Test of Faith

Chapter 68

"Hold a moment."

The trio had finally reached the abandoned brewery but stopped at Haytham's words. He peered around the corner, glaring at the guards. "Church, you clever bastard," he hissed bitterly.

He looked to the Assassins. "I was hoping I could wave you two past the guards, but he's replaced most of them with men I don't know...hmm...." 

Mirabella rolled her eyes, starting forward. "Then let me kill them so we could move on," she snapped impatiently.

Connor quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "It is unwise to do that on a crowded street," he advised gently. Mirabella scoffed, turning away sharply to brood. 

"Well I should be able to pass without arousing suspicion, but you two...." Haytham mumbled in disappointment.

He went to approach the brewery when Connor stopped him, as well. "No - we do this together or not at all," he said sternly. "Then what do you propose?" 

Connor stood tall, confidently. "I will find a guard who is off duty and take his uniform," he suggested. "Certo, e starò qui a non fare niente. (Sure, and I'll stay here doing nothing.)" Mirabella muttered, kicking the ground. 

"Less of the immaturity, dear. You've had no trouble finding your way around in the past," Haytham scolded. The Assassin clenched her teeth, but didn't say anything in reply. 

"Very well, Connor. We will wait here then," Haytham decided, then sat down. Oh? Now he's speaking for me?

"Of course you will," Connor sneered, voicing Mirabella's silent displeasure. "Oh, I'm SORRY. Would you like me to come along and hold your hand, perhaps? Provide kind words of encouragement?" Haytham taunted sarcastically.

Connor merely waved him off and walked away, leaving Mirabella alone with him. She ignored the burning feeling Haytham's gaze left on her. 

"Are you ever going to drop the childish act?" he asked bluntly. She clenched her jaw, still avoiding him. "It is not immaturity, it is anger. I cannot be distracted," she said curtly. 

Haytham quickly stood up, stepping into her line of sight. "Why are you suddenly so reserved about how you feel? I remember a time when an emotional bond meant everything to you, why has that changed?"

Haytham could barely finish his sentence before Mirabella cracked. "Because it costed me everything!" She turned to face Haytham, her pale eyes wide and her cheeks red.

"It costed me the respect from my Assassins, from my own brother! It costed me my rank as Mentor of the Brotherhood! I've been painted as a traitor and casted out of the only thing I've known for my entire life!"

The air was thick and weighed heavy with tension, and Mirabella's rigid posture slackened. "All of this loss...because of the love I have for you. No matter how many times I proved my loyalty afterwards...I was never enough."

Her voice was barely above a whisper by the end, and Mirabella didn't realize she had been crying. Her eyes were glassy as she stared at Haytham's unreadable expression, and she was suddenly overwhelmed.

A tidal wave of emotions overcame her the longer she stared at him, emotions she had kept bottled up for years. 

Haytham found himself backing away when Mirabella stalked forward, and he was pinned to the wall. He looked down into Mirabella's bloodshot eyes and saw longing.

Her hands that were place on his shoulders pulled him into a heated kiss. His arms instinctively fell around her waist, grabbing her tightly and pulling her close. 

Mirabella broke the kiss for a brief moment, looking up into Haytham's eyes. "Even after everything, your charming arse still claims my heart."