Vampires, Mummies and the Holy Ghost

Ali Vali

 

 

Part 4

"You promise you won’t leave if I go in?" asked Piper. She had yet to let go of Kendal but her tall comforter didn’t seem to mind the closeness.

"I’ll wait right here, I promise."

"I’ll just be a second. I don’t want to leave without telling my granddad first so he won’t worry."

Kendal stepped back and pointed to her feet. "Right here, I promise." She put her hands in her pockets and watched Piper walk inside glancing back every few steps to make sure Kendal was intending to keep her promise. "If I had any sense at all though I’d run as fast as I could to get the hell out of here."

"I’m sorry, did you say something?" asked the doorman.

"Just talking to myself." Kendal felt the small hand come to rest in the crook of her arm signaling Piper’s return.

"Now there’s a sure sign of mental illness, Mackey. You should see someone about that," teased Pier handing her valet ticket over. "Can we go back to your place?"

"I never said it was my place."

"And you never said it wasn’t," Piper shot back. She pulled Kendal toward the car as soon as the guy put it in park. He accepted a tip from Kendal who sent him to hold the door for Piper as she got behind the wheel.

"Drive on, Miss Dupont. The day is yours."

"Just the day?" Piper asked feeling reckless.

"I’d give you my nights, but I can’t — not yet."

Piper looked at her before putting the car in gear noticing the softening of Kendal’s face. "You’re not willing to persuade me to share, your nights I mean?" She leaned into the hand Kendal pressed to her face.

"I’m sure you’re more than capable of heading down that yellow bricked road all by yourself, Dorothy." Kendal moved her hand so she could pinch the cute cheek.

"You saw me in Oz?"

"And your little dog too."

Piper laughed, "I’m sure Hill will appreciate that. Why didn’t you acknowledge me?"

"I could ask the same thing of you."

The car started forward and Piper concentrated on driving while she fished for an answer. "I wasn’t there because I thought you’d be there," she slapped Kendal’s arm when she pouted. "It’s really the last place I thought I’d find you. I was just broadening my horizons, then you swoop in and lock lips with the bartender."

"Hey, you were there with a date."

"In Hill’s twisted little brain maybe. I wanted to see women who prefer the company of other women. I was trying to understand the attraction." Piper wanted to be honest.

"And do you, understand now I mean?"

"I understand that I didn’t find anyone in there remotely interesting," she paused to run her tongue over her bottom lip. "Until you walked in. And I understand I didn’t much care for that woman kissing you."

"Why, Piper Dupont, you sound jealous."

The blonde shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe I was."

"There’s no need to feel that way, she’s just an old friend, nothing more." Kendal put her hand on the young woman’s knee. "Get us back to Oakgrove and I’ll make it up to you."

Now that Piper knew she would get Kendal for the day, the drive out to the estate seemed shorter than ever. "This really is a beautiful place," said Piper as they pulled into the drive.

"Do you have something more comfortable to change into? I’ll give you a tour."

Piper went to the house with her gym bag and changed into her sweats so she could walk with Kendal. The guest room Kendal led her to looked out over the back garden and had the most beautiful four-poster bed Piper had ever seen. Not being able to resist she lay down and closed her eyes.

"You want to take a nap?"

Piper cocked her head up at the question and grimaced. "No, I want a tour."

"Something wrong with your neck?"

I was waiting for the people I had tailing you to report in and fell asleep on my uncomfortable couch. She went with another explanation thinking too much honesty in one day might prove her downfall. "I slept in the wrong position I guess." She got up and walked to the door ready to go out.

"Turn around for me."

"Why? I said I’m all right."

Kendal put her hands on the sides of Piper’s neck. "No sense hurting when you don’t have to." She twisted first to the right and then just slightly to the left feeling the bones crack back into alignment. Kendal couldn’t hear the crunch over Piper’s scream.

The shorter woman turned around ready to light into Kendal when she realized how great she felt. She dropped her poking finger and just said, "Thank you."

Their walk took most of the morning and the only time Piper interrupted Kendal’s guided tour was to ask for more details about the plantation’s history. Kendal’s knowledge was so in depth that Piper began to wonder if memorizing the family’s history was mandatory for all the St. Louis heirs. Every field and what was grown in it was pointed out, and along with that were endless anecdotes of the people who had once lived there.

"They grew tobacco?"

"Some of the finest around."

"Maybe that’s genetic too," teased Piper. She was walking backward to keep her eyes on Kendal. They were nearing the back of the house again and she was about to offer to take her guide to lunch. "But you should think of giving up the nasty habit of your cigars, they’re not very healthy for you."

"I’m made of tougher stuff than that, so don’t worry about me and my nasty cigars." With a smile she winked at the servants behind Piper. "This was all once used for the home garden," Kendal pointed to the area now covered sporadically with shade trees and flowering plants.

When Piper turned around to look all she saw was the elegantly set table under two of the oaks. Some of the house staff stood nearby waiting for their arrival. "Hungry?" asked Kendal.

"You’re too much." Piper reached for Kendal’s hand feeling like she was going to start crying again. "Thank you again for today."

"You deserve so much more."

"Only my grandparents have ever thought so."

Kendal didn’t let go of her hand as they walked to the table. "Then let me show you otherwise."

Piper took her seat and lifted her wineglass to Kendal as soon as her hostess finished pouring. She enjoyed the simple but hearty meal as she listened to Kendal talk about different topics. It would not ever be a burden to spend time like this she thought because Kendal was such great company.

"More coffee, miss?" asked the server standing next to the table holding a silver urn.

"I would love some but I’m about to explode," laughed Piper holding her stomach. "Could you point me in the direction of the nearest bathroom?" she asked Kendal.

"Right behind you," Kendal pointed to a tree.

"Don’t make me laugh, and don’t think I’m dropping my pants out here."

"Let’s go then, before you mess up my lawn furniture." The walked back together and Kendal deposited her at the nearest bathroom. "I’ll wait for you right out there," Kendal pointed to the porch swing visible out the window.

"Put me on that after all the food I just ate and you may have to pinch me to keep me awake."

"I’d love to."

Piper closed the door on her teaser and hurried before all the wine and coffee started leaking out. There was no one around when she stepped out so she started for the door to find Kendal. It was the movement of a busy squirrel in the window that made her look in the sitting room closest to the front door. When she did, Piper forgot to breathe.

The woman in the painting looked so much like her it was scary. She moved forward until she was standing in the center of the room frightened to get any closer to her twin. Whoever had painted it had done an excellent job giving the woman a life like expression and eyes that followed you and drew you in. Piper sensed when Kendal joined her, but she didn’t need to ask who they were looking at, Hill had done an admirable job of describing Angelina du’Pon from the painting at the church.

"Why didn’t you tell me?" It wasn’t an accusation, just a real wanting to know. Piper asked the question facing Angelina’s image almost expecting it to answer it was so lifelike.

"What did you want me to say? Even if you’re looking for an explanation there is none. I don’t know why you look so much like her — you just do."

"So much? Kendal, I look just like her."

"You are your own person, Piper, and there are differences. Your eyes are darker, she was just a tad taller, but that makes no difference. You are both beautiful women in the hearts of those who care about you. To think otherwise would be to disrespect the women you are as individuals. I didn’t tell you because to me it didn’t matter."

"Are you sure? Is she why you didn’t want to see me anymore? I’m not her if that’s what you’re worried about. I understand she was set to marry Jacques and she died. I’m not her and you’re not Jacques, Kendal." Piper looked back at her and felt like she was in some bizarre dream. "The same thing won’t happen to us."

"I don’t know, sometimes we can all learn from the mistakes of the past. Do you know how Angelina died?"

"The priest we talked to wasn’t very forthcoming."

Kendal dropped into one of the chairs in the room and looked passed Piper to the painting hanging in the room. "There are very few who know what happened to her and I’m trying my best to keep anything remotely like it from happening again. It’s why I want you to leave here today, Piper, and never look back. I hope our time together shows you it’s nothing I have against you."

"I don’t want to walk away from you." Piper moved closer and sat next to Kendal. "There’s no way for me to know what happened to her, but I’m sure the same thing won’t happen again."

With a shaking hand, Kendal reached across for one of Piper’s to hold. "I wasn’t lying when I told you I was here on family business." Kendal had not planned to tell Piper any of this but it was growing late and it was time to return to the fight. Jacques and others like him had the ability to steal your thoughts and she wanted none of hers to reflect a growing affection for this woman.

"What does that have to do with people who lived a long time ago?"

"Angelina died at the hands of Jacques’ brother because of an old rivalry that went too far. It’s my brother who brings me to the city now and it would seem that history is again repeating itself. I don’t want to drag you into the middle of that, so please listen to what I’m saying."

"You think he’s that dangerous?"

"More than Henri St. Louis ever thought to be."

"What if I want to help you? You know, to return the favor for helping granddad and me."

"You can do that by working to make Dupont a success and forgetting about me. I gave you a chance but it’ll take your talent to make it work."

Piper moved closer and put her hand on Kendal’s cheek. "If you can look me in the eye and tell me you want me to walk out of your life right now, I’ll respect your wishes." Her hand stroked the smooth skin and a new cascade of thoughts ran through Piper’s mind. "But don’t ask me to like it."

It nearly killed her but Kendal looked right at her, the blue eyes never wavering and spoke her heart. "I want you to go, Piper. I want you to go and erase this place from your mind."

"I don’t know if I can do that." Piper looked like she wanted to hang on to Kendal like she had outside the hotel anything to keep her close.

Kendal desperately wanted to kiss Piper but knew she had to maintain her self-control, for both their sakes. Instead, as she walked Piper to her car, she stopped and told her one more thing. "This may sound strange, but if anyone you don’t know comes to your house asking to be let in, especially at night, refuse and lock the door. This is important, Piper. I can’t explain it right now, but refuse even if they say they know me and I’m in trouble. Promise me you’ll remember what I’m saying."

"Why?"

The laugh was mixed with what sounded like exhaustion, but in reality it was frustration for the little pit bull who loved nothing better than to engage her at every turn. "For the love of the gods, just promise me."

"Ok, I promise."

They walked out both with a growing sadness. "I’m sorry," said Kendal as she opened Piper’s door.

"Will you promise me something in return?"

"If it’s in my power to give you my word I will."

She felt completely out of her element but Piper didn’t want to leave without getting close to Kendal. "If you resolve this problem, call me. I just found you and I don’t want to lose my friend so easily."

"I promise," Kendal said without hesitation. She also didn’t hesitate when Piper put her hands on her chest then moved them behind her head.

"Hill told me your word is important to you, so I’m holding you to that." She stood on her toes and pressed her lips to Kendal’s. What had started as a goodbye gesture took the blonde by storm. Kendal’s lips were soft and firm against her own and the tall strong body drew her in. The last thing she wanted to do was let go.

It was Kendal who pulled away and broke them apart. "Go on, Piper, and stay safe."

"Remember your promise." Kendal nodded and closed the door when Piper got in the car. She walked into the house without looking back, afraid if she did she would ask Piper to stay.

************************************************************************

"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Charlie.

"The last thing in the world I want to do is talk about it. Are you ready to go in? I want to get there early and talk to Lenore again, I have one more question before sunset." Kendal strapped on all her weapons and touched her lips one last time before walking out the door. She could still feel Piper’s lingering touch, but like she had told the young woman, now was the time to forget.

"It won’t kill us to take a night off if you need to."

"I’m an immortal, Charlie, I may get lonely but I never get tired."

"I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get emotionally tired. There’s nothing wrong with giving in to that."

"It doesn’t matter now what I feel, it won’t change what needs to be done or who I need to stay away from."

They took the truck into the city so Kendal could look out the window of the passenger side and brood until they arrived. When they were close to Oz she pointed to the curb and ordered Charlie to stop. Hill didn’t have a chance to get where she wouldn’t be seen when Kendal stepped into the middle of the street and stopped her car.

"I want you to drive to Piper’s and spend the night with her." She leaned into the open driver’s side window and dared Hill to say no.

"We don’t have that type of relationship, trust me I’m the last person she’s interested in." Hill answered as she swallowed hard, glad Kendal didn’t look too pissed with her.

"I’m not asking you to sleep with her, I just want you to keep an eye on her. Whatever she’s paying you, tell her you have a new boss who’s paying you four times your fee and you couldn’t refuse." She started back to the truck when she turned around. "Don’t let me find you out here again tonight, Hill, I mean it. If things don’t work out the way I have planned I don’t want her to be alone and unprotected."

"I don’t know what’s going on but I won’t let you down."

Kendal was satisfied when she saw the car turn the corner and head back in the direction of Piper’s condo. She wanted this to end so she could go back to trying to find some pleasure in living this lifetime without the threat of Abez and his demon queen hanging over her head.

************************************************************************

"Which of them is stronger?"

"Which of who?" asked Lenore looking up from her books. Kim was behind her placing some of the volumes they had used that morning back in their place.

"Between Horatio and Arres, which of them is stronger?" Kendal put her hands on the table and bent a little so they were more eye level. "I need to know before the sun sets tonight, and I know you’re the one who can tell me."

Lenore was no warrior but she was not easily intimidated either. She looked into Kendal’s eyes without moving back. "Horatio is the stronger and older of the two. Why?"

"I’m back in New Orleans after all this time, maybe it’s time I went back to some of those old traditions. I’m planning on killing his little buddy and calling Horatio out, but only if he brings his friends Ora and Abez."

"Asra, be careful of what you ask for, or you might just get it. I may not be as well versed in the arts of war as you are but I think it would be wiser to handle them one at a time. Together they will be almost invincible."

"No one lives forever, Lenore, and no one is invincible." Kendal moved even closer to her in challenge.

Lenore wavered and leaned back unable to stand the intensity of Kendal’s stare. "You are proof that one can live forever."

"We cannot know what forever is, but I do know what fighting is and that’s what I intend to do. With Charlie at my side I will end this or die trying."

Lenore nodded and saw the muscle in Kendal’s jaw stretch tight. "Take care, warrior, and go with just one more piece of advice."

"Watch out for the sharp teeth?" joked Kendal.

"Your sense of humor has always set you apart, Asra, but I speak of more serious things." The woman stood and put her hand on Kendal’s head. "Wipe her from your mind or he will use her against you. Abez is your brother so your mind is more open to him than most."

Kendal didn’t need to ask who Lenore was referring to, if this immortal could sense Piper in her mind, what would happen when she faced Jacques? "If something happens to me, if they are able to bury me where I will never be found, will you talk with her? Tell her how sorry I am to not keep my promises."

"Go with a clear head and heart, warrior, I’ll be happy to talk with your woman."

"She’s not…"

"Go, the sun is starting to set." Lenore pointed to the darkening skies visible through her skylights.

************************************************************************

Two flips got them over the wall of the graveyard and without hesitation Kendal moved to the mausoleum Arres had entered the night before. Together they moved the heavy stone lid that kept any light out during the day and looked down at the sleeping vampire. His skin blistered a little with the little light left in the sky but it wasn’t her intention to let him suffer long. Kendal sank her sword into his chest truly turning this place into his grave.

They waited close to the iron gate of Horatio’s lair wanting him to see his visitors this time. Minutes after it got dark, Kendal and Charlie heard the stone sliding open inside. "Draw your weapon, Charlie, because I can’t guarantee he’ll take me up on my offer."

When Horatio stepped out, his distinctive sword was in his hand at the ready. "Ah, I should have realized last night who the scent belonged to, warrior. Here to face me are you?"

"In good time, Horatio, but I want you to bring all the troops when you do. I want Abez and your queen to come and try to bury me."

The vampire laughed enough for them to see his elongated canines. "I have no need of help to do that, Asra. I won’t be like all those fledglings you’ve faced through the ages. In me you will find your most worthy opponent and you can praise my skill as I destroy you."

"Bragging and twenty bucks will get you a hooker down on Desire, but all I really need is an answer to my offer."

"Kendal, let’s try and not agitate the big vampire," said Charlie through clenched teeth.

"I choose to face you now and gift my queen with the victory."

Kendal shrugged her shoulders and pointed to a low gravesite. "Charlie, have a seat, this shouldn’t take long." She pulled the katana out and faced the big man who was already moving in a circle around her. "Hey, windbag, you here to fight or do the tango?"

The taunt got him to move forward in an angry lunge with his sword out in front of him. Horatio was temporarily shocked when moments later he was on the ground with his face in the grass unable to feel his sword anywhere near his hand.

"Swordsmanship 101, butthead, never enter a fight with your anger showing." Kendal kept her boot on his head and pressed the tip of the katana between his shoulder blades. "You end up either dead or really hurting." The blade slid in, but she stayed clear of his heart. For now she needed him alive.

"I will never tell you where they are, so you might as well destroy me like you have my brothers." His voice had lost all its bravado and Horatio sounded like he was in pain.

She twisted the blade viciously thinking of this man’s victims through the years. Their spirits demanded some retribution. "I don’t need you to tell me where they are, I already know where to find them and I know they are now without protection. You have failed, Horatio, and Ora will haunt your afterlife for eternity for your failure."

With the last of his strength he turned, threw her off and rolled to his knees. He saw his sword not far from him and he made a desperate dive for it. Before Charlie could move from his seat, Horatio stuck it into Kendal’s leg and ran to the wall. On the other side he ran as fast as he could clutching both hands to his chest.

"Charlie, wait." Her voice stopped him from following Horatio.

"But he’s weak enough to finish off."

"I wanted him to get away. He’s running off to the evil bitch who made him to warn her of our coming."

"Should I follow then, since you so kindly took a hit in the leg for the cause?"

"Would you please, and stay out of sight. Let me tie this up so I don’t leave a trail and I’ll join you." Kendal ripped a piece of her shirt off and tied the cut on her leg. The plan hadn’t gone exactly like she wanted but now maybe they would know where Jacques and Ora were staying and if they had any other minions they would have to deal with.

Running was a bit uncomfortable but Kendal cleared the wall with no problem. She followed the blood drops Horatio had left for her knowing it would take months of feeding to heal the wound she had inflicted. The power to heal quickly was one that the immortals enjoyed but not their dark brethren. Once wounded with wood the cuts and punctures festered for months and drove their hunger to an almost painful state.

Piper gasped as she saw Kendal limp down the street. "See I told you we were right in coming out here. Look at her she’s hurt," said Piper from the passenger seat of Hill’s car. They had seen her from two blocks away, and that was as close as Hill was willing to get to "Jedi Master Kendal." It was like Kendal had a sixth sense that alerted her to anyone watching her.

"Piper, she’s jogging down the street at a fairly good clip, she doesn’t look all that hurt to me." Hill peered through her binoculars waiting for Kendal to pick street to enter the Quarter before starting the car and following. "Would this be a good time to mention what a bad idea this was again?"

"If you want to, you can go back to your office, but I’m not leaving her out here alone with some lunatic who wants to kill her. How horrible is it to know your brother wants to hurt you? I don’t have any siblings, and now I’m kinda glad about that."

"Did she tell you why he wants to kill her?" Hill started the car as soon as Kendal crossed the main boulevard separating the Quarter streets from the downtown area and followed her. "I mean she seems nice enough."

"She didn’t come out and say it but he sounds crazy. Of course, being related to Kendal Mackey could make anyone crazy, just look at her. She’s great looking, has a body that makes you sweat just thinking about it and she’s outrageously successful. Those three things alone would fuel a sibling rivalry for eternity." Piper was bouncing in her seat trying not to lose sight of Kendal.

A body that makes you sweat just thinking about it? Interesting, thought Hill as she pulled behind a car when Kendal’s head looked like it was about to turn to look behind her. "Have you seen her body recently in a different light than the rest of us mere mortals?"

"It was an accident." Piper wouldn’t make eye contact and she was picking at the seam of her jeans. "We’re going to lose her if you don’t get going."

"We’re fine, don’t try to change the subject. When did you see her body?" They started down the street again when Kendal commenced her jog.

"I went over there thinking she had been hurt, remember I told you about it?"

Hill was loving this. It was like finding Anita Bryant was having an affair with her minister’s wife. Never had Piper talked like that about men much less a woman whom she had hated up to about ten minutes before. "How does that translate to seeing her in something a little more revealing than a suit? And I sure as hell don’t remember that being part of the story you told me."

"It wasn’t sexual, Ms. Dirty Mind. I was just checking to see that she wasn’t hurt. She found it quite amusing actually."

"Spill it, Piper."

"I ripped open her robe and she was naked underneath it, satisfied?"

"Extremely. I would’ve paid good money to see that." Hill pulled over again when Kendal went up the walk of an old house in the middle of the block. The woman’s athletic abilities amazed her as she watched her scale the wall to enter from a second story open window. "Who do you think lives here?"

"Might be the crazy brother. I just hope she doesn’t go out the back." As soon as Piper said it, Kendal walked out the front door.

The house had been the one Jacques had been using in the evenings. Kendal had found some of his things in the biggest room upstairs as well as the body of what looked to be a young teenager decayed and rotting in the closet of another room down the hall. Death had frozen her in her last scream probably from the fear of the teeth puncturing her neck. Aside from those clues, the house was empty and the trail of blood started again down the sidewalk as if Horatio had leaped over the picket fence to continue his journey.

"What does this woman eat?" asked Hill as Kendal started running again. The droplets were more spaced apart meaning Horatio must have felt desperate to get to wherever he was going before it was too late. Kendal felt the same urgency so she sped up her run, if only to keep Charlie safe when the vampire reached his destination. There would be no way Charlie could fight off Ora and Abez alone.

They left the Quarter and crossed Canal Street headed toward the Uptown area. Kendal never stopped or even slowed down the entire way until they got to First Street. There she had to get down on her knees to see in what direction the blood fell. Horatio was headed back toward the river.

The gas lamps on each side of the front door flickered every so often in the wind. It was like they were trying to give the people inside a warning of what was standing down the street. In the shadows of the trees lining the street, Kendal looked at the structure and knew in her gut this was the place. She scanned the area looking for Charlie or anything out of the ordinary. It was now almost three in the morning and the neighborhood was quiet aside from the occasional dog or cat roaming the streets.

She unclipped her whip and snaked it in the direction of the nearest thick tree limb. In a moment Kendal was gone from sight and sitting next to Charlie. "Is he in there?"

"He ran from the Quarter to here and I haven’t seen him since. You doing ok?"

"Fine, I take it you saw Jacques’ current home?"

"Not close enough to go inside and check it out. Our bleeding friend went in and out so fast you would’ve sworn some mad woman with a sword was chasing him down the street," joked Charlie. He fell silent when Kendal put up her hand and pointed to the front window.

There in the shadow of the low lights inside stood Jacques in only a pair of pants. His naked chest almost gleamed brighter than the moon. In his hand was the sword that Horatio had stabbed her leg with. Charlie shivered and looked to see Kendal’s reaction when Jacques ran his finger along the drying blood and licked it off.

"They aren’t going anywhere for the night and if I had to guess, their resting place is on the grounds. We’ll come back in the morning and take a look around and leave our calling card. If we have to fight these things, it will be on our terms and on our turf." Charlie nodded and looked back to the man in the window.

"Do you think they have any others in there with them?"

"A handful maybe, but it won’t matter. Tomorrow is the full moon and at midnight it will be all hallows eve. I can’t wait for them to come for their treat."

Charlie’s eyes watered as if he didn’t realize another anniversary was coming to mark the murders of his family. The time he had waited for had finally arrived. "We’ll be ready."

"You bet your ass, Lionel. Tomorrow we will fight for Celia and Angelina." They each grabbed the other’s arm in the greeting of warriors. Sealing their solemn vow for vengeance.

************************************************************************

"You want to stay here tonight?" asked Charlie. They had walked back toward the car at a reasonable pace but now Kendal was heading back to the hotel where she still had a suite.

"I would love to go home, but then certain people would only follow us and I don’t want them anywhere near Oakgrove tomorrow for any reason. It may come to me tying the both of them to chairs in Piper’s condo, it’s their choice."

"You’re losing your touch, buddy."

Kendal punched his arm and laughed. "It’s a new day, Charlie, but it does make you hanker for the days when you could club them over the head and drag them back to the cave. I have a feeling though if I tried that with Piper I would thank Indigo everyday for giving me the ability to not need sleep, cause that woman would kill me the minute my eyes were closed."

"You lived when people did that. I always thought it was a myth."

"It is a myth, at least when you consider all the women in my life. It’s not very fun if they aren’t willing to go toe to toe with you. I bet that’s why you still miss Celia."

Charlie remembered the woman who was his greatest friend and lover. His wife had a wicked temper though, but it only came out when Charlie was found doing something he knew she’d disapprove of. "I don’t care what era it was, there wasn’t a club big enough to intimidate her. I loved her with all my heart, but ooh that woman was scary when she got mad."

"We’ve been lucky, my friend, those were women worth fighting for." They neared the hotel and Charlie declined her offer of a room. It was purely superstition but Charlie wanted to visit the field where the remains of his family were put to rest. On the eve of their being avenged he wanted to watch the sunrise from there and pray for their guidance.

"I’ll meet you here in a little while."

Kendal put her hand on his shoulder and whispered in his ear. "Put in a good word for me as well."

************************************************************************

"Good morning, Ms. Mackey. Are you enjoying your visit so far?" asked Edwin when he recognized her.

"It’s been great, thank you for asking. They haven’t given my room away in my absence have they?"

"No, ma’am, there’s even a chocolate waiting on your pillow. Would you care for anything else to be sent up? Perhaps a doctor to look at your leg," he said calmly. She had chosen a pair of light colored buckskin pants, which were great for comfort, but didn’t hide bloodstains very well.

"It’s not mine, but thanks again."

He opened the door and saw she left a bit of a bloody footprint on the tile. "Are you sure? We have a guy who makes house calls."

"Trust me, Edwin, you should see the other guy."

Kendal unlocked the door and stepped into the closet to remove the weapons she was carrying. The cut didn’t hurt really, but it was starting to annoy her, so she opened the curtains of the large window facing the city and leaned her hands on it. With the first sign of dawn the process began again. There was no need to remove the pants to watch what was happening like she had so many times in the past. It was like watching a flower bloom in fast motion. The sun would knit the skin together healing her body inside and out. It was done when the door to the suite opened behind her.

"I knew it," said Piper when she spotted Kendal leaning against the window.

"I remember something about you and a promise. You can’t blame forgetfulness since you made said promise less than twenty-four hours ago. I thought I told you to stay away from me." Kendal tried to sound angry but it wasn’t working. "It’s the only way I know of keeping you safe."

"And you promised to be careful and come back to me, and look at you."

"I don’t remember promising any of that."

Piper pulled Kendal’s shirt out of the stained pants without the tall woman stopping her. "I’m fine really. The blood isn’t from any fresh cut."

Piper poked her finger a little into the slash in the leather the sword had made. "Let me help you, don’t shut me out. Please, Kendal."

"Darlin’, I’m all right. I wouldn’t lie to you about something like that."

"So sue me because I don’t believe you." She held up the part of the shirt where Kendal had torn away her impromptu bandage. The tie of the pants came undone next.

"Is this some ploy to see me naked again?"

Piper’s movements grew more frantic and her eyes filled with tears. "This isn’t a joke. Hill had to hold me down when I saw you were hurt. I can’t stand to see you bleeding. Why can’t you understand that? Why don’t we just call the police? This isn’t worth your life."

Kendal held Piper’s hands and looked down at her leg. Looking at it in the growing light she realized how it would look to someone like Piper. "This is something I’ve got to do alone."

"But I don’t want to lose you."

She let Piper’s hands go and let her pull the bloodied and torn pants down her legs. Piper pulled away the strip of shirt Kendal had tied to slow the stream as it soaked through, and uncovered smooth perfect skin. "I don’t understand."

"I told you I was fine."

"Kendal, no one ties a bandage to their leg for nothing. What were you trying to do make a fashion statement?"

"I was trying to fool someone into thinking I was hurt so they would lead me to the people I really wanted. I’m sorry if you misunderstood and I worried you. You have to believe that I wouldn’t intentionally try to hurt you."

The crying woman got back to her feet and turned as if she were trying to decide to leave or stay. "You did hurt me by sending me away. I don’t understand any of this, but I am starting to understand how I feel about you. What I don’t know is if I’m strong enough to stand by and watch you try to destroy yourself."

"What do you feel?" Kendal stepped out of the pants and moved closer to Piper so she could put her hands on her shoulders.

"I ache inside when I think someone has hurt you." The proud shoulders slumped and Piper’s tears fell in earnest. "Stupid, huh?"

She pulled Piper against her chest and held her as tight as she could without hurting her. "No, not stupid. That’s very sweet and it makes me feel lucky to know you care about me." The blonde hair smelled like a citrus grove and the aroma made Kendal relax. "Now you know how I feel when I think about someone hurting you."

"Why would anyone want to hurt me?"

"If you get too close to me, you become a weapon my enemies can use against me. This isn’t a game, Piper, you need to understand that before it’s too late and you get caught in a position where there’s no easy way out." Kendal turned her around so she could see Piper’s face. "Now that you see I’m all right, it’s time for you to go. And this time I need you to keep your promise and stay away from me until I find my brother and deal with him."

"I don’t want to go, not yet." Piper laid her head on Kendal’s chest and tightened her arms around her waist. "Everyone I love sends me away for my own good and I think it’s time to decide for myself what’s best."

"Little one, from what I know of your family it seems to me that your father didn’t send you away, he was just lost without the woman he loved. You have to understand that she was his world and when she died it killed a large part of his heart. It wasn’t right that he wasn’t able to show you how much you meant to him, but some people aren’t as strong as others."

"He blamed me for her death. He never said it out loud but I could tell. If she hadn’t had me she would still be here."

Kendal put two fingers under Piper’s chin and raised the tear stained face. "Your mother’s death was nature’s fault not yours."

"You don’t know that."

"I know lots of things, and of this I’m sure. Your parents were lucky; they were in love and left behind one shining example of what they meant to each other. They left the world you." She ran her hand along Piper’s face wiping away her tears and trying her best to comfort and heal the pain of the little girl who had taken on her father’s pain and guilt. "Open your eyes and see what the rest of us do. You’re smart, driven and beautiful."

Piper blushed and laughed at the compliment. "I thought you said I was annoying. If I remember the quote correctly it was something about a pesky little thing buzzing around your ear."

"Lucky for you I happen to like annoying. Had we dismissed each other right off we wouldn’t be here. I’ve found that sometimes anger is as strong an emotion as all the others combined. It hasn’t been boring, has it?"

"No, and you’re right, I haven’t got a good explanation as to why I’m here. A week ago I wanted your head mounted on my wall."

Kendal moved her hands down to Piper’s waist. "And now?"

"Now I want to do everything I can to keep you whole so I can spend more days walking around Oakgrove with you, listening to you tell me stories about interesting people who lived long ago. And in return, I want to build a friendship with you that will be a treasure to both of us."

"I would love that, but we had a deal remember? You need to go."

"I will, just not yet." Piper pulled away from her and reached for Kendal’s hand. She looked around until she found the bathroom and started pulling the tall woman behind her. It was obvious to her that the blood didn’t belong to Kendal, where it came from was a mystery, but it had dried and stained her leg almost completely.

"Piper, can I ask what you have in mind here?"

"I want to help you get cleaned up, then I’m going to order room service and then I’m going to watch you sleep. If you’re running around after people who want to kill you then you have to get some sleep."

Kendal pulled her to a stop. Part of her brain loved the suggestion but the more rational section put pressure on the brakes. "As great as that sounds, we can’t."

"Why not? It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked before," Piper’s smile turned teasing as she pulled on Kendal’s hand to get her moving. It was like trying to rip up an oak with just your hands. They weren’t moving until she convinced Kendal otherwise.

"Because I don’t need to sleep, and you’ve got to get going."

"Unless you’re something not human, you need to sleep. I was up all night trailing after you and I’m exhausted and all I did was ride around in the car. If you don’t lie down and sleep then you’ll force me to break my promise and follow you around to make sure you’re safe."

"Then let me be honest here." Kendal did the only thing she could think to motivate Piper to walk out the door. With a gentle pull she pressed Piper against her and kissed her with all the passion she felt for the young woman. This time she gave herself permission to let her hands wander and her tongue tasted Piper’s. She was sure that it would scare the blonde into wanting to get as far away from her as possible. Kendal pulled away when she felt Piper slump against her.

"Umm…" Piper didn’t really know what to say.

"I don’t want to be, because I know how you feel about this sort of thing, but I’m attracted to you, Piper. It would be torture to get in that shower and know I couldn’t touch you like I want. I’m sure I can get used to the idea of just being your friend, but I need time to convince my heart of that." Kendal laughed and patted the side of Piper’s face with her palm. "Time and to remain clothed at all times when we’re together."

"Umm…"

"Look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that, but I can’t help but want to kiss you every time I see you. I’ll understand if you want to leave now."

As she had done in their short history together, Piper did something Kendal wasn’t expecting. She pulled away from her and put her hands on her hips. The pose showed she was pissed and didn’t appreciate being played. It only made Kendal’s libido stand up and take notice. If Piper’s eyes got any darker there would be begging involved, Kendal was sure of it.

"Who said anything about me getting into the shower with you, you big moose." The small hands left her hips and moved to the top button of her shirt. It popped open quickly and Piper moved to the next one on the cotton garment she had on.

"Umm, Piper, darlin’, we have to stop before we get to some place you don’t want to be." Kendal’s order sounded weak and her eyes were glued to the black lace bra that had come into view when the fourth button popped open.

The shirt dropped to the floor behind Piper and she moved to the buttons of her jeans. "See, the way I see it, and have experienced in the past, is you big take charge types look at petite blonde women and you have an uncontrollable urge to do our thinking for us."

"Big take charge types?"

"It’s some sort of conqueror complex. I’m sure there are books on the subject. You run around with your sword and swagger and think the rest of us are here to bow and scrape." The shapely hips wiggled to get the jeans to slide down her legs. When they hit Piper’s ankles the only moving Kendal wanted to do was to run and put the do not disturb sign on the door. A black set of bikinis that matched the bra was doing funny things to her blinking reflex.

"I do not think I expect people to bow and scrape." A small hand moved to the clasp at the back of the bra jutting Piper’s breasts out quite nicely. Drooling is not an option here, Asra, Kendal warned her body.

"Yes you do. ‘Piper, go home and don’t worry your pretty little empty head about me’," she lowered her voice to sound more like Kendal. "’Only I get to decide when and where we’ll spend time together,’" she had to stop and cough from trying to sound gravely getting Kendal to laugh. Kendal took a step forward when the bra came loose and slid down Piper’s arms. "Don’t even think about it."

"You get naked over there and you expect me to just stand here?"

"I’m not naked," Piper put her fingers at the sides of her underwear and pulled down. "Now I’m naked." Her fists moved back to her hips. "Still want me to leave?"

"No."

"Want to get in the shower with me?"

"Yes." Kendal couldn’t help it, the gorgeous body on display before her had reduced her to one word answers. To remedy the situation, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "But I thought you just said you didn’t want to get in the shower with me."

"I don’t, I want you to get in the shower with me. There’s a difference." Piper closed the gap between them and pulled Kendal’s shirt off leaving her in a pair of plain white briefs. "How can you be so perfect?" Piper asked looking at the very unplain woman wearing extraordinarily plain underwear.

"Cigar smoking," answered Kendal. She walked over the pile of clothes they had made and scooped Piper off her feet. As they moved to the bathroom Piper pulled the tie out of the black shining hair wanting nothing holding Kendal back.

They stood under the spray just enjoying the feel of each other’s skin. With time to think Kendal was able to control her urges to ravish Piper and give her what she thought the smaller woman wanted. This would have nothing to do with sex. It was more about giving reassurance and someone for Piper to cling to. Mac and Molly had given her everything within their power to give, but even their love had not been enough of a balm to heal the scars life had inflicted.

In Kendal she had found someone with whom, perhaps for the first time, she could let her defenses down and fear no ridicule for who she was. As physically different as they were inside they were two of a kind. People who projected what the world found acceptable but their true self was something almost no one was privileged to see.

Kendal ran her fingers through Piper’s hair to get it wet. She hated to use the hotel’s shampoos since Piper smelled so good just as she was. When she was done Kendal stood still and watched as the gentle hands washed away all the evidence of her injuries.

"You know what’s funny?" asked Piper.

"Not me I hope."

"Not you. It’s just that with people like Kenny anything like this would’ve made my skin crawl. Personal closeness has never been one of my things." The warm skin under her fingertips was like silk over iron bands of muscle.

"In your defense, I think Kenny would make any normal person’s skin crawl." Kendal quickly pressed her lips to Piper’s to show she wasn’t poking fun. "If I tell you something do you promise not to hold it against me?"

"More than I have already you mean?"

"There was only one reason I did what I did for you and Mac, and there is one thing you owe me because of it."

Piper pulled away from her and started out of the shower. "God, I’m such an idiot. Of course there’s a price. Why would I think you would be any different?"

It had been a gift freely given but Piper owed it to her to stay and hear why she’d given it. It was the only thing Kendal felt she owed her. She wrapped her hand around Piper’s bicep and kept her from leaving. "I did what I did for you. Unless you try and sink Dupont there will never come another day when you feel like you have to do what you did to keep what’s yours. I never want any animal like Kenny to put his hands on you, unless you ask it of your own free will."

The hand on her arm dropped away giving Piper the freedom to go. "What do I owe you in return?"

"That you take the freedom I’ve given you and enjoy it. Live to be happy and strive to be whole, and your debt with me is paid."

Piper turned around feeling chilled now that she’d stepped out of the warm spray. "That’s all?"

"That’s all. The price is steeper than you think. Living a full life is more difficult than people imagine."

Kendal’s skin felt warmer than the water as Piper moved closer. "How hard can it be when you’ve given so freely all I’ll ever need?"

"Money won’t ever bring you happiness, sweetheart, don’t you read all those Hallmark cards? Completeness comes from within yourself." Kendal tapped a finger over Piper’s heart. What she was repeating was a lesson she had received from a man living in the streets of Nepal. He owned only what he carried, but in his mind he was the wealthiest person Kendal had ever met, because he had reached an understanding of who he was and what fulfillment required. His wealth came in learning and sharing, both of which required no coin in his pocket.

"It’s that easy huh?"

"Your family’s company is important to you, and you’ve become important to me, so yes, it’s that easy." Kendal reached behind her and turned off the water. "There is just one other thing."

This time Piper felt no urge to leave and she pressed herself to Kendal’s back. "Whatever you want."

"Don’t ever share yourself with someone who makes your skin crawl. Save that gift for the one who holds your heart, or at least stirs your passion.

The sound of water draining lulled Piper for a moment as she thought of Kendal’s request. "Who are you really?"

"Why do you ask that?"

"Because you don’t talk like someone who runs the type of business you do. It’s like you’re a warrior poet," she laughed at the romantic notion.

"Call it life experience." Kendal held a towel up for Piper before drying herself off. From the shower stall Piper watched wishing she were as comfortable with her own nakedness. One of the hotel robes covered her view when Kendal was done. "I’ll leave you alone to finish up." The door closed softly and Piper looked down to the towel hanging loosely in her fingers covering her front.

Her clothes were neatly folded and sitting on the bed when she stepped out of the bathroom wearing the other guest robe. Kendal was sitting next to them with her hand up in invitation. "Time for you to go, and time for me to get back to my battles."

"Not yet. You need to rest."

"If I were tired it would be my first priority, but my internal clock works differently than most." Kendal held up the delicate panties on the end of one finger.

"Lie with me for an hour then you can ask me to go." As encouragement Piper opened her robe and took Kendal’s hand. The long body fell back to the bed covered by Piper’s. They got under the covers and Piper pulled Kendal’s tie open as well. "Close your eyes and hold me." She pressed a kiss to Kendal’s chin, then to her lips. There was a part of her that prayed Kendal would take over and touch her.

All Kendal did was return the kiss then complied with Piper’s wish to be held. "Close your eyes and sleep. I promise to keep you safe."

"Don’t you want me?" asked Piper in a small voice.

"Remember what I asked of you? This is about you and what you want and need. Just close your eyes and sleep. I know you’re tired, so maybe it’s not the best time to be making life altering decisions about anything."

After a few moments, Kendal began to speak again. Piper didn’t understand the language but she focused on Kendal’s voice. The inflection of the words was soft but the dialect was somewhat harsh. It was a poem written by a warrior who served one of the Chinese emperors to the woman he left behind when he was called to war. Within her womb grew his son, the testament to their love and his existence in this world. His wife finished the verses for him when the boy grew to be a man and followed his father’s path into battle. The warrior never knew the boy and entered the afterlife at the end of an enemy’s sword, but his last thought was of his wife. In her face in his mind’s eye, he found salvation and a way to push away the pain. His killer died years later, still wondering why the man faced death with a smile on his face.

"Because he knew love," whispered Kendal to the slumbering woman in her arms. "It is what gives our blades courage." She kissed Piper’s temple and closed her eyes trying to memorize the feel of her.

When Piper rolled over and opened her eyes, she knew she was alone. The bed felt twice as empty with Kendal’s missing heat. On the pillow was a single yellow daffodil with a note under it.

These have always reminded me of sunshine from the first time I saw them. The woman I bought it for though, reminds me of the beauty in all things. Take the flower as a way of remembering all the sunrises you have left to enjoy and how beautiful you will make the days by simply walking through them. Stay safe. Kendal.

She refused to accept it as a goodbye. Even if it took her the rest of her life, Piper would find Kendal again. "I have a gift to give you as well, warrior poet." She spoke the words to the card in her hand. Piper knew now it was written by the one who held her heart and could awaken her passions. There would never be a moment of hesitation between them again.

************************************************************************

The front door was unlocked as if the owners were expecting them for a cordial visit. Kendal stood in the foyer and listened for any human guardians in the house left to watch during the day. The silence was broken only by the tick tock of the grandfather clock in the long entry hallway.

"If I were a blood sucker, where would I hide from the sun?" she asked Charlie.

He put down the human skull with a candle melted into the top he had found on the desk in the middle of the study. It must have been someone either Jacques or Ora had cared enough about to keep, or someone who had insulted them in some way. "If it were anywhere but New Orleans I’d guess the basement. Having one though is an invitation to an indoor swimming pool in an intense rainstorm."

"Let’s take a look around and see how creative they’ve gotten." They walked through the ground floor. It was in the sunroom that Kendal found the first unique piece of furniture. "Cute," she said referring to the room they were standing in.

The long piece was wooden on the bottom and topped with a slab of thick granite. In any other location it could’ve been a buffet. It was the skulls carved in the wood that made her itch to remove the stone top. "Want to see what’s behind door number one?" asked Charlie.

"I thought you’d never ask, Monty." They worked together to make it easy. With the sunlight streaming into the space they didn’t get a close look inside before the vampire burst into flames. "Makes me wish we’d thought to bring marshmallows."

Charlie laughed leaning against the wood base. It didn’t take very long for the flames to die away and leave a pile of ashes. "We didn’t get a chance to say goodbye but I can tell you who the dirt pile was."

"Elvis?"

"Not unless he walked around with this under those shiny outfits," he lifted a sword from the ash. The snakehead marked the demise of Horatio. "And I don’t think this guy could carry much of a tune."

"It would seem he is alone down here so let’s move up."

They opened five more boxes before reaching the house’s master bedroom. It was empty except for two sarcophagi in the center of the room. On top of the longer of the two sat a coiled King Cobra. His head came up when they entered but the only movement he made after that was to sway from side to side without showing his hood.

"I never did like snakes," said Kendal.

"It’s not like it can kill you."

"Neither can polyester pants and I don’t like them either." Kendal stepped closer and the snake grew more alert. "My brother always did have a sense for the dramatic." She threw a dagger hard enough to pin the lethal reptile to the back wall.

She held her hand out for Horatio’s sword. With a downward motion she buried it in the wooden floor between the two boxes. From her coat she pulled a small memento to show who had come for a visit and the clue as to where to find her.

"Why not just lift the lids and be done with it?" asked Charlie.

"Because I gave him my word I would face him like a warrior. I also want to see his eyes when he knows he has reached the end of his life." She ran her hand over the stone full of hieroglyphics telling the story of Abez’s life. Woven into the pictures was her name. "Now it’s just you and I, brother. Tonight you will be made to pay for the life you have chosen and for the death of our father. On my sword I promise you."

Charlie listened to the ancient sounding language and wondered what Kendal had said. Whatever it was he had a feeling it meant bad things for the future of the man who slept under her fingertips. Only four hours were left to finish the saga started in Egypt so many years before. The night of reckoning was upon them.

************************************************************************

"It seems we’ve had a visitor, my queen, and she’s left us an invitation to call." Jacques held the camellia flower under his nose and spoke to the woman who had just emerged from the darkness.

"I sense she has left us to fend for ourselves."

"Don’t worry about numbers. Horatio told me Asra has been given too much credit through legend as far as her fighting skills are concerned. She will find the two of us together to be an unbeatable force." He walked to the wall and ran his finger though the blood trail the cobra had made. A smile curled around his lips as he licked his finger clean.

"What of the man who fights with her?"

"Lionel?" he laughed. "A young fledging pretending to be something he’s not. Come, Ora, I’ve never tasted the blood of an immortal."

They sat together on the porch of Oakgrove and watched the sunset over the far bank of the river. Kendal was smoking one of the cigars Piper had given her in silence, her mind blank. The reliving of memories was done. She had put them away and made peace with what had happened to Angelina and Tomas. As painful as ending her love’s life had been, Kendal could only imagine Angelina’s pain had she been left to exist as a vampire. So gentle a soul could never have accepted living off the torment of others for survival. By sacrificing her own happiness, Kendal was sure now after years of reflection she had given Angelina eternal peace.

"The time is upon us, Charlie. It won’t be long before they arrive."

Her friend stood and held his arm out. They clasped arms before moving in for a friendly embrace. "For our women then, and my sons."

Kendal squeezed him one more time before letting go. "Celia and the boys are looking out for us I’m sure. Fight well and stay away from pointy objects, especially teeth," she told him with a small laugh.

"You just remember the same thing."

Before she turned to go inside Kendal wanted one more thing to be clear before reason got muffled in the heat of battle. "Promise me one more thing."

"Anything, you know that."

"No matter what, these two die tonight. I will make no more promises to let Abez go free. I want the same from you. I will sleep the sleep of the just, or suffer an eternity of torture gladly if I know he is dead. He and the bitch who made him."

Charlie nodded slowly. Could he choose between Kendal and her demon brother? "I promise to do what it takes, but I want your promise you’ll fight like never before."

"She’ll need to, dear Lionel, for tonight the foe is like no other." How he got there was a mystery to Kendal and Charlie but in the drive stood Jacques. In his hand was a very familiar object and it momentarily stunned Kendal. "Remember, sister, how many hours he held it in his hands trying to teach us the art of the sword?" Their father’s sword rested in his hand.

"It hurts me that what meant so much to our father has ended up with you, Abez, but aside from my feelings there is no way it can hurt me."

"Who said anything about hurting you with it?" Jacques raised his free hand and motioned someone forward. From the darkness Ora emerged dragging someone with her. "Fight me, Asra, or I’ll take her like I did the other. You made it so easy for me by leaving her scent on the flower you left."

Kendal could only watch as he grabbed Piper away from Ora and pressed her to his chest. The green eyes were swimming with fear and tears as if she sensed what kind of evil had taken her. "Be still, little one, I won’t let anything happen to you."

Jacques ran his tongue up the side of Piper’s neck and nipped the tender skin with his teeth. "My sister loves to make promises she can’t keep. I though promise you’ll be mine before the sun rises." Kendal’s anger rose with Jacques’ hand as he caressed Piper’s body ending at her breast. "What I can’t understand is why you don’t bed them, Asra? What is it about these women that makes you want to wait?"

Breaking every rule of combat Kendal ran forward with her sword out wanting to bury it in any place she could reach. Sparks flew from the weapons when Jacques pushed Piper aside ready to fight. With a flick of his wrist he dislodged her sword giving him an opening to kick her in the gut. The move made her pitch forward giving him an even clearer shot at her head. Kendal spit out a mouth full of blood and rose to her knees to deflect any other blows Jacques sent her way.

She grabbed his foot as it headed toward her chest and threw him so he landed on his back. "It’s not that easy. You have much to answer for, Abez, and I am here to collect."

"Then consider this my down payment," he laughed as he watched the long blade break through the front of Kendal’s chest. Ora had moved against Charlie first slicing his hand almost off his arm before coming up behind Kendal. From behind all three, Piper screamed when she saw the deathblow. The sword had entered between Kendal’s shoulder blades and exited out close to her heart. It was Charlie who kept her from running to Kendal’s aid.

"Let me go, dammit. I can’t lose her," she screamed as she beat on the man’s back. A dark gush of blood ran down Kendal’s chest and her head slumped forward.

"Lionel, keep her from seeing the rest. She doesn’t deserve those nightmares to add to the ones that invade her sleep already," Kendal’s voice came out soft and with difficulty but Charlie understood her French perfectly. He held Piper in his arms and started to walk away, but not before she witnessed the woman standing over Kendal withdraw the sword and plunge it in again with even more deadly intent. It was the last thing she remembered as Charlie pressed his fingers to the base of her neck and the world went black.

"I owe you an apology, Abez. I thought for so long I had chosen the weaker of your father’s children. I see tonight that you are the smarter and stronger of the pair. Your sister shows the fight of a tame puppy." Ora withdrew the weapon a second time thinking that with the loss of blood Kendal would be ripe for the taking.

Jacques took the chance to drive his weapon through Kendal’s body. "I wanted father’s steel to taste your blood tonight, Asra. It’s only fair after all since it was I who used him to quench my first thirst. Will your blood taste as sweet?"

"If you sit long enough by the river, you will see the bodies of your enemies float by," said Kendal to the woman behind her.

"Does the pain make you talk in riddles, Asra?" asked Ora.

"The pain clears my head actually for what needs to be done. Never claim victory until your enemy is dead, and the lifeless body is placed at your feet."

"What does that mean?"

"It means my body is neither lifeless nor dead, witch." Kendal struggled to her feet and raised her hand. Ora followed the katana’s journey back to her hand from where Charlie had thrown it back to Kendal. A sais from her boot was already in her other hand deflecting a sword swipe from Jacques. Moving somehow helped to staunch the flow of blood and she felt some of her strength return.

Kendal stood in the middle of them both and met each attack with equal fervor. At this point she felt like she could hold them off all night. Using a column on the house as leverage, she kicked her feet upward and wrapped them around Jacques’ head. A quick twist and he dropped his weapon when his neck snapped. Having him temporarily disabled let her concentrate on Ora.

"I would say you chose rather wisely after all, Ora, because I would never have been weak or stupid enough to fall for the fate my brother did."

"I can give you power, or I can give you pain, your choice."

"I pick peace of mind."

Ora laughed as her face contorted from its beautiful features to that of her inner monster. She bared her teeth and growled at the warrior of the Order. "Peace is something you will never have as long as I live."

"There in lies the rub, eh?" Kendal sped up her strokes surprised at how well Ora kept up.

"What?"

"As long as you live." The katana came straight at her and Ora had to turn her blade to deflect it from hitting her. With a crack that sounded like a shot the sword in the vampire’s hand broke. "My choice is for you to die."

Kendal drove forward again and Ora met her with a leap to try and reach her throat. The roar of her howl died instantly when the blade split her heart and Ora exploded into a cloud of red dust, some of which burned as it fell to the ground, and the rest scattered to the wind. It was as if her remains tried to cling to whatever life was left to her.

"Let me go or I will kill her," said Jacques. He had an unconscious Piper pressed up against him and his teeth were so close to her throat there was nothing Kendal could do to stop him from tearing the flesh.

"I will not let you go tonight, Abez. This ends here and now."

"Have you learned nothing of who I am in all this time?" He exposed Piper’s neck even more when he pulled back on her hair. "I do not grow attached to these frail human creatures as you do, Asra. Their only job is to worship me."

"Let her go and face me like you asked of me."

"You will not kill me because your love for this girl is stronger than your hatred of me. I’m still your brother, if I let her go can you bring yourself to kill me? What would father say if he were here?"

"Considering the type of man he was he would tell me there is redemption in every man and you deserve my letting you go." Kendal dropped first the short blade and then the katana at her feet. "I cannot kill you, Abez."

"Fool, I’ll take her and bury you for your weakness." He moved to bite Piper’s neck when her words stopped him.

"I didn’t say I thought you should live though, brother. There is another who deserves the kill more than I and it will be he who claims the prize." The recognition in his eyes came to late. He had forgotten the one who he had dismissed as unimportant. The man he had laughed at when he carried his family from their homes. "My only wish was to see your eyes for the last time as you face all the innocents you have killed in your life. May they have more mercy on you than you ever thought of showing them."

When she was done Charlie finished the job and stabbed all the way through Jacques’ heart. In a black cloud of smoke that the wind dispersed, Abez was no more. From inside the house Kendal heard the clock strike twelve. It was the anniversary of Angelina and Lionel’s family’s deaths. Wherever they were they rested a little easier knowing that their deaths had been avenged.

Piper moaned as she started to become more alert. She felt someone cradle her in their arms and she quieted when her heart recognized who it was. "Sleep now, little one, you are safe." Fingers pressed to her neck and she entered a dream where Kendal was waiting for her with a smile on her face and a daffodil in her hand.

************************************************************************

"No!" screamed Piper as she sat straight up in the bed. The blinds were open and it took her a minute to figure out she was in her own bed, safe from any danger. Her shoes were placed neatly by the bed but she still had on the clothes from the night before. Despite feeling well rested from the dreamless sleep she’d obviously enjoyed, Piper had an urge to cry.

"Hey, you’re awake," said Hill from the doorway. She had a cup of coffee in one hand for Piper and a folded section of the paper in the other. "I was just coming to roust you. Want something for breakfast?"

"Why are you here?" Piper rubbed her face trying to focus on why her heart was racing.

Hill took a seat in the chair Piper had sitting by the window and stretched her legs out. "I kept calling and you didn’t answer so I came over to see if you were all right. You know, Piper, this is a gated community and all but you really shouldn’t leave your door unlocked if you sleep like the dead."

She had no memory of the previous night. All that Piper remembered was coming home after she got dressed and left Kendal’s room. Why can’t I remember? It wasn’t like she had gone out drinking or taken anything that would’ve fogged her head. "I must’ve been out for the night."

"You sure you’re ok? You look a little out of it." Hill moved to the bed and sat on the edge. Her fingers came away wet when she touched Piper’s cheek.

"I’m fine, just still tired I guess." She reached for the cup Hill had placed on the nightstand. It fell numbly from her hand when she looked at the small glass sitting next to it. Someone had put the daffodil Kendal had given her in water and left it next to the bed for her to see.

Piper didn’t hear Hill’s voice as her vision tunneled to the bright yellow petals. The gift brought it all back. Like the opening of a floodgate Piper remembered that strange woman standing behind Kendal and running her through.

"Are you Piper Dupont?" The question came through the intercom from a voice she didn’t recognize.

"Can I help you?" Piper looked through the peephole to see who had gotten through the security gate without being announced.

"I have news of your friend Kendal Mackey. Can I come in and talk to you?"

He kept his head bowed, his fingers looked long and pale as they rested on the button of the intercom device. Piper was about to unlock the door when she remembered what Kendal had told her about letting anyone in. "Can you tell me from out here? I’m not dressed to answer the door."

"Miss Dupont, your friend is in trouble and needs you. But I’ll understand if you don’t want to help. I’m sure she’ll understand as well that you want no involvement." The hand dropped away and the man turned to go.

"Wait!" Piper opened the door and stood just inside it. "Please don’t go."

"You must invite me in, Miss Dupont."

She had and found herself at Oakgrove in time to see Kendal’s murder. Charlie had kept her safe and Piper was now convinced that Kendal had sacrificed her life to save her.

"Piper, come on you’re scaring me."

"We have to go." Piper fought with the blankets and Hill to get off the bed. "We have to go now."

"Ok, honey, we’ll go. You just need to tell me where and I’ll take you."

"Kendal…Kendal needs me." She got frustrated with being trapped on the bed and her tears were making it harder to escape. "Oh God, Hill, I think she’s dead. There was so much blood, so much."

"Piper, you have to calm down and breathe. Why was there so much blood? Whose was it?"

"It was Kendal’s. This man came here and this woman stabbed her."

"You aren’t making a whole lot of sense, Piper. I’m sure Kendal’s fine. You just had a bad dream." Hill helped her out of the bed and on with her shoes, sure that only seeing Kendal would solve whatever was wrong with her friend.

The blonde was despondent on the drive out of the city and no amount of talking on Hill’s part was getting her to snap out of her stupor. It was hard to tell how they would be received at the house, but Hill pressed the buzzer with hopes of finding Kendal in a good mood. The gate opened without anyone coming over the intercom to ask who they were.

It was Charlie who stood on the porch to await their arrival and to Hill he looked different somehow. Like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders making him appear more relaxed. "Welcome back, ladies."

"Can we bother you to get Kendal for us? Piper really needs to see her," said Hill as she helped Piper from the car.

"He can’t," whispered Piper. "I’m right, aren’t I?"

He nodded and tried to offer a warm smile. Kendal had left that morning and Charlie knew it would be decades before she walked these grounds again if ever. Oakgrove had been her refuge for only a short period before it became the harbor for Kendal’s greatest pain. Coming back had only proven that the suffering had not ended.

Kendal had spent more time with Angelina, but Charlie had a feeling that Piper had reached deeper inside in the few weeks they’d known each other. His old master had fallen in love and once again, Abez had stolen the beauty of it from her. He didn’t agree, but he understood her decision to walk away. Piper’s life with her could only bring heartache and Kendal couldn’t do that to her.

"She’s gone, Miss Dupont, I’m sorry."

"Where is she?" demanded Hill.

"If you need any questions answered pertaining to any business dealings, Bruce Babagge will be available to help you. That’s all I can tell you, I’m sorry."

Piper leaned against the car and felt like she would die from the pain in her chest. "She gave me her word. She promised me."

Charlie couldn’t stand to see her suffer. He could only imagine it was like what he had felt at the loss of his family. "You were her main concern, Miss Dupont. She told me how special you were to her and how much she came to care about you. Perhaps you can use that as a stepping stone to find someone who can give you what Kendal could not."

Dead looking green eyes stared up at him. "There will be no one else."

"You’re young, Miss, don’t give up so easily," said Charlie with a hand on her shoulder.

A slight smile tried to crack the corners of Piper’s lips but she wasn’t quite successful. "I have a feeling you know all too well what I’m going through, that you know what I’m saying is the truth. As much as I fought it and didn’t want to like her, I ended up falling in love with her."

"You are wise for one so young. Be well, Miss Dupont, and feel free to visit here as often as you like. You’ll always be welcomed at Oakgrove." She nodded and turned to head back to the car door. "If only there were a magic wizard to lift your spirits," said Charlie as he closed her in.

"What an odd thing to say," said Hill starting the car. She didn’t expect an answer form Piper and she got none.

The clue hit Piper like a blow late that night. She moved silently and passed a sleeping Hill on her sofa and headed to her car. The bartender at Oz just continued to wipe her hands on the bar towel and stared at her. Not bothering with introductions she led her to the stairs and guided Piper to the office door.

"Have a seat and Lenore will be with you shortly. Do you want anything to drink?" asked Kim.

"What are all these books?" Piper stood at the railing and looked out at all the shelves.

"They are our true history, child, and the tales of our greatest heroes and warriors." Lenore held out her hand and waited for Piper to take it. "I’m Lenore and this collection is mine."

"It’s a rather odd spot to keep them but you have quite an extensive collection." Piper didn’t really notice that the woman had yet to let go of her hand she was so focused on her eyes. What were the odds of Kendal, Charlie, and these two women sharing the same shade of startling blue?

"So I’ve heard, and from you’re presence I can tell Charlie has guided you here. What can I do for you?"

"I want to know what happened to Kendal."

"Are you sure? Kendal’s story is a long one." Lenore guided her to a set of comfortable reading chairs and poured her a cup of tea.

"What can I tell you to make you believe how much I care about her? If she’s hurt or needs me I want to go to her, and if she’s dead, I’ll have something to look forward to when I die."

"Piper, can I call you Piper?" The blonde nodded. "I have known Kendal for a very long time and I know she would want you to choose happiness, even if it meant you would find it with someone else, someone like your friend Hill. She tries to hide it but she loves you a great deal."

"If our heads chose our loves for us the world would make more sense I guess, but they don’t. Our hearts are what make our choices and we have no other course than to follow. Kendal is the last person my head would’ve picked but my heart cannot live without her."

"You sound like a poet, child. I asked Kendal once what she most feared. Her answer was not one thing but three. She told me she feared vampires, mummies and the Holy Ghost. Can you guess why?"

"She’s a Buffet fan?"

"She is that, but her answer came before the song. Vampires because they are a major reason Kendal has lived for so long, and mummies because the process of making them is enough to turn even the strongest stomach."

"Why the Holy Ghost?"

"I would’ve thought because of what man does to his fellow man in the name of religion but she had a different reason. To believe in the concept of a guiding spirit who helps you in all things, especially our darkest hour is to believe in love. Love I think is what she feared the most, because she thought it was the one wonder she could never allow herself to experience fully."

Piper leaned into the cushions and wanted to scream. "But I loved her. Didn’t she realize?"

"I believe she did," Lenore rose from her seat and pulled Piper up to show her something. "Piper, I need you to dig inside yourself and find the small child you once were, the one who believed in fairytales." Piper looked at he book lying on the table entitled ‘Asra.’ "It will take me awhile but I’d like to tell you a story." She flipped it open to the first page and there was a sketch of Kendal dressed as an Egyptian soldier. "Born two decades before the Christ child, Asra came into the world destined to serve the Pharaoh Ramses and then the Order," started Lenore.

She flipped the pages of the great book as she told Kendal’s story. Who she was to the world in every lifetime and all the demons and monsters she had fought along the way were part of Lenore’s tale. For every identity Kendal had taken there was a detailed illustration to help Piper fill in the pictures in her head. Page after page was full of stories and pictures of the same beautiful eyes and flirtatious smile dressed in the garb of a warrior.

After a week Lenore’s voice stopped getting Piper to open her eyes. As long as she had sat in the Elder’s library she hadn’t gotten tired of listening to the melodious voice weaving a tale of fantasy to make her feel better. They had given Piper a place to sleep and took care of all her needs as Asra’s story unfolded for a new listener. The way Lenore told it made her want to believe but the rational part of Piper’s head dismissed it all as fiction. To hear total silence was surprise.

"Well?" asked Lenore.

"I want to thank you for your hospitality and kindness, Lenore. Listening to you almost made me forget the pain of losing her."

"You don’t believe me then?"

"It’s a wonderful story, but no. As much as I want it to be true, I know better."

"Why not allow yourself the pleasure of believing a little bit? What would be the harm?"

Piper smiled at the storyteller and shook her head. "Because I have to hang on to what sanity I have left. Thinking of that sword slicing through her chest will be enough to make me crazy. My grandparents don’t deserve having me go off into a make believe world of vampires and immortals."

"Then we have misjudged you," said a voice from the shadows. The sun had just set and Lenore and Piper were bathed in the soft light of reading lamps and candles. "Asra deserves a woman who believes in the totality of who she is, but more importantly, who she’s been."

"Who are you? Show yourself," said Piper.

"She’s no threat, Piper, be still." To the shelves Lenore shot a frown. "Would you like to come out or have you developed a case of shyness after all these years?"

The beautiful blonde stepped forward and Piper recognized her from the first pages of the book. "We have fought the Elders for naught, Lenore."

"Don’t be so pessimistic, Indigo. She’s defeated two of her greatest enemies and I have faith love will be her reward." Lenore put her hand on Piper’s forearm. "Piper, this is the Elder Indigo, she’s Asra’s watcher and teacher."

"Look, ladies, this has been fun, but we’ve got to face the fact Kendal’s gone," said Piper standing up.

"If you walk out she will be dead to you," Indigo shot back. "The meaning of immortality is that you never die, Miss Dupont. Not ever. Leave and we will never acknowledge you again and Kendal’s memory will be all you have left."

"Where is she then?"

Indigo handed her an airline ticket to Italy. "We leave in the morning, but with or without you I’m going to see her."

"She’s alive?" Piper sounded almost afraid to ask.

"As much as the characters in Lenore’s book."

After a lot of apologies and explanations to her family, Piper met Indigo at the airport the next morning. She still didn’t believe she’d find Kendal, but her soul couldn’t take the chance of not trying.

She looked at her traveling companion when they reached cruising altitude. "Were you lovers?"

"Should I lie?"

"I’m not that fragile."

"Yes, but I’m thinking I should’ve paid better attention that last time."

Piper swallowed hard wishing she’d let Indigo lie. "Why, you found someone better?"

The laugh came close to sparking Piper’s anger. "There is no one better, I just think the last time was just that — the last time. Asra will never have room in her heart for another, which means she will never have need of another in her bed."

It was the only words they exchanged until the plane started its decent. Had Lenore been there to ask what she feared, Piper’s answer would have been "disappointment." If Kendal weren’t on the other end of this trek, life would always be empty, lonely and full of disappointment. Was that a life she wanted?"

 

Concluded in Part 5

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