See Part One For Disclaimers

"Whaddaya mean they're not here!"

Running a hand through his short dark hair, the SEAL stopped yelling at Frederick long enough to take a deep breath, slowing releasing it through teeth clenched tightly enough, Rachel's jaw ached in sympathy. Shortly after getting back from his run, the servant had handed him a slip of paper from Alex stating simply that she had gone to St. Bart's and that she would explain everything later.

Whatever the hell that meant.

"Miss Alex received a telephone call from Master Phillip shortly after you had left, sir. It seems as if Dr. Rayne had forgotten to pick up Master Phillip from the semenary as planned."

"So she decided to go on her own?"

Rachel held up a hand before Nick could go off again. "Nick, think. We don't know that anything has happened. And you know Derek," the psychologist interjected, but it was clear that not even Rachel truely believed what she was saying. "He probably just got sidetracked on one of those visits of his and just forgot to call, that's all."

NIck stopped pacing, his tone broking no arguments. "Not likely. And she shouldn't have left without backup."

"Not likely, no. At least not anymore. But Alex was only going into town; not something I would think she would need a bodyguard for." Rachel glared at him, iritated by his, to her, unwarranted behavior. "She's a grown woman, Nick."

"Yah? And Derek's a grown man. But that didn't keep him for dropping out of sight, now did it?"

The doctor slammed her hand down on the table in exasperation. "We don't know that! We..."

"Dammit, Rachel...!" But the angry reply was cut off by sudden loud noises in the foyer.

They would have to resolve this later. Both members moved at the sound of curses that filled the front rooms of the House. Entering the hallway, Nick a half step behind Rachel, an incredible sight met their eyes; Moira and Lissa struggling with a strange man, bloodied and dripping wet, pushing him into through the door ahead of them.

Increasing his struggles to break free, he twisted and ran into Lissa who promptly grabbed one arm, twisting it painfully behind his back until he stopped fighting. "Settle down before I do worse."

As Rachel started to instinctively protest the excessive treatment, Moira just shook her head wearily. "Save it, Doctor. Where's Derek?"

"We don't know."

A muffled curse met the answer. "He's not with you? Damn. I had hoped..."

Nick frowned. "You mean you haven't seen him? I thought he was supposed to be picking Phillip up at the church?"

"That was the plan. He dropped Lissa and I off in Chinatown, heading over to St. Bart's."

"Well he never showed up."

"What?"

He nodded seriously, not liking the implications at all. It was one thing for Derek to go missing, the precept had a habit of being a little unpredictable, not to mention secretive, but three members from the same House and all at once.... "It gets worse. When Derek didn't show, Alex went to pick him up and they haven't gotten back yet."

"Then where...?"

Rachel threw up her hands to halt the flow of questions. Someone had to take control of the situation before it got out of hand. "Wait. Wait a minute. Let just start at the beginning, shall we?"

Lissa narrowed her eyes, taking the reins. "Absolutely. Frederick, is the old cellar room still empty?"

"Yes ma'am, Miss Lissa, I believe it is."

"Good. Let's go."

"What happened to him?" Nick asked curiously.

"Oh, nothing much. He just felt a swim in the bay might save him from answering a few questions." Moira ignored the raised browline, stumbling a little before recovering as she and Lissa manuevered their captive into the back of the House. "He should have known better than to attack two defenseless women and expect to get away with it."

"Yes he should." Lissa seconded, commandeering a chair from the kichen as they passed through. "Too bad his friends couldn't join us."

"Friends?"

"Lissa and I were ambushed on the docks before the ferry arrived. Seems as though somebody wanted our company and sent this goon and three of his buddies to ensure we showed up."

"Are you two alright?" Nick crossed his arms, leaning on the doorframe.

"Fine." Lissa broke in. "Afraid the same won't be said for Mr. Personality here, unless of course he tells us what we want to know."

"What do you intend to do?" Rachel wanted to know, chilled by the hard look in green, blue and hazel-gray eyes.

"I intend, Doctor, to find out just what the Hell is going on!"

 

 

Victor Arkady calmly sipped a goblet of cognac, idlely tracing the rim of his glass while surveying his handiwork in the monitors before him with a satified smile.

The mighty Derek Rayne, shackled in the dungeon while his co-workers were his to do with as he pleased. The thought brought a malicous smile to the cruel lips as Arkady pondered his next move. And his enemy's next torment.

The woman, he had simply had stripped to the nude and tossed in a barren room, a narrow cot the only stick of furniture in her prison. The easiest thing to do with her had been to let her imagination do his bidding; make her wonder what her captor intended to do with her. With her clothing removed, even that subconscious protection was gone and Alex Moreau, he could see from the monitor, was not coping well.

Perhaps he should have Ralf visit her cell? Maybe give her imaginings some teeth?

No. No, I'll deal with the woman later. Right now it's the priest and Derek who interest me.

And that was unusal for normally, it were the women that would first captivate his attention...A knock interupted his plans and he turned, annoyed. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry sir, but we caught the priest. He never made it past the servant's hall."

Arkady grinned and the evil in that look frightened his own man. "Good. Excellent. Find Dickson and Carter and send them to me."

"Sir?"

"I want that priest worked over, Mr. Price. Severely, but don't kill him," Arkady warned. "I want him alive for his reunion with our other guest below."

The priest had caused him a moment of concern when he had broken through his guards. He had almost escaped, but then, this was his game; almost meant nothing unless the attempt was successful. Which was, apparently, far from being the case where Father Phillip Joseph Callaghan was concerned.

A tilt of his head. "Well? What are you waiting for? An ingraved invitation?"

As Price left to do his bidding, Arkady returned his eyes to the screens, his attention focusing on the one in the lower right hand corner. In it, Derek Rayne had at last stopped struggling to break free of the manacles and iron chains holding him to the wall. His shirt was torn and stained with blood, his features bruised and his lip was beginning to swell where Carter had hit him with the jack. It was his expression though that drew Arkady's eyes.

Vengeful; enraged. Like the wrath of God Himself.

Too bad you are in no position to do anything about it, my enemy. Too bad, too that his men had failed to take that daughter of his this afternoon on the docks. But between the two of them, Lissa Rayne and Moira St. John had been too much for Arkady's henchmen to deal with. Together they had defeated and nearly captured his men. The one they had retained was now undoubtedly in the hands of the authorities.

It will do them no good. Carl has no idea where I am or where I'm hiding their precious Precept and even if they somehow managed to find this place, I have security not even the SEAL has come up against. I have time to enjoy myself.



Phillip tried to endure in silence as Nick would have; to put on a brave and defiant face for his assailants. But after the forth or fifth blow from the tire iron, that resolve was forgotten in the rush of pain as the metal bar descended again, this time connecting with and breaking two of his ribs.

Phillip cried out and doubled over - or would have if he had not been held securely by two more of Arkady's men. As it was, he dangled there, unable to stand yet unable to fall thanks to their support.

His attacker began to circle him.

Phillip tried to stand, to at least keep and eye on the man, but his legs would no longer hold him and the pain along with the movement was making him sick. "Why'r you doin' this?" He pleaded, his jaw working despite the blow it had taken earlier. "Wha' is 't tha' you want?"

"Want? Why my dear boy, they have what they want."

Victor Arkady entered the room smirking. "As to why they are doing this, it's really very simple. I told them to."

"But why?"

"To make Derek suffer." Arkady told him. Reaching out, he took a hold of Phillip's jaw, noting with a slight smile the way the boy winced at the touch. "What? No pleas for mercy? No assurances that God will forgive me if I repent, Father?"

"No." Phillip tried to free himself from the man's grip but gave up and simply glared he hoped defiantly at Derek's arch enemy. "If yer plans are fer Derek, 't wouldn't do any good. And God will not fergive you fer what you've done..."

The chuckle surprised Phillip and Arkady let him go. "Not a very Holy sentiment for a former man of the cloth. You're right, boy; if God only knew a small part of what I've done..." the voice trailed off as his captor closed in to whispered in Phillip's ear, "....he would have nothing to do with me. But you still might provide some measure of entertainment for me yet."

"Have fun, boys." Casually, Arkady threw the words over his shoulder as he left the room.

"Arkady..." Phillip croaked out and managed to raise his head as the man turned back to face him. "Nev'r doubt it...He knows."

The three men wasted no time. Given free rein to do as they pleased as long as the priest was left alive, they set out to do their worst. As they reined down blow after blow on their helpless victim using everything from the bar to their fists and feet, Arkady's henchmen soon had their captive's screams turning to mere whimpers.

Before trailing off altogether.

 

"Where is he?"

The ringing slap of flesh on flesh sounded unnaturally loud in the quiet room as Lissa demanded answers from her would-be attacker. After a quick conversing at the pier, both she and Moira had decided it would be better to bring him here, to the Legacy rather than turn him over to the police. And, although the cop in her winced at playing the vigilante, the greater part of her wanted answers and didn't care how she had to get them.

Aside from the attack on her, Derek, Alex and Phillip were missing.

Nick was waiting outside, no doubt fuming at the women's decision not to allow him in on this little session. But Nick would have killed him and we need him alive.

"I'd answer the lady if I were you," Moira advised, standing from where she had been checking the ropes securing him to the chair. "That's her father your boss is holding and when it comes to those two, you don't mess with family."

"Good cop, bad cop?" Arkady's henchman sneered, looking them over contemptuously. "I know nothing."

"You're right, you don't." Moria agreed icily. "There is a man outside this door that would like nothing better than to shred your carcass all over this room, one piece at a time. Painfully and while you are aware enough to enjoy the experience. There's a woman with him that has ways of disrupting the body's very molecular structure - very painful or so I'm told. Not a lady you want on your bad side. Now, " Moira leaned in close, locking her eyes with that of the captive, //...if you don't believe me then just let me know. That's to say nothing of the two of us, of course. Who want your head on a pole for more than one reason.//

Lissa watched as the man's eyes widened at the voice suddenly inside his head, the words impossible to ignore. She had heard the sending, of course, but had no idea Moira could do that to someone without the ability to Hear. Crossing her arms, she realized that the empath had pulled out all the stops and leaned back against the wall of the empty storage room, grimly enjoying the show.

//Well? I don't have all night and I'm sure the others would love a shot at you. What's it to be? The location of our friends or do I turn you over to them?//

"One ex-cop and female reporter are nothing compared to a fully trained ex-SEAL and a Healer out for blood."

Clearly terrified but trying to hide it, he looked from one woman to the other, finally at Derek's daughter. "You wouldn't..."

Lissa's eyes were cold as she pushed off the wall. "Try me."

 

"Well?" Nick stopped pacing at the first sound of the storage room door opening, confronting them before they had fully emerged. "What did he say?"

"Somewhere south of here along the bay. Moira had him write out the directions exactly." She handed the pilot the sheet of paper. Lissa glanced at her 'step-mom' and raised an eyebrow amused. "That was a nice piece of work back there. Loved that part about shredding his carcass around the room."

That expression so like her father's, the former reporter cracked a small smile before returning to business. "The story-teller in me. Words can be as much a weapon as a .45 and we need every weapon we can get. That part about a Healer out for blood wasn't half bad, yourself. Nick, he wouldn't say if it was Arkady who had them, but I know for a fact it was."

"You read him?"

The empath's nod was grim and Lissa clenched her jaw. "They're being held..."

At that moment Rose doubled over, clutching her side and gasping in pain. "Phillip!"

Lissa was at her side in an instant. "What is it, Rose? What's happened?"

Rachel placed a hand on the young woman's forehead, frowning in concern. "Can you tell us honey?"

"It's Phillip...they've..." Her eyes tightly shut and she cried out again. Her breathing shallow and rapid, Rose gasped the words around the shadow-pain she was receiving from outside the castle. "Gods...he's hurt..."

Rachel looked up, uncertainty mirrored in her eyes. "How does she know that?"

"I'm not sure...Moira?" Lissa turned to the mage who was standing a little ways away, her arms wrapped around herself tightly, her own eyes closed. "Moira?"

"It's the lifebond. And they're both Healers."

"Are you trying to tell me that she's feeling everything Phillip is experiencing? That's..." Rachel frowned again, shaking her head. "That's impossible."

Moira opened her eyes slowly, her control once again firmly in place.

//You have that type of bond with my father.// Lissa accused her silently, remembering the way Moira had swayed briefly shortly after arriving back at the castle with their 'guest'.

Moira nodded. //He's been hurt and he's in pain. But he'll live.//

Lissa's heart lifted. If Moira could feel him, she could find him. //Can you tell where they are?//

//No. I shut him out.//

//You what? How could you...// But she shook her head then, raising a hand to forestall any answers the mage might give. Given the shape Rose was in... //Nevermind. Strike that. If you can't think, can only react, you can't function. I'm sorry - must be hanging around Rachel too often. The tendency to snap first and think later must be wearing off on me.//

Moira offered a small smile. //No apologies necessary - you know that. And Rachel doesn't have any Gifts. She's not used to relying on something she can't understand. They need us Lis. Soon.//

"Mind filling us in?" Nick walked over to them quietly. They had a location - a direction to start looking. It was time to move.

Lissa nodded, once. "We're going. Rachel, Maddy - stay here with Rose. Nick, Moi - let's go."

Rose spoke up. "I'm going." Looking from one uncertain face to the other, she said again. "I'm going. You will need me."

Not 'might' but 'will'.

Reluctantly, Lissa nodded. Having gotten herself more or less under control the young woman was clearly not going to be denied in this. And not even Derek was willing to argue with her when Rose was adament about something. And she was adament about this. "Okay. But you need to change clothes. Jeans and nothing bright."

Rose merely nodded and headed up to change.

"I'm coming too."

"No you're not Rachel. Someone needs to stay with the House. Just in case Arkady calls."

"Rose can do that." Rachel protested firmly. The young witch had no business heading into something like this.

Moira shook her head. "No she can't. She's no good with the computers and she knows it."

"But Maddy is. And Rose is not trained for this. These men..."

"Don't stand a chance against the anger in her eyes, Rachel. Or didn't you notice. As for training - she's reached green belt, a level higher than you. And I would think that Kat would like her mother home safe and sound when she wakes up."

The mother's mouth snapped shut, her jaw clenching tightly. "That's emotional blackmail."

"Damn straight, Doctor."

"Just bring them back."

"That's the plan."





"Well Derek....nice to see you again."

"What have you done to him?" The Precept demanded, reflexively jerking his chains in a vain attempt to reach Arkady as he stepped into the room.

"Whatever do you mean?" Arkady protested, the gleam in his eyes stating that he knew exactly what Derek was talking about. "What have I done to whom?"

"To Phillip. Where is he? If you've hurt him, I swear..."

Arkady cut him off, dropping the pretense. "Oh I've done more than hurt him, be sure of that. In fact..." he snapped his fingers and two men entered dragging Phillip between them. They then shackled the semi-conscious priest to the wall across the room from his friend and left, closing the door behind them.

"Your precious godson was a coward, Derek. He almost got away from me. But then - when given the chance to save his friends - " Arkady sneered, taking delight in the information, "...he ran."

Derek's chin came up and Arkady was disappointed that none of what he was feeling showed on the surface. "To save his friends."

"Too bad he failed, I would have had enjoyed having more of your family under my thumb to play with. And my men do enjoy their work." He circled Phillip. Sometime during the beating his shirt had been removed, no doubt to allow Derek to witness every bruise and mark that had been dealt. "Although they are a little hard on their toys..."

"What have you done with Alex?"

"Nothing - yet. But the night is still young...and Miss Moreau is a very pretty woman, Derek."

"Don't you touch her, Victor." Derek warned him, once again testing his bonds. "Or by all that's Holy, I'll..."

"You'll do nothing!" Arkady spat. "You are not the master here, Rayne. I am. And you are hardly in a position to be hurling idle threats...you can't even protect the priest from me now and he's in the same room."

With that, Victor Arkady backhanded Phillip savagely, causing him to sway, only the chains binding him to the wall keeping him at all upright. For the first time, Derek realized the boy was not completely unconscious as he moaned weakly, blood trickling from his lips. His voice barely a whimper, Phillip begged, "N' more...please..."

The chains jerked and held. "Damn you!"

Arkady merely smiled, enjoying Derek's curses and impotent threats. Finally, finally he was getting what he wanted out of his old enemy. And now that he knew what it would take to get what he wanted...

"Enjoy each other's company Derek. I'm afraid I must take my leave of you. I have..." Arkady nodded and the door opened, suggesting he had someone posted in the halway. "...other...things to attend to. I'll be sure to give Alexandra your regards." With that the door slammed shut, leaving the two captives alone.

Alex...

Derek turned to his friend. "Phillip! Phillip can you hear me?"

But Phillip had finally passed out, having sank to his knees as far as the shackles would allow.

Continued

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