"You've got some nerve." The curly haired man looked up at Twilight with narrowed eyes. "First, it was the dog. Which you were supposed to take home tonight, but now it's Anya too."

"Anya is excited to see you." Said girl was now running through the small apartment with Bond chasing her. Laughing and barking filled the modest home, then the sound of glass being shattered came from out of sight in Franky's apartment. All was quiet as Twilight could see Franky narrow his eyes into slits staring at him. If looks could kill Twilight would have disintegrated quite some time ago. Alas, Franky can only dream.

"Whoops." They could both hear Anya recognize her mistake from further in the apartment. It is quite rude that Franky has not offered to let him inside, so he remains in the hall of the apartment complex while Franky's grip on the apartment door gets ever tighter.

"I'll double the pay." Twilight says while pulling some cash out of his coat pocket.

"Triple."

"Double, and I'll be your wingman at the bar Friday night."

"Deal." The cash gets swiped from his hand and in one fluid motion Franky twists and enters the apartment. Twilight is not surprised when the door is closed in his face, and even less surprised when he hears Franky laughing along with Anya a moment later. Anya loves spending time with her uncle Scruffy, and Franky will never admit it, but he loves spending time with the girl too. Twilight lets out a quiet laugh and shakes his head with amusement. He turns and heads back down the hall of the small apartment building. The only sounds being the impact of his steps on the cheap green carpet used through the halls here. The walls were stained and if he had to guess, probably sticky with some foreign substance. The air still has the lingering smell of cigarette smoke even though he is the only one in the hall. Needless to say this place has seen some better days.

Any normal parent would feel uneasy sending their daughter to stay at a place so run down. He is anything but normal however, and the contents of his briefcase can confirm how abnormal he truly is. Several chemicals are secured tightly inside lest they break and ruin his other necessary tools of espionage. Whether that be something as simple as a lock pick or as complicated as a silenced pistol. Inside has the means for him to succeed for every scenario that could be presented once he has made contact with a target. Afterall, no plan survives first contact with the enemy. He will be going forward with a plan tonight as he was trained to, and will forever do. However, if he has learned anything this past year playing the role of a father, it would be that the most important skill is being able to improvise.

Anya gets upset with him and begins saying how she is never going to school again? Play with her for a little while. Yor ends up drinking more than she can handle? Keep her on his arm so he can direct her and maintain the appearance of a loving couple. It may seem that all of these scenarios are not particularly impressive. But they highlight each hurdle that he had to go over for the sake of operation strix. Operation strix may as well be one huge improvisation that left him filled with stress for the first few months in the Forger household. Loid Forger was planned meticulously to fit in Berlint as an unassuming psychiatrist with his only goal to fulfill his dying wife's last wish. Simple, effective, and depressing enough that only the insensitive will question for scrutiny. An excellent cover for such a delicate operation. In contrast, Anya and Yor are variables outside his control. Sure, he could have chosen different people to be his family, but being selective is a privilege for those who have the time to afford it. At the end of the day, the two of them are civilians and he can not rely on them as he could other agents. So, he refined his ability to simply work on the fly and still keep his cover. Why the obsession with improvisation? Well, he has yet to come up with a plan of attack for Desmond tonight.

He knows that there is a strong chance - practically one hundred percent chance since the intel is from Nightfall - that an assassination attempt on Desmond will be tonight. He knows that the group carrying out the hit is the illustrious Garden, which not even the best of informants have been able to get intel on. Assuming the worst here, their operative will most likely be stronger than himself. His abilities rely on espionage and putting plans together that will go off without a hitch. Sure, he is a capable fighter in his own right and everyone in WISE knows that he is an excellent marksman. His ability to defend himself is not in question, but the ability to protect Desmond from what could be the best assassin in the world? Needless to say the odds are stacked against him. He needs to also assume that the assassin will not be playing by the same rules as him. They can break in, create chaos, kill Desmond then escape. Mission accomplished. He cannot completely eliminate the possibility of the assassin going in with some subterfuge, but planning against that requires more time that he simply does not have. In short, he needs to prepare for the assassin to hit fast and hard. In order to do that, he needs to get inside the Desmond estate immediately.

It is with these thoughts filling his head he steps out of the dingy building that Franky calls home. A cold wind blows some litter down the sidewalk and travels up his back. A chill runs through him as he steps down the concrete steps among the trash flying by. His breath steams out before him letting him know that tonight is going to be a cold one. He looks out as the sun crests over the horizon casting the sky with a beautiful display of color. On the other horizon he can already see the pinpricks of stars in the sky. The time where night and day meet, where the light slowly fades away into the darkness of night. His namesake.

Twilight.

The sound of a car slowing down in front of him brings his attention back to the ground. A bright yellow sedan rolls up next to the curb stopping in front of him. The black tires stop in a small puddle in the street and splashes some muck onto the sidewalk. Large black letters run along the side of the vehicle letting Twilight know what company this cabbie works. Or in this case, what government they work for.

Westside Taxi.

Simple and accurate. They just so happen to have a garage and office towards the west side of town. WISE has a few agents that work for the company during different hours of the day, assuring agents like Twilight a means of traveling through Berlint quickly and inconspicuously. Now, this is not to say there is no risk involved with agents operating out of the company. Afterall, one has to take in consideration that Westside Taxi is not formally owned by WISE. It is actually owned by quite the conservative entrepreneur and is very vocal about his political views. Particularly regarding the issue with east and west relations. Nothing an agent has not heard before, like how those in the west are money hungry pigs or how westalians rut animals. The drivers are simply wolves in sheep's clothing, for who could suspect any respectable westalian to tolerate slander like that daily?

Twilight opens the back door of the cab and slides into the back seat. His nose is immediately assaulted by years worth of cigarette smoke and the unmistakable stench of late nights at the bar. A combination that fits together all too well and is most unpleasant. He ignores the way his shoes stick to the stained carpet of the cab and is thankful his gloves work in more ways than just preventing fingerprints. He is used to getting his hands dirty, but why take any chances with the filth here? Afterall, even the agent driving is wearing gloves.

"How are you? Or should I say, good evening." The driver said with a voice rough like sandpaper. Twilight can see dark brown eyes reflect from the rearview mirror into his own blue ones.

"An eastern wind leaves me cold tonight." Twilight responds automatically. The driver nods and Twilight can see the driver removes an empty hand from inside his coat. With both hands now gripping the steering wheel and confirming that he is in fact Twilight, the cab pulls forward into the busy night.

"There's a briefcase under your seat." In response, Twilight reaches under his seat to find the briefcase concealed within a compartment. He places the briefcase on his lap, and with a metallic click it opens before him. As part of his assignment tonight, Twilight finds some appropriate attire and useful tools. Some of which include the means to utilize what he is already carrying in his own briefcase next to him. A silicone mask mold to impersonate a member of security tonight lay in the briefcase on his lap. Along with the mold is a fake security badge with his new name that should allow him access into the manor for tonight.

"Is all of this reliable?" Twilight looks up from the briefcase staring at the back of the other agent's head. Handler pretty much confirmed earlier today that he would be practically blind going into this assignment. How could they have gotten him a disguise, let alone a member of Desmond's security detail?

"Handler says it is from an old friend. Whatever that means." An old friend? Could she mean New Moon? Considering what they discussed earlier today, it is likely. Regardless, if Handler approves, then this should all be reliable for tonight. Now that he has been assured that the disguise is reliable, he begins making the mask of Oscar Wilde. That is who he shall be tonight for the assignment. He begins mixing some chemicals together in order to get the right skin tone and hair color for tonight. The man is tanned with dark curly hair and a faint scar that runs along his left cheek. Unlike most men in Ostania, his cheekbones are high and his nose has a slight crookedness from an old fracture. All in all, he looks like a man that has seen combat. He learns from the papers in the briefcase that Wilde is a war veteran, confirming his suspicions. Wilde also walks with a slight limp from an old wound during the war. In addition to the man's appearances, the papers also provide a brief description of his character. Stalwart in his support of the National Unity Party, and has a seething hatred for all things Westalis. Firm believer in the chain of command, and will protect Desmond with his life. Wilde prefers to keep his mouth shut, and only speaks when formally addressed.

"Hopefully I won't need to do any talking tonight." The driver grunts in reply, seeming to pay more attention to the road ahead of them. Twilight glances to the side out of the window and can see that they are just now leaving Berlint. The Desmond manor is not within the city itself, hence the need for Twilight to request transport. The sun has long set, leaving the country in darkness. The cab is the only vehicle on this outskirts road that leads into the forest surrounding Ostania. Desmond Manor resides in a clearing in the forest that was deforested some time ago. It would seem that even his home is reclusive to the point of solitude. Twilight could feel the car slow down, and hear it with the squeal of the old brakes.

"Alright, this is as far as I can go." The driver looks into the mirror at Twilight again. "Head northwest through the woods, should approach the area where Wilde is on guard."

Twilight opens the door and steps out of the car as the frigid air slaps him. His shoes crunch against fallen leaves on this late autumn night. His breath fogs out of his mouth and dissipates before his eyes. More leaves fall around him as a strong wind blows and shakes the trees around him. He runs a gloved hand against his new face ensuring that his disguise is properly secured. He quickly removes his clothes ignoring the biting chill of the frigid air and puts on a new black suit. Years of quickly changing clothes allows him to dress in this new disguise in moments. Once finished, he hears the cab behind him slowly drive off leaving Twilight in the forest surrounding the Desmond manor. He turns his head and watches the taillights of the car shrink before disappearing in the foliage of the forest. Another breeze blows through the forest causing a chill to run through him. He then steps into the forest with only the moonlight to guide him. It is bright enough for him to make out the immediate surroundings, but if there were any traps or snares he would be in trouble.

He treks slowly through the dimly lit forest sticking to the areas that are well lit by moonlight. He may seem to be going against the stealth necessary to sneak up on Wilde, but it is better he steps in the open than in the shadows where his foot could get caught. He has already avoided what seemed to be a couple rabbit snares with bells attached to them. Not big enough to stop a human, but in this quiet night the bell would resound quite far. All it would take is a guard to be alerted of any presence in the forest and Desmond could very well die this evening.

Desmond could die.

Now, that is a thought that has never crossed his mind before today. Sure everyone has to worry about the occasional accident. It is as likely for him to get hit by a car and perish as it is for Desmond. Aside from the untimely deaths, it is more in regards to an actual attempt on the man's life. Why would anyone in Ostania wish for Desmond to leave the picture? Everything that has been seen through news articles and even in casual conversation has shown Twilight that he is beloved by the country. A stout nationalist that will not sway in the face of western influence slowly trickling into Ostania. A traditionalist that may even push for the country to go to war if it can ensure his ideal view of Ostania. Could that be it? I doubt any right minded individual would wish for war again. That is why he was sent here for operation strix, so he could prevent future hostilities between the two countries. Apparently he was not the only option in this regard however.

Agent New Moon.

A legend in WISE. The man was operating behind enemy lines during the height of the war. Now he learned that the man was a former Ostanian agent before he came to work for WISE. Handler omitted the details, only stating how he betrayed Ostania and decided to work with Westalis. His information was probably invaluable for WISE after the war ended. He does not know what New Moon provided, but he can only guess it helped tremendously in getting WISE a foothold here in Ostania. Supposedly, the man died shortly after the war ended, or at least that is what they said. Now, Twilight knows that the man is secretly working on a mission similar to his own and perhaps has been for years. Infiltrate the national unity party in order to usurp Desmond and allow WISE a direct means of control in Ostanian politics. That is what he was able to put together from the little information Handler provided, which she should not have even told him in the first place.

Are those two things connected? This assassination attempt on Desmond tonight and the mission assigned to New Moon. Potentially, but there is nothing that can confirm the connection nor deny it. Let us assume for a moment that these two are connected somehow. Who gains the most from the assassination of Desmond? Assuming the party organizing the hit knows that WISE is involved with the national unity party somehow, then this assassination directly interferes with New Moon and himself. This is a worst case scenario however, to think that both himself and New Moon have been compromised somewhat. Not their identities, but the target of the operatives involved in their respective mission. Once again, who gains the most from this assassination? Someone that would immediately benefit from the national unity party being severely wounded, and dealing a direct blow to Westalis in the process.

The Ostanian government.

Ostania must still pay Westalis reparations following the great war, which was extremely costly for both sides. It is no secret that Desmond still holds strong animosity towards the west, and may try to pursue goals in which to start another war. That is the problem though. He may push for war. WISE is uncertain if that is Desmond's goal, it is a strong possibility, but it is not certain. Hence the need for operation strix to determine the goals of the man. Simply getting rid of Desmond may very well make the issue worse. Afterall, New Moon is not yet in position to take over the party. If Desmond dies here there is a strong possibility that the party would separate and create other small political groups. At that point, It is a coin toss that decides the political power in the country. It is much better for WISE if power remains in the hands of Desmond at the moment.

Either way, this is all conjecture. There is no evidence backing this theory, so Twilight puts his thoughts aside and continues through the forest. He avoids several more snares while moving through the moonlight. The forest is silent aside from the sound of leaves crunching beneath every footstep he takes. After walking through the forest for a couple miles, he can see some light in the distance. He crouches down, keeping himself out of sight as he slowly creeps toward the forest line. He squats behind a few bushes in the shade of a tall oak tree. Fortunately, there was no snare placed near the tree or the bushes, so he simply stayed there analyzing the building before him.

A long line of brick wrapped around the property, ensuring that no one could get inside. These walls were not that tall though, he could probably jump up and reach the top. Pulling himself over is out of the question though, because there were security cameras watching the length of the brick. Where the cameras were aimed at were illuminated by several yard lights keeping the area outside the wall well lit. He could only assume it was like that all around, and that there was no blind spot. So the walls were out of the question. Some movement caught his eye, and he could see two men walking along the length of the wall, one walking with a slight limp to his step. They were perhaps twenty paces away from the tree line walking in his direction along the length of the wall. Judging from the small dirt trail they walked along, the guards were very meticulous in their duties. Assuming the guards are doing laps around the perimeter, he does not have much time before Wilde continues on his patrol. Now, how could he separate Wilde from the other guard? It is very risky, afterall he has no idea what their protocol is in that given situation. Does he have a choice? He needs to get inside. Filled with resolve, he steps back away from the bushes.

He sneaks back a couple paces into the forest where one of the many snares were located. Then he glances back at the treeline to see if he can see the guards getting closer. They were now moving past the bushes he was hiding behind. Twilight lightly taps the bell in the snare located a couple paces behind the bushes, and in the shadow of a tree. The guards jolt as if they were struck, and quickly turn their attention to the sound of the ringing bell. He hopes the bell was only loud enough to get the attention of these two guards and no one else. Twilight moves a few paces away from the bell he just rang and hides in the darkness of another tree. If he was right about the man Wilde is portrayed to be, there is no way he does not come and investigate. Footsteps crunch through the leaves past the tree he is pressed up against. He brings a hand up to cup over his mouth to help silence his breathing and hide the steam of his breath in the air.

Ba-dump

Could he have planned this better? Perhaps get a better layout of the manor, and maybe get the guard detail. No…If WISE was able to get that information operation strix would not have been needed in the first place. It was fortunate enough that New Moon was even able to get him information on a guard at all. If he failed here tonight, it could very well ignite the flames of war once again.

Ba-dump.

He can not let that happen, he refuses to allow another world war to take place. He will use all that is at his disposal to keep the peace. This past year working with civilians has put more on his shoulders than ever before. This is not a new feeling, if anything the weight of the world is a familiar friend. It is under the immense pressure where he can do his best work afterall.

Two heartbeats. In the span of two heartbeats he finds his resolve again. He peers to the side and can make out a hunched figure inspecting the snare. He then sneaks a peek past the crouched man and sees the silhouette of the guard behind the bushes of the tree line. The bushes were obscuring his vision, and hopefully they were obscuring the guards vision as well. He almost laughed at the thought. Relying on hope and faith is not the way a spy should be operating. He steps through his previous footfalls to mitigate the sound of the leaves crunching beneath him. All is quiet as he creeps up on the man inspecting the snare he used to alert the guards. He closes in on his prey and once he is so close he could reach out and touch Wilde does he strike.

He throws a wide reaching punch aiming directly for the side of the other man's jaw. Wilde sways from the impact and seems to be too dazed from the sudden blow to even make a sound. That does not mean the job is over however, and Twilight knows he only has but a few precious seconds to finish this. The sound of his punch was mitigated slightly by his gloves, but not nearly enough to be rendered stealthy. Twilight catches the swaying Wilde, and wraps an arm around the man's neck and places the other behind their head. He squeezes with all his might cutting off the blood supply to Wilde's brain.

"Hey! Wilde you alright?" A deep voice resonates from behind the bushes. The sucker punch to the chin causes Wilde's muscles to slacken, preventing him from putting up a real fight. Within moments Wilde's hands gripping Twilight's arm go limp, and the man slumps in his hold.

Twilight lays the man behind the tree and steps from around the tree to grab the bell from the snare. He places two fingers inside the bell to prevent any more unnecessary sounds, and rips the bell from the string it is attached to. It was surprisingly heavy considering how the bell could fit in his palm nicely. He quickly moves towards the bushes with the other guard and sticks his head through the bushes.

"Wilde?" Twilight nodded his head at the startled guard before him. Blue eyes lock onto Twilight's new face examining him for a moment. The man removes a hand from the gun at his waist, and sighs. Twilight steps out from the bushes holding the bell attached to some broken string. "Ah, so the bell broke?"

Twilight nodded and pointed his thumb over his shoulder back to the snare behind him. The other guard just blinked a few times in response. Twilight shook the broken string in front of the other man's face. The pale skinned man narrowed his eyes at the string before his eyes widened.

"Right, someone should fix the snare." Twilight nodded, grateful the man understood. "Well, get to it."

Twilight pushed his way back through the bushes once again to make his way back to the unconscious Wilde. Twilight moved the unconscious man so he was sitting back against the tree. He took off the man's shoes and then removed their socks as well. He opened Wilde's mouth and stuffed the socks inside. He then removed the man's belt and stepped behind the tree to grab Wilde's arms. He pulled their arms back to wrap the tree pressing the back of Wilde's hands together. He wraps the leather belt tightly around the man's wrist securing him tightly to the tree. Twilight then goes back around to look at Wilde once more, double checking the makeshift gag. Satisfied with his impromptu restraints, he looked back toward the tree line to see the other guard was still behind the bushes unable to make anything out.

"Wilde, you almost done?" Said man started to stir at the mention of his name. Twilight took that as his cue to continue onward. Twilight dropped the bell on the ground letting it ring before stepping through the bushes back into the open grounds once more. Twilight gave the other man a nod before continuing down the path with the other guard in tow. "Tying that string must have been a bitch."

Twilight merely nodded in response letting the matter fall from the conversation. Well, if you could call the one sided comments a conversation. The two men continued walking the perimeter ignoring the nipping wind as best they could. The moon was well into the sky now, with few clouds moving to block out the light every so often. The yard lights kept the perimeter well lit however, and Twilight could soon see some sort of booth up ahead. The two men move through the well worn grass and walk up to an iron gate. The gate is beautifully designed in a gothic style depicting several swirls imitating vines curling up through the metal. It is very ostentatious and seems to be very fitting for Desmond to show off his wealth while also keeping himself protected.

"You two back from your rounds?" Said a strangely high pitched voice inside the booth next to the gate. Twilight and his partner step forward to be inspected by the man guarding the gate.

"No, I like the feeling of my nuts shriveling up from the cold and thought we could take another lap." The man replied with enough snark to earn a slap from a mother. Twilight found himself agreeing with the man next to him. Especially since he trekked miles through the forest with nothing but a winter wind as his companion.

"Hmm. wouldn't know." The man in the booth made a show of drinking from a steaming cup and slurping loudly.

"Just let us in." The man next to Twilight growled out. Twilight was half ready to strangle the man himself.

The man in the booth rolled his dark eyes and moved his hand out of sight for a moment. Twilight tensed up and rested a hand inside his coat pocket on the grip of his pistol. His worries were unnecessary however as a loud grinding noise was soon heard beside him as the iron gates slowly started to open. He removed his hand quickly before either of the two men could notice, then he nodded at the guard in the booth and continued through the gate. Once they were inside the gates closed behind them locking with an audible click. Twilight did it, he did what WISE has tried to do for years.

Infiltrate the Desmond manor.

It feels like it was too easy though. He keeps roaming his eyes around scanning the yard for any hidden attackers. Any second he expects someone to jump out at him or shoot him. This infiltration was supposed to be too difficult to even attempt let alone succeed. The risks were too high, and could make Desmond even more reclusive if an agent was caught. Getting inside was nothing short of a miracle for Twilight. If New Moon had not been able to gather so much intel on short notice, then Twilight never would have been able to sneak in. New Moon also had the guard detail down to the second these two men would be approaching Twilight's position. Did New Moon know how long it took him to travel through the forest? Perhaps he is looking for diamonds where there is only coal. New Moon is an excellent agent, but there is no way he could have determined everything Twilight could do. Right?

The two men walk with their shoes clicking loudly against the cobblestone leading up to the large double doors of the manor. Twilight found nothing lurking in the garden surrounding him, at least he did not see anything out there. As the two approached the manor's main entrance, Twilight was surprised to see the other man abruptly turn and walk down a side path. Twilight quickly followed the man towards what looked like a side entrance. One could not have the hired help walking in and out through the front door it would seem. The two men descend down a small set of stairs leading down to a simple wooden door. The other man opens the door and it creaks loudly from rusty hinges. Twilight follows the man inside to reveal a small locker room. A couple rows of green painted lockers line the walls and split the room down the center. Each line of lockers has a wooden bench in front of them sitting unevenly on the white tiled floor. A quick scan of the room reveals to Twilight that there are only two exits, and that it is just the two of them inside. Only one of them has started changing their clothes however, and Twilight plans to take advantage of that fact.

Twilight steps behind the man who just removed his shirt and taps him lightly on the shoulder. The other man sighs loudly before turning to face him. As soon as his shoulders started turning Twilight was already throwing a punch in the man's abdomen with as much force as he could muster. A loud release of breath escapes the other man's mouth as he doubles over clutching his abdomen. Twilight watches the mouth of the other man move as said man attempts to draw breath and scream. Twilight then grabs the back of their head and slams them down onto the bench with all their might. A loud crack echoes through the locker room and the man crumples onto the cold tiles of the locker room. Twilight pauses for a moment to just listen for any commotion.

All is quiet in the locker room and no sounds can be heard from anywhere outside either. Twilight releases a breath and looks down at the man crumpled on the floor. It would seem he now has a broken nose and possibly a facial fracture from the force of the impact. He is not a doctor however, and there is only one man whose life he is concerned for tonight. Twilight grabs the unconscious man and picks him up. He squeezes him into the locker that the man was just using to change his clothes. It was a tight fit, but Twilight was able to stuff the man inside before closing the locker behind him. Aside from the blood on the bench and the floor, no one would be any wiser to the events in here. He moves over to the door leading further into the manor and presses his ear against the door. Once again all is quiet so he tests the doorknob and thankfully it is unlocked.

He pushes the door open and steps into the empty hall. The light from the locker room filters into the dark hallway illuminating it somewhat. Twilight is thankful that the floor in these halls is covered with a dark blue carpet to help cushion the sound of his steps. He closes the door behind him and steps into the dark hallway. Down the length of the hall he can scarcely see the glow of some light. He sticks close to the wooden wall and stealthily makes his way toward the light. Fortunately the hall is barren as is expected since it would seem only security moves through this hall. Twilight soon approaches the end of the hall and peers around the corner that the light source is coming from. A small lit lamp is sitting atop a small table at the foot of a small staircase.

Twilight slowly approaches and waits for a moment by the lamp trying to discern if anyone is up the stairs. He hears nothing once again and continues up the steps ascending into the manor. The stairs lead into a well lit hallway with light fixtures attached to the walls at both ends of the hall. He steps lightly on the now marbled hallway and heads in the direction he believes the main entrance would be. He approaches the end of another hall and stops suddenly in his tracks. He can hear footsteps growing louder heading into his direction. He is disguised still, could that work in his favor here? No, Wilde's partner was changing clothes, assumingly to go home for the night. There is most likely no reason for Wilde to be inside given the circumstances. With this thought in mind Twilight looks all around him as the steps grow ever closer.

A few paces behind him is a door. Without many options he heads toward the door, listening as whoever is approaching could not be more than a few paces away from the end of the hall. He tests the doorknob, and breathes a sigh of relief as the door is unlocked. He quickly sneaks inside the dark room and lightly closes the door behind him. The loud sound of heels impacting against the marble floor increases until they move right next to the door he is hiding behind. The footsteps stop as the assumed woman is stopped right outside the door. Twilight stands as still as a statue and refuses to even breathe for fear they could hear it. One heartbeat. Two heartbeats. Three heartbeats. Then the sound of heels on marble picks up again as whoever is outside in the hall continues through the hall. Twilight releases a sigh into the pitch black room he is hiding within. He cracks the door open and peers into the wall, it would seem all is clear on the eastern front. He steps back into the hall and quietly continues back towards the main entrance. He turns another corner and can see at the end of the hall is a set of posh wooden doors. He makes his way to the doors and places his ear flat against the wood. After confirming that no one is on the other side he opens the doors and steps into the grand foyer.

The grand foyer of the Desmond estate puts the grand in grandiose. A large golden chandelier hangs from the ceiling in the center of the room so it is the first thing you notice upon entering. Marble stairs sweep through the room in a delicate curve showing off the excellent craftsmanship required to create the large home. Mahogany wood is used for the hand rails on the elegant steps leading to the second floor. What connects the wooden handrails and marble steps are beautifully crafted iron railings. The black metal loops and swirls all along the steps showing off the gothic style for all to see. There is a harlequin pattern on the marble floor of the foyer that juxtaposes black and white marble, highlighting the golden chandelier. Even though Twilight is not one to enjoy obvious displays of wealth, he can not help but admire the beautiful room. He continues forward under the chandelier and up the steps leading to what he can only assume is Desmond's private rooms.

Once he reaches the top of the steps he stops to get his bearings. He does not know the layout of the building at all and that fact alone frustrates him greatly. For all he knows The assassin could have already done the job, and he is putting himself at great risk for nothing. If that is the case, he could at least try to rummage through Desmond's study so the night is not a complete waste. Maybe Desmond has some information about who the successor of the party would be. That information will be important if and when Desmond perishes, for now though, he might as well continue the mission.

Twilight can only see one hall with any light coming from it. He can only hope that is where Desmond's private rooms are located. He quickly moves through the hall practically gliding across the floor with how silent his steps are. Here in this hall the walls were littered with paintings of landscapes and portraits of the Desmond family. He had no time to stop and admire such frivolous things, but he could recognize the current Desmond family in one of the portraits. It is getting late into the night, Desmond has either turned in for the night or is preparing for bed. He moves past a large grandfather clock in the hall ticking away throughout the night. He glances at the time and sees that it is two minutes before midnight. He made it just in time to when the assassin is supposed to strike, assuming he can make it to Desmond in the next two minutes. He reaches the end of another hall and stops as he hears some voices.

"Goodnight, Melinda." A gruff voice that could only belong to Donovan Desmond echoes down the hall.

"Goodnight, Dear." A soft feminine voice echoes back. He can hear a door close and soft footsteps growing further away. He peeks around the corner and can see a woman with dark hair moving further down the hall before disappearing in another room. He waited for only a moment before he moved down the hall toward the room he suspects Desmond went into. He gently raps on the door trying to only alert Desmond to his presence here in the hall. A moment passes and he can hear nothing on the other side of the door. He knocks a little more urgently this time another moment passes and Desmond rips the door open. Twilight can see that the room behind Desmond is dark aside from a large window with the moon on full display filtering light inside. Desmond sends a glare at him clearly upset at being disturbed so late.

"Wilde?" The glare softens just a bit and turns more to curiosity. "What are you doing here?"

"Sir." said Twilight, in a deep scratchy voice. He does not know what the man sounds like, so hopefully he can play it off that he has a cold. "It's not safe here. We have reason to believe you will be attacked tonight."

"What?" The glare dissipated entirely. "How do you know this?"

"There is no time, sir." Twilight looks past Desmond and can see the moon being blocked out somewhat. Twilight grabs Desmond by the shoulder and pulls the man into the hall behind him. "Run!"

The sound of glass shattering fills the night.

AN: I'm not dead and neither is this story. Sorry for the month-long hiatus. This past month I had to help my grandma move to Florida. Then, my brother needed a place to stay so he moved in with me. I'm still trying to acclimate myself to living with someone else. I forgot to mention he brought his dog with him, and she is annoying. I like dogs, don't get me wrong, but they are just so high maintenance. I typically write on my days off, and my brother works while I'm off. Usually this would be amazing, but his dog has separation anxiety. So, while he is at work and I am trying to write, his dog is whining and crying the whole time. Needless to say, I had a lot of trouble writing while she was crying all day. I ended up just getting some noise canceling headphones and calling it a day. Regardless, thank you for understanding and again I'm sorry for the delay. As always, thank you for reading, and I will see you in the next one. Ciao!