The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux

a/n Sorry my dears I cannot answer reviews, I tried. i was able to do a couple, now I get a system error. Remember this is a mystery. One more short chapter. And it is the end of part 1. Please check my profile in a couple of weeks for my twitter name. I will be for a couple of weeks. Prayers, good wishes would be appreciate it. Surgery time, Again, so life goes on.

GETTING AWAY

After the women were ready and all was packed, the guards came into the room. Miles knocked at the door. He was let in. He walked towards Darcy, "The coachman and I fought for General Fitzwilliams. If you have extra guns and munition, we would gladly help. I was a marksman, but both of us were good soldiers."

Alexis said, "I have weapons in my room. You might find them unusual, but the principle is the same. They are loaded. You won't need to reload but every eight times. They will not work unless I release the safe. I also have knives; I don't guess you know how to use a bow?"

"My Lord, I do; my grandfather taught me. Pistols are too expensive for hunting. I am quite good at it." Miles smiled.

William was more than grateful for the younger man he had treated so unfairly. He remembered he had several on his employ, injured while serving. It was a blessing today. Richard had told him each one of the young men was trustworthy, loyal; they would die protecting you.

They decided for everyone to leave together. Michou sat by William, "No, you must go in the carriage." William ordered. It would seem that Michou was his friend. Lizzie grinned, "She is your best friend, surely hoping for cake or an iced dessert." Michou growled.

The menagerie resisted going in the carriage. Alexis whispered something to them, and they climbed in. "The boys want to ride, but we only have one extra horse," Alexis said aloud so that others could hear.

"He can ride with me; he is small enough," William pointed at Lizzie, who shrugged her shoulders. They were on their mounts, ready to go. The footmen/guards flanked the family. Miles sat at the carriage front with the coachman. William was tense; they all could feel somebody watching them.

Richard and the others were not far behind. Richard had a feeling they needed to rush. His keen instinct had saved him and his men more than once. In all his field career, he hadn't lost many men. Almost none because of his sense of danger. "I will ride ahead," Richard said. "Be alert, keep going." He saw riders approaching him; he had the pistol in his hand; everyone was alert.

The Visitor

Lord Bennet, the former Mr. Bennet, decided to pay a visit after Mary heard an unsavory remark about Jane. She and Kitty were upset, and his wife was crying. He wouldn't stand still, not after, his baby, Lydia; this wouldn't do.

Charles Bingley came into the room where Lord Bennet waited. Good, it would save him a visit. He wanted to apologize and ask when would be appropriate to start courting Jane. Hopefully, soon, he was thinking how much to say; best to keep it brief, he wanted to marry Jane.

"Mr., I mean Lord Bennet, what a pleasure." Charles stood in front of him to shake his hand. Bennet ignored him.

"This is not a social visit; I am coming to warn you to leave my daughter alone." Lord Bennet was not the affable and pleasant country gentleman. Charles remembered.

"Sir, I was waiting for a respectable time to apologize for any distress I might have caused," Charles smiled.

"Not necessary. What I want is for you and your family to quit your gossiping. You saw my daughter while your wife was alive; I don't know what you were thinking about. It was disrespectful. My daughter's mother is a princess, not that it matters. You see, I have other daughters, and rumors about Jane hurt them. My daughter confirmed your sisters were talking about it, rather loud, at Jane's wedding. It has gotten worse." He shook his head disapprovingly.

Charles paled, "Sir, I was coming to apologize. You see, I love Jane, I despaired when I saw her."

"You despair now that my daughter has an elevated status. I don't remember you coming back to see her before; you never came back and married the next year. I was at Pemberley when my son, William, invited you, and you said you were busy. Besides, no gentleman sees a respectable single lady while he is married. If you have more than kissed my daughter, I will not be forgiving. Stop the ongoing gossip, or you will regret the consequences. Stay away." Bennet had nothing else to say; he stood up, put his hat on, and walked out.

Charles stood there; all that Jane's father said was true. He would talk to William; they were good friends before. William needed to help. After all, William had given him bad advice. He couldn't go to visit when William invited him; he was seeing his wife; he made a mistake. Charles hadn't learned to be accountable; he was weak, and others were always responsible for his bad decisions.

Danger

William held on to Lizzie. She sat in from of him. He could shield her better that way. He exhaled; he couldn't help it. She was right against him, making him want her badly. He tried to kiss her neck, but best to put those thoughts away. She was lovely in boy's britches. She hid her hair under a cap, but he could swear her coloring was different.

He noticed Alexis looking at him; he had a mischievous smile. Knowing William wanted Lizzie, Alexis winked an eye at Him. William grinned; it was a little distraction. Lizzie knew as well. When she moved, she felt his erection. "When we were, well, when I came to your room; no, I mean, can we try tonight if I feel better?" She whispered. "I mean to kiss me down, you know. I'd like to do the same." She grimaced; goodness, what would he think about her? But knowing he wanted her made her body melt.

"Yes, my love, I'd like that." Though her words wrecked his mind, she made him smile. After he said that, she could hear whispers.

Lizzie whispered, "We are being watched." Then, she looked up, "Sir, Isn't the sky blue? My father taught me when there are no clouds, it is colder," she pointed up. She sounded like an older boy.

William looked up. Alexis also did. William could see figures crouched on the trees' limbs. He blinked. They moved from tree to tree, how? Maybe this was the unusual something he would find out.

Miles was attentive as everyone else; he also looked up, so did the guards. William was tense, hoping those on the trees were only looking. He counted at least six, maybe more. Alexis had given him a pistol like the ones he gave Miles and the coachman. His hand was in it.

Alexis, in a rapid movement, pulled a bow, not sure from where. He readied an arrow; he was faster than anyone William had ever seen. He pointed and released the arrow. They heard a scream and a body falling, but it didn't hit the ground, wings opened and whoever took flight.

Alexis yelled, "We won't make it easy for you. What do you want? You must know who I am."

Someone flew down; he was masked. William thought he recognized the oddly streaked hair, Lord Asher, "Who doesn't, you are your parent's son.? But there are too many of us. Your grandfather, the mighty one, was taken down protecting his grandchildren if my memory doesn't fail me. So, I suggest, to avoid bloodshed, Lady Darcy comes with us, for now. Tell her to come out of the carriage; she is her mother, and Darcy will pay us to get her back. She'll go back to him, eventually, and we will get something we wanted for a while from Darcy; she is a bonus. We tried other ways, but nothing seemed to work; his damn estate home is a fortress. We also will take Lady Jane, one of us wants her. Leonidas will pay her weight on gold, and…."

Alexis answered, "And nothing, " he pointed his hand; William saw a blue light, and whoever froze, he couldn't move. Seven or eight flew down. Only one had wings. How did they fly? He had no idea. William wasn't sure where they landed; until he saw another one land by the carriage, a giant tiger jumped out of the carriage, bringing the winged someone down. A scary bat-like creature, hairy and fierce, flew around Lizzie and William, breathing fire.

Miles fired at someone coming from the side. Alexis looked strange, with no wings. But he was much bigger. His hair was colorless; he seemed to glow. He moved his hands, releasing fireballs, which changed into nets, falling on those coming down. The giant tiger had the person pinned down. William could hear the fearful whimpers; he knew who the tiger and the flyer were; he recognized the curly ginger hair. So where was Brink?

Lizzie said, "Best you don't move, her bite will kill you before you can blink. And those planning to get Mrs. Darcy," she pointed at the flying beast, "her bite is deadly, and her fire can also kill you. I can do the same; touch me."

William sighed. They had figured out the boys were Lizzie and Jane. The beasts gave them away.

Two amazons came out of the carriage with bows. They had odd hair gear, like Vikings, with horns; the footmen also carried bows. Brink jumped out. He was a giant wolf, walking to Darcy; he was grateful the menagerie was with them. The ones in the nets got out. Alexis said, "You are forcing my hand. Either leave now, or I will start killing. I am not alone." When he pointed his hands, the blue light came out and exploded near one, knocking him out, and all were frozen.

One of the ladies pointed an arrow at a tree, where someone hid. They heard the scream, but nothing else. A guard fired the pistol, a stream of light came out, downing someone else.

The one with the streaked hair was able to move; "We will go, but we won't give up; you will see us again."

"No, you won't, see your wrists, that will keep you away; you are all marked. I will know when you are coming. I won't kill you now though I want to. I know who you are; Leonidas makes a bad enemy; you are the one after Jane. I heard your comment when you visited Russia; you saw my nieces in riding clothes; you said they looked like pretty boys; I understand your preferences. Liza is married, so is Jane. Some with you, answer to my parents; they will be displeased," he walked towards the frozen ones; but two vanished before he reached them.

He touched them all and let them go. He said, "No, they aren't the ones I seek. Three are Englishmen. I know one more; I am certain. They are still around. Michou, go and check."

William said, "I recognized the one talking, Lord Asher."

Alexis nodded, "An evil being hides behind the pretty façade."

The flying beast came back and landed on William's shoulder. First, she licked his face; it was Michou. Michou spoke in a squeaky voice. "I smelled them, but I cannot see them." William wasn't surprised. They were not animals; probably, something like his mysterious in-laws.

"We need to hurry. It will be hard to fight when it is dark. They know who you are; change if they are back; you'll be less vulnerable. They know about us; that is a fact. Jane, Leonidas will be back, don't cry, I had it. You need his protection; I don't trust your judgment; as for Bingley, he should be glad he is alive. You should know Leo wanted to kill him, I had to talk him out of it. I think all he told you was nonsense; Leo loves you."

"But I love Charles," Jane cried. Lizzie huffed, disgusted.

"Foolish girl, I won't…."

That was when four more appeared, right by Jane. William saw Alexis changed, not quite a man. His skin was almost blue. He growled and jumped several meters, landing on one of the attackers. With his hands, he broke the man's neck like a twig. Then moved his hand, and the wind pushed the others, as if they were leaves, against the carriage. Maybe they were magical people.

"I don't want to kill anyone else. Move aside, or more will die. This is the last warning." Alexis's angry voice ordered, "Thus far, we are not killing; but that will change."

The ones by the carriage disappeared along with the dead one.

"Everyone, come around my nieces. William, maybe it is best I take my nieces. Though I am not sure about taking Lizzie, you know why. The hidden paths are dangerous. I'd prefer not to unless it is necessary." Alexis was again human. What was he? The menagerie was again looking like dogs and a large wild cat.

'I will go with you." William offered; the hidden paths, of course, that was how they brought Jane back so quickly.

"No, it will make it harder; larger groups make it worse; nasty things hide in there. Our presence attracts them; they like our flesh. Only a few of us can enter the paths. Nobody here but my nieces and I can open the entrances." He looked at Jane; his face was hard, unhappy with her, "My dear, we are here to protect you from the nasty gossiping started by the Bingley sisters, and to keep you away from Bingley. Quit crying, your sister shouldn't be here; you know why so think about that real hard. What if she were hurt like your mother was?"

Jane sobered up, already unsure about many things.

Miles grinned. "I am living a fairy tale." The coachman agreed. They looked like eager young boys. Alexis might have to erase the memories, but loyal servants were invaluable; he would think about it.

"Hardly," Alexis made a face. "How far are we?"

"At the most, one hour, maybe less," William answered. "We can travel on a wider road, not so many trees, but it might be longer."

"I don't know how many are after us. Although I can do a lot, and my men and the ladies are good fighters, I don't want my nieces hurt. How did they find us? William, you must have someone in your employ who reports to Asher and the others." Alexis was thinking.

"Yes, sir; we think the same. Mr. Darcy has me looking; Jim, " Miles interjected, pointing at the coachman, "has been helping; we checked everyone. Most of those serving Mr. Darcy come from near London or came with him from Pemberley. Everyone had good references; we also went to their near towns and confirm they were from those a couple of maids, they said they come from far away. They are meek enough, I reckon. Mr. Darcy has his secretary re-checking everyone's references, including the new butler's; except for the references of a couple of maids that worked for a family that went to America."

"I see. Let's try the more traveled road. Jane, you go in the carriage. Liza, my dear, would..." Alexis started asking.

"No, the carriage makes me very sick. Please let me ride with William; I will keep my head down." Lizzie asked. William held his breath when he saw she was not human; there were slight changes on her face; same than Alexis. No matter, she was as lovely as ever. "I can change once again; we can take several forms if we need to." She whispered.

"Fine, but I will ride next to you. They," Alexis pointed at the menagerie, "go in the carriage. It will raise too many questions with the locals. Everyone, fire to kill while we move, there are not enough of us."

"Yes sir," Miles agreed, eagerly, the coachman nodded as well.

"Remember the woman at the lodging; we need to be aware." William reminded them. He was afraid someone would hurt Lizzie.

Michou stayed on William's shoulder. When Alexis order Michou to go back in the carriage, Michou spitted a small ball of fire, meant to singe a lock of Alexis's hair. He saw it and stopped it, just-by looking at it. Alexis chuckled, "I was surprised at your good behavior before; fine, stay there, but no tricks around locals." Michou woofed twice.

Alexis told William and Lizzie, "I don't like this; I can feel them keeping up with us. I wish we had more fighters. Liza, don't fight, not you. I couldn't bear if you get hurt. Remember you are not alone; remember the news today."

They had traveled twenty more minutes, when they saw a carriage coming from a side road. They were coming quite fast, faster than any carriage could travel. At the same time several riders were closing on them from another side road.

They readied their weapons; it didn't look good.

A/n Poor Jane, remember times were different. Mr. Bennet is no longer a pushover, good for him.