Chapter 11
"Are you ready?" Arthur asked.
"Yes."
"Let us go then."
Arthur got in his car and drove to Patricia's house. Antoinette followed behind without headlights. When Arthur pulled into her driveway, Antoinette continued straight and went around the block. When she came back to the house, she parked across the street. There, she sat and waited for what seemed like a lifetime. All she could do was think about what was about to happen. She anticipated it. The first thoughts that came to her mind were the worst. She knew Arthur. She could trust him. What she thought about was losing, after surviving all this time, all those centuries. What about all she's seen? Does she really want to go on? Would it be that bad to finally rest in peace? She soon became uncertain. Antoinette checked her watch; it had only been a ten minutes. "I cannot stand this waiting," she said to herself.
In Patricia's house, Patricia and Arthur were sitting down to a candlelight dinner. The table was oval shaped with a white tablecloth. It appeared as though Patricia had used the good china and silverware. The table was in front of a fireplace with a raging fire. On the mantle, there were various figurines and pictures of landscapes. A few feet over from the fireplace was the swinging door to the kitchen. The room was very open but it seemed so small because it was a combination of the both dining room and living room with a huge picture window directly across from the fireplace. On the floor was a beautiful, huge, blue and white oriental rug. There were boxes scattered throughout the house as if she was either moving or had just moved in. "I can't believe that you actually wanted food. I mean, I didn't think you ate mortal food," she said.
"Most of the time, I eat mortal food," he said. "Just because I'm centuries older does not mean that I have stuck to the ancients ways," he said very calmly although he was raging inside. Arthur couldn't wait for the dinner to be over so he could leave. He despised Patricia very much. Ordinarily, Arthur would not help some one kill one of his own kind, but he really disliked Patricia. He felt that she was a threat to all mankind and a bad example for all vampires. He hoped that Antoinette would succeed tonight.
Arthur's thoughts were suddenly interrupted, "Arthur, don't you like it?" Patricia asked.
"Yes, of course, I like it. You did a marvelous job," he responded. Even though the food tasted terrible and he had no desire to eat it, especially since he didn't recognize what was on the plate. "In fact, you did such a wonderful job, that I'm already full."
"But you've hardly touched you dinner," she insisted.
"No, I said I was full."
"Well then, how about dessert?" she said trying to keep Arthur there as long as she could. He only came down for dinner and she knew he wouldn't stay if she didn't stall.
"Well, what's for dessert?" he asked perturbed.
"Chocolate mousse."
"I'll have a little."
"But, I thought you were full?"
"Are you going to question everything I say?"
"I'm sorry," she said. Then she left the room taking dishes to the kitchen leaving her glass of red wine on the table. He rose from his seat and poured a poison into Patricia's glass. Not deadly poison, it would only weaken her, but it was enough. She would also be able to fight, he was just evening the odds. The poison, blood from a dead man. Arthur quickly sat down and returned the vial to his pocket as Patricia returned with the mousse. Arthur took his glass and proposed a toast to insure that Patricia drank it. Arthur finished his wine and looked at his watch; it wasn't much longer now. "What a relief," he thought to himself.
Meanwhile, Blair and Jim discovered Patricia's address and against Simon's orders, drove to her house. They also parked across the street in Jim's truck.
"Well Patricia," Arthur said, "I have to go. It was a great pleasure having dinner with you and I truly enjoyed it. Have a wonderful night," he said.
While Arthur ended his night, Antoinette began hers. She left her car about ten minutes before the hour was up. She walked to the back of the house and came in through the unlocked door. She took off her coat and drew her sword. It was made of the strongest iron. The handle of the sword was engraved with beautiful flowers and vines and it had deep red inlaid garnets. The sword glistened in the moonlight coming through the window.
"Well, Patricia," Arthur said while taking her hand to delicately kiss it, "I had a lovely time and it was a delicious dinner. I will see you soon. Thank you and good-bye," Arthur said as he headed for the front door. He walked to his car and looked in Antoinette's car and was pleased when he saw that it was empty.
"Wow, that was so wonderful. I actually feel faint!" Patricia said to herself.
"That's my clue," Antoinette said to herself. She walked through the kitchen door and into the dining room where Patricia was resting at the table. She took the tip of her sword and tapped Patricia on the shoulder. "Get your sword, and let's end this insanity here and now."
Patricia quickly turned around with a shocked look on her face.
"You can't be serious," Patricia said.
"Why not? I have followed all of the rules. We are not on holy ground; I have given you a chance to fight; and no mortals are around."
"Well, well, so you have."
While this conversation took place, Jim and Blair became suspicious. Jim used his senses to see in the house. They decided to approach it because Jim saw the moonlight reflected off of the swords.
"Come on Blair. Let's go!" Jim said.
"Why, what did you see?"
"I saw a sword. Come on!"
Jim and Blair came into the house in the same manner that Antoinette did. They peeked trough the cracked door to the dining room only to see Patricia rise to get her sword. Immediately they began to fight. The clanging of swords soon filled the room and was joined with occasional sparks. The two women struggled back and forth, good versus evil. They walked in circles like two boxers fighting, and then they attacked. All of a sudden, Jim saw blood drip to the floor. He realized that Patricia had been hit in the leg. "This is the end," he thought.
"Why don't you just give up, you know you can't beat me. I'm faster and stronger."
"Oh? Is that why you are bleeding profusely from the leg? Have a look." Then Antoinette hit Patricia in the side.
Patricia looked down at her beautiful oriental carpet only to see blood fall upon it, her blood. "Less talking and more fighting," Patricia said holding her now bleeding side.
"Why do you feel slighted? Do you think I have tricked you?" Antoinette said.
"Shut up and fight," Patricia yelled with a hint of agony in her voice.
"My darling, Patty, now, what is the matter?" she said antagonistically.
"Why do you persist? This is a battle of swords, not wits."
"Very well." The fight resumed, all the while, Jim and Blair were still in the kitchen.
"This is unbelievable, I never thought I'd see anything like this!" Blair said with excitement. Unfortunately for him, too much excitement. Antoinette heard him and recognized the voice. She headed toward the door and smacked Blair in the face with the butt of her sword. He was hit with so much force that he flew across the kitchen.
Then loudly Antoinette said, "I hope no one else is in that kitchen. I really do not want to do that again." She hoped Jim heard her and took Blair and left.
Then the clanging of the swords began again, only this time Patricia had only one hand. "This is strange. She still fights incredibly strong," she thought to herself. The battle continued. Suddenly, Patricia lifted her sword and tried to strike Antoinette with such great force you could hear a whistle as the sword broke through the air. Antoinette quickly lifted her hand and caught the blade of the sword. At that sight, Patricia pulled back; shocked that Antoinette deflected the blow with her bare hand.
"Looks like we've both been cut," Patricia said.
"It does not matter, my head is still attached," Antoinette said.
"So it is. Maybe I can fix that for you."
"I thought you did not want to talk?"
"It's a woman's prerogative to change her mind."
"So it seems."
Again, the battle continued. Sparks flew from the clanging swords, this fight continued intensely, but slowly. Patricia grew weaker. You could see that she was suffering through her eyes. Those eyes were filled with agony. She tried so terribly hard to continue but Antoinette knocked the sword from her hand and it flew across the room. Patricia fell to her knees and through those same eyes you saw sorrow. Sorrow because she knew this was the end. Then unexpectedly, the kitchen door opened and Jim stepped into the room.
"I can't let you do this. It's not right," Jim said as he came through the door.
Antoinette whipped her head around. "Leave us," she said. "I so hoped you would leave. I hoped you would not have had to see this. I am sorry now, I can no longer wait." Antoinette raised her sword, took a deep breath and said, "Good night, dark angel." Then with one quick blow it was over. Antoinette looked at Jim, "I had to." She said before he had a chance to say anything. She had never seen a man with eyes so wide before. "I suggest you leave now. Please," she pleaded.
"Why?"
"I don't want you to see what happens next."
"You killed her. What's worse, other than I have to arrest you?"
"If you do not, I will resist."
"I have a gun and you only have a sword."
"Are you challenging me?" Antoinette began to approach Jim when it began. The bright, white, smoke came from Patricia's body and lightning came from all around the room and entered Antoinette's body. Jim just stood there; he didn't know what to do. Antoinette dropped her sword. The look on her face was one of anguish. Her arms were spread out at her side and she slowly fell to her knees. Then Jim noticed that Antoinette was screaming, he must have zoned out. As suddenly as it all began, it ended and Antoinette fell face first onto that bloody, oriental carpet. Jim walked over to Antoinette and carefully rolled her over supporting her head. For the first time he realized that she was bleeding from her stomach, and not just her hand. He checked for a pulse, a breath, anything for a sign of life. Sadly, he found none. Blair came up behind Jim.
"What happened?" Blair said groggily holding his bleeding head.
"She's dead," Jim said. "I can't believe it. I thought she couldn't die."
"What should we do?"
"I have no idea," Jim said as he backed up against the wall. He sat with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Blair still stood, confused with a throbbing headache.
"What happened to me?"
"Antoinette knocked you out with the butt of her sword. You went flying across the kitchen. By the way, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I think so. Why don't we call Simon."
"Just give me a second. I've got to work all of this out in my head. I don't think I understand myself." Jim reached to pick up his cellular phone only to realize that it wasn't there. "I left the phone at the apartment."
"Just use one of her phones."
"No, fingerprints. Let's go to the truck and call this in."
Jim and Blair went on their way to the truck leaving the two lifeless bodies behind. Jim called in the address, asked for backup. Then, they waited. "Jim," Blair asked, "shouldn't we go back into the house?"
"No, I have to think."
"What do ya mean, you have to think?"
"I'm goin' to loose my job. No one is going to believe this story."
"You're going to lie!"
"Well, I'll just say that I found them that way."
"Jim!"
"Think about what you saw."
"Jim, it's still not right."
"Maybe you've forgotten. Come on, we're going back into the house."
Antoinette began to gasp for air. She glanced to her side and saw Patricia's lifeless expression on her face. Antoinette felt completely relieved. She saw Jim and Blair coming to the house through the picture window. Even though she was tired and all she wanted to do was sleep, she forced herself up, and grabbed both swords. She had to sneak out of the house. She knew Jim had already called for backup, so time was limited. Suddenly, Jim and Blair stopped and turned around, and were moving toward her car.
"I guess it is now or never." She headed toward the kitchen, quickly wiped the swords and put them in her overcoat. She used the house for support and looked around the corner. Jim and Blair were heading back to the house now. Kneeling down behind the tree, she waited until they were a step from the back door. Still using the house for support she headed to her car across the street. Half running, half walking, she opened the door, hopped in, and took off. As soon as she got home she lay down and went to sleep.
"Jim, I thought I told you not to come here," Simon said after he entered the house and saw the two men.
"She's gone!" Jim said.
"Who's gone?" Simon asked.
"She's gone! The swords are gone! They can't be! Dead bodies just don't get up and walk away!" Jim said, astounded.
"Who?" Simon asked again.
"Your friend, Antoinette."
"Blair, take Jim home and make sure he gets some rest and take care of that head. We'll talk about what happened tomorrow."
"Come on Jim let's go," Blair said. Jim and Blair left the house and went home.
"Are you ready?" Arthur asked.
"Yes."
"Let us go then."
Arthur got in his car and drove to Patricia's house. Antoinette followed behind without headlights. When Arthur pulled into her driveway, Antoinette continued straight and went around the block. When she came back to the house, she parked across the street. There, she sat and waited for what seemed like a lifetime. All she could do was think about what was about to happen. She anticipated it. The first thoughts that came to her mind were the worst. She knew Arthur. She could trust him. What she thought about was losing, after surviving all this time, all those centuries. What about all she's seen? Does she really want to go on? Would it be that bad to finally rest in peace? She soon became uncertain. Antoinette checked her watch; it had only been a ten minutes. "I cannot stand this waiting," she said to herself.
In Patricia's house, Patricia and Arthur were sitting down to a candlelight dinner. The table was oval shaped with a white tablecloth. It appeared as though Patricia had used the good china and silverware. The table was in front of a fireplace with a raging fire. On the mantle, there were various figurines and pictures of landscapes. A few feet over from the fireplace was the swinging door to the kitchen. The room was very open but it seemed so small because it was a combination of the both dining room and living room with a huge picture window directly across from the fireplace. On the floor was a beautiful, huge, blue and white oriental rug. There were boxes scattered throughout the house as if she was either moving or had just moved in. "I can't believe that you actually wanted food. I mean, I didn't think you ate mortal food," she said.
"Most of the time, I eat mortal food," he said. "Just because I'm centuries older does not mean that I have stuck to the ancients ways," he said very calmly although he was raging inside. Arthur couldn't wait for the dinner to be over so he could leave. He despised Patricia very much. Ordinarily, Arthur would not help some one kill one of his own kind, but he really disliked Patricia. He felt that she was a threat to all mankind and a bad example for all vampires. He hoped that Antoinette would succeed tonight.
Arthur's thoughts were suddenly interrupted, "Arthur, don't you like it?" Patricia asked.
"Yes, of course, I like it. You did a marvelous job," he responded. Even though the food tasted terrible and he had no desire to eat it, especially since he didn't recognize what was on the plate. "In fact, you did such a wonderful job, that I'm already full."
"But you've hardly touched you dinner," she insisted.
"No, I said I was full."
"Well then, how about dessert?" she said trying to keep Arthur there as long as she could. He only came down for dinner and she knew he wouldn't stay if she didn't stall.
"Well, what's for dessert?" he asked perturbed.
"Chocolate mousse."
"I'll have a little."
"But, I thought you were full?"
"Are you going to question everything I say?"
"I'm sorry," she said. Then she left the room taking dishes to the kitchen leaving her glass of red wine on the table. He rose from his seat and poured a poison into Patricia's glass. Not deadly poison, it would only weaken her, but it was enough. She would also be able to fight, he was just evening the odds. The poison, blood from a dead man. Arthur quickly sat down and returned the vial to his pocket as Patricia returned with the mousse. Arthur took his glass and proposed a toast to insure that Patricia drank it. Arthur finished his wine and looked at his watch; it wasn't much longer now. "What a relief," he thought to himself.
Meanwhile, Blair and Jim discovered Patricia's address and against Simon's orders, drove to her house. They also parked across the street in Jim's truck.
"Well Patricia," Arthur said, "I have to go. It was a great pleasure having dinner with you and I truly enjoyed it. Have a wonderful night," he said.
While Arthur ended his night, Antoinette began hers. She left her car about ten minutes before the hour was up. She walked to the back of the house and came in through the unlocked door. She took off her coat and drew her sword. It was made of the strongest iron. The handle of the sword was engraved with beautiful flowers and vines and it had deep red inlaid garnets. The sword glistened in the moonlight coming through the window.
"Well, Patricia," Arthur said while taking her hand to delicately kiss it, "I had a lovely time and it was a delicious dinner. I will see you soon. Thank you and good-bye," Arthur said as he headed for the front door. He walked to his car and looked in Antoinette's car and was pleased when he saw that it was empty.
"Wow, that was so wonderful. I actually feel faint!" Patricia said to herself.
"That's my clue," Antoinette said to herself. She walked through the kitchen door and into the dining room where Patricia was resting at the table. She took the tip of her sword and tapped Patricia on the shoulder. "Get your sword, and let's end this insanity here and now."
Patricia quickly turned around with a shocked look on her face.
"You can't be serious," Patricia said.
"Why not? I have followed all of the rules. We are not on holy ground; I have given you a chance to fight; and no mortals are around."
"Well, well, so you have."
While this conversation took place, Jim and Blair became suspicious. Jim used his senses to see in the house. They decided to approach it because Jim saw the moonlight reflected off of the swords.
"Come on Blair. Let's go!" Jim said.
"Why, what did you see?"
"I saw a sword. Come on!"
Jim and Blair came into the house in the same manner that Antoinette did. They peeked trough the cracked door to the dining room only to see Patricia rise to get her sword. Immediately they began to fight. The clanging of swords soon filled the room and was joined with occasional sparks. The two women struggled back and forth, good versus evil. They walked in circles like two boxers fighting, and then they attacked. All of a sudden, Jim saw blood drip to the floor. He realized that Patricia had been hit in the leg. "This is the end," he thought.
"Why don't you just give up, you know you can't beat me. I'm faster and stronger."
"Oh? Is that why you are bleeding profusely from the leg? Have a look." Then Antoinette hit Patricia in the side.
Patricia looked down at her beautiful oriental carpet only to see blood fall upon it, her blood. "Less talking and more fighting," Patricia said holding her now bleeding side.
"Why do you feel slighted? Do you think I have tricked you?" Antoinette said.
"Shut up and fight," Patricia yelled with a hint of agony in her voice.
"My darling, Patty, now, what is the matter?" she said antagonistically.
"Why do you persist? This is a battle of swords, not wits."
"Very well." The fight resumed, all the while, Jim and Blair were still in the kitchen.
"This is unbelievable, I never thought I'd see anything like this!" Blair said with excitement. Unfortunately for him, too much excitement. Antoinette heard him and recognized the voice. She headed toward the door and smacked Blair in the face with the butt of her sword. He was hit with so much force that he flew across the kitchen.
Then loudly Antoinette said, "I hope no one else is in that kitchen. I really do not want to do that again." She hoped Jim heard her and took Blair and left.
Then the clanging of the swords began again, only this time Patricia had only one hand. "This is strange. She still fights incredibly strong," she thought to herself. The battle continued. Suddenly, Patricia lifted her sword and tried to strike Antoinette with such great force you could hear a whistle as the sword broke through the air. Antoinette quickly lifted her hand and caught the blade of the sword. At that sight, Patricia pulled back; shocked that Antoinette deflected the blow with her bare hand.
"Looks like we've both been cut," Patricia said.
"It does not matter, my head is still attached," Antoinette said.
"So it is. Maybe I can fix that for you."
"I thought you did not want to talk?"
"It's a woman's prerogative to change her mind."
"So it seems."
Again, the battle continued. Sparks flew from the clanging swords, this fight continued intensely, but slowly. Patricia grew weaker. You could see that she was suffering through her eyes. Those eyes were filled with agony. She tried so terribly hard to continue but Antoinette knocked the sword from her hand and it flew across the room. Patricia fell to her knees and through those same eyes you saw sorrow. Sorrow because she knew this was the end. Then unexpectedly, the kitchen door opened and Jim stepped into the room.
"I can't let you do this. It's not right," Jim said as he came through the door.
Antoinette whipped her head around. "Leave us," she said. "I so hoped you would leave. I hoped you would not have had to see this. I am sorry now, I can no longer wait." Antoinette raised her sword, took a deep breath and said, "Good night, dark angel." Then with one quick blow it was over. Antoinette looked at Jim, "I had to." She said before he had a chance to say anything. She had never seen a man with eyes so wide before. "I suggest you leave now. Please," she pleaded.
"Why?"
"I don't want you to see what happens next."
"You killed her. What's worse, other than I have to arrest you?"
"If you do not, I will resist."
"I have a gun and you only have a sword."
"Are you challenging me?" Antoinette began to approach Jim when it began. The bright, white, smoke came from Patricia's body and lightning came from all around the room and entered Antoinette's body. Jim just stood there; he didn't know what to do. Antoinette dropped her sword. The look on her face was one of anguish. Her arms were spread out at her side and she slowly fell to her knees. Then Jim noticed that Antoinette was screaming, he must have zoned out. As suddenly as it all began, it ended and Antoinette fell face first onto that bloody, oriental carpet. Jim walked over to Antoinette and carefully rolled her over supporting her head. For the first time he realized that she was bleeding from her stomach, and not just her hand. He checked for a pulse, a breath, anything for a sign of life. Sadly, he found none. Blair came up behind Jim.
"What happened?" Blair said groggily holding his bleeding head.
"She's dead," Jim said. "I can't believe it. I thought she couldn't die."
"What should we do?"
"I have no idea," Jim said as he backed up against the wall. He sat with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Blair still stood, confused with a throbbing headache.
"What happened to me?"
"Antoinette knocked you out with the butt of her sword. You went flying across the kitchen. By the way, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I think so. Why don't we call Simon."
"Just give me a second. I've got to work all of this out in my head. I don't think I understand myself." Jim reached to pick up his cellular phone only to realize that it wasn't there. "I left the phone at the apartment."
"Just use one of her phones."
"No, fingerprints. Let's go to the truck and call this in."
Jim and Blair went on their way to the truck leaving the two lifeless bodies behind. Jim called in the address, asked for backup. Then, they waited. "Jim," Blair asked, "shouldn't we go back into the house?"
"No, I have to think."
"What do ya mean, you have to think?"
"I'm goin' to loose my job. No one is going to believe this story."
"You're going to lie!"
"Well, I'll just say that I found them that way."
"Jim!"
"Think about what you saw."
"Jim, it's still not right."
"Maybe you've forgotten. Come on, we're going back into the house."
Antoinette began to gasp for air. She glanced to her side and saw Patricia's lifeless expression on her face. Antoinette felt completely relieved. She saw Jim and Blair coming to the house through the picture window. Even though she was tired and all she wanted to do was sleep, she forced herself up, and grabbed both swords. She had to sneak out of the house. She knew Jim had already called for backup, so time was limited. Suddenly, Jim and Blair stopped and turned around, and were moving toward her car.
"I guess it is now or never." She headed toward the kitchen, quickly wiped the swords and put them in her overcoat. She used the house for support and looked around the corner. Jim and Blair were heading back to the house now. Kneeling down behind the tree, she waited until they were a step from the back door. Still using the house for support she headed to her car across the street. Half running, half walking, she opened the door, hopped in, and took off. As soon as she got home she lay down and went to sleep.
"Jim, I thought I told you not to come here," Simon said after he entered the house and saw the two men.
"She's gone!" Jim said.
"Who's gone?" Simon asked.
"She's gone! The swords are gone! They can't be! Dead bodies just don't get up and walk away!" Jim said, astounded.
"Who?" Simon asked again.
"Your friend, Antoinette."
"Blair, take Jim home and make sure he gets some rest and take care of that head. We'll talk about what happened tomorrow."
"Come on Jim let's go," Blair said. Jim and Blair left the house and went home.