A Room With a View of You
Evie knew what she had to do.
The mission was simple. Unlock the vault. Enter aforementioned vault. Retrieve the key to the Shroud.
But sometimes even the simplest of plans can go awry and not always for the reasons that you might expect.
The young assassin had no trouble in unlocking the entrance to the vault and climbed to the top of St. Paul's with grace and ease. Evie swept in through the archway and into the vault. There, resting on a plinth was the key. Evie quickly made her way over to where the key lay and took the object in her grasp, placing it around her slender neck. Mission accomplished, or so she thought.
That was when the trouble started.
"Good day, Miss Frye. I'll take that." came the sultry tones of Lucy Thorne.
The Templar was standing behind Evie. The assassin could feel every muscle suddenly tense in her body as heat raged through her veins. Her eyes went wide as she turned to face her enemy. Then the realisation hit home.
All those years of assassin training were now a distant memory as she locked eyes with the Templar. Those dark brown orbs looked back at her strangely. Lucy Thorne was dumbstruck. Her feet anchored to the floor. Her heart hammering in her chest. Thorne knew her objective, return with the key. The key that was now hanging around the young assassin's neck.
Lucy let out a scream as she charged towards Evie with her eyes partially closed, her dagger held at chest height.
Evie ran at the Templar lieutenant, her hidden blade drawn.
The two women crashed into each other, their faces barely centimetres apart. Lucy tried to grab for the key but was always just out of reach. The anger painted across their faces suddenly turned to lust as Evie pushed against the Templar, knocking her against the wall. Lucy tried to lash out again, taking a swipe with her dagger, which Evie missed with ease.
The assassin caught sight of Thorne's dark eyes once again and lost control. To Lucy's surprise, Evie retracted her hidden blade and dropped her belt of throwing knives to the floor, kicking them aside.
Evie pushed Thorne to the wall once more, grabbing for her, throwing her left arm around Lucy to hold her in place. Lucy could feel Evie's lips lightly touching the sensitive skin of her neck.
Lucy suddenly pushed against Evie, throwing her up against the wall. Their lips now almost touching.
"If you are going to kiss me," said Lucy, in an angry tone. "Then, KISS me."
They slammed their lips together, participating in what seemed like some drunken dance as they staggered around the room grabbing at each other.
"Lucy, I-" whispered Evie, breathlessly.
"Don't let me go….Evie." replied Lucy, as she gazed into the assassin's greenish blue eyes.
The Templar threw Evie against the roughened surface of the chamber once again. The assassin could feel her legs starting to shake as her emotions began to get the better of her. Once again Lucy's lips met with hers and once again Evie grabbed at the Templar, pulling her even closer. She didn't want to let her go. She knew that she had to but not yet.
Just a moment to satisfy their desires. Just one moment.
"Lucy, I- I love you." gasped Evie into the Templar's left ear.
Lucy Thorne took Evie's face in her hands and gently stroked at the young assassin's cheeks, all thought of the key was gone, all that Lucy could see was the young woman in front of her.
The Templar tenderly kissed Evie, savouring every second that she had the assassin in her arms.
"Evie," Lucy moaned out, as Evie put her lips to the redhead's neck once more.
"I want to hear you say it," said Evie, breathlessly.
Lucy leaned back against Evie, tilting her head back as the assassin kissed down her throat.
Closing her eyes, Lucy let the words slip from her lips,
"I love you….."
Just as suddenly as it had begun, Evie gathered her confused mind and pulled away from the dazed Templar.
"No, Evie. Don't go!" Lucy pleaded.
The redhead grabbed for Evie as the assassin tried to leave.
Evie couldn't think. She wanted Lucy, she craved her but she knew that she couldn't stay there.
"No, Evie. I can't let you leave!" Lucy shouted.
The assassin put her lips to Lucy's once more before taking advantage of the distraction to break away.
Evie jumped headlong straight through the stained glass window and made good her escape.
"EVIE!" Lucy cried, as she ran towards the smashed window.
There was no sign of the assassin. Lucy stood staring blankly into the distance. She had lost the key but it was of no consequence to her.
All she could think about was the young woman who had held her, kissed her, looked at her as if she was the most beautiful being on the Earth.
All she could think about was Evie Frye.
Evie arrived back on the train, unceremoniously making her return known as she slammed the carriage door shut behind her.
"I trust that all went well?" Jacob asked, upon seeing that his Sister had returned.
"Shut up, Jacob." Evie hissed, as she ripped the necklace holding the key from around her neck and nonchalantly tossed it at her Brother. The female twin continued to walk through to her own carriage, not speaking another word. Leaving a stunned Jacob in her wake.
"Evie?" said Jacob, puzzled, looking at the key in his grasp. Jacob walked at an increased pace through to his Sister's sleeping quarters but he couldn't gain entry. Evie had locked the door.
"Evie, what happened? Something is obviously wrong. Talk to me." pleaded Jacob, as he continued his one-sided conversation.
Still silence.
Evie was lying across her bed, tears beginning to well up in her greenish blue eyes. She just wanted her Brother to leave her alone. She didn't want him to hear her break down.
"Alright, I know when I'm not wanted." said Jacob.
Evie heard the sound of Jacob's footsteps melting into the distance and that was when she felt her body collapse under a torrent of emotion.
"Oh, Lucy." The assassin sobbed into her pillow.
Falling in love had not been part of the plan.
When Evie finally emerged from her carriage she quietly crept through the train, not wanting to attract any attention. She didn't want to talk.
"Well there you are, dear Sister." said Jacob.
Evie turned to see her Brother standing behind her with his arms folded and a signature smug look on his face.
"I'm going out." Evie hissed through gritted teeth.
"Where?" asked Jacob, puzzled.
"For crying out loud, I don't need your permission!" Evie shouted.
"No, but I'm worried about you, Evie. Something obviously happened when you went to the vault..but you won't talk to me!" said Jacob, his arms becoming animated.
"I can't..." Evie began, looking down at the carriage floor.
"So, something DID happen!" said Jacob.
The male Frye twin then noticed the tiny shards of glass that were embedded in his Sister's clothing.
"Who was it, Evie? asked Jacob, trying to read between the lines. "Thorne?"
Evie's eyes widened at the mention of the Templar's name.
"Jacob, I-" The female Frye twin couldn't speak. She panicked and ran towards the end of the train. She had to escape.
"Evie!" her Brother called after her but Evie didn't look back, she deployed her rope launcher and disappeared.
Lucy Thorne was sitting at her dressing table as she prepared to retire for the evening. The Templar was dressed in a simple black evening robe, staring into the mirror as she brushed her long, shining red hair.
All of a sudden the Templar jumped slightly in her seat as she thought she had seen something. Lucy turned, holding an oil lamp up.
"Who's there?" asked Lucy, sternly.
The redhead put the lamp back down on the dressing table and picked up her dagger. Getting to her feet, Lucy quietly walked in the direction that she was sure the noise had come from.
There was a thud as Lucy heard what sounded like footsteps near the window. She ran back to the dressing table and grasped the lamp again. When Thorne turned back around she found Evie standing in front of her, illuminated only by the dim light of the oil lamp.
Lucy looked at Evie. Evie looked at Lucy. Neither of them moved as they each bathed in the glow of the lamplight, losing themselves in each others' eyes.
"Miss Thorne, I had to see you." said Evie, softly.
Lucy silently placed the lamp down on the floor before falling into Evie's arms.
Evie heard Lucy exhale sharply as she tightened her embrace. The assassin ran her fingers through the strands of silken fire red hair that were in her grasp and buried her face in the Templar's neck.
"Oh, Evie." Lucy moaned, as the assassin gently kissed her neck.
Lucy felt Evie's warm lips trail over her neck until they finally reached her lips. The Templar moved her hands up to Evie's face, her thumbs stroking over the pattern of freckles on the young assassin's face.
"I love you," Lucy breathed out, as they kissed each other fiercely.
"You are so beautiful, Lucy." replied Evie, slowly running her left thumb over the small scar on the Templar's upper lip before capturing her lips for another kiss.
"Don't leave me." Lucy gasped through the kiss.
"I'm not going anywhere." replied Evie, as the Templar grabbed at her braids and she felt them falling loose.
Evie gave Lucy a sly smile, "It's going to be a long night, Miss Thorne."
Evie stirred from her sleep. She took a moment to adjust to her surroundings, then she smiled. Lucy was cuddled up beside her, her left arm straddling the assassin's chest. Evie took the Templar's hand in her own and gently kissed her fingers.
"I love you, my Templar goddess." whispered Evie.
"What was that?" Lucy mumbled, as she tried to wake up.
"I said, I love you." Evie replied, softly planting a kiss on Lucy's forehead.
Lucy opened her eyes and smiled as she cuddled up to Evie even more.
"So, it wasn't a dream. You're here." said Lucy, her eyes shining brightly at Evie.
Evie wrapped her arms around Lucy and pressed another kiss into the Templar's hair.
"No, not a dream," Evie beemed.
"Just a moment," said Lucy, getting up from the bed and walking over to her dressing table.
The Templar looked at her ring lying on the wooden surface, the ring which was given to her upon entering the Templar order. Taking the object in her grasp, the redhead returned to her bed and Evie's arms, gazing at the assassin as she began to speak.
"Evie, I want you to take this," said Lucy. "It is said that an assassin takes a Templar's ring as a trophy when they either kill them or take them as a prisoner.
"I don't understand," said Evie, propping herself up on her left arm.
"You have made me a prisoner of your heart, Evie. Take my ring as a token of my devotion, I love you."
Evie held out her left hand towards Lucy as the Templar placed the ring on the brunette's hand.
Evie took Lucy back into her arms.
"Here," said Evie, removing her assassin ring and sliding it onto Lucy's left hand.
"Why," asked Lucy.
"Because I'm a prisoner too, Lucy." replied Evie.
They didn't want to move from the bed. They felt safe, cocooned, a million miles away from the distractions of their everyday conflicts. Evie knew that the serenity couldn't last. They would be forced down the route of fleeting glances and secret meetings. Her Brother would notice the ring and all manner of excuses would have to be found. But Evie didn't care. All that she would see was the woman lying in her embrace. Everything else seemed unimportant.
"I will have to go soon," said Evie, as she looked longingly into Lucy's eyes.
The assassin felt Lucy tighten her grip on her.
"I will come back late tonight, no one will be any the wiser. I want to be with you, my darling Lucy." said Evie, kissing the redhead firmly on the lips.
Evie relunctantly got out of the bed and went to get dressed. Lucy sat up, subconsciously stroking at the assassin's ring as she watched her lover.
Once Evie had finished dressing she dashed back over to Lucy and took her in her arms once more, "I love you." she whispered, as Lucy gazed at her.
"See you tonight," said Evie, as she headed for the window.
Before Lucy had chance to look around or even reply, Evie was gone. Lucy sat in her bed looking at the ring on her finger.
"I love you too, my darling Evie." said Lucy, smiling.
It was almost 9 am when Evie finally made her way back onto the Rooks' home and although most of the Rooks who had installed themselves on the train were already awake, it was all too apparent that Jacob was not. Or so it had seemed.
Evie walked through into the next carriage to find Jacob slumped in his favourite armchair, his top hat pushed down over his eyes.
"Don't think that you are leaving this train again without an explanation." Jacob mumbled, from under his hat. Jacob placed his hat down on the side table and looked at his Sister.
"I knew it was you, Evie. Those high-heeled shoes of yours don't really lend themselves to stealth on wooden floors." said Jacob, getting to his feet.
Evie could feel her temperature rising as her brother looked at her. She clasped her hands behind her back in a bid to hide Lucy's ring but that wasn't what was going to give her away.
"Whose perfume is that?" Jacob asked, having noticed the floral aroma that surrounded his twin.
"It's- mine." lied Evie, trying her best to keep straight faced.
"Evie, you hate wearing feminine fragrances almost as much as you hate wearing dresses." said Jacob. ... "You are also a terrible liar!"
Evie stood frozen to the spot. She would usually have an answer to match any situation but this time Evie had to admit that she was all out of ideas.
"Why are you holding your hands behind your back?" Jacob asked, puzzled.
"No reason." replied Evie, nervously.
Jacob suddenly grabbed at his Sister's left arm, taking Evie completely by surprise.
"What's this?" asked Jacob, noticing the Templar ring on Evie's finger. "Evie, whose ring is this?"
Evie Frye suddenly felt as if the colour was draining from her cheeks. She hadn't been prepared for this. She had been sure that she would have had more time. Why did Jacob have to become so observant all of a sudden.
"I found it." said Evie, yet another falsehood that Jacob could see through immediately.
Jacob could see that it was a woman's ring and although there were quite a number of women within the Templar order, there were only a handful of women who held a position of rank worthy of wearing a ring. The band was gold, Jacob knew that gold rings were given only to members of high rank, apart from the Grand Master Starrick himself. That could only mean one thing, one person, Lucy Thorne.
"Please tell me that I am imagining this?" said Jacob. "Please tell me that that isn't the ring of the Templar lieutenant, that is unless... Evie, is Thorne dead?"
"No," Evie simply replied.
The Frye girl could hear her heart beating in her ears.
"Evie, have you been..." Jacob's words trailed off as he tried to make sense of what was happening. "That is Thorne's perfume!" Jacob suddenly blurted out. "Evie, it's all over you!"
"Jacob, please calm yourself," pleaded Evie, gripping onto her Brother's arms.
"I will NOT calm myself," shouted Jacob, as he began to pace up and down the carriage.
As if things couldn't have gotten any worse, Jacob noticed the absence of the assassin ring on Evie's hand.
"Where is your ring?" Jacob muttered under his breath.
Evie braced herself. She may as well tell her Brother the truth, what did it matter now?
"I gave it to Lucy," replied Evie, calmly.
Jacob dragged his right hand down his face in disbelief.
"You have betrayed the Brotherhood." said Jacob.
"What?" shouted Evie in shock. "I have given my ring to the woman I LOVE! How is that a betrayal. I am an assassin!" cried Evie.
"You are in love with that woman? I cannot believe that I am hearing this!" Jacob exclaimed.
"We never meant for any of this to happen but Lucy and I love each other and now we must try and make the best of a bad situation." said Evie.
"A bad situation? I don't know how it could get any worse!" said Jacob, looking at his Sister with a dejected expression.
Jacob turned his back on Evie and through gritted teeth he uttered the words, "Get out, go to your Templar mistress!"
"Jacob-" Evie began, trying to reason with her Brother.
"I said GET OUT!" Jacob bawled.
In that moment, Evie made a decision that would change the course of her life forever, she wasn't going to make her feelings known though, not yet.
Evie ran, alighting the train as quickly as she could. She needed to get to Lucy. She needed to be in her lover's arms.