Chapter 13

Brian didn't know what he was doing. One minute, he was so weak, he could barely move, and the next, he felt as if he had the strength of a hundred men. He didn't know where the energy came from, and he didn't know what he was planning to do once he emerged from his hiding spot. He decided that he would play it by ear. He held the dagger in his hand, and held a fighting stance. No one in the room moved.

From the shadows, Sam could see it all. She held her breath for someone to make their next move. She saw movement in the corner of her eye. She could see the piercing blue eyes scanning the crowned and finally resting on Brian. He continued to moved down the stairs, soundlessly. Sam gasped, and he looked right at her. She pushed herself deeper into the shadow, but he knew she was there.

"Hello," The leader paused, "Brian." He snarled the name.

Brian turned on his heels and looked at the leader. "Same to you," He added curtly. "Now, what's this I hear of a take over?"

"N-nothing," The man, in all his fierceness, seemed to be afraid of the boy before him. None of the other men moved, paralyzed with fear.

"Really, that's not what I heard." Brian held the dagger inches from he man's throat.

He looked down at the dagger in Brian's hand, and then back into his eyes. His left hand slid to a seethe he had strapped to his back. "You wouldn't kill your own father, would you?"

Brian seemed a little off guard at the statement. "Y-you're my father?"

He grinned at the boy. "Yes, and as my son, I expect you to obey me!" With that, he lunged at Brian with a dagger, but it was blocked with Brian's own dagger.

"Ha! That's a laugh Father!" Brian's voice turned icy. "As far as I'm concerned, you're just the man who helped create me. You have not Earned the title as 'Father'." At this, he attacked again. Once again, Brian blocked it and advanced on his opponent. "A father is someone who raises his son, a father is someone who helps him with school, a Father is someone who loves his son. Not someone who wants him DEAD!" At each statement, he thrust the dagger closer towards the man before him.

Sam had never seen such anger in a person than at that moment. She wondered where Brian learned to fight like that, after only one lesson. Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her neck and a hand rested over her mouth. Another hand, pinned her arms behind her back. Sam struggled to get free.

"Now, tell me, Does my so-called Father have a name?" Brian's dagger was centimeters from the man's flesh. Brian had advanced so quickly, that he had been caught off guard.

"Why would you care?!" He snarled.

"Wrong answer!" The blade was now touching the skin. "I would like to know the name of the man who I'm about to kill."

"You're wrong, there will be a different corpse on the ground other than mine!"

With that, He thrust his dagger at Brian. It would have gone into his gut if Brian hadn’t blocked it with his own dagger. The man was once again amazed boy the boy’s swiftness and accuracy. He lunged again at the boy, only to be blocked again. In one swift move, Brian managed to not only block the on coming dagger, but he sent it flying across the room as well. The man looked at Brian horrified. “Now, Father, please tell me what you were saying earlier about a different corpse on the floor?” Brian requested menacefully. The man looked at Brian with fear in his eyes. “Now, Tell Me Your Name!” Brian demanded.

“Jarode,” The man whimpered.

“Jarode,” Brian repeated almost thoughtfully.

“Brian!” A new voice called out.

Brian turned to see a cloaked figure holding Sam. To Brian, it seemed that the more she struggled, the tighter grasp he got on her. “Let her go.” Brian commanded in an icy tone.

“Let him go, and I’ll let her go.” The man responded.

“Never!” Brian shot back.

The man pulled a knife out of his robe and held it up to Sam’s throat. “Care to revise you last statement?” Brian thought for a second. Sam gave him pleading eyes. He glanced back at his so called father. Brian did a quick calculation, then looked at Sam. He gave her wordless directions, that she seemed to understand. “Well?” The man was getting impatient.

“I’m thinking!” Brian exclaimed.

“Well, think harder!” The man tightened his grip on Sam.

Without warning, Brian released Jarode and tossed him into the crowd. “Now give her to me!” Brian glared at Sam’s captor. He pushed Sam off of him and hurled her at Brian. Brian pushed her away, towards Jarode. Sam twisted in the air and righted herself just in time to tackle Jarode. He was caught unprepared, and was knocked down my the blow. On the ground, they began to wrestle, Sam having the advantage, although Jarode had the weight.

Simultaneously, Brain lunged at the hooded man. As he did so, the man seemed to anticipate the action and had his dagger ready to sink deep into Brian's flesh. Brian managed to block it and made his own advance. The two continued to duel. The men that had been standing at Jarode's attention were still paralyzed with fear. They could feel the power in the room, and they didn't want to get mixed up in it, for it would cost them their lives. Normally, no one was a match for the hooded man, however, Brian was different. He somehow managed to keep up with him and managed to make several of his own advances. One by one, the other man crept away, thinking of their own lives.

Brian took a split second to grab the dagger that had been discarded not to long ago. It was now even, two daggers each. As the blades crossed, Brian looked into hatred eyes. "Who are you?" He asked coldly, unaffected by the menacing stare that emanated from the piercing blue eyes that seemed to shine out under the dark hood.

"Jeremy," He replied with his voice dripping with hatred. With that, he flung Brian across the room with one powerful swing. Brian's head collided with the wall, and darkness consumed him. Jeremy snickered as he slowly made his way over the Brian, his blade, gleaming in the light.

Chapter 14