As dawn lit up the horizon Jack and his band entered the Ganthorian craft to lick their wounds. Met by Ruby, Greta, and James the group attempt to soothe each others nerves. Noting Sophia Ridge trudging up the ramp like a guy Ruby winces.
"What the heck happened out there? Sophia looks normal."
"I'm not normal Dammit! Somebody get me a shirt already."
Ruby flares her eyes, "Was that Cam's voice?"
Jack eases her aside taking his shirt off and tossing it at Sophia. Cam catching it to put in on in a hurry.
"Recall the time when Elle, Sophia, and I all touched Maddy in her grave?" Jack frowns.
"Yeah?"
"Well that transfer just happened again. Cam's body was taken over by Verago. Sophia attacked. Her cuddly little friends freaked out and got sucked over to Verago. Now he in Cam's body is invulnerable."
"Whoa!" James stood shocked.
"Maddy tried to turn Verago all ghost and the Amulet Verago had been trapped in fell from his body. It's in our possession now."
"Again." Elle shivered knowing its power. Jack understood her worry.
James walks around to face Cameron in Sophia's body. Studying her with a circling pace. "Kid? If you pinch my ass I'll break your hand." Cam snaps.
Chuckling under pressure James replies, "I'll pass. I'm just wondering something. If you're here where is Sophia?"
"Good question. I want my body back. We are going after me...this Verago freak aren't we?" Cam gets excited. In the process feeling Sophia's boob jiggle. Grimacing he clutches her breasts and rolls his eyes, "God I miss my balls swinging. How the heck do you Gals deal with these milk sacks?"
Ruby switches her gaze at his comment. If she was indeed pregnant her own body would be building up for an eventual birth. The breast feeding process made her close her eyes.
"Seriously! We need to figure out where Sophia went. Was she trapped in this Verago too?" Elle interrupts. Holding the Amulet in her diamond encrusted arm for safety.
"Same goes for Sabbath. We were inside Verago sharing my body for awhile. When Elle cleaved the Mother's hand off, Sabbath's blood flew into my mouth. I was on my way to being a vampire but I wasn't officially bitten. Only possessed I'm thinking. This Verago a vampire or a demon or what?" Cam stresses.
"Or what." James commits, "I read that Chinese book you found Cam. It mentioned Verago in detail. I piece together things along the way. That's where I grabbed on to the concept of Sabbath and her sister being the reincarnations of Eve and Adam. By they being the original humans their souls were special. Mother is likely Lilith the first but lost favor of God immediately when Verago was cast to Earth. Verago overtook Eden and claimed Lilith as his own. Why Adam survived I don't know. Obviously God protected him. Anyway, Verago being the fallen seeks a soul powerful enough to return him to Heaven. If that's even possible. If my theory is correct he plans on taking Lilith with him. Storming the gates of Heaven and consuming all that he can."
Jack shakes his head while scratching the back of his neck, "So many theories. No real solutions. This book, does it offer a way of defeating Verago?"
"Maybe. There are mystical spells in the book but I'm kind of afraid to decipher them. I rather like my soul. There might be curses hidden within." James fidgets.
"That's a big help." Cam groans.
"Wait!" Ruby stares a moment, "You said that you and Sabbath were both inside this Verago. How was that possible?"
"When I swallowed Sabbath's blood I connected with her. She would be my maker I think. But, I wasn't officially bitten. So I'm not certain where I go from there."
"You're inside Sophia." Elle ponders.
"Don't talk dirty. This is bad enough as it is. I think I need to pee."
Greta begins giggling then raises her hand to apologize. Her eyes trying not to stare at Cam in his moment. This whole situation was over her head and all she could achieve was a nervous laughter.
"Thanks, Kansas. At least you can turn invisible. If I had that ability I could hide Sophia's body and just hear my voice." Cam huffs.
"Sorry Cameron. Truly I am." Greta felt badly.
Ruby turns to Jack with curiosity, "What's our next move? We can't leave Cam's body under this assholes control can we? Sophia might be out there too."
Unknown to the group Sophia hears their every word, trapped within the Amulet. Her pleading to be heard lost in the gems void. This was supposed to be a mystical prison for Vampires. How could Sophia be held prisoner within?
As Elle listened to ideas from Jack and Ruby she dangles the Amulet to her side. Without even thinking about her lowered arm she watches James Ian's dog Xander tilt his head and sniff at the ruby. Almost as if he could hear something. James picks up on his dogs discomfort. Watching the dog yelp made everyone look toward him.
"What's wrong Boy?" James crouches down beside the German Shepard.
Nearly touching his snout on the gem Elle retaliates pulling it away.
"That might not be a good idea."
"Something is attracting his attention." Ruby narrows her eyes, "Maybe it's just shiny and he's curious."
James closes his eyes and holds his dogs head from both sides, "Lower the Amulet. Let him look into it again."
"You certain?" Elle slowly agrees dangling the chain once again. This time James utilizes his telepathic link with his pet. Wearing a translator collar as Ruby had suggested he attempts to read his dog's thoughts. Was it possible to decipher the speech of a canine? Ordinarily James spoke to his dog guiding him. Hearing and seeing through it's senses. Now would be as good a time as any to test the theory.
"Show me what you see Boy."
The dog whines and tries to pull toward the gem. With a bit of effort the dog barks and lunges toward the gem. Touching the ruby with his nose James suddenly hears a voice. Dropping his jaw James ushers, "Houston? We have a problem."
Jack crouches beside them, eying James, "What are you saying?"
James without opening his eyes removes his translator collar and experiments further. Moving the device around his dog's neck near it's vocal cord region. Trembling James digs deeper into his pets psyche and realizes his best guess. As Xander yelps he hears Sophia's voice. The dog barking excessively to finish a complete sentence.
"Ready for this guys?" James offers up, "Sophia has gone to the dogs. Her soul is trapped within the Amulet. This is the only way to communicate with her."
"Can she hear you?" Ruby also kneels beside James with concern.
"Working on it. Give me room." He telepathically introduces his thoughts through his pet which filters through the collar and into the gem as it touches his dogs nose.
"Help me James." Sophia pleads.
"Can you hear me Sophia?" He hopes mentally.
"Yes. Thank God. Get me out of here."
"I'm not sure how. Give me time I swear I'll rescue you."
