A Dark Knight

20. The Red Lake

WRITER'S NOTE!!!!

This chapter is dedicated to one of my best friends, Fiona for requesting an update for this story. So here ya go Fifi!!! Hope you enjoy!!! ;)

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The dolphins swam down the river and we followed, staying close to the banks. Eventually the river opened out into another lake. The dolphins then dove down, leaving us staring at the sparkling surface of the water.

"Um, don't get me wrong, the lake looks very nice;" Kelsey started. "But why did they bring us here?"

Emma and Eve shrugged. "I don't know." they said simultaneously.

"Why are we here again?" I heard a deep voice ask. It came from the trees at the other side of the lake.

"How many times do I have to tell you Lee? Bo's stables are at the edge of the forest. If we light a fire here somewhere, he'll come out of hiding. Then we kill him and take his land. Bo has a lot of land for just one man. He doesn't need it."

Payton was in danger. My eyes locked with Kelsey.

"We have to stop them." I whispered.

"We will." she said, a smile curling on her lips.

"Ruth! Taylor! Go warn the others in case there's more men." Kelsey ordered. "Emma and Eve! You go with them!"

"No." Eve shook her head. "We were led here. We will fight."

Kelsey sighed. Ruth and Taylor sprinted back to the large house.

"Ok then, you two go behind. Jade and I will create a distraction. Try not to kill them."

They nodded. Kelsey and I ran through the trees and walked directly in front of the two men, our weapons ready.

"G-George?" one of the men stammered. "You said nothing about security."

"Shut it Lee. This ain't no security, these are just two stupid-"

"Double negative equals a positive." Kelsey grinned.

"What?" Lee asked. The two of them must've been twins. They were both short and stocky with messy, long black hair and blue eyes. The wore long brown robes and carried a small blade.

"You said ain't no." I explained. "Double negative. Equals. Positive."

"I don't care." George replied angrily. "Now, are you two young lassies working for a Mr. Payton Bo?"

"I wouldn't say working for." Kelsey said thoughtfully.

"Yeah, we don't work for anyone. But we have a.....um, strange bond with Payton."

"Strange bond?" George exclaimed. "What do you-? Wait!" he narrowed his eyes, studying me. "You have a strange likeness to him. Strange bond.... You're related!"

I didn't reply. A nasty grin spread over both men's faces.

"Well I think Bo would be more interested in his dead sister than a small forest fire."

They unsheathed their swords and Lee threw a knife, which had been hidden up his sleeve, at me. I hadn't expected this and my reaction was too slow. The knife struck just between my collarbone and shoulder. I screamed, dropping my weapon. My body wouldn't work as I fell to my knees. Blood dropped into the lake, staining it red.

Emma and Eve emerged behind the two men and jumped on them. My gaze left the fight as my head felt heavy and lolled against my chest. I breathed heavily. I wasn't dead but I was dying, slowly. I wanted to pull the knife out but it was the only thing slowing my blood loss.

"Oh no, no, no, no!" I heard Kelsey voice beside me. She lifted my head gently though it wouldn't have mattered if she had yanked it. I couldn't feel anything. Her blue eyes were filled with concern. "Jade? Say something."

I coughed, turning my head away from her and landing on my side. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. My vision was fading again.

No. I told myself. Stay awake. Stay awake.

But I couldn't. I drifted into unconsciousness again while Kelsey knelt beside me, and the Cookie sisters wrestled Lee and George.