Here I am! I guess no words are needed because you all want to know what happened. Here we go guys…

Read, review, be merry.

~Dora (Doors)~

Chapter 24

Enslaved

Blackness...

No… That is a gross understatement…

Pitch black. As in, black abyss.

Yes, that about sums it up. A pitch-black abyss. That's what I'm in right now. Me being an Assassin, I'm not really one to believe in religion, but I think I'm in hell. Hmm… No not hell, it's not hot and fiery and scary. It's just really dark. Purgatory then? Great. I'm doomed to wander around in darkness and pass the time on thinking about my regrets and what went wrong in my life…. Might as well be hell. I have regrets. Even though they are few in number, they had a BIG impression on my life.

Lets see… First one is my father of course… Yes that's the one big huge one… Second one was the first time Talal escaped… But then again I guess I rectified that one with his death. And then there's… Oh no… Altaïr…

Damn him! Damn him to purgatory with me! He is the second biggest regret than that one of my father. The regret that I didn't get to kiss him all those times when we were so close. The regret that I'll never see him again… The regret that I will forever miss his touch… The regret that I can still feel his touch like it was there just a moment ago…

Wait…

Feel?… Feeling?… Holy shit! Am I still alive?

"Hurry up! Get moving old man! Abu'l Nuquod wants her examined!" said a harsh voice followed by a couple of pairs of footsteps. Oh my god I am alive! I'm still alive! Warmth soon spread through my body and I felt everything. My senses came back and were on high alert. I listened intently to the footsteps. They're muffled so I'm assuming I'm behind a closed door… In a room. Hmm… three pairs. Three pairs of footsteps. Three men. All right that's it. Time to get up and fight-the-fuck-back.

I opened my eyes and light hit me. My head started to throb. I groaned and reached up to touch the back of my head. Blood. Dried blood. That's when the memories all came flooding back to me. The fight between Altaïr and I, the running, the high guards, the screaming, the fighting, the pain and then the darkness.

Ah shit.

Suddenly the footsteps got faster and louder and the door swung open. I shut my eyes and lay still, hoping that fate didn't let them see I was awake.

"Wake her up!" said the same harsh voice. I heard him shove someone forward. The man tripped over his feet but got back his balance.

"What do you suggest I do? She's obviously unconscious. You bastards knocked her out." Said an older, calmer voice. There was the hint of an edge on his words.

"You are the palace doctor. You are the one who is supposed to know. And one more snap like that and I will cut out your tongue old man! Let this be a warning, or do you not remember whose life is at stake if you disobey the Merchant King's orders?" said the guy who I'm guessing was a high guard. He sounded like enough of an ass to be one. There was no response from the old man. I heard him shuffle forward and then I felt a hand on my head, then on my neck on my pulse.

"Well she's still alive." Said the man.

"Get out of the damn way! I'll do it!" said the guard. I heard him stride over… Oh shit here it comes. "Wake up bitch!" he yelled, and then I felt a foot bury itself into my ribs. My eyes shot open.

"Aghhhhh! You fucking bastard!" I screamed. I grasped my ribs in pain and balled up in a ball. I slowly felt for a broken rib. He laid right into me on that one. Fucking guards. I looked up at him and saw him grin and rare back for another.

"Stop it you idiot! What would Abu'l think if you bruised this one up? If you want the women to sell, then why scratch them and bruise them? Think!" said the doctor man. I got my first look at him. He was old and skinny, had somewhat of a grey beard, and looked to be in his late-forties, mid-fifties maybe? Anyways the guard glared at the doctor, then glared at me and then he turned around and walked to the door with his other guard. Before he left, he turned around.

"Examine her quickly and be done! Abu'l wants a word with her." He said and then left, slamming the door behind him. All was silent now. I slowly rose up and my suspicions kicked into high gear, but my head throbbed at the same time. I massaged the bridge of my nose, but slowly reached for my hidden knife on my thigh… But lo and behold, it was gone. That was when I realized everything else was gone as well; even my Assassin's robes were gone. I was in nothing but my linen shirt and pants.

But then I remembered something… My necklace! My father's necklace! I grasped for it and breathed a sigh of relief. It was still on me, but no one had seen it yet. I turned my attention back to the man. I slowly backed up away from the doctor. He looked at me with sad eyes.

"Please. Do not be afraid, child. I'm being held prisoner here as well." He said softly. I hesitated to speak, but decided I needed some information.

"Where am I?" I asked quietly.

"You are in the Merchant King Abu'l Nuquod's palace." He said as he got up and made his way to the dresser in the room. Abu'l Nuquod… Where do I know that na- wait! He's mine and Altaïr's target! I'm right in the damn midst of it all! Shit. If only I had my weapons. I turned my attention back to the doctor. He rummaged through a brown bag and pulled out a small vile of clear liquid. He then made his way back over to me and held it out to me. I eyed him and the vile suspiciously.

"Sorry. I don't usually take strange liquids from strange men so you'll have to excuse me." He sat down in front of me and rolled his eyes.

"Its for your pounding headache." He said softly. A memory flashed through my head.

"Here, let me see your hand." said Altaïr. He sat down beside me

"Why?" I said. I gave him my hand. He took it and stretched it out.

"There is a pressure point between the thumb and first finger, that if you press it or massage it hard enough, it relives your headache. It takes a while for it to set in motion but it really does help."

"Ok, anything to get rid of it. I don't do so well when it feels like I'm being punched in the head." Altaïr smiled. He pressed down on the space and found the pressure point. It hurt at first, but then he massaged it.

"There. That should do it."

I closed my eyes and felt a wave of sadness wash over me. This was the end. This was it. I sighed.

"It will go away if you take it. Plus it will make you feel a lot better and agile. You'll be renewed." Said the doctor.

I looked at him and saw no sign of hostility or rage, so I nodded and took the vial and downed it. The cool liquid washed down my throat and spread through my stomach.

"So, what do they want with me? What am I doing here?" I asked, ready for some damn answers.

"Have you not heard the rumors of what the Merchant King likes to do? He holds lavish parties and sells slave girls. But now that his supplier, Talal, is dead, he had to get them from the streets of Damascus. You are one of those women." I felt my heart drop into my stomach.

"So that's it then? I am to be a slave for the rest of my days?" the doctor looked at me with sad eyes and nodded. There was a long, deathly silence between us.

"Please, Desert Rose, let me examin-"

"Wait. Stop. You know who I am?" I asked harshly. Fire blazed in my soul. This was getting out of hand. I was breaking one of the most important tenants of the Creed and it wasn't even my fault!

"Yes. I know, the guards know, Abu'l knows. They know that they have the only female assassin in their grasp, and they tend to break you. They will either sell you, or have their way with you if you do not get sold. You are the featured one tonight; you are the most expensive because of what you are… Which… also leads me to my examination that I must do, or else Abu'l will kill my daughter and I." The doctor inched closer and I pulled my knees to my chest. Fear blossomed in my very heart and soul. He was speaking of rape and it was the thing I feared the most in this world. I backed up as he came closer.

"Please… Please don't do this." I begged him. I felt tears well up in my eyes. He looked at me sadly, but stopped advancing.

"You poor child. You are not like the others. You have a life, don't you? You have loved ones and people who care for you. The others are poor beggar women who are cleaned up and brought off the streets. But you… you are different. I will not examine you. I will leave you be and I will put my trust in you blindly to answer me this one question truthfully." I wiped the tears away and swallowed the lump of fear in my throat. I nodded.

"I'll tell you what you need to know." The man nodded.

"Are you a virgin, child?" I wasn't shocked. I knew it was coming. I nodded.

"Yes. Yes I am a virgin. I'm telling the truth." I said quietly. The doctor nodded.

"I believe you. Is anything broken? Are you well?"

"Yes. Nothing is broken. I am well and my headache is gone." That earned me another memory.

"Thanks." I smiled. I tucked it behind my clothes. The charm was cold when it touched my chest. I shook the chill off. "My headache is gone by the way." Altaïr smiled.

"Good." He said.

"Well, I'm ready." I said.

"Don't forget this." Said Altaïr coolly. He went to put my hood up.

"Wait," I said. I pulled my hair down and it fell down to my chest, still a little damp. "Ok." I said. I saw a slight smile form on his lips as he pulled my hood over my head. We looked at each other for what seemed like a while. I felt a calloused finger run softly over my scared cheek. He traced the scar with his index finger and it felt soft and gentle to me. I closed my eyes and leaned into his hand. His thumb softly stroked my cheekbone. I opened my eyes and we gazed into each other. I put my hand on his and rubbed it.

"Let's go." He said. I smiled and nodded.

I lightly ran a finger over my scarred cheek. Tears threatened to fall again but I held them back.

"Scars anywhere? Bruises?" I raised an eyebrow at the doctor.

"Well you know I am an assassin. Of course I have scars, but the only bruise I think I have is on my ribs and the back of my head where they hit me." I rubbed it and flinched.

"Oh don't worry, the serving girls will help you wash the blood out of your hair. After all, you need to get fixed up in your slave outfit for the party." Anger pulsed through me, but I kept calm. I didn't want to take it out on the doctor. He seemed like a good man. "You are the most expensive so you will be cleaned up and wearing a white slave outfit. White being for-"

"Purity." I growled. I gave a sharp nod and a harsh laugh. "I get it." The doctor sighed.

"I am sorry. If I didn't have everything at stake I would try to help you. But my daughter… She is one of the slave girls. They… the guards… they took her." His eyes glazed over with tears. "She's only thirteen and they caught her today." This puzzled me.

"But the guards spoke as if you've been here for a while. Did they just capture you and your daughter today?" I asked. He shook his head.

"No. I was a legitimate doctor when they came for me. It started off as just them needing me to examine residence and guests of The Merchant King, but when I found out what they really needed me for… I told my daughter to run and never look back. This happened a year ago… And now they've got her…" I felt sorry for the old doctor and his daughter. Only thirteen and captured by these monsters to be a slave. It's bullshit. There are some sick bastards out there. "Wait…" the doctor looked at me with a hopeful look.

"What?" I asked.

"You! You know how to fight! You've been trained to kill for a living. You could rescue my daughter!" I admired his hope and it broke my heart to hear it because…

"I can't. I don't know where my weapons or my robes are and there are guards everywhere. It would take about three of us. They would just capture me."

"No, no please! I know where your things are! They are in Abu'l Nuquod's room. He had them strip you of your effects. He's…. He's cutting your robes up… He's making a slave outfit out of them." My heart and stomach fell. He was going to reveal me. He was going to reveal that I am an assassin. No. Oh god no. This truly was it. This really was the end. I couldn't hold it anymore and I just let the tears spring from my eyes. I shook my head.

"I cannot help you. My life is over. It is done." Depression set in. There is no hope.

"No please! You mustn't despair-" suddenly the door flung open. The three guards from before came storming in. The leader looked at the doctor.

"Well?" he asked. The doctor was silent for a minute.

"She has no physical ailments and she is not bruised. She has many scars… And she is a virgin." He said quietly. The guards snickered and chuckled.

"Oh she is, is she? Well boys, this will be a fun night." My insides twisted in disgust and I glared up at him. He smiled evilly at me. Anger flared in my heart.

"Touch me and you die." I threatened in a low growl. He laughed.

"Was that a threat? Well, in case you haven't noticed my dear lady assassin, all of your weapons are gone. Now, enough of this talking. Get up. We will take you to the slave room where you will be cleaned and clothed in the outfit. Then afterwards we'll take you to the Merchant King." He walked forwards towards me.

"Are you deaf? I said, if you touch me, you will die." I looked up at him. He laughed again.

"Get up bitch." He reached down and pulled me up by my arm. I stood on my feet, not feeling weak anymore. I felt revitalized. That liquid the doctor gave me really did the trick. The guard laughed and tightened his grip on my arm. I stood still.

"Where is the threat now, Desert Rose?" I kept my head down and smiled. I slowly looked up at him.

"Its no longer a threat," I quickly grabbed his arm and twisted it backwards and brought my elbow down on it. I heard the satisfying snap of his arm. He cried out and tried to struggle free but I kicked him in the groin and shoved him down to his knees. I saw the other two guards just watching in horror. Once my guard was on his knees I grabbed him by the hair and pulled him back. "It just became a promise." I whispered to him. I grabbed his chin and snapped his neck in one motion. He fell dead to the ground. I took a deep breath in and out and brushed the hair back from my eyes. I looked at the other two guards. They rushed at me and grabbed my arms in a death grip. The doctor was still in shock, but I was satisfied.

The guards hauled me out of the room and dragged me down the hall to the slave girls' room. They threw the doors opened and the women shrieked. The guards tossed me in the room, trying to make me land on my face, but I rolled and cart wheeled and shot back up on my feet, only to see the doors slam closed behind me. I sighed and shook my head. I felt something on my shoulder and jumped. I turned around to see a very dark skinned woman looking at me with a worried expression. The woman pulled back. I let a breath out.

"I'm sorry." I said quietly.

"Are you alright?" Her accent puzzled me. I nodded.

"Yes. Yes I'm all right. Thank you."

"They didn't hurt you did they? They didn't rape you, did they?" she asked. I shook my head.

"No. I killed the one that tried to touch me. The other two were just mad at me, that's why they threw me in here." All of the women looked shocked.

"You killed one? How? Surely they didn't leave you with weapons." I smiled and snorted.

"No. They didn't. I broke his arm, kicked him in the groin, then when he fell on his knees… I snapped his neck." Gasps and whispers erupted from the women.

"Clearly you were not taken off the streets like some of us. You are capable of handling yourself, which strikes me as odd. If you can fight why were you captured." She looked me in the eyes.

"They snuck up on me and hit me over the head with something and knocked me unconscious." The woman nodded.

"I see… Come, the bath is ready for you. You are the new slave girl." I hated those words. Hated them. I hated that title with a burning passion, but I nodded.

"Apparently that is my fate now isn't it? My weapons are gone, the person I love is gone and my former life is nothing but a ghost in the past now. I should start embracing my future shouldn't I?" my voice cracked. Hot tears of anger strolled down my face. The women stared at me. I looked at each of their faces. Some were from this region, others where from different origins. I saw the eyes of Egyptian women and the skin of African women.

The woman who was speaking to me was African. I could tell by her accent and her skin color. She was beautiful and her hair reached her shoulders. It was braided here and there and some were pulled back in a half ponytail. She looked at me.

"What is your name?" she asked.

"It is Alera… But some of you may know me as Desert Rose." Gasps and whispers came from a group of women in the corner. They looked to be from around here.

"You are the female assassin that everyone has been talking about." said the woman. I nodded.

"Yes. Word travels fast apparently." The dark woman nodded.

"That explains your skills in taking out the guard then. My name is Asanti. Come, your bath awaits." She led me to another room separated by thin curtains. There were small bathtubs everywhere. She pointed to the one to the left that was filled with hot water. "I'll be right out side if you need anything."

"Thank you." I said quietly. She nodded and vanished behind the curtains. I took a deep breath and shed my clothes. I sunk down in the bath, but didn't enjoy it. I refused to enjoy it. I had a sickening feeling bury its way into my heart. I washed my body and my hair and got all of the blood and grit out of it. The water was reddish brown when I got out.

I wrapped a towel around me and walked to the vanity in the corner by an open window. I looked out of the window into the darkness. The moon was full and showed the city. It was quiet and peaceful. My mind wandered to Altaïr. I was going to miss him so much. The lump came again, but I was too tired and depressed to fight it back. I didn't care. I cried. I let it out. I slowly began to brush my tangled wet hair as the memories and thoughts ran through my head. I'll never see Malik again, or Kalin. I'll never pet Alario or spoil and ride Àlkimos. I'll never make Al Mualim proud again for a job well done… But most of all… I'll never kiss Altaïr… I'll never feel his touch or touch him again… I'll never see him again…

More tears burst forth. My life is over. I'm to be bought, raped, and taken for the rest of my life… Of course I'll probably take my own life before that happens… Yes… There is always a choice… There is always a way out… As soon as I'm sold or as soon as the party is over, I'll find a dagger… Or poison… whatever it takes…

Suddenly I heard a strange noise… Like, the flapping of wings? What the hell? I got up and looked out the window and saw a bird heading straight for the window. I backed up from the windowsill and the bird landed on it, but it wasn't just any bird. It was Alario!

"Alario!" I said quietly. I curled my arm around him and stroked his feathers. He rubbed his head under my chin and his feathers were soft. "Oh Alario. I am so happy to see you! One last time before I'm taken away." I looked at him and his golden eyes looked troubled. "This is my last time to be with you Alario. I am to become a slave and be sold away. My life is over. I want you to take care of Altaïr all right? Watch over him as you have done me."

He chirped and shook his head and flapped his feathers. "What? What is it?" he flew over to the vanity and landed on it. He raked his talons across the wood, making scratches. He then pecked at them. "Wait... What are you trying to tell me?" he slowly raked his talons again and looked at me. That's when realization hit me. My eyes widened. "Holy shit. Your… Your trying to tell me I should write. I should write a note to Altaïr! Alario, everyday I thank fate that my father brought you to me. It's almost unnatural how smart you are. Now lets look in these drawers… Maybe there is something to write on and with."

I started rummaging through the vanity drawers as fast as I could. Make up in the first drawer… Perfume in the next… More make up… Towels… Wash clothes… Then my fingers felt something. It was dry and rough and felt like parchment… I pulled it out and saw many lip prints on the rough piece. It was parchment! Used to wipe the excess lipstick off. My adrenaline was pumping now and my hopes were soaring. This was perfect! Now… Where was the lipstick? I rummaged back through all of the drawers but only found various eye shadows and powders. No liquids or lipstick whatsoever. "Damn it!" I whispered. Alario chirped and another thought hit me. I looked at Alario. "Alario, I will never do this again to you as long as we both shall live. Forgive me my friend."

I grabbed one of Alario's tail feathers and yanked it out. He squawked in protest and I lightly grabbed his beak. "Shhh!" I hissed. He shook his head and chirped quietly. "I'm sorry my friend but I had to do it. But please be quiet for the next thing I have to do. It will hurt me more than it will hurt you. Trust me." since there was no dark liquid of any sort to write with; I had no choice but to do this…

I took one of Alario's long sharp talons and ordered him to be still, which he did. I then took a deep breath, shut my eyes, and dug Alario's talon into my hand. I raked it across the middle of my hand and it cut my flesh deeply. I gritted my teeth and tears threatened to fall, but I couldn't scream. It reminded me of my initiation into the Assassins. I slowly dug it through my hand to make sure it got deep enough so blood would come out and I succeeded. Alario pulled back his talon and I took a shaky breath. I dipped the tip of Alario's feather in my blood and began to write.

Altaïr. I'm trapped in our target's palace. Many guards. Please come quick. Held as prisoner and soon to be sold as slave.

I gritted my teeth and squeezed more blood out of my hand.

If you can't save me, save as many as you can. Kill Abu'l Nuquod. I am in a white slave outfit. Be careful.

I closed my eyes again. My blood was starting to clot up and stop. "Come on just a bit more." I squeezed hard and a few more drops leaked out.

-Alera

It was done. I breathed a sigh of relief. I blew on the paper so the blood would dry and I tore off the lip prints. I fanned the note to hurry the drying process, but then I heard the doors in the other room slam open again. The women screamed and I heard them run around. "Oh no! Oh shit! Oh shit! Shit!" I whispered. I put the bloody feather in Alario's talons and Alario took the note in his beak. I then took my father's necklace off and Alario took that in his beak as well. "Be careful, and go quickly Alario. Find Altaïr. I love you!" He gave me one last look and then flew out of the window. I took the lip print parchment and shoved it back in the drawer.

"Ha ha ha ha ha! Look at them run and scream! Already so broken and beaten. Calm yourselves my beauties." Came a very deep, very ominous voice. I saw the shadows of the women against the curtain. They were all huddled up in groups in the corners of the room. "Now, where is she? Where is the Lady Assassin? Where is the one known as Desert Rose?" the voice bellowed again. I quickly dropped my towel and put on the clothes I wore to this room. "Well? Where is she? Am I going to have to force you for it? Because I know none of you want my way of forcing information out of you." He yelled. But yet the women kept silent. It surprised me that none of them had ratted me out yet. "Come out Assassin! I know you're in here! Guards, grab that one." Said the voice again.

"No wait stop please! I don't know where she went!" Oh HELL no. They had Asanti. That's it. This ends now, one way or another. I'm fucking pissed. Desert Rose bears her thorns now. I strode through the curtains and saw an extremely fat, ugly, gross man that was dressed in expensive, lavish clothing. He had a turban on his head with a feather and a jewel on it. Clearly a noble… It was him… Abu'l Nuquod, the Merchant King of Damascus.

"Let her go! I'm here." I yelled. The so-called 'King' turned his ugly face on me and smiled evilly. His beady eyes ran over me.

"Ah here she is. The deadly beauty. The Desert Rose." He said smoothly. His voice was as hideous and scary as his face. I clenched my fist and grinded my teeth.

"Let her go you fat, ugly bastard." I hissed through clenched teeth. He bellowed with laughter and released Asanti who ran back over to the corner with some other girls.

"Now that is refreshing! That is what I like to hear. Rebellion and fire. Oh yes she will bring a great price. The doctor tells me you are a virgin." He turned to his guards. "Let it be known that this one is off limits. Virgins, especially fiery ones, bring a higher price. No one touches her. She is an assassin and knows how to kill without blades. If you touch her, I will let her kill you." He said. The guards laughed. Abu'l frowned. "Do not laugh at such a matter! She snapped my lieutenant's neck within a minute of him touching her. I suggest you keep your distance."

I felt even better that I knew it was his lieutenant. I smirked at them.

"Take the wise advice of your Merchant King. For it is the first good, but the very last advice you will hear of him." Abu'l laughed again.

"What is this nonsense you speak of? It makes me laugh at such a prediction! Come, I must have a word with you and give you your slave clothes." He motioned me to come forward and I had no other choice but to follow.

Next will be Altaïr's point of view, so be ready for that!