APPEARANCES BY: Rogue, Gambit, Cody, Tante Mattie, Bella Donna, Gris-Gris, Fifolet, Questa, Singer, Candra the External, the Tithe Collector, numerous unnamed assassins.

SUMMARY: The second issue of the series opens at the Boudreaux mansion on the outskirts of New Orleans. It is the home of the Assassins Guild. A home built on death. Tante Mattie, the traiteur of the two New Orleans guilds, is taking care of Cody, who lies on a bed in one of the rooms. The old woman is upset with Bella Donna for taking Cody away from the hospital and makes sure Bel realizes she does not approve of the Assassins Guild's actions. She and Bel exchange heated words and Tante Mattie leaves, warning Bel that someone will stop her. Bel merely smiles and says she's counting on someone trying to stop her.

Rogue, who has been flying non-stop since Fifolet and the other assassins attacked her at the hospital, grows tired and stops for a rest by a pond. She is wondering just how she's going to be able to save both Remy and Cody and as she looks at her reflection in the water, the water changes. Within moments, a water-image of Tante Mattie is standing before her. Being able to project her image with water is one of the healers many powers, but she is old and can't talk to Rogue long. She assures Rogue that she will make sure Cody remains safe, and tells the young woman to go help Remy against the assassins Bella Donna is sending after him.

Meanwhile, Bella Donna has a meeting with Candra. They speak of the past and how they can fix the bond between Candra and the Assassins. It becomes known that the attack on Gambit is not just for the benefit of the Assassins, but for Candra as well. Candra assures Bel that once the pact has been restored between them, the thieves will be eliminated.

On his way to catch up with Rogue, Gambit stops at a gas station and talks with a pair of beautiful young women in an attempt to take his mind off Rogue and the nagging suspicion in his mind that he should have stayed in Westchester. While he and the women talk about New Orleans, Gambit's survival instincts kick in and he knows there is an attack coming. Sure enough, Gris-Gris has given a silent order and within moments, a loud explosion ensues. Seconds later, there are assassins everywhere and they're all fighting Gambit, who is fighting them off and trying to keep the two girls safe at the same time. Rogue flies into the heart of the battle through the smoke. Together, Gambit and Rogue battle the assassins until there is silence. Rogue questions why they're being so quiet, but suddenly, a solitary man appears through the smoke. It is Gris-Gris. He merely points at the two mutants, turns and disappears.

Back in New Orleans, Bella Donna, accompanied by Gris-Gris, Fifolet and Questa, confronts Tante Mattie. The assassins are furious at her for helping Rogue and Gambit instead of them. Bel makes sure Tante Mattie knows that they are ready and waiting for Rogue to try and stop them.

Rogue and Remy take a break for a little while, resting up for the rest of the trip down to New Orleans. As they talk by the fire, Rogue tries to make Gambit promise her that he will not follow her to the Big Easy, but he refuses to promise it and hours later when she flies off, he hops on his motorcycle and follows her. The issue ends with Rogue in New Orleans, starting her search for the Assassins and realizing it's not that hard to find them because they're looking for her too. Things are just heating up in New Orleans and they're about to get even hotter.

QUINN'S OPINION: Like the first book in this series, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It makes a person think. Candra's motives for coming back to the Assassins are very questionable, and I don't know about anyone else, but I started to wonder if she was just using them for her own enjoyment. The battles with the Assassins are also entertaining, especially the banter thrown around by Gambit and Rogue. I especially enjoyed how Tante Mattie tries to do what's right, even if it gets her into trouble with a group of professional killers. She's always been more on the side of the angels and I've believed for some time now that she really just barely tolerates the Assassins. At any rate, this issue, like the first one, truly delivers and is a great set-up to the third and fourth issues in the series when things really get going.