Chapter 8

A Mask In The Shadows

V sat before the makeup mirror putting the final touch on the black wig while Evey finished in the Shadow Gallery's master bedroom. There had been a mutual agreement made between all parties that Eric would be the one to escort Evey while V kept to the shadows until he was needed. He would wear his knives tonight, just in case.

" You look great Dad." Victoria's voice broke the silence, her reflection in the mirror.

" Black really suits you." She paused, " Just wait till you see mother, she is really going to knock your boots off!" She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorway.

" Are you ready, Samuel?" Evey asked--Victoria smiled at her mother, then walked away. Evey was still having a problem referring to V as Samuel--but for tonight, she would try to address him in his legal name before Finch and Stone.

V looked in the mirror at Evey's reflection. The blue gown fit her like a snug glove, and the jewels that dazzled brilliantly around her neck made her glow. Her hair had been swept up in a soft bun, curls dangling softly around her face. He stopped breathing--or, at least he thought he had. She was a vision to behold--she was an angel sent to carry him into the afterlife.

" V?" The angel approached him, and he rose to welcome her.

" Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware." (1) He stood, taking Evey into his arms, his face breathing in her scent as a low moan sounded from his throat.

" The car will be here soon." Evey said softly into the high-necked collar of the Jacobian jacket.

" Like as waves make toward the pebbled shore, so do our minutes hasten to their end." (2) he purred into her ear, " I will join you at the museum, my love. Just search the shadows, for I will always be there, close to you." His arms slid free, his eyes locking with hers.

" Just be careful, ok?" She touched the black hair, pushing a strand from his eye.

" Always, for you." He kissed her gently, then watched as she left the room. Grabbing his knife belt from the table, he fasten it around his waist. Next was the Fawkes mask, then the

cape. V reached up, adjusting the hat atop his head. Giving himself the final once over, he left the gallery.

--

Eric Finch's eyes beamed with delight as Evey took his hand and exited the limo.

' She looks beautiful tonight' He thought as Evey stopped on the red carpet for photos. There were already questions being asked about the sapphire that graced her left hand, and Finch heard his name mentioned several times in context.

Slowly making their way inside, Evey breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Eric. " I hate openings."

Eric grinned back at her. " You know that by tomorrow morning, we'll be plastered over every front page in London, don't you?"

She shook her head in agreement. " Eric, I didn't mean to drag you into all this mess..."

" You didn't, I wanted to do it ."

" I wonder if he's here yet?" She glanced around the room.

" Somewhere." Finch paused, " I can guarantee it. "

Evey look at Finch, a slow blush creeping across her cheeks.

" He loves you deeply." Finch replied as they walked into the crowd.

" I know--just as I love him." she answered nodding as people stepped up to congratulate her on the exhibit. " I just can't believe he's here--now, with us."

" It must have been quite a shock..."

Evey's eyes sparkled as she looked at the man she considered her adopted father. " You don't know the half of it..." she giggled. " Victoria and I met him at the square--actually at the statue."

" You're pulling my leg..."

" No, I'm not," she replied, shaking a hand with the Mayor, and greeting his wife, then continued moving through the crowd. " He introduced himself as Samuel King that day. Very nice gentlemen, but there was something I couldn't put my finger on, about him."

Finch smiled. " Do you really think he's come back to help the government or to..."

He didn't get the chance to answer as Evey's eyes flashed into his. " I believe what he has told me, Eric. I know he is here to finish the job he started over thirty years ago. He won't harm the people, only Norsefire's remnants."

Finch lowered his eyes from hers as he escorted her to the champagne table, handing her a glass of the bubbly. He raised his glass to her. " Evey, I wish you and Samuel the best of everything. I'm glad you have your second chance." He tapped his glass to hers gently.

" Thank you, Eric. That means a lot coming from you." She kissed his on the cheek, then looked at the glass she held in her hands. " Eric, can I ask you something?" Her eyes locked with his.

" Of course, anything."

" Would you give me away at the wedding?" she paused, " you are the closest thing I have to a father, and it would please me so much if you would."

" I'd be honored." He replied hugging her just as a flash bulb went off in their faces.

" Tomorrow's London Times front page picture..." He chuckled as Evey laughed too. She touched his arm as the dedication ceremony of the new ' Freedom Hall ' got underway.

--

V stood watching from the walkway's shadows as Evey and Finch made their way to the stage. The extra guards were in place, just as Finch said they would be, but still, V felt uneasy--his instincts had already kicked into high alert, and he scanned the room for anything out of the ordinary. One hand rested on the pommel of his closest knife, while the other held the railing in a tight grip. He saw Stone join Finch and Evey near the podium--he had to give the young lieutenant credit, he was good at his job. He had watched as he had walked the perimeter several times before the guests had began to arrive, just to make sure everything had gone to plan, and from the position V was in, he could appear out of thin air to protect Evey if the need be, while Finch and Stone took control of the crowd.

Loud applause erupted as Evey's name was introduced and she walked to the podium, a short speech clutched in her hand. No one had noticed the four guards from the back of the room move to take up positions on either side of the stage, closest to where Evey would be --except for V. There had been no guards posted on the plans Finch had brought that night in these positions-- and V hit the floor as the first shots rang out through the crowd.

Within seconds, two knives went sailing through the air, taking out their targets

with deadly precision as V moved with incredible speed toward the stage and Evey. Finch saw the black blur from the corner of his eye as he and Dominic ran in the direction of the second set of shots.

" Get Evey out of here! Now!" V ordered stopping for a moment, " I'll take care of the other two gunmen."

Dominic was on the move before V finished the sentence heading for Evey. She had hit the floor when the first shot had rang out. Gathering her in his arms, he carried her from the stage and into the safety of a nearby alcove.

" V!" she screamed, fighting him with every once of strength she had. " V!"

" Shut up Evey!" Dominic snapped, " There may be more around. He slapped his hand across her mouth and pushed her against the wall, his eyes darting to and fro, finally catching sight of Eric as he hurried toward them.

" Evey, are you alright?" he asked her as Dominic took his hand away.

" I'm fine." She answered in gasps as she tried to regain control of her breathing. " Where's V?"

" Tracking the other two gunmen." He answered, " I've called for backup. We need to get you back to the gallery."

" Not without V." She answered, glaring at him.

" V is fine, " Finch assured her, " He'll be back. If he can take out nine of Creedy's best fingermen, this will be like a piece of cake to him."

She began to cry slowly. " I can't loose him again, Eric--I just can't." She cried into his shoulder.

" You won't, and neither will Victoria..." Dominic added.

" Come on, " Finch took her arm gently, " Let's get you back home." She let Eric and Dominic escort her through the building to the back entrance where a police car waited. " Make sure she gets home, Dom. Don't let anything stop you, understand?"

Dominic shook his head as he opened the door for Evey who scanned the tops of the nearby buildings before entering the cruiser. She wiped a tear away as the car sped down the alleyway.

--

V had been following the dark van for the last three blocks, moving in and out of the shadows silently until it came to a halt in front of a building. Four other men greeted the occupants as they stepped from the vehicle.

" Did you get her?"

" Fuck no!" One man stepped closer.

" Why not?"

" Because she had a bodyguard that no one knew about." The man snarled.

" What the hell are you talking about?"

" The terrorist, Jensen...codename V--he's not dead! He was at the museum--hell, I saw him--WE ALL SAW HIM!"

" Codename V--alive?" Jensen repeated.

" Their powers of observation serve them well." A figure moved from the shadows toward them, the light of the alleyway reflecting off the black and white mask.

" It can't be you...you're dead..." Jensen paused, mouth open, staring.

" The ghost of Christmas past, paying his respects." The Guy Fawkes masked grinned.

Guns were cocked and leveled.

" Creedy did not succeed in what you have planned, and neither will you, " V paused, throwing his cape over his shoulders, revealing the knives attached to his waist, " because if I am still standing after you bullets are spent, you will all be dead before you have reloaded."

V's voice was as cold and hard as the mask that covered his face.

" Boss doesn't pay me enough to take him on." One of the guns fell onto the pavement with a metallic thunk as the man raised his hands above his head and backed away.

V looked at the remaining five. " Your final chance, gentlemen."

Two more guns were dropped as the men backed up to where their friend stood.

V looked over at them. " You have my leave, gentlemen. If you are returning to your superior, give him this message. Step down now, or I will hunt each and every cell member until there are not...any...remaining. " V's voice was low and dangerous, " If Evey

Hammond is targeted again, I will not grant amnesty to any, but only vengeance--a vendetta, held as a votive not in vain to each and all involved." He turned back to the remaining three, knives clenched in black covered hands. " Gentlemen, your turn."

--

Evey hurried into the gallery, throwing her wrap on the piano bench as she went by.

" Mother!" Victoria ran into her arms. " It's all over the news--are you and father alright?"

" I'm fine, a little banged up, but ok." Evey answered hugging her daughter tightly.

" Where's father?" The girl looked around.

" He went after the gunmen." Dominic answered joining them. " I don't think we were followed, Evey. I stayed in the tunnel for a few minutes--I didn't see or hear anything."

" Thanks, Dom." Evey hurried down the hallway and into the surveillance room. She flipped the main control panel switch and watched as two rows of monitors came to life. She had not been able to sever the cameras on the rooftops of several building throughout London--the last ones V had put up. He eyes scanned the images as she moved the cameras around. There was no sign of V.

" Mother, he is alright, isn't he?" Victoria asked, fear showing in her voice.

" I am fine my loves." The voice came from behind them--both were in V's arms within seconds.

" I was so worried--( worried? Hell, she had been scared out of her wits!)" Evey breathed as his arms held her and Victoria tightly.

" I promised you both--I would never leave either of you again..." He stopped looking into both sets of eyes, " I keep my promises." He watched curiously as Evey ran her hands over his shoulders, arms and chest, looking for wounds as Victoria looked on. " Evey, I'm fine.

Honestly." He reached up and pulled the mask off, sliding it into her hands.

He turned his attention to Stone. " Has Inspector Finch contacted you yet, Dominic?" He asked as Evey's arms snaked around his waist, once again.

Dominic was shocked when he heard his given name come from V's mouth. " Not yet, why?"

" He'll be needing you back at the station to help process the prisoners." V answered taking the gloves and cape off.

" They're alive?"

" A few minor cuts, nothing serious, I assure you." V smiled, answering him. " I think you will be able to retrieve useful information from them about some of the local cells activities."

" Thanks..." Stone hesitated, " maybe this will give us the break we've been looking for."

" I quite sure it will." V replied as Stone's phone went off.

" Stone. On my way, Chief." He spoke, looking at V. " I'm needed back at the station."

" Thank you for everything, Dom." Evey placed her hand on his arm.

" No problem." He smiled at her, then turned back to V. " Thank you again, Mr. King for your help." He offered his hand, which V gladly accepted.

" It was my pleasure, Lieutenant."

Dominic smiled slightly, still not knowing what to make of the situation. " We may call again on your services sometime in the future."

V tilted his head as Stone turned and headed for the gallery entrance and waited as Victoria entered the security code.

" Thank you, Uncle Dom." She smiled, looking up at him.

" What for?"

" You know--doing what was right." she answered as the door swung open slowly.

" I just hope I did the right thing." He looked down at the young girl standing next to him.

Her eyes never left his. " You did." She watched as Stone disappeared down the tunnel.

It was three days before Christmas. There had been no new activity in the last couple weeks, and V had been on the phone with his household for the last two days. He would be taking Evey and Victoria home, to Ravensclaw, for their first Christmas together as a family. The girls had their bags packed, and were anxious to leave. V smiled as he thought of Evey's face the first time she would see the manor house, and Victoria would have over a hundred rooms to explore--and if she was indeed like him, as her mother was so fondly of pointing out, she would explore each and every one. He began down the hallway from his study when he heard the music coming from the main room and stopped by the archway of the gallery. Evey stood beside the Wurlitzer, singing.

" For all those times you stood by me

For all the truth you made me see

For all the joy you brought to my life

For all the wrong that you made right

For every dream that you made come true

For all the love I found in you

I'll be forever thankful baby

You're the one who held me up

Never let me fall

You're the one who saw me through, through it all

You are my strength when I am weak

You are my voice when I can't speak

You are my eyes when I can't see

You give me faith 'coz you believe

I'm everything I am

Because you love me..." (3)

V watched as Evey's back begin to shake and the beautiful voice he had been listening to, fell silent. " Don't stop Evey, please..." He approached her, his hand out.

She turned, wiping tears from her eyes, a soft blush covering her cheeks from being caught. " That was beautiful." He walked to her. " Does it have a name?"

" Yes, " she answered, looking up at him. " It's called ' Because You Loved Me' .

She turned back to the jukebox. " I found it in my neighbor's trash at my old flat right after you disappeared." She paused. " I listened to it, realizing that it spoke of how I felt about you." Evey turned back to him, new tears welling in her eyes. " Oh, V--it was so hard to hear the song the way it was written...I tried to sing it several times--I actually think I did once--then packed it away. With Victoria being a baby, I didn't have time to sing anymore. It 's been packed ever since--at least until this year. "

He watched her lower eyes from him. " You changed the words." He spoke softly.

" Yes, I did." she answered, " it sounded more appropriate."

" It is fitting that you did." V smiled at her, " Now, we have--what the younger generation--refers to as ' our song'."

Evey giggled as her arms went around his waist. " Oh, V...I do love you so..."

He returned her embrace tightly. " I spoke with Gordon, the limo has been dispatched, and should arrive shortly."

" M-m-m-m-m..." Evey voiced as she stepped back from him. " You look great." Her eyes skimmed over the man before her. The only clothes Evey had seen V dressed in that year she was with him, was the black outfits he always wore, but now, she couldn't take her eyes off the black turtleneck sweater that defined the muscular frame beneath, or the black jeans that accented his lower body. Now, ten years later, she could hold, touch and kiss him whenever she wanted to, and for someone who was in his mid-fifties ( by her calculations), he was still hot!

" I take it, you approve of my choice for today?" He asked as they walked toward the bedroom.

" And how!" Evey smiled, stopping at the doorway. She pulled his face to hers, her lips taking his in a soft kiss, then nuzzled her face into his neck, her lips exploring the flesh under his chin that the sweater couldn't cover. " By the way, " she paused, " Who is Gordon?"

V's breath caught as Evey's tongue tasted his flesh. " My business partner...ah, Evey...he..." His eyes closed as feelings began running wildly within him., " He...takes care of Ravensclaw when I'm away." He rushed the sentence from his lips.

" Oh." Evey replied as her hands roamed down his back slowly, then finally taking his firm behind in her hands, drew him to her tightly.

" Blessed is the man who can endureith temptation, for when he is tried, he will receive his crown of thorns." (4)

Evey pulled away from him, " We really need to finish packing and make sure that the gallery is secure." He hand reached to his face, his hand covering his.

" You are a harsh woman, Mistress Hammond." he husked gently, looking into amber eyes.

" And you, Master King, are a harsh task master." She replied, a shy smile on her lips.

" Mom! Dad!" Victoria called from the hallway entrance, " Limo's here!"

V looked at Evey. " Ready?"

Evey's eyes shone with excitement. " Yes!"

" Victoria!" V called down the hallway.

" Yeah?" Her head appeared around the corner.

" Get your things, and have William take them to the car. Your Mother and I will be ready in a moment."

" Ok!"

" Come with me, my love. I will introduce you to our driver." V said as he tucked her arm into his and walked down the hallway. He and Evey entered the main room of the gallery to find a tall, young blond haired man studying the various paintings gracing the walls.

" William!"

" Mr. King." He smiled broadly as his employer approached him, taking his hand and shaking it. " It's good to see you again, sir."

" Thank you, William." He turned to Evey, " This is my finance, Evey Hammond."

" Ma'am." He tipped his hat to her.

" Everything is ready. If you would take Miss Hammond's daughter's luggage first, we should be ready when you return." V smiled.

" Right away, sir." William answered as a young girl came down the hallway, pulling two suitcases behind her.

" Victoria, this is William. He'll be taking us to Ravensclaw."

" Hi." Victoria grinned at him.

" My pleasure, young miss." He returned her smile, picking up her suitcases. " Would you like to accompany me?"

Victoria looked at her parents. " Is it ok?"

Evey nodded her head.

" This way, Miss Victoria." William waited until the gallery door finished opening, then with suitcases in hand, headed down the tunnel, Victoria in tow.

" You know, " Evey began, " it is so nice to see you not stiff upper-lipped and formal all the time."

V tilted his head toward her as they went back to the master bedroom to retrieve their luggage. She watched as he picked up all six suitcases in his arms and carried them effortlessly to the main room. Sitting them on the rug, he looked at her, taking his normal stance before her, his hands crossed at his waist, head tilted, blue eyes sparkling. " Tight lipped?" He stepped toward her. " Formal all the time?" Another step--and Evey began backing up toward the jukebox, giggling.

" I assure you Miss Hammond, " V paused, taking another step toward her as she raced around the jukebox, putting the machine between them. " That old, tight-lipped formal man still resides within this body--" V laid his hands on the glass front. " If you would like him back--I believe I have an extra set of black clothing here, somewhere." V grinned at her.

Evey rushed to his arms, and buried into his chest, feeling his heart beating beneath her face. " No, I love him just the way he is now."

" I like the better and improved model, also." V laughed heartedly as he held Evey in his embrace, the gallery door opening, William and Victoria stepping inside.

" This is all, William." V spoke, breaking from Evey and picked up her coat, helping her into it. His was next. Walking to the door, he entered the security code, and held the door as William and Evey stepped through. Placing his hand on the door, he smiled gently as he thought about what had transpired over the last thirty years in his underground lair. The night her rescued Evey, how she had saved his life in Jordan Tower, the November 5th night that almost cost him his life, and the ten years of not seeing, holding or loving the one thing that gave him purpose--Evey. He smiled, remembering.

" Samuel?"

Evey's voice broke his train of thought. Yes, many things had happened over the years--and many more memories would happen in the future. He stepped thought the doorway, the Shadow Gallery locking behind him.

Hebrews 13:2

Shakespeare

" Because You Loved Me"--Celion Dion. I chose this song as V's and Evey's simply because I think they needed one. I changed the past tense of the chorus to present--it just suited this time in their relationship.

James 1:12