France, October 1799 - Piece of Eden

----------- Southcoast of France, Saint-Raphaël, 9. October 1799 ------

  

The white sails of the three-master were slowly hauled while the ship was moored to the dock. And, of course, the first who stepped over the pier to the shore was Napoléon Bonaparte. His unmistakable attitude had not changed over the years, let alone his outward appearance. And he did not seem in the least astonished by the waiting crowd of people, who joyfully welcomed his arrival.

 

France, September 1799 - Journey

---------- France, on the road to the south coast, September 1799 -----

A deep inhale while Arno listened to the soft, sweet, sighing noises. He enjoyed the way Adeláire reacted to him, the kisses of his lips on her warm skin. He followed the lurching movements of the delicious body beneath him. Could she feel his thieving smile on her belly button? He followed an impulse that he wanted to live out for half an eternity.

Malmaison, August 1799 - Break apart

----------------------- outside Paris, Malmaison, August 1799 -------

Arno had spotted the delegation for a long time before it even came close to the gate. With a faint whistle he caught LaHache's attention and hinted that they were visited. Jean merely nodded briefly and pulled his hood over his forehead. He grabbed his always present ax, but did not stow it in the back holder. He turned resolutely toward the road, while Arno remained in his position in the tree. The training of his senses had not really taken him one step further, but from up here he definitely had a better overview.

Malmaison, August 1799 - Pain

----------------------- outside Paris, Malmaison, August 1799 -------

Arno dragged his friend up the steps while groaning and sucking cool night air deep into his lungs, before finally reaching the end of the stairs. Verne stumbled and groaned as well softly.

"Hang in there. No one here is going to die today." Arno was not sure if he wanted to convince himself more, let alone his friend.

Malmaison, August 1799 - Trapped

----------------------- outside Paris, Malmaison, August 1799 -------

Her head was throbbing and hurting; she immediately sensed that she was in a rather unusual, and above all rather uncomfortable, stance. Groaning softly, she tried to move and immediately heard the clink of chains. Great, they were prisoners. Even before the shameful realization could penetrate deeper, the unconsciousness dragged Adeláire back under.

Malmaison, August 1799 - Passion & Betrayal

----------------------- outside Paris, Malmaison, August 1799 -------

Adeláire was bored to death. Joséphine had not engaged with her since the soiree, leaving it to her "girls" to take care of the newcomer. There was a great coming and going of messengers, sometimes with gifts, sometimes only with letters. But it was impossible to catch even a small shred of it before it got right into Joséphine's hands. Slowly Adeláire wondered if her plan would ever be crowned with success. Two weeks had passed and so far she, Arno and Verne had not dared to exchange ideas with each other. So she did not even begin to suspect if her brothers might be more successful in their mission.

Paris, August 1799 - Joséphine

----------------------- outside Paris, Malmaison, August 1799 -------

Adeláire sat alone in the carriage that the Marquis had lent her for her journey to Joséphine’s country estate, and already she was very uncomfortable. As usual, when she became nervous, she wrapped her arms around her upper body and tried to breathe with closed eyes. This, however, meant that the night before danced with vivid images before her eyes. Pictures of a togetherness almost filled with greedy despair. As if it could be the last time she would share that with Arno, to explore each other.

Paris, July 1799 - Approximation

----------------------------------------- Paris, Île de la Cité, July 1799 -------

In the end, Adeláire had retired to the round Gallery in the Café above the training room, and was still pondering with anger in her stomach. Weapons and cloak lay behind her on the table. She had turned the chair in the room to the window with her feet supported on its ledge. The rocking and balancing seemed almost like a reflection of her thoughts. She rolled back and forth, trying to fathom the deeper cause of her rage.

Paris, July 1799 - Imbalance

----------------------------------------- Paris, Tuilerien, July 1799 -------

"I feel naked."

Adeláire's voice was no more than a whisper as she crossed at Arno's arm the few steps from the carriage to the entrance of Joséphines and Napoléon's Town hall. A warm hand lay over hers on his arm.

"I am also sorry, that courtly ball clothes for ladies does not provide any opportunity to hide weapons." His voice whispered softly, so as not to be worn on false ears. Adeláire only gave a muttered reply as an acknowledgement for the amused undertone. Enviously, she looked at Arno, who was walking with a tightened attitude, as if he naturally belonged here.

Paris, June 1799 - Fearless?

----------------------------------------- Paris, Tuilerien, June 1799 -------

Adeláire stretched out in her crouching position on the roof, then let her shoulders circling as well as her head. For days they had been lying on the prowl, watching Bonaparte's Townhouse. After Francesco had told the Council what they had found out about Egypt, the four didn’t hesitate another day to tackle their next goal. Unhappily, the whole household seemed like a busy beehive. And so far they had not been able to find out the reason.

Paris, June 1799 - First Target

------------------------------------------------------------- Paris, June 1799 -------

Adeláire was breathing heavily and her ribs ached in the side. Carefully she moved her feet around in the stage of her exhaustion and tried not to stumble. The rapier seemed to be getting heavier in her hand, and her sweaty clothes stuck uncomfortably on the skin. She found the only pacification in the aspect that it doesn’t enact differently to her training counterpart.

Paris, May 1799 - Team up

---------------------- Paris, Sanctuary of the Assassins, May 1799 -------

  

Arno had long considered the clothes in which he was supposed to face the Council. Adeláire had given him time and space, as did Verne. He followed them in full armament, but without a coat and a hood. The collar of his dark gray shirt was open, and his casual appearance was belied by the tension in shoulders and clenched fists.

Paris, May 1799 - Soulshreds

------------------------------------- Paris, Île de la Cité, May 1799 -------

Dorian finally ended up exploring her feminine curves and sparked away from her. His breath was as deep and heavy as hers, as he rose, and silently gave her a hand. His move to help her to her feet ended only when their lips met again. Adeláire felt a hunger blaze up, mirrored by her counterpart.

Paris, May 1799 - Persuading

------------------------------------- Paris, Île de la Cité, May 1799 -------

Towards the beginning of the afternoon, Adeláire arrived at Café Théâtre, as desired. As the sun still shone from a cloudless sky, the terrace in front of the café was well filled and she had to push past busy tables and chairs. The twilight inside did the eyes well and the Assassin looked around from the entrance. When her gaze fell on the staff in the look-out, he pointed silently towards the staircase in the back. Dorian seemed to expect her in private rooms on the first floor. Adeláire was not sure if she thought this was good or not. With tightened shoulders she stepped up the path and looked again searchingly.

Paris, May 1799 - Indecent Proposal

---------------------- Paris, Sanctuary of the Assassins, May 1799 -------

For hours, the three Masters of the council seemed to be arguing over how to proceed further regarding Sieyès. Adeláire patiently waited with her arms folded behind her back. She had delivered her report completely, and had always given the same answers for what felt an eternity. She therefore allowed herself a very restrained breath, as Master Trenet finally ended the discussion with an energetic gesture.

Paris, May 1799 - Tracing

---------------- Paris, Porte Saint-Denis, Court des Miracles, May 1799 -------

Disgusted, Adeláire repeatedly wrinkled her nose. Even the scarf, which in addition to the hood covered her face up to the tip of her nose, was not capable of keeping the smell of the Court des Miracles out. Just why were so many of the Brotherhood's informants found in this slum? Sighing softly, she gave herself the answer in her own mind. After all, it was beggars who always snapped information up everywhere. Eyes and ears begging on every corner could see and hear a lot.

Paris, April 1799 - First Contact

----------------------------------------------- Paris, Île Saint-Louis, April 1799 -------

Waiting, and actually a good bit more unsettled, Adeláire crouched on a rooftop on the other side of the river, staring as if hypnotized over the Café Théâtre. She still could not understand the Council's decision to continue to rely on Dorian. They had even advised to leave her camouflage, and to simply be who she was. Assassin of the Paris Brotherhood, and one of the few women among them. She scolded herself as a stupid girl, as she spasmodically ceased her nervous habit, clinging to the buckles of her over-knee-high boots. She took a deep breath and swung herself down into the street. The Council had decided and instructed her. And unlike Dorian, she never questioned the Council.

Paris, April 1799 - Brother

Nothing is true, everything is permitted.

We work in the Dark, to serve the Light. We are Assassin’s.

All that we do, all that we are, begins and ends with ourselves.

----------------------------------------------- Paris, Île Saint-Louis, April 1799 -------

There it was, the unmistakable sound of a heavily-armed man who had no fear of the consequences such an appearance might bring. Adeláire had only dropped her attention for the fraction of a lash stroke. Now, she bit down inconspicuously on the inside of her lip and scolded herself for her negligence. Carefully and barely holding her breath, she dared to shift her sight toward the entrance to her right, where the sound had originated.