Chapter One - Shifting Loyalties

Morning:

"Miss Thorne, wait!" said the distressed butler, but the redhead ignored him completely and practically kicked the door to Crawford Starrick's office, walking straight to his table and slamming a letter on top of it.

"What is the meaning of this?" She asked, her voice furious.

The butler spoke; "Mr. Starrick I am so sorry, I tried to–"

Starrick calmly raised one hand. "It's alright, Charles, you may go. Leave Miss Thorne and I alone." he said simply, ignoring the searing, unblinking look that Lucy kept on his face and, as soon as the butler left, the Grand Master let out a deep sigh and looked at her. "What is wrong?"

She looked at him incredulous; "What is wrong? I ask you the same! What does this letter means?"

The Grand Master took the letter she offered him, managing to hide his surprise over her finding it. He ordered the letter to be kept sealed and hidden till he gave the order, how that reached Lucy's hand was beyond him and certainly was a trouble to be solved, but now the secret was out and he had to keep his cool, since Thorne certainly had no intention of keeping her's.

"It is true isn't it?" He said simply. "Only one of us can use the shroud and I have to keep this enterprise going, for the good of London and the world." He took a sip from his tea, suddenly finding himself very aware of his knife at the end of the table. "Even as we speak, the assassins take more and more of London–"

"And to that you'll discard me now I am not longer useful." Lucy spat back.

"That's not true." He pointed out. "I meant every word, Lucy, you did a good service to the order and I promise to take care of you, as a good friend would."

Those words brought such rage upon her she picked up the nearest object, a wooden reproduction of the Buckingham palace and threw it at his face with such fury that Crawford only managed to dodge it by an inch. It did, however, hit the window, breaking it with a loud shattering sound, landing on the street below and for the first time in the entire conversation Starrick looked like he was awake.

"MY GOD, LUCY! BE REASONABLE!" He screamed. "This is for the good of the world! For the order!"

"I thought I was no longer part of the order!" She responded sarcastically. "Your tone certainly implied it!"

"You were not supposed to read that so soon!" he screamed back, his rage over things not going his way finally showing.

At this point the door busted open and several templar guards poured in. "SIR, MISS, IS EVERYTHING OK?" asked the captain.

Lucy ignored the guards "GO TO HELL, CRAWFORD!" She screamed back, ripping both the templar cross at her shoulder and the ring from her finger, throwing both at him. "You can keep your damn order, but you're never getting the should!".

Those words finally caused Starrick to snap, his face contorting in fury; "Let's see about that!" He looked at the guards. "DIDN'T YOU HEARD? She betrayed the order! GET HER and get the key!"

Just at this moment Lucy Thorne finally realized that not only she still had the key around her neck, but she was also surrounded by guards. She felt something cold go down her spine, but her courage always did rise in these moments. Lucy Thorne was no coward and there wasn't one meek bone in her body, so she jumped to alert, looking for ways to escape.

Fortunately a few of the guards that came in where working directly under her and therefore slightly confused about the order given by the Grand Master. Being a bit faster than any of them and taking advantage of their confusion she threw a smoke bomb on the floor and ran out, managing to escape through the office door, making her way to the front door of the house in record time, only to trip over the model she herself threw out of the window, cutting her arms in the glass all over the floor.

Sometimes your mistakes just come back to bite you in the ass.

She managed to stand up just in time to see Crawford Starrick poking his head out of the window.

"GET HER!" he screamed at the templar guards and few blighters in the streets.

These guards immediately jumped into action, forcing Lucy to run for it. Without many options she jumped into a carriage and kicked the driver out, speeding away from the scene as fast as the horses could carry her.

Her mind raced more than her horses and her focus was just the one to get as far away from Starrick and his lackeys as possible, speeding towards Lambeth, recently conquered by the Rooks, which wasn't safe, but it was, at the moment, relatively safer.

She started to cool down as soon as she realized she was out of danger and the horses couldn't take running anymore. She slowed down the poor animals and abandoned the carriage, finding refuge in a dark alleyway. She took deep breaths and finally was able to calm down.

Her mother always reprehended her inability to control her temper, saying that it would be her downfall and here it was; it all downed on her. She couldn't go back home, it was crawling with templar guards. Those who used to be HER templar guards. It wouldn't be long till Starrick ordered Roth to send his Blighters for her and it wasn't like the Rooks would spare her either. There would be a prize on her head and a prize even greater on the key.

All her research. All those years and all that knowledge wasted away, soon to be taken by Starrick, it wouldn't be long till her houses, including the former Kenway Mansion, were raided, her fortune ransacked and that just barely took a backseat to how much her life was in the line. Who could possibly survive a city full of enemies who would kill you in a first chance? Where could she be safe now? Who could possibly go against the might of the Templars?

Well, it was obvious. Lucy looked upon the train station. The Templars knew that the home base of the Rooks was the train, but there was never any confirmation that the assassins lived there as well and creating trouble at a train station or the train lines, so essential for Starrick's own business, wasn't an option. For her, there was never any DOUBT they lived in the train.

Besides, she wondered how dear Miss Frye was doing after she shot her in the leg in the Tower of London. Perhaps, it was time to pay her a visit, hopefully, her offer would be enough to ward of any hard feelings from that little wound.

Afternoon:

"How is your leg?" It was the first thing Henry asked every time he came into her wagon. The bullet had only grazed her inner thigh, she bled and was forced to run, but it was manageable.

"It's been two days, my pride is the only thing that still hurts." It was true, Jacob and her were blessed with astoundingly fast healing to their bodies, but their pride was far less used to injury. She stood up to show that she could do so on her leg and walk just fine, before adding; "Still no news on her?".

"Actually, she was seen today going into Starrick's house."

"Did she–"

"No news of a chest or anything like that." Henry said hopefully "She likely didn't found it."

"She might have had." The master assassin rubbed her eyes.

"She still had the key around her neck." He added. Evie looked terrible, bags under her eyes from the lack of sleep, was almost like being out of commission to go around town and do things was far worse than running around and frankly, Henry was worried and willing to do or say anything to make her feel better.

"That means nothing…" She said dryly. Pressing eyes with thumb and forefinger, feeling tired. "Damn it." she mumbled under her breath before adding: "Thank you, Mr. Green, keep a look out for her, I'll continue my research."

"Oh, but that's not all!" Henry said a bit more enthusiastic. "There was some sort of commotion in his office."

"Commotion?"

"Yes, shortly after Miss Thorne went in… We still don't know what went down, but I am looking into it."

"I can help!" Evie shot up, ready to be out in the field again.

"I rather you do me a favor, please, it's important." He said, almost shyly.

"Yes?"

"Sleep." He said simply. "You look very tired and you need some rest. As I said before, I admire your passion, but you need some rest." He smiled at her. "Please?"

His eyes were pleading and that warmed her heart, but still, it made her feel useless and weak. Then again, she was tired and more time without sleep would make her even more useless. In the end, her more logical mind won. "Alright," and added quickly "but I'll still go out tonight."

"As long as you sleep a little." He smiled and extended his hand to grab her's. "Sleep well, Miss Frye." He said, leaving her wagon.

"Be careful out there, Henry." she whispered and removing just her coat, boots and hidden blade she snuggled into her bed.

Evening:

Quietly, she sneaked into the train, taking advantage to the crowd in the platform. Over her shoulders a green and yellow overcoat she had stolen from one of their gang after knocking out the bastard. Looking inside, to the left she saw a nice wagon with a sofa on it and a board with what seemed to be pictures of all the templars, most of whom they've killed the exceptions being herself and Crawford, the red X over Pearl making her grind her teeth in anger for a second, but she took a deep breath and pressed forward, all too aware her temper had gotten her into trouble that day already.

To the right a closed door and darkened wagon, but looking inside the recognized the black and red coat she saw covering miss Frye many times before, hanging from a rack. She opened the door without a sound and walked in.

Slowly she made her way with light footsteps to the bed. She could only see part of the head of the person sleeping, but she could tell easily it was Miss Frye. Even under the dim candle light her freckles were visible over the bridge of her upturned nose. A very pretty young woman, Thorne had to admit.

Now, she didn't know exactly what to do. Should she wake her up? Maybe. Would the assassin jump her and kill her without a chance to explain herself? Probably. Perhaps, waking her up like that wasn't a good idea.

Should she sit back and wait for the assassin to wake up? What would her reaction be? Maybe, letting her wake by her own volition was a better idea, there would be a greater chance of Miss Frye being groggy from that and she did looked properly knocked out, so much that Lucy turned around, putting her back to the sleeping assassin without fear, looking at the pictures hanging over the "fireplace". She found herself examining the assassin's wagon, while continuing her line of thought.

It was night. What if Miss Frye had retired already and Lucy would have to wait till morning? What if her brother came in and– at this point there was a rush of covers being pushed aside and Lucy could turn just in time to have a body throwing her against the wall, moving her own dagger, using the flat side, just in time to stop the kukri that was coming directly to her throat from ending her right there and then and be met by a pair of concentrated green eyes focused on her, she also felt Evie's left hand pressing against her chest, palm right between her breasts.

There was a tense silence in which Evie didn't relent the pressure applied to her kukri nor did Lucy made any kind of movement, but it was understandable since both her hands where occupied holding her dagger in a defensive manner over her throat.

"Miss Thorne."

"Miss Frye." The templar responded in the same tone "Do you usually sleep with your hidden blade?" Thorne asked, looking at her left hand. "At least I assume that was what you were trying to do, and not just grope me."

Evie applied more pressure to the kukri and the curved blade actually touched Lucy's neck, a thin trickle of blood coming from the light wound, but Lucy didn't relent, grinding her teeth.

"What are you doing here?" The assassin asked.

"Crawford tried to kill me, I need your help!" She said, her voice slightly strained, but her eyes were set and defiant.

The assassin relented slightly; "What?"

"Crawford tried to kill me." She repeated, taking a deep breath. "I am not longer a templar." she moved the fingers in her left hand to show she no longer wore the ring and when that made Evie relent a bit more, she slowly moved to remove the green coat from her shoulder to show that the templar cross was now ripped away.

At this, Evie pulled away, but not without disarming the, apparently, ex-templar's from her dagger and throwing it on top of her bed, all the while not taking her eyes from Thorne.

"Why?" Evie asked, taking a step back.

Lucy removed the Rook gang coat and turned her back to Evie, crossing both hands behind her back and looking out of the train window. It was a calculated gesture in many ways. It had a double purpose; the first one being to show she trusted Evie wouldn't try to stab her in the back (again) and the second one; "I told him that I couldn't find the shroud and perhaps, it should be kept where it is. That is not meant to be used." to hide her lie. She then turned around and added; "He intents to get the shroud so he can rule London forever and he might." She cleared her throat, "I don't want that." Well that WAS true now. "It's too much power for one person, specially someone who wishes to do nothing to have the world under his thumb." As this words left her lips, she more she realized it was all true.

Evie didn't bought it and when she spoke, her voice was dripping with sarcasm "That's a pretty big change of heart, Miss Thorne."

Lucy grinned to herself for a second but it didn't show in her face, the girl was smart, that was undeniable. She put both hands on her back, thinking of what would convince her, when it occurred to her what could do it and so, she started to take off her coat.

As the redhead started to unbutton, Evie took a step back, surprised and puzzled, which soon passed when she saw the blood stains on her white shirt underneath. "Do you think I did this to myself?" Lucy said. "And if you need more prof of my intentions." She then took the key from her neck and extended her hand to Evie. "Take it, it's your."

The assassin looked at her, taking the key from her without any resistance on her part.

"If you help me recover it, of course, you'll have my research." She walked towards Evie. "And my resources. I am a very, VERY, rich woman, Miss Frye." She grinned. "All I want in return is the opportunity to help stop Starrick."

"You're offering too much, Thorne."

Lucy let out a scoff "This is barely enough to get started. You and your brother have no idea how far the tendrils of Starrick's influence reaches, I do. I guarantee you Miss Frye, what I offer is the bare minimum, but the information I have is a precious resource." She extended her hand to offer an agreement and to her surprise a devilish, and attractive smile came upon Miss Frye's face as she spat on her hand, leaving the redhead puzzled. "What?"

"Do it." Evie grinned. "So I know I can trust you."

Lucy looked at her in disgust, but spat on her hand and did what the assassin asked with a displeased expression.

Evie stared at her with that smile on her face, holding her hand for what felt like several HOURS, but was in fact a few seconds before finally letting her go. "Take of your shirt, let me clean those wounds."

Still mildly disgusted, Lucy complied.

Night:

After a whole night of tailing blighters Jacob could finally go back to his home, maybe get a drink in the wagon bar, get some sleep in his sofa and get ready for the heart attack he would give Freddy the day after. A part of him REALLY wanted to see his' expression when he finally told him it was Twopenny after all, he grinned to himself over that as he jumped on top of the train and went down to his wagon, saying goodnight to the rook standing in the other one.

"Evie?" He called, as it was his habit. His sister was not very happy lately, which was understandable. Usually he would tease her about these stuff, but he really didn't felt like it this time, she seemed genuinely frustrated and almost sad about being cooked up in the train for those two days, so, to cheer her up, he bought a bag of candies for her, selected by Clara herself… He also ate a few, but you could hardly blame the man, one gets hungry tailing a fiendish gang of bank robbers the whole night.

He knocked at her cabin door and called her again. Getting no response he gently opened the door, calling her once again. Inside, he saw a shirtless woman, wearing nothing but her corset, with bruised arms, sitting on Evie's bed.

A red headed woman.

A woman that was most certainly not Evie.

Yet he asked: "Evie?"

"… No." Lucy responded, matter-of-factly.

"I am here, Jacob." He heard a voice behind him, and it was Evie with a roll of gauze in her hand.

"Who is that?" Jacob asked. "She looks familiar." He stared at her.

"That's Miss Lucy Thorne." Evie said simply, picking up a bottle of some clear liquid that the assassins used to clean superficial wounds since the days of Masyaf, but couldn't go back into the wagon, since Jacob held her by the upper arm.

"Excuse us a second, Miss Thorne, I need to have a little word with my sister." and pulled her back into his wagon, closing the door; "Dear sister, I have the impression you forgot what the expression, 'assassination target' means." He said in a sarcastic whisper. "I understand her assassination didn't went as you wanted to, but this is too much. What the hell is she doing here?"

"Starrick tried to kill her." Evie said simply. "She came to look for our help."

"And why did he tried to kill her?"

"Apparently, she had a change of heart." Evie said, and the crook in her eyebrow told Jacob all he needed to know.

"You don't believe that." He stated his voice even a lower whisper.

"Of course I do." she said, also in a whisper and he grinned at her tone, slightly, but soon went to a serious expression that really didn't work with his face. "Trust me." She added.

"Don't I always?" He grinned. "Alright, you can keep a pet templar, but only if you promise to clean after her." Evie rolled her eyes and went back into her wagon, followed by Jacob."

"Well, Miss Thorne." Jacob said, in grandiose tone that privately reminded Lucy of Roth. "Now that my sister has explained everything, I'd like to tell, welcome, make yourself at home and don't try anything or I'll kill you." He smiled at her. A smile would had been friendly, if she was deaf. "Your choice, Miss Thorne."

"Thank you, Mr. Frye." Lucy responded sarcastically and added. "I rather live."

"Fantastic! We shall get along very well then!" He tipped his head at her and his sister and left.

"Is he always like that?" The ex-Templar asked.

"No." Evie responded, examine her wounds and swabbing the clear liquid into some gauze and rubbing it on Lucy's wounds, the templar sucked air between her teeth, but said nothing of pain. "He usually doesn't give warnings." Evie smiled, looking directly at the her before adding; "You're special."

"Charmed." The redhead responded with a grimace; "How is your leg?"

'This is going to be fun.' The assassin thought, with irony.

–(tbc hopefully)