This was a very hard chapter to write. First off, after writing half of it the flame if inspiration left me, and then hurricane sandy knocked out our power. :( Then, for about 3-4 days after the power came back I just couldn't get what I wanted to happen in words! I really don't write action very well, it's so not my forte. But then! Like a golden comet from the heavens I was struck with what to do! It didn't completely end how I'd planned it, but I got what is now one of my favorite chapter! So enjoy!

Warning: This get's graphic. I don't know if it's enough to bump the rating, but I gave it the rating it has now just to cushion for this sort of thing! I don't want to bump it up to M just for this chapter alone, because then it's less people who would look at this. Tell me if it's really bad enough to bump it up, because unless someone says so I'm sticking with the current rating.

DISCLAIMER: The only thing I DON'T own is 'The Phantom of the Opera'. Everything else is MINE! Mwa-ha-ha-ha-HA!

Chapter 6

Rhiannon's POV

Just for the record; I HATE dark, cold, rainy nights.

You know, the kind where it's damp, and the chilled air creeps behind your neck, making you jump at shadows that weren't there a moment ago. The sky is a brackish purple-blue, while the ground either moves beneath your feet, or is frozen - as if the earth itself is holding it's breath -.

The wind blows over the surrounding area, crawling through outstretched limbs, ghosting past the silent buildings or lifeless trees, weaving under lonely bridges, and rustling the dry grasses. Swish, swish. Swish, swish. Dead, dry, like the rasping voices of the dead. You can almost taste the metal on the air. And you wonder if it's from the Gates of Tartarus rubbing against one another, opening up for your soul.

That was the kind of night it was, as "Black Blood" made "his" way, deeper into the country side. The city is safer to be in, mostly because there are more places to hide. In an instant, you can duck into a doorway or melt into a crowd of people. Out here, when you are in such a vulnerable position as this, you really need to either prevent the need for such a disappearing act, or at least have the firepower to back up your cause.

Why were we there? The ring. It was time to deliver it to the person who had 'ordered' it. I'd never seen him before, no one had. No one but Jacob, the leader of the band. He had apparently set the deal up a couple of months back (I'd say around March), and planning to obtain it - plus the opportunity to execute said plan - had taken this long.

Now it was time for both sides to "pay-up", and frankly I was getting nervous. The group sent to accomplish the transactions was composed of myself, Silvius (the silver-toothed man), Marco (a younger man, practically still a boy.), Lombardo (the sword-master), and of course Jacob.

But this pairing didn't make sense. Though I had worked with all of them in past situations, our skills were not equivalent to the mission we were assigned. Lombardo was an older man, he mostly just taught the younger ones (as well as the older) his trade. He was by no means invalid - he could hold himself well enough in battle - but such a delicate thing as this was not something I would have chosen him first for. "Hey Black Blood? What's wrong? You look worried about something." Lombardo's steady voice and gray eyes for some reason only made me feel worse. He'd been like an uncle to me since I didn't have one. Occasionally like a father. The thought of anything happening to him...

I shook my head; "Nah, I'm fine. The air is just getting to me." I flashed a smile his way. Even though he couldn't see my mouth, he saw the smile in my eyes, forced as it was.

"Air? When has air ever cowed the great thief, Black Blood?" I turned to the speaker. Silvius was grinning like an idiot, of course. His several silver teeth glinting in the weak moonlight. He was like the annoying cousin I never had, and I loved him for it. And so to express my cousinly love, I punched him in the arm hard enough for him to really 'feel' how much I loved him. "Ouch! Hey I need that!" He rubbed his now sore arm and scowled at me, though it was hard to see through the inane grin he was wearing.

"Silvius, will you ever grow up? I am coming to fear you will always be that 14 year old twit who taught me - a 6 year old! - to punch boys and make flags out of the baker's underpants." He couldn't hold it together. He burst out laughing in that humorous way that sounded like a large church-bell: Clear and Loud. It put me to ease a bit. Silvius was a great fighter, but he was a great utiliser of brute strength. Which was something I didn't think would be required when we were trying to keep peaceful relations with our patrons.

"Oh Black! That was truly our finest moment! 'Twas a pity that we finally had to leave that cunning baker behind in that little town. He would have been excellent to have around for a laugh!" I stopped to look at him sarcastically; "You MEAN... That you would have loved to play pranks on the poor man til' he finally gave up the ghost. Honestly Sil'! You are worse now then you were then!" He shrugged, obviously too smart to argue with me.

"Um... Rhi... I mean... Black Blood?" I turned to Marco, he looked embarrassed about something. "Yes, Marc?" He looked annoyed with my statement, he hated when we used that nick-name on him. And so we used it all the more. "It's Marco. Well... I just wanted to know what it is exactly we are doing tonight. I mean, I know we're here to deliver the ring, and collect payment, but why me? Why not someone like Joshua or Peter? They are more experienced than me after all."

It was true, and things weren't adding up. Marco was a very sweet boy. He was sensitive and shy, but his heart was noble and in times of trouble his bravery was strong. A person you could always count on. He was like a little brother to me, and in that way I always looked out for him, and he always had my back. But it was true, he wasn't very experienced at the time. He'd gone with me on missions before, but not anything like this. Once more, he wasn't one for killing. He would knock people out or tie them up, but he always would do that before he even considered killing anyone. It was an admirable attitude, but not one that would serve well if something went wrong. Not here, not now.

But I had to put up a brave face. If he lost faith, if things went down, I don't know how long he'd make it... "You know why we are here. We are here to keep the peace if anything should go wrong with the transactions. And to protect Jacob." He still looked doubtful. "And if things get dirty, don't worry! You aren't alone. I'm right here, and so is Silvius and Lombardo. Between the three of us, nothing will happen to you. I promise."

Finally he looked more calm, and I set upon the task of calming myself. Who's idea was it to arrange us like this? I thought, and then I remembered. Jacob. I looked ahead, and there he was. He had been the leader of our band since the very beginning, all memories of the early days where laced with his leadership and direction. His silver hair was pulled into a low pony, and his tanned skin was stretched over the strong contours of his face. From underneath hooded silver eyebrows, his dull brown eyes glinted over the surrounding area, searching for something only he knew about. He had been the only one to ever meet our mysterious patrons. And he was the only one who knew where the rendezvous would take place.

At that moment, doubt crossed my mind. Could he have... Set us up? But it was there only for a second, before I violently expelled such a nasty thought from my head. How could I think such a thing?! Jacob had taken me into the family, he had mentored me, guided me, fed me, and given me a purpose in life. Along with everyone else! He really was the closest thing I had to a father these days, and he treated me like his own daughter. What could possible inspire such a gruesome thought?

"Jacob!" But I thought it would be prudent to at least ask. I trotted up next to him, and said in a low voice; "I just want to know, why did you choose to bring this group? It would have been much better to bring some of the more 'professional' men." He smiled and looked at me. "Why Black Blood! That's why I brought you. Your skills and your reputation are more than enough to handle any 'problems' we may have." I started to feel angry, this was no light matter! I didn't appreciate his current logic. "But Jacob-" I hissed. I never got to finish. "Rhiannon." He quietly growled. His eyes seemed to now search through me, cutting away at everything in me.

I winced at his use of my name. If he was saying it while we were on duty, he more then meant business. "You are not to question my authority, I am your leader. And further more-" I lowered my head waiting for the final blow. "Go ahead, just say it." I thought, "Just say I'm nothing but a worthless orphan. I don't have the right to question anything you tell me." But his voice softened, and his eyes became docile one more. "-And further more... You are my daughter. In spirit, if not in flesh." I cautiously lifted my face to his. "I have raised you, trained you from a wee youngin', cared for you - loved you - as my own. I consider you more mine then even my own son was. - God rest his soul - I depend upon your trust more than anything." He drew a sharp breath.

"When your Father and Mother - God rest their souls - came to me with you as a babe. I swore to them I would care for you while they carried out their duties. I tried to tell them that they didn't need to, that their effort was unnecessary. But they did it anyway, drunk with the need for adventure and danger. And they paid for it with their lives. Obey me, and you won't suffer the fate they did." I didn't need him to tell me this. I'd heard the story a hundred times, how my Father and Mother had died trying to obtain some silly treasure. When they should have been home with me. I missed them, and wish I'd known them better, but in my heart I was bitter that they'd chosen their careers over me. Chosen to die as thieves, rather than live as parents. Not that I felt I was in a position to accuse. I was Black Blood! My track record was worse than theirs in the long run.

"There! That stone barn in the field over yonder. The contact point is in sight. Hang back Silvius, and head in at the first sign of trouble. Marco, Lombardo, Black Blood, follow me." No time to reminisce now, I started off towards the barn, right behind the rest of the group. From where I could observe, and take action easily need be. I looked around for anyone hiding in the shadows, and noted places of 'special interest'. That just means I was looking for good hiding spots, or good places for escaping easily.

The barn was dark, except for a few torches burning on the walls. And there, at the other end of the building stood our 'employers'. They didn't exactly look like what generally came to these deals, they wore uniforms. Which was strange considering the nature of the job we had. I couldn't make out the colors or designs, because really in was too dark for anyone to see anything. In the center of the uniformed group, stood a single man. He looked like a weasel in almost every respect. From the pointed contours of his face, to the slim build of his body, even his eyes were sharp and beady! And the black clothes he wore, added to the black, greased back hair... It was nature's way of saying; "Back Off! Don't Touch! Danger!" And unfortunately I wasn't in a position to listen to my better instincts.

"You made it, Good. I trust the ah... Package... Is ready to be delivered?" The weasel man sneered as the words left his mouth. He looked like he was spitting bad fruit.
"Yes, It's ready." Jacob looked equally as repulsed as the weasel had. I say 'had', because next moment the look on weasel's face changed, to something that looked much more, darker. It immediately made uncomfortable, because then he was advancing towards me! I didn't flinch, though under my coat I rested my hand on one of my knives. Before he could get any closer, Jacob's iron hand came down on the man's shoulder, effectively stopping him in his tracks.

"You don't listen good. I said the package was ready, I didn't say it was ready to obtain! We have a few little matters to sort out before you can lay one filthy hand on the merchandise." Jacob's face looked hard as stone, he wasn't happy. Far from it! Something felt so very wrong, every sense in me told me to get running as far from this place as possible! But my training held strong, and I didn't budge. I looked over to Marco. Poor Kid! He looked positively stricken! Though there was nothing I could do about it. I moved a little closer to him, and took the big risk of reaching over and squeezing his hand beneath his cloak. His hand was so cold, and his eyes seemed to bulge from his head a bit. But he quickly collected himself, and squeezed back, before I dropped his hand and deftly moved back before anyone noticed I had moved in the first place.

The weasel sneered, then spit on the ground. He turned back to his men, and nodded. They shifted, and from the middle two came forward with a large money-box between them. It was set down, and the lid was flipped, revealing the gold we had asked for. But what caught my eye was the strange little bundle of papers sitting on top of the heap. What was it? Gold. Silver. Precious Commodities. Not Paper. Those were our prices. What was the deal Jacob had rigged? Was there a part we didn't know about...

Before I could continue the thought, the chest was abruptly closed. And the two men drew back. And as I looked around, a boulder hit the pit of my stomach. The shift that had taken place had not only brought forward the two men, but now, I belatedly realised, we were surrounded by the rest of the soldiers from the other side.

"Jacob..." I deeply bit out. I kept up the male facade despite the darkening situation. "I see it Black. You know what to do." All was still, as I fluidly moved into attack position. Not even the horses outside made a single sound, the only noise produced was by the cold, haunting wind teasing at the corners of the stone building. I closed my eyes, searching for something. There I found it, my mother's voice. I remember how she sang my lullaby, even though it's the only thing I remember.

~When the evening falls, and the daylight is fading...~

My eyes snapped open, and I turned to slice open the stomach of the approaching soldier to my left, as he fell forward I stabbed him in the back.

~From within me calls, could it be I am sleeping?~

As one approaches from the front, I shoved the now corpse into him with my foot. Knocking him over, as I turn to deal with the guy stabbing towards my right side.

~For a moment I stray,
Then it holds me completely
Close to home - I cannot say
Close to home feeling so far away~

Both knives go up under his rib cage, I twist them up then down, then I throw him to the side once more hindering the movements of his companions.

~As I walk the room, there before me a shadow...~

I back up to were Lombardo is skewering a man, then deal with the guy foolish enough to try getting him from the back while he wasn't looking.

~From another world, where no other can follow.~

One grabs me from behind, so I flip over his head dragging him to the ground. There I snap his neck and whip around to slash the faces of two holding throwing axes.

~Carry me to my own, to where I can cross over
Close to home - I cannot say
Close to home feeling so far away~

I hear a moan, I feel the blood chill in my core. I feel a bloody body fall against my back, splattering blood on my neck. I turn my head...

~Forever searching; never right,
I am lost in oceans of night.~

"Lombardo!" I scream! I catch his body and lay it down as gently as possible. I search his face. For a moment a sad smile plays in his eyes, on his lips. Then the light dies in those glassy gray orbs, and his jaw goes slack.

~Forever hoping I can find memories
Those memories I left behind.~

Some fool drags a sword across the leather on my back. It leaves barely a scratch, because the leather is thick and treated to withstand more than average. Anger comes out in a cry of blood and fury. The axes left by the two dead man are taken and thrust down into the shoulders of the fool behind me.

~Even though I leave will I go on believing
That this time is real - am I lost in this feeling?~

The torches for some reason give out. I glare with all the hate in my being at his pale, scared face. "Meet the devil" I sharply whisper to him. But before I can take out my vengeance on him, I see - as if in slow motion - my greatest fear start to play out behind his head. I watch as Marco, bloody and fearful, gets backed up against the wall by three guys. "NO!" I scream, as I fight my way towards him. Leaping over dead bodies, quickly stabbing live ones.

~Like a child passing through,
Never knowing the reason...~

Then fate deals me the sucker punch. Just as I reach the first guy, one of the others shove their sword into Marco's young throat. I don't feel, I rip to shreds. The first two's faces are no longer recognizable, the third begs for mercy. I give him a sickly sweet smile, my eyes burning with toxic glee and awesome pain. I bend down and gently rest my hand on his neck. With only a few seconds he must hope that I've decided to spare him, because his face spells frenzied relief. Then I dig my nails in, as blood pours from his mouth, I rip out his throat.

~I am home - I know the way...~

I turn, and see Marco, just barely alive. My little brother, Marco.

~...I am home - feeling oh, so far away.~

I dropped to my knees. And then I leaned forward, pulling him onto my lap like a mother, or an older sister. "Rhiannon..." He wheezed. "Shhh! Marco, shhh... Don't speak. Don't speak. I'm here. I'm here." I chanted it over and over, like some mantra I hoped would make him better, and ease the pain in my heart. "Rhi... I... You... Promised..." I lost it. I ripped off my mask. "I'm sorry Marco! Forgive me! God forgive me!" Tears fell down my face, I didn't have the strength to hold them in. "Rhi... annon... You... I'm... Sorry..." And with that his beautiful eyes, always so joyful, full of curiosity, slipped closed for the last time.

I was silent, tears stopped flowing. I sat pooled in his blood, my enemies blood, Lombardo's blood. Blood that was black in the moonlight.

I, Black Blood, Black with blood.

Two men - one wounded above the eye, the other sporting a bloody gash on his arm - grabbed me and dragged me up. The weasel walked forward, looking for all the world as if he was more than pleased with me. I was shocked, too shocked. More than was even allowed for the human body. Shocked out of emotion, shocked out of response. He reached forward as if to touch my cheek, when a shot rang out!

I felt pain shoot through my left arm. Dang it! I hissed at the pain and looked up to find the shooter. What I saw next, nothing in the world could have prepared me for...

"Jacob!" The weasel barked out! "Are you mad?! No merchandise, no payment! Your little assassin plays out well, the master will be pleased to, employ her skills." I had lost the sense of balance and sanity for that moment, Jacob ignored weasel face and aimed at me again, this time just a little more to the right than the last one had been. I jerked my left arm, fire roared in it and I let forth a scream. But it was worth it, because the bullet hit the man I'd pulled into my way instead of me. I yanked my right arm free and sprinted to the door. A million senses rang out! I was running towards escape! I was leaving Marco and Lombardo behind! Jacob had betrayed us! Jacob had betrayed ME! I was angry, I was sad. I was running for my life!

I grabbed the first horse I saw and jumped on, as rain started to pour from the now thundering skies. I turned and made way for the road, intending to grab Silvius along the way and take him with me. I wouldn't leave him now! I reached the road, and saw Silvius lying in it. No blood, no obvious signs of broken bones. But there he was, and the last of the men were right behind me. If he was dead, staying wasn't an option. I acknowledged his body, said some words encouraging his peace - and that of the other two - and galloped like a mad woman down the now stormy road.

I heard them, they were behind me. I couldn't get caught! I'd rather die. The wind stung my face, and so I put my mask back in place, for whatever little protection it would provide. The rain mingled with the blood on me and coming from me, I must have appeared to be flowing with blood, and I was probably leaving a trail of it. Though it hardly mattered considering that my pursuers were breathing down my neck. I don't recall where I was, the sounds, the smell, I don't know how long I rode, but I know the fire that raged in my mind, ripping from heat of hell to chill of death. Fury, grief. Guilt, admonishment. Hate, remorse. Soon I couldn't feel anything. I was numb in body and mind. Blindly trying to survive.

Then it happened, Something sharp hit the side of my head, and I fell off. The last thing I remember is my horse galloping on as if nothing happened, and the men going after it, probably unaware that I was no longer there. "Just as well, let me die in peace." And then I was swarmed with memories of everyone I had once loved, carefully bidding goodbye to each one. "Farewell, farewell..."

Can I write a cliffy or what? :) I hope you enjoyed it, the song Rhiannon's mother had sung to her is "Evening Falls" by Enya. Listen to it! It's a great song. :D Review! It means the world to me when I get an email saying I got a new review!