Sorceress' Scheme

"Pull in here," Thomas ordered, and Micky did so. He could see that Jenny had parked his little blue convertible at this beach as well.

"Where are they?" Micky asked as he parked the car. It was dark and he couldn't see anything.

"Over here!" he heard a voice call, and in the distance he could see two small lights and next to them, people.

"Jen! Fiona!" Micky called and ran towards them. They were holding torches, and Fiona handed one to him.

"You feel it, too?" Thomas asked Fiona. She nodded.

"Whoever our enemy is, she's here," she replied.

Micky noticed then that Thomas didn't take a torch. Instead he took a step away from the group. "Then I'll find her," he decided, clutching the stone around his neck.

Jenny and Micky exchanged glances.

Thomas walked along the beach, not focusing on the other three that stood behind him, watching.

'I'm here,' he sent to all who might hear. 'I'm here and I'm ready.'

The cave was dark and silent, but somewhere a thin voice could be heard. Mike heard it, Peter heard it, Davy heard it. And yes, even Mari heard it.

She was sitting in a chair in her private chambers, apart from the other three prisoners when she heard the voice.

A slow smile spread across her face and she rose from her chair. "He's here," she said. Then, raising her arms above her head, she disappeared from the cave in a flash of light.

The beach appeared empty. Micky looked around him, and whispered to Fiona. "Do you think she heard?" he asked.

The torch he was holding blew out suddenly. Jenny and Fiona's torches did, too. Fiona smiled somewhat sarcastically, though no one could see her now, in the dark. "I'd take that as a yes," she replied to Micky.

It was a clear night, but lightning began to flash and the sky cackled with bolts of electricity. A cool wind blew across the beach sharply and then turned and blew the other way. Micky and Jenny exchanged glances, and he clasped her hand tightly.

The lightning hit the ground in front of Thomas and he appeared to light up. Micky found himself thinking that he was glad they had convinced Nicole not to come. She would not have liked to witness this.

After a moment, though, it was apparent that the light was only in front of Thomas, not coming from him. It appeared to take shape in the form of a human body. Electricity cackled all around, but Thomas held his ground.

The form took shape then. It was a woman dressed in a red velvet dress, with long dark hair flowing around her. Micky recognized her face immediately.

"You!" he gasped, and beside him heard Fiona gasp at the same time.

Mari ignored the three spectators, however, and focused only on Thomas.

"So," she stated in a deceptively sweet voice. "You found me."

Thomas wasn't fooled. He stared back at her, not appearing afraid. "Where are they?" he asked, getting right down to the point.

"They are here," she replied.

Thomas narrowed his eyes. "Prove it," he demanded.

"I prove nothing to you, little boy," she replied. "You will do as I ask and they will be released. You fail to comply and they will remain."

Thomas sighed slightly. "What is it you want?" he asked.

Mari smiled then the same sinister smile she had smiled when she'd heard him approach. "You, little boy," she replied.

There was a gasp from the spectators. Jenny and Micky were surprised. Fiona was not.

Mari then noticed them. Her eyes passed quickly over Jenny and Micky and focused on Fiona.

She laughed then. "I see you've brought friends," she said to Thomas. "Do you expect them to help you?"

Thomas wasn't sure how to answer at first. "They already are," he replied after a moment. "They give me love and support."

Mari laughed again. "Love and support," she snarled mockingly. "Would they give you love and support if they knew your destiny was to destroy an entire civilization?"

Thomas didn't falter. "They know my destiny is to save one," he replied. "To save both."

Mari snorted slightly. "So you assume," she replied. "But your theory is flawed. "

"Flawed how?" he asked.

Mari took a step around him and closely examined the spectators. He turned and watched her.

"You will have to deal with me first," she told him.

"I'm not afraid of you," Thomas replied.

"You don't know what I can do, little boy," she informed him, eyes narrowing. "Allow me to demonstrate."

She raised an arm towards the spectators and a beam of red light shot from her fingers. Micky and Fiona both dived out of the way, but the beam hit Jenny right in the chest.

"No!" Thomas heard Micky shout, and he jumped up right away. Fiona held him back, trying to stop him.

"Stay away," she ordered. "She can handle herself."

The beam continued shooting into Jenny, and Mari was grinning now, obviously taking pleasure in what she was doing. "Do you see?" she asked Thomas. "Do you see what I can do to you and your friends?"

Thomas didn't reply. He simply stared. He didn't know what to do. Surely his own powers were not strong enough to stop her, but he couldn't just sit and watch Jenny get hurt.

Before he could act or think any further, however, The beam stopped, and a giant wave of water came rushing straight at Mari. Thomas barely had time to get out of the way before the water rushed over Mari, leaving her bubbling and sputtering for air.

"What on earth?" Micky gasped. Fiona silenced him.

"Just watch," she told him.

Mari was equally surprised. She rose into the air then, fire in her eyes and her dark hair whirling around her like a tornado. "You dare!" she shrieked. But her shout was not directed at Thomas.

Jenny stood up then, and Thomas realized then that she must have brought the wave. He stared at her for a moment, confused.

But there was no time for explanation. Mari shot another red beam towards Jenny, and this time the water that shot back was more controlled, like a super powered water gun. Thomas stared in astonishment.

Before Mari could recover to fire another beam, Jenny shot one of her own. Similar to the water gun, but this time a blast of fire shot at Mari.

Mari barely had time to recover long enough to shoot the red beam back in her direction. The burst of fire and the red beam of energy met in mid air, sending sparks of energy and fire out into the sand.

Mari didn't appear very tired, but Thomas could see that she was wearing out. Sweat appeared on her forehead and the beam almost wavered. Jenny was also tiring, and he realized he'd better step in before one of them got hurt.

It was hard work, but he focused on the red beam of energy and managed to shove it off course telekinetically. It was only by an inch, but it was enough so that the burst of flame could reach Mari.

Fire singed the edge of her hair, and she began to waver, falling back towards the ground.

"Stop!" Thomas shouted, and Jenny obediently broke off the blast, tired as well. She panted slightly.

"What for?" she asked.

"She's the only one who knows where they are," he reminded her. "And besides, I don't want to kill her."

Jenny shrugged. "Okay," she replied, sitting down again on the beach.

"What makes you think she's going to tell you where they are?" Micky spoke up, stammering slightly. He was still in shock.

"Oh, she's not going to tell me," Thomas replied. "She's going to take me there."

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