Bobby and Rebekah
Bobby stopped the car outside the large cast iron gates in front of the house. He looked at Rebekah and she nodded, as he got out of the car and froze the lock, then smashed it, opening the gate as Rebekah shifted to the driver's seat and slowly drove the van through the gates, stopping only to let Bobby back in.
"Effrayant," she commented. (Scary.)
Bobby nodded, and stood up to get out of the van once they'd pulled up at the front door.
It was an old Victorian house, that had been sitting vacant for a few decades. It had been upkept, surprisingly, with hopes of selling it, but no one in the neighbourhood would dare buy it. Not with the stories surrounding it. Besides, it did look slightly out of place, a large Victorian mansion in the streets of New York.
Supposedly it was all still furnished. The last owners had left in a hurry, claiming to have seen ghosts. Many of the people who had seen the house had told similar stories, so a cloud of mystery had surrounded the house.
Bobby opened the van and started to unload the boot, pulling out bags of food, back packs, sleepiung bags, pillows, etc.
Displaced and the Mavericks
Mordred squeezed Gwen's hand lightly as they appeared at the gates with Vortigern. "I'll go help Bobby unpack."
The members of The Displaced and Demetria appeared as well.
Well, it's right posh, innit? Jonothon remarked.
"Better go see if Bobby needs a hand," Sergei commented and the males all went to help.
"Aren't they lovely boys?" Demetria cooed.
Rogue and Julie
"Looks pretty impressive huh?" Julie said.
"Yeah," Rogue agreed, helping to pull things out of the van.
Julie smiled. She was glad she had been able to organise someone to baby sit. SHe would have hated to miss this.
Bobby, Rebekah and Gwen
Gwen nodded and followed after Mordred absently looking up at the house. She gave a slight shiver. Something was definitely not right at this house.
Bobby nodded a greeting at the arrivals.
"Hey... could you guys carry that sleeping stuff?"
He walked up to the front door, Rebekah behind him, slightly nervous. He twisted the handle.
Locked. No biggie.
He made a long alan's key from ice and put it into the lock, and unlocked the door.
"Cool," Rebekah commented, then shuddered as he opened the large door.
"Uh... could I get a light maniupluator or a pyrokinetic for a bit?"
Vortigern and Octavian
The guys picked up all the stuff out of the back and followed.
Vortigern dumped his stuff on Octavian who simply rolled his eyes, then walked up to the door. He concentrated for a moment, and made the room light up with dancing yellow lights.
"Better?"
Rogue and Julie
"Oooh..." Julie breathed. "It's so cool! If a little dusty."
"I wonder where the ghosts are?" Rogue giggled.
Bobby, Rebekah and Gwen
"Thanks, Vort," Bobby said, looking around for the proper light switch. He found it and flicked it on. The lights looked dim.
"Great..." Rebekah murmured.
With a bag over her shoulder, Gwen stepped through into the house, joining everyone in the lobby.
"Whoa," Gwen whispered. She looked around instinctively for Mordred as goosebumps appeared on her skin. Something was definitely not right here.
"Ok, so, there's a living room thing, should we set up camp in there?" Bobby asked, starting to lead the way.
Mordred, Sergei and Jono
"Sounds good to me," Sergei said cheerfully.
Wotever. All's good, mate.
They all followed Bobby down the hall.
Mordred bent his head and pecked Gwen on the cheek.
"Pretty cool, huh?"
Julie and Rogue
"This is great," Julie grinned, as they walked into the lounge.
"Yeah..." Rogue said.
There seemed to be a bit of an atmosphere here though, and Rogue shivered. She had only been joking about ghosts.
Gwen and Bobby
"Yeah... it..." Gwen shivered again, then turned to kiss Mordred softly. "It's... it feels weird."
Bobby flicked the lights on in the living room.
"Whoa, this room isn't as run down as the rest..." he commented to Rebekah as they started to pull the sheets off the furniture.
Octavian and Vortigern
Vortigern moved to help as the Displaced started to roll out sleeping bags and stuff.
"Bit dusty, isn't it?" he remarked to Bobby and Rebekah.
"Well, think about the last time anyone was actually in here," Octavian said, sitting back on his heels.
Julie and Rogue
Julie plumped her pillow and placed it neatly on her sleeping bag.
"I wonder if there are any secret passages. Aren't these places always suppose to have secret passageways?"
Rogue giggled nervously.
Bobby, Gwen and Rebekah
"Probably."
Bobby grinned cheekily at Julie as he put the last of the food on the tables.
"So... wanna explore?"
Gwen squeezed Mordred's hand as they set their bedding up. "Don't you feel a little odd?" she asked.
Rebekah stood her guitar against the end of the couch and looked at the fireplace. She bent over near it and lit it, then put the grate in front of it.
"That should warm the place up," she said, shivering.
"Somehow, I don't think that's what made me so cold," Gwen murmured. "Exploring now?"
The Mavericks
"Yeah..." Mordred shrugged slightly, feeling wary. "Know what you mean, love..."
"Much better," Demetria said thankfully. "I hate being cold."
"Whenever we went skiing, she'd never leave the chalet." Octavian rolled his eyes.
"It was cold, I don't like snow and I got to flirt."
Julie
Julie sauntered over to Bobby. She ran a finger up his arm.
"And what, pray tell, was that cheeky look for?"
Gwen, Bobby and Rebekah
Bobby grinned.
"I don't know... thought you and I could check out the house together," he said, a hand going down to rest on her butt.
Gwen squeezed Mordred's hand.
"Come on, we stick together, it won't be bad."
Rebekah dusted her hands off and went over to Demetria.
"Flirting is always of the good. Shall we?"
Mordred and Octavian
"I'll protect you, love," Mordred said gallantly.
"Yes indeed, let's." Octavian grinned. "I don't think I've told you today yet, how perfectly lovely you look, Rebekah."
Julie and Rogue
"Mmm, sounds good to me," Julie replied.
She pinched Bobby's butt and then draped her arm across his shoulders. Rogue rolled her eyes.
"You want to go exploring too, Jono?" Rogue asked.
BObby, Gwen and Rebekah
Rebekah giggled. "Merci, Tav. You are looking quite fine yourself. But enough flirting. Let's explore!"
Gwen smiled up at Mordred. "I have no doubt about that, my love."
Bobby lead them from the room, his hand never leaving Julie's butt. He started up the stairs.
Displaced and Mordred
Jonothon walked over to Rogue and put his arm around her waist. With you? Anything.
Octavian smiled at Rebekah as everyone started to follow Bobby and Julie.
"Since you say it, Rebekah, it must be true.
"Love you," Mordred murmured into Gwen's ear.
"So full of it," Angelo whispered to Octavian.
Julie and Rogue
"Oooh, let's see what in there," Julie said.
She pointed at a door on the otherside of Bobby, purposely brushing her chest against him.
"We are exploring after all."
Rogue smiled and leaned into Jono.
"Good. Where do you want to start?"
Boby, Gwen and Rebekah
Bobby nuzzled Julie's neck briefly, then opened the door, and lead them inside.
"Whoa, big bedroom," he said grinning.
Gwen's hand tightened around Mordred's as they went up the stairs. "I love you too," she said softly, looking around and shivering again. "Something just feels so familiar..."
Rebekah smiled warmly at Octavian, and took his hand, leading him up the stairs. "This is fun, oui?"
Displaced and Mordred
Mordred looked around, and bent his head to Gwen's.
"I'm getting the oddest sense of deja vu..."
I don't know...
Jonothon ran his fingers through her hair lightly.
Wot about we just stick with the group for the moment?
"Vraiment, mademoiselle," Octavian said, smiling. "Ce n'est pas aussi le mauvais, est-il lui?" (This is not so bad, is it?)
Julie and Rogue
"Very big bedroom," Julie agreed.
She sat on the bed and bounced a little.
"Oooh, still got some."
"Okay," Rogue said. "Sounds good to me."
Bobby, Gwen and Rebekah
Gwen nodded. "I know... I kinda... I feel like I've been here before." Her hand never left Mordred's as they walked up the stairs and down a corridor.
Bobby grinned. "Well, that's good... if anyone wanted to test it out..." He chuckled.
Rebekah followed the others with Octavian. "Il est. Que nous pensez- vous trouverez-vous ici?" (It is. What do you think we will find here?)
Mordred and Displaced
"I know what you mean," Mordred said to Gwen. "But I haven't."
Jonothon squeezed Rogue's hand back lightly as he looked around.
"We all know what you and Julie are thinking, so please just stop there," Angelo said.
"Je ne sais pas. Fantômes, peut-être ? Rien n'exceptent probablement des spiderwebs, des souris et la poussière..." Octavian said to Rebekah. (I don't know. Ghosts, perhaps? Probably nothing except spiderwebs, mice and dust...)
Julie and Rogue
Julie shrugged.
"It's okay, Bobby and I can test it out, and you guys can explore elsewhere," she said simply.
"That's good, because if you two are going to insist on this, Ah, don't wanna watch," Rogue replied.
Gwen, Bobby and Rebekah
Gwen shivered again. "I know... it's probably just our imaginations." But still, she pulled Mordred's jacket tighter around her body.
Bobby grinned and kissed her lightly. "Yeah, we'll be fine."
"Ne deviennent-ils pas fatigués?" Rebekah asked softly. (Don't they get tired?)
Mordred and Displaced
"Has to be..." Mordred put his arm around her waist.
Jonothon rolled his eyes and took Rogue's hand. I've already seen more then I need to... He started walking off.
"Be good, tovarisch!" Sergei said gleefully.
Shut up Sergei.
"Évidemment pas. Peut-être ils boivent beaucoup de café." Octavian shrugged slightly. (Obviously not. Maybe they drink a lot of coffee.)
Julie and Rogue
Rogue walked gratefully off with Jono down the hallway. She shivered a little.
"Is it just me, or do you think this place is creepy?"
Julie stood up and wrapped her arms around Bobby's waist.
"I'm gonna start testing now," she informed them. "If you don't wanna watch, y'know, to make sure we're being... thorough... I suggest you leave."
And she began to kiss Bobby's neck.
Gwen, BObby and Rebekah
Gwen nodded as they turned away from the room, heading down the corridor and leading the way to another room. A bone chilling howl screeched through the house and the hairs on the back of Gwen's neck stood up. "Ok, that wasn't nice." She snuggled closer into Mordred, her arm going around under his jacket around his waist.
Bobby grinned and moved her face up to kiss her. "Yeah, very thorough." He ignored the howl, although it did freak him out a bit.
Rebekah nodded. "Peut-être. Hmm, cet endroit semble plutôt grand. Et - quel était celui?" (Perhaps. Hmm, this place seems rather big. And - what was that?) She jumped slightly.
Displaced and Mordred
Nah, it's defintely creepy. Something not quite real about it... Jonothon looked around and put his arm around her waist. And wot was that 'owl?
"Not nice at all, love..." Mordred looked around and held her closer.
"Je n'ai aucune idée... mais celui qui il soit, je suis sûr que nous pouvons le manipuler." Octavian smiled reassuringly at Rebekah. (I have no idea...but whatever it is, I'm sure we can handle it.)
"This was not a good idea," Angelo complained. He glared at Sergei and Jonothon. "How did you convince me to come?"
"I'm very good at argueing." Sergei smiled.
Rogue and Julie
Rogue gulped.
"Ah... Ah don't know..."
She could hear Calvin's voice getting louder.
Julie pulled Bobby down on top of her as she fell back on the bed, still kissing him. She wriggled back a bit so that they weren't so close to the edge of the bed.
Bobby, Gwen and Rebekah
Gwen took another tentative step forward and felt a soft wind blowing on her face. She looked up at Mordred. "Ok, officially freaked out." She reached out for the doorknob in front of them and opened the door.
Bobby's hands went under her shirt, kneading her breasts slightly, still kissing her.
"Je compte sur vous pour me garder coffre-fort, monsieur," Rebekah said, her eyes widening with fear. (I am relying on you to keep me safe, sir.)
Displaced and Mordred
I'm here, luv. Jonothon leant his head against her shoulder for a moment.
"I'm joining you on that I think," Mordred said softly.
Sergei clapped his hands loudly behind Angelo, and the other teen jumped in the air. The Russian snickered as Angelo glared.
"Don't *do* that!"
"Do what, tovarisch?"
"Avec ma vie, mademoiselle douce," Octavian said. (With my life, sweet lady.)
Rogue and Julie
Rogue smiled slightly. Shut up Calvin!
Julie pulled away from Bobby long enough to pull her shirt off, then went right on back to kissing him as her hand went for his zipper.
Gwen, Bobby and Rebekah
Gwen switched the light on and immediately felt a shiver go down her spine. "It's a nursery," she said softly.
Bobby moaned slightly and unzipped her pants, sliding them off her legs and getting started on her underwear.
"Merci, vous êtes très doux." Rebekah smiled and shivered slightly. "Sent-il le froid à vous?" (Thank you, you are very sweet. Does it feel cold to you?)
Mordred and Octavian
"Nice nursery," Mordred said softly as he stepped in after her. He looked around and went over to the cot.
"This is a lovely antique...wonder why they left it?"
"Pas un problème, chère dame. C'est mon honneur à faire ainsi."( Not a problem, dear lady. It is my honour to do so.) Octavian looked around and shivered a little bit. "Oui... il ... comment impair. Mais il pourrait juste être parce que c'est extérieur foncé." (Yes...it does...how odd. But it could just be because it's dark outside.)
Julie and Rogue
Rogue was really beginning to look forward to this being over. It was so cold and creepy.
Julie pulled off Bobby's pants. She moved away to pull his shirt off, when her eyes widened and she let loose a scream of horror.
Gwen, Bobby and Rebekah
Bobby looked at where she was staring and yelled.
"OH SWEET MOTHER OF GOD!"
He started hitting at the bed, trying to shoo the bugs, spiders and oh dear... snakes?
Gwen joined him at the cot and ran her fingers over the frame. "Because the baby was sick, and she used to sit here, watching, as her baby died," she whispered. "Don't you feel it? It's so... so very familiar."
"Il pourrait être... ceci est vraiment étrange." Rebekah's hand tightened around Octavian's. (It could be... this is really strange.)
The Mavericks and JOno
Jonothon twined his fingers through Rogue's as he opened a door. I think this was another bedroom...
Demetria's head went up and she tutted slightly. "Worse then Mordred and Gwen."
She went exploring off in another direction with Vortigern, Angelo and Sergei.
Mordred shook his head slightly.
"I don't know if I like this, love..."
"Il est très étrange. Mais nous sommes seulement ici pour une nuit." (It is very strange. But we're only here for one night.) Octavian patted her shoulder.
Rogue and Julie
Rogue gulped.
"Is... is that a blood stain?"
Julie started shaking her limbs frantically, trying to get the creatures off.
"Get off, get off!" she shrieked.
Gwen, Bobby and Rebekah
Bobby hit at the insects, screaming out. "OH GOD! JULIE!"
Gwen looked into the cot, eyes glazed over as she picked up the small bear. "Mordred... this all seems so... I've been in here, I know I have. And I've stood here. But... it doesn't make sense."
"C'est vrai. se rattrapons par rapport aux autres." Rebekah gave a small smile. (That is true. Let's catch up with the others.)
Jono, Octavian and Mordred
Jonothon looked at the dark stain closely, then shook his head.
Nah, it's not claret.
He noticed her look and clarified.
Blood, it's not blood. Sorry...my slang's a bit different sometimes.
"I don't belong here," Mordred whispered. "I shouldn't be in this room. It's not my place."
"Bon idee," Ocatavian said and took her hand. (Good idea.) "Allons-y puis, cherie." (Let's go then, dear.)
Rogue and Julie
Rogue chewed her lip nervously and clung to Jono.
"Bobbyyyyyyyyyyyyy..." Julie cried as a snake opened up its mouth to bite her ankle.
Bobby, Gwen and Rebekah
"I'VE GOT YOU JULIE!" Bobby cried, standing up and scooping her in his arms, kicking away all the insects.
"Quel était celui?" Rebekah asked fearfully. (What was that?)
"No, please don't go," Gwen said, reaching for Mordred's arm. She pulled away quickly. "I'm sorry, that was innappropriate."
Jono, Octavian and Mordred
C'mon, let's take more of a gander round the place.
Jonothon and Rogue walked down the corridor.
"Je n'ai aucune idée... peut-être que c'était Julie et Bobby. Dans ce cas, je ne veux pas savoir." (I have no idea...maybe it was Julie and Bobby. In which case, I don't want to know.) Octavian made a face.
"I'm sorry, ma'am...I should go." Mordred bowed from the waist slightly. "But if you wish me to stay..."
Rogue and Julie
Rogue nodded. She kept hearing things... voice, but not just the voices she usually heard. And Calvin's just kept getting louder and louder.
Julie burst into tears in Bobby's arms.
Gwen, Bobby and Rebekah
Bobby kissed her head. "It's ok, it's ok, I've got you." He kept kicking the insects away.
"Peut-être. Espérons-l'est eux, et pas autre chose." Rebekah nodded. (Perhaps. Let us hope it is them, and not something else.)
Gwen looked at Mordred, with tears sparkling in her eyes. "Please stay, my husband, he's been away for so long, and... I need someone to keep me company."
Jono and the Mavericks
Jonothon gave Rogue a quick look of concern.
Are you alright, pet? Cos I can get Wolf or Dem to take you home if you aren't.
Octavian nodded, then waved at Demetria and his friends. "Demmie!"
Demetria turned around. "Tav. Bec. Find anything interesting?"
"Not really."
"I...I shouldn't, but I would be honoured too." Mordred looked uncomfortable.
Rebekah and Gwen
Rebekah shook her head. "No, shall we look down this hallway?"
Gwen smiled through her tears at Mordred. "Please, Anthony, stay. For me."
Sergei, Demetria and Mordred
"Da," Sergei said.
The group headed down the hallway.
"Ok, we have here...a bathroom. Nice bath," Demetria said, looking at the antique claw footed bath in the middle of the room.
"Anything for you..." Mordred whispered.
Gwen and Rebekah
"Yes, it's... huge," Rebekah commented, then frowned. "Where are Mordred and Gwen? Or should we not want to know?"
Gwen took a step closer to Mordred. "Thank you." She gestured at the cot. "He is ill again. My poor darling boy."
Rogue and Julie
"Ah... Ah don't know..." Rogue gulped. "All the voices... they've making me nervous. Ah'm probably just being silly."
Julie sniffed.
"Where are they all coming from? Evil, evil things!"
Mordred, Demetria, Sergei and Jono
"We probably don't want to know," Demetria said, wrinkling her nose.
Vortigern shook his head. "No...they're just talking."
"Handy, having him around," Sergei commented.
"Is he? Did you call the doctor?" Mordred asked in concern.
You're not silly, pet. Jonothon said.
Gwen, Bobby and Rebekah
"The doctor's say... that he cannot be helped."
Gwen wiped a tear away.
"My poor darling boy."
She turned to face Mordred.
"Anthony? Would you like to join me for... for a cup of tea?"
Bobby held Julie tightly. "It's ok... we'll work this out. Hopefully."
Rebekah nodded. "Perhaps we should check on them later."
Rogue and Julie
"Thank... thank you," Rogue replied.
Calvin... noooooo...
Julie yelped and swiped at a rather large spider that was crawling up Bobby's back.
"Oh gosh, there's so many of them..." she whimpered.
Mordred, Sergei and JOno
"That would be very pleasant, ma'am," Mordred said, then looked worried. "Are you sure it wouldn't be too improper?"
"Later, later, much later." Sergei nodded.
Let's go back and find the others. Jonothon said, suddenly worried for Rogue.
Bobby, Rebekah and Gwen
Bobby nodded, looking at the ground. "I don't know, think we can make a break for it?"
Rebekah nodded. "I do not think it would be quite pleasant to see that. Anyway, when we are finished exploring, shall we have a sing along? Zis place has perfect acoustics."
Gwen smiled. "I shouldn't worry, what is a pot of tea between... between friends? And please, Anthony, we have known each other for years. Please call me Elizabeth."
Julie and Rogue
Calvin, stop... stop it...
"Okay..." Rogue said darkly.
Julie sniffed.
"Okay," she agreed, nervously. "On three?"
Vortigern, Mordred, Sergei and Jono
"Yes that's a great idea," Vortigern said.
"Da!" Sergei nodded. "I bet Jono brought his guitar...he never goes anywhere without it."
"We can get some rehearsal in," Vortigern said.
"As you wish...Elizabeth." Mordred smiled shyly at her.
Jonothon curled his fingers around hers. C'mon, the others are this way...
Bobby and Gwen
Bobby counted, and with Julie in his arms, he bounded off the bed and out the door, slamming it shut behind them. He peeled his jumper off and handed it to Julie. "Here. Your shirt is still in there."
Gwen took another step towards Mordred, so she was standing right in front of him, lips so close. "Thank you, shall we go?" She started to leave the room, pausing only to look once more in the cot.
Rogue and Julie
Rogue looked at Jono, a disturbing expression on her face. She squeezed Jono's hand hard.
Julie sniffed.
"Thank you," she said, taking the jumper.
She pulled it on and wiped her eyes.
"I don't like this place. Let's get out of here."
Mordred and Jono
"Yes, ma'am...ah, Elizabeth." Mordred shook himself lightly and followed her.
Jonothon looked at Rogue, disturbed.
Rogue...are you alright?
Mordred and Sergei
"Elizabeth..." Mordred murmured, kissing her almost chastely on the lips. "We really shouldn't...what if your husband comes home?"
"Hey, Bobby!" Sergei waved at Bobby and Julie.
Gwen and Bobby
"There were... like snakes and spiders and stuff in the room!" Bobby exclaimed.
Gwen put her arms around Mordred's neck. "No, he will not be home for awhile." She kissed him passionately.
The Mavericks
"Nasty!" Angelo exclaimed.
"Quite," Demetria said, nodding.
Vortigern had a slightly worried look on his face.
"Will he not?" MOrdred kissed her back, hands on her waist. "Then we had best make use of the time we have."
Gwen and Bobby
Bobby nodded. "It was... there... bleugh!" He shivered.
Gwen rested her head on Mordred's shoulders, breathing in his scent.
"Yes, shall we go to my room, my darling love?"
The Mavericks and Sergei
Vortigern suddenly turned on his heel and fled down the stairs. "Anthony!"
"What the hell?" Sergei said.
"I have no idea what that was about," Octavian said.
"Me neither," Demetria said softly.
"Should we go find out?" Angelo suggested.
"Your every whim is my command, dear lady," Mordred said softly, then he moved away from her when there was a knock on the door.
"Begging your pardon, ma'am, can I speak to Anthony for a moment?" Vortigern said, opening the door.
Rebekah and Gwen
Rebekah nodded and frowned. "There are... there are strange feelings in the air. Forbidden love."
Gwen nodded at Vortigern. "Of course, but, please, do not keep him for too long."
Mordred and Vortigern
"Yes, ma'am, of course, ma'am," Vortigern babbled, touching his forehead like he was tipping his hat.
Mordred frowned as he came over to the door and went through it. He closed it behind him.
"Have you gone stark raving mad?!" Vortigern whispered furiously. "She's the master's wife!"
"I...I know." Mordred bit his lip. "But I love her so..."
"You're a fool!"
Rebekah and Gwen
Gwen stared at the door for a minute, then opened it, walking straight past Mordred and Vortigern and into another room. The sitting room. She perched herself on the end of the couch and starting to sew an invisible tapestry.
Rebekah started to lead the others to where she was sensing the emotions. "It's... forbidden love... melancholy... anger. Something terrible happened in this house, and per'aps it is still 'appening."
Mordred and Vortigern
Vortigern took Mordred by the shoulders and shook him roughly.
"Anthony, you need to end this!"
"I can only end it if I die..."
"If not for your sake, then for hers! What would become of her if society found out she was involved with her husband's secretary?!"
"David, I just can't!"
Gwen
Gwen stood up and placed the tapestry down, and went back out to Mordred and Vortigern.
"David... please... I love Anthony, and I have no care of what society will say."
Mordred and Vortigern
"Ma'am, forgive me for speaking so crassly, but you're both as big a fool as the other."
Vortigern went to the floor as Mordred punched him.
"Watch your tongue!"
"So. That's the way it is." Vortigern looked up at Mordred, rubbing his jaw.
"This won't end well, you mark my words."
Gwen and Rebekah
"Please, David... people will never understand what Anthony and I have," Gwen said quietly, laying a hand on Mordred's arm, holding him back.
Rebekah frowned.
"Someone just got hurt... there's... there's so much sadness in the air. We have to find the others."
Mordred and Vortigern
"People won't understand...and they'll condemn you both for it." Vortigern stood. "Do you want to be called a whore?"
Mordred almost went for him.
"Because that's what they'll call you, ma'am. Anthony will find no legal employ. You're both going to get caught. Sooner or later...the lower servants are already beginning to whisper. You're not as secure as you noth seem to think."
"David...I suggest you leave before I do something we both regret."
"And our friendship is worth nothing then? Dammit, Anthony, I'm trying to protect you!"
Gwen
A tear slid down Gwen's cheek.
"People will never understand, and people will always talk!" she said, raising her voice slightly.
"I know that once my husband finds out, there will be trouble, but a part of me does not even care. David, you once told me to follow my heart, do you remember?"
Gwen's eyes pleaded with Vortigern.
"My marriage has never been about love. It has been about the right connections, money, prestige, never love."
Another tear fell.
"But if our love means that Anthony will be hurt, then I... I cannot be so selfish as to do that to him."
Mordred and Vortigern
"You will both suffer for it," Vortigern said.
"We will leave New York...and go back to England."
"Oh, Anthony...only one thing spreads faster then scandal. And that's the Plague. It'll follow you."
The group of ther friends were now watching with puzzlement as the trio acted out their drama.
Rebekah and Gwen
Rebekah held onto Octavian's hand and whimpered slightly. "There is so much pain... what is happening?"
"But I cannot stay with my husband, my feelings forbid it in every way. We will start a fresh! Go not to England, but to France, Italy, anywhere. Anywhere to be together. I cannot live without my darling," Gwen pleaded, her hand slipping into Mordred's.
The Mavericks
"This is the...oddest thing I have ever seen," Octavian said slowly.
"You think they're high?"
"No..." Demetria frowned slightly.
"Nor I without you, my love."
Mordred squeezed Gwen's hand tightly.
"David there has never been another woman for me...nor will there."
"Anthony, you can't mean to do this..."
"I can, and I will."
"You're both throwing your lives away!"
"But a life without love is nothing anyway..."
"Fools! You're both being so very stupid..." Vortigern looked like he was on the verge of crying. "You're both going to ruin the other's life..."
Gwen and Rebekah
"But how can this be so wrong when it feels so right! David, I know the risks, I knew them when this first started, and I do not intend to leave my love behind, just because it would be frowned upon. Love, love does not work that way. Things try to stop you, yes, but love will always come through!" Gwen was crying, almost hysterical at the thought of losing Mordred.
"Oh God!" Rebekah grabbed her head as the emotions shot through the roof. "They have to... they have to stop!"
Sergei and Mordred
Sergei's hand shot to his head and he winced.
"Borzhemoi..."
"Sergei?" Angelo said, worried.
Sergei stood up straight and stormed down the stairs.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Mordred moved in front of Gwen protectively.
Gwen and Rebekah
Gwen stepped out from behind Mordred to face Sergei.
"John, it was nothing. A slight disagreement with the staff."
"Ow! Anger, pain, love, it's all... it's all mixed and I can't change it," Rebekah whispered.
Sergei and Mordred
"Don't lie to me, Elizabeth," Sergei snapped. "Anthony, I need those reports. And after that...I want you out of my house."
"Sir..."
"SILENCE! You think I don't know?!"
Gwen
"No! John, you cannot do this!"
Gwen placed her hand on Sergei's arm.
"Please, please, it's not what you think, please, don't do this!"
Sergei and Mordred
"Watch me, my darling *wife*," Sergei spat venomously. "You forget your place. You can't even give me an heir."
"Sir! I must protest!" Mordred said, stepping forward.
"I want you gone from New York within the next two days, or Ill see you don't get employment anywere."
Gwen
Gwen put a hand to her stomach as though she'd been hit.
"John, please don't do this. I am sorry! I am so very sorry. Please, do not make him leave, please! He did not do anything!"
She shook Sergie's arm slightly.
Sergei and Mordred
Sergei shook her off violently.
"Whore! Do not touch me again, unless *I* desire you to."
Mordred's fist came out of nowhere.
"Get. Out."
Sergei glared at Mordred and wiped a trickle from the corner of his mouth.
"I give you the night to leave New York. That is all. You should thank me for not putting you in jail."
Gwen
Gwen looked up from her place on the ground, then stood up and reached for Mordred's hand. She took a deep breath.
"If he leaves, then I will go with him."
She fixed Sergei with an icy stare.
"Do not forget, *husband*, that you married me for *my* connections. Even though I am just a woman, you must remember that I hold the stronger family name."
Mordred, Sergei and Vortigern
Sergei's face twisted into an ugly snarl.
"You will be denounced as the whore you are, and your connections will be worth nothing. You don't get to leave unless I give you leave."
"I will leave with her." Mordred looked at Sergei calmly.
"You betrayed my trust. Both of you. You swore before *God* to be faithful, cleaving onto me only...you are both in peril for your immortal souls."
The trio were ignoring Vortigern who stood by, wringing his hands.
Gwen
"I would rather spend my afterlife suffering eternal torment than spend *another* moment as your wife!" Gwen said, her eyes narrow with anger, encouraging Sergei to hit her.
"I will leave when I please, and I please to with Anthony. He has given me something that your money has never been able to provide. Love."
Mordred and Sergei
Sergei slapped her openpalm across the face.
Mordred leapt for him and the two tussled on the floor.
Gwen
Gwen fell back to the ground, holding her cheek, feeling like it was going to explode. She stood up again and desperately tried to separate the two.
"Anthony, please, let's just leave!"
No answer.
"John, get off him, or I swear before everyone here, I will kill you myself." Gwen's voice was deadly calm, and her eyes were flashing with malice.
Sergei and Mordred
"Slut," Sergei spat. He moved his hand like he was cocking an old fashioned flint lock pistol.
Mordred's eyes were closed as he panted for breath.
"You even move...and I'll blow your lover's brains onto the floor. He's just a weak clerk. Not used to fighting. Go to your bedroom, and then we'll continue this discussion on matrimonial duties...my wife."
Gwen
Gwen's eyes closed in defeat, tears falling.
"As you wish," she whispered, turning around to go to the bedroom.
"I am sorry, Anthony," she wept quietly.
Sergei, Mordred and Vortigern
Sergei bashed his closed fist against Mordred's head and headed towards the stairs, blind to their horrifed audience.
"Remove this filth from my house," he ordered Vortigern.
Vortigern nodded and went across the floor to his brother, picking him up under the arms and dragging him towards the front door.
"I told you, Anthony..." A tear slipped down his cheek.
Sergei sneered and headed after Gwen, grabbing her arm hard.
"Now, my darling wife..." He slapped her again. "Shall we continue our talk?"
Gwen
Gwen's tears slid down her cheeks.
"NO! What did you do to him?!" she screamed, turning and trying to push Sergei away with all her might, then running back down the stairs, her hands lighting the invisible long skirt and petticoat, as she headed after Mordred.
"Anthony!" she cried.
Sergei, Vortigern and Mordred
Sergei snarled and ran after her, catching her by the hair and throwing her at his feet.
"Your lover shall live. You, however, might not. I'd start fearing for your own skin."
"Beth..." Mordred moaned as Vortigern dragged him to the door.
Gwen
Gwen yelped.
"No, please! John, please no!"
She sobbed helplessly.
"Anthony..." she whispered.
Sergei
Sergei dragged her up with a grip on her arm and pushed her towards the stairs.
"My bedroom. *Now*."
Gwen
Gwen skittered up the stairs to his bedroom in resignation. Her sobs never stopped as she went to the bed and obediently sat on it.
"Please, please don't," she said softly.
Sergei
"And why not?" Sergei asked her as he stalked across the room to her, hands going through the movements of taking off his belt.
"You have betrayed me, you Jezebel."
He took hold of her shirt and ripped, before stripping it down her arms and throwing her onto the bed.
"And now, you shall pay."
He rolled her onto her back and brought his arm down like he was shipping her across the shoulders.
Gwen
Gwen didn't try to fight back, just lay there, crying into the bed.
"I'm sorry, so sorry," she whispered.
Sergei and Vortigern
Sergei snarled and brought his hand down hard.
Then he looked surprised and crumpled across the bed.
Vortigern stood behind him, looking deathly white and a heavy vase in his hands. He rolled the unconscious Sergei off Gwen and helped her up.
"Quick, you have to go."
Gwen
Gwen sat up, her shirt torn to shreds.
"Thank you, David," she whispered, getting to her feet and hobbling down the stairs, holding her stomach.
"Anthony?" she called fearfully.
Vortigern
"He's outside," Vortigern said, hurrying her to the front door.
"I got a carraige. You two will have to flee New York. I suggest Boston, or Chicago. Or maybe even San Fransico. Somewhere far from here. You don't want to be here when he wakes up..."
Vortigern hissed as her hand fell across his back.
Gwen
"Oh, I'm frightfully sorry," Gwen whispered.
She opened the door to see Mordred.
"Anthony! Thank you David, thank you..." she paused. "Come with us, he will be dreadfully angry, you must leave."
Vortigern
Vortigern smiled a broken smile.
"He'll be even more angry if I leave..."
He shook his head.
"Your husband...has tastes that would see him removed from all pleasant society if they knew."
Gwen
Gwen reached over and kissed Vortigern's cheek softly.
"Thank you, thank you," she whispered.
Mordred and Vortigern
"David, I..." Mordred murmured. "I never knew...why didn't you tell me?"
"That your best friend lets the master of the house bend him over the table and whip him like a dog because there is no other choice? I think not. Now go."
Vortigern pushed them both backwards out the door.
"GO! I'll be able to distract him..." Vortigern turned.
Gwen
Gwen let herself be pushed from the door, her hands reaching for Mordred.
"Oh Anthony, are you alright? I was so terribly worried, and I could not stop him!"
Mordred and Vortigern
"I'll be fine. I've just got a whopper of a headache," Mordred said to her, reaching out to Vortigern. "David! Come with us!"
"I have no other choice...go." Vortigern closed the door and walked slowly up the stairs, looking like a whipped dog knowing its about to get another beating.
Gwen
Gwen's lip trembled.
"We must help him. We cannot let him experience that."
Gwen ran back to the door and opened it, stepping through.
Mordred
"Elizabeth!" Mordred ran after her.
"At least, you go. I can rest easy, knowing you're safe..."
A cry of pain echoed down the stairwell.
Gwen
Gwen turned her head and whimpered.
"Anthony, he's hurting!"
She lifted her invisible skirt and ran up the stairs.
Mordred
"ELIZABETH!"
Mordred pelted after her and caught her by the arm.
"You go. I'll deal with John."
Gwen
"No, Anthony, I won't leave you, Please, don't make me go without you," Gwen pleaded, pulling him to where she could hear the screams.
"Oh my god," she whispered.
Sergei and Vortigern
Vortigern was lying face down on the bed, hands and feet tied to the four poles of the four poster bed. His pants were down around his knees and his shirt was ripped to shreds like it had been whipped from his back.
Sergei turned slightly to face them.
"Oh, hello. It's the whore who was my wife, and the traitor who was my employee. See? This is what happens to whores."
Sergei lifted his hand again, bringing it down in a way that meant a whip would have gone clear to the bone.
Vortigern arched his back slightly and screamed.
"An abomination and a desecration..."
Gwen
Gwen ran to Sergei and hit, bit and kicked, doing anything to get the whip from his hands.
"You sick bastard!" she screamed.
Sergei and Mordred
Sergei threw her from him and brought an invisible pistol from his belt.
"Good bye my wife..."
Mordred dove between Sergei and his target, crying out in pain as Anthony was shot.
Gwen
"NOOOOOOO!" Gwen shrieked, crawling over to Mordred and cradling his head in her lap, her tears falling on his face.
"You bastard!" she yelled, letting Mordred's head gently fall from her lap as she grabbed the pistol from Sergei's hands and turned it on herself. "I would never live without him." She shot herself, and slumped to the ground.
Sergei
Sergei stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Well, that solved two problems."
He turned his attention back to the figure on the bed.
"And now..."
Suddenly he cried out with pain and dropped to the floor.
Gwen
Gwen sat up, dazedly looking around.
"Um..."
Then she saw Mordred lying on the ground.
"Are you ok? Darling boy?"
Octavian and Mordred
Mordred stirred and got up.
"Gwen? What happened?"
"That's what we'd like to know," Octavian said dryly.
"YOu four have been acting like loonies...and someone get Gwen and Vortigern new clothes."
Sergei was still out cold on the floor.
Gwen and Rebekah
Gwen put her arms over her chest.
"What happened to Sergei?"
She was about to go over, when she realised she felt uneasy.
"You," Rebekah said softly. "You were meant to be. You were lovers in a past life."
Mordred and Vortigern
"That's...interesting."
Mordred got up and started untying Vortigern.
His twin's brown eyes fluttered open.
"Why...even in my past life, am I the one that gets hurt?"
Mordred laughed slightly.
"Because you're a noble idealistic self sacrificing fool."
Gwen and Rebekah
Gwen went to help Mordred untie Vortigern.
"Thank you, Vort... for everything," she said softly, helping him sit up, then going around to put her arms around Mordred, shivering now from the cold.
"Per'aps someone should help Sergei." Rebekah frowned. "It seems so amazing that you three, oh four, all knew each other in your past life. It's that myth, that if your souls are entwined in one lifetime, if you are truly meant to be together, you will find a way to find each other in the next life, and the next."
The Mavericks and Sergei
Sergei raised himself off the floor, groaning softly.
"Someone get da number of dat bus?"
He put a hand to his head, wincing.
"Wat da hell happened?"
"Possession," Demetria said chirpily. "And my, Sergei, you were wuite the bastard."
"I vas?"
"Oh yes."
"I can't...remember..."
"Well, that's something that's different with Sergei," Voritgern said. "Because I do..."
"And I don't have a headache." Mordred frowned.
Gwen and Rebekah
"And my face no longer feels like it's going to explode."
Gwen paused.
"Man, when that guy hit me, he meant business."
Rebekah looked thoughtful. "Per'aps it is because Sergei's soul was not the right one. He is not your true 'usband from the past."
Mordred, Vortigern and Sergei
"God, I hope so," Vortigern said. "That John was a real bastard..." His brown eyes looked haunted and Mordred opened his mouth. "And no, I'm not going to tell you. David should at least keep some dignity."
"Fine." Mordred shrugged.
"Oh, I need vodka..." Sergei got up and staggered past the group in the doorway, hands holding his head carefully.
"That was...informative." Mordred looked thoughtful.
Gwen
Gwen smiled sadly at Vortigern. "Yes, he was."
She touched her cheek as she left, going downstairs to the living room to find another shirt. She sat on top of her bed and hugged her chest for a few minutes, then rummaged through her bag and put another shirt on, then lay down on the bed, a tear falling. She didn't want to remember that.
Sergei, Mordred and Vortigern
Sergei was drinking steadily from a bottle as the rest of the darers came down the stairs.
"Much better," he said, wiping his mouth. "Vort, you alright?"
"Yeah...all the pain disappeared afterwards."
"I can't even remember dat much now...it's like a dream."
"Be glad," Vortigern told him sincerely.
Mordred went and sat next to Gwen.
"You alright, love?"
Gwen
Gwen sat up and hugged Mordred.
"Yes, I'm ok... I just... a little overwhelmed, I guess. Are you ok?"
She took his hand and entwined their fingers, their wedding bands catching the light slightly.
Mordred
"I'm fine." Mordred kissed her slowly.
"At least we found each other this time."
Gwen
Gwen nodded, her arms going around Mordred's neck, her fingers dancing along his collar.
"Yes... and hopefully we will not end as tragically. We will not end at all."
She kissed him again, passionately, moving closer, as if she would die if they weren't touching.
The Mavericks
Mordred kissed her back, making sure she really was still alive.
Octavian coughed slightly. "You know, Bobby abnd Julie found a bedroom, if you two really need to..."
Mordred flipped him the bird and kept kissing Gwen.
Vortigern put a new shirt on, sighing slightly.
Gwen and Rebekah
Gwen pulled back when they were both breathless. "I love you, my soulmate, my darling love."
Rebekah smiled and shooed everyone from the room. "Give them a few minutes. Dangerous, I know, but they do deserve it. They've just remembered their past lives." She sighed. "No wonder the spirits of this house were so uneasy."
MOrded
"I want you," Mordred whispered to her hoarsely.
"I love you Gwen...god, I never want to let you go."
He buried his face in her chest, arms wrapped around her and rocking slightly.
Gwen
Gwen showered his face in kisses, hugging him closer as she moved into his lap.
"I love you, I want you... I need you..." she whispered, moving to kiss him again. "My love, my darling..."
The Mavericks
Mordred closed his eyes and sent out telepathically.
Vort...ah, you guys might want to go upstairs.
Oh great.
Vortigern rolled his eyes, then started ushering everyone upstairs.
"Let's go."
"Oh yes, I really don't want to have to hear them...*again*." Demetria moved with alacrity.
Gwen, BObby and Rebekah
Gwen reached down to undo Mordred's pants, her mouth never leaving his.
Bobby grinned. "Lucky Mordred and Gwen."
Rebekah rolled her eyes. "They have just relived a most traumatic memory from a past life and you think they are lucky? You are most insane."
"Well, they're gonna have great sex, I bet," Bobby replied.
"Per'aps, but it is really none of our concern. Or business."
The Mavericks and Displaced
Mordred moaned into her mouth as he unziped Gwen's pants and tugged them down off her hips.
"Please, Gwen, please..."
Vortigern hit Bobby on the arm lightly.
"Be quiet. She's right, you know."
"And they really are quite vocal. I suggest we sing or something, so we don't have to listen to them," Demetria said as they found some sort of sitting room.
Octavian, Sergei and Angelo started pulling dustcovers off the seats so everyone could sit down.
Gwen, Bobby and Rebekah
Gwen helped Mordred out of his pants, lifting her body slightly to get her pants off completely. She lay down on the bed and pulled him down on top of her, her hands caressing his length and her tongue playing with his.
"My love..."
Bobby grinned. "Kidding."
Rebekah shook her head. "No you weren't. But let us move on. Here," she said, blowing the dust off the piano and lifting the lid. She pressed the keys and winced. "Out of tune... by a few hundred years. But, it is better than nothing." She started to play 'Come What May'.
Mordred and Vortigern
"I love you, Gwen," MOrdred whispered into her mouth. And he raised her hips slightly and slid smoothly into her, moaning with the sensation.
Flickers of other memories fluttered behind his eyelids.
Vortigern smiled as she started to play and waited for his cue.
"Never knew I could feel like this
Like I've never seen the sky before
I want to vanish inside your kiss
Every day I love You more and more..."
Gwen and Rebekah
"I love you too," Gwen replied softly, her arms around his neck, with one hand caressing his face gently as she kissed him again. She moaned quietly, thrusting her hips up to meet his. "My true love..."
Rebekah continued to play as she started to sing.
"Listen to my heart, can you hear it sings
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change, winter to spring
But I love you until the end of time..."
Mordred and Vortigern
Mordred gasped softly and reached down between them to rub her gently as his hips kept up their rhythmic thrusting.
"I love you Gwen...always."
"Come what may
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day..."
Vortigern and Rebekah sang together, voices threading together in harmony.
Gwen and Rebekah
Gwen's lips strayed to his neck and she sucked on his skin, turning it into a large purple hickey.
"And I will always love you, Mordred. Forever."
She moaned again, closing her eyes in ecstasy.
"Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place
Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste
It all revolves around you..."
Rebekah sang, her hands gliding over the broken piano gracefully.
Mordred and Vortigern
Mordred kissed her forcefully.
"Mine."
"And there's no mountain too high
No river too wide
Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side
Storm clouds may gather
And storms may collide
But I love you until the end of time..."
Vortigern paused to take a breath as they moved into the chorus.
"Oh, come what may-"
Gwen and Rebekah
Gwen kissed him back, her back arching off the bed slightly.
"Yours. And you're mine."
Rebekah and Vortigern finished singing, and Rebekah played the last few notes on the piano, then sat thoughtfully.
"If anyone has any requests..."
She trailed off and started to play another song, then began to sing.
"Since I was a small girl
I've always been alone
Tried so hard to find someone
That I could call my own
But you made me feel important
Someone special in your eye
Knowing that you care for me
Has made me come alive
Am I heading in the right direction
For your loving and affection
Is this gonna be a brand new start
Is this the way to your heart?
Day to day I hope and pray
That this feeling is really gonna grow
And I know
That I'm heading in the right direction
For your loving and affection
And it's gonna be a brand new start
Is this the way to your heart
It's time
For your loving and affection
For your love
Is this the way to your heart?"
OOC: Heading In The Right Direction - Renee Gayer
The Mavericks
"Always, always," Mordred promised in a broken moan as he drive into her again and again.
Octavian and Demetria shared a glance, then stood up.
"We're quite happy to play."
"After all, our parents spent ever so much money making sure we could..."
Rebekah moved off the piano stool and both Octavian and Demetria sat down at it to play a duet.
Their hands started to move as Demetria opened her mouth.
"We are trav'ling in the footsteps
Of those who've gone before
But we'll all be reunited-"
"But if we stand reunited-" Octavian cut in.
"On a new and sunlit shore-"
"Then a new world is in store-"
"O when the Saints go marching in
When the Saints go marching in
O Lord I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in," they sang together, fingers flying
over the keys, her voice high and sweet, his a light tenor.
"And when the sun refuse-"
"Begins-"
"To shine
And when the sun refuse-"
"Begins-"
"To shine
O Lord I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in
When the moon turns red with blood-"
"When the moon turns red with blood-"
"O Lord I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in
On that hallelujah day-"
"On that hallelujah day-"
"O Lord I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in
O when the trumpet sounds the call-"
"O when the trumpet sounds the call-"
"O Lord I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in
"Some say this world of trouble
Is the only one we need
But I'm waiting for that morning
When the new world is revealed
"When the revelation-"
"Revolution-"
"Comes When the revelation-"
"Revolution-"
"Comes
O Lord I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in
When the rich go out and work
When the rich go out and work
O Lord I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in
When the air is pure and clean
When the air is pure and clean
O Lord I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in
When we all have food to eat
When we all have food to eat
O Lord I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in
When our leaders learn to cry
When our leaders learn to cry
O Lord I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in..."
Demetria and Octavian sang catch as catch can, swapping lines and verses with easy harmony.
Gwen and Rebekah
Gwen's muscles clenched as she started to come.
"MORDRED!" she cried.
Rebekah looked around the room. "Ok, you were right, Dem, they *are* very loud."
The Mavericks
"Indeed," Demetria sniffed, "and if I'm not mistaken-"
"GWEN!" Mordred shouted as he came.
"And there's the second half. Now..." Demetria cracked her knuckles and edged Octavian off the seat.
"Let's play something for goodness sakes before Mordred does something else."
"Ah yeah
Love me two time baby
Love me twice today
Love me two time girl
I'm goin' away
Love me two time girl
Once for tomorrow, once just for today
Love me two time I'm goin' away
Love me one time, girl
I could not speak
Love me one time, baby
You know my knees got weak
Love me two time girl
Love me all through the week
Love me two times I'm goin' away
Love me two times I'm goin' away
Yeah
Love me one time
Could not speak
Love me one time, baby
You know my knees got weak
Love me two time girl
Love me all through the week
Love me two times I'm goin' away
Love me two time baby
Love me twice today
Love me two time baby
Well I'm goin' away
Love me two time girl
Once for tomorrow, once just for today
Love me two times I'm goin' away, yeah
Love me two times I'm goin' away
Love me two times I'm goin' away, yeah..."
Octavian sang to Demetria's accompiament.
OOC: Love me two times - The Doors
Rebekah and Gwen
Rebekah paused thougtfully and picked up her guitar which Bobby had thought to grab for her. She sat on the couch and strummed the chords as she started to sing. Tears glistened in her eyes.
"Everyone falls in love sometime
Sometimes it's wrong, and sometimes it's right
For every win, someone must fail
But there comes a point when
When we exhale
Shoop, shoop, shoop
Shoop be doop, shoop, shoop
Sometimes you'll laugh
Sometimes you'll cry
Life never tells us, the when's or why's
When you've got friends, to wish you well
You'll find your point when
You will exhale
Hearts are often broken
When there are words unspoken
In your soul there's answers to your prayers
If you're searching for a place you know
A familiar face, somewhere to go
You should look inside yourself
You're halfway there
Sometimes you'll laugh
Sometimes you'll cry
Life never tells us, to wish you well
You'll find your point when
You will exhale..."
Gwen was out of breath but she pulled Mordred's head down for another kiss. "My darling, I love you."
OOC: Waiting To Exhale - Whitney Housten.
Mordred and Demetria
"I love you, my soulmate," Mordred murmured. He stretched lazily. "You think we should tell to come back down?"
"Last night I heard the screaming
Loud voices behind the wall
Another sleepless night for me
It won't do no good to call
The police
Always come late
If they come at all
And when they arrive
They say they can't interfere
With domestic affairs
Between a man and his wife
And as they walk out the door
The tears well up in her eyes
Last night I heard the screaming
Then a silence that chilled my soul
I prayed that I was dreaming
When I saw the ambulance in the road
And the policeman said
"I'm here to keep the peace
Will the crowd disperse
I think we all clould use some sleep..." Demetria sang, almost
acapella except for a note at the beginning of each verse to keep her
tune.
Behind the walls by Tracy Chapman
Gwen and Rebekah
Gwen smiled and kissed him, efore reaching for her pj pants. "Maybe we should dress first, you know, so we don't flash our friends." She grinned cheekily. "Coz I only like flashing you." She pulled her shirt over her head, and replaced it with the singlet top that went with the pj bottoms. She kissed him again. "I love you, my life."
Rebekah clapped and thought for a second.
"I thought I saw a man brought to life
He was warm he came around and he was dignified
He showed me what it was to cry
Well you couldn't be that man I adored
You don't seem to know, seem to care what your heart is for
Well I don't know him anymore
There's nothing where he used to lie
The conversation has run dry
That's what's going on
Nothing's fine I'm torn
I'm all out of faith
This is how I feel
I'm cold and I am shamed
Lying naked on the floor
Illusion never changed
Into something real
I'm wide awake and I can see
The perfect sky is torn
You're a little late
I'm already torn
So I guess the fortune teller's right
I should have seen just what was there and not some holy light
But you crawled beneath my veins and now
I don't care—I have no luck—I don't miss it all that much
There's just so many things
That I can't touch I'm torn
I'm all out of faith
This is how I feel
I'm cold and I am shamed
Lying naked on the floor
Illusion never changed
Into something real
I'm wide awake and I can see
The perfect sky is torn
You're a little late
I'm already torn
There's nothing where he used to lie
My inspiration has run dry
That's what's going on
Nothing's right I'm torn
I'm all out of faith
This is how I feel
I'm cold and I am shamed
Lying naked on the floor
Illusion never changed
Into something real
I'm wide awake and I can see
The perfect sky is torn
I'm all out of faith
This is how I feel
I'm cold and I'm ashamed
Bound and broken on the floor
You're a little late I'm already torn..."
OOC: Torn - Natalie Imbruglia
The Mavericks and Sergei
Mordred smiled. "I love you, my heart." He kissed her, then got into his own black silky pj's. He cuddled her for a moment, just smelling the scent of her.
Vortigern looked up.
"They're finished..."
He frowned slightly.
"Which reminds me...anyone seen Jono and Rogue?"
Sergei whistled.
"You have a dirty mind," Demetria said.
"I think we should find them," Vortigern said softly. "I think I have a bad feeling about this..."
Rogue
Rogue looked at Jono with a snide smirk on her face.
"Oh, Ah'm fine. Really," she replied in a voice not her own.
She reached behind her for the candelabra.
Gwen, Rebekah and Bobby
Gwen smiled, enjoying the feel of Mordred's arms around her. "Thank God we found each other... I could never live without you, my darling."
Rebekah set her guitar down. "Oui, there is still something... chilling in the air."
"Agreed." Bobby put his arms around Julie. "Come on, we gotta find Rogue and Jono. I'd usually say leave them be, but after that soap opera, which was better than Passions, by the way, I've got a slightly worried feeling in my mind."
Julie
"Yeah, same," Julie agreed.
Then came a crashing noise, and Julie looked up at Bobby in alarm.
"Oh why do I have a sudden impending feeling of doom?"
Bobby
Bobby pulled Julie closer.
"Probably because we just watched our friends get possessed and act out some sordid love affair they'd had in a past life. Or it could be because you and I were in a room full of insects and snakes. Or maybe it's because this place is creepy."
The Mavericks
"There is that," Octavian said.
"I still want to know why I'm always the one who gets hurt..." Vortigern murmured.
"Well, Gwen and Mordred died," Octavian said helpfully.
"That's not really helpful, Tav..."
"He does have that effect," Demetria said cheerfully.
"Oh, bite me, Dem."
"Not if you paid me, Tav. Why don't we go investigate that crashing noise?"
Rogue and Julie
"How about all of the above?" Julie suggested to Bobby.
Rogue looked at Jono in fascinated horror. The bandages were burning, burning, burning... what an interesting result...
She left the room. Time to play with the others. Her mind, fighting with Calvin's, started thinking of way to kill them.
Kill them all.
Mordred and Vortigern
Vortigern frowned.
"We need to find Jono and Rogue."
Wolf!
What?
Jono and Rogue are missing...and see that?
That's not Rogue. Let's go.
Mordred looked at Gwen.
"I think we've got some trouble, love."
"C'mon, people." Vortigern started out the door and everyone followed.
Bobby and Gwen
Bobby nodded. "Mmkay."
Gwen sighed. "Never fails." She stood up and reached for Mordred's hand. "Alright, let's go," she said, slipping some shoes on.
The Mavericks
"Yeah..." Mordred took Gwen's hand and squeezed gently. "I'm sure it will be fine love."
"Say...does anyone else smell something burning?" Angelo asked.
Octavian inhaled through his nose lightly and nodded.
"I do."
"I as well," Demetria said softly.
"We better find whatever it is and put it out before it caused any serious damage."
Gwen, Bobby and Rebekah
Gwen and Mordred joined the others quickly, her hand firmly in his. "Just as well we have the ice kid here then."
Bobby smiled slightly. "I come in handy."
Rebekah coughed and shook her head. "There's something not right in the air... emotions are weird."
Rogue
Rogue peered at them from the doorway, a smirk on her face.
Sitting ducks, the lot of them.
Maybe she should find a way to trap them in here and let the fire do its magic, although... they could put it out... ahh, she'd think of something.
Sergei and Mordred
"How are the emotions weird?" Sergei asked. He looked slightly confused.
"I don't think Rogue's quite herself...we need to find Jono, quickly," Mordred said.
Rebekah, Gwen and Bobby
"They're uneven." Rebekah frowned. "It was like when you were all possessed, except... more halting. This person is their self, but... not. They seem to be fighting within themselves."
"So that would be Rogue fighting with one of the voices?" Bobby asked.
"Then we should find them. But ah, maybe we shouldn't split up. This house is just too weird," Gwen said.
Julie
"Calvin maybe..." Julie said quietly. "Isn't she always saying his is the loudest voice?"
Vortigern and Sergei
"Now I'm really worried for Jono," Vortigern said.
"Da, tovarisch." Sergei nodded, frowning.
"Let's find him quickly. We can worry about Rogue after we make sure Jono's still alive..."
Rogue
Rogue removed her choker and stuff it into her pocket. As the group went past, she used her atom manipulation to make a large deer trophy fall from the wall, then ran through the wall so they couldn't catch her.
Rebekah and Gwen
"What was that?" Rebekah said, panicked. She shivered.
Gwen charged her arm up with sparks and looked around. "Right... anyone who is good at lurking, come with me."
The Mavericks
"Me," Mordred said.
"Wolf's an excellent lurker," Octavian said.
Mordred smiled briefly, then he and Vortigern seemed to merge into the shadows.
"We'll do a scout," Vortigern's voice came from a seemingly empty patch of air.
"You lot keep together," Mordred said, then moved off.
Gwen and Bobby
"Handy," Gwen commented softly, then crept along the hallway, unseen by anyone but Mordred and Vort.
"Ok, that was kinda cool," Bobby said. "Right, let's go put this fire out."
The Mavericks and Jono
"Quite," Octavian said.
"Breaking in is one thing. Causing permenant damage is another..."
Jonothon's eyes fluttered open and he tried to move himself up off the floor. Bloody hell. He felt his face. The bandages were gone. Bloody buggering f*ck. Now he knew why his mutation meant he didn't sleep.
Vortigern moved through the corridors silently, invisible.
Mordred grinned at Gwen for a moment, then was serious again as he hunted Rogue.
Rogue
Rogue tended to the front doors. She considered the locks for a moment, then used her power to fuse the locking mechanisim. Then she ran off to do the same to all other exits.
Gwen
Gwen frowned as they came to more stairs. She shivered again, shrugging off old memories of the house, then headed for the door she could see.
Displaced and Demetria
Jonothon made it to his feet and put his hand against the wall. Ow, he had a headache. He set off to find the others and warn them.
Octavian looked around, senses on full alert. Demetria was floating ever so slightly in her distress.
"Jono?" Sergei called out.
Here. Jonothon moved towards them. Rogue 'it me over the back of the head. I don't know where she is now.
Rebekah and Bobby
Rebekah folded her arms across her chest, shivering slightly.
"Do you think they've found her?" she whispered.
Bobby shrugged. "I don't know whether to hope yes or no."
Rogue and Julie
Rogue looked down at them from the high ceiling and grinned maliciously. Let's see, who shall we take down first?
"Ahh!" Julie yelped, hearing something fall.
She put her hand to her chest from shock, then looked down.
"What the... isn't this Rogue's choker?"
Then she looked up.
Displaced and Demetria
"Don't let her touch you," Octavian said softly as he moved the group backwards.
I know that's you, Calvin. Get the hell out of my girl's mind.
Sergei cracked his knuckles slightly.
"He'll atom shock you if he can. It's an alien trick," Sergei warned.
"Let's leave. Quickly." Demetria watched Rogue carefully. "Let Mordred and Vortigern deal with it."
Gwen, Bobby and Rebekah
Gwen headed back for the others, not really knowing where she was, and not really knowing where Mordred and Vortigern were. She used her old instincts to creep around the house, then she found a room she wished she had not entered. A study. Curiousity took the better of her as she went to the old rolltop desk and blew the dust off it. She used some clips to unlock it and opened the cover, and lifted the secret compartment she instinctively knew was there.
It was an old letter from Anthony to Elizabeth.
Gwen picked up the letter, to discover more under it. There was no time to read them now, so she lifted them all and tucked them safely into her pockets, then turned around to leave the room, heading back to where she'd heard Julie scream.
Bobby nodded. "Agreed."
Rebekah reached for his hand and squeezed it tightly, shivering as she could feel what Calvin was feeling. "Quickly."
Rogue
"Aww... you're not dead Jono," Rogue snickered. "Such a shame. Oh well, guess that just means I get to try again."
She started to climb down.
"Now, let me see... who to kill first... and how. How is just as important, if not more."
Vortigern
The group backed out of the room. Octavian felt Mordred brush his hand and nodded slightly in recognition.
Vortigern moved in front of the group, invisible to the naked eye.
Everybody close your eyes... He murmured to everyone close by except Rogue. NOW!
He let off a blinding flash in front of Rogue's eyes.
Rogue
"Ahh!" Rogue yelped, her hands rushing to her eyes. "My eyes! My eyes!"
She crumpled to the ground from shock.
Rebekah and Gwen
Rebekah buried her head into Bobby's shoulder, squeezing her eyes shut.
Gwen walked back into the room, folding her arms.
"So, what do we do now?"
Vortigern and Mordred
Vortigern reappeared.
"That's only temporary. Should we just go back to the mansion? Rogue can be restrained until she comes to."
Mordred borrowed Demetria's scarf and tied Rogue's hand behind her back.
"That might be the best thing."
Rogue and Julie
Rogue started swearing at them and shouting some rather degrading insults.
"Wow," Julie commented. "I didn't think she was capable of such language. Oh! I should put this choker back on her..."
She tucked her hands up into the sleeves of Bobby's jumper, then awkwardly managed to get the choker back on Rogue.
Bobby and Gwen
Gwen flicked a spark up in her hand and tossed it at Rogue, knocking her out.
"She'll have a headache when she gets up, but that should keep her out for a bit."
Bobby gestured to the living room. "Come on, we'll get our stuff and go. Um, Mordred, you can port Rogue back, yeah?"
MOrdred and Octavian
"Yeah."
Mordred hefted Rogue onto his shoulder like a limp sack.
"Be back after I get her restrained down in the Medlabs," Mordred said before he teleported.
"We'll help you put everything back," Octavian said and everyone headed down to help.
Julie
"Okay," Julie said. "Let's get out of here before we have to deal with anymore insects and snakes and ghosts and psychopathic murderers and get the hell out of here."
Bobby and Gwen
Bobby led them back to the living room where they started packing quickly. He went to the front door to go outside, but it was jammed.
"Uh... we have another problem."
Gwen came out to see what he was going on about. "There are more exits, out the other side of the house. Go find them, I'll work on the door."
"How?"
"Bobby, I'm a thief and I can unfuse things with my power... how do you think I'm gonna do it, ask it nicely?"
"No need to get snarky."
"Bobby, I was just posessed by my former life, and then Rogue's gone insane, I can be as snarky as I want."
Bobby grinned and went back into the living room.
"Another problem... the front door's jammed, we need to find another exit."
Mordred and Demetria
Mordred delivered Rogue to Hank and had her restrained to the bed again.
Then he 'ported back in time to catch the end of Bobby's comment.
"Two teleporters, we can make short work of this. Just have some snacks ready, 'porting takes up energy," Mordred said and he looked at Demetria.
"Oh, quite, Mordred darrrling. Let's hop to it then."
The two started teleporting everyone and all the stuff they'd brought with them outside next to the car.
Julie
When JUlie got outside, she did as had been requested and got some food out for the two teleporters.
"I hope Rogue's going to be okay..."
Bobby and Rebekah
Bobby nodded.
"Dr McCoy will take care of her. Come on, let's get out of here."
He hopped into the drivers seat, Rebekah right behind him. He started the engine while waiting for everyone to get into the car.
The Mavericks
Demetria and Mordred did their last ports, then Demetria fainted into Octavian's arms.
Mordred leant on Vortigern and his face was kinda white.
"Let's get going."
Everyone piled into the car.
Mordred, and Demetria when she came round which she did quickly, greedily consumed snack food in an effort to boost their drained energy levels.
Bobby, Gwen and Rebekah
Bobby stepped on the gas and drove them all back to the mansion as quickly as possible.
Rebekah, Bobby and Gwen got out and started unpacking the van, Gwen taking her and Mordred's stuff.
"You ok, love?" she asked.
The Mavericks and Displaced
"'M fine. I need to sleep though," Mordred said, swaying slightly. Vortigern put an arm around his chest and made Mordred drape an arm over his shoulders.
"C'mon, Wolf. You really over did it tonight..."
"It's all the little ports," Mordred said fuzzily as Vortigern started to help him to his room.
"C'mon, Dem." Octavian helped Demetria to bed.
"So...that was fun." Sergei looked around. "But let's not do that again, I think."
Jonothon had vanished in the direction of the Medlab.
Rebekah, Bobby and Gwen
"Agreed," Rebekah said, taking her stuff to her room.
Bobby nodded and headed in the direction of his room, stopping to drop the keys off.
Gwen lifted hers and Mordred's stuff, and went to their room, dumping it all on the ground and going over to the bed, exhausted. She pulled out the letters she'd found and tucked them safely into a drawer, key locking it.
Julie and Rogue
Julie headed to her room as well. She considered picking up the twins, but opted just to enjoy the rest of the night without having to wake up to feed them.
Rogue moaned grogily. Man, she had a headache! She blinked and barely registered she was in the medlab.
The Mavericks and Jono
MOrdred collapsed onto his bed and almost immediately fell asleep. Vortigern left quietly and went to find Spike.
Octavian rolled his eyes as some silly little student shrieked at him to get out.
"Tav...what is it?" Demetria mumbled.
"Some stupid little chit, don't worry about it."
"Ok..."
Demetria closed her eyes as her head hit the pillow.
Octavian left to find his own bed.
Jonothon tapped a pencil nervously.
Rogue luv, you awake?
Please let that be her.
Gwen, Rebekah and Bobby
Gwen sat on the bed and stroked the side of Mordred's face affectionately, then lay down and kissed his head, closing her eyes and going to sleep.
Rebekah and Bobby went straight to their rooms to sleep.
Rogue
Rogue blinked.
"Mmm... Jono?"
She felt the vague sensation of Calvin quieting down in her mind.
Jono
Yeah, it's me. You gave us quite a fright...
Jonothon had replaced the bandages.
He cupped the curve of her face for a moment, brown eyes deep pools of worry.
Rogue
Rogue focused on Jono. Then it all came flooding back.
"Oh man... I'm, I'm so sorry!"
Jono
That's definetly Rogue.
Jonothon soon made short work of the restraints.
It's all right, pet. Really. It wasn't you.
Rogue
"Yes it was," Rogue replied. "It was me. I let that stupid place get to me and then, then... I let him take over."
Jono
You didn't let him take over.
Jonothon took her hand in his and squuezed lightly.
Rogue
Rogue chewed her lip.
"I must have. How else... how else... Are you okay? I didn't hurt you did I?"
Jono
You didn't, I'm fine, everybody's fine.
JOnothon looked at her seriously.
Rogue, this wasn't your fault.
Rogue
Rogue shook her head and sat up slowly.
"You're... you're always saying that. But I... you said my voices are only a irritating buzz to you, Jono. I'm always fighting with Calvin. Even now... always fighting..."
Jono
We need the prof back. You'll get them under control, you'll see.
Jonothon gave her a serious look.
Rogue
Rogue was silent for a moment, then put her arms around Jono in a hug.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
Jono
Not a problem.
Jonothon hugged her back.