| They reached the church without any problems. Charmaine had not brought anything but the clothes on her back and her sword, so after they got her settled in MacLeod said he would go by Amanda’s Paris apartment and pick up some clothes for Charmaine.That left Charmaine and Methos alone for the first time since she showed up. Charmaine walked around the church looking at all the familiar sites. “It hasn’t changed a bit, since the last time I was here.” she said smiling to herself. “When was the last time you saw Darius?” “Back in ‘33.I was with the French Resistance in WWII, I cam e here when I could to see him.” “I kept in contact with him though. I called him at least twice a month once he got his phone hooked up in here. In fact I talked to him the day before...” she got quiet. “It’s good that you got to talk to him then.” “I should have been here though. He told me on the phone that he had had a dream about his death.” “You couldn’t have stopped Horton from killing him and you might have died with him.” “I know but I still should have been here for him." I had booked a flight to come here the next week but just as I was leaving my apartment I got the call from Fitz saying that he was dead.” tears were falling silently down her checks, she quickly brushed them away. Just then MacLeod returned with the clothes for her. “Amanda’s a little smaller than you are but some of these might fit you.” “Thank you Duncan.” she took the clothes from him and set them on a chair. “If you don’t need anything else I’m going to head home.” “I’ll be all right thank you.” “Methos are you coming?” MacLeod asked turning to his friend. “Not right now I’ll catch a cab later. I want to stay with her till she gets settled in.” “All right. I’ll see you later.” MacLeod left and Charmaine turned to Methos “You don’t have to stay with me I’m a big girl I can take care of myself.” “Oh and that’s why you came to MacLeod for help then because you can take care of yourself.” “Well Jace is a little more than I can handle. I’ll admit it but I’ll be o.k. really Methos.” “If you’re sure.” “I’m sure.” she replied. Methos wrote down his home number and cell phone number and started to leave. “Methos wait." she said suddenly “Yes.” he said turning from the door. “You don’t think Jace would have his mortal thugs come in kill me then drag me off holy ground so he can take my head do you?” “I don’t think so. Jace may be an ass but he won’t disrespect holy ground in that way.” “Yeah but it’s not like he’s playing fair using those mortals.” “I know Jace he won’t defy holy ground." he turned to go but changed his mind and walked back over to Charmaine he put his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eyes “It’ll be all right .I’m here for you now. I won’t let him hurt you again." he bent down and kissed her gently then left the church. Charmaine stood staring at the door then turned and walked through the church picking up the clothes Duncan had brought and went into the room that had been Darius’ bedroom. She was surprised to see it exactly as it had been the last time she saw it. She smiled as her eyes traveled over the familiar pieces of furniture. She stood by his chess board and lightly caressed the white queen... “All you do is move these pieces around the playing board? “It’s not the moving of the pieces that makes the game it’s the strategy and the ability to think ahead.” “You know Darius sometimes you still sound like a general.” ”Anyhow it still sounds like a boring game to me.” She moved on to the room that she had stayed in when she was here. Inside it hadn’t changed anymore than Darius’ had. There was a small bed with a end table beside it a dresser and a bookcase overflowing with books. She laid the clothes in the dresser and went over to pick out a worn bible from the bookcase she opened it to John 3:16 and took out an old photograph. She looked down on Darius’ smiling face. He had this picture taken when they first started using cameras widely.She laid down on the bed and closed her eyes. “Why Darius?” she whispered for the hundredth time since that day eight years ago when she had heard he was dead. She rolled over onto her side and looked at the picture again. She smiled as the tears fell down her face. He had been such a good man, well maybe not when she first met him... ************************************************************************ 410 C.E. Charmaine had been living on the streets since she was ten years old. He parents had dies when a flu epidemic came thought heir village. She had lived on what she could steal and the generosity of the people who lived here. Even though she went hungry sometimes she felt she had it pretty good. That is until the day General Darius and his army came through. They killed the men and most of the women. She was one of the few that was spared death. Darius’ second in command had taken a liking to her and made her his own personal slave. This went on for a month when Charmaine finally decided she wasn’t going to take it anymore. One night when Grayson ordered her to his tent she took a detour to a man who was laying drunk by the fire. She slipped his dagger into her blouse and continued onto Grayson’s tent. She walked in and he was laying on his furs stripped to the waist waiting for her. He beckoned for her to come to him. She went over and he pulled her down and kissed her roughly. She didn’t fight it for once. “Ah learning are you slave.” he said. She smiled and so quickly he didn’t have a chance to react she took out the dagger and plunged it into his heart. She rolled away gasping. She had never killed a man before. Shaking she stood up and turned toward the entrance. She figured she had a very short time to get out of the camp before she was noticed. She was just outside the tent when a hand grabbed her and flung her around she gasped looking up into Grayson’s face. “But you’re dead.” “No I’m not but you are." Grayson took the very dagger she had used on him and stabbed her in the chest hitting a lung. She felt her lung fill with blood as she collapsed onto the ground and then everything went black. |
| Part 2 |