HAYTHAM
The cabin was empty.
Well, not completely. There was a single bed in the corner, as well as a desk, chair and flickering candles. Benjamin was nowhere in the picture.
No.
That couldn't be right. If he wasn't on deck fighting, he had to be down here. Cautiously, I craned my neck to look in the cabin corner. Nothing. Where the hell was he?
Suddenly the door slammed shut. I whipped round – but before I could react, a heavy boot collided with my chest. I choked, and my body toppled. My head throbbed as it smacked against the wood. The hairs on my neck bristled like a cougar: once you are on the floor in a fight, you are finished. Whoever they were, they must've been behind the door. Why had I fallen for such a simple trick? Was I that hot-headed?
No time for that. I tried to haul myself up, but the foot kicked me back down. Their cuffed sleeve made to grab my neck, to hold me in place...and I knew it. Grey breeches, emerald coat, ornate wig and wry smile. He hadn't changed at all.
"Church..." I struggled, as he seized my throat.
"Haytham." His voice hissed with satisfaction. "Did you really think you could surprise me? My my, behind the door is the oldest trick in the –"
He was cut off at once. One moment, Church was cackling at my feeble frame, the next, I'd kicked him in the stomach and sent him flying backward. I didn't wait one moment. Springing to my feet, I bunched his ruffled collar and thumped him against the door. His mouth dropped open as he suddenly found he couldn't move.
I couldn't hold back any longer. I punched him.
"You lied to me through all these years," I yelled as his face flickered. "How could you?"
Despite being in pain, Church closed both eyes and laughed. "I never lied to you. Only, I have come to understand the true ways of war. And the British Army are in the know, unlike you and Charles. Your only Templar brother –"
"Charles Lee is no brother of mine," I snarled, "and I have no concern over this war."
Benjamin's head tilted in confusion – that was, before I wrenched it to look straight at me.
"Do you think I'm unaware of what you did?" My voice started as a whisper, but turned violent as I shook him. "You kidnapped her! All of you! You enslaved an innocent woman and treated her as an object!"
My chest was heaving with rage. I caught my breath and continued: "Where is she now, Church?"
"Who," he said sardonically, "your native whore?"
"Where is she, you bastard?" My fist flew across the air and collided with his eye. Church exclaimed, then gritted his teeth as blood trickled from his left socket.
"We took her for your own good. If that woman was still here, you'd have lost focus on our goals!"
"Oh? Says he who abandoned our cause in pursuit of personal gain!" I struck him again, unable to control myself. "We had a dream, Benjamin; a dream you sought to destroy!"
Blood spattered Benjamin's face, dripping on my fist. I wasn't being sadistic: it was hardly enjoyable, beating up a once-close friend. But this bastard deserved it. I stopped, and immediately Church seized his chance. He shoved me away from the door. Not far; just enough to shake free, wipe his bleeding nose and recover.
"Time has changed, Kenway. When once I could call you a friend..." He drew his sword from his belt. "Now, I face you as an enemy."
Enough of this pointless push-and-shove. Time to end this. Drawing my own sword, I lifted my tricorne to see my target. "Then may God have mercy on your soul."
Church's face set like stone. We stared for a moment, somehow contemplating what we had to do. But I wasn't waiting around. I made the first move, lunging forth and swinging my sword at his head. He blocked it swiftly; the steel clinked like a chain. Already I was sweating, my vision blurring from adrenaline. I stepped back as Benjamin tried the same on me. I was quick to defend myself...but the space was too small. It was impossible to duel in a cabin.
I realised this as he cornered me, raising his weapon once more. I struck him back – again and again – until I was free to move. I focused on Benjamin; on the way he evaded me. It'd take more than sly tactics with this once-Templar.
The battle became faster. My heartbeat echoed the thunder outside, sending sparks of energy to my limbs. I swung my sword – left, right and centre – only to be blocked all three times.
"You underestimate me, Kenway," Church hissed. "Have you forgotten it was under your name I learned to fight?"
That wasn't true. Church was already adept with a blade when I met him – I merely brushed up his agility. That must be where I am failing. I am far less agile than I used to be.
I shook my head and charged again. Clink. The two blades slid together. I inwardly cursed, wondering why I thought this would be easy. But I was far from backing down. I ducked as the blade whooshed past my ear, skimming my hat and knocking it to the floor. The duel continued for minutes. Old age had taken its toll, for I was wheezing with the strain. It was hard to conceal my effort – but the green-cloaked criminal had to die. He jabbed his sword at me once more...and I dodged.
That was my worst fault.
I hadn't noticed the desk behind me. As Church tirelessly thrust the blade, I backed onto the desk. I groaned with the effort to get back up...but too late. Benjamin grabbed me by both shoulders, slamming my body on the floor. My head was throbbing more than before. My heart felt like it'd stop beating altogether, but I struggled to spring to my feet. But I couldn't: Church stood on my wrist and forced the other down with his hand.
Dammit. I can't use my hidden blades!
I writhed from underneath, but it was no good. Benjamin's sneer was like a death call, unless I did something. But I couldn't: Grand Master Kenway – no more than fifty years old – was powerless against his own trainee. Why was I weakened so? I had to move...
"I warned you, Haytham," Church spat in my face. "Yet you rose to me anyhow. Now, hold still..."
My heart was hammering, with waves of determination, denial and anger with it. I couldn't die like this. I was not trained to die like this. As Benjamin raised his sword, I prepared to roll, or dodge, as it came swooping towards my chest...
Suddenly Benjamin jerked, his face paralysed with shock. His mouth became and 'O'-shape; he made a squeak like a dying dormouse. It seemed to happen in slow motion. My body was raging with tragic tension - perhaps that would explain my dizziness. I blinked...and saw a stain of crimson on Church's neck. No, not a stain. It was a rich gush of blood, spilling from his throat as he groaned. Like a stiff scarecrow, he toppled sideways and onto the blood-stained floor.
What?
I had to be dreaming. Some people claimed that life flashed before one's eyes at death – maybe this was my mind's wishful thinking. Benjamin was bleeding on the floor; the liquid soaked the hem of my coat...and I couldn't move. What had just happened? Who had stabbed Church's neck?
What I saw next was so unexpected, I wondered if I was dead. A ghostly figure was stood over me. This figure was no ordinary man, or woman: they wore a silver-white robe, stained with fresh blood at them sides. Their red sash draped around their waist, carrying pistols, a sabre knife and countless other weapons. But what really gave them away was a peaked white hood.
An Assassin?
I sat up and rubbed my eyes. The Assassin flicked their dripping blades, and they retracted back into the holsters. Their face was covered with some sort of black mesh. I squinted to look underneath it...but I couldn't see anything. Their hand extended – shakily – to help me stand up.
With a spinning head, I accepted it. The mysterious figure was female, judging by their relative height. But how had she come in? I hadn't heard the door open, nor seen her shadow from the candles. Why was there an Assassin on this ship, in any case? I opened my mouth to ask her, but stopped myself. She made no sound – except her chest contracting quicker than mine. Why was she so out of breath?
"Is it done?"
The stranger and I turned. Another hooded figure emerged, but this one had no mesh on their face. In fact, they pulled back their hood to inspect the scene. It was a woman – a very striking woman – with lily-pink skin and feline eyes. Her dark ginger hair fell to her breasts. She seemed so petite in her Assassin robes, despite being in her thirties, at least. Not to mention the way she carried herself, giving the illusion that she was somehow greater than us.
She didn't even look at me. She walked carefully over to the meshed figure, and patted her shoulder. "You did well," she murmured in an English accent. "His passing is a boon for us both." The woman knelt down to Benjamin's body. She outstretched her gloved fingers, and slowly closed the man's eyes. "That makes one less threat to humanity."
During this time, the anonymous Assassin remained silent. I had a feeling she was staring at me. I couldn't tell from beneath the mesh – I just knew. The auburn-haired Assassin noticed her breathing quickly, and stood up. "What is wrong?"
Again, the figure said nothing. She pointed a truly shuddering finger in my direction. The pit of my stomach sank like a schooner: where did I come into this? Moreover, where – and how the hell – did they come into this?
The woman regarded me with a neutral expression. Her blue, cat-like eyes blinked in acknowledgement. "I see."
See what?
"Return to deck, and see to it that Jack knows of Church."
As silently as she'd appeared, the hooded woman was off. I shook my head, unable to comprehend it. Who was 'Jack'? I was about to ask the remaining Assassin, but I hardly knew where to begin. After what seemed like a minute of silence, she turned to face me.
"You must be the other Kenway. Haytham, is it?"
"Wha – I – yes," was all I managed. "I, um...I don't mean to be impolite, but who are you?"
"My apologies." She cleared her throat. "Eva Stirling, second-in-command of the Virginian Brotherhood."
Instead of clearing the confusion, this only added to it. Virginian Assassins? Shouldn't they be in...well, Virginia? "I – it was you who requested we chase after Church."
Eva nodded. "Indeed. It was my husband whose medical supplies were stolen, so we requested the Boston Assassin to return them."
Boston Assassin. She must mean Connor. Suddenly I realised something: "That was your brig, then! Sinking the British convoy. Hold on...why are you out here? Why not wait for us to return the –"
"Come," she interrupted, "we must hurry. Last I saw, most of Church's men were dying on deck. We need to finish this properly."
And with that, Eva turned around and began running. No words – just disappeared like a phantom. What was with these Assassins?
"R-right," I stammered, still frowning. I was unsure what to think. Everything had just happened spontaneously, and all these revelations were making my head hurt. I didn't think I could take another.
Whatever I'll see on deck, it'll be nothing like I expected.
Ooooooh...
Thank you guys one million times over...for 120 reviews! Literally, getting an email with a review makes me so happy whenever I update, so thanks for letting me know what you think of Everbound!
I suppose I ought to mention that I'll be in France from the 20th-24th so the chances of an update are quite slim during that time. Still...I couldn't leave you on a cliffhanger like that! I'll update asap...not sure what to think of Eva? You'll see. I think you'll come to like her, along with the other OCs still to come.
My lips are sealed!
:X