Sorry not updating this one in a while, I lost steam for it, but I'm going to try now :D

Louisa had no time for this. She cursed profusely, stampeding on Storm through the near empty village of the Caduceus kingdom. Poseidon, Hephaestus and Athena had pulled through, escorting hundreds and hundreds of villagers from this cess pit. There were barely any people left and, from what Louisa could see, they were expecting to leave at any second. Atlantean and Hephaestian guards held the perimeter, defending those left from Hermes' soldiers. They parted to let Louisa and Storm pass, half a dozen of her father's men running alongside her to clear the path up the steps to the palace. Storm reared, whinnying, her hoof connecting with the chest of Caduceus warrior. He fell and Storm carried on, bursting through the doors and exploiting a loud challenging neigh to the small army on the inside. Louisa drew her sword, two Atlantean guards breaking from the ruckus outside to join her.

"LUKE!" She yelled. "SHOW YOURSELF!"

"Here!" Someone called back. Louisa slashed at a final guard, whirling Storm around. Her mare stomped the ground in frustration, shaking her mane. "I knew you'd turn up and, yet, you still got here quicker than I imagined."

"Where's Leo?"

"He's still alive, if that's what you're wondering. That might not last much longer. It all depends."

"On what?"

"You."

"Oh, this is so cliché." Louisa lowered her sword, getting annoyed now. "Honestly, can't ya come up with an original plan? Ya hold Leo hostage, I come ta his rescue, ya tell me ya'll let him live as long as I agree to marry ya, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah."

"Leo said the same thing." Luke muttered, colouring furiously. "But, because of that, I've updated the plan." He grinned viciously. "I won't just kill Leo. No, no. I will tear apart everything he loves, I'll cut down his family in the most horrific ways you can imagine-"

"Yeah, that ain't gonna work."

"I was talking then."

"'N' I talked over ya. Shame." Louisa dropped from the saddle, rolling her shoulders and readying her bloodied sword. "Take me ta Leo. Now."

"Or what?"

"Seriously?" Louisa rubbed at her face tiresomely with her free hand. Never had she seen so many typical bad guy moves. It was like they all had one giant brain that had very repetitive ideas. "Right, change of plan." Louisa sliced at the air, the very tip of her blade opening his old wound. "I'm gonna make ten stabs at ya. That was one. Each time they're gonna get deeper. If ya ain't takin' me ta Leo by six, seven to nine are gonna be mortal wounds 'n' ten is goin' straight through ya head." Another cut, across his chest this time. "Two."

"You don't scare me." Luke snarled, drawing his own weapon. Louisa attacked a third time, leaving a gaping, scarlet mouth on his leg. Luke stabbed at her; she disarmed him and emitted number four. Luke retrieved a dagger from his belt, losing it from his grip when number five sliced under his arm. He couldn't help but cry out then, his arm jolting back reflexively, the dagger clattering to the floor.

"Last chance." Louisa warned. Luke looked her up and down. Yes, his father's kingdom needed the dowry, but... looking out the window, there wasn't much of a kingdom left. No matter what they tried, they couldn't get past the foreign guards. Nor could they stop their citizens disappearing at night. He paused too long. Six went straight through the muscle of his sword arm, tearing the skin and flesh. Seven followed soon after, biting viciously into his side. Louisa raised her sword for eight-

"Wait!" Louisa ducked behind Luke, kicking his legs out and holding him at sword point on his knees. Hermes froze midway down the stairs. "Let him go!" He ordered. "You've no right in my kingdom!"

"Neither does Leo! You shush." She warned, twisting her sword ever so slightly, burying it that little bit more into her hostage's throat. Luke's attempts at blackmail died on his lips. Hermes scowled. "If ya want ya slimy son back, I want Leo here in two minutes, alive 'n' unhurt." The king made no move. "Don't think that I won't, I'll cut his head in two, chop up what's left 'n' cook it as your final meal, now GET LEO OR HE DIES! THAT IS AN ORDER!" Hermes startled and rushed off. Luke tried talking again. Louisa tugged on his hair, exposing more of his throat. "Ya think ya can come up with tortures worse than what I can imagine? Think again, bud. I won't destroy everythin' ya love first. I'll destory everythin' you are." Luke pressed his lips together.

Hermes returned with Leo and a little boy in toy. The child seemed to be permanently stuck to Leo, almost like a leech, clinging to his back, tear-coated face turned to Louisa. "Leo, who's the kid?"

"This is Martin. Martin, this is my friend I was telling you about."

"Leo for Luke." Hermes said, voice trembling furiously. "That was the deal."

"Send 'em over first, I don't trust you lot."

"And we should trust you?"

"Who's holdin' the very sharp pointy thing here?" Hermes growled in annoyance, gesturing sharply. Leo stood still while a terrified servant undid the chains around his ankles and wrists. He cast a final look towards the irate king and, keeping a firm hold on his new friend, trudged over to Louisa.

"Now my son." Hermes snarled. Louisa stared at him, stony faced. "Now, girl!" Hermes exploded. Louisa pulled her sword back, hauling Luke to his feet.

Leo wasn't too sure what happened next, he just knew Martin didn't like it. The boy buried his head in Leo's hair, small arms tightening about his neck. Louisa smashed her sword straight through Luke's back. He gasped, gargling as redness flowed from his astounded mouth. She hissed something in his ear, ten, before kicking him away. Hermes howled in outrage as his son's body hit the floor with a final, sickening, wet smack. He charged, struggling to pull his sword from its holster in his anger. Louisa dodged his wild punch, kneeing him in the groin and decapitating him the second he tumbled.

"And on that note, we should leave." Leo said, doing his best not to look at the scarlet horror puddling about his feet. Louisa glared at him, their blood on her front, the colour of her eyes so vivid behind the crimson splatter. Martin squeaked. "Oh, that's right. We need to find Martin's parents. Hermes took them prisoner to use Martin as a decoy to catch me, so..." Leo shrugged. "Feeling up to a little hide-and-seek, your ladyship?"

"What?" Leo pointed at the servant. He stood aghast at the mess, in awe of Louisa. Louisa stared back, confused.

"B-by-by Ancient... Ancient L-L-La-Law," the servant stammered, "y-yo-you a-a-are-are t-t-the n-n-ne-new r-r-r-rul-rul-ler of t-thi-this ki-kin-kingdom." Louisa blinked at him. Leo motioned for the servant to stand down. He did so, hanging his head and backing into the shadows.

"You are. The previous ruler attacked you, for admittedly a good reason, but you beat in combat. You are now the queen of the Caduceus kingdom. Which means you now have power in three kingdoms, that's really unfair you know."

"I don't want it."

"Are you crazy? Caduceus needs you! Look what Hermes and Luke did to their people! You could change that all forever. Fix the kingdom up first. Then decide what you're going to do. For now, however, we need to find Martin's parents and get back on track with this plan."

"Right." Louisa agreed, still dazed. "Ask the servant." Louisa looked back to the servant. "You there. Uh, where are this boy's parents?" The servant had gone mute with terror. "I ain't gonna hurt ya, ya've not done anythin' wrong. Just tell us where Marvin's-"

"Martin's."

"Martin's parents are. Actually..." Louisa surveyed the mess, grimacing. "Take Leo and Martin to them. I'll clean this up. Ya ain't got a mop handy, have ya?"

"Do we have time for that?"

"Of course we do. I've just found a way to make time." Louisa nudged Hermes' head with her foot. "I need a mop, a bucket of water, a bag 'n' ya fastest messenger."