Chapter 17: The Decision of a Lifetime
Sara's motorcycle came to a screeching halt in front of the police station. What she had heard on the phone had shocked her. In fact, the whole morning had been a little shocking. The last thing that she could remember was dying. Awaking this morning was a big surprise to her. A lot of questions were flying through her mind. Am I awake or asleep? She thought to herself and raised an eyebrow. It sure felt like a dream, first she awoke to a handsome man in her bed, whom she had kissed (who knows what else) and shared breakfast with like a normal human being, and now she was being called in to help out with the arrest of Kenneth Irons. The dream was getting better and better. She walked through the door and was met with the smiling face of her partner.
"We've got him, Pez! He's finally toast." His eyes were shining.
She chuckled and smiled, "So, how did you bag him?" She walked past Jake and into their office, tossing her feet up onto the desk.
Jake sat opposite her, "He came in to report that everything that he owned had been stolen I guess his body guard is missing." Jake saw Sara squirm. He cocked his head and kept talking, "Well, really late last night we got the biggest present from some anonymous "donor". It was a box full of evidence to bring Irons down. Pictures, files, witnesses…you name it. Plus, be found a dead body in his office. Someone named Francis Goop, AKA Mr. Big. All the evidence points to Irons as the murderer. So we booked him." Jake leaned back in his seat, proud smile across his face.
Sara dropped her feet from the desk. She became dizzy as images flashed through her mind. Time was slow, drifting. She saw Ian and herself lying beside each other in her bed, a blonde woman leaned over them, Constance! Sara snapped back to reality.
"You okay?" Jake was kneeling beside her.
"Yeah, I…uh…I have just had a rough morning."
"No coffee…huh?" He grinned, "I'll get ya some." Jake rushed out of the office and towards the coffee-pot.
Sara leaned in her hands. How? She saw Constance standing over them. How had she done it. I was dead. Irons. She lifted her head, she knew where she could get the information that she needed. She headed towards the holding cells, it was not a dream anymore but reality. Constance had done something, something that had never been done before and Sara was going to find out everything.
Ian looked down at the familiar handwriting. The letters curved and twisted into beautifully shaped designs. He made his way to the couch and sat down, still looking at the letter. He wondered if he should open it now or wait for Sara to come home. His long finger slide over the seal, caressing its edge. He lifted the corner and slowly lifting and tugging the flap. The tear of paper made him even more eager to see what was inside. Once it was open, he felt guilty for not waiting for Sara, as if it had been a birthday present that had been hidden and opened before it was supposed to. He furrowed his brow and pulled the neat stationary out of the envelope. It was folded neatly in thirds. The lightweight paper felt so delicate in his hands as he unfolded it. Her handwriting curved and twisted over the paper's pale blue design. He began reading it intently:
My Dear Son and Friend,
I know that as you awoke this morning you were probably confused and wondering what had occurred to change the terrible occurrences of last night. I hope that I might be able to explain to you in a way that you will understand.
The Witchblade has truly chosen you, Sara, as its true wielder. When you died in the dream, Ian took his life. You were both dead and I wept. I begged the Witchblade to help me and to adhere to my wishes. It answered and breathed life into you both. I was able to stop time after that and take my revenge on Ken that way I had always wanted too. I had help though. The man that helped you Sara is my confidant and friend. He helped me take all that had been important to Ken.
I brought you both to Sara's apartment and took my leave to receive my side of the deal I had made with the Witchblade. You see the deal did not come without a cost. I am aging rapidly. My youth that the Witchblade sealed has been lifted. I do not know how much longer I have. I am grateful for all that you have given to me. I love you Ian. I know that you hold a secret that you have not told, yet I hope that you will. (I have enclosed an address to where I will be). Sara, you have become my closest friend in more ways than one, I know that you have a secret as well, release it to fate. I leave you both with this, I wish that I could have had more time with both of you, yet my destiny has been decided. I hope that you both will see each other and others around you in a different light. Love is a precious thing.
Love Always, Constance
Ian dropped the letter on the couch, tears coming to his eyes. He searched the envelope; he pulled a small piece of paper out with an address written on it. He stuffed it into his pocket and rushed out of Sara's apartment and down the hall.
Sara walked slowly past all of the cells. She could not wait to see what Irons looked like behind bars. He sat on the cot staring, in deep thought, at the wall. "Hello, Irons." She couldn't help but smirk.
He turned his head and glared at her, "Enjoy this while you can, Sara. I won't be here for long. I have very powerful friends." He stood and moved over toward her.
Sara only lifted her eyebrow and placed her hand on her hip, "Seems to me that they've got more on you than they need to send you up the river for good." The Witchblade hissed, "But that isn't why I came to see you." He frowned and folded his hands behind his back. Sara continued, "I have a lot of questions that I am hoping that you can answer."
Irons smirked, "And what makes you think that I'm going to help you?"
"I'm betting that you have a few yourself, and you aren't going anywhere." She glared at him and brushed her hand through her hair. The Witchblade was glowing. Irons saw the Witchblade and became very quiet. "What happened last night?"
Irons started quivering, "I-It was terrible." His breathing became heavy, "Once you entered the dream everything went down hill. Big was dying and lying on top of me, trapping me below him. I could feel him burning with anger towards you, towards everyone. He spoke a spell in his dying breath. It was a curse, to confuse you and Ian, I guess." Irons began to sweat.
Sara's face softened, "Then what did you see?" She could tell that Irons was really upset.
Irons bit his lower lip and continued, "I watched you and Ian shaking and moving as if fighting. It ended violently, didn't it?" He looked Sara in the eyes.
A pain filled Sara's chest as a lump rose in her throat, "Yes, Ian killed me." She fidgeted with her hands, "That's all that I remember."
Irons' eyes widened, "I did see you die, but he died after you as if something had killed you both."
Sara looked down and cradled herself with her arms, "He died too?" She looked up again, "What did Constance do?"
Irons' face grew pale, "She called on the power of the Witchblade, it's full power. A storm filled the room, wind and lightning. She told the Witchblade to take her and bring you both back to life. The room settled and I blacked out." He turned away from Sara and sat down on the cot again, "Then I remember waking up in my bed with everything I owned taken from me. And now I'm being blamed for Big's murder." He turned his head towards Sara, "We both know who killed him."
Sara met his gaze, "Yes, I will clear up who killed him, but the rest that they have got on you is still enough to put you away for life. Thank you for clarifying last night, good day Irons." She turned and walked slowly out of the holding area.
Ian was gathering all of his belongings from his small quarters. He knew what needed to be done. He could still feel Sara's lips pressed against his, so soft and warm. He closed his eyes and lived the scene over again. He wondered if what he was doing was the right thing. He picked up a small shoe-box and left Irons for good.
Sara met Jake in their office again. She knew that Irons was innocent of Big's murder, but deep down inside she didn't want to let him off the hook. He deserved it. Jake sat across form her waiting for her to say something. She cleared her throat, "I have something to tell you and I don't know how to explain what really happened but I'll try." She sighed and breathed in deeply, this was going to be hard for Jake to believe, but it was time for her to tell him EVERYTHING.
