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Chapter 58:
“Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered,
a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises”
(JRR Tolkien)
Unknown location, London, around the same time:
Anna was not sure how long she could hold herself together. She had long lost track how often she had granted a respite before the torment continued. So far Anna had held her ground “But how long can I endure this?” Anna did not know. She sweated her leg muscles quivered under the strain.
It was only pure and simple will power that kept her going. She would not give in. No, she wouldn´t ever do that, but the only thought that kept her going was that her friends would come for her. They would come for her! Wouldn´t they? Another cramp – this time in her left calve. Anna screamed. But the heavy gag reduced the scream to a low moan. Her face was read and sweaty above the multi-layered gag, which compressed her lower face with immense pressure. The Russian had constantly to keep her gag reflex under control
Anck-Sun-Amun relished in the torment and despair of Anna Romanova. Her breaking point could not be far away now, but the Russian had demonstrated much more resilience already than she had expected.
Maybe the Europeans weren´t so soft after all; she did not like it to discard an old prejudice – but that was a quality she respected. Even in her mortal enemy. And Anna Alexandrovna Romanova was her sworn enemy. There was only one possible outcome: Either she or the Russian would die. A thought that did not frighten her: Death was only the beginning.
She looked at the tied up, gagged, struggling and sweating violinist:
Her power of will was extraordinary “My dear Anna, why don´t give you just in and end this?” the High Priestess addressed Anna softly “The pain will be excruciating for a short moment but you will live. Why don´t end this now? You have proven yourself, your strength your willpower Anna. You can yet go now”
The soft voice touched something in Anna – and for a fraction of a second she tempted to give in to its alluring temptation, to end it now, the pain, the torment.
Anck-Sun-Amun sensed that her words had struck a chord. She could tell the violinist was tempted but from one moment to the next something changed: Anna´s eyes grew cold grew hard like polished marble: Anna´s dark eyes glistened with pure hate: “You will never break me” they said.
Outside the Asylum Gladstone Park:
They had parked the van fifty metres away from the Asylum they had freed Sophie and Evie from weeks ago, after they had been abducted by Anck-Sun-Amun and her daughters of Isis. The Black Lady turned to the pianist “Chris?” The Canadian grinned “you might use this!” The blonde´s eye brows rose: From a wooden black lacquered box the thief produced Chris´ Katana, the one she had been presented with by her Sensei.
The pianist regarded Sarah with a long look, obviously unsure if she should get angry or not “You broke into my quarters, honestly?” then she paused, she smiled – and accepted the sword “Thank you, I will need it”
“You will need it to defend yourself and Evie” the Thief announced calmly “You two will stay here”
One moment of strained silence followed “The hell I will” Chris shot back hotly “Do you really think I sit on my hands when Anna is in Danger? Well think again Sarah!”
Inside the Asylum, Chamber in the cellar:
Anna watched at the screen above her. Her leg muscles quivered: Every fascicle of her thighs and calves was as taut as a bowstring the moment before the archer released his arrow. Another cramp in her calves contorted her muscles to tight knots. The violinist did not notice that Anck-Sun-
Amun typed a message. And Anna did not register her captors leaving the Chamber, too engrossed in her own private battle against her body.
Only a single thought filled her mind, her whole world was reduced to this mantra: Hold, Anna hold! Keep the pressure up! Her field of vision had narrowed to a dark and narrow tunnel. She groaned, she struggled, but she held. The tension on her ankles was beyond bearable, another cramp –this time in the soles of her feet. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Anna screamed into her gag. But Anna held. Random thoughts shot through her mind “cannot even flex my feet” “Is Chris alright?” “Oh god this hurts so much” The muscles of her calves, of her thighs were quivering under the continued strain more with every second – and just when she was about to give in, the door flew out of its hinges.
10 Minutes earlier:
Nofret had called her people together “We leave now! Follow me to the main entrance!” She had been a bit surprised by her superiors order. No way, von der Marwitz and her people could be that near. Nobody would have recognized the location she had sent! But it was an order by her Preceptor and by Pharaoh. It was not her place to question an order given by the living god:
“so let it be written, so let it be done”
They hurried along the floor which led to the main entrance.
At the same time:
Sarah and Kirsty in the lead the team had entered the Asylum. Sophie had recognized the location instantly. It had been the office where Anck-Sun-Amun had interrogated her. A small detail had given it away, a book about the pyramid texts– what an irony! No, Evie would never forget that room, where she had been interrogated, where she had been forced to watch Sophie´s torment – and at times nightmares haunted her, when the High Priestess had assaulted her in her bed room … No, Evie would never forget that room.
Chris grudgingly had accepted that Sarah and Kirsty would go in first – but she had steadfastly refused to stay with Evie in the van. There had been a short animated discussion: Chris and Sarah had stared at each other. Long. Green Eyes drilled into black eyes “I will not just sit here in the van, you got me?” Eyes blazing the blonde had not backed down “Nofret is mine, and mine alone!” She radiated fury in waves.
Sarah had returned nothing just looked long at the pale face of the blonde and straight in her green eyes, as if she was looking for something. . Seconds became an eternity. Finally Sarah relented “Right Chris, you get Nofret – we do the rest! Are we clear?” Chris nodded “We are”
Stealthily they moved forwards, guns drawn. Suddenly the Canadian made a gesture with her hand and they stopped. And then they heard it too: Soft steps of hurried feet coming nearer. The Dark Lady pointed at herself, Kate and Kirsty and motioned around the corner. With her fingers she counted down: Three fingers, two fingers, one finger …
The trio stepped around the corner and opened fire instantly.
At the same time on the other side:
Inwardly Nofret supressed a curse, she wished she had Daughters of Isis under her command. The “material” she had at her disposal had been good for the job at hand: To ambush Romanova and von der Marwitz – they would be no good though, if they had to face von der Marwitz´ team in an open fight:
The Dark Lady and Garrett alone would pose a formidable challenge, Captain Beckett as well. Seasoned warriors all of them, – the Egyptian missed her Khopesh too: Her blade had been broken as she parried one stroke of von der Marwitz at Highclere Castle:
“
Chris followed through with a backhand stroke of her left hand which hit the Khopesh just above the hilt. Such was the power of that blow that the over 100 times folded steel of the Katana broke the blade of Chris´ adversary, right above the hilt”
She had been provided with another sword, another Khopesh, but of inferior lineage. The blade did not feel good in her hand and was not as well balanced as her old one. Nofret frowned had there been the sound of careful steps coming nearer? She was not sure. She gestured her gang to keep silence – but her subordinates did not follow her orders: Some of them still whispered. Damn it! And then it happened: around the corner stepped three women, guns drawn, firing without hesitation, moving steadily forward as they fired.
One bullet missed her left ear only barely - Nofret dived to the ground – behind her and around her screams and shouts. Bullets hit, ricochets screeched from the walls. A heavy body hit the floor, then another one.
As sudden as it had begun, the gunfire ceased.
Deafening silence, then a commanding voice “Everybody down on the floor, throw down your weapons - now!” Nofret cursed. It was the blasted Canadian. The air was thick with cordite and the stench of blood - around her the Egyptian heard moans and groans and sobs.
Another authoritative voice she knew too well rang through the silence like a silver trumpet “Nofret! Show yourself!” Chris stepped around the corner, the blonde had shed her coat had laid her gun down “I told you never to cross my path again or anybody else´s I hold dear – you did both! I give you two choices! Surrender or face me in single combat!” Her voice cut like a cold sharp knife through the silence “I promise you this Nofret: nobody will shoot you, you deserve no easy way out! I will take you apart piece by piece!”
“What on earth is she doing?” Kirsty whispered at the Canadian “What she must” the Canadian whispered back calmly “She will duel Nofret – get the others, we secure our captives – if there are any - and go down to the cellar! Let Chris deal with Nofret!” Kirsty nodded and whispered something to Kate, Hayley, Sophie and Evie.
“Are you a coward Nofret? I dare say you are” Von der Marwitz voice dripped with utter contempt, Nofret heard the unmistakable sound as the blonde drew her Katana “Strangling a defenceless old woman? How very very brave!” the blonde challenged her “You are such a coward, you are a sadist, you have no honour you have no code! You are just a bully!”
Every phrase hit Nofret like a whip. She pulled herself together: Now it was the time. The time of all times.
“Goddess stand by me” she prayed silently. The Egyptian composed herself: “Right then” Nofret stood and drew her blade “You will not save your friend” she smiled coldly at Chris “by the time you get there she will be dog´s meat” “Is that so?” A grim smile curled her opponent´s lips. The blonde had gripped her blade firmly with both hands “Then you will dine in Hades today” Chris had spoken with utter surety.
There were only they now. Not did Chris register that her friends had rushed forward and secured their other enemies with zip ties. No, she was entirely focused on one task and one task only: she would bring that woman down, no matter what. That woman who had garrotted an old woman for sport, that woman who had made her live hell, made Anna´s live hell. She owed that to Tatiana Nikolajeva – and to Anna. Nofret would never hurt anybody never again.
Nofret took a closer look at her opponent. Von der Marwitz´ face was ghostly pale, the red angry marks of the gag made for a sharp contrast - her emerald green eyes though burned with an unearthly fire.
Those eyes promised her opponent death and destruction “What Nofret, are you afraid of me?” the blonde´s voice was cold as ice “You. Bloody. Coward!” she hurled another barb at Nofret.
Something in Nofret snapped and with a wild cry she charged at Chris. Their blades collided, sparks flew. The pianist parried Nofret´s forceful and precise stroke with ease and followed through with a counter attack: Her powerful both handed overhead stroke would have cleaved her opponents head cleanly in two – only her quick reflexes saved Nofret.
But so powerful was the stroke its sheer force sent shock waves of pain through the Egyptians sword arm - she had barley time to react as the blonde charged again with a both handed backhand stroke, aimed at her throat.
Chris followed through with a combination of strokes so quick, even the trained eye would have had troubles to follow them – her opponent parried the relentless attacks best as she could - a thought shot through Nofret´s mind: “I unleashed a beast” Another lightning quick combination:
Step by step Chris forced her back ….
In the meantime:
Tears streaked down Anna´s cheeks. The muscles of her legs quivered under the strain “Jesus Christ! I cannot hold much longer” she screamed into her gag, but the massive packing reduced her scream to a barely audible mumble.
Her cheeks turned purple “Let it go Anna, just let it go” she heard a soft voice “No, never- go to hell bitch!” Anna thought. The voice grew colder, as if her tormentor had heard her “You will go there first” The same moment the door flew out of its hinges, crashing on the floor.
Several people charged into the room.
The Black Lady did not need the fraction of a second to get a grasp of the situation, she bellowed several sharp and precise commands: “Sophie go get the Violin! Kirsty release Anna´s hand! Hayley grab the weight above her hand! Kate cut Anna´s bonds! Quick! Go, Ladies, go go go!”
Not one woman hesitated a second: Sophie rushed to the Violin case just in the moment as Anna could not hold it any longer and let it go, her legs flopped to the floor.
Kirsty rushed to the board on which the Russian´s right hand was tied. Hayley just got a grip of the iron chain in time, before the weight could smash Anna´s hand “Hurry Kirsty I don´t know how long I can hold it!” Hayley cursed under her breath.
Kirsty suppressed a curse: freeing Anna´s fingers was difficult: The thump, the index finger, the middle finger – all fingers were tied separately “Kirsty! Hurry! I cannot hold much longer!” Hayley groaned. Kirsty severed the string that held the ring finger and finally the little finger – then the ropes which held Anna´s wrist.
She had just ripped away Anna´s palm and wrist, when Hayley had to let go. The heavy wrecking ball smashed down, splinters whizzed in all directions like a swarm of angry hornets – where Anna´s hand had been just seconds before.
The Canadian stepped before the screen and stared the furious Anck-Sun-Amun in the eye “Newsflash bitch! Things went not according to plan right? I have news for you! Right now, as we speak Chris is taking apart Nofret, literally, when she is done with her, you must scrape what is left of her from the floor!” For a second the face of the High Priestess contorted in impotent rage – then the screen became black – and began to smoulder. The acidly stench of smouldered plastic filled the chamber.
Sarah turned around: Sophie had secured the violin case while Hayley and Kirsty where carefully severing Anna´s bonds. As she could tell the Russian was utterly spent: Her pale sweaty face betrayed her total exhaustion. Her body was covered in sweat too. The Canadian could not imagine how cruel that predicament must have been – to be threatened with dismemberment – and the destruction of her violin which was part of Anna´s soul – the thief knew.
Sarah knelt and looked Anna in the eye “Are you okay?” she asked gently. Meekly the Russian nodded, Hayley had removed the strap which held her head against the head board, Anna blinked - the thief was certain there was a sparkle still in the Russians dark eyes. Tired beyond belief she was, but it was there: The divine spark. Anna Alexandrovna Romanova was not broken. It had been a close call though.
Gently the Canadian stroked Anna about her sweaty forward “Let me remove that gag, right?” Exhausted the Russian nodded. Carefully the Thief worked on the panel gag. The black haired woman was not surprised to discover several more layers of material – but what really did surprise her was the massive ball gag – and what she found beneath it: She stared at Anna´s gaping mouth filled to the brim: “I shall be dammed!” the thief muttered and began to tug at the first pair of panties crammed in Anna´s mouth.
Just as she was about to pull the last pair of soggy panties out of the Russians mouth Chris entered the chamber.
Anna had to have sensed something because she craned her neck. Hers and Chris´ eyes met and something passed between them. Chris held her Katana firmly in her right hand: blood dripped from the tip of the gleaming blade to the floor. Blood dropped from an ugly gash above her left brow. Her Prussian blue turtleneck was torn at her right shoulder.
The wool was dark with blood, but the blonde had only eyes for Anna. Chris had followed the Russian´s gaze “This is nothing” she pointed dismissively at the bloody gash “I could deflect one stroke of her only partially – I repaid her in kind though” The blonde seemed completely unmoved. “I loved this turtleneck though” she jested.
But the Black Lady knew the blonde well enough by now, to read her body language: Chris was tired beyond belief – not that the pianist would admit that: She kept herself upright, upright and composed. The artist would rather die before she would display any sign of weakness. The Black Lady admired that strength, the resilience.
In the meantime Hayley and Kirsty had severed Anna´s bonds completely. Her bare heels were resting on the stone cold floor she did not mind the cold. She was safe. Her friends had saved her – and Chris had avenged her.
When she felt secure enough Anna rose to her feet and rushed at Chris. The Katana fell clattering to the floor and Chris hugged her best friend as firmly as she could. Both women winced.
Chris felt the quivering of Anna´s body, as the Russian pressed herself almost desperately against her. The blonde stroked her friend´s back gently “We made it Anna, we made it” she whispered softly, overcome with emotion too, she hugged Anna even tighter “We made it” Then Kate joined the group hug, during the hunt for the Weinstein Collection the Russian and the American had become best friends.
Anna whispered hoarsely “it is so good to see you Chris, I saw that video, you ball tied on the table”, she paused and stroked gently the gash above the pianists left brow, Chris did not even wince “You are hurt Chris” the Russian spoke softly “It is just a scratch” the blonde demurred “really” – Anna nodded “That scratch needs medical attention, Kirsty will help you, she knows her stuff” she smiled warmly “I know” Chris smiled back. Anna looked at her best friend and her face grew hard “what did you do to Nofret Chris?” The Russian´s voice was hard as steel now.
A hard a cold smile curled Chris´ lips “I took her apart in every sense of the word, she was so enthusiastic about our meeting – she lost her head” Anna nodded “Good!” Her voice betrayed her grim satisfaction “She will rot in hell!” The Russian spoke fiercely “In the ninth circle of hell” Chris added firmly.
What Chris did not tell friend was this: After the blonde had severed her enemy’s right hand with a precise and vicious stroke Nofret had sunken down in slow motion to the floor. The Egyptian blooded from several deep wounds already:
One stroke had left a deep and nasty gash across her forehead. A second stroke had cut deep into her right shoulder. A third one had left a bloody trace from her left shoulder right down to her right thigh. None of these injuries was deadly – but they impeded her ability to fight and they caused pain.
Blood trickled out of the left corner of her mouth. Nofret pressed the bloody stump of her right arm under her left arm pit. Defiantly she stared up at her opponent “What are you waiting for?” she demanded hoarsely “End this!” Chris smiled down at her adversary, but it was not the warm smile her friends knew so well. It was a cold smile which would have made even a polar bear shiver to its core.
She pressed the tip of her blade firmly against the Egyptian´s larynx, forcing Nofret to look her directly in her emerald green eyes. There Nofret saw a steely resolve, neither mercy nor compassion “I should make you pay, make you suffer” the blonde spoke not loud nor aggressive – but clearly and composed “I am not like you though, I will show you mercy – the same mercy you granted Tatiana Nikolajeva” The blonde stepped back and aside.
Chris gripped her Katana with both hands and swung the blade swiftly high in the air – the sword hovered in the air above the blonde´s shoulder for a spell- and then it fell down and precisely across Nofret´s abdomen – Chris stepped back, watching with clinical interest.
At first Nofret felt nothing, then a searing pain shot through her body. In disbelief she stared down at her abdomen. Her white shirt had been severed by a long precise horizontal cut. She pressed her remaining hand on the cut. Nofret´s hand was covered in blood.
Slowly she realized what Chris had done: the pianist had executed the stroke which was normally done by a samurai who committed Seppuku, the ancient Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment.
Coldly Chris looked down at her, outwardly unmoved, stony faced, seconds passed, as Nofret´s intestines gushed out between her fingers. Then with one precise fluid movement she swung her Katana high in the air a second time and the blade soared threw the air, gaining momentum “Kiaii!” Chris battle cry resonated clear and sharp in the air.
The stroke hit Nofret´s throat at the left side: Like a knife through butter, the sharp blade cut effortlessly through skin, cut through flesh cut through bone. Nofret´s head sailed through the air – and landed with a sickening, squelching sound on the stony floor a few feet away.
Without looking down, the blonde stepped over the Egyptian´s corpse, the pool of blood and followed her companions to the cellar.
Anna was waiting.