Embracing The Light (Arno Dorian x OC), an Assassin's Creed Fanfiction

Chapter 31 : Emergency Plan

Later that day

It was noon when Arno came back to the inn after a long time searching for the Templars. He had not managed to find any clue for now, but remained determined to find them back. Actually, it was the very first time in months that the man was not completely falling into desperation. Finding Cormac back after all these years made him regain hope about everything in his life. He now truly believed that he would be able to finally make peace with his past and heal his old wounds once and for all.
All of this, thanks to her.
Arno did not quite like the way he had left Rosalie alone this morning, nor the way their conversation from last night had ended. Even though she was struggling to understand him sometimes, Rosalie still tried to remain by his side and never let him down, which Arno was grateful for. She was the reason why he could name the killer of his father to this day. She had done more for him than he could ever do in return, which was why he felt the urge to speak to her as soon as possible, in order to make her understand that he had never forgotten her.
But when he opened the door of their bedroom inside the inn, he was surprised to see it deserted. All of their stuff were there, but Rosalie was nowhere to be seen. With a frown, Arno tried to guess where the woman could possibly be.
"Oh Monsieur, you're finally back !" he then heard a female familiar voice from behind and quickly turned around to face whoever it was. The man was surprised to see Constance shyly standing by him outside of the room with a paper in her hands. "I have something for you."
"What is it ?" Arno calmly asked.
"An old woman came here today and asked me to give you this." she then handed him the paper — which was a letter —. Once Arno glanced down to it, his heart gave a lurch as soon as he recognized the Templars' seal on that same letter. The man quickly grabbed it and hurried to read, with a confused Constance staring at him while the worst scenarios were playing in his mind.

« We have your partner.
Bring the Apple to this address today, or you won't see her again. ✙ »

The man clenched his jaw and struggled to keep himself from tearing down the paper to pieces as he read those few words. At that moment, he could only feel his blood rushing in his veins and his whole body boiling with rage. They had Rosalie. Every single time he was turning his back on her, she and Arno were instantly becoming vulnerable. The enemy had understood that, but it still seemed like neither Rosalie or the young man had realized it yet. And now, once again, they had to pay the price.
Constance's voice brought the man to earth. "Is everything fine, Monsieur ?" she asked af is she had sensed something was odd.
He first tried to contain himself, ignoring her question. Then, he approached the maid and asked. "Who was that old woman who gave you this ? How did she look like ?"
She thought for a moment before she replied. "She had grey hair and brown eyes, she was around my height. She told me her name was... Madame Dorian, I believe."
It took Arno some time to understand what this really meant. "Merci (Thank you), Constance." he blankly said to the maid.
After she quickly nodded with a polite smile and left, Arno did not wait to close the door. Right after, he just stood there, staring ahead, still trying to process what he had learned. Marie Dorian had trapped Rosalie. Marie Dorian was a Templar and Rosalie was in danger.
The man ended up leaning with both of his hands on the desk and keeping his eyes shut to contain himself and think clearly. He had so many questions in his mind at that instant, but Rosalie was his priority. He had to make up a plan and fast.
The intentions of the Templars were very clear. They wanted the Apple and nothing else —at least, that was what he thought. But Arno knew he could not blindly trust them to release Rosalie if he did what they wanted, which was why he was not going to go there bared handed.
The man first glanced over his shoulder and quickly thought. The next thing he did was to near the bed and kneel down to slip his hand beneath it. A few seconds later, he pulled out his brown box that he had brought from Paris and that was hidden under the bed since the day they had arrived in Vienna. Arno opened the lock and, as he lifted the lid, he was blinded by the light coming out from the Sword of Eden that was inside the box all along. The weapon remained damaged from the last time it had been used, but was still more powerful than any casual sword.
It was time to initiate the emergency plan.