Here's the flashback sequence that separates Section Two from Section Three. Another Chapter will load shortly to begin the next section. --elle

Entr'acte Two

Paris, March 1993



these wounds won't seem to heal
this pain is just too real
there's just too much that time cannot erase

from My Immortal, recorded by Envanescence

Feeling the immediate closeness of an immortal caused Methos to glance upward from where he was wrapping the customer's purchases at Shakespeare & Company. He'd reluctantly promised Don Salzer he'd watch the store for a few days while Don and Christine took a short holiday.

'Who better?" Don had laughed. "You spend too much time in research. You should get out more… be with people."

The fact that he did not want to be out and with people filled Methos with a sense of irony. But he'd agreed.

"Thank you and come again," he smiled his most boyish grin… and glanced about the store noting the presence of only one additional customer… the old man Combfrey who came in almost daily from what Don had told him.

Methos closed his eyes to get a feel for the location of the other and then as his departing customer opened the front door, and the bell tinkled merrily, he felt someone enter and slip to one side. Methos smiled.

Eleanor ran one of her small hands along the spines of some books arranged on a sale table and idly picked one up to thumb through it.

"Imagine meeting you here?" he whispered making certain he appeared bored and jaded… as if she hadn't cut him to the quick the last time with her sudden disappearance.

"Just passing by… felt you… wondered who it was." She replaced the book and looked around. More loudly she asked, "Do you have any first editions of Flaubert?

"Madame Bovary?" he replied, playing the game.

"Hmmm?" she regarded him flatly. Then he thought he saw an unspoken question in her haunted eyes. It was as if she wanted to ask him something… and then she blinked… the question was gone… her eyes regarded him without interest. He sighed.

"Not here, but I do know where you can locate one." Quickly he wrote a time and address on a slip of paper and handed it to her, hoping she'd meet him later…. that they could clear the air.

She glanced at it, arching an eyebrow. "I don't think so. I don't think I'm really all that interested anymore." Wadding up the slip of paper she dropped it onto the floor. She turned to leave and he caught her arm… not at all surprised when she whipped around and crushed his fingers. She backed away. He ground his teeth and flexed his fingers… letting them straighten and heal on their own.

"If you are certain."

"I am. I think our business is concluded." She turned and flounced out the door.

"Why?" he wanted to scream after her. But he said nothing. There had been no hate, no fear, no teasing in her eyes. There was only a flat deadness that seemed to regard him as nothing of any importance. Whatever they might have been to one another once… there was nothing there now.

For the first time in over eleven hundred years, he had no internal sense of her at all. He'd never understood what had happened that last night. They'd made love with an ardor long absent from their time together… he'd slept… and then…?

Methos shook his head. She'd been gone when he awoke. Regardless of Watchers, he'd raced to the church… Surely she'd be there. But Darius had told him she was gone… that she'd left Paris… but he wouldn't say why. No matter how Methos had pushed over the years… Darius would say nothing.

The old priest did know something about what had happened… but he held his tongue as carefully as if he'd learned it in the confessional. And there was a sober sense about him these days. Methos didn't often go to see him anymore. Only when he knew neither Bancroft nor anyone else was about did he even try.

When he did… he usually sent a boy with a message and Darius would meet him at Notre Dame. Methos always wondered how Darius got there and back without anyone ever being the wiser. He'd asked Eleanor once…centuries ago, but she'd laughed and said nothing. She obviously knew… but she'd never say… no matter how much he'd tickled her and she had laughed.

Now, Methos did not think Eleanor laughed anymore. She was dead inside, and there was no joy left in her as if it had been ripped away. Why had she come in… was it only to say good-bye? She had wanted something from him. But what? He had no idea. Very well… if he was nothing to her… she was nothing to him. Never again would he open himself up to be cast away. No more immortals… ever.

Monsieur Combfrey asked about a book, and Methos gratefully filed Eleanor's brief visit away with thoughts he no longer wished to consider. If he was dead to her… then she was dead to him.

Darius watched Eleanor pack from the corner of his eye. She'd only been here a few days. He'd hoped to have time to tease her back into her old self. But she wouldn't stay.

He'd been dismayed when he'd seen her. She was a shell… going through motions. There was no life left in her. What had he done to her?

Carefully he considered telling her. But if he did… what would happen? Would the long controlled darkness of Kae Dhun rage and claim his life at last… before he could explain? And if he died now… would she know what to do? How to help Alisaunne? Darius remained silent and closed his eyes. He could not look at her… not now. He dare not. He'd made his choice eight years ago. He'd chosen Eleanor's life over the future. Of what use was any future he'd argued… if she perished before it came? "I will give my life instead!" he'd pleaded… and the deal had been struck.

But Eleanor had paid a heavy price. Her face and her movements still betrayed that price. She closed the bag and looked around… dragging it with her into the other room. He followed… still guilt encompassed him and he crossed to the window to stare out once more… not trusting himself to look at her.

He mumbled a few pleasantries… then when she crossed to hug him goodbye… he nearly broke down. He held to her and wanted to lean down… kiss her hair… beg her to stay. But he couldn't. Not yet. There were things he still needed to do.

Even as she left, he tried to lift her spirits… tell her he would come… but she didn't believe him. And then she was gone.

He stared down at the taxi and waved when she looked up… but it wasn't as he'd have wished it. Had what he'd done truly been for her benefit? Or for his? Had he been jealous of her choice of Methos after all of these years? Or had he truly wanted only to test the theory… find the answers? After the taxi left he considered the artifacts.

Studying them had led him to make the choices he'd made. Time to be rid of them!

He'd speak with Cassuis about keeping them. Perhaps the old Roman had an idea. At any rate… Darius wanted them gone from his sight.

He'd sent Alisaunne to a boarding school in this last year now that she did not need him on a daily basis… but he'd have to make some further arrangements for her future if he left… if he vanished. He had to be certain she would be cared for and educated… even if he were no longer here to guide her steps. He crossed to leave… there was much to do.

His eyes rested on the envelope Eleanor had asked him to mail. Thoughtfully he picked it up and noted the name and address. As it wasn't yet sealed he pulled the note out and read it.

Edward,

I cannot explain, but I must go. It still hurts too much to see you, or talk to you. I will be in Angola on a medical mission if you wish to write. The address is enclosed. Please promise me you will watch over Darius while I am gone. He does not seem himself, and I fear for him. Perhaps another time we can discuss what lies between us.

Eleanor

He'd mail it for her, he thought idly replacing the note within the envelope. There was nothing there that Methos did not need to know. He knew his friend well enough to know that Methos would not follow her… not yet, at least. Darius smiled, it might give him time to set everything right once more. Placing the envelope within his robes he turned toward the door.

Darius stumbled against the counter near the door and waited a moment while he regained his equilibrium. There wasn't much of the old strength left… and he'd begun having dark dreams… as if the forces of darkness were gathering. He straightened moving his head slowly from side to side as he concentrated. No one would notice… he could manage to hold it all at bay for just a while longer… just a little longer. The girl was almost ready to be on her own. Soon she'd be old enough to survive no matter what. Already she was healing if injured. Already he'd taught her so much… things she'd likely recall only when the time was right… but she was the key to any immortal's attaining the prize… a prize that was different from anything any of them had ever considered. Alisaunne was what the Ancient Ones had created with his help… and the use of Methos and Eleanor as the means.

Darius had to move swiftly to counter any dangers lurking for her in Paris… and one of those dangers was Grayson. The priest needed to know what Grayson was up to. He'd have to insert a spy into his old friend's organization and check things out. There were also his other students… especially the mortal ones who had to be protected. It would take time… perhaps a few months… but then he was leaving… and no one and nothing would stop him!

If she killed him then… it would be fine… Eleanor would survive… and she would know that he had lied to her… that Methos had never hurt her… that she and the ancient immortal once known as Death were meant to be together… if that was their choice.

Smiling thoughtfully, his mind filled with his plans for the future… Darius descended the stairs and opened the tunnel entrance. He had much to do. Whistling a snatch of an old dance tune… he closed the hidden entrance and passed into the darkness of the tunnel.