Hellboy groaned as he woke up on the infirmary bed. He felt Liz's hands on him, caressing his skin. Pain flared as Abe poked and prodded at the broken knife tip. Abe removed his hand, and he turned around. Hellboy brought up a hand and took Liz's.
"Hey," Liz whispered as she looked down.
"Maizie?" Hellboy whispered back.
Liz shook her head. Hellboy sighed then tried to sit up.
"Red, stay. You're hurt," She said as she pushed his shoulders down. Hellboy fell back.
"But Maze…we have to get her back."
"I know," Liz said as she caressed his cheek. "We will."
Abe turned back around with a pair of tweezers. He bent down and touched it with the tweezers and Hellboy jumped with a yell. Abe turned around to the screen behind him. A live X-Ray video that showed Hellboy's heart and the knife inching towards it. Hellboy groaned in pain as it inched closer.
"Damn it, Abe!" Liz cried out, tears down her cheek. "Pull the damn thing out!"
"I cannot," Abe said as he turned to them. "Every time I touch it, every time I come close to it, it moves closer to his heart."
He looked back to the screen then to them. He pointed to the spear tip, "The wound will not heal until the spear is removed." He looked up to Liz. "We're running out of time."
"Then we go after the Prince," Liz spoke determinedly. "And we make him take it out."
Abe nodded then looked past Liz. Manning stood in the doorway, watching them. Abe left Hellboy's side and went to the tray of supplies, leaving them to their privacy. Hellboy and Liz whispered back and forth. Manning watched them for a moment, then turned around and left the doorway.
Maizie woke up in a strange bed. She froze at first, looking around her surroundings with just her eyes, then spotted Nuala sitting at the edge of her bed. She sat up. Her head throbbed. At this point, Maizie was really annoyed and tired of getting hurt again.
"Princess?" Maizie spoke up as she rubbed her head.
Nuala turned her head then stood up. She went over to her side and picked up a glass of water that sat on a small table. She handed it to Maizie.
"Please, drink the water Seer," Nuala asked her. "You will need it."
Maizie took the water and sniffed at it. She looked up at her.
"It is safe. I promise you."
Maizie sipped the water, and when it tasted normal, she chugged it down until it was empty. She handed the glass back. Nuala set it on the table, and she sat down beside her.
"Why do you all call me the seer? That's not my name."
Nuala cocked her head as she looked at Maizie, "But that is what you are. You are the one who sees the future."
"Just call me Maizie please?" She asked.
Nuala nodded.
"What makes it a big deal that I can see the future? I'm sure there are other people out there that can do that," Maizie spoke.
"Seers are rare in our world. There are not many creatures who have this ability. How long have you had this?" Nuala asked.
"A year."
"Yes. Seers are not born with the ability. They are chosen," She explained. "You were chosen to inhabit this ability. The gods must have seen you as worthy. But your gifts did emerge later. Usually, it appears when the child has reached maturity."
Maizie looked away from Nuala, "And that's why your brother wants me?"
Nuala nodded, "You are special. You are coveted."
Maizie sighed as she threw back the covers, "I'm already 'special'. I don't want to be any more special than I already am."
Nuala stood up to allow Maizie the space to get out of bed. Maizie stood up.
"He won't let me go, will he?"
Nuala shook her head, "No. I am afraid that he will not. I am sorry for my part in this. I did not want to drag Abraham into this."
Maizie sat back down on the bed and Nuala joined her again.
"It's not your fault. We were all put into this. Your brother set it all in motion," Maizie reassured her.
"Indeed, I did."
Nuada's voice spoke up from behind and Maizie stood up quickly.
"I started all this, and you will be by my side as it ends," He said as he got closer to them. Nuala stood up in front of Maizie.
"You won't succeed," Maizie said behind Nuala.
"Ahh but your vision says otherwise," Nuada stood in front of Nuala, looking at Maizie.
"My visions show more than one future. I can never be sure what I see. Sometimes I see what's happening in the moment, other times I see something else. It is never guaranteed that what I see will happen," Maizie explained. "I don't see how I can be a useful seer to you if all I see are possibilities."
Nuada cocked his head, "Interesting. You are different. Seers see what will be, not possibilities. And they do not pull in others to view. You are new."
Nuada walked around them. He put his hand on the back of Maizie's neck and gripped it, "Regardless of how your visions are presented, you are still mine." He looked down. Maizie looked as well, and he held a thick bracelet.
"What is that?" Maizie said, afraid.
"This," he said as he locked it on her wrist, "will ensure that you cannot use your other powers. You cannot escape."
"Brother!" Nuala exclaimed. "Do not imprison her."
Maizie shook her arm and tried to pry it off. She tried to teleport, but nothing happened.
"You bastard!" Maizie exclaimed in anger as she tried to hit him. Nuada grabbed her arms and wrapped them around her. He pulled her to him, her back to his front. He leaned down by her ear.
"You are mine," he whispered. He looked at his sister. "She is mine to do as I wish."
Nuala and Maizie locked eyes. Maizie struggled but Nuada just laughed.
"The cylinder yielded coordinates to County Atrim, Northern Ireland," Krauss spoke as he moved a piece of plastic sheet over a map. Manning stood next to him while Liz stood on the other side. "The Giant's Causeway. Right about here."
"Great. So, we know where he is," Liz spoke. "What are we waiting for? We should get going."
"The Prince will demand the crown piece, Agent Sherman."
She shrugged, "So we give it to him."
Krauss turned to Manning.
"I'm afraid it's not as simple as that," Manning replied as he leaned on his hands on the table.
"Hold on," Liz said confused. "What are you saying?"
"The Golden Army must not awaken," Krauss said.
Manning turned to light footsteps and saw Abe. He gestured him to stop. Abe held the crown piece in his hands. He had found it. As Liz spoke, he hid it behind his hands.
"So, what? You're just gonna let him die? Is that it?" Liz asked, frustrated.
Krauss cocked his head, "I'm sorry. We called Washington. We have our orders."
Liz looked at Manning, "What about you? He saved your life. So did Maizie."
Manning replied, "I know."
Liz scoffed. She turned away from the table and Krauss stopped her.
"I won't let him die," Liz stated before she turned to a glass door.
Krauss spoke, "Agent Sherman, may I remind you that I am the leader of this team."
She opened the door and stopped. She turned to Krauss. "Oh, there's no doubt about that, sir. That is what you are, Dr. Krauss. A leader. You were brought in to replace Maizie as a protector, and you failed at that. Maizie is gone, possibly dead. And Hellboy is hurt. If ever you were human, that time is long gone."
Liz opened the door again and left the room. Manning spoke, "Want me to call her back, sir?"
Krauss shook his hand, "No. Let her go."
Manning nodded then turned to Abe, "What about you? You find anything?"
Abe looked at Manning, "No. Nothing yet."
Abe turned around, his hands moving from front to back, then back to front, hiding his hands from view. Manning barked orders as he left. Abe moved out of sight of them and looked at the crown piece. He wanted Nuala back, but more importantly, he wanted Maizie as well.