Chapter 16

'Promises In The Dark'

Black eyelashes covering emerald eyes slowly fluttered open as Jazlyn stirred on the bed she shared with V Her eyes drifted to the foot where Cassandra, still in human form sat quietly.

" Shadow?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

" I am here, mistress." she answered softly.

" Where is V?"

" I believe he is in the kitchen preparing something to eat and drink."

Jazlyn looked at her companion. " Do you know where this Laslo is?"

" Yes."

" Can you take me to him?"

" Whenever you wish, mistress."

Jazlyn rose from the bed, heading into the kitchen, where she found V.

He turned at her approach. " Are you feeling better?"

" Yeah." She smiled, sitting at the table.

" What do you know of this Laslo?" V asked quietly, hanging the dish towel up.

Jazlyn took a deep breath. " Only what I've heard my mother and grandmother say about him." She looked up as V sat a cup of tea before her. " He was a powerful warlock, feared by all covens. It was said that he practiced the black arts."

" If he is from your time, what is he doing in mine?" V questioned, sitting opposite her.

Jazlyn shook her head, sipping her tea slowly. " Honestly, I haven't clue, other than escape. He disappeared from Salem right after my mother died----everyone suspected he had been murdered by the Red Guardians."

V tilted his head toward her. " The Red Guardians?"

" Yes. They were an elite anti-terrorist group created by the government to eradicate us." Jazlyn

laughed softly, " Even now, nineteen years later. We're still running."

V reached over, taking her hand. " You do not have to run any more, nor do you have to hide."

Jazlyn squeezed his hand and smiled. " Laslo must have used the transportation spell to flee the time line----but why come here?"

" Mistress!" Cassandra's voice echoed through the hallway as she ran toward them, the ancient spell book locked within her arms. " You must leave with the book, now! He is here!" The words had barely left her mouth before she collapsed on the floor.

" Now, that wasn't very polite....." The young man looked up from the archway, toward Jazlyn and V, a smug grin spreading across thin lips. " You need to train your servants better, Jazlyn."

Two knives appeared in V's gloved hands, as if by magic and flew just as quickly toward their target.

Andrik thrust his hand up before him, the spinning of the knives slowed and he merely side-stepped them as they clattered against the stone wall. " Tsk, tsk..." Laslo's hands moved in a small circle, and V found himself pinned against one of the kitchen's stone walls, unable to move--------one of his own knives hovering, just mere inches from his chest. Laslo laughed, moving toward him, the ancient spell book tucked protectively under one arm." You poor, pitiful creature-----do you really think you can harm me?" His hand moved the knife closer, its tip penetrating the jacket's fabric.

" Let him go, Laslo!" Jazlyn cried as she ran toward V, but found herself suddenly stopped, as if an invisible wall had formed around her. " Release him." Power showed in her voice, small sparks flashing within emerald green.

Laslo laughed, moving toward her. " Not so fast, my dear...." his hand touched her face gently, then moved to her hair. " I have been looking for you for some time-------and, " he paused, " I am not willing to surrender you yet...." He could smell the jasmine on her as he closed his eyes and breathed deeply of the scent.

" Release her, or I...."

" Or you will what!?" Andrik snarled, turning to face V. " You are in no position to make threats my friend. " The knife dug deeper.

" If you harm her, I will hunt you down and kill you---no matter how long it takes. " V breathed through clinched teeth, trying to break the invisible bonds that held him, his voice as evil as the man who stood before him.

" Alright!" Jazlyn cried, " Please stop----just stop---don't hurt him." She looked over at V. " I'm sorry. I can't let him hurt you----I couldn't bear it." Tears streaked down her cheeks as her bonds were loosened and she touched the mask. " Don't come for me, I no longer matter----only you matter now, my heart." She smiled as her hand fell away. " Remember that I will always love you---no other."

V watched as Laslo grabbed Jazlyn by the arm, pulling her to him roughly. " You will find that

I am a very impatient man."

V's pain was no match for the anger running through his veins as he watched them disappear into thin air as his body was released from the spell that held him. V pulled the knife from his chest in one swift movement and hurried over to where Cassandra lay . " Cassandra, can you hear me?" He cradled her head gently.

" Yes, Master V." she answered slowly.

" Do you know where he has taken Jazlyn?" He asked.

" To the Bloody Tower." She replied, her eyes closing once again. " I fear I will not be able to accompany you. I must rest."

Nodding his head, V gathered her in his arms and carried her to the media room sofa, lying her gently down. " Rest dear Shadow. I will return soon----with your mistress, this I promise you."

Cassandra looked up at him, smiling, then closed her eyes.

Standing up, V clenched his fists tightly to his sides as he retrieved the mask, tying it back in place. Black leather gloves slid smoothly over scarred hands and he took a deep breath. ' Revenge is not hard to fathom, Mr. Laslo, " he paused fastening the knife belt around his waist, ' for a man who believes in nothing' (1) V sheathed the last two knives, swiftly tied the cloak around his shoulders and dawned his hat, disappearing through the gallery doorway.

Andrik Laslo looked at Jazlyn, an evil grin on his face. " You are truly a most magnificent creature." His hands ran over silky-white skin as she pulled and strained against the chains that bound her at the wrists. She had no idea where she was-----all she knew was it was some type of cell, and she was chained to a wall. Outside the bars, chains of various size criss-crossed the ceiling and walls. Jazlyn recognized from pictures she had seen, several pieces of armament that stood in various locations throughout the room-----an Iron Maiden, a Rack, a Stretching Wheel-------her eyes widen in shock-----she was in a dungeon somewhere!

" Let me go Laslo, before V finds you." she said pulling away from his touch.

" Or what Jazlyn?" Laslo laughed sarcastically, moving around her. " That monster you stay with will kill me?" He grabbed her chin roughly with his gloved hand.

" He's more of a man than you will ever be." Jazlyn smiled at him, her voice a whisper.

Laslo rocked on his heels as he looked at her face. He had only seen that same look only one other time before----right before his mother let go with her mind, shattering a wall made of steel like it was wooden toothpicks. She had the power---with her at his side, they would rule indefinitely!

" Why are you doing this?" Jazlyn asked looking into his eyes, the fury she had felt, dissipating

into the air.

Andrik broke the contact. " That does not concern you, my darling."

" It concerns me if it concerns V." Jazlyn's voice was harsh, her eyes burning into his back.

Laslo turned around. " You are mine Jazlyn." His arms encircled her, his lips bruising hers, groping hands grasped her breasts roughly. " no one will take you from me---not even your precious V!"

The sound of loud clapping startled Laslo and he jerked away.

" Nice, very nice, Mr. Laslo." Peter Creedy grinned, " You almost had me believing that bullocks!"

" What are you doing here, Creedy?" Andrik growled, " You have your treasure-----now, leave me so I may enjoy mine."

" There has been a change of plans, Laslo." Creedy grinned, self-assured. " You see, I want the girl too."

" No, you said I could have her......" Laslo's voice became frantic. " She was payment for my services!" He snarled at him, " She is mine!"

Creedy looked around the room, spotting the two fingermen hidden in the shadows. Looking back at Laslo, he nodded his head and shots rang out------the warlock's body fell onto the floor----still.

" I have no further use of your services, Mr. Laslo. Consider yourself paid in full." He looked to where Jazlyn was chained. " Bring her."

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V watched silently from a adjacent corridor as Jazlyn was led from the room in shackles by Creedy's men. ' Just an inch, Mr. Creedy, and you would be dead." V mused as his fingers curled around the silver pommel of the knife, watching as he closed the door, and walked to catch up with the others. Emerging from the darkness, V moved quickly to the rooftop so he could see Jazlyn placed into a dark van and driven away, Creedy's private car following.

V moved in the shadows of the buildings, swiftly following the van through New London until it stopped by the side of a red-brick building----New London Detention Center----- was emblazoned in brick across the facade of the building. V's breath caught in his chest.

The van was waved through a set of manned gates, continuing another two hundred feet before coming to a stop at another checkpoint, pausing momentarily to be cleared before continuing on its way, finally stopping in front of a doorway marked 'Emergency'. Jazlyn stepped from the van accompanied by several fingermen, and Creedy bringing up the rear barking orders as he walked her to the doorway, then inside.

V stepped from the shadows, knives in both hands. ' And thus I cloth my naked villainy with odd ends, and seem a saint when most I play the devil.' (2) In a handful of seconds, six men lay dead on the ground. Sliding the blooded knives back into their sheaths, V disappeared silently into the building.

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Cassandra awoke abruptly, sitting up on the couch. She remembered Laslo materializing in the room where she had been----having only enough time to grab the ancient spell book and flee the room before an energy force threw her to the stone floor of the hallway, and V laying her on the couch-----V-----he was on his way to the tower to rescue Jazlyn! Cassandra became frantic---how long had he been gone? Closing her eyes, she searched for her mistress. Because of the mental bonding between her and Jazlyn, it was only a matter of seconds before she made contact and found out where Jazlyn had been taken. She was being held in one of the holding cells at the New London Detention Center by Creedy. Cassandra had also sensed that V was in the building too---Jazlyn had confirmed it, and had also told her that Creedy had set a trap for V, and she was being used as bait. Her body began to shudder as she morphed once again into the great black cat known as Shadow. With tail twitching, she teleported from the gallery to inside the detention center and began immediately to search for V. After a moment, she sensed his heartbeat and began tracking him----she had to get to him before Creedy's plan went into action.

" You'll never catch him----" Jazlyn spoke to her captor, a smirk on her face. " But, you already know that."

Creedy looked up at her , a smirk on his lips. " Even someone as smart as V will eventually make a mistake." He paused, " Especially when the woman he cares for is involved."

" You think he has feelings for me?" She asked.

Creedy checked the last of the equipment he had had brought to the room. " Yes, Miss Sommers-----or should I say Raven?" He walked to her. I have hundreds of surveillance tapes on you and that black cat of yours." He paused, " You will be charged with one count of murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism. The penalty for such offensives is death. I will drop all charges against you, if, " he stopped, grinning at her, " you tell us the identity of codename V."

Jazlyn stared at Creedy as a smirk formed on her lips. " Go to hell, Mr. Creedy----and give Lucifer my regards."

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V was only a few doors away from where Jazlyn was being held. He moved cautiously down the hallway, disappearing into a small corridor close enough so he could watch the doorway. From what he had seen, this facility had just recently been finished. Flashbacks of Larkhill suddenly filled every inch of V's mind, driving him to his knees, his head in his hands as horrendous scenes were relived-----then, just as suddenly, the pain began slipping away and he struggled back to his feet. It was the sound of an opening door that pulled his attention back to the present.

" Process her." Creedy ordered as Jazlyn was dragged from the room and led down the hallway toward a darken corridor. Reaching into his overcoat pocket, Creedy pulled a two-way radio out. " Q7, this is Creedy. Do you copy?"

" We copy, sir."

" I have the girl in custody. Stay sharp. It shouldn't be too long now. Do not engage the terrorist----report to me only." Creedy ordered.

" Acknowledged. There have been no sightings as of yet, sir."

" Contact me immediately if your status changes. Out." Creedy slip the two-way back into his jacket pocket, and looked down the corridor. " Where are you, you bloody bastard-------I know you won't let her stay here. You see, V, I know all about you and her." Creedy spat onto the floor. " Disgusting------but that won't stop you will it, chummy?" He grinned. " We're too much alike----you and I. You want a new world, and I want a new world to rule over." Taking one last quick glance up and down the hallway, Creedy turned and walked away.

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Shadow watched as her mistress was led away, her hands secured behind her, a black bag, pulled down to her shoulders. Shadow sensed V's presence close by and moved from the spot she had concealed herself in. Slowly, her mind touched his....." Master V....." Shadow began as she approached the area where he was, " you must leave. There has been a trap set for your capture."

V stepped from the shadows. " Yes, I know." he answered approaching where Shadow stood.

" I have a request of you...."

Shadow looked up. " How may I help?" Her purr-like voice asked.

" I need you to keep watch while I free Jazlyn."

" As you wish." she purred.

V tilted his head in a slight bow, slipping knives into his hands, and left Shadow in the dull light of the hallway.

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Creedy's plan was simple. Lead V to Jazlyn, then kill him. The terrorist had been a bloody thorn in Norsefire's side for the last twenty years, and now, he was interfering with his future plans--------as the new High Chancellor. He had over fifty men strategically placed throughout the building, but the room where Jazlyn was now, was also laced with one hundred pounds of explosive gelignite----to be exact----enough to destroy the whole wing, and V with it. It was a shame the girl was going to die----he probably could have found a place for her in his private life, but sometimes, sacrifices had to be made in order to progress to the next level of any goal.

Jazlyn strained against the plastic that held her hands bound at the wrists. The black bag had been jerked from her head as she was pushed into a hard chair. Blinking against the bright lights as her eyes adjusted, she focused on the man sitting across the table from her.

" Are you comfortable?" he asked. Jazlyn stared angrily. " Very well......" Taking a deep breath, he began. " You have one chance and only one chance to save your miserable, pathetic life." There was a moment of silence. " Give us the identity of codename V."

" Go to hell." Jazlyn answered defiantly.

" If you do not corporate, you will be put to death by firing squad."

Jazlyn looked into the man's eyes. " I'd rather die than tell you anything."

" Very well." The man pushed the chair away from the table, its legs scraping across the floor.

" Very well. Secure her to the table in the lab. Creedy will be in shortly." He turned back to Jazlyn as she was pulled roughly from the chair. " Last chance."

" I will never give up V to you or Creedy." She spat at him.

" Take her." He watched in silence as the young woman was taken into the adjacent room. ' What a waste.' he thought to himself, then left the room.

" I think Creedy has lost a few cards from his deck." Dascombe spoke softly to himself as he sat in the radio broadcast booth at BNN's Jordan Tower. Reaching over, he picked up the phone and dialed Prothero's number. After letting it ring for several minutes, he lowered the receiver. It was unusual for Lewis not to answer his private line-------especially if the call was ringing in from the broadcast booth. Dascombe decided to run past Prothero's private apartment later, just to make sure he was alright. His friend had been scared to death to stay at his home since the night the terrorist had paid him a visit. Glancing at his watch, he realized that it was past the end of his shift, rising from his chair, jacket in hand-------but never made it to the door before the monitoring screen in the booth went black.

" What the bloody hell....." He flipped the switch to the newsroom on." Keller, what's happening? What's going on in there?"

" I don't know Roger. Screen just went black, and there is no answer in the control room."

" Good afternoon, New London. I do apologize for interrupting your tea time, but I think it is time for us to have a little chat." V's face filled the monitor.

" Fucking hell......." Dascomb mumbled, as he bolted for the newsroom door.

" He's on the emergency channel, Mr. Dascomb!"

" Shut the system down! I don't care how you do it, just do it!" Dascombe half choked the words out.

" Several years ago, a terrible plague attacked our country-----St. Mary's, by name. Most of you lost loved ones, or friends. In the end, it was blamed on the terrorist organization know as ' V '.

V paused as the camera zoomed in on the Fawkesian mask. " I assure you, I do not need an organization to help me with my plans-------Big Ben was my, and only my, doing----no one else's."

" Sir, the recording is being broadcast over the emergency channel from an unknown location----I can't trace it....." The operator looked up at Dascomb. " I can't shut it down."

" Fuck!" Dascomb exclaimed under his breath. " Get me Finch! Now!" He mopped his forehead with a handkerchief.

" Mr. Dascomb!" His assistant ran up to him, a cell phone in her hand. " It's Chancellor Sutler!"

" Hell!" Dascomb took the phone from her. Clearing his throat, he took a deep breath. " Chancellor Sutler...."

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V pulled the watch from his pocket----four o'clock. The broadcast had started from the Shadow Gallery's communication room-----the little diversion he had planned was underway. All hell was about to break loose at BNN.

" I have a little recording to share with all of you. Mr. Prothero has agreed to speak in my stead today." V paused briefly, then continued. " Mr. Prothero, you may begin."

Lewis Prothero's face twitched as he looked into the camera. " Several years ago, The St. Mary's Virus was created at Larkhill Detention Center. It was released at Three Waters, St. Mary's School and one of the Underground tube lines." Prothero looked like he was going to be ill. " The virus was created by Norsefire scientists. Over 100,000 lives were lost. Several months later, a vaccine was developed by using the blood of human subjects that had undergone various experiments at Larkhill. The vaccine was released by Viodoxic Pharmaceuticals, just in time for the election of Norsefire to power. We created this virus and also the vaccine, no one else."

" Thank you, Commander ." V turned the camera from him. " Something has gone terribly wrong with this country, hasn't it? Cruelty, injustice, intolerance and oppression----once, where you had the freedom of speech, the ability to think and the god given right to live your life the way you saw fit, you now have censors and surveillance systems coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? If the truth be told, just look in a nearby mirror. I know why you did it------it was out of fear. War, poverty and terror----these were just

some of the myriad of problems that corrupted your reason and common sense. Fear got the best of you, and in that fear, you turned to the now High Chancellor, Adam Sutler. I destroyed Big Ben to remind this country of what it has forgotten. More than 400 years ago, a great citizen tried to embed the fifth of November forever in our minds. He wanted to remind us that fairness, justice, and most of all, freedom, are not merely words, they are perspectives. If you have seen what I have, have felt what I have felt, and seek as I seek, then I ask you to stand side by side with me outside the gates of Parliament, three months from now, and we shall give Norsefire a fifth of November that Chancellor Sutler shall never, ever be forgot!"

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Jazlyn sensed Shadow nearby, and turned her head toward the door. Slowly, it opened, revealing V, a gloved finger to the mask's lips, Shadow at his side.

" V! No! It's a trap------get out of here!" Jazlyn cried as he walked to where she lay.

" Not without you." He answered taking the sharp point of the knife and slitting the leather wrist restraints that held her to the table.

" V, Creedy is going to kill you!" Jazlyn sobbed as she sat up.

" He may try." He answered, the knife cutting through the leg restraints.

Jazlyn reached for him as the room exploded in her mind.

" V, you have to leave, now!" She stopped. Sensing the growing danger, she grabbed him by the arms. " I don't know how long I can hold it...."

V tilted his head inquiring what she meant as a rumble erupted close by.

" That, my love." Jazlyn reached out with the power of her mind and stilled the explosion that had begun to rip through the lab. She looked up at him. "Go now!"

" No, " V's voice was strong, " I'm not leaving you."

" I'll meet you as soon as I take care of Creedy's little surprise." She smiled up at him. " Hurry......" Her hands raised in front of her, palms out toward the flaming wall of debris.

" Jazlyn...."

" Go now! I'll be ok. I promise." She stared into the black eye slits. " I'll meet you and Shadow outside."

V heard Jazlyn's words through the dizzying thoughts that raced through his mind. He reached toward her, but the shield her mind was producing now covered her, blocking the way.

The mask held her eyes for only a moment----" Come, Shadow!"

Jazlyn watched as V and her friend hurried from the room, then, turned her full attention into the disruption of the blast.

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The two had just barely made it out the building before the blast knocked them to the ground. V lay motionless for a split second before he was on his feet and heading for the burning building. " Jazlyn!"

" No, Master V!" Shadow leaped after him, her teeth catching the tail of the cloak as the blaze lit up the night sky, red embers floating away on the wind. V threw his black clad arm up to protect the mask from the searing heat.

" V!' The voice could barely be heard over the din of the burning debris. Shadow's ears perked up and she ran toward the north side of the collapsing mass. " Mistress!"

V followed Shadow's gaze, his eyes locking on the figure leaning against one of the trees. " Jazlyn!" He was beside her in seconds as she slumped to the ground.

Eyes fluttered open slowly, a weak smile crossed her lips. " Told you.....(cough) I'd be alright." She coughed harder.

V pulled the leather glove from his hand so he could cradle her head in his lap. He tried to speak, but couldn't, his eyes finally seeing the extent of Jazlyn's injuries. Most of her clothes had been ripped away, her long dark hair was burnt and singed, and dark red burns covered most of her exposed body. " Don't talk----I'll take you back to the gallery to tend to the burns...." He began to rise with her in his arms, but she stopped him, her hand on his arm.

" No...." She reached to her neck, unfastening the necklace, then placed it in his hand, closing it gently around the charm. "Keep it safe for me." Her hand touched the mask, then fell away, her eyes closed.

" Jazlyn.....?" He checked her neck for a pulse, but there was none. " Jazlyn?" His voice cracked with emotion. " No!!!!!!!!!" He pulled her close. Under the mask, a lone tear cascaded down a rough cheek. Shadow moved beside him, her head lowering to Jazlyn's in sorrow------then, suddenly, they were gone----leaving V screaming into the night.