Chapter Thirty-three<\/b><\/p>\n
Angel stood outside Dr. Red Bear\u2019s house. The front door lay shattered on the porch from the force of Angel\u2019s kick. . Angel glared through the doorway, the internal rage that was boiling inside threatening to explode.<\/p>\n
The opening teased at him, taunting him, prohibiting him to enter. Angel picked up stone planter and threw it into the entrance with all of his strength. The resounding crash only slightly relieved some of his frustration and fury.<\/p>\n
Angel had only thought about finding Cordelia. He hadn\u2019t thought beyond reaching Dr. Red Bear\u2019s. He hadn\u2019t thought about what would happen if she weren\u2019t there, that he wouldn\u2019t be able to enter the premises.<\/p>\n
Angel raised the mate of the stone planter, pulverizing the decorative pot with the pressure of his hands. With a low growl, he slumped to the steps, the dust and pieces of stone falling at his side.<\/p>\n
He was lost. Angel wanted to race from the house, but he just didn\u2019t know where to race to. Cordelia wasn\u2019t there; she had never been there. The spicy sweet scent of his seer was absent from the air. Angel\u2019s shoulders hunched further into his body. He wanted to kill, he wanted to cry, but mostly he wanted to find Cordelia.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s head jerked up as he caught the sound of an engine. For a brief moment he thought or rather hoped that it was the doctor with Cordelia. Then he would be able to accomplish two of his desires, to kill and to get Cordelia back.<\/p>\n
With a dejected snarl he got up, it wasn\u2019t Cordelia. He recognized the sound of Gunn\u2019s truck as it traveled closer and she wasn\u2019t with them. Her scent was still painfully missing.<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, Wes,\u201d Gunn said staring at the forlorn and angry vampire pacing back and forth in front of the house. \u201cWe forgot about the invite thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cQuite.\u201d Wesley hurriedly got out of the truck and ran towards Angel. \u201cAngel\u2026\u201d Wesley stopped. It was apparent that Cordelia wasn\u2019t there.<\/p>\n
Angel glared his friend. Wesley\u2019s silence confirmed that they had not found out where Cordelia was. \u201cSearch the place,\u201d Angel ordered.<\/p>\n
Wesley nodded. Stepping over the broken debris on the porch, he entered the house. Gunn quickly followed.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
The house was not large, but gave off the appearance of being spacious. Expansive bare windows lined the back wall. The outside and the inside seemed to blend into one. The few decorative pieces were Native American in origin. Red, yellow and black colored basketry hung on one of the walls. Several pieces of pottery adorned the table and shelves.<\/p>\n
A grouping of photographs on the wall captured Wesley\u2019s attention. They all depicted the same two individuals in the photo that Wesley had snatched from the office. The age of the boy in the pictures ranged from very young to the teen years.<\/p>\n
All were taken at the same location. Wesley took down a photo that had a more descriptive view of the surrounding area. The cabin was small, located by the water. Again, impulsively Wesley pocketed the photograph.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnything?\u201d he asked Gunn.<\/p>\n
\u201cNaw,\u201d The black man said in frustration. \u201cThis place is neat and useless,\u201d he grumbled.<\/p>\n
Wesley looked back to the doorway. He could barely see Angel. His dark clothing blended into the night. But Wesley didn\u2019t need to see Angel to know that the vampire was impatient.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on,\u201d he said with resignation.<\/p>\n
Gunn nodded. Wesley stopped at the table by the entranceway. He looked at the stack of mail. He quickly flipped through it. He wasn\u2019t sure what he would find. Gunn may have been joking, but Wesley had hoped that maybe something, anything would jump out at him and point loudly and vividly \u2018this is where Cordelia is\u2019. But there was nothing-just bills and more correspondence from the Hopi Tribal Government.<\/p>\n
Wesley and Gunn faced Angel. Wesley shook his head, not wanting to say the words of failure.<\/p>\n
With a low growl, Angel turned away and headed for his car. \u201cHotel,\u201d he snarled.<\/p>\n
Wesley and Gunn just looked at each other. \u201cMaybe, Cordelia\u2019 back there, Maybe we are just getting all wiggy for nothing,\u201d Gunn piped up.<\/p>\n
Angel paused and turned back to the black man. It was the first time since they discovered that Cordelia was not in the diner that Angel had actually looked at Gunn. Gunn stumbled back at the fierceness of the vampire\u2019s glare. Shit, the young man thought, Angel blamed him for losing Cordelia. That was not a real safe place to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026\u201d Gunn started. Gunn really did feel responsible; he knew he screwed up. But, he hoped that maybe everything would be okay and not because he was scared of the vamp\u2019s reaction if it wasn\u2019t, but because he didn\u2019t want Cordelia to be in danger. He had come to care a lot for the young girl.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t,\u201d Angel said lowly. Angel knew that both Wesley and Gunn cared for Cordelia and would do anything to protect her.<\/p>\n
And Gunn\u2019s lapse was unintentional and understandable. Angel knew this objectively. It wasn’t Gunn’s fault, it was his. But Angel still wanted to kill someone. And if Gunn didn\u2019t shut up, Angel feared that the young black man would be his target.<\/p>\n
Wesley pulled at Gunn\u2019s arm. \u201cCome on, let\u2019s go. Angel, we\u2019ll meet you back at the hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Wesley and Gunn were silent on the drive back.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s just worried,\u201d Wesley explained, finally breaking the quiet.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley couldn\u2019t contradict that statement. \u201cIt\u2019s the unknowing that\u2019s causing it. Once we figure out where Cordelia is, Angel will be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Find Cordelia? How? Gunn thought dejectedly. \u201cWes, the doc doesn\u2019t seem the regular bad ass evil type. I mean, Cordy will be okay, won\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGod, I hope so,\u201d Wesley whispered.<\/p>\n
Chapter Thirty-four<\/b><\/p>\n
Cordelia was drifting back and through consciousness. She could sense the movement around her. She was in a car, traveling.<\/p>\n
But where? She tried to concentrate, to move her body, to wake up, but it seemed the harder she tried, the harder it became. Soon the she slipped back into unconsciousness.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour father is already at the cabin.\u201d The driver of the car called back to John.<\/p>\n
John nodded, his hands stroking at Cordelia\u2019s hair. His soft gaze embraced the young sleeping woman. She was truly an innocent. He didn\u2019t want to cause her any fear or upset, but he had to do this, too much was at stake.<\/p>\n
\u201cHurry,\u201d he ordered.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Wesley and Gunn watched in concern as Angel paced up and down the lobby. At least, the vampire had stopped breaking things, they both thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, you have to calm down.\u201d Wesley called.<\/p>\n
They had reached the hotel, shortly after the vampire. They entered the hotel just in time to see Angel destroy several pieces of furniture.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t get it,\u201d Gunn whispered. \u201cI mean, I get that the vamp is worried, man, we\u2019re all worried, but Cordy has been well snatched before. Why is this time so, well \u2026.\u201d He pointed to the damaged furniture.<\/p>\n
Wesley shrugged. \u201cThe necklace, it\u2019s unknown power, the fact that Cordelia wouldn\u2019t have been outside if something hadn\u2019t happened between the two of them earlier, maybe he finally realized that he is in love with her\u2026.I don\u2019t know and it\u2019s not relevant, what\u2019s important is to find Cordelia.\u201d Wesley whispered back.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel,\u201d the former watcher said louder. \u201cWe need to discover more about Dr. Red Bear. I think maybe it\u2019s time to try out that thing,\u201d Pointing to the computer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need information to put in the computer before it can tell us anything.\u201d Snorted Angel.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, well, we do have some.\u201d Wesley turned on the computer and waited for it to go online. He punched in a search for the University. As soon as the website appeared. Wesley clicked on faculty. \u201cOkay, it seems the Professor is a member of the Hopi tribe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo,\u201d Gunn questioned.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sure but there were a lot of letters from the Hopi Tribal Government in his belongings. So, that would mean, I imagine, that he was still very active with his tribe.\u201d Wesley thought a moment and changed the search to Hopi.<\/p>\n
The men read the information in the site.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat doesn\u2019t really help.\u201d Grunted Gunn.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u2026but\u2026if we assume that the Necklace has some major spiritual significance to the Hopi and that is why he took Cordelia, then presumably he would take her to some place with spiritual significance, maybe somewhere in the reservation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI Imagine, but, assume, if\u2026We need answers, not guesses.\u201d Angel demanded.<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, Wes, the reservation is in Arizona,\u201d Gunn pointed out. \u201cOver 600 miles away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley shoulders slumped. That was so far away. They couldn\u2019t afford to go there and be wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cStill,\u201d Wesley couldn\u2019t get over the feeling that John Red Bear\u2019s connection with his tribe was important. His professional life and his home seemed to be concentrated on his culture and his people.<\/p>\n
Wesley pulled out the photographs he had taken. John Red Bear had possessed numerous photos of this one place. \u201cThe cabin. It\u2019s important to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel grabbed at the photo\u2019s breaking the frames; He pulled out the pictures studying the back and front. \u201cNothing,\u201d he grimaced. He couldn\u2019t see anything unique about them. Nothing to indicated where the cabin was located.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat ain\u2019t Arizona,\u201d Gunn claimed, pointing out the trees and body of water.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo it\u2019s not.\u201d Wesley thought some more. He punched a new search. This time concentrating on California.<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, I might have found something,\u201d he said not trying to get too hopeful.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d Angel growled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Colorado River Reservation- it\u2019s comprised of the Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi and Navajo Indians. It\u2019s located along the Colorado River. It\u2019s in both California and Arizona, about 200 miles from Los Angeles.\u201d He stared at the pictures again focusing on the body of water depicted in them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a big leap,\u201d doubted Gunn.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, but\u2026okay, but\u2026we have nothing else.\u201d Wesley shrugged. \u201cThere is nothing here about the necklace\u2026. It\u2019s the only thing that makes any possible sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel stood silent. 200 miles. It was still too far, if they were wrong. But\u2026did they have a choice. Angel looked towards the darkened windows of the hotel. It would be dawn soon. \u201cWes, Gunn go. See if you can find the cabin. I\u2019ll stay here and go to Caritas and talk to the host.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, we\u2019ll go, but first we all,\u201d Wesley emphasized, \u201cshould get some sleep\u2026just for a couple of hours,\u201d he added at Angel\u2019s glare.<\/p>\n
Sleep? Angel knew that it would be impossible for him to rest. Wesley was right, he needed to calm down, but lying down alone and thinking about Cordelia wouldn\u2019t accomplish that. More than just his nightmares would keep him awake.<\/p>\n
He couldn\u2019t stop and let his fear for Cordelia take over.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou and Gunn sleep.\u201d Angel partially conceded. The humans had been awake for hours without any real rest since before the fight on the pier. \u201cI\u2019ll go to the host now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chapter Thirty-five<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s so young,\u201d The old shaman\u2019s wrinkled hand gently caressed the turquoise stones resting on Cordelia\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n
John merely nodded. They had reached the cabin only a few minutes ago. His father had gingerly approached the young woman John had placed on the couch. Like John before him, the shaman had attempted to take the necklace off Cordelia. And like before the necklace wouldn\u2019t budge.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe necklace has chosen her. Bring her.\u201d The shaman led the way through the back of the cabin to a lone wooden structure. It was shaped like a box and had no windows.<\/p>\n
The one entrance to the outside room was trimmed with bright Native American symbols. The interior of the room was bare except for a lone bench and a large stone fire pit in the middle of the floor.<\/p>\n
Ceremonial bowls filled with herbs and powders lined the bench, along with a simple long smoking pipe.<\/p>\n
The Shaman struggled with removing his shirt all while leaning on his walking stick. Then he measured out some of the powder and placed it in the pipe.<\/p>\n
\u201cJohn,\u201d he ordered.<\/p>\n
John placed Cordelia gently on the dirt floor, taking off his shirt and shoes as he got up. He went over to one of the bowls, handing it to his father and taking the pipe. The shaman placed his fingers in the bowl mixing the ingredients. He brushed the powder onto the once firm skin of his chest. He drew intricate designs on his flesh. Once done he repeated the process on his son.<\/p>\n
Father and son went back to sit around the pit. John gathered Cordelia up against his body, resting her head on his shoulder.<\/p>\n
The Shaman glanced at his son. The old man sensed John\u2019s concern for the young woman. \u201cIt has to be done. I must see her dreams. I must know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, father.\u201d<\/p>\n
The old man nodded satisfied that John would do what he had to do. The shaman dusted some more powder over the rocks and wood shavings that filled the stone pit, chanting lowly. Soon, smoke occupied the room as the rocks glowed red and the chips burned.<\/p>\n
Cordelia stirred against John\u2019s chest. She tried to speak, but the words wouldn\u2019t form. A burning heat surrounded her skin, sweat pooled dripping down her body. Cordelia forced her eyes opened. She jerked away from the old Indian staring intently at her. \u201cWho\u2026where\u2026.Angel\u2026..so hot,\u201d her confused words rambled.<\/p>\n
\u201cJohn,\u201d the shaman ordered.<\/p>\n
John pulled Cordelia back to his chest, holding her face still. \u201cSh, Cordelia everything will be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
The shaman took a long drag off the peyote pipe. He waited as the drug flowed through his lungs, then took another one. This time he didn\u2019t breathe in the smoke, but held it in his mouth. He leaned into Cordelia\u2019s face. Cordelia\u2019s eyes widened in confusion and fear as the old man grabbed at her jaw forcing her mouth opened. The Shaman covered her mouth with his own releasing the powerful drug. He then quickly clamped his hand over her mouth, and pinched her nose shut.<\/p>\n
Cordelia struggled against his grip, trying to breathe. Involuntarily, her lungs filled with the smoke that had been trapped in her mouth. Cordelia gulped at the air as soon as she was released. Again, the Shaman repeated the process, filling Cordelia\u2019s lungs once again with the drug.<\/p>\n
The room expanded around Cordelia. She stared at the old Indian, her eyes large brown circles. She tried to concentrate as the old Indian moved and flickered in and out of her sight. The walls of the room began to melt around her. Cordelia loss all sense of reality as her world faded and changed.<\/p>\n
Chapter Thirty-six<\/b><\/p>\n
Cordelia stood on the outskirts of the forest. She was in her dream place. She waited for Tweety and\u2026she really needed to think of a name for her pretty wolf, she couldn\u2019t just go around calling her wolf. As on cue, the animals appeared.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi,\u201d Cordelia called. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong,\u201d she asked, puzzled at the animals less than friendly welcome. Usually, Tweety and\u2026she studied the dark fur of the wolf\u2026Mocha, she thought. Good she had found a name. Cordelia shook her head; she couldn\u2019t keep a straight thought in her head. What had she been thinking about? She stared again at her spirit guides. They hadn\u2019t moved. The humming bird frantically beat its wings in one place not leaving the wolf.<\/p>\n
\u201cGuys, why won\u2019t you come here?\u201d She stepped closer to the animals. Mocha growled in response. She stopped. \u201cWhy?\u201d Cordelia moved again. Mocha barked out a warning. Cordelia stopped again; her guides didn\u2019t want her to go near the forest. They wanted her to leave.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know how to,\u201d she complained. Cordelia tried to concentrate on waking up. If they thought it was a good idea for not to be there, she would leave, but first someone better tell her how to. She wasn\u2019t waking up. Cordelia pinched sharply at her arm. Nope.<\/p>\n
\u201cYoung one.\u201d An old Indian appeared out of the trees, he had a type of wildcat by his side. Cordelia stared at the animal. The cat wasn\u2019t that large. It had long powerful legs; a short bobbed tail and tufts of fur surrounded its pointed ears. A lynx, Cordelia realized in recognition. Of course, identifying the cat did nothing to explain who or what the Indian wanted, she thought in irritation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho are you?\u201d She called. Mocha and Tweety were instantly by her side. Blocking her path towards the old Indian.<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, nevermind. Tweety and Mocha don\u2019t seem to think it\u2019s a good idea for me to talk to you. So go away, this is my dream place.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Shaman looked at her spirit guides. \u201cIt\u2019s true you do have two power animals,\u201d he looked in concentration.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, so what? I don\u2019t think they like you. Is he a bad type guy?\u201d Cordelia asked the animals by her side. \u201cTweety, stop buzzing around my face, just answer the question,\u201d she gently chided. Cordelia could have sworn she saw both of the animals\u2019 shrug. Neither committing to an opinion. \u201cYou don\u2019 t know, so I can talk to him.\u201d The wolf barked and nudged Cordelia away from the Indian.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook,\u201d Cordelia said to the Indian. \u201cYou might not necessarily be a bad guy, but they don\u2019t think I should be here. So, leave me alone. I need to wake up.\u201d She pinched at her arm again. \u201cAny helpful clues on how that\u2019s suppose to be accomplished?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m afraid that you won\u2019t be waking up, not for awhile. Not until you lead me to the \u2018Wise One\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have been given large dose of Peyote. You will remain in the dream state until it wears off, after I see the answers I need.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou drugged me,\u201d she cried out in disbelief. \u201cI\u2019m tripping? Geez, who are you?\u201d Cordelia tried to remember what had happened prior to her entering the dream state. She had been running from the hotel.<\/p>\n
Damn, that vampire. He had no right to growl at her like that. All she wanted was to help him. God, she wished Angel was here.<\/p>\n
Mocha\u2019s muzzle poked at her side. \u201cOh, I’m getting sidetracked again, aren\u2019t I,\u201d she whispered to the wolf. Cordelia tried to grasp her original train of thought. John had taken her to get coffee. And then what? She remembered drifting in and out of consciousness, riding in a car, feeling disjointed and hot.<\/p>\n
\u201cJohn kidnapped me.\u201d She waited for confirmation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was necessary. The necklace belongs to my people. We must have it back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTough. I don\u2019t know \u2018who\u2019 your people are, but the necklace isn\u2019t yours. It\u2019s mine. The \u2018wise old shaman guy\u2019 gave it to me and the Powers said it was part of my destiny. It\u2019s my gift to help the helpless. You can\u2019t have it. Anyway, the thing won\u2019t come off.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe necklace has been in the Hopi tribe since it\u2019s beginning. It belongs to us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, you seem to have lost it somewhere down the road. And it found me,\u201d she retorted. Why did everyone think that the necklace wasn\u2019t meant to be hers? Why wouldn\u2019t anyone believe her?<\/p>\n
\u201cLook we will settle this once and for all. If the \u2018wise old guy tells you its mine will you leave me alone\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can lead me to the \u201cWise One\u201d?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia shrugged. \u201cMocha and Tweety took me to him last time. I don\u2019t see why they couldn\u2019t do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will talk to the \u2018Wise One.\u2019 He will explain.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia nodded. \u201cOkay, lead on,\u201d she beckoned to her animals.<\/p>\n
The animals didn\u2019t move. \u201cCome on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mocha growled, trying to urge Cordelia away from the woods with her sharp muzzle. Tweety frantically flew around Cordelia\u2019s head begging her to listen to the wolf.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook we need to find the old guy. I\u2019m going to go with you or without you,\u201d she ordered. Cordelia didn\u2019t really feel comfortable ignoring her spirit guides warnings. But they weren\u2019t being real clear and they didn\u2019t say the Indian was bad. Anyway, she needed to get this over with. So, she could wake up and get back to Angel.<\/p>\n
With a stern look at her animals, she moved towards the woods.<\/p>\n
The wolf growled, but followed with Tweety buzzing close by.<\/p>\n
The shaman waited. The lynx by his side nudged at him, growling softly. The old Indian looked at his spirit guide and those of the young girl. None of them wanted to go into the forest. They were uneasy about the humans\u2019 choices.<\/p>\n
Normally, the Shaman would follow without thought his power animal\u2019s warnings or censure, but not this time. He had to see the \u2018Wise One\u2019.<\/p>\n
The group entered into the forest and followed the path. The Shaman paused as he heard a low pitch wail growing in volume and plurality. The cries were full of pain, suffering and sadness.<\/p>\n
The young girl stopped changing direction. The Shaman stood back as she walked up to a wall of energy. Faces screaming in agony pushed out through the wall, trying to reach Cordelia. He watched in amazement as the young woman approach them, her hand extending through thick barrier.<\/p>\n
Tears fell in a torrent down Cordelia\u2019s face. The imagines in the wall focused on her hand, swirling down and around it. The wails lessened as Cordelia\u2019s tears fell harder.<\/p>\n
The wolf brushed up around her leg, rubbing her body against Cordelia\u2019s. Cordelia clutched the soft fur. She slowly withdrew from the wall, wiping the tears from her face. \u201cThey will always be there, won\u2019t they.\u201d She crumbled to the ground hugging the wolf close to her chest. Mocha licked and pushed at the girl, allowing Cordelia\u2019s tight embrace. Tweety buzzed around, trying to stay still along enough to brush up against Cordelia\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
The Shaman\u2019s lynx left the Indian\u2019s side and sat close to the crying young woman giving her his support.<\/p>\n
Cordelia took a deep breath and with one last hug and kiss to the wolf, she stood. \u201cGeez, you would think I would get use to it by now, uh,\u201d she tried to joke, but the sadness was apparent in her low tone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho are you,\u201d the Shaman asked stunned at what he had witnessed.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia Chase, ump. Don\u2019t you even know who you kidnapped and drugged.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you?\u201d the old man asked again in exasperation.<\/p>\n
She shrugged. \u201cA seer and according to the Wise one, now a healer.\u201d She moved forward not looking at the old man or the wall of souls.<\/p>\n
They walked the rest of the way through the forest in silence. Finally, the reached the open meadow.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is where the old guy showed up before,\u201d Cordelia commented. She looked around expectantly. \u201cThere he is.\u201d She pointed to the very old shaman seated cross- legged, the sleek black jaguar rested on its hunches close by.<\/p>\n
\u201cHealer,\u201d the Wise one acknowledged Cordelia. \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t be here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t really have a choice in the matter, like I ever do,\u201d she grumbled. \u201cBut this guy,\u201d she pointed to the Indian by her side. \u201cWanted to take my necklace. I told him you gave it to me, so now he wants to talk to you. He didn\u2019t believe me.\u201d<\/p>\n
The wise one turned to the Shaman. \u201cSon, you do not belong in the Healer\u2019s spirit world. You have brought evil here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d the shaman argued.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. Bathym knows your dreams and now he knows her. You have shown him the way. He is coming. You have endangered your only hope.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhose Bathym?\u201d Cordelia interrupted.<\/p>\n
\u201cTalk about a cue,\u201d a wicked laugh penetrated the atmosphere. A massive dark cloud swirled creating a vortex in the air. All of the power animal\u2019s bristled at the disturbance. Mocha and the humming bird hovered close by, their bodies standing between the emerging being and Cordelia.<\/p>\n
A huge robust demon appeared through the dark hole. \u201cWhy thank you. I have been searching long and hard for the necklace.\u201d The demon turned towards the seated shaman. \u201cSo Wise one,\u201d Bathym said in disdain. \u201cIt looks like I win, your children will be mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not over.\u201d The wise one warned, vanishing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, he may be able to escape into the other realm. But you can\u2019t\u201d Bathym laughed facing Cordelia and the shaman.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d gasped John\u2019s father. \u201cWhat have I done?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood, freakin\u2019 question what have you done? Who is the big and ugly? And what\u2019s he doing in my dream?\u201d glared Cordelia.<\/p>\n
The shaman ignored the young woman\u2019s angry comment and concentrated on Bathym. He held out his hands chanting furiously.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s too late,\u201d crackled the demon. \u201cI\u2019m too strong. I think it\u2019s time for you to join your ancestors.\u201d Bathym reached out his arm, it\u2019s length stretching and extending until his fist was clasped around the old Indian\u2019s throat. The lynx growled and lunged at the demon. The demon\u2019s other hand shot out striking the lynx. With a whimper the cat fell to the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Cordelia yelled running towards the demon. With another quick movement of his hand he tossed Cordelia through the air. Mocha and Tweety rushed to her side.<\/p>\n
\u201cNice knowing you and thanks for the necklace,\u201d Bathym crowed as his grip squeezed the breath out of the old Indian. \u201cNow die,\u201d he commanded, breaking the shaman\u2019s neck.<\/p>\n
Cordelia struggled to get up. She glanced at the Shaman\u2019s fallen body. \u201cNo,\u201d she whispered running towards him, falling along his side. She reached out to touch the Indian\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d Bathym commanded. \u201cIt\u2019s time we left this place.\u201d In a flash of bright light, both the demon and Cordelia disappeared from the spirit plane.<\/p>\n