Perilous

Chapter 2: Dread

"Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition."

- Steve Jobs

~OOO~

Avril and the group stopped to consider their dusty and old surroundings, she put a hand on her hip and leaned it to the side slightly, almost defiantly. "Why are we stopping?" Robert de Sable had a smirk on his face that she had the extreme urge to smack off, "As usual, asking impatient questions." She snapped her honey colored eyes up at him and then narrowed them angrily, "No need to beat around the bush, de Sable." De Sable turned towards her smirking occasionally at his soldiers, "Will you call me nothing but de Sable?" She couldn't help it, a sarcastic remark was hanging at the tip of her tongue..but that tiny little voice in the back of her head screamed at her, telling her to shut the hell up. Then again, that's why it was tiny, she hardly listened to her conscience…that was probably also why she usually got into heaps of trouble. "Would you rather prefer connard ou trou du cul (dickhead or asshole)?" He turned fully turned towards her now, he walked up to her until he was at least inches from her. The sound of a sword being unsheathed echoed throughout her mind and the metallic eeriness made her clench her jaw. Soon the slithery coldness of metal against her jaw made her shiver, but just slightly. There was no way that Avril wanted de Sable to know that he indeed had the upper hand. The sharp tip of the sword traveled up her jaw right at the corner of her lip..the area where her dimples indented her flawless skin. "Even after a year, you still have not held that sharp tongue of yours, huh, un jolie (pretty one)? Quite motivated, aren't you?" Avril glowered up at his brown sinister looking eyes…eyes that held dirty secrets that not even she could comprehend. "Of course I'm motivated, why the hell would you think otherwise?" A cocky smirk popped up onto his features and a few snickers could be heard behind him, he stood away from her and sheathed his sword, "You would do well in keeping that tongue sheathed, who knows, maybe you'll be missing it sometime soon." Avril's eyes widened and then she narrowed her eyes again before folding her arms across her chest. "Why have we stopped anyway?" De Sable let out a heavy sigh and unsheathed his sword, he looked at each and every soldier and they immediately unsheathed theirs. Avril rolled her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, 'Could they be any louder? Arrogant idiots.' De Sable turned back towards their destination and continued on, "I was just merely checking to see if everyone was still…alright."

As they traveled through, Avril had witnessed…what in her opinion was out right hilarious, they had been walking alertly and were glancing around every corner when suddenly, one of the soldiers' foot miraculously sunk into the ground, he wasn't able to pull it out for a while until another helped him out. The fat bastard deserved what he got, he was one of the men who had at first tried to bed her, of course she was willing to beat him to a pulp until Robert de Sable had intervened and warned everyone not to lay a finger on her. She snorted at the memory and tilted her head up a little further, 'I don't need his damn help.' As the man inspected his foot, she passed by him and gently tapped his stomach before strolling slowly behind de Sable, "I would loose a few pounds, I don't think the ground exactly appreciates the weight." Outside, she was completely composed, but on the inside..she was bursting with laughter, laughter that would usually bring joyous tears to her eyes. But of course, she didn't want to provoke him anymore than she had. "Why you stupid connivence pute! (conniving bitch)!" Avril whirled around to glare at him, he stared back with as much venom in his eyes. Just as she was about to say something, Robert de Sable held a hand up and roared out, "CALME (QUIET)!" Avril sent the man one last glare before turning back around and folding her arms across her chest and staring at a stone pillar. "Be on your guard, don't let petty conversation be your downfall." Avril still didn't understand why they all had to be on their outmost guard, this was an ancient temple for god's sake! There was no one but them here in this temple! Though, the fact that the soldier's foot got stuck in the ground like that was suspicious…very mysterious and strange. When she had walked across it, nothing seemed to have happened…it wasn't quick sand or anything. It was normal dirt. Strange indeed.

~OOO~

Avril stared up with awe, it was so beautiful and wondrously chiseled. It almost sent strange vibes down her spine. She moved a bouncy curl of hair out of her right eye and turned her head around to look around. It was indeed breathtaking..the room that they were in. She stayed behind de Sable and narrowed her eyes at the strange structure ahead of her. In front of her a golden block was holding up a strange golden…case. She cocked her head to the side and looked it up and down, she narrowed her eyes and finally realized that it was a seraphim. It's golden wings engulfing the strange golden case..as if it was protecting what really lied within. Was this the reason they came here for? What was it anyway? Did it have any significance whatsoever? One of the soldiers stared at it wide eyed as de Sable gently picked it up, the case, as if it were a baby. Personally, in her opinion, she couldn't exactly see him as a father…it unnerved her. A devious, almost evil looking smile appeared across Robert's face as he looked down upon it, "The Ark of the Covenant..? Like the one in the legend?" Robert de Sable looked up briefly and nodded at the fascinated soldiers, "Indeed." Avril looked at everyone with confused glances, "Alright, it's a hunk of gold. Are you going to sell it?" He whirled around to stare gravely at her, it was the most menacing glare he had given her in the time she had come to know him. It was like the blood was drained from her and her body was left to freeze over, she clenched her fists and raised her eyebrows. "Preposterous! If I hear anything like that come out from your mouth again, say adieu (goodbye)to your tongue." He turned his back to her yet again and inspected the strange…gold..hunk. Her mouth had hung open and she immediately closed it, 'All I asked was a simple question! Maybe if he told me what it was, I wouldn't have asked. Fou ridicule (ridiculous fool).' The other soldiers were inspecting the area, looking in corners and such, for what…she didn't know why. Her eyes traveled up to the roof of the temple…which was barely visible due to the darkness of it. Then her eyes continued to travel and travel until finally her eyes locked with something..a figure. A few figures to be exact. They seemed to be on a ledge. Her honey eyes widened and she broke contact…looking around to see if anyone had noticed her reaction, no one. Then she looked back up to examine them. They seemed to be bickering to themselves, an argument. What fascinated her most was that it seemed as if they weren't talking at all, their voices were so silent, not even the sharpest of ears could have heard them. Just then one of the hooded men stood up and glared down at her..or was it her? She turned her head slightly to peek a glimpse of Robert de Sable, then she turned her head back around. The other two hooded men seemed to have noticed her watching, she only caught a glimpse of their eyes and nothing more, she finally stopped staring and looked away, as if they were just figments of her wild imagination. She sighed sharply, frustrated with herself, and then scratched the back of her head. Who were those men? She seriously thought that de Sable's group were the only living things in here. Well, they had been missing a soldier, could it have been the work of one of the men on the ledge?

Suddenly there was a strange noise…as if something was diving down a hill to get something, then she turned her head and one of the mysterious hooded figures had actually jumped down, making quite an appearance. From what she could see, the bridge of a nose and a pair of stern lips, he seemed pissed and angered. Then the two others jumped down after the show stopper, he must be the leader. One of them seemed even more pissed than the leader and then other was simply fidgety and curious, why was that one wearing a gray hood while the others wore white? "*Hold Templars, you are not the only ones with business here*." A few snickers here and there from the soldiers and then Robert de Sable held his hands up at his side with a kind of mocking tone to his voice. "*Tsk, well, this explains the missing soldier*…" then de Sable crossed his arms across his chest, almost boldly. Avril shuffled to the side from out behind de Sable and stared wide eyed at the scene in front of her. If those three men were going to kick these guys' asses, then by all means! She would encourage it! She rested a hand on her hip and listened closely to de Sable's question, "*And what is it that you want?*" The tone in his voice had been venomous, acidic. Did these two know each other or something, this seemed to give off a familiar feeling of old friends turned enemies..or just plain enemies in general. Avril silently huffed at the confusing muddle of thoughts in her mind. The white hooded leader inched closer, suddenly, there was a sort of 'slink' noise that echoed throughout the air. One monotone word caught her off guard and her eyes widened, "*Blood*." Everything just seemed to play in slow motion one of the accomplices reached out, trying to grab the leader but he was all too fast for him. Was this a trick of the light or were her eyes playing games with her? Or was it even the mental warning screaming in her head? All in one motion de Sable had smacked the Ark at her gut and suddenly slapped the man and grabbed at his arms. A gasp escaped her lips as she saw a blade protruding from the man's wrist, was that the thing that had made that popping noise? A hidden blade? Clever. She didn't notice the Ark slipping out of her grasp so she tightened her grip and held it up to her body. The two men were in a lock, the hooded man grunted, attempting to sink his blade into de Sable's neck. 'Oh come on! You've got to be joking! Use more man power! Sink it in!' She screamed with all her mind, hopping that somehow god would give that hooded man a surge of strength. Their eyes had locked for only a moment but that was because she had the Ark in her hands.

All the while saying this, Robert de Sable was continuously struggling against the attacking leader, she narrowed her eyes and clutched the Ark closer to her, "*You know not the things in which you meddle, Assassin. I spare you only that you may return to your master and deliver a message: The Holy Land is lost to him and his men. He should flee now while he has the chance. Stay and all of you will die.*" Avril stared at the other two men who had weary eyes and then back at the scene, slowly, Robert was turning and turning until he stopped. Suddenly, he threw the leader away from him with all his force and the man went tumbling through a wall which caused it to collapse and block any entry. Her eyes widened and an unwanted gasp had escaped her lips, then she turned to see Robert de Sable pull out his sword, "*Men! To arms! Kill the Assassins!*" Avril began to back away from the scene, 'Assassins? These men are Assassins? Well, that explains the foot in the ground, the missing soldier and the sneaking around. Wow, qui explique beaucoup de choses (that explains quite a lot).' Avril was watching as the Assassins pulled out their swords and clashed together with the soldiers, meanwhile, Robert was trying desperately to scope out the scene. 'Shit. He's looking for the…Ark. A-and I have it. Crap.' She was watching as one of the soldiers was getting cornered by a white hooded Assassin all the while blocking another soldier. He was going to lunge at the Assassin when she suddenly pulled her foot out, sending him toppling down, he lost his grip on his sword and it skittered her way. Before the man could comprehend what was happening she lunged for the sword and held it up all the while trembling. The white hooded Assassin seemed to have stared at her for his hooded head was pointing her way in confusion, she nodded at him and then stared down at the guard who stood up and glowered at her. "Why you little bitch, I knew you were waiting for this time to come!" She watched as he came lungeing out at her, she screamed out and held the sword out, pointed up and thrusted it out with her eyes snapped shut with fear. There was a loud tearing noise and a scream before she suddenly felt the hot red liquid pour to her hand. A yelp escaped her and she pulled the sword out and stared flabbergasted at the dead man at her feet. Then looked up at the white hooded man who finished off the other soldier. She threw the sword down momentarily and stared at her trembling hand, 'I-I killed someone. I killed him.' She couldn't get that out of her head. She flinched and wiped her hand off with her cape.

Avril turned her head out to find an angry de Sable, he was coming this way, her eyes widened until he was surrounded by the Assassins. A stern line substituted for his lips and he glanced down at the Ark in her trembling arms. "What are you doing? Hand over the Ark, now…and I may forgive your mistake." Avril stared up at his dark eyes and comprehended what this meant, if she escaped somehow…then she would be freed…but then she would be a wanted woman. Then she stared down at the Ark, she wanted nothing to do with it..but if Robert wanted it so badly…she didn't want to give it up, and she could get her revenge. The Assassins could have it. Avril narrowed her honey eyes and glowered at the tall tower before her. "No…" it was at first a mutter. "Wha-" Then she held her chin high up and stood her ground, "NO! I will not continue to work for your useless deeds, I will no longer be your servant or slave, no longer your puppet! You can go to hell for all I care. Burn there forever, you..vous sadique trou du cul (you sadistic asshole)!" Suddenly, it was like the wind was knocked out of her, she didn't feel it at first…but then all of a sudden, a sharp pain surged through her body. He had slashed his sword across her abdomen, it was a graze…but the blood was soon seeping out through her clothes. A yelp escaped her lips and the force from the swing threw her to the ground, she watched as the Ark rolled away from her, quickly she began scrambling on her hands and knees as fast as she could towards the Ark, a war cry was heard above her and she turned her head. Again, the slow motion played with her mind, just above her, de Sable held his sword up, beginning to thrust it down upon her vulnerable body. She closed her eyes and held the Ark close to herself, she was not afraid of death. At least she could be with her parents now. But there was no pain, no blood or screams, only a grunt and a hiss. But that was not from her. She opened her eyes and looked up shocked at the scene that unfolded it's self. There, the sword protruded from the chest of the gray hooded man. He stared down at her with a slight pained smile and she caught a glimpse of his strange light eyes. The white hooded Assassin screamed out with all his might, "BROTHER!" Robert de Sable smirked as a few drops of blood dripped onto Avril's cheek and traveled down her chin. She was too shell-shocked to do or say anything. De Sable slowly lifted the now dead Assassin and threw him aside as if he were a piece of garbage. The Assassin behind her yelled out and began to attack de Sable with a frenzy of sword stabbing and lunges until finally, de Sable deeply cut his sword down the man's left arm. It was as if she could feel the sword barely graze the bone in the man's arm, but she knew…it was cut deeply..dangerously deep. A yell sounded out from the man as he tried to block oncoming blood had splattered the man's hooded outfit…his arms and hands. It was giving Avril the urge to puke but she knew she couldn't just stand by. She searched around the floor for something, then she found a large wooden beam, it was broken off but it was used for excavations. Who said she couldn't use it as a weapon though? Avril sneaked up behind Robert de Sable and he turned his head just in time to find her swing the wooden beam with all her might, right at his bald head. He yelled out and stumbled to the side on his knees, clutching his head. Her eyes were wide for a second as she clutched the Ark and then the mysterious Assassin grabbed her by the hand and they began running through the temple, looking for an exit.

~OOO~

"HE STOLE MY HORSE?! THAT…Assassin, stole Midnight!?" Midnight was her feisty stallion, she had taken care of him for quite some time now and no one else knew how to handle him but her, she snorted. 'Good luck dealing with him, Assassin.' She stomped her foot on the ground and the Assassin next to her clutched his wounded arm with a wince. "W..we can use my horse. Come, she should be this way." Avril followed sneakily behind him until they came upon a white beauty, her mane was beautiful and long, a few strands were braided and she saw a feather of some type of bird intertwined with a braid. Avril watched as the Assassin tried to get on but failed. She looked down at the ground with sadness and then back up at him, "Here. I'll get on first and I'll help you up. Just hold on to…something." Avril gracefully hopped on and pulled on the man with a few huffs, and then she whipped the reins and they were off. "Where to?" The man clutched the saddle desperately and looked out at the distance, "Masyaf." She didn't notice it before, but his accent was thick and exotic, she cocked her head to the side with confusion, "W-where is that?" The man pointed his free arm for a second and she turned in that direction, "Just follow in that direction, I will tell you as we go along." There was silence for quite a few long minutes before the man sighed deeply, "I can't believe this. My brother…my blood. Gone." Avril felt a sharp pang of guilt, if it wasn't for her stupidity, that man wouldn't have died. "I'm sorry for your loss. I-If I hadn't opened my mouth, he wouldn't have died. I should have been obedient. It was all my fault." The man behind her scoffed slightly and shuffled a bit before responding, "No, Miss. It was not your fault. If that fool hadn't revealed us, we wouldn't have been in that mess. He should have been discreet. Because of his foolish mistake, my brother had to pay with his life." Avril winced at the power of his words, she turned her head slightly so that he could see the corner of her honeyed eyes, "That leader Assassin?" There was another scoff, then he waved his uninjured arm in the air, "That MAN is not fit to be called a leader. He is nothing but a fool. Altair will not move on without being punished for his stupid decisions. Some loyal Assassin he is." Avril turned her head away and stared straight ahead, squinting her eyes once and a while. That must be his name, Altair. "Are you some Templar spy? Why not kill me while you have the chance? Why did you betray your kin?" This time Avril scoffed and snorted, she turned her head towards him and shook it, "Are you kidding me? I am no Templar spy, I was a mere puppet of Robert. My family had gotten into…some trouble and he spared me and used me as a maid. I did his deeds and went to find information when he wasn't around. I want nothing more for Robert de Sable to die a horrible death, he must pay for what he did to my parents. And those fools are not my kin, they are cowards. Fools, murderers." There was a sharp intake of breath behind her and she lowered her head and stared straight ahead once more, "What happened to your parents, if I may ask, young lady?"

Avril shook her head and turned it to the side so he could see her weary smile, "There isn't enough time for that now, I will tell you at a later time, I promise." He slowly nodded and there was a slight pat on her shoulder, "At least tell me your name. I believe you saved my life." Avril chucked girlishly and nodded, "My name is Avril Girard, French noblewoman at your service. Who may you be, Assassin?" Another sharp intake of breath and she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, 'Was it something I said?" Then she turned her head to the side to slightly examine his face to find nothing, "Girard?" She nodded, "Yes…w-what of it?" He shook his head and waved a hand while wincing once more. "N-nothing. My name is Malik Al-Sayf." Her eyes widened and she cocked her head to the side, "What an unusual and exotic name. Malik." He stared at the back of her head and smiled, trying to ignore the fact that her hair was whipping around wildly, he did enjoy the way his name rolled of her tongue, it made it sound even more exotic. "Al what?" Avril turned her head to the side again, "Al-Sayf." She nodded, "Al-Sayf." There was yelling in the distance behind them and her eyes widened with fright, she turned her head to find Malik already scoping out the surroundings, "Templars! Can you push her limits a bit more?" Avril let out an unintentional gasp and hesitantly nodded her head, "You might want to hold on." She yelled out and whipped the beauty's reins, soon the horse was pushing itself to an amazing speed. From the hill they were at, she could see a city of dust and then a large building in the distance. "Hold the Ark, if you can." She gently handed Malik the Ark and turned her head slightly to see a few horses in the distance, she had to loose them. Then she turned her head back ahead and whipped the reins once more, the feeling of the wind colliding with her face made her feel strong and free, she loved it. "Is that Masyaf?" There was a slight grumble and a little shuffling before Malik responded, "Yes. Now that man has broken another tenet, we are doomed." Avril furrowed her eyebrows and decided not to question what the hell he was talking about, the city was coming into view now. This would be one hell of a bloodbath, she was sure of it.

~OOO~

**A/N: Thank to all those who have read the first chapter of my FIRST Assassin's Creed fanfic. If there are those who have played Fable 3 and read it's fanfics, YES! I am now currently working on 2 stories. One a Fable 3 fanfic named Nightingale and this new Assassin Creed's fanfic: Perilous. Anyway, a special thanks to xVentressx for giving me my first review on the story! I'm so glad you find it interesting so far, I was afraid that it would be a little boring but it's picked up a bit now! I thank everyone yet again and the Usual Disclaimer: I do not own a bunch of smexy Assassins, though how cool would it bbee?! Anyway, review and fav to your heart's content and I can't wait for the next chapter! P.S. The asterisks on some of the words spoken by the characters (Altair and Robert) are actual lines, just a heads up!**