DISCLAIMER: I do not own Assassins Creed or any characters except Alexei and Rozalina!
OH MY GOD! I love you guys?! you've all been positive with the concept of a Russian assassin. Seriously thank you for the reviews, it's really made my day :')
Caution: Rape is mentioned but not committed so read cautiously if you're sensitive with that topic.
Chapter 2: Unexpected Company
Bridewell Prison, 26th June 1776
I basically sat in my cell for five days having all the inmates and guards taunt me, how stupid can they get? My bruised face and spilt cheek stung as I keep licking my hand and rubbing it. I was just hoping it'd heal better if I managed to keep it closed long enough. I was suddenly delighted, I'm allowed out my cell today so finally some socialising. A guard stopped in front of my cell, I smirked at him. His eyes flooded with doubt as he shakily opened my cell. Must be a new guard, little shit. I brushed past him and winked as I made my way down to the common area, even if I was shorter than most of the men I wouldn't let them beat me in the battle of genders. I stood at the top of the steps looking at the pit of scum, my hands went to my hips. I breathed deeply and made my way down the steps, the men made a circle around me as I looked around. "Hey, if this is about the other da-" One of them suddenly pushed me to the floor and started slamming his foot into my stomach. They all joined in and I could feel my insides burning with acid and blood. Blood was pooling from my mouth as I spluttered to breathe, I was completely frozen to the ground. After a while they stopped and went to their cells. Leaving me alone on the floor, I got myself up as similar voice sounded in my ears. "Well, well. Look it's swee'art"
"What are you doing here Hickey?" I looked up to see him being shoved in a cell as he taunted me.
"Oh, don't you worry. I'll be pardoned" He grinned as I made my way back to my cell. I felt like hitting him in the face... As I passed there was someone new next to Hickey's cell. A very attractive newbie..
" Hickey, who's the Native?" I pointed to the cell next to Hickey's. A extremely well-built man was passed out on the floor. Longish, raven hair and dark skin. His Native heritage was obvious, I was fascinated by his features. His cheeks were freckled and his hair braided with a few beads and feathers. Blood caked his cheek and part of his white shirt. He looked handsome and strong.
" 'Nother Assassin like you. Thought your kind was wiped out" He spat on the ground.
"I'm Russian, you'd be surprised how many of us there are" I snapped, folding my arms and raising my eyebrow.
"Do tell, swee'ie?" He taunted, beckoning me with his hand.
"You think I'm stupid enough to tell you?" I laughed at his stupidity. I sat down refusing to speak to Hickey any longer.
Hickey kept looking at me. I stared back, not sleeping just staring. He hissed at me several times to stop it but he soon fell asleep. I looked at the Native, laying across the floor and just staring at his peaceful face. He was handsome and seemed fierce. The sort of man you could trust with your life, the sort of man who could take you in his strong arms.. my eyes widened. I had to stop thinking like that, I'm sure I have turned about fifty shades of red. The colour tainting my cheeks.
I lifted myself from the floor and sat against the wall to watch the Native finally get up. He glared at Hickey, getting up and letting his thoughts spill. "You.." He growled.
"You miss me, swee'art?" He taunted, "Wot? Nothin' to say?"
"If you are here, Washington is safe"
"True, true. Thing is..."He approached his cell, looking out to his right. "...I believe I've just been pardoned" A guard who hissed at me walked towards the cell.
The guard was followed by two men. One with light, menacing eye and thin black hair and the other taller, with a man with a three pointed hat and a blue long coat, he strolled behind. The guard opened the door and let Hickey out, who faced the two men. "Thank you kindly for the rescue, gents."
"There can be no further mistakes, Thomas. Am I understood?" The educated man demanded, obviously a natural leader. He turned knowing he didn't need an answer and started to stroll back the corridor.
"Wot about the Assassins?" Thomas asked pointing at me and the Native's cells in slight worry. "They put 'em in the cells near mine. Guess we didn't quite get 'em all, eh?"
The leader addressed the menacing eyed man. "Deal with this Charles." He stated not even looking at us, 'Charles' simply replied:
"At once, sir." As their leader walked away without a second glance.
"Wot we gonna do?" Hickey asked. Charles stalked over to the Native's cell, ignoring me.. great.
"You're that boy from the Continental Congress. Adam's little lap dog. Hmmm. I think I have an idea...Yes. Two birds with one stone. Or maybe three.." He glanced at me fiendishly.
"Do tell"
"All in good time. It's not like the Assassins' are going anywhere. For no-"
Hickey glanced at me. "Hold on.." I put my wrists through the bars and smiled at him sarcastically. "I'll be back for you, swee'art"
He grabbed one of my hands in his and pulled my face towards the bars so my face was almost stuck in the bars, he dipped his head near mine placing his lips upon mine. He was sloppy and made me cringe.. I bit down, feeling the terrific ripping of his skin. He pushed me back and wiped his mouth, "I like 'em fiesty, wot's your name?"
"Rozalina.. remember it. Cretin.." I spat at him. He smirked looking back at Charles.
" For now we should see about getting you better accommodations here" He huffed slowly walking away.
"What are you on about? I thought I was gettin' out"
"I'm afraid you won't be leaving for a while, thanks to Benjamin Tallmadge. He's been running his mouth, saying all sorts of things. You're being investigated for plotting to assassinate George Washington."
"What a bunch of bollocks! I thought you was gonna handle that."
"We'll discuss this ELSEWHERE."
"Ooooh tension!" I sarcastically hissed at them. The guard told me to shut up and clanged his weapon against the bars as they walked away. I looked at the Native, his stare following the two men. I was fascinated, his eyes were dark and secretive. Dark but beautiful..."How'd you get in here?"
"Excuse me?" He questioned. My accent probably alarming him.
"Sorry, my accent isn't very clear. How did you get in here?"
"That is none of your business..." He looked at me, he's defiantly in a bad mood.
I put my hands up in a surrendering gesture. "I'm an assassin too you know!"
"You could be a spy" He snapped.
"Do I look like a Templar especially since Hickey pointed me out as an Assassin?" My temper was weakening.
He glared at me. "He seems to know you from that interaction"
"Will you stop with the bloody attitude?!" I hissed at him. "I was sent here by my mentor Alexei to come join your Brotherhood, to help you! I spent over a month getting here and I nearly get raped by red coats then they arrest me? Hickey even helped them arrest me that's how he knows who I am! Then when I think I might finally have an ally, you fucking doubt me?!"
"Once I get out of her-" I interrupted him.
"Once you get out of here? Pfft." I huffed, "Fucking Boston... who the hell is Achilles?" I mumbled to myself. This Assassin was stubborn and it hurt that I made my way here just for him to reject me.. I got arrested and nearly raped for this? stupid, stupid me.
"How do you know my mentor's name?" He seemed interested.
"My mentor gave me a note with instructions on how to reach somewhere called the Homestead from my home in Moscow. Step by step instructions but the note got wet whilst I was on a ship and it smudged the ink so only two words were visible. Boston and then Achilles." I explained, he nodded slowly. "Do you believe me now?"
"Achilles will decide that... Do you know a way out?"
"Mason Weems, I hear he's crafting something. Talk to him"
"Why have you not talked to him?"
"I'm Russian and a woman. The scum down there gang up on me if I even show my face let alone strike up a conversation with someone!" I pointed to my spilt lip and bruises on my stomach as examples.
"Did you provoke them?" He seemed curious.
"You could say that. When I first got here they started taunting me and spitting at me so I killed three of them. The guards locked me in my cell for a few days. I got off that sentence yesterday so I headed to the common area and they all kicked me to the ground..."
"Why are you here?"
"Well, long story short. I asked the red coats for directions, they ask for payment. Drag me into an alleyway so I killed one and then they arrest me for assault and murder pfft." I laughed, "Should be them getting arrested for sexual assault. Why are you in here?"
"I chased Hickey but the redcoats thought I was his ally, I'm charged for counterfeiting"
"Seems these redcoats have the wrong idea when it comes to law eh?" I laughed lightly and he smiled lightly as well. "What's your name?"
"Connor, yours?"
"Rozalina" I simply replied "Go talk with Mason Weems, he can be trusted"
The guards started opening the doors, shouting at in mates to 'get up!'. Connor stood and asked, "Where are we going?"
"Stay out of trouble or you'll wind up in the pit" The guard walked away and headed for the common area.
"I will return" He mumbled to me as I ignored our 'free time' and stayed in the cell. I sat there for a while, wondering on where my things may be and how I would get them.. I heard someone approaching, I peeped out down the corridor to find Hickey looking for something. I pressed myself back into the cell, hoping he hadn't spotted me. Please, please don't find me. I heard his footsteps get louder as I panicked and pulled my hair into a ponytail. Pieces of hair hanging down my face as my pathetic disguise. I crept into the corner, pushing myself as far into the shadows as I could... his footsteps stopped outside Connor's cell. I could hear him cursing as he walked in front of his. I looked down and silenced myself, maybe he wouldn't notice? He remembered I was opposite him though as he smirked over his shoulder at me and approached my cell, I couldn't escape the door was wide open. I had no protection against him. He stepped in and I saw how his boots clacked cockily against the floor. I gulped.
"Rosalina..."
"It's Ro-zah-lina actually..." I said as I covered my mouth and squeezed my eyes together. Do not engage in conversation, stop. Stop it now!
"Rozalina... swee'art?" He grabbed my chin and made me look at him. He could see the fear in my eyes. "No need to be scared. As long as you don't cry or call for the half-breed, I'll go easy"
I whimpered. My heart slamming against my chest, I felt sick as I forced myself to not cry. My throat ached, the weight of my sadness weighing down on my windpipe. I tried to run out the cell but he just pulled me back and slammed my head into the wall. My sight blurred for a second. I gasped as he pulled me up, turning me around against him. He held the back of my neck as I bit back the tears. He kissed my neck and pushed me down towards the floor. I tried to scramble up but he pressed his feet into the back of my knees. He tutted me, running his hand up my thighs, I started to whimper. "Please don't..." I begged him. He bent down next to my ear.
"I'll do wot I like swee'art" He hissed as he pressed his feet into my knees till I cried out. His hands drifted over the hem of my trousers, he hooked his thumbs into it as he was about to pull them down. I squeezed my eyes together, begging that he wouldn't. How could he take this from me?
I heard light footsteps behind as the weight on my knees were lifted. I tried to stand up but my knees collapsed, I curled up as I heard Hickey get punched by someone and scramble away cursing me. I covered my eyes, I started to shake violently as tears finally fell from my sore eyes. I pushed my palms into my eyes, I did not want to see myself.. I just wanted to rot..Someone touched my leg and I flinched looking up to see if Hickey was back for more.
Connor looked down at me. "It's only me..." He stated. I sat up a bit, staring at the ground.
"Thank you..." I whispered, I pulled my knees up to my chin. He sat next to me for a moment and he grew a bit tense. He kept his distance as I started to cry. I leaned into his shoulder and sobbed harshly, he stayed rigid but slowly softened."Thank you... I didn't know.. what.. what... he.." Connor shushed me and I cried even more.
"You're safe now...why did you not call for help?" Connor looked down at me as I fiddled with my fingers. He pulled my chin up, his hand was warm against my cold skin. His eyes were dark but so beautiful.. His hand left my chin suddenly but I kept the eye contact. I sort of missed his hand on my face.
"He said..If I didn't cry or call for you, he'd be easy on me" Tears fell from my eyes again. I laughed lightly and wiped my tears, "Second time I've nearly been raped since I've arrived here..."
Connor frowned at my dark humour. He stayed silent for a while, he's obviously an awkward one... probably shy. I broke the ice, "What happened with Mason?"
"He's crafted a key. I will talk to him tomorrow about what to do next"
"Good.." He stood, he offered me a hand which I took. He steadied me and stepped back."Thank you again..."
"I do not see how white men can do such things...Good night Rozalina" He stepped out from my cell and walked back to his as the guards locked us up again.
"Good night Connor..." I whispered. Maybe I could trust Connor and hopefully he will start to trust me... He saved me, he could have ignored my cries but he came and saved me. I will repay him for saving me... someday.
I lay on the bed and drifted into my sleep. I heard Connor trying to unlock his cell door.. probably Mason's key..
Bridewell Prison, 27thd June 1776
I was crying for Connor, hoping he'd save me as Hickey hooked his thumbs into my trousers and pulled them down. I couldn't look at him, I bit my arms in pain as I could hear Hickey grunt... It's happening too fast! I thought Connor had saved me, I continued to cry as Hickey finally did it. He'd taken me..
I shot up, sweat dripping down my forehead. Just a nightmare, I breathed and tried to force the images from my mind. The guards came in again but this time they threw me out of my cell. "Get up, go to common area you scum" I started to panic, they'd all beat me again... I can't go down there. Connor put his hand on my tense shoulder and calmed me.
"We will both down...I may need someone on my side" I understood that I wasn't the only one discriminated for my heritage, he was too. I knew he didn't need me on his side but he said it to comfort me, to say he understood my pain.
"Thank you" I walked behind him, a few guards and inmates pushing us, calling us scum and spitting at us. They especially called Connor a 'half-breed'. I thought he was fully Native. I didn't dare ask, it wasn't my place. I swore at a few for making such vile comments. One tried to spit him and shouted horrible things at him but I pushed the criminal back shouting at him, "Back off!"
Connor looked round at me and raised his eyebrow, I mumbled an apology and followed him over to Mason. Connor threw the key over to Mason and placed his hands on the table as I watched idly. "Your key is useless" He hissed. I looked over worriedly, shit we were done for.
"What do you mean?" Mason replied.
"It did not fit the lock."
Mason looked up from a book his was scribbling in. "It's not meant to" I looked at him confusedly then back at Connor.
"You forged a key that does not work?"
"Well that all depends on what you mean by work. It'll get us out of here, just not the way you two expected." He looked up at me and I smiled.
"Then how?" Connor countered.
"You're going to use it to get the real key off the warden. You have to swap yours for his"
"Why not have me take the real key? Why all this extra work?" Connor grew frustrated but I suddenly realised.
"He might notice if it went missing..." I said quietly.
"Correct. This way he'll be none the wiser" Mason finished.
"And when HE tries to use it?"
"He won't. That's why we're targeting him"
Connor huffed. "How do we reach the warden?"
"Yes... This next part you may not like"
"As if I've liked the others? Out with it"
"You need to pick a fight, like missy did the other day"
"What?" He looked at me shocked and I just shrugged at him.
"Pick a fight and they'll throw you in the pit"
"How in the world does this help us?" Connor gritted his teeth. He's got no patience.
"The warden oversees the pit. Getting sent there is the only way to reach him"
"I'll give you credit. You've given this plan to risk our lives a great deal of thought.."
"Take down as many as you can. One or two will only serve to entertain the guards. You need to make them angry. Missy here didn't get sent to the pit because she's a women and foreign. They saw her as ignorant but now if she does participate she'll get the same treatment. We all have our part to play. Try not to die." Mason finished.
Connor looked at me. "Still want to do this?"
"Might as well" We trotted over to a gang of inmates.
I tapped one on the shoulder and instantly punched him. Connor and I went back to back with each other, keeping an eye on the inmates moves. One swung at me as I grabbed his wrist and twisted his arm over to punch him in the face. I didn't try to watch Connor as I had to keep an eye on my own ass. One tried to pick me up as I kicked my feet into another face in the process, I threw my legs back into the guy behind me so he gasped and let me go. I stumbled to the ground as one kicked me in the face, I grabbed his ankle and twisted it so he'd fall over. I straddled his hips as I repeatedly punched his face till blood caked his face. The crowd of inmates around us, cheered us on. Making bets on who would survive this fight. I got off of the dead man and kicked my foot into a man's chest before stamping on his face till I could feel blood splutter between my toes. Disgusting I know but it was a good feeling. I was pulled off by a guard who hit me round the head harshly and did the same to Connor as we made eye contact, his cheek had spilt again.
"Fancy yourselves trouble-makers, eh? Sometime in the pit should cool your blood." A guard said harshly. They picked us up by our arms and dragged us up the stairs. We both got thrown in the same cell. The guard laughed and sniggered at us, "Bloody savages..."
We were left there. The damned Warden couldn't keep still so we waited till he stopped. Meanwhile we had to amuse ourselves...
"Why tell the inmates to back off when they called me a 'half breed'?" Connor questioned suddenly. I looked up at him, he sat cross legged on the floor opposite me. I pushed my back against the wall.
"It was rude and hurtful of them... I don't like when people make fun of me yet alone call me a half breed. It's just a horrible thing to call someone... It makes you sound inhumane when you're actually the only decent person here"
"Thank you. It is true though, I'm only part Native"
"Still doesn't give them an excuse to spit at your heritage no matter what you are.." I mumbled, how terrible for him to be called such vile things.
"You come from Moscow, where is that?" I looked at him for a second.
"You don't know where Moscow is?" He shook his head. "It's in Russia! In the far east of Europe, I personally think you'd enjoy the winters there. Lots of warm bear pelts and fur covered coats, it's beautiful there..."
"Sounds like the forest..."
"Exactly! How I miss hunting" I felt saddened at the memories we shared. "Alexei would take me to the forest and we'd camp out for a few days. Get stupidly drunk at the campfire, hang out of the trees, hunt bears! After that we'd take our catch back to the Brotherhood.." How we'd have competitions on who could kill the most or who could kill a bear the fastest. The good days of Moscow.
"Why join the Order?" He wanted my story, to suss if I was true or not.
"I was orphaned. I have no idea who my family is.. I was found with only a music box which said 'I'll love you forever Rozalina, love Mama' The brotherhood found me and took me in, they started to train me from a young age. I trained so my Mama would be proud of me... I wanted her to maybe find me some day and think.. 'That's my Rozalina'. I haven't found her, I don't think I will. All I have is a music box with her picture. It's given me determination to train harder and fight harder for the Order. Their methods are a little odd..."
"Odd?" He tilted his head a little.
"They used to make us climb the roof and line up then they'd get out a sword and chase us across the roofs. We'd have to keep doing the exercise over and over till we out ran them. We had to master how to get around in a hurry in case any of us got split up. Then they taught us to do the leap of faith but kicking us off roofs and hoping we landed in the fur carts"
Connor looked at me astounded. "You are serious?"
"Yes, they did. Especially when the roofs were iced over. The amount of times you'd either slip or fall off the roofs because of ice is unbelievable..They also taught us to hunt and how to deal with bears. We'd all go out in the snow and they'd push us into the bear caves and hope we'd come out okay!" I started to laugh at the memories of Alexei chucking me off the walls of the Kremlin and throwing me in front of Grizzly bears, hoping I'd kill it.
"I thought Achilles was tough"
"They're kind really but with such a cruel world they wanted us ready for it.. Once we were trained we'd be able to face just about anything..." I rubbed my left hand where I officially became an assassin. My wedding finger was branded with a what looked like a wedding band, it hurt so much when I first had my finger branded. You feel your finger burning and bleeding till it just stops and stings, how I gasped with pain. Connor must have noticed it.
"How did you burn your finger?"
"It was my initiation to becoming an assassin, it's a sign we must only marry an assassin and not drag civilians into our business. A sign of secrecy and honour...The Russian Brotherhood have always done it as a tradition"
"It keeps your loved ones safe"
"I don't really have loved ones... sometimes I wish I did"
Connor said something in his Native language and I ignored it. I sat against the wall a little longer and closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep for a while.
The warden stalked across the corridors, hissing a speech about how we're all scum, suckling at the teats of civilisation. Blah, blah, blah... He stood in front of our cell door, his back towards us. Connor moved forward throwing me the real key quietly and slipping the fake into the Warden's pocket. The warden finally moved off to continue his 'speech' as Connor grabbed the key from me. He hooked his hand through the bars and slid the key into the lock. He twisted it a bit and click! Connor slid the key out again and slowly opened the door. We poked our heads out each direction, the Warden wasn't too far away but we could creep past him easily.
We followed the warden slowly around a corner. The warden stopped at a cell and we quickly ran up some stairs. We quickly darted through an archway and spotted Mason waiting for us. Connor handed the key over as Mason slid it into the lock of a gate and filled us in on where Hickey would be, down at the 'important people' cells. Mason opened it up and we gave him our thanks. Connor promised to repay him someday as he nodded. Mason shut the door behind us as we walked to Hickey's cell.
We found it. Hickey's cell, oh how surprised he'd be, how I'd smack him for what he did. We opened the door, the moonlight lit the cell window's bars across the room. Hickey had a blue coat on, he seemed to be passed out on the bed. We stepped inside and Connor choked him as he gasped and threw him onto his back against the floor. It was the Warden, blood splattered his lifeless body. I gasped in shock and put my hands over my mouth.
"Not who you was expectin', am I right?" I jumped and turned as Hickey and Charles appeared in the door way, they had us cornered.
"What have we here?" Charles mused. "I thought we'd finished off your kind."
"You did a pretty bad job of it.." I mumbled.
"You would like that, wouldn't you? To rid the world of all who do not share your views" Connor snapped at them.
Charles laughed with a gun pointed towards us. "Guilty as charged" He pointed the gun back at us, "Your meddling in the revolution has caused us no small measure of grief. It cannot continue. Our work is too important. But what would you know, beyond all the lies Achilles feeds and the tales you tell yourself"
Hickey smirked at me as I backed away. Connor continued to argue with Charles. "I know that the people wish to be free- and that men like Washington fight to make it so"
"Please. The man is weak. He stumbles and stammers through each engagement, making it up as he goes along. His pedigree is pathetic-his military record even more so. I could go on and on but we'd be here for days, so manifold are his faults, so deficient are his merits. He must be dealt with. You two as well. I will abide no more flies in the ointment"
" 'Ere is 'ow it's gonna work" He suddenly grabbed me around my throat. "You could get outta this Rozalina... leave this prison with us and I promise you, we won't hurt 'im." He pointed over to Connor, who looked at me panicked and shocked. Charles had a gun against his temple.
Connor shook his head at me but I couldn't let him be hurt.
"As long as you promise, please?" I whimpered as the hand on my throat tightened. I looked at Connor who was shocked. My head was starved for air, I could feel my eyes roll back. "I'm sorry Connor, I can't let them..."
CLIFF HANGERRR! I made Rozalina's childhood and training sound brutal hahah! TRUE RUSSIAN SHE IS! Hopefully I made Connor as much as his character as I could...sorry if it was bad! I promise to update as quickly as I can as often as I can!
