Legend of the Spectre
Amanda took Nick away to get fixed up while Methos and Dawson when back inside the church. Dawson was ready to tear Methos in half. "That took a lot of nerve," he said.
"I know," replied Methos. "Nick shouldn't have challenged her."
"Not that," Dawson yelled. "You lied to me to my face. That was unforgivable. How could you do such a thing?"
Methos turned to face Dawson, the expression on his face changed, all of the humor was gone. "How dare you presume so much?" he seethed. "My first duty is to myself, not you, not Nick Wolfe, and most certainly not to the Watchers. If I feel like protecting another Immortal and keeping one of her secrets, then I will. And you can't tell me otherwise."
"What secret?" Dawson asked. "What aren't you telling me?"
"Do I look grotesquely stupid to you, Dawson? If I tell you, the rest of the Watchers will get your body mailed to them, one piece at a time, and forever minus the head. I will tell you one thing though, and maybe you can pass it on to the rest of the Watchers. The Immortal you just met, yes that was Kiar Veriah. She makes Jacob Kell look weak and the Kurgen look like a pacifist. She is dangerous. More dangerous than any other Immortal in the Game. Now, get out of here because I've told you too much already. She's killed more Watchers than I can count for knowing far less than you know right now."
Dawson opened his mouth to say something, but Methos put his finger up. "Not a word. Whatever you have to say, Dawson, I don't want to hear. Just go."
Dawson stormed out and went to go and see how Nick and Amanda were doing. He found them at their hotel in their room. He knocked on the door. After a silent few seconds Amanda opened the door and let him in. Neither of them spoke for a few minutes. Amanda just tended to Nick. His physical wounds had healed by this time, but Amanda still had him loaded down with a few sleeping pills so that he could rest and recover.
"How is he?" Dawson asked.
"I'll have to take him to a dentist tomorrow to get the teeth he lost replaced, but other than that he is fine," replied Amanda.
"Amanda I need your help," said Dawson sitting down in a chair.
"With what?" Amanda asked.
"Methos is refusing to help me with Kiar Veriah," Dawson continued. "You sounded like you knew her. What can you tell me about her?"
Amanda looked thoughtful for a moment, like she was thinking about whether or not to help him. Finally she let out a big sigh and looked Dawson in the eye. "If I tell you what I know, you have to swear to me that you won't tell anyone," she said finally. "Even the other Watchers."
"You know I can't promise that," said Dawson.
"Then I can't help you," Amanda replied.
"You are as damn impossible as Methos," he said barely able to control his anger.
"That's not fair," Amanda whined.
"This is serious, Amanda. This woman has taken over a dozen heads, and killed as many Watchers in the span of two weeks. We thought our data on every Immortal was accurate and up-to-date, but since she kills Watchers too we know next to nothing about her. I need your help. Please?"
Amanda just let out a big sigh and avoided eye contact with Dawson. Finally, she lowered her head and closed her eyes. "I can't tell you anything outright," she said. "But I can answer questions."
"Fine," said Dawson. Amanda sat down and looked at him. "Let's start with something simple, how old is she really?"
"Over a thousand years older than me."
"Can you tell me her real head count?"
"What do your records say?"
"Over 1400 heads are linked to her. Does that sound accurate?"
"It does."
"What motivates her in the Game?"
"The Game itself. It's all she cares about."
"Could she win the Prize?"
"She will win the Prize."
"Is she really that good?"
"Better."
"Why are you and Methos so afraid to talk about her?"
"We want to keep our heads, and she is only in the Game when she wants to be."
"Can you elaborate?"
"Have you ever heard of the Legend of the Spectre?"
"That is only a Watcher fairytale," said Dawson.
"And people who are Immortal unless you cut their heads off are only a rumor," retorted Amanda. "Do you know the Legend?"
"Yes," replied Dawson. "It tells of an Immortal so skilled and so powerful that no other Immortal stood even remotely a chance of defeating him in battle. Because of his great skill he will decide when the Game will end. Realizing his greater skill, he left the Game of his own accord and hid far away, for if he didn't the Game would end too soon. Wait, you don't mean to tell me that you think she is the Spectre?"
"Oh, I know she is the Spectre," said Amanda.
"Well, then what is this too soon the legend speaks of?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me," Dawson said almost indignantly.
"She doesn't believe mankind is ready for the Prize. She's waiting for the Prize to really be needed. She has that 'Light our darkest hour' thinking where the Prize is concerned."
"You make her sound like one of the good guys, Amanda," said Dawson.
"Is it really so hard to believe that she wants the best for mankind?" Amanda asked.
"Then why is she like she is?" retorted Dawson. "Why does she treat newer Immortals like Nick the way she does, and why does she kill Watchers?"
"Most young Immortals don't know how powerful she really is. Most think that she is staying alive because she lives on holy ground. Therefore they think she's an easy head to take. Many of the heads she's taken are a result of young Immortals making that mistake. She doesn't like being thought of as a stepping stone, Dawson."
"But that doesn't explain why she kills Watchers," Dawson said.
"She believes that mortals have no business involving themselves in the Game. She accepts those mortals who have befriended Immortals and keep their secret, like Rachel did for Connor. However, she thinks that an organized group of mortals poking their noses in the Game is an insult. I mean, who are the Watchers that they can influence which Immortal gets the Prize?"
"We can't risk the power of the Prize falling into the wrong hands, Amanda. You know that."
"Well, I certainly have no problem with that, but she does. That's why she kills Watchers. She also doesn't want some voyeur recording her every move. She enjoys her privacy."
"I see her point," said Dawson. "I may not agree with it, but I understand it. One last thing?"
"Yes?"
"If she lets other Immortals come to her, then why is she on the rampage at the moment?"
"Once every few centuries she enjoys creating a buffer zone for herself by ridding the world of all the other Immortals who live near her temple," she said. "She also likes to use the excuse that she is cutting some of the 'deadweight'."
Suddenly Dawson's cell phone rang. Nick groaned. Dawson picked up the phone and walked into the bathroom. About a minute later he came out and looked at Amanda. "It would appear that our Spectre has struck again," he said. "Five Immortals, one town over, were found without their heads."
"Anyone I knew?" asked Amanda. Her carefree tone had returned.
"I doubt it, they were all young Immortal street punks who had banded together," he said. "It seems they picked a fight with the wrong older Immortal. I have to go."
"Ta-ta," Amanda said waving her fingers goodbye. "And Dawson, be careful. If she suspects that I told you anything, she'll kill you."
Dawson just smiled at her and closed the door without a word.
To be continued…
