I had almost reached the stairs to the living quarters when I realized all I had on was Greg’s button down shirt, which looked quite large on me, and decided I needed to go back to the dressing room for some real clothes. There were still a few girls in the dressing area, waiting to go out and do their thing. I blushed yet again at the thought of what I’d just done. Taking a deep breath, I pulled myself together a bit more and headed straight over to my things. Unzipping the bag I’d brought with me I rummaged through its contents. Finally finding what I wanted, I pulled them out. No time was taken in stepping into the spare pair of white panties I’d brought with me, or in pulling on the thick dark grey woollen socks to keep my feet warm. Reaching down to take the rest of my clothes out, I was forced to stop in mid-motion as a sharp pain raced through my head. I really did need to lie down. Getting dressed could wait. Slipping out of the dressing room I headed back towards the steps that led down into the bowels of the Circus. I took them steadily, going slowly in a vain attempt to cease any further pain in my head. After what seemed like an eternity, I got to the bottom. The cold stone square of a chamber looked more like a storage room tonight, with crates littering it. Lucky for me the bottom door was ajar so I’d manage to easily slip through into the living room. The bedrooms were down a hall on the opposite side of the room. I’d gotten just over half way when another splitting pain raked my brain. I blindly groped for something to steady myself on. My hand hit a solid object onto which my fingers curled round and dug into. My other hand reached up involuntarily to cradle my skull. The pounding slowly receded, enabling me to loosen my grip on a spare one of Jean-Claude’s cushions. Straightening up I wondered just what it was that was going on with me? I’d had headaches before, but never this bad. Continuing on my way, even though I still felt funny, I reached out for the door to the first room I came across. Taking a step through the door was apparently the wrong thing to do. I stood there motionless as the room spun around me. Clutching onto the doorknob I took big, gulping breaths. I was in a state of panic. I didn’t know what was happening. The room was spinning, my vision was going hazy. I was scared…and all alone. Squinting, I tried to focus on a large crate, deciding that if I could just reach it and sit down I would be able to calm down enough for my body to right whatever was wrong. I got a few shaky steps away from the door before I collapsed. As the dark pit of unconsciousness swirled around me I distinctly heard a male voice saying, “It won’t be long now my pretty one.” The next thing I knew I was vaguely aware of two men standing over me. Peeking out from behind my lashes I wearily identified them as Dathan and Baal. Dathan was speaking. “Kash said to keep an eye on her…I didn’t get a chance to talk to Luce…he’s busy anyways. Besides I don’t know who she belong to and I knew you’d been out with her…” “What do you propose to do with her?” Baal questioned. “Hell if I know…Kash said Edward found her unconscious on the floor…she said to keep her safe…said she’d send someone else with us too, but he hasn’t turned up…” Dathan’s words faded out as I once again slipped into unconsciousness. Feeling exhausted, I swam up through the heavy, fog filled layers of consciousness. It felt like hands were gripping my ankles and trying to pull me back down. I had to fight my way out of their hold to reach the surface. It was a difficult struggle but eventually voices started to filter through to me. I stirred. While I was out someone had placed me the full length of a large black leather couch, I was covered by a green/beige/black plaid throw. My head rested on a comfortably overstuffed cushion. I could feel heat hitting my body in delicious waves. The couch was positioned right in front of a large open fireplace. It was all very comfortable and cozy…there was just one problem, I had no idea where I was. A hand landed on my clammy forehead, making me visibly jump. Pushing myself up into a sitting position I batted the hand away, starting to cry in my panic. Dathan tried to calm me down but to no avail. Then Baal said something and I recognized his voice. Looking up I located him and threw my arms around him, calling his name. He may have been reluctant to go out with me, but Kash had told me the only reason he was was because he wasn’t a social creature and I’d been his first date in at least a couple of centuries. Besides, he didn’t like to leave his implements of torture. It slightly surprised me when his hand started to rub my back. My face was buried in the Grand Torture’s chest and I was hanging onto him like my life depended on it. He was the only familiar thing to me in a foreign place. Then calming down a little, remembering Baal was a demon, I spontaneously said, “You can’t take my soul.” To which Dathan replied, “We’re not after your soul. Kash wouldn’t like that, which would infuriate Luce.” Baal added, “Besides, maybe we want to keep you…” Then carrying on like he’d never said it, “You passed out so we brought you here.” “Oh…where is here?” I questioned. “Hell,” was his reply, “they tried waking you, but couldn’t so we brought you here. You’ve been here all night.” Turning to Baal, Dathan said, “Do you think it’s safe to get Luce now?” I wasn’t all that interested in the answer, I was too busy detaching myself from Baal and looking around the magnificent apartment. I hadn’t noticed Dathan pop out but he must have as he and Luce materialized in the middle of the room. Shocked, I just gapped at them. Luce came over to me and said, “Dathan said he couldn’t revive you… Are you ok?” Still a little weak, I nodded my head, “I had a really bad headache so I went to lie down but everything started to spin and then a voice echoed in my head that it wouldn’t be long…” He traded looks with Dathan and said, “Take her back to the Circus.” Dathan nodded and came over to me. I repeated, “You can’t have my soul.” Luce’s reply was, “If Or’Gandry takes you over, me stealing your soul will be the least of your worries.” Dathan put a hand on my arm and I flinched away. Who wants to be touched by the Devil? After explaining that he needed to touch me to transport us back to the Circus and getting Baal’s reassurance, I allowed him to and within no time we were in the company of, Jean-Claude, Anita, Richard, Asher, Tamara, Gigs, Kash, Kylie and Ramses. Through the door came Micah and a frantically worried Greg, who smothered me with kisses. “Baby, I was so worried about you.” Turning to Luce he said, “Thank whoever it was for taking care of my girl.” “I’m fine.” I told him, to be contradicted by Gigs, “You’re not fine at all. Or’Gandry has an even stronger hold over you than we first feared. The sooner you let the banshee ward you the better for all of us.” Seeing the scared look on my face Tamara said, “When was the last time you ate?” I shook my head, “Yesterday, but I don’t want to. I’m not hungry.” As if on cue my stomach rumbled. “Esther, you have to eat. You must keep your strength up if you’re to fight Or’Gandry.” Gigs scolded and went off to prepare something for me to eat. Huddled in Greg’s arms as he fussed over me I asked Kash what she thought the warding would involve. “Uhm…well I’ve never had one done to me…but I’d bet…that pain…and blood will probably play a part.” “Whose blood?” I asked, crossing my fingers and hoping that it wasn’t mine. “Uhm…yours will definitely be required…maybe not a lot…but some…probably some of the banshee’s as well…I’d bet on a slice across the palm at the very least though…well I guess it’s possible that the banshee would require you to cut above your chakra points…but I rather doubt it…of course your aura will have to be cleaned first…but that’s not usually painful…however Or’Gandry obviously has one foot in the door…that means he must be connecting to you somehow…and breaking that kind of connection is typically painful…very, very painful…depending on the strength of the connection…it’s kinda like the one that JC, Anita and RAZ have…only less for the moment.” Well that reassured me! I clung onto Greg even tighter than before. Gigs brought my food in. When she noticed tears in my eyes she said, “Esther. A woman’s body is made to endure pain. That’s why we’re the ones who go through labor and delivery. This can’t be much worse than that. And just think…when it’s done you won’t unwillingly become a weapon this council member can use against those you love…against Greg.” That hit home. “It does sound a little scary, but you can do this. I know you can. We’ll be right there with you all the way.” With that, I allowed Greg to feed me. When I was done Jean-Claude showed us to a guest room and stayed long enough to see Greg settle me down in the bed. It was only now that we were alone, that I remembered I was still just wearing Greg’s shirt, my panties and thick socks. I blushed at the realization, but snuggled into Greg’s hold as soon as he touched me, making me forget anything that was on my mind. Smoothing my hair back he whispered, “Shh now baby, just rest. Try to get some sleep.” It didn’t take long before I was fast asleep in his secure embrace. As the next few days unfolded I found out that Greg wouldn’t be allowed to stay with me during the warding. I also found out that if I ran away, Tam and Kash were both willing to kill me, since if the ouncil member took me over, which would be inevitable without the warding and further training from Marianne, then he’d use my body and voice to cause a great deal of pain and destruction to all my friends. I got so upset and scared about everything that Kash eventually said, “It may be painful but it won’t go on and on for an eternity. Are you’re willing to save yourself a little pain now…only to later watch Or’Gandry go after your friends and loved ones slaughtering them one by one in manners you can’t possibly imagine…watching him use YOUR body to lap up every drop spilled…hearing your own voice laughing at the pain of others…taunting those you love…watching your own hands wield the whips used to break the spirits of friends and enemies alike? Are you’re willing to do that…’cause that is what WILL happen…the warding is the only way to prevent that…but hey if you’d rather watch him use you to exact revenge on the world at large, and feed his blood lust…well…we can always kill you both…that IS the only other option.” “Well I wasn’t going to mention the possibility of having to kill her, Kash…at least until it became clear that the hysterics weren’t going to stop. We’re trying to calm the girl down and get her to cooperate…not terrorize her.” Tam turned to me, “But…since Kash brought it up. Esther, if you REFUSE to cooperate in the warding, which is REALLY the best path to take, then I WILL kill you before I will let you be used to harm any of us. I won’t enjoy doing it, but I won’t hesitate either. I have my daughter’s safety to think of as well as the safety of Gigs’ children.” Kash chipped in with, “That’s not necessary…I’d consider it a mercy killing…’cause that’s a fate I wouldn’t wish even on my worst enemy.” In an almost inaudible voice I said, “I think I’m gonna be sick.” With that I made a dash for the bathroom. As I retched I felt someone placing a cool, damp washcloth on the back of my neck, and a hand holding my forehead, to support me. Tam’s voice rang out, “Calm down…nobody WANTS to kill you, silly. Just because I said I would if it came down to it, doesn’t mean I WANT to…I DON’T.” She started to hum to me softly while rubbing my back soothingly. Gradually my body relaxed and I could think clearly. I had to go through with the warding, I had no choice. At least a suitable substitute had been made for Greg’s life. The banshee having a soul other than his made the thought of the ritual a little easier to handle. I was scared about all the pain involved in the ceremony, but I wasn’t ready to die and I wasn’t willing to sacrifice my friends. The idea that someone was going to purposefully cut me open with a knife made me want to run. Then Jean-Claude talked to me, “Esther, look at me…you will be strong…you will cooperate in the warding without fear…” I could see a sad look flickering through his eyes as he continued. “and once you are warded, you will be free of my influences as well. You are MINE Esther, but I will give you up to save you…to save us all. Or’Gandry must NOT be allowed to use you, cherie.” His mesmerizing midnight blue eyes held no power over me this time and his words upset me. I didn’t want to be rid of him. I like him being in my head, being able to control me, of course I wouldn’t admit that to him. Having to rid me of Jean-Claude would also surely make the warding more painful for me. So the idea of running away from St. Louis was planted in my mind. A little push and I’d be off, terrified.