CHAPTER THIRTY - PART B

Song For The Chapter: My SAVIOUR, My GOD ~ Aaron Shust

THIRD PERSON POV

"Still, you should have told me, Aquilina." Lu Xia muttered, his face showed he was less than pleased.

"I'm sorry, Lu Xia. I really am," her voice really soft as she responded.

He gulped and glanced away for a second.

"And you're meeting him?"

"Yes, I'm sure I'm even late." She glanced at her watch and muttered something under her breath.

"Fine, but I'm going with you," Lu Xia's face looked resolved.

"And if I find he isn't worth it, be sure I won't sit still. You'll have to live without him..." he looked straight into her eyes.

"Or he might just have to die without you," he then turned to lead her toward the lake. Her apartment was close to it also.

Aqui gasped and followed after him, "You don't mean that."

Lu Xia had always been protective of her. Sometimes, a bit over-protective.

"I do."

But he stopped still and froze at the scene before him, his face turning pale. Aqui moved close to him wanting to see what had so captured his attention.

She gasped. She immediately reached for her gun, taking it out this time.

"Call for help, Lu Xia," she whispered, her eyes not leaving the scene.

"You go," he also replied in a hush. They were glad to be hidden from sight by a huge branch from a tree.

"No, you're injured. Please. I can't back off."

He stared silently at her for a moment, he knew she was right. He was an excellent fighter, but he couldn't help much with his injury.

"Promise me, you'll be careful," his voice was heavy with emotion.

"I promise, now go."

As he left, Aqui refocused on the scene before her. She could see Javier, tied up to the tree, a tape covering his mouth.

Another person was tied up on his other side, a bit obscured from view.

He seemed to be in pain, and there was blood on his shirt.

She made out the blonde hair and muscular build. She would know him anywhere—Jason.

Dear God, her heart cried out.

There was more than one attacker this time around.

She had to move. And fast. But she also had to make sure they would not escape. She monitored them closely.

There is a third attacker, she figured out as she counted.

One was speaking into a Walkie Talkie. They spoke with a strange accent.

"Boss, we've got him, and a friend."

"Bring them both to the back. The jet is waiting here," a voice replied.

Whoever the boss was, his accent was not the same as his subordinates.

She tried to make out the accent. But she knew she didn't have much time for that.

Aqui gauged. She could take down two in a single shot, if she hit right.

Without much hesitance, she fired.

She had been trained to shoot to cause injury and not death.

They were down for the moment. She hoped help would arrive soon.

The third person had taken out their own weapon and fired at her. She managed to escape it in time.

Not wanting to be hit, she hid for a moment and regathered her thoughts. It was going to be tough.

The element of surprise is now lost.

Then, she got an idea. It was foolish, but she felt that was her only choice.

She had to take the third out before they called for reinforcements.

Aqui silently climbed up the huge tree, just as she heard the third person calling for backup.

As she managed to get up as high as possible, she finally had a clear view of the man. Or was it?

The masked figure actually looked feminine. And whoever she was, she seemed to have great agility and reflexes. Aqui knew she had to be really quiet, and fast.

When she was settled on a branch which semi-obscured her from view, she fired and ducked.

"Argh!"

The other woman, though injured, fired back at her. When Aqui realised her shots seemed less calculative and feeble, she swung off the tree, and knocked the woman out in one go.

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"Is everyone okay?"

Aqui remained silent and worked as the armed guards and security made their way toward them. They arrested the fallen, and began to scope the area.

"Xiao Jaye, are you okay?" Lu Xia knelt by her.

"They spoke of a jet outside, please check on that." Aqui managed to say as she stitched the wound close on Jason's chest.

"Alright," Lu Xia turned and spoke to the leader of the investigation team.

Aqui had managed to take out the bullet using a few tools that she had on her. But he still needed care—urgently.

"Ma'am, do you need any help?"

Aqui looked up to see George, a man she had worked with before in the WACO, standing next to her. She was glad to see him.

"George, please, he needs immediate care."

"Sure, the medical team is almost here."

As he spoke, she noticed the ambulance pulling up, and a team hurrying out. She let out a sigh of relief as they took her cousin in.

She then surveyed her surroundings and saw one of the emergency workers speaking to Javier.

"Are you sure, you're alright, Sir?" One asked Javier.

"I'm fine, see to him first." Javier replied.

He sounded tired.

The news had spread already, and many Royals, as well as the Commoners that could, had gathered around.

A panic-stricken Francesco was followed by Rosa as they rushed to Javier.

"How are you? Did they hurt you in anyway?" Francesco checked on his friend.

As Javier gave the same reply from before, Rosa turned to face Aqui.

"How is it that you're always around whenever something like this happens?"

"Rosa—please. Not now," Javier's voice was firm yet strained.

Aqui wondered what was going on in his mind.

Does he still doubt me?

The awkward silence that ensued was broken when some guards approached.

They escorted two women into their midst.

One was old, yet elegant and gracious. The other was a middle-aged, yet regal Chinese woman—Lu Xia's mother and Javier's stepmom.

Everyone went still at their presence.

"Mi nieto, estás bien? (My grandson, are you well?)" She lifted a bejewelled hand to caress Javier's cheek.

So this is Doña Maria Aurora García—his grandmother, Aqui thought.

Aqui had heard of her, but didn't remember much about her.

"Estoy bien, Señora(I'm fine)," his voice was calm.

"Your lawyer is almost here, mi amor(an endearment)."

As if on cue, Mike rushed into their midst. He had his briefcase with him. He seemed to have just arrived.

"Prince Mike, have you found out who was behind the attack?" Javier's stepmom, Queen Lanfen questioned.

"They are investigating right now. I have to head back right away and question the suspects."

"Please, see to that," she replied.

After he nodded, Doña Maria walked closer to him. She gently clasped one of his hands in hers.

"It's been a long time since I saw you. How are you, young man?" Doña Maria asked tenderly, facing him.

"I'm good, thank you. How are you too, Señora?"

"I'm very well, thank you," she smiled. "I haven't heard from your mother in a long while. Is she well?"

"She is, she speaks about you often."

"My very best regards to her then."

"I will."

Mike then turned to face his sister. Aqui felt the others staring at her, but ignored them. He walked to her.

Without saying a word, he embraced her.

"Ma shlomekh? (Are you fine)?"

"Ani beseder(I'm okay)," she replied softly. "I have to check up on Jason."

"Don't worry, I'll do that. Go to the tournament, I'll see about him."

"I didn't know you were in."

"Yeah, I wanted to surprise you..." He smiled.

"Mike, is that who I think it is?" Doña Maria interrupted.

He and Aqui turned together to face her.

"It is," Mike replied softly, the smile not dimming from his face.

Doña Maria's countenance brightened as she beckoned onto her.

"Come here, hija(child)."

Aqui saw the confusion written on the face of the on-lookers and those around Doña Maria as she slowly approached.

She hugged a perplexed Aqui, and caressed her cheek when she pulled back.

"Do you remember me?"

"I'm sorry, I don't really remember you," Aqui admitted shyly.

"She was just a toddler when you met her," Mike chimed in from behind them.

"Oh, but I remember you dear, you look just like your mother. Don't you think so, Lanfen?"

"I would say she looks like her father—perhaps the eyes," Lanfen brightened.

Their gushing was brought to a halt by a very puzzled-looking Javier. The look on his face mirrored that of those around them.

"Espera(wait)—how do you know her?"

The entire place grew silent. A silence pregnant with expectation.

"I think I can answer that."

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Yay! I'm so glad for how far GOD has brought us! I hope you're all doing well.

Uhm... well, I hope this helps to make up for the shortness of the previous chapter. And… as much as I wanted to post more than one chapter, I felt I had to wait a day to continue.