Chapter 14

I couldn't believe my eyes.

My brother, Rio, stood in front of me in a Templars uniform, with a sword pointed at me.

Abba grasped my throat tightly with one of his hands.

"Please Rio!" I begged, struggling against Abba's grip, only for Abba to tighten it.

"Forgive me, dear sister...this is not by my own want..." Rio whispers as he places the blade to my throat.

I feel tears of betrayal stream down my face.

I stare at him.

Rio hasn't changed much. His dark jet black hair is still messy, he has more muscle than the last time I saw him.

Oh please Allah! Let this not be the last time I see him!

"Please...Rio...I beg of you!" I begged.

"Damon! This is cruel even for you!" Alima yelled.

"Swami!" Damon yelled and Swami covered Alima's mouth with his hand.

"Shut up Ranya!" Rio snarled and raised the blade.

I shot my eyes and waited for the blade to slice through my neck.

How could my own brother, whom was always a pacifist, kill me!?

The sound of swearing makes my eyes shoot open and what I see is a joyous sight. Instead of killing me, my brother scarred Damon across his lip.

"You bastard! How could I kill my own sister?" Rio yells as he raises the blade to kill Damon when Abba kicks him in the back of his leg, crippling him.

"RIO!" I scream as Abba wraps his arms around mine.

Abba's grip tightened around my arms, I could feel his heavy breath against my skin. It sent shivers down my spine. My mind was replaying the events of four weeks ago. "Fuck off Dick-face!" I snarled struggling against Abba's grip.

"Now, Ranya. No need to be rude." Abba said as he pulled me closer to him.

"Actually, there is! Now let go of me before I stab you!" I threatened.

Abba laughed. "I've missed you, your smart remarks and that gorgeous ass of yours!" Abba whispers close to my ear as one of his hands grasps my chin roughly and turns it to face him.

"I meant to ask, hows Kadar?" Abba asked as he went to kiss me when I head butted him.

Hard.

Abba staggered backwards, releasing me.

"What do you mean?" I asked angrily about to surge forward to kill him when an arm was wrapped around my throat and pulled me backwards.

"Now Ranya, we have unfinished business!" Damon snarled in my ear as he place his sword to my throat as he tightened his grip around my throat.

"I hadn't finished with you at the docks when my brother and Alima interrupted us!" Damon said, smacking the sword into the left side of my face.

I cried out as I fell to the stone floor.

"Ranya!" I heard Alima cry.

"Shit." I swore as I was about to get up when Abba grabs me by my bandaged wrist and twists it behind my back.

"You're looking beautiful, just like that night on the balcony." Abba said. "Is Kadar still pure and innocent?"

At the mention of my little cousin, my heart stopped. "What do you mean?" I asked struggling. "What did you do to him!?"

I could sense Abba smirk.

"Abba, leave her alone! You've hurt her en-" Alima calls but Swami covered her mouth.

"Now Alima, let them discuss what they need to discuss?" He said.

"Never mind. You should ask Alima, she seems to know more than she is letting on..." Abba smirked as he tried to kiss me but I bit him. He squealed like a girl. I kicked him and slashed him across the face with my sword.

"Tell me what you did to my cousin!" I demanded as I grabbed Abba and placed my sword to his neck. Abba just smirked.

"TELL ME!" I yelled, tears streamed down my blood stained face. I yelled out in frustration. I raised my sword when Damon grasped hold of my hood and yanked me backwards.

"That's enough Ranya. You die tonight. Just like my brother died." Damon snarled as he grabbed my bandaged wrist, twisted it behind my back.

I shrieked as he stabbed his dagger through my wrist. Damon laughs as he rips the blade out of my wrist.

"Like I said before, you're pathetic!" Damon mocks.

My anger grows inside and I throw my hand to punch his face when his metal glove closes over mine and he tightens his grips. "You're so predictable." He sneers, punching me in the stomach, hard. I grunt as I fall to my knees and cough up blood. Damon bends down to look at me.

"What's the matter Ranya? Where are your remarks? Your annoying taunts?" He asked grasping my throat.

"Why don't you fight back?" Damon snarls angrily as his grip tightens and he lifts me off the ground and smacks me into the stone wall.

I grunt at the impact.

"What...you mean...fuck you!?" I mock weakly as I desperately tried to pry his hand open.

"That's it?" Damon snarls, throwing me to the side.

I smash into the wooden table, knocking it over and smashing some of the items on it.

"That's all you've got?" Damon sounded annoyed.

I grunted as I landed on the ground near Rio.

"I expected better Ranya." He said.

I closed my eyes. My mind was blocked by my unanswered questions concerning my little cousin. I couldn't think clearly.

"Ranya! Get up!" I hear Alima yell.

Shite! She is still stuck with Swami!

I took one of my daggers and threw it.

A scream rings out.

I open my eyes to see that it has lodged in Swami's legs. Right where one of his massive arteries are. He released Alima in the panic and she stabbed him right through the heart. I smirked as I was about to get up when Damon grasped a hold of me.

"Let go!" I yelled as he pinned me to the wall close to the door and dug a really sharp shard of glass into my arm and sliced down my arm before digging it deeper once he reached my wrist.

I squealed in agony as he then took a handful of my hair and yanked me roughly towards Abba who was now standing. "Let go of me!" I screamed in sheer agony.

"Leave her alone!" Rio yells getting up, he goes to run towards me when something stops him and he leaves.

"Shut up!" Damon snarled, punching me in the stomach again.

I grunt as I stumble backwards and fall to my knees. Blood flowed from me like a waterfall. Abba grasped a hold of my arms, holding them tightly like he did when he tried to rape me.

I was too weak to struggle so I just stood limply in his arms. "Weak already Ranya?" Abba said as he kissed my neck, I could feel his tongue on my skin.

I shrieked.

Suddenly, his presence was gone and there was aloud BANG. Alima had smashed a plate over Abba's head.

I fell to the ground, shaking.

'Not again!' I thought to myself, I could still mentally feel his tongue on my neck. 'Pull yourself together!' That voice echoed in my mind. I inhaled and stood up. I grabbed my sword and turned to kill Damon just in time to see him surge forward to kill me. His blade was close to slitting my throat when he wrapped his arm around mine and placed the blade to my throat, digging it in so I would scream. "You die now! Your brother can't help you. He even abandoned you." Damon mocks tightening his grip. "Not even Altaïr can help you!" Damon snarled.

I looked up to see that Rio was not there and Alima had unsheathed her blade.

Damon removed the blade from my throat and wrapped his arm around my neck, so the blade was digging into one of my arteries.

"Let her go Damon!" I heard Altaïr yell as a blurry figure ran in and knocked the blade from Damon's hand. I felt Damon's grip loosen around my neck and a hand closed over one of mine and yanked me out of his arms. Altaïr stood in front of me. "That is enough Damon! Do not hurt her again!" He snarled threateningly.

"Awk, you have a heart Altaïr!" Damon mocked picking up his sword.

I was about to stab Damon when a hand closed over mine. I turned to see Rio standing beside Malik and Alima.

I replace my blade in its sheath as Rio wrapped his arms around me, embracing me in a hug which was long due.

"I am so sorry Ranya!" Rio whispered.

"It wasn't your fault you had no choice besides you didn't do it!" I replied punching him lightly on the shoulder.

Rio smiled and punched me back before we turned our attention back to the two battling brothers.

Damon had scarred Altaïr in the same place Rio had scarred him.

"Altaïr!" I yelled grabbing a throwing dagger.

"I will avenge Stefan, brother!" Damon said throwing a dagger at me.

I yelped as Rio pulled me out of the way.

A scream echoes throughout the Temple. I turn to see the dagger lodged in Abba's shoulder.

A smirk danced to my lips. He deserved that.

"I will always stop you brother!" Altaïr snarled, punching Damon in the face.

"THIS IS NOT OVER RANYA! I SHALL SEE YOU DIE!" Damon yelled as he ran off.

Altaïr surged forward to run after him but I stopped him.

"We must return. Leave your wimp of a brother. We have something even better." I said smirking.

"And what is that?" Altaïr asked smiling at me.

"Abba." Rio said.

At the sound of his voice Altaïr spun around. Rio laughed at Altaïr's expression. "You look like you've seen a ghost, dear friend." Rio smirked.

Altaïr sent him daggers.

"You are different. You left. I thought you died! You bastard!" Altaïr snarled and ran at Rio.

"Shit!" Rio swore as he sprinted outside.

"Get back here! Rio!" I yelled running out after him and into the warm sunshine.

Despite the pain of my injuries, I was just happy to be alive and with my brother again.

The town of Jerusalem still stood unaware of what had just happened.

"What?" Rio asked from behind me.

I tried to look angry but I couldn't stop the smile that danced to my lips.

I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"I can't believe you're alive!" I cried, tears escaped my eyes and fell onto his clothes.

"Ranya, are you crying?" Rio teased as I broke away from him.

"Cocky, now are we?" I asked.

Rio shrugged and hugged me again.

"You've not changed sister." He said.

"You are still tiny!"

"I'd be careful Rio. Ranya may still be a midget but she has the strength of men ten times her size." Malik's advice echoed.

"Oh I'd love to see that!" Rio mocked.

"Continue pissing me off and you might just see." I warned flashing him the finger before turning to face the others.

Altaïr had Abba bonded.

As soon as Abba's eyes were on me, he gave me a really sickening, flirty and purvey smile. I felt my body shake as images flashed and events played in my mind.

The events on top of the balcony.

Images of what might have happened if Alima didn't hit him with the plate and visions of him kissing my neck and then his tongue, licking me!

That terrible feeling came back.

My head was spinning.

My heart was racing.

I could hardly breathe.

I could feel his hands on my body, squeezing my ass and my breasts.

I remembered how he kept touching me inappropriately.

I felt as if I was about to pass out.

My knees gave way...

"Ranya!" Rio called as he caught me.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Y-yes. Just a tad light headed, no biggie!" I insisted looking up.

Abba was still staring at me.

"Altaïr!" I pleaded.

"Leave her alone!" Altaïr yelled knowing what I meant, punching Abba in the face. Rio looked up from me and looked at Altaïr as Altaïr passed Abba to Malik and made his way over to us.

"What do you mean?" Rio asked.

Altaïr opened his mouth but I glared at him.

"Nothing." I muttered.

Rio raised an eyebrow.

"It doesn't matter. I'm fine like I said, I feel light headed probably due to blood loss!" I insisted.

"Sure." Rio said sarcastically. He knew me well enough to know when I was lying and when to stop asking. But no one knew me like Altaïr...

"Ranya," Alima called, pulling me from my thoughts. "Shall we head back?" She asked. I stared at her for a long time.

What did Abba mean?

What was Alima not telling me?

Why was she hiding this from me?

It was a few minutes before I replied again. "Yes...let's head back...to the beau..." I mumbled shaking my head.

Altaïr stared at Rio who shrugged.

"Yes...we can rest and try and see to your wounds." Malik said awkwardly.

"No!" I said. "I don't need anyone looking at my wounds!" I cried as I began walking back the way we came.

"Ranya! Bloody hell! We go over this every time you get injured!" Malik yelled following me after passing Abba back to Altaïr.

"Then stop go on and on and ON about my wounds! They're just cuts!" I cried.

I could hear Altaïr laughing at Malik's failures.

"I take it she is still as stubborn as ever then, aye Malik?" Rio mocked smugly.

"You have no idea!" Malik muttered.

"She never goes to a doctor even if she has broken bone! I have to lift her and I only have one arm!" Malik complained waving his stump.

"If it's too much hassle then don't lift me and DON'T take me to the doctor simple." I snap.

"You're going!" Altaïr, Rio and Malik all said. I stopped in my tracks and turned to face them. Malik had an angry and authoritative expression on his face;

Rio had an overly protective and strict brothers face that said, 'You are going and that is final!'

Altaïr's was a cute, big-eyed, puppy-dog begging face. I couldn't resist it. His hood was up so the others didn't see it.

I sighed. "Fine..just this once because Al-" I was about to say because Altaïr was so cute and he asked when I broke off.

"Because what?" Alima asked suspiciously.

"Because Al Mualim would probably be pissed off if I didn't and I am already in trouble with him although he has forgotten my punishment..." I explained.

With that we made our way to the beau.

In the beau...

"So Alima...what did Abba mean about Kadar?" I ask as soon as the guys leave.

Alima goes silent.

"Alima," I said walking over to her.

"What did he do to Kadar!?" I yelled pinning her down on her matt.

"Ranya! Get off me! I can't tell you! I promised Kadar I wouldn't!" Alima cried, struggling.

"Tell me or I'll spit in your face!" I threatened dangling spit in front of her face.

Alima squealed.

"MALIK! ALTAÏR! RIO! HELP!" She screamed, struggling even more.

"Ranya! What is going on?" I heard Malik yell.

"Tell me!" I yelled angrily, the spit drew closer to Alima's face.

"MALIK! GET HER OFF ME!" Alima begged.

"TELL ME!" I screamed, the spit nearing Alima's face as tears streamed down mine.

Alima cried out.

I felt two arms wrap around my waist and lift me off of her.

"Let me go!" I yelled as Altaïr dragged me away from Alima.

"Ranya, relax." Altaïr said.

I stopped struggling.

"Okay, now let us rest and we can discuss this in the morning." Rio said.

With that we all laid down. I lay beside Rio but close to Altaïr and fell asleep thinking about Alima.

What is she hiding from me?

Why isn't she telling me?

Is she in cahoots with Abba?

As soon as I awoke the next day, I quickly went outside. The sun shone brightly, radiating its heat across Jerusalem. The cool wind whipped at my black hair. I took down my hood and closed my eyes.

"Are you alright?" Altaïr's voice whispered in my ear as he wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my cheek. A smile spread to my face as I opened my eyes and turned around.

"Yes I am...now..." I said.

Altaïr raises one of his eyebrows.

"Really? What was with dangling spit in front of Alima's face?" He asked.

"Abba spoke of Kadar in a way like he had done things to him and he said that Alima knew more than she was telling me." I explained, turning away from him. "I need to know what happened to my little cousin."

"Ranya, it is not for Alima to tell. Kadar probably wants to tell you himself." Altaïr said.

I opened my mouth to argue when the floorboards creaked.

Altaïr and I turned to see Alima, Malik and my brother Rio, standing behind us.

"Rio!" I cried running to him and hugging him.

"Morning Ranya!" Rio laughed hugging me back.

"What was going on?" Malik asked.

"We were getting fresh air, isn't that right Tiny?" Altaïr teased.

I would have smiled if the others weren't there but instead I shot him the finger and glared at him.

"Can we just go before I whack Big-head here in the face?" I sighed turning around to see Abba lying on the floor.

I released my hidden blade and went towards him, when Altaïr pulled me back. "Not yet..." He whispered in my ear.

I sighed and the blade disappeared.

"Fine but don't expect me to be anywhere near him!" I said.

"Don't worry. It'll never happen!" Malik said.

Rio stared at us confused.

An awkward silence hung in the air for a few minutes before Alima spoke.

"Shall we head then?" She said.

I stared at her for a long time before turning and jumping out of the window and began scaling the roof.

"RANYA!" Rio yelled.

"Hurry up!" I called running across rooftops before dropping down into one of the alleyways in between two houses.

Within minute the others had followed me out and were running across the buildings. I was about to call to them to tell them where I was when someone's arm grasped my wrist and twisted it behind my back before putting a blade to my throat. "What the fuck!?" I choked struggling against whoever it was grip.

"I told you I'd get my revenge!" Ferran snarled, pressing down harder on the knife. "This'll be the last time you breathe!" Ferran threatened.

Ferran dug the blade deeper into my throat as he twisted my arm harder.

"Let go of me, Goat-face!" I growled through clenched teeth as I struggled against his grip.

"What's wrong Ranya?" Ferran asked, "afraid you'll die?"

I scoffed at his statement.

How pathetic could Ferran get?

"It isn't me who is going to die!" I snarled, smirking.

Ferran, being the dumbass that he was, released some of the pressure in which he held on the knife. Wasting no time, I lifted my head back sharply and smacked him in the face. Ferran swore as he stumbled backwards due to the impact, releasing my arm in the process.

"You bloody bitch!" Ferran snarled as he regained his balance and glared at me. Blood was pouring from his nose. I couldn't help a smug smirk of satisfaction dance to my lips as I stepped away from him.

"Awk did that hurt?" I asked smugly with false sympathy.

Ferran unsheathed his sword silently, rage was growing in his dark eyes.

"I will wipe that smug smirk off your face for good!" He threatened, charging at me. Usually, I would have stayed and fought, but I was already late and soon the others would realise that I was not with them plus I had bigger problems to attend to than beat up Ferran. I dodged the blade as it sliced through the air and lodged into one of the barrels. I quickly sprinted to one of the walls of a house and ran up it, jumping across to the other roof. My hands grasped hold of the other roof and I heaved myself up with hardly any effort.

"Get down here you coward!" Ferran yelled as he yanked his sword free, spilling ale everywhere. Oh he was so going to die!

"If you want to kill me, climb your fat and weak ass up here and get me!" I taunted, smirking as the joyous chase planned itself out in my head. Oh what fun this was going to be!

My thoughts were soon interrupted as a loud thud echoed echoed to my ears.

Ferran had climbed onto the roof opposite me and was far from pissed off. He was like Mount Vesuvius on the verge of erupting. "You can't hide now Ranya!" He snarled.

"Ha! There is still a gap between us Dumbass! And I highly doubt your puny stubby fat little legs can make that jump!" I mocked. Not my best idea.

Ferran erupted, "I'll show you puny!" He howled in anger as he took a run up and jumped off the of the roof.

I didn't stay to wait and see whether or not he made it but soon a thud and small vibrations on the roof told me that he had successfully made the job (what a disappointment). I sprinted across the roof and continued across the rooftops, with Ferran not far behind me. Below us, I could hear civilians yelling in shock and interest and guards shouting at us in annoyance but their tones had that kind of wondering what'll happen ring to it. Chases like this always caught the attention of people in Jerusalem.

"Keep up Ferran!" I yelled back, mockery rang out in my voice as I quickened my pace and flipped over the giant cap between two of the houses. I heard Ferran growl in frustration and anger. "You run like a coward Ranya! Why won't you fight?" He shouted, his voice echoing over the now silent crowd. I skidded to a halt. I could hear the crowds whispers below,

"That is Ranya!?"

"The RANYA? No, surely not! She always stays and fights!"

A smile came to my face, it seems my reputation is still known and my aggressions and anger are still famous here in Jerusalem. "Ah well it just so happens that I am in the mood for a chase first!" I yelled back, "But if you and your fat stubby legs can't hold up that potato you call your body then maybe I'll put you out of your misery!" I snarled, reaching behind my back for my sword only to feel nothing there.

Bullshit! Where was my sword?

"I think this chase is over as is your life!" Ferran yelled as he ran at me and swung his sword at me. I leaned backwards and dodged it, Matrix style.

I kicked him in the stomach, sending him stumbling. "Where is it Ferran!?" I growled angrily, knowing he must have taken it when he grabbed me.

"Where is what? Your crappy sword? You shouldn't place it on your back, it is such an obvious place and so many pick pockets run loose in this city." Ferran smirked. My anger boiled.

The wind picked up and wiped my hood down, exposing my identity. The crowd below gasped. Some yelled abuse. The guards yelled arrest at me.

I am not very liked in Jerusalem...but that was not what I was concerned about. My mind was too busy planning how I would rip Ferran to shreds if he didn't give me back my sword now!

The wind caught in Ferran's robe, blowing the end backwards exposing the blood-red dragon which was carved into the black background of the handle of my beloved sword. "Give it to me!" I snarled. Ferran smirked.

"But I am just loving the design on the handle, and what is that phrase you used to say, 'finders keepers'..." Ferran taunted.

I screamed in frustration as I sprinted towards him knocking him off the roof. Ferran landed with a thud. He groaned as he rolled onto his front.

I flipped off of the roof and landed on his back, causing him to cry out in agony as a loud cracking sound echoed throughout Jerusalem. I grasped hold of him and threw him through one of the market stalls., causing it to break and collapse on top of him. "I said hand it over!" I growled.

The people of Jerusalem were about to remember why I had that reputation.

"It was a huge relief once we all heard what had happened to your parents!" Ferran groaned as he got up.

"Why!? They didn't do ANYTHING to you! Yet someone just betrayed them!" I snarled.

Why suddenly bring my parents into this? What did he know about their death?

"It was your fault they died!" Ferran said.

I stared at him in anger and shock, backing away in confusion. What did he mean?

"You're lying! I had nothing to do with their death!" I cried.

"If you had not have attacked my cousin, then I wouldn't have shown the Templars where your hideout was." Ferran confessed.

That was it. I lost it.

I snatched a dagger from my belt and stabbed it into his chest. "You killed my parents!" I snarled in anger as Ferran grunted, stumbling backwards and dropping his sword. I charged at him and yanked the dagger from his chest and pulled my sword from his sheath. "This was my father's! You should have stayed in that inn!" I snarled as I swung my sword and sliced Ferran's head off.

Blood flowed every where as his body went limp and fell to the ground. My sword dripped with blood but I didn't care. My parents death was now partially avenged.

I pulled my hood up and walked towards Rio and the others who had stopped and turned to see what the commotion was about. Rio stared at me shocked and confused.

"Ranya! What happened?" Malik asked.

"He killed my parents. He needed to pay!" I said without emotion as I wiped the blood from my sword and replaced it in its sheath.

"Fuck." Rio said as he wrapped his arms around me. I wanted to cry but no tears came out. No tears, only loathe and the taste of revenge. It was never different, every time I was in Jerusalem.

"Come on, let us head back to Masyaf." Malik said calmly and slowly. All I could do was nod. My anger boiled and rose with every minute that I spent in Jerusalem. This place brought me so much pain and anger, which is why I tend to not come here on missions and even if I do it ALWAYS ends with a trip to Al Mualim's office.