Chapter 21
The sound of Dani waking brought Duncan to his feet; he went over to the bed just as she opened her eyes. "Good morning.did you sleep all right?" Duncan smiled at her.
"You look awful!" Dani said sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Thanks.Coffee?"
Dani reached for the robe Duncan had left on the bed, she slipped it on as she got up from the bed. "Duncan, I need you to be honest with me.how will all this effect my life?"
Duncan took her hands in his, smiling weakly at her as he sat on the edge of the bed Dani sat down beside him. Duncan looked into her eyes "I'm afraid everything has changed.I had hoped that you wouldn't have to face this" Dani reached out and caressed his face "you did everything you could to protect me from Cristo.but you couldn't have known this would happen.could you?" Duncan dropped his eyes "I had an idea.you see Immortals not only can sense each other.but some can sense those with the potential of becoming Immortal."
"So if it's only a potential how do they become Immortal?" Dani asked
"Immortality is triggered by the shock of a violent death."
Dani pulled away from him and walked over to the window looking out on deserted street below "Why, didn't you tell me?.Warn me?" Duncan went over to her placing his hands on her shoulders "I didn't tell you because.well because.I hoped that this would never happen.If Cristo hadn't stabbed you.you may never have become Immortal.Your life would have been unchanged.I didn't want to rob you of that chance.But now.I have to tell you everything". Dani turned to him "Duncan, I'm scared.What will all this mean?" Duncan put his arms around her and kissed her hair "I will explain everything.but there's no rush.we have plenty of time" he said stroking her face "Everything's going to be alright".
Dani put her hands up to his face and let her fingers run through his hair gently she pulled his head down until his lips met hers. They kissed lightly at first but soon passion overtook them. Duncan swept Dani off her feet and cradled in his arms they kissed again as Duncan carried her to the bed. For the next few hours there was no Game or outside world just them.
The sun was high in the sky and its warm rays were streaming through the window when they finally lay exhausted in each other's arms. Dani thought how different Duncan had seemed last night when he fought Cristo, he had seemed cold and remote nothing like the man she had just made love to, whose touch was so tender and full of love.
Duncan turned towards her and kissed her "We had better get some breakfast" he said sitting up. Dani reached for her robe she walked over to the bathroom without saying anything after she had gone in Duncan went towards the kitchen. The bathroom door opened and Dani popped her head out "Croissants? Well they can't harm me now, can they?"
Duncan smiled at her "OK.croissants it is" with that Dani closed the door. Duncan dressed and put a fresh pot of coffee on. Then he went out to get some fresh croissants. She had amazed him again seeming to handle the situation calmly; there was a little hostility, a little fear but she seemed to have an inner serenity.
While they ate breakfast Duncan explained how the Game worked to Dani, the rules about Holy ground, only one Immortal can challenge another, the Quickening and the most important rule of the Game 'There can be only one'. Dani listened and when he had finished speaking she asked "Did I break the rules yesterday by interfering?"
Duncan put his cup down "No, Cristo was breaking the rules by using mortals to weaken an opponent.you and Adam just even the playing field and if you hadn't I could've lost my head."
Dani stood up and started clearing away the plates "I was thinking about dropping by the hospital.to make sure that Maria is OK" Duncan walked over to her "You know that at some point you have to let go.your life's change.Maria will have to find her own path"
Dani looked up at him "I can't just drop out of her life, Duncan.she's my friend.and who I am put her in the hospital"
Dani could see the alarm on Duncan's face "It's OK I'm not going to tell anyone about any of this.but I do owe her some kind of explanation.I can't just disappear"
Duncan lent against the counter "Dani, you have to make a clean break at some point.they'll notice that you aren't ageing.how are you going to explain that?.Or if you cut yourself that the wound just disappears?" Dani crossed the room and stood in front of Duncan, she put her arms around his neck and looked up at him "I'll think of something.I can't just walk out on her, Duncan"
"OK, I'll come with you"
"No, Duncan.I want to do this alone."
Duncan pulled her closer to him leant forward and kissed her "OK, but be careful there are others out there just waiting to take your head.If you sense anyone.go to a public place and call me.We'll start your training when you get back."
Dani smiled at him "I better be going" just then the elevator groaned into life and Dani's head began to buzz, she clasped her head with her hands "What is that?" Duncan gently took her hands away "Its OK you'll have that sensation every time an Immortal comes within range.it's how we know when another one of us is around" the gate on the elevator lifted and Richie stepped out "Everything OK, Mac?"
"Everything is fine Rich.Dani was a little startled by your arrival"
"So are all your friends Immortal?"
"No, Adam and Richie are but Joe's isn't" Dani pulled away "Well that explains a lot" she went to get her coat "I won't be long" as she went towards the door Duncan called after her "If you sense anyone..." Dani raised her eyebrows and finished what he was about to say "I know go to a public place and call you" and with that she left.
Richie poured himself a coffee and lifted the pot towards Duncan who shook his head. "She seems to be handling all this rather well" Richie walked over to the sofa and sat on the arm, he could see the worry in Duncan's eyes as he sat down in the chair "I think maybe a little too well" Duncan replied.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- City Hospital
Dani pushed open the door to Maria's hospital room, Maria was sat up in the bed with her eyes closed, Dani walked quietly over to the bed but the sound of the door closing woke Maria "Hi" said Dani as she sat in the chair next to the bed. "Dani.I've been so worried.are you OK?" Maria replied Dani took hold of her hand "I'm fine Maria.are you all right? Dani replied, she could see tears starting to form in Maria's eyes "That man.I thought.he was going to kill me" Dani stood up and put her arms around her "It's Ok.It's Ok.he's not going to hurt you ever again" Maria pulled back "But.But how do you know that?"
Dani looked down at the bed this wasn't going to be as easy as she had thought, "Trust me.he won't hurt anyone again" Dani sat back in the chair "So the police have caught him?" Maria's eyes seemed to be pleading for answers "No.they didn't...he's dead Maria.but you can't tell anyone what I've just told you.promise me Maria" Dani could see that Maria wanted to ask more, Dani put her head in her hands "Alright.I won't tell anyone.are you sure your OK?" Dani looked up and smiled weakly "Just a headache.I just can't seem to shift it" Maria gently rested her hand on Dani's head "Maybe you should get some rest.you don't look so good".
Dani stood up "You're the one in hospital.shouldn't that be my line? Your always trying to look after me Maria.I'm a big girl you know.It's good to see you looking better.I'll come by tomorrow and we can talk some more" they hugged each other and Dani left the hospital. She decided to take a walk through the park to try and clear her head.
The sound of Dani waking brought Duncan to his feet; he went over to the bed just as she opened her eyes. "Good morning.did you sleep all right?" Duncan smiled at her.
"You look awful!" Dani said sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Thanks.Coffee?"
Dani reached for the robe Duncan had left on the bed, she slipped it on as she got up from the bed. "Duncan, I need you to be honest with me.how will all this effect my life?"
Duncan took her hands in his, smiling weakly at her as he sat on the edge of the bed Dani sat down beside him. Duncan looked into her eyes "I'm afraid everything has changed.I had hoped that you wouldn't have to face this" Dani reached out and caressed his face "you did everything you could to protect me from Cristo.but you couldn't have known this would happen.could you?" Duncan dropped his eyes "I had an idea.you see Immortals not only can sense each other.but some can sense those with the potential of becoming Immortal."
"So if it's only a potential how do they become Immortal?" Dani asked
"Immortality is triggered by the shock of a violent death."
Dani pulled away from him and walked over to the window looking out on deserted street below "Why, didn't you tell me?.Warn me?" Duncan went over to her placing his hands on her shoulders "I didn't tell you because.well because.I hoped that this would never happen.If Cristo hadn't stabbed you.you may never have become Immortal.Your life would have been unchanged.I didn't want to rob you of that chance.But now.I have to tell you everything". Dani turned to him "Duncan, I'm scared.What will all this mean?" Duncan put his arms around her and kissed her hair "I will explain everything.but there's no rush.we have plenty of time" he said stroking her face "Everything's going to be alright".
Dani put her hands up to his face and let her fingers run through his hair gently she pulled his head down until his lips met hers. They kissed lightly at first but soon passion overtook them. Duncan swept Dani off her feet and cradled in his arms they kissed again as Duncan carried her to the bed. For the next few hours there was no Game or outside world just them.
The sun was high in the sky and its warm rays were streaming through the window when they finally lay exhausted in each other's arms. Dani thought how different Duncan had seemed last night when he fought Cristo, he had seemed cold and remote nothing like the man she had just made love to, whose touch was so tender and full of love.
Duncan turned towards her and kissed her "We had better get some breakfast" he said sitting up. Dani reached for her robe she walked over to the bathroom without saying anything after she had gone in Duncan went towards the kitchen. The bathroom door opened and Dani popped her head out "Croissants? Well they can't harm me now, can they?"
Duncan smiled at her "OK.croissants it is" with that Dani closed the door. Duncan dressed and put a fresh pot of coffee on. Then he went out to get some fresh croissants. She had amazed him again seeming to handle the situation calmly; there was a little hostility, a little fear but she seemed to have an inner serenity.
While they ate breakfast Duncan explained how the Game worked to Dani, the rules about Holy ground, only one Immortal can challenge another, the Quickening and the most important rule of the Game 'There can be only one'. Dani listened and when he had finished speaking she asked "Did I break the rules yesterday by interfering?"
Duncan put his cup down "No, Cristo was breaking the rules by using mortals to weaken an opponent.you and Adam just even the playing field and if you hadn't I could've lost my head."
Dani stood up and started clearing away the plates "I was thinking about dropping by the hospital.to make sure that Maria is OK" Duncan walked over to her "You know that at some point you have to let go.your life's change.Maria will have to find her own path"
Dani looked up at him "I can't just drop out of her life, Duncan.she's my friend.and who I am put her in the hospital"
Dani could see the alarm on Duncan's face "It's OK I'm not going to tell anyone about any of this.but I do owe her some kind of explanation.I can't just disappear"
Duncan lent against the counter "Dani, you have to make a clean break at some point.they'll notice that you aren't ageing.how are you going to explain that?.Or if you cut yourself that the wound just disappears?" Dani crossed the room and stood in front of Duncan, she put her arms around his neck and looked up at him "I'll think of something.I can't just walk out on her, Duncan"
"OK, I'll come with you"
"No, Duncan.I want to do this alone."
Duncan pulled her closer to him leant forward and kissed her "OK, but be careful there are others out there just waiting to take your head.If you sense anyone.go to a public place and call me.We'll start your training when you get back."
Dani smiled at him "I better be going" just then the elevator groaned into life and Dani's head began to buzz, she clasped her head with her hands "What is that?" Duncan gently took her hands away "Its OK you'll have that sensation every time an Immortal comes within range.it's how we know when another one of us is around" the gate on the elevator lifted and Richie stepped out "Everything OK, Mac?"
"Everything is fine Rich.Dani was a little startled by your arrival"
"So are all your friends Immortal?"
"No, Adam and Richie are but Joe's isn't" Dani pulled away "Well that explains a lot" she went to get her coat "I won't be long" as she went towards the door Duncan called after her "If you sense anyone..." Dani raised her eyebrows and finished what he was about to say "I know go to a public place and call you" and with that she left.
Richie poured himself a coffee and lifted the pot towards Duncan who shook his head. "She seems to be handling all this rather well" Richie walked over to the sofa and sat on the arm, he could see the worry in Duncan's eyes as he sat down in the chair "I think maybe a little too well" Duncan replied.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- City Hospital
Dani pushed open the door to Maria's hospital room, Maria was sat up in the bed with her eyes closed, Dani walked quietly over to the bed but the sound of the door closing woke Maria "Hi" said Dani as she sat in the chair next to the bed. "Dani.I've been so worried.are you OK?" Maria replied Dani took hold of her hand "I'm fine Maria.are you all right? Dani replied, she could see tears starting to form in Maria's eyes "That man.I thought.he was going to kill me" Dani stood up and put her arms around her "It's Ok.It's Ok.he's not going to hurt you ever again" Maria pulled back "But.But how do you know that?"
Dani looked down at the bed this wasn't going to be as easy as she had thought, "Trust me.he won't hurt anyone again" Dani sat back in the chair "So the police have caught him?" Maria's eyes seemed to be pleading for answers "No.they didn't...he's dead Maria.but you can't tell anyone what I've just told you.promise me Maria" Dani could see that Maria wanted to ask more, Dani put her head in her hands "Alright.I won't tell anyone.are you sure your OK?" Dani looked up and smiled weakly "Just a headache.I just can't seem to shift it" Maria gently rested her hand on Dani's head "Maybe you should get some rest.you don't look so good".
Dani stood up "You're the one in hospital.shouldn't that be my line? Your always trying to look after me Maria.I'm a big girl you know.It's good to see you looking better.I'll come by tomorrow and we can talk some more" they hugged each other and Dani left the hospital. She decided to take a walk through the park to try and clear her head.