Emma looses a crossbow bolt at one of the guards. He stumbles backward then slumps to the floor, the bolt buried deep between his eyes. The two remaining guards launch themselves at April. Swords lash out, cutting her hands and face. She yells and fights them back, raining blow after blow upon their mysterious dark armour with no effect. One guard breaks off and lunges at Emma. She falls, her arm sliced open by a cunning blow. "No!" April shouts, plunging her sword into the back of the guard's neck, twisting and spinning to fend off the leader as he attacks her from behind. From down the corridor, the running battle grows steadily closer. The leader takes a deliberate step away from April. He ceases his attack. "We don't have time for this," he growls. "Give me your sword, or I WILL kill you." April throws an anxious glance at Emma's bleeding arm. Blood drips down her forearm and onto the floor. Memories of the poisoned wound she suffered at the hands of Lucistra come flooding back; memories of how close she came to death. April maneuvers herself between the black-armoured leader and her friend, sword raised, ready to repel his attack as best she can. To her left, the guard she wounded rises slowly to his feet. In pain, struggling for breath, he bends to pick up his sword. Aware of April's eyes upon him, he raises the sword and assumes a ready stance, blood still flowing freely from his throat and down his chest. "Who are you people?" April whispers. "We are the Warriors of Arcanor," the leader replies. "There was a time when we would have fought at your side. But that time has passed. Surrender now, or we will kill you." "So be it," April says. She lunges at the leader. Swords flash in the torchlight. Metal clangs against metal, whizzing through the air as it bounces off armour as hard as living steel. There is a crash as April's sword is torn from her grasp and spills to the ground. She dives for it and turns...only to find herself staring down the blade of the leader's sword. "This ends right now," he sneers. The tip of the blade presses savagely against her throat. The roar of the running battle suddenly reaches its crescendo. A large group of men appears at the bend in the corridor just metres away. April recognises their uniforms instantly - the old Temple guard. Running now, running for their lives. Two of them fall dead as she watches, ripped apart by swords that strike out of the darkness like vipers. A third screams in pain, flailing for balance as his severed left arm slides down his torso and comes to rest against the floor. He stumbles, almost falls, blood spewing from the massive wound. He looks around, searching for something to hold on to. His eyes meet April's. Shock spreads rapidly across his face. "Derek!" April cries. Credits: Arizona by Dark_Whisper M3 Fantasy Armor from RDNA Knights Of Desolation from RDNA Glamdring Sword by kelc Wall by ? Torch by ?