This chapter begins the third of four sections for this story. --elle

Part Three: The Well of Despair

Frameless heads on nameless walls with eyes that watch the world and can't forget.



from Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) by Don MacLean

Chapter 61

Niebos, Greece

Phillip slapped his gloved hands together and cautiously watched the tableau below in the village. The dirt spilled from his hands in clouds of dust. Slowly he stood.

He'd told Pietros earlier. "Contact the news media. Make certain they bring cameras… the more the better. Just leave me out of this."

The village elder had bowed, "Of course patron."

Now, while Phillip remained quietly out of sight, just another villager attempting to bury his dead and make repairs… Pietros gave interviews and displayed the bodies of the thirty-four dead commandos. He regaled the media with the corroboration of the others of how they'd been attacked and managed to repel the invaders. Phillip just hoped it worked.

With enough media blitz, the Watchers might fear to return. The survivors had withdrawn to a fourth helicopter with their captives. And while they'd know Phillip and Ursa remained… they did not as yet know of the others who survived.

Phillip turned and saw tiny Denara gazing soberly at Luke's grave. Phillip squeezed the child's shoulders and was rewarded when she glanced up at him… with old, old eyes. "She saved me. She leapt up and met that blade meant for me. She gave them her body… but she gave me her quickening."

Denara held tightly to Phillip's hand while tears streamed down her dirty cheeks. "Let's go lass. We're finished here." She nodded and let go of his hand while they both turned toward the house and then re-clasped his other hand.

"I hadn't had one in a very long time. I'd forgotten how it felt," the child immortal whispered as they passed Ursa's solemn form. The giant glanced at them and then followed them into the house where they surveyed the damage from Luke's quickening and the battle with the second unit.

Phillip cursed himself mentally for having let Amanda go… If Amanda had been here… they would not have gotten the children. Now he needed to follow the trail… and rescue them. He had promised those children that they would be safe… he had failed them… and he would not fail them again.

Angrily he kicked at the remains of his desk computer. That wouldn't be of any help. He'd have to hope the PPC hadn't shorted out… if it had… he'd have to purchase another one on the mainland if he got a chance. He sorted through the wreckage attempting to find it. Holding it up he snorted and dropped it. It was toast. Behind him he heard Denara directing Ursa where to move some of the furniture and where to stack the pieces which would need to be discarded. Something in her tone of voice sounded a great deal like Luke.

Phillip motioned toward the bedroom wing. "I'll be back." He walked slowly and looked in on a sober Valeraine and on Nick… restrained once more in his bed.

"How's he doing?" Phillip asked as he watched Nick writhe back and forth.

"I gave him a sedative… but he's fighting it. I think it may be losing its effectiveness." She was curled up in a chair and he knew she'd been crying.

"You handled it well, Valeraine. No one could have handled it better. You kept him alive despite his attempt… and Nestor is still trapped."

"But there may be nothing left of Nick, now." Tears fell once more.

"Listen to me. We all knew this would happen eventually… even you. Nestor's quickening is old and powerful. He's a master of temptation and knows what buttons to push in any of us. That Nick fought him so long… is a minor miracle in itself. You did what you had to do." Phillip crouched beside her and smiled. "We've won… at least for another day."

"But they'll be back!"

"Not while the news media is focused here. We'll have time."

"What about us?"

Phillip shook his head. "They don't know about you two. My people will hide you both amongst their numbers. Even if the Watchers watch the island… they'll not find you… nor ever see you. All you have to do… is keep him safe. Can you manage on your own?"

"Why can't one of you stay?"

"They know of us… even Denara. If one of us remains… they will be back. We'll leave and then vanish. You have the hardest job lass. You have to protect the devil himself and keep him chained. You might have to kill any number of mortals to do that… I," Phillip chuckled, "only have to rescue four children from men who might wish them harm." He pulled her to his chest and smiled wanly. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"But will it be soon enough?"

"One can only hope. Now," he said with encouragement, "go see about some food… a bath… whatever you need. I'll watch for a while. After we leave… you won't be able to leave his side."

Valeraine nodded and left.

Phillip leaned over Nick observing the young immortal's thrashing. Finally he spoke. "You might as well save your strength and listen to me."

Nick gradually stopped moving, he turned his damaged face in Phillip's direction as if he could see him. He drew back his lips and hissed.

"No sense being so angry. You tried… and you failed," Phillip remarked calmly. "She will not kill you… no matter what you try. You are trapped here… she will keep you alive for millennia if it takes that long. She will make certain you live… no matter the cost."

A rumble sounded from within Nick's throat as he twisted in the restraints.

"The more you persist in this behavior… the less comfortable you will be. We've tried kindness… and we will continue to try it. You will not win… not while one of us who knows what you are draws breath."

Phillip straightened and then took a seat in the chair. He'd promised to watch… He'd give Valeraine all the time she needed. This would not be easy for her… but Phillip had no other choice than to leave her here with Nick.

Nick's stub of a hand slapped down on the mattress. Within the restraints he had little movement… but he managed.

"Yes?" Phillip smiled. "You wish to converse?"

The hand slapped down once more.

"Will you try to behave?"

Yes

"Are you lying?"

There was a long pause… then two slaps. No

"Now why don't I believe you? Oh… sorry… Should I believe you?"

Yes

"I shall consider it. Now… shall we discuss books?"

No

"Well certainly not movies… how about music?"

Yes

"Ah… afraid my sound system has been destroyed… but perhaps we can manage a radio."

Yes

"But no news of the outside world."

No

"Then we understand one another… perfectly." he reached over and dialed a music station. Strains of classical music filled the air. Settling back once more Phillip kept watch.

-----

Paris

Avril Mischkov slammed his cell phone into the wall. "Imbeciles!" he screamed. Then took a long deep breath. Getting angry at the failures of his people would not help. He couldn't be everywhere. He'd had to delegate authority to his best people. But their results of the past twenty-four hours had been mixed at best.

Now… Mischkov needed to compose himself before reporting the successes to Rawlins and admitting to the defeats. "We shall keep trying."

In Paris the squad had found only the young male immortal at the hotel. Even now he was in medical and Mischkov would interview him before sending him on to the compound. He needed to discover where the woman had vanished. When MacLeod had met with Amanda and given his people the slip the day before… he'd assumed they might be meeting up with the others. But that hadn't happened… so the squad lying in wait at the hotel had been withdrawn. He'd left a Watcher in the lobby however… in case someone returned.

He'd seen no additional movement at St. Julien's… visits by either immortals or mortals… but he'd left a Watcher there… Sooner or later, he felt that someone would come.

In Berlin they'd refound the missing Reagan Cole… but she was beyond their reach at the moment. Her very public use of a gun had made certain of that.

The two who'd vanished in St. Louis were as yet unfound. But they couldn't hide forever. He had people out watching all airports and bus stations in a five hundred mile radius of St. Louis. They'd not get far.

On that Greek island… Mischkov had lost three helicopters filled with his best men. The story of the assault on the private island was all over the news and support was coming in from around the world to assist the villagers. Two warrior immortals… only one of whom he had identified… and one child had escaped capture. He'd only known of one warrior… and none of his private records gave him any idea as to who the other one was. Now… he dared not make another attempt on the island for a while.

Mischkov glared at the muted television with footage displaying the dead bodies of his retrieval squads and the angry faces of the villages. He snorted… as if he'd been after them! Whoever the immortal was who'd taken the others there… he had these people shilling for him… protecting them all…. while he remained out of sight. If the Watchers didn't already have Methos… he'd have thought it was him, so slick the entire defensive operation had been.

He needed to discover who this was and why they had been so prepared for the assault. His men had picked up on Amanda at the Athens airport and their research in backtracking her had led them to consider this island. Without Amanda there… Mischkov had thought that they could easily deal with Ursa. The man had no mind! Rawlins had suggested that they just kill him, grab the children and bring them back. The adults were negligible. Now, however, Mischkov considered there was someone else involved with this group. He'd have to do some additional research to figure out who he might be.

The phone rang. "Yes," he barked. "I'll be right down." It was time to interview the immortal they held here. The children would be taken immediately to the compound once they reached Europe. He'd have to leave their interrogation to Rawlins, and hope that his boss knew what questions to ask.

Avril Mischkov glanced in his office mirror and smoothed his thinning hair, then straightened his sleeves. He would look impeccable and fully in control. Taking a deep breath, he smiled with confidence, flipped off the lights and headed to medical.