Immortal Love (Closed for Veroe)

[Veroe]

IC: Alain De'Montreau

"My wife doesn't seem to like you very much," He said, "Why is that?"

"Ahh yes why the priestess holds coldness towards me," The young-looking man with the old eyes shrugged, "Well lets just leave it with my mother and I and Gitana at one time even terrified those called the horsemen and Acheron."

"But not anymore I take it?"

"That however was long ago and the priestess has a long memory of our acquiring Gitana and turning her to revenge."

Alain nodded and something clicked in his brain about the mysterious Gitana, "So you're the reason she's here in this monastery...she's not just hiding...she's making amends from how she was with you and your mother."

"Speaking of mother..." She said pointing to a woman walking out of the trees. carrying a severed head.

"And you are?" He nodded at her response, "And he is?" He pointed to the severed head she carried in her grasp.

Donovan said behind him, " I will tell you this Alain. Our help one extends to Gitana once her home is safe... we are gone so Acheron is solely yours to deal with."

"As it should be," He said rising and giving his sword a twirling flourish, "This is my fight."

---------------------------X

IC: Acheron

"Join me and Selena, Frank," He sad, "Be our eyes and ears so we may right this world."

"I go one better I will give her even another reason to hate your pathetic carcass," He said laughing in derision to Acheron's reasoned argument, "You wanna kill me go for it. The more people you kill the more she will hate you."

Frank pressed forward digging the point of the rapier at his chest in until the point pierced his shirt and made a bead of blood from the tiny cut there. It would be the slightest application of pressure to drive the sword home all the way through the man's chest and skewer his heart.

"Oh, I don't want to kill you, Frank," He said, "I want you to see reason."

"So whats it gonna be..." The old man glared, "kill more people and make her hate you more or just fade away and let the woman you claim to love be happy with those she truly does love."

"Happiness," He rolled his eyes at that, "Selena is incapable of being happy. That is why we were meant to spend eternity together."

"Now what can I do to make you see reason," He reached into his pocket and pulled out his dagger and pointed it between Frank's eyes. "I think what you lack is motivation." His hand flicked to the side and the dagger flew out of his hand spinning end over end to lodge deep in Gregory's back.

 

[Asa]

Donnovan
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TCWEqKvqWGU/TaWRX6AJC2I/AAAAAAACVgg/E64gGvK2KLE/s1600/James.Preston.jpg
Donnovan who is this?

She paused glancing to her son.

This is the Priestess true love Mother.

Donnovan answered with a smile.

Believing he can take out Acheron.

She smiled.

I am Dominique and let us hope you can. Before he kills more watchers. Though he is down one more immortal pawn. No idea who he was does it really matter?

Walking with them to the bridge holding a hand to pause them she watched as her son moved into the shadows. With that she continued walking taking the head to Acheron. Any immortal in his employ had to have some special meaning to him. Pausing she saw him with the watcher and smirked at his attempts to con the priestess watcher. Idiot... she whispered waiting till they were done.

Frank

His jaw clenched hearing Gregory fall. One thing clearly this vermin didn't realize was just insane Frank was. Laughing he just stepped forward using Acheron's sword to end his life.

No deal ya pathetic corpse.

An insane smile on his face as the life left him.

Dominique
http://images.tvrage.com/people/10/27415.jpg
It really is a shame. Frank was such wonderful soul when he was in his right mind that is. I believe this is yours.

Dominique tossed the head on the ground before him.

You will leave my sister's sanctuary alone. This is your only warning. Do not make me have to get involved Acheron... is that clear? We know who would win a fight between us and quite frankly killing you would bore me. So be a good little rodent and scurry back to your hole and get a life.

With that she turned and walked away vanishing into the trees.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Acheron

"Now what can I do to make you see reason," He reached into his pocket and pulled out his dagger and pointed it between Frank's eyes. "I think what you lack is motivation." His hand flicked to the side and the dagger flew out of his hand spinning end over end to lodge deep in Gregory's back.

The young monk fell over onto De'Montreau's watcher. The knife sticking out between his shoulder blades and blood welling out to run down his spine.

"Now I suggest you rethink your position," Acheron told Frank turning back to him.

The old man laughed in his face, "No deal ya pathetic corpse." Then to Acheron's shock he stepped forward pressing the point of his rapier into his chest on purpose. The length of steel sharpened to cut lead pipes with the merest flick of his wrist sunk in between his ribs and past his sternum to pierce the man's heart.

His last act in life was to give Acheron a defiantly insane smile before collapsing onto the asphalt at his feet.

He watched the dead body and the growing pool of blood underneath it for a moment unable to process why he had done that. He growled frustration wiping the blood off the blade of his sword. Why was no one in this era ever reasonable?

----------------------X

IC: Alain De'Montreau

"As it should be," He said rising and giving his sword a twirling flourish, "This is my fight."

"This is the Priestess' true love Mother," The boy put in with an amused note, "Believing he can take out Acheron."

"I am Dominique and let us hope you can. Before he kills more watchers," She supplied leading them from his Bel Air and down the road towards the bridge and Acheron, "Though he is down one more immortal pawn. No idea who he was does it really matter?"

"I suppose it doesn't now," He said to her looking at the severed head hanging from her grasp. What sort of people did Gitana run with back in the day? Didn't matter whatever the answer was. He needed to focus on the here and now before a duel. Alain began following after her careful for any more snipers.

She led them through the trees to the foot of the bridge and the sight at the middle of the bridge chilled him. He saw five bodies but only one man standing. Both Frank and Mac were down.

-----------------X

IC: Acheron

Acheron turned to look to the foot of the bridge and saw three people approaching. De'Montreau didn't surprise him. He had hoped the little thief would present his head for him to free it from his shoulders. The other two however. He had not expected Gitana to call upon them as reinforcements.

There were few immortals in the last few centuries he had ever felt the need to be careful around. They would be two of them.

However after spending millennia walking this earth Acheron had learned fear was relative. The last thing he had ever truly feared was the trembling of the earth beneath his feet as a mortal man saw the mountain he had revered as sacred erupt in the gods' own wrath to engulf him in the fires of the underworld.

This woman and all immortals compared to that experience no matter how fearsome her reputation was nothing.

She flung the severed head of his sniper to land at his feet. "You will leave my sister's sanctuary alone. This is your only warning. Do not make me have to get involved Acheron... is that clear,"

He set himself, "I do not hunt your sister's head today." He pointed at De'Montreau, "Only the thief's, but get in my way from retrieving my wife and we will come to blows."

"We know who would win a fight between us and quite frankly killing you would bore me. So be a good little rodent and scurry back to your hole and get a life." She replied.

"That remains to be seen."

"Enough," Alain said stepping up from the two strangers his sword flourishing behind him, "You're not taking Selena anywhere. You're not leaving this bridge."

 

[Asa]

Donnovan smirked and moved to the shadows as Dominique smirks knowing that that Alain is not going to lose. The poor boy is too smitten with the priestess and quite frankly Acheron has gotten far too arrogant and reliant on armies to truly stand against a noble driven young immortal. He was young compared to them but age for immortals was really rather pointless. She watched the watchers and stood guard as it were if any of his men were fool enough to go after them.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Acheron and Alain De'Montreau

"Enough," Alain said stepping up from the two strangers his sword flourishing behind him, "You're not taking Selena anywhere. You're not leaving this bridge."

"De'Montreau," Acheron sneered pointed his sword at him, "Did you know in a more enlightened age thieves had their hands chopped off?"

Alain ignored the question spreading his feet, and approaching Acheron with careful stalking cat-like steps. His left foot leading the way. Toes always pointing at his opponent. His sword in his right hand held firm but rigidly behind him cocked to swing around at any opening left by the other immortal and cut him down like scythe to a wheat stalk. His left hand out for balance of any such whiplash fast motion and to gauge his range to Acheron.

Acheron stayed facing him. His feet was planted and his sword pointing at him in a rigid position.

The Arrogant bastard wasn't even taking Alain for being a serious threat to him.

He sneered and the rapier lowered the tip to the asphalt at his feet giving Alain a clear opening to swing at his head. An obvious feint, but a good way to gauge Acheron's skills with the sword.

Alain took that opening pivoting on his lead foot and pushing off with the other giving his sword an enormous amount of controlled power as he swung his Dao, the red silk tail streaming through the air behind it, for his neck.

Acheron stepped back causing him to narrowly miss a decapitating and deciding slash of Alain's sword.

Alain was ready for that. As a knight Templar with a heavy broad sword missing on that stroke would've left him over-balanced and subsequently wide open to counter-attack, but using the Tai-Chi principles of sword-fighting he used the momentum of his missed attack to swing the blade for a slash for the man's midsection.

Acheron again stepped back at the last moment to narrowly avoid having his belly opened. Two more subsequent attacks narrowly missed for Acheron sidestepping or backing away or ducking to dodge his blade.

Alain felt frustration rising as he took a few steps back keeping his sword in a more defensive posture now to reset himself. Acheron was clearly skilled and confident. He was also clearly toying with him. Sifu regularly did the same thing whenever they sparred, though he did feel some wounded pride at the moment.

"Alas, this isn't that more enlightened age anymore," Acheron continued sneeringly. His rapier still pointed down, it hadn't risen an inch during their whole exchange, "In that more just age a man who took another man's wife was dragged out of the city's walls and stoned to death."

 

[Asa]

Donnovan had vanished as his "mother" watchmen over the watchers till they passed away to the other side. A whispered farewell watchers slithered from her before she turned and walking through the woods began taking out his pathetic army of mortals. Donnovan however chose to go and inform Gitana that the Templar and the demon now fought.

Selena

Hearing the boy whispered to Gitana. Selena was up and moving shoving the boy and the monks out of her way. Sonam grabbed a sword and was right on her mother's heels knowing she would not be able to stop her. Got thanked him and quickly followed as the boy again vanished.

Selena would have right out onto the bridge but Sonam was one thought ahead of her mother and used the pummel of the sword to knock her out. Getting her mother into the car it was as if she had a plan.

Go remained on her chaos path watching th fight. Her destiny chosen. Sonam would break up the fight if it turned against Alain and she would if she could end Acheron.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Alain De'Montreau and Acheron

Alain felt frustration rising as he took a few steps back keeping his sword in a more defensive posture now to reset himself. Acheron was clearly skilled and confident. He was also clearly toying with him. Sifu regularly did the same thing whenever they sparred, though he did feel some wounded pride at the moment.

"Alas, this isn't that more enlightened age anymore," Acheron continued sneeringly. His rapier still pointed down, it hadn't risen an inch during their whole exchange, "In that more just age a man who took another man's wife was dragged out of the city's walls and stoned to death."

"Shut up," He declared hotly, "Selena is not your wife."

"Oh but she is," Acheron laughed, "We were chosen by fate to be together for all time. You were only a temporary comfort to her. The two of us are eternal."

"You're insane," Alain stated taking a cautious step forward. He had to change things up. Maybe he could use his overconfidence here to his advantage. "Selena will never go back to you. She'll run from you over and over until you finally get the message and stop tormenting her."

His face twisted up from the mocking expression to one of glaring fury. "What do you kn-"

Alain swung then while the lunatic was preoccupied verbalizing his angry retort. He didn't duck or dodge. Acheron was caught between actions and moving back would cost too much time he didn't have. There was no way he would be able to dodge this stroke for his neck. However the rapier having been arrogantly pointed down the whole time throughout their last exchange shot up in a blur knocking his Dao aside. Then in a streak of the pommel's bludgeoning into his head.

Alain staggered back a step disoriented from the blow to his temple then cried out as Acheron brought the razor sharp point in a long painful scratch from below his elbow to middle of his forearm. He clutched his arm as blood began seeping out of the shallow-but painful cut and looked up to him.

Damn, he was fast, too fast.

"Surely, all those decades only sparring with that Shao-Lin monk and working on your automobiles haven't dulled your edge, Templar." He held out his hand and wiggled his fingers in a 'Come at me' gesture matched with that arrogantly over-confident smile.

Angry and frustrated, Alain charged with another combination of attacks which Acheron evaded or parried followed by a streaking counter slashing the point of the blade in a cut on his forehead just over his left eyebrow.

It wasn't as bad as the cut on his arm but it did bleed and as he continued vainly trying to break through Acheron's defenses that blood dripped down into his eye.

He retreated trying to wipe clean his eye. "Damn you."

"Not before you, De'Montreau," He laughed and came for him Rapier singing through the air like lightning flashing through the sky.

 

[Asa]

A roaring engine flooded the air as Gitana and Dominique placed an unconscious Selena in Alain's car and Sonam revved the engine to life. Be for any one could stop her however Gitana vanished. Dominique looked to Sonam... if our sister fails your Templar has limited time to destroy the idiot before I do.

Sonam just nodded want in to get away from this dark cold evil woman and her insane son.

Gitana made her way quickly and quietly to the shadows of the bridge. Seeing the falls watchers she whispered a silent prayer for them to find peace at long last.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Alain De'Montreau and Acheron

He retreated trying to wipe clean his eye. "Damn you."

"Not before you, De'Montreau," He laughed and came for him Rapier singing through the air like lightning flashing through the sky.

He raised his Dao blocking the overhand strike and then the lightning quick second strike then the third and the fourth. It was all Alain could do to keep from getting struck with Acheron's rapier. He was fast, too fast.

"Did you feel it when you awoke this morning, De'Montreau," Acheron laughed as he kept Alain on the defensive pushing him back step by step. "All those years...all those centuries you've seen...did you know that today would be the day it all came to an end? Did you know today would be the last day of your long overdue life?"

Blood from the cut over his eyebrow dripped into his eye again and he was quickly running out of bridge. He had to break out of where this was going.

"Not today," He swore swinging his free hand and punching Acheron in the face.

The move had surprised him and he staggered back several inches of precious ground. He lifted his hand to his nose and his finger was covered in blood.

Alain pressed his advantage swinging for his head which was blocked again with that lightning speed of the bastard's. In sheer swordsmanship Acheron was the better duelist. He seemed prepared for most moves Alain could make. However he wasn't prepared for the foot sweep that took his pivot foot out from under him or the sidekick straight to that bleeding nose knocking him flat to the asphalt beneath them. He began to rise back up to his feet immediately though.

"This is the day your torment of Selena ends," He declared making a finishing blow to take Acheron's head, "Today you die."

The rapier rose and in a blur knocking his Dao to the side and then stabbed deep into the meat of Alain's thigh.

Alain fell back hobbled. His hand trying to staunch the alarming amount of blood coming from the deep wound.

Acheron rose back to his feet. "I grow tired of this. It's time for you to finally die, thief."

 

[Asa]

About thst time the car roars down the bridge. Sonam was aiming for Acheron wanting to see his expression when he realized there were no soldiers around to save him. Gitana nor her sister had joined her in the car but her mother was out cold so no sensing that she was in the car. The car was old steel immortal or not this was gonna hurt him if even for a few moments and if the templar has a brain he would fall off the bridge into the strangely swift current.

Gitana said her farewells and had headed to the bridge as well. She would do all she could do to ensure that Alain survived to fight again if she was not able to kill Acheron. Her sister and brother lingered the darkness to see what happens.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Alain De'Montreau

Alain fell back hobbled. His hand trying to staunch the alarming amount of blood coming from the deep wound.

Acheron rose back to his feet. "I grow tired of this. It's time for you to finally die, thief."

Alain reached up and tore his sleeve off busily making it into a hasty tourniquet for his leg.

"This is the end for you De'Montreau," Acheron stalked forward pointing the rapier at his head. Drops of his blood dripped off the point of the blade to splatter on the asphalt.

Then his Bel Air came rushing over the bridge. Acheron stopped to look. Noticing the car was heading straight for him he tried to get out of the way but it looked like Sonam was driving behind the wheel of his car-was determined to run him over. The car hit and Acheron rolled up over the hood impacting against the windshield cracking the glass before rolling over the car and landing on his back.

His car kept going past the bridge and back towards the city. As it passed him Alain was able to see the unconscious body of Selena in the back seat. Sonam was getting her mother out of harm's way.

Good job kiddo, eventhough you hurt my beloved Bel Air to do it.

Acheron lay sprawled out on the ground moving in the slow pained motions of only someone who had been rammed over by the best Detroit could offer in '57.

He had his opening. It could end right here. This insane bastard would never haunt his wife ever again.

He limped over to him his Dao ready to finish this. He stood over Acheron. He wanted him to look up to see Alain's sword coming down to sever his head from his-

-Like a striking snake Acheron's arm shot up and Alain staggered back a knife sticking out of his gut. Damn, it hit home deep in his diaphragm. He was not getting a good breath and his legs were wobbling already weakening.

"Your last moment has come, De'Montreau," Acheron bit out rising to his feet and knocking his sword aside. Then the rapier pierced deep into his shoulder and twisted.

He cried out staggering back. "Damn you, you bast-." He was losing so much blood. He maybe had a few minutes before the bloodloss made him feint. And the wound to his shoulder had severed something within it. The grip of his sword faltered and clattered onto the ground.

"Your last breath," Acheron sneered, "And you waste it with an empty curse."

The rapier dragged its way out of his shoulder wrenching a pained gasp from his struggling lungs. Then its razor sharp point dipped under his chin lifting it up to bear his neck to the fatal stroke.

"There can only be one, thief."

 

[Asa]

Gitana stared hard at Alain from the shadows. Her thoughts were simple let the river cradle you to safety young templar. Stepping closer so that Acheron could sense her presence.

Wasting time with children Acheron... but then again you have always been afraid of Dominique and I haven't you. Running scared from us while you hunt children of our kind. Such a slow going way to build power. Face me... you will not harm my priestess ever again.

The sword looking fat too comfortable in her hand as she walked out onto the bridge her eyes old as the grave but the fire behind that stone was unmistakable.

Sonam headed back to the train looking to those who Frank normally had guard Selena and began barking orders. The swordman walked over.

Whats up kiddo?

Sonam whipped around.

Frank is dead and that monster stalker ofor whatever he is... he is here in town. Get her into her car and guard her and... I want the keys to the weapons car... yeah... I know about it now hand them over.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Alain De'Montreau

"Your last breath," Acheron sneered, "And you waste it with an empty curse."

The rapier dragged its way out of his shoulder wrenching a pained gasp from his struggling lungs. Then its razor sharp point dipped under his chin lifting it up to bear his neck to the fatal stroke.

"There can only be one, thief."

Alain was going to die here. A thousand years and it ends here in utter failure, and the most galling thing was this monster was still going to torment Selena with no one to stop him now.

The rapier pulled back for that fatal stroke severing his head from his body and finally letting him die for the last time. Maybe he'd see the gates and St. peter as he believed when he was a Templar knight. Maybe with all the things he did in God's name during those years and in all the centuries of stolen life since he'd see the other place.

"Wasting time with children Acheron..." Someone said from the left of them.

He looked to see Gitana approaching them up the bridge. Acheron turned to regard her the sneer on his face dropping.

"...But then again you have always been afraid of Dominique and I haven't you," She continued, "Running scared from us while you hunt children of our kind. Such a slow going way to build power."

"But effective," Acheron remarked, "While you've grown soft and senile in your advanced age I've sharpened my edge with each head I've taken from the unworthy."

He stepped back keeping a distance between them and leveling his weapon defensively in front of them. "I did not come for you...merely my wife."

"Face me..." She declared flourishing her sword, "You will not harm my priestess ever again."

He circled around her keeping that distance between them, "Very well, but you know the rules. We shall fight once I've finalized my victory over De'Montreau."

Alain laughed around a mouthful of his own blood, "You haven't won anything." He tipped back over the edge of the bridge and letting him fall off into the river below.

 

[Asa]

Looks like your fight with the young templar is over. You do not believe I have grown weak or you would not keep such distance Acheron...

A subtle change to her voice though not really noticeable she smiled her sword still relaxed in her hand as she spoke.

You still fear me... you fear a power you could never possess. Striving first to join us but deemed unworthy then attempting to gain favor with the horsemen and again unworthy. So your anger falls on the priestess fearing if you let her go it will prove once more you are unworthy... seeing her true husband the templar... you know you are unworthy of her...yet again.

Gitana raised her sword a little as she stepped closer her face emotionless as she watched him her eyes never leaving his ready to use her powers again if she had to.

Sonam

She called the garage and left a message for Alain with instructions in her native language hoping he old translate or knew some on who could.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Alain De'Montreau and Acheron

Alain laughed around a mouthful of his own blood, "You haven't won anything." He tipped back over the edge of the bridge and letting him fall off into the river below.

The water rushed over him and he sunk underneath the surface swept downstream beneath the bridge and away from them. Then blackness and the dark oblivion of death. Drowning was one of his least favorite ways to die.

Acheron hissed feeling his prey escaping him.

"Looks like your fight with the young templar is over," Gitana said smugly.

Acheron glared at her, "For the time being. However it seems I can deal with you now." He took another step away from her keeping his rapier at arms length between her and himself. "It shouldn't take very long."

"You do not believe I have grown weak or you would not keep such distance Acheron..." She stated keeping her own sword loose in her hand.

"Come closer and I shall demonstrate your frailties," He retorted.

"You still fear me... you fear a power you could never possess," She said with a deeper tone to her voice. It seemed to meld with beating of his heart, and the bridge and the river and trees began to fall away. There was nothing but the two of them anymore. " Striving first to join us but deemed unworthy then attempting to gain favor with the horsemen and again unworthy. So your anger falls on the priestess fearing if you let her go it will prove once more you are unworthy... seeing her true husband the templar... you know you are unworthy of her...yet again."

She took a step towards him her face revealing nothing.

"No," He swore his arm shooting up and a throwing a knife hurled for her head. "You did not think I was prepared to counter your mysticism, witch?"

 

[Asa]

A slow swirl and the knife made a slice in its path but not at her head as it had aimed. Her free hand now bled but it did not fully appear to bother her. Her voice still low as she spoke she tilted her head a little.

I know your mind Acheron... I have cotrolled it before... Do not think I can not do so again.

Her grip tightened up on the sword slightly as she moved only slightly to stance her Hwa Rang Do teacher taught her centuries ago. Sadly violence was so deep apart of all of them it was easy to fall back into. She watched him knowing DonDominique and Donnovan were helping her monastery family.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Acheron

"No," He swore his arm shooting up and a throwing a knife hurled for her head. "You did not think I was prepared to counter your mysticism, witch?"

She easily knocked the knife to the side, but it served his purpose. All Acheron needed was for her to cease her assault upon his resolve.

"I know your mind Acheron..." She countered with the same eerie low resounding tone of voice, "I have cotrolled it before... Do not think I can not do so again."

"You can not begin to fathom my mind, witch," He answered though his brow knit in concentration fending off her renewed assault.

He took a step and exploratory attack gauging her skill and reflex.

-------------------------------X

IC: Alain De'Montreau: Cairo Egypt May 19, 1878

Cairo was a claustrophobic city, full of narrow winding streets filled left to right with people. Alain hated it. Whenever he traveled through here he was always reminded him of the first time he had traveled to the middle east, to Palestine eight hundred years before more specifically. He had been a different man then. A man more certain of his faith, a zealot and all others were heathens, to be treated like the wretched unbelieving of Christ and God and the Catholic church vermin to the holy land they were.

There was so many people crowding him. They had the same skin color, the spoke in the same sound to their language, on the periphery of his vision they had the same faces. Men, women, children, all innocent. All people he sacrificed upon the altar of the faith in a god and a cause he knew now to be all a lie. There was no god. Every time he died and came back without seeing heaven or god proved it.

During the crusades he had been a fanatic, a murderer, a monster. Every time he traveled through the middle east he was reminded of that shame. Every face here unknowingly accusing him of the sins he committed in the name of righteousness.

The streets were crowded yet only half as crowded when plague was not haunting this city.

Alain wouldn't be here in Egypt at all if not summoned. Amir Al Khoufi was an old friend. Decades ago he had found a young boy left out in the desert and brought him back to Cairo. He had fed him, clothed him, funded his pursuit of the new advances in medical science. Now Amir had written him asking him to come see some new miracle healer.

Alain followed after the old man as he watched his dear friend limping through the crowd on his cane like a child racing to open his presents on Christmas morning. "She's a woman," Amir called back to him, "Wait until you meet her. The locals call her their honored priestess like from the time of the pyramids. You should see her, Alain. She is fearless, walking among the infected, treating their ills, giving them a draught she mixed herself, and it seems to work astonishingly...she is truly remarkable."

"She's discovered a cure," Alain asked skeptically. In his vast experience there were more charlatans than there ever were miracles. There was no god, no plan, no mercy. All things that happened were just simple coincidence.

"She says its an old remedy her mother taught her," He replied as they crossed into the deserted streets of the quarantined side of Cairo. "But it is the woman you must meet. You will love her till the end of your days, my old friend."

They headed towards a tent erected where Alain could hear feverish moaning, delirious howling, and phlegmatic coughing. The tent was packed with the infected. Alain proceded without fear. He knew he couldn't die from disease. So he had little to fear among these people.

He stopped in the entrance of the tent when he felt it. The familiar quaver to his soul...there was another immortal in this tent. A woman stood up from where she had been bent over holding a rag over the forehead of a young girl.

The woman turned to look at him. It was her...the honored priestess...Amir was right this woman was remarkable.

"Oh, oh no, I see." Amir sighed looking at the expressions on their faces and his head sagged, "Please not here. Consider these people. If you must...do so outside, I beg of you both."

This woman...this other immortal...she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her eyes sparkled with a quiet intelligence, and a soul-deep compassion.

"I am Alain De'Montreau, last surviving member of the order of the Knights Templar, and pupil of the Xao Lien Hu monastary" He announced to her then turning he left the tent and waited for her to come out so they could settle this. He laid his bag on the ground pulling his Dao free from it.

He did not want to kill this woman, but what choice did either of them had. There could only be one of them in the end after all.

 

[Asa]

Gitana

While she was a little slower her style had been added to as she moved with fluid yet very direct moves. Her steps aggressive and deliberate.. She knew he was trying to fight off her mental attack.

Acheron don't you get tired of always fighting... Wouldn't you love to just relax... Let the priestess have her freedom... Let her remember in her own time the love you say is there...

---------
Selena ~ Egypt~

Nodding to her friend she smiled to the child and walked out of the tent.

Amir said he sent for someone to aid us not some petty child trying to make a name for himself amongst our kind slaying an unarmed woman. Young one think... If you slay me who will heal these people? Now either return to the tent roll up your sleeves and help or leave because I nor these people have times for mortal rubbish.

She had not lost that air of command or nor the regal air of the sacred priestess. She just like the Amir had been found as children lost in the desert a temple took her in a century or more ago and was amazed at her knowledge as she grew up.

I am Selena Priestess to the Gods and Goddesses of these sacred lands now help or leave.

With that she turned around and walked back into the tent and looked at Amir.

You said you summoned help not someone to distract me from our work.

Ignoring him too she walked over to a woman who had carried an infant into the tent.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Acheron

"You can not begin to fathom my mind, witch," He answered though his brow knit in concentration fending off her renewed assault.

He took a step and exploratory attack gauging her skill and reflex.

When she blocked his probing feints he backed away. Gitana advanced after him with aggressive steps.

It was clear she had skill but her movements after centuries of idleness were no longer as precise as they once were, nor were she as fast as him either. However her skills with a sword was not the primary threat she presented to him.

"Acheron don't you get tired of always fighting... Wouldn't you love to just relax... Let the priestess have her freedom..." She said in that mesmeric voice that threatened to pull him under like a riptide at the beach."Let her remember in her own time the love you say is there..."

For a moment Acheron's attention flagged and she had gained ground in her psychological attack upon his resolve. He was actually starting to consider letting Selena go.

"No," He thrust and parried her block that came a little too slow dragging the tip of his rapier in a slash across her cheek, "I will not be swayed witch."

-------------X

IC: Alain De'Montreau: Cairo Egypt: May 19, 1878

He did not want to kill this woman, but what choice did either of them had. There could only be one of them in the end after all.

Alain didn't wait long before she came out of the tent after him. "Amir said he sent for someone to aid us not some petty child trying to make a name for himself amongst our kind slaying an unarmed woman." She said like she was scolding a rambunctious child, "Young one think... If you slay me who will heal these people? Now either return to the tent roll up your sleeves and help or leave because I nor these people have times for mortal rubbish."

"Rubbish," He repeated dumbfounded. He had never heard of any Immortal turning down the challenge of another.

"I am Selena Priestess to the Gods and Goddesses of these sacred lands now help or leave." She then turned her back on him and went back inside the tent

"Just a minute," He called after her storming back into the tent.

Inside this Selena Priestess tot he Gods and Goddesses was complaining to Amir. "You said you summoned help not someone to distract me from our work."

"Alain can help," Amir asserted.

"Hey," He called after her, "I have experience in the medical service, and containing outbreaks in the past. I can help if-hey!"

But she wasn't listening instead she had rushed over to a woman holding a baby.

Several of the people on the beds were looking at him or rather the sword in his hand. He tucked it behind him to hide it.

He took hold of her arm, and said, "If you don't want my help just say so."

 

[Asa]

Gitana

She had learned quite a bit here at the temple but age and her transformation to peace had taken its toll. She wiped the blood from her cheek and moved a little more carefully around him.

Oh but you will release her. You are not capable to kill the young Templar their love is too strong. You can not defeat their love and you will ALWAYS fail against them. In fact she may just kill you this time around.

The pain in her cheek kept her mental focus on him short and her physical attacks more directed as she stepped forward slicing first at his legs with a spin to make a second slice at his gut simply flowing through a more direct routine but only feeling the blade make any connection with Acheron at the gut as she twisted again for the last strike. She had known for centuries that her death would be in the protection of her priestess and if this was the day then at least she knew Selena was protected.

Selena Egypt

She cradled the baby as Alain grabbed her arm.

If you are here to help then help but do not cross me young one.

Pulling her arm from him she glared at Amir who quickly moved to get Alain away from her.

My friend... She... Is very focused... Forgive and please stay and help. I think you will like her. She... She was found... Like me only she was infant.

Selena ignored them all only those who were ill and dying got her attention. She eventually sat down still cradling the baby and guiding Amir what to do with the others the baby seemed to have her near full attention as it had grown very silent.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Acheron

"No," He thrust and parried her block that came a little too slow dragging the tip of his rapier in a slash across her cheek, "I will not be swayed witch."

She wiped the blood from her cheek and began circling around him for another attack upon him at another angle. "Oh but you will release her."

He turned with her keeping her on his center line, "I will never let my wife go, and neither you or that pathetic Templar will make me."

"You are not capable to kill the young Templar their love is too strong." She continued, "You can not defeat their love and you will ALWAYS fail against them."

"Did you not just witness my duel with De'Montreau," Acheron laughed full of contempt, "Finishing him will be no great challenge, and all Selena needs is a reminder that I am her true love."

"In fact she may just kill you this time around."

She came at him then a slicing attack for his right thigh. Acheron backed away from it but Gitana was already transitioning into a spin with her momentum to slice open his belly with the next attack. It barely connected but the tip cut shallowly along his side under the ribcage.

She made to repeat the spin, and that was her mistake. Acheron knew her rhythm now, and he moved to interrupt it. He made a lunge with his sword thrust out piercing the back of her shoulder before she could turn around for another slicing attack. The tip penetrating under the bone and into the cluster of nerves that controlled her arm, rendering it weaker and severely limiting its range of motion.

"If Selena does kill me," He told her kicking his boot into her lower back to shove her off the end of his rapier. "You at least will not be alive to see it."

----------------------X

IC: Alain De'Montreau

He took hold of her arm, and said, "If you don't want my help just say so."

"If you are here to help then help," She asserted cradling a sick infant, "But do not cross me young one."

He looked at the infant and then the row of other patients. They looked like they were hanging on the edge of life.

"You don't have to be so cold, woman."

Amir came up to him. "My friend... She... Is very focused... Forgive and please stay and help."

"Amir," He said to him, "You clearly have a hefty respect for her, but can you tell me more about her?"

" I think you will like her," Amir told him, "She... She was found... Like me only she was infant."

"I will help," He said and they began looking over the people suffering from this outbreak. He hadn't been in a medical tent since the Civil War over in America. There he'd seen mostly bullet wounds and dysentery this was something closer to Malaria. These people had high fevers, deliria, swollen tongue...etc. It was beyond him, how to cure this disease, but he could at least help treat these people.

Time passed and after a while he was feeling emotionally exhausted. These people were hanging from a thread, but Selena was relentless pushing himself and Amir to move on by sheer force of her example. It was amazing, inspiring.

 

[Asa]

Gitana tried to swap hands with her sword. She already knew for centuries she would die in service to the priestess and at least she hoped that Alain or her associates would end him once and for all.

All I need know is my death... helps free... her...

She knew it was nearly over as she whispered her farewell to Selena Sonam Alain Donovan and Dominique. Standing ready to continue to fight.

--------
Selena

She continued to work doing all she could for these people and the infant she did not put down. Amir soon began to wonder and walked over to her.

The infant passed but you do not wish to tell the poor mother do you?

Selena hissed and tried to continue working with everyone she could still cradling the baby she was not willing to accept had passed.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Acheron

"If Selena does kill me," He told her kicking his boot into her lower back to shove her off the end of his rapier. "You at least will not be alive to see it."

"All I need know is my death..." She rumbled switching her sword to her uninjured arm and rounding to face him, "helps free... her..."

Acheron took a step back realizing that her assault upon his will was waning. She was accepting her death here at his blade on this bridge, good it was the first step to it becoming a reality. Still there was a chance their duel was far from over. An immortal of her age should not have survived so long if she hadn't learned to be as effective with a sword even with her weaker hand.

He hadn't come for her though Acheron knew it was nearly a certainty that he'd have to face her today. All she wanted to accomplish was to delay him from retrieving his wife and teaching his rival what a fatal mistake laying claim to his Selena was.

Acheron pressed forward with a lunge to her gut between the ribs and belly-button that was revealed to be a feint when she moved to knock the lunging rapier's point away from skewering her stomach. He pulled back and lower slipping under her block and swept the razor sharp point across her wrist in a bloody and painful gash.

"Freedom is an empty promise that will never be fulfilled," He retorted to her words, "The truth is we are all slaves and will remain so, until we break all the chains that hold us as I have."

---------------------X

IC: Alain De'Montreau

Time passed and after a while he was feeling emotionally exhausted. These people were hanging from a thread, but Selena was relentless pushing himself and Amir to move on by sheer force of her example. It was amazing, inspiring.

With her as their muse of mercy the three of them fought stalwartly against the ravages and suffering of this disease. Fevered brows were cooled with damp cloths, simple and fortifying broths were spooned to nourish, and those the epidemic had claimed as casualties in its war against this city were quickly carried away to be disposed of with the utmost humanity. Alain was impressed with the other immortal. Her sheer fatigueless determination and her cure with something as virulent as this epidemic was single-handedly keeping it from wreaking havoc through all of Cairo.

Alain bent over an elderly man. His breathing was very shallow. His fever wasn't breaking. Even after receiving Selena's cure he was going to be claimed by the illness. Perhaps it was because he had received it too late to do more than stave off the inevitable. Perhaps it was because the old man was not in the best of health to begin with. It wouldn't be long now. He and some other brave soul would have another dead body to carry out of here.

He looked up to see Selena walking from one bed to the other still carrying the infant in her arms. The child hadn't moved for hours. He knew what she was doing. He had done it many many times on battlefields across the world. This was her battlefield. He felt pain in his heart watching her avoid recognizing the obvious.

Amir motioned him to go to her.

Alain came over to her. She had her back to him, but when she turned he caught her in her arms. Looking into her eyes he whispered, "I know, Selena. I know it hurts. I know it isn't fair. I know all the names of the brave young people, children compared to us, that have been robbed of their lives while we are cursed with the blessing of continued life denied to them."

His arms wrapped around her and he held her close, "I Know Selena, but just let it out."

 

[Asa]

Gitana

She winced at the pain but she had knowledge he didn't that also made her death a vengeance in its own right. When the hyoka dies... Their quickening may give their energy but it also opens the flood gates and all the pain sorrow insanity and crippling darkness into the one who takes the quickening. The deafening wails and mental anguish and trauma slams into their mind all at once no longer having the blockade of the hyokas power.

You have no idea the will and the power against you vermin. She will never again have to endure you... I vow that.

She still stood tall ready to fight for as long as she could Sonam would get Selena out of the area and with his army and copycat dead things were not really in his favor.

Selena

She turned at the cry of another only to find Alain standing there ready to hold her. She stared into his face the pain exhaustion and loss deep in her eyes.

I can not fail them... So many have been taken by this cruel venom of darkness I... I can not lose any more of them. What cowardly trick of Set is this... So many... They...

She falls silent staring at the infant.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Alain De'Montreau: Cairo Egypt May 19, 1878

His arms wrapped around her and he held her close, "I Know Selena, but just let it out."

"I can not fail them... So many have been taken by this cruel venom of darkness I..." She said looking up into his eyes and Alain could see the desperate pain in them stirring phantoms from his own past.

An immortal lost a piece of their own soul with every innocent life they outlived. How long and how many friends and loved ones before the fear of potential pain became greater than the joy of caring for another far younger soul?

"You can not help them if you run yourself ragged either," He told her, "You need to let it go, rest and get something to eat. Build up your strength and resolve against this sickness."

"I can not lose any more of them."

"I know, but you can not turn a blind eye to their sacrifice either," He reached down and lifted her hand placing two fingers to the side of the dead infant's neck. "Feel for his pulse, Selena."

"What cowardly trick of Set is this..."

"It's no trick, Selena," He told her gently, "He's dead."

"So many... They..." She trailed off looking with such pain and despair down on the dead child.

"Yes he has passed, but..." He cupped her chin and turned her head to look on the long row of people lying in the beds. Some were still suffering from the illness but others were on the road to recovery. "...Others won't...because of you. The only way forward is to focus on your victories not your defeats."

---------------------------X

IC: Acheron

"Freedom is an empty promise that will never be fulfilled," He retorted to her words, "The truth is we are all slaves and will remain so, until we break all the chains that hold us as I have."

"You have no idea the will and the power against you vermin," She retorted, "She will never again have to endure you... I vow that."

"Such a pity you will die for something so futile, Gitana," He laughed derisively while pressing a series of attacks and waiting for the blood loss to weaken her, "I have spent centuries tracking her down. Do you think that insignificant brat can hide her somewhere I will not find my wife?"