Disclaimer: The characters within are used without permission for the sheer non profit enjoyment of fans of the Gabriel Knight genre. Part 8
Clatter and noise died down considerably as the door to the pub swong open, two figures falling in behind it. They were both tall men, one dressed in a black trench coat the other in a casually cut brown leather jacket. One donned long, well tended hair with a roguish demeanor, the other was a bit on the large side, his hair sparse on his scalp.
"I gotta take a leak." The larger man mentioned, wandering off toward the restroom while his companion found himself a seat near the bar at a clean table.
Gabriel scanned the bar looking at the patrons with a sigh. He'd been researching through the Shattenjäger stacks all day and was more than ready for some relaxation. A strong brew really sounded appealing and he had to admit, feeling giddy for a while would be nice. He frowned at the level of seriousness that his life had attained. He didn't feel like the same old Gabe.
He rolled his eyes, leaning back. Just recently. Just getting adjusted to the whole Shattenjäger business in general. How could one honestly expect to get used to it? How could one go from being carefree and hedonistic to responsible and thoughtful? He thought he had... Perhaps that's why he was so troubled. The voodoo murders seemed to go by without too much trouble and he wasn't too uptight... He placed an order for some thick stew and a couple of draughts of ale then waited for Mosely to return.
It was just that he had been through so much... it would've changed any man. Easily and quickly. But as with all change, one had two choices: go with the flow or be rolled over... He knew that he was choosing the latter. He had been depressed, uneasy... it was a struggle to find anything to think about besides the next case. Course he was very new to the whole realm of fighting evil...
He chuckled wryly and looked around the room again, his eyes settling on a gorgeous woman sitting across the room from him, staring down at a lap top computer. Long blond hair-- almost white-- danced about her mid back, hanging about an unusually pale face, made especially white by the dark suit clinging to her thin frame.
Gabriel's eyes fell to her legs-- long and shapely beneath the table he pursed his lips and nodded with appreciation. He had to admit that it had been some time since he had last thought seriously about his libido... especially considering the last time it had been satiated. The clamber of Mosely joining him and the waitress setting down their drinks forced him to turn away.
"Nice bathroom." Mosely took the flagon of ale and took a swig, grimacing appreciatively. "Now I see why ya spend so much time here."
Gabriel chuckled and took a swig himself, his heart lightening as he regarded his friend. "You know Mose? This is probably the first time I've relaxed in a hell of a long time."
"Yeah?" Mosely nodded thoughtfully, sipping the beer. "Try comin to work with us... you'll get all the relaxin ya need."
Gabriel snorted. "No doubt." He motioned to his friend's stomach. "How's the county hog comin along anyway? Almost fat enough for the Louisiana State Fair?"
"Piss off, Knight!" He glared at him. "And I'm not fat... This is stress enforcement."
"Enforcing what? Those polyester slacks? What size were those when you bought them anyway?"
"Knight--" Mosely was interrupted by a knock on their table, drawing both men's eyes to a dark figure standing before them. He was surrounded by three other men whose eyes were averted from the table as they glanced about the room curiously.
"Can we help you?" Gabriel asked, his tone even-- a smile playing on his lips.
"We'd like to have word with you." The man's raspy voice was barely audible above the noise.
"I see." Gabriel looked between the men and shrugged. "Want to take a seat?"
"I think we need to talk outside." He motioned toward the door.
Gabriel looked at Mosely and then back up to the guy and shook his head. "Well, sorry. I'm busy right now. Maybe you can call my secretary and set up an appointment... Sometime in the never time frame?"
With an eerie swiftness, the man flipped the table away, grabbing Gabriel by the lapels and hoisting him from his chair. "I don't think you heard me right. I said--"
The sound of a cocking gun resounded over the now silent crowd, Gabriel saw an automatic pistol aimed at the side of the man's head held by the young woman he'd been admiring earlier. "I think he heard you just fine." Her clear voice was hardened by the danger in her tone. "Let him go."
The man hesitated but shoved Gabriel back, glaring angrily at him. "This is not over."
"Don't be so sure." She kept the gun trained on his head as he and his companions turned to leave. "Don't bother coming back."
Gabriel watched them go like a whipped pack of dogs dragging their tails between their legs. He looked at the woman as she slid her gun back into a holster on her shoulder. "Are you alright?" She asked, her jade eyes scanning him over critically a moment.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He managed looking over at Mosely before clearing his throat and continuing. "Who are you?" He extended his hand. "My name is Gabriel and this is Frank."
"There's really no time for formalities." She looked at Mosely then hurried over to her table, collecting her computer and joining them again. "We have to go." She took Gabriel's arm and started toward the door.
"Wait a minute!" Gabriel stopped and furrowed his brow. "What's going on?"
"You're in a lot of danger now we have to go!" She looked at them pleadingly. "Please?"
Mosely shrugged as Gabriel's eyes fell upon him. "Up to you. Don't see any harm..."
Gabriel sighed and nodded. "Alright, let's go." He allowed himself to be led from the pub into the street. They went around to the small parking lot and she threw open the passenger door to a maroon Porsche, motioning for them to get in.
Gabriel looked at Mosely sympathetically. "Sorry Mose." He pushed the seat forward and waited for the complaining detective to cram his body into the confined space before hopping in himself. The car was already started and she pulled it onto the street, speeding away from the pub...
Kail's eyes bolted open as Alia was forcedly yanked from next to him. Before he could stand, he felt a cold sharp blade touching his neck and he tensed, looking with his eyes for the threat. They were armored, glistening chain clung to their shoulders and black leather boots rode their thighs. He pursed his lips and looked about for Alia. She wasn't making any noise but for a grunt from struggling.
The feeling of helplessness infuriated him to the point of quivering. "Who are you?" He asked through clenched teeth, his face drawn in fury.
"Shut up you!" The man said, his German was horrible with a distinct English accent.
"What are you doing to her?" He ignored the command and tallied his options. None at the moment.
"I said shut up!" He was nudged by a boot and bit his lip anger filling him with a fury he was unaccustomed to.
Moments passed. Kail stared into the darkened sky the stars shining brightly. How on Earth had he slept so bloody long? Through the entire day? It was bizarre. He had little time to dwell on the fact.
The man holding him captive nodded and smiled. "I'll take care of em." He looked back down at Kail. "Seems that you aren't needed friend."
Kail glared up at him defiantly, unable to believe that his life would end as such: On his back in the middle of the night... the victim of a sneak attack. It didn't seem right somehow. He had always thought that if he died, it would certainly be tragic but in a more noble way than helpless unable to act other than to watch death descend.
"Just get it over with." He spat, trying his best to sound threatening and failing somewhat. Perhaps it was the circumstance.
"Don't worry, I will." The sword was lifted from his neck above the man's head. He was going for a decapitation. Kail lashed out and grabbed his foot, yanking it up and pushing him back. The man flailed as he stumbled into the brush, falling flat on his back.
Kail was up in an instant, withdrawing his own sword from its sheath and holding it in at en garde position before him. "Seems the tables have turned." He announced as his opponent found his feet. "Don't pick up the sword and I won't kill you."
"We'll see who does the killing!" The man blubbered, rushing toward him with his sword raised above his right shoulder. Kail gave him a few more strides before side stepping the attack and parrying the sword from his adversary's hand. The man stared at him in disbelief and thought to turn and run but Kail was on him, the hilt of his blade crashing down on his skull. The body clumped to the ground unconscious and Kail looked around for other enemies before sliding his sword away and getting dressed.
"Wake up." Kail splashed chill spring water in the bound man's face-- which reddened as he sputtered to consciousness. "Very good. Are you feeling well?"
"Go ta hell." He spat offering Kail the same defiant look he was granted earlier.
"I think you'll be in the way." Kail placed the tip of his sword in the ground and pushed himself up. "I'm not going to be very kind to you. Fact is I'm going to beat you for every answer you give me that I don't appreciate. Shall we begin with who you are or where they are taking Alia? You choose. Both will be made clear sooner or later and I think that for a continued happy existence, you should make it sooner."
"Go to hell." The man offered the words slowly each syllable deliberate. Kail sighed and nodded.
"I see how this is going to be." Without looking down, he kicked the man in the chest and crouched beside him, regarding his tense face. "That was by far the best thing that could happen. You can still live a long life with that. You are unmarred in anyway. Next I start to remove parts." He motioned to the fire, the man's sword was propped on a rock the blade sticking half way in the flames. "And I'm quite proficient in the art of chiurgy. We may be here for some time."
"I don't know anything!" His voice was now quivering and his body was trembling. Sweat broke on his brow mixing with the cold water from earlier. He looked up at Kail with pleading eyes. "Please! You must believe me!"
"I'm sorry that I don't." Kail scanned his body and shrugged. "I suppose that you could still work without your right hand... Not as much of an existence as you could have right now but certainly not as bad as it will get." Kail moved around behind him pulling out a long dagger. "I'm afraid that this will probably be extremely painful."
"Wait!" The man screamed. "Wait! I'll talk! I'll talk!!"
Kail slid the dagger back in his sheath. "Alright." He nodded, moving around in front of him. "So talk. Where is Alia being taken?"
"They're taking her to meet Baron von Avery."
Kail blinked with a sigh. "Are you lying to me?" He prayed that he was.
"Nay! I'm not lying! On my life I'm not!"
"I see." Kail shook his head and looked around, suddenly nervous. "Where are they to meet him?"
"We have a camp set up not but 5 miles that way." The man motioned with his head off to the east and Kail rose to his feet.
"If you are lying to me, there is no way that you will be able to free yourself before I return. If I find nothing, I shall not listen to your cries to tell me the truth. I'll just begin making you a beggar for the rest of your life. Do you understand?"
The man nodded pathetically.
"And you still wish to stick to your story?"
"On my word they are there! You'll see!"
"Let's hope for your sake I do." Kail turned and left the clearing, pressing through the dark forest, his cloak billowing behind. The wind had picked up and the clouds were covering the previously serene sky. A distant thunder clapped and lighting exploded on the horizon....
"Great night for a drive huh?" Gabriel looked over at the tight-lipped woman who drove well over to fast in the pouring rain. Lightning was dancing on the horizon and Gabriel was having a difficult time seeing past the unceasing rain that was exploding on the windshield. "Could we maybe slow down a bit?"
"No. There's no time." She glanced at him. "Trust me."
"I think we've done enough of that so far. I think it's time for some answers."
"Answers you'll receive-- when we get to where we're going."
"Can you please tell me where that is?"
"You'll see."
"I'm not playing games here, lady--"
"Neither am I!" She raised her voice, glaring at him dangerously. "Now shut up and be patient!"
Gabriel stared at her incredulously for a long moment unsure how to proceed. "Perhaps you'd like to share what's stressing you so bad?"
"I would not! Now please wait until we arrive!"
Gabriel looked back at Mosely who shrugged and frowned, still irritated with his seating arrangements. They had been driving for over a half hour and were well outside of Munich-- heading in the direction of Rittersburgh actually. Gabriel wondered if she wasn't just taking them home.
He looked out the window and cried out. "My God! Stop the car quick!" He was pointing tapping the window, his eyes following something until he was craned around in the seat. "Stop the car now!" She slammed on the brakes and the car slid into a fishtail, sliding off the road at over forty miles an hour hopping a curb and sideswiping a tree. Metal crunched, glass shattered. A scream. The cold wet rain... a severe pain. Darkness.