I narrowed my eyes at him and straightened my back. And I looked him in the eyes clearly saying 'Wanna bet?'

But after a moment of staring I and thinking, I changed tactics and just shrugged dismissing him as unimportant.

I spoke calmly looking at everyone. "Listen to me, everyone listen to me. And think about what I say. Cast out your emotions think about what I say with simple cool logic. " when Taylor wanted to say something I held up my hand. "Listen to me and then judge for yourself.!

I was on purpose not shielding anything for Edward hoping the overwhelming number of people in my favor would sway him and hinder him from doing something stupid. I started my 'you must not interfere speech' saying everything I said before to the girls, only including the pack and La Push in their reasons not to interfere. Illustrating how maybe they might be used in medical research, breeding experiments etc. making sure they understood they were not to interfere.

"… but most importantly, the most important reason to me. This is my fight. NOONE is allowed to fight my battles for me. I. Am. A. Warrior. Of. The Clan McLeod. And I will fight my battles with honor and cunning. And I will be victorious. If after using all my skills, all my tricks and all my abilities the guy still is coming after me, he deserves my head."

I heard slow clapping from behind the pack, and they jumped a little. I had of course felt the familiar quickenings approach.

Methos was the one clapping in that slow mocking way and said dryly. "Well said Ella, you take after Duncan with your over the top Drama-Queen speeches."

I stuck out my tongue in answer. He rolled his eyes "Oh how very mature." He stated sarcastically.

"You should know, you do it all the time old man." Duncan stated with a chuckle.

I chuckled as well. The Pack and the Cullens seemed astounded at our light heartedness.

Jacob spoke up. "You act like this is no big deal." He observed leaving the unspoken question hang in the air.

"It is simply a fact of life for us." Methos stated and shrugged.

I looked at Methos and Duncan expectantly .

Methos started to speak:

"Francois Soif is 700 years old, is a known head hunter that goes on a Spree every 50 years or so. He only fights Immortals that have been immortal about 50 years.

Even though he is a head hunter he always fights within the rules. He is reported to be a damn good fighter, mixing sword and hand to hand combat liberally. It is also told he moves nearly faster than the eye can see. So he might have some enhancements. Also he is known to switch from one martial art to the other in the blink of an eye. His current tally is about 130 heads give or take a few. But he is also known to attack viciously fast in a flurry of moves. Also he likes goading his opponent. The fights are reported to never last longer than a few minutes." After a moment he added. "Quite a fitting last name if you ask me."

I nodded agreeing and absorbing the information. "Suggestions?" I asked them.

"Don't fight at your full speed and ability at the beginning, hold back a little. Try to tire him out. We both know you have deep reserves. Use all of your martial art skills when applicable. Look out for the least obvious signs for his next moves, he will know how to disguise or fake the obvious ones. Stay away from the showy complicated moves. Concentrate on keeping your balance. Be light and deft on your feet. Do not react to his goading he is known to be VERY crude. If you detect use of ability on his side do not hesitate to counteract it with any means necessary. If it looks that he is winning without ability do not hesitate to use your abilities. Fight with everything you have. But try to be circumspect so that he cannot tell what you are doing. Also as a last resort, and only as a last resort use THE VOICE. But if you think it is necessary do not hesitate. In a fight like this never forget there can be only one. Make sure YOU are the one."

I nodded seriously. Taking in all that he had said.

"What! You are actually allowing her to fight this fight. A fight to the death!" Edward pretty much screeched.

I just rolled my eyes. "Edward Anthony Mason Cullen did you listen to a single word I said? Did you even watch the martial art competition? This will be my 24th challenge, and I am still here what does that tell you? Are you even capable of thinking logically? Hell are you capable of thinking?"

He looked at me thoughtfully if a little angry at my last statement. He suddenly looked around wildly in multiple directions. Twisting his head very fast. Then closing his eyes and holding his head as if he had a headache. I let the others do the work.

I did not shield him. I let his mind be battered. This went on for a few minutes. And suddenly he seemed to relax and he looked in Carlisle direction. And then in Methos direction. He nodded once to both of them and seemed to relax. His shoulders drooped he no longer looked tense and ready to fight. He looked at me.

"B- Ella I am sorry. I should not have said that. It was not my place to say such things."

I nodded in acknowledgement. 'Wow that must have been some telepathic intervention' I thought at the time.

"May I just say, good luck, and please please come back alive or I won't be held responsible for my actions." He said simply. Not implying anything simply stating a fact.

I nodded acknowledging what he said.

" I am going with Duncan and Methos now. We have to prepare and warm up. I ask all of you to please stay away. I don't think any of you could stop themselves from interfering if it looks bad for me."

Everybody looked uncomfortable.

"I will come, I am your brother. I swear I will not interfere." Taylor stated an looked at me, daring me to defy him.

"I will come too. I will keep to the shadows in my wolf form so the others will know what is going on. Edward can tell the rest what is happening." Jacob said in a commanding tone that brooked no argument.

I looked at him and silently asked him if he would interfere. He shook his head and his look told me he would keep to his word. Probably better he come anyway.

I nodded. "Alright but no more. We are dangerously close to breaking instead of bending the one on one rule."

Jake turned and instructed Seth to change into his wolf form in half an hour.

And so with much less fuss than I had expected Duncan, Methos, Taylor, Jacob and I set off towards the garage. We drove there in the dark tinted Bullet Proof Mercedes (Methos was paranoid). It was nearly 6 in the evening by now and I needed to warm up and get familiar with my surroundings.

The rest of the Cullens and the Pack wished me luck.

In the car ride over I was thinking about the quickening I was to collect and what to do with it. I decided to ask Jake. And as a last resort Methos.

"Jake?" I said quietly.

He turned his head to look at me.

"Do you remember our discussion about quickenings? When you asked me how they felt?"

"Yes." He stated wondering what I was getting at.

"Do you remember what I need, in order to properly assimilate the quickening without agony?" I asked further.

He had a thoughtful expression and I saw the moment it dawned on him, the moment he remembered I needed a good hard fuck.

"Who?" he asked, I knew he meant who I was going to ask.

"You if you want to." At his astonished expression I held up a hand. "As long as you know it does not mean anything. And as long we are still friends afterwards with no weirdness. Also my tastes after a quickening leant towards the…violent side. Can you do that?"

I could see him breathing harder and I could see the wheels turning in his head.

We were interrupted by Taylor. "What are you two talking about?"

Oh right I had not told him, feeling that that was something my brother did not need to know.

"Uhm, uh…" Was Jacob reply.

And mine was not much more eloquent.

"Well, uhm you see…" . I trailed off not knowing what to say.

Methos chuckled. "Taylor let me tell you one other fact about immortals something we did not mention in the general discussion. When we take a quickening" At this Taylor frowned Methos quickly explained "the energy that leaves an immortal upon decapitation." Taylor nodded Methos continued " this energy is very much like an electric shock. The energy courses through the body making ones blood boil, frying every cell in the body. And dew to immortal healing you can feel the cells rebuilding themselves and burning again. It is not like on TV. Whenever we have an injury we can feel the healing process. The healing process often hurts as much as the injury itself. Feeling ones bones knitting together is particularly painful. But I digress. The immortals life force, the quickening does not only consist of energy but also all of the immortals memories and experiences. Often times the experiences and memories are terrible. So this is added to the pain we feel. If we do nothing it can take days for the quickening to be completely absorbed and settled. Can take days for the burning, the pain the agony to stop completely. But there is a way for us not only to distract ourselves from the pain but help the energy to spread and settle."

"Woah that is pretty harsh. So what do you do?" Taylor asked.

"Well the energy, the electricity has one other effect. Due to the electrical impulses in our blood our blood cooks and we are aroused."

Taylor looked at him wide eyed. Here Duncan who was driving stated.

"If you are a man it makes you very very hard. And if you are a woman I am told it makes your sex swollen and wet. Regardless of your sex, you will ache until you take or are taken and reach the peak several times. This not only distracts from the pain, but also the orgasm allows the quickening to spread. And the coming down after allows for it to settle. Usually Ella steals Methos for such occasions." He said the last bit with a smile in my direction to make sure I understood he did not mind.

"What! But he's your father and way to old for you!" Taylor seemed completely thrown by this.

Duncan, Methos and I laughed and even Jake chuckled though he still looked thoughtful.

"Taylor Methos is over 5000 give or take a few centuries, name one person that is 'old enough' for him. And also Meth and I are friends. Not like father and daughter. And yes occasionally with benefits."

His eyes bugged and his mouth hung open his expression was so comical I had to laugh. I looked at Jake who seemed amused to but I could see in his eyes he had made his decision.

And I awaited his answer. He nodded at me deeply. And I smiled back and nodded my thanks.

Methos saw the exchange. "Seems my services won't be needed. I'll call my hotel and have them prepare your suite.

He got out his phone and spoke quickly. "Detta är Anton Ludvigson, kod Z556780. Vänligen förbereda sviten för min systerdotter Ella Ludvigson. Hon kommer att arriveing med en gäst. De är inte bli störd. Förbered min vanliga för dem. De kommer att anlända sent kontrollerar du att rätt personer informeras." (This is Anton Ludvigson, Code Z556780. Please prepare the suite for my niece Ella Ludvigson. She will be arriveing with a guest. They are not to be disturbed. Prepare the my usual for them. They will arrive late make sure the appropiate persons are informed.)

He waited a second.

"Mycket bra! Ha en skön kväll!" ( Very Good! Have a nice evening.!)

And hung up.

„We're here!" Duncan announced, as he pulled into the parking garage.

That was the moment Taylor spoke. "So you plan on … and with him…?" he asked gesturing from me to Jake.

"Don't think about it bro. It'll just give you a headache." I answered with no little bit amusement.

We got out of the car. It was a regular parking-garage. Grey, slightly dusty and the air was a bit stale. High Ceilings. No cars that we could see. But most importantly no surveillance. It seems my adversary had chosen well. But it also meant this was no coincidence. Also th

Methos, Duncan and I did some light Katas for warm up.

Jake got undressed and transformed into his wolf. And got into a darkish corner where shadows enveloped him and completely disguised him.

Taylor watch our warm up. Methos alerted us to the fact that an immortal was coming. At his age he had a much wider and longer range than us. Methos took Taylor by the arm and they got in the car.

Duncan positioned himself in front of the car and casually sat down on the hood. The close proximity of their quickenings would make Duncans and Methos quickening mesh so my opponent would believe us to be 3 people.

I felt the moment he entered the parking garage. He stalked towards me and spoke loudly and angrily:"The challenge was issued to you. Noone must intefere."

"He will not interfere. He will keep to the rules." I answered in a finite tone.

Duncan added his scottish bur getting more discernable: "I am Duncan McLeod of the Clan McLeod and I give you my word not to interfere. But know this, should you as unlikely as that is win I will challenge you the next day. That I swear as well."

"Highly confident in your student aren't you. I will win this fight and the I will take your head and destroy your overblown reputation."

"En Garde! Je suis prêt !" he suddenly shouted in my direction. Pulling out his sword.

I pulled out my favorite Katana that Duncan had brought with him. "Luceo non uro!" I shouted back.

And so the fight began.