A story in the
Grains of Time Saga. For an introduction to this saga, I recommend reading
my mini-guideAcknowledgements: I’ve borrowed a whole bunch of lyrics again, just because I felt like it. I do not claim ownership of them, I just borrow them for a good cause
Author’s Note: Brrr, friggin brrr! With this cold, I could need some feedback to warm myself with.. (hint, hint) This story follows pretty much immediately after “Grains of Time”, so unless you like being lost, you better have read that one first.
Raison d’être is French for reason to be
Disclaimer: I don’t own these characters. If I did, I’d bring them all with me to Australia and defrost. Alas, but I don’t, so just pretend I do for the duration of the story. I promise they don’t get too badly bumped..
Thanks Sonia! Don’t ya just hate the title hunt?
My deepest gratitude to Trudy, who bothered to beta read and share her Highlander insights. Ta!!
by Camilla Sandman
Far away from reality
Is a lock that holds no key
The strangest dream I ever had
Wake up call never seemed so bad
Don't know what's come over me
Some say that it's destiny
~~~~~~~
Paris never sleeps. There is always someone awake, someone who cannot sleep even in the darkest hour. Wondering about the future perhaps. Or watching a loved one sleep.
The night was dark, but not very cold. A thousand stars lit up the sky, and there was a perfect full moon. It seemed slightly yellow when looking at it, but that was only a trick of light. The moon was nothing more than a rock in space reflecting the sun. Still, it could be beautiful.
But not even the moon would live forever, Frank Holloway thought, as he regarded it distantly.
Immortal.
The word had a strange feel to it.
Immortal.
He repeated it to himself quietly, tasting it.
Immortal. Rachel was Immortal.
She would never die, unless some bastard came along to slice her head off. The thought made him cold inside, and he looked down at her without thinking. She was asleep on the couch, a blanket thrown loosely over her. Sleeping, she looked the same.
Immortal.
He groaned slightly. A few weeks ago it had all seemed so simple, now he lived in a bar with three Immortals who had sword fighting as their main hobby. What the hell was he doing here?
It wasn’t like he could protect her. What she was up against, he could barely phantom. He just knew he had to try, because the alternative was too frightening.
She would live forever, if it was up to him.
Looking up, he noticed Amanda standing in the doorway, studying him. From the looks of it, she’d been there a while. He hadn’t even heard her.
“She’s going to go back to Sydney, eventually,” she told him, stepping into the room. “She has to accept this, or she’ll die.”
“Any moment some nut could come after her,” he said miserably. “How do you live like that?”
“You make the best of it,” she replied earnestly. “Living every moment, loving when you can..”
Hesitating, she threw a look at Rachel. “Frank, there’s something about Rachel’s Immortality.”
“She told me. Have you..” he paused, “Discovered how she became.. Immortal?” He rushed the word out, almost stumbling over it.
She shook her head. “No. Frank, have you ever..?” She hesitated. “Never mind,” she said after a moment’s hesitation, walking towards the door again. “I’ll be downstairs in the bar waiting for Nick. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” he replied, watching her go. Secrets within secrets..
“Frank?” Rachel muttered, sleepily. She stirred slightly.
“It was just Amanda,” he assured her, knowing she had sensed the Presence.
“Hmm.. Nick back yet?”
“Soon.”
She nodded slowly, her eyes closing again. He thought for a moment she had fallen asleep again, until she spoke.
“Hold me.”
He slipped behind her on the couch, embracing her. She snuggled up against him, her skin feeling warm next to his. He planted small kisses on the base of her neck as he waited for her to fall asleep again. Instead, she turned towards him, planting a soft kiss on his lips.
She let her lips linger on his, the kiss slowly becoming more than soft. She didn’t seem tired at all as her hands wandered the length of his body.
“Rach..” he breathed, finding the sensitive spot just below her earlobe. She let out a rewarding sigh, before biting him affectionately on the nose.
“Ouch! That hurt!”
Leaning forward, she kissed his nose gently.
“Better..?”
“Mmm..” Looking into her eyes, he fought the urge to tell her how he felt. She didn’t need that on top of everything else. Maybe he couldn’t protect her, but damned if he wasn’t going to try.
******
In Sydney, it was daytime. The moon couldn’t be seen as the sun was filling the sky with its rays. Now, the sky seemed blue, but that too was a trick of light.
The sky is dark.
“Daaaaaaaad!” David Goldstein came running through the kitchen, “Dad!”
“What is it, David?” Jonathon asked, tearing his eyes away from his new client.
“Can I have some ice cream?”
“After dinner,” his father reminded him.
“Okay.” David felt the strange woman look at him as he walked out. He didn’t like her, he decided.
“Sorry,” Jonathon apologised, but Carolyn only smiled.
“Adorable kid,” she smiled. He would become a handsome young man. Maybe she would come back to Sydney in a few decades. By then, he might be an Immortal too. Fresh Immortals were always so.. vibrant. Centuries might add experience, but Carolyn found you lost something on the way. Living forever meant you lost some of the need to accomplish as much as you could. For Immortals, there would always be a new decade.
She turned her attention back to her new lawyer and smiled heartily.
******
Pouring herself a drink, Amanda waited. The bar was dark, having closed a few hours earlier. It had been a usual crowded Friday night, but all she had been doing all night was keeping an eye at the time.
Nick had spent the two weeks since they had returned from London learning how to use a sword. She knew she had insisted that he’d train, but the days had felt empty without him. Even with Frank and Rachel staying.
She spent her time telling Rachel about the Game, the rules and Immortality. She’d taught her the basics of how to wield a sword too, although Rachel was rather hesitant to learn that. And there was still the issue of Rachel’s Immortality not being exactly ‘normal’. (If the state known as Immortality could ever be thought of in that sense, Amanda mused.)
She had a birth son who was going to be an Immortal too. In twelve hundred years Amanda hadn’t heard of anything remotely like that.
Sighing, she took a sip of her glass. Joe had promised to tell her if he discovered anything. He was still in London, taking care of the mess they’d left there.
She felt the buzz just as the door quietly opened. She turned, smiling to hide a touch of nervousness.
“I thought you’d be in bed by now,” Nick said as he walked in. He looked tired, dressed all in dark and nearly merging with the shadows.
“Nice to see you too,” she replied, jumping off the stool.
“Sorry,” he gave her a small smile, “It’s been a long week.”
“Erik driving you hard?”
He only groaned in reply, and she took the opportunity to caress his cheek. He met her eyes, and the look of exhaustion disappeared from his face.
She took his hand and kissed it, leading him towards the back room. He had other ideas, and simply pushed her up against the bar.
******
Rachel took one last look at Frank as she slipped her shoes on and grabbed the bag. He was sleeping with a silly smile on his face and she resisted the urge to kiss it off. It was time to leave.
She tiptoed out of the room, and stopped to listen in the stairs. The bar was quiet. She could sense Nick and Amanda close by, but they were probably asleep. The stairs squeaked slightly under her, and she paused to listen. Silence. Relieved, she turned towards the door, only to walk straight into Nick.
“Going somewhere?” He raised an eyebrow, and she was quite aware that he was only wearing boxers.
“Sydney,” she answered truthfully.
“Without Frank?”
“He doesn’t deserve this life,” she said simply.
“Amanda tried to pull that crap on me once. She made me think she’d died.”
Images of Jack passed before her eyes, and she remembered the desperation in his eyes as she had died. She refused to listen to the voice inside her that kept whispering he deserved to know.
“I tried to avenge her death,” Nick continued, “Only to discover she was very much alive. It was my choice to stay with her, knowing what could happen. It’s his choice to stay with you too.” She didn’t reply, just looked determined.
“And why back to Sydney? Why take the risk when everyone thinks you’re dead there?” he asked after a while.
“David.”
“Your son.”
“I have to know, he - he could be Immortal too. If my Immortality isn’t ‘normal’, he could have inherited it.” The look on Nick’s face told her he’d thought of that too.
“I wouldn’t know. I’m rather new to this Immortality shit,” he replied, “Want a drink?”
I can't believe
You're the one for me
If it was this easy to find you
I should be ready for a fall
I should be ready for a fall
~~~~~~~
Sunlight streamed through the window, lighting up the room. It was a warm spring morning brought in on a mild wind , causing the window to fog slightly.
Amanda tossed in her bed, throwing off the bed sheets. She felt warm, and something was slightly amiss. Opening her eyes, she realised Nick wasn’t there.
“Nick, darling?” she called out, searching the room. She couldn’t even sense him. Getting up, she grabbed a nightgown. He better be nearby, or she’d have his hide.
The bar was empty and quiet. But the note on the bar lit up, glowing white in the darkness. For a second she wondered if it would vanish in thin air if she ignored it.
Her hand was shaking as she picked it up. Damn him if he was leaving again. She thought he’d forgiven her. He had forgiven her. At least he’d kissed her like he had forgiven her.
The note was short and to the point. As she read it, she felt fear grow into anger. Damn the arrogant bastard! She was going to skin him alive the next time she saw him!
With a furious stomp, she raced up the stairs. Frank was sleeping peacefully, content.
“Frank!!” she hissed, pulling the blanket off the couch. He fell with a thud to the floor, and cursed loudly.
“I’m going to kill him!” she told Frank before he could collect his groggy thoughts and get up off the floor.
“What the hell is he thinking, running off to Sydney with Rachel? They’re easy pickings for any Immortals. Ooooowww, damn him!” she cried out in frustration
“Sydney? Rachel?” Frank muttered, reaching for something to cover himself with. The woman was like a hurricane. How Nick managed to cope with her, he’d never know.
“They’ve gone to Sydney!” she paced the room, holding the note extended in her arm like it was a sword.
“To Sydney?” he repeated, his mind still not quite understanding what she was saying
“Get dressed. We’re going to track them down, and then kill them!”
**** Sydney ****
“Blonde’s not really your colour,” Nick remarked, as he and Rachel stepped out of the rental car. She gave him a look before putting on the sunglasses. She was inclined to agree, but it would make her less recognisable if they would happen to meet anyone she knew.
“So this is where your ex lives?”
“Yeah. He’s a lawyer.”
“Really?” Nick studied the house, “His clients must be really generous!”
“He’s a charming bastard.”
“Aren’t they all? You stay out of sight, I’ll go introduce myself.”
She gave him a nod as he walked up to the house. She desperately wanted to walk with him, just to see David’s face once more. Maybe hold him, tell him she loved him, that she’d give her life for his.
Nick’s Presence diminished and disappeared. She was getting used to the buzzing in her head, but it still felt good to have a clear mind.
Glancing at her watch, she wondered what Frank was doing. Probably being quite mad at her. He’d probably come chasing after her, and..
The Presence. An Immortal. Warning bells went off in her head. It could be Nick, she reasoned, until she noticed the advancing car. It pulled up on the other side of the street and a blonde woman stepped out. Their eyes met at once.
The Immortal. Shit. Bloody hell. She wasn’t even armed!
Another buzz entered her mind, and Nick stepped out of the house. She wondered if he was carrying a sword. He didn’t seem to be. The woman gave him a smile, and simply walked past them both and up to the house
“Who was she?” Rachel asked as Nick came walking over. He shrugged.
“At least she wasn’t hostile.”
“Was he.. David.. Did you sense..” her voice faltered.
“Yeah.”
“Oh God,” she muttered, leaning against Nick. He held her gently, while keeping an eye at the house. There was something about the newly arrived Immortal that made his skin crawl. She was old, he could tell. But how old? And did she know about David?
*****
“Who was that?” Carolyn asked as Jonathon let her in, throwing one last look at the man walking away. A pretty new Immortal, both him and the chick he’d been with. Probably not worth her attention. Still, the guy was rather..
She smiled.
“Some American investor. Had a bit of a legal problem.”
“I thought I was the exception to receiving clients at home.” She winked. He thought he’d get to do more than be her lawyer later, and she let him believe it. Men were so easy to manipulate.
“He was referred by a friend of mine. I told him to stop by the office later this week.”
She gave him a coy smile, but her mind was elsewhere. Two new Immortals in town. Even if they were rookies, it wouldn’t hurt to look into the matter – thoroughly of course
“I’ll be right back,” she told him, stepping out.
******
“Sydney sure has changed,” Amanda remarked, glancing at the cars driving past.
“You’ve been here before?” Frank asked, keeping his eyes on the road.
“A long time ago,” she said dismissively. He was almost afraid to ask what she considered ‘a long time’.
“This is it,” he told her, “This is where David’s father lives.” He pulled up in front of the house, just as a car was leaving.
Suddenly Amanda looked distant, a look he’d come to recognise.
“After them!” she hissed.
*******
Frank pulled up in front of an abandoned warehouse, noticing the parked rental care at once. He almost thought they’d lost it, but Amanda had just told him to drive on. For a second he’d wished he had what she had. A sense of where Rachel was, always knowing if she was near.
“Here?”
Amanda nodded, straining to see. Someone was leaning against the car, but it wasn't Nick. The buzz in her head seemed to lessen.
“Shit!”
“Rachel!” Frank yelled, ripping the door open and running up to her. She stared at him like he'd fallen off the moon.
“Frank? What are you doing here?”
“We followed you. Rach, do you enjoy making me chase you around the world?” he asked in frustration
“Frank..” she stared into his eyes.
“If you ever do this to me again, I'm going to..” He brought his face so close to hers just a small movement would be enough to touch her lips with his
“You're going to do what?” she questioned
“Kill you,” he muttered, and closed the distance. She leaned in, tangling her hands in his hair. They didn't even notice Amanda emerging from the car. She rolled her eyes, but her face softened. She would probably have done the same, had Nick been standing there.
“Where's Nick?” she finally asked, and Frank and Rachel jumped apart.
“He and Carolyn walked off. We met her at Jonathon's, she said..” Rachel began
“Carolyn? Damn!” Amanda cursed. “You two stay here!” Whipping around fast enough to send her black leather trench coat tails billowing she raised her sword and charged through the door and into the warehouse.
****** “So why are you in Sydney?” Carolyn smiled at Nick as best she could, but he had the feeling of being stared at like he was the mouse, and she was the cat.
“Vacation?” he suggested noncommittally
“You and your girlfriend?”
“She's not my girlfriend,” he countered, feeling the buzz of an Immortal's Presence increasing. Looking behind him, he caught a glimpse of a blonde dressed in all black leather stalking their way. Amanda.
“Amanda,” he said, the warmth in his voice surprising even him. Maybe he had gone all this way to see if she would follow. He felt relieved somehow that she was there. Not that Carolyn had shown any indication of wanting to take his head, but there was something in her eyes that scared him. Something that did not reconcile with her seemingly friendly manner.
A sense of death.
“Amanda?” Carolyn stared at him “Amanda?!” She repeated, her voice raising a pitch.
“You two know each other?”
“Damn her!” Carolyn lost her demeanor for a second. Composing herself she focused on Nick again, lifting her pendant.
“Amanda is dead, Nick.”
******
Amanda stepped into the alley between two warehouses, scouting through the darkness. She could sense they were close, and she lifted her sword.
“Long time, no see, Amanda.” Carolyn stepped out from the shadows, her own sword raised and shining in the light.
“Not long enough,” Amanda shot back, “Where's Nick?”
“You know, I've always admired your taste in men. Quite a dish.” Carolyn was almost purring.
“He's not yours.”
“Funny. Stephen was mine, and that didn't stop you.”
“Only because you messed up his mind.”
The two eyed each other warily, before Carolyn finally charged. Sword met sword, before both retreated.
“Where's Nick?” Amanda repeated, but Carolyn only laughed, her sword grinding down the length of Amanda's sword again.
******
“I just had to know about David,” Rachel explained to Frank, leaning against the car.
“I would have come with you,” he argued.
“This is my mess, Frank.”
“No,” he replied, “This is our mess.”
“You're a stubborn one, aren't you Holloway?”
“Look who's talking,” he smiled, his anger having mysteriously vanished. He opened his mouth to speak again, when he noticed her face grow distant. He knew that look now
“Immortal,” he whispered
She nodded, looking around and spotting the source. A young woman, holding her sword out defensively and striding straight towards them with determination.
Rachel instantly knew what was coming.
“Shit!” she muttered.
******
Amanda was beginning to feel exhausted. Carolyn was meeting her blow for blow, neither able to get the upper hand.
“Tired?” Carolyn snapped
“I could go on forever!” Amanda quipped, jumping over Carolyn's low swing and using the opportunity to slash out as she did. Amanda's sword met flesh.
“You bitch!” Carolyn snapped, clutching her shoulder. “That was my best dress!”
Amanda didn't reply, waiting for the thrust she knew would come. As Carolyn thrust with all of her strength, Amanda let the blow hit her straight in the arm. Carolyn paused in surprise. Taking advantage of her opponent's pause Amanda gritted her teeth, and brought her sword blazing upwards. Twisting, she managed to wrest Carolyn's sword out of her hands, sending it clattering to the floor.
“Nice move,” Carolyn admitted, backing away
“Tell me where Nick is before I take your damn head,” Amanda snapped, raising her sword and preparing to deliver the final blow
“Sure. Nick, Amanda's killer is here!”
Amanda's eyes widened as Nick stepped out of the shadows, bending to pick up Carolyn's sword as he approached Amanda.
“Nick?” she questioned, noticing the blank light in his eyes. Oh God.
“Carolyn!” she cursed, “If you have done anything to hurt him, anything at all, I swear I'll..”
“I'd love to stay and chat,” Carolyn grinned, enjoying the situation, “But I'll let you two work this out. Ta!” With a small chuckle, she turned and ran.
“You killed Amanda, you bitch!” Nick called out, as he lifted Carolyn's sword. Amanda barely managed to block the stinging force of his swing as he charged, his eyes filled with hatred.
******
“I'm Kira, a student of Carolyn. You will be my first head,” the newly arrived Immortal declared, raising her sword. Assuming a defensive position she uttered the age old Immortal battle cry. “There can only be one!”
“I'm unarmed!” Rachel felt panic emerge. She didn't want this, she didn't want to play in their Game. She was..
“Defend yourself, or die!” Kira simply replied, taking a broad swing at Rachel with her heavy sword. Rachel barely managed to duck and roll out of the way. Frank starred in horror at the scene, looking desperately for any weapon he could use to help Rachel.
Rachel groaned, and searched with her hands for something, anything to defend herself with. Her fingers closed on something made of wood and she lifted it up in front of herself. The sword clashed into one of the steps on the ladder Rachel had lifted, and embedded itself, slicing deeply into the wood. Straining, Kira tried to free her sword, but Frank used the brief distraction to knock her over the head with a rock. She lost her grip on the sword, leaving it in the ladder.
“Stay out of this mortal!” Kira groaned, kicking him hard as she span around. He hit the wall nearby with a thud. Rachel lost hold of the ladder as she struggled to her feet, shocked by the viciousness of her opponent. Both women starred at each other for a split second, then both made a dive for the sword.
Rachel got there first, pulling at the sword with a strength she didn't know she had. The wood splintered around it, and she spun around with the grace of a cat. Before she could think, she had struck out with it in a slicing blow. It was pure instinct, later she would relive the second over and over a million times, amazed and disgusted at herself.
Kira gasped as the sword struck her in the throat, her eyes widened as she realised what was happening. She tried to speak, but the words were drowned by blood. With a gasp, she died, a look of astonishment at being beaten so easily still engraved on her face.
Shaking, Rachel got up. She felt something build within her. Looking up, she saw the sky darken, clouds boiling and lightning raging across the sky.
She screamed as the lightning began striking her, and she felt knowledge and power of the Quickeningflowing into her. Lifting her arms, she felt as if the power was cleaving her in two. Bolt upon bolt of lightning ran through her body. She could feel the Essence of the other Immortal in a strange way.
“Rachel!!”
She heard Frank, but only distantly. She couldn't have replied even if she'd wanted to. She could barely breathe, and her legs buckled under her. One last lightning struck, and suddenly everything went black and she lost consciousness for a brief second. She re-awoke with a gasp, gulping down air. The ground was wet, it smelled of spring. Her senses felt heightened, and she felt strangely more alive than she ever had. And the feeling of the other Immortal remained.
“Rachel! Rachel!” Frank struggled up from where he had fallen and came running towards her. She gave him a weak smile.
“I'm okay,” she assured him and herself, but didn't trust her legs to stand. He offered her a hand, which she gratefully took.
“We better look for Nick and Amanda.”
******
Breathing heavily, Amanda lifted her sword to block Nick's thrust. She barely had the strength to do so, her arms were beginning to feel like they were made of lead. She took several steps backwards, using her agility to stay out of his reach. But he followed swiftly, as if he wasn't tired at all.
She never thought she'd have to fight him.
“Nick!” she called out, hoping the sound of her voice would bring him to reason. “Nick, it's me, Amanda.”
Nick swung furiously at her again, she dodged it, but refused to use for the opening it left her to strike back at him. She would not kill him. No matter what, she would not kill him. She would die first.
Sword met sword, metal screeching and sparks flying. She groaned in frustration as he pushed her sword aside. Spinning around, she avoided his thrust at the last moment. Tired. She was tired from battling the other Immortal and Nick was young and strong. As much as she had previously admired his strength, now she cursed him for having it. Her arm throbbed in pain.
She just didn't have the strength left to block his next attack. Her legs had turned to jelly and she fell to her knees. Looking up at him, she felt tears form in her eyes.
“Nick..”
He lifted his sword, readying the swing that would take her life forever. She knew what was coming, and hung her head in defeat. It was inevitable.
The sword came around, coming to an abrupt stop by her neck. She could feel the cold steel resting against her shoulder. Confused, she looked up. Nick was staring at her intensely almost as if coming out of the fog and into the sunlight. The light in his eyes was gone. He was himself again. “Thank God,” she thought, really meaning the thanks.
“Amanda?” he whispered. All strength seemed to wane from him, and the sword fell from his hand. “Amanda?”
“Nick!” she cried out in joy, jumping into his arms. He fell rather ungracefully on his ass, leaving them both in a tangled pile on the pavement.
“What's going on?” he asked, his blue eyes filled with confusion. “I was talking to this Immortal, when.. You're hurt.” His voice was filled with concern.
“What happened? I..”
She silenced him effectively by pressing her lips against his. After a few moments confused hesitation, he responded enthusiastically, bringing his arms around her as she straddled him. She smiled into his mouth, a lock of his hair tickling her forehead. He tasted slightly of orange juice and eggs. Breakfast.
“Amanda?” he gasped, breaking off the kiss. “I just tried to kill you.”
“You weren't yourself,” she assured him, taking his face in her hands. “It was Carolyn. You're not the first mind she has messed with. Not by far.”
“I thought I was fighting your killer.” He shook his head. “I had to avenge you, and suddenly, you were sitting there and.. I could have killed you,” he finished weakly.
“You've wanted to often enough.” She managed to get a smile from him, resting her forehead against his. Something salty dripped on his nose, and he realised in surprise that Amanda was crying. Gently, he kissed the tears away. Their eyes met just as they both sensed another Immortal approaching.
“Oh shit,” Nick groaned, the prospect of changing position less than tempting.
With a loud bang the door to the alley flew open, and Rachel and Frank came barging through. Rachel was holding Kira's sword loosely with a distasteful expression on her face like she was holding a poisonous snake. But at least she was holding it in a defensive position Amanda noted with a certain satisfaction. Some of Amanda's learning had obviously stuck.
“And you thought they might need help?” Frank said dryly. Rachel just grinned, her pulse racing. She felt exhausted, yet invigorated. Her blood seemed to pound in sync with her heart.
“What happened to you two?” Amanda asked, untangling herself from Nick and getting on her feet. Her coat was ruined, she noticed somewhat annoyed.
“Carolyn's student,” Rachel replied. “She.. I.. She was trying to kill me.”
“Your first Quickening,” Amanda concluded. “You okay?”
Shrugging, Rachel exchanged a glance with Frank. “It was.. Overwhelming.” Suddenly she had problems standing, and she leaned weakly against Frank. He was noticeably silent, she wondered how all this seemed to him. Nick probably knew how it felt. After all, he had gone through it all with Amanda.
“Let's get going,” Nick suggested, seeing the marks of exhaustion clearly etched heavily on the faces around him. He threw an extra look at Rachel, wondering how she would deal with her first Quickening. It was.. Disorienting to say the least. He still had conflicting feelings over his first Quickening. It had been a rush of power, both disgusting and exciting him at the same time.
Not for the first time, he wished he'd never heard of Immortality. But.. Amanda took his hand as they walked out of the alley, and he squeezed it lightly.
Fear awaken
Go with it now
And let it overcome you
~~~~~~~
There was a knock on the door. Jonathon let out a sigh, before getting up. There was no peace, not even for a second.
“Carolyn?” he questioned, surprised to see her as he opened the door.
“Hello Jonathon.” Her voice had an edge to it he didn't know what to make of. Her gave her a smile as he opened the door wide to indicate that she could enter.
She smiled back. She put as much regret into the smile as she could, but found she didn't really care that much. She simply lifted her gun and pulled the trigger.
He groaned as the shot smashed into him at point blank range, propelling him off the ground. He hit the ground with a sickening thud a few feet away. She stepped over him and into the house, looking around. Where was the little rascal?
“Dad?” came a terrified child's voice. Carolyn looked up from Jonathon's crumbled body on the floor to see little David standing in the stairway. His eyes wide, he stared at his father and the growing pool of blood.
He was too shocked to fight her as she walked up to him, and grabbed hold of him. Jonathon tried to speak as they walked passed, but she paid no attention.
Mortals were so.. So passing.
******
But wait, there's more to go!
