All the Things You Never Knew

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Good morning. Good morning…Hello?

“Go away…” Avangelene murmured, turning away from the warm gush of wind waving in her face.

How annoying.

“That’s a nice way to greet a duke in the morning.”

Duke?

Avangelene’s eyes flickered open and she sat up abruptly as she remembered that the duke was present.

“What are you doing in here?” she asked, pushing him off the bed.

“Hey!” He tumbled off and quickly got on his feet, coming back at her. “What do you mean ‘what am I doing here?’ You slept with me.”

“What?” She shook her head in indignation. “I did not!”

Did she?

The duke smiled and laid both hands on her shoulders, pushing her back down to lie on the bed.

“What are you doing?” She pushed his hands away and tried to get back up, only to be pin down again. “Let me go!” she snapped.

The duke laughed and leaned down to gaze into her eyes. “Stop struggling. You weren’t like this yesterday.”

What?

“What do you mean I wasn’t like this?”

What the hell did they do last night? Avangelene couldn’t recall. All she remembered was telling this arrogant duke stories and then…nothing.

“I can’t believe you forgot,” said the duke as he stares her down.

She had to look away to not feel the effect of his stares burning upon her.

“It was something special that I hope you will never forget,” he added, as he turns her face slowly back to look at him.

“Do you always harass your friends’ sisters like this?” she asked, annoyed by this special little something that she couldn’t remember.

The duke’s face paled as she said that, but he only chuckle and smile at her.

“I’ll take that as a yes then.” Anything to irritate him off.

“God, no!” he blurted. “You’re the first.”

Well, she doesn’t like that fact.

“Please let me up, Duke.”

“Laguna, not Duke,” he corrected her.

Avangelene rolled her eyes and looked at him, trying to fight the rising madness in her. “Okay, Laguna. Please let me up so we can talk.”

“Now that’s more like it.” He got off and without a warning; Avangelene sends a punch up and knock him square in the jaw.

“Ow!” He tumbled back and rubbed at his jaw. “What in the devil was that for?”

Avangelene got up and picked up the cover that had slipped to the floor. “That, Duke, is for harassing me,” she said, folding up the sheet and placing it across her pillows.

“My apology, then,” he said, straightening up on his feet. “I thought you will be gentle like you were last night.”

“Nothing happened last night!” she snapped. “Stop saying that.”

Nothing.

He just looked at her and smiled. He must really be enjoying himself.

Stupid man. Mere stranger and yet...he acts like he's a friend who she have known for years.

“It’s weird. I've only woken up to know you for a while and here I am…infatuated with you already. How does this happen, can you tell me?”

How ridiculous.

“Cause you're a dumbass,” was all she said.

“You like to swear a lot,” he told her. “I find it odd for a woman to, but I guess it’s human nature.”

“Is it?” Avangelene was beginning to think so, too. She couldn’t control her temper, or her language with him.

He nodded in response and gave a heavy sigh before falling back on her bed.

“After your senseless stories,” he began. “I was surprised you fell asleep before me.”

“I did?” She probably did. She’d been so exhausted after handling some businesses with her companions, Drake and Simeon, before coming back to handle things here and meeting this annoying duke before her.

“You look so enchanting when you’re asleep,” he went on saying. “You were much nicer, too.”

“Really?” She raised an eyebrow at him and smile. “How so?” As much as she dislikes this duke for his arrogance and the annoyance he caused her, she will have to admit, he rather warms her with his comments.

He looked at her bemused, and shrugged. “The way you talk?”

“What?” She was stunned to hear. “I…talked?”

“You said…a lot of nice things. To whom? I have no idea. But for sure it’s not me.”

“Oh?” Interesting. “What did I say?”

He gave another shrug again and closed his eyes. “I don’t know. Something like ‘come back, I’m still here.’ And then something with good-byes, plus some other stuff. But,” he opened his eyes and looked at her, “the one I remember most of all, and clearly as if you’ve just said it again, was ‘get well, Laguna.’”

“What?” She had to let out a laugh as he said that. That was considered nice? “Did I now?”

His shoulders rise and fell. “If I’m not mistaken.”

“You are so amusing, Laguna,” she laughed. “All right, I’m getting breakfast for us.”

“You are?” He seems shocked from her reply.

Avangelene chuckled and smiled at him. “I’m not that evil to let my guest starve even when I don’t appreciate their presence. Nor would I starve myself, mind you.”

“I see.” Despairs hinted in his voice, making Avangelene feel bad for having to say that she didn’t appreciate his presence.

“I’m sorry. How’s your wound this morning? Any pain?”

“Not as much as yesterday. Stitches still intact.”

“That’s good. If you still want to rest, do so. I’ll go wash up now and call on you when breakfast is ready. Leon might come to get you, too. You don’t want to travel on an empty stomach.”

He nodded and she walked out, leaving him alone.

Laguna stared after Avangelene as she paced out the door and sighed.

“What the hell did you bloody fool just do?” he asked himself, punching his head lightly. He didn’t mean to, how did Avangelene put it, ‘harass’ her or anything. He just…It just feel so…different.

Leon’s sister just makes him feel so…out of control. She makes him do things he will never thought to do, not with his best friend’s sister, that is. He knows that they have only met for less than twentyfour hours, but it’s as if he can be himself around her and not a duke with duties and missions to run. He like how she treats him like a normal human being and not like how other woman does because he was a duke.

But yet, he feels, that there’s something. Something in her heart that makes her so cold towards him. Like an old grudge against someone. A past love, perhaps.

He recall back to the words she had spoken in her sleep.

Don’t do it, she had said. Laguna was startled when he first heard her spoke. He’d thought she had awakened and was talking to him, but she only shifted to grab a hold of his arm. Come back…I’m still here.

The worse, he thought, came out of her as I love you.

How he’d wished it was for him. It seems too good to be true. Too fast for such words to be spoken.

Next came a good-bye from her. It was filled with longing and grief.

Had a lover left her? The thought seems absurd. He can never imagine her with a lover. Maybe a friend. That sounds much better.

Avangelene didn’t let go of him till her sleep was deepened again and her hand slid off. That was when she said it. Get well, Laguna.

It was dull and plain, but he had to smile at that memory.

As much as she despises him, she’s actually thinking about him in her sleep.

It took all his will and power to fight the urge of wanting to hold her while she sleeps. It makes him feel so guilty to want to do all the impossible things with her. If only she wasn’t Avangelene, Heartily’s sister, maybe he could be so much more than what he is now to her.

Laguna cursed himself, and slid off the bed.

He will go daft if he keeps thinking about it.

Avangelene.

He just doesn’t understand.

What exactly did she do to him?

Laguna shook his head again and stood up from the bed.

He has to get ready. Leon’s not coming. He must go off on his own. But first, he must eat.

Avangelene’s right.

He can’t travel on an empty stomach.

* * *

Bridlington

“Checkmate. I won, again!” Phoenix exclaimed, jumping up in joy at her victory against her brother.

“Isn’t that the fifth game of chess that you guys had played this morning?” said Blake. “I can’t believe you haven’t beaten Nix at any of them, Gabe.”

“It was just a little warm up that I’m giving her,” Gabriel snorted. “You’re going down the next round, Nix.”

“Whatever,” Phoenix answered, not taking it. “You know I have better strategies than you do. Losing five games in a row doesn’t meet the account of warm ups.”

“In my world it does,” Gabriel replied, resetting up the board. “Let’s see if you could beat me this time then.”

They were out on the porch enjoying the sun and savoring the last bit of warm weather they have. It’s in the middle of September and soon the cold would be coming.

“Hey, breakfast time!” Lavender called out to them from the kitchen window. “Come and eat!”

“I’m not going in to eat,” said Sheik as he rounded up from around the house to where Blake sat reading the morning paper. “You know how horrible Lavender cooks? I’d rather be eating black ashes. Where’s Avange?”

“She has been gone since Jack and they left,” said Blake. “Maybe she was disappointed because she couldn’t go with them.”

“I doubt it.”

“How about we go to Grayson’s tavern for a meal?” Chance suggested as he climbs down from the ladder on the side of their house from the roof. “Horace told me that Grayson has one of the best steaks in the house. Served twenty-four seven.”

“Seriously? Can I go, too?” Phoenix asked. “I’ll let Gabe beat me if you guys let me go.”

Her brothers look at one another and laughs.

“No girl’s allowed,” said Chance.

“And if you put it like that, dream on,” Gabriel laughed.

“Humph. I’m going to tell Lavender that you guys were making fun of her cooking, then.”

“Go right ahead. We will be far gone by the time you’re out,” Sheik answered. “I’m with you, Chance. Let’s go.”

As soon as Sheik said that, something suddenly flew pass him and crashed into the wall of their manor.

“What the–”

Everybody ducked down to take cover as more came by.

Blake stood up to take a quick look and jump back. “It’s a bullet! We’re under attack!”

“Quick! Inside to warn Lavender and Namine!” Gabriel said, dodging a bullet as he rolls towards the door to open it. “Hurry! Everyone inside.”

“What is happening?” Phoenix asked, pausing for a minute to look.

“You’re about to die,” Sheik said, pulling her in and shutting the door when everyone had made it in.

“I heard gunshots,” Namine said, running down the stairs to them. “What’s wrong?”

“We’re being attacked,” said Blake.

“By who?” asked Lavender as she joins them.

“I assume they’re the ones who captured Leon,” said Chance. “They do know where we are.”

“Great! Now our work on this house is going to go to waste,” said Sheik. He’d never gotten over the hard work he had to contribute to rebuilding their house from scratch. He had prefer living in Swale than coming back to an old slum, but now everything’s well and back to normal. He doesn’t want to lose it.

“Best way is to go out and fight,” said Phoenix. “I’ll like to use that sword that Gabe took away the other day to gut the hell out of some men. Leon’s pistol would come in handy as–”

“Little sister, you’re not going to gut any man,” said Gabriel. “Nor would you shoot anyone. Blake and we can handle this. You, Lav, and Nam just stay inside to be safe.”

“That’s so boring,” said Namine. “Surely we can make a few shot and lessen the enemies for you guys.”

“Right,” Lavender nodded.

“Have you gone nuts? You can’t even hold a gun,” Chance said to her.

“Chancy, I’m your other half. If I’m nuts, then you are, too,” Lavender replied. “We’re twins after all.”

“Well, you’re not a very strong one,” he answered, walking up the stairs. “But anyhow, let’s go get our battle gear and head out to the battle field before our house shatters.”

“Why don’t we let them shoot for a while until they run out of bullets?” said Phoenix. “That will give us the advantage.”

“Hell no!” Sheik blurted. “I’m not going to go through with the after effect with the house all pierced with bullets to tweeze out.”

“Well, there’s no time to argue. Let’s get ready,” said Blake as he headed up after Chance.

“Fine, Nix,” Gabriel said. “You may come get your sword, though I don’t think it’s going to block you from any bullets.”

“I do have a shield,” Phoenix answered. “But you and Sheik replaced it with a turtle shell the last time so I threw it away.”

“Sucks for you, then. You’re not touching any pistol,” he said. Then to Namine and Lavender, “Father’s rifle’s down in the storage room, third box from the bottom up. Leon’s pistol’s under his pillow. Run up to get it.”

They nodded and did as ordered.

“Gabe, you’re so mean!” Phoenix stomped. “I want a pistol, too.”

“You’re only eighteen, too reckless. You can’t touch it,” he said. “Just come up to get your sword.”

They all came back to gather at the door a while later as they got their weapons and peek out the window.

“Oh, my lord,” Namine gasped. “How many men are out there? Twenty? Sixty?”

“Good thing we’re stranded out in the country that no one would get hurt,” said Blake. “Are you guys ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” said Chance.

“Gabe, I want a gun,” Phoenix whined.

“No,” he said again. “How many times do I have to tell you? You get the sword; you wait in the house; you attack anyone that comes in, understand?”

“Ugh! That’s so unfair! You guys get all the fun.”

“Fun, my ass. We’re risking our lives out there. The least you can do is stay alive to tell Leon and them.”

“Ha! I’d rather die a heroine than be a coward hiding in the house,” she retorted.

Gabriel just shook his head and gesture for them to go out to take their places.

“Stay,” he said one last time to Phoenix, and left.

Phoenix threw her hands up in anger. “Great! While everyone goes out to be heroes, I’m staying in as a bloody loser! Thank you so much, Gabe!”

* * * “Night goes, morning comes, when are we going to find Leon?” Aidan asked as he stomps on the fire of their camp to put it out, and mounted up onto his horse. “Those abductors are too broad with just Islington. Do they actually believe that we will know where that is? If they want the bloody jewel, they will have to be more ‘pacific than that, like the ocean.”

“I have an idea,” said Jack. “We go back to London and find that

Lord Lansing’s mansion.”

“Are you crazy? London’s half an hour behind us now,” Edward

answered. “No thank you.”

“It’s the only way. We have to get him to take us, or one of his

servants who might know.”

“That’s not such a bad idea,” Aidan agreed.

“Yes, but think about it. He could be leading us to our deathbeds

instead of to Leon,” Edward argued. “It’s better if we just try to find

him ourselves and take matters to our own hands.”

“That will take days,” Jack said, urging his horse on the go. “I’ll

get to Lansing’s estate and force something out of his servants to

guide us through.”

“And if we come to meet the lord himself?”

“We give him whatever he needs to get to Leon. Simple as that.” “You never know. These high aristocratic lords are cunning with

greed. They will lie to get anything,” Edward said. “But if you put it

like that, we might as well give it a try. Anything to get him and

leave.”

“I doubt it’s going to be that simple,” said Aidan. “If they wanted

Leon for his jewel, they will want ours, too. We will be trapped.” “If that’s the case, then we will just have to make sure that their

plan doesn’t go through,” Jack said, knowing that it’s a great

possibility.

* * *

“No,” Rose said for the last time, when Leon dragged her off behind a tree and spoke to her of his plan. “I’m not going to let you kill yourself.”

Lord Longsword came in to hide behind the tree next to them. “What are you trying to do?” he asked Leon.

“He’s gone mad, Lord Longsword. He’s going to make a run

towards them and jump into that pond over there,” said Rose as she pointed over to the dark little pond not too far from where the men of Lord Lansing were coming from.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Longsword asked, disapprovingly. “Why would you–”

“That was only part of the plan,” Leon answered. “There’s another bit that I have to ask of you.”

“And what is that? I’m not letting you face them alone.”

“You’re not,” Leon answered. “I need your help in this, too.”

“What is it that I should do?”

“Do you happen to have any grenades left on you? I’ll need those for this.”

“Grenades?” It dawn on Longsword of what Leon’s plan was and he smiled. “You’re brilliant. I haven’t even thought about it. Let me check.”

He dug into his battle pouch and grinned as he found one.

“Lucky last one,” he said, handing it to Leon. “Better use it wisely.”

“Thank you.” He grabbed it and turned to Rose, giving her a brief kiss on the lips. “Stay strong,” he said. “I’ll be all right. If anything happens, run.” Then back to Longsword, “Get your gun ready. We’re going to have to fend off any survivor.”

“Leon,” Rose grabbed his arm and pulled him into a tight embrace before letting go. “Be careful.”

“I will.”

Leon turned to Longsword to give him a reassuring nod and dashed off to face the ferocity of Lansing’s army.

Bullets and arrows flew in all directions, aiming for his life.

“I’ve got to do this,” Leon said, rolling off and dodging every shot. He had spent all his life running from his enemies, now it’s time to face them and end everything. Even if this is only the beginning, as long as he gets through it, a happy ending would sure to follow. Nothing’s impossible unless you make it so.

“Go to hell, you of son of a bitch!”

With those words, Leon threw off the grenade as he got to the perfect spot, and as planned, jumped into the pond that lies between them.

“Leon!” Rose’s heart seems to have stopped when she heard the violent bursting of the grenade that Leon had took, and caught him diving into the pond. She almost couldn’t breathe at the fear that he would get caught up in the explosion.

“Lady Rose, I need you to stay here,” Lord Longsword told her as he took out his pistol and rubbed it clean against his pants. “Don’t come anywhere near us.”

And with that he ran off after Leon.

“Oh, my lord.” She was trembling in fear, and couldn’t make out of what to do except sit there and hope for the best to come.

Leon rise up from the pond and stared at the burning flames caused by the explosion. All the men of Lansing were down and scattered all over. A few, as expected, were up and still shooting the last of their bullets.

“I got this, Heartily,” Longsword called to him, and started shooting down the last of the survivors.

Leon swam over and jumped out to help with the final blow.

They had won the battle but the war has only begun.