YES~! Another chapter!
Disclaimer/Notes: See previous chapter!
Chapter 26: The duel
The next morning dawned relatively sunny. Ash had finally fallen asleep near one A.M. when the Count had drugged his coffee with a mixture of hashish and opium. Now though, it was a quarter to eight and the Count and Ash had arrived at the appointed meeting-place. Ash was shaking inside, but tried his best to hide it.
He didn’t want to die!
With five minutes to spare, Todd drew up, two of his editors working as his seconds.
Lance went ahead and they attempted a parley to stop the duel, but unfortunately, as it was obvious the two young men would not be reconciled, they took twenty paces and the duel began.
Ash’s hands shook as he fired, he and Todd had agreed upon firing at the same time, but the bullet went wide.
Todd on the other hand, seemed not to be suffering from the same anxiety, as his shot went cleanly through Ash’s torso, just missing the kidney…
Ash pressed his hand to his side, clenching his teeth so he wouldn’t scream from the pain. This is probably easier said than done.
Lance’s eyes flashed, as six throwing knives made their way into his hands from the folds of his voluminous cloak in an instant. A quick flick of his wrist and Todd and both his seconds were down on the ground. Not dead, but out of the way…
Ash collapsed to his knees, the pain too much to bear. “I… I…”
“Hush!” His golden eyes flamed. “Look into my eyes.”
Ash forced his head up. “Am I going to die?” He whispered.
“I hope not.” Lance muttered grimly as his pupils began to glow with hypnotic force. Ash slowly sank limply to the ground, whereupon Lance then carried him into his carriage.
Inside, with the curtains safely pulled shut, he dug out another blade, sent flames licking over steel to sterilize, and swiftly cauterized the wound. Ash gasped and cried out in pain, evidently the hypnosis wasn’t blocking everything. Lance gritted his teeth as he tore Ash’s expensive silk shirt into strips and staunched the bleeding as best he could, before applying his healing power to speed recovery.
Perhaps two or three weeks without strenuous activity, but all would be well after…
Giovanni diRocketti was not a happy man.
His son had gone missing – well, not any more. The gossips were buzzing, that Ash had lost to Todd, and was probably on the brink of death, but the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo had spirited him off somewhere.
“Oh, I always knew the Count was a vampire! When we see the viscount again, he won’t be human!”
“How scary!”
Yes, females were, on the whole, quite annoying…
Delia was worried. Quite worried. If the Count had her son in his possession, who knew what might happen?
She had to go see. She called for her carriage and then raced off to the Champs-Elysees. Claire met her at the door and escorted her in.
Ash was laying on a divan, shirtless, his side well bandaged… the Count was busy taking out one phial of liquid after another…
“Ash!”
“Calm yourself, Madame.” The Count glided up to his patient effortlessly. “The wound was not serious, simply painful.” A lie of course, he’d used magic to boost Ash’s healing abilities so most of the damage was already healed.
“My son…” She met cold golden eyes. This man who should by all rights be their enemy had saved his life yet again… “Thank you.”
He inclined his head, accepting her thanks, as he uncorked the vial of red liquid and dropped three drops on pale lips.
Ash moaned as his eyes fluttered open. “…Count?”
“Ash!”
“…Mother! What are you doing here?” He tried to sit up and instantly regretted the motion as his wounded side protested.
“I came to see you of course. How could you do something so dangerous?”
“I must avenge my father’s honor…” Tears began to gather in his eyes, as memory returned slowly. “I lost, didn’t I?”
“I’m afraid…”
“Just…. Now I have nothing.” He sighed, staring at the ground. * No honor, no real family name… I have nothing! Our wealth was brought through the blood of innocents, our title is false… *
He withdrew silently, not wishing to disturb the reunion, despite the fact that it was taking place in his house.
A few moments later, the Count of Monte Cristo was gone.
Delia fussed over Ash and insisted on bringing him home, despite his protests. They would stick together as a family and pass through this storm, she promised.
He felt so weary that he acquiesced to her request.
He had to thank the Count later…
“My dear Marquis, a pleasure to meet you.” Lord Wilmore spoke to Yellow. Yellow’s eyes widened slightly as he recognized the man, but he hid a smile.
“Of course, my dear Lord Wilmore! What brings you to this country?”
“Travel and pleasure of course. I hear your wedding is but days away, my friend.”
“Heaven hath smiled upon me.” The young man said modestly. In a slightly softer voice, a question… “The real reason?”
“I have heard that the Count of Monte Cristo shall be absent from Paris soon. This pleases me greatly.”
“Ah, ah… yes, your enmity is common knowledge, I’m afraid.”
“What am I to lose by it?? The devil must have witchcraft in his veins… I have yet to defeat him.”
“Then you had best fly to the Moon and ask for advice there.”
“Indeed…” * Do not disappoint me, Yellow… *
He caught the glance and gave a charming smile in return. He would not fail.
He wouldn’t!
Elsewhere…
Bruno downed another glass of fine brandy and sighed. His purse was getting lighter. The information he had sold Todd really had been valuable, but now his savings were wearing out too quickly for his liking.
It was time to do something to get more cash.
Hmm…
Andrea Cavalcanti… oh, he recognized his old fellow prisoner. Yellow. He seemed to be much higher in station now. Interesting.
Perhaps that could be turned to his advantage…
End Chapter
Completed 4/29/05
Phantomness: Yay!
Ash: …
Lance: Where’s the romance?
Phantomness: *shrug*