1650's

Things in the new way of life for me was both chaotic, and yet new at the same time.

The first fifty years were filled with lots of traveling and lots of pondering. Certain things we knew we could never expose to the rest of the world since such talk of magic or suspicious notions were dangerous for us. Nicolo and Yusuf told me all of the close calls that they had themselves. Once again I had to trust them since if others saw that we couldn't die, we would be in more trouble than what it was worth.

Secrecy, it was a new way of life.

Nicolo was kind, he had a gentle heart that he would use to anyone he would meet. He used to be a Priest before he felt called to fight in the Crusades. Though he went through bloodshed and eventually found this new life, he was still mild-mannered and poised, reading everything within his mind before he would act. He would teach me how to use a sword on our downtime, always patient and sympathetic with me when I was hard on myself.

Yusuf too was kind to me, though in comparison to Nicolo he had more rough edges that he was trying to smooth over. Because of his own beliefs and how he was in a foreign land, and it was clear that he was getting long looks and side glances from locals when we walked through a village or stopped in an inn for the night. He felt those judgments on him, and he tried his best not to let them get to him. He was intelligent, his own knowledge alone made me first to know about where both he and Nicolo came from.

Yusuf and Nicolo explained to me all that they knew about this life, how they met, and fought in the crusades that were hundreds of years prior. it was shocking to hear, they fought each other over and over in the battleground just to make sure what they were seeing was real. But now they were walking the earth together, going from place to place and staying close to one another. Maybe this was how it was supposed to be, and within the first few months, even the first year, I had a lot to learn and wrap my mind around. It wasn't that I was in denial since all of this was indeed happening and there was no real explanation, but I was still finding all of this too much.

First, it was the dreams.

I dreamt of two other women, somewhere far away from us. Both were beautiful in their faces and eyes, and yet they were deadly in their weapons. If what Yusuf and Nicolo were saying was true in how they were around for hundreds of years, then these two women must be older than the two I was with. I was entranced with the dreams I would have, seeing these women in battles and slaughtering men left and right as if they were nothing but leaves flying in the wind.

Secondly, it was the fact that we weren't aging, but the rest of the world was.

It was a bitter pill to swallow, knowing that I died nearly 60 years ago, and yet I was still going through this new trial with baby steps. I knew that my old life died, which also meant my family was going to die soon too. I was somber to hear that both my mother and father died from sickness about 10 years after me, leaving my brother behind being a mere boy to fend for himself. He was sent away, having me watch from the sidelines of the trees in sorrow to see my brother bigger, older, and must have forgotten about me altogether. My two new comrades said nothing, but they knew I was in pain.

Nicolo could tell I was still wrestling with this new profound life that I had to go along with, and even though we were a group of three walking through the streets and caverns of Europe, one French Woman, one Italian and one Muslin mane, we were already trading on difficult waters in fear of being exposed, let alone killed. Yet, I felt so safe with them, I trust them as days turned into weeks, then months, and then years.

Destiny, Nicolo would tell me, was what had us all connected. We had a deep conversation at one time when we were out in the forest somewhere in England, going along one go the traveling paths that lead from one town to another to find some work and some time together. Yusuf went off to go hunt for food for us as both Nicolo and I sat over a small fire we made. Our English was getting better and cleaner as the years were going by, so we spoke in English with each other as I taught them some French in return and Nicolo teaching me Italian.

"God granted us this life as a gift," He explained to me as I was poking the fire with a stick the I found near our campfire, "I wrestled with it even after Yusuf and I left the Crusades and wandered in the desert together. I wrestled with God at times traveling through foreign lands,"

"And you don't question Him about this?" I asked, feeling myself inwardly wrestle with what was happening and how I was still alive.

"I have, plenty of times," He reasoned as he shifted his cloak and had the sword he fought the Crusades in next to his boots on the earth's surface, "But I know God is constant, and though the world isn't around us, I can rely on His constant guidance." I nodded slowly, seeing my bow and arrow weapon on the ground in front of me. There are only a handful of arrows left in the sheath, having me mentally think that I needed to make more arrows in case we needed them.

"Moving from place to place, fighting off offenders and thieves," I commented, mostly to myself as I then looked around to find some sticks that would be good enough for me to make arrows with, "There has to be more to this life than what it is, there must be purpose and reason."

Nicolo was silent for a few moments as I found a few sticks that would be good enough, placing them on my lap as I sat back down and got my dagger out. I started getting my aggression out on my work with the arrow, losing myself for a moment now as was shaping the sticks done one moment one at a time.

"You know how many times Yusuf and I stabbed each other?"

I paused, looking up from my work and seeing Nicolo watching me with a glint of interest in his eye as he was watching me intently.

"You never told me," I admitted, seeing him chuckle with a soft smile.

"Many times," he answered, "We both lost count. The first time was when we both realized that we couldn't die, but we were resilient and we kept killing each other, over and over. I even had my sword in his head and he had his sword so deep in my stomach I felt it seep through the other side,"

"Juste ciel," I cursed, trying not to picture it in my head as Nicolo kept going.

"After the last time we killed each other, at least for me, we knew then that there was more to our lives, more questions needing to be answered. And we both realized that though we were on opposing sides, we would be better off together with our immortal lives than alone," He explained, "For us, for this life that all three of us have, it's meant to be survived together,"

I felt a bit bad for snapping at him then since I knew he had the best intention for helping me navigate this life and yet I had moments of still being reluctant to learn and understand. He saw it on my face as I was looking down at my dagger in my hand and he leaned forward a bit.

"Perhaps we can find a chapel in the next town so we can pray to God…together," He asked in a suggestion. I looked back up at him, seeing him give me a kind stare. Nicolo was far too kind to have this kind of life, and the way he was affectionate with Joe was even kinder.

I never spoke of it, but I knew they both had their own intimate relationship, and yet they had to hide it every chance they could get. They told me they were in love, two men who were at first enemies. Even before they confessed it to me, I caught then once or twice kissing when they thought I wasn't looking, or when they would sleep in am embrace with each other. If they weren't embracing, which was rare, they weren't too far away from each other. I could see how they loved each other, both with passion and yet with innocence, and how they never dared to be separate from each other for long periods of time. They've done that in the past and it was unbearable, so now they were together always.

For me, I didn't mind it. In fact, it was easier for me to see that between the both of them than to accept the long effects of my new life, mainly excuse I did believe in love and they both had it. I wanted something like that in my own life.

"That sounds nice," I said in agreement, thinking that maybe that would be better for me to talk to God and see what He had to say to me in prayer.

"I pray to Him all the time." Nicolo said to me as the tension in between us almost lifted completely, "Even in times when I feel God is not near me."

"What about Yusuf?" I asked.

"He lets me go alone," He admitted, not sounding sad about it but casual, "He doesn't go himself, but he doesn't mind it. If it gives me peace, then peace I'll receive." I nodded, hearing a snap fo a twice behind me and Nicky looking up. I could see his tannic getting a bit tense, having em go tense too as another snap was heard. Footsteps right behind us as I was watching Nicky, seeing him look past me and hold out his hand at me to sit still.

"Two travelers alone out here?"

I felt a chill as I tried not to move too fast. The voice sounded deep and almost predatory-like. I heard of stories of those who died traveling out here in the woods and their possession being stolen, other of women's being deflowered of they were vulnerable and exposed. Though we were immortal, we still had to protect ourselves.

"Peace be with you. My wife and I don't want any trouble," Nicolo said out loud to the stranger behind us. I looked down at my weapon on the ground, so close for me to reach down and grab it. But Nicky gave me a quick look, not to do something stupid at that moment as the stranger chuckled.

"A foreigner? Hasn't anyone told you about being out here in the woods?"

I had my foot slowly go forward without the rest of my body still. I had to trust Nicky in how he was handling this, his eyes trained right behind me, and yet I could read his body language in how he felt a twinge of threat there. Yusuf was nowhere to be found, and 3 against 1 was more of a probability than 2 against 1. I got my foot up against my bow and arrow sheath, taking in a shaky breath as I started to slowly bring them both back towards me very carefully.

"Leave us be, and may God go with you. We don't want trouble," Nicky said to the stranger, though his voice was getting a bit more agitated as I had my weapon right under my foot.

"I don't take requests from religious mongrels and their mute wives," The stranger said in a low manner as he took another step towards us. I felt as though I still had to do something, even with Nicky trying to have me stay still. I was still in between the both of them and I would have the fist blow fo whatever this person wanted to do.

"Tais-toi ou je te ferai taire." I said, hearing the sound of feet moving towards us go silent as I could tell the stranger was now taken back. I placed the top of my boot underneath the bow handle, getting it elevated a bit without moving an inch now as then carefully leaned down to grab my arrow out fo sight.

"What did you say, woman?" He asked me in a growl, having me lock eyes with Nicky and see him give me a look. If I was going to be talked down to, because of my gender, it wasn't going to be pretty on their end. It's happened before, me having to correct someone who was trying to undermine me. But now, I held the arrow at the end and just waited for the right moment.

"I know you heard me," I replied in English, "You heard him, too. Walk away now, or you'll lose your life,"

I was giving him an ultimatum, either leave us or be killed. I never lived to kill another person, but now our lives were far too precious now. We couldn't let others take us away from each other, and although I knew I had some danger because of my gender, the others would be in worse trouble because of their relationship.

"I won't let some bitch of a woman and a foreign piece of scum—"

It only took a second, kicking my bow up to grab it in mid-air, loading the arrow to rear it back on the string, and whirled around in my seat to aim it right at the stranger. I released, seeing the arrow go right into his chest. He was a bigger man, almost like a mountain man himself. I knew then that I had to have made the right choice.

He staggered back, gasping as crimson spouting through the thick tunic he was wearing. He fell to the ground in a heap, dead as he could be as I sighed and lowered my bow, seeing my arrow poking right tout of his chest. It all happened so fast, and once again it was quiet within the forest.

Quietly, I got up and walked over to the body, peering down at the man there who was now dead for more than a moment or two. He had to have been in his early adult years, looked like a working man but was red in the face. Perhaps he was drunk and was looking for trouble, to which I had maybe a small glimpse of remorse but nothing too drastic. Reaching over, I yanked the arrow straight out of his chest and walked back over to the fire.

Nicolo watched my every move, seeming a bit shocked from how I did it so fast as I wiped down the arrow with my cloak sleeve and got the blood off, "Was that necessary?"

"He disgraced your character, called me a bitch and a mute, and mocked our religion," I explained to him as I was cleaning, pausing for a moment as I then look directly at Nicolo. He didn't seem mad about it as I was sating my reason, and then I shrugged, "I'll ask for forgiveness when we go to church."

Nicolo slowly smiled, having me grin at him there with our fire between us. It was the first moment that we had together as friends probably, and a sense of peace was over us as a dead body was not too far away. Although taking a life should never always happen, I knew I had to do it to protect us. It was going to get easier in time for me to understand and live with.

"Besides," I said with a pause as I pointed the arrow at Nicky with my hand, "If Yusuf was here, he'd chop the man's head off for what he said about you,"

Nicolo pondered on it for a split second before he sighed. I had to grin in how he was reacting to what could have happened if Yusuf knew.

"He would," Nicolo said in a huff, though it wasn't saddening, "Come, let's get rid of the body before Yusuf finds out."

Modern Day

"Looked like a male, young, wearing a backward baseball cap and dark sunglasses,"

A rush was going through me as I was running down the stairs, the other in two with me as I was zipping up my jacket in the process before I grabbed was a black faceguard that was in one of the pockets and threw it around my neck.

There was a sense of danger for our group now, someone shot me in the throat and tried to get to the others. Plenty of questions were coming over me as I got down to the lobby and ran down the side, not through the front, in case of more firing coming out of the front. I knew the side door was going to lead me into the alleyway and out of the line of sight from where the shot came from.

I kicked the door open and the others followed as we made it out into the alleyway, eyes doing down to the opening of the alleyway on both sides hearing some police sirens coming through from a far distance.

"Whoever it was is running on foot since the cops are coming," Andy explained as I dug my feet into the ground to get ready to run, "We need to take all sides of the buildings,"

"I'll go left," I said to her, "You and Nile go right and Nicky and Joe hit the back. Blend into the crowd first before we get into the building and don't draw a crowd. I'll find a way to slow down the police to get them away from the building,"

"You on your own?" Nile asked as she was clearly getting a grasp on what we were about to do.

"I'm faster," I said to her as we all looked at each other, sensing that there was no real need to talk about this since the shooter could be farther away, "I know how the French Police work: they're calm but they're scattered brained."

Andy nodded, clearly going along with the plan that I was giving them as a group. I know I just got back with this group, but I had times in the past with them when I would take over the reign so being a leader and go with my gut in a plan, not with my head. Andy knew how I worked, and at times when she reminded me of her leadership, she was more than helpful none the less.

"Be careful," Joe said to me, having me nod at him, Nicky giving me a look too to remind me to be safe. I gave him a nod too. But once we were about to go out and go with our plan, an explosion was heard out on the street, shaking the buildings that were on either side of us in that small alleyway. Shrieks were heard out in the street and we all looked to see some smoke rising up in the air. We all rushed out towards the end of the walkway, finally seeing the damage.

The building where the sniper had a massive hole on the ground level, bricks were everywhere and smoke was pouring out of the inside of the building. People were rushing all around the street in horror and panic as sirens were getting louder in the distance and coming closer.

"That settles the distraction," Nicky said dryly as I was started to scan the area. People were rushing left and right, clearly not knowing what was going on in front of them. I was mostly scanning the area, wondering if there was going to be someone sticking out that didn't belong there.

Finally, I saw someone standing a bit too still at the far end on the right, in the middle of the street. Everyone else was in a free fall from what happened, but this person wasn't even reacting to the horror of it all. He had a baseball cap on, denim jacket and black skinny jeans, sunglasses on over his young face. He looked to be barely in this twenties, and yet he looked stiff in how he was standing there on the street.

Something's off with him.

"Down the street on the right side," I said to the group, all fo then were watching too and they saw the same young adult. Something didn't feel right with him at all, and I wanted to see the others looking too.

"You think it's him?" Nicky asked from right behind me.

"One way to find out," I said to him, seeing him and the others giving me an awkward look. I rearranged my jacket on and pointed to him briefly.

"I'm gonna poke out a bit so he can see me, stay back a bit," I advised them, seeing them all look at each other before he tucked back into the alleyway a bit. I took a careful step out from the alleyway, leaning against the wall and having my hands shoved in my pockets. I was trying to play coy, blending into the other people there in the area as the smoke was still pouring out into the street. I kept my eyes on him, not moving or saying anything to get his attention on me in case he wasn't the person we were looking for.

Then, he locked eyes me.

Instantly, something clicked on his face as we were looking at each other. I didn't move but glared at him as he was alone out there alone in the open. I would think he would start running or even coming over to me to start something. But he surprised me, reaching behind himself to his backside and pulling out a pistol.

Within a split second, he pointed it right at me.

He shot, the sound of gunfire hitting the streets and more people were scattered around. The bullet sliced through my jacket sleeve, having me grunt in pain as it pierced my arm and went into the brick wall next to us. Andy grabbed my jacket sleeve to pull me back as I reached up to touch my wound.

"You okay?" She asked, looking at my arm.

"No, I'm good, he just grazed me," I said as I could instantly feel the wound healing itself within seconds. I looked back to where the man went, but he was already running. I breathed out a heavy breath and dug my heels into the ground before I too started running. All I could think about was catching this guy, see where he was going, and leading me. I threw the faceguard over my chin and mouth and my hoodie over my head while I was running, then pumping my arms as I was catching up to him within moments.

He hung a hard left, having me follow him and lose a few seconds on him as he was then going through some of the side streets in order to derail me off of his trial. I was used to this kind of running after people, whether it was thieves or those who were killers. I didn't know how I was going to feel about him just yet and what he was about, but as we were playing cat and mouse, I could tell in how he was sprinting away from me he was desperate to not be caught by me. I didn't know if the others were behind me I was too focused on the man in front of me and how I was so close to getting him.

Finally, making it to another side street, I got a hold of his arm and threw him up against one of the brick walls there next to me. His head slammed against the wall, my arm went to his throat as my other hand was on his chest to keep him there. He struggled for a moment, trying to claw away from me though I had him pinned well against the wall for a few seconds.

"Who are you?" I asked him, hearing him grunt in my grasp as I was drilling him hard with eyes. Of course, he said nothing, but he got a good kick in my lower stomach, having me fall back and release him. He then took a swing at me, having me dodge the ship before he rammed into my body and slammed me against the wall on the other end of the walkway. I could hear the others running over to us as my head collided with the brick wall, the man rearing his hand back to punch me in the face.

"Should we help her?" I could hear Nile said in worry as they were watching me from a distance. I dodged the punch just in time as he punched the wall. He cried in pain, giving me time to frame his face in my hands and move his head down into my knee that was coming up to hit him in the nose.

"Nevermind," Nile said in amazement.

Stumbling back, blood was pouring out of his nose as I reached behind my head and felt blood against my fingers and head. I pushed off the wall, walking over to him and grabbing my gun off of my thigh holster to use on him. I was about to shoot at him when he grabbed my arm and broke it from his hold, snapping the bone clean. I cried out in pain, my gun falling to the floor.

"Shit!" Andy cried out as the man was now trying to do the same with my other arm. But I was quicker, slamming my fist into his broken nose and seeing him stumble a bit behind me. I reached behind me with my one good hand, grabbing the back of his neck and threw him over my shoulder, seeing him fall to the floor in a heap. Once he hit the ground, I heard some bones crack in his neck and he was very still.

He was dead.

"Search the body," Andy said to Joe, "Nile, keep watch,"

"Got it," Nile was standing a bit away with her gun at the ready as Andy and Joe were looking through the pockets of the body, hoping to find something. Nicky was instantly over in front of me, his eyes were looking at me in concern as I was cradling my broken arm and my head against the wall, waiting for the healing to start. I knew it was broken in a few places from the clean punch I got and was still riding on an adrenaline high. I leaned against the wall, my broken arm was now aching all over.

"Breathe through it," Nicky reminded me, having me not have enough time to talk to him back when I felt the bones starting to repair themselves. Gunshots were easy to go through when it came to healing, just a bite of the lower lip and you're good to go. Other wounds are a bit worse, but nothing has the intense pain as a bone repairing itself.

My mouth fell open silently in pain as I dug my head into the brick wall to stop any kind of pain from the bokken arm to consume me. It was terrible, the groaning and cracking of bones moving around and having me do nothing to soothe it. I almost collapsed if it wasn't for Nicky holding me up and standing close by.

"Deep breath, Eleanor," he said to me in a hushed tone over and over, getting an arm around my waist to hold me up when I was doubling over. I looked down at my arm, seeing it pop back in place as I groaned out in agony.

"Fuck," I cursed as it was all over, rotating my arm carefully and making sure it was good to go. Nicky released me as I sighed in relief and in tiredness as I looked over at Nicky, seeing him watch me like a hawk. I nodded my head once, showing that I was fine as he let out a shaky breath from watching me repair myself.

"Shit….guys?"

We both looked over, walking over to where Joe was perched over the body, a white look on his face like something shook him to his core. Andy looked too while she stood over Joe and the body, Nile was staying in her spot but looking too to see what was going on.

"What is it, Joe?" Nicky asked, perching down to squat over the body with Joe. Joe had the shirt pulled down as if he was hiding something there and was afraid to show it to us. He looked at Nicky, a grave look that showed all of us that it was serious. he then slowly looked up at me and saw me stare at him in curiosity. Finally, he moved the shirt up and showed a pale chest. All of us were frozen, not knowing what to do, but I was in a different headspace from what I was seeing. It was a cold gush of water coming over me, instantly tunneling everyone else out as the symbol was in dark contrast against the white skin.

A Swastika