Date: Mon, 15 Jan 1996 18:24:19 -0500 Reply-To: shannara@TWAVE.NET Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Kim Sefcik Subject: "'Til Death Do Us Part" (Part 12/13) CHAPTER 12 The Antique Shop 9:17pm Richie's motorcycle sputtered to a stop outside the antique shop. The stars twinkled brightly in the darkness of a new moon. A flood of memories washed over Richie, memories of his first night in the store, when he had tried to rob Duncan, and how Slan Quince and Connor had dropped in unexpectedly. He remembered Tessa standing in the shadows, and Duncan with his sword drawn... {It's over when I cut off your head...} {He's only a boy Mac...} {The lady and I haven't been properly introduced...} {Let the boy go...} Richie forcefully jerked himself out of the brief, disjointed flashback, and looked back at Felicia. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" he whispered, hopping off the bike. "Yes, I'm sure, I know Renee. If anyone can stop her, I can. You just concentrate on getting Michelle." They slunk to the alley beside the shop, where there was a side entrance into Tessa's old workshop. Richie checked the heavy metal door and found it unlocked. Opening the door as quietly as possible, Richie crept into the now boarded up workshop. The gut wrenching buzz filled Richie's mind just before he spied the figure tied to a chair at the far end of the room. "Michelle," he whisper-yelled. Michelle's head jerked up and she looked around the semi-darkened room which was dimly illuminated from the street lamps outside, "Michelle, I'm over here," Richie called again, "And I've brought the calvary," he said gesturing to Felicia. Michelle had long since ceased to struggle, half-starved and thirsty she conserved whatever strength she could. Her captor had only visited her that once, but the woman's visage had been permanently etched into Michelle's mind. And all Michelle needed was one look at Richie's companion... then she freaked. Struggling with her bonds, Michelle twisted and yelled muffled curses at Felicia. Richie ran over to Michelle, and began cutting her bonds with her sword. Richie ripped off the gag, causing Michelle to grab her mouth. "God, think you could make that hurt anymore? I thought that knights in shining armor were supposed to be chivalrous." "Chivalry is dead. Now come on, we've got to get out of here." "You have a talent for restating the obvious," Michelle quipped as Richie sawed at her hand binding, "I do have a question though." "What?" Richie asked, distracted. "What the hell are you doing working with the enemy?" "What are you talking about?" "That woman is the one who kidnaped me!" "That's bull," Richie said, looking up at Michelle disbelieving. "I'm afraid it isn't, Richie," Felicia said, strolling up, with her tachi naked and held ready. Richie stood, dumbfounded, "Felicia... I-I thought you said... what??? How the hell could you do this?" "Richie I meant every word I said, I did love you. But when you became one of us, well, you know how it is. Besides I need you and Michelle to get revenge on Duncan." "You -- you loved Kalas," Richie sputtered. "That pompous ass? Really Richie, you should know that I have better taste than that, but he did train me, I must give the man that. A bit too well, though, I think. No, I want Duncan so that I can finish what *I* started three years ago..." Felicia mused, "Tell me, Richie, I was quite convincing, wasn't I? Maybe I should try Hollywood after I take out MacLeod." Richie's expression hardened into ice. Inside he was shattered, a lump in his stomach had made it's way into the throat and heart and was tearing his insides out. He had been betrayed... again. He cursed and kicked himself for his own naivete. But he couldn't allow himself to feel any of that right now. Richie steeled himself, putting on his street-smart facade to mask his pain. Raising Michele's broadsword, Richie met Felicia's gaze, "I guess this is it then," Richie said, his voice flat and void of emotion. But his eyes were brimming with pain and fear. Last time it was Mac who was facing her, this time Richie was going to have to kill the woman he loved. "I guess so," Felicia said, returning his look. Their blades met with a CLANG that echoed around the capacious workshop. Felicia whipped her blade around, slicing at Richie's sword arm. Richie jumped out of the way, just missing her tachi's blade. Richie slashed at Felicia's midsection, but only succeed in cutting her blouse. Their blades met again, parring up and down, sweat pouring down their faces. For a brief moment Richie almost could have *sworn* that he heard a Queen song playing from somewhere. But the moment passed, and Richie found himself gazing deep into Felicia's eyes and he fleetingly wondered what had happened to her to make her such a cold, callous person. His moment of pity cost distracted him, and he dropped his guard. Felicia swooped in with her blade, slicing Richie's right arm. Richie fell back behind a crate to catch his breath. Looking around the back of the crate Richie didn't see her, and he ventured out. Richie walked around the side of the stacked up crates, his mind racing. He was overmatched by Felicia, and he knew it. /Dammit,/ he thought, /my Chronicles, she must have found out everything she could about Duncan and my fighting styles/ Richie looked around the garage, his heart pounding, he felt like a deer being stalked by a tiger. Richie heard scuffle behind him, like a foot on concrete, he whirled around, and was greeted by Felicia's tachi sliding through his ribcage. Richie gasped in pain and surprise and looked down at the sword that had pierced his midsection. Felicia mercilessly yanked the blade out, and Richie fell to the cold cement floor, doubled over in pain. Michele's sword clattered to the floor next to him. The gravel on the floor ground into his face as Felicia stood with her blade next to neck. "Any last words Richie?" "Felicia," Richie gasped, blood running from his gut, "you don't have to do this." "Yes I do." "Why?" Richie croaked, already knowing what her answer would be. "Because, Richie. There can be only one." Felicia raised her tachi for the final blow, and Richie saw her poised, a terrible, beautiful, frightening figure. Time slowed down, and Richie thought of all he hadn't done, all he had hoped to do. /I don't want to die,/ he thought, realizing how precious life was, wether you were Immortal or not. Time still seemed to be moving in slow motion as Richie watched Michele hurl herself at Felicia, and knock the older Immortal to the ground. In one swift motion Michele swept up her sword where it had fallen next to Richie, and leveled it on Felicia who now lay on the ground as Richie had just moments before. Michele stood over Felicia, fury and hate raging inside her at all the wrongs this woman had done. Michele wanted to kill her. More than anything, Michele wanted to kill her and rejoice in her Quickening. To avenge everything that this raven haired woman had done. A feeling deep in her gut, from the primordial roots of the Quickening that made her an Immortal, shouted at her to kill the Immortal she held at her mercy. It was an overpowering sensation, causing Michele's face to harden as she prepared to deliver the final blow. Then, in the small, dark reaches of her mind, Michele hear a different voice. She tried to squelch it, but it demanded to be heard. Michele's expression lightened, and for the first time she saw the fear and pure terror that was mirrored in Felicia's eyes. "Go." Michele said hoarsely, barely audible. Felicia looked into Michele's eyes and Michele thought that she was a tinge of... thank you? echoed there. Felicia scrambled to her feet and fled from the workshop into the dark, moonless night. Michele fell to her knees, exhausted, and her sword fell at her side with a loud, echoing clang. Richie gasped, his wound healing, as he struggled to his feet and crept over to Michele. Richie put his arm around Michele, and helped her to her feet. Picking up her sword, he silently guided the emotionally drained Michele out to his motorcycle so they could go home. 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" =========================================================================