Obsession

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Obsession - 5
Ireland, 200 years ago.

It was late in the evening and the wedding celebration that began that morning
was still going strong. The entire village was invited to the marriage of
Justin and Venus. The happy couple have long since retired to their cottage but
that hasn't dampened the mood of the guests who were still drinking and singing
songs in honor of them.
As Aaron, Terry and Mariah were walking down the street passersby would stop
them and shake Aaron's hand or hug the women and then move on laughing all the
time. Aaron got a kick out of seeing the look on Mariah's face when this would
happen. He wasn't worried that she might do something to them, she had promised
Terry that she would be on her best behavior and not kill anyone.
Aaron slipped his arm around Terry as they walked. She had so wanted to be a
part of her daughter's wedding but it just wasn't possible here. She was
comforted a little knowing that Aaron was there for them both. "It was a lovely
ceremony Terry."
"How did Venus look?"
"Like an angel come down from heaven."
"I wonder what they're up to."
Mariah answered her before Aaron could. "That young boy is probably wondering
where he's supposed to put it."
"Mariah!" Terry says shocked.
Mariah says nothing and keeps on walking leaving her two friends behind.

In the small cottage Venus and her new husband Justin were lying in bed
together. Her head was resting on his chest. "Justin, how much do you love
me?"
"I love you more than all gold in Ireland, lass." He says as Venus raises her
head to look at his face. "How much do you love me?" He asks before giving her
a quick kiss.
"More than anything."
"More than life?" Came another voice.
The two lovers shot up in bed surprised at the sound of the voice. Justin
immediately jumped out of bed and grabbed his sword. "Stand where you are sir!"
He shouted. "Or I'll be forced to run you through!"
In a split second the man had his hands around Justin's throat. Venus screamed
as she saw his eyes glow. Aris sank his fangs into Justin's throat and slowly
drained the life out of him as Venus watched. Knowing she was next Venus tried
to escape by running for the door but Aris was on her in a moment. Grabbing her
by the hair he walked her back to the bed.
"Please...... don't." Venus said pleading through tears.
"I don't want to do this. But I have to." Aris said trying to explain to her.
"I can't let her get away with it. I can't let her think that she can just
leave and that's end of it."
"I..... don't..... under....stand."
"We belong together." He said "She has to understand that what we have is
forever." Venus screamed as Aris sank his fangs into her neck.

Aaron, Terry and Mariah were only a dozen or so yards from the cottage when
they heard Venus scream. In burst of speed both women were at the cottage door
in a second. Kicking open the door Terry saw Aris toss the lifeless body of her
daughter down onto the bed. Turning to face her Aris still had blood running
down the corners of his mouth.
"You made me do this." Aris said defiantly. "You're the one responsible. But
it's alright. I forgive you."
In a lightning fast move that surprised even Aris, Terry had her hands around
his throat her eyes blazing red. "YOU BASTARD!!!" She shouted and then threw
the young vampire through the very wall of the cottage. She was already to
finish the job when the sound of a heartbeat stopped her. The sound of her
daughter's heart.
Aaron who was watching the whole seen from the doorway grabbed his sword and
went outside to finish the job on Aris. But the vampire was nowhere to be
found. Mariah followed him outside, but even she couldn't sense the young
lunatic anywhere near. He was gone.
Terry sat on the bed cradling her daughter who had just remembered what was
happening and what that monster had done to Justin. Venus cried for the rest of
the night and all the next day.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"That's when you became an Immortal." Brenda's voice was almost a whisper.
"Some wedding present." V said sarcastically.
"But what does this Aris person want with Terry." Brenda asked confused.
"He's in love with her." Aaron answered. "No that's not right. He's obsessed
with her. And he's completely convinced that Terry's in love with him."
"Okay so what do we do to get her back?"
"You aren't going to do anything Brenda. You're going to go back to the loft
and let us handle this."
"What?!?" Brenda said shocked.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Nightshade, Mariah's office.

After a great deal of time Aaron finally convinced Brenda that she should leave
this situation for he and the others to handle. She had just left the club when
Aaron turned to Mariah the anger he was surpressing for Brenda's sake now coming
to the surface.
"Where the hell's Derek?"
Mariah looked up at him puffing on her cigarette. "He's coming. He had
another little problem to deal with."
"What kind of problem?"
V answered him. "Someone made a kill tonight and left the body where it could
be found."
"Great." Aaron said throwing his hands up. "As if we don't have enough to
worry about."

Aris' house.

Terry was still strapped to her chair. Aris would come into the room from time
to time to check on her and to apologize for being forced to do this. During
his last visit he brought her an exquiste dress he had made for her two hundred
years ago. He wanted to show it to her to remind her he said of how much she
enjoyed wearing it when they were together. <We never were together you fu#&@%
psycho.>
It was becoming increasing clear to Terry that Aris has lost all touch with
reality. Two hundred years ago he was just pathetic now he was totally insane.
He had lost himself in this fantasy world he created. A world where they
lovers, where she was being kept from him and held against her will by Aaron.
Terry knows its just a matter of time before Aaron finds out where she was.
Not even Aris can hide from the Enforcers if they're out get him. She's certain
that by now Derek has all of his people searching the city for her. They'll
find her and when they do, she's going to personally tear Aris' heart from his
body and stuff it down his throat.

Near the practice hall.
Brenda walked along darkened streets. She should've stayed at Nightshade and
helped, Terry was her friend too, but she had let herself be talked into going
back to the loft to wait for them to call when it was over. Walking along she
heard a sound come from behind her. She stopped for a moment and then continued
on. A hand reached out and touched Brenda on the shoulder. She screamed.

The man stood some distance from Brenda taking pictures of her as she walked.
He had just snapped the last frames on this roll when his cell phone rang.
"Daniel Cohen..... what name?..... Yes I've heard of you..... Meet you
where?..... When?..... Okay, I've got it..... Goodbye." He just placed his cell
phone back in his jacket when he heard the woman he was watching scream.

"Robin!" Brenda shouted more embarassed than scared. "Don't do that!"
"Sorry." Robin said barely containing her laughter. "I didn't mean to."
Brenda put her arm around Robin as they started for the hall. Seeing the look
of distress on her friend's face Robin asked what was wrong. Brenda told her
about Terry's kidnapping by some psycho vampire who's been in love with for two
hundred years and of Aaron refusal to let her help him find her.
"Aaron knows what he's doing Brenda. She'll be alright." Robin said it like
she was trying to make herself believe it. They reached the door of the hall
and went inside to wait.

The Hardy residence.

Liz walked in the door and sat her purse on the coffee table. There was an
envelope lying there with her name written on it. She picked it up and opened
it. What she saw terrified her.
Inside the envelope were pictures, dozens of them, they were all of her. There
were pictures of her at Kelly's, pictures of her at the store, walking along the
docks with Lucky. But it was the last picture in the envelope that made her
blood run cold. It was a picture of her sleeping in bed. Almost without
thinking Liz grabbed her coat and rushed out the door.

Back at Nightshade.

Derek had just arrived and had given them the latest report from his people in
the field. They have searched nearly the entire city and still no sign of Aris.
Derek told them he has now expanded the search to the areas around Port Charles
as well.
Mariah and V listened to Derek's report while Aaron sat on the couch lost in
thought. V turned to him. "Daddy? Are you listening?" She asked him.
"What?" He said as he looked up. "I'm sorry. I was thinking about that body
the police found."
"What about it?" Mariah wondered.
"When was the last time someone made a kill like that here?"
"Not for a while. No one is that careless anymore. I won't allow it." Derek
answered.
"Exactly."
"What are you getting at Daddy?" V asked intrigued.
"I don't know. It's just the timing of this death." Aaron got up and started
pacing again. "What was his name? What did he do?" He asked his daughter.
V got her notes from her purse and read them. "His name was Victor Staines.
He was a building contractor."
Mariah thought to herself for a moment and then stood up from her chair to face
Aaron. "Antonius my friend. I think I see where you heading. Aris killed
him."
"Oh, come on. That's a pretty big leap." V said.
"Maybe, Little Flower. But think about it. Aris comes to Port Charles and
then there's a kill left where anyone can find it. Who around here would do
that and take the chance of angering the Enforcers?"
"No one." Derek said flatly. "I'll go to this man's office and check his
records." Derek then left the office.
Aaron sat back down on the couch next to his daughter taking her hand in his.
V was right it was a leap. But considering they have nothing else to go on,
he'll take that leap until something better comes along.
Twenty minutes later Derek returned with the information. He handed the file
to Aaron who looked it over and surprised everyone when he said. "That's it.
That's where he has her." V, Mariah and Derek looked at each other in
disbelief.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Terry was rapidly losing patience. She had humored this lunatic for hours and
now she was tired of this game. Terry was sitting in silence when Aris came
back to check on her. "Theresa? How are you?"
"Let me go Aris." Terry's voice was calm.
"You know I can't do that. It's not safe."
"Let me go Aris."
"Please darling. It won't be for much longer. I'll let you go once I'm sure
that you are your old self again."
"Let....Me....Go." The tone of Terry's voice was now icy cold.
"Theresa." Aris' voice was almost pleading. "There is nothing I want more
than for you to be free. And you will be soon, once I discover what that man
did to you after he took you from me." He brought his hand to her face. "Then
we can go back to the way it was before all this happened."
"THERE WAS NO BEFORE!!" Terry shouted having lost the last shred of her
patience. "Aaron didn't steal me from you! I've been married to him for almost
a thousand years! We were never lovers, we were never friends! All of this is
something that you created in your mind!" Aris backed away from her in shock,
looking at her like she was a complete stranger.
Aris regained some of his composure. He walked up to Terry and backhanded her
hard across her face drawing blood. "You aren't my Theresa! That bastard Grey
killed her! You....you're just a shadow of her and I won't let you to desecrate
her memory by allowing you to pretend to be her." He walked to the window in
front of Terry's chair and ripped the boards off it. "In a few hours the sun
will be up and you will be dead. Then my Theresa will be free."

Outside the house.

Aaron, V, Mariah and Derek approached the house. They knew they were in the
right place when they saw Aris pull wooden boards off one of the windows. V
looked at Aaron in surprise. "How did you know?" She asked him.
"I didn't." Aaron answered a little embarassed.
"What?"
"I just guessed. I mean it was all we had to go on and I was sick of just
sitting around on my ass. I didn't know I would be right." He said explaining.
The others just look at him in shock. Finally Mariah spoke. "What's the
plan?"
Aaron got them into a circle. "Mariah you'll go through the window Aris just
uncovered." She nodded. "Derek you go through the other window." Derek nodded
too. "Venus and I will follow. Now whoever spots Aris first is the one that
grabs him."
Derek and Mariah get into position while Aaron readies his sword and V loads
the crossbow she brought with her. At the count of three Derek and Mariah
smashed through the windows completely surprising Aris who grabbed a sword and
tried to attack Terry before they could reach him. He had just raised the sword
when Derek grabbed it. V and Aaron crawled through the broken windows and saw
Derek toss Aris across the room.
Mariah was busy trying to free Terry from her bonds. Derek turned to help her
when Aris attacked him. He grabbed the larger man and threw him back against
the wall. Aaron moved to strike with his sword but Aris caught his swordarm.
Hearing the bones crack and break Aris tossed him at Derek knocking both men to
the floor.
Aris snatched Mariah by her hair and slammed her head against the table dazing
her for a moment. He picked up Aaron's fallen sword and was ready to kill Terry
when V stepped behind him and raised her crossbow. "Hey, Asshole!" Aris turned
in surprised. "Remember me?" V fired. The bolt striking Aris squarely in the
chest knocking him to the floor.
"Theresa, please don't let me die" Aris' voice was piteous as he turned his
eyes to Terry.
Finding the key to the lock that held the chains Mariah released Terry who bent
down to look into Aris' eyes. "Burn in hell you son of a bitch."
Terry got up and rushed to Aaron and felt his arms envelop her. They just
stood there for a moment then Terry broke the embrace and turned to V. V walked
to her mother and the two hugged. Derek and Mariah stood to the side with Aaron
giving mother and daughter a few minutes alone.
Aaron looked down at the body of Aris. "What happens now?"
"Now you take your wife and your daughter home." Derek answered. "Mariah and
I will deal with that." He said pointing to the body.
"Thank you Derek." Aaron said as he followed Terry and V out of the house.

The practice hall.

Liz Webber arrived at the building still not knowing how she knew where Mr and
Mrs Grey lived. The reason she knew was due to a post-hypnotic suggestion Terry
gave her to come to the practice hall to find her or Aaron should anything
happened that frightened her. Liz opened the door and walked in. Brenda and
Robin were surprised by the sound of someone coming in. They were even more
surprised to see who it was. "Liz?" Brenda asked. "What are you doing here?"
Before she could answer Brenda was hit by the presence of another Immortal.
She quickly grabbed her sword from the table and held it at the ready as she
heard the door to the hall close and the sound footsteps on the hardwood floor
come closer.
"Well, well, well. This isn't exactly how I had it planned but sometimes you
just have to go with it I guess." The man said as came closer to the women.
Finally he stepped in to the light so they could see his face.
Liz saw him and began trembling with fear. "Mr Murty."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Liz saw the man's face and began trembling with fear. "Mr Murty."
Murty just smiled at them. "I knew Resharde would tell Elizabeth to find him
if I did anything that scared her. So instead wasting my time hunting all over
the city for him, I let her lead me to him." Murty was walking slowly towards
the women, tapping his sword on the floor as he went.
"What do you want?" Brenda asked stepping forward a little.
"I want Resharde's head. But since I can't have his, I'll settle for yours."
Murty raised his sword. "But first, there's a little rule to our game we have
to observe." Brenda watched in horror as Murty pulled a gun from his coat and
shot Liz and Robin. "No witnesses."
"NOOOO!!" Brenda screamed and ran to her friend. "Robin?"
Robin didn't speak but coughed up blood. She had been hit in the chest and was
now struggling just to breath as she slowly bled to death. Brenda look over at
Liz. She didn't need to check to see how she was. The bullet had hit her
directly in the heart. Liz Webber was dead. Robin released Brenda's hand and
spoke, her voice weak and failing. "go......get.....kill.....him."
Brenda shrugged off her coat and picked up her sword. She advanced on Murty,
the tip of her sword making lazy, but precise circles in the air. Brenda looked
at the gun in Murty's hand. "What are you going to do now? Shoot me too?"
Murty surprised Brenda by tossing his gun to the floor. "I don't need a gun to
take care of you little girl."
Brenda approached Murty when he lunged suddenly hoping to catch her off guard
and skewer her on his blade. Brenda parried automatically, her sword knocking
Murty's to the side. She brought her own sword up in a cobra-quick counter
strike which caught Murty across the chest. He stumbled back a few steps before
regaining his balance. He immediately brought his sword up and began viciously
slashing at Brenda. Her parry was a second too late, she managed to deflect his
sword but was unable to prevent him from wounding her in the leg. She staggered
slightly as he twisted the blade before jerking it from her thigh.
Murty was getting cocky, he assumed that this wound would slow this new
Immortal down enough for him to finish her, but he was in for a surprise.
Brenda launched into a rapid series of thrusts and lunges that drew her opponent
off balance, his sword out of position to defend his left side. Brenda spun
around on her right foot, her sword blurring through the air until the razor
sharp blade passed through Murty's neck.
A faint glowing mist rose around Brenda. Then blue arcs of energy resembling
lightning danced over her body and climbed the walls. Brenda's body spasmed and
jerked as the lightning assaulted her. She screamed as memories, not her own,
flooded her mind. She raised her sword arm and the energy that enveloped her
seemed to explode above her head. Gradually the memories began to fade as the
glowing blue lightning seemed to disappear into her body. Brenda fell to her
knees gasping for breath.
Aaron and Terry were walking back to the loft. They suddenly stopped when they
saw a lightning storm erupting from inside the building. Rushing inside they
saw the telltale afteraffects of the Quickening. The power had blown out every
light fixture in the room. There were small burn marks in the walls where they
had been struck by the lightning. Aaron slowly walked into the room followed by
Terry. "Brenda?" He said in a quiet voice. Terry touched his shoulder and
pointed to where Brenda was kneeling. Aaron came and knelt down next to her.
Brenda slowly became aware of his presence and looked up at him. Her voice was
a whisper. "why didn't you tell me?.......why didn't you tell......" Aaron put
his arms around Brenda as she sobbed into his chest. Brenda pulled away from
Aaron when she remembered Robin. She ran to her friend followed by Aaron and
Terry. Brenda knelt down by her and grabbed her hand. "Hang on Robin. We're
going to get you to a hospital."
Aaron was behind Terry, who was kneeling next to Robin opposite Brenda, when he
slowly turned to look at Liz's body.
Brenda was starting to cry when she looked at Terry. "She's going to be
alright isn't she?"
Terry knew, she could feel it happening. "I'm sorry Brenda. She's dying."
"No." Brenda said the emotion overcoming her. She placed her hand on Robin's
forehead as her friend looked into her eyes. "Isn't there anything you can do?"
"No. There's nothing I can do. Nothing........." Terry stopped mid-sentence.
She looked Brenda and Robin. The two of them were holding hands looking
directly at each other crying. She thought for a moment and came to a decision.
"Robin. Look at me" The small girl shifted her eyes unable to move her head.
"You're dying. Do you understand?" Robin nodded barely. "I can save you." At
this statement Brenda looked up. "But you have to say yes. There's not much
time left."
Robin shifted her eyes back to Brenda who was still holding her hand. She
looked at her big sister tears running down her face. She has made her choice.
"yes." Her voice was barely audible.
Terry closed her eyes, not sure if Robin really knew what she was agreeing to.
Brenda watched unable to speak at what happened next. Terry opened her eyes.
They were now blood red, almost glowing. Her canines had enlongated and were
now pronounced fangs. She turned Robin's head slightly to expose her main
artery. Brenda watched trying hold back the nausea as Terry bent down and
buried her fangs in Robin's neck.
Robin's eyes opened wide when Terry began to drink, her hand clutching Brenda's
tightly. After a minute or so Robin's eyes began to close and her grip on
Brenda's hand lessened. Finally Robin stopped breathing. Terry looked at
Brenda who was on the verge of becoming hysterical. "Now we wait."
Only a few feet away Aaron was totally oblivious to what was going on. He
continued to just stare at Liz's body. <Here it comes.> Liz's fingers began to
twitch ever so slightly. Then all of a sudden her entire body spasmed and her
chest was thrust upward as it took a gasping breath. <Here we go again.>

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The loft, Terry's bedroom.

Robin lay unmoving in the center of the bed while Terry sat on the edge
watching her. On the night table were four wine bottles filled with a dark red
liquid. It had been over three hours since Robin was fatality shot by Murty,
three hours since Terry tried to bring her across. She had done all that she
can do. Now it was up to Robin. Will she move on to the next world or will she
come back.
Robin began to wake instantly answering the question. Terry raised her into a
sitting position. Taking one of the bottles off the table she raised it to her
lips and began slowly pouring the contents into Robin's mouth.
At the first taste Robin's eyes opened, her eyes changed from their normal
brown to gold and then to blazing red. Greedily she drained the bottle and
reached for the second that Terry offered. Once she had drained that bottle,
she took a third and leaned back against the bed's headboard.
"What happened?" she asked, then her memory returned. "You did it. You
brought me across."

The living room.

Brenda sat on the couch in the living room staring at the bedroom door and
paying little attention to Aaron as he tried to explain to Liz what had happened
and what she now was.
They brought Robin upstairs from the practice hall over three hours ago. Since
then she and Terry had remained locked in the bedroom. Even on the way up Terry
refused to answer Brenda's questions about what was going to happen. The only
answer she would give was that it was now Robin's choice.
Not knowing what was going on in there was tearing Brenda apart, she was afraid
of what might happen. Would Robin die or would she be reborn like Terry.
Either way, whatever fate, she knew the outcome would be her fault. If Robin
wasn't with her she wouldn't have been shot and killed, and if she did come
back, would Robin blame her for turning her into some kind of monster. If only
Brenda could see her.
The sound of Liz's voice brought Brenda back to reality. "You expect me to
believe that?"
Brenda smiled when she saw Aaron roll his eyes at Liz's response. It was
almost the exact same thing the she had said when she found out that she was
Immortal. Putting her hand of Liz's arm, Brenda spoke for the first time. "I
know this is hard for you Liz, but this is really happening."
Liz listened patiently as Aaron explained to her about the Game and the rules.
After he finished she looked up at him. "Okay. So I'm an Immortal and that
means I now have to play a game where I run around with a sword and chop other
peoples' heads off. Is that about right?"
"More or less, yeah." Aaron answered.
"Great. What am I going to tell Gram about my carrying a sword around in my
packback? Or Sarah? Granted she's not the brightest light in the sign, but
she's not stupid."
"Elizabeth what you tell your Grandmother or the rest of your family about this
is up to you."
"If you want I'll even be there with you if you decide to tell them." Brenda
said.
"No that's okay. I have to figure out what to tell them or what not to tell
them on my own." She said to Brenda, then turned back to Aaron. "But there's
one thing you still haven't explained to me yet. What's going on in there?"
She asked pointing at the bedroom.
Aaron sighed to himself knowing that this explanation was going to take a
little longer.

The bedroom.

Robin was sitting up in bed drinking from the last wine bottle and listening to
Terry explain what was happening to her. She could already feel the changes in
her body. It surprised her somewhat when she noticed that she no longer had a
heartbeat. She could also feel her senses getting stronger by the minute.
Among them her hearing, she could her the voices in the next room as clearly as
if they were right next her. Terry continued telling Robin what changes her
body will go through in the next twenty-four hours.
When she had finished Robin spoke. "I guess this means I'll have to cancel my
vacation trip to the Bahamas." She said trying to inject some humor into what
has become a deathly serious conversation.
"I'm afraid so." Terry said laughing. "But seriously, Robin. You now have
powers that you've got to learn how to use, and most important of all, you are
going to have to learn how to control your instinct."
"What instinct?"
"The instinct to hunt, to feed, the instinct to kill." Terry saw Robin become
uncomfortable at the mention of killing. "Don't worry Robin. In this day in
age we don't need to stalk and kill to feed anymore. That's why it's so
important for you to learn to control that part of your nature, and I know just
the place we can do it at."
"Where?" Robin asked.
"Nightshade."

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The Hardy residence,
Two weeks later.

Liz walked into the house, checking to see if Audrey or Sarah were home she
went back to the door and brought a long, thin case inside. She set it under
the coffee table, then tossing her packback onto the couch she plopped down next
to it exhausted. For the last two weeks she had been going to Aaron's to train
after school. She had told her Gram that she had enrolled in a self-defense
class so there wouldn't be any problem with her coming home late.
Her training was taking up almost all of her free time with no letup in sight.
It seems the only time she saw any of her friends lately was at school, even
Lucky, when he decided to show up. She was becoming worried about him. Ever
since he found her in the park he seemed to take what had happened personally
and finding out what happened between Luke and Laura all those years ago has
just made him worse.
He had taken a job with Helena Cassidine. Liz thinks its just to get back at
his dad, or at least she hopes. She can't help but think he may have taken the
job because he thought that since Luke lied to him about his mother, he's lying
about how dangerous Helena really is.
She had spoken with Luke since Lucky found out and while she can't understand
why he did what he did. She knows that what happened between him and Laura is
not the same as what Murty did to her. Lucky however doesn't want to hear it.
Luke told her about Helena, about what she's capable of and Liz believed him.
She wanted to keep an eye Lucky, but since she changed, she can't be with him
all the time. No matter how much she wanted to.
Sarah Webber walked in noticing Liz sitting on the couch. "Back from defense
class?"
Liz looks up at her sister. "Yeah. You back from stalking Nik?" Sarah throws
her a scowl. "Sarah it's been months. Get over it."
"Nik loves me." Sarah says.
"Then why was he spending so much time with Robin Scorpio a couple of months
ago."
"Well he's not with her anymore is he?"
"No he's not, you're right." Liz says. <That's only because Robin's become a
vampire.> "But he's not with you either."
"He will be. It's only a matter of time before he realized he made a mistake
and comes back to me." Sarah says as Liz rolls her eyes. "I wouldn't expect
you understand. It's not like you've ever been in love with someone. You're
too busy loving yourself."
With that Sarah starts up the stairs to her bedroom leaving Liz sitting on the
couch. <Bitch.> She reached under the table and picked up the case. Putting
on the table she opened it for a few seconds and then closed it, not knowing she
was being watched by Sarah on the stairs.

The practice hall.

Aaron backpeadled as Brenda's blade just barely missed laying him open at the
waist. "Hey, this is supposed to be just a practice session." He protested.
Brenda lowered her sword and grinned. "I didn't go anywhere near your head,
did I?"
"No you didn't" Aaron lunged unexpectedly, narrowly missing Brenda as she spun
around to avoid him.
Now they sparred in earnest. Aaron quickly gained the upper hand and Brenda
was driven backwards. Using a counter move that V taught her, she twisted her
blade free, bringing it up in a back hand motion that delivered a cut toward
Aaron's neck. Aaron ducked almost going to his knees to avoid the blow.
The combination of Aaron's relentless attack and her own missed blow threw
Brenda off balance. Before she could recover, Aaron straightened up and used
the flat of his blade to rap Brenda smartly on the wrist.
Brenda's hand went numb and as her sword fell from her grasp. All of sudden
she felt the point of Aaron's sword on her throat. He grinned as she held up
her hands and surrendered.
Aaron and Brenda walked toward the couches. Brenda sat down while Aaron
grabbed to bottle of water from the small refrigerator. Handing her a bottle he
sat down.
"Liz is coming along well." Brenda says taking a drink.
"Yes she is." Aaron answered. "She's picking it up almost as quickly as you
did."
Brenda sat quiet for moment. "Any news on Robin yet?"
It had been over two weeks since Terry took Robin to Nightshade. Since then
Brenda hasn't seen her and barely spoke to her. It wouldn't be so bad if she
could talk to her for awhile, and see how she's adjusting to her new life.
Aaron give Brenda a little smile knowing how hard it is for her to be away from
her friend. "Brenda she's all right, but Robin can't be around people until she
has gotten complete control of herself. Don't worry, Terry says she is learning
quickly and should be home in a few days."
Brenda smiled at the news. "Good, cause I just got finished redoing the house.
Shutters and heavy drapes on all the windows. A little refrigerator for her
bottles of......you know."
Aaron smiled a little in surprise at how well Brenda was adjusting to Robin's
condition. He was just about to say something when the phone rang. He walked
over to the wall and answered it.
"Hello?.... Conner MacLeod!"

A wharehouse on the docks.

On the roof of the building Robin stands on the edge, <One step. One more
step.>, she takes a step off the building into nothing. In a split second she's
on the ground standing next to Mariah and Terry.
Terry claps then hugs Robin. "That was great Robin."
"I've seen better." Mariah says stamping out her cigarette.
Terry shoots Mariah a dirty look. "Don't listen to her. She's old and
bitter."
"I'm younger than you."
"Yes, but I've aged more gracefully. Now don't be mean to her, she's coming
along well."
Mariah lights another cigarette. "Now that we're done teaching her all the
parlor tricks. Why don't we get down to teaching what she really needs to
know."
Robin looks at the two women and suddenly gets the feeling that the other shoe
is about to drop.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The loft.

"What do you mean you're leaving." Brenda says not believing what Aaron just
told her.
"I mean just what I said." Aaron told her.
Brenda was confused, twenty minutes ago she and Aaron were talking about Liz's
training and what's happening with Robin and then the phone rings and now Aaron
decides its time to leave. "I know this has something to do with that phone
call. What is it?" Brenda asked concerned.
Aaron turned to face her seeing the worried look on her face. "Brenda.....I'll
explain everything when we get to Nightshade."
Brenda frowns as she puts on her coat and slips her sword into it's harness
scarbbard and follows him out the door.

Nightshade.

Brenda and Aaron enter the club. A few young vamps start toward Brenda, but
instantly back away when they see Aaron with her. They make their way to the
back.
Brenda sees Emily Quartermaine sitting in one of the booths with a man with
dark hair. Turning to Aaron she asks, "Aaron.....is he?"
Aaron looks over at the couple and smiles. "It's okay Brenda, that's Derek.
He won't hurt your friend. If he does Mariah will tear out his heart, she's
quite fond of that girl."
They bypass Derek and Emily and head for the door that leads to the back rooms.
Aaron told Brenda that these were sort of like hotel rooms for vampires. Mariah
set them up so that any vampire could have a safe place to stay should anything
happen. As long they obeyed the rules they could stay as long as they like.
They come to the last room along the hall. Aaron knocks and a voice tells him
to come in.
They enter the room and Brenda immediately reacts. "Robin!" Robin gets up of
the bed and the two women hug. "How are you?"
Robin sits back down on the couch and Brenda sits next to her. "I'm fine.
It's been a lot a take in, but I'm good."
Across the room another little reunion takes place. Aaron and Terry are in an
embrace. Aaron hasn't seen his wife in two weeks because Terry hasn't left
Robin's side since she was brought over. "There's something we need to talk
about, Love." Aaron tells her as they sit on the bed.

The Hardy residence, Liz's room.

Liz sits on her bed polishing her sword with a silk cloth. It was a finely
crafted 17th century Italian blade that once belonged to an Immortal that made
the mistake of challenging Aaron. A knock on her door startled her.
"Liz! There's someone on the phone for you!" Sarah shouted through the door.
"Alright! I'll be right there!" Liz shouted back. She placed her sword back
in it's case and slipped it under her bed.
Liz walked out of her room leaving her door slightly ajar. Sarah walked in and
began searching for the case she saw her with earlier. She found it under Liz's
bed, pulling it out she placed it on the bed. It was almost three feet long and
kind of resembled a guitar case.
She opened it and what she saw surprised her. "What the hell?!?"

Robin's room at Nightshade.

Aaron had just finished telling Terry about the phone call he recieved from
Conner MacLeod. "Is he sure?" Aaron nodded. "I guess that's it then, we have
to go."
Aaron hugged his wife and turned to Brenda and Robin who were sitting on the
couch talking.
"Brenda, Robin....It's time for Terry and I to go."
"What!?" Robin was shocked by the anouncement. "You're leaving....why?"
"An old friend called earlier and he needs our help."
"Who is he?" Brenda asked, hoping she'll get an answer this time.
"His name's Conner MacLeod and a mutal friend has........well, disappeared."
"What about my training and Liz's? What about Robin?"
"Mariah can help Robin. And as for your training....Brenda you're already
better than some Immortals I've seen."
"What about Liz?"
"You can take care of Elizabeth."
"Me?" Brenda said surprised. "I can't train..... I can't do it by myself."
"You won't be by yourself. Venus will help and probably do most of the work."
"Aaron....." Brenda starts but Aaron interrupts. "Brenda.....I know you're
scared to be on your own. But believe me both you and Robin are ready."
Robin looks Aaron and then Terry. "When do you leave?"
"As soon as we can." Terry answers.

Nightshade parking lot.

Derek is walking Emily back to her car. As they walk Derek can't help but
notice how lovely Emily looks in the moonlight. They reach her car and Emily
unlocks the door. Before getting in she turns to Derek. "I had a really good
time tonight."
"So did I." Derek looked at her. He reached over and brushed a loose strand
of hair from her face. Then he leaned down and kissed her full on the lips.
Emily jerked back and stared at him. Then she moved forward and really kissed
him.
As the two embraced neither one noticed they were being watched. AJ and Keesha
were staring at them from the door of the club. Keesha was holding AJ's arm in
case he decided to do something stupid.
Derek and Emily finally broke they're embrace. Emily stepped back and stared
at Derek almost unable to speak. "Umm....... good night."
Derek watched as Emily climbed into her car and drove away. "Good night."

CHAPTER TWENTY

The loft,
The following night.

Aaron and Terry were packing for their trip to New York to see Conner MacLeod.
Brenda and Robin were sitting in the living room with V. Aaron brought a couple
of Terry's bags out and sat them by the door. He walked over to Brenda and
Robin, he handed Robin a set of keys.
Looking up at him confused. "What are these?"
"The keys to the loft. Terry and I want you to have this place."
"Aaron... I can't. I mean what about you two?"
"Robin..." Aaron began as he sat down next to Brenda and Robin. "Terry and I
never intended to stay here permanently. I mean we love Port Charles, but our
home now is Toronto."
"And when you're finished in New York, you'll be going back there." Brenda
said.
"Not right away, we'll stop here first."
"You'd better." Brenda said sternly before putting her arms around him.

Liz's room.

Lucky Spencer is sitting on the bed with Liz. He had just shown her some
photographs that Helena Cassidine had given him. They were of Laura supposedly
after Luke had viciously beaten her. Lucky was so angry when he arrived and
after what seemed like forever Liz thinks she finally convinced him that there
is a real possibility that these photos are fakes and that Helena is lying to
him.
Liz felt so sorry for him, he was so confused. Everything he has believed in
has been turned upside down. She reached out to him and pulled him into a hug.
Lucky's head was resting on her shoulder. He breathed in the scent of her hair.
Picking his head up he looked into her eyes. He put his hand up to her face and
pulled her into a kiss.
"Liz.... I'm sorry...... I didn't mean......" Lucky said apologizing.
Liz stopped him by putting a finger to his lips. "It's okay Lucky." She then
leaned over and kissed him back.
She wrapped her arms around his neck as she kissed him passionately. She
eventually released him. They were both short of breath and a little confused
by what was happening, but it was too late to stop it.
Liz looked deep into Lucky's eyes. "Make love to me."
Lucky ran his hand through her hair then pulled her back to him. They kissed,
then Liz removed Lucky's shirt and ran her hands down his chest. Lucky undid
the buttons on her blouse and watched as she let it fall off her shoudlers. She
kissed him again as they moved slowly down onto the bed.

The Quartermaine residence, Emily's room.

Emily was sitting on her bed thinking about what had happened the other night
at the club. This has never happened before. She hardly knew this man, well
she knew, but she didn't really know. So why is he all that she can think about
now. It was that kiss.
She's had boyfriends in her seventeen years, but no one has ever kissed her
like that, with such passion. She didn't know what was happening and she didn't
really care, not along as she and Derek continued to get closer.
She was disturbed by a knock on her door. She answered it. "AJ!"
AJ walked into the room not waiting for an invitation. "We need to talk, Em."
"About what?"
"About last night. About that man at that nightclub, the one you were
kissing."
Emily sunk down onto her bed. <Of course, why should I be the only one in this
family whose not completely miserable.>

Outside the practice hall.

Aaron had taken the last of the bags to the cab and he and Terry were now
saying goodbye to Brenda, Robin and V.
Terry hugged Robin and Brenda who were both crying despite telling themselves
that they weren't going to. She then turned to V who was crying as well.
"Goodbye, Little Flower."
"Goodbye, Mother," V sniffed, "and I promised not to let so much time go by
without talking again."
"You'd better not or else I'll take you over my knee." Terry said smiling.
Aaron walked up after saying goodbye to Brenda and Robin. "Goodbye, Venus.
Take good care of those two and keep an eye on Elizabeth."
"I will Daddy." V said as she hugged her adoptive father.
They walked over to the others and Aaron adressed them. "We should be finished
in New York in a few weeks no matter what happens."
They all hugged again, then Aaron and Terry got in the cab and drove off to the
aiport. Brenda, Robin and V watched as the cab disappeared into the night.
Brenda was the first to speak. "Well, what do you two want to do?"
V answered. "I don't know. How 'bout we go for a drink?"
Robin spoke. "Good idea, and I know the perfect place."
"Let's go!" Brenda and V said in unison.

The End.

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