Note to readers: This chapter has violence in it. It also has some mature situations. Read at your own discretion.

TIMELESS -- CHAPTER THREE


I guess, I'll die another day
I guess, I'll die another day

I'm gonna break the cycle
I'm gonna shake up the system
I'm gonna destroy my ego
I'm gonna close my body now

Uh, uh

I think I'll find another way
There's so much more to know
I guess I'll die another day
It's not my time to go

For every sin, I'll have to pay
I've come to work, I've come to play
I think I'll find another way
It's not my time to go

--Die Another Day—Madonna

HOURS LATER

Darcy snapped to awareness. Cold had seeped into her bones, the chattering of her teeth was loud. She looked around carefully. The room was stone; the floor had an inch of water and she was chained against the wall. Her feet were in the water. From what her senses told her; she was cold, wet and hurt.

She shuddered as a lock bit back and a hidden door opened. Heavy steps scuffed down stairs she couldn't see. The figure wore heavy boots with heels, like motorcycle boots. Black jeans covered powerful legs; a fancy belt buckle cinched a narrow waist. The deep red of a sweater was cloaked by a black leather jacket. They stopped one step above the water.

Darcy gasped in horror and amazement at the face she saw. The face was masculine and gorgeous. The lines were clean cut and young. A strong nose gave him a powerful profile. But it was the memorizing blue eyes and shock white hair that made her gasp. There was only one man with blue eyes like that.

"King Alexander?" Darcy stared at the former Emperor.

"Hello Darcy," He spoke pure English, no accent or stumbles. "You look unchanged from our last meeting."

"Our last meeting was thousands of years ago." She saw him smile and her heart stopped.

He laughed, "I remember."

CAMP OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT

Maya was dragged from the tent by two men. The grip hurt as they hauled her across the sand. Screaming was useless because of the gag in her mouth. Maya was dragged past the camp; the soldiers watched and didn't move; no one tried to stop them.

The two men tossed her forward; she landed and rolled before hitting a pair of legs. She looked up. The muscled legs led to a narrow waist and powerful shoulders and features.

The gag was torn off her face and she cried out as some skin went with it.

"My lord," Maya backed away but never stood. "What is going on?"

"You have overstayed your welcome," Alexander spoke coolly.

Maya glanced back. They were far from camp; on the peak of a large dune, over looking an ocean of burning sand.

She looked at Alexander. He stood alone, no guards. He wasn't afraid of her. Maya moved to her knees, the ropes around her wrists made it difficult but she managed. Her body was hurting from the rough trek up here.

"Methos won't stand for this," She said gently.

"Methos won't stop me." Alexander drew his sword.

The blade was stunning; the top half was engraved with a prayer Alexander said before battle. The hilt was gold with leather pressed into it. It was longer than most blades of that time. But it suited him. The blade, like the man, was a work of art.

Maya gazed up into his impossibly blue eyes; watched the wind tangle his white-blonde hair.

"I am sorry my lord." She whispered gently.

"For what? For poisoning my camp, for drawing breath in my presence?" Alexander shook his head, "That will be fixed shortly."

He moved his arm back and Maya rolled back. The blade hit air. She found her feet and sprang up. In that same move she drew a dagger from inside her clothes. She lept as he recovered from the powerful swing.

Maya felt the blade sink deep into his body. The warmth of blood spilled across her hand. She fell with him to the sand; as the blood seeped into the golden ground, it began to cling to her skin. Maya backed away as she gasped for breath.

Alexander the Great lay dead inches from her.

"Maya!"

She turned and smiled, Methos was running toward her. No one stopped him. They were too afraid of him to try.

Maya spun as a sound came from behind her. She screamed as Alexander opened his eyes. She moved back and slipped, her body tumbled down the dune, in the opposite direction of Methos' calls.

Maya choked on hot sand as it filled her nose and mouth. The world stopped spinnig and she lay dazed on the ground. Her head spun in a sickening pattern. In a haze of light, she saw a figure moving toward her.

"Methos?" She reached for him and pain seared her. She screamed as her wrist was sliced off. "NO! I killed you!"

"Wrong!" He laughed at her, "You can't kill me, princess." Alexander marched up, grabbed her hair and shook her. "Look Methos! Look at your precious lover." Alexander sliced through her body, it wouldn't kill her, but it was painful.

"Alex, stop! Please stop!" Methos was shouting.

Dimly Maya heard a fight; she made herself focus. Methos was fighting Alexander's personal guard. Five to one shouldn't have been a problem, but stopping him wasn't the point, just to slow him down.

Maya turned her head to the stunning Alexander. She stared into his eyes, they were cold and empty as death.

"No, please," She whispered as he drew back his arm. "My king..."

The blade punched through her body as pain engulfed her senses. Maya hit the sand as a scream ripped out of her. Alexander twisted the blade once and yanked it out. Maya hit the ground, her life slid away in increasingly slower beats of her heart.

Someone knelt near her; her vision was fading and tunneling, but she knew the face, the eyes.

"Methos," She touched his face and felt the warm flushed skin. "I love you."

"Maya, I love you." He wept as her hand fell from his face.

Maya exhaled her final breath and slid into a warmth that was far from life.

PRESENT DAY PARIS

Darcy was crying as the memory ended. The chains kept her from falling to her knees with grief.

"Why?" She begged and Alexander laughed. "Why?"

"You were my enemy," Alexander pulled in a deep breath, "I never expected to see you again, Princess. Imagine my surprise when I found you repeatedly."

Darcy was helpless against the memories his voice revived. Across her memory filed thousand of years, thousands of deaths and endless pain.

"You...You were the one." She stared into his young face and saw the death-filled eyes. "You were once a great King, ruler of over half the world, how could you end up like this?"

"Methos," He said the name with hate.

Darcy stared at him, "You love him."

The clenching of a fist was all the response she got, but it was enough.

"It's not my fault," Darcy said gently.

"Wrong!" Alexander shouted and she flinched, "You blinded him, kept him from seeing me. Without you he'd have to be with me."

Darcy wanted to laugh at him; she wanted to do anything but feel afraid. "You can't make anyone love you."

Alexander's eyes flared, "I am the great Alexander, no one refuses me!"

"Methos will never bow to you." Darcy snapped with surprising strength.

Alexander grinned, and it was frightening, "Then he will cower."

Darcy flinched when the door slammed behind Alexander the Great. She fell into tears as fear roared freely through her mind.

Methos ducked under a low branch and paused at the edge of the foliage. The presence of an Immortal washed over him. He recognized it slightly.

"Well?" Amanda eyed the château, "Alexander the Great lives here?"

"A corporation, Macedonia International, bought the estate two weeks ago." Methos in formed her as he watched the ground.

"And that's means Alexander the Great?" Amanda asked.

"It's possible." Methos stepped back into the shadows, a duo of guards passed with a large dog between them. "How many do you think he has?"

"Of what? Guards or dogs?" Amanda quipped.

As they discussed a plan, the balcony doors opened. Methos fell silent when he saw the man. His hair was still white-blonde, his eyes still impossibly blue. He even stood with the same self-assured power.

"That's him." Methos whispered.

Mac and Amanda looked up and stared into the eyes of Alexander the Great.

The King turned and went back inside.

"Do you think he saw us?" Amanda asked.

"Yes," Methos stepped out into the grounds. "Come,"

Mac followed slowly, "What are you doing?"

"Alex knows were here. That was his way of inviting us in."

"Right, to kill us." Amanda snapped.

"No. He's a calculating man."

"Like you." Mac muttered.

"Where you think he got it from?" Methos asked. "I was his closest friend for years."

They crossed the vast grounds to the edge of a twin staircase. A set of double glass doors opened as Alexander stepped out. He appeared to be unarmed.

"Methos," Alexander spoke gently, "Good to see you, old friend."

The presence of another Immortal washed over the quartet and Alex grinned. At his back a woman stepped out.

"Cassandra!" Mac gasped at her, "What are you doing her?"

"Finishing old business, MacLeod." She stared at Methos as she spoke.

Methos kept his gaze on Alexander, "Where is Darcy?"

Alexander leaned on the stone railing and grinned at him. "She will not be interfering with this. You should have taken my offer."

"Never." Methos sounded down right scary. "I swore to kill you and I will."

"Not if she kills you first," Alexander countered, Cassandra started down the stairs.

Mac stepped into her path, "Cassandra, I won't let you kill him."

"Then I'll kill you." She hissed and struck.

The first clang of blades was loud in the quiet French air.

Alexander laughed and disappeared into the house.

Methos ran up the opposite set of stairs in pursuit of him. Amanda hesitated for a moment.

"Go with him," Mac shouted to her.

Amanda ran after Methos.

Darcy had regained her senses but was still cold. She heard a scream and a thud above her. It took her a moment recognize the sound of a fight. More thuds and shouts followed.

There was a bang against the door followed by a thud. Darcy stared at the spot were Alexander had stood only an hour before. The door moaned open and feet hurried down.

Darcy saw the point of a sword followed by a slender woman with dark hair. It took Darcy a moment to recognize the eyes.

"Amanda!"

Amanda crossed the water with a sick expression. Darcy frowned at her, "Surely I can't look that bad."

"It's not you. These were my favorite shoes."

Darcy laughed, she couldn't help it.

Amanda used her sword to break the chains and Darcy fell forward. The Immortal caught her with one arm and they moved toward the stairs.

"Where's Methos?"

"Trying to find Alexander," Amanda helped Darcy up the stairs, "Who'd thought he was suck a prick."

"Disappointed?" Darcy asked as they reached the door.

"A little yeah," Amanda let her lean on the wall. "I'll take you out side."

"No, you'll take me to Methos."

Amanda stared at her, "You can't interfere; it's a rule."

Darcy stared at the Immortal and knew she was right. Suddenly she remembered something Methos had said at lunch.

"You can help me find Joe." Darcy said quickly and Amanda frowned at her.

"What?"

"Joe is here."

"Did Alexander tell you that?"

"Methos said Joe had enemies. Alexander must have figured out that if he took Joe he would eventually get Methos here." Darcy looked up and down the narrow stone corridor. There was nothing but bodies. Darcy stared at one of them, bodies that were armed.

"You're serious," Amanda said as Darcy crouched down and stared going over one of the bodies. "What are you looking for?"

"A knife, a sword, a weapon I know how to use."

Darcy found a dagger one of the bodies. She held it up with a victorious smile.

"Come on, we need to find Joe and get out of Dodge."

Mac countered yet another strike. "Cassandra stop, I don't want to kill you."

"You can't save him forever, he has to pay for his crimes" Cassandra shouted. "He destroyed my people; he slaughtered innocents. How can you defend that?"

"I don't defend what he did." Mac parried her attack and backed away. "But he's my friend. He's changed, Cassandra."

"Never!" She lunged again.

Darcy and Amanda helped the weakened Joe Dawson down the luxurious hall. The fresh air that wafted in from the open doors beckoned them. Darcy stepped out and saw Mac fighting with a woman.

"Alexander doesn't work with women." Darcy muttered as she helped Joe down the stairs.

"That's Cassandra, she's after Methos."

"Ex-lover?" Darcy asked as she helped Joe sit on the last step.

"I have no idea." Amanda sat next to Joe, she stared up at Darcy. "What are you going to do? You can't stop Methos from fighting Alexander."

Darcy pulled in a deep breath, "I can't just stand here either."

Mac rolled under a lung and came up with his back to Amanda and Darcy.

Just then a man came flipping over the balcony and hit the ground. It was Methos. Darcy forgot the woman and ran to his side. He opened his eyes and stared at her.

"Darcy?"

"Hi," She kissed him softly. "You're late."

Methos touched her face, "I really should get a watch."

"You can't be late on our wedding day," She told him and he smiled.

"Isn't that sweet," Alexander snapped.

Darcy looked up to the balcony and the King vaulted over. She grabbed Methos as he stood and pulled him away. Alexander brought his sword up. Darcy recognized it as the one he killed her with.

"Don't kid yourself, Princess." Alexander stepped toward them. "You're still going to die."

"Not this time." Darcy wasn't scared anymore. "It's Darcy by the way,"

Alexander lunged at her; Methos parried the attack, stepping in front of Darcy.

Mac turned to Cassandra, "You see; he has changed."

Cassandra watched Methos fight to protect the girl. She watched as he fought with his entire heart and body. He was desperate to win this battle. In all her years she'd never seen him fight like this. Even against Silas it had been different.

Cassandra looked to the girl. Her black hair was tangled and messy; her green eyes were filled with fear as she watched. But under the fear, Cassandra sensed love, a deep, never ending love.

Mac watched Cassandra as she studied Darcy. He saw her face soften, her eyes lightened.

"He loves her enough to die." Cassandra muttered and looked at her sword. "You are right, Duncan."

She stepped away from him and pulled in a deep breath. "Alexander!" Her voice carried with an odd ring.

The king turned his head, Methos plunged his blade into the man's chest. The next blow took his head off.

Darcy went to her knees as she watched Alexander fall. Amanda hauled her backward as a fine mist began spinning around Methos. The sky darkened like an eclipse was happening. The wind whipped up as fire erupted at the first strike of lightening.

Methos collapsed as the Quickening ended. Darcy ran to him; pulling his body into her lap, she held him. Her fingers combed back his hair, her lips kissed his.

Cassandra turned away from them and silently left the grounds. Mac helped Amanda with Joe and they departed as well.

Darcy rocked gently as Methos recovered in her arms. He used his free hand to cover both of hers.

Not a word was said as they held one another. Thousands of years of brutal separation had been ended, there was nothing to say.

END OF CHAPTER THREE.....CHAPTER FOUR TO FOLLOW