Chapter 20

Henry lowered himself and the limp Evie to the ground as he turned to see who had just entered his shop. He sighed in relief as he saw two Rooks entered the shop, he'd been expecting Blighters or even Robert. The two Rooks looked down at the sight of Miss Frye sprawled on the floor. Rupert, having heard the commotion from the carriage, had gone to investigate. All he'd seen was Miss Frye running away from the train and no sight of either Jacob or Robert.

"I saw Miss Frye running from the train. What can we do to help?" He asked, watching as Mister Green gently lifted Miss Frye so her head and shoulders were supported on his lap.

"There's not much time." Henry said, "Both Evie's and Jacob's lives are in danger."

"Miss Frye mentioned that Robert was not who he said he is." Rupert replied.

Henry gently picked up Evie's right arm, inspecting the wound there, "Miss Frye needs rest but I highly doubt she will stay unconscious for long. Knowing her as soon as she wakes she will want to find Jacob. Until then you must keep Jacob and Robert apart. Robert must not find Jacob until the twins are together, this is family business."

The Rooks nodded, watching as Henry carefully removed Evie's coat exposing the wound to her forearm. The wound was still bleeding, he needed to the tend to the wound. Henry got to his feet, gently sweeping Evie up into his arms.

"You must keep Robert and Jacob apart. But do not tell either of them where Evie is, even if they ask. Robert will kill her and Jacob... he cannot see her like this."

The two Rooks nodded before hurrying from the shop while Henry moved along the back passage into his living room with Evie in his arms. He had to kick the door open, he did not want to risk causing her any further harm. Moving over to the small sofa he gently lay Evie down before hurrying back to the shop where he locked the front door and pick up Evie's coat. He had a suspicion that someone else might turn up whether that be Robert, Jacob or even the Blighters he was not sure.

Re-joining the still unconscious Evie he set the work cleaning up her wounds. Whilst the wound to her cheek was rather a nasty graze but he believed it should heal up nicely. The wound to her forearm was a different. It was long and deep wound which still bleeding, albeit sluggishly. It was highly likely that she could end up with a permanent mark, but it just it could be worse. He did not expect any reaction from her whilst he tended to her wounds. She had not slept properly in days and her injuries had taken its toll. But she would wake soon, her worry for her brother would rouse her soon enough. As Henry bandaged Evie's arm, he heard a large bang on the front door. He had known that someone would turn up, if he had to guess it would probably be Jacob. Whoever was outside was apparently very impatient to come in as the banging came within quick succession of each other. In fact Henry was surprised that whoever was banging hadn't broken their hand due to the intensity of the bangs. But he had to tend to Evie first, whoever it was could wait.

Once he'd finished bandaging the younger Assassin's wound, Henry carefully left the room ensuring he closed the door behind him. Moving back into the shop he saw who was banging on the shop door. Jacob was practically pushing himself against the window, staring at Henry. He was soaking wet, apparently it was raining outside. Henry tried to make his face as neutral as possible, he did not want Jacob to know Evie was here. Although he had not seen what had happened between them, he did not want Jacob to be near Evie until she was conscious. He did not know what might happen especially since it was highly possible that Jacob would still be under the influence of the halogenic potion that Robert had been giving him. Turning the lock, Henry opened the door. Jacob fell over the threshold, landing in a heap on the mat. He quickly straightened himself and faced Henry.

"Where is she?"

"Where is who?" Henry asked, adopting a fake look of confusion.

"You know bloody well who," Jacob snapped, "Where is my sister? And don't you play dumb with me, I know that Evie would have come here."

Henry folded his arms, "Fine I admit she did come here. She told me what happened Jacob, how could you?"

Jacob had begun pacing, in that moment he could not have looked more like his twin. Funny how they both paced in an identical style. Henry watched him carefully, though he admitted Evie had come to the shop he would not disclose that she was still here.

"I didn't meant to." Jacob mumbled, "I mean I did but I didn't.. No I did… No I didn't."

Jacob let out a shout of frustration, he'd stopped pacing. Henry could see his hands appeared to be trembling.

"I have to find her I have to teach her a lesson… wait no I need to apologise."

Henry watched as Jacob put his hands in front of his face, he could not be sure what was happening to him. He seemed to be swinging from wanting to hurt Evie to wanting to apologise to her. At a guess, Henry guessed that Jacob was coming off the effects of the halogenic solution Robert had been giving him. It was still too risky to let Jacob near Evie, she was already weak and Henry was not going to put her in danger.

"Jacob, I don't know what is going on but you are not yourself." Henry said, watching the younger twin closely, "The Jacob I know would never hurt his sister even when she's really annoyed him. He would never hurt her. Someone has been playing with you, controlling what you do and I know that it is not your sister."

"I have to find her, Henry. Where did she go?"

"I don't know. She came here, I tended to her wounds and then she left. She never said where she was going."

It was not possible for Henry to guess what Jacob was thinking, his face was a picture of conflicting emotions. His expression changed so frequently that Henry had no time to name the emotions that appeared on his face. After a long pause Jacob finally spoke.

"If she comes back, tell her I'm looking for her."

Without another word Jacob left the shop, closing the door with a sharp click. The Indian Assassin was left feeling slightly alarmed. He could not tell whether that was a threat or not. Although it had certainly sounded like a threat. Walking to the door he watched as Jacob strolled away down the street. This was one fine mess they had got themselves into and at the moment the way out was unclear to him.

Henry continued to look out of the shop door long after he'd lost sight of Jacob. He watched the rain fall onto the ground lost in thought. But a sound behind him made him look round. It was not a surprise to see who was behind him. Evie still looked incredibly pale and the exhaustion was still clear but she was awake.

"I didn't think you'd be out for long." Henry said, a small smile of his face.

Evie returned the smile weakly before speaking;

"Thank you, Henry, for that and for this." She indicated her bandaged arm, "I don't know how I can make it up to you."

Henry waved her off, "You didn't need to thank me Evie, I am just glad I was here to help."

There was a few moments of silence as Evie pulled on her coat before she spoke again.

"I have to find Jacob."

"Funny you should say that because he was here a matter of moments ago."

When Evie just stared at him he continued,

"I did not tell him you were here, I said that you'd come and gone. But he was not himself. He kept switching between wanting to hurt you and wanting to apologise to you."

The elder twin looked away for a moment, Henry caught a glimpse of distress enter her eyes. He could tell that she desperately wanted to help her brother. Although only a few seconds passed it seemed much longer than that but finally Evie spoke.

"I have to find him."

Henry nodded, knowing that nothing could possibly stop her, "I'll round up the Rooks while you search. We'll keep the Blighters at bay until Robert is dealt with."

Evie nodded, pulling her hood up she made for the shop door but paused before exiting.

"Thank you, Henry." She placed her hand for a moment on his forearm, "I mean it."

Then she was gone, disappeared into the night. For a moment Henry just stood rooted to the spot, a small smile on his face but then he too left the shop.

Jacob had somehow found himself in yard behind several tall buildings. He was stood staring at his hands as rain continued to pour down. He felt like he had suddenly emerged from the grips of someone and had regained control of his life. But what had he done? How could he have pushed Evie aside for Robert? As he looked back on the last few weeks he could now see how Robert had been manipulating his every thought and action. How could he have just ignored his twin especially when she'd been hurt. He could remember how she had looked mere hours ago on the train. Covered in blood and exhausted. She had been desperately trying to show Jacob how he'd been controlled. How could he have just ignored her? How could he had punched her? He'd hurt her, something which he had promised himself never to do. Jacob rubbed his face in his hands, where was she? What if she had left London? What if it was too late to find her?

"Jacob."

A voice brought Jacob out of his thoughts. Turning he found that the person standing a few metres away from him was not the person he wanted to see.

Robert was looking at him, a serious expression on his face. Anger filled him, it was because of this man that his twin sister had vanished.

"What do you want?" Jacob snapped, folding his arms.

"Well I see that the effects of the solution I have been giving you have worn off."

"Yes It has. Me and you need to have a chat Robert. What the hell did you do to me?

"Surely you should know by now seeing as you have come to your senses."

Jacob squared up to Robert, "Yes I do you bastard. But I want answers. Why would you go to such lengths when you could have just killed me and Evie?"

Robert smirked, "Because it was more fun this way. I wanted to you drive a your sister away then I watch make her watch you suffer and die before killing her too."

Jacob's fist had connected with the side of Robert's face before he really knew what was happening. But the recipient of the punch did not stand down for long. A fight broke out. But it did not last long, the halogenic solution may have worn off but it had left Jacob weak. He was thrown to the ground by the advancing Robert. Pushing himself backwards he admitted to stand but found that a nearby wall stopped his retreat. Robert had also stopped advancing, he was a couple of metres from Jacob looking at him with a look of satisfaction. Robert pulled out a revolver from his inside coat pocket and pointed it at Jacob.

"Well look where we are now old friend." He sneered, "This wasn't exactly how I planned that you'd met your end. But I am still making good on that promise I made to you. Time to die Jacob."

Jacob was not willing to accept that this was his end, this was not the way that Jacob Frye would meet his end. As his mind raced for a possible escape route his eyes were drawn upwards where they fell on a figure standing on the floor top behind Robert. A small smile crossed his face as his Eagle Vision revealed that figure to be an ally and he had an idea of the figures identity.

"Why the smile Jacob? As I see it you have no reason to be smiling." Robert said, his finger tensing on the gun's trigger.

"Oh I do and you are about to find out why."