Chapter Text
Fires in the night. Shouting somewhere in the distance. Next to him, leaning heavily against him even, a woman was wheezing. She couldn’t stand by herself anymore, and it was a wonder her pride waned. He had never seen her like this, but they had to keep moving. They were so close. So close.
"Just leave me."
"I'm not leaving you nowhere, no how!"
He wanted to ask her how she could think he'd do that. How he could abandon her after everything they've been through. They both knew loss, and this was ground he wasn't willing to give.
"Edward, you stubborn old scratch."
"Don't ask me to leave you. You know…" He trailed off, peeking around a corner. There were guards everywhere. There had to be a way out. She stumbled as they walked and he went with her. With what little strength he had left, he gathered her in his arms, holding her tight.
"You can't die here," Her voice was weak but so sure, so final. His chest constricted and it was hard to breathe.
"I always thought you'd be the one to outlast me."
She looked into his eyes, her lips were pale, nearly white. Her skin looked taunt and stretched, eyes bloodshot.
"...I've done my part. Will you?"
"I could… if you came with me."
She smiled, just the upturning of the corners of her lips. It was like she knew something he didn’t, a secret that couldn't be shared. She was wise far beyond her years. Always had been. He wished he listened to her. He wished he hadn’t been so stubborn. He wished he had done so many things differently. He wished she could live, he would have died in that moment so she could live.
"I will be with you, Kennway. I'll always be with you."
—
Edward never slept well on stormy nights. It was probably from his years of sailing. He remembered the way the crew shouted when the wind snapped the sails, the smell of burnt hair and salty winds. He didn't miss it during stormy nights. Of course, the real reason that he could sleep tonight was because of that damn dream. He didn't often dream of Mary Read but once he did, it was impossible to lay his head back down.
So, despite the early hour of the morning, he dressed and readied himself for the day, and retreated to his office. His wife still slept in their bed and while he ached to return to her, he knew it was best to not sleep in their bed with the thoughts of another woman in his head.
He tried to starve off the guilt by reminding himself there's nothing he could have done. He was weak and sick, suffering from infection himself. Yet, the look in Mary's eyes as she died haunted him, as if she looked past the shell of a man and saw something greater, something better. He tried, Lord he tried, to be something better but some days it was hard.
Some days he felt nothing but guilt nipping at his heels.
He tried to focus, eyes on his desk, mind on his work but, he couldn't lie and say he wasn't relieved when his wife and children rose. He greeted them all, ignoring Tessa's worried look. He wanted to pretend all was well, because if he didn't, Tessa would fuss. He knew it was because she loved him, however he worried she'd try and keep him from his trip.
Something had been found, a First Civilization artifact, and Miko has asked Edward to come with it to examine it. It was rare an Assassin interacted with these objects or the First Civilization themselves. Since Edward had been to one of their temples in his youth, he had become interested in them and their artifacts. He was looking forward to the distraction it would bring. There was no time for nightmares when he was busy with work.
Well before noon, he was leaving, promising to write to his family if he'd be gone too long. He didn't expect to be gone longer than a few days but they worried. Haytham asked to come, but he was too young, Edward assured him. Besides that, he knew Haytham would find the work dreadfully boring. He promised next time, perhaps.
By the time he met up with Miko he was very nearly late. They managed to set off on time though, heading to the location the artifact had been found, a lonely place just North of the city. No one wanted to move it just yet, but it was guarded by their best. It was always best not to remove an artifact before they were plenty sure what it was, and how it was used.
An Assassin met them at the entrance way which looked to be no more than a cave. Moss hung heavy on the stone just inside, fed by the mist that lingered around the place, giving it an almost mystic and unearthly aura. Edward looked around as they walked through the cave, not quite sure when it turned from rough stone to smooth, clearly placed blocks. It reminded him much of the temple in the West Indies but the entryway was shorter, leading to a wide open room.
There was nothing too special about it, other than the platform in the back of the room. There was a ledge on the platform and on the ledge itself was an object. The object seemed to light the room, giving it a nearly blood red glow.
"This is it, Master Kenway," Their guide told him. "This place itself is small, this object seems to be of great significance but no one can seem to tell what it is."
"Well, let's have a look!" Miko said, eager as ever. They walked across the long room, stepping up onto the platform. As they got closer, Edward studied the object, confused as to what it was. It almost looked like a compass, without the glass about it. It had a chaos-star shaped design, with the northernmost point being longer, almost dangerously spiked, like a weapon. What Edward did recognize about it, was that it had hands like a clock. His brow wrinkled, as he and Miko stepped upon the platform.
“Is it to keep time?” He wondered aloud.
“Surely the First Civilization didn’t need something like an oversized pocket watch to keep their time!” Miko pointed out, hand reaching to touch the object. His wrist was quickly stopped by the hand of their guide, the young assassin’s eyes wide with what could almost be fear.
“We don’t know what it does,” He pointed out, voice stiff.
“Ah,” Miko nodded, hand dropping to his side. “You’re right.”
Edward repressed a chuckle of amusement at the disappointment in his voice. He turned his eyes back to the object, noting further that it seemed to be made of gold, or a metal that looked much like gold. He noted in each of the arms of the chaos star, there seemed to be carvings. Words, perhaps, or symbols that he couldn’t begin to guess. As he stared, he leaned forward, hand brushing against the pedestal. As if in reaction, the object’s hands moved.
Edward leaned back in shock, turning to look at Miko and their guide, only to realize the light of the room was no longer red, but a calming blue. The two beside him were frozen, not even moving to breathe.
“We meet again, Edward Kenway,” A voice boomed, causing Edward to spin on his heel. The man that stood there had to be of the First Civilization. Edward wouldn’t be able to recall his features later, only the presence the man commanded.
“Who are you?” He asked, body tensing, ready to fight or flee as the situation called for. “I’ve never met you.”
“Perhaps not,” The man’s eyes were on him, though Edward knew he couldn’t really be there. “No matter, we are running out of time. Your bloodline is dear to us. Special. Do you understand?”
Edward could only shake his head, confused. He didn’t know what to say, feeling as if he couldn’t speak. He could only listen.
“This message is only for you. I Saw that you would find it, so I prepared accordingly. I do not have time to explain, but time is quickly running out for us. For you. Perhaps for the entire world. We need you to give us years more to prepare.”
“I don’t understand,” Edward managed, his voice low and rough, as if he were a child being scolded.
“You don’t have to. Just know that what is meant to be, is what will be. You will relive and renew. You will be the time we need,” The man nodded, as if something were confirmed, his head turning slightly, as if someone else was there. Edward turned his head, but only the others were behind him. “You were chosen for a reason, Edward Kenway.”
Edward wanted to demand answers, to struggle against the weight that seemed to suddenly be on his throat. There was nothing he could do though, but meet the eyes of the mysterious man and collapse, the once calming blue light oppressive.