Chapter 5 – Tea, Crumpets, and Torture

I don't know whether I was still living or on my way to the Pearly Gates to see St. Peter, when a shrill ring broke the racket around me, which I'd mushed with all the other things in the back of my mind.

The ring was suddenly silenced and the Fashionista turned a baleful eye at me. I could only see a blur before me, sweat running in my eyes.

"Well, pooh," The Fashionista pouted. "Just when it was getting interesting. Oh well Tea Time." Carelessly he tossed the branding iron back in the fire bucket and took a rag to his semi sooty hands.

Becky wasn't sure she had heard Adam right but was thankful he had stopped hurting Mike. "Adam - T-t-t-ea time?"

With a disbelieving glare, he turned toward the trembling lithe visage bound to the wall. "Surely you are joking! And you call yourself a thespian. Scoffing at such a fine tradition. Your SAG card should be snipped!" and with that he went over to speak with a guard in the corner.

A breath of relief escaped my lips. Perhaps this would serve as the distraction necessary for the Pack to get us out of here.

I'd felt that I'd made contact with somebody, but couldn't tell who or how it happened.

The pain still lingered, despite the Fashionista ceasing his torture regiment. All through this, my mind had held on to one fleeting thought, "escape." Maybe that was what helped me make contact. Silently, I began to pray. If nothing else, I'd known, God had heard me.

We appeared out of the ether like a horde of demons with Satan himself in the lead. "Ty; Fuzzy, we're here what's the next stage of the game? Can you get a sense of Sabre?"

Fuzzy said I've found him, he's below; to which Ty repeated aloud.

The mutt jumped to the floor and led the way through the litter of junk in the abandoned club.

"We must hurry," Ty said, "I sense that Mike may not have much time. His mind is growing weak."

Cana tried to push past me towards the front door and I stopped him with a steel grip on his arm. "Whoa there cowboy. We ain't going through the front door. Every time we try the main entrance there is trouble. Ty is there another way into this joint?"

The Shaman raised his hands, extending his vision. He replied, "There is a rear entrance, which we stand a better chance of getting in undetected. It leads more directly to the cellar."

With a smirk, Cana partially redeeming himself. "That entrance wouldn't happen to be the doors leading down to the wine cellar?"

A small smile cracked Ty's face, "Well done, pup."

"Fuzzy my four footed furball, lead on." I said. Time was starting to be a factor and I could feel a prickling in my mind. I knew it was something more and if I thought on it, it turned into more of an ICEPICK DRIVING INTO MY SKULL!!!

Hmm...must switch to decaf. Following the shadow around the building, we pulled back in time to avoid the guards on the door.

“Ty, I need a jump point into the cellar.”

"Hold a moment. I'll find the position of the guards." He performed the trick again, and replied, "There is a corner before the cellar. I can only see boxes, no guards there. The door is just around that corner with a couple of guards. There are more inside the cellar, though."

"Okay..." thinking as quick as I could. "Here's the plan, we just need to get inside without setting them off. Cana have you got it in you to just send the energy without the light?"

"I think so, never done it before, but I'll try." Cana said.

"Good. Ty be ready with some voodoo. Just to be on the safe side, Fuzzy and I will jump in with you but with our eyes closed till you give the all clear." I received nods from the whole team and in a minute we were inside with only a broken bottle of wine outside of the plan. This was good.

Spreading out I found the entrance to a set of stairs leading down into a rather nice set of castle like hallways

Cana saw the light fixture hanging from the ceiling and aimed a bolt at it. Concentrating hard, he flung the energy with a quick snap, breaking the light without a flash.

"Nicely done pup." Leading on (thankful we had night vision technology in our visors), we checked the rooms as we went until the thought struck me. "Fuzzy, why are we searching? I hate to treat you like a common dog, but find him." And with that he was off.

Two floors down, The Fashionista took a manacled Ms. Woods by the hand and lead her to the table with the urn and crumpet and fine china place settings. The gold cloth was highlighted by the fire beside the prisoner.

Settling in, the gentleman he was began to regally serve the theatrical princess before him.

One couldn't help but admire the flourish to which the Mastermind of Manipulation served her, pointedly ignoring JT and myself.

JT felt like his arms had been held in the fire they had been so asleep and though the pain in his arms was massive, it was nothing compared to what was in his heart. What had happened to him? Why had he stayed away? Where was the man he had loved?

I felt a prickle down the back of my neck, like some one trickled ice water down it. Not unwelcome though, as I could feel a familiar presence somewhere nearby. Despite the lingering pain, I tried to reach it with my mind.

A familiar voice said, Don’t speak, young pup.

Fuzzy? I asked, weakly, Is that you?

We're coming, young pup, hold on a moment.

The crumpets were just flaky to the point of perfection but they were like ash in her mouth. Repulsed by the loathsome creature before her, her hands trembled as she picked up the china to sip. Over Adam's left shoulder something changed in Mike's demeanor and she felt her hand steady and as an explosion rocked above them shattering the moment, the tea cups fell from the surprised hands to shatter on the stone floor.

Fuzzy led the pack into the torture chamber, teeth bared, a growl coming from deep in his throat.

I lifted my head, shaking it to get the hair out of my eyes. I saw my four-footed brother followed by the rest of the Pack ready for the attack.

We had finally gotten to our friends after shooting our way through a war zone. After Fuzzy took off it wasn't long before we were involved in a full fledged fight for our lives as guards poured into the corridors. Finally after being pinned down in the hallway, I had had enough. These people would not win. Period. Popping back to the den, I grabbed hold of Darren as he finished buckling his gear into place and as he yelped, Moentran took form and unleashed his arsenal on the waiting goons. I knew some were probably fatally wounded but that wasn't my problem. Reaching the room where the hostages were, we broke into a sight that was beyond description.

Becky and the Fashionista having tea! My mind could barely wrap around it. Oh Jesus! There was Mike. He looked like death had staked a claim. I couldn't see JT but I did see a mass of more guards. In the span of a heartbeat I had taken it all in. In the next I was flipping like an Olympic diver to the floor below and felt the presence of Fuzzy land by my side.

Like a little wench, the Fashionista stood up with a squeal. "GET THEM! GET THEM!!!"

Ty dropped into the room like a bomb, with Cana on his heels. The Fashionista's thugs bolted for them, and I could see Ty's aura flash red. Cana tossed a bolt of energy at one while Ty put a fist into the closest man's face.

Fuzzy bolted, springing, and took down a third; claws tearing through the silk shirt like a hot knife through butter. The goons that had been dispatched, lay crumpled on the floor and as they were about to start for the director and the proprietor, a scream broke.

I was after The Fashionista. One look at JT and Mike was all it took to get him on my permanent list, but seeing my lovely Becky in chains was too much and he could see the murder in my eyes. Booking it like the hounds of hell themselves were after him, his set his goons after on us and left by the ever present secret passage.

The furor was too much and as the first two reached me, I snuffed the goons like the Fashionista snuffed a cigarette. A third went down and I felt a hand turn me around. Cana staggered a moment before the blood lust left my eyes. Shaking his head to indicate he was ok, I went up to Mike who was being supported by the chains and Ty went for the rope. He opened his mouth but my fist stopped Mike's words. Cana was on me and so was Becky restraining me after the second punch landed. "YOU BASTARD! HOW COULD YOU!?!?"

"What?" I croaked, weakly, a fresh line of blood dribbling from the corner of my mouth. My mind was in no condition to fathom what Night had just done, let alone contemplate it.

"TO-NIGHTWOLF "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!? That' -uh uh a hostage!" Cana was floored.

Something in me had come loose. I found myself forearming the wall and shaking. Mike had sent for help but the fury of the pain being inflicted on me had just overwhelmed me. WHY?

Still facing the wall, I heard Mike groan as Ty cut him loose and Cana worked on the bonds holding JT and Becky. My vision was swimming until I realized my arm was trembling. I heard Ty say something but all I caught we get back to base. Pulling it together, I motioned for everyone to gather round.

"Mr. Tepnapa, Slagenweit, Ms. Woods. We are gonna take you back to our base for medical treatment and then return you to the resort. We need you to either agree to be blindfolded while you are there or agree to secrecy - your pick."

"Blindfold's okay." I said, in a whisper.

I agreed only for appearance.

I had to keep my face calm. Mike was still in my head and I was about to freak.

They all agreed to blindfolds. "Nightwolf to Base: We have three innocents inbound. Please have the med ward ready ASAP." I heard Calley respond affirmatively and I looked the group over. "Ms. Woods I'm sorry but at this point I can only take two at a time. I believe the boys need more attention than yourself. If you will be ok, then I will leave you in the very capable hands of my colleagues?”

"Of course, please. Hurry Mike has been stabbed and I know JT was worked over pretty good too." I knew I loved Becky for a reason. I could tell she was frightened and hurt, but her mastery of the art of acting shown through in the performance before me. Giving her as big a smile I could, the pack draped the arms of JT and Mike over my shoulders and in an instant; I was in the infirmary handing them off to the wolf pack. I paused a second to take in the site of the new wolf and then I was gone again.

The blindfold came off to the sight of the Infirmary, Larentia and Calley there. They helped us back to a bed, and put JT in. I just lay there on top of the sheets, wondering what it all meant. Why had Night flown off the handle back there?

Popping back into existence probably wasn't a good thing to do to Becky if the scream was any indication, but taking her hand and reaching down to grab Fuzzy's ear, I tucked them in close and popped back to the infirmary. And as I had hoped, Fuzzy immediately went for Mike and settled down beside him on the bed while Larentia worked. "Easy Becky. Here is the bed. JT is on your right and Mike is on your left. Ms. C. is now holding your right hand and will take care of you until I can return." She gripped my hand that would make a boa constrictor proud. "Please don't leave me. Please." Stroking her hair and whispered in her ear. "Shhhh Becks. I have to go back for the rest of my team. You are gonna be ok. You're safe. I'm gonna take care of you. I promise." And lowering my voice further, "And you know Tobey always keeps his promises." With that she relaxed enough for me to retrieve Cana and Ty-Ohni. Laren was working hard on Mike and Ty went to help her. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and eyes and walked over to begin ministering to my wounded director.

My eyes closed, I felt warmth spread though me, like taking in a breath of summer air at night. Larentia's work, I thought. After all that, I thought, I deserved a moment's peace. Behind my eyes, a swirl of colors and shapes danced, like the visualizations in Media Player with a CD. But slowly they seemed to come into a kind of focus, and what I saw made my heart run cold. For a moment, a brief moment, during that horrible torture, I had not only linked minds with another member of the pack, but with the Fashionista's mind. It'd only been a split second, but I'd saw the fight going on between the Fashionista and Adam, a fight Adam was quickly losing.

The thought made my blood run cold. If we didn't find a way to save Adam, he'd be lost to us. A thought I couldn't bear. I still owed something to JT. Warmth again, and the colors... so peaceful....

I could see the wounds fading from Mike with a glance. I also noticed the hushed conversation Calley was having with the Pup over in the corner. Returning my mind to the task at hand, thankfully the bruises were completely gone from JT's skin. I was working that one pinched nerve in his shoulder that always seemed to give him trouble. It was the least I could do for a friend.

Finally, I felt the energies flow to a stop and wiped some hair back off his forehead. “Mr. Tepnapa, you should be just fine in time for tonight's opening Festivities."

A sigh escaped from him. "I don't know."

"Sir you need to go tonight. You need to be visible if only for a few minutes. After that, I totally understand, if you wish to retire to your cottage for the night. I am sure Ms. Woods won't be far behind on that plan either."

Becky chimed in affirmative from behind us. I am sure his eyes were doing a marathon run back and forth under the blindfold. He was always strong. He would make it through. Although, I had doubts for the Fashionista. As my thoughts clouded over I quickly banished the brewing storm.

"Ms. C.; Larentia are they well enough to travel back to the resort?"

"Yes sir." Laren replied. "All though all three should take it easy."

I opened my eyes to Larentia standing over me. Becky and JT were being helped to their feet by Cana and Ty, who were leading them to the turbo tube network. I sat up and saw Night watching Becky and JT.

I asked, "Are they all right?"

"Yeah. They're fine. But I need to take a walk." I said warily.

"Sure," I replied, quietly. He'd taken a few steps forward when I said, louder, "I'm sorry."

"I know" I tossed over my shoulder. I vanished in the doorway before the tears blinded me totally. On the bluff above the resort, I howled the pain from deep within that threatened to tear my heart to pieces into the setting sun.

Somehow, for the third time in recent memory, I sensed another's mind, and the pain I'd felt was worse than any the Fashionista had inflicted on me. The resolution, I knew, would come once we had the Fashionista in our grip and found a way to free our friend trapped within. With the coming Festival, and his kidnapping plans thwarted, I knew that one way or another, the Fashionista would make an appearance tomorrow evening.