Santa Fe, New Mexico, one week later:
Amber Kathleen Conroy glanced up from the bar where she was steadying drinks on a tray… aware that she'd nearly dropped the whole shebang when the immortal had entered. She'd barely seen him. A tall man, hunched over, who'd stood stark still looking around as if he'd never felt another immortal before, stared at her with wide curious eyes.
A newbie? she wondered. It had been decades since she'd seen a newbie. She met his gaze, nodded, and finished serving the drinks to her table. After collecting the payment and tips… she'd wandered in the immortal's direction. He'd found a table near the back wall and was eyeing her blankly. She slapped a napkin on the table. "What can I get ya," she asked.
He took a deep breath and smiled. "Jack… neat. Make it a double."
"Ya act like ya never met one of us before?" she pushed.
He nodded. "Well… you're the first I ever felt."
Amber's eyes widened slightly. "Ya're new then." She waited while he nodded. "I've a break comin' up. I'll take it with ya. Stay here." He nodded again. "I'll be gettin ya a drink." Thoughtfully she returned to the bar… ordered for him and waited while Slim poured the drink. Her heart was beating more loudly than the sounds of the boisterous Friday night crowd.
The country-western music blared on the jukebox and the voices of the drunk and slightly disorderly were a loud blare in her ears. And yet… everything paled in the face of this immortal. If he was new… he needed to know things… Amber wasn't certain that she was the one to teach him. Idly she wondered just who she was in contact with that might be willing to take on a student.
Collecting the drink, she yelled at Slim that she was taking her break… and returned to set the stranger's glass before him. She settled into the other chair.
After he'd taken a good drink from it, he looked at her and smiled, saying nothing.
"My name's Amber…" she finally said, "although I use Connie around here these days."
"Derrick… although my ID currently says Rick."
"Ya know what ya are then?" Amber asked. It was rare for a newbie to seem so calm and collected in the face of his recent death. Perhaps he didn't know.
The young immortal nodded and sipped his whiskey. He set the glass down. "I was raised by one of us and her husband. So I have some idea as to how things go."
"Have ya a sword?"
He nodded.
"But ya've not had to use it?"
He smiled as he shook his head. "As I said… you're the first I've ever felt."
"When did ya last see this immortal who raised ya?"
Derrick shrugged. "About twelve years ago. I don't even know where they are now."
"So ya've no one to turn to for real trainin'?" When he shook his head, Amber leaned back thoughtfully in the chair. She met his piercing blue gaze and for a moment, she was startled. She'd never known anyone who stared at her so forcefully as if she was the only person in the world. This Derrick was focused entirely upon her and what she had to say. Then his eyes moved slightly as if he were focused on something around her. He met her gaze again and smiled. She was a bit surprised at her next words. "Have ya a place to stay tonight?"
"No… not yet. I was going to see about renting a motel room after I'd had a drink or two… to wet down the dust in my throat."
Amber ran one hand through her amber hair… tucking a lock that had managed to escape the barrette, behind one ear. "If ya'd like… ya can bed down at my place. It's upstairs. Bein' as ya're so new… I can't be lettin' ya head off without some help. There's a few of us in the area… and some are a might nasty."
He smiled. "That would be nice."
Amber shook her head. "Oh… I'm not offerin' more than a place to sleep… ya understand."
Derrick shrugged. "Of course."
"I need to be gettin' back to work now. Ya stay here." She rose, the small tray in her hands.
He finished his drink and handed her the empty glass. "Thanks!" Then he leaned back in the chair and just seemed to watch the Friday night crowd with a thoughtful expression on his face. Throughout the evening… he kept a tab going… and sipped slowly at his drinks as he simply observed the people about him. Amber wondered what it was he was looking at… or if he were simply still so new at immortality… that he was gazing in wonder at the mortals around him… knowing they would die… and that he would live on.
It worried her some that he already had a sword. Likely a gift of the couple who'd raised him… although that in itself was unusual. Generally… if she found a pre-immortal… and she admittedly hadn't in decades… she just noted them and moved on. So did most of the others she'd known. The words of her teacher, Connor MacLeod… dead at the dawn of this century… whispered in her head.
"It's better not to get too close to any of us Katie-girl. Never forget… you might have to face one of us in combat some day. You might not have a choice in it."
As a result… other than Connor… and a handful of others… she'd never really spent time with other immortals. She'd made some friends about a dozen years ago that she was still in occasional contact with… but she'd never dared to take a student… understanding that having to kill a student someday… might be even worse than having to kill a friend … or a lover.
As the night wound down… and the crowd thinned out… Derrick remained quietly at his back table… just observing the others. When the bartender readied to close the doors… the young immortal rose and stepped out into the night… gathered a long duffle bag from his bike… and waited for her to finish up.
Once done… she waved goodnight to Slim and left. She motioned to Derrick to follow her up the steep wooden stairs at the side of the building and let him into her sparsely furnished rooms.
"The couch I'm told is tolerable for sleepin'," she said, turning a lamp on. "I'll get ya some sheets and a blanket." She pulled the spare set from the closet and handed them to him. "Just so ya know. My door'll be locked and I'll have my sword at my side if'n ya have any ideas."
Derrick smiled warmly. "I'm certain that won't be necessary." He thanked her for the linens and set them on the couch. "Bathroom?"
"Through there," Amber pointed then retired to her bedroom… throwing the deadbolt to be certain. She was uneasy… and couldn't for the life of her, understand just why she'd asked him up. "Ya're a bloody fool Katie girl!" she said… recalling her impetuous invitation to the young immortal. But if he was a newbie… he really shouldn't be out there on his own. At least… not yet! She changed for bed… pulling on her light flannel pants and the tank top she usually slept in… and settled in for the night.
An hour later Amber slammed her fists against the mattress. She desperately needed to use the bathroom. In her haste to put a locked door between Derrick and herself… she'd forgotten to go… and the longer she lay here with it on her mind… the worse it got. Finally… with no other option… she rose… tied her flannel robe around her and picked up her sword… purely as a precaution.
Undoing the bolt she slowly opened the door.
In the pale moonlight pouring through the blinds of the double window… she did not see him on the couch as expected. Amber grasped the lightweight cutlass in both hands and slowly entered the room. As her eyes adjusted… she saw him sit up from the floor. The moonlight played over his bare chest. He seemed at ease.
"Is that for me?" Derrick asked.
Amber's mouth worked up and down. "No… I just like to be careful when there's a strange immortal about."
"Oh." His voice was non-committal. He seemed amused at her actions.
"I'm sorry to have awakened ya." She crossed to the bathroom and shut the door as she flipped on the lights. Heaving in relief… she leaned against the door and shook her head. Once finished… she turned the lights out and opened the door.
Derrick was lying on his back… his hands behind his head.
"Don't ya find that uncomfortable?" Amber asked pausing to stand over him.
In the dim moonlight he turned his head to face her. "A carry-over from my childhood, I suppose. I used to prefer sleeping on the floor in strange places… especially if I was worried about something," he laughed. "I can recall putting a sheet over the chairs and making a tent."
"Tell me about them?" Amber asked thoughtfully, "These immortals ya knew."
He seemed to shrug. "The woman was my sister… or I have always thought of her as my older sister. I lived with her from the time I was about six. Then her husband joined us… I saw her fight and take a head once. After that they told me about immortals and what they were."
"But they didn't tell ya what ya were?" There was a hint of worry in her voice.
Derrick raised up on one elbow and laughed. "No… but I think I must have wondered about it. I recall burning my hand once to see if I'd heal."
Amber knelt on the floor next to him. "Strange they kept you with them. Most of us find it dangerous to have pre-immortals around."
"She was my sister," Derrick said with a shrug as if that explained everything.
Amber was aware that he was gazing at her intently. For the second time this night she felt like all of his attention was focused on her and what she might be thinking. She sat back and looked out the windows at the clear Santa Fe night. After some time she shook her head. "So you are one of the few who grew up knowin' about us… but not really prepared to be one of us."
"Something like that." His voice was quiet… non-threatening. Amber stared into his face… aware that despite the darkness… she could see his blue eyes in the moonlight… eyes so blue that for a moment she was lost in them. She felt as if she could trust him. Slowly she leaned forward until her lips brushed his. Startled, she halted and pulled back. He waited… making no move. Slowly, thoughtfully… Amber leaned in again to kiss him once more… pleased when he kissed her back.
Slowly she lifted one hand to the side of his face. One of his gently slipped inside her robe and maneuvered her onto her back. He leaned down over her and kissed her firmly then pulled up. "Are you certain?" he asked.
Amber nodded and pulled him down for another kiss already anticipating much more.
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Amber awoke… aware that Derrick was no longer next to her. She stretched contentedly. The gray light of dawn was banishing the shadows in the room. The floor had been a surprisingly comfortable place to sleep.
Aware of him moving… she sat up and pulled the blanket around her bare breasts as she watched him go through a kata… a stylized warm-up with a large two-handed broadsword. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched him move… he seemed far more capable than some newbie who was just beginning an immortal life.
The sword flashed in the sunlight as he maneuvered it back and forth… thrusting… turning… slashing… and shifting it from hand to hand as he turned. He paused in a lunge and glanced at her as if just noticing her. He stood straight up… the sword held easily in both hands before him.
Amber tilted her head and brushed her amber hair back from her eyes. "Is that for me?" she asked in amusement.
"Sorry," Derrick said kneeling beside her with a wide grin. "I like to work out first thing. It clears my mind and helps me focus on the day ahead." He lay the sword on the floor behind him and teasingly kissed the end of her nose lightly.
"Aye… first thing is always good." She glanced at the kitchen. "Do ya drink coffee? I have some instant."
"Instant is fine. Perhaps I should shower." He rummaged in his bag for some clean clothes and headed for the bathroom.
Amber pulled her discarded sleepwear on and retied her robe as she filled the teakettle with water and rummaged in her cabinets for the makings of a light breakfast. She had little… she seldom was up this early… usually sleeping in until early afternoon after a late night working the bar. She was surprised how rested she felt. How contented she was this morning.
She'd never had an immortal lover. Her teacher, Connor had always warned her against taking one. She'd been surprised at how very hard and firm Derrick had felt… almost as if he were made of stone. And yet… she'd never known such soft kisses… such gentle caresses… such an intense lover… who seemed more focused on her pleasure… than on his own. Even now… she felt alive and aroused… almost wishing he'd made love to her again this morning.
The shower stopped, and he emerged from the bathroom shortly later… dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. He flashed her a smile as he knelt to repack his bag and pull on socks and boots.
She stirred his coffee. "Do ya take anything with it?"
Rising he took the cup from her hands. "Black is fine."
"Ya pullin' out then?" Amber gestured toward the duffel.
"Yes."
"Oh." Amber's disappointment filtered through that one word. She glanced at the floor.
"Come with me."
"What?" Amber laughed. "I have a life here."
Derrick shrugged with a smile… and sipped at the coffee. He leaned against the counter and looked at her evenly… his eyes never leaving her face.
Amber brushed her hair out of face… aware that she was blushing. "I can't just pick up and go."
"Suit yourself." He finished the coffee and set the cup down. Then he reached for his duffel and slung it over his shoulder. He waited… as if considering how to say goodbye. Leaning forward he kissed her. "It was nice. Thank you." He smiled as he backed away and turned toward the door.
Amber watched it close behind him. "Ya're a fool Katie girl!" she mumbled and opened it to step out onto the landing. Derrick was halfway down the stairs. "Wait… I'll go. I can't let a newbie such as yourself go off on his own. 'Twouldn't be right."
He paused and looked back at her with a smile. "Then I'll wait for you if that's what you want."
"Aye… you wait." She flounced back into her rooms and laughed at the silliness she felt. Then she hurriedly dressed and packed. "No doubt about it Katie girl… ya're actin' like a damned fool!" But she secured her sword in her long coat, and left without a backward glance… and no regrets.
She climbed onto the rear of the jet cycle and clasped her arms about him… leaning against his hard lean body. Amber Kathleen Conroy had never felt happier in her two hundred and fifty-seven years.
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Chateau de Valicourt:
Robert de Valicourt tiptoed into their bedroom and set the crystal vase of pink roses on the night table. He sat gently on the bed and smiled at Gina… his wife. Her dark eyes opened and she giggled at him… rising slowly to kiss him so passionately that he found himself returning that kiss and… trying to get his clothes off at the same time.
"Really Robert!" Gina laughed as he pulled back slightly… a stubborn button preventing his graceful divestiture of clothes. "One would think we were newlyweds!"
"In a way… we are… my beautiful wife." He ripped at the shirt… hearing the stubborn button bounce somewhere on the floor. All he wanted was her… and nothing else mattered… nothing at all.
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