It had been easy. Tricking everyone into thinking she was dead. Mineral water did look a lot like salt water. That's why she kept a vial of it around her neck at all times. After she had been drug out of the cell, none to gently, down the hall and outside she had been dumped in the nearest canal. When she was sure the guy was gone, Vendetta had kicked up to the surface and swam to shore.

She stepped out of the mucky water scowling. Her clothes were completely soaked and she had mud and debris stuck all over her body from the canal. Now that she had escaped, she needed to get back to her house to get the needed supplies.

But as she walked, she sensed others following her. Of course Frost would have men watching the area. He knew how deceiving she was. Vendetta moved off down a side street. Since the whole area was a ghost town, she didn't have to worry about someone walking in on them. Not that she would care if someone did.

Her pursuers got closer and she let them. Until the leader came up right behind her. Vendetta wheeled around, her dagger slicing open his throat. As he fell another replaced him and Vendetta jabbed the knife in her other hand through his neck. She snarled as she slashed and slashed again. Blood sprayed into the air and that feeling she always got as she killed once again took her over.

She realized she was smiling like a crazy person, coated in blood that wasn't her own. Her eyes were wide and what was left of her sanity was pushed back by her underlying insanity. Her body was being controlled by the simple thought that ran through her head. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Someone managed to punch her in the side of the head; stars burst across her vision. They grabbed her jacket and hurled her into the side of a building, her weapons fell out of her hands and as she dropped to the concrete she switched to using her bare hands.

Vendetta crushed their windpipe and pulled out another knife. Another person tackled her and they went rolling. They threw punches and elbows but that only made her more invigorated. She snarled as she sank her teeth into his neck. His blood slid down her throat, giving her new energy. She drank until another kicked her over.

They kicked her repeatedly until she managed to sweep their legs out from under them. She killed them as well. By the time every last one of them was dead, she couldn't let anyone tell Frost she was alive, she was completely drenched in blood. It soaked her hair and her clothes and her weapons were coated in it. Vendetta knew she was still smiling. The crazed gleam still in her eyes.

Once she was sure that no one else was around, Vendetta hurried back to her house. By the time she got back, that feeling had disappeared and her face was once again blank. She entered through her window and went to the bathroom. After showering and changing her bath, she went back to her room and opened her closet.

Immediately, Vendetta knew someone had been in her room, but at that moment she didn't care. For all anyone knew, she was still dead. Vendetta pulled out a duffel bag and crammed everything she would need inside. Tons of weapons, spare ammunition, a change of clothes. After it was filled, she zipped it shut and slung the bag diagonally across her body.

Without even glancing back at her room, she jumped back out the window and took a cab to the Sanctuary. When she got out, the first person she saw was Caelan.

As soon as he saw her he grabbed her in his arms, trapping her against his chest. "Oh my love! You're okay! I thought you were dead!"

He would have continued but Vendetta wrenched herself away from him, eyes blazing. "What the heck were you doing!?" she snarled.

Caelan blinked. "I was hugging you."

"Why?"

"Because I thought you were dead and I would never see you again."

"Who told you I was dead?"

"Valkyrie."

Figures.

"Is she in the Sanctuary?"

"I haven't seen anyone leave for about an hour so I believe so."

Vendetta nodded and hurried away, ignoring his calls for her to stop. She got to the Sanctuary and walked into the Council room where everyone was gathered.

"Yes," Pleasant was saying. "We are also taking a couple dozen Cleavers with us as well. Hopefully it'll be enough. It has to."

"So when are we-

Valkyrie was cut off at a sharp gasp.

"Vendetta?" Scratch said.

Everyone looked over and saw her standing there and the next thing she knew Ray-Roy had his arms wrapped around her. She immediately started to struggle but gave up after a couple seconds and waited crossly for him to let her go.

"Vendetta!" he cried when he finally let go. "What happened? You were dead! I saw ya drink that salt water."

"Well I'm not dead," Vendetta said. "So let's move on from the obvious that I am as alive as a vampire can be and go onto what we are going to do."

Sanguine frowned. "What are we going to do? And seriously, how did you survive? It's gonna drive me nuts."

Vendetta glanced at him. "You don't need to know. What you do need to know however is what we are going to do."

"Wait," Jack said; voice skeptical. "We all just saw you kill yourself on live camera, then you just magically waltz in here like nothin' happened and you have a plan?"

"Yes."

Jack raised an eyebrow.

"What's your plan?" Pleasant called. Vendetta switched her gaze to him.

"I'm in this for my own reasons now, not just for the money anymore. And in order to do what I want, I hate to admit it, but I'm going to need some backup." She took off the duffel bag and threw it to the center of the room. Everyone stared at it like they expected it to blow up or something.

"Someone open it up," Ghastly called.

"Make Scapegrace do it!" Someone else said.

"What! Why me?" Scapegrace cried indignantly.

"Because if it turns out to be a bomb of some sort it won't be a total loss if you die."

Scapegrace sulked.

"It's not a bomb," Vendetta said. "There are a couple bombs in there but they aren't set to go off. That bag is full of items from my personal arsenal which I want back when this is over. If anyone doesn't give something back I'll know. So go and take what you need. But don't dig too deep I have a spare change of clothes in there."

Everyone looked at each other then back at her.

"And what are we supposed to do with this?" Skulduggery asked.

"We're going to storm Frost's hideout."

Did you really think I would kill off Vendetta? Silly fans... XD

Review! :)