The characters herein, with the exception of Kate, are the sole property of TNT Productions; Producers of . Pictures herein are the sole property of TNT Productions and were found on several websites and I make no claims to any of them. I thank all the Webmasters who created the pages displaying these pictures. The photos used for Kate were taken from the following website: http://www.cbpu.com/mathiscd/moss.html.

(Irons beckons for Ian)

"Come here my son. The time has come for me to acquire additional means to reclaim my prize. I must retrieve the Witchblade if I am to return to my rightful place in THIS world. "

"Come closer Ian......I have someone I want you to meet............ It has been so unfortunate that Christina and Aras have failed in their attempts to recover the Blade, so I am forced to retain the skills of Kate, an acquaintance of old. "

"Kate, I would like you to meet Ian. He will teach you everything you need to know about the Witchblade as well as how you will get it back. Ian might be slight of mind in worldly matters, but I can reassure you that he is quite capable of training you to the point where you are unstoppable and unfailing."

"Ian, you will find working with Kate to be a most enjoyable pleasure. She is like fresh clay ready to be molded into quite a formidable ally or foe. Stay focused and stick to the task at hand at all times. I want her ready soon. "

"Leave me now."

Ian retreated with Kate in tow. Down the long cold hall way not a word was spoken. Ian knew what needed to be done and was eager to begin.

As Ian approached "The Room," Kate cautiously remained a step behind. Kate, named after Katherine the Great, was as quick on her feet as she was with her mind. The combination made her deadly. She stood 6' tall and carried a weight of 150 lbs. Her raven hair fell to her waist and mirrored the blackness in her eyes. One could mistake her for Night itself; but self preservation kept others aware of her presence at all times. Those who lose sight of her don't live to regret it.

"You have been chosen to retrieve something that is not easily taken. The Witchblade is a part of someone... - Sara -... and she will not be eager to part with it."

(Ian bent down to Kate's feet and put a chain around her ankle. He looked up at her....)

"How are you at taking something you can not reach?"

With that statement, Kate noticed that Ian placed the other end of the chain around his ankle.

Kate's reply to Ian was a fist in the face; Ian caught her hand and attempted to crush it like a styrofoam cup.

Kate awoke to find herself wrapped in the chain that once bound her to Ian. She was suspended above an abyss and taunted by the one she conquered only moments before. Ian approached Kate and grabbed her face in his hand......... .

"Ian might be slight of mind in worldly matters.........Who's in charge of the worldly matters now FATHER!"

With that charge, Ian kissed Kate so hard her lip began to bleed. "Touché my dear touché!"

Most definitely formidable opponents.

A week of torment led to a week of camaraderie between the two that could have led to nothing less than an unexplained longing. Who would have ever thought that Ian would look at Kate as anything other than a means to an end. A machine programmed to dispose of Sara if need be to obtain the Witchblade. And Sara, the forever untouchable, is not the one who pierces his heart any longer. Was it too much too soon? Ian didn't entertain the possibility, he only knew that his time spent with Kate left him feeling warm and safe for the first time in his life. The feeling was good. Kate too enjoyed the feeling she was left with whenever Ian entered the room.

The task at hand - retrieval of the blade - seems less important than it once did. Ian had trained Kate well, had advised her on the history of the Witchblade and even imparted the need for Irons to reclaim it. What he had not told Kate was the power the blade held and the purposes for which it would be used once it was re-claimed by Irons. ............Ian kept that to himself, for now. As time passed, Ian saw a light in Kate that would tell him she was not without feeling; not the cold, empty killing machine that Irons would have him to believe. Rather, a warm, sensitive being who would hold fast to her beliefs and passions.

A worried Irons began to see things in a different light. A relationship based on fear and respect was expected and encouraged between Ian and Kate. Anything else was not anticipated or welcomed. May be it was a type of "schoolboy" crush that had developed. Surely, it couldn't be anything more than that, for after all Ian didn'tt even have the capacity to know what real love was; he was never programmed to.

"It seems to me that things have developed quite rapidly between you and Kate. "

Irons paused........... Ian, who was staring at the floor, began to focus on a book on a table near by - his eyes widened slightly. Not a sound was heard.....

"Yes, rapidly indeed. Her training should be close to completion. I will not accept another failure, Ian. She must retrieve the Blade for me or die trying. Do you understand, my son? .........Yes, of course you do."

"Tell me Ian, what do you think of my latest acquisition?.................... The painting, of course - Cleopatra. You do know who she was don't you?"

Ian - "The Queen of Egypt and lover of Marc Antony."

Irons - "Ah yes, and a very ambitious woman - the ruination of an entire army. Did you know, she married her brother, two of them to be exact. Siblings of sorts,.. for if they were truly bound by family ties, she would not have killed her brother, the king, now would she? There is nothing more dangerous than an ambitious woman, remember that Ian; they are never to be trusted."

Ian retreated.

Kate met Ian at the door with a hug and noticed that something was wrong. She backed up a step and looked deep into his eyes and saw pain; something that had faded from his eyes during the past few weeks.

"What's wrong Ian, what did Irons say to you?"

Kate was more aware as each day passed that Irons, her employer and family friend, had a hold over Ian that could not be explained. He manipulated Ian's entire being and seemed to own his very soul.

Ian, visably upset, professed through clinched teeth -

"We are not siblings.. and you are not like Cleopatra. We have a bind... not unlike she and Marc Antony.. but unlike them, we will not be defeated."

Ian took Kate in his arms and kissed her deep and passionately. Kate, confused by what Ian said, submitted to his kiss willingly. Up until now, the two have expressed their feelings for each other with controlled pleasantries but that was then, for now the passion was too strong to control it any longer. Ian looked at Kate and reached out to touch her face. She could see he wanted to touch more than her face, but wasn't sure if he was allowed to. Kate took Ian's hand and slowly moved it down her neck to her breast. Was it adolescent excitement or curiosity that raced through Ian at the moment; one might never know, but it was so overwhelming that Ian was unable to keep the moan inside ..... it escaped and Kate heard him. She knew at that moment that Ian was in a place he had never been before and never wanted to leave. Kate reached for his shirt and took care to unbutton it slowly and purposefully. Ian responded by doing the same. Her skin smelled of sweet flowers and beckoned his lips to come and touch it. He complied. Another moan......Kate took his mouth in hers and breathed sweet new life into his hurting soul. She kissed his neck and down the length of his chest. Ian, drunk with passion, raised her up and backed her against a wall. Kate took his hips and pulled them toward her. He leaned in and felt her skin upon his chest. This time it was Kate who moaned. They both fell to the floor without grace and tore ravenously at each other. Ian felt a hunger deep inside of him that needed to be filled but he didn't know how to satisfy it. He looked at Kate for help. No words were needed. Kate felt the hunger and knew it would only be satisfied once Ian was inside of her. Ian closed his eyes and felt as if he were spinning out of control as Kate took him in her hands and placed him at a point of no return. Her movements were deliberate and precise and at that moment Ian wished for death...... Never in his life had he ever known such a feeling of warmth, excitement and love and he didn't ever want to lose it. Ian reached for Kate and silently whispered "My redeemer." With more passion came a heat both inside and out that needed quenching. Ian grabbed Kate and turned her onto the floor. Ian was used to looking down out of his eyes, but never before had he seen such a beautiful and wanting sight..... The temperature rose and with every thrust Ian watched Kate's eyes as she felt his whole essence sear so very deep inside of her. Ian, clearly out of his mind now, yelled out with excitement as he reached his destination and exploded with pleasure. He fell into Kate's waiting arms and they held each other until the night turned into day.

Months passed and the bond that had forged between Ian and Kate grew to be impenetrable. The love they shared was intense and true. Feelings as deep as this can not be kept secret for long............

"Ian, you seem to be kept pretty busy these days; I thought you had finished with your student."

"I have Father; you will not be disappointed. She is everything you expected...............and more."

"Then why don't I have the Witchblade? Is there something you're not telling me?"

"No Father, I........"

(Irons bent to whisper in Ian's ear)

"Was it her smell that turned your head or was it the soft skin that covers her body that did you in?"

(Irons rubbed Ian's cheek softly before he slapped him across the face)

"I want the Witchblade and yet you have failed me again........................Distractions must be dealt with most expediently. And I do mean expediently, Ian. I want all ties broken, permanently. I don't want to have to ever speak of this to you again, is that understood?"

"IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?"

Kate was in the bathroom when Ian returned. She had not been feeling too well these last few days; felt like the flu. Ian closed in behind Kate wanting to wrap his arms around her waist, but careful not to touch her at all. He took in the deepest of breaths and was filled with the smell of Kate. He was quiet...too quiet......Kate was worried. Ian abruptly turned and walked away.

"Kate, have you eaten today? You know you must eat if you want to keep up your strength."

Kate found Ian's small talk strange but sweet; Ian worried about her health was touching. She didn't have the heart to tell him she hadn't eaten for days......that dam flu.

Kate took Ian by the hand and led him to their bed.

"Let's see, why don't you judge for yourself and tell me if I'm weak....."

Ian hesitated and stared deep into her eyes and for a moment Kate thought she saw something she had never seen there before.... a tear.

He joined her but not like any other time before. His touch was purposeful and his kisses were almost unending. He explored Kate's body intensely leaving no area unkissed. He attended to her in such a way it made Kate feel like this was their last meeting...............................................It was.

He looked down at her and whispered "I love you." As he straddled her body he kissed her long and hard. His hand found its way over her throat - a sensual place the throat - and pressed down. At first, Kate turned her head to escape his grasp, but realized she couldn't move him. Kate felt her throat begin to give way. She struggled against his might, but was unable to free herself. Kate's eyes now reflected terror and pain, but Ian could not turn away from them.

All the while, Ian pressed against Kate's body and repeated the words of his father...

(Some how the words escaped through Ian's unfamiliar cries)

It was done...........

Ian stared at Kate's lifeless body. He tore away from her and fell prostrate on the floor. "I had no choice."

Ian wrapped the sheet from off of their bed around Kate and carried her down the hall.....

"Ian..............have you done what I've asked?"

Irons turned to meet Ian's gaze, Ian placed Kate's body at Iron's feet.

Ian realized what had just happened. He turned and ran down the hall.........................................to the bedroom..................................to the place of the dead.......................... and of the unborn...........................