| Chapter 44 Kevin and Kristin where getting ready for bed. They had spent the day just lazing around the house and enjoying each other's company. "I bet Brian's excited about the book dropping tomorrow," Kristin said. "Yeah," Kevin said smiling. Kristin laughed at him, "There's that look again." Kevin looked at her, "What? I can't help it. That book is just amazing. I can't help but smile when I think about it." "Yeah," she agreed, "It's gonna help a lot of people, that's for sure." Suddenly Jason and Marcus appeared in the room with them, concern on their faces. "Jesus!" Kevin said with a start, "Don't you guys knock or something?" "Sorry," Jason said, "But we need you to pack a bag as quick as you can." Kevin looked at them, "Why?" "We need to move you somewhere a little more safe," Marcus explained. "Did something happen?" Kristin asked, a little afraid. "Yes, we don't have time to explain now. Just get ready as fast as you can," Jason said. Kevin and Kristin exchanged a worried glance and hurriedly went about getting dressed and packing a few things. "OK, we're ready," Kevin said, hoisting his and Kristin's bags over his shoulder. "Do we need to book a flight out?" Kristin asked. Jason shook his head, "No, you won't be traveling that way." Kevin and Kristin both looked at them confused. "Take each other's hands," Marcus instructed. They did, Marcus moving to hold Kevin's arm, and Jason taking Kristin's other hand. "OK, hang on," Jason said as they vanished from the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian stumbled into the room, being pushed from behind. He wasn't sure where he was, but he had a pretty good idea, and it scared him to death. After he'd disappeared from Lyn's, he'd appeared at some sort of gateway. The demon in charged took him and pushed him through. Brian caught a glimpse of William as he was being shoved through the gate. He prayed that William was alright. After he was through the gate, he realized he was in some sort of city, but it wasn't like anything he'd ever seen before. The air alone was dark and menacing. It sent chills down his spine as he made his way through the city and into the building he was in now. Brian righted himself and looked around. It seemed to be some sort of command room. He could see what he assumed where war plans on the table in front of him. The demon pushed him again, "Down on your knees!" Brian turned and glared at him, standing his ground. The demon grabbed him by the shoulder, squeezing until Brian thought his bones would crush under the pressure. He was forced down to his knees. The grip on him never ceased and Brian thought he would cry out in pain. Just then another demon entered the room. "Release him," he ordered, and immediately the hand left Brian's shoulder. Brain reached up, holding the painful limb, looking up at the man. "So, you are the �best friend'?" the man asked. "It depends on who you're talking about," Brian answered. The man glared at Brian for a moment, then slapped Brian across the face so hard it sent him to the floor. "Don't play dumb with me, you know of whom I speak!" he yelled. Brian got back up to his knees, wiping the blood from his lip. He glared at the man, "What do you want with me?" "Aw, the million dollar question," the demon laughed, "You, my boy, have been a pain in our side for years now. And this little book is just the last straw. Let's see how your friend Nickolas fares when he finds out we have you, when he see's what we do to you." Brian swallowed hard. "Yes, you have every right to be afraid. I'm going to break you, and your �friend' will be helpless to do anything about it but watch," the demon laughed, "Take him away." Brian winced as the demon that had brought him there, grabbed him by the offending shoulder and drug him out of the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin and Kristin appeared in Lyn's living room, just as everyone else did. They all looked around, somewhat confused, until Lyn's cries drew their attention. Kevin looked over to see Ted and Tracy holding her as she bawled. "What happened? Where's Brian?" he asked, feeling the panic rise in him. "They took him," Tracy said. "Took him? Who took him?" A.J. asked. "The demons, they came here and took him," Ted answered. "Oh God," Leighanne said. "What do they want with him?" Howie asked. Tracy shook her head, "I'm not sure." "Well, let's go get him, where did they take him?" Gary asked. "We aren't sure yet. But you will not be going to get him," Tracy said, "That is for us to deal with." "Then why are you still here?" Kevin asked angrily, "Go find him!" Tracy sighed and looked Kevin straight in the eyes, "I'm here to protect you. We aren't sure if he's the only one they wanted, so until we get Brian back, you all are to stay here. We've sent for more protectors to guard you, and they are already searching for Brian, so get comfortable." Kevin winced at her tone of voice, "I'm sorry, I'm just....." Tracy walked over to him, putting her hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry too. This should have never happened, and I blame myself for it. I'm sorry I took it out on you." "So what do we do now?" Kira asked. "We wait," Tracy said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Nick!" Lucas yelled, bursting into the tent and interrupting their meeting. Nick looked up, seeing the utter panic on the young mans face, "What is it?" "I'm sorry, we couldn't stop them," Lucas started. "Wait, just tell me what happened? What couldn't you stop?" Nick asked. "An entire company of demons came to the house. They took Brian," Lucas said. Nick jumped out of his chair, "Where?" "I'm not sure, William followed them. We've got everyone at Lyn's now and have tripled the guards around them," Lucas said. Nick was at a loss as to what to do. He couldn't go after them until he found out where they had taken Brian. "Why didn't I think of this?" he asked himself. "Honey, you couldn't have known this was what they where planning," Tara said. "But I should have. I knew they would try to get to me, but I never thought they'd do this," Nick said. "We'll get him back," Gideon assured him. Nick nodded, "Lucas, go back to the house and keep them safe." Lucas nodded, "I promise, this won't happen again." Nick put his hand on the mans arm, "It's not your fault. The three of you couldn't have fought off and entire company if you'd tried." Lucas took some comfort in this, and vanished. "Nick," Jade said, coming through the door supporting William. Gideon and Micah ran to help her. They lay him down, quickly healing the worst of his wounds. Nick came over to look at him. "Nick, they took him through the gate. I tried to stop them, but ...." William said, his voice weak and finally playing out on him. Nick gently touched his cheek, "It's alright. You fought bravely, now rest." William nodded as Nick took over for Gideon and Micah, healing the rest of his wounds, and making him sleep. He called for a couple of guards to come in, "Take him back to the city and make sure he's taken care of." The guards quickly picked William up and disappeared with him. Nick stood up, his back to those in the room with him. He was fuming with anger and was afraid if he looked at anyone he would explode. Everyone felt as he did. The demons knew that by taking Brian through the gate into their realm that Nick couldn't get to him, no one could. "Nickolas, this isn't your fault," Michael said. Nick turned around to face the archangel, "I know that, but that doesn't make me feel any better! They can do anything they want to him, and we can't do a damn thing to stop it until they bring him back through the gate!" "Then we set up watches, and wait for that to happen," Michael said. Nick sighed, "But he's not like us. He's mortal, what if he can't hang on that long?" "God will be with him," Micah said, "He'll survive." Nick looked at everyone in the room, "Set up the watches. Those demons better pray he makes it through this..." he said, storming out of the tent. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian was shoved into a cell, the door closing behind him with a loud thud. He turned around, blinking his eyes to adjust to the darkness in the tiny room. After a few moments he could see well enough to make out a mattress on the floor. He made his way to it, sitting down and leaning against the wall. His shoulder hurt like hell, and he tried to keep from moving it as he settled in for the night. He shivered as the chill in the room crept into his bones. "That's funny, I always thought hell would be warmer," he said to himself. He laughed at the thought, then reminded himself not to do that again. His shoulder ached with every movement. Brian brought his knees up to his chest, placing his arms between his thighs and stomach, trying to stay warm. He lay his head on the top of his knees, and leaned his weight against the wall. He could hear other prisoners in various stages of pain. The constant moaning and occasional cries sent chills down his spine. Brian sighed and did the only thing he knew to do, he prayed. Chapter 45 |