14Jacob awaited his first opponent, which wasn't what he wasn't expecting at all. A slim man vaulted the barrier and stood before him, clenching and un-clenching his fists.
"Piece of cake," he smirked.
The slim man stretched his arms and gave them a good shake while cracking his neck.
"Come on!" he now taunted as they both readied themselves.
Topping gave the go ahead and Jacob started it off with a right hook. However, it never connected as the slim man ducked and jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow.
Jacob winced at the sudden assault and tried again, only to get the same result.
"That's it's Slim Sammy!" the crowd cheered.
A few boos were heard, most likely from the ones that had bet on Jacob. Evie watched on, knowing her brother would prevail and that he did.
Feigning a right hook again, which Sammy fell for, he lunged with his left catching the slim man in the gut. This was followed by a wheezing sound coming from him now, but not for long as Jacob hit him right in the temple knocking him out cold. The crowd erupted in cheers and yells.
"Slim Sammy stood no chance against our upcoming champion!" Topping announced. "Who dares to take on this beast?"
"He got lucky!" a larger man snarled, spitting on the ground as he threw off his coat.
Jacob smirked and readied himself as the larger man took a swing, which Jacob dodged to return the favour with a hit to the gut. The man doubled over slightly and swung again. Jacob dodged his blow again.
"That the best you g..."
A fist struck his jaw and he reeled backwards. He recovered to now see another brute of a man join in and Evie almost jumping in to join him. He stopped her with a shake of his head.
"I can call one out if you want," Topping was heard. "Or if you take the both of them on and win, you'll get triple the amount."
Jacob allowed it and ran at the first brute head first, knocking them both into the barrier. The other stormed over, grabbing Jacob by the shoulder to hit him in the gut. He doubled over and coughed, but quickly recovered to duck other blow of which the other brute received in return.
"Fuck!" the one on the receiving end snarled.
The other angrily swiped again, but this time Jacob grabbed his fist to forcefully bring his elbow down onto the brutes arm. A cry rang out, but he didn't stop there. He kicked the brute in the side of the knee, breaking it. The man went down and Jacob finished him off with a headbutt.
"One down!" he smirked as the other snorted like an angry bull.
"I'll get you, little man!"
Jacob rounded his shoulders and jumped on the spot as the brute took this opportunity to swing at him. He dodged easily and kicked him in the back of the knee, sending the brute down.
"I give!" the brute pleaded, holding up his hands, not wanting to endure the same fate.
"Well that was a boring ending," Topping sighed, but none the less jumped onto the ring to grab hold of Jacob's hand and raise it into the air. "Behold the new champion!"
The crowd cheered and clapped, those that had lost, left empty handed and scornfully.
"Your winnings, m'lord. Might we have the pleasure of seeing you in action next time, m'lady?" Topping handed over the money then tipped his hat in hopes to see the older twin in action.
"Yes," she nodded. "I'll take my turn the next time we come."
"Brilliant," he smiled cheerfully. "Look forward to seeing you."
Jacob threw on his hat and headed out feeling a little sore, but a little wealthier.
"I didn't expect the first bloke," he said as he rolled his shoulder.
Evie smiled. "Life is full of the unexpected."
Just then two young boys stopped in front of them.
"This her?" one asked, pointing to Evie.
The other nodded.
"We thanks you for the money, Miss."
"Bugger off, you'll not get anymore from me!" Jacob snapped.
"We's here to take you to someone," the boy gestured.
"Ah, no!" Jacob glared.
"Who is it?" Evie asked before getting taken anywhere.
"Her names Clara O'Dea. She's an orphan like us."
Evie accepted it and followed on, Jacob on the other hand sighed in annoyance but went with her.
"Clara, we brought 'em for you."
A young girl with plaits either side of her head turned with a smile as she looked to the pair.
"It's nice to meet you both. I'm Clara O'Dea," she greeted politely.
Jacob couldn't help but cross his arms as his sister introduced them.
"Evie Frye and my brother Jacob. What is it you want with us?"
"Money," Jacob snorted in annoyance.
Clara ignored him. "You managed to liberate Whitechapel, but we could really use your help freeing the children in the factories."
"No chance," Jacob huffed.
"They work long hours with little pay. Some aren't permitted to leave the grounds. Severe injuries are sustained and it comes out of their wages, what little they get. They suffer terribly."
"What will you offer in return?" Evie asked, knowing the child was quite intelligent.
"People like to ignore us 'cause we're just filthy homeless kids, but that helps us greatly to get information on anyone and everyone."
Evie nodded.
"Evie!" Jacob frowned.
"Then it's a deal," Clara spat on her hand as did Evie and they shook on it.
"Information," Jacob frowned as they now walked off. "You do know we have Freddy."
"Abberline can only give so much, Jacob." She reminded him.
"Alright, you do as you please and I'll do as I please."
"You can be so childish," she sighed.
"Childish would be making sure the Rooks don't listen to you," he threatened as he turned and left her to it.
Evie shook her head and walked the opposite way. She had intended to check out one of the warehouses, but something else caught her attention.
"It just needs to be bathed. Fetch some water from the fountain and bring me a clean rag."
"Bernie, get the water quick now."
"Yes, father."
A young boy ran out onto the street just as Evie was making her way over. He ended up bumping into her harshly.
"Ow," he stumbled back before looking up to apologise. "Sorry, Miss."
"What's taking so long?"
Evie rounded the corner to see Lillian standing by a beautiful looking shire. She stood back and didn't interfere.
"Here's the water, Miss." Bernie said as he hurried over with the bucket.
"I got a clean rag too," his father said handing over the cloth.
"Alright just talk to her softly as I clean this up," Lillian told them as she dunked the cloth in the water to bring to the wound.
The shire snorted loudly and pulled away.
"Easy girl," Lillian soothed her, patting her softly. "Everything's going to be alright."
The horse seemed to calm a little more and allowed her to carry on. All thanks to an added calm voice. Lillian was quite surprised to see Evie of all people standing in front of the shire, stroking her softly and talking in a low calming voice.
"Bandage," Lillian gestured.
Bernie passed them over and Lillian got to work, petting the horse on the neck once she'd finished and gave her an apple, which she'd sneakily swiped from a fruit stall.
"You certainly know what you're doing," Evie nodded to the horse.
Lillian dried her hands on a cloth before heading off, not waiting for a gift of gratitude or anything of the sort.
"I don't like to see animals in distress," she told her.
"A lover of animals," Evie smiled as she thought back to her childhood. "I always wanted a cat, but Jacob preferred a dog. In the end we ended up with nothing."
Lillian smiled at that. "I've had many cats and dogs growing up."
"I envy you," Evie sighed. "We lived with our grandmother until the age of six, then we were taken by our father for training. We didn't have time for pets."
"Sounds rough," Lillian thought.
"It was and it wasn't," Evie sighed. "I was trained as an Assassin and as a proper lady."
Lillian shook her head. "Harsh upbringing indeed."
"The harshest was the dresses father forced me to wear for certain occasions."
Lillian laughed.
"Don't tell me you were never forced into one," Evie frowned.
Lillian stopped laughing and remembered the first time she wore one. "My grandmother forced me to wear one once. I ended up getting a good thrashing for tearing it to shreds and showing my bare legs to the boys I'd been play fighting with at a party."
Evie chuckled at that.
"She never forced me into one since or allowed me to join them at anymore parties, I was so relieved. My younger sisters never had a problem with wearing one though."
The two were actually quite surprised with the conversation turning out as it had. Both were quite surprised to be taking quite freely with one another.
"I've never had female company like this, it's quite refreshing." Evie smiled.
"Never had a heart to heart with your mum?" Lillian asked.
Evie shook her head. "I never knew her," she sighed. "She died just after Jacob was born, father never spoke of her around us."
Lillian lowered her head. "I don't know what's worse knowing your mother or not knowing her."
Evie shook her head. "I would have liked to have known her."
Lillian nodded. "Loss is harder to deal with though. Having lost our mother to an infection two years ago, our family split up. Father turned rogue, my brother found himself a girlfriend. My sisters..." she cleared her throat, not intending to go further.
Evie stayed quiet, knowing it was for the best as Lillian changed the subject.
"It's so dreadfully boring," she sighed. "Is there anything you have planned?"
"I spoke with a young girl named Clara O'Dea, she would like our help with the children in the factories."
"Oh," Lillian thought.
"Something wrong?" Evie asked.
Lillian shook her head. "Animals I can deal with, children not so much."
"We just need to clear the warehouses of Blighters, the Rooks will handle the rest.'
"That I can do," she smiled. "So where's the first?"
"Strain and Boil in Lambeth."
"You'll have to lead the way,"
Evie took in her surroundings, trying to remember where Lambeth was.
"That way," she pointed out. "But we best get a few Rooks gathered first."
The pair headed for a Rook base first.
"Miss Frye, Miss Beaufort." A woman greeted as she leaned against the wall, keeping a lookout.
"We're taking the Strain and Boil, we need a few Rooks to go with us."
"Right you are, Miss." The woman nodded before whistling a few Rooks out of the base. "They're going to the Strain and Boil and they only need a few of you."
The Rooks parted into a small group and headed out with the Assassins. Once they were at their destination, they watched from afar.
"Want us to rush them, Miss?" a youngish Rook asked.
"No," Evie sighed remembering their first time. "Await my signal then you can deal with them."
"As you wish," he nodded.
Evie nodded to Lillian to take one side while she took the other. "You take the foreman, I'll look after the children."
Lillian nodded in acceptance and headed round the side to climb the building when the coast was clear. She almost climbed in on a sniper by the window, but drew back quickly.
"Too much haste," she hissed. "Better try the roof."
Heading for the roof, she caught sight of Evie knocking out her first Blighter and hiding the body from sight.
"Get to bloody work!" a man was heard yelling, which was promptly followed by crying. "This isn't bloody good enough, get them working faster!"
"Yes, sir." Another was heard.
Slipping in through an open window, Lillian slipped onto a beam. Her target was right under her, but if she took him out now she'd cause utter havoc.
"Come on," she groaned, itching to take him down.
She heard Evie whistle to drew the attention of another Blighter away from the warehouse. Her vision saw him move uncertainly through the crowd of working men, women and children.
"Fucking useless batch you got here!" the foreman continued to complain before raising a hand to his head. "Giving me a bloody headache."
She watched as he now headed back to his office, thankfully there was only one Blighter on guard by his door. Sending a throwing knife down, she drew his attention to the place the blade had hit the wood.
"Who's throwing..." he frowned as he picked up the knife to then look up.
There was no time to yell as Lillian quickly dropped from above and knocked his head into the wooden planks. Quickly dragging the man away before the foreman checked on the noise, she watched for him to turn his back on her and struck. A blade through the back dealt with him swiftly.
"Evie," she called, grabbing the older twins attention as well as the Blighters who looked up to see their boss was no longer living.
Evie whistled loudly as the Blighters tried to run for it, the place suddenly erupted in panic as the Rooks rushed in.
"With me," a woman called to the children, who were nearly trampled by the panicked adults.
Lillian headed downstairs ready to join Evie, when she was caught from behind. She looked down to see a small hand clutching at her coat, turning to look round she saw it was a young girl who'd buried her face in her back and was sobbing. She was quite bewildered to have the young girl get suddenly attached to her.
"Is that all of them?" the Rook woman asked.
"I have one here," Lillian announced from above them. "A girl."
"Bring her down then."
"I can't, she's got hold of me."
Evie chuckled and headed up to go see Lillian standing with one arm hovering over the sobbing child. Evie knelt down behind her and rubbed the child's back.
"It's alright," she soothed. "You're safe now."
The girl pulled away and quickly wrapped her arms around Evie's neck, the Assassin then stood with her in her arms.
"Here, she's a little fearful."She told the Rook, once she gone downstairs.
"I'll take care of her," the woman reassured taking her from Evie's arms into her own.
Evie nodded then looked to Lillian who'd come to stand by her side.
"We did good today," she smiled.
Lillian nodded while looking at the young girl. She had no interest in having any, but yet they seemed to have interest in her.
"Shall we see what other wonders await us?" Evie now asked.
"We shall," Lillian nodded again.
