The NicBrig Chronicles: Connie And Seanna free porn video

The NicBrig Chronicles: Connie and Seanna by Armond I. The ice is thin come on dive in underneath my lucid skin... Hours pass days pass time stands still... - Ice, Sarah McLachlan, *** A white flash glittered through a rain-splattered window. Though late morning, the November gale had turned morning to dusk. "Headlights coming, he's here!" Seanna said, her wine red hair swishing as she turned to her mother and aunt. The older women nodded, and rose from their rosewood table in the center of their book-lined conservatory. "Go fetch him, dear, Una and I will set up the orb," Ula replied. "You're sure about this, Seanna? Last chance?" Una asked, looking up from her crossword puzzle. Her rosy face was a study in calm, as if what they were doing was an everyday New England event. "My answer hasn't changed since the other dozen times you asked," she said, turning back to the window. "I hunger for your touch, my love; I want to eat you up..." she murmured, touching her fingertips to the cold window, and tracing his car's path as it traveled down their long oak-lined driveway. His headlights made the soggy brown leaves sparkle. Seanna didn't see that her mother had turned red and Ula was grinning ear to ear. "...but what are you inside, hmm? Cream filling, or ...?" Seanna turned her mother and aunt again. "Something happened to him growing up, that made him an absolute Scrooge with his feelings. So yeah, I like the wrapping paper and shiny bow, but once I unwrap it, what do I got?" "Women have puzzled that one for as long as there have been men, niece," Ula said, as she opened a Chinese puzzle box and removed a softball-sized milky sphere. Seanna nodded her head. "Most gals have to take that gamble, but we're NicBrigs, right? So we have other options." "Aren't you courting trouble?" Una said, arching a red eyebrow. "Have you been honest with him?" "He thinks it's about doing a favor for Deirdre to relieve her pain and ...um ...some interesting sex." She lowered her eyes. "at least that's what I said." "How do I tell him our clan marries either for 'a year and a day', or 'always, forever,'" Seanna said scrunching her red-freckled nose. "That's just a quaint Nicbrig saying, right? Cause I don't even know what that means. He's starting to scratch the surface on how strange we are; I have to dole this stuff a little at a time, or I'll scare him off!" "And what we're doing with the orb won't? That's daft, daughter," Una said. "So, okay, not logical," Seanna answered, twirling a red strand. "Anyway, Deirdre needs this favor now, not at some later time when I've eased Scott into our magical eccentricities." "This is only about helping my baby, as far as I'm concerned," Ula said, as she rubbed her temples. "I hope this will be a ...um, reboot ...for her; she's been unwell for so-" Deirdre walked in; dressed in a gray herringbone skirt, a tight black turtleneck and high heels. She balanced a silver tray with five bubbling champagne flutes, one held a bright red cherry. Ula and Una did double takes at her unusually sharp outfit; only Seanna was unsurprised, it was, after all, her clothes, being worn at her request. "We toast before we do it," Deirdre said, "for luck." Her face was ashen, and she swayed on her way to the table. Ula rushed to help, taking the tray and placing it on the dark table next to the orb. "Honey?" Ula asked, scanning her daughter's face. "You okay?" "Yeah," Deirdre said, not meeting Ula's gaze. "A little tired." "Champagne, cuz? In crystal," Seanna said, winking. "Nice touch with the cherry; for Scott?" "Thanks, somebody had to plan something." Deirdre forced a grin back. "Don't be touching the cherry one; it's mine." The two toned mansion doorbell chimed. "Haul butt, Seanna!" Deirdre said. "Don't want his clothes getting wet." *** "I'm proud of you for doing this," Seanna said, as they walked hand in hand down a long wood-floored hallway. "It means so much to Deirdre." Scott grabbed Seanna and pressed her back hard against the hallway wall. He ground his body against hers, assaulting her lips, kissing and biting them. "Not doing it for her," he whispered, "I'm doing it for you." "Hey!" she managed, breathing hard. "I don't want to force you; this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, I mean, how many people in the world get a chance to do this? It's supposed to be fun." "More fun than this?" He ran his fingers through her soft red curls, then down to her breasts. He pinched a nipple through her sweater. "Ow!" "Why don't we call the whole thing off, and you and I can have this fun the rest of the day." "Tempting, but Deirdre needs this. Do you ...doubt it can be done, Scott?" Scott pulled away from his lover. How had she guessed that? The way she anticipated his thoughts unsettled him. "I've seen what your family could do; Una's Nostradamus skill and Ula..." He shivered, recalling the group of thugs that tried to rob them in a movie theater parking lot. Before he could do anything, Ula froze them all, like statues, with a simple wave of her hand. Then she'd turned her raised hand toward him, but Una - whose eyes had gone pitch black - pulled it down, saying, 'he can know.' That he didn't run away after that as fast as his legs could churn was a testament of his feelings for her. "Even so, even with eyewitness knowledge that ...you know ...magic exists, what we're going to try today is too bizarre to believe." "How so?" "This orb thing isn't natural; we're playing with fire. You guys act like it's nothing, like you have this mystical crap lying around." He shook his head. Seanna shrugged. "I guess growing up around it has made me a little numb. When your Aunt Rhiannon has a dragon claw pendant that can shrink you to the size of a pixie, or your Uncle Conall is an ancient werewolf, a body switching orb doesn't seem all that unusual." That she'd just off-handedly implied the existence of dragons, pixies and werewolves proved his point. He wasn't getting anywhere with this tact, so he shifted to familiar ground, his area of study. "In fairy tales and folklore, when this type of thing happens -lamps rubbed, beans planted, orbs touched- something always goes wrong. Guaranteed. It provides the story's tension and conflict. Usually, someone accidentally says or eats or drinks something to cause a transformation and open a door to say, the land of eternal youth, Tir Na Nog-" Seanna snickered. "Tir egg nog? Sounds yummy." "Stop it! Tir Na Nog is the Celtic Otherworld, the home of the gods." "Mmm, it makes me hot when you talk mythology-" "Hot? Rea-lly?" He leaned closed again, biting her earlobe this time and whispering, "then come over to my loft, little girl, and I'll show you my Joseph Campbell etchings." She giggled and pushed him away. "Okay, so 'hot' was an overstatement. It's just, when you talk about it, your face lights up, and I like that, when you give me the littlest peek at what makes you tick. So you've settled on your master's thesis? It's the folklore and mythology theme? I felt you'd choose that one." "Nope." He looked down. "Playing it safe with a historical- psychological piece. 'The Sword of Robert the Bruce: Identity Through Crisis.' Impressive, no? Dunston approved it today; he actually smiled. That's as rare as a solar eclipse, so we've yet another reason to skip this ...happening, and celebrate." "Congratulations." She tiptoed to plant another kiss on his lips; he was a tall one, her dark-haired lover, well over six feet. Muscular, too, built like someone who saw the weight room side and the treadmill side of the health club; which is exactly what Scott did. "This 'happening' is only today, so we'll celebrate after. And think of the upside: you'll learn how to pamper a body like the one you admire so much, only, you'll be prettier." "Prettier? Ho no..." Even Scott saw that trap. "...Deirdre's pretty, but you've got that indescribable something extra, that inner beauty, that je ne sais quoi ..." In truth, Deirdre and Seanna looked more twins than cousins; physically they were identical - twenty-two, lithe 5'7ish" body frames, rich green eyes, freckle-fair skin, and sumptuous red hair that must be NicBrig standard issue. On a police report, they would be indistinguishable. Yet for all that, Scott never had a moment's trouble telling them apart; Seanna was breezy, eclectic, sunlight, listening to musicians from Sheila Nicholls to Sheila Chandra, and dressing cute and trendy. Deirdre was dark, moody; spiky hairstyle, dressed in black T-shirts, cargo pants and combat boots. "Nicely done bullshit, Scotty, I can see how you bamboozled Dunston," she said, laughing, pulling him along the hallway again. "Make you a deal," she said, stopping in front of the conservatory doorway. "You tell me you love me, and I'll call this off." "Seriously?" "Seriously. Say three little words, and we turn around, speed to your loft and you get to whisper sweet mythological nothings in my ear for the rest of the day." "I ...I, uh ...I..." At that instant, Scott looked like a fish out of water, gasping for air. "GOD! You know I hate it when you ask this!" "Say it, big boy; I want to hear your lips say it so bad. Hey! I'll even give you the first two words for free. 'I... love...'" "Seanna, I ...you have to know ...how I feel ...I mean, I'm here, today, doing this ...thing, so you know I ...I-" From his tormented expression, she guessed pulling his own teeth would be easier. "Didn't think so. There, there," she patted his hand. "Relax, my emotively challenged lover, today will be good for you. Your research assignment is to enjoy and let go; think of the stories you'll have for our kids!" His face lit up. "We'll be great parents, Seanna, we'll have a boy and girl, at least! We'll call 'em Scott Jr, and Scottina." "Scottina?" She whapped the back of his head. "I've told you, NicBrig's only have girls." He wondered again what warped god of fate had mixed him up with this mystical crew of 'I Love Lucy' redheads. Aside from their magical 'talents' and fabulous wealth, he'd learned their ancestral home was the Isle of Skye, they only produced daughters, and men marrying them adopted clan name. It would be a cold day in hell before he gave up his 'Campbell' last name for 'NicBrig'. She turned the doorknob, "Ready? I insist you have fun with this, and I expect to see you opening up to new experiences. I'll be watching." "You make it sound like a test," he said, frowning. "One day, right? So how bad could that be?" *** "It worked," he said, lifting his hand from the milky white sphere. "Of course it worked, dear," Ula replied. Balling and un-balling his fists, the towering man grinned down at the gaggle of red-haired women standing around the table: his mother, Seanna, Aunt Una, and ...Scott. "No pain, nada," he said, flexing his arms, causing biceps to bulge through a powder blue polo shirt. "Wow, I'm busting with energy, I gotta go check this out." "Wonderful, 'son', but wait a moment on the body check thing, please," Ula said. She looked to the woman whose hand still rested on the orb. It was hard not to think of her as her daughter. "Scott? Are you okay?" "Guess so. Can't believe this is real." She placed her hands on the table to steady herself, red spiky hair tumbling in front of her eyes. "I'm so tired. That champagne hit harder than I expected. Or hit you harder, Deirdre, this is ...confusing. May I sit down?" "Sure, hun," Seanna said. Taking her arm, she led her to a nearby leather chair. "Don't worry, this was expected," Ula said, "Deirdre's body is exhausted from chronic pain; a little rest and you'll be right." "Hmm?" Scott answered, as she melted into the chair. "A nap sounds sooo good." "Scott?" Seanna giggled. "Close your legs a tad." "What? Oh ...ohhhhh!" Scott mustered an eye roll as she brought her legs together. "Had to wear a skirt today, huh, Deirdre?" "I prefer pants, but Seanna asked me to wear that just for you," he chuckled, "high heels, stockings, the whole nine yards. Wait till you see your panties." "I'll get you for this and your little dog too..." she said, yawning, "after I rest. Seanna could you..." "Yeah, let's get you to Deirdre's room." She pulled Scott from the chair. Scott rocked in her heels a moment before righting. "After you nap we'll have some fun, hmm? There are things I want to show you in that body you must remember when you're back in your own. You need to learn that less is sometimes more." "I've never heard you complain before about the way I-" "Woo-hoo! Got a rise out of the male ego lurking in that female body! Don't get prissy, it's just ...when you do that thing with your teeth on my clit, and you think it drives me wild?" "Seanna!" Scott's face reddened to the color of her new hair. "*ahem* your mother, your aunt-" "Shush, it's only us girls, either in body or spirit. Anyway, I want to show you why it's not as great as you think." "Speaking of sex, a word of warning," Una said; normally soft-spoken, her voice was emphatic. "Do NOT let Scott have unprotected sex with a man." "Not that it would happen, but why?" Seanna asked; this was news to her. "If she's pregnant, the orb won't switch them back," Ula answered. "It's metaphysically complicated, having to do with two souls in one body. Please, please, PLEASE don't do it." "Okay, important safety tip noted: no unprotected male-female sex for Scott," Seanna said, and pulled Scott out the conservatory door, with Deirdre bounding after them "Hey...hey!" an increasingly groggy Scott stammered, "that's what I was talking about in fairy tales and things going wrong. There's always some weird rule or geas that gets broken and-" then Scott managed to yawn and stumble in her heels at the same time. Seanna caught her, and herded her toward Deirdre's bedroom. "Never fear, my Yawning Beauty, I won't let Prince Charming get into your panties." *** "She's so cute curled up like that." Seanna nodded; she was struggling with Scott's 'essence' being contained in such a small package. She loved Scott, but could she love her like this? She shook her head; thank God this switch was only for a day, so she didn't have to answer that one. "You're positive you're pain free, Deirdre?" "Yup, completely, an enormous weight's been lifted. Scott's so great to do this." "I'm fond of him too ...I mean her." She sighed. "I guess we'll be tangled in pronouns until you switch back. How long do the sleeping pills last?" "Til late afternoon; ready to go?" Seanna nodded again. "I feel ...guilty about this, but it's my one chance to see what his body and soul are like ...apart. Let's grab a quick breakfast and head over to his ...your loft. I want to see how Scott's body ravishes me with you at the helm." "F-food? Who needs that?" Deirdre said, staring down at a hardening in his pants. "Shouldn't we tell-" "-our mothers?" Seanna shook her head. "They'll only try to stop us; we'll call em from the car." "Lead on, then, dear cousin, to that which cures all ills." Seanna stopped. "Love?" Deirdre shook his head. "Sex!" "Jeez, Deirdre," Seanna said, rolling her eyes. "You've been a guy for what, ten minutes? You sound like you've been one all your life." *** Throbbing head - sounds, words - someone was shaking Scott. "Honey? Can you sit up? We need to talk." "Whaa." Scott's bloodshot eyes opened a crack. It was obvious the girl had no earthly idea where, or who, she was. "You are in Deirdre's room, in Deirdre's bed, in Deirdre's body." Scott patted her body and found it wrapped in something white, short and slippery. "How'd I get in this shing?" "This lovely baby doll? Deirdre and Seanna put you in it; a parting gift." "Parting ...where's Sheanna?" "You're still not with me; here's a cuppa to wake you." She placed the coffee cup on the nightstand. "I won't beat around the bush, dear, especially your new one; Seanna is with Deirdre. I expect they are having lunch at the moment, and plan to return to your place afterwards." "Don't understand," Scott said, yawning. "Why isn't she here? She said we would-" "She said a good many things; what she and Deirdre did was give you a dose of sleeping pills. They expect you to sleep for many hours." "Seanna ...drugged me?" Scott opened her eyes wider. "Why?" "To analyze why and how deeply you love each other. She needed you out of your body for her test," Ula continued in pragmatic staccato. "They will be doing ...intimate things ...over the next half a dozen hours. She was going to spend the remaining hours of the day with you." "She's having sex? With Deirdre? In my body?" Scott shook her head to clear imaginary cobwebs; it didn't help her wrap her mind around what she'd heard. All she managed was to swish red hair in front of her face, strands ending in her mouth. "The whole thing about Deirdre's pain was a lie?" "No, Deirdre truly needs help, and that's what I want to talk to you about," Ula said, gently pulling the hair from Scott's mouth. "You see, she's of the age where her 'family talent' manifests, but several months ago, she developed a psychic blockage..." Scott tried to listen to Ula's words, but as drowsiness faded, new sensations began firing up neural pathways; everything was soft and smooth. Without thinking, she ran her hands up and down the slick material of her baby doll, then to her breasts, which she squeezed. "...caused, I think, by a personality dis-" Ula stopped to stare at Scott. "Dear, are you listening?" Scott nodded, and, noticing where her hands were, put them by her side. "Pay close attention, this is important," Ula said. "So, the blockage caused intense pain throughout her body, and her doctor prescribed OxyContin. Due to her addictive nature, Deirdre abused the drug and became hooked. I should have seen that coming, but I didn't; I only grew aware of her habit when she withdrew thousands from her bank account." Scott's hands roved again, this time snaking under the bedspread and between her legs. "Stop that! I insist you put your hands where I can see them!" Her hands shot out of the blanket and her face reddened. "Scott, I imagine these new feelings are overwhelming, and you are burning with curiosity, but I must have your undivided attention. This is a matter of life and death. My doctor told me OxyContin is a powerful opiate, and the dosage Deirdre takes is lethal in horses." "Well, that's horrible, but what's that got to do with me? She should be checked into a clinic..." Scott paused, her eyebrows furrowing, "...that means ...I'm addicted?" "The body you are in is, yes. When Deirdre returns to it, she *will* be checked into a clinic. Her body must come off this awful drug first. You see, the withdrawal effects for OxyContin are the same as heroin; severe nausea, body chills, sweats, and even paranoia. In short, she could become violent and if her clan power kicks in under those conditions, well, she could kill someone." "Okay, but I still don't know what this has to do with..." Scott paused again. "Wait, wait ...you want ...me ...to go through the withdrawal?" Ula nodded her head, impressed that Scott had grasped her intention so quickly. "Una and I have watched you these past months. You're a good man; we think you are strong-willed enough to do what Deirdre can't - break the addiction." "But doesn't it take days for something like that? I remember reading for heroin, it was living hell, and people sometimes committed suicide." "Normally, yes, it takes days," Ula nodded. "Scott, you've seen what I can do; the night I 'froze' that nasty young man, I slowed time for him. I can do that on a local level, alter the pace of time; it's my 'power.' For you, I'd speed it up; the hyper time will intensify the symptoms, but a full withdrawal period of days could be managed in just one day." "Let me ...let me get this straight; while Seanna -who lied to me- is having sex with Deirdre -in my body- you want me to go through something like a condensed heroin withdrawal? Help me understand why I'd do that." Scott drew away. "Are you going to force me?" "No!" Ula answered, her voice was pained. "You must think us awful!" She shook her head. "The choice is yours, if you say no, the day plays out as Seanna planned. We ask a terrible thing, but Una's sorted the futures, and Deirdre dies if her addiction continues." "Why didn't someone just ask me? I might have said yes, but no one gave me the chance. It's all so dishonest." "We couldn't let Deirdre or Seanna know any of this or they'd have refused to let you do it," Ula said. "So your answer is no?" Scott was silent a moment. "Deirdre needs this, as in life-or-death?" Ula's eyes brightened. "She desperately needs to be off this evil stuff; after that, we get her into rehab and counseling." "What could I expect? Why speed this up? Why not let it take the normal time?" "I won't lie to you, it will be dreadful, like flu on steroids, sweating, nausea, vomiting ...and pain. We speed it for your sake; Deirdre's physically dependent and psychologically addicted; she'll start taking drugs in your body, the longer she's in it." "Great, just what I need ...okay, so speed it up really fast to get it over all at once." Una shook her head. "Too unpredictable, too dangerous; Una has used her 'second sight' power to come up with the safest hyper time rate." Ula paused, her eyes searching Scott's matching green eyes. "So, will you?" "I ...don't know anything about hyper time or ...or magic, but I won't stand by and let someone suffer, Ula." Scott squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. "I'll do it." "Oh love, you have no idea how much this means to me." Ula grabbed Scott, crushing her close in a hug and kissing her head. "Sorry ...I've been so torn watching my baby wasting away. I can't look at you and not think of you as my daughter." "S'okay, while I'm like this, I'll try to think of you as my mother. So when do we start, 'Mommy'?" Scott said with a grin. "No time like the present, 'daughter.' First, I'll speed your body clock up, to burn the drug residue out of your system. Then I slow it some, so eight hours of real time will be three days for you." Ula stepped back. "When I raise my hands, you'll feel dizzy, and then it starts." Ula saw Scott's wide-eyed look. "I know you're scared, love, but Una and I will be with you every second; we won't let anything happen to you." Scott faked a smile. "Do it, quick, Mommy, before I come to my senses." "That's the spirit!" Ula held her palms toward Scott and closed her eyes. Scott covered her ears as a high-pitched buzzing filled her head. After a moment, her face turned paler, she grabbed her stomach and fell over in a ball. "Una! It's begun!" *** Deirdre patted his stomach and smiled at the blue haired waitress. "Could I have another side order of bacon?" "Yes, hun, can I warm up your coffee, too?" Deirdre's head bobbed up and down and he thrust his empty mug in the air. Seanna shook her head. "We're a hungry boy, aren't we, 'Scott?'" "I swear, there's no bottom to his stomach," the waitress said, after filling his mug. "Would you like a breakfast steak too? There are still a few things on the menu you haven't ordered." Seanna couldn't take her eyes off him; the way he moved his lips, held his body, focused his eyes, or breathed, was so different. It hit her: she didn't feel drawn to Deirdre in Scott's body. What about Scott was so appealing? She missed the light of his eyes, the way he cocked his head when he sorted some problem out, missed especially the half he smile he gave, without thinking, whenever he made contact with her eyes. So did those traits come from his soul? How odd to be sitting with his body and missing him. Seanna checked her wristwatch. "Uh, 'Scott'? Let's go hang at your place awhile." "The nice lady hasn't brought me my bacon," he answered, in a pouty voice. She sighed. "I'd hate for Sleeping Beauty to wake and not find me there. Think how pissed Scott would be if she knew I ditched her for an eating marathon at Das Waffel Haus." "I don't know why, but food tastes wonderful in his mouth. His taste buds must be better than mine, or maybe it's cause I can pig out without guilt." "Not to criticize, but you're overdoing it a tad. You'll make yourself sick if you eat too much." Deirdre's head lowered. "I've got that problem ...of overdoing ...overindulging." Seanna leaned forward. "What do you mean, Deirdre?" "If I could have a fresh start, maybe in a normal life, like ...Scott's, I know I'd be right." "I'm not sure what you're saying," Seanna tilted her head, red curls falling to one side, "but the body's a loaner, cousin, don't forget that." "So it is, so it is ...it's just..." Deirdre gave Seanna a look that was hard for Seanna to categorize. Somehow, he'd made his face muscles scrunch in a way that was so ...Deirdre. "...we've always been expected to follow in our mothers' path, to be tested by Brig and to serve. That's strange enough in itself, that we are to devout ourselves to this mystical person we've never met. But supposing that's all true, have you ever questioned whether you want to?" "Well, no..." Seanna leaned back in her booth seat and tossed her hair away from her face. "...it's something I've looked forward to for as long as I can remember. I think about coming into my power and meeting Brig probably more than I think about my wedding, and you know how I pine about that." "But ...did you ever think about whether you were meant to do this? I don't know if I'm good enough to..." Deirdre looked down. "Maybe I'm not meant to be a 'Daughter.' Maybe I was supposed to live a life like Scott's ...maybe that's why I haven't come into my talent yet-" "I think about that all the time," Seanna said, her eyes darkening slightly. "I see glimpses and jumbled images of ...what might be, I guess, and I can't make sense of it." "I feel..." Seanna grasped the material of her sweater that was over her heart. "...I feel I'm supposed to be with Scott 'always, forever,' as we say, but it doesn't sync with these dreams I'm having, of you and me and two little red-haired girls. It's why I wanted to do this switch; I mean how deeply do Scott and I love each-" "We're talking past each other," Deirdre said, his eyes narrowing. "I don't think I want this life. Sitting here, in Scott's body, I feel more at home than ...I've ever felt in mine, and-" "We ARE talking past each other," Seanna said, "and this conversation has turned way too deep. As I said, the body is a loaner, and you're supposed to be relaxing and having fun in it." "A loaner, yeah, a shame, that," he sighed, then his head bobbed up. "Better make the most of it then, eh? How 'bout another short stack?" "As fun as Scott's tasting equipment is, I'd hate to short change you on Scott's *ahem* other equipment." An awkward grin spread across Deirdre's face, followed by a panicked look. "What? What's wrong?" Seanna asked. "First my 'equipment' shot up like a redwood, then six cups of coffee hit my bladder." "Loads more information than I needed, Deirdre." "You don't understand! I'm still hard! How do I pee? I point it down to pee, right? But if it is sticking straight up, how will that work?" "Trot along to the little boy's room," Seanna said, "and work that logistical problem all by your widdle self." *** "All done?" Scott tried to answer, but only managed a cough. Ula gently lifted Scott's head from the toilet bowl; her mouth was wet from vomiting, though she'd thrown up so many times that only bile came. Stripped to white panties, Scott started to shiver. "Let's get you to bed and covered, dear," Ula said, and with a grunt, hefted her to her feet and walked her to Deirdre's white four poster bed. "How are you doing, love," Ula asked as she tucked her back into the bed. Scott gave as good a smile as she could manage. "Newsflash! Barfing and diarrhea feel the same regardless of gender. Jot that down, Ula, we're sure to snag a Nobel for this breakthrough." Ula chuckled; humor was a good sign, it showed the girl was hanging tough. Scott was easy to take a shine to; so luminous in Deirdre's body even under these stressed conditions. Ula found herself wishing she'd spent more time with her before starting the withdrawal. Deirdre was impulsive and dark; when she was sixteen, she began cutting herself, and was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Ula healed her cuts by reversing time, and after Deirdre stopped her self- mutilation, Ula thought the counseling had worked. Until this addiction happened - it was another symptom of BPD and showed the problem remained. Ula sighed, and guiltily wondered what it would be like to have a daughter like Scott. Deirdre's voice, brightened by Scott's soul, brought her back from her brooding. "How am I doing, 'Mommy?'" "You're doing great, 'daughter'. It's been a couple of hours in real time, but it's more like a day and a half for you, from the hyper time you're feeling." "I think I'm kicking ass," she said. Ula saw through the false bravado, saw Scott was worried. Ula worried too; she'd researched drug withdrawals and had felt prepared, but reading and seeing were very different things. This was much harder on Scott than she'd expected; the girl had lost a lot of liquid and kept nothing down. Her eyes were sunken and dark. Ula ran her hand through Scott's damp hair, pulling it away from her face. "Can you try to take a gulp of water?" Scott nodded wearily, but added, "It'll just come right back up." *** "So how do I get this thing back up?" Deirdre asked; a goofy grin plastered on his face. "It happened so fast! My God! It's incredible! I could get used to that; the orgasm is all right here! How do guys control it?" "Scott does pretty well," Seanna said, giving a tiny sigh. "Oh ...sorry ...that wasn't much fun for you, was it?" Deirdre asked rolling on his side to look at her. They lay on Scott's king-size bed at his loft. "Not to worry ...you're a virgin. Anyway, that body has given me plenty of moments and it will again. Just enjoy." Deirdre scratched the hair on his chest. "If I were in this body for any length of time, I'd shave this fur off. Or try a different hair style, maybe." "It might be funny if you did anyway," Seanna said, smiling as she ran her fingers over his chest. "Can you imagine the look on his face?" Seanna continued to stroke his chest as she pictured Scott tucked in bed in her baby doll. She smiled, imagining her lover's expression when she woke her the way she'd planned. "Um, Seanna? It's ba-ack. I swear it has a mind of its own! How bout another go?" "A mind of its own and thinking for your body? Where have I heard this before?" *** "Talk to me, honey!" Ula said, shooting Una a worried look. "C-can't s-stop shaking," Scott answered, her body convulsing. "Can't s-stop..." "She's chilled again?" Una whispered, her red eyebrows furrowed. "Seven hours down, but she's on day three with the quickened time. I don't know if it's from the withdrawal or dehydration," Ula answered in a low tone. "Did you see this when you looked at the futures?" "You know it's never that specific, I see possible whens and whats, but never whys," Una murmured back. "Maybe you should bring her body back to normal time?" "Why are you whispering," Scott cried, her eyes wild. "Something's wrong!" "Calm down, love," Ula soothed, stoking her cheek. "You're showing signs of paranoia; remember, we talked about this as one of the withdrawal symptoms? Please, honey, stay focused." "Am I dying?" Scott clutched Ula's hand. "Don't want to die...need to talk to Seanna ...never told her I ...I loved-" "She's delusional," Ula said. She held the shaking girl fast in a hug. "Call the hospital; tell them we're on our way!" "Already have, dear." "I swear, Sister, between us, you got the better talent." "If knowing when and where everyone you love will die is better," Una growled. "Let's take care of the poor girl and debate this another time, shall we, 'sister'?" "And I'm sure you know precisely when that time will be, too," Ula replied, as she dressed Scott for the ride to the hospital. *** Seanna heard the sound of the garage door opener kick on, and ran to the kitchen with Deirdre loping behind. "Mother! Where's Scott? When we got home the place was deserted." Una hung her car keys on the old wooden key board and draped her blue raincoat and hat on the coat tree. "Hello, dears. You've enjoyed your day, I hope?" Una touched up her bun with her hands, re-twisting and pinning her red hair so it dropped down to the nape of her neck. "Yes. Fine. Great. Where. Is. Scott?" "In the hospital," Una said. Seeing their wide-eyed looks, she added, "Don't worry, the worst is over, she's resting comfortably." "But what happened to her," Seanna asked. "She was getting too dehydrated on hyper time, but is doing much better, now that Ula's brought her back to real time. Scott's handling the withdrawal ordeal superbly. You've picked a keeper, dear, Scott's spirit is steel." "Withdrawal? I don't understand," Seanna said. Una picked up the kettle and went to the sink to fill it. "Dear, we asked Scott to undergo a drug withdrawal, and she graciously said 'yes.' Ula sped time up for her, so the equivalent of several days has passed in her body." "Drug withdrawal," Seanna said. "What are you talking about?" "She's talking about my addiction to painkillers," Deirdre said softly, his shoulders slumping. "I left enough of the drug in my body so there'd be no problems for Scott. Mother must have learned how badly I was addicted, figured I wasn't strong enough to handle the withdrawal, and asked Scott. Is that the size of it?" "Yes, plus in most of your futures, I saw you dying by overdose," Una answered, looking into Deirdre's green eyes, her own eyes starting to tear. She looked away and placed the kettle on a burner. "She had no right to ask Scott to do this!" Deirdre said, his face reddening. "She's your mother, she had every right!" Una answered, looking first at Deirdre and then at Seanna. "My poor Scott," Seanna said, "I've got to go to her." "Visiting hours are over, dear, you'll have to wait till morning." Una went to the pantry to fetch a box of Scottish Breakfast Tea. "Let's sit, have a cuppa, and talk about what happens next." *** Scott opened his eyes and looked down on the woman lying in the hospital bed with an IV attached to her arm. He breathed a deep sigh and took his hand off the orb. Patting his face and body, he said, "There's no place like home, Toto!" Deirdre lifted her hand too and opened her eyes. Gently Una slipped the milky orb into a small duffle bag. "I feel like crap," Deirdre announced. "What the hell did you do to my body?" "Got the shit beat out of me," Scott answered with a chuckle. "Hey! ...look, I gotta get out of here; I need to grab some sleep. My body seems rested, but I'm mentally hammered. Weird. I imagine you need some 'just family' time as well." He grinned at Deirdre, pointing at her green hospital gown. "Sorry I couldn't leave you in as sexy of an outfit as you left me in." Then his face turned serious and he took her hand. "Promise me-" "After she leaves here," Ula answered for her daughter, "she's going directly into rehab." Deirdre's eyes narrowed. "I have no words to thank you; I can never repay you for what you did for me. I envy you, Scott, you have an incredible life. I loved every single moment in your body." "I can't thank you enough, either, 'son'," Ula added, hugging Scott fiercely. "You're part of us now." Scott smiled, hugged Una goodbye also, and then ...gave Seanna a look. "Seanna, we need to talk..." They walked to the visitor's lobby at the far end of the hospital corridor. "Go on, let it rip, you must be foaming mad." If Scott's look was a steam gauge, he was about to explode. But when he spoke, his voice was super controlled. "This is why I *never* open myself up to people; they pull this shit every single time." "I'm so sorry about this, honey," she grabbed his hands, "I had no idea she was addicted and Aunt Ula and Momma would ask you-" "You lied to me, drugged me and ... while I was going through a full- blown drug withdrawal, you cheated on me, although ...I haven't worked that bit out yet, since you were having sex with my body. That is too weird for words." "Forgive me." She hugged him hard. "Mother told me you agreed to go through it to save Deirdre. I didn't know ...how selfless you are. I know this for sure - I can never love another." "What pretty words. But why ...why all this drama about my inside and outside? I mean ...when it comes down to it, I'm me ...just me." He shook his head and gently, but firmly, he pushed her away. "This has all been ...incredibly strange. I need to go home, watch some TV, and pretend it never happened. We should take a break for a while." "Yell, scream, hit me, anything," she cried, "but don't lock up your heart, don't shut me out!" "You've got some growing up to do." An elevator dinged opened and he stepped in. As it closed, he said, "I'll call when I'm ready." Seanna slowly walked back to Deirdre's room. Tears streamed down her freckled face. "What happened, hun?" Una asked. "I told him I loved him and I was sorry." "Umm-hmm," Una said, wrapping her arms around her daughter's shoulders. "And he said?" "He told me I needed to grow up." Seanna looked at Una with wet green eyes. "Have I lost him, Momma?" "Don't know, dear," Una said. "Go sit with Deirdre; we'll talk this out at home." Seanna nodded mechanically, but her eyes still glistened. "I have haven't I? I've lost the one person I could be happy with!" Seanna wiped the tears from her face, faked a smile, and went to sit with Deirdre. "Well?" Ula whispered, "has she?" "Time will tell, you know, it always does," Una answered. "Anyway, it was about damn time someone other than me told that to my daughter. Maybe she'll listen to him." "You know, don't you? What have you seen?" Wait!" Ula covered her ears with her hands. "Don't tell me. Knowing the future drives me crazy. I only want to know if there is danger to our daughters. There's nothing like that, right?" Danger? What could she say? The futures were all over the board, with the girls coming into their talents, a trip for all of them to the Isle of Skye, and ...granddaughters being born. Yet something else loomed on the event horizon, something that cast a shadow over the other futures. Something terrible happens between Deirdre and Scott, and Deirdre has some falling accident. But she could steer them clear of that, surely. "In the end ...I see happiness for our daughters. I won't spoil it for you, love. What I will say is what happens next will be interesting!" Ula rolled her eyes. "That describes every day for us, Sis." "True enough," Una nodded, "I suppose I should say, incredible, mind- blowing, never-in-a-million-years interesting!" "Will you please shut up," Ula nearly shouted. "I swear, you are the meanest husband that got turned into a sister that I've ever had!" II. Hold on Hold on to yourself for this is gonna hurt like hell. Hold on Hold on to yourself. You know that only time can tell -Hold on, Sarah McLachlan She spun and spun, until she fell, dizzied, onto the entryway floor. "Momma! Aunt Ula! Deirdre! Come here quick!" Once the laughing started, she couldn't stop. "Child! What's wrong, what-" Una called, as she and Ula rushed down the three flights of mansion stairs. They found Seanna covered in a white that matched the snow showers outside. She lay on her back, in white leggings and white down parka, its furred hood still pulled over her head. The dew of melted snowflakes made her glitter in the chandelier light. "Been nippin' have we?" Ula asked, kneeling with Una beside the giggling girl. "No no no! Look!" She held her left hand up; something sparkled on her fourth finger. "He asked. He asked and I said 'yes!'" After that her mother and aunt wouldn't shut up: "Where did he do it-" "Have you set a date-" "Did he go down on one knee-" "Did you know he was going to-" Seanna held her hand up. "We were at the Bayview; it was empty because of the blizzard. No date yet, but soon, very soon! He wanted to elope tonight, but I talked him out of it; I wouldn't think of having a wedding without you guys and Deirdre." She sprang to her feet. "Yes, he did go down on one knee; God it was romantic! On Valentine's Day! And no, I didn't know he was going to. After what I did to him with the orb, I was afraid to even think about it." Seanna looked around. "Where's Deirdre? I want to start looking at wedding dresses right away." Ula shook her head. "She's out doing some errand that couldn't wait. Said she'd be back late and to not wait up. It's cold as Hades and I'm worried for her." "Oh." Seanna's shoulders dropped a touch. "Ah well, I'll just kick her butt out of bed first thing in the morning. I bought a stack of wedding magazines; I'll drop them on her face." Una took her daughter's hands. "Are you happy?" "Happy? I love him so much..." her voice caught. "I can't imagine life without him. This is the happiest day of my life." "I'm so happy for you, love; you two will make a wonderful couple." Una hugged Seanna quickly and held her close. It was the only thing she could think to do to prevent Seanna from seeing her eyes. She could lie with words sometimes but never her eyes; Una hadn't seen a single future where Seanna married Scott. *** C-r-a-a-c-k. The banister splintered; Una saw Deirdre's green eyes widened as she fell through. All was slow motion: body slipping backward, hands grasping at air, mouth opening to scream. She fell, through the banister, toward the entryway floor, three stories below. As Una fought to waken, she thought she heard Ula scream, "Connie!" Connie? Una shook her head as the vision faded. She pulled a mass of auburn hair out of her face and sat up in bed. Ula lay next to her, snoring softly. "Did you say something, love?" Una whispered. "Wha-ah- mabjel..." Una giggled. "Never mind, go back to sleep." A north wind danced with the branches of the oak tree outside their window, scraping them against the mansion's side, back and forth, back and forth. The sound grated her. 'That's three times this month I've dreamed it. It keeps coming, no matter which future I steer toward ...why is it so important? Is it the accident that's key, or something around it? And who is Connie?' A windblast slapped the windowpane, filling her chest with panic. "Ula wake up! Something's wrong!" "Whaa?" "Something's out of balance; I feel it," Una said, jumping from the bed into her fuzzy slippers. "Go check Deirdre; I'll look in on Seanna." "'kay." Ula had been submerged in deep slumber but was surfacing fast. She staggered down the hallway to Deirdre's bedroom. Moments later Una rushed to Deirdre's room, "Seanna's fine, how's-" She found Ula, alone on Deirdre's bed, shoulders sagging, eyes closed tight. A note shook in her hand. Una took it and read: Mother, God knows how horrible I feel. There is no other way - it's this or die. I am a fly tangled in a web of my addiction. I am a shadow attached to nothing, no soul, no being. In Scott's body, I was centered, in control, strong. I want it back. I'm taking it. Mother, I love you, and Aunt Una and Seanna, but you will never see me again. I've been so careful; I know how Aunt Una's talent works. I started planning this the second I was switched back in the hospital. Taking little steps, always separated in time, so she wouldn't easily see a pattern in the futures. I've timed it so it can't be reversed, timed it just right. You'll see. After you read this, go to Scott's loft. Help him, Mother, tell him I did it because I'm fucked up. He'll hate me forever -I hate myself- but tell him, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Deirdre "The orb!" Una and Ula said, and ran to the conservatory. They found the empty puzzle box on the rosewood table. *** The grandfather clock chimed 2:00 a.m. as the NicBrig women sped from their New England coast mansion. They'd roused Seanna and herded her to the '79 Wagoneer. Wet February snow clotted the windshield, and even with wipers on high, they could barely see the two-lane highway. Scott's lodo loft took twice the normal time to reach because of the foul weather. His door was unlocked, so they crept in. They heard a moan. "Scott?" Seanna said, and followed the sound to his bedroom. "Oh God no!" A naked woman lay face down on the bed, red hair hung limp on her head, wet with sweat. Handcuffs locked wrists and ankles to iron-wrought bedposts; blood oozed from where she'd fought the cuffs. She moaned through the silver tape strips covering her mouth. "Deirdre?" On a nearby desk they found a key next to a milky white sphere. Ula unlocked the cuffs while Seanna ripped the tape off. The woman scrabbled to a bed corner, hugging knees to chest with an arm. Her other arm hung limp, twisted oddly. Wide green eyes darted from person to person. "Scott?" Ula asked, softly touching the woman's arm. She swatted her hand as if it was a crawling spider. "Don't touch me!" Ula pulled back. "What did she ...what did Deirdre do to you?" "S-sleeping," Scott said, her words barely a whisper, "then ...in this body ...tried to fight, but he ...shoved me down ...locked me ...then he ...he..." She started rocking back and forth. "Deirdre raped you?" Seanna whispered. "No ...oh no..." Scott said. "He kept saying sorry sorry sorry, but he didn't stop ...didn't..." "Scott, I need to ask something," Ula said. "This is important. Did Deirdre use a condom when he entered you?" Scott kept rocking. "...burning inside ...shoulder hurts ...tried to pull away ...tried..." "Scott, let me look at you to see if he did," Ula said. "DON'T - TOUCH - ME!" Scott raised her good arm in a blocking move. "We're trying to help, love," Seanna said, taking Scott's hand in her own. "Please?" Scott let Seanna lower her arm. Ula brushed her index finger in Scott's vagina, bringing it to her nose to smell. Shaking her head, she whispered to Seanna, "Are you on the same menstruation cycle as Deirdre?" "We've always have been, why?" Seanna whispered back. "Are you ovulating?" "Yeah, I started a couple of days ago-" Seanna's red brows shot up "Shit! You don't think she could be preg-" "Sssh! We'll know for certain next week. Get something to cover her with while I talk with Una," Ula said, waving her hand for Una to follow. They went to Scott's living room and sat on a green leather couch. Ula opened her mouth to speak but stopped. Her hands shook. "It's all right," Una said, "we'll work through this." "I don't understand why Deirdre did this, stealing Scott's body, then raping her so we can't switch them back." Ula's eyes grew wet. "Why?" "You think she's pregnant?" "You know it's the only way the orb won't work. We can't test for a week or so, but a little voice is telling me this is what Deirdre meant about 'timing it just right,'" she said, fidgeting with her hands. "Can you look ahead and see?" Una's eyes grew dark, then she sighed. "It's no help; in some futures she is, others she isn't." "I should have locked the orb away ...I should have reset it ...it was still tuned to them; that's how Deirdre did this without our help ...I should have..." Ula's jaw tensed. "Okay, let's get her back to the mansion. We can't take her to the hospital; we can't risk an investigation. The last thing Scott needs is to be charged with her own rape when we switch them back. What futures do you see, Una?" Una's irises clouded again, green to black, then back to green. "What? What did you see?" "Darkness." Una's shoulders slumped. "Something blocks me; when it comes to our daughters, I can't see a damned thing." *** The cold front stalled, blanketing the coastline with a foot of snow and covering the mansion in murky gray tones. The mansion occupants were in full damage control mode: Ula treated Scott's shoulder and vaginal tearing by speeding time to aid the healing. Through a combination of emails, phone calls and the questionable services of a private detective agency the NicBrigs kept on retainer, they cobbled a cover story to explain Scott's disappearance. To her family, a father in Iowa, a sister in Hawaii, the story was a short-term UK research assignment in Scott's masters area had opened and Scott was jumping on it. To her university, the tale was of a family tragedy and that Scott may be gone for a few weeks. Day and night fused into gray haze for Scott. She existed, barely aware of eating, sleeping, breathing. When she slept, if she slept, she woke screaming. The NicBrig women tagged teamed watching her, caring for her, Seanna especially; soothing, assuring Scott she'd soon be back in her old body. They collectively held their breath, hoping Deirdre came to his senses and returned, hoping Scott wasn't pregnant; hoping the crime could somehow be undone. Hope ended the next week; Seanna started her period, Scott didn't, and the test showed blue. Una splashed cream into one of the cups of Darjeeling tea, and brought them to the kitchen table. "What now?" Ula asked. "We get help professional help, she's can't deal with this! She's drowning!" "I guess ...yes, that's right," Ula said, sighing. "I hoped our first granddaughter's birth would be a golden time. What a task to bring Scott to full term." "Task? A cold way to put it. She's been forced into another body and then raped. If she has to have a child on top of that, there's no way she'll-" "If?" Ula glared at Una. "She cannot be switched until after the baby is born. That's a NicBrig in her womb. A potential Daughter. She. Must. Be. Born." "Are you going to tell her she has no choice?" "Damn right, it's best she knows so she can accept it. You underestimate her. Scott's tough; we saw what she can do with the drug withdrawal. She'll bring my granddaughter to term, and switch back to her old body after the birth," Ula said, rising from the table. "I'll tell her now!" Una stopped her. "Have a care how hard you push; we must protect the life she bears, yes, but don't disregard Scott's life. There's a limit to what even the toughest can endure." Moments later, Ula halted at Deirdre's doorway and gave a hand gesture for Una to be silent. She tilted her ear. "...even though it's ...a bad answer," Seanna said, "now we can do something." "Do?" Scott said, softly. "Do what?" She lay curled in Deirdre's bed. Her eyes were glazed; she couldn't focus them. She wore the same sweats she'd had on all week. Her tangled hair was clean, only because Seanna pushed her into the shower this morning, her first in days. "End it. Get an abortion." Seanna pulled a chair next to the bed. "When we find Deirdre, you can't be pregnant to switch, so the sooner we do this, the better." "What does that mean?" Seanna grabbed Scott's face and made her look into her eyes. "We get you to a clinic. I just got off the phone with one; they can see you in a couple of hours. We've been so stupid, sitting here for days when a morning after pill would've solved everything." "I ...don't know..." "You are not taking her anywhere," Ula said, exploding into the room, with Ula behind. "Spying, Aunt Ula, Mother?" Seanna said. "Well, we're adults; we don't need your permission." "It is forbidden; what don't you understand about this?" Ula said. "Look at her!" Seanna lifted Scott's head. "You think she can have a baby? Are you insane?" "Niece, I wish to speak with Scott ...alone." Una irises darkened, as she tried to weigh probabilities. There were only bad and worse options. She sighed. "Come, daughter." Seanna's eyes darkened slightly too. She rose and turned to Scott. "Whatever she says, don't listen to her. I'll be back later to ...I'll be back and then we'll solve this," she said, and hurried from the room. Una wore a puzzled expression as she followed. Ula gathered herself, and sat next to Scott on the bed. "You must understand how precious-" "no... No... NO!" Scott said, her eyes showing the first spark of energy since her body switch. "You aren't... you can't ask me to do this!" "I have no choice." Ula took the young woman's hand. "You're in my daughter's body and the life you bear is special beyond your comprehension." Scott yanked her hand away, and jumped out of bed. "Then get me out of this body! Get me back in mine and let your sick ass daughter give birth to this thing!" "Don't speak that way, Scott, I-" "Your Deirdre did this ...this thing to me..." her face flushed red and her voice was rising to a scream, "...and you tell me I have to have a baby? Like it's my fucking moral obligation?" "Calm down, Scott, please-" Scott's eyes turned feral. She grabbed the nightstand ceramic lamp and smashed it on the stand. She picked up a sharp shard and pointed it toward her stomach. "I'll cut the damn thing out my-" Ula's hand bolted up, time freezing Scott in place, her mouth still open. Ula pried the shard from her hands and drug her to the bed, laying her on her side and gently closing the girl's mouth and eyes. She rose to walk out of the bedroom, pausing at the doorway. "If I had any other choice I'd-" She stopped, and her shoulders slumped. For a moment her image -of an elegant red-haired woman in her early forties- blurred, and in her place stood a young Ula, perhaps the same age as Seanna and Scott, looking like she could be their sister or twin. Then it blurred again and Ula's older form returned. She let out a long sigh; her form only slipped when she was weary, and she was so weary now, seeing nothing but misery ahead for Scott. "Ah luv, I'm so sorry for what's been done to you, and what must be done, too." *** "Scott!" Seanna whispered, shaking the woman. "Wake up." She slapped Scott's face several times, then covered Scott's mouth when she started to speak. Scott sat up in bed, her hair a tangled red mass. "Sh-Seanna? Everything's in slow motion." Seanna held up a flashlight, illuminating the room. "I knew you'd come out of her time lock early, I knew it," Seanna said. "You were time slowed about half a day; it's four a.m. Ula thinks you'll be locked until tomorrow afternoon. You must have the talent yourself to break out early." "Time slowed ...what? I don't... I don't know what that means, I-" "While you've been stuck in here, I went to the New England Ob/Gyn Clinic pretending to be you ...er, Deirdre. I filled out the paper work in your name and met with a counselor. Your follow up appointment is in a few hours. And ...good news; it's early enough for the pregnancy to be ended without surgery. You take pills; they'll explain it to you. All you do is show up, and say you still want to go through with it." Seanna pulled Scott out of bed. "We've got to move fast; Ula and Una check on you about every fifteen minutes. Hop into the clothes I've laid out." She handed Scott a black fanny pack. "I've written down the address and appointment time. You have Deirdre's MasterCard, and driver's license. Car keys are there, too; I parked her Outback down the road so you could start it without alerting Mother or Ula. Go for it, love." "Wait ...wait ...you're ...you're not coming with me?" "Once Ula learns you're gone, she'll go nuts. This whole thing has her on edge; there's no telling what she'll do, and you have no idea what she can truly do. I'll pretend to be a 'frozen' you today to buy you time." Scott walked to the bedroom window; stared into dark. "Why can't this go away?" "You can do this, Scott. We can't love each other if this is permanent." "But Seanna, I need ...you ...I-" "Not in that body, Scott, I can't-" "Don't make me go alone, don't-" "It's horrible, I know, but with Ula and Mother trying to stop us, what else can we do? After we get that thing out of you, we'll steal the orb and go hunting for that bastard." She took Scott's hand. "A feeling tells me -this won't make a damn bit of sense- but somehow I know, you have to do this alone." She brought the hand to her lips. "Be brave, love, this is our first step back to our lives. For us." Scott straightened her back. "For you." *** She ran from one building entrance to another to escape the biting wind. She had gotten disoriented and parked, thinking to find the clinic on foot; she was sure she had to be close. Her jeans, sweatshirt, and jacket were proving to be woefully inadequate at keeping out the cold. Her spiky red hair was crusted with ice crystals. To push herself on, she repeated the mantra Seanna taught her: abort the thing, find the bastard, switch back. Scott shivered under a gray building awning, colored grayer by the thick clouds above. Her eyes darted building to building, trying to find a point of reference, a sign, anything familiar. She was lost. Her thoughts swirled like the icy winds that lashed her. What was the name of this ring of hell she'd landed in? What crime had she committed for this twisted sentence? Nothing made sense. She slowly slid to sit on the frozen pavement. It was cold, so cold. Wouldn't it be better to sit here, close her eyes and rest? Her eyelids lowered. "Beautiful morning for a stroll." Scott's eyes shot open. The voice came from a door to the building she leaned against. A white-haired woman grinned from the open door; she was dressed in a nun's black habit, with a string of yellow prayer beads around her neck. Scott stumbled to her feet. "Oh, hi ...sorry ...won't be here long, I'm trying to find an office without turning into a snowman." "You may have lost that battle, child; you look ready for a carrot nose and corncob pipe," the sister said. "Come inside to warm with some hot tea." Scott nodded, for she could barely keep her teeth from chattering, and hot tea sounded heaven sent. Rose incense, golden candle glow, and soft silence wrapped around her as she followed the robed woman into the building. The flickering candles flooded orange yellow warmth over Scott, and her shivering ceased. A life-size icon stared at her from the one of the walls. In it, a young woman stood in front of an autumn forest. Barefoot, the female figure wore a purple dress, covered by a silk shawl of flaming yellow orange. The shawl was clasped at her neck by a silver Celtic triple knot pendant. Her right hand stroked the head of a wolfhound. In her left, she held a red-headed baby girl. Her hair was dark red and her cheeks rosy. Flames haloed her head. A stone at the bottom right of the icon bore the inscription 'St. Bride.' "I love this incense," Scott said, breathing in the peace. "This is a Catholic church, um, Sister?" "We are an outreach mission - The Order of St. Bride," the elderly woman said, pronouncing 'Bride' as 'Breed'. "Won't you sit for a time and warm up?" Scott saw the room had six or seven chairs placed in a half-moon. On a table were pens, and blank nametags sheets, reading 'Hello, my name is _________.' "I hope I'm not interrupting-" The sister shook her head. "Our St. Bride study group canceled because of the storm." A thought occurred to Scott. "St. Bride ...that's the Scottish version of St. Brigit, right?" "How wonderful that a young lass would know! I thought you might, though, see'n as your hair is the same color hair as herself," the woman motioned to the icon with a nod of her head. "Here." The sister picked up a pen and grabbed a blank nametag. "Tell me how to fill this in so I know who I'm talking to." "I ...I don't ...uh..." "Don't want to give me your name? Then make one up!" Name? She couldn't use 'Deirdre,' she could barely stand to think it. But she couldn't say 'Scott' either. Scottina or Scotia? How stupid was that? She'd had fun threatening Seanna with it; now karma strikes to make her consider it. Wait, her middle name was Connor, so, how about-" "Connie?" "Don't be shy with it, dearie, the name fits you," the woman said as she scribbled. She slapped the 'Hello, my name is Connie' tag on Scott's sweatshirt. "Let me get you a mug of tea." A few minutes later Scott was relaxed and calm for the first time since *it* happened; perhaps because of the herbal tea she couldn't place? The white-haired sister sat across from her at the table, smiling. "Now that you're human again, tell me where you're headed on such a wintry morn." "I'm looking for the clinic; I've got an appointment this morning, and I got turned around." The thought occurred to her that perhaps this wasn't the best of places to ask directions to an abortion clinic. "Oh no ...please ...don't lecture me, Sister ...I ...you have no idea what I'm going through." "My, but you're a tightly wound soul," the sister said with a gentle laugh. She took Scott's hands. "Connie, I'll not be tell'n you what you should and shouldn't do. But you've the look of one whose been hung upside down. Are you sure you're in any state to be making such decisions?" "I have to, if I don't, I won't be able to uh..." What in God's name could she say? "...it's complicated, but if I don't, then someone I love can't be with me." "You're decide'n for two, Connie, you and the baby. I bet you'd make a fine mother to the child, so this 'someone' must be awfully special to make you give up that. What a sacrifice to love." Put that way, it sounded wrong. "You don't understand. I'm not supposed to even be able to have a child. It was forced on me; everything's been forced on me... I..." She sighed. "You know, when we're born no one asks us if it's the life we're wanting. We jump in and start living it." The sister's voice sounded so melodious, and her green eyes were mesmerizing. "Have ya given this new life a chance?" Scott wasn't sure whether she was talking about the baby or something else. "I should be going." "I didn't mean to upset you, child. Go left out the door, and two blocks up. You'll run into it." "Thanks ...for everything. You see, I haven't been myself since ...for a few days. I don't know why, but I've been able to gather my thoughts here, to think clearly. It's been shelter from the storm. Thank you so much." The elderly woman shook her head. "It's more like the eye of the hurricane. When you leave, this storm you are suffering, will blast your being again, stronger than before, and the tide may pull you under. I pray not. I'd love to see you on the other side." The woman rose and came close. "Daughter. Everything's a swirl and sense is hard to come by. When this cannot decide," she laid a hand on the girl's forehead, "follow this." She touched her heart. "My Connie." She kissed her on