[[For right now I am only uploading this chapter for @jiangchenglover54 — I hope this helps with the suspense! I will update more soon. I hope you enjoy this chapter, please vote and comment if you do! I love interacting with readers. I wish there was an easier way instead of through Wattpad, like a group chat or something lol. You guys are so funny! - L RANDY]] [[-I do not own music or art used in any chapters-]]
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Harold was able to break up most of the fight, sending many pirates out the door with bloody noses and black eyes. Others dispersed on their own, having their mood spoiled by the ruckus. Some were staying behind to kindly help Harold clean up the mess, respecting the rare establishment.
Leven and Leopoldo had just gotten done with breaking the fingers of the man who elbowed Alana in the back of her head, all five on both hands. Not just a simple break, snapping each bone individually. It was tedious but satisfying; Leopoldo took the right and Leven worked on the left.
Elbow had passed out from the pain on the sixth finger, everyone ignored his screams. The two brothers had originally planned to dispose of the man altogether but decided against ultimately when the idea of the man never being able to use his hands properly again appealed to them more.
Ivo and Kazumi were assisting Harold to lift heavy oak tables, more so doing it themselves as Harold directed where they needed to be.
As they each finished their tasks each of them inspected their work pleased.
"Now, where is our little dove?" Ivo asked looking around the wreckage.
"I told her to get under the table," Leven said looking over his work once more before stepping over junk to make his way to their back table.
"Hey, idiot—"
Leven bent down to look under the table but saw no one, just broken glass and a few bloody teeth. He snapped upwards and looked around the room for any sign of her.
"Alana?" He called out, no response.
"She is not there?" Leopoldo asked.
"Obviously not!" Leven snapped.
"Little dove?" Ivo squatted low to look under all the standing tables. Thick despair flooded over him he did not see her either, causing his chest to tighten.
"Alana!" Leven called out again, panic clasped his core with a tight fist. What if someone took her? What if she ran away? Did she?
"Ah, quit your yelling!" Harold barked. "Anubis took the girl upstairs."
The small man jerked his thumb up, pointing above them.
Her type?! The men thought in harmony, rushing to the stairwell to the meeting room.
Ivo led the way, followed closely by the rest, almost tripping over each other.
I swear on all the gods if he is doing anything indecent to my little dove... Ivo sneered in his head, as he swung the door open.
All the pirates saw the embrace, to them it looked lovingly, and they felt a tear of betrayal rip through them. Leven's jaw slacked open as the other eyes widened when they felt their heart stop beating.
"Alana...?" Ivo breathed out brokenly.
Alana's head snapped over to the four stunned pirates, shocked herself. Before she could respond Leven was already pushing past Ivo, marching over to the duo. He grabbed Alana's wrist and possessively pulled the girl away with a wild look painted on his countenance.
"You snuck away during a bar fight for a quickie or something?" Leven accused her harshly.
Alana had almost audibly gagged at the thought.
"What? N-no!"
"Anubis, explain why you were holding our woman so intimately... quickly," Kazumi warned.
Amun simply smiled, much like Alana, brightly and innocently.
"It seems you are misunderstood, friends."
Amun grabbed Alana's wrist and pulled her back into him, away from Leven. He embraced Alana from behind with one arm, the other pinching her cheek.
"Alana is mine."
Everyone, including Alana, furrowed their brows at his remark.
"Excuse me?" Leopoldo said darkly, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"My sister that is!" Amun quickly grinned, hugging her closer. "Such a small world, isn't it? I had no idea my little sister was traveling with my favorite pirates."
The pirates were still thrown.
"Sister?" Ivo deadpanned.
Alana chuckled awkwardly, moving out of her brother's awkward embrace.
"That is why I was so shocked to see him; Anubis is my older brother." Alana motioned to Amun who smiled brightly.
"You never said you had a brother," Kazumi said suspiciously, unknowingly sending an emotional gut-punch straight into Amun.
"You never asked." Alana retorted, shooting a glance back up to her brother.
"And how fate would have it that after six years of separation we are reunited in a bar fight!" Amun patted her shoulder similarly to how she does to Silas.
"And look how grown my cute sister has become in that time, wouldn't you all agree she is a fine woman?" Amun presented Alana as if she were the catch of the century.
"Woah..." Leven held up a hand. "Back it up, you are saying that you two..." He motioned between the siblings. "Are related?"
"Brother and sister, quite so." Amun smiled. "And such a coincidence that unknown to each other we now share the same goal. I cannot wait to take down Taycia with little Lana." Amun ruffled her hair calling her by her dreaded nickname.
Just shut up, Amun.
"We were separated in Taycia, and I found myself here. I could not believe my eyes when I saw Lana sitting with you all." Amun went on fabricating a quick cover story. "She, of course, has changed a lot, but I know my sister."
Would it be terrible to kill the rebel leader who just so happens to be her brother? Kazumi thought to himself sizing the rebellion leader up, very unhappy with the way Amun held Alana.
"It is indeed strange," Kazumi spoke, it sounded cold and dry.
It was followed by an awkward suffocating silence as everyone looked between each other piecing together the events that just occurred.
"Well, it is a pity, but I must depart. I only came to drop something off for Harold." Amun's joyous voice shattered through the silence.
When he bowed his head, his hoop earrings dangled with his braid.
"You have my word that whatever my sister wants to happen with this revolution I will make it so."
Alana perked at her brother's promise.
"Then I want the royal guard shift schedule." She promptly took him up on his words. It will be ideal to know where, when and who will be standing guard.
Amun raised a brow at her request.
"Smart, little sister." Amun praised. "I cannot deny that face, I will have it for you soon."
The four pirates looked on with bafflement, yet also somewhat impressed with her request, disappointed in themselves for not thinking of it sooner.
Amun again embraced his sister, not wanting to leave her, but the palace curfew was drawing close. If he arrived late it would draw too much attention and he did not want to worry his wife, the queen. He felt it unfair that as soon as he sees his sister for the first time in so long the meeting was short, although he was comforted that it was sweet.
"Until next time then, sister."
Alana said her goodbyes as well and watched her brother walk out the room, slipping past the rigid pirates.
When Amun was gone Alana stood uncomfortably beneath the intense stare down from the pirates, waiting for the first one to speak.
"What the hell?!" Leven finally snapped.
"When are you going to stop surprising us, little dove?" Ivo chuckled darkly.
Alana shrugged with a crooked smile.
"I did not mean to."
"You are a mystery, dear," Leopoldo held his hand out to her. "We will solve it soon enough, but before that let us finish celebrating."
Alana smiled brightly, thankful that she was getting off easy, and took his hand.
"Okie Dokie." She nodded, allowing him to lead her out of the room.
"Wait! Are we just going to gloss over that?!" Leven barked, motioning back into the meeting room. "Anubis is her brother?!"
"Yes brother, keep up, would you?" Leopoldo continued down the steps. "What would you like us to do about it?"
"I don't know... maybe, ask questions?!" Leven snapped as if it was the obvious choice.
Alana's heart started to go crazy in her chest at Leven's pestering, hoping he would not pry too much and just accept the odd encounter.
"Fine then," Leopoldo obliged his younger brother. "Was Anubis a cute child?"
Leven threw his hands up into the air, exasperated with the nonchalant attitude of the others.
Alana giggled into the back of her hand the memory of her brother as a younger man.
"No actually. He didn't blossom until his early teens."
"Why did you never mention you had a brother this whole time?" Leven finally asked a question of his own as they walked back into the wrecked bar.
"You never asked, and it never came up," Alana repeated.
"So, you are childhood friends with the King of Kori and the sister of the rebellion leader?" Ivo mused as he held the door open of Alana to walk back into the alley, slightly suspicious himself.
"As it turns out, though to be fair I did not know my brother was a part of this, nor did I know I was friends with a King." She nodded spouting her half-lie.
"Any other secrets we should know? Or are we going to walk in on you having tea with the Queen of the Belzino empire?" Leven sarcastically huffed.
Alana giggled.
"Oh, Queen Gretna? Yes, I should mention we are close friends."
"What?" Leven gasped.
Alana laughed harder.
"I am joking, I am pretty sure that is all the surprises I have left."
All except a few.
Leven blushed at himself for being so gullible, grumbling a few things under his breath as the pirates searched for a new tavern to drink the night away in.
"You are a future queen, you will reign down peace and prosperity." Alana thought of her brother's words with a soft smile across her features as they walked.
You were the push I needed, brother, thank you.
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[[ This might seem like a BS chapter but it is important I promise, we needed to get Amun involved while keeping her identity secret. So please don't hate me. It is a short filler/ stepping stone chapter]]