“The Damascus mystery has been a legend in the Legacy for centuries. It ranks up there with the Holy Grail and the Ark of the Covenant.”

Derek Raynes looked around the table in the control room slowly. All of his House members were present, most of the Queen’s Court Raiders top members and Devan MacShayne. Only William Sloan was absent.

“Keep things on a basic level that mere mercenaries can understand, Derek.” Kelly Robinson encouraged.

Spreading files around, Derek went on grimly. “Simply, it’s said that Moses brought more down from the mountain than just the stone tablets of 10 commandments. It was rumored that he also brought down with him a very complex but complete plan of the world’s future.

“Knowing how dangerous this item could be if it fell into the wrong hands, it’s believed that Moses hid this plan somewhere.”

“Somewhere as in where?” Alex asked, skimming the file and understanding Sloan’s concerns.

Derek shrugged. “Basically, the physical door is in a cave in Syria.”

“Physical door?” Kelly repeated, eyeing Devan who was muttering under his breath. “Do I want to ask what’s behind this ‘physical’ door?”

“A Nether realm of unbelievable evil energy and power.” The young warlock stared at Derek. “If anyone opens that door, ignoring the fact of what could happen if those plans fell into the wrong hands, the power that would be unleashed is too terrible to imagine. My brothers will freak over this.”

Nick was staring at a small, ornately carved wooden box with a heavy chain and lock on it that was sitting in the middle of the table. “So, the key to this door is supposed to be in this box?”

“The keys and the exact spell to open the door, yes.” Derek sighed, steepling his fingers. “My father originally found the chest and the door 5 years before his death. If anyone had all the components to open the door then they would control a very dangerous thing.”

“And that’s what whoever Joe is working for wants.” Phillip sighed. “It’s a no-win situation. If we give this to him, the world could be destroyed but if we don’t…” he left the rest unsaid.

Everyone there knew what the alternative was. If Joe Boyle and his backers didn’t get the chest then Morgan’s life was forfeit.

“Giving this to them will break several large rules and could bring this House down in ruin.” Derek spoke grimly, seeing Nick look at him. “The Legacy has been in my family for centuries so the thought of ruining this House is a grave concern.”

Several eyes all shifted to watch Nick, knowing how he could possibly react.

“So let me take the fall.” The ex-SEAL spoke up, spreading his hands. “Tell the brass or whoever that I went on my own against your orders, took the box, etc. That way, only I’ll be the one on the chopping block.”

“I can’t do that, Nick.” The precept shook his head slowly.

Nick’s eyes flashed and he fought back a combination of anger and panic. “She’s my sister, Derek. I won’t lose her over some set of rules. You said you wouldn’t…”

“Nick.” Derek raised a hand to halt the bitter words, leaning forward in his chair. “I won’t let you take the fall for what will be my decision. Yes, Morgan’s your sister and I’m glad to see you can accept that but she is also like my daughter and if I have to sacrifice everything to save my child then that’s what I’ll do.”

Silence filled the room as Nick processed this, not sure what to say until finally he coughed; sitting back but catching his boss’s eyes with a look of genuine gratitude.

“So, where does he want to do the exchange?” Rachel wanted to know, silently wondering if it would be as easy as all this.

With this, Kelly rolled his eyes. “The one part of the damn world where most of mine have outstanding death warrants on us.” He muttered.

“Joe wants to meet in a very secluded area of the Syrian Desert.” Derek explained, keying a map on the side wall to slide down. “It’s surrounded by caves and cliffs on three sides and the only real way in or out is by helicopter.”

“What’s the setup?” Nick demanded, knowing his father wasn’t going to let them bring an army in. What conditions he lay down?”

Alex looked up to answer, her deep brown eyes grim with concern. “One unarmed chopper, 3 people including the pilot who doesn’t leave the machine.” She stated. “All unarmed.”

Something didn’t sound right and as a former Navy SEAL Nick knew it and pounced.

“What’s the catch?” he demanded.

“Joe dictated who the two people he wanted were to be.” Derek told him, holding the younger man’s eyes then switched to Phillip. “He wants you and Phillip.”

Both young men exchanged glances, both thinking the same thing. “He knows neither of us would try a double cross with Morgan’s life in the balance.” Phillip shook his head. “He’s smart.”

Nick wasn’t so sure about that. In fact, as he looked at that locked box then at his best friend he was totally positive that his father had outplayed his hand.

“What’s the timetable?” he asked, careful to keep his voice normal.

“As much as I want to load the whole plane with people, Joe would know if too many show up so Kelly’s sending a few of his boys along as security. Our Damascus House will supply the helicopter and Pat will fly it.” Derek looked at his watch. “To make the timeframe, you leave in under an hour.”

Considering the time to fly to Syria, allowing for re-fueling Nick knew he’d have the time to do what he’d need to do.

As Rachel insisted on rechecking Phillip before he left, the others all left the control room to handle the prep work but before Nick could leave Derek called out to him.

“Nick, wait a moment.”

Swallowing the rapid burst of dread that the older man had seen through him, Nick stopped and turned.

“Can you handle this?” Derek asked, honestly concerned. “I know having Morgan in this situation is hard on all of us and it’s worse for you but that on top of facing your father. If you can’t then just tell me and….”

“And what, you’ll send someone else?” Nick laughed, relaxing slightly since he’d decided on a course of action. “You know you can’t, Derek. If I don’t go we’re screwed before we start.”

He took a deep breath. “Yeah, I’m scared out of my mind but I can handle it. Once I have her back and hold her for a couple hours then I’ll lose it. But Derek?” he stopped, voice hard. “If he’s put his hands on her or she’s hurt too bad, I’ll kill him.”

“Nick.” Derek started to say but the other man walked out without another word. “Damn.” He swore, sitting back at the table and for the first time let his hands shake.

William Sloan stood in the door, watching. “Do you truly realize what you’ve done?”

“Do you mean, do I realize that I may have just sent two young men I watched grow up to their deaths?” Derek looked up, eyes haunted. “Yes, William. I know that and I can only hope all three of them make it out of this travesty in one piece.”

CHAPTER

“If we’re not back in radio contact with Lee in three hours he has orders to come looking.” Pat Anderson’s voice spoke into the earpieces both Nick Boyle and Phillip Callahan wore.

The plain looking helicopter the New England born merc flew met the conditions that Joe Boyle had laid down. Unarmed and un-armored. Neither made the merc happy but he understood their options were limited.

Of course that didn’t mean the Queen’s Court Raiders were going to totally trust this situation and had, of course, made their own preparations.

“You’ll be back in contact with him, no problem.” Nick assured him, staring out at the desolate landscape. “As soon as you have Morgan, you’re lifting off and getting your ass out of here.”

Phillip turned in his seat to look closely at his friend, considering his words and not liking them. “Nick?”

“We’re cool, Phil.” Nick replied easily, running his hand over the box next to him then into his pocket. “I’m just thinking.”

‘Yeah, that’s what worries me.’ Phillip thought to himself, feeling the helicopter shift in the air and seeing the encampment below them. “Dear Lord.”

The whispered oath made Nick smile grimly as he counted the many tents below them, seeing about 30 tents while ladders scaled the cliffs with people working on them.

“Pop has some busy little bees, doesn’t he?” he murmured as Pat began to land them in a clearing away from the tents that had been marked for them. “Nice of them to tell us where to land too.”

Pat’s eyes were shielded behind mirrored glasses but his voice expressed his concern for this. “It’s far enough to prevent a snatch and grab. Getting out of here is going to be a problem.”

“No, it won’t.” Nick leaned up to squeeze that young mercs shoulder. “I have what he wants and he’s not getting this box until Phillip and I have our girl back.”

The tone worried the second in command of the ‘Raiders but he could only hope Nick’s common sense prevailed over his temper or that Phillip could handle him.

As the two Legacy members stepped from the chopper, a jeep was waiting for them with two grim faced pale white men in tan suits.

The shorter of the two stepped forward, motioning that he had to search them for weapons.

“Geez, he says no weapons, he’s holding my friend and my pal here is priest.” Nick rolled his eyes but consented to the search, having left all his weapons in the plane.

After the search, the men motioned them to the jeep. “We will take you to Mr. Boyle.” The taller one said in heavy English.

“Yeah, can’t wait to see Daddy dearest.” Nick muttered under his breath, hearing Phillip hiss a warning at him.

The ride back to the camp was short but it still gave Nick time to replay his plan in his mind. It all seemed sound. He just had to hope it worked the way he planned, that his father didn’t call his bluff and that Phillip played along when it was time. He regretted not telling his friend but he knew that he would have tried to talk him out of it and Nick had to do this.

As the jeep pulled up to the largest tent, Joe Boyle was just stepping out into the hot sun.

Nick’s whole body went rigid at the sight of his father, eyes glittering as he watched the gaunt man he had grown up loving and despising straightening his shirt as if he had been interrupted.

“Keep it cool.” Phillip whispered urgently, feeling the hate pouring off his friend.

“Nicky!” Joe smiled, seeing the animosity in his son’s eyes but ignoring it. “Glad to see you recovered, ‘Father’.” He spoke to Phillip but his eyes were on the box in Nick’s hands. “Ahh, you brought it.”

As his father went to reach for the box Nick held it out of reach, locking eyes with his father.

“Uh-huh. Not so fast, old man.” He shook his head. “You forget something?”

Joe’s face froze in a hard scowl, reaching for his cigarettes. “The deal was you get the girl when I get that little treasure.”

“Change of plans, Pop.” Nick returned evenly, tucking the box under his arm. “You’re not touching this thing until I see Morgan.”

Phillip was cautious with this change since he knew this could go bad if Joe refused and Nick didn’t back down.

Staring into his grown son’s cold eyes and debating on whether the boy was bluffing. Finally he decided the boy wasn’t going to back down and he spit into the dirt with a curse.

“Inside.” He snapped, jerking back the flap of his tent.

Keeping an eye on his father, Nick handed the box off to Phillip before stepping into the tent.

It wasn’t any cooler inside than out but it was out of the blinding sun. His eyes took a second to adjust to the change in light before he could see inside the tent.

He took in the table filled with well cooked food and beer, a closed chest with a radio on it, a good sized cot but finally his gaze fell on a small huddled form lying on the dirt floor.

“Son of a bitch.” Nick’s oath was violent and short as he quickly dropped to his knees next to his friend.

Morgan Harrison was still bound hand and foot, gagged and blindfolded. Fresh bruises and blood could be seen on her face, while her legs showed the bruises and welts. The same T-shirt she had been wearing the night on Angel Island was torn, allowing the welts and marks to be seen. There was blood, dried and cracked all over.

Fingers shaking, he gently brushed them against her face but felt his temper boil when he heard the soft whimper as she tried to move away, not knowing who was touching her.

“Baby girl.”

Nick fought to keep his voice steady, soft and calm as he quickly reached to remove the blindfold first. He bit his tongue to keep from snarling as he removed the cloth only to see one eye was swelled shut and the other wasn’t much better.

Keeping his touch light, he carefully smoothed her hair back then seen how she was tied.

“Easy, kid. Phil and I are here to take you home.” Nick murmured softly, removing the gag to see her mouth was bleeding from dry split lips. “You bastard. Did you give her any liquid? Food?” he growled behind him.

Joe was standing where he could see everything but it wasn’t the priest that worried him. It was his son. Clearly there was more to this girl than he had first thought.

“When she was nice, sure.” He laughed. “She wasn’t nice very often.”

Morgan’s mind wasn’t clear but Nick’s strong voice registered so she stopped straining against the ropes, allowing her body to go limp from shock and exhaustion. She tried to speak but her throat and mouth were too dry.

Nick glanced over his shoulder at his father. “Cut her loose.”

“You got to see the Ice Princess, kid. When do I get the box?” Joe countered, flicking a knife on his belt.

“You want it then we play this on my terms, Dad.” Nick replied, keeping his hand light as he squeezed the girl’s shoulder. “First rule cut her loose.”

Phillip’s stomach had turned when he seen his friend and thought of what she had endured. Now, Nick’s tone warned him they weren’t out of the woods yet.

“You got guts, Nicky.” Joe laughed in admiration, freeing his knife and tossing it into the dirt next to his son’s knee. “Go ahead. It ain’t likely she’ll go anywhere.”

Keeping his next comment to himself, Nick took the knife and began to carefully slice through the heavy ropes.

“Keep still, Morgan.” He urged softly, feeling the ropes on her ankles loosen and he jerked them off before starting on her wrists. “Sshh, its o-kay now.”

Morgan couldn’t quite hide the tears that tried to come as she felt the bonds slowly come free but then nearly screamed as the pain hit in her shoulders and upper arms from so long of having them held above her.

“Nick, go slow. Her shoulders may be hyper-extended.” Phillip warned, tucking the box tight under his arm and reached for the canteen he’d brought.

“Yeah, I know.” Nick muttered tensely, slowly rubbing her arms as he lowered them and then gently lifted her into his arms. “Sip.” He held the canteen to her lips so she could drink.

After a couple sips of the lukewarm water she slumped back, turning to bury her face against his chest. She just wanted to cling and if she would have had any tears, to sob but right then she just had enough strength to lie in his arms and allow him to soothe her fears.

Knowing time was limited and what he had to do, Nick just wanted some time to hold her since he wasn’t sure if or when he’d get the chance again.

“I love you, baby girl.” He whispered against her hair, shifting slightly so he could press what he removed from his pocket into her hand. “Don’t ever doubt that or how important you are to me.”

Morgan stared up at him with glassy eyes, her fingers clenching what he had given her. “Nick…?” she started to ask when the pressure of being awake and the shock of the injuries made her slip back into darkness.

As she went limp against him, Nick pressed a kiss to her fevered brow then stood up with her in his arms.

“Switch with me, Phil.” He ignored the look his friend was giving him as he carefully handed Morgan to Phillip while taking the box with one hand. “Make sure she gets home safe and take care of her.”

Phillip’s gaze shot from Morgan’s pale, bruised face to Nick’s eyes and knew in a heartbeat what he was doing. “Nick, don’t do…”

“So, you got Derek’s little girl back. Give me my box and we can all go our merry ways.” Joe interrupted, not seeing the importance of the exchange.

Nick turned slowly to face his father. “You’re not touching this damn thing until Phillip has Morgan safely away from here.”

“What?” Joe sputtered in rage. “There is no way in hell anyone is leaving here until I have that in my hands.”

“Oh, you can have it but without the code to that lock you won’t get into it.” Nick grinned, tossing him the box. “I reworked the lock so only I know the code, Dad. Without me, you get squat and if you don’t let my friends leave here now you still get squat.”

The silence was tense as father and son glared at each other until finally Joe snapped out an oath. “They can go.”

“Nick, for God’s sake…” Phillip tried again to talk sense to his friend but Nick just shook his head.

“Take her home to Derek, Phil.” He ran a hand over her hair, forcing the pain in his heart down. “Love her.”

Phillip knew this was a bad idea but also knew he had to get the girl away from this place. All he could do was pray his friend knew what he was doing.

“We’ll be back for you.” He replied quietly, following the same two guards back out to the jeep.

“You know I could kill them and you’d never know.” Joe sneered, leaning on the table.

Nick’s eyes followed the jeep back to the waiting helicopter before looking back at the older man. “No you couldn’t. I’d know and the minute I did you’d lose everything.”

The sound of the helicopter getting softer filled Nick with both relief and fear. Relief that his friends would be safe and fear of what came next.

“Alright, Nicky boy. Give me the key to the lock.” Joe ordered.

“Just pop it, there’s no special lock.” Nick shrugged, snickering. “You’re slipping, Joe.”

Anger glittering but more interested in finally getting his prize, Joe Boyle slowly got the chain off then opened the box with a near awe.

Carefully removing each item, he took out three golden keys, a small amulet and other various artifacts but then frowned as he looked in the box. “The spell. Where’s the paper with the spell?”

“What spell?” Nick blinked blandly.

The box was thrown across the tent as Joe lunged for his son. “The spell to actually open the doorway! Where is it?”

“Gee, Dad. I haven’t a clue.” Nick smiled, shrugging. “Maybe Derek didn’t pack it.”

“Bastard!” Joe snarled, lashing out with a backhanded fist and knocking his son across the tent. “Where is it?”

Nick blinked the stars from his eyes, wiping blood from his mouth as he met the enraged eyes of his father and a part of the child he had been could recall what that look meant.

“I don’t know.” He replied evenly.

Known for his temper and rage fits, Joe Boyle lost his cool and by the time he had regained some control his son was laying unconscious at his feet.

“Get me Randolph!” he shouted out the tent, glaring at the boy and giving his rage a final fit threw a hard kick into Nick’s ribs.

CHAPTER

“He did what?!”

Several voices echoed with different tones as Phillip Callahan explained what had happened in Syria.

Upon returning to the plane and taking off, the dark haired Irishman had spent the time helping Stanley Blackwell treat the basic injuries Morgan had gained in her time as a prisoner.

Now, back on Angel Island, he and Pat Anderson had the dubious chore of explaining what Nick Boyle had done while Stan and Rachel worked on their patient.

“I didn’t realize what he was planning until it was too late.” Phillip sighed, still hating the choice he had to have had made.

Kelly Robinson was swearing in every language he knew, not believing he hadn’t seen this coming.

While the former Navy SEAL had never been his favorite person, Kelly still had respect for Nick and the thought of him getting himself killed like this would make hating him real hard.

“Handing the box over to Joe is one thing but allowing himself to be captured.” William Sloan shook his head. “Why?”

“Nick knew once Joe had the box the odds of him allowing anyone to leave would be slim to none.” Derek Raynes spoke grimly.

The precept of the San Franciscan Legacy House was silently furious with himself for not seeing or expecting the younger man to pull a stunt like this.

Nick was always rash and if he considered the risk to his friends would be wiped out by this plan than he would have done it.

“To protect Morgan and Phillip, Nick had to stay to keep the chest out of Joe’s hands.” He finished.

“Or perhaps this was all a neat little plan.” Sloan looked at Derek grimly. “Maybe we played into their hands by allowing Nick to take the box to his father.”

A sudden grim silence hit the control room as Alex turned in her chair away from the computers. “What’s that supposed to mean exactly?”

“The Legacy has had several members who have turned to the Dark Side before and with young Mr. Boyle’s rashness and temper, he has always been a prime candidate to be turned.” Sloan replied grimly. “Maybe he has and this reunion with his father wasn’t a ‘sacrifice’ at all. Just a way to break ties and give the enemy a very powerful tool.”

Derek’s eyes had narrowed as he heard this but it was Phillip whose temper was showed first.

“Nick’s the most loyal man I know and you have no right to cast doubts on him.” He snapped, standing slowly to face the head of the London House. “You didn’t see him with Morgan. He stayed to protect her.”

“Or to make us believe that.” Sloan countered.

Kelly snagged the young Priest by the back of his jacket before he went for the older man’s throat. “Sloan, if you really want to commit suicide then just tell me and I’ll have Lee kill you.”

“You honestly don’t think Nick would do that.” Alex was shocked by the very idea. ‘Besides, Nick would have to have another plan to keep himself alive. He’d know after his father had the chest’s contents that he’d be a liability. He would have to have a way to stay alive until we could….” She stopped as her more thoughtful mind started thinking and she didn’t like what she came up with.

“If Nick was allied with his father then those wouldn’t be concerns.” Sloan nodded, pleased that someone else had seen his line of thought.

Derek had remained silent, laying his hands on the table. “I will not believe Nick would turn on the Legacy.”

“Then give me an explanation on why he would do what he has.” Sloan challenged. “Tell me what the boy could have been thinking by just handing the chest over and then staying there.”

With a sigh, Derek stood up. “The trouble is, I can’t. I can’t think of a reason that Nick would have done this or how he thought he’d survive.”

A sudden mild shaking then a low blast was heard from down the hall before Rachel’s voice called from Kelly’s radio.

“Derek, we have a problem.”

The current Queen’s Court Raiders all knew what that usually meant. “Bloody hell, I hope she didn’t fry poor Stanley.” Lee Sung muttered sourly.

Phillip felt the fear and bolted from the room. “I didn’t think her powers would work with her this weak.”

“If she’s scared and doesn’t know where she’s at then her powers will work automatically to protect her.” Derek explained, knowing the next question that would come. “She was probably kept heavily drugged while Joe’s prisoner so her powers couldn’t work.”

Rachel Corrigan met them at the door to Morgan’s room, looking more concerned than frightened.

“I should have become a rabbi like my mother wanted.” Stan muttered from where he was leaning against the wall. “Less hassles.”

“What happened?” Derek demanded, not so worried now that he saw the young medic was still breathing.

Looking into the room he saw the bright sheen on lights coming from somewhere but he couldn’t see from where since the bed was clearly empty.

“I told you not to touch her. I said Stan and Rachel were handling it.” Devan MacShayne could be heard complaining. “Look what you caused to happen, Jack.”

“Well, that had to hurt.” Alex murmured, looking around the door to see Devan trying to get his older brother dislodged from the wall. “Where’s Morgan?”

Phillip didn’t have to ask. He already had a pretty good idea and that was even if he ignored the bright lights. “Closet.”

“She was waking up but she was scared.” Rachel was explaining to the others, looking over her shoulder. “Jack had just showed up and went to touch her and…”

“She blasted him into the wall.” Stan put in, rolling his eyes. “The shield’s up, Kel. We can’t touch her but if Rachel and I don’t treat some of those wounds we’re going to have more problems.”

Alex had seen and dealt with a lot of things as a part of the Legacy but nothing like this. “Why would she react to Jack and not Devan?”

“Because Devan’s powers don’t give off the same aura as either of his brothers.” Derek told her, looking at Phillip and understanding his concern. They had both seen this before. “Let me.”

“The girl isn’t going to know you, Derek.” Sloan argued. “You know how dangerous she was as a child when scared. Her powers have increased.”

Derek did know this but he also knew he’d rather risk his life than anyone else’s.

Slowly approaching the closet, he opened the door and ignored the brilliant lights that would have caused anyone to back away. “Morgan.” Kneeling down, he spoke quietly.

It had been twenty years since he’d had to do this type of thing and he just hoped she wasn’t too far into shock.

The lights, he knew, had always been an effect of her powers. Most of the time they were harmless but now it was the shield of clear power they were covering that worried him.

“Don’t….hurt.” the soft British voice was like a child, her mind seeing the past as she huddled in her closet. “Please.”

“No one will hurt you, honey.” Derek assured her, lightly placing a hand against the shield to see if it would repel him but it stayed still. “Morgan, it’s Derek. You’re safe but you need to drop your shield.”

Silence answered him but the shield softened against his fingers. “Where…. Where am I?” she asked hesitantly, blue eyes glassy and unseeing.

“You’re back on Ang….” Derek started then stopped, suddenly knowing what he needed to say. What he had wanted to say all along. “You’re home, Morgan. Phillip brought you home.”

Morgan blinked at the name of her friend, seeming to remember parts of the past few she days that she wanted to recall. She didn’t want to remember the heat, of being tied and gagged all the time or any of the really bad things but she could recall Nick’s voice. Of feeling his arms as he held her then the noise of a plane and of being warm and safe as Phillip talked.

Slowly as Derek spoke he could feel her shield lowering until the lights had dimmed and he could see her fully.

Upon returning to the island and cleaning the wounds, Rachel had put Morgan in one of Alex’s nightgowns so the material wouldn’t hurt any of the welts or bandages.

“It’s alright, Morgan.” He promised, reaching toward her slowly to lightly smooth the hair back from her face. “Come out of there.”

Looking at his outstretched hand for a long moment, Morgan considered before finally placing her hand in her former guardian’s.

Gently holding her hand, Derek helped her ease closer to him then carefully took her in his arms to lift her up and return her to the bed.

“Lay back and rest.” He spoke softly, keeping his hand on her face as he sat beside her. “You’re safe now.”

Ignoring the pain of the wounds, Morgan watched Derek closely. Keeping a tight hold of his hand, she moved her other one. Reaching out as if looking for someone.

“Phillip.” Rachel spoke in a low tone, seeing what the young woman was doing and figuring what she wanted.

The young Irishman had also been watching his friend and had been going toward the bed even as the doctor was speaking.

Slipping the girl’s hand into his, Phillip sat on her other side. “I’m here, luv.” He assured her, knowing he would never forget the plane trip home as he had held her in his arms. “Try to sleep.”

Still shaking from the shock and memories, Morgan shook her head weakly. Knowing she had something important for Derek.

“Derek, this situation with Nick has to be dealt with.” Sloan declared firmly, sighing in disgust. “I never should have agreed to go along with this. He’s clearly turned to…”

“Sloan, shut it.” Kelly hissed, knowing his employer well enough to know how she’d take this news.

The London precept scowled. “I know no one wants to accept it but it’s clear that Nick has either been turned or turned on his own and…”

“No…” Morgan whispered, trying to grip Derek’s hand tighter and to pass to him what she’d been holding since Nick had given it to her.

As Sloan continued to complain, Derek looked down at what she was trying to give him.

Easing the paper from her fingers, he slowly unrolled the paper and felt his heart jump. Recognizing what it was, he understood not only why Nick had done what he had but also the extreme risk the young man had placed himself in.

“William, Nick hasn’t turned.” He spoke finally, brushing a comforting hand over Morgan’s hair. “If anything, he’s placed himself in serious danger.”

“How?” Sloan demanded sourly.

Derek showed them the paper. “Sometime from when he left here to when he got to Syria, Nick took the parchment with the spell out of the chest.”

“Gave it…to me.” Morgan spoke weakly, shifting her eyes between Derek and Phillip. “He’s….in trouble, Derek. Hurts so much.”

“We’ll help Nick, Morgan.” Derek promised, squeezing her hand. “Stay with Rachel and Stanley and sleep. I need to talk with the others and then I’ll come back to see you.”

She wanted to argue but was too weak, but did hold on tighter to Phillip’s hand. “Let him stay?”

Both feeling and hearing her fears, Phillip met Derek’s eyes. “I’ll stay with her.”

“Alright. Stay with Morgan while I have Kelly and Alex start things moving.” Derek nodded, wanting to get Sloan out of the bedroom before his comments upset Morgan more.

Kelly Robinson had already gotten that hint and was trying to nudge the older man out the door. “Sloan, you can move on your own or I can have Lee and Pat move you.” He warned in a low tone.

Leaving Philip, along with Rachel and Stanley, with Morgan, Derek heads back to the conference room; his thoughts elsewhere until Alex finally got his attention.

“Where do we start?” she asked, clearly worried.

“I pull some strings and have someone blow that camp out of existence?” Kelly suggested, his brown eyes glittering.

As Sloan sputtered how incredibly risky that was Derek turned to face the room. “We need to get Nick out of that camp as soon as possible, especially if Morgan’s feeling his pain.”

“By taking the spell out of the box, Nick’s left himself open to his old man’s wrath plus that of whoever he’s working for.” Kelly muttered, scrubbing his face with both hands. “The question is, who is he working for?”

“It could be anyone since Joe has contacts all over the world.” Sloan finally sighed, sitting down at the table to look at Derek fully. “I admit I may have been a bit rash at assuming Mr. Boyle had turned but you have to admit with the way things looked…”

Kelly rolled his eyes at this. “Hell, Sloan. Nick’s one of my least favorite people in this world at times but even I wouldn’t have accused him of turning on the Legacy. I’d have more of a guess that Dev’s father would show up than that.”

“Please don’t suggest that too loud.” Devan muttered from the door, still glaring at his disgruntled brother. “The last thing I need right now is Dad showing up in this mess.”

Derek had been looking at the spell parchment closely. “I doubt if he’d still be in the same location but Kelly’s people can do a flyover to check.”

“Jack or Michael can check on that since they can do it more quiet like.” Kelly sighed, hating this. “If Nick’s father is smart at all, he’d have cleared out to a back-up base to salvage what he can from this.”

Accepting this as well, Derek also understood that without the spell there was very little Joe could salvage except to take his rage out on his son. “We need to find Nick as soon as possible. Joe’s temper has always been well known and he won’t hesitate to kill anyone if he feels he’s been made a fool of.” Closing his eyes, the Legacy Precept grimly added. “Including his own son.”

“Loving this guy more and more.” Kelly muttered, pausing to look around. “Without the spell, is there any other way to open this supposed door?”

As Derek and Sloan exchanged grim looks it was finally Jack MacShayne who answered the merc leader’s question.

“The spell is the most direct way.” He replied grimly, sighing. “Unknown to many others, however, there is another way but it would take someone with a huge amount of occult knowledge to know of it and the ritual involved.”

“Damn.” Derek rarely swore openly but the events of recent days were wearing thin on him as he began to pace.

Kelly Robinson saw this and also the grim set of Sloan’s jaw but what worried him most was the expression Jack had. “I hate mystical crap.” He muttered, pinning the elder mystic with a look. “O-kay, Jack. I’m going to have to give our boss a straight answer sooner or later so how about you give me a straight answer. What’s the other way?”

“Killing Nick.” Derek was grim as Alex’s eyebrows rose in alarm. “If Joe’s employer is aware of the ritual then they could use Nick as a vessel in which to open the door.”

“Yeah, that ain’t happening.” Kelly muttered, meeting Derek’s eyes. “Gotta a clue who would have this knowledge?”

“Yes, but I was hoping he was dead.” Derek sighed, pausing as he started to leave the room. “Alex, see if you can find Randolph Hitchcock’s last location.”

The name rang bells with Kelly but it was clear that Alex knew who the man was and even more clear by Sloan’s expression that so did he.

“Do I need to ask?” Kelly asked the room in general.

Sloan scowled as he leaned back in the chair. “Randolph was a close friend of Derek’s and a former member of the Legacy. His fiancée was killed while they were on a quest with Derek and he blamed him for her death.” He explained, shaking his head. “He tried to gain revenge on Derek some time ago but was stopped.”

“We believed he was either dead or no longer a threat.” Alex spoke grimly. “He nearly drove Derek mad by giving him a cursed scroll but ran away the night it was discovered what it really was.”

“Great, just great.” Kelly rolled his eyes toward the ceiling. “This is why I always make sure my enemies stay dead with a nice .357 slug in the forehead. They rarely come back after that.”

Devan grinned at him. “Just that one time.” He sought to remind.

As Kelly chose that moment to tell his friend where to go, Sloan rose to follow Derek.

He found him downstairs in his private study. “How much will you tell them?” he demanded. “Revealing the truth has already caused too much trouble.”

“Joe still doesn’t know the truth and even under extreme pain I don’t believe Nick would tell him.” Derek replied, knowing what the other man meant. “If you mean, will I tell Morgan and Phillip how much danger Nick is in then no.

“I won’t have to.” He quickly cut in before Sloan could respond. “The three of them were all connected and eventually Phillip will figure out the rest. I’m hoping to settle this before it dawns on Morgan because despite her injuries and fears I know she won’t leave Nick in danger long.”

Sloan shook his head. “You know if Randolph is involved then the danger is more since he’ll do all he can to hurt you for Alicia’s death and since Joe believes the girl is your child…..” he left the rest unsaid as Derek merely looked at him with knowing eyes.

“Joe knows by now that Morgan cares for Nick and vice versa so by hurting Nick it’ll hurt her which will hurt me.” Derek nodded, leaning back in his chair to gaze at the ceiling and to the two young people upstairs. “I know that, William.”

“Then you also know before either of them can complete the ritual we need to either assure Mr. Boyle’s safe return or make sure he can’t be of use to them.” Sloan spoke these words very carefully as he was expecting the reaction to them.

Derek Rayne’s eyes slowly shifted to meet his as awareness came. “If you want to go inform Kelly, much less Phillip or Morgan, that you expect Nick to be killed outright if he can’t be saved then I hope you have your own affairs in order, William.” He spoke as evenly as possibly even as his temper was pounding. “Telling any of them that will have you killed a heartbeat later.”

Leaving Sloan in the office, Derek walked out. He needed to be away from the man who would never agree with him on anything and to check on things upstairs while ignoring the fear building in his chest.