Chapter 10

Matthew took off his coat, pulled out his own sword and looked down at Bainbridge. He thought about what Pierson had suggested. It would be so easy to take his head and end it all. Matthew shook himself out of his musings. He could not do something so dishonourable. Besides, Bainbridge deserved a much more painful death. When his opponent finally began to stir, Matthew threw down the other man's sword.

Bainbridge looked up. "Well, you are persistent. Why haven't you given up?"

"Family."

Bainbridge chuckled as he picked up the sword and slowly got to his feet. "You've been chasing me for over a century because of Lucille."

"Given the list of your victims, I'm surprised you even remembered her name."

Bainbridge smirked. "Well, you always remember your first."

When Duncan got back to the others, he found Dawn insisting to Richie that she was fine while Methos keeping a watchful eye on the prisoner in the mystical cage. They needed to sever the spirit's anchor by killing the host before they could truly vanquish the demon. The clang of metal hitting metal diverted his attention back to Matthew and Bainbridge. Carl Robinson was right, Duncan thought, McCormick is good with a sword.

Matthew parried a blow and hooked Bainbridge's blade. Unable to completely envelop it, he twisted the man's arm behind his back then gave him a shove. Bainbridge stumbled but regained his footing, parried Matthew's lunge and elbowed him in the face. Matthew retaliated by striking Bainbridge in the nose with the heavy pommel of his sword.

Bainbridge charged Matthew forcing him backwards and pinned him against a crate. Bainbridge pressed his sword against his opponent's, and the blades came dangerously close to Matthew's face. Matthew kneed Bainbridge in the groin. The pain caused Bainbridge to ease off, and Matthew followed up with a headbutt to the face. With blood now flowing freely from his nose, Bainbridge backed off allowing Matthew to escape.

They locked up again. Bainbridge parried a blow and went for an overhead strike. Matthew dodged it and sliced his opponent's stomach. Bainbridge pressed his free arm against the wound and slashed out with his sword. Matthew parried the blow with enough force to make his opponent spin. He sliced the man's back, and Bainbridge fell to his knees.

"For Julia," Matthew said.

Dawn watched along with the others as Matthew took Bainbridge's head. She shivered as a draft blew through the warehouse and saw a faint mist emerge from the body and envelop Matthew. The breeze grew stronger focusing on Matthew who became the center of a whirlwind. Lightning struck him repeatedly until he was forced to his knees.

As the quickening's wind began to die down, Dawn noticed one of the crystals shift. It was the slightest of movements, but it was enough. The demonic spirit started to seep out of its prison.

"Incoming!" Richie shouted as the ominous smoke loomed over them.

"Freosan!" Dawn said raising her hand causing the spirit to become immobilized. "Hurry! It won't last!"

Methos took a pouch out of his pocket and poured its contents into his hand. He blew the powder at the spirit and recited the incantation. "Retouren zuo helan!"

There was a low rumble as flashes of light began to burst within the spirit. Soon it was too bright to look at forcing them to shield their eyes. Suddenly, the spirit disappeared in an explosion of mystical energy.

TBC