CHAPTER XI

 

Anna stared at Dwayne, and started ring her hands. If what she feared about
Sharlette was true, then Rachel was in trouble. She wanted to speak to Dwayne,
but ever since the group had come back, there was silence.

--

Dwayne turned away from the fireplace, and saw that Anna was staring at him.
His anger boiled just beneath the surface. He poked fiercely at the fire. He
knew yelling at the woman would bring her to hysterics. He had no desire to hear
her moan and cry. He had no time for that. He found it hard to believe Rachel
was even remotely kin to this weak woman.

He stared at her until she finally turned away with a sigh. He really had no
idea what to do next. Even if they chopped Sargatanis' head off, would they
really be finally free?

He pushed hard on a log, thumping the back of the fireplace. If he would have
pushed any harder, it might have gone through the wall.

"Stop." Shadow said, as she put a hand on his hand that held the poker. She
took the poker away, leaving Dwayne empty handed.

He stared at his hands and then placed them firmly on the mantel, as if holding
himself up.

------

Rachel opened her eyes, and searched her surroundings. "Wake up." She said, as
she recognized the man sitting in the chair next to the bed.

Chester rubbed his eyes, as he stared at the woman in the bed. "Does this
thing even work?" He asked, as he played with the buttons on a machine next to
the bed. He rubbed his eyes again to make sure he was really awake.

"Chester?" Rachel said, as she stared at him with cold gray eyes. "Where am I?"

"The lines are right..." Chester said, ignoring her question.

"Answer me!!" Rachel said, pounding a fist into the bed.

"Oh...um...hospital." He replied, as he spun around the room and then sat on the
bed in front of her. He leaned towards her, there was something different about
this woman, but he couldn't quite put a finger on it.

"What happened to me? What are these wires for?" She asked, as she started to
pull the wires from herself.

"Don't." Chester said, as he pulled her hand from one of the wires just in time.
"There was a wreck...and..."

"A wreck?" Rachel asked, as she interupted him. "I can't stay here, help me
out." She looked at him with pleading eyes.

"What do you want me to do Sharlette?" Chester asked. The eyes gave her away..
Cold, dark and calculating.

Sharlette began to laugh hysterically. "I never was good at acting, was I?"

"What are you doing...."Chester says, as Sharlette finishes the sentence for
him.

"In Rachel's body? Protection. She deserve to be protected, don't she?" Sharlette
says with a smile.

"Are you sure you are doing this for her?" Chester says, as he stands up next to
the bed.

"Mine, hers, does it really matter?" She responds with a wave of the hand. "I'm
here for her own good. Trust me Chester."

"Trust you?" Chester says, sarcasticlly."You turned to Sargatanis, and you want
me to trust you?"

"Oh Chester...He has Rachel. I doubt she will be needing this body. I sent you
here to watch over her, me. I have no body anymore. I confuse you..I don't mean
to.." She sayed, and then stopped. Tears stung her eyes, as she tried to bat
them away with her eyelashes.

Chester stared at Sharlette, wondering if he should believe anything she said.
Were those tears real? "What's happened with Anna?" He asked.

"Nothing." Sharlette replied, as she stared around the room. If I would have
just killed that child when she was born, nothing like this would be happening,
she thought. She pulled herself to the edge of the bed, and held a hand out to
Chester. "We must leave here." She said, as she stood on weak legs. "Help me..."
she said, staring deeply into his eyes.

"Help you what?" Chester replied, as he leaned her aganst his body.

"Bring an end to it all." Sharlette replied, and then kissed Chester on the tip
of his nose.

-----

Rachel couldn't breath anymore. It was as if someone put a pillow over her
face. Her nose and mouth had been plugged by something unseen. If she were to
die now, would this all be over??

She fell to the floor, as Sargatanis flew into the room next to her. He had
rushed to her as if he actually cared for her life. She stared at him, as she
breathed shallowly. She could almost feel life slipping from her.

"This can't be happening!!" Sargatanis yelled, as he pulled her head into his
lap. "Not until the baby is born!! NO NO NO!" He pulled her into his arms and
cradled her. He'd find Anna. She could host Rachel's spirit. She would do it
willing or not.

Rachel could no longer hear, but could see everything around her. He pulled her
softly across the back of a horse, and started to ride. Then darkness settled
in. She wasn't sure if she were passing out, or finally letting go.

----

Jessica stared at the window, watching the drizzle fall from the sky. In the
distance she saw a lone horseman appear. She looked back at the others in the
room, and then left room quietly.

"Rider coming." Puck said, as he stepped into the room. He too had been watching
the drizzle, but from an upstairs room.



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