Chapter Eleven
Duncan MacLeod and Beth walked from Le Blues Bar down the block. The evening air was fresh smelling and the street lights shone on their faces as they talked quietly.
They walked until they came to the Park. Only a few people braved the cool air to take pleasure from the atmosphere. The newly planted flowers filled the places with their wonderful scent.
Beth finally felt comfortable enough to let down her guard a little. "I have to tell you I was resentful because I was going to break my vow and avenge Richie's death."
Duncan was quiet and let her go on looking at the well-lit path in front of them.
She admitted, "I was sure that my first quickening by killing the one that killed Richie would heal the pain I was feeling."
He told her, "You can't heal that kind of pain by any Quickening."
She pointed out, "How could I know that. So I'm back to where I started." She walked on without talking further and her eyes down, thinking.
He reached over to take her hand and she let him but did not look up.
They walked until no one else was around. Duncan stopped and turned to Beth looking at her with a serious expression.
The moon was showing its first quarter and cast a faint light. He told her, "I know you wanted to be here now with Richie. I hope you allow me to stand in for him and be your friend."
She answered, "For the moment I'll say yes but I've decided not to stay."
He questioned, "With all that you know where will you go and outrun the watchers?"
Hesitation filled her mind and she wanted to believe it would not touch her. Looking at him pensively and said, "If I go back to the states maybe they won't come after me."
He asked her directly, "What about this morning when you were ready to fight them?"
An instant later, they both felt an immortal approaching. Reaching into their coats, they brought out their swords simultaneously.
Even though it was night with very little moon light, both recognized Kilgore when he came close enough to challenge them.
He taunted, "Here I am to challenge you Duncan MacLeod. I mean to finish you this time." He held up his new sword.
Before Duncan could answer, Beth said first, "You should fear me because I'll make you beg to die."
Stepping forward, Duncan told her, "Beth, please let me fight my own battle."
Embarrassed she replied, "Oh, sorry, go ahead then I'll...ah, be over here." She put her sword down behind her back and gave them room.
Duncan stepped over to Beth while keeping his eyes on Kilgore he shed his long coat and handed it to her.
Duncan held his sword high and said, "By the rules this time."
"Yeah sure why not," said Kilgore with malice.
Beth did not believe him. Standing by a large tree she whispered, "Be careful."
Duncan grinned as he attacked Kilgore. They clanged swords and repeatedly chopped branches off nearby trees as the weapons flew back and forth seeking targets.
Lunging forward and catching Kilgore's blade MacLeod pushed him aside into bushes that supported his weight.
Kilgore hit back and rolled off the bush stumbling as they kept fighting then going deeper into the park as the moon was disappearing.
He skirted his way around getting closer and then feinted to the right. Next, he quickly cut back to the left catching MacLeod's arm and sliced it neat but shallow.
"Ha," he said in triumph, "You fell for that one again."
Duncan's sword hit back just as quickly and pierced Kilgore in the stomach causing a deep puncture wound.
Kilgore pulled away and swatted at Duncan's blade retreating again to keep distance between them.
His wound bled internally and he was showing his pain. Cursing and spiting blood he would not stop holding his sword up he gestured for MacLeod to attack.
Duncan's arm bled slowly not closing up as quickly as it used to but he ignored it. Circling around trees and bushes, he saw Kilgore give ground until he could not back away.
He took out a gun and aimed at Duncan's heart saying, "Looks like I can't win against you unless I cheat MacLeod."
Irritated Duncan accused him, "You have no honor Kilgore if you shoot me. Know this before you can take my head Beth over there will kill you."
Breathing loudly Kilgore glanced at Beth standing there with her sword out. He was uncertain of what to do. He said again, "I must finish you MacLeod." He held the gun out getting ready to shoot.
Duncan shook his head telling him, "It doesn't work that way."
Stepping into the shadows Beth disappeared from view. Making her way around the trees, she circled back to the men.
Kilgore looked ready to fire the gun. He growled in anger and said, "I'm going to kill you!"
Beth came up quickly from behind holding her sword. She pressed it into his back. "Drop the Gun!" She commanded.
Kilgore threw the gun away but turned his attention back to MacLeod.
He charged quickly and Duncan had to go backwards dodging the blade to get in position for a good counter attack.
Kilgore had both hands on his sword slashing at Duncan continuously using up all his energy on that one quick attack.
He was running out of clear space and Duncan hated trampling the flowers. When he saw Kilgore spent, he knew it was time.
Stopping his retreat Duncan dropped down to his knee then brought his sword point up into Kilgore. Standing quickly he pulled the blade up and out. Spinning around he beheaded Kilgore in one stroke.
He looked to where Beth had stood. She was gone and his new coat was lying on the ground.
He knew why she left but he could not go after her as the quickening began. Once again, he wished he could describe the feeling that the quickening always brought. He saw the glowing begin at the headless corpse and travel up to him.
Duncan opened his arms to embrace the power of the electrical quickening that seemed to bring everything into focus. At that moment, he heard it.
An intense humming began as if a thousand bees went through him. It felt like he jumped into a frozen lake. Duncan screamed as it overwhelmed his senses.
Beth had stayed long enough to see that he would win and then quickly ran off down the path the way they had come.
She heard the thunder and his scream as the lightning struck. Tears were on her face as she kept putting distance between herself and Duncan even though she knew it was irrational.
She saw the flashback of a girl running away with the quickening behind her when her family died.
Stopping at the entrance of the park, she had the sensation that another immortal was nearby.
She ran until she felt him ahead. Then she called out, "Duncan, are you there?"
A rope snaked out, dropped around her head, and pulling taunt. A man told her to shut up as he dragged her behind the bushes. He was a mortal and she struggled to reach the sword on her back. Pulling it out she twisted out of his grip. Standing up she faced a gun.
Up ahead another immortal stepped out to meet Duncan when he came into view.
The man held her at bay and told her to remain quiet.
Duncan still held his sword and heard the commotion in the bushes. He called out, "Beth, can you hear me!"
"She can't answer you. She's such a weak thing why do you put up with her?" Alan asked him smiling wickedly.
Slightly taller than MacLeod, Alan's dark skin showed he was a native of the Deep South.
With hostility Duncan said, "I don't think that's any of your business so just move over there and I'll let you live."
"Kilgore is finished so I'm challenging you and so on until you're finally defeated." Alan stated drawing out his sword. He sneered, "Some warrior you are." Showing contempt, he spat on the ground.
Duncan dropped his coat and held his still blooded sword up with both hands. He asked, "Why do the watchers want me dead?"
Alan stated, "All I know is that a large bounty will be paid if I kill you." He advanced on Duncan, "No more talking now fight me!"
He asked him, "Don't you hear the Gathering summons yet?"
Alan told him, "What are you saying? There is no gathering."
MacLeod replied, "I accept the challenge only because I have no choice." He asked, "What's your name?"
In a bored manner he replied, "I am Alan Callander and now you know."
Taking his stance in the light of a park lamp, he forced Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod to deal with him.
MacLeod backed slowly into the shadows away from the lamp using darkness as his cover. Alan followed him.
"Good," he thought, "Keep coming." When there was some distance between them, he bent down to rub his bloody sword into some dirt until it cast no glint in the faint moonlight.
Beginning his attack in the dark Duncan chopped and pushed him back and around trees and bushes. Alan was surprised with the strength still in this immortal and kept on the defense blocking and countering the swift attacks.
Unsure of how much danger Beth was in he decided to keep this battle short. Dancing out of range he feinted then lunged forward slicing upwards and cut Alan's face. He stepped back holding his sword on his arm, he watched long enough for Alan to realize his fate.
Alan screamed a curse enraged as blood flowed into his eyes and blinded him.
As Alan tried to wipe his face clean on his sleeve Duncan said, "You should know that I don't have time for generosity tonight. Sorry about that."
Duncan attacked again and his opponent countered somewhat but he was unable to see clearly and failed.
Knocking the sword aside, Duncan easily beheaded Alan. Taking a chance, he ran a few yards knowing the quickening would swiftly find him.
Duncan found the two in the bushes. At that moment, the man aimed and shot Beth in the heart. Her eyes looked hurt and she dropped in slow motion.
The lightening found him and for the second time in one night, streaked after Duncan MacLeod. He struggled over to a tree and held onto the trunk channeling some of the force away from him. The call was louder this time and he wanted to hold his ears from the ringing sound.
The quickening left him stinging. Waiting for it to pass he groaned with effort while feeling all too vulnerable.
The man looked terrified by the rage on MacLeod's face. "Don't kill me and I'll report back anything you want me to say," he pleaded on his knees.
Feeling the quickening subside he knelt beside Beth and felt for her breath. Her face was so blue it appalled him.
Regaining some strength, he questioned, "You're a watcher? I'll let you live to tell Egan that if he doesn't stop I'll come after him myself."
The watcher promised, "I swear it."
"Then go before I change my mind." He said panting with fury.
The watcher left in a hurry and Duncan sat down next to Beth waiting for her to come around and his strength to return.
Duncan cursed aloud, "Damn Ahriman and his predictions!"
He was furious at the watcher's foolishness.
He touched her face and it was cold she was not breathing yet. Knowing it could take awhile Mac felt strong enough to carry her now.
Getting his coat on and putting his sword away, he felt the cut still hurting. Duncan picked her up and checked for her heartbeat. It was so faint he could not feel it.
Duncan carried Beth all the way to his car a few blocks away. As people passed him, they looked concerned but did not question him.
He put her in the car and drove home. Having been shot it would have been easy enough for the immortal to finish her off.
When he parked in front of the barge, he heard her breathing slowly begin. Going around to the passenger side he carefully picked her up and carried her up the plank to the door when she came awake fighting him.
As she struggled, he held on telling her, "Stop Beth it's me you're safe now." He set her feet down and unlocked the door. He helped her down the steps inside guiding her over to sit on the bed.
"Beth, look at me!" He pleaded holding her face in his large hands.
Her eyes finally focused and she looked at him saying, "Duncan I don't know what happened. Something shattered inside me and I feel so numb."
He nodded his head for her to go on, "Take your time and tell me what happened."
"I have never died since my first death. I saw a memory from my past." Her voice was in pain but she sounded stronger.
He then insisted, "You have to tell me about it."
Regaining her composure, quietly she asked, "You want to know the moment I became an immortal? What took place?"
She got up and walked away from him to look out of the porthole. The scene played out in front of her eyes in the dark. A scene no one else could witness.
Beth took out her sword and showed him some words scratched on it. He failed to notice it before, "That's the date when I died. I had it inscribed so I would always remember."
Duncan heard her tone and knew it would not be pleasant because an immortal's death never was. "Yes," he told her, "you must tell me. I can help you deal with that pain." He went over and stood behind her.
"Didn't Joe tell you anything?" She asked him not turning around.
"No not all of it," he admitted.
She continued in a faraway voice, "When you see your entire village beheaded you never forget. My people were gone in a day."
Duncan listened knowing that the telling would help her. The narrative lasted an hour.
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