Thorn Within
2000
Paris, France
His footsteps fell softly on the pavement while the tip of his long duster skimmed silently across the ground. His long, blonde hair was tied back from his face allowing his gray eyes to surveillance the area. It was then he heard the familiar humming that had become his best defense. His hand gripped the handle of his katana as he turned to face whomever was behind him. The black man smiled and slid the coat from his shoulders, showing off an impressive blade. "Shall we dance?" The blonde returned the smile and easily slid from under the duster. "Lets." The two circled each other for a while, then, the black man made the first attack, thrusting his swords forward. The blonde could tell that his fighting skill had originated in South Africa, by the turns of the hand and blade. The metal cut into the blonde's exposed arm and he hissed, then grinned, using his own 12th century England style and retaliated with a slash across the man's chest. The swords clanged and banged, sending sparks flying across the darken ally way while the two darted back and forth. Finally, the blonde knocked the sword from the other man's hand. His lips twisted into a smile as he laid his blade on the man's neck. The words, "There can be only one." fell from his lips as he pulled back, then, cut the man's head off cleanly. The decapitated body fell to the earth and the blonde stood over him, panting slightly. A white hue rose from the body and the blonde raised his hands as it entered his. He shook, closing his eyes as electrical shots jolted everywhere. His raised his sword into the air and let out a scream, then, fell to his knees. The wound on his arm had all ready healed, his hair had fallen from it's tie, and his breathing had returned to normal. Slowly, his slipped back into his jacket, then, placed his katana back in it's place. He put his hands into his pockets and walked away from the win. Christian, he said to himself, how did you get yourself into this?
1145
Yorkshire, England
The market was busy as always with the arrival of new slaves to trade. "So, have thou heard wherest these come from?" said on marketer to another. The man shrugged, "I cannot say that I have, enlighten me." "A place from the North, way up North, where it freezes at night. The men are pale as white with the lack of sun it gets, I hear their as big as oxen too." The second man nodded slightly, then turned his attention to the slave traders coming in. As the first man described, the men were slightly different then most in Yorkshire. Most were blonde with crystal blue eyes and pale skin as described. All spoke in a strange tongue and were seemingly frightened. A tall gentleman, who must have been the translator, whispered to another. "Let us sale them quickly before they revolt against us." The man looked them over and nodded. As the auction started, he noticed a blonde near the back starting to slip away from the group. The translator spoke something but the blonde only shook his head and turned to run. A guard chased after him but the blonde fought him off, only then to be struck from behind by another guard. They drug hi to the translator who simply said. "He's trouble, kill him." They nodded as one forced him to a tree and the other tied a rope around his neck. The second marketer turned his head as the blonde was hung, it was then he heard the ringing in his ear and turned back to the dying man.
2000
Paris, France
The telephone by Christian's bed began to ring. He groaned softly and turned over, lifting the receiver to his ear. "Hello..." he mummer softly. "Christian! Still in bed are we?" He groaned again and looked at the clock. "Adam, it's four in the morning..." "No excuse, come on, get up, I want you to help me with something." "You can forget it, you always end up getting me into trouble." "You're immortal, what are they going to do to you? Kill you?" Christian frowned, "No, but they can kill you." "Whose to say I'm not immortal?" Adam chuckled and sighed. "No trouble, I promise. I'm just picking up one of my friends from the dock and I want you to go with me, there was a murder down there last night, I think the guy was immortal-" "Ahmed Johnson, I know, I did it." "Well, whatever, come man, will you, please?" Christian thought for a moment, sighed, then grinned. "Be here in 15 minutes or I'm going back to sleep."
Adam. Christian loved Adam dearly. They were like brother, and some mistaken them to be. But, he supposed since Adam was his distant nephew the looks were similar. The two walked the port ways path slowly as the ships docked. "There it is, the Sea Bell." Christian looked to the ship Adam pointed out and nodded, it was a cruise liner. He stopped suddenly, his senses giving him a warning that another immortal was near. He looked at Adam as he ran to the boat walk, catching a girl in his arms and twirling her around. But, she kept her gave on Christian. He nodded, the girl was immortal. "Carol, I'm glad to see you're all right, I thought we lost you last month when Jen said you were in the accident, how are you?" She smiled softly and kisses his forehead, "I'm fine, just fine, now, could you please let me go." He nodded and looked at Christian. "Oh, by the way, this is my pal Chris." "Christian." he corrected and held out his hand to her which she took. He raised her hand and kissed her knuckles, "Charmed Miss Carol." "As am I, Christian."
"Jeff." Matt said to his brother who was leaning over a rail, looking on at the immortals. Jeff smiled and embraced his brother quickly. "This is great, I'm so glad Christian decided to come tonight, I can't believe you're here." Matt smiled and ruffed Jeff's long, multi-colored hair. "Me too, when I found out Carol was coming to Paris I was happy, but now, our luck is even greater." They both nodded as they turned to watch them leave. It was their job after all, they were Watchers.
Adam had fallen asleep on the way back, giving the two immortals time to talk. "Don't take this the wrong way, but how old are you?" Carol laughed softly at Christian. "You know you should never ask a girl about her age, it's rude. But if you must know, I'm only 234 years old, yourself?" "Counting my mortal years, 881." "Of course, may I ask how you know Adam?" Christian smiled slightly, "He's my nephew, well, down the line. It was hard to trace my brother's line after we were sold into slavery in England, but not impossible. And yourself?" "We met through a friend, and may I say, I'm quite glad you're not interested in taking my head." she laughed softly. "Well, I only kill when challenged." "Same." Adam began to snore softly and both the immortals laughed. "Well, this should be an interesting vacation after all. Maybe we can swap tales, past lives." "Maybe." came Christian's reply as he drove on.
1145
Yorkshire, England
Ian watched as the blonde laid dead still on a pile of straw. He sipped on a small cup of ale as he watched and waited. Then, almost suddenly, the blonde's eyes shot open and he gasped for air. Ian quickly went to his side and held him down as he looked around in panic. "Easy..." he cooed softly, "No ones going to hurt you lad." The blonde looked at him, confused. Ian laughed softly, "Well, firsts thing first, we need to teach you English. Let's start with our names." He sat back on his knees and pointed to himself. "Ian." He then pointed to the blonde who only looked at him. "This is going to be a chore." Ian groaned softly.
The Following Spring
"Christian! Come boy, it's time for your lessons." The blonde by the riverside looked up quickly as Ian called to him. "Coming Sir, coming." came his reply as he ran towards his teacher and mentor. Ian frowned slightly and handed Christian his sword. "Never, by any means, leave this behind. What if another immortal had come to take your head?" "Ian, you worry to much, I have yet to encounter any immortal since my first death almost four seasons ago, what makes you think I would have today?" Ian frowned again and, before Christian could have time to react, had laid his blade on the blonde's neck. "It's an attitude like that that will get you to lose your head, understand boy?" Christian looked into his cold, blue eyes and nodded. "Good, then let us be-" he stopped as a high pitched ringing entered his ears. Christian held his head in his hands. "What is that noise?" Ian gave no response, only watched as a figure behind the bushes came out. The person was dressed in a black gown and their hand held a small, but deadly blade. "I come for the boy." a female voice said and walked towards the two immortal men. Christian looked at Ian, terrified. "I'm not ready to fight..." "You've been challenged, you must accept." The woman looked at Christian and pointed to him with her sword. "Will you forever hide under the blanket of your teacher boy, or will you fight and be a man." At this Christian puffed out his chest and frowned, "I am a man-" "Prove it." the woman hissed in returned and took a fighting stance. Christian looked at Ian who only shrugged, and, smiled? He turned back to the woman and smiled himself. "To bad, you're pretty." He roared and lunged at her, thrusting his sword forward only to have her move and trip him up. She kicked the sword form his hand and laid her blade on his throat. "There can be only one, boy." She wound back, then, stopped within centimeters of his neck. He looked up at her and found her smiling brightly with Ian laughing behind her. She offered him a hand which he refused and scooted away from her. She shrugged, "Suit yourself." With that, she turned to Ian and he quickly embraced her. "I don't understand." Christian said with confusion swelling in his eyes. Ian laughed softly and sat the woman down. "It was a test, that, you failed. You must always be prepared for any immortal to find you, to challenge you. You have to learn how to defend yourself. And, never by any means, take another immortal for granted by sex at all. Chyna here could have taken your head at any time." The woman, Chyna, smiled softly and sheathed her sword back in place under her long gown. She looked at Christian and winked, then, turned to go into Ian's home. Christian stood befounded as Ian patted him on the back, "Come on Christian, we need to start your training."
2000
Paris, France
He watched on as Christian, Carol, and Adam walked the streets of Paris, enjoying themselves. He even watched the two Watchers, the Hardy brothers, as they followed them. A smile twisted his lips and he laughed sinisterly. "Hunter should pay me greatly for this..." Paul Wright stood to his full 7' 2" height and continued to walk along the high sidewalk. For ten years he had worked for a league of men called The Thorns; with a dedication of finding out immortals. In a way they were a lot like the Watchers, except they did interfere a few times. Paul thought on this as he walked his way. Brisco & Patterson, the two goofs who usually worked Paris, were at the present moment of being fired. A smile crossed Paul's lips, no one was fired from the Thorns, you were taken care of once and for all. Even though he was big, he wasn't dumb. As soon as Hunter paid him off for tracking Christian, he would disappear without a trace, on his own free will. His cell phone rang and he answered, listening to Steve Blackman gripe off his normal bitching. "Don't worry, I'll meet up with Billy in a few hours." "You better, Gunn doesn't like to be kept waiting." He turned off his phone and frowned. Yes, after Hunter paid him, he was out of the Thorns.
"Ever thought of telling Adam what you really are? I mean, he knows about me, why not you?" Carol thought on Christian's words and shrugged, "Just never thought of a good reason too. Why should he know? You had a good enough reason, you are his great some odd uncle after all. He doesn't need to know about me." She paused, then looked at him with a smile. "I'm sure just knowing there are immortals if good enough for him. I've known him for ten years and I haven't changed, the car accident was my way of trying to escape, but, I had revived before paramedics could get there. But now I'm glad I didn't elude Adam's grasp all together." Christian raised a blonde eyebrow in question, "And why is that?" "Because, it's given me the chance to meet you." She smiled when he blushes softly. "Honestly Christian, you, a 881 year old immortal, and blushing like a school lad? What would your teacher think?" The blush faded as Christian lowered his eyes. He knew exactly what Ian would have thought.
1386
Dublin, Scotland
"Milady! Malady!" The girl turned around and smiled sweetly at Christian. "My lord, you shouldn't give such pursuit over a common maid such as I. Why, if Lord Ian knew he'd-" "Ah, but he doesn't my lady." Christian smiled, taking her hands in his. "He shall never know Torie my love, never." He brushed his hand against her cheek and kissed it softly. Suddenly, the high pitch ringing went off in his ears and he turned this way and that. "Ian?" Fear entered Tori's eyes. "Ian? But how do you know that-" She stopped and looked past him, then, pulled from his embrace and bowed. Christian turned to see a noble riding on horse back. His black, curly hair fell over his shoulders and he rubbed a well trimmed mustache. "Tori, I'm surprised, I leave the manor for one day and you go off whoring your ways again." She bowed her head, "Forgive me, Lord Waltman." The noble only frowned and stepped off his horse, drawing his sword. Christian immediately drew his, "I'll protect you my love." "You cannot protect what is mine lad, she is my property." Lord Waltman replied, a smile flirting his lips and he took his stance. Christian moved to take his as well when both paused as the ringing came again. Ian laid his hands on both their swords and looked sternly at Christian. "Let's go." "But-" "Now!" Ian barked and yanked his sword away, blood seeping from his hand as where he grabbed the blade. Ian turned back to Lord Waltman and frowned slightly. "There shall be no blood shed here, do what you will with the girl, Sean." Sean smile broaden, "We'll finish this at another time then, wont we lad?" Christian nodded softly and Sean grabbed the girl onto his horse and rode away. In anger, he threw down his sword. "It's not right! He treats her as if she were a whore, I love her!" "You are a fool Christian, you know we cannot pair, it's against the Code." "The Code!" Christian shouted into the highlands. "The code that we shoulder forever stay alone? That we should never get attached for fear it will die? There cannot just be only one Ian, there just cannot." "But there will be." Ian replied softly and picked up Christian's sword, handing it to him. "It may be me, it may be you, it may be Sean, or it could be any other immortal alive now or one to come. There can be only one. And they will forever be the one, the only one."
Paris, France
2000
Vince McMahon looked over some papers as Chris Benoit entered the room. "Sir, you called me?" Vince nodded an motioned for him to sit down. "Yes Chris, I need you to do some undercover work for me." Chris's left eyebrow raised in questioned, "What kind of undercover work did you have in mind?" "The Thorns." Chris's jaw tighten at the mention of that. The Thorns had long ago murdered his wife and unborn child in an attempt to kill him. He rubbed the Watcher symbol on his left wrist in an attempt to calm himself. "What do you want me to do?" "I need you to follow one of their agents, he's tracking one of the immortals in the city, find Jeff Hardy, he'll give you more information." Chris nodded as he was dismised. Vince sat back in his chair, a look of worry on his face. He closed his eyes and thought distant thoughts. His wife, Linda, how he missed her. It was then his fists tighten and he growled. He couldn't believe how she had died, his own children had killed her. "Shane..."
Shane McMahon sat back in his chair, a smug look flirting his face. Kurt Angle looked at him from across the desk, puzzled. "Why do we want the Hardy Brothers for? We have enough members of the Thorns as it is." "Because, the Hardys are two of my father's top Watchers, to lose them, why, he'd be crushed." Kurt shrugged and stood, "You're the boss, I'll handle it." "See that you do." Shane added as Angle left. Shane folded his hands on the desk and smiled at his sister Stephanie McMahon. She returned the evil grin and laughed softly. "You're a genius brother dear." The leader of the Thorns nodded, "Thank you for noticing. The Watchers will be reduced to othing when we are through." Stephanie's brows drew up, "And if the Hardy's do not wish to join?" "We'll kill them." Both sibilings looked to the source of the answer. Hunter stood in the doorway, arms crossed with a smile. "Simple as that my love; we give them a chance to live, or the choice to die." Stephanie giggled and hurried to jump into Hunter's arms. Shane nodded to his brother-in-law's words, all Watchers had the chance to live or die. He wasn't totally cruel, oh no, he was fair. He even gave his own mother the same choice. He looked at the Watcher's symbol on his wrist and frowned. "You are born into duty Shane." his father had said to him once. "Someday, you will be leader of the Watchers." "Bah." Shane said when Hunter and Stephaine had left the room. "Born into duty, more liked forced. Ah, but times are changing now. When the Watchers are destroyed then the Thorns shall carry out what the Watchers should be. A power to be reckoned with, a force to be feared, an order to follow."
"Yes, of course, come on over, no, it's all right, yeah, see you soon." Christian sat down the phone and sighed, laying on his couch. He looked over the room filled with memories of his past lives. Pottery from Japan, weapons of all kind, paintings of various artists, and so on. He sighed and stood, walking to a wall that was decorated with swords. He chose one, a long blade with a sharp tip. His hand gripped the leather and he closed his eyes. His sword, the one and only one he used before he got his katana. It felt good in his hands, he never fought with it anymore. It was heavy and hard to sheath, but still, it was his sword. He sighed and sat it back in its place. His face turned sad as his fingers ran along the blade of another sword. Ian, his mentor, his teacher, his friend. It was all he had of him. "Ian, why did I have to listen to you that day?"
Osaka, Japan
1593
"When are we going home?" Christian sighed heavily, toying with the flaps on his komono. Ian rolled his eyes and sheathed his sword. "When the ship docks this evening we will leave, until then, take in the last few glimpse of the city." "Belive me," Christian said with a huff, "I've seen all of the city that I care to remember. I just want to go home..." he stopped as a young woman passed by him. "On second thought, maybe we could stay another night-" "No." Ian smiled and chuckled. "That's the last thing this country needs, Christian's famous sex mark on society." "Funny, real funny." Suddenly, a high pitch ring went off in their ears. Ian drew his sword immediantly as a well dressed Enlgishman stepped from the shadows. "Ian, leaving so soon? Pity, you didn't even let me buy you a drink." "It would have been poisened." Ian spat back, walking infront of Christian. The Englishman chuckled, "It wont help any, after I kill you I'll kill the boy as well." "Your fight is with me Davey." Christian came next to his mentor, hand clasped on his sword. "No Christian." Ian said softly but kept his stern look towards Davey. "Go to the cemetery, now." "But-" "Now! I'll meet you at the port this evening." Christian's eyes swelled to cry, but he didn't. He took one last glimpse at Ian before leaving.
That Evenning
He waited, no Ian. The ship was due to leave in five minutes. Christian began to pace, Ian was never late. Never. His fingers clenched, he grinded his teeth, beads of sweat ran down his forehead. He heard the hum in his head and stopped, running to it's source. "Ian-" He stopped as Davey came into view. The Englishman had a smile flirting his lips as he threw Ian's sword to Christian. "A memento boy, I didn't come for your head." With that and a laugh, he got into a carraige and drove away. Christian stared long at the sword at first, then slowly, picked it up with trembeling hands. Tears slid down his cheeks and he embraced it to his chest. "All aboard!" cried the boatman as the ropes were being cast off. Christian stood there for a moment, then, turned to board the boat.
TBC