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.

Kat struggled to break free of the vice like grip around her arm "Soon he shall come," stated the demon. His burning red eyes cut straight to her soul, and flashed with anger at the innocence and purity it found there.

As if on cue, Nick appeared in the meadow. He stood facing the demon. His physical injuries no longer effecting him "Let her go, it's me you want" he stated calmly, his eyes never leaving Kat's.

Once again the demons haunting laughter filled the air. "This child means nothing to me," it said as it released her and pushed her towards Nick. "Be gone child!" it ordered and immediately she vanished, leaving Nick alone with the demon and its minions. "I have waited a long time for your soul," stated Marthos as it moved closer to its prey.

Nick stood watching it. The demon stopped, mere feet from Nick and studied him "You are in good condition, you shall make an excellent slave."

"Not if I can help it," replied Nick venomously as he glared at the demon.

The demon grinned at him as it said. "If you wish the child to remain safe, you will do as I instruct you."

"Leave her alone, I'll do anything you ask as long as you don't hurt her or any of my friends," his response broadened Marthos' grin.

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Kat jerked awake, she looked around at the anxious faces that surrounded her and she burst into tears.

"Kat, where's Nick?" questioned Derek concerned.

Slowly Kat looked at him "In.... in the meadow, the demon, the demon's there" with a sob she added. "He gave up his soul for me... he's gone and it's all my fault."

Shocked, the three adults looked at each other in silence. Then Alex began to cry Philip put his arms around her, hugging her. Derek did the same with Kat; his eyes remaining locked on the pale motionless face of his friend, Nick Boyle.

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As dawn approached the storm began to dissipate, soon they would be able to reach Angel Island. Sloan switched the TV off and settled back into his chair.

"The storm's letting up," commented Chris as he left the window and went over to the unused in bed and sat down. "Another hour or so and we'll be on our way."

"I only hope Nick can hold on that long" commented Sloan with a heavy sigh.

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Rachel entered the lounge to find Derek and Philip comforting Kat and Alex. "What's happened?" she questioned anxiously.

Kat looked up at her mother and again burst into tears. "He's gone mom, he gave up his soul to save me," she sobbed.

Rachel just stood there in silence, unable to believe what she was hearing.

"It's all my fault," sobbed Kat as she again buried her face in Derek's shoulder.

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Slowly the Legacy helicopter carrying Sloan and Chris lifted into the air and began the short flight across the bay to Angel Island. After ten minutes they began to descend and finally touched down on the Island.

As soon as Sloan and Chris left the helicopter and had moved to a safe distance, it took off again, returning to the mainland. Together the two men walked up to the house's main door. Using Sloan's master key, they entered the house unnoticed. As they did however, they immediately heard the sobs of the females within the house.

Moving over to the lounge door they stood watching for a moment, the various different displays of emotion. From Rage to sorrow, to anger and disbelief.

Sloan cleared his throat, drawing the group's attention to their presence. "I take it the news isn't good," stated William Sloan matter-of-factly.

"I'm afraid not", replied Derek angrily as he released Rachel and Kat and stood up. "Marthos trapped Kat in the dream world, Nick had to give up his soul to save her," he continued.

"He willingly gave up his soul?" questioned Chris with a slight tone of excitement.

Derek nodded as he looked at Sloan questioningly.

Realising his friend hadn't been introduced; Sloan proceeded to do so. "Derek Rayne, this is Christian Bateman from the Toronto house."

"Mr. Bateman." Derek and Chris shook hands as Chris said, "Please, call me Chris." Sloan continued the introductions until only Nick remained.

Cautiously Sloan sat on the couch next to Nick "How long has he been like this?" he questioned.

"About 40 minutes" replied Derek glancing at Chris, hoping he would have some answers.

"And you say he willingly gave up his soul to save Kat?" questioned Sloan as he again stood up.

Derek just nodded, unsure of where Sloan was going with all these questions.

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Pain and desperation filled Nick as his conscious mind swam through the torrent of captive souls.

He desperately wanted to escape the torment, but could find no safe haven. All around him was the pain and despair of others, and it grasped him with such force that he feared he would be enveloped by it. The thought of being trapped here scared Nick more than anything else the demon could do to him.

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Derek paced the lounge as he listened to what Sloan and Chris where saying "You see it's not too late. We can still save him," stated Sloan.

"Let me get this straight, you want my daughter to go back into Marthos realm?" questioned Rachel anxiously as she tightened her grip on Kat.

"That's correct Dr. Corrigan, don't worry, though, she'll be perfectly safe," replied Chris.

"SAFE! that thing has already grabbed her once.... What's to prevent it from doing it again and not letting go this time?" Derek stopped his pacing and looked at Sloan and Chris questioningly.

"Her innocence," replied Sloan, causing everyone except Chris to look at him. With a sigh he explained. "The demon cannot take her permanently because of her innocence. Why do you think it has waited this long to take Nick?"

"But how will she be able to free him?" questioned Philip confused.

This time Chris explained "Mr. Boyle is only remaining within the demons realm, because he believes he is saving the child by staying. He is the only one who can free himself, but if he isn't free by sunrise, that imprisonment becomes permanent. That's why she must go back immediately otherwise Mr. Boyle will be lost forever."

All eyes turned to the motionless form laid on the couch, the one by one they looked at the frightened girl, clasped in her mothers protective arms.

"Mom, I have to help Nick," she stated as she turned to face her mother. "I can't let him remain trapped in there because of me, I have to help him," she hugged her mother for a moment, then slowly went over to the couch where Nick still lay motionless.

Once again snuggling down beside him on the couch, she closed her eyes and soon fell asleep again.

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Nick sat in the cave; his body pressed against the cave wall, his hands tightly clasped around his ears, trying to keep out the wailing of the other trapped souls. The wailing tore deep into him, filling his every thought. Ripping at the strings of his sanity.

As the cries got louder he began to rock back and forth, humming one of his favourite songs. Unable to stand it any longer, he jumped to his feet and bolted down one of the side passages, no longer caring where it would take him, as long as it was away from the wailing.

He ran and ran, until finally he could run no further, but still that hideous wailing continued, still it ripped at him, tearing away at his sanity, robbing him of any and all conscious thought.

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Rachel knelt next to Nick's motionless body and began to check his vital signs; she was disheartened to find them becoming dangerously weak. "We have to get him to a hospital and soon," she stated as she looked up at Derek.

The precept nodded with understanding, but his eyes held doubts about the feasibility of that plan. The storm had quickly closed in again around the Island shortly after Sloan and Bateman had arrived. Preventing the helicopter from returning for them.

She looked back at her patient and pulled the blanket over his shoulders and her sleeping daughter. "Hold on Nick, just hold on," she whispered before she rose and went over to join Philip and Alex.

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Forcing his exhausted body on, he raced through the catacombs, which where now cast in almost pitch darkness. He came to a crashing halt as he ran into one of the walls.

"DAMN YOU!" he shouted as he sat on the dirt floor, once again grasping his ears trying to hold on to his sanity.

As he rocked back and forth, a new voice joined the wailing, at first it was woven into the wails, but soon it became separate... a single voice calling to him "Nick, where are you?" He ignored it believing it to be Marthos playing tricks on him, trying to rob him of what little was left of his sanity.

The voice became louder and louder, until it was all he could hear "Leave me alone!" he shouted in frustration as he again got to his feet and resumed running.

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Derek turned to face Sloan and Bateman "What do you know about this?" he questioned, his voice carrying a tone of anger and suspicion. "Is this," Derek pointed at Nick's motionless body, "the reason you're both in San Francisco?"

Sloan nodded as he rose from his chair and slowly moved over to the bay window. "Chris and I learned of this deal with Marthos shortly after Jonathan died. We had hoped that his death would quash the deal."

"But it hasn't" stated Alex angrily, her frustration at the situation obvious to all.

Sloan sighed as he continued to stare out the window at the raging storm. "But it hasn't," he agreed. "We came to San Francisco.... Just in case. We had no idea what to expect."

"So what did Jonathan Sloan get in exchange for his son's soul?" questioned Philip bitterly as he held Alex. "What could be worth that price?" he continued.

Sloan looked for a moment at the group's reflection in the glass; he had no answer for them and so didn't try to give them one.

"Well, what was it?" demanded Derek.

When Sloan turned to face them his eyes held an empty sorrow "I don't know," he sighed and looked away again as he replied, "I couldn't find anything in his journals."

"Are you saying he might have done this out of spite?" questioned Rachel unable to imagine any parent doing something like this. As she gazed at the group she could see a strange pained expression on their faces "He could have, couldn't he?" she questioned shocked at the thought.

Sloan nodded solemnly "He was a man capable of doing anything," he stated sadly as he turned back to the window.

'Including beating his own son into a state of unconsciousness', thought Derek, as his mind flashed back to the days Nick and Philip had played together in the grounds of the house. He remembered how the little boy had hated going home, and how he had always arrived covered in bruises that his father dismissed as accidents.

It was only later that he had learned the truth about Nick's childhood, and each time he thought about it, he chastised himself for not realising what had been happening. 'I could have tried to stop it, there and then, if only I had known.'

As he glanced at Philip he could see a similar regret in the priest's eyes. Returning his attention to the situation at hand he questioned "When will Nick finally be free?"

The question caused all eyes to turn on Sloan and Bateman, both sighed, then finally Sloan replied "Of Marthos, at dawn. Of his father, I can't say."

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Exhausted, Nick sat in one of the catacombs, once again rocking back and forth, his hands clasped over his ears, trying to block out the sound of the wailing souls, trying to keep them from reaching him.

Again that same voice called to him, "Nick, Nick where are you... please Nick I'm scared!"

The fear in the voice reaching him, he began to rise, to go in search of the voice, in search of Kat. He stopped when the demon's laughter filled the air, blotting out everything, except Kat's voice. "Nick, please Nick!" Staying where he was, he allowed her to come to him, "Kat! Kat is that you?" he questioned.

"Nick! Thank God I've found you" as Kat entered the small catacomb Nick was in, it was suddenly bathed in light, forcing both of them to cover their eyes.

When Nick looked, he found himself standing at the foot of an altar, and confronted by two Kat's. "Why can't you just leave me alone?" he pleaded, looking at them quizzically, trying to tell which was the real Kat and which was the demon.

Kat turned to face the mirror image of herself, her anger growing; she shouted "Leave him alone." Her mirror image looked at him saying, "Nick don't go, I don't want you to."

Realising what it was playing at; Kat grabbed her opportunity to tell him what he needed to do to be free of the demon. "Nick, Mr. Sloan knows how to free you, you're the key. You don't need to stay here, not because of me."

A moment later the demon sent out a charge that sent Kat recoiling into the wall.

"NO! leave her alone!" demanded Nick as he ran to Kat's side and held her "Kat, Kat are you all right?"

"Nick, you mustn't stay.... Come back, come back to us" as she finished she vanished, returning to the real world where the others awaited her.

Nick glared at the demon that had now returned to its natural form, the slavering, fanged monster. His mind raced to understand what Kat had told him.

The demon, however, was not willing to give him the time he needed. It charged at him, it's fangs and claws showing.

Nick was ready for it this time and simply side stepped out of its path.

The demon smashed headfirst into the cave wall, the blow had little effect on it though, as it spun around immediately, ready to attack again. It lashed out at him with its claws, tearing four deep cuts across his cheek.

Again the blood lust entered the demons eyes. "You cannot win," it stated as it exalted in the blood. "Your father sold your soul to me, and I shall have it for all eternity."

He didn't respond to the demon's taunts. Instead he prepared for the demon's next attack. When it came it was with a savagery he had not expected, it's claws tearing at the bandages around his upper torso.

Desperately, he tried to break free of the demon, to put some distance between them, but the demon continued it's onslaught. He cried out as the demons claws reached the skin beneath the bandages, and ripped new scars over old ones.

As he felt his strength draining away, he tried one last effort to be free of the demon, to no avail. As he lapsed into unconsciousness he once again heard the savage laughter of the demon as it exalted in his blood and pain.

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Concluded in part 5.