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#Post#: 29--------------------------------------------------
HALF MOON RISING (Complete)
By: 22639 Date: September 30, 2011, 5:28 pm
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David walks in the Fairmont Hotel Seacouver carrying a small box
wrapped in a pink paper and a ribbon and walks to the reception
desk hoping Sarah is working today. He stops in front of her
with a smile when he sees her.
[David] So are we still on for tomorrow?
David asks her in a low voice so her colleague doesn't listen.
[Sarah] I'm planning on it, but... what are you doing here?
Sarah asks.
[David] I was walking around and stopped by a shop window and
thought this had your name on it.
David answers as he gives her the box he's carrying.
[Sarah] Oh?
Sarah says arching an eyebrow at him, as she slips the box open.
[Sarah] Oh, it's beautiful!
Sarah cries softly lifting out the single sunset colored orchid.
[David] Don't know why, I always imagined you'd like orchids.
David smirks watching her amused.
[David] Maybe because they're so delicate, like you?
[Sarah] I love it, it's beautiful. But you didn't say why you
came. You're not looking for that little friend of yours, are
you?
Sarah asks.
[David] Friend?
David asks surprised frowning slightly.
[David] What friend?
[Sarah] The one that brought you here in the first place.
Sarah smiles.
[Sarah] What was her name? Ms. Dunmire, I believe.
[David] Gemini?
David gasps in shock, opening his eyes wide.
[David] You mean she's here?
[Sarah] Yeah. Came back in a week or so ago.
Sarah shrugs.
David takes a deep breath of relief.
[David] Oh good, she left the place she was staying without
saying anything, I was worried. I hope she's alright.
[Sarah] You want her room number?
Sarah asks softly.
David nods smiling at Sarah.
[David] Oh yeah, I should talk to her.
[Sarah] 318
Sarah says after a moment of looking it up on the computer.
[David] Thanks, Sarah. I'll see you tomorrow then.
David winks at her with a smile, before he walks to the
elevators.
Sarah smiles at David as he disappears into the elevator.
David shakes his head as the elevator goes up, Gemini leaving
without telling anyone where she was going, she was going to
listen to a thing or two. He winces a little as the door opens
and he feels the buzz of another Immortal.
Gemini jumps as she feels a buzz and looks towards the door to
her hotel room, feeling terrified. Now what was she supposed to
do? There isn't anywhere to run in a hotel room.
David stops at the door of the 318 and knocks softly.
[David] Gemini, it's David, open up I know you're in there.
[Gemini] D-David?
Gemini asks softly going to the door and looking for the
peephole.
[David] Yeah, David Bradford, remember me?
David asks shaking his head.
[David] If I was a bad guy do you think I'd bother to knock?
Gemini sighs in relief seeing that it was indeed David. With a
moments pause to undo the locks on the door, Gemini opens the
door, with a smile at David.
[Gemini] Probably not.
Gemini replies.
[David] So what do you think you're doing? Trying to get
yourself killed?
David asks with a frown as he walks in the room.
[Gemini] I'm sorry?
Gemini asks, jumping back startled by the question. Her eyes
widening slightly.
[David] I stopped by the place you were living and you weren't
there anymore. You disappeared without bothering to tell anyone
where you were going.
David says as he paces around her room.
[David] That would even be dangerous if you were mortal, being
immortal it's twice as dangerous.
[Gemini] Wasn't comfortable there.
Gemini whispers.
David nods as he stops in front of her.
[David] Yeah, you couldn't wait forever your teacher returned,
but maybe call us and tell us what you were doing? Craig might
have found you someone else who could teach you.
[Gemini] I didn't want to impose.
Gemini whispers.
[Gemini] You, and Nikki and Craig have already done more than
enough. I guess, I just figured I'd stay here while I made the
arrangements and then I'd go back to Fargo.
[David] Ah come on, Gemini. If we're offering to help it's not
imposing.
David sighs impatiently as he resumes pacing.
[David] You're not going to start with that again, are you?
[Gemini] It is, considering you guys already found me a teacher
once.
Gemini says, her eyes flashing a little.
[David] Yeah, and the guy disappeared, which isn't your fault.
David sighs shaking his head as he thinks about it.
[David] Let's hope he's still around.
[Gemini] What if it is? What if he decided he didn't want to
deal with me? Didn't want to teach me?
Gemini asks, more to herself than to David.
[David] Then he wouldn't leave you in his property waiting for
him, now would he?
David points out, wondering if that what this was about, Gemini
thought her teacher had abandoned her.
Gemini shrugs.
[Gemini] Dunno. He said he had other residences around the
world. Just didn't say where.
[David] Oh well.
David shrugs before he decides to sit on a chair.
[David] I'll talk to Craig and see what he says.
Gemini shrugs.
[Gemini] Doesn't matter. I'll just go back to Fargo.
[David] And do what exactly? Give up your dream?
David asks looking at her in disbelief.
[David] Don't do that.
[Gemini] What good does it do me to stay here?
Gemini demanded.
[Gemini] I've got no coach, and no teacher. At least if I go
back to Fargo, my old coach will take me up again.
[David] There are other coaches, no? You're going to give up
just because that guy turned you down?
David asks shaking his head.
[David] He's not worth it, you know?
Gemini shrugs.
[Gemini] No... but it's not doing me any good staying here.
[David] Come on, you've waited for so long, you can wait a
couple of days, let me talk to Craig.
David says with a shrug.
[David] If he can't come up with an idea Fargo will still be
there.
[Gemini] Well, yeah, but...
Gemini trails off hesitant about voicing her full opinion.
[David] But?
David encourages her to go on, knowing how shy Gemini can be
sometimes.
[Gemini] But I think Craig, and you for that matter, will feel
obligated to help me, whether or not he wants to.
Gemini shrugs.
[David] Oh, he wants to, he's always willing to help a damsel in
distress, so am I for that matter. I'm officially a boy scout.
David chuckles softly.
[David] So no worries.
[Gemini] I really don't want to be an imposition.
Gemini murmurs.
David sighs slightly exasperated, she was doing it again.
[David] How can you be imposing if I'm offering?
[Gemini] It can't I guess... I guess, I'm just feeling guilty,
like I'm taking advantage of your hospitality.
Gemini sighs.
[David] You're not living with me.
David chuckles softly, shaking his head amused.
[David] Last time I checked you were living in this hotel.
Gemini shrugs.
[Gemini] Not like I've got anywhere else to go at the moment.
[David] Well, you could come to lunch with me, I'm starving and
I hate eating alone.
David suggests with a smile.
[Gemini] I -
Gemini cuts herself off.
[David] And you could take the opportunity to get some news
books.
David adds looking around at the books she keeps everywhere with
a smile.
[David] I bet you've read all these.
[Gemini] I should just invest in a Kindle or a Sony e-reader, or
a Barnes and Noble Nook, or something.
Gemini mutters.
[David] Yeah, it would save space. Soon you'll need a bigger
room.
David laughs amused still looking around trying to estimate how
many books she had in there.
[Gemini] Gee, thanks.
Gemini rolls her eyes.
[David] I mean you've only been here for a couple of months and
how many did you get so far? Fifty? If you stay here for another
couple of months you'll have to sleep in the bathroom.
David chuckles amused turning his head to look back at Gemini.
[Gemini] There's only 32!
Gemini protests.
[David] Yeah, but some of them are pretty thick so it equals
fifty.
David answers not wanting to admit he didn't bother to count
them.
[Gemini] No it doesn't.
Gemini disagrees and plops onto the foot of the bed.
David jumps to his feet as his stomach grumbles again.
[David] Well, I need to eat something, coming or not?
[Gemini] Are you sure?
Gemini asks, not wanting to impose and more than half believing
that David was just offering out of pity.
David stops to look at her on his way to the door.
[David] Of course I'm sure, I wouldn't ask you if I wasn't.
[Gemini] Meaning you're not or you are the type to ask out of
pity?
Gemini asks as she stands up and moves to the dresser where her
purse is.
[David] Ask out of pity?
David frowns at Gemini for a moment, then he bursts out
laughing.
[David] Gemini, I may be a boy scout but I'm not a saint.
[Gemini] That's good to know.
Gemini chuckles softly, as she puts her room key in the purse
and moves to follow David.
[center]***An hour and a half later***[/center]
David leans back on his chair with a contented sigh after he ate
the last bite of his apple pie.
[David] Feel a lot better now.
[Gemini] You sure can pack it in.
Gemini grins, taking another sip of her iced tea.
[David] Well, I'm a lot bigger than you I should eat double.
David grins back at Gemini as he looks around for the waitress
to order more coffee.
[Gemini] Not even my dad packed it in like that! And he was
taller than you!
Gemini laughs.
[David] No wonder you knew you were adopted, it wasn't just that
they were blonde, was it?
David grins as he gestures the waitress for more coffee.
[Gemini] No. They were both tall and blond. Beautiful and
athletic. Only thing I shared with them physically was the
athleticness... and at that I outshone them.
Gemini smiles.
[David] I never suspected a thing. My mother says they thought
it was for the best, but I wish they'd told me, what bothers me
it's them hiding it for me not the fact itself.
David sighs as he puts some sugar on his coffee and starts
mixing it.
Gemini shrugs, then laughs.
[Gemini] You know, for all that it was obvious to me, and most
people that I was adopted, my best friend's father had no clue,
until he asked to do some genetic testing on us. Came and
thought he was going to be telling all of us, this grave news.
[David] But why even bother if your parents knew?
David frowns puzzled for a minute until he smiles.
[David] He was a lawyer, right?
[Gemini] My dad was yeah. Lizzy's dad was some sort of
geneticist. He was always asking for blood samples for something
or another. Didn't even bother to ask anymore what it was for.
This last time, it was something about... how traits get passed
down from parents to children. Figured I looked so different,
we'd be perfect for this study. Then he comes to tell us the
"Bad news".
Gemini giggles.
[David] Oh, you mentioned genetics testing, and ADN testing came
to mind, which made no sense, your parents would know.
David shakes his head with a sigh.
[David] Remember I'm just a cop, or ex-cop or whatever.
[Gemini] Yeah... but as I said, Lizzy's dad was a geneticist.
Worked on decoding the human genome and everything. So he was
always doing something.
Gemini grins.
[David] Yeah, it should be interesting in a few years, if they
find a cure for some diseases based on that.
David nods, then pulls out his cell phone to answer it as it
rings. He frowns as he sees the number.
[David] Yes, Linda?
David listens for a moment as his frown deepens then shrugs.
[David] Well, if he wants to wait until he gets back, and he
gets robbed it's not our problem, is it?
David nods as he listens for a moment.
[David] Fine, I'll be there in a while.
David says before he disconnects the call shaking his head.
[Gemini] Something wrong?
Gemini asks softly.
[David] Not really, I had a meeting and it just got canceled. A
collector who's going to leave his collection completely
unprotected while he goes abroad.
David shakes his head again with a sigh.
[David] He's asking to get robbed.
Gemini snorts with laughter.
[Gemini] Well since he's asking, you should inform all thieves
you know.
Gemini then holds up her hands in a surrender gesture.
[Gemini] Just kidding!
[David] You better, I don't like thieves, I wouldn't tell them
even if I had a grudge against this guy, which I don't.
David tells Gemini seriously.
[Gemini] Seriously, just kidding. I don't have any sympathy for
thieves either. I've never stolen, not even a pop, and most of
friends have taken something, at least once.
Gemini says honestly.
[David] Well, I never dreamt of it, my father was a cop, imagine
what he'd do to me if I got caught stealing.
David makes a face just imagining the scene, then he smiles
amused.
[David] I'd be grounded for ten years or something.
[Gemini] Different friend of mine. His dad was a cop. He got
caught stealing... a pop I think. His dad let him sit in jail
over the weekend.
Gemini smiles slightly.
[Gemini] Needless to say he never did it again.
[David] Yeah, hardly surprising.
David chuckles softly as he looks around for the waitress.
[David] Check, please.
David says when he sees her.
[Gemini] Neither did anybody else, of my friends, after that.
They were all afraid that Brandon's dad would keep them in jail
for the weekend too.
Gemini murmurs.
[David] Yeah, especially the weekend, if it was school day maybe
they wouldn't mind, but the weekend...
[Gemini] Oh, they all would have preferred school to jail. Part
of the reason I never did, was if I had anything on my record, I
could kiss the Olympics goodbye.
David nods with a smile while the picks the check the waitress
has brought and looks at it. He frowns slightly going through
it.
[David] Can't believe I ate all this.
[Gemini] Believe it. What was it? Two steaks, two baked
potatoes, a side of French fries, some veggies, and the apple
pie? Did I forget anything?
Gemini asks.
[David] Coffee?
David asks with a smirk.
[Gemini] Oh, excuse me.
Gemini says rolling her eyes.
David gets his wallet and takes out some money leaving a
generous tip to the waitress.
[David] Alright, let's go, I'll take you back to the hotel if
you want.
David says as he moves his chair away from the table.
[Gemini] Alright.
Gemini agrees, not necessarily wanting to go back to her hotel
now, but already feeling a little guilty about the time David
was taking.
[David] Do you want to buy something while you're out? I don't
have to go back right away, I was expecting to be busy for the
next couple of hours.
David offers as they walk to the door of the restaurant.
[Gemini] Don't you have to get back to work though? Even if the
meeting was canceled?
Gemini asks.
[David] To do what? I already did everything I needed to do
today, if something comes up Linda will call me.
David shrugs as they step outside, he looks around for a moment
just looking at the crowd walking outside.
[Gemini] It's a pretty day.
Gemini sighs, closing her eyes and turning her face towards the
sun.
[Gemini] And unusual for Seacouver if I'm not mistaken.
Gemini adds absently.
[David] Yeah, I think so, not that I've been here that long to
find out.
David shrugs as he keeps looking around.
[David] So right or left?
[Gemini] Doesn't matter.
Gemini shrugs, still enjoying the sun on her face.
[David] Hmm, right then, no point in going further away from the
car.
David says as turns right and starts walking.
[Gemini] Okay.
Gemini says opening her eyes, and moving with David.
[David] So you need anything? Some books?
David asks again as he points to his right.
[David] There's a bookstore just right after the corner.
[Gemini] Well, that or one of those e-readers.
Gemini shrugs.
[David] Well, it's up to you, you're the one buying it.
David shrugs as he keeps walking.
[Gemini] What bookstore is it?
Gemini asks curiously.
[David] Barnes and Noble. You should be able to get what you
want there.
[Gemini] I can get both there.
Gemini laughs.
[Gemini] Barnes and Noble also sells the Nook, which is their
e-reader.
David turns the corner and winces a little as he feels an
Immortal buzz. He looks around suspiciously hoping to find an
Immortal he knows.
Gemini freezes, as she turns the corner and feels the buzz of
another Immortal, and looks quickly at David, then around the
street, to see if she can identify the source.
Steven stops on his tracks as he feels an Immortal buzz, judging
by the signs it's that man and that girl in front of him, and
they don't look to be very old. He forces himself to hide his
joy and to keep an inexpressive face as he looks at them.
[Gemini] Anybody you know?
David looks at the man who had stopped to stare at them.
Gemini asks softly, spotting a man who was looking at them, on
the other side of the street.
[David] It's that guy, I'm sure. And no, I've never seen him
before.
[Gemini] So what do we do?
Gemini asks.
Steven keeps staring at them studying what they're wearing, as
far as he can tell they have no place to hide a sword, though
the man has a suspicious bulk under his arm, he's probably
carrying a gun.
[David] We can still go inside the store, too many people around
for him to make a scene. Then I'll take you back to the hotel.
David answers Gemini keeping his eyes on the man.
[Gemini] If... if you're sure.
[David] Don't know what he's planning to do anyway. He's just
staring at us.
Gemini says softly, looking up at David worriedly, before
turning back to the strange man across the street.
[David] I'll shoot him if I have to, don't think for a minute
that I won't.
David whispers to her without taking his eyes away from the man.
[David] I know it angers Immortals but if he tries to hurts us I
will.
Gemini just shivers.
[Gemini] I don't have to go to the bookstore, if you don't want.
Gemini whispers.
[David] No, let's go inside, he won't do anything in public.
Maybe he's just curious and he'll go away.
David tells Gemini hoping to sound more confidant than he feels,
he knows a shot will only delay this Immortal not kill him and
he's not carrying a sword.
[Gemini] Okay.
Gemini agrees, and turns to go quickly into the Barnes and
Noble.
David takes a last look at the mysterious man before he follows
Gemini inside.
When the two young Immortals disappear inside the bookstore
Steven's lips twitch and he moves away wondering where he'd left
his car.
#Post#: 30--------------------------------------------------
HALF MOON RISING Part 2
By: 22639 Date: September 30, 2011, 5:30 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]***Same day, 7:30 PM***[/center]
Gemini sighs as she adjusts the towel a little tighter around
her waist. The day had been good. A new Nook purchased from
Barnes and Noble as well as a stack of books and no further sign
of that Immortal that had scared her and David earlier. Gemini
sighs again, as the elevator slowly makes it way up. Just as the
elevator begins to slow, Gemini winces at the feel of the buzz
of another Immortal. "What's David doing back?" She mutters to
herself.
Steven sighs impatiently as he paces near the elevator door. The
dirty laundry cart is ready, the hotel uniform he managed to
steal is ready, so there will be no problem to take her outside,
so where's that newbie? He thinks to himself anxious to take his
next Quickening. He jumps when he feels the buzz of another
Immortal and tries to compose his face so he'd look harmless
enough, he needs to be near enough to get her.
[Gemini] What are you doing back, David?
Gemini asks as soon as the door to the elevator opens. She turns
to her room in habit. Then slows to a stop, a feeling of dread
coming over her. There was no David in the hallway and nobody
between her and her room. Swallowing hard as terror spikes in
her, Gemini spins around, to see the man from earlier, now
standing between her and the easy escape of the elevator. "Uh
oh," she mutters to herself.
[Steven] Excuse me, Miss? I seem to be lost, can you tell me
where is room 320?
Steven tries to smile pleasantly as he slowly walks to her.
Gemini doesn't say anything, just backs up away from the strange
Immortal. He couldn't truly be lost. All the rooms were numbered
and in order. It would take a complete moron to truly be lost
and the look in this man's eyes says he was anything but a
moron.
[Steven] You don't need to be afraid of me. Not all Immortals
are bad you know?
Steven smiles for real this time as he thinks he's not one of
them. He puts his hand inside his pocket grabbing his dagger
just a few more steps and he'll be close enough to get her.
[Gemini] Then why do ask directions to a room you've already
passed?
Gemini asks, jumping back several more paces.
Steven smiles amused as the girl moves closer to the dirty
laundry cart, the fool was making his job easier.
[Steven] I did?
Steven asks trying to sound surprised.
[Steven] I think I've missed it.
[Gemini] Obviously. We're at 328 now.
Gemini murmurs, risking a quick glance behind her and spotting a
dirty laundry cart. Gemini darts quickly to the laundry cart and
pulls it around, so it's between her and the strange Immortal.
[Steven] Oh you want to play huh?
Steven chuckles amused as he rushes to her with a dagger in his
hand.
[Steven] Make this easy for me and you won't suffer.
Steven says after her as he tries to move the cart only using
one hand.
Gemini pushes the laundry cart at him as hard as she turns and
races for the stairs, letting her sandals slip off, as she
pushes the door open so hard it bounces loudly off the wall, and
races down the stairs. At the turn to go from the third to the
second floor, Gemini looks up, praying that he isn't following.
Or at least not closely enough, so she' d have time to get the
door open and back into the second floor of the hotel.
Steven gets thrown against the wall with the impact, but he soon
recovers and runs after the young Immortal angrily, his prey is
getting away.
[Steven] You'll be sorry for this!
Steven yells after her as he gets to the stairs.
Gemini doesn't say anything just swallows and abandons her idea
for the second floor. Maybe she'd have better luck for the first
floor, she says as she continues her race down the stairs.
Steven rushes down the stairs as he puts his dagger back in his
pocket and pulls out his sword, he's so angry he's not waiting
to take her outside, he'll kill her as soon as he gets close
enough.
[Gemini] Oh God.
Gemini gasps seeing the other had a sword in hand.
[Gemini] Oh God.
Gemini gasps again desperately putting on another spurt, and
races towards the door out of the hotel, that was another push
door. Gemini practically falls into it, as it flies open and she
stumbles into the alley, beside the hotel.
Steven forces himself to move faster when he hears another door
open afraid she'll get away. He smiles evilly when he sees where
they are.
[Steven] Nice place, couldn't have picked a better spot.
Steven says looking around as he lifts the sword on his hand.
Gemini takes a look around, getting her bearings as the strange
Immortal comes out of the hotel. Turning, she tries to make a
dash towards the street and the safety of people.
Steven smiles as he moves to cut her off, she didn't think he's
that stupid, now did she?
[Steven] Oh no you don't, trying to get to Holy Ground? I don't
think so.
[Gemini] Why are you after me?
Gemini asks hoping to stall for time, as she backs away from
him.
[Steven] You've got something I want.
Steven answers while he moves to her.
[Gemini] What?
Gemini asks keeping the same distance between them.
[Steven] The Quickening I'll get after I cut your head off, what
else? Now be a good girl and I'll make it quick.
Steven says as he moves faster to her, his sword ready in his
hand.
Gemini stumbles backward, and then with a twist manages to turn,
and sprints down the alley away from the mad man.
[Steven] Come back here!
Steven yells angrily before he begins to run after her.
Gemini doesn't bother to reply or look back, she just keeps on
running. Then, she suddenly feels another buzz. "Oh, God no,"
she gasps desperately spotting someone standing at the end of
the alley and stumbles to a stop and turns putting her back to
the alley wall, unable to see a way out of the predicament now.
Steven stops as soon as he feels an Immortal buzz, there's
another one of them around, he stays there just looking his
sword still raised in his hand.
Annie blinks surprised for a moment as she takes in the scene
before her, two Immortals, a girl barely dressed and barefooted
and a man chasing her with a sword. She shakes her head for a
moment before she unsheathes her sword, a head hunter no doubt.
[Annie] Mind if I join the party?
Annie asks as she begins to walk to them keeping her eyes on the
Immortal with the sword.
Gemini accidentally lets a terrified whimper escape her, then
clamps her mouth, shut even harder, trying to watch both armed
Immortals at the same time. How was she going to get out of this
one now?!
Steven looks at the Immortal woman angrily.
[Steven] Go away, you can't interfere!
Annie raises an eyebrow as she pretends to think for a moment.
[Annie] Hmm I can't interfere if the fight's been engaged, you
call this a fight, you coward?
Gemini presses herself up against the wall of the alley,
desperately hoping to see a way to escape, but the man was
between her and the way back to the hotel and the woman, her and
the street.
[Steven] Oh, you want to take her place, then?
Steven asks hopefully, she looks older so her Quickening must be
stronger than the girl, and he can always get the girl later.
[Annie] That's brilliant, fight in front of another Immortal so
she can take the winner's head.
Annie shakes her head staring at the unknown Immortal.
[Annie] Do you really want to do that?
Steven hesitates for a moment looking at the two Immortals.
[Steven] Hmm no, some other time?
Gemini shivers at the look the man gave her.
[Annie] Sure?
Annie smiles at the man coldly.
[Annie] Always a pleasure to take out the trash.
Steven glares at the woman angrily.
[Steven] You dare to insult me?
[Annie] Hmm I think it fits you.
Annie's smile broadens without reaching her eyes.
[Steven] You're going to pay for it sooner or later.
Steven grumbles as he begins to walk away still keeping her in
his sight.
[Steven] Oh and I see you later, kid.
Steven tells Gemini as a way of goodbye.
Gemini shudders as the man waves at her before turning and
stalking off. Gemini swallows hard and turns her attention to
the woman. Her fear not any less for that the man had left.
Annie keeps looking at the way the man has left for a moment
before she turns her attention to the girl.
[Annie] So where did you come from? It can't be far.
Annie says indicating her feet.
Gemini swallows hard, then whispers, "Hotel."
A woman standing in the shadows at the edge of the alley feels
her jaw drop. In the seven and half years she's been watching
the Immortal Steven Lee, she's never seen him leave before the
Quickening was taken, at least not once he had drawn his sword.
This is something to report. She ducks back further into the
shadows, to allow Steven Lee to pass. Then, as he leaves, with
one last glance back down the alley, she follows him.
[Annie] The Fairmont Hotel down the alley?
Annie asks slightly surprised, she didn't feel an Immortal when
she arrived and she did take a look around.
Gemini nods, afraid to move, wondering what this woman is going
to do now.
[Annie] Fine, let's go then, you better walk with me in case
that scum bag is still around.
Annie resheathes her sword but moves her hand to her pocket
where her gun is.
Gemini swallows hard.
[Gemini] What do you want with me?
Gemini demands softly, but firmly.
[Annie] Have any idea where you dropped your shoes? I assume he
caught you near the pool and your sword is back at your room,
don't ever do that again, kid, if you want to keep living.
Annie said as she began to walk ignoring her question.
[Gemini] Don't have a sword.
Gemini says bluntly still not moving.
Annie raises an eyebrow looking back at the girl.
[Annie] What do you mean you don't have a sword? Do you know
about Immortals? And the Game?
Gemini nods slowly.
[Gemini] I was told, but...
Gemini trails off.
[Annie] And why didn't you go to your teacher when the problems
began?
Annie frowns trying to make some sense to all of this.
[Annie] Why wasn't he or she around anyway?
[Gemini] Don't have a teacher... Well, I did, but he disappeared
before he could teach me anything.
Gemini says with a shrug, shifting slightly on her bare feet.
[Annie] Seems there are a lot of things you don't have.
Annie shakes her head as she resumes walking.
[Gemini] And that's supposed to be my fault?
Gemini demands straightening.
[Annie] Well, I'm going back to the hotel, coming?
Annie asks without bothering to turn around or answer her
question, if the girl wanted to stay there alone after what
happened let her.
Gemini swallows hard then moves quickly to catch up with the
strange woman walking beside her and darting glances at her out
of the corner of her eye.
[Annie] So your shoes? Don't tell me you also don't have shoes.
Annie asks as she keeps moving, she knows the girl is watching
her but pretends she doesn't notice it.
[Gemini] Between my room and the stair well.
Gemini says.
[Gemini] Run faster without flip-flops.
Gemini adds in a mutter.
[Annie] I bet.
Annie nods as she stops near the service door.
[Annie] Let's hope they didn't change this since last year,
you're not exactly dressed to walk through the front door.
Annie says as she looks for the employee's card she got at her
last visit.
[Gemini] Wasn't supposed to leave the hotel dressed like this.
Gemini mutters.
[Annie] You weren't supposed to leave the hotel period, running
to the back alley was a bad idea, you're lucky to be alive.
Annie shakes her head while she uses the card and the door opens
with a soft beep.
[Gemini] He was between me and the elevator, and I couldn't get
enough distance between us, to get into the hotel itself. Tried
to get out front, once I got outside, but he cut me off.
Gemini explains, with a little heat. After all, it wasn't like
she was stupid!
[Annie] Damn, why didn't you make some noise? Knock at the other
room doors? Get everybody in the corridors and tell them there
was a man harassing you? They'd believe you.
Annie asks shaking her head again before she pulls the door
open.
[Gemini] He wasn't exactly harassing me... at least not until he
attacked me and by then it was a little late to be knocking on
doors and asking for help.
Gemini says flatly with a glare at the other woman. Why did she
feel like she had to defend her actions to this woman?
[Annie] Did you bother to take a good look at him? What did you
think he was going to do? Give you flowers?
Annie says disbelievingly, that Immortal had head hunter written
all over.
[Gemini] Oh, I looked at him. I thought he was someone else when
I stepped off the elevator, or I wouldn't have gotten off! When
I did see him, I didn't let him get any closer to me! I didn't
trust him!
Gemini cried, following the woman into the hotel.
[Gemini] As if he couldn't find a room when they're in order.
Gemini adds in an angry mutter.
[Annie] Oh is that what he said?
Annie chuckles softly as she begins to climb the stairs.
[Annie] Most men are terrible liars.
[Gemini] Yeah. Asked me to direct him to a room.
Gemini shakes her head.
[Annie] Speaking of room, you should change room, ask a room at
a different floor. He's likely to return, you know? Maybe you
should even change hotel.
Annie stops at the second floor door and gets the card again.
[Annie] I seem to recall there's a bar around here somewhere.
[Gemini] Downstairs. And moving will be a task and a half.
Gemini sighs.
[Annie] Upstairs would be a better idea, so he doesn't have to
pass you to get to your old room.
Annie says as she unlocks the door and pushes it open.
[Gemini] Still a task and a half.
Gemini mutters, then sighs.
[Annie] Why? Do you really have that many suitcases?
Annie asks puzzled, that girl didn't seem like the type to carry
all her wardrobe with her.
[Gemini] Books.
Gemini explains.
[Gemini] Been living in the hotel out of my suitcases for nearly
two months so...
Gemini shrugs.
[Annie] Get an employee to help you, I'm sure they'll charge it
but...
Annie shrugs as she looks down the corridor.
Gemini shrugs.
[Gemini] It can wait for tomorrow... Can't it?
Gemini asks softly looking up at the woman and then around a
little nervously.
[Annie] How should I know? Depends on how much he wants to kill
you I guess.
Annie shrugs again, then she enters the corridor.
[Annie] I'm taking the elevator, my suite in on the last floor.
[Gemini] That's helpful.
Gemini mutters, following her into the corridor, and planning on
heading to the elevator for her room.
[Annie] I'm not inside that guy's brain, am I? I don't guess
things. My advice to you is be on your guard.
Annie says as she walks down the corridor to the elevator.
[Annie] And if you feel a buzz stay in public, Immortals don't
like an audience.
Gemini follows the other woman towards the elevator.
[Gemini] I'm on the third floor.
Gemini explains.
[Gemini] Oh, and I'm Gemini, by the way.
Annie hesitates thinking if she should tell her her real name or
the name she's using at the moment.
[Annie] You can call me Annie.
Annie nods reaching a compromise between the two of them.
[Gemini] Nice to meet you, and... Thank you. For your help in
the alley.
Gemini says softly, hitting the button to call the elevator.
[Annie] I don't like head hunters.
Annie shrugs indifferently.
[Annie] Or male Immortals who go after women just because
they're women.
[Gemini] Oh.
Gemini says softly as the elevator doors open, and she steps in.
She very much wants to ask why, but knows it would be terribly
impolite.
[Annie] So I see you around, Gemini, watch your back.
Annie says while the elevator moves up, she knows the door will
open again soon.
[Gemini] Thanks.
Gemini sighs as she leaves the elevator and turns towards her
room.
#Post#: 31--------------------------------------------------
HALF MOON RISING Part 3
By: 22639 Date: September 30, 2011, 5:31 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]***Next morning***[/center]
Gemini sighs and picks up her cell phone. She's put it off as
long as she could. Taking a deep breath as she thumbs through
the contacts on her cell phone and hits send on one number and
puts it to her ear. "Don't answer," she prays to herself.
David is reading some files when the cell phone on his desk
rings, he puts the papers back on the desk to grab it, and is
slightly surprised when he sees it's Gemini.
[David] Hello? Gemini?
[Gemini] David?
Gemini says nervously.
[David] Yes, it's me, need to go somewhere?
David asks playing with the papers, he can't think of another
reason why she'd call him so soon.
[Gemini] No, umm... Well... maybe but, umm....
Gemini says not sure how to put it.
David smiles amused at her answer, it's so like her to be
embarrassed by asking for his help.
[David] So it's no or maybe?
[Gemini] Well, actually it's probably a yes, but it's not what
you think.
Gemini blurts out, then cuts herself off.
[David] I'm not thinking anything in particular except that you
need a ride.
David shrugs even though she can't see him.
[Gemini] Well, see that's the thing... I don't need a ride. I'm
umm... gonna move rooms at the hotel. I just thought you should
know.
Gemini says, chewing her lower lip.
[David] You decided to get a bigger room because of all the
books?
David chuckles softly remembering what her room looked like
yesterday.
[Gemini] No umm...
Gemini says not sure how to say it. Then takes a deep breath.
[Gemini] Remember that guy, the Immortal, from outside the
bookstore?
[David] Yes, how could I forget?
David frowns looking at his office door.
[David] Does that have anything to do with him?
[Gemini] He was umm... waiting for me, when I got back last
night.
Gemini finishes in a quick go.
[David] He followed us?
David asks surprised.
[David] I didn't see him and I've checked if there was someone
following us.
[Gemini] That's... that's not all.
Gemini says hesitantly.
[David] What did he want? Don't tell me he attacked you?
David offers but he's not seriously considering it.
[Gemini] I... yes. I was coming back from my swim, and I felt an
Immortal, and I thought it was you, 'cause like nobody else
knows where I'm staying, so when I realized it wasn't you, he
was already between me and the elevator. When he attacked me, I
ran down the stairs and out into the alley beside the hotel. I
tried to run out to the street, but he cut me off, so I ran
down, the alley, hoping I could maybe get away, or to the sea or
something.
Gemini says, the last coming out in a rush.
[David] I should have been there, I'd shoot the bastard.
David grumbles through clenched teeth.
[David] So how did you get away?
[Gemini] Well... I thought I was dead, when another Immortal
stepped into the alley...
Gemini says slowly.
[David] Another Immortal? Who?
David frowns thinking if it was someone he knew.
[Gemini] Umm... her name is Annie. She aah... she's actually
staying here in the hotel. She chased the other guy away...
don't even know what his name is.
Gemini added the last in a mutter.
[David] Annie? Hmm I don't think I know her. Unless it's by
another name.
David sighs as he thinks he should find Craig as soon as
possible, he's his teacher after all.
[Gemini] She umm... says I should change rooms. To a higher
floor at the very least. So, I think I'm going to take her up on
that.
Gemini says.
[Gemini] So, I thought I'd let you know.
[David] Maybe you should change hotel, then again maybe not, I
noticed there's a church right across the street.
David sighs again, he really should ask Craig what to do.
[Gemini] Church.. Holy Ground.. That's right...
Gemini mutters under her breath.
[David] If you get in trouble again, go to the church and call
me from there. I'll think of something.
David suggests the only thing he can think of at the moment.
[David] And don't let him lure you out for any reason.
[Gemini] But this last time, I couldn't even make it to the
front of the hotel... let alone across the street and into the
church.
Gemini says softly.
[David] I'd give you a gun, but you probably don't know how to
use it. You'd probably end up shooting yourself.
David frowns thinking with a smile playing across his lips.
[David] And this woman can't help you? She obviously doesn't
want your head or she would have killed you last night.
[Gemini] I-I don't know. We... we didn't talk much last night.
She just walked back to the hotel.... told me off, for not
taking my sword with me.
Gemini snorts.
[Gemini] As if I had a sword.
[David] I think she assumed you did. I mean, most of us do.
David sighs thinking about his lessons.
[David] The problem is to learn how to use it.
[Gemini] Makes it doubly hard when you don't even have anyone to
teach you.
Gemini says bluntly.
[Gemini] Oh God.
Gemini whispers, putting her face into her left hand. She was
going to die, she knew it. David had a teacher and just said he
was having issues learning the sword, how was she supposed to
manage when she didn't even have a teacher?
[David] Just hang on, I'm going to find Craig after I disconnect
this call. The reason I still didn't talk to him is because he
wasn't here yesterday when I got back.
David explains as he gets to his feet and begins pacing.
[Gemini] David?
Gemini whispers.
[Gemini] I'm scared... I don't want to die.
[David] Do you want to come here? I could go there right away.
David offers wondering what he's going to do after she gets
there but he's hoping to talk to Craig in the meantime.
[Gemini] No... No. I. I'm going to use the morning to move to a
different room. I'll... I'll let Sarah know that it's okay to
tell you where I'm at, but not to tell anyone else...
Gemini says softly.
[David] Alright, be careful who you open the door. He can't
knock down the door, it would make too much noise.
David says as he paces worriedly.
[David] Try to stay out of sight until I talk to Craig. He'll
know what to do.
[Gemini] Okay.
Gemini says, softly, but still nervously.
[David] Well, worse case scenario call the police, that will
make him go away.
David makes a face while he suggests that, it's probably too
risky for all Immortals, but war is war.
[David] Just tell them he's harassing you or something.
[Gemini] Harassing me? I suppose that's better than the truth.
Gemini mutters.
[David] Yes, they won't believe the truth and we're not supposed
to tell them anyway.
David sighs as he thinks what would happen if she gave them all
away.
[David] Besides if you tell them the truth there would be more
than one Immortal after you.
[Gemini] That's assuming the cops didn't just lock me up for a
crazy person. I can hear it now, 'Yes officer. He's got a sword,
about four feet long, and he wants to cut my head off. Yes,
that's right, cut my head. Medication? What Medication.' Yeah,
that'd fly.
Gemini grumbles.
[David] Can't exactly blame them, it sounds crazy. Almost don't
believe it myself every time I stop to think about it.
David says with a sigh shaking his head.
[Gemini] Well, it hit home hard last night.
Gemini sighs.
[David] That reminds me, I need to talk to Craig, need to find
him first.
David thinks for a moment.
[David] I bet Linda knows where he is.
[Gemini] Okay.
Gemini says shrugging.
[David] I'll call you back as soon as I talk to him, so you
better stick to your cell phone.
David says as he begins to walk to the door to go to the front
desk.
[David] And Gemini, be careful.
[Gemini] I will. I'm gonna go talk to the front desk about
moving.
Gemini says.
[David] OK then, I'll call you back.
David says before he disconnects the call and rushes out of his
office.
Gemini sighs and flips her phone shut. She stands up and goes to
the door of her bedroom and paused, listening at the door.
"Can't live life like this," she mutters to herself and pulls
the door open and walks straight down the hallway, to the
elevator and punches the button. When it slides open Gemini gets
in and goes down to the lobby and approaches the front desk. To
her relief Sarah is on duty, Sarah seams to be one of the nicer
receptionists... not that they all weren't nice but... "Stop it,
you're babbling to yourself," Gemini mutters to herself and goes
to the desk.
[Sarah] Miss Dunmire? What can I do for you?
Sarah asks looking up from some papers she was reading.
[Gemini] Umm... I hate to be a bother and place more work on
you... and the rest of the staff, but...
Gemini says hesitantly.
[Sarah] You're no bother at all, that's what we're here for.
Sarah says with a smile waiting for Gemini to explain what she
wants.
[Gemini] I need a different room.
Gemini says, her face an apology.
[Sarah] Oh yes, Miss Petrovna mentioned there was a man
bothering you and that you might want to do that.
Sarah nods while she goes through her papers.
[Sarah] She's left instructions to get some people to help you.
[Gemini] Yes. She was a big help last night... helped chase him
off.
Gemini smiles slightly.
[Sarah] He's not staying at the hotel, is he? If he is, I'll
talk to the manager.
Sarah asks indignantly, a frown replacing her smile.
[Gemini] No. I ran into him at Barnes and Noble the other day.
And started following me around. Tried to attack me in the hotel
last night. As I said, she helped drive him away. She
recommended I move... try a... a higher floor she suggested to
me... or switch hotels. Don't want to switch hotels.
Gemini says shaking her head.
[Sarah] You might want to change your last name in the hotel
records, we've had our share of Smiths and Joneses over the
years.
Sarah suggests her smile returning to her face.
[Gemini] Yeah, I suppose Dunmire is rather unique.
Gemini sighs.
[Gemini] Maybe I should do "Miss Flinstone."
Gemini says with a laugh.
[Sarah] Well, it's up to you, I just need a name for the
records.
Sarah says while she gets another paper.
Gemini shrugs.
[Gemini] Pick something generic. Like Peterson, or Johnson, or
whatever.
Gemini shrugs again.
[Sarah] You want me to choose?
Sarah asks surprised looking up from the papers.
[Gemini] Yeah, why not?
Gemini shrugs.
[Sarah] Alright, my mother's maiden name. Why not?
Sarah says with a smile as she writes something on the papers.
[Sarah] Any floor preference, Miss Swanson?
[Gemini] Umm... The higher the better?
Gemini says hesitantly.
[Sarah] Miss Petrovna is at the Royal suite, 14th floor, maybe
you'd like a room there?
Sarah suggests thinking Gemini would feel safer near her since
she'd helped her last night.
[Gemini] Umm... I'd like that, but... I'm not sure she would be.
Gemini says.
[Sarah] We're having a convention soon, so no other available
rooms?
Sarah suggests with a smile.
[Sarah] We're really getting overbooked.
[Gemini] That works.
Gemini says quickly.
[Sarah] Besides it needs to be a free room, if I give you a room
already reserved you'll have to move again.
Sarah says while she opens a drawer to get a room card.
[Sarah] Room 1423, it's near the Royal suite, but a little far
away, it's not exactly next door.
[Gemini] Could... could you get someone to help me? So, I can
get moved as quickly as possible.
Gemini asks softly.
[Sarah] Of course.
Sarah nods before she picks up the phone and dials a number.
[Sarah] I'll send someone right away.
[Gemini] Thanks.
Gemini says with a smile.
Sarah puts receiver down after she gave some instructions and
passes a paper to Gemini.
[Sarah] I need your signature here, so you can officially
checkout as Gemini Dunmire.
[Gemini] Okay.
Gemini says quickly signing the paper.
Sarah then puts the new room card on the counter.
[Sarah] And now you're checked in as G. Swanson.
[Gemini] Thanks.
Gemini grins.
[Gemini] Can you do, me one other favor? If you see, or talk to
David before me, let him know the aah... change in my
circumstances?
Gemini asks.
[Sarah] Of course.
Sarah nods, she's not going to mention she's going out with him
tonight.
[Gemini] Thanks... I ah, better get to my room. The quicker I
get moved the better.
Gemini says with another hesitant smile and then turns away from
the counter.
Sarah nods again.
[Sarah] You go ahead, help is on the way.
[Gemini] Thanks.
Gemini says again with a wave as she hurries back to the
elevator.
#Post#: 32--------------------------------------------------
HALF MOON RISING Part 4
By: 22639 Date: September 30, 2011, 5:31 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]***30 minutes later***[/center]
Annie wakes up with a startle when she feels an Immortal buzz
and jumps out of bed to get her sword. She gets her dressing
gown and moves to the door wondering who's the Immortal on her
door. As no one knocks on her door, she opens a crack to look at
the corridor and almost gasps in surprise. "She didn't!" She
thinks to herself. Annie takes a deep breath and closes the
door, she told her to move rooms not to move next door.
Gemini shivers at the feel of an Immortal buzz, as she passes by
the room that, obviously, belongs to the other Immortal woman.
Halfway down the hallway they reached Gemini's new room.
[Gemini] We'll just drop this off and we should be able to get
the rest in one go.
Gemini murmurs to the hotel employee who was helping her. The
other woman nods and they quickly pull the luggage off the
luggage cart and turn, leaving the room and head back to the
elevator.
Annie sighs as she feels the buzz again when the girl passes her
door on the way to the elevator, it was going to be fun to live
next door to another Immortal. She sighs again before she moves
to the bathroom to take a shower, since she's up might as well
get dressed.
Gemini goes back down to the third floor and with the other
woman's assistance gathers up the last of her things. Gemini
takes one more sweep through the room and bathroom, double
checking to make sure she doesn't leave anything. "That's that,
I suppose," Gemini mutters, and this time follows the other
woman to the elevator and back up to the fourteenth floor.
Annie has just finished showering when she feels another
Immortal buzz. She takes a deep breath as she moves to the
bedroom, if that girl passed in front of her door again in the
next ten minutes she was going to shoot her.
[Gemini] Thanks.
Gemini murmurs and gives the woman a tip. Probably not as much
as she would normally be used to for something like this, and
probably less than she deserved, but it was all the cash that
Gemini had left. As the woman left, Gemini sighed and turned,
quickly unpacking and stowing her things in the room.
Annie puts on some black pants and a green sweater before she
moves to the living room to order room service some breakfast.
While she waits she thinks about what she's going to do until
it's late enough to meet the man she's looking for.
After putting her things away, Gemini sighs. She can't put it
off any longer, she need to thank Annie... in a proper way.
Taking a deep breath, she walks out of the room, pausing to
double check that her key is in her pocket she walks down the
hallway to Annie's door. She pauses and takes a deep breath, and
then knocks softly on the door, before stepping back to roughly
the middle of the hallway, knowing that all of her could be seen
that way.
Annie is about to start eating when she feels the Immortal buzz
again, she looks at the door disbelievingly as she stands up to
move to the door, that girl was beginning to get to her nerves.
On the way to the door she hears a knock, so now she wants to
talk to her? She opens the door and looks at the girl for a
moment without saying anything.
[Gemini] Umm...
Gemini stutters for a moment.
[Gemini] I just... I just wanted to say thank you. For...
everything. You know, last night and umm... for whatever you
said to the front desk.
[Annie] You want to thank me, kid? Stop passing my door every
ten minutes or so, it gets pretty boring to feel a buzz all the
time, you know?
Annie says still looking at Gemini.
[Gemini] S-sorry.
Gemini stutters.
[Gemini] But the front desk said that this room up here is the
only thing they've got available for longer than a couple of
days. Something about a conference of some kind starting in a
couple of days.
Gemini explains.
[Annie] First you wake me up, then you interrupt my breakfast...
Annie looks around and finally remembers what she was missing.
[Annie] Damn, all these interruptions makes you sloppy, you
know?
Annie grumbles realizing she opened the door without her sword
nearby.
[Gemini] Umm... No?
Gemini says softly.
Annie moves to the place where she hid her sword when room
service knocked on her door and picks it up.
[Annie] When I felt an Immortal by the door I should have
carried this with me.
[Gemini] Oh.
Gemini says shifting her feet nervously. Like she knew much of
anything about what one was supposed to do with regards other
Immortals.
[Annie] You don't need to get nervous, if I wanted to use this
on you I would have done it last night.
Annie says as she moves to the table and puts her sword on the
table near her breakfast.
Gemini doesn't say anything just continues to look at Annie
again and shifts her feet again.
[Annie] And come in, or are you going to stay there all morning?
[Gemini] Thanks.
Gemini murmurs softly, stepping into the room, and pulling the
door shut softly behind her, and moved a little further into the
room, glancing around at the suite.
[Annie] You probably don't take black coffee at breakfast, so
order what you want.
Annie shrugs pointing at the phone.
[Annie] The phone is right there.
[Gemini] That's alright. I already ate.
Gemini murmurs.
Annie makes a face while she eats, she's not really hungry but
she needs to keep up her strength.
[Annie] So what are you doing here all by yourself? Don't you
have any family?
[Gemini] They died two summers ago. Car accident.
Gemini says flatly.
[Annie] Oh, I'm sorry. I thought that maybe no one adopted you,
you're kind of young to be around alone.
Annie says as she gives up eating and pushes the plate aside.
[Annie] How old are you? 20?
[Gemini] Nineteen.
Gemini says.
[Annie] Is that your real age? Or the age you had when you died?
Not that you could have died a long time ago.
Annie says studying the girl, some Immortals liked to play the
young act thing.
[Gemini] Well, best I can figure, I was 17 when I died... Didn't
know that I'd died until a few months ago... when I was told I
was immortal.
Gemini shrugs.
Annie frowns looking at Gemini.
[Annie] What do you mean you didn't know you died? How could you
have missed it?
[Gemini] Well... I was in a car accident... okay, I was
broadsided by two big trucks in my small car. My car got
flipped... and wrapped around the light pole. It took the police
and fire three hours to get to me. I had a piece of glass in my
chest... they thought I had died, when I stopped talking to
them. Guess I really did... but when I was alive when they
pulled me out, they assumed I'd just passed out. Took me to the
hospital. Removed the glass, gave me stitches... and staples,
both of which came out on their own the day I came home from the
hospital but... I just assumed what everyone else had assumed.
That I'd passed out... After all, people just don't die and come
back to life, right?
Gemini snorts in sarcasm at the end of it.
[Annie] No, most people don't.
Annie answers with a sigh, thinking about all the dead people
she's seen.
[Annie] But didn't suspect something was wrong the first time
you approached another Immortal?
Annie asks fast, trying to think about something else.
[Gemini] Didn't meet any Immortals until I got here... to
Seacouver. Couple months ago.
Gemini shrugs.
[Annie] Really?
Annie frowns thinking for a moment.
[Annie] You didn't feel any Immortal for two years? That's
unusual.
Annie says as she hesitates if she should tell her to go back
where she came from.
[Gemini] I'd go back to Fargo, but... especially after last
night, I know that I really need a teacher, so I can defend
myself... before I go back and end up dead... for real.
Gemini mutters to herself.
Annie can't help to hear Gemini's muttered words which probably
she wasn't supposed to, but her hearing is very good.
[Annie] That's why I can't tell you to go back to... Fargo,
wherever that is... Even if you escape this guy you would be an
easy prey for the next Immortal that came along.
[Gemini] Fargo, is in North Dakota. Largest city in the state.
Gemini says.
[Annie] Never been there.
Annie shrugs unconcerned, while she thinks she's not planning to
go there anyway.
[Gemini] And knowing why I can't go back, sure as hell doesn't
help me any.
Gemini says flatly, then blushes slightly.
[Annie] I know there are some Immortals around, you mean none of
them is willing to take you as a student?
Annie asks surprised.
[Gemini] I've met three Immortals. One is a student. The other
is the teacher, and the third...
Gemini shrugs.
[Gemini] Didn't seem interested. Oh, yeah, and then there's the
fourth, who did volunteer to be my teacher but... he
disappeared.
[Annie] Yeah, we do it all the time.
Annie shrugs again, she's not going to mention that most of the
time when an Immortal disappears suddenly is because they lost
their head.
[Gemini] What... what about you?
Gemini asks.
[Gemini] Not to be rude, or anything, but... don't.. don't you
know anyone who could teach me?
Annie raises an eyebrow looking at Gemini.
[Annie] Like who?
[Gemini] I-I don't know... Don't you know anybody who takes
students? L-like your teacher or something maybe?
Gemini asks hesitantly.
[Annie] My teach... Kronos? Are you out of your mind?
Annie stares at Gemini, her eyes open wide for a moment, then
she shakes her head smiling amused.
[Annie] Trust me, it's not a good idea. Actually impossible for
two reasons.
Gemini jumps at Annie's cry.
[Gemini] W-why not?
Gemini asks.
[Annie] Kronos is dead, and even if he wasn't he'd eat you for
breakfast.
Annie chuckles softly imagining Kronos' face if someone even
dared to suggest it.
[Gemini] What's that supposed to mean?
Gemini asks frowning.
[Annie] My... I suppose I'll have to call him my teacher in lack
of a better word, wasn't exactly nice.
Annie sighs hoping the girl doesn't ask anything else about him,
she doesn't want to remember him.
[Gemini] Wasn't exactly nice?
Gemini quotes.
[Gemini] What is that supposed to mean?
[Annie] That he was a mean bastard. I met a woman once who told
me he was one of the Horsemen.
Annie says with a sigh, it's too early to take a drink so she
refills her cup with some coffee, maybe it would help.
[Annie] I suppose I should believe her, she knew him well, and
she was a judge, so...
[Gemini] One of the horsemen? As in like what? A crusader or
something?
Gemini asks.
[Annie] No, as in the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Annie says before she drinks some coffee.
[Annie] I bet he was plague, he liked to play with poisons.
[Gemini] As in like... Book of Revelations?
Gemini asks, eyes wide.
[Annie] Yes, do you know any other Four Horsemen of the
Apocalypse?
Annie asks looking back at Gemini.
[Gemini] As in personally? No. But I am familiar with passage in
the bible.
Gemini says softly.
[Annie] How they got there I have no idea. I doubt even Kronos
knew it.
Annie shrugs as she puts the cup back on the table.
Gemini shrugs.
[Gemini] I don't know...
[Annie] If anyone does I bet it's Methos, the planner. Though
I'm not really interested to find another Kronos.
Annie shrugs again before she stands up to move to the couch,
picking the sword to hide it in her coat.
[Gemini] Wh-where you going?
Gemini asks.
[Annie] Nowhere, but I can't let this in plain sight, can I?
They'll soon come to take the tray.
Annie answers as she hides the sword in her coat and sits down
on the couch.
[Gemini] Oh.
Gemini says not able to say anything else.
[Annie] It's not a good idea to leave swords where mortals can
see them, best case scenario they'll think you're crazy.
Annie shrugs before she leans back.
[Annie] It used to be a lot easier when everybody carried one.
[Gemini] I can imagine.
Gemini sighs.
[Annie] Well then you had to hide your gender but if you wore
man's clothes most people would take you for a young man.
Annie chuckles amused remembering her disguises.
Gemini shrugs.
[Gemini] I suppose it'd be a bit different from today... where
women wear pants when and if they choose.
[Annie] Yeah, all in all I prefer the present. Women weren't
supposed to do anything, except have children and take care of
men, fight in wars only in disguise.
Annie nods with a sigh.
[Gemini] Yeah, and God forbid they be caught dead in something
like a swimsuit... That'd totally suck.
Gemini says frowning.
[Annie] Most people didn't know how to swim anyway.
Annie shrugs unconcerned.
[Annie] They didn't need it.
[Gemini] Why not?
Gemini asks.
[Annie] I think they were afraid of water. They only took a bath
once a year... in May.
Annie makes a face remembering the smell.
Gemini shudders at the thought.
[Gemini] Eew... things haven't been like that in a long time!
How old are you?
Gemini asks, then blushes slightly.
[Annie] Old enough.
Annie answers with a smile, then she frowns thinking counting
the decades from 79 to 2010.
[Annie] 731 I think.
[Gemini] Oh... I'm... should.. I shouldn't have asked that,
should I?
Gemini asks blushing slightly.
[Annie] I didn't need to answer.
Annie shrugs unconcerned.
[Annie] Some Immortals don't like it, but I don't mind.
[Gemini] Oh.
Gemini murmurs looking down at the floor.
[Annie] No need to be embarrassed, like I've said I didn't need
to answer.
Annie shrugs again.
[Gemini] ...Why... Why don't you teach me?
Gemini asks.
Annie gasps in surprise.
[Annie] Me? I never had a student before, I doubt I can even
teach someone.
[Gemini] Oh, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have asked. I apologize.
Gemini adds.
[Annie] I wouldn't dream to teach you like Kronos taught me,
so...
Annie hesitates for a while, then she shakes her head.
[Annie] Look, kid, I can't decide something like that so easily,
do you realize that if I accept we'll be stuck together for two
years at least?
[Gemini] No. And that's the problem!
Gemini says fiercely.
[Gemini] I don't know anything! Not... not about being immortal!
I know the bare basics.. That's it!
Annie frowns puzzled looking at Gemini.
[Annie] I thought you had a teacher for a while, didn't he go
beyond that?
Gemini shakes her head.
Annie takes a deep breath looking at Gemini, the last thing she
wants is to be responsible for another Immortal.
[Gemini] I... I should go.
Gemini says a little hesitantly and turns to the door.
[Annie] Just let me think for a while, this is the last thing I
was expecting.
Annie says after Gemini.
[Annie] I'm not telling you yes or no yet, I need to think.
[Gemini] Okay.
Gemini says pulling the door open.
[Annie] Be careful, I'll give you an answer soon.
Annie says after her wondering if she can find someone who'd
teach her instead of her.
[Gemini] Alright.
Gemini says, as she exits the room and lets the door shut behind
her.
Annie takes a deep breath after the door closes, "Great, after
700 years you get to babysit an Immortal." She murmurs to
herself.
#Post#: 33--------------------------------------------------
HALF MOON RISING Part 5
By: 22639 Date: September 30, 2011, 5:32 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]***Two Hours Later***[/center]
David stops his car near the Fairmont Hotel and carefully looks
around, trying to see if the Immortal he'd seen yesterday is in
the neighborhood. Since he doesn't see or feel anything out of
the ordinary he exits his car, locks it and walks in the hotel.
He smiles as he sees Sarah at the front desk.
[David] Working today? I thought it was your day off.
Sarah smiles.
[Sarah] Came in to work for someone who's sick.
[David] But we're still on for tonight, right?
David asks hoping she'll say yes.
[Sarah] Oh, absolutely.
Sarah smiles.
[Sarah] I get off at five. Plenty of time to get home and change
before you pick me up at 6:30.
[David] Oh good.
David smiles back at her.
[Sarah] What can I do for you?
Sarah asks.
[David] I need to talk to Gemini, and it wouldn't work on the
phone.
David shrugs, deciding not to tell her that Craig wants Gemini
out of there right away.
[Sarah] Yes, well... Gemini Dunmire has checked out of this
hotel.
Sarah says with a slight smile.
[David] Really?
David asks surprised.
[David] Where did she go?
[Sarah] She didn't say.
Sarah says.
[David] Oh damn.
David murmurs under his breath wondering if she was in her right
mind to wander off unprotected.
[Sarah] David...
Sarah says as David half turns from the reception desk.
[David] Yes?
David says as he keeps thinking where Gemini might have gone.
[Sarah] You may want to check out, Ms Swanson. Room 1423.
Sarah says with a wink.
[David] Ms. Swanson?
David raises an eyebrow, then smiles.
[David] She changed her name? Good idea, can't be too careful.
[Sarah] It was my mother's maiden name. She did say to let you
know, if I saw you before she did.
Sarah grins.
[David] Yes, I was supposed to call her back, but I need to talk
to her in person.
David explains as he thinks he's supposed to also help her move
and escort her to Holy Ground.
[Sarah] Well, then you should go see to Ms. Swanson.
Sarah states.
David nods.
[David] Yes, room 1423, you say?
[Sarah] 1423.
Sarah confirms.
[David] OK, on my way. I'll see you soon.
David smiles at Sarah before he turns and walks to the elevator.
[Sarah] See you tonight.
Sarah says as David walks away.
David gets in the elevator and thinks what to say as the
elevator goes to the 14th floor. He's almost sure Gemini isn't
going to like it. The door opens and he walks through the
corridor still trying to decide what to say until he feels the
buzz of an Immortal, a strong one, he can tell it's not Gemini.
He almost pulls out his gun thinking it might be the man who
attacked her, but he remembers Gemini has mentioned an Immortal
woman. He begins to walk again carefully looking around.
Annie looks at the door the moment she feels an Immortal buzz,
she sighs as she thinks it might be Gemini again, maybe she
wants to ask her if she decided something already. Then as the
minutes pass and no one knocks on the door, she realizes it
might be someone else. She walks to the door picking her coat
with the concealed sword on the way.
David jumps and turns to look back when he hears a door open
behind him. He feels his jaw drop when he sees the woman coming
out of the room.
[Annie] And you are?
Annie asks looking at the unknown Immortal coldly.
[David] I'm...
David frowns for a moment thinking what was he doing here in the
first place.
[David] I'm a friend of Gemini, I think you're the woman who
helped her last night, right?
David manages to say after a while.
Annie studies the man suspiciously for a while.
[Annie] Are you sure? You might be a friend of the headhunter
instead.
[David] Headhunter? You mean the guy who attacked her?
David asks to make sure he knows what she's talking about.
[Annie] Trying to play dumb?
Annie grumbles glaring coldly at the man.
[David] Hey, look, Gemini knows me, let me just knock on the
door.
David says raising his hands on the air.
[David] Alright?
[Annie] You better pray she does or I'm kicking you down the
stairs all the way to the first floor.
Annie says as she leans against the wall and waits he goes down
the corridor.
David begins to walk again but he doesn't dare to turn his back
on her completely, he keeps side glancing at her.
Gemini jumps when she feels the buzz of another Immortal, and
stares wide eye at the door, almost afraid to breath.
David feels another Immortal buzz as he approaches room 1423 and
knocks on the door, still keeping the woman down the corridor in
sight.
[David] Gemini, it's David.
David says figuring out she won't open the door without knowing
who's outside.
Gemini sighs in relief when she hears David speak, and hurries
to the door, and peaks through it, just to double check.
[Gemini] David, I'm so relieved to see you! But I thought you
were going to call?
Gemini says as she throws the door open.
[David] You might want to tell her we're friends just in case?
David says nodding in the direction the woman down the corridor.
[David] I didn't know you had a bodyguard or I would have
called.
[Gemini] Didn't know I had a bodyguard.
Gemini mutters stepping out into the hallway and looking down
the hallway towards Annie.
[Annie] You know that guy?
Annie asks Gemini without moving away from the wall.
[Gemini] Yeah. I even mentioned him to you earlier... though I
didn't name names.
Gemini nods.
[David] I'm David Bradford.
David tells the woman with a smile.
[David] Pleased to meet you.
Annie moves away from the wall and shrugs.
[Annie] Fine. Whatever.
Annie says as she turns to get in the room and closes the door.
[David] That friend of yours has a serious attitude problem, if
she wasn't so goddamn beautiful I'd... I'd...
David hesitates to what to say next.
[David] I'd be seriously upset.
[Gemini] She's over 700 years old.
Gemini says with a smile.
[David] She is?
David asks surprised as he looks down the corridor again.
[Gemini] 730 I think she said.
Gemini says nodding.
[David] I guess that not getting old really works huh?
David shakes his head disbelievingly as he walks in Gemini's
room.
[Gemini] Apparently... though living when people only bathed
once a year creeps the hell out of me.
Gemini says pulling the door shut behind her and David.
[David] I doubt any man would notice the smell.
David smiles as he shakes his head amused.
[Gemini] Think about it though... The smell after you leave the
gym from a heavy workout... times 365.
Gemini shudders.
[David] They probably were used to the smell.
David shrugs as he keeps thinking he probably wouldn't notice
it.
[Gemini] Ick.
Gemini says shuddering again.
[Gemini] So umm... why are you here? I though you were going to
call?
Gemini asks curiously.
[David] Huh? Why am I here?
David asks distracted until he remembers what he's doing in the
hotel.
[David] Oh, Craig wants you to move...
[Gemini] I did move.
Gemini points out.
[David] No, he wants you out of the hotel, he knows a priest
somewhere, and he's willing to let you stay on Holy Ground for a
while.
David explains still trying to clear out his thoughts.
[David] I'm supposed to help you move and escort you there.
[Gemini] Holy Ground? As in like a church?
Gemini asks flatly.
[David] Yes, he's a friend of Craig's teacher, he's mortal but
he knows about us.
David shrugs as he moves to the window.
[David] That's all Craig told me about him.
[Gemini] But like... a church?
Gemini asks again.
David nods still looking out the window.
[David] Yes, a church. I've never been there myself.
[Gemini] And for how long?
Gemini demands.
David shrugs before he turns his head to look at Gemini.
[David] Until it's safe?
[Gemini] Yeah? And how long is that supposed to be? And what am
I supposed to do at this church?
Gemini demands, starting to get angry.
[David] Pray?
David suggests with a smile.
[Gemini] I do that anyway.
Gemini frowns.
[David] Look, Gemini, it's just until we take care of this guy.
David sobers up realizing she's getting upset.
[David] You'll be safe in there.
[Gemini] And I'm supposed to stay there for how long?! "Until
it's safe."
Gemini quotes.
[Gemini] And how long is that going to be?
[David] I don't know. I'm not the one facing him, am I?
David shrugs again.
[David] Same reason you can't face him.
[Gemini] Then, no. I'm not going! I can't live like that!
Gemini cries.
[Gemini] Maybe for a day or two. Up to a week, not any longer
than that!
David stops just staring at Gemini for a while, his eyes open
wide.
[David] What? What do you mean you're not going?
David manages to say after a moment.
[Gemini] I can't live like that. Locking myself up in a church?
I'd go stir crazy inside a day!
Gemini cries frustrated.
[David] Gemini, it's not like you have a choice, there's an
Immortal after you with a sword, your best chance is to go to
Holy Ground.
David points out hoping to make her see reason.
[Gemini] Look, I'm more than willing to take precautions! I'll
even move hotels or whatever. But I'm not gonna go live in a
church! I'm nearly going nuts here, with a pool to use, for as
long as I want, which is generally five or more hours a day. And
I wouldn't be able to stand it here without the pool! I sure as
heck won't be able to stand it in a church! Not for as long as
we're talking I'd be stuck there!
Gemini yells.
[David] You're risking your life over a pool?
David asks disbelievingly.
[Gemini] No. It's my life versus my sanity.
Gemini says flatly.
[Gemini] Besides if I'm just going to hide like a... like a rat,
then what's the point of living anyway?
David takes a deep breath, he knows he's not going to be able to
convince her to change her mind.
[David] Fine, it's your life, it's your head, I'll tell Craig
but he's not going to like it.
[Gemini] Umm...
Gemini says hesitantly.
[David] Are you absolutely sure?
David asks hoping she has some doubts about it.
[Gemini] I'm sure... with regards the church, but umm...
Gemini says not quite sure how to say it.
[David] But?
David encourages her to go on, he can tell she wants to say
something.
[Gemini] I asked Annie to be my teacher.
Gemini says softly.
[David] You did?
David asks surprised.
[David] And?
[Gemini] She's thinking about it.
Gemini says still just as softly as before.
David shakes his head, he doesn't know quite what to say, then
he smiles as a thought comes to his mind.
[David] I hope she accepts, I'd get to see her more often I
guess.
[Gemini] I thought you and Sarah were going out?
Gemini asks arching an eyebrow.
[David] Sarah?
David frowns for a second.
[David] Oh yes, we are.
[Gemini] Oh jeez. Wait until she hears about this.
Gemini snickers.
[David] But it's not like we're married or something, you know?
[Gemini] Oh, yes, but I'm sure your girlfriend will appreciate
the fact that you're mooning over the woman in the Royal Suite.
[David] She's not my girlfriend, we didn't get there yet.
David explains chuckling softly.
[David] We're hmm... getting to know each other.
[Gemini] Yeah? You're point being?
Gemini asks.
[David] My point being, that you don't need to tell her. We
don't have a commitment or anything, so...
David shrugs as he begins pacing.
[David] We're both free to date other people.
[Gemini] Uh huh. Oh, I'm sure that's exactly how she feels.
Gemini says flatly.
[David] I think so, we've never actually discussed it.
David shrugs again.
[Gemini] Yeah... you might want to try discussing that.
Gemini suggests.
[David] I suppose.
David nods, then he sighs, somehow going out with Sarah doesn't
seem so interesting as it used to be.
[Gemini] You're an idiot.
Gemini says shaking her head.
[David] Excuse me?
David asks frowning at Gemini.
[Gemini] You heard me. You're an idiot. And so don't deserve
Sarah. Besides that, Annie is WAY out of your league.
Gemini explains.
[David] Who mentioned anything about Annie?
David grumbles his frown deepening.
[David] Besides don't see why not.
[Gemini] You don't believe me? You try asking her out.
Gemini says, a tight smile on her face.
[David] Yeah, maybe I will.
David grumbles upset, he thinks it's none of Gemini's business
anyway.
[Gemini] So, why don't you?
Gemini challenges.
[David] Maybe it's too early.
David grumbles, she'd just threatened to kick him down through
14 storeys for crying out loud.
[Gemini] Too early? You're just chicken.
Gemini says.
[David] Think whatever you want.
David shrugs as he walks to the door.
[David] I need to go back to work.
[Gemini] David?
Gemini asks, suddenly hesitant again.
David stops by the door and looks back.
[David] Yes?
[Gemini] You... you're not mad at me? Are you? For... for
teasing? And refusing the church?
Gemini asks softly.
[David] Hmm, no?
David smiles when he realizes she was just teasing him.
[David] Keep it up, I think I prefer this Gemini, the old one
wouldn't have a chance to survive this.
Gemini allows a slow smile to cross her face.
[Gemini] Thanks... I think.
[David] If you need anything call me, I hope Annie takes you as
her student, but still... if she doesn't... I'm still here.
David says as he turns to the door again and opens it.
[David] Really need to go now.
[Gemini] Even if she does, I hope you'll still be here.
Gemini says following David to the door, and moving to stand in
the doorway itself.
[David] I will.
David smiles back at her before he begins to walk down the
corridor.
Gemini stands there, watching him go.
[Gemini] Wish he didn't think of me as a child.
Gemini mutters to herself.
Annie is reading when she feels the buzz of another Immortal...
again. She takes a deep breath and walks to the door picking her
coat on the way. She opens the door and looks at the man down
the corridor.
[Annie] Damn, don't you think I have better things to do than to
walk to the door?
Annie asks the man and Gemini by the door.
[Annie] This walking back and forth is beginning to irritate me,
you know?
[David] Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just passing by.
David smiles as he stops in front of her, he hesitates for a
minute.
[Gemini] As if that wasn't obvious.
Gemini mutters softly to herself.
[David] Hmm, I've been thinking...
David hesitates again.
[Annie] Oh, is that supposed to impress me or you expect me to
congratulate you?
Annie asks raising an eyebrow at the man in front of her.
David decides to let that pass, she's just joking, he thinks to
himself.
Gemini coughs to cover the laugh at that comment.
[David] Hmm, if I asked you out for a drink or something, what
would your answer might be?
David asks with his most charming smile.
Annie stares at the man in disbelief.
[Annie] Look, kid, the only Immortals I go out with are the ones
who challenge me for a fight and you're not even carrying a
sword.
Annie looks him up and down.
[Annie] So I think you know what the answer might be.
Annie tells him before she shuts the door on his face.
[David] Kid? What do you mean kid?
David frowns at the closed door as if it would give him an
answer.
[Gemini] Told you.
Gemini whispers softly, before moving back into her room and
shutting the door.
[David] If you think I give up so easily you're very wrong about
me.
David grumbles to himself as he walks to the elevator.
#Post#: 34--------------------------------------------------
HALF MOON RISING Part 6
By: 22639 Date: September 30, 2011, 5:33 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]***Beginning of the afternoon***[/center]
Ally sighs relaxing at Joe's with a drink. She did enjoy
Fridays. She could have lunch and a drink, and just relax for
the day. The advantage of being a judge, she set her own
schedule, so unless something urgent came up, she had Fridays
off.
Annie stops by the door of Joe's bar as soon as she feels the
buzz of another Immortal, she hesitates to go inside but since
she's looking for an Immortal it wouldn't make sense to turn
away and go back to the hotel, she'd crossed two continents for
this. She takes a deep breath and opens the door walking inside.
Ally looks up at the feel of a buzz. After a moment, the door
opens and a familiar looking woman walks in.
[Ally] Well, well, well. Look what the cat just dragged in.
Ally chuckles.
Annie stops a minute by the door trying to locate the Immortal,
she opens her eyes out wide when she sees the woman.
[Annie] You?
Annie says looking at her.
[Ally] So? Finally got out of prison did you?
Ally chuckles.
[Annie] I got out of prison nine years ago.
Annie grumbles looking at the woman coldly.
[Annie] And you know I shouldn't have been there in the first
place, I was only trying to defend myself.
[Ally] Why do you think I arranged for the early release?
Ally asks.
[Ally] Pull up a chair. We'll have a drink.
Ally nods to one of the empty spots across from her.
[Annie] Yeah, I never got the thank you for it, did I?
Annie says as she pulls a chair and sits across the table.
[Annie] We were interrupted...
[Ally] No, you didn't.
Ally chuckles.
[center]***New York 1994***[/center]
"Your Honor?" Symore, Aldria's assistant said at her shoulder.
"She's here."
"Oh good," Aldria said, as she reviewed the file. "Send her in.
Have her escort wait outside."
A few moments later Aldria looked up as the tell tale buzz
spiked. Slowly the door to her office opened.
Annie stopped at the entrance, she didn't know the judge was an
Immortal. She just stayed there staring at her, not sure what to
do now.
"Take a seat," Aldria said gesturing to the chair in front of
her desk. She raised her eyes to the guard standing unsure in
the doorway. "Shut the door and wait outside. I'll be fine."
The guard nodded, unwillingly and shut the door, as Aldria eyed
the Immortal woman before her.
"Well," Aldria said speaking slowly, "it has been a long time."
"You know me?" Annie asked confused, "I don't think I ever met
you." She frowned thinking.
"We met once, briefly," Aldria said gesturing to the chair
again.
Annie hesitated for a minute and then decided to sit down,
seeing no other choice, "Really? I don't remember. When was
that?"
"Padova. 1600. I was masquarding as a boy to study Math and
various other things from Galileo. You were with Kronos," Aldria
said simply.
"Kronos?" Annie almost jumped from the chair, "You know Kronos?"
She suddenly stopped when she remembered her, "You? I thought he
killed you almost 400 years ago."
"No. Both Kronos and I walked away from that one... obviously,"
Aldria said smiling slightly. "And yes. I know Kronos. And the
rest of his brothers."
Annie sighed wishing it wasn't Kronos' case, "Brothers? I
thought he only had one named Methos, he kept looking for him."
"No... there're two more. That is why they called them the 'Four
Horsemen'," Aldria pointed out a little amused. Kronos had been
looking for Methos even back then?
"Oh wait, he mentioned some brothers once..." Annie stopped
talking and frowned at Aldria, "The what?"
"The Four Horsemen," Aldria said, unable to help the grin that
spread across her face. "Ever heard of them? They rated a spot
in the Bible."
Annie opened her eyes wide, "Are you telling me Kronos was one
of them?"
"Mmm..." Aldria nodded. "Kronos, the titular leader. Methos, the
planner. Silas and Caspian... the idiots... although different
in their ways."
"Don't know why I'm so surprised, I've always imagined he was
someone like Atilla before." Annie sighed, "And I know Methos
was the planner, he used to complain about everyone else's
plans." She thought about something that startled her, "Do you
know what happened to Kronos? Where he is?"
"He's alive. Not positive where exactly at the moment. We've met
up ever decade or so since the 1860's. Why?" Aldria asked mainly
indifferent, though slightly curious.
"Just to make sure I stay away from him, that's why." Annie
looked at Aldria surprised, "And you meet him every decade? Why
do you do that?"
Aldria shrugged, "We share a night or two of hot sweaty sex,
then go our seperate ways. I'm one of the few that well... has
nothing against Kronos."
Annie was shocked by that, she stared at Aldria for a minute,
"You choose to sleep with him?"
"Yes," Aldria said, a little amused by the surprise. "I grant
you the first time, I hadn't had sex in over a century and was
rather desperate."
"I'd say, if you considered him." Annie shook her head, "And I
know he's alive, never had a doubt about it, he's one of the
best swordsman I've ever seen."
"I'm just as good," Aldria said with a confident smirk.
"If you say so." Annie shrugged, "So why did you want to see
me?"
"I wanted to discuss with you about reducing your sentence,"
Aldria said bluntly.
"Oh, reducing my sentence?" Annie smiled sceptically, "I didn't
want to kill that guy and you know it. I don't want to kill
anyone anymore, not even our own. It's people that don't leave
me alone. Do I have 'Easy Prey' written somewhere?"
"You're a woman. Of course you do. So do I. Men are idiots. And
I can't dismiss your sentence altogether but I can reduce it,"
Aldria replied.
"Well, if you want to do that, I won't say no." Annie smiled,
"I've got more interesting things to do than being in jail."
"I've checked the books, and regardless of circumstances you did
kill that man. However," Aldria said holding up a hand to
forestall any objects, "the man you killed has a history of
rape. I have spoken with both your attorney and the prosecuting
attorney's for the state. And the state and I are willing to
reduce your sentence from ten years to six, with the possibility
of early parole."
"Damn it, I knew it!" Annie moved on her chair, "So that guy was
out attacking women and when one of them fought back and did
something about it, she's the one to get in jail? You've got a
serious problem if it's that you call justice, you know?"
"I know," Aldria sighed. "The justice system is far from
perfect. I do what I can but..." Aldria shrugged.
"Fine, I'll take what I can get." Annie sighed.
"With early parole you can be out in three... unless you wanted
to arrange for your death?" Aldria asked bluntly.
"Judge Everson?" Her intercomm buzzed.
"Yes," Aldria asked as she hit the intercom.
"There is a Merlin Kalen who is here to see you. He ah... won't
take no for an answer," Symore sighed unhappily.
Aldria shook her head amused glancing at Annie and wondering
what her reaction would be.
"A what?" Annie almost jumped to her feet, "Tell me it's not who
I think it is."
"Depends on who you think it is," Aldria murmered, before
responding to Symore, "Tell him I'll be with him as soon as I
can.
"Yes, Your Honor," came the reply as the intercom shut off.
"A weird name with M K, I think it's Kronos." Annie stood up and
looked around for a place to hide.
"Calm down. And SIT down," Aldria ordered.
"Calm down? I ran away from him, he's going to kill me!" Annie
still looked around for a way to get away.
"Not in my office he isn't," Aldria said flatly.
"Tell that to him!" Annie looked at the windows, "What floor are
we?"
"Seventh," Aldria said. "SIT DOWN!" She ordered firmly, "Before
I call the guard back in here. Besides, Kronos won't do a damn
thing to you here. He has reasons to listen to me."
Kronos opened the door and stopped there looking at Annie,
"Well, well, I thought I'd recognized the voice." He smiled
threateningly.
Annie froze where she was, she stared at him, her eyes open
wide.
"Shut the door," Aldria said her voice deadly calm. "Then both
of you, SIT DOWN!"
Kronos closed the door and looked at Annie again, "I knew I'd
find you sooner or later."
"I am warning the both of you. SIT DOWN!" Aldria said raising
her voice.
"Since when do you tell me what to do?" Kronos frowned at
Aldria, "The judge position has turned you bossy or something?"
Annie couldn't take her eyes off Kronos, she had hoped to never
see him again and here he was like coming out of a nightmare.
"Kronos," Aldria said her voice warningly. "This isn't up for
debate. You will not harm her. And if you ever want... Again.
You will sit down. You TOO," Aldria said turning attention to
Annie. "Sit, now, before I call the guards in."
"So call the guards in, maybe they'll take me away from him."
Annie managed to say despite her throat was dry.
"And here I thought you'd be happy to see me." Kronos grinned
amused, "I was about to visit you in prison."
"You know where I am?" Annie asked unhappily.
"Oh yes, I never forget old acquaintances." Kronos grinned
evilly.
"Even if you search forever to find them," Aldria muttered,
amused, after all Kronos had still been looking, unable to find
Annie the last time she had checked.
"Oh yes, I have time anyway." Kronos grinned as he sat in front
of Aldria, "I just had to find the right way and it was easy."
Annie pulled a chair and sat as far away from him as possible,
"So how was that? Why don't you tell me? Why save yourself the
pleasure of telling me?"
"The Watchers knew about you. Wasn't that hard." Kronos smiled
manacingly. "We have some unfinished business but I guess I'll
have to wait for you to get out of prison."
"Yes well, she is set for ten years," Aldria said. After all,
the six years hasn't been formalized yet.
"Oh, I'll keep an eye on her, don't worry." Kronos grinned,
"Getting a Watcher was one of the best ideas I ever had. Should
have seen who else I found." Kronos smiled pleased with himself.
"And who else did you find?" Aldria asked, her voice stating
that she wasn't really curious.
Kronos grinned, "Surprise?"
"Whatever," Aldria said rolling her eyes, amused.
"The Watchers are pathetic, should have seen her, spilled her
guts." Kronos laughed.
"Kronos... I don't care," Aldria said bluntly.
Annie looked at them surprised, but decided she had enough, "Can
I go now? We already discussed what you wanted so..."
"I don't see why not," Aldria nodded then raised her voice.
"Guards!"
The guards opened the door and stepped in, suspiciously eyeing
Kronos and Annie. "Yes, your Honor?" The one asked.
"Please escort Ms. Taylor back to her cell," Aldria said.
"Yes, Judge Everson," the one nodded.
"Goodbye Susanna, I'm on my way to Seacouver but I'll be here to
greet you when you get out of prison." Kronos smiled
threateningly, "You keep that in mind."
Annie didn't answer him, she just got up and left the room.
"Was that necessary?" Aldria asked, raising an eyebrow as the
door shut behind her.
Kronos frowned, "Maybe I shouldn't have said that." He then
shrugged as he decided it was too late to worry about it anyway,
"Necessary? No. If I wanted to do it? Yes." He laughed amused.
"Besides 10 years waiting for me it's better than 205 years
looking for her."
"And why was it so important to you to find her?" Aldria asked.
"You never did say."
"Nobody leaves me unless I say so!" Kronos grumbled angrily.
"Uh huh," Aldria said her voice clearly not one of belief. "You
hold that against, Marisol too?"
"That's not funny!" Kronos grumbled. He thought for a moment
considering her question, "Why did I miss Annie?" He shrugged
after a moment, "Probably because she was the second best thing
after the Horsemen. If she was still with me that Texas thing
would never have happened. Would I waste time teaching a lousy
fighter?"
Aldria frowned at his answer, "Have you told her that?" She
asked curious, then added softly, "Do you? Do you hold it
against Marisol that she died?"
"Of course not! Marisol didn't die because she wanted, did she?"
Kronos frowned at Aldria.
"No."
"And what exactly did you expect me to tell Annie?" Kronos asked
puzzled, "About the Horsemen?"
"What I am suggesting you should tell her is that she was, one
of the best things you've had in your very long life. See what
she says. Somehow I doubt she knows that," Aldria shrugged.
"Of course she doesn't, she was always afraid of me and guess
what, she still is." Kronos grinned amused.
"Yes, and I'm telling you to tell her. Maybe doing so, and
she'll rejoin you willingly," Aldria said with a shrug, though
given the woman's reaction earlier Aldria doubted it.
"Hmm, doubt that, she was never with me willingly." Kronos
chuckled, "She was just too afraid to run away from me, until I
pushed her too much." He frowned thinking, "I should have
expected that."
"You think she'll stay with you willingly again?" Aldria asked.
"Oh, she'll do whatever I tell her to do. Question is, do I want
to keep her? Maybe I should take her head when she gets out of
jail." Kronos grumbled.
"What reason did you have for coming to my office today,
Kronos?" Aldria asked with a sigh.
"I was thinking we could meet later." Kronos smirked, "If you're
in the mood for sex."
Aldria shook her head smile coming to her face. "Yeah, sure,"
she said taking a piece of paper and scribbling on it. "Here's
my address."
"Dinner time?" Kronos asked as he grabbed the paper.
"Sure," Aldria nodded.
"Alright." Kronos smiled as he stood up, "I'll see you later
then."
"See you tonight," Aldria acknowledged as he headed for the
door.
[center]***Present day***[/center]
Annie chuckles softly shaking her head disbelievingly.
[Annie] Second best thing after the Horsemen? Me? Yeah right!
[Ally] Oh, he truly believed that.
Ally nods to confirm.
[Annie] He had a fun way of showing it.
Annie makes a face as she remembers what he did to his victims.
[Annie] Maybe I shouldn't complain too much, I'm still alive.
[Ally] Yes, well, Kronos wasn't exactly what we'd call sane, by
today's standards, now was he?
Ally points out.
[Ally] Besides, he was a damn sight better than Caspian.
[Annie] He never mentioned him as far as I remember.
Annie frowns as she goes through what Kronos said in the past.
[Annie] Well, he mentioned his brothers but I had no idea what
it meant.
[Ally] Caspian was one of his brothers. Before he died, a few
years ago... couple days before Kronos actually, he had been in
a mental institute for the criminally insane in Romania. They
don't know how many people he killed... let alone how many he
ate. There were part in... many different places in and around
his home.
Ally says in an attempt to explain Caspian.
Annie makes a face like she's going to be sick, then she takes a
deep breath and she gets back to her normal self.
[Annie] Damn, he sounds even worse than Kronos, he liked to cut
people to pieces but he never ate any of them.
[Ally] Caspian, was by far the sickest bastard of the bunch.
Ironically, Silas was the gentlest. He was... when not fighting,
rather like a Teddy bear.
Ally says chuckling at the memory of Silas and his animals.
[Annie] Silas?
Annie shakes her head.
[Ally] The four Horsemen: Kronos, Methos, Silas and Caspian.
Ally explains.
[Annie] Never heard of him. I think the one Kronos really missed
was Methos, he talked about him sometimes.
[Ally] Methos was the only one that Kronos really thought was
still alive. He didn't, honestly, think that Silas and Caspian
would survive through the ages.
Ally shrugs.
Annie looks up when Mike brings her the drink she usually had at
Joe's bar last time.
[Annie] Oh, you've remembered!? How sweet!
[Ally] Put it on my tab Mike.
Ally smiles.
Annie smiles at Mike and gets an embarrassed smile in return as
expected.
[Annie] Men. Such fools.
Annie grumbles when Mike is out of earshot.
[Ally] So, what brings you here?
Ally asks arching an eyebrow.
[Annie] I was here once... hmm about two years ago I think and
someone helped me to find Kronos. Well, his graveyard.
Annie smiles happily, she can't pretend she's sorry he's dead.
[Annie] Last time I came looking for an enemy, now I'm hoping to
find a friend. I lost track of him over the centuries.
[Ally] Who all are you looking for?
Ally asks curious.
[Annie] Sean Burns. I've met him in Vienna around 1900. Actually
he was the first Immortal I came to like.
Annie smiles looking back.
[Annie] I kept challenging him, he kept turning me down.
[Ally] Aah.
Ally says with a slight smile.
[Ally] And how do you expect to find him?
[Annie] I... hmm...
Annie hesitates to tell her about the Watchers, it wasn't her
secret anyway.
[Annie] I know a guy who keeps records.
[Ally] Oh? You referring to our lovely blue tattooed peeping
toms?
Ally asks.
Annie chuckles softly.
[Annie] Oh, you know about them?
[Ally] I was one of them in the 50's.
Ally chuckles.
Annie looks at Ally for a moment in silence.
[Annie] Oh really? I'll never understand why an Immortal would
like to do that.
Annie shakes her head.
[Ally] It's a good way to keep track of others, to avoid them...
and a good way to make yourself disappear.
Ally chuckles.
[Annie] Well, I don't need the Watchers to disappear, as for
avoiding others...
Annie shrugs looking down at her glass.
[Annie] If they keep challenging me I have no problem to take
them outside.
[Ally] Oh, don't get me wrong... it's just a way to throw the
Watchers even further off one's trail.
Ally chuckling.
[Annie] If you say so...
Annie shrugs again.
[Annie] I'm not willing to take the risk, I want them away from
me.
[Ally] So... who are you looking for to tell you about Sean
Burns?
Ally asks.
[Annie] Adam Pierson.
Annie says as she picks her glass and empties the rest of her
drink.
[Ally] Ahh. Adam Pierson.
Ally smiles and chuckles slightly.
[Annie] Probably not his real name, just his Watchers' name.
Annie shrugs as she puts the empty glass back on the table.
[Annie] But why should I care what his real name is, if he's
willing to help? You know him?
Annie asks watching her amusement.
Ally chuckles again.
[Ally] With Adam... what you see, is pretty much what you get.
Annie looks back at the woman across the table raising an
eyebrow.
[Annie] What's that supposed to mean?
[Ally] It means there's not much to Adam Pierson. He doesn't
hide much.
Ally shrugs.
[Annie] You must be joking.
Annie chuckles softly.
[Ally] Why would I joke about something like that?
Ally asks.
[Annie] He likes to play young, but I'd say he's between 500 and
a thousand years... at least. And that innocent act, no one so
innocent could have lived for so long.
Annie shakes her head still with a smile playing across her
lips.
[Annie] Don't worry I already told him that.
Ally chuckles again and shrugs.
[Ally] You'd be surprised. The young can be... surprisingly
naive and innocent.
[Annie] Except he can't be that young, have you felt his buzz?
Annie asks shaking her head again.
[Annie] Unless he killed an Immortal every day I don't see how
he could get it.
[Ally] Honey...
Ally says, giving Annie one of the looks.
[Ally] He's a man. Of course he's a child.
Ally winks.
[Annie] Yeah, big babies, and as easy to fool as one.
Annie chuckles softly.
[Annie] Not that I'm trying to anymore.
Ally laughs.
[Ally] Oh, I still do... on occasion.
[Annie] I'm not particularly interested in men at the moment, so
why bother?
Ally laughs aloud.
[Ally] You would have made a good Amazon, had you been born at
the right time.
[Annie] An Amazon? Were they real?
Annie looks up at Aldria surprised.
[Ally] Oh yes.
Ally nods.
[Ally] And it was as an Amazon, I first met Kronos and the
Horsemen. A nation that Kronos didn't dare challenge.
Ally chuckles.
[Annie] Oh that was a first I bet.
Annie frowns thinking for a while, it couldn't be, could it?
[Annie] You think that maybe that's why Kronos taught me,
because I would have made a good Amazon?
Annie shakes her head thinking about the past.
[Annie] I've always wondered why he picked me when he killed so
many others.
[Ally] That I can't tell you. Kronos only really knew two
Amazons. Myself and my sister, Marisol. And I rather doubt he
picked you because you reminded him of us.
Ally shrugs.
Annie looks back at the bar and waves her empty glass at Mike.
[Annie] Mike, would you be a darling and bring me another one?
Annie smiles when Mike nods and rushes to fill her request. Then
she turns her head back to the table.
[Annie] Hmm, I take that back about fooling men, what I really
wanted to tell him was stay away you goddamn Watcher.
Annie whispers at Aldria with a smirk.
[Ally] Hey, Benjamin Franklin had it right, when he said, 'God
gave man a brain and a penis, but only enough blood to run one
at a time.'
Ally laughs softly.
[Annie] Yes, I think he was right.
Annie chuckles softly and thanks Mike when he puts the drink in
front of her.
[Ally] Yes... Ben was a man who got a few things right.
Ally chuckles.
[Annie] There should have been more like him.
Annie nods.
[Ally] He wasn't bad in bed either.
Ally chuckles.
[Annie] Oh really?
Annie asks amused.
[Annie] Also slept with him?
[Ally] Yeah... Oh, he was one who like women... a lot. And back
then... I took what I could get... without turning a whore.
Ally grins slightly.
Annie makes a face and sighs shaking her head.
[Annie] I still can't believe you chose to sleep with Kronos, I
would have preferred a snake.
[Ally] Have you ever tried it with a snake?
Ally asks, half-serious.
Annie chuckles softly.
[Annie] I meant sleep in the same bed, don't think anything
weird.
[Ally] Yeah... you go a century without sex, girl, and then
we'll talk.
Ally chuckles softly.
Annie nods.
[Annie] Yeah, you already explained why you slept with Kronos
the first time.
[Ally] As I said girly, you go a century without and then we'll
talk.
Ally chuckles.
Annie makes a face again, and takes a sip of her drink.
[Annie] If I didn't know you're a lot older than me, I might
object to that girly.
Ally chuckles.
[Ally] Good girl.
Ally chuckles again, and winks, to make it clear this time was a
tease.
Annie stares at Aldria for a moment, then shakes her head
amused.
[Annie] Just met a couple of newbies recently and I also called
them kids, the male was really offended.
[Ally] The younger they are, the more likely they are to be
offended by comments like that.
Ally laughs.
[Annie] Yeah, they're not even carrying swords at the moment.
Annie shakes her head with a sigh.
[Annie] I wonder how they lived this long.
[Ally] Do they know what they are?
Ally asks softly.
[Annie] Yeah, the female wants me to teach her. She doesn't have
a teacher.
Annie takes a deep breath, then shakes her head again.
[Annie] I don't know what to do.
[Ally] Have you ever taught before?
Ally asks.
[Annie] No, and I never wanted to in the first place.
Annie shrugs, before she picks up her glass to take a sip.
[Ally] You know... everyone should teach, at least once. Even
Kronos did.
Ally points out.
[Annie] Maybe, but I don't want the responsibility. I don't
suppose you're interested?
Annie asks hopefully, that would solve Gemini's problem and
she'd still be free.
[Ally] No.
Ally shakes her head.
[Ally] I haven't taken a student in nearly 3000 years. And
there's a reason I stopped.
[Annie] 3000 years? I'm not really surprised, the Horsemen rode
before the Bible was written and Kronos mentioned something
about 4000 years once, so...
Annie nods, refraining herself for asking what she really wanted
to know, which was the reason why she stopped teaching.
[Ally] Do you like the girl?
Ally asks.
[Annie] I suppose.
Annie shrugs.
[Annie] At least I don't dislike her which is a start.
[Ally] My advice? Get to know her. See if there's something to
her. See if the girl has the will to learn, and to survive in
the Game. If she does... teach her. If not... don't.
Ally says.
[Annie] I'm not sure I'll be able to teach her, don't want to
teach her the way Kronos taught me. I have no idea how to start.
Annie explains with a sigh.
[Ally] And how did Kronos teach you?
Ally asks flatly.
Annie looks at Aldria disbelievingly.
[Annie] Come on, I think you can imagine. You knew him well.
[Ally] Oh, I knew him well, but I'll tell you true, I'm
downright cruel when it comes to teaching student. The trick
though... is how you treat them outside the lessons.
Ally points out.
[Ally] My immortal students... if they didn't hold their guard
right, I killed them for it. And not one of them ever hated me
for it.
[Annie] I suppose you're right, that wasn't the reason I hated
him.
Annie shrugs as she thinks she doubts she'd ever do it to Gemini
anyway.
[Ally] As I said, it's how you treat them outside the lesson...
and not all of them were so stubborn that they needed the
harshest lesson, but still...
Ally shrugs.
[Ally] On Immortals, broken bones heal quickly, and it's good to
learn to fight with them anyway, and I've never killed one, that
ever forgot the block after that.
Annie chuckles softly despite the fact that Kronos taught her
just like that.
[Annie] I don't suppose you shared the same teacher or
something?
[Ally] No. I was nearly 2000 when I met Kronos. And trust me,
the discussion of my teacher came up, and Kronos had never heard
of her... which was likely the way she liked it.
Ally chuckles.
[Annie] Considering what he did to women, I bet it was.
Annie nods with a sigh.
[Annie] Not that I'm saying your teacher couldn't beat him or
anything, but...
Annie shrugs.
Ally shrugs.
[Ally] As I said, about the girl. Get to know her. You may have
never taught before, but you've been around long enough to have
a feel for someone. You'll know by talking with her, if she'll
have the stuff to last with proper training. If she does, teach
her. If not, don't waste your time.
Ally told her.
[Annie] Well, when I met her she was running away from an
Immortal with a sword, and she managed to escape him somehow. If
she wasn't so young, she probably wouldn't have been caught in
the back alley but still... show's there's some strength in her.
Annie explains remembering what had happened yesterday.
[Ally] Yes... and we both know that could have been a fluke of
luck. Get to know her, find out. If she has the stuff, teach
her. It'll be a good experience, for the both of you.
Ally nods.
[Annie] If it didn't take so long... I'd probably go for it but
it will never take less than two years, what if I can't put up
with her for so long?
Annie takes a deep breath still hesitating what to do.
[Annie] I've been avoiding Immortals ever since I ran away from
Kronos.
[Ally] If you can teach her enough to survive long enough to get
to Holy Ground, or to you, you don't need to have her live with
you, after that... if you can't put up with her after that.
Ally points out.
[Annie] Yes, I could go after the guy who's after her, but that
wouldn't solve the problem only delay it, there will be more.
Especially being female. We get a lot of action.
Annie sighs before she picks up the glass and empties it.
[Ally] Ah yes, the poor sops who think we're easy prey. I do
enjoy proving them wrong.
Ally says with a malicious grin, before taking a swallow of her
beverage.
[Annie] Don't we all?
Annie chuckles softly.
[Annie] I suppose I'll have to know her better, I only met her
yesterday. Then I'll decide.
Annie shrugs finally deciding what to do.
[Ally] As I said, get to know, that can make all the difference.
Ally nods encouragingly.
Annie looks at her watch and then sighs impatiently.
[Annie] The man is not showing up, I thought he'd be here for
lunch but no such luck.
[Ally] Mr. Pierson.
Ally says with a slight chuckle.
[Ally] Usually shows up in the evenings.
[Annie] Oh really? I though he'd be here earlier. He was when I
met him.
Annie stops for a moment thinking what to do now.
[Annie] I suppose I'll have to come back later then, I'm not
going to stay here all afternoon.
[Ally] I am.
Ally chuckles.
[Annie] You must love this bar.
Annie chuckles amused.
[Ally] It's more of I didn't make any plans for my day off... I
may make a flight tomorrow, but... not today.
Ally shrugs.
[Annie] Oh, you fly? It's something I only do out of necessity.
Annie makes a face thinking about it.
[Annie] The idea of leaving the ground still doesn't appeal to
me.
[Ally] Oh, see, I love it. I've been flying since I could
learn... I think the Wright Brothers were just... brilliant.
Ally grins.
[Annie] Well, Judge Everson... if that's the name you're still
using... I'll see you later if you're still here.
Annie says as she moves the chair away from the table, and
prepares to stand up.
[Annie] I better go now.
[Ally] It is, and you probably shall... but what name do you go
by now?
Ally asks.
[Annie] Anya Petrovna, but if I choose to stay and teach that
girl I'll change it.
Annie smirks.
[Annie] Everybody would think I'm Russia Mafia.
Ally chuckles.
[Ally] Not so much now, as they would have even 20 years ago.
[Annie] Yeah, but why risk it?
Annie shrugs before she gets to her feet.
[Ally] No point... if you're going to stay for a while.
Ally smiles.
[Ally] Have a nice afternoon.
[Annie] Yeah, if...
Annie nods looking down, then she smiles.
[Annie] Well, if you were mortal I'd tell not to drink too much,
but since you aren't, have fun.
Annie chuckles softly as she turns around to walk to the door.
[Ally] Thanks.
Ally laughs.
Annie opens the door and blinks at the light for a moment, then
she begins to walk letting the door close behind her and walks
back to the hotel.
#Post#: 35--------------------------------------------------
HALF MOON RISING Part 7
By: 22639 Date: September 30, 2011, 5:33 pm
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[center]***One hour and 30 minutes later***[/center]
Gemini sighs as she wraps a towel around her waist and double
checks that she has her room key and everything else she needs
for her swim. Satisfied she exits her room and walks down the
hallway, embarrassing herself for the expected buzz as she goes
by Annie's room. To Gemini's relief, and worry, she felt nothing
as she walked by. "I wonder where she went," Gemini murmurs to
herself as she gets to the elevator. She punches the button to
go down, and then freezes as she feels the buzz of another
Immortal.
Annie moves her hand inside her coat and grabs the hilt of her
sword when she feels an Immortal buzz, it could be Gemini or
that guy visiting her again, but it could also be the
headhunter, so she's taking no chances.
Gemini moves back a little further from the elevator in case
it's that guy again. If it is, she's fairly confident, she can
make it back to her room, before him. But to be on the safe
side, she inches down the hallway a little.
Annie frowns when the door opens and she sees Gemini in her
swimsuit ready to go to the pool.
[Annie] What do you think you're doing?
Annie asks as she begins to walk down the corridor.
[Gemini] What does it look like? I'm going for a swim... going
stir crazy in my room.
Gemini replies.
[Annie] You were in a swimsuit yesterday remember? It doesn't
make sense to change rooms if you're going back there. All that
guy needs to do is to wait in there.
Annie explains as she looks for the key card in her pockets.
[Annie] Can't you stay without swimming for a couple of days?
[Gemini] No. Besides, the pool is the one place I'm not worried
about meeting... one of us.
Gemini says with a shrug.
[Annie] Oh really? What are you planning to do if that guy shows
up? Yell for help?
Annie asks shaking her head. Then she finally finds the card and
opens the suite door.
[Gemini] Uh.. swim away. There are only a couple handful of
people in the world, male or female, who can best me in the
water.
Gemini says bluntly.
[Annie] Oh modest, aren't we?
Annie says turning her head to look at Gemini.
[Annie] What if he's one of the handful?
[Gemini] Because I've never seen him before. And I know what
every Olympic swimmer since the modern Olympics have started
looks like. Male or female, and as I missed the last Olympic
team by a hundredth of a second. I'm damn good and know it.
Gemini says forcefully... for Gemini.
[Annie] Really? I had no idea. It's nice to know you can swim
faster than you can run.
Annie smirks as she walks inside her suite and goes to the phone
to order lunch.
Gemini makes a face.
[Gemini] I hate running.
Gemini says with a sigh and turns back towards the elevator.
[Annie] You better get used to it, most Immortals don't swim
after their prey, you know?
Annie says in Gemini's direction after she puts down the phone.
[Annie] And you can't expect to always have water around.
Gemini sighs as she pushes the button again on the elevator, she
hadn't gotten on quickly enough and it'd already gone down
again.
Annie frowns when she gets no reply and looks at the door,
Gemini isn't there anymore. 'She wouldn't, now would she?' She
thinks to herself as she walks to the door to look at the
corridor. She really upset when she sees Gemini by the elevator.
[Annie] Hey, kid, if you want to learn something you better
start listening, you know?
Annie says frowning at Gemini.
[Annie] Is this the way you want to learn?
[Gemini] I... I thought you were done with me... for now.
Gemini says in a hesitant, but surprised voice.
[Annie] Oh I am now.
Annie nods glaring coldly at Gemini.
[Gemini] What?
Gemini frowns.
[Annie] Next time don't leave me talking to myself, I hate that.
[Gemini] I'm sorry, but... you just left me standing in the
hallway! What was I supposed to think!
Gemini says glaring back.
[Annie] I assumed you'd follow, I didn't know you'd need a
formal invitation.
Annie smirks after a moment of studying Gemini.
[Annie] And that's your best glare? I'd practice in front of a
mirror if I were you.
[Gemini] Oh, I'm sorry... I shouldn't be glaring. And... I don't
need a formal invitation, but yes an invite! You don't just walk
into someone's home without them asking first.
Gemini says determinedly.
[Annie] What are you? A vampire?
Annie chuckles softly, she can't help it.
[Gemini] Ah, no. Last time I checked, they were dead. I'm not.
Besides, it's called being polite.
Gemini says in a 'well duh' kind of voice.
[Annie] Fine, I'll keep that in mind, Miss Polite.
Annie says shaking her head.
[Gemini] There's nothing wrong with being polite! And a lot said
for being so, especially nowadays.
Gemini cries firmly, and frowns at Annie.
[Annie] If you say so.
Annie shrugs unconcerned.
[Annie] You can go now, but stay in public, no back alley
tonight, deal?
[Gemini] Promise.
Gemini says with a rueful smile.
Annie looks at the other side of the corridor and sees a waiter
pushing a food cart in front of him.
[Annie] I guess that's my lunch. Don't stay at the pool for too
long, I need to go somewhere in the evening and you already
should be safely in your room, just in case that guy is waiting
for you here.
[Gemini] Do you know about what time you're going to leave? So I
can make sure I'm back in time... otherwise I'd probably spend a
good five hours down there.
Gemini says offering a short explanation.
Annie moves to the corridor so the waiter can pass with the food
cart.
[Annie] Five hours? Really like to swim, huh?
[Gemini] Oh yeah.
Gemini smiles.
[Gemini] Time?
Gemini reminds.
[Annie] Hmm 7 PM?
Annie answers after thinking for a minute.
[Gemini] Okay. I'll be back by then.
Gemini smiles and punches the elevator button. Again.
[Annie] Alright, see you later then, take care.
Annie says before she turns and gets in her suite closing the
door behind her.
#Post#: 70--------------------------------------------------
HALF MOON RISING Part 8
By: Cyberfox277 Date: September 30, 2011, 9:17 pm
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[center][b]***Joe's, 7:00 that evening***[/b][/center]
Methos walks in looking around checking who's the Immortal he
knows is inside of Joe's, he'd felt a buzz before he came in, he
smiles when he sees it's Aldria and walks to her table.
[Methos] Should have remembered that Friday is your drinking
day.
Ally grins as Methos approaches her table.
[Ally] Yes. You should have. Although today, I'm almost wishing
it were still possible to get drunk. It's been so long.
Ally sighs, then chuckles ruefully.
[Methos] Yeah, the only downside I can see being Immortal...
well that and guys chasing you with swords.
Methos says as he pulls a chair to sit down, he waves at Mike
and is pleased to see him move to get him a beer.
Ally chuckles.
[Ally] Well, that and being an old one on top of it.
[Methos] Yes, sometimes a stronger Quickening doesn't pay.
Methos shuts up abruptly when he sees Mike walking to their
table.
[Methos] So how's it going Mike?
Methos asks as the other man puts a beer in front of him. Mike
says everything is fine and walks behind the bar again.
[Ally] Mike's been trying to cut me off for the past three
hours.
Ally sighs.
Methos chuckles softly as he picks the beer glass.
[Methos] Just how much did you drink?
Ally shrugs.
[Ally] I dunno. But I've been here since they opened for lunch.
Ally says with a shrug.
[Ally] Which reminds me... there was someone here looking for
you, Adam Pierson.
Methos frowns looking at Aldria for a moment.
[Methos] Who? Nikki?
[Ally] No. Annie. She was Kronos' student.
Ally says with an indifferent shrug.
[Ally] I like her... for all that she's young.
[Methos] Yes, she's nice, but hmm...
Methos hesitates for a moment thinking what to do.
[Methos] I'm not sure I want to meet Kronos' student again.
[Ally] Again? She did imply she'd met you before.
Ally asks.
[Methos] Yes, she was here in Seacouver 2 years ago looking for
Kronos. She thought he was still alive.
Methos takes a deep breath thinking about Bordeaux. That one was
really close, if Kronos killed MacLeod he was dead.
[Ally] Aah. This time she's looking for Sean Burns.
Ally tells him.
[Methos] What?
Methos asks, his eyes open up wide.
[Methos] Can't that woman look for anyone else but dead people?
[Ally] Apparently not.
Ally chuckles.
[Methos] So now what's the story? She also wants to kill him?
Methos asks while he shakes his head.
[Ally] No... something about an old friend she lost track of.
Ally shrugs.
[Methos] I bet she did some therapy with him, not that I'm
surprised after Kronos.
Methos picks up his glass and drinks the rest of his beer.
[Methos] And I'm not going to tell her that her friend is dead.
Pass.
Methos says as he puts the empty glass on the table and prepares
to stand up.
[Ally] Oh, sit down. I'll tell her. If you don't want to. Jeez.
I was playing dumb about you, which is why I didn't say anything
to her this afternoon.
Ally huffs.
[Methos] You don't understand.
Methos moves closer to Aldria and whispers.
[Methos] MacLeod killed Sean when he had the Dark Quickening,
what if she goes after MacLeod?
[Ally] I never said, I tell her who killed him.
Ally gives Methos a look.
[Ally] Come on, it's not like I'm a naive newbie here.
[Methos] Though she owes MacLeod and she knows it.
Methos considers it for a moment.
[Methos] Maybe if we mentioned it was the same guy who killed
Kronos she'd leave it alone.
[Ally] Who says we have to mention anything about who killed him
anyway?
Ally asks.
[Methos] Like she won't suspect that I know, I'm a Watcher,
remember?
Methos makes a face, the last thing he wants is to push Kronos'
student too much.
[Ally] Yeah, well it's not like the Watchers know everything.
Ally shrugs.
[Methos] I knew about Kronos.
Methos shrugs as he prepares to stand up again.
[Methos] I think I'm going.
[Ally] You know.. she's thinking about taking a student. Has
never had one before. Was all full of questions for me.
Ally says absently.
[Methos] Really? So what does have to do with the rest?
Methos asks as he stops to look at Aldria.
[Ally] She's worried about. Doesn't know how to teach a student,
other than knowing she doesn't want to be anything like Kronos.
Ally says looking up at Methos.
[Methos] Yeah, can't say that I blame her, only the Gods know
the things Kronos taught her.
Methos makes a face.
[Methos] Or what he did to her.
[Ally] Well from our discussion , it sounds like I had a similar
teaching method to Kronos... though what he did outside of
lessons, is of course a different story.
Ally sighs, shaking her head.
[Methos] Yeah, I can imagine. I knew the guy.
Methos looks down, shaking his head with a sigh.
[Ally] As I said... she was full of questions. I told her, it's
not how you treat a student IN the lesson that determines their
opinion of them. But how you treat them outside of the lesson.
She seemed.... heartened, by that.
Ally comments.
[Methos] So... doesn't she have any idea who you are... Judge
Everson?
Methos asks with a smirk, turning his head to look at Aldria.
[Ally] And what kind of idea is that supposed to be? She knows
me as Judge Everson, she should, I was the judge when she was
sentenced to jail.
Ally asks, arching an eyebrow slightly at Methos.
[Methos] Oh really? I had no idea, small world, huh?
Methos asks as he gestures Mike for another beer, deciding to
stay a little longer.
[Methos] And I mean Kronos might have mentioned you, he
mentioned me.
Methos says with a shrug.
[Ally] Oh umm. that... Well, see... I've met her twice, once
when she was still with Kronos and once.. well... he showed up
unannounced.
Ally says giving Methos a 'oops-forgot-to-mention-that' smile.
Methos straightens up on his chair, looking at Aldria
suspiciously.
[Methos] And when was that exactly?
[Ally] Well... The first time, was Italy. 1600. I was
masquerading as a boy, studying under Galileo Galilei.
Ally says softly, remember the brilliant mortal she had studied
under.
[Ally] Kronos and the girl were... breaking into a mausoleum, of
some old biddy that had just died. And I can promise you this,
none of the towns folk missed her. Kronos had intentions of
robbing it.
Ally shrugs.
[Methos] Some old bat who insisted to take her jewels to the
grave I bet. Probably thought she'd need them in the afterlife.
Methos chuckles softly, shaking his head amused.
[Ally] Oh... this old bat didn't take just her jewels with her.
She took all her money with her too. Left her son a beggar.
Ally shakes had chuckling softly.
[Methos] So Kronos was a grave robber. So what?
Methos smirks urging her to continue.
[Ally] We met... we almost fought.. Actually.. Annie stayed to
open the mausoleum, while Kronos and I left Holy Ground. She was
upset, because I was a woman and Kronos wasn't letting her fight
me.
Ally smirks.
[Ally] Kronos knew she'd lose if she tried me.
[center]***Padova 1600***[/center]
Aldria laughed and shoved the young man next to her. "Off with
you, Salvatore!" She laughed. "I'll see you in geometry class
tomorrow."
"Alright, Adriano. I'll see you. Get a girl or two tonight will
you?" Salvatore laughed as he stumbled down the lane towards his
parents vineyard.
"Yeah, whatever!" Aldria laughed, and with a wave walked off
towards town. "As if I'll get a girl. I am a girl," she laughed
softly to herself. "Well, woman," she corrected herself, shaking
her head amused by the young man.
In this the 'Year of the Lord, 1600'. Women were rarely even
allowed to learn to read, let alone the type of education a
'privileged' young man of 'rank' would be allowed. And it hadn't
taken Aldria long to work out that this Galileo Galilei was a
genius and one who stood a chance of being remembered for
centuries.
That realized, Aldria knew she wanted, needed to learn from him.
So, she did what any practical Immortal woman would do. She
disguised herself as a boy... ever more practical since it
allowed her to wear her sword visible. That thought had no more
than passed through her mind when she felt the buzz of an
Immortal. Freezing she placed her right hand on her sword hilt
and looked around around.
Annie looked around startled by the noise Kronos was making
trying to open the door of the crypt, "Shhh, someone is going to
come here to find out what's happening." She whispered as she
glanced around uneasily.
Kronos pushed again but the door refused to move an inch,
"Damn!" He angrily banged it producing another loud metal sound,
"No one comes to a cemetery at night. They're afraid of the
ghosts." He laughed amused trying to place a metal bar under the
door to use as a wedge.
Annie sighed, of course he wouldn't listen, he was too stubborn
to give a damn, and if someone showed up he would just kill him
and resume work. "Is that woman worth all this trouble? It
sounds like you want to be arrested." She asked impatiently,
looking around again.
"Of course it's worth it! She was buried with most of her
jewelry! Why don't you shut up and come here to help me? This
isn't moving!" He grumbled between clench teeth using all his
strength.
Annie sighed again and was about to grab the metal bar when she
felt an Immortal buzz and looked around nervously, "I've told
you someone was coming!" She whispered to Kronos as she put her
hand on the hilt of her sword.
"Shut up!" Kronos ordered her in a bad mood as he let go of the
iron bar to grab his sword producing another loud bang as it hit
the stones by the door. "Damn!" He complained as he heard the
noise.
Aldria turned towards the graveyard. Upside it was Holy Ground.
Downside... she tried to avoid Immortals. With a disgruntled
sigh, she unsheathed her sword, but kept it lowered by her side,
as she entered the cemetery and followed the buzz to its source.
Rounding the corner of a crypt to the old lady Juliet who had
recently died she saw two figures. Both, Immortal.
"A boy?" Kronos laughed amused as he saw a silhouette approach
them, it was too dark to really see anything else, "Come closer
and meet your doom!" He smiled threateningly, thinking this one
was going to be easy.
Aldria frowned, that voice... "Kronos?" She asked surprised.
Kronos frowned as he heard the voice, it couldn't be, not after
all these centuries, he moved closer to have a better look,
"You!" He stared angrily at Aldria as he recognized her.
"My Goddess, you are still alive," Aldria gasped, shocked. It
truly was Kronos.
"So are you, but not for long if I have anything to say about
it!" Kronos grumbled threateningly, he almost unsheathed his
sword but he remembered Holy Ground just in time.
"You want to fight me?" Aldria asked, her voice a tone that
clearly said she was raising an eyebrow.
"What do you think?" Kronos asked raising his voice, he was
getting even angrier by her calm.
"Kronos, someone is going to listen." Annie warned him again,
though it was a hopeless cause and she knew it.
"I don't give a damn! Let them!" Kronos yelled as he glared
angrily at Annie.
Aldria rolled her eyes. Someone to yell at and Kronos ignores
her... admittedly before it had been ignoring Methos. Some
things never changed.
Annie ignored Kronos' anger, she was used to it by now, she
choose to adjust her dress, after years of disguising herself as
a man she was glad to be a woman again. "Fine, I'll visit you in
prison." She shrugged slightly thinking to herself it would be
the last thing she'd do, she'd run away as fast as she could
instead.
"You haven't changed in the least bit, have you Kronos?" Aldria
asked, unable to keep the amusement from her voice.
Kronos moved his angry gaze to Aldria, "And why should I?"
"People do tend change over time," Aldria said with a shrug.
Annie looked from one to the other slightly shocked, it was the
first time she'd see someone who obviously knew Kronos not to be
afraid of him.
"Not me!" Kronos grumbled irritated, his hand playing with the
hilt of his sword.
Aldria glanced at his twitching hand. "This is Holy Ground,
Kronos," she warned him.
Kronos grinned but his eyes remained cold, "Don't you think I
know that? I wouldn't be here staring at you if it wasn't."
"You want to fight that bad?" Aldria demanded.
"What do you think, you traitor? I gave you my friendship and
you stabbed me in the back!" Kronos yelled furiously, glaring at
Aldria, while his hand clenched the hilt of his sword.
"What?" Aldria asked shocked, surprised he thought that.
"You heard me, you're immortal, you can't be deaf!" Kronos
grumbled in a bad mood. He made a visible effort to stop
gripping his sword.
"I didn't stab you in the back!" Aldria gasped.
"Yes, you did. You just didn't use a knife!" Kronos grumbled
angrily, "Look, I'm tired of this, let's get out of Holy Ground
and finish this once and for all."
"But... aren't women supposed to be mine?" Annie asked, not sure
if she was doing the right thing, he looked positively furious.
"Not this one. You're not good enough to win against her and I
wouldn't want her to take my student's Quickening. She might
learn too much about my fighting technique." Kronos grinned
amused at the look in Annie's face, "That's right, you wouldn't
have a chance against her."
Aldria couldn't help it she snorted a laugh. "It isn't as if I
haven't seen you fight before."
Kronos smirked threateningly, "And when was the last time you've
seen me fight? You think I haven't learnt some new moves since
then?"
"Aren't you the one who said you don't change?" Aldria asked
unable to help the jibe.
"That's not exactly changing." Kronos shrugged before he turned
to Annie, "You try to open that door while I'm away, I'm sure
you'll think of something."
"Fine." Annie shrugged, as she thought that things would
definitely work smoother now, all she had to do was find the
guard, he probably had a key.
"Juliet's family keeps a key hidden somewhere around the base."
Then turning she made her way back towards the edge of the
cemetery.
"Oh you knew the old bat?" Kronos grinned following her out of
Holy Ground, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, ready to
unsheathe it.
"Old bat is a rather apt description," Aldria muttered, as she
reached the edge of Holy Ground, turning and backing her way
away.
"So any last words before I take your head?" Kronos asked
angrily while he unsheathed his sword and moved closer to her.
"I don't want to fight you Kronos," Aldria said calmly. Her
naked blade in her hand at her side. "But so help me, if you
start this, I will finish it."
"You won't have a chance to finish a thing! You really think you
can win?" Kronos laughed amused raising his sword. "I've waited
a long time for this! You're about to find out what I do to
traitors!"
"I promised Marisol I wouldn't start anything with you Kronos.
You broke one promise to her, so I suppose breaking another
doesn't bother you. Finish this I WILL. Start it, I won't,"
Aldria said calmly, as she tensed just enough to prepare herself
to block Kronos' first strike.
"I didn't break any promise to her. I wouldn't." Marisol's name
after all this time was like a stab in the heart, he never
thought he'd hear it again.
"I seem to recall part of vow to bring her back to the Amazon
when she died," Aldria said bluntly.
"I never promised that!" Kronos grumbled angrily, "Did you hear
me promise I would?"
"I remember the marriage vows you took!" Aldria cried. "After
all, I'm the one who married you!"
"I didn't promise I would take her back to the Amazons. I would
never do that!" Kronos yelled impatiently, her insistence was
irritating him.
"Do you remember the vows you took when you married, Marisol? Do
you?!" She cried.
Kronos took a deep breath, it was his promise to Marisol that
was keeping him from attacking her right now, "Yes, so?"
"Then tell me!" Aldria demanded. "Tell me how not taking
Marisol's body back to the Amazon yourself isn't breaking a vow?
Tell me how MY taking her back was me turning traitor? TELL ME!"
She demanded.
"You only asked me to promise to take her back to the Amazons
after you married us, and I didn't promise that." Kronos
shrugged, then he grinned raising his sword again, "Come here
and make me pay for it." He invited her, hoping she'd start the
fight.
"No," Aldria shook her head. "You already paid for it," she
added softly.
Kronos sobered up and stopped there looking at her, "What do you
mean by that?" He asked impatiently.
"Kronos... It is," Aldria paused and shook her head, "was, so
rare for an Amazon to marry... There was more reasons than just
she wanted her last rights in the Amazon. There were reasons for
you, we wanted it done that way. I... I had so hoped when I took
her body that you'd follow."
"I almost did, but I didn't want to break my promise. I would
have fought you!" Kronos sighed as he slowly lowered his sword,
"I didn't do it then, and I won't do it now. Just stay out of my
way!" He prepared to go back the way he'd come from.
"You would have been treated as a God," Aldria added softly.
Kronos stopped on his tracks and looked at her again, "I was
treated as a God, a very feared God. I didn't need the Amazons
for that!"
"You would have been treated as a loved God," Aldria whispered.
"I never wanted to be a loved God." Kronos shrugged as he began
to walk again. He almost sheathed his sword but decided to wait
until he got to Holy Ground.
"So be it," Aldria murmured. "But for what it's worth, you were
loved."
"Yeah, right." Kronos shook his head disbelievingly, "I can
imagine."
"Whatever," Aldria shrugged, as she back off and turned away,
walking back down the road.
"Whatever." He turned to leave and join Annie, hoping she'd
managed to open the door of the crypt.
Aldria snorted and turned continuing her way down the road.
[center]***Present Day***[/center]
[Methos] Actually I'm surprised he kept his promise. There was a
time Kronos kept his promises but that was a long, long time
ago...
Methos sighs and grabs the beer Mike is putting in front of him.
[Ally] Mike, get me another please. And don't try to tell me
I've had too much. Trust me I can keep up with him!
Ally says as Mike puts Methos' beer down. Mike sighs as he
returns to the bar, but begins filling another glass.
[Methos] Thanks Mike.
Methos says at the man returning to behind the bar.
[Ally] 'Bout time.
Ally mutters.
[Ally] Oh, and Kronos almost didn't keep his promise, but... He
did. And then went and robbed that woman's grave.
Ally chuckles.
[Methos] Which was wise because probably her son, the one she
left a beggar had the same idea, only he was too late.
Methos chuckles amused.
[Methos] One thing he was good at what his timing. Always showed
up when it was the right time for things to happen.
[Ally] Oh, I'm quite sure he did... in fact the fool tried to do
it in the middle of the day, and was put in the stocks for a
week for it!
Ally laughs.
[Ally] Ah, thanks Mike!
Ally grins as Mike places two beers down, and mumbles something
to Adam about knowing he'd need another soon, before walking
back to the bar.
[Methos] He was afraid of ghosts, Kronos wasn't.
Methos chuckles at the man's stupidity, robbing a grave in
daylight. He shakes his head in disbelief.
[Ally] That he wasn't. 'Course doesn't help any I told them
where the key to the Mausoleum was hidden.
Ally grins.
[Methos] Oh, he was so stubborn he'd end up finding a way.
Methos smirks before he takes a sip of beer.
[Methos] He always did.
[Ally] Well, they were trying to decide how they were going to
break in. And then I walk up and tell them where the key is.
Ally shakes head ruefully, and grinning unrepented.
[Methos] I see you really liked the old bat.
Methos chuckles softly, then turns his head to look at Aldria.
[Methos] What about the second time? You mentioned he showed up
unannounced?
[Ally] Aah, yes... Annie had just been sentenced and some new
evidence had come to light to, significantly reduce her
sentence. When Kronos showed up... taunted her some, I let her
go back to her cell when she requested it. Kronos kept saying
he'd found something... that was in '94, and the something was
you, if I'm not mistaken.
Ally says with a slight smile.
Methos takes a deep breath looking back at '94 and the night
Kronos showed up at the parking lot.
[Methos] Yes, it was me.
[Ally] She was willing to do anything to stay away from Kronos
and that includes stay in jail.
[Methos] Yeah, I've always wondered why she didn't fake her own
death. We have that part in the Chronicles.
Methos smirks as he grabs the beer glass again.
[Methos] Hard to miss when she was carrying a sword when they
imprisoned her.
[Ally] I offered to arrange it... But aah... yeah, That would
have put her back into Kronos' sphere of influence.
Ally grins.
[Ally] Carrying a sword, and ironically enough, killed the man
with his own knife.
Ally smirks a little.
[Ally] He deserved it.
[Methos] Of course she did, like a mortal would be a match for a
trained Immortal, and I'm betting Kronos trained her to the
edge.
Methos makes a face thinking about it.
[Methos] Why do you think I want no trouble with her?
[Ally] And why do you think I'm telling you this?
Ally asks.
[Methos] To make me go away? I hear Bora Bora is really nice
this time of year.
Methos says with a smirk.
[Methos] Besides I think I deserve a vacation.
Methos adds, not that he's planning to go to Bora Bora, not much
of a hiding place when he keeps mentioning it.
[Ally] To show you, that you won't have any trouble with her.
She wants none.
Ally sighs, rolling her eyes slightly.
[Methos] Yes, but she's an Immortal, she carries a sword, so I'm
off... Why do you think I've lived this long?
Methos asks before he empties his glass and prepares to stand
up.
[Methos] So I'll see you later.
[Ally] Too late.
Ally says as she feels the buzz of another Immortal approaching.
[Ally] You better sit down, rather than look the fool.
Ally suggests.
Methos stops, looking at the door when he feels an Immortal
buzz.
[Methos] I should have left when I wanted to.
Methos sighs as he sits down again.
Annie looks around when she steps inside Joe's bar, she sees
Aldria right away, she's still at the same table and moves in
her direction. And she's sitting with Adam Pierson, so she
doesn't have to wait for him, good.
[Annie] Still drinking?
Annie asks Aldria amused, before she turns to look at Methos.
[Ally] Oh yeah.
Ally smirks.
[Methos] Have a seat, I hear you're looking for me?
Methos says going back to his Adam Pierson persona.
[Ally] You talked with the potential student?
Ally asks.
[Annie] Yes, I had an idea how to really get to know her.
Annie says as she pulls a chair and sits a little far from them.
[Ally] Oh? And how's that?
Ally asks.
[Annie] Put a sword in her hand and see what happens.
Annie shrugs before she turns to the bar to order a drink and
sees Mike already carrying it in her direction.
[Ally] Just putting a sword in her hand and nothing else won't
show much.
Ally shrugs.
Annie thanks Mike when he puts the drink in front of her and
waits until he's out of earshot.
[Annie] It will show me her courage, I'm not about to waste two
years with a coward.
Annie shrugs again before she take a sip of her drink.
Methos smirks looking down at his glass, she was Kronos' student
alright, apparently they shared the same opinion about cowards.
[Ally] Well... that's one way of getting to know her.
Ally chuckles.
[Annie] Oh, by the way, I doubt you'll be worried about it,
apparently the guy only goes after newbies, but there's a
headhunter in town. Though you might like to know.
Annie says remembering how she met Gemini in the first place.
[Methos] Really? How do you know?
Methos asks side glancing at Annie.
[Methos] Did he have a label?
[Annie] In a way. He was after a young Immortal who was half
dressed and unarmed.
Annie shrugs taking another sip of her drink.
[Annie] That should be enough, no?
[Ally] Oh, and was the half-dressed and unarmed Immortal, the
one you're thinking of teaching?
Ally asks.
Annie nods with a sigh.
[Annie] Yeah, she has no teacher and I don't think this Immortal
will give up so easily.
[Methos] Does this guy have a name?
Methos asks planning to look for him at the Chronicles just in
case.
[Annie] I suppose. We all do. But I don't know what it is.
Annie shrugs looking at Methos.
[Annie] Too bad you can't take a look at him.
[Methos] What makes you think I would?
Methos asks trying to hide his amusement, that woman had guessed
his thoughts.
[Annie] Because that's why you're at the Watchers?
Annie answers with a slight smile.
[Ally] Girl, immortal or not, you don't join the blue tattooed
peeping toms, unless you have an interest in history. Regardless
of what other motives you may or may not have.
Ally says with a bit of a grin.
[Annie] Whatever.
Annie shrugs unconcerned.
[Annie] Like I'd care why people join the Watchers.
[Ally] Oh, it is an interesting experience.
Ally chuckles quietly.
[Methos] So, hmm... why are you looking for me?
Methos asks, like he didn't know.
[Annie] I was hoping you'd be interested in history so much
you'd know where to find Sean Burns. I really need his help
again.
Annie sighs, thinking about the nightmares.
[Methos] Yeah, he helped a lot of us over the years.
Methos nods with an unhappy sigh, now Sean was one friend he
really missed.
[Annie] So you know him?
Annie asks hopefully.
Methos nods again.
[Methos] He was my friend.
[Annie] Was?
Annie stares at Methos for a moment.
[Annie] Please tell me you two are just upset with each other.
[Ally] Sean lost his head a few years ago.
Ally says softly.
[Annie] Have any idea of what happened?
Annie asks trying to decide if she should hunt his killer or
not.
[Methos] Apparently one of his patients lost his mind and
attacked him. And he was devastated when he came back to his
senses.
Methos says looking down at his glass.
[Ally] Annie, have you ever heard of a Dark Quickening? Or a
Light one for that matter?
Ally asks.
[Annie] Hmm, I don't think so.
Annie frowns thinking for a while.
[Ally] Have you ever met the Priest? Darius?
Ally asks.
[Annie] Hmm, I think Kronos mentioned something about it. A
Quickening so powerful that can change you?
Annie asks after a moment.
[Ally] Exactly.
Ally smiles.
[Ally] Darius was once the most ruthless single conqueror there
was. By himself, he was even a match for the Horsemen. Then he
met an Immortal monk. Took the monk's head, and received a
Quickening so light and full of goodness he took the monk's
place.
Ally explains for an example.
[Annie] Really?
Annie stares a moment at Aldria, then bursts out laughing.
[Annie] Now I get it.
Methos looks up at Annie, he suspects what she finds so amusing
but Adam Pierson wouldn't know what she's talking about so he
says.
[Methos] Care to share the joke? We're getting curious over
here.
[Annie] The reason Kronos avoided holy men, I thought it had
something to do with religion but it didn't make any sense
coming from him.
Annie says breathing deeply to try to stop laughing.
[Methos] Yes, apparently he was afraid to get one.
Methos nods with a smirk.
[Ally] Kronos didn't avoid holy men. He became them. Last time I
checked the Inquisition was made up of "holy" men.
Ally snorts, amused.
[Annie] He avoided killing them, that's what I mean.
Annie answers with a sigh, the Inquisition time wasn't one of
her favorites.
[Ally] It's always good to have clarification.
Ally chuckles.
[Methos] How do you know?
Methos asks Aldria with a frown, so Kronos was an Inquisition
torturer, how come he's not surprised, he thinks to himself.
Ally shrugs.
[Ally] He told me.
[Annie] He liked it so much, he did it twice.
Annie adds shaking her head.
[Annie] He waited about 70 years and returned.
[Ally] He told me that too.
Ally sighs. "Personally I avoided Spain then."
[Annie] So this guy who killed Sean had a Dark Quickening?
Annie asks trying to change subject, she doesn't want to talk
about Kronos anymore.
Ally nods.
[Ally] Sean was trying to help him. Sadly, Sean failed.
Ally says softly.
Methos keeps side glancing at Aldria, apparently she also forgot
to mention that. He wonders when did Kronos tell her about
Inquisition times. He looks back at his glass, picks it up and
takes a sip letting it pass for now.
[Annie] So this guy is still out there with a Dark Quickening?
Annie asks wondering if she can do something about it, wouldn't
she get the Dark Quickening if she killed him? Can she take the
chance?
[Methos] No, he's fine now, a friend of his managed to drag him
to Holy Ground and he came back to his senses.
Methos says looking down, playing with his glass on the table.
[Methos] Sadly it was too late for Sean though.
[Ally] And from what I heard he was eaten up with guilt for what
he did to Sean.
Ally murmurs.
[Annie] Good, he deserves that, Sean was a good man.
Annie sighs sadly.
[Annie] The best Immortal I've known.
Ally snorts softly.
[Ally] You haven't met very many have you, child?
[Annie] You mean besides the ones I had to kill? No, I tend to
avoid them.
Annie shrugs picking her glass to drink a little.
[Methos] But you see? The good guys don't go after other
Immortals unless they have a reason, so I'm not surprised you
haven't met them yet.
Methos tells Annie with a smirk, apparently most of the
Immortals she knew were headhunters.
[Methos] Not all of us are like Kronos, you know?
[Annie] Yes, and Sean was the first who made me realize that.
Annie nods with a sad sigh.
[Annie] And if we hadn't met on Holy Ground I would have killed
him... or tried.
Methos frowns thinking for a while.
[Methos] Hmm, now that you mention it I don't think I ever saw
him fight, which is quite surprising for an Immortal.
[Ally] I fought with him all the time.
Ally says flatly. Then grins and adds, "Just not with swords.
Freud was a chauvinistic idiot."
Methos nods with a smile.
[Methos] Yes, I've always thought that Carl Jung's work made
more sense.
Annie nods absentmindedly, thinking there's no way to stop her
nightmares now. until she gets an idea.
[Annie] Can you find out if Kronos had a Watcher in 1304?
Methos looks at Annie with a frown.
[Methos] And why do you want to know that?
[Annie] It's when he attacked my village. It was on the banks of
Loch Ness and it was so small it didn't even have a name.
Annie says before she empties her glass, she hates talking about
it or even remembering.
[Ally] What exactly do you want to know?
Ally asks curiously.
[Annie] My first husband had two daughters when I married him,
one was about three and the other was just a baby. His wife died
from childbirth, you see.
Annie says before she waves Mike for another drink.
[Annie] I ended up loving them as my own, and they called me
mother.
Annie goes on, and takes a big gulp when Mike puts the drink in
front of her.
[Methos] And it still hurts after all this time?
Methos asks when Mike moves away to the bar.
[Annie] I never knew what happened to them. The uncertainty is
driving me nuts.
Annie confesses with a sigh, resisting the temptation to empty
her glass.
[Annie] Sometimes I dream they managed to live and someone from
my clan took care of them, other times I see them dead, or worse
being raped by Kronos' men.
Annie manages to control herself enough to just take a sip from
her glass.
[Ally] Not to seem cold, Annie, but... I think it's safe to say,
that they're dead now.
Ally says softly.
[Annie] I know that, but it makes a lot of difference if they
died as a child or as an old woman, no? And how they died.
Annie says with a unhappy sigh.
Ally nods with understanding.
[Methos] And you never asked Kronos? He would know.
Methos asks with a slight frown.
[Annie] What for? I wouldn't believe him anyway.
Annie answers with a shrug.
[Ally] You know... in my experience... though relatively limited
though it was, Kronos had one redeeming quality.
Ally says softly.
Methos turns his head and looks at Aldria surprised.
[Methos] And it was?
[Ally] He was not a liar. Oh, he wouldn't answer if he didn't
want to, or talk around a subject. But... he didn't lie. Not to
Immortals anyway.
Ally shrugs.
Methos smirks amused without making any comment, while he thinks
he didn't share that quality with Kronos.
Annie shakes her head.
[Annie] I'd never believe him in this particular case.
[Methos] Well, I'd like to help but Kronos doesn't have a file.
Believe me I've looked.
Methos shrugs, then takes a sip of beer.
[Ally] Yes... but his various identities do... Melvin Koren
especially.
Ally murmurs.
[Annie] Try Magnus Kerr, that's the name he was using in
Scotland in 1304.
Annie tries to smile and almost succeeds.
[Annie] I bet he loved that one.
[Methos] Magnus?
Methos shakes his head disbelievingly.
[Methos] And I thought Melvin was bad enough.
[Ally] What about Merlin?
Ally asks with an amused chuckle.
[Methos] Like the magician?
Methos chuckles amused.
[Ally] Like the magician... actually, Annie, I do believe that
was the name he was going by, in ninety-four.
Ally smiles.
Annie nods.
[Annie] Yes, I think so, I knew it was him right away.
[Methos] Merlin.
Methos shakes his head again.
[Ally] That was Kronos for you.
Ally shakes head still amused.
[Methos] Alright, I'll take a look at Magnus Kerr and see what I
can find out.
Methos tells Annie taking a deep breath, maybe she'll leave him
alone then.
[Methos] And what were the girls' names? Just in case I find
something about him.
[Annie] The older was Deirdre and the younger was Morag...
Fraser.
Annie answers and then takes a sip of her drink, she'd never
expected to say their names out loud again.
[Annie] And their father was Daniel.
Methos nods.
[Methos] Alright. And you are Anna, so I think I have
everything.
[Annie] Hmm, no.
Annie takes a deep breath.
[Annie] Back then my name was Glenna, but if you mention that to
a soul I'm going to kill you.
[Ally] What's wrong with Glenna?
Ally asks a little amused by Annie's vehemence.
[Annie] When my adoptive parents found me I was almost frozen to
death, and they named me Glenna because I came from the valley
of death.
Annie answers making a face.
[Annie] I don't want to be reminded of that all the time.
[Ally] Ironically appropriate that Kronos took you as a student
then.
Ally shakes her head amused.
[Methos] Yes, sometimes parents don't think a name can really
hurt.
Methos nods, thinking that maybe he's lucky he doesn't know what
his name means.
[Annie] Well, it wasn't because of my real name, I never told
him what it was.
Annie shrugs.
Ally shrugs in response.
[Ally] It really doesn't matter to me. I was just curious.
[Methos] Alright, give me a couple of days and I'll see what I
can find out.
Methos nods looking down at his glass.
[Methos] You do realize that maybe you won't like what I find,
right? Are you sure you want to know?
Annie nods, taking a deep breath.
[Annie] But then I'll know, the uncertainty is worse.
Methos shrugs unconcerned.
[Methos] Fine, it's your call.
[Annie] I can take it, Adam. Trust me on this one.
Annie says looking at Methos.
[Annie] But I need to know what happened and maybe the damn
nightmares will go away.
[Methos] Or get worse.
Methos adds turning his head to look at Annie.
Annie shrugs.
[Annie] They can't get much worse than they already are, so...
[Methos] Fine, I'll take a look, just give me a couple of days.
Methos shrugs before he picks up his glass and drinks the rest
of his beer.
[Methos] Mike, I think I'm going to need another one.
Methos tells the man behind the bar with a smirk.
[Ally] Oh, what a surprise.
Ally says with a roll of her eyes and a smirk of her own.
Annie nods before she checks her watch.
[Annie] I should be going, I'll leave you two alone now.
Annie says with a smile as she moves her chair away from the
table.
[Annie] Besides I might be interrupting something...
Ally chuckles softly at that comment from Annie, but refuses to
dignify it with anymore response than that.
[Methos] Well, if you are you already did, if you aren't...
Methos shrugs with a smirk at Annie.
[Methos] Too late to worry about that now, no?
[Annie] I suppose.
Annie shrugs as she stands up.
[Annie] See you later then.
Annie says before she moves to the bar to pay for her drinks and
then walks to the door and goes out.
[Methos] I think I like her, considering who her teacher was
she's really nice.
Methos comments as he watches the bar door close.
[Methos] And it's nice to know I don't need to run and hide when
she's in the neighborhood.
[Ally] Kind of told you.
Ally chuckles softly.
[Methos] You of all people should know I like to take my own
conclusions.
Methos shrugs as he watches Mike walking to their table with his
drink.
[Ally] Oh believe me I do. But I was telling you so you wouldn't
bolt out the door.
Ally says with an amused smile.
[Methos] Yes, and now I have to look for... Magnus Kerr.
Methos says shaking his head after Mike walked away.
#Post#: 71--------------------------------------------------
HALF MOON RISING Part 9
By: Cyberfox277 Date: September 30, 2011, 9:31 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]***Half Hour Later***[/center]
Methos and Aldria had been drinking in silence since Annie left,
when Methos frowns thinking as he remembers something he left
for later.
[Methos] So, care to tell me how you met Melvin Koren? You also
forgot to mention that.
Ally shrugs. She had been hoping Methos would have forgotten
about that but...
[Ally] Wandered into the camp of a bunch of wagoners he and his
group had just murdered. Warned him that the Texas rangers were
after him... had talked with them shortly before. They didn't
think much of me.
Methos' frown deepens as he looks at Aldria.
[Methos] Didn't think much of you? Why not?
[Ally] In 1867 they didn't think much of an Apache Wisewoman...
or any Apache for that matter.
Ally chuckles amused.
[Ally] And the Apache didn't think much of the Texas Rangers.
Methos gasps in surprise, opening his eyes wide open.
[Methos] 1867? Texas Rangers? You met MacLeod?
[Ally] Hell no!
Ally snorts.
[Ally] Saw the tracker off in the distance. The Rangers went to
meet. I felt an Immortal and so I along with the three men
accompanying me, the wisewoman, headed off in the opposite
direction.
[Methos] He was there. I hmm... read his file.
Methos says chuckling softly.
[Ally] And I hadn't met him until just a few years ago. I
avoided, whoever the Immortal tracker was.
Ally shrugs unconcerned.
[Ally] If you say it was MacLeod, I believe you.
[Methos] Oh I'm sure of it. You see, one of the Texas Rangers
was also a Watcher, he volunteered for that mission when he
heard the story of El Gato, he suspected he was an Immortal.
Methos says with an amused smile.
[Methos] And MacLeod never bothered to change name, so...
[Ally] Surprises me, that does not. Didn't stop him from being
an arrogant bastard either so... all those damn Rangers were.
Ally says remembering.
[center]***South Texas – 1867***[/center]
"Why are you rangers out in force?" Ashwin asked.
The Texas Ranger stopped his horse, "We're waiting for the
tracker. Did you see a band of men? The leader in black?"
Kai shrugged, "You white men all look the same."
The ranger looked at his colleagues and laughed, "No, you all
look the same, not the other way around."
"Why do you look for a band of men?" Aldria asked, knowing that
the rangers knew her as Dae, a 'wisewoman' for the Apache.
"They're a bunch of murdering bastards. The leader's name is
Melvin Koren, ever heard of him?" The ranger spit to the ground
as if only his name made him disgusted.
"No," Zev said bluntly, as his horse danced a little with
impatience. "Why would we care?"
"You should, they don't mind killing Indians too." Another
ranger laughed at his own joke.
"Just as we wouldn't mind killing them," Kai said with a glare.
"What does this 'Koren' look like?" Aldria asked curious.
"Dark hair, blue eyes, with a beard, a scar on his face, always
wears black." The ranger recited it almost automatically, he had
been asking about this guy for a long time now.
"Sounds like half you pale-faces out there," Zev snorted in
disgust.
"Why are we wasting time with them?" A third ranger grumbled,
"Let's move to meet the tracker, I bet it's him over there." He
pointed at the horizon.
"Come we should return to camp. If you're ready of course, Dae,"
Ashwin said with a deferential nod to Aldria, ignoring the
rangers.
The rangers spurred their horses and left them without a
backward glance, they had better things to do than to waste time
talking to Indians.
Aldria nodded, "Yes, let's." She paused a moment as she glanced
towards the horizon and the man on horseback there. She shivered
slightly, as she felt a buzz, indicating that man was immortal.
"Ya!" She said and healed her mount, quickly taking her and the
others away from the Texas Rangers and the approaching Immortal.
Aldria and her warrior escorts where about half way back to
their camp, when they heard the sounds of screams distantly.
Aldria pulled her horse up for a moment.
"Dae? What is it?" Ashwin asked.
"Hear the screaming?" Aldria murmured softly.
"Yes, what of it?" Zev asked not caring. It wasn't coming from
the direction of their camp, so he didn't care.
"I want to check it out," Aldria said, turning her mount towards
the sound. "Be wary," she warned.
The others nodded and prepared their bows and arrows, as the
group of five moved cautiously towards the screaming. They were
almost there, when Aldria stiffened, feeling the buzz of another
Immortal.
"Dae what is it? Another unknown one like yourself?" Ashwin
asked concerned.
Aldria nodded, drawing her sword. "Yes," was all she said,
nudging her horse over a rise to see what there was. Just below
them, were six men. Four white and two Mexican, and surrounded
them was a ransacked Wagoner group. Aldria immediately zeroed in
on the Immortal, and blinked in surprise as she recognized him.
Kronos stopped as he was about to pull out his sword, he grinned
as he recognized the woman.
"Koren, Indians!" One of his men warned him.
"Shut up, Martinez. I've seen them, you think I'm blind?" Kronos
grumbled at him.
Aldria smiled and urged her horse towards the men. "Well, well,
well. Look who we have here," she said grinning looking at
Kronos.
"Dae," Ashwin cautioned softly, but he and the others moved
their horses with Aldria's.
"So we meet again, huh?" Kronos grinned back, "Still riding with
warriors I see."
"What else?" Aldria chuckled. "Still raiding, I see."
"What else?" Kronos laughed shrugging.
"Dae, you know this pale-face?" Kai asked softly.
"Yes," Aldria responded with a glance at Kai. "He is my
brother-in-law."
Kronos' smile disappeared as he took a deep breath, "Damn, just
had to say that, right?" He grumbled.
"What? It's true. And I'm not going to dishonor Marisol's memory
by trying to forget," she said bluntly.
"Damn, I know it's true, just don't mention that and especially
don't mention her name." Kronos grumbled again.
Aldria just frowned at Kronos, then shook her head.
"Koren, who the hell are these guys?" Another of his men frowned
looking suspiciously at the Indians.
"Dae," Ashwin said very softly, urging his horse closer. "Koren,
that's the man the Rangers are looking for," he spoke softly
enough for none but Aldria to hear him.
"Just go back to your business, Sanchez, and let me mind my
own!" Kronos answered him threateningly.
Aldria nodded her thanks to Ashwin then spoke up a little
louder. "You call yourself Koren? That wouldn't be Melvin Koren,
would it?" She questioned.
"Yes, heard of me already?" Kronos managed to grin again, "This
is nothing like before… oh, have you seen Methos, that betraying
bastard?" Kronos asked eagerly.
"Not in a LONG time," Aldria answered, stressing the long,
realizing that Kronos' men didn't know about Immortals. "But the
only reason I've heard of you, is because we just left four
Texas Rangers who are looking for you."
"Oh, are they?" Kronos laughed, "We're going to give them a
proper welcome then, aren't we boys?" His men laughed.
"Be warned, the only reason we spoke to them, is because they
were waiting for a tracker," Zev said speaking up.
"We can take care of ourselves, it's not a bunch of Texas
Rangers that's going to stop me." Kronos shrugged, "What about
Annie? Did you see her?"
"Only the once, with you,"Aldria said. "But… Koren," Aldria
snorted a laugh at the name, "the tracker is like us," she
wagged a finger back and forth between herself and Kronos.
"Oh, really?" Kronos grinned interested, "Good, it's been a
while since I don't have a you-know-what."
"Help yourself," Aldria said with a gesture indicating she had
no desire for it.
Kronos sensed his men were getting impatient, "Well, it's been a
pleasure talking to you, but I have to get going, we really need
a drink." His men nodded in agreement, "See you around." He went
to get his horse and mounted it, "Well, come on, we don't have
all day!" He urged his men to move.
Aldria just nodded to Kronos and backed her horse up, then
turned urging her horse back towards their camp, Ashwin, Kai and
Zev following behind.
Halfway to the camp, she slowed and turned to Zev. "You are the
better tracker, I have a task for you, if you will accept it."
Zev nodded, "Of course, wiseone. What is it to be?"
"Follow them," then nodded back towards where Kronos and his men
had been. "And report back what happens to them. Koren
especially."
Zev nodded his acceptance. "It shall be done Dae," he said, and
turned his horse to go.
"Zev, one more thing," Aldria cautioned.
"Yes?"
"Careful of the Rangers. Don't let them know you are there."
"Yes, Dae," Zev nodded, then kicked his horse to a gallop and
shortly disappeared.
"We are to return to camp then, Dae?" Ashwin asked.
Aldria nodded, and without a word they turned and headed back
towards the camp.
[center]***Early Evening***[/center]
"Dae! Dae!" A voice called loudly. Aldria ducked out of her
tent, to see Zev racing back into camp. "Dae, Koren is dead!"
"He's what?" Aldria asked shocked, hoping, for the sake of a
sister who was no longer alive, that it wasn't a permanent
death.
"He's dead. The Rangers shot him. They were burying him, as I
left."
"Thank you, Zev!" Aldria called, then whistled shrilly. Within
moments her horse came up to her.
"Dae, you go to unbury him?" Ashwin asked coming up with Kaga,
the shaman of the tribe.
"He is like you?" Kaga asked.
"Yes, and yes," Aldria responded. "He was married to my sister,
and though she has gone to the spirits, for her sake, I will
free him, and help him start anew."
Kaga nodded. "Zev, Ashwin, you will go with Dae and unbury this
brother to her. I will prepare a space in your tent for him,
yes?" Kaga asked looking at Aldria.
"That would be greatly appreciated. Once he is here, we can take
his clothes to get something more close his size," Aldria paused
a moment thinking. "I would also like Samir to come with. Like
wind he is named for, I will need one thing from the pale-face
town, Samir is best to get it."
Kaga nodded. "Zev, go collect three more of our little
brothers," he said nodding to the horses, "yours is tired and
needs rest. Ashwin, go collect Samir, meet Dae back here."
"Bring an extra horse. We will need one for my brother," Aldria
told Zev as both young men nodded and hurried off to do as bid.
Kaga nodded to Aldria then turned and walked into the growing
dusk.
Samir, Ashwin appeared, followed very shortly by Zev with four
horses. Aldria vaulted herself onto her horse, as the three
young men followed suit. "Zev, you lead us. Ashwin, take the
spare horse. Careful for the horses, it'll be dark soon," Aldria
warned. All three nodded, then turned and raced off, while there
was still light to do so.
It was dark when they reached the town of Aqua Dulce. Samir was
sent after a razor, so she could shave Kronos' face. What was he
thinking, growing a beard? Horrible! Zev led the way to the
graveyard.
Once at the grave the warriors started digging. Neither letting
Aldria help. Once they reached the coffin and started uncovering
it, Aldria stiffened at the feel of the reawakened Quickening.
Kronos felt the buzz of another Immortal the moment he revived,
"Are you going to fight like a man this time, or you brought
your damn friends to shoot me again? You coward!" He yelled
trying to open the lid of his coffin.
"Kronos, shut up!" Aldria hissed as he yelled. "Unless you want
us to leave you there, before we all end up dead!"
"Aldria?" Kronos was surprised it was her, she had no reason to
help him after all.
"Yes, it's me. Now, quiet. Let us get you out," she whispered
softly.
"Alright." Kronos whispered back.
Aldria stiffened slightly, as did Ashwin and Zev at the crack of
a stick breaking. All three looked up to see Samir, who raised
both a razor and what had to be Kronos' sword in triumph. Aldria
smiled and shook her head, turning back to the coffin. Zev and
Ashwin uncovered the rest of the dirt over the top of it.
"Careful, pale-face," Ashwin said softly. "We break the top
now."
"Well I don't have anywhere else to go, you know?" Kronos
answered back, still keeping his voice low.
Ashwin grinned at Aldria amused by Kronos' response. He and Zev
moved carefully and then each stomped simultaneously, breaking
the boards and allowing them to break them further, and pulling
the top of the coffin off.
"Welcome back to the world of the living," Aldria greeted
Kronos, amused.
"Damn rangers!" Kronos grumbled as he tried to get up from the
coffin.
Aldria squatted slightly and offered Kronos a hand, so he could
pull himself up. "Come, we will take you back to our camp and
help you change your appearance," she said softly.
Kronos took her hand and slowly got to his feet, "I should go
after them and kill them one by one." He grumbled angrily, "Who
do these fools think they've messed up with?"
"The Rangers only did their job," Aldria said shaking her head.
"Besides that for now, they think YOU'RE dead. Use this chance
to create a new life for yourself. Sooner or later the Apache,"
she nodded towards the young men, "will make them pay." She
quirked her lips, "Live, grow stronger."
"Fight another day. Yeah, I also heard that." Kronos looked
around, "Hmm… thanks by the way, I don't think I would have
gotten out so soon, if it wasn't for you."
"Yeah, you're being dead, didn't help matters any," Aldria
snorted, still careful to keep her voice down. "Now, are you
coming with us? Or are we leaving you on your own?"
Kronos shrugged, "I don't exactly have someone waiting for me."
"Come on then," Aldria said standing. She held her hands out to
Samir. She took the sword, and razor, then turned and offered
the sword to Kronos. "Yours?" She said softly.
"Yes." Kronos grinned, "I feel a lot better now. I really like
this sword."
"Again, come on," Aldria said, as she vaulted herself onto her
horse's back. The young warriors following suit, leaving one
horse for Kronos.
Kronos took the horse's reins and easily mounted it, he had been
riding horses for millennia, saddled or unsaddled was almost the
same to him.
"Let's go then," Aldria whispered and nodded to Zev, who quickly
took the lead, and heeled his horse, they started off, at a
careful trot, towards their camp.
The five reached the camp and Aldria dismounted. She motioned
for Kronos to do the same, and to pass his reins off to one of
the other young men.
Kronos quickly dismounted and looked around while he passed the
reins, "This is nice, almost reminds me of our old camp."
Aldria shrugged. "Different style tents," she pointed out, as
she led him in between several. Before she reached her
destination another woman came up and passed her bucket with
steaming water. Aldria murmured her thanks.
"Yes, the tents are different but it has the same… I don't
know…" Kronos tried to explain.
"Feel?" Aldria asked.
"I'm not really sure what the word is, I was never too good with
words, you know?" Kronos laughed as he shrugged.
Aldria chuckled herself and ducked into her tent. She was
pleased to see that Kaga had gotten a second bedroll set up,
opposite the small tent fire that was in the middle. A shirt was
folded on the middle of the spare roll. Setting the small bucket
of water down, she turned to Kronos. "Get out of those, I'll be
back for them shortly. There's a spare shirt in the mean time,"
she nodded to what was folded on the spare bedroll, "And get
yourself clean. As I said, I'll be back shortly, alright?"
"Yes, I suppose I smell like a graveyard, right?" Kronos
chuckled as he removed his shirt and coat.
Aldria shrugged, "That and dirt." With that she ducked back out
of the tent. She hurried to go get a small bowl of water and
extra cloth so she could get that hideous beard off of his face.
A short while later, having what she wanted in hand she returned
to her tent, and carefully shouldered the flap aside, as her
hands were full.
"Hmm, so what about some pants?" Kronos looked amused at his
bare legs, "Men wear pants now, you know?"
Aldria glanced at Kronos and chuckled, "Oh, I know," she smiled.
"We're going to use you old ones as a base for making new." She
set her things down, and picked up his old things. "Nice legs by
the way," she told him as she ducked back out of the tent.
Less than a minute later, she returned to the tend, this time,
without any burdens, having handed his old clothes off to one of
the other women who had volunteered to use it was a pattern for
making new things for him.
"So what about some food? Dying makes me hungry." Kronos
commented as he looked around her tent.
"They're bringing some," Aldria said absently. "Didn't get
dinner myself." As she said that a women ducked into the tent,
with a small tray of food, and a skin full of water. The woman
ducked out again as quickly as she came. Reaching down, Aldria
picked up one of the two pieces of food on the tray. "Help
yourself," she told Kronos nodding towards the other piece.
"Once we're done. I need to get that beard of yours shaved off.
It's hideous," Aldria said bluntly.
"Hey, I happen to like it!" Kronos frowned as he picked the
other piece of food. "Never tried it before, but since I didn't
have anyone to shave me decided to give it a try."
Aldria snorted, "It doesn't suit you."
Kronos shrugged, "Why do you care?"
Aldria just pursed her lips slightly, and said nothing, only
took a bite of her food.
Kronos grinned, he was glad he managed to shut her up, "What's
that in the skin bag? Wine?"
Aldria shook her head. "Water. Alcohol in general doesn't mix
well with Indians," she told him.
"Damn, I think I need something stronger than that." Kronos
sighed while he ate.
"Why?" Aldria chuckled as she quickly swallowed the last of her
food, and then swallowed some of the skin.
"I don't know about you, but I hate to die." Kronos grumbled
still chewing his food, "And what exactly is this? Wait, maybe
it's better if I don't know, I'm hungry." He smiled.
"It's just deer meat," Aldria said with a shrug. "Nothing
horrible."
"Oh good." Kronos grinned, "It just tastes different."
"Might be antelope," Aldria shrugged, indifferently. "You about
done?" She asked bluntly.
"What's the hurry? Want me to go somewhere?" Kronos frowned.
"Well, I want to get that beard shaved off, so I can go to
sleep. I don't know about you, but I've been up since well over
an hour BEFORE sunrise," she responded.
"I don't want you to shave my beard, I've told you I like it."
Kronos frowned at Aldria.
"You want to be lynched as soon as you leave this camp?" Aldria
asked bluntly. "Because that or some other form of you being
killed is exactly what will happen, if you don't change your
appearance, drastically. And the easiest way to change it, is to
shave the beard off."
"Damn, not hanging, it hurts like hell." Kronos grumbled.
Aldria just raised an eyebrow not saying anything.
Kronos sighed, "Fine, cut the beard, I can always get it back
later."
"We'll have to trim your hair too," Aldria muttered. "But that
can wait a few days."
"You're not cutting anything else." Kronos grumbled in a bad
mood.
"Fine," Aldria said, not wanting to fight about it anymore. "You
done, so I can get the beard shaved?"
"Fine." Kronos grumbled, "Just be careful with that blade." He
warned her.
"Promise," Aldria said. "Sit," she motioned to where a couple of
blankets where rolled up, creating a backrest and a relatively
comfortable place to sit, with legs stretched out, onto her
bedroll.
Kronos sighed again and sat where she wanted him to, still not
talking.
Aldria moved around, and picked up the small bowl of warm water
and set it next to him, then after studying him for a moment,
straddled his legs.
Aldria took the razor blade out and dipped it in the water, then
put it to Kronos' face, and slowly and carefully began shaving
the hair from his face.
Kronos tried to stay still while she shaved him but he was
getting restless.
"Hold still," she told him, glancing in his eyes for a moment.
"I don't want to cut you."
"Fine, just don't take all night." Kronos grumbled as he tried
to relax against the rolled up blankets.
"I'll try not too," she said with a smile, as she rinsed the
blade off, and brought it back to his face again.
Aldria worked as quickly as she could, while still making sure
that she didn't cut him. After a short bit she put the blade in
the water, finished. "There," she said with a smile. "Now that's
the Kronos I remember."
[center]***Present Day***[/center]
Methos stares at Aldria in disbelief for a moment, then he
slowly shakes his head.
[Methos] He actually let you put a blade so close to his neck?
That doesn't sound like Kronos at all.
Ally chuckles.
[Ally] Well, I didn't exactly take 'no' for answer.
[Methos] Yes, but still it's a little bit surprising.
Methos smirks thinking there was no way he'd be in that
position, not even with Aldria, there is a limit to trust.
Ally grins guessing what Methos was thinking about.
[Ally] Don't ever grow a beard and you'll never have to worry
about me, putting you into that position.
Ally warns, with a smile.
[Methos] A beard? Me?
Methos makes a face shaking his head.
[Methos] Never have, not even to look older.
[Ally] Smart! I don't think it'd suit you.
Ally chuckles.
[Methos] No, I don't think so.
Methos smirks amused.
[Methos] So what then? Don't stop at that, this was getting
interesting.
[Ally] Then...
Ally hesitates.
Methos side glances at Aldria with a smile still playing on his
lips.
[Methos] Don't tell me he didn't try anything, the only
difference between Kronos and a stallion was that he wasn't a
horse.
[Ally] Yeah, so we had sex and then went to sleep.
Ally shrugs indifferently.
[Methos] Thought so, when we were traveling to Europe you two
seemed on friendlier terms than usual.
Methos chuckles amused thinking about those days they'd spent
together.
Ally shrugs.
[Ally] Yeah well in Texas it'd been over century since the last
time I'd had any, so I was desperate... and it turns out he did
give a fairly good accounting of himself.
[Methos] You only missed Caspian, huh? Then again maybe you were
a doctor in one of the innumerable mental institutions he was in
and... Might have happened.
Methos teases her still smiling amused.
[Ally] No.
Ally says shortly.
[Ally] And let's make that a HELL no! I quite literally would
rather lose my head than sleep with him. Besides it was only the
once with Silas.
Ally shrugs.
[Methos] Oh and it was more than once with Kronos?
Methos raises an eyebrow at Aldria, then shakes his head amused.
[Ally] Well.. he was with us for about a week, before the search
for his body was given up on, and we Apache let him go... and
then about once a decade or so after that.
Ally adds with a shrug.
[Methos] Who would have thought you'd keep coming back for more.
Methos chuckles softly still shaking his head.
[Ally] Oh, no.. He's the one who kept coming back.
Ally grins amused.
[Methos] Oh really? This keeps getting better and better.
Methos says still laughing.
[Ally] It does? Does it?
Ally asks grinning.
[Methos] So when did that Inquisition discussion occurred? Don't
tell me it was while you were doing it.
Methos asks amused, not that he'd be surprised knowing Kronos.
[Ally] It was before...
Ally says rolling her eyes.
[Methos] So go on, the suspense is killing me, so to speak.
Methos urges her to go on with a smile.
[Ally] Speak what?
Ally asks.
[Ally] Say that we discussed the Inquisition before sex?
Ally rolls her eyes again.
[Ally] It was after I shaved him. While I was still sitting on
his lap, before sex.
[Methos] I knew it. I bet that turned him on, or you, or both.
Methos smirks remembering it didn't take much for her to turn
him on in the old times anyway.
[Ally] I think it was the sitting... or rather straddling his
lap that turned him on.. and once he offered, I wasn't going to
say no.
Ally grins.
[Methos] So he was at the Indian village when the Texas Rangers
went there the next morning?
Methos asks remembering what that Watcher had wrote in the
Chronicles.
[Ally] Yes. He was confined to my tent that day.
Ally smirks.
[Ally] Lack of clothes helped.
[Methos] They didn't find him, too bad MacLeod wasn't with them
anymore.
[Ally] Aah, but if MacLeod had been there, all I would have had
to do, was step out... and claim he wasn't there... that it was
just me.
Ally points out.
[Methos] True. He'd probably fall for it.
Methos nods, then he smiles after a moment.
[Methos] I bet it was the lack of clothes who also saved the
Texas Rangers' lives.
[Ally] That was a good part of it.
Ally sighs.
#Post#: 72--------------------------------------------------
HALF MOON RISING Part 10
By: Cyberfox277 Date: September 30, 2011, 10:11 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]***South Texas – 1867***[/center]
Aldria woke and lay still, listening for what had woken her.
After a moment she identified a soft scratch at the flap of her
tent. Moving quietly to not wake Kronos, she wrapped herself in
her blanket and ducked her head out of the tent. "Yes, Kaga?"
She asked softly.
"Rangers will be coming to camp today. He must stay in," Kaga
said softly.
Aldria nodded. She didn't know exactly where Kaga got his
information but he had never been wrong before. "Will you bring
meals?" She asked.
Kronos listened to them, he had woken up the moment he felt
someone scratching the tent, but pretended to be asleep. His
hand grabbed his sword firmly though.
Kaga nodded, "My wife or I will." With that he turned and walked
off.
Aldria glanced up at the sky it was cloudy and overcast. Looked
like it was going to start raining any second. Aldria shivered
and ducked back into the tent letting the flap close. A glance
showed that Kronos hadn't moved. Aldria shivered and walked over
to the fire and began to stir it up, adding more wood.
Kronos side glanced at her through almost closed eyelids, he
didn't want her to know he was awake and had heard the
conversation.
The fire stirred up, Aldria lay back down, quietly watching the
flames.
Kronos opened his eyes blinking, pretending it was the light of
the fire that had awoken him. He moved enough so she could hear
him.
"Morning," Aldria greeted absently, not looking away from the
fire.
"Morning." Kronos grumbled as he sat up. He looked around,
"Still early, huh?"
"Sun is just coming up," Aldria said, rolling onto her back to
watch Kronos.
Kronos stretched and yawned, "Maybe I should get dressed, can
you get me some pants?"
"Kaga or his wife will deliver them when they're done," Aldria
said absently, admiring the view Kronos presented.
"Great. So what do I do until then? Go around half naked?"
Kronos grinned.
"Or completely naked. I'm not complaining," she grinned.
"Why would you complain? If you didn't want to see me, you
wouldn't have brought me here in the first place." Kronos
shrugged.
"Yes, well, you do present a rather nice view," Aldria grinned
at him.
"Well, I would show you a nicer view but it's a bit cool."
Kronos laughed.
"Fire will warm the air up a bit, now that it's going again,"
she laughed not taking her eyes off of Kronos.
"Let's wait a bit then." Kronos grinned. He stared at the roof
of the tent, "Wish they brought me some clothes, I should be on
my way." He grumbled, planning to attack the Rangers on their
way to the Indian camp.
Aldria chuckled, "A set of clothes takes a bit."
"I suppose." Kronos grinned, "I have a few things hidden
somewhere but I can't ride there naked, can I?"
"Well, you could. But immortal or not, you'd end up with a nasty
and painful rash if you did," she laughed and rolled onto her
side so she could see Kronos.
Kronos laughed, "Besides it isn't my idea of going unnoticed."
"No. It'd attract quite a bit of attention," she chuckled.
"I don't even have a gun anymore, only my sword." Kronos
frowned, "I need to get a gun, it's more efficient on mortals."
Aldria laughed. "I'll see if we can arrange something."
"Hmm, maybe we can do more than that." Kronos grinned thinking
about it, "You said they'd attack the white sooner or later, so
what are they waiting for? Maybe we should give them a hand."
"They're waiting for word from Geronimo. Who is supposed to be
sending word on where all the Apache tribes will meet and join
for a large scale revolt against the whites." Aldria sighed,
"And that is when I will take my leave of them."
"You're not fighting anymore?" Kronos asked surprised, "Or they
wouldn't take you?"
"I've never desired to fight hopeless causes." Here Aldria
grinned and added, "Unless they were of my own making. And if
they attack the whites, they'll be slaughtered, during or after,
and I have no desire to see that."
"Well, it's not like we've never been outnumbered before."
Kronos shrugged, "Though being immortal probably helped." He
chuckled thinking back, "Don't know how many times Silas and
Caspian got killed."
Aldria chuckled, "They did make easier targets."
"They didn't even try to hide." Kronos laughed, "Well, maybe
they couldn't."
"Yes, well... there was at least that ONE time, were Silas dove
in front of the arrow to protect his horse!" Aldria chuckled
laughing at the memory.
"Silas and his animals." Kronos shook his head, "I miss them, I
miss the Horsemen, never again I managed to form a band like we
were."
"You know," Aldria said softly. "I've seen Silas more recently
than Methos."
"Yeah?" Kronos looked at her, "Where?"
"Vineland," she said saying it the way the Vikings called their
homeland.
"Yeah? When?" Kronos frowned, "I was there too, can't believe I
missed him."
"Oh, about 800 years ago. No idea where or what he did from
there," she smiled.
"Damn, wasn't there anymore. I had left by then, first Normandy,
then England." Kronos grumbled.
"When were you with the Vikings?" Aldria asked.
"I don't know the exact date." Kronos shrugged, "In the 800's,
850 or something. Stayed there almost 200 years, when I died in
one place, just moved to another."
"Wow. Funny, we never ran into each other," Aldria chuckled. "I
arrived in about 750 stayed for five or six hundred years."
"Really?" Kronos frowned, "Had no idea you'd been there." He
grinned, "Maybe it was better, considering the scene we made in
Padova in 1600 when we met."
"Yeah, well, the Vikings wouldn't have flinched. We could have
been more... 'visible' then. At least in Vineland I got to dress
as a woman! Galileo was worth it, but I got tired of
masquerading as a boy!" She chuckled.
"Almost didn't recognize you as a boy." Kronos laughed, "Thought
you were a young Immortal."
"That was kind of the point," she chuckled.
Kronos grinned shaking his head, "So in Vineland you fought as a
woman? They wouldn't have a problem with that."
"And they didn't. I called myself Sigrun, and was well
respected," Aldria grinned.
"Hmm, I think I've heard of you." Kronos frowned thinking,
"Yeah, I did. Didn't know it was you of course."
"And what did you hear?" Aldria asked amused.
"Oh, something about a mighty warrior woman that fought better
than men." Kronos smiled, "Didn't believe it at the time, should
have thought it could be you."
"And now, you'd believe it, wouldn't you? Did you know, I'm now
a Valkyrie? You may have made it into the Bible, but I made it
onto the Viking ship, that ferries warriors to Valhalla. One of
the Valkyries guarding it," she chuckled.
"Oh, really?" Kronos laughed, "Never expected to be in bed with
a Valkyrie, I'm honored." He grinned amused.
"Yes, you are a rather lucky and honored man," Aldria laughed
herself. "You got to be in bed with both an Amazon and a
Valkyrie and survive to tell the tale. Not many men, EVER could
claim one let alone both."
"Well, you slept with Death and now Plague and lived to fight
another day." Kronos chuckled.
"And Silas," Aldria added, with a grin, carefully watching
Kronos' reaction.
"What? You slept with Silas?" Kronos burst out laughing.
"Just once!" Aldria laughed. "It was that first night."
Kronos shook his head still grinning, "So who's next? Caspian?"
He looked at her suspiciously, "Or you did that already?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Aldria smirked.
"Hmm, I don't think you did. You're still in one piece." Kronos
laughed.
"Good guess," Aldria admitted. "Can't say I ever had the desire
to... even consider Caspian."
"You wouldn't be his type anyway." Kronos smiled, "He wouldn't
sleep with someone who kicked his ass unarmed."
"Well, in that way I wasn't. But in another way I was. After
all, I had slept with Methos," Aldria pointed out.
"Oh, noticed that? Yeah, Caspian always wanted Methos' women, or
cast offs.
She shook her head. "What was Caspian's thing for Methos' cast
offs?" She asked.
Kronos shrugged, "Jealousy I guess."
"I suppose at this point in time, it really doesn't matter," she
chuckled.
"Actually I'm surprised Methos didn't end up killing him."
Kronos shrugged, "Or maybe he did, when I came back couldn't
find any of them."
"Yes, well, there were several times while I was with you four
that YOU were the only reason Caspian made it through the
night," Aldria chuckled.
"Really? Planned to kill him?" Kronos frowned.
"Damned if I remember what they were fighting over. They were
always fighting," she chuckled. Aldria broke off in mid-laugh,
her head cocking as the sound of horses, with harness sounded,
approaching the camp.
Kronos looked at the door of the tent, "Expecting anyone?" He
asked like he didn't know.
"Rangers," Aldria answered with a glance at Kronos. "And before
you think about going after them, they'll kill you, and I'm not
going to dig you up again."
"Damn it, I don't even have a gun." Kronos grumbled.
Aldria snorted. "I didn't go to all the work of digging you up
and shaving you, for you to go show yourself right away to the
few people who might be able to identify you without the beard,
and who would slaughter everyone in this camp without a second
thought. If you want to go after them, once you have clothes, a
gun and a horse, that's your prerogative. Until then..." Aldria
warned.
Kronos jumped to his feet and moved to the door of the tent, "I
don't know if I can do that if they're the same that shot me in
the back." He looked around, "Is there a way to look outside
without being seen?"
"Not unless you're twenty feet tall," Aldria said pointing to
the top hole in the teepee. "Just leave it, Kronos. If you want
them badly enough, a couple of days isn't going to matter."
"Damn, I can't believe this." Kronos grumbled as he moved to his
sword and picked it up, "If there's no way to look outside I
guess I'll have to make one."
"Damn it, Kronos. You yourself just said if they are the ones
who shot you, you wouldn't be able to resist going after them!
So don't look! I have no problem with you going after them, just
not when it'll result in the death of this tribe!" She hissed at
him. "Besides, you cut a hole in the tent, and you'll be the one
who sleeps under it, since it is raining outside."
"It's raining?" Kronos hesitated a little, "Maybe cut a hole is
not such a great idea if it's raining."
"No, cutting a hole isn't a good idea. And yes it's raining.
Can't you hear the little bit of splatter against the hides?"
Aldria pointed out the sound.
Kronos listened for a moment, "Yeah, I do. Didn't hear that
before."
"Alright, where is it?" A voice loudly demanded.
"Yeah, you cut a hole, you're sleeping under it," Aldria warned
again, but softly, striving to listen to the voices of the
Rangers.
Kronos raised his sword as he heard the voice and moved to the
side of the door, if they entered the tent, he would kill them.
"Where is what?" Kaga's voice questioned.
"Someone robbed a corpse from the cemetery last night." The
Ranger grumbled, "We're looking for it."
"Why would we want a white man's body?" Kaga asked scornfully.
"We found a track near the cemetery, horses without
horseshoes..." The Ranger looked down threateningly.
"So?" Kaga asked, uncowed. "We often ride to your burial ground,
to observe. Is that a crime now?"
"It is if you rob anything while you're there." The Ranger
frowned.
"Again, I ask, why would we want one of your dead?" Kaga
demanded.
"I would be careful if I were you, we might decide to arrest all
of you." The Ranger grumbled threateningly, "Better watch out,
we'll be watching you, if you step out of line..." The Ranger
turned his horse around and moved back where he came from.
"Stupid white man," Kaga muttered scornfully, once the Ranger
was out of earshot.
"They're leaving." Kronos lowered his sword, "Damn, I can't
believe I've let them go away." He grumbled in a bad mood.
Aldria shrugged, "If you hadn't, you just would have ended up
dead. If you really want them that badly, go tomorrow."
"Maybe I will. Of course that Immortal with the Rangers is long
gone, he knows I'm still alive, but he didn't tell the others or
they wouldn't be looking for a corpse." Kronos grinned, "I'm
going to get them."
Aldria chuckled, "If that Immortal, is looking for you, he's
long gone. No one would expect you to stay close," she laughed.
"Or that the Indians would help me, why would they?" Kronos
smiled, "Nobody knows that they didn't help me, they helped
you."
"Correct," she grinned. "They helped me, now just because that
helping me, helped you is beside the point." Aldria paused
thinking, "Any idea who that Immortal is anyway?"
"Didn't give him a chance to introduce himself, if he was going
to." Kronos laughed, "But I'll find out, if I get one of the
Rangers, he'll tell his mother's maiden name."
Aldria laughed, "Well, you'd better hope he's younger then. The
younger ones, I've noticed, don't tend to change their names
like we do, Koren," she said the name sarcastically.
"Oh, he's young alright, too easy to beat to be an old one."
Kronos grinned.
Aldria chuckled and before she could say more there was a
scratch on the tent, "Dae?" A soft voice called.
"Yes?" Aldria called as she pulled up a blanket and wrapped it
around her, long enough poke her head out of the tent.
Kronos raised his sword again as he heard the noise.
"Breakfast," Kaga's wife said, passing Aldria a tray. "I will
have his clothes finished sometime this afternoon."
"My thanks, on both," Aldria nodded.
"Kaga or I will bring lunch," she said, then turned and hurried
off. Aldria glared at the sky and ducked back into the tent,
careful to make sure the flap was securely closed.
"Who was that?" Kronos frowned.
"Kaga's wife. With breakfast," Aldria smiled, turning around
with a tray of food and another, larger skin of water.
"And water again I see." Kronos made a face, "When I get out of
here the first place I'll stop will be a saloon."
"Yes, water again. I told you, alcohol and Indians don't mix
well," she returned to her spot on the bedrolls and sat down,
placing the tray of food where it would be between them, if
Kronos were to resume his seat. "And as you heard, she'll have
your clothes finished this afternoon."
"Good. Then I'll leave, any idea what happened to my horse?"
Kronos sat next to Aldria and grabbed a piece of food.
"No," Aldria said bluntly. "But if you wait until tomorrow
morning, I'll give you a horse."
"Oh really? Are you that desperate to spend another night with
me?" Kronos smiled teasingly.
"Absolutely!" Aldria laughed. "None of them will have sex with
me," she said with a head jerk to indicate the camp and all the
Indians there in.
"Why not?" Kronos frowned, "And what did she call you? It wasn't
Aldria."
"Dae. It means 'unknown'. They have a tradition of 'Unknown
ones'," Aldria explained. "I am a respected wise woman."
"Does that have anything to do with Immortals?" Kronos asked
thinking about it.
"The unknown ones, might," Aldria shrugged. "But it's the wise
woman part that keeps any of them from having sex. I am a wise
woman, honored and," she sighed disgustedly, "therefore
untouchable."
Kronos laughed, "They don't think a wise woman needs sex?"
Aldria shrugged again, "Maybe, but as I have no husband, I am
unapproachable, and untouchable," she sighed.
"Well, you can always try the Amazon way." Kronos chuckled.
Aldria sighed, "I never cared for that. Oh, I've done it. It was
part of my initiation into Anath's priesthood. I much prefer it
when it involves someone with a penis," she chuckled bluntly,
taking a bite of her food.
"No, I didn't mean that." Kronos laughed, "The Amazon way to get
a man."
"Oh, that way," Aldria laughed, and smiled. "I thought that's
what I did last night?"
"Oh, really?" Kronos shook his head smiling.
"Really. I mean," Aldria shrugged and smiled, "I could have just
left you in that grave."
"I would have managed to get out... eventually." Kronos
shrugged. "Worse case scenario when the grave-digger went to get
my bones."
"Speaking from experience?" Aldria chuckled amused.
"Oh, yeah." Kronos grinned, "I would kill him, take his clothes
and bury him in my place."
"Lovely," Aldria said with an amused roll of her eyes.
"What? Most of the times I don't have anyone to help me out."
Kronos shrugged.
"Yeah, see... I just avoid getting myself into those situations
in the first place," Aldria said with an amused grin.
"And what is the fun of living a quiet peaceful life?" Kronos
grinned, "I'd be bored to death."
"Well, then you'd find Methos. You'd be bored right to him,"
Aldria quipped.
"I've been looking for him for centuries and never managed to
find out anything about him. He changed his name of course."
Kronos shook his head, "He's now a legend, the oldest living
Immortal and all that."
"I know. Which makes me pretty damn close to second!" Aldria
laughed.
"Don't know how he made such a mistake. I mean no one has ever
heard of me..." Kronos grinned looking at her, "Or you."
"I know. And you've been making more of a name for yourself. He
slipped up there, somewhere," she said shaking her head.
"Maybe it was the damn Watchers." Kronos grumbled.
"Watchers?" Aldria asked.
"Yeah, some mortals with tattoos that keep following us. They
have a secret society called the Watchers." Kronos grinned,
"Very imaginative name, huh? Maybe someone like Silas invented
it."
Aldria laughed, "The blue tattooed peeping toms! I didn't
realize they had a name."
"Yeah, they do. And they have been around for centuries." Kronos
frowned, "Maybe it was them that started the Game. Ever thought
of that?"
"I don't know. Too few of us even realize they exist. How would
they have started the Game?" She asked. "Damned peeping toms,"
she added in a mutter.
"They would only have to tell a few, maybe those hiding on Holy
Ground, and the word would get around." Kronos shrugged, "Well,
if they did it, they don't know it anymore."
"No one knows," Aldria sighed.
"Always suspected that thing of the Game, so convenient for
mortals we keep killing each other, no?" Kronos grumbled, "If we
joined each other, instead of fighting, we'd own the Earth by
now."
"That we would," Aldria said absently. "Can you imagine it? What
the world would be like without the Game?"
"Yeah, I can. We'd own what the mortals do now, and they would
be our pets." Kronos laughed.
"Perhaps," Aldria said absently, still pondering the idea.
"We need another Black Plague, fastest way to get rid of them, I
was in Europe when it happened." Kronos smiled.
"Na, Black Plague wouldn't do it. Most people do have decent
hygiene now," Aldria pointed out.
"I carried slaves from Africa once." Kronos smiled, "Some of
them were sick with something no one had ever heard of, it ended
up killing them all."
"Huh... just the slaves die?" Aldria questioned.
"No, every mortal that got near them. Only Annie and I lived."
Kronos grinned.
"Huh..." Aldria said thoughtfully, then shrugged.
"So you see, there's something better than the Black Plague. We
just have to know where to look."
"And actually bother to look. I bet you could find some pretty
exotic things in the Amazon." Aldria chortled, "Amazon! I love
it that they named it that!"
"Strange they named it that, apparently no one remembers where
the Amazon nation was anymore, and South America is a long way
from Greece." Kronos smiled.
"That it is. I have no idea why they named it the Amazon,"
Aldria said. Then grinned broadly, "But that doesn't mean I
don't love it!"
Kronos picked the skin and took a sip of water, then he sighed
looking down at it.
Aldria laughed at the face Kronos made, and then stood up, and
went over to a small pile on the other side of the tent and
squatted down, looking through them.
Kronos side glanced at her, "What are you looking for?"
"This," she said after a moment tossing him another, half empty
skin. "I don't know if it's any good still or not," she warned
him.
"And what is this?" Kronos opened the skin and took a sip,
"Wine? Just how long do you have this here?"
"Oh, I think it's probably been a couple of years since I
touched that skin. As I said, I have no idea if it's even any
good," she told him, then held up her hands. "You're welcome to
the rest of it, if it's even any good."
"Well, I had better but since it's the only wine around, I guess
it will have to do." Kronos shrugged taking another sip.
Aldria just chuckled and shook her head. Standing back up, she
stretched, her spine popping all the way down, before resuming
her seat on the bedroll.
"And why didn't you give me this last night, when I really
needed a drink?" Kronos frowned.
"Forgot I had it," Aldria replied honestly with a shrug.
"Don't tell me you're turning out to be like Silas. Methos would
never forget something like this." Kronos laughed.
"No, Methos would never forget he had beer. And it's not beer,
and it was inferior wine to begin with," Aldria shrugged. "I
haven't touched it in a couple of years."
"No, Methos would drink this if he didn't have anything better,
like I'm doing now." Kronos smiled.
"Yes well, I've reached the point where I consider better."
"Getting too picky with age, huh?" Kronos teased her taking
another sip.
"No, it's not that," Aldria said, an amused glint in her eye.
"It's that I've developed better taste with age."
"Oh, is that why you want to have sex with me, not Methos?"
Kronos laughed amused.
"...Yeah.... you don't want me to compare that. Hell, I don't
want me to compare that. I've stopped, because every time I did,
I was just disappointed," Aldria said. Then grinned, "Of course,
you're welcome to try and prove different."
"I've got nothing to prove, if you don't like it..." Kronos
shrugged, "I'm not Methos, his slaves always made such a fuss
about him..."
"Oh, I'm not complaining," Aldria grinned. "I'm just saying that
I don't compare to Methos. So, I can't and won't honestly tell
you how you compare to him. Which is nothing to say about how my
tastes have changed... or improved," she grinned.
"Hmm, maybe we could do it again. We've got nothing else to do
anyway." Kronos grinned, "At least I don't."
"Yes, well, my only 'duties' today are to relax. And recover
from the 'journey' I just returned from," Aldria grinned at him.
"Good. Shall we start then?" Kronos smiled.
"Absolutely, I'm still waiting on this legendary stamina and
endurance of yours that I've heard SO much about," Aldria
grinned at him.
"Oh, yeah?" Kronos laughed, "I didn't die today, you might get
it now."
"Oh good," Aldria laughed, then leaned towards Kronos.
"Maybe you could show me why Methos slept with you for so long.
Always wondered how you managed to last that long." Kronos
grinned.
"You might have to let me be on top," she grinned. "To say the
least, Methos and I tried every position we knew, and then some.
And between the two of us, that's a lot," she chuckled.
"I said I'd consider it, didn't I?" Kronos bit her shoulder
playfully.
Aldria just laughed softly and leaned forward and nipped his
neck.
[center]***Present Day***[/center]
[Methos] So that was the way you managed to keep him there for a
week, and don't go after the Texas Rangers. Learnt that thing
from Marisol, didn't you?
Methos chuckles softly before he picks his glass and empties it
again.
Ally shrugs.
[Ally] Well, it did help keep him occupied... and from killing
anyone.
Ally chuckles.
[Ally] Besides, didn't I mention I was desperate at that time?
[Methos] And maybe you were curious why your sister made such a
fuss about him.
Methos adds as he waves at Mike for another drink.
[Methos] I mean, he managed to keep her from looking at another
man, not that there were many at camp anyway.
[Ally] You know... what curiosity there was, faded after... you
know, 3000 years.
Ally chuckles shaking her head.
[Ally] No, the first time, it was pretty much any man who
offered I would have taken them up on it, and after that well...
Kronos does give a fairly good accounting of himself.
[Methos] I wouldn't know, we shared everything but not that...
Methos chuckles amused.
[Ally] Yeah... you weren't exactly each other's type.
Ally snickers amused.
[Methos] Besides Kronos would be the last man I'd consider, I'm
not particularly fond of pain.
[Ally] Wouldn't Caspian be the last man you'd consider?
Ally asks with a grin.
[Methos] Yeah, forgot Caspian. But let's put it this way, I
would have killed Caspian if he even dared to suggest it.
Methos shakes his head with a sigh.
[Methos] I should have killed that guy when I had the chance.
[Ally] And that would have been one case, where I doubt Kronos
would have tried to have stopped you.
Ally snickers.
[Ally] Who did kill him anyway? It was MacLeod wasn't it?
Ally asks curiously.
[Methos] Yes, it was MacLeod. Kronos sent both Silas and Caspian
after him.
Methos takes a deep breath.
[Methos] I thought they were going to kill him.
[Ally] How'd he avoid Silas taking his head after the
Quickening?
Ally asks.
[Methos] Well, they were fighting on a bridge and when he took
Caspian's head, he jumped to the water.
Methos smirks shaking his head.
[Ally] A lucky fool.
Ally smiles amused.
[Methos] I doubt Silas had thought about that possibility so he
didn't know what to do.
[Ally] The MacLeod boy, was still a lucky fool there.
Ally chuckles.
[Methos] Yeah, I don't know what he was thinking, fighting
Caspian with Silas standing there.
Methos shakes his head with a sigh.
[Methos] And then he goes after Kronos...
[Ally] Fool child.
Ally laughs again.
[Methos] Yeah, he was damn lucky.
Methos nods as he thinks luck had nothing to do with it, you
don't live 5000 years and leave such a thing to luck. He knew
what he was doing fighting Silas.
[Ally] So... if MacLeod jumped into a river to avoid Silas, who
ended up killing Silas?
Ally asks.
[Methos] I did, back at the submarine base when Kronos was
fighting MacLeod.
Methos confesses with a sigh, then he shuts up abruptly when he
sees Mike walking to their table to give him the beer he'd
ordered.
[Methos] I knew two of his brothers fighting would distract
Kronos, I wasn't sure if MacLeod was good enough to kill him and
I didn't want to take the chance.
Methos goes on after Mike walks back to behind the bar. He sighs
unhappily.
[Methos] I never imagined I'd be the one to do it, I liked
Silas.
[Ally] So did I.
Ally murmurs softly.
[Methos] I've tried to talk him out of it but he said that for
two thousand years he'd dreamt of the moment the Horsemen would
ride again.
Methos sighs as he picks up his glass to drink.
Ally can't help a small smirk as she says, "You should have
offered him a Zoo, to leave the Horsemen. He probably would have
taken you up on it. And I KNOW you can afford it."
[Methos] Nah, he was still thinking small, all he wanted was a
monkey. He asked me to convince Kronos to let him have one.
Methos shakes his head and takes another sip of beer.
Ally laughs.
[Ally] And did you even bother to ask Kronos?
[Methos] Yeah right, the last thing we needed was a monkey
running around free at the submarine base.
Methos shakes his head, taking a deep breath.
[Methos] I was trying to have a serious talk with him and he was
thinking about monkeys.
[Ally] Oh, come! After that crow, you really think he'd let it
run around?
Ally snorts amused.
[Methos] We ruined him, you know? Kronos and I. If he never met
us he could have been a good man.
Methos says looking at Aldria.
[Methos] We taught him to enjoy killing.
[Ally] I don't know that I'd go that far... But he wouldn't have
been as bad as he was.
Ally says with a smile at Methos.
[Methos] It wasn't so bad in the beginning, but after your
sister died, and how she died, Kronos just killed everybody on
his way.
Methos sighs as he looks back at the past.
[Methos] No, we killed everybody on our way, it wasn't just him.
Ally sighs.
[Ally] I am sorry for that.
Methos smirks still looking at her.
[Methos] What are you sorry about? It wasn't exactly your fault.
And I knew what I was doing.
[Ally] No... but Marisol and I made did make it worse... make
your regret afterwards worse too.
Ally says softly.
[Methos] Well, once I told MacLeod I didn't feel guilt since the
11th century.
Methos smirks while he shrugs.
[Methos] And that was a long, long time ago.
[Ally] And he believed you?
Ally asks coughing slightly in surprise.
[Methos] Yeah, he usually believes everything I say.
Methos nods chuckling softly.
[Ally] How has someone that... that NAIVE survive this long?
Ally asks astounded.
[Methos] I have no idea, but we can't blame it all on luck. He's
a good fighter.
Methos says before he takes a sip of beer.
[Ally] So, he had good teachers.
Ally shrugs.
[Ally] Connor's very good. But... having good teachers and being
good a sword isn't everything. YOU should know that as well as
I.
[Methos] Oh, you want to know the best part? He doesn't like to
hurt, let alone kill, women. Whether they deserve it or not.
Methos smirks shaking his head.
[Ally] And he's still alive?
Ally asks astounded.
[Methos] He obviously is, but we can blame that on luck.
Methos nods with a chuckle.
[Methos] I think he seriously underestimates women, not to see
them as a threat. One of his sweet little Immortal women will
end up cutting his head after sex if he's not careful enough.
[Ally] Apparently.
Ally chuckles amused.
[Methos] OK, some women are lousy fighters but those who live
through the centuries certainly aren't.
Methos shakes his head thinking about MacLeod's idea of
chivalry.
[Ally] I should hope not.
Ally says raising an eyebrow at Methos.
[Methos] Hmm, I wasn't talking about you. You're not the only
woman who lived through the centuries you know?
Methos comments with an amused smirk.
[Methos] Actually I've mentioned centuries not millenia.
[Ally] Yes, well... I have seen nearly 50 centuries.
Ally chuckles.
[Ally] Which means nearly five millenia.
[Methos] Yes, you're almost an old as I am. Hmm, sort of, I
don't remember how long I've lived before my first Quickening,
so...
Methos shrugs unconcerned.
[Methos] That's not important anyway.
[Ally] No... Our lives truly begin with our first death... so...
ironically like vampires that way.
Ally shakes her head amused.
[Methos] Yes, immortality always has a price, at least we don't
have to kill mortals, just our own to stay alive.
Methos says with a sigh.
[Methos] Or not most of the time anyway.
[Ally] True.
Ally chuckles.
[Methos] Besides who needs blood when you can get something like
this?
Methos smirks before he empties his glass again and waves at
Mike.
[Methos] You know something? I think he would have preferred if
we had sat at a bar stool.
Methos tells Aldria when he sees Mike sigh and move to get him
another beer.
[Ally] Yeah, but that'd mean moving. I've been in this chair all
day.
Ally sighs.
[Ally] Besides, it's one of the closest tables.
Ally adds with a chuckle.
[Methos] Besides we couldn't talk freely near a...
Methos points at his Watcher's tattoo with a smirk.
[Ally] Yeah... specially since we've both been there, done that.
Ally adds with a smirk of her own.
[Methos] Yeah, we both know how that works.
Methos nods with a smile as Mike puts the drinks in front of
them.
[Ally] Don't we all?
Ally laughs picking up her beer and taking a long drink.
[Methos] We sure do.
Methos nods as he sprawls on his chair and resumes drinking.
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