| Chapter 35 Tara looked around as they appeared in what looked like the great room of someone's house. Nick let go of her arm and walked in front of them, "Girls, we're home," he yelled, playfully. Tara watched as the two girls she knew from the concerts came into the room, looking at her. "So this is her?" Serenity asked. "In the flesh," Nick said, plopping down on the couch. Both girls walked up to Tara, looking her over. Evi pulled Tara's hair out of the tie it was in, straightening it, then looked at her, "She'll do." "Do for what?" Tara asked, looking between them and Nick. "You're gonna get to be our new �sister'," Serenity teased. "Your what?" Tara asked, confused. "Come now, you know what we are. That was our deal, we help them get Nick, and then Nick helps us get you," Evi said, smiling. "Yeah, there should always be three of us, and since Aleisha's demise, we are in need of another �sister'," Serenity said. Tara started laughing, "And just what makes you think that I'm going to turn and become one of you?" Both girls smiled at each other. "Oh, we have our ways of getting what we want," Serenity said. "Take her to her room, I'll be there in a while," Nick said, getting up and grabbing Evi's hand. Tara watched as Evi winced under Nick's grip, and reluctantly followed him down the hall. Jered and Ephah each took an arm and led Tara to a bedroom. "What's all that about?" Tara asked. "What?" Ephah said. "Nick giving the orders. That's not like you Jered to let someone else be in charge," Tara said, glaring at him. Jered walked over to her and pushed her down on the bed, "You would do well to keep quiet and do as your told," he spat. Tara sat there and looked at him, studying him. "You're afraid of him aren't you?" she asked. Jered made a move to strike her, but then thought better of it. Instead turning and leaving the room. "Was it something I said?" Tara asked, smiling. Ephah laughed at her, "I'm sure it was. Feet up please." She looked at him perplexed, "Please?" He shrugged his shoulders, "Nick said to be nice to you. Now, feet." Tara lifted her feet up and Ephah locked the chains onto the bed frame. "What did Nick do to make you all so afraid of him?" Tara asked. Ephah didn't answer her, going about the business of taking her shoes off and making sure the cuffs were secure. "What'd he do?" she asked again. Ephah looked back to make sure they were alone, then faced her. "After he turned, he went wild. Everything that we did to him while he was here, he did to us, then healed us, laughing the entire time," he said softly. "Tell me," Tara said. Ephah sighed, "He beat me and Jered up to the point of death, then healed every wound. He strung Serenity up on the rack and beat her within an inch of her life, then healed her. And he took Evi and ...did to her what she'd done to him." Tara looked at him shocked, "What'd she do to him?" Ephah came around and uncuffed her hands from behind her back, "She raped him. Actually, she's still paying for it." Tara couldn't believe what he was telling her. How could Nick be so cruel? Then she had to remind herself that the Nick she was faced with now, wasn't the Nick she knew. Ephah looked at her, "Don't fight him, he's stronger than any of us I've ever seen, and you wouldn't survive." "I don't think he would hurt me," she said. He shrugged his shoulders, "Who knows what he would do." Tara stared at him, "Why are you so concerned? We're enemies, why tell me all this anyway?" Ephah smiled at her, "Because I've always liked you. Even with us on opposite sides, your strong, and you don't compromise anything. I respect that about you." "Then you know I'm not gonna go without a fight," Tara said. "Wouldn't expect anything less from you," he said, then turned and left her alone with her thoughts. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian sat on the plane, staring out the window. It had taken them a while to get everything together and get to the airport. Kevin, A.J. and Howie, all had to help Brian and Lyn get things packed. They were both in such shock, it was hard for either one of them to function. Brian sighed, his mind pressing on him every imaginable horror that Tara could be facing at this very moment. "Brian, stop," Kevin said, looking over at his cousin. Brian looked up at him, "What?" "Look at your hands," Kevin said. Brian looked down, seeing that his fingers were bleeding. He had been biting his nails and not realized it. "Damn," he said under his breath. He looked over at Lyn, sitting with Tracy and Howie. She was still so upset, and the two of them were trying to comfort her. Brian got up and walked over, sitting down next to Lyn. She looked over at him, tears running down her cheeks. "Honey, he could still come back to us," Brian said, "Tara did it. We can't give up hope yet." "I know, I'm just so scared and worried," she said, "I just can't imagine what they did to him to make him turn, and then what they must be doing to Tara." Brian's heart fell at the mention of her name, "I know, I'm thinking the same thing." "And if Nick is one of them, then what's his role in it," Lyn said. That thought hadn't even occurred to Brian, that Nick could be in on whatever was being done to Tara. He took a deep breath and put his arm around Lyn's shoulders, "We'll get through this together, and we'll get them both back." "I hope your right," Lyn whispered. So do I, Brian thought. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tara had been sitting in her room for several hours. She was beginning to wonder if they'd forgotten she was there. She sighed and looked out the window at the night sky, "Please God, be with Brian and Lyn..." Just then Nick came through the door, a tray in his hands. "He doesn't listen, don't you know that?" he said. Tara looked at him, "Yes He does Nick, you know that." Nick shook his head, "Nope, He doesn't. Here you hungry?" Tara looked at the tray Nick was holding, and shrugged her shoulders. Nick walked over and sat the tray on the bed next to her, "I put some extra mac and cheese on there for ya. I know it's your favorite." "Um thanks," Tara said, eyeing him. He was almost giddy, and she wondered what exactly was going through his mind. Tara picked at her food, eating a little, but leaving most of it. "So Nick, when did you give up?" she asked. He stared at her, "You mean, when did I come to my senses? Last night, why?" "I was just wondering if the tape they sent us was real, or if you've been faking this entire time," she said flatly. "Oh it was very real. Like a fool, I thought you were gonna come and save me, so I held out. Endured their torture, and prayed to a God that could care less," Nick spat. "Nick, you know that's not true. Look at what God has done for you, what he's helped you with these past few years," she said. "Drop it," Nick said, aggravated. "I can't. I'm not gonna give up on you," Tara said, meeting his stare. "Then you're wasting your time with false hopes," Nick told her. "Maybe, but seeing as time is all I have right now, I'll take my chances," she said. Nick smirked at her, "Well, we'll see how optimistic you are in the morning." Tara watched as Jered came into the room. Nick picked up the tray and headed out the door, "Do whatever you want with her, just don't kill her." "Nick, wait!" Tara yelled behind him. Nick turned around and grinned at her, then left the room, laughing. Jered shut the door and turned to face her, and evil grin on his face. "So what do you want?" she asked. "You," he said, as he came closer. Tara swallowed hard, and moved as far away from the side of the bed he was standing on as she could. "Aw Tara, it'll be just like old times," Jered mused. "No it won't," she said, "I'll kill you before I let this happen." "And just how are you gonna do that?" Jered asked, amused. Tara raised her eyebrow, "Do you think I taught you everything I know? I still have some things you haven't seen." He looked at her cautiously, "Like what?" Tara grinned as the cuffs around her ankles fell to the bed and she stood up, facing him. "Try me," she said, glaring at him. Jered reached for her, only to have her use his own momentum against him, knocking him to the floor. He quickly got up and grabbed her before she could get the door open. Tara spun around and punched him in the face, then swept her leg behind his, again sending him to the floor. "Maybe you should work less on your taunting skills, and more on your fighting skills," she laughed. Jered was infuriated by her comment, and sprang to his feet, grabbing her and slamming her into the nearest wall, holding her there by her throat. Tara was struggling for air, but managed to bring her knee up to make contact with Jered's groin. He let go of her, bending down in pain. Tara took the opportunity to side kick him in the face, sending him to the floor. This time he didn't get up. "One down, four to go," she said as she opened the door and walked out into the hall. She looked around, wondering where everyone was. The house was huge, and though she could feel them, she couldn't pin point them in the house, not knowing what room was what. She made it into the kitchen before she encountered Serenity. "What the hell are you doing loose?" she asked. Tara smiled at her, as she walked closer, "Just looking around. Nice house, is it yours?" Serenity started to yell, but Tara put her hand over her mouth and pulled her in front of her, "Night," she said as she placed her hand over Serenity's eyes, and let her slip to the floor. Tara left the kitchen and found the great room they had first appeared in. She walked in, looking at the rack. She walked over to the table next to it, looking through the various torture devices, hoping she could use one as a weapon. "Man this girl is sick," she said to herself. She picked out a small carving knife and continued through the house. She rounded a corner, and found herself face to face with Nick. "Going somewhere?" Nick asked, leaning against the wall. "I was thinking about it, yeah," she said. "If you leave, I'll kill Brian," he said. Tara's eyes widened, "You wouldn't. He's your best friend." "Yes I would. I don't have a best friend," Nick said. "Nick, don't make me fight you," Tara said. Nick straightened up and looked at her. In one motion he pulled the knife from her hand and pushed her against the wall, holding her there. She couldn't move, all she could do was breathe. Nick walked up to her, "Don't fight me, you won't win." Tara stared into his cold, heartless eyes. Nick grabbed her arm and yanked her down the hall with him, "Your gonna pay for this." "Nick, let me go!" Tara yelled at him, unable to pry her arm from his grasp. Nick lead her back to her bedroom, slamming her down on the bed. Jered and Ephah held her as Evi came towards her with a syringe in her hand. "No, don't!" Tara yelled, struggling. Nick grabbed her throat, "Be still," he said through clenched teeth. Tara gasped for air as Evi gave her the shot. Nick let her go and looked over at Jered, "I told you not to underestimate her. Start thinking with something other than your dick." Jered glared at him, but didn't retaliate, his head hurt to much to. "What are we gonna do with her now?" Serenity asked. "Yeah, the chains aren't going to hold her," Evi said. "Keep her drugged, and let me do the rest," Nick said, "Now, everyone out." Everyone left the room, and Nick sat down to wait for Tara to wake up. Chapter 36 |