Lena's short-cut turned out to be barely more than a beaten track that wound it's way through the tall pines of a large forest. The Land Rover's 4-wheel drive had kicked in as soon as they had left the highway but the going had still been tough. Snow and ice concealed the roots and potholes in the lorry-worn path and navigating the route had been slippery and bouncy.

Sam breathed a sigh of relief as the forest opened up and they left the trees for a smoother, tarmac covered road. Recent plowing made the going easier, despite the fresh snowfall, and Sam relaxed back against the seat.

"How the hell did you know that track was there? You could barely see it."

Lena smiled, "My uncle was the local ranger. I used to camp out with them every summer. These woods are like a second home, I guess."

"I don't think Bobby will find it." Sam frowned.

"He'll be okay sticking to the main roads." Lena shrugged, glancing back towards her daughter. "I just need to get to Em's as fast as we can."

Nodding in understanding, his frown growing, Sam peered out amid the glow of the headlights and caught glimpses of the mountainous landscape. He had been aware of the ascent through the forest trail and could now sense the climb of the 4x4 as he guided them around the curved road. After a few moments, snow-powdered Welcome to the Black Hills road-signs began to signal their location and he relaxed a little.

"Take a left opposite the school and head up past the cemetery."

Sam nodded and glanced at Lena, seeing her looking out into the darkness and unable to tell if she was excited or anxious about at last being in her aunt's home town. Lead was empty and quiet, the glowing streetlights the only sign of life. He took the turn she had instructed and the Land Rover climbed up the narrowing incline.

The road wound up into the mountainside and thinned as it reached the edge of the forest. Sam was aware of Lena becoming fidgety as the ground leveled out and he heard her sigh in relief as a small wooden lodge came into view.

Pulling up outside the house, he continued round to the side and parked the jeep. Lena was already unbuckling her seat-belt and opening her door before he had killed the engine and he turned to watch her climb hurriedly down from her seat. Peering out at the seemingly lifeless house, Sam saw a light come on inside what he now saw was the kitchen and caught sight of the woman that hurried to the back door.

Stepping out into the icy chill of the pre-dawn, Sam hurried to help Lena lift Morgan from the car. She seemed determined to carry her daughter herself but backed off gratefully as Sam silently offered his help.

"Lena? Honey? How are you?"

Cradling Morgan's limp form and moving aside so Lena could close the jeep door, Sam turned and watched the small woman hurry across the snow towards them.

"Em." Lena stepped out to meet her aunt and embraced her with weary relief.

"You must be Sam." Emma kept her arms around her niece and smiled over at him, concern and gratitude dancing on her lined face. "Well, hurry inside." She urged gently, "I've got the fire going and some cocoa ready."

"And Morgan?" Lena asked carefully, leaning into her aunt as she was guided inside the house.

"I've got everything we might need." Emma assured, her smile thinning slightly. She eased Lena into the kitchen and waited to help Sam inside.

Sam could smell the warm scent of herbs and incense as he neared the house. He saw the sprigs of yarrow hanging over the door and bunches of elder in the kitchen windows and smiled in approval.

"Take her straight through." Emma said quietly, taking a moment to look at Morgan and sighing in dismay.

The house was neat and ordered but every available surface was scattered with lit candles and protective charms in all shapes and sizes. Sam could feel a comforting warmth spread through him and he quickly decided he was going to like Lena's aunt. He wandered through the narrow hallway and followed the soft glow emanating from the lounge.

Laying Morgan carefully on one of the quilt-covered sofas, Sam stepped back and allowed Emma room to kneel down and examine the worryingly quiet child. He took a moment to glance around the books and ornaments that filled the shelves on both sides of the fireplace, recognizing some titles and patterns with delight and intrigue.

"You're sure it's the plague?" Emma asked softly, peeling back Morgan's coat to examine the sores on her neck and arms. "As in the bubonic plague?"

"That's what was said about the other children." Lena replied, glancing at Sam with a shrug.

Sam nodded, "The CDC reports were conclusive."

Emma nodded quietly, resting one hand over Morgan's forehead and taking the pulse at her wrist with the other. "Lena, get her out of her coat and jumpers, honey." She ordered gently, "Sam, come with me."

Frowning in curiosity, Sam followed Emma back towards the kitchen. She was half his height, her long, plaited silver hair and small frame making her seem fragile and much older than he had expected. And yet she had an air of confidence that comforted him greatly.

"We tried so hard to keep Lena away from all this." Emma sighed, pausing beside the stove and shaking her head slowly.

Sam waited in the doorway and watched her in concern.

"Don't get me wrong," Emma turned and smiled thinly over at him, "I'm so very glad you were there to help her but … my goodness, my brother will be turning in his grave." She shuddered slightly, "To think that Lena's met with hunters …"

Sam gasped slightly.

"David was so determined that Lena would never follow in his footsteps." Emma continued, hanging her head and giving a loud sigh. "He hated me for ever opening up her eyes to all that's around us." Glancing back up at Sam, her smile returned somewhat. "But even he could not protect her from her heritage forever."

Sam moved into the kitchen and sat down at the large table, regarding Emma in interest. "Lena told me about her visions."

Emma's smile dropped away.

"She saw things, knew what might happen. I …" Sam paused for a moment, "She said, in the past, you helped stop them."

Turning away and lighting the gas beneath an old steel kettle, Emma took a deep breath and folded her arms tightly. "It was so hard to watch her suffering when it all started." She shook her head and moved along to the tall cupboard in the corner of the kitchen. "We knew our mother had been able to see things but she had been forced to keep quiet about her ability, for fear of being persecuted."

Sam watched Emma collecting small plastic boxes filled with what looked like dried leaves and herbs. She crossed back to him and set them down on the table.

"When David met Lena's mother and decided to settle down and abandon hunting, I was so angry with him." Emma continued, fetching a pestle and mortar from the sideboard. "I mean, to know what's out there and purposely turn away from it …?"

Sam fidgeted in his seat in discomfort and gave a small nod.

"We didn't speak for years … until Lena came along." Emma pulled out a chair and sat down opposite Sam. "And then my brother and I grew close again through his daughter." She opened a few boxes and tipped varying amounts of their contents into her mixing bowl. "But then she started having these dreams and … well, David wanted them gone. He sent her to almost every quack doctor he could find and filled her with drugs …" Emma sighed heavily and began to crush the herbs together.

"And that's when she sought you out." Sam surmised.

Emma smiled fondly, "She remembered the stories her crazy Aunt Em would tell and came to find out how much truth lay in them." She shivered slightly, "I think she was hoping it would be very little."

Sam laughed gently, "I know how that feels …" He rested his arms on the table and leaned forward heavily. "And I know how scared Lena must have been … and still is …"

Emma stopped mixing and frowned at Sam in interest.

"I …" Sam smiled in uncertainty, "I had these crazy nightmares and saw things … it hasn't happened since - … well, not for a while …" He looked down at his hands and frowned slightly, "It was intense."

Reaching out carefully, Emma placed her hand on Sam's arm and her thin fingers gave a gentle, comforting squeeze. "What did Lena see …?" She asked after a moment.

Footsteps in the hallway startled them both and Sam turned to see Lena entering the kitchen. Her face was pale and lined with fresh tears. She padded closer and sank down into a chair beside them.

"Everything." Lena offered in a husked whisper. "I saw everything."

Sam turned back to Emma and watched her quickly stand and hurry to Lena's side. She leaned over her niece and wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

"I saw it all." Lena continued quietly, her voice tight. "The demons and the children and the suffering …"

"I know," Emma soothed gently, pressing a kiss into Lena's cheek. "There was nothing you could have done."

"No?" Lena sniffed and moved back from Emma. "I could have tried. And maybe warned those parents. And even stopped it coming for Morgan."

Sam stared at Lena in confusion and shook his head slightly. "You saw all that?"

Turning slowly towards him, Lena's shoulders fell. "I'm sorry … I was afraid that if I said anything … well, you would not have understood."

Catching the quick worried glance that Emma shot him, Sam managed a smile and reached out to touch Lena's arm. "It's okay … we're here now."

The three of them then jumped slightly as the lights in the kitchen flickered and died, plunging them into almost blackness. After a few seconds the lights fluttered back to life and they glanced at one another in dread.

"Yeah," Emma agreed quietly, standing and looking outside into the darkness. "But so are they."

Sam was on his feet instantly and hurried to the kitchen window. He peered outside into the snow-covered driveway and his heart hammered inside his chest. "I take it this place is sealed tight."

"Of course." Emma replied quickly.

Sam looked back and nodded in relief. "Stay here." He rushed across to the back door and stepped outside into the cold.

Gasping as the icy air met his face, he ran to the jeep and scrambled inside. Grabbing the radio handset and watching the darkness around him, he called out to his brother urgently and listened to the static.

"Sam? What's wrong?"

"Bobby?" Sam frowned, "Where are you?"

"Erm …  just  left  the  interstate. Can't be more than  forty-five  minutes away. Why? Everything okay?"

"No." Sam closed his eyes and hung his head. "Bobby, they're here. They followed us, or they knew our plans somehow."

"Shit!"

"Look, just get here. We don't know how many there are or what they want." Sam flicked his head back up and peered out through the windows.

"I hear you. We're almost there."

"Good."

"Look, just sit tight and don't try anything stupid. We'll be -"

The radio crackled and fell silent. Sam pressed the transmit button and yelled out for Bobby but there was no reply. Panting hard and pale with fright, Sam glanced out at the house and saw the interior lights flickering once more. "Oh shit …" He whispered into the empty jeep.

- tbc -