Sebastian Shaw stormed his way to the Count's townhouse, knocking violently on the door.

Raven waved one of the house servants away, smoothing her blue skirt down before answering the door, "Yes? Can I help you, sir?"

"Where is that damn Count?" Shaw demanded, voice hard and hot in anger.

She suppressed the faint smile she could feel tugging at the corners of her lips, as she stepped aside to let him in, "If you will wait here, Monsieur, I will see if he is receiving visitors."

"I am hardly a visitor," he said, moving to shove past her.

She held her ground, bracing herself and not letting him past, though she kept her tone courteous, "Wait here and I will fetch him, if you please, monsieur."

"That... that damn man is hardly one I would wait for," Shaw snapped, still seething.

At that point the Count himself appeared at the head of the stairs leading down into the entry hall. "Raven, what is this ruckus?"

She turned her head to look up at him, "Sebastian Shaw to see you, sir."

The Count blinked just once, something akin to terrible joy flickering in his eyes though he did not smile. "And what does Sebastian Shaw want at my abode?"

"Don't play with me," Shaw snapped. "Charles is gone."

"I am hardly accountable for your husband. If you lost him that's entirely your fault. I had nothing to do with it."

Raven stepped back, remaining in the entry hall, one corner of her lips finally curling upward.

Shaw took that chance to storm into the entry hall, eyes glued to the figure at the top of the stairs. "I don't believe that for a second. You have been haunting my life too long for that."

The Count smiled thinly. "That is the job of ghosts, is it not?"

"Surely you did not expect me to wait for you to come to me," Shaw snapped. "You've gone after Marko and de Villefort already. So what do you have planned for me then?"

Raven murmured under her breath from her place near the door, still holding it open, "So your charming personality had nothing to do with him leaving..."

Even from the top of the stairs, Erik's eyes went to her but Shaw apparently didn't hear, or else didn't bother to comment. "Perhaps," the Count said. "After all, you are all such lambs to the slaughter."

"Like you were?" Shaw hissed and Erik finally swept his way down the stairs, eyes as hard as the stones in his prison had been.

"Yes. But you, my dear man, will find yourself in a far worse hell than I did. I bring it to your doorstep and I will leave it there, for you to wallow in. You shall lose everything as I did. And you will fall down on your knees and pray."

Shaw paled slightly but he didn't move back. "You would like to."

"You think I couldn't?"

"You were always too kind," Shaw said, tilting his chin out.

The Count let out a harsh laugh. "Please. That was burned out of me long ago. Now it's just justice."

Raven shook her head, "Any compassion withered and died when you locked him up. You saw what was found for de Villefort."

Shaw's eyes snapped to her, his expression as deadly as he could make it.

Raven looked singularly unimpressed by that. She'd been dealing with the Count for the last handful of years, and since he still needed her and was in the room she certainly wasn't concerned with silent threats from Shaw.

"So then, if you're not waiting for me to come after you," the Count said, voice smooth. "What is your plan?"

Shaw was trying to gather himself back up, turning his gaze back to the Count. "A duel."

"A duel?" the Count laughed. "You sent me to hell and threw away the key and you propose a duel?"

Raven's gaze darted to the Count, a flicker of apprehension lighting her eyes.

Shaw bristled. "Yes. I would rather that than wait for whatever you had planned. Either way, it would be an ending."

The Count's smile turned even colder. "You would only hope it would be an ending you mean."

Alex opened the door to one of the first floor corridors, still talking to Hank, "So, we'll have to see about meeting up again before—" He froze as he saw the trio in the front hall.

Hank, who had been following on his heels and smiling just at his general direction and life in general nearly ran into him before freezing as well, eyes going wide as Shaw and the Count turned to stare at him.

"McCoy," Shaw growled. "What are you doing here?"

The Count's eyes echoed the same question and Hank swallowed hard, looking a little desperately at Alex.

Alex bit his lip slightly, glancing at Raven for a bit of help. She just smirked at him, waiting to see if they could dig themselves out or if she'd need to step in. Alex reminded himself why there were days he hated his fellow servant, "The..." He drew a deep breath and glanced from Shaw to the Count, "We encountered on another earlier today and got to talking about the flowers I had seen in his garden. There are a couple of varieties that would be nice additions here."

The Count tilted his chin at his servant, frowning at him in confusion and Hank nodded quickly. "Yes, we were talking about plants."

"You've betrayed me too?" Shaw demanded and Hank's shoulders hunched.

"I-I..."

Alex's eyes narrowed at that and he spoke before Raven could stop him, "You couldn't command loyalty from a dog. You've an overbearing personality that cares for nothing but its wealth and prestige."

Eyes going even huger if possible, Hank gaped down at him, and Shaw's face whitened. "I hope they like you," he all but growled. "Because with Charles out of the house, I would think you should gather your belongings. Tonight."

Alex winced very slightly, glancing at Hank apologetically.

Swallowing, Hank nodded mutely, feeling his stomach sink.

Shaw turned back to the Count, whose expression was starting to edge past the cold stone of earlier into sheer fury. "Tomorrow," he said. "What do you say to that?"

"I only await hearing the time and the place," he replied.

Raven moved quietly over to where Hank and Alex were, murmuring, "Can you keep the Count from getting killed until I get back?"

"Where are you going?" Alex responded, mutely.

"Doesn't matter. Can you?"

"How long?"

"Might be tomorrow afternoon...if I leave now."

Hank was still wilting where he stood.

Alex glanced at Hank and then back at Raven, "We'll do our best. What are you doing?"

"I'm fetching Charles."

That got Hank's attention. "What?"

"I'm fetching Charles. If Shaw is here then he can't have left very long ago. He won't have gotten past Calais at the furthest," she explained.

Blinking, Hank nodded, mind still reeling. "Do you think it would help?"

"Help keep Erik from getting killed at least. Probably give the Count enough incentive to win this."

Hank nodded, and glanced at Alex. "I, I should go see about, well, saving some of my things."

"I'll come with you, if you like?" Alex offered.

Standing where he had been earlier, the Count glanced over at where the three were standing, a frown between his brows.

Raven stepped away from the group, looking at her employer, "When is the duel?"

"Tomorrow," the Count returned.

"Afternoon? There's a field that would put neither at a disadvantage outside of the city."

The Count nodded, eyes still on Hank and Alex. "Make the arrangements. You two there, come here."

Raven glanced at Alex, who nodded to her, he'd see to it. With that she slipped out of the entry hall. Alex swallowed hard and moved over to the Count, glancing at Hank again, "Yes, sir?"

"You know you can't actually order me around?" Hank asked, but followed Alex.

The Count did not look impressed with him. "What are you two doing?"

"What do you mean, sir?" the servant raised his eyes to meet his employer's.

"Don't give me that," he snapped. "Sneaking around, meeting up. What exactly are you thinking?"

Alex flinched slightly, "That I might possibly have a chance at a life of some sort after this is all over? That he's charming, kind, not his fathers?"

Hank rolled his shoulders back but for the moment let Alex do the talking.

For a moment Erik's face twisted, the man cracking the facade of the Count. "You are probably a fool."

Alex scowled at that, "So what if I am?"

The Count considered a long moment and turned back to Hank. "You're welcome to have an unused room," he said and turned to stride away before Hank could even think about forming words to reply.

Alex watched the Count leave before breathing a soft sight of relief, "That went rather well...with him I mean. Do you want any help at Shaw's estate?"

"Pr-probably could use some," Hank said, nodding, and unsure when exactly the ground had been yanked out from under his feet.

The smaller man glanced up at him, "Are you going to be alright?"

He nodded after a moment, swallowing. "I, I think so," finally he smiled down at Alex. "It'll work out."

Alex offered him a faint smile, "Yeah. Well, let's go see about getting your things then."

Nodding again, Hank hesitantly took Alex's hand before turning toward his former home to gather what meager possessions he actually cared for.

M-M-M-M

The next day the Count strode toward the door, pulling his gloves on as he walked only to find Hank by the door. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Well," Hank said and shifted. "Don't duels usually have seconds of some sort?"

"Not this kind," the Count returned, briskly.

"I still, I would like to come," Hank said, shifting. "For Charles' sake if nothing else."

"Charles should have no part of this," the Count said, voice hardening.

"You're getting a second, and I can't act as it," Alex spoke from where he had opened the door to let the Count know the carriage was ready. "Needed or not, it's a formality, we're there to make sure you don't get stabbed in the back."

The Count glanced between them before sweeping past them toward the carriage. Hank blinked. "Was that a yes...?"

"That wasn't a 'no'. You can ride inside with him or on the box with me."

"Box," Hank said quickly.

Alex offered him a faint smile before climbing up onto the box, leaving room for the other young man.

Looking the box over, Hank climbed up and settled in beside him. "Do you even know where this duel is happening?"

"I did the arranging of it, remember?"

"Right," Hank murmured. "So, where is it then?"

"Do you know those ruins to the East?"

"The old castle?" Hank asked.

"Yes. The field there."

Hank swallowed and nodded. "Alright. That should be, well, rather out in the middle of nowhere."

"Hence the carriage... We'll unhitch one of the horses when we get there to make it easier to ride for help should it be needed."

"Yes. I was more concerned about injuries or a trap myself."

"And this is why we're going with him."

"Still, I just don't think Shaw has ever been confronted with something like this. I have no idea how he's going to react and I think that frightens me."

Alex nodded slightly, his hand going to rest on the pistol he was carrying in his belt, "Well, we'll keep an eye out for anything, alright?"

"Alright," Hank murmured, leaning back, pausing, and reaching a hand over to lightly rest along Alex's shoulders as he drove.

The smaller man paused, leaning slightly into the touch as he guided the horses nearer to the field.

Shaw was waiting, and all expectations to the contrary he did look like he was alone, a single horse tied to a small tree behind him.

Alex pulled the carriage to a stop, getting down and opening the door for the Count.

Stepping out, the Count surveyed the field, smiling coldly at the other man. "Well. Here we are."

"I see you weren't brave enough to come alone," Shaw snapped.

"Brave? I'm not sure that's what's at stake here." Drawing his sword he glanced back. "You two stay at the carriage."

Alex nodded, "Yes, sir."

Hank stepped back, shoulder to shoulder with Alex and swallowed hard as the Count advanced upon the other man. "Are you ready for this?"

"Of course," Shaw returned, and without preamble lunged, the Count taking a quick step to the side, getting his own foil up.

Alex looked toward the road, praying that Raven would hurry up.

Shaw drew back, trying another attack, hoping to catch the other man off-guard. Bringing his hand behind his back, as if to mock the other, Erik stepped to the side, carefully stabbing his sword toward Shaw's side.

Shaw narrowly avoided the blade, his eyes narrowing as he swept his sword around, slashing downward. Going quickly backwards, the Count scowled at that. He threw caution to the wind long enough to step forward, getting a jab on Shaw's sword arm in.

The other man swore, pulling back again. He snarled, lunging forward again, starting the motion toward his opponent's left arm and sweeping in toward his right side at the last moment. Expecting the other move, Erik hissed when he changed tactics, accepting a graze before pressing any advantage he might have with a flurry of strokes. Shaw rapidly went on the defensive, blocking the blows as best he could, a couple landing even against his best efforts.

Hoof beats were heard, rapidly nearing. Charles pulled his horse to a stop, barely waiting til it had stopped before he dismounted. He tossed his reins to Alex, "Erik, Sebastian, for God's sake!"

That drew Erik up short, head snapping around as he stepped back.

Shaw continued with his motion, his sword meeting flesh, but not Erik's. Charles gasped as the sword sliced along his side.

Raven reined her horse in, slipping from the saddle and glancing at Alex and Hank.

Erik lunged forward at that, pulling Charles back out of the way and going quickly at Shaw. Shaw moved swiftly onto the defensive again, his sword flickering quickly to try and block Erik even as he attempted to lock hilts enough to twist the other's sword away.

Having none of that, Erik continued to press the attack, moving the pair of them around the field. "You son of a bitch," he growled between the blows.

Shaw stumbled backwards, his breathing heavy, "He's alive, and I was aiming for you."

"That doesn't matter, you attacked your own husband," Erik snarled as their swords crossed and he tried to use his height advantage to press the other down.

Shaw twisted the swords forcefully, attempting to twist the blade out of Erik's hand, "It was an accident. He was foolish enough to get in the way."

"That justifies anything you've ever done?" Erik demanded, his facade as Count dropping entirely

"Anything? Hardly. Though as regards you?"

"Sure, we can do with that," Erik growled.

"You've always been in the way. Always reaching for things you have no right to."

"I wanted to build a life with someone I love," Erik replied, hotly. "What right had you ever had to any of those things?"

"Far more than you did. Life handed you everything, you needed someone to show you that it wasn't that simple."

"What did you ever fight for?" Erik demanded, drawing back and attacking him again from the side. "You only cheated and lied. You have no idea the things I would fight for, watching my father get sicker and sicker every day as I struggled to bring him money."

Shaw hissed as Erik's blade cut him again, choosing not to respond to Erik's words, focusing on retaliating against his sword, thrusting, and sweeping his sword to where he expected the other to dodge. Erik stepped into a sweep of the blade, and hissed as one of his arms went numb. Instead, he slid into that opening, thrusting the sword out again to catch at Shaw's stomach before flicking it up, aiming for his heart.

Shaw gasped as the sword pierced him and stumbled, the point penetrating straight to his heart. It was over.

Shocked, Erik drew back, panting as he tried to balance himself, the thin blade of the foil useless in that regard. Raven was at his side, quickly, supporting him. Charles moving to his other side, ignoring the deep mark the sword had left in his own side, "Erik..."

"What are you doing here?" he asked, looking over at him. "You were supposed to be away. You weren't supposed to get yourself hurt..."

"I couldn't let you get killed either. I was hoping to be here before this happened. It took a bit longer to find you once I'd returned than planned," he glanced at Raven.

Erik looked between him and Raven, eyes roving over to where Hank and Alex were running over. "I don't know what to do," he said faintly, glancing down at where Shaw lay.

"You both get your wounds tended to and then move on from there," Raven suggested.

Pausing, he nodded, wrapping an arm around Charles' shoulders.

And here we are at the end of the climax. The plans have fallen into place, and as an added bonus we have a short epilogue which will go up in a couple of days. We would love to hear what you thought of the latest chapter. Please drop us a review and we look forward to hearing from you!

Special shout-outs to michelerene and Ci-chan for their reviews of the last chapter, you two rock! With all the stress VS and I have been under this past week it was a real pick-me-up to see that people cared enough to drop us a quick note and let us know what they thought.