Tanner may have discovered in his wanderings," Ezra warned.
"Fancy pants, is right. Vin'll drive you crazy trying to 'fix' 'em back," Nettie sighed.
"We really need to talk about Vin's quirks when we get back. With all the distractions, we totally forgot about it," Larabee growled picking up a rope and a flashlight as the impromptu search party headed out the door with Jock bringing up the rear, notepad and pencil in hand.
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"Ezra, have you figured out what is going on?" Josiah asked curiously.
"No, not in the least Dr. Sanchez. 'It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.' Mary Travis is desirous of those diaries. So much so, she is being manipulated by the house." Ezra began ticking off his observations.
Angel's frightened gasp interrupted Standish's explanation. Tony wrapped his arms around the trembling girl before nodding for Ezra to continue.
"It's better to know. Go ahead, Mr. Standish," Angel said shakily.
"Do be very careful revealing anything to Ms. Travis which may benefit the house, it is 'aware' and growing stronger. Ivy's maneuvering is now of little threat." Ezra looked towards the moaning girl with a sad sigh. "I fear the young lady is in considerable danger." Standish shared a troubled look with Nathan. "Vin Tanner is . . . plotting on multiple levels. His condition makes it impossible to formulate any type of conjecture of what his plans may entail. Neither can I determine his true intentions. At some level, he seems to allow the house to 'feed' off him, on others he seems diametrically opposed to it. Then there is his 'guest' for lack of a better word, who seems to hate 'her' and be extremely concerned for Mr. Larabee's safety. Have I missed any pertinent points?" Ezra asked calmly.
"He reacted when Nettie was threatened," Angel reminded.
"Yes, Vin does seem to react then as well," Josiah nodded.
"No, I meant Vin's 'guest'," Angel corrected.
"He wanted me to help Nettie," Nathan agreed.
"So what does that mean?" Tony frowned.
"Whoever is 'visiting' is a good guy," Angel said with certainty.
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"I'm going to put a bell on that boy," Nettie huffed as she followed the new trail of cards. This one was connected with the trail already in the main hall starting at the grand stairs and headed south.
"Auntie Nettie, I don't understand. Vin has never wandered like this," Casey muttered.
"It's the house," Nettie scowled. "He's hunting something."
"We're really going to have to consider locking the doors or fastening Vin to the pool table or something," Chris raised the subject uncomfortably.
Nettie slammed to a halt and glared at Chris. "You try restraining that boy against his will and he'll kill himself or us getting loose!"
Chris started to snap back but Casey cut him off.
"Mr. Larabee, Vin trusts Aunt Nettie. If we cage him, he's going to go wild. Do you really want an out of control Vin Tanner?" Casey demanded.
"Oh, hell no! I don't want to cage him but he can't keep wandering off. It's not safe," Chris sighed rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"We can set up a watch schedule," Bruce suggested. "Take turns keeping an eye on him."
"We're already doing that and look what's happened," Buck snorted.
"No, we haven't," Bruce shook his head. "Nobody has been responsible for him except Ms. Nettie. Not really, I mean the first distraction and he's on his own. Ms. Nettie went to help Dr. Jackson and nobody kept watch for her. Every one of us knew he could wander off."
"Hell, the kid's right Chris," Buck huffed.
"Alright, we'll set up a babysitting schedule," Chris growled and stalked off, following the trail of carefully spaced antique cards.
"Looks like he ran out of house," Jock Steele pointed to Tanner now sitting in front of the window in the southern most room of the building.
"No more peaches for you, Vin Tanner," Nettie stomped over glaring down at the rocking youngster. "Oh son," Nettie knelt down and wrapped her arms around the miserable boy.
Pony's head once more protruded through the buttons of his shirt. A mortar and pestle were lovingly cradled in the slender hands. Tears ran down Vin's cheeks and dripped silently into the stone bowl.
"Why is he crying?" Jock asked in bewilderment.
"No idea," Buck muttered distractedly.
"Vin, it's time to go back now," Chris knelt down to look into the tear drenched eyes.
Vin's eyes locked on something behind Chris and filled with fury. Looking back to see what had so upset the youngster, Chris saw Mary moving around the room possessively. touching different objects. Larabee quickly looked back only to find the empty gaze had once again returned.
"Up you come," Chris urged, holding Vin's elbow as he stood up.
Tanner rose without protest. Shaking off Larabee's grip, he moved to the window and placed the mortar and pestle gently on the sill. Reaching into his shirt, he removed the wooden box of cards. Holding it tightly in one hand, he took Nettie's hand into his free one, and then started back the way he came.
JD hesitated a moment, darting a quick glance towards the exiting group he reached out and touched the mortar. "Oh God!" he hissed, jerking back. Turning, he hurried after the others.
"Kid, are you alright?" Buck demanded, taking in JD's pallor.
"Nathan, I 'saw' Nathan, they beat him to death," JD whispered.
"Who did? JD, did you touch that thing?" Buck hissed.
"Yeah I touched it. They were dressed like cowboys," JD choked.
"Was it really Nathan, or could it have been someone else?" Buck demanded.
"Uh . . . older . . . he was older, and dressed old fashioned. Maybe taller than Doctor Jackson." JD's voice calmed as he reconsidered his vision.
"JD, don't go touching Vin's finds any more! Do you hear me kid?" Buck growled.
"I hear you Buck. I'm not touching anything Vin comes up with again," JD promised shakily.
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Ivy was awake and looking miserable when the hunters returned with the lost lamb.
"Why didn't you just leave that useless lump?" Ivy hissed irritably.
Nettie simply ignored the girl and settled Vin on the floor beside 'his' dragon. Tanner began to hum and rock tightly clutching the cards in one hand and petting the dragon with the other. The carved horse's head continued to protrude from his shirt where it had been safely stashed.
"My, aren't we in a good mood?" Bruce snorted, to no one in particular. "Feeling a bit hormonal?"
The young man had the grace to look chagrined at the glares sent his way by the women in the room.
"Hormones have nothing to do with her behavior. A bi . . . pain is a pain." Feeling the censoring gaze of her aunt, Casey abruptly changed her wording.
"Ms. Miller, there's no reason to take things out on everyone else. I know you're hurting, but that's not going to help anything," Nathan soothed.
"Up Yours! You stupid quack, if you were a real doctor, I wouldn't be in this condition," Ivy snarled, climbing to her feet.
"You shouldn't be moving around," Nathan protested gently.
"Get away from me," Ivy slapped Nathan as she stormed to the bathroom.
"She must be in considerable pain." Jock Steele broke the shocked silence.
"Why's that?" Tony asked.
"Her behavior," Jock waved toward Nathan.
"No, that's pretty normal for Ivy. At least with people she can't use. She was on good behavior earlier," Angel shrugged and continued making sandwiches for everyone.
"Ms. Lemon, I will be informing the grant committee of your slanderous behavior," Professor Crooks barked. "Ms. Miller has always proven to be helpful and kind as far as I'm concerned."
"Yeah, like you've done a lot to help since you've been here," Bruce muttered under his breath.
"Prof she is sleeping with you. Not something suggested in the student handbook now is it?" Tony reminded. "The grant committee might not be interested in the malicious manipulations of her lover." The football player loomed protectively close to Angel.
"Yeah, she's done a lot to help since she's been here." Bruce snorted. "Didn't look to me like she had any intention of trying to save your ass upstairs yesterday. Sorry, Ms. Nettie." Bruce flinched.
"There speaks a jealous geek," Sydney Crooks sneered.
"Oh get real, I've got more sense than messing with Poison Ivy," Bruce laughed. "I don't want important parts rotting off because I picked up some kind of awful disease."
"That is enough!" Nettie decreed. "I won't have you squabbling like children. I know she's acting ugly, but she's sick and she's in pain. I expect better from you!"
Prof. Crooks cursed softly as he, once more, tripped over the bearskin rug. Scowling, he examined what appeared to be fresh scratches on his ankle When no one else seemed so inclined, Sydney gave the rug a kick before grasping it by the head and dragging it over to the corner for the 3rd time, according to his count.
A pained squeal pealed forth when his hand became trapped in the bear's jaws. Buck Wilmington gave an impatient huff and walked over to free the professor.
A blood curdling scream rang out, causing Nettie to pale as she shared a despairing look with Nathan. Reaching the bathroom they were nearly struck by the door as it crashed open and a now totally nude Ivy erupted, screaming hysterically and clawing bloody furrows in her bare skin. "Get them out, GET THEM OUT!!! GODDESS HELP ME!!!" The girl shrieked as she continued to rip at the body piercings.
Josiah reacted first and rushed forward in an attempt to stop Ivy from inflicting more damage to herself. However, she was too fast and darted past his reaching hands. As the panicked girl threw herself at the previously locked French doors they swung open easily releasing her into the garden.
An elegantly dressed woman sauntered in through the now open doors, a mild look of bemusement crossing her face as she watched the nude girl escape. Before the others could react and go after Ivy, the doors slammed closed with an ominous click.
Nathan pounded furiously on the, once again, locked doors in an attempt to open them as another terrified scream filled the air. Buck, Chris, Tony, JD and Bruce rushed to add their strength to Nathan's in an attempt to force open the door. Angel, Casey and Nettie were attempting to break the glass in a window while Ezra continued to swing the butt of a pool cue against the glass of a second window.
Josiah painfully hobbled towards the group, his strained body now reacting to the sudden attempt at stopping Ivy's flight. The large man endeavored to drag a heavy chair across the room, hoping to use it to batter down the door.
Jock Steele couldn't help but stare in amazement as Sydney Crooks sniffed and went back to his rocker with total indifference, and an unconcerned Mary sat stroking the oblivious Vin's hair and hummed 'her' strange tune with a feline smile on her face. A shiver ran up the reporter's spine at the sight.
"What in blue blazes is that?" Buck's shocked tone drew everyone's attention. The room became suddenly quiet; Mary's humming the only sound, as the group watched a movement in the knee high grass circle the distraught Ivy.
"There's another one," JD blurted pointing.
"There's more," Angel whispered, pointing to the edge of the bushes.
The men suddenly began to work more aggressively in an effort to open the door, as voices were raised in a warning that Ivy didn't seem to hear.
"What are they?" Casey gasped as she swung a lamp only to have it bounce off of the unbreakable glass.
"It can't be," Nathan stopped to stare in disbelief.
Jock moved to a window and gazed out, his notebook and pen, now forgotten, dropping unnoticed to the floor.
"What are they doing?" Bruce demanded.
"Like wolves," Chris hissed. "They're stalking her."
Angel whispered. "They can't really hurt anyone, can they?"
"Neither can ceiling fans!" Tony growled, slamming against the door brutally.
Josiah abandoned the chair and stared helplessly out the window.
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The hysterical Ivy had stopped to rip at her skin once more, unaware of the danger lurking near. A flash of light on metal and a pained scream filled the air.
"Hoe," Josiah grunted.
"Josiah!" Nettie barked. "Whatever you think of her morals, she's in danger."
"No, the weapon, it's a hoe," Josiah corrected.
"Oh," Nettie flushed and resumed beating on the glass.
Ivy turned, only to collapse Then, using a trellis, she pulled herself back up in an effort to flee the predators, her damaged leg dragging behind.
"Hamstrung," Chris muttered.
Ivy's terrified eyes locked on the group beyond the French doors and she hobbled towards them.
"Oh God!" Angel spun away from the window, burying her face into the comforting warmth of Tony standing at her side, as a small scythe glinted in the bright sun. Ivy went down as her other Achilles' tendon was slashed. The determined Ivy drug herself across the paving stones to the door. A desperate hand reached out to touch the glass before the small hunters finished pulling her down.
Blood splashed across the glass as the tools and implements went to work hacking the girl's body apart. The maniacal little smiles never seemed to leave the red cheeked faces as the brightly dressed little figures chewed on pieces of raw flesh while butchering their kill, filling their tiny baskets and packs with fresh meat.
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"Josiah, when we get home . . . the Gnomes go! I don't care what Hannah thinks," Nathan breathed.
"I heartily agree," Josiah turned a green tinged face toward Nathan.
Chris pulled the cord, drawing the drapes and shutting out the horror just beyond the window.
Nettie turned to gather her 'chicks' and noted that Casey too had turned away from the carnage and was currently wrapped in JD's comforting arms. The young man suddenly appearing far older than his tender years as he attempted to console the distressed girl.
At Nettie's gentle urging, her charges turned back toward the fireplace.
Shell shocked eyes gradually registered the presence of the immaculately dressed woman in their midst.
Carefully the beautiful blonde straightened her jacket and checked her coiffure with a delicate hand. "Ezra, mah darling boy, you should select less . . . emotional playmates, sugah. Appearances, Ezra! Do remember appearances are everything," she said in a sultry southern accent. "Now remember you're mannahs and introduce meh."
"Hello Mutha," Ezra's drawl was drawn out and tinged with despair. "Ladies, Gentlemen, mah mutha, Maude . . . Whatevah is your name this week?" He addressed his mother momentarily, a look of disgust crossing his normally well couched features before continuing. "Please keep an eye on any and all valuables. Mutha has been losing at the tables again."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ezra's comment on the riddle, mystery and enigma is a quote by Winston Churchill. 1939