AssCreed: Vampires 5

Slinking through the darkened streets of Venice, Shaun and Desmond walked together, almost like two lovers who were looking for somewhere to stay for the night.

"So, who was the guy who looked like Ezio?" Desmond turned to look at Shaun, who pressed his lips together, studying

"Altair? I don't like him. He's hurt Leonardo, and...I feel like I can't forrgive him for that. I don't even know why." Shaun looked up at Desmond. "Does that make me a bad person?"

"Maybe it's a vampire instinct? You were turned by Leonardo, you have to protect him?"

Mulling this over, Shaun nodded. "Perhaps. It all sounds too cliche for me to accept though. I mean, are we supposed to stay in Venice forever now?"

"Dunno."

"Hey, suckers!"

Both men turned to glare at a group of suited men, stood behind a man in a white coat.

"Now now, no need to be rude. Gentlemen. If you would be so kind as to come with us..."

The man in the white coat stretched a hand out invitingly. Shaun didn't move, but Desmond stepped forwards, his fangs bared.

"Keep the fuck away from us." He hissed, loudly, and the white coated man smirked.

"Have it your way, then."

Reaching into his coat, he drew out what looked like a crossbow. The two vampires jumped, and Shaun landed easily on the top of a nearby building, panic running through him as he realised that Desmond was no longer next to him.

"Shit. Desmond?" Looking across the street to the building opposite, he sighed. "Des!"

"Missed, you goddamn bastard!" Desmond ducked behind a chimney as another bolt flew towards him. "Shaun!"

"We have to get back!" Shaun called, wincing as tiles shattered on the opposite walls. "Who are these guys?"

"Who are we?" A laugh escaped the man with the crossbow. "I thought all you dirty bloodsuckers were told about us."

Shaun thought fleetingly of Leonardo, and the warning he'd recieved from Altair. "Templars? You're fucking Templars?"

"Oh, so you do know! Fantastic!" The man laughed. "Then you can pray before we catch you. We have an old friend who'd love to get his claws into you!"

"I've never said anything wrong to anyone!" Shaun yelled. "What makes you think I'll come down to you without a fight, you fucking lunatic?"

"Vidic!"

Someone was stood on the roof above Shaun, his eyes flashing in the moonlight. He held a sword in his right hand, his left arm...

It wasn't there. Shaun stared up at him, the man silhouetted against the moon.

"Stay here. Leonardo and the others are coming." The man jumped down to the street, and held his sword up. "Vidic, you know this is a big mistake. Go now, and I'll spare your men."

Vidic aimed with the crossbow. "Spare me your incessant prattle, you bloodsucking bastard."

The one-armed man shot forwards, the sword gleaming in the moonlight. The men either side of Vidic collapsed, and the swordsman raised the point to dig into Vidic's back. "Your experiment will not work, Vidic. Release him while he's still able to survive alone."

"Alright, vampire, you win this round." Throwing the crossbow down to the floor, Vidic began to walk away, his eyes narrowed. "The experiment will work. And I'll be rid of you and your filthy little coven of vampires for good."

The one-armed man's mouth stretched open, his fangs bared as he snarled. "Go and let him out."

Vidic smirked, and slowly backed out of the alley, his eyes locked with Malik's until he left. Malik shook his head, and wiped the blood from his blade on one of the fallen men.

"Shaun!"

Arms wrapped protectivley around him, and Shaun jerked, before realising it was Leonardo. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! If I had known Vidic was out..."

Across the rooftops, Ezio was holding Desmond close, and glaring at the one armed figure, who sheathed his sword underneath the long black coat he wore.

"Malik!"

A hand drew back and connected with Altair's face, sending him sprawling to the cobbled street.

"Don't you 'Malik' me, Altair! You still act like a reckless fledgling after all this time?" Malik jabbed a finger into his chest. "You didn't even tell him how to hunt, did you!?"

"I didn't think it important at the time-" Altair raised his own hand to block the next blow. "Will you stop hitting me!?"

"Not important? Altair, he could have starved if I hadn't turned Ezio to take care of him!" Malik snarled angrily, his fangs exposed. Ezio took Desmond's hand, and pulled him into the gore-filled street below.

"You turned me to take care of Leonardo? I thought you turned me first?" Ezio studied Malik, who sagged, his arm dropping.

"No. I turned you because I knew you loved Leonardo, and watching him change before your eyes was killing you. And because this idiot had left a vegetarian to fend for himself without even teaching him how to fight!" Malik slapped the side of Altair's head. "At least they take care of their fledglings!"

Leonardo pulled at Shaun's hand. "Come. It's all right, Vidic never attacks twice in the same night."

Reluctantly, Shaun followed Leonardo into the alley, drawing closer to Desmond. Malik straightened up, and tilted his head respectfully.
"Leonardo."

"Malik."

"Desmond and Shaun. Well. I certainly see why you picked Desmond, Ezio. Though, for the life of me..." He stalked closer to Shaun, who swallowed nervously. "I cannot figure you out, Shaun."

"What do you mean?"

"I can read the thoughts of everyone here, but your mind..." Malik circled him, almost like a large cat. "Yours is closed to me."

"I'm sorry?"

Malik laughed. "Don't be. It's a rare gift in a vampire, to hide your thoughts."

"But...Leonardo could read my mind perfectly..." Shaun protested. "Why would that be?"

"You do not wish to keep secrets from your maker. Completely reasonable." Malik bowed his head. "Might I trespass on your home until my work here is done?"

Leonardo nodded. "Of course, Malik."

"One thing. Why did you turn both of these men?" Malik indicated both Shaun and Desmond. "I understand this one. He looks like Ezio and Altair...but Shaun?"

Leonardo smiled. "I saw them meet up in the airport. So much love, and affection...the joy of simply being together...Few people still have such emotion nowadays. They deserve to share that love for as long as they can, don't you think?"

Malik smiled. "A better reason than why I was turned." He mused, and began following them back towards the hideout. Shaun fell into step beside him.

"Why? Why were you turned?"

Malik jerked his thumb at Altair. "This idiot was lonely."

"Malik, you know I love you." Altair slipped an arm around his shoulders.

"Take it off, or I break it off."

The arm was quickly removed.