Trinity/FreakAngels AU: A Heart as Cold as Ice.

[aeons_crackshot]

Time has passed, as it tends to do. The Æon Society has recently received word of people going missing in Greenland, and not the kind of people you'd expect to go missing, either. Natives and experienced trackers and wilderness experts have simply gone missing for no readily discernible reason.

That's why Annabelle Newfield and Connor are here to investigate. Mysterious disappearances tend to be their kind of trouble, one way or the other.

A friend of Jake's has dropped them off in a remote village with his plane before haring off on another errand.

Comments

[aeons_crackshot]

"No," Annabelle says with a shudder. "I can't believe there's something out there that uses human life energy like that machine they built in Siberia."

This is not a pleasant thought.

"We're not going to tell her, are we?" she asks quietly.

[leadinghome]

"No, nobody." He glances back at the cave. "That bastard will be forgotten.

"Like the coward he was."

[aeons_crackshot]

"Good," Annabelle says firmly.

"We'll need to put the truth in our report," Annabelle points out. "But I agree with not telling anyone else."

"Are we far enough out, do you think?"

[leadinghome]

"I hope so." He needs to sit down and let go of his mental shield, to catch his breath.

But first, he will help Annabelle settle. "You think our guide would scare much if I called him?"

[aeons_crackshot]

"I don't know," Annabelle admits. "On the other hand, between me and Constance, when we find her, we could really use a lift back to town."

Annabelle looks at the sky. "Especially since it looks like a storm is moving in."

[leadinghome]

"Great." Connor takes a deep breath.

John. It's Connor. We need help.

[aeons_crackshot]

John, like most people, is not expecting to have anybody else in his head. The contact comes as a shock, but he recovers fairly quickly.

They've been living in something like a Grimm's fairytale, why shouldn't the heroes have uncanny skills of their own?

Connor? What kind of help, and where are you?

[leadinghome]

North. I can guide you. Annabelle is hurt, I am exhausted, and it looks like there's a storm coming. He pauses. I can put directions in your mind, but only of you let me. There is a woman we rescued hiding on the way here too

He can sense the woman as well, of course.

[aeons_crackshot]

There's going to be a hell of a storm in a few hours, John agrees. I don't think we can afford to waste any time with me floundering around out here...

The sense of John taking a deep breathe. Go ahead and put the directions in my head. I never figured on winding up in a damn fable, he says with a mental snort.

[leadinghome]

Thank you. I hate poking around on people's heads. He will give John directions to Constance and then to himself and Annabelle.

"He's coming. Let me rest a moment and I will bury the cave."

[aeons_crackshot]

John starts on his way, the dogs willing to move forward now that the awful feeling of dread is gone.

"That's good," Annabelle says with a sigh of relief. "I wish I'd brought some explosives," Annabelle grumbles. "Then you wouldn't have to do all the work yourself."

[leadinghome]

"Explosives, and some drums of gasoline, and a ton or two of salt..." Connor will sit and try to relax, which is easier said than done.

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle's lips quirk in a grin. "The Carthage approach?" she quips. Annabelle has absorbed bits and pieces of a classical education in self-defense over the last three years.

Possibly a kiss will help him relax?

[leadinghome]

Not too much; he feels dirty right now, and sick from what he had to do. "Something like that."

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle puts an arm around him, despite that pain from her ribs.

"I'm sorry, she says quietly. Sorry that he had to do that, sorry that she doesn't know how to help him deal with what he went through just now.

[leadinghome]

He will gently move the arm away, and hold her hands. "You are hurting. We can hug later when you are not hurting."

Not your fault. It... had to be done.

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle squeezes his hands.

Just because something has to be done doesn't make it any easier to bear. I know that much from personal experience.

Annabelle has done things that left her with nightmares. She's killed out of mercy, out of desperation, and out of terrible expediency.

[leadinghome]

Connor will just nod, and rest as much as possible. By the time John arrives, he will have buried the cave, and the woman will receive the sad news that they were too late, and not even remains were left.

[aeons_crackshot]

Constance's response is fairly predictable. She's grief stricken, but shock is, for the moment, keeping the hysteria at bay.

They travel back to town in considerable haste, only just ahead of the storm.

Constance is taken in by one of the wives of the other victims, while Annabelle and Connor return to their host of last night.

Thankfully, drug control laws are mostly non-existent in the 1920's, so laudanum is, in fact, available. Annabelle is very thankful for this, as the adrenaline has long since worn off.

[leadinghome]

Connor will make sure Annabelle is resting, even better, sleeping, before he too collapses.

It was a dirty job.

But the town is safe.

[aeons_crackshot]

He's likely to be ravenous when he wakes in the morning, thanks to all the energy he spent yesterday. Annabelle is still sleeping soundly thanks to the laudanum and exhaustion.

There are very yummy smells coming from the kitchen downstairs...

[leadinghome]

After making sure Annabelle is fine, he will make his way downstairs to check the yummy scents.

Ravenous? You have no idea...

[aeons_crackshot]

It's a good thing that Mrs. Edelson cooks for approximately ten people then, isn't it?

She's a small but feisty older woman, hovering somewhere in her sixties. "Oh, good," she says with a smile when she sees him. "How is your lady friend?" she asks.

They've never announced their relationship, but Mrs. Edelson has been married three times and raised many children. Not much gets past her.

[leadinghome]

And Connor's blushing does not help much, right? "Sleeping. She needs her sleep, after being hurt."

Later she will need food and spoiling in general, but sleep is better at the moment.

[aeons_crackshot]

She smiles at his blush. "So shy! I had almost forgotten how it is for young men your age.

She shoos him toward the table. "You should eat, you poor dear. Women prefer a man with a little meat on his bones, it's more comfortable for everyone," she adds with a wink.

Yes, she's implying what you think she's implying. It's not malicious or ill-spirited, just friendly advice. She tends to mother everyone under the age of 50....