Miinhart Forest, Desmond, 10416 P.C.

The entrance to the mine was lit with torches, easy to spot in the darkness. It was like the mouth of a cave, and two guards sat at a table near the entrance, probably stationed to keep watch.

They were playing cards.

Traffic must be slow tonight, Todd thought as he watched the two men from the shadows of the trees.

Beside him, Jessie made a small humming sound. "We won't get past them without raising some sort of alarm."

He nodded, frowning. "You think we could knock them out?"

She gave a half shrug. "Two of them, two of us. If we're quiet and swift about it. You know how to knock someone out quick?"

"Benjamin showed me a thing or two, yeah."

"Alright then. We'll have to be really fast if we don't want them to see us coming. You take the one of the left, I'll take the other."

Todd nodded, taking a slow breath as Jessie quietly counted to three. As one, they moved out of the trees and slipped up to the entrance on soundless feet. He'd never done anything like this before, and his breath was shaky as he waited again for Jessie's signal before he pounced. It happened so fast, he was unsure what he had done before it was over and the guard was limp in his arms. Not a sound had been made. They left the two men slumped over their card game and slowly crept down the tunnel. It was short; they could see where it took a sharp turn just several hundred feet in.

There was a scuffling noise behind them. Todd turned quickly, his heart racing. Annabella stood in the entrance, a silhouetted ghost, yanking her sword out of the neck of the second guard. Her sword dripped with blood as she turned to face his shock and horror.

"This is a raid, Deliverer," she said, her voice darker than he'd ever heard it. "This is kill or be killed." She strode forward to join them adjusting Bethany's position on her back. The little girl was awake, clinging to Annabella with her face hidden in her hair. "You wanted this," Annabella told Todd, "so don't think you can avoid the consequences."

Todd worked his jaw, unable to hold her gaze. Why did she always have to be right?

He could have walked out of the tunnel right then. He could have escaped the inevitable bloodshed. But he didn't. He continued down the tunnel, pulling his shield off of his back and strapping it to his arm with a jerk. Drawing his sword, he said, "Let's find Stephanie."

He was glad for Jessie, who gave him a firm nod and smile as she joined him, drawing her dagger as she rounded the corner. The next moment, however, that dagger fell from her hands as she stumbled back into him with a frightened gasp, grabbing his arm as he stepped around the corner. He stopped cold.

Down at the end of the tunnel stood a figure dressed in diamond blue from head to toe, a faceless, deadly bride hidden behind a veil. Her gleaming sword was raised at them.

Annabella rounded the corner, and Jessie threw out her hand to stop her. Annabella stopped short when she saw the figure, a whispered curse escaping her lips.

The Veiled Lady spoke. "I knew you'd come for her."

A loud snap exploded in Todd's mind, and then he was tumbling down, down, straight into a black pit of darkness.