I stood in front of the mirror and took in the still unfamiliar, but comforting sight of my new self. Practical but elegant bustled jacket, as easily fought in as disguised as a respectable dress, katanas slung across my back and two pistols in their holsters, all equipped to kill the more nocturnal of targets.

I fixed the silver Guild issued pin at my collar, bearing its symbol of a dragon and two daggers. I was still getting used to the ways of the Assassins, but I hadn’t felt this much like myself in years. I belonged again, perhaps more than I ever had. The feeling was, among other things, one of relief.

Things will get easier from now, I told myself, not for the first or last time.

“Cybelle!” Emmett called from the other side of the door, “We know you’re lovely, but I am afraid England requires your attention slightly more than that mirror.”

I smiled and shook my head, opening the door and walking out into the hall. “I see Mr Wright has gathered the shards of his courage again, after having his arse handed to him earlier?” I swiftly turned and began to walk down the main stairway, “And I was not staring in the mirror, thank you very much.”

“That sounded as guilty as sin.” He smirked, then shot back with a most comical delay, “Hold on, what do you mean had my arse handed to me!? That was an even fight!”

“It depends what you call a fight!” I teased, completely intending to wind him up for the mirror comment, and I was a master at winding him up.

Avangelene, who was just leaving the armoury and checking over her longsword, tutted when she heard us, “Cybelle, you mustn’t be so wicked to my poor brother. He has a delicate ego, the precious boy.” She sheathed her sword, pushed her spectacles up on her nose and raised her eyebrows.

“Oh, that’s it. Avangelene, don’t encourage her.” Emmett folded his arms, “I would like my dignity back at some point this year.”

Avangelene and I looked at each other, then at Emmett, one eyebrow raised to indicate that we were unaware he had any dignity to regain.

The three of us walked into the drawing room for the mission brief, where Theo VanKastle was lounging in the armchair, pipe hanging out of his mouth and feet up on the table. This seemed to displease Avangelene, who was quick to shove his polished black boots off the edge.

“Unless you want an extra slot on the chores board, Theo, I suggest you keep your feet on the ground, where they belong.” She advised him evenly, “And must you smoke that thing in our work area?”

Theo sat upright and removed the pipe from his mouth with a look of mild amusement, “I take issue, Miss Wright, with the fact that you’re implying my footwear is anything other than impeccable.”

“I don’t suppose you would like a shovel to help with that grave you’re so obviously digging, Theo?” I interjected with a slight smirk, “I’m sure, given her temper, Avangelene would even volunteer to put you in it!”

Avangelene looked over her shoulder from the map she was inspecting, and smiled wickedly, “Most gladly.”

“Fuelling the fire, Miss DeHamphir, tut-tut.” He commented, tweaking the end of his moustache. The Guild were very frequent in reminding Mr VanKastle how ridiculous that moustache looked, but he would hear none of it.

Lizzie, who had been quietly polishing her scythe in a corner, looked up with her usual unimpressed, and slightly bored expression on her face, “Children.” She said simply.

“Right, is everybody present?” I asked, looking around.

“We are waiting on the always fashionably late Miss Bennett, I believe.” Theo answered.

“Coming, coming! You can’t rush perfection you know!” Emma called from the hall. Not a minute later, she rushed in brandishing a shiny new crossbow so embellished I didn’t even want to hazard a guess as what it actually did.  She looked windswept, the dragon pin on her collar askew, her waistcoat fastened one button out, and a few strands of hair swept in her face, as if she had changed into her uniform in a hurry and practically bolted downstairs.

“Emma, what the devil is that?” Avangelene enquired with a raised eyebrow.

“Fire power, Miss Wright.” Emma smiled, “I wouldn’t expect you to understand.”

“Quite.” Avangelene uttered, and turned back to the map. She didn’t want to know what it did either. Besides, the workings of Emma’s contraptions were complex, it was a can of worms certainly not worth opening. If I had learned anything in the past few months, it was to tactfully avoid the subject wherever possible.

“Can I have a go?” Theo piped up, eyeing the weapon with a certain look in his eye that practically spelled trouble.

“In your nasty little dreams, Theo.” Emma replied.

“Alright then, with that most educating explanation out of the way, shouldn’t we get back to, oh, I don’t know, doing our jobs?” I suggested, folding my arms.

“That is the most sense anybody has made in hours.” Avangelene replied, raising her voice in a way that made even Theo look up and almost stand to attention. She carried authority off very well like that. “This is going to be a delicate operation, and it would be made leagues easier if everybody was paying attention.”

“Well, Miss Wright, that is rather difficult when one is surrounded by beautiful ladies like this.” Theo smirked, earning him a smack over the head by Emma.

“Who the hell are you calling a lady?!” Emmett piped up defensively.

“Oh, defensive, are we old boy?” Theo jibed, “Nothing to do with that training session earlier I’ll wager. Nice swing, by the way, Miss DeHamphir.”

I nodded in acknowledgement, but thought it tactless to fuel the fire.

“Children.” Lizzie growled again, sounding more irritated this time. It shut everybody up though. One of the very first things I had learned about the Guild was that Elizabeth Vice was not dissimilar to a sleeping dragon; never cross her. Ever.

“Thank you.” Avangelene replied, and turned to the mission board. It was a little sparse compared to usual; no picture of the target, no trail of newspaper articles and evidence, just several notes in Emmett’s appalling scrawled handwriting, and a letter. The original order, and it was rather brief.

“Do we have a target tonight?” I asked, studying it.

“As it happens, I’m not sure. This is something of an…unusual mission.” She leaned back on one of the cabinets, folding her arms and looking troubled, she always tapped her foot in a quick, impatient manner when she was troubled. A dim click of her heel against the wood of the cabinet gave away her uneasiness. “It was an anonymous tip off, for a start. The hit, well…order was paid for upfront in full via an envelope through the door.”

That was the first bad sign, Avangelene was troubled. If I knew her at all, I knew that she was a confident Assassin, and always had a job planned out to the letter…that said, I suppose there wasn’t anything to plan out. She had perfect reason to be troubled; in our line of work, being one step ahead of your target was vital.

“Then what have we been ordered to actually do?” Emmett piped up, “They realise we are an Assassin’s Guild, don’t they?”

Avangelene nodded, “It is suspected that an attack is to take place near Westminster, and we are responsible for preventing it.”

“That’s brave.” I mused, “An area that populated and open, not to mention heavily guarded. Do we know if it’s an attack intended to kill?”

“No, we do not.” Avangelene sighed, “Much like everything else about this job, but I doubt they would go to such trouble just for the sake of sending a message.”

“They may intend to make an example, a spectacle even.” I suggested, “I mean, even at night there are easier places in London to start a petty fight.”

“How do we know we can trust the source?” Lizzie pointed out, looking up from her scythe for a moment and striving to maintain the same mildly interested, but unimpressed frown she always wore. I could tell she was suspicious too though…that was her best scythe, and her largest. “You say so yourself, they could be up to anything.”

“They paid us for a start. A large sum of money, in fact.” Avangelene answered and looked at the board, “But other than that…”

I stood up and crossed the room to examine the letter pinned to the board. It did not strike me as the work of a conman, and I had known enough of those up close and personal to recognise one. There was something very…respectable about it. However, we were unfortunate enough to live in a society where that could be one of two things: reassuring or very, very bad.

“I believe that this was the hand of somebody prestigious, perhaps even military. Look how neat and purposeful it is, that handwriting…” I thought aloud, “And the stationary. Not to mention the wording, it seems genuinely concerned, almost desperate…as if this person’s hands are tied on the matter. I know a trick like the back of my hand and this does not look like one at all.”

Somewhere in the deepest depths of my long memory, I was sure I recognised that handwriting from somewhere. However, I had received many a letter in my time (and many a death warrant) that I decided not to think on it too much. After all, it would do me well as an Assassin to avoid twisting facts to suit theories, and speculation like that was always how it started.

“We checked the stationary for a crest but nothing. Whoever this is, influential as they may be, do not want it traced back to them that they made an order with us.” Avangelene explained.

“Anybody else have a bloody awful feeling about this?” Theo piped up unhelpfully.

“I do.” Emma grumbled, tucking her stray hair behind her ear and squinting at the board.

“Do you want to get paid, Theo?” Emmett replied, raising his eyebrow.

“As much as you do, old boy, but I happen to value my neck.” Theo sighed, “Well then, obviously there ‘aint no rest for the wicked. Do we have a plan?”

Avangelene nodded, “Approach carefully, don’t engage until we are sure we know the strategy of our opponent, or we have no choice but to give up our cover. Nobody be a hero today, understood? We can’t afford it…and I’m looking at you, Theo.”

“You can’t help but look at me, Ange.” He smiled, but Avangelene decided not to grace that with a response and just rolled her eyes.

“Then we should set out early, for the sake of precaution.” I suggested, “It will give us chance to observe, and perhaps find out what exactly is going on.”

“And I can find a good shooting spot!” Emma added happily, as if this weren’t an unnerving and dangerous job. Though to her credit, Emma was good at optimism, she never showed it if she was worried, she just maintained this hyperactive, slightly sadistic sense of delight. 

“Well then, let’s not sit here decomposing.” Theo said, taking the pipe out of his mouth and standing up, “What would this city do without us?”

I raised my eyebrow, “Probably implode, but that’s just a guess.” I got up and looked at the others, everybody looked a little suspicious, but it was all in a day’s work here. I had seen the Guild before enough missions to know that we would feel much better once we were out in the field, getting the job done.

“For Queen and country, ladies and gents?” Theo suggested.

I allowed myself a tiny, confident smile. One of us had to be confident.

“Let’s dance.” I agreed.

 

***

 

The London landscape was silent before us, the moonlight illuminating the face of the clock tower looming far above. Midnight had come and gone already, and still nothing.

“We’re clear, our area is perfectly secure.” I said, looking out over the street from the building on which Theo and I were standing, “How boring.”

The dark silhouettes of the Wright siblings could be seen at their vantage point on another distant roof. Avangelene signalled me to keep my eyes open, but she hadn’t seen anything either.

“I wish somebody would bloody hurry up and start the fight.” Theo pouted and removed his bowler hat to smooth back his hair, “The suspense is really killing me.”

“A tactless choice of words, Mr VanKastle.” I pointed out, one eyebrow raised.

“Well, Miss DeHamphir, I am sure you would wholeheartedly agree that tact isn’t exactly my strong suit.” He leaned casually on his expensive looking cane.

I shook my head and stepped up onto the chimney for a better view.

“Cybelle, forgive me for the suggestion, but I have this sneaking suspicion that these missions aren’t as new to you as you seem to imply.” Theo commented as he watched, “Back there in the mission brief you seemed a positive expert on tracking a target.”

I looked back at him and frowned, “Casual conversation at a time like this?”

“Well we don’t exactly have any fighting to occupy us.” He shrugged, “Besides, I’m rather curious how a nice lass like you knows so much about beating seven shades out of a man.”

“Does that line always work for you?” I rolled my eyes, but smiled a little at his feeble attempt at charm, “If you’re talking solely about Emmett earlier then you hold me in much higher regard than you should. He is a ridiculously easy mark.”

“That he is.” Theo laughed, twirling the edge of his moustache in that most unflattering habit, “And a scrawny little buggar to boot, mind. But I know a new Assassin, Cye, and you’re not it. Too much style, too smooth.”

“You might have been told I don’t take well to flattery.” I replied coolly, “Now I know you have a history of trouble with the phrase ‘leave me alone’ but I swear to Marina, if you don’t shut up I will forcibly insert that cane of yours somewhere quite inappropriate.” He knew me well enough already to know that was (probably) an empty threat, but I was rarely in the mood for small talk on missions, and staying focussed was my priority. One could rarely afford distraction in our line of work.

“That is exactly what I’m talking about.” He persisted, “Oh, go on, Cye, the blighters aren’t going to appear out of thin air. Humour me will you?”

“Because that always ends well.” I mumbled and kept my eyes on the road below. Nothing though, unfortunately, so I was stuck with his interrogation. He did rather remind me of a small child with his constant questioning. “Have you ever considered that I might just learn quickly?” I suggested.

“And expertly wield a pair of antique katana swords designed specifically for killing Vampires and Shifters? I don’t think so.” He smirked.

“And you care because?” I growled, growing impatient by the second.

“Because I’m a nosey bastard.” He shot back.

“Well, I can’t fault that assessment.” I agreed with a sigh.

“Cybelle, Cybelle, Cybelle...” He continued, in a tone of voice he knew would get on my nerves, “If you and I are going to work together as partners, we are going to have to learn to communicate.”

“I see.” I jumped down off the chimney, swept up the tails of my dress coat, and perched on the edge of the roof, overlooking the street below, “Well, there’s little I have to ask about you, Van Kastle. Let’s see, self-professed most eligible bachelor in London, but could think of no worse a torture than the old ball and chain of marriage. Perfectly respectable by day and with almost impeccable presentation, not telling of your lesser known gambling habits, brothel visiting, and embarrassing love for a certain flavour of magically enhanced absinthe.” I looked at him and raised my eyebrow, “And you were once a military man, though I will wager that stage of your life was exceptionally short lived, yes? And let’s not forget chairman of London’s prestigious Idiot Moustache Association.”

He clapped slowly, “Bravo, right on all counts, Miss DeHamphir. A regular detective as well I see…though I must admit, what you see is often what you get. And for the record, it is London’s prestigious Pompous Moustache Association, thank you.” He frowned a little and sat down on the roof nearby, placing his cane neatly on his lap and opening a small hip flask, “Curious how you knew about the army though. We’re going back years…and it was short lived. So bloody regimented, it drove me barmy.”

“I thought as much. It’s the leg.” I replied simply, nodding at him, “You always put your weight on your right, and your left sits at a slightly odd angle. You were injured, correct?”

“Shelled, actually. Took a dirty great stick to the back of my knee and that was that. If I’m going to get hurt, I want it to be in a bar brawl, utterly boiled owled and going down kicking, scratching and otherwise shouting obscenities.” He shook his head, took a large swig from his flask, then and narrowed his eyes at me, “Alright then, Miss Smart-arse. That’s enough about me.” He concluded.

I let out a low whistle. “Good thing you’re not a Vampire. Now let me see…how about no?”

    He held out the hip flask to me with a raised eyebrow and a look that bled with sarcasm and that toddler-like persistence. “Well then, madam, to awkward silence.”

I frowned and took an experimental swig from the flask before handing it back to him. The bitter taste of alcohol and that warm, charcoal taste of magic made me scowl. “That is disgusting.” I grumbled. I wouldn’t usually drink on the job, but I was making a point that he wasn’t getting to me even if I did give in to his request…besides, I had won enough drinking contests with Avangelene to know that I could handle a sip of a Theo Special Brew and be alright. If I was hoping a drink would calm my nerves I was mistaken, but hell, it was worth a try.

I glanced out over the quiet London landscape and scanned the street for our target. Seeing as whoever they were had conveniently decided not to show up, I had no way out of recounting at least one of my exploits. I seemed to be fuelling the fire anyway with my refusal, and there were worse stories I could recount. “Fine.” I sighed and took a long pause while Theo just watched me expectantly, preparing himself to enjoy a nice juicy piece of gossip, “I was a mercenary. Well…more of a bounty hunter really, if you take the honour out of it, they’re more or less the same.”

“I knew it.” He smirked triumphantly, “You know, it is odd how you and I have never ended up in one of my famous bar brawls over the years.”

I smiled a little and shook my head. “I was a little far away to attend.”

“Ohh, let me guess…you were spending your winnings on posh Champaign and lavish parties in Paris.” He guessed, “You still have a bit of a French twang, you know.”

I smirked again. Oh, chance would have been a fine thing! “My days in Paris were very far from that, I shall have you know. But no, that was long ago. I was a mercenary in Japan under the Yūhi no Junjo up until a few years ago.”

“Very sinister.” He commented, twirling his foolish moustache again in thought, “The Order of the Setting Sun. I’ll wager you had some very grand cliental.”

I was just about to forget myself, and begin boasting about how I had stolen a valuable antique jade bracelet upon killing a certain Lord, but fortunately for my shady and mysterious reputation, I was cut off sharp as something down on the street caught my eye.

“Theo, shush.” I muttered sharply, carefully scanning the road below us while he quietly scoffed at my rudeness. I took no notice of him as my eyes followed a large, unmarked black carriage being drawn by a pair of immaculate grey horses. The coachman was all in black, from hat to cloak to polished boots, and the curtains of the carriage were all drawn.

The large carriage was preceded by another, less grand but still rather impressive vehicle, similarly unidentifiable, and another bringing up the rear, as if guarding the main one. In the back window of the final one, the shadows of men inside could be seen moving about behind half drawn curtains.

Immediately, a very terrifying thought swept through my mind.

“Theo.” I ordered urgently, forgetting for a moment that I was no longer any figure of authority here, “Emma’s flare, send it up immediately.”

“Don’t you think that’s a bit hasty?” He frowned and stood up, “It’s just a carriage.”

I shook my head. “It’s not hasty if England, and the Empire itself, stands in the balance. Send up the flare and get the others to attention!”

He grumbled something but did as he was told. It was nice to know that Theo trusted my judgement, it would make for less quarrels and more time to stop this affair before it started. Emmett would most certainly have put up an argument and questioned my reasoning.

The flare went up behind us shortly afterwards. It was a clever little device, only the tiniest pinprick of light and a small whooshing sound. One who was not on the lookout for such a signal would mistake it for a distant streetlamp or the like, and glance over it. It worked like a charm too, because not thirty seconds later, Avangelene leapt neatly onto our roof, the grey silky flounces of her coat dress swishing behind her.

“I sincerely hope you are not thinking what I am.” Was her greeting. I looked up for a second, and detected a slight hint of the concerned in her features. She kept set her serious, blank expression, but it was always her eyes that gave her away.

“Unfortunately so.” I agreed, looking back down to the street, ready to move at a second’s notice. “It makes too much sense.”

Theo folded his arms and raised an eyebrow, looking from me to Avangelene and back. “All very interesting ladies, but do you mind filling the rest of us in?” He interjected.

I nodded at the carriage. “The letter was written by a prestigious and military individual, I’ll wager a gentleman. That carriage is awfully heavily guarded, and look at those horses…our informant must have been a rather high ranking Guard.”

“You don’t mean…?” He gave a low whistle, “Then our target is an ambitious little so and so!”

Avangelene nodded, “That carriage has not long left the palace, and our mission for the time being, is to tail it.”

“Doesn’t her majesty already have body guards?” Theo queried.

I nodded, thoughts swimming about my mind as to what could possibly have warranted the Royal Guard needing our aid so badly, risking the precious reputation of the Queen and those in her direct service. I pushed the thoughts out of my mind, for fear of distraction. “Then the Royal Guard may be itself compromised.” I concluded gravely, “Avangelene, you and Emma’s team keep to the rooftops with a vantage point at all times, Theo and I shall tail them on the ground.”

Avangelene raised her eyebrows and looked at me over her spectacles, “As much respect as I have for you, Miss DeHamphir, it would do you well to stop barking orders. Are you sure you don’t want Liz or myself down there with you?”

I shook my head and bit my lip at the realisation that I’d assumed a much higher authority than I actually had. That was a habit I would need to curb. “Apologies.” I muttered, “Old habits die hard. No, Theo and I will be just fine on our own. The more of us venture down there, the more we risk compromising our cover.”

Avangelene nodded in agreement. “Very well, we shall organise ourselves up here. Keep one eye open for our signal.”

I stole another glance at the carriage and nodded, wasting no time in running to the side of the building and leaping off the edge.

I landed in a crouch in the alley below, Theo not long behind me. The ground glowed white for a second as his feet met the protective shield he had cast to break his fall.

“Don’t do anything stupid.” I whispered and turned the corner. I swept the tails of my coat around my legs to make it look more of a dress, and threw the veil over my face. I quickly took Theo’s arm as he followed, tilting his hat to an angle that cast his face in shadows, “And don’t you dare say a word, or I shall paint a target on your back and whistle for Miss Bennett.”

Theo smirked, “Why would I? I so rarely have such a…charming lady on my arm.”

I dug my fingernails in his arm. “Shut up and focus.” I hissed.

The carriage was edging further in front of us, gaining speed. Once it was out of this street, we would not be able to keep pace with it without blowing our cover.

“We need a carriage.” I hissed, “Something mundane, that blends in and they won’t notice following.”

Our opportunity came soon enough.  We hung back, letting the carriages pass us, and then Theo nodded at a cab parked up on a corner and darted behind it. “Ladies first.” He muttered, opening the door. I quickly dived inside while he took up the driver’s seat. Some poor cab driver was not going to thank us for this stunt in the slightest, but at the moment, we had more pressing matters to worry about.

I looked up to the rooftop from the carriage window and supressed a small laugh as I saw Avangelene’s silhouette give a disapproving shake of her head.

The cab soon jolted into action…reminding me, had I forgotten, how bloody useless Theo was on the road. In hindsight, I really should have taken the reins myself. Shaking my head and deciding there was buggar all I could do about it now, I took out my revolvers in preparation, and watched with a careful eye out of the window for anything that might be amiss.

There were a few quiet minutes in which I found myself wondering if I had indeed jumped to conclusions. Granted, it was hard not to find it inevitable that this was our mission, but the lack of details was still unnerving, and everything was quiet…

Now I thought of it, too quiet.

I glanced through the opposite window. Not a soul was on the streets…granted, in this nicer part of town, there were less drunks and vagrants shuffling through the darkness, but it was odd not to see the odd Vampire sweeping through the gas lit street, or Witch visiting private estates with a case full of magical remedies…

And I was willing to bet that this wasn’t coincidence.

So that was why I sprang into action the moment I saw the shadow of someone who certainly was not an Assassin sweep out of an alley. “Theo!” I called and banged on the front wall of the carriage with my fist, “It appears we have company. Be ready!”

“Cybelle, your lack of faith is insulting!” He shot back.

“Oh, just don’t get yourself killed, you intolerable sod!” I shouted in exasperation and began to open the window to lean out. “How many?!”

“Blimey.” I heard him mutter, “Nine and counting, it’s hard to tell. They’re popping up out of the shadows like gods damned daisies!”

I shook my head and watched. They were moving toward the carriages, encircling them, and the first began to slow down. We passed an alley and I was able to get a closer look at the men who were surrounding us. They were indeed popping up out of nowhere…no, to be more precise, they were morphing out of nowhere. I knew their kind…Shape Shifters, and skilled ones at that, by the way they were able to have morphed into something so small to hide. One had to be practiced at their skill to do that without writhing in excruciating pain.

The carriages had all come to a halt now, and so did we, as the creatures encircled us. Many took the form of men, others of animals. The dark inky shadows of panthers lurked behind, eyes glinting in the gaslight of the deserted street, the quiet tap tap of claws on the cobblestones as they stalked their would-be prey.

“The hell with our bloody cover.” I muttered, taking one of my katanas off my back and preparing to exit the carriage and rain all hell upon our opponents. Strategy, however, suggested that I ought to let them play their hand first…give us some insight into their plan so that we might thwart it a little easier.

A voice, loud and confident with that thuggish cockney twang could be heard outside, “Well, well, lookie here, boys. We appear to ‘ave caught ourselves a Queen bee in our fly trap!”

One of the panthers growled in the darkness, the sound rumbling through the street menacingly.

The doors to the flanking carriages flung open immediately, and sure enough, several members of the Royal Guard spilled out, weapons drawn, yelling warnings at the attackers, barking at them to back off and don't make them come over there.

Gods, no wonder they needed the Guild. bloody ametuers.

When the Shifters refused to back off, one of the guards at the front attempted to open fire on them, but one of the panthers leapt forward and pinned him to the ground with a snarl, poised to sink those sharp teeth into the poor man’s throat.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” The leader said in that low gravelly voice. It was then made clear by those of them maintaining their human form that they were by no means unarmed. Many were carrying revolvers, swords, knives, but they had yet to find out that we had them beat in the weapons department (thank the Goddess for Emma Bennett).

Her Majesty obviously had a damn sight more sense, as the larger carriage made no movement whatsoever. I hoped it would stay that way for now.

I decided to creep out of the back door of the cab. I was able to grab the only Shifter with me in their line of sight before he could signal any of his friends, and I put my silver katana through him. No hesitations, I couldn’t afford it, just one stab straight through the heart.

Theo looked at me from the corner of his eye, expectantly. He was unsure what move to make, and had stayed put, looking as if he was surprised to be captive. He was playing the fool card, which never worked. It only ever brought time.

I looked around, the rest of the Guild were crouched on surrounding rooftops, poised to attack. Avangelene made an urgent gesture as if to ask me what the hell I was waiting for. I decided the element of surprise was probably our only bet.

While the leader of the pack was busy threatening the Guard, I let out a loud whistle. With this, the Guild sprang into action. Theo leapt off the seat of the carriage, unsheathing the hidden blade he kept concealed in his fancy cane, and used the sheath part, weighted in silver at the bottom, to knock out the nearest Shifter. Avangelene and Emmett jumped down from their rooftops, Emma and Liz from the other side, closing in on the gang who had not had the wit to know that we had been the ones who had them surrounded.

I felt better about the whole thing to know we had that advantage.

I darted out from behind the carriage and made a dash for the Guard who was being held captive. I ran the panther through, and it yelped and slumped to the ground. The breathless guard thanked me as I pulled the creature off him, but I shook my head and offered my hand to pull him to his feet. “We can all flatter each other on their skills later, right now, we need to fight. Don’t hesitate again.”

It was cold of me, but coldness had served me well. Being soft never got me or anybody else out of a scrape, especially not one as severe as this. Our best bet was to fight like wildcats, and keep our attention focussed, which I proceeded to continue with.

Lizzie had already engaged not one, but three of the panthers in what could only be described as the most disturbing catfight the streets of London had seen in weeks, while Avangelene and Theo fought back to back, both expertly wielding their blades and picking off enemies one by one.

“You’re not doing too badly for an older woman, Avangelene.” I heard Theo jibe in between stabbing a thug with his blade, and beating him down with the blunt end of his cane.

“Theo, shut your mouth before I feed you to these gods damned panthers.” Avangelene growled in response, lopping off a head as if it was butter under a table knife.

Emmett and Emma were keeping a reasonable distance, guns and crossbow picking off any runners. This was the kind of mission that we couldn’t afford to let anybody live to tell the tale. Especially if I had been right, and the attack had been partially plotted from the inside…

It occurred to me that this was a loose end yet to be tied up.

“Cybelle!” Emmett’s voice bellowed over the din.

I spun around and slashed at one of the human form shifters as he lunged at me with a knife. He cursed as I injured his arm, but only went for me again, engaging me in a fight of blades, one I was confident I was going to win with little effort. A few clashes of metal and I was able to finish him off, a limb or two short of what he had arrived with. He had been fairly foolish to come at me with that piddly little knife. I would hardly be losing any sleep over it.

This fight is under control, I realised with relief. We were easily thinning their numbers, leaving the leader vulnerable so that I was able to attack. I did not waste my opportunity, I darted across the chaotic street, my Vampire side allowing me to reach him in a matter of moments, and brandished my katana with a confident smirk.

“Come to fight me, have you, poppet?” He laughed, holding out what looked to be a kind of sabre in a complacent half-hearted kind of way, “Oh, you better be sure you know how to handle a weapon like that, missy. It’s much sharper than a knitting needle.”

I scowled and held myself back from being offended. He knew he was outnumbered and was trying to break my confidence for his own advantage in the fight. It was a fool’s tactic, and told me he was nervous, as it was also a known last resort.

I said nothing and made my first swing. He was reasonably skilled with a sword, but not remarkably. He was able to block a few swings, but it was not hard to get a deep wound in his side, making him stagger, blood dripping and seeping between the cobblestones (I felt sorry for whoever got to clean up after this fight). I took the opportunity of his weakness to disarm him, sending his sabre clattering across the pavement as I slammed him to the ground, putting my blade to his neck.

“If I really wanted,” I told him with a satisfied grin, fangs fully on show, “I could have killed you with a knitting needle. Lucky for you I have a little sportsmanship, and your eulogy won’t be completely embarrassing.”

He laughed, which I put down to a bluff, and spluttered a fresh pool of blood onto the ground, “Well played missy, but I’m not the one you should have killed.”

I shook my head and put my katana through his heart, no patience left for his feeble attempts at throwing me off.

I was about to learn that my swiftness had caused me to make a rather grave mistake.

I looked over the fight, us and the Guard with an easy upper hand, and then I realised…it had been too easy. I had missed something…

“Cybelle!” Avangelene called from across the street, she was engaged in a fight that was getting quite close until Emma took a panther down with one of her bolts, “It was a distraction, the carriage!” She bellowed.

I whirled around on my heel, only to see the large carriage on its way at a breakneck pace half way down the road. Muttering obscenities to myself under my breath (part of me hoped our prestigious allies had heard none of them), I glanced around again. The distraction had worked, everybody was otherwise engaged, caught up in a brawl and unable to go chasing down the road. I was kicking myself for not noticing earlier.

Unwilling to waste another moment, I leapt up into the driver’s seat of the nearest carriage and cracked the reins. The horses broke into a gallop, the clatter of hooves on the stones and the rattle of the carriage wheels adding to the already chaotic noise of the fight. I felt a sinking feeling when I realised that the din could probably be heard for miles, gods only knew how we were going to explain that. The Senate would have our heads.

But that was a problem for later. I shook it off as I started gaining on the main carriage, the poor horses made protesting snorts and wails at my relentless driving, but I had no choice in that. They would soon be free of me anyway. I was almost there.

The moment I was level with the side of the carriage, I leapt from my seat and gripped the rails on the roof tightly, hanging from them and pressing myself to the side to avoid flailing around too much. The wind whipped at my hair and coat as we continued to speed through the night. I couldn’t see where in London we were headed, and frankly, I didn’t want to waste any time finding out.

The driver tried to shake me off, ramming the carriage into a lamp post, but all he really did was make me impatient as my back met the hard metal and a momentary sharp pain shot up my spine. It would do nothing other than that, so I swore under my breath, and decided I was safer atop the carriage, where I couldn’t be thrown into random objects.

As I pulled myself up onto the roof, I saw somebody else climbing up on the other side. I immediately grasped the hilt of my sword, but frowned when I saw his uniform, a Guard, but that didn’t mean I could trust him.

“Come up here to share the glorious view, Miss, or are we going to stop this damn carriage?” He called over the noise.

“I don’t recall inviting a guest.” I retorted, unsheathing my sword. We still had to hang onto the railings tight, the driver was throwing us about like a fishing boat in a tempest, even with my good balance, I wasn’t taking any chances.

I glanced at the man who was crouched on the roof next to me. I couldn’t quite explain it, but there was something unsettlingly familiar about him, something in his face, his voice, that I felt like I had known before. It was not important right now though, I had bigger priorities, and I hadn’t seen him in the fight, so it was best to be suspicious. He was not a Shifter, he had a distinct look of Vampirism, but I was almost sure I could detect a Wolf’s scent. Either way, I had no time to contemplate this hybrid, and no time for him in general until he earned a smudge of my trust.

He signalled me to be ready in three, I watched him carefully and cautiously, but poised myself to spring into action. The carriage slowed to turn, and the moment it cleared the corner, he sprang forward and grabbed the driver around the throat, pushing him forward and snatching the reins from his hands. “NOW!” He shouted.

I lunged and stabbed the driver clean through the back with my sword and he slumped. I pulled the body up onto the roof and let the Guard take up the driver’s seat and slow the carriage down. I looked at the driver in horror as I removed my blade.

“Sweet mother Marina!” I uttered, staring. He was wearing a Guard’s uniform, which confirmed my suspicion of a mole, but that isn’t what threw me. The man’s face warped and twisted, becoming its original state once more. He was a Shifter alright, but not an ordinary one. A Metamorph, they were called, or a doppelganger to those with less educated vocabularies. The most dangerous of Shifters, and I had just killed one! I hadn’t even known it!

The Guard who had helped me glanced back. “He’s a Metamorph isn’t he? I bloody knew it, the sly bastard.”

“He is.” I sheathed my sword and held on to the rails as the carriage turned around and headed back the way we came, “How did you know?”

“I’ve been watching the man for weeks. I’m glad your fine Assassins could make it tonight; I apologise for my instructions being somewhat vague.” He called back, “Truth be told I had no concrete evidence, you and your team were my only real resort.”

“You were our informant.” I guessed and smiled a little, “A good thing you brought this to our attention. These buggars are nigh on impossible to track and catch.”

“You don’t sound surprised, Miss.” He observed.

“Little surprises me.” I replied simply.

“Would you take the reins?” He asked, “I should make sure Her Majesty is not too shaken. Though recent events considered, I doubt a little kidnapping will phase her all too much.”

“Of course.” I climbed down and took the reins from him, “I didn’t see you in the fight, I presume that means you are a close bodyguard.”

“That I am. The Queen is under my strong recommendation to remain in the carriage until this is all over. It seems my advice was heeded…makes a nice change.” He grabbed the rails and climbed back into the carriage.

On the realisation that I had accidentally become the Queen of England’s temporary chauffer, I drove carefully back to the street where the whole affair had begun. I seriously considered an alternate route, but decided that the safest place to be was where the rest of the Guild could have our back.

The Guild, in our absence had near enough ended the fight. The street was strewn with bodies and only a handful of the human form Shifters remained.

The Guard from the carriage stepped out as soon as we halted, drawing an impressive and well-kept sabre from his belt and taking down one of the remaining shifters that was about to lunge for the carriage. I dropped down from the driver’s seat and went to help. One of the last men was rather burly and menacing but I pulled out my revolver and shot him twice, weakening him before he could get in range of us. I darted out of the way of a punch and the Guard was able to easily floor him, allowing me to finish him off with my katana.

I looked around. The chaos had subsided, and Lizzie was just removing her scythe from the gut of what looked to be the last of our opponents.

The Guard sheathed his sword and looked around, “That appears to be that.” He concluded, and then turned to me, “Very well fought, madam.” He added, bowing his head very slightly.

“You weren’t bad yourself, sir.” I replied, allowing myself a slight satisfied smile.

For the first time, I was able to get a proper long look at him. I still couldn’t quite place that familiarity, but I was absolutely sure now that we had met before, if long ago. He was rather…well, handsome, to tell you the truth, those grey eyes that looked oddly too kind to belong to a ruthless fighter, squareish angular features, brown hair swept back into a ponytail that brushed past his shoulders. He was quite well built too, broad and tall, more than half a head taller than me in my heeled boots. He looked as if he could have lifted that carriage. He reminded me somehow of a knight from a story, straight out of Camelot.

It occurred to me that I had been staring just a touch too long.

“Right.” I cleared my throat and looked back at my team, “That looks like all of them.”

“Not quite.” Emmett corrected us, and he, myself and Emma all raised our weapons to shoot as one of the ‘Shifters, a clever little buggar who had been playing dead, got up from the ground near the carriage and made for the door. We were just about to shoot when the door flung open and the window smashed right into the face of the attacker, who then promptly collapsed on the floor.

The Guard calmly walked over and finished them off so that we couldn’t be crept up on again.

All of the Guild immediately dropped onto their knees the moment we realised what was happening. Consciously, I sheathed my sword and swept the tails of my coat around my legs again to cover my most indecent choice of attire. A lady in trousers was simply unheard of (well, so was a lady who would say ‘trousers’, but I suppose nobody is perfect).

At that moment, Queen Victoria herself stepped calmly out of the carriage, sweeping her skirts away from the pools of blood on the ground, and surveying the carnage with a raised eyebrow and a very slightly impressed looking tilt of her head. She seemed completely unfazed by the grotesque scenery, as if she had only run into a mild inconvenience. She then turned, and looked at each of the Guild in turn.

“To whom do I owe my life this time?” She said finally.

There was a short pause where I waited to see if Avangelene would take her usual stance of authority, but she seemed unwilling to be the first to talk to the Queen. I opened my mouth to introduce us, but shut it again when the Guard from earlier did so for me.

“Your Majesty.” He stepped in, “May I introduce you to the Assassin’s Guild. I made the decision to call them in as reinforcement the moment we realised the threat came from the Night.”

She looked at us again, “And it seems you did the right thing, James. How troubling that my own guard has been infiltrated by common Shape Shifters.”

In sudden realisation, I glanced again at the Guard. James. It couldn’t be…could it? After all these long years? Then…if it was him, then the last time we met, I would be little more than eight years old. Of course he would have changed…

I shook it off. Probably a coincidence.

Theo was the first to interrupt, most rudely. “Wait, she knows about the Night?” He seemed to realise the severity of the situation and shut his trap immediately after, as if he didn’t realise that he’d just said that aloud. I could hear Lizzie and Avangelene’s simultaneous groan from here.

“Of course I know about the Night, I’m the Queen of England.” She replied matter-of-factly, causing Theo to do his best impression of a demented goldfish, “Now, I suppose you will be in need of repayment for your services.”

I shook my head, “There is really no need, your Majesty. Our fee was paid up front, and frankly, we are glad we could be of service. It is our job, after all.” I explained, as politely as I could.

“Oh come now.” She replied sharply, “I do not accept charity. Surely there is something I can do to allow you at least to do your fine work more easily. Off the record, of course.” At this she paused, “And do stand up. I do find it most distracting to talk down to people who have just saved my life.”

The Guild all got awkwardly, and somewhat confusedly to their feet, bobbing bows and curtseys, which seemed to amuse the Empress somewhat, particularly when poor Theo blundered uselessly on his own feet.

“Thank you for your kind offer, your Majesty.” Avangelene said with a smile, thank goodness she was taking over. I had very little experience of dealing with royalty in my lifetime…well, little experience of dealing with royalty with whom I was in good favour. I had killed one or two before, but strangely I didn’t think that counted.

The Queen nodded. “Now, this is a ghastly place for a business meeting, and I am late for another engagement. Expect a letter to your Guild shortly, and we shall discuss the terms of our agreement in some slightly more civilised surroundings.”

“I look forward to that.” Avangelene replied, “The best for the rest of your journey. I can have some of my Assassin’s accompany you, if that would be of any help?”

“I think I shall be quite alright.” She assured us, “I am sure we will run into nothing James cannot handle on his own from here. It has been a pleasure.” She turned to the Guard, James, “You and I James, will speak of acknowledgement for your part in all of this later. Not very often is it that I run out of honours to bestow upon one of my Guards, but then you do insist on making history.”

“Thank you, Ma’am.” He replied simply, with that slight bow again.

She then proceeded to return to her carriage, James closing the door behind her.

He then turned to us once more, “Thank you again, all of you, for humouring my odd request. I am in your debt.”

“In our debt? You’re anything but, old chap.” Theo piped up happily, “I for one wish half our missions were like this.”

I rolled my eyes, “What Mr VanKastle is trying to express, is that the pleasure is all ours. And should you ever again require our services, you know where to find us.”

James smiled. That smile…I was sure I had seen it. It was like seeing a ghost, that smile belonged to a boy of twelve, charming and mischievous, or was I twisting facts to theories again? I was not sure any more, but I should stop, it was a liberty I could not afford. Mind on the matter at hand, I told myself firmly.

“I shall bear that in mind.” He replied.

After this, the group began to disperse. Reluctantly, I followed, trying to push out of my mind any possibilities I had been considering,

“Miss DeHamphir, your dashing young chap is quite something isn’t he? On first name terms with the Queen and all!” Theo teased, elbowing me in the arm as we went to walk away.

I rolled my eyes, “He is not my anything, Theo. He was extremely useful in the mission, and had good manners is all.”

“That is not the way you look at the accessory to a mission, my dear Cybelle.” He grinned, “Did I even detect a slight smile back there?”

I stopped walking and looked him dead in the eye. “Theo? Be quiet or I will tear that silly ferret from your upper lip with force.” I said calmly.

He let out a low whistle and laughed, twirling his cane in one hand as he walked away, “Methinks the lady doth protest too much!”

I groaned and shook my head, deciding not to fuel the fire.

I was about to walk away when I heard a familiar voice behind. I turned around to see that James was still conversing with Avangelene, I frowned, confused, and she met my eyes for a second. The discussion seemed to end rather promptly and they parted ways, Avangelene falling into step beside me as we walked.

“What was that?” I enquired of her with a raised eyebrow.

“Nothing important, just networking.” She replied simply, removing her leather gloves and pulling one of her hair combs out so that some of her blonde waves fell onto her shoulders, “Why? Jealous?”

“Of course not!” I scoffed, “Why do people keep saying that?”

Avangelene smiled knowingly and looked at me over her spectacles, “Because, Cybelle, I have never seen you smile for anything but politeness or sadism since I met you.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes again, “This may come as a surprise to you, Avangelene, but with as many scandals as I have been at the centre of, matters of the heart are, and shall always remain, a mystery to me.”

“You make that very clear.” She said with a sly smile, “Give it time.”

“I don’t think so.” I replied flatly.

She then turned to me, arms folded and that wise look in her eye that she carried off well, and knew it, and said, “Cybelle, we Night Walking People are complacent beings. We forget that, even when one reaches a thousand years old, there are still things we can learn.”

I smiled, “Avangelene?” I said sweetly, “If you’re going to lecture me, you’re going to need a bigger soap box.”

 

***

 

A few days after the Shape Shifter affair, the Guild had seen a great improvement in our reputation. The orders from Lords and Counts and Senate members and what not were all flooding in, and since the Queen herself had unofficially decided to endorse us, we had found our jobs far easier to execute with our newfound authority. Such abilities as being able to vacate small areas of the city or expect policemen to turn a blind eye to us had proven exceedingly useful. It had certainly kept the Senate and Council off our backs, and we had even avoided the expected screaming match over how messy we had left the scene of the crime for them to clear up.

The twilight of the following Friday saw me hurrying back to the Guild. Avangelene had laughed at me as she had let me in, for it had rained like Marina herself had been in fury and despite taking a cab, I had still had to brave the maelstrom through the alley to the Guild house. My cloak and umbrella dripped all over the entrance and the hem of my skirt was so soaked it left tracks where I walked (upon which Theo would later take a most hilarious tumble).

Disgruntled, I walked into the drawing room to go and stand in front of the fireplace, hoping to dry off. I frowned at that horrible sensation of realising when one is standing in completely soaking wet boots.

Avangelene soon followed me in, holding several familiar ornate wooden boxes, bearing a freshly re-painted Guild insignia on the lid. “Now that we’re all here.” She announced, “Your pins have arrived back from the jeweller. He has outdone himself this time.” She smiled and handed the boxes back to their respective owners. I opened it up to see the familiar silver pin laying there on its red velvet cushion, the new addition of a tiny silver crown hanging from the dragon’s tail glinted in the warm light of the room.

I looked up, about to agree, but quickly noticed the one extra box Avangelene had tucked under her arm. “There are seven.” I stated, puzzled, “One too many.”

Avangelene looked at the box and shrugged, “So there are.” She said simply and locked away the box in a drawer, saying nothing more on the subject.

The thief in me considered how easy it would be to infiltrate that drawer, and read the box’s inscription to see who it belonged to without leaving so much as a trace, but I realised quickly that my friend would have known this, which is exactly what convinced me I didn’t need to. I would find out soon enough, and it seemed that she was enjoying being up to something. Exceedingly.

It was not until later that I would discover exactly why.

It had taken thirty minutes or so of standing in front of the fireplace, indulging Theo and Emma in their jibes and likening me to various drowned animals, before I was sufficiently dry to walk around without tracking rainwater behind me like a very well dressed snail. I did, however, still look rather a sight, and was busy unpinning and combing out my damp hair when I walked straight into a familiar tall, neat looking fellow standing in the Guild’s hallway. Startled, I dropped my comb and stepped back quickly, mumbling an apology.

The man only laughed and bent to pick up my comb and hand it back to me. “Sorry, Miss, but you seemed in a world of your own just now and I hadn’t the heart to disturb you.”

I immediately recognised him, though it was strange to see him out of his Guard’s uniform. He was now clad in ordinary attire, with an expensive looking green brocade waistcoat and a long greatcoat, strange military braiding and buttons down the front, but was from no particular uniform that I recognised. Though he seemed equally amused to see me wearing a dress.

“James!” I exclaimed in surprise. I could have bit my tongue at that, how improper to refer to him by his Christian name so informally! I suppose I had nothing else to call him, but still, I would do well to compose myself. I cleared my throat and took the comb from his outstretched hand, “Thank you, Sir. Back to the Guild so soon I see?”

“Well, I couldn’t stay away.” He said, pulling that familiar smile again, “As it happens, despite being valued as a bodyguard, I do find all of this regimented lifestyle rather tiresome after all these years. And Her Majesty seemed satisfied that she could continue to rely on my services from here.”

“You’ve come to train as an Assassin?” I guessed, “That’s wonderful!”

Again, I bit my tongue at my own manners. I was going to have to watch myself.

“Miss Wright was so kind as to offer me a job.” James explained, “Which reminds me, we haven’t been formally introduced, have we?”

“No, I don’t believe we have.” I agreed with another slight smile, “My name is Cybelle. Miss Cybelle DeHamphir.”

“Ah, a pleasure to properly meet you, Miss DeHamphir.” He said with that slight bow of his, for a moment I saw something cross his features that might have been…disappointment? How curious. “James Lovett. I don’t care much for my title, it’s all very grand.”

Wait, Lovett!? So I had been right after all! I had to force back a smile and a look of delight when I realised that. After all, it had been many years, I was not sure if he would remember me, and of course times had changed. We were older now, lived lifetimes that the other could probably scarcely imagine…but I was still pleased all the same. It was nice after all these years to know that he seemed to have done well, which is more than I could say for myself.

Goodness, I could still hardly believe that gentle but mischievous young boy I had known in my youth, who had gotten us into so much trouble and yet had always looked after me and humoured my silly games, had grown into the great strapping soldier standing before me. A gentleman with perfect manners no less, it was bizarre.

I realised I had paused for a little long while those thoughts had crossed my mind, “A pleasure, Mr Lovett.” I managed to utter and hesitated, “If I might be so bold…I do believe we have met before. I was called Valentea then.”

“Valentea?” He seemed to double take at that, but then he smiled fully and bent to kiss my hand, I could not hold back a little smile at that, “Then, I correct myself. It’s a pleasure to meet you again…you look wonderful, Miss DeHamphir.” He said my new name slowly, as if getting used to it, or contemplating the idea that I was truly that innocent little girl he used to know. True, things had indeed changed, and not always for the better.

“You don’t look bad yourself, Mr Lovett.” I replied, “It’ll be nice to have you around again.”

“Likewise.” He nodded, “I am sure we can catch up properly once Avangelene and I sort out the formalities.”

“I’d like that very much.” I tried not to grin before turning to continue my intended path, but I turned back with an afterthought, “Oh, you needn’t be so formal with me here. The Guild operates a little differently; after all, we are like family. You can call me Cybelle, if you like. Or some of the others just call me Cye.”

He still had that little smile on his face as he replied, “Well then Cybelle, I look forward to working with you.”

I nodded, “And I with you.”

At this, the door to the office was opened and James excused himself. I knew in far too recent memory how much paperwork lay before the poor fellow, so I crossed the hall to the large ornate mirror on the wall to continue with my attempts of combing my mess of hair.

The office door shut with its usual solid thud, and the dull click of heels on the hallway tiles could be heard before Avangelene’s very satisfied looking face appeared in the mirror behind me. “Well, well, well…” She uttered with a smile.

I paused, the comb half way through my hair and narrowed my eyes.

“Avangelene, don’t you dare.”