Guys I am just on a roll! XD So excited and happy! Oh by the way...

THE GREENS HAVE IT!

His eyes are going to stay green with golden and brown flecks in them, like I have had them. Thanks so much guys. I appreciate all the kind reviews and help

Thank you: Ducky275, MasterKaira21, Aeon Hawk, DarkRex, WarriorsSoul7, gallowsCalibrator92 and all others! :D

This one is slightly dark and has an intense twist. Prepare yourselves.

Apologies for any mistakes. :P

~Dora~

Chapter 28

Brief Pleasures and Shocking Horrors

*Alario had done what his mistress begged him to do. Alera's eagle missed her and didn't want to see her dead or broken or gone. Alario led Altaïr to the palace. The eagle circled over head, but stayed close just in case Altaïr had needed him. There was a group of palace scholars that had passed by the guards and Altaïr had gotten away with joining the tail end of them. He was in passed the walls now. He stuck close to the shadows of the wall and edged towards the courtyard. He heard music and loud talking and laughter.

The party was in the courtyard, and if Alera was to be a slave and to be sold, they would bring her there.

He had to think of a plan. Since the majority of the guards and the Merchant-King knew what an Assassin looked like, he had to get a disguise for now. He couldn't just go right through the front door into the courtyard, they'd probably kill her as soon as they saw him. No, this had to be done with stealth and secrecy. He wanted Alera alive and unbroken and as soon as he had her, he wasn't going to let her go. He was going to show her just how much he missed her and needed her.

He turned from the front entrance of the courtyard and ran along the walls of the palace. He looked up every now and then to see if there was a ledge, but no luck so far. He stopped at the corner of the wall and looked around. He considered himself extremely fortunate, for there was a crescent moon out and it provided just enough light for him to see, yet just enough darkness for him to be cloaked.

He peeked around the corner and saw one high guard leisurely patrolling the wall, just pacing back and forth. The guard had his back towards Altaïr. Altaïr moved back around behind the wall and looked to his left to make sure nobody else was there. He pulled his hood on farther and took a deep breath.

"Shink."

His hidden blade was ready... and so was he.

He walked out from behind the wall and kept a low profile. His steps were light and quiet. He crept up right behind the guard and slammed the blade into his neck. He put his hand over the guard's mouth and the guard sunk down to the ground. It was a clean, quiet kill.

Altaïr quickly took the silver armor and black robe off of the guard so the blood wouldn't spill out on it. He put the black robe on over his white robe. Luckily it covered all of the white up. He pulled his white hood down and threw the black one on and put the black veil cloth on over his mouth and nose. Only his beautiful eyes showed. He then put the silver armor on. The pieces covered his shoulders and his forearms. He took his sword off and strapped it on top of the black robe. He was set now.

He looked up on the wall behind him and saw windows on the second floor. He ran up the wall as quietly as he could and grabbed onto the ledge. He pulled up slightly and looked into the window.

All clear.

He pushed himself up and jumped onto the second floor. He looked around. Still all clear for now. He walked over to the balcony railing and looked over the side. There were men everywhere... But there were also women everywhere. He scanned the room and saw a balcony at the head of the courtyard. There was also a fountain in the middle of the place.

"Hmm... Good spot to climb in case Abu'l comes on the balcony. I can kill him like that." thought Altaïr. He walked around the second floor and walked over to the other side of the room. As he looked down at the crowd, he realized there was a color scheme going on with the slaves. All of the servants and dancers wore gold, while the slaves who were supposed to be sold wore blood red and a hand full of older looking women slaves wore dark purple.

"I'm sure there's a dark meaning behind these colors..." he thought. He was all the way on the other side of the room. His eyes scanned each space of columns for Alera's face. Suddenly a loud, rough chuckle rang out. He looked over towards the laughter and there was a large crowd of men standing in front of a slave. She was standing between the two columns closest to the balcony.

Altaïr couldn't see the woman, until the crowd started to back away...

His eyes widened and his pulse sped up as he took his first full look at the woman...

It was Alera... and she was dressed in very unique slave outfit...

He turned around and ran for the stairs that lead down to the first floor. He heard the man start to talk.

"Tough Assassin my ass! She's no more stronger than any other bitch I've seen here!" said the rough voice. He started to chuckle again. Altaïr weaved through the crowd and stood over to the right side to watch the scene play out. He came out clear of the crowd and stood there. He got a better look at the slave outfit she wore, but his blood iced over as he realized what it was made out of.

Her Assassin's Robes.

She wore her hood over her head so at least they had the decency to keep her face covered. He ran his eyes lower and saw the top she was wearing. Her top stopped right below her breasts and showed off her toned abdomen and smooth back. He had to force himself not to get too distracted by her scantily clad body. It left so much for the imagination. Her breasts were covered by the thin, small strips of material that used to be the top of her robe. Two silver clasps were hooked together and kept them from just barely busting out.

It fit her torso snug against her and made her look very sensual and lustrous. What man could resist that? Her blonde hair hung down from her hood and covered her face. His eyes roamed lower and saw that her blood red cloth had been tied around her waist. It hung low, but covered everything up. The used-to-be bottom flaps of her robe covered her backside up well too. All that needed to be covered was covered, but just barely.

This was obviously meant to be a mark of shame. A metaphorical insult to her. She was an Assassin, but they changed what represents her being an assassin into something that represents her new life, her slave life.

She was also meant to look pleasurable and sexy... and she pulled it off.

Altaïr saw her hands hanging up in the air and saw that she was chained to the columns. Her arms hung from sliver shackles... and the way she hung her head and slumped over... she looked broken.

"No. Please don't let it be so. Fate can't be this cruel to me... to her. Please let her still be alright." he whispered softly to himself.*

Now I was pissed. There was no nervousness, no worry, no fear. It was all rage and anger. I stood there with my head down and my arms hanging from the shackles. The shackles had been looped through the two metal hoops on each column on either side of me, so if I pulled one arm down, the other would go up. I kept my head down so no one would see my face. Abu'l had gone and the crowd of men had started talking and laughing and going back to what they were 'doing'. A good many stayed in front of me and stared at me, like a cornered animal... Which was what I was, in a way.

But its not good to corner a dangerous animal, for it could do something crazy and unexpected at any time without warning.

I smiled. The guards had left me and disappeared into the crowed. I supposed they assumed that the chains would keep me at bay... oh how wrong they were. Someone let out a chuckle.

"Tough Assassin my ass! She's no more stronger than any other bitch I've seen here!" said a rough voice. He chuckled again. I rose my head slightly and looked at this man. He stood up front, center in the crowd. He was fat and looked extremely spoiled. A noble no doubt. He wore long robes of red and gold and had a fat money pouch hanging from a cord on his right side. He kept chuckling as he strode forward and stopped inches in front of my face. "Let me see your face bitch!" he said. He smiled and showed me brown teeth with a few gold mixed in.

I cringed in disgust on the inside, but kept my head down.

"I said look at me whore!" he grabbed my chin and pulled my face up close.

*Altaïr fought with himself. He couldn't come out of his disguise just yet but that fat noble bastard was too close to Alera. He wanted to slit his throat.*

I clenched my jaw and bared my teeth at him. I felt the rebellion fire flare up out of control. He bellowed with laughter. "Look at her! Trying to be fierce! You are nothing but a helpless bitch. Yet, such a beautiful bitch." Wow this guy really likes the word bitch. I guess it makes him feel like the man he's not and helps him grow an invisible, temporary 'pair'...

Dumb Bastard...

He smiled and I suddenly felt a hand snake down the side of my right breast and curve around my hip.

*Altaïr saw the noble run a hand down her right breast and down her side. He saw nothing but red. He kept cool about it though. He ran over to the right and stood behind Alera's left column. He had a hand on his sword until he saw...*

THAT'S IT!

I took a quick step back and pulled my head out of the fat noble's grasp. There was a quick look of surprise on his face and that's when I took my chance. I head butted the hell out of him, then kneed him in the crotch. He stumbled back and fell into the crowd and landed on his fat ass. I smirked down at him as the guards ran at me.

"That bitch! You bitch! Ughh! You'll pay for that!" he wheezed out.

*Altaïr smiled with relief and amusement. A huge weight was lifted off of him. She still had her fire in her and that's how he could tell she wasn't broken. "This is why I care for this woman." he thought... but then he froze... No, it was so much more than just caring for her. He needed her. These last few hours without her had been torture for him... He had missed her touch, her warmth, her eyes, her body, her laugh and smile... Her voice... Then something hit him hard. "Am I?... In Love with her?... Do I love her?..." the word Love is a strong word, but it felt right. The more he thought about it the more strong and determined he became. Love... "Love conquers all." he thought.

"Put a collar on her!" he heard one of the guards yell. This broke him from his thought but gave him a quick idea. He ran out from behind the column and came up behind Alera.*

Suddenly I felt a hand roughly grip the back of my neck. I felt another hand grab my hood and my hair and pull my neck back. I groaned as pain shot through my neck. I almost sank to my knees but the shackles on my wrists prevented me from doing that.

I heard someone walk up in front of me and I felt their body touch mine. Unwanted heat pulsed off their body and onto mine. It wasn't the kind of heat and warmth that I wanted. I wanted that from someone else.

"Stay still Assassin." whispered the guard behind me. He seemed to whisper it to me softly, not harshly. His whisper was like the whisper you give to someone you care for. It was hushed and smooth. Not threatening and harsh. I felt his hand lightly squeeze the back of my neck and I felt a chill of pleasure run up my spine. This scared and puzzled me.

Suddenly, the guard in front of me grabbed my waist and pressed me to him, but I felt the guard behind me tense. This was just getting stranger and stranger. Front guard leaned over me and clapped a silver collar on my neck. The metal was cold and hard and the collar fit snugly around my neck. I realized it had a key hole in the front, so if I had a chance to escape, the lock could be picked and the collar could come free. But I also realized that two long chains were on either side of it as well, both hooked onto the metal hoops in the column. The guard in front nodded to the one behind me and then left.

*Altaïr held onto Alera's neck and nodded to the guard. He had to make the act believable so he was going to have to be harsh on her in front of all of these guards and nobles. He didn't want his cover blown just yet.*

The guard behind me never loosened his hold on my neck and my head was thrown back still. I was extremely thankful for my flexible abilities, because It felt as if this guard was gonna make me do a back bend. He pulled on my hood and my heart jumped into my throat.

*Altaïr's grip on her hood tightened which accidentally caused it to move back some. Alera gasped.*

"No! Please don't. Have mercy. Please! Don't reveal me." I whispered pleadingly.

*This reaction surprised Altaïr. He was half expecting her to turn on him or do some kind of wild, flexible move that only she could pull off. As much as he wanted to tell her it was him, he couldn't. He knew she'd try something risky and he still had to case the place to look for the quickest and easiest way out. He decided he would drop a few hints to her though. He made his voice go into a deep, hushed whisper. He didn't want her to recognize his voice, but he did want to leave her breathless. He knew the effect his voice had on her, how it made chills creep onto her and her eyes flutter in time with the butterflies in her stomach. How he could see the blood in her warm with pleasure, when she thought he couldn't. He smirked to himself.*

"Well now, the headstrong Lady Assassin begs? That's interesting." he purred in my ear. He stopped pulling on my hood and the grip on the back of my neck disappeared. I rose up and let out a sigh of relief... I felt him stand close to me on my left side... The relief didn't last long... I felt a calloused hand brush my cheek and I tensed up. I slowly turned my head to the side and looked at the guard. Another wave and chill of pleasure washed over me as his hand snaked around the back of my neck and reach in my hood. He gathered my long hair in his hand and pulled it out from behind the collar.

I watched as his fingers ran through my hair.

*Her skin was smooth and he smiled inwardly at getting to feel her again. Her hair was soft and he reveled in the feel of it between his fingers. He breathed her scent in as well. Rose and Jasmine. The scent that made his blood warm, the scent that made him want to get lost in her. He stood slightly behind her, but just enough to where she could see him. Her blue eyes darted up to him. They shined that same, eerie, bloodthirsty glint that he saw the last time she assassinated Talal only just a few days ago. He realized that the demon had been let loose.*

I darted my eyes up to his face. That black veil covered his mouth and nose, but not his eyes. No, those eyes were a whole different story. He stood slightly behind me and came close. "Alright, I won't reveal you, but I need something in return for this..." The back of his middle finger traced down the scar on my cheek. I had a small in take of breath at his touch.

*Altaïr knew he was going out on a dangerous limb, tracing her scar, but he had to do it... Maybe she'd figure it out...*

I stared into those eyes. Green. An unnaturally beautiful green, and as I kept staring into his eyes, I saw golden brown flecks bursting from the iris...

"Anything..." I breathed. It was only too late when I realized what I had said... It was involuntary... I mean after all I only say that to...

"Stay alive, and stay safe." he whispered. My heart rate sped up ten-fold. I felt his left hand run across my stomach. He turned to walk away and brushed his fingertips down my side, but I realized something was missing... a ring finger...

Altaïr...

It was Altaïr!

I looked up and and around as much as the collar would allow me. My heart felt like it was beating out of my chest. I looked everywhere in the crowd as much as I could. I craned my neck back behind me, but just like that, he was gone.

I couldn't believe it! It all made sense now! The little hints that he gave me! The squeeze on the neck! Only he would know that it tickles because I told him that the night we practiced with throwing knives. And his voice!... Oh, that deep voice that warmed my blood and sent me into a fit of desire... and fate save me... those eyes... Only he would have that certain affect on me. That affect that if he asked me to do something... I would do anything for him...

I took a deep shaky breath. I had to compose myself again and get ready for the next contender, in case any wanted to try anything. The crowd of men dwindled, but the flow didn't change. Some of the men passing by me looked at me and then threw outrageous offers to the guards so they could tell Abu'l. I was just hoping Altaïr could hurry up and case the place and find a way out. After I was free, we could focus on killing and saving the doctor and his daughter...

Oh shit the daughter! Where is she? I started to scan the crowd. It seemed that a lot more men had poured in since my pleasant little meeting. I couldn't help but smile.

I heard a soft laugh come from my right. I looked over and saw another slave woman. She had long brown hair and looked to be in her mid-thirties. She wore a purple belly dancer outfit.

"I guess you really are an Assassin, hmm?" she said. I hesitated, but nodded slowly.

"Their gonna have you chained from head to foot here in a little while." she said. I scoffed.

"They already have my head and arms, all that left is my legs." The older woman was quiet and she studied me. Her eyes ran over me.

"So, your outfit, does it stand for you being an assassin or you being pure?" she pushed. I sighed.

"It stands for both if you must know. I am an Assassin, yes and I am also a virgin."

"Hmm... Well, your the first virgin we've had in a lot of years." she said. I paused and looked at her.

"Umm... Exactly how long have you been a slave?"

The woman looked at me and laughed.

"You really know nothing of his ways of business do you? I've been here since I was eighteen. I was already a whore living on the streets, now I'm a whore who gets paid better." she smiled. "White stands for purity. Your a virgins so you wear white. Red," she motioned out to the crowd. I glanced at them and saw how many red there were. "that stands for non virgins. Girls who have been raped and taken of their purity. It's only rare cases that they haven't been taken by guards and have actually been taken by a past lover or some nonsense... but this batch here, no. All have been raped. I can see it in there eyes." she spat. I stared at the crowd in horror. All of these poor innocent women and girls had been broken, beaten, raped and fate knows what else. I couldn't believe it.

This has to end. No wonder Abu'l is on our hit list. This bastard deserves to die! I'm gonna kill. Or Altaïr will. Or hell will both kill him at the same time, a blade in each side of the neck. I smiled at the idea, but then my smile faded and I turned back to the woman.

"What does purple stand for?"

"When we reach a certain age, thirty to be exact, they start labeling us as old and used up. They give us ten more years, and if we aren't sold by the day we turn forty..." she grimaced and snorted. "Well, they kill us."

I was knocked back and shocked yet again.

"This is my last night." she said.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Because my birthday is tomorrow." she stared out into the crowd, but then she shrugged and looked at me. "Good luck wherever fate leads you, Assassin."

She then walked away and into the crowd. I watched her approach a wealthy merchant looking man. He smiled and they talked and he handed her a pouch of coins. I sighed and looked back around for Altaïr again... still no sign.

Suddenly I heard a familiar call. I pulled and tugged on my chains and looked up into the night sky. I saw one lone eagle circling high around the courtyard. I smiled.

"Alario."

"Well aren't you just a pretty little young thing?" said a blood curdling, raspy voice. I shot my head over to the right and saw a tall, thin man with long, oily hair. He was about ten feet away from me and he held the wrist of a small teenage girl in a death grip. She was dressed in red, which broke my heart. She twisted and jerked to try to get her arm out of the grip. Her hair was long and brown and in a side pony tail.

"No! Stop! Let me go! Please!" she whimpered and squealed.

Wait a second... that voice sounds familiar...

"Stop squirming you little bitch!" said the man. He stuck his free hand down the skirt of her slave outfit.

"STOP!" she screamed loudly. That's when it hit me. I knew who it was...

I watched the girl step on the man's foot. He howled in pain and released the girl. She pushed the man backward and he came stumbling back to me.

"Oh yeah! That's it! Bring him over here to me!" I said with a smile. The crowd turned to watch the scene. I rose my arms in the air and grabbed the chains of my shackles. I saw some guards start to run over to me.

I pulled my body up and my feet off the floor. I then swung my legs up and wrapped them around the man's neck. One squeeze and a quick twist of my legs and hips, I heard that satisfying snap of the neck.

It was over.

I let go of the man and he fell to the floor lifeless. I then lowered my feet back onto the ground and let my chains go and breathed a temporary sigh of relief. I looked at the young girl with long brown hair and brown eyes. She was crying.

There was a brief pause as we looked at each other, then she ran to me.

She jumped over the body and wrapped her arms around me. I would have gladly returned the hug had I not been shackled. I felt her warm tears fall onto my exposed side and stomach. I felt like I could break down and cry as well, but I had to stay strong for her.

"Lady Assassin... Desert Rose..." she whimpered into my side. I closed my eyes.

"Kara."

Holy shit! What a twist! :O Its the young girl that they saw on the streets earlier that day! The one with the boy! I really hope you guys remembered her. The young girl Kara that was with the little boy Naji? Yeah. That's her... and she's wearing red. :(

Sad, I know. But never fear! This gloom and doom has a light side. I promise. :)