*It's out! I'm trying to get back on track with updates again! :O I've been having trouble writing this chapter . ew yes! And I am taking/ learning French so if I get some phrases or grammar wrong I am sorry... *shrinks* don't hate me all you professional French speakers! XD Oh yes indeed, please enjoy*

Chapter Twenty- five

Maria was up and gone by the time I had arrived before sunrise to check the area. I smirked noticing that she had taken the bottle I had left in her hand. Perhaps it is good that she remembers last night. I do not really need it; the time will come when Altair will tell me, right? I sniffed in the morning smell of copper in the air as if ithad rained recently though the city was parched of it and peace. I headed back to the Bureau dropping in with the mere existence of a leaf when the soles of my worn boots padded against the rough tile. Altair had been sleeping in his own bed this time around bundled up in his pillows was charming. With light feet I strolled over to my bed and sat with my back supported against the wall waiting. I began to return to the thoughts of my long distant friend Dalal and how not receiving any words from her diminished any of my worries. Hugging my elbows with my knees bent close to me I slumped my head down meditating to get some extra sleep.

Then again I heard the sounds of movement that jerked my head up and open my eyes. Altair stirred from his pillows moments later sitting up straight with his back cracking as he stretched. "Good morning," I murmured crossing my arms. He turned gazing over his shoulder at me with a curt nod he continued to stretch. I got up from my position and walked into Jabal's study wary at first wondering if he was going to yell at me for intruding. But he merely stood behind the counter dipping a quill into an ink pot and scribbled cursive into a blank paged book.

He looked up when I entered, "it is at last that I finally get to tell when you two assassins wake up." I had no idea whether or not he tone was to be taken lightly but I responded with a simple nod.

"Indeed," I attempted to come closer to the Bureau leader but he took the gesture as a sign of nosiness for he snapped the book closed and snuggled it underneath his nose. "Sorry," I added lowering my head. Jabal sighed dropping the book back down on the counter.

"Just go and collect what you can about William then report back to me. But until then, do not disturb me if one of you decide to come by sooner," he reopened the book flipping through the pages to find his original spot once more.

"Alright, it will be done."

"And I shall see that it is to be," he said nothing more but flicked my presence out the door like a fly. In the meantime of talking to Jabal before Altair and I were destined to take our leave, Altair threw up the gate to the ceiling dressed completely in his set of armor waiting by the fountain. A dangled off the side while the other leg sat underneath him. He brought a fist to his mouth as if someone covering up their cough he spoke into his hand.

"What of the woman from last night?" he inquired. I stared in the process of organizing my robes from my armor and weapons.

"Gone," I said coolly.

"Where?" he shot back. This arrived to the moment where I pursed my lips annoyed.

"I do not know where," I answered bringing my arms through the sleeves and my head through the collar. I heard the assassin breathe through his nostrils before moving on. I knew he was not satisfied with my answers as it came across negligent and careless. I waited for him to crumble me with his words however, today he thought of a day of mercy leaving me be. I strapped on the leather belt stashing it with throwing knives and threw over the quiver that contained my arrows. I picked up my platinum swords taking a glimpse of the glossy shine of my reflection before putting them in my sheathe. I braided my hair back rapidly then lastly came the intimidating obscurity of the white hood. Altair had already reached the rooftops standing around for me to emerge out of the Bureau. When I climbed out he stood at the edge of the Assassin Bureau building looking down at the vulgar people shopping about. I walked to his side staring below at the waking streets. "Are you hungry?" I asked.

"Hmm?" he was distracted by the motion below us turning his head to me though I did not do the same.

I breathed, "are you?" I said again.

He slowly wheeled his head around at the view, "I'm fine."

I chuckled, "I suppose you are, let's get something to eat," he could tell I was about ready to descend down on top of the stacked crates just underneath where we stood.

"I said I'm fine," he declared.

"I know, I heard you. But you didn't say you were content with your appetite either- come on now, we could use the extra boost in energy." I hopped down without another negative word from his lips that would form an excuse to pose otherwise. He followed me as I led the way through the fierce competition from merchant to merchant who had set up their stands at opposite sides of the street. Each one persuading us to come hither to take a look out their merchandise as we separated the crowd to get by. Eventually I spotted a merchant who was willing to give us a decent trade for our coin in hand. The man smiled receiving and feeling the coins between all of his fingers. With a smile he handed us two loafs of bread and a bag of plums. He even ventured as so far to throw in water that swished around in his leather-made pouch for additional coin. I tensed knowing well that I only drank from the fountains within the Bureau or at Masyaf. Silly as it sounded, I knew the water during this time wasn't clean at all... however I was not certain if Altair knew what clean water looked like. Thankfully Altair rejected the additional offer taking all that we originally came for.

We stood near a different market stand hugging close to an alley way to draw attention away from us. Altair took his first bite into the crumbling bread while I slipped a plum in my mouth in the awkward silence. Could I really tell you? Could I really tell you who I am- the time and everything?

"What?" Altair stared at me as I had heedlessly left my features obvious that I was thinking about him.

"Nothing," I lied dropping my gaze down into the ground swallowing the last morsel of the plum. Altair extended a hand as I thought he was reaching down to touch me only to pluck a plum from my cupped hand. "Oh," I shook surprised that he stopped in mid-action from taking one out of my hand with a look of is-this-alright? "Go ahead," I finished chagrined by my assumption. He took one out of my hand and plopped it in his mouth wordlessly throughout. Then a breakthrough of fresh air traveled our way. Two men came walking by up to a sand near us discussing to their leisure.

"Ah what interesting news I heard of the Montferrat guy," a bald guy with a beard and goatee chimed by the market stand to his friend. He ordered some cheap ale shortly after.

"His name is William," the second man face covered in dirt informed. The other man snorted along taking his bottle of ale when the merchant placed them over the counter.

"I'd say he's a rotten man," the other replied hostile to the other. Altair and I couldn't help but become affected just the same as if their words dragged us like sweat from our brows and gravity. The two man began to depart from the stand when the merchant reached out to stop them.

"Oh really how so?" the merchant asked. The two men looked at each other then thought nothing of the harm but chatting with the salesman engrossed in their conversation just as we were leaches sucking out the information needed.

The man with crooked nose started, "you know of William's fort?"

"Well now we do," said his companion.

"What of it?" questioned the merchant.

"They say it is an impenetrable fort covered with archers all over the place but," he paused, "get this," the man brought his head down so that they may gossip more. "William has ordered that repairs are to be made. That means somewhere in the fort he's got issues."

"But he won't leave until the arrival of King Richard which is sometime tomorrow correct?" The two men finally found a switch to their behaviors and backed away from the merchant with serious gazes.

"You seem to know very rounded information," the crooked nosed man accused.

"I only mentioned one thing of William! I do not know if it is true," the merchant defended. I turned to talk over Altair over my shoulder but I found his face oddly close to mine when I did. He leaned back casually as I said in a low whisper.

"We must assassinate William by tomorrow at the latest," I warned. Altair lowered his gaze and breathed out slowly parting his lips now to reply.

"Then it shall be dealt and done with today. I say we found enough information in that conversation; let's go." He turned around and scaled the side of the building instantly. I gave the two costumers and merchant a side glance but the three of them had disappeared.

The chimes sang each of our arrivals as Altair dropped down first and I followed closely behind. It was definitely still morning considering that our shadows were light and pointed west if the sun rose in the east. We entered Jabal's study and not a moment too soon he would shun us again.

"I said not to bother me until you had important business to tell me relating to William," he hissed eyes still connected with his text. Altair and I looked at each other wondering who was going to tell him first. "Get out or be gone," Jabal grumbled something else under his breath that I could not detect. I breathed in the scents of the dried herbs hanging from the ceiling of the Bureau and the incense burning.

"We have found said information you will be obedient to listen," Altair broke the silence into something else. Jabal discarded his book with a sour expression like tasting an expired herb on accident.

"Watch your tone Altair, I will not tolerate such ignorance," Jabal threatened. He brought out another dusty book from underneath the counter and slid it across his counter grabbing a quill sitting in the ink pot. He opened the book in half most reluctantly, "you seem eager to redeem yourself that is why you are nearly intolerable this morning." This managed to bring down Altair's ignorance reminding him of his bruised ego. The Brotherhood obviously meant a lot to him considering he had no other experience that separated him from the Assassins and himself.

"I do what I can..." Altair said carefully.

"And sometimes you do it well," Jabal replied. For a moment I was shocked that Jabal would chip away the coldness with the slightest indentation of being warm. Just slightly though. I stood propped up against the doorway on my side while Altair remained centered in the study quiet as if he was amazed too. "Work has reunited the two of you to me and you cannot leave without me permission. I would assume these past months of no contact with me you would have learned something by now."

"We have," I spoke, "William of Montferrat is secluded with archers in his fort until the arrival of King Richard will he take his leave on Acre."

"There is to be word that he has ordered an immediate repair to some portion of the fort that has been damaged. We will see that we will find a way in," Altair added. Jabal then contemplated the information jotting it down in his opened book finally.

"Is it wise to execute William with King Richard on his way?" Jabal asked.

"It has to be done now or sometime before tomorrow before William leaves with King Richard. We see it best that it is done while the sun has plenty of time to set," Altair answered in return. Jabal nodded his head interpreting it was an appropriate answer. Jabal closed the book and turning around to place it behind the bookshelf. He gave the traditional command of permission setting out a single eagle feather for Altair to take. Jabal dismissed us into the resting room where Altair and I could hopefully plan things out.

"Are we going now?" I stood but my gaze followed him as he paced the floors with the feather in hand. "What's the matter Altair?"

He stopped, "I'm thinking Sarraf," he looked at me. I inhaled and exhaled calmly thinking of a plan myself.

"Well at least we know where the fort is," I said perhaps too cheerfully it made Altair twitch. God, I can be so helpless sometimes. Sigh, oh Lucy will you be here to help me? No answer, as I suspected.

"Suppose when we find the fort and the damaged area we shall remain discrete," Altair shook me back to my senses eying me suspiciously at my astonished expression but did not question it. "Kill the archers only if absolute necessary and we will go from there," he commanded climbing up the wall out the Bureau.

Altair and I stood next the lining of the exterior of the fort wall. We managed to achieve scaling the side of the wall to avoid the guards that were guarding the stone archway for us to pass. On one side there was the interior of the fort and on the other was the grizzly steep waters of Acre. Four archers were patrolling the wall of the fort, one on each side. "There it is, do you see it?" Altair pointed to one of the sides that was crumbling as we crouched behind a smoked chimney protruding out. An archer came around only to gasp at the sight before I plunged my hidden blade into his abdomen he tumbled to the ground. Altair helped me drag the body out of sight pulling him behind the chimney with us. But his feet poked out from the side the man regained temporary consciousness gurgling up the blood spewing from his mouth dazed. Altair silenced him once and for all bringing the blade out of the sheath and slitting his throat to make it quick and easy. I suddenly grabbed Altair by the collar of his robes tugging him down so that my lips were to his ears and I could whisper to him an idea. He nodded his head peaking out from one side of the chimney as I did the other. Now pressing back to back against each other I counted down.

"Une, deux... trois, Go!" Altair and I split bolting in different directions running down the sides of the fortress. An archer brought the bow off his back loading an arrow as a warning for me to stop. I ran full speed pouncing on him before he could draw back on the string with my hidden blade digging in the flesh of his neck. I looked over across the other side as Altair had made his kill just the same. One more archer to kill, two competitive assassins... I took off sprinting as the last archer heard my footsteps first he turned around taking his bow off his back. Yet then he heard another pair of feet running for him as he looked the other way horrified to see death closing in on both sides. He could only load one arrow in one shot of hesitation he loaded the bow unable to chose which to shoot at first.

"S-stop," he aimed the arrow at me then back at Altair as we neared him. It didn't intimidate us as we were the intimidating ones. "Oh have mercy on me!" he exclaimed falling to his knees shivering in cold beads of sweat. This however did catch us off attention as Altair and I were expecting to get their first running hard we both steered to a stop. The bottom of my soles were burning as we stared at a traumatized man shielding his eyes from us. He flinched when one of us moved muttering prays at our feet and forgiveness. I stared into the eyes of Altair wondering what were we to do with him now.

"It will be done quick and painless," Altair's voice emotionless he swooped down claiming his life with the blade into his neck. I blinked three times quickly in the silence Altair gestured to the broken floor that needed repair below our feet. I descended down first into a room inside the fortress. I got up peering around inside such naked interior of an austere room that had a work bench with the simple tools of a hammer and uneven chopped wood. Altair plummeted through the break in the security tapping me on the shoulder. "We need to get moving and find him," he reminded.

"Of course," I replied following him as he cautiously opened the wooden door into a corridor of the fort. Imagine two assassin heads poking out scouting down the hallway to see if the coast is clear. Altair tapped my shoulder again directing my attention to a lavish red door with brass bolts for decoration across the hallway. Altair pushed me out into the hallway closing the door behind him with light feet we padded across the stone surface to the door. I stopped him before he reached for the metal ring latch. "How can you be so sure that no one is inside?" I whispered to him. He lifted the latch anyway with the lightest touch and cracked open the door. No one was present inside thank goodness.

"Go," Altair insisted irritably as I did not know I could go in first. I stepped inside as Altair swung the door wider for me to pass. Inside there was King Richards purple and gold banner hanging on the wall with candles around like it was a tribute to him. On the adjacent wall behind a desk however was a proud white and red Templar banner that harvested the sinister cross. The desk had hand drawn maps and atlases (inaccurately) drawn in ink. The click of the door shutting sounded behind my ears as I went around the desk about ready to search the fine wooden draws. I had to be mindful of not disturbing anything while we pried for clues. Even the way the chair was left had to remain untouched down to the dust particles on the arm rest. Altair walked up to the desk observing the flag behind me muttering in distaste. "This must be William's study," he concluded. I took a glimpse at Altair in the midst of pulling out a draw hearing his tools rolling around inside I shut it close.

"And these must be his plans," I resurfaced from behind the desk pointing a finger down at the maps drawn resembling the Kingdom. Altair came around the desk behind me leaning forward but unsupported by putting his hands behind his back so he would not be tempted to disturb anything left out. "It seems he plans to do something in Jerusalem next," I breathed spying the red dots drawn on the map.

"All the cities have them," Altair added pointing to the cities I gave off a confused expression. Why would William keep such important plans out on his desk... the door unlocked... unprotected by guards...?

"Altair..." I rose in horror it made him stiffen behind me.

"Speak Sarraf," he said uncomfortably. I crouched down underneath the desk pushing the chair aside. "What are you doing?" Altair fumed in a growl that I had moved objects from their spot. There was a wooden door planted on the floor underneath the desk. I lifted the metal latch finding what appeared to be an ominous cellar storage room.

"Get in," I articulated harshly.

"Tell me what it is you have figured out," Altair hissed when I pressed on his back to climb down. Perhaps he was not so thralled about descending down a black cellar without an answer.

"Please," I descended down first waist already underneath the floor. I looked upon him with watery eyes from the dry air, "just get down here with me." It was enough for the assassin at this point to climb down the ladder. He grabbed one leg of the chair trying to restore it to its ideal spot as before when the other door swung wide open. Altair closed the latch and in doing so had cut the light that enabled us to see. It was pitch black down here where ever we were Altair finished climbing down the ladder when he heard a splish.

He grabbed me by the arms, "this is not a cellar," he hissed in a low voice. I slapped a hand over his defiant mouth of is to keep him quiet. Stupid assassin, I thought.

"I know that," I whispered back, "just shut up Altair. Shut up!" I pursed my lips when the footsteps were moving. This must be an escape tunnel or something of the sort... I brain stormed. The water was chilling up to our ankles Altair and I remained as statues when the sounds of a chair yanked by its leg screeched against the stone above. The chair scooted back into spot as someone cleared their throat we knew we had to keep absolute silence when the heavy boot stomped against the wooden door. It began to tap in rhythm to a beat. Oh just perfect! William is sitting at his desk! How are we supposed to get to him now without alerting anyone we are here?

"If there's one thing I must tell you Sarraf," Altair wrapped his arms around me in an embrace like a hug restraining my arms to their side, "I hate water!" he snapped in my ear.

I rolled my eyes, "you will be fine... it is only ankle deep," I assured. "We can just wait until he leaves," I brought my voice down just in case. Then I raised an eyebrow in the darkness at the new thought. "By any chance Altair... are you afraid of water?" I smiled.

"I am not afraid of water!" he shot back hotly in fierce whispers.

"Then let go of me," I continued to smile.

"What?"

"You heard me..." he released me from his hold at long last. "Anything else you would like to tell me that I should know?" I remarked sarcastically. He heaved a large sigh through his nostrils irked.

"Sarraf I will take you down and..." he stopped suddenly, "the water..." he mentioned again. "Why is it rising?" He was right, my finger tips were down by my thighs even then I realized the water had been rising up to our knees now. Was there a leak somewhere? The tapping above stopped to. The chair scratched against the stone as William pushed the chair out.

I squeezed Altair's hand, "we'll lure him down here if we have to," I said hopefully. His breath hit my cheek in the darkness but said nothing else. Was William going to pull the latch and look down here? Then there came a knock on the door as someone else stepped in. A high ranking officer maybe...

"Sir," the officer said that the meddling around through the draws stopped.

"What is it?" the voice accented somewhere foreign.

"William needs to speak with you immediately sir," the officer announced. My eyes widened... Wait... so if William needs to speak to... who is this man above us?

"That will do, could it wait for another moment?"

"Sir, with all due respect by the tone of voice it was urgent. I suggest that you come by swiftly," the officer was insisting.

"D'accord," my blood chilled, "if you deem it necessary I will be out in a moment."

"Right sir," the guard slammed the door shut. Altair slipped his hand out from mine holding me back by the elbows before I did anything rash. That evil man laughed slumped back into his chair tapping teasingly along the wooden door with his feet underneath his desk. Moments passed and he began to talk to himself sincerely thinking that two deadly assassins were not below him.

"Je suis fatigué et triste... for you did not show today. Though you come for his blood now it will be soon before you come from mine," he breathed as if merry at the thought of his death..." With that he pushed out the chair from under him and flung open the wooden door. He narrowed his eyes, "I expected so..." The light reached our already adjusted eyes I looked away in disgust but I was pried up the ladder by Robert. I did not resist his hold as I drew the hidden blade wanting to kill him. "I missed you my dear," I fought as he stopped the blade from coming any closer to him. I choked as he threw me against the wall where the banner billowed.

"Je déteste toi," I said in a croaked voice. He laughed but did not know that Altair was here with me. Altair was calculating though and did not blow his cover for he remained in the dark flooding cellar for both of our sakes.

"But I love you my dear, what has it been... almost seven years?" he joked yanking down my hood with delight glaring upon me with his dark eyes.

"I promise I will kill a bastard when I see one!" I spat yet he held my fury down with ease.

"Fierce you are it will just be more fun to break you... I even thought for a moment you weren't going to show," he sneered taking a hand combing through my hair from its braid.

"Do not touch me..." I countered his next assault holding him by both wrists now. Before I could prevent it from happening Altair could not wait any longer and tackled Robert with a crash! They both tumbled and collided with a table and chairs in the corner of the room. I covered up a gasp from my mouth as Robert undoubtedly sprawled across the floor unmoving. The table cracked almost broken in half, the chairs flung side across the room with such impact. "Did you kill him Altair?" This was not his time to be killed and if he was... oh no! I ran over to his side helping him up as he brushed off the dirt sticking to his robes. He took one of my wrist and lured me to the cellar again.

"We need to get out of here now. I found a way out through the cellar. There is a tunnel hopefully to lead us out of here," he ignored my worries.

I stopped him in his tracks, "is he dead? Look at me!" I screamed that he turned right around looking down at me with an afflicted look. His temper cooled as he straightened himself out.

"He's not dead Sarraf, just unconscious. We have to get out of here now," he strained.

"Alright," I agreed plunging down into the raw brisked waters that came up to the mid of my thighs.

"Come quick Sarraf... if we don't hurry our only way out will flood," he pulled me deeper into the dark, flooding passage way. We both heard the guards yelling above their lungs from above cursing at the sight. I heard the guards demanding that William was to stay back but he barged through the barricade of Templars. He froze in terror at Robert laying on the floor paler than ever. The Templars seized him ordering him to flee the fort. Everything was out of control now! Help me! Help me! Help me! I panicked in vain as I knew it wasn't going to help our situation.

You must carry on Natasha. It was her at last!

Lucy! What, what do I do?

You must follow Altair out of the tunnel, she communicated, so do what I say! When I did not like the thought of it I thought in frustration as to why she couldn't rewind or synchronize me again like she had done before. I took a deep breath as the water was climbing easily up to my waist and the air became tight. The only thing that connected me from death again was Altair holding onto me. There was one thing that we were on the same page about, it was to get out alive. Get out alive while I still could.

.

.

*OoOoOh! The plot becomes increasingly suspenseful. I will tell you that the things I have in store for this story will become just that... I mean it won't just consist of suspense but uh... OH! . I cannot ruin it for you... but I can say if you like action/ adventure, funny content, suspense and love you will enjoy the story as it continues :D Thank you for reading my Beautiful Souls ~MissKayoko*