So…no one reviews this anymore. Sadness. I'm going to keep updating, but some reviews wouldn't go amiss…Oh! And yes I know Anna was born I Luin…but I'm changed it because I can!
Felicity leaned on a tree panting heavily. She wiped her brow with one arm and picked her staff up, glancing warily at the trees. She'd been on the run for almost a week, avoiding the Desians who were trying to kill her. If she had just admitted she knew where Asilaj was, she wouldn't be in this mess. But no…she had gone soft and noble at the last minute, just like the rest of her pathetic family.
A branch cracked in front of her. She raised her staff and darted off through the trees. She ran, stumbling over roots and bushes, panting heavily. Suddenly she tripped and fell face first to the ground.
"Felicity," said a cold voice. Felicity looked up into Yuan's cold gaze. She jumped to her feet, but Yuan was too quick for her. Suddenly she was encased in a force field, unable to move, her eyes wide with fear.
Yuan laughed. "Did you really think you could escape me?" he asked. "I could have had u at any moment, but I let you have your 'heroics;' at last chance at freedom." He shook his head. "However much in vain it might have been."
Felicity snarled. "You're despicable."
"Is that not the pot calling the kettle black?" Yuan remarked walking close to her. "You betrayed your family and friends, I had you watched. We're even." Yuan stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Well, even now anyway. In about five seconds, I'll have won, you being dead and all."
"Then what are you waiting for?" Felicity asked "Kill me."
Yuan shook his head. "Not so fast," he said. "I'm waiting for my guests."
Felicity looked into the surrounding trees. Nothing stirred. It was quiet, not an animal made a noise, not a leaf shook on a branch. It was too quiet. Then Felicity realized.
"Anna and Kratos are coming," she said, emotionlessly. "You're using me as bait."
"You were somewhat intelligent," Yuan said. "Now here's the choice that lies before you. Since you do not know where Asilaj is, you've been ordered to be killed. Bur I'm no fool. You're going to lead us right to them. Unless you've gone noble on us."
Felicity snorted. "What's in it for me?"
"Help me find them and you live. Refuse and you die."
Felicity paused for a fraction of a second, before yelling into the woods. "ANNA! Run it's a trap! They're waiting for you!"
Yuan sneered and raised his hand, preparing to finish Felicity off.
"You idiot!" Felicity whispered. "I just sent them running back to Asilaj!" You better follow them!"
Yuan paused. A slow grin spread across his face. "Clever girl." He released Felicity and turned away into the trees. "I have no further need of you." He walked away.
Felicity dropped, exhausted, to her knees as the force field vanished. She slowly raised her head, glaring as Yuan vanished from her sight. "I've no need of you either, you bastard. Remember that."
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Anna, Kratos, Ahmond, and Denise all exchanged glances at Felicity's shout. None of them knew what to do. If they went forward, there might possibly be an awaiting trap. If they turned, they risked letting Felicity go and being followed. If they continued to stand there, they'd be discovered by their enemies.
"Ahmond, Denise," Anna said firmly "Get back to-"
"Fat chance," said the other three, Ahmond and Denise in defiance, Kratos in resignation. Ahmond scowled at Kratos, but said nothing.
Anna chewed her lip. "Fine. What do we do?"
"Go forward," Kratos said. "You know you can't trust Felicity. If we go back, they'll follow."
"But if we meet up with them and are outnumbered, we're in trouble." Denise countered.
"Fair point," Kratos agreed. "I can't see why she's still alive. They were supposed to kill her a week ago." Damn Yuan and his lies!
"Your source could be corrupt," Ahmond pointed out disdainfully. "And I don't what to do, but whatever it is we gotta do it fast!"
Anna, silent throughout the exchange, punched one hand with her fist. "We have to go back," Anna said decisively. "We can't take on a Desian force with four people. If Denise and Ahmond can get back and warn everyone, we'll have a chance to defend Asilaj."
"What about you two?" Denise asked.
Kratos and Anna exchanged glances. Kratos's eyes widened slightly as he saw what Anna was preparing to do. Her large brown eyes were set and determined, just as they had been that day at the cliff.
"No," Kratos said shaking his head. "Don't you dare think for even a moment that-"
Anna looked at him sadly. "We've no choice," she whispered. She looked up at Ahmond and Denise. "I am issuing this order as leader of the Jalisa, which all of you," she emphasized, looking at Kratos, "are a part of. You are to return and prepare Asilaj for a mass attack. Anyone twelve and older, even those children who have not yet passed their test, are to defend the village. I am going to distract them away from the village and try to escape them when we are far from Asilaj."
"YOU CAN'T!" Ahmond yelled. "You'll be killed!"
"Anna this is ridiculous!" Denise cried. "You don't stand a chance!"
"IT IS AN ORDER!" Anna barked. "NOW GO!" she stared into her friends' eyes, before adding in a whisper. "I'll be fine. I've got Noishe. I swear I will come back. You know what to do if I don't." Ahmond and Denise looked at her, begging, before turning and racing back to the village.
Kratos didn't follow. Instead he grabbed Anna and pulled her to him. She hugged him fiercely; terrified that she might not see him again. He kissed her, hard.
"Don't do this," he said, knowing it was useless.
"They're my people," Anna replied. "I must."
"Why can't I go with you?" Kratos asked. "You know if I'm with you-"
"I need you to protect Asilaj," Anna replied. "I promise, I'll come back. She stepped away from him, turning toward the trees.
"Wait," Kratos said. Anna turned to face him, noting the strange look on his face. It was a mixture of desperation, bliss, and compassion. "I love you, Anna Jamison."
Anna threw herself at him, hugging him as though she thought he might lose him. "I love you too, Kratos Aurion." And with that, she tore off into the trees, Noishe right behind her. Kratos watched her until she was out of sight before racing back to Asilaj.
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Anna ran as fast as she could through the forest. Ahead of her she could see torches flickering and hear the clank of the Desians armor.
Martel, don't let me die. Mother, father…Adam, Samuel…Edric…Tonight I will avenge our village!
Noishe drew level with Anna. She gripped his fur and swung onto his back just as they erupted into the clearing.
Please let me come back to Kratos…
The Desians stared dumbfounded at Anna, who surprised them completely. She unsheathed one sword and raised high over her head. "Come and get me, you filth!"
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Kratos quickly caught up with Ahmond and Denise, swearing all the way.
"Damn her."
"Never thought I'd agree with you," Ahmond muttered as they raced into Asilaj. He turned to the guards atop the barricade wall. "Close and bar the gate, get ready for combat!" He turned to Kratos and Denise. "Kratos and Denise, get from house to house and tell people to assemble in the square. Tell them to arm up. Anyone under age twelve and any civilians unable to fight or untrained are to retreat to the cellar shelters behind head quarters."
Kratos dashed off after Denise to do as he bid. "I didn't know he could be so in control and take charge like that."
Denise nodded. "Ahmond's family has been second command in the Jalisa for the entirety of its existence, over a century. Senshi has always backed the Jamison family, who are our founders and leaders."
"That explains why Ahmond never listens to Anna," Kratos sighed. Anna…
I can't leave her to them!
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Anna blessed the day she found Noishe. Although the Desians were swift, they were proving no match for her beloved partner. They remained safely behind, though she couldn't escape them entirely.
If this keeps up, Noishe will tire out eventually. Then we'll be in trouble.
The sky began to lighten in the east, foretelling the rising of the sun. Once the darkness ebbed away, it would be much easier for her enemy to spot her. She had to think of something. And she had to do it fast.
"Duh!" Anna muttered, shaking her head. "Noishe, make for Iselia. We can lose them if we head towards our former village."
On they raced, the Desians right behind them, as the sun rose over the hills in the distance. A broad expanse of forest lay ahead of them, a forest Anna knew well. She turned, seeing the Desians were far behind her, yet knew they could still see her.
"YES!" Anna yelled in triumph. Anna and Noishe were swallowed by trees, cutting them off from the Desians sight. Anna nudged Noishe and he put on a burst of speed, racing over tree roots and bushes and undergrowth, heading for what was once their home.
The barricade wall still stood in front of Jalisa, protecting the ruins within. Only the dark chips in the wooden walls left any indication of the inner disaster. Anna walked around to the back, where the trees guarded the village, too dense for a wall. This was where the Desians had slipped past the guards to wreak havoc on the Jalisa, those two years ago. It had taken a year to repair the damage and within another year, it lay in ruins again. Anna wandered aimlessly from ruin to ruin, stopping finally in front of headquarters, the place she grew up in.
Noishe nuzzled her leg. She sat down smiling and scratched him. "Maybe we've outlived our time, Noishe. Maybe the age of assassins is over…"
But how can it be when we still have so much wrong with the world? We may be dying out…but at least we're fighting. That's got to count for something.
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"Archers!" Ahmond yelled, at the top of the wall of ivy, his bow strung and ready. "Loose on my command!"
They could hear the clank of Desian armor, very familiar to the Jalisa in recent times. Torches flickered in the night as they shone through the dense forest, brining the smell of smoke to the awaiting assassins.
Kratos and Denise stood just outside the gate and the ivy, waiting for the command to charge. With them were about twenty other armed assassins. Kratos focused his eyes, enhanced by his angelic abilities, and scanned the approaching enemy. Seventy-five Desians in opposition to the fifty assassins. This could end nasty.
"Ahmond!" Kratos yelled. "There's about seventy five coming at us!"
"How can you tell?" Ahmond yelled back.
"That is not your concern. For once, put your trust in me. The sooner we get rid of them, the sooner we can get Anna back here." Ahmond said nothing, but Kratos saw him hand signal the number to the archers out of hearing range.
"Archers be ready!" Ahmond yelled as the clank grew louder. "Steady on! Aim…"
The Desians burst out of the trees in force, running swiftly towards them, weapons raised.
"Fire!" Ahmond gave the command and immediately, five Desians were killed, the others peppered with arrows. "Aim," Ahmond yelled. "Fire!" The twang of bow strings filled the air as the shriek of dying men echoed in the forest. "Pick your shots, archers! Remember to leave none alive. Swordsman, hold fast, get ready to charge."
Kratos unsheathed his blade, and stood at ease, waiting for the command. No doubt he could easily sway the odds in the Jalisa's favor, but why rush things.
"Swords, foreword! Leave no one alive!" Ahmond cried.
Kratos and Denise lead the charge, dashing straight into the oncoming rush of Desians.
I won't let Anna's people go unavenged. Farewell to your dreams Mithos...
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Anna stood and stretched. It was dark now. She had finally lost the Desians. It was time to return to Asilaj, which surely must be under siege by now. She knew that Felicity would be nowhere in sight. Felicity had sent them running, hoping they'd lead the Desians back to Asilaj. And so the did…but not enough. Over half the force had followed her, and they'd have a job getting back in time to find where their fellows had gone, especially since they were clear across Sylvarant.
"Come on Noishe," Anna said turning towards the gate before stopping dead in her tracks.
A man with blue hair in a ponytail leaned against a charred building. His cape flowed gently in the breeze, his cruel eyes fixed on Anna.
"So…you're the infamous Anna Jamison," he said.
Anna drew her swords and set herself for an attack. "Who are you?"
He sneered. "My name is of no importance, but if you must know…I am Yuan, a... friend... of Kratos."
Anna snorted. "He told me about you…and Mithos…and all of it."
Yuan shook his head. "He would, the fool." Yuan walked over to Anna, his eyes thoughtful. "Are you sure he told you everything?"
"Yes," Anna replied, glaring.
Yuan shook his head. "It is doubtful. However…let him do as he sees fit." Yuan looked Anna up and down. "Hm…you don't seem that…extraordinary…I wonder what his fixation with you is…"
Anna lunged in with her swords. Yuan sidestepped her easily, but was unprepared for her speed as she pivoted quickly, slicing one sword to the back, landing a neat scrape on his cheek.
"Well…point taken…" Yuan said. "Very well…I'll play his game."
"What game?" Anna snarled. Yuan just grinned.
"Take my advice, Miss Jamison. "Get far away from here. Kvar is coming for you, and I assure you that if he catches you, you shall never escape."
Anna stared Yuan in the eye, unsure of whether he lied or not. It could be a trap. It seemed likely, considering what Kratos had told her about Yuan…and yet…
"Where's Felicity?" she asked, struck by a sudden thought. "I know you Desians were supposed to kill her. Is she dead?"
"Your useless sister is no longer my concern," Yuan replied indifferently. "Just know that it is because of her that you are in danger and that your people are dying."
"As if I didn't know," Anna said sarcastically. She stared, searching at Yuan for a moment, trying to see if his warning was for true. "Why help me?"
Yuan said nothing but continued to look in her eyes. She looked straight back, meeting stare for stare, hers searching, his evaluating. Finally he turned away. "Go."
Anna paused for a moment before sheathing her swords. She whistled to Noishe and jumped on his back. "My thanks, Yuan." She turned and galloped across the square. She had just reached the gate when a dark figure leapt out of the trees on either side of her. Noishe skidded to a halt, growling at the Desians approaching her. Her hand flew toward her sword but she wasn't quick enough as five more leaped at her, tackling her off of Noishe onto the ground.
She fought viciously, using every punch, kick, flip, turn, and jump that she possessed, but six more joined the fight and she was outnumbered. Noishe dove into the fray, snarling biting and growling. As Anna drove the heel of palm into the skull of one of her captors, there was a flash and Noishe whined, sprawling unconscious on the ground.
"Noishe!" Anna screamed desperately.
"Enough of this foolishness!" said a voice colder than Yuan's. Anna looked and received a blow to the stomach, the mouth and the back of her head at the same time. He vision spun as she was hauled to her feet, bleeding profusely from mouth and nose. She looked up to see who had spoken.
"Damn you, Kvar…"
Kvar sneered nastily walking up to Anna, who couldn't move. He punched her in the stomach, knocking the wind from her. Her vision went dark as she heard Kvar say from what felt like miles away, "Get her to the ranch."
"Kratos," she whispered weakly before her world was consumed in darkness.
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