Mysterious Warriors: Alone (10 page)

~ Chapter 22 ~

              Albinia Jones watched as the Mysterious Warriors patrolled the streets. She wondered which of them would burn the best, which would enjoy the pain she inflicted. A slow smile sliced her lips, and she moved through the shadows. She struck the flint quick, and her oiled blade blazed.

              Sacrifice barely escaped the flame as Albinia’s sword burned past him.

              Kitnan brought her pegleg up, and her blade sprang forth. She leapt, slashing her sword-leg as she did. Albinia blocked with her flaming one, and she spun back, aiming for the wood. It would be fun to see the warrior ablaze.

              But Kitnan was quicker than she expected, and she danced out of the way, bringing her true sword around. Double-bladed, she attacked. Albinia blocked with her sword. The fire bit at her hands, but she ignored it. Albinia wanted to see Kitnan burn.

              A sudden downpour washed her, and Albinia snarled as she looked up.

              Sarasa, her bright blue wings outstretched, lowered her hand. The water continued to curtain her, and she landed with a whoosh of wind from her wings.

              Albinia stumbled back, and she gasped as the air left her lungs as a beam impaled her.

              “How are things in Lower City?” Gary looked at Tara. “I hear there are villains set on destroying the Mysterious Warriors.”

              “Black Hood.” Tara nodded. “She manipulates emotions. It’s very strange when she’s around.”

              “Do you know any of the warriors you work with?” Rachel rocked Elena in a chair.

              “Two.” Tara didn’t want to lie. “You were the first Mysterious Warrior whose true identity I knew while I was fighting with them.” Tara paused. “It’s definitely different here. Hey, I know Rachel hasn’t been Lunette for quite a while, but what about you Gary? Aren’t people going to realize Bonfire is missing and connect that their prince is out of town?”

              “Bonfire isn’t missing.” Gary explained. “He’s in Whitehaven protecting the innocent, as he has been for many years.”

              Tara raised a dark brow.

              “Remember my cousin?”

              “Xantos?”

              “Yeah.” Gary shrugged. “I trust him, and I know he has no connection or alliance to the Xanites. I gave my identity over to him a few weeks before we left.”

              “Gary did?”

              “No. I trust him, but Xantos doesn’t know the truth about Bonfire. It wasn’t the right time. He seemed very eager to take over my identity, as if I was giving him a gift.”

              “Most people would be nervous about becoming Bonfire, especially since the Boss and the Xanites hate you most of all.” Tara looked at him.

              “I suppose it’s because he doesn’t ever leave the palace grounds anymore.” Gary answered. “He refuses to speak with his mother, so I guess this gives him the freedom to venture into the market and elsewhere without Aunt Rose knowing who he is.” He’d wondered if Xantos was keeping something inside, something he didn’t want to tell anyone, even Bonfire. Had there been another reason he’d been so eager to take over the persona?

              “Can he fight?”

              “He was the one who trained Cassie to use an axe.” Rachel continued to rock their baby. “Marryn didn’t die because she couldn’t take care of herself.”

              “She was blown up.” Tara closed her eyes. “I can’t believe you two survived.”

              “It wasn’t fun.” Gary stated.

              “Black Hood manipulates emotions, but at least she doesn’t do that to us.” Tara shook her head. “Kitnan’s teaching us to fight Black Hood’s powers. I hope we can. She seems to have an army working for her, trying to kill us.”

              “So there are you, Sarasa, Galdut, Koketa, Sacrifice, and Kitnan, right?” Rachel sighed. “I kind of want to make an appearance, just for fun.”

              “Maybe you can.” Gary looked at his wife, and he loved the joy and excitement he saw in her gaze.

              “Just make sure Elena is okay before you join us.” Tara paused. “What was it like to kiss without knowing the true identity of each other?”

              Gary stared at his sister-in-law. “What?”

              “Sacrifice kind of kissed me.” Tara explained.

              “How does someone ‘kind of kiss’ you?” Rachel raised a brow.

              “Black Hood was using her power, and I was trying to kill him. We fought, Sacrifice stopped me from killing him, and he kissed me.”

              “Well we were in love before Gary kissed me.” Rachel answered. “We didn’t know each other’s true identities, but our feelings were completely true.”

              “You were going to leave Gary to run away with and marry Bonfire.” Tara sighed. “It’s so romantic.”

              Gary laughed. “Romantic? I purposely tried to shove your sister away, make her hate me, because I was in love with Lunette. I couldn’t believe the truth, even when I first saw her in that tavern with the white flower in her hair. I didn’t want to believe Lunette was Rachel, and then I saw her throw a dagger in a dart board. I knew I couldn’t deny the truth any longer.”

              “Maybe Sacrifice will turn out to be a man you know, perhaps even Alex or Stefan?”

              Tara didn’t want to think about who the man
could
be. She wanted to know who he truly was. “I can’t believe you were going to run away with Bonfire and you didn’t even tell me.” Tara frowned.

              “I just agreed to meet him.” Rachel shrugged. “I probably wouldn’t have run that moment.”

              “I’m glad we didn’t have to run.” Gary kissed his wife’s hand. “I love you.”

              “Ungh.” Tara groaned and fell on her back. “You two used to be more fun when you weren’t madly in love. I could always count on Gary making Rachel bored talking about tournaments or how much he loved the Mysterious Warriors.”

              “Well, as it turns out, I like tournaments too.” Rachel frowned. “Who knew something so strange could happen?”

~ Chapter 23 ~

              Neal had never seen any dwelling so ornate. The royal palace in Junipero was an expanse of expensive rugs, decorative paintings, and valuable crowning. The rich wood was stained dark, and there was elaborate working through the upper walls. As he walked through the palace, the memory of Janie went with him.

             
“I can’t believe there’s a place as beautiful as this.” Her voice was a memory.

              I wish you really were with me.
He answered.
How I would have loved to hear the words: Sir Neal Strappard, duke of Ada’s Circle, with his wife, Lady Janie Strappard. Janie Strappard. You were always meant to be my wife.

              “Always?” Her voice turned masculine. “Blake was always meant to be your wife?”

             
Such an awkward question. He still couldn’t believe Blake Williams was truly female. So many situations made sense now, knowing Blake was Janie, but it hurt. Had that been what she was trying to tell him the night she’d died in his arms? Was she going to admit she was Blake Williams? How would he have reacted? What would he have said to her? He shook his head.
Janie was meant to be my wife. I never knew the truth. You lied to me all of those years. I don’t even know who to be mad at: Blake for never trusting me with the truth or Janie for never telling me our true connection.

              “You always had a true connection with Janie.” Blake stated.

              “We were always connected, even if you didn’t know why.” Janie added. “Sometimes I wondered if you would figure it out, but you never did. Did you ever wonder why Janie and Blake never met? Or why I fit in your group so well? I’d been in your group of friends for a long time, just as Blake instead of Janie.”

             
Neal stopped at a tall window and looked out over the Upper City of Junipero as the sun lit stained glass windows of some of the dwellings. The city looked like a jewel. Neal knew Lower City was underneath, the second level of the royal city. He took a deep breath as Blake continued.
“I came to Whitehaven as a boy, terrified of people finding out I was a girl, and terrified of something else. I never let you know the truth about me, not even then.”

              “Don’t you wonder why I went to such extremes?” Janie questioned. “What could possibly have made me pretend to be a man, train to be a knight, put myself through such physical and emotional exhaustion. There was always something I kept from you, both as Blake and Janie. It wasn’t just that I was a girl.”

              “There was also something else.” Blake whispered. “Something dark and terrible I couldn’t ever admit to.”

             
“Did you kill Joanne?” Neal’s breath was spurts of air, coming in and out too quickly for his body to process.

              “Excuse me?”

              Neal whirled around, and he felt his face flame as scarlet as his hair. “Sorry, I didn’t know anyone else was here.”

              “I’m not shocked.” The woman had brown hair, pulled back in a low ponytail, her dark blue eyes surprisingly hazel. She was dressed in a simple dark brown dress, a short blue apron tied around her waist. Her wrists were covered in silver, bronze, and beaded bracelets.

              Neal wasn’t sure what to say to her, so he cleared his throat. “My name is Neal.”

              “Yes, you’re friends with Prince Gareth of Ada’s Circle.” The woman stated. “I’m Patience Storm, Princess Rachel’s new maid.” She curtsied. “I thought I heard someone in here, so I came to see if you needed anything. It’s my job to serve the nobility.”

              Her tone was formal, and he wondered how she really felt about her job.

             
“She doesn’t seem meek or submissive.” Janie commented.

              “Well thank you for checking, but I am fine on my own.” Neal hoped he didn’t sound foolish.

             
“She probably thinks you are.” Blake noted.

              “I noticed you when you and your friends came to Junipero.” Patience stated. “You looked lonely, even surrounded by people who care about you. I know how that feels.” She paused. “Well the lonely part. I don’t really have many friends.”

              “How long have you been one of the queen’s maids?”

              “Going on eight years now.” She answered. “I grew up in Lower City, and something terrible happened to me there. To keep myself safe, I took the job as the queen’s maid and moved to the palace.”

              “The woman I loved was also a maid.” Neal whispered.

             
“Except that now you know I never was a maid.” Janie’s voice was soft. “I was a knight, noble, yet another thing I lied to you about. How many things did I keep from you?”

              “Was there anything I told you that was actually true?” Blake asked.

             
“What happened to her?” Patience asked, her voice kind.

              “She died.” Neal looked up, and he saw something flash across her deep blue and brown hazel eyes. “She died in my arms two and a half years ago. She was the love of my life. Now I’ll never love again.”

              “Perhaps it’s possible to love again.” Patience looked at him. “You can be surprised by love. It often takes you off guard.”

              “Have you been in love?”

              Patience shook her head. “I’ve heard about love, and people have told me stories of it. One of the queen’s maids has been in love with the king since they were teens. Love is something I have not yet understood myself, but I have hope.”

             
“She’s quite lovely.” Janie’s voice always whispered, always wanted him to move on and forget. But he couldn’t let her leave. She would always be a part of him, no matter how angry he was.

             
“Honestly, I never would have thought to speak with you.” Patience blushed. “However, I knew Pearl briefly before she left. She was always kind, and I’m glad she’s found love. If she’d lived in Zorba’s Reach still, she never would have been allowed to court a noble. Things must be very different in Ada’s Circle, and it brings a girl like me hope. You’re a lucky man to live in such a free and welcome country.”

              “The king and queen are good and kind rulers, fair and loyal.” Neal nodded. “It’s been interesting making your acquaintance Miss Patience, but I must make my way back. My friends will miss me.”

              Patience nodded and curtsied. “I hope we may become better acquaintances Sir Neal.”

              “Please, just call me Neal.”

             
“She isn’t subtle.” Blake stated, something close to fondness in his voice.

             
“And I’m Patience.” She paused. “I’m not always good at living up to my name.” She winked and left the corridor.

              Neal couldn’t help but smirk as Janie’s musical laughter and Blake’s masculine mirth echoed through his mind.