Chapter 40

Paris

Listening to Liam Riley and Marie-France discuss immortality and religion was a big bore. All Valeraine wanted to do was to leave and see just how she could assist young Nick. He was so young and so innocent... she doubted he really knew what he was up against. Valeraine sat pouting in a chair in Liam's office and glared at the others.

"... and then of course there is the whole business of salvation," Liam was saying. "I believe it so for them... but sometimes I wonder if any of this really applies to us."

"There is atonement." Marie-France held a mug of hot tea between her hands and smiled at the young priest. "For all we have done as immortals... all the killing... all the mayhem... all that which we did thinking human law did not apply to us... For all that... there is atonement."

Liam leaned back in his chair to regard her carefully. "Now what could you have ever done to have to atone for?"

Marie-France smiled. "You'd be surprised." But she said nothing further.

Valeraine stamped her foot and stood to pace about the room. "Aren't either of you worried. That boy hasn't the first clue how to survive! Until we came along... he didn't even carry his sword!"

"Nick is more than capable, Val. He was a cop in the States. He knows investigative procedures... he has mortal contacts. We'd only be liabilities," Liam tried to reassure her.

"We are better off staying here... until he discovers something," Marie-France added softly. "But we are every bit as worried about him as you are. I would worry about any of us in the outer world."

All three looked up as they felt someone enter the old church. Valeraine ran to the door and flung it open despite Liam's warning.

There in the nave was a young woman... well, a young-looking woman... an immortal... well dressed. Valeraine felt Liam's hands on her small shoulders. "Amanda!" he called out. "What a surprise!"

Liam headed out to give the new arrival a brotherly hug. Valeraine sensed Marie-France behind her. "So that's Amanda," Valeraine whispered, and regarded the woman darkly.

***

Amanda had returned to her flat ready to just leave. She'd re-packed her bag, re-covered the furniture, locked the door and pocketed the key. She couldn't even fathom why she had come to Paris. After placing her bag in the boot of the Ferrari. She'd decided there was one person she needed to see. She needed to talk to Liam... maybe from his perspective she could discover the source of her malaise... her inability to think clearly or to act on the decisions she did make.

With her mind made up, she'd climbed into the car and was just turning on the ignition when she felt the unmistakable buzz of a nearby immortal. Glancing about... she saw no one. Was someone watching her? Someone with a long life-line? Amanda had shifted into drive as she decided that visiting Liam Riley now had a double reason... holy ground... at least until she knew who was hanging around.

Now standing in the twelfth century church and greeting her young friend she was startled by the presence of the other two women. "I'm sorry... am I interrupting something?" She laughed as if she had somehow made a faux pas.

"Don't be silly, Amanda. This is Marie-France and her young ward Val."

The little girl glared at her.

Amanda smiled indulgently. "Somehow I don't think young is quite the right word for you," she said to the girl immortal.

"I'm older than Marie-France." The blonde girl turned and walked quietly back into Liam's office.

The woman smiled at Amanda. "Please... forgive her... She is concerned about a friend of ours."

"Anyone I know?" Amanda turned so that her gaze took in Liam, who nodded.

"Nick Wolfe," the priest said.

"Nick's fine... I saw him at Sanctuary a few hours ago. Besides, he's not one to want anyone's help... with anything." Amanda's flippant tone belied the hurt she'd felt when he'd told he didn't want or need her help. "He's determined to find this 'Slasher' person on his own."

The pained expression on Marie-France's face as she turned to follow Val into Liam's office told Amanda a great deal.

Amanda bit her lip and turned to Liam. "Look... Liam... I came to talk to you about Nick... about what I did to him and how he still feels about it. If you think Nick needs back-up say so. He'll have my help whether he wants it or not. I owe him."

"I think it would be a good idea. I'm not in the game anymore and neither of them is either... Well," he said with a small smile, "Val is in the game but I think Nick was worried that she'd be hurt... killed."

"Has he met MacLeod, yet?"

"I don't think so. MacLeod hasn't been in Paris too much these last few years, not that I would have seen him anyway."

"Well he's here now. I ran into him on my way here. Maybe it's time those two met." Amanda shrugged. "Maybe MacLeod could give Nick a little different view of me than the one he still carries."

Liam chuckled and nodded.

Replacing her dark glasses, Amanda gave a little wave and headed out the door. "Toodles!" she called as she exited.

Liam shook his head. He adored Amanda... but she definitely had her own way of doing everything.

Outside, Amanda headed to the car... pausing as she felt someone nearby. "She glanced around. Again... there was no one there. She tried to focus on the source of the annoying tingle but could not seem to find it. The buzz was before her and behind her... almost as if there was more than one immortal stalking her. "I know you're there," she called out. "Come out and talk... surely we can discuss this... whoever you are." Beneath her coat she fingered her narrow blade, shifting her shoulders and her weight as she tried to warm up. But the presence faded and was gone.

Amanda let out a deep breath. She needed to see MacLeod. Duncan would know how to handle this. Duncan always knew how to handle things like this. Thoughtfully she climbed into the Ferrari and drove off toward where his barge was usually parked.

***

Behind her, a shadow detached from the greater shadow of a nearby building and a low chuckle sounded. Then the shadow faded back into the other shadows and continued to watch the church. Perhaps what he was searching for was here after all... Why else would there be so much interest in Darius' old church? The sound of a growl escaped him before he carefully stifled it. Thoughts of what the one-time general and his friends had done to him made him want to strike out at them now! Raggedly he brought his breathing under control. He must be patient. He had learned patience. Darius had seen to that. If the one he sought were here... no power on earth... no mere rule... would stop him! If she were here... the rule of holy ground would be broken... as it had been broken once before.

He thrust one hand into his pocket... but he was out of snacks. Perhaps it was time to get some more.