All the Things You Never Knew

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Bridlington

“Oh what fun it is to watch while everybody dies…”

Phoenix sighed as she finished the last verse of her little make up song and stood up to go peek out at her siblings again.

Ten down, a hundred more to go, she exaggerated.

“Oh, dear,” she gasped, clutching her hand to her chest. “Lavender has such a bad aim. I could have made that shot.”

She twirled her sword around in her hand for a moment and then jump up as an idea hit her.

There are far too many men for her siblings to handle. With her as an addition to the team would knock them out faster.

Yes! She’s going to go out and help them despite what Gabriel said. Besides, he’s not the boss over her, nor the oldest of them all to be ordering people around. That’s Leon’s job.

“Hey, guys, I’m coming!” she hollered as she flung out the door and down the steps, running towards them.

Her siblings didn’t pay a mind, but Gabriel’s eye darkened at her.

There was a shot aimed at her before she was even aware, and it bounced of her sword, making her shriek.

“You little rascal. I told you to stay inside,” Gabriel said as he came over to help her.

“I can’t stay in and let you guys die. You know how guilty that would make me feel?” she said, pushing him away to fight against one of the man charging towards them.

Her sword clashed with the man’s bayonet rifle and it fell from his hand, giving her an advantage.

She planned to stab through him, but Gabriel made a shot that killed him off.

“I’m not letting you kill a man,” he said. “You’ll get nightmares.”

“No, I won’t,” she replied madly. “Don’t take my targets. I can well handle them.”

Gabriel just shook his head and stayed close to her.

“Trust me. You will have nightmares.”

“Then wouldn’t Namine and Lavender have nightmares?” she countered, hating to be the worry of everyone.

“They’re old enough.”

“For your information, I am eighteen, brother.”

Another man charged at them and Gabriel came in front of her to stop him.

“Move!” she bellowed, pushing him away, swinging her sword at the man.

“Stop it, little weakling. Let me handle this.”

Gabriel came back and took the stand against the man.

Phoenix sighed and ran off to find another target. Ones without guns, of course. She doesn’t have a quick pistol to get them before they get her.

“Nix, watch out!” Blake called to her after he’d made a shot at another man coming for her. She must have been the vulnerable looking one that they all think they can dispose of easily.

“Thanks, Blakey,” she said, giving him a thumbs up.

She really need a pistol, or rifle for all it matters.

She scans quickly to find her sister Lavender, the terrible shot, and ran off towards her, dodging a bullet.

“What are you doing out here? Didn’t Gabe tell you to stay inside?” Lavender asked, pulling her behind a tree to avoid the shots coming fast at them.

“I need that rifle,” Phoenix said, taking it from Lavender before she can protest and replacing it with her sword.

“I don’t know how to use this,” Lavender said, throwing the sword on the ground. “Give me back that–”

Phoenix cut her off with a shot, knocking down one of the man and she jumped up in joy.

“Hell, I made it! Thanks, Lav.” She gave Lavender a quick embrace and ran off to the battle field once more to face the wrath of the enemies.

“Phoenix!” Lavender picked up the sword and ran after her.

Phoenix was caught up in the shooting that she wasn’t quite aware of what’s coming at her.

“Grenades!” Gabriel rushed over and tackled her off as the explosive device burst behind them, causing a cloud of dust.

“Great! They’re bombing us!” said Chance.

“Our house!” was the concern from Sheik.

“Lavender!” Namine went over to where Lavender attempted to kill a man with Phoenix’s sword and shot him down.

“See, little sister? It’s dangerous,” Gabriel said, helping Phoenix up. “You should have stayed inside.”

“I can’t.” She fired with her rifle again and jumps up. “Bingo!” she exclaimed, shooting down three men.

Gabriel shook his head disapprovingly and grabbed the rifle from her.

“Hey! Give that back!” she cried, jumping up to get it but he held it away.

“Lavender!” he called, getting her attention.

Lavender came over and Gabriel exchanged the weapons once more.

“Here,” he gave Phoenix her sword again and made a quick shot at an attacker from behind her. “Go back inside,” he ordered.

“No!” she said, angry at how Gabriel’s always treating her like a child. “I’m staying!”

“Go!” he said, pushing her aside to fend off another attack.

She swung her sword at one of them and missed from Gabriel pushing her away again.

“For the last time, Gabe, I can do–” A gasp escaped her as a shot went off and hit Gabriel in the shoulder.

“Gabriel!” All her siblings cried, as they fend off the last of their enemy and rush over.

Gabriel clutched his shoulder where it got hit and winced in pain. “I-I should b-be all right.”

“Gabe!” Phoenix was filled with infuriation and worries. Why did he do that?

Angry, she picked up her sword and jump off to avenge her brother, stabbing right through the heart of the man that had made the shot.

“Gabe, you’re not dying, are you?” she asked, her hands trembling and voice shaking between sobs as she came back.

“H-heck n-no!” Gabriel said, though he was hurt. “T-this is nothing.”

“We better get you inside, Gabe, and treat your wound,” said Namine.

“Chance and I would handle this out here,” said Blake. “Sheik, you go with them and fight off anyone who tries to get near the house.”

“Aye, Cap’n,” Sheik saluted, and follow as Namine and them help Gabriel inside.

“I’m so sorry, Gabe,” Phoenix said, kneeling down beside him as he lies down on the couch. “I really am.”

“I-it’s… okay,” he answered, wincing as Namine pulled his shirt off to examine the gun wound.

“Lavender, bring me a tweezer or something to pull out the bull–”

“I will do it!” Phoenix said, running upstairs to get it.

It was her fault for not listening. Now her brother is hurt. He might even die of lead poisoning. She promises to listen from now on if he stays alive. But thinking on the bright side, she killed the shooter.

The thought made her feel like a heroine at the moment.

* * *

“Leon!” Rose ran forward and flung her arms around Leon as the battle of Lord Lansing’s men came to an end.

“We’re safe now,” he said, stroking her hair.

“Where do we go now?” she asked, stepping back to look at him.

Leon glanced at Longsword who just shrugs and walk away to let them have their privacy.

“Home, I suppose,” he replied.

Her eyes glimmer in delight. “Your home?”

He smiled and cupped her cheek. “Do you want to?”

“Yes!” she exclaimed. She hadn’t seen it for so long. “I would totally love to!”

Leon smiled and leaned down to kiss her softly on the lips. “Then we’ll go,” he said, taking her hands. “We’ll go drag the priest over and get married.”

“And I’ll be your wife! “ Her heart was filled with pure joy. “Oh, Leon, I’m so bliss!”

“We shouldn’t delay the moment any longer.”

Leon whistled out for Longsword to return and told him of their plan.

“Should I go get Hargate, then?” Longsword asked when they returned to the inn to get their abandon horses. “He wouldn’t want to miss the chance of being your best man.”

“No, Avangelene might take you for an intruder and shoot you,” Leon said.

Longsword gave out a laugh and cleared his throat. “I won’t risk it, then.”

“I’ll go back for him once we get to Bridlington,” said Leon. “I’ll have you both as my best men, though traditionally there’s only one.”

“Well, we’ll be breaking the tradition,” Longsword grinned.

“It’s going to take us a few days to get to Bridlington,” said Leon. “I don’t think Avangelene would mind Hargate staying a bit longer at her hideout.”

“His Grace is pretty charming,” Rose put in as Leon raise her up onto the horse. “Your sister should enjoy having him there. I mean, what lady wouldn’t want to have the company of a charming duke?”

Leon laughed ridiculously at Rose’s comment. “I doubt it. Avange is not like most ladies. She has no interest in men, especially if he’s a duke.”

“How can you be so sure,” said Rose. “Your sister and His Grace could be engaged in a tête-à-tête at this very moment.”

“My love, you have no idea,” Leon chuckled. “But that would be bad. Very bad.”

“What would you do, Heartily, if Hargate becomes your future brother-in-law?” Longsword asked. “Or I, for all that matters. Would you… approve?”

“Are you kidding me? My best friends, you and Hargate, as my brother-in-laws? That would never ever happen. Not if I have anything to say about it.”

“You’re so cruel, Leon,” said Rose. “Even if they’re in love?”

“I warned them before not to mess with my sisters,” Leon said, getting up behind her on the horse. “They should know the outcomes already.”

He winked at Longsword and presses the horse forward.

* * *

“I don’t think I’ve had a breakfast this good since I became responsible for the dukedom,” the Duke of Hargate replied, licking his fingers clean as Avangelene watches him eat. “I’ve been too busy.”

She wouldn’t have known that he was a duke if she had seen him like this without any knowledge of who he was. He’s not acting like a proper duke chewing loudly and licking every last morsel off the dish.

“I bet Leon and them always get to enjoy a warm, loving breakfast like this in the morning with you around.”

“Not always,” she answered. “I…have businesses of my own to tend.”

And now that he’d mentioned that, she remembered how she was supposed to be staying home to cook for her siblings.

Good, lord! What have they been eating while she’s here cooking for a duke? She had only meant to come here to rest from her duties, not nurse a duke. Oh well, her siblings are smart enough to figure something out.

“Thank you, Avangelene, for this wonderful breakfast,” the duke said, getting up and taking his dish over to the wash basin. “I’ll clean up and leave you to your business.”

He’s leaving? But Leon’s not even back yet.

“Sure,” was all she said as she pours herself a cup of tea. What was she to say anyway?

The duke finished doing the dishes and came over to sit back down across from her, pouring himself a cup of tea as well.

“It had been nice staying here even though you didn’t appreciate my presence,” he said as he took a sip of his tea. “But I’ll never forget you, and your kindness.”

Ha! She almost laughed at his sarcasm.

“Sure,” she answered again, and looked into her cup of tea. “So…you’re leaving, right?”

“Yes. Leon’s not going to come so I will go on my own.”

“What?” Leon wasn’t coming? “Are you sure? You’re hurt. He wouldn’t want you to wander off alone.”

Unfortunately, she doesn’t want him to either. She does have an inch of care for him in her heart after all.

“I will be fine. Less trouble for you so you should be happy,” he winked.

He looks so dazzling when he does that that Avangelene was struck dumb with her tongue tied.

“I guess,” she shrugged.

“Anyhow,” he started. “Would you mind leading me out of this place? I’m not quite sure where the exit is. Is there even a way out? I’m not familiar with this place. What is it called anyway?”

“Haven of Light,” Avangelene answered. That was the name that she had come up with the villagers’ approval.

“Haven of Light? Seriously, tell me what it’s called.”

“Do you not believe me?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

“Haven of Light sounds too fantastical.”

“Well, what do you know? This was a mere wasteland when I first found it.”

“You found this place?”

Great. She wasn’t going to waste her time explaining.

“Shall we go?” she asked, standing up and pushing in her chair. “If you’re ready, that is.”

“On second thought, would you take me on a tour around your Haven of Light first?” he asked. “It sounds rather intriguing.”

Seriously? She was hoping he will forget about it.

“I’m busy. Maybe next time,” she answered, though she well knew there’s not going to be a next.

“I doubt it,” he replied. He probably knew that there won’t be a next, too. “But I would love to take a tour if you ever change your mind.”

Avangelene just nodded and headed towards the door. “Are you coming?”

He looked at her for a moment and then followed after her as she steps out.

“Haven of Light. It’s quite sunny this morning,” the duke commented. “The name suits it well.”

“Obviously.”

She walks him over to the switch that releases the door to the exit and turned to face him.

“First things first, Duke,” she said. “You have to be blindfolded.”

“What?” He looked at her in astonishment. “That’s a jest, right?”

* * *

“Where in the name of God are you guys taking me?” asks a startle footman as he was abducted and thrown inside a carriage.

“Damn, this is a fine ride,” said Edward as he holds down the footman.

“These aristocrats do have some good stuff,” said Jack as he lay back on the seat. “Aide, you better drive nicely,” he called out to Aidan.

“Don’t worry. Just ask for direction,” Aidan called from outside.

Luckily, they found the Marquess of Lansing’s manor in less than an hour since he was well known. Not to mention that he was about to wed their brother’s old flame and has sent out invitation to almost everyone in London and beyond informing them so. They had decided to take his carriage and reined their horses onto it.

“What do you guys want?” asked the footman of Lansing that they had abducted.

“We’re cut-throats,” Edward said, just to intimidate the man. “We just want a few words with you. If you tell us what we wish to hear, then your life would be spare. If not, then you will get your throat slit and be gone to the other realm.”

That seem to have done the trick, for the footman’s eyes widened in fear and he started begging for his life.

Jack feels a tint of guilt for threatening an innocent old man like this but it’s the only option they have to get to their brother.

“Where’s Lord Lansing?” he asked the old man.

“Why is everyone looking for him?” the footman asked, struggling to get free from Edward’s grip. “Just the other day these two men threaten me to take them to him. Now it’s you guys?”

“What did you say?” Edward pulled him up to sit and pointed a pistol at him to stop the struggling.

“You said two men threaten you to take them to him? Whom, may I ask?” said Jack.

“Tell your companion to drop his gun first,” the footman replied. “You young lads never know how fragile an old man like me is. A pistol could scare the heartbeat out of me.”

“Ed, rest your aim,” Jack said, moving towards the old man. “Now speak.”

“I’m not quite sure who,” the footman replied. “But one seems to be a fine lord, though he’s a bit untidy, I don’t know why. The other is less of a lord, more of a commoner. Had on tight fitting clothes. Not much of a fashionable guy, I suppose.”

Hm…Jack wondered who those men might be. He was suspecting one of them to be Leon, but then Leon’s captured. It can’t be him. And the fine lord, who is he? Gareth Coleridge, the Earl of Longsword, or Laguna Black, the Duke of Hargate? It can’t be Laguna. He’s a duke and well known among people. It could be Longsword, but there’s no proof.

“Well,” Edward said. “Just take us to him and your life would be spare. You’ve got to be grateful for that. Cut-throats never let their victims survive.”