Chapter 66
Ste. Genevieve
Methos had driven straight through to the convent. As he pulled onto the grounds, he was perplexed. He could see both the mortal nuns and the immortal children milling about as if nothing were going on. His message from Phillip had said they were on their way... they should already have arrived... yet Methos did not sense them anywhere.
Even as he left the car he was dialing first Phillip's and then MacLeod's cell phones. No answer! Swiftly he entered the convent grounds, noticing the young Alisaunne de Pres fencing with Ian Daffyd. Of all the inane things for her to be doing! he thought, rolling his eyes. Methos strode over to the children. He grasped the young woman's arm and said, "We have to leave... now!"
Alisaunne pulled her arm free. "Where's Duncan?" she asked sharply.
"I don't know... He should have already arrived to get you out of here." Methos had hoped MacLeod would have arrived and taken the girl. He had planned on facing Nestor with Phillip's help... waylaying the maniac or drawing him away from here... containing him once more if it were at all possible. Now... it might be up to him to get the girl out of here. And he could not leave the inhabitants of the convent to Nestor's ministrations.
"Why?" Terror was once more rising in the girl. Methos could hear it in her voice as it cracked and wavered.
"Doc... You're frightening her," Ian broke in protectively.
Methos took a deep breath, "Ian... gather the others." The young man nodded, instinctively understanding that something was up, and took off at a run. Methos put both his hands lightly on Alisaunne's arms as he gazed calmly at her until her eyes met his. Then he said evenly... with no sign of the urgency he felt. "The man who killed Maillot is on his way here. He's coming for you. He fears you can identify him to the police." There was no way to explain to her just why Nestor was coming, so he told her what made the most logical sense.
Alisaunne nodded. "Will he hurt the others?" She glanced around at the gathering group. What she saw reflected in this man's eyes, told her the answer. A small gasp escaped her throat. "We have to help them!"
Methos nodded. She understood. He turned and glanced at Sister Luke. "Where's Marie-France? Where's Valeraine?" Again... Methos was perplexed that things were not as he had expected. Those who should have been here... those he most needed to rely on for help at the moment... were not here.
"They have not yet returned," the elderly woman said. "I have heard nothing."
Methos' shoulders sagged. Marie-France must have gone after Valeraine herself... and knowing the child immortal... he knew she'd somehow convinced her friend to remain in Paris. Methos gazed westward with a worried look. For a moment he felt Eleanor with him... her strength and support buoyed him. "Where's Ursa?" he asked at last, not knowing what else to do. When Luke pointed back toward the garden, Methos snapped at them to get ready to roll... They all had to leave and they had to leave now! He raced into the garden.
Ursa stood as the old one approached. He knew this one. Once he had fought at his side, so very long ago.
"Ursa," the old one said. "Go with the others... protect them. Nestor comes."
Ursa nodded. He remembered Nestor with a shudder. "Ursa protect small ones."
Methos clasped the big immortal's arm. "That's right Ursa. Protect the small ones, the mortals, and Sister Luke. Take them into the caves and into the wild. They are not safe here."
"Nestor comes." A shadow of the memory of what Nestor had once inflicted on him welled up for a moment... before being lost in what remained of his mind.
Methos nodded. "And holy ground will not stop him."
Ursa turned from the old one and gathered his great blade once more into his arms. For this the old ones had sent him to this place. Matthias and Darius had warned him that evil would come... That he, Ursa, must stand between the darkness and the light. He must endure.
The gentle soul within the giant... the soul that held no hate... might be the only soul that could contain Nestor's evil if it came to it. But Methos feared that even Ursa's gentleness and age would not protect him from a dark quickening. With his great size... Ursa could become an even greater threat than Nestor himself was. But at the moment... Ursa was his only hope to protect the convent's inhabitants.
Methos ordered the group to just leave and leave now. "Don't tell me exactly where you're going... just go... Stay safe," he told them as they headed off into the distance.
He grasped Alisaunne's arm and pulled her toward his own vehicle. He needed to get her away from here and from the others. If Nestor sensed her at all... that is the trail he would likely follow... but Methos did not wish to lead him back to Eleanor and Derrick. He needed to get the girl out of here now so he could keep her away from Nestor. That, and he was beginning to feel an unease from Eleanor... not much... but he knew he needed to get back to them.
Alisaunne once more pulled free of him. "Why can't I wait for Duncan? I don't really know you." Her eyes found the boy who had hesitated to follow the others until she was gone. She pleaded for him to help her, "Ian?"
"He's the doctor, Alisaunne... he's an old friend, you'll be safe with him." The boy smiled, trying to reassure her.
"No... I won't go without you."
And there it was. Methos paused to meet Ian's gaze. He motioned with his head for Ian to join them... better that than waste additional time arguing. Besides, Ursa was more than a match for Nestor physically if it came to it. Ian would have no chance at all. But Ian might be able to get Alisaunne away safely. The girl trusted him. That might allow Methos to leave her someplace safe... someplace else... and with an effective escort, if he needed to get back to Eleanor and Derrick.
The three piled into Methos' car. He tried once more to phone Phillip and MacLeod.as he drove out swiftly. Phillip had mentioned there were others with them... but he hadn't explained who was. Alone and in the dark about who was coming and why they were delayed, Methos did the only thing he could. Drive away like a maniac! Behind him... he could see the others heading out on foot toward the mountains and the cave systems he knew ran all through the mountains. He couldn't be everywhere... Methos only hoped that the choices he was making were for the best. His main concern was keeping those he most cared about safe. He smiled inwardly at the realization that he did care about them... all of them.
Methos just wished he knew where the hell MacLeod and Phillip were, and why they weren't answering. The irony of his not having answered his own phone for the past few days was not lost on him.
***
The traffic tie-up finally seemed to ease and Nick Wolfe was able to begin moving through the gridlock caused by the accident, the emergency vehicles, and the authorities. Just as they were getting within sight of the accident that had tied up traffic, his immortal senses went off as first one and then a second ambulance passed them on the road. There were no sirens blaring... they were likely carrying bodies.
Nick met Marie-France's level gaze. "Should we follow them back?"
Marie-France shook her head. "They are all capable. If all three died in the crash... they will awaken soon. We have to trust that they know what to do to extricate themselves from this situation. I need to get home. I need to make certain my children are safe. If this Nestor is as bad as Phillip indicated... they won't be unless someone warns them."
She was right. Even the children in the back seat knew it. There was absolutely nothing they could do for Amanda and the others. Nick had to pass them by. But he didn't like it... and he worried that it was a mistake.
Once free of the traffic snarl, Nick sped up once more. It might well be up to him to stop this immortal who'd killed two of his friends... and an acquaintance. Nick Wolfe only hoped he was up to the challenge. Maillot hadn't been... but his teacher had been surprised... set upon suddenly and without warning. Nick Wolfe did not intend to be surprised.
