XV
Connor engaged in battle with the two Kells. Connor blocked the blow of one of the Kells but a neat slice by the other gashed his side. He fell wounded as the first Kell hit his katana hard enough to make it escape his grip. Connor was unarmed and at the mercy of the two Jacob Kell. Both swords kissed his neck without cutting it.
"You will watch them die, and only then you will join them." Jacob said viciously.
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Duncan and Jin Ke were still, holding the eyes of the other, studying carefully their opponents' reaction. Jin Ke extended his spear but did not move. Duncan stretched his right leg and moved his sword over his head, waiting for a movement, something that triggered the beginning of the fight.
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Faith slammed against Rachel. The Dutch contained well her opponent, whose blows were fierce yet awkward. Duncan's former wife was attacking in a way Rachel found now rather boring and easy to avoid. Faith chopped at her. Rachel opposed her blade and hit Faith in the stomach with the sheath of her cane sword. Faith fell with traces of blood in her mouth. Rachel swung her sword at her neck and stopped when it was at a hair's distance.
"Do it..." Faith urged.
"I won't..." Rachel stammered.
"DO IT!" Faith cried, a smile of deliverance in her face.
"I... can't!"
"Then I'll do it!"
Faith surged, her sword moving at her opponent. By reflex, Rachel slammed forward and felt the blade tear apart the flesh of Faith's neck. The body fell. Rachel saw the face hit the floor with a strange expression of bliss. Then the quickening erupted and tears blinded the Dutch.
Duncan had killed Kate. She had had to survive as she could, selling her body to scoundrels of the worst kind, never believing she would have a chance of vanquishing her lost life. Kell found her and converted her to her league of revenge. In stripping Connor of all he cared, Duncan would come across them eventually. She had Faith in him, and became an asset to Jacob, who used her to lure other immortals into his trap. But she also became a disposable item, a sexual entertainment. Rachel was all she wanted to be: an old woman with little chances of survival, and a death soon to come. Death had finally embraced her, and she was glad for it.
It went off in a sudden and she stood up, feeling a vigorous desire to attack Kell.
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Connor smirked at the Kells when Faith died. One of the Jacobs returned the grin, while the other was intent on the other fighters.
"Jin Ke!" The Asian's eyes were still fixed upon Duncan. Ke's eyes regarded both Kells. "Attack!"
"Fine." The Asian moved forward but he went towards his commander, rather than towards the Highlander. One of the Kells blocked his blow, while the other directed a deadly slice at his throat. But the slice was blocked. Duncan MacLeod was interfering in the battle.
"Two against two makes it even." Duncan said as he kicked his Kell away.
Connor stood up. "And why not three against two?" Then the Jacob Kell Duncan was fighting had to face both MacLeods. Duncan sliced forward but Kell blocked, and as Connor was thrusting, he grabbed the hand of the elder Highlander and shoved him away. Then he connected a kick in Duncan's groin and had him at his mercy.
"One to go, Connor!"
Kell viciously aimed at Duncan's neck but a dazzling glow stopped him. The Gate was shining intermittently. Suddenly, something large and thin that glowed fluorescently erupted from it and stabbed this Kell in the chest. The bald man retreated as Duncan stood up and joined Connor. Kell removed the thing and tossed it at the floor. The elder Highlander grabbed it and then it stopped shining. It was his old claymore.
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Jin Ke sent a flurry of fast blows at the other Kell, all of which were parried efficiently. Suddenly, a third person appeared delivering a neat blow on Kell's side. Jacob retreated and Jin Ke regarded his helper. It was Rachel.
"This is against the Rules, Rachel." Kell threatened. "You know what will happen if you break the Rules."
"You know it too. Once the Rules are broken... the punishment is not by the Rules." Rachel said as Jin Ke flew towards Kell. "And retribution has come."
Kell blocked another of Jin Ke's blow and kick him in the crotch. Ke staggered back but too slowly to avoid Kell taking his head. Jacob fell on his knees to receive the quickening, smiling. But only for a second. Rachel was striking towards him, her blade swinging dangerously towards his neck, without his being able to do anything. He smirked maliciously as his head was torn apart and strangely vanished in the air in its course to the ground...
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Duncan moved forward, exchanging powerful blows with Kell. Jacob blocked a downward attack and punched Duncan. Connor took the place of his clansman, striking fiercely with his claymore. Kell avoided him well, but Duncan was rejoining the battle. Kell deflected Connor's blade and avoided a thrust by the other. He took distance and his sword suddenly became double. He glared with superiority at the MacLeods. Then his body glowed. Nearby, Rachel was receiving a quickening.
"Ah..." Kell looked rejoiced. "It is done. Bring it on, brothers."
Duncan produced his claymore too, and both MacLeods wielded in their right hand their broadswords and in the left their katanas. Kell rushed forward with a speed that stunned them. Connor barely blocked, while Duncan managed to connect a thrust in Kell's arm as he defended himself. The elder Highlander contained his opponent as Duncan made a somersault over Kell. The younger one sent his sword against Kell, but Jacob blocked masterly with the sword in his left hand. Each of the MacLeod had their katanas hooked in Kell's broadswords. Any attack with the claymores was impossible, since their own swords shielded Jacob. Suddenly, Kell clenched his fist and a hidden blade erupted from his wrist, making a cut in Duncan's chin. The younger Highlander loosened his sword, which enabled Kell to deliver an astoundingly violent blow on his chest.
"Duncan!" Connor shrieked as he began an attack. He sent the katana against Kell's chest as he slammed with the claymore against his neck. Kell stopped the claymore with the right weapon while his left sword diverted the other blow but flew away in the intent. Connor slowly dragged Kell's remaining sword over his own head and against his own shoulder.
"Connor, again that pathetic move you killed my acolyte with?" Kell mocked, retrieving his sword and clouting forward with his wrist blade to block Connor's blow. Jacob also struck with the sword, but Connor had ducked and surged on the other's right. The former priest was completely defenceless and could do nothing when the elder MacLeod severed his head with a master slice.
"You did it, Connor!" Duncan cheered painfully as the wound began to close.
The Gate of Power glowed. Bolts of lightning erupted from it, making Kell's corpse soar, as a green energy hit Connor and Rachel. Duncan stared mesmerised at the image before him. The Dutch was shaken by a blue and white energy that for instants seemed to be black and white. Her body rose and was dragged through the Gate. She came out seconds later, her whole body shining in a sun-like yellow. Connor underwent the same experience. Red and green bolts hit him and a massive force erupting from the Gate attacked his body. He was absorbed by it and when he returned, the strange quickening was over. Connor landed on the Gate. Rachel landed slightly away from him.
Duncan smiled relieved. It was over. Then he felt a shuddering all over him, as he sensed evil in an astoundingly powerful way. A malign laughter echoed in the cave, and the walls began to crumble down. Connor stood up and stared in horror at him. They could both recognise the voice.