Sara's dreams were tortured by visions of Conchobar - John. The man who for the last two weeks had been her life… To know that he was gone and not coming back, to know that she was at fault for letting the Witchblade leave her wrist, and that it was the witchblade that had killed him ate at her more and more. Perhaps Danny had been warning her when he had told her 'pleasant dreams' she wasn't sure. She woke to the sound of an alien alarm clock and rolled over to see that she was not in her bed. It dawned on her then that she was at her partner Jake's apartment. He must have come home to find her curled up on the couch and moved her to the bed. She turned the alarm clock off and went out to the living room. Jake was cooking breakfast, though after the night she had had, she wasn't sure if she could handle food or not.
"Morning Jake."
"Hey Pez, you look a lot better. Feel up to food?"
"Maybe some coffee and toast, other than that I don't think my stomach's quite ready for food." Sara groaned.
"Coffee and toast, coming up." Jake said cheerfully as he flipped his spatula and caught it behind his back. Sara couldn't help but laugh. Sara sipped her coffee and nibbled the toast. She knew that she had to eat something but she just didn't feel up to it.
"So when can I go home?"
"They've got people coming to clean up the mess this afternoon, it should be free and clear by evening. Do you really want to go back there and be all by yourself?"
"Not really Jake, but I need my bed… I need my things… I know that it's still going to remind me of what happened, but if I'm ever to get over it, I have to face it sometime."
"I guess. But you know you can hang out here for a while if you want."
"Thanks Jake. Tell you what, if I can't handle my place, I'll come right back here."
"Sounds fair enough. The Captain says you don't have to come in for a few days. I think he talked to Siri, because that doesn't sound like Dante talking to me… but you never know."
"Maybe he just wants to be rid of me for a few days and figures this is the easiest way to do it without raising suspicion."
"Maybe. But you've earned it. Well I have to go to work… Call me if you need anything."
"Sure Jake. Later."
"Later Pez."
Ian Nottingham stood at parade rest near an opulent desk. The man sitting at the desk looked up at him his face slightly amused. Ian turned his attention to the man as he spoke.
"She's stronger than I thought. Perhaps I should have rethought slipping those radicals that piece of information."
"It was your choice to make, sir. There was no way that you could have foreseen all of the outcomes. No way anyone could have." Ian said solemnly.
"Perhaps. I can't help but feel that I am overlooking something. Do you suppose I should have let Conchobar live?"
"That is not for me to say sir. Though it might have given Lady Sara more trust in you."
"Yes, but at what cost? To be tortured day and night… To feel every touch, every kiss, to hear every sigh they shared? No Ian, I had to end it. My sanity hung in the balance, an unwilling voyeur to their reunion. They had to be stopped."
"Of course sir. So what shall be done about Lady Sara now?"
"For the time being, nothing. We shall see if the blade is indeed testing her. Then when the moment is right, we will strike. Either to retrieve the blade from the impostor, or to help her pick up the pieces of her life and rebuild them so that she will once again be ours." Irons said his voice full of dark determination.
"Yes sir. Shall I keep watch over her?"
"Yes, and report back to me with any news that could prove to our advantage."
"Yes sir."
"Dismissed." Irons said as he rose and left the room. Ian walked out of Vorschlag Industries and headed to the place he knew Sara would be…
Sara was at the graveyard. She knew that she could talk to Danny anywhere, but at least here when she talked to him, no one thought that she was insane. She placed flowers over the sparsely growing grass below the headstone. She sighed and sat down on the ground beside Danny's grave.
"Something must really be bothering you if you've come here to see me."
"I just keep thinking that if I had done something differently, maybe he'd still be alive."
"Pez, there was nothing that you could have done. You did all you could. Yours was a love destined to fall as it has fallen many times before. You could do nothing then and you could do nothing this time."
"So that's what I have to look forward to? More of the same?"
"Pez, you will shape your life. True the blade does weave paths for you, but it cannot make you follow any of them. In the end you are the one that makes the choice."
"More cryptic stuff… Between you, Irons, and Nottingham I've had my fill of riddles for the rest of my life."
"I wish this could be simpler Pez. I cannot tell you more than I do, because the blade won't let you hear it. I try to leave you hints and warnings in what I tell you Sara, but you must find them on your own. Look to Nottingham and to your partner, both may surprise you, and both may be able to help you in ways you have not yet imagined."
"Really?"
"Yes Sara. Dare to imagine, for there is power in the thoughts and dreams that you wield." Danny said and with that he was gone.
"Gee thanks for the help Danny." Sara sighed as she stood up. A black figure caught her attention. It was Nottingham. What was he doing here? Was he following her? What was it with him huh? Couldn't he just leave her alone? He advanced toward her.
"What are you doing here?" Sara said sharply, obviously annoyed.
"I come to warn you Lady Sara."
"Why?"
"You are soon to be put through the most intense of tests. The periculum is upon you and you have not even begun to see the terrors it will unleash upon you. Be ready Sara and be strong, for if you are not the blade will discard you much as it discarded Ms. Boucher, or perhaps it will be worse."
"The Periculum? What the hell is that?"
"You will see Sara, I only wish that I could spare you what it will deal you for no one should have to face what you will face, except maybe the man who wishes to control us both."
"Irons? Wait I don't understand."
"I must go Lady Sara, but I will be with you, eventhough you cannot see me." And with that Ian was gone. She figured that it had to be his military training that afforded him the ability to disappear so easily. She shook her head and walked in the direction of her apartment. She walked up the stairs and into her apartment. It was good to be home. She looked to where the chaos that the terrorists had left behind should have been and sighed. She was glad it had been cleaned up, she was in no mood to clean it up herself. She was exhausted already and she hadn't even done much. She changed into shorts and a tank top and made herself a small dinner. She couldn't believe that it was already after five. It was later than she had imagined. It was funny how time seemed to slip away from her sometimes. It seemed to have gotten worse since she acquired the witchblade. She shook her head and sat in silence, eating the small meal she had prepared. Then she hopped into the shower and cleaned away the events of the day, or at least tried to. She changed back into her shorts and tank top and lay down. She was suddenly very tired.
"Pleasant dreams Pez."
"You need to get some rest."
"I come to warn you."
"Pleasant dreams…" The words of Danny, Ian, and Jake rang out in her head. She opened her eyes and noticed that there was something snaking up her arm and around her one ankle. She shook her head trying to clear it and dismissed it the affects of having been put through hell. She closed her eyes and tried to relax. More voices from her past and her present came to haunt her…
"Bid Goddess rise from mists of memory… Rise the fair Catain."
"Do you always flirt with your arresting officer?"
"Yes."
"What is going on Pez?"
"He's your partner Sara. He's right." Sara tossed and turned as the voices continued to haunt her. She opened her eyes again and noticed that the strange vines seemed to be coming from the witchblade and were now encompassing much of her body. She began to panic.
"What's going on?"
"Calm down Sara."
"Danny… this thing's gone crazy."
"Sara, you must relax, it will hurt a lot less. Just breathe… in and out in and out. Focus on your breath Sara and relax." Danny coaxed. Sara followed his instructions, panic still rising in her blood.
"Nice outfit." Sara said trying to keep her mind off of what was happening to her. She felt the blade tighten around her and felt panic seeping deeper into her consciousness.
"I'm scared Danny."
"It's all right Sara, I'm here." Danny said as he picked up her hand and began to stroke it.
"What? How are you?"
"We can touch each other now Sara."
"Why?"
"You're dying."
"What?"
"It's the Periculum Sara… The witchblade is testing you and if you fail, you will be joining me permanently." Danny sighed. He kissed her hand and stroked her forearm as Sara was slowly drawn into her own mind… The pain and panic made her pass out. Somewhere a man collapsed to the floor…
"Morning Jake."
"Hey Pez, you look a lot better. Feel up to food?"
"Maybe some coffee and toast, other than that I don't think my stomach's quite ready for food." Sara groaned.
"Coffee and toast, coming up." Jake said cheerfully as he flipped his spatula and caught it behind his back. Sara couldn't help but laugh. Sara sipped her coffee and nibbled the toast. She knew that she had to eat something but she just didn't feel up to it.
"So when can I go home?"
"They've got people coming to clean up the mess this afternoon, it should be free and clear by evening. Do you really want to go back there and be all by yourself?"
"Not really Jake, but I need my bed… I need my things… I know that it's still going to remind me of what happened, but if I'm ever to get over it, I have to face it sometime."
"I guess. But you know you can hang out here for a while if you want."
"Thanks Jake. Tell you what, if I can't handle my place, I'll come right back here."
"Sounds fair enough. The Captain says you don't have to come in for a few days. I think he talked to Siri, because that doesn't sound like Dante talking to me… but you never know."
"Maybe he just wants to be rid of me for a few days and figures this is the easiest way to do it without raising suspicion."
"Maybe. But you've earned it. Well I have to go to work… Call me if you need anything."
"Sure Jake. Later."
"Later Pez."
Ian Nottingham stood at parade rest near an opulent desk. The man sitting at the desk looked up at him his face slightly amused. Ian turned his attention to the man as he spoke.
"She's stronger than I thought. Perhaps I should have rethought slipping those radicals that piece of information."
"It was your choice to make, sir. There was no way that you could have foreseen all of the outcomes. No way anyone could have." Ian said solemnly.
"Perhaps. I can't help but feel that I am overlooking something. Do you suppose I should have let Conchobar live?"
"That is not for me to say sir. Though it might have given Lady Sara more trust in you."
"Yes, but at what cost? To be tortured day and night… To feel every touch, every kiss, to hear every sigh they shared? No Ian, I had to end it. My sanity hung in the balance, an unwilling voyeur to their reunion. They had to be stopped."
"Of course sir. So what shall be done about Lady Sara now?"
"For the time being, nothing. We shall see if the blade is indeed testing her. Then when the moment is right, we will strike. Either to retrieve the blade from the impostor, or to help her pick up the pieces of her life and rebuild them so that she will once again be ours." Irons said his voice full of dark determination.
"Yes sir. Shall I keep watch over her?"
"Yes, and report back to me with any news that could prove to our advantage."
"Yes sir."
"Dismissed." Irons said as he rose and left the room. Ian walked out of Vorschlag Industries and headed to the place he knew Sara would be…
Sara was at the graveyard. She knew that she could talk to Danny anywhere, but at least here when she talked to him, no one thought that she was insane. She placed flowers over the sparsely growing grass below the headstone. She sighed and sat down on the ground beside Danny's grave.
"Something must really be bothering you if you've come here to see me."
"I just keep thinking that if I had done something differently, maybe he'd still be alive."
"Pez, there was nothing that you could have done. You did all you could. Yours was a love destined to fall as it has fallen many times before. You could do nothing then and you could do nothing this time."
"So that's what I have to look forward to? More of the same?"
"Pez, you will shape your life. True the blade does weave paths for you, but it cannot make you follow any of them. In the end you are the one that makes the choice."
"More cryptic stuff… Between you, Irons, and Nottingham I've had my fill of riddles for the rest of my life."
"I wish this could be simpler Pez. I cannot tell you more than I do, because the blade won't let you hear it. I try to leave you hints and warnings in what I tell you Sara, but you must find them on your own. Look to Nottingham and to your partner, both may surprise you, and both may be able to help you in ways you have not yet imagined."
"Really?"
"Yes Sara. Dare to imagine, for there is power in the thoughts and dreams that you wield." Danny said and with that he was gone.
"Gee thanks for the help Danny." Sara sighed as she stood up. A black figure caught her attention. It was Nottingham. What was he doing here? Was he following her? What was it with him huh? Couldn't he just leave her alone? He advanced toward her.
"What are you doing here?" Sara said sharply, obviously annoyed.
"I come to warn you Lady Sara."
"Why?"
"You are soon to be put through the most intense of tests. The periculum is upon you and you have not even begun to see the terrors it will unleash upon you. Be ready Sara and be strong, for if you are not the blade will discard you much as it discarded Ms. Boucher, or perhaps it will be worse."
"The Periculum? What the hell is that?"
"You will see Sara, I only wish that I could spare you what it will deal you for no one should have to face what you will face, except maybe the man who wishes to control us both."
"Irons? Wait I don't understand."
"I must go Lady Sara, but I will be with you, eventhough you cannot see me." And with that Ian was gone. She figured that it had to be his military training that afforded him the ability to disappear so easily. She shook her head and walked in the direction of her apartment. She walked up the stairs and into her apartment. It was good to be home. She looked to where the chaos that the terrorists had left behind should have been and sighed. She was glad it had been cleaned up, she was in no mood to clean it up herself. She was exhausted already and she hadn't even done much. She changed into shorts and a tank top and made herself a small dinner. She couldn't believe that it was already after five. It was later than she had imagined. It was funny how time seemed to slip away from her sometimes. It seemed to have gotten worse since she acquired the witchblade. She shook her head and sat in silence, eating the small meal she had prepared. Then she hopped into the shower and cleaned away the events of the day, or at least tried to. She changed back into her shorts and tank top and lay down. She was suddenly very tired.
"Pleasant dreams Pez."
"You need to get some rest."
"I come to warn you."
"Pleasant dreams…" The words of Danny, Ian, and Jake rang out in her head. She opened her eyes and noticed that there was something snaking up her arm and around her one ankle. She shook her head trying to clear it and dismissed it the affects of having been put through hell. She closed her eyes and tried to relax. More voices from her past and her present came to haunt her…
"Bid Goddess rise from mists of memory… Rise the fair Catain."
"Do you always flirt with your arresting officer?"
"Yes."
"What is going on Pez?"
"He's your partner Sara. He's right." Sara tossed and turned as the voices continued to haunt her. She opened her eyes again and noticed that the strange vines seemed to be coming from the witchblade and were now encompassing much of her body. She began to panic.
"What's going on?"
"Calm down Sara."
"Danny… this thing's gone crazy."
"Sara, you must relax, it will hurt a lot less. Just breathe… in and out in and out. Focus on your breath Sara and relax." Danny coaxed. Sara followed his instructions, panic still rising in her blood.
"Nice outfit." Sara said trying to keep her mind off of what was happening to her. She felt the blade tighten around her and felt panic seeping deeper into her consciousness.
"I'm scared Danny."
"It's all right Sara, I'm here." Danny said as he picked up her hand and began to stroke it.
"What? How are you?"
"We can touch each other now Sara."
"Why?"
"You're dying."
"What?"
"It's the Periculum Sara… The witchblade is testing you and if you fail, you will be joining me permanently." Danny sighed. He kissed her hand and stroked her forearm as Sara was slowly drawn into her own mind… The pain and panic made her pass out. Somewhere a man collapsed to the floor…