20

Lilly and Agnes were in the kitchen preparing dinner for the children when Agnes made a comment about popping into the larder for the vegetables, as she left Jacob passed her and entered the kitchen.

"Ah, a potato peeler at last" joked Lilly.

"Trust me, you don't want me anywhere near any kind of food preparation, I'm terrible at it" he stated with his hands up

"A likely excuse" laughed Lilly "I thought the great "Sir Jacob Frye" was good at everything?"

"Well you could try my cooking if you wish but I'm pretty sure my sister would advise against it" he smirked.

There was suddenly an awkward silence between them.

"Jacob, what's wrong?" Lilly asked turning towards him "you looked a little upset earlier"

"Well after getting over the initial excitement of our enemy finally getting their comeuppance what you said made me remember you have a life to get back too" he replied "...And then... I realized how much I'm going to miss you"

She looked at him heart fluttering slightly and walked over to him closing the small distance between them. He continued on, looking at the floor "Well the truth is….. I've been fond of you for a while now and it's going to hurt when you leave" he said in a sad voice.

She raised her hand and placed it on his chest gently as he looked into her green eyes

"What are you saying" she said quietly, her heart beating furiously.

"I think I'm falling for you Lilly" he said with a voice barley above a whisper. Their faces so close now. She leaned into him and their lips brushed lightly and she found she could no longer fight the urge pushing her on. She kissed him deeply and passionately and he returned it with as much fire, running a hand through her hair and down her neck when Agnes walked back in.

"Oooh" she gasped making them both start. "I'll come back later" Agnes said flustered quickly closing the door behind her leaving Jacob and Lilly looking at the door for an awkward moment and then bursting into laughter.

The evening had come bringing rain to add to the somber mood of the group as they prepared for the ultimate showdown. As they said their goodbyes to the children Jack clung to Jacob furiously until Agnes gently pulled him away. Lilly stood in front of Jacob holding onto his hands and they looked deeply into each other's eyes.

"Please return to me" she said gently and he leaned her head in and kissed her forehead

"I promise" he replied.

Evie glanced over, surprised at what she heard and a small smile crept upon her lips. Jacob never let anyone too close to him before, usually his romances only lasted briefly. It was a subject she tried to bring up with him before, worrying he would become lonely when she left for India. But he just shrugged it off…..yes this was wonderful to behold.

They all headed towards the cab and Agnes herded the younger children to bed. George, Effie, Henry and two of the best initiates entered the cab and Jacob and Evie jumped into the driver's seat pulling their hoods up against the weather. Evie spurred on the horse whilst Jacob looked back at Lilly standing in the doorway watching them leave. Offering up a silent prayer for the group.

"I'm happy for you brother, she has a kind heart" Evie said with a smile

"Yes she does..." he replied focusing his eyes ahead.

The group left the grounds, completely unaware that Hunter had begun setting up small explosives around the base of the west wing of the estate. Not enough to kill, oh no…he wanted that pleasure for himself…so many tiny trophies to claim. He grinned wickedly as he ran for the brush waiting for the explosives to do their work. Excited now the hunt was about to begin.

They weren't very far when they heard it. A powerful explosion coming from the direction of the safe house. Evie halted the horse and all assassins looked back the way they had come

"What the devil" George shouted

"No!" said Jacob alarmed

"Possibly an attempted distraction" Henry stated "they may have come to the conclusion we would come for Annie tonight now we have Evie"

Jacob was still staring towards the direction of the house, then he jumped down.

"Go!" he shouted "I'll return to the house, you can't let Annie escape"

Evie looked down at him from the cab "be careful Jacob, they may be swarming the place" she said feeling torn whether to accompany him but having so little time.

"Go! Before you're late. I can take a few Templars. She mustn't get her hands on that staff" Jacob stated.

Evie desperately looked at her pocket watch "I won't fail us... she shan't escape me" Evie said determined

"You just mind that bastard Hunter. Leave a piece of him for me" Jacob shouted running back down the road hoping his speed was enough to get him to the house and protect the ones he loved.

Something telling him that Hunter wasn't going to be anywhere near Annie. The possible source of these conveniently timed explosions leaving a pit in his stomach.

Lilly and Agnes tried to calm the frightened children and quickly ushered them into the lobby, making their way to the front exit. Concerned that the house had become unstable and was on fire. Lilly opened up the front door to the courtyard to look upon a nightmarish sight. Hunter was standing over Julia, having carved off her fingers and he slowly plunged a knife into her heart. All the while smiling at Lilly

"Aaah, if it isn't the pretty crow" he grinned wickedly.

She slammed the door and bolted it.

"Get the children to the back of the house and out" Lilly screamed to Agnes. The children became panicked now.

Hunter walked up to the door "knock knock little birdies" He shouted and started kicking the door just as Jacob came running down the stone road. He took in the scene around him, heightening his senses now. The west wing of the house on fire, dead initiates around the courtyard and Hunter... alone. Kicking the door as he shouted taunts.

Jacob cursed and ran with all haste towards his target. Hunter turned at the sound of footprints and Jacob skidded to a halt.

"And here he is... just as expected" Hunter said grinning wickedly, turning his bloodied knife this way and that. Jacob looked down at Julia by his feet and glared at Hunter with fire, slowly crouching to close the girl's dead eyes.

"You'll pay for this" Jacob said with a deadly tone.

They began to circle each other. A pair of predators ready to kill. Both knowing only one was going to walk away from this encounter.