Freedom's Horizon (WLW) (Full Trilogy - Ongoing/Editing)

Book One: Part Two: Chapter Thirty-Five

April 1726, The Temple of Sah, Sicilia, Italy

Esme pivoted and placed herself in front of Aimee, feeling her hand grasp her wrist. She stared ahead, however, unable to tear her eyes off of the recipient of her rage. Francisco emerged from the smog and smirked as several others stepped out around him, one of whom furiously glared at Aimee. She stepped around Esme and stared right back at him. She could see Aimee's hand drifting closer to the pistol resting at her side and glanced back up toward the man she now recognized as Captain Burnard.

He still wanted Aimee's head, that much was obvious by the fact that he looked near salivating at seeing her once again, but he didn't make any moves. Instead, Burnard stood perfectly still at Francisco's side as if awaiting his permission. Francisco took a step forward, reaching into the collar of his pullover and exposing the amulet.

"It is time, Lucia." He smugly explained and Esme felt her blood boil. Burnard pulled his cutlass from his sash and the small number of his men who made it through the barrier -- only eight of his company remained -- lined up. They began loading the barrels of their rifles and Esme spun, grabbing Aimee's hand as she ran toward the temple and hearing him sneer, "Kill them all aside from the one calling herself Aimee! Bring her to me alive!"

Esme glanced around herself and found her family right there with her. Gustavo carried Lana over his shoulder as she pulled weapons from his rucksack. She began handing them out as they all ran into the temple. At the entrance were several large columns leading into a large hall that bore a handful of rooms on either side and a staircase straight ahead. A series of shots rang out and they all took cover behind the entrance's wall, but there was no door.

Unable to go through with their original plan and with their enemies advancing, Esme had to think quickly. If they were to pull this off, get out alive, they needed to split apart. "Margaret, Gustavo and Georgie stay here! Try to lead Burnard's men into the separate halls! Lana, keep back and the pistols loaded!" She spotted the first of Burnard's men making it into the main hall and held her hand out as Lana lifted her axe, thrusting the handle toward her. She swung it as soon as it was within her grip and drove it up into his gut before he could even react, sending him to the bricks below. "Keep them back!!"

As she finished, Esme spun back around toward the stairs and felt Aimee slip her hand into her own. They ran for the steps and Esme could hear her family fighting off the tiny infantry attacking them, but she couldn't stop. Her one goal now was to get Aimee as far away from Francisco as she snuffed him out once and for all. For that, she needed to find the perfect perch where she held the best vantage and--

As Esme made it to the stairs, a sword was thrust out, slashing along her abdomen. She yelped as she jumped back at the last second. Aimee caught her, stopping her plummet down the stairs, and she exhaled her strife, lucky to have only been scratched. Esme surveyed the damage for a second, then looked up at her attacker. It was Burnard. She glanced around herself and spotted another entrance to the temple through a large hall to her left.

With a grunt of frustration, Esme gazed back at the captain and readied her axe, but his eyes were trained on the person behind herself. "I cannot let you pass, Caminante." He lifted his blade and looked as lively as ever as he caught Aimee's eyes. "And this one is mine!"

He attacked. His first swing was obvious. Too obvious, in fact, but Esme had to deflect it as his blade came soaring toward her face. She lifted her axe above her head, catching the blade. As she did, she noticed his other hand was occupied elsewhere and found a dagger plunging toward her gut. Esme caught the blade just before it hit her stomach and gritted her teeth as the knife cut straight through her palm.

Suddenly, Aimee was around her, grabbing hold of Burnard's arm lifted overhead and Esme was able to pull her axe free. She swung it down, then upward toward his arm, meeting flesh. He billowed as she pulled her weapon free from his arm and jumped back holding it with his other. Undeterred, Burnard swapped his fighting arms, placing his cutlass into his left hand instead and letting his hurt arm hang loosely at his side.