Chapter Twenty

After Jacob left, Kora slept for a few hours before her mind took over her dreams with endless thoughts. She attempted to think over countless paths she could take to win her goal, but the casualties accompanied with each path led her to second guess and double back to square one.

She could follow the safe path and go along with Silas's plan to surrender and allow the Templar to take care of everything and set her free, but she was so involved with The Rooks and Assassins that she knew she couldn't take that path for fear of betrayal.

Jacob was right. Her work with The Rooks did make her more of an ally to the Assassins and that was exactly how she wanted it. That path faded from her mind as a new one surfaced.

She could follow the path that went against Mr. White, hand in the letter and the file on Margret Jones and... and then what? She would be sent back to the asylum and be hanged. Unless Jacob would go through with his own plan and kill Silas White by himself. But then Silas's death could cause more problems for her trial. She knew Jacob was a master at blending in and getting himself out of situations rather fast, but there was that small 'if' that stressed her mind in rethinking her routes.

Her mind became a mess of thoughts as she paced around the kitchen table where the file and the letter laid side by side. She had changed into a cotton dress shirt with her Rook green waist coat and beige riding pants with black women's riding boots. A comfy attire she had gotten used to compared to the skirts of a dress. Kora dropped herself into a kitchen chair and saddled it as she crossed her arms over the back of it, her eyes down cast and heavy, buried deep in her tangled mind.

She was so lost in thought she didn't even hear Elijah walk in.

The brute eyed her and the two papers on the kitchen table and walked towards the stove. He set a flame in the cast iron stove, pulled out a metal kettle and added water into it before placing it onto a burner. He then turned to Kora who was across the kitchen table and finally spoke, "I take it the plan didn't go so well?"

Kora grimaced as she lifted her chin from her hands, "No. It was a success for the most part."

Elijah raised his brows, "Right. Then why the long face?"

The Irish lass then told him exactly what happened in the masquerade, Jacob's performance, meeting Mr. & Mrs. White, and the deal between herself and Silas. Elijah listened to everything she said as he fished out a tea pot and dropped two tea bags into it. When she had finished, Elijah nodded and exhaled from his nose. Upon hearing the kettle slowly begin to whistle, Elijah lifted it off the burner and poured the boiling water into a tea pot.

"I have to make a choice in three days." Kora spoke as she wiped her face with her free hand, "I could take the easy path and allow Silas to do all the work, but then I'm just allowing a Templar to repeat the same mistake again." she raised her open hands weighing her choices, "But if I defy him and hand in all the evidence, he will not aid me and I will be sent back to the asylum to be hanged. Even if Jacob helped me... I don't want him to be killed because of my choices. I don't think I could live with that."

Elijah brought out two mugs and poured tea into each. He then placed Kora's mug closest to her, away from her paperwork, pressed his back against the counter, and brought the mug to his lips to cool the hot liquid.

"Must've been heavy on your mind. Did you get any sleep last night, Lass?" he asked lightly.

Kora rubbed her face with her hands again before reaching for her mug and embracing the warmth with her hands.

She raised her brows and replied, "A few hours. I fought for sleep, I truly did. But I ended up rising with the sun."

Elijah eyed the paperwork from his spot and gave a sad smile, "I'm proud of you for fighting for your freedom, but I'm honestly surprised you didn't take the easy way out like most people do."

Kora looked up at him and asked, "And that is?"

"Run." He replied, "You could have run from London and returned to Ireland. Has that thought ever occurred to you?"

It was the first time Kora had ever thought about that. She could have run home to Northern Ireland, but she would not be a full fledged doctor and that goal was set in stone, or at least to become a very well-educated nurse. She couldn't – no, she wouldn't allow herself to leave after all the hard work she spent, four years building her career just to go home with the very little she had learned.

"I couldn't." Kora replied, "I have spent years building my career. I'm not going to leave London and give up on everything I had worked so hard to achieve."

"I'm sure Ireland has a hospital and very well-educated nurses." Elijah pointed out bluntly, "You could pick up everything where you left off."

Kora scoffed, "It's not that simple-"

"It is."

Kora squirmed in her seat as she exclaimed desperately, "But I have made a deal with Jacob!"

Elijah's kept his face unreadable to Kora as he continued to poke holes into the doctor's mind.

He replied calmly, "Yes but what do you get out of the deal?"

Kora opened her mouth but closed it as her mind was already doing circles in her head but she managed to counter Elijah's probing with a reasonable answer, "He gives me protection and I can work freely as a doctor here! Regardless of my sex!"

"True. But your working under him. The way I see it, he is only getting what he wants." Elijah paused as he watched her, he could almost see smoke coming out of her ears the way she was all agitated but then the realization filled her eyes and she calmed down from her state, slumping forward against the back of the chair. "Is that truly a fair deal?"

Kora stayed silent as she thought over the deal. Was it enough to only want protection and work? It was true, Jacob was benefiting more out of this deal then herself, but what else could she possibly ask for? Her cheeks warmed as her mind was drawn to Jacob and how often she had tasted his lips under the night sky. Maybe she was getting more then Elijah had thought.

"Why do you make me question all that I have done?" asked Kora.

Sympathy filled Elijah's eyes as he spoke, "I'm rather fond of you, Lass. As I said, I'm glad you're fighting for your freedom but I don't think anyone would give you trouble if you gave up and went safely home."

The Irish lass shook her head, "No. Not when I'm so close!"

Elijah grimaced, "But will it be worth it all in the end?"

Kora thought in silence before giving Elijah a hard look, "Aye. It will be. And I will not stop until it is done."

He placed down his mug on the counter and walked close to the table, reaching slightly over to place his hand over hers. He gave it a gentle reassuring squeeze before he glanced at the paperwork and he retreated from bending over.

"You found all this?" Elijah asked.

Kora nodded, "Aye. I did."

Elijah read the paperwork and raised his brows high as he finished reading the letter. He smiled widely and placed it back down before he said, "You may not need the file at all. This letter is the ticket! This is enough evidence alone for the police and I'm sure inspector Abberline will be busy hunting down the Hardy's once he has—"

Kora blinked and a smile came to her lips as she suddenly remembered the inspector.

She jumped up from her chair and smiled, "Frederick Abberline! Of course!"

The brute frowned, "What about the inspector, Lass?"

"I was told to meet with him once I have convincing evidence. He may have a better insight to all of this!" She said, "I need a Rook."

Elijah replied, "I'll fetch for someone."

Later that evening, Jacob had come as requested by Kora and they made their way to the location Jacob and Abberline had decided. Jacob was eager to know if Kora had come to a decision but understood that Abberline may have a better insight and knowledge that may give the Irish lass a better idea of what path to take.

They waited in the middle of an alleyway and watched as the sun set in the distance. It was the end of the first day, but Kora didn't feel at all nervous but eager to bring all of what she had done into fruition. She wanted this all to finally end and bring closure to her time as a fugitive.

But there was something else she needed to fix, and she thought carefully before approaching Jacob about it. She stared at him across from herself, his back against the brick wall with arms crossed. His head turning down both directions of the alleyway in search of Abberline or just monitoring his surroundings. He seemed far from relaxed and Kora wondered if he was as eager as she was, or perhaps he was being very cautious around Kora's activity on the streets.

Whatever it may have been, he had an air of impatience.

"I'm sorry." Kora said abruptly.

Jacob turned his attention on her, standing straighter as he frowned at her, "Whatever for, love?"

Kora replied quietly, "All that I live and work for is bringing life back from the start of death. I am a doctor, that is what I yearn to be every day of my life. So, when I said I wasn't a part of your creed, it's because I know I will never be assassin. But that doesn't mean I won't help you and your sister with anything you need of me."

Jacob replied, "I know, Kora. I am not at offended by your statement from last night. I knew you would be better suited as an ally." He moved in closer as Kora backed into the wall, Jacob smiled lightly with his eyes on her. "One that may need more protecting then usual."

Kora smirked, "I'm quite capable of protecting myself."

Jacob chuckled, "That was just luck. Do you even know how to fight? Or use a weapon?"

The Irish lass stuttered but drew a blank. She flustered as she responded quickly, "I can use a gun! And I have no problem using my scalpels."

"Oh, really?" Jacob's voice was laced with amusement, "And what if you couldn't get to them. How will you fend them off? Kicking and screaming?"

Kora smiled coyly, "So you're saying I should learn to protect myself?" she smoothed the rim of his dark grey coat, "Are you going to teach me? If you aren't busy with The Rooks, heists, and Templars?"

The assassin smiled widely, "Make them private lessons and I will always find time for you."

A blush crept across Kora's cheeks as she felt her heart flutter in her chest.

She replied softly, "Then it appears we have come to another deal. Shall we seal it?"

Jacob didn't waste another second on words and dropped his head to meet her lips. She matched his fervor as she slipped an arm around his neck. Her other hand holding is cheek as he pulled her into him and she melted against him, supple and sleek.

After a long minute they broke apart slowly and noticed an elderly woman walking down the alleyway towards them. Kora wanted to redirect the woman to go another way, but Jacob was the first to speak up, "Were you followed?"

The elderly lady lifted her head from the cover of her bonnet and Kora was greeted with a familiar mustache and mutton chops. Freddrick Abberline did a double take down the alleyway and shook his head, "Well I didn't leave the station house looking like this. I don't think I was followed unless they know my costumes—"

"I'll double check." Jacob replied as he sauntered off down the alleyway and peered around the corners before disappearing.

Abberline then turned his attention on Kora, "Kora. What evidence have you found?"

Kora fished out the letter and the file from the flap of her green blazer and talked him through the two pieces of evidence. The file on Margret Jones wasn't solid proof of conviction, but Kora figured it would be good evidence to question Mr. Hardy about once he was arrested. Then the letter, the solid proof tying the Hardy's and Mr. White was enough to place charges on them and have them both arrested as Abberline had come to admit. Kora filled him in on the deal between herself and Silas and her predicament with choosing the best route that would successfully weigh in her favor.

Abberline returned the evidence to her after he was done reading and was silent for a moment before he finally spoke, "Quite the mess you've gotten yourself involved with. But with that letter alone, the Hardy's will be arrested. Mr. White on the other hand may be a trickier person to charge since he has more leverage in the station house. That may be why he so willingly gave you the evidence you needed."

Kora frowned, "So he's untouchable?"

Abberline replied, "Well, he is the most experienced mortician we have. But to find another like him would only take a few months. And if he's a Templar, then most likely the other templars or corrupt coppers in my station house will be on his side if things start to fall apart for him."

"And that's exactly why I'm going to be dealing with him." Jacob spoke up as he returned from his patrol. "Think of it as putting the station house in new management."

Abberline sighed, "If it will free London and my station. Then so be it."

Jacob smiled and turned his attention on Kora, "Excellent. So, what is the plan, Kora?"

Kora bit her lip and thought for a moment before replying quietly, "If Abberline doesn't mind, I thought maybe he could walk me into the station with the evidence. From there, I will be put in a cell."

Abberline added, "If you hand in the evidence, Silas will take the letter back no doubt."

"Exactly." Kora nodded, "That's where Jacob comes in. He will have to sneak into the station house and deal with Silas. He will then retrieve the letter and return it into the evidence box."

Jacob nodded as he beamed, "And all will be well!"

"Very well." Abberline adjusted his bonnet as he spoke, "Tell me when and I will be there to escort you."

Kora told the inspector the day and the time, and they departed on separate paths.

It was not a long walk from where they were meeting, and they returned to the safe district just as night fall had closed over the sky. Jacob smiled at Kora but there was more in his long stare, she could tell he was holding back. And she knew exactly why. His eyes were soft when they met her own, but his posture was tense. When they kissed good night, it was deeper, with a building heat, and Jacob took his time.

Kora felt the same way and she broke the kiss with the same heat in her stare.

She wanted him just as much as he wanted her. And this time, all her walls came crashing down as she softly said, "Stay with me tonight?"

Jacob's answer was immediate as he replied huskily, "Absolutely."

Writer's Note: Thank you for reading! Don't forget to leave a review! I love hearing what my readers think and it motivates me to continue. Questions and Critic are very much welcomed! xoxo