Evie wondered the carriage of the train and noticed Agnes gazing at the miniature portrait on her desk where she worked.
"She's pretty."
The lady assassin commented, taking her friend by surprise.
"Oh! I didn't see you there dearie. Aye she is isn't she?"
"Who is she?" The freckled brunette asked.
"That's me niece, Gracie. She's me sister's daughter, but I raised her."
"Why is that?"
"Me sisters line of work is not exactly… child friendly, and she doesn't know who the father is so I offered to take her, lest the poor wee thing end up in an orphanage… Or worse."
"That's very kind of you Agnes."
"Thank ye miss Frye."
"So where is she now?"
Evie's question caused the elder woman's face to fall.
"I don't know… I raised that girl into a polite, proper young lady, put every shilling I had into her education. And as she grew, well, let's just say you're not the only one who noticed her looks."
"What do you mean?"
"Kaylock."
Evie's brow knotted at the name.
"That bampot would not stop pesterin' her. It got to the point where poor Gracie couldn't take it anymore, so she left."
The Scottish woman's voice cracked as the last words left her mouth, and the elder twin's expression softened.
"I've not seen her in years. I don't know who she's with, or what she's duin. I get the odd letter from her now and then, but all I know is she's in Paris because that's where they come from."
"Have your tried sending her a letter back?"
The elder woman shook her head.
"I haven't an address to send it."
"Well sure you do."
The assassin said as she approached the desk, her gloved hand reached out and she pointed to a stamp on the envelope.
"Paris. If all the letters are coming from the same post office then I'm sure they can give it to her when she goes to deliver the next one. It's at least worth a try."
The work worn woman lit up at her new employers idea.
"Oh Thank you miss Frye, I'll do just that."
"Happy to help."
Agnes grabbed a piece of blank paper and pen and began to scrawl, Evie decided it was best to take her leave at that moment and left the woman to her writing.
Grace walked the sunny streets of Paris towards her regular post office, letter in hand to send to her beloved aunt. Balloons floated in the sky and coloured bunting hung from lamp post to lamp post, it truly was a Belle Époque. Entering the doors she was greeted by a familiar face.
"Bonjour Irwin, çava?"
"Çava bien mademoiselle Lithgow and you?"
"Very well thank you."
Grace walked up and placed the letter on the counter, suddenly the man looked like he remembered something.
"One moment miss Lithgow I will be right back."
Irwin dashed off to the back room and returned with an envelope of his own.
"This came for you."
The woman's turquoise eyes widened in surprise.
"A letter? For me?"
The young man nodded and handed over the paper. Grace took it and checked behind her, no one else was waiting in line so she decided to open it then and there.
'Dearest Gracie,
I'm so sorry I haven't written back before, I honestly thought it wouldn't reach you. Anyways, I'm so glad you're doing alright in Paris, I've kept all of you're letters and things you've sent me. So much has happened since you left, mostly within the last few months. Kaylock is dead and things in London are changing fast, for the better I believe. There's so much I want to talk to you about that I can't fit in this letter. Gracie, please come home, if only for a visit, I want to see you, I worry about you every day. The last thing I want is for you to end up like your poor mother. I hope this letter reaches you and you are well.
Love, auntie Agnes.'
Grace's eyes began to gloss with tears as she covered her mouth in shock. She had gotten the letters, all of them, and she was okay. Grace had feared the worst when she left Agnes with that bastard, but she couldn't stay. He was just so awful and aggressively persistent, she thought if she didn't leave he would eventually just take her.
"Are you alright miss Lithgow?"
Irwin's voice broke Grace from her thoughts.
"Yes, I'm fine,"
She said with a smile wiping the tears away, she hugged the letter close to her heart.
"I must go!"
She ran for the door and Irwin called after her.
"But miss Lithgow, what about this letter?!"
She yelled back as she passed the through the door.
"Tear it up, I need to write a new one!"
And with that the copper haired woman sprinted down the streets of Paris.
'I need to get back to the café theatre.'
Agnes walked down the dirty streets of Lambeth on her way to pick up some supplies for the train. Halfway back she was stopped in her tracks by some familiar men and a woman all dressed in red.
. . .
Jacob breathed heavily, his teeth and fists clenched in anger as he looked upon the bodies or the former blighters scattered about the footpath. He quickly started walking towards the station to catch up with everyone who went ahead.
. . .
Evie sat quietly drinking her tea and reading until she was disturbed but the sound of shuffling feet and a farmiliar Scottish accent.
"Oh thank yee lads, if it weren't for yous I doubt I'd be back here by now."
The female twin marked and closed her book and stood from her seat, only to be greeted by the shocking sight of a bloodied and swollen Agnes being escorted into the train by some rooks.
"Agnes! What happened?!"
The young brunette sat the elder on a chair as she inspected her wounds.
"Oh some blighters who were part of Kaylocks's gang saw me and decided to give me a hard time."
"Are you alright?" Evie asked, alarm still present in her voice.
"I'm fine lass, just roughed me up a bit is all."
The young woman's lips pressed together. She dabbed the beaten woman's face with rubbing alcohol and cleaned her up. With all the blood gone Evie could see Agnes's injuries weren't that bad, but her face was still quite swollen. The silence was broken by Jacobs heavy boots bounding onto the carriage.
"Agnes! You alright? You took a bit of a beating."
Evie gave a disapproving look to her sibling but he was clearly concerned.
"Don't you worry about me lad, I'm tougher than I look. Oh, and you should see what's waitin' for ye at Whitechapel station, Nigel wants to make up for things, so he got you a gift."
The male assassin's curiosity was clearly peaked and he stoked his chin in thought of what this 'gift' could be.
"Alright then, I'll be off."
He said as he strode towards the exit of the carriage, but he stopped in the door frame.
"And Agnes, no work for you until you're better."
He said pointing to the woman who's face was too swollen to see who was even talking, though of course she knew. After her brother left Evie spoke once more.
"I have something for you."
"I could use some good news right now, what is it?"
"A letter."
The elder woman's face lit up… Well, as best it could considering.
"From Gracie?"
A smile broke onto the young woman's freckled features.
"I would assume so, unless you're getting other mail from Paris?"
She produced the letter from her coat and handed it over. Agnes opened the envelope and tried to read the letter, she squinted and strained but struggled with her newly blurred vision courtesy of her bludgeoned face.
"Ohhh, I canne read it, me eyes. Miss Frye could I bother ye to-"
"Not a problem Agnes, you just relax."
Evie took back the letter and began to read aloud.
"Dear auntie,
I'm so incredibly glad you have written back to me, I have been so worried for so long, I feared my letters had never reached you. It fills me with great joy to know you are well and happy. The news of Kaylocks's death also brings me happiness, though I should not be pleased with someone's passing, I feel a great weight has been lifted off of me and that you are safer without him around. I am doing well, but we will have plenty of time to talk soon. Yes, I am coming for a visit and will be in London in about two weeks. I look forward to seeing how much the city has changed and cannot wait to see you, it has been so long and I have missed you terribly. Please do not burden yourself by making room for me, I am more than happy to procure a hotel for the duration of my stay.
All my love Grace."
"Oh my."
Was all Agnes could get out as she sobbed happily into a white handkerchief, she began to rise from her seat as she spoke.
"I need to get things ready, have another carriage put on, prepare-"
"For once, I think Jacob is right. You need to rest Agnes. You don't want Grace coming and seeing you like this do you? Besides, she's not coming for another fortnight, there'll be plenty of time to get everything ready, but for now. You rest."
The elder Scott reluctantly agreed and went off to relax.
[One week later…]
"Ah there you are miss Frye."
The dark skinned assassin appeared in the doorway.
"Hello Mr Green, how can I help you?"
The woman rose from her chair to meet her new company.
"I have some new information regarding the Templars."
"Well, let's hear it."
"There is going to be a party held 12 days from now at the Kenway manor, and many important Templars will be in attendance. My sources tell me a high ranking agent from Paris will be attending, we have not yet got a name or face but apparently this person has the wealth and power that could, if used to aid Starrick and his people, tip this war in their favour."
The female assassin brought her hand to her chin in thought.
"That's troublesome, and not a lot to go on either. I'm sure more information will surface the closer it gets. Make sure your people have their eyes and ears open, we can't get this far only to have it all ruined by some rich Frenchman."
[And another uneventful week…]
"Jacob are you coming?"
One sibling asked the other.
"Where?"
"To pick Grace up."
"Who is Grace?"
The lady assassin let out a rough sigh.
"Agnes's niece. I spoke to you about this earlier, obviously you weren't listening."
"Hm? Listen to what?"
Evie rolled her green eyes.
"Are you coming or not?"
"Why not?"
The male assassin shrugged and followed along.
. . .
The twins walked along the dark silent streets of London, heading towards the Thames.
"So tell me sister, who catches a boat that arrives at 2:30 in the morning?"
"I know it's odd, but I've checked and that's the only boat arriving from Paris for the next two days."
"What do you mean you checked? You don't know if she's even on it?"
The older twin was silent and Jacob broke into a smile.
"Ohhhh, she doesn't know we're coming does she?"
"I though it would be a nice surprise for Agnes if we brought her back to the train. Besides, you and I of all people know how dangerous the streets of London can be… Day or night."
Evie reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a small oval frame.
"Here, this is what she looks like."
Jacob let out a mock gasp.
"Evie! Did you steal this from miss MacBean?"
"Oh shut up, were here."
The two assassins arrived at the docks to see the ship they were waiting on had arrived early, and weary passengers were already flooding the boardwalks, Evie took the portrait and stuffed it back into her pocket.
"C'mon lets go."
. . .
As the boat slowly drifted up the river Grace took in what sights she could see through the darkness. The smell off the Thames permeated the air and the cold breeze nipped at her exposed flesh. She was glad she decided to wear her more comfortable robes, the long pants and boots kept her legs warm, while the dark brocade bodice blocked the wind from getting through to her cotton short sleeved blouse. To further guard from the chill she had donned her signature swallow-tail coat that stopped at her knees to allow free movement, and the top of her head was kept shielded by the tri-corner hat she wore.
The boat moored and people began to alight, the young woman was thankful she had already organised and paid for her luggage to be taken to the hotel, and she walked with the heard of tired travellers towards awaiting carriages.
"Grace Lithgow?"
Out of the amalgamated sounds of chatter and footsteps a strange, unfamiliar voice called out Grace's name, someone was looking for her? Impossible. No one knew of her time of arrival, not even her aunt.
"Miss Lithgow?"
There it was again, only this time it was a female voice, there were two strangers looking for her. Grace had a bad feeling, she tipped her hat down to shadow her face and began to sneak out of the crowd towards an alleyway.
Evie called out for Agnes's niece but no answer came, she walked up to the man who was seeing the passengers off.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for Grace Lithgow?"
"I'm sorry mademoiselle, but the passenger you seek has already disembarked the ship and her belongings taken to the hotel."
"That's alright, could you tell me where she is staying please."
"My apologies, but I cannot give out private information about a passenger."
The female pressed her lips into a frown but before she could speak her brother called out to her.
"Evie!"
She looked over to see her brother pointing to a figure in the crowd about 30 metres away, the assassin focused her gaze and saw the same orange hair from the portrait sticking out from under a dark hat. She went to her brother and the pair attempted to catch up with the woman. However it seemed she moved at the same pace and glided through the crowd just as easily as they did, it was impossible to close the gap. They tried calling for her once more, but were met with silence as the figure weaved effortlessly through the mass of people. Finally, Grace had reached the edge of the crowd and quickly walked across the street, still making a beeline for the alleyway. The twins also emerged from the crowd and saw the back of the figure they were tailing. The mysterious woman entered the alley and disappeared from view as the pair started a run to catch up. They entered in unison the shadow of a building joint that arched above them and stopped.
"What the?" Jacob mused aloud.
The alley was completely empty, save for some rubbish strewn across the dirty cobblestone and a stray cat.
"I could have sworn I-"
"Me too."
The two assassins looked perplexed at the empty space, until Evie tapped her brothers arm.
"C'mon, we'll get a better view from the rooftops."
The younger sibling nodded and they retreated a few steps back, shooting their grappling hooks they ascended to a better vantage point.
Grace heard the distinct sound of a terribly familiar grappling hook. She listened as the wire hoisted its cargo up the building and released her grip on the windowsill she held. Dropping back to ground level, she hid beneath the building joint and peaked out from underneath, watching the two shadows sky lining the roof with her turquoise eyes.
'That's definitely Kaylocks's grapple gun, they must be remnants from his gang.'
As the two assassins scoured the area, the woman they were looking for managed to sneak away into the night. An hour went and by that time the docks were empty apart from a few late workers.
"I think it's time to call it a night." Jacob said with a yawn.
Evie nodded in agreement, thinking they missed their guest among the throngs of people. However, the mysterious woman who eluded them in the alley still lingered in the back of her mind.
