Hello fans! Sorry for the long time it took to update, I've been having some problems getting to my computer. The bonus: I am almost done with Chapter 3!

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Simple and effective, just as Raphael had taught her.

A few rumors spread personally by her and directed at the bandits had them following her leads like lambs to the slaughter.

The Sun was low, casting orange hues across the sky when the bandits arrived at their deaths. Amy had "led" them to an abandoned shop at the end of town. It was a dank and dark place, stone construction, boarded windows. Scattered tables and lopsided chairs gave the impression of a noble resturant gone bankrupt and looted. All too common these days.

The thick door slammed, shaking the dust of carious objects and three men came into the desolate room.

"So, when's the Frenchie gonna show up?" The taller man, whose name she had learned was Def. "That old crone said he was hiding in the old pub at the end of town."

"Oi! Sorel!" the smaller man, Spike, shouted his voice echoing dully in the small pub. "Any lil' Sorel in here?"

Yes there is, scum!" she wanted to shout back, filled with contempt at their mockery of her surname.

"Search this place. Def, you look upstairs. Richy, you're with me down here."

Amy crouched on a balcony overlooking the first floor. She could see that the men were very tired from their day of chasing leads through crowded and hot streets. Their shoulders were slumped and they carefully guarded limps. Silently she prided in herself at her manipulating them into this exhausted form, they might have been a match for her otherwise.

Now was the time to strike. Amy gripped the dagger tightly, turning her knuckles white. Spike was closest to her, barking out orders to Richy and Def. Unfortunatley for him he was directly under the balcony where Amy watched. When the tiny man looked away Amy flipped over the handrail. Supporting herself by her hands, she released her grip on the banister, bringing her knife to bear as she fell. With a jarring crunch the knife disappeared into Spike's back, just where the neck met the shoulder. Spine severed, Spike wobbled loosely as Amy landed quietly on the solid stone floor. She tugged the knife out and blood gushed from Spike's back as he collapsed to the floor, sputtering unintelligibly.

The others turned swords at the ready. Halfway up the wooden stairs Def balked. "It's a little lassie! What's she done to Spike?" his voice was unusually high and his face had paled to a chalky white.

"She's killed him, mate." Said Richy shakily, staring at the bloodstained blade in Amy's right hand. "A kid put down Spike!" His sword held ready, he charged directly at Amy, trying to impale her with his pure momentum. Amy ducked, bringing her foot around to smash into Richy's ankles as he came past her.

With a loud thud Richy crashed into a table directly behind Amy, bashing his head against a chair as he fell and cracking the chair in two with his forehead.

Just as she was about to finish him off, Amy sensed Def readying himself for a charge too. Quickly, she brought the table around blocking creating a barrier between her and Def. Def edged cautiously around the edge of the table and was rewarded for his caution with a foot swinging into his nose. Blood immediately spurted from his nostrils as he clutched a hand to his broken nose. Seeing an opening, Amy leapt to stab Def between his ribs when a sharp pain exploded in her ankle.

Looking back, she saw that Richy had managed to regain use of his hand and had slashed her foot with the point of his blade. The warmth bled into her socks, staining them a dark red. Stumbling, Def recovered and attempted a stab at Amy, which was narrowly blocked with a flick of Amy's wrist.

Injured now and her maneuverability gone, Amy only had one advantage over her opponents: luck. She clutched her foot and edged backwards, away from the twin points now aimed at her. Richy had a nasty bruise rising on his head and blood leaked from between Def's fingers as he clutched his nose.

Amy took a deep breath, preparing for the final rush. She would take at least one of them with her if it came to this. She moved her knife in front of her, pointing the blade directly between the two thugs. Duck, slash upwards, catch Def in his ribs, maybe twist and cut Richy before the points killed her. Amy carefully slid one foot in front of her. Immediately the thugs punched, she ducked—

Without warning, Richy stumbled and crashed into Def, sending their attack sprawling across the stone floor. Cursing loudly, Def leapt to his feat while snatching his fallen rapier from the floor. He kicked Richy furiously.

"What in the blazes did you do that—. The words died in his throat as he caught sight of a wicked looking metal knife. It had four points all sharpened to a point centered on a circle that held the throwing star together, and it was currently sticking out of the back of Richy's neck. Horrified, Def whirled around and right into an armored forearm smashing into his jaw. The fore of the blow sent him flying, crashing lamely into a wall before slumping unconscious.

Amy stood facing this newcomer. She was obviously female, hair tied in a slick tail down her back. Metal forearm and leg protectors were forged in frightening shapes, even her mask, which covered just below her eyes, was forged into a dragon-shape. A blue jumpsuit clung tightly to her form, bringing her cyan eyes out in the most frightening way. And now, those eyes were focused directly on Amy.

Her hand moved to the hilt of her knife tied to her back when she caught sight of Amy's dagger, her foot moveing back into a familiar stance.

"Who are you?" Amy asked in a controlled tone. Both women had their eyes on the other's weapon, looking for the telltale movement that would signalize an attack. Surprisingly, the newcomer's hand dropped, falling limply to her side. Amy was instantly alert for trickery, looking to her face. Amy saw directly into the newcomer's eyes and an overwhelming drowsiness took hold of her. In the deep, infinite eyes Amy lost herself, sinking into their deep hold. Sleep, operating at the edge of her consciousness, claimed her in its unrelinquishing hold.

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Veronica The Mischievious- sorry for the long time it took, forgive me :beg:beg:

UnknownWorldCreator - I hope you like the rest of this story as well.

Also, if anyone knows a good beta reader or beta-reader site, email me at THANK YOU!