It was an eight hour trek back to the Den. I didn't want to take my usual short cut, just in case I was followed. Thankfully my senses did not fail me and I arrived at the den with no followers.

I punched in the code on the electronic lock and walked in, making sure the system locked it back up as it should. I smiled as I heard the bolt click in place. I went in and found Thomas again. He looked me over with angst. "Well?" he asked.

I smiled. "I got another one," I said, holding up the key card. His eyes went wide and as he looked at it.

"We've been trying to get him for years! How did you get him so quick?"

I patted his shoulder. "I've been tracking him for months. I followed him everywhere, and I mean, everywhere. I also staked out his favorite nightclub. That's where I killed him. I also learned more about Ishara too. I'll fill you in later, I must speak with Master urgently." He nodded and I rushed past him, quickly making my way to her chambers. I knocked on the door and she responded. "Enter."

I entered her office and she looked up at me. "What have you to report?"

I smiled and handed her the keycard. "Humphries is dead," I said, "Along with one of his associates, who just recently accepted the ring." She harbored shock in her eyes, but a smile creased her lips.

She took the card and studied it. "Progress…at last…"

I cleared my throat. "I've also learned more about Ishara."

She perked up. "Oh? What?"

I cleared my throat again. "She's been taken, but not for being one of us. She hacked into one of their programs. I think they'll discover she's one of us though, I don't know what they'll do when they do."

She frowned. "They'll probably execute her," she said, solemnly.

I shook my head. "Not if I have anything to say about it," I said.

She looked at me with sad eyes. "Drago…you've done us a great service today. I want you to know that you've done a fine job."

I nodded. "I'm…" She stared at me. "I'm going after another one…"

She nodded. "Excellent," she began. She noticed my expression. "What's wrong, Drago?"

I sighed. "My next target is out of the country. I don't want to leave to find him…"

She rose from her chair. "I can understand that," she said, "but these are dire times."

I opened up my note book once more and crossed out Humphries' name. I turned the page and found another target, who wasn't out of the country. I smiled. "I had forgotten about this one," I began. "Maurice Chestnut."

Her eyes narrowed. "Now that's a sly one," she said. "He's an accountant for them. He's also a part time hit man. I saw him work once, he's good at covering his tracks."

I nodded. "Maybe, but he's not as good as we are." I bowed to her. "He will share the same fate as Humphries." She nodded and I pulled out my phone. "I have some more information for you. Now that I'm here, I'll text send it to you. I wasn't going to risk it in there." She nodded and I sent her the information. Her eyes went wide as she read it.

"Drago…this information is priceless!" She rose and looked at me. "this is the plan for the next great purge! With this we can warn our brothers in other dens! You've done damn good work, Drago. Good work indeed. I must…"

I raised my hand. "With respect, master, let me go to the other dens. I don't want to chance anything. Besides, they'll want the same proof."

She nodded. "I would too," she said, mulling it over. "Good. Warn our brothers, but if you should happen upon Maurice on your way, you know what to do."

I nodded and bowed once more. "Nothing is true," I started.

She returned the bow. "Everything is permitted." I walked back into the hallway and found Thomas again, eagerly awaiting my news.

I looked him over and smiled. "To answer your question; I've found information about the next great purge. They want to hunt us down again. This time we have their plans. Gather your criminal friends. Let's see if we can't raid their weapons yards."

He nodded, that weasley smile creasing his lips again. "My pleasure, brother." He started out in a hurry, hitting buttons on his phone and raising it to his ear. He shouted commands in a language I didn't understand and jumped into his vehicle. I shook my head in amusement and went back to the Den, realizing I had some gear that I needed. I walked up the winding staircase and went to the dorm rooms. I opened up my door and walked in. I flicked on the lights and saw an email flashing on my computer. I raised an eyebrow and looked it over. "Mmm…" I clicked on the inbox. It was a message from Ishara!

Drago…I fear the Templars have traced my attempts to hack into their helix drives…I've had to swerve in and out of people, even while blending…I don't know, they somehow know my face! Drago, I fear they may catch up to me. If they do I will not break. By my honor as an Assassin I will not give them any information. Stay vigilant, Argo.

May he guide you…

I looked at that last line carefully. May he guide you…I smiled. "She wouldn't utter their oaths. This has to be a decoy…but how did they get my email? Let's face it; emails are pretty easy to get a hold of these days. I wasn't super surprised. I was about to delete it when a thought occurred. I'm not too bad at tracing things myself…I might be able to trace this back…but I can't do it here, too big a risk. I have an old acquaintance who owes me a favor…I'll show this to him. I put the email link on a flash drive I had handy in my desk drawer and pocketed it. I thought about all the favors that people owed me over the last ten years. I never thought I'd see the day when I'd have to call in all of them, for I feared the worst. A purge was not to be taken lightly, whether by word of mouth, written on paper, or in actual application. With Humphries down I deprived them of one of their recruiters and strategists. With Maurice down, I'll rob them of one of their accountants…That brings up an interesting idea…why not clear out a few of their accounts? Make it look like a mugging…perfect…No…clear out one account, then transfer funds into his account. That way he looks like a common embezzler. All this planning is going to pay off.