The Watcher Chronicles

[Alexander Marcus]

For six months he'd had to recover from the accident that made him more vicious than ever. Admittedly he'd started hunting after only 4, they could not keep him away, however, only now did he feel well enough to hunt her. the liar. The Immortal. Calla. The bitch. She was one of them, and he'd trusted her with so many things. Then again her faction had been kicking themselves much as he had but she had meant something to him. A trusted partner, and it had all been nothing but lies. there was no question in his mind that she had to be done away with. And he would take the bounty on her head happily. Offered by both his and her faction, it was worth over half a million dollars. He'd buy a new car with that, among other things.

The best part was, he knew right where she was waiting for him.

Still with a slight lip, Alex walked into Notre Dame. Holy Ground... Woo Fucking who. That might have stopped other immortals, but not hunters. Not unless they gave a damn. And he personally did not. With jeans and a t-shirt under a long leather jacket, he walked down the center. A pistol in one hand and his blade in another, just waiting for her to jump at him. Oh yes, he remembered her promising to be waiting, with that sorrow in her voice, of giving up and ready to accept death. But it had been six months and he was willing to bet something had changed....

"Calla..." He crooned, grinning. "Come to daddy..."

[Calla Fabray]

Calla knelt silently behind the podium, hidden out of sight with a her head hung. She was tired and very worn down, the strain of the last few days could clearly be seen on her face. She had been going straight for months now. She had accepted Blayze's advice and, despite her better judgement about trusting an immortal, taken it to heart. She had managed in the four months since to avoid a battle with an immortal, moving place to place, so things were going well there. After all, she was still new to using a large blade to defend herself. She was a fast learner, but things like swordplay needed time.

She'd been careful about covering her tracks. She wanted to make it impossible for anyone to track her. If it was one thing being a Hunter had taught Calla, it was to be a stealth. To hide herself and her whereabouts from everyone, including fellow hunters. Always use cash, never stay in a hotel, always use an unknown, untraceable alias... etc. And it never failed her. She needed time to prepare herself for what she knew was coming. Alex despised her. No, he hated her with ever fiber of his being. The fact still stung her and her heart still skittered when she thought about him.

However, about three weeks ago, she'd come face to face with a Hunter. A hunter who she'd been friends with since she'd started hunting for money with Horton's group. Kaden had always had a soft spot for Calla and told her that Alex was searching for her. That was the day she'd decided that she'd run enough, she needed to face him. The man she'd fallen in love with. And she knew that she would need to be on her best game to face him because one of them wouldn't be walking away from the fight. Fucking damned fate. The most infuriating force in the universe and there was not a damn thing she could do to stop it.

So, she'd set him a trail of bread crumbs to follow. Leaving just enough bits and pieces for him to find her in Paris. Notre Dame was one place where she knew there would be plenty of room should things get out of hand and Immortals would not be able to interfere. She was going to face in for the last time. If she fell, she fell. She'd rather he do it anyway. Sure it was for the wrong reasons but she didn't want to be another trophy on some immortal fuck's card.

She vaguely heard the door to the chamber she was in open and she froze. "Calla...Come to daddy..." God, that voice still could do terrible things to her body. And as much as it pained her to no end to admit, Alex hunting still was a turn on. But those were things she didn't need to think about now. She needed a clear head. She motioned the cross over her heart and looked up at the cross. She'd never been a religious person but for the first time in her life she felt the need to pray for God to have mercy on her pitiful life.

She stood then, drawing the katana from its sheath without a sound. The only light in the chamber came from the few candles that remained lit. The night had helped shield her from the outside world as she waited as she had been every night for the last three days. She was well armed and ready for battle. With some luck, he would shoot her in the head and get it over with.

She leaned against the large podium and spoke, her voice tinged with a bit of annoyance. "Took you long enough," she cooed at him. "I was being to think you'd gotten lost, hunter."

[Alexander Marcus]

Alex's eyes followed his ears to the sound of her voice and when they settled on her he smiled that lazy, arrogant grin that never meant anything good. his nostrils flared and his chin lowered as he focused and tried to note any small changes. Other than the fact she seem a bit more confident and comfortable in her own skin than he remembered there wasn't much. The snort of humor from him was full of criticism for just a simple sound. His feet carried him deeper into the chambers, slowly, confidently. The entire time his gun was fixed on her and his blade was at the ready. He would take no chances with her, not a one. It was possible she'd changed her mind about simply offering her neck.

He caught the glint of the katana in the light and he knew then that he was in for a fight. That she wasn't about to roll over for him and he had a few different reactions. It turned him on, it pissed him off, it sharpened his focus while at the same time wondering why she'd changed her mind. He finally stopped a few feet from where she stood and relaxed a bit, or at least his seem so the way his body eased, but he was simply battle ready.... being overly tense was not a good thing.

"Not at all Calla." He crooned. "Just taking my time." Alex shifted his grip on the blade and smirked. "Why? Are you really in such a rush to die?" He fixed the gun so it aimed between her eyes. "Because if you are just tell me and I'll end it real quick. Got better things to do once I'm rid of ya."

[Calla Fabray]

"Not at all Calla. Just taking my time. Why? Are you really in such a rush to die? Because if you are just tell me and I'll end it real quick. Got better things to do once I'm rid of ya."

Calla smiled at him, so sweet yet so full of defiance and even a little pain. With everything that he had said to her that day in the hospital, she couldn't stop herself from still feeling a bit upset. What he didn't know about her feelings wouldn't hurt her any. It made what was about to transpire just a little easier. As he walked toward her, Calla noticed a few things. Things that would prove useful if he decided he really did want to take her out.

First there was the limp. It was obvious to her that his leg was still bothering him from the accident. If needed she could always deliver a swift kick to the leg and hope it took him down. She wasn't afraid to play dirty. Never had been in their, well, now his... line of work. After all, it wasn't like she was expecting him to play fair. She'd be disappointed if he did. Where was the fun in that?

Second, was the grip on the his weapons. With gun pointed between her eyes and his hand around the swords hilt - he meant business. So that's how it is, huh? Right. No mercy then? She smirked to herself. She had been trying to prepare herself for this. To show him the same curtosies he was about to show her. Which was none. So she would show him no mercy either. She didn't intend to make the first move anyhow.

"I wouldn't go that far, lover. I'm in no hurry to die," she told him as she pushed off her elbows and away from the podium. She was dressed in her normal hunting gear and she was well armed. He knew about the wrist sheath but he didn't know about the boot knives hidden in the toe of each boot. If it came down to it, she would used them. Another advantage.

She smirked at him as she began to circle around him, like a predator sizing up its prey. She was telling the truth. She really didn't want to die. However, it didn't seem like he was going to give her a choice in the matter. "You're really going to do this aren't you, Alex?" she asked, stopping her slow circle for a moment. Not giving him the chance to speak, she started walking again. "We don't have to you know. But then again, you are hell bent on believing I lied to you, that I was immortal the entire time I've known you."

She sighed. "But if you would pull your head out of your ass long enough, you'd realize that I couldn't possibly be an Immortal hunter," she paused to loo at him. She adjusted her grip on the katana. She'd have no change against him with the damn thing. He was definately more experienced by far with the sword. Her shoulders dropped slightly in defeat as she started to stroll again. Her words were futile. She knew she wouldn't be able to kill him. Goddammit and goddamn him. "The buzz would give me away immediately. And since you obviously know I don't use guns very often... It would be impossible for me to make a kill. But that doesn't matter does it?"

She stopped suddenly, in the center aisle directly where she started. She took a slow, deep breath and closed her eyes for a split second as her grip tightened on the sword. When she opened her eyes, she tried to hide the fear in her eyes. She tossed her blade down at his feet and looked at him. "You want your shot? Then take it, hunter," she told him quietly, lifting her head. "Better make it count. You're only gonna get one."

[Alexander Marcus]

Her words, he actually listened to them. It was about a month ago he came to the realization that she hadn't known either. She could not be as effective as a hunter if she had been an immortal all along. Not only that but on that but on the first day they met he had killed a mark, and she had been close enough that, even though she had not taken the head she would have absorbed the quickening. Yeah, he knew now that she couldn't have known but this was his job. Her bounty was the largest thing he'd ever been offered... His lip curled at her, baring his teeth as she offered him his shot. He wasn't a fool, he wanted this over now.

Shifting he settled in a stance better suited for his shot...and took it.

The silencer on the barrel eased the sound but it still echoed, be it in his ears, his head or the actual place he didn't know. But he watched the bullet sore right towards her...and ease just past her ear, embedding into the wall behind her.

It had been no misfire. His aim wasn't off. But he couldn't do it. Putting the safety on the gun with a shift of his finger he threw both the blade and the gun to the ground. He couldn't do it. Sonofabitch. He couldn't do it. Taking a deep breath he looked up at her, his face carefully blank. "See you in hell Calla." He said, not quite gently, a growl behind his words as he turned and walked for the door. At its threshold he stopped and looked over his shoulder at her.

"Eventually."

He limped out the door.

[Calla Fabray]

The motherfucker pulled the trigger! She was awestruck. Calla had been expecting this. So why was she so shocked that her words were ignored? That he was doing his job?

To her, the entire scene seemed to slow like in a movie, bullet time. She blinked in shock as the gun was fired, hearing the faint noise of the bullet leaving the silencer. And she waited, shaking as she fought back the tears in her eyes, for the impact of the bullet. It was the first time she'd ever had a gun fired at her. Sure, she dealt with death all the time as a hunter, but this was just a little different. She held her breath and jumped as the bullet passed her ear, embedding itself in the wall behind her.

She turned then, her eyes wide. He nevered missed. Didn't he once tell her that? Didn't he say that messy made a point to other immortals? So what the fuck was that about?

"See you in hell Calla...Eventually." And he was gone.

She could only blink for a moment as she gathered her thoughts. She was still shaking as the realization settled that he had purposely missed her. Why? She steadied herself, taking a couple deep breaths as she gathered the weapons that piled on the floor of the cathedral. She carefully tucked the swords under her three-quarter length wool trench coat and slipped the gun into her pocket before she ran for the door.

Out in the darkened streets of the early evening hours, there were still surprisingly quite a few people strolling about. The slim brunette stood on her toes to see over the head of the small group of people that strolled toward her. Finally she spotted him limping down the street. She quickly sprinted and stopped directly in his path. Huffing from the sprint, she raised her eyes to him.

"I need to know why," she said, her carefully chosen words. Her breath caught for a moment as she looked at him swallowing the lump in her throat. He was still perfect... an asshole, yes. But she still felt for him. She still loved him. And would continue to even knowing he didn't reciprocate it. "Why you didn't do it. The bounty is probably huge knowing my firm."

[Alexander Marcus]

Alex moved one hand around the back of his neck and kneaded the tence muscles as he walked. He couldn't do it. He simply could not bring himself to kill her. He'd lost Jen because of the immortal game and because of the part he played in it he lost Calla too. The fates so loved to fuck with him it seemed. Letting his arm drop he slipped both hands into his pockets and aimlessly let his feet carry him from Notre Dame. He suddenly felt tired, so very tired. He was confused and conflicted to the point where he just wanted to scream. Hunting was a thrill, a rush. He'd never choked before. Maybe it was just because it was Calla... maybe. Shaking his head he dug his hand into his pocket, reaching for his phone when the brunette ran into his path.

He stopped his gait and watched her with that bored face, passive and blank. One might even say bored. One brow slowly arched at her as he waited for whatever it was she wanted. When she finally made her demands he ran a hand though his hair and settled into one of him more comfortable stances, slightly slouched, one leg out, head cocked just slightly. When she brought up the bounty he snorted and shook his head, his smile empty.

"It's not about the money Calla, never has been. My reasons are my own, now please, step aside. I have things I need to do." His jeep, rented of course, was just a few feet away. Even though he hadn't been paying attention, his subconscious knew what he wanted. He wanted to go home. He'd quit hunting and get a normal job. He had a degree, he could work something out. But he couldn't hunt anymore... there was no fun to it now.

[Calla Fabray]

"It's not about the money Calla, never has been. My reasons are my own, now please, step aside. I have things I need to do."

Calla's lips curled at his response. She actually thought for once he wouldn't pull punches and tell her how it was. Yeah, not so much. Why was it that she felt the urge to kiss him and tell him "thank you". But his stance, his words... She didn't dare. It was the true that she loved him. Why? She didn't know why, and truthfully, she didn't really care.

"Sure, Alex. After all, I know you waited six months to tell me to get out of your way," Calla's frustration with him and herself finally peaked. She pulled the gun out of her pocket and pressed it into his hand before doing the same with the sword. She continued, her voice angered. "You really shouldn't leave these lying around. Your prints are all over them. It's a hunter rule."

She turned to leave, heading for the apartment she'd purchased using an alias. As she started walking she muttered to herself, not really thinking about her words. "I can't believe I really loved you."

[Alexander Marcus]

Alex took the gun and the blade as she pressed them into his hands and slowly slipped them away, ignoring the few people walking past watching them. They were the night owls, curious but they didn't care enough to tell so he didn't worry all that much. He watched her for a moment, sighed and shook his head. He ended up walking a few steps behind her as her room and his car were in the same direction, so he caught her words just as he reached the car. His hand was on the door handle when he caught it. He bit his tongue, until it bled, but he couldn't hold it in.

Leaning against the side of his jeep he crossed his arms over his chest and his ankles, watching her he made no effort to keep his voice down. "I stopped being one of them the moment the shot missed so don't quite the line to me." The door opened and he tossed his jacket inside then started unhooking his various holsters. They followed his jacket into the car.

"And don't worry about the love thing." He threw her a quick glance. "You've got a thousand lifetimes, a thousand generations to get over me." He gave a snort of sarcastic, self loathing laughter. "I don't." He hefted himself into the jeep and started the engine. "Like I said, see you in hell, eventually." the lights turned on, the music started and he pulled out of his parking spot to find a place to sit until the rental place reopened and he could drop of the car and head home.