Assassin's Creed: Winter's Falling

Chapter 37

As Sol stepped into the lobby, she couldn't help but notice the large Christmas tree set up near the door. she was sure she had seen it before, but she had never taken the time to look at it. It was an abnormally large tree covered in garlands of silver tinsel and orbs of glinting cherry glass. Combined with golden lights and a beautiful blue angel, the tree was a wonderful sight. It had been a long time since Sol had celebrated Christmas, or any holiday for that matter. The thought of missing another Christmas was sad; especially now that she had a family she could party with. Holiday's from now on would be events to remember.

"What day is it, Andy?" Sol asked.

Andy checked his phone and laughed, "It's Christmas day! Guess we were so busy with the mission we didn't notice the date."

"We defeated an evil scientist on Christmas eve," Ann shrugged. "Sounds like a pretty good Christmas gift to me."

"Oh," Nerida remembered something. "Sol, I believe this is rightfully yours."

Nerida rummaged through her bag as Andy checked them out and lead the way out of the hotel. She pulled an elongated bundle out, and pressed it into Sol's hands. Sol examined the blue cloth in confusion. As she pulled the cloth from the object, she couldn't help but smile. After years of staring at its partner, she had recognized it the second the tip of the muzzle had been unwrapped. She couldn't help but marvel at the craftmanship. The shiny silver muzzle leading the perfectly kept firing pin, the elegant rose carved into the side, and the stained black mahogany of its handle. Sol had grown up with stories about the Black Rose, but she had never expected see it in real life.

"My father joined the Assassins to spy on them while working for sigma team," Nerida explained. "That's how he met your mother. They were on the same team together. Here, I found this in the lab. Read here."

Nerida handed Sol a book opened to about the middle. It seemed to be the personal journal of Robert Stearns. On the page Nerida wanted Sol to read was the story from the date her mother had disappeared. Nerida was offering Sol the truth behind her mother's disappearance. Taking a deep breath, Sol began to read.

February 13th, 2013

It's finally time for me to leave this dreaded Assassin business behind. Today, the team discovered my treachery, and, like moths to a flame, came to confront me about it. The trap sprung cleanly. All ten Assassins where captured with minimal damage. Vincent helped me preform the first stage of the experiment as soon as we got them to the lab. He's a terrible drunk, but he makes a great lab assistant when sober. Nine of the ten Assassins where completely useless. After spending a full year with them, I expected better results. Still, Rosa has yet to disappoint. She took to the chip quickly, and stays stable even when asked to kill her friends. I'm beginning to think there's a biological component to the chip. I'm going to ask for permission to start going after families tomorrow. Starting with the Benitez lot. If I remember correctly, Rosa has children who may be susceptible to control. I'm glad to see Project Knight is working.

Sol closed the book with a snap; She couldn't read another word. No wonder her mother had thought Stearns had been an Assassin. The betrayal must have really freaked her out. Sol handed the book to Nerida gently.

"Thank you, Nerida," Sol smiled softly. "I've always wanted to know the truth, and now I can stop looking for it. I'm finally free to do what I want."

"And what will you do?" Andy asked. "You came with me to learn the truth, and now you know it. Will you leave?"

As Sol looked at the faces of her friends, she could see nothing but worry and love. Sol hadn't before thought of what she would do if she ever found out the truth, but as she looked at her family the answer was clear. Sol couldn't help but laugh.

"As if I could leave you guys!" Sol grinned. "You'd all die if I wasn't around to save you. And besides, what kind of person would I be if I left my family to save my own skin?"

"A fucking terrible one," Nerida replied with a huff as she through her arms around Sol's neck.

"I'm glad to hear that," Andy smiled. "You've become an important part of the team."

"War's not over yet, Captain," Sol tapped Nerida's back to get her to let go. "We still have Templars to destroy."

"And together," Lightning chimed in. "We can destroy anything."

"That seems to be the moral of the story," Ann grinned lopsidedly.

Everyone laughed together as they stepped out into the parking lot. As they walked, Sol pulled one of her knives from under her coat. Careful not to damage to wood, she found the Templar cross on the bottom of the Black Rose and set the tip of the knife next to it. Like her ancestor had done all those years ago, Sol scratched a line through the cross and made her own promise to fight for the freedom everyone deserved.

A cold and wet speck landed on theback of her neck. As Sol gentle put away her knife, she paused and looked up tothe gray sky. The others stopped with her and looked around, confused. Thenanother cold speak landed on Lazerus's nose. To everyone's surprise anddelight, it had begun to snow.