Kudos for those who recognize which book I used for a name. You deserve some cookies!

Chapter V - Meetings

When Sara opened the door to her apartment half an hour later, she immediately knew something was out of place. A quick glance at the glowing Witchblade confirmed her suspicions.

Taking a few steps into the room, she felt someone watching her from the shadows, following her every move. Reaching for her gun with one hand, she felt for the light switch with the other.

Could it be Ian watching her?

Had he been here the whole time?

Parts of her conversation with Irons flashed through her mind. If Ian had been watching her the whole time, why would Irons tell her he was missing? Why tell her in the first place?

Finding the light switch, she flipped it on. The bright light blinded her for a moment, but when her eyes had adjusted to the change from dark to light, she found herself face to face with a large grey wolf. The creature had his teeth bared as it looked at Sara.

With the light reflecting on his white fangs, flashes of memories passed Sara's eyes. They weren't familiar to her at first sight, but something was stirring inside her. Then she remembered the dream she had, a few nights ago before all this had started. The dream had seemed vague to Sara and she hadn't thought about it anymore, until now.

Not knowing why, she reached out her right hand towards the wolf, while pocketing her gun. The animal growled as her hand came closer and almost instantaneously, the Witchblade began to glow. It transported Sara to a misty forest. She recognized the open space from her dream.

Looking around, she saw no one except her and the grey wolf. Her surroundings and the animal before her made no sense to Sara nor could she think of any link with her open case. More images flashed by her, but none of it showed a link to the murders.

Again, she looked at the wolf, which was now lying down in the damp earth. Getting down on her knees, she reached out to touch the wolf once more.

"So far, so good." She thought. Everything was exactly as in her dream, the grey animal included. Everytime she would try to touch it, the beast would disappear. If everything went the same as in her dream, she wouldn't be able to touch the wolf.

Sara moved closer to the wolf until her hand could easily reach the head of the animal. Taking a deep breath, she started stroking the fur on his head. The wolf responded by pushing its head in her hand. Sara marveled at the softness of the wolf's fur as she continued stroking the animal's head.

Suddenly, its head shot up and the wolf started trotting away, passing Sara. She turned around to look for what had caused the wolf to jog away. Sara was surprised when she found a young woman standing behind her, dressed in medieval armor.

The wolf stopped when he had reached her and sat down at her feet.

"Who are you?" Sara asked, reaching for her gun, but she wasn't carrying it anymore. Her clothes were replaced by the Witchblades armor. She was completely unarmed, except for the Witchblade. "Where am I?"

She looked at the figure in front of her, who hadn't moved since Sara had turned around.

For a moment, Sara thought she was talking to a statue, until the woman suddenly took a few steps forward. Sara's eyes were drawn to the armored arm when a sharp blade slid from the woman's hand. To her surprise, the Witchblade transformed as well, leaving her with her sword.

Still, the female warrior stepped forward, raising her sword. Sara took a few steps backwards, but when the Witchblade began to glow brightly, she felt her feet move forward, closer towards the young woman in front of her.

The wolf hadn't moved when its master had stepped forward and it was now watching the two women intently. 

"Who are you?" Sara repeated, raising the Witchblade in defense.

"I'm Light. I represent the good in people, the afterlife and rebirth." The woman responded.

'Good, we're getting somewhere.' Sara thought. "Where are we?"

"The Land before Time. Do you believe in magic?" She asked in return. "This is a place filled with magic, filled with good. Evil cannot touch us here."

"What am I doing here?" Sara looked around her. All around her there was life. The trees showed no signs of decay, their leaves green as in spring.

"It's is the time of the Eternal Battle, soon I will have to face my enemy in the final battle. By legend, the Wielder of the Witchblade must choose her ally."

Sara laughed. "This isn't my fight, really…"

"You must join in the fighting, as it is foretold." The woman spoke, taking a few steps closer.

"Listen, I'm a cop. I've got a very difficult case on my hands…"

The woman raised her hand. "I know. The other you saw in your vision was I. The meeting happened accidentally, it could not be helped. The murderer you seek is called Aenogh, the one representing pure Evil."

"You know the murderer?" Sara asked.

"Yes, but you cannot capture him in your reality. You must be careful, because Aenogh will soon appear before you to lure you onto his side. If you choose for him, the world will be lost." She lowered her arm holding the sword. "He will use anything or anyone to make you join his side."

"What do you mean?" Sara asked. "I don't understand what you're talking about."

"You will understand when the time is right. I'll send Feanor to guard over you." When he heard his name pronounced, the grey wolf stood up and trotted over to Sara's side. "He will know who is a follower of Aenogh and who has no evil in his heart. Trust only yourself Sara, for anyone could be one of Aenogh's followers."

Sara shielded her eyes against the bright light that seemed to consume the woman in front of her. When she was able to lower her arm again, she was back in her own apartment. Looking down, she noticed she wasn't alone. Feanor was looking at her with his bright blue eyes.

"So, you're stuck with my, huh?" She asked.

All she got in reply was a short howl from the wolf, as he stood up to lean against her legs.

Sighing, Sara moved to the kitchen counter to make coffee, when she suddenly remembered the paper Gabriel had handed her. Quickly, she skimmed the pages, looking for a familiar name. Having found what she'd been looking for, she tossed the paper on the counter and walked over to the wolf, who'd been staring at her, following her with his eyes.

"Feanor, isn't it?" Sara said, getting down on her knees. "The legend doesn't say much about your part in all this, but your master sends you with every Wielder, doesn't she?"

Feanor let out a short howl.

"Wolves eat people, don't they?" Sara continued, watching the grey wolf as he sat down, growling.

Sara reached out her hand to his snout. "Are you going to bite?"

She had to laugh when she got a lick over her hand in return.

Sara tossed and turned in her sleep, plagued by visions of the murder, plagued by the sound of battles fought long ago, voices screaming. Suddenly she was wide-awake, looking around her. Feanor had left her side during the night and was nowhere in sight. Looking down at the Witchblade, she saw it was glowing once more. Confused, she searched the room for Danny and even Ian, as she looked outside to check the fire escape. Finding no one, she turned around to get back to bed. Suddenly, she felt a rush of air passing through the room, raising the hairs on the back of her neck. Turning around once more, she saw Jake standing in the middle of her room.

"Jake?" She blinked, clearing her eyes. When she looked up once more, Jake was gone, replaced by Ian.

"Be careful who you trust, Lady Sara." He stepped forward and took her hand, placing a kiss upon it.

Sara sat upright in her bed again, the events still replaying in her mind. She looked down to her hand, the hand Ian had held moments before. Feanor had his head resting on her hand, looking at her with innocent eyes.

"A dream… it was all a dream?" Sara asked the empty room.

TBC

I know it was a bit on the short side, sorry about that. I hope you guys like where it is going, thanks for all the reviews. I swear, all your questions will be answered, and I guess this chapter raises a whole bunch of questions!