Chapter 68

Eastern France

Amanda felt cold in the darkness. Beneath her closed eyelids... she wanted only to sleep. Nearby she could feel an immortal. Her eyes snapped open even as the sound of Duncan's voice murmured softly in her ear.

"There you are... I was beginning to worry." She felt him kiss her as his fingers trailed lightly across her face. Amanda sighed and focused on him.

"You look awful," she said teasingly. Some of his hair had burned away on one side.

"You should see yourself. Then again... maybe you shouldn't." His teasing tone told her they were alone and that wherever they were... they were safe.

Amanda carefully sat up and realized she was on a morgue slab. "Oooh!" she shivered and let him lift her in his arms so that she could stand on the cold cement floor. He wore a white coat and not much else. She was wrapped in a sheet. Duncan's arms surrounded her in an embrace.

From the corner of her eye, a man, likely the morgue attendant sat slumped against the wall. "Is he?"

"Unconscious... although I think it was a bit of shock when I got up off the table and bid him Bonjour."

"Phillip?"

"He's in the other room looking for our effects," Duncan raised an eyebrow, "and some clothes we can wear out of here. Ours were burned and the remnants evidently cut off."

By this time Amanda noticed the healing burns on her hands. She grinned, "Perhaps you'll listen to me the next time I suggest you're driving too fast!"

Duncan's shoulders sagged as he nodded. This accident had likely ruined any chance they had for getting to Ste. Genevieve before Nestor.

"Maybe Methos will get there... or Nick and the others." Suddenly Amanda had a horrible fear. What if Nick and the others got there and Nestor was already there? Her eyes met Duncan's... she knew this thought had also crossed his mind. She snuggled into his embrace... worried about Nick and how he would handle the mad immortal. After all... Nick didn't really know everything about Nestor... would he understand what killing the man might do to him... or to one of the others?

"We have to get out of here!" Amanda pulled away and wrapped the sheet about her like a toga. Even as she was doing so she felt Phillip re-enter the morgue with a stack of clothes in his arms. "Can't say much for the fit... but they'll have to do." He tossed the clothes to them and adjusted the shabby long coat he wore over too-tight and overly long jeans and a much too small flannel shirt. Within the coat... Amanda glanced all three of their swords. At least those were safe. She'd feared they'd been lost in the fire or were with the police.

"I don't think they were noticed until they were processing our bodies here." Phillip exclaimed. "There's a bit of damage... but nothing we can't fix. did you doctor the records?"

Duncan chuckled and nodded as he held up a chartreuse sweater. Grimacing at both the color and the smell, he tossed it to one side and rummaged through the pile, finally finding something that was reasonably clean and would reasonably fit. Amanda did the same. They hurriedly pulled on the clothes they selected. Phillip was right... they weren't great... but at least they were clothes and they would allow freedom of movement in a fight. After they were dressed, Duncan went through the stirring attendant's pockets... finally coming up with a set of keys. He smiled as he jingled them. Then he grasped the man's jaw. "You are having a nightmare... go back to sleep. If you mention that the dead got up and walked out of here... they'll likely lock you up and throw away the key... Understand?"

The man nodded his head.

Duncan rose. "Let's go."

The immortals left the small morgue, finding the car with ease... the only one parked out back... and drove swiftly away.

"We have no phones," Phillip said. "Stop somewhere so I can try to call Methos."

Duncan nodded as he entered the traffic patterns and headed east once more. This time... he was in an even bigger rush... but this time... he knew not to push quite so hard.

***

The four immortals exited Nick's SUV and looked around.

"I don't feel anyone," Nick said as he gazed about him at the open vineyard, the small walled convent with its gardens and even smaller schoolhouse.

"Nor do I," Marie-France said and moved forward. Suddenly she feared what she might find. She headed for the chapel and opened wide the doors. Thankfully it was empty. She turned to check out the other buildings... still fearful of what she might find. Everything here was too neat... too quiet. She hoped they were merely gone... That somehow they'd been aware of danger and had fled. One by one she and the others checked every room.

Satisfied at last that there were no dead bodies hidden away, Marie-France stood once more in her garden and looked about... trying to decide what the next step should be. She almost smiled as Nick placed one arm about her.

"They're all safe... They have to be. Didn't Phillip say something about calling the doctor... Pierson? Perhaps he finally reached him... and he was able to get here and..." Nick glanced up uneasily. Val and Kenny were in the courtyard quietly looking around. But... for a moment... Nick swore he felt someone else. "Shhh!" he said to Marie-France and backed away from her as he drew his sword. Nick could see clearly in all directions. The horizon stretched around him and there was no clear sense of anyone besides the four of them. Yet... Nick flexed his sword in his hands... holding it before him... ready to strike... and he walked a few steps away... trying to get a clear sense of what he almost felt... pivoting about... shifting in his kata... letting training and instinct guide his movements.

Behind him he heard Marie-France draw hers as well... but it was clear she as yet felt nothing... then she gasped... and Nick knew she felt it too. Across the courtyard... Nick watched Val and Kenny look at him with a question. Val nodded and drew her small blade. She and Kenny stood back to back... circling around and waiting.

Finally the sense of another seemed to fade. The four immortals heaved a collective sigh of relief and relaxed.

As soon as Nick lowered his sword... he felt a sudden piercing pain and looked down at the blood dribbling from his chest. Gunshot? He drew a ragged breath as he stumbled forward a few steps and then collapsed onto his knees. Through the red haze beginning to cover his eyes, he saw a figure detach from the shadows and race toward Marie-France. Nick tried to scramble up. But another piercing pain hit him, this time in the head. Even as the darkness took him... he heard her scream... and he heard maniacal laughter.

"Someone here to play with after all."

***

Kenny took one look at the man who must be this Nestor they spoke of and decided his own head meant more to him than helping the others. He raced off the convent grounds and into the hills.

Behind him Valeraine hissed at Nestor and raised her sword. She might have only a single chance.

Nestor laughed. From this distance, he did not seem imposing in size or ability. He was a man of medium build with blonde hair cut very short. He was dressed in dark clothing that had a smell of sewage and rot about it. He ran his hands over Marie-France and seemed to whisper something into her ears as she struggled against him. When Nick stirred at his feet he kicked him and laughed madly.

Valeraine began to advance... looking for an opening.

"Come and get me little one!" she heard him laugh and he drew a sharp dagger lightly across Marie-France's throat. A small bit of blood oozed from what was likely a light scratch. Valeraine hesitated. "I'll kill her first. And the man." They'll both die and then you can take me. But I will live in you."

For a moment Valeraine advanced another few steps and then she felt the odd hum and the dark, cold shift in the air. She could sense a negative energy all about her... "Dark quickening!" she whispered and stopped. She'd heard of them... Edmund had explained one to her once... so she'd know what it felt like and know not to chance it. "They are rare... but they do happen," he'd warned her. "Don't take the chance." So... that was why this maniac still lived. That was the reason the gathering of ancient immortals had let him live.

Laughter rose up from Nestor once more. "Are you frightened little one? You should be. Come join me... we could have many pleasures with these two. I can give you the man... give you your heart's desire." Valeraine shivered in the charged air. Nick tried to stir once more and once more Nestor kicked him roughly. Nick groaned and was still... obviously not completely healed yet... at least not enough to make a difference.

Valeraine swallowed and lowered her sword. Kenny had the right idea... run... find another way to fight him. He wouldn't kill them... they'd make him weak and vulnerable. If she backed away slightly... he'd let them live. Even if Nestor did not fear to die... he might not wish to. Valeraine sadly backed away and then turned to race after Kenny... toward the hills. Perhaps the two of them could come up with another plan... something to get both Nick and Marie-France away from the madman... some way to kill him and not be lost in the process.