========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 22:44:22 -0400 Reply-To: MJordan104@AOL.COM Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: "Monica T. Jordan" Subject: Out of Love and Vengeance - Part 5/11 X-cc: moreau@odixie.enet.dec.com, mjordan@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu, nevets@newwave.net, naortiz@dttus.com "Out Of Love And Vengeance - Part 5/11." by Monica T. Jordan. Copyright, 1996. For Disclaimers, Warnings, etc. see Part 1. Thanks. The Dojo. December 8, 1995. Aria stood at the base of the stairs, unsure of what to do. Duncan came out the office, closely followed by Richie, to meet her by the stairs. But Richie spoke first. "Sorry about barging in earlier," Richie said, shrugging his shoulders. "Lately he hasn't had any company," he said and regretted it a second later. Aria found it amusing and smiled when she caught the hot look Duncan gave Richie. "That's okay, I guess," she said, coming closer to them. A smile wide on her face. "I'm Richie Ryan. MacLeod's student." "I know. He told me. I'm Aria Moore." "Please to meet you, Aria," Richie said and continued quickly before Duncan could interrupt. "Mac tells me you were attacked last night outside the dojo?" "Who?" Aria asked, confused. "My friends call me Mac," Duncan said, still glaring at Richie. "Should I call you Mac then?" Aria teased. Duncan smiled. "I'd prefer it if you called me Duncan." "I like that. Duncan." She returned the smile liking the sound of his name on her lips. "So? You were attacked?" Richie inserted, breaking the spell Duncan and Aria had fallen into. They were both thinking about the kiss they'd shared earlier. "Yes," Aria answered, a bit flustered. She guessed they must be more than Teacher - Student if Duncan already told him about the attack. "I find that curious," Richie said, looking pensive for a moment. "What were you doing out there that time of night anyway?" Duncan didn't like Richie's directness, but he was curious to see Aria's reaction. Aria's face fell. What was she going to tell them? That she needed to gain Duncan's confidence so she could betray him later? Duncan didn't like what he saw. The question had occurred to him, but he hadn't pressed her for answers last night, and had no time this morning. "Well, maybe I need to repeat the question," Richie said sarcastically. "And maybe I don't need to answer," Aria snapped back. "What is this? An Inquisition?" She took a step toward Richie. "No, just want some answers!" Richie retorted. "That's enough Richie," Duncan interjected. The last thing he needed was a challenge between both Richie and Aria. "But Mac..." "I _said_ that was enough!" Duncan hissed. Richie knew when a subject was closed with MacLeod and dropped it walking away incensed. Duncan stepped closer to Aria and held her by the shoulders gently. "There are some things we should talk about Aria." "Like what?" she said defensively, shrugging Duncan's hands off. "You were hurt pretty badly last night Aria. Those men used weapons that could inflict the most damage. Then there was the nightmare you had and then..." he paused, reaching out to touch her neck. But Aria stepped back from him. "And then there's the scar on your neck." Gasping in surprise, Aria's hand went up to the scar the woman had given her. She stared at Duncan wondering how he'd found out about it. "We don't have anything to talk about," she said flatly. "I appreciated your help last night, Duncan MacLeod, but I can take care of myself!" "Oh yeah? You can take care of yourself, huh? Then how do you explain last night? If that's the way you take care of yourself with mortals, I'd hate to see you fight an immortal," Duncan said more harshly than he meant. Aria stepped closer to Duncan and stuck her face in his. "Is that a challenge MacLeod?" "No," he said gently, regret in his voice. He would help her if she'd just tell him what really happened. "I gave you my word I wouldn't take your head." "And what makes you think you could?" Aria did not want to back down. She wanted Duncan not to trust her. But looking into his eyes, her resolve melted. Duncan caught it but said nothing choosing instead to reach out and caress her cheek. Aria flinched like she'd been burned. "I -- I have to leave," she stammered. "Don't go," he said softly, stung by her rejection. Aria said nothing. "I'd like to see you again," he said, trying a different tactic, but she still said nothing. She was staring at the floor. "Tonight a friend of mine is singing and I would like you to come." Aria raised her head and searched Duncan's eyes. she wondered. "I don't know...." she trailed off. "I'll give you the address and hopefully I'll see you there tonight." Duncan waited for a positive response, but got none. He removed one of his business cards and wrote down Joe's address and handed it to Aria who took it and stuffed it in a pocket of her jeans. "I can't promise I'll come," she said sadly. Duncan nodded and smiled. Aria didn't want to leave him and wished she'd met him under different circumstances, but right now she needed to get away from him. He was reminding her of things she'd long thought forgotten. Dejected, Duncan watched Aria leave. No other words being said. ### Aria pulled up her driveway thinking about how things had turned out with MacLeod. If it hadn't been for his student's suspicious attitude, she would've stayed. Aria laughed at herself. That wasn't it and she knew it. It was the strong attraction she felt toward MacLeod. She felt guilty and fled the Dojo and headed home. Her only priority should be Emily not thinking about developing a relationship with Duncan MacLeod. Exiting the vette, Aria noticed a small box in the driveway. It was wrapped in brown colored paper. She bolted from the car, leaving the door open and the motor running, and ripped it open finding two snap shots of Emily. One where she's crouched in a corner. Another one, a close up of Emily crying. Aria slumped down on the pavement sobbing uncontrollably. After a few minutes, she jumped up and drew her sword in a quick move sensing an immortal. Walking cautiously toward the street, following the source of the sensation, she saw a man in a late model gray Volvo. It seemed like forever as they locked in recognition only immortals could share. He smiled as she ran to the car, but he drove past her, shouting through the opened window 'Next time!' And sped off. "Yeah. Next time," Aria said, memorizing the plate numbers. '308-OBS.' She thought about driving after him, but reasoned he could've left after he delivered the photos so her sensing him was not a mistake. It was a challenge. She ran into the house, heading for the upstairs level taking two steps at a time. She flew into her room and went into the closet and retrieved a large brown crate. Aria laid it on the bed. She opened it and stared at the contents, running her fingers on them. It contained several assorted types of small knives. Over the centuries, Aria had become very deadly with them. They were a great help in tight battles against bigger and stronger Immortals. Then she turned on the computer and broke into the Motor Vehicles Department of Seacover. While she lived in LA, she'd bunked with a computer hacker who had taught her the finer points of breaking into classified computer documents. 'Nothing is unbreakable' was his motto. His fee in return had been a date to a high school reunion. A minor fee for the skill learned. As the computer did the search on the license plate, she changed into black jeans, a black turtleneck, and black boots. She put on a special belt with the knives around her waist and buckled it. Aria looked at her reflection in the mirror, a sad smile on her face. Her hunting outfit, she called it. And that's just what she was about to do. Go Hunting. The printer began to print out the results of her search. The car was registered to one David Kennedy who lived at 1869 Columbia Drive. "Yeah. Next time." She smiled. ### Duncan had opted to remain at the Dojo and work out, instead of working on the house. Just in case Aria showed up again he reasoned. He had another argument with Richie after Aria left. Richie didn't trust her. Duncan tried reasoning with Richie, but the young man could be stubborn when he got something into his head. Duncan chuckled as he wondered where in the world he could have learned such a bad habit. But his face took on a somber look when he thought of how Richie had left. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< "I can't believe you Mac?" Richie said. "Can't believe what Richie? That I want to help her?" "Aren't you the one who's been telling me as long as I can remember, how I need to see the whole picture _before_ I helped people." "What's your point Richie?" Richie rolled his eyes. "You saw how she stammered when I asked her what she was doing out here at that time of night." "That doesn't mean she's setting me up Richie! She was probably attacked by hunters!" Duncan countered. "Geez!" Richie exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. "Maybe. But you know what Mac? I'm beginning to think Pierson was right," Richie said. Duncan gave him a questioning look. "A woman _will_ be the death of you!" >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Duncan sighed heavily. More angry words had been shared before Richie stormed out the dojo and Duncan found himself questioning himself. Could Richie be right? Could Methos? Duncan had always felt obligated to protect women. As early as he could remember he'd been taught to protect the women of the clan. He thought of the woman he'd called mother. Mary MacLeod. She was a strong woman in her own right, but he would have died to protect her. And he'd continued through the centuries protecting women, coming to their aid. Mortal or immortal. That's who he was and he couldn't betray that. Then he thought of Nefertiri. Every time she invaded his thoughts, it filled his heart with melancholy. He'd been forced to kill her out of the stronger instinct of survival. 'Life always chooses life' Constantine had told him afterwards. But he still wished he hadn't beheaded her. But then again, if he hadn't he'd be the one dead. Sighing again heavily, Duncan stopped working out. He couldn't concentrate. His thoughts were on Aria. He wondered about the nightmare and the scar. He wondered about the men that attacked her. He wondered if she _was_ after his head. He sighed again and took a deep breath. "What am I going to do with you Duncan MacLeod," he said somberly as he entered the elevator. ### Aria broke into the home of David Kennedy. She argued with herself on the way over that it was too easy. He wouldn't have used his own car. It was probably stolen, but any lead was better than none. Breaking in had been easy, and the fact that it was early afternoon was good. Children were in school and parents at work. Except for the occasional nosy neighbor, Aria didn't expect to be seen. There were no visible alarm wires, so she broke a window in the back of the house and entered. Looking through the house, she was beginning to be convinced that the car had been stolen. And besides, the house was in a suburb of Seacover with others closely built together. Then again, the best place for an immortal to hide was in plain sight. She'd done it many times and never been discovered. She checked the whole lower section: the kitchen, the laundry room, the dining room, the study. She went upstairs and checked each room also. When she got to the main bedroom, she checked through drawers, closets, under the bed. Everywhere. Searching for any kind of clue that could lead her closer to Emily. She stood in the middle of the bedroom and slowly turned searching for anything she might have missed. She saw a black portfolio artists used to transport their designs which she fetched and quickly looked through. The portfolio was filled with sketches of wood furniture. But the next design wasn't for furniture, but a display sign for a store. It read, 'Kennedy Wood Furniture - When you care to carve the very best.' "Ugh! What a horrible slogan." There was a note attached to it with an address. She didn't like it. It was just too easy. Too convenient, but with nothing to lose she decided to check it out anyway. It was a long shot, but it was something. Even if it was a trap. ### Aria watched from her car what appeared to be an abandoned small shop. It was in downtown Seacover and it could be the place they'd brought her too. She'd have to enter to find out. The windows were covered with white foam, so looking in from the street was out. Besides, the area was crawling with people out for lunch. She would sneak in later tonight and check it out. She was about to drive off when she recognized a man heading for the warehouse. It was one of the men that attacked her last night. The one with the ax. Aria's reasoning snapped and she went after him. He'd already entered the shop by the time she made it across the street. She tried the door but it was locked. She cursed and went around the building. There had to be a back door entrance. There were no windows in the back. With one of her knives, she broke the latch in the back door and entered. She had to find him. She couldn't afford to lose him. Not this close. Walking as quietly as she could she came to a door that was half opened. She saw him through the opening bending over a desk looking through some papers. She decided a full frontal attack was the best approach. "Hey," she said as she kicked the door open, causing the man to turn around with a jolt. "Remember me?" Aria grinned wickedly, quickly closing the distance between them, crashing her fist into his face. The man fell backwards grabbing at the desk beside him to stop his fall, but lost his grip and fell anyway taking a whole bunch of papers with him. Aria stood over him and crushed her boot into his chest as he reached inside his jacket for a hidden weapon, she assumed. She bent and removed the object from inside his jacket. It was a nine millimeter automatic. "Don't you know these things are bad for your health?" she said, pressing the barrel of the gun between his eyes. But she became distracted when she sensed an immortal. The man took the opportunity and punched at her but Aria quickly put him out of his misery by knocking him out with the butt of the gun. Aria turned around quickly, sword already drawn, coming face to face with the immortal from the Volvo. "My, my. I _am_ impressed. I didn't expect for you to find me this quickly," he said smiling. "Who the hell are you?!" she snapped. "The name is David Keogh and your head his mine," he said calmly. "And mine's Aria Moore, and I _don't_ think so!" Aria advanced, sword ready. "Don't you mean, Aria Al-Haban, also known as La Mora?" He sneered, which was a big mistake on his part. Aria charged him, her sword headed for his neck. Keogh backed out of the office into the open area of the store blocking her first strike. Aria usually would let the immortals she fought wear themselves out. She'd toy with them for a while. But this was different. She was on the offensive side of the battle from the very beginning. Keogh truly believed he could take her, but to his surprise she maintained the upper hand. Blow after blow of her sword came at him with deadly precision. Keogh blocked as best he could but Aria's fury made her a deadlier opponent. Keogh feinted to her left and managed to cut her on her arm, but Aria kept coming like it had been a simple paper cut. As Keogh backed away from her, Aria took one of her small knives and drove it into Keogh's right shoulder. He screamed in pain, falling back, clutching at the small knife. She reserved them usually for tougher opponents than him, but he was working for that woman and she would enjoy killing him. Very slowly. And only after she got what she needed from him. Keogh screamed again as the pain from another knife claimed his left shoulder. But he kept his balance and charged forward as yet more knives entered his body. Two more in both his legs. "Where is she?" she asked softly. Her voice barely above a whisper. "Go to hell!" Keogh snapped. "Wrong answer!" she said and another knife entered his body. This time in his stomach. He howled in pain, but held on to his sword, still staggering. "Let's try this again," she said coldly. Keogh pulled the knife out of his stomach. "I ain't telling you nothing, you bitch!" But the next sound out of his mouth was a blood curling scream as another knife landed between his legs. Keogh dropped his sword and fell to the ground clutching at the small knife. Keogh, in tremendous pain, glared at Aria who was standing over him. He tried reaching for his sword, but she pinned him to the floor with her knee on his chest. She then took another knife and pressed it against his neck. Keogh went still. "Hurts like hell doesn't it?" Aria taunted and a quick flash of memory came to her from twenty five years ago when she'd beheaded Wilburn. He said nothing but glared at her. "Let's try this one more time. Where's my daughter?" Keogh was not willing to give up. "Ain't life a bitch when things sneak up on you?" he said, focusing on something behind her. Aria thought it might be a trick, but a noise from behind caused her to look. Keogh pushed her and rolled toward his sword. Aria, slightly off balance, swung her sword, more out of instinct. Keogh had no time to react as her sword flew to his neck. Falling to her knees awaiting Keogh's Quickening, Aria felt distressed at how she felt. She welcomed it. She wanted it. The tears stung her eyes remembering that it had been a long time since she enjoyed a Quickening. And it worried her. It was a path she wasn't too eager to walk down again. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Granada. 1215. As Aria approached the home she'd shared with her mentor, Faysal, for the last three years, and found it curious she hadn't sensed him yet. She didn't even sense Sanchez. The house was eerily quiet and calling for him would be stupid. She became alarmed when she passed by the little alcove Sanchez kept his meager belongings in and noticed it was empty. Aria entered the small room Faysal used for his daily readings. The blood in her veins turned to ice when she saw his body laying on the floor. Dead. His books were still open on the small table he used. A cup with tea and a plate of half eaten food were on the table also. There were no signs of a struggle and she realized her worst fears had come true. Sanchez! Enrico Sanchez was the first immortal Aria had met since Faysal took her under his wing. She never trusted Sanchez from the beginning. Her hate for anything Spanish had intensified since Amjed and her father were killed by the Spanish soldiers. Sanchez had claimed in need of a teacher since his last teacher lost his head. Faysal invited Sanchez to remain with them and he'd train him. She'd argued often with Faysal about Sanchez. How could he trust him, he was Spanish! But Faysal was willing to be tolerant because Sanchez was immortal and immortals had no nationality he'd told her many times. Aria believed Sanchez himself had beheaded his own teacher, but Faysal insisted that anyone as timid looking as Sanchez couldn't behead a mouse. >From the beginning, Aria had taken it upon herself to keep an eye on Sanchez. Whenever they trained together, Aria would attack him visciously, wounding him many times. Faysal had asked her to take it easy on him. To let him be. He argued that not all immortals were tough and ready for the Game. Immortals didn't chose to become immortal and some couldn't handle it. And now... Now he'd killed Faysal and she would make Sanchez pay dearly for it. Aria searched for her mentor's sword. A beautiful scimitar sword Faysal had made himself. And honorable sword used by an honorable man but it was no where to be found. For weeks, Aria searched for Sanchez, and the bitterness she felt, grew with every breath she took. Her search took her north of Granada into Spanish territory. Her hatred for them displayed when anyone who got in her way, ended with broken bones. She finally found him in Jaen were he was staying in a small bordello. Knowing he would try to escape when he sensed her, Aria paid one of the young women to lock all possible exits. When she finally corned him and he knew there was no escape he faced her and drew his sword. Aria's eyes burned with hatred when she saw her mentor's sword in Sanchez hands! She had demanded from him how he could kill a man that called him friend. Sanchez great response had been there were no friends among their kind. Sanchez had always expected to face the immortals whose teacher he'd killed. That was part of his game. Befriend the teacher, then kill them. And when the angry student came for him, their insane need for revenge would make them careless and they became easy kills. But what Sanchez never realized about Aria was her fury made her a more focused fighter. Faysal had told her that on many occasions. Many immortals would be at a disadvantage whenever anger controlled them. But not Aria. It would be to her advantage and her opponents disadvantage. The battle began when Aria attacked Sanchez. He blocked her strikes with considerable effort. He tried getting the advantage by taunting her further, by describing how easy it had been to walk up behind Faysal and take his head. How Faysal never saw it coming. But the more he talked the angrier she became. She slashed at his legs, his arms, his abdomen and ran her sword through his chest. Sanchez collapsed on the floor. Aria removed her sword and took Faysal's sword from Sanchez's hands. It was only fitting that Faysal's sword claimed what was his. There was no hesitation, no questions, no wondering as to what would happen. She swung the scimitar and Sanchez's head rolled free of his body. Faysal had tried describing the Quickening to her, but no amount of words could describe it. The pain was extreme. The power, enlightening. The pleasure, intoxicating. She welcomed it all. It washed through her body, driving her to her knees as the power became too intense for her to remain standing. After it was over, she laid on the ground curled in a ball smiling. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Aria laid on the ground, curled in a ball, exhausted from the Quickening of David Keogh. She was unaware of the people who had witnessed the battle. The Watchers. And Drake. End of Part 5. Comments can be sent to (mjordan104@aol.com). Thanks.