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Caesar73 wrote: ↑2 years ago
"spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered,
a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises"
The British Museum Egyptian Collection, in the late Evening:
“Are you really sure this is where we have to look Evie?” Anna asked the Egyptologist, a little dubiously, sounding slightly irritated, while she scanned their environment for any suspicious activities, her senses were on high alert; something was in the air.
The Russian sensed that, she couldn´t place it though, but her instincts warned her of a danger, that had still not manifested itself. She had been uneasy for a while and chided herself for that.
Evie had insisted that they had to go to the British Museum, that a certain artefact might be useful. There had been a heated discussion back at Hall Place Manor, after Chris had refused the idea “The risk is too high to venture at night in the Museum” but Evie had been stubborn – and in the end Chris´ had relented “You are the expert fine” the pianist had sounded anything but pleased
“You are right Chris, I am the expert here” Evie had replied hotly. Following the exchange had been like watching a tennis match, Anna thought
Chris had returned nothing at first just given Evie a long hard look. But Evie had not even flinched
“Right Evie, we go and I hope it is worth the risk” the coldness in Chris voice had been unmistakable.
Now Anna and Evie searched Room 61 of the Egyptian Collection on the upper floor. The others were searching the other rooms of the impressive Egyptian Collection of the British Museum. Anna had volunteered to guard Evie.
“Yes, I know” Evie replied “the amulet must be here in this cabinet” her face lit up “There it is!” she pointed at a cabinet right in front of them “And you have the key?” the Russian sounded as if she was not totally convinced. Suddenly her neck hairs rose.
She wheeled around, but couldn´t detect anything or anybody “I behave like a teenager sneaking into the Dean´s office” she chided herself.
“Sure, it must be here somewhere” Evie rummaged in her bag for the keys as a cold voice cut into the silence “So we meet personally at last Doctor Callahan, you are hard to come by”
The voice gave Evie the creeps as she turned: on the left in the doorway stood a woman with sleek black hair, clad entirely in black leather and highly polished black boots. She was accompanied by seven of her similar dressed Assassins “You, you must be Anck Sun Amun” Evie stammered anxiously
“And there is the famous Grand Duchesse again” the newcomer mocked Anna, obviously enjoying the situation very much “Binding and gagging you was really fun! What did you enjoy more? The nipple clamps or the gag? Your big mouth really needed to be shut up! But the best part was spanking your butt - maybe we can do that again later!”
“I really look forward to kick your ass bitch and give you a good spanking!” the Russian hotly hurled back at her opponent.
“Evie listen and do exactly as I say” she whispered to the Egyptologist in urgent tones “On my mark you run, you run and you don´t look back, I will hold them as long as I can, get Chris and the others, got it?”
“Yes … but …” the Egyptologist whispered back.
“No buts” the Russian insisted firmly and with grim determination “When I say “run” you will run”
Anna turned to the Egyptian woman and her minions and smiled condescendingly “You must really fear me if you hide behind seven women, seems to be a habit of yours, coward” she provoked their opponents and strode purposefully at them “Now Evie: run!”
The Egyptologist hesitated “Now” Anna bellowed, her voice cracking like a whip, and Evie ran like the devil to the doorway which led to Room 62, her heart was pounding in her chest; she dared not to look back.
Anck Sun Amun turned to the daughters of Isis “You two” she nodded to two of them “after her, get her, but don´t harm her, we need her alive and in one piece- with her head still attached to her body!”
The two henchwomen sprinted after Evie like hyenas hounding a wounded antelope.
Then she turned her attention to Anna, smiling “And now to us Grand Duchess”
“I can hardly wait” the Russian smiled, her voice dripping with the utmost contempt as the two women began to circle each other, both waiting for the other to make the first move, it was Anna who attacked first with a quick, precise vicious stroke against her opponent´s shoulder, but her adversary evaded so quickly; it was as if she wasn't there.
“Dammit she is fast” Anna thought and had difficulties to parry Anck Sun Amun´s counterstrike which caught her slightly off balance
Out of her peripherally vision she registered that the remaining five minions formed a circle around them.
Attack and counterattack followed in quick succession, and for a time neither opponent seemed to be able to gain an advantage, but Anna had the feeling that her counterpart held back, like a cat playing with a mouse, testing her.
“Is this all you got?” she taunted the Egyptian “Ready for the next round bitch?”
“Gladly” the Egyptian´s eyes glittered ominously …
Evie ran, her pursuers hot on her heels, but so far she had been able to keep some distance between her and her pursuers, but how long could Anna hold? Her heart was pounding in her chest.
At the same time:
The Russian panted heavily, Anna had taken four punishing hits against her upper body in the meantime, blood dripped out of the left corner of her mouth, another hit against her face had left an ugly bruise under her left eye.
In return she had hit her opponent only twice, the woman was good, the violinist breathed heavily as Anck Sun Amun attacked with a lightning quick barrage, which the Russian barely parried, only a swift turn to the left saved her, the following brutal kick against her left breast she couldn´t parry though. Anna panted.
"She is playing with me. Her people are hanging back to stop me running whilst she takes me apart." The Russian thought, feeling the weight of her injuries “But I will not run” She steadied herself.
Anna managed to stand, but barely …. the kick had knocked the breath out of her – and then the Egyptian followed through with another blitz attack. Anna mustered her last reserves and steeled herself. Her reactions became slower.
This could go on only for so long, Anna knew and ancient Verses sprang into her mind commemorating another desperate battle against all odds, futile in the end but heroic “O stranger, tell the Spartans that we lie here, obedient to their words” a fitting Epitaph for me"- she smiled grimly as she awaited the next attack. "I hope Evie is safe."
In the meantime:
Chris and her friends searched Room 65 of the Egyptian Collection for the cabinet which Evie had told them to look after. “There it is” Sophie nodded as they could hear the quick steps of a person running.
They looked alarmed at each other and trained their weapons at the doorway, as a breathless Evie stumbled through the doorway, which connected room 64 and 65
“Anna, Anna need´s help” she panted heavily “she is fighting against that Anck-Sun-Amun Woman and several of her henchwomen, two are after me, please do something – fast, they will kill Anna!” the Egyptologist pleaded desperately, on the verge of tears.
Chris made a snap decision “Sarah, take Kirsty and Hayley and cover Evie”
“You” she nodded at Sophie and Kate “With me” They were on the move as Evie´s pursuers broke through the doorway and routed on the spot as they saw their prey covered by their opponents. They were outnumbered.
“Sarah, you know what to do” Chris told the Dark Lady, who nodded grimly, the smile of the thief was evil as she moved towards the smaller of the assailants, followed by Kirsty, while Hayley covered Evie with her Body, her heavy Heckler & Koch MK 23 drawn, ready to shoot anybody who was bold enough to go for Evie. Hayley´s aim did not waiver a fraction of a millimetre.
“Which one do you take?” The thief asked Kirsty almost conversationally “I take the ugly one” the Briton smiled and moved fast at her opponent ….”You, you can have the uglier one”
“Sounds only fair to me” the thief nodded, “Friends share everything – and she is really ugly”
With a battle cry the other woman threw herself at her.
Chris, Sophie and Kate hurried through the rooms.
In the meantime Anna had taken several more hits, from an deep ugly gash above her left brow blood dripped on the floor as a brutal round house kick against the left side of her face sent her crashing down on the floor. For the fraction of a second Anna blackened out.
As she came to her senses again the Russian pressed her hands to the ground trying to rise off of the ground, but her battered and tired body did betray her. She fell back to the floor. And tried to get up again, her arms were quivering under the strain, every inch an immense effort.
The Egyptian starred down on her fallen opponent smiling evilly “Who kicked who´s ass?” she mocked the unresponsive Anna and kicked her brutally in the ribs for good measure. The violinist barely twitched, just groaned softly and sunk back to the floor, not to rise again.
“Finish her off – and take her head and her hands” Anck-Sun-Amun ordered her minions coldly “Pharaoh will be pleased to add them to his collection!”
Two of them turned Anna on her back. One produced an evil looking large curved dagger, knelt next to Anna, saying a soft prayer in the old Egyptian tongue under her breath. In the same moment that she lunged out to sink the dagger deep into Anna´s chest, two shots, fired almost simultaneously rang out.
Out of nowhere a large hole appeared in the forehead of the wannabe executioner, punched into her skull by two high powered 45 ACP projectiles, her head disintegrated into a red mist of blood, tissue, brain matter and bones, the dagger fell clattering to the floor as the near headless woman´s body sank in slow motion to the floor.
“What the hell!” Anck-Sun-Amun wheeled around. There stood Sophie and Kate their weapons firmly trained at them, ready to fire again, their guns unwavering.
In one fluid elegant motion Chris drew her blades, the katana and the wakizashi, her green eyes blazing with a bright unearthly fire “Who is next?” her cold voice betrayed no emotion but an icy coldness, a grim determination promising a horrible death and total obliteration to anybody who would dare to stand in her way.
Out of the corner of her eye Chris registered a movement, a quick flick of her left wrist – and the second minion who had made a move to Anna sank to the floor, her dead Eyes wide in disbelief starring at the bolt which was protruding from her breast.
Anck Sun Amun´s remaining henchwomen retreated in the face of Chris´ fury, as she strode at them, like the incarnation of the Angel of Death. One of them though drew her curved blade and charged at Chris with a battle cry.
Lightning quick Chris stepped aside her adversary stumbled and lost her footing, the Pianist swung her Katana sharply upwards with a both handed backhand stroke. The razor sharp blade cut through tissue, through flesh and bone like a knife through butter – and sent the head of her attacker hurling through the air. The headless body crashed to the floor.
The air seemed to crackle with electricity now. The light glittered on the highly polished blades. Blood dripped from the katana to the floor. Chris felt the adrenalin coursing through her veins as she turned to strike at Anck-Sun-Amun she made a swift move to throw the wakizashi “Now to you” But Anck-Sun-Amun stepped aside with dizzying speed and the sharp blade missed her by millimetres.
The Cult Leader though reacted quickly to the changed tactical situation “We will see each other again soon” she smiled then a blinding flash and smoke blinded them.
As they could see again, the villainess and her remaining minions were gone. Sophie and Kate were on the verge on going after them, but Chris stopped them “Cover the entrance to the floor” her tone brokered no argument “They might come back”
Chris knelt down next to Anna, checked for her pulse and sighed in relief as she found one, not strong but steady. The Russian looked horrible, the left side of her face was one bruise, blood dropped from several gashes and cuts, her breathing laboured and shallow.
Chris stroked softly above Anna´s head and her tears fell on the face of her friend, as she kissed her tenderly on her forehead. If Anna would die, there would be no place where Anck Sun Amun could hide from her wrath, she vowed to herself.
“How is she?” Kate pressed Chris; the detective sounded concerned “She took a heavy beating that is for sure” the Pianist replied concerned “but I am no medic”; as Sarah and Kirsty followed by Evie and Hayley charged into the room.
The Egyptologist starred in shock at Anna´s bloody and beaten body and pressed a hand on her mouth to stifle a cry “No, no, please do something to help her!”
Kirsty broke the spell “Stand aside” the Briton demanded with utter surety “I served as a medic on the battlefield in Afghanistan”
The Briton knelt down, quickly checked Anna´s vitals first, examined her facial wounds next; Kirsty palpated the Russians upper body with precise and practised motions.
As she touched the left side of her rib cage, the Russian groaned softly, her eyelids began to flutter, then she opened her eyes slowly, the right one at least, her left was already swollen shut.
“Am I in heaven? All the people I love are around me” the Violinist whispered hoarsely and tried to grin, but grimaced in pain “I hear the angles singing” A feeling of immense relief surged through Kate hotly, smiling, though tears rolled her cheeks, at Anna´s bad pun “No Anna you are still with us” her voice quavering with emotion “Heaven must wait for you a bit longer”
“Help her to sit up, we must get her home quickly, I cannot do much for her here” Kirsty advised Sophie and Hayley who helped Anna sitting up, the Russian winced in pain “Can you walk?” the Briton asked the Russian “I – will, I - will -try” Anna whispered between clenched teeth, but with Sophie´s and Hayley´s help, she managed to stand, it took her obviously much effort though, even more remaining standing, beads of cold sweat forming on her forehead as she struggled to keep herself upright, she swayed slightly.
Only her iron will kept her going every step was a monumental effort. Without Sophie´s and Hayley´s assistance she would have crashed to the floor.
“Okay” Chris took charge “let us get her down in the garage and to the van, the police will surely be on the scene soon. You have my permission to shoot anybody who bars our way!”
As fast as they could, they hurried down the stair well to the underground garage and to the van. After they had carefully manoeuvred Anna into the van, Kirsty smoothly drove out of the parking garage just as the first police cars arrived
“Thank God Sybil was able to deactivate the Security Cameras” Kate mused, as she stroked Anna´s hand softly and pressed a sterilised compress on the gash above Anna´s left eye with the other. The Russian was breathing heavily and groaned softly, but she gripped Kate´s hand firmly nevertheless.
Kirsty drove as fast as possible, but adhered to the speed limit, not to raise any suspicions. 35 minutes later they halted in front of the entrance of Hall Place. In the entrance hall Sybil and Amanda were already anxiously waiting, Chris had called in advance that Anna had been hurt badly. Sybil looked in shock at the bloody and beaten Anna, as she limped, aided by Sophie and Hayley, inside “What happened?”
Kirsty took charge: “Later Sybil! There is no time for chit chat! Sophie and Hayley bring her to her Room, I´ll get my things and care for her wounds “I will go with you” Kate told the Briton resolutely, Kirsty sensed that Kate could not sit on her hands, had to do something “Fine, you can help me carry my stuff”
While Kirsty gathered her things, Sophie and Hayley helped Anna to lie down on her bed and began carefully to undress her.
The Russian winced as Sophie removed carefully the body armour; the deep dents were a testimony for the force behind those hits. They must have been brutal, the German mused, examining the deep dents. The worst damage was on Anna´s left side, several large ugly bruises and Anna inhaled sharply, as Sophie touched the left side of her rib Cage softly.
“She has been pretty beaten up” Hayley stated as she looked at Anna´s bruised and beaten upper body and face with horror: The cut above Anna´s left eye looked ugly, but it had stopped bleeding.
Kate and Kirsty entered and Kirsty set quickly to work; 30 Minutes later, she had cleaned, disinfected and stapled the cuts in Anna´s face and taken care of the bruises on her upper body
“The gash above her left rye will leave probably a scar” Kirsty told Kate and Hayley. Next she inspected Anna´s ribcage more closely.
“Remarkable. No broken ribs” the Briton concluded, sounding impressed “she will need a few days rest though, time to heal” and added “She was lucky, that could have ended worse”
“Can I have at least something to eat?” Anna whispered tired and barely audible through her swollen lips.
“She is definitely on the mend if she is hungry” Kirsty stated
“Kate go in the Kitchen and get some soup, nothing more for today” Kirsty advised.
“I will go” Sophie offered “I prepared some very hot and very spicy Thai-Chicken-Soup in the morning” This will do her good” Kirsty stated “but let it cool down a bit Sophie, will you?” The lawyer left.
As Kirsty and Hayley had left too, Kate looked sternly at the bruised and beaten face of her friend “You had scared me to death you know – were you out of your aristocratic mind? One against seven? Anna? You could have been killed today! What were you thinking? Tell me!”
The Investigator sounded reproachful, even furious - her eyes welled and she stroked softly above Anna´s forehead, she continued calmer now “What were you thinking? Playing Leonidas against the Persians?
“It sounded like a good idea back then” the Russian muttered through her swollen lips, and Kate would have sworn that Anna´s face reddened slightly
“What would I do without you Anna?” Kate stroked Anna´s left hand softly, and the ensuing silence was of the comfortable sort as Anna squeezed Kate´s hand slightly.
“You would be lost completely” Anna whispered hoarsely.
10 Minutes later Sophie came back with a bowl of hot soup. It smelled heavenly, of ginger, chili and other spices. Slowly and very carefully Kate spoon fed her friend, as the soup had cooled down a little more. Now and then the Russian winced in pain. As she had had the last spoon Anna sighed contently “That was good, you can go to bed now Kate”
“The hell I won´t; I will not leave you alone tonight” The investigator stated firmly “You must take your medicine first anyway, doctor´s orders” and presented some coloured pills and a glass of water to Anna. The Russian sighed but complied and made a face as she washed down the pills with the water “Not exactly a Chardonnay” she whispered.
As Kate returned from the bathroom a while later, Anna was already fast asleep her breathing deep and regular, Kate slipped under the covers and snuggled against Anna´s body. “That has been close” she thought before she drifted off to sleep. They had nearly lost Anna today.