========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Apr 1996 19:31:07 -0400 Reply-To: MJordan104@AOL.COM Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: "Monica T. Jordan" Subject: Out of Love and Vengeance - Part 2/10 X-cc: moreau@odixie.enet.dec.com, mjordan@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu, nevets@newwave.net "Out of Love and Vengeance - Part 2/10." by Monica T. Jordan. Copyright, 1996. For Disclaimers, Warnings, etc. see Part 1. Thanks. Seacover. December 7, 1995. Aria burst through the kitchen doors but what she saw stopped her cold on the spot. There were three men in her kitchen. One was holding Emily, who was struggling against him. He was medium height with a wiry physique. The second one was heavy set, average height and had a gun pointed at Emily. The third, who seemed to be in charge, had his hands behind his back and a smile on his face. Aria didn't like him. He had a stocky build and appeared agile, like he could spring into action at any second. His gray eyes were cold which meant he wouldn't hesitate to harm Emily. "Now that I've got your attention," said the third man very calmly, as if things were normal. "Let's talk." Aria was at a loss. She knew she could take all three. That was no problem. But Emily would get hurt or worse. She didn't want to think about that possibility. "If you want money, I've got some cash upstairs, but please don't hurt her," she pleaded, fingering the knives in her belt, looking for any possible open for attack where Emily wouldn't be hurt. "Look, Al-Haban," the third man began and smiled as she blinked when she heard him use her real name. A name no mortal should know. His smile broadened at the stunned reaction. "I don't want your money." "What kind of burglars are you?" She demanded, trying to keep her anger in check. Her mind was spinning that a mortal would know her birth name. "Who said we were burglars?" he chuckled. Aria began to panic, something she rarely did. They weren't Immortals, that she would be able to sense. Could they be working for an Immortal? she wondered and glanced sideways towards the pantry on her left swearing for not carrying her sword. She rarely did when she picked Emily up from school, not that it would do much good against guns. "Looking for this?" he said smugly as he brought a sword out from behind him. Her sword! Aria's eyes widened in disbelief. "And it was right were they said it'd be." He pointed the sword at her, "I know what you are," he said staring at her. She said nothing never taking her eyes off his, which unnerved him, but he kept on. "You _do_ anything stupid and..." he brought the sword up to Emily's neck, her eyes wide with fear. Aria wanted to kill him on the spot, but was helpless to stop it. The second guy then pointed the gun at Aria. "...she'll die a slow death." "What do you want?" Aria hissed through clenched teethes. "Why you of course, my dear," he said nodding at the man with the gun who came towards Aria and motioned her to turn around. He cuffed her hands and pushed her roughly into the garage. She could hear Emily's whimpers. "Everything's going to be all right honey," Aria said attempting to soothe her daughter's fears. "Yes," said the third man. "But see that all depends on your mommy," he said and squeezed Emily's face hard, causing her to scream. Aria turned around fast knocking over the man with the gun with the momentum, and ran towards the third man. When she reached him she kicked him hard in his back and he fell to the floor. "If you lay another finger on my child I'll kill you," she said menacingly at him. Getting up from the floor and dusting his clothes, he began, "Why do we always have to do things the hard way?" he asked to no one in particular. She wondered what he meant by that when she was hit hard from behind. The last thing she heard, as unconsciousness beckoned, was Emily's screams. Place Unknown. Seacover. Aria awoke in a room flooded with lights and she had to squint in order to see which wasn't much. She tried moving, but couldn't as she was tied to a chair, her hands tied with a coarse rope on the handles of the wooden chair, and her legs tied together around the chair. She struggled against the ropes but stopped as she haired muffled voices behind the lights. She couldn't make out any faces or discern what was being said. She searched the room for any sign of Emily but could see little. She stiffened when a shape appeared and braced herself for any possibility. There was nothing she could do to prevent them from taking her head. "It's finally awake," said a male voice. "Good," said a female voice just beyond the lights. Aria strained her eyes trying to adjust to the inmense brightness when she noticed someone else approaching in her direction. It was a woman. Young, tall, very beautiful. Aria didn't recognize her. "Hello Aria, nice of you to join the world of the living again," said the woman with the piercing blue eyes. Aria stared at her with hatred. The woman just gave her an icy smile in return and continued, "I have a proposition for you. I want you to work for me. Do a special assignment I have in mind. Or..." she said, letting the word hang, and waited. "Or what!" Aria wanted to scream, but her mouth was dry and it came out hoarsely. The woman sighed dramatically, "Or..." she turned around and motioned to someone beyond the lights, "...she dies." She finished flatly. Aria followed the direction of her hand, knowing who she was talking about. The lights were dimmed as Emily was brought in through a side door by a man. She was tied with rope across her chest, including her arms. Her mouth covered with tape. The look in her daughter's eyes were of sheer terror. Aria vowed right then she'd kill all of them. "It's your choice," added the woman. "She's just a child! How can you do that to her?" Aria said, anger filling every word she said. "_I'm_ not doing anything to her. _You_ are." Aria turned her complete attention to the woman standing before her. "Obviously you know what I am. How? I don't know. But she has nothing to do with whatever this is. The woman smiled and ordered the man holding Emily to approach her. She bent down to meet the child at eye level before taking the tape off her mouth and whispered something to her. Emily's eyes opened wider, her body trembling with fright. Standing up, the woman slapped Emily hard and the little girl cried out in pain. The only thing that prevented Emily from falling was the man that held her. Aria, blinded by the fury that gripped her, struggled wildly against the ropes causing the chair to topple over landing hard on the floor with a sickening thud. The woman walked over to Aria and got down on her knees and brought her face within inches of Aria's. "Yes I know what you are and I know there are others like you walking amongst us contaminating our world. And she _is_ part of this, you saw to that. Besides, this child would be better off dead than being raised by the likes of you." Bitterness dripped off every word said. She stood and motioned for someone to set the chair back up. Aria was aghast. A million thoughts and questions running through her mind at once. How could this mortal know about Immortals. And what the hell did she mean by 'contaminating our world' and Emily would be 'better off dead.' Aria said nothing deciding it was better to keep quiet. She was in no position to resist this woman and wouldn't want to give her another excuse to hurt Emily. "Now that I've got your attention," she began as she sat down in a chair opposite Aria. "Like I said earlier, I've got a proposition for you." Aria nodded, keeping an eye on Emily who was crying quietly. "Who do I have to kill?" Aria said turning her attention to the woman seated before her. A smile slowly formed on the woman's face as Aria continued. "I assume that is what you want from me. You wouldn't go through this much trouble for anything less," Aria said, trying to remain calm and wondered if reasoning would work with this woman. "How perceptive of you," the woman said turning away from Aria, "Leave us. I'll let you know when I'm done." Aria's heart sank as they took Emily away. Aria kept eye contact with Emily, much being said between them without words. After everyone left, the woman brought her chair further up until their knees touched and smiled at the discomfort on Aria's face. Aria wondered what in the world she'd done to this woman that would warrant her to harm an innocent child. Her child! "Before we go any further," started Aria, "I will agree to do whatever you want provided no harm will come to my daughter," Aria said, glaring into those icy blue eyes which were devoid of emotions. "Well...in the first place she _isn't_ your daughter and second, her safety really depends on you Aria," she paused watching the anger rise on Aria's face, "but if you deliver as asked, I'll consider it. Now, here's what I want from you. My dear Aria Al-Haban." As Aria listened to the woman, she got an awful sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. The cold fury she felt just seconds before changed to blinding fear. Before the woman got to what she really wanted she began telling Aria her life story. Aria's life story that is. This woman knew when Aria had been born, the name of her parents, her mortal husband, the date, time and place of her first death, who her first teacher had been. This woman knew how many Immortals she'd killed, how many lovers she'd had, what types of work she'd been involved in, the corners of the world she'd been in. Aria felt violated. Her secrets, her movements, details of her life where known to this woman. This mortal. This stranger. How was this possible? She'd never noticed anyone following her all these years. It just couldn't be. But yet here was this woman casually reciting her life story. "So as you can see, my dear Aria, there's no part of your life I don't know about. I know everything," she said smugly. And to make her point hit home, the woman got up and retrieved Aria's sword which laid covered on a table a few feet to her left. The woman walked behind Aria clutching the sword with both hands. Aria sucked in a quick breath as she felt the cold of steel against her neck. "I know _everything_ about you and your kind," she whispered in Aria's ear, "Especially how to kill you forever." She pressed the sword against the tender flesh of the Immortal's neck, drawing blood. Aria bit her lip letting no sound escape to betray how scared she felt right then. The woman removed the sword and sat back down facing Aria, resting the sword across her lap. Aria's eyes went from her sword to the cold stare of those penetrating eyes. "How?" was all she could manage to say. Aria was still in shock and the pain from her neck wound was incredible. "Wouldn't you like to know," said the woman with a satisfied smile. The woman now proceeded to tell Aria about her special plans involving an Immortal named Duncan MacLeod. The name sounded vaguely familiar but she couldn't recall why just now. She wanted Aria to get close to him in order to gain his trust. It was particularly important for the success of her plans. "The main thing about MacLeod you have to be aware of, his Achilles heal you might call it, is he can't sit around when a woman needs help. His instincts are to protect the weak and helpless." "I don't do weak or helpless," snapped Aria. "Then think of your daughter for inspiration. You shouldn't have a problem after that," she paused, cocking her head to one side, "I don't think," said the woman smiling. Aria inhaled deeply trying to control the anger in her voice threatening to come out. "It's not like I can drop in on him you know. I've never met the man," she said, closing her eyes briefly trying to block the coming headache. "Don't worry your pretty little head about that. I've already taken cared of that detail. All you have to do is be ready," said the woman. "How will I know to be ready?" Aria asked resignedly. "Oh... you'll know." A smirk come across her face. "You'll know." Aria didn't like it. Something about the coldness of this woman's eyes scared Aria. And not much scared her. "When MacLeod does meet you he'll find it irresistible not to feel _obligated_ to help you." The woman stood up and walked away with Aria's sword. She opened the door and gave out some orders. One of the men came in and listened intently as she gave him instructions. She handed the man the sword and walked out the room without looking back. The man came to her with a nasty smile on his face which Aria chose to ignore. Her head was spinning. She prided herself on being self-reliant, of being able to take care of herself -- and Emily. But now she wasn't so sure. It had been a long time since Aria felt so exposed and vulnerable. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Granada. 1212 AD. The laughter from the main room of the home Aria shared with her husband Amjed and her father Azim, made her cringe since it was at her expense. "I was not that bad father," she said defensively setting the tray of dried fruit on the small table between them. They had just finished the feast she'd prepared for them before their long trip tomorrow. "And camels are the fastest creatures in the desert," said Azim Al-Haban laughing. He was in his late fifties, but had the stamina of one half his age. He was tall, wiry, with dark eyes and black hair, with a gray beard. "Tell the one about Faysal. I love that one," said Amjed el-Kahir. Aria had fallen in love with him the second she'd looked into his eyes when he walked into her parents market. He was taller than her with a strong physical presence, very imposing. He had long wavy black hair. His eyes were a soft brown and the kindest she'd ever seen. Whenever he smiled they would crinkle giving her a warm feeling all over. She loved him dearly, but right now she was rethinking that. "No. Not _that_ one," she said, trying to sound indignant. "Father, you know I detest it when you tell that story." "I know," he said winking, then turned his attention to his son-in-law. Aria sat down next to Amjed on the rugs spread throughout the room. "It was the year before you arrived. A dear old friend, Malik Faysal, was visiting and Aria had insulted him," he said, shaking his head at the memory. "Her mother later warned me that I should indeed find her a husband that would discipline her, teach her some manners and respect." "Oh, father," Aria said, rolling her eyes. "See. She still needs a swift hand," Azim said, amusedly watching his daughter squirm. "Do not worry about that Azim. I shall take care of her _insolence_ later," Amjed said and smiled at Aria who snuggled closer to him. He held her tightly. She was a handful, but that was one of the main things that had attracted him to her in the first place. Azim went on to tell the story of Malik Faysal, a commander in the almohad military army who made it a regular occurrence to visit the town markets since it was a time of war against the Spanish. But on this particular day, Faysal had agreed to stay for dinner with them and Aria refused to wear the traditional habit women were expected to wear. Faysal eyed her evenly and smiled as he saw the defiance in her eyes. Azim apologized profusely to Faysal for his daughter's misconduct but Faysal found it rather amusing. He had already dismissed it, but Aria had felt insulted and made the situation even worse. Being Aria was an only child, Azim had taken it upon himself to teach her the way he would a son. He knew he was wrong for having done it, even her mother, Lania, had warned him of the possible consequences of raising her outside of tradition. But Azim loved his daughter dearly and would not lose an opportunity to pass on his knowledge. As Aria had grown older she grew to dislike the role women played and became harder to control. Worst yet, she defied anyone who'd question her actions. 'You infidel. It amuses you to have control over a woman?' She'd said. The visage on Faysal's face changed from amusement to anger. He rose and grabbed her by the shoulders bringing her inches from his face. Faysal was a tall man causing Aria to be on the tip of her toes as she stared into his dark angry eyes. 'What you need is a good strong hand from a man on the behind for your insolence,' he had said. Aria, though scared, remained defiant and retorted, 'No man's been born that could!' Faysal's eyes grew wide in astonishment. Azim stood aside, silent and praying. 'I don't envy the man that would become your husband. He'd have a handful with you,' Faysal said, incredulously. 'I will not be sold off to no man. I am not an object to be had!' she answered back. Faysal couldn't believe her boldness and laughed out loud. A deep guttural laugh. He let go of her causing her to fall to the ground on her behind. Aria winced in pain and glared up at him as she rubbed the sore spot. Faysal walked over to Azim and started talking about finding a poor soul to marry Aria off to. Aria was humiliated as her father and Faysal erupted in laughter at the look on her face. "That is not funny Amjed," she whined, poking him in the ribs causing him to laugh even harder. "And a handful she is," he said, chuckling now. "She sure has kept me on my toes that is for certain," Amjed said softly, caressing her cheek. "That she does," said Azim. "I still can not believe you invited him to my wedding!" Aria said. "I am glad he did," began Amjed, wincing from another elbowing Aria gave him. "Particularly when he called me the lion tamer," he said laughing and caught her arm before she elbowed him again. The house filled with laughter. "It warms my heart daughter to see you happy. You _are_ happy?" Azim said gently, smiling at his daughter. "Yes father. Very happy. And you're a great part of that happiness too. I am glad you decided to stay with Amjed and me after mother passed," she said softly, Azim just bowed his head in remembrance of his wife. "But these stories have got to stop," she said softly with a gentle smile. She'd been very afraid of Faysal at the time but wasn't about to let anyone know that. "Now," Azim said, getting up from the floor and stretching. "We must finish preparation Amjed if we are to leave for Tolosa at first light." "Must you go?" Aria said, searching Amjed's eyes for any excuse for him not to leave her tomorrow. "With all the problems the battles with the Spanish are causing, making all trade routes impassable, we can not afford to wait any longer. We are low on many goods in the market. We must leave tomorrow if we intend to keep it open." Amjed stood lifting Aria at the same time and hugged her tightly. "We will be back by sundown on the fifth day," he said pulling back and staring into her dark eyes. "Do not worry." "I will not if you promise you will be careful," she said, burying her face in his chest. Amjed pushed her away slightly. "You make it sound as if I can not take care of myself," he said gruffly, but gazing into her pleading eyes, made it difficult to deny her anything. "I will be careful," he sighed caving in. I promise." They embraced again. They remained still, locked in each others arms. "I had that dream again last night," Aria said quietly not moving. "The one where you could not find me?" Amjed whispered in her ear, stroking her hair. Aria nodded and squeezed him tighter. Amjed took a deep breath, he didn't want to go, but he had an obligation to fulfill. "I will be fine Aria," he said gently drawing her face in his hands and kissed her deeply. She was trembling in his arms and he wished to make her feel better. She drew away from him searching his eyes desperately. Aria was about to say something when he laid a finger on her lips, stopping her. "No good-byes tonight," he said gently and smiled. Azim, who'd been patiently waiting, now tapped Amjed on the back. Amjed and Aria parted slightly but Aria still held on tightly to him, not wanting to separate from him all the while pleading with her eyes for him to change his mind. After several hours, Amjed finally made it to bed and entered quietly not wanting to disturb her slumber, but she stirred and turned to face him. She stretched her arms to him and he joined her. They made love and fell asleep in each other's arms. A few hours later a noise startled them both awake. Amjed told her to stay as he went to investigate but Aria, already panicked, followed behind him. Amjed turned around and glared at her. "Do as I say Aria," he said strongly, and waited for her to acquiesce. When she nodded he went down the hallway where raised voices could be heard. Aria remained in the room but hearing the commotion going on down the hall she couldn't help but be drawn to it. She could hear Amjed's voice and her father's as they argued with whatever unknown had invaded their home. Walking slowly, her hands clasped together and pressed against her lips, she inched down the long cold hall way but when Aria turned the corner what she saw was too ghastly for her mind to accept. Her father laid dead on the floor, two men in Spanish army uniform standing over him, gloating and laughing. Amjed on his knees as two other men held his arms behind his back and a third slapped him repeatedly. Amjed's eyes and the men's turned in her direction as she couldn't squelch the scream that escaped her lips at such horror. Amjed screamed for her to get out, but she remained rooted to the spot. It wasn't until one held her roughly by the wrist that she reacted. She tried fighting him off, but he was stronger. Aria's eyes stayed with Amjed's as he pleaded for them to leave her alone. She backed up in pain as the man roughly grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him poising his head to kiss her. She kneed him and he slapped her with the back of his hand and she fell hard on the floor. She scrambled away from the man but he loomed over her and bent to pick her up, but Aria had grabbed a broken bottle and stabbed him in the face with it. When the soldier's blade went through her chest, she didn't scream but her eyes opened wide at the immense pain she felt. Gasping for air, she searched for Amjed but couldn't find him. The other men approached and she stared at their faces until her eyes closed as death took over. When Aria opened her eyes again, she thought she'd dreamt the whole incident. That was until she stumbled into the large living area and saw Amjed's and her father's blood soaked bodies on the floor. Her mind did not want to accept what her eyes were seeing. This had to be a nightmare. A really bad dream, she told herself. Aria first stared at her father's body and touched his face, watching him for a long time not wanting to turn her head to view the body next to his. But she did eventually. She knelt next to Amjed's lifeless body. Aria loved waking up early to watch him as he slept. She'd outline his features, and would thread her fingers through the hairs on his chest, watching it rise and fall as he breathed. But his chest wasn't moving now. There was a huge red spot on the tunic on his chest. She rested one hand on his chest and caressed his hair, his eyes, his nose, his cheek, his lips. "Noooooooooo!" she screamed, draping herself over his body and cried. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Aria sat quietly on Emily's bed, clutching the brown teddy bear the child loved so much. Humming to herself an old song her mother would sing to her whenever she was scared. It had been a little more than an hour since they'd dropped her off. The ride had been rough. They'd tied her hands and legs and blindfolded her, leaving her alone in the van. She'd listened intently to the two men up front. They obviously thought she was still unconscious from the blow they'd given her before taking her out of the warehouse. But even so, they hadn't given up any useful information. When the van came to a stop it sent Aria sliding back hitting her head hard against the doors of the van. She almost fell out as the doors opened and rough hands grabbed her pulling her out. Aria felt like a rag doll as they dragged her along the hard pavement before dropping her on the ground. Someone undid the rope on her hands first and Aria quickly removed the blindfolds checking her surroundings -- she was home. Trying to get a look at their faces, she was temporarily blinded as one turned a flashlight on her as they backed away heading for he van. Aria was undoing the rope around her ankles when a large clang startled her. She blinked her eyes trying to focus on what it was. It was her sword. The rope was finally undone and she got up a bit unsteadily going for the retreating van. She only managed to glimpsed the Washington state tags but couldn't make out any numbers or visible markings. Turning back to the house, Aria felt defeated. For the first time in ten years, she wasn't happy to enter. She checked the time and cursed. Several hours had passed since they first snatched her and Emily, and she had to be at the address the woman gave her at midnight. Which gave her less than two hours. She picked up her sword and walked numbly into the house. She had roamed the house aimlessly finally ending up in Emily's room. It was so eerily quiet with no loud music or chattering on the phone with friends. She looked around the room slowly. There were decorations scattered on the floor for the slumber party, the bed was unmade as usual, clothes everywhere but the closet and drawers, the watercolor paintings on her little desk and paint bottles left opened. Aria walked further into the room and tripped on something. It was Emily's favorite teddy bear. 'Mr. Mann' as she called him. Aria picked it up and sat on the bed holding it tightly against her chest and began humming the old song. "I'm so sorry, Em," she said to herself, tears freely falling now, unable to stop them. Aria thought about the child she'd raised for the past ten years. Emily had changed her life dramatically bringing new pleasures into her heart. After she'd accepted the fact that she'd raise Emily, Aria dropped out of the game and created a new identity for herself. With the exception of Works, all the Immortals she'd faced in the past ten years, stumbled upon her through dumb luck. She would never had believe she'd get so attached to the little girl. To Emily. After being alive for as long as she had, Emily brought a freshness to her life. Everything was a new discovery. And now to find out there were people out there -- mortals! -- that had observed and recorded her life, her every move it seemed like, since almost the beginning of her Immortal life. It just wasn't possible! But tonight she'd found out it was. And how could she protect Emily from that! A threat she never saw coming. End of Part 2. Comments can be sent to (mjordan104@aol.com). Thanks.