Chapter Thirty One

In the private rooms at the Watcher's compound, the telephone rang at that moment and Egan gestured for Joshua to answer it.

"Who is it?" Asked Joshua he listened for a minute then said to Egan, "It's Cooper."

Egan took the receiver and said, "What have you got for me Cooper?"

"MacLeod took out both Brock and Lora just like I told you," replied Cooper, going on to explain further. "He didn't suspect me. I played it off so he wouldn't."

"Cut the bragging all I want is fresh information." Egan said, "Now what do you know?"

"He said they were going to Ireland but at the airport they changed the reservation to Scotland. Something else you should know," stated Cooper. "This Immortal Elizabeth Windsor appeared sick on the way to the airport and while there seemed to get worse."

"That's impossible, how sick was she?" asked Egan.

"The driver of the taxi said she was in a lot of pain. The Watcher at the airport reported she appeared exhausted. It sounds like anemia or the flu," explained Cooper.

"Do not give me half-ass opinions," said Egan. "I don't require conjecture from you."

"Then what do the historians say about Immortal sickness?" asked Cooper.

"Are you questioning me?" asked Egan with a hint of anger in his voice.

"No, I'm...I'm sorry Egan," stammered Cooper.

"Just keep quiet and call only when you have something new to report," ordered Egan. Not waiting for an answer, he hung up the phone.

Turning to Joshua he asked, "How many immortals does it take to kill Duncan MacLeod?"

Joshua answered, "I don't know. I'll have to look up those figures."

"It's a rhetorical question." Egan stated, "It just takes one." Then he asked, "Who is the best historian we have?"

"That would be Pat Carter," said Joshua without hesitation.

"Get him for me," commanded Egan. "I'll be in the Library."

Joshua left quickly to track down Pat and deliver the message from Egan.

Glasgow, Scotland

When the plane touched down Beth woke up briefly but she could not walk straight. Duncan finally picked her up and carried her to a waiting wheelchair.

The flight attendant offered to call an ambulance. Duncan was tempted to say yes because he was so worried but he declined saying she has narcolepsy. He received an understanding response. As soon as he found their luggage, Beth kept nodding off.

Unsure of how he was going to maneuver through an airport with Beth asleep in a wheel chair, he stopped in the waiting area. Handling the luggage and getting to a hotel would be impossible.

He tried again, "Beth wake up please?" with no response.

It was more than coincidence that Frank McFadden walked up to Duncan and made his presence known at once.

"What's wrong, my friend?" asked Frank sitting down beside Duncan as he held Beth's hand.

Duncan looked up sadly at Frank and said, "She won't wake up," his voice cracking with worry.

Frank said, "I can see that but rest assured she will soon." He inquired, "How long has she slept?" while Deahna came up to sit with them.

"Only a few hours," he answered caressing her fingers.

Frank told him, "Then by evening she will wake up and be her own self again."

"How do you know that?" asked Duncan in disbelief.

"I have so much to tell you but not here. I am relieved to see you with her. In another month the time would have expired." Frank said standing up to indicate that they should hurry.

"What you're talking about?" Asked MacLeod when he stood up.

"Beth is more than she appears," Frank said keeping the secret to himself. He suggested, "Deahna, please help with Beth while Duncan and I locate our luggage."

Duncan kept the rest of his questions on hold for now as the four Immortals walked through the airport to collect what they needed and secure a bus ride to the hotel.

The bus was on time and people were crowding on it. They had to wait until everyone else sat down to get a clear path.

Duncan picked her up out of the chair and carried her onto the bus. They made their way to the back where there was more room and privacy.

He tried to make her as comfortable as possible. Frank and Deahna sat beside them. Duncan asked Deahna if she could sit with Beth and hold her up because he had a few questions that could not wait.

She looked at Frank and he nodded, so she traded places and leaned the sleeping girl onto her shoulder as the bus got underway.

"Please tell me how you know about Beth's condition and what's wrong with her?" insisted Duncan at once.

Frank spoke earnestly telling Duncan a piece of forgotten history. "Two thousand years ago, the same thing happened to a friend of mine. His name was Tyrone and He was a champion like you. It was a difficult battle for him, but he also found the answers and like you defeated Ahriman and sent him back to a dimension where he couldn't escape for another thousand years."

Frank paused then continued, "Eight months later my friend became infatuated with an immortal woman and married her right away. Within a few days, she showed signs of a sickness also she slept long hours as if in a comma."

"So what happened to her?" asked Duncan becoming curious.

He shook his head saying, "That part of the story has to wait." Frank insisted firmly, "What I have to tell you concerns Beth as well. You both should hear it together."

"Ahriman told me in a dream if I got involved with Beth that she would die and I would be responsible," revealed Duncan looking to Frank for answers.

"Ahriman has a way of twisting things around. Have there been attempts on both your lives?" asked Frank.

"Yes several," answered Duncan looking out the window. The scenery passing by reminded him that he was home.

"There you have it. What else did Ahriman say?" questioned Frank.

He answered solemnly, "That I would kill a friend before the year is over."

Frank told him, "At the gathering you may have to. Who can tell what our friends have become over time, some good, some evil. Keep an open mind Duncan MacLeod."

Duncan wondered what Frank meant by that. He knew who his friends were. He knew their strength and loyalty. At the gathering, he wondered how many he would see and who was left?

Closing his eyes, Mac was not prepared for the emotional conflict that raged within him. So much was happening so fast, he felt bombarded with images and thoughts he could not control.

McFadden gently shook Mac's shoulder and he opened his eyes to see that they reached the hotel realizing just that moment he must have dozed off.

Waiting again until most of the passengers departed, Duncan carried Beth to the front lobby of the hotel. Standing there and holding her close he could feel her breath on his neck. She felt so light, he was afraid she would die right there in his arms.

As she sleeps...

Dawn rose slowly over the moors with fog scented with wild heather as the river cooled the fevered earth. There was a faint sound of birds and insect life.

Like a peaceful child-hood memory, Beth stood enamored with the beauty and solitude. She watched the river rushing past her and thought of sitting down to put her feet in the water. Before she could do that, she felt a presence, unlike that of an immortal.

The rising sun slid behind some clouds setting the mood for what was to come.

Turning around, she saw a man approaching. His hair was yellow and she noticed blue eyes above the sinister smile.

Her heart raced with fear but she could not move as he came closer. She called out, "Who are you?"

"Hello Elizabeth, I've been waiting a long time for you to meet me." He said reaching out to take her hand.

"I am called Ahriman but I enjoy taking the form of Horton a past enemy of immortals. I can take the form of Richie Ryan if you like?" He said changing faces to look at her with Richie's face and eyes.

Now it said, "I really admire you for your vow. You know how much I loved you."

Beth shook her head saying, "No do not do this to me," while trying to pull her hand away.

He held on tightly and changed again to face her as Duncan MacLeod. "Is that better, will you talk to me now?" He asked her.

"It matters not who you look like you are still a demon." She observed.

"I try so hard to please you and this is how you treat me?" He gazed hard at her making her flinch.

Smiling broadly, he morphed back into the face of Horton. "Elizabeth, I'm so disappointed. I tried to prevent your premature death. Did you know MacLeod was cursed?"

"Let go of me!" She cried out, "I don't want to hear your lies," trying again to pull away.

Horton held on tighter causing a shock to go into her hand, travel up her arm and into her body. She felt the burning again and gasped from pain.

In a voice that was low and full of seduction Horton asked her, "Do you know why you burn?"

She shook her head, unable to speak as she fought the pain. The tears so close to spilling out.

He smiled wickedly and seemed to enjoy her discomfort. "It's because of Him you'll die."

He taunted her, "Feel the Quickening? It is what you have waited for. With a Quickening, you will be made whole. Will you kill to stay with him?" He reasoned with her, causing the shock to increase.

"Stop I can't do it I will never kill." She said between clenched teeth.

"If you want to live, you have to kill another immortal. It is such a little thing Elizabeth this one time and you will never be sick again. I promise."

He took her other hand and pushed the shock up both arms until she thought she would pass out from the pain.

She could not pull her hands away and sank to her knees sobbing, "I'll do it! I will kill for him!" She would promise anything to make the pain stop.

The pain suddenly stopped and the demon knelt beside her still holding her hands. His face once again changed to that of MacLeod. He smiled down at her but his eyes betrayed that he was not human.

"That's my girl. I know you can do it." He said.

Her face was wet with tears. She shuddered at his words and looked at him with curiosity. The tenderness appeared in his brown eyes and she could almost believe he was Mac. He now touched her with gentleness.

He kissed her hand saying, "I want you to stay with me and your life will be spared."

She stood up still shaking and he let go. She rubbed her hands together feeling the sting. "Why do I need a quickening to save my life?" She questioned.

His face became softer almost human. "Elizabeth it means that only a quickening will save you. Without one you're going to die."

She felt she was really speaking to Duncan and wanted to do whatever he asked. She told him, "If I only have to kill once then I would do it for you."

The evil smile that flashed at her almost stopped her heart. She wondered why the demon wanted her to kill. "But why should I kill for a demon!"

His face changed back to Horton and waved his hand to ward off her statement. "Then you will be the first Immortal to die with your head intact. Take comfort in that fact." He said walking away from her.

She watched his departing form resisting the need to stop him with her questions. She glimpsed his true nature before the fog closed around and took him from her sight.

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