Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 17:34:48 -0800 Reply-To: Rachel Smith Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Rachel Smith Subject: Beginnings II 2/4 Beginnings II (Sequel to "Beginnings") by Rachel Smith PART 2/4 Kayla woke to the silence that accompanied country living. It was too quiet. She was not used to such lack of noise. Back in Seacouver, in the city, there was always some sort of night time activity kicking up a racket. Here was just...nothing. She got out of bed, and grabbed a pair of jeans. She pulled a jacket on and slipped outside. Kayla went out to explore, even though she thought there was probably nothing around to explore. She looked up at the full moon and shivered. It was exciting, in an creepy sort of way. Kayla made her way slowly to the main road along the long, twisty driveway. She swept her medium length, dark brown hair back into a bun and secured it with a scrunchie she found in her coat pocket. The wind began to blow and she pulled her jacket tighter around here. She found herself wondering why she had to come outside. She made a small whimpering sound, and was consumed with a sudden fear. *This wasn't such a good idea.* Kayla had only just begun to feel the unmistakeable tinglings of a quickening in the air when she started running back toward the cabin as if in a dream. She threw herself on the bed and fell immediately back to sleep. When she woke up again, the sun was shining and the birds were singing. Kayla decided it must have been a dream. No fear, no mysterious Buzz. Just a dream. She went downstairs to the smell of pancakes on the griddle. "Mmmmm. Smells good." "Sleep well, dear?" "Mm-hm," she didn't want to worry her mom with her dreams. *Though now that I think of it, it seems more like a nightmare.* "So what do you want to do today?" Hannah wanted to know. "I don't know. Unpack s'more I guess," Kayla mumbled. "I was thinking we could go up to Toronto for some food and supplies. All we have is pancake mix and left over Chinese food from last night." "Whatever." "Do you want to come with me? I'm leaving after breakfast." "Yeah, I'm coming, just wait. I want to get dressed." Hannah ate breakfast while she waited for Kayla to get dressed. It was nearly a half hour later when Kayla came down the steps in jeans and a new sweatshirt. Hannah suspected it was because they hadn't fully unpacked yet and everything was basically lost. "I'm ready." "You haven't had breakfast yet, Kayla." "M'not hungry." "Suit yourself." They got into their new '96 turquoise Jeep and Kayla slipped in her new CD. A man with a husky voice singing the blues blasted out from the car. "New CD?" asked Hannah, turning down the volume. "Yup. I ordered it over the Internet a couple of weeks ago 'cause it was only available in Canada," Kayla thought for a second. "But I guess I didn't have to bother. If I had waited a month or so, I could have just bought it here." "I didn't know you could shop over the 'Net." Kayla sighed, exasperated. Her mom was *so* computer illiterate. "You can do just about anything over the Internet. I just telnetted to CDNow.com [CDNow! plug] and ordered it. It's simple." Hannah was baffled by the techno babble and the look on her face clearly said "Huh?" "Never mind." "I suppose I would've learned by now to change with the times," apologized Hannah for her computer illiteracy. Kayla rolled her eyes. They spent the rest of the ride in silence. When they got to Toronto they promptly got lost. It was a big city. It was inevitable. Luckily they got lost right in front of a grocery store. Not a national chain, but a small family-run establishment. They stopped inside to shop while they tried to figure out where they were, and how far they were from where they were supposed to be. Hannah was glad she brought her Visa (tm) card. She was going to need a lot. She was loading up her cart when she felt it. *Oh no.* Kayla looked at her mom. "Mom? Did you feel that?" Hannah nodded. She felt into her coat for her saber. Still there. She didn't know why she doubted it. A tall, well-dressed man with one piercing blue eye, a strange looking greenish one and a wicked smile was walking in their direction. Hannah's jaw dropped and her warm brown eyes turned cold. "You!" --Seacouver, 1979-- Hannah picked up the phone and dialed. She didn't know why she was calling him. Philip could be trying to lure her into a trap. Who would know better then an immortal how untrustworthy other immortals could be? But she didn't have a chance to think it over because someone picked up. "Museum-of-Natural-History-this-is-Bob-how-can-I-help-you?" "Ah...is Philip Deville available?" "Just a moment. I'll get him." Hannah hung on the phone line and Kayla started to cry- again. She sunk into her armchair. *Doesn't that child ever sleep?* She didn't think she was cut out to be a mother. Thankfully, as Philip got on the line, Kayla quieted and went back to sleep. "Hello?" "Philip?" "Is this...Hannah?" "Yes--" "It's nice to hear from you. I didn't expect you to call," he said. "I just thought I'd let you know how Kayla and I are doing. That's what I've named her. Kayla. What do you think?" she asked unassuredly. "I think it's a beautiful name...but...but, well, frankly, I was wondering why you kept her. How come you didn't call the police or CYS?" "You mean you didn't notice?" she asked. "Notice what?" he asked, bewildered. "She's going to be one of us," Hannah explained. Hannah could practically *hear* his jaw dropping at the other end of the line. "Oh," he mumbled. Then he continued, changing the subject. "Well, um, are you doing anything tonight?" he asked nervously. "No, just sitting around the house with the baby. But I'm sure I could get a baby-sitter..." "Great! I know this wonderful Italian place..." "Can I call you back when I've made arrangements for a baby-sitter?" "Sure. I better give you my number at home though. It's 555-1212." "So, I'll see you later. 'Bye," she said happily. "'Bye." Hannah sat back down with a big dumb grin on her face. She berated herself mentally for getting into something which could end up being a potentially dangerous situation, but she couldn't help but feel happy that she had finally met a nice guy. It seemed like it had been centuries since she'd met a truely nice man. She shook her head, trying to clear her mind, but it wasn't working. She picked up the phone once again to find a baby-sitter. She realized not many people would be available on such short notice, but she hoped for the best, crossed her fingers, and dialed the first number on her recently acquired Little Black Book. Minutes later... "Hi. I'm Bethany. How long did you say you would be out?" Hannah just kept smiling that dumb smile and gave her all the nessesary information. Then she went to meet Philip at the museum. She called him after she called the baby-sitter and they agreed to meet at the museum where he worked. She got into her car and drove off. She couldn't help feeling like she was walking on air. In her mind, she knew she couldn't trust him, at least not yet, not until she got to know him better. But her heart was all a-flutter. Hannah drove into the driveway of the museum slowly, wary of a trap. She might have fallen into love at first sight, but she wasn't stupid. This was Philip's territory. Nothing seemed to be going wrong, and she was pleasantly surprised to see him waiting outside the main entrance. "Hey stranger!" he called. "Hey yourself," she answered. "So where are we going?" "Well there's a great restaurant on Main Street..." "I think I know where that is," she said. He got in the car, and they drove off in search of the restaurant on Main St. Soon they were there, and they had a wonderful dinner. They talked about lots of things, but it usually came back to the past. She found out he was nearly 200 years old. He was still a child compared to her. He was born in Massachusetts during the very beginning of the 19th century. Hannah also told him of her life. She was born in the 13th century in Russia, just before the Cossacks formed and became a military power. She died in 1325 when she was 27. They were so deeply involved in conversation, that they didn't realize how late it had become. Hannah looked at her watch, and gasped. "Oh! It's after 11:00! I told the baby-sitter I'd be home by ten! I'm sorry. I had a wonderful time, but I really have to go *right now*. Can you call yourself a cab? I'm really sorry. I'll call you tomorrow." "It's okay. Really. I'll get the check. You just go home," he assured her. "Are- are you sure? I'm really sorry," she repeated. "It's fine. I promise. Go home." She sighed. She did not look satisfied. "I'll call you tomorrow," she said again. When she got home, the baby was crying and the baby-sitter looked displeased, to say the least. Hannah apologized profusely and dug a $50 bill out of her pocket. "I hope this will cover it." The baby-sitter looked happier, and she left with a smile on her face, encouraging Hannah to call again if she ever needed a sitter. Hannah sunk back down in her recliner, drifting off to sleep. She sat up abruptly, just as she was dozing off. The buzz of another immortal's quickening rang in her ears. She decided it must be Philip. She didn't realize he didn't know where she lived. She went to the door half asleep and opened it. A strange man with a battle-axe came straight at her. *That was a mistake,* she thought groggily. She didn't know why there was a strange immortal in her house, or why he had chosen to attack her, but knew enough to grab the poker from the fireplace and defend herself. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the lights go on in the house next door and she got the impression that they heard the disturbance. *Please, please, don't call the police,* she begged silently. No such luck. Deeply engaged in battle, the two immortals heard sirens and the strange man apparantly decided it was about time to make a discreet departure. That left Hannah to explain herself to the authorities. She groaned. It was going to be a long night. --Toronto, the present-- "Come on, Kayla, we have to go now," she said quickly. She tugged on Kayla's sleeve. "We have to GO!" "Huh? Oh. Okay," she was staring at her mom's face, to the man's. *Could this have been the strange Buzz from last night...?* she asked herself. Then she dismissed the idea. *No, it couldn't be.* Toronto was too far away from their new house. They were looking at each other curiously. Hannah grabbed her, and she was dragged forcefully away from the other immortal in the grocery store. "Who was that?" she asked after they got in the car. "Someone I knew once," she said helpfully. "No kidding," Kayla replied sarcastically. "I don't suppose he has a name. I don't suppose there was a reason you were looking at him like that." "Like what?" Hannah asked innocently. "Like he was in league with the devil or something." "We can talk about this when we get home." "How 'bout we can talk about it right now," Kayla suggested. "He must be pretty dangerous for us to just leave a cart full of groceries that we drove an hour to buy behind." "We can talk about it when we get home," was all Hannah would say on the matter. "Fine. Have it your way. But I'm going to figure it out if I have to ask him myself." "Don't go near him. If you see him, run." After she said that, Hannah would say no more. She just ignored her daughter completely, shaking her head or looking out the window or turning on the radio. Finally they got back home. Considering that they were semi-lost, they made pretty good time. Then Kayla tried to question her mother on the incident at the store, she was greeted only by a wall of silence. Finally she gave up and went up to her room. END PART TWO comments/critisms janier@ix.netcom.com janier1321@aol.com =========================================================================