Immortal Beauty (53 page)

“May I help you?” He said in perfect French. He stared at Sasha and his eyes grew wide with wonder. He bowed slightly and Frankie wondered what the hell was going on.

“Yes please.” Sasha took control. “I will need some things.” She pointed to the case.

“Of course.” He squeezed his way past them without disturbing the many shelves of figurines and urns displayed so tidily. Once behind the counter he patiently waited for her as she surveyed everything very meticulously. Sasha finally pointed to a short sword with a wide blade. “I’ll need a broad sword and a couple of those dragon iron fans.” They looked like elaborate Chinese decorative fans but were made of metal and completely deadly in the hands of someone who knew how to use them. “I’ll take two wind and fire wheels.” She pointed to the strange round metal things that looked something like brass knuckles only more pointed and more dangerous. The old man gathered up the weapons. “Will this be all Miss?” He bowed politely.

“Oh no. I’m just getting started. I’ll take those whip chains over there and these rope darts and give me one of thoe emie piercers.” She pointed to a shiny rod that had a dart on either end. She paused when she saw a stunning set of eight swords all carved with dragons with a rich pommel and guard. “Are those what I think they are?” She asked gleefully.

“These are the eight immortal swords of Taoism.” The man’s voice was rich now with reverance.

“I must have those too. It’s a good sign.” She nudged Frankie who just stared at her like she was some kid let loose in a candy store. “I guess that will have to do. Yes, that will be all.” She smiled at the man who hobbled over to a box and began to place the weapons inside. After what seemed like an eternity to Frankie, the man finished packing the last of the weaponry in the box. Sasha pulled out her ridiculous wad of bills and paid the man in cash. He took the money and then impulsively grabbed her hand and took a long look at her palm. Tears came to his wrinkled eyes.

“I knew it was you.” He kissed her hand reverently and gave the money back to her.

“I’m sorry? Is this not enough?” Sasha looked at the kind man and thought maybe he was a little senile.

“It was told to my parents when I was born that I would help the great woman samurai Nyoirin of all the legends when she returned to this world. It was said that I was going to help her in the great battle against the evil spirits that walk in the flesh. My destiny is now fulfilled. Thank you. Thank you.” He bowed over and over again. She couldn’t lie to this sweet soul who had been waiting his whole life for her to appear.

It is true. I am Nyoirin, at least I was her once, and I believe that you are my old teacher. I recognize something in your eyes. I never thought I’d see you again.” She hugged him reverently and wondered if everyone gets recycled only to return here again and again. As they walked out of the store the man called after them.

“Remember Nyoirin. Close your eyes and you will see.” His words rang out to them and Sasha mulled over their meaning. She knew now that there was no escaping Destiny. It pushed you about here and there your whole life until it delivered you to the place you are most needed. A few days ago this thought would have made her feel ill at ease and pondering a way to escape this web of Fate, but now it gave her great comfort knowing there was a reason for everything that happened in her life. All the random events were really a part of this larger picture to place her right here at this moment. It was foolish for her to ever think she could run away from all of this. Undoubtedly she would have run right into the thing she was trying to avoid. All of this gave her hope. Up until now she thought that she and Frankie were alone in this. Now she wasn’t so sure. Maybe the reason they kept coming back was to subdue the evil that was threatening to destroy this very world she had come to know and love. So far they had failed to stop Celine and Sasha swore to herself that this time would be different. She dragged Frankie along who carried the heavy box with no difficulty.

“Where are we going now?” His face was completely hidden by the box of weaponry.

“We’ve got to get some rest Frankie.” Sasha said as she walked quickly with purpose. “We’re going to move once it’s dark, Besides, we need to think of a way to get you into the house without being seen.” Her mind was racing a mile a minute and she found another taxi stand where they waited until the next available car came to fetch them. She decided against her apartment. Too risky. They chose a little hotel in Passy so they could be close to the enemy. She and Frankie pretended to be a young couple in love and the woman at the front desk with a severe black bob and thick black glasses who stared at them with big eyes full of affection. She showed them to their ‘love nest’ which was small and lovely and the color of the ocean. The blue walls and satin bed clothes immediately calmed them both. It was amazing the effect of color on the psyche, even in the middle of such a dangerous situation. They both exhaled slowly for the first time in a long time. Sasha felt hunger overtake her. Frankie opted to run out for some food.

“Maybe when I get back you could tell me about our love child!” Frankie smiled at her. This new Sasha was infectious and he began to feel a glimmer of hope inside that maybe this time they would win. If there was a chance at defeating Celine he knew that Sasha would figure it out. He walked out into the brilliant mid day sun and found a little café and ordered sandwiches for them. He ordered a lot of food since Sasha was eating for two. It had to be Taylor’s baby, but how could she already know she was pregnant? Maybe it was one of her special talents: an extreme awareness of her body. He kenw now there was a completely new reason they had to win this fight against Celine. There was an innocent involved who had no say in the matter. An innocent life that deserved a fair chance at life in this crazy but wonderful world. Frankie smiled at the thought of a baby in the house. The dream of them becoming a family born so long ago had a slim chance of seeing the light of day, but for the first time Frankie was hopeful.

LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE

Claire stirred. She was dreaming of the fields behind her house when she was a little girl. She was playing in the meadows and laughing as the black bird flew in circles around her head. The bird began to caw loudly and Claire looked up at the sky which was beginning to blacken with heavy clouds. She saw a woman with red hair who had her arms lifted upward and an army of grotesque creatures straight out of mythology charged from behind her, storming the fields with weapons and shouts of victory. She woke up screaming.

“Magdalene!” She was in a dark place and her head felt fuzzy like she had drank too much the night before. She couldn’t quite place things together and tried to remember the last thing she could. In her mind she saw Celine dressed in an exquisite gown smiling at her. She groaned as she began to recall what had happened to her. She was laying on a cold stone floor and her body was aching.

“Claire?” It was Marcus’ voice calling to her. She was never so glad to hear his deep, reassuring words in her life. “Are you alright?” She looked in the direction of his voice as her eyes became accustomed to the blackness all around.

“Yeah, I’m fine, I think. Where the hell are we?” She slowly sat up placing her hand on her forehead. A wave of naseau overcame her and she thought she was going to be sick for a moment. When she recovered and wiped the cold sweat from her brow she looked to see the outline of Marcus a few feet away. She started to move toward him when a clanging sound and a weight pulled her back. Her feet were shackled to heavy chains! She got as close as she could to him which was about two feet away.

“We’re in the catacombs!” It was Taylor’s voice coming from her left. She turned to see that he too was imprisoned like herself.

“Oh no. She got you too?” Claire’s voice was full of despair.

“Yeah. She charged me with those two crazy monsters she calls her children. Can you believe she named them Isis and Osiris? What a crazy bitch!” His voice was filled with bitterness and not a little fear.

“Are you talking about me behind my back?” Celine’s velvet voice reached out to them from the dark caverns. Soon they saw a small light from a little distance. It was coming out of one of the tunnels leading to this little room. Claire was frightened for the first time realizing that no one would ever be able to find them in this dungeon below Paris. Celine emerged wearing a dramatic black cloak with a hood. The two creatures were behind her. “That’s not very nice Taylor. Somehow I expected more from you.” She laughed, obviously enjoying their predicament.

“Oh just get it over with and kill us already. I’m starting to get bored.” Taylor murmured back to her.

“Get used to it. I have no intention of killing you.” She made a gesture to the two cat like figures behind her and they approached carrying a large pitcher each. They placed the pitchers within reach of the prisoners and then retreated back behind Celine.

“Celine. What are you up to?” Marcus asked her in his most civilized voice. The one thing he didn’t want to do was piss her off. They could not afford her anger.

“Oh Marcus. I thought you would have it all figured out by now. Don’t you see? It’s karma my dear, you’re soaking in it.” She laughed at herself. “Your punishment is going to be what my punishment was. I was trapped underneath the earth for centuries before you released me. All I had to live on were my thoughts of revenge and this water.” She pointed to the pitchers filled to the point of overflowing. “Well, my revenge is at hand and I think that it is perfectly fitting that you are all going to know what hell I went through all those years in darkness.” She moved in close to Marcus and held his chin in her perfect hand covered in rings of emeralds and diamonds. “My poor darling. You never did understand any of this, but you’ve made your choice and you came so very close to upsetting my plans which I have to say impressed me. We could have been wonderful together.” She stared into his eyes looking for something that was no longer there. She leaned in and whispered so only he could hear. “We were something once.: She kissed him tenderly on his forehead before continuing. “Now you will suffer the same fate as the others. I would let you go, but I just can’t trust you darling.” She let go of his face and failed to see the look of hatred emanating from him.

“Your plan is flawed Celine.” Taylor spoke up now and Cleine glanced over in his direction.

“My plan is perfect Taylor. Once I get my hands on Sasha my revenge on you will be particularly amusing. I want to see the look on your face as I torture your little girlfriend. I think it will give me great pleasure.”

“Sahsa’s gone. You’ll never see her again. She was the smart one when she decided to walk away from all this madness.” Celine had moved on him silently and her face was very close to his and Taylor took this opportunity to spit in the face of evil.

“Taylor don’t!” Marcus yelled. There would be no chance at saving anything if they were all dead. At least Frankie and Sasha were still out there. All was not lost and Marcus knew they would have to play their cards very carefully. If anyone could find them in the miles of labrynths known as the catacombs, it would be Frankie. Osiris moved in swiftly and silently and raked his claws over Taylor’s face. He did not scream but simply stared at Osiris with an angry look of defiance as the blood ran down his face.

“Enough!” Celine screamed and the echoe traveled through the long tunnels creating the eeriest of effects. “Maybe after a hundred years or so you will learn some manners.” Celine turned to leave.

“Your plan still has a hole in it Miss D’Aumont.” Celine snapped around to address Taylor again. She was wiping the spittle from her face with a dark green, silk handkerchief.

“Oh really? Would you care to elaborate Mr. Hamilton?” She was placating him. She knew there was absolutely nothing wrong with her plans.

“I’ve sent information to my offices in D.C. , including the stolen files with all your unique biological techniques and results. If I don’t access the information by tomorrow it will be sent automatically to every newspaper in the country as well as the United States government. I must say it is pretty revealing data. I doubt you’ll even be able to sell so much as a tub of cold cream after this hits the press.” Taylor watched her carefully.

“Do you really think anyone is going to believe your insane story? In this day and age?” She was beginning to tire of this banter.

“Well, let’s see.” Taylor said calmly. “First, I disappear on an assignment and then an article about the dangerous and illegal genetic manipulation you’ve been conducting arrives along with the data about the addicting qualitites of your water. What do you think is going to happen? I can see the headline now. ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Catchy don’t you think?”

“You have no proof to back up your ridiculous story. Nobody will believe it. They’ll think you left your job for some French girl and wrote a fictional article as an unfunny joke to your employer.” She was starting to get frustrated now. He could hear it in her voice.

“Oh I have so much proof Celine. You know we have all the data from your hard drive. I sent all that along with my article. Also, I snapped a few pics of your lab and I think one of your precious children might be in the photo.” He was enjoying playing with her mind and planting doubt despite the fact that he was chained to a wall far below the city streets. He wanted to strike back at her in any way he could.

“Oh Taylor. Be realistic. Your company is not going to risk a lawsuit against my empire. Besides, I have an insurance policy.” This time it was Celine who was enjoying herself. “Your colleague who couldn’t go on this assignment works for me. She’ll make sure no one ever sees your scandalous information. I pay her very well.” She headed down one of the tunnels. “I am weary of all this talk. You are just being desperate and I must say, it is most unseemly.” Osiris and Isis looked back at Claire as they were leaving. She focused her thoughts on the wild plains of Argentina and the flowing waterfalls of Brazil. She was trying to get them to imagine a different existence as she could feel their boredom and frustration with all this human drama. Claire saw them as they really were and they were truly unique and beautiful. They belonged in the wild like she did and if they got out of here alive she was going to find a way to get them away from the world of man where they would be dissected like frogs in a biology class. They weren’t really evil like Celine. They were just helpless victims, as they all were at the moment.