Title: Chorus of the damned

Author: Nightowl (Kay De'Vil)

Archive: Yes

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Violence and bad language

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer applies, I don't own them all characters are the property of MGM Studio's and all afillated companies.

Note: Some of you may have already read this story if you've been to the legacyweb page, I've made a few alterations to it tonight, trying to improve on what was and probably still is not a very good piece of work (first published piece of fan fic)

Please send me feedback, I like feedback keeps the creative juices flowing. Kay

By Kay De'Vil.

As Nick Boyle's, distinctive red Mustang pulled up outside the Luna Foundation, he was surprised to see the house in darkness, illuminated only by the flashes of lightening signalling the on coming storm. As he got out of his car he glanced down at his watch. It was late, but not so late that no one would be up.

Shouldering his duffel bag, he started towards the house, curious but not overly concerned by the darkness.

It began to rain as he started up the steps leading to the house. "Great! just great... the perfect end to a perfect assignment," he moaned as he turned the key and entered the house. An eerie silence greeted him as he entered.

Stopping, he looked around, surprised that no one had come to greet him. Putting down his duffel bag he moved further into the house "Hello!" no one answered, and no one appeared not even the staff.

His instincts began to scream at him that something was wrong. Drawing his weapon he began to search the house.

Derek and the others heard Nick's call, but couldn't answer. Bound and gagged, they watched as their captors prepared to ambush the Legacy House's Chief of Security. Trapped in the basement, they had no way of warning Nick.

As the intruders split up, heading out of the basement, the sound of weapons being cocked sent fear and desperation into the hostages. The basement door was locked and immediately Derek tried to free himself from his bonds.

Systematically searching the house, Nick soon saw signs of a struggle. Derek's usually neat office now lay in shambles; his desk lamp lay smashed on the floor, blood marking the carpet around the broken pieces.

Checking his clip, Nick resumed his search, moving into the kitchen and on into the library. It was pitch black in the library. The heavy velvet curtains had been drawn; not even the lightening outside could penetrate the curtains sufficiently to allow him to see around the room. Reaching for the light switch, he flipped it, but nothing happened.

The storm must have taken out the power, he thought, but why hasn't the emergency generator kicked in? A sound came from across the room and immediately Nick reacted, cocking his pistol. Cautiously crossing the room he strained to hear anything that would forewarn him of an attack. Suddenly as the storm raged over head a bright flash of lightening penetrated the curtains.

For a moment the room was basked in light. Nick covered his eyes, as he did though, he saw movement off to his right. Spinning around he brought his weapon to bear on the target. He froze, quickly lowering the gun as he heard Kat's desperate sobs.

"Kat!" he rushed over to her, crouching in front of her, pulling her into a comforting embrace "Kat, where is everyone... where's Derek and your mom?"

She continued to sob uncontrollably as she said "They, they took them."

"Who, Kat? Who took them?" he questioned

"The men, they attacked the house." As she again began to cry, he held her tight, rocking her back and forth in an attempt to calm her

"It's OK, Kiddo, I'll find them," he said reassuringly.

Suddenly Kat tensed within his grasp and he looked at her concerned. Her eyes glowed a mysterious red and immediately he let go of her, scrambling away.

"What the?" As he watched, the being that had moments ago been Kat now stood in front of him, changing as it rose. Eyes wide, Nick watched mesmerised as Kat turned into a hideous monster, it's eyes glowing red, long fangs projecting from its slime-covered mouth.

"I have waited for you long enough," declared the slathering demon as it reached out a clawed hand, grasping for Nick, who avoided its hand with ease.

"What do you want?" demanded Nick as he scurried back, increasing the distance between himself and the demon.

Hideous, bloodthirsty laughter filled the library "YOU," was the demon's only response.

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The horrifying laughter echoed throughout the house, sending fear into the trapped Legacy members in the basement. Desperately Derek renewed his efforts to free himself, as did Rachel and Alex. Philip still lay unconscious on the floor, after being struck by the one of the demon's minions.

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The demon charged at him with alarming speed, the ex-SEAL barely had enough time to roll out of the way of the creature. As he did, he felt the demon's claws rip through the back of his shirt and the flesh beneath.

He cried out as his entire consciousness was gripped by the savage shards of pain that ripped through his back "AGHHHH."

Despite the pain, he continued his roll to safety and brought his gun up, aiming at the demon which now stood looking at the fresh blood dripping from it's claws. As he watched the demon, a look of hunger entered its eyes. He watched in horror as the demon proceeded to lick the warm blood from its claws.

Revelling in the unexpected supply of fresh warm blood, the demon hungered for more. It could feel it's quarry's fears. The fears for his life. For the lives of his friends.

This was what the demon wanted. It now knew how it would take what it wanted "I have your friends," it stated; with a slight grin "The child. The people you call family."

It saw his reaction and knew that it had chosen wisely. This creature was exactly what it had been searching for.

Once again, it charged forward. This time however, it's claws closed around the man's shoulders, digging deep into the layer of skin beneath the clothing.

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Kat was the first to escape her bonds. Quickly she removed her gag and rushed to Derek's side to help him escape.

"NO, LEAVE THEM ALONE... AGHHHH."

She stopped in fear, her eyes turning to the locked door. "NICK!" she shouted as she jumped to her feet and ran across to the door. Reaching it, she began to pound repeatedly. Tears streamed down her face as she imagined the horrors Nick now found himself confronting.

Renewing his efforts, Derek broke through his bonds, which had been loosened by Kat. He quickly released Rachel and Alex and joined Kat at the door "Thank God they didn't search us," as he spoke he removed a set of keys from his pocket, searching for the correct key that would set them free from their prison.

Rachel and Alex helped the dazed and confused Philip to his feet "What happened?" he questioned

"Philip are you all right?" questioned Rachel as she checked him over

"I'm fine. What's happening?" he questioned.

Finding the key, Derek unlocked the door just as another blood curdling cry echoed throughout the house. Derek raced from the basement, bolting up the stairs, taking them two steps at a time.

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Nick could feel himself losing consciousness. His eyes were almost swollen closed from the savage beating the demon and its minions had bestowed upon him.

He watched in numb horror as the demon revelled in his blood, licking it from its claws and grinning in satisfaction at its taste. Movement in the doorway caught his attention, forcing his weary eyes to look in that direction.

He saw Derek and a terrified Kat watching in horror the scene being played out in front of them. Spurred on by the sight of them, he renewed his efforts to break free of the minions holding him.

Fighting with all his strength he pulled free of the demon's minions and fell to the floor.

"Ahh, I see he still has some fight left in him," laughed the demon as it again moved towards Nick, the thirst for more blood returning to its eyes.

"LEAVE HIM!" Nick heard Derek's words in the distance as he began to lapse into unconsciousness.

Philip, Rachel and Alex reached the library in time to see Derek tossed across the room by the demon. They heard Kat scream and ran into the room, each silently taking in the scene before them.

Derek lay slumped against the far wall, Kat at his side sobbing uncontrollably, and Nick lay in the centre of the room, in a pool of his own blood.

Grasping his crucifix Philip moved into the room "Be gone vile beast, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost I order you... be gone from this house."

As he spoke the demon cried out in pain and began to back away. "Be gone vile beast, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost I order you... BE GONE FROM THIS HOUSE," he repeated over and over again.

The demon and its minions cried out in pain. Then, in a flash of lightning, they where gone. Philip stood in silence for a moment, then crossed himself.

Derek had watched in silence as Philip had banished the demon. Now he focused all his attention on Nick.

The ex-SEAL lay motionless in a pool his own blood "Dear God, Nick!" Moving to Nick's side he gently turned him over "Nick! Nick can you hear me ?"

"D.... Derek!" the response was weak but at least he was still alive

"Thank God. Nick lie still," ordered Derek as he rested his friends head on his lap. Derek carefully removed what remained of Nick's T-shirt and stared down in horror at the young mans injuries.

As Rachel and the others joined him, the Precept looked into their horrified eyes and saw his own fears reflected there.

Rachel gently touched Nicks bruised and battered face, jerking him back to consciousness.

Immediately Nick pulled himself into a ball in an attempt to protect vital organs from damage.

Tears streamed down Rachel's face as she watched him "Nick, it's all right," she said gently, but Nick didn't respond. Instead, he tried to scurry away from her. "Nick, it's all right, your safe now."

"Rachel?" His voice was weak and distant, but he slowly began to relax.

"Nick are you all right?" questioned Kat between sobs.

At the sound of her voice Nick pulled away from the group until he was crouched in a corner, his body trembling "NO, YOU'RE NOT KAT... YOU'RE NOT!" he almost screamed as he pressed himself further into the corner.

Kat burst into tears again, Rachel held her tightly.

"It's OK Kitty Kat," she said trying to calm her distraught daughter, while also trying to keep control of her own anger at Nick's outburst.

Cautiously, Philip approached his traumatised friend, gently reaching out a hand to touch him. As his hand touched Nicks shoulder, the ex-SEAL shied away from him. "It's OK Nick. You're safe now," he said as calmly as he could as he fought back a wave of anger at what the demon had done to his friend.

Slowly Nick turned his terrified, half-closed eyes upon the priest "Philip! is it really you ?" as he spoke his eyes fell upon the crucifix around the priests neck. Immediately he threw his arms around Philip, his body still trembling from fear and exhaustion.

"Yes Nick, it's really me," replied Philip as he held his friend close.

Philip and Derek helped the exhausted Nick into the lounge where Alex and Kat had made a bed for him on one of the couches. As they where about to lower him on to the couch they heard Rachel's voice. "Sit him down, I want to clean and dress his wounds."

Nick groaned as he sat on the couch, Philip and Derek still on either side if him, supporting his tired body. Soon Rachel joined them, carrying her medical bag and what looked like a bottle of antiseptic.

She knelt in front of Nick and surveyed the damage done to his muscular body. "I'm sorry honey, this is gonna hurt." He just nodded and awaited the pain.

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An hour later, Nick lay asleep on the couch. It was a tormented sleep that disturbed his friends.

"I wish there was something more I could do for him," stated Rachel as she sat holding Kat "He should really be at a hospital, but with this storm!" She jumped as a loud clap of thunder shook the house.

It woke Nick. "NO!" he screamed as he sat bolt upright. Immediately Alex and Derek where at his side trying to calm him down.

"It's all right, Nick," stated Alex as she gently touched his arm, trying to calm him. The strength of his emotions pushed through her mental barriers and she found herself witnessing what had happened to him while they had been locked in the basement.

She saw Nick stood at the doorway, the house in total darkness as the rain lashed down around him. She saw him turn the key and enter. She saw Nick stood in the library his weapon drawn, heard the sound of a child crying, and saw Kat sobbing in a corner. She watched as he went over to the frightened child, drawing her into a hug. Watched as that child in her friend's grasp began to change into the demon.

Breaking the link, Alex stared up at Derek with the same terrified eyes that the ex-SEAL had just moments ago. Then slowly she rose from Nick's side and went over to the bay windows, staring out at the storm that still raged beyond the glass.

When Nick lay back and was once again asleep, Derek joined Alex at the window "What did you see?" he questioned as he laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. As he spoke, she slowly turned to face him. Tears streaming down her face.

For a moment she stood looking at the group in silence, until finally her eyes came to rest on Kat. "Nick didn't mean to scare you Kat," she stated as fresh tears ran down her cheeks "The creature used his love for you, for all of us, against him."

"What do you mean, it used his love against him?" questioned Derek, confused by what she was saying.

Alex sighed as she drew her arms around herself trying to hold on to her strength and resolve "The creature took Kat's form." As she spoke, she looked at Nick, who now lay sleeping again. "It used that form to get close to him." She wiped the tears from her eyes as she continued. "He thought the creature was Kat, and believing her to be frightened and upset he hugged her, trying to calm her. Only then did it show its true form." Again she sighed. "It threatened to hurt us... just to cause Nick more pain."

As she spoke, Kat again burst into tears and was again comforted by her mother, who now also had tears running down her face.

Philip just sat in silence; his eyes never leaving Nick as he listened to Alex's description of what his friend had been through.

Derek, too, looked at their sleeping friend, a look of compassion in his eyes. As he watched the display of emotions that crossed Nick's face, he found a new level of understanding and admiration for him "Why did the creature only attack Nick, it had plenty of time to attack us but didn't. Why?" Derek questioned trying to understand what had been happening.

"I don't know," replied Alex as she stood at Derek's side, keeping her voice low so as not to disturb Nick. "I don't think he knows either." She glanced at Nick then back to Derek. "All the creature said was that it had been waiting a long time for him."

At this statement Derek looked at Alex shocked, his mind quickly racing through what those words meant. "If it has been waiting for him, then it will return!"

Alex hadn't thought of that and the prospect of the creature returning to take her friend terrified her. "There must be something we can do to stop it?" She looked at Nick. "He won't survive another attack!"

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Continued in part 2.