The crowd held its breath as the Croatian midfielder passed the ball up to the forward as he thundered towards the French goal until at the last moment the ball was knocked out of bounds by the defenders.
One sharp blast of a whistle later and the crowd gathered at the big screen in the Trocedero was cheering. France had won the world cup for a second time. As the celebrating began in earnest none of them noticed the green humanoid frog leap across the roof tops followed by a woman in red.
"You will not catch me sword-lady." The humanoid frog wheezed as he leapt down onto a bus, the bandolier of portable hard drives he'd stole gleaming in the street light. "I've beaten Daredevil and Spiderman back in New York, did you really think that some street walker with a..." He stopped and screamed in pain as the woman threw her sword at him, the blade digging into his foot.
"It's Guillotine." The woman stated as she leapt down onto the braking bus. "Remember that name and remember my sword." She added as she removed the blade from her foes feet, purple blood running down the steel.
<He's not human, not fully, and his blood has such a unique bouquet.> The sword whispered as the humanoid frog cradled his bleeding flipper. <It would not be murder to kill him, it would simply be akin to putting a wounded animal down, a kindness really.>
"Who are you stealing these for?" Jeannie asked as she levelled the blade against the villain's throat.
"None of your business!" The humanoid frog snapped as he lashed out with his tongue, the slime covered tip striking his would-be captor in the eye. His smugness lasted half a second however, as the Fleur de Mal slashed through the muscle.
<On second thought he tastes disgusting.> The Fleur de Mal hissed as Guillotine threw her foe to the floor, her red eyes glowing with anger at being attacked in such a way. <That's it embrace the anger, let justice be done, be free of the cage, just like your ancestors.> It added as Jeannie grabbed the Frog Man and placed his head on the steps of the bus, before ramming the door shut on his neck.
"Lady I give up, please just let me go and I'll..." Frogman spluttered as he tried to wiggle his way out of the doors.
"Not till you tell me who you are working for!" Guillotine snapped as she dug the door into Frogman's neck.
"The guild, they were holding a contest, if you can get enough slips from the referee then they'll let you into the real heist." Frogman spluttered as the bones in his neck popped due to the pressure on them. "That's all I know! I swear!"
<Finish him, he deserves it for defiling us.> The Fleur de Mal whispered as Jeannie looked down at her thrashing foe before sliding the door open and grabbing the blade as she headed towards the Seine.
"No, the police can have him." Jeannie replied as she passed a number of revellers on the street, all of them to preoccupied with 'their' win to realise who she was.
<Then at least go and wash this foul taste from my mouth>. The Fleur de Mal ordered as Jeannie dropped onto the riverside walk as a police van came dashing past. Stalking over to the river's edge she dipped the blade into the water, purple blood washing off the steel. <I suppose you thought that was funny.> The sword sighed.
"Oui, it was hilarious." Jeannie stated as she looked towards the next bridge and the group of figures holding a woman against the wall, flick knives out as they demanded her purse and jewellery. "Take heart, you may just be getting a second course tonight, our night's work is not yet done."
Jeannie took a sip from the cup of cappuccino as she looked out towards Notre Dame, and silently enjoyed the quiet of the early morning. Besides the cooing of the pigeons, a few early morning joggers the clattering of the Metro trains Paris was still, its collective soul sleeping off the excitement of last night.
As exciting as a World Cup win was, Jeannie was more excited about this morning's activities. Dressed in a red tank top and sweat pants, her hair tied back into a ponytail, she was ready to run, and unlike her stints as Guillotine she wasn't running alone.
"You're late." She stated as her companion for the morning, Detective Marc Joubert sprinted around the corner ready for their run to Notre Dame.
"And you aren't warmed up." Marc replied as he looked at Jeannie with a mildly annoyed look. "Last night was busy, please apologise for any inconvenience."
"You're forgiven." Jeannie teased as she downed the last of her cappuccino and got to her feet. "The crowds certainly sounded boisterous last night, were they really that bad?"
"The crowds were not what I was referring to." Marc replied as they headed down the stairs to the riverside path. "We captured a super villain last night, called himself Frogman, apparently he used to run in a crew calling themselves the Ani-Men."
"How fierce you are, taking out this Frogman." Jeannie replied as she braced herself for what would inevitably follow.
"We didn't, Guillotine did, she maimed him and then just left him on the street." Marc stated as they crossed under a bridge on their way to the cathedral. "People are saying she's akin to Daredevil or Spiderman, but from what I've heard they don't leave their enemies at death's door for the police to find."
"This Frogman is a criminal yes?" Jeannie asked as they were overtaken by a cyclist, his bell peeling through the silence. "He broke the law and she stopped him."
"Yes, but answer me this, would you consider a Muslim a criminal for embracing their fate, the British for choosing Brexit, the disabled for needing help?" Marc asked as they ascended back to street level. "No, you wouldn't, but Guillotine decides who is guilty and punishes them. Sure, at the moment it's criminals but what's to stop her from profiling others, deciding that they are criminal and need her brand of justice."
"She wouldn't go that far." Jeannie answered as they arrived at the cathedral.
"She already has, she cut out a man's tongue for stealing computer hard drives." Marc told her as they sat down on a bench. "Tell me that's justice proportionate to the crime he committed?"
Jeannie slammed the door as she stormed into her business before heading up to her apartment. Entering the bathroom, she shot a look at the Fleur de Mal before pointing at it and hissing. "Not one word!"
<Your shortness is understood and will not be levied against you this time.> The Fleur de Mal hissed as Jeannie sat on the floor, her legs crossed, head in hands. <We must speak of last night though, the Frogman mentioned working for a guild, possibly the Thieves Guild. We need to know more, your father had...>
"No!" Jeannie yelled her voice sounding louder thanks to the echo of the room. "I can't see my father as one of those wraiths, he is not like them, he was like me, he was a good man!"
<He was.> The Fleur de Mal answered as two tears of blood ran down the blade from the skull shaped indent on the hilt. <It pains me to know I have lost so many who fed me well. Each generation taking up the blade inflicts a toll on me that the blood they spill doesn’t repay. Loss is an entity I know well.>
"Then you know why I can't summon him." Jeannie replied as she got to her feet and picked the sword up and carried it into the lounge before placing it on a table next to a laptop. "There is more than one way to find out information."
<That machine knows nothing, we should be out on the streets taking what we need, blood for me and information for you.> The Fleur de Mal stated in a hungry voice before snidely adding. <Not enough of it for my liking thanks to your cruelty.>
"It's a solid backup plan." Jeannie answered as she ignored the blade's later remark and entered her search criteria. "Now let's see what gets uncovered when we turn a few stones."
"We have a problem Monsieur Le Beau." The young blonde-haired woman dressed in a secretary’s uniform. "Someone has been looking for us." She added as the middle-aged Cajun man dressed in black and blue clothing complete with a brown long coat looked up from the tablet he was holding.
"Do you mean the potential voleur that was arrested by the police Madame Colombia, or the internet snooper who managed to trigger enough of the watch words to classify as a potential threat?" Le Beau asked as he rested his hand on his chin.
"The voleur know not to speak our name to the police." Colombia answered as she opened her hand to reveal a white feather. "We looked into the hacker, she's called Jeannie Savage, a third generation of Yves Desmarais, a crime lord whose operation was an enemy of the guild."
"An attempt at reclaiming what was lost?" Le Beau asked cautiously as he took the feather, the quills standing on end as white dust flowed off the plume to form a 3D image of Jeannie, the hilt of the Fleur de Mal just about visible in the representation. "That is Yves sword is it not?"
"And the blade used by Guillotine." Colombia stated as she shot Le Beau a worried look. "Reports vary on whether she's a vigilante or an aspiring crime lord, whatever the case she's a threat to the operation."
"That is why we have Monsieur Cashin with us." Le Beau announced as he looked up at the ceiling and the pale man dressed in reptile skin trousers and jacket clinging there, a row of zigzags tattooed onto his bald head. "The Guillotine may kill, but the Snakebite has been sowing death for much longer."
"You will have her head and sword before your Voleur bring you your prize." Snakebite hissed as he dropped to the floor, his red eyes and silted pupils staring at Jeannie's image. "That I guarantee."
<Why are we here and not out hunting for the Thieves Guild?> The Fleur de Mal hissed as it hung off Jeannie's belt, the vigilante crouched in the doorway to the roof of her apartment building.
"Firstly, keep it down, who knows what could be listening and secondly wait and watch." Guillotine told the blade softly as a figure stood outside her shop, well after closing times. Perhaps she was admiring the blooms in the window but judging from the high-tech headset she wore coupled with the grey catsuit it looked more like a burglary in the making. "See, looks like the Guild has come to us, and hopefully we can spook her so she brings us to her masters."
<Spook the heard to draw out the bull.> The Fleur de Mal clarified. <Perhaps you do have some of your ancestor’s skill in your blood after all.> It snidely added as Jeannie silently pushed the door open and crept to the edge of the building just as they would be burglar scanned the keyhole with an optical laser. Dropping down behind the thief Jeannie drew the Fleur de Mal against the intruder’s throat.
"Guillotine I presume." The burglar stated in an upper class British accent. "This was almost too easy Miss Savage." She added as hands wrapped around Jeannie's neck and dragged her away from the thief, but not before Guillotine had left a nick against her former hostage’s skin, a single drop of blood running down the length of the Fleur de Mal.
"Cle get out of here, you have a schedule to keep." Snakebite ordered as he threw Guillotine into the railings across the street from her apartment. Taking off, the Cle didn't look back as she made herself scarce. "The Guild Master doesn't know if you're a thief or a vigilante. Personally, I hope the later, ever since I crossed blades with the Punisher," He added as he advanced on Guillotine as she recovered and thrust out with her blade, before sidestepping the attack and clamping his hands into the swordswoman's, "because I have developed a real hatred for your kind."
"Release me!" Jeannie snapped as she released the Fleur de Mal, the heavy blade landing on Snakebite's foot. Wincing in pain he let go with one hand as he reached for a fang shaped dagger on his belt.
"Gladly." Snakebite replied as he drew the blade as Jeannie brought her free elbow into the assassin’s throat, the blow winding him as she pulled her other arm free. Ducking down she grabbed the Fleur de Mal and raised it just in time to deflect the strike aimed at her neck.
<You must strike quickly and end this killer if you are to catch up with the ones he protects.> The sword informed as Snakebite drew another blade and caught Guillotine's strike in an 'X' shaped block.
"End as in kill, not even for one such as this." Jeannie answered as Snakebite relaxed his left-hand guard causing Guillotine's guard to collapse. Taking advantage of this he lashed out with the dagger in his right hand, the knife leaving a shallow cut on Jeannie's face, the fabric of her hood torn slightly.
"I strike to kill!" Snakebite snapped as Guillotine partially recovered and swung her blade low. Jumping over the strike Snakebite had enough time to see the blade cut through the base of a lamppost, the severed piece of metal collapsing him and pining him to the floor. Wiggling out of his confinement the assassin felt cold steel slice through his elbow joint, pain filling the limb as blood slowly leaked out. "What no comeback?" He groaned as he lashed out with his uninjured hand.
"No." Guillotine replied as she smacked the assassin with the hilt of her sword, knocking him unconscious.
<A surprise indeed!> The Fleur de Mal exclaimed as the blood from Snakebite's wounds melted into the metal. <Killing this one...>
"I've heard it before." Jeannie sighed as she looked around for any clue of where Cle had escaped to.
<Then make sure that I never have to mention it again.> The Fleur de Mal told her as Jeannie clambered onto the roof of her apartment to survey the area. <She is out of sight; this Cle is far from here as are the rest of the Thieves Guild.>
"Where are they?" Jeannie asked as she shot one last look at Snakebite to make sure he was no longer a threat.
<The airport> The Fleur de Mal answered as the blade tinted red for a moment. <If not his blood, I will have the life of this Cle and her kin as payment.>
"You may have their blood, but not their life." Jeannie replied as she headed towards the suburbs. "Not while I wield you."
The couriers wheeling the packing crate out of the plane coughed and choked as a thick mist swirled around them before collapsing on the floor. Walking through the mist Cle flanked by two men, one armed with a grenade launcher, the other his fingers gleaming with a purple light, approached the case.
"Security wasn't so tough once they were exposed to my knock out gas." The figure with the grenade launcher stated as Cle ran her hand along the locks, before stopping at the digital deadbolt keeping the lid shut.
"Enough bragging NOx." The man with the purple fingers snapped. "The Guild Master wants his prize, and he expects us to be out of here before the police arrive."
"Get ready to make the exchange Facsimile." Cle whispered as she tapped in a code, the lock disengaging. Stepping back Facsimile opened the case and removed the contents. Running his hands over every inch of the statuette of a woman holding a golden orb, Facsimile watched as a replica formed out of thin air in front of him. When he was done the reproduced item was undistinguishable from the authentic trophy held in the thieves’ hand.
"One World Cup Trophy." Facsimile announced as Cle was handed the fake to place back in the case. "All we need do is lock up the duplicate and make the rendezvous."
"You'll do neither." Jeannie stated as she strode out of the fog, the Fleur de Mal raised and ready for action.
"Let me talk to her, face to face." A digital unseen voice ordered. Nodding Facsimile removed his gas mask and turned to face the case, revealing a replicated phase of the Guild Master on the back of his head. "Bon Nuit Madame Guillotine, I wondered if you would survive Snakebite's attention."
"I did, and now your team of robbers has been caught out as well." Jeannie announced as she saw NOx shift his grenade launcher slightly. "What need could you have for stealing such a hard-won trophy from the people?"
"Other than heading the most elite cadre of thieves in the world?" The Guild Master asked as Cle poked her head from behind round Facsimile. "Nothing really." He added as Cle pointed her middle finger at Jeannie's face, a laser lancing out and striking the vigilantes eye, the luminosity momentarily blinding her. "Adieu Madame Savage!" He stated as the thieves made their move.
Lunging forward NOx slammed the butt of his grenade launcher into Guillotine's face, the blow staggering her as Facsimile turned around and grabbed the Fleur de Mal, disarming the vigilante of her weapon.
"What's happening?" Guillotine asked as Cle threw a salvo of small throwing knives at her, each impact causing massive rents that exposed working muscle under the flesh to form on her body.
<If we are to continue this petty mission of yours you must trust me.> The Fleur de Mal announced as Facsimile ran his hands along the blade, blood dripping over his fingers as an identical copy of the sword formed in front of him. <Move backwards now!> It instructed as another shower of blades were thrown at her. Following the blade's instruction Guillotine dodged the attack.
<Reach out and prepare to throw.> The sword ordered as a grenade was fired at her, thick gas belching out of the projectile. Grabbing it Jeannie threw the explosive away from her, the shell intercepting a third volley of blades. <Forward then tackle.> The sword continued as Facsimile shot a look at the quarter finished blade in front of him.
"What now?" Jeannie asked as she slammed Cle into the case, the lid slamming shut and the digital deadbolt reengaged.
<Left 90 degrees and reach out> The sword announced as Guillotine's hand felt the hilt of her blade. Trying to stop her from ruining his work Facsimile grabbed Jeannie's hand before being thrown back and slammed in the face with the flat of the blade.
"Where's the last one?" Jeannie asked as the half-finished replica Fleur de Mal and hand clutching it fell to the floor with a clang.
<Behind you, two strikes, one at chest height, one overhead.> Following the blade's tutorage, Jeannie struck, the first thrust slicing open NOx's grenade launcher and the second his gas mask and cheek, the erupting smoke of his weapon knocking him out.
<Be ready another has arrived.> The blade warned as Jeannie turned and saw a faint image of a man, gun drawn ready to fire standing eight foot away from her, the vision back light by flashing red and blue beacons.
"Guillotine put down your weapon and place your hands above your hand, you are under arrest for aggravated assault, grievous bodily harm, perverting the course of justice and assault with a deadly weapon!" Marc Joubert ordered as he kept his weapon trained on the bloodthirsty vigilante.
<Strike, kill him before he kills you!> The Fleur de Mal ordered.
"No!" Jeannie answered as she slashed out backwards, cutting through NOx's grenade belt, thick gas flooding the runway at the same moment the bullets rang out. Taking one last look Jeannie disappeared into the night, shame and anger mixing together as her friend fell to the floor choking.
One sharp blast of a whistle later and the crowd gathered at the big screen in the Trocedero was cheering. France had won the world cup for a second time. As the celebrating began in earnest none of them noticed the green humanoid frog leap across the roof tops followed by a woman in red.
"You will not catch me sword-lady." The humanoid frog wheezed as he leapt down onto a bus, the bandolier of portable hard drives he'd stole gleaming in the street light. "I've beaten Daredevil and Spiderman back in New York, did you really think that some street walker with a..." He stopped and screamed in pain as the woman threw her sword at him, the blade digging into his foot.
"It's Guillotine." The woman stated as she leapt down onto the braking bus. "Remember that name and remember my sword." She added as she removed the blade from her foes feet, purple blood running down the steel.
<He's not human, not fully, and his blood has such a unique bouquet.> The sword whispered as the humanoid frog cradled his bleeding flipper. <It would not be murder to kill him, it would simply be akin to putting a wounded animal down, a kindness really.>
"Who are you stealing these for?" Jeannie asked as she levelled the blade against the villain's throat.
"None of your business!" The humanoid frog snapped as he lashed out with his tongue, the slime covered tip striking his would-be captor in the eye. His smugness lasted half a second however, as the Fleur de Mal slashed through the muscle.
<On second thought he tastes disgusting.> The Fleur de Mal hissed as Guillotine threw her foe to the floor, her red eyes glowing with anger at being attacked in such a way. <That's it embrace the anger, let justice be done, be free of the cage, just like your ancestors.> It added as Jeannie grabbed the Frog Man and placed his head on the steps of the bus, before ramming the door shut on his neck.
"Lady I give up, please just let me go and I'll..." Frogman spluttered as he tried to wiggle his way out of the doors.
"Not till you tell me who you are working for!" Guillotine snapped as she dug the door into Frogman's neck.
"The guild, they were holding a contest, if you can get enough slips from the referee then they'll let you into the real heist." Frogman spluttered as the bones in his neck popped due to the pressure on them. "That's all I know! I swear!"
<Finish him, he deserves it for defiling us.> The Fleur de Mal whispered as Jeannie looked down at her thrashing foe before sliding the door open and grabbing the blade as she headed towards the Seine.
"No, the police can have him." Jeannie replied as she passed a number of revellers on the street, all of them to preoccupied with 'their' win to realise who she was.
<Then at least go and wash this foul taste from my mouth>. The Fleur de Mal ordered as Jeannie dropped onto the riverside walk as a police van came dashing past. Stalking over to the river's edge she dipped the blade into the water, purple blood washing off the steel. <I suppose you thought that was funny.> The sword sighed.
"Oui, it was hilarious." Jeannie stated as she looked towards the next bridge and the group of figures holding a woman against the wall, flick knives out as they demanded her purse and jewellery. "Take heart, you may just be getting a second course tonight, our night's work is not yet done."
Jeannie took a sip from the cup of cappuccino as she looked out towards Notre Dame, and silently enjoyed the quiet of the early morning. Besides the cooing of the pigeons, a few early morning joggers the clattering of the Metro trains Paris was still, its collective soul sleeping off the excitement of last night.
As exciting as a World Cup win was, Jeannie was more excited about this morning's activities. Dressed in a red tank top and sweat pants, her hair tied back into a ponytail, she was ready to run, and unlike her stints as Guillotine she wasn't running alone.
"You're late." She stated as her companion for the morning, Detective Marc Joubert sprinted around the corner ready for their run to Notre Dame.
"And you aren't warmed up." Marc replied as he looked at Jeannie with a mildly annoyed look. "Last night was busy, please apologise for any inconvenience."
"You're forgiven." Jeannie teased as she downed the last of her cappuccino and got to her feet. "The crowds certainly sounded boisterous last night, were they really that bad?"
"The crowds were not what I was referring to." Marc replied as they headed down the stairs to the riverside path. "We captured a super villain last night, called himself Frogman, apparently he used to run in a crew calling themselves the Ani-Men."
"How fierce you are, taking out this Frogman." Jeannie replied as she braced herself for what would inevitably follow.
"We didn't, Guillotine did, she maimed him and then just left him on the street." Marc stated as they crossed under a bridge on their way to the cathedral. "People are saying she's akin to Daredevil or Spiderman, but from what I've heard they don't leave their enemies at death's door for the police to find."
"This Frogman is a criminal yes?" Jeannie asked as they were overtaken by a cyclist, his bell peeling through the silence. "He broke the law and she stopped him."
"Yes, but answer me this, would you consider a Muslim a criminal for embracing their fate, the British for choosing Brexit, the disabled for needing help?" Marc asked as they ascended back to street level. "No, you wouldn't, but Guillotine decides who is guilty and punishes them. Sure, at the moment it's criminals but what's to stop her from profiling others, deciding that they are criminal and need her brand of justice."
"She wouldn't go that far." Jeannie answered as they arrived at the cathedral.
"She already has, she cut out a man's tongue for stealing computer hard drives." Marc told her as they sat down on a bench. "Tell me that's justice proportionate to the crime he committed?"
Jeannie slammed the door as she stormed into her business before heading up to her apartment. Entering the bathroom, she shot a look at the Fleur de Mal before pointing at it and hissing. "Not one word!"
<Your shortness is understood and will not be levied against you this time.> The Fleur de Mal hissed as Jeannie sat on the floor, her legs crossed, head in hands. <We must speak of last night though, the Frogman mentioned working for a guild, possibly the Thieves Guild. We need to know more, your father had...>
"No!" Jeannie yelled her voice sounding louder thanks to the echo of the room. "I can't see my father as one of those wraiths, he is not like them, he was like me, he was a good man!"
<He was.> The Fleur de Mal answered as two tears of blood ran down the blade from the skull shaped indent on the hilt. <It pains me to know I have lost so many who fed me well. Each generation taking up the blade inflicts a toll on me that the blood they spill doesn’t repay. Loss is an entity I know well.>
"Then you know why I can't summon him." Jeannie replied as she got to her feet and picked the sword up and carried it into the lounge before placing it on a table next to a laptop. "There is more than one way to find out information."
<That machine knows nothing, we should be out on the streets taking what we need, blood for me and information for you.> The Fleur de Mal stated in a hungry voice before snidely adding. <Not enough of it for my liking thanks to your cruelty.>
"It's a solid backup plan." Jeannie answered as she ignored the blade's later remark and entered her search criteria. "Now let's see what gets uncovered when we turn a few stones."
"We have a problem Monsieur Le Beau." The young blonde-haired woman dressed in a secretary’s uniform. "Someone has been looking for us." She added as the middle-aged Cajun man dressed in black and blue clothing complete with a brown long coat looked up from the tablet he was holding.
"Do you mean the potential voleur that was arrested by the police Madame Colombia, or the internet snooper who managed to trigger enough of the watch words to classify as a potential threat?" Le Beau asked as he rested his hand on his chin.
"The voleur know not to speak our name to the police." Colombia answered as she opened her hand to reveal a white feather. "We looked into the hacker, she's called Jeannie Savage, a third generation of Yves Desmarais, a crime lord whose operation was an enemy of the guild."
"An attempt at reclaiming what was lost?" Le Beau asked cautiously as he took the feather, the quills standing on end as white dust flowed off the plume to form a 3D image of Jeannie, the hilt of the Fleur de Mal just about visible in the representation. "That is Yves sword is it not?"
"And the blade used by Guillotine." Colombia stated as she shot Le Beau a worried look. "Reports vary on whether she's a vigilante or an aspiring crime lord, whatever the case she's a threat to the operation."
"That is why we have Monsieur Cashin with us." Le Beau announced as he looked up at the ceiling and the pale man dressed in reptile skin trousers and jacket clinging there, a row of zigzags tattooed onto his bald head. "The Guillotine may kill, but the Snakebite has been sowing death for much longer."
"You will have her head and sword before your Voleur bring you your prize." Snakebite hissed as he dropped to the floor, his red eyes and silted pupils staring at Jeannie's image. "That I guarantee."
<Why are we here and not out hunting for the Thieves Guild?> The Fleur de Mal hissed as it hung off Jeannie's belt, the vigilante crouched in the doorway to the roof of her apartment building.
"Firstly, keep it down, who knows what could be listening and secondly wait and watch." Guillotine told the blade softly as a figure stood outside her shop, well after closing times. Perhaps she was admiring the blooms in the window but judging from the high-tech headset she wore coupled with the grey catsuit it looked more like a burglary in the making. "See, looks like the Guild has come to us, and hopefully we can spook her so she brings us to her masters."
<Spook the heard to draw out the bull.> The Fleur de Mal clarified. <Perhaps you do have some of your ancestor’s skill in your blood after all.> It snidely added as Jeannie silently pushed the door open and crept to the edge of the building just as they would be burglar scanned the keyhole with an optical laser. Dropping down behind the thief Jeannie drew the Fleur de Mal against the intruder’s throat.
"Guillotine I presume." The burglar stated in an upper class British accent. "This was almost too easy Miss Savage." She added as hands wrapped around Jeannie's neck and dragged her away from the thief, but not before Guillotine had left a nick against her former hostage’s skin, a single drop of blood running down the length of the Fleur de Mal.
"Cle get out of here, you have a schedule to keep." Snakebite ordered as he threw Guillotine into the railings across the street from her apartment. Taking off, the Cle didn't look back as she made herself scarce. "The Guild Master doesn't know if you're a thief or a vigilante. Personally, I hope the later, ever since I crossed blades with the Punisher," He added as he advanced on Guillotine as she recovered and thrust out with her blade, before sidestepping the attack and clamping his hands into the swordswoman's, "because I have developed a real hatred for your kind."
"Release me!" Jeannie snapped as she released the Fleur de Mal, the heavy blade landing on Snakebite's foot. Wincing in pain he let go with one hand as he reached for a fang shaped dagger on his belt.
"Gladly." Snakebite replied as he drew the blade as Jeannie brought her free elbow into the assassin’s throat, the blow winding him as she pulled her other arm free. Ducking down she grabbed the Fleur de Mal and raised it just in time to deflect the strike aimed at her neck.
<You must strike quickly and end this killer if you are to catch up with the ones he protects.> The sword informed as Snakebite drew another blade and caught Guillotine's strike in an 'X' shaped block.
"End as in kill, not even for one such as this." Jeannie answered as Snakebite relaxed his left-hand guard causing Guillotine's guard to collapse. Taking advantage of this he lashed out with the dagger in his right hand, the knife leaving a shallow cut on Jeannie's face, the fabric of her hood torn slightly.
"I strike to kill!" Snakebite snapped as Guillotine partially recovered and swung her blade low. Jumping over the strike Snakebite had enough time to see the blade cut through the base of a lamppost, the severed piece of metal collapsing him and pining him to the floor. Wiggling out of his confinement the assassin felt cold steel slice through his elbow joint, pain filling the limb as blood slowly leaked out. "What no comeback?" He groaned as he lashed out with his uninjured hand.
"No." Guillotine replied as she smacked the assassin with the hilt of her sword, knocking him unconscious.
<A surprise indeed!> The Fleur de Mal exclaimed as the blood from Snakebite's wounds melted into the metal. <Killing this one...>
"I've heard it before." Jeannie sighed as she looked around for any clue of where Cle had escaped to.
<Then make sure that I never have to mention it again.> The Fleur de Mal told her as Jeannie clambered onto the roof of her apartment to survey the area. <She is out of sight; this Cle is far from here as are the rest of the Thieves Guild.>
"Where are they?" Jeannie asked as she shot one last look at Snakebite to make sure he was no longer a threat.
<The airport> The Fleur de Mal answered as the blade tinted red for a moment. <If not his blood, I will have the life of this Cle and her kin as payment.>
"You may have their blood, but not their life." Jeannie replied as she headed towards the suburbs. "Not while I wield you."
The couriers wheeling the packing crate out of the plane coughed and choked as a thick mist swirled around them before collapsing on the floor. Walking through the mist Cle flanked by two men, one armed with a grenade launcher, the other his fingers gleaming with a purple light, approached the case.
"Security wasn't so tough once they were exposed to my knock out gas." The figure with the grenade launcher stated as Cle ran her hand along the locks, before stopping at the digital deadbolt keeping the lid shut.
"Enough bragging NOx." The man with the purple fingers snapped. "The Guild Master wants his prize, and he expects us to be out of here before the police arrive."
"Get ready to make the exchange Facsimile." Cle whispered as she tapped in a code, the lock disengaging. Stepping back Facsimile opened the case and removed the contents. Running his hands over every inch of the statuette of a woman holding a golden orb, Facsimile watched as a replica formed out of thin air in front of him. When he was done the reproduced item was undistinguishable from the authentic trophy held in the thieves’ hand.
"One World Cup Trophy." Facsimile announced as Cle was handed the fake to place back in the case. "All we need do is lock up the duplicate and make the rendezvous."
"You'll do neither." Jeannie stated as she strode out of the fog, the Fleur de Mal raised and ready for action.
"Let me talk to her, face to face." A digital unseen voice ordered. Nodding Facsimile removed his gas mask and turned to face the case, revealing a replicated phase of the Guild Master on the back of his head. "Bon Nuit Madame Guillotine, I wondered if you would survive Snakebite's attention."
"I did, and now your team of robbers has been caught out as well." Jeannie announced as she saw NOx shift his grenade launcher slightly. "What need could you have for stealing such a hard-won trophy from the people?"
"Other than heading the most elite cadre of thieves in the world?" The Guild Master asked as Cle poked her head from behind round Facsimile. "Nothing really." He added as Cle pointed her middle finger at Jeannie's face, a laser lancing out and striking the vigilantes eye, the luminosity momentarily blinding her. "Adieu Madame Savage!" He stated as the thieves made their move.
Lunging forward NOx slammed the butt of his grenade launcher into Guillotine's face, the blow staggering her as Facsimile turned around and grabbed the Fleur de Mal, disarming the vigilante of her weapon.
"What's happening?" Guillotine asked as Cle threw a salvo of small throwing knives at her, each impact causing massive rents that exposed working muscle under the flesh to form on her body.
<If we are to continue this petty mission of yours you must trust me.> The Fleur de Mal announced as Facsimile ran his hands along the blade, blood dripping over his fingers as an identical copy of the sword formed in front of him. <Move backwards now!> It instructed as another shower of blades were thrown at her. Following the blade's instruction Guillotine dodged the attack.
<Reach out and prepare to throw.> The sword ordered as a grenade was fired at her, thick gas belching out of the projectile. Grabbing it Jeannie threw the explosive away from her, the shell intercepting a third volley of blades. <Forward then tackle.> The sword continued as Facsimile shot a look at the quarter finished blade in front of him.
"What now?" Jeannie asked as she slammed Cle into the case, the lid slamming shut and the digital deadbolt reengaged.
<Left 90 degrees and reach out> The sword announced as Guillotine's hand felt the hilt of her blade. Trying to stop her from ruining his work Facsimile grabbed Jeannie's hand before being thrown back and slammed in the face with the flat of the blade.
"Where's the last one?" Jeannie asked as the half-finished replica Fleur de Mal and hand clutching it fell to the floor with a clang.
<Behind you, two strikes, one at chest height, one overhead.> Following the blade's tutorage, Jeannie struck, the first thrust slicing open NOx's grenade launcher and the second his gas mask and cheek, the erupting smoke of his weapon knocking him out.
<Be ready another has arrived.> The blade warned as Jeannie turned and saw a faint image of a man, gun drawn ready to fire standing eight foot away from her, the vision back light by flashing red and blue beacons.
"Guillotine put down your weapon and place your hands above your hand, you are under arrest for aggravated assault, grievous bodily harm, perverting the course of justice and assault with a deadly weapon!" Marc Joubert ordered as he kept his weapon trained on the bloodthirsty vigilante.
<Strike, kill him before he kills you!> The Fleur de Mal ordered.
"No!" Jeannie answered as she slashed out backwards, cutting through NOx's grenade belt, thick gas flooding the runway at the same moment the bullets rang out. Taking one last look Jeannie disappeared into the night, shame and anger mixing together as her friend fell to the floor choking.