Chapter Twenty eight
Duncan had to go out the back way up a short flight of stairs and ended out on the street. Going to the alley around the back of the hotel, he found the employee entrance. He was lucky that the Employees were watching a soccer match in the lounge area and did not pay attention to an extra man around there.
Inside he found some waiter clothes and a cart. Quickly changing, he put his sword under the cloth covering the cart and went to the busy kitchen for a delivery.
Locating an order for the same floor, put the food on his cart and proceeded to go to the elevator. Finally back on his floor, he found the room, knocked on the door once and just said, "Room service." Not waiting around he took his sword and left to go find his room.
Once there he unlocked the door but the chain was on. He yelled, "Beth please come and unlock the door."
Hearing noises just out of his eyesight, he decided to kick it open. The scene that greeted him made his blood turn cold.
The room was a mess with a shattered window, furniture overturned and broken. There was an immortal woman on the floor beginning to move.
Duncan went to her and turned her over. As she turned, she let fly a right hook and caught him in the chin. When he fell back, she got up and ran to the door. Beth came streaking out of the bathroom dripping wet and tackled her in the hall. Duncan had to drag them back in the room and shut the door.
The women wrestled as Duncan tried to pull them apart. "Stop," He commanded with no effect.
Then finally gaining control he shouted, "Beth I need you to stop fighting her!"
Duncan held Lora's arms pinned but Beth punched her in the stomach anyway. Then she said, "All right I'm done now." She walked away to pick up her sword where she had dropped it.
Duncan asked Lora, "What should I do with you?"
"Kill Her!" Beth said with anger, "She will just keep coming for my head!"
Lora answered, "I have failed so my life is forfeit. Kill me now."
In excitement Beth exclaimed, "See even she says it!" brining her sword to the woman's neck.
Duncan requested, "Beth as much as I like seeing you...Ah...undressed, can you please put something on?"
She took her eyes off Lora to answer him, "Oh sure I'll be right back." Going into the bedroom, she shut the door.
Pulling a chair upright, Duncan sat Lora down holding her arms tightly and looked at her intently. He tried reasoning, "If Egan will have you killed then why go back? Instead you can challenge at the gathering."
"You can't decide that for me so don't play the psychologist." She confessed, "You don't know Egan Lasco. Besides I was paid a lot of money."
Beth came back in with proper attire and asked. "What about the Gathering? Haven't you heard the call?"
Lora answered, "I never intended on going." She looked to MacLeod to end her life.
Duncan pleaded, "Can't you swear not to come after Beth if I let you go?"
Lora answered, "No I've sworn to kill her and I will succeed or die."
Looking at Beth with certainty in her eyes as her ultimatum now lay before him.
Beth felt a shiver of fear go through her knowing that Lora spoke the truth. She would never stop coming for her like a thief in the night. Duncan felt he had no choice. Letting go of her, she knelt before him.
Standing there, he held his sword up over her and said, "I'm sorry but I can't allow you to kill Beth." He asked her, "Will you fight me?"
Lora met his gaze without fear and said, "You killed Brock and he is more skilled than I, so make it quick."
She still could not bring herself to watch. Beth turned away and hid her face.
He felt torn by emotion as he asked himself, "How many times must I kill to protect those I love?"
The sword followed through the swing with easy grace as Lora's eyes stayed open and she met her death with honor. The only honor she ever allowed in her life. Duncan felt only sorrow and pity for her. He felt another Quickening begin.
The energy glowed around the body and oozed up Duncan's legs. Sparks began to appear and more glass broke. As the electricity came after him, Beth felt the burning again. Deep inside like a fire she could not put out. Duncan saw her run into the shower and gulp water again as it poured on her.
The room was large enough to contain the energy and the sparks threatened to start a fire but at that moment the electric discharge ended and the fire flickered out.
As the quickening diminished, Lora's thoughts came last but they were comforting. He felt she was at peace now and he was sorry she was gone.
Looking at the damaged room, Duncan knew they would have to leave quickly. Beth came from the shower holding her towel and dripping with water.
Going over to her Duncan asked, "What happened?"
She shook her head still gasping air, "I don't know...just a burning feeling...I thought...I was on fire."
Sitting her on the bed, he asked, "Did this happen before?"
Pulling off her wet shirt to change she answered, "Yes when I was about to take Lora's head then I felt it. That was about fifteen minutes ago."
Duncan calculated the time factor and realized it was at the same time as the quickening of Brock. He was not sure why it should affect her like that.
He questioned her, "Why would you break your vow and take Lora's head?"
Stripping off the rest of her clothes she explained, "Why not it's about time don't you think?"
Helping her with the pants he insisted, "No under any circumstance you will not break your vow!"
Throwing the soaked things on the floor she argued, "What's the big deal! I'm over it and I know I can do it."
"Let me try and explain this and why I will insist on this one thing from you." He took her hands and held them while she looked defiant.
"When I was at the Grand Immortals house before I left he told me to make sure above all else that you didn't break your vow."
Taking her hands away to get on dry clothes she asked, "Why would the Grand Immortal care about my vow?"
He answered, "I'm not sure why. Maybe it has to do the fact that you will not be accepting challenges at the Gathering. Perhaps we can ask him when we get to Scotland and look for him." Looking at his stained attire, he began changing his clothes as well.
A few minutes later Duncan went around the rooms to gather their things and pack. Beth helped to fill the suitcases and soon they were finished. They put Lora's body in the bed sheets and wrapped her up.
Beth asked Duncan, "Now what do we do?"
He speculated, "Sometimes the Watchers can dispose of an immortal's body and cover up any questions that arise. Today at this time I just don't know."
The telephone rang and Duncan answered it, "Hello?" He held up his hand before Beth could speak.
"This is the manager and I have received a complaint that fighting has been heard coming from your room."
Duncan cleared his throat, "Yes only a small argument. My fiancée and I had a disagreement and there is some damage," he said evasively.
The manager requested, "I'll be right there please don't leave."
As he hung up the receiver Duncan said, "We're having company."
They both straightened up the furniture and objects that had fallen on the floor but it did not look much better. Beth took a towel and wiped up the blood on the carpet and then giving up, she pulled a chair over to cover it. She stuffed the towel into her bag when the knock came.
Duncan looked around and shrugged before opening the door. The manager was standing there with a pencil and notebook in hand.
After surveying the damage briefly he asked, "Why did you destroy this room?"
"We...Ah...had a fight but it's worked out now and I want to pay for the damages," affirmed Duncan looking for his wallet.
Beth added, "I was throwing things and he was ducking."
The manager shook his head and said, "I'll get a crew up here to access the full extent of the damage and you'll have to leave a deposit."
"What if I give you an advance now?" He suggested, finding his wallet and opening it.
The manager nodded, "Yes that would be acceptable provided it is generous enough."
"I will make sure it's more than generous for allowing us to have our first fight here." Duncan teased Beth so she hit him in the arm for good measure.
The manager was not amused but he shook hands with Duncan saying, "Good luck to you." Accepting the handful of bills, he added, "Maybe you should get some counseling."
Picking up their luggage Duncan and Beth went to the door. Taking a last look at the room the manager shook his head and ushered them out locking the door.
Going down the hall he said, "I'm letting you know, you can't stay here again."
"I understand." Duncan replied, "We'll leave for the airport straight away."
"You can't leave the hotel until the police talk to you." The manager told them as the descended in the elevator. As the doors opened up in the lobby there were several police officers all talking to the guests.
Duncan whispered, "Oh no."
The man who saw the aftermath of the quickening walked up to Duncan pointed an accusing finger and said, "He is the one I saw with the sword standing over the body."
.
