Kota covered her mouth to keep whoever she was from making more noise. He put his index finger over his own mouth, signaling that she must stay quiet. "I won't harm you, but two others might. We should stay quiet, as they do not know our whereabouts."
She brushed her hair away to get a closer look at him. The darkness still hid her face and hair, but she leaned in to stay silent. "You didn't break in with the loud slam I heard earlier? Why did you break a window then if you were already inside?"
Kota lay stunned by how suddenly she had asked her question. "Well, that first loud noise was us. The door cracked open as we entered and swiftly barricaded it with a bookshelf. The window was not us, wait. Why are you here, hiding in the dark of this chapel at night?"
The woman looked puzzled as she crossed her arms determinedly. "What are you implying? You are the one who broke in, and you said 'us.' Are you saying there is someone else here?"
Kota's frustration showed as he raised his hands, but he quickly calmed himself. "What is your name, girl?"
She stood up in anger at his tone, but he forced her back to her knees, keeping her out of sight. She then shook her hand away from him before answering his question. "My name is Lucinda. I am not a girl; I am a woman. Not much younger than you are, in fact. Who the hell are you?"
Surveying the surroundings, Kota instinctively touched his head, struck by an idea. He pulled off the necklace with the ring his sister had given him before taking her hand and put the ring in her palm. "My name is Kota Winters, and look, this ring has a sigil that symbolizes my worth in the royal family of Damira."
With her eyes adjusted to the dark of the downpour, she examined the ring, keeping her focus on a star sigil in the middle of the swirling design in the metal. She looked back at him before looking back down and asked softly, "Why do you have a ring with the symbol of Damira? Why not show a birthmark? Doesn't anyone born of royal blood have this birthmark on their person? Is it in an embarrassing location?"
It surprised Kota that she knew about the history of a neighboring kingdom, but he took a deep breath and looked her in the eye, taking her hands. "I am Prince Kota, the one by chance, not by blood. Regrettably, I lack a birthmark unlike my siblings, as I am not royal. Those chasing me won't hesitate to harm others. You need to stay hidden."
Lucinda noticed the pain and panic in his voice as he glanced at the ring once more. "Here, keep this ring. I could use your help with something. Plus, I have always considered this ring my lucky charm, so it should give you good luck tonight."
Kota looked at her reaction as a lightning strike lit up the chapel. He saw her reddish-brown hair, and her deep-brown eyes looked into his own.
She took a breath. "Help with what, exactly? And if it is indeed lucky, then will you not need it, as you are being hunted?"
Helping her to her feet, he looked toward the banister where his friend and an unknown enemy lay in wait. He realized his actions were putting his friend and his sister at risk with an impulsive decision. He continued to stare for a second longer before shaking his head to clear his mind and replied to her question. "Unfortunately, Lucinda, I believe my luck is running out. Now, please stay safe, and keep my ring safe as well. I will want it back one day."
Kota gestured toward an open door across the room, which the girl had almost certainly come through earlier. He walked over to the banister, looking over the edge as he tried to locate the figure and his friend. He turned to watch Lucinda as she walked toward the door. Then he moved closer to the center of the room as he saw her wrap the necklace around her neck. He took a deep breath, calming his nerves, and turned to head down the stairs.
Startled by a scream, Kota swiftly glanced back and spotted a dark figure standing in the doorway, brandishing a blade. The figure lay dressed in black armor with a black cloak and a mask. It moved closer to the girl.
Without hesitation, Kota grabbed the first thing he found - an old candlestick. "Get down, Lucinda!"
Rearing his arm back, he threw the old candlestick across the landing as she turned and fell to the floor. The figure glanced at Kota as the old candlestick struck its face. It stumbled backward at the force and suddenness of the object as Kota closed the distance between them.
The figure had raised its sword to strike Lucinda when Kota reached up and grabbed its arm, stopping its movement. In a lightning flash, Kota found himself face-to-face with a nearly seven-foot-tall figure. The figure also wore a wooden skull mask to hide his face, but it lay cracked.
He moved his head to get Lucinda into his peripheral vision and saw that this situation was freaking her out. "Get out of here. I can hold off this giant."
Kota twisted the figure's wrist, and the blade fell to the floor. He swiftly kicked the blade away from the figure. With his right hand, Kota aimed a punch at the bottom of the giant's jaw. The figure raised his left hand, blocking the blow. He grabbed both of Kota's hands with his right hand, and their eyes locked once again. "It's not nice to threaten innocent women. I might have to kill you for such an act."
Keeping his confidence with the tall, dark, armored figure, he used his strength to push the man back a step before the figure braced his feet against the floor and pushed back. He pushed Kota's arms closer to his side rather than above his shoulder. Without delay, Kota gained his footing and raised his right leg into his opponent's side with force. The figure didn't move or even acknowledge the attempt. Kota raised his knee two more times into the giant's side, directly below the ribs, but saw it had no effect. The figure groaned as he continued to push Kota to his knees.
"What the hell are you made of?" Kota asked, grunting, trying to keep his footing.
The figure effortlessly tossed Kota's arm to the side before bringing his own arm back to drive a fist into his stomach. Kota used the weight of the giant against him and slipped his left hand out of the tight grip, then repositioned his body. He caught the figure's arm between his own arm and his body. Kota smirked at the figure just before the gigantic man lifted his arm with Kota still attached and took a step forward. Using his other hand, the figure punched Kota in the side, making him wince in pain before loosening his grip. With a firm grip, the giant grabbed Kota's hood and forcefully threw him backwards, sending him crashing through a bench a few feet away.
Kota landed on his side and groaned in pain before scrambling to get back onto his feet while the figure approached him. As the giant figure moved to within a foot of him, Kota saw a piece of wood splintered into his chest, just below his right shoulder. Kota moved his hand, feeling the wetness of his blood, before the figure grabbed the few inches of wood and pushed it deeper into his shoulder. Kota yelled in pain.
The figure then let Kota fall to the ground before grabbing his cloak and dragging him to the stairs. As he pulled him along, the figure walked by a case before stopping and turning toward her, letting Kota's cloak go.
Lucinda stayed still in shock as Kota watched the figure take a step toward her. Kota gritted his teeth while he grabbed the piece of wood on his shoulder and pulled it out. Quickly grabbing the giant's leg, he jabbed the splinter of wood in between two pieces of armor right below his knee. The figure then fell over as he grasped the table next to him for support.
"I thought I told you I am going to kill you for threatening her," said Kota, still holding on to the figure's leg, preventing him from moving any closer to Lucinda.
Turning around, the figure grabbed Kota's armor strap right by his bleeding shoulder and lifted Kota to bring him face-to-face with his skull mask. Kota tried to struggle, but the giant's grip was too tight on his armor. The figure pulled out a dagger that had been strapped to his leg and brought it up into Kota's line of sight.
"Hey, wait!" Kota cried. "Doesn't she want me alive? I feel like she wanted me alive."
The figure gazed into his eyes. With a gravely intense tone, he sluggishly gasped out, "Alive... not... whole."
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The figure inched the blade closer to Kota's ear. Kota looked away and closed his eyes. Then the figure dropped Kota, wincing in pain. Kota fell and saw his enemy's blade stabbed into its side. Lucinda withdrew her hands from the blade's hilt and moved a few steps back. Turning toward Kota, the figure put his hand on the blade and pulled it out.
Kota stood as he watched the figure's grip tighten around the hilt of the blade, and the giant began lurching toward him. Kota, without a second thought, jumped toward the figure. Using both legs, he kicked the figure in the chest, knocking him back. Kota fell to the ground with a thud and groaned in pain, but he watched the figure stumble back toward the railing. The figure's weight overwhelmed the banister. It splintered as the figure fell through it, crashing down to the floor below.
Lucinda rushed over to Kota, helping him into a sitting position as he looked into the darkness below the railing. She then helped him to his feet. Kota stumbled over to the railing before looking over the edge, seeing the dark outline of a figure on the ground ten or fifteen feet below them. He touched his shoulder, feeling the pain from the wood that had pierced through his leather armor. "I guess Lukas was right. I should have worn some better armor."
"I just killed a man... I swore I was done with..." said Lucinda in a shaky tone as she looked wide-eyed toward Kota.
Taking a step forward, he reached out, lifting her chin with his right hand as he looked into her eyes, then hugged her for saving his life. She said nothing, but he felt her muscles loosen, and her body stopped shaking at his gesture. Kota released her, gazing down at her face, and smiled while speaking. "Thanks for saving me. If it means anything, I am pretty sure he was alive before he hit the ground, so I think the fall actually killed him."
Annoyed, Lucinda took a step back from Kota and tilted her head to look at him. In the low light, she saw him bleed from his left shoulder, and she reached out for it.
Kota raised his hand at her gesture. "It's no big deal. Only a little blood. I have actually had worse training with my sister."
Taking a step closer, she pushed his hand out of the way, then touched around the wound, avoiding contact with it. Reaching down, she took the edge of her white dress and tore off a long enough piece before she started wrapping the cloth around his shoulder, covering the injury. "The wound needs attention soon," she said, securing it firmly to prevent slipping before she moved a step back.
Kota looked at the makeshift bandage and thanked her again, adding, "Do you still have my ring?"
She nodded as she pulled out the ring through the top of her dress.
Reaching out, he grabbed the ring in his right hand and looked at her face one last time, telling her, "Take this to the Capital city of Baris. They will help you if you keep this ring, at least until I get there. My sister Alexis is out there in the marketplace, battling a perilous woman. Once I handle the other tall monster, I'll assist her. Please stay safe, so wait up here until we leave, then head toward the capital. Do I have your word?"
Kota observed her as she pondered, then nodded in agreement.
"What if you don't make it?"
"Just tell them what happened, and they'll take care of you, regardless. Just look for Grace. She is about your age. Ask her to go to my quarters and look for a loose brick on the right side of my room. I got her a gold rose necklace for her birthday. When she finds it, she will know you are telling the truth," Kota said, looking down to see Lukas battling the other figure in a flash of lightning.
"What will that prove? I could have killed you for that information."
Kota nodded as he headed to the stairs. "She knows I would not give up my ring or that hiding spot for just anyone. She will know that I sent you, because she knows of the spot as well. Now stay safe until we are gone."
Her face revealed lingering doubt. "Will you stay hidden, at least until we are gone? I have to help my friend."
She nodded, and he smiled before turning and approaching the stairs that he had walked up not too long ago. She watched him as he ran down the stairs at a faster, noisier pace, ready to face the other figure, who was in combat with Lukas.
Swiftly, Kota descended the stairs, ensuring he hit each step to avoid any mishaps. He ran his hand along the wall and traced some of the blood that he had spilled on the stone bricks. As he turned the corner, another bolt flashed in the sky, revealing Lukas and the figure parrying each other's swords. Moving more hastily, Kota stepped behind the figure.
The tall figure swung his sword down at Lukas, only to miss as Lukas sidestepped, using the darkness around him as a means of defense. Lukas stabbed his sword toward the figure's stomach, but they blocked it with ease as his opponent swiped his own blade across his body.
Kota moved to where the other figure had fallen to his death just moments ago and searched for his sword. "Damn," he whispered, as in the darkness, the sword could have landed anywhere.
Kota searched for a weapon, finding a broken table or chair leg near the fallen figure. Kota moved swiftly, as the figure and his friend were still fighting. Each blocked or dodged the other's attacks. Just as Kota approached the two, the figure was able to grab Lukas's arm and knock his sword onto the floor. Lukas screamed in pain as the figure crushed his wrist in his grip.
Kota reared back the leg of the chair and smashed it into the figure's back. The wood splintered, and the figure let go of Lukas, flinching forward, only to turn around and raise his leg, kicking Kota square in the chest in one swift motion. Kota was lifted off the ground by the blow and thrown into a corner pew in his row. He flipped over the armrest and rolled along the ground a few times before he landed on his back. Straining to stand, he coughed, and he could feel blood coming from his mouth.
Watching the figure inch his way closer to Kota, Lukas swiftly grabbed his sword and stabbed it into the figure's lower back. The chapel echoed with the giant's pain as he let out a scream of agony. The figure turned and swung his arms, knocking Lukas from his feet onto his back against the stone ground. With the sword still on his back, the figure turned toward Lukas, ready to bring his foot down onto his prey.
Kota, standing up, saw the figure looming over Lukas. He ran and jumped off the pew that he had crashed into and wrapped his arms around the figure's neck, tightening his grip with every passing moment. The figure leaned sideways as it began pushing a row of pews, bracing itself against falling over. Reaching his arm over his back, the figure struggled to grab Kota. Kota continued to tighten his grip before the figure grabbed onto the hood of his cowl and began to pull Kota off him.
Lukas lay on the ground, catching his breath, and saw Kota struggling. With a swift kick, he landed his foot across the figure's kneecap, forcing him to the ground. Despite the pouring rain, the figure held onto Kota tightly until a sudden loud crack resonated in the chapel. The figure loosened his grip and fell backward. He landed on top of Kota, lifeless.
Amidst the rain, Kota groaned and struggled to remove the figure from atop him. "Lukas, are you all right?" he asked as he continued to wriggle out from underneath the corpse, only to struggle more and more.
After a second of not hearing anything, Kota struggled faster. Then he saw Lukas move toward him and began to push the body off Kota.
"Yeah, I am fine. I will be feeling this night for a while, though," said Lukas, as he helped his friend get out from underneath the figure Kota had just saved him from.
Reaching out his arm, Lukas helped Kota to his feet, and the two exchanged heavy breaths. Kota touched his shoulder, feeling the damp cloth stained with his blood. He took a few steps back and sat on the pew, slouching as he looked at Lukas.
Lukas moved next to his friend before sitting down. He pushed Kota faintly. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm sorry, Lukas. I should have listened and taken more precautions," said Kota, putting his head into his left hand as he gripped his left shoulder with his right, dismayed by the events that had happened tonight.
"What is done is done. I know we are in no proper shape to fight, but Alexis might still need our help, so let's go help her and make this right," suggested Lukas, putting his hand on Kota's shoulder.
He pulled his hand away when he remembered the wound. "Sorry."
Kota winced in pain as he gave out a small laugh. "What's a little blood?"
Lukas met his friend's eye before nodding in agreement.
Kota returned to the tall figure they had encountered and retrieved the weapon from the ground. "I have never seen a sword design like this, jagged like teeth, while keeping the density of a normal long sword. Very interesting."
"The design suggests they are from a distant land, not even the neighboring continent. We can discuss the details of these individuals later, though, when everyone is safe," said Lukas, getting Kota back on track to help Alexis.
Moving up the small steps to the front door, Kota recalled Lucinda. He stopped and looked up at the top floor as Lukas unlocked and started to push open the front door.
"I believe I remember the way to theâ" Lukas stopped suddenly, only for Kota to see him fall down the stairs and crash to the ground.
Kota went to turn toward the door just as a figure grabbed his right arm and twisted it behind his back quickly and aggressively. He dropped the sword and turned to face his friend.
The figure spoke in a feminine voice very familiar to Kota. "You had to make things difficult tonight, didn't you? I'm patient, but you're a unique annoyance."
Lukas moved to stand. The woman, with her free left arm, threw the dagger he had used earlier in the fight. The dagger hit Lukas in the side, where his armor slightly exposed his torso.
Kota yelled as he tried to loosen his grip. He felt the woman's breath on his neck as she whispered, "Not this time, Prince."
With a swift push of her weight and strength, she moved his arm up to his body. With a sickening noise, his shoulder was dislocated with ease. He screamed in pain as he watched his friend struggle to move with the blade at his side. As his vision blurred in reaction to the pain of the night, she pivoted her body with his and threw him back into the half-open door of the chapel. He fell into the door and, with his weight, pushed it open. Hitting the ground, he rolled repeatedly until he came to a stop on his back, staring up at the sky above him. Trying to force himself to his feet, he turned onto his stomach, avoiding the raindrops above him.
Using his left arm, he managed to rise slightly, only to witness her approaching him in the rain as it eased. She moved to his left side as she looked down at him, before reaching out her hand and touching his chin. "Do not worry. We'll have ample time to acquaint ourselves."
With those words, she straightened before suddenly rearing her right leg back and kicking him in the side of his face, making him lose consciousness as the rain poured down on him.