*** The characters belong to Top cow and TNT as do all their toys, accessories and appliances, including the Witchblade. The Sufult, Tome, Key, towel and a toothbrush are mine.
******************** denotes change of scenery
Tenebrous
chapter 29 ***************************************** Pocketing his phone, Ian noticed that Gabriel's was still vibrating. Miserably, he pulled it from his pocket. Certain that the blade had shown Sara Gabriel's abduction, he eyed the screen in dismay. He could just picture Sara's frantic face as she alternated between listening desperately for a pick-up and jabbing the redial button vehemently when none occurred, as if it were the button's fault.
Oh, that the button could take the blame, Ian thought. It was plastic and metal film; cold; uncaring: the perfect scapegoat... He really didn't want to answer.
He didn't have to answer. No one could force him. He eyed the phone again; eyed the back lot of the 7-11; eyed the vehicles passing by with the ridiculous notion, borne of desperation, that the Sufult might return with Gabriel to taunt him. Oh, they would pay. He would make them pay dearly, he thought hungrily, imagining the bloodbath he would unleash on them for leaving him in this loathed predicament. The few people pulling into the lot eyed him nervously.
That Irons had set him up to fail, only added salt to the wound. Despite years of handling the most delicate and deadly of technical devices, the highly trained assassin clenched his fist around the phone in outrage; not realizing how perilously close his gloved pinky was to the answer button. Immediately, the back lot of the 7-11 was filled with the Wielder's desperate pleas: "Gabriel! Ian!"
After the initial shock of hearing Sara's cries, the assassin stared at the now active phone. The desperation in her voice was palpable.
Irons would not want him to respond. HE would not want himself to respond. Yet, as if in a daze he heard his voice utter- Sara.
"Ia-, oh, Nottingham, is Gabriel with you? Is he okay?" Sara breathed.
Why did he answer? Why- Oh, that's right, the world had been up-ended by a tenacious cult and a capricious young man. If Sara had any idea how much they had been put through in a matter of hours, she would have been amazed that either one of them were still alive. Instead, she most likely believed he had been driving around lackadaisically and accidentally left the boy somewhere. No matter what the situation, Sara would never forgive him. He glared menacingly at an annoyingly cheerful-looking man who was foolish enough to glance in his direction.
Nottingham's extended silence confirmed what Sara had dreaded. "Damn it, Nottingham! You said you'd protect him!" she howled.
"It was the boy's fault," Ian protested. "He refused to be accompanied in the men's room," he complained.
Sara's angry retort was aborted by the sheer oddness of his excuse. While struggling to repress a visual of Ian guarding Gabriel as he peed, she tried to get her head around how this had somehow gotten her friend captured. Instead of trying to pry an explanation from Captain Crypto, Sara turned to the Blade.
For once, it's glowing carmine stone seemed to respond to her wishes. Instead of a vision of what had happened, however, she saw what would have happened - Nottingham and Gabriel, holed up inside some stronghold as waves of men surrounded them. Blasted in walls; hordes rushing in, shooting and slashing until the assassin lay silent and Gabriel carried away, screaming and bloody.
There had been no escape from this, ever since Irons set it in motion. It was like a train on a track, repeating history with the same destination. She stared at the amulet on her wrist as Ian patiently waited for her reply. "But you're okay, right?" Sara asked numbly.
That was not what Ian had expected. He was temporarily speechless, wondering what kind of strange attack Sara was planning. "Yes," he answered warily, unable to think of a rational reason for Sara's odd retort and it's lack of venom.
The Wielder swallowed her despair and steeled herself; she needed to find Gabriel. If he was still alive, she only needed to derail destiny before it reached its tragic end. But how she would do that, she hadn't a clue. She had no idea where they had taken him and she needed help. With Ian still alive, maybe they could stop events from falling into place, somehow wrest control from the ancient sect.
Disturbed by Lady Sara's disquieting silence, yet unwilling to admit his perplexity either to himself or the Wielder, Ian settled for the most non-committal vocalization he could think of. "Sara?" he uttered, hoping to bring her out of whatever reverie she was in. Although they shared dreams at times, the Wielder's visions and thoughts, were hers and hers alone.
"We need to find out where they took Gabriel. You have to help me save him, Nottingham," Sara stated resolutely.
"I must go to Irons, Sara. I will contact you afterwards," Ian replied somberly.
"No! No fucking way, Ian! You can't abandon us and run off to your prima donna master. I am NOT losing Gabriel again!" Sara shrieked.
"Sara, you know as well as I, that I cannot disobey him," Ian argued.
"But you-" Sara began to plead, before being cut off by the assassin.
"Remember ALL that was said, and take head, Sara. I have no choice," Ian stated and clipped the phone shut before she could retort. Truth be told, Gabriel had become, in a very short time, one person whom he wished to keep alive. Despite the fact that he had mocked the young man for his actions, Gabriel's concern and efficient treatment of his laceration was unexpected and the closest to comaraderie he'd experienced since the Black dragons. That the boy actually comprehended his brief explanations for the most part was a bonus, not to mention that he was amusing beyond belief when he didn't. He sincerely hoped Irons' and Sara's wishes coincided.
********************
Sara glared at her phone in outrage before furiously snapping it shut. Maybe Nottingham was Irons' little puppet, but she certainly wasn't. Gabriel's capture was Irons' fault and if he wasn't going to help her get her friend back, she was going to geld him.
As she strode determinedly towards the car, she spied the mime trying to gesture his assault to a uniformed officer. Judging by the look on the cop's face, Sara suspected the hapless mime was about to get his second belt of the morning.
**************************************tbc . I'm betting anyone still reading this has assumed where this story is leading - who does what and how it ends. It looks quite formulaic at this point, doesn't it? *Silhouette of evil monkey rises from bottom of screen and slowly comes into focus as it slightly shakes its head from side to side, displaying an evil grin. It wags a finger creepily, before it's eyes turn fiery and it disappears from view* Still think you know?
Patty- Thanks for the prompting and support. It's been a VERY long night for poor Ian. The upcoming chapters should give more details on the magnitude of what he's up against, as Irons is the only one with the low-down on the Sect.
Ann- Hehe, candy coating on a steak. Hee! ^_^ Thank you. And thank you also for reminding me about the shy people. I was one once, myself. I think my first review was something like -hi, I like this. For some reason, I was very nervous.
Fae Rain - I just love your reviews. Thank you. I also apologize for tormenting Gabriel. I think bathroom muse has it in for him, or something. You might want to close your eyes for parts of the next chapter, as things get creepy.
Speaking of the next chapter; I've decided to give poor Rogue a break. After spamming her with chapters from both stories at a really hectic and monumental point in her life, I feel more than a bit guilty. So the next chappie will be unbeta'd. A bit risky, as she pointed out some logistics that needed addressing for this one. Hopefully they are fixed and I thank her again for her wonderful help. If anyone hasn't seen it yet, I suggest you check out 'See to hear' by Roguegal17 and at least say hi :) (If you'd like). It's her first time posting and reviews can either make or break your day or week.
dragongrrl - I can't get to your story. It keeps sending me to chapter 3 or giving me a proxy error or saying site overload. Are you posting it on any other sites?
******************** denotes change of scenery
Tenebrous
chapter 29 ***************************************** Pocketing his phone, Ian noticed that Gabriel's was still vibrating. Miserably, he pulled it from his pocket. Certain that the blade had shown Sara Gabriel's abduction, he eyed the screen in dismay. He could just picture Sara's frantic face as she alternated between listening desperately for a pick-up and jabbing the redial button vehemently when none occurred, as if it were the button's fault.
Oh, that the button could take the blame, Ian thought. It was plastic and metal film; cold; uncaring: the perfect scapegoat... He really didn't want to answer.
He didn't have to answer. No one could force him. He eyed the phone again; eyed the back lot of the 7-11; eyed the vehicles passing by with the ridiculous notion, borne of desperation, that the Sufult might return with Gabriel to taunt him. Oh, they would pay. He would make them pay dearly, he thought hungrily, imagining the bloodbath he would unleash on them for leaving him in this loathed predicament. The few people pulling into the lot eyed him nervously.
That Irons had set him up to fail, only added salt to the wound. Despite years of handling the most delicate and deadly of technical devices, the highly trained assassin clenched his fist around the phone in outrage; not realizing how perilously close his gloved pinky was to the answer button. Immediately, the back lot of the 7-11 was filled with the Wielder's desperate pleas: "Gabriel! Ian!"
After the initial shock of hearing Sara's cries, the assassin stared at the now active phone. The desperation in her voice was palpable.
Irons would not want him to respond. HE would not want himself to respond. Yet, as if in a daze he heard his voice utter- Sara.
"Ia-, oh, Nottingham, is Gabriel with you? Is he okay?" Sara breathed.
Why did he answer? Why- Oh, that's right, the world had been up-ended by a tenacious cult and a capricious young man. If Sara had any idea how much they had been put through in a matter of hours, she would have been amazed that either one of them were still alive. Instead, she most likely believed he had been driving around lackadaisically and accidentally left the boy somewhere. No matter what the situation, Sara would never forgive him. He glared menacingly at an annoyingly cheerful-looking man who was foolish enough to glance in his direction.
Nottingham's extended silence confirmed what Sara had dreaded. "Damn it, Nottingham! You said you'd protect him!" she howled.
"It was the boy's fault," Ian protested. "He refused to be accompanied in the men's room," he complained.
Sara's angry retort was aborted by the sheer oddness of his excuse. While struggling to repress a visual of Ian guarding Gabriel as he peed, she tried to get her head around how this had somehow gotten her friend captured. Instead of trying to pry an explanation from Captain Crypto, Sara turned to the Blade.
For once, it's glowing carmine stone seemed to respond to her wishes. Instead of a vision of what had happened, however, she saw what would have happened - Nottingham and Gabriel, holed up inside some stronghold as waves of men surrounded them. Blasted in walls; hordes rushing in, shooting and slashing until the assassin lay silent and Gabriel carried away, screaming and bloody.
There had been no escape from this, ever since Irons set it in motion. It was like a train on a track, repeating history with the same destination. She stared at the amulet on her wrist as Ian patiently waited for her reply. "But you're okay, right?" Sara asked numbly.
That was not what Ian had expected. He was temporarily speechless, wondering what kind of strange attack Sara was planning. "Yes," he answered warily, unable to think of a rational reason for Sara's odd retort and it's lack of venom.
The Wielder swallowed her despair and steeled herself; she needed to find Gabriel. If he was still alive, she only needed to derail destiny before it reached its tragic end. But how she would do that, she hadn't a clue. She had no idea where they had taken him and she needed help. With Ian still alive, maybe they could stop events from falling into place, somehow wrest control from the ancient sect.
Disturbed by Lady Sara's disquieting silence, yet unwilling to admit his perplexity either to himself or the Wielder, Ian settled for the most non-committal vocalization he could think of. "Sara?" he uttered, hoping to bring her out of whatever reverie she was in. Although they shared dreams at times, the Wielder's visions and thoughts, were hers and hers alone.
"We need to find out where they took Gabriel. You have to help me save him, Nottingham," Sara stated resolutely.
"I must go to Irons, Sara. I will contact you afterwards," Ian replied somberly.
"No! No fucking way, Ian! You can't abandon us and run off to your prima donna master. I am NOT losing Gabriel again!" Sara shrieked.
"Sara, you know as well as I, that I cannot disobey him," Ian argued.
"But you-" Sara began to plead, before being cut off by the assassin.
"Remember ALL that was said, and take head, Sara. I have no choice," Ian stated and clipped the phone shut before she could retort. Truth be told, Gabriel had become, in a very short time, one person whom he wished to keep alive. Despite the fact that he had mocked the young man for his actions, Gabriel's concern and efficient treatment of his laceration was unexpected and the closest to comaraderie he'd experienced since the Black dragons. That the boy actually comprehended his brief explanations for the most part was a bonus, not to mention that he was amusing beyond belief when he didn't. He sincerely hoped Irons' and Sara's wishes coincided.
********************
Sara glared at her phone in outrage before furiously snapping it shut. Maybe Nottingham was Irons' little puppet, but she certainly wasn't. Gabriel's capture was Irons' fault and if he wasn't going to help her get her friend back, she was going to geld him.
As she strode determinedly towards the car, she spied the mime trying to gesture his assault to a uniformed officer. Judging by the look on the cop's face, Sara suspected the hapless mime was about to get his second belt of the morning.
**************************************tbc . I'm betting anyone still reading this has assumed where this story is leading - who does what and how it ends. It looks quite formulaic at this point, doesn't it? *Silhouette of evil monkey rises from bottom of screen and slowly comes into focus as it slightly shakes its head from side to side, displaying an evil grin. It wags a finger creepily, before it's eyes turn fiery and it disappears from view* Still think you know?
Patty- Thanks for the prompting and support. It's been a VERY long night for poor Ian. The upcoming chapters should give more details on the magnitude of what he's up against, as Irons is the only one with the low-down on the Sect.
Ann- Hehe, candy coating on a steak. Hee! ^_^ Thank you. And thank you also for reminding me about the shy people. I was one once, myself. I think my first review was something like -hi, I like this. For some reason, I was very nervous.
Fae Rain - I just love your reviews. Thank you. I also apologize for tormenting Gabriel. I think bathroom muse has it in for him, or something. You might want to close your eyes for parts of the next chapter, as things get creepy.
Speaking of the next chapter; I've decided to give poor Rogue a break. After spamming her with chapters from both stories at a really hectic and monumental point in her life, I feel more than a bit guilty. So the next chappie will be unbeta'd. A bit risky, as she pointed out some logistics that needed addressing for this one. Hopefully they are fixed and I thank her again for her wonderful help. If anyone hasn't seen it yet, I suggest you check out 'See to hear' by Roguegal17 and at least say hi :) (If you'd like). It's her first time posting and reviews can either make or break your day or week.
dragongrrl - I can't get to your story. It keeps sending me to chapter 3 or giving me a proxy error or saying site overload. Are you posting it on any other sites?