Hearing the voice, Elias’ eyes dimmed.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for the secretary of the Second Rank Noble Head to run around the Austere border in the middle of the night, trying to rendezvous with the First Rank High Member. Do you?” Kate said, appearing out of nowhere with her pistol pointed at Elias.
“Let me worry about my job description. Can I assume this isn’t a chance meeting?” Elias’ eyes focused only on Oriana, who seemed to be shocked.
“It’s a faithful meeting, perhaps. I know who you are, Elias. You were responsible for the women kidnapping incident at Ren and the latest arson incident at Korahzin. Let’s go down to business, shall we?” Kate said sarcastically with a grin plastered on her lips. Oriana’s eyebrows frowned.
“What? Brother what did you-“ Oriana stopped when Elias motioned his hand.
“Alright. No more formalities, then? I only have sixty men under me, and you killed twelve of them. Beat my pet, and perhaps would have me murder now. Yet you stand and talk to me as though you are innocent. You are not.” Kate seemed not to take offense with his words at all.
“Very well. There’s no use in denying some of the details in this matter. But what you concluded from those details is erroneous.”
“My business with my sister here doesn’t involve your erroneous conclusions.” Kate only smirked when Elias turned to her direction. Their eyes seemed to spark lightning. “It’s a bit late but, how are you? I heard you were almost burned to death.” He grinned. “Good to see you alive.”
“Tsk. How facetious. Don’t exaggerate things, knowing that you’re one of the people behind the arson. You really changed, Elias.” Elias’ tone was sarcastic and so was Kate’s.
As a Second Rank Noble member, Elias was not allowed to leave their palace without at least three security men, two cyanide pills, and a gun. Kate knew he often left without the former but was sure he never left without the latter.
“You know each other?” The cold atmosphere that surrounds them shattered. Kate gulped; Elias cleared his throat. The lightning that sparked in their eyes lost direction as they both looked in a different direction.
“Hello, am I talking to anyone?” Oriana asked, wiggling her eyebrows. Her two hands crossed on her chest.
“D-don’t you think it’s quite late for that question? You know us, Oriana. That will be enough…. For now, I guess.” Elias stuttered and looked at Kate.
“Brother, is Lady Kate…. the ‘Kate’ five years ago that you said you’ll marry someday?” Kate’s eyes widened as Elias’ mouth dried. None of the two speak.
Crap! I didn’t expect this. Kate bit her lower lip, trying to find the right words to say.
“Brother-“
“I clearly remember telling you not to bring dogs with you.” Elias cut her. His dimmed eyes now focused on the figure in the dark woods, walking towards them.
“You’re the one who brought dogs.” Kate was stunned upon seeing Raith, who was holding a man groaning in pain. Oriana gasped when he sliced the man’s throat open with a knife.
“Your sister didn’t bring us. We followed her. That’s what dogs are for, right?” Raith grinned with a deadly stare and tossed the man aside.
“Uh-Uh. You’re wrong. They are not my men, Raith. Luis sent them.” Only then did Oriana looked at her brother, full of terror.
“Elder brother knew that you’ll meet me?” Elias looked at her but stopped when a bullet flew past his eyes and heard a man groan behind the bushes. He smiled. That bullet surely came from Raith.
“Nope. I didn’t tell him. But you know Luis. He has a very bad trust issue.” He chuckled and took out his gun and pointed it at her. “And that’s why he is very annoying. Don’t move.” Oriana flinched when Elias clicked the gun. But the bullet did not aim her, it flew past her ears, and a loud thud was heard behind her. “Bullseye.”
The four of them stood for a moment. Oriana felt her heart beats faster than usual. Is she scared to fight? No. She is just shocked. Her eyes flickered on Elias’ hand. He has only one gun. Did he bring some bullets with him? Elias ruffled his hair in distress and let out an angry groan before speaking.
“Oriana, your elder brother surely is annoying.” He clicked the trigger multiple times and slowly rotated his body, aiming at the bushes. “Fight if you want to live.” He spat at Oriana then the men hiding in the bushes went out.
Kate took the knife from her boots and threw it at the figure that moved at the tree, then a man fell. She threw two more knives at the other tree then another man fell. She quickly shifted her position and clicked the trigger, aiming at the man behind Raith.
“Thanks, Phoebe,” Raith said before putting a hole at the man’s forehead beside him. Three men approached him with a knife, but he kicked the first man, shot the second, and stabbed the third. “Fools. Tsk.”
Elias groaned when he felt a sting on his shoulder. Another bullet flew towards him, but he dodged it and shot the man hiding behind the tree. Another man threw a knife, but Elias rolled down and shot the man. Then shot another one, then four more. Oriana felt pain in her left arm but managed to shoot the man in front of her. She then quickly shot two more and threw her knife at the man who jumped in front of her. The place was now covered with blood and dead bodies.
“You all okay?” Elias asked as he counted his bullets. Four bullets left.
“Worry about yourself.” Raith hissed and cursed under his tongue when he checked his bullets. Elias saw that he had no bullets left, so he tossed him his remaining bullets. They all sat on the ground, panting. Four verses twenty-seven skilled forces, quite unfair.
“I don’t need-“
“Just take it.” Elias retorted. Raith hissed but still loaded his gun with the four bullets and shot the man who crawled to take his gun. He shot another one who tried to run and another one who pointed a gun at them.
“Nice shot.” Elias chuckled and peeped from side to side to see if there were still people who wanted them dead.
“Brother, you still have bullets?” Oriana asked worriedly.
“Still fighting.” He stretched his body upon seeing that the area was clear.
“It’s past twelve. The Ruler might be waiting for us.” Kate watched her wristwatch and took her knife from the two men who were soaked with blood.
“Go now. Oriana, tell the Ruler exactly what I told you.” Elias walked towards her, kissed her forehead, and pulled her for a tight hug. He then slipped something on her hand. “Give this to the Ruler.” He whispered. “Please, always be safe.” He kissed her hair before pulling away. Oriana’s tears betrayed her this time. “There, there, my dear sister. You belong now to the First Rank, so you need to be strong.” He laughed and wiped her tears. “I know you are strong.”
“B-Brother, please be safe.” She tried to swallow the lump in her throat. “Promise me you’ll keep yourself alive. Brother Luis…. Brother Luis will-“
“Shhh. Second brother is strong, so you don’t need to worry about me.” He wiped her tears again. “As long as our Leader Amber is with us, he won’t do anything to harm me, so worry about yourself. I bet he sent those men to kill you.”
“Then promise me-“
“Yes, yes. I promise. I’ll stay safe.” He flashed her a smile then hugged her again. “So quite this drama and go back to the Ruler.” He patted her back before pulling away. Oriana nodded and wiped her tears that fell endlessly. They were about to leave when Elias grabbed Kate’s wrist.
“Give me five minutes.” He pleaded. Raith saw it and attempted to grab Kate’s wrist when she held his hand first.
“No, Phoebe.” He glared at Elias sharply. Elias looked at their hand as Kate squeezed it. Raith’s sharp gaze became gentle as he looked at Kate.
“I’m not weak, so wait for me in the car with Oriana. I’ll be back.” Kate assured, but Raith hesitated.
“I finished all my bullets. Don’t worry, she’ll come back complete. I just want to tell her something.” Elias said jokingly but with a cold voice. Raith did not mind him. “Hey Raith, take care of her, got it? Break her heart and I’ll break your neck.”
“What the heck are you talking about? Are you Dom or what?” His brows deeply furrowed but Elias only laughed. “You don’t have to tell me that.” He rolled his eyes and looked at Kate.
“I trust you, but not him.” He kissed her hand and glared at Elias, who silently watched them. Kate nodded and ruffled his hair.
“Protect Oriana. Go now.” Kate commanded. Raith looked at Elias and back to her for the last time before walking towards Oriana.
“So, you are now on good terms with him,” Elias said as soon as Raith was far enough for him not to hear them.
“Yes,” Kate replied sheepishly.
“Tsk. You know what, Kate?”
“Lady Kate.” She said with a warning tone.
“Lady Kate.” He cleared his throat. “I promised myself back then that one day, you will be with me again. But I guess…. I cannot fulfill that promise anymore.” His voice broke at his last words. She was his fiancé, but they were separated when the war broke out five years ago.
“Remember your promise to me before? That when we got married, you’ll take care of my sister.” Kate felt Elias’ rising emotion. Kate completely understands him. He cares for Oriana so much, but he belongs to the Second Rank that the First Rank don’t trust, so he cannot protect his sister. Kate remained silent as Elias pulled her into a tight hug.
“Please…. Take care of my sister. I’m begging you.” He whispered as a tear escaped his eyes. It was an unknown tear. He was not sure if it was from sadness because of his lost chance or sadness because he could not protect his sister.
“You don’t have to.” Kate patted his back. “She belongs to our family now, and we protect what’s ours.” She slowly pulled away and ruffled his hair before flashing her smile. “I hope that one day, our group will be complete again. When that day comes, I hope all of us are happy.”
Elias nodded with a smile and kissed her forehead. “I hope so too.” He pecked her lips for the last time before holding her shoulder and turning her back. “Go now.” Kate felt her heart sank. But like Elias, she was unsure of the reason why. It took her a moment before walking away and swallowing her tears. Elias watched her back as she walked away. When no shadow of Kate can be seen, he released a deep breath. It was their last moment together. From now on, their paths will be separated.
“I know you’re hiding there. Come out now.”