Chapter Eighty-Four

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that Ubisoft has created.

A/N: I told you I returned. WARNING! There is scene of death by fire here.

My eyes blinked a few times before I rubbed them, looking around my area. I was in a building, somewhere away from the noise of people, sitting with my back against a wall. I stood, trying to figure out where I was specifically, but I didn't have a clue. Taking a few steps, I felt something around my ankle as I fell to my knees hard. Whimpering, I turned and saw that my ankles were shackled and chained, binding me to this place. Standing, I tested my chain's length. Both of my ankles were bound which meant I could fight, until my capture decided I didn't need to anymore. I saw that above where my head was, there was a bar that I had only seen in movies or shows. It was a bar to hold up someone's hands high above their head.

If that were to happen… I shuddered at the thought, trying to not think of it. My eyes continued to trail up and around the room, finally seeing a portal of some sort. I could see day light but I couldn't hear or see anything else. There was a door but it was across the room and out of my reach. I didn't have my basket so no food and I didn't have a bucket or anything for water or for me to relieve myself. I quickly did a stock of my person. I didn't have my money pouch, so they took what few gold pieces I had, my sash was gone, but what disturbed me the most was my hand around my neck didn't feel my necklace.

Whoever it was stole my charm! Part of me began to freak out because that meant I could get pregnant but another part told me it was all in my head. Either way, it was still mine. I carried nothing else and I could hear no one around. Taking a deep breath, I screamed loudly before waiting.

Nothing.

There wasn't even a sound on the other side of the door.

Was I just dumped here? What caused me to black out?

I sat down again, feeling my shoulder throb. I remembered bumping into someone and then… I flew back! No wait, that wasn't possible, right? But the feeling of a piece of Eden was so close that what if it was the cause of my pain and black out? But it wouldn't explain why I was singled out, why I suddenly find myself in a room, chained to a piece of stone.

I screamed again, catching my breath to keep screaming. Someone had to hear me… right? I screamed, again and again, calling out to Altair if he could hear me. Someone… someone had to hear me. But the more I screamed, the more I felt despair filling me. I couldn't give up though. So I screamed.

I screamed as long as my lungs could, as long as my voice could hold out. By the end of the day, getting into the night, I was losing my voice. I couldn't stop though. But hunger was winning and the pain in my throat could only last so long. I felt disgusting, having to relieve myself in a corner, but I had to. I lay on the stone I was bound to, curling up. It was cold and I was missing the heat of Altair by me.

I thought of last I spoke to him, we were on the boat and discussing the few dens, of possibly having one closer in the district but… Ezio showed me that the den we were in wasn't one he used. Was the den just a safe house he had given? He led me there for a reason, I wanted to know why. But the last I spoke to Altair, it was briefly, of what we were planning to do once we were on the other side. I remembered our hands brushing against the other's before we parted.

I tried to speak, finding a sharp pain in my throat, sounding like a toad. I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the stink and the cold as my body shivered.

The morning came, and with it, the pains of the previous day. The door opened as a man in dark clothes came in. I recognized the red cross on his chest already, frowning as I sat up. "You're awake. This is good," I heard in English. "Ah yes, you probably don't speak this language." The man suddenly spoke a different language but I didn't move. His head tilted, trying again, this time with what sounded like Spanish, though I still didn't move. The man sighed as he tried again.

"Italiano." Ezio's voice echoed in my ear.

I didn't turn my head, didn't acknowledge it as the man started to grow angry, switching to two more before throwing his hands in the air. "I speak French, Templar," I croaked out in French, seeing the man suddenly brighten.

"Bon, what luck." He stepped closer, stopping outside of my chain's range. "I was surprised when suddenly you bumped into me and flew into a stall. I hadn't expected to find a demon around here." I tilted my head, watching as he pulled out this bejeweled crucifix. "It was blessed by a few priests, so it isn't surprising that it worked so well, but to find a real demon here!"

I saw, in the middle, hidden in the faceted jewels, a shimmering stone, one that emitted a pale gold. A piece of Eden… But what type of piece was this? It wasn't an Apple, or the Sword or Staff, or even Shroud so what was it? "Ah, I see that you're interested in it! Does the power of Christ force you into submission, demon?"

"You're funny, Templar." I coughed and stood, moving close, as close as the chains would allow me at least. The man did back up some as he chuckled. "What's funny?"

"It's amazing. We are told that there is nothing, that religion is just a way to control the people, but it's actually real." I blinked, realizing just what this was. He was like a foot soldier, one who didn't know the truth behind his crucifix. "And you, a demon, you're watching it closely." He held it up, moving closer to me. "Go ahead, try to touch it."

Just to try and prove a point, I lunged for it, trying to grab it but my hand met with a pressure and pushed away, to the point where I stumbled back. I had fallen down, coughing hard as he just laughed. "My God, it's true!" He started to chant in Latin as he stepped closer, holding it in front of him the whole while. When it finally neared me, I shouted in pain as the terrible force was pushing me into the floor beneath. The Templar then grabbed my hair, pulling me up before he threw me down to the ground, into my own mess. "A real demon." He laughed then, walking away, back to wherever it was that he came from.

I tried to wipe away the mess, coughing all the while, but nothing helped. I tried screaming again, but sounded terrible, my voice barely carrying at all. I tried to shout louder but nothing was coming from my throat.

Closing my eyes, I tried to feel out where the Apple was, but nothing. I felt nothing, not even the piece used against me. Just what was that? A repulsion one? I never heard of such a piece but there were so many out there… I coughed; trying to scream again before sleep and hunger over took me.

I was getting so thirsty.

The man returned the next day, this time with another. They carried a bucket with them, a ladle sticking out as they drew near. I was given a single helping of water before the rest was poured on me, both men laughing, stopping me every time I tried to get near them by revealing their crosses. "My… neck…lace"

The newcomer chuckled, pulling out a chain from a pocket. "You mean this?" There, on the end of the chain was the charm. "Why should we?"

"Please." I tried to reach for it, falling flat on my front, my teeth knocking together painfully as they laughed. I watched as the chain fell just beyond my reach, though when I tried for it, they only laughed louder before stepping on it. They left sometime after realizing I wouldn't have their fun, mumbling to themselves in English, saying I was to be purified soon. I looked to the charm, seeing that it wasn't hurt at all, that it looked the exact same as I had been given. I tried to look for something to reach with, but nothing was available.

I coughed, spending so much time trying to get closer but the pain in my feet from the shackles told me no, that I would be hurting myself more and more. I ran my tongue over my teeth, checking for chips or cracks or something but thankfully, nothing. I still wanted to scream, see if someone could hear me but my throat was hurting and I couldn't bring myself to even try.

I was so very thirsty.

If it wasn't for the passing of time thanks to the window, I would have lost the time I was here. But I was here more than four day. They did give me water, but only a small ladle every time, but I could tell I was getting dehydrated, my lips were hurting me, and my skin was getting tight. But because of my thirst, I was becoming delirious, tired.

So very tired.

I was woken a few times to a nudge in my ribs by a foot, or my hand being stepped on. Only a small ladle of water at a time and barely anything to eat, as if they were trying to figure out how long it would be until my death. I couldn't scream anymore, my voice was completely gone and whenever I did force myself, I could taste blood. I knew that I couldn't do anything to call for help, to try and gain Altair's attention, to possibly reach out.

Every so often, there are times when a Templar just comes in and watches me, as if studying me. I couldn't ask why, not with how my throat was, but I could only study him back. Every time I move, his hand will reach for the cross he had dangled around his hip, the shimmering stone in the middle. It was a Piece of Eden, that much I knew, but I couldn't recall ever hearing or seeing one that could throw people backwards. Was it one that was later created for later games? It was then that I let out a breath, a small smile on my face. That's right; I'm still inside a video game. It had been ten years since my awakening in Jerusalem. It's been nine years since I realized I was trapped and couldn't get home, and realizing that I was prisoner of Templars, I knew that it was still a strong possibility that I wouldn't see Masyaf again.

I'm losing homes one after the other.

The Templars were coming in and out of the room often, many times whispering to each other in English, not knowing I could understand. Of course, why wouldn't they think otherwise, after all, I spoke French and they probably assumed I was uneducated. How I wanted to prove them wrong.

But instead, I heard them whispering and conspiring, talking about how I was a demon, how I needed to be purified. As I drank my offered water, I looked up, seeing the eyes of one of the Templars.

My body was bound to the stake as I cried out for people to listen, though over the roar of the crowd, no one heard me. I pleaded and begged, praying to God, my eyes to the heavens as I heard bundles of sticks and hay being laid by my feet. My eyes closed as I heard the crackle of a torch near ne, a priest speaking a prayer, for my soul to be purified. The flames touching the hay and sticks, my gown being tickled by the heat as my hair began to catch. I screamed loudly with pain as I saw the Templars laughing at my death, my Sword at their side. I screamed louder, my flesh peeling. "Joan, witch of Orleans, your soul will burn in Hell!"

I gasped, pulling away as fear fueled me. "Am I to burn?"

"Yes, demon. You are a witch, a demon possessed woman, only to be purified by fire." The Templar grinned, his eyes the same as the one I saw in the vision. His descendant will kill Joan of Arc!

I shook my head, moving further back as I shook my head. "No!" I began to shake, fear pounding in my heart. "No, please!"

I cried as they left the room, their laughter echoing in my ears. My only hope was that Altair would find me.

-.-

It had been another week or two, I've lost count of the days, but my body was weak, and I could tell that if I didn't get proper food or water, I would die before they even have a chance to burn me at the stake. I wouldn't die like Joan will; I would not burn like many would, or so I hoped.

I slept, curled against a wall, cold and so very tired. Somehow, I was awoken to the feeling of a hand on my arm, but I was so tired, too tired to move. "She is cold to the touch."

"Death has mercifully taken her from this wretched place." I heard shuffling, my eyes not opening as another hand went to my shoulder, moving it from my face. "She's gone."

Fingers went by my mouth, touching my nose. I smelled leather, feeling rough skin, the anticipation before I felt the fingers move, cupping my cheek to pull me up. "She is alive. Clear the way." I was lifted up, my body limp as arms carried me, my head being moved against a shoulder, my arm being placed in my lap. I felt the body move as my weight was shifted, the familiar smell lingering in my nose.

Consciousness escaped me from time to time as I felt my body move gently, lying on a bed, being moved to sit up as water touched my lips. Fingers pressed against my throat as I was forced to drink. "It's a miracle she survived." A woman's voice… "I would have thought-"

"The men thought so too." I was set back down, water being rubbed on my lips. "Will she recover?"

"With time, yes. But she will need a lot of time." I felt a hand touch my head, a finger missing. "Altair, where was she?"

"In a tomb." The hand moved away as darkness took me again.

I was saved.