Chapter 23

Twenty minutes later, he heard a noise. The back door opened, and a figure stood in the doorway, carrying a bag. The figure walked in, no sound coming from the footsteps. It walked to the lamp and turned it on. It was her.

She looked beautiful, her long blond hair in a braid, her shining blue eyes and silk smooth skin. She was wearing a oufit not much different from his on, but he could see her fit shape underneath it.

He was sure that his heart skipped a beat right there. He had to fight his first instinct of running to her and take her into his arms. Closing his eyes for a moment he focused on the matter at hand.

She dropped the bag on the floor, crouching and going through its contents. He started walking towards her, staying in the shadows and not making a sound.

He stood behind her, ready to run in to attack and knock her unconscious. She removed a sword from the bag. It was a regular long-sword, with a simple handle, no decorations. She grabbed the end of the chain that held Jack up and lowered him, so that his feet were almost touching the ground. Then, with on quick movement, she pierced through him with the sword, leaving it there. She then raised the body to where it was.

When the sword was out of her reach, he made his move. rushing in and attacking. He saw that the second he went for it, she sensed him and got ready to attack aswell. He still managed to land a blow to the back of her neck. They fought, she getting the upper hand, but he was still managing to hold his ground, at least for a while. Like many times, they fought, but he was out of practice, and their fighting abilities were always in balance while they were training. He knew he was about to lose, and that she was getting impatient. At the same time that she pulled her knife, he pulled his. He managed to cut the inside of her left arm, while getting a cut on the outside of his right one. With the knifes the fight got more balanced again.

But he eventually lost, she kicked his feet of the ground, loosing his knife and hitting his head. And she was on top of him, knife to his throat, with no way for him to get out.

" You were always so good at sneaking up on me. " She said, grinning. " You were not supposed to be here yet. "

" You assumed that everything would go as usual. That was your mistake. "

" Yes, I suppose it was. Is a shame, it would have been one hell of a sight you would have gotten. "

" I saw. The sword, very symbolic. "

" Yes. I thought you would enjoy. My work on top of yours. You haven't lost your touch. "

" Certain things you never forget. "

" No, you don't. "

They stared in to each others eyes, the adrenaline from the fight wearing off.

" I missed you Scot. Very much. "

" I missed you too Arty, just as much. "

" So why did you leave? " She asked, letting her emotions slip through her voice. The betrayal, and the pain.

He closed his eyes and sighed.

" You wouldn't understand. You never did, you are too loyal. I didn't leave you, I left them. "

" Is the same thing! "

" No, it's not! I love you, but I could not stay with them. Be a mindless puppet, killing for reasons that are never revealed, loyal to ideals that don't make sense. "

" We were meant to be! You and me, leaders of the Order when the time came. You would have all yours reasons then. We would be the ones ordering the kills. "

" Ordering the kills to what?! We are assassins, selling are abilities to the highest bidder. And when we're not, we kill to please their political agenda, whatever that was! "

" We are the sword that shapes the world! We keep the balance of power where it should be! And you betrayed us. "

Their temper was raising, voices getting higher, but her hold on him didn't falter. She had tears in he eyes.

" One day I woke up and you were not there. My husband, my best friend, my other half, gone! And what hurt the most was that you chose to leave. " She spoke in a low tone. " I thought you loved me. "

He raised his hand slowly, wiping away a single tear on her cheek.

" I do love you. More than I ever loved someone else. But I love myself more. I had to choose my own happiness, my sanity. And you always loved the Order above all else. Even me. " She opened her mouth to retort, but he didn't give her time. " Don't you deny it, don't insult me by lying. I never lied to you. That's why you are here doing this aren't you? This whole game? I betrayed them, and you're here to kill me. Between me and them, I'll always lose. "

She moved her hands, put her finger on his neck, in a pressure point that would knock him unconscious.

" You can come back, with me. We would take you back, with open arms. " She pressed the point, he didn't even fight it and before he went out he heard her words. " Please think about it, for me. "

And it all went dark.