Fury Saga              by: Darkside        © 2000

Soul Mates

Part 8b

Elizabeth woke up the next day feeling giddy and elated. Last evening was surreal. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that she would be dating Alex. Only a day ago the mere thought would have either outraged her or reduced her to fits of laughter. Now, only few hours after that first kiss the thought no longer seemed repulsive or funny. In fact it seemed quite the opposite. One thing concerned her about her new relationship with Alex. Where did it leave Deianeria?

Elizabeth thought back to Alex’s comments on her quest. He was right to be concerned for her but he was very wrong about it only producing hurt and pain. She had to know. This was more than a scientific experiment, it was her only way to free herself from the past. She was grateful to James, the cult leader, as she would not have dared go where she was going without his challenge: ‘Prove me wrong!’

Maybe in unearthing the truth about Dr Bexley she would stumble across something about Alex’s father. If not only for her sake, what a relief that would be for Alex! No, Deianeria must continue, that much was certain. In a way her dating Alex was the perfect smokescreen. There is no way suspicion could be aroused if she was in a healthy relationship. It was worth bringing Deianeria in early, as now she had the perfect cover. If asked she could state she was looking for clues about Alex’s father. That was true to a point, although she wasn’t sure what Cathline’s reaction would be.

Elizabeth checked the clock on the bedside table, it was seven am and she was the only one up. Alex normally had a lay in until ten, with her parents rising at about eight. As always Cathline was a wildcard but Elizabeth knew she could handle Cathline. Wearily she got out of bed and headed towards the spare room. She would change into some more of Dr Bexley’s clothes and do some research before breakfast. She decided to try out Deianeria as she had planned it. For the duration of her research that morning Elizabeth would be gone and only Deianeria would remain.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and concentrated, she breathed in and out and performed her relaxation technique. In her minds eye she imagined filing away Elizabeth into a PDA and loading Deianeria into her active area. The process took a few minutes as Elizabeth prepared herself for the simulation.

When it was complete Deianeria stood up and stretched. It had been too long. After having a quick look around she walked out of Elizabeth’s bedroom and into the spare room.

Her first thought was how messy everything looked but she resisted the urge to tidy up. Elizabeth could do that for her. The first thing she needed to do was check the journals and figure out a plan of action. Whatever had gone on before, it was clear that Elizabeth had been too nice and too discrete. Such methods would take far too long and eventually lead to the wrong result. Deianeria decided that it was time for no more nice miss priss.

She thought back to the hurt that Nick had caused Elizabeth. He was a bastard, no doubt about that. Something would need to be done about him. But first the journals. She eventually found a pile of small notebooks lying in the bottom of one of her chests. The first three contained writing, and they weren’t the ones she wanted. They were for public consumption. The real ones she wanted were the blank ones underneath. All she needed now was an ultraviolet light source. She was amazed that nobody had wondered why she’d kept seemingly empty notebooks, but then again people were stupid like that. She would have thought Kat and Cathline might have deduced it but then again with all threats gone there was no reason to suspect anything.

Deianeria glanced down at herself, still wearing Elizabeth’s nightdress. It was time to change all that. She stood up and found a suitcase with some of her favorite outfits in. She quickly chose a deep purple blouse with a bleeding heart embossed on the left breast and after a bit of searching found her long black skirt. It was a shame Elizabeth had cut her hair short, but it would soon grow again. Feeling much better, she went back to her searching.

A few minutes later she found what she was looking for. It was a large hardback book entitled ‘Human Molecular Genetics’. Of course much of it was out of date now but it wasn’t the contents she was after. She flicked thru several pages, scanning each one until she reached page 473. She had noticed that the letters on each line in the second paragraph spelt ‘Guild’. Flicking to the right she saw a series of numbers. Taking the first three lines, a telephone number was formed. She quickly memorized it and decided to go and give it a try. She still needed a UV light of some description in order to read the notebooks.

The house was quiet and to her satisfaction she noted that nobody had yet woken up. She checked the grandfather clock in the hall. It was seven thirty. She had half an hour left before Elizabeth would be needed. Just enough time to make the phone call. She dived into Matthew’s office and dialed the number. To her surprise an Arabic voice answered "yes"

"Hello, this is Deianeria. I have a job for you."

o—o—o—

Cathline had found it hard to sleep and lay in bed trying to rest. "This is no use at all," she muttered and swung her long legs off the bed. She couldn’t sleep for any reason she could think of it was just one of those nights. She debated going for an early morning swim and indeed Elizabeth would probably be there so it would be a good excuse to see what she was up to. She also wondered how Alex had got on with Elizabeth the previous evening. She had heard them come in about 2am, so it couldn’t have been that disastrous for them. That was another thing she would ask Elizabeth when she saw her.

Deciding on an early morning swim, she took off her nightdress and found her black thong bikini. There weren’t many women of fifty who could still wear it and carry it off but Cathline was no ordinary woman. Her specially designed body seemed to age at half the rate of other women’s and she could still pass for a woman in her early thirties. She adjusted her eye patch and went outside into the hallway. As she walked past Matthew’s office she heard the faint sounds of music coming from inside.

"Can’t you see what you are doing to me?

Can’t you see what you have done?

As I try to pass another long and sleepless night,

A hundred crazy voices call my name,

As I try to pass them by,

I almost can believe that she is here,

Here in the glow of the night.

Do you know what you have done?

Do you know what you’ve begun?

Do you see we shall never be together again?

All of my life."

Cathline decided to investigate and opened the door. The room was in darkness and only the lights from the hi-fi lit the room. Cathline’s eye quickly adjusted to the darkness and she saw a figure sitting on a chair.

"Hello Cathline," the voice said and the music stopped.

The tone sent a shiver down Cathline spine. It was the same tone and intonation as Dr Bexley had had when she’d said those same words to her so many years ago.

"Elizabeth?" Cathline queried.

There was a pause for a few moments and the figure spoke.

Her voice, it was almost a different voice from a different person. Cathline however couldn’t be sure—there was subtle differences in the intonation and intent. Where the previous one had been full of veiled menace this was full of warm greeting. "Hi Auntie Cathline. Did I freak you out?"

Freak out wasn’t the words Cathline would have used. "I did wonder what’d you doing in the dark?"

"You never listened to music in the dark before? Lights."

The lights slowly came on and showed Elizabeth sitting on Matthew’s chair with her feet on the desk. She had number of notebooks on the table and Cathline caught a glimpse of that bleeding heart motif on Elizabeth’s blouse.

"What are you doing still wearing her clothes. I thought that joke was over by now?" Cathline demanded

"What?" Elizabeth glanced down. She couldn’t remember putting that blouse on. How’d she get into Matthew’s office anyway? Cathline mustn’t be made more suspicious than she already was. "Sorry, I just thought it looked a neat outfit. Mom and Dad’s room is directly below the entertainment room and I didn’t want to wake them up so I used dad’s office."

Cathline was still suspicious but as usual Elizabeth had a plausible explanation for everything. So she decided to let it pass and tell Matthew and Kat about this latest episode as soon as she could. She decided to change the subject "How’d it go last night."

Elizabeth thought back to that wonderful dinner and her first kiss with Alex. It would be better if Alex and she told their respective parents at the same time. "It went ok. Alex surprised me."

"How so?" Now Cathline was intrigued. Elizabeth wasn’t often surprised.

"He made me wash up and then we ate. He also knew the chef at the Hilton and spoke Portuguese. I didn’t know he could do all that stuff."

Cathline gave a smile. That was typical Alex. "There’s a lot about my son you don’t know. You know he’d been planning that for weeks?"

Elizabeth nodded "So I gather. Anyway I’m sure you’ll hear all about it later when he bothers to wake up. Speaking of waking up, you look dressed for a swim. Want some company?"

Cathline almost breathed a sigh of relief. This was the normal Elizabeth speaking. "Sure."

Elizabeth smiled. "I’ll just get changed and I’ll join you in a few mins. If you can keep up that is!"

"Yeah, right. I’ve a four inch height advantage over you," Cathline stated. ‘Let’s see how she reacts to goading’ Cathline thought.

"And I’ve got twenty years on you. I’d better hurry," Elizabeth collected the blank notebooks and ran upstairs.

Elizabeth was confused. How and why was she in Matthew’s office. She didn’t remember getting dressed either and why was she holding some blank notebooks? There was only one conclusion—it must have been Deianeria. Elizabeth reached her room and started to take off the blouse and skirt. She accessed the Deianeria simulation, and she then knew why she needed the notebooks. She had remembered seeing them stacked in a box in the spare room but had paid them no attention. Now, it would seem that the notebooks could be the keys to it all. Strange how’d she’d overlooked them before and gone onto other things. The outfit Deianeria had chosen was cool but what else had she found before Cathline had interrupted her? Elizabeth couldn’t quite remember, so she dismissed it as either unimportant or irrelevant.

She did find it disconcerting that the Deianeria simulation seemed to have a life of her own and that seemingly Elizabeth was out of the picture while Deianeria was active. However, Elizabeth took comfort from the fact that although Deianeria could do things that later Elizabeth had no immediate recollection of, it was Elizabeth who had final veto and control of -- effectively—the on/off switch.

Elizabeth quickly put on her swimsuit and went downstairs to the pool.

o—o—o—

Alex got up at his customary ten am and proceeded to take a long shower. He couldn’t believe the events of last night. How could someone like Elizabeth fall for a clown like him? Elation was too mild a word for the way he felt. It was though he had hooked into his destiny and nothing in heaven and earth could prevent him from entering into it. He knew by now that everyone would be up and awake, and wondered if Elizabeth had told anyone yet. He suspected not, as she would want him to see Matthew, Kat and Cathline’s faces when they broke the news.

Anyway it was time to face the music and his new beloved! Alex dried himself down and put on his now customary shorts and wild patterned shirt. Walking downstairs and outside to the pool, he found Elizabeth still swimming lengths. Cathline was allowing the sun to dry herself off. Matthew and Kat were at the far end of the pool just pouring themselves another cup of coffee.

"Hi folks," Alex called out.

Elizabeth stopped swimming for a second to give Alex a wave and a wink. Alex’s heart leapt once more. She hadn’t forgotten. It wasn’t a one off! She IS mine!

By the time Alex had walked around the other side of the pool to join his mom Elizabeth had pulled herself from out of the pool and was standing beside him. She gave Alex a crafty look and then took hold of his hand. Alex was pleased to see the shocked look on Cathline’s face as she noticed their held hands. The look of shock turned to a wide grin and she said "You two kept that quiet!"

Kat had just finished pouring Cathline’s black decaf and had glanced round to check if Cathline was still there. Much to her amazement she saw Elizabeth and Alex holding hands! Now that was a turn up for the books.

"Liz?" Kat called.

Elizabeth whirled around but tellingly still had hold of Alex’s hand. "What mom?"

"How long has this been going on?" Kat asked with a smile. It was so good to see Elizabeth in a relationship. They were starting to get worried.

"Since last night. Anyway, we’re off to Male after lunch for some shopping. You want anything?" Elizabeth asked. She was after one item in particular, a UV light with which to read the notebooks.

Kat shook her head. "No thanks. John left first thing with the yacht. You’ll have to fly."

"Suits us." Alex called back.

"We’re just off for a walk to Stephanie’s cove," Elizabeth called.

Kat gave Elizabeth a permissive nod. It really WAS so nice to see them together. She’d had a suspicion for a while that something like this going to happen, but now that it had she was determined to give them enough space to make their own minds up.

Cathline walked over to collect her coffee as Elizabeth and Alex walked off, still hand in hand. "Remind you of anyone?"

Kat smiled, "Maybe, but Matthew and I never fought as much as those two did. "

"We never fight," Matthew joined in.

"Yeah right. I’ve seen you on a Jetski," Kat jibed.

"We’ll just let them get on with it," Matthew suggested,

"Just what I was thinking," Kat replied.

Cathline’s face took on a serious look, "I caught Elizabeth in your office today Matthew. She was still wearing Dr Bexley’s old clothes and she was sitting in the dark listening to music. When I walked in she spoke to me just like SHE did at the height of her fury. "

"She often goes in my office when she gets up early. That way she doesn’t disturb us. What’d she say?" Matthew stated

"All she said was ‘Hello Cathline.’ She then waited for a few moments and then her voice was perfectly normal again," Cathline stated.

"I dunno what to think. Now she’s going out with Alex I think she’ll be ok. He’ll notice anything awry soon enough. I think she enjoys stringing us along. I think she’s trying to wind you up, Cathline," Kat said. Elizabeth could be such a tease when she wanted to be. Not in the overt way that Alex was but she enjoyed playing mind games with people for her own amusement.

"It IS nice to see them together isn’t it?" Cathline commented once more.

"Sure is. I don’t know how long it will last once she starts back to Cambridge. Mind you she’s back at Harvard next year so it should make things easier for them, if they last that long that is," Kat commented.

o—o—o—

A few hours later Alex and Elizabeth returned from Male. They’d spent some of their time shopping but mostly they had spent their time just being together. Places that had become mundane and routine as they had grown up now seemed fresh and new when they were together. Elizabeth was happy, as she’d managed to obtain a small UV lamp from a photography shop. She had told Alex she needed to study, to get ready for her next term, and would he mind leaving her alone for a few hours. She promised she would be with him for dinner, and that seemed to pacify him. In any case Alex had wanted to fly the model aircraft he’d made with John the summer before, so that was fine with him.

Elizabeth plugged the light in and retrieved the first notebook. Was it worth getting Deianeria involved? Not at the moment—this was study not simulation. Once she had more information then she would invite Deianeria to help out.

Elizabeth placed the first blank page under the light and after a few seconds writing appeared.

"Exile Day 4

Took the plane to Lhasa. The flight from the US was torture, I was expecting to be hounded by the press but they didn’t recognize me. I can’t believe Matthew has done this to me. I knew he was after something when he jilted me but it seems he’s out to frame me for kidnapping!

What in hell does he want from me? Anyway I’ve taken the best way out I can think of. I’ll spent a few weeks in Tibet. It’s a place I’ve always wanted to go to and this is as good a chance as any.

Hopefully by the time I get back this will all have died down."

Elizabeth stopped reading. She didn’t believe what she’d just read! She got up, switched the light off and went to the spare room. After a few minutes of frantic searching she found one of Dr Bexley’s old workbooks from when she was at Harvard. Elizabeth also took one of the normal notebooks back for comparison.

In her room she opened the normal notebook and placed it alongside the blank one. She switched on the light again and studied the handwriting. Too all intents and purposes it was the same handwriting. However, closer study revealed that the loop of the ‘e’ and the tail of the ‘s’ were a little different on the normal one. She then opened Dr Bexley’s old workbook and studied the handwriting on that. It took a few moments for her to study the page but the evidence was clear. The person who’d written in UV ink and the workbook were the same person. The person who’d written the so called diaries of Dr Bexley was a DIFFERENT person altogether.

She quickly got her PDA out and placing it screen down on each book scanned a page from each. "PDA find the foremost handwriting expert who can give me 24 hour turnaround on the samples just scanned. Mail them to him and let me know the findings"

"Yes Elizabeth," The PDA answered back.

Elizabeth flipped to the next page of the blank notebook and continued to read.

"Exile Day 6

Arrived by land rover in Qinghai province. There’s a nice hostel just inside the border, which I’ll be staying at for a while. I’m looking forward to the expedition. It’s not every day you get to go on a trek to find new medicines. Hopefully it’ll take my mind off Matthew and his scheming friends. I can’t believe how brazen they were, talking about their plans to defraud us in the restaurant like that. It’s by chance I overheard them on my way to the conference. Even Cathline is involved. Just how deep does this conspiracy go?

I was staggered when I saw an identical copy of me walk in and sit at their table. Whoever did the surgical reconstruction on the woman did a brilliant job I was almost convinced I was looking at a clone. That doesn’t excuse what they are accusing me of. Murder and Kidnap, yeah right, as if."

Elizabeth shook her head in disbelief. These books must be forged, They had to be wrong. Elizabeth changed to the second book.

"Exile day 93

Somewhere in Amdo province

I have had some horrible news. I can hardly bear myself to write it. My parents are dead. They were killed in an auto crash a week ago. I never even got chance to say goodbye. Mom and dad, why?"

The letters looked a little smudged to Elizabeth. She thought it looked as though Dr Bexley had been crying when she wrote it. If that were the case then a DNA sample of the pages would provide more proof to the case. After scanning in a copy of the page with her PDA continued to read.

"The police say that they swerved to avoid a falling tree in a thunderstorm and crashed over the edge of a cliff. The car following behind was able to stop in time. Apparently they were killed instantly. It also seems as though I am to go on trial for murder. How can that be? I’ve been here for 93 days. It must be that woman I saw in the restaurant. I have to go back to say goodbye to Mom and Dad. I am now an orphan."

More smudges masked the rest of the page. Elizabeth sat back on the chair, still shell shocked from the revelations on the page. If the person who wrote this was really Dr Bexley, if the handwriting and DNA matched, then it would prove that Dr Bexley really was an unwitting victim of her parents deception. She tore out the page with the smudges and placed it inside her desk drawer. She would seal it off and sent it off to Cambridge for comparison with her own DNA. She would know in the morning if the handwriting matched, and that was good enough for the moment.

She decided that after tomorrow she couldn’t bear to stay any longer in this house of liars. They may not have killed Dr Bexley’s parents but they did drive her away. The cult leader was right after all. Hardly able to walk Elizabeth stood up and walked to her bed. Unable to control herself any longer, she burst into tears until she sobbed herself to sleep.

o—o—o—

When Elizabeth awoke the next day the notebooks and workbooks were gone and her room has been tidied. Alex was sitting on the chair next to her bed looking concerned at her.

"Hi Kiddo. You gave us quiet a scare, "he said softly

"I found it. I was wrong about them," Elizabeth sniffled. Why did her arm hurt?

"No you weren’t. They showed me the notebooks and the UV lamp. They didn’t do it. It was all a trick," Alex said gently stroking Elizabeth’s face.

"How can it be a trick. Where are they now?" Elizabeth glanced down at her arm and noticed a small red pinprick. She’d been injected with something.

"The notebooks? Your dad has them I think he’s going to burn them or something."

Elizabeth sat up, "No he mustn’t. He can’t!"

"I’ll make sure he doesn’t. We found you still crying last night—you glared at us and shouted at us to go away or you’d kill us. It really freaked us out, I can tell you. Who’s De-an-era? "

"You mean Deianeria? That’s the name of the project I’ve been working on. Look, I’ll be down in a few minutes. Thanks Alex." Elizabeth said and gave Alex a kiss.

Elizabeth was worried. She had to get those notebooks back, they were her only proof.

She decided to dress in her normal clothes and made her way down for breakfast. Everyone was normal, too normal for her liking. It showed they were worried about her.

"Hi Elizabeth. Glad to see you’re feeling better," Kat piped.

Elizabeth decided that lying was the best way to placate her parents. What action she would take now depended on the handwriting and DNA results. "Sorry about last night. I guess I goofed huh?"

"It was typical of Dr Bexley to write a false account that would incriminate us if it ever came to a trial between her and us. Even though she’s been dead for years she still has the ability to cause hurt to those we love. Elizabeth, please let this project of yours drop," Kat pleaded.

Elizabeth had considered the fraudulent entry possibility, but that didn’t equate for the difference in handwriting.

Elizabeth just nodded in agreement and ate her breakfast. She would have to see what Deianeria made of it.

An hour or so later, just as she was about to go into the pool, Kat came running out with the phone. "It’s for you—I think it’s Angela."

Elizabeth grabbed the phone. It had been too long.

"Angela, Hi. How are you? Looking forward to going back?"

"Hi Elizabeth. How’s that island of yours?"

"I haven’t blown it up yet if that’s what you mean. Listen, I’ve got so much to tell you I can’t wait to get back." Elizabeth was delighted to speak to Angela again. After nearly two weeks it had been too long.

"The reason why I called is that I have some bad news,"

Elizabeth’s tone dropped. She knew Angela’s parents were poor "Look if you can’t afford to come back I can help."

"No that’s not it. You remember Nick, as in ex boyfriend Nick?"

"Yeah. He was cheating on me wasn’t he?"

Angela’s voice took on a more serious tone. "They found his body in the Thames. It looks as though he’d been murdered. His throat was slit and he’d been dumped in the river."

"Oh my God. Do they know who did it?" Elizabeth felt a tinge of sadness. Nick had been nice and she would miss him.

"Nope. The press over here is calling it a Guild style killing. His pockets were empty and his wallet gone so the police think it was a simple mugging that went wrong. Oh Elizabeth, it’s so sad.

I know he didn’t treat you well in the end, but this is horrible"

"I know. I feel sorry for his parents. I expect they’ll find out who did it soon enough though," Elizabeth said softly.

Angela’s voice gave her agreement. "I hope so."

o—o—o—

"Kat what the hell are we going to do with her?" Matthew asked.

"That Olanzapine injection should help her. Why did she freak out like that? Sure, reading those notebooks triggered it, but even that shouldn’t have done it" Kat asked.

"You think she missed a few doses of her drug? If so how come, she takes it everyday," Cathline asked.

"We’ll know soon enough. I think she’s worried about going back and what’s going to happen with her and Alex. She wouldn’t say it of course but that’s a factor. That project she’s got running is taking a lot out of her. We ought to put a stop to it before it really hurts her." Kat’s voice was showing real concern. She couldn’t recall Elizabeth being this upset since she’d found out about her real mother.

"We can’t put a stop to it. If we try she’ll think we’re trying to cover something up and it’ll only make things worse," Cathline stated. "Where are the notebooks anyway?"

"Locked away in my office safe. I changed the combination too, so they should be ok in there. Cathline, do we inform the authorities or not? I was against it at first but I’ll do whatever’s best for her. If that means she’s locked away for her own and others’ safety then that’s a cross we have to bear. Matthew’s voice was full of sadness. The thought of his ‘little mite’ locked away and unable to lead a normal life was almost unbearable. However the thought of her killing anyone was worse. Who knows what she might be capable of?

Cathline thought long and hard "No we don’t. I know it’s my son in the firing line, if anything happens, but I can’t do this to her. Let’s let Alex work this out with her. That’s the one thing Dr Bexley lacked, someone to care for her and love her, not in a parental way but in a friend and lover’s way. I know I wanted to be that person to her, but she never really opened up to me. All I was, was a means to an end. By the time I was on the scene it was too late, the damage had been done. If Alex can be there for Elizabeth then I see that as our only hope."

Kat nodded her agreement. "That’s some wise words, Cathline.

But it’s a big burden for Alex. Do we tell him?"

Cathline shook her head, "No. How can we? ‘Oh Alex we just thought you might like to know that your new girl friend could turn on you and kill you on the slightest whim.’ If we tell him he will change his behavior towards her, and she’d know something was wrong. Let’s let love take its course."

"And if Alex dumps her? Then what?" Matthew said, an element of fear crept into his voice.

"Easy. We get him out of there as soon as we can and make Elizabeth submit to the test," Kat stated. It was the only safe way out.

"Agreed," Cathline said.

Matthew nodded his agreement.

Kat just hoped Alex was up to it.

o—o—o—

Alex found Elizabeth in Stephanie’s cove. She was sitting on a rock looking out to sea. "Hi Kiddo. Need some company?"

Elizabeth turned to face Alex, her eyes red with tears. I’m sorry Alex. Yeah, please sit down. I need to talk."

Alex nodded and sat down beside her. He put his arm around her and drew her close. In response Elizabeth put her head on Alex’s shoulder. She needed him more than ever at the moment.

"You’re in a real state aren’t you?" Alex said gently tousling Elizabeth’s hair.

Elizabeth gave a sniff and nodded. Her head still rested on Alex’s shoulder. "I messed up. I thought I could do it. But you can’t discredit the evidence I’ve found. There’s something odd going on Alex, but I can’t put my finger on it."

"I didn’t see the notebooks, but from what mom told me they were from a diary Dr Bexley had written about a trip to Tibet. They named Matthew, Kat and mom as trying to set her up. Elizabeth, you can’t verify Dr Bexley’s story. By now all records of her trip would be gone and all a handwriting expert could tell you is that she wrote it. It doesn’t prove they were true, only that she wrote it."

"It’s not just the notebooks, it’s everything. Angela called a while ago today. Nick, my ex-boyfriend, was found dead yesterday." Elizabeth started to cry.

"Oh Elizabeth. I’m so sorry. What happened?" Alex pulled Elizabeth closer. Why did Elizabeth always get the rough end of things? He wished that he could do more, even take on some of the pain she was feeling herself.

"Someone murdered him. Stole his money and slit his throat. Why would they do that? He hadn’t hurt anyone except me, and sure, I was mad at him. But this! I never wanted anything like this to happen to him."

"It’s a cliche, but bad things happen to good people, Elizabeth. It sucks but it’s true. Whatever happens, I’m here. No matter what you do, where you go, or what you say to me, I’m here for you." Alex turned Elizabeth’s face towards him and gave her a kiss.

Elizabeth felt much better. Knowing that Alex was here for her made all the difference. He was correct about the notebooks, but so much didn’t add up about this whole thing. The truth had to be somewhere, and in spite of what had happened she was determined to find it. Only one way remained—she had to let Deianeria take over for a while. Not yet though. She needed to mourn a little for Nick and pacify her Mom and Dad. "Alex?"

"Yes"

Elizabeth cuddled Alex some more "I don’t want to stay here anymore. I want to go to New York. I have too little to do here, it’s driving me stir crazy. In any case I need more stuff ready for next term. I was going to get them in London, but New York is better. Please come with me."

"Inviting me off for a dirty holiday are we? I thought we’d take things a step at a time," Alex joked.

Elizabeth didn’t laugh. In the old days she would have slapped him, but now she saw it for what it was, an attempt to cheer her up. "Please Alex. I need you close."

Alex gave Elizabeth another kiss, "I’m there."

o—o—o—

"I hope you’re not going because of us?" Matthew asked Elizabeth. He’d been hurt by her announcement. It seemed to him that she was disassociating herself from Kat and himself.

Elizabeth gave Matthew a big father-daughter hug, "Don’t be silly Dad. I need to get sorted out for next term and I can’t do it here in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Alex is coming too, so I’ll be ok. Really dad, all that business is over and done with."

"If you’re sure you’re ok then that’s fine. We’ll be over the first week back to check you’re ok." Matthew returned the hug. It had been too long since she’d hugged him like this. He did wonder if Elizabeth was play acting, but it felt genuine enough.

"Dad, I’m fine, really. I leave first thing in the morning. Alex is flying over a couple of days later. Hey, I promise I won’t trash the place," Elizabeth smiled.

"We trust you," Matthew said. That was all he needed to say to tell Elizabeth that she was on her own, that they would be there for her if she needed, and that they still loved her.

Elizabeth got the message, "Thanks dad."

In spite of her early start the next morning Elizabeth woke at 2am. She gently opened her bedroom door and let her eyes adjust to the semi darkness before creeping out of her room. She knew what she wanted and where to get it. It took her a few minutes to creep downstairs and open the door to her dad’s office. After gently lifting the carpet, she took a look at the safe now nestling under it.

She tried the old combination of "072096"—which was her parents wedding anniversary—but that didn’t work. She quietly swore. She now only had two chances left before the alarms sounded. What else could it be? She tried her own birthday of "052002" but the bleep told her it hadn’t worked. Only one chance remained and only one choice. Elizabeth closed her eyes and within a few moments Deianeria opened her eyes.

That little miss priss Elizabeth had so nearly messed things up. She needed those notebooks, as they were the only way she could be free. Now think!

Elizabeth had tried the obvious one of anniversaries and birthdays so it couldn’t be that. What was another memorable date that Matthew in a state of distress would think of? It would have to have something to do with Elizabeth, as she would be on his mind at the time. What event from Elizabeth’s life would stick in Matthew’s mind apart from Elizabeth’s birthday? In a flash she had it! She had been thinking too much like Elizabeth and it had nearly cost her the precious diaries! After reading the diaries Matthew wouldn’t be thinking about Elizabeth—he would be thinking about HER. So what date would Matthew most remember about HER? Of course, the date he was supposed to marry her. Now what was it?

Deianeria thought back to what she’d read about it. That was it. She dialed "082493" and the safe swung open. In the back of her mind she could hear Elizabeth telling her that her job was over and it was time for her to take over once more.

"Not yet miss priss," Deianeria whispered to herself.

"I said now!" Elizabeth’s voice told her.

"You need me to find the other useful stuff from the spare room. If you leave them behind you’ll never get them back!" Deianeria whispered out loud.

Deianeria waited for a few moments. She hated being subservient to Elizabeth but for the time being it was the only way.

"Ok collect the stuff, then we go," Elizabeth’s voice told her.

"Ok," Deianeria whispered back.

"One last thing. Did you have Nick killed?" Elizabeth’s voice sounded worried.

"Could I kill anyone? I AM part of you. Could you?" Deianeria hissed.

"No. Sorry I asked. We’d better get a move on," Elizabeth conceded.

Deianeria gave a wry smile. Elizabeth could be so naive sometimes. After collecting the notebooks she shut the safe and turned the dial back to what it had been set at. She was glad Elizabeth had switched over to her. Elizabeth hadn’t even registered the old positions—fortunately she saw everything Elizabeth did and had made a note of it. It was now clear that she could keep things from Elizabeth if she chose to and therefore it would be logical if Elizabeth could too. However, Elizabeth needed to share everything with her for the work to be done. It gave her a lot of pleasure that it didn’t go the other way around.

Deianeria replaced the carpet and ensured that the crinkle was just in the same place too. Elizabeth hadn’t spotted that either! She mentally sighed. Elizabeth was such an amateur. After closing the door Deianeria crept upstairs and into the spare room.

Part of her wanted to retrieve her clothes but they would only take up room she didn’t have. The original notebooks had been put back but they were useless to her. She suddenly had a thought and moved over towards the pile of Matthew and Kat’s stuff. She had to take the risk of putting the light on, but as long as she didn’t make a noise it should be ok.

After switching the lights on Deianeria found a leather bound folder and opened it up. It contained the account details of Matthew and Kat prior to the year 2000. This ledger would be invaluable in finding out if any financial irregularities took place. Deianeria picked up the ledger and a few of Cathline’s notebooks and gently closing the door behind her went back to Elizabeth’s room.

Once again she heard Elizabeth’s voice telling her to leave, but she still had things to do. "Do you want to sleep on the plane or let me work on these?" Deianeria answered back.

"It would be efficient to work on these on the plane. Once Alex turns up it will be hard to do anything on this," Elizabeth admitted.

"I like Alex. I hope he doesn’t betray us," Deianeria stated.

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Elizabeth said nervously.

"It’d blow the entire thing wide open wouldn’t it. It’s vital he knows nothing of this until it’s over," Deianeria said. Elizabeth was getting nervous that much she could tell.

"Agreed," Elizabeth said.

"Are you going to fuck him when he arrives?" Deianeria asked.

"No. I want to wait," Elizabeth said determinedly. Kat had told her how special it was to save yourself for the one you really loved. How presenting yourself to him as a pure virgin was one of the most precious gifts a woman could give.

"I think you should fuck him. So you know what’s it’s like. If I were you I would just take him. Let him know who is boss, dominate him. I would put my cunt in his face and make him lick me out," Deianeria said seductively.

Deianeria reached down beneath her nightdress and felt herself becoming moist and aroused at the thought of possessing and dominating Alex. It had been too long since she’d felt like this. Instinctively her finger went inside and caressed her clitoris and a small whimper escaped from her mouth.

"Stop this!" Elizabeth demanded.

"Why? You know you want this as well. You know you want to feel his warm cock inside you and feel him thrust in and out. You know you can’t wait to feel his cum inside you and that warm afterglow that comes from orgasm," Deianeria crooned. She was feeling jolts of pleasure as she moved her finger in and out of her.

"Hmm that’s nice," Elizabeth admitted.

"See, told you," Deianeria gasped. She had now laid herself on the bed and was now fingering herself with both hands. The jolts of pleasure were getting greater and more frequent and she could feel herself nearly reaching climax. She rolled her nightdress up to reveal her full firm breasts. She put a hand her left breast and started to gently tease the nipple. Another wave of pleasure rippled thru her. "This bit is private", she told Elizabeth and closed down the conversation.

In her minds eye she visualized Alex, spread-eagled on the bed. His hands bound by handcuffs and his legs spread apart by a large iron spreader bar. Alex’s cock was erect and waiting for her to mount him. In Alex’s mouth a ball gag stopped him from saying anything. She stood over Alex and gently started kissing his muscular thighs and slowly she teased herself so that her mouth was just above his cock, "I’m not going to fuck you" She heard herself say, "Because penetration means you have some power over me. I’m going to do this instead!"

She bent down and put her mouth over Alex’s throbbing cock. She teased it with her tongue and gently sucked on it. She felt Alex tense as she moved her mouth and tongue all over it and she knew he was ready to come. Still caressing Alex’s cock with one hand. she picked up the small dagger from the side of the bed and hid it behind her back. She moved back to sucking Alex’s cock and felt his body twitch as he started to come. She quickly took her mouth away from Alex’s cock and saw his cum come pumping out. Alex lay back in the afterglow of orgasm unable to move, powerless and bound. He tried to scream as he saw Deianeria whip the dagger from behind her back but the scream was stifled in his throat as Deianeria cut his neck open.

The image faded and Deianeria gave a loud moan as she reached her own climax. Her minds eye showed a picture of Alex’s blood seeping out over the bed and in the midst of her orgasm she was wiping it all over her breasts and into her cunt. She gave another moan of pleasure as another orgasm hit and this time the pleasure came not from her fondling of her pussy or of the kill but from the thought that this is what she would do to Alex if he dared to break her heart.

o—o—o—

 

Matthew was banging on the Elizabeth’s bedroom door for a full five minutes before Deianeria answered the door. "Hi dad," Deianeria said, her voice full of innocence.

"The chopper leaves in half and hour. You’re normally up before us. Are you ok?"

Deianeria wiped her hair away from her eyes, "Yeah fine. Sorry I must have overslept. Gimmie a few minutes and I’ll be back down."

"Ok," Matthew said and shut the door.

Deianeria fumbled around in Elizabeth’s bedside drawer and found an E-mail waiting on Elizabeth’s PDA.

"To ECSTEPHENS@Stephens.corp From Professor Michael Cromwell Ph.D.

Elizabeth,

Thanks for your scans. They are very interesting both on a technical and personal level. It seems as though the samples from the workbook and the UV inked notebook are from the same hand. The sample in the notebook written in ordinary ink is from a different person. Of course it is possible these entries are forged, but in my opinion this is only a small possibilty."

Deianeria gave a smile. She had thought so. That was the only thing that made sense. She now knew what was going on, but to admit it to Elizabeth would mean that she would no longer be required. This was something that Deianeria was determined to avoid for as long as she could. Of course Elizabeth would see the E-mail, but she would reach the wrong conclusions. She would see to that.

She turned the PDA off and placed her bags outside the room. The chopper pilot would pick them up for her. Turning round, she went into the shower. It had been too long since she’d felt able to release the sexual tension inside her, especially in the way she liked it. Elizabeth had kept her body in good shape. That much was clear as her hand went down over her firm breasts, past her smooth flat stomach and onto her pussy. She resisted the temptation to go there again. She needed to focus, not get distracted by carnal pleasures.

A few minutes later she dried herself off and on a whim decided to put on the bleeding heart outfit again. That was her favorite so it ought to go with her. A thought struck her. Elizabeth hadn’t asked about the receipt. Should she do that now? Maybe not, do it over the phone once the ledgers have been studied. That way Matthew’s answer could be verified against real figures. Deianeria considered that the ledgers could hide or exclude any payments for use in creating the fraud, but they would be hard to cover up.

Time flew past and soon Deianeria had kissed everyone goodbye and was on the plane to New York. Elizabeth’s nagging voice at the back of her mind reminded her that she was supposed to be working, not enjoying the flight over.

"I need to relax. Now go away," Deianeria commented.

"I can and I will shut you down for good. Now get on with it. I want this over and done with before I get back to Cambridge," Elizabeth complained.

"I’ve been thinking about that arrangement. Not good enough," Deianeria demanded.

"You haven’t any choice in the matter. All I need to do is take my Olanzapine again and you are gone," Elizabeth said back. Her voice was sounding worried.

"When your parents gave you that Olanzapine injection it didn’t last very long did it? If you ask me, your body is gradually building up a tolerance to the drug. In any case you need me around," There, that will get her thinking, Deianeria thought.

"I guess. Why do I need you? I can call this whole thing off right now and you’ll be gone. It’s got way, way out of track now. I never used to be able to hear different voices in my mind," Elizabeth stated.

"Because I’ve worked out what’s really going on," Deianeria stated.

"How can you? You only have the same information as I have," Elizabeth called Deianeria’s bluff.

"Because I can think and plan far beyond what you can do. You’ve seen that all along. That’s why you asked me to help. I haven’t yet worked out all the details, but one thing is for sure; you need my protection," Deianeria stated.

"From whom and from what"

"From yourself and from becoming what you fear the most," Deianeria said cryptically.

"What do I fear the most?" Elizabeth demanded.

"Hurting the ones you love the most. Becoming like me."

Deianeria said it in a matter of fact way.

"So you do admit to being evil?" Elizabeth said. Deianeria thought she sounded very worried.

"Evil is such a subjective term isn’t it? I am that part of you that gets the job done at any cost. I am the part of you that pushes you beyond what you fear so that you can conquer that fear. I am the part of you that drives your ambition. I am the part of you that wants to make you grow into something you could not normally be. If that is your definition of evil then call me it." Deianeria’s voice spoke in a soft comforting tone.

"You’re that part of me?" Elizabeth queried.

Still in her soothing tone Deianeria said "That and more. Since you freed me from your subconscious you have grown in so many ways. Without me there would be no you and Alex, because you would not have started to think of him in a serious way had I not been around. I know how you feel about him. A part of you is beginning to think he may be the one."

"I guess so. You leave Alex alone!" Elizabeth said defensively.

"You’re welcome to him. I have no interest in him at all. It’s my further existence as part of your consciousness I’m after. In return I will keep you safe. I give you my word."

There was silence for a few moments. Deianeria knew Elizabeth was thinking but she couldn’t tell what. If Elizabeth was thinking, she would be now be confused, full of conflicting emotions and doubt. This was of course what Deianeria was hoping for. She had to live beyond the project, this wasn’t just mind games; it was a matter of survival!

Elizabeth asking "How can we both live together?" It’s either you or me in there?" interrupted her thoughts.

"All I want is your word that you will use me whenever you are worried or concerned. That’s what I’m here for? I’m here to protect you." Deianeria crooned. She was winning the argument. For now the project didn’t matter. If what she thought was going to happen actually happened then it would mean she would never need prissy Elizabeth again. She would be gone and only Deianeria would remain. For now her motives and findings would remain secret. They would be revealed soon enough.

Deianeria gave a smile as the naive Elizabeth said, "That’s all?

You just want to be around waiting for me to call on you?"

"That’s all I ever wanted Elizabeth," Deianeria said softly.

"OK, deal. Under one condition." Elizabeth stated.

"Which is?"

"Tell me what you’ve found out regarding the project,"

"Done," Deianeria said.

Deianeria opened her eyes. Thankfully she hadn’t made a slip and spoken out loud. That would have concerned a few people! There was one last thing she needed to clear up.

"Elizabeth?" Deianeria asked in her mind.

"Yes?"

I need to do some more reading before I can finally tell you the results. Can I stay until tomorrow morning? After that I’ll be there waiting for your call?"

"Ok. I will take over at 9am tomorrow," Elizabeth stated.

Deianeria closed her eyes and went to sleep. It was going to be a long flight.

o—o—o—

Several hours later Deianeria landed at JFK airport feeling utterly exhausted. She had known before she had taken off what she was going to do and say, but it had worked out just the way she wanted. Goody two shoes Elizabeth had fallen right into her trap. She was so, so trusting and in a few months time she would pay the penalty. As she had told Elizabeth she was the part of her that would achieve the goal no matter the cost. She would also keep her side of the promise. She would keep Elizabeth safe, but only her body. All she had to do was play a waiting game and the person called Elizabeth Cathline Stephens would be no more. Sure her body would still be there. Deianeria needed it. However the personality would be gone, replaced only with Deianeria.

Deianeria felt elated. Only a few more months of being a prisoner, of having to deceive and skulk in the shadows of the mind. Patience was a virtue and Deianeria had that in spades.

After collecting her bags from reclaim she hailed a cab and an hour or so was letting herself into Matthew and Kat’s Manhattan apartment. She so wanted to go to sleep but she wanted to make the most of this time of freedom. This would be her last chance for a while.

Going into her bedroom she closed the curtains and she stripped off her clothes and admired her naked body in the full length mirror. She had to admit Elizabeth had kept it in pretty good condition but there was still room for improvement. Her arm muscles were a little weak looking and her thighs could do with some firming up.

What would she miss the most in her months of Exile? Eating was overrated as was Elizabeth’s relationship with Alex. Elizabeth had no idea how to get the most out of Alex for her own pleasure. She had these out of date romantic ideas of giving herself to him. Elizabeth was welcome to them, they only had a few months left anyway. After that Deianeria would show Alex the real meaning of sex and relationships. A single night with her then Alex would be her slave forever. Unless of course he decided to run, and Deianeria already knew she would do in that event.

It was the glow of orgasm, of sexual pleasure she decided she would miss the most in the coming months. Her body gave a quiver of anticipation of the pleasure to come. She was about to run her hand over her breast, when a thought occurred to her. Angela was a threat to her future plans with Alex. Elizabeth had noticed how she had eyed him up when they had first met. Would Angela need to be dealt with as well?

Only if Alex and her became an item; but by then it would be too late. Therefore Angela’s fate would match Alex’s; it was the only way to preserve herself. Deianeria had a wicked idea, it was one that turned her on as much as the idea she’d had for Alex. Her hand reached down, and stroked the soft hair between her legs. Her fingers gently touched the lips of her vagina, and she gave a soft moan. Her other hand cupped her breast and the fingers ran little circles around her nipple.

Deianeria closed her eyes and imagined herself in a darkened room. The lights were dimmed and in one corner a figure stood against the wall. As she moved closer she saw Angela chained hand and foot to the wall. Wrapped around her body were several straps which had been fastened tightly, preventing Angela from moving. Angela’s legs had been spread out to form an upside down Y shape. Deianeria saw with pleasure that Angela’s pussy was exposed and waiting.

Angela was wearing a black silky teddy and black nylon garters. Deianeria gave an appreciative glance up and down Angela’s smooth, firm body. She moved in closer and gently stroked Angela’s nylon covered breast.

"Elizabeth, stop it. Why am I here?" Angela gasped. Her eyes wide with fear.

Deianeria felt herself go moist as her fingers entered her. In her minds eye she reached over and kissed Angela full on the lips. Angela struggled to resist her but she was bound too tightly. Deianeria forced Angela’s mouth open with her hand and her mouth and she felt Angela try and pull herself away. "I am going to take you now, bitch!" Deianeria whispered in Angela’s ear.

Angela gave a scream as she felt Deianeria’s finger stroke her exposed pussy. "That right scream, bitch!" Deianeria cursed at Angela and proceeded to push her finger upwards so that it was right against Angela’s cervix.

"No please. Elizabeth, no" Angela was sobbing.

Deianeria pushed the helpless Angela against the wall and used one hand to reach down underneath her teddy and fondle Angela’s breast. With her other hand she once again fondled the lips of Angela’s vagina. To her surprise she found them moist and waiting. "That’s more like it, Bitch!" Deianeria said.

"My God, no," Angela was calling out and her calls only served to make Deianeria more aroused.

Still caressing Angela’s breast and pussy, Deianeria moved in to kiss Angela once more. Angela by now had resigned herself to being raped by what looked like Elizabeth. But somehow this Elizabeth was far different to the one she knew. That didn’t matter now as the new Elizabeth forced her tongue down her throat.

Deianeria let the image fade for a few moments and moved her other hand down to her pussy. By now it was dripping wet and every stroke made her gasp with pleasure. She felt herself nearing climax and instantly she was back with Angela once more.

"Wait there bitch," Deianeria ordered and moved away from a relieved looking Angela. She returned a few moments later clutching something in her hand. Angela couldn’t make out what it was and it was all she could do to scream as she felt Deianeria ram her clenched fist inside her.

Deianeria gave a gasp of pleasure as she gently rotated her hand inside Angela. She found what she was looking for, a small button on the side of the metal object she had held in her hand. As Deianeria felt herself come she pressed the button and waves of pleasure crashed over her as she heard Angela scream. Ignoring the blood now pouring out over her hand Deianeria rammed the now open flick knife up into Angela’s cervix and womb and gave it a twist before pulling her hand out.

Angela was now screaming in agony, all thoughts of being violated gone as soon as she had felt the searing blade go right into her. Just before she passed out she saw Elizabeth fondling herself with her bloodied fist.

Deianeria stood and watched Angela slowly die as the bleeding continued. With Angela’s final breath Deianeria came and couldn’t help but scream with pleasure as orgasm after orgasm came crashing over her.

Deianeria opened her eyes, exhausted by the pleasure she’d felt. That was worth it. Over the next few months she would remember this feeling and how it would soon come to pass in the real world as it had in her own.

o—o—o—

"Time to wake up," Elizabeth chirped to a still sleeping Deianeria.

Deianeria opened her eyes and checked the time. It was eight forty. "I still have twenty minutes left," She reminded Elizabeth and closed her eyes again.

"Yes but you promised to tell me what you’ve found out."

Elizabeth demanded.

"Yes I did. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin.

"Very funny," Elizabeth commented.

"Ok, first things first. The receipt is a fake. The signature is forged, it’s a very good one but it’s the only way that fits. The DNA test was easy to fake, as all it would take is a small hair from your dad and simple chemistry to produce a positive DNA test. How do I know this? Easy. Your dad didn’t have fifty grand to spend on surgery, neither dad Kat or Cathline. Their bank account details show no sign of the money either being transferred or laundered."

"Why?" Elizabeth started to say.

"Not yet! Questions at the end. Your research was quite correct that using current theory and techniques DNA modification is impossible. What it doesn’t take into account is the brilliance of Dr Bexley and her research team. She may not look it, or talk like it but Cathline is one clever bitch. I’ve been reading what records remain from TGEN. She was Watson to Dr Bexley’s Holmes. There can be no doubt that they stumbled on something the world has now lost or not reached yet. Just because we don’t know how to do it now doesn’t mean that we never knew how to do it. I’m sure given time together we could do the same as Dr Bexley did."

"I thought as much," Elizabeth commented. "But there’s no physical evidence of it ever having been achieved. Only people’s testimonies exist and they all may well have an interest in covering it up. Everything’s been classified as top secret."

"You forgot. There is evidence," Deianeria stated.

"Where?"

"In Syria. Remember Salah. He was turned into a replica of the half woman-half tiger creature that Kat was in order so that Kat could take his place. His parents had his body exhumed fifteen years ago and taken back to Syria for re-burial. If his skeleton showed extensive modification then that would be proof wouldn’t it?"

"Damn, Missed that one," Elizabeth swore.

"That’s why I’m here. Now you see why you need me," Deianeria comforted.

"But his parents would never consent.." Elizabeth started.

"I have that one all in hand. It will take a while to get the paperwork and their consent thru but in a few months time we will know one way or the other and the Children of Bexley cult will be gone. They will not be able to refute this evidence against them and so they will fold," Deianeria said triumphantly. What she hid from Elizabeth was the thought that in a few months there would be no Elizabeth around to enjoy it.

"You are so right Deianeria. You’ve done brilliantly. But what if Salah’s body melted like the other changelings did when they died?"

"Dr Bexley only told Hassan he had installed a changeling organ in Salah. She was probably lying, why waste the effort if he was only to be killed. Besides Matthew needed to believe that Kat was dead, he couldn’t do that if the body dissolved within a few moments. No, I am sure we will find all the answers in Salah’s remains.

"What about the diaries. The handwriting matches and I suspect the DNA tests will as well," Elizabeth stated.

"I’m nearly at the end of that one but I can find no record of Dr Bexley ever visiting Tibet. I suspect they may be forged too. Placed there to distract you," Deianeria explained. It felt good to treat Elizabeth like a bright pupil with no hope of matching the teacher.

"By whom and for what."

"It’s obvious isn’t it. The Children of Bexley want to alienate you from your family so that you will join them. The receipt and the misdirection has to lead to that conclusion. It’s the only one that fits," That’s not all they are after Deianeria thought but kept it to herself.

"They think I can be the new Dr Bexley?" Elizabeth stated. She sounded worried.

"Very good little one," Deianeria said. Maybe she wasn’t as dumb as Deianeria gave her credit for

"That’s why you want to protect me. You want to stop them!"

Elizabeth sounded hopeful.

"Got it in one. I’m the only one who can. I hope you see that now," Deianeria said as soothingly as she could under the circumstances.

"Oh Deianeria thank you. I knew you wouldn’t let me down. I was wrong to distrust you. I’m sorry," Elizabeth apologized.

"That’s ok. My time is nearly up and you need to get on with your life. I’ll be here, waiting for your call. Don’t worry you won’t turn out like her. I promise it," ‘That’s because you won’t be around to turn out like that’ Deianeria thought to herself.

"Thank you Deianeria," Elizabeth said softly.

"Listen. You have nothing to fear from the past. Alex is here for you now. Put this project behind you and we’ll move on together. Goodbye now," Deianeria said soothingly.

Elizabeth gave a yawn and opened her eyes. She felt a great sigh of relief. She hadn’t been deceived by her parents or by Cathline. They did love her, they weren’t killers and furthermore with Deianeria’s help she now had nothing to worry about. She could get on with falling in love with Alex safe in the knowledge that her future was assured.

o—o—o—

Mark looked at the E-Mail in disbelief. No matter how many times he read it, it said the same. He had failed the last set of coursework and exams. If he didn’t pass the retest in two weeks time then he would be kicked out and that meant unemployable and broke.

He decided he’d spend less time fawning over women he couldn’t possibly have and more time studying. If he did that he might just stand a chance of passing the course.

The college had told him in the email where he was weak, so he set about studying those areas. Two weeks was no time in which to prepare, but it was all the time he had. His parents had bawled him out about working harder, spending less time partying with Wills, all the usual disappointed parental speeches, and much to his chagrin they were right. He was most upset at himself, he knew he could do better. He knew he was one of the brightest in his class but he just could never seem to find the time to study. Things had to change. In a weeks time he would be back at college and by his reckoning Anne Baxter would be back. Fresh from her adventures on the high seas, and he just knew that she would distract him as soon as he saw her.

His only chance would be to lock himself in his room after tutorials and work. Wills would understand, and as for Anne Baxter well she would just have to be such a babe and keep out of his way.

o—o—o—

Anne Baxter flopped down on her bed in the women’s dorm. It was a week before the majority of the other students came back but she really didn’t have any other place to go. Besides, it gave her chance to settle in after a long few months in Israel. She reflected back on her time there. On the whole she had enjoyed it but it had been soured by the tragic death of Steve. Her findings afterwards had helped to end things on a positive note but one thing she was sure of. It would be a hard fight to get her theories and ideas accepted by the scientific community.

She had had her final grades thru from Tel-Aviv and as she expected she had averaged 98.9% in every exam and coursework. Her reputation as a ‘rising star’ was now assured. That could only help matters when the time came.

In the meantime she had another couple of semesters here, even though she had done enough already to be assured a Ph.D. She only knew of one person who had passed a Ph.D. in less than two years and with two semesters to go but that had been in genetics and medicine and nearly thirty years ago. Dr Anne Baxter had a nice ring to it. She could leave now and be assured of that title but she had no desire to. She had too much to do and her dissertation to publish.

The flight over had been a long one and she was very tired. Tomorrow was only a few hours away and she still had to unpack. She closed her eyes and memories of her time in Tel-Aviv came flooding back.

The plaques on the walls of every building dedicated to those who had died still had an effect on her. Men, Women and children had all been killed in that one fateful morning. It had triggered off a series of events that even now where trying to work themselves out.

The joy she felt as the "Anna Maria" set sail on its research mission. Steve had been an unknown then, aloof yet good humored. She remembered watching the harbor move slowly out of sight as they went further and further out to sea until land was but a distant speck on the horizon.

Her first dive gave her immense pleasure. It had been her first time using re-breathers and the freedom they gave her left her addicted for more. She had so wanted to see the sea life in all it’s glory but empty sea greeted her on many occasions. The results of pollution and over fishing were having a catastrophic effect. In some cases she found it hard to tell she wasn’t swimming in a pool, sometimes, so empty was the water. When she did find abundant life she never wanted to come up again.

The day she’d had her idea and it had been confirmed in theory came back to her. Steve had been staggered by its audacity and stunned by its genius. Seeing the once aloof Steve melt into gushy admiration had given her a great deal of pleasure. That had been the day when they really started to hit it off.

Anne felt a cold twinge on her leg. It was as though she had bumped into Steve’s body all over again. That was the low point, her lowest ebb for many years. Death seemed to follow her around, wait until she had dropped her guard, and then strike at those she had started to love and care for. Her swim to shore, dragging Steve’s body behind her came into her mind. Why had she done something as stupid as that? The reason was simple, because she could.

Her victory over the Dean in getting re-assigned to the "Esau" gave her pleasure. That had been fun, from becoming an outcast to the most respected member of the crew in a scant two weeks was something of a triumph. The last month had been spent writing her dissertation, which was due to be published in a few months, and now here she was, alone again.

In times likes these, when she was feeling tired and alone, she would just remember back to her childhood, and of the gleeful innocence of being a young girl. In her minds eye she saw herself, tiny and frail dressed in a blue and pink dress looking up in awe as they walked back from church one bright Sunday morning. She was a real daddy’s girl at heart.

"Daddy, when I’m older I want to do what you do," she remembered saying. She must have been about five at the time.

"You’ll have to work really hard to be a doctor," her father had told her.

"I don’t need to work hard—I’m clever!" She had stated with the absolute certainty that only a child can muster.

"That you are. But you still need to work hard. You know what the most important thing about being a doctor is?" Her father had bent down and was speaking to her face to face

"No," she had whispered.

"Every life is unique and precious," Her father said.

"Like mommy’s jewelry?" she had asked.

Her father gave a smile, "Just like mom’s jewelry."

The image faded and it saddened Anne to think on it. How far she had come from that little girl looking up to her seemingly all knowing and all powerful father. Her love for him hadn’t been able to save him that fateful night when the car he and her mom crashed while rushing to see her, had it?

There was so much she wanted to say to them. She knew they would be proud of her now, making a new life for herself, but what of the things she had done in order to get here? In the end that mattered little. She was who she was and where she was. No amount of reminiscing could alter that fact, and in a way it gave her the comfort she so desperately needed.

o—o—o—

The next two weeks were a nightmare for Mark. He had spent every waking hour studying in preparation for today, the day of his retest. Today would decide if he would be allowed to stay or would be drummed out in shame and failure. Wills had been shooed away and he lived, breathed and ate the topics of the exam. He didn’t recall working this hard on anything in his entire life. He HAD to pass this course. As the old cliche went, failure was not an option.

He packed his bag, ready to drive to the room where the exam was to be taken. He wasn’t allowed to take his PDA in, so he left it by the side of his bed. All he would be allowed to take in was himself, and some pens with which to write notes. He would speak the answers into the computer supplied, and it would then do the rest. He double checked the contents of his bag, uttered a silent prayer and went outside.

After rummaging around in his pockets and bag, he realized he had left his car keys behind and shot off back to his dorm to find them. After frantically searching around, he found them in an old pair of jeans. Breathing a huge sigh of relief, he closed the door and ran back to his car and after a couple of attempts started the car. At least that bit was working well. Mark’s car was an old 1980’s chevy. His friends called it antique, which it was and since the cost of gasoline had broken the ten dollars a gallon mark last year it was an expensive antique. The cost for Mark to change it to a newer fuel cell powered model was more than he could afford and gas prices being what they were he only used to for essential trips.

He had only just gotten round a sharp left handed corner when the car suddenly died on him and spluttered to a halt. Swearing violently he slammed his fist onto the steering wheel. He looked around for anyone who might help him, but no one was around. He checked his watch; he had twenty minutes to go before the exam started. This was typical, just fucking typical.

He popped the hood open and looked inside. There was no oil or smoke billowing out so things looked ok from that angle. He checked under the car but again there was no fluid leaking out. He checked the battery connections but they seemed fine, as did the spark plugs.

He heard a deep rumble in the distance. Actually it was more like a throaty roar of an engine. He looked up to see the outline of a silver Porsche take the corner he had just gone round with consummate ease. It just clipped the apex of the bend, and sailed around it as though on rails. Whoever it was, was a skilled driver.

o—o—o—

Anne Baxter was relishing being back in her Porsche convertible. Months of driving boring modern cars with silent fuel cells and biometric sensors had robbed her of the feeling of power and domination that she felt while driving her Porsche. Although it wasn’t her pride and joy, flew in the face of sound environmental doctrine she did have a soft spot for it. Everyone needs a harmless vice, and this car was hers!

She had just taken it out for an early morning run in the twisty roads, a few miles from her dorm. Before she had left she had upgraded it with the latest in anti-speed trap countermeasures, so she felt free to drive the car as it was supposed to be driven. There was a particular sequence of bends she had got just right, kissing the apex on each corner allowing the car to just feel it’s way around each bend as if it were dancing. Even her favorite straight section was empty of traffic so she had allowed her speed to creep up to an indicated 170. Creep wasn’t the adjective she would describe it as, more like being hitting in the rear by a train. For sure, they didn’t make fuel cell cars like this yet.

Her hair was all blown about by the force of the wind, it would need a wash before she went out again. She could feel her cheeks flush with the cool morning air. She was back into town now. All thoughts of high speed behind her as she cruised back to her dorm. As she rounded a bend she noticed an ancient chevvy, just like the one her dad used to have. It had the hood up and a man had his head inside the engine.

As she drew closer the man lifted his head of the engine bay and stared. He was obviously distressed about something, and she could see the start of a puppy dog look as he saw her drive closer. On impulse she decided she would stop to help, it would be her good deed for the day.

o—o—o—

As the Porsche drew closer, Mark managed to catch a glimpse of its occupant. It was Anne Baxter! That was all he needed. Late for an exam, covered in grease from trying to fix the car, and now his dream girl turns up to ruin his concentration. She was slowing down. What the hell was she doing?

Mark had to try and stop his jaw from dropping, and his eyes from popping out of his skull as she drew along side him. Her hair was a mess, but even then she looked as heavenly as she had done since he’d first caught a glimpse of her all those months ago.

"You ok?" she asked.

Mark’s reply was lost in the back of his throat. He dare not say anything in case it made him seem foolish.

She gave him an odd look, and then asked "Vous-etes bien?, Es usted aceptable? Sind Sie okay?"

Now Mark was even more nervous, she could speak at least three languages! All he managed to do was point at the car and say "car"

Anne gave a Mark the kind of look that implied his IQ was a little less than a turnip. She was about to drive off, when Mark in sheer desperation at seeing his dream woman leave forever said, "Sorry. I have the retake of my exam in fifteen minutes and my damned car has broken down. What a lousy day!"

Anne broke into a wide smile that caused Mark’s heart to melt. She decided that Mark was just stressed about his exam, and that he wasn’t going to harm her or anything, so she got out of her car.

"My dad used to have one of these," she said, noting that Mark’s jaw was on the floor and his eyes were taking in her every curve. The thought pleased her. He was kinda cute in a boy next door sort of way. He reminded her of someone she had been close to so many years ago.

"Did he?" Mark asked. What a dumb answer he thought.

Anne walked over to Mark’s car and peered in," Yeah it used to do this all the time. The wire connecting the ignition to the distributor used to slip out all the time. They look firmly connected, but they’re not. Here let me show you," Anne pushed the four leads firmly into the distributor cap and then gave them a shove for good measure, " See you need to push until you feel them click back into place. Now try it."

Mark dashed back into the car and turned the engine. To his amazement it started first time. "You don’t know how much this means to me. Thank you. He checked his watch there was ten minutes to go but he would make it, just!"

Feeling elated that he wasn’t going to fail just yet Mark blurted out, "I want to say thank you properly. Dinner at eight? Meet me outside the science faculty?"

Anne gave a smile. He was such an odd fellow. The similarities between rescuing this young man and the last man she’d helped whose car had broken down were not lost on her. Why not, second time lucky? "Sure. If you don’t mind we’ll take my car. Yours might not make it."

Mark was so surprised with her answer that he stalled the car.

o—o—o—

Elizabeth had arranged to meet Angela for lunch, and as usual Angela was running late. She checked her watch once more in frustration. She had a tutorial in half an hour, which didn’t leave much time for lunch and a chat. Elizabeth was pleased that Deianeria had taken a back seat. In fact since she’d started back on the Olanzapine Deianeria had remained silent. It had been worthwhile running the simulation, even though it had gotten really spooky towards the end. Deianeria’s revelation that the Children of Bexley were out to recruit her was, on the face of it not a surprise at all. What a coup that would be for them if they managed it. Well not any more they wouldn’t!

She had told Angela the whole thing, except from the details of the deal she’d struck with Deianeria and about Deianeria herself. That would worry Angela too much. Angela had thought Deianeria’s conclusions very logical and had promised to look out for her as well. So all in all no harm was done.

Alex was due to visit in a week or so. In spite of settling back into college life again, she found that she was missing him already. It was still a puzzle for her how she could miss someone she had spent years wanting as far away as possible after only dating them for two weeks. However, the fact remained that she now had an Alex shaped hole in her life. When she had told Angela about Alex she was delighted for her. When Elizabeth told her about their first date Angela went green with envy. Not only about the location but about Alex too. She was right, he was a prize catch. "Damn I knew I should’ve asked him out first!" Angela had commented.

The hardest thing Angela and herself had, had to do was to write to Nick’s parents saying how sorry they were. The brutal way in which he had been killed had sent a shock wave thru the university, which was only now abating. Another shock for Elizabeth was to see that, unknown to her fifty thousand dollars had been transferred from her account, seemingly by herself! That must have been Deianeria! But what did she need the money for?

Deianeria’s activities whilst occupying her conscious mind, concerned her. Sure, she had indulged in a little ‘two hand touch’ before but Deianeria’s had a dark, sinister edge to it. In her dreams she had vague pictures of raping and killing people she loved and cared for, but these were only a hazy recollection. She dismissed them as bad dreams. Another thing, why had Deianeria found it necessary to shut her out? The very act of becoming Deianeria confused her too. It was as though Deianeria thought her body was her own and not Elizabeth’s, whatever happened to it happened to her. Still, it was a moot point now. Deianeria was safely contained, and where the hell was Angela?

She felt a tap on her shoulder and she whirled around, "Angela Hi. Where have you been?"

"I took forever at the dentist, and there was one hell of a queue at the drug store. Anyway I’ve got your ‘asthma’ medicine for you. I’m starved," Angela replied, breathlessly.

"Thanks for doing that for us. We should still have time for a sandwich before I need to go," Elizabeth took the small white box from Angela and put it in her pocket. Angela had played along with the Asthma medicine deception since she had first known the truth.

"Still missing him?" Angela asked.

Elizabeth nodded, "Yep."

"Damn," Angela smiled.

o—o—o—

"Will’s you’ll never guess what!" Mark said running into Will’s dorm.

"Who are you?" Wills asked with a smile.

"I’ve got a date!" Mark exclaimed.

"Who with? Lemme guess. Doris the cleaner!" Wills teased.

"With her! Anne Baxter!" Mark could hardly believe he was saying it, and even less that it was true.

"How come? You drug her or something?" Wills commented.

Mark couldn’t contain his excitement. "You know I had my retest today. It was a nightmare of a morning. I was as nervous as hell and to cap it all, my car broke down on the way there. There I was stranded with nowhere to go but flunk city, when who turn’s up in her Porsche. She knew exactly what to do to fix the car, and then when I asked her out as a thank you she said yes. It’s tonight at eight!"

"She probably has a thing about men in broken down cars," Wills commented.

"I don’t care. I’m dating Anne Baxter! Uber babe! I never thought there was god until now,"

"Never mind Uber babes how’d the exam go?" Wills asked.

Mark was too wrapped up in his thoughts to answer.

o—o—o—

As Anne walked up to the science faculty she wondered what the hell she doing going out with a guy she’d met on the side of the road. Still he seemed ok. She’d ran a check on his car’s license plate. His name was Mark Andrews and he was a student studying ecology at the same college as she was. He had been brought up in Iowa and had been here ever since. He had no criminal record and was otherwise just a normal guy.

He had seemed abnormally enamoured with her though. She wondered if she didn’t have her own stalker and he was it. Oh well, she would find out soon enough. He was cute though, and maybe she was a sucker for helpless men. It had taken Steve weeks to pluck up courage to ask her out, and she’d only just said yes. So why did she agree to this guy? Maybe it was because he was just a name, if anything did happen to him, he was just a name, and that she decided was the way she wanted it to be.

She checked her watch, it read 7:59. Time to go. She had decided that casual was the way to go. Therefore, she had chosen her second best pair of skirt-pants, black shoes and a green blouse. Wrapping her hair up into a pony tail she made her way to the science faculty.

o—o—o—

"I hope this isn’t going to be one of those flowers, restaurant and awkward moments when it’s time to drop me off kinda date," Anne had stated mischievously. She had noticed Mark holding a bunch of mixed flowers as she walked up to him.

Mark looked dismayed, "Actually, these are for you," he said offering them to her.

Anne gave him a devastating smile, "Only teasing. How’d the exam go?" She took the flowers from him and held them under her arm.

Mark relaxed. He thought he’d blown it right away, but Anne joking with him had broken the ice and calmed his nerves. "Much better. It helps studying rather than mooching around."

Anne nodded, "That’s the idea. My car’s just around the corner So where are we going?"

Mark put a finger to his lips, and shook his head, "Wait and see."

"Aha one of those flowers, wait and see, and then awkward moments when it’s time for me to go kinda dates," Anne gave Mark another heart melting smile.

Mark didn’t really know what to reply. Was Anne mocking him, or was she trying to ease his nerves? "You go on a lot of dates?" He asked.

"Only with men who’s cars have broken down," Anne said, with a grin.

o—o—o—

"If you park just over to the right there we can walk the rest of the way," Mark stated, gesturing to a small parking place about a hundred feet to the left.

"So it’s a walk along the shore then," Anne commented. She was surprised how well she and Mark were getting on. He had responded in just the right way to her teasing, and had seemed to conquer his nerves that had threatened to mar the evening.

"Not just a walk along the shore. We need to eat as well remember, " Mark said. Anne was turning out to be as classy, witty, and beautiful as he had dreamed of. It wasn’t every day that dreams turn out to be the same as reality, but today was one of those days.

"I don’t recall any restaurants along here, unless of course you want us to walk 5 miles," Anne said. Whatever Mark had planned she knew she could cope with.

Mark gestured that they should walk down the long pathway onto the beach, "In about half an hour dinner will come to us!" He said, cryptically.

"Good I’m starved. As long as it’s not sushi, when I was in Asia I ate nothing but sushi, got sick of it. Anyway, what part of ecology are you doing? Marine? Arboreal? Zoological?"

Mark raised an eyebrow. She wanted to talk shop. "Dunno yet. All of them I guess. You can’t pick one without looking at the other. "

Anne nodded "True. Part of my time in Israel was spent looking at the marine ecology of the Med. It’s such an enclosed space, it’s an excellent barometer as to how things are going to eventually fail unless I stop it,"

Mark noticed the use of the word I. That was either supreme ego or she had found something. Anne didn’t seem the egotistical sort, so it had to be the latter, "I?"

Anne gave Mark a wry smile, "Good try. I have an idea that’s all.

When I publish it’ll be headline news."

"This looks about right," Mark gestured to an open stretch of sand just above the high water mark. He found a large, smooth stone and sat down beside it. He lifted it up and pulled out a large plastic bag. Opening the bag he pulled out several unopened bottles of beer and a bottle opener.

"Strange how people just leave food everywhere isn’t it?" Anne commented and sat down beside Mark. The beer under the stone had been a nice touch. She took a bottle from Mark, as he offered it to her.

Mark decided that now was a good time to bring it up. He was desperate to know. "I’m sorry to hear about the boat accident. It must have been terrible."

Anne nodded. "Yeah it was. Poor Steve, never had a chance.

That was the kind of celebrity status I didn’t need"

"Sorry I asked. It was insensitive of me," Mark said. His heart sank. He had blown it again.

"That’s ok. I now have to make sure I don’t let his memory down. If anything, it’s given me more impetus to finish the work we were doing. I had to go head to head with the Dean to get myself back on another boat."

Mark smiled, "That must have been fun."

Anne grinned, "yes it was," and she related the story of how she’d ‘persuaded’ the Dean to get her on board the ‘Easu’

After the story was told Mark shook his head in disbelief "You said that!"

"And more," Anne said, taking another swig of beer.

Mark plucked up courage to say "You really are the most remarkable woman I’ve ever met. "

Anne raised an eyebrow, "How so?"

"Apart from rivaling Rachel Martin,"

Anne gave a smile. "Why thank you."

"You act with supreme confidence. Nothing fazes you, it’s though you own the world. You don’t do you?"

"Do I look like Jennifer Gates? I hope I look better than Queen Britanny?" Anne commented.

"Thankfully no and you look a lot better than her!" Mark grinned.

"I guess it comes from having no parent’s for much of your life. You either become bitter and resentful or you pick yourself up and make it on your own. I did the former, then came to my senses, and then did the latter," Anne said softly. Why was she opening up to Mark? Maybe, he just made her feel human again.

"I’m sorry. It must have been tough, "Mark said softly.

Anne paused for a moment, looking out at the sea. As if her heart was now lost in the midst of a million memories, "It is. Everyday I move a little further from who I was to who I want to be, but there are some hurts that time can’t wipe away."

Mark couldn’t recall seeing Anne looking so vulnerable. "Can I help?" He offered.

"I’m bad news Mark. Trust me, I’m more trouble than you can handle, more than anyone can," Anne said, still looking out to sea.

"How can you be? You don’t even know me," Mark said. His dreams were slipping away fast. Was she going to leave him even before dinner?

"Yes I do. Country boy, setting out to the big city to make a new life for himself. I fell in love with a country boy like you once. He nearly didn’t survive the encounter," Anne said quietly.

Mark looked at Anne’s face and was amazed to see tears in her eyes. She was hurting inside and Mark wanted, no wished that he could take her pain away, "I don’t care. You don’t know me. I’m not this country boy you met once. I’m me!"

Anne turned to face him, her eyes full of sadness and despair, "You do not understand."

On impulse Mark took hold of Anne’s hand "Then make me understand. I’ll ask again what can I do to help?"

Anne was debating to leave or not but decided at the last moment to stay, "Dinner would be a start," she politely withdrew her hand from Mark’s. It had been a nice gesture but was now obsolete.

Mark checked his watch, "He should be here by now"

"Who should?"

"Bernito."

"That explains everything," Anne commented.

"Bernito makes the best hot dogs in the state. I’ve no idea what he puts in his relish but it’s unreal," Mark said.

Anne gave Mark a look that said ‘You dragged me all the way out here just for beer and hot dogs?’

Mark didn’t need Anne to say it. He knew what she was thinking.

But what was he thinking of; hot dogs and beer for God’s sake! He should have blown his allowance on the most expensive restaurant in town.

Anne saw Mark’s glum look and burst out laughing. "Maybe I was wrong about you."

Mark felt hurt. More than hurt, cut to the core of his being. "I’m sorry I was wrong about you," he said softly. How could he have been so wrong? Anne Baxter, Uber babe! Yeah right! Uber Bitch more like!

"No you weren’t. I told you I’m trouble!" Anne said.

"And I’m just a country boy," Mark complained bitterly.

"Come here country boy," Anne said and to Mark’s astonishment pulled him close and kissed him.

Mark was so startled he almost forgot to kiss her back.

o—o—o—

"Hmm what is in these hot dogs!" Anne exclaimed. The taste of the relish was nothing like she’d had before. Sure, some chili and tomato were in there, but she could only hazard a guess at the rest.

"Told you they were good," Mark said. He was still reeling for the shock of Anne kissing him.

"You’re wanting to know why I kissed you, and will I do it again?" Anne commented.

"I had wondered," Mark admitted. Once again Anne had shown this habit of putting him off balance. Did she do that to everyone?

"Because you’re you. I mean you could have taken me out to the most expensive place in town. Even though I knew it’d make you broke for a week. I’ve seen your car remember. You could have treated me like a princess; showered me with gifts in order to try and win me over, but you didn’t. Tonight you showed me the real you. Not some false made up image, but the real Mark Andrews. This age of ours concentrates so much on what is image, what is false, it’s wonderful to meet someone who’s the opposite."

"I didn’t plan it that way. This was all I could afford," Mark admitted.

Anne gave a smile. She was a little mystified as to why she’d kissed him as well. It seemed the right thing to do. She had found, much to her surprise that when she was with him her world weary cynicism melted away. It was though she was looking at things thru rose tinted glasses, that the past didn’t matter, and that people or at least Mark Andrews felt trusting enough of her not to put up barriers. "I’ve told you what I’m like. More trouble than you can handle."

Mark was about to say ‘Wanna bet?’ but changed his mind at the last moment "You’re probably right." He admitted

"But that’s something I would like to be proved wrong on," Anne said softly.

o—o—o—

The next three weeks passed in a blur. He had seen Anne most days after classes, and it seemed that every day that passed, they had grown closer. Anne still remained secretive and mysterious about her past, so Mark avoided the subject. She would tell him when she was ready. So far he had seen little of the ‘bad news’ that Anne had warned him of, only that Anne was everything he had dreamed of and more.

For Anne’s part she was rapidly warming to her ‘country boy’. Mark was incredibly laid back but he had a sensitivity about him that she found intriguing. She hadn’t set out, when she came to college to find a boyfriend, in fact she had deliberately avoided the matter for a number of years. But Mark was different somehow. No matter how thorny she tried to be, he would just laugh it off and carry on caring for her. It was a strange situation to be in for sure. Dare she love again? That was the question she asked herself again and again. What would happen if it failed like it had last time? Could she trust herself not to make the same mistakes again?

These were all questions that she didn’t know the answer to. Did she even want to find out the answers in the first place? One thing for certain she did feel alone. "Hi-Fi track 16 personal collection". Anne sat back and listened to the music. It always helped her think.

"I gotta take a little time

A little time to think things over

I better read between the lines

In case I need it when I’m older

Now this mountain I must climb

Feels like the world upon my shoulders

Through the clouds I see love shine

It keeps me warm as life grows colder

In my life

There’s been heartache and pain

I don’t know

If I can face it again

Can’t stop now

I’ve traveled so far, to change this lonely life"

A loud knocking at the door interrupted her thoughts. "Music, volume down 95%." She called and answered the door. She broke into a smile as she saw Mark standing there.

"Did you forget?" he asked.

"Nope I wanted you to come get me," Anne said with a grin.

"Nothing new there then. Everything packed and ready to go?" Mark asked. By now he knew it would be but he felt as though it was his duty to ask.

"We’ll have to hire boards when we get there," Anne commented. She had been keen to get to the Florida keys for a while and now she had the chance she leapt at it. The fact that Mark was coming was a bonus. She hoped to get some diving in too. This long weekend of theirs had been planned for a week or so now and she just hoped that she was right about Mark. Maybe it was time to open herself up to him?

"Did you get the exam results?" She asked expectantly.

"Sure did, I aced it!" Mark said and punched the air in triumph.

"Knew you would," Anne smiled back and gave him a congratulatory hug.

"If you hadn’t have fixed my car..." Mark said

"If is such a big word," Anne commented.

o—o—o—

"You and Alex seem pretty serious. I can’t keep you away from him can I?" Angela teased.

Elizabeth gave Angela a smile, "I have no idea what you’re talking about."

"Yes you do ‘little miss, my boyfriend bought a house in Cambridge, just so he could be near to her’," Angela teased.

"That was so sweet wasn’t it! It’s strange how the more I get to know him as Alex rather than ‘pain in the ass’ the more I realize I was wrong about him. We just connect!"

"I still haven’t forgiven you for getting in before me. He is soo cute," It had been a running joke that Angela was waiting in the wings should Alex and Elizabeth split up. The first time it happened, Deianeria had intruded telling Elizabeth to be careful, but Elizabeth just ignored it. Still, she was pleased to know that Deianeria still had her best interests at heart.

"No chance. Every time we meet, it’s like we’re bonding together. I never thought I’d say it but our lives are intertwining, becoming one. I can’t imagine a future without Alex in it," Elizabeth swooned.

"Do I hear wedding bells?" Angela asked.

"IF and this is a big if he asked me I’d say yes. Oh Angela, do you really think he would?" Elizabeth asked.

Angela gave Elizabeth a hug "Don’t ask me. If he’s any sense he will. It IS romantic isn’t it? Marrying your childhood sweetheart."

"He was hardly my sweetheart," Elizabeth paused for a few moments, "Angela Holden," Elizabeth said formally.

"Elizabeth Stephens," Angela replied.

"In the event of Alex and I getting married I want you to be my bridesmaid," Elizabeth gave Angela a huge grin.

Angela gave Elizabeth another hug, "I’d love to," she said tearfully.

o—o—o—

Mark and Anne had been an item for nearly four months, and Anne had to admit the time had simply flown past. She had enjoyed helping Mark on his course and his grades had improved noticeably. A few weeks ago, he had taken her to meet his parents, something that she was feeling a little nervous about. Not because she thought she would make a bad impression, but of what emotions it would stir in her. Much to her surprise it had gone very well. Mark’s dad had loved her car, and his mom being captivated by her intelligence and conversation.

Anne was now having a lay down on her sofa, and was reading the news on her PDA. Earlier on, she had moved some money around to her various accounts, so that she could to maximize profits from an up turn in the futures market. On a whim, she turned to the celebrity section of her personalized news-mail. One article in particular caught her attention right away.

"Mr and Mrs Stephens are delighted to announce the engagement of their daughter, Elizabeth to Mr Alex Richards, son of Cathline Richards(Rachel Martin).

Mr and Mrs Stephens of Fury fame had been staying at their island mansion in the Maldives when the news broke. Elizabeth is currently in the middle of a medical degree at Cambridge University, England and it is understood that the wedding will be after she has completed the course. "

Anne gave a broad grin, "You go for it girl!"

Her PDA interrupted her reading "Anne, it’s time to go. You are due to meet Mark at the Theatre in half an hour."

"PDA, thanks." Anne commented. She had been looking forward to this for days. Although it was only a local production, it had been highly rated in the local newspapers, and besides, in these days of interactive on demand TV it was a refreshing change to watch something live.

Anne checked her watch; she still had a little time to work on the final details of her paper. It should be ready in a month or so, and she had now manufactured enough plankton to show the principle to any that would doubt her. She still hadn’t shared her idea with Mark. It was better he didn’t know; the ecologists would have a fit if they found out. They would do sooner or later of course, but by then the facts would be out. She had speeded things up, as Mark’s research and others from around the world showed the rate of environmental decline was not gradually declining. The recovery was normally helped by compensation mechanisms within the ecosystems, but was now snowballing out of control. These compensation mechanisms, such as the increased growth of algae that would then decrease the amount of CO2 were now past breaking point. Gaia had given it her best shot, but under increasing population and industrial pressures it was a one way battle. By hers and Mark’s best estimates they had less than sixty years before the ecosystem of the ocean’s collapsed. In ecological terms that was no time. If they didn’t act in the next two years or so it would be too late. Thanks to the ark project the DNA of many species had been preserved after their extinction. So some of the bio-diversity could be regained in time but what good would it be if they had no habitable environment to live in? Mankind would of course adapt. Already they had the technology to compensate for the lack of Oxygen in the atmosphere, but building these O2 re-circulation plants on a global scale could take decades. That wouldn’t prevent the extinction of thousands of species in the meantime. She had to succeed! The alternative was for mankind to live in domed cities with regulated air, not being able to go outside for fear of sun burn, and a landscape almost devoid of vegetation. Two hundred years from now the Earth would be a wasteland.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Was it that time already? She opened the door, and gave a smile, "Hi Mark. Ready to go?"

"Sure," Anne said, and closed the door behind her.

Half an hour later Anne had parked the car "We’d better get a move on. It starts in 5 minutes," Mark said.

"Yep. We’ll cut thru there," Anne said pointing towards a small side alley.

"Ok," Mark said, and hand in hand they sped off.

On reflection this was not a good idea, Mark decided. The back alley was dimly lit and the walls were sprayed with various graffiti tags. Several large trash cans had been tipped over leaving paper, food and everything else sprawling all over the road. "We’d better hurry," Mark hissed, and they started to run faster.

Suddenly two figures loomed in front of them barring their way. In the dim street lights Mark could just make out an some kind of emblem of their black leather jackets. In unison Mark and Anne turned to leave back the way they had come, but another figure was blocking their path. Mark had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. "Hi guys what’s going on?"

The lead figure stepped forward, his face masked by a red silk scarf. Mark’s fear rose as he noticed a large looking hand gun in the man’s hand. He glanced across at Anne, who much to his surprise wasn’t looking scared at all. She was glancing around as if calculating options. Mark moved across to put his body in front of hers. He had to protect her at all costs!

The lead figure looked firstly at Mark, and then at Anne "Ok here’s how it goes. You give us your money, and the keys to that nice Porsche you were driving, and we’ll let you go."

"Not my car," Anne complained and moved to face the gang leader. A move that put her in the firing line instead of Mark.

The gang leader leered at Anne. "I’ve just added something else. Let me have a go with your girl as well!"

Mark moved forward to try and pull Anne out of the way, but one of the other gang members pulled another handgun and pointed it at his head.

Anne tried to placate an already tense situation, "Hey look, I don’t want any trouble. Mark give him what money you have I’ll go with him."

Mark couldn’t believe what Anne was saying. She had refused to sleep with him, saying she had wanted to wait, and now she was going to go with some scum instead. "Over my dead body!"

"Mark, Please I know what I’m doing!" Anne hissed. There was something in her voice that made Mark sure she had something in mind.

"You heard your girlfriend," the gang leader leered.

Grudgingly Mark reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his wallet. He threw it to the ground. Still being covered by handguns the gang leader picked it up, and said, "Thanks. Have a nice day."

The gang leader then moved in and gave Anne a large kiss. He held her head firm as he pressed his lips against hers. She managed to break free and said "Not here. There!" She pointed to a side alley a little way to the left.

"Anne!" Mark called and tried to stop the gang leader. He felt a large thud on the back of the head and fell to the floor dazed. "Next time it’ll be a bullet," one of the gang members snarled.

The gang leader led Anne at gunpoint to the side alley. When he was sure he was out of sight he pointed his gun at her and demanded "Strip! Bitch"

Anne’s tone of voice changed to a deathly whisper "My name is Anne Baxter and I am the last living thing you are ever, ever going to see!"

The gang leader gave a loud laugh "Yeah right,"

Anne raised her left arm and said "Watch"

The gang leader was amused at this young woman’s bravado.

She was no match for him both physically, and he had a gun. What could she possibly do to him? There was something in her tone of voice that worried him. It was as though death had spoken thru the voice of this young woman. His worry turned to fear as he saw the flesh on the woman’s started to shift. In a matter of seconds her fingers had fused together to form a sharp serrated bony blade. The bone traveled down until it reached her elbow. Now her whole upper arm was a nasty looking serrated blade. The gang leader gave a smile, no matter what this woman was she was no match for a magnum.

Mark screamed as two shots rang out "ANNE!"

Seconds later a blood curdling scream came out of the back alley.

Inside the Alley Anne concentrated and the bullet wounds healed up with in a few moments. She pulled her blade arm from out of the sternum of the gang leader. She concentrated on her arm and the flesh reformed back into her hand once more. Now it was time to deal with the other two punks. She now knew that it was too late for Anne Baxter. As soon as she walked out this Alley, then Mark would start asking questions. Although there were no signs of the bullets on her body they had left two rather large holes in her blouse, and the small amount of blood that had seeped out before the wounds had sealed, had left tell tale stains. She had a decision to make and quickly. Mark’s life was still in danger. If she disappeared now, then it would be a number of years before she could resume work on saving the oceans. She didn’t have a number of years left before it was too late so really there was no choice at all. She hoped Mark would understand. For a fraction of a second she considered killing him as well. There was the perfect alibi, but in spite of everything she’d done before she couldn’t bring herself to kill an innocent man, especially one she had grown close to over a number of months. ‘It had to happen one day’ she thought, and walked out of the side alley.

Mark was still hurling obscenities at the rest of the gang when Anne walked out. Mark caught a glimpse of her walking calmly out and called out "ANNE! You ok?"

The gang member behind Mark shouted at Anne "Where is he Bitch!"

In an icy cold tone that chilled Mark to the bone Anne replied, "I killed him and you two are next."

"Wanna bet?" The gang member said and fired two shots at Anne.

"Anne!" Mark screamed as he saw her stagger backwards as the bullets struck her."

To Mark’s amazement Anne kept coming. She was now moving faster than his eye could detect. He heard a gargled, stunted scream and the gang member guarding him collapsed in a heap, his head nearly decapitated from his body, and blood was pouring from an open neck wound.

The other gang member turned to flee but to he found his way blocked by someone who looked like Anne. Both of the creatures arms had been turned into serrated blades, and it’s head although resembling Anne was coated in bony armor.

"What, What are you?" the remaining gang member stammered.

The figure said in a voice straight from death it’s self. "My Name is Dr Elizabeth Anne Bexley and I am the last living thing you are ever, ever going to see."

Before the gang member could react the creature that had been Anne rammed both her bladed arms into his chest and ripped them outwards, nearly tearing him into two.

This was too much to Mark, still dazed from the blow to the head he collapsed to the floor in a faint.

o—o—o—

"Hey Angela you in there? The lights don’t seem to work" Elizabeth called into her darkened apartment.

Elizabeth walked inside. There was a green light LED showing from the TV, so that meant there was still power in the room. Light’s didn’t just fail There was something wrong!

A tingle of fear trickled down her spine as she walked into the living room. There was nobody there. She waited for a few moments to allow her eyes to get accustomed to the dark before venturing into the kitchen. She stumbled as she walked into the Kitchen and managed to keep to her feet. She turned around to see what it was and gave a loud scream as she saw Angela’s body lying on the ground.

Instinctively she felt for a pulse and breathed a sigh of relief.

The pulse was strong, but Angela had obviously been sedated. Her PDA was still in the living room table and the police were only minutes away. She walked back into the living room and tried to see it in the darkness, "PDA ALARM!" she called loudly, and desperately waited for the beep of confirmation, but none was forthcoming. Suddenly she was grabbed from behind and felt a damp, sweet smelling cloth go over her mouth. Seconds later it all went black.

o—o—o—

Mark awoke an indeterminate time later. He felt a cold, wet cloth soothe the bruise on his head. He opened his eyes to see Anne’s face looking down at him. Her blue eyes looked at him with concern. "You should be ok. There’s no concussion."

"Where am I?" Mark asked woozily.

"Your place," Anne said softly.

"You, You," Mark started to say. The visions of Anne or whomever she was cutting down the gang in front of him filled his mind. To think he had loved her!

"They shouldn’t have tried to take my car," Anne said, with a smile.

Mark managed to sit up. How could she make light of killing three people in such a brutal manner?

"Here take this," Anne said, and gave Mark a strong, sweet cup of tea. She moved over to the far side of the room, swung an armchair around, and sat in front of him.

"Thanks," Mark managed to say. All he could think of was the sight of the near headless body of the gang leader collapsing in front of him.

"I expect you have a million questions. Let me start. Who am I?

How did I do what I did? And what’s going to happen to us?"

Mark managed to nod "Those will do for a start," He took a swig of tea and felt a little better.

Anne gave a deep breath. This was going to be hard as it was, "The name I was born with is Elizabeth Anne Bexley. I was born in 1969 to Margaret and Dr William Bexley. I obtained a medical degree at Harvard in 1994 and worked for a time in my father’s hospital."

"No you can’t be, you’re dead!" Mark stammered. His heart felt as though it had been ripped apart. Anne his dream woman had turned out to be a monster! But what would she do if he dumped her? His dismay turned to terror.

"I told you I was more trouble than you could handle," Anne commented.

"The world saw your body," Mark tried refute the story of the woman in front of her. Anne had to be teasing, the alternative was too horrific to contemplate.

"The world saw a body, not mine," Anne said softly. She had noted the look of terror on Mark’s face. She knew this would happen.

"Tell me about it, all of it. How you felt, why you did what you did. Please, I need to know," Mark averted his gaze as he said it.

"What’s to tell? You know the truth. Cathline wrote it all down," Anne commented.

Still not looking at her Mark asked "I read it years ago, anyway, She didn’t write down what you felt, how you feel now. Am I in danger?"

Anne gave Mark a look of concern "Why should you be?"

"Because If I dumped you you’d do to me what you did to Matthew Stephens."

"Do you know how long ago that was? Nearly twenty five years ago. You want to hear things from my point of view, fine. I hope you have all night."

Mark turned to face Anne "Elizabeth, Sorry Anne. I loved you. Maybe I still love you. I dunno how I feel at the moment. If I am to trust you I have to know first hand.

"Ok. Here goes. You ever been hurt so badly you felt as though you wanted to die? Felt betrayed and embarrassed so much that the only way clear was to end your life?"

"Not until tonight," Mark said softly.

"Well that was how I felt. I nearly killed myself after Matthew left me, but my mom caught me just in time. They knew that I needed a change of scene to help me get my mind away from it all. The last straw came when I tried to save a small girl, but failed. Mark, I ought to have saved her but I felt too distracted to concentrate. She died because I was hurt. She was the first of the people I killed," A tear formed in Anne’s eye. It had been years ago but the pain was still there.

"You can’t blame yourself for that! She could have died anyway!" Mark tried to sound comforting.

"I thought that at first, told myself that when I woke up in the night crying for that little girl. I had to tell her parents Mark, I’d done it before; it goes with the job but this was different. If only I didn’t feel like I did I would have seen the embolism that killed her."

"Did anyone else spot it?" Mark asked.

Anne shook her head "No. But my instinct told me it was there."

"I think you were punishing yourself because you thought it was your fault Matthew left you." Mark commented.

"Maybe. Anyway, I was fine until I saw Matthew with Kat after they had been to the cinema. It was strange; it was as though I had been taken over by a different person. My normal morals went out of the window until all that remained was the person who called herself ‘Lizzy’."

"You mean you were possessed? That’s a bit from the dark ages isn’t it?" Mark commented.

"No not possessed. As you may remember I had a flaw in my brain. It made me susceptible to MPD. Lizzy talked me into letting her get her own back on Matthew. Eventually as time wore on there was no more Elizabeth, only ‘Lizzy’. Sure, I was at the back of her mind screaming to get out, but it was like being in a sound proof cell. The thing was, Lizzy was so much cleverer than I was, she was able to work things out, plan things and do things I never even dreamed of."

"So this ‘Lizzy’ became your dominant personality?"

Anne nodded "I was consumed by hatred. Nothing mattered to me except exacting my vengeance on Matthew and Kat. People were just tools to use and toss away. What did one life matter? What did a million? Any price was worth it to get back at Matthew," Anne stopped to wipe away the tears forming in her eyes.

"Is ‘Lizzy’ still around?" Mark asked worriedly.

Anne shrugged "Who knows? But I doubt it. As soon as I realized what the problem was I took measures to cure myself. It took me a few years to work it out but using my changeling org