Hello everyone! I've started editing this story from the beginning. There's much work to do, many errors to correct, plenty of things I want to change. I belive it'll take a while, but I'll get there! For the new readers: you'll notice a big change in style from chapter one to two, up to chapter eighteen or around there. I've started this story some years ago and a lot has changed since there, including my ~relationship~ with the english language haha so yeah, I'll try to edit the chapters as quickly as I can so you can read better :) I thank a reviewer for inspiring me to come back and improve the story, for it indeed needed it, even if I haven't finished it yet ^^

I hope you enjoy the revised version and, for the new ones, the story as a whole!

Best wishes to all!

Disclaimer: Anything related to the Assassin's Creed Franchise present on this story does not belong to me.

"Riiiing"

"Haahn…damn thing…stop it. I'm aw-" She yawned "-ake already." She pushed the button of her alarm clock, and, after an annoyed "hum", the girl got up and headed to the bathroom. "

"Sometimes, I wished didn't have to go to school all days," she sighed and scratched the top of her head.

Elissa Hunter was an eighteen old girl, an lazy and a little spoiled one, like most teenagers.

The teen changed her pajamas grumpily. She still felt sleepy. Maybe it was because she stood up late watching series? She didn't dwell on it

"Good morning mom, dad, Nik!" She said happily after going downstairs and sitting on a chair to wait for breakfast. Her family replied warmly.

Soon her mother placed her breakfast on the table in front of her. "Thanks mom!"

"You're welcome honey" Her mother said with a smile, her blue eyes shining warmly. Her father was calmly eating his pancakes and reading the newspaper.

"Any interesting news, dad?" Elissa asked him and pitched a piece of pancake she had just cut.

"Nah, nothing that good for now. Just the same, as always" He replied with a bored tone as he turned the page.

The Hunter family lived in the city of Quantico, Virginia. Elissa's mom was American and her father was British. They met each other on New York, at work. After the marriage, William moved to Quantico, homeland of Madelaine, and they bought a house in the city.

"Hey Lissa, do you have time to train with me tonight?" Her brother, Niklaus, asked looking at her. He and Elissa were close friends, partners, they both used to train Muay Thai together since she was fifteen. He trained since he was fourteen and for years he tried convincing her to start to have lessons too, until he finally did it. At the end, she enjoyed a lot. Not to mention that it was very and useful, if something bad were to happen she would be at least a bit prepared.

She looked at him. "I don't know. Nik, I have riding class this afternoon, remember? It's pretty tiring, I don't know if I'll manage" She grimaced "And you know how demanding our teacher is…" She said and drank a little of the juice.

"C'mon baby sis, you're not that weak!" He laughed and shot her a taunting smirk.

She frowned, pretending to be annoyed "What do you mean by "that weak"?"

He poked her cheek and smiled brightly. "Lissa, I think you should eat quickly or you will be late for school".

She rolled her eyes and quickly finished her breakfast. Soon she got her backpack and headed for the door, where she stopped and waved for her family before heading out for school.

The day was sunny and hot. Rays of sun warmed her skin at the same time wind blew her body. Her mind flew by and the motion of her legs became an involuntary movement as she made her way to school. Not much time after, she arrived at her destination.

"Hey Lissa!" Her friend Kelsey said, running onto her. She was a kind and calm girl; she loved to swim, but, in general, she was good at several sports. She and Noland were at the same group as Elissa's; her other four best friends were of the other two groups of the senior year of the school.

"Hi Kel! Good morning!" The brunette said smiling and hugged her. She smiled and the two started walking while chatting about the test of the day, which, by the way, she thought she went terrible.

They went to class, where they met Noland organizing his things. He stopped and waved at the. His short and pitch black hair were nothing out of the ordinary, but what really stood off in his character were his dark blue eyes. Elissa smiled to him. For a long time now she had admired him, as she admired most of her friends, but still, what she felt for him was slightly different. He was a kind, intelligent boy. Her feelings for him confused her, but she tried not to think about, he was one of her best friends, firstly and after all.

At the break time, they met the rest of their little group.

"Good! Now that we are all reunited I will tell you the plans for tonight" Ellie, the long black haired girl, said. Her brown eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.

"Plans?" Charlie, the brown-haired boy, asked raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah! See, I was talking to Samantha and Aaron earlier. Since it's been some time since we did something together, I had the idea of getting together and order some pizza at any of our houses. To relax a bit! We always have tests and more tests and no fun…" She scowled and ruffed, but then glanced each of them with hopeful eyes "So, since neither of us have tests next week, how about a little reunion?" She clasped her hands and gave a big smile, her eyes returned to sparkle.

"I think it's a wonderful idea!" Kelsey said with a bright smile.

Noland smiled as well and nodded to Kelsey. "So do I. It's good to give a break, we're studying too much" He said rubbing the back of his head.

"Say for yourself, buddy." Aaron told him chuckling. Elissa rolled her eyes at him and shook her head with a small smile on her lips. He was the twin brother of Charlie, but the two had almost opposite personalities. One was mischievous and outgoing– Aaron – ant the other was calm and shy. They also weren't exactly alike, despite being both brown-haired and green-eyed.

Elissa turned from Charlie to glance the others "I'm in guys!" She stuck her tongue and then laughed "Well, I think it's obvious because I'm always in"

"Yeah, party animal" Samantha, the long haired blond said and the group laughed . "Well, I'm in too Ellie, I loved the idea since the beginning" She said with a bright smile.

Charlie raised a hand . "I'm in." The boy said with a warm smile.

The group discussed the plan during the break, all very excited to have some fun.

"Well guys replaying: 8 P.M, at Aaron and Charlie's house, don't forget the money for the pizza!" Ellie remembered everyone before they left for the class as the bell rang.

...

"Good, now the next." The trainer said after a jump and she headed for the next one. Well, it would have been the next, hadn't she fallen off her horse. The horse caught her with low guard and stopped right in front of the obstacle, making the girl do a front flip and fall directly above the obstacle.

"Elissa!" Her trainer came running towards her, his expression filled with concern "Are you all right?" He asked panting in anxiety, verifying her legs and, next, her arms. "Oh my God!" He looked and there was a cut on her upper left arm. She had fallen on her left side and cut her arm on the support of the obstacle.

She hissed and held her arm. It sting like she had been burned

"Elissa, you have to clean this! Come on, I'll take you to the veterinary! They must have some bandages." The man said and held her back to give her support to get up.

"Hey, don't worry Michael, I can go there by myself." She told him, not very convincing grimaced and clutched her arm to her chest "Go catch Shadow, I'll be fine." She reassured. At this time, Shadow, the horse, was peacefully grazing in a nearby pasture.

"No carrots for you today" She thought angrily as she stared at the animal.

Michael put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed lightly "Are you sure Elissa?" He asked her with a serious face.

"Yes Mike, my arms not aching that much now right now..." She lied "Go get that horse before he steps on the reins and gets hurt." She assured him with a smile.

"Fine," He sighed and shot her a firm look "but go fast, your arm is still bleeding." He pointed at her wounded limb. She nodded and headed to the veterinary.

She sighed. "Why had this veterinary to be so far?"

The veterinary was actually pretty far from the arena. It was near the stables, a few meters of a trail in middle of a field.

"Uh?" The girl noticed something shining in the middle of the trees near a lake, not too far from the trail. She involuntarily turned towards the sparkling thing, watching it with a curious glance, but stopped.

"No,no,no,no; Elissa Hunter, concentrate, you need to go to the vet, even if this sounds weird." She took a few more steps towards her goal, but the light seemed to shine even brighter, as if was calling her.

'No Elissa,No!'

She said to herself and turned her head to the opposite side. However, that light was certainly calling her, somehow. She thought a little and shook her head.

"Curiosity killed the cat" She muttered to herself and sighed, but even so ran towards the sparkling light.

After a few minutes, she arrived at the lake. The water was crystalline and calm, with an orange glow due to the sun-setting rays. The light sparkled one more time, as if to call her attention. It was located behind some trees and bushes. She pushed her way through the vegetation, nervous. Even so, she wasn't expecting what she saw. A simple earth colored tent.

'What is this doing here?'

She thought and approached the object which sparkled. It was a rather curious symbol that the girl had never seen before. It was a steel shield that had engraved the shape of an upside down V with its ends were curved.

'Oh, that's why it was shining. it's made of steel' She thought and turned her attention to the tent. 'This is creepy… should I enter?'

"If you are already here, child, why not come in?" A grave and aged voice said from inside the tent.

The teen jumped and turned to the voice, eyes wide and fists raised in front of her in a defensive position. There was a chuckle and an old man with white beard exited the tent. He wore a white tunic which had a hood; above his tunic he was wearing a dark blue cape. His wrinkled face denounced his age and his almost white eyes shone mysteriously.

"Don't be afraid, child, I will not harm you." He said. She stared deep into his whitish orbs, scaring yet somehow comforting.

"Wh-what?" She exclaimed exasperated and huffed "How can I trust you? What if you're a psychopath?" She ended almost squealing and crossed her arms. The old man laughed.

"I'm no such thing, child" The elder said amused, a small smile curving his dry lips. He then looked at her wound "You seem to have a pretty bad injury there. Would you let me take a look?"

Her eyes turned to the cut. She had truly forgotten for a moment Returning her gaze to the old man, she analyzed him suspiciously. He didn't seem bad at all. There was something telling her to trust him, even though she was still scared. In the end of her internal debate, she relaxed a little and stretched her arm towards him. "What can you do old sir?" She asked while he analyzed the cut on her skin.

"I have medicine and some bandages inside my tent. Come, child." He walked towards the tent and gestured her to follow him. She hesitated a little, turquoise orbs scanning the structure swiftly, but entered the tent.

It was quite cozy inside there. There were some ceramic vases with water, kitchen utensils made of ceramic as well, a small cabinet and a big and beautiful ornamented chest at the back. In the center of the tent, there was table with two chairs around it.

The old man gestured her to sit by the table and headed to the small cabinet, where he took a few bandages, cotton and a bottle of medicine. He went back to her and sat on the chair in front of her.

"So, how did you manage to do this?" He asked grabbing her arm and started to clean the wound.

"I…hum…fell off the horse in an awful way…" She whispered and raised an eyebrow "You should know this, since you are camping on an equestrian club, don't you?"

He stood silent, and remained this way for plenty of minutes.

She watched carefully as he let go of the ball of cotton and stretched his hand to take the bandages "Yeah, hum… sorry to ask, but…" She bit her lip and bent her head "Who are you? And what are you doing camping in such a place?" She looked up, wrinkles forming in her forehead "I don't remember seeing you around here before"

The old man chuckled.

"It's all a work of the…" She looked up when he paused and met his ghost-like eyes "…Destiny…" He said mysteriously and his eyes glowed in a honey colored light.A chill passed through her entire body, and something itched on her arm. "…My dear child." His eyes returned to normal and the girl blinked several times.

'Oookay, that was…odd?" She thought, diverting her gaze away from his eyes.

"It's done!" He said cheerfully, waking her up from her short stupor. She blinked and looked up at him. He was smiling brightly.

"Ah, wow!" Elissa looked at her arm, her eyes widening "Thanks a lot sir!" It was very well bandaged and didn't hurt so bad anymore, just tingled a bit. She rubbed the back of her neck "Well, hum… I think I better get going before my trainer gets worried."

He just stared her, she guessed, because she was not able to see his eyes anymore. He had pulled his hood to cover his face.

"Ok, bye then! And thanks again old sir!" She waved slightly and headed carefully to the entrance, feeling like the old man could see through her soul.

…

"Finally!" Michael exclaimed as he stood up from a rock he had been sitting. He seemed worried and a bit irritated. "I almost went looking for you Elissa, you took so long!" He protested, eyebrows furrowed in frustration. She sighed guiltily.

"I'm sorry Mike, I-I…" She bit her lip

'Should I tell him?'

"I saw a light near the lake and headed to it, bu-but, I gave up and went to the veterinary, yet that slowed me." She lied. Mike sighed in annoyance. "Hum…Mike, is there somebody camping at the club?"

He looked at her confused "No, there isn't Elissa. Why do you ask?" He said serious with narrowed eyes, puzzled.

The teen's heart seemed to stop 'Oh my God, what the hell has just happened then?'

"Elissa? Are you ok? You are pale!" Michael said holding her shoulders. She calmed herself down a little.

"Yeah…yes I am Mike, I think is just my pressure that went down due to the loss of blood!" She said with a fake, weak smile. Mike watched her with a worry "I just have to eat and rest a little. Don't worry Mike!" She assured him.

He eyed her with suspicion, but then sighed "Fine. Take care Elissa." He let go of her and she hugged him.

"Bye Mike!" She said and headed to her bike. As soon as She turned her back to him, her face fell and her mind filled with questions about the old man.

…

When she arrived home, it was already late afternoon. Her parents looked at her with horror and filled her with questions. She assured them she was alright but her mother was completely revolted.

'I told you! You shouldn't ride those beasts! They are dangerous!'

She rolled her eyes discretely. Her father defended her

'Madelaine, my love, she likes the sport and she knows the risks. Don't worry, she's a strong girl.'

That made the girl smile proudly and she thanked her dad. They continued to argue and she went upstairs where she found her brother.

He rolled his eyes "Yeah, I think you will not be able to train with me indeed." She smiled and hugged him. He chuckled as he returned the warm embrace.

Elissa then remembered once again the whole situation with the old man. She felt confused and scared. Something wasn't quite right, she could feel it. It was like a sense of dread had invaded her heart.

A tear fell from her eye and she hugged her brother tighter. "Nik, I love you." She was so scared. She didn't know why, but it was like she knew that she would loose him. She felt like a fool, but she couldn't deny that her heart seemed to be telling her something.

Nik smiled "I love you too Lissa," Then he noticed little sobs and held her at arms length. He looked, his eyebrows furrowing in worry. "Hey, what's wrong?"

A few more tears fell from her eyes. "I-I don't know" She said between sobs. Nik grabbed her hand and took her to his room. He gestured her to sit on his bed and closed the door. Elissa sat on the bed, sobs shaking her body softly. Her brother watched her with pity and reached her, crouching in front of her and holding her hands in both of his.

"Elissa, please, tell me what's going on!" He said and wiped some tears off her face.

Her eyes scanned his and he knew she was looking for a way to tell him something. Her eyes narrowed for a second as she choked and shook her head. She told him he would think she were crazy, but then told him the whole story. Nik was the person that she trusted the most. She never kept things from him and neither did him from her.

"And when I hugged you a few moments ago I felt like I would loose you…that was why I started crying…" She said sadly. Nik just stared her with a worried face. "Nik, Mike said that there is nobody camping at the club…I don't know what happened…" She felt tears on her eyes again and she hid her face in her hands. "I'm so scared Nik!" She said and started crying again.

She felt her brother's arms embrace her tightly, but she kept her tearful face behind her hands.

"Lissa, I'll never leave you, understood? Please believe me." He frowned as he rubbed her back gently. "I don't know what this means, but I don't think you're lying or that you're crazy."

The brunette wiped her tears away and looked at her brother; he was still crouched.

"Thanks Nik," She said smiling "I'm glad I can always trust you"

Nik smiled warmly. "I'll always be with you, baby sis." He caressed her cheek. "Now go take a bath and relax ok? Don't you have a party today?" He asked her as he stood up and offered her his hand. She took it and rose.

"Yeah, I guess so." She said and gave him a sheepish smile in between some small tears that remained.

"And you can't miss it; after all, your little boyfriend Noland will be there!" He said teasingly with a smirk.

She pushed him and rolled her still red puffy eyes "He's not my boyfriend, you know it"

He laughed "Yeah,yeah, sure. Now go take a shower, love bird, you smell like horses!" He pinched his nose, pretending to be disgusted, and pushed her softly towards the door.

"Nik!" She protested half annoyed, but chuckled. She made to the bathroom, but before stepping through the door, she turned back and gave him one last tight hugh.

"Hmmm, this is just wonderful!" Elissa exclaimed as she plunger into the warm water of the bath.

She rested her head against the wall that rounded the small bath and closed her eyes. Her mind kept going back to the old man of the tent, his haunting with eyes flashing through her mind. She tried then to distract herself and think of the fun that she would have with her friends, even if the thoughts were graced with the worry that afflicted her being.

"I'm such an idiot" She laughed half-heartedly to herself and exited the bath. She rinsed her body with her favorite fluffy towel and put on some casual and comfortable clothes for that warm night.

As she always did, she rummaged though the cabinet and pulled out of it a silver necklace her parents had gifted her at her fifteenth birthday. It was like a lucky charm to her and it she liked to think it carried a part of her family with it. The pendant was a simple "E" made of silver.

When she looked at the mirror after having finished tying the pendant around her neck, she spotted her bandaged arm. Her gaze fell once again as her worry increased

"Damned wound." Elissa whispered as she looked at her reflection at the mirror.

The cloth was red and dirty, she hadn't taken it off to bathe, but she would have to change it indeed. She rolled her eyes and sighed, turning her gaze down to look for first aid supplies on the counter.

It was then that something flashed through the mirror. Her eyes perked up immediately to the reflection and she spotted the source of light coming from beneath the pile of her dirty clothes.

"Uh?" The brunette blinked and turned back. She crouched and scooted the clothes away to make it to the shining object. Her eyes widened when it was revealed. It was a golden sphere.

"It's time" A voice echoed in her head like a distant howl.

She froze "Wha-?"

The girl couldn't finish the sentence. She felt her wound burning her skin and she screamed, then all became darkness.

…

"Oh, geez…" She rubbed her aching head, eyes still closed. With her other her, she felt the material beneath her. It was soft and thin, with a smell she knew too well: hay. Her eyes snapped open and she quickly, making her slightly dizzy, but she turned her gaze to the yellowed grass in her hands

"What the…" Her eyes seemed unfocused as she looked around her. She realized she was sitting in a hay cart, half-buried in the thing. Her head searched for the sky and she found out that she was in middle of an alley, the sun cutting only partially to reach the walls of the buildings around her.

She looked ahead and her face scrunched incredulously as she saw people wearing strange attires. Men wore long sleeved shirts and pants and some scarves around their necks. Women wore long tunics that reached their feet. The material the clothes were made seemed to be an archaic one. They also wore some kind of scarf, like a cowl, that left visible only their faces and some, only their eyes.

She stared dumbfounded at the sight.

'Where the hell am I?'

The girl thought speechless while staring wide eyed at the people walking by the streets. With a shook of her head, she gulped and took a deep breath.

'Elissa, It won't be of any help you remain here like an idiot'.

She had to investigate what place was that, and why everything seemed so ancient. Also, and especially: how she had arrived there.

Elissa rose to get off of the hay, brushing off pieces that clung to her blouse. That was then she realized one more thing. Looking down to herself, she thought a bit, before looking ahead again to the other women. She looked down again and bent her mouth. With her shorts and sleeveless blouse, she would certainly stand out in the crowd. Who could tell what would they do once they saw her?

'Christ, what am I going to do?' She crossed her arms and held her chin in though as she analyzed the street ahead of her. There were merchants there, with all kinds of goods. Food, ceramic and clothes. She had no money… Would she be able to steal one and remain hidden?

'Daaamn! What do I do now? I can't simple walk wearing these clothes.'

It was her only choice. She bit her lip and took a deep breath once again, before furtively head to the stand. As she approached, she eyed the merchant who was gleefully trying to sell a scarf, which appeared expensive, to a woman, who seemed unappalled. Both their appearances seemed so foreign to her, it was really odd. It was like she was in another time.

'I've never seen anybody like these people…At least not in person'

She shook her head, she was getting distracted. Elissa focused and scanned the good ahead of her. She spotted a log dark brown cape, not too far from her. It was not perfect, but it would have to do.

'I'm sorry buddy, but you are about to be stolen.' She cringed 'Please, don't notice me, may I add.'

'Gotcha!' The girl grabbed the piece of cloth and quickly hid in another alley, her heartbeat a million per hour.

She sighed and instantly pulled on the cape

'A progress. At least now I can blend in'

She finished pulling up her hood then narrowed her eyes to the street ahead of her. The attire thankfully hid a good part of her body except her feet and hands.

Like that, she finally left the alley and joined the crowd.

"Hey! Guards, Guards, I've been robbed!" Elissa could hear the merchant scream and tensed. Acting as normal as possible, she was able to quickly walk away from the stand, at least.

While she walked, she looked around her. The girl saw, now closely, the buildings and the people. She also saw groups of men with white robes in a strange position, It seemed that they were praying while walking.

Elissa wandered adrift. Her heart sped up the further she went, for she became more and more aware that something very wrong happened to her. That place was bizarre, it seemed another age entirely. She felt a lump forming in her throat as the despair started consuming her.

"Stop! Please, I beg of you"

A thunderbolt seemed to hit her as she heard the desperate cry. She turned to the source of sound, her eyes wide like a doe's in front the light of a car. It was a woman. She was crouched on the ground, arms above her head in defense. Around her, a group of three men wearing armor, all armed with swords. In their chests, a sign that must show who they served to, but to Elissa it meant nothing.

As distressed as she felt, the scene ahead of her made her blood boil. One of the bastards hit her with a kick to her chest. The woman fell back, crying and screaming, whilst the other disgraced beings laughed to the action. Elissa looked around, her heart beating a mile per hour in fear and rage, just to see that the people around her kept walking as if the event was not unfolding right next to them.

She looked back to the woman as she screamed once more after another kick. She had to do something. Her eyes narrowed once more as she gathered courage, she'd need to appear at least a bit threatening. Maybe that way more people would notice and help her, or so she prayed.

"Hey, leave her alone!" She said as she ran and grabbed the shirt of the one cretin, who was about to hit the woman again, and pulled him back "What is your problem?!"

The man looked surprised for a moment, although also furious for the interruption

"Who do you think you are, bo-."

His cruel eyes narrowed and he tilted his head so he could see beneath her hood. He blinked, incredulous, as he found the soft, yet now fiery, turquoise orbs of the girl.

"A woman!" He spat mockingly and laughed "You must be out of your mind, go home, bitch"

The other men laughed cruelly. Elissa snorted in rage. Those pigs.

Her eyes found then the woman's as she watched shocked at her. Elissa felt sorrow invade her chest as she analyzed her. Her face was covered in bruises, an eye red and swollen, her cheeks were stained from her tears. Her expression screamed "help, please". The girl narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath. Please, may her lessons in self defense work in real situations.

"HAH-" With an upper cut in the jaw, the man fell silent and unconscious on the ground.

The other men stared jaw dropped as their friend fell. For a minute, they seemed to process what had just happened, but then their faces seemed to lit up with pure rage.

"Slut! You'll pay for that!"

Elissa froze as the buzz of their swords leaving its sheathes reached her ears. She prayed to all the gods existents that she came out of that alive and not cut in half. As a drop of sweat ran down her temple, she casted a side look to the woman of the ground. Her gaze seemed to give her strength, it was a hopeful and grateful, as well as concerned one. She had to fight them, for both their sakes.

"I'll not run and let you hurt her" She said with a determined tone, face frowned in concentration and threat, but also with fear in her heart.

…

"Ah, let us pray for that poor fool soul" The leader of the group of scholars spoke as he watched the scene ahead of him. Ah, these young lads… why could they not avert from violence and embrace faith? They only pursue death, the lost ones…

"Let us pray, brothers" A scholar told the one next to him with a sigh, disappointed with the fight, and lowered his head to his raised hands in prayer.

The one talked to, however, did not lower his head as his comrades. On the contrary, he raised his head and titled it, so cautious he was of the scene. He wondered with himself, already checking if the blade on his wrist was ready to action, if he would have to save the sodding idiot that sought death ahead of him.