Chap 5 -- Altered Destinies -- Witchblade Karma

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Date Posted: 21:59:45 05/20/02 Mon
Author: wormie
Subject: Chap 5 -- Altered Destinies
In reply to: wormie 's message, "A Complex Genesis" on 20:48:06 05/20/02 Mon

Chap 5 -- Altered Destinies

Navarro stood and smiled at Gabriel's confused expression. "Would you like to meet my son? Come."

She led him down the hall to a door. She carefully opened it and immediately went to the cradle. She brushed a gentle finger on her son's cheek speaking softly to him. Gabriel waited at the door. The room was what one would expect for an infant: cradle, changing table, a rocking chair, plush toys strewn about the floor. He watched as she checked the infant.

He asked, "Is he okay?"

Navarro picked up the baby and cradled him in her arms then smiled at Gabriel.

"You can come in, you know. He's fine. He just wants to be held for a bit." She walked over to Gabriel. "Gabriel Bowman, I would like you to meet Henry Navarro."

Gabriel smiled a little. He had half-expected the baby to be dressed in black, too. There was no doubt that child was Navarro's. He had large brown eyes with long dark lashes and lots of curly black hair on his head. Little Henry looked healthy and happy. Gabriel was pleased to see that.

"He's a cutie. How old is he?"

"Just over five months. He was born last December 12th." Navarro sighed as the baby started moving around in her arms. "Had enough of me, have you?"

She sat on the floor, setting Henry down in front of her. He immediately grabbed a plush purple rhinoceros.

She waved at Gabriel to join them. Gabriel grinned and sat on the floor next to them. Navarro looked at her son for another moment then turned her attention back to Gabriel.

"You had asked about my vision. The Witchblade gave me a purpose. A sacred trust. A way to serve it."

"Protecting the bloodline?"

She smiled fondly at her son. "In a way that I had never imagined I would."

"What do you mean?"

"Look." She lifted her son's shirt while making faces at the infant.

Gabriel leaned closer for a better look and saw the infant's birthmark, two intertwined circles just over his heart.

Seeing Gabriel's blank expression, Ina added, "That's the Wielder's mark."

His blank expression morphed into a confused one. "I thought only women could wear the Witchblade?"

Ina smiled patiently. "It was not always so."

Gabriel nodded knowingly. "Some Celtic writings talked about a Wielder, um, Banrighinn, a.k.a. the Mistress of the Blade. She supposedly taught battle skills to an army of male and female wielders. She got pissed at her boyfriend one day and cursed the Blade so that only chicks could wear it."

"Banrighinn did not want men to wear it and altered its destiny because the Blade accommodated her wishes. Irons used modern medicine in an attempt to control the Witchblade. He has tried to alter its destiny and, in a way, has succeeded...with me." Ina smiled faintly. "I'm a fluke of genetic engineering. I didn't have visions of my past because I was not part of the Blade's past. This is not the first time the Blade has faced this situation. It...adapted."

Gabriel nodded. "Like with the curse." He thought it over. "So, genetics reversed a curse. Cool. Ironic, though, that the Witchblade chose that as your 'destiny.' I mean, that's what Irons wanted you for, too."

"The difference is that with Irons, my son might turn out..."

"A freak like Nottingham?"

Gabriel was surprised by the flash of anger in her eyes. "Ian is a good man, in his own way."

Gabriel was doubtful. Nottingham was definitely a touchy subject for her. He would have to be more careful if he was going to learn anything useful for Sara. "Maybe we should let the little guy sleep."

Navarro nodded, already picking up her son. She walked back to the cradle and carefully set Henry down. They returned to the dining room in silence. Gabriel knew he had upset her and waited for her to resume the conversation at her own pace.

She indicated his plate. "Are you all done?"

"Yes, thanks. Let me take care of those."

"No. You are a guest. Relax. I'll join you shortly."

Gabriel picked up his plate and glass. "Hey, it's the least I can do..."

Navarro shook her head, blocking his path to the kitchen. "Hand those over. Now."

They stood facing each other for a moment when a voice behind Gabriel said, "I thought I told you to do as she said."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

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Replies:

Chap 6 -- Stand Off **WARNING** Mild language/ Mild Sexual Content -- wormie, 22:23:04 05/20/02 Mon

hi all!! -- wormie, 11:11:14 05/28/02 Tue

Con stories are being posted ... -- wormie, 16:44:18 05/29/02 Wed

interesting concept (NT) -- mx, 17:37:14 05/28/02 Tue

Sorry for the delay!!! -- wormie, 11:07:29 08/12/02 Mon