Apologies for being a turtle haha I guess I gotta give you guys some action to be happy

Chapter 6

Cassandra closed her eyes in eager anticipation. She could feel his breath upon hers, and her mouth tingled with a fierce electricity. How will it feel like? My first kiss...her thoughts were a whirl of mixed feelings. Excited, exalted, happy, nervous combined.

Raphael stared into her green eyes which were like a pair of beautiful mirrors. Her lips looked satin-soft. He could feel his heart pounding. Her brilliant hair fell back, somehow unhindered by the ribbons, which had mysteriously loosened. Raphael was so close to her face he could see her entire, beautiful face. It was devoid of pimples or any other blemishes. She's perfect...Raphael thought to himself. His fingers felt her waist gently, and he could sense her all tensed up. He parted his lips and was an inch away from making contact...

"WATCH OUT!" suddenly a shout erupted from somewhere behind them. Raphael glanced up, annoyed. He then hurriedly pulled Cassandra to the ground as a rampant horse trampled past. Cassandra was growing sheepish. Surely he wasn't going to advance so quickly!

Raphael was embarrassed, for once in his life; he was at a loss at what to do. He was at a distance from the young Greek. Cassandra opened her eyes and got to her feet. She was slightly disappointed having being interrupted, but a part of her was thankful. She wasn't sure she was ready. Perhaps she needed some consultation with her sister. After, Sophitia was much more experienced than her in the affairs of the heart. Raphael thanked her and apologized, and they rode a horse home. Cassandra enjoyed the ride. She was in close proximity with her crush, and her arms were wrapped around his waist. Luckily he wasn't facing her, or her senses would have exploded. They were both too embarrassed to even suggest another attempt.

The steady clip-clop of the horse's hooves was soothing to both of them. They made little conversation throughout the ride, preferring instead to bath in the peaceful silence between them. Suddenly, Raphael jerked the reins back.
"What is it?" Cassandra asked.

Raphael tersely replied, "Bandits." It sounded like he was trying to swallow a sour pip. After pausing, he said to her in an undertone, "Cassandra, perhaps it would be better if you took the horse and ran..."

"No, I can't leave you here alone," Cassandra's voice rang with determination. Her hands went down to the shield and shortsword hanging at her waist. Raphael drew his rapier venomously, the Shing! of his blade reverberating across the dirt road. Bandits were already fanning out in all directions, attempting to catch them in a pincer movement. Raphael saw, and understood. He despised them. All were looking at their money pouches greedily, and at Cassandra evilly. It was the latter that infuriated Raphael more. "Hold on tight," he told Cassandra through gritted teeth. Her arms tightened, as Raphael spurred the horse into five bandits. They promptly fell away and regrouped, like a flock of birds. Raphael turned and charged at them. They fell away again, but this time Raphael's rapier flicked out, and severed a bandit's head. There was a muffled scream, and the bandits looked at Raphael angrily.

One of them let out an obscenity, and ran forwards. Raphael attempted to steer the horse away, but a heavy club blow struck the horse's front leg, and it buckled. Raphael leapt down, clutching Cassandra tightly. His rapier was in front of him, his arm stiff as a pole. Cassandra studied her opponents.

The leader appeared to be the scar-faced one with the club who had attacked the horse. Raphael steadied himself in an offensive stance, and went for him. Raphael thrust forward with a powerful strike, but the leader of the bandits was surprisingly agile. He dodged left and slammed the butt of his club onto Raphael's shoulder. The force of the blow caused Raphael to stumble, but he recovered immediately, parrying a blow with Flambert. The rapier pushed against the club, and the club forced back. Raphael ducked as the wild swing nearly decapitated him. The leader leapt back, as Raphael lashed forward with a roundhouse kick. His boot glanced Scar's face, causing only a minor scrape. The huge bandit landed a heavy club blow onto the ground, and while he took time to adjust, Raphael slashed with Flambert upwards. The bandit leader jerked back, blood sliding down, and smashed the club into Raphael's face. Raphael feared he would black out, and Cassandra would be captured, and only that propelled him to go on in his weakened state. Dashing forwards, Raphael started pushing his rapier forcefully forward, while the bandit head tried to block. A few strong thrusts rendered his wooden club cracked, and when Raphael leapt up to deliver a crushing kick onto it, the club shattered. But the leader tried an unexpected move, grabbing Raphael and tripping him. As Flambert circled in the air, Raphael saw the exact movement, and using his foot to tremendous effect, pushed it straight into the bandit's throat. The French fencer then got to his feet and tugged the sword out. It was slick with fresh blood. "It's too late to resist..." Raphael said quietly to the dead man.

Cassandra was dealing with five others. She was backing away. As one advanced, she kicked out into his stomach and clashed his head with the shield. The bandit fell and groaned, his hoplite sword clattering away. As another one foolishly charged forward, Cassandra picked up the sword and threw it dead-center into his eye. Blood surged down his eye. There was a scream of agony as he tumbled backwards, clutching his eye. Raphael impaled him on his rapier. The remaining three bandits hesitated, and continued running forward. Raphael repaid one of them with a swift death, while Cassandra took down one with a sword to the head. However, he managed to slash her shoulder before dying. Cassandra crumpled in a dark pool of crimson. The last one decided to run, but Raphael spotted him. With a dread barrel, Raphael slammed his rapier forward, and the last bandit collapsed, dead.

The Frenchman felt a foreboding sense of déjà vu. No! It...it...can't happen...again. Raphael picked up Cassandra, and started running down the path at full sprint. He ignored the rain starting to pelt down on the dark dreary road to home.

"Don't die!" he screamed.