Chapter Forty-Nine
Greece:

The easiest way to get to the island, since there was no airfield, and choppers required proofs of intent to assist tsunami victims that Kingsley didn't want to provide, was by boat. He'd made excellent time in his dash through Italy after killing McCormick, and had called ahead about a chartered plane that was ready for him when they arrived. He'd filed his flight plan and had taken off within minutes. Only then did he feel that he had outwitted pursuers and local police one more time. They really were fools! He could go anywhere… but he headed for Athens. His focus was still on finding the immortal Gerard whom he believed was on Niebos.

He managed to rent, at a ridiculously high price, a small sloop at a marina southeast of Athens. They'd had some damage there, but this boat looked to be in good shape, as the cove it was moored in had been sheltered from the waves. It was similar to small sloops he'd sailed by himself centuries ago. Some things never change, he thought with a dark grin.

Kingsley secured Sarah in the captain's cabin and concentrated on steering and following the map he'd obtained of the area and the information he'd downloaded and printed regarding Niebos. Although it was on the map… oddly… there was no name over it… or indication that it was inhabited.

Again Kingsley nodded. This place might be exactly what he was searching for. He could prey upon the villagers after he'd dealt with Gerard, whom he suspected of having done much the same over the centuries. After all… he had seen in Gerard a man not unaccustomed to the pleasures of pain. Perhaps he'd engaged in such long before the Europeans ever gave it a name… sadism… named for the Marquis de Sade. He smiled as he considered all the lovely ways he could torture his victims. He'd made quite the study of it over the centuries. And, he chuckled, he even had an immortal now to compare his studies with. He'd not had to hold back with her during the beatings… she'd healed… she'd endured… and she'd become complacent and attentive. Idly he wondered what else he could do to her… or if not her… he could now venture out and hunt other immortals… not to kill… but to torture.

And even if Gerard were not on Niebos? He laughed again. It wouldn't matter. It would become his base of operations as he continued to search for his adversary. He sailed throughout the long afternoon, and as darkness fell, he'd arrived. The island was even smaller than he'd estimated… the wreck of the village from the wave clear to him. He could still see a few people moving among the detritus of their lives. Further up the mountain, he saw lights. Evidently power was still on for some residents. It was toward the lights that he would head. If an immortal lived here… it would not be in the squalor of the village.

Coming along side a massive stone wharf that, while covered with some debris, was essentially as solid as it had been. Kingsley threw a mooring line off to young man and gave him a wave and a "hello" as he secured the sloop.

Going below, he unlocked the captain's cabin and leered at the solemn and unmoving form of Sarah Manning. She'd hadn't moved since he'd thrust her in here hours ago. She stared at her hands curled on her lap. For a moment he considered finding fault with something to have some fun… but recalling his real purpose here, he grabbed her to her feet and pushed her ahead of him out the door. He'd even considered kiling her or leaving her in the sloop… but had decided he might need her to distract Adams. He'd deal with Adams later.

"Up top my dear… the game's afoot and we've an immortal to hunt." She stumbled slightly and he kicked her. She cringed and apologized… but she also speeded up. On deck she looked around at the darkening island, the shape of its dormant volcano still sharp against the growing darkness. Kingsley grinned and pulled a coat around her shoulders… a coat that held a familiar weight. Sarah's eyes widened.

"Don't get any ideas, my dear. If you try anything… anything at all… you will know an eternity of pain. Death I will deny you until you've gone utterly mad. Do I make myself clear?"

Sarah nodded.

"Good. You are my backup weapon if for some reason I need it. Once I've challenged Gerard… you are free to do as you wish."

Sarah nodded again.

"Now then… let's go." Ever so politely, as he'd been doing whenever others might see, he took her arm, held her close, and steered her where he wished her to go.

Sarah didn't argue. He'd held out hope for her freedom. Inwardly she prayed that this Gerard person was here. If he was… then she was free. She was finally free once more. She had not dared to hope for freedom… so certain had she been of her death. She was at this point more fearful of being beaten again than in death itself. For death would be a release from this hell she'd landed in. She'd lived a life on the edge… most of her existence… and she'd dared the fates to ever collect on her excesses. Well Kingsley had bought up her debts and made her pay… oh yes… he'd made her pay. Sarah made no struggle against him… in fact she was eager and hopeful that Ben Adams would be here as well, and that he would deal summarily with Kingsley for his treatment of her.

Sarah could barely recall what gentleness was like. But she had the sense that nothing would ever compare to what she'd lived through. Ben would be gentle with her. He would love her. He would hold her gently during the night and whisper soft words in her ear. Of this she was certain. She had to be.

Kingsley threaded his way through people still working to collect debris and deal with mud. Most had evidently stopped as darkness had fallen. He aked about some friends he thought were here and dropped the names Gerard and Adams. The two men he approached indicated they knew no one by those names but that he might ask elsewhere.

Elsewhere was what he intended. The floodlights surrounding one of the buildings he had made out on the mountain's slope drew him ever upward. As he reached the building, he began to sense an immortal. His grip on Sarah's arm tightened until she almost gasped. Then she moaned as she felt the inevitable snap. "Just to keep you under control, my dear. Remember that." Then he dragged her on so that what might have been a simple fracture was twisted and she could feel the sharp end of the bone pierce the surrounding muscle tissue. Her knees gave way. When she fell… he dragged her to her feet by the same arm. Sarah began to weep… and deep inside of her a small hot kernel of hate and retribution began to grow.

As he reached the building, it became clear that it was a hospital. Kingsley pulled her harder. "Perfect," he hissed "I'm bringing you in to be seen. We had an accident on the boat. Understand?"

Sarah bit her lip. The arm would have healed fairly quickly if it had been a straight break… but twisted as it was… would take longer… maybe long enough for a doctor to set it. She made no protest.

Within the flouescent-lit reception area they paused among the crowd of people sitting in chairs. Sarah looked around for the souce of immortality, finding it in the face of a child. Tow-headed, about ten years old, he stared across the room at them both. In his hands was some water for someone. He turned and gave it to an elderly woman and then took off running.

Kingsley hissed and took off after him leaving Sarah alone among watching eyes. A few moments later she felt another immortal and turned sharply at the approach. The slight, dark-haired man with a goatee eyed her curiously. He motioned her to approach and Sarah did so. He winced when he saw her arm.

"That looks bad."

Sarah nodded. "It'll heal."

He gestured for her to follow him. "I don't want to treat you out here… come on." He pushed open a door and held it for her. She followed. On the far side of the door she felt a sudden wave of immortality as if there were a dozen or more here. She trembled and shook her head. "No… no" as she tried to back up.

"It's all right. No one will hurt you," the immortal said. "Here… sit down out here in the hall in this waiting area. I'll treat you here. I'm Dr. Powers."

Sarah hesitantly sat in the chair while Powers took a good look at her arm.

"This is going to hurt, I fear. No help for it… I have to push the bone back into place. Ready?"

Sarah nodded, and was surprised that the pain was somehow a welcome thing… it felt good in that now she could sense the healing was ready to start. Powers turned and pulled some large sterile gauze pads from a tray and ripped them open. He smiled. "To wipe away the blood." Gently he began to cleanse her arm.

Sarah suddenly began crying … but whether from pain or in relief… she wasn't certain. Besides… Kingsley was still out there… chasing a ten-year-old boy. If there was one thing Sarah knew… Kingsley would be back for her.

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Without a sword, and true to form, Kenny's first reaction when seeing a strange immortal was to run. He sensed the male following him as he raced down the corridor and out a side door. He headed across the dimly lit path toward the villa, where he knew most of the other's were. Part of it was self-preservation, and part of it stemmed from a desire to let the others know.

Stumbling onto the veranda, Kenny ran straight into Eleanor.

"Kenny? What's wrong?" she asked him.

Kenny frantically pointed back the way he'd come. Already he could hear the male immortal approaching. The boy tried to explain that there were two of them… thrusting his fingers at Eleanor's face and pointing at the hospital.

As the male stumbled forward, sword in hand, he pulled up when he saw and felt Eleanor. He tilted his head as he considered the situation. Then he saw Carl step forward. The man laughed aloud. "What is this… the Immortal Brady Bunch around here?"

"Who are you? What do you want?" Eleanor asked.

Kenny turned to face the man, feeling Eleanor's hands protectively on his shoulders. He smirked back at the male, knowing he was probably sizing her up as an easy target. Kenny hadn't seen her in action… at least not in combat… but he felt that she might distract the male long enough for him to hide. Besides… with both Eleanor and Carl facing the stranger, Kenny doubted he'd be in any real danger. The black immortal was both tall and muscular. Of all the immortals that Kenny had seen, he was the only one who openly wore a sword.

"Martin Kingsley," the newcomer bowed. "I'm looking for an old friend… Gerard."

Kenny felt one of Eleanor's hands clench on his shoulder. Evidently she knew who this Gerard was. Moments later the boy saw and felt the Swordmaster's approach. He smiled to himself. Maybe this stranger would deal with Phillip as Kenny wished that he could.

"Martin," Phillip said simply.

"This is marvelous!" Kingsley laughed. "I've searched for you for so very long. Do you have any idea how hard you are to find? A private island. I should have thought of that." He turned and glanced back at the village below. "I shall enjoy myself here."

"Oh?" replied Phillip with a slight smile. "Do you think that I would allow you to remain? In fact… do you think that I would allow you to live?"

Kingsley laughed merrily. "Oh Gerard… you didn't kill me then… and you had good reason. You won't kill me now. I've learned so much in the last few centuries. But pleasantries aside… I think you and I should discuss our… arrangements?"

Phillip glanced about, obviously considering the situation. "Very well… but not here."

"Why not here?" Kingsley laid his sword lightly on his shoulder as he strutted back and forth.

"There are mortals here. Our meetings are not for mortal eyes… you know that."

Kingsley paused and nodded as if he understood the implication in Phillip's words. "Very well… where do you suggest?"

Phillip pointed toward the mountaintop. "Fifteen minutes. I'll meet you on top."

"That's holy ground," spat Kingsley. "I saw the picture on the website."

Phillip shook his head. "No… it's not."

Shrugging, Kingsley seemed to consider the suggestion. "Isolated… perhaps it would work. How do I get there?"

Grinning, Phillip replied. "You climb the Pilgrim's Path." He pointed in the direction of where the path snaked its way up the mountain. "You go on… I will be along shortly."

"It's dark."

Phillip shrugged. "I know. But that's where we'll go. No one is up there now. I'll give you fifteen minutes to be on your way. I'll follow behind. That should give you a chance to check out the lay of the land and be ready for me when I arrive."

"Always such a gentleman," taunted Kingsley as he bowed again; this time sweeping low and gesturing with his sword. Then he straightened. "And when we're done my old friend, I look forward to getting to know you better," he said to Eleanor. Then he turned and headed into the darkness toward the path which shown dimly in the moonlight.

-----

Phillip pivoted swiftly and went inside to his study. He opened his safe and pulled a sheaf of papers out and handed them to Eleanor. "In case this goes wrong… be prepared. I've signed over everything to you."

"Is he that good?" she asked worriedly.

"I don't know. I let him live when I first met him as he was young and inexperienced. I'd hoped he'd grow and learn and change." Phillip gazed down at Kenny and put one hand on his shoulder. "Just as I let you live. Did you ever wonder why?"

Kenny nodded.

"I might have been you. But for the intervention of another immortal in my young life… I might well have died as a child. Considering the angry and confused man that I was and some of my associations at the time… I might have been as treacherous and duplicitous an immortal as you've been." He chuckled. "I've always had a soft spot for you small ones. I keep hoping that with fair treatment and the hand of friendship… you'd learn. Some never do."

He kissed Eleanor's cheek. "Tell Marianna I love her." He turned to see Denis and Denara standing in the doorway looking worried. Denara ran to him and he lifted her up. "Don't cry small one. I have no intention of sacrificing myself… but it's been a long time since I seriously fought a challenge… a long time." He glanced at Eleanor. "Long before I met you. Remind me to tell you some day."

She nodded, fighting back tears.

He hugged Denara and then set her down. "Look after her Denis." Pulling his short sword from the safe, he buckled the scabbard about his waist and giving them all a small wave, he raced outside. The two small ones followed him out onto the terrace and stood watching him make his way up the slope. Phillip knew every rock and cranny of this island… even in the dark. He'd climbed that path in daylight and in the dark of the moon… in good weather and in foul. He knew where he could cut across… and he knew that he could climb it in five minutes and not be winded. He focused on the climb. If he'd timed it right, Kingsley would just reach the summit and be winded when he arrived. Phillip would still have the advantage of the terrain.

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Almost as soon as Phillip left, Eleanor heard Grace cry out from her and John's room. She rounded on Carl. "Get Greg… now!"

The big man nodded and took off toward the hospital.

Kenny tugged at her shoulder and tried again to remind her that there was another immortal at the hospital.

"Carl!" she called out. He stopped and looked back. "Be careful… I think there must be a second one."

He gave a small salute… barely a tip of an imaginary hat and went on.

"You did well Kenny," she told the boy putting her hands on his shoulders and gazing into his eyes as if seeking lies there.

Kenny nodded and closed in to wrap his arms about her waist and lay his head against her chest so that she could stroke his hair. He could play nice for now. Behind her he eyed the still-open safe and wondered if there was another sword in there. Perhaps if Eleanor ran upstairs to check on Grace, he could manage a look.

As if reading a part of his mind… Eleanor stepped back and smiled. "I need to check on Grace." She left and Kenny eyed the safe.

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Carl raced into the hospital, quickly sensing Greg's position. He thundered down the hallway and pushed open the doors.

Greg was on a low stool working on another immortal's arm.

Carl pointed at Greg, then back at the villa and tried to say Grace's name. Only a garbled sound emanated from his mouth. He shook his head violently and patted his stomach and then made a curved motion… it was the same way he'd made Greg understand yesterday.

The doctor's eyes widened. "Grace?" he asked.

Carl nodded.

Greg turned to the woman. "I have to go now. Carl will look after you." He rose. "Keep an eye on her. The immortal she's with has been torturing her." Then he was gone.

Carl turned and eyed the female grimly. He folded his arms as he stood over her. She looked up at him without fear and then gazed down the corridor from which the booming thrum of the comatose immortals on the ward emanated.

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Arriving at a dead run at the summit… Phillip felt Kingsley's presence near the center of the ruins. He could just make him out in the sliver of moonlight. Kingsley was bent over his knees and breathing heavily.

'You cheated," Kingsly gasped as he lifted his sword. "I knew you would!"

Drawing his shortsword and holding it easily at his side, Phillip laughed. "I left fifteen minutes after you did. Can I help it if you're a slow climber?"

"Why did you ruin my life? I saw in your eyes that you, too, understood my hobby."

Phillip nodded as he moved to a better position, with the sliver of moon behind him. "You think what you did then was evil?" He laughed. "I've seen the face of evil. I know it can be seductive. But I turned from that long before you ever were. I ruined your existence in that time and place to save the lives of the innocent. I let you live so that you might learn from what happened. Evidently… you chose not to learn."

"And now you think to kill me?" laughed Kingsley. "I've been very busy. Shall I tell you how many men, women and children I've tortured? Shall I tell you what I plan for your woman? Such a little thing. And that boy? And anyone else!"

Kingsley suddenly rushed at Phillip swinging his sword in a downward slice. Phillip easily avoided the slice and rammed his Grecian shortsword into Kingsley's side as he passed and withdrew it swiftly. Blood pumped from the younger immortal's side. He pressed a hand against it and circled slowly, shaking his head as if to ward off the dizziness from loss of blood.

"That hurts."

Phillip nodded. "I know." He stepped lightly away… keeping his eyes on this upstart. "Didn't you ever investigate how things hurt by trying them on yourself? Or was it only the inflicting of pain on others that interested you?"

"It will heal," Kingsley insisted.

"If I give you time," Phillip replied darkly. No one would ever again suffer because of what he'd done or not done in his past. He'd sworn to Valeraine's form for the last twelve years. He had much to answer for in his past… even the times he'd shown mercy to those who didn't deserve it. "Did I tell you then… if you ever raised a sword at me again… it would be the last time?"

Kingsley continued to hold his side, breathing raggedly. Evidently Phillip's stroke had nicked a lung as blood sprayed about his nose and mouth. Yet already it was better. He pretended it wasn't as he watched his opponent… waiting for an opening… waiting for that moment when Gerard would be too over-confident and then Kingsley would strike. "Yes… and it will be."

Phillip nodded. "So be it." He moved to one side and dropped his guard. Kingsley pounced.

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