Chapter 3

Desmond woke up from the same pains he had yesterday, the only difference was that this time, Altair didn't show up.

"I guess Minerva had tried to close the wound further.", thought Desmond.

Desmond groaned while sitting up. The night had been too short, at least he thought it was.

"Hey son, are you alright?"

"Dad?"

"Thank god, you are fine. I was worried sick; in fact we all were when you didn't answer."

"When-", Desmond began, but was swiftly interrupted by Shaun.

"A few hours after William went to bed."

"So Des, what happened to you?", asked Rebecca.

Desmond grimaced at the nickname, but chose to not dwell on it. "Altair visited me, we had a little chat and I might have told him I am from the future and his descendant."

"You did what?", came his father's reply.

"And you're still alive? Well done, Desmond!"

"Shaun, that's no time for jokes!", scolded Rebecca.

"Well, he seemed pretty decent when he left."

Desmond suddenly remembered the second time Altair had set foot into the room. He groaned and hid his face in his hands.

"What will he think now? That I am some kind of demon with supernatural power?"

"Awake, I see.", came a voice from the door.

Desmond looked up and was greeted by the sight of his ancestor. Altair pushed himself away from the wall he was leaning on and approached the younger man. He stood right next to Desmond and sat cross-legged and pretty close. Altair slightly tilted his head, his eyes locked on Desmond's.

"Your eyes, they have changed."

"Excuse me?", Desmond asked dumbfounded.

His mouth lightly twitched upwards, it almost looked like he was suppressing a grin.

"They had been a dark brown when you arrived, but they have a tint of gold in them now, like mine."

"Eh", Desmond said dumbly, "I don't know what to say to this."

Altair moved even closer, his mouth only inches away from Desmond's ear and he whispered: "This matter will remain between us, got it?" The younger man nodded. "Tell me Desmond, have you ever heard of something called eagle vision?"

"It's some kind of advanced sight that allows you to see and identify people faster. It also allows the user to detect dangers and certain objects that would be unseen for a normal person."

"Do you have it?"

"Ehm, no?"

"That is no answer, that was a question.", he said.

"I guess that I never tried.", admitted Desmond.

"Do it now!", he commanded.

"Why all this fuss? Why does he care so much if I am able to use his eagle vision or not? I sighed mentally and tried to clear my thoughts. From my adventures in the animus, I knew that Altair and Ezio always had to clear their minds so they could focus on their vision, so I should try the same."

Desmond hadn't even realized that he had closed his eyes until he experienced a strange feeling coming from his eyes. Desmond reopened them and promptly had to blink at the strange sight. Suddenly realization dawned on him and Desmond spun his head around to face Altair, who was truly grinning now.

"Tell me, what can you see? What is different?"

"My surroundings lost all colour and you…"

"Me?", he encouraged Desmond to continue.

"You are glowing blue."

Altair suddenly stood up, turning his back to the other, causing Desmond to lose focus on the vision.

"Here you are, a complete stranger with special healing abilities, knowledge of thing no one except me and Malik should know and now you also possess the eagle vision. And I always thought I was the only one capable of using it."

"You are!", Altair turned his head enough for Desmond to see his glare, "At least in this time."

"Does this mean there are more?", he completely turned around now.

"No, not yet."

"What's that supposed to mean!", he growled, obviously annoyed that the younger man knew something he didn't.

"There will be more who possess this bloodline… and they are all your descendants."

"Lies! This cannot be true, you are lying and I know it!", his glare turned murderous and Desmond had to swallow a big lump in his throat the sight of an infuriated Altair Ibn-La'Ahad.

"I'm not lying!", Desmond had also gotten up by now.

"Prove it!", the older male shouted, "Prove to me that you are telling the truth! Prove to me that you really are my descendant! Prove to me that you are not just an enemy spy!"

He had activated his hidden blades and Desmond was promptly cornered between the wall and Altair.

"I don't know how."

Altair made an animalistic sound and dashed forward. Desmond half expected to be decapitated right on the spot, but he was surprised, when Altair just slumped forward, head low and arm with the blade dangling on the side.

Desmond didn't dare to move or make a sound; instead he just stood there, waiting for his ancestor to do something.

"I can't stand looking at you. As soon as my gaze meets yours, I am not able to hurt or kill you! It's infuriating, you are infuriating and it's driving me insane. I don't know what to believe anymore. I am asking myself if you are truly honest, if you've gone completely insane or if you are just a good liar and actor."

Altair looked up again; his eyes were clouded and slightly unfocused. Desmond immediately knew what was going on. He swiftly grabbed Altair by his elbows and turned them both around, so that Altair was the one trapped against the wall. Desmond pinned his arms above Altair's head and the master assassin was just too shocked and stunned to do struggle against the iron like grip.

"Altair! Calm down! You are having a mental break down!"

"Even more lies from your mouth, spy!", the older man shot back.

"I don't want to harm you, but if you don't calm down now, I will take more drastic measures!"

Altair didn't even seem to notice that Desmond was speaking to him. He was trapped in his own world, dangerously close to losing himself.

Desmond couldn't stand by to watch this happening. So he let go of Altair's wrists with his right hand and before the older man could react or start to struggle, Desmond boxed him in the face. Altair's head hit the wall behind him and he was knocked out from the impact. He was quickly caught, before he hit the floor and Desmond immediately winced at the pain that erupted because of the extra weight.

After a few shaky breathes Desmond was finally able to drag his ancestor to the bed and lay him down gently. Then he took a quick look around and found a few small clothes. Desmond wet them with the water that stood beside the bed and laid one under Altair's head, where his head hat hit the wall, and the other one on his face, were the blow had landed.

The only thing Desmond could do now was to sit down and wait and to hope that Altair wouldn't be too angry with him…