But This Nightmare Will Still Carry On

"Father, wait up!" Remy called to Vincent.

Vincent stalked into his tent. The murderous expression still evident on his face. When he arrived in his tent, he sat down on the chair next to his table. Remy sat across from him.

"Father…what are we going to do?" Remy asked nervously.

Vincent slammed his fist on the table in frustration. "What do you think? I'm going to hand myself over. My family's lives are worth more than mine."

"We can't just give up!" Remy shouted.

"Then what do you propose we do?" Vincent muttered angrily. When Remy didn't respond, he continued, "Exactly. The tactician has no plan. My interfering would only harm those I care about."

Remy jolted to his feet, "Damn it father! We can't just hand you over!"

Vincent's fist on the table began to smoke from his magic, "Then tell me! What can I do? I'm just a man with a fancy title. There is no plan, I'm not letting my wife and children die! Better me then them."

Remy looked at him venomously, "I can't believe you father. I thought you had changed from the father I knew, but no, you're just as much of a coward as he was. Vincent the tactician wouldn't give up! Nor would Vincent the spymaster! But Vincent the coward…his name says it all."

Vincent stood up slowly, his previous expressions nowhere near as terrible as this one, "Don't test me Remy."

"Then do something about it," Remy challenged.

"…" Vincent stood still, his expression still on his face.

Owww…

Jessie groaned as she opened her eyes.

Where…am I?

She looked around to see a cell. Her hands were bound around the steel bar that was closest to her. Thankfully, she wasn't gagged. Then the assassin looked up to see her mother and younger sister in the same cell as her.

Morgan wasn't looking good, there was dried blood on her head. She wasn't awake.

Her mother looked better, but she wasn't awake either. It was just Jessie.

Need…to get out of these bonds!

She began to work at the knots…

Vincent strode out of his tent with Remy in tow. He had a plan.

A lot could go wrong.

A lot can always go wrong.

More than usual this time.

Like you care about that.

Lives are at stake this time, I need to do the best I can.

Vincent walked like a man whose life would be over in a matter of hours. Boldly, cockily and like a badass he walked across the camp to Henry's tent.

"Oi! Henry!" Vincent shouted as he walked to the tent, not even slowing his pace. Henry poked his head out and motioned for them to come inside.

In a matter of minutes, the three of them sat at a table inside Henry's tent explaining the plan.

"Hmm…It's a bit risky, don't'cha think?" Henry leaned forward.

"I thrive on risky, can you do it?" Vincent said seriously.

"…Yes…I can. Do you want me to do it now?" Henry said.

Vincent and Remy nodded.

Henry held up his hands and began to chant in the foul language of curses…

Jessie sat still, not giving away the fact that her bonds were undone. She had checked herself over, all her knives were taken. An entire assassin's stash…

Except that one.

That hiding place wasn't one you'd usually expect though.

The door of the cell rattled, Gaius walked in, "How're my three favorite people doing?"

Anna called Gaius a very obscene name and Jessie swore at him. Morgan was still unconscious.

"Tut tut, not very friendly. Don't worry, Vinnie will hand himself over soon and then I'll let you three go. All I want is that tactician," Gaius smirked.

Jessie seethed. She desperately wanted to grab her knife and slit the traitor's throat. But the assassin knew she couldn't get him, he was too good.

Vincent looked in the mirror. His face was unrecognizable, his dull red eyes were now green. His black hair brown and half as long as it used to be.

He looked better than Remy. The hero had blond hair now. He didn't need to be as disguised since Gaius didn't know him as well.

Vincent sighed as he set down his stetson. It had to be done.

"Take me with you."

Vincent whirled around to see Lowell standing, battle ready, behind him. "How'd you recognize me?' Vincent demanded.

"I've been here the whole time."

"Oh… And no, I won't take you with me. I have to do this alone," Vincent said.

"You know why I want to go Vincent. Traitors cannot go unpunished. You helped me once upon a time with a similar problem, let me return the favor," Lowell said coldly.

"Once again, no. You don't owe me anything, and I need you to help with the distraction," Vincent insisted.

Lowell gazed at him irked, "Fine. I know what to do, I'll get the others."

Vincent sighed. Crisis averted.

It's show time.

Sneak into the camp, not too hard.

What does that mean? Of course it'll be hard!

Vincent let out his breath that he was holding. They almost hadn't made it by the guard. But with Vincent's cleverness, he saved them from a fight.

Posing as new recruits…We need to find the prison. Plan. Done.

"Remy, you're my Ylissean prisoner. Look tired and worn out, while I do the talking, "Vincent muttered.

Remy complied and sagged his shoulders. Vincent grabbed him roughly and dragged him to the nearest commander.

"Oi! You!" Vincent yelled in an authoritative voice.

"Me?" the man said surprised.

"Yes you, where's the prison area? This damn Ylissean needs a place to spend the rest of his days," Vincent said. His voice denied any thought of a less than superior command.

"Sir!" the soldier snapped to attention. "I'll take you there, sir!"

"Good job commander," Vincent said smiling.

The oblivious man took them to a large tent, big enough for a large cell. Vincent pushed Remy into the tent and stabbed the Valmese man in in the throat. He gurgled, fell over and died.

Show time… for real. Getting in is easy, out? Now that's tricky.

Jessie watched the door carefully as the latch opened. The short Valmese man walked into the cell with a tray of food.

"Sir? Could you help me with something?" Jessie said in her sweetest, most innocent voice.

The man turned and walked toward her, his hand in the hilt of his sword. "What d'you nee-"

Jessie jumped up and pulled out her knife and stealthily killed the short man. Her mother flinched in shock, "Where did you get a knife?"

Jessie winked, "The perks of being a woman, mother." Anna blushed profusely.

The assassin walked over and began cutting the trickster's bonds. She was halfway through them when she heard a voice, "Damn! I need to sound the alarm!"

She turned around, her knife poised to attack. But the man's head quickly spun to the left sharply.

A man with brown hair stood, his hands in a position to break the man's neck. "No one touches my family and gets away with it." He waved his hand in front of his face and murmured 'dispel.'

It was Vincent.

Vincent felt his daughter embrace him tightly. Remy began to work on Anna's bonds as well as Morgan's.

"I knew you'd come, father!" Jessie cried.

"Not so loud! We're not free yet!" Vincent hushed her. "Remy, is Morgan okay?"

Remy nodded, "She'll be fine, given a little healing."

Vincent nodded, "Alright, the diversion is happening as we speak. We need to move now."

Vincent motioned for his family posse to follow him. There were going make it, he could feel it.

He peeked out of the tent and his face drained of blood.

"Guess again Vinnie!" Gaius cackled.

SHIT!

In front of him stood Gaius with a horde of Valmese soldiers. More than they could take at once.

"The game is up Vinnie, time to surrender," Gaius smirked

The soldiers around Gaius began to move toward them. "Stop," Vincent commanded. "I challenge you Gaius, to a duel to the death!" Vincent pointed his finger at Gaius menacingly.

"Hmm, is that all? Why should I even accept? I have the upper hand here," Gaius shrugged nonchalantly.

"I have an army. It will kill all of your troops unless you fight me," Vincent challenged.

"You have no means of communicating to them," Gaius said lazily.

"Or do I?" Vincent smirked cockily.

Gaius showed his first sign of uncertainty. "I'm calling your bluff."

"Your loss!" Vincent began to summon a fireball when Gaius yelled 'WAIT!'

He glared at Vincent, "I'll fight you, but you knew I'd say that, didn't you?"

Vincent smiled, all was going according to plan. "You Gaiused right!" He drew his knives.

"Gaius! Your treachery will end here! This is the end!" Vincent declared.