He stares intensely at me for a moment but then seems to come to a decision. "OK I'll quickly go tell the others." "No!" I protest. "Mum will freak, you know she will!" He stops for another moment contemplating. "OK, lets go!" We take off running around the front of the houses and along the lake. I cant help but gaze up at Reaver's Manor as we get closer to it. I wonder if hes home... No Niky! Don't even think about going there! I scold myself. I'm pulled from my thoughts when we arrive at the fighting.
Two guards are desperately fighting off six bandits and one of them is limping badly with what looks like a bullet wound in his leg. Kris and I start shooting our fire at the bandits as soon as we're close enough. Most of them go down or running after a couple of hits but one of the bigger thugs is more stubborn and keeps on throwing his bombs at us long after his friends have fled. We find we are actually pretty good at dodging the blasts and I feel like I can go on firing and dodging this goons bombs all night. I jump to the ground and roll to the side dodging another blast. As I jumped up I start charging my energy up for a throw and feel my power spike as I hold it in for a moment or two longer than ever before. I feel the massive release of power as I throw it towards the bandit and see the fatal blast hit him square in the chest. But not before he lets go of his final bomb that lands inches from my feet. Bang! Blinding light and pain take over my world as I go flying meters backwards and land on the ground. "Arrrgh!" My lower legs and feet are hot with scorching pain. I look down and see that my boots are ruined but still somehow in one piece. The bottom of my pants aren't much better. But my skin... I can see it through my singed pants. It doesn't really even look like skin anymore.
My mind reels and I swallow down nausea as I look away from my legs. They'll never be the same again... "Niky! Oh my god!" Kris runs to my side and looks at my legs in horror. I try to hide the fact that I wanted to beg him to kill me. To end this pain. I couldn't remember feeling anything in my life other than scorching pain. It filled my whole world as I writhed in my brothers arms. "Its going to be OK Niky, you're going to be OK. I promise!" One of the guards comes up to us slightly wounded but much better off than his companion. "Thank you so much for saving our lives. All of Albion will be ecstatic when they hear there are hero's in the land again. Well hero's other than Reaver that is ha ha... Oh are you OK? Ah how stupid of me, of course you're not. I'll go fetch some help shall I?" Kris looks angrily at the guard and says sarcastically "Ah, yeah that might be a good idea!." Before the guard can leave for help I cry out as I feel a different kind of pain growing deep within me. It only lasts moments but to me it feels like forever. I bite down on my lip as I struggle to handle the power and pain somehow working together. When I feel it weaken and finally disappear I lay back panting. I feel light headed and a bit drowsy and a light tingling sensation is covering my lower legs and feet. I look down and gasp as I see that my legs are fully healed. I see beautiful olive skin and put my fingers through my pants to feel it. Its as smooth and soft as its ever been... "Wow!" Kris exclaims as relief floods his face.
"Ah maybe you don't need help from silly old me, being a hero an all, how stupid of me ha ha..." rambles the guard. "Well I better go make sure Alberts OK. Unfortunately we can't all heal ourselves ha ha... Well thank you so much again." He runs off as Kris helps me to my feet. I'm about to call out to see if there was anything we could do for the injured guard when a man in a clean pressed suit addresses us from behind "Good evening Sir and Madam. Master Reaver has asked if you both would join him for a quick drink and a chat. He's always wanting to meet new people... especially new hero's. We don't come across many hero's these days. He would be honored if you would be his guests." Kris and I exchange looks. Ah oh, this can't be good. Nothing to do with Reaver can be good. Well maybe his looks... Nooo! I cant get mixed up with Reaver hes evil. And a total slut anyway, he would never be satisfied with just me... Hell probably me and three other people maybe. But wait...
Hmm, a thought comes to mind. But is it worth the risk? We need money. And Reaver is extremely rich... Well we're fairly desperate. I would do just about anything to keep my loved ones safe and alive. "And what if we don't want to be his guests?" Kris is saying to the man. "No Kris, its OK, I'll talk to him." He looks at me like I'm crazy but then a look of understanding crosses his face as he takes me a step or two away from Reavers help and whispers in my ear. "OK Niky. I know you have a total crush on Reaver but... in reality hes evil. You don't want to be with someone like that, his name means to steal and pillage for Christ sake!" I blush in horror and try to get my brother to trust and understand me. "I know exactly what you mean Kris. But he has a lot of money to spare and I think I may be able to offer him something in return." My brother gets a disgusted look on his face. Before he can protest I angrily interrupt. "Don't even think that I would do THAT! You know me! And I know I like him but your right. I know that he is evil! I couldn't be with someone like him." He can see hes upset me. "OK I'm sorry Niky. I just don't want you getting hurt." I sigh and prepare for a fight. "Its alright. And I don't want you getting hurt so... I'd like to see Reaver alone. Just in case he's just going to shoot us because were hero's or something." He begins to protest but I cut in. "Don't worry he can't kill me. I'll just heal and I'll kill him if I have to defend myself but... well it hurts. A lot. I don't want you going through that, and I'll probably be able to recover better from it now I know what to expect." He doesn't argue strait away but ends our whispered conversation as he looks me dead in the eye and says "Hell No!".
"How did Reaver know we were hear ah Sir?" I ask the man as he leads as up a path towards the manor. "Ah Master Reaver has many eyes and ears around Albion. Its hard to keep a secret from him, especially one as big as more hero's in the land." He replies with a kind smile. "And please do call me Brom." I smile back. "Ah sure, its nice to meet you Brom. I'm Nicola and this is my brother Kristopher. Kris gives the man a stiff nod. "Well its a pleasure and an honor to meet you both." Brom says as he takes us up the stone stairs and into the huge manor. "Eyes and ears pffft. He probably just saw us through a window." Kris whispers to me with a smirk on his face. We're led into a large sitting room. I'm in awe of the beautiful house and its furnishings and want to explore the whole manor. "If you could just wait here for a moment, I shall inform Master Reaver that you have both accepted his invitation." Brom walks out leaving me and Kris alone.
God! What am I going to do. This is such a long shot. I try to hide it from Kris but I am extremely nervous about what may happen. Will we even get through this. I should have come another time alone and not bring Kris into this. Butterfly's flutter in my stomach. "So what are you going to trade him that will make him spill his pockets for us, ay Sis?" I jump and try to calm myself before answering. God hes going to shoot me for being a blundering idiot! I need to get my act together. "Ah well nothing right now actually." I say nervously as my brothers face drops. "But hey... we are from the future, I'm sure we can convince him that we have valuable knowledge." Kris looks happier at that thought. In fact he's grinning ear to ear. Too bad it won't last when he hears the rest of the bargain... Brom comes back into the room. "Master Reaver would like for you both to join him in his study. If you please follow me." We are led out of the sitting room and up the main stairs. The houses layout looks almost the same as in the game but has a lot more hallways and openable rooms. My stomach once again does back flips and I shove back the thought that I'm probably more nervous to meet Reaver whom has been a very special star in my fantasy's then the chance that I may die tonight. Brom stops outside a closed door and gives us a quick nod before entering the room. Oh god, here goes nothing!