Part III - Untread Paths
Sara took the Buell and at a stop sign or a street light, she would let the blade tell her which way to go. Finally she was at an apartment building. The area was familiar, it was near the recent crime scene... which meant it was also near the place where Conchobar had been killed. She winced as she remembered that day. She parked her bike somewhere inconspicuos in the hopes that no one would notice it. Then she made her way to around the front of the building and in through the front doors. She looked at the list of names, but none of them resembled in any way the name the girl had given her. Sara looked down to the bracelet on her wrist which swirled and gave her the urge to go up the stairs... The Witchblade kept giving Sara the inkling to turn certain places until she was finally in front of a door. The number plate was gone, almost to make it so the apartment did not exist. Just as Sara was about to knock on the door, it opened.
"Welcome Sara. I've been expecting you."
"So I've been told." Sara said absentmindedly as Nikki invited her to enter the apartment.
"Nosy spirits." Nikki chuckled, the sound was almost warm.
"What do you mean?"
"The bard, the cop... nosy spirits both of them. Worse in death than they were in life."
"You can see them?"
"I can."
"How?" Sara asked. Nikki turned to face Sara and peered down at her - Sara hadn't noticed that Nikki was so tall.
"My dear, have you forgotten your dream so soon?"
"Oh.. that's right... you're the living blade."
"Unfortunately."
"You don't wish to be?"
"Sara, I cannot die. I am not like you. You get to die and be reborn. I get to live and watch everyone and everything around me die and change while I am still the same. But I am not the reason you are here. You have questions to which I more than likely have the answers. So ask away." Nikki said as she lounged in a chair. She looked tired. Like a lazy jungle cat and like a jungle cat she was just as deadly lounging as she was fully alert. Sara sat on the couch.
"What is it with Nottingham?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why is he so... awkward, what did you do to him?"
"I put some sense into him, contrary to what that bastard Irons has been putting into him."
"What do you mean?'
"I told him the truth.... I could have killed him, but instead I talked to him... He was going to try to pry the information from me, but I thought it would just be better to tell him and get it over with. I suppose he will be paying me another visit once his head clears and he is able to go over the conversation that he and I had."
"What was so important?"
"Would you care for a drink Sara.... Some coffee perhaps? I have several varieties.... "
"Not going to answer my question?"
"In time Sara, but I'm trying to be a hostess too..." Nikki said with a forced laugh.
"Irish Creme if you have it."
"Coming up as soon as it perks. I prefer the Creme myself." Nikki said as she walked into the kitchen to make the coffee. Sara waited until Nikki rejoined her to start the conversation up again.
"I had to make sure that he would not betray me to Irons. I also told him that if he ever got tired of being a lapdog to give me a call. Other than that the only poignant thing was that I chastised him for his inability to come in through the front door. And told him that if he ever came to my window again he'd find that he'd be unable to enter, but if he came to my door, I would not deny him entrance."
"So that's why he was at my door instead of my window."
"Yes. I think I scared him, if that is possible."
"You deffinately scared him and I don't think that many people or things can scare Nottingham..."
"You really should call him Ian. It sounds so much better. Everytime I hear Nottingham I think of the sheriff.."
"I never thought of it that way before."
"Yes well I have much more time to think than you do..."
"You must."
"Some days there is nothing to do but think."
"Have you any other questions?"
"Yes, many. But I don't know where to start."
"You're still hung up on the fact that he told you that he loves you."
"How did you know he said that?"
"Sara quit being forgetful - the blade dear..."
"Sorry, that's going to take some getting used to."
"I will keep reminding you until you no longer need reminding...." Phoenix chided....
**
"IAN!!!!" a deep voice bellowed which in turn echoed throughout the large expanse of a room, making it sound all the more ominous.
"Yes sir?"
"Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you for an hour."
"Sorry sir. My phone must be malfunctioning, I'll have it checked."
"You do that Ian. Now where were you?"
"Following Lady Sara as you instructed."
"Good, I want you to keep a close eye on her. See if anyone new starts hanging around her. Someone with strange amber eyes, probably a young woman."
"Yes sir, but why?"
"Do not question me boy."
"Sorry sir."
"Dismissed."
"Yes sir." Ian walked out of the room and suddenly had the urge to march back in there and snap Irons' neck. He did not, he knew that Irons had a gun with him, so it would be unwise to make so blod a move against the man. Perhaps that strange young woman would have some ideas as to how to deal with Irons. 'Stop thinking like that Ian. You can't betray the man that gave you life.' 'some life' Ian's mind argued. He walked out into the cool night air.
**
Sara watched Phoenix as she got up to get the coffee... She isn't that tall, she just seems so because of her energy because of how she presents herself. I wonder if I come across like that, Sara thought.
"Only when you're pissed off."
"What?"
"You look a lot bigger than you really are when you're pissed off."
"You can read my mind?"
"I can do a lot of things."
"This is strange."
"They do say that the truth is stranger than fiction."
"What else can you do?"
"Sorry Sara, you don't get all my secrets just yet." Nikki laughed as she handed Sara a cup of coffee. The two sat and drank coffee and talked as if they were old friends, across the room, they were being watched.
"You think this'll be a common thing?"
"Not sure."
"It's a bit odd seein' them together isn't it?"
"It is."
"You think Sara'll be alright?"
"I think so John, in time...." Suddenly a pillow was thrown directly between the two watchers.
"Damn nosy spirits mind your damn buisiness." Nikki chuckled.
"This is our business lass." Conchobar chuckled.
"Well do it more quietly."
"Fine fine fine... have it yer way."
"I fully intend to bard, I fully intend to." Nikki purred. She laughed as the bard straightend at the sound she made.
"What's so funny?" Sara inquired.
"Your bard is a laugh and a half. But they're intruding in on a private conversation and rather loudly and rudely I might add."
"They're? Danny's here too? And I haven't heard them..."
"They can hide from you and they're finding out hiding from me isn't so easy."
"I see..." Sara said in a puzzled tone. The boys shrugged and did that spirit fade out.
"Finally... some peace and quiet." Nikki laughed. The pillow came flying back at her.
"You'll pay for that later bard." Nikki said under her breath.
"How can they do that and not be able to touch us?"
"Innanimate objects are different than people... No rules surrounding them."
"Rules?"
"Yeah sticky situation that... I'll explain that later, it's a long story and you need to go home and get some rest. It's going to be an exciting day tomorrow."
"Really?"
"Yes. No more than that... but yes."
"Alright. Goodnight Nikki."
"Goodnight Sara." Nikki said as she walked Sara to the door.
**
Sara got on her bike and made her way back home. That was certainly strange. It was almost like she and the phoenix had been old friends. It had been a long time since she had talked like that with anyone. She missed it. Then the interaction between Nikki and the 'damn nosy spirits' was a laugh and a half itself. She finally got home a little bit after midnight. Her apartment felt cozy, she hadn't realized that she was missing the comfort of her own apartment. Nor had she realized how comfortable she had been in Nikki's home until she was back in her own. It was strange, what was between them, a sort of kinship almost. Sara got a quick shower and then threw on a t-shirt and shorts and set her alarm. Morning was going to come all too soon...Sara thought and with that she climbed into bed after turning off her lights.... It was going to come way too soon indeed.
Sara took the Buell and at a stop sign or a street light, she would let the blade tell her which way to go. Finally she was at an apartment building. The area was familiar, it was near the recent crime scene... which meant it was also near the place where Conchobar had been killed. She winced as she remembered that day. She parked her bike somewhere inconspicuos in the hopes that no one would notice it. Then she made her way to around the front of the building and in through the front doors. She looked at the list of names, but none of them resembled in any way the name the girl had given her. Sara looked down to the bracelet on her wrist which swirled and gave her the urge to go up the stairs... The Witchblade kept giving Sara the inkling to turn certain places until she was finally in front of a door. The number plate was gone, almost to make it so the apartment did not exist. Just as Sara was about to knock on the door, it opened.
"Welcome Sara. I've been expecting you."
"So I've been told." Sara said absentmindedly as Nikki invited her to enter the apartment.
"Nosy spirits." Nikki chuckled, the sound was almost warm.
"What do you mean?"
"The bard, the cop... nosy spirits both of them. Worse in death than they were in life."
"You can see them?"
"I can."
"How?" Sara asked. Nikki turned to face Sara and peered down at her - Sara hadn't noticed that Nikki was so tall.
"My dear, have you forgotten your dream so soon?"
"Oh.. that's right... you're the living blade."
"Unfortunately."
"You don't wish to be?"
"Sara, I cannot die. I am not like you. You get to die and be reborn. I get to live and watch everyone and everything around me die and change while I am still the same. But I am not the reason you are here. You have questions to which I more than likely have the answers. So ask away." Nikki said as she lounged in a chair. She looked tired. Like a lazy jungle cat and like a jungle cat she was just as deadly lounging as she was fully alert. Sara sat on the couch.
"What is it with Nottingham?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why is he so... awkward, what did you do to him?"
"I put some sense into him, contrary to what that bastard Irons has been putting into him."
"What do you mean?'
"I told him the truth.... I could have killed him, but instead I talked to him... He was going to try to pry the information from me, but I thought it would just be better to tell him and get it over with. I suppose he will be paying me another visit once his head clears and he is able to go over the conversation that he and I had."
"What was so important?"
"Would you care for a drink Sara.... Some coffee perhaps? I have several varieties.... "
"Not going to answer my question?"
"In time Sara, but I'm trying to be a hostess too..." Nikki said with a forced laugh.
"Irish Creme if you have it."
"Coming up as soon as it perks. I prefer the Creme myself." Nikki said as she walked into the kitchen to make the coffee. Sara waited until Nikki rejoined her to start the conversation up again.
"I had to make sure that he would not betray me to Irons. I also told him that if he ever got tired of being a lapdog to give me a call. Other than that the only poignant thing was that I chastised him for his inability to come in through the front door. And told him that if he ever came to my window again he'd find that he'd be unable to enter, but if he came to my door, I would not deny him entrance."
"So that's why he was at my door instead of my window."
"Yes. I think I scared him, if that is possible."
"You deffinately scared him and I don't think that many people or things can scare Nottingham..."
"You really should call him Ian. It sounds so much better. Everytime I hear Nottingham I think of the sheriff.."
"I never thought of it that way before."
"Yes well I have much more time to think than you do..."
"You must."
"Some days there is nothing to do but think."
"Have you any other questions?"
"Yes, many. But I don't know where to start."
"You're still hung up on the fact that he told you that he loves you."
"How did you know he said that?"
"Sara quit being forgetful - the blade dear..."
"Sorry, that's going to take some getting used to."
"I will keep reminding you until you no longer need reminding...." Phoenix chided....
**
"IAN!!!!" a deep voice bellowed which in turn echoed throughout the large expanse of a room, making it sound all the more ominous.
"Yes sir?"
"Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you for an hour."
"Sorry sir. My phone must be malfunctioning, I'll have it checked."
"You do that Ian. Now where were you?"
"Following Lady Sara as you instructed."
"Good, I want you to keep a close eye on her. See if anyone new starts hanging around her. Someone with strange amber eyes, probably a young woman."
"Yes sir, but why?"
"Do not question me boy."
"Sorry sir."
"Dismissed."
"Yes sir." Ian walked out of the room and suddenly had the urge to march back in there and snap Irons' neck. He did not, he knew that Irons had a gun with him, so it would be unwise to make so blod a move against the man. Perhaps that strange young woman would have some ideas as to how to deal with Irons. 'Stop thinking like that Ian. You can't betray the man that gave you life.' 'some life' Ian's mind argued. He walked out into the cool night air.
**
Sara watched Phoenix as she got up to get the coffee... She isn't that tall, she just seems so because of her energy because of how she presents herself. I wonder if I come across like that, Sara thought.
"Only when you're pissed off."
"What?"
"You look a lot bigger than you really are when you're pissed off."
"You can read my mind?"
"I can do a lot of things."
"This is strange."
"They do say that the truth is stranger than fiction."
"What else can you do?"
"Sorry Sara, you don't get all my secrets just yet." Nikki laughed as she handed Sara a cup of coffee. The two sat and drank coffee and talked as if they were old friends, across the room, they were being watched.
"You think this'll be a common thing?"
"Not sure."
"It's a bit odd seein' them together isn't it?"
"It is."
"You think Sara'll be alright?"
"I think so John, in time...." Suddenly a pillow was thrown directly between the two watchers.
"Damn nosy spirits mind your damn buisiness." Nikki chuckled.
"This is our business lass." Conchobar chuckled.
"Well do it more quietly."
"Fine fine fine... have it yer way."
"I fully intend to bard, I fully intend to." Nikki purred. She laughed as the bard straightend at the sound she made.
"What's so funny?" Sara inquired.
"Your bard is a laugh and a half. But they're intruding in on a private conversation and rather loudly and rudely I might add."
"They're? Danny's here too? And I haven't heard them..."
"They can hide from you and they're finding out hiding from me isn't so easy."
"I see..." Sara said in a puzzled tone. The boys shrugged and did that spirit fade out.
"Finally... some peace and quiet." Nikki laughed. The pillow came flying back at her.
"You'll pay for that later bard." Nikki said under her breath.
"How can they do that and not be able to touch us?"
"Innanimate objects are different than people... No rules surrounding them."
"Rules?"
"Yeah sticky situation that... I'll explain that later, it's a long story and you need to go home and get some rest. It's going to be an exciting day tomorrow."
"Really?"
"Yes. No more than that... but yes."
"Alright. Goodnight Nikki."
"Goodnight Sara." Nikki said as she walked Sara to the door.
**
Sara got on her bike and made her way back home. That was certainly strange. It was almost like she and the phoenix had been old friends. It had been a long time since she had talked like that with anyone. She missed it. Then the interaction between Nikki and the 'damn nosy spirits' was a laugh and a half itself. She finally got home a little bit after midnight. Her apartment felt cozy, she hadn't realized that she was missing the comfort of her own apartment. Nor had she realized how comfortable she had been in Nikki's home until she was back in her own. It was strange, what was between them, a sort of kinship almost. Sara got a quick shower and then threw on a t-shirt and shorts and set her alarm. Morning was going to come all too soon...Sara thought and with that she climbed into bed after turning off her lights.... It was going to come way too soon indeed.