Previously in this series: After being framed for a crime, Jacob left the Order and the Assassin village. Five years later, the Young Assassin team meet Vex and enter into an agreement with him and his club. After a bombing at the club, it is revealed that Shay Patrick Cormac has escaped the high-security prison he was in…. and is now in the wind. Jacob however, after making a brief appearance at a festival, is still in the wind.

It also appears as though Vex has ulterior motives to helping the Creed.

Please enjoy, and read and review J

…

"Oh, the waves roll low… And the waves roll high, and so it goes.

Under the bright blue… Endless Sky

Waves try to measure, the days that we treasure

Wave hello, and wave goodbye."

Henry wearily opened his eyes as the song pierced his consciousness, turning his attention to the window and frowning at the shadowed figures sitting on the windowsill.

Evie looked troubled.

"Evie… love?"

Slowly, she twisted around to gaze at him, a sad smile flashing across her face. "Sorry…" she whispered, "… I didn't mean to wake you up."

"You didn't… what was that song?"

Turning her attention back to the window, Evie sighed. "Apparently Mum used to sing it to me and Jacob when we were in the womb… Dad still had an old recording of it. He played it for our thirteenth birthday."

"… It's lovely."

"Yeah… It's the anniversary today… of the Cormac bombings."

Henry immediately felt the mood in the room drop even further… it was around six years since Jacob had left and there had been only two sightings of him since then, one of them in person.

It was no wonder Evie seemed so down.

"Are you still going to the social even tonight?" He eventually spoke up, "Because I can- "

"- I'm going." Evie interrupted, "Everyone else will be there, and it was my brother who suffered the accusations of the town. I need to show them I still support him." She then paused, forcing a smile on her face as she glanced back at Henry, "And I bought the suit… it would be a shame to let it rot in the cupboard."

…

"Five drinks already."

Edward glanced up and glared at the club owner standing above him, "Yeah… what's it to ya?"

Vex actually seemed a little bit concerned… not that Edward could really tell behind the mask. "It's not even ten o'clock in the morning… something troubling you?"

"If I wanted to talk, I would have stayed at the bar and talked to that bloke… leave me alone."

Vex showed no sign of leaving.

"Piss. Off!"

"No… you're getting cut off and you're going to talk to someone."

"I said PISS OFF!" Edward stumbled up from his feet and attempted to punch Vex in the face, only to be surprised when the club owner swiftly stopped it, twisted him around and pinned him to the table, arm pinned behind his back.

"Everything's alright…" Vex spoke up, clearly addressing the bouncers who had moved forwards at the sight of their boss being attacked, "… he's just having a bad day."

Once they were gone, Vex turned his attention back to Edward, "You gonna calm down now?"

"… Yeah."

"Promise?"

"Yes! Now let go!"

Vex released his arm and took a step back as Edward pushed himself back to his feet.

"You wanna tell me what's wrong now?"

Edward was silent for a brief moment, before sighing wearily. "It's been six years since the bombings… all everyone else is talking about is how grateful they are for the Assassin's help and everything… but all I can think about is the fact that my best friend left and decided he was never coming back. The fact that my best friend is now somewhere in this town, deliberately hiding from us! I was the one who set him up with Freddie! Freddie! You'd think he'd have contacted the person he mooned over for years!"

Before Vex could answer, Edward's phone began to ring, and he groaned weakly. "Please don't be Uncle Haytham. Please don't be Uncle Haytham. Please don't be- crap."

He answered the call and winced as Haytham immediately started to scold him, not saying a word until the very end.

"Yeah, yeah… I got it…. Smart clothes all the way…. Whatever."

Edward hung up and sighed wearily. "… I gotta go."

"You don't sound happy about it?"

"Apparently we have to go to a fundraising for the orphans left behind after the bombings… I don't mind that, it's a good cause, but every year, someone wants to bad-mouth Jacob and I don't know if I will be able to contain myself this year."

Once again, before Vex could say anything, Edward held up his hand and headed for the exit. "Whatever man… you wouldn't understand."

….

"You look… stunning." Henry gasped as Evie practically glided over to him, "I-I thought you were wearing a suit?"

Dressed a floor-length, red velvet dress that accentuated all of her curves, Evie smirked. "I thought this would be a pleasant surprise."

"Y-you hate dresses!"

"I hate dresses with corsets…" She glanced around, slipping her arm through Henry's (whilst admiring his Indian formal wear), "… it's nice to see that everyone could make it."

Arno, dressed in a navy blue, French suit was speaking to Elise, who was wearing a black, knee-length, strapless bardot dress, that contrasted perfectly with her red hair.

Connor, who looked really uncomfortable in his own suit, was dancing with Aveline, who was wearing a stunning yellow, jewel-neck, sleeveless, lace, two-piece with a sweep trail.

Ezio and Leo were happily dancing together.

And Edward… well Edward looked like he was mostly drunk already, his shirt already open at the collar as he flirted with some high-class lady at the bar. Adewale, of course, wasn't far behind.

All the Council members were there as well, to show the Creed's support for the event.

Everyone who was anyone was here.

"Is that Evie Frye in a dress?"

And they really meant everyone.

Evie span around on the spot, to watch Vex and Kenzi make their way over, drink glasses already half-empty.

At first glance, Vex was wearing a normal suit, complete with a phantom of the opera style mask and top hat… and then Evie glanced down.

"Is that Vex in a kilt?" she teased, chuckling when Vex cackled and twirled around.

"It shows off my legs… still doesn't answer the question why you're in a dress Miss Frye." Vex then gestured at Kenzi, who was wearing a dark blue, sleeveless style with a high neckline and a side slit, her hair long and curled, "Do you realise just how long it took for me to get her to wear that?"

Kenzi rolled her eyes, nodding in thanks as Evie complimented her, however, but before Evie could say anything, Mrs Disraeli, the wife of the Mayor came rushing over.

"Vex! Kenzi!" she cooed in glee, "I'm so delighted that you could make it."

After Vex bowed and kissed the hand of the older lady, Mrs Disraeli then turned her attention to Evie, and quickly took her arm.

"You must see the wall!" she announced, pulling Evie through the crowd to the far-right wall, where a tribute wall was situated, "I managed to convince the mayor to put another photo of Jacob on it this year."

As they all walked through the crowd, Evie felt a small pang in her heart when she spotted the wall that sat as a tribute to the victims of the bombing. Every year, Mrs. Disraeli argued with her husband about putting another photo of Jacob on the wall, arguing that "he was still a victim."

"I've never seen this before." Vex's voice was quiet behind them, his gaze scanning over the wall, and the photos of Jacob, "I didn't realise Jacob had so much support out of the Creed."

"Oh yes!" Mrs Disraeli nodded, "Not that they did at first of course, but I know the truth… Jacob would never have been a part of that and the town should know that."

There was a brief moment of silence as Vex stared at the photos of a beaming Jacob, before he turned to Mrs Disraeli. "You should be a national treasure Madam… and I mean that."

The words were sincere and heartfelt… but confusing all the same.

Before any of the Assassins could say anything, there was the chink of a spoon against the glass, indicating that someone wanted to speak.

"Ladies and Gentlemen…" a well-spoken man spoke up from the front of the room, "… almost six years ago, one hundred and forty children were left as orphans, their parents killed during the bombings of the local Creed. Thanks to efforts of the local community, they were given a place to leave, a second chance at life. Baker House has made great strides in ensuring a placement for each and every child that comes through its' doors. And now it's time for us to play a part…. With your contributions tonight- "

"- and I daresay a sizable chunk from you, eh Howard?" Interrupted a well-dressed man standing near the front, causing everyone to chuckle.

Howard Rookwood took it well, chuckling along with the crowd and continuing. "With your contributions tonight, I believe that the future of these children will be significantly brighter!"

As everyone clapped, with several people calling out "here, here", Vex leaned over to Evie, "Surely the Assassin families took the orphan assassins in?"

"Not really…" she sighed, "… there were two many children for us to keep track of. We tried though, we really tried."

"Of course…" Mister Rookwood continued, "… none of this would be possible without the director of Baker House, Mister Calvin Baker!"

Another well-dressed man was pushed forwards, taking his own place at the podium. "This is as much a party as it is a fundraiser…" he smiled at the crowd, "… so everyone drink, enjoy and give generously. Thank you."

The speeches were over, and everyone seemed to migrate back to the bar.

Evie however, kept her eye on Rookwood, watching as he walked over to his wife and daughter, closely followed by the man who'd interrupted him earlier. Rookwood then went to speak to Mister Baker… and that definitely looked tense.

"Evie?"

She twisted around just as Rookwood headed back to his family, smiling at Henry as he held out his arm.

"We're going to toast Jacob together."

"Of course…" she sighed, "… I'll be there shortly."

As Rookwood left the party, a dark feeling overcame her…. Something was going to go wrong.

She could sense it.