Ch 11 A Final Confession.

Later that night at the hotel, the three Musketeers and Mikey sat at a table looking over the treaty. "This treaty outlines Saki's plan to forge an alliance with Buckingham." Donnie noted.

"No mention of the king?" Raph asked.

Donnie shook his head. "None." He said. "However, the agreement is contingent upon a demonstration of the Cardinal's power."

"A demonstration?" Mikey looked from one musketeer to the other. "What kind of demonstration?"

Donnie shook his head again as he continued to read the scroll. "I don't know." He finally admitted in exasperation.

Leo was sitting between Mikey and Donnie listening to everything being said with a heavy heart. "I know someone who does." He muttered wearily, his eyes filled with pain and despair.

A few minutes later, Leo walked to the prison and made his way over to Lord de Winter who was standing guard over Karai. "I wish to speak with your prisoner." He told him.

The lord nodded at him. "She dies in the morning." He told him coldly.

The lord walked over to the cell and, after unlocking the door, stepped aside allowing Leo to enter. Leo stared pitifully at the lone figure of Karai. She sat in the corner of the cell looking tired and forlorn. Upon seeing Leo walking in, she turned her head away and lowered her eyes.

As Leo started walking toward Karai, the sound of the door closing and locking behind him caused a slight shudder to go through him. With heavy footsteps, Leo walked over to Karai and stood in front of her. He looked down at the small figure, his eyes filled with hopelessness. After a few seconds of trying to keep her eyes averted, Karai finally looked up and glared at him with cold filled eyes.

"There was a time I would have given my life for a kind word from you." She muttered, her voice low and indifferent.

"I could not give it." Leo replied with a sad and tired voice. "I was a fool." Karai looked at him longingly as he turned back to look at lord De Winter. "Is it true what he says?" Leo asked her. "Did you kill his brother?"

"I have become the nightmare you once thought me to be." She stated stoically.

"But not before…." He swallows hard. "Not us."

She shook her head. "No."

Leo walked closer and knelt before her, his eyes were pleading with her for understanding. "Do you know of the Cardinal's plans?"

"I do." Her voice is low and monotone.

"Tell me."

"Will you have my life spared?" She asked, but it was clear to the musketeer, Karai already knew what his answer had to be.

Leo hung his head and closed his eyes in regret. "No, I cannot." He sighed deeply.

Karai looked at him with a knowing gaze. "Society demands swift justice." She said as Leo looked back up at her. "I'll take my secret to the grave."

Leo reached out and placed his left hand on hers. "Karai," He started with a heavy voice. "You will die for your crimes. There is nothing I can do about that now." They stare at each other as he continued with pleading eyes. "But how you choose to leave this world is up to you."

Karai continued to stare at him with uncaring eyes. "What has this world ever done for me?" She asked. Leo lowered his eyes and nodded. Karai could see the his face was filled with regret and shame.

The next day, Karai, along with the four turtles and Lord De Winter followed an executioner with a sword, up a green hill toward the edge of a cliff where her execution was to be held. They stopped by the edge of the cliff and Karai turned to the group as Donnie began to read from the bible.

"'I am the resurrection and the life,' sayeth the Lord." He quoted as he looked over at her. "'He who believeth in me shall never die.' We forgive you for your crimes, die in peace."

As Karai listened, she kept her head held high but her eyes were focused on Leonardo the entire time. They stared at each other, his eyes filled with remorse while hers were uncaring and filled with hatred.

"On your knees." The executioner commanded her.

Karai looked over at him with a clenched jaw before looking back to Leonardo for one final moment before kneeling. As the executioner lifted his sword to the side of her, Karai continued to stare hard at Leo, her face unwavering but Leo could see the anger and hate for him in her eyes.

After a moment, she bowed her head as the executioner placed his sword on her neck. Unable to watch, Mikey turned his head and shut his eyes tight. Just as the sword was brought up, Leo suddenly let out a loud scream. "NOOOO!" He yelled as he ran over to her and pushed the swordsman away before he could bring the sword down on her neck.

"What is this?" The executioner demanded of the turtle as he stumbled back.

Leo knelt before Karai with tears streaming down his face. "Karai," He begged, his voice choking as he lifted pleading eyes to her. "Forgive me, Please."

Karai looked deep into his eyes and her look softened as she ran a hand along his face. "I do forgive you." She whispered to him as a single tear made its way down her cheek. She placed her hands on his face and leaned in for one last tender and desperate kiss. Pulling away, they stared at each other for only a moment before Karai let out a slow breath. "The Cardinal intends to assassinate the King on Friday at his birthday celebration." She finally informed him.

Leo looked at her, wanting to say something, anything to let her know how much he loved her and always would but he could not find his voice. Instead, he watched as she stood and slowly backed away from him. She looked around at the faces of the men watching her as she continued to back away. They gasp and run toward her as she suddenly leapt off the cliff to her doom.

"God's justice be done." Lord de Winter muttered after a long moment of heavy silence.

"Amen." Donatello responded as he made a sign of the cross with his hands in the air while everyone continued to stare down at the cliff in disbelief.

Leo fell heavily onto his knees and closed his eyes, trying hard to push away the memory of Karai's final moment. He hung his head and took a moment to grieve for the love he knew before finally taking a breath. Everyone watched, waiting for him to stand and give an order. Finally, Leo lifted his head and forced himself to stand up. "The King's life is in danger." He finally says as he turns to face the other turtles. "We have work to do."

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Back in Paris, in the courtyard of the castle, a gunshot goes off and a bullet flies toward the portrait of King Casey going right through his forehead. "Impressive." Saki said with an evil glint in his eye as he looked at the bullet hole almost gleefully.

"Hun can do that every time." Tiger Claw says proudly.

Saki looked back at the gunman. "And he has no qualms about…."

"None." Tiger Claw tells him without hesitation. "He believes a man should honor no kings before God."

A wide grin spreads along Saki's face. "A man of faith." He mused. "How reassuring." He turned back to the hired hit man and, using his hand in front of his chest, made the sign of the cross and bowed his head toward him, giving him his blessing. "Whatever you're paying him, double it." He says to Tiger Claw as they walk back into the castle. He glances at the painting and smiles at it. "And rehang this painting in my chamber." He orders. "Just as it is." He looked back at the painting with contempt. "He was always a little too flattering."

As the two walk into the hallway, a sudden movement from around the corner caught their eyes. They notice a shadow backing away and instantly, Tiger Claw, with Michelangelo's nun-chucks raised, runs to the end of the hallway and swings the weapon around hitting a tall brown rat at the base of his neck. Saki strolled over and scowled down at the rat laying on the floor and moaning in pain with his hand rubbing the back of his neck.

Tiger Claw grabbed the collar of the robe and put the blade of the nun-chuck under Splinter's chin. "Shall I finish him for you?" He asked Saki.

"No." Saki told him with narrowed eyes. "Put him in the dungeon, after we take over the throne he'll be the first traitor on the chopping block." He leaned closer to Splinter. "But for now, I want to have the pleasure of having you tortured for your insolence."

"You are the insolent one Saki." Splinter almost yelled wincing as Tiger Claw twisted his arm behind him. "And once the musketeers get back…."

"They have already been dealt with." Saki told him quickly. "By now, bounty hunters from here to Calais have hunted them down and will be bringing their heads to me for rewards." He sneered. "But don't worry old friend, I'll make sure you get one last chance to say goodbye before I bury their bodies in some grave far from where they will ever be found." He nodded to Tiger Claw who roughly dragged the rat away.

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So how's the story so far? Reviews please. I live for them. Peace. :)