One Thousand Years to Forever (17 page)

* * * * * * *

“
What is this?” The leader took
the DVD that was offered to him. He walked to the TV and DVD player
and inserted it, then waited for the recording to come
on.

The other man stood nervously,
wanting to be anywhere but where he was at this moment. His stomach
still felt the effects of losing his whole supper earlier after
viewing the DVD. He had seen it, not knowing what awaited him. He
hadn’t had the sense to turn away. Still, despite the graphic
nature he wasn’t sure what he had seen, but if this was what they
were up against, then he didn’t want anything to do with it. It was
one thing working against flesh and blood but these were jinn,
demons he was sure. They looked like humans but the fed on human
blood. He had only heard of whisperings of creatures like this, had
only seen it in the movies and shows that came from
America.

That was where all this evil
spawned from, but the man who spoke didn’t sound American. He
sounded like he was from somewhere near England. Same difference.
They were all godless. It certainly showed that, if they were
harboring creatures such as these. He heard the rise and fall of
the first voice and then he heard the creature stop talking. Then
their comrade in arms came on. He couldn’t look, he didn’t need to.
It was burned in his memory. He covered his ears.

The leader saw the other man cover
his ears. What could make a battle hardened man act like such a
woman? He watched as first one man talked, and then the camera
moved to the second. This man, his third cousin looked like he had
been beaten. The other man had no visible marks on his face. Both
sounded scared.

His cousin looked
straight into the camera. “You have never seen anything like this.
They are...
”

Then the giant came back onto the
screen. He was taller than any one he had ever seen before, with
long black hair. His body looking like it was carved out of a rock.
Both men cowered. “Speak English, I know you can... ”

“
I have seen the Devil himself and
those who work with him... ”

The leader of the terrorist cell
lit a cigarette, sitting and waiting on a chair in front of the TV.
It couldn’t be all that bad. He watched the TV screen. He saw his
other cousin’s reaction.

“
They are not like anything we
have ever seen. I don’t know if they are jinn or aliens from space.
All I know is they are not normal. I don’t think I will ever see my
family again but please tell them, my parents and wife, that I died
a martyr’s death, if I do die.”

The screen shot back to the first
man. He was tied, hands above his head like the other. The leader
watched as his eyes got big and then the screen was turned back to
the other, his cousin. Then it turned to the giant.

A voice like thunder came out of
this man. “Let me warn you, you have attracted the attention of
Katherine’s family. She is to be my wife and with that comes
protection. Should you be so determined to continue on the path you
are on, each one of you will suffer the same fate that is to
happen, right here and right now. No one will get near my beloved
without suffering.”

The screen shot back to the
leader’s cousin.

What happened, indeed it happened
so quickly, he wasn’t sure it did. He heard the scream from the
other, and then from his cousin as the giant moved in a flash. Then
he saw his cousin’s body thrash back and forth and blood spraying
everywhere. The other man was still screaming but nothing came from
his cousin, not a sound as the giant was poised over his neck.
Finally the giant moved away from the still hanging body of his
cousin and the leader saw his legs still twitching. The giant
turned. He saw his eyes blood red, blood dripped from his mouth and
teeth, like a lion or feral dog, the monster smiled at
him.

The giant spoke after wiping his
mouth. “Let it be known the same thing will happen to anyone who
comes and gets near my family. Katherine and her children, everyone
from her family, are under my protection. You will be dispatched
the same way... no mercy... ”

The other man still screamed. It
showed him struggling to free himself as he swung widely back and
forth. As the giant went towards that man, the leader heard that
man’s screams before the film was stopped.

The leader sat still. His cigarette
still in his hand but his hand violently shook. He heard his other
cousin vomiting. He couldn’t move as he heard the door open and
close. He was still sitting there an hour later where his father
found him. Then the nightmare started all over again when the DVD
was turned back on.

Katherine pulled out the pastry
shells from the oven. Travis watched her as she put four more in
the oven.

“
We will fill them as soon as they
cool,” she said.

Travis nodded. “Thank you,
Katherine, for allowing me to be part of your planning. I know this
must not be easy for you but I think we can work together fine. I
am open to learning all the modern ways of cookery.”

Katherine took a sip of her tea,
smiling ruefully. “It’s not easy being waited on hand and foot and
the constantly having someone watching over me and following me. I
know some day I will not mind or may even get used to it.” She put
her mug down and turned the timer on.

“
It’s just I’ve been so
independent all my life, that it’s hard to stop now.”

Travis moved to the wine rack. He
needed a glass of wine. Uncorking the bottle he looked at the year
and saw it was one of those rare vintages that Colum had just
brought up from the cellar. He knew it was from Colum and
Katherine’s home when she was alive the last time. Both he and
Katherine turned to the sound of footsteps and laughter.

Katherine smiled as Sally came
running in, rosy cheeked, behind her were her shadows, Odin and
Thor. She hadn’t thought that was their real names until Travis
confirmed it was so. They had changed their names after they were
created. They too had fallen at the Battle of Clontarf. He had
watched them fall just before himself. He was glad to have real
family with him now, though. Now, he watched as his two nephews
doted on Katherine’s daughter, Sally. It was going to be so hard
when she came of age. He saw them now, it was friendly competition
but they both would fight the other for her to be his
mate.

Sally came up, let her backpack
fall at her feet and she plopped down on the stool.

“
Mom, today was such a good day. I
got an A+ in Spanish, my portfolio was taken to the state capital
to be exhibited, Thor and Odin said we could go on Saturday to see
it and my horse arrived at noon. How cool is that?” Sally jumped up
and opened up the cookie jar. She fished out a cookie and then
grabbed two more. Handing one to each of the young men, she didn’t
see the utter devotion they both displayed. Their eyes never
leaving her as she flitted from one place to the other.

Katherine reached for a cookie
herself. “Why aren’t you out with your horse?”

Sally rolled her eyes but still
smiled. “Because
they
,” motioning towards the brothers,
“told me to get a snack first. They are so bossy... ”

Sally’s kitten came into the
kitchen meowing. Sally scooped it up. “Thor said he has made a box
in the barn for the mama cat that we found on the road. She is
about to have kittens. We will have a nice barn cat
Mom.”

Katherine smiled as she pulled the
light brown pastry shells out of the oven. She was glad Sally was
adjusting. She saw the attachment that had formed between the
brothers and her daughter. Colum said he had spoken to them and had
made it clear they were not to touch her. Colum had told Katherine
how wounded they had both looked.

Katherine heard a slight noise then
felt arms go around her. Then she felt herself being pulled in.
“Hello to you too, darling... ”

Travis bowed and left the room
Sally came up and hugged her mom and Colum before running off with
the brothers in tow.

Katherine turned so she faced
Colum. “How are things going?”

Colum kissed Katherine’s forehead,
then her nose and caught her lips. “What things my dearest? If you
mean preparations for guests arriving tomorrow, everything is fine
and on schedule. If you mean the other situation... well, we will
see.”

Katherine felt herself pulled being
in closer, Colum’s hand capturing her ass, holding her tight. “Your
scent mixes perfect with the scents of baking... maybe we could...
”

Katherine laughed against Colum’s
lips. “Not here, someone will see.”

Colum smiled and nipped her lips.
“No one will see, that will all be taken care of... ”

He flipped open his phone and hit
one number. Then he had Katherine scooped up and on the counter
quick. “I’m going to show you real cooking, my dearest.”

* * * * * * *

Travis watched the security camera
posted on the road at the gate. He had to hand it to these men who
were now after Katherine, they didn’t give up. Nor did there seem
to be a shortage of them. He watched the car go down the road and
then turn around. Cormac came in and scanned the screen. He hit a
button to zoom the camera lens.

Travis scanned the make and model.
“They must be leasing at the airport. What would you like to do,
Sir?” He saw Cormac’s look, and he smiled.

Cormac watched as the car pulled
over and parked. They watched as the man lit up a cigarette, then
sat.

Cormac stood and took a deep
breath. “What are your nephews doing right now?”

Travis typed into the computer and
brought up the surveillance screen for the new barn area. The King
and Travis watched as the brothers and Sally worked with the new
horse. The horse was a Morgan mare that the brothers had bought as
an early Christmas gift for Sally. Travis turned on the sound and
the two men listened for a minute. Cormac tuned to the phone that
lay on the desk. “I’ll send out some of the other men. We don’t
want Sally unattended, either. Where are Katherine’s
sons?”

Travis looked at his watch.
“Playing basketball with friends... two men are with them
also.”

Cormac got on the phone and called
two men down from his house. “We have an uninvited guest near the
gate to Colum’s... get rid of him.”

* * * * * * *

The man sat, earphones in his ears,
smoking, wishing he was anywhere but here. He didn’t like being
here. He had heard the rumors of the last two, though he hadn’t
seen the footage. He really would like to disappear but with his
family at home, they needed the money. He had ignored the warnings
of his wife and mother, and had taken the job. Now as he sat, he
felt not so safe or brave. Why was he here anyway but to watch and
wait and hope that woman came out on her own, and he could get her.
But then what? He had been told,
“If you can get her, get away
as far as you can and then we will tell you what to do and you will
be richly rewarded.”

He doubted any such thing. He
figured he would either just go back after his week here or get
killed. Either way his family would benefit, but if he could catch
her... that would be his ticket out.

He saw the gate open and a woman in
a jogging suit came running out. She had sunglasses on, a winter
hat and gloves. The man moved further down in his seat and crunched
out his cigarette in the ashtray. He watched as the gate closed and
she stood there. He wondered what she was waiting for. She seemed
to match the description, tall with reddish hair. Maybe a bit
taller than he had originally thought but he figured here was his
big chance.

The woman took off at a slow jog,
headed toward the town. He waited till she was out of sight then
turned the ignition on. He put the car in drive and slowly
followed. He got to an area where there were no houses on the
right... here was his chance. He was getting ready to pull up along
side her when he saw her fall. This was going to be so
easy...

He pulled up along side and put the
car in park. Getting out he tried to sound as American as he could
so as to not alert her.

“
Are you OK? Can I help
you?”

He heard her whimper and saw her
holding her ankle. Heard her say, “ I think it’s
broken.”

He came up alongside the woman. He
couldn’t see her face but heard the muffled cry as she tried to
stand. “Please help me.”

He came up and thought this was
going to be too easy.

“
Yes, let me lift you and we will
get you in my car...”

He bent over and was about to lift
the woman, when he was caught up and thrown against a tree. He felt
and heard bones snap as he slid to the ground. He tried to move as
the woman advanced on him from the top of the hill. How did this
happen? She had been hurt. How did she lift him and throw
him?

The man tried in vain to move but
couldn’t feel his legs. His brain didn’t feel like it was working
either. He tried to talk but nothing came out. Then, as the woman
got down the hill through the leaves and snow, he saw something
that knew sealed his fate. The woman took off her sunglasses and
hat which was attached a wig. The woman with red hair wasn’t a
woman... she was a man. And a big man at that.