Chapter 79
The beginnings of dawn were painting the eastern sky.
Phillip and Duncan carried Nick to the SUV and secured him in the back seat. Valeraine climbed in beside him once more... talking to him... saying his name again and again.
"Are you certain you don't want me to come with you?" the Highlander asked Amanda.
"No." Amanda smiled into his brown eyes and kissed him lightly on the lips. "But I'm not running away anymore... I'm running to something. They'll need me there for a while." Amanda's plans included returning to Ste. Genevieve and helping Sister Luke re-organize the convent and the school with an eye toward the future. It would still be a secret from most immortals... but from what Amanda had seen... and Duncan had to agree with that... it was a hap-hazard operation at best. Amanda's business sense and organizational skills might be of assistance. "Those children need a real fighter there... or they'll never learn how to survive."
"Just make certain fighting is what you teach them." Duncan grinned and held at her arm's length. "I can just imagine what a gang of second story thieves and pickpockets they would make."
"Duncan... you wound me." Amanda tapped the end of his nose with one slender finger. "I don't plan on remaining forever... but I need to do this." She glanced at the SUV. "One of us has to keep an eye on him... and right now... that will be me."
"If he lets you. Val seems to have the inside track with him right now."
"But she loves him." Amanda sobered a moment. "I can see what might need to be done." She placed her hands on either side of his face as she smiled. "I'll be back... or you could come for a visit occasionally. We'll stay in touch... just keep those pesky Watchers away from the place. That's the important thing."
"What about Joe?"
"Tell him I'm fine... really. The rest..." Amanda shrugged and glanced at the others. She shook her head. "I think what Joe is told may need to be something you and Methos decide. I love you," she whispered as she pulled close for a kiss. Then, donning sunglasses, she backed away. "Kenny!" Amanda barked.
Kenny looked at her. His face showed his dislike for the situation and his distrust of everything, including her.
"If you are coming... fine. Get in!" Amanda said and then whipped her sword out to rest at her student's neck. Her other hand grasped his shoulder. "But know this. If you try anything... I will take your worthless head without a second thought."
"Maybe I'll just find my own way!" he snapped back at her petulantly.
Amanda sheathed her sword. "Fine... Go your own way." She slipped into the driver's seat and turned on the ignition.
Kenny looked around and then hurriedly got into the front seat beside her.
Amanda smiled, gave a little wave, and pulled out.
Duncan watched her go. Part of him wanted to go with her. Part of him wanted to help keep an eye on Nick... but Amanda was right. It was safer if he didn't go... not now... not while things were still touch and go with the young immortal. She'd call if they needed to come up with a better plan. Meanwhile... Nick would be cared for at Ste. Genevieve. Perhaps that loving care of those who called it home would help him at last overcome the darkness that now dwelled within him. Duncan knew just how hard it had been for him to re-find himself. After all... it wasn't as if Nick could be given a sword and allowed to fight himself in a sacred pool of water. Duncan had wanted to be saved, Methos had explained, Nestor did not. Nick would need to find another way to free himself completely from the evil that was Nestor. Already he was showing more strength than they had thought possible. Perhaps the quickening of Marie-France was helping him. Duncan prayed Nick Wolfe would find his way back. Then, and perhaps only then... could he be allowed to die. Until then... anyone who killed him might once more unleash Nestor upon the world.
Duncan stepped back with the others. Methos was just getting off his cell phone. "I spoke with Joe. He'll have a clean-up crew here in thirty minutes. That should give all of us time to clear out of here. They'll take care of the body. The museum doesn't open for another two hours."
Duncan nodded.
"I want to go home... to Sacre Coeur," Alisaunne said softly. "I need to know they are all right. I need to let them know I'm all right." Her voice shook a bit. Ian Daffyd put his newly re-healed arm about her shoulders. Alisaunne turned toward him sniffling. "You have to come with me Ian... I can't face this without you."
"Do you have a place to stay in Paris?" Duncan asked the young man. When he shook his head, Duncan added, "I think you could stay with me for a while."
"Thanks," Ian replied.
Duncan motioned them toward the old car. In his pockets were the keys to Amanda's Ferrari. She'd wanted him to take good care of it for her. But this heap would do to get them out of here and back into the city. He'd have some explaining to do at Alisaunne's school and the three of them would have to come up with a cover story that would be believable about what had happened. But Duncan thought he could manage it.
"I'll take them to Paris and drop them off, then join you at this estate you're at. I want to see Derrick again."
"We won't be there long Duncan, not with Cassandra knowing about it." Methos had managed to fill Duncan in on her little visit. "But even if she has access to all the information that was stored in London... I have more than she can possibly imagine... and other places to go."
"But with the sword..." Duncan was clearly worried. He'd felt the pull of that thing... He understood the danger it posed.
"Precisely while we'll be moving on." Methos arm rubbed up and down Ellie's shoulders in the cool morning. To Duncan she still looked shaky and weak. Her face was still bruised although the rip was almost healed. But her eyes had a fragile look to them. Duncan was worried, she seemed far more like the frightened waif he'd first met than she had at any time since.
Duncan flashed her a brief smile of encouragement, which she returned. "Bye, Duncan... See you soon." Ellie leaned into Methos' embrace and seemed content to remain there. The old immortal's arms encircled her protectively.
As he drove away with Alisaunne and Ian... Duncan glanced back at the three old friends... waving at him as they vanished behind him in the distance.
Phillip turned to Eleanor with a look of sadness. "I'm going too. I need to go home. I have a hospital to build and my people to care for."
"Derrick will want to see you." Eleanor insisted.
"No Little Sister, not now. But in a few years... send him to me... when he's grown... when it's time. I'll teach how to fight then... if he lets me." Phillip grinned. "I'll teach him everything... Even those moves I haven't even taught you." He winked. And then with a serious expression reached to her chest where he could see the dried blood from the knife wound. "I'm so sorry," he whispered.
"I'm fine... really." Eleanor lifted her dark turtleneck up to show him the healing scar. It was still angry and red. "It just takes me a while you know... and twice in two days didn't help, either. But I had help." She smiled at Methos. His strength had helped her recuperate a little faster. She'd drawn from him through their bond, as she had needed to... just enough... to be there at the end... to help comfort Alisaunne after the rape, and to be able to face Nestor at the guillotine with the others.
"By the way," Phillip said. "I posted those letters to the two of you from Darius to Methos' post office box in Geneva before we left Paris. Good thing I did so... what with the crash and the fire. You can reclaim them when you get the chance." Phillip had managed to tell them briefly what was in the other two letters. "You and MacLeod may need to check out that chapel at Waterloo one day soon. I think our old friend must have left a clue there."
Phillip backed away with a smile and gave them a wave. "Come see me sometime."
"At least let us drive you someplace," Methos called after him.
"No... I think I'll do it the old-fashioned way. I'll walk for a bit. I need some fresh air after this and time to think. You do realize I walked for years before modern transportation was invented don't you?" He waved again and then sauntered off... a whistle on his lips.
Methos gazed down at Eleanor. "Your carriage awaits my lady!"
"Good... I don't think a long walk is what I need right now."
Methos grinned and lifted her into his arms. She squealed. "Who said anything about walking?" Methos teased as he carried her to the car.
Soon they were driving north. Methos knew they needed to get back. Eleanor would need a day or two to fully regain her strength. Once she was better, and MacLeod had joined them... they could see about moving on. From what Phillip and MacLeod had said, MacLeod might need to locate Darius' original research. Darius had left a clue at Waterloo for the Highlander to follow. Perhaps the research itself was there. And then there was the stuff still hidden at the hotel. He'd told MacLeod to bring it when he came. They'd have a lot to go over. The priest had left a number of clues behind. It was time to put everything together and then decide what to do next, and who would do what part. With a little luck... they would now have time to concentrate on the matter at hand... without interruptions.
And there was still the mystery of Alisaunne! Where had Darius found her? Had he known what she was or not? The girl thankfully had not realized that any of them were immortal. She just thought that Ian was like her and healed quickly. It seemed best to leave it at that for the moment. As for why Nestor had wanted her and what he'd done to her... the girl seemed to be blocking a lot of that out. When she was ready... Methos would leave it to Duncan and Ian to answer her questions. She was not his concern... Eleanor and Derrick were.
It was early afternoon by the time they reached the estate. As he drove up the driveway... Methos could see Derrick sitting on the steps waiting for them... as if he knew they were coming. The boy raced to the parked vehicle, flinging his arms tightly about Eleanor and giving her a desperate hug as she got out.
"Hey, Little One," what's this for?" Eleanor asked him when he finally looked up at her.
"I missed you," he said simply.
For a moment Eleanor's face bore a wistful expression. Slowly she brushed a lock of sandy hair out of his eyes, then she leaned down and whispered in the boy's ear. "Want to know a secret?" Derrick nodded. "I missed you more." Eleanor hugged him, then looked at Methos and reached out to include him in their embrace. For a long moment... the three of them stood united in the afternoon sun.
***
Cassandra lowered the binoculars and smiled. Methos and his whore had returned. When they'd left... she'd considered burning the house down then.. but the boy was still there. Taking him with her was something else she'd considered. She could kill the old man and grab the boy. But that hadn't felt quite right to her. If she grabbed the boy... he would fight her... and she needed him to trust her.
The boy needed to survive. This she was certain of. And in his future he needed Ellie. That posed a problem. How best to separate them? Cassandra had failed to turn the girl against Methos. Watching them just now... she'd realized they were lovers. It wasn't one-sided. But Methos had to be lying to the girl. He must not have told her all the truth... else she would not love him. She could not love him!
Inside Cassandra seethed. Justice must be done! The voice she kept hearing had to be that of her visions. But other than her brief dream that had seen Methos on his knees before her and the vision of Derrick grown with Eleanor at his side... she'd seen nothing. And even her crystal was gone now. Strange how it was now her crystal. She'd held it so briefly and it had told her nothing. But it shown the boy something... something he'd feared. Losing Eleanor!
Cassandra slipped further back into the woods to watch and wait. A chance would come. And she would be ready.
