Chapter 1
Thirteen years later …
A young man was in a house, the door barred with a chair as he was looking at a broken watching hearing nothing but the endless ticking notice, but then Reality came crashing in as Victor brakes through the door, making Arno fully aware, "Can't play fair at card, so you stoop to thieving, you bastard!" Victor shouts at him, he then reach to get to him, but the both circled around the table, "Calm down Victor, I've only come for my watch." Arno informs him, "It's my watch! I won it fairly!" Victor reports.
"In a just world Victor I would agree with you. But this is not a just world. This is France." Arno reminds him, "You're a dead man." Victor threatens him, then lunges for him, but Arno doges the lunge. "Oh step lightly there! You'll hurt yourself." Arno teases him, but then Victor flips the table over and Arno makes a break for the window. He try to jump out the window, but got his leg caught by the Blacksmith and stumble to the ground, dropping his father's watch, as it slides in front of Victor's younger brother, Hugo. He looks down at it and went to pick it up, but Elizabeth slides in front of him, grabs a hold of the watch and then stood up. The three look at her as she dust off her white shirt, blue vest, brown pants and knee high boots, Arno then pulls himself to his feet as she was done dusting herself and looks at the watch in her hand.
"For me? You shouldn't have!" she said with a fake sense of glee, her hand press to her cheek as her head was tilted into her hand and she was smiling, "Hey that's my watch, you bitch!" Victor shouts at her, Elizabeth looks at him, smirks and shows him the watch, "You want it? Come and get it." she taunts him and took off running. "Hey! Get back here, merde!" the older brother shouts, "Hugo, get after her!" Victor orders his brother, he nods and ran after her, Arno scrambles to his feet and took off running after Hugo and Elizabeth.
Victor finally got through the window, and tries to caught up with them. Elizabeth looks over her shoulder, seeing that Hugo was painting heavily, she smirks to herself as she jumps through a window and as she jumps through another window, she places the watch down her chest and ran for the market. "Sorry! Pardon good sir! Excuse me!" Elizabeth shouts as she kept accidentally running into people, Hugo was catching up to her and just as he was about to grab on her, he trips over his own feet, making her stops and look down at him, then saw Arno charging right at her, her eyes went wide and then shuts them tight, waiting for an impact, but she then felt hands grip her shoulders, and she fell backwards and was suddenly halted from hitting the floor. She peeks on of her eyes open and saw that Arno was looming over her, she exhales and smiles at him, "Bonjour!" she said with glee, he smirks down at her, "Bonjour à vous était bien." he said and pulls her back up and they both laugh a little and then looks down at Hugo, "Thickheaded blacksmith like you probably can't even read a watch…" Arno teases, making Elizabeth chuckle.
"Come here and say that! Victor shouts as as he caught the two' attention, "Ah… no." Arno shouts and the two take off, "Get back here!" Victor shouts at them, "Go, go, go, go!" Elizabeth shouts as she slides under a table, Arno followed after her. "Arrête-les! Voleurs!" Victor shouts out, getting a few guards attention, "Merde!" Elizabeth shouts, "Keeping up! Shall I call a break?" Arno taunts him as Elizabeth grips a hold of his hand as they make a sharp turn and another sharp and they came to a wagon with hay, "In here!" she whispers and dives in, Arno looks at her as if she was an idiot.
He then turns back looking for another hiding spot, but he didn't realize as he was back up against the wagon, then Elizabeth pops out, grips a hold of him from behind and he lets out a soft gasp as he was then pulled into the wagon. Arno found himself press against her, her arms wrap around his chest, "Eliza-" Arno starts, but she quickly slaps her hand over his mouth, "Shh." she shush him as the heard Victor and Hugo run tin the area, Victor grunts with anger and they both look off to continue the search for the two, Elizabeth slowly moves her hand away from his mouth, moves out from behind Arno and looks out of the way, the pulls herself back in, "The coast is clear." she tells him and hops put, Arno exhales and follows her. As he steps out, he saw that she was bent over, with her long black curly hair hanging out as she brush and ruffling out all the hay in her hair. Then straighten herself out, and then brushes off all the hay off him, "Were you following me again?" he asks her, she just looks at him and chuckles, "No not this time, I just happen to be in the area when you got caught by Victor." she answers him. He just roll his eyes, "peu importe ce que tu dis." he mutters.
"Come lets go before Mister Grosse tête bea ts us back home." she tells him, Arno nods at her, "Je ne pouvais pas être plus d'accord." Arno tells her, "Race ya?" she challenges him, making him smirk, "You're on." he accepts and they both took off into a sprint. They ran down the street, jumping over tables and sliding under them, until Francois De La Serre's Estate came into view. Then Elizabeth sprinted for it, Arno tries to outrun her but she was already speeding pass him. She then ran pass the servants and touches the wall. Arno catches up with her as they both were panting, "I win." she smiles at him, placing her hands on her hips, Arno looks at her then pointed his finger at her, "You cheated." he huffs, Elizabeth makes a fake gasp as she acted like she was offend.
"How dare you sir! I never cheat, I am a lady." she states, acting proper, Arno snickers and Elizabeth laughs a little at herself as well. And they quickly try to walk inside, "And where in God's name have you been?" Oliver asks them, they both and turn to him, going to answers. But Victor and Hugo showed up.
"Hah! Got you now, you little shits!" Victor growls at him, Olivier turns his gaze back at Arno and Elizabeth. "Just a little misunderstanding, nothing to-" Arno starts. "Your master's is harboring a common criminal! In broad daylight he broke into my house and stole my watch!" Victor complains, Elizabeth stood next to Arno. "I got this." she whispers into his ear. "Will Victor if you sat that he stole it, where is this "Watch", you are speaking of?" she question him, Victor shot a look at her, "You took it, you bitch!" he snaps, making Arno clutch his fist, Elizabeth pats her pockets, "I don't have it, clearly you've had too much to drink." she tells him with a shrug of her shoulders, Arno cover his mouth to keep himself from laughing.
Victor growls, curling up his fist, going to charge at him, "What is going on here?" Lord De Le Serre as he walks out of the house. Elizabeth steps back to Arno as he took a hold of her arms and pulls her close to him, "Er, a most serious accusation against one of your wards, sir." Olivier tells him. "He robbed me!" Victor growls. "You have no proof!" Elizabeth shot back, but Arno held her back, "Silence, Elizabeth. Both of you, go wait for me in the library." Arno nods at him and pulls Elizabeth into the estate. "That's right, run away, whore." Victor taunts her, Elizabeth stops, turns with a darken glare on her face as she marches up to him.
"What are you going to do?" he starts, but then was cut short as Elizabeth pulls her head back and whams it right into Victor's making him fall right on his ass. Elizabeth brush her bang out of her face, "Whoa…" Arno said with amazement. "Elizabeth!" De La Serre shouts at her, she looks at him as blood started to stream down from her hairline, "Get inside and get that look at." he tells her, she said nothing and walks back inside with Arno.
~8~8~8~
The two stood in the library, Arno stood in front of Elise's painting. "Don't look at me like that. Victor chests when he plays Pharaoh, everyone know it." he tells the painting. "Even I know it, but you should of seen the look on Victor's face when I headbutted him, it would of made you laugh." Elizabeth chuckles to the painting as she cross her arms when she was finish patching her forehead up. "Arno? Elizabeth? Who are you talking to?" Mister De Le Serre asks him, the two turns and looks at him.
"No one, monsieur." Arno and Elizabeth answer him. Mister De La Serre walks over to the desk retrieving something. "You'll be happy to learn I've persuade Olivier to leave off calling the Marshalcy. Again" Mister De Le Serre informs him, "Merci Monsieur." Arno thanks him as he and Elizabeth walk over to the desk. "What is this, the sixth time? The seventh?" De La Serre questions him, "Tenth time." Elizabeth answers him, Arno shot her a glare as she scratches the back of her neck. De La Serre, "And you young lady…" he starts and held out his hand, she looks at him, "Hand it over." he orders her, Elizabeth, reaches in her back, pulls out an old withered journal with initials B.C carved on the cover and handed it over to Mister De La Serre. "This is the seventeenth time I had to retrieve this from you." he tells her, as she folds her arms behind her back, as she held a sad look, "I know you want to gain knowledge on your family, but you must be patient child." he tells her as she her as she was still sad, "Perhaps a new hobby might be better used for your health." he tells them, "Well I find playing cards affords many opportunities for fresh air and exercise." Arno informs him and Elizabeth looks at him with her hand on her hip.
"Yeah and all the time I have to save you from getting killed, I should charge you for that." she tells him and he looks at her, "But Mon amie, if I paid you I would be broke." he tells her as she cross her arms and looks away. "C'est l'idée…" she mutter and Arno narrows his eyes at her. "Oh that right, my watch please." he asks her, she looks at him, then reaches down her shirt and places it in his hand, "Merci." he tells her and places the watch in his pocket.
Mister De La Serre rolls his eyes with a sigh as he held his hat in his hand, "Well anyway, we'll talk about this later. I have business in town, and must collect Elise before I can attend it." Mister De Le Serre tells them, Arno and Elizabeth's faces lit up at the sound of Elise's name. "Really? Elise is back?" Elizabeth asks him, as she and Arno walk up to him. De La Serre turns to them, "Only for the night. She returns to Paris first thing tomorrow." he informs them. "She'll need an escort, won't she? With you so preoccupied?" Arno asks him, "One of you three running amok is quite enough. Remain here and see if Olivier has any chores for the both of you." Mister De Le Serre tells them.
"Sure he does." Elizabeth mumbles under her breath, Arno sinkers a bit and Mister De Le Serre turns to them,"What was that?" he ask them. "Give our regards to Elise?" Arno asks him as the two smile at him. He "humph" and walks out of the library, as Mister De Le Serre was out of ear shot, Arno and Elizabeth giggles to themselves as they left the library as well. "I really wish we could see Elise again." Elizabeth whines and she places her head on Arno's shoulder, he pats her head, soon, Izzy, soon." he tells her, then the started to walk "It's been ages since all three of us were together, causing mischief, pranking Olivier." she whines, Arno chuckles and places his arm around her shoulders, "We'll see her again. I promise." he assures her making her smile at him, they walk down the starts into the kitchen and found Olivier, "Thrown out onto the streets yet?" he asks them.
"Oh, you would love that, wouldn't you?" Arno asks him and Olivier looks over at the two. "It'd break my heart." he tells them, Elizabeth just huff as she cross her arms. "Olivier, if Izzy and I weren't here, who's do all your work for you?" Arno tells him, "The horses need brushing, get to it." he orders them. "Oui monsieur." Arno answers him as Elizabeth just huff and walks outside to the to the carriage, along with Arno and they brush down the horse.
"It'd break my heart." Elizabeth micks Olivier, Arno looks over at her with a smile. "Yeah, if he even has a heart." she mumbles, Arno just laughs. Then Mister De Le Mister walks up to the carriage, Arno silence his laughing, and looks at him, the horse neighs a little and Elizabeth pets his forehead. She pulls away from the horse and stood next to Arno, as he opens the door for Mister De Le Serre. Then he closes it, Elizabeth steps back as Arno bangs on the carriage, signaling the driver to take off. So he did, the two watch the carriage drive off. "Mon Seigneur! Seigneur De La Serre! Wait!" A messenger calls out and stops by Arno, catching his breath, "Jésus Christ tout puissant seigneur." The messenger mumbles under his breath, "Some trouble, mon ami?" Arno asks him, as Elizabeth walks up next to him.
"A letter… for Seigneur De La Serre… it's very important!" the man informs the as he went to run again, but Arno stops him, "Calm yourself Perrault! That letter woun't reach Monsieur Se La Serre any faster if you drop dead of exhaustion. Give it here –I'll catch him." Arno offers his service, Elizabeth rolls her eyes and notices the four shadows on the roofs, "He must receive it today! it's very-" the messenger tries to warn him. "Very important, yes. I heard you the first time. I'll see that he gets it." Arno tells him taking the letter and he and Elizabeth ran off after the carriage, "Monsieur De La Serre, Stop!" Arno shouts out at the carriage as it makes a right. "Make way! Make way!" Arno shouts as they followed after him, "Dammit slow down!" he shouts with frustration, Elizabeth looks up at the shadows as they were following them, she smirks as she was speeding up with Arno, "Apparently wainut is popular finish this season." Arno mutters, Elizabeth gasp. "Really, whatever makes you say that." she teases and he shot her a glare.
As they were nowhere close to the carriage, "Who is trying this couch! Pelops?" Arno complains, "Less whining, more running!" Elizabeth growls at him as she was passing him, "Arrêtez!" Arno shouts out as they were getting closer to the carriage. "Monsieur De La Serre!" Arno calls out as they ran up to the carriage, but then a man steps out that look full of hatred. "excuses. Wrong carriage." Arno bows to him, they both went to leave but Elizabeth stops as she felt her hand being held, Arno turns as Elizabeth looks back seeing the man looking at her with one blue eye and one golden. "Your name, Mademoiselle?" he asks her, holding her close to his lips, she looks at him with caution, "Elizabeth Castidenia." she answers him, he smiles at her, "I hope we'll meet again, soon." he tells her and kisses her knuckles, Arno clutches his fist tightly, not liking that a man is touching her. "Bonne journée, monsieur." she tells her, taking her hand back and the man walks off.
"What the hell was that?" he asks her as she wipes her knuckles on her shirt, hoping to wash off the kiss, "I have no idea, but I do not wish to find out." she tells him, he got that she was disturb by that action. "What we need is a bird's eye view." he states, Elizabeth looks up at the building in the distance, then pats Arno's shoulder he looks at her. Then she points at it, "Bird's view?" she asks him, he looks up, then chuckles gripping her shoulders, "You're a genius." he tells her, she smiles proudly at herself. "Come on, let's move." she tells him and she ran at through the market, Arno rolls his eyes and followed after her.
They reach the building and then started to climb up the wall to reach the top, Arno struggles a little, but Elizabeth was there to help him, "How are you good at this?" he asks her, she stops and looks at him, "I pick up some skills along the years." she answers him and continue up. They both reach the top, Arno was on the tip of the cross as Elizabeth was hanging on the side, they both scan over the area, looking at the Real Estates and saw Monsieur De La Serre and Elise step out of the carriage "There you are!" Arno states as he eyes Elise. And they saw them make their way inside, "Lets go." Elizabeth states and they both make their way into down and to the crowd out in front of the door, they slip through pass the people out front, then went to the left and slip through the people there.
Once inside they make their way down the hall and through a door, Elizabeth opens the door, Arno looks around, seeing that no one was looking and they both step inside. They were in the conference room as thousand of people were gathered, "Lets go this way." she whispers, taking his hand and leads him through the people, they headed down the stairs onto the first floor, "Where the devil are they?" Arno whines as he looks around. Elizabeth then pulls him into the crowd and spots De La Serre, "Arno, look!" she whispers to him, he looks at her then looks over, "Finally!" she said with rejoice, then looks up at the ledge, "Not these two again. Must of tailed us from the Estate." Arno states, Elizabeth looks up and saw Victor and Hugo. She whines, "Give me a break already." she face palms. Then Arno tugs on her hand, "Lets move." he whispers and pulls her along with him. They make their way up the stairs to the right side of the conference room and ran in the back of the hall.
They ran until the were in the back room, Arno stops looks over, letting go of Elizabeth's hand and looks down at the two men in the back. Mister De Le Serre, speaking with Mirabeau about something. "So, who or what will take it's place? Another King? A council of capable men?" Mirabeau asks him. "That is the question, isn't it?" Mister De Le Serre tells him, "A truce, then?" Mirabeau offers. "Yes. The child has suffered enough for what this war has done to her bloodline." De La Serre states, Mirabeau nods, "For once we agree, the child of Eden deserves a better life then what one of my own has done to her." he states, De La Serre looks at him, "For the child?" he asks him, Mirabeau looks at him, "For the child." he agree.
Arno and Elizabeth were confused by their words, -Why would Mirabeau and De La Serre make a truce for me, let alone speak to one another?- Elizabeth asks herself. "What the devil that about?" Arno asks a loud, Elizabeth just shrugs. But then Elizabeth moves out of the way as Arno was hit by Victor and they were in the back spare room, then Arno shoves Victor's head into a closet as it was now stuck. Elizabeth walks in and stood next to Arno.
They both stood away from Victor, "Now, now… we can resolve this without recourse to violence… can't we?" Arno offers a peaceful solution. "Get him, Hugo!" Victor shouts as his little brother was now in a the room, a sword drawn and he closes the door, Arno held his arm out in front of Elizabeth as he was now protective of her, "I suppose not." he mutters and drew his sword. Elizabeth steps back as Arno then duels with Hugo, she looks over seeing four figures on the roof tops across from the estates, watching her. She exhales and turns back seeing Hugo was kneeling down and that Victor had pulled himself free from the closet. "Easy, big fella!" Arno tries to calm him down. But Victor just swung his sword at him and Arno dodges his attacks. Then Hugo stood back up and went to attack Arno from behind.
Elizabeth took action, then ran at him, grips his arm, twist it, then jumps at him, sat on his shoulder, holding his arm close to her, twirls their bodies and they ended up on the floor. And then twists his wrist, snapping it out of place, making him grunt in pain, she then lets go of him and flips onto her feet, Victor looks down at Hugo as he was holding his wrist in his hand, "You bitch!" he growls, "Hey! I'm your opponent!" Arno shouts, trying to get Victor's attention back on him, but he was then shove to the shoves, making him crash to the floor, "Elizabeth!" Arno calls out as Victor thrust his sword at her, but she dodges the blade, then knocks the blade out of his hand, then jumps at him, wrapping her legs tightly around his waist, then hits him in the head, from the front, the left, the right and right in the front again. She then twist his body and he was flat on his back, she looms over him, grips his collar and sock him right in the face.
Arno was amazed by her cunning instincts, she then pulls away, shaking her hand as her knuckles were beating from the pain, "Ow, ow, ow ow ow. Merde! ça fait mal!" she whines and blew on her knuckles. Arno walks over to her, sheathing his sword and held her hand in both of his, her heart skip a few beats as her ears started to turn red, "It's not that bad, nothing a few bandaging can't fix." he tells her, she looks at him and smiles as he smiles back at her.
Then Arno looks down at the two as Victor started to come to, "Not your day, is it, Victor?" Arno questions him as Hugo snaps his wrist back into place. "Open up in there!" a guard calls out, the two look out the door and headed for the window, then the guard opens the door, looking at the two blacksmiths on the ground, then at the two orphans on the ground. "To your health, gentlemen." Arno tells them and he and Elizabeth jumps out the window. "You, stop! What are you doing there?!" the Guard questions them as he was looks down from the window. "Uh… running!" Arno answers and the two make a break for it.
"They're getting away!" a guard shouts and a few in the area chase after them, the two make sharp turns, jumping through windows and manage to hid in a small booth, "No getting back in there now. We'll catch them back at home, I suppose." Arno states as Elizabeth rubs her bruise knuckles. "And get you bandage up." he adds, she looks at him and nods, "Right." she mutters. They then both step out of the booth and walk their way, calmly back home.
~8~8~8~
They arrive back at the Estate, seeing that the carriage was back. "Bonsoir Olivier. Has Monsieur De La Serre retured?" Arno asks Olivier as Elizabeth held her knuckles, "Seigneur De La Serre is not excepted until late." he answers him. "Ah well. I suppose Izzy and I will pass the time with Elise then…" Arno states as Elizabeth smiles as they both headed for the Estate, "Don't get your hopes up just yet." Olivier calls out to him, making the two stop. "La jeune femme is at a private soiree. In her honor. At the palace." Olivier informs them. The two turn back to him, "A party? We weren't invited!" Arno reports to him, "Neither were the horses." Olivier states, making a servant laugh. Elizabeth huff at him, "I'm sure she just misplace our invitations. We'll find our own way in." Arno states and went to leave, but he stops and remembers the letter he needed to give De La Serre, he then turns back to Olivier, "How late is late?" he asks him.
"Perhaps an hour, perhaps three. Perhaps not at all… I do not questions the comings and goings of my betters." Olivier answers him, making Elizabeth sigh in annoyance, "We'll just wait here, then…" Arno mutters and they both make their way into the Estate. "Come on, lets bandage up your knuckles." he states gently griping her arm, pulling her along. They walk into the kitchen, then Arno had some medicine place on her bruise knuckles and he wraps the bandage around them and tied them tight, "There, better." he states, Elizabeth looks at her hand and smiles, "Merci Arno." she tells him, he nods at her, then he stood up, "Next to deliver this message." he states and she stood up as well. "Then lets move." she tells him, and they both make their way up the stairs to De La Serre's office.
Arno stood in front of the office, holding the letter in his hand and then slips it under the door. "There. Safe and sound, and only slightly delayed." Arno states, Elizabeth smiles and shook her head, "And now… to the palace." he states as he walks to leave, but Elizabeth quickly ran up to him, grips his arm and stops him. He looks at her, "Have you seen yourself lately?" she asks him, he looks at the mirror as his attire, then back at her, "You are no different from me." he reminds her, she looks down at her attire as well, "Well I can make the look work." she shot back at him, he narrows his eyes at her until he saw an old man with a spare of folded clothes, "Here, here, mon amie. Let me take care of that." Arno said as he walks up to the man, taking the clothing. "Thank you, young man." the old man tells him, Elizabeth rolls her eyes as she walks up to him and followed him as he walks off with the clothing.
"Mademoiselle, Mademoiselle Castidenia!" a servant calls out, the two stop and look at her, as she approaches Elizabeth, "For you madame." she tells her, handing her the clothing and she ran off. Elizabeth stood there, stun and utterly confused, she looks down at the clothing, they were the color of baby blue lace with golden seams through it and a few shades of dark blue. She then turns back to Arno and looks at him, "Shall we?" she asks him, he nods at her. "We shall." he answers and they walk off to their own rooms.
~8~8~8~
Elizabeth finish dressing herself and styled her hair and had little jewelry, a necklace and a pearl headband, she then notices a letter on the ground, she it up and saw that the seal was mark with an "S.P.C." confused. She opens the letter and found an invitation inside. She looks at it and then back at the letter contain inside.
To the young Castidenia,
I hope you like the gift you receive today, I hope to see you at the ball tonight. And please do not think of me stalker or an obsessed admirer, I am neither of them. I only wish to see your face, just once, that is all I ask.
Your friend.
She was alerted by this and at the same time confused by it as well, who was this person and why did that want to meet her and at a ball. She places the letter down and held the invitation in her hand, she then heard the door open, making her jump with a gasp. "Whoa it's just me." Arno informs her as he was in the formal attire, making her relax.
"Sorry Arno, you startled me." she tells him as she hid the invitation in her sleeve. "You seem pale, Izzy…" he starts, placing his hand on her cheek, "Are you okay?" he asks her with worry. She just smiles and nods, "I'm fine Arno, we're going to see Elise, I couldn't ask for much." she tells him, he smiles back at her, taking his hand back, "Well lets go then." he tells her and walks out of her room, as soon as he left, her smile faltered as she frowns sadly to herself holding her clutch fist her her chest. "Je souhaite que c'était moi… et pas elle." she mutters to herself, then shook the thought from her mind and lifted her skirt a little and quickly followed after Arno.
~8~8~8~
Night had fallen and people were gathered at the Palace for the party tonight, Arno looks at Elizabeth who look very nervous. He grips her hand, making her look at him, "It will be alright." he tells her. She nods at him, then looks back at the Palace and took deep breaths, "Come on.." he tells her, then pulls her along. "Monsieur Maximilien Robespierre! No guest." the announcer shouts.
The man walks inside and then Arno and Elizabeth cut in front of the other man, they arms lock as the announcer turns to them, "Arno. Le… Chevalier… de Thélème." Arno answers him, "And my lady, Mademoiselle Elizabeth." he adds and she curtiesed to him with a little smile. "Invitation. S'il vous plaît." the announcer asks them, not amused at all, then Arno's face fell. "About that, I had one of course, but on the way." Arno starts, but was stop. "No invitation, no admittance. Now clear the queue. Next please." he orders, pushing Arno and Elizabeth to the side, then another man walks up to him, "The young lady is with me." he states and the few look at him.
He wore dark clothing as his hair was tied in a ponytail, the announcer looks at him, Arno looks at him as the mysterious man gently took Elizabeth bandage hand in his gloved one, "You know her, Mon Seigneur?" the announcer asks him, he smirks as his eyes were still on her. "She's Mademoiselle Elizabeth Castidenia." he answers her and the two were in shock, he knew her name. "My apologizes, Ma dame." the announcer tells her as the man pulls her in close placing her arm on his. "Invitation, please." the announcer asks her and the mysterious man held hers in his hand. She looks at it in shock. "Here you go." the man tells him. "Thank you." the announcer states, "Let us go, my dear." he tells her, she stumbles over her words as she was pointing to Arno over her shoulder, then looks at him, he shrugs his shoulders, "You don't need to be afraid, Elizabeth. I will not harm you, I just needed to see something." he whispers to her as they walk to the palace. She looks over out of the corner of her eyes, seeing the four shadows on the roof, she lightly ran her finger under her eye and over her ear, signaling them. They got her message and continued on. "And what is that, Monsieur?" she questions him, he smile, "You look just like your mother." he answers, making her look at him in surprise. "You… you knew her?" she asks him.
They walk into the palace then to the dance floor, "How could I not, she was my best friend after all." he informs her as they fell into sync with the dance. "All my life I wanted to know who she was… and know if she was more than just an Assassin." she tells him, he smiles sadly at her. "Yes she was more than an Assassin, she loved everyone, Assassin, Templar or just a common person. But she loved your father even more." he tells her, "Who was a Templar." Elizabeth adds in, he looks down at her, "Yes he was and loved her as she loved him." he informs her as he twirls her out and back to him.
She hung her head, "I wish I could of meet them." she mutters and he looks down at her, "I hate it. I hate this war. I wish it would just disappear." she tells him, he nods at her as they walk off the dance floor, "I know how you feel, it has a casualty that not even hell could rival." he states then pulls a red rose out from a vase, cutting off the stem. "But if the war had not of been here, your mother would not of meet your father and they would of not create a sweetheart of a daughter, who has a heart full of gold." he tells her and places the rose behind her ear. Making her smile at him, "Monsieur, do I know you from somewhere?" she asks him, he smirks at her, "And why would you say that, Elizabeth?" he asks her, "Well… after listening to you speak, your voice… it sounds… familiar to me." she answers him, he just smiles, "I'll let you figure that out, little one." he tells her, patting her head and disappears into the crowd.
She watches him leave, curiosity itches in the back of her head, she sighs and walks around the ball, but then felt a hand grabs hers, she looks over and smiles, "Elise!" she said with just joy, making the two laugh and hug each other, "It's been years, Izzy." she said with such joy, "Too many years, it was very boring without you around." Elizabeth pouts as she puffs her cheeks. Elise squeals, "You're still as cute as ever with you do things like that." she gitters to herself. Elizabeth giggles at her. "Are you in a dress?" Elise teases her, Elizabeth huffs at her, "Don't you even start, you're in one too and I feel like a mummy in this thing." Elizabeth tells her, Elise laughs. "That makes two of us." Elise agrees with her, "But I will admit. Green was definitely your color." Elizabeth informs her, "As Blue and Gold is yours." Elise informs her as well and the two laugh among each other. But then Elizabeth spotted Arno enter the room, she then whispers into Elise's ear and she looks over as well.
Then back at her, "Shall we?" she asks, making Elizabeth smirk, "How could I ever say no to you, my sister." Elizabeth answers as Arno enters the dance floor with another woman. She cruises to him, "Soin à la danse, beau?" she asks him, but Arno looks over the woman's shoulder, seeing Elise and Elizabeth standing next to each other, they both giggled and walk off, "Merci, une autre fois." Arno tells her and the woman gasp as he left her on the dance floor as he walks after the two. They lead him out of the dance room, he walks out seeing Elizabeth smile at him and then quickly followed Elise, Arno chuckles as he shook his head, "They always did love the chase." Arno mutters to himself. He walks through the room and saw Elizabeth looks at him again from the end of the hall way from, she giggles and disappeared around the corner.
He chuckles yet again as he went to follow her, but a door next to him opens and he was then pulled into a room by Elise, "Are you never going to stop falling for that trick?" she asks him with a smirk. Arno rolls his eyes at her. Elise and Elizabeth like to trick, Elizabeth would be the bait, making him think that she was following Elise, but Elise would always catch him off guard and pull him into a private room. "But you've seem to have cause quite a commotion." she adds in, Arno smirks at her, "What can I say? You and Elizabeth were always a bad influence." Arno informs her as he closes the door and steps closer to her, "Oh, you were a worse one." she reminds him, narrowing her eyes. He then wraps his arms around her waist and then pulls her into a kiss. Elise then wraps her arms around his neck, accepting his kiss. She then pulls back and looks at him, then pushes him at arm length, "Are you wearing one of my father's suits?" she questions him, Arno just laughs at that question "Are you wearing a dress?" he shot back, "Don't even start, I feel like a mummy wrap up in this thing." she informs him, then Elizabeth enters the room, the two look at her, she smiles, steps in and closes the door behind her. Then Arno turns back to Elise, "Well it must be quite an occasion to get you so fancy." Arno tells her.
"It's not like that. Truth be told it's a lot of ceremony and pontification. Dull as dirt." Elise informs him, "I would of probably jump out a window and run for it." Elizabeth throws out as she listens for anyone coming, the two look at her and Elise giggles, "I can see that happening." Elise tells her, Arno nods, "I can as well, not surprising." he adds, she looks at them, sneers playfully and presses her ear back at the door. "Well, when you don't invite me or Izzy to your parties, everyone suffers." Arno informs her, "I did try, but my father was adamant." she explains to him, "Your father?" Arno starts, but then a knock came to the door. "Who's in there?" the guard demands, but Elizabeth presses her body to the door, stopping the guard from entering. "S'ouvrir!" he orders, Elise walks over next to Elizabeth and then pushes her to Arno.
"Go. I'll distract them." Elise tells them, turning to the door. "What… you're kicking us out?" Arno questions her, she turns back to him, "It's complicated. I'll explain later, but for now: out the window." she tells him, pointing over his shoulder, Arno and Elizabeth looks at it and back at her, "Oh no. No, you're not turning this into a repeat of that apple orchard!" Arno reminds her, making Elizabeth giggle as she walks over to the window, "Stop being such a baby. I am sure that there aren't any guard dogs this time." Elise tells him as she perks him on his lips, then pushes him back, "Go!" she tells him as he steps back to Elizabeth. He smirks at her as she smiles at him over her shoulder, she then opens the door, "Oh my! That wasn't the billiard room at all, was it?" Elise tells the guards in such a sweet voice.
Arno then jumps down he looks up at Elizabeth and held his arms open to her, "We are pursuing an interloper, Mademoiselle De La Serre. Have you seen him?" the guard asks her as Elizabeth jumps down and lands in Arno's arms. He held her bridle style and she felt her heart beating like crazy. "You alright?" he whispers to her, she nods at him and Arno gently set her down. They then walk through the halls into the back rooms, but had to say hidden as they snuck pass the guards.
They then make it to the door that leads outside, as the both step outside, then they saw a man step out of the shadows, "Are you alright, monsieur? Too much of the king's champagne?" Arno asks him, Elizabeth immediately notices that something was wrong, she broke into a run and held him in her arm, "Monsieur?" she shouts as he grips into her arm smearing blood on her sleeve and top, and then collapse, "Monsieur De Le Serre! Monsieur De Le Serre!" Arno shouts as he ran over next to him and kneels down next to Elizabeth as she covers her mouth in horror as tears rolled down her eyes. then she saw two men, trying to run away. "Sivert, come away!" a man whispers.
"Guards! Help! Murder!" Sivert shouts, Elizabeth looks over at the guards running at them, she then looks over seeing that guards were running at them, Arno looks over seeing the real murderer was escaping, "Arno!" Elizabeth calls out, he looks at her, but was introduce to the butt of a rifle, knocking him unconscious, "Arno…!" Elizabeth calls out as she looms over him, shaking him. "Mon Dieu, he's killed Lord De La Serre!" a guards shouts, Elizabeth looks up at them tears streaming down her face "No! He's innocent!" Elizabeth tries to tell them, but two grips a hold of her arms, she struggles against them as she was pulled her to her feet, the few other guards carried Arno off, Elizabeth screams after him as he was carried off.
~8~8~8~
In the Bastille, a prisoner sat next to a barred window, playing a violin, awaiting his death, "No! It… it wasn't me! Damiens welded the knife! Please, have mercy!" a man shouts as he was pulled along as Arno was strip down from his suit and drag through the hall. "Tout Gaule est divisée en trois parties." an old man said in his cell. "They're killing us! God have mercy, they're killing the prisoners in here! A naked man shouts from the cell out the window and a guard taps loudly on the bars, "That's enough of that, you degenerate!" the guards shout at him and the man just laughs like a manic as the guard walks up the others and Arno was thrown into a big cell.
He was till half there as he lifts up his head, "Where am I?" Arno asks them, "In Hell." the guard answers as the cell door was close and lock. Arno then collapse back to the ground as he black out again, still hearing Elizabeth calling out to him and heard her cry out for him.
After a few hours, Arno woke up looking around as he pulls himself back up and then looks into a cell, seeing strange writings on the wall. "Well no one deliver us!" a man in the cell calls out. Arno then turns back to the door and grips onto it, "Hello, I must speak with someone!" he calls out, but no one answers him. "Open this door!" he shouts again, "Scream all you like. No one cares." another man in the cell tells him and Arno pulls his arms off the door, "I must speak with Elise De La Serre and Elizabeth Castidenia! Do you hear me? Elise De La Serre and Elizabeth Castidenia!" Arno shouts again, still no one answers him, "Elise and Elizabeth! Bring Elise and Elizabeth to me!" he shouts once more and still the same result, no one answers. "I'm no killer!" Arno shouts out again, some thing, he then grips a hold on the door and shook it violently. "You're wasting your time." the man in the cell tells him again.
Arno then finally gave up and moves away from the door and walks over to a man as was sitting in a chair, leaning against the wall. "Welcome to your new home." he informs him. Arno then walk over to the bed, he press his foot against it and then sat down on it, he then pulls out his watch, opens it hearing the ticking. He then closes the watch, places it back in his pocket and then tries to make himself comfortable as possible, it was going to be a very long night, the man in the far end of the cell looks out the barred window and saw four figures pop their heads out, he narrows his eyes at them and nods, they nod back at him and disappeared into the night.