This is it…the final chapter…finally.
Well, it has been a really long journey and the time for Assassin's Creed: Unity has arrived. I can not thank you guys enough for the support you gave this story and for staying with it until the very end. I know that I made a few errors with Grammar, and I know I'm not fluent in French, but I tried…and writing is hard…
Anyway, I hope to see you guys again next year for the next Assassin's Creed wait, and hopefully I will have ideas for a story on that game as well. In the mean time, I do hope to publish a few one-shots that have been plaguing me for a while now.
Safety and Peace…enjoy.
Chapter 21: Always
Nothing feels right…none of this is normal…what happened…?
Many questions buzz through my mind as I approach the door to the palais. It was never this quiet in the manor, especially with Élise living here. I gently turn the knob and push open the entrance to the building, and just as expected, no one was in the foyer. I take a moment to listen to my surroundings as I examine the emptiness of the manor.
As soon as I know it is desolate, I step inside and close the door gently behind me. There is not much left lying around the place, which makes me wonder where the red-head might of ran off to. I'm not going to assume the worse just yet. Élise is far too stubborn to just roll over and die; however, with the state of the city, I can not help but worry. With what little strength I have, I quickly climb the stairs before checking each individual room.
Upon finding the red-head's room and thoroughly inspecting the area, it is evident that the home has long since been abandoned. Any signs of activity are now cold trails that are useless to track, and it does not look like anything was left untouched. What was I going to do now?
The sound of footsteps within the manor are faint and almost went unnoticed had the silence of Paris not been so overbearing. I nearly panic as the noises draw closer forcing me to search for a place to hide. I have two options: under the bed or in the cabinet. Deciding quickly, I reach for the handles of the mahogany closet, jump inside and seal the doors behind me. As I sit in the darkness, I take slow, even breaths as I wait for the intruder to pass by the room. It's nearly impossible to tell if he has or not by the light trek of his feet.
Just to be safe, I wait until the noises are gone before slowly opening the cabinet and peering into the room. As soon as I note that the coast is clear, I gently open the door the rest of the way and maneuver into the corridors without making a sound. So far, so good. I make it down the stairs, but just as I am about to exit the building, an arm wraps around my neck, pulls me back into the foyer, and throws my back against a wall. My weak form is too slow to avoid the next assault and I find myself pinned by a white-coated man who is at least a head taller than me.
His hand squeezes tightly around my throat to keep me in place, but not constricting enough to close off all my air. "And who might you be, girl?" he questions in a low voice.
"I was just squatting here for the night," I lie as I claw at his arm, but his grip does not loosen.
The man scowls and presses my body closer to the wall. "I'm not believing that. Now answer my question: who are you?"
The familiar grind of gears sends my eyes downwards to his wrist as a thin blade extends from his gauntlet before he grazes the tip against my cheek without breaking the skin. Why would an Assassin be here? I know that the manor used to belong to a family of Templars, but there is nothing left for them to take.
"Pierre, release her," a voice calls out from the top of the staircase which causes my eyes to widen as they snap towards the figure.
I let out a shaky breath as the man standing over me finally backs away while the second individual descends the steps. My eyes fall to the floor the closer he approaches and I say nothing as he pulls my head upward to examine my face. I finally suck up the courage to glance at his honey-colored irises while tears collect in my own. At first, I felt the overwhelming feeling of joy spread throughout my body, but it soon turns to anger. Taking in a deep breath of air, I tighten my fingers into a fist and connect it to his jaw. Although I put all my force into it, I know my weak muscles couldn't do much damage to the assassin, but he still manages to stumble backwards, which is a small victory.
"You still want her unattained?" the man, Pierre, mocks at he leans against the opposite wall while crossing his arms over his chest. Arno glares at his mentor before turning back to me with soft eyes.
"Two years! Élise and I waited two fucking years for you to return, but instead you stayed away while we sorted out the mess here!" I holler as I back away from his advances. "Where the hell have you been? You promised you would only be away for three months!"
"Nicole-"
"Don't you dare…you are not allowed to do that comforting thing you do with my name!" I interrupt. "My brothers are all dead. Every single one of them. Oliver. Zacharie….Tristan…" One tear falls down my cheek, but I disregard it. "The Brotherhood has been comprised and from what I hear there is not many of us left. Same goes for the Templars of the old guard…"
"Actually, we are all that is left of the Brotherhood," Pierre interjects causing my attention to snap his direction.
I shake my head out of shock. "That can't be…Tristan said-"
"The council has fallen," Arno speaks up while lowering his eyes to the ground. "You are right to be angry with me for not returning as I promised, but had we both known what was happening while we were away, I'm sure we would have been here sooner."
So that's it then? We are the last ones standing?
"So what happens now? We disappear until this whole revolution blows over and then we rebuild?" I question as my eyes flicker between the two.
"That actually doesn't sound like a bad plan," Pierre states as he stands up straight. "We can't control the citizens, let alone recruit right now, and with the increasing number of accusations and deaths at the guillotine, we are better off laying low."
"Such a marvelous animus," I say as the sarcasm drips off my lips. "Good to know the future of the Brotherhood is in such great hands."
"And what would you do then, eh?" the Assassin growls as he takes a step forward.
"This terror needs to end now before thousands more are killed!" I retort. "Is that not our job?"
Arno finally steps between the two of us and breaks the glaring contest. "Pierre, we came here for the weapons. They should be upstairs, fourth door on the left behind the bookshelf."
The two exchange a look before the white cloaked assassin grumbles underneath his breath and begins climbing the staircase. I watch his movements carefully like a cat that observes a veracious dog from afar. I don't trust him.
"We need to talk," Arno states as he turns towards me. He doesn't give me a chance to move away before he grabs me by the wrist and pulls me down the corridor and into a study. He swiftly locks the door behind him and checks the windows before closing the drapes, leaving the two of us alone…in the dark.
"We have to talk like this?" I question as Dorian is now in front of me once more.
"Yes. Now keep your voice low," he replies in a whisper.
"Why?" I ask as I too whisper in a mocking manner. "Is this about your mentor?"
Arno shakes his head before lowering his hood. I expect him to start apologizing profusely for his disappearance or at least try to make me understand his reasons for not returning, but instead, I am greeted with his lips against my own as his left arm wraps around my waist while his right hand cups my cheek. I never thought I would be able to experience this warm, uplifting feeling again, and although I am still angry with him, I close my eyes and cherish the moment.
As soon as our lips part, Dorian plants a kiss on my forehead before pulling our bodies closer together. His arms are wrapped securely around me while his cheek rests against my hair. It was the same way he held me when I came home after Connor saved my life. If only we could go back to that time when the worse thing to happen to us was a boring Sunday. If only…
"I honestly thought we had lost you this time," Arno states with a lingering sadness in his voice.
"I'm still here," I comfort as I hug him back. "But what of Élise?" I question as I pull us apart so I can stare into his eyes.
"She's fine," Dorian replies while brushing my hair behind my ear. "There was an attack on the palais several months ago, and she was forced to flee to Versailles. What's left of this place is what the looters could not carry with them."
I let out a breath of relief, but my mind is still not at ease. "She thinks I'm dead, doesn't she?"
The assassin hesitantly nods. "I had not seen her so upset since Monsieur de la Serre was killed."
I no longer have the courage to look him in the eye, so I let my attention fall onto a brass button of his white waistcoat. "What happens now?"
Arno takes in a deep breath while he rubs a few strands of my hair between his fingers. "Once we are done here, Pierre and I will be returning to a safe house to discuss future plans, but after that…"
"I see," I say as I back away from his embrace.
"I can take you to Élise. I'm sure she will be upset at first, but she will be more than happy to have you back."
I shake my head before gazing into his honey irises. "I'm finished, Arno."
"What?" he questions as many emotions play out across his features.
"Connor once asked me why I never relocated to another part of the Brotherhood," I explain as I begin to pace the room. "I told him it was because I had my family here. Tristan. Oliver. Zacharie…they were my brothers…and then there is you…Although we had lost Alphonse, I still had a home here in the city. I still had a purpose…and now both of those reasons are gone…"
"So you are saying that Élise and I are not important enough for you to stay?" Dorian questions as he moves to stand in front of me.
"No," I say as I shake my head. "I'm not important enough to stay."
"Don't say th-"
"It's true and do not try to tell me otherwise," I interrupt. "I've done my duty as an assassin whether the consequences were glorious or tragic, and now that we've lost our place here in Paris, it is time for us to move on."
Dorian appears on the brink of shouting, but his voice remains quiet as his fist clench at his sides. "So you are leaving the Brotherhood? For good?"
"Not for good, no…I just need…space…a new start…"
He wants to talk me out of it. It's evident in his eyes, but he has a hard time finding the words to convince me. He knows that I am stubborn enough not to listen to him, but he wants to try anyway.
A knock on the door snaps us back to reality before Arno hesitantly moves to answer it. Pierre awaits on the other side with a look of impatience etched into his features as his arms fold over his chest. "We need to leave now if we want to get back to the safe house before dusk," he announces as his attention flickers over to me. "Is she coming with us?"
Dorian turns to gaze at me with those sad eyes that are nearly hard to resist, but I force myself to remember the path I have chosen. This has to be done….
"No," I speak up causing Arno's expression to fall.
"A pity," Pierre mutters before nudging the younger assassin on the shoulder. "Say your goodbyes and lets move."
The older man disappears down the corridor, leaving the two of us alone once again. Dorian seems too stunned to say or do anything, so I take the initiate of stepping forward and embracing him.
"I'm sorry," I say as he finally returns the hug. "But I need to do this."
"I can't lose you again," he remarks as his grip tightens. "Not when I just got you back."
I push our bodies apart before standing on my toes to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. "You are not going to lose me, Arno. When this all blows over, we can meet up again…okay?"
He takes in a deep breath and exhales loudly. His eyes linger so long on mine that I am getting uncomfortable under the pressure, especially with the silence of the city. "No more than three months…deal?" he negotiates with a small smile on his lips.
I cant help but grin as I remember the agreement we had made nearly three years ago. Now he is placing it on my shoulders to keep the bargain…what a bastard…
"Deal," I say and we seal the pact with a kiss.
X
I don't need to go into detail about what happened that July, do I? Everyone in France knows what occurred at the Hôtel de Ville, or at least, they believe they know what happened.
Poor Robespierre and his colleagues could not escape the angry mob beating at the doors to city hall, so they resorted to the only means of escape before being torn apart by the people: suicide. However, France's once powerful spokesman misinterpreted the right angle and ended up shattering his jaw, which kept him alive long enough for the citizens to arrest him. Had I not been rushed, I'm sure I could of ended his life right then and there, but it all worked out for the best.
He was beheaded by the same machine that he used to despise, but later became a tool for his trade in power. A fitting end for a corrupted snake, and it did not take too long after his death for the Reign of Terror to officially dissipate I almost felt sorry for the man. Had the madness not gone to his head, he could have saved France from all of the turmoil, but we can not wallow too long in the past.
And speaking of history…
It astounds me how much disrespect the human race has for the dead. I watch from my perch as dirt-covered men pick away at the stone walls beneath a church of all places just so they can rob the deceased. I know that the scavenging I've done in the past was not the best highlight of my life, but to disturb a grave was a completely new level of impudence.
I note that the only men carrying weapons are the faction members while the workers wield only their tools. I know the majority of them are not competent enough to fight back with their pick-axes, but I need to be cautious in case one of them does. My opportunity to strike finally arrives as the overseers of the raid move out to switch shifts with the night crew.
As soon as they are back into the church, I leap from my perch and onto the ground below. My tattered, hooded cloak flaps like wings behind me before draping over my shoulders as soon as my feet make contact with the dirt. The workers scream in fright as they view my dark clothed form before they take off out of the burial site.
"It's the witch!" the cowards shout as they fight to be the first ones out of here.
The faction members do not scare so easily and surround my form in one large circle with their weapons drawn. I laugh at their bravery before they each move in together to attack, but their actions are in vain as I easily cut the throats of every last one of them. More workers rush by me in fright as I venture further into the tomb in search of the head overseer of this project. If I can cut down him and his second in command, that should scare away unwanted attention to this site for a while.
As I near the area that the faction leader likes to hide, I can not help but notice how quiet and empty the place is. I hurry along, but to my dismay, I am too late. He either took another exit out of the burial site or departed earlier before I arrived.
"He was never here, if that is what you are wondering," a voice calls out behind me causing me to jump out of shock, but I laugh as I recognize whom it belongs to.
"You're late, Dorian," I announce as I turn on my heel to stare at the hooded figure leaning against wall with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Well, your letter was not very specific on where to meet you."
Arno pushes himself from the wall and we both meet half-way before we embrace. "Welcome to Saint-Denis," I say as I pull away to look him in the eye.
"Should I be concerned about this?" he questions as he lowers my tattered hood and pulls the mask from my face before examining it. "Do tell me this face is not actually from the skull of a human."
"It is," I reply nonchalantly as I re-attain the mask. "I needed that extra flare to get the people to fear me without having to kill more than I should."
I have no words to describe his next expression, but I'm sure it is something along disgust. "You know, when you said you were taking a break to clear your head, I did not assume you would jump right back in to the fray so soon."
"It would have been easier had trouble not followed me like it usually does."
Dorian chuckles as he wraps an arm around me and pulls our lips together. In response, I wrap both my arms around his neck as the kiss deepens, and next thing I know, my back is against the tomb wall. With both his hands wrapped around my thighs, he easily lifts me from the ground and my legs instantly wrap around his waist. I missed this…I really did…Some days I felt like an idiot for giving it all up, but getting away from the Brotherhood…the Templars…I needed the break…
"It's only been three months since we last saw each other," I say as we finally separate for air. "Too long for you?"
"It's been three years since I could hold you like this, so yes, it's been far too long," he replies in a husky voice before planting kisses along my neck.
"I thought I asked you to come here to help," I state before suppressing a moan as he begins sucking at the skin.
"You've already scared them away for now," he retorts as he stops his assault to look me in the eye. "Besides, I want the woman I love to know that she, after we clean up this mess here, will be returning with me to Paris."
"And why's that?" I question with playful skepticism.
Arno smiles widely as he reaches his hand up to cup my cheek. "How else am I going to make her my bride?"
My veins feel like they were iced over as my eyes widen from shock. Dorian does not seemed fazed by my reaction, but only grins wider. "You're serious?" I question as I find it harder to breathe.
He nods in response. "Of course I am. And I would like to know if you, Nicole, would let me take your hand in marriage?"
I let out a shaky breath as the world around me somehow feels lighter. I nod my head as soon as I know my answer. "Yes," I say as I too am surprised that the words are leaving my mouth.
His grin widens showing off his perfect teeth. Our lips meet once again, and for the first time in nearly three years, I am genuinely happy.