Chapter 2

"Mom, why can't we stay at the Guild?" Sparrow asked, dropping her doll onto the carpet in front of her. When she got comfortable kneeling in front of her mother so her hair could be brushed, she picked up the doll again. It was one of those silly Hero dolls her father collected, in the shape of a muscular South Island native named Thunder.

"Because. When we had you guys, we promised that you would live a relatively normal life. Away from all that… nonsense. It took a toll on your father. If he lived a normal life, he would have lived longer, like that Weaver." Elvira said, trying to get her squirming daughter to sit still.

"But mom, I'm eight now. In a few years I may lose the chance to be a Hero. I want to be a master of will! Just like William Black!" Sparrow squealed as the brush went through her hair.

"Honey, William Black was a raging psychopath with a need for power who ultimately destroyed that 'wonderful' old kingdom you rave about." Elvira sighed, brushing her sweet child's hair.

"Fine. I'll be Nostro then! He founded the Hero's Guild and made the arena where you fell in love with Daddy!" Sparrow said excitedly.

"I wish you would choose a more normal role model, darling. How about Cinderella? She cleaned for a long time then became the wife of a prince. There. Perfect life for you, a princess!" Elvira said, hoping to dissuade her daughter.

Before Sparrow could reply, Little came back into the house, covered in dirt. Rose was giggling behind him.

"Oh my! What on Albion did you get into?" Elvira asked.

"The chickens didn't like being kicked, mom!" Rose smirked.

Elvira then made a warm bath for her son, shooing the two girls from the room. After his bath was over, Little went upstairs and retreated into his room.

"Everyone going to bed now?" Elvira somewhat shouted in the upstairs hallway.

"Yes, momma!" Was the reply.

"Good. Now if you need anything, by Avo, don't bother me about it! Just… call for your nanny." Elvira said, going down the stairs. She didn't bother to remember the nanny's name, she would most likely find a little fault with her and fire her by the end of the week. She never needed a nanny when the Hero of Oakvale was alive…

Lady Elvira Grey sighed at the flash of memories this house contained. It seemed like only yesterday that she was pregnant with the twins, commanding a million working men around to get Grey Manor into her ideal family home. If she had known her husband had sold some of his legendary weapons to get enough gold to remodel the place, she wouldn't have made such outrageous demands. Then again, it kept Lady Grey from selling the local school's library again. But still, it wasn't like they really needed that ornate garden or the brood of chickens. Those were little things to keep the kids busy. But there was one part of the house she felt was a mixed bag. The basement. While she was no Will practitioner, she had a pretty firm grasp on making all kinds of potions. These things were labeled by the clueless locals as witchcraft. Which it wasn't, to be honest. The only reason she was called a witch was because of that awful business with Jack of Blades and her sister… But that was over a long time ago. She was a changed woman now. And she liked her simple alchemy. She was the one who made sure her husband had a full inventory of resurrection files and health potions before every battle. But she was also scared of what the citizens of Bowerstone would do to her if they knew of this basement… Nonetheless, Elvira Grey slipped into the basement to spend hours among her concoctions.

"Sparrow, why are you bothering me?" Rose mumbled, sitting up in her bed.

"I heard something." Sparrow whispered, climbing into Rose's queen sized bed.

"Something like… what?" Rose asked. She was curious now.

For a moment, Sparrow said nothing, letting silence slip into the room. There was a faint little sound, like someone was playing a lullaby on a piano. Except more mechanical and harsh than a typical lullaby. Rose's ears perked up at the sound, confused on where the sound came from. Sparrow, without saying a word, got up and went to the window. An odd light illuminated her face that didn't come from the moon. Sparrow then pointed out the window, a surprisingly calm look on her face. Rose came to her side to see what the object of her pointing was.

"Music." Sparrow whispered, putting her hand down so that Rose could see the lone figure of a cloaked woman standing under a tree. Rose stared for a moment, then her eyes met a great line of lit torches.

Without thinking, Rose grabbed her sister's arm and dragged her to Little's room.

"Little, get up! Little!" Rose yelled, trying to get Sparrow to cooperate.

"Wha…? Ugh..." Little mumbled, rolling over in bed. Rose sighed and let go of Sparrow's hand in order to rouse her brother.

After getting Little up, Rose turned to where Sparrow stood. But she was gone. Rose could see her blonde head going down the hallway.

"SPARROW!" Rose screamed as an explosion hit the side of Grey manor.

Servants ran about the whole manor, scared out of their minds.

"Mama!" Little cried, too scared to cry for someone else. "Where's mama?!"

"She'll be safe, I know she will. But first we have to get out of here." Rose lied. She honestly was worried about her mother. But the safety of her siblings and her own person had to come first. That's the way her mother would want it.

A cluster of men with long coats, oddly shaped hats and rifles came storming through the hallway. Rose's instinct was to find a place to hide. But Little had a different idea. He sneaked past the men, using the darkness of the hallway to conceal his path. He stopped as one man tripped, and seemingly poked the man until he got back up. The men ran past him without noticing. In fact, they ran past everyone without caring. They were looking for something…

Rose caught up with her younger brother and the duo ran outdoors. They ran until Little tripped over a tree branch. As Rose was helping him up, she looked up to see the back of Sparrow's head. Then voices were heard.

"You consorted with Jack of Blades to kill your own sister!" A man's voice said, with a bunch of echos supporting his words. "We are to make sure Albion never suffers again, and you are a liablity!"

There was silence, and a swoosh. Then the mob started shouting a victory cry. Sparrow dropped down to her knees, screaming. But the cries of the men were so loud she went unheeded.

Then Rose saw what had become of her own mother. She saw the head first. That's when she covered Little's eyes. It was too late to cover Sparrow's eyes, she had watched this foul act occur. The men seen running about the house had multiplied outside their house. And now they were wrapping up their dead mother's body in some kind of fabric. Well, not the body as a whole. They used very sharp axes and cleavers to disassemble Lady Elvira Grey.

Rose let go of Little's head for a moment and puked. She couldn't take it. The sight was too disgusting.

"Hey! Her kids! Grab 'em!" One of the mob members cried, running towards the three. Sparrow didn't move, and Rose grabbed her by the shoulder. Rose stood, one sibling under one arm and the other under the second arm. Little pulled out the small adult pistol and shot the man in the torso when he got close enough.

"Ack! The bloody bloke has a gun!" The man screamed, falling over in agony. He was dead in seconds. Some of the mob members shrugged and decided to try to intimated the children by going in to surround them.

Rose and Sparrow screamed in fright at the sight of their own brother with a gun.

"What? I grabbed it off one of those guy-thingys. Ironing." Little said. Rose rolled her eyes despite their situation. He was trying to say 'irony' – it was a word their mother taught them in his impromptu English classes. But he apparently never learned.

Weaver suddenly appeared in front of them.

"Come with me!" Weaver yelled, holding out his hand. Rose immediately grabbed his hand and she watched as a bluish white glowing wind surrounded what remained of her family as well as Weaver.


A/N: Meant to post this earlier, but oh well... better late than never. Guess who the guild teacher is...? Never mind, don't bother.