Chapter 22 Part 3

       Dom didn’t move, didn’t blink knowing that they both knew that she didn’t have all of her powers and that she needed them to get her around in this time but dangerous none the less, so he asked cautiously instead. “What do you need? I can get it for you.”  He held the fear at bay that Skye was still in there trapped and what Georgia wanted had to be given and also knowing that the sisters couldn’t be together.

    Not wanting to play cat and mouse as she normally would have she answered honestly. “She is close but, her vessel is in trouble I can feel her screaming.” She paused concentrating for a moment on something none of them could hear. “Her vessel wants to end her life.” She added with distaste.

    Chase’s eyes shot to Dominic’s weighing the gravity of what Georgia had said. Without a Pack to police her on one hand she would be rogue, lost and wreaking havoc on anything or anyone she chose if body and soul were reunited. Despite the sisters, Caretakers and the Guardians being cursed, being that they were tied to one another there was an order to the way they had to do things. On the other hand if Carol Anne succeeds in ending her life all of the people tied to her would die and the Sister would be locked in another world of faded memories and empty space. At this point Carol Anne’s Pack was missing and her Caretaker had vanished too...if they weren't already dead.

   Georgia knew all of this and as much as she hated it she knew it had to be until she could figure out a way to release herself and her sisters from the curse. She didn’t feel much in the way of emotion but her Guardians and Caretaker were the only things she had to occupy her time and her games were always for their benefit, keeping them sharp and lethal as well as her own entertainment.

    “This cannot happen.” She said softly even though her anger was peaking with the knowledge that the reason her sister was going to end her life was because of the pain and suffering caused to her by the man that had her. They were all very powerful in their full forms and would have been unable to be put in this position by anyone if they were at full strength. Dominic could see her slipping into her thoughts so he moved slightly to catch her attention knowing she was aware of everything around her. Her gaze snapped to his as he expected and he stared steadily deep into her golden eyes and he took a slow easy breath before he asked again.  “What do you need?”

    Annoyance flashed in her eyes. “I need you to take me to my sister.” she spat with clear disgust that she needed his help at all. It made her feel weak which did not improve her mood. Dominic knew that he couldn't take her to that house. Even though she didn't have all of her powers she would still be deadly if provoked or if she or her sister felt threatened. He took a tentative step forward only because he was scared for Skye and this situation was far outside of anything any of them had been through. He knew he had to get her back as quickly as possible.

    “Bring back Skye and we'll go and check on your sister.” His voice stayed neutral and non-aggressive when every part of him wanted to shake Skye out of the Goddesses head with is bare hands or claws if he got angry enough. Georgia eyed him with suspicion before she took a long look around her, she was aware of the men in the room but she focused on the person in front of her.

    Gertie stayed on the floor too terrified to move, her experience with Georgia had always been inside her mind. She observed them all using her senses, Maury kept his place at Dominic's side but his eyes would shift to Gertie every few minutes. Chase was a tall, strong presence and by far the most impressive of them all regarding her with the eyes of a true Guardian looking immovable and deadly. While behind her the other two males took in the scene with increasing dread. She could hear all of their hearts beating steadily except for Gertie's and her attention refocused.

    For the first time Dominic saw something soft in her eyes as Georgia looked at Gertie. He thought it might be compassion but he knew from experience that Georgia didn't feel compassion. To his surprise Georgia moved forward and extended her hand to Gertie. Shocked energy rippled through the room from Ryan and Sig.  She continued to look into Gertie's eyes and she felt a smile tug at her lips. Gertie lifted a trembling hand and put it into the outstretched one in front of her noting how warm and soft Georgia’s skin was compared to her wrinkled one. Urgency flowed through Georgia now and she wanted to waste no more time even as she slowly helped the old woman to her feet. She knew she had to concede to Dominic's wishes if they were going to save her sister.

    Without looking at anyone other than Gertie she spoke over her shoulder, “As you wish Guardian but my sister must live.”

    Dominic seemed lighter then as he replied, “I can do nothing else but save her.”

    Her golden eyes still on Gertie's ice blue ones. “You Caretaker...” she spoke with sincerity “will be restored, I promise you.” She turned to Chase suddenly and yet he didn't flinch when she stepped towards him with a small mischievous smile. “You amuse me.” Her head tilted slightly. “You both amuse me with your games. Promise me you will help her.”

    Without hesitation he answered truthfully. “He will pay for what he's done to her.” With that promise and putting her trust in Dominic when she had no trust to give, she reached back into her mind to the place that she and Skye first met. The room was covered in fog so it had no edges like a dream that couldn’t hold substance, with the two comfortable chairs facing each other and a rug that she could see Skye pacing around like a caged cat. She had added things to her space in the mind as a bookshelf and fireplace made it less dreary.

    As soon as she stepped into the room Skye stopped moving. She could see that Skye understood but underneath that there was a thread of anger. She knew why Georgia had pushed her out but didn’t appreciate it. Georgia was fluent in Skye’s emotions now.

    Pacing across the floor Skye was shaking out her hands as though she was readying herself. Georgia approached her with renewed interest as she watched her prowl back and forth.

    “You broke through…again…” she said more calmly than Skye herself expected.

    Georgia raised an eyebrow. “You blame me?”

    Skye sighed. “I would like to but I saw what you did and worry for her too.”

    Georgia took a seat in one of the plush chairs and released a sigh herself. It was the first time since she had been invaded by the Goddess that she saw something even remotely human from her. That was saying a lot since there was nothing human about her at all. “I have asked the Guardians to save her but they will only move quickly if I let you go back.” None of them knew that she couldn’t hold the physical form for long before she had to let Skye take over. She was drained already and it had only been a few minutes.

    “I will fight for her but she has to want to go or else she will go back to him regardless of what he’s done.” Skye wanted to make a point of saying it so that Georgia wouldn’t take out repercussions on Dominic and the others if they couldn’t get Carol Anne away from Robert.

   Georgia anger rose sharply. “She wants to end her life! Does that sound like she’s going to stay to you?” She stood in a flowing motion, her eyes flickering with flames. “He has trapped her, abused her and broken her vessel. Her soul is close to the body or else she wouldn’t be screaming.” Knowing that time was short and she wanted time alone, she waved Skye away. “Please go.”

   Skye’s mouth opened to protest and she found herself back at the forefront looking into Chase’s aqua eyes, his face impassive and for just a moment she saw relief in them. The urgency hit her hard and she grabbed hold of his arms to remain standing. It flowed over her senses like a wave of sickness that heated her from the inside out forcing sweat to break out on her skin. He felt it through her… she knew he did.

    “I can feel her.” She whispered “We have to go.”

Ch 22 Part 2

    Skye paced the kitchen floor while Chase and Maury looked like they were watching a tennis match. Gertie had found a way to make herself useful and was quietly waiting for the kettle to boil so she could make tea for herself and Skye while pouring  two fingers of Bourbon for the men. Each pass that Skye made past them had Maury smacking her hand lightly out of her mouth unaware that she was biting her nails. After what seemed like the hundredth time she stopped and glared at him.

    “Why do you keep doing that?” she snapped.

    He smirked at her. “I was trying to see how long it would take you to stop wearing out the floor.”

    She stared at him for a moment with her mouth slightly open. “Fuck off Mo.”

    “Mo? Mo… do you have any idea how long it’s been since someone has called me Mo? He asked.

    “Stop Maury…” Chase warned.

    “It was back in 1883…” he started and every person in the kitchen groaned. Chase stood up to usher his friend out into the other room when Angel started whining and ran for the front door. Her stocky little body skidded to a halt as the door opened and Dominic came in with two other men following him. Normally the extra men would have caused some anxiety for Skye but with so many of them coming and going lately it didn’t faze her anymore and her thoughts were currently on other things. She had noticed that they weren’t even all of her thoughts, some were Georgia’s as she thought of her “sister” and what she might be going through.

    She could feel the other soul’s frustration at not having the full use of her powers and at the same time without her Sister freed she couldn’t find her without the help of the others adding to Georgia’s unstable condition. Skye had gotten the address of the couple from the shop and knew something bad was going to happen very soon. 

    She didn’t need Georgia's feelings to know it. She saw what was in Carol-Anne’s eyes too. The only reason why she had waiting for Dominic was because the red headed woman was a part of all of this. Someone that might on some kind of level be able to understand what she was going through and according to them she was not where she was supposed to be. Where her Pack was no one knew and where her caretaker and holding vessel were was also a mystery.

    The two men with Dom were from another Pack. A tall Norse looking man with long blonde hair and a lean build trailed in behind him while another man just as tall but with short dark hair, broad shoulders and piercing grey eyes came in last. Both man looked very unhappy to be there and at this point Skye didn’t care about pleasing anyone anymore. They watched her cautiously, with a hint of distaste but the man with the disconcerting grey eyes was the one that held her attention.

    Dom stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her as Chase and Maury stepped forward to shake the men’s hands in camaraderie. She trembled in his arms and he tightened the squeeze briefly in a show of comfort before letting her go.

    “Skye?” The blonde man's rough voice saying her name startled her out of her thoughts. "Dominic explained his concerns and it worries us as well.” he said softer than she thought possible. It fleetingly occurred to her then that the man with him was like Chase. Strong, silent and protecting his pack leader.

    “We have reached out to the other Packs and there is one missing. It’s like they just…vanished.” His attention turned to Dominic. “We are very concerned that this... being… is unaccounted for.” The distaste that entered his voice again could not be hidden and he spoke to Dominic with slice of contempt while his body language showed that he did not want to be involved. Skye tilted her head in interest as she watched his body tell her the truth. His involvement was tied to all of them but if he had his way he would leave them to fend for themselves.

    His term for Carol-Anne prickled at her and she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. At the same time she felt more than saw Chase come up behind her as he sensed her fast rising emotion. She looked at the man confused. “What do you mean being? She's a woman that needs our help. She doesn't deserve the pain he's caused her.” she said as calmly as she could but her body was humming.

    “Skye…” Chase warned cautiously and shot a glance at Maury who took up a space just to the left of Skye, between her and Dom. The room began to pulse gently with energy as Skye kept her eyes trained on the tall blonde man that stood solidly in front of her not blinking. The man beside him stepped forward to place his body slightly between Skye and his leader.

    At that moment Gertie stepped forward with a cup of tea seemingly oblivious to the tension building in the room and motioned to hand the cup to Skye. Both of the new men snarled at her and she flinched startled almost spilling the tea on her. To everyone's surprise Maury stepped in front of Gertie and growled his own warning at the men. As usual Chase was knowing in his silent sentinel persona but Dominic couldn’t hide the confusion from his face as his bewilderment was at the surface in the form of one raised eyebrow. 

     Like a blot of electricity slamming up from her feet up to her head Skye’s anxiety ramped up as Georgia’s anger swelled from the display of posturing.

    She felt Georgia’s soul rush alongside the electrical current to the surface and slammed into the wall Skye had built in her mind with Gertie's help. Her whole frame shook with the force of it and she swayed from the mental attack. Every man in the room stood still. Chase was still behind her ready to grab her if it was necessary, only the two new men were apprehensive at the situation but to their credit they stood their ground in a defensive stance waiting for the attack they were sure was to come. 

    Gertie stood frozen in between them all knowing that her presence had triggered the strangers. She had forgotten that even though the relationship between the Guardians and the Caretaker was strained at first that they had all become at ease with each other. Mostly Gertie as she relished the companionship of Skye’s family after being alone for so many years. Even though Maury still slung insults at her, she felt they had some neutral ground to stand on and some form of respect growing from how they both work to aide and protect children.

    Skye slammed down hard on her knees tearing Gertie from her thoughts and she quickly knelt down to her whispering softly in her ear. Every man in the room went still as they felt the energy change again. Only Dominic, Chase and Maury knew what was happening and Dom let out and exasperated sigh.

   “Something’s wrong!” Skye screamed, the noise in her head was so loud. “She wants out…now! I can’t hold her.”

    For the first time since they arrived in her home the two strangers looked like fear had finally found them. “Ryan,” Dom said loud pointing to the blonde man “You and Sig need to step back a bit please." His calm demeanor told them that he had been through this before. Confusion lit their eyes as they stepped back to watch. .” He glanced at Skye on the floor wanting to go to her but knew better. “Very slowly…” he added. They didn’t wait for an explanation as they immediately stepped backwards towards the entrance to the kitchen, with their eyes wide.

    Maury leaned down and lightly touched Gertie’s shoulder urging her to stand up and step away from Skye but before he could move her away Skye stood with celestial grace and her green eyes were gone, replaced Georgia’s golden ones. Her gaze settled on Ryan and Sig as her lip curled in anger as recognition registered but she pushed it aside and turned her golden eyes to Dominic.

    “You…Guardian…take me to my sister.” She snapped.

Chapter 22 Part 1

   

      Carol Anne watched the house approaching. It felt more like looming to her, the weight of the day pressing in on her steadily when she thought that she wouldn't be coming back to this place again. She didn’t even realize that she had already said her goodbyes to the place that had become her sanctuary and her prison at the same time. Tears burned her eyes as she stared hopelessly up at the house and she knew that Roberts silence on the way home was a cause for concern but she couldn’t feel the concern at the moment. All she could feel was the weight of sadness in every muscle of her body that she had because she had lost her chance.

    The painting that Robert had gone there for in the first place was in the back seat covered in brown paper. Usually it would have been boxed and shipped but after the incident he insisted on taking it as it was, right at that moment. She knew it was because he didn’t want to be in contact with them for a while and answer any questions about her health.

    Confusion was fleeting in her head in regards to the strange woman and man that were with her in the park. The only things she remembered were the strange golden colour of the woman’s eyes and the feeling of absolute power coming off of the man with her. The thoughts of them were small, inconsequential compared to what she knew was coming for her and…she didn’t care.

    Nothing could make her feel, her body was numb and she almost welcomed the Pit and the cold, damp solitude that would wrap itself around her.

    Robert stopped the car and put it in Park, he made no motion to get out of the car and neither did she. Her lashes drifted down in acceptance of what was to come when he finally spoke.  “You wanted him to touch you, didn’t you.” It was a statement. “Did you faint at his looks in hopes that he would whisk you away?”

    She slowly opened her eyes and sighed knowing that he really didn’t want an answer and that it really didn’t matter what she said anyway, it would just make him angry so she slowly shook her head. Her red hair swayed slightly. He wanted her scared but she had no energy to be scared, no will left to be.

   “Let’s just get this over with…” it slipped out before she could stop it, she didn’t want to stop it. She felt the car tremble as he shook with barely contained rage.

    “You want this over Angel?” he snarled “This will never be over…” He got out of the car and slammed the door. As he stomped over to her side she debated locking the doors but it would be no use he would just break the window, so she sat still willing her face not to betray her when she felt it. There was warmth that ebbed its way into her, faint but there. Robert’s hand went to reach for her door handle as his gaze went to his prize in the back seat and he stopped, suddenly deciding that he would take it inside first.

    Carol Anne let out another slow sigh but still felt nothing about what was to come. She would make him end it. She didn’t care about the money; all she cared about was that she could make it as difficult and messy as possible so that her brother could find some suspicious behaviour to investigate and hopefully get justice for her. She was determined for the pain to end, the imprisonment, most of all the control.

    She would make him end it.

    There was a small protest in her mind but she blocked it out. No more pain. She thought to herself and a tiny thread of anxiety tried to worm its way in. Oddly she found it curious considering that she had decided firmly the next step for herself. The draft from the back door opening drew her out of her own thoughts momentarily as Robert grabbed the painting gently.

    With the painting in his right hand he threw open the door with his left and grabbed Carol Ann’s shoulder in a strong firm grip nearly ripping her out of the car. Her body was a phantom to her; she felt him distantly and knew he was even angrier that she wasn’t reacting. She wasn’t cowering or crying, she wasn’t trying to protect herself or pleading and he hated it. She could feel the waves of intense rage coming off of him and she didn’t care. The protest came again and again she shoved the thought to the back of her mind. He grabbed the back of her neck and dragged her to the front door.

   “Take your key and open the door.” He snarled. She did as he asked and he pushed her through hard enough that she lost her balance and fell to the floor. He kicked the door shut with his foot before he gingerly set the painting down under the alarm and punched in the code to disarm it. He looked at her with disgust and contempt in his eyes as she stared into his, daring him as she knew her behaviour would. He prowled around her and she refused to move, to show fear. She knew the Pit would be waiting for her and for one second she wondered if she flung herself in… if it would it be enough?

    Seething he glared at her, reading her body language he softened his features in understanding. “I thought the Pit would be the appropriate punishment for you Angel, but I see now that I am wrong. The Rack seems more fitting for this don’t you think?” She said nothing but panic began to well up and she pushed it down. The Rack was a bit more of a challenge she would have to work around. She would be tied and gagged. Usually he used it to punish her sexually but she had a feeling that wouldn’t be the only way this time. She swallowed the bile that rose in her throat and kept her silence while she thought rapidly about how to provoke him before he could completely restrain her.

    She had run out of time. He grabbed her by her fire red hair and lifted her to her feet as he propelled her towards the stairs. She stumbled and he cursed her. “You cheating bitch!” he swore as he shoved her upwards. “You let him touch you! I bet you loved his hands all over you!” she laughed then… unintentionally and he hesitated. He stopped and shook her by the hair before he backhanded her causing her tooth to cut her lip and thin trail of blood slipped down her face. She saw stars at first but welcomed them…welcomed the pain.

    The protest in her head was faint now, like feather light touches inside her mind, a faraway voice. Before she knew it she was in the attic being pushed to her knees with her ears ringing as he stripped her down. She refused to fight or show fear. She needed to push him over the edge but as soon as her eyes moved to the attic window Robert saw her intention and took hold of her hair again to throw her across the room towards the Rack. Her back hit the wood with such force it knocked her breath from her but she didn’t cry out in pain. She bit down and grunted, from her knees she looked up and glared at him. Her invitation to bring it on, that she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. “Get it over with.” She ground out and to her surprise he faltered but regained his composure quickly.

    To her dismay she noticed that the front of his pants had gone tight from his excitement but she set her jaw while in her head she said a tearful goodbye to the people she loved.

    “Oh…Angel…” he purred “I think I’m really going to like this.”