Immortal Beauty

by Thomas McDermott

  Sasha watched the neighborhoods whizzing by and tried not to think. She had to protect the life inside of her but a part of her mind kept thinking of how she was going to tell her child that she let its father die. That she had left him when he needed her most. He would never do that to her.

  “Arretez!” She yelled at the driver and made up some lie about forgetting her passport. They would have to go back. He started complaining when she threw a hundred euro at him. This quieted the man who spun the car around as if they were in an American car race and sped back to the seventh arrondisement. She knew that she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she didn’t at least try to get Taylor out of all the madness. Now that she was carrying their child, she knew he would see things differently and would want to get them all as far away from this deadly circus as possible. Her cheeks flushed with shame at the thought of coming so close to abandoning them all. It was true that she wanted none of this but it was also true that thye had been through so much lifetime after lifetime. As much as she didn’t like it, she could not change it. For this first time since all of this happened Sasha began to accept and realize who she really was. She wiped the last tear from her eyes and began to focus on her breathing. Nyoirin always prepared herself for battle this way and there was a part of Sasha that belonged to the samurai woman from the seventeenth century who had died at her own hand. Nyoirin deserved a chance to have a happy life and Sasha was the only one who could give it to her. She concentrated on her breath even more now and let go of all her thoughts. The old strength and the old desire for a good fight began to claim her. Celine would be sorry she ever messed with her family.

  “What do you mean she left?” Frankie was practically yelling at the kind hearted concierge who was saddened by Sasha’s sudden announcement that she had to go back to the States. The pesky American had grown on her over time and now she felt as if she had lost a friend.

  “She said it was an emergency.” The old woman huffed while sweeping the dust from the street right onto Frankie’s loafers. “She had to go back because she is pregnant and there is some problem with the baby.” She stopped sweeping and wiped her wrinkled brow. “She said they had special doctors back home who could handle such things. I don’t know Monsieur. Please stop yelling.” She eyed him cautiously. “Who did you say you were?” Even though she was flustered the woman in the dingy blue dress that must have been thirty years old recognized how handsome and charming this man was. He was so upset that she began to suspect that he was the father of the child.

  “Francois LeVoyer. I am an old friend of Miss White. Did she leave a number where she could be reached?” He looked so desperate. “Anything at all?” The woman was sure now that he must indeed be the father. That could be the only explanation as to why he was so worried.

  “I’ve never seen you around here.” She huffed. “That’s a little odd for an ‘old friend’ don’t you think?” Her bushy eyebrow arched suspiciously.

  “Frankie! Oh thank God!” Sasha ran up to him and threw her arms around him and held him to her tightly.

  “Sasha! I thought you were gone!” Frankie looked like he was going to cry with relief.

  “I did. I mean, I was going to but I just couldn’t. Magdalene came to me. She was very hurt and…” Sasha stopped what she was saying and turned to the woman who was listening intently to every word. She lived for gossip like this. It would give her something to tell her women friends with whom she played cards every Friday night. She leaned on her broom and watched to two of them as if she were watching television.

  “We had better take this upstairs.” Sasha whispered and pulled Frankie along with her. “It’s alright Claudette. I am not leaving after all. How could one possibly leave Paris? I’m sure the doctors are even better here, I don’t know what I was thinking.” She smiled at the happy woman who thought she was witnessing the reunion of two young lovers. Nothing could have warmed her old heart more than this. Sasha smiled back at her as she circled her arm around Frankie’s waist. Claudette began sweeping the courtyard and was already planning on what kind of baby blanket she was going to knit the little baby.

  Frankie and Sasha walked into her apartment together and saw that Magdalene was still there as if she knew that Sasha would return. Frankie saw the tape on the birds chest and looked at Sasha incredulously.

  “Nice work doctor!” Even now he couldn’t stop himself from making jokes. It was who he was and for the once Sasha was glad of this quality. She would need it to get through the ordeal that lay ahead.

  “I had to think of some way to close the wound. Unfortunately, I’ve never been a veterinarian in any of my incarnations.” Sasha sat down on the couch and took a good look at the black bird. She seemed to be doing well and Sasha just prayed that they would be able to save Claire as the thought of the bird without her partner was unfathomable. Frankie sat down next to her and looked at Sasha very seriously.

  “She has control of the house and that means she has control of the waters.” He didn’t need to say who ‘she’ was. “That can only mean one thing.” His voice dropped to a mere whisper. Sasha shook her head violently.

  “No. If Taylor were dead I would have felt it. I’m certain of that. We are connected. He’s alive, and if he’s alive I’m hoping that means the others are as well. Celine is probably holding them hostage to lure us in. It’s classic Celine.” Sasha kept trying to think of a plan but nothing was happening in the swirling thoughts and emotions that were her mind.

  “Yeah, that does sound like her. She knows that we would come back only if there was a chance to save their lives. So what do we do? Wait for a ransome note?” He was trying his best to stay positive. He could not entertain the idea that Claire was lost.

  “No.” Sasha said firmly and looked at him directly. “The time for waiting is over. We are going to ambush the bitch and take her by surprize. She’ll have no idea what hit her.” There was a new potency in Sasha’s voice and Frankie looked up at her in awe.

  “Now you’re talking. I like the sound of that.” He tried to pet Magdalene who only squawked at him loudly and hopped around the table amidst the scattered pile of cereal that was now everywhere. It was then that he noticed the wounds were completely healed. Of course, the bird had been drinking the water all these years and had the same healing abilities that comes from hundreds of years of drinking it. He cautiously removed the tape from the strangely subdued Magdalene. “But we know what she is capable of. How are we going to fight Celine?”

  “Oh you’re not going to fight Celine.” Sasha grabbed his trembling hands in her own. “I claim the right to that pleasure. You’re going to find out where the others are. I’ll be doing the fighting.” She looked like a warrior in this light with this new determination on her face. “Damn!” She exclaimed out of the blue.

  “What’s wrong?” Framkie’s fragile spirit was beginning to drop.

  “Oh nothing. I was just thinking how I just had my nails done and this is going to ruin my manicure for sure!” Sasha threw one of the couch pillows at him and he deflected it easily. He liked this new Sasha a lot better than the old one. She rummaged around her tiny apartment and threw a few things into her purse. She ran to her room to change clothes and came back in a tight pair of black pants and a black top to match. Her hair was pulled back in a severe ponytail at the back of her head. He stared at her and wondered if Taylor knew just how lucky he was.

  “Come on Frankie. We’ve got some shopping to do.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him up off the tan and black sofa.

  “Shopping? What are you up to Sasha? “ He wasn’t used to being ordered around by anyone, let alone a beautiful lady. “Where are we going to go shopping?”

  “Chinatown.” Came the simple reply. “We can’t go to war without weapons, that would be suicide and this time we are going in well armed.” She pulled a wad of money out of her purse. “I’ve been saving this for a rainy day and it looks like the storm is about to hit.” Her face was all seri
ousness now and Frankie wondered at the complexities of this lovely creature who called herself Sasha White.

  THE ART OF WAR

  By now the sun was shining full in the sky and the warm air was wafting through the streets bringing out the good nature in the citizens of Paris. People were full of smiles and greeting each other with a hearty “Bon Jour!”. Sasha and Frankie took another cab to the thirteenth arrondisement on the Left Bank to Chinatown that arose in the late seventies and early eighties. Paris really had two Chinatowns, but Sasha knew this one would have all the things she needed. The streets and buildings were all a depressing gray and everything seemed to be made of concrete. It did not look like the Paris that Sasha and Frankie knew. They got out at the Place D’Italie and Sasha paid the driver. She fairly ran down the street past all the restaurants and turned a corner toward the Avenue de Choisy. They found a small store front filled with all sorts of Chinese goods. The ancient man in the store smiled at them and greeted them warmly. Sasha went to the rear of the store and a confused Frankie finally understood. There under the display cases were every sort of martial arts weapon imaginable. There were swords and sticks and metal things that he could not even begin to imagine what they were for. The old man followed them to the back of the shabby but neat store.

  “May I help you?” He said in perfect French. He stared at Sasha and his eyes grew wide with wonder. He bowed slightly and Frankie wondered what the hell was going on.

  “Yes please.” Sasha took control. “I will need some things.” She pointed to the case.

  “Of course.” He squeezed his way past them without disturbing the many shelves of figurines and urns displayed so tidily. Once behind the counter he patiently waited for her as she surveyed everything very meticulously. Sasha finally pointed to a short sword with a wide blade. “I’ll need a broad sword and a couple of those dragon iron fans.” They looked like elaborate Chinese decorative fans but were made of metal and completely deadly in the hands of someone who knew how to use them. “I’ll take two wind and fire wheels.” She pointed to the strange round metal things that looked something like brass knuckles only more pointed and more dangerous. The old man gathered up the weapons. “Will this be all Miss?” He bowed politely.

  “Oh no. I’m just getting started. I’ll take those whip chains over there and these rope darts and give me one of thoe emie piercers.” She pointed to a shiny rod that had a dart on either end. She paused when she saw a stunning set of eight swords all carved with dragons with a rich pommel and guard. “Are those what I think they are?” She asked gleefully.

  “These are the eight immortal swords of Taoism.” The man’s voice was rich now with reverance.

  “I must have those too. It’s a good sign.” She nudged Frankie who just stared at her like she was some kid let loose in a candy store. “I guess that will have to do. Yes, that will be all.” She smiled at the man who hobbled over to a box and began to place the weapons inside. After what seemed like an eternity to Frankie, the man finished packing the last of the weaponry in the box. Sasha pulled out her ridiculous wad of bills and paid the man in cash. He took the money and then impulsively grabbed her hand and took a long look at her palm. Tears came to his wrinkled eyes.

  “I knew it was you.” He kissed her hand reverently and gave the money back to her.

  “I’m sorry? Is this not enough?” Sasha looked at the kind man and thought maybe he was a little senile.

  “It was told to my parents when I was born that I would help the great woman samurai Nyoirin of all the legends when she returned to this world. It was said that I was going to help her in the great battle against the evil spirits that walk in the flesh. My destiny is now fulfilled. Thank you. Thank you.” He bowed over and over again. She couldn’t lie to this sweet soul who had been waiting his whole life for her to appear.

  It is true. I am Nyoirin, at least I was her once, and I believe that you are my old teacher. I recognize something in your eyes. I never thought I’d see you again.” She hugged him reverently and wondered if everyone gets recycled only to return here again and again. As they walked out of the store the man called after them.

  “Remember Nyoirin. Close your eyes and you will see.” His words rang out to them and Sasha mulled over their meaning. She knew now that there was no escaping Destiny. It pushed you about here and there your whole life until it delivered you to the place you are most needed. A few days ago this thought would have made her feel ill at ease and pondering a way to escape this web of Fate, but now it gave her great comfort knowing there was a reason for everything that happened in her life. All the random events were really a part of this larger picture to place her right here at this moment. It was foolish for her to ever think she could run away from all of this. Undoubtedly she would have run right into the thing she was trying to avoid. All of this gave her hope. Up until now she thought that she and Frankie were alone in this. Now she wasn’t so sure. Maybe the reason they kept coming back was to subdue the evil that was threatening to destroy this very world she had come to know and love. So far they had failed to stop Celine and Sasha swore to herself that this time would be different. She dragged Frankie along who carried the heavy box with no difficulty.

  “Where are we going now?” His face was completely hidden by the box of weaponry.

  “We’ve got to get some rest Frankie.” Sasha said as she walked quickly with purpose. “We’re going to move once it’s dark, Besides, we need to think of a way to get you into the house without being seen.” Her mind was racing a mile a minute and she found another taxi stand where they waited until the next available car came to fetch them. She decided against her apartment. Too risky. They chose a little hotel in Passy so they could be close to the enemy. She and Frankie pretended to be a young couple in love and the woman at the front desk with a severe black bob and thick black glasses who stared at them with big eyes full of affection. She showed them to their ‘love nest’ which was small and lovely and the color of the ocean. The blue walls and satin bed clothes immediately calmed them both. It was amazing the effect of color on the psyche, even in the middle of such a dangerous situation. They both exhaled slowly for the first time in a long time. Sasha felt hunger overtake her. Frankie opted to run out for some food.

  “Maybe when I get back you could tell me about our love child!” Frankie smiled at her. This new Sasha was infectious and he began to feel a glimmer of hope inside that maybe this time they would win. If there was a chance at defeating Celine he knew that Sasha would figure it out. He walked out into the brilliant mid day sun and found a little café and ordered sandwiches for them. He ordered a lot of food since Sasha was eating for two. It had to be Taylor’s baby, but how could she already know she was pregnant? Maybe it was one of her special talents: an extreme awareness of her body. He kenw now there was a completely new reason they had to win this fight against Celine. There was an innocent involved who had no say in the matter. An innocent life that deserved a fair chance at life in this crazy but wonderful world. Frankie smiled at the thought of a baby in the house. The dream of them becoming a family born so long ago had a slim chance of seeing the light of day, but for the first time Frankie was hopeful.

  LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE

  Claire stirred. She was dreaming of the fields behind her house when she was a little girl. She was playing in the meadows and laughing as the black bird flew in circles around her head. The bird began to caw loudly and Claire looked up at the sky which was beginning to blacken with heavy clouds. She saw a woman with red hair who had her arms lifted upward and an army of grotesque creatures straight out of mythology charged from behind her, storming the fields with weapons and shouts of victory. She woke up screaming.

  “Magdalene!” She was in a dark place and her head felt fuzzy like she had drank too much the night before. She couldn’t quite place things together and tried to remember the last thing she could. In her mind she saw Celine dressed in an exquisite gown smiling at her. She groaned as she began
to recall what had happened to her. She was laying on a cold stone floor and her body was aching.