Who We Are - AC / Mindcrack AU - Chapter Four

Who We Are – Chapter Four – “Abandoned, You Say?”

Nebris stood up slowly, careful to not get a head rush. All he remembered was assassinating the death dealer of the city, horrible pain in his shoulder, and their cryptic death-speech.

He slowly observed his surroundings, opening his eyes slowly. He was in a dark, drafty, abandoned watchtower of some sort, faint light filtering in through the grimy windows, illuminating the rickety top floor of the tower.

He was at the bottom floor, hidden in shadow. The stab wound in his shoulder throbbed in pain, yet it was bound in thick, blood-soaked cloth, however messy. His sleek robes were coated in dust and blood, and Nebris sighed. His robes would never be truly spotless, as the dust blown around by the winds in the city would stick to his robes no matter what, but he wasn’t one to get his robes really dirty either. At least, he tried to keep himself looking presentable.

Peering around, he realized the only way out was through the top of the guard tower; he didn’t really understand the meaning of that, but he could climb, so Nebris didn’t really consider it much of a trouble.

Grasping the ladder and pulling himself up, the assassin hissed at the jolting pain in his arm before reaching the top. Even though the bandage was secure on his shoulder, he knew it wasn’t enough to stop the pain biting at his arm.

Pulling himself to the top of the guard tower, he saw that there was a hole in the side of the tower, just big enough for a guard to carry someone else through. Slipping through the gap, he blinked at the bright sun. Last he remembered it was the stroke of midnight, yet the sun shone brightly as it dipped towards the horizon.

Shrugging to himself, he dusted off his robes as best as he could and set off among the rooftops, leaping from house to house. After figuring out where he was, it was relatively easy to find his way to the bureau, avoiding guards along the way.

Finally, he reached the bureau, welcoming to him. He heard worried voices inside, but he wasn’t on the roof, as he had taken to the streets, so he went to the back of the bureau, sliding his hands quietly over the wall.

Finally, he found an edge underneath his fingers, and pulled. The door opened with a sliding noise, revealing an opening just wide enough for an assassin to slip through.

“Who’s there?” Threatened a familiar voice, and as his violet eyes adjusted to the darkness, Nebris traced the sword pointed at his nose to its owner, Seth.

“Nebris!” Seth exclaimed, lowering his sword immediately. “We’ve been wondering where you were!”

Seth lead Nebris into the main room of the bureau, where Van, Pause and Vechs were waiting.

Nebris’ first question was abrupt and immediate. “Why was I abandoned in a watchtower?” He demanded.

“Nebris, my gods, I’m so sorry!” Seth leapt up, while Van looked slightly confused.
“Nebris, after you assassinated to the man, you passed out from blood loss. Vechs and Pause were both hit in the head, so they don’t remember much of the fight. But I got all of you out of there; Vechs and Pause were both wounded worse than you, so I thought it would be alright if I left you, temporarily, in a tower while I brought those two to the Bureau. But then when I came to retrieve you, the guards had already taken their position around the city and there was so many of them; I could not get back in to save you.”

Nebris nodded slowly. “I accept your apology. And your courage is admirable.” Nebris paused. “I will make sure when I meet with the Grand Master to mention of your deeds.”

Seth pulled his hood tightly over his head. “Thank you,” he muttered.

“One last question. How did this death dealer know we were attacking that night? I made stealth my top priority, made nary a sound, yet he knew I was there.”

Van shook his head. “Sadly, we don’t know. It could be citizens listening in on us, or thieves passing along the information.”

“Very well then. Thank you; all of you.”

And then the assassin leapt to the roof and disappeared into the dusk.

*later that night*

Vechs wandered aimlessly through the streets, trying somewhat to stick to the shadows like Nebris taught him to, but failing miserably.

He had been looking for any thieves or citizens hanging around the bureau, but it had proved unsuccessful and now he was just….wandering.

He had no-where to go and nothing to fear for once, so Vechs had decided, for once, to calm down and just… walk.

That was until he saw the thief.
~
Kurt had to steal. It was his living. He used to consider himself an honest man, but after his best friend had been killed by the ‘Grand Master’ of some creepy cult-like group, he had gone into a horrible depression.

And when he snapped out of it, his parents were dead, his sister was missing, and he had literally nothing. So he started stealing. And it became like an addiction.

He didn’t have much. He usually had enough money to get him through about a week’s time, and even less food or water. He rarely had enough to ever be comfortable or relaxed. But he managed.

He had been looking around for any distracted vendors, peering down the crowded streets, when someone tried to grab him.

So he did the natural thing. Kurt pulled away from the stranger – and ran.

But after a minute or so of running, he realized that one, his pursuer was not tiring, and two, that this person was not going to give up.

Huh. Everything had been strange since that assassination he had witnessed. But the lingering question stayed in his mind.

He was at the assassination. Him. The Grand Master of the cult-group. But he was on the wrong side.

Kurt couldn’t forget.

Who, in those four assassins, stood where?
-fin