All the Things You Never Knew

by Angealica Hewley

“Fine, Nix,” Gabriel said. “You may come get your sword, though I don’t think it’s going to block you from any bullets.”

  “I do have a shield,” Phoenix answered. “But you and Sheik replaced it with a turtle shell the last time so I threw it away.”

  “Sucks for you, then. You’re not touching any pistol,” he said. Then to Namine and Lavender, “Father’s rifle’s down in the storage room, third box from the bottom up. Leon’s pistol’s under his pillow. Run up to get it.”

  They nodded and did as ordered.

  “Gabe, you’re so mean!” Phoenix stomped. “I want a pistol, too.”

  “You’re only eighteen, too reckless. You can’t touch it,” he said. “Just come up to get your sword.”

  They all came back to gather at the door a while later as they got their weapons and peek out the window.

  “Oh, my lord,” Namine gasped. “How many men are out there? Twenty? Sixty?”

  “Good thing we’re stranded out in the country that no one would get hurt,” said Blake. “Are you guys ready?”

  “As I’ll ever be,” said Chance.

  “Gabe, I want a gun,” Phoenix whined.

  “No,” he said again. “How many times do I have to tell you? You get the sword; you wait in the house; you attack anyone that comes in, understand?”

  “Ugh! That’s so unfair! You guys get all the fun.”

  “Fun, my ass. We’re risking our lives out there. The least you can do is stay alive to tell Leon and them.”

  “Ha! I’d rather die a heroine than be a coward hiding in the house,” she retorted.

  Gabriel just shook his head and gesture for them to go out to take their places.

  “Stay,” he said one last time to Phoenix, and left.

  Phoenix threw her hands up in anger. “Great! While everyone goes out to be heroes, I’m staying in as a bloody loser! Thank you so much, Gabe!”

  * * * “Night goes, morning comes, when are we going to find Leon?” Aidan asked as he stomps on the fire of their camp to put it out, and mounted up onto his horse. “Those abductors are too broad with just Islington. Do they actually believe that we will know where that is? If they want the bloody jewel, they will have to be more ‘pacific than that, like the ocean.”

  “I have an idea,” said Jack. “We go back to London and find that

  Lord Lansing’s mansion.”

  “Are you crazy? London’s half an hour behind us now,” Edward

  answered. “No thank you.”

  “It’s the only way. We have to get him to take us, or one of his

  servants who might know.”

  “That’s not such a bad idea,” Aidan agreed.

  “Yes, but think about it. He could be leading us to our deathbeds

  instead of to Leon,” Edward argued. “It’s better if we just try to find

  him ourselves and take matters to our own hands.”

  “That will take days,” Jack said, urging his horse on the go. “I’ll

  get to Lansing’s estate and force something out of his servants to

  guide us through.”

  “And if we come to meet the lord himself?”

  “We give him whatever he needs to get to Leon. Simple as that.” “You never know. These high aristocratic lords are cunning with

  greed. They will lie to get anything,” Edward said. “But if you put it

  like that, we might as well give it a try. Anything to get him and

  leave.”

  “I doubt it’s going to be that simple,” said Aidan. “If they wanted

  Leon for his jewel, they will want ours, too. We will be trapped.” “If that’s the case, then we will just have to make sure that their

  plan doesn’t go through,” Jack said, knowing that it’s a great

  possibility.

  * * *

  “No,” Rose said for the last time, when Leon dragged her off behind a tree and spoke to her of his plan. “I’m not going to let you kill yourself.”

  Lord Longsword came in to hide behind the tree next to them. “What are you trying to do?” he asked Leon.

  “He’s gone mad, Lord Longsword. He’s going to make a run

  towards them and jump into that pond over there,” said Rose as she pointed over to the dark little pond not too far from where the men of Lord Lansing were coming from.

  “Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Longsword asked, disapprovingly. “Why would you–”

  “That was only part of the plan,” Leon answered. “There’s another bit that I have to ask of you.”

  “And what is that? I’m not letting you face them alone.”

  “You’re not,” Leon answered. “I need your help in this, too.”

  “What is it that I should do?”

  “Do you happen to have any grenades left on you? I’ll need those for this.”

  “Grenades?” It dawn on Longsword of what Leon’s plan was and he smiled. “You’re brilliant. I haven’t even thought about it. Let me check.”

  He dug into his battle pouch and grinned as he found one.

  “Lucky last one,” he said, handing it to Leon. “Better use it wisely.”

  “Thank you.” He grabbed it and turned to Rose, giving her a brief kiss on the lips. “Stay strong,” he said. “I’ll be all right. If anything happens, run.” Then back to Longsword, “Get your gun ready. We’re going to have to fend off any survivor.”

  “Leon,” Rose grabbed his arm and pulled him into a tight embrace before letting go. “Be careful.”

  “I will.”

  Leon turned to Longsword to give him a reassuring nod and dashed off to face the ferocity of Lansing’s army.

  Bullets and arrows flew in all directions, aiming for his life.

  “I’ve got to do this,” Leon said, rolling off and dodging every shot. He had spent all his life running from his enemies, now it’s time to face them and end everything. Even if this is only the beginning, as long as he gets through it, a happy ending would sure to follow. Nothing’s impossible unless you make it so.

  “Go to hell, you of son of a bitch!”

  With those words, Leon threw off the grenade as he got to the perfect spot, and as planned, jumped into the pond that lies between them.

  “Leon!” Rose’s heart seems to have stopped when she heard the violent bursting of the grenade that Leon had took, and caught him diving into the pond. She almost couldn’t breathe at the fear that he would get caught up in the explosion.

  “Lady Rose, I need you to stay here,” Lord Longsword told her as he took out his pistol and rubbed it clean against his pants. “Don’t come anywhere near us.”

  And with that he ran off after Leon.

  “Oh, my lord.” She was trembling in fear, and couldn’t make out of what to do except sit there and hope for the best to come.

  Leon rise up from the pond and stared at the burning flames caused by the explosion. All the men of Lansing were down and scattered all over. A few, as expected, were up and still shooting the last of their bullets.

  “I got this, Heartily,” Longsword called to him, and started shooting down the last of the survivors.

  Leon swam over and jumped out to help with the final blow.

  They had won the battle but the war has only begun.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Bridlington

  “Oh what fun it is to watch while everybody dies…”

  Phoenix sighed as she finished the last verse of her little make up song and stood up to go peek out at her siblings again.

  Ten down, a hundred more to go, she exaggerated.

  “Oh, dear,” she gasped, clutching her hand to her chest. “Lavender has such a bad aim. I could have made that shot.”

  She twirled her sword around in her hand for a moment and then jump up as an idea hit her.

  There are far too many men for her siblings to handle. With her as an addition to the team would knock them out faster.

  Yes! She’s going to go out and
help them despite what Gabriel said. Besides, he’s not the boss over her, nor the oldest of them all to be ordering people around. That’s Leon’s job.

  “Hey, guys, I’m coming!” she hollered as she flung out the door and down the steps, running towards them.

  Her siblings didn’t pay a mind, but Gabriel’s eye darkened at her.

  There was a shot aimed at her before she was even aware, and it bounced of her sword, making her shriek.

  “You little rascal. I told you to stay inside,” Gabriel said as he came over to help her.

  “I can’t stay in and let you guys die. You know how guilty that would make me feel?” she said, pushing him away to fight against one of the man charging towards them.

  Her sword clashed with the man’s bayonet rifle and it fell from his hand, giving her an advantage.

  She planned to stab through him, but Gabriel made a shot that killed him off.

  “I’m not letting you kill a man,” he said. “You’ll get nightmares.”

  “No, I won’t,” she replied madly. “Don’t take my targets. I can well handle them.”

  Gabriel just shook his head and stayed close to her.

  “Trust me. You will have nightmares.”

  “Then wouldn’t Namine and Lavender have nightmares?” she countered, hating to be the worry of everyone.

  “They’re old enough.”

  “For your information, I am eighteen, brother.”

  Another man charged at them and Gabriel came in front of her to stop him.

  “Move!” she bellowed, pushing him away, swinging her sword at the man.

  “Stop it, little weakling. Let me handle this.”

  Gabriel came back and took the stand against the man.

  Phoenix sighed and ran off to find another target. Ones without guns, of course. She doesn’t have a quick pistol to get them before they get her.

  “Nix, watch out!” Blake called to her after he’d made a shot at another man coming for her. She must have been the vulnerable looking one that they all think they can dispose of easily.

  “Thanks, Blakey,” she said, giving him a thumbs up.

  She really need a pistol, or rifle for all it matters.

  She scans quickly to find her sister Lavender, the terrible shot, and ran off towards her, dodging a bullet.

  “What are you doing out here? Didn’t Gabe tell you to stay inside?” Lavender asked, pulling her behind a tree to avoid the shots coming fast at them.

  “I need that rifle,” Phoenix said, taking it from Lavender before she can protest and replacing it with her sword.

  “I don’t know how to use this,” Lavender said, throwing the sword on the ground. “Give me back that–”

  Phoenix cut her off with a shot, knocking down one of the man and she jumped up in joy.

  “Hell, I made it! Thanks, Lav.” She gave Lavender a quick embrace and ran off to the battle field once more to face the wrath of the enemies.

  “Phoenix!” Lavender picked up the sword and ran after her.

  Phoenix was caught up in the shooting that she wasn’t quite aware of what’s coming at her.

  “Grenades!” Gabriel rushed over and tackled her off as the explosive device burst behind them, causing a cloud of dust.

  “Great! They’re bombing us!” said Chance.

  “Our house!” was the concern from Sheik.

  “Lavender!” Namine went over to where Lavender attempted to kill a man with Phoenix’s sword and shot him down.

  “See, little sister? It’s dangerous,” Gabriel said, helping Phoenix up. “You should have stayed inside.”

  “I can’t.” She fired with her rifle again and jumps up. “Bingo!” she exclaimed, shooting down three men.

  Gabriel shook his head disapprovingly and grabbed the rifle from her.

  “Hey! Give that back!” she cried, jumping up to get it but he held it away.

  “Lavender!” he called, getting her attention.

  Lavender came over and Gabriel exchanged the weapons once more.

  “Here,” he gave Phoenix her sword again and made a quick shot at an attacker from behind her. “Go back inside,” he ordered.

  “No!” she said, angry at how Gabriel’s always treating her like a child. “I’m staying!”

  “Go!” he said, pushing her aside to fend off another attack.

  She swung her sword at one of them and missed from Gabriel pushing her away again.

  “For the last time, Gabe, I can do–” A gasp escaped her as a shot went off and hit Gabriel in the shoulder.

  “Gabriel!” All her siblings cried, as they fend off the last of their enemy and rush over.

  Gabriel clutched his shoulder where it got hit and winced in pain. “I-I should b-be all right.”

  “Gabe!” Phoenix was filled with infuriation and worries. Why did he do that?

  Angry, she picked up her sword and jump off to avenge her brother, stabbing right through the heart of the man that had made the shot.

  “Gabe, you’re not dying, are you?” she asked, her hands trembling and voice shaking between sobs as she came back.

  “H-heck n-no!” Gabriel said, though he was hurt. “T-this is nothing.”

  “We better get you inside, Gabe, and treat your wound,” said Namine.

  “Chance and I would handle this out here,” said Blake. “Sheik, you go with them and fight off anyone who tries to get near the house.”

  “Aye, Cap’n,” Sheik saluted, and follow as Namine and them help Gabriel inside.

  “I’m so sorry, Gabe,” Phoenix said, kneeling down beside him as he lies down on the couch. “I really am.”

  “I-it’s… okay,” he answered, wincing as Namine pulled his shirt off to examine the gun wound.

  “Lavender, bring me a tweezer or something to pull out the bull–”

  “I will do it!” Phoenix said, running upstairs to get it.

  It was her fault for not listening. Now her brother is hurt. He might even die of lead poisoning. She promises to listen from now on if he stays alive. But thinking on the bright side, she killed the shooter.

  The thought made her feel like a heroine at the moment.

  * * *

  “Leon!” Rose ran forward and flung her arms around Leon as the battle of Lord Lansing’s men came to an end.

  “We’re safe now,” he said, stroking her hair.

  “Where do we go now?” she asked, stepping back to look at him.

  Leon glanced at Longsword who just shrugs and walk away to let them have their privacy.

  “Home, I suppose,” he replied.

  Her eyes glimmer in delight. “Your home?”

  He smiled and cupped her cheek. “Do you want to?”

  “Yes!” she exclaimed. She hadn’t seen it for so long. “I would totally love to!”

  Leon smiled and leaned down to kiss her softly on the lips. “Then we’ll go,” he said, taking her hands. “We’ll go drag the priest over and get married.”

  “And I’ll be your wife! “ Her heart was filled with pure joy. “Oh, Leon, I’m so bliss!”

  “We shouldn’t delay the moment any longer.”

  Leon whistled out for Longsword to return and told him of their plan.

  “Should I go get Hargate, then?” Longsword asked when they returned to the inn to get their abandon horses. “He wouldn’t want to miss the chance of being your best man.”

  “No, Avangelene might take you for an intruder and shoot you,” Leon said.

  Longsword gave out a laugh and cleared his throat. “I won’t risk it, then.”

  “I’ll go back for him once we get to Bridlington,” said Leon. “I’ll have you both as my best men, though traditionally there’s only one.”

  “Well, we’ll be breaking the tradition,” Longsword grinned.

  “It’s going to take us a few days to get to Bridlington,” said Leon. “I don’t think Avangelene would mind Hargate staying a bit longer at her hideout.”

  “His Grace is pretty
charming,” Rose put in as Leon raise her up onto the horse. “Your sister should enjoy having him there. I mean, what lady wouldn’t want to have the company of a charming duke?”

  Leon laughed ridiculously at Rose’s comment. “I doubt it. Avange is not like most ladies. She has no interest in men, especially if he’s a duke.”

  “How can you be so sure,” said Rose. “Your sister and His Grace could be engaged in a tête-à-tête at this very moment.”

  “My love, you have no idea,” Leon chuckled. “But that would be bad. Very bad.”

  “What would you do, Heartily, if Hargate becomes your future brother-in-law?” Longsword asked. “Or I, for all that matters. Would you… approve?”

  “Are you kidding me? My best friends, you and Hargate, as my brother-in-laws? That would never ever happen. Not if I have anything to say about it.”

  “You’re so cruel, Leon,” said Rose. “Even if they’re in love?”

  “I warned them before not to mess with my sisters,” Leon said, getting up behind her on the horse. “They should know the outcomes already.”

  He winked at Longsword and presses the horse forward.

  * * *

  “I don’t think I’ve had a breakfast this good since I became responsible for the dukedom,” the Duke of Hargate replied, licking his fingers clean as Avangelene watches him eat. “I’ve been too busy.”

  She wouldn’t have known that he was a duke if she had seen him like this without any knowledge of who he was. He’s not acting like a proper duke chewing loudly and licking every last morsel off the dish.

  “I bet Leon and them always get to enjoy a warm, loving breakfast like this in the morning with you around.”

  “Not always,” she answered. “I…have businesses of my own to tend.”

  And now that he’d mentioned that, she remembered how she was supposed to be staying home to cook for her siblings.

  Good, lord! What have they been eating while she’s here cooking for a duke? She had only meant to come here to rest from her duties, not nurse a duke. Oh well, her siblings are smart enough to figure something out.

  “Thank you, Avangelene, for this wonderful breakfast,” the duke said, getting up and taking his dish over to the wash basin. “I’ll clean up and leave you to your business.”

  He’s leaving? But Leon’s not even back yet.