| Chapter 52 The car slowly pulled up the drive. A.J. reached over and tapped Nick on the arm, "We're here." Nick opened his eyes and looked out the window, seeing the house looming over them. "OK guys, let me get Angel put up before you grab Brian. If she sees you grab him she'll attack you," Nick said. "What if Aleisha is in the room with him?" Howie asked. "Then I'll ask her to come help me with something. You worry about Brian, let me deal with her," Nick said. Kevin parked the car and turned it off, turning around to look at Nick. "I still don't like this," he said. Nick stared at him, his eyes burning right through him, "Kevin, just do what I say. This isn't up for negotiations right now." Kevin met Nick's stare but only for a moment before he gave in, "Alright." Nick took a deep breath and looked at the three, "Let's go then." They got out of the car and headed into the house. Angel met them at the door, wagging her tail. "Hey girl, come here a minute," Nick said, leading her down the hall. He walked into a small sitting room off the living room, turning to face her. "Girl, I need you to stay in here. No matter what you hear, don't try to come out until I let you out, OK?" Nick said. Angel whined at him. "I know you want to help, but I can't take the chance of things going wrong and you getting caught in the middle. Just stay here," Nick said, walking out of the room and shutting the door. Nick looked down the hall to see the guys still standing near the door. He motioned for them to go into the living room. Kevin lead the way with Howie and A.J. behind him. Nick came in behind them, seeing only Brian sitting on the couch watching TV. "Hey guys," Brian said, turning around and looking at them. "Hey Bri," Kevin said. "Bri, where's Aleisha?" Nick asked. "She's in the kitchen," he said, "You feeling better?" "Yeah," Nick said, nodding to Kevin as he left the room. Brian looked at them quizzically, "Um, what's going on?" All three had walked over to where Brian was sitting, surrounding him. Brian looked from one to the other, "Guys?" "Now!" Kevin said. Brian was caught off guard when the three grabbed him. Kevin had him around the chest, his hand over Brian's mouth to keep him quiet. A.J. had his feet, and Howie had his hands. Brian struggled against them, wondering what in the hell they thought they were doing. They dragged him out of the living room and down to the small security room in the middle of the house. As soon as they were in the room, Howie locked the door, standing in front of it. Kevin and A.J. let Brian go. "What the hell is going on!" Brian demanded. "Brian, just listen, we don't have much time to explain this," Kevin said, "Aleisha is the one that attacked Nick. She's some kind of siren, and she's been controlling all of us since she got here." Brian stared at Kevin like he'd lost his mind. "Kev, I don't know what you've been smokin, but there is no way that Aleisha could've done that to Nick," Brian said. "She did Brian," A.J. said, "And she used me to try and hurt Lee." "What?" Brian asked. "Bri, it's a long story. Nick is the only one she doesn't affect because he can't hear what she's doing," Kevin said, "And she has some sort of infatuation with him now. He's trying to use that to get to her." A.J. found the kitchen on the security monitors and brought it up to the main screen, turning on the sound. "Brian, put these in and watch," Kevin said, handing him the hearing aids. "What are these?" Brian asked. "Nick had them made, they don't process the frequency that her �song' is on. She won't be able to control us," Howie said. "Guys, he's starting," A.J. said. All four brought their attention to the monitor. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick walked into the kitchen, hoping he'd given the guys enough time to explain to Brian what was going on. Aleisha was standing at the sink, rinsing some dishes to put in the dishwasher. She looked up when he walked in, smiling, "Hey Nick, you just get here?" "Yeah, the guys dropped me off," he said, going to the frig and pulling out a bottled water. "Have you had anything to eat?" she asked. Nick sat down at the table and looked at her, "No, but I'm not hungry." Aleisha could tell that something was bothering him, "Is something wrong?" Nick nodded his head, not meeting her eyes, "I need to talk to you." Aleisha's heart was in her throat. She walked over and sat down next to him, turning her chair to face him, "What is it?" Nick took a drink of his water, then looked at her, "Last night, when the guys were asking me about what memories I had. I remembered something." Aleisha bit her lip, "What?" Nick stared into her eyes for a moment, "Why?" "Why what?" she asked. "Why did you hurt me?" Nick asked, almost in a whisper. Aleisha broke eye contact with him, her head spinning. She couldn't let this happen. "Nick, it was a mistake," she said. "A mistake? You nearly killed me!" Nick said, anger and confusion in his voice. "Please Nick, let me explain. You remember what I am, right?" she asked. Nick nodded. "When I did that, I only saw you as my enemy, someone I had to get out of the way. Nick, I don't feel that way anymore, I would never hurt you, ever," she said. "What do you mean you don't feel that way anymore? How do you feel?" Nick asked, a little apprehensive. "Nick, I love you. I don't know how or why it happened, but it did. I can't bare the thought of you leaving me. Please Nick, we can get past this," she said, taking his hand in hers. Nick pulled his hand away, feeling her powers start to corse through him. "Leisha, I care for you, but...I'm not sure I can deal with this," he said. Aleisha moved closer, "Nick, please, just give me a chance." Nick stared at her for a moment, getting lost in her eyes. He blinked a few times, bringing himself out of it, and got up. He walked over to the counter, looking out the window. "What about Brian?" he asked. She stared at him from her chair, "What about him?" Nick turned around and looked at her, "If you leave him, he'll be devastated." Aleisha's heart jumped, there was still hope. "Nick, Brian doesn't mean anything to me, you know that. He was a great mark, that's all. I only care about you," she said. Nick looked at her, shocked at how callus she could be. Aleisha got up and walked over to him, taking his hands in hers, "Nick, I want to share something with you." "What?" Nick asked, feeling her power increase with every passing second. Aleisha pulled him back over to the chairs, pushing him down in one. She then straddled him, holding his hand with one hand, and putting her other hand over his heart. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Howie, let me out!" Brian screamed. "No, I can't. Nick told us to stay in here," Howie replied. "How could she? How could she be so....?" Brian asked. "Brian, calm down," Kevin said. "Calm down? How Kevin? I brought her here, she used me to get to everyone. How am I suppose to calm down? This is all my fault," Brian cried. "Oh shit!" A.J. said, staring at the monitors. The other three looked over. "What's happening?" Kevin asked, coming back over. A.J. looked at him, "We're losing him." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick's mind was racing, trying to find something to focus on other than the intense pleasure coursing through him. "Leisha, you don't have to do this," he said. She smiled at him, "I think I do. I can't be without you." Nick felt the pleasure increase ten fold, he struggled against it. "Leisha, don't do this, please," he begged, "God can save you from this. You don't have to be this way." She stared at him, "Nick, it's to late for me." He shook his head, "It's never to late, not as long as you're still alive." Aleisha put her hand over Nick's mouth, "I don't want to talk about this. Nick, I want your heart." Nick closed his eyes, trying to pull himself out of it. His heart was racing, and he was gasping for air. Aleisha bent down and whispered in his ear, "If you do this, I'll leave the others alone. That's what you want isn't it?" Nick stared at her in shock, wondering how she could've known. She smiled at him, "That is want you want. Give me your heart and I promise I won't hurt them." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A.J. and Brian were biting their finger nails. Kevin was pacing the room, and Howie was still standing in front of the door in shock. How could things have gone so bad? "Fight her Nick," A.J. said to the screen. "Don't do it, it's a trick," Brian whispered. They could see the confusion in Nick's eyes, as he struggled against her. Kevin stopped pacing and looked at the monitor, just as Nick said, "It's yours." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As soon as the words left his mouth, Nick felt the most intense emotions run through him. He couldn't think straight, he couldn't see straight. His mind was flooded with memories that weren't his, and emotions like he'd never felt before. His heart was pounding so hard he thought it was going to come through his chest, and he couldn't breathe. His head was spinning and he tried to grab the table for some stability. Aleisha bent down and kissed his lips, "Stop fighting, you're only making it worse." Nick closed his eyes and relaxed, letting the feelings wash over him. His breathing started to calm, along with his heart. He'd never felt such bliss in his life. "That's it, let it take you," Aleisha said, smiling at him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Howie, God damn it let us out!" A.J. screamed in his face. They were all in shock that Nick had fallen for her trick. Howie refused to move from the door, "No, he said to stay here." "Howie, he's hers now. We've gotta help him," Kevin said. "Fuck this," Brian said, pushing past A.J. and Kevin. He grabbed Howie by the shirt and threw him across the tiny room. A.J. and Kevin looked at one another in shock as Brian unlocked the door and ran down the hall. A.J. helped Howie up, and they quickly ran to catch up. Brian rounded the corner to the kitchen at a dead run. Aleisha turned around staring at him. "How could you? How could you do this to us?" Brian spat. Aleisha stood up, leaving Nick in the chair, completely out of it. "Brian, I don't know what you're talking about," she said. "Stop it! We saw the whole thing," Brian said, glaring at her. She looked at him rather amused, "Oh you did, did you?" "Yes we did," A.J. said. "I want you to leave," Brian said. "Oh, I'm leaving," she stated, taking Nick's hand in hers. "Not with him you aren't," Kevin said. She looked at him, "Who's gonna stop me? You?" "If I have to," he said. Aleisha laughed, "You don't know what you're dealing with." "I know enough," Kevin said, stepping forward. "Kevin, don't," Nick said, looking at him. Kevin looked down at Nick, "You can't leave with her." Nick stood up on shaky legs, "I have to." "I won't let you," Kevin said, determined. "Neither will we," A.J. and Brian said. "Aww, isn't this lovely," Aleisha said, smiling. "Listen you bitch, you can't take him!" A.J. spat. Aleisha stared at him, her eyes changing as she did. "What the..?" A.J. said, just as he was flung to the floor. Kevin and Brian stood their ground as Howie helped A.J. to his feet. "She didn't even touch me," A.J. said. Aleisha laughed, "I don't have to you idiot. You have no idea what I can do, so back off!" Nick grabbed her arm, turning her to him, "Leisha please, it doesn't have to be this way." She looked at him, her eyes softening a little, "Tell your friends to back off before I hurt them." Nick looked over at them, "Guys, leave." "No," they all said. Nick walked toward them, "Leave, you can't help me now!" Brian walked up to Nick, grabbing his arm, "I'm not leaving you. If you go with her, so do I." Nick stared at him for a moment before yanking his arm away from Brian's grip. Brian reached for him again, and Nick slapped his hands away, "Don't!" Brian glanced at Kevin and A.J. then jumped on Nick, bringing him to the ground. Kevin and A.J. joining in. Nick fought against them, "Let go. You don't know what you're doing!" "Nick, you can't go with her," A.J. said. "We won't let you," Brian said, holding on to Nick for dear life. Aleisha cleared her throat, getting their attention. During the course of their fighting, she had grabbed Howie, holding a knife to his throat. "Are you about done?" she asked. The guys slowly let Nick go and stood up. "Leish, let him go," Nick said, walking over to her, "You have me. That's what you wanted, right?" She stared at him, releasing her hold on Howie, and shoving him toward the others. Brian and A.J. caught him before he stumbled to the ground. Aleisha took Nick's hand and started out of the room, only to be stopped by Gideon and Tara. "What the hell?" she said, turning around, only to be facing Jade and Tracy. Nick looked at her and smiled, "More like what the heaven." Aleisha glared at him, "You planned this all along didn't you?" "Leisha, please. All you have to do is ask and it will be over," Nick said. She shook her head backing away from him, "How could you?" Nick walked toward her, "Please, don't make us fight you. Leish, God loves you, please understand that." She stared at him, her eyes burning with anger and pain. Aleisha looked around, she was completely surrounded. "Don't fight us," Nick said, seeing the intent in her eyes, "You won't win." "We'll see about that," she said, turning and knocking Jade off balance and grabbing her sword. Aleisha swung aiming for Nick. Tara and Gideon blocked the blow just inches from Nick's face. Tracy and Jade pulled Nick back, joining the guys in the corner of the room. Aleisha pulled her sword away from the block and stepped back, eyeing her foes. "So, you're the dead wife," she said, glaring at Tara. Tara smiled, "That's me, and I don't take kindly to anyone trying to hurt my friends." Aleisha laughed at her, "Oh, and what about your husband? Did you see us? Did you see how he longed for me?" Brian cringed at her words, sinking into Kevin's arms, "God, what did I do?" Tara's eyes flashed, and she lunged at Aleisha. Aleisha blocked the blow, and returned with her own. The two parried back and forth, until Gideon stepped in and caught Aleisha across the arm with a swing. Everyone stopped when they heard Nick scream. They looked over to see him holding his arm, blood dripping between his fingers. They all realized that if they hurt Aleisha, they would also be hurting Nick. Tara looked back at her as Aleisha laughed. "Looks like you're the one hurting your friends," she said. "How?" Tara asked. "When we bonded, what hurts one hurts the other," Nick said, realizing now what had to be done. Aleisha watched as Nick stepped toward them, "Leish, please.. just let go," he said. She shook her head, "No." Tracy gave Jade her sword and walked over to Nick Jade joined Gideon, and Tara moved over to stand in front of Nick. The guys watched, wondering what was going on. They all seemed to be communicating without words. Gideon and Jade held Aleisha back, pointing their swords at her. Aleisha knew she couldn't fight both of them at the same time. She stared at them, wondering what their next move would be. Nick looked into Tara's eyes, "You know it's the only way." She blinked away a tear, "I know." Nick reached down and took her hand that held the sword and placed the tip on his chest. A resounding NO came from everyone in the room. Aleisha began to try and fight her way to Nick, to keep him from doing it. Nick looked at Tara, "Do it!" With tears in her eyes, Tara plunged the sword into Nick's chest. Nick fell to his knees, as Aleisha did too. Tracy held Nick as Tara grabbed the hilt of the sword and quickly pulled it out, dropping it to the ground. She then helped Tracy lay Nick down, as he struggled to breathe. The guys all crowded around, not believing what had just happened. Nick looked over to see Aleisha on the floor not far away, Jade and Gideon kneeling next to her. "Leisha, .... please," Nick struggled, reaching out to her, "All...you ..have to do..is ask." Aleisha stretched her hand out, their finger tips touching. "Nick, hang on," Kevin said, "Some one call an ambulance!" Tara looked at him, "No Kevin. No ambulance, this has to happen." He looked at her in shock, not wanting his friend to die. Nick looked up at Brian, "Call...Lyn." "We will man, just hang on," Brian said. "I got it," Howie said, already dialing the number. Nick looked back over at Aleisha, "Please...don't let...it end like this," he pleaded. She stared at him, tears streaming down her face. She closed her eyes and Nick looked over to Gideon. He had his hand on Aleisha's shoulder, hearing her prayer. Nick watched him until he smiled and looked over at him, "It's done." Aleisha opened her eyes and looked at him, "Nick, I'm ....so sorry." He smiled at her, "It was....worth...it." Nick winced in pain, gasping for air. "Hang on Nick, please," Brian said, tears streaming down his face. Nick looked up at him, "Don't cry." Brian stared at him as Nick reached up and wiped his tears, "I'm going...to a better...place." "I know, but I don't want you to go," Brian said. Nick managed a smile, "It's not...for you..to say." "Howie!" Kira yelled, running into the house. "In here!" he answered, as the girls ran down the hall and into the kitchen. They all stopped, in shock at the scene before them. Lyn ran to Nick's side, "Baby, I'm here." Nick looked up at her, taking her hand, "I didn't want...to leave like this." "Nick, shhhh, don't talk," she said, touching his cheek. He shook his head, "I have...to tell...you. I ... love...you." "Honey, I know," Lyn said, seeing Nick close his eyes, "Nick, stay with me." He struggled to open his eyes, "I...can't." "Nick, please don't leave me," she begged. He looked at her, "I will...never leave you. I will...always..be..with you." Brian put his hand on Lyn's shoulder as Nick once again turned his head to look at Aleisha. "Nick,...I'm scared," she said. He smiled at her, "Don't..be. I'll be...there with you." She seemed to relax, thanking him with her eyes. "Nick," Lyn said, running her hand through his hair. He looked at her, but she noticed that he wasn't seeing her. He seemed to be looking past her at something only he could see. "It's..so...beautiful," he whispered. "Nick, please," Lyn cried. Nick squeezed her hand and closed his eyes, taking his last breath. "NO!" Lyn cried, pulling him to her and holding him as she broke down. Everyone was in tears, holding each other for comfort. Brian looked over to see Jade closing Aleisha's eyes. They were both gone. He looked at Tracy, "What happens now?" She looked at him with compassion in her eyes, "We wait." Chapter 53 |