Chapter 24
Ste. Genevieve
Duncan MacLeod gave Alisaunne de Pres a brief smile and a wink as he turned off the ignition. The girl still looked absolutely terrified, as she watched his every move. At least she seemed to have calmed down some. They'd driven yesterday evening and through the night.
Duncan had called Methos once they'd left Paris behind and had been given directions and some names. Once Alisaunne had re-gained consciousness... he'd concentrated on easing her mind.
"But the sword?" The girl could not seem to move beyond his having a sword.
Duncan had shrugged, "I'm an antique dealer... or I was... I heard someone come on to the barge and just grabbed the first thing at hand." He'd smiled... but the suspicion in the girl's eyes had continued.
"So where are we going?"
"My friend thinks you may be in danger since you saw the attacker... he thought it best to I get you away to safety."
"Why not the police?"
Duncan had sighed... "What is it about kids and their questions?" he thought. Aloud he commented, "My friend will talk to them I'm sure... Meanwhile..." They'd stopped soon after for food and gas. Alisaunne had remained at the car while he went inside. On the small television above the counter was information about the killings at the school. Duncan was glad she'd remained outside. He really didn't want to be the one to have to tell her the entire story. Swiftly he'd bought sandwiches and cold drinks, taken them out to her and driven off.
Now... looking at the small and relatively open "convent" Methos had mentioned... Duncan wondered if this were a good idea. Still... he needed to leave her behind somewhere relatively safe so he could return to Paris and take care of this unknown immortal who had so openly exposed their game to the mortal world.
"Wait here," Duncan said as he exited the car. Already he could sense the presence of numerous immortals.
He waited patiently while a boy... immortal and about seventeen... with a shock of white hair above suspicious cornflower blue eyes approached.
"I'm Duncan MacLeod... I was told to ask for Sister Marie-France."
The boy looked over Duncan's shoulder towards the car. "We don't allow them here." His voice betrayed a lilting Welsh accent.
Duncan waited... there was no sense saying anything more until he'd met with Marie-France. Methos had told him to explain things only to her.
The boy eyed Duncan up and down with great suspicion. Finally, almost reluctantly he offered, "Marie-France is not here."
Letting out a long breath... Duncan looked around. He could see several nuns... all mortal watching him... and not far away... a group of five immortal children... all physically younger than this boy. "Is there someone older I might speak with?"
The boy grinned. "Well... there's older and then there's older. If you mean an adult one of us... " The boy turned and whistled sharply, then called out to one of the sisters to fetch someone. The nun nodded with a wave and headed into the main building, emerging a few moments later with an elderly nun, who used a cane as she moved slowly across the courtyard.
Behind him, Duncan heard a car door open and knew Alisaunne had grown impatient with the waiting. She slammed the door and came around to stand beside him.
The boy stared for a moment and then grinned at her, "Hi... I'm Ian Daffyd." For the first time since she'd appeared at the barge... Alisaunne smiled. The boy held out his hand, "Come I'll introduce you while your friend talks to Sister Luke." He shot Duncan a knowing glance as he led the girl away.
Duncan watched them go. As she met the children... Alisaunne was surrounded by them. A small child immortal who couldn't have been more than three or four physically seemed to especially entrance the teen-ager. She crouched down beside the child to comment on the large stuffed rabbit the girl clutched.
"It is forbidden to take ones like her in... the ones who have not yet died the first time. She cannot stay here. Her kind always bring the others... the ones who hunt."
Duncan focused his attention on the elderly woman. Even beneath the wimple she wore, Duncan could tell her hair was white. How old had she been when she'd died? "I have no choice Sister. Please..."
"Around here they call me Sister Luke... " she interrupted. "I was Lucia Cortez before my death some thirty years ago." The elderly woman smiled with a slight chuckle. "A friend brought me here as my survival in the world was seriously in doubt." She studied Duncan's reaction, then asked, "Now then... who are you... and more importantly... how did you find this place?" Her Spanish-accented French sounded almost musical.
"The doctor sent me," said Duncan using the phrase Methos had given him.
"I've used many names MacLeod... but most will recognize the term 'the doctor.' That's the best one to use. No one there knows who I am. No one!"
Sister Luke's eyes widened. "Ahh... the doctor..." She glanced at Alisaunne. "He feels she must be here then?" She motioned for him to accompany her in a walk about the nearby garden. "The doctor is one of those who set the rules for this place long ago. He and Marie-France, who is normally in charge here, are old friends. For him to break those rules... something must be up. Walk with me."
As they did so... Duncan briefly explained what had happened in Paris. He refrained from mentioning how he and Methos had come to know the girl... nor anything about Darius' connection with her... that seemed for the best... at least until he knew more.
Luke nodded. "Still... you must understand... This place is a refuge only for us and only from our own kind. The girl might not be safe here. Besides... you know it is not wise for her kind to know too much about us. If she is here... she may well see and notice things she should have no knowledge of."
Duncan nodded both his understanding and his agreement with her words. It would be better if Alisaunne did not learn too much about the immortal world. Yet where else could he leave her in safety? An immortal needed to watch over her in case the killer in Paris was still searching for her. "So where is this Marie-France I was supposed to talk to."
"An errand. Obviously she should have been back by now. I am relatively young for an immortal... Even the children are older than I am. And most are far more capable than I will ever be of protecting themselves."
"Who's the eldest one here?"
"You mean the eldest immortal?"
Duncan nodded.
"Well... he's not really capable of being in charge around here... but... if it will set your mind at ease... perhaps you should meet him."
Sister Luke led Duncan further into the garden among some trees. Duncan could feel someone there... someone old... someone powerful. The Highlander chuckled slightly when he saw the great bear-man he knew as Ursa. "So here you are Ursa... I wondered where you'd vanished to."
The huge man with the mind of a child looked at Duncan with a beatific smile and held up a handful of flowers he was gathering. "Mac... Leod..." he said in recognition. Then he slowly moved to another spot to gather more. Duncan could hear Ursa humming as he worked.
"He was brought here about ten years ago... In some ways... he is our protector... as we are his."
"He was in a monastery last I saw him."
"Yes... I think both the doctor and Brother Darius thought he might serve a greater purpose here with us." Sister Luke hid her hands within her habit. "We are the lost ones Senor MacLeod... the ones who cannot exist in the outer world without assistance. We are here on holy ground... not so much to cower... but to have a chance to live."
Duncan nodded. "I really do need to leave the girl here for a while. Either the doctor or I will come for her soon."
The sound of children's laughter behind them caused them both to turn. Alisaunne had entered into some game with the children.
Sister Luke chuckled, "Personally, I do not think her remaining here for long is a very good idea. But it seems I may be outvoted. I think Ian and the other children have already made her welcome. At present... Ian is the oldest of the little ones."
"At present?"
"Others come and go... They want to see the world. They want to explore. They want to enter the game. Most... never return to us." Sister Luke gazed sadly off into the distance, obviously thinking of children who were lost forever. "We know we are all likely doomed. If there can be only one... we know it will not be any of us. All we can do... is make the most of the lives we have."
"That's all any of us can do Sister... any of us," agreed Duncan soberly. He smiled slightly at Ursa who was once more gathering wildflowers. Duncan would have a talk with him. If anyone could protect the girl... Ursa could... even if he had no clear idea why. That way, Duncan would be free to return to Paris. With Methos' help... the two of them should be able to find this immortal and deal with him.
