Valkyrie and Vendetta got to East Dublin as night fell. The stars twinkled high above them, glimmering within the pool of midnight sky. The rest of their allies were already off to the side of the large compound Wreck was hiding out inside of one of the abandoned buildings. Dozens of Cleavers were in there as well, all prepared to strike.

As Vendetta climbed off the Motor-Bike-of-Doom she doubled over in pain. She fumbled in her pocket, taking out a syringe and jabbing it into her arm. Once the liquid was inside her bloodstream the vampire straightened up, throwing the used syringe away. "Let's go," Vendetta moved off and Valkyrie followed.

The two walked inside of the building, Ray-Roy beamed when he saw Vendetta and came over to her. "So Pretty Lady," he said. "How'd everything go with your informant?"

"He isn't my informant," Vendetta responded as the three stepped into the circle of the others. "He's just a person I thought might have some information. I was correct."

"How'd the meetin' go though?"

Vendetta's jaw clenched. "I don't want to talk about it."

Valkyrie frowned at that response. Then she remembered that woman, Ophelia. The two seemed to really hate each other. Must be some history between the two. Dusk was standing on the other side of Ray-Roy and when he looked curiously at Vendetta.

Before any one could say anything more, Ravel stepped forward. He looked at Valkyrie and Vendetta. "We got the tip from you. Is that all you have from your source?"

Vendetta nodded. "Yes."

Ravel nodded. "Okay. Skulduggery, what else did you and Dusk get from Black?"

"Other than the possibility that Ode is already in this mystery employer's hands," Skulduggery said. "Then no."

"Actually," Dusk said. "Black said something to me right before he escaped. Something I think is a warning to us."

"What is it?" Ravel asked.

"He said 'Better get out alive while you can.' I'm guessing that he means he has a trap set up somewhere and he's giving us a way out."

As soon as the warning was heard, Valkyrie saw something change in Vendetta. Her eyes narrowed and her body went rigid and straight. She was looking at the older vampire intently, like she expected him to say the full answer. Valkyrie frowned. "Are you okay?" she whispered.

Vendetta didn't respond, just continued to stare off into space.

Skulduggery stepped out from the other side of Dusk to speak. "Alright," he said. "This is it. The plan is simple. We'll storm the place, attacking anyone who gets in the way. Once we locate Wreck, we'll grab him and take him back to the Sanctuary where we'll interrogate him. Hopefully however, that nice man Dusk and I interviewed today was lying and Ode is actually still in Wreck's possession."

Ghastly nodded and stepped forward. "Yes. So the first wave will be the Cleavers, going into to clear the path for us. Then a team will follow to keep the enemy busy while the third team goes in to locate and secure Wreck. I think that covers everything. Anyone have anything else to add? No? Okay then, here are the teams."

"Valkyrie, Vendetta, Ghastly, Sanguine, Jack, Scratch, Shoe, Scapegrace, Thrasher and Ray-Roy will consist of the first team. The second will be the rest of us."

"I want to be switched to the second team," Vendetta said immediately. Everyone looked at her. "Um, okay." Ravel nodded. "Valkyrie will be transferred over as well then."

"No," Vendetta's voice was hard. "I go without her. She will be of more use down below."

Ravel seemed unsure but Skulduggery shrugged. "Alright. Sure. Valkyrie, mind going without your shadow for once?"

Valkyrie shrugged, still slightly confused at Vendetta's sudden change. "I'll make it."

"Great!" Skulduggery said cheerfully. "Now, if that is all, let's move out."

….

Valkyrie moved quickly over to the compound's sixty foot walls, she could see the Cleavers moving soundlessly, scaling the walls up to the guard towers where the occupants had already been taken out by Spring-heeled Jack and his twins. She still couldn't believe Jack had kids. And Sanguine as well. Valkyrie still couldn't figure out Vendetta and Dusk's relationship however. She looked over at the two, standing in their positions, ready to strike as soon as Valkyrie's wave had struck.

Dusk was looking at Vendetta curiously, the other vampire's demeanor still hadn't changed since the warning had been spoken and Dusk seemed to have noticed the change. Ray-Roy came up to Valkyrie, just at that moment. He followed her gaze and grinned. "She's somethin' ain't she? Brave and fearless, fairly explosive, I'll say that but I've always liked a girl with some spunk."

Valkyrie looked at Ray-Roy. "You like Vendetta?"

Ray-Roy thought for a moment then shrugged. "Maybe a bit more then like but yeah, somewhere in that area."

Valkyrie blinked. It was weird, but she realized that even criminals could love. After all, she was Darquesse and she loved her family. And Fletcher, she supposed, at one point. But that part of their relationship was over, and it wasn't like they hated each other. They were still friends after all. She shook her head to clear the thoughts.

Yells from beyond the wall alerted Valkyrie and she turned, seeing the others running to where they were supposed to be.

"Want a ride?"

Valkyrie looked at Ray-Roy and nodded. He put a hand on her shoulder and they tunneled up through the wall to the top. Ray-Roy gave her a two finger salute then ran off to his father, who was down at the other end of the wall. Valkyrie looked into the courtyard and saw complete chaos.

Cleavers swirled their scythes, the blades darkened by fire so that they didn't reflect the light. Blood sprayed with every swipe and yells filled the air. She was momentarily blinded as large spotlights turned on, illuminating the fallen on the ground.

"Come on!" Shoe ran up and jumped down into the fray below. Valkyrie followed, using the air to slow her decent. As soon as she landed, a fist hurtled towards her and she ducked, going low. Her elbow snapped the attacker's head back and she wheeled around, the shadows turning sharp and slashing open the man behind hers chest. He fell backwards, tripping over a dead comrade while another jumped over him, a knife in his hand.

He stabbed at Valkyrie, forcing her back. She shifted to the right, grabbing his wrist and twisting. She shoved him away as he screamed and summoned flame in her hand. Ray-Roy flashed by, a straight razor identical to his father's in his hand. Blood sprayed as he cut a couple down.

Scratch and Shoe jumped around, disemboweling people as they worked together. Valkyrie watched Shoe take out someone who was coming up behind Ray-Roy, winking at the Texan as she passed. Ray-Roy didn't notice, too caught up in keeping a man from setting him on fire. Scapegrace and Thrasher were trying to get in, but every time they did, they were either shoved to the ground or pummeled to the ground. Either way they met the ground.

Dark figures up on the edges of the walls running to the building caught Valkyrie's eye and she picked out the out-line of Skulduggery's hat in the front. Looks like the plan was working after all.

….

This was it. The break she had been waiting for. For centuries, Vendetta had been waiting for a lead and now she had it. Sure, she had to join the so called 'good guys' to get it but still. She finally had something to follow up on and she wasn't going to mess it up. It was time for some pay back.

The vampire ran beside Dusk, her eyes fixed on the window ahead. She watched as Pleasant swung his arms, the glass exploding and they leaped through into a corridor. Bespoke and the skeleton moved to either side of a door way. They peered through then nodded and lunged into the room. Fire was in Bespoke's hands while Pleasant was settling for his revolver.

Vendetta ran in, she didn't see Wreck but she knew he was in the building. So she turned and ran out, down the hall as she head Pleasant calling to split up. She heard a few others following her and she ducked into a nearby room. No Wreck. She knew that Renn and Bespoke were behind her, the others most likely with Pleasant.

Vendetta kicked a door open and headed further into the building. She could feel the vibrations of the others behind her, hear their breathing and hearts and smell the adrenaline and blood rushing through their veins. They got to an intersection and she paused, listening.

There he is. Vendetta ran off to the left, taking the stairs three at a time. She tore down the corridor, stopping at the sixth door. Vendetta kicked it in and entered. Wreck stood at the window. His eyes widened when he saw them enter then he smiled mockingly. "Hello Vendetta."

Vendetta looked at him coldly. This man was the one she had been looking for. Now she had him. Finally.

"Adam Wreck," she heard Bespoke say. "You are under arrest for kidnapping of Grand Mage Cothernus Ode. Now save yourself some face and tell us where he is."

Wreck smiled. "Sorry, you're friend isn't here. Not anymore. He was earlier. Not any more of course, but still. Maybe you'll find something. If you're lucky."

He moved over to stand next to the window sill. "Now if you'll excuse me," Wreck said. "I need to go."

Before anyone could stop him, he snapped his wrist and broke the glass and jumped out the window. Vendetta heard Bespoke and Renn swearing. They ran to the window and looked out.

"Great," Bespoke snarled as they watched the elemental shot through the air, landing on the wall. "Now we have to hunt him down again."

Vendetta's eyes narrowed. This wasn't just a job anymore, this was personal. So she jumped out the window after him. The air whooshed around her as she fell and she rolled as he landed. She was up and running immediately, Wreck was a good amount ahead of her but he wasn't a vampire.

Vendetta quickly gained on him, flashing around the corner. She could hear the battle still going on down below but she ignored it and focused only on her target. She could hear Wreck's ragged breathing as he tried to out run her, his blood pounding through his body.

She was just about to pounce on him when something else slammed into her. They went hurtling off the wall, falling through the air. Scapegrace. He was screaming right in her ear, than she heard nothing and all she felt was a lot of pain. Vendetta snarled as she tried to detangle herself from the frightened man-in-a-woman's body but he simply continued to grip her. She could tell he was still screaming.

Then there was a rush of air and they were separated. Instinct took over and she flipped herself just as the ground came to catch her. It was not soft. Vendetta lay on the ground, suddenly aware of the massive amount of pain in her leg and ankle and her head. She could feel blood all over, dripping down her face from her burst ear drums when Scapegrace's screams were too loud. The price to pay for enhanced senses she supposed.

Vendetta felt tremors as people ran over and a few came into her line of sight. She could see their lips moving but no sound. Cain, Ray-Roy, Sanguine. She felt some more tremors and she saw Dusk and Pleasant and Renn and Bespoke come up.

Now her hearing was slowly coming back. She could feel her bones trying to mend themselves, soft pops were heard as they realigned and she hissed in pain.

"What happened?" Dusk was snarling.

"I-I don't know," Cain stammered. "I saw Scapegrace crash into Vendetta and they were falling. They couldn't get untangled so I used the air to separate them. Next I know she's on the ground."

Ray-Roy knelt down next to Vendetta and helped her sit up. She swore and snarled in pain and she grabbed her chest. Ribs broken. Perfect. Ray-Roy was extremely warm, his pulse in her skull. Vendetta looked around, the battle was over.

"Vendetta," Ray-Roy said, worry in his voice. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Vendetta mumbled. Her thoughts numb. So close. She almost had him. So close. She let her head fall back and closed her eyes. So close.

V-R.P.- Well, Vendetta's mother is one of those characters you never hear about and are left open ended so I'm not really planning anything with her. Do you want me to do something like a mini-backstory chapter showing something in this? Because her full story is in the 'Children of Criminals: Backstories' I published. (I just saw the review so I know you know it exists :P) The first chapter is Vendetta. And no problem, I love getting your reviews. :)

SP(Guest): You're welcome. :)

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REVIEW AND I'M STILL OPEN TO THINGS YOU WANT TO SEE! :)