Albel awoke to one of the floor boards outside his room creaking. At first he figured it was someone passing by, but that thought was quickly thrown out. His room was at the end of the hall; nothing else was past it.

He quickly sat up and reached for the Crimson scourge just as the knob to his room began to turn.

He stood up and unsheathed the blade, as the door creaked and opened to reveal, no one?

The pitter-patter of feet caught his attention. Had someone broken in? How foolish, He thought as he cautiously stepped out of his room in time to see a shadowed figure head down the stairs.

As quietly and quickly as he could, he followed after. He would teach the fool not to break into people's homes, especially his. He smirked at the thought.

--

Woltar watched silently from his door as Albel left, obviously he had heard it as well. Sighing; the old man walked over to the fireplace and took a seat on the couch, a sword at his side to be on the safe side. He would wait up for Albel to return. Surely he would fill him in when he got back.

--

When Albel made it downstairs, the culprit was no where in sight. Scowling; he scanned the area once more.

Taunting laughter met his ears and a shadow moved in the corner of his eye. He glared in the direction it came from, then turned and followed it out the back door. The person moved surprisingly fast, it was hard to keep track of it.

He slowed to a walk and cursed. He could no longer see it.

A shadow loomed over him and he swiftly turned around in an attack position. No one had been behind him. He looked up and found the source; it was on the roof of the inn. How had it gotten up there so quickly?

Without another word he quietly ran into the inn and up the stairs. He hated to be toyed with.

--

The figure peered out from behind the alley wall, and let out a sigh of relief. She under estimated Albel's speed. Luckily, she got to her destination before he saw her. And obviously he fell for the trap. She smirked. "Fool..." she muttered before walking off into the shadows to wait at the graveyard for her partner to return.

--

The sound of running caught Nel's attention. She jumped up and drew her daggers. Although, the person ran right passed her door.

Nel quietly opened the door and slipped out just in time to see the figure disappear into the door that lead to the roof. She quickly followed after, was this the person who left the letter? Well, if it was, he had a lot of explaining to do.

--

Albel opened the door to the roof and scanned the area, no one was there. He growled. How could he have let them get away!

"Nox! I should have known! I thought some Person was out to kill me!" she said an angry Nel.

He turned and glared at the new arrival. "Zelpher?" he growled. "I knew it. It was you!"

"What was me?"

"Only Aquarian scum like you would sneak into someone's house in the middle of the night!"

She shook her head. "What are you talking about? I didn't break into your house. I've been here the entire time."

He scoffed. "Then you lie."

"I'm not lying about anything." She told him with a frown. "And what about you? What was that letter about?"

"Why would I send you a letter? Beginning to think you're special, worm?"

She glared at him. "It seems then, we both have misunderstandings."

"Hn..." He looked away from her. "What a waste of time."

"Agreed." She said and turned away, Perhaps it was a mistake to come and see him after all… It wasn't as if he cared if I came, he made that quite clear.

Albel walked over to the edge and looked up at the sky. What was she doing here anyways? His thoughts were interrupted by the faintest of ticks…

His crimson eyes immediately became alert and scanned the area once more. How could he have been so stupid? He played right into their hands!

Rushing from his spot he began his search for the device.

"Nox? What are you doing?"

He continued with his search and finally found where it was hid; behind the chimney. His eyes landed on the time that read: 00:00:06.

"Damn!" he cursed and as quickly as he could threw it into the air. "Get down Nel!" He shouted to the red head.

Nel's eyes widened and did as she was told.

Before Albel could do the same, the bomb went off. The force knocked him down and he landed roughly on the rubble that had been knocked loose. His head ended up hitting one the bricks.

The last thing he thought before he was met with darkness, was wondering if Nel was alright.

--

Nel was trembling. Albel just saved her, and the people inside the inn. As soon as she was sure it was safe, she dusted herself off in went in search of Albel.

"Albel?" she called and scanned through the debris; before landing on the fallen swordsman. Her eyes widened and she rushed to him, being careful not to trip over the loose bricks. "Albel?" she called again and knelt down next to him; immediately casting a healing spell, all the while praying that he would be alright.

After the spell was finished she checked his pulse and gave a relieved sigh. He was alive, just unconscious.

"So this is what the letter meant..." she whispered and did her best to lift him, but more or less dragged him over to the door that lead inside.

"Could someone lend me a hand please?" she called to one of the confused people of the inn. After a brief explanation, they agreed to help get him to Woltar's.

--

Woltar stood up from his spot near the fireplace upon hearing a knock from the front door. He furrowed his eyebrows and made his way downstairs. It must be important for them to be coming to late…

The maid rushed to him in a panic. "L-Lord Woltar! It's Sir Albel…He's hurt!"

Woltar made his way past her to find a worried looking Nel and an unconscious Albel. "Nel? What has happened?" He asked his gaze traveling from Albel to her.

Nel looked up at him, "Albel just saved many lives, Mine included…Someone placed a bomb at the inn." She told him, her voice held a slight quiver. She was still in shock about the whole incident. Albel worried about her safety more than his at that moment. He could have been down already, but he took the time to tell her… She couldn't help but feel it was her fault for what happened to him.

Woltar turned to the maid. "Fetch the doctor! Quickly now!"

The maid nodded and scurried out in a panic.

He then turned to one of his soldiers. "Carry him to his room."

"Yes sir." He responded and carefully carried Albel up to his room, followed by Nel and Woltar.

Woltar shook his head. 'Oh Albel…trouble always seems to find you somehow…'

--

A/n: Well that's it! Chapter two. I hope this came out better than the original.