III. Pandora

"Pez? You there?"

Jake's muffled voice came through her apartment door to greet her. What time was it? A quick glance informed her that it was half past two in the morning. It didn't bother her, she had been awake for thirty minutes now.

While she walked to her door, she went over the dream. Not so much being a nightmare, but it still shook her: the Queen's resolve.

"Jake, it's two thirty in the morning."

"You said you don't sleep."

"Come in," She sighed, "And it's too late for sarcastic humor."

"I'll remember that next time."

He seated himself on her couch and stared at the wall. Figuring out the best way to ask her. Sara took the place next to him, somewhat confused at his actions.

"Jake-"

"Who are you, Sara?"

She knew what he was asking, but she wasn't too sure herself.

"What?"

"What are you, Sara?"

"I have no idea what you're-"

"Yes. You do."

Her hand rubbed the garnet stone inbedded in the bracelet. No. She couldn't tell him. Not only would Jake classify her as a full blown loony, if he knew it would put his life at risk. Who knows what Irons would have Nottingham do. Besides, she didn't even know how to tell herself, let alone another person.

"Sara," He turned her head to face him, "tell, me. Please."

"I-I can't."

"Yes you can."

"You'll think I'm crazy."

"Aren't we all. Sara, ever since the day you chased down Vespuci you've been . . . off. You know things about cases that you would have had to have been there to know. All the times you should have been killed, but came out with a few scratches instead. Kenneth Irons. The weapon. There's no place to hide a sword in your clothes, Sara. I'm worried about you. Tell me what's going on."

He was more observant than the thought.

"I don't know where to begin."

"Most people find the beginning to be the best place."

Maybe it would be easier with someone else knowing.

"In the gun fight with Gallo's man, this bracelet found it's way on to my wrist. I didn't even notice it until I got home that day. I still don't quite know how I survived the blast, but this bracelet is the reason. The next morning I made a note to find out if it came from the display case. I was in the office with Danny looking at the photos of Maria, and I saw something. It was so real, like I was
there. When we went to the hotel, it happened again. I thought that I was starting to lose it, but then other things happened."

Why couldn't she keep the shake out of her voice? They're only words.

"What other things?"

"Nottingham following me. He was at the Rialto when Danny died. I didn't know who he was, but I asked him to help me and he refused. Instead he told me to use something called the Witchblade. He pointed out the bracelet. I had no idea what he was talking about. I looked away for a moment and he was gone. Then Gallo shot Danny, and then they tried to kill me. None of the bullets ever touched me. The bracelet changed."

A brief moment of concentration, and the now familiar armored glove replaced the silver ornament. Jake's eyes widened, but he wasn't as surprised as Sara thought he would be.

"It changes form: different kinds of blade weapons. That's where the sword wounds come from. It gives the wearer strength, speed, agility. Clairvoyance."

"Is that what happened today? You saw something?"

"You know, if I were you I'd have assigned myself to the insane category of your address book."

"I'm not arguing with pieces of armor that appear out of thin air. If you're nuts, then I must be too. Because I see it. It's right there."

She almost wanted to laugh, if she didn't feel like she was about to cry. Maybe he's just playing along, and he'll report her later.

"Notingham works for Kenneth Irons. Irons wants to control the woman who wears it because he can't. He did that with Dominique Busher, but that didn't work out."

"Why can't Irons use it?"

"Supposedly only women can wear it. Any man who has tried has died or been permanently changed. The man who was working for Busher lost his arm to the Blade, and Kenneth Irons can only see small portions of what it sees. Leaving him in the dark. He sends Nottingham to keep an eye on me, and keep anyone who would help me away, or dead."

A hand brushed a piece of hair out of Sara's face. She hadn't looked at Jake while she had spoken. He pulled her into a hug that she leaned into.

"Thanks."

"How can you believe me? It sounds so ridiculous."

"You're being honest. You have proof, and it fills in a few things. And it's kind of hard to argue when you showed me."

He continued to hold her. She was so tired. She couldn't help falling asleep.

There were no dreams.

* * * *

The figure on the roof of the building neighboring Sara's moves to get a better look. He knew there was something special about this one. She must be the one the white-haired man was looking for. It would be harder to get to her than he had thought. He didn't know she was involved with the other person. Oh, well. It didn't really matter to him. Soon, she would be art.