Chapter 5

The Blood Eagle

(~*~Translated from French ~*~)

(Present day, Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Lafitte's Blacksmith Bar)

"...The current string of disturbingly violent murders that are plaguing the city fell under jurisdiction of the federal government today, as the eighth and most savage incident was discovered this evening..."

Logan's attention fell on the small radio just in front of the bar, and the unsettling news it was reporting. It was a clear oversight, normally Scott and Logan would check the local news where ever they were heading to to see what was going on in the area. They did not do it this time and it was coming back on them. A serial killer would or would not put a dent in their plans. Logan felt the need to hunt, but the FBI was being called in; perhaps they would have it wrapped up before they were to leave New Orleans. Nothing got Logan's adrenaline pumping more then catching a killer.

Logan glanced from the radio back to Gambit as he sat at the bar, his solemn eyes never shifted from across the street, still glued to the Cats club. Clearly he was trying to keep his eyes lowered to keep from being recognized, nobody forgets a stare like his. Unfortunately, in his haste he forgot a pair of full-eye covering contacts that he would use for such an occasion. The last time he had to use them he was in Genosha, and though they had the unfortunate side effect of making him look stoned, they worked like a charm. Part of him however, felt that he wouldn't need them inside of New Orleans; it was a stupid miscalculation, but was difficult to blame him, since his family had always been in power there was no need for him to hide himself. The contacts were only necessary once he got out into the real world, where there was a danger of being identified; unbelievably, New Orleans had become the real world and so had the necessity to hide.

Remy would only spend a short time out in public while he waited for the others with Logan and he would only wait at the bars and restaurants that had recently opened with the exception of Lafitte's Blacksmith Bar. Lafitte's was never crowded this early in the evening. Remy thought it would be a good place to watch the Cat club across the street and wait. He wasn't very concerned about being noticed here, this particular bar prided themselves on working without electricity. Gimmick or not, the candlelight would allow him to go unrecognized. He also knew that Assassins had their old habits and hangouts.

Logan sat with his brooding teammate and waited for the others with him. He enjoyed his warm stout, and Remy was too distracted to have anything. Spring breakers laughed amongst the atmosphere. Everyone continued to celebrate with drinks, some took drugs to enhance their experiences, others attempted find company for the night. Down the bar, two very attractive men were doing just that as they openly flirted with each other. On the other side of Logan was a bald mustachioed man, probably around 40 years old, and he was obviously eyeing Gambit. He then briefly spoke to the bartender and ordered two drinks. Logan watched Gambit get a very strange look on his face as he noticed the older bald gentleman walk over to him, and oddly, Gambit very nearly laughed at him. For a moment, Logan thought this was just Gambit's uncomfortable reaction to being hit on by a man. Logan was sure he was right when the man presented him with a drink.

"It looked like you could use one." The man told Gambit. This time Gambit did laugh at him in an irritated sort of way. Logan would not intervene unless it was necessary, he was confident that he could handle himself, but he was a bit surprised when Gambit accepted the glass.

" Son of a bitch." Gambit said softly as he hung his head for a moment, the man simply smiled at him and as Gambit slowly pulled his head back up. Logan became confused when the bald gentleman good-naturedly responded.

" How de hell would you know?" The man took the second drink he had ordered, another straight bourbon, and attempted a cheers " To yo' health?" The man suggested. Gambit took his drink and swirled it a bit, he then grudgingly clinked glasses with him, but refused to drink it. Logan tried to understand what was going on, and he was mildly shocked when the bald man took a step closer to Remy, placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it; Remy didn't even react.

"Bastard..." Remy muttered, and again the man looked down at him and smiled.

" Now dat, you do know... Long time little brother." Henri said.

"Gambit?" Logan asked, he wasn't entirely sure if this was going to turn into a situation. He noticed the vast age difference between the two men, and Logan wondered how old their father was. Gambit made eye contact with Logan and he simply raised his palm to let him know that this wasn't a problem. Although he did look incredibly annoyed.

"Friend?" Henri asked, as he noticed the rough-looking man whom was sitting with his brother. Remy briefly looked at Logan, then back at his drink.

"No." Remy responded, he didn't bother to introduce Logan to his brother. He simply looked forward.

" Ya can't freeze me out, Remy." Henri said, this was the first time he had seen his brother in years. Clearly he was here to assist with their father and Remy couldn't ignore him no matter how much he tried. " Standin' right here. C'mon Remy ain't you-"

"De hell you been?" Remy demanded, his brother showed up out of no where for reasons he could only suspect. He was no where to be found the first time their father turned up kidnapped. The only time he ever recognized his brother's presence was when his father acquired a new business or when his father rose to a new tax bracket that he never bothered reporting. Henri was never psychically present, he just threw money at everything. " Could have used yo' help a while back ago de first time dis happened!" Remy said. His anger and disappointment were obvious. This was clearly a family matter and Logan changed his mind; even if this became a situation he wouldn't intervene, he focused on the developing radio broadcast and kept a look out for the others:

" Late-breaking news we're just getting word now that an eighth body has been found! All attempts to place the city on curfew is impossible due to the massive number of visiting celebrants tonight. We are on high alert and we have been urged by the studio to continue with programming all night regarding the recent string of violent serial murders. We now go live to the scene..."

~*~"Takes a long time for word to travel over the ocean, brother."~*~ Henri said, the silence between them was most palatable, they both became very serious. Henri stopped trying to make small talk and asked the obvious question.~*~" They have him don't they?"~*~ Henri asked. Remy nodded.

~*~" So what now? Are you actually going to help this time?"~*~ Remy asked bitterly. Never had his brother reached out to him, but in all fairness Remy had never tried to contact him either. This was the first time he had seen this brother since his wedding day.

~*~" I told you I didn't know what was happening. This time I know, that's why I'm here."~*~ Henri wasn't necessarily like his father. He knew when he did wrong and keeping away from the family and avoiding his brother and his problems was a mistake he did regret. It was easier to avoid the situation than it was to meet it head-on, but at least Henri had the ability to apologize.

~*~"How good of you to interrupt business! You could have checked in. Seems like you always get to keep your hands clean, and this sort of thing always ends up in my lap!"~*~ Remy protested. And he wasn't wrong. Henri had never stood up for his brother; he should have told his father that subjecting him to the more dangerous situations because of his mutant abilities wasn't healthy. It was unfair, but the setup allowed Henri to do what he wanted, which was working with money and never having to kill anyone. Henry never had to concern himself with the dirty dealings of the business. The night of Remy's wedding, Henri didn't even stay to assist his father. He was on a plane to Monaco for whatever reason he made up that he needed to be in Monaco.

~*~" You know I'm the blood and guts that make this work. You was always the other side of the business, you know that."~*~ Henri said, ignoring the fact that he had the free will to do whatever he wanted with his life. Henri got to move money around so the Thieves had all the financial backing for everything they wanted. He loved working with money and he loved traveling the world to do so. Remy never really had the luxury of choice, until he got the nerve to walk away from the family business. It angered him that his brother picked up and left without so much as a word.

~*~" You and father made me the other side."~*~ Remy bitterly argued. Occasionally Henri would think about tracking down his brother and inviting him to come stay with him while their father did what he needed to, to take control over the organized crime syndicate in the lower south. However, Henri was busy living his own life and choose not to find time for his brother's problems.

~*~" I'm sorry it's been so long. And I'm sorry I never came to check on you, but regardless that's how it happened. I'm here now. Let me try to be your brother."~*~ Henri said, he was eager to push past the bad blood between them and was ready to retrieve their father. Remy sighed.

~*~" So what now?"~*~ For the moment he was done arguing, people apologizing to him always through him through a loop, he never knew how to react to it.

~*~"No way like the old way"~*~ Henri said, and by which he meant that Remy would handle the grunt work and he would be ready and waiting to take over once Remy was done retrieving him and risking his life. It was a poor choice of words, Remy immediately understood what this was. His "Let me be your brother" speech was garbage and it left him bitter all over again. The only reason his brother had came out to help was because he knew that the family business was in danger, and if the family business went down so would his decadent lifestyle.

~*~" Old way didn't do me any good remember? I knew you weren't coming back for me or father! It was for you! It's only what you want! Just like you both did with Belle and me!"~*~ Remy had waited a long time to talk to his brother about this, and now is as good a time as any. He knew that Henri and his father had planned the Assassin massacre. It hurt him greatly that he was used as no more than a pawn by his father and brother, and he was furious that they would use Belle as an expendable pawn. Henri, however, saw things very differently; Remy could have asked what was going on, but he chose to turn a blind eye and go through with the wedding anyway. Remy never asked any direct questions, even though he was certain his father and brother were planning something. Henri didn't know that Remy was carrying on a friendship with the Boudreaux girl he didn't even know they had met previously. He couldn't understand why his brother would care so much about a bunch of dead Assassins. The only thing that made sense was the murder itself; that had to be what was tearing him apart, which was completely understandable, Henri wasn't comfortable with murder either; but Henri felt that his brother's conscience should be clean. He had only killed the eldest Bordeaux son out of self-defense, it was necessary; kill or be killed. Julien Bordeaux was a indescribable sadist, Henri knew his brother had no other choice but to kill the Assassin son.

"Remy-" Henri said, he knew this was coming and he knew full well that he couldn't avoid talking about what had happened the night the Assassins Guild was massacred. The difference between Remy and Henri is that Remy had a very hard time apologizing or taking responsibility for anything. It was a self preservation reaction, if Remy accepted his roll in the matter he would lose his mind. Henri on the other hand could recognize his part in all of this; he knew what he did wrong, but spinelessness ran in the family and running away from difficult situations was kind of a tradition at this point.

~*~" I didn't know what you and father were planning, but you could have given me a warning!"~*~ Remy protested. Henri's face grew red and with anger, his brother was as blind as their father could be sometimes.

~*~" You knew what was happening! You knew what was happening the entire time!" ~*~ Henri demanded ~*~" Because you chose not to ask questions or face the truth, is not my fault!"~*~ Henri felt like he was speaking to their father, he was so quick to blame everyone and everything around him, or just full out deny the reality of what happened. It was true that he unfairly bared the brunt of his father's plan but Remy could have prevented it all if he took a stand, he chose to close his eyes to it all. What was done was done, it was time to move on.

"Hell it wasn't! ~*~ You come in here with your I want to be your brother bullshit and this is what it's really about isn't it?! Power and doing as little work as it takes to get it! And here you go stepping on my back to make it happen!"~*~ Remy demanded. He had been waiting more than 10 years to say this out loud and though the person he really should have been lashing out at was his father, but he would settle for his brother.

~*~" You and father are the same damn person! You only see what you want to see! Only believe what you wanna believe, even though you know it's a lie! You are more his son than I am!~*~ Henri angrily demanded, he attempted to keep his voice down but it didn't matter because Remy was not trying to be nearly as discreet.

"AH AIN'T LIKE HIM!" Remy abruptly shot up from his seat. The bar stool slammed against the old wooden floor, prompting onlookers to direct their attention to the argument going on at the bar. Logan kept his back to the commotion, he was determined to finish his stout before it got too cold, and the radio was far more deserving of Logan's attention than the family dispute going on behind him and focused more on the radio playing behind the bar:

"...WDSU channel 6 action news reporting live on the seen of another grisly homicide. There was push by local officials to cancel the Spring Break celebration, but cancellation by the city and local businesses would not detour the crowds currently flooding the city. The eighth body in two months was discovered this evening just outside of city limits. The homicides have been linked by the level of brutally, sadistic methodology."

"Hey bub, would ya turn up the radio?" Logan asked. The bartender paid Logan no mind as he kept his attention on the two men arguing in his bar. Logan grunted, annoyed that he did not get what he wanted, he simply reached over the bar and turned it up himself:

"...a truly horrific sight here in New Orleans, on what is supposed to be a time of celebration and fun for all of those visiting, has been tarnished by the recent string of extremely violent serial murders. What we have now is a eighth reported murder of a New Orleans man...mutilated and th-then-and then put on display. We are hearing that there have been similarities made to Danny Rollings, the Gainesville Ripper! More than a dozen, just this week, have been thought to be part of the spree, although there has been no evidence to back up such allegations..."

~*~" You as bad as me, you got blood on your hands and you walked away too! It just took you longer!"~*~ Can't blame no one fo'dat!" Henri recognized the look on his face from when Remy was small and immediately lowered his voice. ~*~ Let it go brother...they were just Assassins." ~*~ Henri said softly.

~*~" 'JUST'?!"~*~ Remy snapped, that comment was the final straw, and he landed a healthy punch to his brother's chin. Henri was taken so off-guard that the force of the punch caused him to spin around and land on table full of drinks, spilling them all over the group of students that were watching the drama unfold. Belle was not "just" anything. Belle was his best friend, Belle was a person, someone that loved him so much that she was willing to marry someone that she wasn't in love with to save their lives. He instantly felt like that drink now.

~*~"Hey! You two! Take it out of the bar!"~*~ The bartender demanded. Remy looked at the bartender briefly and quickly downed the bourbon that his brother had ordered him and turned to leave. Henri was right about one thing, his brother definitely did need that drink, he then grabbed his brother by the arm and approached the exit.

" Ah'll wait fo' de others outside!" Remy said over his shoulder, as he took a dazed Henri out into the street. The bartender immediately turned his attention to Logan and narrowed his eyes.

~*~" Is he talking to you? You with them? You gotta go too if you're with them!"~*~ The bartender demanded, ready to call over the bouncer to remove Logan as well. Logan looked at his beer and then looked back at the bartender. Logan intently continued to listen to the radio.

~*~" No, I'm not. Not til after another stout anyway."~*~ Logan replied back in French the bartender pressed his lips together in annoyance and grudgingly served Logan another warm beer. Logan paid him no mind as the small radio delivered it's unsettling news; the police officer that spoke sounded shaken as he attempted to keep his nerves:

"...this ...this is like nothing I've ever-ever seen before, we haven't had it this bad since the Baton Rouge Serial Killer! The victims seem to share a commonality that they are all New Orleans natives, but the rate at which we are finding these bodies have forced us to call in federal officials, and until we have the suspect or suspects in custody we advise all of those out, especially those celebrating tonight, to be diligent and do not go anywhere alone! Travel in groups! This may get uglier before it gets better."

Outside, the streams of of people flowing into town packed the streets. They happily danced as they made their ways to different bars, and with the disorienting thumping music no one would never notice Remy pulling his wobbly brother along and in to a narrow alleyway. The strong smell of old crayfish and fish reeked from the restaurant garbage, which was fine, it kept away anyone attempting to dip into the same alley.

~*~"Well."~*~ Henri said, impressed by the strength and speed of his little brother's punch. ~*~" Now that that's out of your system..."~*~ He said as he tried shaking off the stars that he saw, he rubbed his face and willed his vision to stop doubling. ~*~" Can we talk about how we're going to deal with this?"~*~

~*~" Will you stop! You're asking me how I'm going to deal with this, aren't you?"~*~ Remy asked, as he helped his brother stand by propping him up against a brick wall.

~*~" I mean 'we' and if you could stop playing the martyr for a moment, I found some friendly faces on my way in."~*~ Henri said. Remy looked up and noticed two of his father's oldest friends, and to Remy, these faces were anything but friendly. They were both long time Thief members, and both were nearly 240 and 280 years old, though they both looked to be in their late 30's; a miraculous side effect of the elixir vitale, it had been years and they still never accepted the idea of Jean-Luc's mutant son.

"Huh, what's de occasion?" Remy asked in cold sarcasm, he was raised with these men and their utter disdain for him. The very sight of his uncle's unnerved him they usually never made themselves seen unless the situation was truly dire. One of the men glared at him, the other simply refuse to acknowledge his existence. It seemed as the night went on Remy was seeing people from his past that he wanted to see less and less.

~*~" Henri, you are a good son to go after your father, these are difficult times for the family.~*~ Said the one man that wouldn't even acknowledge Remy's existence, the man was Laurent LeBeau-Bouguereau, he rudely refused to notice or even look at Remy. Laurent was a French born Thief member that had been the son of a mother that was a founding Thief Guild member, whom was long since dead, and his father was a wealthy merchant from Spain; Laurent never met him, however he did inherit his fortune which helped propel the Thieves Guild as a dominating force in the New America. He hated the decision his great-great-great grand nephew, Jean-Luc, had made to take in the toxic blood of a mutate. Laurent even went as far as to nearly drown Remy when he was a toddler, and though he was interrupted before he could kill the child, he was never founded out. After that incident Jean-Luc was attached to the boy and took him every where. Laurent could never understand the love in Jean-Luc's eyes for his mutant-pet. Both men would never understand why Jean-Luc ever chose to take in the boy, and they nearly left the Guild when Jean-Luc announced that he had every intention of making Remy a Thief member. If they hadn't been so desperate to regain control over the city again and so thirsty was their need for revenge, they would have never considered accepting help from him, and that was still only if Henri would facilitate.

~*~" With all due respect Uncle, it was my brother that retrieved our father the first time and he will be going this time as well."~*~ Henri would not allow his brothers accomplishments to go unnoticed. He understood the hatred his uncles had for his brother, and he founded it asinine and exhausting.

~*~*" Do you believe that it will be successful?"~*~ Said Moussa Deschamps de Lussat , in total disgust. Moussa was a very muscular, serious man with nearly blue-black skin; he was meticulously shaved and he wore a suit that costed as much as a Lexus. As a native of Africa he had the unique experience of encountering a free-black New Orleans in 1801, just before the Louisiana purchase. When he arrived, New Orleans was a Spanish/Black/Creole run society. He then encountered incredible racism along side the free, the simultaneous freedom/slavery culture forged him an equality that allowed him entry into the Thieves Guild very long ago. And though he had come to understand ridiculous forms of racism this one seemed to be merited; this has nothing to do with skin color or creed or place of origin, it was the very being of what made a person a person and Remy was unnatural.

~*~" 'It' was successful the last time and 'it' is standing right here!"~*~ Remy angrily announced. Even after all this time, and everything that they were currently facing, they could not offer Remy the slightest bit a civility. When Jean-Luc first brought Remy home, these men had ordered Jean-Luc to give the boy back, his eyes were perceived as bad luck and his abilities were later considered evil. Moussa and Laurent were old-fashioned and very superstitious; they would never speak to Remy and they avoided him, even after he had became an official member of the Thieves Guild. They had gotten word that Remy was home to retrieve Jean-Luc like he had the last time and due to the outrageous violence that the "Rippers" were now attacking Thief members with, they could no longer afford to avoid the mutant as a possibility. They had never given the youngest LeBeau son any credit for any of his contributions before, and they saw no reason to start now. They would only speak to Henri, even though Remy stood right next to his brother; they acted as though he wasn't even there. They would not deny the mutant boy's help because they were out of options, they were more than willing to reprise their roles as higher Thief Guild members again and so severe was the recent violence that the Thieves endured from the Assassins that it made them desperate. Henri had assured them that his younger brother would handle things and that they would be back in business again very soon. The offer was too good to turn down. It was such a good offer they were willing to overlook Remy's mutation and allow him to help.

~*~" He is right Uncle, do you not remember the gift that my brother possesses? He uses them for the Thieves Guild, and Remy will assure you your rightful place."~*~ Henri said respectively. Remy was a little taken aback he didn't expect his brother to stand up for him the way he was. It had been a long time since Henri played brother's keeper. When they were younger they were taught to never talk back or contradict any of the older members. Henri was doing just that for the sake of his brother's honor. Henri hated his Uncle Laurent, he was the one that interrupted his dear Uncle Laurent from drowning his baby brother so long ago, and from that moment on, he, and his father never left Remy alone. Henri's own personal form of protection was to constantly remind the other Thief members that Remy was his brother and he was not ashamed of him.

~*~" It would be far more honorable to lie down with the dead than accept his unnatural 'gift', but it is the manner of death that is the real insult...Your mutant must deliver."~*~ Laurent believed that the only way to attain additional powers, that were not of this world, was through the Guild, through Candra. They did not understand any matters of genetics or mutations, you may as well have been explaining to them the face of death, they could not and would not understand.

" Puttin' a lot o'faith in you Henri...and de mutie." Said Moussa, his voice filled with the ugliest hatred Remy had ever heard.

"Mutie?!" Remy asked, outraged. 'Mutie' was truly a disgusting term bore from hatred and ignorance, just like how the words 'nigger' or 'faggot' were used to hurt people; 'mutie' was used for mutants. It was a word they had learned just to lower Jean-Luc's mutant. The insult hit Remy in the pit of his stomach and immediately made his blood boil, he stepped forward to face down the men that would gladly accept his help but thought calling him something so derogatory to his face was acceptable.

"Remy!" Henri said his name firmly, and placed a palm on his brother's chest to push him away from the two older Thieves. He then spoke closely in his brother's ear, "Let me handle dis okay? We do dis fo' father not dem, eh?" Remy did not respond, he just crossed his arms and looked away in anger.

~*~" How quickly can you have this done, Henri? Assassins moved strong and quick, Thief members that are being taken and killed! And all because of that-that thing!"~*~ Laurent didn't bother to hide his hatred for Remy either and angrily pointed at him. Remy slammed his back against the brick wall of the restaurant defiantly, he bit his tongue and continued to cross his arms tightly.

~*~" Uncle please, you know Assassins don't need my brother as an excuse to kill us. They have been killing us long before my brother came."~*~ Despite the arguing and non-involvement, Henri did care for his brother and growing up he did look after Remy as his father did.

~*~" But he is right, nephew! We are being killed and displayed! You know as well as I do that they're trying to flush the mutant out! They got a bone to pick with him for whatever reason but we are the ones paying the price!"~*~ Moussa said. Henri narrowed his eyes in confusion, he didn't understand what his uncle was talking about. ~*~" You have not been in New Orleans recently you don't understand the murders that are going on as we speak. Television and all of the electronics have used the word 'serial killer' this word explains what has been happening to our family members. It's the Rippers and their blood eagles!" Said Moussa, though he had been alive for a very long time, he was not an immortal and he was by no means invulnerable. A very familiar crippling fear gripped Remy's stomach and wrench it, he hadn't felt a fear like this since he was a teenager. It sounded far too familiar; it could not be possible.

~*~" Their what?"~*~ Henri briefly glanced at his brother, the look on Remy's face was unsettling; any anger Remy had, had drained from his face and was replaced with a nervous fear, he looked ill.

~*~"Blood eagles! Ripping open our family and spreading out their insides for the world to see! It is a sight seen in hell, nephew... They rip open the chests, they keep the hearts-Only God knows why! And they break the ribs open to look like bird wings! They are Assassins but now they are also 'serial killers'-Rippers!"~*~ Laurent voice was a mix of anger and fear.

Remy felt his face go pale, this is what the radio in the bar had been talking about; there was a serial killer out on the loose but it had nothing to do with murder in the traditional sense, this was revenge. It was personal, the murders were a new breed of Assassin brutality that was paying homage to Julien Bordeaux by practicing his unique and grotesque calling card. Remy should have recognized it, but there were tell-tale details that even the media was too scared to report and he had far too much on his mind to think about it, but now with his fellow Thieves confirming the horrifying details he could not deny the similarities. Was Julien Boudreaux alive? Remy knew that could not be possible, there was no way. Remy had murdered the man with his own hands, the eldest Boudreaux son was certainly dead! The thought of Julien's killing habits still loose in the world was horrifying, cutting out the heart was a new thing, but opening them up and displaying the blood eagle was the uncanny resemblance that Julien was known for. Moussa and Laurent were describing specifics only Remy was aware of, it was how he was meant to die if he hadn't killed Julien on the night of his wedding.

~*~" He's right nephew, they are preying on us and if I didn't know that the mutant was going after John-Luc, I would hand him over! A blood eagle would be a befitting death seeing as how our own are being massacred because of him!" Moussa's fear began to intensify as they spoke of the killing spree. The display of the deceased was, arguably, the worst part, once the Thief victims were cracked open and displayed, the bodies were being suspended in trees by hooks that dug into the flesh of their backs. The backs were skinned, this was strictly for an ornamental display; the torn jagged strips of skin resembled proud morbid wings. The dripping, decaying angels were suspended in front of the homes of Thief members as warnings. Somehow these new Assassins/Rippers were finding the homes of Thief members and leaving these gruesome calling cards. This sickness inducing sight of family being strung up with their rib cages open and innards emptied all over their front lawns with their absent hearts, was enough to cause these bigoted ancient men to abandon their hatred and grudgingly accept help from the unnatural LeBeau son.

~*~"... This isn't real, this isn't real..."~*~ Remy repeated over and over in his mind, but he knew that there was no denying it, it finally made sense. Rippers were called Rippers because they were literally ripping open their victims to send messages to living Thieves members. Remy felt like a kid again, suddenly he felt like the same young man that was roped into marrying his best friend, and wearing his father's ill fitting tux; a scrawny kid that thought he was doing some good in this world, only to be placed in front of a monster and expected to fight to the death. Just thinking about it made him feel like throwing up.

~*~" We will not go quietly...here, nephew."~*~ Moussa said, passing a piece of paper to him. ~*~" It is the way to the newly build Assassin home."~*~ his Uncle said firmly, it was the missing piece of the puzzle, they needed this very useful bit of information, seeing as even if they had the floor plan of the Assassin's home they still didn't know exactly where it was and his father had limited time to live.

~*~" How did you get this?"~*~ Henri was shocked he had no idea that they had taken additional measures to make sure that he had what he needed to retrieve his father. With all the talk of the blood eagles and the Rippers, and the thirst for Thief blood he was surprised that both of his uncles stood before him still alive and breathing. It was at that moment Henri realized his life was in danger too. He had no idea what he was stepping into once he arrived in New Orleans, now everything was horrifically clear. As he looked back at his brother, and his Uncles, and thought about his father, he decided that this time he would not run. He would stay, he would make sure that his father was safe and that his brother stayed alive. That was the ultimate retribution for abandoning him so long ago, he needed to stay to vindicate himself. For the first time in years, Henri would stand up and actually act like the older brother.

~*~" You...Your cousin Celine...she gave everything to get this..."~*~ Lauren said sadly. It did not surprise Remy that his Uncles had sent someone else to retrieve the directions. He had never met his cousin Celine and his Uncles would never accept that her death was on their hands. He wondered how many of his cousins were dead now that his Uncles had been sending them on such a dangerous chores.

~*~" My God..."~*~ Henri said speechless. He had became an official Thief member alongside his cousin Celine; she had taken Elixir Vitale when they were both young, and though Henry had refused to drink the gift and continued to age naturally, he still kept good memories of his cousin. He was shocked but her death and enraged by the manner in which death came to her.

~*~" She was one of the first. She would not want sorrow, just revenge! Revenge for all of us." ~*~ Moussa said firmly, the sight of his great-great niece was appalling, the disoriented look on her face was twisted in horrible torment, she had clearly died crying. They couldn't even give her a proper funeral. Local authorities had kept the body for evidence, she was the second body to be found by the New Orleans Police.

~*~"Get your father, nephew. Do not allow him to follow the same fate.~*~ Laurent warned, he continued to pay no attention to Remy, whom was fighting the urge to hyperventilate in unrelenting panic. His stomach felt as though it would turn over on itself, the idea of his father experiencing such a horrible death was rage inducing to say the least, the very thought made him want to scream. The first time his father was taken was very different, he thought he was dealing with some wannabe Assassin-street gang, but now as the truth came out they were far more vicious and the stakes were much higher than he had originally thought. His father being taken was one thing, but the resurgence of the Assassins coupled with the viciousness of the murdering spree, and the sudden disappearance of the Thieves, sent Remy's mind into a fury. This all was so much like Julien, Remy's head was spinning, this had to be the work of the surviving Assassins. But which ones?

~*~" If the only way to fight this evil, is with evil... then so be it."~*~ Laurent said grimly. The Uncles hastily said goodbye to their nephew. They were eager to retreated to their safe houses. Henri watched them eye Remy for a moment; it was almost as though they couldn't believe that it had come to this: putting their lives into the hands of a mutant. Remy couldn't be bothered to glare as he tried to steady his breathing.

~*~" See you in hell then."~*~ Remy thought bitterly, as he held his stomach. Henri walked over to him.

"You okay?" Henri asked, in the in the moments that Henri had spoken with his Uncles Remy looked as though he had aged 10 years. Remy then looked up at his brother and held up a finger to give himself a moment, he then walked to the side of the dumpster and promptly threw up. He didn't care that Moussa and Laurent were watching him, their disappointment was obvious.

" Ah'm perfect!" Remy angrily stated in a demanding tone, as he took in painful breaths. Henri suddenly became overwhelmed with worry, it felt as though Remy knew something he didn't and what he knew was clearly sickness inducing. Henri made it his business to keep away from the more gruesome aspects of the family business, but he liked to think that he wasn't ignorant of what the Assassins were capable of. This had to be a desperate scare tactic, what his uncles had described was so horrific it was difficult to believe.

" Yeah okay, this death bird thing is really bad, but you know as well as I do Assassin's do all sorts of things ta knock us off our game." Henri made a poor attempt to remain positive.

"Not like dis!" Remy snapped at his brother's naivety. Henri had distanced himself so much from the ugliest part of the business for so long he didn't understand how serious this was. Remy decided then and there that he could not survive the death of his brother and father; the picture in his mind of both of them strung up with their rib-cages cracked open and their organs spilling and dripping down their legs is what ultimately made him throw up. ~*~" You were right...I am the one that has to deal with this, not you."~*~ Henri was shocked, and even more shocking was that he had no intention of leaving his brother this time.

" Ah ain't gonna abandon you dis time. Ah won't be far behind you, n' Ah be dere once you got father." It was unfortunate Henri had only become mildly concerned with Remy after his wedding. He was very impressed with the prominent change in his behavior, he was more like his father after the wedding and the death of the Assassin daughter. He had become more like their father then Henri ever thought, which was both a bad and a good thing; though his father could be irresponsible and selfish he was also protective and loving, and he could be brave, even reckless; just like Jean-Luc. Any sort of caution and restraint he had displayed as a kid was now completely gone. ~*~" I am so sorry for leaving this mess with you. I know-"~*~

" Shut up. Ah already threw up once. We ain't got a whole lot of time, we got de place, now Ah need ta get us de layout n'Ah might get outta dis alive." Remy said. This comment appeared to disturb Henri greatly, he did not want to think about his father or his brother dying tonight.

~*~" I don't need to hear that! You can do this."~*~ Henri said, he felt immediate regret. He had meant to look after his brother more often but he fell into his own life and never followed up. As far as he knew his father had made arrangements for him to live and hide in the city with family associates; and by then he was far too distracted with all of the work of the family business to concern himself about his younger brother. Henri took a moment to look at the Assassin's location. From down the alley they could hear their Uncles argue with each other. Blaming the other for the lack of options, as if there was something anyone could have done to prevent all of this; ultimately they would agree that this was all the mutant boy's fault. Hearing this, Henri and Remy looked at each other for a moment and actually began to laugh. They recognized the same thing at the same moment: Though Henri looked older then his uncles, but these ancient men acted their age and bickered with each other like a couple of scared old fools.

"Some t'ings never change, eh?" Remy said still laughing at the ridiculousness of it all and the laughter relaxed him a bit, it always did.

"Don't min' dem, dey jus' don't understand." Henri assured his brother still laughing as well. That was a trait they all shared, though Henri was regarded as a serious type, finding a way to laugh in the middle of tragedy was always something the LeBeau men could do.

"Dey understand enough ta know what Ah am." Remy said, it was aggravating that even among his own Guild he was an outcast, if it wasn't for his father and brother they would have him leave. They accepted the fact he was useful, but he would never be entirely accepted no matter how many times he would save their lives.

"Remy, Ah don' care you a mutant. Never did, you m'brother." Henri smiled, and this was very true. Henri was always proud of his brother, just as his father was. Henri never really cared that Remy was the favorite, mostly because he saw what life was like for the favorite LeBeau son and he wanted none of it.

" Some consolation..." Remy joked.

"Don' say dat! Ah tried ta look after you like a brother should, an', an'...an' Ah sure was always jealous o' you like a brother." Henri said, suddenly distracted and smiling in a different way.

"Huh?" Remy asked.

"Who's dis?" Henri was used to beautiful women coming up to his brother all the time, but this one was particularly lovely. Her intense green eyes fixated on his brother and he couldn't help but be intrigued. He was particularly surprised when Remy turned around and addressed her.

"Rogue?" Remy noticed her immediately in the large crowd, as always, she always commanded his attention in the way she walked, and the way she looked and tonight she looked undeniably alluring. Remy's intrigue with her was so intense he forgot his fear and anxiety. This wash of relief and calm did not go unnoticed by his older brother, he was immediately interested in this stunning girl. The funny little non-smile on his brother's face also caught Henri's attention.

" 'lo, Remy..." Rogue said quietly she looked down at her hands and waited for Remy to say something else, but he didn't. The awkward silence between them was obvious, Henri was moments away from embarrassing his brother. He had never seen Remy like this, he seemed so serious around this girl. Henri resisted the urge to torment his brother, however he was more than willing to break the silence.

"Remy, ain't you gonna introduce me?" Henri then smiled at Rogue in a flirtatious way, partially because he wanted to get a rise out of his brother. He was interested to see why he was so uncharacteristically awkward around this girl. Who was she? Was she someone special? He may not have had a very close relationship with his brother but the one thing he did know about him is that he never lost his head over a girl.

"No." Remy remarked dryly and quickly over his shoulder, hopefully his brother would get the point and just shut up for the rest of the conversation. This was very difficult for him, this was the first time he had seen the Rogue since leaving the school, and her looking particularly beautiful in the middle of bourbon street was an incredibly welcome sight. Henri passed his eyes back and forth from Rogue's non-eye contact to Remy's non-eye contact and felt compelled to break the silence once again.

" Wait I beg your pardon Miss are you one like m' brother?" Henri loved the shocked-speechless look on his brother's face as he attempted to get to know this possible sister-in-law. Since mutants were still a brand new thing and all of the talk of mutant in the media was negative, was a very unusual social faux pas; asking if somebody was a mutant was very similar to asking them if they were gay or what religion they were. It just seemed impolite and Remy was mortified. Rogue smiled a bit, she found it endearing that Remy was a younger brother and that he was clearly trying to make him uncomfortable. Rogue had made a bit of eye contact with Henri and in that moment they had agreed that they would embarrass Remy for their own entertainment, clearly they shared the same wicked mean streak.

"Huh. Ain't nobody like your brother." Rogue smiled and replied quickly. Henri didn't know if that was an insult or a compliment, he liked her immediately.

"Girlfriend?" Henri asked, suddenly interested as to what extent his brother knew this girl. Rogue couldn't help but appreciate that and gave Henry a small grin. She was very interested as to what his answer would be as well. She even cross your arms and looked at Remy waiting patiently for an answer. Henri had never seen Remy like this before, and he was quite taken by a girl that would help him torment his younger brother.

"No." Remy said through the side of his mouth, he suddenly felt like he was a kid again being agitated by his big brother.

"She available then?" Henri once again smiled and winked at Rogue.

"No!" Remy said, annoyed, he then turned to his brother, whom was smiling smugly at him. Remy grabbed him by the collar and hissed in his ear. "Will you jus' get goin'! Ah gotta get dis done n' you better be waitin' when it's over!" ~*~" AND don't get too close when I go after father. Promise me you will keep your distance until I get him, okay?"~*~

"Remy-" Henri mildly objected.

~*~" Promise me! A real promise!"~*~ Remy demanded. He needed to hear him promise, he was suddenly appreciative of his brother's cowardly nature, it would help him keep his distance from him as he rescued their father. Hopefully that would be enough to keep him safe, this brief reunion was enough to remind him how important his family was to him.

~*~" Okay, okay! I promise, but you owe me a drink and an explanation of that pretty little thing."~*~ Henri said as he looked past his brother and smiled again at Rogue. Rogue sweetly and knowingly waved at him, Henri participating in the joke waved back also, this annoyed and mortified Remy.

~*~" No...just do your part-"~*~ Remy was understandably surprised when his brother hugged him, being comfortable with affection was a trait the LeBeau men shared as well.

~*~" Do yours and stay alive, little brother."~*~ Henri said in his usual serious tone. He then turned and almost like a phantom, he blended and disappeared into the busy crowd. Remy took in a deep breath and turned back to Rogue.

"Brother, huh? Ah didn't even know ya had a brother." Rogue said, they certainly acted like brothers. She wanted to ask about how far apart in age they were to each other; Henri almost looked old enough to be his father, but now was not the time.

"Me either, but he shows up ta remind me sometimes...Thanks fo' comin'." Remy said sincerely. He looked into Rogue's eyes, getting lost in them was far too easy.

" Had to... Ah had to." Rogue said, he had the look of a man that was in over his head. Whatever he and his brother had talked about must have changed his perspective on accepting help. She was relieved that when Remy had thanked her, it meant he was done running from them.

"Look at you." Remy smiled at her and looked her over, "Dis de blendin' in Logan tol' me 'bout?" He loved the nude body suit, not only because he could see more of her but because she looked confident and comfortable.

" A suggestion from yer friend Aggie." Rogue smiled, again she wanted to ask him questions, but again, now was not the time.

"Aggie? Well dis definitely something else Ah gotta thank her fo'." Remy was back to his flirting, which mildly annoyed Rogue. His attitude towards her was becoming confusing again, so she tried to focus why they were there.

" Logan says we got a plan, where do you want me-er us-er all of us, where do you want all of us?" Rogue asked. Remy smiled at her again and looked at the old Cat Club behind them.

" We gotta a party ta get to." Remy smiled, and took her hand firmly and lead her into the club.

(To be continued...)