Hello all! Sorry for the delay on this chapter! There has been a lot of writer's block for me on both my Assassin's Creed Fanfics, but I am hoping to update them more often. Hope you are liking the story so far!
Into Dust
A month passes and Alan makes good on my threats. He restores my rank in a controversial move against Ellen, and he grants me access to all of Abstergo's files for the newly created Abstergo Historical Research—a rebranding of Abstergo Entertainment after the shooting.
Alan has made sure that my time here has been smooth and without any resistance. My threats have not fallen on deaf ears and he has made good on ensuring that everything is in my favor.
I continue to do research with the Animus, entering scattered memories from time to time, but not focusing so much on the Grail with Alan no longer on my ass. I have been toying around with the idea of allowing users to enter the memories of others, without needing the host's DNA. My goal is to have anyone enter the Animus and view anyone's DNA, without needing a decedent of the ancestor in the Animus. So far my work has led me to a wall, but I continue to work towards this idea.
I head into the Animus Room and log onto my computer where I enter the shareholder's quarterly meeting. I wait for a moment for everyone to join since I am early. I fiddle around on my computer, pulling together all the data I have gathered within the Animus so far, knowing that I will have to speak on it.
Everyone enters the call, and we begin with the shareholder's meeting.
"Hello everyone," Ellen begins trough the computer, "and welcome to the Q4 stakeholders meeting." She states. She begins with the biggest news of the year; Sophia locating the Apple of Eden. Everyone congratulates her, and Ellen continues stating that Alan will present to Apple to the next council gathering that we are to all attend. Alan's smug face lights up at his daughter's achievement. Sophia begins speaking on her findings, and I find myself writhing in anger at her finding an artifact before I located the Holy Grail.
"While on the topic of Alan's team," Ellen moves on, "I will turn it over for an update from Amelia and her work within the Animus?"
I clear my throat, "Thank you Ellen." I say. "I have been working on a software update for the Animus. My vision will allow anyone to enter the Animus and review historical accounts regardless of bloodlines or ancestral ties. Ideally, we will also not need any DNA storage from an ancestral source. If successful, we will be able to review any and all memories of any historical person of your choosing." I say and everyone seems to be interested in this work. I continue with a beating heart. "The vision is that I, as an ancestor of Andre de Montbard, can look into the memories of all the men and woman that Andre had contact with and be able to have access to their ancestral line. This would give us access to countless sources without needing a blood relative of the subject." I say and I can see the interest in everyone.
"I am also working on sync issues with the Animus." I continue. "At its current state, I need to sync with the Animus in order to search for specific memories; oftentimes, this delays the desired memory being located by days, sometimes weeks. With this update, the user will be able to search specific key words within the person's memory, and any account of that key word will populate. This would result in my locating the Holy Grail in Andre's memories directly, as well as aiding Abstergo in locating any other accounts of Pieces of Eden."
"This is very impressive, Amelia." Ellen says almost genuinely. "What is the projected timeline for this software update?"
I swallow hard, "Currently we are looking at Q2 before I receive any real results with these Animus updates as I focus on alleviating the Bleeding Effect."
"So, if we have a goal where anyone can enter the Animus, regardless of bloodline ties," Juhani begins, "Then why would Abstergo need you to enter the Animus to retrieve these memories?" He questions. "Seems as though, if we can get anyone to enter the Animus, we no longer need you to do the work." He states, "Using you would be a waste of your time."
I tense my jaw and send Juhani a hard-pressed glare through the camera. "And how much time has Sigma Team wasted on failing to locate the Shroud?" I return venomously.
"We are not speaking of Sigma Team." Ellen interjects sternly.
"I am not fighting you, Amelia," Juhani says sternly as if he were scolding a child. "I am simply saying that you will be able to focus more on aiding Sigma Team here in London with your hacking skills."
"Why would Sigma Team need my help?" I ask crossly, "Are Lilly's renowned hacking skills not aiding the team well enough?" I say spitefully.
"Amelia," Laetitia warns as Lilly looks at me through the computer with a pressed glare.
"What invaluable information have you been working on these days, Lilly?" I ask with a sideways smile. "Any update on the location of William or Rebecca? How about the identity of Bishop?" I ask her callously and both she and Juhani tense at my comment.
"Don't be that way, Amelia." Ellen says, "It makes you look so ugly."
"With the Animus update Amelia is working on," Alan interjects, "She will have the opportunity to join Sigma Team on the field and provide valuable support on the frontline, locating the artifacts."
"Do we believe that is wise?" Violet adds. "The last time Amelia was on the field, she shot me." She says angrily.
I open my mouth to respond by Juhani does before I can, "I am inclined to agree." He says looking away from the computer. "Amelia is a risk to herself and others until she has had more time away from the Animus. I believe her skills would be better suited updating the Animus, and then providing Sigma Team with aid virtually."
My heart drops and I feel myself getting hot at the comment. Juhani knows more than anyone else how much I want to be in the field, and for him to denounce my worth in front of everyone stings more than anything.
"I agree as well," Ellen speaks up. "Amelia has suffered many traumas recently. Placing her in the field may be detrimental to everyone."
"Amelia has been working well with the Animus," Doctor Sung interjects. "We have been monitoring her closely, and with the continuous updates to the Animus, she hasn't suffered an episode since."
"I do believe it worth noting that Amelia has been providing vital information for the Order." Alan adds and everyone freezes at the comment, including me. "The Bleeding Effect has almost all subdued since she has been working with the Animus; something that even Lilly could not do." He says and I watch Lilly stiffen. "Furthermore, she has been substantial to the work Sophia gathered regarding the Apple, and should be praised." He lies. "Without her aid, the Animus would have never located the Apple."
I press my brows together and look at Sophia on the video chat. She seems tense and uncomfortable at the lie that I aided her in located the Apple, but she does not argue the fact.
"Well," Ellen sighs, "I did not realize that Amelia was involved in Sophia's project." She says and no one corrects her. "I am pleased to see your success within the Order, Miss James." She says insincerely.
"I believe Amelia does deserve more recognition for her work within the Order." Alan continues and I notice a confused look from Ellen and Laetitia. Not knowing that Allan is kissing up to me since I threatened his life.
"Very well," Ellen says with a sigh. "After the council meeting, we will assess the new quarterly budget. If the funds allow, we will lift the budget for Abstergo Industries, allowing Amelia more resources to continue her updates within the Animus." She says reluctantly and I smile to myself, knowing that I am doing more with the Animus than my sister ever has.
We continue with the meeting, and Laetitia takes over, speaking of Abstergo Historical Research's work in locating the Shroud of Eden. She explains that Juhani and the others have been unsuccessful in locating the Shroud, and any attempts in locating it have been met with false information, or Assassin force. I find myself smiling, knowing that Sigma Team is not doing as well as I am, and though it may be petty, it brings me a sense of accomplishment.
The meeting ends with a financial review of the year and a reminder that the council meeting to present the Apple to the Order will commence at the end of the week.
I decide to continue to work on the Animus with my updates. I have told Alan that a driving force for this update to the Animus is locating the Holy Grail in Andre's memories, but the fact of my intentions are to enter the memories of my sister, and understand better how she became Bishop. I have attempted to enter her memories before, since we are identical twins, thinking that it would be easy with our DNA, but it seems that since we experience separate memories, I am unable to view her memories, despite having my DNA storage in the Animus.
I comb through some memories I have of her, knowing well just how dangerous it is to enter your own memories within the Animus. I search for memories, and can't seem to find any that would help me understand where the turn of her faith occurred. I decide to enter the Animus for a random memory, hoping this will be a better idea.
Juhani entered the room as Lilly sat at the computer typing to Rebecca. She expressed her concerns with her sister's growing temper and loss of control as she abused her time in the Animus. Juhani watched for a moment as he read the exchange between Lilly and Rebecca. He cleared his throat as he entered the room, causing Lilly to jump at the sound of him entering the room.
"Juhani?" She asked. "What brings you here?" she said exiting the chat with Rebecca.
"Have you spoken with your sister?" Juhani asked her, making it clear to her that he noticed the chat but not saying anything about it.
"No," She had let out, "Last I heard from her, she was recovering from her shot."
"I have been relocated to Abstergo Entertainment as security detail by commands of Ellen." Juhani said with a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"Security detail?" Lilly asked. "Why is Sigma Team being asked to do security for Abstergo Entertainment? It seems like a waste of your talent."
"Amelia has requested it personally." He said. "With the Standish debacle, she demanded that better security precautions be put into place."
She let out a heavy sigh, "That will mean that Abstergo Entertainment will be under heavier surveillance." She frowned.
"You will need to funnel your operations within another server." He told her. "Paying off Standish to turn a blind eye to your dealings was easy. Violet and Amelia are another story." He warned her.
"Shit," She had let out at the realization that her information would not be relayed as easily.
"Is there is anything that I can assist with while I am there?" Juhani asked her.
She bit her lip, "I am worried about Amelia," she confessed. "She has been hell bent on gathering information about Bishop.
Juhani nodded once, knowing what was being asked of him. "I will ensure her attempts are redirected." He assured her, turning away from her.
"Juhani," She called out and he turned back to her. "Do you think we will ever be able to tell her the truth?" She asked him. "That she would understand?"
Juhani swallowed hard, unsure how to answer her and instead returned with a shrug and said, "She may never understand, but we can hope she will forgive."
I rise out of the Animus, falling over the side of it. I hold my head, trying desperately to keep it together as it falls apart. "What the hell was that?" I ask myself, holding my head as a tear falls down my cheek from the pain.
I stagger to my feet and run to the corner of the room where I throw up in a trashcan, feeling nauseated as if I am spinning. I take a deep breath, trying to find my bearings.
After taking a moment to gather my mind, I begin thinking about the memory I have just been shown. The data sequence was pulling a random memory from my memory bank, however, it is clear that the memory did not have me anywhere present, in fact, I had just been shot in the memory, recovering in Montreal. So how was I able to see a memory of Lilly's?
I swallow hard, getting up to my feet and research how I was able to see this memory. I search the Animus for any memories of Lilly, figuring that she might have placed her DNA within the Animus for some reason, but I cannot find any when I type the sequence.
I search to see if Juhani is in the Animus, and it returns with the no memories either. I chew on my nails as I search the source of the memory, but the search continuously returns that I am the source of the memory.
"That's not possible, I wasn't there." I let out in frustration.
This has to be a step in the right direction with all the updates I have done to the Animus. I must be pulling the memory from Lilly, without needing her DNA as source. But that doesn't explain why it is showing the memory coming from me, and why I cannot search any of her memories.
I take a labored sigh, still feeling sick and wanting to take a rest. I decide to table this and look into it in the morning. I head to my suit, looking solemnly at my sister's empty room. I enter her room and look around. Most of her things are gone, with nothing by the furniture left in the room.
I head over to the dresser where the chess set sits. I frown at the sight of it, approaching it with a heavy feeling in my stomach. I look at the quarter that sits on the now destroyed white Bishop piece's square. I frown knowing that now I will never see the piece again.
I look away from the chess set and head out of the room, the feeling of dread lifting from my chest. I head to my room and get ready for bed, feeling myself drift to sleep almost immediately.
Andre groaned as he woke, the feeling of incredible pain coming from his abdomen. He let out a cry as he looked down, seeing blood stain his bandages. Queen Elenore came running in, hearing the cries of the Templar.
"Andre," She called out to him, "What happened?" She looked at his bandages and moved her hands to his chest. "You must have opened your wounds in your sleep." She told him, untying his shirt cutting his bandages.
He groaned as she carefully ripped the bandages that formed to his wounds. She soothed him with her soft voice, keeping his mind from the pain.
Andre looked down at Elenore as her hands touched his lower abdomen. He watched as her delicate hands touched him. He hadn't been touched by a woman in years since the medics within the Order were men.
He felt the blood rush to his member, uncontrollably responding to the foreign touch of a woman. Elenore looked down at the bulge building in Andre's loins. She sheepishly smiled down at him and he felt shame in her response.
"Please, leave me. I can tend to the wound." He told her.
"Don't be rash." She said it him. "It is only natural for a man to react to a woman in such a way."
"I have taken a vow of celibacy to my Lord. You are my Queen. Married under the eyes of the Lord." Andre told her sternly.
"Of course, Andre. But you are only man. And I am only woman." She said to him, continuing to tend to the dressing.
"Have you ever been with a woman, Andre?" She asks the Knight, her hands dangerously close to him.
"Of course I have." Andre contested her. "I was but any other man before I was a Templar. But I have taken a vow before God to dedicate my life to Him." Andre told her sternly.
"Do we not dedicate our lives to God by giving him more children to love His benevolent ways? Why would God punish you from continuing your line and spreading His word from children of your own?" She questioned his oath. "Would He not want His subjects to create more subjects to worship Him?"
Andre thought for a moment, never questioning the vows he spoke to his Lord.
"The vow of celibacy is not what God wants of you. It is folly to think the Lord would sojourn you from continuing your line, for the love of family brings you closer to God. I believe it is rather the Order, ensuring family does not get in the way of your duties, not to God but to the Order. For what is more dangerous to the Order than a man head of his own household."
Andre's jaw tensed as Elenore's hands moved to untying his loins. He knew that he was powerless to stop her in the condition that his wounds were in. And he dared not allow his mind to accept that her touch felt pleasurable.
"I once walked in on Louis with a girl from the court. She had his manhood in her mouth, and he moaned for her like he has never before. It was a curious thing to see him wrapped in such pleasures." Elenore looked into Andre's eyes lustfully. "I always pondered what it would feel like to deliver a man such pleasure. Though I know I could never give Louis such pleasures." She said pulling out Andre's hard member from his loins.
She licked her lips, smiling at Andre. "Perhaps I can provide you with those pleasures?" She said to Andre. Before he could contest, she placed her soft lips to his member, placing it in her mouth.
Andre moaned at the sensation. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced. It was similar to a woman's entrance, but different at the same time. It was wetter and warmer and a sensation that Andre had missed since joining the Order.
Her lips were soft and her mouth was warm. Andre laid back as the Queen help onto him, giving him a sensation that felt ground breaking. Andre's head pulled back as he groaned with a shaking pleasure. He felt himself climaxing, spilling his seed in her mouth.
She wiped her mouth, smiling up at the Knight. She did not look like a Queen in this moment, but rather his woman and no one else's.
I sit in the back of a car, looking out the window as Alan sits next to me. I absentmindedly look out the window as we speed past the city lights, moving closer to the council meeting. Alan practices his speech in the car sitting between Sofia and myself. I avoid the awkward presence of Sophia in the car with us, keeping my eyes off of hers, knowing that her gaze lingers.
She continually watches me, wondering why her father would claim I assisted her in locating the Apple. She watches me suspiciously, waiting for my eyes to meet hers, but they will not.
Alan glances over at Sophia as the car reaches a slow halt in front of the venue. "I am so very proud of you." He tells her with a smile that brings his wrinkles to his eyes.
"Thank you, Father." She says obediently.
He turns to me and looks me up and down, examining the long white fitted mermaid dress that I wear tonight. He places his hand on my thigh just above my knee. He squeezes my thigh and smiles at me. "Come," he lets out as Sophia's eyes dig into her father's gesture to my leg. "Let us celebrate tonight." He says reaching over me to open the door to the car to and motions me out.
I step out of the car and head up the stairs towards the venue. Once we are in the lobby, Alan gives Sophia a kiss and heads backstage, leaving us both awkwardly alone in the lobby as guests begin to gather around us.
Sofia approaches me quietly, lowering her head to my level, "Are you sleeping with my father?" She asks me and I stagger away from her, my brows pressed together in disgust.
"No, I am not fucking Alan." I tell her harshly.
"Then why did he lie?" She asks me with more betrayal than hatred in her voice. "It was my hard work that located the Apple. Not yours. Not his. And yet here we; he is presenting the Apple to the council with his hand wrapped around your thigh."
"Do you remember at your piano recital when Alan was in the Lobby speaking with my father about his position in the Order during your solo?" I ask her and her face stays cold and expressionless. "You were so devastated when you looked out and he was not there. You looked at me instead since it was the only other face in the crowd that came to see you."
"What are you getting at?" She says getting frustrated at my story."
"Alan has always been a self-serving piece of shit." I tell her harshly. I grab two champagnes from the tray of a waiter walking by and hand her one. "He is being nice to me because I put a gun to his head and told him I would pull the trigger if I didn't have my way in the Order." I tell her, handing her the glass. "So, he restored my rank and told Ellen that I aided you in locating the Apple."
"He wouldn't overshadow my accomplishments within the Order to feed your fragile ego." She says forcefully.
"No, but when I threatened to have you raped as he did to me, his willpower quickly diminished." I say clinging my glass to hers with a wide smile. "Remember, Sophia. It was you who wished him dead at your piano recital. I will just be the one to deliver on that promise."
Before she can say anymore, Laetitia approaches us with a wide smile. "Sophia, you are a vision." She swoons as she takes Sophia into a hug. "I am so proud of you for this discovery."
"Yes," Ellen joins in behind Laetitia. "The council is very proud of you." She looks over at me, "both of you apparently." She says analyzing me.
"It is a shame you two won't be able to join Alan on stage." Laetitia says as she grabs a champagne glass. She toasts to us both and we all take a sip. "Amelia, would you mind joining me to our seats?"
"Of course," I let out with a sigh as she leads the way.
"How has Alan been treating you?" She asks me once we are out of earshot from everyone else. "It seems on that call that he is on better terms with you." She says, her tone genuine.
I clear my throat, "Alan has been very instrumental in my development within the Order." I let out simply.
She stops and looks at me with a pressed glare. "Don't be like that towards me, Amelia. I truly care for you. It was not my decision to have you return under his supervision, and had I had it my way, you wouldn't have been left with him unsupervised." I nod and she bites her lip with conviction. "Has he made inappropriate moves towards you?"
"No," is all I can let out as she continues.
"The way Alan came to your defense on the call was troublesome. After you dropped off, he demanded that you stay with him to continue to work closely with him on the Animus project. He rejected any movement of you under the Historical Research division." She looks at me with concerned eyes. "I am worried about you."
I decide not to tell her about my threats against Alan's life and tell here about Andre instead. "Andre and Queen Elenore had an affair." I tell her, "They haven't had sex yet, but it is only a matter of time. So the Brahman showing me King Richard's memories is starting to make more sense. I think he is the son of Andre de Montbard."
"Have you unlocked all of Andre's memories?" She asks curiously.
"Not yet," I tell her. "But I watched her use the Grail to bring him back from the brink of death. He is about to become Grand Master so he doesn't have long after that.
"Have you tried unlocking your father's memories? Is there any account of the Grail?" She asks me.
"I am met with resistance every time I try." I tell her and she frowns. "Did he ever tell you about the Grail?" I ask her, "Did he ever mention having it in his possession?"
She lets out a labored sigh. "Your father kept a lot of secrets from everyone." She says sadly, "He never mentioned the Grail to me."
I let out a sigh, "My hope is that once I sync with Andre, I will be able to sync with my father and find the Grail."
"What are your intentions with the Grail once you have located it?" She asks me with tense eyes.
My eyes glance away from her when they land on Juhani entering the lobby wheeling my sister in. He looks so handsome, wearing a dark grey suit with black accents. His black hair is slicked back and his eyes and smile stand out as they always do. "When it was first mentioned, Juhani and I spoke about using the Grail on his daughter with the hopes that it would cure her cystic fibrosis." I tell her, my eyes locked on him.
She lets out a sigh, looking back at him and Lily. "Some advice then," She says looking back at me. "When you find the Grail, use it on the girl before you tell Alan about it. He won't let you have it once he knows about it."
I nod at her, knowing that once I have the Grail, I won't have any more use for Alan anymore, since his presence is the only thing keeping me in the Animus and out of desk work.
"He misses you," Laetitia says, seeing my lingering eyes on him. "Swallow your pride, and apologize for whatever petty fight you're having. You never know when will be the last time you speak to someone." She says with a hint of pain in her voice, and I can tell that she is thinking of my father.
I swallow hard, not knowing what to say to her, so I just nod at her, heading over to him to say something to him. He looks up and sees me approaching him. He lowers his head to my sister, whispering something to her before heading towards me. He meets me halfway and smiles genuinely at me.
"You are a vision, Amelia." He says to me and I smile sheepishly. We look perfect together in our outfits.
"You look perfect tonight." I tell him and he smiles to himself.
"Juhani," I let out, "I am sorry about my outburst on the call, and my lack of communication with you since…" I hang on the end of the sentence looking at my sister. "It was just a lot of betrayal to take in at once."
"I will never betray you, Amelia." He tells me quietly. "I am sorry you felt that way."
"I don't want to think about it." I tell him, looking up at him with a smile. "I just want to enjoy this moment with you."
"Come, let us take our seats and you can tell me all about your work in the Animus." Juhani says, handing me the cloak that the ushers provide to us as we enter the auditorium.
We enter the auditorium and speak for a moment. Juhani smiles at me and I cannot help but fall in love with him all over again. I feel my heart ache as I see him here, longing to see him after this.
The lights dim and Alan approaches the podium and begins his speech. He speaks for a moment about the future of the Order. He speaks of notable figures of the Order that have provided and paved the future. He speaks of glory and all those who have given it to the Templars. I am surprised when he even mentions my father for the glory he bestowed onto the Order when he lured thousands of Assassins to their death under the false pretenses of Parle.
I look over at Juhani and he gives me a reassuring squeeze of the hand. I get up and leave the auditorium, unable to hear Alan speak of my father and the very action that led to the Order demanding his daughters as punishment for his actions.
I run to the restroom and barely make it to the toilet as I wretch up the sickness in my stomach. I spit out the remanence, remember the night at the Gala all over again. I try to push the memory out of my mind, but it haunts me daily.
I groan as the sickness passes and head to the sink where I wash my hands and mouth. I take a wet rag from the counter and dab it on my face, trying not to ruin my makeup.
The door to one of the stalls opens and I look through the mirror to see my sister wheeling herself out of the stall. She goes to wash her hands, unable to look at me as I am unable to look at her.
"Eat something bad?" She asks me, hearing my vomiting in the other stall.
I swallow hard. "Just got nauseous from Alan's shit speech about our father." I try to joke.
She lets out a scoff when she realizes that it is a joke. "Yeah well Alan has never been good at speeches." She laughs.
"I better get back." I say leaving the bathroom, not being able to be in the same room with her.
She doesn't say anything, or call out to me as I expect her to. I head into the lobby where I see Sophia standing stiff while a figure behind a hood speaks with her. She clearly looks disturbed by his presence. He says something to her and closes her eyes as he walks past her.
I approach her slowly as she opens her eyes. "Who was that?" I ask her.
"It does not matter anymore." She says simply, looking up at the ceiling. We hear applause ringing out as Alan announces the Apple. I watch as tears fall down Sophia's face and my heart races. I run towards the auditorium as everyone stands cheering. I look around frantically as Alan walks off the stage.
My heart drops and I call out "Alan!" I yell running towards him when a shadowy figure approaches him from behind and slits his throat with a hidden blade. I stop dead in my tracks as people begin to panic, running out of the auditorium in terror.
I run to Alan who is still alive as blood gushes from his neck. I grab onto his neck tightly, trying to stop the bleeding. "Don't you fucking die." I command him. "I still need you." I tell him as I rip off my cloak, tearing strips to create a bandage.
I look down at his hands to see the Apple of Eden has been replaced with a simple apple. "Fuck!" I let out when I see that Assassins have the Apple.
"Mila!" Juhani calls out behind me, a pistol in his hand.
"They went to the rooftop!" I yell out to him. "Juhani!" I call out to him, "They have the Apple." I tell him frantically as he nods, running towards the roof access door. Alan's blood stains my white dress as I try to keep him alive, but I see him falling.
"Amelia, step away." Ellen commands me looking down at me.
"I am trying to save him!" I yell at her. I look back down at Alan and I see it in his eyes. The look in my mother's eyes, Daniel's, my father's. The look of death.
I let out a sigh, dropping down away from him. I wipe my nose with the back of my bloody hand. Laetitia places her hand on my shoulder as I look down at the man who has caused me so much heart ache, yet was my only hope at getting the Grail.
"Come on, Amelia." Laetitia says in a soothing tone. "There is nothing more we can do for him."
I let out a sigh and get up with her help. We head out of the auditorium where a few high-ranking Inner Sanctum officials linger. Ellen is speaking with Sophia, who I watch wearily, knowing that whomever she spoke to was involved in this somehow.
I look over at my sister who looks at me with pure shock, undoubtably at the sight of blood stained all over my white dress. I let out a sigh as I join the rest of them. I turn to see Juhani followed by Violet as they run towards us.
"Did you find them? The Apple?" I ask him eagerly.
Juhani shakes his head disappointed. "Both are gone."
