A/N: Sorry for the late update! I've been caught up in studying and stuff and I also went camping this weekend. Anyhow, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

CHAPTER 11

A glint of light cut across her face as a large sword was revealed from Maximilian's backpack. The sword cut the ropes around her and she glared at him.

"How dare you…" Maximilian's eyes glinted in an evil pleasure. "You stole the sword of la Vallette!"

"No! This sword belonged to a Frenchman, it belongs to France! I have rightfully returned it by stealing it from the Louvre!"

She kept her lips sealed and gulped. She rose and he smirked. "Remember what you promised."

"Lilly, come on!" Lilly stared up at the brunette as she cut the ropes around her with a small flick knife.

"What's going on?" she asked hazily. Ivan had left the room, leaving her alone with her friend.

"They're setting you free."

"They got what they wanted?"

"No... but I made a promise." Lilly's mouth opened in surprise, only guessing what this promise could have been. "Get out of her! Come on! It's almost noon!"

Robert was stunned, to say the least, when at five to eleven, the two captives came out of the entrance to the temples, both covered in bruises and limping slightly.

"LILLY!!" Miley cried out, love and concern propelling her forward. She ran to Lilly as fast as her legs could carry her and engulfed her in a hug. Lilly cringed and pulled away, sniffing. Miley felt tears prick at her eyes as they threatened to fall. How could someone be so cruel?

"Lilly-bear?" Miley whispered, blinking back tears. "Are you ok?"

"I will be," Lilly managed, "now that you're here." Slowly and gently, Miley put her arms around Lilly again, resting her head on Lilly's shoulder.

"I was so scared I was going to lose you," Miley whispered to her, fighting not to cry.

"I'll never leave you, Miley," Lilly whispered back. "I promise."

Robert had given Jackson his sword, and as he and Oliver went over to Lilly and Miley, Robert went up to his sister and leaned down to face her. Lilly shushed the people around her, partly because she wasn't used to the attention, and partly because she wanted to hear the conversation going on between the two siblings.

"Are you OK?" Robert asked her, concern evident in his voice.

"I'm fine," Vicky replied, "but this is worse then the time that wooden door fell on me in my sleep during camping."

"How did you get out?"

"They let me out, surprisingly enough. I gave them a fake deal. But we have to get out and call the police fast!"

"Do you know who this guy is?"

"Yeah. Maximilian Bonaparte. Ancestor of Napoleon. He claims he's stolen a lot of other stuff, but he used the one symbol of power from 1565 to release me from my ropes."

"You mean…"

"Yeah. La Vallette's sword."

A gunshot spiraled through the air. The two former captives turned, scared, to see Maximilian pointing a gun at them and holding the sword at his side.

"I knew it…never trust a Maltese. They will always let you down."

Vicky smirked and moved behind her brother, who gestured for Jackson to return his sword. "What else have you stolen, Bonaparte?"

"Well, if you must know: a piece of Jesus' Christ's cross, da Vinci's notes on Human Anatomy, the flag of Federico the Second of Svevia and various other important artifacts of History."

Robert charged, bringing his sword up to strike Maximilian's head. Maximilian blocked it with the Grand Master's sword and smiled. "You will never win."

"That weapon will fail you one day! You are not its rightful owner!" Robert retorted.

"True. But today is not that day for me."

The two jumped back as sparks erupted from the swords rubbing against each other. Robert pointed the sword at his rival's chest, standing in his fencing position.

"En garde."

"Touché."

Nicholas de Piro stood on the family yacht, staring out to sea as they followed the police boats to Ġgantija. He looked behind him. His eldest son, a police officer himself, was standing close by, giving orders to the few select police he had taken with him on the boat. The others were on their speed boats.

"Now men, remember we have a hostage here. Probably more if this guy is insane enough, so be careful! Now, hoist the colors and get ready! We're almost there."

--

Robert dodged another blow to his chest and looked behind Maximilian. The sea roared underneath them as they fought at the edge. Lilly and the others were close by, watching the battle.

"You've come too far to give up, I suppose."

"Correct." Robert took a step back and rested the sword on the rocks. "Wouldn't you say this is pointless?"

"I will not say a word until I get my prize!"

He sped to his right were the children were secured. He grabbed onto Lilly and cruelly pushed her over the cliff to the sea far below. Miley, too scared to move, could only scream. Oliver and Jackson angrily jumped on him, but he hit Jackson with the butt of his gun on his chin and Oliver in the place where it hurts the most.

"If you make another move, the other girl will go down next!"

"I'm afraid she's already jumped down!" Robert grinned, pointing behind him. Maximilian turned.

Vicky had jumped, and as she fell through the air into the sea, she hoped she would be able to bring her friend to the surface before she drowned…