Author's note: Ouch, no reviews at all last chapter. Honestly, I was a little sad since I really enjoyed writing last chapter. But I guess the good thing is that the lack of reviews didn't dampen my desire and joy at writing these stories. I was a little worried about that when I started this massive project. Anyway, I'm sorry about how long this chapter took, life's been pretty hectic.
This chapter was actually supposed to be the last chapter, but it ended up being way longer than I was expecting. So I cut it in half. Bad news, that means this chapter is as long as it was. The good news though is that you guys get another chapter next week! Hope that makes up for how shocking I've been at updating recently.
Night had fallen on the city of Noxus. But that did not mean the city stopped thriving. Indeed, for some, it was the time they came most alive. For some, the dark cloak that followed the sun's fiery descent was a time of action. And for two, that was exactly what they were waiting for. Eyes set on the nondescript storehouse from the nearby shadows, the two Demacians crouched, silently waiting for their target to appear.
For hours they waited. Overhead, the waxing moon rose in its orbit, the only indication of their patience as they unwaveringly kept watch. Under their careful vigil, the duo looked on as several Noxians entered the silent building, but so far, none even closely resembled the one they were after.
Finally, when the moon was at the peak of its path, a broad-shouldered, hooded figure appeared, causing the smaller one to stir. She didn't even need to see his face to recognise him, his arrogant, purposeful strides were enough to give him away.
They continued to wait even after the man disappeared into the warehouse; Poppy using the time to relax her tightened grip on her hammer as she tried to suppress the seething anger that had flared up inside her at the mere sight of the man.
Once she felt in control, the girl nodded to Galio. Returning her gesture, the large gargoyle spread his wings, flying up to a nearby rooftop to keep watch through the warehouse's narrow skylights.
Assured that her friend was in position, the young yordle also started to move. Silently, she snuck around the base of the warehouse, following the imposing, wooden walls until she came upon the tiny passage they'd found while scouting earlier.
Squeezing her diminutive form through the even smaller hole, the blue girl soon found herself in a dark, cluttered supply closet. Crouched below several brooms that were stacked hazardously up against the tall bucket on her other side, the yordle paused, ears straining to pick up any nearby noises. She quickly picked up the rhythmic sound of crickets chirping along with the occasional creak of the wooden walls in the wind. However, that was all that reached her ears. Motionlessly waiting, the girl could pick up no indication that she was anything but alone. So, with careful treads, Poppy smoothly twisted her way through the cluster of jumbled supplies and up to the door.
Opening it a sliver, she peered out into the deserted corridor before slipping out into the open passage. Picking the direction that would most likely take her deeper into the building, the yordle girl crept along the dark, silent corridor, sticking as close to the dingy, wooden walls as she could. As she moved along the dimly lit hall, Poppy felt a strong sense of unease rise up within her chest at the eerily familiar surroundings and her recent nightmares came to mind. With a harsh forcefulness, the yordle pushed the feeling down. She refused to back down now that she was so close; especially over something so trivial as a dream.
Her ears twitched as they picked up the low sound of conversation somewhere ahead, focusing her thoughts back on the task at hand. Quickly but quietly, the girl navigated her way towards the source of the noise, coming to a sudden stop outside the main storeroom of the warehouse.
Slowly, body pressed tightly against the doorway, she tilted her head until she could make out the brighter-lit room. Stealthily observing from the entrance, Poppy's eyes immediately locating roughly a dozen warriors lounging around the large room. Their attention was held by the tall, proud form of Andreas, who stood in the centre of the group as he directed the meeting. Beside him was a slimmer, plain faced Noxian taking notes. As the girl's attention briefly focused on him, a fragment of recognition stirred within her. She could swear that she had seen the man before – most likely during the failed ambush. However, as quickly as the thought came she pushed it aside. She had no interest in the vaguely familiar figure nor the rest of the Blackthorn assassins. She had no intention of fighting any of them if she could help it.
As silent as a mouse, the yordle crept around the edge of the room, before sliding behind a large stack of crates. Peering out from within the shadows of her new hiding spot, she could easily keep track of the entire group. She was also satisfied to find that from her concealed position, she had clear access to either of the main room's two doorways.
The girl hunkered down to wait until she had a better opportunity to confront Andreas; passing the time by half-listening to the assassin converse. Most of chatter however was related to the group's money, assignments and utilities – none of which perked the Demacian's interest.
However, she soon found herself snapping back to attention as a new figure arrived. The man barely paused as he entered the room, ignoring the others and instead heading straight towards the Blackthorn's leader. Andreas' face turned serious as the new Noxian whispered something to him, before, with a brief nod, he quickly left through the room's other door, leaving Kade to continue the meeting.
Poppy paid the Blackthorns no attention however, as they resumed their meeting, nor did she notice as the newcomer left as swiftly as he'd come; her whole attention was on the retreating form of the Noxian leader. Her heart rate quickened: this was her chance.
Moving slowly and silently, despite the adrenaline within her shouting to hurry, she snuck along behind the wall of crates, before slipping through the side door and after the Noxian.
The small corridor the yordle found herself in soon transitioned into a modest office causing the girl to quickly slide behind the cabinet closest to the door to avoid being seen.
Once she was sure that her approach had not been detected, Poppy took the chance to peer out from her hiding spot, only to find the Blackthorn's leader completely engrossed in the map before him. His head was hunched low over his desk as he muttered numbers under his breath, entirely unmindful of his surroundings. As he shifted, however, the yordle's keen eyes picked up the slightest glint of gold from his pocket.
The earlier adrenaline surged back through her body.
This was it; this was the perfect opportunity. He was here alone, unaware of her presence and with her possession. She would not get a better opportunity than this. All it would take was a surprise attack from behind, a quick blow to the head and she would be out of here before the others even knew what had happened.
Slipping out from behind the cabinet, the yordle readied her hammer and prepared to strike.
Only to drop Whomper in surprise as she was bodily picked up from behind, muscular arms constricting around her chest and limiting her movements.
Cursing her lack of awareness, the girl lashed out with all her might, kicking and twisting as she struggled to get loose. The arms slackened briefly with the owner's surprise – unprepared for such strength from a being so small – before his grip constricted even tighter.
After a few more futile minutes of fighting, Poppy went limp, gasping for air around the vice like hold compressing her chest.
Despite her ragged breathing and precarious position, she still managed to shoot the approaching Andreas a deadly glare that would have sent many lesser men running. However, the Blackthorn leader simply smirked in response, picking up her weapon and playing with it in mock interest.
"Well, well, well. Fancy meeting you here. You are a persistent one aren't you – Poppy wasn't it?"
Her glare intensified. "Go to hell," she spat.
The Noxian let out a short bark of laughter. "Oh, I know where I'm going. But not today. And not by your hand. Which is why you're here I'm assuming."
"I'm here for the necklace you stole from me, you treacherous, gutless bastard!" The teen let out a string of curses as she struggled once more. However, once again, it got her nowhere.
"Tsk, such language," Andreas reprimanded her mockingly before he turned to his burly colleague. "We should head back to the others. I'm sure by now they're all dying to greet our guest."
With a sly glance at the captive yordle the assassin strode out the door, his silent companion following just behind him.
As they walked, Poppy felt her insides twisting. This was bad. She was a captive in the heart of the enemies' stronghold. This was not how it was supposed to go. The girl knew she was barely a match for Andreas, let alone the entire gang of assassins. Even if she was able to free herself, she wondered if her and Galio would be able to take them all on.
Even as she thought that, a worse notion struck her. Something about what Andreas had said had been niggling at the back of her mind. But now she realised, he'd been nowhere near surprised enough at her appearance. Which could mean only one thing: this wasn't a mere coincidence. They had known she was coming and set a trap. A freezing sensation spread through her chest. If that was the case, what else did they know?
She had no more time to worry however, as they entered the main chamber and Andreas called out, "Looks like our guest finally showed up!"
They were greeted by a chorus of cheers and jeers as the rest of the Blackthorns surrounded them, drawing close to scrutinise the disgruntled yordle.
A solid Noxian with a jutted chin leered at her, face inches from her own. "So this is the one who bested you, huh Andreas? She doesn't look like much does she."
Poppy snarled as she kicked out with all her might, hitting the man straight in his impressive nose. The man reeled back, clutching his broken nose and swearing up a storm as his teammates laughed at him.
"Well she's definitely a feisty one," a burly blonde woman grinned as she caught the staggering Noxian.
The man ignored her comment, shoving himself upright as he drew his sword. "I'll kill her!" he growled, stalking forward.
"No one kills her but me," Andreas blocked the raging man's path, his cold eyes locked unwaveringly onto his subordinate.
The man faltered, forgetting about his blood-soaked face and wonky nose as he lowered his head. "Yes boss." Andreas was not the head of the Blackthorns for nothing. He knew that his leader could and would make an example of him if he tried to defy him. He'd done it before.
Nodding, the leader turned back to the yordle. "As for you little yordle, I don't plan on killing you just yet. You have information that I want. And information I will get. Starting with how you knew we were going to ambush those Demacian nobles."
The blue girl didn't breathe a word, her expression never even wavering from her death glare.
Andreas straightened, expression just as determined, before he pulled out a dagger. "Looks like we're doing this the hard way," he brought the weapon up before her eyes with a cold look. "But one way or another, I will get that information."
A resounding crash shattered the air as the skylights above imploded with immense force. Those caught below the chaotic blast ducked low in defence as a large, azure projectile launched itself into the centre of their congregation. Andreas barely had time to react before he found himself flung across the room from the force of the blue fist while the others that were near him were scattered by the unnatural wind that had picked up with the hulking figure's entry.
Galio turned towards the giant man confining his friend with a glare. Somehow, the Noxian had managed to escape the damage of his entry, but the irate gargoyle was planning to fix that very soon. His attention was quickly diverted, however, as several of the unharmed members sprung at him. He unfurled his wings, blocking two of the attacks, as his tail wrapped around a third's ankle, flinging him across the room, and with his free hands he slammed the remaining two's heads together.
Deftly, the gargoyle danced around the Noxians, deflecting their attacks to scrape along his tough hide and leaving an ever-growing path of groaning bodies in his wake. Slowly but surely, he stalked towards his where his captive friend was being held as the Blackthorn's leader sluggishly pulled himself up nearby.
"Let her go," he growled, his eyes glowing red with excess magic. Two more assassins sprung at him, only to cry out as a blast of arcane energy consumed them. Galio, didn't even spare them a glance. His eyes were locked solely on the gang's leader and his hulking companion as his fury fuelled the energy swelling up around him.
Andreas didn't even flinch at the giant's wrath, instead he stared down the gargoyle with a confident stance and readied his weapon.
Finally, once the stone golem was only a couple of metres away, he called out. "Now Kade!"
The nondescript Noxian, who'd hung back during the fight, slammed his hands onto the stone floor, causing runic patterns of light to ripple out from him. The red lines flew straight for the golem, creating a seal around his form. The gargoyle roared in pain as the magical energy arced up and surged across his body, locking him in place.