The Coming From the Shadows Series
Coming From the Shadows: Lydia
The Northumbrian air was thick with the scent of peat and damp earth; April in 1910 was proving to be relentlessly grim; it mirrored the gnawing dread that Lydia felt; her raven-hair, usually braided back to keep it from falling into her face, hindering her sight during movements such as the ones she is doing now – moving with a practised speed, and skill as she manoeuvred up and over walls; it was now, hastily tied back into a bun that threatened to unravel with every movement.
Her silvery-grey eyes, normally pools of calm determination, darted about nervously, scanning her surroundings.
For the past few days, she had been trailing Cultists; her instructions from her mother were clear; don’t interfere only collect information, unfortunately, Lydia could not help herself; when she had seen the children in danger, she had to act – now, she was on the run.
She needed to get back to Thomas, no doubt he would be beginning a search if she did not return back to their safe house; as she threw herself forwards, she moved with grace as she reached up mid jump, grabbing the top of the wall to pull herself upwards; jumping down, she ended up landing with a rough roll before returning back to her feet, pushing her back from its fallen position across her front, shoving it back across to her side, the Jian sword, still tied tightly to the bag as it dangled with a restrained movement from each of Lydia’s movements.
Her flight finally led Lydia to a desolate stretch of moorland; exhaustion was beginning to reach its peak; she couldn’t keep the pace much longer, forcing her to finally slow right down into a walk; the silent stretch of the moorland was silent except for the sound of a wind which howled secrets through the skeletal trees.
The only signs of civilisation being the occasional crumbling wall or the distant sound of bleating sheep; she came to the conclusion she must have lost the Cultists that had been pursuing her; she couldn’t see any signs of anyone following.
Suddenly, the crunch of gravel alerted her; her attention snapped to two figures just a little further away; they were in dark blue uniforms; one wore a greatcoat, but it was the distinguishable custodian-helmet they wore that gave away their role as policemen; just her luck she thought “Hold there miss!” the one in the greatcoat barked; his thick Northumbrian accent coating his words
Lydia came to a stop; she narrowed her eyes; she very rarely found herself in a situation dealing with police; such things were a rare turn of events if ever she encountered one; she knew them mostly by reputation; most of that though, were not good in regards to the rising suffrage movement, to Lydia; she needed to be more wary than usual “I am in a hurry” she told them; her tone guarded as she positioned her body posture very defensively; her hand instinctively hovering close to the hilt of the sword.
The second officer; a younger and more wary fella, stepped closer; he saw the polished steel glinting in the dim light; at first, he never really recognised what it was due to Lydia’s body posture “What have you got in the bag miss” he questioned, his tone authoritative “It looks heavy” as he moved closer, he realised what was hanging in the side of the bag; a scabbard sword, his eyes widened as he came to the realisation “Is that…, is that a sword?; by god woman, are you carrying a weapon?”
“This is my property” Lydia stated; her tone increasingly defensive “I have every right to defend myself”
“Not with a weapon lie that you don’t” he scoffed “We’ll have to take you in”
“I advise against that” Lydia warned; her fingers wrapping around the hilt firmly, preparing to draw if they make a move towards her “I do not want to hurt you”
With Lydia’s eyes on the second officer; the older officer, made a quick movement; reaching out and grabbing Lydia by the arm “Your coming with us!” he snapped
But, that was all it took; the years of training, honed to a razor’s edge by necessity and fear kicked in; as she felt the hand clasp around her right arm, she swung her left arm up and around; she moved with a fluid and powerful movement, delivering a powerfully decisive strike into the older mans exposed neck.
The officer stumbled back moving his hands up to his throat as he started to cough and splutter;.
Before the second officer could react; Lydia spun around quickly, her movement was almost a blur of motion as she raised her right leg, quickly snapping her foot around and connecting against the officers head; she had not relied on much strength, the intention solely to provide her a chance to get away; the second officers face contorted with pain as he fell to the floor, but, he wasn’t going to stay still for long, as Lydia made an attempt to move; he managed to free his baton and took a heavily restricted swing, striking the back of Lydia’s legs.
The effect was instant; bringing Lydia crashing down with a sickening thud; a searing pain rushed through her limps s her world momentarily became a blur of grey and green; she was on the ground, the grass had softened her fall, but, she was now vulnerable and at the feet of the law; but, things went from bad to worse.
The Cultists finally emerged from the distant treeline; four figures, one, clearly the leading figure, hid his face behind a grotesque mask of a bull as they approached; the two officers had just recovered when they took notice.
“Step aside officers” the leader declared “The Imperium has business with this woman”
The first officer, still rubbing his throat looked over to the man that spoke; his face a picture of barely contained amusement, but also confusion “What in the hell are you wearing” he questioned
“This does not concern you” the Cultist stated, ignoring the question “Hand her over and walk away; no harm will come to you should you simply obey, try to protect her, and the Cult of the Minotaur shall end your lives right here”
The very audacity for them to threatened officers of the law seemed to cause not only anger in the second officer, but a slight amusement, after all; they were the police, they enforced the nations laws, to be threatened would bring the nations authority down upon them, or…, so they believed, unaware of this Cult’s influence in the very laws they are meant to enforce.
Exchanging bewildered glances; the first officer did actually consider leaving Lydia for them; after all, she had attacked them; perhaps she was a suffragette, maybe, he thought; they were some kind of cultist organisation trying enforce some kind of ‘education’ the second officer noticed his older colleague was actually considering “Fuck that!” he stated “You are really considering leaving her to their mercy?”
“She did attack us” he said; glancing over to the fallen Lydia, she had clearly been paying attention as she now positioned herself on her side, holding the back of her leg, she had an unreadable expression present
“No” the second officer said; his face pale, but resolute “We can’t allow you to take her!” he said, while his voice wavered, he tried to be resolute as he looked at the Cultists “We’re the police; we have a duty”
The older officer shook his head, letting out a sigh but decided to go with his younger companions decision “Right then; we’re going to arrest you lot as well”
That however, was the spark.
The Cultists lunged forwards; one drew a curved, serrated knife from within his jacket as he came forwards at a blinding speed; he was a blur of motion before the older officer could react, he felt it; the pain of the knife as it struck him, he let out a cry of pain, stumbling away as he tried to create distance; but his body quickly went limp as he collapsed to the ground.
The second officer, found himself being attacked by two different Cultists; they rained down blows on him; he did his best, but they were overpowering him.
Lydia, seeing the violence unfolding gritted her teeth, pushing herself upwards, she managed to rise up despite the pain in her legs; it was all in the mind, she told herself; pain could be overcome with sheer determination alone, she moved her hand; her fingers wrapping around the hilt of the Jian sword; she drew it with a quick, graceful pull
Lydia moved forwards; attention was solely on the second officer, and she managed to close the gap before they realised what was happening; her sword came across like a blur; she struck the first Cultist who was wielding the knife; the sword, as sharp as it was, went through the man’s wrist with ease; a scream rang out stopping the violence against the officer as eyes turned to Lydia as she made a quick spinning motion with her sword before spearing it forwards on an angle.
The sword struck directly through the man’s throat; it silenced him immediately; her eyes flicked to the second cultist as she pulled the sword back; with a quick kick, she deliberately forced the officer downwards by hitting his knee with her foot, forcing him to collapse as she spun around and swung the sword with a heavy swing, using the momentum of her movement; there was a heavy thud as the second cultist fell; Lydia’s eyes landed on the other two; her eyes narrowed as she raised the sword in front of her with her right hand; her chest heaved from exertion of her attacks.
Luckily, the remaining two decided not to remain; Lydia’s act to defend the officer was enough to send them running; Lydia’s eye winced as she felt the pain burning in her legs still; she watched the two cultists flee, she could pursue, but it would be a futile effort – they would melt away into the shadows, regroup and come again, they always did.
Turning her attention to the first officer laying on the ground; he was motionless, his face pale and clammy; she felt a strange pang of sadness, her eyes moved to the second officer who regarded Lydia with a fearful expression.
They were innocent men caught in a fight they had no understanding of; she couldn’t remain though, she had to get back to Thomas, as she moved her sword, she slid it into the scabbard with a ‘shink’ that echoed within the silence; as she regarded the second officer, her silvery-grey eyes were cold and distant “I am leaving; do not try to stop me again” she warned
Without another word; she turned and set off with a limp; the pain was now a constant torment with each movement, but she pushed through it.
She didn’t look back; she couldn’t afford too.
Written By: Westley H.
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