James' POV

I walked down the deserted hallway, rather fast, for I was late for my appointment, again. I knew Marcus would be mad at me, but I couldn't help it. It's his fault in the first place that I don't get much sleep!

"You're late!" His voice boomed as I entered his office.

"Sorry. Didn't get much sleep last night." I replied, a bit dryly.

"Sit down, James. We have a new mission for you." He motioned for the chair that was placed across from his.

I silently sat down, in front of my mentor, mentally preparing myself for my next undercover mission.

Marcus pressed a button on his remote, which lowered a screen. On the screen was a video, paused, when a girl with a long, red waistcoat and a light brown hat was standing at the top of some kind of roof.

And I recognised her almost immediately.

"That's Hildegard!" I exclaimed.

"Precisely," Marcus began, "Our sources have found a piece of rather disturbing news. She is about to steal the ruby ring from the Hermitage Museum."

I flinched slightly at his words. Our last meeting wasn't exactly...pleasant. She ended up escaping successfully. She was one of those criminals who I couldn't beat. But I always loved a challenge.

"You need to stop her. And please, try not to fail this time, James. You're one of our most skilled agents. You're capable of defeating her." Marcus explained.

I nodded my head in determination. He then continued, "Ready your weapons. You will leave tonight."

I hurried out of the room soon after discussing my strategy with Marcus, thinking about how I would encounter her.

It definitely wouldn't be easy. She's agile, fast and quick-witted. I could observe quite a lot in our brief meeting last time. And it took her almost no time to defeat me.

I sighed as I closed my door. I wouldn't let her steal anything this time.

~~~~~~~

I stretched myself as I got off the plane in St. Petersburg, Russia. After collecting my luggage and heading to my hotel room, I got a call from Marcus, who gave me some basic instructions.

Night came by quicker than usual, probably because of my sheer anxiousness pooling within me. I had to face her again.

Along with the night, came my disguise. I packed my rapier to take it along with me to the museum, while slowly stepping out of my room.

In the dead silence and darkness of the night, it seemed like I was the only one up and about. I silently slipped through the darkness, reaching the front of the hermitage.

It was peaceful and quiet, and I used my rope to climb up to the roof. It was easy enough locating the room I had to protect since I was provided with a detailed map by Marcus.

I snuck in through the window, and surprisingly not triggering any alarms. I saw that the ring was kept in a sealed glass prism, with a red line demarcating its pedestal.

I assumed that the red line was the alarm, I was warned about them by Marcus.

Keeping a sharp lookout all around I stepped near the glass case, but careful not to trigger the alarm.

I didn't have to wait long before she came in. 'She' being Hildegard.

I could tell she was startled to see me, her expression clearly showed. But her surprise was short-lived, as her lips curled into a menacing smile.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here." She taunted, "We meet again, James!"

She remembered that too. I slightly cringed at my last interaction with her. But covered it up with my reply to her taunt, "Let's just make it quick, Hildegard."

"You're the one standing in my way."

"Well, I'm not going anywhere."

"Then I'll just have to make you." With this, she extended her rapier, which had a red ribbon flowing and charged at me.

I swiftly dodged her first attack, and then fished out my own rapier and charged at her.

But of course, she was much quicker than me and escaped quite easily. I turned around, slightly frowning, but nonetheless, forced towards her again.

Her rapier clashed with mine, as she effortlessly opposed my attack. I could feel my time slipping, for she was wearing me out.

But I had to cover it up.

I dodged most of the attacks she hurled my way, but when she suddenly tackled my ankles, I fell over.

I lost my balance and toppled over her. Her yoyo came loose from her waist and almost tangled us. As an attempt to get up and use this as my vantage point, I only worsened our position further.

She clasped my hand, as we rolled on the floor until we were right next to the display case and out intertwined hands touched just an inch away from the red demarcation.

However, that seemed to be a detail, both of us failed to notice.

For all I could concentrate on, was her beautiful face staring down at mine, while she held herself steady with her other hand. Wait, did I literally just call her beautiful? Shit...

I could not bear to look away, and my mouth hung agape. Both of us seemed to have lost our senses, not caring about the awkward position we were in.

Somehow though, we managed to inch our bound hands forward. A little too forward.

Loud alarms began bearing through the room, as red lights flashed. We both scrambled up in an instant, back on our feet.

As a safety measure, all the windows were locked, and so were the doors.

We could hear distant clatter of footsteps nearing the door, and the lock would be picked any second.

I looked at her, not with a 'come fight me' look, but with a worried look, one that screamed 'we are screwed'.

Because we were. She checked all around the room. And the only escape left, was a small trap door in the roof, barely visible.

"James, up there. Vault with your rapier!" She urged.

But to my utter dismay, my rapier has somehow broken during the fight, and I could not extend it.

Then the soft clicking of the lock being picked was heard.

But what surprised me more, was Hildegard's next actions.

She ran up, and using a portrait in the room for support, she launched up and kicked open the hatch. Then she grabbed me by the waist and vaulted us both up using her rapier.

We flew through the hatch, barely hearing the men below shouting at us angrily.

We didn't stop at the roof but instead jumped down and she dragged me along a few lanes and into a secluded alleyway.

Her hand was still holding mine when we reached, and she only let go once we were out of danger.

I looked at her dumbfounded.

"What's with that stupid expression?" She asked.

"Why?" I began, "Why did you help me?" I asked, almost in a whisper.

She seemed slightly taken aback by the question, but shook her head slightly as she answered, "Why would I leave you to the cops? You'd get arrested. And what would I get with that? Besides, I couldn't find it in my heart to do that. I'm just a thief." She replied vaguely.

I was stunned by her actions, but extremely grateful. My heart thumped in my chest as I slowly held her hand and kissed it's back, as I added, "Thank you, Hildegard."

She cleared her throat before answering, "Uhh...yeah! Next time though, it's back to normal. You against me!" She chuckled slightly.

I saluted and nodded, while saying, "Understood."

"Before I go, hold out your hand." She said.

I was sceptical at first but slowly held it out. And she placed her rapier on my palm and slowly closed it.

"What?" I murmured.

"It's my fault your old rapier broke."

"But...but...you're literally my enemy!" I said, gawking at her with wide eyes.

She just smiled mysteriously, while saying, "You have a lot to learn about me. I may not be as bad as you think."

I just turned my head in confusion, while she continued. "Keep it. I have another one."

She then turned around to leave, but just before jumping, she slightly looked back and said, "Until next time, James."

She then winked at me and blew a kiss, as she used her yoyo to swing away from me.

I was left speechless after this, and I gulped loudly. I looked at the rapier she gave me.

I checked every inch of it to see if it was something wrong, or maybe it was equipped with a tracker. But even after using my analytical glasses, I found nothing.

I stood in that same alleyway for quite some time, thinking about every word she said.

Then I thought back to my mission. Well, she didn't steal the ruby ring, so I guess I accomplished.

But did she really return empty-handed? Or did she steal a little something from me? A piece of my heart.