Chapter 6
Life Changes
I
There they sat in the late-afternoon sun. It was time to tell her. Duncan just couldn't think of the words. How do you tell someone they are immortal when they haven't become one yet? He looked down at Rhiannon as he held her in his arms. He knew he had to figure out a way of telling her. Pulling away from Rhiannon, Duncan turned so that he could face her. Duncan reaches and takes her hand in his.
"Rhiannon...do you trust me?" Duncan asked.
"Yes I do Duncan...Why?" Rhiannon asked.
"I need you to have an open mind to what I am about to tell you...Remember, no matter how crazy this will sound to you...trust me that it is the truth." Duncan pleaded.
"Ok Duncan." Rhiannon agreed, not quite sure where this was going.
Duncan was searching his mind trying to find the right words. Words that would make her believe in what he was going to say. Finally, deciding that he should start with Victor and maybe that the rest of it will fall in to place. He hoped.
"There is a reason way Victor wants your land… It never had to do with the value of the land to him. (nervously) What matters to him is that it is holy ground. It is only place that he can feel completely safe." Duncan said choosing his words carefully.
"What are you talking about Duncan? Why would Victor need an old Indian burial ground to feel safe for?" Rhiannon questioned.
Duncan stood up and grabbed the banister. Looking out at the mountains, "Because of the gathering...he needs to seek refuge…to be safe."
"What do you mean a gathering...what does he need to be safe from?" Rhiannon asked. Confused in what he was trying to say.
"From other immortals...Like me. Since the time of the gathering is coming, there can only be one immortal left… so we fight each other to the death and by taking ones head which is the only way we can die. (turning to look at her) In doing so we take in the other's essence… their power…. There is only one place we cannot do this on and that is on holy ground. (pointing to where they were) It is the only place that we… immortals cannot fight on. That is why your land is so important." Duncan explained, unsure if she understood what he was saying. She wasn't.
"What the hell are you talking about Duncan? There is no such thing as immortals." She argued.
Duncan sat back down next to Rhiannon. His heart was beating wildly in his chest. He knew this wasn't going to well. He could tell that she didn't believe anything he was saying. At the moment she thought of him as a mad man.
"Rhiannon, please remember to try and keep an open mind to what I am saying to you. (Rhiannon stared at him.) I am an immortal. Just like Victor is... (staring back at her) and soon one day…you will too, be immortal." Duncan said as calm and slowly as he could.
Rhiannon sat for a few minutes trying to soak in what he said. But it wasn't registering. The concept of immortals was to far out there for her. What was even worse was the thought of her being an immortal. She started to shake her head back and forth. Refusing to believe any thing that was beingsaid.
"Okay let me understand what you are trying to tell me Duncan...Victor is an immortal…because of this he needs my land since it is Holy Ground...(still shaking her head back and forth) So that he can keep other immortals like yourself from killing him...and by the way…one day soon…I too will become immortal." Rhiannon said. Duncan shook his head in agreement.
Rhiannon looked at him. She could tell that Duncan was serious about what he said. That he truly believed every word of it. However, she couldn't comprehend the concept of immortality. It wasn't logical. Rhiannon knew there was no way people could live forever. Even if he did believe it, what right did Duncan have by placing her in the middle of his madness? Rhiannon was certain that he was unbalanced. Most importantly, she was sure that Duncan was insane. This scared Rhiannon. She got up from the bench and began to back away from him.
"Forgive me for what I'm going to say to you Duncan ...but your just plain nuts. There is no such thing as immortality. You're not immortal...he's not an immortal and there is no way in hell I can be an immortal." She replied with a frightened voice.
Duncan steps toward her to stop her. He could see that she was truly afraid and steps back from her.
"Don't be afraid… I promise… I would never hurt you…. And I would never lie to you…you have to trust me (Rhiannon stops)…Remember to keep an open mind," Duncan pleaded with her.
"An open mind is one thing Duncan. But you're asking me to believe fairy tales!" Rhiannon said as she stood there in disbelief.
Duncan wasn't quite sure what to do next. It wasn't the way he wanted it to go. Duncan knew Rhiannon didn't believe any he was saying. Searching his mind trying to find a way to make her believe him, then a thought occurred to him. There was only one way to prove immortally.
"Rhiannon, maybe if I show you…prove to you that I am immortal...you'll believe me" Duncan said, trying to see if she was willing to at least let him show her.
"Duncan…if you can prove it to me…then I would have no choice but to believe you. Right?" Rhiannon sarcastically asked.
Duncan walked over to where her sword lay. Reaching down, he picked it up and slowly took it out of its case. This caught Rhiannon off guard.
"Duncan what are you going to do with that?" Rhiannon asked as calmly as she could.
"I am going to show you….prove to you that I am immortal… Then maybe… you'll be able to understand." Duncan simply replied.
Before Rhiannon could react to what he just said, Duncan had taken the tip of the sword and placed it to his heart. Slowly Duncan let his eyes drift to hers. When their eyes locked, he could tell that she was absolutely terrified at what he was about to do. Rhiannon's eyes were wide as saucers.
"Ok Duncan enough. (moving toward him) You don't have to do this." Rhiannon pleaded with him.
"I'll see you in a few minutes." Duncan simply said half smiling.
Rhiannon was not ready for what he was going to do next. Duncan thrusts himself forward onto the sword. At the same time the blade of the sword goes completely through him, Rhiannon let out a blood-curling scream that bounce off all the mountain ranges. Duncan slumps to the ground.
"Duncan!" Rhiannon screamed as she rushes over to his side.
Reaching down, Rhiannon slowly pulls her sword out of Duncan. The blade was completely covered with his blood. The sight of it made her drop to her knees. Holding the sword in her hands, tears began to run down her face. She began to shake as she held it. Taking one last look at it, Rhiannon flung it across the porch. Crawling to where Duncan's body lay, Rhiannon gently lifted up his head and places it in her lap. Trembling, she places her fingers on his neck searching for a pulse. That's when she realized that Duncan was truly dead. Why? She thought to herself. She begins to cry as she rocked him back and forth. Rhiannon's heart was breaking into two. She couldn't believe that he did this. No mattered how hard she tried she couldn't make sense of it.
"Please Duncan wake up." Rhiannon begged as she sat there trembling, running her fingers down his cheek.
Rhiannon was half hoping and half believing Duncan would get up as she sat there and waited. Why did I ask him to prove it? She slowly took his head off of her lap and laid it softly back down onto the porch. Rhiannon was mad at herself. For a fleeting moment Rhiannon thought what he said was true. That Duncan was immortal. Then looking down at his lifeless body, she realized that there was no such thing as immortality, just death. Rhiannon was still crying when she stood up. Her whole body shook uncontrollable. It was all too much for her. Her mind as well as body was shutting down. How could he do this? Sheslowly walked over to the bench and sat down. Staring at him from across the porch, she draws herself upinto a ball as she sat there and mourned.
II
There was a great deal of pain when Duncan took his first breath. It was so intense that it made him scream out. When he did, it startled Rhiannon so badly that it brought her straight to her feet. She stood there and watched Duncan slowly sit up, in disbelief. She was too afraid to say or do anything. Unsteady on his feet, Duncan slowly stood up using the table for support.
"It's alright Rhiannon." Duncan said trying hard not to show any pain. Rhiannon didn't reply she just stood there shaking. "I'm ok...See? (lifting his shirt up exposing his healed chest) I told you I would come back." He said, trying his best to show her that he was okay.
Rhiannon couldn't believe her eyes. There was no trace of wound, nothing that would prove that he just died in her arms. Duncan started to walk toward her, when she places her hands out in front of her in an effort to stop him. She couldn't believe what she had just witnessed.
"This isn't real… I watch you die!" Rhiannon said as she stepped backwards away from Duncan.
"I told you Rhiannon… I'm immortal…I cannot die." Duncan explained as he continued to walk toward her.
"This just can't be happening!" She said in disbelief.
Duncan took another step toward her. Rhiannon still had her hands out trying to keep him away from her, when she took one more step backwards and fell onto the bench. Duncan could tell that Rhiannon was petrified as when he reached down to grab her hand. It trembled. Gently he places her hand over his heart.
"Can you feel my heart beat Rhiannon? (firmly holding her hand to his chest) I am still alive." Duncan said trying to persuade her.
"Duncan...this can't be true?" Rhiannon said disbelieving as she felt his heart beating.
"Yes…It is true." Duncan said simply.
Duncan takes Rhiannon's other hand and pulls her up to him. Placing his arms around her, he could feel her trembling. All Duncan could do is try and console her. Letting her soak everything that she had just witness, settle in. As he stood there holding her, Rhiannon places her head on his chest, listening. She could hear his heart beating strongly in his chest. It was all too much to take. She started to cry.
"Duncan... I am so sorry I doubt you…I'm so very sorry." Rhiannon said sobbing into his chest.
Duncan reaches down and cradles her face in both of his hands, moving his thumbs across her face and brushes her tears off.
"It's alright Rhiannon, I understand." Duncan whispered. Leaning down, he gently kisses Rhiannon. His lips felt so warm to her, so alive. Pulling away from her, he smiles. "Come on Rhiannon, let's go into the shack and sit down …I think we will both be more comfortable in there." Duncan said leading her toward it.
There was a small breeze coming in through the windows as they came into the shack. They went and sat down at the table, sitting across from each other. Rhiannon kept staring at Duncan still not believing her eyes. She couldn't believe that he was alive or that he was immortal, but there he was sitting there living and breathing. Duncan sat there studying her too, wondering how much more she would be able to take.
Duncan began explaining to her about immortality. About the rules of the game and how itis played. As well about the quickening. He went on explained about how to take the immortal'spower and strengh to bethe one and how you could feel the presence of one. He explained everything that he could think of, trying his best not to leave out anything.
"So let me get this right... You can only truly die if someone takes your head?" Rhiannon asked, making sure she understood what he was saying to her.
"Yes." Was all Duncan said.
Rhiannon sat back in her chair. Absorbing everything he was saying like a sponge. She wasn't sure on how to ask the next question, not sure if she wanted to know the answer, however knowing instantly what the next question was going to be.
"How did you know I am immortal...since I haven't died yet?" Rhiannon inquired.
"I guess you would call it a sixth sense… You can feel them when they're around just as if they were a true immortal... It's just not as strong or powerful as if you were one... But there is enough of a feeling...to let us know you'll be one soon." Duncan explained
"Wellthat kind of makes sense." Rhiannon said in a moment of clarity.
"What do you mean?" Duncan said looking at her strangely.
"Well just before I ran into you on the runway...I felt this sharp pain behind my eyes... (smiling to herself) That's why I ran into you. I was trying to rub my eyes…. (it was all making sense) This game you talk about...the gathering.We live to hunt one another. To gather as many heads as you can… Can't immortals live in peace?" Rhiannon asked.
Duncan sighed. He can only hope that one day that would be true.
"This has been going on this way for centuries, Rhiannon… the one who is left is the one who rules mankind…who has all the power." Duncan said as he stared at her. He could tell she was beginning to understand.
"So that's when the quickening comes?" Rhiannon asked as she starts to really understand.
"Yes you receive their power, along with their knowledge. The more quickening you have…the more powerful you become. We all hope and pray that a good immortal wins." Duncan answers, thinking about all the immortals that have come his way and Victor.
III
They both sit there for a while not saying a word, both of them in deep thought. Duncan worried about whether she understood what he was saying to her or not. Rhiannon was understanding what was being said. Just trying to absorb it all and take everything in. Rhiannon looks up at Duncan and takes a really good look at him. She began to wonder how old he really was. To her, he looks as though he was in his early 30's. He did say centuries didnt he?
"Duncan, How old are you?" Rhiannon asked, unsure if she really wanted to hear the answer.
"Over 400 hundred years old." Duncan answered.
Rhiannon sat there shaking her head. It was the first time she actually thought about life in centuries. It amazed her.
"Damn...all the lives you must have led… All the history that you have seen... (sounding excited) How old is the oldest immortal?" She asked.
Duncan sat there in amazement. She was finally grasping it. "Rhiannon, this has been going on since the dawn of time. I know an immortal that is so old he doesn't even know his age." Duncan said smiling at her.
"What if you die at lets say 100 or 5." Rhiannon asked, being inquisitive.
"Then that is your age for the rest of your life period." Duncan answered.
"How old were you?" Rhiannon asked.
Duncan simply answered, "I was in my early thirty's."
Rhiannon gets up and walks over to the window thinking about everything that has been said. Rhiannon's mind was going a hundred miles an hour, mauling it over and over everything. It all started to make sense to her. Her life and the way she leads it, never able to completely fit in. The puzzle to her life was starting to fit together. It was answering all the questions she had about herself. One thing that kept popping in her head was the fact she wasn't immortal. Not yet.
"When will it happen to me Duncan…immortality?" Rhiannon asks, while still looking out the window,
The question took him by surprise. Duncan wasn't sure how to answer it. He never had to deal with an immortal that knew what they were before becoming one. Walking over to where Rhiannon was standing, he placed his hands on her shoulders.
"I don't know?" Duncan answered modestly.
There was a moment of silence.
"But it will happen." Rhiannon said as she sighed heavily. Duncan just simply shook his head yes. It all made her mind race. Everything she thought she understood was gone.
Rhiannon turned to Duncan, "I want to really understand everything you have just told me. You're telling me that everything I was brought up to believe in…God…Life...Death…Wasn't true?"
Duncan could see that she was searching his eyes for the truth.
"Not for you Rhiannon... (looking deep into her eyes) Look...I believe there is a higher being... However...You have to come to terms with the gift He gave you. It is your choice on how you choose the live your life…I can't tell you one way or another. (he pauses and takes a deep breath) All I can do is guide you...ultimately your choices determine what happens for the rest of your life…your immortality." Duncan replied, with a heavy heart.
What Duncan had said to Rhiannon really hit home for her. It truly was all up to her what she did with life. My Immortality. One thing for sure, the playing field was now leveled with Victor. Knowing the truth, gave Rhiannon a new sense of freedom. It was time to settle the score with him. Understanding now why he wanted the land so badly as well as everything else he had done. Turning away from Duncan, she sits back down at the table.
"Duncan…What am I going to do about Victor?" She asked, as she stared at the table.
Looking back out the window Duncan answers, "I don't know Rhiannon… You know the truth about him. Only you can really decide what you must to do."
"Can you answer one question?" Rhiannon inquired.
"Yes?" He answered, as he turned to look at her.
"Am I already part of the game?" Rhiannon voice cracked when she asked. Duncan just stared at her, afraid of where she was going with this.
Duncan chooses his words carefully, "It depends on you and how you want to deal with him. Then again ask your self this…has Victor given you a choice but to join the game?"
"No…but I am not immortal yet ether. However, I do know now what I am." Rhiannon declared.
"What are you talking about?" Duncan asked confused.
"I'm not giving him this land. (looking up at him) Not for him to corrupt it or for him to hide in." She said with conviction.
"So what are you going to do Rhiannon? Fight him?" Duncan asked. She glared at him. He could see the hate in her eyes. Duncan instantly knew what the answer was.
"Do I have a choice?" Rhiannon asked.
"I…you do have a choice. You're not an immortal yet. (walking over to her) He has played the game longer than you. He will not only make you immortal...But he'll take off your head!" Duncan replied, trying his best to get her to understand.
Rhiannon didn't know how to respond. All she knew was that she wasn't walking away. That it has gone too far. She had to take her stand now or he will always be hunting her.
"So what do you want me to do Duncan? Give him the land...walk away. Knowing everything, I know now." Rhiannon said, demanding an answer.
Duncan threw his hands into the air, "I don't know…is this worth your life. "
"I really don't have a choice Duncan do I. If I don't fight Victor now…He'll come for me later." Rhiannon responded back.
Rhiannon was right. Eventually, Victor would come for her. Something deep inside him knew it was the truth. Duncan recognized what he had to do, to take Victor's head. Walking over to where Rhiannon was, Duncan knelt down next to her, unsure to what to say next. Looking into her eyes, he could see that the confusion was gone, just determination. He knew in that moment if he didn't stop Victor, Rhiannon would try.
"I'll do it Rhiannon…. It's only fair…you're not an immortal yet. You shouldn't be made to play the game yet." Duncan said, tried to persuade her.
Unsure what to say, Rhiannon stood up and walked away. She stepped out onto the porch, letting the mountain breeze cool her off. She was taken back by what he said. It was too unbelievable to Rhiannon that Duncan would risk his life, his immortality, not for a stranger. Why does he feel the need to protect me?
Duncan had followed Rhiannon out onto the porch. He could see how scared she was. Slowly he walks over to where she was standing, wanting to touch her, to hold her, but he to afraid that she would pull away. So he stood beside her in silence.
"Duncan... I can't let you do it. (sighing softly) This is my fight not yours." Rhiannon whispered.
"You're not ready... The price you'll pay will be too great." Duncan argued with her.
"If you lose...I will still have to fight him. It was my fight long before you came…only I can settle it". Rhiannon said it with such bluntness it stung. Duncan could tell she had made up her mind. Nothing he was going to say was going to change it.
"So what are you going to do?" Duncan wondered.
"I'm going to fight in the match tonight and win… (turning to look at him) Knowing Victor like I know him…he'll come to me." Rhiannon explained.
"Rhiannon, I can only interfere as long as you are mortal… (Placing his hands on the railing) once you're not, the rules won't let me." Duncan said, trying his hardest to get her to understand.
"I know." Rhiannon simply said.
"You don't have to do this!" Duncan said sternly to her.
"Duncan…it's my destiny. It was long before I met you… there is no way of changing fate. If he was meant to take my mortality away from me, you or anybody can stop it. (fighting the tears) You gave me the warning I needed. Now it's a fair fight." Rhiannon said, trying to convince him as well as herself. Duncan couldn't believe what he just heard or even how to respond to it.
"Let me ask you this...Are you going to be willing to give up everything…everyone you love and know? (turning around to look at her) Because once he kills you...You're dead to the mortal world." Duncan said harshly.
That wasn't something that she had even thought off. She would be dead to this world. It started to make her think twice. Rhiannon knew if they did go to head to head, Victor would have to kill her to get her quickening. She could tell with the time it had taken Duncan to recover, there wouldn't be a chance for her to recover in time. The dizziness started to come again. So bad in fact, that she had to hold on to the railing for balance. I'm damn if I do, damned if I don't. Rhiannon thought to herself.
"I...I'm so damn confused." She said gripping hard onto the railing.
Duncan extends his arms out, waiting to see if Rhiannon would come to them. She pauses for a moment and then lets Duncan wrap them around her. There they stood. Rhiannon wished she could stay there wrapped in Duncan's arms forever. Right now, that is where she felt safest. That was something she had never felt before. Duncan pulled away, placing her face in hands.
"I promise that I will protect you as much as I can and whatever happens I'll be here." Duncan promised her with all his heart. Pulling her face to him, Duncan kisses her with such gentleness that it touches her soul. Standing there, he put his arms back around her and held her close wishing that they could stay that way forever. Noticing that the sun will be setting soon, Duncan knew that they needed to start heading back.
"We need to get going Rhiannon...If you're going to fight in the match tonight." Duncan's heart sank as he said it.
"I know." Rhiannon said.
Nothing else was said.