Disclaimer: The Witchblade Movie, Series, Comics, and characters belong to Top Cow Productions. I own nothing but the idea here.
Thanks, people! Couldn't do this without your lovely reviews! ^_^ Moondreamer, Ian + Shopping with Sara... + Victoria's Secret = Outrageously Funny! Kinky couple... *chortles* I -definitely- want a new chapter posted soon! I also hope to hear from Spin soon... *hint, hint* ^_^ Well, here's the third chapter. I may wrap it up earlier then expected - not 'cause school's starting again *shudders* - but 'cause I have a new idea that I want to start on. Well, let's wait this fic out first, shall we?
Immortal Beloved
Chapter 3
It was some time before Sara realized that the flowers were a different shade - crimson red, rather than virginal white. It was strangely reassuring, especially when that led to the awareness that they were an entirely different type of roses.
"Ooooh, roses! From whom?"
She jumped at the sudden sound of a voice behind her then spun around, hand to racing heart. There, she found her former partner with a wide smile. She pinned him with a furious look, but he just stepped around her to see the spilt flowers.
"-I- wouldn't know," she finally replied, her voice laced with ice.
"Well, looks like someone's gone a-courting."
He smirked as Sara actually flushed to match the flowers' color.
"Why would he send them?"
"Well, who else would?"
"Irons."
"He would have written some amorous note."
"Jake."
"He would have plagiarized some cheesy poem."
"...And -if- it was him?"
There was no need to ask who 'him' was.
"He would have sent a blank card."
The Asian smirked at the dropped card.
"Oh, drop dead!"
The other promptly collapsed on the floor. Sara rolled her eyes and mock-kicked him in the side. The man immeditely leaped to his feet and leaned against the table, though they both knew he really wasn't there. She scowled at him then started to pick up the flowers.
"Now, why would he send you flowers?" The man continued to tease her. "Red roses... Don't they mean 'I love you'?"
"If you don't have anything better to say, 'Wise Asian Master', get the hell out of here."
"Touchy, touchy, Pez."
The man straightened and smirked again.
"The Nile isn't just a river, you know."
"What - "
The man had already vanished before she could finish. Her eyes darkened as she satisfied herself with muttered curses.
"Denial! Ha! Whatever..."
She softly trailed off as her eyes went to the window and she saw someone on the neighboring rooftop. Suddenly flushed, she hurriedly gathered the roses and headed for the privacy of the kitchen. When she reentered the room with the flowers in a vase, she was half-relieved and half-upset to see the rooftop empty. She set the vase on the table and started to pick up the leaves and petals that had scattered earlier. Only then did she notice a stray sheet of paper on the floor. Puzzled, she held up and scanned its contents. When she realized what it was, her eyes widened.
Seconds later, she stormed out the door, lips thinned and eyes hard.
It seemed someone deserved a visit from her.
"Sara, what a pleasant surprise."
"I doubt it. You don't seem the type to enjoy surprises."
The fair-haired man simply smiled and sat at his desk.
"Please...have a seat, Sara."
"This is official business, Irons."
"Sorry." A shrug. "...Detective Pezzini."
"I won't be here long enough to need a chair. ...What do you know about a type of rose called 'Tod'?"
"I'm not a florist, Detective - "
"I didn't say you were, but I asked you a question. Answer it."
"It's a hybrid. An unusual blossom - "
"Because it's poisonous?" Sara snapped.
"Correction," Irons coolly replied. "-Was- would be the word."
"And why isn't it anymore?"
"Because it's no longer grown. Like you said, it was poisonous. ...One couldn't very well sell flowers that killed people - "
"Unless the one buying them wanted them for that very reason."
"I don't see what you're trying to imply."
"Oh, I think you do. Your German branch of 'Vorschlag Organics' created the flower. ...Was there someone you wanted to kill and you decided to say it with flowers, Irons?"
"It wasn't like that!" The man hissed.
Sara's eyes widened when she realized she'd actually caused the man to stand from his seat and raise his voice. Once he'd realized it too, he calmly sat down once more and steepled his hands before him.
"When it was discovered to be poisonous, the entire crop was destroyed along with everything else," he stated flatly.
"Then, why did you name it 'Tod'? Isn't that German for death?"
"That was a nickname."
"What was the full name?"
"Bis dass der Tod uns scheidet."
"Hmph. No wonder it needed a nickname."
"What is the reason for this?" Irons asked, his tone surprisingly sharp. "Don't make me laugh by saying you're arresting me for that."
"No. ...But, it's strange how a man as efficient as you has orgnizations that are...well, disorganized."
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Well, it seems some roses escaped your people and now, a serial killer leaves them behind as a calling card. Odd how the trail of dead bodies starts in Germany, hn? You wouldn't know anything about that...would you?"
"Of course not."
"Just checking."
When she moved to leave, Irons raised his hand to stop her.
"You said it was a serial killer. ...Who are his targets?"
"Strangely enough...women that wear my face."
The door shut after her and for a moment, Irons sat alone in silence. His face was a deathly pale as he stared darkly out the window. Then, he suddenly jabbed at a button on his desk and seconds later, his devoted servant stepped in.
"Have you increased security as I ordered?"
"Yes, sir."
"...You told her about 'Tod', didn't you?"
Rather than reply, the man before him just tensed in expectation of a blow. Irons merely sneered.
"Ready a team. There is work to be done in Berlin."
The bowed head bent even lower if possible. It was obvious the man wanted to stay near his Lady.
"What about you, sir? What of your safety?"
"I'll be fine if you followed my orders."
"Of course, sir." The man moved to leave.
"Wait." The other immediately halted. "...Once they are ready, return to Sara. She could be in danger."
"As you wish, sir."
The dark-haired man bowed low and left. It was evident that he was relieved about Irons' orders. So, his tin soldier had problems with loyalty, hn? He would have to deal with that after this was over. But, as of the moment... He hadn't left a lot of enemies alive in his path to power, yet it seemed he'd overlooked a lethal one.
Who could it be...and how could he have lived for so many years?
Thanks, people! Couldn't do this without your lovely reviews! ^_^ Moondreamer, Ian + Shopping with Sara... + Victoria's Secret = Outrageously Funny! Kinky couple... *chortles* I -definitely- want a new chapter posted soon! I also hope to hear from Spin soon... *hint, hint* ^_^ Well, here's the third chapter. I may wrap it up earlier then expected - not 'cause school's starting again *shudders* - but 'cause I have a new idea that I want to start on. Well, let's wait this fic out first, shall we?
Immortal Beloved
Chapter 3
It was some time before Sara realized that the flowers were a different shade - crimson red, rather than virginal white. It was strangely reassuring, especially when that led to the awareness that they were an entirely different type of roses.
"Ooooh, roses! From whom?"
She jumped at the sudden sound of a voice behind her then spun around, hand to racing heart. There, she found her former partner with a wide smile. She pinned him with a furious look, but he just stepped around her to see the spilt flowers.
"-I- wouldn't know," she finally replied, her voice laced with ice.
"Well, looks like someone's gone a-courting."
He smirked as Sara actually flushed to match the flowers' color.
"Why would he send them?"
"Well, who else would?"
"Irons."
"He would have written some amorous note."
"Jake."
"He would have plagiarized some cheesy poem."
"...And -if- it was him?"
There was no need to ask who 'him' was.
"He would have sent a blank card."
The Asian smirked at the dropped card.
"Oh, drop dead!"
The other promptly collapsed on the floor. Sara rolled her eyes and mock-kicked him in the side. The man immeditely leaped to his feet and leaned against the table, though they both knew he really wasn't there. She scowled at him then started to pick up the flowers.
"Now, why would he send you flowers?" The man continued to tease her. "Red roses... Don't they mean 'I love you'?"
"If you don't have anything better to say, 'Wise Asian Master', get the hell out of here."
"Touchy, touchy, Pez."
The man straightened and smirked again.
"The Nile isn't just a river, you know."
"What - "
The man had already vanished before she could finish. Her eyes darkened as she satisfied herself with muttered curses.
"Denial! Ha! Whatever..."
She softly trailed off as her eyes went to the window and she saw someone on the neighboring rooftop. Suddenly flushed, she hurriedly gathered the roses and headed for the privacy of the kitchen. When she reentered the room with the flowers in a vase, she was half-relieved and half-upset to see the rooftop empty. She set the vase on the table and started to pick up the leaves and petals that had scattered earlier. Only then did she notice a stray sheet of paper on the floor. Puzzled, she held up and scanned its contents. When she realized what it was, her eyes widened.
Seconds later, she stormed out the door, lips thinned and eyes hard.
It seemed someone deserved a visit from her.
"Sara, what a pleasant surprise."
"I doubt it. You don't seem the type to enjoy surprises."
The fair-haired man simply smiled and sat at his desk.
"Please...have a seat, Sara."
"This is official business, Irons."
"Sorry." A shrug. "...Detective Pezzini."
"I won't be here long enough to need a chair. ...What do you know about a type of rose called 'Tod'?"
"I'm not a florist, Detective - "
"I didn't say you were, but I asked you a question. Answer it."
"It's a hybrid. An unusual blossom - "
"Because it's poisonous?" Sara snapped.
"Correction," Irons coolly replied. "-Was- would be the word."
"And why isn't it anymore?"
"Because it's no longer grown. Like you said, it was poisonous. ...One couldn't very well sell flowers that killed people - "
"Unless the one buying them wanted them for that very reason."
"I don't see what you're trying to imply."
"Oh, I think you do. Your German branch of 'Vorschlag Organics' created the flower. ...Was there someone you wanted to kill and you decided to say it with flowers, Irons?"
"It wasn't like that!" The man hissed.
Sara's eyes widened when she realized she'd actually caused the man to stand from his seat and raise his voice. Once he'd realized it too, he calmly sat down once more and steepled his hands before him.
"When it was discovered to be poisonous, the entire crop was destroyed along with everything else," he stated flatly.
"Then, why did you name it 'Tod'? Isn't that German for death?"
"That was a nickname."
"What was the full name?"
"Bis dass der Tod uns scheidet."
"Hmph. No wonder it needed a nickname."
"What is the reason for this?" Irons asked, his tone surprisingly sharp. "Don't make me laugh by saying you're arresting me for that."
"No. ...But, it's strange how a man as efficient as you has orgnizations that are...well, disorganized."
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Well, it seems some roses escaped your people and now, a serial killer leaves them behind as a calling card. Odd how the trail of dead bodies starts in Germany, hn? You wouldn't know anything about that...would you?"
"Of course not."
"Just checking."
When she moved to leave, Irons raised his hand to stop her.
"You said it was a serial killer. ...Who are his targets?"
"Strangely enough...women that wear my face."
The door shut after her and for a moment, Irons sat alone in silence. His face was a deathly pale as he stared darkly out the window. Then, he suddenly jabbed at a button on his desk and seconds later, his devoted servant stepped in.
"Have you increased security as I ordered?"
"Yes, sir."
"...You told her about 'Tod', didn't you?"
Rather than reply, the man before him just tensed in expectation of a blow. Irons merely sneered.
"Ready a team. There is work to be done in Berlin."
The bowed head bent even lower if possible. It was obvious the man wanted to stay near his Lady.
"What about you, sir? What of your safety?"
"I'll be fine if you followed my orders."
"Of course, sir." The man moved to leave.
"Wait." The other immediately halted. "...Once they are ready, return to Sara. She could be in danger."
"As you wish, sir."
The dark-haired man bowed low and left. It was evident that he was relieved about Irons' orders. So, his tin soldier had problems with loyalty, hn? He would have to deal with that after this was over. But, as of the moment... He hadn't left a lot of enemies alive in his path to power, yet it seemed he'd overlooked a lethal one.
Who could it be...and how could he have lived for so many years?