Jacob had never really had a partner in crime.
Sure, he had Evie, but she was more calm and collected and not willing to go along with Jacob's less...mundane plans. Yes, Jacob loved his sister, but he wouldn't say she was his right hand man...woman.
So meeting Amara Jones was a big day for Jacob, because he first met her when she flung two knives at one of the thugs behind him and promptly stabbed the guy through the stomach with a cane sword.
From that moment, he knew. Amara Jones was going to be his right hand woman, even if she, and he, didn't know how important that role would be.
Fortunately, she seemed rather amicable to joining the twins and Henry Green on their mission to free London from Templar control - as long as her brother could, too. Which, considering the fact he was taller than Jacob by a bit and Jacob had definitely seen him ram a guy's head against the wall of the workhouse, was easy enough. The two were Assassins, further north than Jacob and Evie, had heard the call for help from Henry, and had taken the first train they could jump onto down to London. Only, their search for Henry hadn't been as successful as the Frye's, but it was no problem now - they knew where the man was, now.
So during a run of the mill workhouse takedown mission, the Frye twins had gained two more Assassins.
Honestly, Jacob had expected to get along better with Kai. He was big and muscular and, well, a he. Not that he held anything against the so called 'fairer sex', but Jacob had spent enough time around his sister to know that, sometimes, a guy needed some time with other men. He had the Rooks, and Henry, but he couldn't really divulge the true reasoning behind his creation of a gang to any of the Rooks, and Henry was too into his research and calmer activities.
Things didn't really go to plan, though, because Kai believed in the Piece of Eden drivel that Evie swore by, and the two warmed up to each other quickly, soon discussing theories behind what this 'Shroud' could do and where it may be. It was Amara, not Kai, who rolled her eyes fondly at her brother, called over three Rooks, pulled out a pack of cards and proceeded to help Jacob lose spectacularly at a game of whist.
It was during a Templar base raid, when things had gone completely tits up, and Amara proceeded to hurl obscenities at the men she had decided to bludgeon to death, that Jacob decided that he could definitely count Amara as a trusted friend and ally. Someone who he didn't have to hide his true occupation from
After they got back to the train, battered and bruised and scolded by just about everyone, Jacob joined Amara on the sofa. She was frowning at a cut on her arm, and Jacob assisted her in cleaning and patching up any other wounds, before sitting back. He glanced at her, offering a grin.
"So...up for another mission?"
"You are a madman, Jacob Frye." Amara managed to get out after a laugh, before returning Jacob's grin, matching the mischievous glint in his eye. "When do we start?"
XoooX
It was relatively easy to catch the man who had been selling the soothing syrup with Amara blocking one exit. She was small - truly a little lady - but with her arms folded and one eyebrow cocked she looked terrifying. Even Jacob wouldn't want to take her on. Not just because of the cane sword and kukri strapped to her waist, hidden under a brown leather coat, but also because he knew what a tongue lashing she could give. It would probably leave the strongest man slightly stunned.
Enough for her to ram a hidden blade through his fourth and fifth rib.
He also told them straight away who he was working for - some guy who ran an illegal fighting ring at his factory. Jacob took a mental note of the factory to give to Freddy later on, before taking off to kidnap the foreman, get the information needed, and head off to their next destination.
That lead them to their current position, crouched on top of a roof opposite a distillery, watching an elderly man peer through one of the murky windows into the building. Amara had long ago stowed her cap away, the hood of her coat pulled over ridiculously curly black hair.
"He's pretty spry for an older fellow." She said cheerily and Jacob hummed his agreement, watching as the man heard the sound of approaching Blighters and darted into a hiding spot behind two flaps of fabric. Jacob clicked his tongue against his teeth in disapproval.
"Well, that's gonna be a problem." He murmured, pulling his hood up too. "How's your aim?"
"Shit." Amara replied and Jacob was reminded that he absolutely adored her bluntness. "Planning on squashing them with the barrels?"
"Distract 'em and kill them when they aren't looking." Jacob agreed and Amara's grin was toothy.
"Much more discreet than what I usually expect from you - I'm impressed."
"My one desire in life is fulfilled." Jacob returned the grin, before pulling out a throwing knife and aiming carefully. He threw it with a sharp flick of his wrist, watching as it severed the rope holding the barrels. They fell, crushing the guard beneath them and drawing the attention of the other Blighters, who gathered to find the cause of the 'accident'. Jacob cursed under his breath, realising there were definitely more Blighters than he had anticipated. "Any ideas?"
"We don't rush in blindly?" Amara suggested. "I know there's two of us, but there are a lot more of them."
"We could probably take them."
"Jacob, no." She raised an eyebrow. "We are not going to fight against, what, definitely more than ten Blighters without some form of backup or plan."
"You are absolutely no fun, Miss Jones." Jacob noted the way her nose wrinkled in distaste. "It'll be easy. Remember the gang war where we got the train?"
"You had every single Rook there." Amara deadpanned. "Jacob, honestly -"
"I'm going to go down there." Jacob cut Amara off. He heard her huff loudly and, when no more complaints were offered, he gave her a jaunty salute, heading over to a slight overhang on the roof. "Wish me luck. Feel free to join in - you know, if you're not scared." And he jumped into the hay cart before he could see Amara make a strangling motion towards his neck.
To be honest, Jacob had overestimated his ability to take on such a large amount of Blighters, but it seemed as though Amara had taken pity on him and joined in the fray. Some Rooks who had been in were also joining the fight - Jacob thought he spotted Lottie, one of the older women, weaving her way through the fray, slitting throats with a knife. Soon enough, it was over, the Blighters dead and the woman, who was definitely Lottie - she had a nasty scar on her left cheek - tipped her cap to Jacob, slung her arm around the shoulders of two of the men, and the trio strolled off, followed by the rest of the Rooks.
"Told you there were too many." Amara sang. Jacob ignored her, moving to examine the lock on the distillery's doors.
That was when Jacob heard footsteps and, acting on instinct, he turned, hidden blade expanding only to be pointed at the throat of the man who had been snooping around before. Most would have been put off by a blade at their neck - he, however, only appeared insulted.
"You should not go about scaring respectable gentlemen, young man." He said and Jacob found himself blinking, withdrawing his blade, completely bewildered. He heard Amara disguise a snort as a cough.
"I didn't realise snooping around was considered 'gentlemanly'."
"Oh, be quiet Jacob." Amara tutted, offering the man her hand. "Sorry about him - dreadful manners. Amara Jones." The man took the hand but, before he could say anything else, the sound of more Blighters reached Jacob's ears. He cursed under his breath, before breaking the lock on the door and pushing it open.
"Inside - quickly!" He ushered the two in, before pushing the door close.
"That was too close a call." The man announced. Amara shrugged.
"We've had worse." She replied, before turning. Her eyes widened dramatically at the sight of the machine in the centre of the building. It was massive, reaching the ceiling in height. "That is one big machine."
"Seen bigger." Jacob retorted, but Amara ignored him, walking closer. "So, this is where the syrup is made."
"I can't believe...they're putting Devil's Snare and Opium into the syrup!" The man had seemed to have found crates filled with the ingredients of the syrup, and he sounded outraged. "It's revolting! Disgusting!"
"We've got to put a stop to this production - immediately." Jacob said, and Amara looked thoughtful.
"The valves...if we fiddle with the pressure we could gas the whole place. It would destroy the machine, the current syrup and we might even get rid of a sizeable number of Blighters at the same time." She said. Jacob grinned.
"Sounds dangerous...will it explode?"
"No clue. But it will work - sir, you may wish to vacate the premises." The man startled slightly at being addressed. Amara was smiling that smile which meant she was ready to destroy the Blighters or Templars stationed here. "It's going to get pretty hard to breathe in a minute and it would be on your best interests to get as far away from the building as possible when that happens."
"Ah, of course. And do be careful." And with that, he was gone. Jacob and Amara exchanged looks.
"I take the ones on the left?" Jacob suggested. Amara smirked.
"Gotcha. We'll have this done in no time."
XoooX
After about half an hour of turning wheels and knocking out Blighters (Amara had managed to suffocate on using her thighs which, ok, was terrifying), Jacob had grabbed Amara and flung them out of a window and into a hay cart below. Amara was spitting out hay as Jacob jumped out, offering her a hand.
"A little warning would be nice next time, Frye."
"Duly noted, Little Lady." Jacob teased and Amara prodded him in the arm. "Now, we should probably go in case the building does explode."
They were already halfway down the street when the building exploded. Amara turned, taking in the sight. Jacob let out a whistle. So, Amara's plan had been very, very effective.
"Well done, well done!" The man was back and he did look thoroughly delighted at the sight of the burning distillery. "I never did introduce myself - Charles Darwin."
"Jacob Frye." Jacob shook Darwin's hand with a grin. "And my darling Little Lady already introduced herself."
"...That nickname isn't going away, is it?"
"Afraid not."
"While you two were wreaking havok, I have been doing some research of my own." Darwin pulled out a notebook. "This states that a sample batch of syrup has been sent to Lambeth Asylum."
"Well, well, I wonder if it is visiting hours…" Jacob was glad to have a destination - that would speed up things significantly.
"Now, do hold up - this should be tackled with a degree of care. You can't go around, blowing everything up." Darwin pointed out.
"Mister Darwin makes an excellent point." Amara said. Traitor. "I know destruction and chaos is your thing, Jacob, but there are patients at the Asylum. You can't just waltz in and expect things to go swimmingly."
"Well, where's the fun in that?" Jacob muttered and, no, he was not pouting. Amara rolled her eyes, before turning back to Darwin.
"It's getting late, sir. Maybe we should meet again tomorrow? To continue our investigation, of course."
"An excellent idea - I shall meet you at the Asylum." Darwin nodded once, a firm agreement, before turning and walking off down the cobbled streets. Jacob sighed.
"I'm going to have to be discreet tomorrow, won't I?" He said and Amara laughed.
"Afraid so." She tucked herself snugly against his side when Jacob flung a friendly arm around her shoulders. "I don't know about you, but I could really use a drink right now."
"That, my Little Lady, is the best idea you have had all day."
XoOoX
Because Out of the Darkness is refusing to be written, and this does not directly reference it.
Basically, Syndicate was beautiful and I loved every second of it.
Except the fact that Jacob didn't seem to have someone he could turn to, who knew about the Creed and wouldn't yell at him for his choices. Hence the creation of Amara.
Anyway, updates will be sporadic. As all my updates are, but I hope you enjoy anyway.
Read, Review and all that jazz! ~ Jazz x