Flesh Wounds

Part Four

"Diane? Xander? Tell me why my dinner was interrupted?" Athena called as she walked into the warehouse, still wearing the lavender dress.

"Did you miss your good-night kiss?" the Immortal teased, but his smile did not reach his eyes.

"How many?"

"Seventeen. Three in Russia, four in China, two up in Alaska, three in France, and two in the Ukraine. More are coming in constantly."

"Captain!" The girl said. "When was the first body found?"

"Day before yesterday," he replied.

"Xander, get Giles on the phone. Diane, call the Altereeds, tell them I need the Book of Carpara. Danny, do you have the reports?"

"Right here," the Asian replied, holding them up.

The girl pursed her lips. "Let's see…what is bugging me about Cornwall's hilt?" Grabbing her cell phone, she dialed Gabriel's number.

"Talismanic dot com. We're closed."

"Gabe, it's Athena."

"Oh, hey. What's up?"

"You got anything on that parchment?"

"Yeah. Very early Sumerian, probably one of the first writings ever. My computer's having a fit with it."

"Can you meet me tomorrow with the results?"

"I think I'll be finished by then. Where do you want to meet?"

"Um, y'know that Chinese place on 5th?"

"Okay. See you then."

Hanging up, Athena turned to see Xander staring at her, his eyebrows raised. "What?" she asked suspiciously.

"On the second date already?" He asked.

"Shut up," she mumbled with a half-grin. He simply shook his head and called Giles.

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The next day, the two met outside of Huang Ho. Gabriel had a small pile of paper and smiled apologetically. "I've only got about three pages."

She looked slightly annoyed. "At least it's something."

He held up his hands in placation. "Not my fault. My computer took a vacation to Hawaii about 3 o'clock last night…or was it this morning?"

She chuckled. "I'm sorry, Gabe. Stuff like this annoys me."

"Really? Never would have guessed. C'mon, let's get some lunch."

After they ordered, the young man handed her the pages. "I can read almost any language, but Sumerian is definitely giving me some trouble, considering I don't know it at all."

"I should introduce you to a friend of mine," she muttered. "You two would get along splendidly."

"I'll take that as a compliment," he grinned. "So, how's the case going?"

"I've seen frozen molasses move faster." She frowned. "Did you read any of this?"

"No. Left that honor for you."

She began to read aloud. "'Here is the tale of Ali Mohammed Coba, emperor of the Western Hemisphere.'" Her eyes rose and met his. "Coba was the ruler of the Babylonian Empire. His grandson built the Gardens of Babylon."

They were interrupted by their meal arriving, and Athena idly took a few bites before continuing, "'The stranger comes from far away, farther then the sun setting in the west. He speaks of great things, yet fire bathes his eyes. I have sent word to the Princess, yet no reply has made it back. My daughter…my gift from the gods…is taken ill. She chews her own flesh, but tinier teeth take her while she sleeps. My guards have seen this themselves, yet cannot see what eats at her. Gods, why will the Princess not come? Have I angered her so much that she refuses to aid us?'" The girl stopped, biting her bottom lip. "I received no message. I had no idea…"

Gabriel reached across the table to take her hand. "There was no way you could have known."

Instead of answering, she read on, "'Akri grows worse every day, and others of my kingdom have fallen to the affliction. Regardless of our prayers and sacrifices, the gods turn their faces away.' That's all."

"What is he talking about?"

"I don't have any idea," she replied, playing with her chopsticks.

"Could it have something to do with the murders?" He asked. "Bits of them were chewed, I understand."

"It's an idea. Mind if I take these with me?"

"Yeah, sure. I'll work on the rest."

"Do you have a pen?"

"Yeah." He pulled a pen from his back pocket and handed it to her. For a brief moment, his fingers grazed hers, and his breath caught in his throat as a low gasp, barely audible, escaped Athena's mouth.

"Nifty," she breathed.

"Uh…yeah," he croaked. "Athena…the Witchblade…"

The girl glanced down at her bracelet, which was glowing a soft, soothing green.

"Is…is that a good sign?"

"I…don't know," she replied. "It's never done that before."

The stone swirled back to it normal ruby color once their hands separated; confusion was evident on both their faces. "So…" he started, half-grinning.

"I've got to get back. Thanks for doing this."

"It'll cost you." The look in his eyes was hard to interpret, and she felt something inside of her tighten. Quickly scribbling, she handed the pen back.

"I'll call you, okay?"

"Yeah, sure." He watched her leave, frowning slightly. There was a lot of work to do tonight.

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Athena was wandering around Central Park, studying her silver bracelet. "What is your problem this time?" She muttered. "In fact, I think it's time you and I had a very long talk." She suddenly stopped. "Come out, Ian."

A tall figure in black stepped out of the trees and assumed a submissive pose, his eyes on the ground. "My Princess."

"Ian," she said, voice slightly strained. "I am not your…father. Never bow your head to me."

His honey-brown eyes slowly rose until they met her cold cerulean ones. "Why do you speak to the Witchblade so?"

"It's being annoying." She let him take her hand, and he traced the silver whorls.

"How so?"

"Don't worry about it." She watched him for a moment. "I don't mean to be rude, but I need to go. It was good to see you, Ian."

"Princess, wait," he caught her arm. "Those you seek…you must get Sara to trust you before you can defeat them."

"Ian, do you have any idea what you're asking?"

He laughed, a warm, tangible, sound, and reverently pressed a kiss to her right palm. "Be careful, Princess. Please, for me."

Slightly surprised by the tender request, she brushed her fingers down his cheek before walking away.

EAN: Hopefully, Ian will appear more later on…but for some reason, this thing has taken on a mind of it's own…it's happened before. Bloody muses…