Heartless

Chapter 13 - The Power of Legion

A smug grin crossed Josiah Barton's face as he sat in his jail cell. He could hear the heavy footsteps of Jack Tolliver diminish as the overweight prison guard shuffled back to the safety of his office. Inmates of the Miami Dade Correctional Facility considered Tolliver untouchable and it was gratifying for Josiah to know that he alone had the ability to unnerve the seemingly fearless man.

Tolliver had sauntered up to his cell to inform him that two people had submitted requests for visitation. That took him by surprise - Faith had been the only person to visit him since his incarceration - he knew of no other person who would have reason to do so.

Lockhart, perhaps?

He considered it momentarily before dismissing the idea. Lockhart knew better than to make contact, especially in a manner that could so easily be traced. Tolliver had stood in front of his cell, seeming to revel in the fact that he knew something that the other man didn't. It would not be long before Fat Jack Tolliver spilled his guts and, based on the information that Tolliver would impart, he might just let the man keep his innards where they were.

"Aren't you a popular lad, my dearie," Tolliver remarked, admiring his well-kept nails and cuticles, giving the impression that the prisoner before him didn't bother him.

Barton did not move, not even raising his eyes to the prison guard. He stayed exactly where he was, sitting up straight on the side of his cot, staring at nothing but the blank gray wall ahead of him. "Good afternoon, Mr Tolliver."

Barton's voice was devoid of emotion. Yet something about Barton caused Tolliver to feel almost afraid to be in the same space as the convicted criminal. Hiding behind the kind of bluster he was known for, Tolliver tried to give as good as he got. "I've just spoken to the prison warden, it seems you have some visitors lined up. Now who might they be?"

Tolliver lightly tapped a finger against his chin, a mocking display of considering the answer to his own question. It was wasted on Barton, who continued to look straight ahead.

"You don't want to know who they are?" Tolliver goaded.

Barton remained unmoved. "I already know, Mr Tolliver."

Humans were fallible and easy to bluff. Tolliver would tell him what he needed to know and the fat man would be none the wiser as to what he'd done. Humans were such simple creatures.

The comment seemed to unnerve Tolliver, who took a small step back from the metal bars of the prison cell. "You do? How?"

This time, Barton's head moved, as quick as if he were a snake pouncing on an unsuspecting prey. Those pale blue, almost colourless eyes found their target as Barton pinned Tolliver with a stare. "You have relayed the message, Mr Tolliver. Now it is time for you to leave."

Barton returned to staring at the wall, hearing Tolliver's parting words. "Then you'll also know that I'll be sitting in on your visit with the good police lieutenant. We wouldn't want either of you to come to any harm now, would we?"

Waiting until Tolliver had moved away from his cell, Barton allowed himself to be at one with the voices inside, communicating in a way that no human could ever understand. There were many voices, but only one loud enough to be heard over the panicked din of those trapped within. Feeling his strength building from inside, Josiah Barton silenced the voices with a mere thought, tinged with a very real threat.

One visitor would be Faith, he was sure of it, yet the other intrigued him. Tolliver had mentioned a police lieutenant, perhaps Catherine had received his message already?

Catherine, Catherine….you always did have such a lovely mouth. Have you been telling others about us, my love?

It was reasonable to assume that Catherine had spoken to the police, firstly about the dead body of a woman near her church and secondly about the special Valentine's gift that he'd sent her. The thought of a visit from the police did not bother him. His powers reached far beyond those of silly men and their futile weaponry. Nothing of this earth could harm him, of that he was certain.

After all, he was more than Barton.

He was Legion. His body was nothing more than a shell, a means to an end. The human body aged with time, the passing of years causing muscle and bones to weaken and break down. This body was young, strong and vital, and combined with the true essence inside him, the entire Miami Dade police force would be no match for him.

He knew it was so, having experienced the demise of Emerson Fosdick, a man who was once so strong, full of energy and exuberance. The passing of time had made the body of Emerson grow weaker until it was no longer able to do what was required of it. Each transference made Legion stronger, yet the body he inhabited aged far quicker than that of any normal human being. Emerson had been sick, his body unable to fight off the cancer that was consuming him from inside. Emerson's body, like those of so many before him, would not last forever.

Legion knew that he would need to find a new vessel, before his essence became trapped in a body that would no longer follow his commands. As soon as they had set eyes on the body of Josiah Barton, they knew they'd found the perfect candidate. The process was slow at first, until the time was right for the transference to take place.

Despite the initial discomfort of becoming accustomed to a new body, inhabiting this new vessel had been relatively easy. The weak owner of his corporeal shell had not put up much of a fight, submitting after only a few days before vanishing into silence.

This body was strong and would sustain him through the many trials that were to come. This essence was not made for being bound by such physical restrictions and the need to move freely was strong. With each new body he inhabited, the voices within grew stronger, becoming subservient together to Legion.

With each new soul he came into contact with, Legion took on their life force as well as their memories and emotions, bending them to his own will, feeding off of the panic and fear they generated, amassing great knowledge as well as immense power along the way.

He felt nothing as the body of Emerson Fosdick withered before his eyes, having already transferred himself into the body of Josiah Barton, a man who hadn't seen what was coming before it was too late. He cared little for the soul of his current vessel, yet the woman he'd brought to the Fosdick house had intrigued Legion from the beginning.

Both he and Faith had seen something in Catherine Barton from the moment she'd entered the house, making the prospect of taking over the body and mind of Josiah Barton even more exciting. Joe Barton was a weak-willed man, too consumed with power and social standing to understand what was happening before his own eyes. All it had taken was a little gentle persuasion and a touch of chemical relaxation before he and Faith had the man worshipping their every word.

Barton had put up little resistance when the transference took place, the man's last thought that of his wife before he'd been silenced by the power of Legion. Accessing the man's memories and emotions, each one of them led back to Catherine, so much so that it became Legion's primary focus. Catherine Barton was the key and they would have her, they would reclaim what was rightfully theirs.

It had always been this way. The power within Legion demanded no less when it came to acquiring that which he desired. Nothing would stand in his way. He would have Catherine and do with her as he pleased. He would toy with her at first, taking delight in the fear his actions had generated in her.

It was logical to assume that Catherine had been so affected by the message relayed that she would have called the authorities. It was a matter of time before the police made the connection between the body of the dead girl and the message sent to Catherine. Far from being concerned, the police and their involvement would make the game much more satisfying when the power of Legion was finally unleashed.

Faith would soon visit and between them they would begin planning the next phase. Things were moving along at a pace that was pleasing to him. Too slow and he would become bored, but not so fast that his hunger and gratification could not be sated. Like a game of chess, they would move those involved like pawns until he and his deadly queen would strike in a move so brutal and unexpected that even the strongest of men would yield to their indomitable force.

Faith Fosdick had always been a source of great enjoyment for him, their relationship undefined yet undeniably important to them both. Having seen the growth of Faith from a child, one who seemed devoid of the innocence of others her age, to a woman of great power and influence, her presence during his existence had become something much more than a mutually beneficial working relationship.

He could not feel love, such human emotions were meaningless against the power of Legion. Yet there was something about Faith that drew him toward her and had from the moment he'd set eyes on her. Though she was no more than a child, something in her soulless nature spoke to Legion, urging him to follow the young girl, guiding her progress from afar until the time was right for him to approach.

From the moment that he had watched the little girl rip the wings from an injured bird before wringing its neck with her hands, he knew he'd found a mortal who could join with him, and accompany him on his quest to achieve that which must be done. Legion was not made for this earth, but his purpose here was clear and Faith would be an integral part of that plan.

There had been a time when they had become lovers through the body of Emerson Fosdick, a man whose movie-star good looks and love of a hedonistic lifestyle had made him easy prey. Faith had been unsure at first, having intimated that she felt something akin to love for the weak-willed Emerson. His promise Emerson would remain his primary vessel has eased Faith's reservations.

Humans and their emotions were beneath Legion, yet there was something about Faith that made him to want to please her. She had always been such a faithful servant, meeting his needs and doing as he asked, completing tasks that he could not. Emerson's body had been strong and youthful when Legion had taken possession of it. His essence inside Emerson's human shell had made the man even more alluring to Faith and Legion had permitted her to give into her carnal desires.

Sexual intercourse had no meaning or benefit to him, yet it delighted him to see the flames of passion in Faith's eyes as she rode him, throwing her head back in pleasure. Humans were such simple creatures, something that he'd figured out far before he'd ever crossed paths with Faith. Giving a little to Faith ensured that he gained much more in return.

There were times when Legion considered that Faith was as equally soulless as he. Having witnessed first-hand the things she was capable of, it reminded him of no other human he'd ever come into contact with. Throughout his existence he'd met others similar to Faith but no one quite like her. Nothing was off limits with Faith, she would do whatever it took to accomplish that which needed to be done.

It had been for that very reason that he had decided to imbue Faith with some of the essence that made Legion such a powerful force. Though the human body of Faith Fosdick aged, it would be guaranteed that he would find another suitable vessel for her soul when her current body could no longer meet the needs desired from it.

Despite Faith's eagerness to be transformed from a mere mortal, he had made it clear that the process of her change would be a gradual one. Having waited for so long to find a suitable companion, it was imperative that not even the smallest chance of something going wrong could occur. Faith was far too important in Legion's plan for things to go awry at such a late stage.

Between them they would rule over all that they desired, wreaking the kind of havoc that would cause weak and petty humans to cower in fear. Faith Fosdick was more important than she realised, her presence completed Legion, made the power they held that much more potent. Though Legion was strong in its own right, combining with Faith and the influence she inspired in those around her make them an unstoppable and irresistible force.

The way Faith's eyes had lit in pleasure as he began the change process within her had made him feel something akin to the human emotion of happiness. Legion felt no emotion, the only experience of them being through the memories and emotions of his human vessels, yet something within him felt a sense of pleasure at observing the small changes in Faith that would soon make her soul immortal. Soon, together, they would be able to do as they pleased, revelling and dancing in the blood of mere mortals who had dared to stand before the power of Legion.

The changes in Faith would have to move slowly, any significant changes would cause alarm to those around her. The process of changing Faith into something not quite of this world had to be done gradually to ensure that suspicion of those around Faith were not aroused.

Aroused. It had been a feeling such as this that Legion had experienced when Faith's eyes had changed for the first time. When asked what she would like to embody, her response had come from instinct. Faith had always had a fascination with snakes and it had been this slithering and cold-blooded creature that she'd decided to unite with. To Legion it was a perfect choice, there had always been something serpentine about the alluring Faith Fosdick.

Those eyes, those eyes of Faith's as they changed from their human orbs into the yellowing, sharp eyes of a snake had sent a thrill through Legion, knowing it would only be a matter of time before Faith could join him on this journey and forever be united with the power of Legion.

Faith had questioned the logic of Legion when he had allowed this mortal body to be arrested and incarcerated inside the dank surroundings of the Miami Dade Correctional Facility, but the truth had been that he'd expended too much power in granting Faith her heart's desire. Legion's reserves had been tapped almost to empty, leaving him weakened and vulnerable, yet Faith could never know of the true cost of her eternal existence.

The power of Legion had always been drawn from fear and it had been that need for power which had drawn Legion to attack the young Jenna Brunswick. For one moment, one moment in which Legion had shown poor judgement, he had attacked the girl for no other reason than that his reserves were so low, leaving him desperate to replenish that which he had recently lost in the process of making Faith his eternal companion.

The girl had also looked like Catherine and it had been the image of Josiah Barton's wife that had compelled him to choose Jenna Brunswick to have his way with. It had been Legion's plan to feast on her fear before killing her, but the young girl had sensed his weakness and made an escape. Weakened as he was, Legion knew that the time was not right to reveal his true identity to this mortal world. There was no other choice but to bide time and wait for circumstances to fall into place.

And fall into place they would. Time on Earth had no real meaning to Legion and as long as his current vessel could sustain him, time was on his side. When the opportunity presented itself, Legion would strike and break free from the flimsy cage that these stupid humans believed could contain such a being as he.

Having feasted on the fears of the inmates of the facility, Legion's power began to grow and he had experienced an increasing sense of strength in recent weeks. As the fear of those around him increased, so did his power. Catherine had received his message, Legion could almost taste the fear and panic emanating from her human body, seeping from her pores and soaking into his own like a sponge in water.

Let the Miami Dade Police Department send whoever they wanted, they would be no match for Legion. Anyone who dared stand in his way would be crushed as if they were nothing more than an ant beneath his boot.

The thought of crushing simple humans brought a smile to Legion's face as he sat straight on his cot, hearing the heavy footsteps of Fat Jack Tolliver once more making their way toward his cell.

"Your visitor is here, dearie. Come and say hello to Lieutenant Caine."

"You ok, Cal?"

Eric's soft voice roused Calleigh from her thoughts – had her expression given her away?

She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the uneasy feeling she had about Horatio. He'd sounded strange on the phone, nothing like his usual self and it had disquieted her.

"Just updating Horatio on our chat with Jenna Brunswick," Calleigh smiled, placing her phone down on the work station, turning it absent-mindedly as she thought over the conversation she'd just had

Maybe it had something to do with the fact that they'd been dating for so long, but Eric could tell that something wasn't right.

"And?" he prodded, moving closer to her.

"And nothing," Calleigh replied, plastering a smile on her face that didn't quite reach her eyes. Eric continued to look at her, she knew he wouldn't stop until she'd told him. "I'm worried about Horatio," she admitted finally.

Eric felt a sharp pain lance through his chest, he and Horatio were tight but there was something about Calleigh that brought out a jealous streak in him. Rational or not, Eric's pride would dictate that the only man Calleigh should care about was him.

"You know what H is like," Eric responded, shrugging his shoulders, "He'll be fine."

Eric's words of encouragement had little effect in Calleigh. "There's something….I don't know….malevolent about Barton. There's more to him than meets the eye; I don't think Horatio's fully prepared for meeting with him."

"Horatio's on his way to visit with Barton?"

Calleigh nodded her head, returning to spinning her phone slowly. "He wants us to visit with Barton's mother while he's at the prison."

Eric smiled, feeling relief wash over him. Removing Calleigh from the lab would be a good way to distract her from her concern for Horatio. "You fancy a road trip then?" he smiled at her, raising an eyebrow suggestively, his heart sinking as he saw her conflicted expression.

Calleigh shook her head. "Something doesn't feel right, Eric. I get the feeling that Horatio's going to get more than he bargained for meeting with Joe. Maybe one of us should go with him."

Eric felt his temper flaring, unable to keep a lid on his emotions. Maybe his initial thought was right, what if Calleigh was harboring feelings for Horatio, what if there was more to their relationship than just a close friendship?

"Ok, I get it. I'll go visit Barton's mother while you do whatever it is that you've got to do here," Eric gestured dismissively before crossing his arms over his chest.

"Eric, wait."

Either not hearing her or ignoring her, Eric stalked away.

To be continued.