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.

Echoes of the demon's laughter haunted his sleep, drawing him back, time and time again, to the library. To a terrified Kat, crouched in the corner crying.

Again and again he relived those moments but with one difference, in his nightmares Philip had not banished the demon, instead his friend had joined with the demon, and he had died, torn apart both physically and mentally by the demon.

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Rachel and Kat staid with Nick, while the others began to sift through the shambles in the library, searching for any clue that would help them identify the demon that had come and was certain to return for Nick.

Kat sat watching as her mother mopped Nicks sweat drenched forehead. Never before had she seen the ex-SEAL look so weak and helpless and that scared her. What if the creature did return? Would they be able to protect the man, who for so many years had protected them? Could they truly save the man she had come to think of as a big brother, and if they couldn't, how could she cope with his loss?

Rachel glanced at her daughter and could see her fears and doubts in her eyes. "Kat, are you all right?"

"We can't let it take him mom.... We can't!"

The desperation in her daughter's voice tore at her heart. She wanted to promise her that everything would be all right, that Nick would be all right, but she couldn't. She couldn't bring herself to lie to Kat, not even to take away her fears. What if she lied and Nick didn't make it, how would she be able to face her daughter again? Moving over to her daughter's side, she held her tight saying "We'll do everything we can Kat, I promise. We'll do everything we can to save him."

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Alex left Philip and Derek to search the library. She headed for the control room, which held the Legacy computer database.

As she sat down at the keyboard, she found herself reflecting on the images she had seen. Sighing, she turned to the computer screen and began to enter in the data that would conduct the search of the Legacy Archives.

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William Sloan stood on the San Francisco pier and gazed out at Angel Island. He had hoped to arrive before nightfall, but the storm had delayed them.

The rain beat down on him, but he didn't notice, his mind focused on the violent display of natures strength occurring out in the bay. 'Just hold on Nick, just hold on until daybreak', he thought to himself as he turned and slowly walked back to the waiting car.

The driver got out and opened the door, and after one last glance back at Angel Island, he got into the back of the car. Moments later it pulled away, heading back into the city.

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Pain was the first thing that greeted Nick as he began to return to consciousness. The second was the feeling of terror. He sat upright, suddenly wide awake, but his eyes refused to focus.... all he could see where blurred images of light and darkness. Something moved in front of him, his terror increasing with the movement. He tried to back away, but felt something behind him. "Nick! it's all right.... It's Rachel, you're safe."

"Rachel?" his voice sounded surprisingly weak to himself, "The demon!"

"It's gone Nick, Philip banished it... Remember?"

He tried to focus to no avail. Suddenly, a thought struck him and he tried to get off the couch. "Kat! Where's Kat...is she all right?"

Hands gently but firmly grasped his shoulders and pushed him back down onto the couch. "NICK! lie still, you need to rest."

"But Kat, Rachel where is she.... is she all right?" The desperation in his voice was obvious, even to him.

"Shhh, Nick. She's all right, she's here."

Nick tried to see her but couldn't. He couldn't even see a dark figure. He felt Rachel's hand gently brushing his hair back and with a shaky voice he questioned "Where?"

"Nick! What's wrong?" questioned Rachel, her voice suddenly taking on a professional tone.

Taking a deep breath he replied, "I can't see her, Rachel Kat! Kat, where are you?"

A small hand forced its way into his. "I'm here Nick, right here."

Breathing a sigh of relief he grasped her hand. Turning his head in the direction her voice had come from, "Kat are you all right, it didn't hurt you?"

"No Nick, I'm fine... It didn't hurt me," she replied.

Derek and Philip heard Nick calling for Kat and ran out of the library, quickly joining Rachel and Kat; they immediately saw the concern on their faces.

Rachel looked up at them for a moment. "Nick, I'm gonna check your pupil response, tell me if you see anything."

Derek and Philip exchanged confused and concerned glances as they moved further into the room. They watched in silence as the test was performed.

"Anything?" questioned Rachel.

"Just a dim light. Rachel, what's happening...am I going blind?"

"I don't know Nick, I just don't know," she replied with a tear running down her cheek. She again looked at Derek and Philip. "I wish I did," she added as she got to her feet and ran from the room crying.

"Kat, go look after your mom," ordered Nick as he squeezed her hand, then let go of it.

"Will you be all right?" questioned Kat.

Nick smiled replying, "I'll be fine, Derek and Philip will stay with me, won't you guys?"

"Of course we will," replied Philip, glancing at Derek confused. "But how did ya know we were here?"

Nick chuckled to himself and replied, "I heard you come in."

"How are you feeling Nick?" questioned Derek as Kat left them alone. Derek watched as Nicks smile vanished as soon as Kat was gone. A slight grimace and a low moan replaced it.

"I've been better," Nick finally replied once he again had the pain under control.

Derek and Philip moved closer to their injured friend, both could see how much pain Nick was in and wanted to help him, "Nick, do you want me to get Rachel to give you something for the pain?" questioned Philip.

"No," replied Nick adamantly.

"Nick, it's obvious you're in a great deal of pain." As Derek spoke, Nick began to shake his head, "I said NO!" Both men where taken aback by the sudden outburst.

"Nick, calm down," insisted Philip as he sat next to his friend on the couch. "We won't call Rachel if you don't want us to," he added.

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Rachel ran into the control room and dropped down into one of the high-backed chairs and cried.

Seeing Rachel's behaviour, Alex ran over to her, fearing the worst. "My God, Rachel, what's happened? What's wrong?" As she knelt in front of Rachel she saw the terrified expression on her face.

"Alex, he's blind.... he's blind." As she finished, Rachel threw her arms around Alex and began to cry uncontrollably.

Alex knelt there holding Rachel, feeling numb, and desperately trying to understand what she had just been told.

Just then Kat joined them in a group hug. "It'll be all right, I know it will," stated Kat as she hugged her mother and Alex.

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In his hotel room William Sloan sat sipping a brandy and watching the storm. His telephone rang inches from his hand, but he didn't answer it. His entire consciousness was focused on the storm, to will it to end, so he could reach Angel Island in time.

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As Alex and Kat finally released Rachel from their hug, they noticed a strange beeping noise. "I think the computer may have found something," stated Alex as she stood up and went over to the computer, putting the display on the large screen.

All three turned and studied the information it was showing them. "Marthos, demon of the damned," read Alex out loud. "Marthos collects the souls from those who have been promised into slavery," she paused, glancing at Rachel. "The victim's soul is passed onto Marthos, usually by either a relative or a friend who has sought something from the demon." Alex and Rachel looked at each other confused.

"Who would do something like that, and especially to Nick?" questioned Rachel.

The answer came immediately to both women at the same time. "His father!" they said in unison.

"Could someone really be that cold hearted?" questioned Rachel, "to sell his own child's soul to a demon?" she continued.

She had never known Jonathan Boyle, all she knew of him was what Nick and Derek had told her. From their statements about him, she knew that he could have easily done it and not given it a second thought.

Alex called Derek on the intercom and asked him and Philip to join them in the control room.

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Derek glanced from Philip to Nick, to find the ex-SEAL fast asleep. "Philip," the priest nodded and followed Derek to the control room where they found Rachel had gone from being distraught to angry. The two men exchanged confused glances as they joined the others at the computer.

"What have you found?" questioned Derek as he glanced up at the display screen.

Alex sighed as she related the information they had found out. "The demon who attacked Nick is called Marthos, he's an Aztec demon who collects souls."

"Marthos?" questioned Philip, having never heard of the demon.

Again Alex sighed, "Marthos collects souls in repayment for acts or favours carried out by the demon. The souls are usually sold by relatives or friends." Alex looked at the two men and saw the horror on their faces, both knowing and understanding the implications of what she was saying.

Philip sat down and looked in horror at the image of the demon Marthos. "Dear God, could he really have been that cruel?" he questioned, his eyes wandering over to Derek. "How could he do it, how could he sell his own son's soul?"

"I don't know," replied Derek.

Philip's mind raced through the years he had spent as a child in the San Francisco Legacy House, playing with Nick who had been a few years younger. He remembered how Nick had hated to go back to the house, how he had often made excuses to stay out until well after sun set. As a child he hadn't thought much about it, but now as an adult in full verse of the facts, his young friends actions made sense. The thought of the horrors of Nick's childhood sent shudders up and down his spine.

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Nick awoke to find himself in a cold, damp place. "Derek!" the sound of his own voice echoed around him.

He knew he was no longer in the house, but where was he? Using his other senses he quickly established that he was in a cave. But where? The sound of waves crashing against the rocks reached him and he could taste the bitterness of the sea spray in the air.

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Alex cross-referenced the name "Marthos" against the Legacy computers and was able to come up with more details.

She read the details and glanced at the others. "I have additional information on Marthos, but you're not gonna like it," she stated as she displayed the information on the screen. "Marthos, a demon dating back as far as the written word. He gathers souls, bonded into slavery for all time, by family or close friends." She looked from the screen to Derek. "Only the person who bonded the soul can release it. By giving up there own soul in exchange."

"But if Nick's father gave his soul to Marthos how are we going to help him! His father's already dead!" exclaimed Rachel.

Derek stood in silence, reading the information on the screen.

"There has to be a way to defeat this demon" stated Philip his eyes locked on Alex, praying she would have a way.

She just shook her head saying, "If there is, I haven't come across it yet."

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Kat had left the control room and returned to the lounge. As she entered, she saw Nick laid upon the floor in a heap. Fearing the worst, she ran to his side.

"Nick! Nick are you all right ?" she questioned anxiously as she turned him onto his back. As she did, his eyes flew open and he looked up at her confused. "Nick are you all right?" she again questioned, this time calmer.

"K, K.... Kat, where am I?"

"You're with me, in the lounge," she replied confused, gently taking hold of his hand. "You must have fallen off the couch," she added.

Nick held onto her hand tightly as he began to slowly sit up. "What's happening Kat! What's happening to me?"

"Shhh, it's all right Nick... Your safe," she put her arms around him, giving him a hug, which he returned, his body still trembling under her grip. "Come on, let's get you back on the couch."

He nodded and felt for the couch and with Kat's help, he was soon on the couch again. "What's happening, where're Derek and the others?" he questioned.

"They're in the control room, do you want me to get them?" Kat stood to get them but Nick grabbed her hand saying, "No, no it's all right," he squeezed her hand gently saying, "Just stay with me," he almost pleaded with her.

She again hugged him saying, "I'm not going anywhere." At her words the tension in his body vanished and he visibly relaxed.

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Alex had been right, Derek didn't like what he was being told, his locked jaw and raging eyes forewarned them of what was to come "Alex, I want to speak to Sloan immediately." With that Derek turned on his heels and marched out of the control room.

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Heading for his office, Derek paused outside the lounge, his gaze falling upon Nick and Kat who where hugging each other.

Kat looked up at him and smiled weakly, he returned the smile briefly, then continued on his way to his office. Once inside, he went over to the window and stared out at the raging storm.

A few minutes later the phone rang, slowly he moved over to his phone, which lay on the floor, and picked it up, replacing it on the desk. After a moment to calm himself he answered it "Yes."

"Derek, it's William... What's going on out there?" The Precept sighed heavily as he lifted his chair, which also lay on the floor, and sat down "William, Nick's in trouble, serious trouble."

"Let me guess.... This has something to do with his father?"

"How did you know?" questioned Derek surprised and suspicious. William Sloan sighed replying "That's not important right now... How's Nick?"

"He's hurt bad William." Derek rubbed at his weary eyes as he sat back in the chair. "I don't think this is over yet, I think Marthos will try again."

"Marthos!" exclaimed Sloan, his voice suddenly holding a tone of relief.

"You have heard of this demon?" questioned Derek surprised.

"Derek I can't explain, it would take too long, but you MUST keep Nick awake. The demon will try to take him in his sleep."

"But William, we can't keep him awake for the rest of his life!"

"You don't have to Derek, Marthos can only take the soul on one night. Tonight" Sloan could not keep the excitement and relief from his voice "After tonight Nick will be free!"

"Thank God!" exclaimed Derek, pleased to hear some good news for a change.

"As soon as this storm lets up I'll join you at the house, I'm all ready in San Francisco."

"Thank you William, we'll see you soon" Derek then hung up the phone and breathed a deep sigh of relief. At last he could see an end to this nightmare, soon Nick would be safe and life could return to normal.

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Continued in part 3.