Chapter Twenty seven
For several hours, Brock maintained surveillance at the Hotel. They had located which room Duncan and Beth were staying. Lora was on the phone long distances to the compound.
When she got back to him she said, "Orders are to kill her before tonight. If we fail we're dead."
Brock shot back, "Of course we're dead if we fail. Do you think Duncan MacLeod will let us live?"
Conspiring with Lora, Brock said, "We need to separate them. I'll keep MacLeod busy while you kill her." Entering into the hotel lobby, they sat near the elevator to watch and plan further.
Duncan pulled Beth close to him to nuzzle her cheek again. She sighed feeling closer to him than she ever thought possible. "Can we order room service now?" She asked, teasing Duncan with mock impatience.
"You can call this time." He told her getting up to put a robe on.
Beth leaned over to pick up the receiver when the phone rang. She looked at Duncan who indicated she should answer it. "Hello?"
"Hello this is the front desk. We have a gift basket here would you like it sent up?" The Manager asked.
She told him, "Just a moment please." Looking back to Duncan, she said. "It's the front desk with a gift basket. Do we what it now?"
He took the phone from her and instructed, "Leave it there I'll come and get it." Hanging up he went to get dressed.
She asked, "Who do you think sent it?"
When he was finished dressing, he said, "I'll find out because it may be something we don't want brought to our room." Going to the door he said, "Keep it locked please."
Beth put on a robe and went to him. "Be careful." She kissed him softly. "Come back to me."
"I always will," he promised with eyes unwavering. Shutting the door, he heard her turn the lock.
In a room two doors away, Lora waited until she was sure that Duncan MacLeod had left her unguarded. Brock was waiting in the lobby to detain him.
Climbing out on a ledge, she worked her way over two rooms. Then using her sword broke the glass and went through quickly.
Beth sensed another immortal's energy just before she heard the glass break. Still in her robe, she went for her sword near the bed.
As Lora jumped into the room, she declared, "I'm here to finish what I started and this time there will be no one to interfere." Circling around the furniture the black Immortal came after her.
"But I know all your tricks," Beth answered, "And I intend to kill you." She circled also in a stalking manner. Lora had a sword in one hand and a dagger in the other.
Quick footing kept her close so Lora could not throw her daggers. Beth stayed focused and forced Lora to use sword to fight.
The two women battled with the effort more than Lora was used to. She had grown too soft by not keeping up her training. Beth felt sure this time she would win.
In the front lobby as Duncan approached the gift basket, he saw that it looked innocent enough until he read the card. The message said "Don't look now but you're in danger."
He scanned the room quickly and at the far end, he spotted Brock who saluted then turned and went through a door.
Duncan felt his sword under his coat and followed him through the same door. He sensed Brock ahead but always out of sight. Going down some steps he continued down halls as Brock lead him deeper into the lower rooms of the Hotel.
The basement was stifling hot with the big furnace at the far end. The main room had many passages that connected the maze of underground storage rooms. Faint lights dotted the halls and the walls held the grime.
Brock's instructions were not to kill MacLeod yet but he wanted to so badly. He hid out of sight waiting until Duncan was just close enough. Stepping out he began to attack without warning.
Duncan blocked the sword and pushed it away. Holding his sword over his head and pointing at Brock, Duncan advanced in the narrow space.
Their weapons met and scraped each other with Brock's sword sliding down to the hilt. Then he kicked at Duncan knocking him back against the wall. Coming at him again, Brock sought to cut Duncan in half.
Twirling his blade, Duncan blocked each attack with precision. Making Brock sacrifice the time to maneuver around in the basement as the air throbbed and pulse with the rhythm of heat.
Beth now chased Lora room to room to hamper her efforts to affect an accurate throw. Instead, Lora had to fight with sword and dagger in a manner she was unaccustomed.
Beth taunted her, "First rule always be prepared for any conditions."
The robe now became a hindrance so Beth stepped away from the broken glass on the floor long enough to drop the robe. Standing there exposed with both hands on her sword, she knew the sword dance.
Lora looked at her nude opponent and declared, "I just want your head."
"You'll never get my head," answered Beth. She then countered and jumped close to Lora to get past her guard and just missed her face with the blade of her sword. Lora stumbled but regained her balance to block Beth's sword.
In the midst of the fighting, they shredded the furnishings and the shattered window became an option Beth wanted to utilize.
Pushing Lora back with short chopping strokes, she maneuvered her opponent before the window. Lora knew what Beth was up to so she tried to side step the obvious trap.
Lora tripped back and turned around falling against the window seal. Beth slashed at her legs cutting a large gash above the knees. Lora went down as Beth reached to take her sword away and fling it across the room.
Holding her sword up, Beth envisioned her first quickening. She told Lora, "You are no longer in the game."
Lora lay there cursing her and declared, "Brock is going to kill Duncan MacLeod. You will lose something else." Seeing the effect of her words, she revealed. "Why do you think he is not back by now?"
Beth hesitated and Lora smiled feeling her legs beginning to heal. If she could delay a little longer, she could still fight.
"Don't stop now. I'm just getting warmed up." Said Duncan as Brock looked for an exit.
The closeness of the basement halls soon hindered Brock's style of fighting. Now he dodged Duncan who only bounced from wall to wall keeping Brock from getting past his well-placed sword.
The air grew hotter where they battled and both men were soaked with perspiration.
Wiping his face on his sleeve, Brock took his eyes off his opponent.
Duncan stated, "You're full of mistakes and careless," as he kept hitting Brock's sword side to side.
Brock just continued to hold his blade up in front to keep Duncan from taking his head. He took a gamble to end it. "Elizabeth is the real target. Right now Lora has probably finished her." He tried laughing but ended up choking from the heat.
As Beth looked undecided on her next course of action, Lora had her eye on her sword across the room.
"I can kill you and then go find him." Said Beth with her sword poised above Lora's head.
"Then do it!" She provoked, "Not that easy is it?" Lora's eyes showed no request for mercy.
Duncan felt alarm as he heard Brock speak the truth about Beth's danger. Screaming his final rage, he forced Brock to his knees and punched the sword from his grasp.
Panting for want of fresh air he asked, "Any last words?"
"You won't have her for long." Said Brock with a contempt Duncan found offensive.
Beth still stood there naked and undecided with her sword held up.
Laughing Lora said, "You can't do it, you're scared!"
She began to pull herself across the floor to get to her sword while Beth remained full of uncertainty. Just as Lora reached her sword and took possession of it Beth finally came back to her senses.
She pounced in her direction as Lora brought her sword to bear upon Beth. Cutting her arm, she taunted, "Now I'm going to kill you!"
Beth ignored the cut arm and defended herself. Lighter on her feet then Lora she danced back around a fallen table then stood behind it. Lora threw a star she had taken out of her belt. Beth caught it on the tabletop then took it herself.
She said, "Throw some more." Flinging it back and hitting Lora in the face.
Swinging his sword with more force than necessary, Brock's head flew ten feet and landed in a bucket.
He finished with, "Who asked you," seeing the Quickening mist begin.
Lora screamed and fell towards the window. Beth ran toward her and slashed her back open. In a rage, she was now ready to take Lora's head. Before she could raise her sword to finish her, a searing heat went through her body.
Gasping for air, Beth stumbled to the bathroom and stepped into the shower. Turning it on she sought to cool the fire she felt.
Duncan felt the Quickening subside and he desperately wanted to race back up to his room. Unfortunately, the maintenance worker heard the noise and came to look for the source. What he saw was a body with no head and a man with a sword and some smoke. Screaming in fear he tore out of the basement calling for the police.
.
