CRACK

BOOOM

Arno yelped, shooting into a seated position as the room lit up with another CRACK, followed by a BOOOM.

"Arno?"

Turning to Elise, he tried to give the half-asleep girl a reassuring smile. "It's nothing… just go back to sleep."

CRACK

BOOOM

As the rain suddenly started to strike the window, Elise groaned and pushed herself up, running her fingers through messy, red hair. "That does not sound like a little April shower" she murmured, "What time is it?"

"…. Almost half five."

"Hmmmm…." Slowly, she moved off the bed and headed towards the bathroom, pausing only to grab a silk gown and wrap it around her nude form, "… remember I have that meeting today? Don't wait up."

Scanning her from head to toe as she disappeared behind the changing screen, Arno frowned in suspicion. "Would this be a Templar meeting?"

"Would it matter if it were?"

"…. Oui, a little bit."

"Tough…" she peeked out her head from around the changing screen, "… I promise you, it's nothing serious. No plans to join Shay or launch an attack against the Creed."

"… You're not filling with confidence right now."

"Shame. You're just going to have to trust me."

Arno remained silent… the trust between the two was slightly frayed due to being on different sides. Yes, Elise was the Grandmaster of a more peaceful Templar group, but she was still a Templar.

There was always going to be some doubt there.

….

"Alright…" Vex flung a couple of letters at Clara, beaming as she jumped to catch them, "… those need to be posted straight away, and we could really do with some new pens. I think people dunk them in their drinks, because I'm sure they don't use them!"

"You gonna pay me?"

She eagerly darted forwards as Vex handed her some notes, "That's for the tasks. You can keep the change, and there's an extra tenner in it for you if you get back in thirty minutes."

Needless to say, that spurred her into action.

Watching as she raced away, Vex decided to do some rounds in the club. It was mid-afternoon, so the dance floor was empty, the only people in were the people who were enjoying their lunch.

Therefore, it was easy to spot the familiar face sitting at a nearby booth, phone to his ear.

"I am very sorry Ma'am, and I promise I will do everything in my power to get to the bottom of this… I'm a dog owner myself." He nodded a few more times, before hanging up, only then seeming to see Vex standing there.

"So…." Vex went to sit opposite him. "… What was that all about?"

Connor stared at him suspiciously for a few moments, before finally answering, "Desmond has gone missing."

"Desmond… Desmond the Corgi?" Vex vaguely remembered the little pest that often travelled with the Mayors' wife, "And you're going to investigate that?"

"Didn't you hear me?" Connor teased, "Of course I'm going to help."

"I would have thought the Creed would be too busy to investigate missing dogs? What does Evie think about all this?"

Connor winced, briefly glancing away. "She… doesn't know. But there have been a lot of cases of dogs going missing lately, so I think it might be something bigger. A dog-napper, possibly to set up a fighting ring."

"…. I wouldn't choose a corgi for dog fighting. A Jack Russell, yes…. Nasty little buggers."

As Connor chuckled, Vex leaned back in the booth, tipping his hat over his eyes…. Until someone poked him in the cheek.

"Vex. Vex. Vex. Vex. Ve- "

"- Clara! What?!" Vex glared at the young girl, rolling his eyes as she handed him some pens and then held out her hand, probably for the extra ten dollars.

As soon he handed it over, she flung a letter at his face, much like he did to her earlier. "That just came for you. Looks fancy."

"Noisy bugger…" Vex opened up the letter and instantly groaned at what he read, "… Dear Mister Vex, you are cordially invited to an event which will change the future as we know it at Hyde Park at 7:30…. It's pissing down with rain! Are they joking?!"

"Not a fan of rain?"

"My hair isn't a fan of rain…" Vex then glanced over at Clara and smirked, "… then again, when I've got a little minion to hold my umbrella, maybe a little gathering might be fun."

"Go fuck yourself."

Clearly not fussed by the language (although Connor was slightly stunned), Vex shrugged. "It was worth a shot… get my fancy suit ready kid. We're going to a party."

….

"Did this invitation say anything about a guest, Mister Vex?"

Vex glanced over at Freddie and smirked, "I think we've been through so much, that you can call me Vex… and it never said I couldn't bring one."

"And you didn't bring Kenzi because…"

"Because I had to force her into the dress for the fundraiser, I don't think I would have gotten away with it a second time."

Freddie couldn't help but chuckle at this, holding up his umbrella a little higher as the rain continued to pour down from the heavens. "A little bit suspicious though, isn't it? A mysterious letter inviting you to a party that's going to have a mysterious surprise?"

"You policemen…" Vex teased nudging Freddie in the side, "… so paranoid."

"It's always kept me out of danger before."

"I bet."

Following the other, confused people towards a large white tent, the sounds of string quarter music could be clearly heard as waiters started handing out glasses of fine champagne.

"Hmmmm…" Freddie glanced around, "… I think everyone who's somebody's here. Doctors, scientists, politicians… I think I can see the police commissioner over there." He then smirked at Vex, "So… why were you invited?"

"Rude."

"Sergeant Abberline!"

Freddie turned and nodded politely at the Commissioner wandering over, shaking the man's hand as his own was grabbed.

"Ah, Commissioner! Wonderful to see you!" Freddie turned to Vex and gestured at him, "I'm sure you've heard of Vex, the owner of that new club? Vex, I'm sure you know Commissioner Baldwin?"

"I've never had the honour of meeting you in person…" Vex shook the man's hand, a fake smile already plastered on his face, "… but I've heard of your good work."

"Charmed."

The Commissioner clearly wasn't, turning his attention back to Freddie.

"I wasn't aware you were invited to this little shindig Sergeant Abberline?"

"I wasn't Sir... I'm merely here by Vex's request."

"Hmmmm…" Commissioner Baldwin glanced over at Vex, "… Champagne?"

"We'd be… delighted." Freddie eventually answered. He wasn't on duty, so a little bit of alcohol wouldn't hurt.

Vex however, shook his head. "No thank you… when it comes to mysterious letters inviting me to mysterious parties, I prefer to keep my senses about me."

The Commissioner, although confused, accepted this answer and together, he and Freddie headed off towards the bar, leaving Vex alone to examine the guests.

Freddie was right, almost everyone who was anyone was here.

"I see you received my invitation Vex."

At the familiar voice near his ear, Vex spun around, feeling a little bit relieved when he realised it was only Elise De la Serre. Dressed in a black, elegant lace dress, she looked stunning.

"Elise… this is all you?"

"Hmmm, and I see you've brought Sergeant Abberline." She took a sip of her drink, "Can we assume there's something going on between the pair of you?"

"No." Vex was very stern about that, "Not when he's still in love with Jacob Frye."

"Ah… of course." Glancing around, Vex smirked at several other familiar faces he saw, "So… this whole event stinks of Templars. What's it all about?"

"All will be revealed."

Literally as soon as she finished the sentence, the speakers crackled, and a voice echoed over them.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, can I have your attention please?" An older man, with greying hair, gazed over the crowd, "For those of you who don't know who I am, my name… is Dr. Warren Vidic."