Darien sat in the back of Golda, rubbing the back of his neck with his now bandaged hand. Something was wrong with the gland. He didn't like what was happening. He hadn't used that much quicksilver that day…well, except when…never mind. He had to keep focused. Just after they had gotten Darien under control, Veri remembered that Lillianne had placed a tracer on a necklace that Violette always wore. It was their only lead to where Arnaud had taken them; they had to go for it. Darien looked over at Claire. Her eye was swollen from the assault. A lump of guilt welled up in Darien.

"Hey, Keepy?" Darien began cautiously, "I-"

"You don't need to apologize," she said smiling through the pain. "Although, I would like to know why you hit quicksilver madness so prematurely."

Darien nodded in agreement. This was horrible. Of course the gland would malfunction at the worst possible moment. What else could go wrong?

"Alright, people," Hobbes said as they pulled up in front of an estate. "We have to move in carefully. I've called for back up, which will be here in about fifteen minutes. In the meantime, we'll scope the area out and gather intelligence." Bobby looked Darien square in the eye. "Only intelligence. Understand, partner?"

"Ya, ya, ya." Darien acknowledged. Hobbes knew him too well.

All three of them carefully got out of Golda and began to look around the premises. Darien winced slightly. They definitely bruised his rib.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Maman! Maman!" Violette shouted excitedly as she ran into the room. She jumped up on the bed Lillianne had been sitting on and hugged her mother around the neck.

"How very touching," Arnaud said snidely.

"Violette! What are you doing here?" she was confused. What was Arnaud up to?

"Maman, you won't believe it," Violette said enthusiastically, "Papan's here to rescue us."

Lillianne strained not to laugh aloud at the idea. Then she hugged Violette close to her. "My little one," she said as tears began to well up in her eyes. "You do not understand what is going on," she said shaking her head.

"I'm not a little girl, Maman!!" Violette said frowning. "I know what to do. Papan, will save us."

Lillianne could do nothing but play along. She sat silently.

Arnaud was growing impatient. "Violette," he interjected, "why don't you wait outside while I get your Maman ready?"

"Is it safe?" she asked worried.

"Of course it is!" he snapped. Violette jumped at the sudden raising of his voice. "I'm sorry, my dear. Don't worry. It's safe."

Violette, a little confused, nodded and left the room.

"Now, my Lily," Arnaud said, suddenly dark. "We must talk."

"What is there to talk about? I know exactly what you're doing. You're trying to taking her away from me!!!" she said angrily.

"That is why you are my wife. I would never choose an ignorant woman."

"Don't flatter me."

"Lily," he said becoming suddenly serious, "Did you love me when we married?"

Lillianne, caught off guard with the sudden sincerity, answered honestly. "I…I…yes."

"Then tell me. Do you love me still?"

Lillianne didn't answer. She wouldn't. She couldn't.

"Lily, why do you hesitate?" Arnaud said, leaning into her, brushing the hair from her face. "Is it that you don't know the answer...or that you're afraid of what it is?" Arnaud got closer and kissed her on the cheek. Lillianne immediately slapped him. Arnaud drew back and smacked the side of her face.

"Enough! Come here," Arnaud said, reaching for her arm. She began to struggle immediately. Arnaud slapped her, and then injected something into her arm. "I'm tired of the fight, Lily. You will be mine. Stop fighting."

As everything went black, Lillianne realized that she knew how he felt. She was tired too.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Darien was again in Golda. He was winded from the exertions of the day. Besides, he'd never been kicked by six guys at once. Eventually, Hobbes and Claire rejoined him.

"This place is extremely quiet," Claire began, settling down into her seat.

"You're right, Keepy. Something's not right," Hobbes added.

Darien rubbed his temples. He glanced up and noticed movement near the back of the compound. He saw a small girl crawl into a dark car, following her, was a man carrying a woman over his shoulder. Darien sat up.

"Lillianne," Darien said under his breath and he pointed off in the direction of the car.

Hobbes started the car and began to drive after the dark car.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Lillianne stood pacing back and forth in the master bedroom of Arnaud's estate. She had just come to after the last move. She contemplated the situation. Why had Arnaud moved them so suddenly? Was he trying to take Violette away from her? No, that wouldn't happen. Lillianne would never let that happen. She continued to pace back and forth until the door creaked open. She stopped mid stride and listened for movement. Arnaud entered, completely invisible. He had lost interest in trying to hide anything from Lily. It didn't matter anyway; there was no way for her to know. He held a gun in one hand and a small device in the other. He walked slowly towards her. She backed away from the sound, and ended up falling onto the bed. She quickly sat up. Arnaud walked over and put the gun to her temple.

"Well, Lily," he said calmly. "I see that you're feeling better. I do apologize for having drugged you, but I had no choice." There was a slight tone of satisfaction in his voice.

Lillianne pushed her head harder against the gun. "What are you going to do? Shoot me?" she scoffed. "You've never been able to do that."

"You're right," he said without hesitation. He slowly set the gun down on the bed and stroked the side of her face. "That's why I love you so much."

"Stop saying that," Lillianne said bitterly. "Those words coming from you make me nauseous."

"I know," he said smiling to himself. "I also know that you won't be mine without a little…insurance."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Lily," Arnaud said laughing a little. "I've made sure that you won't talk back to me anymore."

Lillianne didn't understand.

"This object I have in my hand here," Arnaud said stroking the object's cold metal against her cheek, "is a remote detonation device."

"What-?" she said weakly. She dreaded the answer.

"This device," he continued, "is linked the pack of explosives I've attached to your precious gem."

"You wouldn't dare!" Lillianne spat. "She's your daughter too!"

"On the contrary," Arnaud said firmly. "You said yourself that she was not my daughter."

"Va-t-en, Chien!" she screamed at him.

"Uh, uh, uh," he said shaking his head, "bad things happen when women talk back."

Lillianne immediately shut her mouth. She didn't dare tempt fate.

"Now was that so hard?" Arnaud asked gently. He brushed the hair from her face. He leaned down and kissed her on the lips. She didn't resist. As his kiss became deeper, Lillianne's hand brushed against the side of the gun Arnaud had put down earlier. She wrapped her fingers around it, and slowly hid it under her skirt.

"I've missed you so much."

Arnaud knelt down and kissed her again. He was so cold. With Darien, there had been some warmth, but all she could feel from Arnaud was ice. It was burning against her skin. He began to unbutton her blouse bit by bit. As he began to ease off her shirt, the door burst open.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Golda pulled up to Arnaud's estate shortly after he had. Arnaud never suspected a thing. There had been no escort and it was apparent that there was little security on the premises. Darien and Hobbes looked each other in the eye. Claire nodded at both of them.

"Bobby," Darien said seriously, "we should split up."

"My thoughts exactly, partner," Bobby agreed.

"I'll get Lillianne."

"And I get Violette."

"Where do I go?" Claire inquired.

"Keepy, you come with me," Hobbes suggested. "That little girl might be injured…That alright with you, Darien?…Darien?"

Darien was already out the door. He had quicksilvered on the way out and was bursting through the doors. Of course, what few guards were there, were completely confused. Darien ran up the stairs and began to kick doors open. He finally reached the master bedroom. He edged his way inside to find Arnaud undressing Lillianne. Darien charged toward him and punched him in the face. Arnaud fell to the ground, dropping the remote. Darien leaned over and quicksilvered Lillianne's eyes. He then proceeded to pick Arnaud up and slam him against the wall.

"I should do something terrible to you right now," Darien said through his teeth. "But I can't think of anything right now."

"Put him down," Lillianne said from behind them.

Both men looked in her direction. She stood holding Arnaud's gun in both hands. She seemed to be aiming at his head.

"Oh crap," Arnaud said.

Darien turned back to Arnaud and raised an eyebrow. "Don't be using my catch phrase." He looked at Lillianne and unquicksilvered.

"Lillianne, you don't want to do that," he said to her.

She pointed the gun towards the ceiling and fired. Bits of rubble came tumbling down as a cloud of dust formed. Out of pure shock, Darien dropped Arnaud. He fell to the ground with a dull thud. Lillianne reoriented on Arnaud.

"Darien," she said flatly, "go get Violette for me."

Darien shook his head.

"Damn it!" she shouted cocking the gun, "Go!"

Darien, completely at a loss for words walked out the door and shut it behind him. Lillianne, he thought, don't do this. He inhaled deeply and began his search for Violette.

Lillianne stood glaring at Arnaud's aura. "You, have done terrible things to me…and now, you do it to my daughter. I won't stand for it."

"Lily," Arnaud said nervously, "Let's not be hasty."

"The problem is," she continued, ignoring him, "that no matter what I do, you always come back….I'm tired of running, Arnaud. I'm tired both psychologically and emotionally….Most of all….I'm tired of you…."

The void of her eyes seemed all too natural on her at that point. Arnaud just stared at her. Slowly, he stood.

"Lily," he said reluctantly, "you do realize that if you kill me, you'll be sent to jail…You can't shoot me…You'd leave Violette alone."

Lillianne breathed heavily. She walked up to Arnaud, keeping the gun on him, all the time.

"You know," she said with a small smile. "That's one thing your right about…" She put the gun up against his head. She suddenly slammed it against his head, knocking him to the ground. "I can't shoot you…Then, I wouldn't have the pleasure of visiting you in jail."

Lillianne unloaded the cartridge then threw the gun aside. She grinned at him as the quicksilver flaked out of her eyes. Just then, Darien came through the door with Hobbes and Violette.

"Thank God," Darien sighed relieved.

Lillianne, hearing his voice, began to head in his direction. Meanwhile, Arnaud had gotten up and picked up the discarded gun.

"Mr. Fawkes, Mr. Hobbes, you couldn't have come at a better time," he said happily. They both turned to see the gun floating in mid-air. Hobbes immediately ducked out with Violette. He wasn't going to let this poor kid see gunfire. Darien held out his arms as Lillianne quickened her pace. Dear God, she thought, Arnaud was going to try to kill him again.

"Lily…one thing you should always remember…clear the chamber."

Arnaud pulled the trigger. The sound was deafening. It was as though time stood still. The bullet whizzed across the room. It hit its target dead on. The force knocked Lillianne against the wall. She slowly slid to the ground. The bullet had hit her squarely in her chest.

"No!!!" Darien screamed, horrified. He ran to her side and held her in his arms. Blood began to trickle out the side of her mouth as she gasped for air. The bullet had gone through her lung. Arnaud took this opportunity to leave.

As he left, he whispered to Lillianne, "I'm sorry."

"Lillianne," Darien said desperately. A brief vision of Allianora flashed through his head. "Stay with me…Everything's going to be okay."

"Darien," she said gasping, "Violette…her tumor…."

"Don't speak," he said. Tears began to well up in his eyes. He turned his head toward the door. "Claire! We need you!!"

"Li…listen," she whispered reaching for his face. Darien turned to her. "The…pro…procedure…" She paused to breath. "The….password….is…bijoux."

With that, Lillianne lost consciousness.

Darien's eyes widened. "Claire!!! Get in here now!!!"