So sorry this has taken so long guys; my computer had to go in for repairs!
Don't worry! It's healed now!
So this is kind of a filler chapter before the mop scene! (No Izzie in that) So it's kind of pointless… Isadora and Balthazar fluff!
Warning: There is some stuff about Christianity in this chapter… so if you're hard-core religious… I just don't want any flames about my religion please!
Disclaimer: Don't own Nicolas Cage, never will… *cries* I'll get over it… eventually…
The Twin
Of Tank, Coffee, and Healing
Isadora woke up to someone practically assaulting her.
She opened her eyes and noticed it was Balthazar who was shaking her. He had a wide grin on his face, but she was angry about being woken up.
"Geez, Balthazar, I'm awake! Would you please stop?"
Balthazar jerked to a stop, still smiling down on her. Nothing, not even her bad mood, could kill his buzz today. "Guess what?"
"What?" she yawned, sitting up and stretching.
"You missed your surgery," he commented.
"What?" she yelled, throwing off her blanket. "I have to get to the hospital."
"Calm down, Isadora," Balthazar soothed. "You don't need the surgery."
"Why on earth not!" she exclaimed, impatiently waiting for an answer.
"Because I can heal you."
Isadora froze, staring at the sorcerer. "You can do that?"
"Of course," Balthazar smirked. "I'm a sorcerer. I just can't believe I didn't think of it yesterday."
"Now lay down," he ordered. Isadora obediently did so.
"Hold still."
Balthazar waved both his hands over her heart, a soft, warm glow emanating from his fingertips. Isadora felt a white hot flash of pain, then it was all over. She sat up slowly.
"You might have fainting spells every now and then, and you shouldn't get too excited, but otherw-"
Isadora literally jumped him, squeezing the sorcerer tightly.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Izzie shouted gratefully.
"And I'm sorry," she quieted down. "I shouldn't have pulled such a big confession on you so soon. I haven't known you long enough."
"And I'm sorry I made you learn how to swim. It was kind of random, wasn't it?" he asked, laughing.
"It was, but I enjoyed it," She whispered softly. Their lips were inches apart...
They were interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.
Isadora pulled away, blushing, stumbling over multiple things to get to the door.
'Whoever that is, I'm going to kill them,' Balthazar thought, furious.
"Jeff! What are you doing here!"
Balthazar just grinned.
'This is going to be fun.'
This was what Balthazar was thinking as he walked up the staircase.
"Hello Jeff!" Balthazar greeted, wrapping an arm around Izzie's waist.
Jeff looked confused. "I-"
Balthazar did the only thing he could to stop Geoffrey from asking any questions.
He punched him, knocking him out. Again.
Izzie gasped. "Oh my god! Why would you do that?"
"It was necessary. I can't let him ask any more questions," Balthazar explained emotionlessly. He turned walking down the stairs. "Go wake your brother."
Isadora rolled her eyes. He was still using that I'm-older-than-you-so-you-have-to-do-all-the-dirty-work voice. And the curious thing was:
She was beginning to actually like it.
SASASA
"Okay, so how will I know when I'm... it? The-Uh... Prime Merlinean?"
Dave sat down, exhausted from his continuous training. Isadora was reading one of her brother's physics books that he had lying around; she might as well as been sleeping. She had no idea how Dave had actually read this. It took the phrase 'bored to death' to the next level. Balthazar was about five feet away from her reading, yes, you guessed it, the Incantus.
"Maybe you'll sprout wings and begin to fly," Isadora offered sarcastically.
Balthazar ignored her. "The Prime Merlinean will become so powerful within, he no longer needs his ring to cast magic. When you can do that, you're ready to take on Morgana."
"On a lighter note," Dave started. "Why is Professor Aurealis out like a light right outside the lab door?"
Balthazar began to say something, but Izzie cut him off. "Your master punched him."
"Really, Balthazar? You can't just go around punching people. Especially twice in a row."
"I couldn't let him ask anymore questi-"
"Wait... what Balthazar? When was this other time?"
"Uh... When you were knocked out by Horvath after you beat up Drake?" Balthazar tentatively replied.
"Oh my God," Isadora mumbled, burying her face into her hands.
It was then Dave noticed that Balthazar had brought his dog to the lab.
"Tank! What is he doing here?" Dave asked exasperatedly.
"Balthazar wanted you to examine your own species," Isadora quipped, smirking.
Again, Balthazar ignored her, beckoning Dave forward. When all of Balthazar's attention was on Dave, Izzie grabbed his copy of Don Quixote, settling into a good work of literature. She was sick of reading Dave's stupid physics books.
"This should be good," Dave whispered under his breath, getting up and walking over to Balthazar.
"Schematic for a fusion spell," Balthazar explained, pointing to the scroll he was looking at. "The merging of two souls into one physical body. I've only ever seen one sorcerer successfully pull off human fusion."
"And Tank is here for..." Dave trailed off.
"Practice," Balthazar looked up at him with his 'I would never hurt your dog' eyes.
Dave wasn't having any of it. "Are you telling me you're trying to possess Tank?" he asked, incredulous.
Both Balthazar and Dave turned to look at the dog, who was in the process of farting. Balthazar grew quite a bit uncertain. "Yeah... I'm not so sure it's the best idea, either."
"No," Dave whined, shaking his head as Balthazar got up to get a better look at Tank.
Suddenly, Dave seemed to notice the clock. "Oh, man," he murmured. He turned to look at his master, putting on his best pleading face. Unfortunately, his never worked quite as well as Isadora's.
"Becky's coming now, and I'm standing in a puddle of pop... I need to stop and clean."
"We're not done training," Balthazar informed him, hoping it would make a difference.
Dave exhaled, trying to talk some 'sense' into the sorcerer. "Balthazar, I've been waiting for fifteen years to see this girl again. Do you have any idea what that's like?"
Balthazar got quiet all of the sudden. "When I come back, you better be focused."
He walked towards the door. Isadora came up behind Dave, punching him in the arm. "Ow," Dave cringed, "what was that for?"
"You idiot," she hissed to her brother. "Of course he knows what it's like! He's been wandering the world for at least 1300 years. Don't you think he's found love every once in a while? Insensitive jerk," she added, bounding after Balthazar.
"Look, Izzie, I'm sorry!" Dave shouted after her. She didn't even look back. 'I hate her mood swings,' Dave thought.
'Now, where do I keep the mops?'
SASASA
"Balthazar! Balthazar, wait up!"
The sorcerer in question turned, his eyebrows raised, silently asked what she wanted. Isadora came skidding to a stop in front of him. "I just want to talk," she smiled.
"Okay..." Balthazar said uncertainly. "About what?"
Isadora pondered that for a minute; she didn't really care what they talked about, she just wanted to hear his voice. "Uh..."
"It's Sunday, right?" Balthazar interrupted, sort of randomly.
"Yeah, why?"
"I want to show you something," he said by way of explanation.
"Okay," Isadora agreed, getting into the car.
"By the way," Balthazar started. Izzie turned to look at him.
"I know you stole my copy of Don Quixote."
"Damn, I thought I was smooth," she blushed.
"Apparently not smooth enough."
SASASA
Balthazar drove for about twenty minutes, then stopped, starting to get out of the car. The building in front of them was huge; many cars were parked next to them, other people getting out.
Isadora gasped. They were in front of a church.
"Come on," Balthazar urged her. "We don't want to be late."
"Balthazar no! I haven't been to church in like… fifteen years!"
"Same here," he pointed out.
"Touché," she replied, sighing as she got out of the old car. "We're not even dressed up."
"Look down."
Isadora did, eyes widening. She was wearing a green, long-sleeved dress shirt and khakis. She looked down out her feet, seeing respectable flats instead of the converses she had been sporting earlier. "How?" she trailed off.
"I'm a sorcerer, remember?" Balthazar reminded her, amused.
"I feel like an idiot."
They walked through the huge double doors, Izzie feeling like a fat, juicy chicken in the middle of KFC. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, now greet the priest," Balthazar ordered, back into 'Master mode'.
Balthazar shook his hand. The old man smiled. "It is so nice to have visitors. May I inquire as to your name?"
"Balthazar Blake," the sorcerer offered.
The priest turned to Isadora. "And this must be your wife," the priest greeted, holding out his hand. Isadora was about to correct him, but she saw Balthazar shake his head subtly. Izzie shrugged, maybe it was a cover-up.
"Isadora S-Blake," she greeted, catching herself. She beamed at the man.
"It's wonderful to meet you both. I hope you enjoy the service."
"I'm sure we will," Balthazar said, leading her into the large room.
Isadora gasped. It was so beautiful. The stained glass windows threw an odd colored light on the room, making the cherry wood shine every color of the rainbow. Candles lit the room so it glowed a soft yellow. A large wooden cross stood proudly in front of them.
Balthazar bowed his head to the cross, and Isadora quickly copied him. She was tense; it felt awkward being in the house of God for the first time since her mother died. Her father was cremated; he had not wanted a service. He pulled her towards the back, helping her sit before he sat down next to her. "Why are you so afraid?" Balthazar asked, feeling her anxiousness.
"Nothing," she replied quickly.
"Bull… crap," he retorted, not wanting to curse in the church.
"I don't believe in God," Isadora returned hesitantly.
"Why not?"
"He took so many things from me… if there was a God, why would he give me so much pain?" she exclaimed, her voice rising.
"Child, he loves every one of us," a voice came from behind them. Both Balthazar and Isadora looked up; the priest stared at them sadly.
Isadora quieted immediately, ignoring Balthazar's attempts to make her talk to him. People kept filing in, and the program started. Eventually it was time for the sermon.
"We have a slight change of plans today, my friends," the priest called, looking directly at Isadora. "I was planning on doing this lesson two weeks from now, but let's just say... there's someone here right now that needs it."
There was murmuring around the church. Balthazar looked at Isadora, and vice versa. They glanced up when the priest spoke again.
"This is a lesson about faith."
Isadora started, watching the priest with wide eyes. The old man gave her a knowing look, then began to preach.
As he began to speak, Izzie hesitantly rested her hand on Balthazar's, testing his reaction. He only smiled, twining his fingers with her's, squeezing gently to show his support.
"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. That was from Matthew 17:20. Faith is important in all things, especially when it comes to believing in God..."
The priest went on and on about faith. Some of the young children fell asleep, not grasping the immense meaning of the words of the wise man. Isadora was not bored like she'd thought she would've been. She was leaning forward in her pew, listening intently… finally getting it. Getting the meaning of this world... and the next.
Soon the service was over, and Isadora silently walked out of the pew, Balthazar following her equally quietly. They both thanked the priest, flinching as they heard the thunder outside.
Isadora, on an impulse and grinning widely, threw her arms around the frail old man, clutching his shoulders tightly.
"Thank you," she whispered in his ear.
"You're welcome, my dear. I hope to see you both soon," he said, almost condescendingly. They both gulped, vowing to come if they defeated Morgana.
"Definitely," Balthazar agreed, pulling her towards the door.
"Thanks, Balthazar," Isadora whispered seriously.
"Of course," he replied. "Before we go outside, I have something to give you."
"What is it?"
He pulled out a beautiful, antique-looking ring, sliding it onto her finger.
"You're not proposing, I hope," she laughed dryly.
He pulled her forward, whispering what the ring was for in her ear. Her eyes kept on widening at every word. "Whoa..."
"You'll keep it safe?" he asked.
She nodded.
"Good. Now, let's get soaked!"
"You didn't bring an umbrella?"
"No."
"I loathe you," she grumbled as they stepped outside.
SASASA
Balthazar and the redhead ran out of the church and into the rain, the girl gesticulating wildly as she told some outrageous story. Balthazar gently removed a soaked strand of hair from her line of vision, tucking it behind her ear; the girl blushed, bringing up a hand to run her fingers through her wet hair nervously. Something on her middle finger flashed.
Horvath gasped. He couldn't believe Balthazar had given this girl the Transformation Ring. A ring so powerful it was second only to Merlin's own ring. Balthazar must trust this girl a whole lot more than he perceived at first. Horvath sneered. Interesting.
This whole revenge idea just got a whole lot better.
SASASA
Yes, a sorcerer is scared of a priest (hey mine is freaky like that) and No, Horvath is not there because he goes to church.
Just deepening Balthazar's and Izzie's relationship… fun. Izzie's fainting spells will unfortunately come into play later. Ever notice that people with that kind of problem always faint at the worst times? *wink wink nudge nudge*
So that's my new ring! I'm sure it's rather obvious what it's for, but any guesses?
Sorry I knocked Jeff out again; it is crucial to something in the next chapter! (And I couldn't resist…)
-lala-