Author's note: If there are any ships you'd like to see happen, don't be afraid to PM, just as long as its appropriate enough for me to be comfortable with. All are appreciated though! One cannot write many fics about a man and his dead lover for long, after all, a man must let go or else he will suffer insanity. And wouldn't that just be an awful thing for a man such as Corvo?

Chapter 4

"This is the Hound Pits Pub, closed for business, half the district marked off as dead from the plague. We're right under the Lord Regent's nose and he don't know a thing." Samuel said, with a mocking grin on his aged, bearded face.

The fog was starting to break up, daylight igniting the scene before us. A tall tower that was one a lengthy, strong apartment building jutted out from the rest of the shore. Rocks came up from the surface, making the waves rugged. On the shore behind the leaning apartment complex was the pub, a fixed brick building, a garage next to it and a factory at the far right.

"Of course, if anyone finds out what we're up to, the Watch will break in with swords drawn. And now that you've escaped, the Lord Regent's going to be tearing the city apart." His smiled brightened as he spoke, the boat turned to go between two pieces a sheet metal that once connected as a large, whaling boat. Samuel parked the boat next to the thick stone shore, "I'll take you to meet Admiral Havelock and the rest of the Loyalists. The Admiral's a man to be reckoned with. If anyone can help you find that missing girl, Lady Emily, and clear you name. He can."

I followed Samuel out of the boat, walking up stone steps and under a welcoming black overhead gate. There was a man in a green trench coat leaning on the wall that lead into the garage, his round glasses gave him a scholarly look.

I was never an intellect. I thought as I passed him, he gave a welcoming smile yet no name to greet me with.

Samuel stood by a door, gesturing for me to go inside. Nodding I stepped passed the heavy blue door and found myself inside a pub, an actual pub with liquors from all across the isles. At the of the bartender's table stood two men. One I recognized to be a blue military uniform, with a strong jawline and flattened black hair I knew this man had to be Admiral Havelock. The man he was conferring with, a gentleman's green coat with a high fluffed collar, long face and big ears.

Another brain of the house I suppose? I looked at the two until Admiral Havelock looked at me and paused his friend.

"We can continue this later, Lord Pendleton," Havelock said, "The man of the hour is here."

Lord Pendleton, scrawny in stature, turned toward me with curiosity in his gaze.

"Corvo, I'm Admiral Havelock, a true servant of the Empire, like you. Until the Lord Regent purged those who wouldn't recognize his claim on the throne." Distaste was heavy in the admiral's voice at the last bit.

"And I'm Lord Treavor Pendleton, I represent the nobility in our little group, but we all act as equals here at the Hounds Pits Pub." I could tell he was forcing his friendliness, but in respect he added a low head bow which I returned.

"This is a momentous occasion, Corvo. I'm going to come out with it; We've been building a collation of loyalists aimed at the Lord Regent's tyranny and restoring the throne." The Admiral took a swing of his beer, drinking the hot liquid.

"At risk of execution we're committed to finding young Lady Emily and seeing her crowned as Empress." Pendleton added.

"We've got big plans, but we can't do any of it without you," Havelock added, as if to put unwanted guilt onto my shoulders, "We need your skills, you ability to fight. And in helping us, we are going to help you destroy the men who murdered the Empress."

"Sorry, you must be exhausted. We can discuss this further after you've recovered." Pendleton said suddenly, he must've noticed the way I was just rocking on my feet, "But before you retire, you should introduce yourself to Piero. He's challenging at times, but his industrious mind buys him that right."

Great. Another scholar. I thought of Anton Sokolov, the gifted painter and scientist who lived in the palace. I wonder where he is right now.

"Yes. Perio is much an artist as a technician. He's going to be crafting the gear you'll need. Go talk to him and then get some sleep. We can talk more when you're rested," The Admiral took out a cigarette and lit it.

Nodding my thanks I turned and walked out of the pub. Before that I stopped a girl with a blue, engineer hat. Her orange hair hidden messily under the hat, mustard yellow coat with purple button down shirt fixed her to be a woman of life.

"Hey, er...where can I find a man named Perio?" I asked her as lightly as I could.

"Oh you must be Corvo," Her green eyes widened, "It's an honor to meet you."

"Well that's one person who will admit to that." I joked, giving an awkward chuckle. She gave a smile and pointed at the man leaning on the garage door.

"That's him, he's a friendly fellow but a bit...tucked in his own world, you know?" The woman said.

"I've befriended people like him. Thank you, though...miss...?" I didn't think she said her name yet.

"Cecelia. I'm Cecelia." Her face was flushed as she smiled.

"Thank you, Miss Cecelia." I gave her a warm smile and walked past her, toward Perio who had just stepped into the garage.

I followed Perio into the garage, he was standing over a metal work table and drilling into a small object. I knocked on the door of the garage and he looked up, pushing the glasses up the bridge of his nose. He blinked twice and the smiled at me, gesturing for me to come over.

"I'll be crafting your weapons and gear. All custom work, for you, I will create the tools for a master assassin." He took pride in his words as he brushed away the small metal shards from the object he was making.

I am a protector of the Kaldwins. Not an assassin. I wanted to say. I did not agree to this. But for Emily...

"No!" His sudden yell made me come out of my thoughts, "This cannot happen now! The tank of whale oil all has run out."

"I'll fetch you another." I said quickly, with such sudden anger I thought he'd might pop a vein, "Where is it?"

"Upstairs, there's a station. He said with a heavy breath, "Thank you."

Nodding I went up the metal stairs and found the station, filling up a an empty tank with whale oil I replaced the empty one downstairs and watched as Perio added the finishing touches to whatever he was making.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Perio," I said, beginning to walk out of the garage, "May our paths cross some other time."

"Wait! Don't think you just came here for introductions, Mr. Attano," Piero stopped me, "Here, see? The assassin's mask. You're a wanted man, so everyone in the city knows your face, but this mask will put terror in them."

They are regular people. Civilians I may have met during the Empress Mayfair. Met during times of war. Times of sickness...even in the plague I've met families. I thought heavily. Why should I cause terror?

"If you just...hold still. The fit must be precise." He took the metal piece, which I know figured was a mask, and placed it against my face, "Can you see normally now? mmm...center lens is out of adjustment. There. Better now?"

To my surprise I could breathe easy, the smooth red inner layer of the mask suffocated my face none. Perio toyed with the magnifying buttons on the inside of my mask with a screwdriver, he stopped once my vision was clear and precise.

"I can create more for you, Corvo. Upgrades for your weapons, gear...anything. But our situation is desperate. Scavenge the city for valuables I will resell them on the black market . That should give us the money to craft the things you need."

"Thank you...for this," I said slowly, my voice even deeper with the mask on, "You were the one who made me the weapons?"

"Indeed I am." He nodded, pride flowing through him once again.

"Piero when times are brighter, we will have a drink." I promised.

"I will pray for sooner brighter times, then." Piero beamed.

I turned around and left the garage, taking off the mask.

"Cecelia, do I have a room?" I asked the woman, she was busy dusting the floor of the pub.

"Oh! You scared me, Corvo," She jumped and turned toward me, leaning on the broom, "The Admiral cleared out the whole attic for you. Just up the stairs, a few flights."

"Thank you." I gave her another thankful smile before walking up the long four flights of stairs. I met no one else, probably since I wasn't paying attention. By the time I got up to my large spaced room I was ready to collapse. I found a folded pair of new clothes on my bed, black and militia style I felt comforted by the hard fabric. I took off my damp change of clothes and left them spread out of the floor to dry and put the new clothes on the desk nearest me. Lastly, I took off the mask of fear and turned it over.

I was staring into the face of a bringer of death. The metal was crafted into the shape of a half skull, on the face was needed to bring forth fear. The eyes were shaped out for myself, the left eye for pinpointing my focus on a target and the right for overall scouting of the around vision. Under the cheekbones was a rugged fixture of strong, thick golden colored wires. The mouth of the skull kept together by jagged pieces of metal, wires jutting this way and that to hold the piece together.

"The face of an assassin." I said aloud, "I will bring death for the safety of a throne."

"Don't say that, dearest Corvo," A soft, familiar voice whispered into my ear, "It is not the throne you ensure the safety of. Do not deny yourself."

"Jessamine, you're dead." I refused to turn to meet the voice.

"So will your sanity if you don't answer me." There was a twist of my arm, I fell back onto the bed.

The low ceiling of the attic didn't meet my gaze. I was under the canopy of a familiar purple satin bed. The loving body of Jessamine in my arms underneath light, summer blankets. We were both bare, I couldn't deny that. She moved tenderly to meet my face, her hair cascading down to my face as she ran her hand against my cheek, leaning down to kiss me full.

"Corvo, how will I explain it?" She asked, "All of Dunwal knows of my denials to all of the suitors."

"Tell them you have a miracle child within you, give to you by the spirits." I said, the tense stress now coming back between us.

"There will be people who deny. People who will come after me, the palace for the truth." She sighed, "Corvo maybe I should...remove...?"

"No." I said sharply, "This is also my child, Jessamine."

"Yet she lives within me." We've had this talk so many days before this. It's become a routine now, "Corvo, the people will hate me more. The plague is already getting out hand, how will they think if I suddenly dissapear for almost a year? Only to appear with a child in my arms and no cure for the plague."

"I will go out then, on the morrow. Send me off the other isles. Tell the people of my duties and stay out of public view until you birth." I set back a few strands of hair from her soft face, stress began to make permanent creases in her skin.

"And if you find no cure?" Her eyes were wide now.

"Then the public will hate me. Not you." I said softly.

"You are a very interesting man, Corvo," A voice broke my gaze from Jessamine. The Empress was gone from my hold, the bed and blankets were gone. I was lying on cold stone cobble, dressed in my old Protector garb. Getting up I looked around, seeing nothing but a purple and white sky and in the distance, the shape of a large whale.

The Leviathan. I noted.

"Who are you?" I demanded.

"An intrigued man, Corvo, very intrigued by your own selflessness. How do you do it, Corvo?" The voice was everywhere, coming from no certain point, "You must come. I must give you a present, a thanks for giving me such a show."

Before I could yell out at the man, my hand started to burn with intense pain. I collapsed on the spot, writhing with my hand against my chest. From the top of my hand came forth smoke of green, blue and yellow mixed with stardust. Above me the Leviathan came over me, opening its large mouth to swallow me whole.

That's when I began to scream, not only in pain but in terror.

Whatever this was, it wasn't a nightmare but neither was it reality.