Night had fallen, and silence now filled the compound. Slowly the shadows became men and women, each cautious looking around the parking area before seeing the pair waiting for them.

"The message spread," the one said.

"As I knew it would," the other said.

"Is it true, Leo?" a brunette dressed in black leather asked.

"Yes," Leo nodded, "I was present when the news broke, and the tracker alarms went off."

"When do we leave?" a tall blonde man in white leather asked.

"Now," Leo said.

"How? The whole place is locked down," the Assassin next to Leo asked.

"Liev, there is a way," Leo said, "but I need to know all your training before we move out."

They looked around the group before a tall blonde woman stepped forward.

"My name is Olcay. Every one of us was trained by Connie," she said, squaring up to Leo. "What of each of your training?"

"We were trained by Connie," Liev said, "if we are leaving now, how are we moving out?"

"Has everyone got their weapons, gear or anything else you require to fight with?" Leo asked.

Everyone nodded.

"Good," Liev said, "is everyone prepared to defend the Royals and the lineage?"

"Yes," they said in unison," let us fulfill our pledge and allegiance made by our forefathers."

"Very well," Leo nodded, "Liev, check that no one is eavesdropping."

Liev stealthily moved to the doorway, checking the passageway, given an all-clear nod.

"Keep to the shadows," Leo murmured, "follow me."

Moving as one, they took to the shadows and left the area through the unseen exit in the stone wall. Leo waited on the ledge above the river. Indicating to each as they emerged to climb down and to the right. Silently they began to climb down, moving toward the forest and their destiny.

Jackie sat on the branch, watching the converging of the two hunting parties. Alyx had not arrived yet, and she hoped he was alive and unhurt. Movement in the tree made her grasp the trunk of the tree.

"You're late," she whispered, "any news?"

"It seems this is the location he gave to these soldiers for Jezebel's House," Alyx said, "I overheard that they await orders."

"They are a two-fold hunting party," Jackie shook her head, "they are looking for Kelsie and Zander and Jezebel's House, but I can tell you ... it isn't here."

"How do you know?" Alyx asked.

Jackie looked him in the eye, "Do I have to explain that?"

"I ... guess not," Alyx smiled, "I forget you're of the Old Order."

"What are they doing?" Jackie frowned.

Alyx slid to a lower branch, hugging the shadows of the tree trunk, flattening himself and bringing himself closer to the hunting parties.

Jackie waited as a fire was set below. She didn't see any cooking utensils; suddenly, Alyx stood pulling himself up on the branch she sat, his head next to her ear.

"They've been instructed to burn the house to the ground," he whispered.

"There is no house here," Jackie frowned, "they have been ordered to start a wildfire. That is too dangerous."

"Well yeah," Alyx nodded, "we have to stop them."

"There must be at least thirty of them," Jackie said, "I know you took a few out on the way here, and so did I, but there are only two of us."

"We will need to do something," Alyx murmured.

"There is much sand below," Jackie pointed, "it's not hard-packed as it was on the trails they took."

"Douse the fire while fighting?" Alyx asked.

"Only engage if we have to," Jackie said, "you know this is the most insane task I have taken yet."

"You take the bunch on the left," Alyx grinned, "I'll take the bunch on the right."

Jackie grinned, indicating the commander picking up a dry piece of branch and lighting it. Jackie slid from the tree branch as he lifted it into the air with the words "For the Black."

Landing on the outskirts of the large group Jackie drew everyone's attention.

"I wouldn't do that," she shook her head, "what are you going to be burning?"

"Jezebels' House," he said, lowering his arm.

"Exactly where is the house?" Jackie asked.

"We all know the house's magic keeps it hidden," the commander said, "these are the coordinates of the magic house."

"It's a house. Nothing can hide that," Jackie said, looking up and smiling, "and besides, if you do set fire to this part of the forest, you'll be angering a lot of bees. Can any of you run faster than swarming bees?"

The group looked up at the massive hive above their heads. The commander put the branch back in the fire.

"Perhaps the coordinates are incorrect," he said, "however we have orders to terminate you."

Jackie's blood ran cold at his evil smile, "Was that from the same person who ordered you to your death by swarming bees?"

"The order has been in place since you insulted our leader," he said, moving toward her as the others gathered behind him. "it will be my pleasure to kill a traitor."

"The only traitor is the person who murders a Royal," Jackie said, noticing some of the group move uneasily. "Besides, I'm guessing those who trained under Connie would not totally agree with what you have in mind."

"No one here was trained by that woman," he sneered, sure of himself and those he commanded.

Jackie bristled, "Are you the one who murdered her from a distance?"

"It was a pleasure," he hissed, "it was an honour."

"There is no honour in our world when one of our own kills another with a sniper rifle," Jackie glared at him. Defiant in her defense of someone who had led them for decades, "There is no honour in what the man you follow has in mind. Open season on innocent people. Playing God as he wishes with everyone and anyone, including Assassins. We have lost too many to the megalomaniac who thinks he has what he deserves."

"You're making this too easy," he sneered, "it will be a pleasure to see you die."

"Why not do it yourself?" Jackie baited, "instead of ordering those who do not care for you or your ways to do your dirty work. Do it yourself."

Jackie watched the anger flare in his cold eyes; she scanned him up and down. Her finally wordless insult to someone who thought himself better than anyone else; with an enraged cry, he stormed her swinging his fist. Jackie turned to the side, and the intended blow went wide.

"Hold her," he shouted.

"Oh, the cowards way out the moment someone better than you comes along," she goaded; her eyes flicked to Alyx still in the tree; he watched the rest of the hunting party now at her back.

The commander ran at Jackie again, trying for a bear hug. Jackie dropped to a crouch turning in a circle with her leg out, scooping his legs out underneath him. He landed hard, his face in the dirt and the air whooshing out of him. Jackie rolled up, placing a knee in his back and a gun to his head.

"Move, speak or gesture and you're dead," she hissed. "you're a dishonest coward who does not deserve the title you bought. I, Jackie Anne Conrad, disown you from any Assassins guild you may have thought of or intended to join and run."

"Can she do that?" someone whispered from the motionless hunting party.

"I believe she can," Alyx said, landing next to her, "since she is one of the Royals, she has all the right to do so."

"The Royals are an urban legend," a voice from the middle said, "we were told they were traitors."

"So the traitor himself is selling his own story as ours," Jackie said as she bound the commander's hands and legs. Standing, she stilled, smelling the air, "Alyx, give the call."

"Call? The call," he stammered.

She nodded, "Our brethren seek us."

Alyx gave out a low moan into the night, half-animal and half man. The branches of the trees above began to vibrate as though the wind rumbled through them. One by one, men and women dressed in leather outfits dropped to the forest floor.

"It is good of you to join us," Jackie said, turning to them, "these times will be dangerous and perilous, but we have a pledge and allegiance to fulfill. The time has come, and we must succeed to survive."

They placed their right fists over their hearts and bowed their head in unison. Alyx mimicked them, but his eyes remained on the moving hunting party. Jackie turned to find some moving toward them while others remained in place.

"Then our instinct and gut are right," one of them said, "We join our brethren."

Jackie nodded, "Then we have work to do."

"What of the others?" Alyx asked.

"What does our code say?" Jackie asked.

"They will be unnecessary kills," Alyx said, "it's that simple."

"Then tie them up and let's be on our way," Jackie said, watching as Alyx took control of the situation and quickly tied the hunting party around a few trees. Jackie doused the fire while humming to the bees.

"Done," Alyx whispered, "can we trust ..."

"An Assassin who does not trust his brethren does not hold the creed and code to his heart," Jackie said, speaking over him.

"Fair enough," Alyx nodded, "now what?"

"Now," Jackie smiled, "we go to Jezebel's House."