Aberrant: 2011 - Thicker Than Blood [Complete]

[z-Kara]

[Note: This fiction contains violence and mature themes of varying sorts. You have been warned.]

October 6, 2009

Kara stretched slowly, letting the tensions of the day flow off her body. The hot water and bubbles were doing a magnificent job of easing the ache from today’s rough adventure; if she hadn’t had the ability to regenerate, she would have been in a world of hurt. Climbing over piles of junk to find a body match to the car that was being blown up in scene three had been harder and more hazardous than she’d thought, but it had been worth it just to find the right car-shaped piece of fiberglass. Next time, I’m totally hiring someone else to do this, she sighed. Right now, money was tight until they were sure that the investors were going to come though. And every penny saved by doing a lot of the work herself was a penny that could be put toward something onscreen, something beautiful or harrowing. With an effort, she stopped the obsessive thoughts; time enough to get back to work tomorrow. Slipping lower in the water, the beautiful nova allowed her mind to start to drift lazily and consider nothing.

,,

A tap at her bathroom door chased away the warm fuzzy nothingness in her head, and Kara sat up a little. “Who is it?” Her power rippled below her skin, ready to burst forth with claw and fur.

,,

“It’s ‘Denia. Can I come in?”

,,

Kara frowned. Her cousin only came over when Kara needed her hair or makeup done and Kara was pretty sure she didn’t have anything happening tonight. Well, nothing save another pass over the files about Ramm or obsessively reviewing the script again. “Sure, sugar,” she called settling back into the tub, unmindful of her nudity. Gardenia had helped her to dress many times, and there was no reason to be modest now.

,,

Her cousin came in, her round, happy face set in sad lines. Gardenia never frowned; it wasn’t in her nature to let anything but the most serious of issues get her down. “‘Denia, sugar, what’s wrong?” Kara asked, sitting straight up with a slosh of water.

,,

“I just heard from Harbin,” Gardenia said softly as she sat on the closed toilet seat.

,,

“My brother?” Kara clarified uneasily. This was family crap, and it had a way of biting her in the ass, when it didn’t break her heart.

,,

“Yeah,” Gardenia said. “He said Claudia Marie is in trouble.”

,,

Kara’s stomach sank. Claudia was her brother’s thirteen year old daughter, and was the darling of that generation, rather like Kara had been the darling of her generation. Claudia had inherited the severe beauty that was common in the women of the family; Kara did not have it, which was a point of alienation. But despite her stern appearance, Claudia was a sweet, gentle girl who did well in school. “What kind of trouble?”

,,

Gardenia looked her straight in the eye and said, “The kind of trouble you got into in Miami.”

,,

Kara rubbed her forehead. “Mom must love that. How bad is it?”

,,

“Yeah, Aunt Anaïs wasn’t very happy,” Gardenia sighed. “Harbin says she’s pregnant.”

,,

“Oh, shit,” Kara said, with true feeling, stopping the gentle movements of her hands in the steaming water.

,,

“Yeah, really,” Gardenia answered with just as much feeling.

,,

The two women sat in silence for a moment, thinking separate unhappy thoughts. “Why’d Harbin call you?” Kara said, raising her head suddenly. “I mean…”

,,

“He… wants me to ask you something,” Gardenia mumbled softly.

,,

Kara’s golden eyes narrowed, suspicion clear on her features. “What?”

,,

“He wants you to talk to her.” Gardenia swallowed hard and added, “He wants to you convince her to have it.”

,,

“Oh, god,” Kara nearly shouted, rolling her eyes. “How can he ask me that?! He knows I’m pro-choice!”

,,

“Don’t do it,” Gardenia said, her voice low and intent. Kara felt a flare of happiness as she realized that her cousin was picking her side over the rest of the family. “Just tell him to deal with it.”

,,

As much as she wanted to take Gardenia’s advice, she had other obligations. Kara laughed bitterly. “He’s my family, my brother. I can’t just say no. I should try to help.” But the question was, who to help? Her brother? Or her thirteen year old niece?

,,

* * *

,,

Kara watched the District roll by outside her window, a pensive frown on her face as she tried not to think of all the work she wasn’t getting done, or the mess she was rolling toward. Her beautiful body was hidden under a baggy grey hoodie and thick sweatpants; the hood was pulled up over her head and the sunglasses left only her lower face visible. Rashard was out of his suit; he was wearing black jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. He wasn’t as recognizable as she was and that meant he didn’t have to hide quite as actively as she did.

,,

They turned off the main road into the narrow streets, moving toward the residential areas of the city. Large buildings melted into separate houses with familiar accents and yards. Almost there. The thought was thick with tension.

,,

It came too fast. The SUV turned a corner, they passed the yellow house, and there was the familiar white-sided building. The house was a medium-sized affair with a long wrap-around porch. The lawn was well-kept with several nice flower beds and trimmed shrubs. Rashard stopped the car and glanced at her. “I’ll come if you call.”

,,

Kara was regretting her decision to have him stay in a hotel. She’d be alone with her family, which wasn’t all bad. But it certainly wasn’t anything resembling good, either. “Sure, sugar,” she said with a smile she didn’t feel. “I’ll call.” She badly wanted him around. But he was her bodyguard, not her heartguard, and only got paid enough to take a bullet. He didn’t get paid enough to clean up her emotional messes. With her chin high, she stepped out of the SUV, grabbed her bag from the backseat, and headed up the walk.

,,

This was only the second time she’d been to the house. It was hers, in her name, but she didn’t feel comfortable with just walking into it. Her mother and father had lived here for a year or so now, and it was their home, even if she paid for everything. They wouldn’t let her just give it to them; they had always been proud. So they ‘took care of it’ for her. They’d complained about her buying a house if she was remaining in Miami, but they seemed to pretend to accept her reasoning that it was her dream house, the place where she would spend her retirement. And after they’d been hounded by her fans in their last home, it was the least she could do.

,,

The door opened at her knock, and her father was frowning down at her. Joseph’s frown melted away at the sight of Kara, and he shouted in the musical tones of Creole, “Anaïs! It’s Kara! Kara’s home!” Then he snatched her up in a hug, his dark face falling into his laugh lines as if it belonged there. And it usually did; Kara remembered Joseph smiling far more than frowning.

,,

Kara found herself laughing as her father embraced her joyously. “Hi, Papa,” she murmured into his neck as she hugged him tight.

,,

“Ahh, my big girl’s home,” he said, his voice thick, and Kara realized he was crying.

,,

“Papa,” Kara sighed, slipping into the language herself as she felt tears sting her eyes, “don’t.”

,,

“It’s been so long since you came home,” he answered, putting her down and moving away. “Your mother’s in the kitchen.”

,,

“Mmm.” Good call, Papa. That will take away the excess warm fuzzies.

,,

“She’s missed you,” her father said, catching her by the arm. “Don’t let her fool you.” He gave her another hug. “Go.”

,,

Her mother missed her? Things had changed.

,,

Anaïs was in the kitchen, humming. Kara stopped to look at her mother, at her tall frame just starting to soften with age. She was wearing her usual red and blue clothing, as part of her devotion of Erzulie Dantor. “Maman?” she called, then sighed when her mother didn’t turn. “Are you ignoring me?” Still no acknowledgement as Anaïs worked at her cutting board. Kara silently prayed that she wasn’t cooking dinner.

,,

Her father slipped past her and stepped up behind Anaïs. Reaching for her ears, he pulled the unseen earbuds out of them and said, “Honey, someone’s here.”

,,

Anaïs started, then turned. So many emotions ran across her face, but Anaïs turned back to the cutting board and said, “Kara, you can stay in the guest room. Joseph, can you show her?”

,,

So much for a warm welcome.

,,

* * *

,,

Grown women don’t hide in their rooms, but Kara was tempted. She managed to delay things by taking a shower and then spending an hour with unnecessary primping. But finally, she had to leave and go downstairs.

,,

“Papa? Maman? Anyone?” Kara called out hopefully. She almost called in English, but if Anaïs were there, she wouldn’t answer. It was a second language for her, and she still had trouble with it, mostly from a lack of practice. Attempts to make the matriarch speak English had been destroyed with icy stares.

,,

But it wasn’t Maman who answered her. “In here!”

,,

Kara smiled and followed her father’s voice into the kitchen again. She stopped to watch him for a moment, smiling at his tall, strong body and the fluffy fringe of dark silver hair circling the sides of his head. This time, he was the one at the cutting block, but Kara was sure that whatever he was cutting was actually for dinner instead of for devotions. Her mother, like all of the B’nath woman, was terrible a cook. Thankfully, Joseph was not. The rough, calloused hands that laid brick all week gently turned the pepper he was slicing as he said, “Your maman is at the peristyle, doudou.”

,,

It was nice to hear him call her sweetheart again, even if Maman was being bitchy. “All the better to avoid me, huh?” Kara said, snatching up an apple and biting into it.

,,

Joseph grabbed back the apple and began to cut it, expertly slicing out her bite. “Your maman is just like you,” he grunted irritably as he grabbed another apple from the pile. “She would cut off her own nose to spite you. Neither of you will admit when you’re being petulant. Both of you are beautiful woman who act like ugly children. You went to great lengths to avoid admitting when you were wrong, doudou. But you could – and can still – come home if you wished, and not just when there’s trouble.”

,,

Kara sighed. “What am I supposed to do, Papa? She’s the one who is angry with me. I thought papas were supposed to be tense about things like this, with mamans being the ones who were forgiving.”

,,

“She said one thing, now to retract it… it is hard for her,” Joseph said. He passed her a sliver of apple, smiling as she chomped on it with relish. “Hungry, doudou?”

,,

“Yeah, Papa, I’m a nova,” Kara laughed. “We’re hungry lots.”

,,

“Good for you then that I like to cook,” he laughed, sweeping the chopped fruit into a pan and setting it on the stove to simmer. When he straightened up, the smell of warming cinnamon was slowly seeping through the room. He grew very serious for a moment. “Kara, I think that I can handle it better because I’m not a hougan, and because you’re not my blood daughter.”

,,

Kara shrugged. “I didn’t consider that because you’ve always treated me so well,” she admitted. “I mean, you think you disciplined me less?”

,,

Joseph reached out and cupped her cheek with his rough hands. “I know you are my favorite of my children,” he said with a gentle smile. Kara would have believed that, too, had she not overheard Joseph tell Anaïs that he privately told each child that. After a warm moment, he dropped his hand. “So, you’re helping Harbin out?”

,,

“Ugh, I know that I should, as a good sister, but he’s asking to me to do something that I don’t believe is right,” Kara said softly.

,,

“You know what family and children mean,” Joseph answered evenly.

,,

“Yes, I know damned well how important it is to pop out spawn,” Kara said, tying to remain calm. “But, Papa, she’s thirteen! I mean, do we even know who the father is?”

,,

Joseph shook his head. “Non, she says she can’t remember.”

,,

“Claudia can’t remember the man that knocked her up?” Kara shook her head. “I thought she was smart enough to come up with a better story than that.”

,,

“She’s young, she’s scared,” Joseph said with an elegant shrug. “It makes for stupid thoughts. Well, anyway, your brother and his family are coming for dinner, so you can talk to him then.”

[z-Kara]

Dinner was sure to be "fun," and Kara was quickly proven right. Not only did Harbin come, but his wife and all their children popped out of the family minivan. And thirteen year old Claudia was there, pale despite her dark skin. Kara frowned as the family trooped up the sidewalk to the house, eyeing them. She hadn’t seen them in so long she wasn’t sure who was who anymore.

,,

Anna-Marie, Harbin’s wife, froze when she saw Kara, and the porn star sighed. Why hadn’t her brother warned her that Kara would be here if it was going to be a problem? “Harbin?” Anna-Marie said, her voice shaking a little.

,,

“Maman… did you forget to mention something?” Harbin said, but he had a wry smile on his face. There were two ways to deal with Maman: outrage or humor. Harbin was picking humor, this time. Kara suspected that Anna would pick outrage.

,,

“No, I didn’t forget,” Anaïs said, her voice unflinching. “Anna-Marie said she wouldn’t come if she knew Kara was here. So I didn’t tell her.”

,,

Oi, Kara sighed as Anna-Marie turned red and even some of the kids looked uncomfortable. Kara tried to step in, saying, “Maman, that was not… you know what, never mind. Anna, should you go or should I?”

,,

Anna-Marie studied Kara for a long moment before she shrugged awkwardly. “No, let’s just have dinner.”

,,

The family moved into the backyard, sitting at the massive picnic tables together. Talk was stifled and awkward at first, but slowly it relaxed until there was some laughter and good-natured giggling passing around the edges. For the first time in a long time, Kara felt like she belonged here.

,,

That mood was shattered after dessert, when Harbin stood up and said, “Kara, would you walk with me for a bit?”

,,

Kara stared up at her half-brother, his dark skin gleaming with a light sweat from the muggy heat. Her good mood evaporated as her stomach turned over, but Kara nodded and silently followed him. They walked back through the house and out the front door, falling into step on the sidewalk outside. Kara pulled the hood of her sweatshirt up and huddled into its concealment.

,,

They walked a good distance in silence before he spoke. “I assume that Gardenia spoke to you,” Harbin said, rubbing his short-cropped curly hair. He sounded nervous, as he should.

,,

“It goes against what I believe to convince her to keep a child,” Kara said softly. Her golden eyes flashed in the dimming light of the evening. “You should know that. And it’s not like she can have an abortion without your permission anyway.”

,,

Harbin stared at his feet for a moment before admitting, “I want her to want it.”

,,

“Oh, god,” Kara said, stopping and grabbing his arm, forcing him to face her. “You mean, you don’t want to feel like you’re forcing your thirteen year-old daughter to have a baby, so you want me to convince her to have it. No, Harbin, I won’t scare her by telling her how her grann reacted to her daughter getting pregnant and having an abortion.”

,,

“Kara, please!” Harbin said, almost begging her, his rich voice ringing with the tones of Haitian Creole. “This is tearing our family apart. Anna-Marie cries every night. Not because her daughter is pregnant, but because she is scared! I am scared. Something is very, very wrong, and I don’t know what.” His voice fell to a pleading whisper, his desperation for her to understand was clear in his eyes. “Claudia cannot remember who the father is.”

,,

“Oh, do you really believe that?” Kara asked, quirking an eyebrow. “She’s young and in trouble and so she lies-“

,,

“No,” Harbin said, shaking his head. “Claudia doesn’t lie to us, not about something like this. She knows that we love her, even with this. She truly doesn’t remember, and we, her parents, are the only ones who believe her.”

,,

Kara frowned. If Harbin was to be believed, then there was something deeper going on here. Logic said it was most likely a scared teenager, rather than a dark, deep conspiracy to… what? And that was really the question here. Why would someone go through all this trouble and what was the goal? It was likely that Claudia was lying, but if she wasn’t, something needed to be done.

,,

But should she investigate herself, or leave it to Colin? No, she needed to find out if it was worthy of investigation. And if it was, she would pass the information up the chain.

,,

“I’ll talk to her,” Kara said, laying a hand on her brother’s shoulder. “I make no promises… but I will try to help her.”

,,

* * *

,,

Claudia looked small and frail as she curled up on the couch in the living room; despite the number of people in the house, there was no one around. Kara was sure that was no accident. “Claudia?”

,,

“Yes, Matant Kara?” Claudia answered, looking up at her aunt.

,,

“You papa wants me to talk to you,” Kara said, sitting on the couch and taking her niece’s hand.

,,

“About the baby,” Claudia said and burst into tears.

,,

“Yes,” Kara confirmed gently, her strange golden eyes soft and gentle. “This isn’t going to be like talking to your mom or dad. I want what’s best for you, not for anyone else.” She reached out and rubbed the girl’s hair, feeling the rough texture of her flat-permed hair. “Do you know who the father is?”

,,

Claudia’s tears stopped with a disturbing suddenness. Her face went blank as she fumbled a phone out of her pocket. Kara watched as her niece dialed a number and hit ‘send’. “Who are you calling, honey?” Claudia didn’t answer; instead she let the phone ring, then ended the call. “Claudia?”

,,

Claudia shook herself a little and looked at Kara again. “Yes, Matant Kara?”

,,

“Who did you call?”

,,

Claudia frowned. “What do you mean?”

,,

Oh, god. That was a signal. She just signaled someone, and she doesn’t even remember it. “The phone in your hand,” Kara said. “Give it to me.” Her tone was firm, almost harsh. For a second, Claudia looked like she was going to argue, but she handed over the phone.

,,

“I didn’t dial it, really,” Claudia insisted, then frowned. “Matant Kara… I think… I remember…”

,,

Kara looked up from checking the caller record. “Remember what, pitit?”

,,

“Oh, god…” Claudia gasped, staring at the floor. “He did it because of you. He seduced me, and he made me sleep with all his friends, and he said it was because of you!” She shot to her feet, and swayed suddenly.

,,

“Careful,” Kara warned, grabbing her arm.

,,

“Let go!” Claudia shouted, wrenching her arm away. “Maman was right! You are a dirty whore, and all you do is ruin this family.” She turned, probably to flee the room.

,,

Kara ducked in front of her, blocking her way. She didn’t want to push, but she couldn’t wait for Claudia to calm down. “I need his name. Give me his name!” She stepped to the side, blocking her exit. “You can’t leave until you tell me.”

,,

“Marcus Ramm!” Claudia finally shouted. And while Kara’s heart dropped, her niece ducked out of the room, crying for her mother.

,,

* * *

,,

No one was talking to her now; they were all too worried about Claudia. The poor child was traumatized all over again, and Kara knew it was her fault. Her niece had been abused as a message. Well, she’d gotten it, loud and clear. And she was sure that this was something that Colin wanted her to investigate.

,,

But she didn’t call him. Instead, she used Claudia’s phone to call the number again. She wasn’t expecting an answer, but she got it. “Hello, sweetheart. You are so predictable.”

,,

It was Ramm, and Kara’s stomach twisted. “You could have come to me,” she hissed.

,,

“But this hurts more,” Ramm said. Kara cut the connection while he laughed uproariously.

,,

Her personal phone rang, and Kara checked the number. Colin, oh, thank god, she sighed as she smiled and hit the button to open the line. “Colin, I’m glad-“

,,

“We weren’t done talking, my dear kitty,” Ramm said and Kara slammed her phone shut. Nausea rolled over her like a hot tide. Oh, god. Oh god. She was alone, without a handler. She was exposed.

,,

Her hands were shaking as she dialed Rashard’s number. There was no answer, and Kara started to curse. Her next call was for a cab company, to run her out to Rashard’s hotel.

,,

“Kara?” Her father called as Kara bolted down the stairs dragging her bag. “What… are you leaving? Please… you just got here!”

,,

“Papa,” Kara said softly as she gave him a tight hug. “I’ll be back. But it isn’t safe for me right now, and as long as I’m here, it isn’t safe for you either. I have to go.”

,,

Joseph looked lost, but Kara didn’t have time to erase the confusion from her eyes. Behind him, Anaïs had heard him, and she stopped in the hallway, watching the scene. “What’s going on?” she said in her stern tone.

,,

“Claudia’s right. It’s my fault, but not the way you think,” Kara said as a taxi pulled up. He began to beep the horn as she added, “I don’t have time to explain right now, but I will, when I can. Be careful. Be sure to tell the police about Ramm.” The taxi horn blared again and Kara gave her mother a hug. The old arms gripped her tightly with almost bruising strength. “I love you,” Kara whispered.

,,

“I love you, too, Kara,” her mother whispered before pressing something into her hand. “Take this. It is protection – Erzulie will keep you safe, baby.”

,,

Kara knew it was a charm without looking; Erzulie was her mother’s patron Loa, and if Anaïs was invoking protection for her daughter, it would only be sought from Erzulie Dantor, protector of women and children. Kara just nodded and clutched it tighter as she hurried out the door.

,,

The hotel was surrounded by cops, and they were loading Rashard into a car. “Wait, wait!” she shouted, dashing from her taxi toward the cops. She heard the cabbie screaming at her, but she wasn’t really abandoning her fare. “What are you doing to him?”

,,

“Ma’am, your boyfriend is under arrest,” one officer said, putting an arm out to stop her.

,,

“He’s not my boyfriend, he’s my bodyguard!” Kara shouted, her panicked gaze flowing from the stoic Rashard to the cop holding her back. “And I need him!"

,,

“Bodyguard, why do you… hey, I know you,” the officer said, frowning.

,,

Kara locked her golden eyes onto his. “Yeah, I’m an actress. I need my bodyguard; I have a stalker.”

,,

“Ma’am, we’ll provide you police escort until you can find another guard,” the officer said. “But right now, he’s being brought in.”

,,

“For what!” Kara nearly shouted. The officer gave her a hard look and she raised her hands in apology. “Sorry, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t shout. I’m sorry, Officer…” She glanced at his nametag. “Officer Parson.”

,,

“Hey!” A hand on her shoulder grabbed her and spun her around. Kara barely kept her balance as the angry cabbie scowled at her.

,,

“Hey!” the cop shouted louder. “Hands off the lady!”

,,

“She’s skipping on her cab fare!”

,,

“Here!” Kara snarled, pulling several bills out of her billfold and thrusting them at him. “That shoo’ cover it. Now get yo ass back from me.” She was losing her battle with self-control; her accent was coming back, hard. She rolled her eyes as she turned back to Officer Parson and found a touch of control. “Now, officer, please. Can I talk to Rashard?”

,,

“The suspect? No, not until after he’s been arraigned.” He smirked a bit. “Unless, of course, you’re his phone call.”

,,

“How long will arraignment take?” Kara asked, her stomach knotting up. She’d better not be his phone call; he needed to call his lawyer instead of her.

,,

“A day or so,” the officer shrugged. “If the judge grants bail.”

,,

“Ok, what is he being accused of?” Kara asked.

,,

“Uh, no,” the officer said. “This is an ongoing investigation-“

,,

“Fine, is there a head detective I can talk to?” Kara asked, holding her hands in a pleading gesture. “I may be able to clear him, if it happened while we were together.”

,,

“Sure, hang on, lemme call.”

[z-Kara]

October 6, 2009, 11:00 p.m.

Detective Lambert was Orleanian through and through. His deep, southern Louisiana accent made him sound like an idiot by the standards of many, but Kara didn’t believe for a second. While she hadn’t seen any great signs of intelligence, she refused to believe that a total idiot could become a high-level detective in a major city like New Orleans. “Miss Bath.”

,,

“Ms. B’nath,” Kara replied instantly. “I use my real name when dealing with legal matters.” She glanced at the notepad in front of him; so far all he had done was stare at her. “Are you the head detective?”

,,

“For this case, yes, but it’s called lead detective,” he said.

,,

“May I ask which division you work with?” Kara asked, batting her eyelashes just a little bit, just enough to hopefully sway him into being helpful.

,,

Lambert smiled like a shark. “Homicide.”

,,

Kara’s smile fled. Rashard was in trouble. “Who died?” she asked softly.

,,

“That’s what I’m going to ask you,” Lambert said. “We haven’t been able to ID him yet.” He drew out a photo and slid it across the table.

,,

Kara gasped. She shouldn’t have, she knew that she shouldn’t have. But Colin’s blue eyes stared at her glassily in the unforgiving light of a morgue photo and Kara couldn’t hide her shock.

,,

“Who was he?”

,,

“His name is Colin,” Kara whispered. “I met him on the beach a couple of times.” Lies. Keep them short and simple, just as he’d taught her. Her eyes fluttered away from the picture as tears filling her eyes. Colin, her rock. Dead.

,,

Lambert’s palm smashed into the desk, making Kara jump and look at him. “I can’t abide liars!” he snarled. “Who was he?”

,,

“His name is Colin,” Kara said firmly, meeting his eyes firmly.

,,

Lambert leaned forward, standing up so that he could really loom over her. “Why do you flinch whenever I refer to him in the past tense?”

,,

“I knew him, and he’s dead,” Kara said, feeling the tears wash down her cheeks. “I’m not allowed to be rattled at that?” She let her eyes fall to the desk; her hands were shaking, and it wasn’t acting. What do I do now?

,,

* * *

October 7, 2009, 12:00 a.m.

The police had no reason to keep her; their suspect was Rashard. So after finishing their questioning, Kara was turned loose. Despite this, she tried to hang around for a bit longer; Ramm wouldn’t attack her here. I can’t stay sit in their waiting room for much lo-

“Excuse me, but are you waiting for someone?” The bubbly voice cut through Kara’s worried haze and she was blinking as she looked up at the woman looming over her. She was blonde, with her sunglasses pulled down so that her blue eyes could be seen over the rims. “Can I wait with you?”

“I… I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here,” Kara stammered, stunned and left without her usual eloquence.

“That’s ok,” the woman said, sitting down next to Kara. “I’m Carrie.” Her long fingernails glittered fantastically, and Carrie grinned when she caught Kara looking at them. “Aren’t they great? Here, let me show you last week’s set…”

She turned and dug in her bag, her bleached hair falling crazily around her shoulders and face as she rooted around in the bag. “Well, thats’… fine,” Kara said, at a rare loss in the situation.

“Oh, girl… you’re going to love this.” For a second, she was terrified that Carrie was going to dig out a set of preserved nails, but all she pulled out was an OpNet device. She brought up something on the screen and turned it so that Kara could see.

Do you want to get Ramm? Say yes or no.

Kara froze; of all the possible events that Kara expected from this stranger, this was not it. “What do you think?” Carrie asked; gone was the ditzy intruder, and a wry intelligence shone in her eyes. “Like them?”

“Yes,” Kara said, her voice tight. She was afraid of this woman, and who she represented, but she was more afraid of Ramm.

“Then you’ll love these,” Carrie said, punching some more buttons and drawing up another screen.

Leave the station with me. Say yes or no.

Kara paused for a heartbeat; then she whispered, “Yes.”

* * *

October 7, 2009, 3:00 a.m.

Carrie drew a deep drag off the cigarette and offered it to Kara. “I can’t tell you who I work for,” she said. “We’re more classified than the color of the Pope’s underwear.”

“But you know who I work for,” Kara said, clearly not making it a question. The clove cigarette was hot and bitter against her throat, but Kara sucked it down, letting the action calm her.

“Correction: I know who you spy for,” Carrie answered, taking back the cigarette. “And I know who has left you high and dry.”

“When your handler dies, it’s not exactly like you’re left high and dry,” Kara sighed, brushing her hair back.

“Kara, you’re a NOC. You know what that means,” Carrie said. “If they don’t contact you, you’re exposed forever. And do I have to point out that they had Ramm, and now they don’t?”

Kara knew that there was something that she could say, some argument to make, but she was mentally and emotionally worn out, and her thoughts were a jumbled mess. With a scowl, she deflected the argument by saying, “Regardless, you said something about getting Ramm.”

“Yeah,” Carrie said, dropping immediately into a more professional demeanor. She stubbed out her cigarette and pulled out her device again. A few button-presses pulled up some maps, and Carrie said, “He’s somewhere in St. Louis. We can track him that far, but when we get too close, he catches wind of us and goes deep again. He’s got help, possibly nova help, and we haven’t been able to draw him out yet. But with the right bait, he’ll overextend himself.”

Kara’s mouth set in a hard line. “You mean me.” Her voice was soft but sure; she knew the answer, but didn’t like it.

“The other time he’s come close to overextending himself was when he went after your niece,” Carrie said.

“Wait… you could have stopped that?” Kara could hear the first hints of rage poking through her tone.

Carrie just looked at her, not dignifying the remark. After the tension grew, Carrie asked, “What would you give up, to catch him?”

“Not my niece. Not her innocence,” Kara seethed.

“Someone else’s niece?” Carrie smiled at the answer that crossed Kara’s face for an instant. “But that’s beyond the point. Will you put yourself on the block to catch him again? What about Rashard's freedom? We can arrange for his release, easily.”

Kara sighed. Memories of her eruption at Ramm’s hands still haunted her at night, and like Cyn, Kara knew there would be no peace for her until he was gone. She still looked over her shoulder occasionally, thinking that she had seen him. “What did you have in mind?”

Kara was sighing by the time Carrie was done explaining. “So I wear a tracker, and you guys wait for him to snatch me?”

“You are making a movie, and that was his impetus for getting his hands on you last time,” Carrie said. “Cyn filmed a pretty spectacular torture scene, and he’s going to want to top that. If the bug is subcutaneous, then he won’t find it in time to stop us from finding you. And that is the worst case scenario; we could catch him before he lays a hand on you.”

“The Directive promised he wouldn’t hurt me,” Kara said softly.

“I won’t lie,” Carrie answered quickly. “He may get you. He may hurt you again. But we will capture him.”

Kara was silent for a long moment. She waved her dark-skinned hand in the air. “I need to think about this,” she answered. “If he snatches for me while I’m making my movie, then he could ruin my future. I can’t just say, ‘Sure!’ and run off like James Bond. I’m not.”

“No, you’re not. But you are a nova, and you survived him once,” Carrie told her. She studied Kara for a moment, then tossed a business card at her. “You have twenty-four hours. After that, you won’t hear from us again. You’re getting this one shot, Kara. You know you want him.”

* * *

October 7, 2009, 8:00 a.m.

Kara thought about what Carrie had said for several hours, as the night melted into dawn, and the heat, even this late in the year, began to build on the New Orleans streets. The café she had been eating at with Carrie had been willing to take her money in exchange for staying open, to give her somewhere random to be instead of her hotel room or her parents’ house. Around the time that the moon sank below the horizon, she was mentally and emotionally exhausted; by the time the time read 7:00 am, she knew what she was waiting for: eight in the morning, Eastern Standard Time. Tired, worn out, Kara called a number she knew by heart, and waited for him to pick up.

"Yeah, what's the damage?" Adler's voice was rough with sleep and irritation.

Her heart leapt at the sound of his voice, and Kara squeezed her eyes shut to keep herself from losing it and starting to babble. "James, I thought you'd be awake by now, saving lives and funding porn sites," Kara answered, trying to keep her voice light. But after her night, nothing could keep the slight tremor from her voice.

There was maybe half a heartbeat's pause, then his voice came back to her, distinctly less harsh and simmering with something that might have been worry. "Even godly paragons of the arts of medicine and porn viewing have to sleep sometime. Spirit willing, flesh weak, all that jazz."

Kara laughed softly; there was something comforting in this back and forth with him. "Ah yes, sleep. I remember that," she smiled. "And I'm not surprising to hear you have a very willing spirit." Her tone and her wit were off, just a bit.

"Kara...." He didn't actually have to frame the question; his voice and the unspoken familiarity between them was more than enough.

She was going to cry. I'm not going to cry, she ordered herself. She was being far too quiet, for far too long and so she tried to speak. "I'm... in over my head, James," she said softly, "and I could use some sound advice. You're one of the smartest people I know... I trust."

It was probably the first time she'd ever heard him utterly serious since the moment he'd told her to stop thrashing and screaming lest she hurt herself. "Talk."

"Rashard is... fuck, I should start at the beginning," she said, rubbing her forehead. She had once told Colin that she’d never tell anyone this story, but the words started to flow out, pushing themselves out of her. "My eruption was violent - not as bad as what Cyn did, but still bad. A law enforcement agency believed a man named Ramm was creating snuff films - the real thing - and then covering them up. I was still a baseline, and I was told it would be safe - that they'd get me out once they were sure he was doing what they thought he was. But..." She laughed bitterly, remembering her naivety. "The best laid plans, right?"

"And." It was the way he said it, the sudden rush of empathy and restrained fury that she could almost taste over the line. Just a word, but with a volume of emotion layered into it. The fingers on Kara’s free hand reached up and caressed the bottom of the phone; it was the closest she could get to stroking his face. It was what she wanted to do, but he wasn’t here.

"His employees were a lot more loyal; from what I've been told, they didn't just roll over, they resisted arrest," she explained. Just telling someone felt so good, and so liberating. "By the time they got there, I'd responded to the attack by erupting, and..." She fell very quiet for a long beat. "I thought I'd killed him."

He was momentarily quiet, then spoke with a whisper-soft intensity as sharp as a scalpel blade. "Remember what I told Liberteen?"

"Yeah, it was what I told her, too," Kara said. Her tone became lightly teasing as she said, "Couldn't you feel the weight of personal experience in my words?" She became serious as she said, "The killing him part isn’t what I regret. It was the fact that I didn't make sure he was dead."

"I take it he's not."

"Oh, no... he's not. I heard back in March that he wasn't, and I've been watching for him, but it turns out he'd rather use his powers of Domination to mess with my thirteen year old niece." There was anger in her voice, a hot rage that crept over the phone line.

His fury caught on hers and drew sparks like white-hot steel on cold iron. "Is there anything she needs I can..."

"That... is a tough question," Kara sighed, her frustration feeding her rage. She controlled it; now was the time to think and prepare, not storm on in a fury. "She's traumatized, and blames me right now, so I'm not pushing my help right now. But she may need counseling, and possibly some medical help. Well, definitely, some medical help, one way or another. But my family is big pro-lifers - Haitians are all about making babies, even babies that we didn't want. But thank you, and I'll recommend you. Highly."

She could almost hear his nod. "But that's not why you called."

"No. It's not." Kara swallowed and said, "Another agency has approached me, and they have a plan to detain Ramm. It's dangerous; his psych profile indicates that he's prone to fixations, particularly of the sexual type. And I'm the one that got away. He's already shown that he'll overextend himself where I'm concerned. He's killed my handler with the first agency, and framed Rashard, both of which took quite a few resources. So, the idea is that they tag me, and I leave myself exposed. Then I survive until they ride in and rescue me." She laughed humorlessly. "At least they aren't trying to make it seem like they have everything in hand."

"I suppose telling them you'd like them to stop the world so you can get off wouldn't be practicable." Gallows humor, but humor. It helped cover the raw concern in his voice.

"If I don't go after Ramm, he'll still be gunning for me," Kara said, her voice trapped. "At least this way, I'll be expecting him."

A sigh. A nod. A surrender. "Just don't wind up back in my ER, Kara. Putting you through the body and fender shop once was enough."

"Well, if I do get hurt, it probably won't be in your town," Kara said, her tone almost teasing. Almost immediately, the failed humor fell away. "Though... I can't think of anyone I'd rather have caring for me." She heard her words, and blushed. Damn double entendres! My mind is fair too dirty to allow me to make comments like that!

He could have said he'd be on the next plane if she was. He could have said Dex should call him immediately. But the truth was that he didn't have to; she knew those things intuitively, like she knew the table was solid under her hand. "You watch your ass, Kara."

"I plan to," Kara said. She closed her eyes and pressed her forehead against the cold wall next to her chair, the coolness helping with the throbbing that was rising between her temples. "I just... " She didn't have anything else to say to him, nothing that she could say. "I wouldn't do this if I didn't have to."

"I know. So do it and come back safe." She could hear the crooked smile she'd just gotten used to seeing. "You still owe me dinner."

Kara felt her own smile answer his unseen one. "Right. I'll... put your contact information on my medical card," Kara said. That way, at least you'll be able to know what's happened."

"Do you want me to sit with your niece? I can be on the next plane to... well, wherever she is." The quiet frustration in his voice was thick enough to choke on, how badly he wanted to offer to help her more directly. What else can I do?

Oh, James... "New Orleans. You can call and see if they want the help of the one of the best doctors. Call my father, Joseph B'nath, first. He's the most reasonable member of my family, so he'd be the one who can talk Maman into reason, and if she can see the light, then she can convince Harbin, Claudia Marie's father, to let you help." She gave him the numbers, then said, "Thank you. I don't know how long this is going to take, but I feel better knowing that you're taking care of them. Just like you took care of me."

"I seem to be making a habit of it. You'll call when you get done." He didn't make it a question.

"Yes. Of course." Kara fell silent. "Thank you. For everything."

"Just come back. One piece is better, but..." His voice trailed off into silence.

"I'll grow back," she said wryly. "And some pieces are more important than others, right?"

"I like your eyes. Try to keep them this time."

Kara laughed, ignoring the warm feeling in her heart. "I'll do my best. That shit hurts." There was no need to tell him that Carrie was sure that Ramm had seen Cyn's video, and that he'd feel compelled to upstage it.

"Go get him, Kara."

She grinned fiercely, and said, "Oh, you know I will, James. Thanks for everything, but I need to go. I've got plans to make."

He hung up without saying goodbye. Which, on the whole, was probably as good an omen as any. Kara sat quietly for a moment before nodding. Let’s get this done.

[z-Kara]

October 7 2009, 8:45 a.m.

Kara’s hands shook as she dialed, but she didn’t hesitate. The only way out is through… But things were going to be different this time. She wasn’t going to rely on this mysterious group to keep her alive. There was no way she was leaving her life in someone else’s hands, not again. So she’d play their game, but she’d play her own as well. “Carrie?” she said when the phone picked up.

“Kara? What’s the word?” There was a muted click with her words, and Kara almost laughed as she realized the agent had some hard candy in her mouth.

“Yes,” Kara answered. “When will Rashard be released?”

“Within the hour,” Carrie told her. “When will you do the photo shoot?”

Kara swallowed a sigh. And so it begins. “I’m free today, though without sleep, I’m not sure I’m looking my best.” The photo shoot was the first bit of baiting that they were doing. The Agency – which was the name Kara had given it for her own private reference – had decided to create some teaser publicity for the movie; because it was called Strangle, they had decided some disturbingly sexy pictures of Kara with rope around her neck should be taken. The photographer who had offered to do this ‘for free’ would then leak them ‘accidentally’ to the opnet, giving Ramm a visual taunt that would, hopefully, prod him into action.

“Make up covers all,” Carrie chuckled. “Where are you going to be later? N’oarlins? Or home?”

“I’m flying home,” Kara said. “But first, I have a few things to take care of. I should be available in Miami after seven pm.”

* * *

October 7 2009, 10:45 a.m.

“Take a vacation,” Kara ordered, her voice firm. “You’ve been working almost non-stop for me from the day I hired you; you were just accused of murder and arrested, and I want you to take a break.”

“Someone is targeting you,” Rashard said, his voice heated and intense. “Right now, you need security more than ever.”

“I understand,” Kara said, a little irritated at how perceptive her body guard was, “but you have two options. Go on vacation or be fired. I have my reasons for doing this, and you’re just going to have to trust that I’m doing what’s best.”

Rashard stared at his employer, his eyes narrowing as he considered what she had said. Finally, the burly black man nodded. “Fine. You’d just better survive this,” he said, his voice warm with frustration and anger.

“Thank you,” Kara said, nodding. That took Rashard out of danger, and Dex could be kept busy on the finances with for the movie, which left Gardenia. She’ll take an all-expenses-paid trip to Barbados and she won’t ask annoyingly perceptive questions, Kara noted to herself.

“You’re sending us all away, aren’t you?” Rashard asked, breaking her thoughts. She’d been so intent she’d forgotten he was there, watching her and thinking. “You’re making sure we’re all going to be gone, right?”

Kara smiled sadly. “I don’t pay you enough,” she murmured. “I’ll fix that when your vacation is over.” He’d always been that way – silent and intelligent, quick to pick up on what she didn’t say. It was only now, when she realized that she was playing a dangerous game, that she understood just what his service had meant. They’d never date – he’d told her flat-out that if she ever hit on him, he’d quit – but he’d become an anchor in her life.

It was one more reminder that she needed to return.

* * *

October 7 2009, 9:45 p.m.

The photo shoot was stressful; normally Kara had no trouble dealing with the concept that she was creating art that would be fantasized over, but today she was having trouble focusing. Added with her exhaustion from the last thirty-six hours of fear and shock, Kara was running on empty, emotionally and physically.

“… lay back on this board, and let your head and hair fall over the edge, and Marco is going to put his hands around your neck… oh, yes, perfect. Perfect. An auto-asphyxiation dream…”

Kara carefully adjusted the cloth covering her breasts, blocking out the photographer’s prattle, consigning it to a place in her mind where she just listened and obeyed without thought, while she considered the task before her. Entice Ramm to grab me. Survive. Done. It sounded so easy, but her mind was worrying at itself, trying to think out how she’d react if he grabbed her at night, or in a car, or—

“… good empty look. Now, turn your head and look at me with just your eyes… empty… let him fell in the emotions he wants to put in there… Bring the right side of the cloth down an inch… yes, right there. Oh, wow… Marco’s hands just pop against your skin…”

- and what would she do if he didn’t grab her himself? What if he used an intermediary? Another nova, who would have unknown powers? Did he have another nova ally? What would she do if they could render unable to move, or even struggle? What if they brought Mox and didn’t allow her to shift into-

“… love it. Now, let’s scoot you down and cradle your head on a pillow. Sandy, fan out her hair, and Marco… stretch your arms up and put your hands around her neck again. Yes, keep yourself out of the frame… just your arms… lovely. Love-lee! Now, Kara, turn your head back, straight… look at the camera… empty… empty…”

- increase her defense. She didn’t want to be left completely at the mercy of whatever came along, and she didn’t want to trust in this mysterious agency to rescue her bacon. You have other resources, girl. You have friends, and people who’ll help you. “Let’s wrap this up, guys. I’m exhausted, and I need to make some preparations.”

Twenty minutes later, Kara was making yet another call, hoping again that one of her heroes would answer the phone. "Hey. What's up?" Joe’s voice was a welcome greeting, even beyond his warm words.

"Joe, glad I caught you, sugar. I need a favor of sorts, and I know you can help me." Kara wondered if he’d be willing to help her, especially with the lack of information she could give him. She’d risked enough by telling James; if someone found out, he might get in trouble.

"I'll help if I can. What's the favor?"

Kara smiled, feeling a touch of relief. "I need a sub-dermal tracker, along with the associated tracking unit," she said. "Along with whatever else might help recover someone who goes missing."

Kara could hear his confusion; she could almost see him blinking at her. "Ummmm, do you mind if I ask why you need it?"

Kara hesitated. "I could tell you, hon... but... I need to know you'll just let me do what I'm doing. Okay?"

Bellator sighed. "I'll work on it, but it might take a few day or more. I'll have to go through unofficial channels for this one."

"If it takes too long, Joe," Kara sighed, "it might be too late." She dragged her hand through her hair and continued, "I'm about to open myself up to being kidnapped, and I want to have a backup tracking unit that can help find me." The day was starting to take its toll on her; her eyes felt full of grit.

"Hmmmm. That's not good. I'll see what I can do. I'll put a rush on it. You may want to give me a day or so. That's the soonest I'd have it,” Joe said. “I'm sorry if that's too late. If you really need help, then I might know some people that can help. But this kind of tech isn't all that easy to get."

Kara nodded. "Thanks, Joe. I know you'll do your best," she said. "Basically, once the promo pictures for my movie get released prematurely in a day or two, that's when they think he'll be feeling the pressure to come after me."

Bell sighs, "Who's after you, and do you want him 'dealt with'? Why would someone come after you? I know, I know... I’ll have to wait on the answers. I'll get right on that request."

Kara smiled, warmed by Joe’s willingness to go out on a limb for her. "I can tell you a bit, now," Kara said. Her voice grew thoughtful. "If you can find him before he gets me... but the world thinks he's dead, and I'm not sure what pseudonyms he's using.”

"I might not be able to stop him, but I think I can shorten your time in 'captivity.' I can call in some of my ex-special forces buddies and get them to help watch over you from a discrete distance. Once he makes a move, we jump in. But only if you give the go-ahead will I do that. Otherwise, I'll give ya that unit you wanted."

Kara felt relief again. "I've got a law enforcement agency - and no, I don't know who they are, but they've given me the help to draw Ramm out - but they plan to jump him too. I can ask if they'd work jointly with you. Would that be ok? Or would you guys be willing to watch the watchers?"

"We'd be willing to watch them and you, both. However, let's work on securing that subcutaneous transmitter first. That's gonna be the hard part."

"Thank you, Joe," Kara said. "I'll be waiting to hear back from you about that." The relief in her voice was clear over the line.

Bell grinned, "Glad to be of assistance."

"I know," Kara answered softly. "I owe you one, big time."

"Listen, I've got to go. I have to make a few phone calls and see if I can secure what you're looking for. I'll call you back once I get the low-down."

"Thanks, hon. I appreciate it. I'll catch you later, then." Kara's warm voice was cut off by the phone disconnecting. It was a chance, and a start. It felt good to take charge of things, and make her own preparations.

[z-Kara]

October 18, 2009, 11:30 p.m., at the Bath House in Miami, Florida

Redneck Night was hopping along, with the band playing their Rock-a-Billy with manic gleefulness. The crowd, dressed in a mixture of Daisy Dukes and coveralls, bounced in eager enthusiasm, a wild mass of flailing arms and kicking feet. Kara had already been swept into the writhing mass twice, dancing with the patrons before easing back out off the floor, laughing. It was a lively night; the perfect backdrop for the Augusta Boys, the featured band.

Sly brought another gangling cord to a shuddering stop, and the band fell silent. The crowd screamed for a while – Kara laughed when she heard someone offer to carry the drummer’s child – before Sly could stop them and say, “Thanks, Miami, for the warm welcome. We weren’t sure ya’ll would be open to a buncha hicks from Alabamha comin’ and singin’ for ya’ll, but you seem ta like us.” An answering scream stopped him, and he waited for it to pass again before continuing, “We’re gonna do one more song before we go, an’ Ah wanted to thank all our fans, and most importantly, I wanted to thank Caramel for hostin’ us. Ain’t she the greatest, folks?”

Kara smiled and waved as a spotlight settled on her and the crowd cheered; this happened most nights. She idly wondered if Sly or any – or all – of the band would come onto her tonight; that was a usual occurrence, too. She was wearing a pale blue bikini top and Daisy Dukes, the latter made for Kara by Gardenia. She knew that she looked fine, and she knew that she was going to get asked out at some point tonight.

“And now, something sweet for our fans and our hostess: our new song, which will be on our new record.” The crowd screamed again, then quieted as a softer sound came from the stage.

It’s a crime, angel, a crime

To see ya struggle and cry

Workin’ hard for every last dime

No matter how hard you try

Meanwhile the Jones up on hill

Rest on their ass, drinking cham’pagne

Getting rich off their daddies’ mill

Profitin’ from others’ pain…”

Kara sighed at the sorrow in the music; the lyrics were not as moving, but the pure emotion in the music and in the voices of the singers was truly poignant. “I’ll have to have them back,” she murmured, turning to look at Cassidy, her bartender.

Cassidy nodded, making the front of his Mohawk bounce into his eyes. “Ya, they’re good. And a nice break-”

Hands grabbed Kara from behind; a tingle that she’d felt before passed over her. She had time to see Cassidy’s wide-eyed surprise, and to see him reach for her. There was a sickening lurch and a burst of static in her ears; then the Bath House transformed itself into another room, a dark and large place without people or music.

Kara didn’t look behind her; she brought her arm up and tried to elbow the person holding her. Her lack of fighting experience showed in her lack of connection, but she did get shoved forward into the room. She spun, her eyes falling on her kidnapper. It was a slim young man with bright, wide eyes. His casual clothing would have not left him out of place on any street in the developed world; his curly hair and flashing white teeth were as familiar to her as any member of her race. “Hello, Caramel.”

“I don’t know you,” she said, her body tense as she moved a few more feet back from him.

“Marcus knows you, and he knows me, so we already know each other, a little,” the young man said. Kara knew that he both knew what Ramm had planned, and he intended to take part in it. But his next words proved that it would be in his own way. “You see, I’m first. That was my payment; to have a chance to be the first to be with you.”

“Ramm’s into sloppy seconds these days?” Kara asked boldly, feeling a courage that came straight from the screaming heart of fear, that came from the thought, You are the only one getting you out of this.

“He just likes the first cut,” the man said, circling around her slightly. “I’m here… I want to be the kindness before the pain.” His circle closed around her, and Kara narrowed her eyes at him. “I want to be the last cherished touch before he gets you. I want you to remember me as the last man who touched you with your pleasure in mind.”

“So you decided to kidnap me, hoping that I’d be grateful enough or slutty enough to fuck you anyway?” Kara asked coldly.

The man dropped to his knees in front of her, taking her hand for the second before she ripped it from his grasp. “You… I need you. Your touch… it can heal me.”

“I’m not that kind of nova,” Kara snapped, taking a step back.

He disappeared from in front of her and was behind her, his arms around her waist and his face buried in her bare back. She heard him inhale deeply; the sound raised the hair on her neck as she realized he was breathing in her scent. Worse, his hands were over the transmitter that Joe had gotten for her, and she wondered if he could feel the slight bump in her flesh. Thankfully, the Agency had hidden theirs in her armpit and he was nowhere near there. “Oh, god… just the brush of your skin… that alone is heaven, and I feel better already.”

Kara struggled, but his arms were like iron. And that left one option, one that she’d hoped she could wait to use. Wait, stop. You’re buying time. Let him hug you. Let him talk.. “What’s wrong with you?” Kara asked quietly, resting her hands on his forearms with a slight grimace. “Why do you say that I can heal you?”

“My mind… hurts. When I don’t touch you… my body is… uneasy, when you are not near,” he breathed, his breath hot across her back. “I used to be fine… but lately, I’m only at peace when I see you.”

Oh. He’s nuts, and is obsessed with you. Same old story, though this is a different take on it, Kara mused, trying to make it a logical thought, a puzzle to solve. Sexual healing? “What is your name?” she asked, forcing herself to relax.

“Call me… sugar, please, Kara. Please let that be the name that dances over your lips for me,” he murmured, burrowing his face into her back to plant a gentle kiss on her lower spine. Just that one-sided pleasure brought a moan from his lips.

“Well, … sugar,” Kara managed to not choke on the endearment. “This is what we’re going to do. You’re going to let me go, or I’m going to kill you. And that’s the truth, sugar.”

“You can’t kill me,” he whispered, his voice broken. “You have to heal me. Ramm said so.”

He was another one of Ramm’s victims. He’d built her as an overwhelming obsession in this poor man’s mind, but she couldn’t let that stop her; she couldn’t let this kill her. “Last warning, sugar,” Kara warned softly, gathering her power in her mind.

His arms tightened to the point of pain, and he screamed as her body shifted, becoming golden fur under his hands, as smooth skin became punctuated by rock hard muscles. “No, please, Caramel!”

She turned her claws on him without hesitation, her big paws smashing at his head as she roared with fury. He twisted and turned away from her, but never let her go, never tried to flee. The golden coat of the cougar she’d chosen to be was matted and ugly with blood before his screams stopped, falling into silence.

Kara stared down at the man moaning under her; at some point, he’d let go of her, falling limp under her. Instinctively, Kara hissed at the choking smell of blood and cut flesh.

“My dear, it’s so good to see you again.”

The shapeshifter spun at the sound of that voice; so familiar, so awful. When she saw Ramm, she growled his name in a hissing spat, though all he could hear was her grumbling hiss. The cougar drew in on herself, muscles coiling, tail lashing.

“Now, now, kitty-kitty,” Ramm murmured, stepping forward and kneeling next to the man, forcing Kara to scramble further away. “Be nice to me, or I won’t be nice to you.” He looked at the man on the floor. “He’s pretty much dead, darling. You never even learned his name, did you? Have you learned to kill so easily?”

I do what I have to do, Kara thought, looking at him with cold golden eyes. And I’ll do the same to you, if I must.

*Charming.* His voice echoed in her mind, and Kara jumped and snarled. She felt him probing at her mind, seeking to push his thoughts into her head.

Fuck off. Kara’s thought was rimmed with pure anger, but underneath, there was a flicker of a thought about the last time a man had touched her mind-

“Oh, my,” Ramm laughed. “Who is James and why has he been… touching what is mine with such impunity?”

Kara tensed, her anger turning on herself. Idiot! Stray thoughts! But even that thought had the pressure of Ramm’s mind behind it, pushing, stretching, trying to draw the truth out of her mind.

If she stood here, he’d plunder all her secrets. Kara leapt forward, a bloody nightmare of gleaming ivory teeth and curved claws. Ramm fell backwards, taking him just out of her initial strike. Her teeth snapped shut on nothing, but his kicking foot came under her paw, and she flexed her paw, driving her claws into his shoe. Judging by his yelp, she had pierced the leather and struck his skin. Encouraged, she scrambled forward, her claws seeking more flesh-

“Stop!” Ramm cried, and Kara roared with frustration as she felt him push at her will, sapping her resolve. Beyond him, a dark doorway beckoned, and Kara focused on it, hardening her will. With a roar, Kara dashed past him, her golden fur rippling into black as she entered the hallway. Behind her, his curses floated after her, but she bolted forward, ignoring him.

The hallway should have opened into a room, but instead it turned and branched at the same time. Kara hesitated, scenting the air to provide a clue about the way to go; her question about what kind of building this was answered itself when she peered further down the hallway and saw branches left and right, as well as a ‘T’ at the end. A maze. He’s put me in a maze, she realized.

She’d known that he’d planned to capture her, that he’d thought about this for a long time, but she’d never considered that he’d do something this strange. He’s insane, Kara. He’s capable of anything, she reminded herself. She steeled her resolve. Time for you to be the same way, to be capable of whatever you need to do to survive through this.

With a soft rumble, she slipped into the maze.

[z-Kara]

It was amazing what cubicle companies would custom-make. In this case, they had been happy to install the floor to ceiling partitions, and they had never asked why he’d built a maze. They will be so amazed when they learn what I have done, Ramm thought. I wonder what they’ll tell the police and the papers, when they find her here. The thought of finishing what he’d started so long ago filled him with great pleasure. And she would be such a lovely subject.

Rodney hadn’t deserved her, Ramm sighed to himself, peering around the corner carefully before entering the dark hallway. His teleporting partner had been useful, but they had both known that he wasn’t worthy of her. It hadn’t stopped Rodney from futilely trying, and his particular obsession had been key to Ramm’s plans.

Ramm realized he hadn’t moved forward. He could see well in the dark, but he was betting that she could see better. I’m glad she fought him off, he thought again, unaware of the mental repetition, and so will she be, when she understands the honor she’s receiving. His wounded foot ached dully. She’ll pay for clawing me. The bitch will be grate-

Ramm’s thoughts ground to a stop as he considered the empty hallway around the next corner. He knew the way out, the right way, but there was a chance that she had come this way, first. He needed to see her first, before she could attack him. I just need to gain control of her.

Deeper in the maze, somewhere behind him, he heard something break. Slowly, he turned, staring at the darkness behind him, then he carefully turned back. She wouldn’t attack his front, but he didn’t need to see her. Silently, he waited, knowing that she was now behind him, coming forward on velvet paws, her white fangs bared-

She came at him in a rush, her mind wild and enraged. He spun to see the hellcat that she had become, her matted fur turning her into a mottled shadow, all the harder to see until she was racing forward. But he didn’t flinch; he gathered his power and pushed it at her. He felt his will tremble forward, a field of mental energy that was directed at the darkness coming at him. And he felt that will solidify, catch and hold. His victorious laughter mingled with her outraged shriek.

“I have you!” he laughed. “Oh, I have you now!” And it was a good hold, a solid grip of his will; she was truly his to do as he wished. Limping forward, he bent down and patted the trembling head, laughing when she spit at him. “Oh, the games we’ll play now, dearest. Come along, then.”

Ramm turned and walked away, humming softly to himself. He didn’t bother to look behind him at the great cat; she was following him, and he knew it. He could feel her thoughts racing under that bestial skull; he’d play with them later, but for now, he let it be. There’d be plenty of time to scoop out her mind, taking out every memory, thought, and passion, and replacing them with whatever amused him. He’d find out who James was last, he decided. He’d savor that for last because of the way she’d felt about him, how she’d cherished his touch on her mind.

He led her to the play room, enjoying the tremble that passed over her mind as she saw the platform and its toys. “Let me tell you, darling, there is nothing sweeter than this,” he said, patting the table and willing her to hop up on it. The great cat, snarling non-stop, leapt up, glaring evilly at him. “The total and complete control of another creature, to tell her to meet your every desire… to tell her to disembowel herself.”

He saw the struggle start instantly; her ears flickered back and her teeth bared even further, an impressive feat. But a paw-full of sharp claws lifted with delicious slowness and tore into her black-furred stomach, ripping flesh in a wide swath. Coils of intestine pushed at the gaping cuts, and Ramm stepped forward, reaching for the loop that was protruding the furthest. “That reminds me, I need something to strangle you with. You were very naughty, to tease me with those pictures. And Cyn… she was naughtier still. But I’ll show her. And this time, I’ll make sure that nothing grows back… not your tongue, not your fingers, and certainly not your jeweled eyes.”

* * *

"I like your eyes. Try to keep them this time,” James advised in her mind, his voice so clear she thought he was talking to her for a moment.

Her mother’s voice was next: “It is protection – Erzulie will keep you safe, baby.”

You have too much to lose, Kara. Fight!

“I want to see you as a human.” Ramm’s voice cut through her thoughts, forcing her attention back to him as he squeezed on the intestine in his hand. “Shift form.”

Kara crouched, ignoring the agony of lying on her own entrails, of the tug of her guts in his hand. She was knitting up again, and the giant cat remained in place, healing and fighting him.

Ramm frowned and dropped the organ in his hand, taking a step back, unsure of his dominance over her. “I said, shift form.” This time, the mental order was accompanied by a verbal whip-crack, and Kara felt the slightest tremble deep inside, where her change started. She had to remain shifted; she needed her claws and teeth!

“Fight,” she growled to herself. The word was gibberish to Ramm, but Kara took strength-

James Joe Maman Papa Claudia-Marie Harbin Gardenia Dexter Rashard

-from the small defiance, even as his will redoubled, crushing her resolve, making it hard to breathe-

James Joe Maman Papa Claudia-Marie Harbin Gardenia Dexter Rashard

-leaving her gasping for breath, fighting, trying to hold on-

JamesJoeMamanPapaClaudia-MarieHarbinGardeniaDexterRashardJamesJoeMamanPapaClaudia-MarieHarbinGardeniaDexterRashard JamesJoeMamanPapaClaudia-MarieHarbinGardeniaDexterRashard!

Kara’s eyes flashed as for one heartbeat, she was completely her own master. The power burst along her body and she shifted; but instead of collapsing into her human form, her body expanded into the deadliest form she possessed.

The prehistoric cat leapt forward; Ramm screamed and Kara could feel him regain hold of her, but it didn’t matter. She was in mid-air, and four hundred and fifty pounds of feline muscle and bone slammed into Ramm. He lost his grip as she knocked him down, and he nearly lost consciousness from her landing on him. Ribs cracked, but it wasn’t enough, not for the cat, and not for Kara. She raked at him, feeling some back claws catch, and some slip. Feeling claws rip wasn’t enough either; Kara needed to taste her enemy’s blood, to feel his flesh writhe over her tongue. Rational thought flickered to the forefront of her mind, but Kara dismissed it. Ramm had hurt her niece. Ramm had tried to kill her, twice. And she knew that he’d never stop; an image of JamesMamanPapaJoe strapped to the platform dashed through her head, and all hesitation was gone. If killing him was the only way to stop him, she’d kill him. Gladly.

Her jaws closed around his shoulder, lifting his upper body clear of the floor, her oversized fangs driven through him completely. Distantly, she could hear him begging, but she ignored him as she shook him like a rat and tossed him across the room. His bloody, torn body slammed into a rack, knocking down equipment. She could hear him gibbering, sobbing and she knew she wasn’t done.

She leapt again and cleared the room, her paws stabbing for him, ready to crush and cut-

The scalpel jammed itself between her ribs as she landed on him and the massive cat screamed in agony. Ramm returned the scream as he twisted and jerked the metal handle, doing as much damage as he could. The other hand came up, and the bone saw slashed over her face, narrowly missing an eye. “I’ll kill you!” he screamed, the first coherent words she’d heard since throwing him. “I’ll kill everyone you know!” He shoved power at her, and he ripped their images from her mind; he took everyone that Kara attached the word ‘love’ to in whatever form of love it was, and he showed her what he would do to each and every one of them.

Kara lost her mind. All rationality faded before the onslaught she faced; Maman’s guts hung to the floor, and Kara lashed out, tearing at the man she wasn’t even seeing anymore. And suddenly, the image was gone, as if Ramm couldn’t hold it together when she tore at hi-

Papa screamed as he was raped and Kara bit something warm and bloody, blind and only knowing that she hit meat, familiar meat, hated meat-

Dexter was skinned alive as she ripped muscle apart from skin, and the shredding sound still couldn’t drown out her cousin’s screams-

Joe’s body bowed as electricity danced through his body and Kara’s claws caught and dismembered bone, as she smelled Joe burn-

James looked at her with empty eye sockets, and her mouth closed around a pulsing muscle, small and thick and about the size of a fist, and Kara bit down savagely, blindly, feeling it burst over her tongue, spilling thick red blood-

No more new images came, but Kara didn’t stop; they were imprinted in her mind now, a part of her. It took her a while to realize that she was mauling a wet, meaty smear, and Kara stopped, panting heavily. Blinking, she looked down at what was left of Ramm. He’s dead. He has to be. Nothing can be alive after this, she thought. Please, God, let this be it.

Her strength was gone, and the massive cat dragged itself away from the mess. With a grunt, Kara collapsed and released her shift. Pain lanced through her side, and Kara looked down to see a scalpel sticking out of her. “That’s… not right,” she muttered as she passed out.

[z-Kara]

October 19, 2009, sometime in the morning

She awoke cold and in pain. Kara stirred, and immediately identified the worst pain; it was coming from her side. She looked down, and blinked. “That’s a scalpel,” she muttered, grasping the handle, gently. Drawing in a deep breath, she slowly pulled it out. It was only when she felt her side knitting up that she glanced around the room.

Someone had been killed messily, and Kara felt a vague horror for a second. But that fled, driven away by the dark memories, both of what she had done, and what Ramm had forced into her mind. “God,” she gasped, pressing a hand to her face. But it wasn’t regret that churned her stomach; it was the fear that he might not be dead.

Kara rolled to her hands and knees, aware that she was still wearing the blue shirt and Daisy Dukes that she’d worn to the club. That brought the question of where she was, but Kara pushed it aside. She had a greater concern.

Ramm’s skull was intact, but Kara didn’t let that stop her. The bone saw was lying next to him, and she lifted it and set it against his skull. With a grim expression, she started to draw it back and forth. It was a good tool; soon the top of his head was open, and Kara was tumbling his brain out onto the floor. Gore rose in her throat, but her purpose would not be deterred; she doggedly clawed through the gray matter until she had torn it apart. She didn’t know exactly where the M-R node was, but she knew it was round, and she didn’t stop until every round object in the brain matter had been beaten flat between the floor and the butt of the saw.

Bellator’s extraction team and the Agency’s team found her sitting against a wall, covered in blood and without a scratch on her, smiling serenely.

* * *

October 19, 2009 10:53 a.m.

Kara rang the doorbell and waited, which was honestly the hardest thing she’d ever done. Waiting had never been a strong point for her, and Kara still had Ramm’s sick desires rattling in her mind. She wanted – no, she needed to see her family, to know they were healthy and safe.

The latch clicked and the door began to swing open, but Kara didn’t even bother to see who answered. Instead, she stepped straight in for a long hug. And once her mother had her arms around her, Kara didn’t need to see who it was; no one else in the world felt like this. “Maman,” she whispered, clinging to the strongest woman she knew.

“Kara… my baby,” her mother sobbed, and Kara began to cry when she heard the tears in her mother’s voice.

“I’m safe,” she said, sniffing softly as she buried her face in her mother’s neck. “We’re all safe.”

“Kara?” Her mother’s voice was becoming steadier, and Kara was amazed at how much it sounded like the woman she’d come to New Orleans fearing. “What did you do?”

“Can I shower, first?” She’d had one already, but it had been Ramm’s shower, after the Agency had gone over it for evidence. She wasn’t sure if they were pleased with the outcome – Carrie’s face had been unreadable when she’d seen the room – but she didn’t care. Ramm was gone.

The shower took a bit of time, but Kara didn’t rush it, scrubbing away the blood she hadn’t gotten the first time around. When she finally emerged, she’d consumed all the hot water. No one seemed upset.

The water from the shower clung to her hair and dewed her skin as she curled up in one of the comfy chairs and sipped the hot tea her mother had made for her. With a soft voice, Kara finally told her mother everything, from the reason she’d come to Ramm’s attention in the first place to the final, climatic horror she’d made of him.

Anaïs listened with the quiet dignity that came naturally to most of the women in her family, alternately watching her daughter or looking into her tea cup. When Kara was done, Anaïs set her cup down and said, “Will you stay with us for a while?”

“Sure, Maman,” Kara said with a smile. “I do have some stuff to take care of-”

“Your movie?”

“My movie,” Kara nodded in confirmation. “But… I’ll stay as long as I can.”

Anaïs nodded simply, as if Kara’s answer were all that she wanted. In the hallway, the front door opened, and the women heard Joseph calling out, and Harbin’s voice following. “I called them,” Anaïs said, “because I thought you’d want to see them.”

With a smile, Kara went to see that her family was whole and safe.

* * *

October 19, 2009 2:30 p.m.

Methodist Hospital was just the way Kara remembered it, despite the march of years. The off-white walls and tiles, the busy doctors and long hallways stretched out before her, just as they had in her memory. And just as always, she hated being here, because it meant that someone was hurt. But at least this time, it was an outpatient situation.

Kara slowed and stopped as she saw the right room number, the one Maman had given her. She hesitated before knocking; should she interrupt the session? But her own need - to see Claudia, to see James - overruled that, and she tapped on the door.

"We don't want any!" James’ clear, gruff voice carried through the door, half a laugh and half a dismissal, and she caught just the hint of Claudia managing a small giggle from the next room.

James, she thought, resting her forehead against the door. Just hearing him, sounding so normal, was a relief. "James, it's me," she called out. "I know I'm not scheduled for today... but..." She let her voice trail off, unsure what to say in front of Claudia.

There was a half a heartbeat's silence, then the door flew out from under her forehead (nearly pitching her forward in the process) and Adler was leaning against it with a sudden unsteadiness that suggested he'd scrambled for the door with something less than his usual dignity. He looked at her for a long moment, eyes eloquent with relief, before finding his voice again. "Patients," he said with affected scorn, "are worse than cats. You feed them once, and they figure they can just drop by any time."

Kara's throat loosened as she saw him, and then looked past him to see Claudia, also in one piece. Cats... "Well," she said out loud, with a lofty eyebrow, "I did tell you I'd come see you, when I was done. With that thing." Her eyes flickered to Claudia and back to James. Casually, she touched her temple, looking at him beseechingly. Yes, it was an excuse to get him in her head, to feel a good touch in there again, but she also wanted to know what she should and shouldn't say in front of her niece.

The flood of his relief and something she could only call joy was almost enough to knock her off her feet, the uncertain tension she'd caught in the undercurrents the last time he'd touched her thoughts momentarily eclipsed by the sheer ferocity of his pleasure in seeing her alive and well. I trust the bastard in question is appropriately taken care of?

Gone. Gone-gone. Her mind summoned up the image of the meaty mess she'd made of him; he felt a quiet horror from her - not that she'd killed, but that she'd done it so easily with such brutally. How's Claudia?

Well, you aren't exactly her favorite person in the world, but... better. He limped back a step, clearing the space between the two women. She'll feel safer knowing what you just told me. Without the details, preferable.

"I didn't mean to interrupt," Kara said, "but I've gotten some news about the man... about Ramm." She ignored the dark, haunted look on the young girl's face, plowing forward with the ‘good’ news. "Claudia, he's dead. He won't bother us or anyone, anymore."

,,

Claudia frowned, still looking beautiful, even in her youth. Sorrow suited her severe features, but Kara would have given much to see a smile. "What happened?" Claudia asked softly.

"He... had an accident," Kara said, determined to not elaborate beyond some mysterious calamity.

"Like with a car?" Claudia guessed.

,,

Kara's lips twitched. It figures that Harbin's kid won't let me take the easy way out, she growled to herself. "What do you want to know, Claudia?" she asked, glancing at James. "Do you want gory details? Do you want the play by play? What do you want?" I suck at this. I guess this is why I’m not mental care professional.

,,

"I want to know he's really dead," Claudia insisted.

,,

"He is," Kara confirmed, nodding. "I saw his body, with my own eyes." They both glanced at James, as if seeking confirmation from him; Claudia seeking to know if the doctor she’d come to trust agreed with Kara while Kara herself was hopeful that she’d said the right thing.

"Do you feel safer?" The question was most obviously for Claudia, but his eyes were as much on Kara when he said it as they were on the younger woman.

Kara's answer was slower than Claudia's, and the girl was hesitant to nod a small yes. Kara looked at her hands for a long beat after Claudia’s answer; once bloody, now they were clean and she slowly nodded. "Yes," she said. "I think... I am."

"Good." His lips quirked slightly. "Now, Kara, why don't you go get some coffee while Claudia and I finish. Then we can pick up where we left your last session." Unless you want to get her started on the family business, of course? His voice was wry and playful in her mind, but the quietly restrained depth of emotion behind it rumbled like the surf on the shore.

I've already done a bit - Maman and I had a long chat, she thought, missing the joke he’d offered her in the haze of exhaustion that gripped her mind. "I'll be happy to wait my turn for the good doctor," she said, smiling at him and giving Claudia a wink. A few months ago, the girl would have giggled. Kara was happy with the small smile she got instead.

He shooed her out of the room with a firm glance, settling himself back into his chair, but as she closed the door she felt the reassuring brush of his mind against hers; no words, just the light pressure of his presence. It stayed with her all the way to the hospital coffee shop.

And under that gentle pressure, like his hand resting on her head, Kara encountered the voice of Erzulie. She looked like a normal barista, but her white smile was supremely gentle, as if she saw Kara’s nearly shattered emotional interior or knew that she’d had a rough day. Or maybe, she asked everyone this question because she worked in a hospital. “Hey, honey, are you ok?”

Kara started to give a pat and insincere, ‘Yeah, sure,’ but she stopped and really thought about the answer. “Yeah,” she said, finally, her golden eyes meeting the barista’s. “Yeah, I think I am.”

~Finis