~*~
After sometime Nottingham reluctantly made his way back to Sara's apartment, quickly settling back into the vigilant spot on her fire escape. Vainly attempting to get comfortable but unfortunately after his rather uncontrollable incident earlier, he was finding it quite difficult. Earlier he had contemplated on going back to change but warded off the idea. He did not want to risk Irons knowing what happened and causing his master's ire. Therefore, he settled to stay there sitting uncomfortably in the cold night air and in his soiled pants. He turned his attention back to Sara, peering through the window and seeing the stone of the blade glow on her wrist.
Nottingham shifted to his feet and knelt in front of the window wanting to get a better look inside. He leaned forward until his leather-clad hands were pressed against the glass. He narrowed his eyes as he looked inside. It was obvious that the blade was active on Sara's wrist. The fiery stone lit up surrounding the darkened apartment in its afterglow. Sara was becoming restless. Tossing and turning on her bed but surprisingly did not stir awake.
Curiosity taking over his senses Nottingham began to pick the lock on Sara's window until the distinctive sound of the lock clicked. He moved his hands to push at the window but was surprised when it did not open. He rechecked to make sure that it was indeed unlocked. He pushed again but still the window refused to open. The situation was leaving a very frustrated and highly agitated Nottingham out in the cold. Without thinking, he pulled back his arm and punched the window.
Instead of the sounds of breaking glass, a reverberating thud echoed into the silent night. Confused, Nottingham tried again and sure enough, the window remained in tact. He turned his attention to another window and like before he was unable to break into the apartment. The Witchblade blazed violently on Sara's wrist. Nottingham brought his hand up to shield against the light of the stone. The brilliance was so great that he had to turn his head away, shutting his eyes. The front his body that was exposed to the light was quickly heating up to a point where he felt as if he was on fire.
Gradually the burning sensation abated and he was left gasping for breath, sweat pouring down from his face. Nottingham turned back to eye the bracelet on Sara's wrist. He reached for the window and again the blade grew brighter. Reluctantly he drew back, a bit perplexed. He made another attempt and the blade countered once again. It was an absurd thought but could the blade be protecting Sara? By preventing and keeping this particular Ian Nottingham from coming near it's wielder.
Nottingham never paid much regard to the Witchblade and the powers it supposedly possessed. Neither had he understood his master's obsession to control it. Fortunately after being revived from his slumber, he was spared the details of the Witchblade. Nevertheless, as he looked through the window and after experiencing what had just happened, he had to rethink on the powers that little trinket could do. 'Just how powerful was the Witchblade?' He thought but with what little knowledge he had on it there was now way he could comprehend just how much.
Perhaps he should contact the one person he knew that had all the answers. While reaching into his pocket for his cell phone Nottingham had to wonder why his master had not contacted him when the blade activated. He was well aware that Irons had a connection with the Witchblade, the man had informed him about it. However, he heard nothing from his master. His thoughts were quickly push aside when he heard his master's voice on the other end of the line.
Nottingham reported the accounts of the night to Irons purposely leaving out his own little episode earlier. Then he began to divulge that the blade was active on her wrist. When asked to explain Nottingham realized that if he told his master of his failed attempt to break into Sara's apartment he would be punished. His orders were only to watch never to make contact with the wielder.
Nottingham had to be careful how he chose his words. "I had positioned myself on the wielder's fire escape. I peered through the window when I noticed that the stone of the bracelet began to glow. I placed my palms on the window and immediately the room was engulfed in a red light. When I removed my hands the glow seemed to abate but it remained active. I tried to reach out again and the blade grew brighter."
Irons remained silent on the line. His thoughts were too occupied with the fact that the blade was active yet he felt nothing except for a small distinctive sensation coming from the brand on his right hand. Irons sat in his chair near the fire, lifting his hand to inspect the two interlocking circles, the brand of the Witchblade.
He wore it once but it rejected him and since that painful day he tore the Witchblade from his wrist he had always felt, knew when it was being used. However, since his episode in the elevator earlier that afternoon he felt nothing. Why? Was his connection to the blade broken? In addition, why was the blade being so active? Could it be another test, another Periculum?
"What shall I do master?" Nottingham broke through the silence. Irons forgetting that he still cradled the phone in his hand.
"Stay there and continue to watch over her. I will contact you when needed." Irons hung up before Nottingham could respond.
Irons leaned back into his chair, rubbing his fingers against the scar on his hand. 'What was the Witchblade up to?' he wondered. His thoughts quickly interrupted when the phone began to ring. Believing that the caller was Nottingham he picked up without answering.
"Mr. Irons?" To his surprise, it was one of the security guards.
"What is it?" He shot out shortly.
"Sir we have a problem." The guard paused letting his words sink in.
"And?" Irons growing impatience was evident in his voice.
"We believe there might have been a possible break in, Sir."
"What evidence brought you to this conclusion?" Irons sat up in his chair as apprehension ran down his spine.
"We found the two gate guards unconscious, both front cameras were destroyed, and we found a wheelchair hidden in the bushes a few feet away from the entrance." The guard informed. Irons' mind quickly began to piece things together. His eyes widen when he finally realized. He yelled back into the phone, "Find Dr. Immo, now!" Irons barked into the phone before slamming the receiver down. 'This was no break in it was a break out, an escape.' Irons thought as he ran a shaky hand through his hair. He picked up the phone again and dialed the familiar number.
Nottingham's cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He reached into his coat and answered, "Yes master?"
"A problem has arisen. Return to the mansion immediately." Irons ordered then hung up.
Nottingham grinned grateful to be relieved from his vigilant duties. 'Finally,' he thought. He was going to be able to be doing something rather than sitting and watching. Though stealing one last glance at Sara's prone body, watching Sara was rather enjoyable. However, he preferred a more hands on approach. A wicked grin crossed his lips, maybe soon he thought as he tore his eyes away from Sara. He got up to leave Sara's fire escape and off to the mansion.
After sometime Nottingham reluctantly made his way back to Sara's apartment, quickly settling back into the vigilant spot on her fire escape. Vainly attempting to get comfortable but unfortunately after his rather uncontrollable incident earlier, he was finding it quite difficult. Earlier he had contemplated on going back to change but warded off the idea. He did not want to risk Irons knowing what happened and causing his master's ire. Therefore, he settled to stay there sitting uncomfortably in the cold night air and in his soiled pants. He turned his attention back to Sara, peering through the window and seeing the stone of the blade glow on her wrist.
Nottingham shifted to his feet and knelt in front of the window wanting to get a better look inside. He leaned forward until his leather-clad hands were pressed against the glass. He narrowed his eyes as he looked inside. It was obvious that the blade was active on Sara's wrist. The fiery stone lit up surrounding the darkened apartment in its afterglow. Sara was becoming restless. Tossing and turning on her bed but surprisingly did not stir awake.
Curiosity taking over his senses Nottingham began to pick the lock on Sara's window until the distinctive sound of the lock clicked. He moved his hands to push at the window but was surprised when it did not open. He rechecked to make sure that it was indeed unlocked. He pushed again but still the window refused to open. The situation was leaving a very frustrated and highly agitated Nottingham out in the cold. Without thinking, he pulled back his arm and punched the window.
Instead of the sounds of breaking glass, a reverberating thud echoed into the silent night. Confused, Nottingham tried again and sure enough, the window remained in tact. He turned his attention to another window and like before he was unable to break into the apartment. The Witchblade blazed violently on Sara's wrist. Nottingham brought his hand up to shield against the light of the stone. The brilliance was so great that he had to turn his head away, shutting his eyes. The front his body that was exposed to the light was quickly heating up to a point where he felt as if he was on fire.
Gradually the burning sensation abated and he was left gasping for breath, sweat pouring down from his face. Nottingham turned back to eye the bracelet on Sara's wrist. He reached for the window and again the blade grew brighter. Reluctantly he drew back, a bit perplexed. He made another attempt and the blade countered once again. It was an absurd thought but could the blade be protecting Sara? By preventing and keeping this particular Ian Nottingham from coming near it's wielder.
Nottingham never paid much regard to the Witchblade and the powers it supposedly possessed. Neither had he understood his master's obsession to control it. Fortunately after being revived from his slumber, he was spared the details of the Witchblade. Nevertheless, as he looked through the window and after experiencing what had just happened, he had to rethink on the powers that little trinket could do. 'Just how powerful was the Witchblade?' He thought but with what little knowledge he had on it there was now way he could comprehend just how much.
Perhaps he should contact the one person he knew that had all the answers. While reaching into his pocket for his cell phone Nottingham had to wonder why his master had not contacted him when the blade activated. He was well aware that Irons had a connection with the Witchblade, the man had informed him about it. However, he heard nothing from his master. His thoughts were quickly push aside when he heard his master's voice on the other end of the line.
Nottingham reported the accounts of the night to Irons purposely leaving out his own little episode earlier. Then he began to divulge that the blade was active on her wrist. When asked to explain Nottingham realized that if he told his master of his failed attempt to break into Sara's apartment he would be punished. His orders were only to watch never to make contact with the wielder.
Nottingham had to be careful how he chose his words. "I had positioned myself on the wielder's fire escape. I peered through the window when I noticed that the stone of the bracelet began to glow. I placed my palms on the window and immediately the room was engulfed in a red light. When I removed my hands the glow seemed to abate but it remained active. I tried to reach out again and the blade grew brighter."
Irons remained silent on the line. His thoughts were too occupied with the fact that the blade was active yet he felt nothing except for a small distinctive sensation coming from the brand on his right hand. Irons sat in his chair near the fire, lifting his hand to inspect the two interlocking circles, the brand of the Witchblade.
He wore it once but it rejected him and since that painful day he tore the Witchblade from his wrist he had always felt, knew when it was being used. However, since his episode in the elevator earlier that afternoon he felt nothing. Why? Was his connection to the blade broken? In addition, why was the blade being so active? Could it be another test, another Periculum?
"What shall I do master?" Nottingham broke through the silence. Irons forgetting that he still cradled the phone in his hand.
"Stay there and continue to watch over her. I will contact you when needed." Irons hung up before Nottingham could respond.
Irons leaned back into his chair, rubbing his fingers against the scar on his hand. 'What was the Witchblade up to?' he wondered. His thoughts quickly interrupted when the phone began to ring. Believing that the caller was Nottingham he picked up without answering.
"Mr. Irons?" To his surprise, it was one of the security guards.
"What is it?" He shot out shortly.
"Sir we have a problem." The guard paused letting his words sink in.
"And?" Irons growing impatience was evident in his voice.
"We believe there might have been a possible break in, Sir."
"What evidence brought you to this conclusion?" Irons sat up in his chair as apprehension ran down his spine.
"We found the two gate guards unconscious, both front cameras were destroyed, and we found a wheelchair hidden in the bushes a few feet away from the entrance." The guard informed. Irons' mind quickly began to piece things together. His eyes widen when he finally realized. He yelled back into the phone, "Find Dr. Immo, now!" Irons barked into the phone before slamming the receiver down. 'This was no break in it was a break out, an escape.' Irons thought as he ran a shaky hand through his hair. He picked up the phone again and dialed the familiar number.
Nottingham's cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He reached into his coat and answered, "Yes master?"
"A problem has arisen. Return to the mansion immediately." Irons ordered then hung up.
Nottingham grinned grateful to be relieved from his vigilant duties. 'Finally,' he thought. He was going to be able to be doing something rather than sitting and watching. Though stealing one last glance at Sara's prone body, watching Sara was rather enjoyable. However, he preferred a more hands on approach. A wicked grin crossed his lips, maybe soon he thought as he tore his eyes away from Sara. He got up to leave Sara's fire escape and off to the mansion.