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.

Anxiously Derek paced the lounge. It had been almost twenty minutes since Kat had woken up, but still there was no sign of Nick regaining consciousness.

Tension fill the lounge, it had steadily been growing since Kat's return and as dawn approached. "He should have woken up by now," stated Kat as she looked at the others.

Taking a deep breath, Alex stood and walked over to Nick's side. All eyes turned upon her as she crouched at his side "Alex?" questioned Derek as he placed a hand on her shoulder, she looked up at him.

"It's OK Derek, I know what I'm doing. We have to know what's happening to him." As she spoke she looked down at her young friend's face and a tear came to her eye.

Without another word Derek joined her at Nicks side, and together they prepared to enter Marthos' realm, to find their lost friend and bring him home.

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Strange chanting filled the air as Nick began to return to consciousness. Slowly, he opened his eyes to find himself staring up at the cave ceiling, which was adorned with a carved Pentagram. The chanting continued, drawing his attention from the Pentagram to the group gathered in the cave.

Glancing around, he saw Marthos surrounded by his minions, who where now clad in black robes. He tried to move but found that his arms and legs had been shackled to the altar upon which he now lay.

As he watched Marthos turned to face the altar, the demon held what appeared to be an 8" sacrificial dagger. His eyes locked upon the dagger and its blade as Marthos moved towards the altar, he watched as the dagger was raised above him.

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Alex and Derek found themselves standing in a large cave, around them the sounds of wailing souls echoed every where. Both grasped their ears, desperate to keep out the sounds

"Dear God," exclaimed Derek as he grasped Alex's hand and together they started down one of the side passages heading only God knew where.

All they wanted at that moment was to escape the hideous sound. As they moved through the passages the wailing didn't stop, instead it was replaced by a strange distant chanting, which was sporadically penetrated by cries of agony.

They looked at each other terrified "Nick!" exclaimed Alex as she and Derek began to run down the passage towards the distant light and what they hoped would be the location of their friend.

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The hot metal dug deep into his leg, sending waves of pain surging through his body. He cried out as slowly the blade was removed.

Again and again Marthos repeated his actions, each time pressing the blade into another limb.

His eyes wide with pain he watched every move the demon made, he watched as the blade was held above his chest

"Lord of darkness, I give you the soul of this man... take it so as I may pay homage to your eternal strength and power." Marthos suddenly brought the dagger down, but stopped just millimetres from his victim's chest, an evil grin appearing upon his face as he witnessed the anguish that he had caused. "I mark his body with the Pentagram in your honour."

As it spoke, Marthos used the tip of the blade to cut open Nick's shirt, and through the bandages beneath. Then with slow precise motions it used the blade edge to cut the exposed skin, joining the stab wounds together to form the shape of a Pentagram "I make this offering in blood," it said as it watched the blood as it poured down Nick's rib cage onto the alter.

Standing within one of the passages leading to the sacrificial cave, they watched the gathering. They couldn't see Nick but they could hear his cries, of anger and agony.

Alex had to fight to hold Derek back, but she herself was having trouble remaining composed as they watched the ritual being performed before them.

She gasped in shock when they finally saw Nick, his upper torso exposed, the bandages cut away, lying on the altar beneath him. The blood slowly trickling down his chest to gather in grooves around the edge of the altar, and down into a gold chalice, of which Marthos now stood at. His eyes once again filled by that same blood lust it had had in the library.

Derek couldn't stand it any longer; he rushed forward into the cave, closely followed by Alex. "Nick!"

Desperate to help her friend, she raced across the cavern towards him "Leave him alone."

Marthos' minions gathered around them quickly, preventing them from reaching their friend.

"Nick!" shouted Derek as he tried to pull free, he could see the anguish held within his friend's eyes and wanted to end it.

"Derek!" Nick strained against the shackles that bound him, "Alex!" His wrists rubbed raw as he strained trying to pull free, trying to reach his now captive friends. They began to bleed as he resumed his efforts no longer caring what happened to him as long as nothing happened to them. "Leave them alone," he pleaded his eyes locked on Derek's, he could see his friends fears for him and no longer had the energy to fight.

"Leave them and I will willingly remain here, for all eternity," he stated as he looked away from Derek to the demon Marthos. Unable to look at them as he said it, afraid of the hurt he would see in their eyes.

The demon turned to look at the new arrivals "You have come for your friend," it stated with a hint of laughter in it's voice "You are too late, he shall be mine for all eternity."

"No Nick! Don't give in to it. You can still free yourself." Alex pulled free of the minions and ran across to Nick's side "Nick, your free to leave... he has no control over you. He can't hurt us." As if to confirm her statement she moved closer to the demon, as is daring him to strike out at her.

The demon glared at her as she approached. "Stay back witch or I shall end your ranting's here and now," it ordered as she closed the gap.

Nick's eyes locked on the dagger still held within the demons hand, he watched as the demon tightened it's grip on the blade, then to his horror, Marthos raised the dagger and brought it down towards Alex's chest.

"ALEX!" screamed Nick as the blade vanished from sight, imbedded in his friend's chest. "NO!" He screamed, as he watched his friend slowly slump to the ground, and lie there motionless. Once again straining against the shackles, which this time gave way, and he was able to move from the altar. Slowly he lowered himself from the altar, holding his tired and bloody body up with all of his strength.

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Philip watched the anguish on Nick's face; he was obviously being exposed to a very stressful situation. He could see the same concerns on Derek's face but not on Alex's. "I wish I knew what was happening" he stated with a heavy sigh. Glancing out of the bay windows he could see that dawn was rapidly approaching.

They only had another 30-45 minutes before dawn would be upon them and it would be too late to save Nick.

"How much longer do you think they'll be?" Rachel questioned as she too noticed the dawn approaching.

Sloan glanced at Chris and questioned "How much longer can they safely remain in Marthos' realm?"

"They must be free within 20 minutes or they may all be trapped." Sloan glanced at his watch 5.23 am. He could only pray that they where successful and that all three would be able to return safe and sound.

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Spurred on by his anger, Nick charged at Marthos, all he could think about was that Alex lay on the ground, probably dead because of him. With his temper flaring he smashed into the demon, sending them both back into the cave wall.

He could no longer feel the physical pain that had gripped him mere moments ago, now all he felt was anger and loathing. He would destroy the beast that had killed his friend; he would kill it before it could kill all those he loved.

The beast cried out, as its grip on its quarry began to fade away. No longer did it have the ability to effect him, now all it could do was fight for its own safety, this man was no longer just a man, he held the key to ending Marthos' rule of the damned souls. It had to hold onto him, until it was no longer possible to escape and it would once again be able to exert its dominance over him and his friends who would also remain trapped within it's realm.

As Marthos' minions scattered from the cave, Derek was at last able to reach Alex. He crouched at her side and slowly turned her onto her back. He gazed down in amazement; there was no blood, no sign that the blade had even touched her. "Alex?" he questioned as he gently laid her head on his lap, she opened her eyes and stared up at him.

Then, as she did, a strange grin appeared on her face. "I knew he couldn't hurt me," she stated.

Derek just knelt there looking at her shocked "But, but?" he questioned confused by her actions.

She touched his face and replied, "I had to make Nick fight, he's the only one who can free himself from this nightmare."

Derek nodded with understanding as he glanced up at Nick, who was indeed fighting for his freedom and the freedom of his friends.

Slowly Alex sat up and joined Derek as they watched the battle being fought in front of them.

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The group gathered within the lounge watched as the sun broke through the rain, and announced the arrival of a new day. Glancing at his watch Sloan sighed with deep sorrow. It was now 6:15 am and there was no time left.

They had lost not only Nick but Derek and Alex as well. It would be a long time before the Legacy would recover from this day. They had lost three of the finest operatives the Legacy had.

Standing Sloan glanced at Rachel and Kat, he could see the fear and realisation of what was happening on their faces, and he could also see the pain of the loss they all felt.

"I'm sorry," he said as he touched Rachel's shoulder for a brief moment.

"No this can't be happening, dear God this can't be happening," as he spoke Philip gripped his crucifix, silently praying for the souls of his friends.

Chris watched as each of the remaining San Francisco Legacy members tried to deal with the events of the night, he could see their pain and loss, and sympathised with them, for he too over the years of working for the Legacy had lost close friends, but never like this.

As Chris looked at the three lost members, he gasped as he saw the young women who had been introduced as Alex began to move. "My God, Alex are you all right?" he questioned as he rushed to her side.

She moved slowly as if unsure of her surroundings, but soon she looked up at him and smiled. "Chris, what happened... is Nick back? what about Derek, is he here yet ?" she questioned as she turned to look at the two men in question. She was glad to see Derek's eyes slowly open and after a moment come into focus. "Derek, where's Nick?" she questioned as they embraced.

Pulling away Derek looked at the still motionless form lying on the couch, desperation entered his voice as he stated, "I thought he had already gone, I looked for him in the cavern but couldn't find him. My God, Alex it's past sunrise!"

Alex looked out the window, her happiness suddenly gone, they had failed, and Nick was doomed to spend all eternity trapped within that cave, trapped with the lost wailing souls.

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Standing alone in the cave, Nick desperately looked around, trying to find some sign of his friends. "Alex... Derek!" he called out to them, but there was no reply. He was once again alone in the cave, alone with the wailing souls.

Dropping to his knees he called out to them one last time. "ALEX.... DEREK!" As his emotions gripped him and tears began to fall he began to rock back and forth saying "Please God. Let them be safe... let them be back at the house, with Rachel, Philip and Kat. Please don't let them be damned to the same fate as I am."

Hugging his legs into his chest, he continued to rock back and forth. Once again listening to the wailing's of the other lost souls that surrounded him.

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Unable to believe that they had truly lost Nick, Derek began to shake their unconscious friend, trying to force him to return to them as he had before. No matter how hard he shook him, he did not wake; he didn't even stir in the slightest.

Again and again Derek called to Nick trying to guide him back to the real world, his despair at losing him. After he had fought so hard to be free tore at him, and eventually he felt Philip's strong hands close around his shoulders and gently guided him to his feet.

"Let him be Derek, he's gone, we must come to terms with it," came the priest's soft Irish voice as he began to lead Derek over to the opposite couch where Rachel sat comforting Kat.

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As he sat on the cavern floor the wailing grew in intensity, becoming louder and louder with each second that passed. Grasping his ears he tried to hold out the sound, but with no success. The wails became so loud that he feared that his hear drums would burst. That thought wasn't as bad as he first thought. 'At least I won't be able to hear the wailing anymore, at least I will have silence instead of the chorus of the damned.'

Suddenly as he was about to cry out in pain, the wailing stopped.

Cautiously he removed his hands from his ears and looked around. Where before there had been the colour of the swirling lost souls now, there was nothing? The cave in which he sat was now in pitch black, no light entered the cave. And for the first time since entering the cave Nick felt totally alone. He slowly stood up and began to move through the cave.

"Hello!" he called out praying that someone would answer, but none came. He heard a distant rumbling and then the cave was filled with light.

Covering his eyes he glanced up trying to find the source of the light and was shocked to find himself staring up at the night sky. As he began to laugh the heavens opened and it began to rain, but he didn't care, he stood staring up at the sky, allowing the rain to soak him unhindered.

Suddenly remembering the events in the cave he glanced down at his body, which was now covered by a T-shirt. He raised it examining his chest beneath. Grinning, he could find no sign of the beast's claws or the Pentagram, which had been carved, into his body. Laughing he ran towards the house, where he knew his friends would be waiting.

As he bounded up the stairs leading to the main door, he again noticed that the house was in darkness and a strange feeling a déjà vu washed over him.

He drew his pistol as he cautiously approached the house, and put his key in the door. As he began to turn it, the door suddenly opened and he jumped back, cocking his pistol. In front of him stood a very surprised and stunned servant.

"Mr. Boyle?" he questioned as he automatically raised his hands.

Nick quickly lowered the pistol and blushed. "Sorry about that," he said as he entered the house, ignoring the servants exasperated expression. As he entered he could hear voices coming from the lounge.

"Shh, he'll hear you," came Kat's annoyed voice. Which was closely followed by laughter, which sounded like Alex or perhaps Rachel.

As he entered the lounge he reached for the light switch, and flicked it up, the lights came on and to his surprise he found the room decorated with balloons and a large banner that said "Happy Birthday."

At the same moment his friends jumped out from behind the couches. "Happy Birthday, Nick," they all cried in unison, and Nick couldn't help but grin to himself.

He glanced around the room at their happy faces and began to laugh. Happy to once again be reunited with his friends and at the fact that they had been spared the nightmare he had been through. As he moved further into the lounge Kat came bounding up to him.

She jumped up into his arms and hugged him, he held her tight and kissed her on the cheek "So how do you like our surprise?" she questioned as he carried her further into the room, over to where the rest of the group stood watching. "I love it Kat, thanks."

Derek smiled at Nick as he moved into the lounge and watched as Kat jumped into his arms. As he did though he saw a strange look of relief cross Nick's face, and watched him closely for a moment. There was a strange exhaustion to Nick's movements as if he hadn't slept in days.

Walking over to his side he questioned, "Everything all right?"

A strange smile appeared on Nick's face as he replied, "It is now."

Without another word Nick joined the party, leaving Derek confused by his statement.

As Nick joined Philip and the others he breathed a deep sigh of relief, the nightmare was finally over, his friends where safe and he was now free to carry on his life. Marthos was now only a bad memory that would be stored away with the others in the back of his mind. He was home and that was all that mattered.

Sat on his bed Nick opened his journal, flicking through the pages until he came to a new page he picked up his pen and began to write.

{It is clear that no one else remembers the events of the last 24 hours.

To them, Marthos and his realm do not exist.

Why is that?

I don't know. It doesn't really matter though, the fact they have been spared, from the horrors that happened is something I will always be grateful for.

My friends and I are free of this terrible demon that had battled for my soul and the souls of many others over the centuries.

I find myself wondering though, has he truly gone or have I just banished him for the moment.

Will he return to haunt our dreams?

I can not say, all I can say though is that I now know the true meaning of friendship and to what depths I will go to protect those I love.

To hell and back.}

The End

Well I hope you've enjoyed it and I look forward to hearing from you real soon

Kay