Chapter 7: Mr

Chapter 7: Mr. Big

Ian's sword came screaming down toward Irons' neck. Ian felt himself becoming free as the tip of the blade cut into the surface of Irons skin, then a sharp pain shot into his shoulder sending him stumbling backwards, smashing into one of Irons' statues. Ian's vision began to blur as a large man moved over him and towards Irons. "Sir are you okay?" The man's voice boomed. Ian could see Irons stand and regain his composure.

Irons walked quickly over to Ian and stooped at his body, "What did you inject him with?" Irons pulled a small dart out of Ian's chest. Ian felt Irons hitting his cheek lightly, Ian felt paralyzed.

The man walked over to Irons and stood over Ian, "Only a temporary paralysis injection."

"How long until he can move again?" Irons stood to look the big man in the eyes. He had to look up to do that. The man and Irons moved across the room and spoke in lower tones, Ian could not hear what they were saying. Ian watched as Irons grew angry, "I had everything under control!"

"All I saw was some insane bodyguard slashing at my bosses throat!"

"I am not your boss anymore, you are merely here for a job and then you leave again."

"You never should have replaced me." Ian had been a replacement for that big guy? "Anyway, I always protected you better than the psycho laying over there on the floor!"

"You got me shot back in '59." Ian saw the man bow his head in shame.

"I know, I-I'm sorry." The big man's right hand was missing all it's fingers. He must have worn the Witchblade as well; it seemed everyone who worked under Irons was made to wear it.

Irons put a hand on the big man's shoulder. "I did call you, because Ian is a faulty weapon at this moment in time. I have to brainwash him again, unless he decides to join me on his own. Will you take him to the dark room?"

Ian tried to move with all his strength, he did not want to go to the dark room, it had been one of the many terrors of his childhood. The big man was easily a foot taller and 200lbs. Heavier than Ian. There was no chance; the dark room was waiting. The big man picked Ian up and carried him across the room and down a long hall. By the time they reached the "dark room" Ian was struggling for all he was worth, the paralysis drug was wearing off, it was no use the man tossed him into the small 3'X3' room and slammed the door before Ian could run out. The room had been well named; no light was visible anywhere. A scream welled up from inside his chest, but he held it in. This room was what Irons had used to break Ian right after Constance had left. He knew that the reason he was in the room again was for the same reason, to break his will, so that he would be everything that Irons had called him earlier. Ian stood in the middle of the room and tried to think of anything but the room. A familiar image came into his mind and he felt peace come over him. He was thinking of Sara.

The big man walked slowly back into Irons office, "So what's the kid's name?" His voice rumbled his footstep made the room shake.

"Ian Nottingham. He has been a good employee. The problem I have now is controlling his will. It seems that he has found someone's company he prefers over mine and I had just verbally abused him right before you came in. I was testing him to see where his loyalty lied. It lies with a woman." Irons sat down in hi big desk chair.

"Your man has chosen a woman over the Witchblade?" The big man sat himself across from Irons.

"No, she is a blade wielder as well. It seems that Ian has always gone for women like her ever since my lover mothered him. Do you remember Constance?" Irons pulled a picture out of his top desk drawer and slid across the desk.

The big man picked it up and shook his head, "I think you had already laid me off, pretty chick though." He slid it back towards Irons.

"Keep it, she's your target. I need her killed in order to break Nottingham for good. You see Nottingham is the one that the book talked about, the male child who will one day be able to wear the Witchblade." Irons opened up one of his drawers and pulled out a shiny piece of metal. It was a bullet, "This bullet was made from a piece of the Witchblade. Constance rose with the help of the Witchblade and she will die by it as well. Use the bullet wisely. If Sara Pezzini, the new blade wielder, gets involved, do not harm her!" He placed the bullet in the big man's hand. Then Irons rose from his seat and walked out of the room.

The big man clutched the bullet in his hand. The cold metal of the Witchblade felt so good. He hadn't had a taste from it in so long; it had made him lose his fingers on his right hand. He cursed under his breath as he rose to his feet, "Irons will want me back after I'm down with this Constance woman. He will NEED me back after I kill Nottingham. Yes, Nottingham must die. No one pushes Mr. Big out of his rightful place, NO ONE!"

Ian felt at the walls that surrounded him. He had been in the room for over two hours now and made no progress of escaping. His eyes had adjusted and he could make out the dimensions of the room. No cracks, no keyholes, nothing to help him escape. He looked up to the ceiling and caught a glimpse of a trap door. It was about twenty feet above him. "That's my way out." He whispered to himself as he started to chimney climb up the walls. When he reached the door he hit it with his ring on his fist, the door swung open, and light poured into the room. As he climbed out, he noticed that the door led to the roof. Ian jumped out of the opening and ran to the side of the building. There were no fire escapes or ladders. His only way out was back through Irons building. He would have to pass hundreds of security guards and other "warriors" of Irons. He knew that he had to do it, he needed to get to Sara. Irons was planning something, but as of yet Nottingham didn't know what it was, all he knew was he needed to protect her. It was his job and his destiny; he knew that now. He also knew finally what the pangs in his stomach and the racing of his heart meant when he was around her; he was in love. He loved Sara.