Episode 8: Renaissance

Kenneth Irons, holding a glass of brandy, stood in front of the large fireplace in his study. It had been days since Sara had passed the Periculum. He had hoped to talk to her about the test, but she had so far refused two invitations to dinner. He was becoming tired of her attempts to show that she didn't need him. She most certainly did. So far Irons was still able to manipulate things his way, but it was becoming harder at every step. Momentarily he thought of eliminating Cianna, but she had proven her ability to keep herself alive. She seemed to be the hardest person involved with the Witchblade to kill, and might possible be the one to prove the curse that hovered over those who befriended Sara wasn't as powerful as originally believed.

Irons drank the last of the brandy and sat the glass down. Things had reached a point where all of his plans could possibly go spiraling out of control. He needed to tip the scale in his favor once again. He moved towards his desk and hit the intercom on his phone.

"Yes, sir."

"Dr. Immo, I need to speak with you in the study."


Sara remembered everything now. She had started thinking about the whole thing as another life. She knew how Danny had died the first time around. How she alone had saved Irons and Ian from Mobius. How surprise Karen Bronte had been to see her. About the Isaacs and how she's meet Gabe. All her time with Conchobar. The mysterious death of Father Belamy, and the fight with Father Deltoro. And the first Periculum. She also knew how things had gone after the test. The double assassination and Ian turning himself in. How he'd told her he loved her then promptly beat up her partner. The hookers and the White Bulls. How Jake was an undercover FBI agent. That part still shocked her. Plus she knew who was pulling the White Bulls strings, and who had ordered the death of her father. Irons was going to pay.

The strange part about knowing all this was not seeing Cianna in any of the visions. The girl had become such a large part of her life. Sara now knew what she had done without her but none of it had ended well. Everyone who had mattered that was still alive now had died in that other life. Joe, Gabe, Jake,...Ian. With Cianna's help she hoped to keep them all alive.

Sara was surprised that Ian had become important to her. Yes, he was always there, tailing her. She was sure she only saw him every so often because he wanted her to see him. So she'd expected his presence. Her outlook on him had changed though when the visions hit her the day after the Periculum. She would never forget the look on his face when Dante and the other White Bulls shot him in the warehouse. Speaking of Dante she had expected him to call the meeting about Parsegian today, but he hadn't. One thing scared her more then any other though, the clone.

"Hello," Jake said.

"What?" Sara said his voice pulling her out of her thoughts.

"Your phone is ringing."

"Oh!" Sara pulled out her cell phone. "Hello."

"Hey," Cianna said. "Um....can you come to 411 West 83rd street? We found one of Gabe's friends hanging from the ceiling.

"Not good," Sara said into the phone. She turned to Jake. "DB at 411 West 83rd street."

"Ok," came the reply as the car turned sharply.

"How is he?" Sara said to Cianna.

"He's ok," Cianna replied. "I think. He's sitting on the front steps."

"OK, well, don't touch anything," Sara said. "We should be there soon." She hung up the phone.

"So what's up?" Jake asked.

"Ci and Gabe found one of Gabe's friends dead."

"Ouch."

"Yeah, that's what I thought," Sara said.

She returned to her thoughts then. She'd been expecting this too. Cianna had seen the visions too, though from some things she had said Sara thought that maybe Ci knew more then she was telling.


Cianna sat down next to Gabe on the steps. She sighed and wrapped her arms around him. At least she was prepared for this. Ok, so maybe not totally but the heads up from the blade had helped. Plus, Cianna knew who had killed Sly. She knew all the terrible things Kenneth Irons had ordered the one who was suppose to protect the Wielder to do. And she knew the outcome of that guardian's life. Cianna would do everything in her power to change things this time around to save lives in the end.

"Who would do that to Sly?" Gabe said.

Cianna inhaled sharply and turned to him. "No clue, sweetie." She hated lying to him, but she really didn't want to have to explain how she knew who'd done it. Especially when the man was sitting on top of a building down the street watching them. Sara and Jake showed up, saving Cianna from having to lie more. They both went in the house. A few minutes later some uniformed officers showed up. Cianna pulled Gabe to his feet and led him down the steps. He quickly sat down in the grass. Cianna turned to where Ian had been. He was gone. Probably back to Irons.

Sara popped out of the house and pulled Cianna to the side. "Well?"

"I............"

"Cianna Templar, do you know who is responsible for this?"

"Yes, but it wasn't his fault, and no one would believe me anyway," Cianna sighed.

"Irons had Ian do it?"

"Yeah."

"Thought so when I saw that one comic panel," Sara said. "Do you know what's up with that?"

"Sly started to tell me about it the last time I talked to him, but he stopped," Cianna replied. "I'm almost positive it's suppose to be Irons and Ian though. Sly went to Art school on one of the grants Vorschlag gives out every year."

"So reality and art got too close."

"That's what I'm figuring."


Ian stood in one corner of the office as Armand Parsegian sat down in the chair across from Irons' desk. Benjamin Wolf took up a stop behind the chair and glanced over his should at Ian.

"Ian, I need you to run a small errand for me," Irons held out a package. Ian quickly crossed to the desk and took it. "Deliver that to Sara's apartment and inform her that I am looking forward to her joining me for dinner. Go."

Ian stood staring at Irons for a second before turning on his heels and heading out of the office. He had always hated Irons deep in his heart, but since the visions he'd had after the Periculum he now truly despised the man. He did not know how much longer he could fake loyalty to the man whose greatest desire was to control the Wielder. He stopped in the lobby outside the office. The secretary was on her lunch break which was the reasoning behind the timing of the Parsegian meeting. Ian looked over his shoulder at the door and then went to his small office.

The night before when Irons thought that Ian was watching Sara he had snuck into his office and set up a camera to feed to a small television in Ian's office. He laid the package down on his desk and pulled out the drawer with the TV in it. He pulled it out of the desk and clicked it on.

"I need to burrow Wolf for a small task," Irons was telling Parsegian.

"What about Nottingham?"

"He can not carry out what I need done."

"I thought you said he was perfect," Parsegian replied.

"I thought he was, but a defect in his training seems to have popped up," Irons leaned back in his chair. "So may I hire Wolf away from you for a day or two?"

"What about my security?"

"I will see that you are whisked out of town before anyone knows you're gone."

"How much are you paying?" Parsegian asked.

"Twice what you pay him," Irons smiled coldly.

"Well?" Parsegian looked over his shoulder.

"If your safe," Wolf replied. "Then how can I refuse?"

"Alright," Parsegian said. "You can have him, but only for three days."

"Agreed," Irons pulled open a drawer and retrieved a folder from it. He handed it to Parsegian who handed it to Wolf.

"Cute kid," Wolf replied inspecting the contents.

"That 'kid' killed a Black Dragon with her bare hands."

Wolf whistled. "Doesn't look it."

"No she doesn't," Irons replied. "She gotten in my way far too many times, get rid of her."

"Yes, sir."

Ian flicked the TV off and put it back in the draw. He grabbed the package and headed out of the office and towards the elevator.


Sara and Cianna both panting from exhaustion stood facing each other in an abandoned warehouse. Cianna held a sword in her hand while on Sara's wrist the Witchblade was ready for battle. Cianna had finally offered to train Sara in sword fighting, saying she had wanted to make sure that she passed the Periculum before training her. Sara still wasn't too sure about this whole idea, but it had proven an excellent way to burn off steam.

"Stand down," Cianna said before walking towards where they had set the bottles of water.

Sara walked towards her and sat on the floor. "So am I getting better?"

"I'm not sure if it's the Witchblade or you, but someone is getting better," Cianna sat down. "I'm going to be sore for a week."

"You!" Sara laughed. "You're a lot younger then I am."

Cianna laughed as well but stopped when foot steps echoed through the large warehouse. Ian came stalking towards them, his large trench coat flowing behind him. Cianna folded her hands behind her head and laid back stretching. Sara smiled at the girl then looked back up at Ian. He stopped three feet in front of her and looked straight at her. Well, that's a switch, she thought.

"Come to laugh at me?" Sara smiled.

"Laugh at you?" Ian looked confused.

"Yep, Ci here has been working with me on my sword skills."

"I do not envy you, Cianna," Ian said. "Lady Sara can not possibly be an easy pupil."

Cianna laughed. Sara crossed her arms and looked up at him surprised to see a smile gracing his handsome features.

"I don't have to take this from either of you," Sara said.

"Irons wishes for you to have dinner with him," Ian held out a package to her.

Sara took it and looked at it disgusted. "Tell him I'd rather have dinner with Tommy Gallo."

Ian's face suddenly turned serious. "Cianna, you're in danger."

"When am I not in danger?" Cianna said sitting up.

"Irons has hired Benjamin Wolf to kill you."

"Hired someone?" Cianna asked. "He didn't try to order you to do it?"

"He knows I would not obey that order," Ian looked down.

"I understand," Cianna replied.

"Well, I don't," Sara said. "I thought Parsegian and this Wolf guy were suppose to be dead by now."

"Apparently not this time," Cianna replied standing. "I'm going to have to move again. My landlord is going to hate me."

"Do you think he could actually hurt you?" Sara didn't really think anyone save maybe herself could hurt Cianna but she had to at least make sure.

"I've come to the conclusion that only the Witchblade could kill Cianna," Ian said.

"Pleasant thought," Sara stood up.

"I'm not so sure about that," Cianna replied. "I'm still human after all."


That night Ian knocked on the window to Cianna's apartment. She and Sara were packing up Cianna's things. It had been decided that the easiest way to get thought this latest threat was for Cianna to stay with Sara for awhile. However she had to move her things out of her apartment to at least make it appear at first like she'd left town. Ian knew that wouldn't fool Wolf for long if it even did at all. But they had to try every option given to them. Sara opened the window bringing Ian out of his thoughts. He slipped into the apartment.

Cianna came out of the bathroom carrying a box. "Come to help us carry stuff to my car?"

"I can if you would like me too," Ian reached down and picked up a box.

"Good," Cianna started towards the door.

Ian followed her into the hall to the elevator. More boxes were set there with Gabe sitting next to them.

"I'm still not sure why you're moving, again, Ci," Gabe said standing.

Sara came out into the hall with a box. "Because someone is trying to kill her."

"What?" Gabe said.

Cianna turned and gave Sara a look that basically said 'shut up.' Ian shook his head at the two as the doors opened. The group started loading the boxes onto the elevator.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Gabe said.

"Because you have enough on your mind at the moment," Cianna replied. "Don't worry, hun, I can take care of myself.

"And besides," Sara said. "She's staying with me. Between Ian and the Witchblade I think we can keep her safe."

"I hope so," Gabe said.

Ian winched at the pain in the younger man's voice. He had tried to come up with a way to make Irons think he'd killed Sylvester without actually performing the deed. But if he hadn't done it and Irons had found out they'd be in a worse position then they already were. Irons didn't trust Ian, that was obvious, but if Ian actively disobeyed an order then it would give grounds of Irons to end his life. And Ian highly doubted his clone's ability or concern to guard both Sara and Cianna.


The next morning, Sara awoke to the smell of coffee and bacon permeating the apartment. Her alarm suddenly started blaring. Reaching out, Sara slapped the button to silence the wretched device. She rolled out of bed. Gathering cloths for the day, she padded into the bathroom. She emerged fifteen minutes later, cleaner but no less tired.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Cianna sat two glasses of orange juice on the table.

Sara yawned in reply and poured herself some coffee. Half a cup later, she turned to the table. There were three plates each piled with bacon eggs and toast. Cianna was walking towards the fire escape. Before Sara could ask about the third plate, the girl had thrown open the window and stuck her head out. Sara glanced at the clock. Jake would be there any minute. She sat and began eating. Her meal was half eaten by the time Cianna led Ian to the table.

"Now sit," Cianna instructed the assassin. "You are no good to us if you starve yourself."

Looking slightly dejected, Ian sat. "Good morning, Lady Sara," he didn't look up from his plate.

Sara glanced at Cianna then back at him, "Morning, Ian." There was a honk from outside. "That's Jake," Sara stood yet didn't miss the glare Ian threw in the direction of the noise. What's up with that, she thought. She put the empty plate in the sink. She grabbed her jacket then turned to Cianna. "Be careful, and don't pull that trick you pulled on Gabe and I the last time."

"Of course not," Cianna smiled. "Have a good day."

"Yeah, yeah," Sara went down the stairs and out the door.


"I thought you got over that," Cianna said glaring at Ian. "You and I both know that McCarthy is an Agent. You may not like it but your going to have to live with it."

Ian sighed and looked at her. "I think I spotted Wolf on my way over."

Cianna stood and grabbed his empty plate as well as hers. "Don't change the subject on me." She dropped the two plates in the sink.

"I am simply informing you of the status of the man who has been sent to kill you," Ian replied standing. "I am suppose to protect you."

"I thought we went over this already," Cianna sighed walking towards the couch. "You protect Sara."

"And the best way to do that at the moment is to protect you," Ian followed her. "Don't get too close to the windows please."

"Is that why you almost popped a blood vessel when I stuck my head out to coax you in for breakfast?"

"Cianna, please do not make my job any harder then it already is," Ian replied. "Wolf is a worthy opponent. He is an excellent marksmen."

There was a crashing sound from downstairs. A women's scream could be heard from below. Ian rushed to the window. Six people were running out of the building. Wolf. Instincts took over as Ian shoved Cianna towards the fire escape. He was closing the window as he heard Sara's door crash open. He followed Cianna down the fire escape. They ran down the half crowded street away from the building. Ian turned to look over his shoulder. Wolf was coming down the fire escape. Cianna ducked into an alley.

"Now....what?" she panted.

"I'm not sure," Ian said pulling her farther into the alley.

"We can't go to Gabe's. I won't put him in that much danger," Cianna stopped near a fire escape. "The precinct?"

"And what are you going to tell them?"

"The truth," Cianna said.

"That my employer hired Armand Parsegian's bodyguard to kill you, and I'm helping you?"

"Ok, so its..." She stopped her eyes widening as she looked past Ian.

Ian turned to find Wolf standing at the entrance to the alley. Ian stepped in front of Cianna. Wolf fired in a pattern Ian didn't understand, but he didn't have to know the pattern to catch the bullets. The sound of a bullet flying past his ear caused Ian to turn. In the second before the bullet reached its target Ian understood. Wolf had fired in a way to make Ian move from in front of Cianna. The girl dropped to the ground, a red patch forming on her white shirt. Ian closed the gap between himself and Wolf and broke the man's neck.

He turned to go to Cianna's side, but was surprised to find a man with unruly blonde hair crotched next to her. The man looked up at him. Ian had seen the man before, but had now idea who he was.

"She was a warrior, Knight," the man said closing her eyes. "She knew her fate." With that he was gone.

Ian rushes to Cianna's side. He'd failed. Failed so miserably. How could he been expected to protect Sara from the enemies of the Witchblade when he could not even protect Cianna from a mere mortal. He pulled Cianna's body close to him and for the first time in his life, wept.

"Ian?"

Ian looked up to find Lady Sara staring down at him. When she saw Cianna, she gasped and backed away. She leaned against the wall, covering her mouth with her hand. Ian let Cianna go to comfort his lady. Sara didn't protest when Ian wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm sorry, Sara," Jake said stepping close. "Looks like the guy in the suit shot the girl. The guy's neck is broken."

"I did that," Ian said burying his face in Sara's hair. It smelled so wonderful.

Sara pulled away from Ian and he released her. Tears rolled down her face as she looked down at the girl. "Jake, can you handle this? Tell Dante to put someone else on the case," she managed to get out.

"Yeah," Jake said nodding. "Want me to take you home?"

"No," Sara replied. "Ian can."

"He needs to go in for questioning, Sara," Jake replied. "He just admitted to killing a man."

"Jake!" Sara cried. "Wolf is still holding a gun, it was self defense. Ian was trying to protect Cianna."

Jake started to say something but Ian glared at him and the blonde shut his mouth. Ian led Sara out of the alley and towards her home.


Irons stood in front of the window in his office. Ian had been gone an awful long time. He had been right to be cautious of the younger man's loyalties. Wolf was dead, obviously by Ian hand. However the goal had been reached. The girl was dead as well. Irons took a deep breath. Time to move on with the next part of his plan.

"How will he react to the other one still being alive?" Irons turned to Immo.

"There is no way of predicting what either of their reactions will be," the doctor replied.


Sara tried to compose herself as she went to answer the door. She'd called Gabe almost as soon as she had gotten home. Ian, who had been sitting on the couch, moved to the side into the shadows. Taking a deep breath she opened the door.

"What's wrong?" Gabe asked upon seeing the look on Sara's face.

"You'd better sit down first," Sara led him up the stairs and towards the couch.

"Its Cianna, isn't it?" Gabe sat.

"Yes, it is," Sara sat next to him. "Wolf got her, today in an alley."

Gabe's eyes filled with sorrow then rage. Ian had come out of the shadows. Gabe jumped up and stalked towards the taller man.

"You were suppose to protect her," Gabe said near tears.

"I know," Ian replied sorrowfully. "I failed."

"Gabe," Sara came near them. "Blaming Ian won't do you any good."

"Sara," Danny suddenly appeared. "Remember what Elizabeth said."

Sara looked at the two living men. Ian was looking right at Danny like he could see him, and Gabe seemed out of it enough to maybe not notice. "I think she's a little past the healing part, Danny."

"Cathian suggested that," Danny replied. "Elizabeth said you were both ready for what was ahead of you. And Septima..."

"Said that Cianna was the key to change," Sara finished. "But she's dead now."

"Kerry," Ian suddenly said. Sara couldn't miss the light bald that seemed to go off in his eyes.

"What about her?" Sara asked looking at Gabe, who had moved away to sit on the couch again. Poor guy was really out of it to miss all this.

"Irons brought her body back from ashes so her spirit could rejoin it," Ian said. "If we could find the ashes from Cianna's first body, we might be able to do the same." Ian suddenly turned to Gabe. "Gabriel, I know you are in shock at the moment but I must have the answer to a very important question. Did you find out what the symbol was that I gave not long before you meet Sara?"

"Yeah," Gabe sighed. "Friend of mine translated it. It's a warning, means dark one."

"Kerry was the dark twin," Sara said coming closer

"Right," Ian nodded to her. "Gabe, could you find out what means here light one?"

"Yeah," Gabe's eyes seemed to refocus. "What are you guys talking about?"

"A way to get Cianna back," Sara replied. "She is connected to the Witchblade. It's a really long story, but all you really need to know is that this might work, and we need that symbol."


Sara followed Ian into Gabe's shop that evening. The younger man sat in front of his computer. He looked up as they walked closer. From the expression on his face he had obviously made progress.

"Well?" Sara waved her arms trying to get him to spill.

"Found it," Gabe replied smiling. He stood and walked over to a shelf and grabbed an urn. "I recognized the symbol as soon as my friend showed it to me. The last time Ci and I cleaned I noticed she was looking at this urn. I think she knew exactly what it was. So what is it?"

Sara looked at Ian while trying to decide the best way to explain Cianna's role with the Witchblade to him. For a moment she hoped Ian would tell him for her. He nodded towards Gabe then towards the Witchblade. She glanced down at the bracelet. It was strangely quiet. Some help you are, Sara though towards the Blade. It swirled in response.

"It contains the ashes of Cianna's first life."

Gabe stared at her for a full minute, then he handed the urn to Ian. "That makes no sense, but we'll just leave it there for the moment. So what's next?"

"Good question," Sara looked at Ian.

"I don't know what incantation was used," Ian sighed and closed his eyes.

Sara sat down in a chair. She looked down at the Witchblade. Do something, she thought to the Blade.

"Find Lazar," Elizabeth appeared in the corner.

"Who?" Sara replied.

"Are you alright?" Gabe asked.

Sara waved at him to get him to be quiet.

"Lazar, Sara, find him," Elizabeth said.

"How?" Sara pleaded.

"Call to him, he'll come," Elizabeth smiled then disappeared.

She took a deep breath. She looked from Ian to Gabe. The she turned to speak to the air. Please let this work. "Lazar, I need you."


Ian watched as the blonde haired man who had appeared when Cianna had died reappeared three feet in front of Sara.

"How may I help you, Wielder?" Lazar bowed his head.

"We need the incantation to restore Cianna's ashes," Sara replied.

"It is in the book, Sara." With that he disappeared.

"What book?" Gabe asked.

Sara looked at Ian. Lazar must have meant the Witchblade book, which was back at the office. It could be worse, the book could have been at the mansion. Ian set the urn down on a shelf.

"Ian, can you go get it?" Sara sounded hesitant.

"Of course," he moved towards the door. "I will return soon."

With that he headed down towards his car. As he neared Vorschlag Industries, a feeling of dread started in the pit of his stomach. What if Irons was there? It was late enough that he should have returned to the mansion. Ian sighed. He had to get the book no matter what. So much depended on it.


Sara and Gabe paced as they waited for Ian to return. Maybe she should have gone with him.

"Do you think he can get it?" Gabe said.

"Of course," Sara hid her own doubt for his sake.

"Do you even know if this will work?" Gabe reached out and touched the urn.

"It did before."

He turned towards her, "Before?"

"On her sister," Sara replied. He was glad he was in the line of work he was in, he expected things so much easier.

They had sat in silence for about ten minutes until her phone rang.

She grabbed it out of her pocket. "Pez."

"Hey Sara, its Jake. How you doing?"

Sara sighed. "I'm fine Jake. Is something up? I called Dante and he told me to take the next couple of days off." That had actually surprised Sara.

"Yeah, actually," Jake replied. "The Templar girl's body disappeared from the morgue."

"What?"

"Vicky doesn't know how it happened. She turned her back for two seconds and it was gone. She's really upset, Pez."

"Ok, I'll call her. Thanks Jake." Sara hung up the phone. This whole thing just kept getting weirder. So did Irons have Cianna's body, or did its disappearance have something to do with the Witchblade.

The door suddenly opened and Ian walked in. He was carrying the book.



"So no one else remembers that I was dead, not even Gabe?" Cianna looked at Sara the next morning as they ate breakfast.

"Right," Sara sat back down after getting more coffee. "To them you were just in the hospital for a day with a minor arm wound where a bullet grazed you. Ian, Irons, and I seem to be the only ones that know what really happened."

"Well, its probably a good thing. It would be kinda hard to explain if everyone remembered. So, what did Ian say when he left?"

"That he'd help us move you back into your apartment on my day off," there was a honk outside. "That's Jake, got to go."