Chris's Chronicles Book 1: Part 6:
A new year, a new life, old memories...
Paris: 1699- *Festival of the Fools
During the past 30 years after Jordan took Mars's head, she spent time traveling the world. She had grown stronger in many ways, and not once had she run into Duncan. She had seen Connor a few times, and he said nothing about that night, nor what he said to Duncan. She had also run into Amanda in Egypt. She was supposedly trading Egyptian artifacts, but Jordan knew better.
Now it was her Birthday. The start of a new year. Jordan had come to Paris to live a little, after all today was the Festival of Fools. She had spent the time alone living in fear of her own emotions. Now she wanted to start a new life. Live a little and have fun. Something she wasn't able to do since the day she died.
Walking down the banks of the Seine, she got the buzz. Jordan looked around and there about ten feet in front of her was Duncan. She frowned as he turned ghost white.
"Jordan?" he asked.
"Hello Duncan." He hugged her and smiled.
"You're suppose to be dead! Connor told me that..."
"I asked him to."
"But why?"
"I was afraid and ashamed. I could not face you after I took Mars's head, so I left."
"Ashamed? But why? You must have fought hard and well to beat him."
"I did, but I really do not want to talk about it. Please, Duncan."
Duncan nodded. "So what brings you to Paris during the Festival of Fools?"
"It tis my birthday and I wanted to start my life over. I have been running from my emotions since that day, and I want to have fun again."
"You've come to the right place for that. Where are you staying? Surly you're not camping out again are you?"
"No, I am staying at an inn on the outside of town."
"Stay with me, I have a place right over there. It'll be a way to start the new year, with an old friend."
Jordan looked hesitant for a moment. "Sure, why not." She said as she sighed.
The two walked back to where Duncan was staying, and Jordan felt at home once again. Once she was settled in, they went to the festival, had a few drinks, and stayed there until hours after midnight. Once they were back at Duncan's, they talked for awhile longer.
"You never told me why your were ashamed of killing Mars." Duncan said as he sat down in the chair.
Jordan crossed to the window and looked out "I told you I would rather not talk about it."
"Jordan, it's never going to get any easier for you to take a head unless you tell me why."
"I have taken six heads since that day, and not one have I been ashamed of. Do you really want to know?" Duncan nodded. "Because I thought if I took Mars's head, I'd feel some sort of honor. Honor for avenging Alexander's death, avenging the fact that my mom thought I was dead, avenging the fact that I was *dead*. But the only thing I felt was more anger towards him. As I received his Quickening, every evil thing he did to me raced through my mind. I could feel it as if it were happening all over again. The rape, the murder, all of it. I had finally come to terms with my Immortality, and to have all those feelings come running back to me..."
Duncan went over to the window and hugged her. She turned and cried into his shoulder. "And so you told Connor to tell me you were dead. Why?"
Jordan looked into Duncan's eyes and then quickly looked away. His eyes reminded her of the way Alexander's use to shine in the light. "I just told him not to tell you what happened. I told him to tell you good-bye for me. I could not face you with shame in my eyes, I would have disappointed you."
"You could never disappoint me." He said as he took his finger and placed it under her chin. He lifted her face up towards his and kissed her lips.
She stayed there for a brief moment allowing him to kiss her and then backed away. She had not kissed another man since the day Alexander died, and she hadn't been with one since Mars had raped her. "I can not believe you did that!" she said. "Why did you kiss me?"
She didn't wait for an answer. She grabbed her sword and headed out the door. Duncan went to find his sword, and by the time he went after her, she was gone.