Chapter Thirty-Six:

Betrayal, Best Served Cold

1746

Meredith (unfortunately) dressed me up for when Lily and Henry came to visit. I liked Lily about as much as I despised Henry, and she was so full of emotions that she and James balanced each other out really well. I was happy that they were together. As for Catherine and Henry… Well, I knew that Catherine could do better than that asshole.

Catherine, at one point, pulled me into her room, grinning madly.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I have a surprise for you," she told me. "I've already traced several copies, but I felt bad without telling you…"

Catherine held out a piece of paper, and I took it in my hands gently. It was a very, very well done sketch. Of what? Of Walter and I, sound asleep.

"I came into your room because I thought you were up already," she admitted shyly. "I saw you two there and I… well, I grabbed my pencils and started sketching. It only took about half an hour, honestly, but you two were just so…"

"Um…" My face was already turning red. "I…"

"Don't worry about it!" Catherine said. "As far as I'm concerned, go ahead! You're better than most of the girls out there!"

I just can't believe that this took halfanhour… I smiled. "This is beautiful, Catherine. You really have some talent!"

"I love drawing, but Henry tells me that I shouldn't be doing such a thing…"

I sighed. "Look, Catherine, Henry is an asshole who can't admit that he's an asshole. I don't think you should be with him."

Catherine nodded. "I know, but… it was my father's wish that I be with him."

"You're my age, Cat. Honestly, I think you should kick him in the ass and be done with him. Find someone who accepts you for you."

"It's harder than it looks, Sara."

I nodded. "I know. All the good ones are taken, or not interested. But that's just my opinion, and I won't pressure you to make a decision."

Catherine nodded. "Thank-you, Sara. You're a good friend."

"No, I'm not. If I was a good friend, I'd have hit you for not kicking his ass sooner." I smiled, and Catherine realized that I'd made a joke. "Let's go back down," I said as I held the paper out to her.

Catherine pushed the drawing to me. "I want you to keep it. I told you, I've traced copies already."

I inclined my head. "Thank-you, Cat. I'll make sure it's kept in the best condition, no matter what it goes through."

2012

In Monteriggioni, I walked into the empty Sanctuary and sighed. I remembered when Ezio had first shown me this place, and how I'd remarked how close the statues of Qulan Gal and Altair looked to their real counterparts.

I sighed and went to the right side of Altair's statue and opened a secret compartment. There, sitting neatly on a shelf, was a red scarf and a sketch of Walter and I.

I briefly picked up the sketch and studied it. "I kept it, Cat. I told you I would," I said to no one.

I put the picture down and picked up the scarf, then wrapped it around my neck and pulled my hood up. Anyone could see the scarf around my neck, and one of the ends hanging loosely out of my hood. It still smelt like him…

"Here I come, Rome," I said as I shut the hidden compartment.

When Simon, Embry and I finally reached the Coliseum, I hopped out of the helicopter and instructed them both to go and get William. The nodded and flew away, leaving me at the ruins.

"Time to end this," I said, and started to run through it.

1746

I won't tell you all the details about visiting with Lily and Henry, other than listening to the latter was painful. As we were just saying our farewells to the two (after I'd changed back into my full robes), we heard a knock at the door.

I was the one who opened it. The one who stood outside was Diana, in her full Assassin's garb.

"What're you doing here?" I hissed.

Diana didn't say a word, and that was when I noticed the red cross on her robes, directly over her head. When I'd noticed it, that was when she decided to speak.

"You know as well as I do that the Assassins are weak," she said. "The Templars can truly change the world."

I was at a loss for words. "D-Diana…?"

"Look, I know you, Sara. You don't want to put anyone in danger. I'll recognize that." She handed me a note. "Meet me here in an hour. If you don't show up, I'll send more Templars after you and the entire Hugh family." Diana's gaze flickered to the guests. "Family friends included."

"What's the meaning of this?" Henry shouted. "How dare you threaten me? I'll have you know—!"

I shot a glare at Henry. "Can it!" I looked back at Diana. "I'll see you there in an hour."

Diana inclined her head and walked away. I shut the door and sighed, then remembered everyone was behind me. I ignored them and walked up to my room, where I saw where I was to meet her; the river, in front of Big Ben.

I grabbed all of my weapons and put them in their respective places, then brought my hood up as Walter came in, breathless.

"Damn it, Sara!" he cursed. "Don't go!"

"I have to. This is something I have to try to put an end to."

Walter frowned and held me in his arms, holding me as close as he possibly could. "Please…"

I pressed my lips against his. "I'm sorry, Walter…"

He rested his head on top of mine and then kissed it. "I… I don't want you to go, but if you must, then please try to come back!"

"I'll try." I knew it was a lie. I couldn't come back, or else I would be with Walter, and I'd have to watch him grow old as he saw me never change. And kids… could I even have any? Would they share what the Apple did to me? I couldn't condemn them to such a life. Maybe if I died, then Walter would be able to move on and forget about me. I won't lie; it seemed the best option.

"I love you, Sara Taylor," he whispered.

I wanted to make the best of that moment, but I felt the lump come to my throat and my eyes start to sting. "I love you, Walter Hugh. Until the day I die."

He pushed something into my hands, soft and durable at the same time. I looked down and saw a dark red scarf.

"For the winter," he explained. "We can share it when you come back."

I gripped it in my hand tightly and kissed Walter one last time. "I love you," I said again.

I left Hugh Manor with the scarf tied around my neck, and an end hanging loosely from the hood. I met Diana at the river, with no time to spare.

"Are you ready?" Diana asked.

"Before we start, I need to ask you something, Diana," I said.

She pulled her hood up. "What?"

"We're friends. I helped to teach you what the Order was about. Why betray it?"

Diana sighed. "The Assassins can do nothing. The world is crumbling to pieces, and I will not stand by as we all die."

I pulled my hood over my eyes. "You have forgotten your path. If this is it, then I'm sorry for not being a better teacher."

"You have nothing to be sorry for." Diana rushed at me, and buried a hidden blade in my heart.

I grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the river, then stabbed a hidden blade into her throat. I wished it to end quickly for her, despite her betrayal. I pulled her hidden blade from my heart.

"Rest in peace," I said, and toppled backwards into the river.

1755

I knew my reasons for leaving Walter were completely selfish, mostly because I was scared that I didn't know any answers about what could happen with us in the future.

And yet, there I was, looking through the window of Hugh Manor into the main room, where Walter, now thirty-one years old, was playing with a young girl that looked exactly like him. A woman, with auburn hair and a proud face, came into the main room and kissed both of them on the cheek.

It wasn't surprising that Walter had moved on, and yet it tore my heart out. I asked for it, I know. I let it evolve into this, where Walter thought me dead, James was married to Lily, and now a Master Assassin, leading the Assassins in London, and Catherine had dumped Henry and found someone better. Meredith was still kicking, too.

I walked away from the manor, and even though I tried to hold it back, I felt the tears fall. It was all my fault, because of how ridiculously selfish I was. I could only move forward in time, but never back.

"But I'll still love you, Walter."