Chapter 8

I walked downstairs where Mario's office is.

"There you are! I was wondering where you went last night." Mario said as I came to his sight.

"Ethan insisted that I rest." I said, chuckling.

"That's how he is, you'll get used to it."

"What did you want to talk about?"

"Here, have a sit." He motioned for the chair in front of his desk and I gladly took the offer.

"What was that letter about?"

"I noticed he was very tired this morning, what happened?"

"That ass insisted to sleep on the floor instead of sleeping in his own bed. I'm guessing he couldn't sleep at all."

Mario chuckled and then laughed.

"Classic Ethan... He always had a soft spot for ladies in distress."

"Well yes, I've noticed he likes to think with his dick instead of his brain."

He laughed again. "Being his uncle I should not have laughed to this but I have no excuse."

I chuckled and then looked at him. "How did you know my mother?"

"My parents were the mentors of the Brotherhood so she came into contact with them when she betrayed the Templars."

"How did that happen exactly?"

"She came into Monfard one day, saying she wanted to offer information. Me and Gabriel were preparing to take over the roles of Mentors for our parents."

"Information in exchanged to what?"

"To nothing, that's what surprised us. At first they didn't believe her but after she offered us several pieces of information that turned out to be true, we started to believe her.

"So she has betrayed the Templars before I was even born."

"Indeed. She planned on leaving the Templars with you when you turned 6 and start a new life somewhere far away so they would never find you."

"Without Lucas?" I asked surprised.

He sat there quietly looking at me. "Lucas was the one who told your father about her betraying the Templars."

I shook my head, and then looked down. "He loved her. Why would he do that?"

"Because he was a Templar above anything else. Templars before blood."

"That's not fair."

"Helen, you were taught that emotions make you weak. The Assassins teach you the exact opposite. And I'm glad you can see the errors of their actions. The Assassins are the opposite of the Templars, you need to forget everything you know about us and let us teach you how we work. Ethan tells me you decided to join us. Is that true?"

I nodded.

"Good. It would take at least two weeks before you can fight again and I have no doubt you're good at it. But if you want to be an Assassin it's going to take more than that. You need to learn how the Assassin Creed works, understand the world and what we fight for. Do not let your judgement be clouded by revenge."

"I won't."

He nodded and then looked at me.

"Will you ever be able to forgive me?"

"For what?" He asked confused.

"For playing a part in your brother and nephew's deaths." I looked down in shame and he noticed.

"Helen, it wasn't your fault." He lifted my chin up with his thumb.

"You know very well that you had no choice in this."

I nodded.

"How does Maria feels about me being here?"

"I do not know, but she smiled when Laura told her you woke up. She hasn't said a single word since she arrived here a while ago..."

"What? Why?" I asked frowning.

"From the shock I think... Laura told me that when she resisted to Gabriel being arrested, they-" He sighed. "You don't need to hear the rest, I think you already know."

I nodded again. I can't believe the Templars are this messed up.

"God, I brought this upon you, I should just leave you alone..."

"Please, Helen. How do you expect others to forgive you when you can't forgive yourself?"

"Perhaps you are right. Do you have something to drink? I really need some alcohol right now..."

He laughed and pointed a finger at me. "I like you already."

I smiled and watched as he took out from one of the drawers a bottle of red

wine and two glasses. My eyes widened.

"How did you get that? It's so expensive, I've been trying to get my hands on one for years."

"Perks of the job." He said chuckling.

He poured me a glass and we talked for what seemed like hours. He taught me the ways of the Brotherhood and the basics of the Creed.

I didn't expect to feel an affinity for it. After I'm done with recovery we will begin my training.

I don't know how much time we spent together but when Ethan walked in and looked between us confused we started laughing.

"I thought I told you to wake me up!"

"Well it's not my fault your uncle over here is such a nice company."

I tried to laugh again but this time it caused me pain. I grunted and Ethan came and put a hand on my shoulder. I gave him a reassuring nod.

"Yes, Helen knows how to have a good laugh." Mario said.

"Are you ready?" I nodded and got up.

"Thank you, Mario."

"Uh, Helen, before you go, I have something for you."

"What is it?"

Mario handed me some clothes that were folded. They were dark and they had a cape.

"Take them."

"Are you sure?" I said as I took them from his hands and unfolded them. They were just like Ethan's, but instead of being white, they were black.

"Yes. You need a proper outfit now that you are an Assassin. I wanted to give those to my first born but that opportunity never showed. The least I can do is give them to you."

" Thanks a lot." I said smiling.

"You will also need this." He took out a hidden blade from his drawer and handed it too me.

I gasped in surprise and noticed it looked just like Ethan's.

"It used to be mine but now I don't use it anymore so now you have the whole outfit. Since Ethan has his father's vambrace and outfit you're basically twins in outfit. Ethan will teach you how to use it after you get back."

"Thank you, Mario."

"Now go. Get that codex page back."

We both nodded and then left.

I went to go change and it felt so good to wear Assassin robes. It felt like they were made for me. I flicked my wrist to activate the hidden blade and was surprised to see how easy it was.

When I came out of the room I noticed Ethan had a wide grin on his face.

"You look good."

"What do you mean, I always look good."

We both laughed and when he saw that I put a hand on my stomach to try and stop the pain, he sighed and then carried me out of the citadel to the stables. He let me down and headed towards one of the horses.

"Want to share a horse?" He asked, teasing me.

"Are you sure that's a good idea? I might kill you if you piss me off."

"You can barely walk. I think I'll take the chance. Besides, the other horses are Mario's and I don't want to injure them somehow."

"Coward. " I said under my breath but he heard me.

"Watch your mouth, little one.".

"I'm not little, asshole."

"Get on the horse and shut up."

"No."

"Come on, I just want those codex pages and then we can each go our way."

I sighed and then got on the horse with his help. He looked at me and then got up behind me.

After a while of riding he started to laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"You."

"Oh?"

"You being in love with my brother. You were so dedicated to your Templar life it's hard to believe you could be in love with an Assassin."

"Felix always thought he could unite the Assassins and Templars, make peace between us in order to create a better future. When he saw that it's not possible, he asked me to run away with him. Hell, he proposed to me that night."

"He did what?!" He yelled in my ear.

I put my hand to my ear and he apologized.

"He proposed. We were up at our spot and I still remember the words he used. 'Let's run away together, get married, have children, and just be done with this war—"

"What was your spot?"

"The tower you stayed on on your last night together. You have no idea how long it took for me to get over him."

"When did he proposed?"

"When we were 14 I think. That means 4 years after we became friends. After that, I needed a while to get over him and he moved on by spending all his money on women and wine."

"And why did you say no?"

"Because I knew he would've never forgave himself for leaving you and your family behind. Family is what mattered most to Felix and running away with me to start one wouldn't have been fair to yours."

"I didn't know you are so selfless."

"You just started to get to know me, what did you expect.? Just you wait until we better know each other, you will want to get rid of me."

He chuckled and then spurred the horse forward with his heels.

It was almost night time by the time we reached the palazzo.

Lorenzo has put guards in case one of us would return. I guess he didn't receive word of my uncle's death.

"What are we going to do now?"

"Have you seen my new cape? It has the Medici crest on it. Which means..." He stopped to let me continue.

"Now that you are an ally of the Medici, you can get inside. But what if they don't let you?"

"Then I'll blame someone for killing them."

"You can't do that! Lorenzo will eventually find out."

"No, he won't. Stay here."

I sighed and then watched him as he got off the horse.

He went over to the guards and pointed in my direction and then turned around and negotiated with them for a while before they finally agreed to let us in.

He came back to the horse and helped me get down and then carried me inside while one of the guards opened the front door for us.

"How did you manage to convince them?"

He chuckled. "I told them you're pregnant and that you're not feeling good. They even offered to help if you need something!"

"You did what? What will happen when they notice I'm as flat as water?"

"We'll just say you lost the baby."

" You freaking bastard..."

He laughed and then put me down in one of the chairs in the kitchen.

"Now, what painting is it?"

"I don't know... I think it's that one." I said pointing at the painting on the wall behind him.

I saw the painting glow in gold and I was sure I had the right one.

I tried to get up but when I failed he offered to carry me.

"No, I need to recover. I can't do that if you carry me around all the time."

"At least let me help you, it's been a week and you can barely even stand."

I nodded and then let him wrap his arm around my shoulders to help me stand.

We walked over to the painting and he let go of me. I took the painting down and tore it apart. Inside I found a key, that according to my uncle would unlock  the door.

I put the key in the door and twisted it, hearing a click and then seeing the little door open.

I took out the codex pages and looked to see which one is deciphered.

"This is it." I said as I unfolded the scrolls and started reading them.

One of them was in what seemed another language and the other one was fully decoded.

If you are reading this, then it means you have fulfilled a part of your destiny.

You don't know who I am, but you must know this. I am your ancestor, Altair Ibn-La'Ahad, and I am an Assassin.

The mentor of the Levantine Brotherhood to be exact. I don't know how it came to you being born in the Templar Order but you made the right choice by joining the Assassins. Like your mother, you have seen their errors.

Your father knows you have Assassin heritage because of this page, which he had read, when you weren't even born, just before your mother betrayed them and joined my brothers.

They were hoping to use you against us, that's why they trained you in climbing and other things that are part of the Assassin's expertise.

They also knew about your gift, which influenced their decision on using you against us because none of them has had it.

Do not, and I mean this, do NOT leave the Assassins. They are your family, this is how it is meant to be.

The Apple has shown me the future. I knew you would eventually join them because you found out about your father's acts upon your mother. However I did not expect you to join them because of your sense of duty. I expected you to join them because of revenge.

Do not let revenge consume you. I have been there and it is not a good path to go down because once your vendetta is done, you will be left with nothing but grief Revenge is not the answer.

I know your new ally, Ethan, has been looking for the seals needed to open the bars that hold my armour, but there is something else there for you as well.

The last tomb you will find, there will be two seals, one for the last statue and one for mine. What you find inside my statue is my gift to you, to honor the decision you made today.

This codex does not go on the wall with the other codex pages. It is simply just an informative piece of paper. The Apple has shown me what would happen if I didn't write this.

You don't need to know what happened, but it was way, way worse than what has already happened to you. Me writing this page has changed your future for the better, trust this. Always follow your heart, but listen to what your head and gut are telling you as well.

If you don't know what to do, ask Ethan. You two are now tied forever. You will guide each other and be there for each other and don't ever part ways because you two have a bright future ahead that connects both of you. In order for future generations to succeed in their mission, you have to stay together. However, I can not tell you any more than this. This is all you need to know.

My life is coming to an end now, this is the last codex page I need to write. It was a good life that had its ups and downs but it made me the man I am today, and I would not have it any other way.

I handed the codex to Ethan to let him read it as well.

He looked at the codex and then back at me for several minutes before finally pulling me in to a hug.

"I am an Assassin. I was always meant to be an Assassin."

I said as I hurried my head in his chest and started sobbing.

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