What To Do Now?

So I have to do something with this space now.

I stopped posting the story here because I felt like I was rushing each week to give you something to read and I wanted to focus on the story because I really do want to be published someday soon and hopefully that time is coming as I have finished the first draft and now have to edit and probably re-edit.

This actually terrifies me along with several other things right now. It took me a long time to get to this point. Lots of procrastination and thoughts of failure that could still happen but I'll never know until I try right? So now the fun begins and more torture awaits me as I second guess myself and probably my story but I'm going to give it my best shot and at least I can say that I accomplished writing a novel...even if it sucks...it's mine.

So...this is my Continuous Flow Space and all things CF related. So if you want to see how the story ends, hopefully you can see it in print later on. I can say that Skye and Carol Anne have got a lot of work to do trying to keep Georgia and Anya on the right side of things but the 2 Goddesses have to be bad sometime and won't that keep the Guardians busy.

Artwork and other things of interest for the series will be forthcoming and I can't wait!

Keep the flow smooth!

Chapter 22 Part 3

       Dom didn’t move, didn’t blink knowing that they both knew that she didn’t have all of her powers and that she needed them to get her around in this time but dangerous none the less, so he asked cautiously instead. “What do you need? I can get it for you.”  He held the fear at bay that Skye was still in there trapped and what Georgia wanted had to be given and also knowing that the sisters couldn’t be together.

    Not wanting to play cat and mouse as she normally would have she answered honestly. “She is close but, her vessel is in trouble I can feel her screaming.” She paused concentrating for a moment on something none of them could hear. “Her vessel wants to end her life.” She added with distaste.

    Chase’s eyes shot to Dominic’s weighing the gravity of what Georgia had said. Without a Pack to police her on one hand she would be rogue, lost and wreaking havoc on anything or anyone she chose if body and soul were reunited. Despite the sisters, Caretakers and the Guardians being cursed, being that they were tied to one another there was an order to the way they had to do things. On the other hand if Carol Anne succeeds in ending her life all of the people tied to her would die and the Sister would be locked in another world of faded memories and empty space. At this point Carol Anne’s Pack was missing and her Caretaker had vanished too...if they weren't already dead.

   Georgia knew all of this and as much as she hated it she knew it had to be until she could figure out a way to release herself and her sisters from the curse. She didn’t feel much in the way of emotion but her Guardians and Caretaker were the only things she had to occupy her time and her games were always for their benefit, keeping them sharp and lethal as well as her own entertainment.

    “This cannot happen.” She said softly even though her anger was peaking with the knowledge that the reason her sister was going to end her life was because of the pain and suffering caused to her by the man that had her. They were all very powerful in their full forms and would have been unable to be put in this position by anyone if they were at full strength. Dominic could see her slipping into her thoughts so he moved slightly to catch her attention knowing she was aware of everything around her. Her gaze snapped to his as he expected and he stared steadily deep into her golden eyes and he took a slow easy breath before he asked again.  “What do you need?”

    Annoyance flashed in her eyes. “I need you to take me to my sister.” she spat with clear disgust that she needed his help at all. It made her feel weak which did not improve her mood. Dominic knew that he couldn't take her to that house. Even though she didn't have all of her powers she would still be deadly if provoked or if she or her sister felt threatened. He took a tentative step forward only because he was scared for Skye and this situation was far outside of anything any of them had been through. He knew he had to get her back as quickly as possible.

    “Bring back Skye and we'll go and check on your sister.” His voice stayed neutral and non-aggressive when every part of him wanted to shake Skye out of the Goddesses head with is bare hands or claws if he got angry enough. Georgia eyed him with suspicion before she took a long look around her, she was aware of the men in the room but she focused on the person in front of her.

    Gertie stayed on the floor too terrified to move, her experience with Georgia had always been inside her mind. She observed them all using her senses, Maury kept his place at Dominic's side but his eyes would shift to Gertie every few minutes. Chase was a tall, strong presence and by far the most impressive of them all regarding her with the eyes of a true Guardian looking immovable and deadly. While behind her the other two males took in the scene with increasing dread. She could hear all of their hearts beating steadily except for Gertie's and her attention refocused.

    For the first time Dominic saw something soft in her eyes as Georgia looked at Gertie. He thought it might be compassion but he knew from experience that Georgia didn't feel compassion. To his surprise Georgia moved forward and extended her hand to Gertie. Shocked energy rippled through the room from Ryan and Sig.  She continued to look into Gertie's eyes and she felt a smile tug at her lips. Gertie lifted a trembling hand and put it into the outstretched one in front of her noting how warm and soft Georgia’s skin was compared to her wrinkled one. Urgency flowed through Georgia now and she wanted to waste no more time even as she slowly helped the old woman to her feet. She knew she had to concede to Dominic's wishes if they were going to save her sister.

    Without looking at anyone other than Gertie she spoke over her shoulder, “As you wish Guardian but my sister must live.”

    Dominic seemed lighter then as he replied, “I can do nothing else but save her.”

    Her golden eyes still on Gertie's ice blue ones. “You Caretaker...” she spoke with sincerity “will be restored, I promise you.” She turned to Chase suddenly and yet he didn't flinch when she stepped towards him with a small mischievous smile. “You amuse me.” Her head tilted slightly. “You both amuse me with your games. Promise me you will help her.”

    Without hesitation he answered truthfully. “He will pay for what he's done to her.” With that promise and putting her trust in Dominic when she had no trust to give, she reached back into her mind to the place that she and Skye first met. The room was covered in fog so it had no edges like a dream that couldn’t hold substance, with the two comfortable chairs facing each other and a rug that she could see Skye pacing around like a caged cat. She had added things to her space in the mind as a bookshelf and fireplace made it less dreary.

    As soon as she stepped into the room Skye stopped moving. She could see that Skye understood but underneath that there was a thread of anger. She knew why Georgia had pushed her out but didn’t appreciate it. Georgia was fluent in Skye’s emotions now.

    Pacing across the floor Skye was shaking out her hands as though she was readying herself. Georgia approached her with renewed interest as she watched her prowl back and forth.

    “You broke through…again…” she said more calmly than Skye herself expected.

    Georgia raised an eyebrow. “You blame me?”

    Skye sighed. “I would like to but I saw what you did and worry for her too.”

    Georgia took a seat in one of the plush chairs and released a sigh herself. It was the first time since she had been invaded by the Goddess that she saw something even remotely human from her. That was saying a lot since there was nothing human about her at all. “I have asked the Guardians to save her but they will only move quickly if I let you go back.” None of them knew that she couldn’t hold the physical form for long before she had to let Skye take over. She was drained already and it had only been a few minutes.

    “I will fight for her but she has to want to go or else she will go back to him regardless of what he’s done.” Skye wanted to make a point of saying it so that Georgia wouldn’t take out repercussions on Dominic and the others if they couldn’t get Carol Anne away from Robert.

   Georgia anger rose sharply. “She wants to end her life! Does that sound like she’s going to stay to you?” She stood in a flowing motion, her eyes flickering with flames. “He has trapped her, abused her and broken her vessel. Her soul is close to the body or else she wouldn’t be screaming.” Knowing that time was short and she wanted time alone, she waved Skye away. “Please go.”

   Skye’s mouth opened to protest and she found herself back at the forefront looking into Chase’s aqua eyes, his face impassive and for just a moment she saw relief in them. The urgency hit her hard and she grabbed hold of his arms to remain standing. It flowed over her senses like a wave of sickness that heated her from the inside out forcing sweat to break out on her skin. He felt it through her… she knew he did.

    “I can feel her.” She whispered “We have to go.”

Chapter 22 Part 1

   

      Carol Anne watched the house approaching. It felt more like looming to her, the weight of the day pressing in on her steadily when she thought that she wouldn't be coming back to this place again. She didn’t even realize that she had already said her goodbyes to the place that had become her sanctuary and her prison at the same time. Tears burned her eyes as she stared hopelessly up at the house and she knew that Roberts silence on the way home was a cause for concern but she couldn’t feel the concern at the moment. All she could feel was the weight of sadness in every muscle of her body that she had because she had lost her chance.

    The painting that Robert had gone there for in the first place was in the back seat covered in brown paper. Usually it would have been boxed and shipped but after the incident he insisted on taking it as it was, right at that moment. She knew it was because he didn’t want to be in contact with them for a while and answer any questions about her health.

    Confusion was fleeting in her head in regards to the strange woman and man that were with her in the park. The only things she remembered were the strange golden colour of the woman’s eyes and the feeling of absolute power coming off of the man with her. The thoughts of them were small, inconsequential compared to what she knew was coming for her and…she didn’t care.

    Nothing could make her feel, her body was numb and she almost welcomed the Pit and the cold, damp solitude that would wrap itself around her.

    Robert stopped the car and put it in Park, he made no motion to get out of the car and neither did she. Her lashes drifted down in acceptance of what was to come when he finally spoke.  “You wanted him to touch you, didn’t you.” It was a statement. “Did you faint at his looks in hopes that he would whisk you away?”

    She slowly opened her eyes and sighed knowing that he really didn’t want an answer and that it really didn’t matter what she said anyway, it would just make him angry so she slowly shook her head. Her red hair swayed slightly. He wanted her scared but she had no energy to be scared, no will left to be.

   “Let’s just get this over with…” it slipped out before she could stop it, she didn’t want to stop it. She felt the car tremble as he shook with barely contained rage.

    “You want this over Angel?” he snarled “This will never be over…” He got out of the car and slammed the door. As he stomped over to her side she debated locking the doors but it would be no use he would just break the window, so she sat still willing her face not to betray her when she felt it. There was warmth that ebbed its way into her, faint but there. Robert’s hand went to reach for her door handle as his gaze went to his prize in the back seat and he stopped, suddenly deciding that he would take it inside first.

    Carol Anne let out another slow sigh but still felt nothing about what was to come. She would make him end it. She didn’t care about the money; all she cared about was that she could make it as difficult and messy as possible so that her brother could find some suspicious behaviour to investigate and hopefully get justice for her. She was determined for the pain to end, the imprisonment, most of all the control.

    She would make him end it.

    There was a small protest in her mind but she blocked it out. No more pain. She thought to herself and a tiny thread of anxiety tried to worm its way in. Oddly she found it curious considering that she had decided firmly the next step for herself. The draft from the back door opening drew her out of her own thoughts momentarily as Robert grabbed the painting gently.

    With the painting in his right hand he threw open the door with his left and grabbed Carol Ann’s shoulder in a strong firm grip nearly ripping her out of the car. Her body was a phantom to her; she felt him distantly and knew he was even angrier that she wasn’t reacting. She wasn’t cowering or crying, she wasn’t trying to protect herself or pleading and he hated it. She could feel the waves of intense rage coming off of him and she didn’t care. The protest came again and again she shoved the thought to the back of her mind. He grabbed the back of her neck and dragged her to the front door.

   “Take your key and open the door.” He snarled. She did as he asked and he pushed her through hard enough that she lost her balance and fell to the floor. He kicked the door shut with his foot before he gingerly set the painting down under the alarm and punched in the code to disarm it. He looked at her with disgust and contempt in his eyes as she stared into his, daring him as she knew her behaviour would. He prowled around her and she refused to move, to show fear. She knew the Pit would be waiting for her and for one second she wondered if she flung herself in… if it would it be enough?

    Seething he glared at her, reading her body language he softened his features in understanding. “I thought the Pit would be the appropriate punishment for you Angel, but I see now that I am wrong. The Rack seems more fitting for this don’t you think?” She said nothing but panic began to well up and she pushed it down. The Rack was a bit more of a challenge she would have to work around. She would be tied and gagged. Usually he used it to punish her sexually but she had a feeling that wouldn’t be the only way this time. She swallowed the bile that rose in her throat and kept her silence while she thought rapidly about how to provoke him before he could completely restrain her.

    She had run out of time. He grabbed her by her fire red hair and lifted her to her feet as he propelled her towards the stairs. She stumbled and he cursed her. “You cheating bitch!” he swore as he shoved her upwards. “You let him touch you! I bet you loved his hands all over you!” she laughed then… unintentionally and he hesitated. He stopped and shook her by the hair before he backhanded her causing her tooth to cut her lip and thin trail of blood slipped down her face. She saw stars at first but welcomed them…welcomed the pain.

    The protest in her head was faint now, like feather light touches inside her mind, a faraway voice. Before she knew it she was in the attic being pushed to her knees with her ears ringing as he stripped her down. She refused to fight or show fear. She needed to push him over the edge but as soon as her eyes moved to the attic window Robert saw her intention and took hold of her hair again to throw her across the room towards the Rack. Her back hit the wood with such force it knocked her breath from her but she didn’t cry out in pain. She bit down and grunted, from her knees she looked up and glared at him. Her invitation to bring it on, that she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. “Get it over with.” She ground out and to her surprise he faltered but regained his composure quickly.

    To her dismay she noticed that the front of his pants had gone tight from his excitement but she set her jaw while in her head she said a tearful goodbye to the people she loved.

    “Oh…Angel…” he purred “I think I’m really going to like this.”

Chapter 16 Part 3

    Gertie ran up the stairs as everything exploded beneath her in the kitchen. She didn't make it too far before she had to slow down to a crawl to catch her breath. Old women like her didn't run anymore and she needed to remember that. She stopped a few feet from the top while she swallowed thick pockets of air to listen to the sounds around her. The screaming had stopped and that was a good thing and although she didn't know who had stopped Georgia she had heard the slap of skin on skin and knew it must have been someone strong enough to shut her up. In that case it wasn't the smaller mouthy one and although she didn't approve of the assault on her Mistress she couldn't help but smile that the Vessel would feel the pain when she woke up.

     After a few breaths things stayed quiet so she continued up the rest of the stairs only to stop at the top and crouch down behind the railing that would not have hidden her in any way if they had chosen to look up.

    She watched all of the Guardians and the boy shuffle into the front room. The largest one walked by carrying the sleeping vessel. Only briefly did Dominic halt in the foyer causing Gertie to hold her breath and pray. If she moved now he would see her immediately, but all he did was cock his head slightly before he continued into the room. She could feel that her Mistress was no longer in control and that was not a bad thing at this point because with them distracted they weren't focusing on her. She was free to roam even if it was only for a few minutes. She had to find the energies she was feeling in the house. One felt good and the other felt dark...very, very dark. As they moved into the room she remained unnoticed.

      She straightened, her body stiff and opened her mind only to feel the energies she was seeking coming from two different directions. From where she stood she could feel the pull of the dark energy to the left and the good energy was above her. The pull from the left was so strong that before she knew it she was taking involuntary steps in that direction, the energy tugging at her mind and her body. Gertie felt the dark energy pulsate like a heartbeat and with every beat her feet moved forward. She fought it, only barely restrained herself but it was enough that her feet moved mere inches at a time so she didn't move very quickly.

    The energy felt wrong on all levels. It felt thick like she was moving through mud but also enveloped her like smoke that wrapped itself around her whole body pulling her towards the door at the end of the hall. She started to panic when she tried to plant her feet and pull backwards, away from the horrible feeling that was smothering her every inch of her. Her mind screamed for her to stop and to run but her body wouldn't listen, the screaming in her head got louder as she tried to harder will her legs to stop and turn around.

     Horrible images sprang into her mind of screaming misshapen mouths, contorted faces and abnormally large hands that turned in to claws as they grabbed and pawed at her. The result of the images only strengthening her resolve to break free of the hold the energy had on her but she was too weak and her panic took a firm hold. Her body continued to only move forward but her eyes were wide with fear. The door ahead was covered in shadows writhing in and out of the doorway, caressing the frame and walls. Until a sound from above her snapped the hold briefly and she could breathe again. Not that she had been aware that she wasn't breathing and she stumbled backwards a few steps panting as her gaze rose to the ceiling at the scraping noises above.

    The noise stopped and before she knew it once again the beating and pulsating resumed taking a hold on her body, once again moving her forward to shadows. In her mind she begged for something to break the hold again. No sound would come from her like her voice had taken a vacation the only noises she could make were small shallow rasping breaths . 

    Tears lined her eyes as she began to think the worst. The energy was malevolent and soaked with darkness, feeding off of her fear and then once again the scraping noise from above broke the hold it had on her. Whatever it was couldn't seem to concentrate, like it was distracted by the noises itself. Gertie had the brief thought that if it could be distracted then it was taking a hell of a lot of concentration and control to hang on to her. It seemed to her that the shadow didn’t like being interrupted as the hold was cleanly broken and she slumped to the floor, gasping for breath as a violent shudder coursed through her body.

    She felt rather than saw the dark energy crawl up the wall behind her and float along the ceiling carefully before it retreated back into the bedroom at the end of the hall and then she didn’t feel it at all anymore. She leaned her head against the wall and let the tears fall freely from her eyes.

Chapter 14 Part 3

   She opened her eyes and squinted at the brightness that surrounded her and blinded her at the same time. Everything was bright in the way people that had come close to the brink of death said that everything is white and that you should walk into light when you died. She felt something hard and cold through her clothes, the surface she was on felt smooth and she quickly registered that as unusual but didn’t move right away as she tried to get her bearings.

“Am I dead?” she said in a small voice.

   The white borders began to fade away and darken becoming fuzzy at first but gradually growing more vivid as her vision cleared and became more focused. She was starting to make out shapes, other colours and could make out a wooden border and white laminate that was on what looked like doors directly in front of her low lids, the black red and white of the smooth floor beneath her. Sounds were dulled and mumbled reminding her of being underwater but that wasn’t what she cared about.

   She tried blinking hard and fast to help her eyes along but it didn’t seem to help, apparently they would do it in their own time. She squeezed her eyes shut tight as a shooting pain found its way from the base of her skull straight through the back of her head with a destination landing right between her eyes and didn’t that make her want to scream, but she caged it as her hands raced to her head. The pain went from a stabbing piercing pain to a pounding throb that threatened to make her sinuses crack in the blink of an eye. Literally…

   She kept her eye lids shut and held her breathe as the assault on her nerves began quiet down to a dull roar. Since she didn’t trust the light making it worse she stayed where she was, squinting hard every now and then as she tried to look around the room and not having much luck. She could feel the presence of the others around her but all that mattered at this point was trying to breathe through the pain and surprisingly enough a panicked thought coursed through her, how long had she been out?

  “What. Is familiar?”… She mumbled, her speech broken just as she realized she that she really wasn’t alone that there were others with her and she was grateful as the hands on her were trying to lift her up gently, she felt them on her forehead, her arms and her back to steady her. She was comforted by this and yet it felt unfamiliar that there her people touching her although at this moment everything felt unfamiliar and familiar at the same time. The pain in her head was preventing a coherent thought from breaking through.

It was incredibly disconcerting. 

    “Where am I?”…She continued to speak out loud hoping for an answer, any answer but the bodies around her kept talking over each other about doctors and water and taking it easy with her fragile body as well as snarking going on somewhere in the room about whose fault this was. 

    She tried to speak again. “What… happened?” Suddenly all there was around her was silence...for a half a second, then voices exploded, the volume cranked up a whole lot and that sent the pain screaming into her eyes so hard she gasped. It was a matter of everyone trying to speak all at once again so she raised a shaking hand, palm out to silence them all hoping that only one would speak to her and tell her what happened. After a minute of frustrating silence the pain in her head was finally starting to ebb and she felt the tension back off within her neck and shoulders. 

    A palm the size of a baseball mitt came into view of her squinted eyes and she slid her right hand into it without hesitation and tried to pull herself upright. Feeling the resistance and pain in the shoulder she must have landed on froze her for a moment and she sucked in a hiss at the same time. The palm she was holding gripped her firmly as well as waited patiently while she did the breathe in and breathe out thing.

    Trying to gauge her body she started from the bottom and wiggled her toes; once they proved to be mobile she managed little movements travelling up each of her muscles in her legs as she flexed them, then her torso and complete to the dull pounding in her head and yet still as everyone was talking over each other they did it at a quieter decibel this time. all of them talking... except for one. 

    The silence coming from one that was right now holding her hand in his steady grip. She held her breath and bent her legs underneath her rear end and resumed trying to sit up with the help of the big hand only having to pause again. There were too many things going on to the point where she felt the loss of control very unusual, tipping her off balance.

   Her struggle to find something familiar in the room seemed to be the only thing she could focus on but she couldn’t place the things around her. The pain was becoming less and less as it faded and her eyes finally responded by opening wide. She looked around and it was as if she dreamt that she had been here before or had a really bad case of déjà vu. Even though her eyes were back on line her ears didn’t seem to get the memo as the sounds fluctuated with the throbbing weaving in and out. Compared to the other noises in the room the warble in her ears was taking its sweet time going away, but she could hear dogs barking in the background through dense fabric wall the in her ears, like a fish bowl effect.  Yes underwater, her ears felt plugged wreaking havoc on her thoughts and mind as she tried to clear her brain.  

    Silently she begged for it all to stop as she took a bracing breath and finally got to her feet where another palm immediately held on to her elbow and she felt the hand on her back once more. Things didn’t make any sense this is not what she remembered, this isn’t where she remembered being. Fear speared through her that if nothing in this room looked familiar that something had changed.

  With her eyes on her feet, she caught sight of her dark hair and thought that it wasn’t right. Things were moving now squares of black, red and white passing under her bare feet as she was plunked down in a dark wooden chair. From out of nowhere a glass of water appeared in front of her, she gratefully wrapped her hands around it and pulled it to her lips and took a deep draw. When she looked up she was staring into the face of an old woman whose eyes were just as wide as the smile spread across her lips. She recognized her, inclined her head and gave the woman a curt nod before she looked around the room and noticed that the people in the room were in fact very, very familiar to her, except one and when she looked into his young eyes she couldn’t believe what she saw.

    Except for the eye colour he looked like a male version of herself. "I...I...don't understand..." she stuttered. confusion rocked through the bodies in the room. Gertie stood up and clapped her hands, her smile brighter than the sun as she turned to Dominic and hissed. "My Mistress has returned!"

Chase who had said nothing through the whole ordeal only said one thing now at the revelation.

"Fuck..." 

Chapter 14 Part 2

    While Skye was taking her second unwanted nap in 24 hours, Carol Anne was waking up. Her legs protested the movement since they were in a cramped position half underneath her body, all curled up in the tight space. Her eyelids didn’t want to open right away, the silent tears she cried before she fell into an exhausted sleep had stuck them together. She gently rubbed them and feeling the stiffness in her limbs she willed her legs to work. As soon as she tried to put her knees up her stomach and torso screamed its pain into every muscle. Electric jolts that felt like tiny knives were completely unrelenting under her skin. She sucked back a hiss and moved her limbs carefully so that the pain in her lower abdomen was at a minimum.

    Everything around her was dark, only a small glow overhead from the solitary light that was the only modern item in the concrete covered room because 15 feet down was where she was spending her time until Robert decided to let her out of the Pit. The stone that surrounded her in the 5 foot around hole was still damp from the hose that he had turned on her at some point during her punishment, she had no concept of the time that passed and her breath only came after he had turned off the water to end the second part of her punishment. The first part of it was the reason her lower body and torso were throbbing with pain. Being worked over with a pair of fists and then soaked in cold water for part of the night was only the beginning of the three part series of discipline.

    She took shallow breaths as she got to her feet and was almost positive he’d broken one of her ribs in the process although he didn’t like to break things…how nice of him. Robert liked the damage that he did as long as he was the only one that would see it and something broken would keep them out of the social circles for a while and Robert the monster that lives...liked to keep up appearances.

    “It looks like I’m about to have bronchitis…again.” She muttered to herself as she moved her ankles in small circles. They had used that excuse so many times that one of their friends told her to go see a specialist and gave her the contact info of his doctor as well. The coughing that came with bronchitis would explain why her chest and ribs hurt if anyone were to ask.

    She stopped turning her joints and wrapped her arms around herself, leaning gingerly against the wet stone wall. Closing her eyes she let her head fall back against the cold stone and prayed that she could get out of this somehow. She didn’t have it in her to kill him unless he was trying to kill her and he never was. Robert was purely about proving a point and showing how in control he was. She didn’t have the physical strength over him but she had brains and knew that this was not somewhere she wanted to be any longer and she would not be like one of those women that were too scared or unable by other means to get away.

    Carol Anne was to the point now that she decided that rather be dead than continue to live like this. All she needed was a way out without involving the ‘friends’ they have now. Dragging them into it was not an option. She had to do this on her own; she knew that was the only way to really be free of it. They lived so far outside of town though that for her to walk away when he was at work was not possible. They only had the one car a 2010 blue Ford Focus that she never drove and on top of the trackers plus the alarms he had everywhere she would have to make sure he couldn’t find her. Unfortunately she didn’t know what any of the devices looked like so she didn’t really know what she was looking for. That made it kind of hard to be proactive on that front but her mind was set after almost 5 years of this, she was done with it.

    The wheels started turning in her head now and stood slowly. Once on her feet she began to pace around the small space using the pain to keep her on her mind on track and promising her body that she wasn’t going to be down here much longer or for that matter ever again. She would be the perfect wife while she planned her escape and in a few days Robert would take her into the city so that people could see her, alive, well and happy…well appearing to be happy. She would sit in the little square, on the little bench with a cup of some fancy coffee she didn’t even like and watch the people go by with a fake smile until Robert came back from that little antique store he loved so much. He wouldn’t take her in just in case she got to chatty. New friends to try and fake out were not welcome in Robert’s world. He had enough trouble with the few they had now.

    From the front window of the store he could see right into the park and she knew he watched her from there so she would have to be very careful. Not that she had a plan yet but she would and god help her she would get out of this house. First thing first though…she had to get out of the Pit. And that couldn't happen until her loving husband came to let her out. She had no idea what time it was or how long until he woke up. The only good thing about any of this...or instead useful thing was that he slept up there above her but in the basement with her on a cot in the corner but she didn't dare wake him. He got up on his own when he was ready to and the only reason he did was because didn't like to be away from her, except when he was at work and even then he called her every hour in that work day time frame and sometimes came home early.

    Carol Anne continued to walk in very tight circles, hunched over and her breathing shallow not being able to expand her lungs. Taking another half turn she gave up and slid her ass down the stone wall inch by inch until it hit the dirt. Blinking quickly she realized she was about to cry. “No. I will not do this.”

    As she chanted in her mind 'I will get out of this” over and over again she didn't hear the cot squeak from Robert shifted his weight. She didn't hear him as he shuffled across the concrete floor in his bare feet and she didn't hear him as he leaned his sleek body over the edge of the Pit

    “Angel,” he purred. “you're awake.”

Chapter 13 Part 3

    Gertie didn’t flinch when she saw the two dogs at the top of the stairs but she stood her ground unafraid of them only trying to calculate how she would get around them. Skye was still trying to catch her breath and the static got louder and louder until she couldn’t hear anything but the noise. Her head tilted towards the ceiling again and the static ramped up like it was attached to her anxiousness.

    “Please call them off Miss.” Gertie said softly, she wasn’t pleading just simply asking to remove them from her path and her voice was the only one to cut through the static. The sound was raging through her ears and brain but she heard the old woman clearly. With all of the control she could muster, “No.” Skye bit out as her stomach threatened to betray her and make her throw up on the stairs. Gertie turned to her slowly and her old wise eyes focused on Skye, “I can remove them myself Miss,” she paused and returned her gaze to the canines “but they would not remain in the condition that they are in now.” Skye was just about to tell her where to go when the door opened and Cyrus strode in.

    At first he wasn’t sure what to make of what he was looking at.  He stopped dead taking in the strange woman in his house, his mother was hunched over, pale holding her head in her hands while the dogs were growling furiously. Without the sound or movement it looked like a movie that was paused as he took it all in.

    Gerties eyes went wide when she saw him and she straightened. Her eyes went to his and over the curve of his face, down the length of his body and back up. “Fascinating…” she whispered, “absolutely fascinating.” In what seemed like a trance state she stepped past Skye and as she did so the static stopped abruptly. Skye caught her breath in big gasps as her stomach began to settle, with care she dropped her hands from her ears that now only had a dull ringing in them. The dogs stopped growling and came to their master’s side while Skye registered that Gertie was heading straight for Cyrus.

    Cy had no idea what to think and with each step Gertie took towards him, he took backwards, his eyes shifting from the old woman to his mother. Gertie kept her slow advancement on Cyrus raising her hand and attempted to touch his hair. Skye got her legs back, protectiveness and anger replaced the residual sickness and pain she had felt not even seconds earlier and this sent her into motion. When he hit the wall beside the door his skin started to crawl like there were ants moving all over his arms and neck.

   She was almost on him about to push her hands through his long shaggy hair as Skye came up to grab her but at the same time the front door was pushed open and Chase’s big frame stepped through filling up the doorway. In a flash Gerties face was one of disgust and hatred towards him, suddenly once Dominic stepped through after his she was still holding a look of pure hatred in her eyes as she dropped to her knees and bowed her head before him. Dom didn’t miss a beat as he put his hand out and took hold of Cyrus’ shoulder before he could move to Skye’s side.

    “Caretaker…” he growled as he looked down at her. “Guardian…” she spat back.

    Skye had a pretty certain feeling that even after everything Dominic had told her the night before that there was so much more that she needed to know. More than she would be able to comprehend, like how he and Gertie knew each other, why they referred to each other the way that they did and what the hell it all had to do with her. On top of that the bowing? What was with that? Her headache came roaring back and leaned into the wall, her body had been through so much in what…maybe 24 hours. Maury slipped in behind Dom and came to her instantly urging her to put her weight on him instead of the wall as he directed her carefully to the kitchen. Chase closed the door as he stared sideways down at the old woman on her knees. “Stand up witch and start talking about why you’re here, in this home.” Dominic bellowed. She stood then and Dominic took his hand from Cy’s shoulder only to take Gertie by her arms…he was not gentle with her as he turned her around and shoved her off in the same direction that Maury and Skye had taken.

    As much loathing as Gertie had for Dominic she was much more enthralled with Cyrus whose eyes were wide as questions ran through his own head mirroring Skye’s own but he had no fear of her, only confusion. Now it was Chase that put a hand on Cyrus and gave him a quick pat on the back but said nothing. The moment the two stepped forward to follow the others Chases’ gaze rose to the ceiling and he smiled slightly until he walked past Gerties forgotten luggage and a loud squawk came from beneath the cover. Cy was startled but from ahead they heard Maury let out an exasperated sigh. “You still have that fucking bird?” he said and when Gertie cackled his response shut her up “I can still kill it you know.”

    “Animal…” she muttered shuffling herself to the table so she could sit and as Maury smiled Skye realized that his canines were more prominent that she had remembered. They were larger than she thought; they weren’t longer but still larger than your average human canine teeth.

    Before Maury and Gertie could get into any further argument about the bird Dominic cleared his throat and put a glass of water in front of Skye that she hadn’t even noticed he had gone to get her. Chases large frame filled the kitchen archway as he leaned to the left and rested himself there with his arms crossed over his chest.

   “So Caretaker…” He sat down beside Skye and nodded towards the cage in the foyer. “Spill it or I’ll let my man here have a snack.”

Chapter 13 Part 2

   Chase woke up ragged, drowsy and full of piss and vinegar to the sound of pounding on the door of his suite. As his eyes opened and focused, he swung his thick thighs over the side of the bed planting his feet on the cold laminate floor. Without looking at the clock he knew it was early, too early.

The pounding came again. “Hey big guy, You up?” the voice penetrating the tired haze.

    Chase knew buy the smell of the Brut 33 that was burning his nasal cavities that it was Maury. What he didn’t know was why he was waking him up now. After a long conversation with Dominic about the events last night at Skye’s, he had only about 3 hours of sleep. Usually with the ongoing revelation and acceptance of the mind and body sharing that Skye had to go through there was typically a lot more screaming, crying and hand holding on the packs part. This time though it was different and they had wondered how she was going to take it when she came across that retched soul again.

She had surprised them all.

    She was much calmer than expected and that must have been because of her kids. Her children were the thing that kept her stable right now, but for how long. She couldn’t hold out forever and Chase knew that, so did Dom but they were in new territory here. Kids were the addition that no one counted on and for 16 years now they had been waiting for the other shoe to drop and now it had, they had no fucking clue what to do.

    Again Maury pounded on the door and Chase let out a low growl. “Chase we gotta go, Skye got in touch with Dom and the Caretaker is in her house.”

    Chase’s head whipped around and in two strides he threw open the door. “She’s in her house?” Maury dipped his head in a quick nod. “How? How did she find her?” Maury shrugged “You know those Caretakers; the vessels they take care of are like a homing beacon. She must have followed it.”

    Chase ran his hand roughly through his thick strawberry blond hair “Ok, I’m on it. Be down in 5.” Maury didn’t wait around just turned and headed down the back stairs to bring the car around. While he threw on his jeans and black t-shirt over his 6 foot 2 muscular frame Chase wondered again how this was going to play out.  Never since he had been around had a Caretaker made any contact with living body of their Mistress except to hand over the vessel.

    Lack of sleep and too many questions made his head spin but as he pulled on his boots he got himself together and became the hard second in command that he was known to be as he put brass knuckles in the pocket of his leather jacket and a 9 mm in his holster in the back of his jeans he stretched his neck. The series of pops up the back of his neck told him he was ready. Dealing with the wicked witch could be a problem.

    When he came out of his room he took a deep breath before he went over and hit the elevator button. He lived in one of only 3 suites on the top floor of the motel behind the Pawn shop. The other 2 belong to Dominic and Deacon. Deacon had only used the suite when Skye was in her other form because the other would have nothing to do with him so it was always on standby. Although on the outside the motel looked run down and bad side of town wrong on the outside, inside it was completely modern with the best security they had access to.

    Not only were there video cameras in the hallways and the elevator. The front door was reinforced with steel doors that were covered with wood and aged to look old. All of the windows were bulletproof and there was an escape tunnel underneath the motel just in case something went terribly wrong. At the front desk is where their in house security team Bass and Tank were parked with 6 computer screens in front of them and on each screen there were 4 split views so they could see everything and anything within a 5 block radius of where they sat.

    Dom’s pawn business was a cover for his real ones and none of them were legal. The pack was tough but bullets still hurt like hell when one of them got shot, steel pipes left bruises if they got hit and they didn’t always deal with the stand-up honorable types. Forget always it was never. They didn’t make a habit of killing humans but putting them in the hospital was not a problem, breaking things was common practice and every now and then someone died.

    The elevator doors finally opened and after the quick ride down 2 floors he was standing in front of Dom who was talking to Tank. Chase stepped up to his Pack leader and took up space just behind and off to the right of him. Dom lifted a chin to him and Chase returned it with a nod. “You ready?” Dominic asked. Chase said nothing as the doors opened and Dom led the way.

Chapter 13 Part 1

    As her hands went to her face she could feel the wetness of the tears that had fallen on her cheeks. When had she started crying? She had no idea why she cried now, this wasn’t the first time he would be disappointed in her behaviour and it wouldn’t be the last no matter how much she wished things were different.

    She hated him for the way he would parade her around in front of others like she was a prize, the perfect wife and host with her luscious red hair, big gray eyes and full lips but behind the closed doors he was not the same person he showed to the outside world around them. Once the doors were locked and the shades were drawn in the old Victorian house the smile that radiated from him in company, left his lips swiftly. If she was good she would be allowed to retreat to her room, separate from his and across the long hallway upstairs, behind a locked door. And it wasn’t locked from the inside.

 

    If she was bad…she had two options depending on what she had done and both options were bad. The rack or the pit; she preferred the rack if only because it was in the attic and there was a small window so that she could get some light. He was more hands on with the rack though the alternative of her being in the pit was damp darkness that was cold the sensory deprivation drove her mad. After the first few times she would scream until her lungs hurt, if she kept going he would sedate her…with his fists. He learned quickly that those sedations left bruises and he didn’t want anyone to see those so instead he would turn the hose on her and fill up the pit until she was straining on the tips of her toes to keep her head above water.

So she played the game. Day in and day out it was always the same.

    Leaving was not an option unless it was in a body bag and until she could find a way for it to be him in the bag she would be the good, loving wife. Talk softly and not ask questions and please him no matter what he asked for.

    She had forgotten she was on the floor in the bathroom. How long had she been in here? Her realization had kick started her senses bringing them back online. She couldn’t feel anything in her feet, they were completely numb but her ankles were on fire because of how she was sitting on the cold linoleum. Her legs tucked underneath her power blue skirt. She tried to move quickly and that was a mistake as the pins and needles rushed through, spread out like tiny little daggers across her skin and protested the hell out of her using them so she stopped and took a deep breath.

    She tried again this time bracing herself on the vanity for support. Once she got to her feet she caught sight of herself in the mirror and took note if her red puffy eyes and immediately started to panic. Visine thought quickly as she tore open the medicine cabinet and found what she needed. Just as she picked up the bottle she heard a firm knock on the door and everything froze. Her breathe her body…everything.

    “Carol Anne?” he called. He sounded alright but she could hear the small edge of tension in his voice that he was trying very hard to hold back. Quickly she turned on the tap and dropped 2 drops of Visine in each eye. “I’ll be right out, just washing my hands!” she tried to keep her voice level. He paused and it felt like her heart was going to jackhammer out of her chest as the seconds of silence felt like hours.

    “Our guests are waiting…sweetheart.” He replied calmly only under his breath she heard him say fiercely. “Unacceptable.”

    Carol Anne Moore knew at that moment that the pit would be waiting for her tonight after their guests left. Its cold stone and darkness will give her no comfort as she spends a sleepless night trying to remember how she got here in the first place…and how she was going to get out.

  

    Smoothing her hair down with her hand and straightening her skirt she pulled herself together and took one last look at the gray eyes staring back at her. She took a deep breath and steeled herself, stood up straight and opened the bathroom door.

Chapter 9 Part 2 - Revised

  Skye listened to the rest of Dominic’s story with an expressionless face. Elbows on the table, hands clasped in front of her with her forehead resting on her knuckles as she fought the voice in her head. The mocking laughter that echoed inside of her skull made her feel like she was slowly going crazy. Even though she found it so hard to believe any of what she had been told, she couldn’t deny the feeling of not being alone inside. She didn’t even realize when Dominic had stopped talking because she was so caught up inside of herself. It wasn’t until Chase squatted down in front of her, placed both hands on either side of her chair and turned it so that she was facing towards him that she had even noticed that all conversation had stopped.

    His aqua blue eyes were solid on hers as he searched her face. “How long have you known me?” he asked her softly but his voice still held the rough edge she associated with him even although he barely spoke.

   She blinked… and looked down into those blue/green eyes, the colour of tropical sea that is waiting for someone to swim lazily through it.

    “Is this a trick question?” she replied and thought for a moment, “because… I think I’ve known you what almost 20yrs? Unfortunately I’m being told I’ve known you a lot longer than that and I’m sorry if my memory is shot on the subject.” The frustration in her voice was so hard to hide that she wasn’t actively trying to hide it at all. “Not that I would be able to remember anything from before then from what you are all saying.” She tried repeatedly to reach back to the memories of exactly when she met him and couldn’t recall that they had even been introduced.

   Chase tilted his head slightly and stole a glance at Maury who was standing behind Skye rummaging through the cupboards looking for glasses although he had no need to even open the cupboard doors as the cupboards were white with glass inlays. He could see right through them but Chase figured his nerves had him not thinking quite clearly at the moment. After a minute of sliding this and moving that, he finally came away with a bottle of red wine. Annoyed at the noise Skye snapped, “Is there something you need in there Maury?” and he stiffened. Immediately she felt bad, he had never been anything other than respectful to her despite what he had told her. Then she noticed the bottle that Maury was holding was one that Deacon had bought for them to celebrate their first year of being successful business owners. She felt the sting but recovered quickly.

    Maury stopped in his tracks and froze confused about his next move he looked from left to right trying to find his words. “Um…yes I was just looking for glasses… I think you need a drink.” Under his breath he mumbled “I know I do…” as soon as the words were out of his mouth he could feel Chases gaze hot on him making the fine hairs stand on end.

                         

   Skye stood up oblivious to the exchange, unapologetically she bumped Chase out of her way with her hip, strode over and took the wine bottle out of Maury’s hand and put it back in the wine rack. She whispered softly to herself. “I must have been transferred to a parallel universe when I woke up.” Dominic quickly replied, “No Sweetheart, you weren’t. This…is…real and so is what I’m saying.” She didn’t turn around she continued to shuffled sideways a few steps and pulled a bottle of Bourbon down off of the top shelf that held all the hard liquor and handed it to Maury instead. Seeing this as an even better choice he took 4 tumbler glasses from the cupboard he had finally found with the glasses and with an equal amount of excitement and placed one glass in front of each of the chairs on the table.

   Chase hadn’t yet moved from his position of squatting in front of Skye’s chair but as he saw that she was returning to the table he rose and stood aside for her to sit back down.

   “Maury…” he said in that soft, rough voice of his but with authority and the smaller man immediately slumped his shoulders at and looked at him while Chase continued. “Go outside and tell the guys they can go and we’ll fill them in later, before you drink that.” Maury felt lifted at the thought of being the one to issue an order. He thought at first that he was going to be banished from the rest of the conversation.  With his head held high he strode to back door, slipped out and relayed the message.

   Skye put the bottle down in the middle of the table. “We’ll let’s see…I passed out, woke up to find out that apparently I’m not who I think I am, was told I was never supposed to have children,” she paused as her heart filled with sadness from the latter and continued. “You say I’m supposed to be some ancient Goddess but that she is trapped in that box right there, I have to share my body and mind with…that...” She pointed to the white oak box still situated in front of Dominic. “Is that straight so far?” Dominic nodded so she kept going.

   “My husband…the love of my life you are also saying, was sent to find be and bring me back to you and that all of you” she waved to the men dispersing outside, “Are here to protect me…and/or kill me. Am I right?” This time Chase responded with a nod.

   She felt pretty calm despite the sense of overwhelming fear that flowed over her. “Ok…so what is it your protecting me from and why?” suddenly she thought of a better question. “Wait!” she exclaimed, “You said that you have been protecting me for centuries!” As the words came out of her mouth she felt foolish. What the fuck am I doing? She thought to herself and that odd voice replied. You’re hearing the truth… it echoed…

Chapter 8 Part 3 - Revised

   Cyrus reacted before Skye did. “What the fuck does that mean!” Skye recoiled like she had been slapped and looked at her son shocked to the core. He moved towards Dominic quickly, but even faster than him were Chase and Maury. In a flash they were standing right in front of him blocking his way. Chase with an arm outstretched preventing Cyrus from going any further and Maury blocking him in on the right side between himself, Chase and the table. Cyrus tried to bat his arm away but stayed where he was, looking from Chase to Maury with loathing and more anger than he thought possible. Skye was taken aback to say the least that Cyrus had acted that way and was also surprised at her lack of feeling about Dom’s last statement. When she opened her mouth to say something she had the feeling that there was nothing to say…just to listen.

   Dominic was about to begin again and this time before he spoke, Skye put up one finger to stop him for a moment. She turned to Cyrus and said as only a mother could “Cyrus, please take your sisters upstairs. I need a moment alone with your Uncle.” Her tone was flat and held no edge but the intention was clear that this was not a choice but an order that he had no other option but to leave. Kyra stood up quickly with no hesitation like she didn’t want to be there anymore anyway and reached across the table to take her little sisters’ hand.

    She didn’t want to hear any more anyway but Cyrus stood stock still looking at his mother with his mouth open. “Wh… what?” he stammered. Skye saw the look of hurt pride and disapproval in his eyes and although she felt bad but this she didn’t think this was something that they should hear about until she could piece together the validity of the apparently facts she was being told. Not until she got the whole story anyway and figured out why Dom was telling her this now and what it all meant for what’s left of her family.

   “Please Cyrus; I’ll fill you in later… I promise but the girls are scared enough already and I don’t want them to hear any more of this after Uncle’s clear insensitivity on the subject he just mentioned.” She saw the flash of frustration in his eyes and then the quick change to disappointment and sadness and as much as she felt horrible about it, she knew that he was still too young for this even if he didn’t think so. “Please Cyrus…now” Right then he looked like the 6 year old boy she remembered on the verge of a temper tantrum, about to stomp his feet and yell and scream but he was bigger now and as if he knew where her mind was he straightened, lifted his head, squared his shoulders and marched out of the room without looking back. The girls trailed behind him walking hand in hand.

    The silence that filled the room was loud.

   Skye sighed as she laid her head in her hands and mental steeled herself to hear more. Surprisingly calm, she lifted and turned her attention back to Dominic just as a feeling of distrust bubbled up within her, so small but there none the less. “Would you care to explain what you mean by that Dominic?” she said steadily as she stared at her hands flipping them over repeatedly looking for some kind of a difference in them. He smiled at her then and she felt the ping of anger.

    “You would not technically be the one we killed Skye,” as he tapped the box. “It’s the one in here that we would have to get rid of and have done so on more than one occasion.” As much as Skye had trouble and didn’t want to believe any of this, she felt deep down that something was familiar about what he was saying. She still trusted the man in front of her because Deacon had. He had unwavering trust in Dominic and there had to be something to what he was saying and yet, at the same time inside her, there was a conflict going on.

   He continued… “The being… inside of the statue… in this box has no regard for anyone other than herself. She was cursed because of that disregard after she killed the coven of Witches that were her followers. She left one alive to provide for her and to keep worshipping her but the witch tricked her and trapped her in here.” He tapped the box once more.

   “Lies.” The voice hissed.

   A slight inclination of Skye’s head did not go unnoticed by Dominic. “You…can hear her right now can’t you? Inside of your head?” He asked. Skye’s quick flare of confusion told him he was right. “You’ve never heard her before have you.” More of a statement of fact as opposed to a question, he continued. “You hear her now because you have the statue here with you and you have physically touched it.” His fingers travelled across the top of the box. “No matter where we take her, she always finds a way back to you. Sometimes sooner than later but this time around it took a very long time.”

   Skye was very wary and knew there was a whole lot more to be said but only had one question despite everything she had heard so far.

   “Why did he say ‘there were never kids before’?” At that it was Dominic turn to look a bit uncomfortable as she could see the wheels turning in his head. He looked at Chase before he continued and up until now Maury hadn’t said anything. “May I boss?” Maury asked and Dom hesitated before he waved a hand for him to proceed. Maury took a deep breath and let it out in a heavy sigh. “Skye…we’ve know each other for a very long time and we’ve always had kind of a…” he paused and to another breath. “Brother and sister type of relationship. So I’m going to be as honest as I can with you.”

    Skye must have shown confusion yet again because the raised eyebrows in the room implied that they could see in her face that she did not believe that at all, but Maury continued. “You couldn’t have children, you had no reproductive organs. Having kids should have been impossible and we all knew it.”

    Inside her head a distant insane laughter tickled the back of her mind...