The usual disclaimers. I'm just borrowing it! Jeez, I'll give it back!
***
The characters belong to Top cow and TNT as do all their toys and appliances, including the Witchblade.
Excuses and warnings.
***
*warning* Mention of nudity! - close your eyes! -
swearing *some people on the show never went to charm school*
use of the word 'pervert'
If you are still not daunted, read on.
Tenebrous
Part 2
chapter 3
*********************************************************
Nottingham's disturbing grin had eventually calmed to a sinister smirk. After what seemed an eternity of being stared at by the assassin, Gabriel decided to break the silence.
"Who were those men?" He asked, nodding towards one of the corpses and trying to sound casual rather than skittish. He had developed a pretty good poker face from dealing in artifacts worth thousands but it had been a long night and his nerves were wearing thin. He also had the feeling he wasn't fooling the assassin in the least.
Ian paused before answering him. It was amusing to watch Gabriel trying to appear calm when the heat emanating from his body alone, betrayed his fear. The look on his face when he'd finished his conversation with Lady Sara, however, was priceless.
"A secret sect that has existed for centuries...and," he pondered Smiley and Tank man, "perhaps some mercenaries. They have tried many times to acquire the Witchblade and failed miserably," he snorted. "The Witchblade Tome however, has been in their possession for centuries. They were not pleased to have it stolen."
"Oh," was all Gabriel could think to say. About a month ago he had gotten a call from a relatively reliable dealer of antiques, saying he'd acquired a strange box that was reputed to be the Witchblade Tome; a diary of sorts from one of the early wielders'. The antique dealer said he had been given Gabriel's name as someone who might be interested in acquiring it.
While he wasn't thrilled that someone was aware of his interest in the blade, he couldn't really turn down a chance to aid Sara. As far as any of his research was concerned the tome was only a myth but he decided to check it out. Saying he did have a couple clients who were into that kind of stuff, he'd made an appointment to examine it.
It looked more like a small chest than a book and had no apparent openings, but as he ran his sensitive fingers around the edges he felt a slight variance, a possible groove where there should be none. As his finger slid along it, he had a strange sense of familiarity, as if he'd felt that groove before.
Acting on his instincts, he offered a price. Unlike with Nottingham, his poker face had accomplished its purpose; he managed to lower the price of it to the level of an arcane but useless object, although it was still pretty high. "Anything for Sara," he'd murmured as he left the shop with the relic in tow and a substantially lightened bank account.
"So they tracked it to me and tried to get it back," Gabriel acknowledged. A clear-cut explanation of anything was a relief.
"They would have come to claim it before you had even laid hand's on it if the tome was any great danger to them." Nottingham blithely replied.
"So much for clear-cut answers," Gabriel thought.
Feeling Nottingham was fishing for something, he switched the subject. "How did you know they were going to attack?"
"I didn't. I witnessed the break-in on one of my monitors. You should be thankful that you moved the Etruscan urn."
"What the... You've been spying on me?" he cried. Gabriel was shocked. God, what had Nottingham seen, or heard for that matter? Not only could Ian know about the key but also he'd had naked romps all about the flat with Maria.
It was bad enough that she'd left him on account of some tryst that didn't exist. *He had to admit that frequent secret meetings with an attractive woman at odd hours could appear a bit suspicious* To have some creepy assassin spying on intimate moments with his girlfriend was too much.
The thought of Nottingham watching his sexual endeavors like a porn film made him shudder; the memory of Ian's queer glints was making him even more creeped out. He drew his knees to his chest in a guarded position. He suddenly felt naked.
Seeing the look of shock on Gabriel's face, the assassin was surprised as well. He had come to the conclusion that the boy was toying with him. No matter where he moved the cameras, within minutes of arriving home Gabriel would casually walk past a camera and deposit some varied object usually right in front of it. He also seemed to have an annoying habit of rearranging things constantly. Not once, did any of the videos record an unobstructed view of the flat.
When one 18-hour cassette displayed nothing but a smiley face beaming at him from a coffee mug, he was sure the boy was taunting him.
"How did you get in?" Gabriel croaked, in a voice so hysterical Nottingham wondered what exactly he'd missed.
"Your security system is hardly formidable to someone of my skill," Nottingham smirked.
"So that's how you found out about the Tome," Gabriel stated. His stomach dropped. Ian knew everything. But then... "Wait. Why in the hell were you interrogating me about the tome when you already know everything about it? Were you just bored? Practicing intimidation techniques?"
"I arranged for you to acquire the tome under my Masters orders. It is because of your ludicrous lack of housekeeping skills and aberrant habit of constantly rearranging every damn..."
Thoroughly confused as to why the assassin went on a tangent about his housekeeping, Gabriel pondered what Nottingham had said about his acquisition of the tome.
Ian was still raving, gesturing dramatically at different objects in the room "...you HAVE a coat rack! But no, you just fling garments everywhere! I doubt you even - "
Gabriel interrupted the irate assassins rant. "Are you saying I've been duped this whole time? You sent it to me so I could do all the work, thinking I was helping Sara only to have Irons reap the rewards when he deemed fit?" Gabriel felt sick; from the little that he'd managed to translate so far, it would be better if the tome had never been opened than to fall into Iron's hands. He could use it against her, possibly finding her weaknesses.
Ian perceived the young man's misery and produced a smug smile. "Mr. Iron's plan was simple; all I had to do was put the tome in your acquisitive little hands. Knowing your relentless desperation to please Sara, it was only a matter of time before you found a way to open it for her. Once opened, it would be retrieved. Of course, you performed beautifully," he sneered, staring down at the bound young man.
That he was unwittingly used as a pawn in Irons scheme filled Gabriel with shame, guilt, anguish and resentment. For some reason, these emotions teamed up and transmuted into an explosion of full force fury. His bound feet flew up and kicked the assassin's gloating face right in the jaw.
Nottingham, leaning forward and enjoying the humiliation of the erudite boy, never saw it coming.
The assassin had been contemplating informing the boy that his own plans were duplicitous and that he'd intended to maintain the wielder's advantage when his head was violently snapped back by a blow that came out of nowhere.
He spun around looking for the unseen assailant before remembering the captives' vexing members. He regretted his decision not to break them.
Gabriel had quickly tucked his knees back to his chest, looking extremely sheepish and terrified. Okay, that was not the smartest move for anyone in his position, especially if they had any desire to live. A taunt from childhood rang in is head *You are SO in TROUBLE!"*
With a pained yelp, Gabriel was yanked up by the collar, spun and slammed face forward into the demolished sofa. The extreme lumpiness of said furniture confused him briefly until his brain registered that he was on the assassin's lap. *What the... Good lord! The man wasn't actually planning on spanking him, was he?!* The pressure of the assassin's steel forearm applied to the back of his knees, was countered by the other on his shins. Gabriel realized what the assassin was about to do. He was going to break his legs with his bare hands. *Oh Fu..*
"WHAT THE HELL!" The vehement scream caused both men to flinch simultaneously.
This was the sound that made even seasoned warriors, hardened criminals and war vets quail. A livid female.
This was not the scene Ian Nottingham planned to greet Lady Sara with.
***
Sara Pezinni stood in the main room of what remained of Talismainiac.com. Her wildest imaginations had never prepared her for the sight that greeted her. Her stalker had Gabriel bound hand and foot, wearing a dog collar and spread across his lap.
"Nottingham! Jesu-... What kind of a sick pervert are you?! Let go of him!"
"Lady Sara...," Nottingham greeted. He was at a loss for words beyond addressing her, realizing the situation looked dubious at best. He had planned on removing the collar before she arrived. He hadn't planned on the boy's unpredictable behavior. This was all Gabriel's fault.
The assassin released the boy's legs and with one arm he swiftly lifted Gabriel to his chest. The other held a knife to Gabriel's throat. "Your boy has been difficult."
tbc
*********************************************************
***
The characters belong to Top cow and TNT as do all their toys and appliances, including the Witchblade.
Excuses and warnings.
***
*warning* Mention of nudity! - close your eyes! -
swearing *some people on the show never went to charm school*
use of the word 'pervert'
If you are still not daunted, read on.
Tenebrous
Part 2
chapter 3
*********************************************************
Nottingham's disturbing grin had eventually calmed to a sinister smirk. After what seemed an eternity of being stared at by the assassin, Gabriel decided to break the silence.
"Who were those men?" He asked, nodding towards one of the corpses and trying to sound casual rather than skittish. He had developed a pretty good poker face from dealing in artifacts worth thousands but it had been a long night and his nerves were wearing thin. He also had the feeling he wasn't fooling the assassin in the least.
Ian paused before answering him. It was amusing to watch Gabriel trying to appear calm when the heat emanating from his body alone, betrayed his fear. The look on his face when he'd finished his conversation with Lady Sara, however, was priceless.
"A secret sect that has existed for centuries...and," he pondered Smiley and Tank man, "perhaps some mercenaries. They have tried many times to acquire the Witchblade and failed miserably," he snorted. "The Witchblade Tome however, has been in their possession for centuries. They were not pleased to have it stolen."
"Oh," was all Gabriel could think to say. About a month ago he had gotten a call from a relatively reliable dealer of antiques, saying he'd acquired a strange box that was reputed to be the Witchblade Tome; a diary of sorts from one of the early wielders'. The antique dealer said he had been given Gabriel's name as someone who might be interested in acquiring it.
While he wasn't thrilled that someone was aware of his interest in the blade, he couldn't really turn down a chance to aid Sara. As far as any of his research was concerned the tome was only a myth but he decided to check it out. Saying he did have a couple clients who were into that kind of stuff, he'd made an appointment to examine it.
It looked more like a small chest than a book and had no apparent openings, but as he ran his sensitive fingers around the edges he felt a slight variance, a possible groove where there should be none. As his finger slid along it, he had a strange sense of familiarity, as if he'd felt that groove before.
Acting on his instincts, he offered a price. Unlike with Nottingham, his poker face had accomplished its purpose; he managed to lower the price of it to the level of an arcane but useless object, although it was still pretty high. "Anything for Sara," he'd murmured as he left the shop with the relic in tow and a substantially lightened bank account.
"So they tracked it to me and tried to get it back," Gabriel acknowledged. A clear-cut explanation of anything was a relief.
"They would have come to claim it before you had even laid hand's on it if the tome was any great danger to them." Nottingham blithely replied.
"So much for clear-cut answers," Gabriel thought.
Feeling Nottingham was fishing for something, he switched the subject. "How did you know they were going to attack?"
"I didn't. I witnessed the break-in on one of my monitors. You should be thankful that you moved the Etruscan urn."
"What the... You've been spying on me?" he cried. Gabriel was shocked. God, what had Nottingham seen, or heard for that matter? Not only could Ian know about the key but also he'd had naked romps all about the flat with Maria.
It was bad enough that she'd left him on account of some tryst that didn't exist. *He had to admit that frequent secret meetings with an attractive woman at odd hours could appear a bit suspicious* To have some creepy assassin spying on intimate moments with his girlfriend was too much.
The thought of Nottingham watching his sexual endeavors like a porn film made him shudder; the memory of Ian's queer glints was making him even more creeped out. He drew his knees to his chest in a guarded position. He suddenly felt naked.
Seeing the look of shock on Gabriel's face, the assassin was surprised as well. He had come to the conclusion that the boy was toying with him. No matter where he moved the cameras, within minutes of arriving home Gabriel would casually walk past a camera and deposit some varied object usually right in front of it. He also seemed to have an annoying habit of rearranging things constantly. Not once, did any of the videos record an unobstructed view of the flat.
When one 18-hour cassette displayed nothing but a smiley face beaming at him from a coffee mug, he was sure the boy was taunting him.
"How did you get in?" Gabriel croaked, in a voice so hysterical Nottingham wondered what exactly he'd missed.
"Your security system is hardly formidable to someone of my skill," Nottingham smirked.
"So that's how you found out about the Tome," Gabriel stated. His stomach dropped. Ian knew everything. But then... "Wait. Why in the hell were you interrogating me about the tome when you already know everything about it? Were you just bored? Practicing intimidation techniques?"
"I arranged for you to acquire the tome under my Masters orders. It is because of your ludicrous lack of housekeeping skills and aberrant habit of constantly rearranging every damn..."
Thoroughly confused as to why the assassin went on a tangent about his housekeeping, Gabriel pondered what Nottingham had said about his acquisition of the tome.
Ian was still raving, gesturing dramatically at different objects in the room "...you HAVE a coat rack! But no, you just fling garments everywhere! I doubt you even - "
Gabriel interrupted the irate assassins rant. "Are you saying I've been duped this whole time? You sent it to me so I could do all the work, thinking I was helping Sara only to have Irons reap the rewards when he deemed fit?" Gabriel felt sick; from the little that he'd managed to translate so far, it would be better if the tome had never been opened than to fall into Iron's hands. He could use it against her, possibly finding her weaknesses.
Ian perceived the young man's misery and produced a smug smile. "Mr. Iron's plan was simple; all I had to do was put the tome in your acquisitive little hands. Knowing your relentless desperation to please Sara, it was only a matter of time before you found a way to open it for her. Once opened, it would be retrieved. Of course, you performed beautifully," he sneered, staring down at the bound young man.
That he was unwittingly used as a pawn in Irons scheme filled Gabriel with shame, guilt, anguish and resentment. For some reason, these emotions teamed up and transmuted into an explosion of full force fury. His bound feet flew up and kicked the assassin's gloating face right in the jaw.
Nottingham, leaning forward and enjoying the humiliation of the erudite boy, never saw it coming.
The assassin had been contemplating informing the boy that his own plans were duplicitous and that he'd intended to maintain the wielder's advantage when his head was violently snapped back by a blow that came out of nowhere.
He spun around looking for the unseen assailant before remembering the captives' vexing members. He regretted his decision not to break them.
Gabriel had quickly tucked his knees back to his chest, looking extremely sheepish and terrified. Okay, that was not the smartest move for anyone in his position, especially if they had any desire to live. A taunt from childhood rang in is head *You are SO in TROUBLE!"*
With a pained yelp, Gabriel was yanked up by the collar, spun and slammed face forward into the demolished sofa. The extreme lumpiness of said furniture confused him briefly until his brain registered that he was on the assassin's lap. *What the... Good lord! The man wasn't actually planning on spanking him, was he?!* The pressure of the assassin's steel forearm applied to the back of his knees, was countered by the other on his shins. Gabriel realized what the assassin was about to do. He was going to break his legs with his bare hands. *Oh Fu..*
"WHAT THE HELL!" The vehement scream caused both men to flinch simultaneously.
This was the sound that made even seasoned warriors, hardened criminals and war vets quail. A livid female.
This was not the scene Ian Nottingham planned to greet Lady Sara with.
***
Sara Pezinni stood in the main room of what remained of Talismainiac.com. Her wildest imaginations had never prepared her for the sight that greeted her. Her stalker had Gabriel bound hand and foot, wearing a dog collar and spread across his lap.
"Nottingham! Jesu-... What kind of a sick pervert are you?! Let go of him!"
"Lady Sara...," Nottingham greeted. He was at a loss for words beyond addressing her, realizing the situation looked dubious at best. He had planned on removing the collar before she arrived. He hadn't planned on the boy's unpredictable behavior. This was all Gabriel's fault.
The assassin released the boy's legs and with one arm he swiftly lifted Gabriel to his chest. The other held a knife to Gabriel's throat. "Your boy has been difficult."
tbc
*********************************************************