(Originally this was an interesting dream I had, I figured writing a short story out of it would help me get out of some writer's block in another tale. I really enjoyed this, Syndicate is probably my favorite Assassin's Creed game. I hope I did the characters justice in this silly tale. Please feel free to review with your thoughts and I am open to writing more, or taking suggestions, in the near future. For now though, it will stay completed at 4 chapters. Thanks for reading!)
"A letter… for me?" Jacob snatched the piece of paper out of Agnes' hand.
"Actual Mister Frye, that there is for your sister." She claimed, not really caring if he opened it or not. She went back to her work.
"Evie? Really? Who would be sending her something?" He sighed and walked to the next train car where his twin sister worked on her search for the Piece of Eden, snatching money from their box on the way. Might come in handy later. He jumped between cars and leaned against the wall watching Evie shuffle through papers and books, it's like she didn't know he was there. As Jacob opened his mouth to speak, she was quicker.
"What do you want, Jacob?" She asked, slightly annoyed.
"What makes you think I want something?" He teased back. She just rolled her eyes, not bothering to turn around to face her brother. She had more important things to do anyway. After a moment of silence, Jacob realized she had no interest in there usual banter. "Here." He walked over and dropped the letter on her desk right on top of what she was currently reading. "A letter has come for you, dear sister." Evie paused and picked up the strange paper.
"It's from Mister Green." She stated curiously, trying not to sound too excited.
"Oh, now that makes sense. And what does dear ol' Greenie want?" Jacob leaned in closer, trying to read over her shoulder. Evie swatted him away and turned her back to him.
"It's an invitation. To a gala… tonight?" Evie had a puzzled look about her.
"A gala?!" Jacob laughed. "How ridiculous. Why on earth would you go to a gala?" He nearing fell over at the thought of his sister in a gown. Evie Frye was a lot of things, but a dress wearing social butterfly was not one of them.
"To catch a Templar." Henry Green answered from the door of the train car. Both twins turned to him, caught off guard from his presence. "Samuel Martin will be making an appearance before leaving for France. It's our only chance to see what he knows about the Shroud. I figured it would be less conspicuous if we went together, Miss Frye."
"And here I thought you wanted to court my dear sister." Jacob roused. Evie shot him a quick glare before kicking his legs out from under him. The motion was so fluent it took Jacob a minute to realize why he was on the floor. Henry tried to hide a smile, but to no avail.
"I'll pick you up in Whitechapel at 9." Henry said.
"Perfect. See you then." Evie smiled as Henry walked out. Once he was gone she scowled at her brother on the floor. He immediately raised his hands with a sincere smile.
"Too far. Got it." Jacob said with a slight chuckle. "Do you even know how to dance?" He questioned, actually interested in the answer.
"As a matter of fact I do. Father had me take courses when we were little. Said one day I might have the need for it." She paused and looked down at her sibling. "I'm surprised he didn't make you." Evie raised an eyebrow, thinking back on their childhood.
"Oh, he tried. We settled for the violin instead." He jumped up and bowed to his sister, taking off his top hat and everything for a more dramatic effect. "I must be off. The Rooks informed me the Blighters are pushing back in Southwark; I figured seeing me will remind them why they left." He paused at the door. "Don't stay out too late, Evie. I want you home by 11 and if you feel the need for snogging-" He was cut off there as a book was thrown at his head. He ducked at the last second. "You missed!" He yelled back into the car, running off the now moving train and onto the tracks with a bright smile. Evie just shook her head and went back to work.
Nine o'clock rolled around and Evie Frye was waiting patiently outside the Whitechapel train station. For once, she was dressed in a lovely blue gown and heels instead of her usual pants and boots. A covered carriage trotted up and stopped right in front of Evie. She took a step back when the door opened. Henry Green, dressed nicely in a blue vest with a black overcoat and top hat smiled down at her. They looked each other over before Henry got out of the carriage. He held out his hand.
"Miss Frye?" He said with a smile.
"Mister Green." She smiled back and took his hand. He helped her into the back of the carriage then knocked on the wall to inform the driver they were settled. The horse shook her head then proceeded to trot down the cobblestone road towards The Strand.
The two sat in silence for most of the way there, not really sure what to say to each other. The only time they were together was for a mission or research.
"You look beautiful." Henry couldn't hold the silence much longer. Evie turned to him, bits of her hair falling from her normal braids and bun. He turned a slight red. "Not that you don't look beautiful all the time, just in that dress… Not that your usual attire-" Henry staggered but stopped when he heard Evie lightly laughing. Why was he so nervous? She smiled heartily.
"You look wonderful yourself, Mister Green." He took the complement with a smile and relaxed a little.
The rest of the ride over was talk of their mission. What they were going to do when they got there, how they were going to escort Samuel Martin out, and most importantly, how they were going to get the information they needed.
The carriage came to a stop outside a lively manor. Other carriages lined the road and one by one couples in elegant attire stepped out and ventured into the host's home like they owned the place. The door to their carriage opened and a gentleman waited patiently for them to exit so he could move on to the next. Henry stepped out and turned to help Evie; not that she needed help, but they had to keep up the appearance. They walked hand and hand up to the manor and when the doors opened they were both impressed.
It was lively and full of entertainment. People laughed and danced. The mood was carefree. The assassins couldn't help but smile at the scene. They walked around, trying to avoid small talk, and searched for their target. After searching for half an hour they sat at one of the tablets and huffed.
"Maybe he's not here." Evie suggested, feeling a little out of place amongst the rich people of London.
"Might as well enjoy the party until he arrives." Henry suggested, grabbing two glasses of wine off a waiter as he walked by. He handed one to Evie. They clinked their glasses with smiles before having a taste.
After a while they were talking like normal people, not assassins on a mission. They laughed and ate and talked with other couples at their table, playing into their role of rich and snooty. Suddenly Henry got up and outstretched his hand to Evie.
"Care for a dance?" He asked. She gave a quizzical look, but Henry slightly nodded to his left. Evie glanced over and saw Martin. She took his hand and let him lead her to the middle of the dance floor. Violins played in the background. They stood there a moment, awkwardly staring at each other before Henry grabbed her waist with his left hand and lifted her right hand with his. She cautiously slipped her left hand to his shoulder, not taking her eyes off his. Henry led them into a slow waltz to start, not completely sure if his partner knew the steps.
Evie let him lead until the violins started a faster. She smiled and picked up the pace. "I know how to dance, you know." She whispered to Henry. He laughed.
"Then why not give them a show?" Henry took the lead back and, slightly wanting to showoff, spun and jumped with Evie in an elegant dance. Within a few moments the room was silent. It was just the two of them on the floor, violins singing their song. Being assassins meant being in the shadows, but tonight they were the life of the party. All eyes on the duet dancers.
Not once looking away from each other, they danced and forgot why they even came to this party in the first place. Each move they made getting more complicated and stunning to watch. Applause was heard and ignored by the pair as they kept going, smiles plastered on both their faces. When was the last time either of them had this much fun? Henry dipped Evie right as the song ended. They froze; panting, eyes locked and Evie's smile slowly started to faded. A sound caught both of their attention. Their target, the reason they were here in the first place, took off running, bumping into a chair in the process. Henry looked down at Evie, still holding her in a dip, and Evie looked down to see her hidden blade revealed under her dress. They were too careless and spooked Martin.
Henry hastily lifted her back up and away they ran, after the one person that could give them answers. They ran outside just in time to see Samuel Martin get into a carriage and race down the street.
"Here!" Evie called to her partner, pulling an unexpected driver out of his carriage and taking the reins. Henry jumped in next to her as she snapped the reins down. "Move it!" She yelled at the poor animal. It took off in a start after the first carriage. The horse ran as fast as it could, Evie weaving it in and out of other carriages and buggies. They caught up to the desired carriage and Evie carefully stood up, handing the reins to Henry. Once he took them she climbed onto the roof of their carriage, waiting for her moment to jump. Henry pulled right along side, two runaway horses barreling down the streets of the Strand. Evie jumped to the next carriage, steadying herself as it rocked under the sudden passenger. She quickly grabbed the driver and threw him off the side and took the reins. The assassins were driving side by side when shots rang out. Some Blighter must have seen the highjacking and decided, against his better judgment, to step in.
"Go! I'll handle this!" Henry yelled from his cart. He wheeled around and turned sideways in the road creating a blockade, giving Evie the chance to take Samuel Martin somewhere safe. She heard shouting and gunfire from behind her, but spurred her horse forward. She needed this information and she knew Henry could handle a couple Blighters alone.
Evie slowed her horse to a trot. "That's a girl." She said and stopped under a bridge near the Thames. She dismounted and forcefully threw open the door to reveal a terrified passenger. She pulled him out and he fell to the ground.
"Please, I don't know anything!" He pleaded, not looking up at his attacker. Evie picked him up and pressed him against the wall of the bridge.
"That's not what I was told." She hissed. "Just tell me where to find the Shroud and I'll let you go." She bargained, keeping the authority in her voice.
"I-I don't know!" the Templar whined, not even bothering to struggle.
"The Templars must know something!" Evie snapped. She was so close; she couldn't leave this night empty handed.
"Throne. Lucy Throne is the only one that knows! She doesn't tell us anything! She just told me to come here and give this to you." He slowly reached into his coat pocket. "But I was frightened when I saw that blade and.. " Evie stopped listening and slowly released the poor man. Doesn't tell them? She told him? She thought, trying to piece the puzzles together.
"Lucy Throne is dead." Evie stated. Isn't she? "I killed her myself!" Panic started to rise in her chest, but she did well to hide it.
"She was badly wounded, but she was saved by a doctor in London. I-" He was cut off by Evie's fist between the eyes in anger. He fell to the ground unconscious. She snatched the piece of paper the bloke was holding. Frustrated she stood up and leaned against the parked carriage, its horse anxiously pawing at the ground. She opened the letter, which read: Nice try Miss Frye. Evie tore it up in the height of anger then threw it into the river. She turned when she heard hoof beats. Henry pulled up next to her. Without leaving the driver's seat he glanced at the unconscious Samuel Martin on his left then at the frustrated and exhausted Evie Frye on his right.
"I take it he didn't have anything useful to say?" He playfully asked. Evie shook her head and climbed into the seat next to Henry.
"Quite the contrary. He told me Lucy Throne is alive."
There was silence then. Henry not wanting to make matters worse and Evie not wanting to discuss her failure any further. Henry gently snapped the reins and the horse started to trot away.