Arthur
When she walked into the room, I could have sworn I was dreaming. But she was no dream, she was a firecracker, and I felt the heat of her in my soul. Her kiss, her touch, her hands on me, it was all real, and when I felt the small blade in my hand, I realized that she had just handed me a lifeline, and I had to be careful how I used it. This was either going to work or go terribly wrong.
This was not the first time I’d been captured. The last time was years ago, and I’d made it out alive because of my father's men.
I knew my men, they were not the kind to storm the fort with brute force. The Cavalieri were calculated, so they would be working out strategies on how to get us all out alive. They already knew the hidden routes to get into this place from our last plan, so it was only a matter of time. I looked at the guard who stood at the door facing me, his back straight, a rifle in his hands. Army trained, I guessed. Even though I was tied to this chair, whenever he looked at me, there was fear in his eyes.
“Do you really think you’re going to come out of this alive?” I started talking as I worked the blade to cut the ropes. He said nothing, just stared ahead.
“I could offer you a whole lot of money if you untie me, give me that pocket knife and let me go.”
I managed to slice through the ropes binding my hands. I started on the ones around my torso. If Icould manage to get just one loose it would…done, the ropes began to fall.
‘What are you doing?” The guard yelled as he rushed toward me I flung the chair back, causing it to shatter into pieces. I swung out my arm holding the razor, slicing him in his shin. He lurched for me, and I slammed my fist to his temple, causing him to roll over, holding his head I pain. I worked through the ropes on my legs, and by the time I was free, he was already standing, his rifle pointed at me.
I’d disarmed men several times, and with one kick to his legs he fell, rifle in hand. I immediately held him down with one hand and sliced his jugular with the other. Crimson liquid squirted everywhere As he held his neck, gurgling and gasping. I stood above him, taking deep breaths. It was time to start what I’d come into this house to finish. I opened the door and walked down the corridor, opening doors as I went. Gaia was in one of these rooms, and I would not be leaving without her.
I heard them before I saw them, a smile spreading across my face. The Cavalieri were here, and they sounded angry as hell. Like I’d tried to tell my father, loyalty was at the core of this organization. Loyalty did not come from blood ties.
