All the Things You Never Knew

by Angealica Hewley

  “You should have kept an eye on her,” Gabriel fumed at Phoenix after everything has seemed to calm. “You and Namine and Lavender.”

  “What am I supposed to do anyway? Nam and Lavender are the oldest, don’t just lecture me,” Phoenix said, and stomped away.

  “What’s wrong?” Lavender and Namine asked Gabe when they saw the angry Phoenix march back into the house.

  “You guys are so in trouble,” he said, and ran off after his brothers into the woods.

  Leicester

  Leon and Longsword took out the last of the guards that blocked the entrance to Lansing’s lair and proceeded on through the sliding doors into a dark room.

  “This is just like that chamber back in Islington,” said Longsword as they crept through the darkness, seeking for a sign of light.

  “Worst,” Leon murmured as he move his hand along the wall to guide him.

  There was a sudden click as his hand touched something and a row of candles roar to life.

  A burst of laughter sounded and echoed through the room as more light came up and reveal to them a passage through another sliding stone door.

  “There sure are a lot of doors in here,” said Longsword as he follows Leon through.

  They came into a room with spikes and spears sticking from all direction and slowed, watching their steps cautiously to not set off any traps that will send the spikes flying.

  This Marquess of Lansing planned this out quite well but Leon’s going to do whatever he can to send him back to the devil where he belongs. He had been slow before in his actions but this time he will not hold back. He had given the marquess way too much time to play. The game is to end today. It’s either he die or take the marquess’s life. Neither one of them can live in the same world. He’ll chase that bastard old man till the end of Earth if he has to.

  “Leon, watch out!” Longsword shouted tackling him to the ground as a spear shot out.

  “Shit!”

  This was not going to be easy.

  Leon glanced to see another door a couple feet away and dashed for it. “Come on, Longsword, this way!”

  They duck from the spears and slip through the door just as one skid across his shoulder.

  “Close one,” Leon said out of breath as he lean back against the door.

  “Heartily, you better look at this,” Longsword said, crossing his arms as he stares across the room.

  Leon came forward and cursed again when he saw a rope bridge extending to the other side of the room.

  “I’m going to kill that marquess when I’m through with this hell!” Leon said inching towards the rope.

  “That’s the plan,” Longsword agreed. “But we must keep cool to have our wits about us.”

  “It’s hard to do that when you’re facing danger at every turn,” Leon said, testing his foot out on the bridge.

  Longsword tried with his and jump back as the bridge made a bounce with a loud creak.

  “This won’t hold, Heartily.”

  “I have an idea.”

  Leon took out his dagger and inched slowly across the bridge, trying to keep his weight off it as much as possible and began cutting at the rope.

  “What are you doing? Come back here!” Longsword called, not daring to step on the bridge at the fear that it might collapse all together and send them falling to their death.

  “We’re going to have to swing across instead,” Leon answered as he finished cutting one side of the bridge and jumped to the other side. “Catch, Longsword.” He let go of the rope he had cut and let it swing to the earl.

  “Is it sturdy enough?” Longsword asked as he bends down to pull up the rope.

  “Let’s just hope,” he answered as he began cutting on the other side of the bridge.

  The bridge fell apart and collapse on the other side of the room as Leon grab his side of the rope, and descended down to a small platform below them. Longsword followed and stood on the other side.

  “We’ll swing and grab onto the ropes on the other side,” Leon informed.

  “Got it.”

  They step back and swung at the count of three, barely making it to the other side.

  “I would never do this again unless my life depends upon it,” Longsword said, blowing a sigh of relief when they had made it up the rope.

  “Sorry for dragging you into this,” Leon apologized. “I hadn’t expected Lansing to go this far.”

  “As long as we get his head, it’s all good,” Longsword assured him with a grin. “Hargate would have enjoyed this,” he said as Leon and they walk down a long corridor.

  “It would have been easy since Hargate seems to be an expert at these mechanical traps and nonsense,” Leon agreed.

  Another door met them at the end of the corridor and Leon nearly went mad.

  “This is bullshit!” Leon fumed, kicking the door open to another dark room, and giving out an angry shout. “Show yourself, Lansing! I’ve had enough of your game. Stop this cowardice and face me!”

  The laughter from earlier sounded again and this time the old marquess step forward from the darkness on top of a high stone steps with two torches lit, and glared down at them.

  “Leon–”

  The ground in which Longsword stood suddenly fell open and devour him down.

  “Gareth!”

  He drop down to help Longsword, but it was too late.

  Redness flared through Leon as he glares up at the marquess and step forward. “What the devil did you do to Longsword?”

  “Welcome, my darling little boy,” the marquess said, ignoring the question as he descended down with his two bodyguards beside him.

  The room lit up with his step and he smirked at the sight of Leon’s menacing feature.

  Leon urged forward towards the steps but the old man held his cane up to stop him.

  “Don’t be in such a rush yet, my boy,” the old man cackled.

  Leon took out his dagger and let the garnet on it shine in the flame. “I brought what you wanted, now hand over the viscount and Longsword.”

  The old man snickered again and shook his head. “It’s not going to be that easy, dear boy.”

  “Well show me the viscount,” he demanded.

  “You want to see him? The traitor that tricked you here?” The marquess let out a scratchy laugh and ordered for one of his guards to get the viscount.

  “I didn’t actually think you will come for that Willy when he had betrayed you,” the marquess went on saying as he slowly makes his way down. “I bet his daughter even fool you here. You are nothing but that little whore’s play thing to toss around.”

  “Insult my fiancée again and you’ll have your head on one of the spears in your room,” Leon hissed, lurching forward.

  The old man held up his cane again and stops him. “Take one more step and I’ll order for your friend to die and your future fatherin-law to get his throat slit.”

  Not wanting either of them to face that wrath, Leon stop and step back.

  “Good boy.”

  The marquess came down to the final step at last and gave a snap, bringing out four more guards from the doors on either side of them.

  “You should have come more prepared, little Windsor.”

  Windsor.

  There goes that name again.

  “I didn’t think you’ll be this afraid of me,” Leon said, crossing his arms and keeping his cool. “Besides, I’m merely here to negotiate with you to get back Lord Herring.”

  “Is that so?” The marquess laughs again and came forward to stare down at Leon’s face.

  He felt the urge to knock the old man down but knew better with all the guards closing in on him.

  “You look just like your father, my boy,” the marquess said, raising his cane to tap on Leon’s face. “It’s clearer now than the last time. You surely are his bastard.”

  Leon pushed away the cane and stood in full height to meet the old man’s gaze.

  “Like father like son,” he said, pu
lling up the old man’s collar and pulling him close.

  The guards rushed in, but the old man held them back with his hand.

  “You will let go of Lord Herring and Longsword now, wherever he is, or your life would be at its end,” Leon hissed.

  “Don’t try to scare me with that threat, my boy. Even if you have my life, you can only save one of your folks here. It’s either your lying father-in-law or your stupid friend. Which do you pick? I suggest you let me go or they’ll both die. Worse yet, all three of you will die.”

  Leon hated how he had nothing to negotiate with and had to release the marquess once more. His stone hadn’t yet played its part.

  “Dumb boy,” the marquess smirked. “Guards!”

  All the men of Lansing’s closed in and came in to full attack.

  “Hell!” Leon growled and tried to fend them off, only to get tackled down by three of the guards.

  “Let me go now, you old man!” he snapped, struggling to free his arms from the guards’ hold. He should have killed the old man despite what he said.

  The old man shrilled into laughter and came forward to take the dagger from Leon. “Haven’t you learned from our last encounter?” he said, sliding the weapon out of its sheathe and bringing it to Leon’s face. “You are too gullible.”

  He popped out the garnet from the dagger and threw the weapon across the room.

  “I only need this to get to my dream,” he said, sticking it inside his pocket.

  “The only dream you’re living is in your deathbed!” Leon snarled, trying to fling himself off at the man.

  Lansing just laughs again and turned on his heel, giving a dismissive wave to the guards.

  “Take him to join his friend,” he ordered. “Keep an eye on him. Don’t do anything until I have Marcus back here.”

  “Yes m’lord!”

  Waiting for Marcus, huh?

  A secret smile played on Leon’s face as the guards took him away. He may be captured again, but there’s still going to be time for him to plan an escape. He wasn’t unconscious like the last time. His sanity is in full advantage. The old man shouldn’t be smiling yet. He’ll have his hell coming soon enough.

  * * * “This is the Marquess’s death lair, then?”

  It was barely visible in the dark.

  Avangelene and Laguna stood, watching from afar as the old

  marquess came to meet his son by the front gate.

  Laguna nodded. “Seems so.”

  “Let’s go.”

  They left their horses hidden in the forest and hurried to follow

  the marquess.

  The gate was not guarded, making it easy for them to slip through.

  “I love the security here,” Laguna said, following after Avangelene as they trotted up the stairs.

  “I sense he has more protection from the inside then the outside,” Avangelene said, pulling Laguna’s arm and hurrying to the side of the house when light spilled out from the open door.

  “We have to find a way inside now since we can’t just barge in like some kinsmen.”

  That brought a smile to Avangelene’s face as she looks at the duke and she answered, “Perhaps we could find a way.”

  And they did.

  As the door closes, two guards came out and Avangelene made the move for them to knock them out and steal their costume.

  “You look a bit too tiny to be a bodyguard,” Laguna said to Avangelene with a light chuckle as he put on the helmet of the guard.

  “Shut up,” she just said, and went in through the door.

  Avangelene wasted no time once they’re inside. She went to the nearest guard and asked him in her most manly voice to direct them to where the marquess went.

  Laguna had to try hard not to laugh, although she did pass and was able to lead them away. He wonders if the guards even realize the shortness in Avangelene’s height compare to the others. He had to admit she’s quite…fascinating and remarkably talented. He was wrong to even call her dull in the first place, for she certainly is not and is full of surprises.

  “Duke,” she said, stopping in her tracks and turning to Laguna. “Do you think you can knock out a few guards while I go in to check on the marquess?”

  He shrugged. “I could try.”

  “Thanks.”

  She stripped off the guard disguise and pulled Laguna’s face to hers as if to kiss him, but instead flick his nose and whispered, “I owe you, Duke,” and then moving back, gave him a wave and turned on her heels.

  Laguna stood speechless for a moment but then grin, taking off his own disguise.

  Someday he’s just going to teach this little vixen that she’ll get burn if she plays with fire.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Bridlington

  The battle with Lansing’s army came to another end and the Heartilys sighed and sat silently in the sitting room, not quite sure of what to do

  next.

  Gabriel and his brother had returned disappointingly from losing track of Lansing’s men and were unable to help Lady Rose.

  “Leon’s going to be so angry when he returns to find Lady Rose gone,” Namine finally said. “Oh, this is all my fault. I shouldn’t have dragged you out with me, Lavender. I should’ve known Nix wouldn’t be a good guardian.”

  “Hey, don’t blame me now,” Phoenix snapped. “I was going up to the attic to get pistols for us. If somebody hadn’t moved the box where they were kept the last time, I would’ve returned faster.”

  “If you guys would have just stay put in the house, all would have been fine,” Gabriel argued. “You ladies just never listen.”

  “We’re so sorry, Gabe. We didn’t think this would happen,” Lavender said wearily. “Oh, I feel so guilty.”

  “You should be,” said her twin brother. “You just got our sisterin-law kidnapped.”

  This was the first time in history that Lavender didn’t argue back with her brother.

  “I didn’t even know Lady Rose was here,” said Jack. “I would’ve told one of you guys to return to the house. Do you know what Leon is capable of doing if Lady Rose gets but a scratch on her body?”

  “The worst he could do is sacrificing his life for hers, that’s for sure,” said Aidan. “He had always loved her, right?”

  “Right,” his siblings seemed to agree.

  “I can’t believe there are eleven of us and we can’t even protect Lady Rose,” said Blake.

  “Damn, I’ll be pissed if I was Leon returning home to find my bride-to-be gone,” said Sheik.

  “He’s going to marry the chit?” Edward asked, surprised.

  “I knew he would,” Jack grinned. “Boy, this is all going very badly.”

  “Lansing’s bloody men better take her to Leicester in time for Leon to save her,” said Gabriel. “It would be hard if he comes back with her father and then have to go back for her. Lansing’s security would be twice as strict.”

  Namine sighed and stood up to poke the fire before answering, “We can only hope so.”

  Leicester

  Avangelene listened at the door of the room to where the old marquess and his son were talking, and gestured for the duke to be quiet when he rejoined her.

  “I took care of the guards,” he said. “I locked them in this one room full of spikes that I happen to come across.”

  “Well done,” Avangelene answered quickly before returning her attention to the door.

  “What are they saying?”

  “Something about Leon’s jewel.”

  “What is all these jewel nonsense anyway?”

  “I don’t know,” Avangelene said. “But that marquess believes it’s some key to heaven.”

  “It’s causing so much–” The duke stopped and looked at her as she pales and asked, “What’s wrong?”

  Avangelene gasped and jump back as she heard what the old marquess had said.

  “They’ve got Leon back in here with Lord Longsword,” Avangelene answered.

  “Again?�
��

  “They sent some guards to our estate to capture Lady Rose so they can use her against Leon.”

  “I’m sure your brothers at home took care of that.”

  “I hope so. What if they–”

  “Are you okay? You look as if you’ve saw a ghost.”

  “I’m fine,” Avangelene answered.

  “You don’t look okay.”

  “They got Lady Rose here, too.”

  “Now that’s not good.”

  “I have to go find her, Duke,” Avangelene said. “You go help Leon and them.”

  “Did they say where Leon and Longsword were kept?”

  “Death chamber,” Avangelene answered, moving away from the door. “You have to find the death chamber.”

  “Death chamber?” The duke arches a brow and rubbed his chin in thoughts. “I think I know where it is.”

  “I see you negotiated well with the old man,” Longsword said sarcastically as Leon was brought down to join him in chains on the wall.

  Leon waited until the guards were out of earshot and answered, “I have another plan already.”

  “And what is it, pray tell? You already failed this first one.”

  “I wasn’t knocked out from behind like last time,” Leon said. “I can get us out.”

  “And how are you going to do that when we are chained to a bloody wall?”

  “These chains are longer than the one back in Islington. I just need to reach and–”

  With a click his hand came loose and he turns quickly to undo the other side before falling on his hands to unlock his feet.

  “How did you do that?” Longsword asked amazed by how fast Leon released himself.

  “This.” Leon held up a pick and came to free Longsword. “I dug it out of Avangelene’s room before we left. I saw her use it once to pick the attic door. It seems easy. I don’t know where she got it from but you simply have to stick it in and the switch would release.”

  “I don’t ever want her as a wife, then,” Longsword said. “I fear she’ll be too much.”

  “You can rest assure, for I won’t let you marry her anyway,” Leon answered, unlocking Longsword’s feet.

  Longsword rubbed his wrists and shook out his foot while Leon looks around to determine where they should go next.

  “You go and find Viscount Herring just in case I fail,” Leon ordered for Longsword to do. “I’ll find that old marquess and settle things.”