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Shadowsteps	By : vsvigalante Category: DC Verse Comics > V for Vendetta Views: 912 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own V for Vendetta, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Chapter 6--All His Yesterdays

Jazlyn paced the floor of her bedroom angrily. What V had admitted to had upset her greatly. What had been done to him at Larkhill that scarred his soul so badly? Jazlyn sighed, looking at Shadow. “ I think it's time we paid a visit to Larkhill and find out what really happened to V.”

“ Do you think that is wise, Mistress?” Shadow's green eyes held hers.

“ I need to know, Shadow.” Jazlyn paused,” I need to know what made V become what he is today.”

“ As you wish.”

“ Are you ready?”

“ Yes, Mistress. “ The cat moved close to Jazlyn's leg.

Jazlyn raised her arms and slowly began the incantation for the teleportation spell.

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Delia Surridge looked at the scene that lay before her. The old medical wing of Larkhill lay in ruins, gaping holes in the walls, witnesses' to the destruction of the wing years ago, and she wondered how anyone could have survived the fire. It also pained her that her entire life's work had been destroyed that night also. She wandered over to what had once been the center's garden, and stood in amazement at the flowers and plants that had lived. She smiled, remembering how beautiful it had once been. Vegetables and fruit trees had thrived and multiplied in the large plot of land, along with the most beautiful roses she had ever seen. Delia remembered how reluctant Prothero had been when she had suggested that he let the man in room five try his hand at the garden. She had explained that the experiments had left him totally insane--no danger to himself or others--so she had thought-- until the night of December 24th. She and several other doctors were in the mess when the first explosion ripped through the medical wing. Shaking her head, Delia tried to shake the memories from her mind , but yet they still remained. Glancing around, a splash of red color broke through the surrounding debris and pulled her towards it. A lone rose bush bloomed among the destroyed walls. She stooped and pulled the rose to her nose. It was one of his roses--a Violet Carson-- or what was left of them--and she smiled, still knowing they were the most lovely ever grown. She still thought about the man in room five every once in awhile. The last time she had seen him had been in the courtyard that December night, naked, standing amidst the flames, just staring at her--his eyes never leaving hers. She had often wondered if he had survived that night, or if he, himself, had become a victim of his own madness. Straightening up, she released the rose, and made her way back to her car. She paused by the car door momentarily, looking out over the ruins of the center, then drove off slowly, never looking back. Jazlyn appeared with Shadow from the ruins and watched the car disappear into the distance.

“ Who was that, Mistress?” Shadow asked, moving away slightly.

“ I don't know, but she was involved with what ever happened here.” Jazlyn answered walking into the open as Shadow began to explore. “ Don't roam to far, my love.”

“ Yes, Mistress.”

Jazlyn moved to the building she had seen the large hole in, and laid her hand on the brick wall. Almost immediately, her mind began filling with images. She found herself standing by a table, a journal before her, a woman sitting, pen in hand.

' Prothero has hand picked my subjects. There are forty-eight total, none of which will be of any good to me if I can't start my work soon.'

A new scene unfolded in her mind's eye, and she found herself watching as a line of people were injected with a series of shots. Other scenes appeared--ones of ovens loaded with the remains of dead detainees--then, she was walking down a drab, aseptic hallway, accompanied by an armed guard. She could see the woman plainly now. Definitely a doctor of some sort--suddenly, she recognized her as the same woman she had seen earlier at the ruins. Jazlyn saw the name tag on the white lab coat--' Dr Diana Stanton'. Dr. Stanton stopped in front of a door marked with the Roman numeral V ( for five) and peered through the small chicken wire glass window in the door. She was joined then by a middle-aged man.

“ Interesting case?” He asked.

“ Fascinating case.” Stanton smiled at him. “ Physically, there seems to be nothing wrong with him. No cellular abnormalities, nothing. “ She motioned for the guard to unlock the door. In a minute, both she and the man stood in the doorway. In the back, just on the edge of the room's shadow, sat the man in room five, silently staring back. Jazlyn knew it was V.

“ But, “ Stanton continued, ” Batch Five, however, seems to have brought on some kind of psychotic breakdown. He's quite insane.”

“ That's what I've heard. “ The man replied, “ Even Lilliman won't go near him--says he's the devil himself.”

Stanton laughed as she motioned for the guard to re-lock the door as the scene faded from Jazlyn's mind, only to be replaced with one of fire and total destruction. Men and women clutch at their throats as they tumble out into the yard, dropping to the ground, gasping and vomiting. Jazlyn watched as a back door was kicked open, and Dr. Stanton emerged, following two guards. She watched as men ran from the building screaming, collapsing, dying in a yellow-green haze that seems everywhere, then, Stanton, turned in time to see a silhouette crossing the yard, back lit by a curtain of fire. The man stopped, naked, and stared at her. She seemed to wilt under the stare, but could not look away. It was the man in room five--it was V--and Jazlyn gasped, still watching as Stanton continued to stare. You could see the burns across the naked body as he raised his arms and screamed. Was it in pain or revenge?-- Jazlyn nor Stanton had no idea as they watched him disappear from view, then the girl sank to her knees, sobbing as the visions stopped, now knowing what V kept buried so deep inside his soul. She now also understood what drove him and his vendetta--she had to get back to the Shadow Gallery--she had to tell him she knew.

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Eric Finch turned the car off and waited a moment before walking toward Delia's building's front door. He had known the coroner for some time now, and considered himself to be a friend. He felt it was his duty as a police officer to let her know that she could be in danger from the terrorist. Prothero and Lilliman he would get to later--right now, Delia was his first priority. Walking up to the door, he pushed her intercom button and waited.
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Gordon Dietrich hummed to himself as he began fixing dinner. He always felt at home in the kitchen-- cooking was one of his true loves.

“ I hope I'm not intruding.” Came a voice from behind him, the eggs he had held in his hand, dropping onto the floor in a loud spat.

“ I do wish you would quit doing that, old man. You're going to bloody give me a heart attack one of these days!”Gordon exclaimed turning around, a wide grin on his face.

“ I apologize, dear friend.” V bowed his head before removing his hat.

“Please, sit...” Gordon motioned to one of the chairs by the table. “ What brings you out on an evening such as this?” He took V's soaking cloak from him and hung it over a chair by the fireplace, then returned to the kitchen.

“ I ...” V hesitated, ”I have a problem, Gordon”

Dietrich's eyebrow rose.” You, New London's most famous vigilante, has a problem?” Gordon's smile widened. “ It wouldn't have to do with the young lady that was photographed with you in the alley, would it?”

V's head lowered, and he sighed. “ Yes.”

Gordon looked across the table at his friend. “ Who is she?”

“ Her name is Jazlyn Sommers.” V replied, resting his hands on the table top.

“ She is very beautiful, from what I can see from the photo.” Gordon watched his friend closely. Lord, what he would give to see V's face under that mask right now!

“ Yes, she is.” V humphed under the mask.

“Is she staying with you?”

“ Yes.” The masked man answered.

“ And the problem with that being...?.” Gordon motioned with his hands.

“She is a witch.” V replied calmly.

Gordon laughed. ” I've known a few of those in my lifetime!”

V's posture never changed. ” She is a witch, my friend--a real one--one who has a black panther as a guardian-- one that bloody well almost attacked me!”

Gordon's smile faded, he could always tell when V was being serious, and right now, he was being dead serious! “ A witch?”

“A witch.” V repeated.

“There hasn't been a Wiccan coven in New London since Sutler had them all rounded up years ago.”
Gordon said.

“ She is from the past.” V explained, “ From 1999, a citizen of the now disbanded United States.”

“Good lord, what is she doing here?” Gordon cringed at the thought of Creedy's men getting hold of her.

“She traveled to the future to escape persecution of her kind.” V paused, looking at his friend, “ She, like me, was also imprisoned.”

“ Prison?” Gordon repeated, stunned at what V had just said.

“ Yes, one called Salem.”

“ Oh my god...” Dietrich breathed slowly, ” I've read about that place, hundreds died there over a five year period--some even said that was what started the second civil war.”

V nodded his head.

“ Does she know about you?”

“ I assume she does, she has searched Fate's database on Larkhill.”

“ Well, she won't learn much from there.” Gordon smiled. “ You know, I would like to meet this fascinating young woman.”

V chuckled under the mask. “ Consider yourself invited for dinner, then”

“ I'll be there with bells on.”

V stared at Gordon, not moving a muscle.

“ Alright then, ” Gordon sighed, “ no bells. ”

V tilted his head. “ Oh yes, the other reason I came by...” Reaching into his cloak, he pulled out a book, heavily embossed in gold binding. “ A copy of the Koran.”

Gordon's eyes began to mist over as he took the book from V. “ Oh my...” He gently opened it, taking in every drawing and wording on several pages before closing it again.. “ I ...I don't know what to say. ”

“ Then say nothing, my old friend. It is just a gift.” V spoke quietly as he threw the cloak around his shoulders, tying it in place.

“ Thank you, V.” Gordon wiped a tear away. “ It shall be taken well care of.”

“ Around seven, then? ” V asked, replacing his hat.

“ I'll be there.” Gordon rose as his friend opened the living room window that over looked the balcony and the ladder leading to the rooftop. “ Be safe, my friend. ” He watched as V scaled the ladder to the roof and disappeared into the wet darkness.

---------------

Jazlyn studied the mirror in the gallery next to the statue of Venus de Milo. “ Vi veri veniversum vivus vici...”

“ By the power of truth, I , while living, have conquered the universe.” V's voice broke the momentary silence.

“ V, you startled me.” Jazlyn turned to him. “ Faust, right?”

“ Good.” He answered.

“I want to apologize for this afternoon. “ She began, looking at her hands, ” I was way out of line. I'm sorry.”

V tilted his head toward her. ” Apology accepted.”

“I...I, ” She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. ”I went to Larkhill today, V.”
He stood still, motionless, listening.

“ I know, V. I know what happened at Larkhill--to the inmates,” she stopped again, averting her eyes from the Fawkesian mask, “ and to you.” She added softly, catching his eyes once again.

There was along silence between them before V spoke. “ I have a friend coming for dinner tonight. Please have Shadow try not eat him.”

“You have a friend? ” Jazlyn asked.

“ Yes.” V's voice had a touch of annoyance in it. “ Someone I have known for several years. The gentleman's name is Gordon Dietrich.”

“ The guy from tv. ” Jazlyn recognized the name from a show she had been watching over the last couple weeks.

“ I will be in the kitchen making preparations for tonight's dinner, if you need me.” V turned and walked away.

Jazlyn sighed as she watched him. ” That went well...” She mumbled starting toward her room. They were having a dinner guest. Finally, someone she could eat with—nothing against V, she really enjoyed his company, but having a mask staring at you while you ate became a bit unnerving after awhile. She wanted to look her best tonight for both men, so she decided on the black cocktail dress V had given her. She walked into the bedroom,and opened the armoire, placing the dress gently on the bed. Shadow looked up.

“ We are having a guest tonight, my love. I need you to be on your best behavior.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

“I know you will.” Jazlyn smiled as she scratched the panther behind her ears.”V is in the kitchen, if you would like to join him.”

Shadow jumped from the bed, disappearing out the door. Jazlyn smiled, Shadow had grown accustomed to V's presence, and now, barely left his side when he was in the gallery.

Walking into the bathroom, Jazlyn started the water running in the tub. She was looking forward to a long soak. The trip to Larkhill had drained her, and she felt tired. Hopefully, the bath would re-energize her, and she could enjoy the evening's festivities. Gordon seemed to be a funny man--she was looking forward to meeting him.
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Shadowsteps