The Immortal 5 The Beginning: Rena's Story

Finding Anton

Just a few days later as Rena was sitting in the kitchen, when out of nowhere Justine’s face flashed in her mind. She tried to forget that Justine had never married or did the things she had wanted to do. Somehow something triggered the flashback of her dearly departed friend. She hadn't really thought about that night in some time. It was such a bad memory. Thinking about that night just really pissed her off. Anton needed to pay, but for so long he has kept hidden away from the world. This vision must mean he is out of hiding. He must think he is safe. This is far from the truth though. There are so many people that that man has offended. Remembering how he did it really enraged Rena. It was like she was back to that night instead of sitting in her kitchen.

He had her by the hair. He was talking in her ear, but Rena couldn't make out what was being said. He moved his hand to his side. She couldn't make out what it was that he was reaching for. He pulled his hand up and out the light reflected off the blades edge. Rena couldn't move fear held her in place. She watched as he brought the blade to her neck. She could tell he was playing with her. He moved the blade slowly across her neck not exactly cutting into her skin but with enough pressure to scare the girl. He looked up as if sensing Rena. He looked around, she saw him smile. He whispered something in the girls’ ear. And he placed the blade to her throat one last time and dragged the edge from one side of her neck to the other. Rena watched as the blood followed. It was sliding down the girls’ neck soaking her shirt front. Rena turned her head so that she could be sick when she looked back she saw the girls’ body sags limply to the ground. She finally got a good look at the girls face, it was Justine. Her friend, this man killed her friend. The anger that flowed through her body was enough to make her move. She got to her feet and reached for her sword.

It was like she materialized out of nowhere. The fog parted to allow her to pass through. She was like an avenging angel. She walked with her sword extended to the right; her jacket parted with the wind showing her slow ascent towards this man. Her coffee colored hair blowing out behind her.

A sound from the other side of the room dragged her back to the present. The sound made her jump and she looked over to where the sound was coming from. She saw Omri placing a plate in the sink. She smiled at him. He looked so adorable trying to housework. Dishes defiantly weren’t his forte, they found that out the first time he tried to help her do them. He glanced over his shoulder to see her watching him. As he looked

he saw a haunted look in her eyes. But as soon as he knew what it was it disappeared. As if it was never there.

“What has you looking like some ran over your cat?” he asked

Rena threw her head back and laughed Omri always enjoyed the sound of Rena’s laugh it was a rich mellow sound that spoke of pure joy.

“I didn’t mean for it to sound like that. You just looked so sad for a minute.”

She tried to control her laughter. Once she got it under control she started to explain, what had made her look in his words, so sad.

“Sorry, it’s just that as I was sitting here and old friends’ face appeared in front of me. She has been dead for almost three hundred years. Her name was Justine. I met her at a saloon of a deplorable nature. She was a wench as they were called then. She was a pretty little thing. She had the sweetest nature, very talkative to a few select people. I would go in and get a beer and talk to her for hours on end. We talked about everything. One night I was late coming in to the saloon, I didn’t see her in there so I headed for the barkeep. Who informed me that she was out back getting some meat for the stew he was making. So, I went to see what was taking so long. I got to the back door and I saw her talking to a man. She never was seen with any men at all. She wasn’t like the other girls. She worked in the kitchen or she served the beverages. She had a slow way about her that turned most men off. Which the barkeep didn’t it meant cheap help for him. As I got closer, I saw that he was taking her down the alley. They stopped because she started to fight back. He apparently didn’t like that at all. I watched him grab her hair. I heard her scream in pain. I couldn’t hear what he told her but she stopped screaming. I saw him reach for something. I couldn’t tell what it was until I saw the light reflect off the steel.

He had reached for a dagger and he held it to her neck. I think he sensed me because he looked around for me. When he didn’t see me he placed his head next to hers and said something. I watched as her face went pale. He was smiling now, not a normal smile, It was a sick sadistic smile that spoke of how much he was enjoying this. It grew as he dragged the blade across her neck. I turned my head and became sick. When I looked back she had fallen to the ground. Her shirtfront soaked with blood. I finally came out of where I had been hiding the wind was blowing hard enough to make my jacket whip around my legs. I was going to kill him for murdering her in such a brutal cold blooded way. But before I could do anything, I heard someone yelling for the sheriff. He took off running. I had to hide my sword or be arrested for her murder. So I had to throw my sword behind some boxes. I was kneeling next to her when the sheriff arrived. I stayed there next her until they came to take her away. I stood there surrounded by her blood. As they took her away I made a vow to avenge her death and to this day I intend to keep that vow.”

Omri felt all the pain and all the anger it came off Rena in waves it was a very staggering experience. It was like he was there instead of her. He was seeing everything she saw like he was there when it happened. He couldn’t speak for a moment. But when he did she didn’t quiet expect what he said.

“I can’t tell you what to do, but I can be there for you. So, do you know anything about this guy?”

She nodded. She moved from her seat at the kitchen table to the counter and leaned on her forearms. As she leaned on the counter top she started to explain what she knew about the man that murdered Justine.

“I know his name, but that’s about it. I have been looking for him for almost three hundred years. I have been almost everywhere in my quest for him. I also know almost every low life all over the world and trust me you don’t want to know how I know them. They owe me some favors so they are keeping an eye out for him. They know how to get a hold of me. He has apparently angered a lot of people besides me. He seems intent on hurting everyone I care for. I won’t let him hurt anyone else in my life.”

Omri was about to say something when the phone rang. He picked it up and said hello. He listened for a minute then hung up the phone. He turned to Rena.

“Well, that was one of your friends. He said that Anton has come out of hiding. He was spotted in the city of New Orleans. But he could be gone at any time. He said to tell you the tip was from a few days ago and didn’t know if he was still there.”

As he finished speaking he could see that the wheels in her brain had started working on over time, as she began to plan. She went to reach for the phone. But before she could grab it Omri had it in his hands. Hiding it behind his back with one arm.

“Think this through. What do you plan on doing if you do succeed in killing this guy? What happens to you after this guy dies, when there is nothing left for you to search for? Your life has been built on revenge so far. Think Rena, what are you going to do when there is no one else to go after? Revenge isn’t everything. You have spent so long living for this stupid vow. Tell me what are your plans after you get this guy? Because I really would like to know.”

He waited crossing his arms over his chest. As he did this he tucked the phone under his right arm. He waited ever so patiently for her to respond. Rena looked down as she thought about what she was going to say to him.

“I have my family to look after. He will come after anyone I love until he is dead. Just like I loved and cared for Justine. She was like the sister I was to never have. He must have known that. I have to go after him, so he won’t come after any of my family ever again. Are you going to give that phone so I can make my flight plans or are you going to stand there giving me the third degree?”

Omri just stared at her for a minute. He was trying to remember if he knew anyone in that area and it turned out he did. He pushed away from the counter. Taking the phone with him as he went upstairs. Leaving Rena to follow him at a slower pace. She was getting angry as she followed him into his room. When she entered his room she found him flipping through what appeared to be his address book. He apparently found what he was looking for because he was dialing a number. He put the phone to his ear. Rena only heard his side of the conversation.

“Is Claire there? Claire, Cherie, how are you? Good, I’m glad. Well, dear, I need a favor. No, nothing like that. No, I need to know if this guy I’m looking for is there in town. His name, hold on a second.” he looked at Rena questioningly. She went to the desk and wrote the name down. Omri picked up the paper and continued his conversation. “Here it is, his name is Anton Padimo. Yeah, I know I think it is French or

something like that. Yeah, no problem, I’ll hold.” Rena was about to ask him what he was doing when the other person came back on the line.

“He is there in town? You mean that you’re meeting him tomorrow? No, that’s good. Yes, Mon Cherie, I am on my way. No, I’ll make my arrangements. Yes, I do owe you one. No, I don’t think you need to meet me at the airport. Yes, I will have someone with me. No, she is not like that. She is my sister. No, she is well trained in defense. Trust me, my dear. No, that is not true. Yes, I’ll see you tomorrow.” With that he hung up the phone and turned back to Rena. Who was looking at him questioningly.

“What was all that about? And who is Claire?” She was standing in his room with her hands on her hips, tapping her foot in agitation. He could see that she was very angry. He handed her the phone. When she didn’t take it, he knew he had to explain about his conversation with Claire.

“Claire is an old friend of mine. She knows things about the other side of our kind. She met me at my worst and took me in. She gave me the hope to survive after my family’s murder. She has her finger in almost everything in this world. She knows everything about everybody or so it would seem that she knows everything. She owed me a favor and I called it in because of you. I am going to help you get this guy, because you’re my family now. And that’s what family does right? They help each other out. And that’s what I am doing. I’m helping you. Are you going to stand there all day or are you going to make some calls to the airlines. Because from what she told me he is meeting her at four o’clock tomorrow for a new identification. Seems to be that he needs a quick exit out of the country. Are you just going to stare at me like I have a third head growing from my shoulders or are you going to get moving? Get going Rena, I mean it move your slow butt. You still have to pack your bags. Here, you go pack, and I’ll make the arrangements.” he finished speaking and began pushing her out the door and down the hall straight into her room. He pulled her door shut making her stutter in agitation.

An hour later she came down stairs with her two bags. Dropping her bags by the door she saw that Omri had already done the same thing. He was coming out of the kitchen holding some papers. He looked up as the door swung closed behind him.

“Good, you’re ready. Our plane leaves in two hours. A taxi should be here any minute. I would think that about covers it. Anything you want to know?”

She stared at him like she never saw him before in her life.

“I do have one question for you. Where in the world are we going to stay when we get there?”

He nodded and went through his papers one more time. When he found the right one he read for a minute. He looked up at her as he spoke.

“We are staying at the hotel Harrah’s. Our reservation is for three days. They will extend it if we need to stay longer. It seems that the manager owed Claire a very big favor. So she called it in for me. I also wrote a note for Riley and Kali so that they wouldn’t worry about us while we are gone. I told them that we would be gone for a couple of days longer if need be. And I said that we would call when we get there. If they weren’t here we’d leave a message. So are you ready to do this?” Rena just nodded her head. Before she could say anything a horn honked outside it was announcing the arrival

of the taxi. Omri left the note on the refrigerator door where it would be seen. He went over to get the bags. Rena stood for a moment longer. Then she grabbed her purse. She made her way to the door and waited for Omri to exit the house. She closed the door and locked it. She sighed as she went down the steps. This was what she had been waiting for. So why didn’t it feel right?

She made her way to the taxi. She waited while the driver and Omri put the bags in the trunk. She stared at her home with the sense that things weren’t going to be the same after this trip. The sound of the trunk slamming brought her out of her reverie. Omri walked around the car stopping next to the door. He opened the door and waited for her to enter the car. She moved to the opening. She looked at Omri before she entered the car. He saw the look on her face, but didn’t comment on it. She slide into the cab and moved to the opposite side so that Omri could get in. Omri told the driver to head to the airport. As the car pulled away from the curb Rena spoke to Omri since all the arrangements had been made.

“You don’t have to do this you know. I mean, I can go by myself. This isn’t your problem. I can fight my own battles.”

“Yes, I know that you can. But you know, I said it earlier you are my family. And family helps each other out. Since I know you can do this yourself I want to help you because you’re my sister. Now I would like for you to shut your mouth and enjoy the ride.” with that he turned and looked out the window.

She looked out her window and watched the city go by. It took about fifteen minutes to get from her house to the airport. It seemed that traffic was on their side for once. They had no traffic jams at all. As they pulled up to the airport entrance she felt they over powering urge to stay in the car and go back to her house. But Omri was getting out and heading towards the trunk. She was left to get out and face her feelings about this trip. The airport was busy as ever. Slow, but just as busy. Omri came up beside her and nudged her into the airport. They moved to the flight counter where their tickets were. They had to show what seemed like a hundred forms of identification just to get their tickets. Rena was slightly frustrated as they moved to the metal detectors. They had to remove their shoes and Rena had to give the guards her purse. Which they rifled through and put in the scanner. She was padded down like a common criminal. They treated Omri the same way just a little rougher then they treated her. She had to keep a lid on her anger. They finally were allowed to go through. They barely made the flight due to security being backed up. Once they boarded the plane and found their seats. The plane was about to taxi down the run way. Rena didn’t pay attention to the flight attendants. She was trying to remember what she was going to do when she got there.

As the plane reached the right altitude Omri suggested that Rena take a nap. Seeing how they had a four hour flight. She asked the flight attendant for a pillow and did as Omri suggested. She slid into an almost dreamless sleep. As she did a face from her past flashed across her eyelids. A face she didn’t want to see ever again in her life. It was Adrian.