Arno came to a stop beside Elise as they now looked over to the church.

"We should split up," she told him.

"I'm not sure that's…." He protested.

"Less chance we both get caught that way."

I suppose that's true."

"We'll rendezvous inside," she ordered, turning to look at him. "If you get a shot at Germain, you take it."

He then watched her leave before heading on himself. He made short work of the guards, while making his way inside. He headed straight for the vault wall and turned the switch. Elise had caught up with him and was now stood ready by his side. As soon as the door slid open, just enough, she pulled out her sword and ran in.

"Elise!" Arno hissed, quickly following her on.

Germain turned, sword in hand, all powered up and ready. The two ducked for cover, narrowly dodging the electricity coming from it.

"And (Miss) De La Serre as well. This is quite the reunion," Germain thought with disgust.

Arno leaned over to Elise to whisper to her, "Stay hidden. Keep him talking."

Germain stood, watching for any sign of them coming out.

"Did you think this day would never come? That because Francois De La Serre had no sons to avenge him that your crime would go unanswered?" Elise was asking, while Arno used this distraction to sneak away.

"Revenge is it? Your vision is as narrow as your father's," Germain spat back at her.

"You're one to talk. How wide of vision was your grab for power?"

"Power? No no no, you're smarter than that! This was never about power. It's always been about control. Did your father teach you nothing? The Order has grown complacent. For centuries we've focused our attentions on the trappings of power: the titles of nobility, the offices of Church and State. So obsessed with clinging to the trappings of power we abandoned our purpose. Caught in the very lie we crafted to shepherd the masses."

"I'll kill you!" Elise shouted back at him.

"And you think that will accomplish anything? In the wake of revolution, the Order will adapt. They will retreat to the shadows and we will, at last, be the Secret Masters we were meant to be. Do you think yourself safe in the shadows? So come kill me if you can."

Arno ran at him, his hidden blade ready to strike. But Germain expected this and countered. Arno quickly retreated, with an added painful shock to his system.

"I've already won," Germain smirked.

Arno pulled a medicine bottle from his pouch and drank it back. It dulled the pain enough for him to go on.

"I can't find an opening," Elise yelled.

"We'll have to take him together," Arno replied, now coming to her side once again.

He then ran out, just as Germain had his back to him. He rushed him, hoping to get an unexpected attack in, but once again, Germain was prepared. Arno was forced painfully back again. Elise quickly headed over to him and dragged him to cover as Germain pointed his sword their way.

"Are you alright?" She asked him, a look of concern on her beautiful features.

He coughed and grunted, "I'll be alright."

"Jacques De Molay speaks through me. How can you hope to prevail?" Germain went on.

Arno pulled himself to his feet and took cover. Elise grabbed his arm, wanting to stop him, but he just gave her a small smile, before running at Germain again. This time the sword's electrical current was stronger than the last two times. Arno was thrown back, now finding himself trapped under one of the giant stone pillars. Germain was fairing no better either, the shock had incapacitated him as well.

Elise ran over to Arno with a worried look, "Arno!"

"I'm stuck!" He warned her.

She pulled the lesser debris away from him, before trying to help heave the pillar off of him. Germain had now manged to pull himself to his feet, and had grabbed the sword. He turned from the pair and hobbled off.

Elise looked over to him, "He's getting away!"

"Wait, I'm almost free." Arno warned her.

She turned to look back at her lover, "I can take him."

"No you can't. Not alone. Wait for me."

She stood, now deciding on what to do, before giving Arno one last look.

"I'm sorry," she said, now turning to run at Germain.

Arno held out his hand to stop her, "ELISE!"

It was far to late for him. Elise was now in a desperate battle against Germain. Their swords clashing with each strike. Elise swung her sword, trying to get a hit on the older man, but he easily dodged her feeble attacks. He pulled back the sword, making Elise's eyes widened in shock. The sword was now charged and ready to strike her down. She knew it was too late, but backed up anyway. Arno was now on his feet and was running over, just as Elise was thrown back. A blinding light then enveloped them all.

"Elise!" Was the last thing she heard, before completely blacking out.

XxXxXxX

All sorts of sounds now filled her ears, people talking, shouting or laughing. The sounds were now becoming louder, sounding nearby.

"What happened to her?"

"Don't know. She just sort of collapsed."

"I thought she'd got knocked down."

"Should we get her to a doctor?"

"Wait, I think she's coming to."

Elise groaned and slowly opened her eyes.

"What happened to you, lass?"

It took some time for her eyes to adjust to her surroundings. She could feel the stone cold floor beneath her and tied to push herself up.

"Easy there, lass."

She jumped as someone's hand grabbed her arm. She gasped and tried to pull away.

"No one's gonna hurt you."

She blinked a few times now, to properly clear her vision to see three women kneeling beside her.

"Where am I?" She finally asked.

"We found you passed out in the middle of the road, my dear."

She pulled herself to a sitting position, with the help of the women. Her hand then fell to the cobbles below her. The sound of horse shoes tapping on the stones below brought her attention up.

"Get out of the bleedin' road, you hags!" One of the drivers snapped, coming dangerously close to them with his carriage.

"Watch were you're bloody going, you crazed lunatic!" The woman shouted back.

The man stuck up two fingers as he passed, before turning back to face the road.

"Yeah, up yours as well!"

"Come on, dear. Let's get you some place better than the floor."

Elise let herself be pulled to her feet. The women then taking her somewhere quiet, but just as she looked over her shoulder, she caught sight of a hooded figure.

"Germain!" She hissed, now pulling away from the women to take chase.

"Miss! Where are you going?"

She didn't have time to stop and explain, and so she ran as fast as she could. Germain, though injured, had managed to get the slip on her.

"Where are you, Germain?" She asked, while drawing her own sword.

He didn't answer and she now found herself going deeper and deeper into the city.

"GERMAIN!"

Silence welcomed her instead, so she decided to sheath her sword and go look for Arno.

"Arno!" She called, hoping he would come running. "The theatre?"

She ran out of the alleyway and stopped dead in her tracks. This was not how the streets usually looked.

"Arno?!" Still nothing, although she did get a few looks from the passers-by.

"What's that, Miss?"

She turned to see a child looking to her sword.

"Are you some kind of pirate, like in the books?" Another now asked. "You sure look like one, Miss."

Elise looked down on them, clearly confused. Had these children never seen anyone carry a sword before?

"Will you show us how you use it, Miss?"

"Tell me children, where am I?" She asked, ignoring their questions.

She knew that this place had that familiar look about it, but couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"Why you're in Lambeth, Miss."

"Lambeth?"

The children nodded, "London, Miss."

"London!"

They all smiled and went back to looking at her sword again.

"Will you show us?"

Elise was too deep in thought as to why she was now in London. But then again, so was Germain. She had to find him and fast, who knows what more the sword was capable of? She took off at a run again, not having any idea where she was going, because she had no idea where Arno was. She did have one goal in mind, and that was to stop Germain, at any cost.