21 –

21 – Interlude

As Ian guided Irons through his usual morning therapy, he noticed that Kenneth was in a considerably good mood, something that was as rare as it was unusual. Kenneth Irons was not a man who was easily delighted. Ian once again felt his gut clench as he remembered hearing Kenneth's footsteps in Sarah's room last night and the scene at breakfast this morning. The situation seemed grim and only two things right now gave him hope, the first was her sudden departure this morning, and the second was the unconditional love that could come only from his family, and Ian's only family was Callie.

***

The man in fatigues stood stiffly at attention in front of the person in the immaculate business suit. "This is excellent. You're sure no one else has seen them?"

"Yes sir." The man in fatigues treated this like a military operation even though it was not. The man before him would not have lasted a month in the military he lacked the discipline and discretion necessary for that, bit he had money, and his money was the relevant factor.

"Excellent." The man before him reached for what he presumed to be his payment, instead he drew out a gun. The man in fatigues allowed himself a moment of Irony before the world went black; maybe the business suit wasn't so dumb after all.

***

Luka sat still and stoic as Sarah walked up behind him, staring at the Ocean as if he were entranced. For a moment they shared a companionable silence, till he finally broached the subject. "It's started Sarah." She didn't reply to him, there was no question in her mind as to what he spoke, only that the reality of things it frightened her.

"Do you know who he was?" He shook his head; no he'd never seen his face. But then again, it didn't really matter; the point was it was done. "I guess it doesn't matter, one of us will find out, most likely sooner then later." She smiled wryly. "I just wish I knew what to expect." The conversation was getting close to nonentity, neither wanting to talk about what was really on there minds. At last Sarah decided that she had to say something, both for her sanity and his. She was afraid that her clothing had been wired, or some bug placed on her so that Irons could spy or eavesdrop, but at this point she threw caution to wind, too tired of playing games to care. "Irons is beginning to walk almost normally now. It won't be long until he's back to full throttle. Will we be ready for it?"

Luka thought for a second, still not looking at her. "I don't know. I'd been hoping that he'd stay out of the picture for as long as possible, that way we'd have more time. Still though… try and keep him out of our way for another day, by then everything should be set up." He gave Sarah a moment to ingest that, he knew as well as she did that keeping him out of their way might not be something even she was capable of, but still she had to try. That was all they could do really, try, and bluff.

***

Onica went through the motions of her morning routine, Unable to clearly focus on anything. Somehow her body worked without her, saying the right thing at the right time all on its own. In her mind the image of her mothers ring still glared, only it was on the hand of Sarah Pezzini. It didn't belong there, didn't belong anywhere really, it should have been buried with mother, but it hadn't.

Last night the dreams had started again, the dreams and the memories, all triggered by that ring. Or maybe it was the Witchblade's proximity. It didn't really matter, when Onica was seized by the visions little ever did. As she finished up her first report of the morning, she decided that she had to do something about it. Or else she might go mad. Maybe Ian would call, his voice always did seem to ground her, make her feel just a little more human again. Then again, he probably wouldn't. Damn Irons. It was his entire fault. His fault that he was her father, his fault that the visions had returned, the visions that seared her mind and blurred the lines between hatred and insanity, the lines between her memories and mothers, and it was all because of that god damned ring.