Part II - Familiar Shadows
"Well that was weird." Sara said to herself.
"Aye, and its only going to get weirder." Said a familiar voice.
"Conchobar." Sara said as she closed her eyes, knowing she couldn't touch him was killing her… She didn't want to look at him, if she looked at him she'd want to touch him and she wasn't allowed.
"Who was that John?"
"She is exactly who she said she is. I caught her watching you earlier and I checked out her story… It works… She's telling the truth…"
"How can it be possible?"
"I'm not sure luv, I'm not sure." John said softly. Sara sighed. She opened her eyes and looked at him. He was studying her intently, his eyes full of passion and sadness. He too was suffering from the fact that they could not touch.
"Seeing ye and not bein' able to touch ye is killin' me slowly luv."
"You're already dead." Sara laughed weakly.
"Aye that I am… that I am." He said with that funny half smile that was so charming… At least he still had his sense of humor…
**
Phoenix continued to walk away… She knew the bard was with Sara, but at least he couldn't tell her anything she didn't already know. She felt eyes upon her… Someone was watching her… She sighed… How many confrontations would she have to have today? She kept walking; if he wanted to talk to her, he would have to come to her, because she wasn't going to stop to talk to anyone now. She got back to her apartment and threw her coat to the couch, as was her customary habit. She knew he was following her… she knew who he was, even knew who - no what he worked for. She was not looking forward to this meeting, not in the least. She made her way to the wall opposite the fire escape and then, she waited.
**
He was not expecting her to be waiting for him. He had expected her to even know that he was coming, but the strange young woman he had seen talking to Lady Sara was ready. She was leaning against the far wall looking out the window at the fire escape, waiting almost expectantly. Then before he could blink or even move, she was there, opening the window. How had she done that?
"Enter… Nottingham. * Sigh * this was going to happen sooner or later… and it looks like fate chose sooner." She said flatly. Curiosity made him enter.
"Why were you threatening Lady Sara?"
"For her protection… and mine…" she said… again her voice flat, showing no emotion. She must be very well trained. He could not find any weakness to prey upon to find out the information that he wanted to know… and yet so far she seemed to be freely giving him answers. But he liked to be prepared just in case, however this was not his home, it was hers… she had the upper hand.
"Who are you?"
"That, I cannot tell you."
"Why not?"
"Because, then, I would have to kill you."
"Why?"
"You cannot be trusted with that information… and you will not get it from anyone."
"Why not?"
"The same reason that you can never be free." She said coldly, and her words stung him.
"I do not understand." He said trying to draw it out of her. Then, he was on his back and the strange young woman was on top of him and she had her hand to his throat. Suddenly Ian was painfully aware that this strange young woman could probably kill him if she wanted to.
"The man that you work for… the snake… must not know that I am here."
"Why not?"
"The information will bring your, Lady Sara… great harm."
"Will you hurt her?"
"No, your master will." She said still keeping her voice cold. Every time she said the word master it was as if she spat it at him… as if she couldn't bring herself to say the word save to let him know who she meant.
"How could the knowledge of you do that?" He asked simply… keeping his voice soft. The woman sighed as if she did not want to tell him…
"Because of what I am. Because of what he would do with that knowledge. It is only a blessing that he cannot kill me - though that could turn out to be a curse. It doesn't matter because he's not going to find out." She said, squeezing his throat, only slightly just to make him listen to her.
"If you do not wish for him to know, then you will have to explain this to me."
"He has told you that the Witchblade is a branch from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil… correct?"
"Yes."
"Well, I am a… seed from that same tree. Come now Ian, did you not ever wonder why there was a picture of a baby on an altar in his hall dedicated to the blade?"
"It did strike me as odd."
"I am not like you or Sara…"
"Then what are you?"
"The blade." There she had said it… she only hoped that she would not have to kill him to keep this secret. But she knew he would not leave until he knew… and he would tell if he did leave without knowing the severity of the consequences that the knowledge of her could bring.
"How?" Ian couldn't help but sound shocked.
"It's living soul… It's guardian." Ian just lay there… he was too shocked to move. There was something about the young woman… something he couldn't place… He looked her up and down, and then his eyes finally settled on hers… and what he saw shouldn't have been possible. Staring back at him were twin gems… twin Witchblade gems.
"What will happen if my… master finds out about you?"
"He will come for me… and if he is able to capture me, the world is doomed."
"Why?"
"Because evil will control the blade."
"Lady Sara would never allow that to happen."
"Your Lady Sara would be dead."
"How would he control the blade then?"
"Think of what I am Ian… I can wield it. Add that to the technology and knowledge he has at his disposal, he would find a way to turn me against myself. And because I cannot die… he would not die… but the world would."
"I understand." Ian sighed and lowered his head, his chin almost coming to rest on her hand.
"If you care at all for your… Lady Sara… you will make damn sure that your master never finds out that I am here. If he does, he'll kill Sara, I'll kill you for telling him, and then I will have to retrieve the blade and that may prove to be what ends the world… * Squeezes his throat hard * DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" She asks fiercely. To which Ian nods… The grip on his throat loosens.
"Will you tell him?"
"No my lady, I will not."
"Good… Now get out of here and forget that I exist… but do not forget my warning for that warning will save your life and Sara's." She said as she stood and walked away from him. Ian slowly and cautiously rose to his feet.
"Use the door Ian… From now on if you come to my window you will find yourself unable to enter, for I have the power to keep you out…. However if you come to my door, you will be let in… I will not keep you out. Is that clear?"
"Yes, my lady." He said with a nod of his head… This man was whipped… in the worst way… This was beyond being chivalrous… this was sick… this was subservient.
"Good… Oh, and Ian?"
"Yes?"
"If you ever get tired if being a lap dog, let me know."
"Why?"
"Because my dear Ian, the four of us can set you free."
"Four?"
"Yes. Sara… you… the blade and myself…. It is a shame to see our knight as little more than a tyrant's slave. Imagine the good we could do if we were rejoined - but that is not likely to become a reality… this life anyway."
"Why is that?"
"Because, you'll never leave him." She said simply... Then she heard the door click shut. Phoenix smiled slyly to herself. She knew that Ian would not tell Irons about her. She also knew that Ian would be back with questions once he went over their conversation and realized that she had called him their knight.
**
Ian walked to Sara's apartment building… but instead of making his way to the fire escape, he went in the door and up the stairs. The words from the strange young woman were still burning in his mind. He stood outside Sara's door in the empty hallway and realized what he had done… Just as he was about to leave, the door opened.
"Should I be worried that you are at my door instead of on the fire escape at my window?" She said with a half laugh. He looked and her and tried to think of something to say.
"I am sorry… I - I should… this isn't…" He hung his head… his focus was gone after what the strange young woman had managed to do to him.
"Just get in here Nottingham. You look like you could use someone to talk to."
"Perhaps it would be wise."
"What?" Sara said shocked… She hadn't expected him to agree.
"I talked to the young woman that confronted you today."
"Oh?" Sara asked while in her mind she said Uh-Oh.
"Yes, and she informed me that it would be very unwise for me to inform my… master that she is here… and I must say that she made it rather convincing."
"And how did she do that?" She asked trying to hide her amusement.
"She almost killed me… could have and for all of my training, I would not have been able to stop her. But it wasn't so much that as what she told me."
"What did she tell you?"
"What might - no what would happen to you if he found out."
"And why did that convince you?"
"I will not allow harm to come to you Lady Sara… that I can prevent without betraying my… * sigh * master." Suddenly the thought of being Irons' employee, was no longer appealing… and the fact that he had to consider… He shook his head to clear his thoughts.
"Why is that?" Sara asked… Ian sighed.
"I love you Lady Sara… in unguarded moments." He said so softly… It was so soft a reply that Sara almost hadn't heard it.
"What?" Sara asked in shock.
"I should go."
"Oh no you don't, Ian Nottingham. You're not going to tell me that you love me and then leave without explaining."
"I… do not know how to…. * Sigh * but ever since… I met you I have felt a… connection to you… And I have… come to… care for you… It would… pain me to see harm come to you that I could prevent, and even that which I could not." He sighed and looked away as if he were ashamed. Sara didn't know what to say. She too had felt a strange connection to Ian from their first meeting forward.
"Everything is connected Pez." Danny said… Sara looked to her dead partner as if to tell him to shut up. When she looked back, Ian was gone.
"Connected how this time Danny?"
"Ask the phoenix."
"You actually want me to talk to her?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"She's… scary." Sara said trying to come up with something… Danny only laughed.
"She can help you and will if you let her. She will not hurt you unless you make her. Go to her."
"I don't know where to find her."
"Let the blade guide you."
"Danny…"
"She's waiting for you." He said and with that, he was gone. God did Sara hate it when he did that.
"Well that was weird." Sara said to herself.
"Aye, and its only going to get weirder." Said a familiar voice.
"Conchobar." Sara said as she closed her eyes, knowing she couldn't touch him was killing her… She didn't want to look at him, if she looked at him she'd want to touch him and she wasn't allowed.
"Who was that John?"
"She is exactly who she said she is. I caught her watching you earlier and I checked out her story… It works… She's telling the truth…"
"How can it be possible?"
"I'm not sure luv, I'm not sure." John said softly. Sara sighed. She opened her eyes and looked at him. He was studying her intently, his eyes full of passion and sadness. He too was suffering from the fact that they could not touch.
"Seeing ye and not bein' able to touch ye is killin' me slowly luv."
"You're already dead." Sara laughed weakly.
"Aye that I am… that I am." He said with that funny half smile that was so charming… At least he still had his sense of humor…
**
Phoenix continued to walk away… She knew the bard was with Sara, but at least he couldn't tell her anything she didn't already know. She felt eyes upon her… Someone was watching her… She sighed… How many confrontations would she have to have today? She kept walking; if he wanted to talk to her, he would have to come to her, because she wasn't going to stop to talk to anyone now. She got back to her apartment and threw her coat to the couch, as was her customary habit. She knew he was following her… she knew who he was, even knew who - no what he worked for. She was not looking forward to this meeting, not in the least. She made her way to the wall opposite the fire escape and then, she waited.
**
He was not expecting her to be waiting for him. He had expected her to even know that he was coming, but the strange young woman he had seen talking to Lady Sara was ready. She was leaning against the far wall looking out the window at the fire escape, waiting almost expectantly. Then before he could blink or even move, she was there, opening the window. How had she done that?
"Enter… Nottingham. * Sigh * this was going to happen sooner or later… and it looks like fate chose sooner." She said flatly. Curiosity made him enter.
"Why were you threatening Lady Sara?"
"For her protection… and mine…" she said… again her voice flat, showing no emotion. She must be very well trained. He could not find any weakness to prey upon to find out the information that he wanted to know… and yet so far she seemed to be freely giving him answers. But he liked to be prepared just in case, however this was not his home, it was hers… she had the upper hand.
"Who are you?"
"That, I cannot tell you."
"Why not?"
"Because, then, I would have to kill you."
"Why?"
"You cannot be trusted with that information… and you will not get it from anyone."
"Why not?"
"The same reason that you can never be free." She said coldly, and her words stung him.
"I do not understand." He said trying to draw it out of her. Then, he was on his back and the strange young woman was on top of him and she had her hand to his throat. Suddenly Ian was painfully aware that this strange young woman could probably kill him if she wanted to.
"The man that you work for… the snake… must not know that I am here."
"Why not?"
"The information will bring your, Lady Sara… great harm."
"Will you hurt her?"
"No, your master will." She said still keeping her voice cold. Every time she said the word master it was as if she spat it at him… as if she couldn't bring herself to say the word save to let him know who she meant.
"How could the knowledge of you do that?" He asked simply… keeping his voice soft. The woman sighed as if she did not want to tell him…
"Because of what I am. Because of what he would do with that knowledge. It is only a blessing that he cannot kill me - though that could turn out to be a curse. It doesn't matter because he's not going to find out." She said, squeezing his throat, only slightly just to make him listen to her.
"If you do not wish for him to know, then you will have to explain this to me."
"He has told you that the Witchblade is a branch from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil… correct?"
"Yes."
"Well, I am a… seed from that same tree. Come now Ian, did you not ever wonder why there was a picture of a baby on an altar in his hall dedicated to the blade?"
"It did strike me as odd."
"I am not like you or Sara…"
"Then what are you?"
"The blade." There she had said it… she only hoped that she would not have to kill him to keep this secret. But she knew he would not leave until he knew… and he would tell if he did leave without knowing the severity of the consequences that the knowledge of her could bring.
"How?" Ian couldn't help but sound shocked.
"It's living soul… It's guardian." Ian just lay there… he was too shocked to move. There was something about the young woman… something he couldn't place… He looked her up and down, and then his eyes finally settled on hers… and what he saw shouldn't have been possible. Staring back at him were twin gems… twin Witchblade gems.
"What will happen if my… master finds out about you?"
"He will come for me… and if he is able to capture me, the world is doomed."
"Why?"
"Because evil will control the blade."
"Lady Sara would never allow that to happen."
"Your Lady Sara would be dead."
"How would he control the blade then?"
"Think of what I am Ian… I can wield it. Add that to the technology and knowledge he has at his disposal, he would find a way to turn me against myself. And because I cannot die… he would not die… but the world would."
"I understand." Ian sighed and lowered his head, his chin almost coming to rest on her hand.
"If you care at all for your… Lady Sara… you will make damn sure that your master never finds out that I am here. If he does, he'll kill Sara, I'll kill you for telling him, and then I will have to retrieve the blade and that may prove to be what ends the world… * Squeezes his throat hard * DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" She asks fiercely. To which Ian nods… The grip on his throat loosens.
"Will you tell him?"
"No my lady, I will not."
"Good… Now get out of here and forget that I exist… but do not forget my warning for that warning will save your life and Sara's." She said as she stood and walked away from him. Ian slowly and cautiously rose to his feet.
"Use the door Ian… From now on if you come to my window you will find yourself unable to enter, for I have the power to keep you out…. However if you come to my door, you will be let in… I will not keep you out. Is that clear?"
"Yes, my lady." He said with a nod of his head… This man was whipped… in the worst way… This was beyond being chivalrous… this was sick… this was subservient.
"Good… Oh, and Ian?"
"Yes?"
"If you ever get tired if being a lap dog, let me know."
"Why?"
"Because my dear Ian, the four of us can set you free."
"Four?"
"Yes. Sara… you… the blade and myself…. It is a shame to see our knight as little more than a tyrant's slave. Imagine the good we could do if we were rejoined - but that is not likely to become a reality… this life anyway."
"Why is that?"
"Because, you'll never leave him." She said simply... Then she heard the door click shut. Phoenix smiled slyly to herself. She knew that Ian would not tell Irons about her. She also knew that Ian would be back with questions once he went over their conversation and realized that she had called him their knight.
**
Ian walked to Sara's apartment building… but instead of making his way to the fire escape, he went in the door and up the stairs. The words from the strange young woman were still burning in his mind. He stood outside Sara's door in the empty hallway and realized what he had done… Just as he was about to leave, the door opened.
"Should I be worried that you are at my door instead of on the fire escape at my window?" She said with a half laugh. He looked and her and tried to think of something to say.
"I am sorry… I - I should… this isn't…" He hung his head… his focus was gone after what the strange young woman had managed to do to him.
"Just get in here Nottingham. You look like you could use someone to talk to."
"Perhaps it would be wise."
"What?" Sara said shocked… She hadn't expected him to agree.
"I talked to the young woman that confronted you today."
"Oh?" Sara asked while in her mind she said Uh-Oh.
"Yes, and she informed me that it would be very unwise for me to inform my… master that she is here… and I must say that she made it rather convincing."
"And how did she do that?" She asked trying to hide her amusement.
"She almost killed me… could have and for all of my training, I would not have been able to stop her. But it wasn't so much that as what she told me."
"What did she tell you?"
"What might - no what would happen to you if he found out."
"And why did that convince you?"
"I will not allow harm to come to you Lady Sara… that I can prevent without betraying my… * sigh * master." Suddenly the thought of being Irons' employee, was no longer appealing… and the fact that he had to consider… He shook his head to clear his thoughts.
"Why is that?" Sara asked… Ian sighed.
"I love you Lady Sara… in unguarded moments." He said so softly… It was so soft a reply that Sara almost hadn't heard it.
"What?" Sara asked in shock.
"I should go."
"Oh no you don't, Ian Nottingham. You're not going to tell me that you love me and then leave without explaining."
"I… do not know how to…. * Sigh * but ever since… I met you I have felt a… connection to you… And I have… come to… care for you… It would… pain me to see harm come to you that I could prevent, and even that which I could not." He sighed and looked away as if he were ashamed. Sara didn't know what to say. She too had felt a strange connection to Ian from their first meeting forward.
"Everything is connected Pez." Danny said… Sara looked to her dead partner as if to tell him to shut up. When she looked back, Ian was gone.
"Connected how this time Danny?"
"Ask the phoenix."
"You actually want me to talk to her?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"She's… scary." Sara said trying to come up with something… Danny only laughed.
"She can help you and will if you let her. She will not hurt you unless you make her. Go to her."
"I don't know where to find her."
"Let the blade guide you."
"Danny…"
"She's waiting for you." He said and with that, he was gone. God did Sara hate it when he did that.