The Coming From the Shadows Series
Coming From the Shadows: Lydia
Previous Instalments:
The Imperium Chronicles: Struggle between Duty and Fascination
Back Story:
From escaping from Britain to the temporary safety in Calais, to reaching Xian in Perpignan to the eventual arrival to Córdoba – It had been a struggle for Mother and Daughter; Cathryn and Lydia, but necessary, the Imperium sought to either capture of kill Cathryn – She had been a thorn in their side for a long time, though her eventual cessation of activity due to her marriage and subsequent domestic slavery to George Smythe brought an end to Cathryn’s activities for a time, she remained a threat, her previous actions had caused the creation of Anti-Cultist movements through her various allies – the Imperium could not tolerate that.
George Smythe though bought his time, regardless of his affiliation, he had allowed Cathryn’s activities to go on without issue, using Cathryn’s developing feelings for him to twist her, at the same time, her actions had the unintended consequence of aiding George, though she was unaware of it – it gave George far more power, combined with the wealth of his Families Business Empire, his role as the Leader of the Cult of the Minotaur, one of the many Cultist Groups that affiliated themselves to the Imperium – He had rose to an unbreakable position of power, even the elected leader; Victor could not contain him – George could do as he wished, use his wealth to influence other Cultist movements – it was not until William Smythe, his son, turned.
William, who was present during a discussion amongst Cultists at the Smythe Estate, was shocked to discover that his Half-Sister; Lydia, would be chosen by their father as a sacrificial lamb – it broke William’s loyalty, while he had no real love for his sister, the very notion that George would so easily present one of his own children up for death demonstrated what kind of man George really was – from that discover, things were set in motion, a truce-a temporary alliance was formed facilitating the escape of Brother and Sister – though betrayed by Elizabeth Lydia’s older twin – the subsequent flight became a battle, Father and Son fought, while Lydia had been forced to defend herself from her fathers guards, one of which she would accidentally kill in the scuffle much to her sister; Elizabeth’s glee – William, after defeating his father, albeit temporarily would burn the Manor down during his escape – its consequence immediate; George’s reputation was shattered, his Business Empire nearly crumbled and, he had lost two of his children to rebellion – Victor clawed back control, the Imperium began to shift as opposing Cultists groups vied for power in the wake of the Cult of the Minotaur’s moment of weakness
Now; in Spain, American Cultists were tasked with tracking and capturing Cathryn and Lydia, while Elizabeth; following her Fathers instructions following her success In Japan was now on her way to Mexico.
In an alleyway in Córdoba a tense encounter was underway.
Introduction:
18th of December, 1905 A.D.
Córdoba, Spain
Erin, in her decision to separate from her siblings; Morgan and Jakob discovered her – She discovered Lydia in an alleyway on the outskirts of the city; initially, she observed with a childlike curiosity, she recognised Lydia from their previous interaction in Calais back in October.
Their last interaction had been a battle of wills; a mental sparring match; while Lydia gave nothing away – neither did Erin; but, their interaction had left a lasting impacting for both of them
Chapter 1
18th of December, 1905
Outskirts of Córdoba
The narrow alleyway was a canvas of shadow and muted ochre, the dim light of the sun barely penetrating; the air, thick with the sent of wine and spices, a backdrop to the silent battle between the two Fourteen-Year old Girls as they began their mental sparring match once again – Erin had already invaded Lydia’s personal space, her fascination of Lydia had not waned.
Erin Mason; her place complexion, long black hair; a deceptively angelic face – her emerald green eyes gleamed with intrigue despite the coldness that permeated them; stroking Lydia’s face gently, she grinned, leaning in and whispering gently “Tell me…., what secrets are you hiding” her voice purred
Lydia; her long raven-dark hair tied back dangled limply behind her; her emotionless expression betrayed no signs of her internal tense-up that she felt; her silvery-grey eyes followed Erin; she felt the warmth of her breath against her ear; her upbringing, despite how brutal and uncaring it had been when she lived with her father had some benefits – she had learned at an early age to control her emotions, but since reuniting with her mother, and beginning to train – she had taken that a step further, she had improved significantly since her last interaction with Erin “I’m no one important” she said; her voice was devoid of emotion
“Don’t think I don’t know who you are” Erin says; despite sounding threatening, her tone is actually playful, more mischievous than threatening “I would say you are someone important; daughter of the Minotaur; George Smythe…, hmm?” she chuckled, a soft, melodic sound despite a terrifyingly beautiful smile that graced her lips
Lydia felt her heart beating faster; though maintained control of her expression, keeping it unreadable – this girl knew who she was, it gave her a firm advantage in their interaction; Lydia on the other hand, she knew nothing of this girl
“You know…, I am meant to be trying to capture you for the Imperium” Erin could see the exterior beginning to crack, the subtle movements present that indicated a preparedness to fight, she simply smiled
“Then…, why haven’t you tried?” Lydia questioned; keeping her voice devoid of emotion as much as she could, she felt things bubbling
“Perhaps I already have done; but not for the Imperium” Erin said; her voice a soft purr once more “The Girl of the Shadows; you are a puzzle; a Beautiful, Complex puzzle” gently, she moved her hand yet again, brushing a strand of hair from Lydia’s face, her touch lingering longer than necessary “I intend to solve you”
The Pacific Ocean
Thousands of miles away; a Ship slicing through the churning waters of the pacific – it was sailing from Japan, aboard it; Elizabeth Smythe – the older twin of Lydia, unlike her sibling, Elizabeth was the loyal and devoted daughter of George Smythe; a polar opposite to her sister, while Lydia was a miniature-version of their mother, Elizabeth was a miniature-female version of their father – sharing his blonde hair, though her hair was much longer, she tied it back into a neat bun, and then there were her icy-blue eyes that were like glacial ice.
She had been successful in her assignment to Japan; to establish a sect of the Cult of the Minotaur in the rising Eastern Empire; an attempt to restrengthen George’s position and influence after what had happened back in February of that year – now, she had simply been given instructions to travel to Mexico, nothing else had been in the telegram she received, no acknowledgement of her success, no greeting; no care – it was simply infuriating for her, she put it down though to simply him focusing on rebuilding everything that had been damaged by her siblings escape.
She knew little though of the inner-workings of the Imperium and its council; and everything in her brutal education was solely focused on the Cult of the Minotaur, she had thrived were her sister had been left traumatized – she had lived to make her father proud, and despite all that, she still needed to keep pushing, she couldn’t stop – one day, she was certain, he would finally acknowledge all of it.
Deciding to go an explore the ship; she began to wander, her gaze swept over the passengers, she catalogued their faces, their movements – it was a trait she had been forced to develop, it was part of her upbringing, to see things, to take notice; to remember for when it would be useful – things, no matter how mundane they may appear could be of potential use.
As she wandered along the deck; she had caught the attention of a man seated, she had noticed him watching her, his eyes narrowed in shrewd assessment.
He was French; dressed in an expensive suit, his face lined with a network of wrinkles that spoke of a life lived fully
Slowly rising to his feet; he approached Elizabeth, there was a slight bow in his posture once they were facing one another “Mademoiselle Smythe, n’est-ce pas?; Elizabeth Smythe”
Elizabeth inclined her head; her eyes examining him carefully, though she maintained an unreadable expression for a moment before displaying a hint of curiosity “You know my name?”
“Ah…” he said with a grin “One does not forget the face of a Smythe; the resemblance is striking” he told her “I am Françoise Aubin; and, I am sure you can work out that I am part of the ‘Roosters’ our Imperium’s movement within my native land of France”
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes “French Cultist?” she questioned, it was obvious in how she spoke that his presence was seen as a potential threat
“Indeed” Françoise said, a slight chuckle escaping his lips “I am not here to threaten you mademoiselle, we may come from two different Cultist movements; but we are loyal to the Imperium, No?” he grinned, observing her carefully
“I suppose that is true; yes” Elizabeth said, her voice becoming hesitant for a moment
Gesturing towards the open ocean “The sea can be a very boring place, no?” he shifted his gaze back to Elizabeth a moment “Tell me; how does it feel to serve such a powerful man as your father, does it fill you with pride…, or, perhaps…, resentment”
“My loyalty to my father is absolute” Elizabeth answered; her tone though hinted at uncertainty
“Of course, of course” Françoise said, his voice silken “But.., loyalty can be a heavy burden; especially when it is not reciprocated, does your father truly see you Elizabeth?, does he appreciate you sacrifices, your unwavering dedication?” there was a pause as he watched Elizabeth facial expressions carefully, it was clear she was trying to maintain a stoic, unreadable expression; the training was there, but, regardless of how much practise she had, it was not truly working to hide her feelings “Or…, are you merely a tool; a pawn, in his grand game?”
The words struck Elizabeth like a blow; she had prided herself as the loyal daughter; her control was slipping, her impassive mask in the face of adversity was slipping – Françoise’s words had pierced her armour, it touched a raw nerve; she craved her father’s attention – his approval, his acknowledgement, but it was very rarely given, if ever
She forced herself to meet Françoise’s gaze; her expression hardening “You presume much; my relationship with my father is of no concern to you”
He simply shrugged; his smile widened “Perhaps, but, I have seen many things in my long life mademoiselle; I have learned that even the most devoted servants can harbour doubts, frustrations; it is after all, our nature as human beings” he bowed again, it was a mocking gesture “Enjoy your voyage mademoiselle; remember, even the strongest of chains can rust”
She watched as he turned and walked away; leaving Elizabeth alone on the deck, the wind whipping her hair around her face – his words echoed in her mind, a seed of doubt planted in a fertile ground of her ambition.
She clenched her fists, she was determined to prove him wrong – reaffirm her loyalties to her father, to the Cult of the Minotaur and the Imperium, she would show them all.
Chapter 2
Córdoba, Spain
The Alleyway
Back in the alleyway on Córdoba – the mental game between Erin and Lydia had reached a fevers pitch; Erin’s senses were sharp, she noticed a subtle shift in the shadow, her ear twitched as she listened for the subtle sounds of movement – Lydia, ever observant noticed the twitch of her ear, but her focus was solely on Erin “Seems we have company” Erin murmured, her voice completely losing its playful tone
With a sudden and unexpected movement; she shoved Lydia to the side, sending her stumbling backwards towards the left of the alleyway; before Lydia could react, Erin had whirled around, positioning herself to block Lydia from view; shielding Lydia from the gaze of the new arrivals.
Two figures emerging as they approached Erin; unaware of Lydia’s presence “Erin; what are you doing, we’ve been searching everywhere for you” Morgan said; his tone hinting at his irritation “We are trying to track someone down remember, you need to stick with us this time, not go off wandering alone”
Jakob simply shrugged his shoulders as he looked at his younger sister, his gaze momentarily sweeping the alleyway before then turning his attention to Morgan “Don’t worry about it Morgan; she is always wandering off; usually, she finds something useful” he comments; recognising his sisters uncanny ability to simply soak information up like a sponge
Erin though simply flashed them a disarming smile “I am just admiring the local architecture”
Morgan was unconvinced; his eyes scanned their surroundings for a moment “Let’s go” he finally said “We should return back to the villa, we haven’t made any progress today”
Erin fell into steps with them; her eyes flickering back a moment to ensure Lydia has remained hidden; a sly smile curving her lips; as they left, Lydia observed from the shadows, a knot of confusion forming in her stomach – why did Erin just protect her?, why not simply reveal her, there wouldn’t have been much Lydia could have done.
When she was certain they had gone; Lydia slipped from the alleyway, making her way bac to the monastery to regroup with her mother and ‘The Monk’ – as she walked, her mind raced with unanswered questions, she knew she needed to alert her mother that American Cultists had come to Spain in search of them, but she also wanted to raise a question – perhaps, her mother could explain Erin’s strange behaviour.
Córdoba, Spain
Cultists Villa
That evening, the Mason family had reunited within the lavish villa that had so kindly been provided to them by a Spanish Cultist; Benjamin stood with his wife; as usual, Isabelle stood out starkly from her surroundings like some kind of ethereal, ghostly figure – they were the bedrock of the family, their loyalty to the American Cultists; the Brothers and Sisters of Liberty, were unshakably loyal to the Imperium.
As they dined, Erin decided to confide in her mother regarding her encounter with Lydia “She is fascinating mother” she told her “She is a puzzle; so quiet, so guarded, so controlled…,it is intriguing”
Isabelle listened intently; her expression was unreadable as she listened to her daughter speak – she knew that their objective was to capture Lydia and her mother; Cathryn, but, she also recognised her daughter’s fascination and the potential value it would have “Fascination an be a powerful tool Erin” Isabelle said; her voice soft “Explore your curiosity; perhaps, it will lead to greater insight, but do remember, our ultimate goal remains the same; she will need to be captured”
England, Great Britain
The Smythe Estate
At the mouth of the River Thames; the Estate, separated from the outside world by its large defensive walls, stood as a sombre reminder of what had once been the heart of the Cult of the Minotaur’s base of operation, the very heart of the Smythe Families Business Empire – now, at its centre stood no grand manor, but the charred remains.
Having just finished a discussion with fellow Cultist; Henry Price, he waved his hand, signalling that Henry could leave; his scanned the ruins of his once grand home.
Within the darkness of its lower ruins, a shadow moved silently, a strange figure observed George from the ruins with a curious interest; it was unseen, just as it wanted, its interest of George unknown, though once it moved, it moved like a serpent as it retreated back into the ruins underbelly.
England, Great Britain
Hull
The North sea whipped like a sharp shards of glass across the docks, it tore at William Smythe’s long coat, causing it to flutter violently; he pulled his collar up; it scratched against his unshaven jaw – he had not been sleeping properly as of late, too many plans to work on, to many people to interact with; he had made little progress in any of his plans since his act of rebellion against his father in the south, he took a drag of a cigarette, it’s ember glowing like a malevolent eye in the gloom “So…., Greece” a voice cut through the wind
William shifted his gaze towards the man who spoke; he was leaning against a stack of crates, his face obscured by a hood, almost nondescript and blending into the grimy backdrop of the dock; yet, there was something unnerving about his gaze
“Yes; that is correct” William replied; exhaling a plume of smoke “Escape the poor weather here….”
The man chuckled; it was a dry and rustling sound “It is but a symptom Mr Smythe; a reflection of the storm within”
William returned his gaze towards the strange, though his hand hovered subtly by the opening of his jacket in case he needed to pull the revolver concealed beneath “Who exactly are you?”
“A friend” the strange answered; his voice softened “I know of your…, act of rebellion, after all, to challenge a man as powerful as your father, well…, word travels fast doesn’t it, and you have gained a lot of attention, more than you realise”
William’s eyes narrowed “What do you want?; are you here for revenge?, do you serve my father?”
He chuckled again, shaking his head “No” he answered, though he did not indicate exactly which question he answered, simply shifting the conversation purposely back to its beginning “I hear you intend to travel o Greece; Yes” he grinned “A Place that the Imperium was born centuries ago; a land of ancient secrets, may I presume…, you intend to unravel such secrets to bring down your father?”
William became more wary – he hadn’t spoken of his intentions to anyone “Perhaps….”
“The Imperium’s tentacles reach far and wide Mr Smythe; and your father as you know, is a powerful man, deeply entrenched, if you intend to challenge him…, to challenge the Imperium…, then a small fire is only your beginning, you will require knowledge, allies and a willingness to sacrifice”
“Oh…, I am willing alright” William responded; his voice hardening – he had been the loyal son once, but, the very notion his father would be so ready to sacrifice one of his own spoke volumes, it eant none of them would be safe if he decided their usefulness was at an end, in a way, he pitied Elizabeth due to her blind obedience
“Then…, what you are doing is a good start” the strange said; straightening up, he offered his hand “My name is Silas; and I can offer you guidance, information and allies”
William looked carefully – he wasn’t certain, his instincts told him that he needed to run…, but yet, he had never been approached by anyone before with such an offer; he hesitated, but he grasped Silas’ hand “I’m listening”
Chapter 3
21st of December, 1905 A.D.
Córdoba, Spain
In the small kitchen of the safehouse the aroma of freshly baked bread and cinnamon filled the small space; Lydia, perched on a rickety stool observed her mother; Cathryn, as she carefully iced a small cake – her brow furrowed with concentration, it was a simple affair, a far cry from the lavish celebrations that Cathryn had when she was but a girl, but, it was a genuine happiness, after all, Lydia had never experienced the celebration of her birthday before – the Smythe Estate did not allow for such things, at times, she often wondered if either of her two daughters knew the day of their births.
Quietly; she had made a moment of celebration in the silence of the night before going to bed; Elizabeth would have turned 15 in the late hours of the 20th of December – on the 21st, it was Lydia’s birthday – her twins where separated by eight hours, she remembered the pain she had endured during the birth of both twins.
Today though, she wanted Lydia to finally experience some genuine happiness, to finally celebrate a birthday; Her Fifteenth Birthday.
“There” Cathryn said; stepping back to admire her handiwork “Not exactly a masterpiece; but, it is made with love, eh?” she smiled
Never experiencing such a moment before; Lydia for a moment was actually confused by the sentiment – but, it also brought a smile to her face; a rare and precious sight “It’s perfect Mum”
Cathryn ruffled her daughters hair, her eyes softening “Happy Birthday Lydia” she wished that she could have celebrated with both of her daughters; it was a constant painful memory knowing how Elizabeth was still not with them
Then, the warmth of the moment was shattered by the harsh clang of the door opening; Xian strode in, he took notice of them – his face etched with disapproval and annoyance “What is this?” he demanded, his tone sharp “A Tea party?; we should be packing, preparing to leave for England, not indulging in frivolous celebrations”
Cathryn’s jaw tightened; her fingers clenched “It’s her birthday Xian; having moments of normalcy and happiness is important”
“There is no normalcy for us, not anymore” Xian shook his head “Lydia needs to be ready; not being distracted” he shifted his gaze to Lydia; his gaze intense “Your fifteen now; it is time to test you, to see if you really are capable of fighting against the Imperium”
Lydia’s smile vanished; replaced once again with her usual detached expression – she did not like Xian, and the moment her mother had just tried to create was important, she felt a genuine happiness, but Xian had decided to snatch that from her.
“What do you propose?” Cathryn questioned; her hands clenched tightly against the table, her voice dangerously low, her expression indicating her rising frustration
“A trial; she needs to be capable of taking a life” Xian said; his eyes fixed on Lydia “And the perfect target is operating in Whitby, he is holding the operations in Yorkshire together, take him out, and the Cult of the Minotaur’s influence there breaks; if she can’t do it, she is of little use to us in this fight Cathryn”
Cathryn’s eye twitched a moment, her frustration turning to anger.
“She is after all the daughter of a Cultist; she needs to be a weapon that we wield against the Imperium” he stated firmly
Cathryn simply glared at Xian, she felt an instinct to reach for the nearby knife – the quiet moment had just been taken away, Xian, in his blindness was becoming no different to the very people he wanted to fight, by referring Lydia as a weapon – she questioned how Lydia would be able to differentiate friend and foe if both treat her the same – a weapon.
Chapter 4
Cordoba, Spain
The Villa
Benjamin Mason stood on the veranda of the villa, he had called both of his sons to meet with him, to discus current progress, though as of yet, none had been made, as he turned to face Morgan and Jakob he let out an irritated sigh “They must be found” he said
In an adjoining room to their left; a room filled with ornate furniture, Isabelle sat with Erin; she noticed her daughter sketching into her notebook, tilting her head, her long black hair fell towards the side, cascading over her shoulder “What are you drawing my dear?” she asked, her voice soft
Erin raised her head – she looked towards her mother “Lydia; I am trying to capture her essence, she fascinates me Mother” she answered, her eyes gleamed with a strange intensity
Isabelle let a smile curve her lips; before she could say something though, the arrival of Ramón interrupted them; he was a tall, wiry man with dark eyes and a nervous demenous “Benjamin Mason?” he asked, his voice laced with urgency
Isabelle shifted her attention towards him with a concerned expression, she made a gesture towards the door leading out to the adjoining room – as Ramón rushed, Isabelle looked to Erin before both of them decided to follow.
Ramón pushe the doors open “Benjamin Mason?” he repeated with the same urgency drawing the attention of Benjamin and his two sons
“I am he” Benjamin answered with a slight nod
“I bring a warning” Ramón said “Cultists from Britain have been seen here in Córdoba, the Cult of the Minotaur has arrived; two brothers, Bartholomew and Jack; they are here to search for Cathryn and Lydia”
Benjamin’s jaw tightened; he had hoped it would be far longer before George would be able to organise anyone to acquire information, never mind sending enforcers to capture targets, the it was obvious, despite his wings being clipped, George was still as dangerous as ever “We need to deal with them”
Córdoba, Spain
Out within Córdoba; Bartholomew strolled through the streets with his typical confident stride, a cruel smirk present as he eyed the locals as they passed them “Charming isn’t it” Jack commented “All this…, humanity” Bartholomew shifted his gaze to his brother – Jack was the younger sibling, and he often demonstrated it with his lack of control in the need for violence
After a moment, Bartholomew shifted his gaze away from Jack; now turning his eyes to the crumpled telegram from his pocket; re-reading its message ‘Targets located in Córdoba; Proceed with usual caution – collect both alive, no harm to come upon them, Smythe’s orders’
“This should be simple” Bartholomew commented “After all…, she will be more distracted with protecting her daughter, we can use that to our advantage once we find them; so, so long as you don’t try to kill, I believe that your…, methods could help in this endeavour little brother”
“I am not to be killing?; but, you still think my methods will be beneficial?” Jack sounded confused for a moment
“Yes, because if you threatened the daughter; we may be able to force a quick surrender, then, we can transport her back to Britain; the trick though, will be to keep them separated, to ensure compliance, Cathryn is the dangerous one; Lydia is a failed daughter of our leader, unless she has been training, then she will prove no trouble”
“And if she has been trained?” Jack queries
“So long as you don’t kill her; then do whatever you want to ensure compliance, she won’t be a threat, even if trained, she does not have the experience”
As they rounded a corner; they came face-to-face with Benjamin Mason; the man’s imposing stature and hard gazed immediately put Bartholomew on alert “Englishmen” Benjamin said, his voice hinting at suspicion “And what business do you have here in Córdoba”
Bartholomew adopted a polite smile “Our business is our own” “We shall be on our way now”
“I now who you are” Benjamin said; his voice dropping to a dangerous whispers “Your Bartholomew and Jack; you represent the Cult of the Minotaur; I suggest you leave immediately”
Bartholomew’s smile vanished; he was assessing Benjamin carefully, his eyes though also darted around the streets, he catalogued potential escape routes and tools that could be used to his advantage – he looked strong, but, he was also alone; while beside Bartholomew was his brother; Jack “We have no intention of leaving” Bartholomew said; his voice hardening “We have business to attend too; I advise you step aside, it wont exactly go well for you if you decide to keep hindering us”
“This is your only warning; leave” Benjamin stated, his voice now raised
Bartholomew grins, shaking his head “We don’t intimidate easily”
Benjamin lunged forwards; pulling a knife free and swinging it in an arch as he draws closer to Bartholomew; Bartholomew though, ducked, his movement was only for a brief second, just enough for Benjamin’s arm to carry into its swing, then quickly popped back upwards with a forwards motion, twisting and using his shoulder to barge into Benjamin, staggering him backwards, as Benjamin tries to quickly being the blade back across; Bartholomew raises both of his arms; using his wrists to stop Benjamin’s arm mid-swing before swinging his head forwards onto Benjamin’s nose stunning him completely.
Taking advantage of the moment, his skips forwards and kicks his left foot up and forwards; hitting Benjamin square on the chest and knocking him off his feet; landing with a thud, Benjamin hears the knife clatter to the floor.
Before Benjamin could do anything else, he felt Bartholomew’s foot against his wrist – the pressure causing Benjamin to try using his left hand to try pushing his foot away desperately “You should have heeded my warning” Bartholomew said, his voice cold
Observing from within the crowd; the Mong, his hood pulled up shifts his attention, looking across the street towards a building, his eyes locking with Cathryn as she and Lydia exit the building alongside Xian, making a subtle head gesture for them to get moving.
Hidden away in the doorway; Cathryn acknowledges the Monk’s subtle nod with her own; shifting her eyes “We need to go” Cathryn whispered, her hand gently on Lydia’s shoulder “Things are becoming too dangerous here”
“But…, what about him?” Lydia asked, her eyes observing Benjamin carefully as he struggles with Bartholomew
“Doesn’t matter; he’s a Cultist, and someone who wouldn’t hesitate to leave you in that situation” Xian stated “Having a conscious is good when it comes to ordinary people, but as for Cultists; never hesitate Lydia” he told her, his tone was devoid of empathy “Let’s go”
Cathryn though; she hesitated, she felt herself warring with the desire to help, but also the need to survive – Xian’s lack of empathy a signal to her, that it was a good thing Lydia did not accept him as her teacher, unfortunately, they had little time and had to leave, too much was at risk if they were discovered, especially for someone that was trying to hunt them down and possibly aim to kill them
“Cathryn; Move” Xian snapped coldly; Cathryn, with a irritated sigh, led her daughter deeper into the shadows, disappearing within the streets of Córdoba – The Monk, waiting a moment, shifted his position, knowing that it should be safe enough, he made his move
Seeing Cathryn’s hesitation and desire to help; the Monk decides to do just that – stepping through the crowd, he approached Jack from behind as he observed his brother with Benjamin, he made a simply movement, but a powerful one – striking with a swift motion, he purposely aimed for the pressure point along the neck, his finger were fast in their action, forcing Jack to the ground before moving swiftly forwards, as Bartholomew turned he was surprised as a strange Tibetan-looking monk came upon him so quickly.
The Monk shifted his gaze as Bartholomew stumbled; he held his hand tightly, his finger and thumb holding the pressure point in Bartholomew’s hand; his eyes landing on Benjamin “Go” with a sudden and swift motion; he pulled Bartholomew into him; with a fast motion, raised his elbow, using Bartholomew’s sudden momentum to strike his throat before releasing him and letting him drop to the ground gasping; his eyes never once leaving Benjamin “Now; I am not going to be here to give you a second chance” he said, slowly turning and moving away from his victory – Benjamin, with the chance, decided to take it, he left to return to his family quickly.
Written By: Westley H.
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