#9: The Decision

Type: One-shot

Timeline: Before EomE 1

Summary: James Philip Everton makes a difficult choice regarding his loyalty

Extra Note: Please feel free to leave suggestions in the comments or PM me!

The city of New York was experiencing a peaceful night.

Well….at least as peaceful a night as a place like New York can experience.

He was hidden in the shadows of Central Park, his eyes darting around nervously. His heart was pounding heavily. After everything that he did, all the years he had remained loyal to the Assassins…...all of that was about to go down the drain in about thirty minutes. Loyalty was an important aspect in James's life, but there wasn't anything the resembled loyalty in the centuries-long war that was fought in the shadows.

"James Everton….."

He took a deep breath as he turned around to face the equally-heavy cloaked men. "Gentlemen. How are you this evening?"

"Good enough." The leader spat out. His eyes scanned the darkness scrutiny. "Are you sure you're alone?"

"Sure enough." James answered.

"Why have you asked to speak to us Assassin?"

James sighed heavily through his nose. "I wish to reconnect with the mothership."

"It's about time."

James's timid nature melted away as the world falling away. He took a deep breath, as the James Philip Everton of the Assassins fell away, only to be replaced by a cold sinister figure who had been buried underneath another persona for nearly thirty years.

"Welcome back, Philip."

The man opened his eyes, a sadistic gleam and smile permeating his expression. He took a deep breath through his nose.

"It's good to be back." Philip intoned, his voice now a deep growl. "You've been doing a shit job Alan."

The current leader of the Templars removed his hood, revealing a man with more grey than black hair. "Can't help it, Philip. The Assassins seem to have the upper hand this decade."

"Without me, of course, you'd be losing."

"You still seem far too arrogant for your own good."

Philip sneered. "Well, I personally know my strengths and I play to them. Unlike you."

"And what are your strengths exactly? Let's list them, shall we? You married that Assassin whore while also fathering two children, both of whom you allowed to be trained in the ways of the enemy."

"You also forget that I am slowly seeding doubt in the minds of many young initiates." Philip snapped back. "Do I need to remind you that the flowers they will grow into will take time?"

"What will a few young rogues do for the Templars?"

"It will show that the Assassins are fracturing!" Philip's grasp on his anger was shattering, but he held on. "The once united order, breaking from within! All we need to do is continue to slowly whittle them down! Then, and only the, can we sweep in and obliterate them!"

Rikken took a breath, gesturing for his entourage to leave them. Philip's eyes remained on the Grand Templar while the foot soldiers melted into the shadows. He knew that they had not left, that they merely moved out of earshot, and that they would be ready to intervene should Philip move to harm Rikken.

Oh, if only he could.

"I'm afraid that what you're suggesting has already been attempted multiple times throughout our history. And they have failed each time, with different degrees of failure."

"But we have something they never had."

Rikken cocked his head curiously. "And what's that?"

"A Templar with Assassin heritage."

Rikken let out a mocking laugh. "I'm afraid that Haytham Kenway beat you to that. By about two-hundred-and-fifty-six years, give or take a couple of decades."

"But Haytham didn't have an entire lineage of Assassins behind him! I do., and through that, I have more power than those holier-than-thou members of the Council."

Alen stroked his chin, thoughtfully. "Go on."

"I have access to the more key bases in the United States."

A light of realization brightened in RIkken's eyes. He straightened as if renewed with energy. Philip was only barley able to restrain a smirk. Alan was many things—conniving, brutal, sadistic—but he wasn't good at poker faces.

It's no wonder how he always lost to Philip when they played against Alan.

"Do I finally have your attention?"

Alan sighed through his nose. "What have you got in mind?"

Philip smirked evilly.

He loved it when a plan came together.