Anyone heard the song "I don't wanna die" by Hollywood Undead? My sister introduced it to me the first time I played Assassin's Creed and I honestly can't stop putting it as the "theme song" of the Assassin's Creed series. XD I'm so weird sometimes. Anyways, if you haven't heard it, you should check it out on YouTube. It's a cool song, whether or not it is fitting for the game. :P


Chapter Nine: Decisiones Facimus

Desmond felt the Bleeding Effect taking hold in his sleep and he shot awake, trying to rid his mind of the phantoms now haunting him.

"Dammit..." He rubbed at his eyes. "Shouldn't be showing up...it's time-travel darn it..."

He placed his hand on the bed to shove up from his seat, but jerked his hand back when he felt something ice cold instead. His heart leaped up into his throat when he glanced down to see the nearly black fingers of Kadar.

"Shit!" He jumped from his seat and yanked the covers from the young man. "Shaun!"

As the ginger rushed into the room, Desmond had already began checking for pulse and breathing.

"He's alive, but his arm..." Desmond explained as Shaun came to his side. "I think it's clotted...there's a blood clot or something. It's almost completely black."

"Amputate it, now." Sergio said, having apparently followed Shaun in. "If you don't and that clot grows...you'll lose him for sure."

Desmond gritted his teeth, but nodded to Shaun.


Another long day had passed and Desmond now sat in the Animus, preparing to return to Altair and Malik.

"What are you going to tell Malik?" Shaun questioned, giving Desmond a worried look.

"I'll tell him Kadar is dead."

"Is that really a smart move?"

"He survived the loss of his brother the once. He can do it again."

"And if..."

"It'll be fine." Desmond muttered. "Send me back."

"All right." Rebecca plugged him in. "Good luck."


Desmond landed right where he thought he would: Masyaf. Walking through the streets in his Assassin's robes, no one paid him any mind, which he was grateful since it enabled him to reach the fortress. It was there he was stopped by an Assassin Desmond recognized as Rauf.

"Altair." The Assassin greeted him. "I'm surprised. I thought Al Mualim had sent you away."

Desmond knew he could not pull off Altair's haughty tone, so ignored the Assassin and continued on his way. He tensed when Rauf began to follow him.

"Are you not supposed to be in Damascus, Altair?"

Continuing to ignore the man, he continued.

"And are you not supposed to be less heavily armed?"

Feeling heat rush to his features at remembering Altair had most of his weapons taken away when he began the Hunt for the Nine, Desmond continued to walk towards the library where Al Mualim would be. The guards at the entrance suddenly perked and Desmond had no doubt Rauf had motioned to them.

"Altair..." Rauf began as the guards drew their swords to stop Desmond.

Desmond approached, unafraid, easily disarming both guards and incapacitating them as well. In the same instance, Rauf raised the alarm.

Surrounded, Desmond halted finally and awaited for Al Mualim to descend the steps.

"Ah, you must be Desmond." Al Mualim greeted him as he clutched the Apple to his chest. "Malik told me as much."

"Al Mualim." Desmond pressed his left hand to his chest and gave a courteous bow despite how much he wanted to do otherwise. "Aslam alaykum."

"Your Arabic is fluent, but you are no doubt a foreigner to this land." Al Mualim nodded, smiling. "Malik said there was not much to be said of you. Only, you came from a distant place and new of the Treasure. Tell me, do you serve the Templars?"

"No. I am an Assassin."

"Ah, so he said you had claimed." Al Mualim stopped before him, though ensured two of the guards were on either side and a foot ahead of himself. "Though there are not many other Assassins aside from Alamut and Masyaf."

"Ah, you forgot Alep." Desmond reminded him. "And the Levantines are not the only Order. What of the Mongolians? The Greek? The Indian? Surely, you cannot dismiss their existence?"

"Surely, I cannot." Al Mualim agreed. "And you come from which of these?"

"Let us see if you can't guess?" Desmond smiled at him.

"I see..." The Mentor's grin faded. "And you came seeking this Treasure? For what purpose? Given what I have heard, it sounded as if you were intending to use it for personal gain. I know there have been traitors to our Order in the past, but surely you are not?"

"You would know all about traitors to the Order, Al Mualim." Desmond watched several of the Assassins tense and their Mentor to narrow his eyes.

"What are you insinuating?"

"Haras." Desmond responded without hesitation. "Did he not betray the Order? I had heard he did."

Though Al Mualim was visibly tense still, he carried on as if he had accepted Desmond's answer.

"So why then did you seek it?"

"To keep it from falling into Templar hands." Desmond gave Al Mualim a pointed look, one it seemed none of the other Assassins had missed.

"Again, you insinuate?"

"Did it seem so?" Desmond mused aloud. "This language is so difficult to speak. My apologies."

"You mock us!" An Assassin snapped and Desmond recognized the voice of Abbas.

"I would never dare." Desmond smiled at him, watching as Abbas glared at him more sternly. "Though perhaps it would come across as so."

"Malik claimed you were an exceptional Assassin."

"I was trained by the best."

Al Mualim chuckled. "Altair is the best among us."

"But incapable of adhering to the tenets." Desmond shrugged. "Or at least that is how it appeared."

"Yes." Al Mualim's eyes were narrowed again. "He said he last saw you in Jerusalem with Kadar. Tell me, has Kadar returned with you?"

"I am afraid he hasn't." Desmond responded, his shoulders sagging. "The wound was...there was nothing I could do. He is dead."

Al Mualim nodded slowly, his eyes betraying sadness Desmond did not trust. "It is such a loss. He was exceptional for his age. Tell me, how did he die?"

"Robert de Sable's man shot him with a bolt. Do not worry...Altair did enact revenge even if de Sable got away."

"And you disappeared shortly after, along with Kadar." Al Mualim pointed out. "Altair informed me. Tell me, where did you go?"

"I took him to receive healing." Desmond didn't have to lie. "There were methods to save him, but it was a risk. He would die if he stayed and there was a chance my methods would save him. I was too late, I'm afraid."

"So you admit to killing Kadar?" Abbas hissed. "You risked on a chance?"

"He would have died for sure otherwise." Desmond glared at the man. "And I do not have to explain nor justify my actions to you."

"Very well." Al Mualim finally ordered his men to sheath their weapons. "Malik said you were a friend as much as you acted as an enemy. I see no reason to fear you, though I will place the burden of informing Malik of his brother's death upon you."

"I take this burden with honor." Desmond pressed his left hand to his chest. "It is best I tell him anyways."

"Rauf will take you to him...though I must ask you go unarmed."

"To rob a brother of his weapons is certainly a sign of fear." Desmond grinned at the Mentor. "You do see no reason to fear me, or so you claim."

Waving Desmond on, Al Mualim made no argument against him and Desmond followed Rauf out of the fortress and into the city. After some time, they arrived at a small house and entered when they were given permission.

"Desmond!" Malik responded in surprise, but immediately checked beyond the man. "Where is Kadar?"

"Walk with me." Desmond encouraged and the two men left alone to wander out onto the road leading out of Masyaf.

For several minutes they were silent as Desmond picked through possible ways of going about this.

"He is dead, isn't he?" Malik's words were shaky when eh spoke them, but he was trying hard to keep all emotion from his voice. He cleared his throat and swallowed down the lump forming there. "Isn't he?"

"He is alive." Desmond told him and watched as Malik gazed at him in surprise. "Though barely. He is currently in my time, recovering. I do not know if he will survive. We had to amputate his arm and we lost him several times. The bolt was too close to his heart. We are doing everything in our power to keep him alive, but I informed Al Mualim he is dead. You will have to pretend that he is."

"But...why?" Malik stopped him, his eyes glossy and his entire body shaking. "Why would you lie to our Mentor?"

"Why did you not tell him I came from the future?" Desmond questioned in return.

"He..." Malik looked away. "Desmond, I need proof."

"Proof?" Desmond's brow rose. "Proof Al Mualim will betray? Proof I come from the future? Proof your brother is alive? Which of these or all?"

Malik now stared at the ground. "All."

"I can provide proof of all of these things in time." Desmond told him. "For now, I have a mission. Could you accompany me? To Solomon's Temple? I am sure I can receive guidance from there."

Thinking this over, Malik nodded. "The rafiq in Jerusalem is retiring. Al Mualim believes my calm judgement is suited to the position and has asked I take it up. I am not particularly happy about it given I am best suited as an Assassin, but I cannot argue with him. I leave tomorrow. Meet me at Bureau and I will help you."

"Thank you, brother." Desmond pressed his hand to his chest. "Safety and peace."

Malik hesitated before repeating the action and returning to Masyaf while Desmond began the long journey to Jerusalem on foot, wondering if he had made the right decision.


Woot! Another chapter. XD