CHAPTER FOURTEEN:

Not My Day

I woke up to the sound of Heather knocking on my door.

"Wake up Emma! It's already ten in the morning!"

Slowly, I shook my head and something white caught my attention. Looking up, I looked at my new Assassin jacket and everything suddenly made sense. I was initiated into the Order last night. As I stood up, I groaned and held my side. Moving my shirt up, I looked at my left side and saw a nasty bruise that covered most of my side. Right, that Templar landed a blow to me…

I stumbled my way down the steps and Heather greeted me with a hug (I gasped in pain at the pressure she was applying to my bruised side). "Congrats Emma!" she beamed as she released me and I rubbed my eyes a few times.

"Thanks," I mumbled as I made my way into the kitchen. Derek had a bowl of oatmeal for me and I grabbed it (after grabbing a glass of milk) and sat in the living room. I flipped the television on and turned on the History Channel and watched an episode about the Joan of Arc being burned at the stake and I shuddered at that for some reason.

"Hey Em," Derek said as he took a seat in the recliner. "Watching the History Channel again?" I nodded as I ate some oatmeal. "William called early this morning; I swear that guy never sleeps! He said that you killed a Templar and two thugs last night?"

I nodded as I swallowed my oatmeal and drank some milk. "The thugs weren't much fun. Too easy to sneak up on. The Templar was a blast." I grinned but my hand wrapped around my torso and I nursed my bruised side.

"And that Templar landed a blow to you?" Heather said as she lifted my shirt up enough to see the bruise. "Ice and time…as usual." I nodded and continued to eat my breakfast. I was three-fourths of the way done with my oatmeal and drinking some milk, when Heather spoke again. "Before I forget Em, you're going to be doing the noon and afternoon patrols."

I started choking on my milk and Derek was kind enough to slam his fist onto my back. I recovered from my coughing fit and looked at my aunt. "W-What?!"

Heather shrugged. "It's the only time. Plus you aren't in school anymore—and that reminds me, I have an English assignment for you when you get back."

I slouched in my seat. Of course. No more school, no more drama, no more secrets. After I had finished eating, I excused myself and went upstairs to shower. The hot water helped some with my sore side, but not enough. After I was done, I inspected the bruise closely and applied pressure in different spots and each time, I hissed as the pain flared up.

"Fucking Templar…" I growled.

I returned to my room and grabbed a bullet-proof black long-sleeved shirt (another invention courtesy of the Technical Assassin's), jeans, and everything else I would need for patrols today. I placed my blades and knives in their respective places, and then I finally grabbed my white jacket. I zip it up to mid-chest. I checked my clock and frowned. Almost eleven.

I half-ran out to my bike and quickly sped out of the driveway and onto the street. I wove in and out of traffic easily. I only had to stop for stoplights and every time I did (which wasn't often) I grinned as the same thought entered my mind: What if the Assassin's didn't have to stop for those stupid things? At least there wouldn't be as many escaped Templars in high-speed chases.

When I reached the highway, I hit the gas and speed towards the city. I lived in New York State, but I patrolled in New York City…I didn't write the rules—or the patrol schedule.

I stopped at a stoplight and I looked to my right and saw the familiar car. I forgot she had free period between eleven and noon and lunch was right after her free period; she was probably heading back to school or going to lunch. Casey looked a little worse for wear, probably still a little shaken up about that near-death-experience from last night. As if she knew I was staring at her, Casey turned her head and (thankfully) I had my visor down so she didn't know who was next to her.

I nodded as she waved at me and I returned my attention to the red light. C'mon, turn green already! Finally, the light turned green and I took off like a bat outta hell. Weaving in and out of the heavy traffic is a pain, but the more distance I put between Casey and myself, the better.

Eventually, I found a place to hide my bike. After running my hand through my hair a few times, I pulled it back and tossed my hood up over my face. At least if I get hungry later, I can just jump down and grab something at Subway… I smiled at the thought. Shaking my head to clear it, I scramble up a fire escape again and start the noon patrols. Normally, patrols are around two to five hours long; the patrol I was running was three. I was hoping I would be running the longer patrol, I didn't really want to do an English paper...

At around one in the afternoon, I start to see a steady stream of kids from my old school heading towards the fast-food chains that littered this part of the city. I laughed as a few boys started to actually wrestle to get into the doors at McDonalds. However, my amusement was short-lived when I heard some grunting and squealing. I walked over to the edge of the roof and looked down, only to see Casey being dragged by Bertha, by her hair!

I take a few steps back and landed behind a few garbage bags.

"You don't have Emma or Tanner to protect you anymore," Bertha growled and I remembered that Tanner had left for California yesterday. "So now, you're gonna get your long overdue beat down!"

I heard Casey whimper and scramble away, only to stop when Bertha must've grabbed her leg. I somehow manage to move from my hiding spot and I appear behind Bertha. Casey looked at me once and a smirk appeared on her face as she looked back at Bertha.

"What're you smirking at runt?" Bertha snarled and I rolled my eyes.

"Perhaps you should stick with picking on people your own size?" I said as I crossed my arms.

Bertha froze as she turned around, her face showing that she was shocked that someone was witnessing this. "Where'd you come from?" she asked, her eyes looking for a badge. My badge was my ring finger.

I pointed up at the sky and Bertha looked up. That was the three seconds I needed and I bolted forward, my left fist connecting with her stomach. She fell back and Casey scrambled out of the way and towards the entrance to the alley. I didn't have a lot of breathing room, since Bertha recovered swiftly and I jumped back and to the side as she tried to tackle me to the ground like all wrestlers do. I snickered as I remembered my fight with Derek a while ago.

"Face it, brute strength always looses to agility and grace!"

As Bertha kept up her attack on me, I easily dodged her predictable moves and within a few minutes, I could see some sweat starting to form on her forehead. I was at least three feet away from the drugged up wrestler and again, my arms were crossed.

"W-Wh-Where do you go to school?" she grunted as she wiped her forehead.

I rolled my eyes. "That's none of your business."

Bertha growled unimpressively for a few short seconds and the fight—okay it's not really a fight but you get the picture—ended just as quickly as it started. Within two minutes, I nail a solid blow to Bertha's chest. She staggered back and fell into a pile of garbage bags. "Christ, I always knew you were a pile of garbage, you didn't need to prove that…" I mumbled too low for Bertha to hear. "You aren't worth my time. Leave that girl alone."

With the warning said, I spun on my heel and started to walk towards the mouth of the alley (towards Casey) when I felt someone grab the back of my jacket and pull me back. I was tossed to the ground but I rolled to my feet, my hood was somewhat off, but my face remained (somewhat) hidden.

"You don't know when to quit…do you?" I sneered as I stood up and rearranged my hood so that my face was concealed again. Bertha answered my question when she swung a punch at my face and I deflected it and she ended up hitting the broadside of the dumpster behind me. I grinned when I heard the crack of her bones snapping. "Least I know you can hit the broadside of a dumpster!"

"Holy shit!" Bertha screamed as she cradled her broken hand.

I shrugged. "That won't be the only thing hurting…" Bertha looked at me and soon, the back of my foot connected with her head and she fell back, unconscious. "You were warned," I hissed into her ear. She moaned from the pain.

The sharp, abrupt intake of breath brought me back to reality and my eyes widen as I looked at Casey (who was walking closer to me). Oh no, no, no, no, no, no! I continued to stare at Casey, reading her body language. She was more curious than scared—which was something that I didn't want.

Casey stared at me for what seemed like ages and her blue eyes were full of questions. I didn't move, afraid that if I did, she would pounce and try to rip the hood from my face. "I know who you are," she said quietly.

I crossed my arms. "Really? Who am I then?" I challenged.

Casey looked down then back up at me. "You saved me last night."

"Well," I snorted, "at least that cleared up any of your confusion."

Casey shook her head. "You're not that friend of Emma's…are you?"

I shrugged. "She has a lot of friends. I'm just an acquaintance."

Casey frowned. "I don't believe you." I didn't answer her as I placed my hands on my hips. "No one in my school knows how to take down Bertha," Casey said as she pointed to Bertha (who looked like she needed a doctor, ASAP), "except for my best friend and a few wrestlers from my school."

All the color in my face drained instantly. How could I have forgotten that I knew how to take down Bertha so easily? This has to be a record or something! Not even a full twenty-four hours and I'm more than likely going to blow my cover. Casey walked forward and I flicked my wrist, making her stop dead in her tracks.

"Don't come any closer," I warned. Even though revealing myself, my heritage is against the rules…it's not against the Creed and its three tenets.

Stay your blade from the flesh of the innocent.

Hide in plain sight.

Never compromise the Brotherhood.

Casey jumped at my voice, but kept walking towards me. Please, please, please stop. If Casey de-hoods me, it will be the single most humiliating thing that has ever happened to me!

"If you want to know who I am…you could just ask," I muttered.

Casey crossed her arms. "Take the hood off," she said in a daring tone.

I looked around and retracted my blade. My eyes rested on Casey and I realized that eleven years worth of lies and hurt feelings was about to end…now. "If I show you who I am under the hood…your life is in danger," I pleaded. "I won't always be able to protect you."

Casey pouted. "I can take care of myself."

I shook my head. "My enemies are something entirely different than this girl." I gestured to Bertha.

Casey bristled. "I can handle it. Just tell me who you are already!" Casey almost shouted. I sighed as I turned my Bluetooth off and I slowly brought my hands to the hem of my hood. Gripping the soft, smooth, reinforced material tightly, I looked at Casey again. "What're you afraid of?" Casey asked impatiently.

I gulped. "I'm afraid for your safety. I do have enemies—." Casey cut me off.

"I know you do, you said that already."

I sighed again. I knew that as soon as I took my hood off, I'd have to protect Casey. But I didn't know if she would accept the truth—if she would accept me anymore. Looking down, I pulled the fabric from my head and I close my eyes as I heard Casey gasp. When I feel the hood hit my back, I look up and open my eyes.

I gave Casey a small, reassuring smile. I was relieved that she now knew the truth, but at the same time, I was flat-out terrified. What would happen if William found out? Would he kill her? No, that's not what the Assassin's do. He'd probably (somehow) make her forget what she saw.

"E-Emma!?" Casey squeaked.

I nodded once and kept my arms at my sides. "It's me…it's really me," I answered in a calm voice.

Casey's jaw dropped open and I crossed my arms. I was calm—somehow I was calm. "W-What the shit?!" she stammered.

I put a hand up to stop her from continuing. "It's a long…complicated story. I don't have the time to tell you here, if you come back to my place after school, I can explain everything to you."

And, as if this day couldn't get any worse, Erik was passing by and he happened to look at Casey and I. His green eyes were wide with disbelief at what he was looking at. I shook my head slightly and he continued walking to the school.