AC Syndicate: Isolated Files [OS]

Cousin's Wrath [Alternative]

[Image of Shinzui, edited by myself]

[Short story inspired by "Not Up to Standards" from the musical Adam and Eve: The Second Chance]

Once again, I took the liberty of making a little anachronism in this OS. In the Syndicate era, we didn't celebrate birthdays. It was just another day.

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Despite the months since the dinner at Sophie March's house, Brittany was still determined to seduce Jacob. Tonight she had decided to follow Victoria on one of her escapades. One of her flunkies, whom she had put in her pocket, had informed her that she had seen her on several occasions with the man she had been lusting after for weeks. She wore a rather discreet outfit, and one that was not her usual attire. With the darkness of the night, it would be difficult to be recognised by her cousin, who was rather physiognomic.

At the turn of a street that Victoria had just taken, Brittany saw that Jacob was there. The Bolton daughter called out to her friend, smiling audibly, and he turned as soon as he heard his name. The vile cousin witnessed the huge grin on his face as the brunette approached him. The Assassin put his hand on the back of the lady after having greeted her with respect and he accompanied her in her steps. The Westminster beauty and the terror of the underworld looked at each other for a few moments, sharing their joy at finding each other again, before looking out onto the street that lay before them. They looked in the same direction, like lovers. From a distance, Brittany followed them.

As she watched them, she noticed that something had changed between them. They seemed very close. Despite the thought in her mind, she hoped it was not true. The duet turned down another street, leading directly to a dead end. Jacob had told her of a surprise, information the rival cousin had missed because of the passing carriage. The Assassin had missed the birthday party of the Reid heiress, and he wanted to make up for it tonight.

But something made the dark-haired man suddenly stop. He had the impression of being followed. With a questioning look Victoria asked him what was going on. As soon as she saw him turn around to scan the street, Brittany hid in a wall recess and waited a few moments.

"What's going on, Jacob?" Victoria asked worriedly again.

"I think we're being followed," he suspected with squinted eyes.

"Who could be following us?"

"I have no idea."

Jacob looked in another direction and whistled a brief melody that only the Rooks knew. Through these two notes, the nearby green jackets knew to cover their backs. Then, as he resumed walking, he pretended to whistle a happy tune. This was so that the signal could cover part of the street, and stir up as many Rooks as possible in the area. Victoria, despite her concern, tried to look in the same direction as Jacob, walking alongside him. When Brittany heard the footsteps receding, she emerged from her hiding place, nearly losing the two browns at the corner. The vile cousin snarled and cursed them both as she continued to follow them.

The Assassin and the lady came to a small square. In a gazebo lit by a few lanterns placed in a circle, a young man played a violin in the centre as soon as he saw them. It was a gentle melody, bordering on the romantic. A little further ahead was a bench with very large five-branched candlesticks at each end. There was nothing extravagant about it, but the simplicity and the gesture touched the Bolton daughter. Her voice was lost before she even tried to say thank you... though thank you was not enough. Jacob looked tenderly at the young woman with a delighted smile. He loved to see her eyes sparkle. He took her hands and turned to her, still looking as if he was in love with her. The brunette's face, like a mirror, reflected the tenderness she saw on Jacob's.