MOTHER’S LOVE PREVAILS… RIGHT!?

They had been running around the mansion, trying to lure the assassins away from them. If there was one thing Lucinda was confident of, it was the fact that she had a feeling these assassins didn't know their way around her home.

Now they were crouched down at the side of the counter in the kitchen. Lucinda's mind whirled with all the ways they could escape. She crept to the entryway of the kitchen, her gaze darting around her. The place was clear. Her eyes went to the front door, the easiest escape but also the most obvious. She would take her chance.

"Mama..?" Theodore whispered behind her, his voice shaking. She squatted down and turned to him, putting on a brave front like their lives weren't in danger.

"It's alright, Theodore. Mama's not gonna let anything happen to you." She watched as Theodore nodded, his eyes behind his curls glistening as he nervously chewed on his lips. This would be the first time Theodore would witness an attempt to take their lives. The others had been secretive. Like poisoning their food, setting a chandelier to fall on Theodore's head as he fell, setting a snake loose in his room. All these had been intercepted by Lucinda more times than she can count, with little to no knowledge on the part of Theodore.

Lucinda gently held his hands, and he squeezed her fingers with his tiny palm.

They crept out of their hiding place, gaze on the entryway. Halfway through, like it was planned, the assassins trickled around the corner. Without delay, Lucinda turned and rushed up the stairs, dodging narrow blows of swords and rushing bodies.

They had to keep them behind them for as long as possible. Connor would be here soon, like always before dawn.

Now at the top of the stairs, an idea formed. She let go of Theodore to turn and see the assassins charging up the grand stairs, their swords raised and bellowing cries. She squatted down, fumbling with the red carpet to get a grasp, then with all her strength, she lifted and whipped it away, causing the assassins to lose balance. Her chest raised and fell at the effort as she gazed at them with cold, calculating eyes.

Theodore was suddenly next to her, and he blew a cloud of powder towards them, picking two more pouches and emptying them in the air at them. The assassins, close to the assault, let out cries of pain and alarm as they fell, swords clattering to the ground behind them.

Without waiting to see if they recovered from the fall, she turned and ran with Theodore.

Judging by those pouches, it must be one of his scented herbs and flowers. She never knew it caused such a drastic reaction when exposed. What was in there? She would have to question Theodore when they were safe.

At another place in the mansion, a cloaked figure was cutting down bodies in their wake. Hidden by the darkness, the movement was fast and accurate, delivering slashes intent to kill.

Lucinda stopped in one of the hallways to pant. The adrenaline she was on was wearing off quickly. A quick glance at Theodore showed him panting but still full of energy.

A thought crossed her mind, letting Theodore run away as she tried to hold them off. As if sensing her thoughts, Theodore's gaze whipped up to hers, his eyes sharp and wide in the dark. And Lucinda felt like she was caught in an audacious request.

She smiled back at him, but it didn't reach her eyes as they strode forward.

"Connor, where were you?" She called worriedly in her mind.

"Arghhh!!!" Only a second before the sword landed next to their feet. On instinct, she avoided that blow.

She put Theodore behind her, brandishing her dagger.

Her mother had died before her helplessly all those years ago. She refused to let her son go through what she had. The fear, the pain, the helplessness.

Her gaze trained steadily at the assassin who took a few steps back. The moonlight revealed the scar slashed at his eye. He found them. One of the assassins Theodore took care of earlier.

The assassin chuckled darkly. His predator gaze intent on her.

"Ah, Lady Lucinda. Good to finally have you here," his voice was gruff but full of mirth.

Lucinda said nothing and continued to watch him, taking note of his every move.

"Ah, the silent treatment I see," he sighed as if composed. "You know, I promised your son something." He gestured behind Lucinda and Theodore, but she didn't turn to look; a wrong move can end them.

"What about the beautiful sight of you under me, squirming and crying? I can guarantee I'm better than all your man toys," he chuckled, his eyes crinkling.

Lucinda's face twisted in disgust at what this man must have told her child. She clenched her teeth together and said, "I'll have to pass. You lack the skills."

His laughter slowed, and with quick precision, he moved to attack. Lucinda met his blade with hers.

Soon the clash of metal echoed through the air. The assassin, clad in black, moved with deadly precision, his sword gleaming in the low light. Across from him stood Lucinda, her eyes fierce with determination as she held strong her dagger, Theodore curled behind her.

After a few moments, he lunged back, spitting blood at the side where the hilt of Lucinda's dagger hit his cheek. He had a narrow disadvantage in the space they were in, and the dagger worked better for close combat.

"Ah, not as weak as you look," he massaged his sore jaw. Lucinda's brows drew together at the insult. Those thoughts would be his demise.

With a swift lunge, the assassin lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air with deadly intent. But Lucinda was quick, deflecting his strike with her dagger, her movements fueled by the need to protect her child. She countered with a series of quick slashes, forcing the assassin to retreat again and again.

They were both breathing heavily now. The training she had got from Connor made her stand on their feet. And as much as Lucinda hated to admit it, she was only holding on because she doubted he was a high-class assassin.

She almost scoffed. Her sister must have thought these wannabes must be enough.

The playful glint was gone from his eyes now as he regarded her with clenched jaw. Then his gaze darted to the side to where Theodore stood, his worried gaze on his mama.

Lucinda noticed his intentions as soon as he lunged for Theodore. Lucinda gripped her hilt and prepared to strike a fatal blow. Time seemed to slow as she met him halfway and with a fearless cry, she sank her blade to the hilt into his heart.

Her ears rang as her blood pumped rapidly in her heart as she felt the man grip her shoulders, his expression lax and surprised as she watched the light die in his eyes. She wrenched her dagger away, and he fell to the ground.

She did it. He's dead. They're safe.

She almost cried out with relief until she heard a gut-wrenching cry from beside her. She turned, scared for her son's safety, only to see Theodore staring at her. His unshed tears now running full force down his cheeks.

"Mama," his sob broke. And Lucinda realized he wasn't staring at her face. Her now fearful gaze followed his to see, to her horror, a dagger sticking out of her side. Her eyes widened as the first wave of pain hit. Her heart rate suddenly picked up, her brain felt muddled, and suddenly she coughed. Her hand instinctively blocked it, and she removed her palm and stared with horror-filled realization at the black blood.

Poison.

The one thing she ran from daily had come to bite her side, almost literally. The dagger was poisoned. She would have laughed bitterly at the realization as she held the hilt weakly. But Theodore, her child, was there crying.

Oh, Theodore. Tears began to trail down her cheeks as she felt her heart starting to slow.

She prayed for one thing as she stared at her sobbing child through blurry, tear-filled eyes. His mouth was moving, screaming words maybe at her? At the world for this injustice? but her senses had dulled and she couldn't tell.

At that moment, she prayed she had made the only right decision in her life by keeping Connor with her. She pleaded in her heart for Connor to fight Theodore's battles for her.

At the corner of her eyes, she saw another assassin round the corner running towards them. Her heart spiked with fear, and her hand reached out futilely for Theodore, who seemed unaware. But her body failed her, dark spots started to cover her vision, her body felt like lead, and then she collapsed, her heart in pain. Not because she was dying, or because the pain at her side was excruciating, searing through every fiber of her being like a relentless inferno, rendering her breathless.

But for not being there for Theodore till the end, for failing, for making Theodore experience the horrifying things that changed her for good.

A shadow plopped down next to her, tiny hands shook her frantically.

Oh, what a mother she was.