Eli: Hi all! I'm glad to know I wasn't the only one disturbed about the last witchblade episode. I've been thinkin of writing yet another fanfic that would have to do with that Sara clone (Sirius or Aras. Pagan? Did anyone catch the name that Ian called her?) I hate her, but it would be intresting. Also, holding no hate, but why does Yancy get to kiss all the dudes on the show except Will Yun Lee? And I'm expecting that any day now. Can't she just stick with Eric and make us jump up and down with joy? *sigh* I won't be working on Tale for a while because I can't seem to put what I want to happen into words yet. Thanks for the reviews. Enjoy the chapter.



"Nottingham, this is your new partner, Kelly Hart. She just transfered from L.A. Show her the ropes."

"It's, like, really nice to meet you."

Oh good God. Here's the proof Siri hates me! He's put me with what appears to be a teenaged, valley girl barbie doll. Someone shoot me now!

"Nice to meet you, too."

"So, Nottingham, what's, like, your first name?"

"Ian."

If she says like one more time, I am going to shoot her!

"Well, Ian, you're kinda like, cute."

Forget the gun. I'm gonna slice her up with the witchblade. Wait, calm down.

"Uh, thanks, I think."

"Ahhhhhh. You're a shy one. That's, like, so adorable."

Must.......Not......Kill.......Rookie......

"So, Ian, want to go out sometime?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Beacuse......"

Shit! Excuse, need excuse. Is that Sara? Please be Sara. It is! Thank you God!

"Because my girlfriend over there wouldn't like it. Excuse me for a moment." He rushed away from her as fast as he could, short of running.

"My mistress...." She stopped when Ian put his arm around her and started to push her forward.

"Just act with me, Sara. Must get out." Sara nodded, put a smile on her face, and leaned into him.

He's touching me. I don't care if it's just an act. No, I can't do this. It's forbidden. But this feels.......right.

Ian kept on walking till they were outside and away from the prying eyes. Though it wasn't needed, he kept his arm around Sara.

"So, what does your mistress want this time?"

"She wishes for you to join her for dinner tonight."

"What for?"

"She has information for you."

"About the witchblade?"

"Yes."

"Will you be there?"

"Why does it matter?"

"If you're there, I'll go." Sara pulled herself out from under his arm. She put her head down and refused to look at him.

"Ten o'clock. The mansion. Please be there." And, as usual, she was gone. Ian made his way back through the building, ignoring all the "Nottingham's got a girlfriend." Ian passed them all up and went straight to forensics.

"Hey Gabe."

"Hi Ian, what was up with the gothic chick?"

"You saw that?"

"I doubt there's anyone who didn't. Is she your girl or what?"

"Or what. I needed an excuse to get away from my new partner."

"Ahhhh. Now I understand."

"Met her?"

"Yeah. We're, like, totally best friends."

"Hit on you, too?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry, buddy. So, you here to hide from her?"

"No, that's for if she finds out I'm single. I'm here about this thing." He passed the witchblade to Gabriel.

"Whoa, this is nice. Where did you get this?"

"I'm not entirely sure. I know that you have knowledge on old things, so what is it?"

"Well, I can't answer that."

"Why not?"

"Cause I don't know."

"Some help you are."

"Well, what do I look like? A collector of useless ancient information?"

"Well, do you know someone who does?"

"Uh, yeah. Remember my last girlfriend, Vicky?"

"Isn't she the one who dumped you because she turned out to be a lesbian?"

"You just had to remind me of that, didn't you?"

"Of course."

"Well, anyway, she happens to collect ancient info. She even has this buisness, Talismaniac, that sells this kind of stuff. You should pay her a visit. Here." He dug in his pocket and pulled out a card. "Here's the address."

"All right, thanks." Ian took the card and the witchblade. He turned to leave.

"Wait, Ian!"

"What?"

"So that chick isn't your girlfriend?"

"No."

"So, unless you're intrested in her, could you set us up?" Ian gave him a sly smile.

"Sorry, Gabriel."

"It's all good. Hope you get her."

"Yeah." Suddenly, Kelly stuck her head in.

"Oh, there you are. I, like, need your help in the office."

"All right. See ya, Gabe."

"Bye." Gabriel winked at him. "Have fun."

"Yeah."

-The mansion-

"Sara, what were you doing earler today?"

"I was watching the wielder, mistress."

"Was that all?"

"Yes, mistress." Meredith went over to her and slapped her across the face.

"Lying, disobedient girl. I saw you with him, together like you are a couple. What have I told you? He is mine! You are not to have such contact with him again. Understand?"

"Yes, mother."

"What?"

"Mistress."

"Yeah, that's right. You lost the right to call me mother a long time ago, Sara."

"It will not happen again, mistress."

"It had better not."

-Talismaniac-

"Hello. Buying or selling?"

"Hi. Niether. I need some information."

"On what?"

"This." He held his arm up.

"Come inside." She opened the door and let him in.

"I'm Vicky Po."

"Ian Nottingham, N.Y.P.D. homicide."

"And wielder of the witchblade."

"So you know what this is?"

"Yeah, except last I saw it, it was a sword they were guessing was Excaliber."

"Then how is it a bracelet?"

"They say it can change it's shape depending on the wielder."

"So who else has had this thing?"

"Well, no one is totally sure, but the list would include King Arthur, Ares: god of war, David Bronte....."

"David Bronte?"

"Yeah, the secret agent that cracked the Nazi code. Allowing us to win the war."

"Whoa. Very cool, very scary."

"Yeah. How did you get hold of it?"

"Accident."

"Ah. Well, you might want to watch your back."

"Why?"

"That thing on your wrist makes you an evil magnet. It's like how vampires flock to Buffy."

"How do you know these thing?"

"It's my job to know about things of power."

"Ahhh. I would love to continue, but I have a date to keep."

"The witchblade should be your first priority."

"That's why I'm keeping this date. Can I talk to you later?"

"Yeah, sure. One thing, how did you find me?"

"Uh, Gabriel."

"Oh. If you see him, tell him to get his ass down here and pick up his junk."

"I'll tell him. Bye."

"Bye."

-The mansion-

Sara was again the one to meet him in the front. "This way." she refused to look at him. Ian got annoyed. He moved in front of her and wouldn't let her continue on.

"Please move aside."

"Look at me, Sara." She shook her head. "Please?"

"Why?"

"I want to look into your eyes. They're beautiful, you know." He lifted her head up with his hand. She held his gaze for a second, then looked back down.

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Not look me in the eye."

"I am not worthy of such a thing."

"What are you talking about? Is that what Irons has taught you?"

"Yes. It is the way."

"No, it's not. What can she do to you if you look at me?"

"Things." He tried to lift her head back up, but she moved away from him.

"She is waiting." She pushed pass him and continued on.

"All right." He followed her and didn't talk to her again.

What is wrong with her? She seems almost frightened of contact. What the hell has Irons done to her? Abuse? Why doesn't she escape?

Sara led him into a huge dinning room. Meredith was sitting at the head of the table.

"Detective, glad you have decided to join me for dinner." She turned to Sara.

"Close the doors as you leave."

"Yes, mistress."

"Why can't she stay, Meredith?" Sara didn't stop what she was doing and left before Irons could answer.

"She is but a servant."

"Oh, not worthy to dine at the table with the master?"

"Exactly. Nice to see you can see her from my point of view."

"Not really. She is human, not your slave."

"You've taken an unrequired concern for her."

"Well, seeing how you treat her, someone has to."

"She can fend for herself, I assure you. She can also beat you in battle, if she put her mind to it. Why don't you sit down and join me?"

"No, I'm not hungry. Just tell me what you were going to and I'll be on my way."

"The witchblade is a great weapon that can be used to slay whole armies, but with it comes great danger. It has always abandoned it's wielders in their darkest hour. It left King Arthur when he fought his son, Mordrid. That is but one example."

"How was it created?"

"No one is sure."

"Why was I chosen?"

"You are of the blood line."

"What?"

"There has been a blood line of wielders since it has been created."

"Who was the last wielder?"

"Well, the last true wielder was David Bronte."

"What do you mean true wielder?"

"Anyone can assume the mantle, but they would be pretenders. The witchblade is not kind to pretenders. I speak from experience."

"You've wielded this thing?"

"Yes, but for a moment. It did not except me, for I am a woman. But it left me with this." She held up her hand to show a scar that looked like two circles interlocked in the middle.

"Who was the last person to wear this thing?"

"A man named Jake McCartney."

"He was a pretender?"

"Yes. It torments him. It hates him, but he loves it."

"Am I a pretender?"

"We are yet to find out. I have nothing further to tell you. You may leave, detective."

"See ya." Ian quickly made his way out of the room. Sara was outside waiting for him.

"Why do you let her treat you like that?"

"It is the way."

"Why do you keep saying that?"

"You wanted the answer."

"You're just as good as she is. In my opinion, better. What does she have on you?"

"Life." They had reached the front door. "Ian, I heard your whole conversation with her."

"Good."

"I thank you for your concern, but don't say things like that to her. It will only make things worst."

"What does she do to you?"

"Discipline."

"What kind of discipline?" She hung her head lower. He forced her head up and looked carefully at her. He saw a bruise in the corner of her face. When she realized he had seen it, she pulled away from him and put her head down.

"Is that what she considers discipline?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"She saw what happened at the precinct."

"Nothing happened."

"Not to your eyes."

"She got mad because you helped me escape my valley girl partner?"

"If that was the reason for the acting, them yes."

"Why did she get mad at that?"

"Disobedience."

"What did you do wrong?" She didn't answer. She wasn't going to.

"If she hurts you again, I'm bringing her in."

"You don't need to protect me. I can protect myself."

"And the bruise on your face proves it."

"Please don't. Just....Leave. Please. If you don't want me to get hurt, leave."

"Fine. But I will bring her in if I have to. Good bye, Sara."

"Bye." He left.



Eli: So, whatcha think? To go on, to not go on?