Test of Faith

Chapter 76

~~~~ Three months later

Connor stood in front of the three graves in silence, his gaze shifting between each of them. Despite his calm demeanour, his jaw was clenched, as well as his fists.

His face was twisted in rage and anguish, but it was covered by his hood. He knew what had to be done now - he knew since the day Gianni returned from New York with Claudio's dead body.

Connor dreaded what was to come, what he was now tasked to do, and his squared shoulders slumped. "It...it is not possible," Connor had argued. 

"I send Claudio to New York to find her and I find him dead in the streets - trust me, Connor, it is VERY possible," Gianni had spat back, seething.

The boy lowered his head and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to try and calm his nerves. He had been unprepared for his Mentor's next words, his almost immediate instructions.

"You are to kill Mirabella Auditore, along with the rest of your Templar targets."

Connor remembered he had been overwhelmed with tears the night he was given the order. He had not shed tears since his mother was killed, which made him hesitate. 

However, the longer Connor stood there, staring at the fresh grave, the angrier he felt. He knew what he had to do.

~~~~

Mirabella had never felt or acted the same since that day. It had been three months since then, but it was no surprise to the people of the fort that Mirabella became recluse.

Not only had she watched one of her apprentices get killed, but Armino had managed to drag himself after her back to the fort before falling dead himself. 

She felt incomplete without her loyal companion by her side - Armino had been with her for her entire life. Haytham attempted to understand her pain, but for the first month she had pushed him away. 

Now, she lied awake in bed, with Haytham fast asleep at her side. Mirabella was approached by Charles with a strange offer, one she had immediately declined.

She felt appalled by his question, as though it were her only chance at safety - a cowardly option. She turned to look at Haytham when he shifted in his sleep, and he pulled her closer. 

She smiled softly, inching closer to him and placing her hand on his. Mirabella felt safe when she was in the fort, especially with Haytham, and Charles' question drifted back into her thoughts.

She pursed her lips as she thought it over, and she found herself curling up in Haytham's arms. It went against everything she had ever known, for her entire life.

It meant that the death of her parents would have been for nothing, as well as her getting her revenge on Reginald Birch. 

But she was estranged now, casted out of her own Brotherhood - she knew what would happen if they found her.

No matter what she did, what she chose to do, Mirabella would be her Creed's primary target. She slowly uncurled and moved away from Haytham, making sure she did not wake him.

She stood up from the bed, picking up her tunic and trousers. With the softest of footsteps, Mirabella crept out of her bedroom. She made her way quickly down the hall, making sure she wasn't seen.

She soon found her desired room, a dim light visible from underneath the door. She stood there, staring at the door with wide eyes as she contemplated her decision.

I have no choice...this is the only way. Mirabella raised her closed fist, knocking lightly on the door three times. She waited patiently for a few moments before the door opened, revealing a distracted but tired Charles. Before he could speak, Mirabella cut him off. 

"I'll do it."