Chapter 13– "An Uneasy Alliance"
Lucas Winter's Private Estate, Tuscany, Italy
Year 2034- Present Day
Elijah Miles- Age 29
Marie said, "You've got some nerve calling me on an unknown number like this, especially after disappearing from Masyaf. Not to mention whatever phone you're calling from is tapped on your end… had to make sure the call couldn't be traced."
"So you're worried about me," said Elijah with a smirk, while noting that the line was tapped as he suspected. He had limited time to escape now before Lucas found out he was trying to.
"Where are you now?"
"Tuscany," said Elijah. "The party."
"You're kidding," said Marie. "How did you get there?"
"Long story."
"Try to summarize it."
"I got captured by Concord," said Elijah. "Apparently Basim was holding Lucas's adopted daughter, Katya hostage in Masyaf. Because of that, I was brought straight to him."
"Damn it, Elijah!" yelled Marie. "That explains the unknown number… You said Basim was in Masyaf?"
"Yeah…" said Elijah as he started walking around Katya's room, "along with several portable Red Mercury bombs, and several other Assassins that handed them over to a government commando."
"You're screwing with me."
"You seriously didn't know Basim was doing something like that?"
"This makes no sense… The Assassins would never use nukes, Elijah."
"Well if those weren't Assassins, then they were certainly dressed like them. And Basim was there."
"Speaking of which… was Basim captured too?"
"Then taken to a black site and killed," said Elijah as he looked out the room's window towards the view of the estate exterior.
"Damn it!" said Marie.
"Speaking of which… the Assassins didn't break him out, did they?"
"No, they had no idea where he was this whole time," said Marie. "Perhaps he was playing both sides… or at the very least he was trying to create a schism within the Brotherhood."
"Perhaps."
"Why are you asking?"
"Lucas seemed to think the Assassins took the Staff from him. Someone other than Concord has possession of it."
"Hmmm…" said Marie. "This situation is evolving faster than we realized. If Basim was actually playing both sides… and he was developing nukes…"
"His 'Assassins' did hand the nukes over to that commando," said Elijah. "I saw it happen myself."
"You don't think Lucas had something to do with this, do you?"
"It's hard to say," said Elijah as he looked at Katya, "but there's one way to find out. I'm going to spy on the meeting the party's a front for, as planned."
"While you're captured?"
"I've got some help," said Elijah.
"From who?"
"Katya," said Elijah.
"You're kidding," said Marie. "She loves Lucas."
"Yeah, well, she loves me more now," said Elijah while smiling and winking at Katya.
Katya gave Elijah a deadpan stare followed by the middle finger.
"So are you on the way?"
"Yes," said Marie, "but it's going to be difficult to break into the party unless you disable their security systems."
"I'm getting to it," said Elijah.
"All right," said Marie. "Make it out of there in one piece."
"No guarantees," said Elijah with a frown before hanging up.
Looking at Katya, he said to her, "Show me where the security systems are."
"We'll have to stop at the ballroom along the way," said Katya.
"Why?" said Elijah.
"Because until he's gone to the meeting, my father needs to believe I'm hosting the party."
"He'll know I'm there!"
"You'll have to hide in plain sight," said Katya.
Elijah gave Katya a look.
"You do have a mask."
Sighing, Elijah said, "All right, Templar hostess. Lead the way."
As they entered the crowd on the first floor, wearing their respective tuxedo and red dress and their Carnevale masks, Elijah said to Katya, "Are we near the ballroom yet?"
"No, not yet," said Katya.
"This place is huge," said Elijah. "And this tux is itchy."
"Get used to it," said Katya.
Moving through the crowd, they entered through what looked like the foyer, where Elijah eyed a golden fountain with a statue of Lucas in the middle of it. The fountain was centered in between two dual velvet red-carpeted staircases leading to the second floor.
"Looks…"
"...majestic?" said Katya.
"I was going to say narcissistic," said Elijah.
"Better narcissistic than psychotic."
Elijah rolled his eyes when Ezio appeared next to them in a tuxedo and mask as well.
"This party, and this mansion… they're extremely decadent, Katya. Always remember… every road paved and every pocket lined with money costs lives in places that people like your father try to hide from polite society."
Katya frowned.
"Ezio's right," said Elijah. "While some of the other kids I went to school with were partying it up in big suburban houses, I was visiting soup kitchens while my mother worked overtime. People like us suffered at their expense, and still are. But even then, those kids were nowhere near as privileged as you and your father."
Katya said to Elijah, "Let's keep moving. This way–"
But a bodyguard wearing a tuxedo, sunglasses, and toting an automatic pistol strapped to his belt, stopped them.
Elijah braced himself.
"Katya," said one of Lucas's bodyguards, "Why are you in the foyer? I thought you had already headed to the ballroom with Lucas."
"I'm heading there now," said Katya.
"That's good. Lucas asked me and the others to make sure you didn't try and sneak out," said the bodyguard. Looking at Elijah, he said, "Who is this?"
"He's my date," Katya said, holding Elijah's hand.
"Nice to meet you, sir," said the bodyguard as he shook Elijah's other hand. "May I ask your name?"
"Grant… Grant Lee," Elijah said with a courteous nod of the head, thinking quickly of a detail from his cover identity on the way to Masyaf.
"Strange…" said the bodyguard as he scratched his chin.
"What's strange?" said Katya.
"I don't recognize the name from the guest list."
"Well the list is long…" said Katya, gesturing with her hands to the guests.
"I need to check the list for his name on my phone… Just a precaution, Katya… Rumor has it we may have unwelcome guests tonight–"
"Sorry, sir, but we have to get to the ballroom now," said Katya as she grabbed Elijah by the hand and they started to escape into the crowd.
"What? Katya, wait!" said the guard. "Katya!"
As they left the room, the guard yelled, "Where'd you go?" before giving up.
They hid together in a nearby bathroom located along an adjacent hallway.
Wiping the sweat off of her forehead, Katya said, "Damn that guard… I nearly dissociated again."
"Nice bluff," said Elijah.
"Bluff?" said Katya. "You were the one who provided a fake name."
"I mean the bit about you calling me your date," said Elijah. "That and getting us out of there before he recognized me… or his small talk bored me to death."
Katya couldn't help but laugh.
"That particular guard harasses me all the damn time," said Katya. "How did you come up with the name?"
Looking at the door to the bathroom, Elijah said, "My fake identity that got me to Masyaf was based on that of a real person… or so I've been told. Jason Brody, an empty-headed prick with rich parents from California. Word is he and his friends were nearly sold into human trafficking while on vacation in the Moluccas. Several of them were killed, including his brother, Grant. His brother's girlfriend's last name was Lee. Needless to say, I didn't want to use the actual name on my passport in case Lucas still has it."
Katya said, "Well that was fast thinking regardless."
Elijah smiled at her.
Then he heard the faint cry of a woman coming from somewhere in the bathroom.
"Did you hear that?" said Elijah.
"It came from over there, in the supply closet," said Katya.
They opened the supply closet door and found a dark-haired young woman who was bound and gagged, and wearing a rather revealing silver dress.
Katya's eyes went wide upon seeing her.
Elijah ripped the tape off her mouth.
"Who are you? And who did this to you?" he said to her.
The woman, panting heavily, merely looked at Katya, and her eyes went wide as well.
"Monique?" said Katya in shock.
"Katya?" said the young woman, Monique.
"You two know each other?" said Elijah.
"Untie her," said Katya.
Elijah complied.
Monique rubbed her wrists for a moment where they had been tied, then said, "Why are you freeing me? Is this some kind of sick joke?" Looking at Elijah, she said, "Are you setting me up with him?"
"What do you mean?" said Katya. Looking around, Katya's face turned to horror.
"You're still being trafficked? Here?"
Nodding her head yes, Monique said, "Your father's a Templar. While I don't know his place in the Order's hierarchy, right now he owns the underground human trafficking ring that was created by Jeffrey Epstein. The one you and I were forced into when we were just kids."
Elijah put a hand to his mouth to cover his disgust at this revelation.
Katya appeared to be distressed. She said, "That- that doesn't make sense. Lucas rescued me from that ring!"
"Wait, what?" said Elijah.
"Are you really that fucking naïve, Katya?" said Monique. "He probably just had some sort of secret purpose for you."
"No!" cried Katya.
They then shut up as they heard the voices and footsteps of some guards pass by outside the bathroom.
After the noise died down, Katya cried, "I'm so sorry, Monique… I was so scared the night I was nearly killed by that client, before Lucas saved me. I should've asked for him to save you too."
"I'm glad he didn't save me, knowing all the things he's done to other girls like you and me. It wouldn't be worth it. And it's wishful thinking anyway… Your father figure is a monster, Katya. If you want to save his victims… save them yourself."
Elijah's face lit up.
"Are there more trafficking victims at the party?" Elijah asked Monique.
"What?" said Monique as she looked at Elijah. Turning to Katya, she said, "Katya, who is this?"
"He's… a friend."
"Sure he is."
"Are there more?" said Elijah.
"Yes, all over the place. Why?" said Monique.
Turning to Katya, Elijah said, "Actually, Katya… that gives me an idea. Maybe we can free some of the Templars' trafficking victims to cause a diversion while we make a run for the estate's security room."
Monique's eyes went wide.
"Are you trying to escape Lucas too, Katya?"
"It's… complicated, Monique," said Katya, looking away.
"All right," Monique sighed. "You have my thanks for hearing me out at least, Katya… but you don't have my forgiveness."
"I understand."
Elijah said, "Let's go, Katya."
They exited the bathroom, leaving Monique staring in their direction in confusion before she had to suppress a hysterical emotional breakdown.
"Who was that, Katya?" said Elijah as he followed her through the massive yet crowded hallways of the mansion, hiding in plain sight among the crowds of guests to avoid patrolling guards.
"That… was no one, Elijah," said Katya, her voice breaking a little.
"You're a bad liar you know," he said. "Makes up for the fact that I can't read your mind though."
Katya said nothing.
"That was a courtesan," said Ezio as his figure appeared near them in the crowd, his body sometimes passing through some of the guests since he was only in Elijah and Katya's heads (at the moment, at least).
"Nowadays they're called prostitutes, Ezio," said Elijah.
"Si… and it seems like some of the requirements to be one have been changed… even from my time period," said Ezio. "She's being forced to do her job."
"As is the case with human trafficking," said Elijah. Turning to Katya, he said, "I'm not surprised your father and the Templars are doing this by the way."
Katya said nothing as they continued to walk through the halls.
"From what I gathered from your conversation with Monique… she made it sound like you were also a child sex slave once–"
"Not. Another. Fucking. Word… Elijah." said Katya, glancing over at him with an evil look in her eyes that he had never seen her give off before.
"All right," said Elijah, putting his hands up slightly to signal he would stop probing her for now.
As they entered the dining hall, Katya said, "The kitchen's on the other side of the dining room."
While Elijah walked with Katya, she quickly pulled him toward her where she stood against a pillar in between fancy glass tables covered in gourmet catering.
"What's going on?"
"Behind you," mouthed Katya.
Elijah took a brief look behind him and then looked back at Katya.
"Fuck… Otso Berg…" said Elijah. "I haven't seen him since back when I killed Juno the first time."
"What's he doing here?" said Katya. "My father had him expelled from the Order."
"What? Why?"
"I assume it's because he's taking over."
Elijah looked behind Otso again, only to find he was gone.
"Maybe's he's here to–"
Elijah was interrupted when Otso spoke to one of the kitchen staff a few feet away from them while filling a glass of punch.
"Have you heard anything about Lucas's speech he's going to give, and where it is?"
"It's in the ballroom," said the staff member. "Why? Are you one of his clients?"
"Perhaps," said Otso. "Why does that matter to you?"
"It doesn't," said the staff. "Forget I asked."
Turning to Katya, Elijah whispered, "Close your eyes."
"What, why?" said Katya.
"Too late," whispered Elijah as he kissed her on the lips, pressing his arms against the pillar behind Katya to cover her a little as he did this.
"Young love…" Elijah heard Otso mutter without staring at them while he was kissing Katya, "...such a primitive, fleeting human experience."
As Elijah stopped kissing Katya, he said, "Don't cause a scene."
"Did he see us?"
"I think so," said Elijah.
"Shit!"
"But for now he's leaving us alone."
"Oh. Thank god…" said Katya. "Still, couldn't you come up with a better way to cover our faces? You messed up my lipstick!"
"Nope," said Elijah as they continued toward the kitchen.
Inside, Elijah quickly used his Eagle Vision to locate and steal some knives away from the cooks. He picked up a wine bottle as well and left while he was still obscured by the steam coming from the kitchen.
Coming out, Katya said to Elijah, "What's with the wine bottle?"
"Makes for a good melee weapon. Or something to throw and distract enemies with. Or even better, stuff a rag of some kind in it and set the rag on fire, and you've got…"
"A Molotov cocktail?" said Katya.
Elijah smiled and nodded.
"No… don't burn my father's house down!"
"But he has emergency sprinkler systems on the ceiling," Elijah said, pointing up. "At best it'll only burn down a couple rooms and there seem to be hundreds of them."
Katya frowned.
"Fine."
"Want more knives?" said Elijah.
"I'll stick to my pocket knife," said Katya. "I have nowhere else to put it."
Elijah nodded to signal he understood, and attached the knives to his belt, hiding them that way as well.
"Want some food before we head to the ballroom?" said Katya.
"I'm not hungry."
"It could be your last meal ever," said Katya.
"Well when you put it like that…" said Elijah. "Let's find something we can eat on the way there. Something with protein."
As they neared the ballroom, Elijah was gobbling down a shishkebab with various meats, cheeses, and vegetables on it with one hand, and washing it down with some of the wine in the bottle in his other. He was careful not to drink enough to become too affected by the alcohol. Not only would he have to put up a fight, but chances are he'd have to drive out of here too.
"Are you ready for the real party to begin, Elijah?" said Katya as she turned toward him after approaching the doors to the ballroom.
"Remember, Katya," said Elijah as he wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin he found before hiding it in one of his suit's pockets, "if you're planning to find out if Lucas is crooked, you'll be betraying him. There may be no turning back after this."
Frowning, Katya said, "I know. I know what I'm getting myself into."
"I think you have no idea," said Elijah as he looked at her trembling hands.
"There's already no turning back," said Katya as she opened the door to the ballroom.
As they entered the crowded ballroom, Elijah and Katya could both see Lucas hiding behind a balcony located above a fireplace and the instruments for the orchestra, band, and pianist to play with the help of their enhanced Eagle Vision that could allow them to see through walls.
"You'd better hide in the crowd now," said Katya to Elijah as she headed toward the staircase leading up to the balcony.
Elijah moved into the crowd, and hid between a crowd of five people behind a pillar in the ballroom to conceal himself from Lucas.
He conversed with Ezio while preparing to observe Lucas and Katya's speech.
"Something about this party's guests seem off…" said Ezio.
"Yeah…" said Elijah. "They're either rich clients of Lucas's, clueless guests invited to be a distraction from the meeting, or…"
"Slaves," said Ezio, "but not just court- prostitutes."
"Yeah," said Elijah, "some of them look more like child soldiers that have grown… or not… They're indistinguishable from the ones I came across when I was a young mercenary myself."
"We'll get to the bottom of this if we can, Ezio," said Elijah.
As the guests began to clap and cheer, Elijah peeked around the corner of the pillar.
"It's Lucas," said Ezio.
"He's about to give his speech," said Elijah.
At the top of the balcony, Lucas looked down at the crowd and smiled.
Katya was standing next to him.
Katerina "Katya" Winter– Age 25
A few minutes earlier, Katya walked up the staircase and approached Lucas.
"Katya!" said Lucas. "I've been looking all over for you, and for some reason my men in charge of security were having trouble tracking you with the security cameras. Where were you?"
"I was hungry," said Katya, "so I stopped in the dining hall along the way." That was technically true.
"You certainly took your time," said Lucas. "I hope you didn't eat or drink too much."
"What did you expect?" she said. "It wasn't that long ago that I was kidnapped by Basim. I haven't eaten for some time."
"Right…" said Lucas, "I'm sorry. For more than just that, actually."
"What do you mean?"
"I was harsh on you earlier," he said. "You didn't deserve to be treated that way."
"It's all right, Lucas," said Katya, her eyes moving to the floor. "I understand."
"I hope it didn't bring up some unpleasant memories of yours."
"You've created far more pleasant memories than unpleasant ones, Lucas," said Katya. Her eyes started to become wet with tears.
I can't believe I'm betraying Lucas like this, said Katya.
"Katya!" said Lucas as he wiped her eyes. "Don't cry. And don't dissociate. Especially not right now. You're among family here, and despite the presence of the Assassin's son, you're safe."
He's talking about Elijah, Katya thought.
"Tonight is a night of celebration."
"Celebration?" said Katya.
"While there's obviously… more going on tonight than I initially let on… a lot of it having to do with business… this party is also supposed to be about you."
"Me?" said Katya. "What do you mean?"
"I was able to find the records of your biological birth, Katya. Apparently your 25th birthday was a few weeks ago. It may be belated, but…"
Shivering, Katya said, "I don't want to celebrate my birthday. The less I know about who I am, the better."
"Trust me, Katya," said Lucas as he smiled and put her hands on her shoulders, "it'll be better than you think."
Looking around, Lucas said, "In addition to that… I figured I'd help you make your debut to the public today. There are journalists here– ones I've paid off– who are going to write stories about you."
"What?" said Katya. "Isn't that a bad idea? Doesn't Concord thrive on secrecy?"
"It's still a public company," said Lucas, "albeit one that the public thinks is just a mere financial investment firm… not one that controls the world's companies as subsidiaries by buying enough shares of their stock to infiltrate and subvert their boards of directors, forcing them to assist us in our agendas."
Katya looked at Lucas in utter confusion as Lucas said, "I also think that there are plenty of men here that would be suitable partners for you. Perhaps share a dance with a few of them–"
Putting her hand up and shutting her eyes for a moment, Katya said, "I'm not interested in dating, Lucas."
"Even if you don't want to date one, or several like I tend to…"
"I'm not interested in becoming a man-eater, either."
"...you could always keep various men by your side, simply for the sake of hiding from the public your true intentions. The money you earn from ruling the world can buy you anything and anyone."
Now Katya was even more confused. "Lucas, what do you mean by…" Then it hit her. "You're planning on having me take your place as the CEO of Concord."
"Once I pass or decide I'm unfit to lead, yes," said Lucas.
Katya shook her head for a moment. Her face was red.
"Why? I'm nowhere near fit to lead."
"There may come a point where you have no choice," said Lucas. "But I'll guide you along the way. I wouldn't trust Concord to anyone else."
"Not even Afanasy?"
"Especially not Afanasy."
Then a door opened behind them.
"Speaking of which…" said Lucas.
"Boss," said Afanasy. "The party's about to begin."
"And the meeting?"
"We're still waiting for a few of your other associates to arrive in person… as well as for Dante to win the party's Carnevale games."
"Has Sarah arrived?" said Lucas.
"Not yet," said Afanasy.
"Any signs of potential party crashers?"
"None so far."
"Save for the one I invited in," said Lucas. "Do me a favor, Afanasy, and have your men search for Elijah. My guards informed me that he went missing from his room."
"Copy that," said Afanasy as he walked down the staircase, followed by several guards.
Turning back to Katya, Lucas said, "It's time for you to host the party. I know the circumstances could've been better; what happened with Basim was unfortunate. Breathe deep… it'll be alright. You'll be magnificent, and even if you think you aren't Katya… You are to me. You're my daughter."
"Thank you Lucas," said Katya as she and Lucas approached the edge of the balcony and looked down at the crowd, who began to clap and cheer upon seeing the two of them.
"Welcome to the party!" said Lucas. "My sincere gratitude to everyone who made the journey here. I'm also grateful to those of you who have donated to Concord's philanthropy fund for investing in green technologies to combat global climate change, which is a cause near and dear to my heart. But that isn't why we're all here. Tonight is a night of celebration, as my daughter, Katya, is turning 25. She is the light of my life, and I believe that someday she will bring about the renaissance of transhumanism… and make an even better leader than I. Everyone, give a warm welcome to Katerina Winter!"
The party cheered for Katya as she nervously smiled and waved.
"All right, Katya," said Lucas. "I have my work cut out for me now. You have your fun cut out for you. Oh, and in case you need help speaking to the crowd…"
He handed Katya a piece of paper.
"...here's a draft of a script I prepared for you."
"Thank you father."
"Good luck," said Lucas as he smiled at Katya.
Katya nodded to Lucas as he walked toward the door on the balcony that Afanasy came out of, then her smile went away as she saw Afanasy approach Elijah.
Elijah Miles- Age 29
Elijah was wading through the crowd to get a better glimpse of where Lucas went while Katya was giving a speech.
He could tell she wasn't used to giving speeches, as her voice was shaking.
"...hi everyone," she said. "In addition to food, drink, birthday cake, live music, and the unwrapping of my presents… among other festivities…"
Elijah looked around at the crowd, who were gossiping to each other as she spoke.
"She doesn't seem nearly as competent a speaker as Lucas."
"I hear she has a mental health condition of some kind… Dissociative identity disorder."
"Why does Lucas want her to lead the company if she's mentally ill then?"
"...there will be several sets of games to celebrate Carnevale as well," said Katya.
Elijah's eyes went wide upon hearing that.
"He's not even her real father anyway."
"I heard that she was an orphan who grew up on the streets of Saint Petersburg. Hence her Russian accent."
"That tracks, but I've heard an even crazier rumor about her…"
"Do tell."
"There will be four games hosted in the basement floor of the estate… The first is a ribbon collection competition, the second is capture the flag, the third is a race through an obstacle course, and the fourth is a fighting tournament in the estate's miniature arena."
"I've heard she was a human trafficking victim that Lucas rescued when she was a teenager."
"You mean she was a sex slave?"
"That as well as someone who was forced to compete in death matches for clients… probably ones similar to the 'fighting tournament' she says she's hosting."
"That part is hard for me to believe… She seems way too timid to be a fighter."
"Perhaps she's just traumatized from her past."
Elijah frowned upon hearing all of this.
"You can bet on the various… athletes… who have signed up to compete in the tournaments. Whoever bets the most on the winner, as well as the winner themselves, will be able to meet Lucas in person tonight."
Elijah's eyes went wide upon hearing this.
Could that be my ticket into the meeting? He thought. Not to mention that it could be my way to help the sex slaves escape… it's pretty clear that the 'athletes' didn't sign up for this.
"Thinking about competing, Elijah?"
Grasping one of his knives and preparing for a fight, Elijah said, "Afanasy."
"Relax, Elijah," said Afanasy. "I'm alone."
"That's good."
"I'd recommend for your sake not to try and kill me," he said. "I'd be very surprised if you haven't heard the old adage 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'."
"You're kidding," said Elijah with a chuckle. "You're Lucas's number two, and you want to form an alliance?"
"While I have my own goals for doing so, yes," said Afanasy. "I can help you reach the meeting, then help you escape, and then help you somewhat in making it to Rome."
"Rome?" said Elijah.
"That's where you'll find information as to the Ankh's whereabouts."
Elijah took his hand off the knife for a moment.
"What's your plan?"
"Obviously you'll want to try and win the games. Lucas has rigged them so his main competitor, Dante, and the person who will bet the most on him– me– will win and make it to the meeting. That's okay. The winner gets a golden mask with built-in lenses, a mouthpiece and earpieces, as well as a chip inside the mask that opens the doors into the restricted area where the conference room that the meeting will take place is located in. You'll just have to steal it from Dante."
"Why even participate in the games if I can just steal it?" said Elijah. "That'll just blow my cover!"
"That's the only way to get close to Dante," said Afanasy. "Needless to say that I had Monique spy on you and Katya, then talk to you and plant the idea of stopping the trafficking ring here to cause a distraction in your head. I also know that your friends in KeepLeg are on the way to bail you out."
"You listened in on my call!" said Elijah. Putting two and two together, he said, "So you lied to Lucas about there being no intruders."
"Technically I told the truth," said Afanasy with a grin. "They're not here yet, after all."
Elijah sighed.
"I made a deal with Monique to keep her from being killed in the games," said Afanasy. "You're to take her place."
Sighing, Elijah said, "All right, Afanasy. I guess I could use your help. But let's be clear: the moment I suspect you're about to stab me in the back, this alliance is off."
"I wouldn't expect anything less," said Afanasy as his grin widened. "I'll see you at the games."
Frowning as Afanasy left to meet up with his guards, Elijah thought, I don't trust him in the slightest… but if I want to escape and find the Ankh, I've got no other choice but to work with him for now.
Ezio said to Elijah, "These Carnevale games… I participated in similar ones during the real Renaissance age to gain access to a meeting as well. Do you need me to take over?"
"No," said Elijah, "I can handle myself."
Nodding, Ezio said, "Buona fortuna. And Elijah?"
Elijah turned to Ezio and raised his eyebrow.
"I am sorry for raising my temper at you and Katya earlier," he said. "I still disagree with your motivations, but I hope you are able to make it to the meeting, to uncover Lucas's plans for the world."
"It's fine," said Elijah. "I'm used to people not liking me because of my motives."
"When I infiltrated the Vatican to assassinate Rodrigo Borgia the first time, my mind was clouded by vengeance. While your motive doesn't seem to be vengeance… you should know. I suspect even the Ankh won't bring your family back… just like killing Rodrigo wouldn't have brought back mine."
"I still have to try," said Elijah.
"When I entered the vault underneath the Vatican, I learned of the Prophecy, of the end of the world. That's when I heard the name of your father, Desmond. While I see that he saved the world… and I finally gained insight into what I was fighting for all those years ago… I believe that said prophecy is still ongoing, given that Desmond unleashed Juno… You will have to be the one who takes down Juno… whatever it takes."
"Right… Taking down Juno is the plan," Elijah said.
As Ezio disappeared, Elijah looked out into the crowd, and made his way to the basement to participate in the games.