A/N: Hello again, my wonderful readers! I'm so sad that there are only a couple of chapters left to post after this, I've really enjoyed sharing this story with everyone. Ryan's chapter here is a little shorter than Kaylyn's, but I hope you enjoy it just as much.

Altairila: Don't worry, your theories may or may not be confirmed in these chapters :). And thank you so much! It might be a few months until I finish can start putting up the sequel, but hang in there! I swear I will complete it, I love these characters too much to not. There's two final chapters after these ones to post, stay tuned!

AdeielSilverbird: Heeyyyyy you're back! You've got a bit of catching up to do, and thank you so much for the reviews. And yes, I feel incredibly sorry for anyone who tries to mess with Kaylyn, she's uhhh...VERY well connected. I have a sequel to write once I'm done with this story, and there should be two more chapters after these ones. I hope you stick around for it! Thank you so much, you magnificent bugger!

Chapter 41: Unconquered Fears

Ryan was trapped. Or more specifically, their entire group was trapped. By the cultish, corrupted shells of what were once people. What the hell is wrong with them? Their eyes were blank and their speech repetitive, and one would think they'd give up after a while, but oh no. They just kept coming, waves upon waves crashing down on the assassins like the sea on a rocky shore.

Ryan could tell that they were struggling; even the best fighter didn't stand a chance against the power of sheer numbers. Makin dripped with enough sweat that the ground around him was wet, and Abbas shook with the effort of battle. It didn't help that they couldn't really kill the people they were fighting against, not that Ryan would've wanted them to. I wasn't put on this Earth to see a massacre, thank you.

Then the sound of galloping horses echoed through the streets.

He gaped as the team of soldiers appeared, armored and ready for battle. They cut through the crowd on their mounts, jumping down and hurling themselves into the fray. Oh thank God. Ryan pressed himself more closely to the wall as Malik hurried past, yeling some command at the men that followed and wielding his sword effortlessly. His pummel then thunked against the head of a merchant and Ryan closed his eyes tightly.

It was a stupid thing do, but really, what else was there to? He couldn't fight, couldn't stand the sight of blood or injury, and he didn't want to make anyone work harder than they already were to protect him. He pressed himself further into the stone.

Around him, blades rose and fell, whistling through the air with mighty clangs and loud, solid thunks. Malik and his team fought well, though one small figure stood out more than the rest. What...Ryan stared at him. He had a grey hood, but his skills were that of a master. He flew gracefully among the wave of the Possessed, swinging this way and that, moving as effortlessly as though it were no more than a gentle jog. All the other assassins noticed this too, and Ryan registered a look of shock on Malik's face. Who the hell is he? And how is he just a novice?

"AAAAHHH!" He jumped and shrieked at the wordless cry that came mere inches from his face. Ryan ducked just in time, as a dagger swung right where his neck had been. A brown-robed merchant had somehow broken through to where he was, a possessed gleam in his eyes and dark words on his lips. He looks about Rashid's age, Ryan thought vaguely, falling to the ground to dodge another blow. I don't stand a chance. He closed his eyes, feet scrabbling on the sand, barely managing to stand in his blind panic.

Thunk.

There was a horrid sound above him. He opened his eyes to see the man fall, sword in his chest. A slight, armored figure stood there, eyes blazing with a wild fury, the same one that had bested so many people. She looked thinner and leaner than when Ryan last saw her, and there was a nasty scar over her left eye.

Kaylyn.

His sister's ghost turned to him, concern in her gaze. What...how… He couldn't seem to process the events unfolding in front of him. Her mouth was moving, asking him a question, but he had no idea what she was saying.

"Kaylyn…" He whispered, and his knees buckled. Ryan's heart pounded loudly in his ears, and he barely felt her on his shoulders.

She spoke again, a jumbled sentence of confusion and humor, that was so...her. Ryan wanted to cry. "...Yes, that is my name. I mean, I assumed you already knew that, and I know that, so I'm not sure-"

"You're alive?" How the fuck-

There was a long pause. She isn't a ghost, is she? The thought felt almost ridiculous, but then again, the whole situation was ridiculous. People didn't just come back to life, not after being tortured and dumped in a pile and-

"Guess what?" She asked in a serious tone.

Ryan answered exhaustedly, "What?"

His sister grinned. "Philippe is a lying bastard."

...oh. Suddenly, Ryan found himself laughing at the strangeness of it all, clinging to his sister like a lifeline as he processed everything that had happened. He didn't know what the others were doing, and found he couldn't care; not when Kaylyn was alive and well and happy. Vaguely, he realized that the fighting around them had ceased, and Makin was standing only a few feet away, a look of shock on his face. Because...because Kaylyn…

Kaylyn is alive.

Tears fell from his eyes and he sobbed, burying his face in her robes. Kaylyn patted him awkwardly, probably wondering what the hell to do. The thought nearly made him laugh again.

"Kay-lin…" Makin whispered, reaching out to her softly.

"Did you miss me?" She murmured back. Awww…

Before Makin could properly respond, footsteps echoed of the empty streets, and a small figure ran toward them. Ryan had no idea who it was, but Kaylyn seemed to recognize him.

"Idris?!" She cried, surprise etched into her features. The boy she saved…? He was very cute, with chubby cheeks, messy, black hair, and huge eyes. He was completely out of breath, like he'd been running for quite a while.

"Amalijah! Amalijah, help us!" Idris skidded to a halt, eyes red and puffed up, looking tiny and vulnerable compared to the girl in front of him.

She reached out to steady him, shaking the little boy gently. "Idris, what's going on?"

"There are...there are people…" His chest heaved and he paused for a moment, taking in more air. "There are people who were outside of the city when it all happened, and who weren't turned all weird and black, and now we're hiding in this little cave, but some people are hurt, but we don't have-"

"Idris!" I silently thanked my sister for intervening; he probably would've had a stroke if left unchecked. "They need medical help, yes?" He nodded, a relieved smile gracing his tiny face. He still looked very nervous, though, and jumped from foot to foot. "Alright then. I'll come with you, just give me a moment."

She turned, a sad look on her face. I realized in that moment how exhausted she seemed, lines under her eyes and hair nearly undone from the way it'd been hastily tied. She was...older. Older than the Kaylyn that'd arrived here, fresh and innocent, free from the burdens that were forced upon her the second her feet touched the sand. She's still Kaylyn though, just much, much stronger.

"I'm sorry, I have to...I mean…" Before she could finish her stuttered speech, Makin spoke up softly.

"It is alright," He said, pale but determined. His expression had softened, relief winning out over paralyzing denial. "Go and help them, Al-Mu'alijjah. We will talk afterwards."

She grinned, impulsively leaning toward her sweetheart and giving him a kiss, before running away across the dusty road. Makin froze, somehow paling even further. His hand drifted to where her lips had touched, and a smile grew on his face like a flower after a bout of sunlight. It was nice to see, and it reminded him of-

SHADIN. WHERE-

Ryan bolted upright, scrambling to his feet in a flurry of motion. "Oh my God!"

Everyone turned to him, Makin's smile melting from his face. "Rye-an?" Nadir questioned, "What is wrong?"

"I...there's someone I need to find! I need to make sure they're safe, they don-" He cut himself off, looking around as though Shadin were about to jump out of a corner and yell 'surprise!'. Nadir frowned, but Makin paused, eyes filling with an understanding he shouldn't have had.

"Is it...that stable boy Al-Din yelled at you about?" He asked. Ryan gaped, then blushed furiously.

"I-No! I mean, yes, but-"

Makin waved a hand at him, cutting him off. "Go and find him, Rye-an, and save others if you can. We must go and help at the castle."

Ryan smiled at his friend, ignoring the hum of understanding from Nafisa. He sprinted off toward the stable, kicking up mounds of dirt behind him as he went, praying desperately to anyone listening that Shadin would be somewhere nearby.

God, please let him not be injured, or dead, or Possessed…

He hoped Shadin didn't think he'd just up and abandoned him; after all, he'd left Masyaf pretty suddenly. Still, he knew about Kaylyn and everything that happened, and Ryan knew he'd understand.

The stables came into view, quiet and empty, save for the sound of horses neighing in hunger. Probably hadn't been fed, he realized. The structure was so...normal. As though everything was. As though the city wasn't being torn apart by the one person who'd sworn to take care of it. The wooden door creaked as Ryan entered, moving slowly to try and disguise his presence. One of the horses nickered at him, but they all seemed too distracted to really care about the strange boy in their midst.

"R-Rye-an…" A weak voice came from the end of the stalls, near where the hay was kept. Ryan ran to it, looking around for the scrawny teen.

"Shadin?! Where are you?"

"In...in here…" The haystack shifted, and Ryan gaped. Oh…oh no, he's hurt- He leapt forward, digging into the hay and grabbing the shaking form that lay there. He ignored Shadin's noises of protests, throwing hay aside until his whole body was visible. The horse in the stall next to them nickered happily.

"Rye-an-" Shadin's eyes were red, and he was curled in on himself. Ryan knelt down, hands shaking.

"Shadin, where are you-I mean, are you-"

"Rye-an-" The other boy exclaimed, then coughed, cutting off his own words. He shook his head, holding up a hand when Ryan tried to get close to him. "I'm…I'm ok…"

"Are you sure?" Ryan held onto his shoulders, looking him up and down to try and make sense of his condition. He looked very shaken and upset, but he wasn't bleeding anywhere.

Shadin nodded vigorously. "Yeah. My ankle is a bit twisted, but it isn't that bad. I just...needed to hide."

"Because of the crazy people who are trying to kill everyone?"

"Uh...yes. Because of them." He flinched and looked down at his knees, tears welling up in his eyes.

Ryan frowned, cupping his chin. "What's wrong?"

Shadin gave him a small, watery smile, leaning into his touch. "I just know some of them, that's all. I've...I've really missed you, Rye-an."

Ryan grinned. "I've missed you too!"

The two of them sat there for a moment, each taking in the presence of the other, drawing comfort amidst the chaos of their reality. Shadin sighed, leaning forward and wrapping his arms around the boy in front of them. Ryan moved to reciprocate, but he jumped back suddenly, eyes wide.

"What-"

"The horses!" He cried, "I need-I forgot to feed them and give them water and it's hot out and-"

"Do you need help?" Ryan asked seriously. He knew personally how dangerous the desert heat was, and how easily dehydrated someone could become. "I think most of the Possessed are over by the castle."

Shadin frowned. "You think?" Then he shook his head. "Nevermind, it doesn't matter. We need to take care of them before they get sick."

"Ok. I'll fetch the water, you take care of their food." The other boy looked like he was about to argue, but then nodded, and Ryan slipped away. As he traveled to the well, bucket in hand, he realized how eerily quiet everything was. Where's all the fighting? The noise? What's going on? Around each corner he froze, preparing to flee at the first sign of one of the zombified civilians. But none came. Weird…

He shook off the thought, focusing on the task in front of him. He knew he'd have to move more slowly once he had the water with him, so he resigned himself to the nail-biting stress he'd suffer for each trip he made. He refused to fail though, refused to let any of the horses suffer because of his anxiety. Screw my anxiety! I'm doing this whether it wants me to or not. Ryan heaved the bucket into the well, collecting as much as he could before yanking it back up, untying the rope with shaking fingers.

Every trip to the well was more exhausting than the last, and dread ate away at his resolve. He wondered what his sister was doing, and whether his friends were okay. Please let them be okay.

Finally, after one last push, he sat down with a plop on the stable floor. Every trough had been filled to the brim, and the horses were munching away happily on the feed they'd been given. One small mare snorted, waving it's head at him invitingly.

"Sorry," Ryan said to her, "You're very cute, but you guys still kinda freak me out."

She nickered and shook out her mane, walking away sadly.

"Her name is Layla." Ryan turned to see Shadin walking over to him, finally done with every task. He sat down with a thump beside his boyfriend, smiling at him fondly. "You have gotten much better, Rye-an. You should try to pet her sometime."

"Sometime," He muttered, "But not right now."

Shadin huffed softly, rolling his eyes. He still looked very content, though. "So...did you encounter anyone?"

Ryan frowned and shook his head. "No. It was really weird, like they'd all gone off to fight somewhere else."

"Huh…" The small boy looked almost disappointed. He probably wanted to know if one of his friends was alright. Still, it was for the best that no one had seen him; Ryan wasn't exactly a master fighter.

"Uh...sorry…" He offered weakly, but Shadin shook his head.

"No, it is not your fault, I just…"

"It's okay, I'm worried too." Silence. Then-

"Oh!" Shadin sat up, staring at him. "Did you find Kay-lin? Is she alright?"

Ryan grinned, then laughed. God, what a day. He knew the answer before would've been very depressing, but everything had changed. Everything was ok. He registered the confused look on the other boy's face and hastily responded. "Yeah, yeah she's fine! She-you should see her fight, Shadin! I don't know what she's been taught but-anyway, that's not the point. Yeah, she's okay. And a bit of a badass, apparently."

Shadin blinked. "Oh, uh...what is 'badass'?"

Ugh. How do I explain this? Ryan searched for the right words. "Uh...well…it's sort of like, someone who is very tough and intimidating, but like, in a good way. Like awesome, you know?"

"Ahhh…" Shadin grinned. "Like Makin?"

"Yes! Exactly like Makin!" Ryan began waving his arms around to emphasize his excitement, and his boyfriend laughed. He felt a lot more relaxed than he had before, now that the horses weren't dying and he got to rest a bit.

Suddenly there were footsteps on the road outside, running toward where they sat. Ryan jumped to his feet and Shadin followed suit, moving to peer out the door. It was a grey-faced novice, sprinting down the street. He paused when he saw Ryan and sighed, relieved.

"Are you Rye-an?" He asked. Ryan nodded.

"Yes, I am. What's going on? Is everyone okay?"

The boy panted, then nodded vigorously. "The curse is lifted, and the man responsible is dead, but...but there is a strange woman, asking for both you and your sister."

...huh? "A...strange woman? Why is she strange?"

He shrugged. "I did not see her personally, so I don't know why she is called that. I was asked to send for you, though."

"...ok."

The assassin looked at him curiously, studying his expression. "It is very odd, is it not? Her...her name is Minerva, I believe."

Ryan frowned. "I have no idea who that is."

A/N: OOooooh, it's time to meet Minerva, you guys. What might the assassins find out about Ryan and Kaylyn? Hmmm...