A/N: sorry once again for the late uploads (I just can't catch a break.) To be honest, I thought I had uploaded the chapter but evidently that did not occur. I was so tired yesterday, however, that I didn't check to make sure that the chapter had indeed gone up as planned. So, forgive me but smile at the fact that another chapter has arrived! YAY

Four days left for chapter 14 - if I get it done earlier, it will be up on Thursday (the day before my usual update days) as I'm not actually going to be here for the weekend :( Unfortunately, we're I'm going I won't be able to access my account - however, it's going to be loads of fun for little ol' me :)

Enjoy!

- AshTree13 xoxo

P.S sorry for any mistakes that may be present... I will read through this tomorrow and suss out any potential edits... right now though, I am exhausted and heading off to bed!

Chapter 13:

Regret is a terrible thing.

It eats you up inside until you are nothing but a shell, consuming you until it is the only thought you have. Whether you call regret bitterness, anguish, grief, heartache, remorse or sorrow, it eventually amounts to the same meaning:

"A feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over an occurrence or something that one has done or failed to do."

Regret consumes me.

Why?

Why on earth had I chosen to be so cruel?

I could see it in his eyes when I glanced back over my shoulder; the pain, the regret... the guilt that engulfs him as the reality and the seriousness of his past actions hits him, only intensifying as the distance between the two of us widens and widens until we eventually disappear from each others sight. Now, some short time later, I replay the words of which I had thrown at Edward over and over in my head, cringing each time I recall the bitterness in my tone and the overwhelming feeling of betrayal that had held me in its tight grasp.

This was where my regret stemmed from - I had been a complete idiot!

Yes, I was upset that Edward hadn't told me anything about his dealings in Havana but at the same time, I never asked him... I never inquired as to how he managed to rake in a reasonable sum as he had, nor had I really questioned his motives for retrieving the Sage nor how he had exactly come to learn about this man's presence. That being said, I knew the robs he wore were that of an Assassins' but how was I to know until that very moment when Torres took me into his custody that Edward had chosen to work with my Order's greatest enemy? The answer? I couldn't know. It was just a random convenience that what had occurred in Havana, I would later discover would be connected so expertly to my past.

One then had to ask if this had anything to do with my going back in time... had someone known that these events would occur? Was it all part of some greater plan? Had Shaun and Rebecca set me up?

No... I highly doubt that last thought. Rebecca was a terrible liar and my adoptive brother was, in a word, protective - and I mean seriously protective - of me. Without a doubt, I knew they would would have informed me if the plan had changed its course; I was sure of that. Still... there must be a reason as to why I was here, as to why these specific events were occurring and why I was no suddenly a part of them.

Maybe it was fate? Destiny?

Perhaps it was just luck.

Either way, that shouldn't be my primary concern. Edward was my primary concern...

I shouldn't have reacted the way I did; it was a complete overreaction of a situation I couldn't say that I fully understood. I hadn't asked about Havana, I hadn't cared. I had no right to judge him to the extreme that I did but it had happened and I had to come to terms with that fact. Even if it hurt to admit it.

Once we returned, I would apologise... I would ask him to forgive me and I would forgive him, it was only fair-

"Hey!" I scream, when I feel someone grab my shoulders and pin my arms to my side. That same person - the "mentor" in fact - turns my stiffened body to face him, his dark eyes studying my flushed face as he does. While he takes his time studying me, I take the moment to observe him, noting his features and most importantly his weapons - if we were going to come to blows, I wanted to have at least some idea as to how it would turn out. Besides, the whole notion of observing potential was something that had been drilled into me since I was a small child; observe the enemy, take into account their physical attributes and whether or not they were heavily armed. Assess whether or not you could manipulate the situation, if you could overpower your enemy. Work out an escape, try and locate his/her weak spot. Strike only when the situation presents itself fairly. Stay calm, keep your face devoid of emotion. Survive.

Old habits die hard.

The Assassin - a mentor, I silently note, yet another badge of 'honour' and proof of his high rank and skill - was a man with little bulk; in that way he and Edward were almost similar. Both lean and agile rather than physically enormous and visibly strong like Adéwalé. Dark-skinned - possibly a native? Maybe even descended from the Mayans whose ruins crumbled around the two of us, easily identifiable amongst the varying green jungle, but also darkened from the intense sun of the Mexican coast. His face possessed particularly common features; eyes that were a dark, chocolate brown of which were slightly small for his strong-jawed face, a slightly big nose situated in the centre of the face, still straight despite possibly having it broken in a scuffle or two and slightly full lips. Really, the only distinguishable features that immediately drew my attention were the vibrant red and white face paint decorating the bridge of his nose and his cheekbones plus the hidden Assassin blades strapped to his wrists, a feature that almost every Assassin possessed in my time - obviously, that was the same here.

"Let me go," I tell him as firmly as I could, trying to stop my voice from wavering, "this wasn't-"

"Wasn't what, Miss Theresa North?" the man interrupts.

"How... how do you-?"

"Know your name?" the Assassin finishes, almost - keyword, almost - smiling, "my pupil - your friend - James Kidd informed me about you prior to your arrival here in Tulum."

"That Bastard," I mutter, biting my lip and immediately conjuring up ways I could torment the kid later - let me tell you, some of them were quite vivid. If only I had a stronger stomach, that way, I'd be able to actually do them.

"Yes, Kidd told me everything he knew about you - which wasn't much, if I may add. He was correct in informing me of your beauty..."

At this, I find myself blushing.

"Also that you would be travelling with the pirate Edward Kenway, who was our primary aim," the man continues, ignoring my embarrassed expression and undeniably red cheeks, "Kidd informed us that if we were to capture Kenway, you would inevitability be by his side and unfortunately, that wasn't what we particularly wanted to hear... we needed you apart..."

"Hence the reason you separated us," I note.

"Correct," the man slowly lets go of my shoulders, watching as I roll my shoulders trying to get feeling back into my joints - he wasn't exactly gentle.

"So... why did you want Edward?" I ask, more than a little suspicious now that my earlier concerns about Kidd betraying us were just confirmed, "are you going to punish him for his actions? Or are you going to use him for your own personal gain... to find the Sage so you can find the Observatory?"

"You know of the Observatory?" For once, the man actually appears to be in shock.

Huh! Didn't see that one coming, did you?

"Only that it has unforetold powers... the ability to track people no matter where they are, no matter what they're doing... the perfect way to keep track and hold power over each and every individual throughout the world," I drawl. I must admit that watching the Assassin fidget with uncertainty and suspicion was kind of entertaining - best entertainment I had had all day. "Why are you searching for it?" I demand, glaring at the man before me, my brow knotted together in frustration, my expression a mask of disgust, "it is a power too great for even the Assassin Order to wield. If we control this power, we are no better than the Templars."

"I knew it."

"Knew what?"

"That you were an Assassin," the man concludes and I have to stare, open mouthed and wide eyed at the Assassin because it was the last thing I expected to hear from him. Actually, it was the last thing I expected anyone to say to me.

"How-?"

"Would you like a detailed list?" the man asks sarcastically, rolling his brown eyes.

"How the Hell do you know that I'm-?"

"Part of the Order? Well... first, you said 'we' earlier, when you were telling me off for our race for the Observatory... secondly, those throwing knives you possess are but one of the many weapons any Assassin may choose to wield and you certainly knew how to do just that when you were trying to defend Kenway from Kidd and myself. Also, you seemed to comprehend what we meant when we discussed Kenway's possession of the Eagle Vision - something that many do not easily understand... regardless of all of these underlying factors, I am no fool, Miss North... I know the signs, I know when one knows more about our way of life than I may appear to. I was aware of your allegiance to our Order and our Creed the moment I saw you."

"I forgot," I begin, rolling my eyes, unable to prevent the small smile from breaking out onto my face, "just how observable a fully trained, experienced Assassin could be... it's been a while since I was actually in the company of one."

"Did you not think Kenway was an Assassin?"

"I speculated, but I wasn't entirely sure," I shrug, kicking at the leaf-strewn ground with the tip of my leather boots, the leather already damaged by weeks of abuse, "besides... I was always taught not to bring attention to those who may exist as part of our Order."

"Your teachers taught you well."

"Oh, no..." I say, raising my hands in mock surrender, noting that he had confused my association with the Assassin's as my being one of them, "no... I don't actually do the contracts... I'm more of... of... uh..."

How exactly do I explain the concept of hacking to someone who doesn't even comprehend the notion of a computer? Answer, you don't - you LIE!

"I'm more of an 'assistant,'" I inform him, the deception coming smoothly off my tongue, far easier than I imagined it would. In actual fact, it wasn't really a lie as per say - I did assist the Assassin Order through my extensive knowledge in technology and human anatomy; one of these factors made me into an expert hacker (not to boast, but I was capable in breaking into any mainframe with little to no effort, the only time I'd ever struggle was when there was an intense amount of pressure on me to achieve the results desired) and also into a semi-nurse. In fact, it was not only my job to make sure that Abstergo couldn't track us nor was it only my job to break into high security databases, it was also my job to patch Desmond up whenever he got injured. I could set dislocated shoulders, wrap a sprained ankle, stitch-up gaping wounds and give vaccinations/booster shots when needed; I also had an extensive knowledge of the bodies pressure points, the circulatory system and also Chinese medicine which included acupuncture - one of my finer skills.

So yeah... 'assistant' was one way to put it.

"Ah Tabai!"

Distracting the two of us, we turn to face the flustered young man making his way towards our small band; his grey-brown eyes were wide with fear, sweat poured down his face, his tattered Assassins' hood thrown from his head, exposing the innocent and youthful appearance of the obviously trainee Assassin. Upon reaching us, he doubles over, hands on his knees, exposing his sweat-stained back as he struggles to regain his breath and pass on the message he obviously was sent to give.

The dark-skinned man - who I now know is the one they call Ah Tabai - places a meaty hand on the slender shoulder of the young boy, encouraging him to straighten and speak.

"M-men... foreigners... they're here... on the island..." the boy gasps brokenly.

"What? How?" Ah Tabai sharply demands, his chocolate eyes flashing.

"We don't know... they come out of nowhere... they've already managed to capture a few of the members... I... I was sent... to come find you."

"Find the others," Ah Tabai instructs, nudging the younger man in the direction of the Assassin settlement, his tone of voice filled with urgency, his actions swift as he examines his equipment and considers the situation at hand, "alert them to the situation, prepare to engage the enemy. Remain out of sight! Do not draw attention to ourselves... do not kill the ringleader, we must question him afterwards."

We need to find Edward and Kidd, I think, biting my lip and hurrying after Ah Tabai as he lengthens his stride, heading towards a denser section of the Tulum Jungle, obviously searching for a vantage point so he could assess the situation at hand clearly.

"Ah Tabai," I begin, tapping his shoulder as I do so to ensure that I have captured his attention.

"This is no time for questions, Miss North," he informs me, glaring at me with his cold eyes, "we must find Kenway and James and sort out the situation that your friend has undoubtedly brought upon us."

"I was just going to say," I snap, "that we should find Kidd and Edward too!"

"Then we can at least agree on this matter, Miss North."

0-0-0-0-0-0

Edward and Kidd find us not moments later, emerging from a narrow crevice behind Ah Tabai and myself, Kidd's face tense as if he was already aware of the dire situation at hand, Edward's a mask of confusion which only intensifies when he finds the Mentor and I side-by-side, overlooking the Assassin Settlement with grave looks upon our face.

After taking in the scene before us, my eyes instantly sort out Edward who comes to my side as if summoned by an silent plea, one arm wrapping around my waist as he too looks out onto the crumbling Mayan Ruins and patchwork huts that made up the small village. Turning his face towards mine, his breath tickles my ear as he whispers a soft but heartfelt apology.

"We can discuss it later," I murmur under my breath in reply, reaching up to touch his cheek in what I hope is a form of reassurance, "there is more at stake then the state of our... relation-friendship," I hastily correct, flushing slightly at my grave error, "but know that I'm sorry too."

"You don't have to apologise, Tess," Edward assures me and just by using my familiar nickname, I know he isn't angry with the way I treated - a small relief amongst the ever-present danger lurking beneath the four of us.

"Quiet," Kidd mutters, elbowing me in my lower ribs.

Damn it, I didn't even notice him there, I think, using my free hand to massage my abdomen and ribcage, hoping to alleviate some of the sudden pain.

Taking my distraction as a perfect opportunity, Ah Tabai grabs Edwards shoulder and turns the blonde-haired pirate towards him so he can look him directly in the eye as he enquires, "The statue you saw in the temple... Is that the man you saw in Havana?"

"Spitting likeness, aye," Edward confirms, shaking his shoulder free from the Assassins' iron grip.

"It seems," Ah Tabai says, turning to face Kidd's inquisitive expression and my own confused one, "another Sage has been found... the Race for the Observatory begins anew."

"You're really going to go after it?" I ask, sighing when I see the hard look the man gives me, already aware of his answer before he even choses to give me a reply.

"Would you rather our enemies have it, Miss North?"

"I'd rather no one have it!" I hiss in return, shooting Ah Tabai my own furious look.

"What's going on?" Kidd asks, clearly confused by the exchange occurring between his Master and myself.

"Is that why we're whispering?" Edward also inquires, tilting his head to one side with a semi-cocky smile, not fully grasping the seriousness of the situation nor making sense of the conversation afoot.

"This is your doing, Captain Kenway!" Ah Tabai growls, pointing out towards the village nestled within the supposed safety of the Tulum Jungle, his face a mask of fury, a vein throbbing at his temple. "The maps you sold to the Templars have led straight to us!"

Kidd, Edward and I glance over the ledge, still keeping out bodies and faces hidden amongst the shadows of the cliffs overhanging but still far enough out of the cover to clearly watch the events unfolding. A soldier in a red uniform pushes a bound Assassin to his knees with the sole of his boot and then loads his gun, pointing it at the back of the Assassin's hooded head, then bang!

"Agh-"

I feel hands clamp over my mouth before the scream can fully take form and my initial reaction is to struggle but upon glancing over my shoulder, my wild and frantic eyes meet Edwards' solemn gaze and I find myself instantly relaxing, the majority of my bodyweight sagging against his chest. Yet, despite my shock at seeing a man shot dead, I can't help but watch the crimson blood of the faceless man lying dead on the ground, spread slowly across the once green jungle floor, dying the land around his fallen corpse a shade of rusty, bloody death.

Kidd turns away in disgust, his brow furrowed as he desperately tries to comprehend the situation but I can see in his wild eyes that he can't.

It's really quite simple - kill or be killed.

Edward seems to have the same idea.

"I had no idea that this would happen," he tell the Mentor, his azure eyes clouded with a hint of guilt at being unintentionally the cause of so much pain but at the same time coloured with fury at being trialled for a crime he wasn't aware that he had committed.

"It does not matter!" Ah Tabai snarls, lunging forward only to be stopped by Kidd and myself - Kidd holds his mentor back, hands laid flat against the man's chiseled chest whilst I whip out one of my many concealed knives, holding it out before me as a warning whilst my free arms lies across Edwards' chest, preventing him from taking a stride forward.

"Now," Ah Tabai continues, shaking off Kidd's hold, "the Agents of Two Empires know exactly where we operate."

"Maybe you should have chosen your friends more wisely," I shoot back, my anger bubbling to the surface as this stranger ridicules and criticises choices that Edward wasn't aware would have dire consequences, "this issue began the moment your 'brother,' Duncan Walpole decided that it would be far more beneficial to assist the Templars rather than his family."

"I do not answer to a child!" Ah Tabai spits, stalking off towards the crevice without another word.

"Let me handles this, Mentor," Kidd says, taking a step towards his Master, a determined look upon his face.

"They have taken Edward's Crew as well," Ah Tabai announces and my heart sinks - perhaps I was too hasty in making accusations, letting my temper run wild when it shouldn't have. "I wonder," the hard-faced man continues, glaring at the pair of us - that is, Edward and myself - before turning his head away, "I wonder what their lives are worth to him?"

"Shit," I murmur, looking back out towards the captured Assassin Settlement, kicking a loose stone over the ledge, "shit!"

"My sentiments exactly," Edward murmurs in agreement, his gaze following mine.

"Take this," Kidd suddenly says, extending towards Edward a small bamboo shoot, hollowed out.

"A Blowpipe," I murmur, recognising the basic structure of the simplistic but deadly weapon. They weren't as common in mine time, but the concept of the age-old firearm still remained as present as ever.

"Yes," Kidd answers, although my observation wasn't a question. He trusts the bamboo weapon into Edward's waiting hands, his dark eyes obscured by the looming shadows so I could not make out his expression, "you'll attract no attention and take fewer lives."

"And you're?" Edward begins, stowing the blowpipe safely on his person and also drawing his Assassin Hood so his features too are obscured by shadow.

"I'm going to go my own way... we'll cover more ground."

"That's a good strategy," I admit, re-drawing three of my silver throwing knives, agility balancing them between my fingers, "what do we do with those we've freed?"

"I assume they'll know what to do," Kidd informs me before backing away into the darkness, the only evidence of his fleeing presence the sound of dislodged pebbles as he escapes to take care of half of the situation.

"You sure you can handle those?" Edward asks me, staring pointedly at the minute but sharp blades disappearing and reappearing between my slender fingers, "because you're not exactly an expert at close combat... besides, I thought you didn't know how to fight."

"I don't," I tell him with an impish smile, "but Kidd nor Ah Tabai have to know that... neither do they," I tilt my head towards the red clad soldiers, my eyes gleaming with mischief. "Besides... I'm reasonably accurate with these. Far better at embedding these into my enemy rather than lodging a bullet into their skull."

Edward, looking slightly impressed by my new-found courage indicates with a nod in the direction of the prisoners that we aught to get moving, lest those still alive end up like the Assassin whose skull was cracked open by the single shot of a - I wish I could say stray - bullet.

"We need to talk," he says suddenly under his breath when we're halfway down the cliff face, "we need to put all our cards on the table... because we both have secrets we've tried to hide but look at the mess that got us into."

I nod my consent and with a pleased expression, Edward continues onwards, motioning that I follow closely behind him. Yet as I follow the man, I can't help but wonder which will be worse, the scuffle about to unfold or the enviable discussion we must have about our pasts, the present and the new future?