Chapter 25

"Again!"

I looked up from the book I had been reading. Ezio stood there one the end of the deck, barking at the 'recruits' as all of them, but us three, were now called. The guys had decided to put Jenna, Tom, Dawson, Jake, and Desmond through Assassin Boot Camp, Altair and Ezio style. Meaning, sun up to sun down training. One hour break for lunch and a few fifteen minute breaks thrown in there so they did not fall over from death. They were strict teachers.

"Ezio, I think they may need a break." I sat the book down on the table and stood, feeling the muscles in my legs protesting. Maybe I shouldn't have gone on the run with them that morning. I may be the fastest one there, but I did not have to show them that. My poor legs were now screaming at me to relax. I had not done that in a long time.

He looked back at me, his chocolate eyes stern. He was in drill instructor mode. "They have not been at this for more than a hour. They should have this by now."

I laid a hand on his shoulder. "And they were not trained with a sword like we were. It takes years to get the finesse to wield a blade like you want them to." I smiled and looked at his students. "Take a fifteen, guys." I had to play mediator sometimes or they would drop over dead.

The five of them fell where they were, legs giving out. I chuckled a bit at the sight. "You are too easy on them." Ezio crossed his arms over his chest. He traded his Polo shirt for a plain blue tee, and khakis for black warm up pants.

"And you are too hard on them. If they fall over dead, you have no students and all of this was for nothing. Even you see the logic behind that." I heard him sigh. I knew that would get to him.

"I know, but they are too soft. Time has taken their edge." He stepped from me and took a drink of the water that was on the rail.

"No, the use of modern day equipment took that. We are from a time long since removed from this world, my friend. We were taught to go on our wits and the edge of a blade. To hide where no other could. You can not do that in this day and age. Even we have adapted to the changing times. The Assassins had to as well." I leaned against the rail and crossed my arms over my chest. "So, since we have adapted, have we become less than what we once were?"

The gears in his head began to turn. I had made him think. With a huff, he sat in the chair I once occupied. "Stop making me think, Alanna. Now my head hurts." He rubbed his temple. "And no, I suppose it doesn't."

I smiled and pushed off the rail. "See? Was that so hard?" He grumbled at me, but smiled. "I am going to go haunt Becca, Shaun, and Altair. See what they have come up with. I will come check on you later."

He waved me off and I wandered into the house. A few days into our stay at Altair's remote mountainside cabin, Rebecca and Shaun pulled up in my Mustang. When I saw the condition it was in, I shed a few tears. The once flawless paint job was scraped and scratched. Her left tail light was missing, and bullet holes littered the trunk. Oh, also the back window had been blown out.

They said Abstergo had found them when they were getting ready to move out, and gave chase. They had lost them outside of Cleveland, but found them again as they crossed into Missouri, and opened fire. Shaun took a bullet to the shoulder and Becca was unharmed. They lost them again when they turned off the highway and hit the back roads. Thank the heavens the tires were not hit. Or the tank, and then they found out about the large smears they would have made of the bullets had ignited the gas. I had some plastic explosives in the trunk. They were not high grade, but enough to turn my car and them into a smoking crater.

I walked into the basement of the house all of us had taken to calling "The Cave." Well, that's what it actually was. My counterpart had used an old mining cave as his basement. It worked and it was well shielded from Abstergo. They could run whatever they wanted to down there and never worry.

Spotting Rebecca's dark head as I rounded the corner, I cracked a smile grin. Her headphones were on and blaring in her ears. For as load as she had them most of the time, it was a wonder she was not deaf. I could hear them without being that close.

Shaun lifted his head when he saw me. "Ah, good afternoon Alanna. Or is it evening yet?"

I chuckled. "It's still afternoon. Not even three yet. You are still good."

Rebecca took off her headphones and smiled at me. "Hey, where have you been hiding? I really hope you are over the car?"

I nodded. "Yeah, you're fine. It will have her fixed in no time. I have done it once and I will do it again. So, any news on the world above?" I grabbed a chair and moved it over to a computer.

The Brit pushed up the sleeves of his shirt. "No I'm afraid. The Templars have not been really making any moves. It seems they are waiting to see what we are going to do next." He looked back down at the screen and frowned.

"But the information you, Ezio, and Altair have given us on the workings if the Apple has been a lot of help. I have been able to gather a list of the other locations. Do you think there are still other POE's out there?" Becca leaned back in the chair, hands behind her head.

You know, I had never really thought about going to look for them. I mean, I really dislike the Apple, but to see if there were others that worked and what they could do? I never thought about it much. "I am not the one to ask on that one. I was never too keen on the one we have when I was mortal. Now that I have eternal life from it, I hate it even more."

They both looked at me. I knew what they were thinking. It was the same thing everyone else would have said. I was insane for hating my eternal youth. Becca was the first to speak. "A question I have never asked. I mean, I know you were the first to wake up and all, but we never asked, how did you end up how you are?"

I slumped in the chair. "I was the only one of us that actually died. I was at Heaven's Gate, or what I thought was the afterlife. It could have been one of Minerva's tricks, but I like to think there was another place. Anyway, Altair and I were the last two left of the small group that fled Masyaf when the Templars attacked..."

Masyaf 1199

"Malik, you must hold them off as long as you can. We must get this as far from this place as our legs will travel." Altair placed the Apple into the small pouch on his hip.

I watched from the balcony, my blade hanging from my side. Sweat ran down my face from the hot Syrian sun, but I watched the horizon for the first sign of the horde that was to come. Then I saw something. Slim and tall, but I could not tell what it was. "Grand Master, Malik, I believe they have arrived. We have left too late."

They joined me in the sunlight. Malik to my right and Altair to my left. They both looked in the direction I pointed. "They have come." Malik hung his head for a moment and shook it. He then turned to his friend. "You must take your men and flee. I will keep them from destroying the walls of this place, and so you have a home to return to, Novice."

The Grand Master looked at the Rafiq and nodded. "And return I shall, but it may not be for many days, or even weeks. I trust you to lead our brothers to victory and protect our home."

The dark haired man waved him off. "It will be fine, Altair. You have nothing to worry about. Your should be concerned about that cursed thing that hangs from your hip and not what I have planned for the dogs. Begone before you have nowhere to run and they are upon our gates."

Sticking out his hand, Malik took it. "Safety and peace, Malik."

"Upon you as well, my brother. Until we meet again." They released each other.

Altair then turned to me. "I would like you to come with us, Alanna."

My eyes widened. "Why me? I thought I was to stay behind to be a runner for you. To relay information to the front lines. I am the swiftest on foot and on horse."

He nodded. "That is why I want you to come with me. I will need someone with skills such as yours to spirit the Apple away if something was to befall myself."

I swallowed nervously. "I will endeavor not to fail, Grand Master. You have my word." I bowed to him out of respect, and put on a blank face, but inside, I quaked. I have ran from the Templars before, but never with the one thing they wanted more in this world than our heads. That scared me to no end. "I am really to depart at your command."

He inclined his head, and turned on his heels. I went to follow, but Malik grabbed my arm. "I have a terrible feeling about all of this, Alanna. Please be safe and help protect him as well."

I smiled at him. "I will not let anything befall him that I can not prevent. You have my word, my friend."

"I know you will keep your word as well. Until we see each other once more, my friend." It looked like he wanted to say more, but now was not the time and we had to flee.

"This is not good-bye, my most cherished friend. I will see you again." I wrapped him in a hug and took off in a jog to catch up with the Grand Master.

He was standing in the courtyard as I made my exit from the fortress. Seven other men stood there with him. When I came to a stop, he began to speak. "We shall follow the river east towards Damascus. From there, we will journey to the south. With luck, we will outrun these cowardly bastards and be home again before the month's end. Be on your guard at all times."

Worried looks were passed through our faces. We knew this may be the last time we saw these walls and each other. It was a long trek we were to undertake and there was no telling who was coming back. I was the one out of these men that had no family. I was not even the youngest. Three of them had children and wives. I had yet to find the right one for me, and I was getting too old to have children. I took it upon myself see these men came back to their loved ones.

/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/

Two men fell before we made it to the Damascus walls. The Templars had caught wind of our escape and gave chase. I had taken an arrow to my arm, but kept going. Altair had taken one to his shoulder. Seven of us made it to the walls and inside. We could not even lay our brothers to their proper rest. May Allah guide their souls to the Promised Land and shelter them until they are joined by their families.

One more fell in our flee from the walls. It was not by the Templars, but guards. They shot him down as we grabbed horses to ride faster and farther than our feet would carry us. Again, I sent a prayer heavenward in his name.

Three nights passed, and no sign of the dreaded red cross the Templars bore. I sat away from the others at the fire, feeling out of place. I was a woman in a man's world, but I had proven my worth. I was the only one that could take what we needed and not been looked at twice. I truly was a blade in the crowd.

"Alanna."

I heard my name called and raised my head. One of the men, Abdul, waved me over. "You need not sit by yourself every evening. The men here will not harm you."

I smiled a bit. He had always been kind to me while I trained. Even sparred with me a few times. I kind man seven years my senior. He had trained with Altair and Malik. "I thank you for the kind words, Abdul, but I am fine."

"You will catch your death in this chill. Come sit closer to the fire." He patted the space next to him.

One of the men snickered. "You have become soft, Abdul. Catering to a woman who wishes to play a man. You should have crawled back home, street rat. You are not made for this life." Marid looked at me with hate in his eyes. "You must had been good in the ally for the Grand Master to allow you be here."

A throwing knife embedded itself into the ground a few inches from his manhood. We all looked up to see Altair standing there with murder in those frightening golden eyes. "You shall not address a fellow assassin in that manner, Marid."
The rest of the men went silent and eyes drifted to the ground. I held my head high. I would not let his words hurt me. I had heard all of it before and would continue to hear it for years to come. It was the way of the world. I was a woman, and therefore should not fight. But I would not be idle and in a gilded cage while I could help the innocent and fell the corrupt.

"Alanna has proven her worth many times over. You have not. I am still questioning why I chose you." He glared at the younger man.

"Besides of the venom that seems to flow from the snake's mouth, he is a brilliant archer and a fine swordsman. You chose him for those merits. I am the one I wonder why you brought me. I am not the best fighter, nor the best runner, yet you chose me to come with you." I laid my hands on my knees. My legs were tucked under me.

Marid looked at me, jaw hung. He had just finished degrading me to nothing but a common place whore, and then I stand up for him. "Thank you."

I nodded my head. "You are welcome, Marid. Now, about my question, Grand Master. Why did you choose me?"

I would never get my answer, before he could answer, arrows reined from the sky. I rolled to my right and onto my feet, then ran. That was what we were told to do. Run and meet later. Too bad later there would only be three left.

/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/

"There are too many, Altair, we must flee!" Zahir yelled over the clash of steel. He raised his sword to fend off another attack.

A small band of Templar scouts had found us that night. No one but myself, Zahir and Altair had made it out alive, and that was looking to be fixed quite quickly. Their forces were well rested as to where we had not slept in a few days. Our bodies were worn down from the running and fighting. I had lost my sword a day previous in a small skirmish. It had been broken and nowhere to repair the damages. I was down to three throwing knives, a borrowed sword I lifted off a dead soldier, my fighting knife and a hidden blade. I had been one of the first to receive the blade that no longer required the removal of the ring finger.

The man I fought swung wildly at my head and I ducked to avoid the blow. I thrusted forward, running my blade through his gut. Blood gurgled past his lips as he took his final breath. I released him from the steel and he fell to the ground, sightless eyes open to the world. May he meet his God and find redemption.

"Alanna! Zahir! To me! We will live to fight another day!" Altair yelled to us. He battled three men that were intent on ending his life, but they did not know they took on the Eagle of Masyaf, the best of our Order.

I nodded and ran. Zahir ran beside me. I took the man on the left, and killed him with my hidden blade. The steel sinking into the soft flesh of his neck. Blood coated my palm and mixed with the sweat my body had made.

Zahir was not so fortunate to find his mark. The Templars blade made it's home in the young man's chest. I cried out his name as I watched his eyes widen as the sharp broadsword pierced his heart, stopping it from beating once more.

Then there were two. Altair and I stood back to back. We were all that stood in the way of them claiming the orb for themselves, and that would never happen. Not while we drew breaths. Slashing and paring with the remaining men, I felt my strength wane. My arms became heavy and my body feverish. I sported many wounds, but none so deep as to end my life. I would not stop, I would not back down. I could not back down.

For what seemed like hours, we fought like a whirlwind, a storm of blades in that desert sand. Our breaths labored and our movements became sluggish, but we kept on. Our lives hung on the line, and it could easily be cut by the blade of Fate.

Then it happened. One found an opening I had left, and he went for the kill. I saw it at the last moment. The gleam of the silvery blade coming for Altair's exposed back. I knew of no other choice.

He turned just as I took the blade with my body. My eyes widened as the blade entered my back and I looked down to see the end erupt from my belly. Crimson staining the front of my white robes and spreading like a dark tidal wave across the middle of my body. The Grand Master grabbed my body before I fell and killed my murderer before I was to draw my last breath.

Then I saw it on the ground. The Apple of Eden. I must have fallen from his hip in the skirmish. The golden skin of the orb was flawless except for the lines etched on its surface. "The...the Apple." I whispered to him, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth. I could feel my skin cooling. My life nearly spent.

He gently lowered me to the ground. My legs no longer working and darkness beginning to take my vision, but I held on. I would wait until he grabbed it. Until it was safe once more. I turned my head until all I saw was the golden orb. The soft light it put off warmed me a bit. Made me feel safe for a moment. I tried to smile, but I had not the strength to control my body. I was dying and I accepted that. I was an assassin. I had lived by the Creed. Nothing is true. Everything is permitted.

The darkness crept more into my failing eyes. I saw a hand take the apple and saw the missing finger. Altair. He had lived. That was all that mattered. He was our leader, our Grand Master. I had saved his life and for that I could die.

"Alanna." I heard my name. I could not answer. His hand turned my head gently to the heavens and his face filled my waning sight. "You should not have done that. You have given your life for me."

I had to explain myself. I gathered my strength was left in my broken body. It was the last bit of my soul. "You are the one that mattered. You must live on. I promised Malik I would watch over you. I have fulfilled that promise." The words were whispered, strained. They were the words of a soul coming clean. The whispers of the dead.

"May you find peace." He laid his hand gently on my shoulder.

"May you find strength." The words were the last I were to speak. Death laid its veil over my eyes, but not before I saw the golden light once more.

/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/

I awoke a time later, seeing white all around. I heard beautiful voices, but no one to put with the words. I stood there, on solid limbs, not knowing what to do. Was this Heaven? Or was this the place we came to in the end to be judged for our crimes?

"You are unique, Alanna Dowd. You are worth saving."

Me? Unique? I had never heard those two words used in the same sentence together, ever.

"You will be reborn, and so shall others. You will do great things."

Reborn? I wanted to be with my mother and father. I did not want to return to a world in chaos. I liked the voices that flowed around me.

"Awaken and be free."

I heard the scream that exited my lips before I saw the darkness once more. My hands shot up and touched the cool stone of the lid to the tomb I was in. I was thought to be dead. I died on the field, or was it some trick of my mind?

If that was the case, I would not be in this place, but a bed in the infirmary, recovering. I was sent back. I was made anew, but why?

Pushing against the stone above, it moved easily. Once it was moved enough, I slipped out of the coffin and into the stale air. My mind raced, as well as my heart. I was alive, but how?

The journey from my tomb was long and hard. The stone was thick, but something guided my hands to the flaws. Fresh air rushed into the small room as my fist exited the hole I had made. I breathed it in and exhaled. It was cool and refreshing. From the taste in the air, I could tell it was winter.

I pulled at the loose stones and made a hole big enough to get out. I had to know where I was. What had happened to myself? I had to let everyone know I lived. They must have thought me dead to place me in the tomb.

I made my way to the end of the corridor. Snow was on the ground. My robes were of summer weight and the chill began to set in. How could I have slept so long? It was just the beginning of the fall when we ran. I needed answers. I needed to know.

/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/

I found my answers, but they were not the ones I wanted to hear. I had died, and along with Altair in the great battle one hundred years ago. Marid was a traitor and had turned on us, telling the Templars where to find us. They had taken his life, then ours. I was alive. I was immortal. I cried. I cried in the empty gardens of Masyaf, high above the village, where they could not hear the wails of the dead. For that was what I was. I was suppose to be dead, and yet was sent back to do something.

Then it struck me. If I was like this, was Altair? Was I doomed to walk this world alone, or did they grant me a partner? I got to my feet, and ran to the tomb. I had to know if he yet lived on such as I did, or was I the only one they wanted?

The doorway to his tomb was open, which struck me as odd. Someone had already been here. Could he have woken up before me? I rushed to his tomb, and slid the top back. Under it lay the body of my Grand Master, whole and preserved. Time had not ravaged his body in his century of sleep. He would wake soon, but I did not know when. From what I had learned in the village, the Templars had been moving around again. They had been searching Masyaf for something, but no one knew of what. We had to get out of there.

I managed to get a horse near the tomb and drag him to it. He had lost no weight. He also had five inches on myself. Getting him over the saddle was a chore, but I did it. Throwing a blanket over him and then climbing on, I set out to leave this place. I did not know it would have been for the last time.

Present day

Shaun and Rebecca watched me as I wrapped up my story. "That is what happened to me. I was dead, or should have been. Altair does not remember what happened to him. He told me the Apple became alight and he fell, then woke up in Monteriggioni. Ezio did not know of his immortality until he noticed he stopped aging." I sat up straighter in the chair. "It did not just pick us at random. It wants something from all of us. The bad thing is, none of know what yet."

"We might find that answer." Rebecca smile at me. "Or go insane trying to figure out how the damn thing works."

I chuckled and stood, feeling the tightness in my lower back. "Good luck on that. Ezio, Des, and Altair are the only ones the Apple works for. It does nothing for me."

"Well, we will crack it." She turned in her chair and got back to work. Shaun did the same and I walked back upstairs to find out where the hell Altair had gotten off to.

This is the longest chapter I have ever written. It has been burning in my brain for a long time now. I got it done in one sitting, and the only reason that is, is because no one is up in my house. It's 3:40 am here and I am about to fall over. I am awake on caffeine and nicotine right now. I am heading to bed. If there are any mistakes I am sorry. Please tell me what you think of it. Thank you for bearing with me in my long rant. Night everyone.