|
|
Athena tried to go to sleep, but worrying about her sick friends, kept her up. She decided to take a candle and a book of matches, Iris had given her, and go check on Gabrielle and Agatha. Even if she had to pound on the doors, she wanted to find them safe a sound. She quietly left the room, and lit her candle. The storm brooded outside, as she walked down the hall. Though the floor was carpeted, it was also cold and wet. "Cabin must be leaky." She said to herself, as she moved closer to the stairs. She peered down at the front room, and noticed the fire was out in the fire place. With small flashes of lighting, she could see wet foot prints coming and going on the hard wood floor. She raised her candle out to see that some of the wet and muddy prints came up the stairs, and into the up-stairs hallway. Thinking it must have been one of the girls, or Taker and Kane out having a smoke, she paid no mind, and slowly walked down the steps.
Something sounding like a crash came from behind her, as Athena stopped in mid step. She turned around to see a vase, broken, on the floor. As she began to walk back up the stairs, something felt like a hand grabbed her neck. Athena instinctively burned the hand with her candle, but quickly she lost her step and came crashing down the stairs with a horrid scream.
Prudhoe and Laruna shot up from their beds. "What the bloody hell was that?" Prudhoe shouted as she got out of bed. "Sounded like someone fell." Laruna replied, while trying to turn on the light. "Powers out, is Athena in her bed?" She added, getting up. Prudhoe felt around the vacant bed between her and Laruna, but, "No she's not. I wonder if it might have been her?" "Oh, dear, Prudie, what if she's hurt?" Laruna questioned, as she grabbed her robe. Prudhoe dared not answer as she put on her shoes, and lit the remaining candles. She gave one to her bed room companion, as they walked out into the hallway. They studied both ways of the dark hall. "It's wet out here." Laruna said, as she stepped out onto the carpet. She followed Prudhoe, closely as they went down the hall. "You think anyone else heard?" she asked, as she held onto Prudhoe's arm. "I'm not sure, why don't you knock on the rooms up her, and I'll go downstairs and see if I can find who screamed." Prudhoe said. Both girls went their separate ways, as Prudhoe went down stairs and Laruna watched her from the banister above. "See anything, Prudie?" Laruna shouted, almost causing the English woman to jump out of her skin. "No, no sign of anyone." Prudhoe called back.
Laruna walked down the hall, knocking on doors and trying to open them. Every door was locked, and no one answered. "Hello, hello! Is anyone there?" She called each time, and each time nothing. Her heart pounded in her throat, and her lungs ached as she found it hard to breath. She soon came to Taker and Kane's bed room door and dared herself to knock. Her palms grew wet with sweat, and she shook from fright and cold, as the storm carried on outside. Laruna finally gave a deep gulp and knocked on the door. "Hello? Hello, is anyone in there? Prudhoe and I heard a scream, and we can't find Athena!" She all but shouted. She began to turn the knob, but felt it move against her palm. She stood back, watching the knob turn, then the door slowly opened. Soon, a large figure came from the other side, as thunder clapped and lightening flashed outside. Laruna stood, candle in hand, as the figure's face lit up ever so frightening, by it's light. "I'm... sorry... uh, Taker, but we heard a frightful scream..." Laruna spoke in a shaky voice. "Yes, I know." Taker said, as he looked from side to side, "Where's Prudhoe?" "She's down stairs." Laruna whispered. Taker nodded his head and closed the door behind him. "Where did you hear the scream, darlin?" He asked, as he touched the small of her back, and lead her down the hallway. "Um, well we thought it might have been near the stairs." Laruna said, as she held the candle tighter. "Okay, let me go see what's going on, and I'll send Prudhoe up." He said, as he took the candle from her. "Okay, thank you, Taker." Laruna said, as she stood and watched the man trot down the steps.
Prudhoe had tried to get the girls up, from their beds, but the doors were locked, and no one came to her aid. She found herself at Lisa and Debbie's room, and found the door open. "Hello?" She said as she stepped inside, but she soon found three beds, not in use. She gave a sigh, and thought for a moment. She soon heard, however, a sudden slapping noise of wood on wood. She felt the room and noticed there was a cool wet breeze coming from the kitchen. Her candle quickly blew out, as she headed to the other room. She found the back door open, and rushed outside, thinking someone could have been out there and needing help. The rain was slowly dying down, as she crept to the edge of the deck. "Is anyone out here?!" She called, as rain and leaves hit her face. "Hello?!" She said, clearing her face from the wet leaves. She soon found herself walking down the back steps and out into the yard, "Hello! Anyone out here?" She called.
Soon she heard a squeak of a voice, and thought it an animal at first. "Hello?" She called, going toward the noise. She walked, blindly, to where it was coming from, then found herself nearing a shed. "Is anyone in there?! Hello?" She called, but only heard the wind and thunder in her ears. "Hello!" She called one more time. "Hello." a voice mimicked back. "Are you in there?" Prudhoe shouted. "No, I'm over here." The voice called back. Prudhoe turned around and saw something coming toward her. The pain hit her stomach, as she recognized the weapon being a shovel handle. She fell to her knees and she looked up at the figure in a dark glossy coat. Lightening flash and with one more hit to the back, Prudhoe met her end.
Laruna began to get worried, as she waited for Prudhoe to come back to their room. Taker, for all she knew, was still downstairs. With no light, no candle, and no one with her for comfort, Laruna began to pray. She curled up, in her blankets, and closed her eyes. She mumbled quietly to herself, as she heard the storm beginning to calm down. Rain fell less and less, as thunder and lightening came softer and not so frequent. Soon, she heard her door creaking open, and footsteps coming closer to her. "Oh, Prudhoe, I thought you'd never come up here." She said, as she tried to get up from under her covers.
But suddenly, someone grabbed her, and pressed a wet cloth over her face. Laruna tried to struggle, but the person was to strong for her. The wetness of the cloth smelled terrible, as she began to grow weak. Soon, she fell limp into her attacker's arms.
Rip pulled into the drive way, as the rain stopped. "Thanks for driving slower." Debbie laughed, as she got one of Storm's bags. "You're welcome." Rip sneered playfully back. They climbed out of the van, and headed up the steps to the cabin. But as they did, a huge puff of wind blew their way, and blew off Lisa's favorite red hat. "Oh, dear!" She yelled, as she tried to catch it. "And there she blows!" Debbie laughed. "Oh, hush." Lisa tapped her sister. "Here, take the flash light and go see if you can find it." Rip told her, as she stepped into the cabin and got the light. "Thanks, sweety." Lisa smiled, and both her and her sister took off to find her hat.
"I think there is a spare bed in Lisa and Debbie's room, Storm." Rip said, as she helped bring her suit case in. "I had you in with Prudhoe and Laruna, but Athena got locked out of her room, so she?s staying with them for the night." "Oh, that's fine," Storm replied, "those sisters are a hoot." Kane tried to turn on the lights, "Power's out." "Well, since we're going to go to bed we don't need them." Chris whispered, as she stood near him. "I'll help Storm to her room, then we'll be back. I think the stove is gas, if you want me to fix you something warm to drink, Storm?" Rip said, as they head to the bed room. "No thanks, I'm fine. The train station had a coffee machine." Storm spoke, as they went into her bedding area.
"Well, I guess, you want to wait for Rip, or go upstairs?" Chris asked, as she turned to the man behind her. "Oh, I think we can wait for her. Besides, it would be a good idea to wait for the sisters, giggle, to get back from their hat hunt." Kane said, as he began to walk over to the fireplace. He noticed some fire wood near by, and threw some in the fire place. "Matches, matches, where are the matches?" He sang, as he felt the mantle. Chris sat down, and watched Kane?s shadow moving around until he lit a match and started a new fire.
Outside, Lisa and Debbie search for Lisa's hat. "I think it blew this way." Debbie said, as she pointed the flashlight in her direction. "No, I think I saw it this way." Lisa huffed, as she pointed in her direction. "Lisa, I saw it go this way, when it blew off your head." "Debbie, I beg to differ. I was it go in this direction, as we went down the steps." "Well," Debbie shrugged her shoulders, "if you say so."
The two girls searched the mud and leafy ground, for the red hat, clearing fallen branches and stepping over small up-rooted trees. "Um, Lisa, I think we should go back before we get lost." Debbie suggested, as she slowed down. "I want my hat, Debbie. It's my lucky hat." Lisa told her, as she grabbed her sister's arm, took the flashlight from her, and made her walk faster. "It could be stuck in a tree, we could find it tomorrow." Debbie said, as she jurked her arm from her sister's grasp. "I'm cold, I?m tired, and I don?t want to get lost." she added. "Well, I'm not going back, until I find my hat!? Lisa shouted, as she waved the flash light in her hand. "Well, it's too dark to see to go back!? Debbie yelled. "Yeah, and it's too dark to search without this!" Lisa pointed to the light. The girls look at each other for a while. "Well," Debbie broke the silence, "can you at least walk me back to the cabin?" Lisa thought for a movement, "I guess so."
The girls tried to find their way back to the cabin, but instead end up arguing on which way to go. Soon, they find themselves more lost than ever. "I told you we should have gone that way." Debbie said, and pointed to the opposite direction. "Well, I was trying to follow our footprints." Lisa scolded, "But someone had to make a ton of tracks, and fallow ones that weren't ours." "Okay, that's it, I'm taking over. Give me the light." Debbie said, as she went for the flashlight. "No, you'll get us even more lost!" Lisa squeaked, as she tried to keep the light from out of her sister's reach. "Give me the light, Lisa!" Debbie shouted. "NO!" Lisa said, as she smacked at her sister's hands.
"Now you're making me mad!" Debbie shouted, as she lunged at her sister, for the light. Lisa lost her footing, as she tried to get away from Debbie, and began to slip. Quickly, both girls fall to the ground. The light falls out of their reach, as they wrestled each other for their prize. They roll on the cold, wet, and muddy ground, trying to over power the other, and not knowing what's in store for them. With each roll, they come ever so close to a piece of ground, which had given way from the storm. "Debbie, Get Off Me!" Lisa shouted, as she struggled to get up. "Fat chance! Been wanting to do this for years!" Debbie laughed into her sister's face. With one powerful kick, Lisa had gotten Debbie off of her, but as she rolled over, Debbie grabbed her and both fell into the pit of muddy water.
Chris, Kane, Rip, and Storm sat near the fireplace, waiting for the sisters to return. It was now quiet, the rain had stopped, the thunder sounded low in the distance, and no trace of lightening shown in the sky. "What's taking them so long?" Kane whispered, as he turned on the night light on his watch to look at the time. "I guess Lisa is determined to find her hat." Rip replied, then added, "Why don't you all go to bed, and I'll stay up and wait for them." "Well, I am tired. It's been a long train ride here." Storm said, as she got up. "I'll walk you to your room." Kane said, as he stood up. All said their good nights, as the two figures left the front room. Chris and Rip staid seated, looking at nothing, until they began to stare into space. They spent all day together, but never really had a chance to talk. Now, that they were alone, they were to tired to speak, or were they"
A heavy door slowly creaked open. Two figures; one massive in size and another, smaller, almost female in stature shuffled into the dark place. Both carried in two more, wet and muddied bodies. "It's time, my little prodigy, to prepare the others for this night. You know what to do." The larger one said, as it pointed to the smaller one, then kissed it's face. "Yes, master." The smaller one answered. Soon, both left the dark, dank, and musty place, and locked the door behind them.
Agatha opened her eyes, almost afraid to move. She heard a moan one her left, as she felt for her bottle. "Shh, it's okay." She whispered, as she came closer to the figure beside her, "It's me, Agatha. Take a sip of this, it will make you fell better." She lifted the head of the figure, as she took a sip from Agatha's bottle. Gabrielle almost spit it out, but swallowed the bitter liquid. "Oh, Agatha, where are we?" she groaned as she tried to sit up. "I think we're in some sort of shed, or barn. It's outside of the cabin." Agatha told her. Then, both girls heard a small crying sound from across the small place. "Who is that? Who is there?" Agatha said, as she searched the shadows. "I'm... I'm, Mary." the young one spoke, "I want to go home." She quickly added, as she began to sob harder. Agatha quickly grabbed her and brought her close to her and Gabbie. "It's all right, we'll get out of this. You're safe now."
Soon, one by one, the ladies began to stir. Agatha passed around her bottle of potion to each lady, in hopes that it would help them recover quicker. Once awakened and gathered, Agatha began to tell her sisters of the visions she had, while slowly recovering from her poisoned tea. "You mean Sonje and Taker are out to sacrifice us to some sort of demon?" Joanna said, as she shook her head. It hurt from the blow she took earlier. "Well," Gabrielle tried to explain, "I don't think they know what they're doing. Just before I fell ill, I knew something was wrong, for the fact that I couldn't see into Sonje's mind, like everyone else. And I don't think she knows what's going on either, she seemed to be such a sweet girl." "Well, it could have been an act," Angel said, "she might know, or whatever it is, is taking control of her." "Do you think Chris and Rip know?" Evie asked, as she huddled next to Prudhoe, who still felt the pain of the shovel on her back. "I'm not sure, but from what I can remember, both seemed to go off in their own worlds." Iris mumbled, as finished tying two sticks onto Athena's broken leg. "How did you do that, Athena?" She asked. "Someone grabbed me by the neck, and I think they pushed me down the stairs, or I fell. I don't remember." Athena told her, as she tired to get comfortable. "I know my potion my help moderate pains, and sickness, but I'm sorry I can't help your leg, Athena." Agatha said, as she smoothed Athena's hair from her forehead. "It's okay, just hope we get out of this soon." She replied.
"You know, Rip did drive awfully fast in picking Storm up." Debbie spoke, trying to get back to the topic at hand. "Yeah, and on our way back, she drove as calm as you please." Lisa added. "And all three are wearing the same necklace." Athena said, then pondered, "Chris had been quiet, most of the day, and Rip didn't start acting strange until she put hers on. I didn't think about it, just thought they all bought them, or one gave them to the others." "And Sonje had been acting weird, staying away from us, and only coming out the serve us food and drink." Laruna realized. "You think she tried to poison us?" Arianna asked. "I don't know, maybe." Gabrielle answered. "If so, then it affected us the most. She might have known about Gabrielle and my abilities." Athena said. "I have an ability." Arianna exclaimed. "I can telaport out of here and unlock the door, to get us out." "That would be great, Arianna, but they could catch us again." Iris said, as she shook from the cold breeze coming from the door. "Well, what do we do, just sit here and wait for them to kill us?" Laruna's voice raised.
Everyone shushed her down, for fear of being caught awake. "We do need to devise a plan." Gabrielle whispered. "And Arianna, your ability will come in handy. I had a feeling this gathering was a dark one." Agatha told them. "I brought with me something that might be useful, but it's in my bag, in the cabin. One flaw for this plan is that there are more of us, than then. If we fallow their instructions, but keep our minds focused, we can make it so Arianna can telaport to my room, grab the second potion, and telaport back." "What is the potion for" How does it work?" Mary asked. "We have to get the source to ingest it. My hypothesis is that the source must be inside Taker." Agatha explained, "And with the way he's been acting lately, wouldn't surprise me that it's in him.?
Taker stood at the foot of Kane's bed. He pinned a dark and powerful symbol on his friend/brother, and waited. "Brother, rise. It's time for the circle to be complete."
#####
"Yes, sleep, all of this is a dream, my friends." Sonje sang, as she prepared her two closest friends. They stood, as if sound to sleep, while their Aussie friend fondled their black ropes, and positioned their necklaces in the right, showfull, place. One last look over, and Sonje lowered their hoods.
Storm laid, in her bed, sleeping peacefully, as she took no notice of the act which was about to begin.
Just after the plan was set, the imprisoned girls heard mumbling outside, as light began to flicker in the frosted windows, and the door was becoming unlocked. The girls pretended to still be out cold, as each one were being dressed in black robe. "Rise my children of darkness." Taker commanded. Something the girls did not anticipate, as each uncontrollably lifted to their feet, but one. Athena struggled, wanting to stand for her master, but could not. "Master, they were awake before, otherwise Athena would have the splint on." Sonje whispered. "Well, she would not have need for the splint, if you hadn't gotten to her on the stairs. Besides, not matter if they were awake. The potion I gave you to put in the food and drink keeps them in my control. Kane carry her to the circle, she is still needed."
Soon, the girls lined in circle around a great bonfire, as Taker began his chanting. "Focus, my sisters." Gabrielle's mind spoke to each female, making their link stronger. "Na Tha Ba Shaw!" Taker shouted, as he removed his hood. His eye glowed of a powerful green glow, as he peered at his children of the night. "Na Hala Ba Shaw!" He sang to them, as she girls instinctively repeated his words. Soon, Sonje came to his side, with a goblet, as Rip walked the line, slicing a cut in the fingers of her friends, and letting their blood drip into a bowel of wine. "Nas Be Tha Shaw!" Taker sang out, as each girl repeated, though staying in their link. Once Arianna's finger was sliced, and Rip moved on Gabrielle squeezed her out of the circle, were she was able to telaport into Agatha's room.
"Arianna, look in the closet. The potion is in a clear bottle, in my night bag." Agatha's mind sent her images to the young lady. Arianna turned around, to find the closet door, but knocked over the lamp, in the process. She stood still, hoping no one heard from outside. Her heart pounded, as her body shook. "Arianna, Storm is here, I feel her waking, but she doesn't seem to be affected by Taker's spell." Gabrielle's mind told her. Arianna, then, went to the closet, found the night bag, and took out the bottle. "It's got a green glow to it." She said in her mind, to the others. "That's it, Arianna, that's the one." Agatha sent back to her. "Who's there?" Storm asked, as she knocked on the door. "Are you okay?" Arianna was afraid to speak. "Hello?" Storm called louder. "Let her in, Arianna." the girls shouted in her mind.
Arianna rushed to the door. "Oh, Storm, it's you! It's you, right?" She said, hugging the woman in front of her. "Yes, what's going on?" "There's no time to explain. You have to help me. Help us!? Help with what?" Storm asked. "There's no time to explain, but you have to help distracted Taker. He's gone completely loopy, and he's affected Kane, Chris, Sonje, oh especially Sonje, and Rip. You have to help me." Arianna shouted, shaking the poor woman in her clutches. "Oh, okay!" Storm said, thinking it might just be a dream.
In a matter of moments, both girls were outside, in the cold, and near the group. "Please, Storm create a diversion." Arianna whispered, then left Storm's side. Storm stood, looking at the scene in front of her. She wasn't sure what was going on, nor believe what she was hearing. But she soon caught Arianna near the five beings in charge. Taker, with his hands raised high, was chanting in tongue, as the others repeated his words. The wind picked up force as threat of rain teased the air. Storm knew she had to act fast. Quickly, she rushed to the scene, shouting, "Hey, what's going on here? A party and I'm not invited?" Taker threw a piecing look at her, then pointed his finger, "Hold her!" Storm gulped, as Kane, Chris, and Rip quickly took her down to the ground. "Okay, my mistake." She yelled, as she looked for Arianna.
While Storm grabbed the attention, Arianna poured the glow green liquid into the blood, and wine filled goblet. She then telaported back to her place, between Gabrielle and Agatha. Thunder began to grow louder, as Taker finished his chanting. Sonje gave him the goblet, and Taker drank heavily. "Oh, I hope this works." Mary's mind spoke, as she bit her lip and shut her eyes. Chris took a black cloth and wiped her master's mouth clean. Soon, Kane and Rip let Storm go, as all waited to see the outcome.
Taker raised his arms, once more, and began to chant, "Na Tha.." he stopped, then spoke, "Na Tha.." His eyes rolled back into his head, as his mouth began to stretch open, wider than a yawn. Suddenly, a shriek, animal in nature, came rushing out of his mouth. Birds flew, with fright, to get away from the high pitched sound. Taker fell to his knees, as Sonje, Chris, Kane, and Rip fell to the ground. The others stood, standing, as they saw the most hideous of creatures flew out of Taker's mouth. The demon grew as it came crying out of him, as if in pain. And as it flew higher, four from his prodigies, flowed above the still bodies, and followed it. They intertwined, until the thing covered the entire sky. And with one last swoop on it's victims it disintegrated into nothing.
The next morning, the group waited in the emergency room. "What's taking so long?" Rip whispered, as she held her coffee. None of the possessed victims remember much of the night before. They were only told by the others that Athena had fallen down the stairs. Even Mary, who was known to be quit talkative, kept her mouth shut of what had really happened. "It's going to be okay, Rip," Chris said, as she rubbed her friend's shoulder and back, "They just need to make sure she's going to be okay. And believe me, casts are hard to put on."
Ten minutes past, after that, as a physician came to the lobby. She almost took aback as she saw a group of eighteen people, standing up to see what she was about to say. "Uh..um, are you all with the young woman named, Athena?" She asked. All nodded at her, and waited for you to tell them what they needed to know. The doctor smiled, "She's going to be just fine. She's bruised up, and her right leg is broken, but she'll be fine.
End
Last chapter written Oct. 28, 1999