Disclaimer: The Witchblade Movie, Series, Comics, and characters belong to Top Cow Productions. I own nothing but the idea here.
Again thank you, people! ^_^ I think I can more or less promise a steady flow of chapters from now on 'cause school just ended for me and it's summer! Yes! ...That's unless I go abroad or spend some time outside the city for vacation. Still, for now, I'm staying around for graduation day, which is this coming Tuesday. It's college next school year for me and I have no idea where to go...got into all the colleges I applied for and am totally lost...
The Heart Remembers
Chapter 4
I do not look back as the helicopter flies off behind me. It is the dead of winter and its winds are harsh. Sara had fallen asleep on the trip over here and she now lays in my arms as I carry her towards the mansion before me. There are no paths to this place but for the helicopter that has just left. It only comes once a week to deliver supplies.
What can I say? Irons treasures isolation.
As I shut the stout wooden door with a foot, I feel her stir in my arms. I pause at that, but her eyes do not open and her steady breathing is not broken by an awakening. So, I continue up the carpeted stairs and into the dark recesses of the mansion to the bedrooms. I hesitate in the hallway, then I decide to place her in the one next to Irons'.
I smile wistfully as I see her sleeping peacefully. Stifling I sigh, I move away and set her sling bag onto a table. As I do so, some of its contents spill out of the opening. I bend down to gather them and come across a wallet. A piece of paper peeks out and as I pick up the wallet, I look at it. When I see what has been sketched on it, I blink in surprise. It is a simple sheet of white paper. Its deep creases show it to be well-worn as its pristine state suggests great care. But, even as my mind automatically absorbs those details, I wonder.
Why does she have a picture of me in her wallet?
Confused, I finish fixing her things and then leave the room. As I shut the door, I shake my head to clear it and force those thoughts from my mind. When I walk down to the first floor, I find there the middle-aged couple that manages the mansion. I easily see the fear in their eyes. They know me as Irons' lackey and that I should punish them for not being there at my arrival. However, I choose to overlook the misstep for the moment and simply go on to relay Irons' orders to them. Sara's every move must be reported to me. They must not answer any questions concerning Irons or myself and must pass on those questions to me. Then, I tell the man to manage the luggage, while his wife prepares dinner. After that, I withdraw to my quarters with the orders not to be disturbed until it was dinner time or Sara awakened.
In the silence of my personal study, I open the door to the troubled thoughts that have haunted me these past days. Once again, I am torn between doing my duty by my master and protecting the women I am bound to by ancient bonds. I am ordered to indoctrinate her, but how am I to do that without compromising her position as the Wielder? I find myself caught in a tight spot for if I disobey Irons, I will be placing Sara in danger...but, if I obey him, I will destroy her trust in me and ruin her. I must find a way to compromise. Yet, is it not said that the one who seeks to please everyone, pleases no one?
What am I to do?
I pace my study restlessly throughout the late afternoon. So deep in thought am I that I ignore the lack of light as darkness falls outside with the evening snow. But, by the time I sense someone coming down the hallway, I know what to do. I will tell her what Irons wants said, but I will also plant a seed of doubt and distrust in her so that she may separate herself from my master as she did so in the past. I know that I will lose her again that way, but I also know that it is the only way I can protect her. Better she live in freedom with me in the shadows, then for her to cling to me in a cage that contains us both.
"Come in."
The door opens and she enters. My face mirrors the surprise on hers. I did not expect her to be the one at the door. Has the loss of the Witchblade on her wrist weakened the bonds between us? I push that worrisome thought to the back of my mind as I force myself to smile at her.
"Is something wrong?"
"How did you know I was at the door?"
"Sharp senses," I lie.
"Well, it is time for dinner. Thomas said you were here, so I offered to call you myself."
"That was kind of you."
When she blushes, I force myself to remain smiling despite my confusion. Following her out into the hallway, I watch her back, trying not to stare too hard for fear of alarming her. Yet, I cannot help it. Although I know she is the same as she was before, the changes I find in her are almost frightening. Why the soft voice and the frequent blushes? But, most important of all, why does she -trust- me? I've never given her reason to do so in the past. In fact, she should have every reason to hate me. Sure I protected her, but in such a way that she would not know of it and so cannot be grateful for it. So, why does she act this way? Why does she trust me implicitly?
The sketch is a clue. Once I know why it's in her wallet, perhaps I might get some answers... Or perhaps, I might wish I never sought to solve this riddle.
Again thank you, people! ^_^ I think I can more or less promise a steady flow of chapters from now on 'cause school just ended for me and it's summer! Yes! ...That's unless I go abroad or spend some time outside the city for vacation. Still, for now, I'm staying around for graduation day, which is this coming Tuesday. It's college next school year for me and I have no idea where to go...got into all the colleges I applied for and am totally lost...
The Heart Remembers
Chapter 4
I do not look back as the helicopter flies off behind me. It is the dead of winter and its winds are harsh. Sara had fallen asleep on the trip over here and she now lays in my arms as I carry her towards the mansion before me. There are no paths to this place but for the helicopter that has just left. It only comes once a week to deliver supplies.
What can I say? Irons treasures isolation.
As I shut the stout wooden door with a foot, I feel her stir in my arms. I pause at that, but her eyes do not open and her steady breathing is not broken by an awakening. So, I continue up the carpeted stairs and into the dark recesses of the mansion to the bedrooms. I hesitate in the hallway, then I decide to place her in the one next to Irons'.
I smile wistfully as I see her sleeping peacefully. Stifling I sigh, I move away and set her sling bag onto a table. As I do so, some of its contents spill out of the opening. I bend down to gather them and come across a wallet. A piece of paper peeks out and as I pick up the wallet, I look at it. When I see what has been sketched on it, I blink in surprise. It is a simple sheet of white paper. Its deep creases show it to be well-worn as its pristine state suggests great care. But, even as my mind automatically absorbs those details, I wonder.
Why does she have a picture of me in her wallet?
Confused, I finish fixing her things and then leave the room. As I shut the door, I shake my head to clear it and force those thoughts from my mind. When I walk down to the first floor, I find there the middle-aged couple that manages the mansion. I easily see the fear in their eyes. They know me as Irons' lackey and that I should punish them for not being there at my arrival. However, I choose to overlook the misstep for the moment and simply go on to relay Irons' orders to them. Sara's every move must be reported to me. They must not answer any questions concerning Irons or myself and must pass on those questions to me. Then, I tell the man to manage the luggage, while his wife prepares dinner. After that, I withdraw to my quarters with the orders not to be disturbed until it was dinner time or Sara awakened.
In the silence of my personal study, I open the door to the troubled thoughts that have haunted me these past days. Once again, I am torn between doing my duty by my master and protecting the women I am bound to by ancient bonds. I am ordered to indoctrinate her, but how am I to do that without compromising her position as the Wielder? I find myself caught in a tight spot for if I disobey Irons, I will be placing Sara in danger...but, if I obey him, I will destroy her trust in me and ruin her. I must find a way to compromise. Yet, is it not said that the one who seeks to please everyone, pleases no one?
What am I to do?
I pace my study restlessly throughout the late afternoon. So deep in thought am I that I ignore the lack of light as darkness falls outside with the evening snow. But, by the time I sense someone coming down the hallway, I know what to do. I will tell her what Irons wants said, but I will also plant a seed of doubt and distrust in her so that she may separate herself from my master as she did so in the past. I know that I will lose her again that way, but I also know that it is the only way I can protect her. Better she live in freedom with me in the shadows, then for her to cling to me in a cage that contains us both.
"Come in."
The door opens and she enters. My face mirrors the surprise on hers. I did not expect her to be the one at the door. Has the loss of the Witchblade on her wrist weakened the bonds between us? I push that worrisome thought to the back of my mind as I force myself to smile at her.
"Is something wrong?"
"How did you know I was at the door?"
"Sharp senses," I lie.
"Well, it is time for dinner. Thomas said you were here, so I offered to call you myself."
"That was kind of you."
When she blushes, I force myself to remain smiling despite my confusion. Following her out into the hallway, I watch her back, trying not to stare too hard for fear of alarming her. Yet, I cannot help it. Although I know she is the same as she was before, the changes I find in her are almost frightening. Why the soft voice and the frequent blushes? But, most important of all, why does she -trust- me? I've never given her reason to do so in the past. In fact, she should have every reason to hate me. Sure I protected her, but in such a way that she would not know of it and so cannot be grateful for it. So, why does she act this way? Why does she trust me implicitly?
The sketch is a clue. Once I know why it's in her wallet, perhaps I might get some answers... Or perhaps, I might wish I never sought to solve this riddle.