Chapter 9: Train Robbery

That next day was a busy one as everyone put the finishing touches on their plans. There was a certain excitement as the mansion buzzed with an undeniable energy. Saint knocked on my door as I was trying to decide on what I should wear for the day.

"Sierra?" Saint's voice wavered as I struggled into a white top.

"Hold on a minute!" I meet him at the door.

"Good morning!" Saint took a minute to look at Sierra's ruffled hair and mismatched socks. "You seem to be having a busy morning?"

I looked down at my feet and laughed. "Ahhh ha ha...ya…"

Saint held up the bundle Van had been carrying around yesterday. "I thought I told Van Helsing to take you with him when he picked up the order." Saint pressed the box into my hand. "After all it is for you."

"Saint…" My mouth lost its will to tell him off as he waited expectantly for me to open the box.

"I also brought you these." From behind his back Saint pulled a rather large bouquet of pink orchids.

I took the flowered with glee. "Thank you! They are lovely."

I looked around the room and spotted one of the many vases in the house. "I have a vase over there." I directed him to the end table next to my bed. An assortment of clothes lay on the bed, tokens of my indecisiveness.

"I see we are having trouble selecting an outfit befitting for today." He observed as he set the flowers into the vase and filled it up with water.

While Saint tended the flowers, I set the box on the table and began opening it. Inside was a long, black, trench coat like apparel. It had no sleeves, but buttons down both sides that clipped on the inside. The inside was lined with a white and black pinstripe silk. The sides of the vest/coat were slit open to the hip allowing for complete freedom of movement. Turning the jacket over onto its back embossed into the leather were two furled wings that ran down the length of each back pleat.

If I had possessed the courage tell him off before, I certainly couldn't now. My mouth wide in amazement, Saint walked up and took it out of my hands. Shaking the coat out he nodded in approval and held it out to help me into it. Visibly shaking, I let him help me into the coat. My hands were trembling enough that I couldn't even button the first row.

Saint reached down to help me. "I think this looks quite appealing on you." He reached up for the next button. "I am quite please at how it turned out, and..." Saint leaned in to whisper into my ear. "That I was the first one to see it on you." Saint pulled away, his smile having taken on a much more invested look.

Saint finished up with the last button and stepped away. "Yes, I think that will work for now."

I stepped up to him and put my hands on his chest. "Saint, you really shouldn't be doing this."

Saint's mischievous smile sent shivers up my spine. "I was entrusted with your care." He started out simply. "Is it wrong to spoil those you care about?"

I rested my head on his chest right above my hands. Saint put his arms around me and whispered. "All that I ask is that you let me protect you a little while longer."

I buried my face, embarrassed, into Saint's chest couldn't think of anything to say. For a few moments I just listened to the ticks of all the clocks Saint had attached to him along with the steady beat of his heart.

"For some reason I feel compelled to protect you." Saint slid his hand under my chin forcing my face towards his.

His face was so close! My mind panicked and went into overdrive. Saint stared into my eyes. "You really are quite cute when you are flustered."

I felt my cheeks turning a crimson red. "Then...then you shouldn't tease me like this…" I muttered pushing away from him.

Saint's expression turned to that of polite surprise. "Who says I am teasing?"

I turned away from him to buckle the rapier over my new jacket not trusting myself to saying anything.

Lupin poked his face into the doorway. "Hey it's almost time to leave!" Lupin took a second to admire the jacket before he commented."That looks really good on you! I approve!" Lupin put his hand under his chin and nodded a couple of times while saying this and smirking.

Cardia put her hand on Lupin's arm. "Lupin?" Cardia's teal eyes scanned the room.

"Cardia!" I found a place to express my emotions as I ran towards her. "What do you think?"

Cardia grinned at my sadly. "I think it looks good on you."

I clapped my hands in hers. "I can't wait until I can go shopping with you! We will have so much fun together!" I put my head on her forehead, both of us smiling.

Lupin freaked out at the skin to skin contact. "What?! How? How can you do that?"

I put my cheek against Cardia's and grinned evilly. "Girl's secrets."

Saint came up behind me. "I believe you said we were due to depart?"

Lupin scratched his head confused. "Indeed, I did?"

I tugged Cardia along with me down the hall. Saint walked next to Lupin."The difference between them is quite unusual isn't it?"

"You can say that again." Lupin was still stuck on events of a few moments prior, to really keep up the conversation.


Once at the train station Cardia stuck close to Lupin. I positioned myself by Saint until the train arrived at the station, then I was due to join up with Fran and Van on the train.

"Have you ever seen a train before?" Saint inquired as we paced the station.

"No." I tapped my cheek in thought. "I do not think I have seen one in person. What does a train look like?"

Saint stifled a laugh. "I think you will just have to wait and find out."

From the sidelines I could just make out where everyone was positioned. A stranger with light purple hair and a jacket embossed with the royal crest seemed to be circling the area as closely as we where. My eyes narrowed. "I don't like this…"

Saint stopped walking and looked around. "The train?"

I shook my head. "No. him." I turned to point out the strange man, but realized he was already gone. I frowned as I was unable to locate my target, but I switched the topic of the conversation regardless. "Saint, were you serious about before?"

We started walking again and Saint lead me around a corner, away from the others. "I would never do anything to harm you." His expression told me he was dead serious. "All I desire is your happiness, be it with me or with another man." His voice was soft, and gentle, and I barely made out the words in the loud, bustling, train station.

I was going to reply, but a loud, ear piercing, whistle accompanied by the shriek of machinery under pressure cut my response off and made my hair stand on end.

Saint grabbed my hand and pulled me around another corner. "That would be your cue, my dear." He hurried me along to drop me off next to Fran.

Before we parted Saint leaned over and told me with open stunningly teal eyes. "Be careful." Saint straightened back up and addressed at Fran. "Take good care of her." His polite smile seemed to be hiding a cold demeanor, and I thought again on what he said.

As Saint drifted away a huge black, steam ridden machine, blaring whistles and screaming breaks approached the station. My eyes the size of dinner plates I looked at Fran. "We are not getting in that thing are we?"

Van appeared on the other side of me as Fran answered my question. "Indeed we are. What do you think of your first time seeing a train?"

I examined the machine from the front as it came to a halt and we got in line to board. "Quite frankly?" I looked at my punched ticket. "It looks like a metal coffin."

Fran exchanged a worried look with Van. Van shrugged and offered me a hand at getting on. I took his hand, and the sullen soldier helped me aboard.

The floorboards made an ominous clanking sounds when my boots struck them. I led the way to the desired cart in the far back of the civilian train and sat down next to the window. Van took the seat across from me while Fran sat down next to me. It was longer than expected, before the train's whistle blew once more. I felt the shuttering of the engine as we started to pull out of the station.

In fright I grabbed onto Fran.

"It's alright Sierra." Fran tried to encourage me. "Your going to stay here when the fighting starts, only come out if you have to."

Van's hard eyes watched the landscape pass and he didn't offer a word of comfort.

As I became more accustomed to the sounds and shakes of the train, I released my grip on Fran and started to enjoy myself a little bit. There were quite a few stops where people got on and off the train. The gas lamps were lit to welcome the incoming darkness before we were the only ones on the train.

Fran directed me to hide down in between one of the seats.

"Just be careful." Van's words reached my ears as a explosion rocked the carriage behind us. I watched Fran lurch forward, as Van braced himself from the impact. "That was fast!" Van roared as the glass gave out on the front of the carriage and two strange soldiers burst into view. They were dressed in grey and black, wielding long rapiers.

However, it was their masks that terrified me the most. Long bird like beaks of plague doctors hid their entire face from view.

"Oh no…" I half screamed in terror, half trying to contain my horror. I was no longer on the train anymore. My mind brought me back to another flashback of my past. It overlapped with the train, the evil, hooded, figures prowling the burning house, searching for bodies. I watch in horror as both my living and deceased family members are hauled from the wreckage only to be dismembered before my eyes. Their blood was slowly drained into huge vats of silvery blood.

"Sierra!" Van glanced back at me as he fired at the two attacking Twilight guards. Each shot found its mark and the targets dropped to the ground.

Fran knelt down next to me. "Sierra?" Fran's voice was full of panic.

Two more guards broke in from the back and four more entered from the front. Glass was shattering all round me. Van's gun was firing off faster than I thought possible, and Fran was chucking flash and stun bombs as the masses keep coming.

"Damn!" Van swore as he reloaded yet again.

"Don't you think there are a few too many of them?" Fran panted the question as Van nodded in agreement as the body count just piled up.

More glass shards flew as another Twilight soldier broke into my booth. I didn't pause to think. I instinctively stood up as the glass grazed my cheek and tackled the figure coming in from the window. With no way to enter, and a strong force shoving him back out the window, the Twilight guard fell. I didn't stop there, I scooping up a fallen rapier from the floor and launched it at the pair gaining on Fran.

The weapon skewered the pair in the shoulder, pinning them together in an effective shish kabob. The next figure nearest to me turned towards me to attack. I jumped over the bench and roundhouse kicked him out of the train, fluidly I vaulted backwards to punch another two in the gut.

Fran's mouth dropped. "Sierra?!"

I looked behind me, but Van's shotgun dropped the figure behind me. Van smirked behind Fran as Fran gasp at me in admiration. Based on their reactions I assumed that I was forgiven for my earlier panic. I joined Fran and Van in the center of the train.

"You should have tried that on me during training." Van offered as he shook his head and fired again at the approaching enemies."...Time to go."

We raced towards the front of the cart.

"Keep going!" Van yelled behind us.

"Going up!" I yelled as I jumped up onto the next cart's ladder and hauled myself up. The roof was invested with the horrid masked Twilight members. I drew out my own rapier in rage. "Just because I am a women don't underestimate me!" I rushed in, ignoring any pain I felt and ripped into the closest guard. I used a variety of acrobatics and amazing dexterity to clear the roof.

"All clear!" I yelled down to Fran after a final scan of the rooftop.

Up in front I noticed a figure in white trying to fight against the wind. I focused a little harder and a cap blew by me. I reached out and snatched it from the air and pulled it on. "Oh jeez, that is Cardia...gentleman I am going on ahead!"

Van's deep voice sounded from below along with a variety of gunshots. "No, Wait!"

I didn't heed Van's warning as I dashed forward toward Cardia. She was engaged in battle with several figures on the next cart over.

"Where is Impey?" I took a second to survey the conditions. It was then I noticed that it felt like a storm was rolling in, the winds were gusting in the wrong direction as well. "This isn't good..." I muttered as I felt myself slowing down. I rubbed my cheek to feel a wetness soak my leave. I looked down at the silvery blood and swore.

Finally, I was at the jump to Cardia's cart. It had only been a few seconds, but it had felt like forever. Carida had managed to dump another one of her opponents off the train. That left two more on her roof. I vaulted over the jump easily, and landed next to one of her opponents. I braced my shoulder and shoved him off the platform. Cardia moved past me on her way to the coupler, as I moved towards the remaining opponent.

Van's shotgun rang out and my opponent sunk down onto the roof without me touching him. I nod to Van and raced after Cardia. She was already down working on the coupliers to the cart holding our quarry. I lept over to the roof, and waited to see if anyone else came out. Van was following me closely, his face showing a grim determination. He jumped down to where Cardia was standing, guns blazing.

I turned my attention to the rooftop. I could just make out the othrocopter Impey was supposed to be flying battling against the wind. A huge guest whipped my coat around my body, and even more Twilight members oozed out onto the rooftop.

I clicked my tongue at the approaching figures. "You guys are so annoying..."

I was on them in a flash, and several more unconscious bodies hit the ground. Once clear I looked back down. There were no additional carts, so Cardia and Van must have been successful in detaching the cart from the others. I stuck my head down and viewed four people in the room below me. Two being Van and Cardia, the other two people I did not recognize off the top of my head.

Van was all business, his face held a barely contained rage as he pointed a gun at the smaller blond male. The small blond was being covered by a capable looking older man with a cane sword and long grey hair. Silently, I creep towards the front of the cart, hoping to lock them in a pincer movement between me and Van Helsing.

Trembling, I took a deep breath and steeled myself for my next course of action. I flung myself from the top of the roof with force and swung myself inwards using brute strength. My heel burst through the glass with relative ease, and I came to a halt in the middle of the floor.

"Sierra!" Cardia's voice rang out and the small blond turned to me. His eyes were unstable, as if he was having trouble seeing me. His mismatched eyes lit onto the slight cut on my cheek. A manic laughter burst from him as the older one pushed him backward toward the window away from the danger.

My eyes narrowed and my blood instantly rose, something about that laugh was unsettlingly familiar. "Why sister! What interesting company you keep!"

Van ground his teeth in anger. "Finis!"

Cardia came out from under Van's cover. "What do you mean?" Her voice quivered at the statement.

"You even have the last angel!" The boy doubled over laughing. "What a great day!" Come with me sister!" Finis offered Cardia his outreached hand. Cardia looked at it uncertainly with eyes full of panic. Van moved back in front of Cardia as his body trembled slightly with tension and hatred.

Cardia looked out the window and shouted out a warning. "Watch out!"

I rolled forward, meeting the older man's sword with my own as a powerful blast rocketed the train. A giant hole ripped its way into existence next to Cardia and Van. Van was forced to move to shield Cardia from the debris.

I was not so fortunate. I felt flying shrapnel cut into my arms and legs as I parried the sword in front of me.

"Your pretty good at this." The old man lashed out and I blocked his attack just in time. His blow sent twinges radiating up and down my arm rendering that sword arm useless. Scowling, I flipped hands.

"Ho ho, duel handed?" The old man laughed at me.

"Be careful Aliester. I would not underestimate her." Finis's voice was strangely grounded in the moment.

Lupin's voice cut through the cabin."Cardia! Jump!"

I disengaged, backing off from close quarters combat, to let Van take point once more as I dropped back to help Cardia.

"Can you make it?" I asked her in hushed tones as Cardia looked at Lupin holding out his hand. I encouraged her as Cardia readied to jump. "You can do it!"

Van fired off two shots as Cardia jumped.

I turned around as Finis reached for his sister, yelling.

Van was in a standoff with Aliester. "Van, we need to go!" I yelled as the wind ate my voice.

Van growled and looked out the hole.

Lupin yelled. "You guys need to jump now!"

I looked at Finis reaching for me now. "If I can't have my sister, I will at least take you back with me!"

I backed up trying to get away, and suddenly I was in Van Helsing's arm as he was jumping through the hole.

Van scooped up Sierra as he exited the train. Jumping out, he caught the rope ladder with his free hand and pulled both himself and Sierra up to a more stable position.

Saint and Fran were on the ground in the car just a few seconds behind the Ornithopter. Sierra hung one arm around his neck the other latched onto the ladder. Van watched in frustration as the train sweep into the valley and exploded.

Shots rang out and the Ornithopter veered dangerously to one side.

"Shots?" I peered over Van's shoulder to see a huge airship gaining on us.

"I think we are too heavy!" Impey's voice rang out as another set of shots barely avoided us.

I exchanged a look with Van and we both looked at the ground. "Well then..."

I frowned as Van yelled up to the pilot. "Take us lower!"

The Ornithopter wavered dangerously as Impey struggled to keep on course.

"We are going to have to jump." Van's voice sounded right next to my ear. "Can you do it?"

I looked him in the eyes and nodded that I could.

From the ground Fran and Saint watched as the Ornithopter came under attack.

"This could be an unforeseen problem." Saint observed as he drove.

Fran was busy mixing chemicals. "Drive steady, I am going to give them some cover."

Several vials filled with smoke as Fran threw them up high into the air. They exploded on the way up. Huge dense smoke clouds in a plethora of colors filled the night sky right in front of the airship almost instantly.

Van and I looked back at the smoke rising around the ship.

"Now!' Van commanded and I released my hold on him and the rope. The air raced all around me, and another shorter, flashback hit me. Regardless of where I was, I was falling. The ground was coming up, but I wasn't afraid. Instinctively, I tucked my body into a ball and hit with my shoulder. Around me I heard another, larger body, hit the ground near me. Neatly, I let the momentum roll me until I stopped. Slowly, I unfolded myself, double checking everything was still attached and working.

Everything was.

I looked behind me. Van was standing beside me dusting off his coat as Saint drove over the hill.

"Need a ride?" Fran yelled as we waited for the car to come closer to us.

I laughed and waved, as Van just crossed his arms and waited for them to pull up next to us.


Author's Bonus Cornor:

Watch out for symbolism! Also check out what the meanings behind character names and flower language.

You'll notice in this chapter Saint gives Sierra pink orchids.

In the language of flowers: "The pink Orchid has the honour of representing innocence, femininity, grace, joy and happiness."

You might also enjoy knowing a secret of my name conventions.

Sierra Arianell was the result of careful planning and a hell of a lot of search... Personal, I keep pronouncing her name as "Syria"

Name: Sierra. Origin: Irish. Means: Dark.

Name: Arianell. Origin: Welsh. Means: Silver.

See if you can keep these Easter eggs in mind as you read, or perhaps re-read. I hope you enjoy!