Shelley blinked awake as a rough hand shook her shoulder. She rolled over and looked up at Perseus. He smiled and stepped back.
"Time to get up," he said.
Shelley glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand. "Are you nuts?" she said. "It 4:30 in the fucking morning!"
Perseus nodded. "Its time to begin your training. Get up. Get dressed -- sweats, sneakers, maybe your jacket."
Shelley stared at the older man in sleepy confusion. "What?"
Perseus grinned. "We're going running. Oh, and bring your sword. We'll practice some forms a little later."
Shelley gasped. "Running? Where?"
"Outside. Don't worry. We'll take it easy the first time out."
Shelley shook her head, but slid out of bed. A moment later, she rolled back under the covers. She had forgotten how little she wore to bed, and blushed furiously at how much she had shown Perseus.
"I'll wait outside," he said, smiling enigmatically.
She met him downstairs in the lobby ten minutes later. It was still dark out, and would be for another hour or so. The building was dark and quiet.
Perseus was dressed in jeans, boots, and a heavy wool sweater.
She saw no sign of his sword. She had strapped hers across her back, or tried to at least. The hilt peeked out over her shoulder, and about three inches of scabbard hung below her jackets edge.
"I thought we were going running," she said, surveying his outfit.
Perseus nodded. "We are. But it is important to remember that your enemies will not always attack when you're ready. You must be prepared at all times." He smiled. "When we're done, you'll be able to run in stiletto heels."
Shelley snorted. "I'll believe that when I see it. Um... where's your sword?"
Perseus pulled his sweater up, and showed his shortsword strapped to his back. He gestured at the hilt over her shoulder. "Is that the sword Pierce gave you?"
Shelley nodded, her hand unconsciously fluttering up to brush the handle. "You might want to look into getting a more easily concealed blade," Perseus told her. "Lets go."
Perseus said he was going to be easy on her, but Shelley found herself doubting him almost immediately. The cold was intense, and numbed Shelley to the bone even through sweats and thermals. Her toes and fingers especially felt the bite. Perseus seemed unfazed, even with a bare head. When they started running, she warmed up a bit, but found her breath coming in gasps that sent burning cold into her lungs.
She always considered herself athletic; long years of soccer, gymnastics, and swimming had toned her body to excellent condition, but she found herself hard pressed to keep up with Perseus. Even in boots and jeans he outpaced her. His breathing was neat and even, and his face was unflushed.
"Your body doesn't fatigue like a normal human's," he told her as they ran. "You have enough endurance to run at peak efficiency for days if need be. But you still think like a mortal." He shook his head. "Once you get past that, you'll do fine."
Shelley wanted to retort, but couldn't find the breath. Pierce's tutelage had never been this taxing. Never. Suddenly, Shelley wondered just what she had fallen into.
Perseus called a halt when they were five miles outside of town, surrounded by pine trees and snow drifts. The road was icy but well plowed, and Shelley collapsed on it, gasping heavily. Under normal circumstances, a five mile run would have been a cake-walk for her. But the combination of the cold, the pace Perseus had set, and the man's needling had winded her. Happily, the ache in her muscles was draining away quickly.
Perseus just stood there, watching the brightening sky, his breath making clouds in the air -- breath that was still neat and even.
Shelley felt that this was patently unfair, especially with the way he smoked. "By the time we leave, you should be able to do this run in half the time with half the effort," he told her.
Shelley groaned and found her breath. "You're Greek, right?"
Perseus nodded.
"You wouldn't happen to be from Sparta would you?"
Perseus broke out into a wide smile. "As a matter of fact..."
Shelley groaned again.
For sword practice, they found a small clearing, well away from the road, a place where the snow and pine boughs would obscure the sounds and sights of swordplay.
Knee deep in snow, Perseus smoothly drew his sword. Shelley had more trouble. The snow was clumping up under the tongues of her Nikes, soaking into her socks and making her feet cold and uncomfortable, while the basket hilt of her saber kept getting caught on the collar of her jacket. Finally, in exasperation, she ripped open the coat and drew the sword.
"You've been with Pierce two years, and you're still having trouble drawing your weapon?"
Shelley furiously buttoned her coat up again. A gust of wind shook the trees around them, and a great hump of snow slid off of a pine bough and thumped to the ground. Shelley looked around. "Is it safe here?"
"Nowhere but Holy Ground is safe," Perseus said tersely. "Now tell me why you can't draw your sword."
Shelley gave him a cross look, settling into an Eastern form. "I don't normally wear it on my back," she said. Perseus was really starting to annoy her. She was beginning to notice the arrogance he had developed over the centuries, and it really pissed her off.
Pierce may have been soft on some things, but he knew how to use a sword. And he transferred that knowledge on to Shelley. She was far from being a master, but she could handle herself in a fight. Without waiting for Perseus, she flowed into an attack form; Water Flows down the Mountain. Perseus surprised her by countering with Fluttering Breeze.
As Shelley backed away, he launched a rapid series of attacks, striking repeatedly at her sword. The shock of each blow reverberated down the blade and traveled up her arm. In a moment, her hand twisted and the sword fell into the snow. She watched in horror as Perseus swung his shortsword at her neck. Her eyes closed, expecting the worst.
Instead of cutting her, he lightly slapped her against the cheek with the flat of his blade. She opened her eyes.
"Lesson One," he said. "Never let your anger or hatred affect the duel. Many Immortals will use your emotions against you. Learn to control them." She nodded. He looked so grim -- Pierce had always had a kind word, even when she screwed up.
"Now pick up your blade. We aren't through yet."
Shelley nodded, and reached for her sword.
The room was dark, and the only sound was her ragged breathing as she slept. And dreamed. In her minds eye, she saw darkness, a darkness that moved and breathed. Humid, fetid breath washed over her, and a guttural voice spoke a foreign tongue in a syncopated rhythm. She watched, fascinated, as the darkness receded, and an ominous, shuddering red light bathed her in its glow, permeating the atmosphere. As the darkness shuddered and heaved, she made out nine figures outlined against the red sky. Each held a shining silver sword, and she watched as the figures attacked the darkness with the blades.
The darkness roared and retaliated, lashing out with spidery tendrils of inky blackness that coiled and struck with a viper's speed, enveloping each figure in a cocoon of blackness, and then drawing them into the heart of the darkness. She awoke, screaming.
When Shelley and Perseus returned to the hotel, it was still dark out. The staff was just beginning to stir. Shelley hurried up to her room, afraid that someone might see her sword. Perseus followed more slowly.
When he saw her disappear into her room, he turned and walked back down the stairs. He slipped out the back door and out into the parking lot behind the bed & breakfast. Standing on the hard packed gravel surface was a squat, barrel chested man with a crew-cut and a pair of horn-rimmed glasses. He was wearing a gore-tex parka.
The man coughed politely. "You wanted to see me?"
Perseus dug a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it. "You're getting sloppy, Vanderhurst. My friend spotted you at the cemetery yesterday."
Vanderhurst shrugged. "Sorry, man. But it was fucking cold yesterday. My joints lock up in this kinda weather."
Perseus smiled thinly. "I don't care about your health problems, Vanderhurst. Just do your job the way I told you. And keep the rest of your kind away from this."
The heavier man shrugged. "I dunno if I can do that. Dawson is pretty interested in what killed Pierce, and who's gonna look after the girl. I been stallin' 'em, but I can't hold out forever."
With preternatural swiftness, Perseus reached out, grabbed the front of Vanderhurst's parka, and lifted him two feet into the air.
"You can and you will, Vanderhurst, or I will end your miserable life myself. You will keep to our agreement, and your organization will remain uninformed about my activities. Is that understood?"
Vanderhurst nodded quickly, and Perseus put him down. "Now scurry along, mortal. I have work to do."
Vanderhurst, suitably intimidated by Perseus' display, waddled away as swiftly as he could. Perseus finished his cigarette and then went inside to take a shower.
Both Kurt and Shelley were downstairs starting breakfast when Perseus finally made his way to the dining room. He took a seat and ordered coffee and danish. He looked disapprovingly at Kurt as the dark man wolfed down an omelet and a huge mound of bacon and home fries.
Shelley had a half-eaten grapefruit and a bowl of cereal before her. She looked up from her meal as Perseus sat down. "You took long enough," she commented.
Perseus nodded absently. He looked like he had his mind on other things.
Kurt paused, his fork, laden with egg and grease, halfway between the table and his mouth. "You okay, Perce?" he asked.
"Hmm?" Perseus said, looking at the two of them. "Oh, I just had a... interesting dream last night."
"Really?" Shelley said, interested. <He didn't mention it this morning> she thought. "I used to be pretty good at interpreting dreams. What was it about?"
Perseus gave her a humorless smile. "I have a pretty good idea what it was about. Anyway, its hardly important right now." Just then, his food arrived, and when the waitress left, he changed the topic.
"What time do the tours start at the castle?"
Shelley swallowed a spoonful of oat bran. "About nine, I think. Are we finally going to look at the castle?"
Perseus nodded, sipping his coffee. "I took a look at the exterior last night. But I want a look inside. I have to know if the crystal is really there or not."
"It is," Shelley said. "At least, Quin was convinced the piece he saw was the crystal."
"Well," Perseus said, "I've seen it before. I should be able to identify if its the genuine article or a fake."
"Meanwhile, I'll take a look around. Inspect the architecture," Kurt said.
Shelley looked at him; somehow, they way he said it made it seem like Kurt already knew what he would find.
The trio waited in line for over twenty minutes before they reached the ticket counter; the German populace was just as attracted to murder as the Americans were. But, Perseus had to admit, they were quickly ushered past the imposing walls and into the castle proper. The tour guide, a tall, long legged blonde girl, talked rapidly in German and English as she led the way through the castle.
Perseus and Shelley stayed with the rest of the crowd, inspecting the beautiful Virchow collection of antiquities. Perseus kept a sharp eye out, looking over every artifact. Shelley began to ask him questions about some of the older pieces, and Perseus, almost reluctantly, began to make a few comments. When they reached the Grecian and Roman arts exhibit, Perseus began to grow longwinded and verbose.
Shelley, grinning hugely, looked around for Kurt so they could needle Perseus about his pretentious attitude towards the placement of the urns and mosaics. But Kurt had disappeared. Shelley grabbed Perseus by the elbow.
"Where'd Kurt go?" she said.
Perseus smiled. "He's taking a look around. seeing if his theory about this place has any validity."
"Theory? What theory?" Shelley asked, confused. Around them, the tour began to break up and move into the next area. Perseus gently guided Shelley after the rest of the tourists.
"You'll find out soon enough," he said.
Shelley shook her head. Secrets were not all that popular with her. And she was beginning to get the feeling that Perseus was hiding a lot from her. Angered at being treated so shabbily, she reached out with her power, and compelled him to tell her what was going on.
TELL ME she said.
Perseus looked at her a moment, opened his mouth, blinked, and snapped his mouth shut with a click. His eyes burned with anger, and Shelley was suddenly afraid. <That wasn't a good idea> she told herself.
He pulled her roughly to him, his mouth close to her ear. He spoke softly, but she could feel the anger in his voice and stance.
"Don't ever try that again. Not only is it dangerous, but hardly seemly among friends." He took a deep breath. "And try to remember that, as an Immortal, patience is not a virtue, but a necessity."
He released her and stormed off to catch up with the rest of the tour.
Shelley stood there a moment, shaking with shame and indignation. Half of her agreed with the older Immortal; it had been a foolish move. The other half of her was pissed at his cavalier attitude and high-handedness. Damn it, why wouldn't he trust her? What was he hiding? Pierce had been her friend, too.
Then somebody goosed her.
She reacted instinctively, spinning around to drive her forearm into the offending person's face; but was blocked effortlessly by Kurt.
He had a surprised look on his face. "Sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to startle you." His words were apologetic, but his eyes danced with laughter.
Shelley was beyond angry now. Both men were treating her like a child, an object. Just how old were they, anyway? Hadn't they heard of equality of the sexes? Treating her like an airheaded little girl...
"Try that again, and I'll..." she stopped in mid-sentence, before she said something she'd regret.
Suddenly, Kurt was serious. "You're really angry?" he asked. She nodded, gritting her teeth.
"Then I am truly sorry," he said, bowing slightly. "I won't try that again."
As swiftly as it came, her anger drained out of her. "It's all right," she said. "Its just... you guys know what's going on, but you aren't telling me squat. I'm not stupid, and I..."
Kurt nodded. "I know. I'm sorry. But this is Perseus' game. He's calling the shots. And right now, he's thinking of you as an inexperienced student." He smiled. "Which you are."
"And you have to remember, he knew Pierce a lot longer than you did. He may seem cold, but he feels grief just like the rest of us. And he worries, too. He knows neither of you is truly immortal, and what killed your friend could do the same to you. Or him.
"I've only known Perseus for a fraction of his lifetime, but most of mine. And I still haven't figured him out completely. So don't expect that you'll do it in a few days. Trust us. We know what we're doing. And when its time for you to know something, we'll tell you Okay?"
Shelley nodded. "Thank you, Kurt."
He grinned, and said, "Now lets catch up with the old man. I've got something to tell both of you."
In a few minutes, they were on top of the tour group. They found Perseus staring at a small glass case in the center of the room. Inside was suspended a finger long crystal, beautifully faceted, perfect in every detail. Shelley felt something thrum at the base of her spine when she looked at the crystal.
"Do you feel that?" she said.
Perseus nodded stiffly.
She stepped up next to him. "I... I'm sorry Perseus. I didn't mean to... I just want to know what's going on."
Perseus nodded stiffly, again.
Shelley waited a moment, expecting him to speak. Finally, he opened his mouth, but at the same moment, they both froze. The Buzz had them both. Perseus turned slowly as Shelley clutched her stomach, suddenly queasy.
Kurt followed Perseus' line of sight, and saw a massive, long haired man in a light winter jacket. The man smiled and advanced on the two immortals. Kurt glanced at Perseus' face. The Spartan seemed to recognize the other Immortal.
"Guten morgan, Herr Perseus," the man said. He spoke German with a faint Russian accent. Kurt's right eyebrow shot up as he reached out a hand to steady Shelley.
"Ivan," Perseus said in a neutral tone. He used English. "I must be popular. You're the third Immortal I've seen this week."
Ivan grinned, "It is the Gathering, Perseus."
Perseus' face tightened. "The Gathering is a lie." he said savagely. Ivan was taken aback by the vehemence in Perseus' voice. He looked shocked. Kurt could sense Shelley's confusion.
Ivan spoke softly. "You say that like you believe it."
Perseus smiled grimly. "I do. But I'll take your head all the same, Ivan." Ivan nodded, a slow smile of bemusement forming on his face. "When did you start wearing a goatee, Ivan?" Perseus asked.
The Russian grinned. "When one is part of 'gen x' one must look the part," he said, unconsciously stroking his chin. He looked at Kurt and Shelley for the first time. "A student and a mortal friend. I will enjoy taking them from you."
Kurt chuckled. "Try it Fuckface, and you'll be eating that sword of yours," he said. He let a shadow of his power flash over his face.
He was rewarded with the widening of the Russian's eyes.
"You traffic in strange company, Spartan," he said. His eyes fell on the crystal for a brief instant, and then he clicked his heels and walked away.
Shelley gasped, "Who was that? And what did you say about the Gathering?"
Perseus watched the other Immortal as he walked out the door. "A complication. Nothing more." He ignored her second question and turned to Kurt. "What did you find?"
Kurt frowned. "Its as I suspected. We've got Gargoyles."
Shelley looked at Kurt like he had just sprouted a second head.
"What?!" she demanded.
Kurt looked at Perseus. "I think its time to tell her," he said.
Perseus thought a moment. "All right," he reluctantly agreed.
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PoT_Ch04.php -- Revised: January 27, 2021.