AN: Thanks again for all the reviews and messages, apologies for the delay!

Chapter 8

Deciding that it was too dangerous to stay in a hotel, Kurtis and Lara decided that the jeep would be the next best option.

"I've got some blankets in the back, we should be okay. Sorry, it's not going to be your most comfortable night."

"Kurtis, I've slept in an abandoned train before. I'm certain everything will be fine."

Kurtis disconnected two of the seats, reclining them back as far as they would go. He handed Lara a green blanket, then wrapped himself in his own black cover. The night was eerily dark, with only the rustling and cooing of nature to indicate there was any life at all. Lara regretted her earlier statement - with the engine off, there was no heating, making for a bitterly cold car. She shivered a little, but grit her teeth. Unintentionally, she began to convulse. Kurtis heard this, and quickly sat up. He ran his hand over Lara's body.

"Damn, Lara, you're freezing. You should have said something."

"I'm fine, Kurtis." Lara stammered, sounding less convincing by the second.

"You don't have to be tough for me, Lara. Here, this'll help."

He heaved his seat next to Lara, laying his blanket over the pair of them. She vocalised her thankfulness, but still shook a little. Finally, he wrapped his arm round Lara's waist and bravely decided to kiss her head. She immediately melted into his embrace, and the cold was forgotten.

"Sleep well, Lara."

Kurtis awoke, his eyes watering a little as the sunlight struck the windows of the jeep. His arm was still wrapped around Lara, and his crooked smile spread across his face. Gingerly, he pulled it away. Lara still slept, breathing heavily. He checked his watch, it was 6:00 AM. He opened the car doors, making sure to shut them behind him as quietly as he could. Scanning his surroundings, he could see central Moscow on the horizon. He withdrew a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. Breathing deeply, he vaguely recalled a secret underground route to the Lux Veritatis vault, but he no longer had the relevant documents. It was all going to have to be based on instinct and memory. He had visited the vault once before, after his initiation into the Lux Veritatis. He couldn't recall why, it was probably to so that he could find safe havens around the globe to which he could retreat in times of difficulty. He was pulled from his reverie by footsteps behind him. Lara trudged over, dragging her feet a little, making an effort to wipe away the debris of her eyeliner from her face.

"Morning, Kurtis. I suppose it's time we got down to business."

"The earlier the better."

Kurtis crushed the cigarette into the dirt and retreated to the jeep, discovering a few unopened packets of beef jerky stuffed down one of the seats. He had no idea what they were doing there, but at least he and Lara could have something in the form of breakfast.

Lara laughed, and Kurtis could guess it was probably something to do with his American ways. Lara added to the small feast, rummaging into her backpack and withdrawing a chocolate bar and a bottle of Lucozade. After their odd meal, the pair drove into Moscow, planning to leave the jeep about a mile from the Kremlin to make themselves less obvious. Kurtis remembered entering via the back, using a weak patch of wall. From there they would begin the journey underground, retrieve the Deleo serum, and then prevent the UPP from activating the new plumbing - and there wasn't much time left to do it.

The Kremlin was already busy. With so many different areas in one complex, this was inevitable. The pair decided that it would probably be best not to attempt stealth in the open air - it would arouse suspicion. It was only as they made their way near Cathedral Square that their plan would really swing into motion. The gold domes glinted in the sunlight, and Kurtis squinted to further examine the 'Church of the Veil'. This was definitely the right place, memories were already piecing together in his mind. The eerie echo of singing could be heard from within.

"I don't want to interrupt the church proceedings, things could get messy. We need to tread carefully."

Lara nodded, and they crept around the back of the church. Kurtis began fumbling around the walls, tapping every inch.

"I know it's here, it's just a little to the left." He patted more furiously, and suddenly he heard a crack. He smiled "Bingo."

With a few light punches, a gap large enough to crawl through emerged. There were no lights within, so Lara armed herself with a small torch. The space was small, and it was made increasingly difficult as both tried to move simultaneously. After a cramped army crawl through the gap, a hall opened up beneath them. The walls were covered with 12th century artworks, bedecked with symbols of the Lux Veritatis. Grabbing onto a beam, Lara slid down into the room.

"This is it, now to find the Deleo serum."

He turned to see Lara transfixed on a portrait of a man in full armour. He had piercing blue eyes and a vaguely familiar head of thick black hair.

"That's your father, isn't it?"

Kurtis stood before the painting, running his fingers slowly over its glass case.

"Yes, it is. Konstantin was a good man, I only wish the past had been different."

"We all do." Lara considered her own family relationship, and how she had been disowned due to her parents disapproval of her cavalier lifestyle, and refusal to wed the Earl of Farrington. She quickly brushed these aside, the Earl had been so dreadfully dull that she would almost fall asleep in her tea listening to him. Still, she wished one day that her parental relationship would be reconciled, they would wake up soon enough.

Turning her thoughts from her family state, she began to hastily search for the serum. Kurtis smiled his crooked smile. "I know where to go, follow me."

The pair made their way down a dingy corridor, until a shaft of light caught their eyes from beneath a door. It creaked as it opened, revealing a room packed with guns and swords.

"This is the armoury, if we make our way to the alchemy section the serum should be there."

Sure enough, a white liquid stored in phials stood inside a cabinet at the opposite end of the room.

"Give me the flyer."

Lara handed it over, and Kurtis extracted a few drops of pareona from the flyer, adding it to the Deleo serum. After a brief fizz, the liquid turned from deep blue to transparent. Kurtis poured this into a cup, and swigged. Lara's eyes widened, what was he doing?

"Great, it's worked." Kurtis wiped his mouth. She noted that the solution had turned to water. Clever to say the least!

Lara smiled, the serum was ready. Now all that was needed was to administer it to the three vats at UPP HQ.