Rookery ~ Assassin's Creed Syndicate

Chapter Fifty Five

I decided to meet with Inspector Abberline for the first time in twenty years to ask him to help me find my family. He would have been at least fifty now, his beard greying further and his face weathered and covered in deep wrinkles. But I was far too excited to see an old friend to focus on his appearance. It had been a month since Jacob and Elias' disappearance, and I had gone to see my Ethan twice in that month, mainly to drop off money to Emilia's parents. It broke my heart to not see them all, but I didn't want to risk exposing them to Jack.

I wore my assassins robes to the station. The blue fabric still fit me, though it was a little tight on my stomach. Having children was not kind on my figure. Plus, writing books for a living was nothing too physical, so I was unable to get the exercise I used to as a fully-fledged assassin. Also, eating nothing but stew and bread for twenty years was not something which would help anyone lose weight. My boots, however, fit like a glove. My bracer needed calibrating, but I had learnt how to do that myself. The sword cane and Kukri were heavy at my waist. I wasn't sure how long I would be able to cope with them.

Mostly, I just wanted to see Freddy. I planned to hug him, possibly bawl into his shoulder and express my admiration of him and tell him exactly how much I missed him.

That was my plan until I heard him speaking to a woman.

"Why exactly have you had me escorted here?" I thought I recognised her voice, but it was so very worn and even if I had noticed it, I hadn't heard it in a long while.

"My men and I have been hunting the Ripper 'round the clock for months now, and we've nothing to show for it. At least nothing I can tell the public." There was Freddy's voice. He sounded so very aged. There was a slight hoarseness to his voice which made it seem like he had to cough constantly.

"What has the 'Ripper' to do with me? My brother has had me summoned here from India - can't this wait?"

"As far as I know, you may be the last assassin in London..."

"What do you mean? Where is Jacob? And, what about his wife, Carina?" He sighed.

"I wish I knew... Your brother is nowhere to be found, even as an elusive shadow is committing the most hideous crimes this city has ever seen."

"Jacob was taken." I piped up. I reached the top of the stairs and faced them. "From his own home, he was taken. The Ripper has him, and left an awful mess behind him. Including a note which suggested he would come after the rest of his family. Our son, as well. Elias. A six year old boy with a heart of gold. Someone who would never hurt a soul." Evie grew a wide, sad smile on her face. She bundled me in her arms. Her face was peppered with little freckles and etched with wrinkles. I couldn't help but notice that she had not aged as well as Jacob had, and I hated myself for thinking that.

"Oh, Carina. It has been so long."

"That it has, Evie." I buried my head into her neck. "We missed you so much, but Jacob has been working and I have as well. Story books. I have loved spending my time writing."

"That is wonderful." She stepped back. "I have been training assassins in India. Speaking of which, back to the matter at hand."