Jacob Frye paced in front of the closed door that housed his sister. He couldn't leave, not until he knows if she's going to be ok. After what seemed like an eternity, the door opened and Florence Nightingale quietly stepped out. Jacob didn't hesitate; he was instantly in front of her to hear the news. She looked tired and grim, by now it was almost 3am and it seems neither of them has slept for a long while.
"Well?! How is she?" He didn't want to show how panicked he was, but his walls were slipping.
"Have a seat Jacob." She directed him to a bench next to the door, more for her sake than his. She sat first and after a moment of silence Jacob joined her. "The bullet has been removed but she's not quite out of the woods yet." She took a deep breath and leaned back. "I know she's a fighter and I'll make sure she gets the care she needs. In the mean time, I suggest you get some rest as well."
"I'm not leaving-" Jacob stopped when Florence held up her hand.
"Now now. Sitting here isn't going to help anything Mister Frye and you know it. Help her by helping yourself." She winked at him before standing up. The door opened once more and another nurse stuck her head out.
"Ms. Nightingale, she's hot with fever. We need some cold water." The nurse caught a glimpsed of Jacob before shutting the door again.
"No need to fret." Florence turned to Jacob, anticipating his reaction. "The fever is just her body's way of protecting itself against a possible infection." She smiled softly before shuffling off to get what she needed from the next room. Jacob sat there, taking this all in. There had to be something he could do. He stood up and stormed out of the asylum, anger and rage building up inside of him.
Jacob made it to the street when he saw a couple of Rooks. He whistled them over. "Gather as many as you can. Someone has injured Evie and we are going to track him down. Meet me in Southwark." He snarled. The Rooks glanced at each other, having never seen Jacob Frye so angry they scattered as quickly as they could.
Once they were all gathered at the Southwark base Jacob explained the situation. "We are going to hunt down every Blighter until one can tell us who pulled the trigger!" He was fierce but the Rooks agreed with their leader. Evie was just as much a Rook as Jacob and they all felt they needed to do something about what happened. With Jacob leading the pack, they set out towards London.
Jacob slammed a Blighter against a wall, his Rooks crowded behind him creating a barrier between the Blighter and his freedom. Jacob scowled, filled with rage. "Who was on the roof with Thorne?!" He snapped.
"P-please, I don't know what you're talking about!" The Blighter pleaded. Jacob slammed his brass-knuckled fist into the wall inches from his face causing a flinch. Some of the brick fell away under the pressure.
"Now is not the time to tell tales." Jacob growled.
"Look, I-I'm not high enough in the ranks to know these things!" The frightened Blighter said. "B-but I know who might know." Jacob glared and lowered him to his feet. "R-Roger Blackstone. He's a lieutenant in London. I-I'm sure he saw something." With a devious smile, Jacob let go of his pray. He turned to face his gang.
"Gentleman, find this Roger Blackstone. I believe we have something to discuss." The Blighter relaxed now that the attention was off of him, but it was short lived as Jacob whirled around and knocked him in between the eyes. With one hit he slumped against the wall, unconscious.
I didn't take too long to find the one named Blackstone. He was a cocky bastard, bragging about working with a Lucy Throne, trying to capture the Frye twins. He was boasting to a group of lower ranked Blighters when Jacob came up behind him and kicked his feet from under him; a move he learned from Evie. His head hit the ground and he gazed up to see one Jacob Frye, who leaned into his view. The other Blighters froze with their hands up, Rook surrounding them at gunpoint. Jacob smiled. "Mister Blackstone, I presume."
"Why you!" Roger Blackstone tried to get up but Jacob was quicker. He grabbed his right arm and turned him around so his back was facing Jacob. He tucked his right arm behind him in the most skewed way forcing Roger to stand on his toes to relieve some of the pain. Jacob was as calm as could be and held an almost bored expression on his face.
"Tsk tsk. I just had a couple of question." Jacob said, pushing Blackstone forward.
"I 'ave nothing to say to the likes of you!" He spat on the ground. Jacob narrowed his eyes and shoved the brute into a buggy. A couple of Rooks jumped in, just in case their passenger wanted to cause trouble. Jacob pulled himself into the driver's seat and cued for the horse to move. They trotted a ways until Jacob was content. He stopped in the middle of a bridge over the Thames, the sun starting to show its face over the water. Calmly he got out and opened the door.
"We can talk in here, or…" In a flash Jacob pulled Blackstone out of the buggy and to the edge of the bridge. He held him there fully prepared to let go and send him to an untimely demise. Roger placed both his hands on Jacob's arm, his only tether between the bridge and what lay below. Jacob smirked, seeing fear in the Blighter's eyes.
"Ok! Ok! Please, let me up!" Blackstone begged. Jacob held him there for a second more before tossing him on the street.
"You were there." Jacob could feel the wrath boiling inside. "Who shot my sister?" He snapped. The Blighter's started to laugh hysterically.
"So, he actually hit that bitch." Roger laughed. Jacob picked him up by the collar and slammed him against the buggy, his hidden blade inches from the Blighter's throat.
"Who?!" He snarled. It took a moment for Roger Blackstone to compose himself. He showed a devious smile once the laughter stopped.
"Mister Northcott. He's been braggin' bout it but nobody believed him. No body, no crime and all that." He started to chuckle again and Jacob couldn't hold back any longer. He pierced his flesh, quick and clean like he was taught. Roger Blackstone's body fell limp, blood streaming out of the fresh wound. Jacob turned to leave when a carriage came trotting up beside him. It stopped, cutting Jacob off. He was about to shout when a familiar face jumped down. Henry Green blocked his way, a disapproving expression plastered on his face. Jacob stood his ground and held his scowl. He was ready to defend himself against the lecture he anticipated when Henry opened his mouth.
"I'm coming with you." Was all he said. Jacob smirked and nodded. "I do not condone what you have done, Mister Frye; but I do agree action must be taken. I only wish you came to me first." Jacob didn't say anything. He just jumped into the carriage, ready to take down the one man who shot his sister. With the Rooks gathering intel, they found this Mister Northcott in no time; Westminster.
Jacob and Henry stood on a roof opposite the building they were going to break into. It was more of a castle then a house. Stone interior and steps, a lot of Templar activity, and no open windows to sneak into. They pondered their route.
"The best way may be to start at the bottom and work out way up." Henry observed. Jacob shook his head.
"That would take too long." Jacob studied the surroundings. "There." He pointed to a housekeeper airing out some sheet. "We could bribe her to leave a window open." Jacob rubbed at his eyes, trying to keep his focus. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"When was the last time you slept?" Henry asked, concern written on his face. Jacob brushed him off.
"I'll rest once this Northcott is dead and Evie is home." The statement came out harsher than Jacob intended, but he was ready to end this.
"Don't let anger blind you. Your father always said not to let your personal feelings ge-"
"Don't quote my father to me!" Jacob barked. "Of course this is personal! She's my twin sister! And if she…" He couldn't bring himself to say it. He didn't know if he could go on without her. Their whole life it's always been the Frye twins: Jacob and Evie, inseparable and unstoppable. He shook his head and turned back to the housekeeper. Henry just stood and watched. Nothing he could say would bring Jacob out of the revenge mindset. He just had to make sure to get them both out in one piece.
Jacob jumped down off the roof, followed by Henry, and walked over to the woman. "Good morning madam." Jacob greeted with a smile. The housekeeper stepped back with a start. "I was hoping you'd do us a little favor." Jacob held out a small pouch and jingled it. The woman relaxed.
"Of course Mister…?"
"Frye. Jacob Frye." He grinned and tossed her the pouch. "If you would be a dear and leave that window open. There's someone we would like to have a word with." Jacob pointed to the window and the keeper looked up.
"Of course Mister Frye. I'll make sure to air out that room next." She curtsied before walking back inside.
"You certainly have a way with women." Henry said with raised eyebrows and passive smile. Jacob's grin faded and they stood in silence waiting for the fourth floor window to open. They didn't have to wait long for the maid to keep her promise and within seconds they were inside. They made their way up two more floors, stealthily taking out Blighters when needed. They made it to the desired floor and Jacob stood up. Their target was with two others in a large room that looked like a ballroom, decorative wood flooring with stone steps leading to the roof in the corner. Without hesitation, and against better judgment, Jacob slammed open the door causing them all to turn their heads. Mister Northcott grinned venomously.
"Well well, it's about time you showed up." He sneered. " Jacob growled and tightened his fists.
"I'll take care of the other two, make him pay for what he did." Henry Green said coldly.
"With pleasure." Jacob smirked and ran towards the man that shot Evie, rage circulating through his veins. Henry made sure to keep the other two at bay so Jacob could have his fight.
Jacob aimed for Northcott's smug face but every attempt was blocked and countered. Jacob stumbled back when he received a blow to his face. Blood slowly trickled down over his left eye. He gritted his teeth and went low. He aimed for his ribs and when Northcott blocked, Jacob twirled around him and stuck him in the back of the head. He staggered forward before turning around and striking at Jacob. He ducked, kicking in Northcott's kneecap. He hollered in pain before falling. Jacob clocked him in the jaw with his brass knuckles before delivering the fatal strike with his blade with a cry. He slowly collapsed to the ground and it felt like time stopped. Jacob didn't bother to chat with the dead; he turned and faced Henry who was waiting patiently. No words were exchanged between the two.
They went to walk out but hearing a slow clap from behind made them look back. Descending the stairs was none other than Crawford Starrick.
"Quite a performance Mister Frye." Starrick announced with arrogance coating his voice. The two assassins just stood there, not sure what to do. Here was Crawford Starrick, a Templar Grand Master, within their reach and neither of them moved. "I have a proposition for you, Mister Frye." Starrick started. "Watching you terrorized the city, blindly kill, all just so you can come face to face with the bloke that shot your sister. Now that, is Templar material. Doing anything and everything to see your mission to the end." He smirked, pausing on the third step. Jacob lowered his head but kept his fierce gaze towards the Templar.
"Don't listen to him Jacob. We got what we came for, let's just go." Henry said, trying to coax Jacob out of the wrath inside. With a bit of effort on his part, Jacob turned to walk away from this fight.
"So be it." Starrick sighed and the doors around them opened. The room filled with Blighters and Templars, too many for the two assassins to fight. They stood back to back in a circle of red-coated fighters, snipers appearing on the steps above Starrick. "Kill them." He said casually, standing up straight with his hands behind his back.
"I do believe it's time for a tactical retreat." Jacob said calmly. A bullet zipped between the two.
"I do believe you're right." Henry approved. Together they cleared a path towards the door, dodging bullets and working together to escape. They took the steps two at a time until they got back to the fourth floor. Shutting and locking the door behind them they leapt out the window they came in though. Shots still rang out, giving them no time to stop. Henry ran up to a stationed buggy and pulled the driver out with an apology, Jacob following suit. The pair rushed out in a glory of gunfire, leaving the fortress, and Starrick, behind.
They came to a halt outside of Lambeth Asylum. Neither of them moved. Jacob let out a sigh. "Listen, Greenie…" He searched for the right words. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so careless." Henry smiled gently.
"No need for apologies, I understand. I just wanted to make sure you came back in one piece. I don't think Ev- Miss Frye would have forgiven me if you didn't." They sat in silence for a couple more moments before Jacob left the cart. He solemnly walked through the doors, remembering the last time he was here carrying Evie. He stopped at her closed door, not really sure what to do. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"You can go in Mister Frye." Florence Nightingale said. "I'm sure she'll be happy to see you." She smiled brightly before walking away to check on other patients. Jacob let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding. She was all right then. He grinned lightly as he stepped into the small room. Sure enough, Evie Frye was sitting up, looking dreadfully bored. His grin grew. Evie showed a small smile when she saw her brother.
"About time you showed up." She said softly, like nothing ever happened. He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Well, I did have something to take care of first." Jacob told her honestly. "And besides, I figured you could use the rest." He yawned, the exhaustion catching up with him. She gave him a funny look.
"Seems like I'm not the only one." She squinted her eyes and leaned a little closer. "You're bleeding!" She said sternly. "Honestly Jacob, I can't leave you alone for even a few hours." She roller her eyes in disapproval as Jacob felt the cut above his left eye.
"At least I wasn't shot." He said, teasing.
"And who's fault was that?!" She snapped back, wincing when she moved her side a little too much. Jacob's stomach knotted at the sight of her and his grin disappeared. "Don't give me that look." Her smile fading as well.
"What look?" Jacob pleaded innocence. "I was just thinking about how much work it's going to be, taking care of you and all." His stupid grin was back.
"I don't need taking care of." She stated. "I'll be perfectly fine once I'm back on the train."
"And how are you going to get there, dear sister?"
"I'll walk if I have to." She huffed. The two kept bickering like they normally did, for them it was terms of endearment. Henry Green stood in the doorway, watching the siblings with a smile. Some things never change.