How? He wondered.  Had Chen Li deceived him? No, that couldn't be.  She loved her sister, and she had saved their lives when she could have killed them both.  But who?  Suddenly it all became clear.  His contact in Paris.  He had betrayed him, and sold out his  country.  That was why the Marquis and his associates had always been one step ahead.  They had someone on the inside informing them of his every move.  He would find the bastard and bring him back to England to hang.  Well, he would as soon as he disposed of the Marquis.  However, before he could move one of the guards fell to his knees, then another, and another.  One by one, they each toppled to the ground. 

The Marquis however, didn't budge. Instead he smiled and a wicked gleam  appeared in his eyes as he said, "well it would seem Mr. O'Brien that we have company.  Come out Chen Li, I know you are there.  Have you forgotten that I taught you everything you know?  Please, come out and join us, so I can have the pleasure of killing you now."

Chen Li jumped down from her position in the tree and walked up to the Marquis.  Her held held high, her eyes locked to his.  "Not if I kill you first old man."

He stood there for a moment glued in place by unseen forces as the fighting began.  He could step in, he should step in he thought, but he couldn't.   This was her fight, her revenge.  He knew from personal experience that she needed to do this herself.  She needed to banish her demon alone.  He had every faith that she would.  She was strong and she had something the Marquis didn't have.  She had hope.  Hope for a future with her sister and the father who had just returned.  She wouldn't lose.  He was even more certain when she yelled at him to leave and find Marioselle.  So he obeyed and ran towards the cellar entrance.  He prayed all the way back that he made the right decision.

He rounded the corner once again and there stood the Marquis' henchman, but he wasn't alone.  He had Marioselle in front of him with a knife against her throat.  He froze. 

"Thought you were smarter than me, eh? You and this uppity whore thought you could pull a fast one on me? When I'm through with you I'm going to have my way with her.  She won't be so bold when I'm finished with her." The man then pushed Marioselle to the ground. That was his first mistake.  The henchman then barreled towards him in a fit of rage. His second mistake.  Sean dropped to the ground and swiped the mans legs out from under him.  The big oaf crashed to the ground.  He turned to assist Marioselle up but before he could reach for her the man had knocked him to his knees.  His third mistake.  Marioselle jumped up,  as the man started to grab him from behind.  She thoroughly ran him through by bashing a rock against his adlepated head.  The henchman fell forward pinning him to the ground.   Fortunately for him and his need to breath, at that very moment the other girls came rushing to Marioselle's assistance.  They somehow managed to move the big ox from Sean's person, while simultaneously shackling his hands and feet.  Gadgets he assumed were courtesy of the Marquis' cellar.  It was all rather quite extraordinary to watch. He couldn't help but smile at the situation.

********

Meanwhile, Aung found Mei locked in an upstairs bedroom.  She had been bound to the bed post and gagged.  A guard was sleeping in a chair against the wall.  Mei's eyes widened in fear at the sight of the strange looking man before her.  Aung seeing that fear placed his finger to his lips and pointed to the guard.  Mei relaxed and shook her head in understanding.  He then crept silently over and hit the man on the back of his neck.  There was a soft cracking sound and the man slumped to the ground.

Aung then rushed over and untied the bonds on her wrists and feet, and gently removed the cloth covering from her mouth.  "You are safe my child.  We have come to take you away from this horrible place." He whispered as he released her. 

"Who are you? Are you a friend of Chen Li's? Is she safe?"

Aung thought it best not to divulge who he was at the moment.  The child was frightened and confused already.  "Yes, I am a friend.  My name is Aung.  Your sister is fine, she will be waiting for us outside.  We must hurry though.  Can you walk?"

"Yes, they didn't hurt me.  The Marquis said he was tying me up so that I couldn't run away.  He told me she would try to rescue me.  I prayed she would come.  Is he dead then? Did she kill him?"

"I am not certain if he is dead or alive, but I can promise he will be captured if he is not.  Come, we need to leave this vile place.  We will have to go out by way of the balcony.  Can you climb down that tree?"

"I believe I can manage it sir.  I can fight as well should we run into any of the Marquis' men."

"Did the Marquis teach you? Was he training you to be an assassin as well?"

"Mei looked down in shame.  He was sir, but I didn't want to do it."

Aung placed his finger on his daughters chin and gently lifted her head to look into her eyes.  He never wanted to see his daughters lower their eyes in fear to any man again.  "Do not look down in shame. You have done nothing wrong.   The Marquis is not an honorable man and he has treated you and your sister abominably.  There is no need to worry my child.  Now that I am here you will never have to fight or be afraid again.  Do you trust me in this?"  Mei looked into his eyes and shook her head yes. 

"Come then, we must leave before someone comes to check on you.  There are others here who will help us escape."  Mei followed him submissively, without argument.  Although, Aung was happy that she trusted him the gesture nearly brought  him to tears.  The poor child had been through so much pain in her young life.  She would need time, as would Chen Li.  He would make it his mission to heal them both and give them a normal life.  It was all that he could do.