~*~
Irons sat in his chair in front of the fire contemplating over recent events. Almost immediately, after hanging up on Nottingham, another call had come through. The security guard had informed him that Dr. Immo could not be found. He was neither on the estate or at home. Calls were attempted but there were no answer to his office or from his cell. Irons considered the possibilities of Immo's involvement in Ian's escape.
It was no secret that Immo held s soft spot for the boy but would he go far enough to go against Irons? Would he have taken Ian out of the mansion and somewhere safe? 'No' Irons thought. Dr. Immo was not stupid enough to go against him. The doctor valued his life and would do anything to preserve it. No, someone else had helped Ian.
Unfortunately, until Immo was found Irons was stuck with questions and speculations. Besides himself, Immo, and Ian who else would know where to look? Who else would have the knowledge about what lay deep within the mansion? Suddenly a thought occurred to him. His eyes widen at the possible realization. Without waiting for Nottingham's return, Irons quickly got up from his seat and made his way down to the lab. There could have only been one person who would risk their life to save Ian. He had to find Immo; he was the only person who could verify Irons suspicions.
The tapings of the cane echoed loudly in the sterile hallway. Irons hasten his steps after passing Immo's empty lab. He started towards the torture room. Apprehension ran down his spine as he punched in the pass code. He stood back as the doors hissed and unlocked. Irons reached forward, grabbing the side of the door and pulling it back. His shock was evident as he gasped from what he found. Now, he knew the explanation why Immo could not be found. The man was chained up and unconscious.
Irons walked up to Immo's unconscious form. Using the handle of the cane, Irons began tapping against Immo's chest eager for the man to regain conscious. "Dr. Immo?" When he didn't respond Irons began slapping the side of Immo's face. Finally, after much coaxing Immo started to stir. "Immo!" Irons voice grew louder.
"Uh.." Immo groggily replied.
"Immo wake up! What happened?" Irons patience was waning.
"Ian.escaped" Immo groaned as he tried to move. His arms felt as if they were going to rip out of his body, his wrists felt like they were burning and that his head was about to explode.
"I can see that, Dr. Immo. What I don't understand is how Ian was able to escape?" Irons tucked the handle of the cane under Immo's chin and lifted his face, "Who took him?"
Immo stared back through half lidded eyes and blurted out the one word, "Faith."
So, his suspicions were correct. 'Faith,' a name he thought he'd never hear again. "After all these years she has risen from the dead and finally returned home." So many questions began running through his mind. What had she been doing all these years? Why she came back was easy enough to answer. She had returned for Ian but how did she know? It was obvious Ian had known about Faith. How long had Ian known about Faith? These were questions that he was determined to find out. Although one important question needed to be answered, "Where are they now?"
~*~
Faith had immediately spotted Ian's clone perched on Sara's fire escape when she had first arrived. Faith watched from the alley across the street from Sara's building. She stood in the shadows while waiting for the other to leave. This surprisingly did not take long. Not soon, after she had arrived the clone received a call and prepared to leave. 'Wonder if Irons had found Immo yet?' Faith thought.
Faith pressed closer to the wall as the clone unknowingly passed her. She watched him walk down the street to his car. She waited until the taillights of the car grow distant before stepping out of the shadows. By the time she had reached Sara's fire escape the car was gone, heading back to the mansion. It was strange seeing Ian's clone. Even without the beard, the resemblances were uncanny but that was as far as the likeness went.
Although Faith only watched from a distance, she now understood why Ian was so fearful of this one. The clone held a sort of feral aura. She could tell not only in the way that he looked but also in the way he held himself, walked, moved. Overly confidant, arrogant, and undisciplined. A predator without fear, without limits. A very dangerous combination. Everything that Immo had told her and if what he said was true this thing, this freak of scientific nature was going to snap. Perhaps not now but very soon. Moreover, the terrifying thought that kept popping up into her mind was that this thing was physically superior to Ian. That in itself was dangerous. Who could possible be able to stop him then?
Faith caught a red glint from the corner of her eye. She turned her head to look into the apartment. There on the bed was Sara; wielder of the Witchblade, and the continued way she thrashed about Faith knew that she was caught in some sort of dream or vision. The blade grew brighter on Sara's wrist, capturing Faith's attention. It has been years since she had seen the powerful weapon and from the looks of it, the blade hadn't forgotten her either.
Faith absently reached forward to place her palm against the glass, and unlike the red protective glow that lit up while Nottingham was around, it gave off a light pinkish hue. A soft click was heard and the window slightly opened. Faith cautiously pushed at the window, opening it wider, all the while keeping a watchful eye on the blade. The glow dimmed as if it was inviting her in. She knew never to question the blade's motives but instead act upon them. Before entering she looked around making sure no one was watching her. Her eyes stopped at the lone figure standing underneath the streetlamp. The figure nodded his head, without knowing why Faith nodded in response and immediately obeyed. All the while thinking, 'who the hell was that?'
Faith quietly crept in and closed the window behind her. She stood there for a moment, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness. Scanning the apartment, familiarizing herself with her surroundings. Silently she began to move around the apartment, aimlessly wandering from one end of the loft to the other. Cautiously touching, looking at all the things that adorn Sara's apartment. Occasionally Faith would stop to study the many photographs that were spread out across the loft. In the corner Faith had eyed a set of drums and a guitar lying against the near by wall.
She then moved over to the heavy bag that was set in another corner. Suppressing the urge to take her frustration out on the inanimate object, Faith instead gave it a playful jab. Faith spared a glance at Sara's prone form. From the looks of Sara's toned body and the obvious beaten look of the bag the woman must be in exceptional shape. Faith grinned at the thought of asking Ms. Pezzini for a sparring session. 'Now that would be fun. Wonder who Ian will bet on?' she amusingly wondered. She reached out to steady the swaying bag before moving over to the bed.
Faith stopped half way when noticed a silver ring on the nightstand. She picked it up, tilting her head as she studied the design. Immediately she knew it was Ian's ring. The same ring that he had since he was a child, the very one that he never took off. Nevertheless, why did Sara have it? Did Ian give it to her?
'No,' she thought. Though Ian had never delved any information of the type of relationship he had with the wielder, Faith knew that Ian had some deep feelings for the woman. She would not be surprised if Ian was actually in love with Sara Pezzini. It did not take a rocket scientist to figure that one. All anyone would have to do was look into his eyes. They are the doors to his soul. Nevertheless, from what she had learned so far, Sara did not think to highly of Ian. Plus, the added fact that he worked for Irons didn't help much with his image in Sara's eyes.
'Yet, it still does not explain about the ring. He would not have given up something this precious to anyone. Not even to Sara, unless,' her thoughts wondered to the call she received from Ian. She had now way of knowing what had happened to him before the call. However, she was able to detect that something wasn't right. Ian had sounded so distant and hurt. In addition, she had a feeling that Sara might have been the cause of it.
Faith placed the ring back on the nightstand and moved over to the wall near the fire escape window. She leaned back with her arms crossed against her chest. Faith stared at Sara and said aloud, "Wielder, looks like you and I are going to have a heart to heart later."
~*~
Irons sat in his chair in front of the fire contemplating over recent events. Almost immediately, after hanging up on Nottingham, another call had come through. The security guard had informed him that Dr. Immo could not be found. He was neither on the estate or at home. Calls were attempted but there were no answer to his office or from his cell. Irons considered the possibilities of Immo's involvement in Ian's escape.
It was no secret that Immo held s soft spot for the boy but would he go far enough to go against Irons? Would he have taken Ian out of the mansion and somewhere safe? 'No' Irons thought. Dr. Immo was not stupid enough to go against him. The doctor valued his life and would do anything to preserve it. No, someone else had helped Ian.
Unfortunately, until Immo was found Irons was stuck with questions and speculations. Besides himself, Immo, and Ian who else would know where to look? Who else would have the knowledge about what lay deep within the mansion? Suddenly a thought occurred to him. His eyes widen at the possible realization. Without waiting for Nottingham's return, Irons quickly got up from his seat and made his way down to the lab. There could have only been one person who would risk their life to save Ian. He had to find Immo; he was the only person who could verify Irons suspicions.
The tapings of the cane echoed loudly in the sterile hallway. Irons hasten his steps after passing Immo's empty lab. He started towards the torture room. Apprehension ran down his spine as he punched in the pass code. He stood back as the doors hissed and unlocked. Irons reached forward, grabbing the side of the door and pulling it back. His shock was evident as he gasped from what he found. Now, he knew the explanation why Immo could not be found. The man was chained up and unconscious.
Irons walked up to Immo's unconscious form. Using the handle of the cane, Irons began tapping against Immo's chest eager for the man to regain conscious. "Dr. Immo?" When he didn't respond Irons began slapping the side of Immo's face. Finally, after much coaxing Immo started to stir. "Immo!" Irons voice grew louder.
"Uh.." Immo groggily replied.
"Immo wake up! What happened?" Irons patience was waning.
"Ian.escaped" Immo groaned as he tried to move. His arms felt as if they were going to rip out of his body, his wrists felt like they were burning and that his head was about to explode.
"I can see that, Dr. Immo. What I don't understand is how Ian was able to escape?" Irons tucked the handle of the cane under Immo's chin and lifted his face, "Who took him?"
Immo stared back through half lidded eyes and blurted out the one word, "Faith."
So, his suspicions were correct. 'Faith,' a name he thought he'd never hear again. "After all these years she has risen from the dead and finally returned home." So many questions began running through his mind. What had she been doing all these years? Why she came back was easy enough to answer. She had returned for Ian but how did she know? It was obvious Ian had known about Faith. How long had Ian known about Faith? These were questions that he was determined to find out. Although one important question needed to be answered, "Where are they now?"
~*~
Faith had immediately spotted Ian's clone perched on Sara's fire escape when she had first arrived. Faith watched from the alley across the street from Sara's building. She stood in the shadows while waiting for the other to leave. This surprisingly did not take long. Not soon, after she had arrived the clone received a call and prepared to leave. 'Wonder if Irons had found Immo yet?' Faith thought.
Faith pressed closer to the wall as the clone unknowingly passed her. She watched him walk down the street to his car. She waited until the taillights of the car grow distant before stepping out of the shadows. By the time she had reached Sara's fire escape the car was gone, heading back to the mansion. It was strange seeing Ian's clone. Even without the beard, the resemblances were uncanny but that was as far as the likeness went.
Although Faith only watched from a distance, she now understood why Ian was so fearful of this one. The clone held a sort of feral aura. She could tell not only in the way that he looked but also in the way he held himself, walked, moved. Overly confidant, arrogant, and undisciplined. A predator without fear, without limits. A very dangerous combination. Everything that Immo had told her and if what he said was true this thing, this freak of scientific nature was going to snap. Perhaps not now but very soon. Moreover, the terrifying thought that kept popping up into her mind was that this thing was physically superior to Ian. That in itself was dangerous. Who could possible be able to stop him then?
Faith caught a red glint from the corner of her eye. She turned her head to look into the apartment. There on the bed was Sara; wielder of the Witchblade, and the continued way she thrashed about Faith knew that she was caught in some sort of dream or vision. The blade grew brighter on Sara's wrist, capturing Faith's attention. It has been years since she had seen the powerful weapon and from the looks of it, the blade hadn't forgotten her either.
Faith absently reached forward to place her palm against the glass, and unlike the red protective glow that lit up while Nottingham was around, it gave off a light pinkish hue. A soft click was heard and the window slightly opened. Faith cautiously pushed at the window, opening it wider, all the while keeping a watchful eye on the blade. The glow dimmed as if it was inviting her in. She knew never to question the blade's motives but instead act upon them. Before entering she looked around making sure no one was watching her. Her eyes stopped at the lone figure standing underneath the streetlamp. The figure nodded his head, without knowing why Faith nodded in response and immediately obeyed. All the while thinking, 'who the hell was that?'
Faith quietly crept in and closed the window behind her. She stood there for a moment, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness. Scanning the apartment, familiarizing herself with her surroundings. Silently she began to move around the apartment, aimlessly wandering from one end of the loft to the other. Cautiously touching, looking at all the things that adorn Sara's apartment. Occasionally Faith would stop to study the many photographs that were spread out across the loft. In the corner Faith had eyed a set of drums and a guitar lying against the near by wall.
She then moved over to the heavy bag that was set in another corner. Suppressing the urge to take her frustration out on the inanimate object, Faith instead gave it a playful jab. Faith spared a glance at Sara's prone form. From the looks of Sara's toned body and the obvious beaten look of the bag the woman must be in exceptional shape. Faith grinned at the thought of asking Ms. Pezzini for a sparring session. 'Now that would be fun. Wonder who Ian will bet on?' she amusingly wondered. She reached out to steady the swaying bag before moving over to the bed.
Faith stopped half way when noticed a silver ring on the nightstand. She picked it up, tilting her head as she studied the design. Immediately she knew it was Ian's ring. The same ring that he had since he was a child, the very one that he never took off. Nevertheless, why did Sara have it? Did Ian give it to her?
'No,' she thought. Though Ian had never delved any information of the type of relationship he had with the wielder, Faith knew that Ian had some deep feelings for the woman. She would not be surprised if Ian was actually in love with Sara Pezzini. It did not take a rocket scientist to figure that one. All anyone would have to do was look into his eyes. They are the doors to his soul. Nevertheless, from what she had learned so far, Sara did not think to highly of Ian. Plus, the added fact that he worked for Irons didn't help much with his image in Sara's eyes.
'Yet, it still does not explain about the ring. He would not have given up something this precious to anyone. Not even to Sara, unless,' her thoughts wondered to the call she received from Ian. She had now way of knowing what had happened to him before the call. However, she was able to detect that something wasn't right. Ian had sounded so distant and hurt. In addition, she had a feeling that Sara might have been the cause of it.
Faith placed the ring back on the nightstand and moved over to the wall near the fire escape window. She leaned back with her arms crossed against her chest. Faith stared at Sara and said aloud, "Wielder, looks like you and I are going to have a heart to heart later."
~*~