Souls Through Time (EzioxOC/DesmondxOC)

Chapter 3 - Claire

September 16th 2012, 7:30 am

As Desmond and Claire moved deeper into the sanctuary, the air turned noticeably cooler, carrying a faint draft that whispered through the ancient stone corridors like a ghostly breath. They stepped into a vast circular chamber, the walls soaring up to a high domed ceiling supported by crisscrossing beams and arches that had withstood centuries. Silent statues lined the room's perimeter, figures of Ezio's lineage carved in stoic relief, their faces etched with both pride and resilience, each figure a silent witness to the passing of time.

Desmond paused just past the chamber doors, his eyes narrowing as they swept over intricate carvings near the room's center. Only he could see the faint blue glow that marked the symbols, ancient patterns twisting across the stone like veins, pulsing faintly with something long-forgotten yet fiercely enduring. He knelt beside one of the markings, reaching out instinctively, his fingertips hovering just above the symbols.

Shaun and Rebecca followed them in, their footsteps echoing off the stone as they took in the solemn grandeur of the chamber. Claire hung back a few paces, watching Desmond intently, noting the subtle tension in his posture as he traced his fingers over the mysterious markings. She knew he was seeing something she couldn't—a vision exclusive to him, as if the stone itself was speaking to him alone.

Desmond's breath hitched softly, breaking the room's reverent silence. "It's something Ezio left behind," he murmured, eyes fixed on a cluster of faint numbers illuminated by his Eagle Vision. "1419... 1420... 1421."

Curious, Claire moved closer, resting a light hand on his shoulder as she peered over, but all she could see was a tetragram etched into the stone, a solid symbol where he saw only delicate veins of light. "You think it's a code?" she asked, her voice pitched low to match the quiet reverence of the chamber.

Desmond shook his head slowly, his fingers tracing the glowing lines. "I don't know... Maybe dates? Or something else he wanted us to find."

Just then, his hand flew to his temple, his expression twisting in sudden pain. His breathing grew sharp and uneven, like he'd been struck from within by a force only he could feel. Claire's heart jolted, her fingers tightening around his arm as she instinctively reached out, her gaze searching his face with mounting concern. The dim lights cast deep shadows across his features, accentuating the strain in his jaw and the tightness around his eyes.

"Desmond?" Her voice softened, slipping into an urgent tone as she tried to steady him. "What is it? What's wrong?"

He squeezed his eyes shut, his breaths coming in quick, shallow bursts. Beneath her touch, she could feel his muscles tense, as if he were fighting to hold onto reality and keep the onslaught of memories from flooding over him all at once. Watching him struggle sent a fierce protectiveness surging through her, a visceral ache she could do nothing to ease.

After a moment, he managed a strained reply, his voice rough. "It's... it's nothing. Just... the Eagle Vision again. It's hitting me hard."

Claire's grip tightened on his arm, her eyes scanning his face with an intensity she didn't try to hide. She wished she could reach into his mind, pull him back, ground him, but all she could do was keep her hand on him, letting him feel her steady presence.

"Hey, you've been through a lot today," she murmured, her voice gentle. "Maybe you should take a minute. Let yourself breathe."

For a moment, Desmond's eyes flicked to hers, and she glimpsed a flash of gratitude beneath the pain. His expression softened just enough to reassure her, though the smile he attempted wavered around the edges. For one fleeting second, Claire thought he might actually listen to her.