Ravens cawed.

Is this hell?

Robert had read in some books that ravens were symbolic animals of death. Dirt was in his mouth. He spat it out and rolled over. The four walls of soil around him were the replica of the grave he was pushed into.

Above the ravens flew around in circles, the afternoon light flashing brightly in Robert's eyes. What was happening? He was shot. How come he was still alive?

There was another gunshot and it sent the ravens on the fastest flight for their lives. Robert took a step back, afraid that the next gunshot would be for him. Two bodies were rolled into the grave. Those were the two henchmen! Blood oozed from their foreheads. What were they doing dead? He was the one meant to have blood pouring from his forehead.

Everything was too much to process.

He had heard the gun click behind him before the gunshot came. However, he remembered he didn't feel any pain in his skull. And all he felt was just a shove.

Footsteps thudded above and Robert retreated to the wall. Victor Hastings stood above the grave, a pistol in his hand. Was it Robert's turn to be finished up? What happened next awed him.

Victor squatted and extended a hand to him. "Hurry, we don't have much time."

"W-what? You're sparing me?"

"I'm just doing what your father hired me to do, protect you."

"My father?"

Now things were getting out of reasoning. What did his father have to do with Victor? And why was Victor saying the Duke hired him? All these questions left itching holes in his curiosity box.

"Take my hand. I'll explain everything on our way." Robert hesitantly took his hand and was dragged up. He looked down. The dead bodies of the henchmen lay plopped on the ground, their blood staining pebbles scarlet.

"Where are we going to?" Robert asked, still unable to take what he just heard out of his head. His father? What did his father have to do with this?

"Gerrard is taking Ella to one of his Cutters that's ready to go to America. We have to stop him." Oh, no. That blobfish! He was taking Ella away against her will. Judging by how she looked earlier, she wouldn't be strong enough to even put up a fight. He didn't want to think of the disgusting things Gerrard could do to her in such a state.

Victor dismantled the carriages from the two horses. He tossed Robert a shoulder holster that had two guns inside. Robert wore it and advanced to the horses. He climbed the black steed and Victor climbed the white stallion. They turned and began to ride through the meadows.

"Why are you helping me? Aren't you supposed to be on Gerrard's side?" Robert asked, his golden hair billowing in the wind.

"That's what I wanted Gerrard to believe."

"Who are you?"

"Sergeant Victor Hastings of the British Intelligence service."

"So, you're a spy?"

"You can say that."

What was his father doing with a spy? Robert was still overwhelmed by the mountain of surprising information that was dumped on him. Where was he going to begin to ask questions?

A minute ago he had already accepted his fate as a dead man. And now here he was, riding in the meadows filled with sunflowers, going to save the love of his life. He didn't care about the moon lamp again. All he wanted was Ella. And she was all he ever needed.

"When Gerrard published the news of you being a manwhore and being unable to make the moon lamp, your father was annoyed and asked for help from the queen. Since they were cousins and were on good terms, she accepted. So she released me into his custody and he asked me to infiltrate Gerrard's gang of men and try to dig up any dirt I could find on him. Your father wanted to find something implicating and publish it in the newspaper as an act of revenge for what Gerrard did to you."

"My father? The Duke?"

"Aye."

"Are you sure we're talking about the same person here?"

The father he knew wanted nothing to do with him. He told him he would never be good enough for him. So Robert found it hard to believe that the same man would be willing to do this for him.

Victor narrowed his eyes, his hands holding tightly to the reins of his horse. "I'm sure."

"You do realise the man we're talking about hates me?"

"From my view, he doesn't. After he had sent me to find dirt on Gerrard, I was able to stalk Mr Featherington and then I discovered him talking to your doorman about something."

"Wait, how do you know my doorman?"

"I am British Intelligence. It was my work to know anyone whose life revolved around yours. Including your workers."

Robert was scared of these people. How were they able to get all this information without being caught? And they did it without caring about the person's privacy.

"Can you let me continue without interrupting me?"

"Of course. My apologies," Robert said.

"I knew something was off so I trailed the doorman. I watched him bump into you and steal your keys. It was then I knew something was up. Just know that whatever transpired from then, I knew about it. Even the lady in the Wet kitty who gave you information about Cowper's whereabouts, she was an informant."

"Goodness. Have you been following me all this while?"

"Your father's instructions were to make sure you were safe. After Gerrard took the letter, I was able to sneak into his office and get a glimpse of it. It was then I knew about Emily's parents. I was always listening to know his next move and I always did whatever task he asked of me diligently. With time, he began to favour me over Mr Featherington."

The Duke of Starklington was worried about the welfare of his son. That sounded like something a mad person would say. If his father loved him that much, why didn't he tell him? Why didn't his father tell him about this bloody spy? This all had to be a lie.

"You're lying to me, aye?" Robert glanced at Victor. "There's no way what you say can be true."

"I am not. Why do you think the Captain won the fight against Ayomide? Captain was not a match for him. So your father asked me to drug Ayomide's water and that was why Captain Asher won that fight."

He knew about the fight. That could be possible because of the image that was taken of Robert and Ella. But Robert recalled that Ayomide was indeed drinking a cup of water as he entered the fighting room. How could all these be possible?

If it was true, he wouldn't dare let the Captain know. It would kill his ego. It was best he thought he won the fight fairly.

"If you knew everything, how come you didn't save Howard from being shot?" Robert asked, still processing the information.

"No single henchman of Gerrard knew what he planned for Howard. It all happened in the spur of the moment. I wasn't among the henchmen that were stationed in the middle of the room. If I was, I would've shot Gerrard to save your friend." Victor's dark eyes went soft. "I understand how it feels to lose someone dear to you. I'm sorry for the loss of your friend."

Howard was more than a friend. He was one of the best people that ever came into his life. He changed his perspective on love and for that Robert would forever be grateful.

"It's fine. There's no need for apologies. Howard is in a better place now."

"I suggested countless times to your father to give me permission to let you know he was trying to help you. But he refused. And till now I don't know why."

It was a mystery to Robert too. He had never for once thought his father would ever want to help him. All this while his father had been helping them but he didn't know. Why would his father want to keep it to himself? Why didn't he want to let his son know he cared enough to want to protect him?

"When Gerrard sacked Mr Featherington, I was the best-suited candidate for his right-hand man because of how good I did the tasks I was given. And here we are."

"Bloody hell. And I thought Ella's new father was a surprising twist." Robert shook his head, pressing hard into the sides of his steed.

They had left the meadows and were now in a large expanse of plains sided by two thick forests. Robert didn't remember Birmingham having these sorts of plains.

"Where are we heading to?" Robert asked.

"Weston-super-Mare. We're in Somerset. Gerrard's ship is anchored at the beach close to the brown sea," Victor revealed. "His carriage should be in view soon enough."

And indeed it was.

Ahead of them was a black carriage guarded by four horse riders each at its side. Robert took out two of his guns from his shoulder holster. Victor was already aiming down his sight.

"How trained are these horses?" Robert asked, cocking his pistols.

"Very well trained."

"Lovely."

Robert took his hand away from the reins and used his legs to direct the horse. As expected, they followed his leg cues. Victor took out a flare gun and shot into the sky, a green smoke signal snaking into the sky.

"What was that for?" Robert queried.

Victor smirked. "You'll see."

Another bang came and across the

forests flanking the plains, two green smoke signals shot to the sky. The henchmen guarding Gerrard's carriage spotted them and soon were aware Robert and Victor were chasing after them.

"Take nine, I'll take three," Victor instructed and rode off to the right side of the plains. Robert led his horse to the left. The henchmen began shooting at them. The poor bastards couldn't even aim. Robert rolled his guns in his wrists and shot simultaneously, knocking two of the henchmen off their horses.

Gunshots echoed again, sending the birds on a fast flight away from the trees. Victor had succeeded in knocking out the four other horse riders at the right.

Robert still had two more to attend to. They fired at him and he ducked, the bullets hitting the barks of trees banding the side of the plains. He shot back at them. He was able to hit one and their horse went berserk, colliding into the other person and tumbling themselves to the ground.

Victor took out another flare gun and fired two green smoke signals into the air. What was left before them was Gerrard's carriage. Robert had to be careful with the way they approached it. Ella was surely inside there.

His eyes widened when he saw the gun mounted above the carriage. It was a bloody Mitrailleuse! Where did Gerrard steal that from? The military?

The henchman behind it grinned and began to fire back-to-back shots at them. Robert steered further to the forest by his side but the bullets still managed to reach his location, the grasses spewing into the air.

"Fuck!" Robert shot at the man but the Mitrailleuse had a steel shield above it. The bullet bounced off in sparks.

The Marquess slowed down and so did Victor. If they went after that carriage, they would be ripped to shreds. But Ella...

He couldn't let Gerrard get away with her.

"He has a bloody Mitrailleuse above his carriage," Robert told Victor who had just rode towards him. They both watched the carriage nearly disappearing in the distance.

"Fuck, I didn't know about that. It must've been some sort of secret weapon." Victor sighed and shot another signal in the sky. It was a red one. At both ends of the forest, green signal shot into the sky. "Good, they're in position, follow me."

Robert put his pistols back into his holster and steered his horse with his hands on the reins. Soon he found himself speeding past barks in the forest, Victor leading him. They came out to the other side which was a high mountain. Victor rode to the top and Robert curiously followed him.

At the tip of the mountain were men in all black frock coats, top hats on their heads. Piled up by the side were dead bodies. Those were Gerrard's men!

"Seargent, what's the situation?" One of the men in frock coats with a black moustache asked.

Victor unmounted his horse. "Gerrard has a bloody Mitrailleuse."

"Shite."

"Landson, This is Lord Stark's son, Lord Robert Stark. Your Lordship, these are my men. They're all espionage agents under the British Intelligence Service."

"Good day everyone," Robert said from above his horse. Way below the mountain was the brown sea, afternoon sun grazing the beach with a soft fair touch. He could already spot the Cutter.

"Gerrard had men at both sides of the forests. We've handled them all," Victor said, gesturing at the dead men. Robert didn't know his day would turn out this way. But he was thankful he had the help of the BIS with him. And surprisingly, the help of his father.

"I have eyes on the target," Landson said, looking through his binoculars. Gerrard's carriage had stopped at the beach and he was already walking out with Ella over his shoulders. Robert tightened his hands around his reins. That blobfish truly wanted to take Ella with him. Wasn't the metal enough?

The carriage was left behind with the henchman still behind the Mitrailleuse.

"Gerrard plans to use that gun to keep us away from him as long as he can to give the ship time to sail. We can't let him leave British soil," Victor said. "Someone get me a sniper."

The espionages passed the information to each other.

"Sniper!"

"Get the sergeant a sniper!"

"Sniper!"

In seconds, Victor already had a sniper in his dark hands. "Landon, you all should follow his Lordship. You take orders from him now."

"What about you Captain?" Landon asked.

"I'll take care of the man behind the Mitrailleuse." Victor turned to Robert, the brown sniper laying on his shoulders. He handed him a flare gun. "When you're close enough to shore, shoot this twice in the air. Reinforcements would join you." Victor clapped his hands twice. "Alright, boys! Fetch your horses. You take orders from His Lordship now!"

"Aye, Seargent!" The espionage agents yelled, hurrying to get their horses. Soon they were all on their way to the beach, leaving Victor behind. Robert led the way, his back hunched, a flare gun in his left hand while the right held the reins of his horse. Once they reached the beach, he shot the flare gun twice into the air, red tendrils of smoke streaking into the sky. The hoof of the horses spewed sand into the air as they galloped with grace.

"Steady!" Robert yelled, switching from the flare gun to his pistol. Gerrard climbed up a wooden gangplank that was attached to the black hull of his ship. He spotted Robert and the army of espionage agents behind him.

"Set the sails! Set the sails!" Gerrard yelled tossing Ella onto the deck with so much carelessness it made Robert gnash his teeth. Ella still looked like she had no life left in her. He was sure Gerrard didn't bother to feed her.

The henchman behind the Mitrailleuse grinned and began shooting at Robert, the bullets gushing grains of sand into the air. It didn't take long for a bullet to shoot through the henchman's forehead. Victor had done his part. It was Robert's turn.

The henchmen on the ship fired their rifles at Robert and the espionage agents and they opened fire too. In seconds, the beach got caught in a crossfire. The gangplank was raised and the white sails were dropped. Soon, the ship began to turn.

"Not on my watch," Robert pressed harder into the side of his horse, forcing it to speed up. "Don't let the ship sail!"

He stood on the stirrups of his horse, ready to jump on the side of the ship.

Three.

Two.

O-oh God!

He groaned as he landed on the side of the ship, his fingers on the edge of the deck. Pulling himself up, he rolled inside the deck and shot the first henchman he saw, the bullet speeding past their forehead. The espionages had some sort of device attached to their wrists. It shot out a black rope with a sharp knife-like edge that connected to the walls of the hull and pulled them up. The additional weight of over forty espionage agents made the ship jerk to the side. A war broke out between the forty espionages and the henchmen. Gunshots boomed and some people were tossed overboard.

Gerrard was at the wheel of the ship on the quarter deck and shot down at Robert. He rushed to a barrel and took cover. The bullets came again and he bent his head as he reloaded his pistol. He came out and shot at Gerrard and successfully hit his shoulder. A bag hanging from Gerrard's shoulder fell off and Robert's metal rolled out of it.

Robert spotted Ella groaning as she struggled to get up. He rushed to her and held her hands. They were cold and she was pale as snow. She needed food and fast. He had to bring an end to Gerrard and get her something to eat.

"R-Robert," she managed to say, smiling weakly.

He lifted her and kept her at a safe corner which was next to some barrels. It wasn't quite as safe as he thought. But for now, it was the best place she could be in the midst of this madness. He rushed up to the quarter deck to find Gerrard. He wasn't there. But there was blood everywhere. The wooden floor creaked behind him. He swerved and was shoved to the floor by Gerrard's full body.

"You bastard!" Robert yelled.

"Fucking cunt!" Gerrard punched his nose and Robert could swear he heard a bone crack. The searing pain was like hot iron pressing against his nose.

Robert groaned, tossing him away from his body. He picked up a brown rope and wrapped it around Gerrard's neck. They both fell to the ground and rolled down from the quarterback. Gerrard croaked, rubbing his fingers on his neck. Robert wasn't willing to let this bastard go. He was going to pay for his sins.

An image of Howard flashed in his head. His friend was shaking his head. Howard didn't want Robert to kill Gerrard and Robert knew it was the moral thing to do. Gerrard killed people but that didn't mean Robert had to be like him. Robert released Gerrard and he struggled to breathe as he held onto a barrel for support. With a heavy punch to the face, Robert knocked him out.

By now, the other reinforcements had entered the ship and this made it tilt further. Out of the corner of his eyes, Robert spotted his metal rolling out of the deck and entering the brown sea. What happened next made his heart drop to his stomach.

"M-metal," Ella mumbled, climbing over the deck, her tired hands shaking. Jesus Christ! She was going for the metal! She would die if she entered the sea. She was too weak to swim.

"Ella, no!"

Robert ran after her. But he was too late, she had already entered the sea. Without reluctance, he dived after her, the salt water itching his eyes. He squinted them as he looked around the blue body of water wrapping around him like wet silk. Deeper, he could see Ella wrapping her arms around the metal. She clung tightly to it like her life depended on it and kept sinking with her back to the depths of the sea.