Chapter 53
The drive to the church had been filled with an uncomfortable silence. Duncan had decided to wait to tell them anything else... and he could tell there were some ill feelings between Amanda and Nick. As he pulled into a parking space across from the church, Duncan was relieved to still feel an immortal presence there. At least he hoped it was Phillip and the two females.
He followed Nick and Amanda in. Nick... obviously wanting to be certain that those he'd left here were still safe... Amanda obviously hoping that somehow Liam had returned. In Darius' old cell... now Liam's office and storage space... Duncan's eyes took in the faces of them all.
Marie-France was standing near the window sobbing. Valeraine had run to Nick and thrown her small arms about him. Nick's eyes, however, were on Marie-France and only a blind man could have failed to see that he wanted to comfort her. Phillip was seated thoughtfully in the arm chair... a solemn expression on his face.
It was Amanda who spoke up first, "What's happened?"
Marie-France shook her head and turned to face the window.
Valeraine answered, "She thinks Liam's dead... She is sometimes aware of the passing of some of us... if it's nearby."
"There was no quickening!" Duncan insisted. "Or was there?" After all... they'd only just arrived. Surely if there had been a quickening in the area they'd have noticed it. Yet he recalled times when he'd sensed the passing of those he'd known. His thoughts momentarily thought of Connor... and of Lucas Desiree.
"No quickening," replied Phillip tersely.
Nick gently disentangled himself from Val. "Look who's back? Still stirring things up and creating mysteries in your wake?" he snapped at Phillip as he crossed to Marie-France... uncertain if he should attempt to comfort her or not. Liam had not told him much about the Swordmaster... but his previous visit here had stirred several things up... not the least of which had been Liam's sudden fascination with this church's foundations.
"Not here by my choice, lad," Phillip said gently.
Nick softly touched Marie-France's arms. "Are you certain? Maybe it's just fearful thinking."
"Would that it were so... but I felt him go... not the feel of his presence... just a shifting as I occasionally feel when an immortal I've met dies... if it is nearby." Marie-France turned her head and stared out the window. "He was terrified."
Val looked up at Nick's gaze... focused on Marie-France and sighed. Would that she were physically older... perhaps he would have looked at her that way. She hugged her oldest friend in all the world not knowing what else to do but offer her support.
"Shouldn't we be certain... We need to look for him... We need to find him!" Amanda's voice broke into sobs. Duncan put his arms about her and held her. "I should have stayed... I felt someone lurking about when I left... I should have come back in... I should have told him..." She ceased her struggles and began to simply weep.
Duncan held her tightly and whispered, "If you'd stayed... it might have been you we lost." Calmly his strong voice spoke more loudly, "We need to find the killer before he strikes again... Phillip?"
The Greek nodded... not even concerned that Duncan had used his name. It was likely time for at least some honesty between allies. "I need to know about the girl you were taking to Ste. Genevieve Duncan. Why did... 'the doctor'..." Phillip paused meaningfully at that point, "suggest there? He knows that place is not safe for them. The rules exist for a reason."
"The doctor?" asked Nick... turning to Phillip.
Val tugged at his hand. "You met him Nick... the one Cassius sent us too... he uses the name Adam now."
Nick shook his head. Once again the noose seemed to be tightening about him. Everyone and everything seemed inter-connected as though there were some master-mind... some master-plan... but he remained on the periphery... looking in... trying to make sense of it all. And once more... the immortals he'd recently met... seemed to be either the targets or involved in this somehow.
Val continued, "Marie-France and I both know him. We've known him for centuries."
Amanda looked at Duncan, "Adam... Pierson..." she finally said raising an eyebrow.
Duncan nodded. "We were doing some research into a problem... then we met the girl and... Then things got complicated."
"We all need to be on the same page. Let's share what we know... somewhere in what we have... there must be a clue as to what this is all about." Phillip said.
Amanda turned to the Greek, "And you are?"
"The Swordmaster of Alexander the Great is what he told me," interjected Nick.
Amanda's eyes widened with a teasing smile, "Rebecca's old friend... She once mentioned that she wanted me to meet you... but I never did."
Phillip nodded, "Now then... shall we start? We need answers before anyone else dies."
***
Hours later... the afternoon falling into evening... Phillip had all the pieces... all but one. He stepped outside the church into the falling darkness and immediately sensed the immortal he'd known was nearby since their arrival earlier.
"Kenny! I'm on holy ground. I need to talk with you!" he called out. He'd told the others to wait inside. He needed to know exactly what the boy-man had seen.
Reluctantly Kenny slipped out of the shadow of a nearby building and cautiously entered the churchyard... remaining by the gate. He backed up a few steps as Phillip approached.
"Lad... you're safer here than out there."
"I don't trust you! You're all alike!"
"Lad... if we were all alike... you'd have lost your head to me centuries ago. I don't want your head... I've never wanted it. But I will take it if you force me to."
"Maybe I'll take yours!" Kenny's belligerent tone was rising.
Phillip chuckled as he shook his head. "I just want to know what you saw at the school and at Cassius' place. I need to know what he looked like."
"Why should I tell you anything?"
"Because if you remain out there... hiding and alone... he will kill you too. Your choice lad... come in and share with us what you know... or face the darkness by yourself."
Kenny regarded the Swordmaster with suspicion. "What about MacLeod?"
"On holy ground... no one will hurt you. Besides... Amanda's here now."
Kenny seemed to think for a minute. "Amanda hates me too."
"Amanda does not hate you, lad. No one here will harm you... unless you attempt to harm them first."
Kenny stepped forward onto the premises. "Just you remember this is holy ground!"
Phillip chuckled once more and shook his head. "Now describe to me exactly what this immortal looked like... every detail... everything you felt. Where he came from... how he moved? Everything!"
Kenny nodded and began to talk... but his eyes glared at the Swordmaster even as he did so.
***
Not far away... in the darkness... just out of range... he watched them. They would likely figure it out soon... and while it might be pleasant to remain and deal with them one at a time... as he had originally hoped to do... he had to find the girl. Perhaps there had been just enough truth in the priest's final words that he had known something and let it slip.
Time to leave Paris... time to find the girl. Already he had wasted too many years just acclimating himself to this day and age. Also, he'd allowed himself to be distracted too often. Still... it was too bad... he'd rather hoped to have Amanda before he left. He'd rather enjoyed letting her sense him and then pulling back. But he doubted she'd be alone again anytime soon. A wicked laugh wanted to boil up as he thought of taking her. Rivka's prize student! It would be one more way to have his revenge for what they had done to him. Another time perhaps... another time. But, first things first... and he had an idea for an exit from Paris... one last parting shot that would have them all quaking in terror. Snickering at the irony of immortals holed up on holy ground in fear of him... he turned and slipped away into the night.
