11
Trudy Conri and the head of security, Simon Fowler entered the offices for research and approached Diane Carter's working space. Diane noticed as she glanced up from her computer and closed the online book she was reading.
"Dr. Conri, how can I help you?"
Trudy looked down her glasses at Diane
"Have you made any progress looking into then transference stage and the effects on the human body?"
"I'm afraid not" Diane replied "I have no explanation as to why the subjects heart stopped"
Trudy sighed as she looked away at Simon and then glanced back
"actually, whilst I'm here, I'd like to question you about your unfortunate hostage situation" Trudy continued as Diane glanced at Simon, who was trying to scowl, but had difficulty with the fresh support bandages plastered across the bridge of his nose
"it must have been terribly frightening to be held at knife point by that savage"
"yes...it was" Diane answered
"But, what myself and Mr. Fowler here can't seem to understand, however, is how he managed to secure such a blade in the first place?..."
"Who knows?" Diane replied as she started to feel her heart race "all I know is I'm lucky the bastard didn't slice my throat completely..."
"Yes" Trudy replied "you were very lucky it was just a tiny little nick of the flesh, hmmm?" Trudy then turned to leave "good day... Dr. Carter"
Diane watched them leave with concern over the questions she was asked.
"Watch her closely over the next week Mr. Fowler, something doesn't feel right" Trudy seethed under her breath as they both approached the elevator.
Evening had fallen and Kairen made his way back into the safe house and towards the lounge where he could hear Rayna explaining the complexities of a mobile phone. When he entered Rayna looked up happily but then she noticed his demeanour
"what's the matter?" she asked suddenly
"what isn't would be the better question!" he scoffed as he turned to the twins who were sitting on the opposite sofa "would you two like to explain to me why the Albion guards are on high alert looking for a pair who match your descriptions?" he growled
"who knows" Jacob said as he tossed the small phone onto the coffee table "maybe we're twins with twins" he smirked when Evie suddenly elbowed him sharply in the ribs then stood facing Kairen
"I'm sorry" she begun "it was my fault. We went for a quiet drink and I ended up in a scuffle with a pair of those insufferable thugs"
"in Evie's defense, they started it" Rayna suddenly chipped in
Kairen suddenly dropped onto the sofa next to Rayna
"this is exactly what I didn't want to happen..." he said quietly
"well" Evie began again "we have all agreed to lay low now for the next few days" she said as she watched Jacob roll his eyes and pick the phone back up "I am sorry" she said again
Kairen sighed "don't be, it was unfair of me to try and demand that you both stay closed up. After all, it must be pretty exciting seeing the future, and Assassin's don't like to stay idle" he smiled as his took Rayna's hand then the small silence was suddenly broken as Jacob tossed his phone angrily onto the table again
"that thing is impossible!" he growled
"Whatever is the matter?" Evie sighed
"That little device beat me at cards...AGAIN! Jacob complained
Rayna started to laugh as Evie shook her head
"it's getting late" Kairen added "let's order pizza, alcohol and watch a movie...like normal people for a change..."
"Alcohol sounds good" Jacob grinned "you can surprise us with whatever a pizza is... but, what's a movie?"
Rayna looked thoughtful " a movie is like the theatre, but it'll appear on that TV" she pointed
"ugh, sounds dull" he complained
"well, I like the sound of it" Evie chirped
"it'll do us all good to switch off for a bit" Kairen added as he grabbed the remote and sat close next to Rayna whilst he powered up the TV
Two days had passed and after more lessons, the time had finally come for the small team to meet with Dr. Carter. Rayna lay low in her car beside Jacob as they both observed the house from further up the street.
She couldn't see anything out of the ordinary and was confident if anything was amiss that she hadn't spotted then Kairen or Evie, who were observing from the rooftops above, would alert them. Suddenly the pair spotted a car come to a stop outside the three storey house, then, Diane exited and headed for the basement flat. Jacob went to open the car door when Rayna placed a hand on his arm
"here, take this" she said as she passed him a mobile phone "remember, if it plays a little tune and vibrates then swipe the screen to answer..ok?"
Jacob nodded to her and exited the car. As he crossed the quiet road and made his way towards the house another car, further up the road and on the opposite side from Rayna's, also had an occupant who scowled as he watched Jacob descend into the basement flat. Simon Fowler lifted his phone and made a call.
Jacob entered the door that was slightly ajar, which caused it to creak slightly and Diane turned suddenly then relaxed when she recognized the Assassin.
"I'm glad to see you made it out in one piece" she said happily, but then turned serious "but, I bring bad news. The Templars are bringing another through tonight!"
Jacob looked concerned
"do you know who?" he questioned
"I have no name, but some of the others talked about him being a powerful grandmaster of Victorian London, and were extremely excited to bring him back" Diane replied
"Starrick..." Jacob seethed "we've got to get in there and stop them!"
Diane looked thoughtful
"I could get in there with my pass and try and adjust some settings... maybe it would effect the transition and stop them from attempting it again" then Diane looked worried "but, it could mean the subject is killed...I would be responsible for killing someone..."
Jacob noticed the conflict on her face
"If Crawford Starrick dies being pulled through it wouldn't be a bad thing" he reassured "If you knew the pain he caused and would continue to cause, you'd have no regrets. You don't want that man here...trust me "
Diane stared ahead
"sometimes we must enter the darkness to reach the light" she whispered to herself when her thoughts were disturbed by a small ringing and watched Jacob's confusion as he looked down at his vibrating pocket
"you have a phone?" she questioned as he pulled it hastily out his pocket to answer
"Yes, I have made a few allies" he replied quickly as he brought the screen up close to his face and swiped it. He brought it to his ear and heard a panicked Rayna on the receiver
"Get out! The Templars are here!"
Jacob raised his eyes to his friend when Evie abruptly entered the room through the back entrance which startled Diane
"we have to get out, NOW" Evie barked
Jacob grabbed Diane's arm and led her towards the back but immediately sensed armed Templars surrounding the back garden and stopped.
"What is it?" Diane questioned
"they've got the back surrounded" he replied
Diane looked at the twins
"then you need to climb away, go!" she cried as she pulled her arm away
"No!" Jacob said firmly as he gently took her arm again "I'm not leaving you here for the wolves!"
Suddenly the Templars crashed into the room and the trio found themselves caught in a fight for which they were severely outnumbered.
Rayna shouted Jacobs name down the phone one last time and after receiving nothing but silence she threw the phone onto the opposite car seat then went to reverse her car quickly when the door was suddenly pulled open and she was dragged into the road and held by gunpoint. She looked around anxiously at the voices shouting angrily at her and raised her arms slowly when suddenly there was a blast and a plume of smoke appeared that blinded the Templars around her, then suddenly, one by one, they fell to the ground clutching at fatal wounds across their throats inflicted by a hidden blade that swept through the smoke.
Kairen grabbed Rayna and pulled her to her feet
"I've got you" he said quickly
Suddenly a burst of gunfire blasted through the smoke. Rayna fell to her knees clutching her upper arm as a powerful and painful blow struck her flesh. She hid behind the car door then glanced to her right.
The sight took her breath immediately when she saw Kairen on the floor clutching at his chest and stomach as he started coughing up blood. Rayna screamed, disregarding her cover as she quickly crawled to his side.
As the smoke cleared Rayna looked up with vision blurred by tears as she clutched Kairen's limp form to her chest. Simon Fowler's shadow approached menacingly with a machine gun trained on her and he smiled coldly at the scene he was presented with.
"Well, well...If it isn't Master Arden, not so fast now is he..." he taunted wickedly