Chapter 8: A Fight for another day
Salt Lake City, 1991
Elizabeth, now in complete control of her powers, found herself facing even tougher battles. However, she was determined to face any challenge that came her way. Despite Konstantin's reluctance, he allowed her to spar with Kurtis, although she sensed his apprehension. Konstantin and his wife, Marie, had been kind to Elizabeth, and over time, the Demons that tormented her had practically vanished, leaving her alone and free from their torment.
The idea of becoming a soldier appealed to Elizabeth, as she sought to fight for her country rather than getting involved in a war she didn't fully understand. This understanding led her to sympathize with Kurtis, who despised being part of the order. He would always hide whenever news of the enemy approaching their stronghold, a forsaken town abandoned years ago, reached his ears.
As she packed her bags, Elizabeth couldn't help but feel guilty about leaving Kurtis behind. She thought to herself, "I'm sorry, Kurtis. You were a good friend, and after what happened to your brother Chris, I feel immense regret for leaving you too." She picked up a photograph of her and Kurtis, taken months ago, reminiscing about the good times that now seemed distant.
The memory of Kurtis recounting the story of his brother haunted Elizabeth's thoughts. Chris was three years older than Kurtis, and nine years ago, when the Cabal attacked, Eckhardt captured Chris, and he was never seen again. Kurtis believed Chris, along with the other order members who fought to their deaths, was no longer alive.
It was now or never. Late at night, when everyone was asleep, Elizabeth prepared to leave. However, just as she was about to slip away, she heard a noise behind her. To her surprise, Kurtis was still awake.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his sad blue eyes fixed on her.
"I'm leaving. I can't stay here any longer. I have a life to live. Please don't be angry," Elizabeth replied, unable to meet his gaze. Leaving Kurtis behind was heartbreaking, but if she didn't escape, she would likely meet the same fate.
"I'm coming with you," Kurtis stated, determination in his voice. Elizabeth glanced up at him, thinking, 'Are you really going to turn your back on your father after he already lost one son? This will shatter him.'
"Why?" she questioned, searching his eyes for an answer.
"I never wanted this life, and this could be my chance to finally get away," Kurtis explained.
"Are you packed?" Elizabeth chuckled, trying to lighten the tense moment.
"Yes, I'm packed," he confirmed. "I've been ready to run for a long time."
"Good, because I called a taxi to pick me up. It'll be here in five minutes," Elizabeth informed him. Kurtis quickly fetched his backpack, and together they sneaked out, disappearing into the waiting taxis. Kurtis directed the driver to an unfamiliar location, somewhere Elizabeth had never been.
Upon arrival, Kurtis tipped the taxi driver, who drove off into the night. They found themselves in an area lined with rows of garages. Kurtis walked confidently toward Garage Number 37, unlocking it to reveal two motorbikes and a table. Opening the table, he retrieved a gun, a holster, a wallet, and knives, placing them into a nearby bag.
Curious, Elizabeth asked, "Where did you get all of this?"
Tossing her a key, Kurtis replied, "I was prepared to run. The Classic Brough Superior SS 100 was my father's, and the BMW R1200GS was meant for my brother. But since he's gone, just like everyone else, I took it."
Mounting the Classic Brough Superior SS 100, Kurtis started the engine. Elizabeth did the same with the BMW R1200GS, and together they rode off into the darkness of the night, embarking on an uncertain journey.
Present-day
Turkey
Ankara, the capital and second most populous city of Turkey, rose dramatically on a steep incline from the banks of the Enguri Su river. It was a modern European metropolis adorned with remnants of its rich and diverse history. Scattered across the landscape were old castles and ruins from civilizations such as the Hittite, Phrygian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman eras. The city boasted government and state buildings, major universities, military bases, consulates, a bustling nightlife, and Gençlik Park, the oldest park in Ankara.
One day, Chris entered one of the city's oldest libraries. As he perused the ancient bookshelves, an elderly man approached him. The old man spoke to him in Turkish, asking if he needed any assistance.
"I've heard that you have some ancient books here from BC," Chris replied in Turkish.
"Yes, indeed. I have many of them in my library. What subject are you interested in?" the old man asked, walking towards a bookshelf.
"Black Angel or Ark Veritatis," Chris responded.
"Ah, I have some books on those subjects, even some scrolls," the old man said, retrieving the relevant materials and placing them on a small table. "Here you go," he added before returning to his own study.
Chris began reading through the books, but it was when he reached the scrolls that something caught his attention. There was a particular passage that intrigued him:
"Remember, dear one, the fire burns brighter and will always have a place in this world. Your brother is growing stronger while you are becoming weaker. Even as I sleep, I guide you along the path of light. With the Black Angel's legacy, your brother can prevail, but with the chosen one, you will grow even stronger. And with the powerful warrior within you, it's only a matter of time before I awaken again."
Chris gathered all the scrolls and books and approached the old man. These would provide Elizabeth with valuable clues about the Black Angel and the Amazonian.
"Sir, may I buy these from you, please?" Chris asked, taking out some money from his wallet.
"My boy, you can have them for free," the old man replied, removing his glasses."I have kept these books since the early year of 1968. Do you know who gave them to me?"
Chris raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Sir?"
"A woman. She said that one day, someone would come looking for these books, and I should give them to him."
"Did she leave a name?"
"Yes, she said her name was Klara."
Chris gasped upon hearing the name. No one had heard of Klara since 1968, and now an old man was revealing that she had left these books before disappearing. The question lingered: What had happened to Klara?
Surrey, Britain
Elizabeth looked up from her computer as Kurtis and Lara approached her, their expressions filled with excitement and determination. They had finally located the elusive artifacts they had been tirelessly searching for.
"I hear you and Alex found the location of the artifacts," Elizabeth acknowledged, her voice tinged with anticipation.
Lara took a seat beside Elizabeth and replied, "Yes, we did, with the help of David. Two artifacts are in Egypt, one in Mexico, and another in Namibia."
Elizabeth's eyes lit up with satisfaction. "Well done, both of you. We'll fly out to Egypt first thing in the morning. I'll inform Chris about where to meet up."
Kurtis, eager to gather as much information as possible, inquired, "Where in Egypt are the artifacts located?"
"Alexandria, specifically in a safe house," Elizabeth responded, her mind already racing with plans and strategies.
Lara interjected, "If you need me, I'll be in my room, preparing for the journey."
Elizabeth nodded, acknowledging Lara's words. As Lara left the room, Elizabeth turned her attention to Kurtis, a serious expression on her face.
"I want to talk to you about Prague," Elizabeth stated, her voice betraying a sense of concern.
Kurtis settled himself into a chair, his brows furrowing. "What's the matter?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Elizabeth took a deep breath, preparing herself to share an intriguing piece of information. "Do you know Kristen?" she inquired, her eyes fixed on Kurtis as she moved closer to him.
Kurtis furrowed his brows further, a sense of puzzlement on his face. "Not really. Why?" he responded, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.
Elizabeth proceeded to explain her recent discovery. "When I was in the Strahov, I stumbled upon an office. Inside, I found information about a girl named Kristen Heissturm," she revealed, retrieving a photograph from her nearby backpack and handing it to Kurtis. The picture depicted a girl with brown hair and blue eyes, an air of sadness surrounding her. In the background, a cell-like structure could be seen.
Kurtis examined the photo intently, his mind racing with memories and half-forgotten details. "I remember my mother mentioning that Chris and I had a sister, a twin. But she was sent away for a reason my father never explained," Kurtis muttered, his voice tinged with a mix of sadness and intrigue. "I always assumed it was because the order didn't allow girls to possess powers, and those who did were considered exceptionally special."
Elizabeth's tone turned grave as she spoke. "Wherever she is, the Cabal is searching for her, the file says she escape a few months ago." she declared dryly. "I did ask Chris about this as well, but like you, he only remembers meeting you when he was a young boy. It was only years later that he learned about the existence of a twin."
Kurtis raised his gaze to meet Elizabeth's, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and determination. Placing the photo on the table, he asked, "So, what do we do now?"
Elizabeth took a moment to gather her thoughts before responding. "First, we'll head to Egypt to retrieve the artifacts. From there, we'll split up. You and Lara will go to Namibia, while Chris and I go to Mexico. After that, we'll reassess our next steps based on the information we gather," she explained, her voice resolute yet tinged with a hint of uncertainty.
Before Kurtis could finish his sentence, Elizabeth's phone rang, interrupting their conversation. She glanced at the caller ID and smiled, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes.
"Hey babe, find anything?" she greeted, her voice filled with anticipation.
"You won't believe this, but back in 1968, Klara herself was here, and she knew that I would be collecting these books and scrolls today," Chris exclaimed enthusiastically.
Elizabeth's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "How certain are you about this?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"100% sure, baby," Chris replied confidently. "It seems that she had a means of communication with the creator while the creator was asleep. She documented it all in a diary entry, which I now have."
Excitement surged through Elizabeth's veins as she absorbed Chris's words. "We're heading to Alexandria, Egypt, to the safe house. Meet us there tomorrow, and we'll examine the scroll. Alternatively, I can send it to Lloyd and Alex with Martin Vassily's help. They might be able to uncover clues regarding Klara's disappearance."
"See you tomorrow. Love you. Bye," Chris bid farewell, his voice filled with affection.
"Love you too. Bye," Elizabeth responded, a smile playing on her lips.
Kurtis observed Elizabeth as she hung up the phone. "Martin Vassily will need to see those scrolls Chris found," he remarked, his tone filled with intrigue.
Elizabeth nodded, a determined look on her face. "Indeed. It could provide valuable insights into Klara's fate," she stated, her mind already envisioning the possibilities.
"I'll head to bed now. Tomorrow promises to be a long and eventful day," Kurtis declared, a smile forming on his lips. He turned to leave the study but halted when Elizabeth continued speaking.
"Kurtis, about the other day..." Elizabeth paused, her voice filled with a mix of remorse and sincerity.
"It's fine. I understand why you got angry with me, and I forgive you," Kurtis interjected, his tone compassionate. With those words, he left the study and made his way to his room, but not without a fleeting glance towards Lara's room, his thoughts filled with anticipation for the challenges that lay ahead.
Lara was utterly exhausted as she entered her room, collapsing onto her bed with a heavy sigh. Her entire body ached from the physical strain she had endured earlier, but she stubbornly brushed off the pain. She longed to retrieve the book from her bag and immerse herself in its pages, seeking solace and distraction. However, her intention was thwarted when a knock resounded on her door, interrupting her thoughts. With a resigned expression, she rose from the bed and went to open the door, unsure of who awaited her on the other side.
To her surprise, she found herself face-to-face with piercing blue eyes, and a mix of anticipation and trepidation coursed through her. Swallowing hard, she silently gestured for him to enter, widening the door to accommodate his presence. With a casual lean against the wall, he began to speak.
"So, what brings you to my room?" Lara inquired, her arms crossed defensively after she closed the door behind him.
"I wanted to see you, Lara," he replied, his voice betraying an undertone of vulnerability.
Perplexed, she demanded, "Okay, so what do you want?"
His voice lowered, carrying a weight of emotion. "I was scared, you know? When I saw you facing off against that mercenary alone, a surge of rage overwhelmed me. If anything were to happen to you, I don't know how I would bear it."
"Kurtis, please don't do this, not now," she pleaded, her finger pointed accusingly at him. Despite her resolve, an inner struggle waged within her. She knew she shouldn't let herself fall for him, but the depths of her heart resisted such rationality.
"Why are you pushing people away?" he inquired, drawing closer to her. She instinctively retreated, putting distance between them.
"I'm not pushing anyone away; I'm just protecting the people I care about," she sighed, weariness etched in her voice. "Too many people close to me have lost their lives because of me."
"Lara!" he exclaimed, aching to embrace her, to reassure her that he would never succumb to the same fate. Yet, he restrained himself, refraining from crossing that fragile boundary.
"Kurtis, just please leave," she implored, pointing firmly at the door. With a heavy sigh, he acquiesced, turning to depart, leaving her to seek solace in solitude.
As he closed the door behind him, Kurtis stood alone in the hallway, wrestling with his thoughts. "That went well," he mused sardonically, finding little consolation in the outcome. Slowly, he retreated to his own room, yearning for some respite and rest.
Meanwhile, Lara wiped away a solitary tear and reached for the book, craving an escape from her tumultuous emotions. Opening it to the next page, she sought refuge in its words:
"Konstantin keeps insisting that the dormant power of the Amazonian will awaken within Lara, and when that happens, we must all be prepared for the unimaginable force she will unleash. Yet, I remain uncertain about Konstantin's claims. He continues to assert that Kurtis may be the Chosen One, the key to finding and aiding Klara, the Amazonian."
Closing the book, Lara set it aside and headed to the bathroom, her mind consumed by introspection. She turned on the shower, allowing the hot water to cascade over her fatigued body. In the midst of the steam and cascading droplets, she contemplated the weight of her ongoing battles.
"Is this fight truly worth it?" she pondered, her thoughts swirling amidst the steam and echoing through the bathroom.
