Rating: M (Mature--language, some fighting, attempted mugging/rape scene)

 Notes: Gabrielle is from “Xena Warrior Princess”. All other characters are mine and are fictitious. Please send comments to dante0220@yahoo.com .


Introduction

Gabrielle, Bard Queen of the Amazons, writes….

In all relationships, there are arguments, disharmony and hurt feelings. One hopes that people can grow and move beyond such things. Xena and I have had such turning points. I consider the murders of Solen and Joxer. Those points almost destroyed our partnership but we survived.

I have to admit that I was shocked about this next scroll. It takes place about five weeks after their return from the Inner Realms. Angela, it seems, has problems with the Child. David wants more attention. Both needed to consider their priorities.

To think this was a threat to their relationship gives me pause…..





Chapter 1 [Dartmouth—SMU Library, Five weeks after “Return to Nurrengaard”]

Dave sat at his desk, filling out order cards for the latest book buying deadline. Admittedly, he was grateful that the college remained in the middle of the summer session. In addition to the current task, he had everything on his liaison plate and the classes to teach.

More importantly though, he was still putting his personal world back in order. Just after the end of Spring finals, a Saturday visit with Miri, Randy and Angie turned ugly. Lousain and the trolls crashed the party, nearly taking down the Alvarez house and the two brothers in the process. Angie, Miri and Karen nearly died in the Inner Realms. While he’d reconnected with his old friend, Garth Singleton, and their allies, he still felt troubled.

Angie had been distant since their return. While always busy with her rotations and research, she’d always made time for him. However, their time together had been less and less. She’d been making excuses, claiming shifts—some of which he knew through common friends—she wasn’t working. She’d argued with Caroline rather loudly about things before storming out of the house; her car passing his on the road nearby shortly thereafter.

What is it? What is her problem? Damn it, what have I done now? He stopped the orders and put his forehead down on the desk.

“She’s scared, Dave,” Deirdre noted as she appeared.

He smiled at the sound of his deceased wife’s voice; her presence raising her spirits. Fortunately he had thought to close the door to his office first. “I hoped you’d visit.”

“And I haven’t come alone either,” she advised while looking to the ceiling. “It’s okay.”

I know. Thanks, Dee Dee. A ray of light came from nowhere, allowing a long familiar form to materialize next to the other angel.

Peggy Masters smiled at him. “Hi, Dave. It’s been too long.”

“You too,” he agreed as they embraced. “What’s going on?”

“It has to do with this current mess with Angie,” Peggy insisted. “Dave, you never learn, do you?”

“Learn about what?” he asked.

“What did I tell you about Karen?” she posed pointedly.

“The Child. I couldn’t shield her from him,” he sighed. “Great. History repeats itself.”

Deirdre and Peggy glanced at each other. While the Empress’ spell had made Dave and everyone on Earth forget about what had happened prior to San Antonio vis a vis his past, the two angels knew full well about Angie’s past issues with the Dark One, stemming back to the encounter at the fairgrounds with the Image and Lichtenfeld and progressing through her transfer to ASU in college.

And now, despite the attempts to prevent it, history was rearing its ugly head again, threatening everything.

“There’s something you’re not telling me. What did I do?” he demanded. Getting no response, he rolled his eyes. “This isn’t the time for one of those ‘you don’t need to know’ things. Should I call Karen on this?”

“You could but she won’t know much more,” Deirdre disagreed. “This is something you and Angie need to work out based on the here and now. If your relationship is to mean something, it has to be based on honesty and trust.”

“Tell her, Dave. Tell her. Remember, we’ll be there but it’s for you to do. Now we have to go,” Peggy indicated before she and Deirdre vanished.

He shook his head. “Tell her. They think it’s so easy. Aw Hell!” He took a wad of paper and flung it at the wastebasket. “Rack up another one.” He glanced at his watch. “Time for that meeting anyhow.” He grabbed his notepad and two pens, heading for Mr. Tamiani’s conference room.


****


[An hour later]

In a move that Dave decided did not need, Tamiani tore into the whole staff over the desk stats and numbers. Projections had not turned out as needed and the Dean wanted a reemphasis on things.

During the snark fest, Dave kept his head down, not saying much and letting his senior colleagues take the lead. He knew he was doing good work. While not done yet, the assessment projects underway at that point would vindicate his efforts. Still his blood boiled at the administrator’s spewing. His head remained numb. His neck hurt. His spine burned.

The Child screamed shrilly in his head.

As the meeting ended, Polly Jones tapped him on the arm. “Let’s go, David. Your office now.”

He shrugged absently. “Fine. I need my pills.” He stomped out.

Getting a motion to follow from her husband, she rushed after Dave. “Hey! Wait up! Damn, Boy! Will you wait?”

He stopped and took a deep breath. “First ya wan’ me ta go. Now ya wan’ me to wait. Wha is it?”

If she didn’t see him in front of herself, she wouldn’t have recognized the gravelly, raspy voice. Now what? The staff as a whole knew he had his moments and moods. Especially since the weeklong disappearing act earlier that summer, he’d been more somber and moody.

But this point was a whole new thing…..

“’Mon,” he muttered while unlocking his door and leading her inside.

As he closed the door, she saw the scar glowing on the back of his hand. “David, what in Heaven’s name?”

“Crap!” he growled before slumping into his chair. “Stop callin’ me that! Ah ain’t Big Bro!”

“But that’s who…” Her eyes went wide as the truth hit her. Now she saw the closed right eye and the slumped posture, confirming her earlier doubts. How can he deal with this? “So who are you?”

“Don’ know. All Ah know is Ch…ild,” the Dark One spat. “Na gonna hurt ya so quit the hissie shit.”

“I’m not….”

“AH CAN FEEL IT! ‘KAY?” he snapped tersely. He got up. “Need air….Can’ deal w’ this shit now.” He left quickly, turning the corner and disappearing into the elevator.

She quickly left the office shutting the door and running down the hall in pursuit. “Darn it! Where did he go?” Not finding him, she ran back to her office.

“Polly, what? Where’s David?” Ned demanded. “What happened?”

“Gone. I…have an errand I need to run. See you at home,” she informed him while grabbing her purse and phone directory in addition to shutting down her computer. “If David comes back, just let him be. Okay?” She kissed him before taking off.

Ned exchanged looks with the other staff wondering what had happened now…..




Chapter 2 [Alvarez Summer Cottage—Two hours later]

Polly pulled into the Alvarez driveway and parked her car. This is the place. She checked the house in Scituate and found it still empty. Then she had remembered that the family ran a diner out there. She glanced at the phone directory and confirmed that fact. Here goes! She got out of the car and sniffed the air. “Barbeque?” she asked while walking around the side of the house. There she saw Dr. Alvarez working with some ribs on the grill and two women—his wife and daughter, she assumed—helping him with preparation. “Excuse me?”

The trio turned in surprise.

“Can we help you?” he asked.

“Well maybe you can. Sorry, I’m Polly Jones. I work at the SMU Library with David Dubois. You’re the Alvarezes, right?” Polly introduced herself. “I don’t normally like to show up unannounced but I had some questions.”

“That’s all right,” he assured her. “I’m Ricardo Alvarez. This is my wife, Jeannie, and daughter, Caroline. Dave’s mentioned you. Good to meet you.” He set down the tongs he’d been working with and shook hands with the visitor.

“Welcome,” Mrs. Alvarez chimed in.

“Likewise,” Caroline chorused as she followed her father’s lead. “He’s mentioned you a couple of times. All of the advice.”

“Oh that,” Polly dismissed while waving her hand in the air. “It’s not that big of a deal. David’s going to be a great librarian. I know his girlfriend’s good for him even if they don’t see each other as much as they should. His research is first rate. He’s a great colleague.” She frowned.

“But?” Mrs. Alvarez wondered.

“But…well there are his moods. Don’t get me wrong. He keeps them in check pretty well around the students. But since Memorial Day, he’s been really intense and brooding. And…” Polly sighed and bowed her head.

“And what?” Ricardo asked, feeling his own fears surfacing again.

“He didn’t explode, did he?” Caroline panicked.

“Not in the staff meeting. No. Tamiani really let us have it over things. In Dave’s case, it was unjustified. He was shaking and rubbing the back of his head. One time, he shot the Dean the most intense and dirtiest glare I’ve ever seen.”

“The right eye. What did it do?” Caroline pushed.

“It didn’t close until we got out of there. We were in the hall outside of his office when I caught up to him. He spoke in this low voice—a low raspy, gravelly snarl. When I called him by name, he said he wasn’t Dave but this ‘child’. Then I saw this thing glowing on his hand….” Polly remembered.

“Great,” Mrs. Alvarez lamented. “Please tell me nobody else was in on this.”

“Just him and me. My husband overheard some of it but I’ll keep him out of it.” Polly sat down at the picnic table. “He’s schizophrenic, isn’t he?”

“He is,” Ricardo admitted. “It isn’t your standard case. Stay for dinner. It’s a long story.”

“Long story?” Polly asked. “This have anything to do with the other girl he dated for a while. Karen, right?”

“Karen’s our daughter. Yes, it does. I think you’ll understand after hearing it. Keep this though amongst ourselves.” Ricardo flipped a chicken breast.

“I can help with the table setting. Mind if I call my husband to let him know I’m okay?” Polly requested.

“The phone’s to the left of the screen door,” Mrs. Alvarez directed. After Polly left, she winced. “Not again. I wish that mess hadn’t happened earlier this summer.”

“At least she seems even headed about it. I just hope Dave’s okay,” Caroline hoped. “I know you’ll be shorthanded but….”

“See if Rick will go with you. We’ll be okay for tomorrow. I’ll wait tables with Sam and Renee,” Mrs. Alvarez assured her. “Meantime, let’s see if we get through dinner.”


****


[An hour later]

Polly sat amazed by what she’d heard from the three people sitting across from her. For the previous hour, every bite of rib meat, chicken or hamburger was accompanied by some bizarre supernatural fact or tragic family detail. “You’re serious?”

“Deadly serious,” Caroline indicated. “Polly, he just wants a normal life. All right?”

“Normal?” The visitor stared at them. “Honey, I’ve been to Rowenshire! I’ve seen that house.” She shuddered. “I just wonder how he could be as normal as he is.”

“We tried to give him some stability. Angie’s worked wonders as well.” Mrs. Alvarez sighed.

“He has lots of friends too,” Ricardo chimed in. “Again stability is the key here.”

“I can see that.” Polly took a thoughtful sip from the lemonade. “I wish his girlfriend didn’t have the demands on herself that she does. He definitely could use some real TLC from her.”

“It’s hard on them both,” Ricardo conceded. “They’re making it work so far.”

“Right. I just hope nothing happens. Meantime you have my secrecy. With what that boy deals with, he doesn’t need anything else.” Polly looked back toward the southwest, having a sinking feeling that something else was about to happen.




Chapter 3 [Fall River—Angie’s Apartment]

Even as the drama unfolded to the north and east of her, Angie pulled into her parking space and shut off her car’s engine. She’d endured another long shift at the hospital not to mention a tongue lashing by her boss over (what she and everyone else felt was) a relatively small oversight. Such is the life of the resident! She climbed the stairs to her apartment to find a very somber Dave sitting there waiting for her. “Dave?”

“Hi, Angie. Sorry to drop in but you’ve been hard to get a hold of,” he apologized.

She nodded glumly. “Work and all that. Sorry but…I’m really tired and….”

“Wait a minute. Can’t I just get a minute? I mean you haven’t returned one of my calls in a month. You’re avoiding me with shifts that you don’t work. What’s going on, Angie? Why won’t you talk with me?” he demanded out of desperation.

She almost told him to go away at that point. But she knew he was right. “Fine. Let’s talk.” She opened the door and let him in. “Okay, what’s up? I’m here.”

He rolled his eyes. “What can be so bad that you’re acting like this? I mean…I know you’re career is demanding. I accept that. But why can’t you give us any time?” He took a step closer to her.

She backed away. He could see the fear in her eyes. “It’s not…you. It’s him!”

“Oh I get it. You’re still scared about the whole kidnapping thing. You’re right to be afraid, Angie….”

“How do you deal with that thing, Dave? How do I know you won’t lose control on me one day?” she demanded; her eyes watering.

“I would never hurt you! Neither would he!” he retorted.

“How can you be so sure? Dave, when he comes out, you’re not in control! He’s scary, all right? He’s horrible!” she snapped.

He lapsed at those words; the Child seizing control. “Yer a damn wimp! Hey Fraidy Cat, how ‘bout na’ duckin’ Big Bro?”

“How about you go away?” she challenged. “You drove him and Karen apart. Now you’re doing the same to him and me!”

“Sweets, Ah’m part a’ ‘im! Got it? Quit bein’ so busy ‘ver at the sickie place! He needs ya!” he countered, getting right in her face.

“I want to! But some of us have lives! And I can’t deal with YOU!” she countered before pointing to the door. “Go! I can’t deal with this. It’s over.” She took off the cameo and considered it for a second. Then she handed it back to him. “You tell him and tell him why!” She opened the door. “GO!”

“Damn prissy shit! He shoulda knew better!” He threw the cameo in his pocket and stomped out.

She slammed the door and slumped against the wall, crying as he drove away into the night. “Why, Dave? Why can’t you be normal? WHY?” The phone rang. “Oh now what? H….hello?”

“Angie, it’s Karen. Umm…I just got a call from my father. Have you seen Dave?” Karen asked.

“H…he just left,” Angie sobbed. “I told the Big Kid to get lost. It’s over, Karen.”

Karen almost dropped the phone. No! “What happened?”

Angie sighed. “Since we got back from that horrid place, I’ve been avoiding him. Well today, he showed up here. I found him waiting by my door. He wanted to talk. Fine. We argued about that thing. Dave wants to know why I don’t want to be around him? Same reason you couldn’t deal with him!”

“Angie, you don’t mean it. You should have talked with me…..”

“No, Karen, I can’t! I can’t deal with it!” Angie protested. “I’m sorry that he can’t be helped and all. I can’t deal with that stuff anymore!”

Karen could almost see herself five years earlier going through the same debate with her family, Garth and April. “Angie, he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”

“I know….I love him but I…I can’t deal with that thing. I appreciate what you’re trying to do but I can’t deal with it. Thanks. I’ll keep my eyes open,” Angie concluded before hanging up. She looked at the receiver for a second.

Three times she almost dialed the Alvarezes’ number. Three times, she stopped.

Then she dialed her parents’ number. Hearing her mother’s voice, she answered, “M…mama?”

“Angie? My word! What’s wrong, Sweetheart?” Jennifer asked; her voice attracting her father’s attention.

“I…it’s over, Mama. Dave…came over wanting to talk to me. I…I…couldn’t do it. I…gave him the cameo…back and told him…to go,” she recounted between sobbed.

“Angie, give it time to cool off. I’m sure….”

“Karen just said the same thing. I did it. I can’t deal with him,” she insisted.

Her father took the phone from her mother. “Did he lay a hand on you? If he did….”

“No, Daddy, Dave would….never….I….oh God…I….” She started crying. “I know I shouldn’t bother you with this.”

“You’re not bothering us, Angel. Get that through your head. It’s too bad really. That young man was a good one. I agree with your mother. Give it a night’s sleep. See how you feel in the morning,” Bill insisted.

“I’ll try. Thanks, Daddy. Love you and Mama,” Angie concluded before hanging up. “God, why?” She leaned against her teddy bear and cried a while yet….





Chapter 4 [Scituate—Alvarez House]

Dave winced, feeling the familiar headache pounding away at his scalp. “Terrific. I went under again. You just proved her point.” He got up and put his hand in his pocket. “What the?”

He pulled out the cameo and felt the blood drain from his face.

“Damn it!” He immediately realized the significance of what had happened. “NO! COME ON!”  He knew Angie wouldn’t have given it back to him unless….the worst had happened.

The Child had forced a split….again.

“SHIT! WHY THE HELL?” he bellowed.

“Dave! Thank God!” Caroline exclaimed as she and Rick rushed into the room.

“We’ve been looking all over for you. Where’d you go?” Rick demanded.

“Angie’s. I wanted to talk with her.” He showed them the cameo. “We’re finished.”

“You both were pretty animated. Give it time….” Caroline tried to reassure him.

“No. I wish you were right.” He bowed his head. “She’s scared. Can’t she see I am too? How can I face this stuff without her? Oh man! First Karen and now her! All I want is a little companionship! I love her! Why can’t she understand?”

“She’s scared the way Karen was,” Caroline argued.

“Karen’s talked to her about this,” Dave pointed out.

“But it’s her first time of really dealing with Mr. Dark and Scary. She needs to come to grips with it.” She hugged him. “Don’t worry about things. You just relax, okay?”

“Fine,” he sulked. “I just wish I could tell her.”

“So leave her a message,” Rick offered.

“Fine,” Dave muttered while dialing her number and getting the message machine. “Hi, Angie. It’s Dave. Look, Princess, whatever happened tonight, I’m sorry. I hate to sound desperate but I need you. Anyhow I just wanted you to know that. Thanks. I love you.” With that, he hung up and started crying.

“We’re here. It’s okay,” Caroline assured him. “Rick, can you call my folks? Let them know we found him?”

“Right,” Rick agreed before heading downstairs.

“It’s going to be okay,” Caroline assured him while hugging him.

He accepted the embrace wishing it could be so…..




Chapter 5
[Next Morning about 5:15 AM—SMU Library]

After not being able to sleep due to what she’d learned about Dave, Polly decided to drive over early to work and see what she could do there. Her mind struggled with the paradox of how her nice even if overly focused colleague could also be the Accursed of Rowenshire. The scar proved it even if the Alvarezes didn’t. How did he survive all of that stuff? Wow!

She leaned back in her seat, recalling the day several years earlier that she and Ned had tried a shortcut between Palmer and Amherst on the state road. The route had taken them through the small town and right by the old house. Even as they passed—and it had only been for a couple of minutes—she remembered the chill in the air, the house’s run down appearance and the lights by the rather large oak tree halfway between the road and the house. Unreal! And he LIVED there?  She gulped that notion down, shivering from the chill she felt in her spine.

Heading into the library, she made her way to the reference suite and tried the lock. It was already open. “Who the Devil left it like this? Wait’ll I get a hold of them!” She slid the door open softly and crept inside. She knew she really should have called security but she wanted to see what was going on first. “Hello?”

As she reached her office, she heard the pained sobbing and saw the light peeking out from under Dave’s door. “He’s here? He’d better not have been here all night!” She found his door to be ajar and knocked. “Dave?”

“Who?” he answered in a sad whisper. “Polly?” He coughed.

“It’s me. I’m coming in.” She pushed the door open and stopped dead in her tracks.

He sat hunched over his desk, staring at the cameo through reddened bloodshot eyes. Angie’s picture sat to his left where he could readily see it.

“Goodness me! You know how worried we were after your disappearing act?” she lectured.

He shrugged. “Just another way I hurt the people I care about.”

“David Dubois, you stop talking like that this instant!” she lectured.

He glared at her. “Why? Everyone’s afraid of me!” He bowed his head. “I save her life. I basically put myself through Hell. And she’s scared of me!”

“She? You mean Angie?”

“Yeah. That’s where I went by the way. I waited for her to come home. I just wanted…to…talk,” he explained before slipping back into another crying fit.

“And what happened? You didn’t touch her, did you?” she insisted.

“OF COURSE NOT! I’d kill myself first!” he snapped. Then, as with a summer monsoon, the rage died down as quickly as it had exploded. “I changed….She freaked again.”

“And?”

He shuddered. “She told me to get out. She said it was over. Damn it, Polly, WHY?” He slammed his fist on the desk.

She bit her lip while debating whether or not she should tell him her insight. Finally she did so. “I hate to say this, Dave, but you…he is pretty scary. After you disappeared, I ended up in Nesconset and talked to the Alvarezes about you. I promised to keep everything a secret if they told me.” She shook her head. “Wow!”

He laughed almost derisively. “And you’re sitting her talking to me? I’m surprised you’re not getting ready to go to Tamiani with this.”

“Why would I do that? Dave, you’re no monster. I see a man who’s struggling with a curse. You’re someone who’s trying to make a difference in the world. All you want is love. It wasn’t your fault that damn witch lady slammed you 300 years ago,” Polly pointed out while rubbing his shoulder. “Lighten up on yourself and that inner kid of yours.”

“Wish I could,” he groused. “I just keep driving the people I care about further and further away.”

At that moment, the security guard knocked on the door. “Excuse me, Dr. Dubois and Mrs. Jones? There’s a visitor to see you.”

“Visitor? Now who would come at 7:00 in the morning?” she wondered.

“I’m sorry if it’s too early. I wanted to talk before the building opened,” Brother Tony apologized while stepping into the life. Seeing Dave in that state made him freeze. “Good Heavens!”

“And you are?” she asked.

“Brother Tony Caldwell from Wabash. I’m the town minister,” Brother Tony explained while rushing to Dave’s side. “The Blackwells asked me to come and check on things.”

“Brother, I didn’t do anything. Honest. I….” He squeezed his eyes shut to keep further tears from falling from them.

“Of course not. Give her time, David.”

“Brother, she’s scared of me! Of….”

“Of nothing really.” Brother Tony eyed Polly.

“She’s been by the house, Brother. She figured it out on her own,” Dave explained. “Now I’ve lost her.”

Brother Tony knew he should let the matter resolve itself—to simply pray and let God resolve things as He would. But he knew that Angie might not be reasonable especially given how Dave was doing at the moment. Furthermore, from his conversations with Brother Andrew in Rowenshire, he knew about the Curse and that the young man needed Angie to counter it. “I’ll talk to her, David.”

“Brother, that’s kind of you but I can’t….”

“Will you let the man help? He drove here for this! If he has any pull, it could help,” she argued.

“That’s my intention. David, have faith. I know Angela’s frightened by this. You should also know her parents wanted me to know how sorry they are about this situation,” Brother Tony counseled.

“As long as they know I didn’t….hurt her. That I’d never….” Dave shook her head.

“They know. Can you watch him, Mrs. Jones? I need to get to Fall River before she leaves for work,” the minister requested.

“I’ll make sure he’s okay. Thank you, Brother, for coming by. I’ll see you out,” she concluded. “Dave, be right back.”

“Thanks,” he croaked. “Brother, thank you for coming by.”

“My pleasure, David. Hang in there,” Brother Tony concluded as he left with Polly.

Hang in there, he says. Wonderful! He shook his head morosely. Easier said than done!


****


[Angie’s Apartment]

As with Dave, Angie didn’t sleep well that night. She rose early and put on the coffee pot. I’ll have to get some new stuff. This is too much like him. She rubbed her forehead and washed her eyes.

She heard a knock at the door. Who? She made sure she was wearing her robe. Padding over in her slippers, worrying that it was Dave or one of the Alvarezes with the begging routine. Seeing who it was made her eyes go wide. “Brother Tony?”

“Angela, may I come in?” the minister requested.

“Of course!” She unlocked the door, allowing him inside. “Sorry but what are you doing here? It’s awfully early.”

“Your parents called me last night after you talked to them. Might I have some coffee please?” he requested.

“Of course. Take a seat,” she agreed while closing the door and getting him a cup. “Sorry. It’s been a really hard night as you can imagine.”

“I’m sure it has,” he agreed before taking a sip. “How are you hanging in there?”

“How do you think? Brother, the Alvarezes think I’m being heartless!” She rubbed her face in her hands. “I can’t believe this! I wait all of my life for someone like Dave. He shows up but there’s a twist. I can’t deal with him!”

“The Curse,” he indicated.

“You know?” She stared at him.

“Rowenshire’s minister, Brother Andrew and I, are good friends, Angela. As soon as you and David began dating, he came and saw me. I know about the inner darkness.”

“And you didn’t say anything to Mama or Daddy?” she gasped.

“For what reason? Brother Andrew assured me that David is a good person. Everything I’ve seen would back up that assessment. Angela, I can understand why you’re scared. I’ve read up on and seen the signs. But you’ve done wonders for him in just the short time you’ve been together…” he told her.

“I guess. But have you seen him when he changes? When that thing comes out? Why does this have to be? Why can’t he be normal?” she demanded.

“God only knows, Angela. All I know is that David loves you.” He frowned, sighing heavily. “I just came from Dartmouth.”

“He didn’t….”

“No, everything’s under control. One of his co-workers is with him. You know he’s devastated by this? He’s at risk now. Everything he’s fought to keep control is slipping. Go to him. Work with him,” he urged.

“As much as I want to, I can’t deal with it! Brother, I’m sorry to be rude but can we switch the subject? I’d rather not talk about this anymore,” she told him.

He shook his head, feeling that she was making a huge mistake. However he couldn’t force her to get back together with Dave either. Lord, please don’t let anything happen to either of them!




Chapter 6 [Two Weeks Later]
[Faerie Realms]

The Faerie Empress frowned at the view portal in front of herself. After all of her skillful manipulations and hopes, Lousain’s cowardly attack would bring them to naught. “The girl’s weakness brings everything to failure.”

“Perhaps with patience?” Grimwilkin pointed out.

“If the goddess were to act, she would have done so by now. We may need to eliminate David Dubois if she cannot keep him in check. I will not allow the demon free reign once more,” she indicated. She grinned. “Or perhaps another means would be needed? Perhaps the Other could prove himself to the girl?”

“Meaning you’d put her in danger. Milady, be careful, I beg you,” he urged.

“We’ll see how things turn out. Trust in the goddess to keep things on course,” she agreed while casting a spell. “There! Now we’ll see how the girl fares.”

Grimwilkin prayed silently for Angie’s safety.


****


[Nesconset Beach Pier—9:15 PM]

Dave leaned over the railing, looking out at the softly lapping ocean drawing back and forth across the sandy shore. With Mr. Tamiani’s urging, he’d taken a half week’s leave and headed for Packet Place for some shifts with the family. Round we go again. Where we stop nobody knows!

“Have faith, Dave,” Deirdre admonished gently.

“It’s been two weeks, Dee Dee. I know you and Brother Tony told me to be patient and believe that Angie will come back. But she’s not going to,” he replied morosely. “This is like Karen all over again.”

“You have to have faith, Dave. This isn’t your fault. Angie needs to come to terms with this. You’ve been honest with her. Now she needs to be honest with herself,” she reminded him. “Keep that in mind, my Love.” With that, she disappeared.

At that point, he felt a glimmer of feeling over the link. “Angie?” He panicked, sensing her fear. His scalp went numb.

The Child screamed at the moon; his open left eye squinting angrily at his surroundings. “Stoopid Fraidy Cat.” He disappeared in a dark flash.

****


[Fall River Hospital—Five minutes earlier]

Angie left the hospital feeling more depressed than ever. Instead of feeling better about being free of the Child’s threat, she missed Dave terribly. In addition, Moten continued to question her focus. Finally she had to deal with her parents over the late shifts. It isn’t so bad! I wish they’d see that! She sighed, keeping her head down and trudging straight ahead.

About halfway across the lot, she felt something sharp in her back and heard a voice laugh, “Hey, Pretty Doctor! How ‘bout some treatment?”

“D…don’t hurt…me,” she requested. “I’ll…give you…my money.”

“Yeah,” the mugger agreed, ripping her purse from her left shoulder. “Hey, Boys, pretty doctor’s going to let us do a physical.”

“N…no. Please!” she begged, knowing what they wanted. “N…not that!”

“Hey, we’ll take what we want!” the leader snarled while throwing her up against her car. “You’re so fine.”

“Let’s do her,” another voice suggested as two others kept to the shadows.

“Yeah,” the leader agreed while feeling her back.

Angie squirmed, trying to resist the hands holding her down. Finally she shut her eyes, wondering if this could get any worse.

Then she heard the Scream and fainted.

The leader spun to see the Child deal with the other two muggers with barely a flick of his wrist. “Who the Hell?”

“Yer wors’ nightmare, Boy!” the Dark One retorted tersely before grabbing the bigger man by the hand and shooting him full of dark fire, making him howl in horrific pain. “How ya like that, Scum Ass?” Seeing her out cold on the ground, he shook his head. “Ter’fic. She’s gonna hate this!” Worse still, he saw the flashing strobe lights and heard the sirens. “Hate po—lice!”

He made sure Angie’s head was cushioned by her purse before disappearing from the scene in a flash of light.

That and to make sure Dave got back there ASAP.




Chapter 7 [An hour later—Fall River Hospital Outpatient Area]

Angie dried her eyes while collecting her thoughts. Bad enough, she’d been attacked but her co-workers were talking about it outside of the door. She felt humiliated to have to go through the ordeal with the rape kit. Still she appreciated the police’s detail and that they had the three attackers in custody.

But she couldn’t believe that she owed her virtue and probably her life to the Child…again. The same Child she’d accused of all sorts of things over the past month and a half. Can this get any worse?

She heard a knock at the door. “Yes? You have more questions?”

“Just one. Are you okay?” Caroline asked while coming in. “We got a call from your boss.”

“I’m dealing with it. I was lucky. They didn’t have a chance to do anything before it showed up and did whatever he does,” Angie reported. “Bet my parents are going to be a wreck.”

“We told them that we’d check on you,” the visitor assured her. “Speaking of checking up on you, there’s someone waiting to see you. He didn’t just want to barge in on you without asking first.” She stepped out into the hall. “I’ll let you two talk.”

“He’s here? After everything I….” Her eyes watered and she put her hands over her mouth. She glanced over toward the doorway. “Dave?”

“Yes?” he asked hopefully while stepping into the doorway.

“Thank you. I…I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I know you hate me. I hate myself. I deserve what happened tonight!”

He rushed over to her side, forgetting everything else except her. “No you don’t! You don’t.”

“No more words,” she told him. “Just hold me, please? Hold me please?” She broke down; the tears streaming down her face.

“I’m here, Princess. I’m here,” he assured her, holding her tightly against himself. “I’m sorry too.”

“This feels so good. I know I…don’t deserve to ask this but…”

“But what? What is it?” he asked. “Anything! Anything you want.”

“I want things as they were. If you can forgive me for hurting you,” she requested.

He answered by stopping her lips with his own, letting the energy flow between them. When they came up for air, he told her, “Angie, I love you. Never, ever, forget that.” He reached into his pocket. “If it’s okay, I have something for you.”

She smiled. “You brought it?”

He held up the cameo. “Didn’t have time to get flowers. I couldn’t wait to get this to you.”

She took a deep breath. “Pin it on me please?”

“Absolutely,” he agreed while doing so and adding another kiss for good measure. “There. Pretty as a picture again. Say, Angie, umm…are you going to be okay at your apartment? I was wondering if you’d like to stay at the Alvarezes with me? Or maybe I can sleep on your couch? I’d feel better if you weren’t alone. I won’t….”

“I know you would never try anything, Dave. Fine, as long as I can take one of the other beds, I’ll stay with you. I don’t want you on the couch any longer than you have to be. And I appreciate your concern,” she indicated. “Can we get out of here?”

“Sure,” he agreed while taking her hand and walking out of the area. By the elevator, he asked, “Think your parents will mind if I have a house guest, Caroline?”

“If it’s who I think, nope,” Caroline agreed. Thank you, Lord! “Let’s go.” She let the elevator open, guiding the two reunited lovers into it.



Conclusion [Next morning]

Angie awoke early, not wanting to miss a moment of the new morning. For the first time in almost three months, she felt great. She enjoyed the warmth of the sunshine pouring in through the window. She treasured the warm vibes she felt throughout her friend’s bedroom. I wish Caroline wouldn’t have driven back to Nesconset last night! Given that they had the house to themselves, Angie had a plan of her own…well, a chaste plan anyhow.

She was going to give Dave breakfast in bed and some major TLC. After that, she could start forgiving herself for what she’d put them both through. Maybe she should’ve had some too after the previous night but she was going to give out some first.

She went down to the kitchen and started boiling water on the stove. She measured out Dave’s favorite coffee and turned on the coffee maker.

“Brown sticky stuff is wha’ he likes,” a voice advised.

She turned to see the Child’s Image floating there. “Sorry you startled me. Look, umm…I’m sorry. I guess…we need to deal with each other. Thank you.”

“It’s cool. Hate this warm fuzzy crap!” The Image disappeared.

I still wish Dave was normal. This is what Brother Tony meant. We take the hand we’re dealt. If Dave has to live with this then so will I. She poured oatmeal into the boiling water and stirred it. Once it was done, she spooned it out into two bowls and poured out coffee and juice for them both. She arranged it on a tray along with some bananas and maple syrup. Then she carefully brought it upstairs. Once she stood outside his door, she knocked on it and peeked in.

“Mmm…Angie?” he asked drowsily. “Everything okay?”

“I’m fine. Sorry if it’s a little early. I made breakfast. Hope you like oatmeal,” she noted.

“I love oatmeal especially if you make it for me,” he indicated while making sure he was in his t-shirt and sweat pants. “I should do something for you given what you went through.”

“Just you being there last night for me was enough, my Sweetums,” she assured him while setting up the tray. “Mind if I stay on top of the covers?”

“Got to keep it on the up and up,” he advised with a bit of mirth. “It wouldn’t matter if you were under them with me, Princess. I wouldn’t touch you.”

“I know but this is good,” she commented while kissing him. “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” he agreed as they started into their breakfast.

And in such a way, the couple put themselves (and their world) back on track. While they would have their arguments and fights, never again would they come so close to ending everything. Their faith would carry them over all.


THE END (for now)
 

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