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"NO!" The scream jolted the two Assassins awake. Shaun looked at Rebecca, then stood up and hurried down the hall. There he found Lucy walking toward him, her eyes stretched to their widest.

"Shaun, you take over," she whispered. "I'm not going to be able to sleep after that." The Brit frowned and hurried on to where Jameel was. The tall man was huddled against the top of the bed, legs squeezed to his chest, rocking back and forth fiercely, face buried in his knees.

"Jameel?"

"No..."

"Jameel?"

"No, no, no..." Unsure what to do, Shaun sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, putting his arms around him. "No, no, no, no..."



The Sparrow awoke in a room dimly lit by a single torch on the inside of his cell and one on the outside, the light bouncing off the armor of the two cat-headed guards outside the door. He tried to move his arms and found them shackled to the wall by chains, long enough to allow him to stand but not to go very far. He looked down at himself. His vest was still there, but his weapons had been confiscated. Of course they are. What need would a chained man have with blades? He jerked his head up as the room suddenly darkened, a large shape blotting out the light of the torch outside the cell.

The Lion opened the bars and shut them behind him, stepping into the room with deliberate slowness. He had checked to make sure every facet of the area was in place. This time the place was much better guarded, not like in Spain; he did not like his playthings escaping. After all, how could they not cherish all the effort he put in preparing everything so nicely for them to share in a little fun?

He lifted the young man's head, smiling under his mask at the venomous glare he was given.

Lex squirmed in his grasp, baring his teeth as he was held in place by his chin. He was only lifted higher, up onto the very tips of his toes, the chains growing taut, tugging the manacles down around his wrists. A sneer formed across the young man's face as he asked, not without a hint of sarcasm, "This's going to hurt, isn't it?"

The Sparrow's breathing quickened as as he kept his eyes on the Lion, using his peripheral vision to try and find a means of escape from the cell.

The Lion shook his head.

"No crevice left open through which a little songbird can sneak away," he said, voice almost sounding like he was going to purr. "I have been informed about you well by my mercenaries and my cunning little vixen." The grip on his chin tightened and the other gauntleted hand moved along his cheek, then stroke down his neck. "A good taste the Owl has. Tender and young, the same age as I prefer my prey. Oh, I will make you sing, little Sparrow."

The Lion mask was pressed closer to his face so that it almost became a blur, gray eyes staring at him through the eyeholes. "I will make you sing and your Owl will listen to every note I pluck from your lips." The boy spat at him in vain, the liquid sliding down the great roaring maw. The stare in the gray eyes grew harder and, before Lex could think to brace himself, the Lion's iron clad fist connected with his jaw. First soften up the plaything a bit, the Lion thought ot himself, looking at the boy, see if he doesn't get to be a little more docile.

Lex groaned and lifted his head from where it lay on the stones of the floor, the world tilting crazily from the force of the blow. He spat out blood and a tooth came with it. Gathering his breath, he growled, "Go to hell!" A hard metal boot connected with his stomach, driving the wind from him. Groaning again, he curled up, clutching his stomach. The Sparrow gasped, eyes watering, as he was lifted by his hair, clawing at the iron-covered hand that held him. "******** you," he whispered, then grew louder. "******** you." He gritted his teeth, choking on the bile that rose into his mouth as the Lion struck his middle again. "You couldn't get...a decent lay if..." The words were cut off as he was tossed the length of the cell, crashing painfully to the stone floor.

A chuckle rose from the Lion's throat.

"So brave, little Assassin. I see why he likes you to keep his bed warm." Lex shuddered at the evident joy in his voice. Metal thudded on stone as the Lion moved toward him. The Lion knelt, running a cold, metal finger almost tenderly along the Sparrow's bloodied lips. "Suppose you belong to the things the Red Owl cherishes most." The maw was in his face again, the voice eminating from it almost a conspiratorial, husky whisper. "If I break you, his facade might crumble and Kadin's bloodline could finally triumph. I won't break you all the way, though. Not entirely in your body, at least, for, you know, little troublemaker, I'm toying with the idea for keeping you. If only to imagine the man I despise meeting defeat every day, if not seeing then merely knowing that the love of his life belongs to me."

The next thing Lex heard was the sound of metal scraping on metal and the tearing of fabric...



Jameel woke up, groggily taking in his surroundings. Where am I now? The room was merely four walls of white plaster and a wooden floor, a rug in the middle with a fine wooden seat placed upon it. In the seat sat Serenity. He looked at his arms, the dull ache in his shoulders coming to his attention. His hands were freed from his casts, he noted, and looked disgusting to boot, covered in a thick layer of dead skin and excess hair. He tested the shackles, pulling at them with his full strength. They were strong, surprisingly so, and looked fresh. The last time he'd been captured, the manacles and chains were rusted, easily breakable.

Serenity smiled and leaned forward in her seat.

"I'm glad you're awake. I didn't want you to sleep through all the fun." She watched him struggle. "Yes, those are new. Just installed. You like?" The woman reached up and rubbed as scratch on her chin that was still a little damp with blood. "You know, you're a very good kisser."

Jameel immediately gagged at hearing the words, coughing and looking like he really was going to wretch. Ugh, with her?! A traitor?! He felt filthy, more so than if he'd swum in the canals and then eaten a globbet of horse manure. After he finished gagging, he glared murderous daggers at her, struggling a little more.

"When I get out of here, you're going to die ten times over!"

"Oh, don't struggle, Jameel. It's useless." Serenity tapped her lips with a finger, crossing her legs, eyes half-lidded as she smiled a vicious smile. "Our entertainment is about to begin. You should listen. It's sure to be musical." She shuddered and grinned as a scream tore through the air.

Jameel stopped struggling immediately, becoming a dead weight in the shackles. His face was blank, eyes cast down to stare at the unappealing floor. Try as he might, he couldn't block the cries from his ears, or the situation from his mind. It was one he'd long dreaded to be in, his darkest nightmare made reality. Make it stop... Make it stop... half his mind pleaded, the other half countering just as pleadingly for fear of what it might mean if they did, Don't stop...don't stop...

The screams died of their own accord, though how long they had lasted, whether mere minutes or entire hours, he couldn't have said.

"I hope you enjoyed Act I."



The bartender finished picking out the last of the glass from his body, binding it over. He stood and went to where Amir and Ezio stood arguing over what was the better plan of attack.

"And another thing, Leopoldo," Ezio snapped, pointing to Desmond, "who the hell is this?"

"Desmond Miles." He stook the Italian's outstretched finger. "I'm your great-great-great-great-grandson." The man stared at him. "No, I'm not shitting you. Check it out." He threw back his hood, revealing his face. Ezio frowned, cupping his chin between his fingers.

"Fine, I will consider this insanity. How is it possible, if you are who you say you are, that you're here with me now?"

"It's called time travel. Ask him about it." He pointed to Amir. "Since this kid is the Time Lord and all that."

"Desmond, don't make references to things Ezio won't understand. Although I appreciate the comparison to the Doctor." Desmond turned his entire body toward Amir and stared at him. "Ezio, believe whatever you like about Desmond. I don't give three shits about him in particular."

"Oh, thank you very much, Amir."

"Cutting off your tongue is my next step if you can't learn silence, Miles." Desmond shut his trap. "Give us aid in rescuing my brother, or I will prevent you ever having the ability to write, bed, touch, or even so much as look upon your precious Cristina Vespuci again, Ezio. Is that understood?"

"P-Perfettamente."

"Va bene. Now come with us. I know who to ask for directions to the Lion's den."



Lex lay on the floor of the cell, staring at the ceiling listlessly. Pain had been the first sensation after he'd awakened. Exploding pain. Stupidly, he'd let out a sound, which had alerted the guards to his regaining consciousness. He sighed as he was turned over onto his belly.

He glanced up as the woman leaned against the bars of the cell, looking down at the Sparrow. Lex focused on the wall behind her, buttoning his lips for the time being. The woman shook her head and turned away, disappearing. Only then did the Sparrow give himself over to the feelings that could only be released using his hoarse voice. More screams. More pain.



Jameel had lost himself in his thoughts for the short duration the screams weren't present, his mind turning over the questions merely to while away the time of silence. A conspiracy had been right in front of his face and he hadn't even known. He had been played for a fool. The traitoress had reached an all-time low for the number of traitors to the Brotherhood that he knew of, and what for? Profit?

"This is just to get my affection, isn't it?" Serenity looked up from studying the cleanliness of her nails, pursing her lips. The Red Owl's voice was barely audible, nothing like the shout he'd first used when threatening her on his awakening.

She shrugged. "Partly to get the Templars to leave my city alone."

"The Templars will use you, as they are doing now! They won't leave Venice until they've been chased out! You're only doing them a favor!"

"Ah, there's the old fire that I know you have. Stubborn to the end, eh, Jameel?" She turned so that her legs were sprawled over one arm of the chair, her elbow propped on the other arm, chin on her fist. "But mostly, yes, it was for your affection. Tell me, Jameel, what do you really see in that Ganymede? What is it about him that's worthier of your affections than me?" She scratched at the mark on her chin again.

He didn't respond to the question with words. Instead, he gave her such a foul glare that the bravest of men upon seeing it would have let loose their bowels. Desmond, who had taken the brunt of many of Jameel's glares, would have had nightmares from it if he'd seen it. The woman shrugged again, reclining so that her head hung back across the arm along with her arms, stretching out so her breasts stabbed at the air.

"As you like." She sneered at him. "It won't take long for the boy to talk you know. In fact, since Act II is about to close, I feel he won't make it to the conclusion, but we'll still have the enjoyable experience of Act III."



The woman looked into the cell, Act III having ended. The Sparrow lay breathing shallowly on the floor, eyes half-shut, a thick rope of drool puddling under his cheek. She scanned down his body, studying the large bruises on his back and sides and neck, the fire from the torch highlighting the red wetness that colored the floor a few paces beyond his feet.

Opening the bars, she stepped into the cell and turned him over. His head lolled to the side, hair matted into his face with blood.

"Well? Don't you have anything to say?" She lifted her booted foot and pressed her heel down between his legs, eliciting a gasp from his split lips. "Hm?" She ground down, putting her weight into the motion.

"That...gets you off...huh?" he said between pauses for shuddering breaths. "Closest you'll ever get to..." He sighed as the weight left him, kicked back onto his stomach.

The woman stopped and looked at the guards.

"He's doing admirably well, wouldn't you say? Don't break him too quickly. Your master still wants to have his fun. Go ahead and begin Act IV." Lex sighed as he heard the two pairs of metal boots coming toward him, arms looping under his own, lifting him up. He let his head rest back on the metal armor behind him, unable to hold his own head up but wanting to stare his attacker in the mask for as long as his eyes remained open.



"Act V will begin soon," Serenity said after a time when the silence had stretched the longest. She snapped her fingers. Jameel lifted his head as the wall to his right slid back, a fake all along. Serenity looked over to where Lex sat slumped against the wall. He was blacker and bluer than on her previous viewing, gazing listlessly at the floor, if he gazed at all anymore.

Serenity jumped as the Red Owl suddenly threw himself forward against the shackles, speaking rapidly in a tongue she couldn't understand.

"Get up! Get up, look at me! Open your eyes!" Jameel let out a yell of rage as he strove against the restraints. "Little bird, open your eyes, I beg of you..." He caught his breath in his throat as a roar traveled up his bones. Lex jerked his head up, eyes opening wide, only to have it fall back to his chest. Breathing hard, he began to shove at the manacles around his wrists, trying to slip them over his hands.

Lex jerked harder at the manacles as there was an almost polite knock on the door, tearing his skin. Jameel heard a sickening snap as the manacle came free from about the Sparrow's bloodied wrist. Lex leaned back against the wall, chest heaving, face coated in sweat as the Metal Lion entered the room. The metal-clad man nodded to Serenity as she stood in greeting.

"I see we have some guests. I hope you made them so comfortable, lovely, that they never want to leave."

Serenity nodded, smiling. "Of course. I wouldn't want them saying I was inhospitable." The Metal Lion approached Lex's cell, opening the door and standing in the door. He paused there, watching the young man force his feet under his body, before he advanced a few steps. Troublemaker number one. I see you still have your fire." He reached a hand out toward the bloodied, mangled one hanging at the Assassin's side.

Jameel snarled, the Templar's reaching had breaking his cold, blank stoicism, "Don't you dare touch him!" The Lion turned his head toward the bound man and laughed madly after a moment.

Lex pushed at the other manacle weakly with his mangled hand, blood coating his trapped hand from his wrist. He gasped as his bound arm was lifted up, trembling as it was placed in the jaws, which slammed shut on the manacle. A scream came hoarsely from his raw throat as the teeth sank partly into his wrist. He shuddered as his hand was freed, allowed to drop limply at his side as the Metal Lion held him by the front of his robes.

"I know what you are trying to do and it will not work. Hm..." The Lion lifted his chin with a finger, looking into the Sparrow's glossy eyes. "Since you are so intent on running away, I wonder, would you leave the other captive behind?"

"No." Lex staggered as he was shoved into the wall, the only support to keep from collapsing. It wasn't a hard shove, merely the Lion getting his point across. Flight was useless.

Dredging up the very last of his reserves of strength, he moved away from the wall, moving toward the pauldron with the hidden blade bracer lodged inside. The bracers were still lodged in the jaws. It was pointless, some part of him knew, but the instinct to fight was all that remained to him.

The Lion swatted Lex with the butt of his axe, knocking him onto the floor.

"Let's have some fun." He let the Assassin up, then brought the axe butt down onto his body again. Lex grabbed the haft as it came toward him again, dragged to his feet. The Lion pushed him back against the wall, shoving him about the cell, finally throwing in a headbutt for good measure.

The Sparrow sat quadruple as he fell back against the wall and crumpled to the floor, blood sliding into his face and eyes as his head sank to his chest. The Lion raised the axe again, bringing it down toward the Assassin. Lex twisted to the side, throwing himself upward and clinging to the pauldron with the hidden blade for dear life as the Lion began to thrash around, trying to shake him off.

The Sparrow dragged at the mouths, trying to pry them open. He gagged as he was smashed into the wall, feeling a sharp pain within his side. He dropped to the floor and fell on his face. The Lion backed out of the cell and slammed the bars shut, head tilted to one side. "Feisty one. He won't ruin my fun, though."

The Lion turned away and approached Jameel, staring at him with hidden glee. The Red Owl's gaze lingered on the prone figure in the cell, his little bird still struggling to rise even then, whimpering, "Leave him alone." Rage filled Jameel as he turned to face his captor and spat in his face, the response a punch in the gut. The Lion grinned behind his mask, watching the man squirm as the air left his lungs. "Stop!" He continued raining blows down onto the tall Assassin as Lex dragged himself up, grasping the torch on the inside of the cell and bringing it down clenched between his bloodied palms.

Metal Lion grabbed the man by the hair, jerking his head up so they were eye to eye. "Now, start talking. Where's the hide out of the Assassins? Hm?" The Lion blinked as something bright caught the corner of his eye, turning his head just in time to see the torch, which had sailed wide of its target, drop fire first onto Serenity's lap. Serenity screamed and threw off the brand, rolling and slapping at her crotch to put out the fire.

The Templar picked up the still burning torch, ignoring the woman's screams, and held it up near Jameel's face. The Red Owl did not respond to the flame near his face, but did respond when it was rammed into his side. Quite loudly. The elder Assassin panted as the brand was pulled from his side, but only gave it a baleful glare when it was held before his eyes again.

Lex slid to his knees, head against the bars, shaking. His eyes were kept to the floor as he said in a low voice, "Stop. I'll tell you. I'll tell you, okay? Just stop hurting him."

The torch was pulled away from Jameel's face. The Lion approached Lex's cell and crouched to his level.

"Everything? Better be honest with me, boy, or the beatings will continue." Lex nodded.

"You shut your mouth, or I'll cut out your tongue and make lisan al-'usfur!" Jameel shouted. I can take more punishment than him, but if he gives away the headquarters, even here in Venice, we'll only suffer more punishment. We will die here if no one comes for us. He will not break the Creed. He will not prove that woman right. He will not betray the Order or me, even if it's to save me! "Don't tell him anything!" His words became a strangled scream as the Lion rushed over and shoved the torch into his other side, tossing the useless, burnt out stick aside. Jameel sank against the manacles, breathing hard.

The two Assassins looked at one another.

Lex settled his head against the bars, smiling weakly.

"Samikhni. Min fadlak, boomahi, samikhni." He looked at the Metal Lion. The armored Templar moved to the bars.

"Speak up, boy, or he gets cooked."

The Assassins jumped as cannonfire suddenly sounded from somewhere nearby. Serenity reached back and took a key from her belt, unlocking the shackles and hurrying from the room with the Red Owl. The Metal Lion stood stunned for a good five minutes, the Assassin at his feet behind the bars making weak, breathless passes at laughter.

"You...you're a dumbass. Thought I'd...let you know."

"Am I?" He whistled sharply, familiar faces entering the room. The Beaks in Black. Three of them, carrying rifles. The Metal Lion strode from the room, making for the exit with his guards as the mercenaries attacked the escapees and those causing the disturbance outside. Lex grasped at the bars, bringing himself to his feet. He wobbled, bowing his head.

"Ana assif, Jameel..."



Jameel stumbled after Serenity through the corridors, avoiding riflemen where they could by running away, bullets clipping their heels as they went. He looked up as he heard fighting ahead and familiar voices.

Amir stabbed another one of the guards, raising his hidden gun. He stopped. Jameel? With Serenity? Desmond looked up from putting a bullet between another Crow's eyes, Ezio stabbing a third in the process.

"How the hell?" began the barkeep, but was forced to assist the other three as Jameel wheeled around to face a group of oncoming gunmen barehanded. The four hauled him back and out the door of the fortress, shooting any who came too near them and dodging cannonballs as they hauled the man toward the boat the three Assassins had used to get to the island.

All the while, Jameel dug in his heels, nearly taking them off their feet as he struggled to return to the place he'd been dragged from.

"Wait, wait!" he screamed. "Wait, he's still inside! I need to go back!" The man almost succeeded in breaking free as a cannonball forced his comrades to dodge aside, but was tackled by the two Eagles. "Let go of me! Release me, you fatherless dogs! I have to go back inside! I need to go back! I have to save him! Let me go, damn it, he's going to die! I can't let him die! I won't leave him to be food for the Crows!"

The next shot shattered the ground a few feet from them, blocking his path, allowing the Assassins to drag the Red Owl into the boat.