More Than a Purpose

“Than we will need you to use your powers more often,” he said as he backed away. He flashed her a warm smile, a rarity from him as he turned and stepped away from her. The following days were a test of Nathan’s sanity as he continued to train the people at the Estate. He had 3 teams, beginners, intermediates and an advanced class that involved Bella once a day. The advanced and intermediate classes were done inside the estate and also included wax stuffed in their ears to block out all sound as well. Everyone thought it a great game at first but when they advanced it became apparent that there was some purpose to it all and some of the more intelligent folks began to become...concerned about why they were doing this. Nathan was asked often about it but his answers were always the same. “Trust in the Oracle and everything will workout in the end.” His classes kept him busy around the clock and he was using Amy and another young man named Jordan as his assistants. For Bella’s part he waited until the end of the day to have her link with someone. What he didn’t really notice though was that Amy was beginning to fall in love with him.

At breakfast she was sitting with Irene and Francis and they whispered to one another about him. Nathan was reading a book Bella had loaned him as he ate and drank coffee, alone as he was want to do most mornings. Sometimes he skipped breakfast to read alone out in the gardens and sometimes he went riding with Bella. With what the Oracle had told him, Nathan kept Bella at a distance most of the time. He became more and more afraid that if he allowed himself to get closer to her and something happened to her that it would throw him over the edge as it had when Myrna was murdered. He was still salty to most folks and had his bouts of anger and frustration when people refused to try but Bella and sometimes Amy was able to bring him around. He had actually quit several times but the next day he'd be at breakfast to do it all over again like the complete fool he knew he was.

Bella wasn't sure what Nathan was truly doing, but it became clear to her very quickly that whatever he was doing had to do with what The Oracle told him. She was intensely curious about everything, but finally just decided that she would know what she needed to know when she needed to know it. While The Oracle had given her some training on her powers, it wasn't until Nathan started working with her that her strength truly began to increase. She had always been very powerful, but it would be clear that she was far more powerful than what was previously thought. Everyday that she worked with Nathan she became stronger and quicker at being able to direct those that her mind was connected with. It still was draining, but as her strength increased she was able to keep her mind connected for longer and longer periods of time.

Strangely, she began to enjoy spending time with Nathan. He had begun to soften a little towards her and she enjoyed seeing him working so well with everyone else in the estate. He worked with a purpose and she enjoyed that. She would often just stand and watch him as he worked for long periods of time. Nathan's behavior towards her was strange however. He would some days want to go riding with her and other days he would keep her at more than an arm's length.

That morning Bella came down for breakfast. Her long, dark hair was in a loose braid that was draped over her right shoulder. A few small pieces framed her face and fell across her left eye. She was dressed to go out riding, which included a pair of riding pants, tall leather boots and a blouse that was tucked into her pants. She spotted Nathan with the book she had loaned him and she sat down at his table.

"How are you enjoying the book?"

Idley, Nathan looked at Bella over the top of his book and then he looked again when he saw just how beautiful she was. Just seeing her like that made his mouth go dry suddenly and spots of color grow in his cheeks. Her scent drew over to him as well and desire for her right then grew inside of him and it was all he could do to look back down and try to find the passage in his book where he had left off. Alas his mind would not re-attach itself to what he was reading though and he closed the book as he removed his foot from the chair across from him and sat up. “I like it very much,” he said though he was looking into her eyes when he said that. He cleared his throat as he dissembled. “The..uh, book I mean. I can’t seem to figure out who the man in the mask is though or what his true nature is,” he said.

He liked mystery and intrigue and the violence and romance that usually came with it all were just a bonus. “I take it you’d like to go riding?” he asked hopefully and could not seem to keep his eagerness to just be alone with her right then out of his voice.

Bella could not help but notice the way Nathan looked at her as she sat down. He had looked at her before, but not quite like this. This look was slightly more than just pure desire. It was a look a man gave a woman when he thought he beautiful and for some reason she found she liked knowing she had this effect on him. She brushed the stray piece of hair from her eyes and glanced at how far he was in the book.

"You'll have to wait a while longer to find that out," she said with a smile before taking a sip of her tea. When Nathan then asked if she would like to go riding she smiled a little at him. "I take it you'd like to join me."

‘Well, since you’ve asked so nicely, how could I refuse?” He said smoothly with a small smile. He rarely smiled but seemed to do it alot around her these days. The prospect of her company had that affect on him of late.They could not see the frown on Amy’s face though and she got up from her table and walked her dirty dishes over to the dish bin near the back of the large dining room. “Meet ya out there in a few minutes?” he asked and stood up. He figured she’d want to get a bite and finish her tea while he put on his riding leathers.

After she disposed of her dishes and headed down the hall Amy was there and moved to catch up to her. “Uh...Sabella? Can i talk to you...a..a moment?” she asked and it was obvious her expression was not a happy one. Her eyes were moist and she barely held her tears back.

For a brief moment the thought of being in a relationship with Nathan crossed Bella's mind as Nathan rose from the table. There was clearly an attraction between them and now that he had settled down a little and his harsh nature had softened she could start to see more of the real Nathan and she quite liked him. He was a good man at heart and he had already come to care for those at the estate, especially the younger students and looked after them like a father would. The thought of being in a relationship with another man had not crossed her mind since Westley's death. She had thought herself incapable of ever wanting that with another man but truth be told she was lonely and missed the feeling of strong arms around her at night.

After she was finished with her breakfast she rose from the table and put away her dishes. She started to walk down the hall to head out to the stables when she ran into Amy. It was immediately evident that something was wrong.

"Of course," she said before moving with Amy into a private room. She closed the door and looked at her. "What's wrong? Why are you upset?"

Amy gulped hard as her face flushed. She loved and respected Sabella...even maybe idolized her but Nathan...his presence had affected her and her heart swooned whenever he was near her. Finally she girded up her courage and looked Sabella in her eyes. “I’m in love with Nathan Sabella,” she asked then touched her hand to learn if she did too. The emotions would come unbidden, worry, jealousy and perhaps love also is what she had expected to feel. But she also wanted her to tell her true too. “But...but I’m afraid to tell him how I feel!” She said. “And...and I’m afraid you like him too!” She added and then began to cry.

(ooc-what she feels ofcourse if up to you)

Sabella was completely shocked and unsure of what to say at first. Perhaps she should have seen this coming. Nathan's presence had drawn the attention of most of the young women in the estate. However, she had failed to notice that Amy had developed a crush on him herself. She was quiet a moment before speaking gently.

"Amy, it's completely natural to feel what you are feeling. Nathan is strong and handsome. I think what you are feeling is a crush. Crushes can sometimes feel like love, but love is different. It runs deep and true and is undeniable when you feel it. Nathan is too old for you. He's almost 8 years older than me. I'm not telling you this because I want you to become upset. I'm telling you this because I care about you Amy like a sister and I don't want you to get hurt. You are beautiful and strong and young and you will find someone I promise."

Well that certainly brought forth the flood gates. Amy sobbed for several minutes before she was able to stifle them. She looked away and then as a thought came to her she gave Sabella a sidelong glance. “I...I could make him love me,” she said and looked Sabella straight in her eyes and Sabella knew what she meant. Sometimes Amy could actually force people to feel different emotions but usually that had been by accident. Obviously she was confident about it now to presume she had enough control over it to make Nathan feel love for her.

Sabella sighed and looked at Amy. "And is that how you want someone to love you? By force? I don't think that's what you truly want Amy. You deserve real, true love. Be Nathan's friend. He doesn't really have any and I know that he would love to have you as a true friend. But don't be focused so much on love right now. Love will come in time with the right person."

Amy continued on like this for a while eventually but Sabella's soft spoken sensibilities helped her understand the situation and she departed to go to her room and sleep off her disappointment. Nathan had waited a long while but assumed Sabella had gotten held up and so he went riding by himself. At the estate a knock was at the door and Jarvis, one of the guardsmen answered it. As Sabella came out into the hall she noticed the tall, thin man with the thin, pointy crooked nose and ill look being escorted by Jarvis and two others in long, dark dust coats and hats with long muskets remained in the lobby. It appeared to her that Jarvis was taking the lanky man to her father. half way down the hall she heard Jarvis ask him to repeat his name and heard him say, "Leon Sloan," Jarvis knocked on her father's door and Kestal, her father's servant answered then admitted them inside. The door closed and the two men at the doorway looked at Sabella suspiciously.

By the time Sabella got Amy calmed down enough to return to her room she realized that well over an hour had passed and that Nathan probably had not waited for her. She thought about just going out anyway when she looked down the hall and noticed Jarvis escorting a man she did not recognize towards The Oracle's chambers. She did not like the look of this man and she got an ill feeling from him right away. She listened and heard his name being spoken and said it softly a few times to remember it. She got the feeling that she needed to speak to Nathan. She looked over and saw the two other men watching her closely. She walked down the hall to her room and went inside. She knew that Nathan did not like it, but she contacted him telepathically.

Nathan. I need you to return to the estate. There are some strange men here and I do not like the looks of them. A man named Leon Sloan went in to see Father.

All she heard in reply was a guttural growl with the word ‘Sloan’ mixed into it. At the estate, just as Jarvis was about to escort Sloan out classes had ended and people began to fill up the halls. Amy and two of her friends were walking past when Sloan suddenly pulled from his pocket a rolled piece of paper. One of his abilities was intuition and he had strong vibes from this place that it would hold a key to whom he sought though he had never known Nathan to fall into a place like this...or with people.

Sloan had really wanted Nathan when he set the villagers to burn his wife. He had wanted Nathan to prove once and for all how dangerous the Witchborn were but he did not. All he did was weep for his wife and garner sympathy from those who had taken part in it all. Only he and a few others believed otherwise and had taken him. He tried to get a confession, hot irons, whips, pincers and the like but Nathan only bared it all in silence and less and less of his men returned to continue it all. Until Nathan escaped and burned the town to the ground. His son had been killed in the fire and so he vowed to hunt Nathan down and prove to the world once and for all that the Witchborn needed to be hunted down and eradicated.

“Oh, what a lovely girl!” he said as he shifted and turned toward them. The girls had looks of surprise on their faces, unsure of who he was or what was happening. Before Jarvis or Sabella could do anything Sloan rolled out the paper to reveal a fairly good sketch of Nathan’s face. Amy’s sudden but brief smile at seeing Nathan’s face was all that Sloan needed. “Ah...so you ‘have’ seen him eh?” He said in his oily voice he took on when he was pleased. “What’s this!” The Oracle’s voice boomed. He had come out to see if Sloan was gone. To his horror though he was not and Sloan quickly seized Amy’s arm while her friends took a frightened step back.

Based on Nathan's reaction Sabella could tell that not only did he know this man, but that he also did not like him. Sabella had known from the first moment she had laid eyes on him that he wasn't a good man and this only confirmed her feelings. But why would this man be here? Was he looking for Nathan and why?

Suddenly, he emerged from The Oracle's chamber being escorted by Jarvis towards the door. The hallway became flooded with people as individual classes let out and Sabella spotted Amy with a few friends. Sloan looked at Amy and Sabella watched as he suddenly approached her and showed Amy a piece of paper he unrolled. Based on Amy's reaction to it, Sabella could only assume it had Nathan's face on it. Sabella was about to approach Sloan and tell him he needed to go when suddenly The Oracle appeared and seemed rather upset that he was still there. Before Sabella could do anything, Sloan grabbed Amy's arm. Sabella looked at him, afraid he was going to hurt Amy.

"Let Amy go," she demanded. "Father has told you to leave. This is private property and you will go."

To their surprise Sloan dug into his pocket and drew out the bronzed symbol that made it plain to everyone that he held the authority of law behind him. That and his two men cocked their muskets and stepped toward them. “Ok...everyone just calm down!” the Oracle intoned as others drew up and formed a crowd around them. Amy could not help her powers however and his hand on her arm made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. She shook in terror as she felt the emotions of hate and cruelty spill out of him. She trembled, visibly and tried to shy away from him but he instead tightened his grip and drew her closer. “I will take this...child...for questioning,” he said loudly and in a very authoritative voice. "Interfering with me in this will not go well for you!” He said.

“You have no right!” The Oracle retorted outraged. “I have every right! The man I seek is a danger to all and a murderer! To withhold his whereabouts is to invite death and disaster to you and yours! Know this, to harbor Nathan Carver is a crime!” He said in a very dark, angry tone and indeed he looked angry and spoke Nathan’s name with such contempt he spat the words out at them. Murmurs of fear and worry were heard around the room as well as frightened faces by man and woman alike. “Sa...Sabella!?” Amy pleaded in a terror filled voice as tears ran down her cheeks. She loved and respected Nathan. If this man made her talk...

Sabella felt anger fill her heart as she watched this man continue to hold onto Amy's arm. Amy was clearly frightened and Sabella cared for Amy like a sister. She was NOT going to allow him to take her anywhere.

"I am warning you to let Amy go," she told him sharply. Sloan only sneered at her and Sabella's blood began to boil. Suddenly the objects in the hallway began to tremble and shake. A vase flew from a small hallway table straight at Sloan's head.

Sloan’s face went pale and he looked at Sabella in disbelief. “She’s...a witch! Shoot her...SHOOOOT HERRRR!” He said and pointed a shaky finger at her as he stabbed his small knife into Amy’s side. Just as he said that the two men near the door drew up their muskets and pointed them at Sabella! Then everything seemed to happen at once. Students and adults alike seemed to scatter in all directions though Jarvis, Big Ben and the other guardians remained and drew weapons. Right then the door opened and Nathan appeared. The two men by the door were caught offguard and their eyes grew large when they saw him. “Sloan!!!” Nathan growled in a voice that did not seem like that of a man. As the two men shifted and tried to swing their muskets around to aim at him he drew out his knives. With one, the man that was faster he attacked his rifle. He used his blade to tilt it upward as he pulled the trigger. The musket fired and the discharge made a large ‘CRACK’ in the room. The bullet hit the ceiling and plaster fell down onto the floor. Nathan shifted quickly and he drove his blade right into the slower man’s throat.

Sabella saw two of the guardians pointing pistols in Nathan’s direction. The Oracle only looked on in horror as the events unfolded around him. “Sabella!” Her father said in alarm. If they killed Nathan, everything he had seen would come to pass. But there was nothing he could do right then. Sloan fled into the mass of people that scattered. One moment he was right there, the next he wasn’t and no one in the room appeared to even look like him. She saw his coat on the floor though by Amy who dropped to the floor and who seemed to still be alive but blood was pouring out of a wound on her side.

Sabella's eyes grew wide in horror as Sloan stabbed his knife into Amy's side. Fear and anger flowed through her as she looked at Sloan and then at his two men who pointed their muskets at her. All around her everyone began to scream and run in all directions. Sabella didn't move. She seemed glued in one spot. She suddenly found herself wanting Nathan near. She felt afraid and needed him. Then, as if he had heard her thoughts, he threw open the front door. He looked wild and dangerous, but she never once felt afraid of him. She knew he wouldn't hurt her. The men shifted to point their guns at Nathan, but Nathan had his knives out and attacked the men. Sabella heard one of the muskets go off and plaster from the ceiling fell to the floor, but Nathan was unharmed and quickly sank his knife into the other man's throat.

Suddenly, Sabella looked over to see two other men pointing their pistols at Nathan. She heard her father yell out her name, but everything to her seemed to slow down. She feared Nathan might be killed in front of her and she could not let that happen. She could not watch as another man she...loved died in front of her. A sudden wave of power flowed through her and both of the pistols shot out of the men's hands and slid across the floor. Then, a large table in the hallway lifted up and flew across the room, hitting both of the men simultaneously. The men were thrown back into one of the walls, knocking them both unconscious.

Sabella stood there for a moment, feeling the intense power flow through her. Everything in the estate was shaking from it. Finally, it stopped. Sabella looked over and saw Amy and immediately ran to her side.

"Amy!"

She looked at her and ripped part of her blouse to hold over the wound to try and stop the blood as best she could.

"You're going to be alright...just stay calm. Someone find Rose!" she yelled out. Rose's powers enabled her to be able to heal the sick and wounded.

However when she looked around, no one was left on their feet. She had shaken them all off balance and some held their heads as they tried to stand. Nathan plunged his knives into the first man and then slash him in the neck and high on the leg. Blood flowed from several wounds and it was clear he wouldn’t live long as Nathan tried to regain his balance. “Sloan!” he growled again but there was no sign of him. As his vision cleared he saw Sabella and then looked down and saw Amy. The Oracle stood slowly and was helped by two women who had fell near him.

It was not easy to hold himself back from running out after Sloan but he didn’t really know where he went and Sabella’s expression looked dire. He crossed his arms and replaced his blades in their holsters as he moved hastily up to them.

“You tyring to bring the whole house down!?” He said angrily at Sabella, but he knew full well it wasn’t her that he was upset with. Sloan was here which meant he now knew he was here. Amy went limp suddenly in Sabella’s arms but she could still see her breathe. He went onto his knees and lifted Amy’s head. He could not keep the grave look out of his face as he leaned forward to feel her breath on his cheek. “Oh not this...please not this,” he murmured as he realized she was still alive. He kissed her cheek and squeezed his eyes shut in thanks that she was not gone. Rose arrived quickly though she looked just as disheveled as everyone else. Several people were actually hurt but not seriously it seemed.

Several hours later, Sabella sat alone in her rooms trying to understand everything that had happened. Thankfully, Rose was able to heal Amy and she was now resting in her room. No one had been seriously hurt by her sudden power surge, but it had upset her nonetheless. The last thing she ever wanted was to hurt those she cared about with her powers.

She sat with her untouched cup of tea by the fireplace in her room just staring into the flickering flames. Who was Sloan? What had Nathan done and how had Sloan found him? What did all of this mean for her father...the others...herself? All of these questions swirled around in her mind as she sat there alone.

Nathan checked up on Amy who was resting in her bed. Rose’s healing took a lot out of you and left a person weak and very hungry. Now it was up to her own body to heal her the rest of the way. He hugged and kissed her when he left her. He knew he was not thinking clearly when he came here. Now his heart felt for several people who lived here and he knew he was well and goodly caught. He still knew he needed to leave but also he could not. What was coming was death itself if he did not prepare these people and Sabella. He never understood why The Oracle had told him that he was going to die but in times when he thought of it it brought him a sense of peace he wouldn't of have felt otherwise.the hard part, the real tragedy he felt was that he was beginning to fall for her. She was young but her courage and strength and willful being made him think her a tigress and a woman who he could love and respect. Life was altogether unfair! 

He knocked and paused before he heard her voice say to come in. He noticed that she shifted when she knew it was him and also that she had a full cup of tea that she hadn't touched. 

“Amy is going to be fine...and repairs are already underway,” he reported. She looked up at him but he could not make out her expression. He sounded so… official right then though he didn't know why. When it looked as if she didn't quite know what to say he nodded. “Well, I’ll let you,” he began as he was afraid he was bothering her and took a step back toward the door.

Sabella was glad to know that Amy was going to be alright. She wouldn't want to imagine what might have happened to her if Rose hadn't been there. It was a scenario she didn't want to picture. She remained quiet and looked at Nathan as a thousand thoughts and feelings swirled around in her head and heart. Suddenly, he took a step back towards the door and she realized she did not want him to leave. She wanted him to stay...with her. She stood and looked at him.

"Please...don't go," she said softly, desire visible in her eyes.

Her voice, the deep, needful look on her eyes.hey called to him. She called to him, her heart called to him. Slowly he drew the door closed then turned to face her. He drew himself down onto his knees before her and took her warm hands into his. A thousand things were going through his head right then and also brought his heart. Did he have the right to love her? Knowing hat his end was not just one outcome but ‘The’ outcome: he drew her hands to his lips and kissed them and rubbed her hands upon his face. 

He scent was a clean, flowery scent with a bit of sweetness added in. “Sabella…” he said softly and with more than a little bit of smoky heat to his voice.

Nothing more was said for quite some time. An hour later Sabella lay in Nathan's arms in her bed. One of her arms was draped across his chest as she lay partially upon him. Their clothes were strewn about the room and the sheets of her bed were twisted about them. Sabella's body lightly glistened with sweat and her dark hair was still slightly damp. Her heartbeat had slowly returned to normal and now she lay content in her lover's arms. Outside, darkness had long since fallen and the estate was dark and quiet. Sabella wanted to sleep, but her mind was still plagued with questions. Finally, she sat up gently and pulled the sheet up around her body. She was quiet a long moment as she looked down at Nathan before speaking quietly.

"Nathan, why is Sloan looking for you?"

Making love to Sabella was wonderful. Lazily he laid with her half upon him. He never believed he could be so happy as now and so very sad. He finally meets a woman he could spend his life with, a very lovely woman, and it was him that would be leaving her. 

Her words had caught him off guard but now...now perhaps what he had never told his soul. The secret he had held inside of him for so long...didn't have to be, he thought and so he began to tell her.

He explained about Myrna and how they met and how he learned of her powers. They had married and were expecting their first child. Sloan was the village magistrate and he had coveted Myrna from afar. His wife had died years ago from a sickness and her death had made Sloan suspicious and cruel. He had a son who he loved very much but when Myrna had saved one of the villagers life by using her powers she was put in irons as a witch and summarily burned at the stake while he was away delivery tools that he had freshly smithed for a farmer.

“I...I lost everything, Sabella. And then Sloan tried to force me to confess. For days they torchered me..whipped me, beat me and worse,” he continued. He had a small burn scar on his chest and he felt her fingers skim across it as he spoke about the pincers and hot pokers. “And then I escaped. And in my anguish and rage I...I set their homes, everyone I could get to on fire. They were all there when they cursed her name and spat on her and left her to burn I burned them in return. Sloans son had been one of those that died. I won't say I didn't want to kill them but I did then. He won't stop until he sees me burn. The problem is that he so blinded by revenge that he doesnt care if the whole world burns with me,” he said as he slid the tips of his fingers lightly down her back. 

“Me being here now endangers everyone,” he said after a short pause. But then stopped before he said to much.