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Date Posted: 21:04:06 10/27/02 Sun
Author: Spin
Subject: Chapter twenty-eight
In reply to: Spin 's message, "Revelation" on 22:34:06 05/20/02 Mon

~*~

Oblivious to the clod rain pelting down all around Ian stood absently next to his car, keys loosely hanging from his fingertips. Letting the rainwater seep into his already drenched coat. Ian made no attempt to seek shelter from the rain in the inside of his car. He made no move at all. If it wasn’t for the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed he could have been mistaken for a statue.

Drops of rain pounded against the roof of his car. Bursting into tiny little bullets of water splaying towards Ian’s face. He closed his eyes against the rain only to be bestowed with the sounds of Sara’s bittersweet voice. The echoes of her voice and the severity of their earlier encounter activated a mental chain reaction of memories. His train of thought focused on past cruelties.

Ian opened his eyes only because he no longer felt the pouring rain beating down on him. He looked up to see a large black umbrella hovering above him. He turned around to see an old man holding the handle. His stringy blonde hair plastered against his weathered face. The man’s dark protruding gaze held his.

Ian recognized the man, seeing him from time to time, as the watcher. Ian had heard very little about Lazar from Irons. Ian’s own research found nothing of the man’s existence yet he stood before him holding an umbrella. The man was a complete enigma. But how he had gotten so close without Ian knowing was a bit unnerving for the dark assassin. ‘The rain must have drowned out the sounds of his footsteps.’ Ian thought.

“Or you have lost your focus and were so rapt in your thoughts you simply did not register my presence.” Ian’s eyes widen. This had been the first time the watcher had approached him and spoke. ‘But could the man read minds too?’ he thought.

“Yes and no.” Lazar replied in a thick ancient accent that Ian could not place.

“How do you mean?” Ian questioned calmly hoping to hide the uneasiness he felt.

“Like I have said you’re unfocused. The walls that are usually surrounding your mind, when you are on guard, are gone. I may not know exactly what you are thinking but I can sense what you are feeling. Like now for example you feel anxious. You are still wondering how I was able to sneak up behind you without detection?

“Oh, is that all?” Ian replied sarcastically. Being exposed to Sara during what little time he had with her was slowly rubbing off on Ian. Lazar gave a lopsided smile.

“And those as well. The windows to a person’s soul.” Lazar pointed at Ian’s eyes. “Those betray you; for they hide nothing from the world. You are like an open book.” Ian began to lower his head averting his gaze from Lazar’s.

“Do not withdraw away from me. Look at me, Ian Nottingham.” Ian wasn’t too surprise that Lazar knew his name. Who knows how long Lazar had been watching over him. Ian was reluctant to comply. It wasn’t an order like Irons but an undemanding request. Ian finally looked up and locked his gaze with Lazar.

“If I am an open book; then what does my tale reveal, Lazar?” The older man nodded his head and grinned as Ian addressed him.

“I sense pain and suffering. Someone once said: ‘Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.’ Why are you suffering, young Nottingham?”

Ian didn’t answer Lazar. He only looked towards the direction of Sara’s apartment. The light from the candles faintly glowed in the distance.

“You should not give up on life so easily, Ian.”

“What would a vagrant know about the meaning of life?” Ian threw back bitterly.

“Hold your tongue, Ian Nottingham.” Lazar’s voice was calmed yet forceful. Ian had heard Lazar to be a passive and unperturbed man. But there was no mistaking the flash of anger in his eyes.

“I apologize, Lazar. I know not what I say. I am simply acting on my disheartened impulses.”

His eyes no longer flashed with anger and Lazar’s weathered face softened. “ I understand, Ian.”

“There is only one meaning of life: The act of living itself.”

Ian stared at Lazar with mournful eyes. He returned his gaze back towards Sara’s apartment.

“I have nothing left. What is there to live for?”

“You have a cause, a destiny.” Lazar answered.

‘Take the cause out of a man; there is no cause for a man.’ Ian thought.

“I have no cause nor destiny, Lazar.”

“Your cause is to protect the wielder of the Witchblade. It has been your destiny since the day you were born.”

“How can I protect her, Lazar? She despises me! She will never let me into her life! It is best if I comply with her wishes and…” Ian sighed. “…never return.” Lowering his head as he spoke.

‘Stubborn fools’ Lazar muttered under his breath then a light chuckle escaped his throat.

Ian’s looked up from his bowed head. Lazar was smiling and shaking his shaggy blonde head. Ian’s brows furrowed as he tilted his head slightly to the side, confusion reflected in his eyes. And bit irritated that this man found his current ‘situation’ amusing. “Why do you mock my pain, Lazar?”

Lazar cleared his throat and answered. “I do no such thing, Ian.”

“Then what do you find so amusing?” Lazar sighed.

“I have forgotten how strongly stubborn both you and the wielder really are.”

“She is the one who is stubborn. She is the one who refuses to listen to the blade, to reason. Refuses to trust me.” Ian complained like a little child.

“You have not given her any evidence to trust you, Ian.”

“Are you saying I am untrustworthy of Sara?” Ian’s eyes widen with uncertainty.

“No, that is not what I am saying my dear boy. Far from it actually, I am merely saying is your Lady Sara does not realize the things you have done for her. And if she does she assumes it’s some sort of ploy created by Kenneth Irons to gain control over her. So you must help her understand. You must be patient with the wielder.”

“I’ve been patient my entire life.” Ian exclaimed.

“Then you’ve had practice, good.” Lazar grinned. Ian however did not share in Lazar’s humor.

“But my patients grows thin and I don’t feel that I can wait any longer.”

“Ian, are you so willing to leave your Lady’s Sara’s side? To leave her vulnerable against the evil elements that is after the Witchblade? Are you willing to break the vow you’ve made lifetimes ago to serve the wielder? Do you want your Lady to meet her untimely demise, alone?” Lazar questioned.

Ian pictured each scenario becoming more and more afraid for Sara’s life. He couldn’t bear the thought of her death. “No!” was his strong reply.

“Then do not be so willing to give up on yours. Sara needs you as you need her. Do not repeat past mistakes.”

“What do you mean ‘past mistakes’.” Ian looked at Lazar, confused.

“The Witchblade bestowed upon you a gift. To remember past lives and to learn from them, Ian.” Lazar explained. Ian nodded but another subject arose.

“What about Kenneth Irons? I do not know how to explain it but he has this hold over me that I cannot understand let alone break. I’m afraid if I don’t break away I’ll only be jeopardizing Sara’s safety.” Hearing Ian’s desire to break free was a good sign. Maybe Lazar had been mistaken. Ian wasn’t as stubborn as he thought. Just very determined.

“It is possible to break free from Irons.”

“How?” Ian pleading with hope that Lazar held the key to his chains.

“You are much stronger then you believe.” Ian shook his head no.

“Yes young Nottingham. It took a great amount of strength both mind and will to place the blade back on Sara’s wrist. At that moment the chains that held you to him began to weaken.

“But how can I break a lifetime with Kenneth Irons? He is my master.” Ian spoke dejectedly.

“Do not confuse gratefulness with loyalty. For you had a mistress far before you had a master. Your connection with the wielder far exceeds your …bond with Kenneth Irons. He knew about this and tried to conceal this from you by using unethical means.” Lazar’s face grew somber making him look much more older and ancient. He knew the ‘means’ Irons had used on Ian; he had witnessed many of them. Ian suffered greatly but yet he stands before Lazar and for once a golden glint of hope flickered in the depths of Ian’s hazel eyes.

“When in doubt look inside of yourself. Here…” Lazar laid a finger against Ian’ chest, above his heart. Then his forehead “…and here as well.”

Lazar lowered the umbrella. Reveling the night sky had cleared. The storm had obviously stopped sometime during their conversation. Ian raised his face up to see the mass of brightly lit stars twinkling and the glowing moon above. When he looked back down Lazar was gone.

Ian moved from his spot and turned to his car. He unlocked the door, slipped in behind the wheel and revved up the engine. At that moment the power had been restored. No longer trapped in darkness as street lamps around engulfed Ian in the light.

Before steering out onto the empty street Ian glanced in the rearview mirror towards Sara’s building. And for the first time since he left her apartment Ian smiled. Deep in the shadows Lazar followed in suit. Flashing his own lopsided smile as he watched Ian drive away.

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