Lemme tell you, this went through some rewrites. I've been building up to this for a while and y'know what? It's not even in the game. I hope this chapter satisfies all yo' needs though. We got some drama, some action, some intrigue, some exposition, and a healthy dose of witty repartee. As always, your thoughts on where I'm taking this are always appreciated. And to one reader in particular, here's to a toast to Lucien as a villain who actually does...villainy things.
...
They'd never actually been to Fairfax Gardens, Rose mused. Not since they were children, ushered through in the dark by guards, ignorant of the fate that awaited them. Minds, her mind anyway, she thought sourly, full of immature fantasies and stupid dreams. Despite everything though, she couldn't help but find it an impressive sight.
Lanterns of multiple hues were lit and hanging about the place, throwing an assortment of colours over the lawns. Guards lined the walks and musicians were scattered about, providing a calm, serene atmosphere. As they'd ascended the main road toward the castle, they'd come upon more and more of the guests. Finely dressed ladies and gentlemen, along with their servants, made their way forward and the siblings, along with Walter and Jasper, filtered in among them.
Nobody seemed to be checking the guests as they spread around the gardens, so they made their way forward to the pathway intersection in the centre.
"I don't suppose the plan included an actual goal?" Rose wondered, aloud.
"Get in and see what happens?" Lily grinned weakly.
Rose shot her a disparaging look.
"I don't think Lucien will come out, so as soon as they start letting the guests in you'll just have to keep your eyes and ears open." Walter nodded at Rose and Aster.
They began to make their way slowly toward the entrance. A strain of eerily familiar music gently sifted through the hum of the crowd and Rose looked around sharply for its source. She was so sure-
"Whoop!" She blurted, tripping forward over her own feet.
Aster managed to catch her, still holding her arm with his right, he latched onto her waist with his left as she came suddenly face to face with him.
"You okay?" He said quietly.
"Yeah. I thought I heard…" She looked around again, but couldn't hear it anymore. "…doesn't matter." She trailed off, as her eyes met his.
Everything seemed to fade into a low background hum, and the world began to feel very small.
She tensed a little as he hesitantly brushed a few strands of loose hair back behind her ear.
"Lily'll kill you if you ruin your outfit." He paused. "And probably me too."
"Good thing you were here then ain't it?" She grinned, trying to offset the sudden shift in mood.
"Mm." He nodded, a little stiffly. "Don't think anybody noticed, let's go."
Ahead, they saw the others waiting with a growing crowd around the steps which led into the castle itself. Above, and at the foot of the stairs, members of the Bowerstone Guard were lined up.
"I hope we don't have to fight." Rose murmured to her brother. "The town guard are just doing their jobs."
He found himself nodding, knowing full well the Guard weren't soldiers.
"Lord Lucien Fairfax welcomes you all to his home, and wishes you an enjoyable evening." A man announced at the top of the steps. He leaned across to a large man in a guard's uniform.
"Shit." Rose hissed.
"What?" Lily looked over, worriedly.
"Derek." Aster muttered, having recognised him too.
"Derek?" Walter whispered, confused.
"Derek!" Rose hissed, insistently.
"We're all going to die." Jasper grumbled.
"I've got an idea." Lily said, quickly, as the crowd began to file up the stairs.
"Explain." Rose shot her a demanding look.
"No time." Lily crashed into the two of them, pulling them into a hug. "Good luck you two, stay safe." She turned around, grabbing Walter and tugging him along after her.
"Get them in, Jasper." Walter gestured up the stairs, as Lily dragged him along.
"Lily." Rose repeated. "Lily!"
"Trust me!" She called back with a wave, climbing up the left set of stairs.
"But-" Rose tried.
"C'mon." Aster pulled her along with him, gently, up the opposite stairs. "How're those people skills of yours?" He tugged along Jasper with his other arm.
"My…what?" Jasper stammered, then scowled. "Walter! That son of a-"
"Nevermind. Just talk."
"What about Lily?" Rose pressed, scouring the crowd tensely. "We can't just-"
"More worried about us, sis."
The line was shortening and they were coming up on the guards around the massive door. Derek was just ahead, still talking with the herald. Rose was sure that he was about to look up and see them, he'd recognise them instantly. Suddenly, across the walkway, somebody cried out in pain. Derek turned away from them to see what the commotion was. Above the curious chatter of the crowd, they could just make out a voice.
"Lay a hand on me again and I'll chop it off!" Lily's voice cut through the sound of the party.
"Balls of brass." Aster murmured. Rose actually chuckled.
As they came up on the doors, the last pair ahead of them were admitted. Aster nudged Jasper forward, causing him to scowl back at them. Rose gave him a thumbs up.
"Alright who-" The first door guard started.
"I'll have you know this is the famous travelling merchant…" Jasper paused. "Fitzgerald Featherbottom!"
"You-" Aster growled as the two guards looked past their "servant". Rose drove her elbow into his side, cutting him off.
"And…er…his eccentric wife, Helga!" Jasper looked back briefly, grimacing apologetically.
"You what now?" Rose blurted, before she could stop herself. Aster broke out into a fit of coughing.
"My lady suffers from…ah…acute. Hearing. Difficulties." Jasper looked at her imploringly.
"…what?" She repeated, still trying to follow Jasper's insane claims.
"Helga?" Aster managed, weakly.
Rose saw the guards looking at them oddly.
"Yes dear?!" She said loudly, willing him to play along even as she herself was struggling to keep track.
"I…" He was looking at her oddly, now. "Jasper, we want to go inside." He demanded.
"Yes." Rose agreed, nodding emphatically. "My…husband and I have had quite enough of this…interrogation."
"Uh…yes." The second guard nodded. "If you'll just leave your sword-"
"Not gonna-" Aster began, through gritted teeth as he made to step forward. Rose held him back.
"Now, now dear." She cleared her throat loudly. "No need to slaughter the help again is there? Not after…the last time." She finished, enigmatically.
Aster frowned at the guards. He was good at frowning, she thought.
"Now see here," Jasper continued, picking up her implication. "Lord Lucien himself invited all these good people, now will you cease holding up my…beloved employers and let them pass?"
The second guard looked to the first, who simply raised his hands in defeat.
"Excellent." Rose stepped forward, dragging Aster along. "You'll stay out here, servant."
"Yes ma'am." The relief in his tone was palpable as he sagged noticeably. He watched the siblings enter and disappear in the crowd, with the mildest sense of foreboding, then went to look for Walter.
…
"Seven hells…" Walter propped himself against the wall, cradling his…vulnerable parts.
Derek was standing nearby with Lily, looking distinctly unimpressed, and more than a little suspicious. His broad arms were crossed over his chest and he was tapping his foot.
"Well?"
"Well…" Lily began, thinking quickly. "We heard about the big event and…wanted to come see?"
"Are you asking me or tellin' me, little lady?"
"Telling?" Lily tilted her head, smiling wanly.
Derek exhaled, sounding tired.
"Where are the others then?" He asked.
"Around."
"Mm-hmm." He nodded, looking dubious. "I remember the three of you being fixed at the hip. And I don't suppose this little exercise has anything to with why they're not here now?" He gestured toward the groaning youth.
"No, he-…" Lily paused. "He tried his luck!"
"I-…what?" Walter grunted, eyes wide.
Derek shook his head, sighing.
"They snuck in while you distracted me by crippling this poor fellow, didn't they?"
"Absolutely not!" Lily huffed, placing her hands on her hips.
"Yes." Walter groaned.
Lily kicked him in the knee. Walter promptly fell over.
She expected Derek to be angry, but instead he suddenly looked very concerned.
"I wish you hadn't. Lord Lucien is…dangerous, kids." Derek glanced back at the castle. "This isn't a game."
"We're not children, not anymore." Lily swallowed. "And we know exactly what Lucien is."
Derek looked surprised at her remark, then frowned as if thinking.
"There were…rumours." He said quietly. "You…all of you. You didn't just…leave, did you?"
"No."
Between Derek's pained expression and Walter's sympathetic looks from the floor, Lily was having trouble keeping a rein on her mood.
"I didn't know." He said. "I'm…sorry, I should get the two of you out of here."
"Not a chance." Lily stood her ground. Beside her, Walter struggled to his feet, resting against the wall.
"The others are in there, we can't leave." He said, confidently as he could while clutching his knee.
She shot Walter a look, a little surprised at his support considering what she'd done to him tonight.
"I-" Derek began, but withered at last under Lily's glare. "I'll see if I can find them, without raising 'is lordship's suspicion. Stay here." Derek raised his hands, placating, then wandered off toward the castle doors.
"I don't like this anymore, maybe we can stop them." Lily frowned, about to head after the old guard.
As if on cue, Jasper appeared, looking greatly relieved.
"They're in." He exhaled, shakily. "No trouble at all!"
Lily stopped in her tracks, sharing a look with Walter, who only shrugged helplessly.
"Balls." She muttered.
…
"Now announcing, the…uh…Master and Madam…er…" The announcer spared them a brief glance.
Aster stared resolutely ahead, Rose could see him grinding his teeth. She leaned against him, holding his arm and gave the overdressed doorman a stupid grin.
"…the Master and Madam…Featherbottom." The man finished, tugging at his collar nervously.
The servant beside him began to laugh a little, when Aster glared at him, causing it to die in the poor man's throat in a strangled gurgle.
A few of the crowd turned their way curiously, but most barely noticed. Rose' breath caught in her throat for a second as she took in the sight of the throne room, decked out in expensive decorations and adorned with furnishings. The chandeliers were lit, bathing the long hall in a golden glow. Tables covered in food ran along the sides of the room and there was an area of the floor in the centre where people were dancing. A band were positioned toward the end, just short of the throne itself.
"Beautiful." She murmured, unconsciously.
Somewhere in the back of her head, she remembered some of her dreams about this place as a child, they'd looked something like this. It soured her mood a little.
"Lot of guards." Aster murmured. He seemed rooted to the spot. "Lucien's own soldiers."
Rose looked around. Most of them looked pretty much like the normal Bowerstone Guard, but some of them had a funny shaped buckle on one shoulder. Then she noticed it was both shoulders. Then she noticed they all had them. It was some kind of insignia, a diamond-ish shape with spikes shooting out.
"What's the icon mean?" She asked.
"Don't know. Saw some of his men with it the other day when I met Walter. Taking prisoners somewhere." He turned toward her suddenly, mouth slightly ajar as if he was about to say something, then shook his head slightly.
"What?" She pressed, softly, squeezing his arm slightly.
"Doesn't matter."
Another couple bustled them on their way in.
"Shall we go?" Rose nudged him gently.
"Mm." He nodded stiffly.
Aster allowed his older sister to lead him on as they made their way into the crowd. His eyes unconsciously kept straying to the guards that lined the long hall, and his hand to the hilt of his sword. He kept one eye on Rose, as they circulated. She almost seemed…happy. Despite what they were doing here, she was enthusiastic in pulling him around looking at things, taking in the sight of the revellers, soaking up the atmosphere. She pressed a glass of wine into his hand, pulling him from his musings.
"Try and make it less obvious we're here to spy on them, little sparrow." She teased.
He smiled back a little, at her affectionate old nickname for he and his sister. It had been a long time since he'd last heard her say it.
"Haven't called either of us that in years."
Rose shrugged, grinning lazily as she took a mouthful. It was an oddly…noticeable motion. Her shoulders rolling slightly, giving her long hair a sort of tumble as it slipped behind her back. And as she drank, the length of her neck was exposed, in a gentle curve down to the bared skin of her throat, and the slightly pale skin of her…
He swallowed back a mouthful of his own drink, quickly, staring hard at the ceiling.
What was that about. He'd never-…well. She was his sister. That wasn't normal. He told himself it had just been a long, confusing day.
When he finally lowered his gaze again, Rose was looking at him curiously. His mind ran riot. What was wrong now? Had she noticed him…noticing? Was she going to bring up what had happened earlier, in the shop? What had happened earlier, in the shop anyway.
He took another drink and managed something resembling a smile.
"Feel like a dance?" She asked, toying with the glass in her hands idly. Her gaze went down to her hands, but she glanced up at him now and then.
He felt the overheating gears in his head grind to a halt and suddenly cool.
He looked around at everybody else, caught up in their own little words. Talking, drinking, eating, dancing. Finely dressed men, elegant ladies. He'd noticed more than a few, since entering the hall. Not that the girls in town were ugly, but these women were different. It was a different kind of beauty. The ladies moved with calculation, their skin powdered and coloured, their hair shone in different shades and artificial tones. The clothes were unlike anything he'd seen. And the men were much the same.
In truth, he found it all a bit overwhelming. He wondered if-
"Steady on." He jumped a little, as Rose laid a hand on his arm. "You okay?"
"Yeah." He tried to clear his head. He wasn't used to so many people. Bowerstone Market still left him feeling a little daunted some days, at its busiest.
Rose slipped her hand down his arm and grippe his hand.
"Lucien's not here yet." She tugged on his hand a little. "Dance with me."
Rose watched him frown as he looked around them and again felt a pang of sympathy for her younger brother. Lily really was the people-person. He was clearly uncomfortable here, maybe from all the people, maybe from their being here at all. Maybe both.
Hell knew, she was.
"I can't dance." He said, looking across the hall.
"So, nor can I." She laughed a little as he allowed her to pull him along with her.
They lost themselves in the middle of the dancing crowd. Despite the sometimes jostling press, Aster seemed to loosen up a little. Rose watched one of the other couples and started copying them. She held up his right hand with her left.
"What are you doing?" He asked, rolling his eyes, but she could see he was trying not to smile.
"Dancing…apparently." She bit her lower lip, trying not to laugh as Aster shifted awkwardly when she took his left hand and placed it on her hip. "What?" She asked, grinning.
"Nothing."
"Cheer up then, little sparrow." She smirked. "We're blending in, right?"
"Sure." He replied, curtly, the corners of his lips curling slightly as he glanced away again.
Neither said anything for a time, after that. They settled into simply moving together with the music, gradually getting better at imitating the style of dancing. Only breaking the silence when one of them accidentally trod on the other's foot.
"Why'd you keep calling me that anyway." Aster said suddenly, facing her. "I'm practically taller'n you."
"You're not there yet, buddy." She smiled wryly, tilting her head.
"Give it time." He shot back, eyes wandering as he caught sight of another guard.
He jumped a little when Rose placed her hand on his cheek, using it to make him face her again. But the hand lingered.
"You'll always be my little sparrows. You and Lily." She said softly. Her brow was creased a little, making her look almost sad. "Nothing else ever really mattered to me."
Aster's every usual instinct was urging him to pull back, laugh, say something offensive. Anything to diffuse this kind of conversation since he'd never, ever really been able to understand, or say the right thing, or even know what to-
"Relax." Rose said suddenly, as if reading his mind. Her hand trailed down his cheek to his shoulder, giving it an affectionate squeeze.
"I never know what to say to you." He found himself saying, voice uncharacteristically shaky.
"You've always said what you needed to, when it mattered." She looked down, exhaling. "We're all broken, in our own way." Rose murmured, half to herself, it seemed to Aster.
"You?" He blurted. "No, you were always there for us. All the time. You-" He stopped when a look flashed across her face briefly and he felt her hands tense slightly. His mind went back to her eighteenth birthday, and the drinking, and dancing, and Israel. "I-" He started, feeling stupid.
"Not your fault." She pressed a little closer to him. He found himself wrapping his arm around her waist and holding her. She leaned her head on his shoulder, draping one arm around his neck.
"I'm sorry." He tried again, conflicted, wishing he'd done more to Israel the other day. He felt her shake her head in disagreement. The motion made him intensely aware of how close they were.
"I can't be touched." Rose said quietly. "Not like that. Not since then. I can't." She repeated.
Her voice was unsteady, but noticeably vehement. Aster felt like a fool. He'd always noticed a change in his sister after that night. The smiles were never as easy with others, she always seemed a little off around people beyond he and Lily. And she hadn't…
"I'm an idiot."
"Not your fault." She said again.
"I didn't mean to…um…" He trailed off.
When nothing followed, Aster tried to let it drop, focusing on moving together with the gentle strains of music, oblivious to the crowd around them. But it wouldn't go away, now that he knew. Now that it was clear. He felt like an idiot, he felt like a failure. It stuck in his gut.
"Why…uh…me?" Aster bit his tongue, regretting opening his mouth as soon as the words left his mouth.
"Hm?" Rose lifted her head from his shoulder and pulling back a little, so she could look at him.
He tried to find the words that wouldn't make him sound like a complete ass.
"Why…" His eyes flitted down to their proximity. "…uh…me?" He managed. "I mean…uh…like the other night, and…um…nevermind. Forget it, just being stupid." Aster muttered quickly, mentally berating himself.
"I trust you." She replied, slowly, after a pause. "You're my brother.
He found himself looking into his sister's eyes, thoughts spinning around his head. This was another one of those moments where he should say something but never did.
"I-"
The sound of glass ringing cut through the crowd and the two of them turned toward its source.
Lucien was standing in front of the throne, flanked by guards, setting a glass down on a servants' tray. The Lord of Bowerstone had aged a great deal, and was far from the handsome, clean-cut man he had once been.
If he had ever truly been that at all, Rose wondered, thinking of the diary.
His hair had gone a stark shade of white, near completely, slicked tightly back. The deceptively charming smile remained, though strained by the lines in his skin, making it appear less…genuine.
"Ladies, gentlemen, if I may have your attention for a while." He held his arms out, in a gesture of welcome. "First, may I thank you all for attending, especially toward those who travelled so far, and at considerable effort, in answer of my invitation."
There was a polite round of applause among the crowd. Rose elbowed her brother when she noticed him sourly refusing to go along with it.
"Now, despite all appearances, I did not call on you all simply to throw a party, though I am thoroughly glad you are all enjoying yourselves."
A voice toward the front of the crowd addressed Lucien, though Rose couldn't make it out so far back.
"I'm glad you asked, sir." Lucien practically beamed, then cleared his throat. "I'm sure many of you are well aware of some of the history of our peaceful, beloved nation, Albion. A history of bounty, blood, peace, peril, heroes and villains. The rise and fall of empires and kingdoms. The decline of magic, the rise of science, the end of the old gods and the study of the world."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd, as they began to be swept up in Lucien's speech.
"He c'n talk still. I'll give him that." Aster muttered.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come for Albion to reclaim its former glory. To unite once again, no longer a disconnected shambles of towns and villages, but a true nation. No longer without direction, but a country on the rise. And with your help, we can do it. Together, we can make it happen in our lifetime." Lucien paused, awaiting the crowd's reaction.
Many applauded, caught up in Lucien's zeal. Some vocally called their support, probably his allies, but Rose noted that many looked merely dubious, some outright concerned. She decided to try something.
"Are you talking about the Old Kingdom?" She called.
Beside her, Aster swore under his breath and tugged her by the arm quickly through the crowd and toward the side of the hall.
"…ah…yes…" Lucien replied, momentarily distracted. They could see him scanning the crowd for the speaker. Rose felt Aster's hand on her arm tighten. "…yes, in part." Lucien continued, giving up.
Aster breathed out, letting go of her arm.
"Sorry." She whispered.
"Little warnin' next time." He murmured in reply.
"The Old Kingdom was destroyed. Some legends say as a result of its own lust for power." Another member of the crowd called, doubtfully.
"So the legends say." Lucien shrugged, as if it was nothing. "Legends are funny things. Who is to say exactly what happened thousands of years ago? However…" He paused, one hand held out in front of him, one behind his back. "What if I could confirm several of those legends for you."
"Such as?" Another voice from the crowd.
"Stories tell of a project, toward the end of the Old Kingdom, a construction that sought to channel all the magic in the world, all that wild power and energy and harness it for all to use." He clenched his fist. "The Tattered Spire."
Several voices muttered excitedly, some began talking heatedly.
"What possible proof-" Someone began. Lucien silenced them with a hand. The crowd was now rapt with attention.
"I am in the process of rebuilding it." He replied, simply.
The crowd erupted. Some demanding answers, some objecting, some in disbelief, some in great interest. Lucien held up a hand again, calling for peace.
"I have devoted a great many years of my life to this project, ever since the…loss of my beloved family." For a brief moment, pain was evident on his face, then it was gone again. "I seek to change Albion for the better, to give it the future it deserves, so that none need experience such loss ever again."
"You can't stop death!" Someone scoffed.
"The Tattered Spire is capable of a great many things. I have researched it for many, many years, and barely scratched the surface."
"So what is this all about?" A voice near the front demanded.
Lucien clasped his hands behind his back and looked over the crowd, calmly.
"I need your help." He waited until there was silence. "My own resources are…stretched. The Spire is larger than even I ever imagined. I need labourers, finances, tools, materials. Many of you govern other towns, oversee lands, villages, own farms and holds. Harbours and the outlying settlements. Many more of you are merchants, well-travelled with connections. With your support and cooperation, we can come to an agreement that ties Albion closer together than it has been for centuries."
"Under you?" A voice laughed.
"One day, a leader may be chosen. Perhaps from among us. But for now, we need only work together." Lucien shrugged, with an easy smile. "I wield considerable power, many of you rely on Bowerstone for trade and I have the Tattered Spire. Help me finish it, help me forge Albion into a nation that can grow, expand, thrive."
"You ask much of us, to build your…tower." Rose called again. "What do we get in return."
"Damn it." Aster hissed, as once again he pulled her back the way they'd come toward the middle of the crowd.
Lucien scowled briefly, then sighed. He gestured a hand toward the side of the great hall. The sound of heavy boots marching grew louder.
"I offer you security." He smiled.
Two lines of men filed into the throne room from the wings. They were dressed in red tunics and black trousers, with a black mantle fixed on their shoulders with a clasp in the front. Belts were crossed over their chests.
The crowd rippled slightly with interest and worry. Aster noted the insignia on their shoulders matched the one on Lucien's "special" guards. He saw them begin to filter around the edges of the hall.
"For some time now, I have slowly been seeing to the training and construction of an army." He didn't wait for a reaction. "For too long have we relied on volunteer militias or the inept efforts of a few citizen guards. I offer you the protection of my own forces, and the opportunity to be a part of it."
"A part of it?" A woman asked, sounding worried.
"My lords and ladies." Lucien held his arms wide. "Send me men, and I will send you soldiers."
And that seemed to be that, Rose thought sourly, as the majority of the crowd began to applause. Not all, still, but too many seemed swayed by Lucien's veiled lies.
"This is bad." She said. Aster nodded. He was watching the sides of the room distractedly.
"One last thing, if I may beg your attention a moment longer." Lucien called. "I'm sure we all remember the Heroes of old. Individuals of particular skills and talent that set them above the rest of us mere mortals." He chuckled.
"I don't like this." Aster muttered.
"Wait." Rose insisted.
"Somebody earlier called for proof of my efforts." He smiled. "I had originally intended to wait, but as a gesture of goodwill in our joint venture, I give you a small result of the work I have undertaken." He waved to one side.
A figure appeared, all clad in black. The figure, a man, wore a long black trenchcoat that covered them fully, with a high collar that concealed their face. They also wore a pointed black tricorne, worn low so it concealed their eyes.
"Rose." Aster grabbed her arm, noticing the Lucien's uniformed soldiers had blocked the door they'd entered through.
"The Tattered Spire is a wonderful thing. Even in its unfinished state, it has some markedly interesting effects. No longer are we held back from greatness, no longer is the ability to be a hero reserved for those egotistical thugs we once called Heroes, hundreds of years ago, and their own bloodlines. The Spire has the power to make heroes of all of us." Lucien gestured to the figure. "I give you the first of many. The first of us to have our true potential unlocked by the power I wish to give you all."
Here Lucien turned back to the crowd. Rose froze as his lips curled into a smile that might have been a sneer as his eyes met hers.
"What do you say to that, Heroes?"
…
Lily tapped her foot impatiently, leaning back against the wall of the castle. Walter was standing beside her, irritatingly calm. Jasper was beside him, muttering away to himself on and off for the better part of the hour since her siblings had disappeared inside. Derek wandered over every now and then, on his rounds of the castle gardens. Lily assumed he was worried she'd ignore him and storm the place.
Truth be told, she was considering it. She wasn't overly patient by nature. Rose was the cool-headed one, most of the time. She didn't like not knowing what was happening.
"I'm sure they're fine." Walter said, suddenly.
"What?" She blurted, distractedly.
He was glancing over at her, frowning a little. But his mouth was upturned in a small, yet confident smile.
"Never seen anybody handle a sword quite like your brother. Had those thugs down in seconds, one down for good."
"Sounds about right. He's been practicing since we were kids, and I suppose our little…gifts help a bit."
"The blood of Heroes eh?" Walter crossed his arms, resting his head back against the wall. "Never imagined there would be any left anymore. Been centuries hasn't it?"
"Apparently."
"He let the other guard go though." Walter breathed out, shaking his head. "It's funny, at first I thought for sure he was gonna spit Lucien's the wretch, but your brother and the guy knew each other."
Lily turned quickly toward her companion, an uncomfortable sensation bubbling up inside. She grabbed Walter by the collar without thinking, surprising the young man.
"What was his name, damn it!" She growled, leaning close.
"I…" Walter managed, reeling back. "…uh…Israel, I think. Not a local name, thought it bit odd at-"
Lily didn't wait for him to finish, pushing past him and heading for the entrance. She heard Jasper let out a worried moan as Walter hurried after her.
"Wait, we can't just-"
"So fuckin' stay." She snapped. "Damn it." She hissed to herself.
She thought back to the day, all those years ago, when she let Israel leave. And again, when they found him in the bandit camp and Rose talked them into letting him go again. He hated them, he'd do anything to ruin her family. Maybe she should have just killed him all those years ago. Maybe Aster should have killed him in the street the other day. Maybe-
She skidded to a halt when Walter grabbed her arm. In a wheeling motion she spun and drove her fist into the side of his face with a sickening crunch. He lurched backward, but remained standing, still holding her arm.
"They'll kill all of you if you go barging in there."
"Let go of me." She snarled. Lily couldn't remember being so furious, then she looked at his face.
A dark bruise was already forming and blood trickled from a cut on his lip. He didn't look annoyed, or even angry. Just determined.
"I can't."
They stared at one another, neither willing to back down.
"What's all this then?" Derek interrupted them.
The old guard had arrived seemingly from nowhere. Jasper was stood a little to the side of him. Lily glared at Walter's nervy friend.
"I'm going in there." Lily said, matter-of-factly. "They're my family, and they're in danger."
Jasper let out a high-strung laugh at her choice of words, given what they were doing anyway.
"Well, more danger than they were in before." Lily corrected, irritably. "Damn it, let me-"
"Let me see if I can find out what's happening." Derek spoke over her, insistently. "I at least, should be here. Stay." He ordered, scowling at them all for a moment, then walked toward the entrance.
"I'm sure they're fine." Jasper shrugged, not sounding remotely confident.
They all turned to the entrance again as shouting was heard. About a dozen men wearing the same uniform marched straight out the door, over the objections of the normal guards. They were unfamiliar to Lily, but the insignia on their shoulders looked…
"That's the insignia Lucien's private guards wore." Walter gestured to them, looking worried.
"Oh dear." Jasper said, quietly.
"Rose and Aster are in trouble."
"We need to go." Walter said suddenly.
Derek was with his men, trying to talk to the soldiers, when one of the armed men pointed in their direction. Paying no heed to Derek and his men, they pushed forward, drawing their weapons and began descending the stairs.
"Not a chance, Beck." Lily looked at him briefly. "Not without my brother and sister."
"Oh dear, oh dear." Jasper repeated, slipping behind them.
She watched Walter draw his sword slowly. He clearly wanted to run, and to be honest, so did she, as she watched the men advance, armed with a mix of swords and rifles.
She dug her hands into the folds of her jacket, gripping the handles of the two clockwork pistols nestled in their holsters.
"So…uh…your brother does swords. And your sister does magic. I don't suppose you have any particular skills you'd like to share?" Walter asked, nervously. "Now?"
"Just stay out of my way." She shut out Walter, preparing himself for the fight and Jasper's worried rambling, focusing on the approaching enemies. Everything around her faded out and she fixed her sight on the nearest soldiers. "Okay."
She drew the pistols and fired.
…
Around them, the crowd had back away, as if trying to put as much distance between themselves and the two of them as possible. Rose felt like they might as well have had the plague or something. Beside her, Aster's hand was already on his sword.
Around them, Lucien's soldiers filtered through the crowd, toward the now empty circle in the middle of the throne room and began to encircle them.
"Shit." Aster hissed.
"All these years, but somehow…" Lucien shook his head, as if talking to the children they once were. "…somehow I knew. I had no idea then, that you would all be so…sturdy. I assume the other one is waiting outside?"
"Fuck you." Rose snarled.
"My, how you've grown." Lucien chuckled. "It's almost as if I felt it, that you would live. The Heroes were always so…tenacious, so the stories say."
The crowd began to mutter, looking at them with expressions ranging from interest, to contempt, wonder, to puzzlement.
"Heroes?" Members of the crowd began to query, louder and louder.
"A misnomer if ever there was one." Lucien said, wearily. "These two, and their accomplices, are wanted criminals. Already my men should be…taking care of things outside."
"Lily!" Rose cried, stepping forward.
Aster tried to stop her, but he was too late. A fireball appeared in her hand and she threw it. It was wide of the mark, which he assumed to be Lucien, taking the corner off his throne. The crowd recoiled, pulling further back towards the edges of the throne room, leaving the soldiers around them, though they looked noticeably more hesitant.
Aster stepped forward so he was beside his sister. He watched her warily. She was tensed, breathing heavily, hands ready at her sides.
"Thought you were here to stop me doin' something stupid." He murmured, leaning over but keeping one eye on the soldiers.
Rose shot him a look that made him feel instantly very small.
"Very impressive." Lucien dusted himself off. "Indeed, I haven't seen anyone who can do that since…well, it doesn't matter."
"We need to get out of here." Rose muttered through gritted teeth. "Lily is out there."
The crowd gave a collective gasp as gunshots echoed down the hall that led out to the gardens, outside. Lucien's soldiers seemed to take this as a sign, and began to shuffle forward.
"One moment, please, gentlemen." Lucien held up a hand. "I'd like to take this opportunity to reintroduce our guests to an old friend." He gestured to the black-coated figure.
"What are you talking about." Rose demanded.
The shrouded figure turned to look at them for the first time. Rose found she couldn't think of it as he or she, something about it seemed wrong. It took a few steps down the stairs from the throne to the floor. It's head raised a little, and violent, red eyes locked with their own. Eyes that conveyed pure, whole fury and rage. Searing hatred. It knew them.
"Oh no." Aster murmured, from beside her.
"What is it?" Rose asked, unable to look away.
"This prime specimen, the first of my captains. My…Commandant, shall we say. He was once a nothing. A lost, wretched specimen, who wandered into my city with nothing and signed on with my personal guard, like so many others, to make victims of any but themselves. I believe he knew you many years ago, he screamed hate and bile and your names often, during his…change."
Something clicked in Rose' mind.
"He had much to say of all of you." Lucien smiled.
"Israel?" She said quietly.
Its eyes flared up, suddenly filled with a loathing of even greater intensity.
"Get them." Lucien smirked.
"Time to go." Aster said suddenly.
Rose jumped when he grabbed her hand and pulled her to the left. With his other hand, he wrenched a dagger from his boot and hurled it into the chest of the nearest soldier. A second stepped forward, blocking their way out of the rapidly tightening ring of soldiers.
She buried the mix of unease and sickness she'd felt on recognising the creature that had once been…Israel. With a grunt, she pulled Aster to a stop.
"What ar-" He began, turning back, urgency painted on his face.
Without bothering to explain, she crouched down, and tore the dress from the hem at her feet to the thigh of her right leg. Aster mumbled something unintelligible.
"Lily can kill me when we get out of here, I wasn't getting anywhere fast like that." She replied, standing again.
Two of the soldiers approached. Aster drew his sword. Rose narrowed her eyes. With a deep breath, she brought her hands forward. A great force threw most of the men ahead of them violently backward, some hit the columns with a sickening crunch, others piled into the audience, causing chaos and confusion.
One who had managed to avoid the blast was set upon by Aster. Their sword clashed. Aster parried a cut to his side and drove his fist into the soldiers face. With his right, he brought his sabre about and ran it through the reeling man's stomach, then kicked the man out of the way.
"C'mon." He held out his hand again.
She took it and together they bolted for one of the side doors out of the throne room. Angry shouts and the clatter of heavy footsteps followed them.
…
Walter could only watch, dumbly, as Lily tore them apart.
It was like nothing he'd ever seen. Not even her brother, as skilled as he had proved to have been was…
"Blimey…" He muttered.
It was like a dance.
She had fired twice, dropping two instantly. Then they had closed on her. He had been sure those armed with swords would have simply overwhelmed her, or at the very least those with guns would have shot her while she was distracted, but no. None of them could lay a hand on her.
They seemed so slow, so useless, in the face of her agility. As soon as they got close, she was in amongst them, ducking and diving, rolling and sliding. Shots would ring out every now and then and another of Lucien's soldiers would drop dead. Once her own pistols were spent, she had simply holstered them and relieved the soldiers of theirs as she went, using their own weapons on their comrades.
He had taken down two that had managed to avoid the girl, but even that had tired him quickly, as he stood there, sword at his side, panting.
Derek and his men stood to one side, unsure of what to do. At least they seemed smart enough to know not to get involved.
He watched as Lily ducked a swing from one of the remaining swordsmen, then raised a pistol so that it was pointed under the man's chin. He flinched a little as the shot rang and the man fell back, dead. Like all the rest.
And then it was quiet. A light pall of smoke and haze covered the area, around where Lily stood, breathing heavily.
"Bloody 'ell." One of Derek's men gaped.
Lily looked up, as if remembering they were all there.
"You don't know what it's like living with those two for all these years with no way to…to…" Lily shrugged.
"Blow off steam?" Jasper offered, in a high-pitched squeak.
"Sure." She waved a hand toward them lazily, forgetting she had a gun in it.
It went off and she dropped it with a yelp.
From the castle, more footsteps sounded, the cries of men too. It sounded like more this time.
"You need to leave." Derek insisted.
"I already told you…" Lily gestured angrily at the castle, then stumbled.
Walter hurried forward, catching her arm and holding her up.
"You're tired." He observed. "You can't take more on your own."
"I said I can…" She held a hand to her head as she wavered again. "…dizzy." She muttered.
Walter pulled her arm over his shoulder. He called Jasper over, who then did the same with her other arm.
"Get out of here, all o' you." Derek pointed toward the road back into the city. "I'll try'n stall them."
Walter nodded, and with Lily in tow, the three of them hurried out of the gardens and into the darkened city streets.
…
"Where're we goin'?" Aster growled.
He paused to fend off another soldier. The swords clashed and scraped loudly before her brother grabbed the man by the shoulder, hauling him into a nearby suit of armour with a crash of metal.
Rose looked around. They were in a long hallway, adorned with other armour suits, antique pieces and art. Two barred and locked doors fed onto a small balcony overlooking the city. Something about it seemed familiar.
"Lucien's study." She said quickly. "This is where we were brought."
Aster looked around, then nodded slowly, as if remembering too.
Shouts echoed down the hall. More men approached, Aster swore, wrenching a second sword from the fallen soldier.
"No." Rose ordered. "Follow me."
He nodded and they ran on down the hall. With a shove, together they rammed the doors to Lucien's study open and slammed them shut behind them just as the dozen or more soldiers reached them.
They stepped back as the door shook with the soldiers' blows.
"Now what?" Aster muttered, panting.
He looked the worse for wear, now. Strands of his hair had come loose from his ponytail, covering his face. His waistcoat was open, his shirt torn and half untucked.
"We have a minute to think." Rose replied, circling the room, mind working frantically.
Aster eyed the door worriedly. They had a moment, but they were also trapped now. He watched Rose pace, face screwed up in concentration. Her hair was messed up now, tousled and matted. She tucked loose strands of it behind her ears irritably. She had also torn a huge slit in the side of her dress, the pale skin of her legs flashing in contrast with the blue material. He blinked, looking back to the door, trying to focus on the now.
"I've trapped us here." She said suddenly, as if reading his mind.
"We'll be fine." He said, one eye still on the shaking door.
"You were right, I don't know what came over me." She'd stopped pacing, arms limp at her sides. "And to think I was going to keep you out of trouble." She laughed bitterly.
"Look." Aster snapped. "If you hadn't, you c'n be damn sure I would've gone for the bastard."
"I'm supposed to look after you two." Rose shrugged, lamely, glancing at the door too.
She watched as Aster tore his gaze from the rattling entrance and stepped toward her. Against all expectations, he placed his hands on her bare shoulders and pulled her into a hug.
"Not your fault." He murmured into her ear, echoing her own words earlier. She slipped her arms around his shoulders, returning the hug.
"I just…why this damn place again?" She said quietly, burying her head in his shoulder. "I hope Lily and the others got away."
She felt Aster tense suddenly. He pulled away, looking at her with an odd, searching expression.
"Got an idea."
He let go of her gently and stepped past, toward the huge, intricate window they had fallen through as children. Rose tried to ignore the welling disappointment she felt once he'd let go and followed his gaze.
He turned around, once he was on the platform Lucien had directed them to as children, and gestured to the window. Something connected in her mind when she realised what he was thinking.
"No."
"We survived it once."
"No. No. Just no. It's ridiculous."
"Out there." He pointed toward the window, insistently. "Out there a ways, is the river. There's a few streets, and the river beyond."
"What are we supposed to do? Jump? We'll never make it!" Rose yelled.
"Not without…" He trailed off, eyes searching the room for something. "…that." He hurried across the room, to the fixture that held the rope with held up the chandelier in the centre of the ceiling.
Rose moved to the side of the room as he lowered it slowly. She began to see what he was thinking. And it was insane.
The door shook more violently.
Insane, but preferable to waiting to die.
As the chandelier hit the floor, she rushed forward and began untying it. Once it was loose, Aster began pulling it and coiling it around his arm.
"We just need something to…" He murmured, looking around.
"Luciens' desk." She pointed.
The huge, old desk was a massive construction, practically fixed to the floor. Together, they began tying it to one of the thick legs.
The door suddenly smashed open. Soldiers charged through. Behind them Rose caught the flash of a black coat. That sick feeling churned once again in the pit of her stomach.
One of the men came close and Aster rammed the hilt of his sword into his face. As he fell backward, Rose saw his pistol, she grabbed it quickly and stepped back toward the window with her brother.
"Hold this." She thrust the pistol into his hands while he hurriedly fed out as much of the rope as he could.
She turned to the encroaching soldiers and glared. Rose held her hands out before her and yelled. Fire erupted from the ground in a wave and surged forward, engulfing the men. Many ran back in time, others were caught in it and screamed as they fled backwards.
"Crikey." Aster muttered.
He was looking at her with a strange mix of surprise and admiration. Despite their situation, she flashed a smile.
"Practice." She shrugged.
The fires were already dying down.
"Okay, ready?" She said, pressing up against him and wrapping an arm around his shoulders, trying not to show how terrified she was.
He looked at her, then the fires, then the window.
"I…don't know." He said, weakly. "I...um…" He frowned, unable to look at her.
She couldn't remember seeing him so unsure, or afraid. Whether it was for himself, for Lily, for her, or for all of them, she wasn't sure.
"Hey." She raised a hand to his cheek, forcing him to look at her. "I trust you."
His frown softened slightly and his hand found its way around her waist. Over by the door, the soldiers were gathering again as the fires died. She met Aster's eyes again and on the spur, leaned forward and kissed him quickly on the lips.
Neither of them said anything, but he tightened his hold on her and wrapped the rope around his arm. Rose took the pistol back and raised it, aiming at the window.
The soldiers surged forward. The Commandant followed slowly behind them. Rose fired the pistol. The window exploded. They both jumped into the yawning abyss.
There was a moment, a moment of quiet, and cold, where nothing happened. It seemed to stretch and stretch until…
The wind picked up, the rope stretched taut. Aster swore and grunted as they came to a shuddering halt and then the icy cold air rushed through them as they swung under the protruding architecture of the castle study, around the thin column holding it up. Her heart was in her mouth as the sailed upward, clutching onto one another. Then they slowed.
The cold air tore through them as they began to swing back again, out over the steepled roofs and crooked old streets of Bowerstone, until there, beyond, was the great, cold, black waters of the river.
"Now!" Somebody yelled. It might have been her, or Aster. It was so cold, and the wind so strong, she couldn't even tell.
She thought she screamed when Aster let go. The momentum carried them out. If her heart had been in her mouth, it was now on the verge of being hurled up. The streets below were gone, only dark, impenetrable water remained. They had come apart at some point, but Aster's hand was still clutching hers as they plummeted.
With the last of her focus, she managed to hit the surface of the water with a wave of force, causing their rapid descent to slow somewhat and the waters to explode in a fountain beneath them.
And then they crashed into the water.