Saving With Information - Part I (Khallid's Island)

Saving With Information - Part I (Khalid's Island)
(OOC: combined threads from the previous site)

KHALID ONARIS
(OOC: Continuation of Mysterious Island, The Courtship of Richard and Arianna Part 3)

Khalid stood by the window thinking of what his Master had revealed. He and Fixer had done a lot to get Richard Greene and his sister Arianna together. Neither knew that the marriage contract was for their union. He shook his head as he said somewhat out loud, “How dare Greene align himself with Matthew MacIntosh! I thought he was soul bound to Arianna?”

His head elf shook his head as he reminded Lord Khalid, “Sire, you decided to listen to his explanation first. You said yourself that Greene’s visit might not have been what Zia had told the Dark One. You even requested I request Fixer and your nephew Lance to be here. Do you now change my orders?”

Khalid sadly shook his head as he said quietly, “No, you are right T-bell. This boy they are bringing, can the damage be undone? Any reply from Fixer and my nephew?”

T-bell was secretly furious with this attack of Matthew’s on the boy Alex. His team of elder elves were having a hard enough time healing Lord Khalid’s mind. Now they had to deal with calming Khalid while at the same time prevent a young boy from turning into a werewolf. He was glad Frank Cole had already figured the Dark One would try something concerning Greene. The man had replied instantly as had Lance Kildare.

He gently pulled Khalid away from the window. T-bell smiled as he helped Grand Amir Khalid into his favorite chair as the elf said, “The Dark Sect warriors are coming Lord Khalid. You need to show strength now if you want them to not interfere in your assignment. The boy with them will be taken to the assigned chamber and the problem he could create will be handled as your request. Your nephew has already arrived and is just waiting for you to need him. Lord Fixer is on his way and should arrive shortly. If you want I can make the cloaked men wait until Fixer and Lance are in the room?” T-bell gave a quick treatment as he prayed Khalid would at least have Frank Cole at his side.

Khalid sat back in his chair and smiled as he wondered. He had a part to play until they could get the Dark Sect warriors off his island.

(OOC: Alex is an Admin Character and will be used in multi-posts)

RICHARD GREENE
Richard and Alex had been transported to Khalid's island via the cabinet. Richards's hands were bound behind his back and he was kneeling. Alex, who had just been bitten by the Alpha Werewolf, Matthew MacIntosh, Clan leader of the MacIntosh, was lying on the floor and looked very pale. The boy was definitely in shock. Richard tried to remember what the Elf Darik had told him long ago in one of their conversations. If he remembered right, the boy could be saved and could be kept from turning but it would take elves to do it. The time limit was twenty-four hours. The two robed figures who stood over them were silent.

When the door to the cabinet opened, Richard was pushed out of the cabinet, barely retaining his stance. Alex was drug out and thrown on the ground. Only a small whimper told Richard the boy was still alive. Richard did not dare try and contact the boy through his mind. He wasn't sure who could listen in. He knew the two thugs did not have the ability, but Richard had only been to this island under duress so he had no idea who was friendly and who was not.

One of the robed men motioned for two of the guards in the room to pick Alex up and then they were walked out of what looked like a barracks area into the sunshine. Richard knew where they were heading. Khalid had a large house on the island and the path they were on lead to that house. The last time Richard followed this path, he ended up drunk and saying anything the Dark Wizard wanted him too. Richard was an alcoholic who had been able to stay sober over a year now. The path ended at a set of French doors, which were opened as they were forced inside.

Khalid sat in his overstuffed easy chair, flanked by and elf. Richard and Alex unceremoniously were deposited in front of the man on their knees. The guards had to help Alex retain the position. Richard stared at the man who now held his life in his hands. Richard watched as Khalid whispered to the Elf and then started to fight as Alex was picked up and taken away. "Where are you taking the boy?"

(OOC: Alex is an Admin character. I have permission to say what Khalid did.)

LANCE KILDARE
Lance tried to wait patiently in the small chamber. He had been on his way to Hogwarts when he had gotten information that his Uncle needed him. Lance did not agree with a lot of things his Uncle did, but he also knew the truth about the man. The Elves on his island were keeping the curse out of his mind. Khalid had to play the bad guy, so the Dark One would continue to believe he still had control over the Dark Wizard. Lance had been joined by Tal'mac the Leader of the High Elfin Clan Council and mentor to the Spellman brothers. The elf was a genius and Lance would never be able to repay him for the knowledge he had given to him. Three of the four elves Khalid kept with him on the island were also in the small chamber, which resembled a cell but had a complete medical unit in it. The equipment had been designed to look like it would torture instead of heal. Most of what was going to happen in the room, would be accomplished by the elves. Lance was there to help them with any questions they had about the human physique. Lance was wearing full operational garb, mostly to hide his identity. Only two people at the moment knew he was here; Khalid and Frank Cole who was do any moment or might already have arrived.

After about half an hour the boy was brought to them and Lance signaled he was to be put on the table. The two guards roughly deposited the boy and the elves strapped him down. Then the two guards were dismissed and left. The door to the cell was locked and Lance knew at least one of the guards was outside. This was not a problem because the elves would make sure the man thought he was seeing and hearing only what they wanted.

Lance removed his mask and started checking the boy. He knew the boy was consious but he could also see he was in shock. Mentally communicating this to one of the elves he watched as the elf walked to the top of the table and placed two fingers on each of Alex's temples. After a few seconds, the boy visably relaxed and turned his head to look at Lance. Lance smiled and said quietly, "It is alright Alex. You are among friends. We are going to help you." The boy looked around the room and noticed the straps across his chest, pelvic region and legs. He immediately started to struggle. "Stop Alex. You are safe. The straps are there to help you stay on the table and because if someone checks it looks like you are being tortured. Now try and relax. We need to check you out. The elves here are all healers. Do you remember what happened to you?"

Alex tried to relax but he had no idea where he was and the equipment looked an awful lot like what had been used on him before to supposedly check the results of what it would do. The doctor seemed friendly enough but that had been tried before also. "Who are you?"

Lance smiled and gently touched the boys shoulder. "My name is Lance Kildare and I work at St. Mungo's and at Hogwarts? Do you remember what happened to you?"

"Prove you work at Hogwarts. What did the leader of the core get which was different than any other?" Alex watched the doctors face and tried to figure out any deception.

"Very good young man, you are smart to check up on me. The answer to your question is a very special wand that very few people even dream exists." Lance smiled and kept his hand on the boys shoulder. "Now if that satisfies you, lie back and let the elves work."

Alex nodded and quietly said, "Yes sir." The boy laid back and Lance was proud on how he tried to relax. He was still shaking slightly, but Lance was not sure if that was because he was scared or if it was because of the bite.

Lance watched as one of the elves walked up and cut his own palm. Then he cut the palm of the boy and put their hands together. One of the other elves, tightly bound the two hands together. It was a blood transfusion of sorts. Lance was in awe because the elves vary rarely used the technique with humans. The boy was now going to have elfin blood and would have some very special traits to work on when all this was done. The elf who had bound the hands walked up to Lance and handed him a small brown jar. "Soak a cloth in this and hold it to the boys neck. Do not let the cloth dry out. It will draw some of the poison out of the wound. This is going to take several hours."

Lance nodded and did as he was told. The elves were in charge. Lance looked at Tal'mac who smiled back at him as the elf made his way to the other side of the table and starred into the boys eyes. Tal'mac thought to the boy, "Lance is the Princess' cousin, my young one." He had approve but as always had to witness the Elvin Bond. The boy would heal from the wound but like another, he would always be more bad tempered. The Elvin leader would let Lance and Frank Cole figure out how to train the boy. He had others to worry about now that Matthew and Markus had made their intentions clear, as he thought to himself, "Matthew, I warned You! My Boys will Now learn the truth of their father's disappearance." Alex relaxed even more and fell asleep.

(OOC: Tal'mac and Alex are admin characters)

KHALID ONARIS
Khalid had been in a daze the whole time the cloaked men were in his presence. As his mind cleared and he was again his own self, Khalid rose and raised his hand as he said, "How dare you betray my sister Arianna! Here I was sure you and she were soul bonded. Now I have been told you went willingly to that accursed Clan's island. Maybe I made a mistake thinking you could make her happy and be the proper husband for her." T-bell was mentally drained but he walked up to Khalid and took his arm. He had very little sleep in the last few days. All of the ones who had originally come with him to protect Khalid, had gone to Frank Cole's Isle of Perdition to help. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Once again he tried to calm Khalid, "Khalid, you promised yourself to hear him out. This is not you, come let's go to your calming place..."

Khalid looked down at the elf and smiled as he said, "Yes my calming place, Sorry T-bell my friend. I lost myself again, I know Ari loves him but he is aligning with that..."

T-bell turned to Frank Cole as he lead Khalid toward the French doors saying, "Master Frank, bring Master Greene to Grand Amir Khalid's special place. Also, send word to Master Lance that his services might be needed. He is with Grand Elf Tal'mac and I am in need of support." It was unlike T-bell to ask for help as Khalid was his charge.

(OOC: T-Bell is an Admin Character)

FRANK COLE
Cole sent a mental message to Lance to meet him at the tent in Khalid's backyard. One of the elves could show him the way. He also sent a message to Tal'mac that T-Bell needed help. Then he turned and helped Richard out of his chair and gestured toward where T-Bell and Khalid were walking though the French doors. He noticed how hesitant Richard was to follow so he quietly added, "It is all right…. You are not going to die today." Finishing with a wink.

Following Richard down the path he was glad they were headed toward the tented area. It was the one place, which was blocked from anyone on the island spying on Khalid. It was the one place the man could relax and didn't have to pretend he was still a Dark Wizard. The elves could take care of him better there.

As they entered the tent, Cole was again struck with the simplicity and warmth of the place. It was like stepping into a maharaja's oasis. T-Bell quickly lead Khalid to a stack of cushions and helped him sit. Cole motioned for Richard to also take a seat and settled beside him. Within seconds Tal'mac and Lance walked in. Tal'mac went straight to T-Bell and pointed to the a place on the back wall of the tent they were in. The elf bowed deeply and walked to the spot, jumped onto an air-chair, closed his eyes and did not move. Cole realized T-Bell had been sent to rest. Tal'mac now stood at Khalid's side. The elf placed two fingers on Khalid' left temple, nodded, removed his fingers and stepped back one step. He nodded to Cole.

Cole smiled and nodded back to the Head Elf. T-Bell was tired, he knew this, but Tal'mac would know how to best handle him. Cole watched as Lance now knelt down behind Richard and was checking his health with his wand. This made Cole smile because everywhere on the island wand magic was blocked as it was on his island. He listened as Lance whispered to Richard that Alex was being treated and there were hopes of him being all right, but that it would take hours before they knew if the elfin magic worked on the boy. He also told Richard the boys blood was ging strengthened with elfin blood. Receiving a reassuring smile from the doctor Cole turned to Richard. "We are safe here. Nothing we say can be heard and only those designated are allowed into the area. Many of Khalid's people do not even know the area exists. You may now answer Khalid's questions concerning why you went to the Clans lair.
(OOC: Frank Cole, Lance Kildare and Richard Greene are all my characters. Tal'mac is an admin character. Description of Khalid's tent area: The whole area was about 50 foot square and surrounded by a high hedge. Off to one side was a small garden containing date trees, several varieties of berry bushes, and vegetables with ripe fruit. In a back corner was a fountain, which seemed to flow out of the top of the four foot high piled rocks and cascaded into a clear pool of water. The grass was a velvet cushion, which added lightness to every step.

A tent set just off center to the right. The tent was called a buryuut hqiar (literally meaning "house of hair" because the nomads normally built them out of goats hair). Most of the tents were black in color, but Khalid had opted to have color added to the outside. He had used the colorful curtains, normally hung on the inside as outside walls. The whole structure measure about 20 feet by 20 feet and looked light as a feather.

Entering the tent, Khalid had kept the outside measurements. So many wizards had homes and other living areas where the outside was smaller than the inside. There were fantastic rugs covering every inch of the floor and pillows and cushions piled everywhere. The small table next to the back wall contained, several putter plates and crystal stemmed glasses.)

RICHARD GREENE
Richard visibly relaxed when Lance walked into the tent. Lance was also a Caretaker. If Lance was here, Arianna knew it. Of course, he knew there were many questions he was going to have to answer. He had not told Arianna he was following the note, which had led him to the Clans island. Darik had known. The elf was also going to probably in hot water with their leader, but Richard knew although Darik cared what Arianna thought he was still a lone wolf when it came to following directions. The Elf even got away with questioning the directions from Tal'mac and the council.

When Lance knelt down behind him, he felt the immediate healing warmth. He tried to sit still so Lance could check his body for any ill effects of being on the island. It worried him they had taken samples of his blood and other body fluids. He felt Lance's hand on his shoulder and knew he was alright for now.

Looking from Cole to Khalid he started slowly. "I went to Matthew MacIntosh because he sent me a note telling me he was ready to take you up on your offer to let him have my Arianna. He said he had made a deal with you, by signed contract to be able to have first choice in her future. I had to go and find out how much of a hold he had gotten from you." Richard sat forward and placed his elbows on his folded legs. "She is mine Khalid, no matter what you say or do. I know technically you are still head of the family, but I will fight for her. I will fight anyone any where for her."

Lance again put his hand on Richard's shoulder and pulled the man back. "Be calm my friend or I will give you something to make sure you stay calm. No one is an enemy here. Am I understood?"

Richard looked behind him. Lance was serious and he knew the doctor had a full med kit somewhere close. "I will try and stay relaxed. But he..." Richard motioned toward Khalid, "needs to understand I will not give her up, no matter what he tries to do. We have both waited too long to be joined. I…" Richard stopped talking when Cole grabbed the wrist which held Matthew's control bracelet.

"What's this? Tal'mac take a look at this please." The elf walked forward and grabbed Richard's wrist out of Cole's hand. He examined the jewelry and then wrapped his hand around the wrist, enclosing it totally. Richard felt an uncomfortable heat eminate from the bracelet. As the heat reached the point where it was going to burn, the elf let go.

"It is or it was a control bracelet, added to Master Richard's wrist to be able to control him through pain. I have deactivated it. If it is activated it will glow slightly and Master Richard will feel a small amount of heat but there will be no pain. I can not remove it because there are thoes who we have not found who will know it is supposed to be there." Tal'mac looked at Richard and said, "If you see it glow or you feel the heat, you must react as if it is working. I will take it for granted, you have already felt it being tested, so you know what it should feel like." Richard nodded. "Very well then." Tal'mac turned and walked back to stand slightly behind Khalid. He turned his eyes to T-Bell to make sure he was still resting then turned all his attention back to Khalid.

"I have a report to give and I wish to see Arianna," Richard said. He turned his eyes on Khalid and added, "She is mine Khalid. Do not try and keep us apart or I will find a way to take you down hard."

(OOC: Richard Green, Lance Kildare and Frank Cole are all my characters. Tal'mac is an admin character and may not be used except with permission by one of the admins.)

KHALID ONARIS
Khalid was furious but unsure at just who. Matthew had dared to claim the contract as his. Saying with fury in his words but fear as well, "And you believed him? You think that either of them or especially Darik would allow such a marriage to stand? Your uncle would have seen through that impostor's lies! The Medjai have special laws concern just who we can marry because of our special gifts. Do You even have the slightest idea of what I had to prove and to whom to get that marriage proposal contract even considered? The highest signer would not have even read it all had he seen Matthew's name! He has a deeper reason for wanting that Alpha and his Enforcer destroyed! If you don't believe me ask the approvers or your cousin/brother-in-law!"

Richard sat and stared at the man for a few moments. Khalid was making sense. He had acted on his emotions and not using his brain. He looked around the tent and zeroed in on Tal'mac, the highest ranking Elf of any of the elvin community. He would be the only one Khalid could be talking about as being higher than himself. Normally the Elves did not interfere with the humans but Richard and Arianna both had elvin blood in their veins because of the past. Tal'mac would not let the union take place if he did not think it was right, because when Arianna and Richard went through the ceremony, their blood would be combined and their abilities would climb exponentially. Although Tal'mac did not say anything he gave Richard a small smile then went back to studying Khalid.

Richard bowed his head for a moment. When he raised it, he said, "I apologize for and slight I have given anyone. I acted with my heart and not my head." Sitting up a little straighter he continued, "I have probably made things a little more complicated also. He wants me to bring people to him or he said he would go after Arianna. I need to get to her to protect her." Richard knew he was panicking, but he couldn't just sit there when Ari was in danger.

Tal'mac held his fury inside as he said calmly, "I think not. One, my grand son Darik will be made aware of this possible attempt. Two until the marriage contract is fulfilled Amira Arianna falls under the protection of her brothers and son-in-law Martin. Finally due to an agreement that Khalid made, Should Matthew MacIntosh try to fulfill this threat, The Dark One would have little choice but to declare war to protect Arianna. That along with the Amira herself would spell Death for that whole Clan, I would be extremely happy should he be foolish to Try! It was that Clan that murdered my adopted daughter, then they dare try and corrupt my Boys. I will see them all destroyed before I allow them to multiple by adding a Medjai to their ranks..." He did want the names of those Matthew wanted because those would be assigned some very special elvin protectors.

Lance stood up and bowed to Tal'mac. He would eventually be one of those who would be affected by the edict. "I will return to my other patient. Richard, you may call if you need me. If you feel faint or you start to get pain, let me know immediately." With this, Lance left. He wouldn't be much help with the boy, but it was a learning experience he did not want to miss. Maybe he could use what he learned to help Gabriel, who was a werewolf and could only be helped now by drinking that nasty fluid Wolfsbane.

Richard watched Lance leave then turned back to the group. "Of course Matthew wants Arianna, he also wants Neo, Franco and Marco. Gabriel of course because he wants to pull him back into the fold so to speak. Kat Spellman although I am not sure why and Sasha, I think to control the school and Tarik." Richard looked at Frank and smiled, "He also wants you. He seemed especially angry when he mentioned your name." Again, Richard turned back the group. "I'm not afraid of him getting his hands on the Spellman's, unless he gets Kat first, then she becomes leverage. Gab can handle himself. If they keep him through a full-moon cycle and wait until he changes they may have an advantage over him." Richard paused for a moment and then said, "You know he also wants Tia but he has not mentioned her specifically. I get the feeling he figures if he can control some of the others she will willingly come to him to protect them. In the past this may have been true, but since she was joined to Landon, she had come to understand she is more important than any of us. It is a tossup on what she would do."

Frank listened to Richard. He got up and started to pace. If he went to the MacIntosh Clan lair it would get him on that island. He might just be able to find out some information. His whole adult life, after his wife had been killed by the Clan, had been dedicated to finding and selling information. His small army had also rented out to be used as mussel. Lately he had started just working for certain people and those he had to believe in before he put forth any effort. To be able to get on the island and possibly find out who was there and how they worked was almost too much to pass up. He stopped a few feet away from where everyone was sitting and announced, "I am going to turn myself into him. I need the information I can gain by going there."

Tal'mac shook his head as he said, "No! You will not escape a second time or have you forgotten! You were the one who killed Joshua! Matthew wants you because your blood brother will do anything to keep you safe. I will give him none on his list! That is my final word, is that Clear! You have a spy in his ranks that is bad enough. I will not have the linking back in Clan hands, I vowed that that Clan had no rights to link as a pact. My boys will only go to their great uncle the day they fulfill my vow to their father! Only then will the PACT fulfill it right of vengeance as they finish the job their father and you started by destroying the last three Alpha pups. First I must tell them the truth of their father's death, then I can go to the Place of Last Breath! Until then I will not allow Matthew to get anything he values!"

Cole took a stubborn stance raking his hands through his hair. The thought of going against Tal'mac went through his mind, but in the end he knew he would not fight the Elf. "I will agree to stay away from them Tal'mac, but I will not fight really hard if they capture me. They killed my wife and unborn son. I will have my revenge." Frank flopped back down on the cushions and stared at the floor. He wanted his hands around Matthew's neck in the worse way, but he had enough experience to know if you went in mad or looking for revenge you would mess up and miss the one opportunity you had to accomplish what you wanted. Without looking up he said, "My spy is safe. She knows how to take care of herself and we have worked out two ways of her getting out of there if needed."

Khalid hung his head as he saw a side of Tal'mac he prayed he never saw again. He understood the hatred the elf felt as it was the same hatred he felt for the Dark One. The adopted daughter that the Clan Alphas killed must have been a very special young lady. Khalid was only sad that it seemed Tal'mac planned on it just being him to go and deal with those wolves. Khalid was afraid to council the old elf in just how foolish such a mission would be. He looked to Frank as he said more than a little worried, "I agree with Tal'mac only in the fact that it would be foolish for anyone to go against Matthew alone. We will not go as prisoners on Matthew's time window. When that Clan meets their end it will be well planned and when Matthew, Markus and Thomas least expect it."

He turned to Richard as he said, "We will see why Tia or any of the Core interest Matthew."

He smiled as he said, "Tal'mac you are needed so no Land of Last Breath for awhile, my old friend. Do you think the young boy is up for a friendly chat?' Turning his gaze to Cole he said, " Also my son, maybe Jonathan might give you some info on if Matthew or Markus is considering any of the Core?"

Richard sat back up and stretched. "You know the brothers are fighting among themselves. Matthew thinks he is in total charge but Markus tries to undermine him whenever he gets a chance. I don't think Markus wants to sit on the thrown, but I do think the Werewolf would like to be in charge of everything else. Answering to his brother rankles him. And Thomas has a hatred for both of the brothers. I do not think that pup, wants to be at war with the rest of the world. Alex got blamed for letting his Aunt escape, but it would have taken more to pull it through. Thomas had to be the one who smoothed the way. I think he would be content to just have the Clan happy and living quietly among themselves. There might be an in there." Turning to Cole he added, "I would check with Jonathan. After all he is Matthew's grandson but likes being with us much better."

Cole nodded. "I have to agree with Richard on this. The information I have been able to get from my spy would back him up. She has been able to listen in on conversations without them even knowing she was in the room. Those people are so sure they are in control, they do not pay attention to those that serve them and I think that is going to be their downfall. I might even be able to plant a few more seeds of distrust within their ranks." Cole became contemplative as he started to think of how he could drive more than one small wedge in-between the three brothers. A slow smile came across his face as the thoughts gained ground in his brain.

Tal'mac shook his head as he said, "Jonathan is Matthew's adopted son and only because he stole Jonathan as a baby when he murdered the young man's mother. She loved McChey, Sasha's father. That is why he wants Sasha! The Seer ability, Jonathan must have shown signs. That is why the attack that Spellman's did failed. Jonathan must have seen it coming,,,"

Khalid was shocked but realized that Matthew needed Sasha now that Jonathan was gone, "He needs the visions to keep control. Matthew has gotten to the top through Jonathan. And we took him so Matthew is in a sense Blind."

"Ok, then how do we use that blindness?" Cole asked.

Richard just shook his head. "We can't use it yet, Frank. It is something to keep in mind for the future though. Creating a diversion even if it is just something out here in the world for Matthew to have to concentrate on will work eventually, when everything else is set up. Someone needs to talk to Sasha and get her ideas. She has stayed in her office a lot lately and I would be willing to bet, she has been having visions and hasn't even told Tarik. The man has been beyond moody lately, and Tarik does not do moody well."

Cole took a deep breath and nodded. "I know, it's just …. " he paused then added, "Sorry, I will follow Tal'mac's lead. Just don't keep me out of the first wave." Cole looked at Khalid, "Father you look very tired. I think you should rest. Richard and I are going to go and talk with the boy, if that is alright."

Khalid was shaking his head, "not Matthew's son...a McChey...Sasha's brother? Tarik is sure to come after me now?" Khalid was scared, as he had just had a visit with his baby brother. His head went down as he said remembering, "I could not even talk to him then. Now he is going to learn that I nearly ordered the death of Sasha's half-brother. He will think I am dark for sure now and Sasha's vision what if it shows what I did..." His eyes teared-up as he tried to decided just what Sasha was so worried about and if it would mean facing his brother in battle. "I won't hurt Tarik even it means he kills me." Khalid was terrified that Matthew was counting on Khalid taking his baby brother Tarik out. He laid back on the cushions and allowed T-bell to administer a resting spell. Absently he waved his hand toward Richard and Fixer sending them on their way.

(OOC: This is a combined post by Barbie and Jane. The elf T-Bell is an admin character.)

FRANK COLE
Cole walked behind Richard as they headed down the hall of the lower part of the house. He scrubbed his hand through his hair. This boy had been privy too information he desperately needed against the Clan. How was their island set up? Who was there and who was in charge? Was there a daily routine? Were there secret ways into the citadel? He would push for his answers but he knew Lance was not going to let him push hard. He had a good relationship with the Elvin Clans and Tal'mac seemed to like him, but it might be a while before they release the boy enough for him to ask questions. The only thing Cole was worried about was the boy would forget some small piece which could be an answer to a question allowing him to save some lives. He just had to hope the boy was coherent. What was he saying, he just had to hope the boy would live.

Richard knew Cole was right behind him. He trusted the man now that he found the boy who had been raised by his parents, had not gone to the Dark part of the Wizarding world. He turned his thoughts to Alex. One of the elves had passed him a note letting him know the boy's Aunt was now being protected by the Caretaker. This was some good news he could give Alex, if the boy lived. Sometimes a bite could actually send the victim into such a state of fear they would literally give up on life. The elves were the only ones who had a chance to save the boy and keep him from turning into a werewolf. If he did turn though Gabriel Lupin, who was also a werewolf would be a mentor for the boy's future. Richard hoped it would not come to that.

He slowly opened the door to the cell, which looked more like a hospital room at the moment. Very few people were allowed anywhere near it. Lance looked Richards's way and nodded, giving them permission to enter the room.

Ra-bell walked up to Fixer and bowed as he said, "Master Frank, the boy is resting comfortably. We have given him some of our blood, which should fight the werewolf cells in his blood. Another giving may be needed but we did not want to add too much. With just the amount he has had, special training will be needed for his augmented abilities. It is safe if you wish us to waken him, but he will be weak." Ra-bell paused and accepted the nod from Cole. Turning slowly he nodded to the other three elves in the room. He walked toward where the young boy was lying on a high cot, as the elf added, "Lord Tal'mac said that the young Princess and her friends might be in need of protection from the Clan. I notified my cousins, as she and her new husband are their charges." Ra-bell could not allow the young ones to be brought to Lord Khalid even if it was to protect them. He looked to Lance and Richard for guidance in this matter. The Elf placed his hand gently on Alex's forehead and the boys eyes started to flutter open. Ra-bell nodded, took his hand away and turned back to Richard and Cole. You wish any refreshments?"

Cole shook his head and walked toward the bed. He stood on one side and Richard stood on the other. Glancing over at Lance, he received a nod and then motioned to Richard to go first.

Richard looked down at the boy. He was almost as white as the sheet which covered him. His eyes were slightly glazed over as he looked back and forth between Cole and himself. There was fear in the eyes. Placing his hand on the boys shoulder, he said reassuringly, "It is alright Alex, you are safe. Everyone here if a friend only here to look out for you. You will not be going back to the Clan castle. You are free. Your Aunt has also made it to some friends of mine and is being taken care of and protected." The large tears coming from the boys eyes tore at Richard's heart. "Alex this is Frank Cole. He has been fighting to bring down the Clan for a long time. Long ago they killed his wife and his unborn son. He needs to ask you some questions. I know this is hard boy, and if there is any danger to you, the elves will stop us. Do you think you might be able to answer a couple of questions?" Richard received a weak nod and turned to Cole. "Ask your questions. But Cole make them small and be careful."

Cole nodded and looked down at the boy. He put a smile on his face and introduced himself, in the calmest voice he could project. "Hello Alex. My name is Frank Cole and I am known as the Fixer. The name was given to me because I am good at fixing problems others might run into in the worst of the world. What I need from you and not really at the moment is for you to think of things which would help me take down the clan." Cole was hoping to get the boy to at least think of things which might help and get them planted firmly in his brain, so later he would be able to tell them. "It can be small things, such as a daily routine a guard or someone of importance might follow, or maybe you found a weak spot in the islands defenses, but did not want to take the chance of trying to use it. Your bravery is not in question here. If you were not sure you could have gotten away, it was a good thing for you not to take the chance. Sometimes the high and mighty do not notice the little people, so maybe there are people or a person who comes and goes and is not noticed. Anything you can give me will be helpful young man." Cole reached into his pocket and pulled out a small book. "This is a verbal diary. All you have to do is talk and it will write whatever you say. Only myself, your friend Richard and the doctor can open the diary and look at what is written." Cole noticed the boys eyes start to droop. Patting Alex's shoulder he added, "I can see you are still very tired. I will leave the diary right here." He tucked it into the side of the boy and put his hand on top of it. "It is going to be good Alex, I promise you. Now get some sleep. I will be around for a while, but even if I leave the doctor or one of the elves can find me and I will return as soon as I can."

Alex reached for the book and tried to throw it. He was not going to endanger his brother or his friends by helping Markus' puppet. Alex had been told what the Clan Chieftain Matthew had done to this Fixer person. The man could not be trusted. If anything he had been brainwashed. Alex needed to find Jonathan and then possibly with Thomas' help get back on the island and deal with the monster that was now in charge of the Clan. He slowly got up as he said, "Sorry but I have to refuse. If you can kindly take me to Hogwarts, I will be grateful. Otherwise get out of my way!" He had to warn Tia about Liam and the threat he posed to the Core.

Richard reached out to try and get the boy to not move, but he was fast. The elves would prevent him from getting out of the room, so Richard decided to stop and watch what the boy would do. He said quietly, "Alex you need to lie back down in the bed, you are not strong enough yet to re-enter the world. Until we find out how the bite my Matthew has affected you, you need to let the elves take care of you."

The boy still headed for the door. When Alex had shoved Cole out of the way, Richard waved him off from reacting to the shove. Alex walked calmly to the door and tried the handle several times. Then he tried to pull violently on the door. Finally, he stopped and leaned his forehead on the door jam. After a few moments, he slowly straightened up and turned. "Let me out."

Richard took three slow steps toward the boy. "Sorry Alex but that is not possible. Now either get back in the bed on your own, or I will order the elves to put you there and you will be restrained. You are still not out of danger from the bite and I am willing to guess you are going to see some changes to your system. You need to be where we can see them and explain anything you need to know." Richard glanced at Cole who was barely standing still. He man's hands were clinched at his side. Looking back at Alex he said, "Alex I told you I would get you out of there and I did. I am also telling you I am going to keep you safe. The doctor is head of the medical department at Hogwarts, he will forward any messages for you if you like. Now get back in the bed."

Alex shook his head as he back to the door saying, "The doctor and you I trust. But..." He pointed to Frank Cole as he continued, "That man has been turned into Markus' puppet, I heard how they used him to get information for them. He is one of them. There is one at Hogwarts that my friends have no business trusting. It was because of that person at Hogwarts that got my parents killed and Bill, my brother, so badly experimented on that I will have to one day kill him. Now either open the door or I will find a weapon that will." Desperately he let his eyes roam the room for something heavy enough he could weld. The elves had formed a semi-circle around him, standing between him and the other adults. He had to get to Liam and stop him before Tia or Rosa were given that pendent.

Lance walked up to Cole and grabbed his arm then pointed to his own temple. Lance was a strong Empath. He knew what the boy was thinking and feeling. Besides the fear for himself, because he still felt trapped, there was fear for those at Hogwarts School.

Cole looked at his friend and slowly nodded. He was reacting with his feelings and not actively listening to the boy. Cole could read thoughts when he wished too. He mentally relaxed his stance and uncurled his fingers at his side. He gently said, "I was used by Markus, Alex I will admit that. However, between that time and this time I have come to understand how I was used and have been able to change from that person to someone, both of these men trust. I told you both Richard and the doctor can read the book. You will give it to them when you are done and they will let me know anything which I should know. Would that work for you? You need to get back in the bed Alex. That adrenaline high you are feeling is going to crash in a moment or so and you are going to fall. Let the elves help you back into the bed. I will not come and see you unless the doctor or Richard are present."

Tal'mac smiled at the young man's progress. He walked over to the boy saying, "Enough boy! You want this done the hard way like Marco Spellman, So be it!" He looked at the wooden table and then with his hand raised as he said, "You don't want to lay down in the bed. Okay then you can be uncomfortable in the chair."

Alex had no time to react before he found himself bound to the chair at the wooden table. His fingers were spread out on the table. He started to struggle as he tried to get the chair to the door. Alex panicked as he realized that nothing including his mouth would move. All he heard was the old wise elf say was, "I guess your mouth needs a lesson in manners..." The other elves were holding back their laughter.

Richard walked over and leaned on the table. "I tried to warn you, Alex. The elves take their medical treatment very seriously. They are not going to let you out of here until they know for sure you are going to survive the bite," Richard did not want to frighten the boy, but he had to let him know the seriousness of the problem. From the roundness of Alex's eyes, he had made his point. Richard reached out and put his hand on the boy's arm, "I have all the confidence in the world you are going to survive, but Alex you now have werewolf and elfin blood running through your veins. That is a blood cocktail, which can be dangerous to you and to those you love. We have to determine what it has done to whatever specialties you now have because of the mix. Tell me what you are afraid of and I will help."

Lance walked just a little closer when the elves had backed up. "Alex tell him. I can read your thoughts and your feelings. Tell him your fear. I promise you he can help. Cole will step down and there are others who will help him step back." Lance glanced quickly at Cole and received a nod.

Tal'mac smiled as he said, "I will release your mouth as it seems Lord Cole has questions." As he released the young one's mouth Tal'mac thought to Fixer, "Remember how Marco was when you first met him after saving his brother Neo? This boy too has trust issues. This boy has deep anger inside. Treat him as you would Travis or Jonathan. The young one is deeply programmed. I think you can figure out a way without hurting him to gain the knowledge you seek. Maybe Lance's gift might be of use?"

Alex felt that his mouth was once again free. They knew nothing about how Markus would deal with betrayal. He cringed as he remembered his times in the machine. Alex could only guess at how much worst it had been for Frank Cole. Alex knew when Markus put anyone into that mind bending machine that person would agree to anything even betraying a family member or friend, He knew one day he would talk about the last year so he could fully heal, but right now all he wanted was to get to his friends and forget about ever being on that cold and dreary island. He formed a tight line with his lips, pressing them together and sadly shook his head. Trust was not something he could afford at the moment.

Cole walked up to the table and gently pulled Richard away then wispered in Richards ear. "I am going to have lance do a mind dive. You want to officiate. It will only be a light one, to no lower than level three and the elves will be able to monitor the boy's health."

Richard looked at the boy and questioned in his mind the necessity of what Cole was going to do. There was no other way though. The boy was too scared to tell them anything they needed to know to protect the children at school. Reluctantly he nodded and stepped back.

Lance walked over to the table after Cole summoned him with his eyes and mind. Lance pulled up another chair to the table and put his hands on top of the boy's splayed fingers. He looked into the boy's eyes and quietly said, "Relax Alex. You are not going to be in any pain I promise. I know you are scared, but this way, no one can say you told us voluntarily what you know. Don't fight me because my mind is stronger than yours. It will be alright you will see." Lance stared the mind-dive. He was not going any lower than level three, but the boy was fighting him. He rubbed his hands up the boy's arms.

Looking behind Alex, he saw Tal'mac had walked up behind the boy. The old elf was not going to take any chances the boy would be hurt. When he nodded to Lance, he knew the elf had made the connection and would be monitoring every step.

Tal'mac knew the young one was scared as the fear from the boy was through out the room. He turned his thoughts to Fixer in an effort to get the man to understand, "Have him show you guys what Markus put him through then help both him and yourself heal. I will have one of mine that are on that cursed island to either free his older brother or end the man's suffering. This deprogramming is never easy is it?" Tal'mac watched as Alex fought the dive. The boy was terrified and just enforced Tal'mac need to destroy that Clan starting with the Enforcer Markus MacIntosh.

Cole walked back up to the table and touched Alex's temple with his finger. He was about to join in the mind dive. Through his thoughts he said, "You will allow him in, Alex. You will show him what Matthew did to you. I was also, as you know, put in the machine. I know your pain. It was in the past. Now let him in…"



Alex shook his head as he thought of how he had first fought being trained, His days eventually became waking in the machine, water and bread, exercise, questions, nap in the machine, fighting lessons in the arena, water, running, sleep. "I just earned the lack of my training collar. I can't risk being bad not with cousin so close to my friends. He has been promised one as a pet on the cond..." The pain had come without warning. Alex hit the ground curled screaming.

In his mind, the boy had fallen to the floor in pain. Lance thought, "You are not there Alex. Fight the pain… see if this helps." Lance concentrated on errecting a shield wall around the boy. It would not block sight or sound, but maybe it would be enough to make the boy think he could block the pain. "You are doing great Alex. Stand up and look at the end of the trail where you were running. I saw a cave. Do you know where that cave leads?" A lot of the island caves lead to beaches or coves where small boats could be brought in.

Alex shook his head as he said, "No that is where Travis Jr. disappeared and Cousin Jon has went through a few times. Some come from the cave but we are never allowed to talk to them. They are taking to the labs and then most are given to the feeders." He was scared as that cave meant death and it was though there his aunt had went.

Cole smiled. He cave was an entrance and exit from the island. Lance thought again, "Very good Alex. Now I am going to bring you back out. It will be slow and when you are back in the real world you are going to feel calmer. Remember what you have learned here. Remember that what you went through at the Clan home is all in the past. Cole has made it through and you can also. The two of you need to talk and share. Ok, here we go." Lance slowly pulled his hands down the boy's arms until he was again covering Alex's hands. He watched carefully as the boy came back into the real world. Smiling he nodded when Alex's head dropped forward. He signaled two of the elves to help the boy up and back into the bed. Alex would be drained for about six hours. After that they would see what worked next.

Alex kept shaking his head. He had to get to the school. As he was laid on the bed, Alex said, "Please I need my Wolfsbane shot. I did not get it after they found my aunt missing." He was panicking as he remembered he had been bitten instead.

Lance had gotten up and followed as Alex was lead to the bed and laid down. The elves did not restrain him. When he asked for his Wolfsbane shot, Lance looked to Tal'mac. The only reason the boy would be given the shot was if he was a werewolf and he was going to be prevented from shifting during the full moon cycle. The old elf shook his head and stepped up to the bed. "Alex," he said softly, while stroking the boys arm, "Since our blood now runs through your vains you will not need any shots. You are healing nicely. By tomorrow you will be allowed to get up and walk around freely. It will be up to your human friends on whether you may return to the school right away though. Now rest boy. If you can remain calm, it will go a long way to show them you can be trusted to return to the school.

Tal'mac looked toward the corner where the table was positioned. Master Frank was still standing there just staring at the wall. The elf walked over to him and placed his hand on the young Masters arm. "Come to me later if you want to talk Master Frank. You need to also remember what you went through and survived is in the past." Receiving a nod, Tal'mac turned to the room in general, bowed slightly and left. He needed to check on Master Khalid.

Alex nodded but felt the pain. His body felt like it was being torn apart. Alex tried to concentrate on a part of the ceiling. After feeling like his skin was being torn from his body, Alex started screaming as he grabbed his body saying, "Please I am sorry. Please I need my medicine. I won't betray the Clan. Please....I will bring..."

Lance put his hand on the boys forehead while one of the elves placed his hand over Alex's heart. The boy went laxed, but not before Lance heard some information which sent him to the small cabinet in one of the corners of the room. He pulled out parchment paper and a quill and quickly wrote the news. One of the elves would be able to take it to Darik and from there it would get to the Caretakers. Clan MacIntosh wanted Rose Fairmont. By the time he got back to the bed, Cole was standing there just watching the boy. "They have him programmed Cole. It is just like any drug adict. The body might not need the drug, but the mind is convinced it is the only thing which will make the pain go away. The elves have him out for a few hours, but it is going to be a very long and hard fight to get his mind to accept he does not need the drug. If we have to, we will give him a plocebo and let him think he is gradually being weaned from the drug. Oh and by the way, according to my exam, he was never given the medication in the first place. He was just being conditioned to crave it, so they could force him to do what they wanted in order for him to get what he thinks he needs." Lance looked down at the boy and then back to Cole, "You alright, my friend. I can also give you something if you need it."

Cole just shook his head no and turned and left. He had glanced over at Richard who had remained standing off to the side watching what was happening. Richard's job at the moment was to judge when Alex was fit to return to the school. He knew it was not for a few days at least, but he was hoping to be able to get the boy settled back at school. A couple of Darik's special elves could be put in place to watch. Richard smiled. That Elf had a whole communication and bodyguard system set up all using the elves which everyone paid not attention to.



(OOC: Mind-diving information can be found in Legacy Wiki. For more information on Mind Control Chamber read Closed, Everywhere Else, A Test of Loyality, Part II, Staring with Post number 5. This is a combined thread by Barbie and Jane, we hope you are enjoying it.)

RICHARD GREENE
Lance sat at the round oak table and tried to look as calm as he could, as Richard and Frank Cole walked into the room. They had decided to have a debriefing of sorts and he was going to act as the mediator. He hoped he was not going to have to break up any head banging, but he was ready. Tal'mac would be there as soon as the old Elf checked on Alex and then set up some of his own security along his Elfin channels. Lance smiled as the thought that Darik would be one of the first ones notified. That little elf had come along way and any member of Hogwarts would have felt perfectly safe to put their lives in the elf's very capable hands. Logically the two elves protecting Landon and Tia would be the next to be notified. It was hard to believe thoes two young people were married. They weren't allowed to live as man and wife until they graduated and personal contact was being held to a minimum and always supervised. Lance chuckled to himself when he thought of the couple of times the two had already tried to outwit their protectors. They had been talked to about the danger, but he knew they would try again.

Richard followed Frank Cole into the room. Lance had chosen a room in the dungeon and set it up as a comfortable conference room. Tal'mac had stationed one of his trusted elves outside the door, so they would not be interrupted. Richard took the chair Lance motioned to and settled in. He was tired and all he wanted to do was go back to Hogwarts and take care of Adrianna. At least as much as the very independent lady would let him take care of her. He loved her with all of his heart, but she could be stubborn. Richard was glad that all the Caretaker Group stuck together and watched out for their leader, because she would get bogged down in something and forget to watch her back. Settling back in his chair he asked, "So what is the first point you want to bring up. I want to get back to the school."

Cole walked to the third chair and turned it around so the back of it was up against the table. This was how he set. It allowed him the freedom of being able to stand quickly and react to anything and also gave him a sense of security having the chair back in front of him. It was only a small thing but it allowed him to focus. He looked back and forth between the Doctor and the Professor of Herbology. He knew Lance by reputation and personal chats and he knew Richard because his wife had been raised by Richards's parents when hers had died. Frank had met her when he had been helping with some investigative work he was doing for Richard's uncle and had instantly fallen in love with her. Richard was also known to him through some personal chats. This meeting would give him valuable information he needed to start planning the downfall of the MacIntosh Clan. They had killed his wife and unborn son. They were going down. Steepling his fingers in front of him he said, "Doc you have the floor."

Lance leaned forward a folded his arms on the table. "First a little progress on the boy. Tal'mac will be here in a little while to give us any updates, but I can tell you he is resting comfortably at least physically. Mentally the boy is reeling. He still has not totally accepted the fact he is safe and out of there. I think he is just waiting for someone to come and send him back to his duties. It won't be long before he can return to Hogwarts but he is going to need to be watched. Tal'mac said he can have an elf assigned to him, but I was thinking of getting the Core involved. Those kids can protect him and watch out for him better than any of us can."

Lance glanced over to Cole and said, "No Cole we are not going to keep him under lock and key here or in any other confined space." It had not been hard for Lance to notice Cole's thoughts of hiding the boy away for a while, or even forever. "The boy needs to get back to the school and have some normal experiences. He needs to learn all over how to be in a world which is not trying to turn him into a mindless puppet, to be used to destroy things."

Cole just shook his head. He had forgotten how strong the man's Legilimency and Occlumency abilities were. "It was just a thought Doc." Cole motioned to Richard adding, "I'm sure Caretaker there would agree with you. However, I want access to the boy. He has a lot of information locked in that head of his and it is going to come out in bits and pieces and we all know it will pop out at some of the oddest of times. I want…. I need that information."

Richard broke into Cole's rant. "The boy is going to have 24/7 protection both elvin and human. If he gives out any information, which is pertinent to what you are trying to do, you will have the information. The boy needs to be around others."

Cole slammed his hand on the table. "And whom my I ask is going to decide if the information is pertinent or not. Sometimes small pieces can be added to what I already know and send me down the correct hidden path."

Before Richard could respond Lance leaned forward and in a voice defying either to question him said, "The decision will be made by Arianna; she is head of the Caretaker Group and highly trusted by everyone. If you have a problem with that you can take it up with her."

Tal'mac came in and said in a tone that ended any questions about who would be watching the boy, "His blood brother will. My grandson, Rub'ik, has chosen him and requested this joining. One transfusion has taken place already and when the boy is a little stronger, a second transfusion will take place. At that time, Rub'ik will be able to tell how the boy's abilities are enhanced and what his special abilities will be. He is already taking charge of the boy's care. It is his first human joining but he has been well trained by his brother Darik, who is also his mentor. Though I do agree that at the moment he could poses a threat to the Core? We all heard his conditioning to bring somebody to Markus MacIntosh and any ideas of how to get past the conditioning to find out whom?"

Richard smiled. Tal'mac had just assured that the Caretaker's would have the main controls over protecting Alex. Darik was the only Elf in the Caretaker group and had full rights and responsibilities in everything the group did. He would show Rub'ik how to keep the boy safe. "I think it would almost be safe to say it is one of the children. He has given me a list of the adults he wants." Richard fingered the bracelet on his right wrist. It was an every present reminder of what he had gone though.

Lance nodded when Cole looked furious but nodded. Hiding the chuckle he felt, because he knew Cole would not go up against Tal'mac, he turned to Richard. "Since I know it is being blocked I think our next order of business is the bracelet you are wearing Richard. Care to fill us in, oh and by the way this whole meeting is being recorded."

Richard looked down at the bracelet on his right hand. He fingered it with his left then looked back up. "It has been put there by Matthew MacIntosh to keep me in line. If I don’t get back to him soon or he thinks I am evading him, he will activate it and I will admit the pain is bad, but I can endure it. He doesn't want me dead but he does want some control over me." Leaning forward a little bit he added, "You can't block it totally. If Matthew thinks it is not working then he will do worse and I will not take that responsibility." Turning to Tal'mac he said, "Take the protection away, my friend. He has to think he can still get to me."

Tal'mac walked over to Richard and touched the braclet causing it to glow for a few heartbeats. During that time Richard winced. It was not as bad as the demonstration Matthew had given him at the castle but it was enough to smart and cause his arm and shoulder to spasm. When Richard could take a normal breath he said, thank you and turned to Cole. The man wants me to bring him seven people and he hasn't given me long to do it. He wants, Neo, Franco, Marco and Kat Spellman. Neo and Franco are a must for him I think. Kat I feel he just wants as a play toy and to keep the others in line. He wants Gabriel Lupin because the man is already a werewolf and he wants to try and get him back on what he feels is the correct track. He never has forgive Gab for running from what he thinks was his destiny and marrying a vampire. Sasha McChey would give him control of the school and he knows about the Caretakers although I don't think he gives us enough credit about our abilities. " Richard stopped for a moment and then said, "He also wants you Frank. There are probably a thousand reasons, but he wants to mostly use you as a trouph and of course he wants your records." Richard had the records secured. Frank had given him the records after the problems at Hogs Head.

Tal'mac snorted as he said as if he hated repeating himself, "I Told You That Destroyer gets nothing He wants! Especially my Family...I will..."

Cole looked at Lance asking with his eyes if the man wanted to take on Tal'mac. When he received a shake of Lance's head in response he dove in."Tal'mac we all know you are Grand Sire of the Elvin Council and all of us respect you for that, but if you push before we human's are ready then a lot of us will be killed trying to help you. We can get people in place in the castle quicker than you can. You know the man does not allow elves on his lands."

Lance nodded. "Tal'mac your people are going to have a major role in this, but we don't at collateral damage to those who cannot fight."

Richard looked at his wrist as the bracelet started to glow. "Ummm … I think I am about to…" but he never got to finish the sentence as he found himself on the floor with spasms raking his body. He saw Lance kneeling beside him and the man was trying to say something but Richard only heard a high pitched squeal in his ears. He couldn't even raise his hands to try and stop the sound. Tal'mac stood over him with a questioning look in his eyes. Richard willed his head to shake. Matthew would know if he was being helped by some type of pain killer. He tried to breath as the spasms started to lessen. After a few very long minutes, Richard rolled onto his back and let mussels which had painfully tightened relax. He felt something jab into his arm. Lance had given him a shot of some type. Tal'mac placed his hand about one foot from Richards body and Richard found himself levitated into the chair. He put his forehead on the cool table and allowed himself to relax more. Soon he was able to sit up and added a half smile to his face, "That wasn't so bad. I think the man is getting impatient. I need to get back to the school and see if I can somehow coordinate something so at least one of the people can visit and then get out of there alive."

Cole who was now sitting on the edge of the table, shook his head and said, "I think I would like to visit that castle. How about taking me there Caretaker?"

Tal'mac just glared at them as he thought, "Humans know nothing of true pain. I will not allow my vow to Katrina to go to the four winds as if I am honor-less. This stops now!" He had not been there to protect the woman he had raised from infancy when she had been murdered. He had not been there to protect her husband when after learning of the attack on Gabriel Lupin, the man had confronted his uncles. Tal'mac remembered finding her husband's body nearly unrecognizable. Tal'mac remembered his promise to the dying man. He had kept that vow but he had also grown hatred and vowed vengeance on all of the Clan that was involved.

Lance shook his head. He could normally hear thoughts but the elf very rarely let him in. He wasn't sure if Tal'mac wanted his pain to be brought out in the open so he thought back, "We all have had pain my friend, some of us mental, some physical, some sole deep and most a combination of those. I will understand if you need to step away from the situation for a short time."

Tal'mac looked at Lance and shook his head as he asked, "I just am not liking giving those beast anymore lives to destroy. They already murdered my Boys' parents, though not at the same time. Now I hear they want seven people who my visions say are crucial to the downfall of The Dark One. I guess I just don't want my blood bond with Katrina to go to the four winds? I could not even keep my adopted daughter from their claws, now they want me to just hand them my..."He wondered if any of them understood what an Elf was promising when he blood linked with a human. He knew the Medjai understood.

Cole returned to his backward turned chair and folded his arms on the table in front of him. "Tal'mac, I don't want to put even myself in harms way, but I am the most qualified to get out of any situation that madman throws at us. We can sit and pick both Richard's and Alex's brains all day but until we find out exactly why he wants the people on his list, we will be forever guessing. Does he just want to control us or make us part of his group? I would make a guess with Gab he wants to try and bring him back in the fold. I will promise to hold off as long as I can, but I will go in before the others." He turned to Richard and said, "Don't you tell the others they have been chosen. The Spellman's will try and hatch a plan and that will just make it harder to find out what MacIntosh wants."

"I'm not taking anyone in until I have too, Cole." Richard was still feeling some residue pain from the jolt. "Since it was made clear I have to go in with you then you will just have to wait. I will promise you though you will be the first one to go if it is necessary. I agree with you the Spellman's would be fighting among them to see who when in first. Any of them, although they will not openly admit it could be used to control the rest of them. I have seen this with my own two eyes." Richard looked to Lance. "Can we move this meeting along please. I have to go back and check on the boy and talk with him. He still is not convinced I am his friend and have saved him and I want to get back to the school."

Tal'mac shook his head as he said, "We need to find Matthew's student that is ordered to bring someone, because with everything which has happened before I am sure it is Rosa. That has to be done before anything else. I will not give them a Phoenix Wolf, which is her destiny. Fixer those seven will need special training and any who fail must never go, Agreed? That includes you also Master Frank? Next Richard you said they had a lab?" He was still worried as he waking visions showed that Matthew was planning to kill Frank after he turned the man and forced him to kill an innocent. Tal'mac could not see the innocent but knew the act would make Fixer beg for death. He wondered if he should tell Frank but was still too unsure.

Richard nodded as Tal'mac talked. "I will talk to the older members of the Core. They can tell the younger members. I am almost sure they will. That is one tight knit group of children and all of them are smart, that is why Tia has chosen them to be part of the inner circle of the Allies. I will make sure they know they are only supposed to find the student and report." Richard shook his head because he was going to have to come up with a reason for the Core to not take down the one who was working for MacIntosh. If he could convince them they were attempting to set a trap of some sort, then that should hold them off long enough to find out what sort of hold MacIntosh had and if the child could be turned around.

Cole was also nodding. "I will offer my island for the training. Most of the people on the list have visited me in some fashion and the others I can give clearance for. Tal'mac I am taking it that you will be having elves doing the training. While I am not against this, and I am sure most of my men and women would not have a problem having the elves there, make them smart because I have a few that will try and outshine your people. When they find out they can't they are going to want to be trained also. You may have rather large classes in a very short period of time. I will go through your training also. I never ask others to do something I can't already do myself."

Tal'mac smiled as he said, "Since the training is something you are already doing I will allow you to do the others but yours will be done by Me, Frank Cole. They need to be able to hold their own. My Boys don't go unless their weaknesses are dealt with. Frank I mean their main weakness. Matthew can be beat but only if it is planned right and everybody works together. My Boys have not even talked to each other much less worked together. That weakness must stop and now. Their link must be once again activated as it is special as are they. Frank see too it anyway you have to, understand! You are blood bound to those boys so you must also share in the linking as you once did."

Frank nodded. "Anytime you are ready Tal'mac. I will consider it an honor to take your training. As for the Spellman quints the only way I see of getting them talking is getting them working as a unit. This will have to include Kat. It will mean having all of them on the Isle of Perdition at the same time. They are not going to be happy with me pulling Kat in, but I think I will talk with her and see if she would be willing to help me." A slow smile spread across Cole's face. Kat was becoming like a sister to him. She would enjoy pulling the wool over her brother's eyes.

He walked up to Richard and just said, "You will talk about your tour or I will link us all, your choice? Either way the labs and what is being done there will be known!"

Lance looked at Richard and added, "You know we have to be able to tell what is going on there Richard. It is the only way we can prepare. Besides, what you tell us might help to debrief Alex."

Richard nodded and raked his hands through his hair, then scrubbed his face. Folding his hands in front of him on the table he stared straight ahead, just over Cole's left shoulder. "They have several areas of interest, the lab is just one of them. They have the breeding housing where women are forced to accept any man who shows up. The only way out for the women is to get pregnant, die or medically not be able to conceive. If they can not conceive they will be sent to the work camps or become household slaves where they can be used anyway a man might have a fancy to." Richard stopped and put his hands over his face rubbing his eyes with his fingers. "The second place I was shown was a medical facility about the size of the special building the Caretakers have at St. Mungo's. I was surprised at the amount of equipment there and the expertise of all the attendants. I think they probably have about five people who could remotely be considered doctors. The rest are technicians, trained technicians who are allowed to perform doctor duties. They forcibly took a sample of my blood directly out of my corroded artery. They also took a sample of my sperm." Richard shivered. His sperm could be used to reproduce. "I was not allowed to see into some of the rooms, just one. They had a boy tied to a bed and it was explained to me, they were removing fluids and body parts from the boy, enhansing or changing them in some way and putting them back." Richard looked down at the table. "It turns out the boy is Alex's brother, Bill. The boy was begging me with his eyes to end his torment and I couldn't do a thing to help him." Richard reached up and wiped the one tear which had escaped the ones he was desperately holding back. "I sware I will go back and try and save that boy. When we have him on this side, I will pay whatever it costs to make him right. His eyes will haunt me the rest of my life." Richard turned to Lance. "Are we just about done here, because I think I am done."

Tal'mac sadly shook his head, as he knew the boy Bill was probably long past help. He looked inside himself but only asked, "This boy what did he look like?" He might be able to save two souls while sealing Matthew and Markus' fates. He would think on his plan some more as he prepared Fixer to fix the boy's problem. Tal'mac knew if he did this then he must also prepare Dar'ik to lead the Elvin Clans. He had never challenged the Great Being but the prophecy to stop the Dark One was the most important of his visions. He looked at Fixer as he thought, "The Secret Protector Must Survive! No Matter The Cost! I choose him to Insure the Dark One never fooled the Guardian into releasing him. He must Survive!"

Frank pushed himself out of his chair. "We need to talk Tal'mac. I will not allow you to sacrifice yourself to protect anyone." He added in his thoughts, "even me" . "You have not been invited to that island and remember no elves are allowed there. They are killed on sight from what I have been able to gather." Frank leaned forward on the table, "You have already said that this whole process needs to be done as a group. You are part of that group Grand Sire and you will remain part of that group." Frank knew he would not be able to stop Tal'mac if the elf really wanted to go on a suicide mission to the MacIntosh Clan Enclave, but he had to try.

"Frank, sit down," Lance ordered, "we are not going to get at each others throats over this. I know what he is thinking." Lance looked at Tal'mac, but said to Frank, "Tal'mac has not blocked me yet." Turning his full attention to Tal'mac, he continued, "No one is going to sacrifice themselves. We will get to the boy if we can, but only if it is reasonably safe for those going in. Tal'mac you know you would get killed as soon as you stepped foot in that castle as would any elf."

Richard had just sat there looking from one person to the other as the conversation flowed. Tal'mac was apparently planning on carrying out a plan of his own, after making sure they all knew they were supposed to be working together. Frank Cole was very important to the future of any of their plans. Tal'mac was willing to give up anything to protect the man. Richard just settled back in his chair and waited. All he wanted to do was go home and he was not going to be able to do that until the others had finished their war with words.

Tal'mac shrugged, "It was elves handpicked by me that got not only Khalid out but also Angel and Jonathan. They are experimenting on DNA and possibly cloning. The young one wishes for release but most likely had not wanted his baby brother to see his death. Frank, Matthew wants your death but only after he personally turns you into a killer of innocence. You will be like that young pup Bill and beg for death if I allow my vision to come to pass? You know your purpose in the fight against the Dark One? Are you truly asking me to watch Matthew insure the Dark One's victory? Matthew is a foolish want to be SEER and the Dark One is using that to Destroy you!"

Frank settled back into his chair. "I know my purpose, Tal'mac. You have used every chance to remind me of the facts, but I also know I need you in my corner. I need to try and save the boy if I can. If you can get some of your elves in there and get him out, that would be good, but I need a promise from you, that you will not go yourself. They can put him into suspended animation and bring him out. We can asses him then. Alex needs to know we have at least tried." Frank turned to Lance. "You can set up any facility you need on Perdition to try and help the boy, Doc. Send a list through Darik and I will have it waiting. I think you will be surprised with some of the expertise I have with medical personal, I have been recruiting." Turning to Richard he said, "As long as you can handle the pain from that contraption on your wrist we will stay away. When the boy is on my island I will let you know and you can decide on whether Alex should be brought there. I would try and promise to keep the Core from coming, but they have gotten inventive on how to get on and off the island. I have had to set up a whole squad just to handle whatever they try and to take care of them when they are on the island. We are corrdinating with Darik as far as how much we can help off the island."

Lance nodded. "I will get started on the list of what will be needed. It will be expensive but we will manage. Frank, if I think the boy is beyond saving I will let him go. He might not want to live in the world with what they have put him through. We will try but I am not promising anything." Lance received a weary nod from Frank Cole.

"When I get back to the school, I will start coordinating getting the people we need to the island for training. I will also start the Core looking for our little mole. Frank you let me know when you are set up and if there is an order you want them to arrive in. Now can we go home, please?" Richard was getting to the point he was going to walk out if they didn't release him.

Tal'mac smiled as he heard Khalid in his thoughts, "Trust Them Tal'mac. If they can't make Matthew's plan backfire to end the threat he and Markus posse to the world, How do you expect them to use the Dark One's plan to destroy that thing?"

Tal'mac knew deep down that Khalid was right. His fear of losing his carefully selected force had made him panicky. Tal'mac smile widened as he said still uneasy but willing to trust in his judgement, "Just be careful and whatever you do, don't let him get Sasha or get back Jonathan. Find out who Markus wants and make sure when Matthew dies so does that maniac Enforcer! Now Richard I know you are tired but what can you tell us that might help where the Alphas stand? We need every advantage we can get will be a blessing, don't you? Then you need to talk to Khalid and understand just who he contracted to bond with Arianna."

Richard folded his hands on the table in front of him. He was so tired. Looking at Tal'mac who stood beside him he started, "The brothers are all fighting among themselves. As you know there were six of them originally, sixtuplets. Jacob, the oldest was involved in Maggie Cole's death. He also was their father’s Enforcer. At that time he was the one who held Franco and Kat when they were sent to the Clan. Franco was thought to carry an activated werewolf gene. Now we know that Franco was an Animagus. When he became Alpha which happened around the Spellman Quint's seventeenth birthday, he and his brother Joshua, the third born, after anything that could hurt the Clan. While Travis Sr. dealt with my uncle. He and Joshua paid Frank Cole a visit. Jacob tried first to drugs to get Fixer to give him the files. When that did not work he had Joshua beat Maggie Cole until Fixer convinced them that he had no clue as to the files location. " Richard looked at Fixer who's face had become set in stone. Looking back to Tal'mac he continued, "Frank took Jacob out for that deed. It was only last year that Joshua met his fate. He was found to be the one that killed the Spellman's mother. Sorry Tal'mac, Brennan pointed out the ring to Fixer. Fixer recognized the man most likely because of a mark on the wearer's hand that Fixer had given him earlier. Fixer told Brennan that the man did not dead easily or quickly."

"Matthew, third born was Joshua's Enforcer and most likely the worse of the lot. He is now Clan Chieftain and head Alpha.He rules with an iron fist. He likes being in charge and can be a little egotistical about it. He has gotten so used to the idea that he is in charge, he is not watching the little things going on around him."

"Markus the forth in line is the Enforcer of the Clan. The man enjoys metering out pain and his own brand of law. If he can get away with it he does not tell Matthew what he is doing. The warewolf enjoys working behind the scenes. He likes the power but does not like the exposure. Someday he will make a play for Matthew's position I am sure of it."

"Travis Sr. the fifth to be born is..." Richard turned to Lance and received a nod. He took a long breath before he continued, "The warewolf killed my uncle because he thought my Uncle had information which only I posessed. I captured Travis Sr. at the hogshead and took him somewhere very quiet to question him. Somewhere I was not going to have to worry about what shape he stayed in. The man is still there. He is alive and that is all I will say. He cannot escape from where he is I promise you." Richard again looked at Lance who looked down at the table. Lance was the only other person who knew where Travis Sr. was being held."

"The last in the group is Thomas. He is smart and I think he is just bidding his time until his older brothers take each other out. He works behind the scene's on his own projects and does just exactly what he needs to do to stay part of the family." Richard looked at the others in turn wondering if they were going to add anything.

Tal'mac smiled as he said, "Richard you forgot to mention that it was Jacob Jr. MacIntosh who was the Enforcer that Neo still has nightmares about. Now sit back down before I have to treat you like I did Alex! Do I need to treat you like a child Richard Greene? If it is because of your worry for Amira Arianna? Stop as both Arianna as well as my grandson Dar'ik have been told what was needed. By the way, Amira Ari said to inform Lance and these are her exact words that Richard has a choice. He can either go through a debriefing here or fall into a Code Red at Hogwart's?" He looked directly into Richards eyes and continued. "I am to send a copy of the debrief with Lance. She also said something about you acting as if you have never had debrief training and does she need to go over that part of your training again?" Tal'mac smiled as he watch all present react to the Amira's words.

Richard cringed. A Code Red meant he would basically go on lock down. All of his privilages including being able to travel would be removed, until is was determined they had gotten every miniscule piece of information from him they thought he had buried in his brain. It would also mean a complete physical Caretaker style, which made him shiver and a complete mental work up, probably a mind dive to level six. He loved Ari with all his heart and sole but sometimes she would pull the "I'm the boss" card on him. When she got into that mode she was all business and she would take you down as hard as she thought you needed to be corrected. He looked at Fixer and although the man was not a Caretaker, he was staring at his hands which he was clinching and clinching in front of him. The man was worried on what Arianna could do. Lance seemed calm. He even had a half smile on his face. He knew he wasn't in trouble and could afford to just follow directions. Richard shook his head and looked at Tal'mac. "I will be good. There is no need for a Code Red. I am just tired and have some questions I need to ask. Tell her I will stay and answer your questions.

Tal'mac smiled as he said, "Thought you would. Especially since Khalid got word though my grandson that the Amira wants a copy of the contract delivered by you only after Lance hands her my copy of your debrief. Now what is next Lance?" He liked Amira Arianna and realized the woman had probably figured out just who's name was on that contract. He looked to Fixer as he said, "Oh and Fixer, she gave a message for you as well. Do you want it now or back on your island after you and Lance are done with Richard's gentle debrief?" Tal'mac was still unsure of what message the Amira could give using Cornish Pixies but he started giggling thinking about how she had order both Khalid and Fixer a set to be let loose on both islands.

Richard cringed again and looked back and forth between Lance and Cole. Anything which could cause Tal'mac to actually giggle was not going to be fun for the resiputants. Cole look like he understood the same theory. Frank Cole stared straight ahead and a look of almost horror skimmed across his face. Truning aback to Tal'mac he said, "I look forward to receiving a copy of that contract. I want to know who I have to kill or at least maim so he will not have time to think about marrying Ari. She is mine, no matter what that family thinks." He turned to Lance and said, "Ask your next question Doc. I want that contract and I want to go home."

Lance nodded then turned to Cole. "Tal'mac asked you a question Frank. Although if it is what I think it might be, would you mind stepping out of the room into another cell."

Cole stiffened his back and looked at Tal'mac. "Since the good doctor thinks I should go somewhere else for her reply then I think I will wait until I get back to Perdition. Have the answer sent to my office. I will check it when I return there." Cole turned to the doctor and said, "Go ahead Doc, ask your questions. I would also like to return home and it seems..." he glanced at Tal'mac for a second then continued, "I am going to have a problem when I get there."

Lance shook his head and tried to hide the smile on his face. "Richard you said you were shown around. Anyway we can get someone into thoes areas to give us some feed back. I can get Dar'ik to set up a messageing system, but we need people in there."

Richard though for a moment. "The Breeding Camp only has the male doctors in it and females everyone is trying to make pregnant. The only males are thoes who come to service the females in any fashion they desire. I wouldn't ask anyone to go into that area to get information. The training facility is used to do just that, train the young pups and the older warewolves. It is also used as a feeder areana where people or other warewolves are used as training pieces to be tortured and torn apart. The pups are shown how to kill not always in the most efficeient way and the older warewolves are just allowed to enjoy the kill. The medical facility is the only conceivable way of getting someone in, other than just getting someone into the ranks. It wouldn't even have to be a doctor, just someone with reasonable tech experience. It still is extreamely dangerous because that person would have to do things which went against their own morals. They would be deeply undercover and would have to stay there."

"I have someone in the household," Fixer said. "One of my people went through the Breeding Camp and got herself stationed in the household. She is presently in housekeeping which gets her into most parts of the castle. I also have a way of getting information from her, but I don't want her contacting anyone else or have anyone else know who she is. She has been deep for about three years now and survived. She will keep giving information as long as she can. If she needs to come out she will just leave, by the method I have in place." Frank had asked for volenteers and found only one female willing to go in. She had werewolf blood but it had never activated itself.

Tal'mac closed his eyes and appeared to be in deep thought for a moment. Soon a smiling Darik appeared and bowed saying, "So where do I release them?" Tal'mac giggled as he replied, "Master Frank said to send his gift from Amira Arianna to his office. I told T-bell, he was to give Khalid no help with the sweet Amira's gift."

Darik held up the covered cage which was swinging back and forth in his hand and shook his head as he asked Fixer, "You sure Master Frank you want them in your office? I could place it on the island, say in one of the caves. Mistress Arianna did not say where I needed to leave our little friends here."

Frank pushed himself quickly up out of this chair walking over to where Dar'ik stood. Carefully he lifted the cloth which was draped over the oscillating cage. Quickly dropping the cloth he said, "Cornish pixies, is she kidding. If they get loose they could do damage which would take months to fix." Cole ran his hand through his hair. He couldn't destroy the little problem. When he was young he had actually had a pet Cornish pixie, but that had been only one and some of the havok that creature had caused had gotten him into a lot of hot water and several trips to the woodshed. "Leave them in the cage and when you get to the island put them in one of the holding rooms. I will send information on how to set the room up so they will be comfortable and have everything they need. By the way Darik.... thank you. You could have just let them loose on the island and I would have had problems. You are truly a friend."

Derik shook his head as Tal'mac reminded him, "She said they were to be released either in a room or the island, Dar'ik. It is their lesson for the game they played. Khalid has his lesson." Tal'mac giggled as he remembered releasing them in Khalid's bedroom. He wondered if Khalid had found them yet especially since T-bell had not been near the room all day.

He looked at Fixer as he said, "Dar'ik they can choose the room but she wanted them released. She wants her point to both men made perfectly clear!" He wondered if Fixer would choose the holding cells that he had in the lower level of his barracks. Cornish Pixies were excellent at getting people to answer questions. Especially if those people wanted the pixies to be stopped.

Cole stared at the Master elf for a moment. A slow grin spread across his face. "Have them released in on the holding cell level of the barracks. I will have the temperature turned down a bit because I know they like the cold. There are several rooms where it is also very damp. It will be interesting to see how they react to the people I have down there. The guards will receive extra pay to put up with them or maybe it can even be used as a deterrent to not follow orders." Cole rubbed his chin and went to straddle his chair again. Folding his arms in front of him on the table he waited to see what else was going to happen.

Lance had been watching him. "Frank you are telling me you purposely sent a female into the Breeding camp, to be raped and mistreated. Surely there had to be another way."

"The girl volunteered. She was trained in every way possible. She was not forced. She has a way out and always has had one. She knows what is at stake but she also knows, her life is not to be forfeited for the information. No one pays attention, especially those in power to the type of servant she is now. When she comes out she will receive any medical or psychological help she needs and she knows it. People in my army also have family benefits whether they are working undercover or not." Frank had set up what he considered the ideal army. His people counted and their families were all taken care of in anyway they allowed him too.

Lance just shook his head. When he looked at Richard the man shrugged his shoulders. Turning back to the general group he said, "Alright we won't ask for names or try and find out who she is. If we can help though let us know. I will tell Ari what you have told me and it will be up to her on if she attempts to send someone else in.

"Let's deal with the possible spy at school. Any thoughts on that?", he asked as he looked from Tal'mac to Richard to Frank. Derik had left.

Tal'mac smiled as he said, "My guess is she was Marco's wife? I almost got her out when Khalid mentioned the woman that gave him meals while he was Matthew's prisoner. Hope Marco knows? She is the reason he was mad at Neo for so long." Tal'mac knew the woman's true pack had been wiped out soon after her birth. The Elf Leader wondered if she had learned that the Macintosh Clan had something to do with it.

Lance, Richard and Frank all looked at Tal'mac. Lance said, "See if you can find out anything else on that Tal'mac. It might me something Marco wants to know or it might be something we want to keep from him." Turning to Richard he said, "Richard you seem in a great hurry to get back to Hogwarts, knowing everyone there is on high security alert. What are you not telling us that you know or you think you know?"

Richard ran his hands through his hair. He knew everyone was resonably safe at Hogwarts. Brennan who was head of security and his partner in the Caretakers, was young but he was good and knew what he was doing. He also knew when to ask for help. "Some how they are going to try and get a bracelet, like this one..." he ran his fingers over the bracelet on his wrist, "or maybe a necklace around Arianna's neck. She has been getting presents lately and since I was stupid and made a big deal about them, she has decided to make a big deal about the presents. I'm afraid if someone offers her a necklace or bracelet with a reasonable story she will just put it on. I need to get there and stop her and find out who delivers it. There is also at least one mole at the school and I think it is one of the students."

Tal'mac's eyes lite up at this. He had always thought Matthew to have one weakness. The Alpha never targeted kids. "You sure? I would not put it pass Jacob as he liked using children. But I always thought Matthew different. He is a coward at heart. So why have his spy be a kid?"

"I think Markus is running the spy, possibly without Matthew's permission. Or Matthew jus told him to get someone in the school and Markus picked one of the children. It would have to be someone related to the clan in some way and definitely hasn't been turned yet, because that little trait would have been discovered quickly," Richard said as he leaned on the table with his arms folded in front of him.

Fixer nodded. "That would make sense. The children are not really checked into much. They get their letter because of family connection or because they show promise in the Magic Realm. The child could be a distant relative of someone and it would never be discovered." Turning to Richard he asked, "Can the Core work on this problem. It shouldn't be too dangerous and unofficially you know most of them have been coming to my island for training. All they would have to do is find the child and report."

"I planned on using the Core. My only worry with them though is when they find the other student they won't turn him over to an adult, at least not at first. Even the young ones are starting to take their roles seriously. The older Tia gets the more they learn from others, like Frank. It is just a worry I have. What we need is some type of a plan to get the children working together on and have them realize they need to stay with the script. I am open to any suggestions on this."

Tal'mac smiled as he reminded them, "Alex seemed worried that the spy who he called Markus' grandson was close enough to be a threat to the Core especially Rosa. He is certain that Rosa is the spy's target. Any thoughts on who seems to be that close but not exactly Core? What has been happening with the members besides Tia and Landon's marriage contract?" The boy was like Richard in wanting to get to Hogwarts quick and that had Tal'mac worried. He wondered if what this spy had been ordered to do was already done or soon to be done.

"Tal'mac, do you think the boy would tell us who the mole is?" Richard asked. "How soon before the boy can be released psychologically to go back to the school. I know we are trying to get him to believe it is physical problems keeping him here, but he is going to figure out that is wrong soon. We still need to debrief him, also." Richard turned to Lance, "Can we do a deep mind dive on the young man? Will he be able to take the stress?"

Tal'mac just glanced at Lance. The fact he told the boy of exactly what Lance's connection to the young Princess. He wondered if that boy connection to the Core might outweigh his programming. He knew only two wizards that might know. He shrugged as he said giving voice to the two names, "Lance, I think it is time to call in your father Martin and Maxwell. Especially if we need to mind drive to at least level six?" Tal'mac understood it would give them three mind psyche-meds and the two that trained them. Tal'mac smiled as he knew they could save the boy's mind and Max would finally realize his gift was never the curse he believed it was.

Lance nodded. "I don't want to do a mind dive on Alex just yet. I want to give him a chance to try and deal with this himself. I want him as physically as strong as he can be before we work on that area. We know he is programmed to do something and the mind-dive will show that. The boy is still fragile. Tal'mac let me know when the elves think he has had all the buildup they can give him." Lance looked through the notes he was makeing. "Richard, you said the Aunt had escaped with the aid of Alex. It does not seem the boy could carry this feat off by himself any ideas on how he did it?"

"There is only one person at that castle who could have helped him, unless it was Franks mole." Richard looked at Frank and received a shake of his head. "Then it has to be Thomas
the youngest of the pack. The man always tried to be helpful, as much as he could be and still not let Matthew or Markus know what he was doing. Alex told me there is a cave where people come out of and onto the island. He said when people go in the cave they never come out. What if that cave is a way off the island? It is the only thing which makes sense."

Frank nodded. On my island there are many caves and the island the Clan is on was also built by the movement of the earth plates. Without a map though, if the cave is anything like I have, you could get lost for days with all the twist and turns and switchbacks. It would take someone who could safely navigate the tunnels to be able to use them efficiently.

Tal'mac smiled as he said, "Fixer, remind you of anybody? Lance, there is only one way to find out. Do you think I asked for your dad and Max lightly? Martin is the best and you know it. Your great uncle Khalid will never know he and Max were here, if that is your worry? The young one has the answers and that means getting pass that block his programming has created. Martin is the best at that and you know it! Max can help with keeping Alex's mind in one piece. He knows you are Tia's cousin Lance. I told him before I knew he was programmed. His connection to the Core might like it did with the Profiler be just did what it takes to break Markus' hold over the young one. Only Max and Martin can help you make that call." Tal'mac did not finish as he knew if he was right then he had only one course and that meant sending for the Princess. He knew he had to keep that part secret cause it meant Tia would be on the island of Khalid. He hoped Martin, Max, Lance and Fixer could reach the boy cause if not then Tal'mac was going to be endangering the one that he had went against his people's laws to protect.

Lance nodded. "I know you are right Tal'mac and I know we are going to have to do the mind-dive. Alex is going to be frightened beyond belief, but it is the only way to bypass the walls that whatever programming he has been ingrained with, has established. I also know we are going to have to go to the bottom of the sixth level. Dad is the best, always has been. He can handle the physical part of the dive. Max will be able to handle the mental part. There might be a mindtrap or two, but we can locate them easy enough. I will contact them as soon as Richard is totally debriefed and we will get things started. If we need to bring another child into this I recommend Silvia. Brennan has been training her and her gifts are far beyond the normal reange as far as profiling goes. I will ask Darik to come and watch over her, if she needs to be added to the mix." Lance rubbed his face with his hands. "Richard is there anything else you need to bring up."

Richard nodded and said, "One other thing, we need to do a complete sweep of the Caretaker facility at St. Mango's. Matthew showed me a picture that could only have been taken there. That mole is definitely an adult and needs to be taken down."

"I'll take care of that," Fixer said. "I can check everyone probably easier than the rest of you because my people are not worried about messing with a lot of the red tape the rest of you are. They only answer to me, and I will let them have some fun. It has been a long time since I ran a hunting contest on the island. This would be perfect."

Richard pushed himself a way from the table and stood up. "Good everything is settled. I will go and talk with Alex for a few minutes and then return to the school." Richard headed for the door.

Tal'mac gave a look of disbelief as he said, "What if the child I have in mind, is the Princess herself? Lance, what is bothering you? Your father and Max taught you, so why am I sensing you not really wanting their help with this? I did not even think about involving young Silvia. Plus you guys still have not told me of any problems the Core might already be facing. So none of the members are having problems?" Tal'mac was sensing that none in the room had told him everything concerning the Core and Tal'mac thought the Princess kept too many secrets.

Lance ran his hands through his hair. "I have no problem bringing my father into this. I will tell him where he is going though before I bring him here. Tia does not need to come. I will not have her involved in this, until Alex is better and returns to the school. Then there will be no way to keep her out of his life. She handles the Core like the leader she is meant to be. As far as Silvia is concerned, I want Brennan here with her. He can watch over her. They have a link, because of the training he has given here in Profiling. It will be good practice and we can have her guarded 24/7 by two of the specially trained elves. If anything happens she will be returned to the school immediately, whether she wants too or not. Believe me she will fight being taken away once she gets here. The Core itself is solid at the moment. Landon has taken over the second in command duties he has always been trained for." Lance snickered as he continued, "It is getting harder and harder to keep those two apart. They are working hard at finding some privacy, so we have given in a little bit since they are married. They are allowed to hold hands and sit together. They are not allowed to be alone, but they have decided, kissing does not have to be done in private and they are taking full advantage of that fact."

"When Richard leaves, I will also," Frank said. "I need to get back to my island and check on a few things. I also need to set up some safety measures for my future visitors. The children will be kept off the island until all of the adults are trained." He looked at Tal'mac. "I will be waiting for your training Grand Sire, before I start training the others beyond the rudimental things." Frank bowed his head in Tal'mac"s direction.

Richard again stood up. "Good now I need to visit the boy and make sure he knows he can trust in what is about to happen to him." Leaning on the table he looked into Lance's eyes. "Be careful my friend. I know they have set traps for what you are about to do. Remember he is going to be scared. Please take it really slow."

Lance nodded as Richard and Frank walked out of the room. Richard would be heading toward Alex's cell and he was sure Frank would be heading to talk with Khalid one more time before he left.

Lance stood up and walked ahead of Tal'mac to Alex's room. The boy was just finishing up his conversation with Richard as they walked in. Alex stopped talking and jus looked at them.

Richard patted the boy on the shoulder. "You can trust them Alex. I have not lied to you and I won't lie to you. All of us..." Richard gestured to everyone in the room "... are going to help you. You know you have information locked away which we need. We also want to get you back to the school as soon as possible and the only way to do that is to make sure you are not a sleeper . Do you know what that is?"

Alex knew he had information cause uncle Markus had spent months trying and finally succeeding in getting it out of him. He grabbed the man's hand as he said, " I can't..."

Tal'mac watched his grandson Rub'ik. The old elf needed to know that the elf and his charge's link at the level it was meant to be. Rub'ik was worried but the reason behind that worry evaded him. The boy Alex was also worried and Tal'mac had a hunch he knew why.. His grandson Rub'ik walked up to the boy and looked unsure of just what to do. Shaking his head, the old Elvin leader walked towards the door. Turning slightly he said, "I have just had a call. Rub'ik follow your instincts young one. Do not forget you can ask help from the humans as they ask help from you." Turning to Lance he said, "Rub'ik can contact me at anytime and I think Dar'ik will be here eventually, especially if you bring any of the other children here." Receiving a nod from Rub'ik and Lance, Tal'mac disappeared as he put his hand on the door.

(OOC: This has been a combined post by Barbie and Jane. We hope you are enjoying it)

LANCE KILDARE
Lance walked up to the side of the bed. He nodded to Rub'ik who gently went to the top of the bed leaned over and placed two fingers on each side of Alex's temples. He watched as Alex tensed and tried to get Rub'ik to remove his fingers, but Richard had grabbed the youngman's wrist and held him to the boys chest. "No Alex, it will be alright I promise. You might feel some slight pain, but it will go away quickly. You and Rub'ik are chemically joined through the blood transfer. Try and relax and just let this happen.

Rub'ik smiled as his charge's feelings came through. He had to dig deep but the elf felt the boy's missed soul link. Rub'ik shook his head as he said, "Rosa is not destined for you, my young charge. That Enforcer of the Clan is only making you think the young Phoenix to be is bound to you. Now relax and let those false feelings go."

Richard held Alex wrist, as he said, "I want to let go of your hands Alex. You need to stay calm. The elf is here to protect you and to help anyway he can. He is your brother now. Can you stay still. Everyone will try and explain what is about to happen before it happens, but sometimes there are things which come up and have to be handled before explanations can be given"

Alex shook his head as he said, "You just don't get it. I can't tell you guys anything. He promised her protection but only if I accept my role in the family. I won't risk it. I can't risk her so just let it be. I will do the favor he requested and let his grandson alone. The Core will be safe then, she will be safe then. So just leave it be and send me back to the school. Please..."

Just then he heard the door and a voice say calmly, "Sorry Alex but that is not happening. Lance, what the problems?" Martin would now wait to see just what his son had in mind for this messed up kid. He was proud of how his son had done with his skills. Martin could feel his son's inner war.

Lance looked at his father from his position at the side of the bed, near Alex's shoulder. "The boy has been programmed by the Macintosh clan. From what we have been able to discover he is supposed to bring Rosa to the Clan castle. He is blood bound with Rub'ik now. He trust Richard, I think," Lance looked into the boys eyes but only saw fear. "We want to do a mind dive, probably to level six before we get past most of the barriers. I am willing to fight my way in but is will be painful for the boy and I don't want that."

Martin smiled as he walked up to Lance. Once at his son's side all Martin asked was, "So what do you need me to do?" He needed his son to know Alex was Lance's patient. This was his case and that Martin would do what Lance need him to.

Lance nodded and looked at Richard. "Richard you need to leave. I don't want you to get pulled into this and you know you would. Your abilities are strengthening, but not enough to go where this is going to go. Say your good-bys and leave. I will contact you at the school when I can."

Richard nodded and let go of the boys wrist. He walked toward the door. Stopping a turning slightly he said to Alex, "It will be all right Alex I promise you. Do what they say and I will see you back at the school soon." Then he walked out.

Lance turned back to Alex who had started to get up and not looking away nodded to Rub'ik, who made it so the boy could not move. Turning to his father he said, "I need you to be second in the dive. With this boy, level six is a long way down. I am not sure what blocks they have put up. When we did Brennan, there were some which caused problems..." Lance did not want to say they had caused Brennan a lot of physical pain, because Alex was already scared beyond belief. "I want to go slow, but might not be able to if I have to fight more than one block at a time. Rub'ik is only here to hold onto Alex as far as mentally not letting him slide away."

Alex shook his head and tried to raise his arms. The struggle to move was plain on his face. Looking with a ever deepening fear in his eyes he said, "Let me go please. I would never take Rosa to them. I won't tell you anything so go away." He had no intention of letting Liam take her to the Clan but his plan would only work if he gave Markus somebody he wanted more. It hurt to betray the one he was going to insure went to the feeders but he had no choice. Alex knew the boy was feeder food either way as he still had nightmares about what Markus planned to do. He would just insure Rosa was safe by her never knowing. He looked to the elf that seemed to want to save him. He wondered if this gift the elf gave him would really help.

Martin nodded and then asked, "Blood bond?"

Lance put his hand on Alex's shoulder and used his other hand to point to the bite on his neck. "The boy has been bitten. Rub'ik has taken him on as his charge and they have traded blood. We will find out later what it has done to his abilities. Rub'ik, will stay in contact physically with him during the whole mind dive and then he will return to the school with him." Lance looked into Alex's eyes. "They are brothers now, forever linked."

Lance took a deep breath and asked, "Alex, we need to begin. I need you to relax as much as possible. I will start by making a connection. You will feel me in your mind. We will not do this fast to begin with." Lance nodded to Rub'ik and put his hands on Alex's covering them completely.

Alex shook as he realized that the princess' cousin was still intending to get the information. He started fighting as he said, "Please, you can't. Just let me go and leave this alone. I don't want a mind dive. They did nothing to me. Please the Clan don't want Tia but if you do this..."

Martin could feel the boy's fear. He looked at Lance as he asked, "Lance, he is terrified. I have never felt this depth of fear before. What do you want to do?"

Lance continued to look into the boys eyes. "I am going to continue. We will go to the third level and hold. Alex you cannot stop me from coming in. I am going to only go in a couple of levels to show you that it is all right. Nothing can hurt you. You are safe. I will handle any blocks which have been established." Lance started the dive. He connected with Alex's mind and walked the path to the next level. Alex was waiting at the second level. He let his mind talk to him. "Hello Alex. Look around you. There is no one here but us and Rub'ic over there." The elf appeared to be standing off to the side. "Come we will go only to the next level where we will stop for a bit. . Lance but his arm around the boys shoulder and started to gently guide him on the path to the third level. He could feel the boy still fighting but he was traveling with him. Just as they reached the third level, Lance felt the first wall in front of him.

Alex started to shake and tried to pull away to go back the way they had just come. A slightly opaque view screen whirled in front of them. There were pictures of Rosa being beaten. There were pictures of Alex slowly turning into a wolf and showing his fangs. A man with a whip stood behind the changing Alex and was forcing him toward Rosa. The whole scene took on a reddish hue. Rub'ik walked closer and put his hands on each side of Alex's arms and allowed Lance to let go. Lance walked toward the scene's closed his eyes and pushed both his hands through. He fought to keep his hands burried in the whirling pictures. He could feel the burn on his mind. He brought his hands together than with effort forsed them apart, creating a hole in the screen. Soon it started to weaken then disapated. Lance walked back to Alex. Standing in front of the shaking boy he took him in his arms for a hug. Somehow he knew the boy had not received much love in his past and a hug was always a way to show caring. The boy fought for a moment then his arms came up and as Rub'ik let go, Alex's arms when around Lance's waist and tears fell from his eyes. Lance said, "That is one, Alex. We can do this together, like I said."



Alex shook his head and mentally stay where he was. He had to stop this doctor from finding Liam's involvement. Alex was scared as he knew that Markus wanted a hold over Gabriel. He said, "Markus don't know about you being Tia's cousin. Please just stop cause I promised Markus. I swear Tia is safe from Clan interest as long as what is in my head stays buried. Please, I won't go any further. I can't...."

Martin felt a worry in the boy Alex. He thought to his son, "Lance, we have a slight problem. The boy is terrified but I can't tell why. The more you want to mind dive further, the more terrified he becomes. Staying at this level might calm him? It is your call though?"

Lance took a deep breath and got Alex into the Forth Level. Waving his hand he made a small table and two chairs appear. "Sit boy, we are going to talk." When Alex had very reluctantly sat down, Lance took the other seat and leaned on the table. "Now you are going to tell me what you are afraid of. I know it is not me or my father. You are not afraid of Rub'ik so it has to be something you think we are going to find out. I need to know, or will keep dragging you farther in and find out for myself."

Rub'ik smiled as he watched his charge start accepting his advice. His hand went to the boy's shoulder as he said, "Lance wants to protect the Core as you do Alex. He can't if he does not understand the problem. Talk to him, explain why this knowledge will hurt the Core. Let him help you protect them. I will be here, Markus won't know that you two have chatted. Alex, what did the Enforcer threaten you with? Why are you so scared of this dive? Alex you are safe now, Markus can't hurt you."

Alex shook as he said, "I can't Rub'ik, he has his ways of learning about things. Please don't go no further Lance. The Clan has no interest in Tia, please don't give them a reason..."

Lance thought to his father, "I want to join with him, completely. I need to know what the Clan told him was going to happen. Should I do it now, or drag him to level six where he will not have a choice. Although I am not planning on giving him a choice now either."

Martin smiled as he thought back, "Lance, Markus has that boy scared about making waves. He keeps saying the Clan has no interest in Tia. You and I both know that is not true. Tia and Sasha is their way at hurting Gabriel. Alex thinks Markus' word can be trusted. He reminds me of Neo at his age. If Marco had told me about Neo then instead of trying to free his brother himself, your grandmother Arianna would have had an easier time with getting Neo Spellman out of their clutches. Talk to him about your own experiences with Clan value on keeping their word."



Alex did remember Markus talking about a Lone Wolf that was being brought to him by somebody close. He looked at Lance as he said, "They don't need to use either of them. The Lone Wolf is already coming to them. Markus talked to an adult named Leo about bring him in exchange for training. So see there is no reason for him to want Tia. Gabriel own friend is a Blood Wolf who has chosen to rejoin the clan." Alex though was worried cause he had a feeling from the orders given that those meeting Markus were going to be in for a shock. He had never heard all the details but whatever Markus had plan it was not training.



Alex shook his head which was still on the table. The doc was right about one thing The Lone Wolf and the Blood Wolf were most likely going to die. Markus had told KurthraEre to ready the pups. His body shook as he knew the machine was also being made ready. He said, "Leo and The Lone Wolf don't have to die. Markus does not want them but the Blood Wolf's brother might be stubborn like I was. If the one that Markus calls His Errand Boy would just admit his mistake and come home like I did, then Friday won't need to happen. Though if Friday is a no show, then I will do whatever it takes to insure they don't go with plan B." Alex knew plan B involved Liam bring Rosa to Markus. His head hurt as he said quietly, "I won't let Markus use my Rosa and Dalton as bait. I have to protect them. I just need to get to the school and find a way to make Neo do the right thing. Maybe talking to Tia and Landon can help, Tia is always willing to help come up with plans." He had to get to the school and help find a way to convince this Errand Boy to come back to Markus. He shook at the thought of what would happen if he failed.

Max had just gotten brought to the room. The guards still had him blindfolded. He was scared but knew better than to show it as he heard, "The Psy doc you asked for. He saw nothing make sure it stays that way. You need to talk with your uncle cause he is worried the Priest here will be a problem.."

Martin smiled as he said, "Tell uncle I will be seeing him after. It will be no problem. Now leave"

Max at least knew who else was in the room. As his blindfold was removed he allowed a smile to go across his face. "Hello Martin. Mind if you tell me why I am here."

Martin smiled as he moved enough for Max to see Alex as he said, "Him. Your link with Lance still strong? My son needs you Max. This boy needs you. Macintosh has held this boy and then got to Richard using Arianna. Max, Lance will explain but right now you need to help Lance convince that boy Markus has been playing him."

He turned as he thought, "Lance, Max here"

Max moved closer to where the boy was lying. An elf stood at the head of the bed, joined to the boy with the temple touch. Max put his hand on the boys shoulder and on Lance's shoulder. He was now joined. "Lance, what do you need the most?"



Lance just kept walking. Soon they were out and he broke contact. Rub'ik stepped back one step and held his hands at his side. The elves eyes were fastened on Alex, because he was the only thing in the room he was responsible for. Lance looked down at Alex and checked his eyes, then backed up himself. Mind-dives always took a lot of energy out of him. They had only gone to level four so it wouldn't take too long to come back. Looking at his father he smiled to let him know he was alright.

Max walked up to the boy and said, "Hello Alex, my name is Maxwell Sinclair and I am here to help you get back to the school." Max saw the real fear in the boys eyes so he added, "We are just going to talk, Alex. I won't get into your mind for a while ok?"

Alex shook his head as he said, "You won't get into my head at all Psy and neither will the doc. I am out of here. Rub'ik coming?" Alex got up out of the bed and pushed Max's hand away. He stood for a moment allowing the dizzyness to leave him. Walking towards the door a blinding headache over took him almost forcing him to his knees. If Rub'ik had not been right behind him he would have fallen.

Rub'ik felt the pain jamming into his charges mind. He said to the others as he held onto Alex's arm, "Let me deal with Alex. It might be the bond but I doubt it. Lance fill in Max and then you can decide if you want to continue with helping my charge." He motioned two elves to help carry Alex out as Khalid walked in.

Khalid just stared at Max and walked up to about a foot away from him. Furiously he said, "What is he doing here? You promised Lance you would not bring anyone else in." Turning slightly to Lance he added, "You do know I can't let him walk knowing about my helping you." Khalid signaled the elf standing beside him to grab Max. "I can't allow..." This Psy doctor worried him.

Maxwell straighter up and looked at the Dark Wizard. "I was brought here under false circumstances. I did not come willingly, although now I know I need to stay." He pointed at the door where Alex had been taken through, "That boy has been brainwashed by the Macintosh Clan and I think he might be a sleeper, so I will stay. I was blindfolded when I came here and I will leave the same way. As far as I knew up to this point, I am on Fixers island."

Khalid shook his head as he said to Lance, "You know what I am. What him knowing riskes. Lance, I won't risk what will happen on his word that it won't get back. Maybe I need to call Fixer?"

Martin was shaking his head as he said, "Khalid, you call who you want but that boy will end up just like another twelve year old. Do you want that? I know what you are risking Khalid."

Lance stepped up to the three men and said, "Fixer knows exactly what is going on. Khalid I know what is happening on this island. I am telling you right now, Max was needed. I can help find the blocks which have been put up in the boys mind and Rub'ik can keep the boy physically safe. Martin is here as my back up incase I get blindsided somehow. Max is hear for the boys mind. They did a thorough job on convincing the boy, all he has to do is obey them and everything will be alright. He has become their new messenger and entrapper and he doesn't even know it. Max will not be allowed anywhere else on the island. He knows a lot of secret things about a lot of people, Khalid and I would still trust him with my life. I would trust him with Flo's and Marshall's lives also."

Khalid was scared. Everything he built and was trying to do was in jeporty and they had brought the one man who could take it all down. He said, "He is his Priest, Lance. You are asking me to risk any chance I have of making it right. I can't risk you guys. He will kill you guys. Lance are you willing to risk Tia or your grandma or Tarik.

Lance looked at Maxwell and slowly nodded. "Grandma knows he is here, Khalid. He has already helped Tia, beyond measure along with many others I know. I have not told Tarik he is here, because I am afraid he would have the same reaction as you are having now, but I have no problem if he finds out. That boy is a key and we have to learn how to use that key, without destroying him or anyone else. Please go and let us continue. I will give you a full report as things progress."

Maxwell took a deep breath and walked up to Khalid, putting his hand on the man's shoulder. "I know the Dark One considers me his future Priest, but I promise you that is not going to happen. Too many people have put too many blocks in the way and are watching out for me. I have also gained a few surprises I think the Dark One is not expecting. I will not fall into his trap Khalid. You are working to make sure all of his traps are closed also. I understand how you feel and I would be willing to set down with you when Alex is back at school and discuss all of this with you. Now please let us do what we can for the boy."

Khalid shook his head as the tears fell. "He destroyed what good was in me long ago. I know I can't go back but I have made plans to make things right. They plan on taking the boy to him. I could not allow him to destroy Alex...Please tell Tia I never meant for Marcus to die."

Maxwell put his arm around Khalid's shoulders and started to lead him toward the door. "We all know you did your best with what you knew at the time Khalid. Alex is going to be fine, as soon as we convince him he does not have to follow their orders to keep everyone safe." As they reached the door, Max put his hand on the handle and started to turn it. As he opened the door he said to the man, who still had some of the scared little boy in him, "You and I are going to find somewhere safe to talk, Khalid and then you will see what you are doing is working and you are not alone. Now go with the elf and get some rest. I will see you soon."

T-bell smiled as he lead Khalid out. He looked at the three men as he said, "This stuff with the boy is drawing Lord Khalid to memories he is not ready yet for. It might be best that Khalid has little contact with the boy Alex, don't you agree?"

"Agreed, wise elf. Take him to rest. When I am done I will contact you and see if you think it is a good time to talk with Lord Khalid. If not now, then you can let me know when." Maxwell received a nod and then closed the door. Turning back to Lance and Martain he said, "Ok fill me in so we can get the boy back in here."

Martin looked as the door shut. He turned to Max as he said, "That is the closes I have come to seeing Khalid ready to come clean about what he and Frank Cole are really doing. Khalid sounded like he regrets what he has become. Max, I got he still thinks he can't come home so why is he risking the Dark One's wrath if not to join the family once more? As for Alex, Lance is the only one that can explain what is the situation concerning Alex."

Lance made his way to the small table in the corner and sat in one of the three chairs. Mind-dives had always drained him. Relaxing back in the chair he looked at Maxwell and started, "The boy once went to Hogwarts. His parents passed away and as far as any of us knew he was being raised by an Aunt. He sort of dropped through the cracks because I don't think we have ever had a student leave and not checked up on them to see how they were doing. Richard was drawn to the Macintosh Clan castle thinking that Matthew Macintosh had been given the hand of Arianna Sadaki, by Khalid since he is officially head of that family. While he was there he ran across Alex who was being trained as a human to infiltrate the school someday. Before Richard could get him out he was bitten by the Alpha Matthew. In order to keep the change from happening Richard brought him here and Rub'ik, Tal'mac, grand-sireling has joined with the boy with a blood bond. Now all we have to do is convince the boy he does not have to do what Matthew says and make sure he is not a sleeper for them. Easy right?"

Martin shook his head as he said, "The kid is fighting my son every step. I doubt he would do that to help the wolf that bite him. How does Markus fit?"

Maxwell rubbed his chin then held the back of his neck. "Markus is the Enforcer correct. Could he be running things from the background maybe not telling his brother what he is doing. That whole pack is made up of back bitters. If Alex was being trained by Markus, and the man kept after him, then he would start to believe what the man was saying."

Lance nodded. "That is the consensus we were coming to. Now how to get the boy believing us instead of those wolves."

Max smiled as he said, "Lance, you feel comfortable with me talking one on one with the kid? You need to get your strength back. If you agree then fill me in on what the mind dive has revealed so far, anything Richard told you. Lance you are still running this case, I just want to see if I can get you a way in."

Lance nodded. "Of course I am fine with you talking one on one with him. Maybe you can get him to tell you who had threatened him, although if it was done right he would think it was just training and no actual threats had been made. I've pretty much summed up what I know. The boy thinks if he can help get Leo and Neo to the island then this Plan B which he thinks about wont happen. That plans has something to do with Rosa. I shudder to think what Matthew would do with a drained Phoenix and she is going to be a powerful one when she comes totally into her powers. I would expect him to push that coming of age faster than would be good for her. If pushed too fast she could change into a Phoenix and not ever change back, although that could be what he wants also." Lance scrubbed his face with his hands. He was tired and going around in circles in his head on the possibilities. "The boy is scared of doing the wrong thing and he wants to protect Rosa. It appears someone has convinced him that Rosa is his intended future and the only way to protect her is to join the clan and let them help." Lance stood and started pacing a little. "Max, he needs a friend but he won't trust anyone. His brother is still in that place, but Tal'mac doesn't think we can get him out because he has been experimented on so much. I think Alex has been told everything which has been done to his brother and made to think only the good has been done. If he doesn't cooperate, other things will be done. I don't know I'm just tired and am probably leaving something important out." Lance sat down heavily in the seat and watched his two friends.

Martin shook as he said, "Relax son and let Max get you something to work with. Is Alex a part of Core?"

Lance sat back down and leaned back in the chair. "As far as I have been able to find out he was being checked out by Tarik. Tia had not come into her own powers then, since it was almost a year and a half ago. He might consider himself a member though, because the method Tarik used and still uses, is to give the child some responsibilities and some problems and see how he handles what he has handed them. I think when he goes back once he is cleared, he will be a full member though."

Martin nodded and asked his next question. "How bad is this Clan?"

Lance scrubbed his face with his hands. "You are going to have to check with Cole, Richard and Arianna, to get that question answered. I'm sure they are right up there on the scale with the Dark One and his plans to take over the Magical world. The only thing which scares me is I think maybe Matthew or even Markus is looking to roll over into the Muggle world also with some well place influence. To do this he would have to have some powerful allies in the Ministry and that terrifies me."

Martin looked at Max and simply asked, "Max can you help?"

Max walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, balancing himself with his hands and stretching his legs out in front of him. "I think I can help although the boy is going to have to let me in, in some extent. I might be able to trick him into that, but not sure. Lance you need to stay because I am going to need your ability for the medical part and your father's abilities to read some of his emotions, especially body language. I want the elf here also. I think it will be slow, but we might be able to do it." Max looked down at his feet and then back up again. "I don't want another mind dive done on him for a while. With the elfin blood in his system we have no idea which of his abilities are going to be augmented and I don't want to get caught in a dive and have one pop up we weren't expecting."

Martin looked at Lance as if to tell his son that Lance was still calling the shots.

"I think we should bring him back in here and see if we can get some answers," Maxwell stood up and paced the small cell a couple of times. "The kid is going to fight us every step of the way. Maybe if we bring another member of the Core here he would be willing to listen to protect that member."

Martin was shaking his head. He looked at Max as he said, "We can't, Tia, if Khalid has one of his.." He could not finish. Martin knew his wife's uncle was not sane. The man's son wanted Tia and Martin was not going to bring the Princess where Shadow could get to here easily.

Lance just stared at Maxwell. Surely he wasn't planning on bringing the head of the Core onto the most dangerous island for her.

Max held up his hand. "I wouldn't bring Tia here and you know it Martin," he said trying to keep the anger out of his voice. "I thought we would bring Silvia. Brennan has been training her on profiling and she needs a little field experience. We can bring Brennan to watch out for her also. The girl has learned a lot and I would like to give her a chance. She is also younger than Alex and he may become a little protective and just might believe her about us."

Martin just looked at Lance as if asking his son want he wanted to do. Martin personally was uneasy about bring any of the children anywhere need Khalid. He shook his head as he said, "What do you think Lance?"

Lance rubbed his hands through his hair and looked at the back wall. He didn't like bringing any of the children into any situation where they might be in danger, but she would be protected. It would be Brennan's job, his only job. The elves could also watch out for her. "She has learned a lot and Brennan says she is ready for the field as long as she has protection, because she tends to get lost in the profiling and not pay attention to what is happening around her." Looking back at his father he said, "I will agree to it, if Brennan comes and is totally responsible for her and not anything else. I will also have him bring a guard elf."

Lance closed his eyes and sent a private message to Darik, who he knew would be listening into his thoughts. "Bring Brennan and Silvia to here, please. You can come yourself also. Let Brennan know his only job is protecting Silvia."

Brennan was furious as he said, "What is this about Lance? Bring Tia's cousin to Khalid? What are you thinking?" He moved Silvia behind him as the door started opening. Brennan drew his new wand as he said believing Martin and Lance had been forced to send for them, "I am not handing her over! Darik, get us out of here, please?"

Maxwell walked up to Brennan and put his hand on the man's wand arm, which he knew was utterly the wrong thing to do. "Put your wand away Profiler. You are in a secured area. Khalid is being kept away by his elves and we have elves stationed everywhere. The whole dungeon is secure." Maxwell took his hand away and looked around Brennan, "Hello Silvia. Thank you for coming. It is really good to see you again."

Silvia peeked out from behind Brennan. "Hello Maxwell, Sir. I came because Brennan said he was coming. Looks like you didn't tell him much." She tentatively smiled at Maxwell and then looked up at Brennan to see what she should do next.
Brennan's wand hand was shaking as he said, "Max, if not Khalid then who? Fixer, he wants the translation? I can't, Silvia's Core. Please don't do this?" He watched as the door opened and a sixteen year old boy entered with an elf beside him.

Alex was nervous seeing a man he didn't know with a wand aimed at him and Rub'ik. There was a young girl peeking around the man. Alex grabbed the elf's arm and started to pull him back toward the door. He was scared the young girl was about to be used to get him to do something he did not want to do. His only thought was to just leave, not sure of where he could go. They were in a dungeon area and there seemed no way out. Turning his frightened yes on elf he asked, "Rub'ik?" while keeping a firm hand on the elves arm.

Lance walked over and stood between Alex and the door. "No, Alex you are going to stay. We have some questions for you. Brennan is here to help take care of Silvia." Lance motioned Silvia out from behind Brennan. "Silvia is an honored Core member and is here so you can see we are not mistreating them. Now we need you to sit at that table over there. Silvia you also please."

Silvia hesitantly came out and smiled at the older boy. He was cute. When Lance told her to sit at the table she looked at Brennan, took his hand and walked them to the table so she could sit down. As long as Brennan was near she wasn't worried.

Alex didn't move. He pointed over his shoulder at the older man as he asked, "And him? What is Tia's councilor doing here?" He had been warned by Markus not to talk with any councilors because they could trick him. All Alex wanted was to get back to Hogwarts and his Rosa. His head felt like a Mac truck hit it. He looked nervously around as he asked, "Where is professor Greene?" He glanced at the young girl and she seemed to be staring at him as if he was something to be studied. "What are you looking at?" he threw in her direction.

Lance looked into the boys eyes. "I will answer all your questions once you have taken a chair." He motioned toward the table where Silvia was already sitting, with Brennan planted behind her chair.

Alex was shaking his head even as Rub'ik gently guided him to the chair. He watched and listened as Max smiled as he said, "Lance, the boy is scared. How about it just being Silvia, Brennan, Darik and Rub'ik? We can talk in another room. Once Silvia has explained to young Alex then if he wants to talk with me..." Max wanted to see just what the boy's program was in relationship to a member of Core. Max knew the boy was upset that he and Bren were here. It was Lance's call but they just might learn more this way then by Max forcing the boy to talk to him.

Lance looked to his father and received a nod. Turning to Max he said, "I will agree to that for a period of fifteen minutes." Looking straight at Alex he said, "Talk with Silvia, she is true Core and Tia trusts her completely." He smiled at the young girl and then continued, "you will have fifteen minutes to talk then we will return and see where we stand." Lance was not going to let the boy leave until he was cleared by Maxwell but he was willing to find out what Max was up to with the suggestion.

Turning to Brennan he said, "You are in charge of Silvia. Neither of you can leave without my permission, but with Darik here you should have all the protection you need." Turning to Darik he said, "We will be next door my friend if you need us." Darik and Brennan both nodded as Lance, Martian and Maxwell left the room. They would be able to hear everything which went on without the participants knowing.

(OOC: This is a combined post by Barbie and Jane. We hope you are enjoying the thread.)

SILVIA SADAKI
Silvia sat quietly and watched as Lance, Maxwell and Martin left the room. Brennan was standing protectively behind her. Alex sat across the table with an elf behind him. Darik stood off to the side watching all of them. She was definitely safe. She decided to start, "My name is Silvia Sadaki. My father is Tarik Sadaki and my mother is Head Mistress Sasha McChey-Sadaki." Silvia folded her hands in front of her and relaxed. She was only 12 years old, but most of the time she felt older. Her father had told her and her twin that it was because they both had old souls.

Alex smiled as he said, "When I last was there Sasha was just the Deputy Headmistress. What happened Headmaster Witchard finally retire? How is Tia and Rosa?" He glared at the man behind the child of his target. Alex winked at the child as he asked, "Do we really need him so close? The Core that I remember trusted very few adults with our secrets. We especially are leery of adults carrying wands." Alex had no clue but this wizard scared him. He needed to figure out how to use this child to get her parents. Alex head hurt and he needed a treatment.

Bren shook his head as he said, "I can wait by the door but I am not leaving this room."

Alex shook as he said, "Rub'ik send that pest away. What I have to say is for her ears only." He had to get it to be just the girl. Alex could then have Rub'ik get them back to Hogwarts.

Silvia smiled and looked up at Brennan then back to the boy across the table. "I think Brennan will stay. He can be trusted with any of our lives. You say you were at Hogwarts. I am only in my second year so it was not recently. And you still have not introduced yourself. If Darik and Brennan were not here I would not be talking with you, because I know nothing about you. Your elf I will trust because Darik trusts him."

Alex head was spinning as he said, "Sorry, I am Alex MacLeod from the Hufflepuff house. I was a..." His head was exploding. How could he be so foolish to allow them to use a girl to get information from him. Alex just shook his head as he demanded, "Where is Tia?"

Darik walked up to the boy and leaned over so he could look in the boys eyes. The boy was hurting. He was also being controlled somehow. "Master Alex, I realize your head is hurting bad. I can see it in your eyes and your mind. You need to try and relax. What you are fighting is what someone else has put in your head to keep you from talking on a certain subject and I would be willing to wager if is about the Clan. Mistress Tia is safe, but we cannot take the chance on bringing her here. Mistress Silvia has agreed to come in her place." Darik looked at Rub'ik and nodded. The elf put two fingers on each side of Alex's temples and pushed slightly. "Rub'ik is just helping the headache. If you want I can hypnotize you and it won't hurt at all."

Alex shook his head as he said to Rub'ik, "I am fine Rub'ik. I just need to get away from here and back to Hogwarts. It is most likely from the bite. Let's just go home and I will get it checked at St.Mungo's okay? It has been a long time since I saw the Princess. She must be a fifth year? Please Silvia, I just want to be around Core." He had to get away from these outsiders. Markus had warned him about Psy-healers and he had to protect Rosa which meant he had to ditch the mind doctors.

Darik stepped back and Rub'ik kept two fingers on Alex's right temple. "I am sorry Master Alex, but until Master Maxwell clears you, you cannot return to Hogwarts. Mistress Silvia is Core and can answer any questions you have about them. I remember you. When you were at the school, I spent most of my time helping Madame Puddifoot at the Tea Shoppe, now I help at the school. I know all of this is very frightening to you Master Alex, but it is necessary. Do you know what a sleeper is?"

Rub'ik shook his head and thought, "It is not working brother Darik. The controller of my young human has him too scared. He wants to flee like the young Princess did many times. Has the young human got the sight? Has she seen any prophecy?"

Alex eased closer to the naive child as he eyed to elf that came with the girl. He was scared but knew if need be he would die for his lord. The girl could be a bargaining chip. He smiled as he slipped his hand into the wizard's back pocket.

Darik, held out his hand in front of him and spread his fingers. "No Master Alex. That will not be allowed." He sent out the unspoken spell that had Alex bound and pulled back to his chair. When the boy was seated he said, "I will not allow you to hurt anyone in this room, Master Alex and that includes you. You are frightened so I will give you some leeway. Try any trick again and I will but you in the bed and we will do this the elfin way. These humans only want to help you. You will accept that help if you want to return to the school. All three of the men in the other room have the ability to read your mind and emotions. They choose not too at the moment, but you are pushing them to it."

Alex was terrified as his body shook. He was failing as his lord would take that failure out on Rosa. He had been a fool to let that pet of Matthew's bring him here. He had to think find some way to gain his freedom.

Bren shook his head as he asked Darik "Was I this bad? Is this Zia or Shadow's doing? Darik, he is a kid. A scared kid." Bren walked up to the kid and said placing a hand on the boy's shoulder, "It will be all right Alex. I am Bren. I been where you are now kid. These guys can help though it is going to be one rough road."

"No Master Brennan, this is not Zia or Shadow. It is the MacIntosh Clan's doing. Not sure which one of the brothers has had the most effect but it is definately them." He walked over to Silvia and whispered in her ear, "Do not be afraid, Mistress Silvia, but I want you to feel his fear. I want you to try to crack it and see if you can give him some calmness. Go over to him and place your hands on his forehead."

Silvia swallowed hard and started to get up only to be forced back to her seat by Brennan. She looked at her protector and shook her head then stood. Walking slowly she stood beside Alex and placed her hands on his forehead. She could feel Brennan close to her and Darik was there also. This would be the first time she had used the new power, Brennan had discovered. She could feel what someone else was feeling, by touching them or by touching something they had very recently touched. She screamed, but did not let go. The fear coming off Alex came in real waves. She concentrated on smoothing out her breathing and sending calmness back to him. She got a picture of a man standing in front of him. A mean expression on his face. The man was saying something about how Alex better be good and do everything he was told or they would go after his Rosa. Silvia broke off and turned into Brennan's arms, whispering, "They are after Rosa."

Bren nodded as he said, "Silvia is the feeling the same as when you touched the Black Rose that she just got?" He bent down and said, "Don't worry kid, that Clan won't get near her."

Silvia shook her head. "No he was not the one who sent the Black Roses to Rosa. But she can not be left alone with him ever." Silvia stepped back a little out of Brennan's protective hug and turned toward Alex. "How can you help them?" She tried to stop the tears but they continued.

Bren went to the door, knocked the signal the fifteen minutes was done.

Alex had felt the girl but could not stop her. As tears came to his eyes, he said, "You really think I believe you. I was in the Clan's hands for two years. Did anybody even bother to notice I was missing? Just take me back to Hogwarts and that brat better stay out of my head!" The fury he felt Alex did not understand. He really had not meant to call the kid a brat. Alex knew Core helped Core. He tried to smile as he said crying, "Sorry Silvia. You are not a brat it is just not a nice place my head. Please Silvia. Core stick together."

Silvia slowly sat back down in her chair. She was still feeling some of the fear the boy was feeling. As she waited for the others to come back she said quietly to Alex, "You are Core and I will try and help you but Alex you cannot go back as you are. Please talk with Maxwell. Don't let them keep you trapped like this. The Core will help you, I promise."

Alex smiled as he asked, "I will for you Silvia. I am scared through cause Markus don't like Psy-healers. I just got his trust if he thinks I need..." His hand went for his neck worried hat he had just dreamed Kurthra removing the training collar.

Silvia had just gotten an important bit of information. Alex was still trying to answer to someone named Markus, and it meant something to him on what this man thought. He still held to some of the Core thoughts. If you were a member of the Core you trusted those people sometimes with your life. You leaned on them and expected them to lean on you. She had only been a member for two years, the two years she had been at Hogwarts but it was a lesson fast learned. She folded her hands in front of her and said, as she heard the others coming back, "You won't regreat your decision Alex. I'll stay as long as they let me. When I leave if you are allowed to come I will let the others know you are still alive and trying to get back." She leaned in closer and whispered, "We will all work to get you back with us and Tia can cause problems if she wants something bad enough." Silvia winked and sat up straight.

Lance, Maxwell and Martin had been in the next cell listening to everything that had happened. Maxwell had to fight giving a fist bump when Silvia had gotten the boy to agree to talk with him. Alex was still one scared little puppy but it was a beginning. As they walked into the room Alex looked at them as if he was going to be punished. All three men put smiles on their faces. Lance and Martin sat on the bed and Maxwell took the other seat at the table so he was sitting between the two children.

Alex watched the man enter the room. When the one called Maxwell sat down at the table, Alex took his hands from where he was rubbing his neck and folded his arms in front of him and tried to look as relaxed as he could. "So what will it take to get you to release me? I just want to go home to Hogwarts. Uncle Markus will not be happy if he finds out. He hates Psy-healers." Alex looked with fear at Silvia as he whispered, "You saw, please Silvia."

Silvia looked from one man to another, settling in on Maxwell, "I have tried to explain to Alex that he needs to talk with you. You are the only one who can release him to be able to return to Hogwarts. I have also told him we still consider him a member of the Core and Tia will look forward to his return. His Uncle Markus seems to not want him to talk to anyone." Silvia was not sure who this Markus person was, but whoever it was, it would not be good for Alex to be following his rules.

Lance and Martin looked back and forth between the two of them. Silently they agreed this was Maxwell's time to see what he could do.

Maxwell folded his arms on the table, mimicking the boy. "I want to get you back to Hogwarts as soon as possible Alex, this I promise you. But I have to ask you some questions first. If we were in the service this would probably be called a debriefing. Now let me tell you something first. When you left the school, you had been turned over to your Aunt for safety sake. She did not want to have you at the school, so we could not keep you. For the first six months or so we contacted her to see if there was anything we could do to help. She let us know through letters that you were fine and you were going to a Muggle school for a while. She thought it would be better if we did not push the fact you went to Hogwarts." Maxwell looked down at his hands then looked back to Alex, "Alex, I must apologize for what happened next. Two people who are no longer at the school were assigned to keep track of you. When Headmaster Witchard was killed the whole world at Hogwarts was reeling and somehow you were not looked for again. Professor Richards has said, he blames himself but the only thing he could do was get you out of there. Now it is my job to help you get back to the world out here. A whole lot of people care about you Alex and all of us are going to help you."

Alex laid his head on the table. They had looked for him. He said with tears in his eyes, "I never went to a Muggle school. The Clan don't believe in schooling. Why would she lie to the Headmaster?" He needed to see his aunt. Shaking as he asked, "My aunt? The Dark Medjai has her? Please I need to talk to her find out why she took me to the Clan. Uncle Thomas is cool and Aunty loves him but Uncle Mathew married her to Uncle Markus...He hurts her and hates Bill." His head was feeling extreme. He looked at Silvia as he continued, "They are really Bill's..." He shook his head but just stared out as his hand went to his neck rubbing it.

Bren looked at Alex and then turned to Lance as he said, "Lance, Silvia and I are heading back to Hogwarts. I promised Alex that the Clan would not touch Rosa and I want to get back and make sure all the security is set up correctly. I think he will feel easier knowing the Core keeps their word. When you got something Core needs tell Darik and he will get the info too us. Silvia and I will bring Core up to speed."

Silvia shook her head. "No Brennan I can't leave. I have promised Alex that I will stay. He needs another of the Core here to help him feel safe. I am staying."

Alex lifted his head and square his shoulders. He still had no trust for this man, Brennan, who claimed to be Core. He reached for Silvia as he screamed, "Leave her alone! Please Silvia, you saw when you touched me. He can't take you away ... only Core can be trusted, please!"

"I'm not going anywhere Alex, I promised you I would stay." Silvia looked at Brennan and said, "You may leave if you think you need to Brennan. With Darik here and the others I will be safe." Silvia knew if Brennan pushed the idea, she would have to leave but she also wanted him to realize she needed to stay and it would not go well for him if the Core found out she was forced to leave one of their members behind. She wished one of the older members was here, but since they weren't she would do what she thought they would expect of her.

"Brennan she needs to stay unless you have a valid reason why she is going to be in danger. There are enough of us here to protect her and get her out quickly if need be. It is your call as Head of Security but I am hoping you will let her remain."

"I agree with Lance, Bren. It is your call but she gives Alex some hope he will be able to return to Hogwarts." Maxwell turned to Alex and added, "... and we all want that."

Bren smiled as he said, "No I can't." He turned to Darik as he said, "Darik, The Clan seems to be holding how Alex feels about Rosa over him. Can you insure that Rosa is guarded without anybody knowing? I think it will help young Alex talk with Max if we can assure him that the Clan can't hurt her."

Darik nodded, closed his eyes for a moment and sent a mental message to his group of trained elves at the school. When he opened his eyes he said, "I have sent a message Master Brennan, there will be an elfin guard on her at all times. Since there are several then it will only look like the regular things are happening around Mistress Rosa. Master Richard will also be informed on what is happening so he will be able to help." Darik turned to Alex. "She will be well guarded Master Alex, you may concentrate on helping Master Maxwell to understand how to help you."

Maxwell smiled and nodded. "Very good Darik thank you. Now Alex let's start with what you were being trained for by the clan. What do you see as the job they wanted you to learn about most?"

Alex smiled but shook his head, "Richard wears the Trainer. Please don't ask, only know that Uncle Markus calls me Shadow Hunter. I will answer your questions but my cousin can get to any of them. Please help Bill, he is the true Alpha, if Uncle Matthew finds out who his true father is..." Alex's head hurt but Markus had told that lady it to insure Bill's true lineage was never learned.

Maxwell tried not to act excited and kept a straight face when he asked, "Who is you Cousin Alex?"

Alex looked at Silvia as he said, "He has been lead to believe that his dad was Markus' son who died. I don't know if it is true but talk is that his dad was a bitten wolf who became a problem. My cousin was about one when his dad joined the Clan and three when his father, mother tried to leave." He started crying.

"What is your cousins name, Alex?" Maxwell asked, leaning a little closer and capturing the boy's eyes.

Alex was scared as it was not Liam's fault. He cried as he asked, "What is going to happen to him? It is not his fault. Please don't hurt him. "

Max reached out and touched the boys hand, "We are not going to hurt whoever it is Alex? We don't hurt children, and I think it is a child we are talking about. What is his name Alex?"

"Please Alex tell them, they can help your cousin and help you get back to Hogwarts." Silvia tried to fight the tears in her own eyes. Just the one joining had put her closer to Alex and she and his fear and worry were becoming solid things. She reached back and took Brennan's hand, because his experience could ground her.

Alex nodded then laid his head back on the table as he said," His name is Liam. He is a Ravenclaw, I think? Please they never have asked for him to do anything. Markus has just..." His head hurt as he said shaking, "I am betraying the Clan. I am sorry...I don't need re-education...please I will be good.." He tried to protect his neck. His cousin will have no choice. Alex glanced at the door. He had to get out of there.

As Maxwell reached out his other hand to touch the boys head he looked over his shoulder at Darik. Darik nodded because he knew Liam was now going to have an around the clock watch on him, until it could be decided on how to handle the situation. "Alex, look at me. Where are you? Look around and tell me where you are and who is in the room." Max had to get the boy to know the Clan was not here. They were not in charge. Darik had done a complete security check of the whole dungeon area and there was no way for them to know what was happening. Max had heard the sharp intake of breath from Silvia and glanced at her for just a second to make sure she was all right.

Alex shook as he tried to get up, "I was not trying to run. Please I won't tell anybody what I heard. Your secret is safe." He had not even realized how dangerous the wizard was. He watched as guys in Robes grabbed him. The man walked up to him and pulled his head back. Alex was made to watch as the cloaked men forced his aunt to marry Markus. Markus had then ordered his older brother to meet him. Alex shook as he was placed in his sleeping chamber. At first the pain was followed by questions. Alex shook his head as he said, "I am good uncle Marcus. Please Stop my sleep treatment. I promise I will be good. The Core is no threat please Uncle I will explain things. Please not Rosa. I promise uncle I will bring him, just leave my Rosa alone. I will do anything...What is this?" Alex felt the pain drop him to the ground. Uncle Markus asked if he understood why he was being punished. Alex crying shook his head as he said, "No, please uncle I will be good." His uncle had laughed and just placed him in his sleep chamber. Alex screamed for his uncle to forgive him. All his uncle said was that every sleep cycle Alex would be given his special attention. Alex screamed, "please uncle... "

Max looked at Rub'ik and said "Pull him back. He is lost in the past."

Rub'ik stepped up to the boy and place both hands on the sides of his head from the back. Squeezing gently but firmly he closed his eyes and grabbed the boys mind. His head shook but he didn't let go. The young human was in deep, but he could reach him. Locking minds he started to pull young Master Alex back to the top. When he was sure he wouldn't slip down again, the elf opened his eyes and nodded. Slowly the elf lowered the boys head to the table. Taking one step back, he worked on catching his own breath.

When Lance had figured out what was happening he allow his abilities with legilimency to come to the top. It would break the shields put up by others in a person's mind. Rub'ik could get Alex's mind back, but Lance had to know what the thoughts were that were feeding the boy's fear. Lance felt the sleeping chambers effects. It was the same type of chamber that Richard had been put into in order to try and get him to break. Khalid actually had one of the chambers in a hidden room in his upstairs play room ]/i], which was a fully functional torture chamber decorated to look like a sitting room.



Bren smiled as he said, "It depends on if Max and you think he is a danger to the other students. Plus I am unsure if he can go back? He has missed two years. He would be a sixth year and that means he missed his OWLs last term. Do you guys known how the ministry handles things like this cause we are going to have the same problem if and when we find Ashley?"

Alex lowered his hands to the bed and fisted the covers. Shaking his head as he said, "Uncle Markus insured I studied. He had Liam send me Owls on what fourth-seventh years were learning. Then I would study in my sleeping chamber." He shook as he remembered what those lessons were like. He had learned very quickly as to save his brother and himself some extreme pain. He slightly smiled as he remembered his excelling had insured his Rosa never received the other gift that Markus had threaten to insure give her. A tear left his eyes as he said to himself, "Uncle already murdered her mother, I could not allow them to kill her father in front of her. I had to excel and now uncle Markus can't touch Rosa's dad without Matthew being furious with him. The Councilman is safe and soon so will my Rosa." He shook his head as he was beginning to like his target but to make his Rosa untouchable the man had to be hand delivered to Alpha Matthew by Christmas.


"I will have to get in touch with the Ministry or I think I will let Sasha get in touch with them. Hopefully we can get him retested and brought in as a sixth year. Until then he can stay in the infirmary under guard."

Silvia put her hand on Alex's arm and turned to Lance. "You know who they are going to send don't you, Lance? There is only one man who will jump at the chance to cause problems at the school and try and prove we are doing things against the Ministry. Jonathan Clausen will jump at the chance to be able to come back to the school and cause problems."

"She's right you know, Lance." Maxwell shook his head. "It took me weeks to get rid of the last mental problems that man caused around the school. Star is still reeling a bit and Flo Richards wants to do nasty things to him. Tarik was the one who found him making unwanted moves on her in her classroom. Tarik would not do anything in the open, but I am sure he and Darik would be working on something. Clausen would also have to be watched, because he could purposely change the test so Alex would not be able to pass it or would appear to not have passed it."

Lance acknowledged what Silvia and Maxwell had said. "The only way to get him in as a sixth year is to get him retested. The Caretakers will work on covering all of our bases. He looked at Alex. "Do you think you can agree to this Alex? The alternative is staying here until we can get you cleared and possibly never be able to go to Hogwarts again."

Alex cringed as he heard about the man that would be testing him. He grabbed Silvia as he asked scared as if he was still a first year, "He is that bad? Wonder if uncle Markus knows him?" He was not sure he could agree to what they were asking but he had no intention of leaving his Rosa unprotected.

Alex's hold on her arm was almost painful. She looked into her new friends eyes and tried to calm him. "Alex, no matter what happens with the testing the man can not hurt you. You are still Core and the Caretakers would never allow him to harm you. You might not be allowed to stay at the school for a bit, but there are plenty of safe places to have you stay and plenty of people who are going to help you. The man is just a ..." Silvia looked at the adults and cringed. There was no way she could be that disrespectful even to a man as mean as Mr. Clausen. "The man is just plain mean and wants to cause the school problems, but it's ok. The adults at the school will have no problem taking care of him. We can get you the books you need and any tudoring you need from some of the older Core members. No matter what he asks we can get you through the tests, that is if he plays fair."

Lance smiled. "Silvia even if he doesn't play fair, we will cover this." Looking back at Alex he added, "All we need to try this Alex is for you to say you are willing to try. Then we can set everything in motion. Oh and there is nothing dark about Mr. Jonathan Clausen, he is just mean spirited."

Brennan looked at Lance as he thought about the last time he had to deal with Mr. Clausen. The man was a jerk and Bren loved showing the man some manners. He looked to Martin and said not at all liking the idea, "Is there anybody else Seth could send? Martin, you remember the last time? The man thought I could not arrest him. He reminded me of those Aurors that thought since I was a hit wizard they did not have to obey my orders. Sasha and Flo both had to put up with that man. I won't have him upsetting Tia. You know he told Sasha because of her disrespect of him that he could see to it that Tia failed her OWLs. He even tries to make her tests harder especially after the Dark One has been doing to her this term..." Bren had every intention of watching that wizard extremely close. He hoped he could find a connection between Mr. Clausen and the SEVEN.

He glanced at Silvia as he asked, "What was the Core's nickname for that jerk?"

Silvia giggled, "We called him Mr. Pain.

Martin shook his head. "If the man wants to come then he will be the one to come. He got the school assigned to his caseload and there wasn't anything any of us could do to stop that, and believe me we tried. I think we should just plan on him showing up if Alex returns to the school." Martin turned to Alex and said, "You didn't answer Lance's question Alex. Are you willing to return to the school under our directives or would you rather stay hidden here until we can find another way?"

Alex cringed as he said, "If I say no? Understand me I have no intention of staying here or being kept away from my friends! I am going back to Hogwarts and I am not answering anything that will endanger my Rosa! So if you guys are done...:" He turned to Rub'ik, "Take me to Hogwarts!"

Rub'ik looked questionably at Alex. He wondered if he should warn the Profiler. The link had showed the deal that Alex had made to protect Rosa. He looked at Martin as he had a feeling.

Alex yelled and attempted to sit up in the bed, "Now! I want to see Rosa and Tia!" He found he could not sit, only lye down. "Let me go, I want to go to the school. I need to protect my Rosa and Tia. Please let me up."

Martin looked at the elf and nodded, trying to tell him he heard what was in Alex's head. The Macintosh Clan wanted control over Brennan. The also wanted a mole planted in Charitee's Cafe, the off the grid meeting place of the Caretakers. It would give them the possibility of grabbing Council member Lucas Fairmont, who was also Rosa's father. Everyone was watching and ready if the Clan pulled anything funny. The only real worry Martin had was with Alex's obsession with Rosa. They would have to watch him that he didn't push himself on her. She was so skittish as it was around those she did not know.

"Alex either lie still and relax or I will have Rub'ik knock you out. All you are doing is showing us you are not ready to return to Hogwarts. All of the student's safety is our worry, not just your," Lance said with all the authority he could wrap into the words. Turning to Brennan he said, "Let me know when you have all the security matters lined up and we will take our young friend here to the school. No one, and I repeat no one is to speak with him at the school until I give my personal agreement and then only when someone I designate is present. Is that understood, Brennan?" Lance was worried, Tia or even Rosa would find out what Alex thought and want to question him. Lance was afraid of what Alex might do to protect he one person in this world he thought of as his.

Alex shook his head. He was not going to just stay in this room with these people. He looked again at Rub'ik and cleared his throat as he said, trying to add authority to his voice, "I said Take Me to Hogwarts Now Elf!" His head was hurting and it felt wrong to talk to talk to the elf that way, but he had to act like he was in charge. He would make it up to Rub'ik later in private. Shadow Hunter looked at Brennan and said, "I will agree if you and me can go to Charitee's first? I miss her snack bag she used to send with us Core when we caught the train. His inner self was not looking forward to setting this man up. Shadow Hunter's inner voice was yelling at him, "Would you rather it be Rosa's father? Alex, we made a deal with our Alpha! Now shut up and just maybe we can protect our soulmate. Cause your training is nothing compared to mine...Understand!" Alex tried to hide the cringe.

Rub'ik was worried about his young charge and this split in his soul. He looked between Alex and Brennan. Placing his hand on Alex's shoulder he prayed the next linking would stick.

Maxwell walked up to the elf. "No Rub'ik do not join with him again so soon. We need to have more of him then you talking with us." Turning to Alex he continued, "You are going straight to Hogwarts, to whatever part of Hogwarts Brennan thinks will be able to give you and the school the most safety. Alex, you are not out of this yet. Until you and I have a more indepth conversation you will not be allowed the freedom of the school you once had. You also are not a full student there yet remember." Putting his hand on the boys arm, Maxwell turned to Brennan. "He is to go straight to the school, Brennan. If Silvia is correct on who will be testing him we don't want to give the man any reason to find fault with him being at the school. I will contact Sasha and explain the situation. It will be up to her on what happens at the school, do you understand?"

Brennan looked at the boy then at Martin. The kid was up to something and Brennan intended to find out what before they got to Hogwarts. The Profiler smiled at the kid as he said, "So kid, you think I will just walk to Charitee's and allow whatever trap Matthew Macintosh has plan to activate? Do him and Markus think the Caretakers or Core are that gullible? Think again! Now boy you have only one shot at ever entering Hogwarts again." He looked at Max as he said, "And that Alex is to be honest with that man. The rest of us are going to step out for one hour and you are going to answer Max's questions."

Alex got a sly look in his eyes as he said challenging, "And if I don't what can you do Profiler! You made a deal with our Alpha years ago and now is time to pay the Piper! I am not answering to the likes of mere humans." His head was killing him and his first target was challenging his Alpha's degree.

Bren smiled as now they were getting somewhere. He looked at Lance and Max as he challenge Alex some more, "Did you know I was eight when they used me to capture my father? I believed their lies then. Now I know they had no intention of releasing him and were just using me to force him to betray his friends and the Ministry. Now Matthew probably wants me for my gift as a profiler and to get information about the school and my friends. His MO never changes. No way am I falling for his lies or his trap ever again. Also I don't intend for you or certain others to fall into his hands ever again."

He placed his hand on Alex's shoulder as he said, "Alex, they are using you kid. You are not a traitor just a mixed up kid who is probably just trying to save his friends and brother. Don't worry Alex, we will prove you can trust us. Now talk to Max and Alex, be yourself not the trapper they made you. See you in an hour."

Bren looked at the others and walked to the door as he said, "Time to find Fixer and see if Khalid has dealt with Air's present yet..." He hoped that the boy would open up when it was just him and Max. Bren looked at Max as he opened the door knowing he was taking a big risk that the Hufflepuff boy was still there. He smiled as he realized that it was a risk they all were willing to take. Alex was innocent as Markus and Matthew used the boy's crush on Rosa to control him.

Max watched as Brennan and Martin left the room. Turning to Silvia he said, "It is time for you to leave young lady. You have studying to do and I want you to explain to the Core what we are trying to do here. I don't want them going after Mr. Pain for any reason. You make sure Mika and Marshall especially understand that. You tell them this is an order from the Caretakers, it will make them feel important. Now go please." Max turned to Darik and added, "Take her back to the school Darik. Have a talk with Flo Richards and Sasha if you can. Also please tell Tarik to stand down, just a bit."

Silvia at first shook her head no, but with the stare she was getting from Maxwell, she hung her head and said, "Yes Sir," raising her eyes back up to Max she continued, "... but the Core members are not going to be happy we can't get at that man. Mika and Marshall have been not so secretly been making plans on what to do if he ever returned. I will have Tia, command them also. They will follow her direction."

Alex shook his head as he grabbed Silvia's arm. He was not sure what would happen after the young girl left. "Please don't leave me. They just want to get you out of here so there are no witnesses. Please, stay!" He looked at Maxwell and even at Rab'ik and Dar'ik. With pleading eyes he got down on his knees and begged with everything in him for Silvia to stay. He was glad that the adults were mostly gone again though.

Silvia got down on her knees also in front of her new friend. "It's going to be alright Alex. Maxwell is not going to hurt you." She looked at Maxwell for reassurance and received a smile and a nodded. "Too many people know you are here and they know what condition you are in. Dar'ik would never let him hurt you and Rub'ik will still be here. I promise you that in our world these elves have a lot more power then where you were. They are respected and listened to." Slowly Silvia stood and pulled Alex up with her. When she was again looking up to catch his eyes she added, "I am going to let the others know you have been found and are coming back to us. I will see you soon I promise." Silvia peeled Alex's hand off her arm and got up on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. "Talk with Maxwell please Alex. I will see you soon." She smiled, walked over to Dar'ik and the aspirated from the room.

Maxwell did not move from where he was standing. He indicated the table with his hand and quietly said, "Have a seat Alex and we will start."

Alex just watched as the young girl disappeared. He felt like nobody understood. He felt Rub'ik lead him to the table and knew the elf planned for him to sit. He shrugged as he sat down. Alex still felt the pain but was unsure just what was the cause. He looked at the table as he said, "You do know that the Profiler is decreed to turn himself in to the Clan. I must turn him over." He inwardly cringed as he thought of what the Alphas would do if he failed to honor his deal with Matthew.

Maxwell slowly sat down opposite Alex. Leaning his elbows on the table, he steepled his fingers and just watched the young man for several long moments. Folding his arms on the table he started, "I know Brennan acknowledged what you are saying, but he also said he was only a child when that happened. Children say and do a lot of things just to stay away from pain, or to get away from something they fear. He is an adult now and understands what was done to him in order to manipulate him."Leaning forward a little bit he asked, "What will happen Alex if Brennan does not go with you back to the Clan's castle?"

Alex shook as he said inwardly terrified, "That is Not an option. I must..." He wanted Matthew's protection for his Rosa. "Matthew will only give protection to my Rosa if I honor my agreement to bring Brennan Dawson and the one called Protector. I have to for My Rosa sake." His head was pounding and his body was shaking at the possibility he would fail to honor his word.

"What does he want to do to Rosa, Alex?" Maxwell was pinpointing in on why Rosa was so important. He knew why Matthew Macintosh wanted her. When she came into her full powers her protronus would be a phoenix, the rarest of beings. She would be a very powerful young lady to have on his side and be able to control.

Alex shook as he said, "It is not Matthew who wants her it is uncle Markus. Markus will do to her what Matthew did to me. He plans on making the first Phoenix Wolf. He will also marry her to one of his sons. I can't allow that but Uncle Matthew said he would not make her untouchable unless I became the new Shadow Hunter. I agreed, don't you see I had to." He was crying as he remembered what his nightmare had shown him. Alex would do what he had to do to protect his Rosa.

Maxwell was hesitant on asking the next question but it was necessary. If the boy went back to Hogwarts thinking he could get Rosa to be his there was going to be major problems on several fronts. "Alex, what makes you think Rosa is meant to be with you and not someone else?"

Alex gave a questionable look as if he had never thought about if she cared for another. He felt a fear but also clarity. He gave a sad smile as he said, "I would still do what I had to do to protect her. If the other ever hurts her, I would destroy him." He thought of one he would like to see her with if not him, than Telk.

"Tell me what you want to do at Hogwarts, Alex." Max held up his hand. "I know you want to see Rosa. I also know you want to see Tia. Your access to the others is going to be very limited at first when you are allowed to go. Remember you will not initially still be a student just a visitor. You will need to retest and then earn privileges back. What if this takes some tiime?"

Alex thought for a moment then starting to stand, he said, "I am not the threat to them and I will talk with them." Alex's head hurt as if he was in a vice grip. Rub'ik was immediately by his side. He heard Rub'ik tell Max, "They have split him somehow? The other part I sense is furious and seems to be trying what my brother Dar'ik said the one known as Chameleon did to Antonio. If you understand?" Alex held his head as he heard his inner voice tell him to shut up about Liam. As long as they did their job then Rosa was protected. Alex's eyes started tearing as he said, "Core business is for Core ears only!"

Max sat back in his chair. "Sit down Alex, we are not done yet." As the boy slowly took his seat, Max studied him for a moment. Looking at Rub'ik he sent a silent message. "Be ready. We are going to try and see how split the boy has become. Bind him if you have to." Max focused on Alex. "How many names do you have?"

Alex gave a questioning look as he said ,"Only the name you know. Why do you ask?" He felt his inner voice's fury as it said, "He knows about me. He knows I am different. How? Did you blab?" Alex felt pain as he realized that he had been promised by his inner voice that he would not remember any bad he had to do as long as he never interfered with the deal made or reveal Shadow Hunter's presence.

Max nodded. He turned his eyes to Rub'ik and nodded. The elf put his hands on Alex's head and held tight, then nodded at Max. The boy's body was now bound to the chair. "Whoever you are, I wish to talk with you. Alex will not be allowed to roam the school, until we have come to an understanding. I have the ability to silence you."

Shadow Hunter was furious as he said, "Alex can't keep secrets. If he told Enforcer then I can't protect his mind. The boy and I had an agreement! Now Enforcer will insure he breaks and I won't be able to stop him from destroying what Hufflepuff is left in him." He looked at the elf as he said, "Release Me Elf and stay out of my business!"

Rub'ik grinned as he said, "It was not my blood brother who told Master Max. It was Me. You will not have control of him as I chose him, not you!" Rub'ik would do whatever was needed to fulfill his blood promise to the young scared boy Alex.

Max sat forward and folded his arms on the table. The split half of Alex's brain seemed to be on Alex's side. "Tell me, what is your business? What do you not want us to interfere with?"

Shadow Hunter smiled slyly as he said, "That is for me alone to know shrink! Leave Alex alone as only he and Rosa are under my protection. I will not think twice about teaching you a lesson. Elf release Me and take this body to Hogwarts!" His first target was the guard known as Brennan Dawson. That man was at the school as was His soon to be Phoenix Wolf. Shadow Hunter inwardly check on the now sleeping Alex. Enforcer had told him to do anything he had to in order to fulfill his first assignment. The boy Alex was weak but easy to bring around to his way of thinking. Shadow Hunter would need to remove Telk from the picture but his Rosa would not even consider Alex until Telk was no longer around. The sleeping chamber had taken him weeks to recreate in Alex's mind. The boy would be in the chamber as he was now and Shadow Hunter would play.

"I plan on you going to Hogwarts very soon, but Alex will not be allowed anywhere other than the observation chamber as long as we have questions about your agenda. He will be retested and hopefully put back on the school rolls very soon. Hogwarts is not like most of the Magical schools because the people there care. They are family and fiercely protect their own. Try any tricks and I will get permission to do a level seven mind dive. You will be sent away. I do hope we understand each other. Now tell me what your business is at Hogwarts."

Shadow Hunter stared at the shrink as he said, "So far the young ones are not being requested. Only one is of concern to me. Only one must be delivered to Enforcer as a test of my loyalty." His business with Telk was personal and not even known to Enforcer at least yet.

Max leaned a little closer. "Who is the one of concern?"

Shadow Hunter chuckled as he said, "Why should I tell you? So you protect him! I think not. He is a big boy. Or do you think a child can take him? Leave things alone shrink cause you only will like all humans make matters worse for the boy and his friends..." This shrink and the elf were possible problems but he would not fail. The one known as Brennan Dawson was his target and Shadow Hunter liked being an entity too much to fail in retrieving him for his creator the Enforcer.

Silently Max asked Rub'ik if he was picking up a name of the boys target. Max knew it was not one of the children. The adults have enough backup worked out between themselves to cover for danger from the child. Alex would not be trusted so the adults would not follow him anywhere unless they were setting a trap. Max relaxed back in his chair. It was time to go to the school. Brennan would have security set up by now. Silvia would have had time to talk with the Core. Lance would have made setting up the observation chamber one of his first duties. It was time to see if they could learn more about the Clan through the boy.

Rub'ik nodded as he thought, "The man setting up the security. Do you want me to switch them. He has a chamber in Alex's mind. Want me to destroy it? After I get my blood brother out of it of course. This thing I like not at all. Can I destroy him Master Max?" Rub'ik hated this Shadow thing and the control it seemed to have over his young charge.

Max rubbed the back of his neck. Brennan was the new target of the Clan. The man would have to be kept from jumping at the idea of visiting the MacIntosh castle. Brennan would like nothing better than having a chance of getting his hands around someone's neck there, preferably one of the brothers. He thought to Rub'ik, "Switch them and hold the second part in the chamber. Do not distroy the chamber though. The one there will have to be studied and I want Martin in on that one. Alex needs to be kept out so he can get back into the school. Switch them now and we will leave as soon as I varify the others have had time to set up their parts in this." To the second part of Alex's brain he said, "Remember what is about to happen. You are still a child. Learn." Max watched as the facial expression on Alex changed very slightly. He would have to let the others know of the "tell".

Alex was unsure of his surroundings and looked inward for his inner voice. He felt nothing. He looked at the door and around the room as if he was a scared rabbit. His eyes fell on Rub'ik as his nightmares came back. Saying in a panic, "Rosa. Please I need my inner voice. I can't hurt the Core by turning Brennan over to uncle Markus but if I don't then Christmas Eve Rosa will be forced to watch as her father and Charitee are feed to the feeders..." Alex needed this inner being who had promised to deal with the assignments and insure Alex never remembered setting those that the Enforcer wanted up. Alex eyes darted back and forth begging for them to help him find the one who was smarter and braver than he was.

Max reached out and touched the boys arm, drawing the youngsters eyes to his. "It is alright Alex. He has not left he is just in the place you were in while he talked with us. You have a lot of people now who are going to help protect you. We can protect Charitee and Rosa's father. A watch has already been placed on Rosa. Now are you ready to go back to school?" Max looked at Rub'ik and mentally said, "Stay with him at all times and keep the other one in the chamber. Alex is to stay out unless myself, Lance, Richard or Tarik say the change is to take place. Understood my little friend?"

Rub'ik nodded but said nothing. He watched his charge as the boy's eyes showed terror then Alex slightly smiled as he asked, "No please release him. You don't understand, I need him. Uncle Markus will not be pleased if I don't..." He was unsure what would happen if he refused. Alex felt childish as he realized he was free. "I am going to Hogwarts and soon the Core will be told about Liam." The pain hit without warning,

Max grabbed both of Alex's wrist. "Rub'ik can you do anything about the pain. It is a mechanism the brainwashers are using to control the boys thoughts. Can you block it?"

Rub'ik again nodded. He had a hunch and chose to place a shield around the chamber. He watched as Alex's pain lessen and then disappeared totally. He said hoping Max would understand, "Placed a shield around chamber. How can he cause Master Alex so such pain from there? I understand not how this could be?"

"There Alex feel better. I want you to go and lie down for about 10 minutes while I check with everyone." Max watched the smiling boy head for the bed. He turned and quietly explained to Rub'ik. "The boy has been conditioned to feel the pain when he thinks certain thoughts. The conditioning is part of the other piece of his brain pattern. Technically the part of him that is in the chamber is the part feeling the pain. When that part is blocked from joining with Alex then the pain is blocked. Does that make sense?"

Alex slowly nodded as Rub'ik helped him to the bed. The elf whispered, "I will help you get a peaceful sleep, if you would like?" As Alex pleaded with him concerning his inner voice, Rub'ik placed his hand on the boy's head and helped the boy sleep.

Then the elf went to Max and asked, "How can young master Alex trust that thing? This I understand not? Don't he understand how that thing is controlling him, using him? How could that thing be so bad when Master Alex is so innocent?" He had many questions and so little time.

"The machine which was used on the boy tore part of his personality from him and fashioned it into another set of thoughts. Talk with your brother Darik and you will understand. He has seen the machine work and has had to help counteract some of the consequences. It is basically a torture device to condition the subject to believe in whatever the user wants. They have apparently discovered, with children it easier to divide the personality. The part in the chamber is part of Alex. Just stay with him. Don't ever leave unless you have another elf you trust to watch over him. Your blood runs through his veins and his runs through your. You are forever connected." Max did not know how to explain it any different. He would talk with Darik about teaching some of the elves about the machine.

Max closed his eyes and let his mind float. He joined with Brennan and Lance for a moment to make sure they had been able to establish their parts. Looking over to the boy he said quietly, "Let him sleep for half an hour then we leave. We will be taking him to the observation room in the Hospital at Hogwarts. Do you need any time to see or talk with anyone before going there?"

Rub'ik smiled gazing at the young one. He would talk with his wiser older brother Dar'ik later about this machine the humans were afraid of. His charge was his responsibility and he planned on not failing. He got up as he mentally signaled the other elves in the house. The boy needed another blood link and now might be the best time.

Rub'ik made his way to the bed as elves walked in and circled Rub'ik and the boy Alex. Rub'ik touched the boys forehead to make sure he was going to stay asleep. He didn't want to scare the young human. He took a sharp knife from his boot and cut the palm of his hand. Then he did the same thing with Alex's. Making sure the blood was flowing, Rub'ik held out his hand. Alex's was placed in his and an elf bound their hands together with a clean "Cloth of Joining". Rub'ik looked up at the elf binding their hands. He smiled as he recognized his older brother Dar'ik.

Silvia looked at the piece of paper which had been delivered by an elf. They were bringing Alex to the school. He would be in the medical wing but he would be on the grounds. She hurried off to tell the others so they could all say hello to him.
CLOSED


(OOC: this is a combined thread by Barbie and Jane, we hope you enjoy it. The second part will be in the medical wing of Hogwarts.)