The Lady Of The General's House

Chapter 18

"Get away from him!"

The scream drew Kylo's eyes to the rafters.

Rey?

Rey was perched on one of the beams above them. Was he imagining things? How had she come to be there? A hundred questions filtered through his brain but he didn't have time to consider any of them as Rey suddenly swung down and launched herself into the air. She came hurtling towards the ground and landed in front of him in a crouch. She stood up slowly with her legs wide apart and her sword held out in front of her.

"Stay back!" she threatened Snoke.

In his injured state, his only clear and solid thought was if she didn't already own his whole heart she would have won it that day. She was truly magnificent.

Snoke observed her. "This must be the little whore that has weakened you, do not fear little one, you can both be together eternally in the afterlife. I will gladly hasten your arrival."

Rey roared at him and launched forward. Kylo reached for her with an anguished sound but the action winded him and he winced and clutched his wound once more. He watched open mouthed as Rey fought against Snoke. She was so light on her feet, so wonderfully adaptable, he could scarcely keep his eyes on her as she swiftly darted around the room, deflecting Snoke's attacks and using his own strength against him as they battled. He surmised that dying must have been affecting his emotional state as he started to feel like crying at the sight of her beautiful, sharp movements.

Armitage and Rose suddenly ran into the room and knelt beside him.

"Sir," Armitage said with concern in his eyes. Kylo waved them away. "Protect her!" he called out, pointing to Rey. Before Armitage could rise off the floor, Rose had already shrugged off her cape and was running towards them with her sword drawn.

"Rose!" Armitage cried. He looked down at Kylo and then desperately back at the sparring trio.

"Go! Help them!" Kylo ordered.

Armitage shook his head and pressed his hand to Kylo's bleeding wound. "You'll die if i don't apply pressure, you can't do it yourself, you're too weak."

"I don't care if I die," Kylo croaked. "Save her."

"We have to let them do this Kylo," Armitage said gently. "Calm down. I need to try and stop this bleeding."

Armitage tended to his wound while Kylo anxiously watched Rey and Rose grapple with Snoke. They were mesmerising as an attack team. Their natural combat skills made it easier for them to predict each other's movements which in turn made it harder for Snoke to evade them.

Then Armitage pressed too hard on Kylo's wound and Kylo hissed out in pain, distracting Rey. Snoke seized the opportunity to use his heavier body weight to rush at Rey, knocking her to the ground. Kylo cried out her name as she lay unmoving. Rose was momentarily distracted by the sight of her friend, which allowed Snoke to catch her off guard with an elbow to the chest. Rose was sent hurtling to the floor. Snoke stood over Rose with his sword held high, ready to strike.

"Any last words?" He sneered.

Rose laughed and spat out some blood. "Do it old man, I'm so tired of looking at you."

Snoke laughed as he began to lower his sword, Rose closed her eyes and prepared to see her parents again...then strong arms enclosed around her and a familiar scent hit her senses. She opened her eyes and looked up at Armitage's face.

"No," she whispered, looking down in horror at the sword tip protruding through the front of his chest. Armitage smiled down at her and touched her face with a shaky hand.