Rookery ~ Assassin's Creed Syndicate

Chapter Twenty Three

"You rocked up late yesterday." I grumbled from my bed. I had heard Jacob getting up and removing the blankets from himself. My back was to him and the side of my face was half buried in my pillow.

"Yes. I was helping Miss Attaway with the explosives. You know that." His voice was soft, quiet, gentle. "Are you alright? I feel as if you are hiding something from me. Some bottled up anger, perhaps. If so, I would like to know what is bothering you." I sighed heavily.

"Nothing is bothering me. I am fine. I'm just tired."

"Did you not sleep?"

"No. Not a wink. Now, get to work." He coughed.

"You aren't coming with me?"

"No. I'm going to try and get to sleep."

Of course, I had lied. I wasn't going to do any work that day due to Pearl. I knew that Jacob was off to help her again, and I wanted nothing to do with her, contact or not. Once he had left and told Evie and Henry that I would be sleeping for the rest of the day, I got dressed. I pulled on my blouse after peeling my night gown over my head. The buttons were hard to do up with my trembling hands and fingers, and I found myself having to sit down and take a few deep breaths to calm myself. Pure rage began to make me feel sick.

When I was calm once again, I finished buttoning my blouse and then threw my arms into the sleeves of my coat. I did up the belt in the front to make sure my coat didn't fly open while I ran. Then, I had to struggle to pull on my tight, leather trousers. My weapons came next. First my Kukri, my brass knuckles, and, finally, my bracer. I checked to see if it was still calibrated - which it was - and then opened the door from the carriage. It didn't lead to the one Henry and Evie were in, this one was simply home to just a few sleepy Rooks who had nowhere else to stay at night.

"Miss Faraday." One of the stronger men greeted me. I smiled back. "Where are you off to, then?" He asked in a hushed voice to avoid waking the others.

"To Mr Bell's shop. I have something I wanted him to take a look at." The Rook nodded. "Now, at the next station, I will be getting off." He nodded again with a wide smile.

"Well, get ready to get off." He pointed out of the open door. I saw the platform racing towards us.

"Ah, thank you."

My legs went bent slightly at the knee as I readied for my jump. As the first edge of the platform sped past me, I jumped, landing quickly onto the platform in a roll to make sure I didn't injure myself. A few of the businessmen were staring at me in a judgemental manner, but I was quickly on my way to leaving the station anyway.

I made it a point to remember exactly how to get to Mr Bell's shop. Two right turns, a left, another right then straight on. For whatever reason, I didn't trust myself with driving a carriage - ever - so I constantly chose to walk, whenever there was the option. I knew full well that I could drive a carriage quite well when I wanted to, but I always ended up panicking behind the reins. I walked slower when I got close to his shop, wanting to take in the crisp air for a while longer.

I finally decided to take a seat on a stack of empty crates outside of a fruit shop. Children scampered past, probably some of Clara's lot, giggling and even taking wallets from people's waists. I stopped one of them and offered them a couple of pounds between them. The small boy was more than happy to agree, and even managed to return the wallet discreetly with no one knowing any the wiser.

Once I was satisfied with my little break, I stood again and hiked up to Alec's door. I knocked quite loudly, just in case he was outside. Why he would have been, I wasn't sure, but it was something that had crossed my mind. The door was quickly torn open, and a flustered looking Alec stood in the doorway.

"Oh, hello, Carina." He gave a wide smile, gently brushing the front section of his hair back with a sigh. "What brings you here, dear?"

"I was hoping for some advice." I looked down at my feet, fiddling with my hands in front of me. I let out a nervous chuckle.

"I am happy to help. Come inside and tell me what you need." He opened the door wider and stepped to the side when he saw the urgent look on my face. I thanked him, briskly walking through to his main room. He only had his one wooden chair at his desk. "I am guessing you will be staying for a little while. Take the chair. It will do me some good to be on my feet."

"Don't worry, Alec. I can sit on the floor." I pointed to the rug.

"Nonsense. I have some tidying to do anyway." I sighed in defeat and sat down on the chair. "So, what can I help you with?"

"I need relationship advice, funnily enough." Alec bit his bottom lip, as if he was thinking.

"On what specifically?"

"I keep feeling extremely jealous whenever Jacob is around another woman. We have this contact - Pearl Attaway - and it seems as if the two of them were flirting when I was there. I left without finishing the mission on account of my jealousy taking over me." I again began playing with my hands in my lap. "It was pathetic, I know."

"Not pathetic, my dear. You were worried. And we are speaking about Jacob Frye, yes?" I nodded. "In all fairness, this flirting you witnessed may have just been some playful banter between acquaintances."

"I know. I realise this now. However, I get an overwhelming sense of anxiety whenever I think about the two of them together. I need help, Alec." My eyes started to burn. "I can't stop these thoughts. I know they aren't valid things, but these awful scenarios play out in my head and I just don't know what to do." Alec picked up a crate and began to sort the objects from inside it into other, separate, smaller crates.

"Perhaps you are simply paranoid. That can happen in relationships. My mother was quite the same. My father would go to work and she would be worried about him speaking to other women." He chuckled lightly in order to lighten the mood slightly. "I wouldn't worry, but I am rather confused as to why you thought I was the best person to give out this advice."

"I didn't think I could speak to Evie or Henry about it without them telling Jacob, and I figured that you are extremely trustworthy." I smiled genuinely. He then laughed to himself, his cheeks flushing a light red colour.

"Well, I am glad you think so. I shall take your personal affairs to the grave, if I must." He placed a hand over his heart. "I do think that perhaps you should take this matter up with Jacob, in all fairness. It would more than likely do you some good to speak with him." I removed the second tie from my hair in order to let it fall in a long ponytail. I was beginning to feel quite flushed and I could feel a light sweat on my forehead starting to form. My head started to hurt, as if something was pushing it from the inside.

"Thank you very much for your help, Alec. I think the train will be at the station soon, so I really should be going." I stood and bundled him into a hug, ignoring the fact that one very large book was jabbing into my stomach. "You have been a great help, my friend."

With that, I left his shop, rushing to the station. Panic was washing over me like a storm out at sea, and I didn't want to be out in public any longer. My heart rate was speeding up with every step and I could feel my breath becoming shorter. I had to get off of the streets.