A/N: Welcome back to Creed of Madness! And since I said everything I needed to last chapter, let's simply move onto Chapter 2 - Truth.

Enjoy!

Chapter 2 - Truth

"Assassins?" Alice asked, getting a nod from Adam. "Yes. Your father and mother were leading members of the Assassin Brotherhood in London. Your father was actually our Mentor." Libby stated, which caused a tense silence for a second, before Lizzie burst into laughter, followed shortly after by her sister. To give Adam and his family credit, they didn't show any anger. They simply waited for them to finish. "That's it, let it all out." Adam said.

After a few more seconds, the two girls ceased their laughter. "Finished?" Jamie asked, as the Liddell sisters caught their breath. "I'm sorry, it's just...surely you don't expect us to believe all of this? I mean, it's all rather ridiculous." Lizzie breathed out, only for Adam to reach to a pouch on his side, withdrawing a small but thick piece of round metal. "Catch." He said, before tossing it to her. Shooting out a hand, Lizzie plucked the object from the air,then looked at it, Alice peeking over her shoulder.

"I've seen this symbol before." Alice said, once she saw what was on the medallion in her sister's hand. Emblazoned on the disk was what seemed to be the letter A, but if the ends of the letter had been curved into the points of blades.

"Where?" Adam asked, looking to the younger sister. "A couple of times, I saw it on the spine of a book in our library. However, when I'd go back the next day, it would have disappeared. I was always confused about it." She said, making the Robertsons exchange a look with each other, before Adam spoke again.

"That there's the symbol of our Brotherhood." He stated, which made Alice look back to the medallion. "So, that's your proof that this 'Brotherhood' of yours exists? A piece of metal?" Lizzie asked, before tossing the medallion back to Adam, who caught it just as easily as she had. "If what I'm thinking's true, it's close. But not enough." He said, slipping it into his pocket.

"We'd like to leave." Lizzie said, making Adam furrow his eyebrows. "Whatever folly you partake in, leave us out of it. We're going home." She continued, taking her sister's hand, and turning to leave. "I wouldn't recommend that." Libby said, which made the sisters stop. "Meaning?" Alice asked. "Your house is naught but a burned-out wreck, and the Templars are sure to be looking for you. Indeed, only two bodies were discovered in the house, those being those of your parents." The youngest Robertson child explained, making Lizzie scowl, before she whirled round to face her.

"So, you're saying we can't leave?" She demanded, only for Adam to raise a hand. "No, that's not what we're saying. You can leave, but I'd recommend taking a member of the Brotherhood with you. That way, they can protect you from any attempts against you." He said, causing the Liddells to glare at him for a few seconds. "And if we refuse?" Alice asked, crossing her arms. "You stay here." Jamie stated. This made the sisters look to him in anger, before Lizzie sighed, and nodded.

"Fine. If that's the price of leaving, we accept." She stated, getting a nod from Adam. "I'll send an Assassin to greet you tomorrow morning. But first, I'd recommend that you two get some sleep. You've been through a lot." He said, making Lizzie and Alice nod, before they walked over to the door. "One last thing, if I may?" Alice asked, causing her sister to turn back slightly. "Of course, Alice." Adam said, gesturing for her to speak.

"These Templars. I'm assuming that Bumby's a member of them?" She asked, getting an immediate nod from Adam. "Last I heard, he wasn't a member of the inner circle. But that was a couple years ago." He said, which made Jamie look to him from the side of the room, which Alice ignored. "And are you going to kill him?" She continued. Again, a nod. "He's a target. It's our duty." Adam stated, before looking to the clock on the wall. "It's late. I'll send an Assassin to go with you to the tailor in the morning. You'll need new clothes." He continued, getting a nod from Alice and her sister.

"Very well. Thank you for taking us in. Goodnight." Lizzie said, bowing to the Robertsons, her sister mimicking her action. "No thanks necessary, Lizzie. I just did my duty as Arthur's student. Goodnight." Adam replied, before the two Liddells left the room, leaving the Assassins alone.

"They're not convinced." Libby said, leaning back in her chair, and looking to her brother. "They'll try something." Nodding, Adam slumped back into his chair. "I know. But still, I want to see what they do when they meet their shadow for tomorrow." He replied, making Lisa sit forward. "Who you got in mind?" She asked, before Jamie pushed himself off the wall. "I'll do it." He stated, which made Adam look to him, one eyebrow raised.

"No. I want you to go out on patrol with Hybrid and Blink. See if anything's out of the ordinary." The younger brother said, causing his sibling to nod. "Mother, could you go with the girls tomorrow? See if you can get them to relax somewhat. And also, don't let them out of your sight. We lose them, God knows what'll happen." He continued, getting a nod from his mother. "Of course." She said, only for Libby to raise a hand.

"And what am I supposed to do? Stay here and study in the library? Cause if so, I'll tell you now..." the blonde started, only for Adam to raise a hand to stop her. "No, you'll be training with Sentinel and Defender. You three will help me guard the house should the need arise." He stated, which made Libby's eyes widen. "Adam..." Lisa started, looking to her youngest son. "She's read enough. Time she learns how to fight. She might not get the chance later on." Adam replied, which made Lisa look to her daughter, before sighing and nodding. "Very well." She said.

"Well then, safe to say we can conclude this meeting. Dismissed." Adam stated, after rising to his feet...

The next morning...

"Alice? Lizzie?" Lisa asked, knocking twice on the door, only to narrow her eyes when she heard no noise on the other side. "Girls?" She asked, opening the door to peek inside the room, only to widen her eyes when she saw that the beds were empty, and the window was wide open. "Shit..." She gasped, before running off to find her son...

The previous night...

"Lizzie, what are you doing?" Alice asked, as she entered the room to see Lizzie looking into the wardrobe in the corner. "I'm leaving. I'm going to see our home, and then I'm going to find Bumby and kill him." Her sister replied, as she pulled out some travel clothes. "Adam told us to wait. We'll get to leave tomorrow." Alice said, walking over to her sister and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Forget what Adam told us to do! He's not our guardian. Now, I'm leaving. You coming?" Lizzie exclaimed, before Alice backed off in surprise. This made her sister's face fall. "I-I'm sorry, Alice. I'm just..." Lizzie said, only to be cut off by Alice gripping her by the shoulders again. "Well, what are we waiting for?" The younger Liddell sister asked, picking up one of the gowns Lizzie had pulled out...

Back in the present, in the Robertson's study...

"Adam!" Lisa exclaimed, as she ran into the study, drawing her son's attention away from the letters he was currently reading. "What is it, Mother?" He asked. "It's Alice and Lizzie. They're gone!" The woman said, which made Adam sigh, as he stood up. "Alright, then." He said, cracking his neck. "I'll be back soon." He continued, throwing on a coat to obscure his robes, before going to leave the room. "But we don't know where they are." Lisa stated, as Adam got to the door. "No..." He said, before turning back to look at her.

"But I know where they're going."

Later, near Hyde Park...

"Keep your head down, Alice. We're nearly there." Lizzie said to her sister, as they navigated through the greenery of Hyde Park. "Why are we going there, anyway? We know what we'll find there." Alice asked. "Maybe, but I believe it will do us good to see it." Lizzie replied, as the pair of them crossed the road, and walked next to an alleyway. "Just round these last few..." She said, before both she and Alice were grabbed by the arm, and dragged into the alley.

Once they were out of sight, the girl's unseen assailant released their arms, with the two girls spinning to glare at them, only to scowl when they saw it was Adam standing before them.

"What the hell do you two think you're doing?" He demanded, before Lizzie scowled at him. "Going to see our home. Is that a problem?" She spat, making Adam raise an eyebrow. "You know that there'll be nothing more than a burnt-out shell. Trust me, you don't want to see that." He stated, looking to both girls. "Maybe, but we need closure, Adam. Come with us, if you wish. But we're going." Alice piped up, making Adam sigh.

"Fine. But on one condition." He stated, making the Liddell sisters nod. "Which is?" Lizzie asked. "At the first sign of trouble, we go. And when we get back to my house, you two will apologize to my mother. She's a nervous wreck 'cause of you two. Understood?" The young man said, causing the girls to nod again. "Very well." He stated, standing to the side, and gesturing back the way they had came.

"Lead on."

A few minutes later...

"It's...surprisingly still standing." Alice said in disbelief, as the trio looked up at the smouldering remnants of the former Liddell estate. "Your ancestors built it to last." Adam stated, looking from the house to down the street. "Nervous?" Lizzie asked. "Nope. Just cautious. Anybody could be watching us." He said, looking to her, then to Alice, whose gaze was still on her former home.

"I know what you're thinking, Alice. You want to go inside." He stated, causing the younger twin to look to him. "It's too dangerous." He said, cutting her off as she went to speak. "You just said that our ancestors built it to last. Wouldn't that include a fire?" She demanded, which made Adam raise an eyebrow.

"Maybe..." He said through gritted teeth, annoyed at his own words being turned back on him. "Alright, we'll go in. But I'll take point. That way, you can still get out if anything happens. Understand?" He asked, getting a pair of nods in response. "Alright then..." He started, looking back up at the house. "Follow me."

Quickly, the trio had walked up to the front door, and had entered into the entranceway of the house, taking cautious steps to avoid causing a collapse. "Be honest with us, Adam." Lizzie said, drawing her friend's attention. "There's something you want to show us, isn't there?" She asked, which made Adam look down. "Show us." She stated, making Adam sigh. "Alice, you said you saw the Brotherhood's sigil in your library?" He asked of the younger sister, who nodded. "Show me." He stated, allowing Alice to lead him and Lizzie into the burned-out library.

"If you're aiming to show us a book, it's impossible. They'll all have been burnt to cinders." Lizzie said, making Adam laugh. "Oh, believe me, Lizzie, your father wasn't a fool. He'd planned for this, and I know that it's not a book we're looking for." He stated, as he and Lizzie entered into the room, and looked round.

"So, what do you see, Alice?" Adam asked, causing the younger Liddell sister to shrug. "I don't know what you're expecting to find. That symbol was on the spine of a book." She said, only for Adam to place his hands on her shoulders from behind. "Do you trust me?" He asked. Looking to her sister, Alice saw her nod, before she hesitantly did the same. "Then close your eyes, and concentrate." He said, causing Alice to close her eyes.

"You've been trained to see the world one way. I want you to see it in another." Alice heard Adam say, before she nodded. "How do I do that?" She asked. "Look past the world you see. Dig deep, blocking out everything else." Adam stated, before Alice nodded, and opened her eyes, only to gasp.

"I see it!" She breathed out, making Adam smile. "Where?" He asked. Walking over to where a burnt-out bookcase was, she reached up to a slab of stone that had taken the place of a regular book. And in Alice's new heightened sense, she could see two things emblazoned on this stone, glowing brightly; The insignia Adam had shown them on the medallion, and below it, the letter A.

"Here." She said, placing her hand on the stone, and pulling on it. Even though she was expecting it to slide free, Alice was surprised to hear a click when the stone came to a sudden stop. "Huh?" She asked, looking to Adam, who had walked over to fire, where the portrait of the Liddell family had been hung above it. The painting itself had been burned away, but the frame remained, and this is what Adam had begun to examine.

"Lizzie, come here." He ordered, gesturing his friend over. Coming up beside him, Lizzie saw that one of the rounded parts of the frame had split, and slid up a fraction, revealing a small hole underneath, but the space was too small to reach it. "See it?" Adam asked, getting a nod from his companion. "Alice, let it go." She said to her sister, who released the stone. Immediately, the wood of the frame snapped shut, obscuring the hole.

"There must be a second one." Lizzie said, making Adam raise an eyebrow. "Impressive, Lizzie. Now, I want you to look for it, just as Alice did. Concentrate. Block out everything else." He said. Looking to Alice, Lizzie saw her sister nod encouragingly, which made her sigh. "Fine." She stated, turning her back to Adam, taking a deep breath, and closing her eyes.

After a few seconds, the elder Liddell sister opened her eyes again, only to widen them in surprise, as the feeling was familiar to her. "I've felt this before. It's like...seeing sounds and hearing shapes." She said, looking to Adam, who nodded. "What do you see?" He asked, gesturing to the room, which made Lizzie look back. Without saying anything, she walked over to another bookcase, where another stone slab was sitting. Like her sister, Lizzie could see the same symbol glowing brightly on the stone, but underneath it, she could see the letter L.

Silently, she reached up and pulled, and sure enough, the stone shifted ever so slightly, then stopped with a click. Looking back to the frame of the portrait, all three of the room's inhabitants could see that the corner had slid up again, the same distance as it had for Alice.

"Alice, pull yours." Adam stated, getting a nod from the girl in question, who pulled on her own stone, causing it to click again. Looking to the frame, she saw that the corner had completely slid away, revealing what the wood had been covering; a hole, bordered with gold. "Is that a keyhole?" Alice asked, getting a nod from Adam. "Great, so where are we going to find the key for it?" Lizzie demanded, making Adam smirk, before looking to her.

"We have one." He stated, before flicking his wrist, making Alice and Lizzie jump, as a sharp blade appeared from his sleeve with a loud 'SNIKT!' Quickly, he inserted the blade into the hole, clenched his fist, and twisted his arm to the right, which made the wall behind the frame emit a loud thunk.

Releasing their respective stones, Alice and Lizzie walked over to beside Adam, as he placed his hand on the edge of the wall. Looking to the two girls, he smiled, before pulling it back, with the wall coming with him, revealing another room was concealed behind it. Like the library, this room was covered in shelves, but these were stacked with jars and papers, as was the desk on the opposite side of the room, which stood next to a grey stone chest. But what drew the attention of the Liddell sisters first, was the massive symbol emblazoned on the floor. It was the same symbol that had been on the stones, as well as on Adam's medallion.

"It's all true. Our parents were Assassins." Alice said, looking to Adam, who nodded. "They were born into the Brotherhood, same as my family." He replied, as he walked over to the desk. "I believe they left you two something in that chest. Have a look." He stated, as he picked up a sealed letter with his name on it. Nodding, Alice and Lizzie walked over to the chest, and knelt in front of it. Placing her hands on either side of the lid, Lizzie tried to open it, but the stone remained closed. Looking over quickly, Adam smirked subtly to himself as he broke the seal of the letter.

"See that skull on the front?" He asked, making the girls look to the front of the chest, where there was a small skull placed. "Pull it up, twist it, then slide it down." He continued, before Alice reached out, and placed two fingers in the eye sockets of the skull. Looking to her sister, she quickly pulled it up, twisted it, then slammed it back down, upon which they all heard a click. Smiling, Alice opened the lid, before she and her sister looked inside.

"Are these...?" Lizzie began to ask, as she and Alice lifted two wrapped bundles out of the box. "Yes. And at the very least, you should take them with you. They'd have wanted you to. Also, you should both read this." He said, before passing a 2nd sealed letter to Lizzie, which had her and Alice's names written on it. Breaking the wax, Lizzie looked to Alice, who was looking over her shoulder, before she unfolded the letter, and they both recognized their father's hand;

"November 5, 1863

Alice, Lizzie.

If you're reading this, then the worst has happened before me and your mother could tell you both of your birthright. Your true birthright. And if you're with the man I pray that you are, you'll probably know by now what that is.

Yes, your mother and I are Assassins. And Adam was my student. My best student, in fact. He's the best soldier the Brotherhood ever produced. If there was ever a man I trusted to care for you two, it was him. So, if you are with him, please, trust him. And if you've found the chest, please, understand the meaning of the contents, and make the right decision. This is all I ask. On the other hand, if you aren't with Adam, I implore you to seek him out. He'll protect you.

Good luck, girls. While we may be gone, we'll always be watching over you. And if I may ask one last favour; Watch over each other. You two are stronger together. You always were. And I hope you take this chance to join your true family.

I love you, girls.

Your Father, Arthur Liddell, Mentor of the English Brotherhood of Assassins."

Lowering the letter, Lizzie looked to Adam, who had picked up a bound pile of papers and placed them in his jacket, and went to pass him the letter, only for him to hold up a hand. "Those words were for your eyes only." He stated, getting a nod from Lizzie, who tucked the letter into her pocket.

"So, now what?" Alice asked, only for Adam to hold up his hand again. "Hear that?" He asked, making the girls fall silent, as all three of them listened. Immediately, their eyes widened when they heard the sound of the house's front door opening.

"Alice, you were the last one in. You shut the door, right?" Adam asked, getting a nod from the younger Liddell. "Shit." He said through gritted teeth, before he swiftly walked over to the entrance of the room, and pressed a raised tile down with his foot. As it lowered, the door to the secret room swung shut.

"There. Unless they've got the sense, they'll never get in." Adam stated, only for Lizzie to scowl. "So how do we get out?" She asked, making Adam smirk. "Oh, ye of little faith..." He started, as he walked over to the desk again. Placing a hand underneath it, he smiled when he found his target. "There!" He said, before the sisters heard a click.

"Push on that wall." He ordered, gesturing to a wall near the chest. Nodding, the two sisters placed the packages on the table, then ran over to the wall, placed their shoulders against it, and pushed with all their strength. Despite the wall giving some resistance, it eventually swung open to reveal a secret staircase. "How the...?" Alice asked, looking back to Adam, only for him to place the two packages into her and Lizzie's hands. "Doesn't matter, run!" He ordered, ushering the pair down the stairs, before reaching up to a lever on the wall and pulling it down, with the door swinging shut behind him.

"I can't see!" Lizzie exclaimed, as the door shutting had plunged the staircase into darkness. "Use your sense!" Adam replied, as he followed the two girls down the stairs. Heeding these words, both she and Alice concentrated, and turned on their second sense of vision, which made the stairs visible again.

"Something tells me I'm going to get a lot of use out of this." Alice said, looking to Adam, who she saw , along with her sister, was enveloped in a bright blue aura. "Trust me, you will." He replied, as the trio reached the bottom of the stairs, entering into a dark tunnel. "Where now?" Lizzie asked. "This way." Adam stated, before leading his companions down the tunnel, albeit with an order of, "Keep your sense on."

Later...

As Lisa fidgeted in her seat in the Robertson's library, she jumped when she heard a knocking sound coming from the floor. Rushing over to a metal grate, she lifted it up, revealing a small set of ladders, on which stood Adam, with Lizzie and Alice below him. Silently, Lisa helped her son and the two ladies up, then embraced them all.

"Let me guess; You showed them the room." She said to Adam, who nodded. "They figured out how to open the door. They have the sense." He explained, causing Lisa's eyes to widen, before she looked to the Liddell sisters, then to the packages in their arms.

"Are they...?" She began to ask, only for Adam to cut her off by passing her the bound papers he had taken from the Liddell mansion. "These papers are Arthur's research. Look through them, and see what you can find." He ordered, causing Lisa to nod, before she went to leave the room. "Lady Robertson..." Lizzie said, drawing the woman's attention.

"Call me Lisa, Lizzie. I'm no lady." Adam's mother said, before Lizzie nodded, and continued. "We apologize for worrying you. We simply..." the elder Liddell sister started, while bowing to the older woman, her sister copying her action. "You didn't believe what we told you last night." Adam said, drawing the attention of Alice and Lizzie, who looked at him, confused, before they nodded. "We beg your forgiveness." They both said at the same time, making the two Robertsons exchange a look with each other.

"There's nothing to forgive, girls." Lisa stated, which made the two girls' eyes widen. "But..." Alice started to say, only for Adam to smile. "You want to make it up to us, you can start by waiting for my mother whenever you wish to leave the house. You two are not trained Assassins. She is." He stated, causing both girls to blush from embarrassment, before they nodded. "Alright, then. Are we done here?" Lisa asked, looking to Adam, who nodded. "Very well. I'll see you later, girls." She replied, smiling to Alice and Lizzie, before leaving the room.

"So..." Lizzie started, causing Adam to look to her. "What happens next?" Shrugging, Adam looked to the clock in the corner of the room, and said, "I've got to train Libby. You two, you can do what you wish. I'll send for you when dinner's ready." Nodding, Alice and Lizzie went to pass him the packages, only for Adam to raise a hand. "Keep them. They're yours, after all." He stated, just before he took his leave.

Looking to the package in her hands, Alice smiled, before glancing at her sibling, who had an uneasy expression on her face. "What troubles you, sister?" She asked, which made Lizzie sigh. "I know what you're thinking, Alice. I just...I don't know if it's the right decision to make." She replied, which gave Alice pause. "I understand, but you realize that this is our birthright?" She replied, causing Lizzie to nod.

"I realize that, Alice, but there's something Adam isn't telling us about this Brotherhood. I accept that our parents were Assassins, and I accept that Adam and his family are. But until I have all the information, I will not make a decision. But I know you will not do the same. Can you give me some time to choose?" She asked, causing Alice to nod. "Of course, sister. I will not rush you." She said, before she walked over to the door.

"You coming?" She asked, looking to her sister after reaching the doorframe, seeing that she wasn't following. "I'm going to see what this library's got." The older girl replied, getting a nod from her sister. "I'll see you at dinner." Alice said, before leaving the room. Placing her parcel on the table before walking over to one bookshelf, Lizzie ran her finger over the spines of the various tomes, before finally pulling one out. "This should do." She said, reading the title.

"The Art of War." she said, before smiling. "This is the book that that slab I found would have taken the place of. I never got to finish it." She continued, before walking back over to the table, and pulling out a chair. Sitting down, she opened the book, and began to read...

A couple hours later...

"Burning the midnight oil, eh?" A voice asked, snapping Lizzie out of her reverie. Looking up, she saw Adam leaning against the door. "My apologies for surprising you." He stated, pushing himself off the wall, and walking over to the table Lizzie was at. "It's alright, Adam. As a matter of fact, I was going to seek you out after I finished this." She replied, which made Adam raise an eyebrow. "Oh? The Assassin asked, lowering himself into the chair opposite her.

"I wanted to ask you some questions, if I may." Lizzie started, closing the book and placing it to the side, before Adam nodded. "Ask them. I'll do my best to answer." Adam replied, leaning forward and clasping his hands together on top of the table. "Okay..." Lizzie said, mimicking his action, before she gestured over to a bookshelf.

"I noticed that you have a number of books pertaining to both religion and science. Which do you follow?" She asked, making Adam smile. "Both. And at the same time, neither." He replied, which made Lizzie scowl. "If you're not going to be serious..." She started to say, only for Adam to hold up a finger.

"There's more to the history of humanity than you know, Lizzie." He said. "The legends you've heard, all the religious stories, they're real." Immediately, Lizzie's eyes widened. "What do you mean?" She asked. "I...can't answer that. At least, I can't right now." Adam replied. Nodding, as she understood this topic was not to be pushed, Lizzie went on to ask her next question.

"Okay, what does your Brotherhood fight for?" She asked. "Peace, mostly. But we also fight to protect humanity's free will." Adam replied, which made Lizzie smile. "The Templars, Bumby included, think that total control is the best way to peace. And that's why we fight." Adam continued, which made Lizzie nod, before she realised something.

"Hold on. You just said that the Templars are also fighting for peace. Couldn't you come to some sort of agreement?" She asked. Unfortunately, this only made Adam laugh slightly. "We've tried, in the past. One of our most celebrated Master Assassins, Ratonhnhaké:ton, or Connor, had a temporary alliance with his father Haytham Kenway, who was the Grand Master of the Templar's Colonial Rite, and while they did have some common ground, their differing methods caused them to part as enemies. Connor later killed his father, and established the Brotherhood in the colonies. Last I heard, the American Brotherhood was still going strong." He explained.

"I see..." Lizzie said, as she took all this information in. "Lizzie, I'd like to ask you a question, if I may?" Adam asked, getting a nod from his friend. "Of course. Go ahead." Lizzie replied. "Even if we attempted to work with the Templars, one of them killed your parents. Do you think you could abide working with him?" Adam asked, causing the young woman to scowl.

"No. I want him dead. And that would cause the truce to break, wouldn't it?" She asked rhetorically, only for Adam to nod anyway. "They have to die, don't they? All of them. Even Bumby." She continued, making Adam nod again. "Especially Bumby." He stated. "And I'll do it myself." Flicking his wrist, he made the blade extend from within his sleeve with a loud SNIKT!

"It's called a Hidden Blade. It's the signature weapon of our Brotherhood. And I promise you, I will not rest until I jam this into Bumby's throat." He said, knowing that Lizzie wanted to ask about the Blade, before retracting it back into his wrist.

"One last question." Lizzie replied, making Adam nod. "You want me and Alice to join the Brotherhood, don't you?" She asked, causing Adam to smile. "What I want, is for you to make your own decision. I won't force you one way or the other. If you want to train as an Assassin, come find me. Like your sister did." He said, causing Lizzie's eyes to widen.

"She came to me whilst I was training with Libby, and asked me to bring her into the Brotherhood." Adam clarified. "I thought she'd wait longer, before making a decision." Lizzie said quietly while looking at the table. "She wants revenge for your parent's murder. And if I've learned one thing, it's that hate's as good a thing as any to keep a person going." Adam replied. "She's got conviction, I'll give her that."

"So, you'll let me choose?" Lizzie asked, getting a nod from her friend. "Take as long as you need. Just make sure you understand the commitment you'd be undertaking." Adam said, before standing up. "Did you finish?" He asked, gesturing to the book Lizzie had been reading. Silently, the elder Liddell sister shook her head. "Then take it with you when you go to your room. Just return it when you're done." He stated, getting a nod from Lizzie, who stood up as well, picking the book and parcel up as she did so.

"Good night, Lizzie." Adam said, as he and his friend walked over to the door. "Good night Adam." Lizzie replied, as the pair walked off in opposite directions. "Lizzie." Adam called out, drawing the girl's attention. Hesitating for a second, he smiled, and said, "I'm glad you're here.", before walking off. Her cheeks flushing bright red, Lizzie smiled, then turned on her heel and walked the path to her room.

In the Liddell sister's room...

"Alice?" Lizzie asked, as she opened the door to the room, only to come to a stop at the sight before her. Standing before a mirror, Alice was clad in robes similar to those worn by Lisa, except hers were in a light blue colour, with white highlights. Next to her, on the bed, was the opened silk packaging of the parcel she had taken from the chest in her father's study. At the sound of the door opening, the girl looked round.

"Lizzie!" Alice exclaimed, as her sister stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. "Adam told me you decided to join the Brotherhood." Her sibling stated, placing her parcel and book on the nightstand beside her bed. "I did." Alice said, turning back to the mirror. "Why so quick to make a decision?" Lizzie asked, making Alice pause for a second.

"To put it simply? Revenge. I want Bumby to pay for what he's done. Don't you?" She asked, looking to Lizzie in the mirror, who was getting changed into her nightdress. "Of course I do, Alice. It's just..." Lizzie started, but Alice whirled round to face her. "You still doubt what Adam's told us?" She asked, albeit in a harsher tone than she had intended. "No, I believe him. It's just, if we join the Brotherhood, we'll have to swear our lives to their cause. Doesn't that bother you?" Lizzie asked in reply. "I'll swear whatever I have to, if it means I can avenge our parents." Her sister stated, which made Lizzie sigh.

"I won't try to convince you to reconsider. Your mind's made up. But Adam's said that I can take some time to come to a decision." Lizzie said, making Alice nod. "I'll support you, no matter your choice, Lizzie. But I won't lie to you; I'm hoping you choose to join the Brotherhood too. It'd be easier to be an Assassin if you were beside me." The younger woman said, making her sibling smile gently.

"I'll think about it." Lizzie said, looking to the clock on the wall. "It's late. I'm going to get some sleep." She said, getting under the covers of her bed. "I'll sleep in a bit." Alice said while turning back to the mirror, making Lizzie nod, before she reached over and turned off the lamp, leaving the room in darkness, except for the other lamp on Alice's bedside table.

As she laid her head down, Lizzie looked to her sister, who had pulled up the peaked hood of her robes, hiding her face. This made her smile. "Alice." She said, causing her sister to look to her. "They suit you." She continued, making Alice look to her robes, before smiling herself. Returning the smile, Lizzie made herself comfortable in the bed, allowing herself to fall unconscious...

A/N: Okay, couple of things I want to clear up;

1.) This story will be mainly from Alice & Lizzie's perspectives as the main protagonists, with Adam and Jamie acting as supporting heroes.

2.) I know Alice joining the Brotherhood right off the bat seems stupid and somewhat plot-convenient, but there is a reason for it. When it comes to her and her sister, Alice is more hot-headed, like Jamie is with Adam, while Lizzie is more calm and measured. You want a better example of their attitudes, look at Jacob and Evie from AC Syndicate.

3.) I probably should have explained this last chapter, but in this story, Alice and Lizzie are the same age; 18-19 years old. For this story idea to work, I needed that fact to be changed.

So now, I believe we're ready to plunge headfirst into the thick of this story, so I'll see you all in Chapter 3 - New Blood.