The end of an arc! Enjoy!

The Foundry, Starling City, 22:26 PM PST

Oliver tossed the arrow with Al-Sayad's blood on it to Felicity who was waiting by the centrifuge to test the DNA. Roy was nursing his re-stitched wound, his head spinning from tonight's action. Ray Palmer was acquired by ARGUS for his protection. None of them could say whether the threat had passed, perhaps only grown more dangerous. Neither Roy nor Felicity was able to get a single word in as he stormed into the Foundry with Sara stalking behind him sullenly. He was more than ready to have this conversation that should've happened hours ago.

Unable to hold on to any self-restraint, he slammed his bow on the table top and faced them. Felicity was trying to ignore the whole exchange by busying herself with the blood sample, while Roy sat quietly and listened.

"You want to tell us who the girl is before or after the test results, instead of wasting our time?"

Sara did not hesitate to answer him in his angered state; she pulled her mask off and held her chin up defiantly. "She was going to kill you, now she won't. Simon on the other hand must face our justice."

She spoke like a member of the League, and his tolerance for them was waning greatly. This whole situation did not help at all. "You're going to kill him yourself or have Ra's do it?"

She breathed out between clenched teeth, trying not to get riled by his accusations. "I accepted your no-kill rule when I was on this Team, but everything's changed now."

"And why does the League of Assassins want to kill me?" He demanded pointing at his chest.

She shook her head, "I don't know. But I will try to find out."

Al-Sayad knows who I am. What if she told Simon? How long have they been allies for? "That's not good enough Sara!" He said throwing his arms out, he held his head, thinking, recalling that Sara had called her 'child'. "This girl allied herself with Lacroix. I know that's considered treason, will she face the League's 'justice' too? I'm not sure how young you start training your operatives, but if she dies because she couldn't kill me…"

Her movements were impressive but brash, and she had gotten herself distracted by Sara in the middle of the fight. And if his suspicions were correct-that she was no older than Thea-he considered her predicament child endangerment, and that was not something he could ever allow, in his city or in any part of the world, even if she had tried to kill him with Vertigo last week. While he was still sore about that, he could not bring himself to seek any retribution. As strange, and bizarre, and senseless as it sounded, he wanted to help her, though he was in no position too. Blame it on the hero complex, I guess.

Sara scoffed as if he had lost his mind. "Are you worried about her? Oliver, this girl nearly killed Roy. Besides, my orders are to capture Simon. And that was what I was trying to do until you showed up!"

"We could've worked together; you didn't have to lie to us".

She rolled her eyes, "I know you Ollie; you would only tell me not to capture Simon for execution. We're different, just let it go!"

Her feigned ignorance wanted to make him laugh because of how unbelievable she was being. "Your fellow League assassin, the one you willingly let go? Yeah, she tried to kill me a few days ago too. She knows who I am and you're risking everyone's life here by keeping your secrets."

She folded her arms as if to shield herself from his accusations, she stared him boldly in the eye. "I don't have to answer to you."

"No! You answer to him!" He exploded.

That remark hit a nerve in Sara, as she moved towards him with one fist raised Felicity threw her arms in-between them like a shield. "Enough, both of you! All we've done is argue and every time we do, someone dies. We didn't let our difference get in the way before and they can't now". She let that fact sink in for a few moments and waited for Sara's fist to unclench before stepping back.

"Now that we're not trying to hit each other, how are we going to stop Simon Lacroix?"

Sara softened the look she gave Oliver, it spoke volumes, and he sensed she was sorry. So was he, she was in a difficult situation that he had no control of and that he couldn't help her out of. "Simon isn't just any criminal you can imprison in Iron Heights, he'd only escape. He is one of my people, and I will deal with him my way."

"And what about our mutual friend? How can I trust that she won't come after me or those I care about?"

"Please, trust me; I will get to the bottom of this. She won't bother you again."

Sara scooped her bo-staff up and proceeded to the exit. He jogged quickly behind her, and grabbed her shoulder. "Please, you can't leave us with half answers. When a mercenary like him comes to my city- our city and he's former League? And you seem intent on protecting Al-Sayad, why?"

She looked up at him and then back at everyone else. Before she was fighting them, resolutely adhering to her League code, because to her it was the law. But now she just seemed at a loss at what to say, or even how to handle whatever she was going through. He did not want to assume she needed their help, he was no expert with the on goings within the League of Assassins, but he was deeply concerned that she needed it. Sara brushed his hand off her shoulder and walked to the door, but before opening it she turned to face them.

"I know my dad asked you to look into this but this goes deeper than a few murdered businessmen. These are my people and I will handle them. I'm warning you Oliver, all of you. If you want to live you better stay out of this."

Outskirts of Starling City, 22:30 PM PST

He had until dawn. If he lingered a single moment longer the Canary would have the opportunity to call a dozen League assassins to haul him back to Nanda Parbat. Stealing away in the dead of the night was his best option. He sped down the highway in a standard vehicle he'd bought with cash only. Simon knew he was wise not trust Al-Sayad, that two faced little bitch I hope the Arrow skewered her to death. He saw her relent to her fellow Leaguer almost within the first moments they came into contact, like a flower bowing to the sun.

Screw the blood debt he owed her, screw the Canary and the Arrow. None of it was worth advancing his reputation if it meant he'd die in the process. Neither had he been able to kill Ray Palmer before the ARGUS armoured van arrived and packed him off to a secure location. Sloppy, just as Al-Sayad had mocked. He would need to double his efforts to disguise his tracks to prevent another uninvited presence in his safe house. Complacency was dangerous. Nevertheless, he made sure to leave a gift behind in his Starling safe house, should any of them wander in to check it.

He answered his phone without a greeting. "ARGUS has Ray Palmer" said his handler with grave dissatisfaction.

"They'll be watching him like a hawk from now on. They're on to us and the League is on to me."

"I expected results when I hired you Simon. This is certainly not what I had in mind."

No, certainly not, I hate to apologize and beg with every fibre of my being, but I'll have too now. "I'm sorry sir, there were factors working against me. The League is an enemy not to be trifled with, and they will attempt to apprehend myself and this entire mission at any cost. But you will get results. I'll make sure of it."

There was a long silence on the other end that he thought his handler might have hung up; Simon racked his brain for what possible punishment he could receive. Blood rushed into his ears as he waited with bated breath. He was not afraid of death, but he was not with the League anymore. Death by these people would not be painless.

"The Council has decided to spare your life. Do not fail us."

The Foundry, Starling City, 22:31 PM PST

They sat in silence after the door shut, Oliver staring holes into it and Felicity half-hoping Sara would burst back in telling them she was just kidding. That didn't happen. She pursed her lips and gestured to it.

"Correct me if I'm wrong but did Sara just…threaten us?"

"It was a warning" he said, puffing out his chest as he breathed out wanting to release some tension. But he found that it couldn't leave him, as if there was a tick biting at his neck daily, bothering him no matter how hard he scratched. The days since the Vertigo attack were bearing down on him, making him weary, yet he still could not manage to get a wink of sleep. Oliver patted Roy on the back, the younger man swayed slightly forward, Felicity had given him some 'aspirins' to set off the pain. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah... Thanks for getting there on time. I shouldn't have gone out in my condition it was reckless…"

"Yup, I agree, it was reckless, but it was brave. We have that in common you know, I'll let you off the hook just this once". Oliver teased nudging Roy's shoulder; Felicity huffed and shook her head at them, disagreeing with Oliver like a disapproving mother would.

"So…" Felicity started, sitting back down on her computer chair, "this is a new development, the League of Assassins was trying to kill you and we have no idea why. We're putting our money on Sara who pretty much told us nothing we didn't already know. And, isn't more than a little unnerving that a very dangerous group of assassins knows your secret identity?" She rambled making a gesture with her thumb and forefinger almost touching. "I mean…" her laugh went up an octave, "I could tell you to let this go, but I know how stubborn you are" she chided light-heartedly, outwardly she was unperturbed but the stiffness of her face muscles suggested otherwise.

"I poked the sleeping lion. It was bound to happen."

Sara's warning had left them with more questions than answers, but maybe they were asking the wrong questions. What on earth was CADMUS up to that caused it to close down? And then lead to so many deaths to those who had been involved with it? How many more lives would need to be sacrificed to bury their secrets? Why did the League want him dead? Who was this Al-Sayad? Who was Komodo working for? My God, the list will never end at this rate. It didn't seem like he was going to get any sleep for a very long time.

The Glades, Starling City, 23:09 PM PST

Putting down her bo-staff, Sara Lance took out the secure cell phone from her utility belt. She pondered about Oliver and the Team, about Artemis. She's just a kid, but she's up to something, I have to find her and make sure she stays out of trouble. But keeping Artemis from her mission would only endanger her. Not only that, the League could just send someone else to finish her task. How can I protect Oliver and everyone else without getting myself killed in the process? She checked the time on her watch and on the phone screen; it was around a 14 hour time difference between Nanda Parbet and Starling. She made her regulatory phone call to check in, Nyssa was always on the other end of the line, but when it wasn't her greeting her, but instead an unknown voice in a foreign language, Sara became slightly worried.

"What is your status?" The operative asked in English, and Sara knew who it was immediately, her mood turned sour.

"Talia—where is Nyssa? I report to her alone."

"She is with the Master that is all I can tell you" she said, and without missing a beat moved on to another subject. It did not matter to Talia that Sara and Nyssa were romantically involved, nor was she annoyed by her inquisition. She just didn't care. She was Ra's' most stoic and loyal follower, it was the mission that was most important to her.

Talia was as calculating and discerning as her father; the eldest Al Ghul and the favoured daughter. She had a penchant for cruelty with an 'all or nothing' outlook when it came to decision making. Talia had more command than Nyssa and handled the multiple League affairs that Sara was not privy too. Her kill streak was only out matched by her father's.

If Sara had to choose which of the heirs she would've preferred taking over, she would've chosen Nyssa. Not because she loved her, because Nyssa as Head was the last thing she ever wanted. But because she did not want to imagine a world with Talia as Head of the Demon, and what the chaos it would cause, she would burn the world if she had too and rule the ashes.

"Your status Taer-Al-Asfar" she repeated with a hint of boredom and irritation.

"Lacroix has left Starling."

"Do not engage."

"Al-Sayad is also in Starling to kill the Arrow, she allied herself with Simon Lacroix to accomplish this" reported Sara dutifully. "Artemis would never go rogue, and I doubt the Master would ever consent to this. So I'm assuming the order came from you. I want to know why?" The last part was said with some unsaid hostility, Talia took notice.

"I will not suffer your insolence." Talia hissed, she could practically see the death glare Talia wore, cold as ice and as vicious as a viper, hear the threat in her tone, and threats from the Heir to the Demon should never be taken lightly. "My sister is the one in love with you, remember? It would wise for you to consider your words to me before speaking them. Our interest with the Arrow is none of your concern; I will inquire into Al-Sayad's actions in Starling. You on the other hand, have been assigned a target by the Master."

She hoped she wasn't reassigned because they thought she was incompetent. It would be embarrassing. She could track Lacroix from Starling, he couldn't have gone far. If Sara found Artemis she could get some information from her as to where he might have gone, maybe ask her to tag along to keep an eye on her.

But if the master wanted to give her a new target then she had no other choice but to obey.

"Who is it?"

"Malcolm Merlyn."

Gotham City, 3:03 AM EST

He crashed through the sludge of the sewers, the voices never-ending, the voices haunting him, hands reaching out from the mud to grab his feet and pull him down under the murky waters, roaches crawling his skin. There was a circle of moonlight from an open manhole reflecting the light onto the water. And he saw his face, green sinews twisted on one side, dissolving into his skin, curdling it to maggot yellow. A hideous wastrel of a man left behind, forgotten, dead to the world, dead to his people. Hunted by those who thought him a monster.

The voices changed their tune, they told him to leave, that he was still alive, and could still change the world,and make a difference. Make it to what was before the man in the green hood crushed him and his dreams. Who had told him that? He needed to remember. Who had given him hope? Told him that he had power surging in his veins, in his blood? Blood.

Blood.

A/N: Nyssa has a sister?! Up next: We take a visit to Nanda Parbat! Oliver faces old enemies! I'll be posting very soon so look out the next chapter!