Date: Sun, 14 Jan 1996 12:36:27 -0500 Reply-To: shannara@TWAVE.NET Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Kim Sefcik Subject: "'Til Death Do Us Part" (Part 09/13) CHAPTER 9 MacLeod's Dojo 12:13pm Richie strode into dimly lit room, his borrowed denim jacket draped over one shoulder. Richie was about halfway across the dojo when he realized that something was wrong. He should have felt her by now. /Dammit, I *told* her not to go anywhere,/ he should have known that Michelle would pull a stunt like this. He hoped she had just stepped out for a moment and that it wasn't anything serious. Richie walked over to the elevator at the far end of the room by the office. Maybe she'd left a note or something upstairs. Richie didn't notice her sword until he almost stepped on it. His heart flew up into his throat when he saw the spots of blood on the hardwood floor next to the broadsword. Richie's first frantic thought was that Michelle had been beheaded. But he collected his wits and realized that there were no signs of a Quickening. Michelle wouldn't go anywhere without her sword. She might be a newbie, but she wasn't stupid. Richie pulled on his denim jacket and crouched down next to Michelle's sword. If she wasn't dead, then she must have been abducted... it could have been a mortal... Hunters perhaps... but Richie dismissed that thought, the Hunters had disbanded when Horton was finally killed. So, that only left the Immortal he must have crashed into this morning. But how did he know where to find them? The answer surfaced right after the question did. The missing Chronicles -- his own volume must have been taken, too. Whoever is it must be after him, and had found Michelle instead. Not a pleasant thought -- Richie was beginning to understand MacLeod even better now... Richie hefted Michelle's sword. Standing up he rubbed his face and pondered what to do next. He couldn't very well go to the police with something like this. As if on cue, Richie felt a nauseating buzz fill his mind and he whirled around. He took a defensive posture, whipping his sword up parallel to his head. "Who's there?" Richie demanded, his voice hard as stone. An all too familiar figure strode into the dojo. "Why, Richie, long time no see," came the panther voice of Felicia Martin. "Felicia, I should have known," Richie growled, his voice dripping with anger. "Is that anyway to treat an old friend, Richie?" Felicia said coolly, striding into the capacious room. "Nice place you got here," she noted casually, "much more Duncan-ish than the antique store. It's more... oh, I don't know, more masculine somehow." Richie's eye's narrowed to slits, "I'm not going to spend the day discussing Mac's taste in interior decorating with you. Where's Michelle? Are you going to drag this out into a painful experience? Why don't we just fight here and get it over with," he snarled. "Michelle? Who's she?" Felicia said, sounding shocked, "and why would I want to fight you, Richie? Oh, I know that you're one of us now, but that doesn't mean that we have to fight." "Like hell." Richie said, "Are you going to draw your weapon, or am I going to have to cut you down where you stand?" "Very well, have it your way," Felicia sighed, sounding like a teacher with a small child. She reached into the side of her leather jacket and drew out a wicked looking tachi. Richie and Felicia circled, both tense and ready. Richie made the first move, lunging for Felicia's sword arm. Felicia stepped back and swapped Richie's sword aside. Richie feigned being unbalanced, and when Felicia lunged he spun on his heel and slashed her left shoulder. Felicia ignored the wound and began an assault, she feigned up, and then cut Richie low across the stomach. Richie doubled over in pain, and Felicia kneed him in the groin. Reeling in agony, Richie barely noticed when Felicia knocked Michelle's sword out of his failing grip. Stumbling backward, Richie flinched as he felt Felicia's cold steel blade at his throat. He broke out in a cold sweat and steeled himself for the end. Ironic, his immortality actually shortened his life span instead of extending it. Richie stared directly into Felicia's eyes, the determination on his face mixed with fear. For a brief instant he wondered what it would be like -- would he retain consciousness? After all, his life force would still exist, inside Felicia. Fortunately, he wasn't going to have to opportunity to find out. "Get up, Richie." Felicia said, offering a hand. Richie looked from Felicia's face to her proffered hand, "go on, I won't bite." Richie looked at her doubtfully, but grasped her hand, and allowed himself to be hauled to his feet. "You didn't kill me," Richie stated, looking into Felicia's eyes, "why?" A warm smile spread across Felicia's face, "Like I said before, Richie, I don't *want* to kill you," her smile turned mischievous, "you're much more fun alive." Richie smiled in spite of himself, and retrieved Michelle's sword. He looked at his former lover again and open his mouth to speak, but Felicia cut him off. "It's okay, Richie, I know that I've made *a lot* of mistakes in the past, and I'm sorry for what I did. I've changed, Richie, just let me prove myself to you." Richie looked at her again, his emotions conflicting and roiling inside of him. On one hand, she had tried to kill Duncan, his mentor... but on the other hand, he loved her. Common sense told him not to trust her, but she *had* spared his life just now... despite the fact that he was the one who instigated the fight. "Okay, Felicia, I believe you," he breathed at last, "Come on up to the loft and we can talk." After a short ride up to the apartment, Richie and Felicia walked into Duncan's apartment. "Not bad," Felicia admired, "sparse but Duncan-ish." "What'd you do?" Richie grinned, as he pulled up a stool "behead an interior decorator?" "No, but I am an artist, Richie," Felicia said, sitting down next to Richie, "I have an eye for these things." "You're a forger, Felicia, there's a difference." Richie grinned. "And that's coming from a former petty thief." Richie had to admit that she had him there, he got up and walked into the kitchen, "You want some coffee?" "Sure," she said, as Richie walked over to the overly complex coffee machine of Duncan's and began dumping in ground beans. "Hope you like caffeine," Richie said, "there's no decaff." "I live on it," Felicia grinned, "so, um, Richie, who's Michelle?" Richie stopped what he was fiddling with an turned around to face Felicia, "I met her yesterday, she's a friend of Duncan's... so, um, Felicia, what are you doing here?" Richie said, changing the subject. "Actually, I came here to see you, and to talk to Duncan about something -- you wouldn't happen to know when he's getting back, would you?" Felicia asked, looking at Richie from under her eyebrows. "Mac's, um, Mac's in Europe right now. I don't know when he's going to be back." "Oh." "Why? Is it important?" "Nothing that can't wait, I suppose." Richie turned his attention back to the coffee maker, "So, how'd you find us?... Damn coffee maker... the old antique shop was sold." Felicia smiled up at him, "Ever heard of a remarkable invention called a telephone book? By the way, um, why'd you sell the shop?" "Mac sold it after," Richie swallowed, "um, he sold it after Tessa was murdered." Felicia looked up sharply, "Tessa was killed? Oh, God, Richie, I'm so sorry... I didn't know." "It's okay, Felicia. It's not your fault... anyway, Mac bought this place from Charlie, and made me the manager," Richie snorted, "Ex-thief turned manager of a failing dojo... the story of my life." Felicia smiled, "Don't worry Richie, it'll get better." "I hope so," Richie grinned, "because if things get *really* bad, suicide is no longer an option." Richie opened a drawer and pulled out a knife to pry at the coffee maker with. "Need any help?" Felicia offered. "No, no, I got I -- ouch!" Richie yelped, as he sliced himself with the knife. "Richie," Felicia said, getting up from the stool and coming over by Richie, "you have to learn to be more careful." "Why?" Richie said, "it's healing already," the cut had already closed itself off, leaving only a smear of blood on Richie's hand. "I don't mean just the cut," Felicia said, looking into Richie's eyes, "Something's bothering you, Rich -- what happened? Who's this Michelle person and why did you think that I had her?" "I -- I only met her last night, actually, I don't know why I should care so much... I'll start at the beginning. See, I have this friend, and he's really interested in Immortals, and he writes down all kinds of stuff about MacLeod and me." "He's a Watcher?" "Yea, how'd you know?" "Um, a friend told me about them." Richie nodded, "So you know about the Chronicles?" Felicia nodded, "anyway, this morning someone stole his Chronicles on us. I went to see him earlier today, and when I got back, Michelle was gone, except for her sword. So, when I saw you..." Richie broke his gaze with Felicia and trailed off, embarrassed. "..you thought I had her," Felicia finished, "Richie... I think I know who has her." Richie's head snapped up, "You do? Who, Felicia?" "Renee..." Felicia began, "Kalas must have sent her." Richie's eyes narrowed to slits, "Kalas, how the hell did Kalas get involved in this?" "He -- He's my mentor -- No, Richie wait, let me finish. After Kalas was expelled from Paul's sanctuary, he went to work in an orphanage, St. Anne's. Renee and I were children there, but he realized our potential. He took us under his wing and taught us about forgery and music. And... after the orphanage was burned down, he taught us about swordplay and Immortality." Richie was dumb with shock, "Kalas was... your mentor?" "Yes, and that first time that I came after Duncan, it was at his bidding. He wanted me to distract and wear Duncan out so that he could have his revenge. Things didn't work out as he planned though... that's why I got as angry at you, Richie, I didn't want to see you hurt." "Felicia... Kalas is dead." Richie said, his void devoid of emotion. "I know. I'm glad too -- he never liked me. But, Renee... I think that they became lovers, and she's furious at Duncan for killing Kalas. Kalas told us about the Watchers shortly after killing his Watcher, Roger. I think that she's looking for Duncan's Chronicle so that she find Duncan." "But Mac's still in Europe, and Renee's here." "Renee never has been one to play to straight and simple. She likes to play with her victims and make them suffer. I think that she's coming after you first, Richie, to use as leverage against Duncan." "You certainly seem to know a lot about how her mind works, Felicia." "We *did* grow up together Richie." "Okay, so that means the big question is: what do we do now?" Kim Sefcik Watcher-in-training Richie Reservist Internet: shannara@twave.net shannara@ravenwood.com | "I am Richie Ryan of the clan . . . wait, /~\ can we try that again?" @xxxxx| (|===============================- \____/\_/ "Being blind, you would wish all others blind | as well." -- Cleante, "Tartuffe" =========================================================================