AC Syndicate: Isolated Files [OS]

Once Upon a December

London, 1872

In the streets of the City of London, footprints in the snow led to Kenway Manor. The cold stung the skin on the face of the person walking towards the property of the legendary Assassin who lived in the Golden Age of Piracy. As for the snow that fell from the sky and fluttered about because of the horse-drawn carriage traffic, some of the snowflakes settled on the top of the black hood or on the shoulders of the coat. The hooded woman shivered in spite of the heat, which she held back as best she could by wrapping her arms around herself. She was only in a hurry to push open the front door of the manor to forget the bitter cold of December for a while. This manor, dressed in the white coat of winter, had not been inhabited for a long time. It had even become the headquarters of the Jacob and Evie Frye Brotherhood after the death of Crawford Starrick. These places were mainly used for meetings, as an arsenal, and to make plans to counter the Templars and their allies who were trying to take over the city. It was still a better place for the Brotherhood than the train, which still continued to circle the city.

The young woman finally pushed the door of the manor open. She closed the door behind her, glad that she could no longer feel the slight cold, biting wind on her face. She removed her hood and admired the beauty of this dwelling, abandoned and then rehabilitated for the first initiates of the Brotherhood, of which she had been one. There was no one in the hall. The place even seemed deserted. But this was all normal. Many of the Assassins had returned to their families, and the end-of-year celebrations were near and had to be prepared. She thought again that she was going to spend them alone. At this thought, she sighed and looked down at the ground, seeing the snow that had turned to water on the toe of her boots. She shrugged and thought that she would spend the festivities here, surrounded by memories. And what memories...

The Assassin closed her eyes to make her mind work and remember a moment in that mansion. She then recalled an undercover mission, in the winter of 1869, for which she and Jacob had to prepare. They had to go to one of the Parliamentary Season balls to get information about the Templars' activities. Jacob and his partner were to pretend to be two rich young burghers. She opened her eyes and saw brother Frye talking to Freddy, right in front of her. The sergeant tried to adjust the twin's scarf, and he rolled his eyes, losing patience — and finding it all quite ridiculous for a simple undercover mission. There hadn't been this much going on at the Queen's Ball the night Starrick died.

"I had to work very hard to help you, Jacob. So if you want to go unnoticed, do it properly!"

The Master Assassin, dressed in a black three-piece suit with a jacket that ended in tails, didn't bother to answer. He did not take his eyes off the ceiling, as weary as ever. After adjusting the red scarf, contrasting with the white of the shirt, Abberline said he was finished. Jacob looked at the result before looking at his friend.

"I think it's not perfect enough," he scoffed.

The sergeant cocked his head to the side briefly, glaring at him. He wanted to answer, but a woman's voice behind him, with an audible smile, stopped him in his tracks.

"Don't answer, Sergeant. You'll only encourage him."

Jacob looked at the woman as Freddy turned to her, who was still descending the stairs before joining them. The Scotland Yard man blinked rapidly as the other Assassin hid his surprise — though the look in his eyes and the slight movement at the corner of his mouth gave it away. Abberline had never seen the brunette so dressed up, worthy of a true Lady. She was wearing a red and black ball gown, the first part of the petticoat of which was decorated with lace. The sleeves, wide and gathered straps, were as red as the second visible part of the underskirt. They left the young woman's pale and delicate shoulders visible. The bones of her collarbone were visible under her skin. The corset, as well as the wide petticoats of her dress, highlighted her slim silhouette and her bare bust. Her neck was adorned with a choker with a perfectly cut ruby pendant that matched the dominant colour of her ball gown. She had also dropped her untidy bun for a more elaborate one, but she had kept her trademark wisp of hair on her face. In her descent, it was possible to see that she had exchanged her Brotherhood ring for a silver, glittering rose ring. Seeing the faces of the two men, she smiled shyly, eyes downcast. She resumed her walk up the stairs.