A/N:This is my first story. Any reviews are welcome. This story is made in collaboration with Castleleapard20

Reedited by PoetHrotsvitha who I can't thank enough for taking the time to do this.

I do not Own AC syndicate

The chanting was loud, the aroma of sweat and vomit encasing the pub in a thick fog, assisting the alcohol to cloud the thoughts and clear the minds of tired gangsters, exhausted from today's efforts but rejuvenated nonetheless. The Assassin giggled like a child and reached for a beer from his friends.

"Oi mates," Jacob said as he grabbed two red-cheeked gangsters, "How does it feel to be a Rook, in the flesh?" Reaching around, he took another swig.

"Damn good sir, I'm still pissed I spent so much of my own blood for those damn thugs."

"Well boys, for all the blood, sweat and tears you spend here with the Rooks, you're going to make damn sure- and I mean Goddamn sure- you drink an equal sum." He pointed to the bar. "My brothers, blame whatever happens here tonight, on that very bottle of rum." He turned away, giving them a pat on the back

"You're a poet

By the time Jacob made it to the bar, he was feeling a little unsteady. "Gimme the best you've got." He said to the bartender, his elbows resting on the wood.

"Ah, we got a brand new crate of whiskey in yesterday."

"'S long as it can get me pissed." The barman went off, leaving Jacob alone in his mind. Downing the last of his beer, he held the glass to his eye and watched as a single drop slid down the side of the glass, surrounded by evaporating silver foam. It was like those beaches he'd heard about in America. Soft, golden summer rays lit the shore there, opposed by the deep, blue water. A desert in itself, a vast expanse of nothingness, nothing but the light that glowed when the sun set, and the beautiful crashing noise it made on the sand. In his mind, the beach was empty for miles. No one but him, and his sister. Kissing passionately as the sun set and tangled together as lovers when the moon rose- a lump rose in his throat and he shook his head to remind himself of their kindred blood. Damn it all, he needed to be a lot more drunk.

"Oi! What's the holdup," he called the way the bartender had left. Jacob stood up in his seat and looked around, scowling, confused and frustrated. From this vantage point, he had a clear view when the door to the pub flung open, and e a young woman in a black and red hood strode in, walking through the crowd like a ghost with the stare of a devil. Her head turned in his direction and bright green eyes met his own. Evie, his twin sister, who wore a look that unmistakably signified the end of the splendid time Jacob was having. Time to move this somewhere private.

The bartender returned with his whiskey, pushing it towards him. "Sorry 'bout that boss, but we got a full house tonight."

Jacob looked down at the glass wistfully then to the approaching form of sister. "That's all right, just hold on to that for me." As he was getting up he quickly turned back around. "You know what, screw it." A little liquid courage couldn't hurt. He downed the drink in seconds, with enough enthusiasm to slosh some down his front.

Stumbling a little on stools and bottles, he worked his way up to the first floor. t He didn't have to look back to know that Evie was following. Whichever stealth maneuvers Henry Green had taught her, Jacob knew them just as well- or at least, he liked to think he did. Once they reached the second floor he walked into a room that they'd set up as an office . The space was barebones, with two desks and some shelves.. Collapsing into the chair and propping his feet on the desk, he waited for Evie to catch up. He managed a drunken sweep of his hand when she entered the room.

"Sweet sister, whatever have I done to ss-trouble you today?"

"Ahh, Jacob one day I swear on the queen's royal arse I will tear your head from your shoulders."

He responded with a short and powerful belch.

"Rude."

"Better out than in, I say."

Evie gave him a heated glare. "Jacob, you missed the meeting with Henry today."

At the mention of Henry, Jacob narrowed his eyes and into his own thoughts. Ever since they came to this city, Evie had spent most of her time with Henry. Plotting ways to take the city back from the templars. Evie barely spoke of anything other than Assassin business as of late.

Jacob respected Henry- against so much templar opposition, he still continued to hold his ground. But he was also jealous. Despite what people a"?hought of him, Jacob could be observant, and it would take a fool to miss how Henry looked at Evie when she wasn't looking.

He felt like he was losing his sister.

Before he could muse further, though, a hand slammed on his desk and brought him back to reality. Evie's angry face glared over him. "Jacob! Pay attention!"

Jacob recovered and gave her his usual cocky smile. "Sorry 'bout that, I guess the drink is catching up to me. What were you saying?"

Evie let out a breath of exasperation. "I said- do you know what I was supposed to be doing tonight?"

Jacob racked his alcohol riddled brain for the answer, but he could only come up with one idea. "Uhmm... Something to do with the Templars?"

"Correct, dearest brother. I was tasked with assassinating the Templar in charge of the steel mill. When I got there though, I found him dead. He was hung by a chain and partially burned. I overheard the guards talking about how a gang lead by a man in a black hood came in, killed their boss, and trashed the mill."

Jacob knew what she was talking about now, and a big smile appeared on his face. "Ohhh yes. The tosser who was buying little kids and forcing them to work themselves into a early grave. I don't know why you're so mad about that. The way I see it, I saved you a lot of work. You should be thanking me."

Evie's look of disbelief = turned to a scowl. "Thank you? For what? I was suppose to make his death look like an accident. To make sure there was no way they could tie it to us. Now, because you mucking it up, we may face retribution from the Templars!"

With every word that left her lips, Jacob felt his good mood leaving him. "Then let them come! Me and the Rooks beat them once, we'll do it again. It's time for the Templars to know that it's not their city any more."

"Jacob, this is not Crawley with a few Templar cells. This is London- the heart of Templer power in all of Europe. They control every aspect of society here, and the Rooks are still a new gang. Even with members of the gang you absorbed today, they still are not strong enough to contend with the Blighters ."

Jacob, furious at being put down, sprung from the desk and walked right into Evie's face where she could smell the whiskey on his breath. "Then what do you suggest we do, Evie? Skulk about nipping at their heels while they squeeze the world dry."

Evie didn't blink throughout his onslaught. "That's not what I meant. We can take the Templars down but we need to move with caution at this stage. Henry, you, and I are the only Assassins in the city. They think they've completely eradicated the Brotherhood here. That is an advantage that we can use. If you had heeded some of Father's lessons, you would realise this."

Jacob heard this but was too heated to listen to reason. "Father's lessons? Look where they got him. Dead in some alley."

When the words left his lips he knew he had gone too far. Before he could apologize, he felt something collide with his head and his world became black and white. He hit the ground hard; as his vision cleared, he saw Evie, cane in hand, stomping out the door.

As he lay on the ground of the office, he knew he screwed up big.