VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, [2], 3, 4, 5 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 20:12:02 09/13/03 Sat
Author: Spin
Subject: Chapter Sixty-eight
In reply to: Spin 's message, "Revelation" on 22:34:06 05/20/02 Mon

A/N: Once again, sorry for the long wait. RL has been being very unkind as of late. But here is a long update to make up for the wait. Don’t forget to review. Enjoy =)

~*~

Sara stared vacantly at the case file in front her. Too rapt in thoughts of Ian and the White Bulls, and unaware of what was happening outside of her mind. “Hey, Pez?” Jake called out irritability; the incisive sound of her pen tapping against the top of her desk was clearing getting to him. Sara didn’t respond and continued her absent drumming. Having enough, Jake reached across the desk and grabbed Sara’s hand. Stopping the annoying sound. The touch pulled Sara out of her trance, “What?” she snapped back.

“Do you mind?” Jake replied, pointing at the pen in her hand. Sara looked down and realized what she must have been doing. “Uh, sorry,” she apologized. Jake sat back down eyeing her speculatively. “You okay?” he asked, “You’ve been sort of out of it for the past hour.”

“Huh?” Looking up bemused, Sara shook her head and added, “I’m fine. I just got a lot on my mind right now.” After a few minutes of blankly staring at the file in front of her, Sara decided to give it up for now. “You know what,” she said, closing the folder, “I gotta go.”

Jake looked up, “Wha…where are you going?”

She walked over to the coat rack grabbing her leather jacket. While putting it on she answered, “I have someone I need to see.”

“Again? Who?” He asked a bit irritably.

“Its none of your business.” She replied, snatching up her helmet off the empty chair near her desk.

“You haven’t been acting yourself all morning, spacing out and not hearing a word I’ve said. This morning you take off without telling me, and now,” Jake paused, “Look I think I at least deserve some answers.”

“You’re not my keeper, Jake. So back off.” Sara snapped back while heading for the door.

Jake threw his pen down on top of his desk, highly frustrated. “Yeah, but I’m your partner, Pez. And partners are supposed to trust each other, remember?” Sara stopped, one hand already on the doorknob, “Cut me some slack, Pez. I’m also your friend.”

Sara sighed, with her back facing him she said over her shoulder, “Alright, Jake. Cafe Enigma, around the corner from my apartment. Eight o'clock tonight.”

Jake nodded his head and grinned, “I’ll be there, partner.”

“Yeah right,” she mumbled and left the office.

From his office, Dante watched Sara leave. His eyes wandered over to Jake who was standing in the doorway. Jake turned around to head back in his office when he caught Dante staring him at him. He nodded his head in acknowledgement. Dante doing the same. Their earlier conversation running through both their minds. Could he trust, Jake? Was the kid loyal to Bulls or that bitch, Pezzini? Soon enough Dante was going to test him and see if he passed or failed. Jake headed back into the office, shutting the door closed. Dante continued to watch Sara.

She soon turned the corner and disappeared from site. Dante headed back into his office and contemplated on other issues he needed to concentrate on. The information of Sara’s visit to Joe Siri’s home did not sit well with him. He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a bullet with the Bull’s signature engraving on it. He studied the bullet before placing it in his pocket. “Too bad, Joe.” He said aloud.

Sara pushed the door open with her shoulder. Too busy concentrating on putting on her gloves; she didn’t notice the black clad figure waiting for her on the sidewalk. As she reached the last step, a glove slipped from her fingers and landed on the ground. She bent to pick it up but someone else had beat her to it. She straightened up and stuck her hand out, ready to retrieve her glove from the stranger. “Thanks,” she started but stopped when she looked up. ‘Oh my God,’ she thought, ‘Ian!’ The site of him standing before her was a contradiction to the last image she remembered.

“You’re welcome, Detective.” Nottingham contemptuously replied, his voice cold and menacing. Lacking the respect his predecessor had for her. From the beginning, Nottingham neither hid nor hinted that he shared in his ‘brother’s’ feelings for the wielder. Yet, now up closer to the wielder, he could understand how both his brother and master would fall for her beauty. He boldly eyed Sara up and down. A sneer forming on his lips, remember what he had seen in the early morning hours during his watch over her. Her supple body thrashing about in her bed. He started caressing her leather glove in his hand as he continued to stare.

An icy sensation coursed through her body, causing her to shiver. The way he was looking at her made her skin crawl. He wasn't the same Ian that she knew. Besides the obvious difference in appearance, his eyes lacked the emotion Ian would have in them. Instead, a feral void, hinted with darken lust, reflected in his eyes. Something was not right. The blade on her wrist did nothing to give her any indication of danger.

…You’re little toy doesn’t seem to work against me…

Ian had told her that night in the alley. ‘Ian,’ she thought. Then she recalled a memory. The image of a man, this man, flashed in her mind. This is not Ian Nottingham. At least not the Ian she had been accustomed to since that first day at the museum. Her heart started to race.

Nottingham’s sneer grew wider, revealing in Sara’s reaction to his presence. ‘Did she know?’ He wondered.

“What he hell are you doing here?” Sara snapped with her incisive tongue hoping to belie the fear.

Nottingham grinned, ‘apparently not,’ he thought. “I’ve come to express my master’s wishes for you to join him tonight for dinner.”

Sara snorted, she wanted nothing more then to stop by and pay a visit to that bastard but not yet. “Well you can go back and tell your ‘master’ no.”

“So you are refusing.”

“You deaf all of a sudden, Nottingham? Look go back to your master and tell him I said ‘fuck you’. Now, be a good boy toy and go back to your master. How’s that?” Sara retorted, just wanting this conversation to end and for this person to leave. For the first time she was scared. It appeared that the blade was not going to work against him, and the Ian she knew was missing. Who was going to help her now?

Faith jumped out of the car the moment she spotted the clone. ‘Something was not right,’ her mind racing with questions. What was her father up to? Why was he permitting this clone, this thing, to make contact with the wielder? Faith stood rooted in place, unsure what to do next. Should she confront him? Too late. The decision was taken from her when Sara appeared from the precinct.

Faith’s body grew tense with apprehension as she watched from a distance the confrontation between Sara and the clone. It looked like everything was going all right. Nonetheless, Faith readied herself, ready to fulfil the duty bestowed upon her as the wielder’s temporary protector if needed. There was nothing she could do now. Faith, who stood not far from the two, prayed that the wielder knew the difference. She held her breath, waiting for any insignificant sign to charge in.

Nottingham laughed at Sara’s retort; “I will relay your message to my master.”

“Good, now get the hell away from me.” Sara reached forward to snatch her glove from his hand but he was too quick.

He took her glove and started gliding the leather material against his bare face. He grinned at her, “Do you like my new look,” he paused, staring at her with those dark eyes, “Sara?”

Another cold shiver passed through her body. Concealing the sullied feeling, she felt when he used her name Sara answered, “What’s the difference? You still look like your master’s bitch. Just less hairy.”

Nottingham’s grin faded and his expression grew incensed. He had let the ‘boy toy’ reference slide but not this time, “Looks who’s calling me the bitch.” He sneered, reaching out to touch her face but Sara slapped his hand aside. Nottingham grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer to his body. “Let go,” she demanded.

“Or what? You'll use your magical little bracelet against me?” He used his other hand, the one holding her leather glove, and started caressing her face with it.

“Detective Pezzini? Everything all right?” Nottingham looked behind Sara to see a uniformed officer standing at the stop of the stairs. He slowly stepped back, then released her captured wrist. Sara tried to slow her racing heartbeat. She looked over her shoulder and saw Officer McGrath standing there. Stifling a sigh of relief she answered, “Yeah, everything is cool.”

“Is this gentleman bothering you, Detective?” McGrarth’s attention focused on Nottingham. His hand twitching to reach for his sidearm.

Nottingham snorted and waved off the officer’s bravado. He looked back at Sara, “Good-bye for now, Sara.” He handed Sara back her glove and she snatched it from his hand, hoping that he didn’t see it trembling. Nottingham turned around and started walking away. “By the way,” he stopped and turned around, “That wouldn’t happen to be my ring, would it?” Sara reached up and possessively clutched it in her hand.

“Believe me this ring doesn’t belong to you. I’m safe keeping it for the real owner.”

Nottingham snickered, “Until next time then, wielder.”

“Who was that guy, Detective?” Officer McGrath curiously asked, walking up beside her. “You don’t want to know.” Sara warned, giving a contemptuous look at Nottingham’s retreating form. He turned a corner and disappeared. It was only then Sara felt safe enough to turn her back. “Thanks, McGrath.” She clapped him on the back; “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Sara said before heading towards her bike.

“So, what was that all about?”

Sara stopped in her tracks. Here was someone she wasn’t expecting to see. “Are you stalking me?” Surprisingly, Sara didn’t feel at all threatened by her presence now. Then again, after her encounter with Nottingham, she would have welcomed anyone’s company, even Dante.

“To stalk is to pursue quarry or prey stealthily. To walk stiffly or haughtily.” She defined. Sara just rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

“What you’re a dictionary now?” Sara sarcastically replied, walking over to her bike, balancing her helmet on top of the gas tank so she could finish placing her other glove on.

Faith pushed off from the wall and gradually paced closer. Relived that Sara chose not to aim her weapon at her this time, yet her charming attitude was still in full effect. “I have been referred to as an encyclopedia once or twice but never a dictionary.” Faith noted.

Sara raised her brows while shaking her head. “You’re certifiable,” Sara accused. Faith just shrugged it off as if it was nothing new. She had to be a little insane, especially the life she’s been leading. A father whose been lusting over a mystical weapon and its wielder. A psychoneurotic pretender for a mother. A brother, who’s been physically altered by drug enhancements, and to top things off, has an evil clone wondering the streets of New York. Faith was surprised she still had some of her sanity left.

Sara continued, “But it still does not explain why you are stalking me.”

Faith sighed, “Three things, Detective. One, well, as you can see,” Faith empathized spreading her arms out, “I am in no way concealing my presence from you in a stealthy manner.” She shrugged her shoulders; “It is not my fault you don’t see me when I’m around. Two, now take no offense in this, Detective, but you’re not my type of prey.” Faith snickered. Sara lifted her brow speculatively. “And three?” she said.

“Three, I am not the one stalking you, Wielder.” Faith looked over Sara’s shoulder, eyeing the spot where the clone stood just moments ago.

“What did ‘he’ want?” Faith asked, not mentioning his name. In any case, there was only one Ian Nottingham in this world and it was not the clone.

“Not that it is any of your business but Irons invited me over for dinner.”

“And you said no, of course?”

“That and a few other things.”

Faith smiled imagining what other colourful words Sara had expressed. “For a cop, you’re pretty smart. Though, I will give you some extra advice and I hope you actually take it to heart. Stay far away from those two. Irons is becoming a desperate man, and that ‘person’ is out of control. A very dangerous duo. So, don’t be stupid to think you can take those two on by yourself even with the blade as back up.” Faith’s smile grew somber, “By the way, what else did ‘he’ want with you?” Remembering how roughly the clone had handled Sara.

Sara shook her head, unsure, “I don’t know what…Nottingham wanted.”

“That thing is not Ian Nottingham,” Faith informed. She had hoped Sara was able to tell the difference. She narrowed her eyes on Sara, surprised that there were no bombarding questions pertaining to her conviction. But maybe Sara already knew. “And you know it too don’t you, Sara?”

Sara nodded her head remembering the icy chill she felt when she was near him, “Who is he?” she asked, hoping that Faith would give her an answer.

Faith shrugged her shoulders, uncertain of how much she should tell Sara about the clone. “A sick, dangerous, and out of control creation.” This was as close she was going to get to the truth.

“Great, just great.” Sara muttered under her breath. She started at the top of her helmet, lost in thought. Then finally she aske, “You know where he is, don’t you?”

“Who are you talking about?”

“Cut the bullshit. You know exactly who I’m talking about. Where is Ian Nottingham?”

“Why do you care all of a sudden, huh? From what I’ve heard, you despise Ian Nottingham.” Faith said, crossing her arms over her chest.

Sara reaches for the ring, grasping it between her gloved fingers. “I don’t hate him,” she whispered. Shaking her head, “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Oh, I think I would, Wielder.” Faith answered, remembering her earlier conversation with Ian. And the talk she planned to have with Sara about it. But now was neither the time nor the place to make a scene. Especially with the clone watching Sara. At that moment, a black Jag crept out into plain view, and there in the driver’s seat was the clone. Apparently, the clone did not know the definition of stalking. He may look like Ian but the clone lacked what Ian had gained over the years, experience. Which was a small advantage.

“Look, please just tell me. Where is Ian?”

Faith grins noting the plea in Sara’s voice, “If you really want to find him, Sara. Why don’t you use that?” She nods at the Witchblade.

Sara looks down at the dormant blade, “Wha…” but when she looked back up Faith was gone. Typical, she thought. She should have known better then to take her eyes off her. Sara looked back down at the bracelet and asked it to show her Ian. This time it refused to show her anything. “Damn it,” she swore before mounting her bike. She revved it up and started speeding towards Gabriel’s place. Not far behind the clone and Faith followed in their cars.

~*~

Faith was mildly surprised to have followed Sara to Gabriel’s place, it was only a matter of time and she was sure Ian would love the surprise. But her mood quickly changed, alarmed when a familiar black car pulled up just seconds later. “Shit,” Faith swore as the clone got out and proceeded to cross the street. Following Sara, who had already disappeared inside, into the building. Faith immediately got out of her car and started making her way towards the back of the building, planning to use the fire escape to gain access into Gabe’s apartment. She fished out her cell, hoping to give Gabriel the heads up on some unexpected guests but only got the answering machine.

As she neared the building, she could actually hear music wafting from the apartment. It was a wonder how Gabriel managed not to go deaf. ‘It explained why he did not answer the phone,’ she thought while swiftly scaling up the fire escape.

Faith made it to Gabriel’s bedroom window and was surprised to see them, let alone in the same room, together, and talking. ‘What are they up to?’ she wondered. She pushed the thought aside not having the time to contemplate over the issue right now. They had more pressing matters to think about. Sara making unexpected visits with an evil clone hot on her trail.

Faith picked the lock and slid the window open. “Hello boys,” she greeted while climbing through the window. Gabriel jumped up from his seat and Ian eyed her speculatively.

“Faith, what are you doing climbing through my window?” Gabe pointed at the opened window behind her.

“Oh,” she started sarcastically, “I thought this might be faster, Angel.”

Still confused Gabe scratched his head and said, “Okay, why didn’t you just use the door like normal people? I hear it’s less strenuous.”

Faith grinned, “Nothing like a good climb to get the blood flowing, Angel. Besides where’s the fun in walking through the door?”

“Faith?” Ian finally spoke out having enough of their banter.

“Because there is a couple of people out there I do not wish to encounter at the moment.” She answered.

“And who would that be?” Gabe asked.

“Sara,” Ian replied, feeling her presence just outside the apartment. He sat up and threw his legs over the edge of the bed. He started to push his battered body off the bed but Faith quickly came around, placing a hand on his shoulder, and halted him from moving further.

Was she really going to deny him this chance to see Sara? Ian looked up at her, begging, “Please Faith I need to see her.” Faith looked down at those pleading eyes of his. Before answering, she pointed at Gabriel and said, “Go lower that racket you call music down a decibel or two and greet your guest. And by all means Angel don’t let Sara know we are here.”

“Yeah sure,” Gabe nodded his head, leaving the room.

“Faith,” Ian began to protest but she stopped him.

“Ian, there is another person, besides Sara, I truly do not want to see.”

“Who?”

“The clone.”

Ian’s body tensed up, the color draining from his face.

“He’s here?” Ian whispered.

“Yes, he followed Sara soon after she left the precinct.” Purposely leaving out the meeting.

Ian looked at Faith. Something was not right. “What aren’t you telling me?”

She sighed, knowing better then to keep things from him. He could read her like an open book, and vice versa. “He confronted Sara prior to her leaving the precinct.”

Ian gripped the side of the bed, his fingers digging into the side, and crumpling the sheets beneath them. “What happened?” Ian asked. Faith sighed, there was no way around not telling Ian and so she explained the confrontation. “Did he touch her?” he said through gritted teeth. Seething at the very thought of that ‘thing’ touching her.

Warning bells chimed loudly in Faith’s mind. She knew that voice and recognized the look in his eyes. Faith was sure Ian was seeing red. She did not answer him right away. The wrong words would set him off. Faith reached forward, pried his fingers from the bed, and held his hands between hers. Trying to anchor him down so he wouldn’t go sailing through the door like some enraged beast.

Faith took a second too long to answer and Ian already knew. Ian ripped his hands from Faith’s and quickly stood up, not bothering to wince as his body cried out in pain from the sudden movement. Luckily, Faith was much quicker and had reached the door first, blocking his path. “Out of my way,” Ian growled. Faith was not the least bit intimidated but she was getting frustrated. Ian was not thinking of the bigger picture. “Listen to me Ian!” she held out her arm, her palm firmly pressed against his chest. “You confront the clone now, especially in your condition, not only do you compromise your life but those around you. Gabriel’s, mines...” it didn’t seem like her words were getting through to him. Not until she said the magic words, “And Sara’s as well.” The words were like a splash of cold water, quickly bring him him back to his senses. The red he had been seeing faded from his eyes and his vision was getting clearer.

“Remember Ian this thing was created to be your replacement. This means physically he far exceeds you. He may lack the experience you have but he still shares your skills. What’s worst is that this thing, has no conscious, no control, and no fear. And that makes him highly dangerous.

What makes you think you can win against him when you are only half healed? If he manages to get through you, and then me who will be left to protect Sara? Gabriel?” Faith shook her head no. “And we cannot rely on theWitchblade either? Have you forgotten the blade does not work against you. This clone, who was created from your DNA, has a part of you is in him. Do you think the blade will recognize the difference? Are you willing to take that risk? That chance on Sara’s life?” Ian lowered his head, his shoulders slumped as her words sank in.

“I did not think so,” Faith said. Ian walked back to the bed and sat down. He felt helpless. Faith sighed and knelt in front of him. She gently grabbed his face between her hands. “I promise, you will meet your lady soon. Just not now.” He submissively nodded his head.

~*~

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Post a message:
This forum requires an account to post.
[ Create Account ]
[ Login ]
[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT-8
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.