Chapter 4

Tziporah

It has been two weeks since that day with de Sable. I learned that Malik had to have his arm amputated, Altaïr was brought down to Novie (Sweet justice!), and that my scars are permanent. Light, but noticeable and permanent. Every morning I run my fingers over the scars. I want them to go away. I want to go back and change all this but I can't! I stand up from the stone bench and wipe my eyes underneath my hood. It's not too bad. I just don't think about them or look at them too often. That simple...

"I should go see Malik," I say to myself. Ever since he had his arm amputated I have helped him get accustomed to it and helped him store documents, organize maps, and write reports. "It goes much faster with two," I would say. "Besides that...we both need each other right now." Kadar's death hit us both hard and brutally. I loved Kadar, but not in the way people might think. I loved him as my own brother,yes, and as a fellow Assassin but it was more than that-as with Malik and Altaïr-I'm not in love with them I just...love them. It's something words can't exactly express.

"I see the happy couple needs privacy," Altaïr said.

I turned to glare at him. "Oh shut up, Novice." I pick up a scroll. "I'm going to put this in the back room Malik."

Once I step into the back room I hear the boys speaking quietly. I lean against the wall and bend so I can hear them.

"Then tell her that, Altaïr," Malik said.

"I would if I didn't think she would reject me," Altaïr hissed.

"The three of us have known each other for five years, Altaïr. You can talk to Tziporah about this. I see the way she looks at you, and vice versa."

"I...I suppose, then."

There is a silence hanging so I wait a few seconds before parting the cover and stepping back into the room. Altaïr immediately took my hand and led me to the next room where we normally enter the bureau.

"Yes, Altaïr?" I said, leaning back to the wall.

"I...I...I need advice," he said.

"The great Altaïr need help from me? I am shocked."

"Smart ass. Now I help on this: how can you tell when you're in love with someone?"

"Um...well...I suppose it would be when you love that person more than anything or anyone. You don't know why, but everything about them makes you smile; you know you want to be with them forever."

"I see. Alright then. Thank you."

I was going mad. Altaïr actually thanked me. I inhaled some strange incense and it's messing with my mind.

...

The next day Al Mualim gave me a mission. I completed it quickly and came back for him to dismiss me. For some reason the new recruits were shaking and visibly nervous.

"Alright what is going on?" I ask them.

"They were here when we got here, we swear!" One of them said. The others agreed with him.

I turn around to find a bundle of flowers on top of the desk. I almost direct a glare at them before stopping myself. I'll only make the poor boys worse.

"Did you get the items for Mualim?" I ask.

One of them hands the leather package to me.

"Thank you. You may go."

They ran out of that room like bats out of hell. I set the package down and set my gaze on the desk. There was a bundle of the most beautiful, pur white roses I had seen in years. If no one noticed someone coming into Acre and leaving this...who was it?I pick up the roses and smell them, almost intoxicated with their sweet scent. I set them back on the desk and comb through Mualim's books until I see one I like and then start to take it from the shelf when I almost jump two feet in the air when I feel arms tighten around my waist. I take out my blade in warning.

"Safety and peace Tziporah," Altaïr said.

"For Allah's sake Altaïr you nearly made me have a heart attack!"

"Then you should really be more observant of your surroundings."

"Ugh. You asshole-wait what the hell?" I sniffed again. "Have you been drinking alcohol?"

"I needed extra help." Altaïr then turned me around and closed the distance between us with a kiss that threw my mind into a mess. It felt good. It felt wonderful and after another more intense kiss I was holding onto Altaïr's shoulders because suddenly I felt like I had no strength to hold myself up.

"I'm in love with you," Altaïr said pressing his forehead against mine.

I froze. I don't know what to do. No man has ever said that to me before. How do I feel? His kiss makes me weak, my heart beats fast when I think about him...

"I love you too."

I hope you enjoyed Chapter 4~! Review please! I love getting reviews! They get me through the boring days.