(I apologize for the long wait. After this chapter I had to think really hard on how to accomplish the next chapter. I didn't know what to place in next because I have previously written all my chapters in my Iphone and then it stopped at Chapter 16. Now I know after listening to, believe it or not lol, Vampire Knight. I was also listening to I'm listening and I'm sorry from I am Legend. Now I have it, and I apologize if you have been waiting long for this. Well, here we are! 17th chapter, we are almost towards the end :3 HOPE YOU ENJOY AND PRESS DA FREAKIN REVIEW BUTTON!)
Chapter 17
"We are gathered here today to mourn for god's daughter. It is he who he looked down upon to give strength to. It is he who had the courage in her heart to keep living through the hell she was placed in. And now, she lays in peace here today. No longer suffering, or praying to he who has kept her alive."
Evelence glanced down at her now buried mother. The diggers kept shoveling the dirt back in the hole where her mother lay in a wooden casket, decorated with flowers and her native cultural necklaces. Many people from Connor and Evelence's tribe came to mourn as well, for they knew her mother better than she did.
Everyone from the Homestead including her people surrounded the hole, sobbing and sniffling. The only ones that held their feelings were her allies Achilles and Connor. As for herself, she did not sniffle, nor did she mutter a sob. She did not speak. Her thoughts were only on her mother and the scene in her mind which she will never forget, the moment where her mother had been struck. It was as if the scene had been replaying in her head with each word the priest would speak out. She had mourned for her mother already the night when she had been murdered. The anger inside her fumed and boiled, yet she did not allow herself to let it burst out into flames like she had before returning to Homestead. She had let the slaves free, letting them do as they please. Some escaped and ran farther from their homes as others fought to seek out revenge, spilling the Redcoat's blood to match with their uniforms. They threw flames into the building as the slaves escaped, watching the stone wall crumble until there was nothing but sediments. Evelence could still hear the crackling of the fire as it spat out with anger, flickering and dancing around. The bark smell from the trees that had been lit to be placed in the stone building still remained in her nostrils, the smell of blood and revenge.
"Amen." Everyone bowed their head in respect for her mother. Moments later everyone left, including her tribe, returning back to their home. As for Evelence, she remained in her spot where she stood for the funeral. It had been pouring, soaking her knew garb. She'd believed the rain was a signal from her mother. It was a sign showing how sad she must be at this very moment. For once, she understood her mother's feelings.
"I apologize for your loss. I show great sympathy to you and your family." Achilles approached Evelence from behind, placing a hand on her shoulder.
There was no response from Evelence. Achilles sighed heavily, patting her back with comfort, only then to return to the Mansion. There was little talk from behind, a familiar voice.
"Evelence." He called her name.
Evelence turned her head to the side to glance at her ally, Connor, who was approaching her. He approached her, standing next to her side, glancing down to where she was.
"Achilles informed me to show you comfort and sympathy."
"Yet you do not wish to, am I correct?" She spoke in their own language. Connor sighed heavily by her response.
"I too had exposed my feelings toward my mother in the same manner you have today."
Evelence glanced up toward Connor, as he too spoke in their same language.
"I had mourned for my mother on days I had felt the need to mourn. The Clan Mother would allow me to visit my mother's grave where I would find Tumuli's lying around her grave. These flowers would represent 'farewell in love'." Connor explained, trying to comfort her.
"Do they still grow?" blinked a couple of times, wiping the tears and rain from her eyes.
"Yes."
Evelence looked back down on her grave, crouching down to observe her grave.
"You must be patient, they will not blossom instantly." Connor informed her. Evelence glanced back at Connor then down to her mother's grave, grasping a handful of dirt in her hands. She released all of the dirt by sprinkling on top of the rest of the soaked dirt. Evelence stood up, wiping the dirt from her hands, returning to the Mansion. Connor followed behind as he opened the door for her, leading her in.
"You are leaving?" she asked before he could speak.
"Yes. There is still a matter of Church."
Evelence relaxed her face from the expression she had, remembering her present tasks she was to attend to. A crash of thunder echoed and vibrated under the Mansion, causing the ground to shake.
"There will be heavy storms, you expect to travel in this weather?"
"With the amount of time that has already been wasted from such minor tasks, yes." He argued, placing his equipment on his garb.
"I will go with you then." Evelence adjusted her gear and garb.
"You will only slow us down during our trip."
"Us?" She caught his tongue on his words. "Achilles is joining?"
"No, my father." Connor didn't bother to glance back at Evelence once he exit the door.
Evelence grasped the door before it shut, following her ally.
"I won't do anything foolish like I have done in our previous tasks." Evelence shouted, yet Connor ignored her comment.
"What else could I possibly do? I have no intension in rushing things though to kill your father, as well as acting childish. I have no other options in my hands, you have seen so yourself. My mother and father are dead and you are suggesting I would slow you down when I have absolutely nothing or anyone to follow? At least you have a father that is willing to join you in capturing Church no matter what situations you have between you and your father." Evelence stopped herself from speaking catching her breath from her speech. Connor spun around furiously, allowing his equipment to clang against one another. His mouth was open, yet nothing managed to come out. Speechless he was, yet anger fumed in him for hearing such foolish yet true statements about him and Evelence. Indeed, it was true.
"Follow me, but if you are to cause much of a scene, I will return you back to Homestead, no matter what the old man pierces through me with his arguments." Connor spun around once more to head toward the docks. Evelence wiped the anger from her face, replacing it with a slight smirk as she runs, leaving a trail of mud prints behind.
Caribbean Sea 1778
"I told you this was a poor heading, Church is sure to be days ahead of us now!" another complaint spoken from Grandmaster Haytham Kenway. Evelence sat on the edge of the ship, watching for barrels and other enemies that might lie ahead. She enjoyed being on the Aquila, for the smell of the ocean and its breeze felt as if she were truly home. Evelence balanced herself on the side of the ship, enjoyed the scenery while making no conversations with the crew or making remarks on Master Kenway's complaints.
"Have some faith in the boy, he's yet to disappoint!" the Mr. Faulkner encouraged Connor, hoping he would not be too aggravated by his father's complaints.
"Well the bar's not been set very high now, has it?" Haytham argued.
"We are closer than you think, father."
Evelence noticed the other crew members glancing toward Connor and his father as they argued in a circle with Mr. Faulkner. Each of their expression had an annoyed or frightening look. As for Evelence, she remained calm as she continued to watch the argument that aggravated her yet amused her in a way. Everyone on the ship grew silent as the sound of waves and the rapid flapping of the sails surrounded the awkward atmosphere.
"Evelence I caution you to escape your area. As much as you like it, I'm afraid your safety won't be guaranteed due to your ally who has taken charge of sailing this ship."
"You think me so much that you think I intend to harm her in ways you think? I think you intend to think of such things as it is rather quite normal of you." Connor's eyes grew as much as his anger.
"Yet from the way I see it, these cliffs have sharp edges, one slight mistake and she could be thrown overboard."
"Of course, because I would rather fool around and purposely hit my ship to throw her overboard."
"Turn!" Evelence quickly shouted while leaping off from the area in where she was relaxing at.
Connor and Haytham both glance at the same direction as Connor made a sharp turn, nearly inches away from the cliff.
"Well, you see. I have proved my point."
"Why do you think so?" Connor replied with a sarcastic tone.
"Because despite of your abilities in combat, you are rather reckless in thinking things through."
"Unbelievable."
Evelence sighed heavily, making her way toward her relaxation spot once more.
After their argument, there was nothing but the shouting of orders coming from Faulkner and Connor.
Peace and quiet remained until a man who kept watch of the seas shouted which ruined the silence.
"Ship up ahead!" the man extends his arm out to a ship which seemed to be stopped in motion.
"Perhaps it is The Welcome?" Connor sails toward the ship at half sail, readying his cannons for any sudden surprises.
"Bring us in so we can take a closer look, son." Haytham appeared at the edge of the ship, squinting his eyes on the ship ahead of them.
They approached the ship to what might seem, "The Welcome" only to find the whole ship empty. No crew members nor captain.
"Abandoned it must be." Mr. Faulkner observed with the two Kenway's. Haytham chuckled in response.
"Benjamin was always a slippery bastard." As if it were on cue the same man who spotted the abandoned ship shouted at the same level as he once did before.
"Enemy up ahead! It's fleeing!" Without hesitation Connor called on full sail which caused the crew members to scramble about, making their way towards their stations.
"Hurry son! We won't get a second chance at this!" Haytham urged him on. Evelence made her way done the flight of stairs to aid the crew members into charging the ship at full sail.
"Your ally here knows how to move more sufficiently than your ship. I suggest you do the same."
Connor made no comment but a simple huff and mutter in the language in which he spoke in.
As they exited the mouth of the cove, they were approaching a split that divided the path from where they were supposed to take. From where Connor was sailing he would have to go to the left in order to catch up, for it was the only way instead of crash to the right.
"It's almost as if you want him to escape!" Haytham threw his hands in the air while continuing to mutter words under his breath. "Can this ship go no faster?"
"Perhaps if you would calm your senses and allow him to sail, it would be much easier for him to sail at full speed without crashing into a rock at the sound of your voice!" Evelence shouted over the sound of waves crashing and men shouting.
"You are in no use of being here! All you do is assist my son, by no means have you done something useful for yourself in your organization."
"Such false statements won't work against me, for you have forgotten all the accomplishments I have accomplished over the years. It is you who has no purpose in being here. You think ranting and complaining will accomplish much as we have? I think not. I have known Connor long enough to know what annoys him the most, yet you haven't noticed because you were never there for him to-" Evelence stopped herself from going further.
"The only thing that should come from that British mouth of yours is directions and enemies that are up ahead, complaining will not help. If there are any other complaints you wish to make, jump off board and take a swim with the dolphins. Perhaps they will take you toward our destination." Evelence took several steps back from their argument and helped aid the rest of the crew, attending to follow Connor's orders. While no other complains came from Haytham, she enjoyed much into attending tasks as to help the sail into full or half. Moments later Faulkner made a frustrating sigh.
"She's passing between the cliffs, Connor, and the Aquila's too big to follow. We need to go around!"
"Goddammit! We're going to lose him!" Haytham once complained.
"What other choice have we? Those rocks will crush us!" Mr. Faulkner made a face as he explained through more of the process.
"The current here is swift, we still have a chance!" Evelence noted as she noticed Connor not having a say in the argument, perhaps he was more annoyed with his father more than herself.
"Enemies up ahead! Ready to fire!" Evelence's heart accelerated rapidly than it had been before. She raced herself below decks to meet with the rest of the crew. Pots and pans were clanging along with cargo and supplies that are needed for the trip. At the corner of her eye she saw the rest of the crew members tackling each other to untangle the knot that was stuck, preventing to charge the cannon toward the enemies ahead of them. Evelence leaped across the staircase shoving the crew members aside to untangle the knot that seemed complicated to untangle. They all tugged along with her until finally it set loose. The few cannon balls that were stuck let loose, charging several cannons toward the enemy which caused the ship to fall.
Cheers and rants echoed through the lower decks, causing the men to have more courage and determination. Evelence pushed her way through the crowd to help make the cannon balls push deeper in the cannon itself. Once everything was set she ordered them all to fire at once as soon as she heard Connor's orders. Through several minutes, she pushed herself to the front of the ship, to the end of the end to order all cannons to fire.
"No this way!" she urged others to set in several other cannons. "Place three in each of them! It'll do enough damage!" She helped each and every single man that fell and that needed help placing cannon balls in. She peered through one of the windows in a separate room, looking at the true ship Benjamin was placed in.
"Chain rods! Now!" Connor screamed through the wind. Evelence nodded from above and in a swift move she collected the chain rods, placing them in each cannon.
"Fire!" Connor demanded, and so the crew members obeyed and charged toward the ship, the size of theirs. There were no more voices to be heard only sounds of more arguments coming from above.
She grabbed ahold of the deck above, climbing her way out to meet with Connor, who was now behind the wheel.
"What are you doing?!" She glanced at Haytham who was now on the wheel.
"Ending this!" he bared his teeth as he scraped the Aquila next to The Welcome, leaving a scar across the Aquila. In one swift motion, he managed to leap across the Aquila to aboard The Welcome.
Connor glanced around frustratingly, "Secure the ship!" he ordered Mr. Faulkner.
"To arms boys! To arms!" He shouted.
Evelence managed to leap across to board the ship the same way Haytham had done as Connor managed to follow. Evelence released her hidden blades, blocking the attacks from the Redcoats as she ducked between their legs to stab her way up from their back. Blood began to spatter out creating a pool of blood surrounding the other crew members who joined aboard.
"We need to get below decks! Who knows what my father intends to do with such madness that has gone through his head!" Connor shouted past the rest of the redcoats he was fighting against.
"Like your father wasn't mad the second time we met." Evelence chuckled while ducking from the sword that cut through her arm, leaving a scar slashed across her arm. She winced and dug his sword in his heart, piercing it.
"Focus on your main target!" Connor ducked through the Redcoat he was facing and looked back to see where Evelence had gone off to. He heard a sound from behind of a man grunting and choking on his own blood, gasping for air.
"I have." Evelence chuckled and aided herself by ripping a piece of cloth from the redcoat onto her arm. "Go, I will meet you down on the lower deck. I'll take care of them for you. After all, I know some of these men from last night." She managed to show her wicked smirk, a smirk of a killer. It was something she did not enjoying doing, yet when doing so in a proper manner, it would be done simply as a chore.
Connor agreed as she guaranteed his safety, he had only hoped she wouldn't do anything reckless with her plan of killing off the men who kidnapped her mother. Connor manages to slip past Redcoats placing a dagger in one of them to aid Evelence on her way down. He opened through the double doors, glancing around the wooden boxes around him. Where was the cargo? What did Church do to them? He pondered for a moment as he observed the area. His thoughts were pushed aside as he heard shouting and scolding from the double doors across the halls.
"We had a dream Benjamin! A DREAM in which you sought out to destroy!"
The doors slammed open as he busted through the doors.
"And for THAT, my fallen friend, you will be made to pay!" A fist was dug at the side of Church's cheek, hearing a crack that sounded like a broken bone. Haytham threw in more punches and each time he did, he would hear a louder crack and whine.
"Enough." Connor growled.
Haytham stopped in astonishment, never looking back toward his son. His madness has overcome him that he couldn't tell it was his father if not for the uniform.
"We came here for a reason."
"Different reasons it seems." Haytham threw one last punch through his cheekbone, leaving Church lying helplessly on the ground pooled in his own blood. Connor watched cautiously as Haytham stood up to leave him and Church alone. He crouched down next to Church placing a hand on his chest.
"Where are the supplies you have stolen?" Connor spoke.
Church struggled to reach up to meet face to face with him. In a choking manner he managed to speak.
"Go to hell…" After his last words, Connor released his blade and pierced in in his torso. He yelped in agony, stuttering back.
"I ask again: Where are the stolen supplies?" he walked toward the broken man. Church stood back, frightened and broken until he hit the edge of the ship.
"On the island yonder, awaiting..to be picked up.." he began as he began choking and spatting up blood on the ground. He then looked up with his devilish eyes, fierce, but not close to what Connor appeared like.
"But you've got no right to it," he gulped and held his torso that was bleeding out severely. "It isn't yours."
"No, not mine." Connor glared down upon Church. "Those supplies are meant for men and women who believe in something bigger than themselves. Who fight and die that one day they might be free from Tyranny such as yours." Connor left no expression on his face, but his hatred toward this man.
Benjamin laughed and coughed violently, sitting upright to speak against Connor's words.
"Are these the same men and women who fight with muskets forged from British steel? Who bind their wounds with bandages sewn by British hands?" he breathed in deeply, shaking his head in disappointment.
"How convenient for them. We do the work. They reap the rewards."
"You spin your story to excuse your crimes as though you're the innocent one and they the thieves." Connor shot straight back to Church.
"It's all a matter of different perspective. There is no single path through life that's right and fair and does no harm." Benjamin grasps onto his wound, wincing in pain, only then to glance back up at Connor.
"Do you truly believe the Crown has no cause? No right to feel betrayed? You should know better than this, dedicated as you are to fighting Templars, who themselves see their work as just." Church was beginning to fall slowly to his side.
"Think on that the next time you insist your work alone befits the greater goods." He snarled. "Your enemy would beg to differ. And would not be without…cause." He stuttered his words only falling to the ground.
"Your words may have been sincere, but that does not make them true." Connor bowed his head politely, saying his words in respect. He spun around, finding Evelence by the door, glaring up in disappointment with her golden eyes.
"You did well." Haytham brushed past Evelence, placing a shoulder on his son. "He was a boon to us both. Now, come on. I expect you'll want my help retrieving everything from the island?" He pats Connor's shoulder then turns back to stop a moment.
"You have my sympathy over your mother." He pats her shoulder as well and brushes off to the upper decks. Evelence's eyes and nostrils flare as steam boiled within her body. She quickly clenched her fists releasing her hidden blades from their holster, revealing to Haytham. She charged at him but he chuckled once Connor secured her from behind, locking her in place so he wouldn't allow her from leaving his gasp. She snarled and growled by Haytham's choice of words, for he had already knew about her mother's death and building that burnt to ashes. Words spread quickly which also meant that Lee would know. And Lee would surely be furious, or perhaps it was meant to be destroyed, it was all planned out. No matter, she would soon capture Lee and murder him cold-blooded just like he murdered her people from her village. Including Connor's mother.