Eternally Immortal CHAPTER TWO, a highlander fanfic

As he entered Le Blue Bar, MacLeod couldn't help wondering what Joe's obsession was with places like these. Maybe because he could host a performance, or maybe because he could keep people happy with alocohol the whole night. MacLeod grinned as he took a stool at the counter.

"MacLeod! Glad to see your back in town. Everything settled in Seacouver?"

Joe's rugged face was creased into a smile as he shoved a bottle of beer over to Duncan.

The grin faded gradually as Duncan took a swallow from the bottle. Going back to the states, back to his abaonded dojo had been harder than he had expected. The combined memories of Tessa and now Richie hit him with doubled force. After settling everything and packing his things away into storage he'd decided to leave the place alone for awhile. Let wounds heal. His barge would have to be his home for however long he felt like staying in Paris.

"Yeah," He replied nodding, "Settled." Joe nodded quietly, rubbing down the counter with a clean cloth.

As the minisque buzzing in his head begun MacLeod swung his gaze towards the door just as a slouching, familair figure entered.

"Ah, MacLeod." Was the first words from Methos as he took a lesierly seat beside the man. "Thought you'd be back sometime soon." Taking Duncan's beer he took a swig. Grabbing it back Duncan shot the 5,000 year old man a glare. "Nothing like 'hello'? What, they didn't teach that in Egyptian ettiquete."

Methos shrugged, "Well, actually the proper greeting phrase was..." Duncan cut him off. "So, what's new in Paris?"

Joe leaned over from across the bar table. "I don't know about Paris but there's something new here." Gesturing with his head towards the raised platform at one end of the bar he added, "I've got someone new tonight. Some girl just showed up out of nowhere, barely out of high-school I'd say. She's young but she sure as hell can play. Not exactly my style you might say, but she's good."

Just then the limelight played over the staging area and a small figure walked out. Taking hold of the mike positioned at the front, a low but unmistakabley female voice rung 'round the crowded bar. "Thanks for coming out tonight, people. This first song is one of my own, Hidden."

As the band behind her picked up a pulsing metal tempo the girl stepped back her face hidden by the mirage of blue and white lights playing over the stage. An electric guitar was strung over one shoulder and as the beat picked up the girl began.

"Now you see me, now you don't.

This face is not mine, this life is stolen

I'm the person watching you...

I'm the mouth behind these screams

I'm the right in every wrong

I'm the lyrics of this song --"

Methos shook his head, "These young kids, think they've seen so much. Each one thinks their the darkest and baddest."

Joe laughed, "Like you said, they're young. But she's got style though and that voice is one in a million." Duncan nodded silently, still listening. As a new song began the words beat their way across the bar with resounding force.

"Here we are, born to be kings, we are princes of the universe

Fighting to survive in a world with darkest powers

And here we are, we're the princes of the universe

We've got to be the rulers of you all

I am Immortal I have inside me blood of kings

I have no rival no man can be my equal

Take me to the future of you all..."

Methos was the first on his feet, followed by Duncan. "What the hell..." Muttered Joe limping out from behind the bar counter. He glanced shortly at the two immortals. "I'd give alot to know which of us wrote that." Duncan said finally staring hard at the short figure belting out the words. "She's not..." Joe trailed off. "No." Confirmed Duncan. "She's not one of us but the person who wrote that song must be, that's not coincidence."

"Well, here's you chance to ask her." Joe muttered, as the song ended and the girl left the stage. Making a direct line for them the girl didn't stop until she stood in front of the three men. Now that she was close they could see she wasn't much over five feet tall, if that, her pale face was wide with high prominent cheekbones. Steel gray eyes were set under fine dark eyebrows. Auburn hair, with dark flashes of brown to it, hung loosely to the girl's mid-back. The face, at first glance was very young looking. Definately a teenager's. But there was an after affect to it that was strange, something about the eyes and the smiling sort of expression her curved mouth lent her face appeared to mock the youth in it.

Nodding quietly, the girl fixed her gray eyes on Duncan and then on Methos. "MacLeod and... Adam Pierson?" There was a slight question to the last name she uttered and her mouth curved upwards in a knowing smirk.