AN: Hello again to everyone still reading this! Well, exams finished and I've been able to update quicker whooo! :D This was meant to contain more but it was waaaay too long, so I decided to split the chapter into two. The next part should be up by the end of next week at the earliest but until then here's part one to keep you occupied! However, when I start college, updating will be difficult as I'm doing A-Levels. If any of you are in that position, how do you cope with managing free time and updating stories if you are authors on here? I'd be so grateful of a few hints! :D

(PS: LilyLukeLayton requested that Luke and Flora kiss for a long time in front of Layton-that maaaay happen in the next chapter ;) I hope it suffices, Lily! :D)

(I'm also struggling for puzzles-do people still want the puzzles included or are they too off-putting from the story? I'll go with that the majority say :D Thank you for your help everyone I couldn't do it without you :D

Thank you so much for your time reading and following this story and I hope you enjoy this chapter! Take care of yourselves, plant peace for the planet and see you all around sooooon!

Abbie xxx

:D :D :D


Chapter 16- Light in the darkness

"E-Everything I told you back in the tower before they arrested me…every word was true, I promise you," Bruno began, wiping at his eyes with his finger in either irritation or to wipe away the tears brimming within them (Flora assumed the latter and it just made her heart ache further), "I took the box from your mother's grave…your father had told me the secret to opening it, he trusted me the most of all you see. I went down there and found the box, what I was searching for. You have to believe me when I tell you that I had every intention of not keeping you in the dark about all of this, Flora. Your father would never have wanted that and I would never go against Augustus's wishes like that. However, I did hope to keep you from finding out for just a little while longer. My intention in doing this was only to protect you."

"Wh-why would it protect me, Bruno?" Flora asked quietly, swallowing the nervous lump rapidly growing in her throat from apprehension that was now permanently existent within her being, "I would have found out sooner or later either way…please t-tell me."

The old man sighed shakily, blinking hard in response as he licked his lips.

"I…I was truly frightened of the effect it would have on you. With the sorc-I mean, She-who-brings-darkness-to-the-world in the village and hunting the Reinhold family I feared it would break you, damage you…even…even make you think that you had the power to stand up for the village, to…to fight Her yourself!"

"But I could! I-if I let my powers grow then…then I can challenge her and save the village and everyone in it—"

"You will do no such thing, Flora," Layton interrupted, his face creasing with apprehension despite his stern tone, "I forbid it. We will gather what information we can and deal with this rationally."

"See, Flora, the professor is right. How you reacted just then…you are still young and inexperienced, Flora. The sorceress is immensely strong and powerful…the dark magic she casts could conquer you, turn you forever to the darkness and if I could prevent that from happening in any way then I would do anything to keep you safe! I figured that…once everything had settled down then…then as Augustus instructed I would give you the box and inform you of your powers and of your…your sister…because…b-because you were of age and ready. Your powers are developing to become their strongest now you are of age in the terms of your abilities."

Flora was silent for a moment, absorbing the man's words as conflicted emotions crossed her face. She held onto the professor's hand tightly as though it were a lifeline through it all.

"Why…why did you create the Death Dogs, Bruno?" Luke inquired with narrowed eyes as he folded his arms, taking the opportunity to speak whilst Flora collected her mess of entangled thoughts, "I thought…the sorceress conjured the Death Dogs…but they were robots and thus prove she didn't conjure them up, so she mustn't be that powerful!"

"My boy, you don't u-understand," he swallowed, the chains of his handcuffs jangling lightly against the table and playing a dull monotonous tune, "I am not in league with the sorceress! But I…I was ordered…by them…to construct the Death Dogs…and the robot citizens that they claimed that night were returned to my tower, where I could fix them and then return them to their original positions around the town, but then…the sorceress could manipulate their functioning again…I don't know if I can take the risk, but I doubt Jacob and Dominic are doing…too brilliantly in my absence…Anyway I knew they had abducted that older boy, Clive was it? Yes…they kept him down in the secret compartment below in my tower…with the other things, including your L-Layton Mobile—"

"Pardon my interrupting, Bruno, but I can't help but notice you keep referring to 'they' in your explanations," Layton observed quietly as he let his finger repeatedly stroke across his chin to aid him in his train of thought, "Would you be able to tell us exactly who these people are?"

The caretaker's cheeks appeared to become drained slightly of their usual bright rosy colour at this question and his eyes apprehensively began peering in several different directions. Flora didn't know if it was a simple trick of the light, despite how it failed to effectively illuminate the room itself, or if beads of sweat had really begun to form on the man's brow.

"I-I…I cannot tell you truthfully," he answered, swallowing hard and breathing deeply to regain a calmer composure, "They…they were hooded at all times, effectively concealing their faces. I had no possible way of discerning their true identities a-and even if I did I couldn't tell you b-because…"

He trailed off at that point in the interrogation, chewing so hard on his lower lip that it had begun to bleed slightly.

"Yes?" Layton pressed, keeping his tone gentle so as not to make the old man even more apprehensive.

"I…I can't say, Professor. I'm so sorry but I can't tell you myself, but you should know that my tower contains a lot of information and i-items helping me with the construction of this village. If you had the time to investigate it thoroughly then you just might find clues that could help you determine their identity."

The professor's eyebrows furrowed thoughtfully. Bruno was clearly distressed and brimming with guilt over his actions, but he could tell the man was not lying, not by the way his eyes never failed to leave those of the pale apprehensive girl standing a mere metre away from him. His guilt was identifiable in the man's very pupils, his eyes stinging with the water forming in his eyes that refused to fall as tears.

"As a matter of fact, Bruno, I have already sent Emmy to investigate your tower. If she finds any leads or anything of interest then she will find it and bring it back to us to investigate and see if it provides us any leads in our investigations. However, our suggestion hints that there is something within your tower that could help us greatly. Can you not tell us what it is?"

"Please…y-you have to trust me, Professor…I would never not tell you something unless it was extremely vital that I kept it from you…I'm t-truly sorry for what I've done, I in no way intended for any real harm to befall anyone," he replied in a voice that was undeniably concealed with desperate pleas for their help and understanding, before he licked his lips and quietly added, "The…the inspectors also told me that…you ventured out to…to B-Blood Manor…and yet you came back…alive…How was that p-possible?"

Flora wrapped her arms around her waist as though it would serve protection from the terrifying memories of what fate nearly befell the mother of her best friend, closing her eyes tightly.

"W-we met Madam Myra and Connie Smith. She explained to me everything she knew about Seryna and how…how close they had been. We also met…Lily…Myra's other daughter and…and we learnt about…" she swallowed before continuing in a voice barely louder than a whisper, "the Sect of Darkness…"

Bruno's pupils dilated instantly.

"Y-y-you haven't come across them h-have you?"

"The truthful answer would be that we barely managed to evade them, Bruno," Layton answered for his daughter, biting his lip at his apprehension and disgust for the cult that seemingly lived for his daughter's death, "We stayed the night there. Lily almost…almost killed Brenda, but Myra and Connie managed to stop her in time. They warned us of the sect's dark abilities and of the fact…that the sorceress could very well be their leader. Apparently they know all about Flora and like the sorceress, will not rest until they have…disposed of her."

The girl had to muster up every will into her not to let a frightened sob escape her lips. She needed to be brave, be strong, as her father would have wished-for all of their sakes.

"Y-you need to leave, Flora. All of you, leave St Mystere, go as far away as you possibly can from—"

"She…she said that e-even then the sect would still try to find her…and using their magical abilities they…they eventually would…," Luke interrupted in a wavering voice, his fingers trembling by his sides as he spoke, "Bruno…wh-why do they want to Flora dead? D-do you know anything about them?"

"I…I know very little, but the main reason they do w-want Flora is because…because of her abilities…whilst the lives the sorceress must see her as a threat…and therefore want her eliminated…that seems the most likely explanation…or she could possibly think that by killing her she can harness her abilities for herself and become much more powerful than they are present."

He paused to take a deep irregular breath for a moment, before slowly leaning forwards, closing the gap between himself and the others, his eyes becoming clouded with his own growing anxiety at the prospect of the bloodthirsty cult succeeding in their intentions.

"However…they never used to be this powerful…I believe only in the last decade the sect developed their dark magical abilities. Your father never seemed to be in danger from them, Flora, but I do recall instances when they attempted to disrupt the construction of the village with prophecies and threats. They were a hindrance, but not…not deadly. Unlike now…"

"Erm, Bruno, when we were interrogating you in the tower, you mentioned about Lady Dahlia's abduction," Luke interrupted, placing his hand to his chin and mirroring his mentor's actions, "Please, tell us about it. Did you witness it?"

The old man shuddered as he gave a barely perceptible nod.

"I-I did," he answered after a moments' hesitation of recollecting the horrifying memory, "She had gone out with me to the grave. I found the secret switch on your Mother's statue, went down into her grave and retrieved the box. When I…r-returned to the surface Dahlia was nowhere to be found. I assumed she'd gone back to the manor, so I hid the box on my person, recovered the grave and went to find her…and that's when I heard her screaming shrilly. Matthew was unconscious on the ground and…and all I saw were cloaked figures lifting Dahlia between them and then one of them uttered some kind of…incantation and they vanished immediately in dark flames with Dahlia b-between them."

"How…how terrible," the professor murmured under his breath, his fingers tracing reassuring patterns into Flora's shoulders to soothe her apprehension, "Is that all you can recount of what happened?"

"I'm afraid i-it is, Professor…," he answered, a genuinely regretful tone within his cracked voice, "Matthew was with Dahlia up to the time she was abducted though. If he has recovered, it may also be worth getting Matthew's account. Whoever took her was adept in the art of magic but…that is the only lead I can give you. I just…pray that no harm befalls her because…the residents may be just constructions of metal but…Augustus instructed I program them with…with feelings, to make them more realistic. Including pain. If they hurt her…"

An unnerving silence settled upon the room once more, which was broken only by Flora coughing lightly to clear her raw throat.

"B-Bruno…," she questioned, her voice ending on a completely different octave, "could…if I developed my abilities enough…do you…d-do you really think I could…overcome the sorceress? Prevent her from causing any more damage and d-disruption to this village and its inhabitants. I have to help preserve it, for you and for Dahlia and for Papa!"

The old man was silent for several moments, apart from a small choked noise issuing from deep within his throat as the tears brimming in his eyes slowly began to drip down his wrinkled cheeks.

"F-Flora…," he whispered, trying to blink back further tears if just to comfort the unfortunate girl, "You…you're becoming just like your father. However…regarding the prophecy Augustus left in your mother's grave…I have next to no clue on what it entails, but when it mentions 'an apple dark', it could be a powerful item, most likely infused with dark magic. It could even be that the Sect of Darkness themselves have it on their possession. This Dark Apple would be the source of the power of this sect, including S-She-who-brings-darkness-to-the-world. Your father could be insinuating…that if this item is found and recovered by you then…then the sect will be powerless and the dark times that befall us will finally come to an end."

"Hmm…that is an extremely likely possibility, Bruno," Layton added as Flora and Luke just blinked at the man, as though not completely comprehending what he was saying, "However, if such an item is located within the sect…that would make it almost impossible to recover, not to mention fraught with danger…I wonder…"

"I-It's just a possibility, Professor," Bruno quickly interrupted the professor's thoughts, visibly becoming paler, "I-I don't know for certain what Augustus' prophesised message is but it makes the most sense as far as I can see: A dark apple and the sorc-I mean, She-who-brings-darkness-to-the-world. The answer is in the name, I highly doubt it to be a coincidence! Yet you can't just go gallivanting off for this item and risk being found by the members of the sect, or Dahlia's abductors!"

"B-But, Bruno, wh-what if it's the only way, we'll have no choice but to—"

"You cannot and will not go. It's suicide! Flora…listen to me. Please…heed my words. Professor, join your assistant in the tower to see if you can find what is sure to be a lead in your investigation and explain…a part of this mystery. I promise you that it will explain about my involvement and hopefully clear me of the charge of conspiring with Her. Please, Flora…," Bruno raised his head again, his shining eyes meeting with the young girl's as her own glistened to mirror his own tears, "I…I don't expect you to forgive me easily but…please trust me. Augustus trusted me with his life…and as you are truly his daughter, I would not expect you to do any less, little one—"

"Alright, your time's up, Layton!"

The group quickly averted their gaze to the open doorway to the inn's room. The robust form of Inspector Chelmey stood in the doorway, his arms folded and the rhythmic sound of his booted feet tapping impatiently against the wooden floorboards suffusing around the dimply lit room.

"Of course, my thanks, Inspector," the professor answered, before turning back to the old caretaker and tipping his hat lightly to him, "Thank you for your information, Bruno. I can give you my word as a gentleman that we will resume our search of the tower and try and get to the bottom of this. You shouldn't be here for much longer, I hope."

He straightened his jacket carefully, watching sadly as his daughter was forced to bid farewell to the man she had looked up to as a father-figure before she had been adopted by the professor.

"B-Bruno…," she stammered, reaching out after a moment's hesitation to hold onto his hand tightly, "I…I do trust you, even after what you have done because…Papa did…he always did…and I want to believe you are innocent in all this...you would never betray Papa without good r-reason. I-I'm so sorry about how I s-spoke to you back in the tower b-but…we will try and do as you ask, at least. I shall be careful, please try not to worry about me…we will find these clues and…prove your innocence, right?"

Bruno licked his lips slightly, closing his eyes in a manner that indicated he was touched beyond words at this gesture. Despite the inspector's disapproving expression, he gingerly took the young girl's hand in his own shaking one and the short chain shackling his wrists in front of him allowed him to barely squeeze her hand, a tiny smile pulling at the corner of his lips.

"If you b-believe it, Flora…so it shall be," he answered quietly keeping hold of her smooth pearly hand.

They stayed in this current position for several more moments before being interrupted by an impatient yet purposeful cough from Chelmey at which the old man gave a despondent shaking sigh and reluctantly let go of Flora's hand, inclining his head lightly.

"Thank you…thank you, I-Inspector…"

"Hmph. You had better not have been giving them any trouble, Old man," he responded gruffly, his eyes narrowed suspiciously at the suspect, because at the end of the day, that was only how he was perceived by the officers of the Yard.

"None at all, Inspector, you needn't worry about that!" Luke assured the inspector with a convincing smile, his fingers lightly playing with the brim of his signature pale blue baker boy cap, "We will just be taking our leave now. We still have a lot of investigating to do after all!"

A gasp suddenly resounded from Bruno and he quickly raised his head, his eyes wide and questioning as he peered at the professor, almost desperately.

"Oh P-Professor Layton, I forgot to ask you earlier. Y-you did get the newspaper clipping I instructed the i-inspectors to give to you, didn't you?"

"You may rest assured, Bruno, they delivered it to me shortly before we set out for the manor," he calmly informed the old man, his fingers gingerly pulling out the faded clipping from deep within his trouser pocket as proof to support his words, "I found it most interesting to learn about your relationship with Jacob and Dominic."

Relief crossed the old man's face upon hearing this and he breathed deeply, his posture instantly becoming more relaxed.

"Ah…th-thank you, Professor. I just had to be certain…but please, keep an eye on Dominic and J-Jacob for me…their behaviour worries me at the best of times."

Layton inclined his head gently, Bruno's words repeating themselves inside his aching head.

"I shall, Bruno-and I will be sure to pass on your regards. Farewell for now."

Tipping his hat once more to the pensioner, he gently took Flora's hand and guided her and Luke outside of the tiny room, allowing the inspector to close the door firmly behind them.

"Well?" he demanded sharply, before the door had even properly closed, "Did you get much out of him?"

"We uncovered some useful details, Inspector, which I am sure may well lead us to finding further leads to aid us in our investigations," Layton answered calmly, watching as the inspector firmly twisted a rusted copper key in the door's key hole and muttered curses under his breath when the key failed to lock the door the first time around.

"Damn rusted lock! This key is useless!" he grumbled, jamming it harshly into the lock in disgust, "So? Out with it! You can't expect to keep me waiting when people's lives are at stake, Layton!"

The professor raised his hands gently, effectively causing the inspector's argument to trail steadily away.

"Please calm yourself, Inspector. I promise all will be revealed in due time, but right now there are some things I need to confirm. A good day to you, Inspector-and please…try not to be too harsh in Bruno's treatment."

"Pah, an officer shows no favouritism to criminals and convicts alike, whether they are young lads or crumbling pensioners!"

"Please, Inspector," Flora repeated, her eyes peering up at him pleadingly.

Chelmey grumbled incoherently under his breath, stroking his moustache obsessively before he almost reluctantly nodded his head in a barely perceptible gesture.

"Excellent. Then I believe that concludes our business here. Luke, Flora, come. We must continue in our queries."

"But, Professor," Luke began, confusion passing across his face as his mentor began to guide them down the creaking stairs of the inn towards the exit back to the village, "what lead have we got?"

Turning to face his young apprentice, Layton smiled and helped his daughter carefully down the last of the stairs, before answering assertively.

"My boy, I think it's time we reunited with Emmy and got to the bottom of this mystery…"


The streets of the quaint little village seemed uncharacteristically deserted as the three investigators carefully made their way out of the Crummeatrice Inn and proceeded towards the iconic clock tower. Layton found it understandable why the streets would seem so abandoned, what with the residents terrified beyond their wits about the Sorceress of Darkness still stalking around the village as well as the incident regarding the Death Dogs two nights before. The people of St Mystere had been programmed to feel human emotions, Layton remembered, so it was natural for them to be so frightened, yet they certainly weren't the only ones. Beside his mentor, Luke walked relatively brightly, swinging his arms lightly by his sides, yet this failed to disguise the paleness in his youthful face.

"We should nearly be there now. I can't help but wonder just what clue Bruno intends for us to find," Layton mused thoughtfully to himself as he held his daughter's hand for guidance and to remind the young girl that he was right beside her if she needed him for any reason.

"Erm, Professor, is it just me or did Bruno seem…different, to you?" his apprentice inquired inquisitively, his eyebrows furrowing as he spoke, "He was acting quite strangely, I figured."

"I am in agreement with you at that point, Luke; Bruno seems rather preoccupied. In fact, judging by what he was telling us and his desperation for us to search his clock tower again for something that he knows will provide us with a lead, I would wager that Bruno has not been acting accordingly of his own will."

Flora abruptly stopped, the leather of her boots squeaking against the cobbled tiles. Luke even had to stop and allow his eyes to scan the area in search of what he assumed was a mouse that had made that sound.

"So you mean…B-Bruno isn't…completely behind this?" Flora faltered, her eyes widening at this revelation, "Then…he is innocent, right, Professor? I mean…no one has been able to extract a motive out of him and I know Bruno would have no reason to hurt anyone in this town, unless something drastic would occur otherwise. Maybe he's…acting under influence of the sorceress!"

"Yeah, Flora. I was thinking that actually…who says she can't hypnotise people? Or erase their will? I mean, she is a sorceress after all-and a powerful one too!"

The professor closed his eyes for a moment as the possibility was registered vaguely in his own mind.

"It's a possibility, Flora. However…Bruno didn't seem to be under any magical enchantment when we interrogated him just now. No, I think it could be someone else and by finding this particular 'item' in Bruno's tower we may just be able to determine who that person may be."

The two children stared at the professor for several moments before they both nodded in understanding. Luke gently took Flora's other hand in his own and lead her along the path as the top of the now ominous and dark clock tower began to peep over the horizon before them. The sun was presently high in the sky, radiant rays of warmth beaming down on the inhabitants of the village below. Layton wiped his brow wearily with the back of his hand as they proceeded onwards, somewhat regretting his decision to wear such thick attire more suitable for colder and harsher forecasts.

"I just hope Emmy's alright on her own," Luke added, biting on his lip nervously as they began to approach the town square, "She must be so stressed with worry for Clive and this entire mystery."

A wave of shame washed over the professor at that moment; he hadn't even considered that his agile assistant could have been put at risk or endangered herself whilst she had been investigating on her own. He'd been too preoccupied with their interrogation of Bruno and of course his daughter's safety. However, Emmy was a grown adult and she had survived nearly three years working by herself without the professor's constant worrying. He didn't underestimate the woman in the slightest, even he found her martial combat skills impeccable and astounding, but after all, it was the duty of every gentleman to be concerned over the well-being of a lady. By the detectable note of apprehension in Luke's words and the flash of anxiety filling his daughter's face, it was evident that they were thinking the same as he was.

"It is the duty of every gentleman to put the needs of a lady first, as you know, my boy," he began quietly, tilting the brim of his hat to provide shade from the glaring rays of sunlight, "However, you both know as well as I do that Emmy is an exception. She is more than capable of looking after herself. Emmy is…one of the bravest people I know, have ever met and will ever meet in my life. Her skills in hand to hand combat are outstanding-unorthodox, yet remarkably effective-and I am aware that the situation regarding Clive is taking a toll on her, but if I didn't believe in my assistant then I would not have let her go off to investigate all by herself."

The teenagers blinked at the professor, slightly surprised at hearing him speak in this heartfelt way about Emmy. It was a very rare occasion for the professor to talk about her in this manner.

"You're…you're right, Professor. Emmy is perfectly fine by herself. Well, I've witnessed it enough times! I'll never forget the time she knocked those thugs senseless in Misthallery!"

"Yes…she has her…upbringing to thank for that…"

Layton trailed off sorrowfully, sighing deeply to clear his mind of that fact: What happened was in the past and only the present and future were certain. His assistant had changed; she'd proved that more than enough times and especially when she returned to serve as his assistant again after the case in America. Luke also sensed the awkwardness in the professor's tone and decided that maybe it would be better if he didn't speak about it in future, guilt biting at him slightly for reminding his mentor of the shocking cruel revelation.

"She still tries to teach me fencing yet…I can't quite master it," Flora laughed lightly, trying to change the subject to a more light-hearted one, "Do you think we might ever master—ah! Jacob, Dominic!"

The professor stopped his pace at Flora's declaration and he tipped his hat politely to Bruno's assistants as he noticed them approaching the side street to return to the tower from the other side of the pathway. The two men paused abruptly and turned to face the group, Dominic mirroring the professor's polite grin and Jacob shakily waving his hand with a smile that barely lifted the corners of his scarlet lips.

"P-Professor Layton! A p-pleasure to see you again. H-How are your investigations g-going?"

The man scratched the back of his neck in irritation, a pallid shade gradually filling his face. His partner nodded and peered inquisitively at the professor, silently asking the same question as his fingers twitched lightly by his sides and unlike his partner, his cheeks were flushed heavily, presumably from having run around the village looking for mechanical parts to fix the robots or to perform their own investigations.

"How's…how's Bruno? That inspector fellow isn't…planning on letting him go yet, is he?"

Despite the effort the men were making to attain positive demeanours, it was evident that they were both experiencing high levels of stressful emotions as well as apprehension from the sweat decorating Jacob's brow. The arrest of their friend must have been terribly draining for the both of them, not to mention that the task of single handily fixing dozens of robots alone was no simple feat to accomplish.

"Ah, it's good to see you gentlemen again," Layton greeted as he returned his hand to his side, "Our investigations are coming along rather well, thank you. We have spoken to Bruno but…the inspector is still certain that he is the perpetrator of these heinous acts, or at the very least an accomplice to them."

Dominic coughed lightly into his palm.

"Ah, we wanted to visit but the officers would have none of it. Anyway, has he said anything…beneficial to you?"

"…Not much, I'm afraid, other than to wish you both well."

"Bless the man's soul," he responded, appearing more relaxed at hearing about the old man's wishes, "He always put us before himself. He is a true friend…even after all he's done…"

"Ah, B-Bruno…why did you h-have to be a t-traitor?" Jacob whispered quietly, wiping at his nose as he spoke.

"I still have faith in Bruno, Jacob. Please rest assured I will not rest until I have found out exactly what is going on here and in the process I should hopefully shed some light on Bruno's involvement in all of this. I thank you for your patience, both of you, I know this must be a harrowing time."

"I-Indeed, Professor…but we are managing fine enough ourselves…we can't let the village rot whilst Bruno's incarc-cerated…Thank you for your c-consideration."

Layton shook his head gently, his eyes shining with sympathy.

"No thanks are necessary, my good man. Please, keep faithful in your friend, but maybe it would be of help if you both took a rest for a little while. You both look exhausted."

Dominic merely waved his hand dismissively.

"A bit of hard work never kills anyone, Professor. We just get on with the job and do whatever is necessary…"

Flora gave a small grateful smile to the two for their valiant endeavours to preserve the village whilst it's caretaker couldn't in the present scenario.

"Anyway, we had better be continuing with our investigations. Thank you again for your trust," Layton replied softly, putting his hands in his pockets.

His eyebrows knitted together as his eyes scanned the area for several seconds, finding no signs of his assistant's presence in the square, nor in the clock tower, for the door was wide open and surely after all he had taught her, she wouldn't have barged into the tower herself and searched through its contents without asking for permission from Jacob or Dominic? That was almost identical to trespassing, in Layton's opinion, or perhaps the two men had given their consent for Emmy to search through the items in the tower and she was already inside putting her investigating skills to effective work. Maybe she'd even found the item they were searching for that could aid them greatly in the conclusion of at least part of the mystery.

"Oh, I almost forgot. You haven't seen my assistant, Emmy, around here have you?"

Jacob's eyes flickered left and right for a few moments as he opened his mouth to speak. It was an evident habit of the man's, Layton assumed, after what happened in the past to his family.

"No, sorry, Professor. I can't say we have for certain," Dominic answered for him, shaking his head with a frown, "Remind me, what does she look like again? Is she the…tall one with the brown hair?"

"Yep. She wears a lemon trench coat with white leggings, a pinky red bowtie and black boots," Luke informed them, peering anxiously up at the professor as Flora followed suit, "She's very easy to spot!"

Jacob sighed regretfully, closing his eyes.

"N-No, I'm afraid not. Why, sh-she isn't in danger is sh-she?"

"I…I certainly hope not," Layton responded, his heart rate suddenly increasing at the prospect that harm may have befallen his assistant, yet he was probably over-reacting, "Maybe she has already left to look for us. She was investigating inside the clock tower. Did she not ask either of you for permission?"

"That's another no, Professor. We're truly sorry, it's just been the two of us and some unresponsive robots today. Even if she did investigate the tower without our permission, it's perfectly fine. You are investigating after all and the situation is becoming incredibly…dire."

Flora swallowed hard, dread beginning to creep inside of her. What if Emmy disappeared just like Clive had? True, he was recovered the day afterwards, alive and relatively unscathed. What if the sorceress had returned and was looking for her?

"P-Professor," she began, the last syllable quivering, "d-do you think that—"

Her words were abruptly terminated by a ringing, thunderous hammering filling the entire square from a short distance away, slicing through the somewhat peaceful atmosphere that had been present mere seconds ago. Jacob released a high pitched shriek of horror before immediately retreating in the opposite direction, his hands flailing frantically in the air as he charged back into the welcoming safety of the clock tower.

"Wh-what on earth…?" Layton began dubiously; his eyes growing wide with trepidation as he quickly pulled the two children close as Flora let out a shrill shocked scream.

"J-Jacob, wait!" Dominic hollered after him, his eyes wide at the sudden interruption, "P-Please excuse me, Professor, I have to see that Jacob's okay!"

"Be careful! Both of you—" he called after the man, but he was already half way across the street in desperate pursuit of his partner.

Luke gripped the professor's jacket sleeve tightly, his face turning ashen as the source of the interruption became evident.

"P-Professor…a-aren't those…g-gunshots?" he stammered frightfully, covering his ears quickly with a gasp as the surrounding air rippled with the piercing cries of about a dozen bullets simultaneously making their way towards whatever had been marked as their anticipated targets, "Wh-who could they be—"

"HALT IN THE NAME OF THE YARD!"

The professor jerked upright; they all knew that familiar booming voice.

"That's…Inspector Grosky!" he exclaimed stridently, his eyes scanning the square in the attempt to locate the source of where the gunfire and undoubtedly the inspector's enraged bellowing was coming from.

"I-is the inspector sh-shooting at someone?!" Flora faltered, trembling fiercely and paling immensely at the prospect that the kind hearted inspector she always saw would do such a thing.

"I have no idea, Flora, but we must help him in any way we can!"

"But Professor—"

"Both of you stay close to my side at all times, is that clear?"

Alarmed beyond description, the two teenagers gave shaking nods to confirm that they comprehended the professor's warning.

"Y-Yes, Professor…" Luke responded barely audibly several seconds later, evidently still recovering from the shock and the ringing noise of the gunshots colliding with the walls of his brain.

"Very well. Follow my lead!"

Taking a deep breath as the gunshots ripped through the air again, Layton's head jerked towards the street on their left where he had identified the noise to be at its most discernible and instantaneously charged in that direction, the thick soles of his shoes pounding almost rhythmically against the cobblestones. His arms tore through the air in front of him desperately to enhance his distance, perspiration forming rapidly on his brow from the adrenaline coursing through his veins combined with the heat from the sun spreading through his thick leather jacket that whipped his orange shaded jumper as he sprinted to the end of the street.

"P-Professor wait for us!"

Turning a corner shortly, Layton didn't slow his pace but glanced back behind his shoulder to ensure his two young assistants were at a safe distance behind him. Luke was running with all his strength, holding Flora's hand tightly to aid her as they followed their mentor, gasping and panting as they were forced to quickly turn the corner.

"I SAID HALT! YOU WON'T COMPLY, EAT MY BULLETS, YOU VILE FIENDS!"

The inspector's voice was much clearer now and sounding truly outraged, yet there was a discreet hint of panic within his tone.

"Inspector! Hold on, we are coming!"

"IGNACIODOSO!"

That voice was unfamiliar, shrill and every word burning with ferocity as a rippling wave of fire swarmed across the street some feet in front of them. From this distance they could make out Inspector Grosky. A cold black gun was held in his two oversized hands, his eyes bulging out of their sockets. Heavily panting, he was fortunately barely able to swiftly dodge the oncoming smouldering surge of fire, the inferno licking his shoes and eating through the tough leather of his boots.

"Ah! Ah! Damn boots!" he cursed, hopping about on one leg whilst trying to extinguish his flaming footwear frantically.

"Inspector!" Layton gasped, rushing forwards to aid the man.

However, he found his feet forcing themselves to stop as he caught sight of the cause of the phenomena-one that had been caused by magic.

"No…" he breathed, his pupils dilating as the combined descriptions of both Myra and Connie repeated themselves continuously within his mind, growing in volume and urgency the longer he stared at the end of the alley.

Shrouded in sinister shadows, two tall figures were observing the inspector's antics with cruel smiles curling upon their barely visible faces. The main reason to explain this fact was the thick flowing cloaks adorning their gaunt bodies, the black fabric that the garments were mainly composed of pooling around the soles of their bare feet. Identical shaded hoods obscured the upper part of their faces and cast ominous shadows over the porcelain skin of their lower faces, which was overlaid in countless crimson cuts. These ranged from harmless scratches to what would be permanent scars perforating their skin in some form or another.

The figure on the left towered over their relatively smaller companion, a long scarlet slash biting deeply into their left cheek. Judging from his lanky physique, Layton assumed this particular figure was male. Wispy waves of scarlet hung freely underneath his hood, a similar shade to the dark substance smearing the tip of the shimmering silver dagger which he currently held tightly in his hand. The same substance dripped down the jewelled hilt onto the ashen skin of the same hand holding the dagger at that moment, further emphasising the pallid composition of his appearance. Nonetheless, he appeared completely unperturbed by this fact, continuing to stare in front of him with that same smirk plastered upon his lower face. From this current distance, his eyes were barely discernible, yet a section underneath his hood-typically where his eyes would be expected to be- was glowing a bold and radiant ruby shade.

Beside him, his companion was sneering sharply. The glint of their rosy lips from whatever cosmetic they had decided to use that particular day clearly identified them as female. Her garments were virtually identical to those of her male companion, long spikes of jet black hair protruded outwards from under her own hood and not unlike her partner her eyes also appeared to be glowing under the fabric concealing her upper face, but this light was a deep dark purple. Her cloak was vividly decorated in a variety of embroidered shapes, elaborate patterns and glittering threads to embellish the otherwise plain dull outfit. However, this wasn't the only other similarity that the two bore: as they both raised their hands slightly, the sleeves covering their wrists slipped vertically down their arm, exposing the dreadfully familiar shape carved into the flesh of their wrists, the shape that caused the blood in Layton's veins to freeze with icy horror.

"Th-the…th-the dark a-apple...," Luke stammered, his shaking finger pointing at the undeniable shape that glinted in the light of the flames that had been cast mere seconds ago.

"The mark of the s-sorceress…," Flora whispered, her breathing suddenly becoming irregular as she observed the two menacing figures with large terrified eyes.

Layton swallowed hard, desperate to get any form of moisture into his throat, which had swiftly began to dry up from his increasing dread. For once, to his uttermost horror, his assumptions had indeed been correct; they both bore the same mark. There was no room for debate about where these two had come from-and therefore what they had been sent to do…

"Flora…get behind me…"

The girl barely had the strength to nod, quickly shuffling behind her mentor, being guided by his protective arm shielding her safely behind his taller figure even if she hadn't obliged.

"My, my. What a truly pitiful display," the male smirked snidely as the inspector finally managed to extinguish his flaming footwear, "Don't you know that a piece of metal is nothing in the face of the darkest, most powerful magic that could be existent in your own imagination? Impudent idiot."

His partner cackled shrilly, clearly agreeing with his cutting feedback. Grosky quickly regained his livid composure, thoroughly abhorring their evident mockery and thrusting the gun back in the direction of the two figures at the end of the street, his teeth grinding together and revealing just how volatile he presently was.

"I WARNED YOU, BRIGANDS! HOW DARE YOU INSULT I, GROSKY OF THE YARD!"

"Pff. What type of a title is that, Inspector?" The female sniggered, thoroughly enjoying the show that their target was displaying for them, "That sounds like a child's title compared to the all-powerful Sorceress of Darkness!"

"I DON'T CARE ABOUT THIS WRETCHED SORCERESS! I DEMAND YOU TO RELEASE THE INSPECTOR IMMEDIATELY!"

"What, the woman? She's an inspector too?" she smirked once again, kicking an unresponsive figure that currently lay sprawling in the dust beside her, "Hah, what a knight in shining armour. Admirable, but still pitiful. Your efforts are wasted, old man, we have no intention to release our prisoner and you will be joining her unless you show more respect to the mighty Sect of Darkness!"

It was only then that Layton recognised the figure, his eyes widening in horror.

"E-Emmy!"

His assistant lay motionless on the cobbled path beside the two sect members, her signature lemon jacket dirtied from disrespectfully being dropped in the dust of the street as well as dark stains on her usually white leggings that strongly resembled oil from its texture. That had undoubtedly been from inside the tower amongst the animatronics and fuels, although parts of the material covering her lower body more closely resembled a dark shade of grey. The most mortifying thing though had to be the scarlet spatters decorating the lemon of her coat and matting up the brown strands of hair that splayed in an unkempt manner around her white face. Layton's breathing hitched slightly as he found himself barely able to avert his eyes from the permanent crimson colour. He expected to find it on her face also, however it was impossible to discern whether this fact was true, due to the fact that her entire face was concealed, with the exception of her nose, mercifully allowing her to breathe regularly.

"N-No..." Flora breathed, covering her mouth from behind the professor as the colour began to fade from Luke's face and he cried out his friend's name frightfully whilst the professor forced himself to resume his observation of her current state.

Her bold black irises were completely covered by a creased oil stained rag that had been knotted far tighter than necessary over her eyes, resulting in an extremely efficient blindfold that not even she would be able to loosen. The professor clenched his fists tightly to control his evident fury as he recognised the familiar silver shine of tape plastered over his assistant's lips in several layers that effectively sealed her jaw shut. Her arms were twisted in an odd position behind her back, leading Layton to believe that they were most likely restrained together in some form or another, which was incredibly likely as he acknowledged the thick ropes looped around her booted ankles and preventing her from using her ruthless 'Altava kick'-he recalled she'd named it as such-and rendering her helpless.

Fury burned through him, thawing the previous iciness in his veins instantly. How dare his assistant be treated in such a despicable manner?! Amongst his uncharacteristic anger however, he did notice one thing: she had been restrained and silenced in the same manner as Clive had when he was being held in Bruno's tower, minus the blindfold. Perhaps the captors were the same in both cases? Furthermore, they certainly seemed like they desired to take no chances lest their prisoner escaped, but the fact that his assistant was currently in a perilous situation, amongst two members of a sect that they knew was perfectly capable of committing bloodthirsty deeds, was what was probably the most horrifying.

"Emmy!" Luke cried again, his eyes broadening in dread as she failed to respond to anything.

The boy guessed that she had been rendered unconscious, possibly by force due to the…b-blood patches on her. His cries failed to alert the inert woman lying a few metres away, but succeeded in attracting the attention of the other inhabitants in that particular street, a part of it being unwanted.

"Layton! Thank goodness you're here! These…these…BRIGANDS won't release Inspector Altava! O-one of them even shot out FIRE! I'm most surprised my chest hair is unscathed!"

Layton took a few steps towards the inspector, one arm still attempting to shield the two terrified teenagers behind him and the other pointing furiously at the two sneering figures.

"I can see that, Inspector…you are unharmed I trust?" he confirmed quickly, before his eyes narrowed, "I know full well what your role is and who you follow as your leader, but if you do not release my assistant immediately—"

"Well, well, well…who do we have here?" the woman drawled, her eyes surveying the professor and Luke with bitter derision, "You don't look like one of these 'inspectors'…but it's most amusing how you think that you can make us change our minds and abandon our duties with the point of a finger without magic!"

"Most terrifying, I'd be quivering in my boots if I had any," the man added, his smirk widening as he flexed the fingers of his free hand by his side, "Surely you have more sense than this dim-witted impudent old man over here. Just step aside and allow us to pass, with our prisoner of course, then no one will get hurt."

Luke inhaled deeply before clenching his fists at his sides and stomping out bravely from behind the professor, his teeth clenched furiously.

"What do you even want with Emmy?!" he demanded indignantly, his last words ending in a growl as he tried to appear at least slightly threatening.

The male laughed darkly, glancing across at his partner who was biting hard on her scarlet lips presumably to suppress snorting in snide laughter.

"If you truly do know where we reside from, then you should know that we don't make a habit of leaving behind…eye-witnesses. Besides, more followers of the sect are always immensely helpful, even if they don't convert to us quite as…willingly as one would hope."

The professor growled in response, his fists tightly clenched. The teenage girl still clinging to his jacket as though it were a life-line stared from behind him at their malicious faces and mustered up every ounce of courage she possessed to leave the safety of her current position, holding her hands in front of her. The two members of the sect immediately focused solely on her lightly trembling figure. Flora glared at them, trying to force assertiveness into her words.

"Let Emmy go…or you will regret your actions deeply."

Her fingers shook gently in front of her as she witnessed their reactions. The male raised an eyebrow, displeasure crossing his face, clearly being unimpressed with the stature of the girl as he fingered his blood-stained dagger. In contrast, the woman tilted her head to the side, taking in every angle of the girl, as the glow under her hood darkened to a deeper shade. Her eyes bore into the girls as though trying to penetrate her very will, a heinous grin forming on her lips.

"…Flora Reinhold. The little Golden Apple herself," she began quietly, every syllable dripping with condescension, "I would say it's a pleasure to meet you in person, because as you may well be aware, our sect has been searching for you for a very long time. Our leader is desperate to get acquainted with you at last…it would be unwise to keep her waiting any longer than she's already waited…"

The man sheathed his dagger, his eyes sweeping over the girl, feeding off of her courage as though it were a rejuvenating beverage.

"You evidently care deeply for your friend, this…Emmy, do you not?" he tested, prodding the unconscious woman cruelly with his foot, "One of our teachings of the sect is fair treatment, so let us put that into practise now. Come with us willingly, surrender yourself to the sect and the Sorceress of Darkness and we will release your friend. Those dear to you will be spared, in exchange for your obedience, Golden Apple."

"Or if that is not good enough for you and you do not wish to be so…amiable…then we can do it the harder and bloodier way and not a single one of your friends will be spared. The choice is yours, Golden Apple. Think about what your precious father would have wanted you to do…"

The professor moved to pull his daughter against him, his eyes widening in horror at the sect members' terms. He felt as though the male's silver dagger was repeatedly piercing his chest, bringing further pain the longer he stared at his trembling pale little flower. Her pupils were heavily dilated, her breathing uneven at the terror of the situation. Luke dived in front of her, glowering at the impatient expressions on both of their faces.

"You…You monsters!"

"You will have to get through all of us to reach her!" Layton yelled vehemently, gritting his teeth tightly to contain his anger as a true gentleman would in such a scenario, "The sorceress will never get her hands on Flora!"

A timid squeak issued from the girl's lips, blinking back petrified tears that tauntingly stung her eyelids.

"I-I-I…I-I…"

"Flora, do not listen to them, we will protect you but whatever you do you cannot surrender yourself to them!"

"P-Professor, wh-what about E-Emmy? I-I can't l-let them—"

"No, Flora, there's another way! There has to be!"

"L-Luke," she swallowed, letting a tear fall free from her eyes, "I-I have b-brought all of you n-nothing but p-pain and g-grief and s-suffering. C-Clive was i-injured, y-your mother nearly k-killed, Dahlia a-abducted a-and Bruno arrest-ted…All of this is because of m-me! If I d-did surrender to her sh-she'd let you all g-go. It's me she w-wants a-and I can't let another person I love get harmed or d-die for my sake! P-Papa…a-and Mother…they w-wouldn't want this. The sorceress…i-it is inevitable she will f-find me…I don't w-want to live my life like th-this: b-being hunted…u-unable to feel safe enough to n-not look over my shoulder every m-minute of the day!"

Layton's grip on the girl tightened immensely. He was not going to give in to her, let her go to this malevolent sect only to have her blood spilt as part of a gruesome ritual to enhance the sorceress's power—

"Your choice, Golden Apple," the man's cutting voice wavered with his growing impatience as he folded his arms firmly, "Patience is not one of our fundamental teachings, so if you will be kind enough to make your choice now—"

"SHE DOES NOT HAVE TO MAKE ANY CHOICE!"

Layton's head jerked towards the recovered form of Grosky, his eyes almost bulging out of their sockets with fury as he roared violently at the two sect members, snatching up his fallen gun and charging directly for the woman.

"Inspector, no!" Layton gasped, thrusting a hand outwards in the failed attempt to grab the inspector before he got in unsafe proximity of the two dangerous entities.

The woman barely blinked. Before the male had even ripped his dagger free of its sheath to resist against their livid target the woman was already uttering a variety of indiscernible words beneath her breath, her eyes proceeding to glow so bright that one could have been nearly blinding just be looking at her.

"Garotarra!"

From out of her white hand issued a dark purple vaporous being which-being directed by a jerk of the woman's hand-proceeded to tear through the air towards the inspector and completely encompass his neck, tightening immediately around it as the burly man was dragged backwards by the force of the incantation. The inspector's eyes widened gradually as every attempt he made to thrash and rip the entity from around him was hopelessly futile, beginning to gasp and choke as it tightened painfully around his neck.

"Wh-what ccccct i-is thccccct put me dowcccct!"

The others could only stare, aghast at the sickening image of the inspector being lifted off the ground, his legs flailing in mid-air frantically. The woman merely twitched her fingers in front of her to cause the vaporous entity to further tighten around the inspector's neck, strangling him, forming a deadly noose of purple energy that gradually began to expel the life from his body.

"I-INSPECTOR!" Luke screeched, his face ashen as he attempted to run forwards and pull him down even though he doubted he even had the strength to do so.

"Effective. You've clearly been practising, Persephone." the male commented shortly, an envious edge to his voice as he watched with half fascination at their choking flailing catch above them, "Who's helpless now, Inspector?!"

Seeing the inspector hanging helplessly, being crushed to death by the entity that the incantation had summoned before his very eyes, Layton snapped out of his trance-like state watching the grotesque scene. Pushing Flora further behind him, he raced towards the figures, his teeth clenched and releasing an infuriated cry of rage. Almost subconsciously, his hand reached out to grab a broad relatively heavy wooden beam that had presumably fallen from the surrounding infrastructure and gripped it tightly in both hands, predicting that whilst less effective than a real sword or a lead pipe like he was used to engaging in rare combat with, it had to be better than not possessing one at all.

"Enough!"

Flora gasped as her guardian charged at them, quickly running close behind him with Luke as she almost foresaw her guardian strangling to death in an identical manner to Grosky from that wretched woman's incantation, his limbs flailing desperately before he resigned himself to that fate…no, that would never happen!

"P-Professor!" They cried simultaneously, trying not to look up at Grosky's thrashing form, although they could tell from the colour draining from his face that his seemingly boundless energy was beginning to fade in the struggles,

"Stop this right now!"

Upon hearing the commotion, the two sect members whirled around to witness the professor's outrage. Persephone smirked widely and clenched her fists, the vaporous being still continuing its duty of extracting the life out of Grosky.

"Well, it appears as though the Golden Apple is showing her true colours," she observed with a sneer, whipping her cloak behind her as she began to move forward, "The reward will be mine for the taking when I bring the sorceress the Golden Apple single handed—"

"I believe you're forgetting someone!" The male interrupted, his eyes beginning to blaze with agitation.

"Oh of course. Very well then," she answered to her companion's irritation, simply waving her hand and muttering another incantation under her breath to shield themselves from the safety of the professor's weighted wooden weapon whilst they finished their conversation, "How about we work together and then the reward can be split between us? That is perfectly fair and one of our principle beliefs is concerning fairness. However, I am older and therefore much more experienced than yourself at present. I will deal with apprehending the Golden Apple and teaching the little brat in blue a lesson he'll never forget. That leaves you with that top-hatted imbecile. Even that shouldn't be too much of a challenge for you, Saturn."

The man glanced back at the professor attempting to tear through the energy field with his wooden beam and he smirked wickedly.

"It would give me…tremendous pleasure to do so, Persephone," he replied, relishing in the idea, although upon examining his prey's choice of weapon at his current distance, he couldn't help but release a sardonic cackle of amusement, "Seriously?! By the elements…you believe you can defeat us with that?! What use is that against our own dark magic?!"

"You say one of your main principles is fairness, if I heard correctly?" Layton reminded them stridently as he eventually gave up trying to hammer through the energy shield and instead let his arm holding the wooden beam fall to his side, "In that case, you should fight fair right here and right now, without the need for your magic?"

Persephone shot a warning glare at Saturn.

"Don't you dare fall for his words! We will not get another chance if you don't—"

"Silence, Persephone. I may be a murderer, but I also abide by the rules. That is one of the attributes of the sect and if I can at least follow them I still have my sister's respect—"

"Pitiful. Family lover through and through."

"…If you even dream of saying that again, Persephone, then I swear to the darkness that I will make you regret the moment you said that out loud," the man growled, his demeanour changing to that of a volatile ravenous creature in the manner of a few seconds, his teeth clenched tightly before he focused on the professor again, hissing, "I accept your challenge, imbecile! Go on, Persephone and you had better ensure you succeed in this task!"

Without need for another word to be uttered, the glowing energy shield surrounding the professor immediately melted away into the atmosphere around them and Saturn lunged straight at the professor, his free hand violently ripping his blood-stained dagger from its sheath at his belt. Persephone leaped into the air, almost gracefully and spat out another incantation that released the inspector from his strange hold. He plummeted to the ground and collided face-first with the cobbled stones, rolling onto his back and gasping for breath continuously as though he were a fish unable to return to the water fast enough, panting and wheezing in a pitiable manner.

"I-Inspector!" Layton gasped, momentarily relieved that the inspector had been freed from that horrible incantation before he was forced to raise his wooden beam in front of him and held it horizontally across himself to serve as a form of defence against his opponents cutting and much more powerful dagger.

"L-Look out, Flora!" Luke yelled, immediately jumping in front of his friend, his arms spread outwards to protect her.

"Impudent brat. Why not just be a good boy and surrender your friend now?"

"Like Hell, I will!" he snarled in response, his fists tightly clenched, "I will protect her as a true gentleman!"

"L-Luke…," Flora stammered, tears pricking her eyes at the boy's care for her.

Their attacker merely cackled, thoroughly enjoying the pathetic display.

"Go ahead then, true gentleman-and prove your worth now…"

The teenager didn't need to be told twice to rise to the bait; he instantly leapt at the taller woman, releasing a strident furious cry as he tried bringing his fists forwards to collide sharply with her stomach, teeth clenched tightly as his arms moved in whatever direction his brain willed them to with the principle aim of keeping the girl who he viewed as more than just his best friend safe. Some of his hits were successful, resulting in shrill screeches of a combination of pain and pure outrage from the woman as his blows succeeded in stunning her momentarily. Hearing those cries caused the boy to grit his teeth tightly, silently reminding himself firmly: A-a gentleman wouldn't harm a lady ever…b-but…this is to protect Flora…I can't let them take her! The professor himself occasionally peered over his shoulder in between his weak duel with the crazed male sect member to view the children's status. His eyes widened in shock to see his apprentice act in this way; this was in no way characteristic of Luke and he had always told him a gentleman never harmed a lady, but these were circumstances that he simply couldn't argue against, not when they were trying to deliver his daughter to the hand of evil to suffer a fate worse than death.

"Take that! And that! AND THAT!"

Whilst admirable, his attacks-which now consisted of punches and relatively accurate kicks-were beginning to weaken gradually and only were only succeeding in infuriating the woman beyond description. Persephone had managed to evade his punches now and as his hand reached out to strike her again, her hand shot out and grabbed it instantly, wrenching him upwards so that his legs dangled helplessly in mid-air. The boy gasped in horror and struggled frantically in her grasp, giving a weak cry as her fingers clawed into his flesh.

"G-Gah! Nnngh! Nggh! Let me-ngggh-go!"

Layton's eyes widened as he saw that his apprentice had been caught.

"N-No, Luke!" he hollered, beginning to make his way over to his apprentice and daughter, but Saturn lunged at him with his dagger, effectively knocking him to the ground in a barrel roll and he was forced to grab at his wooden beam again before the dagger could impale his face, eyes broad with horror as he was forced to watch the events enfolding mere metres away.

"Impudent outsiders, do you really think you stand a chance, even with the Golden Apple, against the might Sect of Darkness?" he hissed venomously, that same wicked smirk plastered on his lips as he made several neat nicks in Layton's weapon whilst speaking.

"F-Flora r-run!"

Persephone growled and tightened her grip, her eyes boring into the struggling boy's underneath her hood and barely flinching as he screamed in pain.

"Naughty children need to be punished," she snarled, holding her other hand-which was gleaming a poisonous purple-centimetres from Luke's face.

"L-Luke! LUKE!"

Flora stared with tearful eyes at her friend inches away from being hurt by the people that wanted her dead…it was her fault-all of it. Her hands began trembling by her sides, an abnormal feeling rising within her, filling every essence of her body, flooding through every vein and capillary in her anatomy. Her breathing became shallow as time seemed to slow down before her, the words of Persephone being drowned out into a dull, elongated string of syllables.

"All…ow…me…to…teach…you…a less…on…you…will…nev…er…for…get…!"

Blinding heat began scorching her palms, her fingertips tingling vigorously as the same sensation flooded into them. Her birthmark began glowing brilliantly, a golden aura leaping off of her fingertips and palms as she instinctively raised them in front of her, opening her mouth to scream at the horrifying expression of terror forming on her friend's face—

"RELEASE HIM THIS MINUTE!"

All of time seemed to slow down and speed up in that one instant, but all that Flora was aware of was a blinding gold light filling the alleyway, a shrill scream issuing from what was undoubtedly Persephone's vocal chords and the resounding cry of her friend as he collided painfully with the cobblestones in the path.

"F-Flora!"

Her vision returning to its true form, Flora breathed deeply, her knees trembling as she found herself barely able to stand, heart throbbing dully against her chest. Her birthmark was still glowing brightly, but the golden glow of her hands was fading now and her eyes just stared into Luke's as he hastily began shuffling as far as he could from the woman who lay sprawled and groaning on her back a few metres away.

"What…what happened…?" Layton breathed, speaking more to himself than to his children.

His attacker paused momentarily, his eyes widening with curiosity as he watched his comrade struggling to move.

"She is of age now…therefore her powers truly are at their strongest," he observed quietly, with intrigue, "Most fascinating…that means that she is at the perfect state for the sorceress to proceed with her plans when we have her…"

"Ngggh-you will not succeed!" the professor grunted in response, his eyes narrowed as he attempted to swing the beam at Saturn from his current position.

The sect member had clearly not been expecting that as he gasped and barely dodged it in time, issuing a livid growl that would have more closely resembled that of an animal rather than a human.

"Just you watch us…," he snarled, his hood being freed from around his face and exposing his mess of wavy scarlet strands that reached to just past his chin and the smouldering glare in his scarlet irises that almost pierced Layton's mind.

"P-Professor, no!" Luke cried, having managed to get back to his feet and running over to aid the weak form of his friend as she shook her head gently, "N-No...Flora…"

From behind him a variety of muffled hollers resounded and he quickly turned around, eyes widening to see Emmy furiously bucking against the ropes binding her limbs and stamping her booted feet in indignation, attempting to roar any insult to her unseen captors that was hopelessly muffled by her gag. She'd evidently come to not too long ago and was now straining desperately for freedom. After the time where she'd been taken as a hostage in their previous adventure by Descole along with his father and Flora, she was clearly not impressed to be a captive once again.

"WHMMMVVVR YMMM RRRRM, LMMMT MMM GMMMM! GMMMT THMMM BLMDMMM BLNDDDFLDDD MMMF MMM NND SHMMMW YRMMM GNNDMMM FMCE!"

Luke winced. He didn't know for certain what the hot-tempered woman was trying to scream to her captors, but he was able to accurately guess that it probably consisted of: 'Whoever you are, let me go!' and 'Get this bloody blindfold off of me and show your goddamn face!'

"E-Emmy! Hold on, I'm coming!" Luke cried out, beginning to run swiftly towards the struggling, thrashing woman, failing to hear Persephone scream out another incantation that took the form of a violently gusty wind.

Within seconds it had hit its target and upon colliding with the boy, it sent him flying outwards against one of the buildings nearby.

"AGGGGH!"

That was the last thing Layton heard from his apprentice before he crashed against the brick wall, scraping his cheek painfully against it and sending him dropping to the ground, limp and barely conscious, as he lay flat on his back, arms spread outwards and moaning barely audibly in agony. The next thing he heard were Emmy's infuriated hollers as she kept wriggling and thrashing for freedom, accompanied with a terrified cry from his daughter as tendrils of purple smoke (from what could only be another of Persephone's enchantments from her position still lying on the floor) began to callously entangle themselves around their prey. Flora's eyes filled with tears and she struggled weakly as the smoke began entwining itself around Flora's body, forming an effective vaporous bind that would keep her ensnared long enough for the sect members to escape with her. A sheen of sweat formed on her brow as her mark continued glowing, desperately trying to find the energy within herself to perform whatever she had done earlier and save herself and the others, but the endeavour had drained her of a lot of her energy. It had been effective in rendering the woman to the floor, but not in stopping her incantations; she had a truly strong will, but Flora's actions were those that had never been performed by the girl before.

"P-Professor…!" she cried out weakly, attempting to burn the vapour away with her still lightly glowing palms.

It only succeeded in stalling the inevitable in Layton's eyes.

"N-No! NO!"

"The correct word would be 'Yes', it seems…"

With reflexes Layton had never known the sect member possessed, the wooden beam was knocked viciously from his hands, landing a few feet away but too far for the man to reach, no matter how much he strained his arm and clenched his teeth in desperation, screwing his eyes shut at the effort. Saturn merely sneered softly under his breath, the dagger glinting evilly at Layton in his hand as he moved it within inches of his chest.

"How noble, trying to save your little daughter to the end. Unfortunately for you that's as far as you'll ever get…"

The professor growled at Saturn, not wishing to close his eyes although he couldn't help but swallow at how the dagger moved in a swift single strike to end his life there and then. He silently ran through all of the memories he possessed, so many people he regretted he wouldn't be able to bid farewell to: His friends still helpless at the manor, if they hadn't been apprehended by other members of the sect, the other professors at the university, Dr Schrader, his brother, his assistant, who was still unable to do anything to save herself, let alone anyone else, his apprentice lying nearly motionless some feet away and Flora, his sweet little flower, who would meet so unjust an end. He forced himself to stare at her, to watch as she struggled valiantly against the vaporous bindings restricting her valiant efforts to free herself and witness as…as a blinding light shot across the area and sent Persephone lurching backwards violently with a horrified yell and for the smoke restraints to dissolve into the atmosphere, releasing his daughter to land gently on the ground unharmed. Upon hearing the commotion, Saturn whipped his head up, bringing his dagger to a safer position-which was away from the professor's vital organs-and jerked his head around, his scarlet hair shining in the light as he did so. Layton himself was most bemused at the course that events had taken, but he hastily got up and shuffled to a safer position, his eyes wide at the sight.

"Wh-what on earth…?"

Saturn's demeanour however had been transformed; his eyes were broad with shock, mouth gaping open slightly as he raised his free hand above his eyes to shield them from the blinding glare, his eyebrows furrowed in a manner that almost resembled…regret?

"So…you aren't dead after all," he stated, shaking his head several moments later after recovering from the shock.

Layton found himself squinting as the light began to clear slightly and another figure stepped into the alleyway.

"I am far from that state, my friend," he answered, his voice light and gentle, yet rather sorrowful in his tone, "Did you truly believe I had fallen?"

The person that had joined them bore a similar stature to the one he was addressing, being tall and scrawny, yet his voice made him sound much younger, despite his appearance indicating he was probably in his late teens, if Layton had to have made a prediction of this fact, whereas he'd have put Saturn at about his early to mid-twenties. Possessing a willowy figure, he stood poised on the balls of his feet where he currently stood, wearing a flowing cloak himself but unlike those of the sect members, it shone a pale green in the shimmering light and had no hood, exposing his youthful face.

The professor watched as he gingerly wiped the fringe of his hazel hair out of his eyes, noting how closely they resembled the greenest trees which inhabited the rainforests of the world. He wouldn't have described his hair as spiky, but it certainly wasn't wavy and hung to just above his shoulders, slightly dishevelled but rather suited for his figure. Freckles completed his youthful appearance, emphasised by the pallid shade of his skin as his fingers lightly twirled around a pendant the shape of a small and softly glowing feather around his neck, further illuminating his face.

"I…I doubted you'd have survived long away from the protection of the sect, but it appears I was wrong," he answered quietly, though his hands were still firmly clenched by his sides, "Even…Sin began to believe it after a year…"

Brief pain flickered across the young man's face, his fingers tightening around his pendent. Flora took the distraction to retreat to a safer distance away, as Layton backed away only slightly. The girl rushed across to tend to the still gasping form of the inspector and the barely conscious form of Luke. Emmy was motionless once again, having lost consciousness presumably from weakness or where she'd been knocked against the wall from one of the sect member's enchantments.

"Sh-she…she did?" he confirmed, swallowing hard as his voice came out soft and regretful.

Some distance behind him, Persephone had managed to get to her feet at last and her piercing eyes glared straight at him under her hood, not even acknowledging her prey shuffling away to a safer position. Her knuckled cracked menacingly as purple energy enveloped them almost instantly.

"Illuminatius," she hissed, not unlike a venomous viper, complete and bitter hatred dripping off every syllable, "How…How dare you…you disrupt our sacred duties! You…you betrayed us then…and at the time where failure can never happen, I will not let you intervene!"

The young man's eyebrows furrowed, folding his arms and narrowing his eyes at the older sect member.

"Sacred duties…you call this a 'sacred duty'? Plotting the callous murder of an innocent girl barely of age and stepping on any and all who try to prevent that unjust fate from happening?"

"You wouldn't understand; you never understood!" Saturn growled, his sadness being swiftly replaced with bubbling anger, "That is why you are in the position you are in now!"

"…Saturn, what happened to you?" he asked, not rhetorically, traces of despondency in his tone, "You were so different…the darkness has consumed your heart-and your morals—"

"Silence, traitor!" Persephone snapped, her words cutting them both off immediately as effectively as if she had used Saturn's hilted dagger, "Unless you want to be cut down where you stand like the rest of these imbeciles, do not interfere…"

The professor hadn't the faintest idea what was going on, apart from the fact that the three of them, particularly Saturn and the young man they addressed as Illuminatius had history, maybe even a bond of some kind. Still, he took the opportunity to retrieve his wooden beam and cautiously make his way over to his daughter. As soon as he was in close enough proximity, he ran over to her and wrapped his arms tightly around her as she ran into them, recovering her energy at last.

"My dear girl, are you alright?" he asked quietly, rubbing her back in a comforting manner.

Flora simply nodded in response, her eyes tightly closed as she had no idea what had happened back there. However, whatever it was, it could only have been to do with her developing abilities and the intense emotions she had been enduring.

"You are misguided, all of you! The darkness has clouded your vision as to what is real! Things should not have to be this way—"

"ENOUGH!" Persephone roared, spitting out an intelligible variety of words which could only be an incantation as purple energy erupted viciously from her palms, "I'LL SHOW YOU WHO'S MISGUIDED! SATURN! GET THE GOLDEN APPLE AND THE LEMON COATED WOMAN NOW!"

"Praesidium!" the young man stated boldly, holding his hands sharply in front us himself to cast a shimmering translucent shield around his body, watching with wide eyes as the purple entity was instantaneously vaporised from the blinding shield.

Saturn's eyes scanned the area for their targets, although he couldn't help but glance back helplessly at the young man valiantly keeping his shield steady against his raging companion.

"SATURN FOR THE SAKE OF DARKNESS HURRY UP!"

As if alerted by the commotion, Grosky quickly sat up, holding his throat and wheezing slightly as he spoke.

"B-by the name of the Yard what h-happened back there—"

"I shall explain later, Inspector," Layton quickly responded, relieved beyond words he was recovering as he looked up from helping the groaning Luke recover also, "We have to get Emmy and get out of here immediately—"

"P-Professor, he's coming back!" Flora cried, pointing with a trembling hand from behind him as the sect member began thundering towards them, eyes glowing savagely and raising his hands in front of him undoubtedly to begin an enchantment.

From within the shield, the young man turned to face the professor, his eyes shining with determination despite the evident hurt still on his face.

"You must take your friends and the apple to safety. Do not look back until you are safely away from this place."

Layton hesitated for several moments, staring into the young man's glistening green eyes before nodding definitively. His action was mirrored and with a deep breath, the translucent shield faded, closing his eyes tightly and his fists becoming clenched by his sides.

"Professor?"

"I fear we have little time, but we must use it wisely to rescue Emmy and then get out of here—"

"LUCISIA ILLUMINATAR!"

Layton found himself having to immediately use his arm to shield his eyes from the phenomena that occurred no sooner had the words been spoken, lest he desired to be blinded permanently if he stared at it too long. A translucent yet blindingly bright blanket of light exploded outwards to smother the area, effectively stunning the two sect members terribly. After a few moments of adjusting to it, the professor dared to move his arm slightly to get a better view, nudging Grosky to alert him to do the same. He could just about make out Saturn using both of his arms to cover his face, growling in a combination of pain and frustration, unable to move relatively far as the glaring light seemed to be burn his skin. Persephone was the worst affected though; Layton could see her thrashing about desperately on the spot, attempting to futilely tear at the beams of light bathing her being, screeching in agony as invisible fires seared on her flesh whilst screwing her eyes shut the tightest she could possibly manage.

"GRAAAGH, THE LIGHT BURNS! IT BURNS!" she shrieked piercingly, trying desperately to be able to muster up an incantation to free herself and her companion from this state, "ILLUMINATIUS I WILL TEAR YOUR THROAT OUT WHEN I'M FINISHED WITH YOU!"

"…I am truly sorry."

Signalling to the inspector, Layton encouraged him to remove his arms from his eyes as the light began to clear slightly, enabling the professor to see the unconscious form of his assistant sprawled on the cobbled path. Gritting his teeth, he plunged swiftly into the burning light, experiencing a tingling sensation through him which didn't bring on pain but rather a sensation that was most difficult to describe by words alone. Nonetheless, this didn't perturb him as much as the blood chilling screams issuing from the two sect members, but he forced his arms to tear through the beams, quickly making it to Emmy's side. He clenched his fists as he stared at her, wanting more than anything to check her for injuries and untie her there and then, but the light was rapidly fading and Layton feared they had little time left.

"Do you need a hand to carry her, Layton?"

"I-I believe I can manage, Inspector," he responded, much to his own surprise, determination searing through him.

Tenderly, he reached down and held his assistant delicately in his arms, gritting his teeth at her weight-she'd been much heavier than he expected, but as a gentleman he shouldn't comment on that. Her head rested against his chest even in her unconscious state as he carried her in an elegant manner that would typically be expected of a groom to carry his newly-wed, ensuring she couldn't fall before he and the inspector quickly retraced their steps the way they had come, bursting out of the light as quickly as they had entered with his assistant in tow.

"Inspector, please take Luke!" he called over his shoulder as he peered reassuringly at his daughter, "Flora, come quickly, we must leave this place!"

The girl didn't need to be told once more and swiftly got to her feet, running as fast as her legs could carry her behind her guardian and glancing behind her at the fading light and her friend lightly shaking his head and then staring shocked at Grosky, obviously wondering why he was being carried and wincing as he tried to avoid the inspector's rather prominent chest hair flying in his face as he zoomed along the street after the professor.

Only when they were several dozen metres away and had darted down another street did Layton slow down, panting heavily. He glanced over his shoulder to see Grosky right behind him carrying his recovering apprentice, alongside Flora and further behind he could make out the green cloaked figure dashing out of the alley, almost gracefully as though his feet only touched air and light.

"W-Wait!" he called out to the swiftly disappearing figure, but he had called out too late as the young man had already vanished from sight, a trail of light replacing the place where he had stood.

Layton frowned thoughtfully at the events that had unfolded, but the numbness spreading through his arms reminded him of what was weighing them down and he gently set Emmy on the ground, his fingers lightly working at the knot securing her blindfold.

"Wh-who was that, Professor?" Luke stammered, rubbing his eyes as he began to fully recover from where he'd hit his head back in the alleyway.

"I don't know, Luke," his mentor answered, removing the filthy cloth and then slowly and gingerly peeling away the several layers of tape silencing his assistant, trying to work as gently and painlessly as was humanly possible, "However, he appeared to possess abilities himself, but required the use of incantations, not unlike the other two we encountered and from what information they revealed, we can conclude that they are certainly from the Sect of Darkness."

"A-and that the sorceress wants me alive," Flora added, swallowing hard as she spoke, "Th-they used incantations though…but I managed to…do something without them. I don't…I don't even remember what h-happened to make it happen!"

"Wh-what was all that about, Layton? D-did that woman use…magic to choke me?!" Grosky demanded exasperatedly.

"She did, Inspector. They both did. I believe this is conclusive evidence that the sorceress is more dangerous than the other inspectors had anticipated. As for your…abilities, Flora, that was most perplexing indeed. However, that is the first time you have fully been able to use them—"

"F-Flora," Luke spoke quietly, approaching the girl as his eyes shone with grateful tears, "you saved me back there…from that Persephone woman…she was going to kill me and—"

"Luke…you stood against her before that," she reminded him, smiling softly as she took both of his hands, "You tried to defend me and…you were so…so brave…"

"Erm, I-I wasn't that brave, Flora," he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand, the other holding Flora's tightly, "I was…just trying to be a true gentleman…for once."

Flora moved closer towards the younger boy, gazing into his eyes and smiling gently, the mere sight of his face causing her current terror to melt away indefinitely.

"You are always a true gentleman to me, Luke..."

The boy opened his mouth to speak, but was only met by the sensation of her rosy lips pressed delicately against his own. His eyes widened slightly in shock and pleasant surprise, but he closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing closer as they both began to grow deeper into the kiss, the warmth of their bodies being shared and lifting their very beings with happiness—

"Ahem," Layton coughed, a little too loudly, his face flushing ever so slightly at the sight of his daughter and apprentice…growing up.

The two quickly broke apart, both of them flushing with embarrassment and not realising how long they had been…kissing. Even Grosky was gaping at them in disbelief. It was only at seeing the professor struggling with the ropes binding Emmy did they remember the situation, both suddenly filling with guilt at how they had nearly completely forgotten about her.

"O-Oh, sorry, P-Professor. Here, let me give you a hand!"

Luke quickly knelt next to the professor, alongside Flora to assist the professor in untying the woman in yellow, fingers tearing at the expertly tied knots binding her ankles.

"I-is that b-blood on her, Professor?"

"I…I hope not, but it is likely, I'm afraid. Emmy is an extremely strong willed woman though, she could survive almost anything," Layton replied, staring affectionately with admiration at his assistant, his hand stroking her face and wiping off some of the grime gently, "but those sect members would probably have taken her back to the sect and…possibly made her one of their own. She's safe with us now though…"

"Sh-she's still unconscious though," Luke pointed out, biting his lip as the ropes around her ankles fell slack, "D-do you think they hurt her terribly?"

"I don't know, my boy, but I think the wisest course of action would be to take refuge. The nearest place to here would probably be Reinhold Manor. Besides, I should like to talk to Matthew about a few things if possible. We all need to recover from that…encounter. No doubt they will still be searching around St Mystere. We must be vigilant at all times. Is that understood?"

The teenagers nodded frightfully in response, glancing back behind them with fearful eyes. Layton gave a gasp of relief as the ropes around Emmy's wrists finally loosened and he gently picked her up in his arms again, cradling her close to his chest.

"You can't leave us, Emmy. You…can't leave me. Not like Claire…" he murmured, so that only she could hear him, had she been conscious to hear him.

Luke and Flora looked on with wide eyes, stunned at the professor's solemn expression.

"Shall I…send for other officers, Layton?" Grosky inquired, dusting himself off in an almost casual manner.

"That shouldn't be necessary for now, Inspector, but we shall proceed to Reinhold Manor without hesitation. I'm so proud of you, Flora-and you too, Luke-you were both so brave back there and we will get through this and understand what is truly happening once and for all."

Sharing equally determined expressions if just for the sake of the others around them, the group set off, tense and apprehensive deep down, towards the manor. Each was praying to any higher being that existed that they were not fated to encounter any other members of the malevolent sect. However, according to the manner in which fate seemed to enfold, it was most likely inevitable.


"That was your entire fault, Saturn!" Persephone seethed, blasting a hole in a nearby building with her energy, shaking all over with rage, "We let the Golden Apple escape out of our grasp! The next time I see Illuminatius I swear I will—"

She was instantly cut off, as was Saturn when he opened his mouth to protest, eyes clouded with an insane angered expression, as a resounding hissing voice ripped through their minds.

"Your efforts are pitiful!" it snarled, sending both sect members to their knees, gripping at their heads tightly and crying out in agony, "My demands are simple: Bring me the Golden Apple-alive. If you cannot manage even that then you are no longer worthy of being granted your abilities and of participating in the sect's business. You would then be disposable. You know how I…dispose of unworthy snivelling failures."

"Nnnngh! Y-your Darkness, w-we tried…we are trying! We-arrrrrgh!"

"Spare me your excuses, Demona!" it growled savagely, seeking to penetrate Saturn's own mind the longer it addressed them, "My patience is drawing thin. I want the Golden Apple delivered to me as soon as possible and her companions disposed of-they are hindrances. I am giving you another chance-but you will bring me Flora Reinhold…"

Persephone screwed her eyes shut in agony as she clapped her hands over her ears as the voice screamed her demands at them.

"…or you will die trying!"