Echoes And Angels
A Witchblade fanfiction by Talismaniactress
(many thanks to my kind and talented beta-reader Kassiel, and to Trider for title inspiration)
Author's Note: My sincerest apologies for taking so long with such a short chapter – I started college this week and so I've had little (if any) time to write fanfics. I will continue to update this, but you guys might have to wait a few days in between chapters instead of my usual daily updates. Sorry!
Chapter Nine: Connections (part 2)
"…What?" she said meekly, glancing back and forth between them.
"You know what this is?" Sara asked slowly.
Lyanka shrugged. "It's the bracelet that once belonged to Cathain," she said.
Since the Witchblade was usually recognized as the legendary gauntlet of Joan of Arc, Sara was startled to hear it referred to as Cathain's. It was true, of course, that the warrior goddess had been a Bladewielder, but since few people these days put any stock in ancient goddesses, Cathain wasn't often remembered.
"I'm fascinated by ancient European and Celtic history," Lyanka went on, "so I know about Cathain and the Witchblade. I know that it was supposedly wielded by Joan d'Arc, and I know the legends about it – that it changes forms, that only a chosen woman can wear it. I assumed it was locked away in some museum somewhere; I never expected to see it. Where did you acquire it?" she asked, looking at Sara curiously.
"Ah… long story," Sara said vaguely, glancing at Gabriel. He was still staring at Lyanka. "Well," she went on, slapping her hands down on her knees and standing up, "I think I've got my work cut out for me, so I'm gonna head back to the precinct. Thanks for the help, kid, and it was nice to meet you, Miss Ladaei."
"Oh, don't be ridiculous – call me Lyanka," Lyanka said with a smile.
"Lyanka it is then," Sara said, forcing a smile in return. She hugged Gabriel and left.
As she steered her Buell through the streets, Sara's mind raced, trying to come up with some way to warn Gabriel of what she'd seen in her vision. She had the distinct impression he wasn't going to take kindly to a warning against his new girlfriend, especially if they were that close after only one week. With a pang, Sara realized he probably already trusted that girl more than he trusted Sara herself, and that hurt. For a moment she felt something tighten in her chest, and she had to work to push back the tears she felt rising. The last thing she needed today was a motorcycle accident caused by cloudy vision.
It was eight thirty by the time she walked back into the office, but Jake and Danny were still there, rubbing eyes sore from too much reading. They glanced up, glad of the distraction as Sara flopped into a chair and sighed.
"Gabriel have any useful information?" Danny asked.
"Only that this… thing… is worldwide, and goes back almost fifteen hundred years."
They stared. "You're kidding," Jake said.
"I wish I was."
"So what do we do now?"
"Keep looking for a connection." And hope to god the Witchblade decides to show me something else, Sara added mentally.