Kiss My Eyes and Lay Me To Sleep [Tara/invite]

[Tara Ritter]

With the need to fight back in her, Tara felt a glimmer of hope as she soared through the air. It was a small glimmer of course, but probably related to the fact that she had just discovered she did indeed have a qi, and that qi could hurt something that wasn't meant to be hurt by her. If there was any chance she might be able to hurt them, then there was a chance she could get out of this and help Zeek.

She hit the shadow and felt like she'd run into a brick wall. A soft brick wall... There was no give to her. Tara tried to wrap her arms tightly around the girl to try to atleast burn her, Tara's feet digging into the ground still trying to take them both to the ground. It was no use. As the shadows hands grabbed at Tara's hair, she screamed in pain, her arms letting go of her waist to reach for the girls wrist. The fist slammed into her face and blood gushed from Tara's nose, leaving her seeing stars and completely open to every punch that followed.

"Pass out you fucking bitch! Too little too late now girly! You'll never be able to beat us with that pathetic and weak body. Your boyfriends going to be broken, you're going to be broken, and when you wake up you'll be at the mercy of our boss. And she is VERY creative with her punishment..."

At this moment, Tara would have liked nothing more then to pass out and pretend this was all just a bad dream. But she couldn't. She couldn't give up. Just like she couldn't when the flames had burned her at the club that night. Everything was going dark, and she was hurting everywhere. She fought feebly with her hands, trying to block the punches, but it wasn't working. The knee that slammed into her face was the last straw. Her body went limp.

---

The shadow Zeek let out a cry of angry and pain, clenching his teeth and growling through them as Zeek tightened his grip. No matter what the strength, that still hurt. In return, his grip on Zeek's neck tightened. Just a little more and he would pass out. When he passed out, this would be easier. So much easier. The shadow's free hand grabbed Zeek's wrist before he could grip with the second hand. "Think you're smart eh? Not happening. JUST PASS OUT BEFORE I HAVE TO KILL YOU!"

Finally, Zeek's body returned to normal, the qi ending. The shadow bellowed out a laugh, tightening his grip more. No metal meant only flesh. And flesh was so easy to break and squeeze.

"RUN!"

"HAHAHA! PATHETIC!" He gripped the wrist he was holding tightly and twisted to break it, then let go and brought his fist back, slamming it down into Zeek's face one last time.

---

Tara heard Zeek, but couldn't seem to make her legs work as everything went dark. This was it. It was over. She could wonder what they would do to her when Zeek was done for. They obviously hadn't come for her. Maybe this was it. Maybe she was going to die now? She wanted to call her mom. She hadn't finished the dishes and her mom would be pissed. Then sad when she found out. She would feel terrible for being mad and then finding out she didn't even have a daughter anymore.

[Zeek Van Buren]

"Think you're smart eh? Not happening. JUST PASS OUT BEFORE I HAVE TO KILL YOU! HAHAHA! PATHETIC!"

Zeek was punched one final time. He only hoped that one of two things happened, freedom, or a swift death free of any pain. For Tara anyway. He couldn't care less if they tortured him for hours before they killed him. He deserved it, he couldn't save her. There was no way he could feel good now, no way he could feel happy, he failed to protect her... he really was pathetic.

Tara....

Everything went dark and quiet as he passed out.

---

"Well what do you know," Shadow Tara said as she ended the Qi, the girl had been passed out and it was time for them to go. She grabbed the real Tara, hauling her over her shoulders, "Grab Masters, let's go," She said, "If we're out of here in three minutes we'll be on time. Two minutes and we'll manage to actually be early..." And with that she would storm through the house out the front and make it to their car. She would open the trunk, cuff the girls body, gag her, and bind her ankles before placing her in the trunk gently.

Why gently? Well, mostly because she didn't want to hurt her car. Besides, if the girl remained unconscious long enough then they wouldn't have to worry about her struggling. She only hoped that her boss would want the girl too considering she is obviously close to Zeek. From what she gathered of copying her, he was her first... and only. It'd be fun to mess with her if they were allowed to...

[Tara Ritter]

"Grab Masters, let's go. If we're out of here in three minutes we'll be on time. Two minutes and we'll manage to actually be early..."

The shadow Zeek remained where he was for another few moments, catching his breath. For good measure, he slammed his fist down again. That's what he got for going cheap with this fight. Didn't matter if his little girlfriend was on the line, what mattered was, he went there. And he shouldn't have.

He spat off to the side before pushing to his feet, groaning in pain. It took him another couple seconds to be able to walk straight. As soon as he was good, he grabbed Zeek as hauled him over his shoulder, carrying him the same way the shadow Tara had gone. He came out the front of the house just as she was finishing up with the girl. He tossed Zeek in the trunk after her, cuffing and gagging and binding him just as Tara was, then slamming the trunk lid closed.

The boss better damn well be pleased with their work. A lot hadn't gone gone to plan, mostly because the information they had gotten seemed more out of date then anything. He climbed into the car and the left. By the time the truck pulled up, with people climbing out of it, the shadows, and Tara and Zeek, were already gone.

[Sara Gallagher]

Sara sucked up her coffee drink like a fiend as she stepped up to the gate, eying it. "So how do we get in?" She pushed against the gate but nothing happened. "It's either locked or jammed, but it's not opening. We're gunna have to climb it." >3 "I'll go first."

She shoved the drink into Matrim's hands and rubbed her palms together as she stepped back, looking up at the top of the gates. She whistled low. "This is gunna be interesting." She got a running start, then jumped, her gloves grabbing onto the metal and holding. Perfect time to test out the shoes. She used the toes of them to grip onto the metal bars, and it was like being in heaven. She was officially spider woman.

In seconds, she hopped the gate, her eyes scanning the grounds as she stuck her hand back through the bars to wait for Matrim to hand her back her drink. Once she had it, once more sipping happily, she ventured forward, eyes quickly scanning everything. It looked like no one was here, which was weird. After about a dozen steps, the sound of machines whirred to life and Sara froze, thinking she had tripped something. Apparently not, as the grating sound of metal signaled the gate opening. She let out a whoop of laughter. "I'm so awesome man. Seriously."

[Matrim Gallagher]

"So how do we get in? It's either locked or jammed, but it's not opening. We're gunna have to climb it. I'll go first." Sara shoved a drink in Matrim's hands and seemed to prepare herself to climb the fence.

Figured as much... she is the one who's better at climbing stuff after all.

"This is gunna be interesting." She ran up and jumped, grabbing onto the building and climbing up it using her hands and feet. She climbed up the thing quite easily in the end, and looked around as she stuck her arm through the bars for coffee, Matrim brought it up to his nose to sniff it.

"Are you sure there isn't crack in this?" He asked, "I don't know if you should be drinking coffee.... oh well," He said handing it over. She took a few steps walking up as Matrim turned to Clyde, "I'll help you over, alr--" And then the machine whirred, and opened up the gate. Matrim put his face into his palm at Sara's next comment.

"I'm so awesome man. Seriously."

"Totally," He said as he helped Clyde, catching up to Sara as they walked across the long entrance way, past the parking area there was a long yard with a stone path. "What in the hell... okay, how rich do you have to be in order to own and live in a fucking castle? Seriously? I mean, did he take out a loan or does he just rent out the place?"

Matrim helped Clyde toward the door as he walked alongside Sara, the door had been left open, but with no sign of forced entry. Which probably meant one thing, "I think we might be too late...."

---

"You couldn't have known... there was nothing you could do Thomas." Victoria said as she held the bag of peas to the head of Charles the butler. She was the only one who called him by his actual first name, he preferred the middle one but she always insisted.

"I should have warned him, I should have screamed or something he might of heard, and then he wouldn't have been taken." He got up, leaving the bag behind, "I'm going to get in the car, and I'm going to go find him."

"But you can't, what can you do? You aren't a fighter anymore Thomas, you're just a butler," Victoria said, knowing full well the type of past this man had, "We should call the police and let them handle-"

"The police can not help us. The police can do nothing, they can shoot guns and that's all they are good for. I'd rather handle this myself. I know I can't fight them, but maybe I can just outsmart them..."

He stormed away toward the front door, it was left open, and as he pulled on it he noticed that there were three people there. People he knew, all three of them.

"Master Gallagher... I mean Mr. Gallagher, sorry. And Ms. Quinn, what are you two doing here?" He didn't know they had married, "And what's this fighter doing with you? I'm sorry I can't entertain you I need to--" He realized they could help, "Scratch that... I need your help."

[Sara Gallagher]

"Totally."

Sara's smile grew even wider. "Glad to know you appreciate the awesomeness that is me." She gave him a wink as she waited for them to catch up to her, then started off towards the house. Her eyes ran excitedly over the grounds and the mansion itself. Zeek had told her it was huge, but this... this was...

"What in the hell... okay, how rich do you have to be in order to own and live in a fucking castle? Seriously? I mean, did he take out a loan or does he just rent out the place?"

"My thoughts exactly. He told me he was loaded, but this is intense." She chewed the inside of her cheek, raising her eyebrows thoughtfully. "Maybe I chose the wrong mate..." She smiled at Matrim jokingly, giving him a loving pat on the ass. Something didn't seem quite right though. Call it woman's intuition or something, but the place seemed to... Quiet. They were nearing the entrance though and Sara got a better look at the building itself. It truly was an amazing place. In any other circumstances she would have loved to take a look around. Apparently now wasn't a good time though.

"I think we might be too late...."

"Unfortunately, I think you're right..." She stepped ahead of Matrim and Clyde to be on the safe side. With Matrim's arms full, she would be better off going first. She stepped up to the door, squinting as she tried to peek inside through the open part. She could hear that there were people in there arguing and was about to call out, just as the door was flung open. She jumped back a step, letting out a gasp of surprise and bringing her hands up in front of her defensively.

"Master Gallagher... I mean Mr. Gallagher, sorry. And Ms. Quinn, what are you two doing here? And what's this fighter doing with you? I'm sorry I can't entertain you I need to-- Scratch that... I need your help."

Master? She turned to look at Matrim. Why did he get master and her just miss? Couldn't he have messed up her title and called her queen or something? Your Highness? Anything? Sara smirked at Charles. "Ya, we sort of figured you did..." She peeked around Charles and gave a little finger wave to Jensen. "So what'd I miss...?" Sara put the straw of her drink back to her mouth and sucked the rest of it up, finishing it as she eyed the house again. Now HERE was a perfect opportunity to check this place out. Zeek was probably going to be fine for another couple seconds, right? >3... Heheh... "I... need to find a garbage... pee... I'll... be back..."

[Matrim Gallagher]

"Unfortunately, I think you're right..."

And that's exactly how it seemed considering as the door opened Charles was there, his personal helper during the whole fighting incident that got them all in this mess. Not to mention Sara's own personal helper Victoria. He was about to attack them, thinking that they had something to do with it when he said something peculiar.

Who says Master? That's for like... students and.... when your someone's butler?

"You work for Zeek?" Matrim asked, "Both of you?"

"Yes."

"So what'd I miss...?" Sara chimed in.

"Master Zeek and Miss Tara have been taken it seems. At first I thought it was just him, but it seems she had been here too according to Security footage," He said and decided to add more, "By two individuals who looked entirely like them. They even had Qi. One had your abilities Mr. Gallagher."

"How the hell did you know-"

"Master Zeek hired me as his butler, not because I'm good at cooking or cleaning or driving but because I could protect him. I have Qi myself, and I am not a fool, I knew all along that you were a true fighter. It had been some time since I had seen one. But don't think of me as some normal halfwit. The important thing is that we find them."

"I... need to find a garbage... pee... I'll... be back..."

"Down the hall to the left, it's the first door. A full bathroom with a trash can under the sink," He added in real quickly. "I can drive us, but I don't know where he's going."

"Hurry back Sara," Matrim said and turned toward Clyde with a grin, "And that's what he's going to help us with. He knows where they are going, and he's willing to help us find them."

"Clyde isn't it? What's he doing here?"

"That's none of yer business ya old codger. I just happened to trip into this whole mess. Didn't know what was goin ter happen but I'm rightin my wrongs here. That alrigh' with you?" Clyde said in a snappy retort to the question as if it had some accusation in it. Matrim wasn't sure what was going on there but he didn't care. All he carried about was that they hurried up. He carried Clyde to the Bentley and got him situated in it while he waited outside for Sara.

First time being in one of these... things are even past my financial abilities.

[Sara Gallagher]

"Down the hall to the left, it's the first door. A full bathroom with a trash can under the sink."

Sara nodded and started forward into the house. That was a lot of information to take in all at once. First off, Tara? Who the hell was Tara? O___o She gave another glance to Matrim as she passed through the door into the house. Zeek had butlers and a mansion. His butlers called him MASTER. A MANSION. A BUTLER with QI who acted as a BODYGUARD. You know, if she had one of them, Gabriel might not have gotten into their house that one time. She narrowed her eyes as she stared at Matrim. Maybe she really HAD chosen wrong...

Pfffft. The idea of being with Zeek was ridiculous. Sara was laughing as she walked into the home, looking around.

"Hurry back Sara!"

"Ya, ya..." She rubbed her hands together excitedly at the prospect of exploring as she glanced around, getting a strange look from Jensen. "I uh... I get excited about... peeing... Where was the washroom?" Jensen pointed down a hall and Sara skipped off. So both were taken though. Which was interesting to start with. Sara could understand Zeek, but the girl must just be because she was here. Or maybe she was Zeek's girlfriend?

She peeked into the bathroom and her jaw dropped. It was twice the size of hers and this wasn't even a main bathroom. What the HELL was that about!? She tossed her cup into the trash and skipped further down the hall, making a right at the end, opening doors every so often to peek inside. Within minutes, Sara was completely lost. But at least she was thoroughly amazed. The place was huge and it had everything. EVERYTHING...

... Matrim was going to kill her... >_>" Oh dear...

[Matrim Gallagher]

Where the hell is that woman?

"We can't wait forever you know. You need to go find her so we can get there in time, if Master Zeek is hurt-"

"Clyde." Matrim said, cutting off Thomas. He was never really a big fan of him, he was too uppity, to snobby for his liking. And it seemed rather rude of him to be so impatient.

"Yeah boy-o?"

"Find Sara, get back here quickly," He said, "If she shows any signs of dangerous attitude, don't fight back with her, just take what she says. Alright?" Matrim said as he helped Clyde out of the car. Once Clyde was up he said, "Oh and..."

He grabbed him, placing a hand to his back and cracked it, putting his back essentially something along the lines of back in place. Mostly he just fixed the damage that had been done. Clyde let out a scream and then said, "Why'd yeh do that now and not earlier?"

"Wasn't sure if you'd run away," Matrim said ,"Besides, you needed to pay a little for everything you did."

"Scary.... alrigh' I'll be back in a jiffy, don' go nowhere without me." He said as he walked off. It was good to see he wouldn't run just yet since he was obviously still bruised and swollen in the area. But at least he could walk without feeling like daggers were going through him. Clyde used his Qi to quickly spot out the girl, calling over to her, "Oi! Bird! Over here," He'd say, walking toward the hall she was in and calling to her, "We got to be goin now, not going to leave without yeh."

He would wait with his hands in his pocket. Thinking to himself 'why don't I run?' He thought about it and said, 'cus I don't want to....'

[Sara Gallagher]

"Oi! Bird! Over here!"

HELP HAS ARRIVED!

Sara turned hopefully towards the sound of Clyde's voice, her hand still on the doorknob of a door she had been about to open and check out. Her first reaction was, 'well there goes all my fun, back to bloody stupid business... TT.TT'. Her second thought was, 'well at least I'm not going to die lost and alone'.

"We got to be goin now, not going to leave without yeh."

The moment he came into view she flew at him, throwing her arms around his neck and planting her lips on his. "My saviour!" She cuddled her face into his neck.

=___=" Wait... Finally, the third thought. Matrim wouldn't have let Clyde out of his sight for a second, especially not with Crazy Sara in full control. Or would he...? How did he know where she was? o____O His back was ok? Bird? Leaving without her? O__O He took out Matrim! HE WAS FAKING D<

She shifted, her arms still around him were now gripping the back of his shirt, and threw her knee up into his groin. At the same time she pulled forward, forcing him to double over as she pulled his shirt over his head to jersey him. "What did you do you rawny scut?!"

[Matrim Gallagher]

"My saviour!" She said, pulling him into a hug. Clyde immediately felt a little better about himself. It was funny how something so small could give him such a big feeling of good. Just the warm fuzzies he needed you know? And in any case it was especially good to get some feeling of love however temporary after his abandonment issues grew ten fold from what his so called partner-in-crime did to him.

Of course, this all changed in a moments notice, with a knee to the groin. Clyde immediately cupped his junk and had himself jersey'd. He simply fell to the ground and rolled into a position on his back with his arms up in defense. "What did you do you rawny scut?!"

"I didn't do anythin! Matrim sent me because I can see people's energies to find em! It's my Qi, bird!" He said almost rushed and hopeful of being saved.

Matrim came around the corner having followed him a bit once it took more than a few seconds, "I guess NOW we're even."

"Whaddya mean NOW?!?!?!?" He said.

"Help him up Sara, we need to get going," He said, as he nodded his head towards the direction of the exit. He would turn and lead the way. Even if Sara might have gotten lost again for some reason she'd have Clyde with her to follow Matrim and everyone elses energies. Once out he would lead them both to the Bentley, and once they got in they'd be on their way, "What took you so long, did you fall in?" Matrim would ask her.

[Sara Gallagher]

"I didn't do anythin! Matrim sent me because I can see people's energies to find em! It's my Qi, bird!"

... "Oh..." Well that actually made a lot of sense >_>" "You brought that on yourself..." She crossed her arms over her chest, tapping her foot as her face turned red. "But I guess I'm sort of sorry..."

"I guess NOW we're even."

"Matrim!" She jumped at him, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck to kiss him. Now here was her real savior. But with him around, it really did mean that this time they were definitely back to work >3>

"Help him up Sara, we need to get going."

She slid off of him, turning back to Clyde and hopping over to him. She grabbed his hand and hauled him to his feet, easily and gently tugging his shirt back down. "Ya... Sorry... Thanks for coming to get me..." She took his hand, blushing deeply, and tugged him along behind her, jogging to catch up with Matrim. When the hell did she ever get all blushy and nice? Ugh, the sane side was totally having a gross girly effect on her. Apparently she had been on the right track though and had been heading towards the entrance. That was sort of nice to know.

Sara tugged Clyde behind her out the door and towards the Bently. As they reached the car, she let go of his hand and climbed inside, tugging on her seatbelt as everyone got ready.

"What took you so long, did you fall in?"

Sara sent him a dazzling smile. "Oh yes, you should have seen it. It was like a tidal wave, I got sooo wet~ No you moron, I got lost. So where are we going? And how long ago were they taken?"

[Matrim Gallagher]

"Matrim!" Sara hugged him before going back to get Clyde. Matrim could have been crazy but he thought he actually heard an apology. Which was, kind of one in a million with Sara but hey, she did seem to knee the guy in the groin over nothing. Then they were on their way, making it back to the car.

Once they were in and ready Sara might notice that neither Clyde or Matrim had their seat belts on. Both of them looked over at her as she did. They pretty much gave a bit of an awkward stare time before looking forward again. "Oh yes, you should have seen it. It was like a tidal wave, I got sooo wet~ No you moron, I got lost. So where are we going? And how long ago were they taken?"

"Where else?" Clyde said, "I'm afraid I could have just told yeh to start but I needed to come with. But really any idgit could figure it out. Where's the one place she'd want to exact revenge? The one place she'd want to kill Zeek?" He looked up towards Thomas, "Take us to where that club was, boy-o. After it burnt down, she bought the land, that's where I've been trainin'. That's where she's been doin her experiments."

"Oh..." Matrim said, and suddenly the Bentley started off and pulled out of the driveway. "That's like a thirty minute drive, Sara."

"Please sir, it'll only take me seven minutes at most."

At this point Matrim and Clyde fastened their seat belts....

[Tara Ritter]

Tara groaned, flinching away from the sudden lights that burst into the small cramped space. She had come to a couple times, but had pretty much slept. It was small, warm, dark, and the movement had lulled her into sleep. The light that now stabbed into her eyes, cracked through her head and made her want to die. Her whole body hurt, aching and bruised. It took her a moment, but the sudden realization that she was tied up and gagged hit her like a brick wall. The memories came flooding back to her, and with wide eyes, she looked down at her body to wonder why she wasn't on fire.

And then someone grabbed her, tugging her up and out of where ever she was. She whimpered, then stumbled as she tried to keep her feet, but couldn't because they were tied. What kept her standing up was the hands clenched tightly around her forearms. She twisted, trying to break free. This situation, although worse off then the original one, was still like a second chance for her. She couldn't give up, not now. She turned back to see Zeek being pulled from the trunk of the car. One look at him had Tara screaming around the gag in her mouth in anger and fear. He looked terrible, beaten and bloody, and was tied up just as she was.

She twisted again, pulling against the grasp of the people holding her. They simply let her go and she fell to the floor while they laughed. "We were supposed to untie them, but she's fighting back to much. I say we just carry her. Nothing can wrong from this point on."

A hand reached down, slapping her across the face. Her cheek stung and she could feel a bruise forming on her cheek from it as the person lifted her up, throwing her over their shoulder to lead the way down the hall.

[Zeek Van Buren]

Zeek started to wake up as he got pulled out, his eyes looked at Tara and he started to fight back as he was pulled out. He stopped though and watched Tara being lifted up to be carried. "We were supposed to untie them, but she's fighting back to much. I say we just carry her. Nothing can wrong from this point on."

The clone of Zeek took his ankle restraints off so he could just walk. Zeek activated his Qi and the guy spoke to him, "That won't do you much good I'm afraid."

If Thomas comes he'll be able to follow the trail of metal blood... my wounds seem to be bleeding a bit still... the metal will lead him...

Tara had been slapped and it angered Zeek but at the moment he didn't have anything he could do. He simply walked along, hoping and waiting for a chance to try and break free. He suddenly knew where they were, it was the same place the club had been. They were lead to (and carried to) the inside of the warehouse to see what looked like some lab experiments going on. In the center of the place was a control console with something in it, something large and what seemed to be... well, remains. Bones floating around in a tub of ingredients as well as bits of flesh.

"It's been awhile since you've seen him," A voice said, walking out. Carolyn had her Qi down for the safety of her crew, but she was dying to kill Zeek, "Take out his gag, now."

The clone did so and Zeek immediately said, "Fuck yo-" The clone punched him hard on the cheek as Zeek nearly fell over again. Carolyn walked up him, lifting his face up with her hands gripping down on his cheeks, "What... you gonna kiss me or something? If so just kill me now because I don't think I want to kiss a pile of burnt flesh today."

"That's too bad, guess that means you won't give your girlfriend one last kiss once she's dead," Carolyn said as the clone quickly grabbed Zeek to restrain him from attacking Carolyn as he bursted out trying to attack her in a rage. He didn't land anything he attempted though since he had been pulled back, but he struggled a bit. "I heard she can copy Qi's... is this true?"

"Yeah," The Tara clone said, "She managed to replicate the very Qi she gave me. I'm not sure if it's because it's hers but she got it completely fully powered, and I don't think she's used it before. It wasn't in her memory aside from someone she respects having it."

"Then get her to the lab, she isn't to be harmed or touched in any way from here on out until we're done. Then she's fair game for whatever you wish to do to her," Carolyn said. She turned to Zeek who spat at her, the trickle of metallic goo hitting her cheek as she wiped it off. "What's the matter? You don't like that?"

"What are you going to do?" Zeek asked, hoping to stall her.

"I'm not a comic book Villain Zeek," She said walking toward him and punching him hard in the gut. She released a small amount of her Qi to superheat him a bit so that the impact didn't hurt her as much, "I'm going to kill you and then I'll do what it is I'm going to do, and that is all you need to know. I'm going to kill you right in front of father."

"Father? That things YOUR DAD?!?"

"What's left of him anyway. But he's been a great help, he's the one who captured you, and now he'll be the one to kill you. His power anyway, implanted in an empty shell. A human clone of sorts, his Qi energy bringing it to life, giving it power. But not a face.... not a personality.... not a Qi of it's own. That all comes from you."

"The clones...."

"Shadows, we call them. Shadow people. And now, yours is going to kill you...."

The shadow Zeek smiled as he turned metal and wrapped his hands around the real Zeek's head. "Oh I'm going to enjoy this...."