(Donaghy's POV)
"You remember why you were attached to Sybil in the first place," Chris asks me. I have my eyes closed and she's standing beside me, running her hands through my hair.
She keeps her voice low as if to keep this conversation private, but she's the only one speaking. She knows I'm listening without me having to respond.
"You did it to help me. To protect me. You've always protected me, but this time you needed a little help."
She's helping me build a picture in my head of the first time Sybil took control of me, but I was willing at that moment. At this moment, not so much.
"Don't think about anything else that happened afterwards. Just think about that first time she took hold of you and you were grateful for her help. When you were willing to serve her to have me back in return," Chris whispers in an almost whimpering tone.
The tone of her voice is heartbreaking, but it helps me paint the picture I need.
Me in the middle of no where with no way of knowing how to help Chris. That one gleam of hope coming from a stranger. The feeling of being so grateful that I'd give my own life to the cause.
That's what Sybil does. She makes you fell happy, full, grateful, and willing. Willing to risk your life for her, do anything to make her happy.
A grateful, happy, willing servant.
A slave.
I feel it coming on now. My own mind and body surrendering to her. My eyes are open, but I'm no longer looking through my own eyes. I'm sure they're glared over and almost white.
"There you are. My good slave," I hear that familiar voice but it's not directed at me.
Deep in my mind, I see someone kneeled down with a full grin on their face. They're covered in blood, but don't seem to care.
I wonder if I looked the same under her spell. Like a helpless fool.
"What do you see Don," I can hear Greg ask me.
"I'm sure I'm seeing through Sybil's eyes or that I'm in her mind or connected at least. I can see her toying with one of her victims."
"Look at the surrounds. What do you see," Anne asks. At that moment Sybils eyes shift to look in the distance.
"There's heavy snow everywhere and the wind looks strong. I think she's standing outside of some kind of wooden tavern."
"We're going to need more than that and I should warn you that the more time the crystal allows you to stay in her mind, the hotter the crystal gets," MJ informs me.
I did start to notice that the crystal was warm, but I thought it was just my sweaty, werewolf palms.
"Are there any rivers near by or bodies of water," Kora asks.
"No."
Sybils eyes shift again as she looks around. I catch a sign but I can't see the whole thing. I only catch the first three letters.
"The tavern is called Ash something. I couldn't see the whole thing." I can hear someone pick up a laptop and start typing.
''It could be Ashwood Tavern, but there's many all over the U.S. At least we now have it narrowed to this country," Hanna says.
The crystal is starting to burn the palms of my hands. I let out a hissing sound.
"Can you see any animals," Emily asks.
"No, but I don't think I can even focus enough to see if there are any. This crystal is giving me hell."
"We're running out of time. Unless you want your guy here to have toasted fingers for the rest of his life, I suggest we speed this up," MJ says. I don't know how this guy still holds a joking tone.
"How about the trees? What do they look like," Anne asks. I'm trying to steady my breath and focus on the task at hand.
"It's ok, baby. This will be over soon. Concentrate," Chris comforts me the best she can.
"They are yellowish- orange, it's branches are pretty thin, it's tall maybe 40 feet, and its growing little pine cones."
I can hear typing but I focus on what Sybils looking at in the distant woods.
There's something running towards her. A group. Who are they? What is she waiting for?
"I got it. Pull him out." Before I can look deep into it and my hands are torched off, I'm pulled out of my dazed and back to my consciousness.
"What'd you find," Jaisley asks Hanna.
"Tamarack trees. They fit Don's description and I happen to know they're a native species in Alaska. I visited there once with my grandmother. Tamarack's have such an amazing smell," Hanna babbles on.
"Okay, but is there an Ashwood tavern in Alaska," Greg asks. Hanna smiles.
"No, but there is an Ashwells tavern in Alaska. I think it fits our description."
"That means we found the bitch," Anne says. She looks ready for war with her blazing, purple eyes.
"There was something else," I interrupt while MJ is busy pulling needles out of me. Vinney places the red crystal into a pouch and away in a safe place. "I think she was meeting up with a group. I don't know who they were, but they looked like they were just arriving and she'd been expecting them for quite some time."
"Lets handle one thing at a time. So, what are we doing next with the information we have now," Alaric asks.
"I say this calls for a trip to Alaska," Kora announces.
"I agree," Cassandra hops in.
"I guess Vinney and I will have to reschedule some meetings," MJ says, taking me by surprise.
"You're coming with us," Anne asks, surprised as well. MJ gives her a smirk.
"Of course. I can help with anything you guys need while on this mission. Especially you," he directs to Anne.
He just doesn't know the hole he's digging himself into. I can feel the heat rolling off of Alaric from here.