CHAPTER 14
Beth sat up in the bed, her pulse racing … her body covered in perspiration … her eyes wide
with fright as she struggled to catch her breath.
Barkley stood with his front paws on the edge of the mattress, his eyes showing concern.
"Beth … are you all right?" came Esperanza's voice from the staircase.
Beth swallowed hard. "I'm fine … I'm sorry Esperanza … it was … just a nightmare."
Esperanza shook her head and began reciting a prayer under her breath as she waited a few
more seconds before going back to her room. She couldn't imagine the demons chasing her
young friend, but she knew they were aweful and appeared to be getting worse with each night's
appearance. She crossed herself and reached for her rosary as she climbed back into bed.
Something told her this was a foreboding of something sinister … something dangerous …
something on it's way. The older woman didn't sleep much the rest of the night … instead she
spent the time praying and worrying about what the future would hold for Beth … and her baby.
The next morning Methos and Duncan called Joe telling him they had information and would be
right over with the printouts of everything they could find on the immortal Beth had unwillingly
made an enemy.
"My God this is one sick son of a bitch." Joe remarked as he flipped through the pages. "On top
of taking more than his share of heads … he seems to have this thing about newlyweds and
lovers."
"That he does." Methos replied. "The Watcher's notes list incident after incident of his violence
against mortals … all of them sharing the same common thread … they were in love."
"I don't think I want to know what's in this guy's past that would make him this way. But it's
obviously some type of jealousy … or misplaced revenge for his own inadequacy." Duncan
added.
"Well he's not inadequate as far as the Game is concerned … did you see the list? In the past
800 years since he first appeared on the map he's accumulated quite a resume."
"That's not the half of it." Methos pulled a second report … this one with his real name …
Ashmadia. He followed by giving Joe the short version of his personal encounter with the
immortal the ancient people of Persia referred to as Aeshma-deva … the demon of waith.
"For a man who doesn't appear to practice any religion … you sure find your way into their holy
writ don't you Methos." Joe shook his head in near disbelief at the irony.
Methos didn't reply … he simply shrugged.
"I think I remember a few references to him … let me look." Joe pulled a few old books off the
shelf in his office and rummaged through them … referencing and cross-referencing. "Yeah …
here it is … in the Testament of Solomon … it's a little confusing because he's also known by the
name Asmodeus … It seems he appeared to Solomon and told him his kingdom would one day
be divided …"
"All kingdoms are eventually divided … or conquered … or just die off … nothing amazing there."
Methos commented dryly.
"Ok … well here he is again … " Joe pointed to the passage for Methos and Duncan to read
themselves.
It was the words of Asmodeus to Solomon. "My constellation is like an animal which reclines in
its den in heaven; some men call me the Great Bear, but others the Offspring of a Dragon.
Moreover, a smaller constellation accompanies my constellation, for the high position and throne
of my father is always in the sky. So do not ask me so many things, Solomon, for eventually your
kingdom will be divided. This glory of yours is temporary. You have us to torture for a little while;
then we shall disperse among human beings again with the result that we shall be worshiped as
gods because men do not know the names of the angels who rule over us." -TSol 5:4-5
"Looks like a reference to his immortality … veiled in the religious belief of the day that there were
demons walking the earth." Duncan commented.
"Some would call us that now … if they knew." Methos remarked off hand.
"And here's one more … " Joe flipped the pages. He tells Solomon who he is … or at least what
he is all about."
" Asmodeus is always hatching plots against newlyweds; I mar the beauty of virgins and cause
their hearts to grow cold" - TSol 5:7
"What's all this talk about marring virgins?" Richie's voice came from the door. He'd used his key
to let himself in.
The other three hardly acknowledged him as Duncan found one last passage … "He hates
water."
"Well that will be helpful to know … we'll just set Beth up on a ship somewhere and let her sail to
her heart's content … a floating pie shop." Methos replied sarcastically.
"Wait … what does this have to do with Beth? What is going on?" Richie insisted and the other's
finally recognized his presence.
"Beth is in trouble." Duncan began. "It was an immortal who killed her husband … and he's
sworn to do the same to her."
"So we just take his head." Richie replied. "End of story."
Methos groaned and sat down on the sofa covering his eyes as Duncan shook his head at his
student.
"It's not that simple Rich … Methos has tangled with him before …"
"And you let the bastard live? What did you do ... run?" Richie didn't think before he spoke and
before Joe or Duncan could stop things, Methos was on his feet and drawing his sword.
"Into the club … NOW." Methos insisted as a more than willing to oblige Richie drew his own
sword and strode into the open area.
"Methos stop this." Duncan ordered.
"Richie … apologize … " Joe plead with the young man. "Methos … you can't do this."
"Oh stop it." Methos spat back at them as he circled around the young man. "You're worse than
a couple of wet nurses. I'm not challenging him for his head … just proving a point."
"A challenge is fine by me old man …" Richie thrust himself forward, striking his blade against
the flat edge of Methos' sword.
Duncan pulled several of the tables out of the way … not liking what was happening … hoping he
could take Methos at his word not to hurt the boy.
For several minutes Methos simply defended his position against the various flurries of assaults
by the young immortal. "My compliments to your teacher." He remarked. "You've improved
since the last time I saw you."
"Well you're … a bit … rusty." Richie replied between breaths as he attacked again.
"Watch it Richie … don't let him get an in … he's toying with you … recognize it." Duncan
warned.
"Toying with me? Heck … he's doing good to keep up." Richie's over confidence was showing.
"It's almost monotonous the way he can't find a way to gain any advantage."
"Bored are we?" Methos eyes glinted, his mouth turning up in a smirk.
Joe and Duncan exchanged a worried glance. Richie had no idea …
"I can take it as long as you want to get in some practice." Richie shot back.
"I'll see what I can do to make it more interesting for you." Methos promised as he pivoted slightly
to throw Richie off balance and then tossed his sword over the young man's head … dipping
under the clumsy blow … and catching the sword in his other hand. In three quick moves,
Methos had succeeded in tripping Richie and making him fall to his knees and brought his sword
around with an air-splitting swipe … stopping a mere hair's breath away from the stunned
immortal's neck.
"Interesting enough for you?" Methos hissed as he leaned closer … his breath hitting Richie with
every word.
"Methos … that's enough." Duncan called out.
"Don't interfere with the lesson until it is learned." Methos demanded slowly and distinctly as he
pressed the edge of his blade slightly into the tender skin of his opponent's neck.
"Now listen … and listen carefully … because I don't intend to repeat myself." Methos eyes
locked with Richie's. "I've tolerated your impertinence as long as I intend to." He paused.
"At first I tolerated it because you were McCloud's student and you didn't know any better … and
then I tolerated it because I knew Joe had a soft spot for you … and his respect matters to me."
Methos drew a deep breath and Richie swallowed hard. "But lately you have been grinding
deeper and deeper on my nerves. You don't have to like me … you don't have to be overly polite
to me … but you will respect me." He pulled the blade back a little to give Richie room to breathe.
"And if you respect me … " his voice lowered to almost a gentle whisper. "I will return the
gesture in kind … You are no ordinary man Richie Ryan … you are an immortal … you have
been given a special gift … and a damnable burden … and it's past time you began to act
accordingly."
"I get the message." Richie replied in a flat tone after only a moment's hesitation.
"Do you?" Methos brought the blade back against his skin. Duncan started to move to interfere
but it was Joe who held him back.
"Every word you speak … every decision you make … every action you perform …
EVERYTHING has consequences." Methos drove his point home. "You need to use your brain
before you speak … before you decide … before you act."
Methos stepped back abruptly, releasing Richie who brought his hand to his neck, rubbing
uncomfortably.
"This situation is not about you … it's about a woman who has no idea what she's in for … a
woman you seem to care a great deal about." Methos watched as Richie stood and met his
gaze, his eyes showing his agreement with the last statement. "As fortune would have it, we've
been allowed a little preview of what Asher Devan wishes to do to her … and we have an
opportunity to stop it. But we will do it as a team … we will do what is best for her … and what
will hopefully conclude with all of our necks intact."
Duncan moved to stand between the two. "I think he gets the point."
"I get it …" Richie replied. "For her sake we will work together … and aside from that … I'll stay
out of your way."
Methos nodded.
Beth sat up in the bed, her pulse racing … her body covered in perspiration … her eyes wide
with fright as she struggled to catch her breath.
Barkley stood with his front paws on the edge of the mattress, his eyes showing concern.
"Beth … are you all right?" came Esperanza's voice from the staircase.
Beth swallowed hard. "I'm fine … I'm sorry Esperanza … it was … just a nightmare."
Esperanza shook her head and began reciting a prayer under her breath as she waited a few
more seconds before going back to her room. She couldn't imagine the demons chasing her
young friend, but she knew they were aweful and appeared to be getting worse with each night's
appearance. She crossed herself and reached for her rosary as she climbed back into bed.
Something told her this was a foreboding of something sinister … something dangerous …
something on it's way. The older woman didn't sleep much the rest of the night … instead she
spent the time praying and worrying about what the future would hold for Beth … and her baby.
The next morning Methos and Duncan called Joe telling him they had information and would be
right over with the printouts of everything they could find on the immortal Beth had unwillingly
made an enemy.
"My God this is one sick son of a bitch." Joe remarked as he flipped through the pages. "On top
of taking more than his share of heads … he seems to have this thing about newlyweds and
lovers."
"That he does." Methos replied. "The Watcher's notes list incident after incident of his violence
against mortals … all of them sharing the same common thread … they were in love."
"I don't think I want to know what's in this guy's past that would make him this way. But it's
obviously some type of jealousy … or misplaced revenge for his own inadequacy." Duncan
added.
"Well he's not inadequate as far as the Game is concerned … did you see the list? In the past
800 years since he first appeared on the map he's accumulated quite a resume."
"That's not the half of it." Methos pulled a second report … this one with his real name …
Ashmadia. He followed by giving Joe the short version of his personal encounter with the
immortal the ancient people of Persia referred to as Aeshma-deva … the demon of waith.
"For a man who doesn't appear to practice any religion … you sure find your way into their holy
writ don't you Methos." Joe shook his head in near disbelief at the irony.
Methos didn't reply … he simply shrugged.
"I think I remember a few references to him … let me look." Joe pulled a few old books off the
shelf in his office and rummaged through them … referencing and cross-referencing. "Yeah …
here it is … in the Testament of Solomon … it's a little confusing because he's also known by the
name Asmodeus … It seems he appeared to Solomon and told him his kingdom would one day
be divided …"
"All kingdoms are eventually divided … or conquered … or just die off … nothing amazing there."
Methos commented dryly.
"Ok … well here he is again … " Joe pointed to the passage for Methos and Duncan to read
themselves.
It was the words of Asmodeus to Solomon. "My constellation is like an animal which reclines in
its den in heaven; some men call me the Great Bear, but others the Offspring of a Dragon.
Moreover, a smaller constellation accompanies my constellation, for the high position and throne
of my father is always in the sky. So do not ask me so many things, Solomon, for eventually your
kingdom will be divided. This glory of yours is temporary. You have us to torture for a little while;
then we shall disperse among human beings again with the result that we shall be worshiped as
gods because men do not know the names of the angels who rule over us." -TSol 5:4-5
"Looks like a reference to his immortality … veiled in the religious belief of the day that there were
demons walking the earth." Duncan commented.
"Some would call us that now … if they knew." Methos remarked off hand.
"And here's one more … " Joe flipped the pages. He tells Solomon who he is … or at least what
he is all about."
" Asmodeus is always hatching plots against newlyweds; I mar the beauty of virgins and cause
their hearts to grow cold" - TSol 5:7
"What's all this talk about marring virgins?" Richie's voice came from the door. He'd used his key
to let himself in.
The other three hardly acknowledged him as Duncan found one last passage … "He hates
water."
"Well that will be helpful to know … we'll just set Beth up on a ship somewhere and let her sail to
her heart's content … a floating pie shop." Methos replied sarcastically.
"Wait … what does this have to do with Beth? What is going on?" Richie insisted and the other's
finally recognized his presence.
"Beth is in trouble." Duncan began. "It was an immortal who killed her husband … and he's
sworn to do the same to her."
"So we just take his head." Richie replied. "End of story."
Methos groaned and sat down on the sofa covering his eyes as Duncan shook his head at his
student.
"It's not that simple Rich … Methos has tangled with him before …"
"And you let the bastard live? What did you do ... run?" Richie didn't think before he spoke and
before Joe or Duncan could stop things, Methos was on his feet and drawing his sword.
"Into the club … NOW." Methos insisted as a more than willing to oblige Richie drew his own
sword and strode into the open area.
"Methos stop this." Duncan ordered.
"Richie … apologize … " Joe plead with the young man. "Methos … you can't do this."
"Oh stop it." Methos spat back at them as he circled around the young man. "You're worse than
a couple of wet nurses. I'm not challenging him for his head … just proving a point."
"A challenge is fine by me old man …" Richie thrust himself forward, striking his blade against
the flat edge of Methos' sword.
Duncan pulled several of the tables out of the way … not liking what was happening … hoping he
could take Methos at his word not to hurt the boy.
For several minutes Methos simply defended his position against the various flurries of assaults
by the young immortal. "My compliments to your teacher." He remarked. "You've improved
since the last time I saw you."
"Well you're … a bit … rusty." Richie replied between breaths as he attacked again.
"Watch it Richie … don't let him get an in … he's toying with you … recognize it." Duncan
warned.
"Toying with me? Heck … he's doing good to keep up." Richie's over confidence was showing.
"It's almost monotonous the way he can't find a way to gain any advantage."
"Bored are we?" Methos eyes glinted, his mouth turning up in a smirk.
Joe and Duncan exchanged a worried glance. Richie had no idea …
"I can take it as long as you want to get in some practice." Richie shot back.
"I'll see what I can do to make it more interesting for you." Methos promised as he pivoted slightly
to throw Richie off balance and then tossed his sword over the young man's head … dipping
under the clumsy blow … and catching the sword in his other hand. In three quick moves,
Methos had succeeded in tripping Richie and making him fall to his knees and brought his sword
around with an air-splitting swipe … stopping a mere hair's breath away from the stunned
immortal's neck.
"Interesting enough for you?" Methos hissed as he leaned closer … his breath hitting Richie with
every word.
"Methos … that's enough." Duncan called out.
"Don't interfere with the lesson until it is learned." Methos demanded slowly and distinctly as he
pressed the edge of his blade slightly into the tender skin of his opponent's neck.
"Now listen … and listen carefully … because I don't intend to repeat myself." Methos eyes
locked with Richie's. "I've tolerated your impertinence as long as I intend to." He paused.
"At first I tolerated it because you were McCloud's student and you didn't know any better … and
then I tolerated it because I knew Joe had a soft spot for you … and his respect matters to me."
Methos drew a deep breath and Richie swallowed hard. "But lately you have been grinding
deeper and deeper on my nerves. You don't have to like me … you don't have to be overly polite
to me … but you will respect me." He pulled the blade back a little to give Richie room to breathe.
"And if you respect me … " his voice lowered to almost a gentle whisper. "I will return the
gesture in kind … You are no ordinary man Richie Ryan … you are an immortal … you have
been given a special gift … and a damnable burden … and it's past time you began to act
accordingly."
"I get the message." Richie replied in a flat tone after only a moment's hesitation.
"Do you?" Methos brought the blade back against his skin. Duncan started to move to interfere
but it was Joe who held him back.
"Every word you speak … every decision you make … every action you perform …
EVERYTHING has consequences." Methos drove his point home. "You need to use your brain
before you speak … before you decide … before you act."
Methos stepped back abruptly, releasing Richie who brought his hand to his neck, rubbing
uncomfortably.
"This situation is not about you … it's about a woman who has no idea what she's in for … a
woman you seem to care a great deal about." Methos watched as Richie stood and met his
gaze, his eyes showing his agreement with the last statement. "As fortune would have it, we've
been allowed a little preview of what Asher Devan wishes to do to her … and we have an
opportunity to stop it. But we will do it as a team … we will do what is best for her … and what
will hopefully conclude with all of our necks intact."
Duncan moved to stand between the two. "I think he gets the point."
"I get it …" Richie replied. "For her sake we will work together … and aside from that … I'll stay
out of your way."
Methos nodded.