Inside Her World
Part 7
The memories are the burden we carry until we collapse into darkness,
In the darkness we find those who we searched for,
They tell us a story of a longed perfect world.
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"Caroline!" William ran down the hallway that was to belong to the Elite section very soon. The young member of the best team managed to knock several novices off their balance in the burst of his excitement.
"William , keep yourself together!" Kaitlin shouted from the room where she and Shaun were discussing the future uniforms their team would wear. Shaun impudently stated that the Seven Devils shall have a luxurious piece to show off their magnificence. Kaitlin, on the other hand, demanded the clothing to be bright so that their company could stand out in the crowd and scream about their dangerous presence. Both assassins could not agree since both options violated the Creed's code of being discreet and hidden.
Meanwhile, William has already made his way to the only closed door at the end of the hallway that belonged to the commander. The man knocked a few times trying to tame his joyful eruption. He has finally picked a perfect demonic name for his future identity and it truly overwhelmed him. The door slowly opened and a pair of emerald eyes stared at the man that could not help but melt into a grin.
"William I could hear you from the other end of the hallway, are you mad?" Caroline arched her elegant brow that was hidden under her coppery bangs. She has promised to dye her hair a different color in order to not stand out as much after a hood will be pulled over her head. William did not like that idea since he fancied the woman's hair just the way it was, and yet Altio's orders were clear about such little details needed for the future elite.
"I am sorry, but I have excellent news for you, Caroline." The assassin announced as his fingers nervously twisted together. He was not sure if the name would suit him properly, or if Caroline would like it at all. After all, he did fall in love with her despite all those times Altio mentioned that relationships are sure death.
"News? Did Altio decide to finally stop training little high school students the art of killing?" She said with a roll in her eyes. Caroline did not like the idea of children being trained to kill when they are supposed to learn how to become a something in their life. It was impressive how their parents did not find out about the Creed community and were easily fooled by their child's "after school activities."
William shook his head and sighed heavily. He could never bring that kind of news to Caroline since Altio was always to put his decisions into action and no one could change him. It was one of the reasons the elite's chief disliked the Master so much. She considered him a tyrant in some way and the one to change the modern world into a medieval one.
"Then what great news have you brought to me?" Caroline finally questioned after opening the door wider and letting William come inside. The man quickly found a comfortable spot near her desk and cleared his throat.
"I found a perfect name for myself as the future Devil." His voice was shaky now since all the joy has vanished. The assassin was not sure if it was the perfect time to tell Caroline about such an unimportant subject.
"What is it?" The chief smirked and crossed her arms over her chest. It gave William a space to relax since the woman seemed to be listening to him and curious about his visit.
"Azazel." William managed to smile at Caroline and exhaled in relief as he heard a soft giggle from the woman.
"Azazel, eh? Well it is better than Gerald's who decided to be Cerberus." She said with a quiet snort. "I purposely brought him some dog food, which he did not find amusing. I laughed and that is all that mattered." Caroline chuckled and nodded toward the other assassin. "Use that name wisely and do not let it fool your conscience."
"What about you, Caroline?" William frowned at his leader and took a step closer to her. The woman gazed at him for a moment before shaking her head slightly and looking toward the window that was hidden behind scarlet curtains.
"I do not need a name. I already have one." She explained as she made her way pass William and to the window to let more light inside her office. "I am not to be presented as someone else before my friends and enemies. My power is in my originality, in the name I have received at birth and worse as a crown proudly." As she finished, Caroline turned to look as the other assassin that became silent the moment she spoke. His expression lacked in emotion as he was impressed by her explanation.
"Caroline," William addressed her with a respectable tone in his voice as he suddenly bowed his head to her. "I know that you consider us all equals in the Brotherhood, and yet I will have to say that you will be the best leader that anyone can ask for. You are a queen of our team." He heard Caroline's soft laughter and felt his heart warm up. The assassin cursed a thousand times in his head, blaming his foolish feeling to go away, and yet the chief gave him hope for a better future for everyone.
"Go tell Kaitlin that I have already ordered our uniforms. They are mostly blue." Caroline said. "All of you chose to be the Devils of the Creed; I decided to give us a brief name of Azurite. It is quick and rich with meaning." The chief looked back at the window before pressing her hand against the warm glass. The streets of Chicago were full of motion, and here she was, never to be a part of the flow as a simple pedestrian. A silent killer in the shadow of peasants she was and will be forever.
William thanked her and exited the office with a mindful of thoughts. He softly closed the door behind him, still standing before it for a moment as if he forgot something. Caroline was different, she saw the world as it was and her head was sober during the meetings that Altio gathered every morning. While the Master spoke of making sure that the Templar stayed away from Millennium Park and Sears Tower, Caroline sat in the very back of the room shaking her head and silently disagreeing with everything Altio has said.
The assassin pushed away from his spot and walked off to find Kaitlin and Shaun that were later to be known as Hel and Shax. The two were still arguing about the uniforms and roared as they found out that everything was already taken care off. William laughed as he watched Shaun try to flip his table and yet stop right before completing the action since Kaitlin gave him a death stare. Gerald soon entered followed by the other two Devils that held papers in their hands for everyone to sign. The whole group laughed at Shaun's foolishness and threw jokes back and forth without a break as they began to work on the final preparations.
They all were sure to be a great team along with an excellent and intelligent leader.
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"Azazel!" Hel shouted through the thick fog that the wounded assassin saw before his colorless eyes. He knew that death was here to take him into a cold embrace and yet so comforting. He has failed the Brotherhood, his teammates, and most of all Caroline.
"I…am…sorry." His blood covered lips managed to mouth the words, and yet no one saw his final say. The remaining Azurite members were too busy with hurrying to the headquarters, unable to look back at their dying brother and see his final moments. And yet they pled for him to breathe, to stay alive because now that they were once more broken and lost, they needed their chief more than ever.
"Azazel!"
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"William that tickles." Caroline scoffed and nuzzled Azazel's shoulder after the assassin decided to brush a feather along the leader's neck. The man laughed and wrapped his arms around the woman trying not to accidentally activate his hidden blade.
"My apologies, chief." He murmured and pressed his lips against her forehead. A grumble was produced by the woman as she managed to bite Azazel through his thick uniform.
"Caroline to you." The leader growled and looked up with a playful frown. Azazel chuckled and leaned over to steal a quick kiss from Caroline's gentle lips that he longed for so long.
"As you wish, chief." He taunted and received a good smack on his side that sent him into a burst of laughter that was followed by her quiet giggling. Azazel tightened his embrace around Caroline and sighed heavily.
"Is something wrong?" The woman asked after a silent pause.
"I have a bad feeling about tomorrow's mission." He admitted as his fingers played with Caroline's dark hair. She did change the color, and he honestly missed the fire of her locks that glowed in the sun. "Brotherhood does not simply give our targets a code name."
"I see." The chief nodded as she closed her eyes in relaxation. The sunset before them turned from soft orange to a bloody scarlet. Perhaps it was a hidden sign for them, and yet both assassins did not pay attention to the surroundings once they were left alone.
"Caroline, don't you think that Onyx sounds very deadly? I mean Altio sounded very nervous as he announced about it. I do not trust my gut, but today it is yelling at me louder than before." Azazel continued to share his worries before another kiss has silenced him.
"We have to protect Leona." Caroline said after parting her lips from the kiss and looking into the man's eyes. "She is still a little girl and does not know what she has, and yet Altio said that we must protect her no matter what. Master mentioned about the ancestors being real and their bloodline being passed through Leona. If Altio is right, then I shall protect her with my li-"Caroline did not get to finish her sentence before she was silenced with Azazel's loud groan and a gloved finger pressed against her lips.
"I am not going to lose you, Caroline." The assassin snapped as tears built up in his eyes. "I cannot let Altio's theory of relationships being the death of all become reality. I love you and I must protect everyone. Despite the code, you are my first priority." He said before the damned tears decided to spill over his cheeks. Caroline smiled softly and let him hide his face in her shoulder, weeping quietly only before her.
"Silly." The woman whispered in his ear as she stroked his hair. "Silly William, one day we will leave the Brotherhood in order to try to start a new life as equals to the innocent." Caroline tried to assure him, yet they both knew that once an assassin cannot receive a normal life back.
"Do not leave me; do not let the Onyx take you." Azazel repeated as he sniffled and wiped the tears away.
"I won't." The leader smiled at him and brushed her hands along his back.
"Promise me, Caroline."
"I promise, William."
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"Caroline…we can finally be together as equals to innocent…" Azazel whispered as a small smile was forced upon his week lips. His teammates were still trying to rush in order to save their brother, and yet they sounded too far to reach for. Azazel slowly closed his eyes and felt like he was falling into an abyss of darkness. Yet a bright light suddenly appeared before his eyes, blinding him and forcing to block it with his hand.
It was Caroline. The woman was smiling as she wore a pure white robe that was similar to Altair's and yet had no stains of blood and dirt over the soft cloth. Her hand was reaching out for him; pale wrists had no sign of a hidden weapon under the loose sleeves.
"I am sorry I have left you so soon." Her voice was gentle and inviting. Azazel grinned and began to walk over to her. Each step he began to lose every blade he has equipped on the endless amount of belts over his body. At the end, as he grasped the woman's hand, he was wearing the same robe as her. His forearms were free from the deadly weapons and his body felt light and free from the burden he has lived from day to day.
"It does not matter now, we are finally together." Azazel said with a nod of his head as he followed Caroline's motion toward the white space before them that began to slowly turn into a familiar setting. It was the city he has lived in his whole life, the pure atmosphere of a busy Chicago has once more overwhelmed him, and yet the man did not remember that he has vanished from the real world.
"Let us start a new life." Caroline suggested as she stepped onto the cement of the street that was filled with ordinary people. "The life we always wanted."
"I will follow you anywhere, chief." Azazel laughed and grasped his beloved in a loving embrace as the two of them blended into the crowd without a feat of being pursued by the past. They were finally happy in their world while the world they have left was to simply move on. In that world they were now a painful memory.
"Azazel!" Hel screamed again, choking on her endless tears.
But the assassin did not hear them. He was gone and now reunited in the world that he always dreamed of.
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Leona lowered herself on the couch, her eyes staring into an empty space. She could not accept the scene she has witnessed not so long ago, could not take the words she heard from her once trusted friend. The woman saw the bleeding man before Chelsea; she noticed the burning hatred in her eyes as they spoke.
And yet she still refused to believe it has happened.
In the meantime, Ezio and Haytham situated themselves in the kitchen. Since the bar lacked with alcohol, they decided to share a cup of strong coffee that Ezio figured out how to make in a precious coffee machine. The men grimaced at the odd bitter taste, and yet sugar has saved them from the torture of it.
"You saw everything?" Ezio questioned and frowned when the Englishman nodded silently as he drank the steaming beverage. "Explain."
"I saw Chelsea in the crowd as I passed. She seemed to have a destination to get to in her mind, and failed at hiding her nervousness." Kenway began after placing the cup down and sliding it over the Italian. Ezio nodded in appreciation and did not wait before taking a few big gulps of the drink as he listened.
"You think she was going to Leona with a mission?" He quickly asked before Haytham could continue. The Templar shrugged his shoulders but nodded again.
"Most likely, yes. I have a suspicion that Chelsea is the part of the Order, or perhaps was once since I have not seen her attending the Templar meetings that leader was hosting." Haytham spoke in the hushed voice so that Leona could not hear them.
"Continue." Ezio encouraged as he poured more coffee into the cup.
"And so as she stands there and speaks to me about Leona's well-being, someone from the crowd attacks her. It was a figure in an azure robe; of course the hood over their head clearly told me that they were an assassin. And so, a large fight has started when the stranger was joined by five more dressed alike. Chelsea stopped paying attention to me, which gave me the time to blend in with the crowd that formed a circle around the fighting. It all looked like an act, so no one was to call the authorities. I must say that was a wonderful tactic." Haytham smirked before his expression became serious once more. He stretched his hand out in a silent motion to receive the cup Ezio was holding. After taking a few sips, Kenway relaxed back and loosened a few buttons of his shirt.
"As I was saying, it was a fight. And so in the very end Chelsea managed to wound one of the assassins. A few minutes later, her and the leader of the group, as it seemed, exchanged several words before she stabbed him right in the chest. Afterwards, you saw what happened." The Grand Master concluded and finished the drink before passing it for Ezio to fill up again. Auditore sighed as he sat down near Kenway and pressed his hand over his forehead.
"At one of the secret gatherings that the Brotherhood had, the leader told me that the assassins in blue were their elite, best of the best." He stared at the cup that was once more full with the dark warm liquid.
"An elite?" Haytham's brows shifted upward in disbelief. "Don't you find it odd for the leader to send six elite members to fight one enemy, especially a woman?" He asked as concern has filled his voice. Kenway was sure that Chelsea was not to be trusted, and yet he never thought she was far more dangerous.
"The leader told me that so called Onyx was their most deadly target. He has sent a few groups to get her, and they never returned. He also mentioned that the elite had seven members." Ezio explained before tilting the cup over to feel the beverage against his lips.
"And now they lost another one." Kenway shook his head and looked at the door that directed into the living room where Leona was currently in. "This is not how I have expected the future to be. I considered it to be less…foolish." He added stood up from his chair.
"That is why I have convinced Altair to make allies with you. Out trio is not supposed to be here. We all come from different times in history, and the fact that some accident has brought us here is a sign for us to work together to fix this issue. The modern Assassins and Templars are corrupted and are too blind to see that they are simply destroying each other and everything around them." The Italian finished the cup and looked toward Haytham.
"Is our plan still in power?" He asked as he watched the Templar make his way to the door.
"Yes. I shall bring the Templars to the park at midnight in a week." Haytham nodded as he grabbed the doorknob. "Make sure Leona does not find about our unique alliance, the poor girl had enough already." Kenway finished and received a nod from Ezio as an answer before his exited the kitchen and joined Leona. He lowered his body on a free spot next to hers and wrapped his hand around her.
"Haytham…" She responded to his touch in a whisper that was followed by a sniffle. "This is not fair. Everyone is lying to me as it seems, and turns out I am not an ordinary person anymore." Crowine leaned her body against the man's side and buried her face in his chest.
"Do not let this all break you, Leona." He warned her as his lips found their way to her crook of her neck. "You must stay strong since there is only one week left before it all will vanish."
"I want to forget everything now. I want to wake up and see Chelsea's annoying text in the middle of the night asking me if I am asleep. I want to play the game without worrying that someone would pop out of it and change my life forever." She said as tears made their way down her pale cheeks "I want to never know about my assassin blood."
"I will not apologize for something I have not done, and yet I must say that your suffering will soon end, I promise." Haytham reassured and left a trail of kisses down Leona's neck.
"You will be gone next week, everyone will be gone from my mind, and I am afraid to lose everything." The girl whispered back as she leaned her head back to let Haytham caress her freely since it was calming her down.
"Yet you wish to have a normal life." Kenway dodged yet stopped himself from further jesting that might occur. Leona was not feeling any joy at the moment and he was not here to make her feel worse. She has lost a friend that was a traitor from the very beginning, she has failed at continuing her normal life since now she was hunted and protected by those who cherished her and the blood of the ancestors within her veins. It was tough for her to sit motionless and helpless as the world around her took action and killed one other in the process. Yet it remained a heavy burden as she was suddenly responsible for everything.
"Let me tuck you in bed and hold you until you fall asleep." Haytham suggested after he listened to Leona's silent sobbing. The girl only nodded her head, unable to answer the Templar though her sorrow. Kenway slipped his hand under her knees and easily lifted her up with him. After a moment he made his way to the bedroom where he took the duty of changing Leona's clothing to his shirt. The girl nuzzled his collar and inhaled his scent that seemed to calm her down.
"Haytham?" She whispered as she felt the man's strong arms wrap around her waist.
"Yes?" He whispered in reply as he nuzzled Leona's shoulder and kissed it with an exhale.
"I love you." She whispered with a growing tired smile on her lips. At that moment she forgot about everything that has happened around her and dozed off in the arms of the man that was the only one she trusted through her ignorance. Haytham watched her for a moment; he smirked and closed his eyes with a low hum of agreement before following her example and falling asleep next to her.
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"Chelsea you are incredible as always!" Annette's loud laughter was seemed to be echoing through the whole apartment building. The gathered Templars were sharing drinks and friendly joked as they celebrated yet another victory over the Assassins. There was music playing in the background making the sinister atmosphere of the headquarters more easygoing as it always was. The lights were still dimmed and the ominous portraits seemed to laugh among themselves in the darkness.
Only the Onyx sat quietly in the corner and watched the dancing leader of their group circle around the room and praising the spy's name. Everything in Chelsea's body rejected the events that have occurred back in the street after the fight. She has made a decision of leaving the Order after her last enemy fell on their knees with wide eyes pleading for their death to be a blessing. And now, she has taken a life of another one and got away from it as a hero. In this world, she should have had a prison sentence for her life, and yet surprisingly the police never noticed the killings. No reports about deaths were reported since most members of the Order did not have parents or simply did not care as the lived alone for many years now.
The woman closed her eyes as she tried to forget everything that was going on around her at the moment. The loud music irritated her, the constant laughter from the damned leader and surrounding her loyal rats made Chelsea drift into an oblivion of her own thoughts. Suddenly the memories of her bloody sins came into her view as she realized who she has killed today.
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Azazel stepped to the right swiftly as the sharp blade of Onyx's dagger was sent his way. The weapon missed its target and sliced into the trunk of a nearby tree with a depressed noise. The assassin glanced at it briefly as he thanked the heavens of not being that tree before he turned back to dodge another few flying blades.
Chelsea snarled pressing her hand against her shoulder. She disliked the idea of being wounded by a claw that Shax decided to deliver in the most unpleasant way. The Templar jumped back hitting Hel in the back of her back with her foot and sending the woman to roll through the grass with an annoyed groan.
Cerberus and Bune jumped at her from the tree, attempting a famous air assassination, but failed as the Onyx vanished from their view in a thick fog of a smoke bomb.
"Caroline, she is on the move to you!" Garuda yelled as he observed from a nearby monument that he managed to climb and receive a great view of everything. Since the man was still too young to concentrate on fighting, the members of the elite placed him on the position of an observer that communicated with them from time to time. Garuda has constantly informed the team with the Onyx's new locations and movement, which gave the Azurite a great advantage to have an extra pair of eyes protecting their backs.
"Got it." The chief nodded her head before she launched away from her hiding spot and launched upon Chelsea. The Templar gasped as she was not expecting a sneak attack and tripped over a significantly big rock before she fell on the ground.
"Dammit!" The Onyx cursed before she managed to have the momentum to jump back on her feet and let Caroline's blade hit the ground instead of her chest. "Do not even think about it, you whore!" She yelled at the assassin before pulling out her last throwing knife and tossing it to the side to pin Azazel's sleeve to the tree. The man yelped and cursed at Chelsea as he tried to pull the knife out, yet it was too deep in the wood to yank out so easily.
"Caroline!" Azazel shouted for the leader as he knew that Onyx had some plan in the back of her head. "Get back, she is on to something!"
"Azazel, do not worry, everyone stand back, I will avenge our dead brothers and sisters that this bastard has killed." Caroline announced as she skillfully swung her blade from left to right. The Onyx smirked and nodded her head as if giving permission to start their battle to the death.
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Caroline and Azazel were the same, now that Chelsea has connected the lost threads in her head and it became all clear to her. They both foolishly sacrificed themselves and failed, both had the same fire in their eyes, and both insulted her in the same manner as they wanted to avenge the death of others.
"Both are idiots." Chelsea smirked to herself as she came back to the world she now despised so much along with its people. She even hated herself now for being so foolish and joining the Order, blindly following the rule of a selfish leader, and making the world melt before her into a pool of lies.
"You said something?" Annette sat down next to Chelsea and wrapped her hand around the woman's shoulders. "Cheer up! You are a returning hero, Onyx. We are more than glad to have you." The Templar leader smirked and gulped down her drink without caring about the common manners.
"No thanks." Chelsea swatted Annette's arms away from her and stood up. "I am leaving, and now for good. Do not think that I am coming back to this corrupted place because I had enough of taking people's lives for nothing.
"For nothing?" The Grand Mistress frowned and stood up as well after putting her glass on the coffee table. "You have disposed of another threat from the Brotherhood's elite! You have not only made another step toward the Templar domination, but brought us forward toward our main target." Annette finished and brought her hands together. "Do not dare to leave us now, or else I will have to make an order to kill you."
"Kill me?" Chelsea smirked as the darkness surrounded her. "You cannot kill me and you know it, and yet you think such a pathetic threat will keep me? You should have thought the first time I have left." She finished and turned to leave.
"The first time, you were useless and lost, now we need you to dispose of Leona as well as the Creed. You cannot leave unless you would like to be called a traitor." Annette smirked before she gasped and nearly lost her balance. A sharp blade stopped right in front of her face and glowed in the dim light. The whole room seemed to become silent despite the music playing in the background. "What are you-?"
"Do not think that I cannot kill you, Templar." Chelsea warned and snarled at the woman. From the side she noticed that the other Templar have touched the handles of their own weapons, yet the Onyx did not rush to take her blade away. "This is not a warning, but a promise to you all. I am leaving and if you try to disturb my slow recovery for a better life, I will cause a great massacre in this hole and make sure the evidence turns to ashes along with your pointless corpses." She said before retracting her knife and leaving Annette's apartment without looking back.
In the end, she could not betray Leona, yet coming to her now was worthless since she has seen Chelsea from her corrupted side. Her best friend has observed the Onyx, not the Chelsea she has always trusted. Mistakes have consequences, and now that the Templar has made another chaotic decision, she received a check with a heavy price of lonesome future.
It was her fault that she was fooled by a promise of a better life that she followed, rather than being loyal to her only friend who loved her no matter how many secrets she has exposed. It is too late now though.
The Onyx has finally reached the door of her apartment and pushed it open with a lazy motion. She threw her shoes off that were followed by her daggers that were covered with blood. At the moment, she did not care to clean up since she was too exhausted for anything.
As she proceeded further into the room, Chelsea suddenly felt as if there was someone here before her. As she checked, everything was on its original place and order, but the air was filled with a foreign presence. The proof of her suspicion turned out to be an accurately folded note sitting on the edge of the desk where Chelsea spent hours writing plans for her missions. The Onyx snatched the note and opened it with her shaking fingers as her eyes began to scan the contents.
"Millennium Park, a week from now, at midnight in the very center. Meet me there if you have already lost any faith in your Order. I have never believed in progression of the Templars of your world, so I ask you to join me.
-Haytham Kenway."
Chelsea let out a long hum, not sure if this was a real not from the Colonial Grand Master, or some joke. Yet she remembered that this particular individual was a deadly Templar with perfect skills of an assassin, and so, she has decided to trust his words and the signature. The woman tore the note before burning it, just in case if someone was to accidentally find it and use it to their advantage.
The Onyx then poured herself a glass of wine and sat down near the large map. She looked over it, stopping her gaze over the big point that indicated Leona's location. The woman held up a small blade that was on her bedside cabinet and stabbed the spot where the Templar headquarters were with all her might. The she sat back, drinking calmly as her eyes stared at the blade, desiring to burn the whole map.
"I hate this world." She said before turning away and sinking herself into the world's large web.
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"What the hell do you mean you failed the mission!?" Altio yelled and slammed his fist against the table making a glass of water spill over the papers that consisted of profiles for the new recruits. Hel stepped forward from the remaining Azurite that now looked broken with another leader gone.
"We have failed the mission to kill our target, the Onyx took the life of our leader" She summarized and looked up with her red eyes that were exhausted from weeping. The whole way to the quarters she and the other four did not stop praying for Azazel's life, and yet as the handed them over to the medics, an announcement of his death was echoed through the building. Now everyone was silently mourning over the Devil that met his demise.
Altio pushed back and grabbed the soaked papers now shaking them violently as if it would make them dry in an instant. The five Devils remained silent, looking at their feet with a guilty look on their faces while their Master raged.
"I cannot believe that after a few years you are still weaker than the Onyx. The news of her leaving the Order meant that she has not trained everyday like you all did. Dammit, I even wrote a special practice to beat that damned woman's skills, and yet you still fail and lose another comrade!" Altio continued to yell, though it was clear that he was in the verge of breaking into tears himself.
The Master walked over to the porter of Altair that stood proudly with an eagle on his forearm. His finger pointed at Ibn La'Ahad in a silent motion to pay attention.
"Disgrace before the Master." He then pointed to Ezio, followed by Connor, Aveline, Edward, and other praised masters of their time. "Disgrace before them all." He repeated and turned away before sitting down in his armchair and burying his face in his hands.
"Master Altio, we tried, but Azazel ordered us to let him take Onyx alone." Bune looked up at the leader before shuddering at the received glare and taking a step back.
"You idiots do not remember what happened to Caroline's heroic move? She died. And now you were too loyal to your leader to realize that the same would have happened to him once he asked you to wait. Forget about the stupid honor, this is 21st century, and heroism can be shown through teamwork." He snarled at the five.
"In 21st century people do not have wars with each other, especially after forming secret orders that only existed in video games." Hel protested as Shax and Garuda hummed in agreement. "We have the military under the government to take out the people who are truly guilty; here we have no right to kill innocent people that just decided to be passionate about their video game. We are creating soldiers of medieval times out of students, Altio; you are teaching them how to kill when they cannot find a normal job at the food restaurant!" The woman shouted. "Come to your senses Altio because we have lost so many people. I am surprised that all of us are still roaming free instead of sitting in jail!"
The Master shook his head and jerked his hand in a motion for everyone to leave. He knew that Hel was right, and yet he could not let himself agree with her. He was the one making decisions, and the elite has failed the mission once more.
"Go rest. We are to call everyone off their missions today and come to Azazel's funeral. We will place his grave near Caroline's; let those lovers be reunited as fools in tragedy." He said before turning away in a silent sign that there was no more to be said and he needed time to think. Hel cursed at him as heavy as she could before Shax grabbed her hand and forced her to leave the Master's office since he was never to listen to her anyways.
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"Caroline, are you sure you want to accept this mission? The Onyx is perhaps the worse target we have acquired in years. Let me also add that the enemy is a woman and turns out to be a close friend to Leona." Altio said as he placed a cup of tea next to the chief of the elite.
"I am not afraid of her, Master." Caroline smiled and pushed her coppery hair back. "I can take on any enemy and bring honor to those who did not have a chance to finish the mission alive."
Altio nodded his head as he sat down on the neighboring armchair and looked over the woman as he drank his tea. He was always sure that Caroline can win anyone over not only with her looks, but with her excellent skill.
"How's Azazel, I assume you two have a date soon?" He teased and sat back as he watched Caroline chuckle and nod her head. "The poor man is in love with you, although I have warned you all about love."
"Do not worry, Altio, nothing will happen since I am not so easily fooled by that feeling. I will not die in the deadly embrace of the Onyx either." She replied with a determined glow in her eyes.
"I trust you." Altio nodded and placed his cup down with a sigh. "And I believe that you will not fail the mission. Your team is the strongest in our Creed, and I cherish you all as my best warriors." He said with a smile.
"Altio, we are excellent fighters, but for the wrong world and time." Caroline shook her head and sighed. "You must promise me that when I get rid of the Onyx, you will shut the Brotherhood down and let all those young souls leave and continue their lives as someone harmless and productive." Altio sighed heavily and had to submit to her words since deep inside he longed for the Brotherhood to never exist in their world as well.
"Fine, I will do such if you promise me to dye that fire of hair you have. I do not want the Onyx to see you from miles away. Caroline laughed and nodded her head.
"As you wish, Master Altio."
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"Today we have lost a brother, a wonderful leader that we followed as loyal allies and friends. He has fought for us and the beloved he has embraced in death and joined hands with in the other world." Shax spoke softly as his eyes traveled from person to another gathered in the large backyard that the assassins used as the cemetery. "He listened to his heart, and yet was fooled by honor; he saved us and gave his life away for us. I will never forget his kindness and his steel blade. Rest in peace, William." He ended before lowering his head and leaving the podium to then join the rest of the weeping elite.
Azazel's body was lowered into a coffin and covered with rose petals. There was a minute of silence as everyone silently whispered their goodbyes. After the funeral was finished with, the crowd has left and the elite only remained standing lonely in the rain with their eyes glued to the graves of their chiefs. William and Caroline were the only sane ones to lead their team, and now they had no path too choose themselves but to wait for Altio's further instructions.
As they left, the rain poured harder against the cold stone. The droplets ran down the engraved names of two lovers that died longing to free the people from the conflict of constant war among each other. They left knowing that unfortunately their sacrifice was useless.
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The rain behind Leona's window made the woman wake up with a grunt. She looked over her shoulder, sadly finding herself alone in the bed. She frowned and lifted herself on her elbows as her sleepy eyes got used to the darkness. The woman pushed the cover off her body and let her feet touch the cool floor.
"Haytham?" She asked softly as she proceeded to the door and opened it. The smell of blood hit her nose, making Crowine grimace and cringe in disgust. "What the hell?" She whispered as she proceeded further into the living room. She heard an odd noise from the corner of the room before she gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.
Ezio was standing near the window, holding a bleeding man by the collar of his shirt. The stranger gasped for air as the Italian draw his hidden blade and slammed it against the man's chest where there were already two wounds visible. After a moment, the man stopped breathed and became motionless in Ezio's grasp. The assassin looked up as he sensed Leona's presence nearby and grinned at her as he lifted the body easily above the ground.
"This fellow over here tried to take your life as he sneaked outside the house." He stated before throwing the body outside the window. Leona gasped and ran over to the glass to look outside, yet she saw Haytham standing there with a little match box in his hands. Before she knew it, the body was burning before Haytham's feet along with any memory of it.
"What is going on…?" She whispered as her lips trembled. Auditore walked over to the girl and took her hand as he gently placed a kiss on her skin.
"Nothing you should worry about, bella." He smiled before vanishing into the bedroom in order to take a shower and clean up the mess. It was odd to watch the two of them to easily kill someone without giving it a proper thought. As Crowine observed the burning body, she noticed the indifference in Haytham's eyes and wondered how many lives he truly took in the period of his time.
As the body burned turning slowly into ashes, the woman noticed a small patch on the outside of the man's jacket. It was a Templar cross, slowly melting in the raging fire. Leona's eyes widened as she suddenly realized that the modern Assassins were not the only ones ruling over Chicago and terrorizing the night streets with death.
"They all lied to you." Chelsea's voice appeared in Leona's head as her thoughts began to circle around. Haytham's constant disappearances, Ezio's rather friendly behavior around the Templar, and now a dead body of some spy, now slowly began to make sense to her.
"Haytham!" She gasped and called Kenway out from the window. The Templar shivered and slowly moved his eyes from the fire to the woman. "Please come inside." Leona said as she took a step back.
"We need to talk."
Continued in chapter 8...