Chapter 19

I sat there on the edge if the bed, debating on what to say to the others when Altair brought them back. Should I tell them about all that transpired here in Vegas last night, or do I leave out mine and Altair's nuptials? I looked at the paper in my hands again. It had not changed in the few minutes since I had last looked at it. Our names were there in black and white.

I let the breath rush past my parted lips as I laid back on the bed. I didn't know what to do, or about the situation with Sebastian. Truth time. I may act big and bad, and yeah, in a combat situation, I am cool under pressure, but I could not handle everyday life. That was why I sucked at relationships, public speaking and dealing with Altair. I did not know how to handle it.

I heard the click of the door unlatch as I scrambled off the bed. Shoving the certificate into the nightstand drawer, I got to my feet, smoothing out the wrinkles in my shirt. No sense in letting him know I had been lounging while he was gone. I was suppose to be thinking of a plan to get everyone out of there alive and in one piece. I really could not come up with one.

It was not Altair that walked through that door, but my worse nightmare. Sebastian smiled at me, a gun in his right hand. "Good afternoon, Alanna. It's so good to see you again."

I glared at him. "How in the world did you get a key card to this room?" I didn't make any sudden movements. I knew that would lead me to being shot or worse. He would do it too. Make no mistakes on that.

"I thought we would talk before your companion returned. Just you and me. Like the old times." He sat in the chair, gun still trained on me.

His choice of guns had not changed any. He still carried a HK USP .40 caliber. It was the same gun he always carried. I watched him carefully, letting my trained eyes look for a way out of this mess. Unfortunately, he was sitting right by the door, and the balcony. There was no way out besides shooting him or getting shot. Shit.

My gun sat on the dresser, along with my other weapons. I felt I didn't need to wear them in the room. How wrong I was.

"Sit down Alanna. We have much to say, and precious little time." His Spanish accent heavy. He had come from Spain a few years ago. Very much liked there. I trusted him. Hell, I slept with him once.

I walked slowly to that side of the bed, and lowered my small frame onto the edge. It put me at a closer strike range. I could possibly disarm him, but it still was a chance. I hated dealing in chances.

"Spit out what you are going to say, Sebastian. I don't have all day." I growled, keeping my eyes on the gun.

He chuckled. "You have all of eternity, so I have heard. I did some research when Michael told me his story. Altair Ibn-La'Ahad and Ezio Auditore alive? I was shocked to say the least. Everyone in the Guild knows who they are. But you. You were the mystery. I did not know where you fit into this puzzle. Were you one of La'Ahad's assassins? Auditore's? Or were you just a woman at the wrong place at the wrong time?

"So I went looking, and I found this wonderful book in the archives." He pulled it out of the satchel he carried. "Written by Malik Al-Sayf. He detailed the day the Templars came for the Apple." He held it out to me. "It is a wonderful read. He was a brilliant man, who had many ideas. He and Altair hid many things from the order, and they were all written in here. Did you know he loved you?"

My eyes shot to his face in surprise. I was friends with the Dai, but I never knew he had feelings for me. "What?"

He laughed. "You never knew? Oh, that is good. Here. You should read this. It will enlighten you." He tossed me the leather bound book.

I grabbed it and clutched it to my chest. If it really was Malik's, then it was the last link to my past. "What do you want?"

"I want power. I came here hoping to get a higher position in the Guild's food chain, but that was not to be. I want what everyone wants. Wealth, power, influence. Since I was not getting it with the Guild, I turned to the Templars. They also have a better dental plan." He smirked. "Anyway. I came here to tell you, you and your friends had better be at my party tomorrow. It's very special. I am calling it my 'Going Away' party. Once I hand you, Altair, Desmond, and Ezio over to Abstergo, they are sending me back home. I will run their operations in Spain."

"Oh, they will send you home alright. In a pine box. They are going to kill you, Bastian, make no mistake on that. You will be dead and so will everyone that has helped you get to us. You forget, I have been around long enough to know their MO. I have seen it first hand. I have been on the inside. In the early 1800's I married a man in their ranks. I had to know how they worked. I watched them kill many men because they were turncoats. Once Brothers that turned to the Templars for the same thing you did. Once they got what they wanted from them, they were killed and their bodies never seen again." I held the small book tighter. "Look it up if you would like. I went by Mary Nichols. I was well known until a tragic horse accident took my life. My body was never found, but there was a lot of blood. Good thing they did not have DNA scanners then because they would have found out it was chicken's blood, and not human."

He shook his head. The smile was still in place, but there was something else there. I had put that seed of doubt in his mind. It was now something he would look into. I felt a smile come onto my lips. It was a good feeling when you knew the other person was having doubts. It put them on edge, making them do stupid and costly mistakes. "I will look into your tale, my dear, but you will come tomorrow. Oh, and bring that husband of yours." I raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I know about that. So, who was it? Allen or Altair? I know you are here with a man."

It was my turn to smirk. "Wouldn't you like to know. I don't kiss and tell. You of all people should know that."

He shrugged. "Fair enough." He stood and threw the key card on the table. "This is the only one I have and I just got it. The lady at the front desk was very nice, and when I told her I had lost mine, she gave me a new one." He grabbed the door handle and opened the door a bit. "You can pick up the kid at six pm. at the service entrance to the MGM Grand. A few of my men will meet you there. If you come with more than two others, they will put a bullet in his head. Do I make myself clear?"

I met his eye. "Crystal."

He walked out the door. I knew better than to follow him. He would be gone before I got off the bed. I lowered the small book in my hands. It was old. The leather cover worn in places and the binding had seen better days. I carefully opened it to see a map of Jerusalem. It was beautifully detailed and I ran my hand lightly over the page. I missed his words of wisdom, and him calling Altair a novice. The nights we would spend in the gardens talking. He was as close to a best friend as I got. I never knew he was in love with me. I only wish I had felt the same for him as well.

Turning the page, I looked at the date. Two days after Altair took control of the Brotherhood. I smiled at his flowing Arabic.

July 16, 1191

The events in Masyaf over the last few day have prompted me to record all the changes that have happened. This will be ongoing until it is my time to leave this world, or I feel there is nothing to record any longer. Altair has become the Grandmaster of Masyaf. After the betrayal of Al Mualim, the men need someone they could look up to. The chose the Novice. Yes, I shall call him that until I die. He will always be learning new things and so shall I. We are all novices, no matter our station in life. From the moment we leave the womb, to the time we are taken to Allah, we are learning...

I read a few pages. He talked about the changes that happened after the rise of Altair, and when he came back with Maria from Cyprus. The entry I smiled at was the one when Altair brought me back to Masyaf. At first, I knew Malik was not keen on a woman becoming an assassin, but I changed his mind very quickly.

March 8, 1193

I do believe Altair has taken ill. On a mission in Acre, he not only let his target go, but brought a woman back to Masyaf. He stated that she would be trained in the assassin ways. To say I was shocked was not wording it correctly. I was absolutely stunned. Train a woman in the ways of the Brotherhood? Had he gone mad? Was all the blows to the head catching up with him, or was it the Apple? I confronted him about his choice later that day. He smirked and told me to talk to her. That her name was Alanna.

I followed his words and found her. She sat in the gardens just looking in the direction of Acre. You could not see it from there, she looked anyway. I could tell she was upset, so I decided to come back later.

She heard me. "You are Malik, am I correct?" She never turned around, but knew who I was. Interesting.

We talked for what felt like hours after that. She was an orphan. Her parents dead when she was ten years of age. Grew up with the thieves and learned the tricks of their craft. She was quite intelligent. Growing up in a home where knowledge was known. She spoke French and English fluently, which I greatly admired.

I felt the tears begin make tracks down my face at my friend's words. I had admired his strength, his sharp mind and his even sharper tongue. He was my only friend in those walls. Not one of the other assassins would look at me. Even after I began my training, Altair would not speak to me unless it was needed. Maria turned her nose up at me.

September 12, 1199

We laid the slain down for their eternal rest today. Altair and Alanna among the fallen. Maria has taken it harder than all. I have not let myself grieve for the two people that were dearest to me yet. I shall do that privately later, in my own way. No words could describe my hatred for the men would did this. The Apple is to blame. I told Altair to destroy it when he had the chance, but he did not heed my words. Foolish man. Because of that, we lost twelve good brothers yesterday.

The accursed thing was laid with him so no one would have it once more...

I paused. They buried Altair with the Apple? It was not there when I found him. He was alone in that tomb. Nothing was there. It left me scratching my head. When I found him, he had only his hidden blade and nothing else. So, if it was not with him, where was it? I flipped through a few more pages to the journal.

August 19, 1228

Abbas is a monster. Sef, Altair's son, was slain at the hands of Abbas today. I did not know until deed was done. He will come for myself next. I know he will. Darim and Maria are untouchable for the moment, but when they return from Mongolia, they shall be fair game.

Abbas wishes to destroy all that remains of Altair and his followers. They went for the Apple a fortnight ago. It was not there, but a curious thing was there, if the men were correct. The Grandmaster's body as not decayed with time. He looks just as he did when we buried him nearly twenty-two years ago. I have not found the courage to see with my own eyes, but I will when the sun sets. I have to go with the darkness, for if I am seen, my blood shall be spilt tonight.

I do not know what shall be there. I do not wish to disturb his eternal rest, but I must know if their words are true. If he is preserved, then Alanna? Would she be the same? Now the question is burned into my mind. I shall go when darkness rises.

I slammed the book shut. No, something was not right. I awoke when Sef died. I awoke a hundred years after my death. But if Malik's words are true, then who touched the Apple for myself to awaken? A life for a life. That was what I was told. Could Maria have been pregnant when we were taken and not known. If so, why has another child not been mentioned?

My mind began to burn. I had to know. I was told that on the day I walked back into Masyaf, the youngest child of Altair had just died. I thought it had been Sef. He was the youngest when I was alive. But, Sef was killed in 1228. I was now completely confused.

August 20, 1228

I made it into the tomb. It was true. Altair was still whole and looked like he did when he was in this world. What had the Apple done to him? I tried to enter Alanna's tomb, but it was sealed too tightly. The Apple is gone. I knew this. I am the one that was to bury it with him, but I did not. Darim took it with him when he, Maria, and Arianna left. He is a good boy, and I shall miss him, for I fear I will not be alive when they return. Abbas has men searching for me as I write these words. Be patient, Kadar. I shall see you soon, little brother.

That was the last entry. The rest of the pages were blank. Abbas had got him. I knew this. I did not know when, I knew he had died at the hands of the bastard that was suppose to be their brother-in-arms.

Arianna. The name played in my head. Should I tell Altair about this development? Or should I keep it and the journal to myself? He had a daughter. What did she look like? Did she favor her mother, or her father? I wish I knew, but I did not.

Looking down at the leather book, I wanted to scream at Malik for being an idiot. He knew Abbas was after him. Why did he not just leave? Run until he got far enough away that he could not be touched. He knew other languages. He could have gone to one of those countries. I knew why he did not. He was loyal to Altair, even after death. He stayed to protect his family and be there for guidance.

"Malik, you were a fool, but a wise fool." I smiled down at the book in my lap. "I am sorry, my friend. I wish I could have been there for you."

The key card clicked in the door once more, but this time I knew who would walk through the door. I did not look up from the book. It was the only connection I had to a once dear friend. I would always treasure it.

"What do you have there?" Altair stood in front of me, looking down.

"I was paid a visit today. Sebastian stopped by. He brought me a gift." I smiled softly at him. "Well, brought us both a gift. It was Malik's." I held out the journal. "It was his journal until he died."

He took it slowly. "Is it a fake?"

"No. I have read it. It is his. In his own words." I looked back down at my now empty hands. "You will not like some of the things in there, Altair. I will not tell you, but it is not good."

I felt the bed drop next to me as he sat down. "What will I find?"

"I shall not tell you. Read if you want. I need some air." I stood, cracking and popping from sitting too long. I left him alone with the journal. He would have to read it on his own.

Stepping out onto the balcony, I felt the warm air hit me in my face. It was a dry heat like Syria. Home. I missed the desert air, the cloudless days, the cool nights. I missed the rain season, bathing the land in life giving water. The warmth of the sun on your skin when you stepped from the cool river. I missed it all, but I was too big of a chicken shit to go back. I had not laid eyes on the assassin fortress since I left there in 1299. What was it like today?

I looked at the horizon. Buildings littered the landscape, but in my mind I was back in Masyaf, sitting on that bench, looking towards Acre, feeling homesick and out of place. A cool breeze blowing through the land. The snow had melted, but it was not completely over. I could feel it in the air. The chilled grass crunched under Malik's boots as he made his way to me.

I wanted my old life back. I wanted to go home, but I was where I was needed and so was he. Turning my face to the heavens, I smiled. "Thank you, my dearest friend. One day, we shall be together again, and share tales of our adventures."

I touched the scar that ran vertically on my abdomen. It was the only thing I had from that fight. A seven inch scar an inch left of my belly button and a matching one on my back, marking the spot I had been ran through. Received before death, so it was there when I awoke. A reminder of what happened that night.

I took my time on this chapter. Trying to get rid of the inconsistansies between when I started writing this last year, and the events in Revelation. It was very challanging, and I had to go back to replay many parts of Revelations. There are few still, but I could not get rid of them all unless I started over. The dates on Sef's death are correct. I replayed that part. Hopefully I have cleared a few things up. Adding the third child was the only way I could keep it right and not mess everything up. It will get back to my normal writing next chapter. It is form Desmond's POV next.