12 TWELVE

"Deep breaths," Celeste whispered to herself. She tried to clear her mind and not panic, but Karen's continuous whispers about how they were going to die weren't helping.

She heard Gabriel's steady voice in her mind.

Guard on. Assess the situation, make a list of things you can do, don't rush it.

Celeste counted 12 men surrounding the cart all of which were huge and holding an assortment of weapons. There was no way they could take on the group of bandits, especially when Will and Thomas were being held captive. Celeste stared at the boys intently, assessing the damage. Thomas had a bloody nose and his right cheek was swollen, while Will was sporting bruises on his face, there a cut under his left eye which was bleeding profusely. Both boys were currently thrashing against the men, trying to free themselves.

They're just wasting energy, Celeste thought annoyed.

It seemed like hours, everything was in slow motion. This waiting was unbearable.

Finally, the leader smirked at her and Karen, both of them didn't take their eyes off the bandits.

"Get them," He barked.

Suddenly it wasn't in slow motion anymore. Two men rushed towards the cart as Will and Thomas continued to shout. Celeste could barely hear them through the static in her mind.

In an instant, the two men were in front of the cart. Celeste backed away with a grunt as one tried to grab her. She swore loudly as she crushed his huge hand under her foot. The man gave a cry of pain which gave her immense satisfaction.

She heard Karen scream as she was pulled off of the cart from behind.

"Karen!" Celeste screamed as Karen thrashed but the man's hold on her tightened.

" LET GO OF ME DAMMNIT!" She spat, looking more furious than scared.

Thomas was screaming bloody murder.

"YOU HURT MY SISTER AND I'LL KILL YOU! I SWEAR I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"

Celeste was so focused on Karen, that she didn't have time to move when the other man grabbed her wrist. Celeste shrieked, deciding she wouldn't go down without a fight.

She used her other claw at him. She kicked at him blindly and pulled at her wrist as he roughly pulled her off the cart. Celeste fell with a thud on the ground, the impact sent a wave of dizziness rushing through her. She could taste the metallic blood in her mouth. The man grabbed her right arm and roughly pulled her up. She screamed at him, clawing at his face, kicking his legs.

But he was taller and stronger, he finally grabbed her other arm. Celeste dug her nails into his skin as she grunted with pain.

"You bitch!" He snapped as he let go of her arm momentarily to slap her with enough force to throw her off balance. Celeste's cheek stabbed with sharp pain and he grabbed her by the waist, pinning her arms under her own body weight and holding her in a headlock. He could break her neck in a signal moment. Celeste desperately scratched at his arms, feeling tears rise to her eyes but she refused to let them fall. She could only stumble as he forced her to walk ahead.

Oh, how she was going to enjoy gutting this man! Now only if he loosened his grip a little.

She grunted with frustration.

From the corner of her eye, she could see that Karen too was being held like her, she was spitting curses at the man holding her. Celeste would have laughed if she wasn't sure they were going to die. She was pulled forward until she was forced to stand in front of the leader. He grinned at her wickedly. Celeste wanted to claw his eyes out.

Behind them, the boys were still struggling. Thomas had his gaze fixed on his sister, desperately trying to free himself. She felt Will's sharp gaze on her. She was surprised to see the concern mixed with anger in his eyes. Concern for her. Celeste stared back at him, giving the smallest nods of her head, trying to tell him she was okay. But she wasn't.

"Well isn't this a pretty sight?" The leader said cheerfully.

Celeste glared at him. If looks could kill he would already be six feet under with the withering looks the four of them were giving him.

They were in a perfect circle around him as the other five bandits hung behind and laughed.

"Good haul eh Fry?" The one holding her chuckled. "This one's got lotta fight in her"

Celeste felt his hold on her waist tighten and she shuddered when she felt his hot breath on her ear. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, wanting to vomit as she felt the man play with a lock of her hair. God! His breath was foul! Celeste would never be able to forget the smell of it.

"Don't TOUCH HER!" Will bellowed trying to fight off the men holding him but his deathly glare was directed at the man holding her. Celeste stared at Will, a little shocked at how absolutely livid he looked. The man holding her only laughed as his grip tightened on her waist more. Celeste desperately tried to pry his arm off, she couldn't breathe.

"You take your hands off of her or I'll cut them off for you," Will said through gritted teeth.

"Big words" Fry laughed.

"Bigger than your fat ass?" Will grunted. Celeste was surprised to see the taunting smile on his face. It was a cruel little thing. Will smiled liked the devil before he was banished from heaven.

"How long are you gonna hide behind your men eh Fry? Scared of a little boy?"

Celeste was sure Will would get himself killed. She shook her head rapidly, praying that he'd shut up. If they survived, she and Will were going to have a chat about sassing people who could very easily kill you.

To her surprise, Fry laughed.

"Have to admit, this one has guts" He said.

"We've got nothing of any worth," Thomas said clenching his jaw.

"Just let us go and we'll be on our way"

Fry shook his head.

"You think it's that simple boy?" He chuckled.

"Yes," Thomas replied.

"Let me rephrase that, You think we're kind enough?" Fry laughed.

Celeste had never hated anyone this much (besides Valentine).

"I don't think they're of any use to us Fry. They're just wee kids" One man spoke up.

Yes, she wanted to cheer. Exactly. You, sir, are a decent human being!

"Exactly" Will grunted.

"Let's kill the boys and keep the girls" The man holding Celeste laughed.

"No!" The four of them protested simultaneously.

"Rick" Fry snapped. "Shut your bloody mouth and loosen the grip on that girl. She's no use to anyone dead!"

Rick reluctantly loosened his grip on Celeste as she finally let in a gulp of air.

"Let's negotiate," Thomas said frantically.

"You said you had nothing of any worth," Fry said amused.

" You can have a lock of my gorgeous hair," Will said generously.

"You can have the cart and the horse" Thomas offered.

Fry pursed his lips.

"First, I want to know who you are. And what are you doing in my woods?"

"Your woods?" Celeste spat before she could stop herself. All eyes turned to her including Fry's.

And to think she was thinking of scolding Will a moment ago for doing just what she was doing now.

Fry frowned at her for a moment, before gesturing Rick to bring her closer. Celeste grunted as he did so.

"Yes, my woods," Fry said in an oddly calm voice.

"They're not your woods" Celeste argued. "Every forest, every stream, every bit of land in Astoria that hasn't been bought belongs to the royal family"

"The royal family is dead" Fry reminded. Celeste flinched as the men around her began laughing. She clenched her fists so hard she drew blood as Fry barked at them to shut up.

"So you're with Valentine then?" She tried to keep her voice as level as possible. "You support him?"

"I support no one girl!" Fry snapped.

"I don't care who sits in the throne, no one commands me! I don't answer Valentine nor did I answer the king before him!"

"There's a war going on," Celeste said incredulously. "And you don't give a shit? You don't care who wins?"

Laughter rose again, this time Fry joining them.

"War?" He guffawed. "Of course I give a shit about war! It's the best time of the year! The judiciary system is in shreds! We can do what we please openly, loot whoever we want without worrying about the bloody soldiers. War makes me richer!"

Celeste stared at him in horror, digesting his words.

"You disgust me" She spat. The laughter stopped.

"What'd you say?" Fry glared at her sharply. Celeste glared back, not even wincing when Rick shook her roughly.

"Are you deaf? I said you disgust me!" Celeste cried. She would feel everyone glaring at her, Will and the others desperately signaling her to shut up.

"You have no honor" Celeste continued. "The world around you could burn for all you care, you just care about the money. I have never seen a bigger coward in my life" Her eyes found Will's, he was staring confusedly at her.

"On three" She made the smallest movement of her mouth and prayed to God he understood. She turned her gaze back to Fry who was glaring at her.

"

A coward?"

"Yes! Didn't you hear me the first time? You.Are.A.Bloody.COWARD! How dare you, have you no humanity in you? Has no one got any humanity in them? I am sick of people like you thinking that they THREE!" Celeste suddenly screamed.

The band of thieves was too busy staring at the little girl who was badmouthing the man who had her life and her friend's in his hand. They were too busy gawking at the argument between her and Fry or glaring at her to be ready. Confusion hung in the air. Celeste slammed her foot in Rick's making him shriek from the sudden pain as he loosened his grip on her for a moment. One moment was enough. Celeste knocked her head into his with tremendous force. She didn't even let herself register the sharp pain at the back of her head. Celeste pulled the sword from the sheath Rick was carrying, immediately turning to slash it at Rick. He screamed like a banshee as the sword made a deep gash on his arm. The bandits were still blinking confusedly when Celeste immediately backed to the others. Whilst she was taking care of Rick, Will, and Thomas had somehow freed themselves. Will had pounced on Fry, holding a dagger to his throat. Thomas threw himself at the man holding Karen, freeing her too. All of them backed away into the small circle. Will was in the front, Celeste on his side and Thomas and Karen to their backs. They had no time for pleasantries as the men finally overcoming their shock rushed at them.

"One more step and I'll cut his throat!" Will threatened.

"The boy's bluffing" Fry grunted.

"Oh yeah?" Will said in a dangerous tone as he drew the dagger closer to his neck, pressing it slightly to draw blood. Celeste's eyes widened momentarily at Will before she turned back to the men. Her whole body was aching as she panted, the nerves making the waiting unbearable. All Celeste could think was

"What now?"