Before Capri could finish, Donna had leapt from her seat. "No--wait a minute!" she cried out.

"Donna!" Kendra whispered.

"I'm sorry," Donna said in a softer voice a moment later. "But..." she swallowed. "Capri--Your Honor--can I talk to you? Uh..." she scrambled for what she'd heard attorneys say on those Court TV shows..."`Your Honor may I please approach the bench'?"

Capri turned to face Donna. "Yes, Miss Shelley, wha's on yer mind, hon?" she said very gently, looking at Donna with a reassuring expression.

Donna walked to stand in front of Capri, then took a deep breath. Damn it, she was in it now for sure. But there was no backing out now...and what, really, could Capri do to her more than what Tompkins and Benson already had? Still, she couldn't quite make herself meet Capri's eyes. "I..." she swallowed. "Look, you know I can see into people's memories. I wasn't looking into Tracy's, right then--but..." she swallowed and tried unsuccessfully not to stammer. "If s-someone has strong feelings about what they remember...I can pick up on that. And--and every time vampires are mentioned..." she took a deep breath. "She's terrified half out of her mind. I don't know why, I'd have to go into her memories to find that out, but there's more to it than just not b-being comfortable with them. I'm sure of th-that much."

"Oh gad, not another Damon," Capri sighed. "No wonder she couldn't bring 'erself ta believe...well, I guess it can't 'urt ta have 'er speak 'er mind." Capri could see the terror in Donna's eyes, and she remembered what Ameh had told her, that the girl was quite intimidated by her. "'s alright, Donna, I'm not gonna bite ya," she nearly whispered so that only Donna could hear, and smiled, trying to reassure Donna, at the same time, she reached out and patted Donna's shoulder. "Thank ya fer pointin this out." Then, addressing Tracy again, Capri said, "Ms. Hannah, if you have anything against vampires other than just that they creep you out, you can speak out now, but I'm warnin ya not ta direct any more remarks at Sarah, jus' stick ta the subject o' vampires in general, an Nathan, an' any other vampires ya had problems with, please."

Tracy just stared at her, and now everyone could see real fear in her eyes, along with anger and rage. "Murderers...murderers..." she murmured again, then took a deep breath and seemed to be trying to collect herself.

Donna stepped over to her and took her hands. "Tracy, you remember me, don't you? From Nathan's--we only met a couple times, but..."

Tracy nodded, though her eyes still stormed. "Yeah."

"If you let me help you...we can all see what it is. Please?"

Tracy bit her lip. Then glancing from Donna over to the still glaringly red eyed Sarah and back again, that decided her. Maybe now they'd all understand--maybe then they'd do something about that poor baby Elwyn before she, too, had to suffer. She nodded. "Fine." she sighed and looked over at Miranda, then back to Capri. "I told you I hoped you'd never have to know this. But now...well, maybe now you'll understand."

"Well get on with it!" Capri snapped impatiently.

Miranda only hissed at Tracy.

"Donna," Kendra called out, "are you sure you want to do this?" She'd heard the way Tracy had screamed and didn't want Donna having to see whatever lay behind that fear.

Donna looked at her mother and shook her head. "I've got to." she managed to smile slightly, hoping to reassure her.

Then she turned back to Tracy, and held out her hands.

Donna took both of Tracy's hands in both of hers, their eyes met, a soft glow seemed to appear at their joined hands...then slowly, without breaking contact, Donna turned to face the far wall.

Slowly an image began to form there, an image which quickly expanded to cover the entire bare wall, sort of like looking at a large movie screen.

*********

*********

A wooded area, though not thickly so, and it was night, a clear one--the moon and stars could be seen shining overhead. snow covered the ground, and the tree trunks as well, this was clearly winter.

A tall darkhaired man walked along the path, a clump of flowers, acorns, etc. in his hand.

Then suddenly, from out of the shadows, a second figure leapt on him, knocking him to the ground. A figure that hissed and tore...the first man struggled, but couldn't break free. And after all too short a time, his struggles ceased altogether.

The second figure lifted its head. And then its face could be clearly seen--the pale humanlike face, the red eyes and the fangs, which still dripped blood. A vampire.

And then...screams. From the bushes nearby.

The vampire leapt to his feet and almost in a single instant was over to the bushes--reaching in he pulled free a small girl, who looked to be about ten, with the same dark hair as the dead man, her face now as white as the vampire's and it was she who screamed.

At least for that first second, till the vampire locked eyes with her.

"You saw nothing." he hissed. "I was never here. Your father was never here. You will sleep now and remember nothing. Do you understand?"

The little girl didn't speak...but she did kick at him.

"What? You resist? You shouldn't be able to..." he stared at her, harder. "Ah. Magic, hm? Well, that's a problem, isn't it." He paused as if thinking, then pulled the girl up until his face was inches from hers. "You remember *this*, then. I know who you are. I know where you live. You tell *anyone* and I will take your mother as well!" He jabbed a finger of his free hand towards the body.

With that, he flung the girl away, as if tossing aside an insect. She scrambled to her feet, and ran away crying.

*******

*******

Back in the courtroom, Tracy cried.

Capri's expression became positively fierce as she fought with all her might the urge to scream or throw something.

There were cries and sniffles from several of the spectators, also.

Ariel and NT looked to each other for comfort, both of them mirroring each other's horrified expressions. NT was trembling, so Ariel held on to her to keep her calm enough so her magic wouldn't start to cause havoc in the court.

Miranda sat trying not to retch. She knew Sarah would never do what this vampire had done. But if this was Tracy's first brush with a vampire, it was little wonder she hated and feared them so much. The vampire trying to erase her memory made Miranda feel even sicker since Nathan Tompkins had forced Megan Macleod to do just that to Miranda. "Bastard!" she heard herself saying despite efforts to hold back.

Ameh was muttering some very colorful language just under her breath, and her fists were tightly clenched. Pippi put a hand on Ameh's shoulder, worried Ameh might go ballistic.

Titania shuddered and clung to Jesse, who had done his best to shield her from the horrible scene. His expression was full of shock, fear, and disgust.

Madonna, still standing up front for court duty, looked absolutely horrified and pale as a ghost as all the blood drained from her face. She steadied herself by clutching the back of Capri's chair.

Even the burly MacTaggart looked shaken. Lisa Halden cried, and Brett held her. Though Brett hadn't let her see most of it, she'd picked up enough from hearing it and the reactions of those around them.

The only ones unmoved in that whole courtroom were Nathan Tompkins and Christine Benson.

After what seemed an eternity of silence, Capri spoke. "Alright, Ms. Hannah, I take it you were the child there." Capri gestured toward the wall the images had been projected onto. Her voice was no longer unkind, that scene had been hard on her to watch and if Tracy had any connection to it, no wonder she was so frightened.

Tracy nodded miserably. "Right. That was me, twenty years ago." she whispered, fighting to stop crying long enough to talk. "And the man who died that night...was my father. But that's not all, it didn't end there." She glanced to Donna, and they resumed.

Kendra rubbed tears from her eyes, she could only imagine what this was doing to Donna, if Donna had to experience this firsthand to let them all see it. She leaned over to Pippi. "I'm not sure I shouldn't stop this. I don't want Donna hurt any more than she's already been." she whispered, her voice filled with concern.

"I'm not so sure of this myself," Pippi whispered back. "Let's just hope it ends soon."

Donna took Tracy's hands again and the images resumed.

******

******

A church, packed with people, and decorated for a wedding, judging by the attire of those assembled. The wedding march began, and the bride appeared. A pale woman who looked like an older version of Tracy. And then the groom came into view...and though now he was cleaned up and in a suit, he was still recognizable as the vampire. Everyone looked so happy, even the bride, though she seemed almost as pale as her husband-to-be.

At least, everyone except one little girl in the front row, the look of fear and anger mixed on her small face was unmistakable. A woman sitting beside her glanced disapprovingly at her. "You wipe that look off your face right now before your Mama sees it!" she whispered.

The child-Tracy was clearly fighting not to cry. "Don't let her m-marry him, Aunt Jessie...he'll hurt her. Don't let her..."

"Shut up Tracy Hannah!" the woman hissed. "You shut your mouth! We've all had just about enough of your wild stories! It's about time your mama got to be happy, she hasn't been since that bastard of a father of yours ran out on you."

"He *didn't*--" the girl started to say, eyes flashing. But she didn't get to finish.

The woman slapped Tracy across the face. "I said shut your mouth!"

Tracy-the-child bit her lip, trying not to cry, but continued to watch the proceedings, clearly wishing she could stop them somehow.

And the vampire-groom looked at her with an expression of pure smugness.

******

******

Back in the courtroom...

"Damn!" Ameh hissed, glaring venomously.

"Stupid woman!" NT yelled.

"Damn it to hell!" Miranda chimed in.

There were several other expressions of outrage from many others, and Capri stared ahead with a look of pure evil. If that vampire had been Tracy's first encounter with them, no wonder she feared and hated them.

Sarah looked positively sick. She'd been so angry at Tracy over the attempt to take Elwyn away, but now...she couldn't forget it, but at least now she could understand. If only she could make Tracy understand she wasn't at all like that other one had been.

"That was six months later." Tracy explained. "He...made everyone b-believe my father had just run off. Abandoned us. On my mother's birthday yet. That's why my father was out picking up flowers from the shop, and anything he could find outside, that night. And every time I tried to tell anyone my father was *dead*...no one believed me. They said I was just making up stories. He'd *made* them think that. He c-couldn't make *me* forget because I had magic--but that also meant...he wanted me. Once I grew up, he said. Until then...my mother..." she broke off and the images resumed.

******

******

The family room of an ordinary suburban house. The same woman who'd been the bride in the last scene sat, or rather slumped, on the sofa. She looked even paler now than she had then, haggard almost. A girl entered, Tracy apparently, now looking about twelve. She rushed over to her. "Mama? What're you doing--you shouldn't be out of bed!!"

"I'm ok...baby...just...tired..." the woman whispered. "Just had to...sit down...for a minute..."

"Let me get you to bed, Mama, please."

"OK..." With effort, and the girl's help, the woman managed to drag herself upright, but only held that position for a moment before collapsing to the floor, the girl managing only to keep her from hitting too hard.

"Mama?" The woman didn't move. "Mama?" the girl cried again. Kneeling down, she rested her head on the woman's chest for a moment, then raised tear filled eyes to her face. "Mama...please...no...." she burst into tears.

There was a sense of time passing as the girl sobbed over her mother's body.

Then the vampire appeared at the door. He paused, taking in the scene, the dead woman, the girl. "Ah," he smiled, coldly. "Now...now you're mine. All mine." he hissed.

Tracy screamed and vanished from the scene.

******

******

More curses and cries from the spectators, and Ariel now held NT on her lap and cried right along with everybody else. NT clung to her and wailed mournfully.

"Dammit make it stop!" Miranda exclaimed. She couldn't help but feel sorry for Tracy the child in those visions, but that didn't give Tracy the right to do what she'd done to Miranda in the past. And she just didn't want to see any more. Worse still was the thought that Nathan had done this much and worse to other people, or might be planning to still, particularly if he would've succeeded in getting turned. And Miranda had believed in him at one time. This scared her most of all, believing in someone who turned out to be a monster like that vampire in Tracy's past.

Titania went limp in Jesse's arms, and both wept together.

Ameh cussed and spat, but still some tears spilled down her cheeks, despite all her efforts to remain tough and hold them back. "That f***in, worthless, stupid piece of shit!" she hissed out.

Pippi bit her lip and kept one hand on Kendra's shoulder, the other on Ameh's, but she too, had tears rolling down her cheeks.

Kendra didn't even try to stop crying now. She could only look at Donna's pale, drawn face, and held out her arms to her.

Donna rushed to her and they hugged.

Capri was absolutely seething now, "Dammit!" She hissed, and it took all her effort to keep her voice down. She took a moment to calm herself, but when she looked up again her expression was hardly any less violent.

Meanwhile, Tracy made herself continue. "That was the first time I'd ever gone into another place. I didn't even know I c-could. I just had to get away from him, before he took me, to be his damn puppet. He couldn't do *that* until I grew up, though." Tracy took a deep breath. "I was just twelve then and I've been running ever since. Because he's still out there. He still wants me--look!"

And with that she jerked her left arm out of the sleeve of her blouse, baring her left shoulder. Which now that those present could see carried a black-brown mark in the shape of a hand. Much as that hand might've been positioned when it gripped the shoulder of a ten year old girl.

"Now do you see?" she cried. "Miranda--Capri--*all* of you. That's what I was. If they don't kill you, then they make you their puppet! That's what they do--and there's one of those monsters sitting right here in this room!" Her finger stabbed at Sarah. "She's got a baby too and what happened to me is just what's going to happen to her! I tried to save that baby and all of you jumped on me for that!"

Sarah shook her head in fervent denial. From the look on her face, she was as much horrified by what she'd seen as anyone else in the room. But before she could say anything, Miranda did.

"Well Tracy I'm sorry for you, but Sarah isn't the one that killed your parents, and you know Nathan's just as bad as he was!" Miranda shot back through her own tears.