Chapter One.
The sound of applause erupted around Duncan; the sudden noise seemed to take him by surprise. He wiped his hand over his face trying to stop the images that were crowding into his mind. Slowly he became aware of his surrounding, there were people around him standing up, he looked at his watch over an hour had pasted since the interval 'more of the present lost to the past' he thought.
Painful images from his past had been haunting him for weeks; the most vivid images were of the night he had held Tessa for the final time and watch her life drain away, knowing there was nothing he could do to prevent it. His chest began to tighten as the images of that night became clear in his mind again; he shook his head trying to shake the image away. He had hoped that the play would have been a distraction from the images but they had found him. He was alone because he couldn't find anyone willing to spend time with him, he couldn't blame any of them, he hadn't been exactly good company this past few weeks, either keeping himself shut away, refusing to see anyone, or when someone tried to talk to him he had been surly and unresponsive.
Duncan looked around. The only other people left in the theatre were the cleaners. Again time had seemed to stand still for him. He stood up and put his coat over his arm he walked slowly out of the theatre, down the stairs to the foyer. There were still people milling around waiting for cabs. As he walked past the waiting people putting on his coat, he looked up at the sky, which held dark clouds. A fine rain began falling on his face. He knew that it would be a long wait for a cab so he decided to walk home as it wasn't far and the rain was only light. The fresh air might help him clear his head.
He turned his collar up against the rain and put his hands into his pockets as he slowly walked down the nearly empty streets. As he walked his thoughts turned to Richie and the heated argument they had that morning. Was Richie right? Was he pushing for Richie's sake or for his own peace of mind? After all he couldn't protect him now because Richie was part of the Game, he had been for a few years but Duncan felt he had to make sure Richie could face whoever who came to challenge him..and they would come.
As Duncan wiped the fine rain from his face it reminded him of a time long ago, when he stood on that mountainside, looking down at Glenfinnan, the place that he had once called home, a place where he was no longer welcome. It had been a fine rain falling that night as well. The kind that wasn't heavy but managed to sneak between the fibres of your clothes soaking through to your skin. Duncan shivered.
The involuntary movement of his body brought him back from that cold, wet and lonely mountain. As he stopped and looked around the street he couldn't see anything familiar. He had lost track of distance he had walked. When he turned to retrace his steps he caught sight of a young woman being chased by two men into an alley opposite. Duncan ran across the street dodging around the parked cars. The light from the street lamp glinted off an object in the second man's hand. As Duncan slid to a halt at the mouth of the alley he could just make out that the first man had caught hold of the woman. Although the alley was dimly lit he saw her land a well aimed blow to her attacker. 'Good moves' he thought as he then turned his attention to the second youth. He knew that she didn't stand a chance if he reached her. Duncan shouted, "HEY, YOU!" and to his relief the man stopped and spun round to face him. It was then that he could see that it was a gun in the young man's hand.
"Back off man, this isn't your business" the youth snarled.
"I just made it my business." Duncan said starting to walk towards the youth.
The shouting made the first man turn towards the voices. The young woman took advantage of this distraction to land a kick to his head. Duncan moved closer to the youth with the gun, who waved it at Duncan. "D..Don 't come any closer or I'll shoot" the youth's voice was unsteady betraying his fear. From further down the alley came the sound of crashing metal which made the youth turn his attention away from Duncan, spinning towards the sound. Duncan took advantage of this distraction to move closer, but before he could reach the youth, he turned back. Duncan could see the fear in his eyes as he went to grab the gun. Suddenly, the gun discharged, the bullet striking Duncan squarely in the chest, knocking him off his feet. The youth stared at Duncan as he lay on the ground in front of him. His eyes wide with fear, the gun fell from his hand, and he swallowed hard. When he glanced back down the alley and saw that his partner was on the ground, he took off running.
The young woman rushed over to where Duncan had fallen and knelt down beside him, "H..Hang on, I'll go and get help." As Duncan looked up into her eyes he could see panic and concern in them. He rubbed his hand over his face..he wasn't sure but he felt a something as he looked into her eyes, something he had experienced several years earlier. As she went to stand, he grabbed her arm. "No, it's OK, its only a scratch," Duncan lied but he couldn't risk her calling an ambulance. Immortals and hospitals didn't really mix. He pulled his coat around him to try and hide the blood that was seeping through his clothes.
"My car is just at the other end of the alley, we really should get you checked over," she said standing up, holding out her hand to help Duncan to his feet.
"No, I'm OK, but I would be grateful if you could give me a ride home" he tried not to let the pain show in his voice. Duncan had been shot enough times in his 400 years to realize that this wound would take a while to heal and all the time he was losing blood. He couldn't afford to lose consciousness. He had to get home.
Putting her arm around him as he stood up, she pulled his arm around her shoulder so that he could lean on her. "No problem. By the way, thank you. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come along. One unarmed man I might have been able to handle but if his friend had caught up I wouldn't be here now. My name is Dani, Dani Angel by the way".
"You better pick up the gun, we shouldn't leave it lying around" Duncan said pointing to where the man had dropped the gun. Duncan leaned against the wall while Dani picked it up.
"Can you tell me the name of my Knight or are you the shy type?" Dani asked as she helped Duncan down the alley towards her car.
"I'm Duncan MacLeod".
"You don't know how glad I am to meet you, Duncan McLeod" she replied.
Duncan stopped suddenly as he felt the presence of another Immortal. When he looked around the dimly lit alley, there framed by the light from the street was a figure in a long cloak which was moving slightly with the breeze, making the blood red lining visible. The figure lifted one side of the cloak away draping it over one shoulder revealing, a sword, which glinted in the light. Something about this figure seemed familiar to Duncan: the cloak and the elaborate hilt on the Rapier he was holding. But, in the dim light but he couldn't quite make out the face.
"What the hell is that?" the panic in Dani's voice made Duncan look back to her. Her eyes were wide open and he could see the terror within them. The figure started to walk towards them. "I think we should get out of here" Duncan told her, knowing that he was in no condition to face a challenge, especially with a mortal around. It was then that he realized that there had been no challenge issued. Maybe this Immortal didn't want to fight.
Then the other Immortal spoke "Release her and be on your way" he seemed to be looking at Dani. Duncan turned to her and whispered, "Do you know this guy?"
"I've never seen him before" Dani couldn't believe what she was seeing "He looks like something out of an old horror movie" Dani laughed but Duncan could tell she was trying to control the fear in her voice. "Louisa, come to me my love" The cloaked Immortal moved into their path with his free hand outstretched towards Dani.
"This is turning into a really bad night," she said quietly under her breath. Then she shouted "Look I don't know who you are and I'm not Louisa. I've got a gun so just back off!" Unaffected, the Immortal kept advancing. Dani rested Duncan against a bin. Shakily she raised the gun, fired two shots. The figure crumpled to the ground. "We will be together Louisa, it's your destiny" he said before he fell face down. Dani stood rooted to the spot just staring at the body of the fallen man.
Duncan knew that they both needed to get out of the alley, now. The sound of the gun shots would bring others and the Immortal wouldn't stay dead for long. "DANI MOVE!" Duncan shouting jolted Dani back to the present. They stumbled down the alley past the body.
Dani managed to open the car door and helped Duncan into the passenger seat. "I really think that I should take you to the hospital, you don't look too good" Dani said getting into the car and putting it into gear. Duncan rested his head back against the headrest. "No, trust me. I really don't need to go to the hospital" he told her before he gave her the directions.
She pulled the car up outside the rear of the Dojo. Duncan opened the door as soon as the car came to a halt, wanting to get inside before she could see how bad off he was, but as he started to get out he felt light headed and stumbled. Dani leaped out and ran round to Duncan who was holding onto the door to steady himself.
"You look awful, you need to see a doctor. Let me take you to one." she pleaded.
"No, just help me get inside." Duncan replied pulling his coat tighter around him.
Dani put her arm around him and helped him up the steps to the loft.
The sound of applause erupted around Duncan; the sudden noise seemed to take him by surprise. He wiped his hand over his face trying to stop the images that were crowding into his mind. Slowly he became aware of his surrounding, there were people around him standing up, he looked at his watch over an hour had pasted since the interval 'more of the present lost to the past' he thought.
Painful images from his past had been haunting him for weeks; the most vivid images were of the night he had held Tessa for the final time and watch her life drain away, knowing there was nothing he could do to prevent it. His chest began to tighten as the images of that night became clear in his mind again; he shook his head trying to shake the image away. He had hoped that the play would have been a distraction from the images but they had found him. He was alone because he couldn't find anyone willing to spend time with him, he couldn't blame any of them, he hadn't been exactly good company this past few weeks, either keeping himself shut away, refusing to see anyone, or when someone tried to talk to him he had been surly and unresponsive.
Duncan looked around. The only other people left in the theatre were the cleaners. Again time had seemed to stand still for him. He stood up and put his coat over his arm he walked slowly out of the theatre, down the stairs to the foyer. There were still people milling around waiting for cabs. As he walked past the waiting people putting on his coat, he looked up at the sky, which held dark clouds. A fine rain began falling on his face. He knew that it would be a long wait for a cab so he decided to walk home as it wasn't far and the rain was only light. The fresh air might help him clear his head.
He turned his collar up against the rain and put his hands into his pockets as he slowly walked down the nearly empty streets. As he walked his thoughts turned to Richie and the heated argument they had that morning. Was Richie right? Was he pushing for Richie's sake or for his own peace of mind? After all he couldn't protect him now because Richie was part of the Game, he had been for a few years but Duncan felt he had to make sure Richie could face whoever who came to challenge him..and they would come.
As Duncan wiped the fine rain from his face it reminded him of a time long ago, when he stood on that mountainside, looking down at Glenfinnan, the place that he had once called home, a place where he was no longer welcome. It had been a fine rain falling that night as well. The kind that wasn't heavy but managed to sneak between the fibres of your clothes soaking through to your skin. Duncan shivered.
The involuntary movement of his body brought him back from that cold, wet and lonely mountain. As he stopped and looked around the street he couldn't see anything familiar. He had lost track of distance he had walked. When he turned to retrace his steps he caught sight of a young woman being chased by two men into an alley opposite. Duncan ran across the street dodging around the parked cars. The light from the street lamp glinted off an object in the second man's hand. As Duncan slid to a halt at the mouth of the alley he could just make out that the first man had caught hold of the woman. Although the alley was dimly lit he saw her land a well aimed blow to her attacker. 'Good moves' he thought as he then turned his attention to the second youth. He knew that she didn't stand a chance if he reached her. Duncan shouted, "HEY, YOU!" and to his relief the man stopped and spun round to face him. It was then that he could see that it was a gun in the young man's hand.
"Back off man, this isn't your business" the youth snarled.
"I just made it my business." Duncan said starting to walk towards the youth.
The shouting made the first man turn towards the voices. The young woman took advantage of this distraction to land a kick to his head. Duncan moved closer to the youth with the gun, who waved it at Duncan. "D..Don 't come any closer or I'll shoot" the youth's voice was unsteady betraying his fear. From further down the alley came the sound of crashing metal which made the youth turn his attention away from Duncan, spinning towards the sound. Duncan took advantage of this distraction to move closer, but before he could reach the youth, he turned back. Duncan could see the fear in his eyes as he went to grab the gun. Suddenly, the gun discharged, the bullet striking Duncan squarely in the chest, knocking him off his feet. The youth stared at Duncan as he lay on the ground in front of him. His eyes wide with fear, the gun fell from his hand, and he swallowed hard. When he glanced back down the alley and saw that his partner was on the ground, he took off running.
The young woman rushed over to where Duncan had fallen and knelt down beside him, "H..Hang on, I'll go and get help." As Duncan looked up into her eyes he could see panic and concern in them. He rubbed his hand over his face..he wasn't sure but he felt a something as he looked into her eyes, something he had experienced several years earlier. As she went to stand, he grabbed her arm. "No, it's OK, its only a scratch," Duncan lied but he couldn't risk her calling an ambulance. Immortals and hospitals didn't really mix. He pulled his coat around him to try and hide the blood that was seeping through his clothes.
"My car is just at the other end of the alley, we really should get you checked over," she said standing up, holding out her hand to help Duncan to his feet.
"No, I'm OK, but I would be grateful if you could give me a ride home" he tried not to let the pain show in his voice. Duncan had been shot enough times in his 400 years to realize that this wound would take a while to heal and all the time he was losing blood. He couldn't afford to lose consciousness. He had to get home.
Putting her arm around him as he stood up, she pulled his arm around her shoulder so that he could lean on her. "No problem. By the way, thank you. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come along. One unarmed man I might have been able to handle but if his friend had caught up I wouldn't be here now. My name is Dani, Dani Angel by the way".
"You better pick up the gun, we shouldn't leave it lying around" Duncan said pointing to where the man had dropped the gun. Duncan leaned against the wall while Dani picked it up.
"Can you tell me the name of my Knight or are you the shy type?" Dani asked as she helped Duncan down the alley towards her car.
"I'm Duncan MacLeod".
"You don't know how glad I am to meet you, Duncan McLeod" she replied.
Duncan stopped suddenly as he felt the presence of another Immortal. When he looked around the dimly lit alley, there framed by the light from the street was a figure in a long cloak which was moving slightly with the breeze, making the blood red lining visible. The figure lifted one side of the cloak away draping it over one shoulder revealing, a sword, which glinted in the light. Something about this figure seemed familiar to Duncan: the cloak and the elaborate hilt on the Rapier he was holding. But, in the dim light but he couldn't quite make out the face.
"What the hell is that?" the panic in Dani's voice made Duncan look back to her. Her eyes were wide open and he could see the terror within them. The figure started to walk towards them. "I think we should get out of here" Duncan told her, knowing that he was in no condition to face a challenge, especially with a mortal around. It was then that he realized that there had been no challenge issued. Maybe this Immortal didn't want to fight.
Then the other Immortal spoke "Release her and be on your way" he seemed to be looking at Dani. Duncan turned to her and whispered, "Do you know this guy?"
"I've never seen him before" Dani couldn't believe what she was seeing "He looks like something out of an old horror movie" Dani laughed but Duncan could tell she was trying to control the fear in her voice. "Louisa, come to me my love" The cloaked Immortal moved into their path with his free hand outstretched towards Dani.
"This is turning into a really bad night," she said quietly under her breath. Then she shouted "Look I don't know who you are and I'm not Louisa. I've got a gun so just back off!" Unaffected, the Immortal kept advancing. Dani rested Duncan against a bin. Shakily she raised the gun, fired two shots. The figure crumpled to the ground. "We will be together Louisa, it's your destiny" he said before he fell face down. Dani stood rooted to the spot just staring at the body of the fallen man.
Duncan knew that they both needed to get out of the alley, now. The sound of the gun shots would bring others and the Immortal wouldn't stay dead for long. "DANI MOVE!" Duncan shouting jolted Dani back to the present. They stumbled down the alley past the body.
Dani managed to open the car door and helped Duncan into the passenger seat. "I really think that I should take you to the hospital, you don't look too good" Dani said getting into the car and putting it into gear. Duncan rested his head back against the headrest. "No, trust me. I really don't need to go to the hospital" he told her before he gave her the directions.
She pulled the car up outside the rear of the Dojo. Duncan opened the door as soon as the car came to a halt, wanting to get inside before she could see how bad off he was, but as he started to get out he felt light headed and stumbled. Dani leaped out and ran round to Duncan who was holding onto the door to steady himself.
"You look awful, you need to see a doctor. Let me take you to one." she pleaded.
"No, just help me get inside." Duncan replied pulling his coat tighter around him.
Dani put her arm around him and helped him up the steps to the loft.