Long Lost Betrothed

Finding Cassandra

Word Count: 3159

"Spread word of our escape. Rendezvous in the morning." Archie was saying when Percy and I caught up to the group no one noticing that we had been missing. A group of the rebels broke off from the rest us heading in a different direction to spread the word to others of the rebellion.

"Time to start talking Percival." Vax said when we gotten back to safety turning towards Percy angrily, "The fuck happened back there?"

"I assure you, I'm in control." Percy said as they were getting in each other's faces making me sigh.

"Oh, were you in control when you pointed that at Ophelia." Vax said motioning to Percy's pepperbox. "I saw your eyes."

"The pepperbox is a potent tool. I-I may have gotten carried away. And I already apologized to Ophelia, not that it's any of you concern." Percy said looking away as he spoke still feeling guilty as he sat down, I walked up behind him gently massaging his shoulders in comfort and as a way to let him know I do forgive him, even though I do still feel a little cautious towards him.

"Oh, I swear, if you turn that thing on any of us again, I will not hesitate." Vax said grabbing the front of Percy's shirt angrily. "I will kill you." Before turning and stomping away.

"Percy, holding that weapon, it's like you're a different person. What is it?" Vex asked as Percy turned the chambers of his gun and I knelt in front of him gently resting my hands on his making him look up at me.

"We both promised them no more lies when we came here, love. I think you owe telling us the truth about this pepperbox." I said as gently as possible giving him a weak smile.

"You're right, love." Percy said with a sigh of defeat in his voice, "The creation of the pepperbox begins eight years ago. With my family murdered, I had no way of fighting back, and I wasn't about to put Lia's at risk staying with them to find a way to fight back. So, I did the only thing I could, with Ophelia's fathers help. I fled. Smuggled away to a new life. I feared the de Rolo name was a death sentence, so I disappeared. Wandering aimlessly, my days spent struggling for survival. My nights filed with fear, blood... and cruel nightmares. These unrelenting visions of my family's end. Worries about if Ophelia's family was okay and the pain of being torn away from her from having to leave. I worried I would go mad with grief. The hatred inside me grew. Vengeance burning hotter than black powder. Nearly consuming me. Until the new vision came. A spawn of science that would bring me the revenge I so desperately sought. I dreamt of a machine that would tip the scales of fortune in my favor. I dreamt of this." Percy said holding up his pepperbox.

"Yikes, no wonder he was single, he could still be if Ophelia, chose me." Scanlan said and yelped jumping out of the way of the rock I threw at him.

"Not the time, Scanlan." I said as I turned back to Percy.

"Do you normally build instruments of death you find in dreams?" Vax asked raising an eyebrow at Percy.

"Not the first time I've been inspired." Percy said looking down and I gently put my hands on the side of his face making him look at me. "Does it matter where it came from?"

"At the moment, love? Yes, I'd say it does." I said quietly.

"It'll help us get our revenge though, that's the most important thing." Percy said determined.

"Don't let darkness overtake your whole being my love, your smile is worth more than a face of anger and hate." I said kissing his head gently as I stood up my knees hurting from being on the ground.

"Yeah, look, don't get me wrong, that thing's badass. But what are those scribbles for?" Grog asked looking at the gun.

"The monsters I hunt." Percy said glancing at the goliath. "Professor Anders, Anna Ripley, the Briarwoods, and until about an hour ago, Kerrion Stonefell. In my dreams I swore to make a list of those who wronged me."