A/N: Thank you for your continuous and lovely support on my stories, I am really liking where Im taking this story at the moment- I think your character's involvement with the Templar's gives us the opportunity to spice things up in different ways!

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3 Months Later ~

Havana had offered you so much more than you had initially expected. The beautiful sunrises you experienced most mornings, you did not expect to see from a warm and soft bed inside of the beautiful mountainside manor. Laureno Torres' residence itself. 

Without much thought or hesitation, you were happy to accept Du Casse's invitation of protection. In a world that had so far been throwing such cruelty your way, you weren't going to ignore the hand of a kind man. So in many ways, you supposed you were his now. Not that you minded about the label, and the fact, in some ways, you had contradicted yourself. You came to the capital hoping to live a life free of men for a while, letting you think about yourself. But it seemed you weren't able to resist the charm of a tall, dark stranger- and he was kind and considerate it seemed, not like most pig men- who were after one thing. 

Not only that, but his company and comfort offered your heart some thing to hold onto while you got over the mess of a relationship that you had left behind in Nassau. 

So everything seemed fine. You had a place to call home, people around who seemed to care about you... but you were curious about the three men. Some nights they would go off together into the town, it all seemed a sketchy affair. When you had gained the courage to ask Julien one morning in the wake of another summer day, he had tried to explain in a woman friendly way. 

"Myself, Mr Rodgers and Grandmaster Torres... we belong to an organisation. A good organisation that fights for the right of all order out there, bringing about a better future."

That was the most you'd gotten. Upon more curious organisation in Julien's study one afternoon a few weeks later, you found a few odd letters, written mostly in Spanish- no use to you. It was then your fingers scrabbled around in the bottom of the dark wood draw, picking up a scraggy old bit of parchment to find a symbol drawn on it in dark black ink. 

Your eyes traced all of the angles of the design... your mind clicking instantly. Where...? Where had you seen such a symbol before? It was all so familiar yet at the same time, so distant to you. You couldn't figure. 

You seated yourself in the cushioned chair in your summer dress, putting your head into your hands as you focused. You thought of the soldiers who had tried to capture you in the very beginning... No, not there... It seemed more dear to you than that... some one closer. 

Images blurred past in your head like clouds sailing on a fast breeze. You scrunched your (eye colour) eyes up tighter. 

Then in a sudden rush of light it seemed, it came to you. That symbol, you'd seen in stitched into Edward's robes. Where you couldn't exactly think, but you'd seen it! 

So now you pondered a different question, what importance did this symbol have? Why was it in Julien's draw?

You weren't allowed long to muse over this, when you heard his voice shouting your name, and you quickly shoved the paper into the draw and slammed it shut, skirting out of the study, making it onto the marble landing quickly enough for it to look like you'd emerged from the bedroom just as he was making his way upstairs. 

By the looks he'd been training, his shirt open slightly like it was on most hot summer days, the exposed skin of his chest glistening with a slight sweat as he had an exasperated look on his face, pulling his hat off and running his fingers through his hair. 

"What are you doing inside? it is such a divine day out there, this weather is glorious!" he exclaimed, smiling widely at you. 

"I was just fixing up a dress seam, it needed stitching. Then I was going to sit outside with you, perhaps have something to drink?" you said innocently, your mind still thinking madly about the paper you'd found in his study, and Edward now, of course. 

"It's getting late now, little dove." he said, he had quite taken to making that your pet name. "I suspect your maid and lady in waiting shall be up to help you prepare for the Gala tonight."

Gala? What Gala? You had heard next to nothing about any kind of gala?

"A gala you say?" you mentioned, nodding softly as you played with a piece of your (hair colour) hair. "Sounds delightful." you smiled, Julien seemed so happy and you wouldn't want to disturb that.

"I have had some help in procuring a gown for you, I do hope you like it." he said in a rather innocently hopeful voice, and so you gave in about the fact you weren't really up for the whole party scene that evening. He was just trying to do good for you. 

"I'm sure I will. Thank you Julien." you said, and for a moment he almost could not look you in the eye. It was a strange moment, but you eventually got a wry smile out of him. Without a word he nodded with his little smile, and then turned away, taking himself back down the remainder of the steps. Something seemed off with him, but you didn't feel confident enough to ask, in case he got angry. You had heard him shout at the maids, and how some wispered about how he wasn't a very nice man. But he had always been nothing but pleasant to you, so you tended to avoid those quiet whispers exchanged around the manor house. 

-----

Having maids and servants was almost uncomfortable. You were no body of wealth or stature, and other women addressing you with 'yes miss' and 'of course miss', often unsettled you somewhat. You had never had treatment like this in the past. 

Although, you had to admit that they did a wonderful job with your glossy (air colour hair), styled into a pretty half up and half down style, the part of your hair left free was curled into loose waves, and the top was platted prettily and neatly. The dress Julien had chosen too was very much flattering, a pretty peach colour gown with a rather revealing square neckline, but you accepted that it was fashion... and if Julien liked it, well, you would to. 

By the time your look for the evening was completed, and you ascended the staircase, guests had already poured into the villa. Julien and Grandmaster Torres stood talking at the bottom of the staircase, both looking at you with approving yet wandering eyes. You tried to ignore the feelings of nervousness and the uncomfortable sensation stirring in the base of your stomach. 

"(Name)," Julien smiled weakly as he offered out his hand when you reached the second to last carpeted step, "You look quite stunning." he whispered, as you blushed, your cheeks flushing a rosy red colour. 

"Yes, you really do look quite ravishing, Miss (surname)." Torres smirked at you, there was a look in his eye like a cat that had gotten the cream. 

---

"Must we do this, Grandmaster...? Please, take no offence but I feel most uncertain about this."

"You want to tell me you have grown affections for the girl? Come now, you know the agreement. You were merely keeping her warm, keeping her attention centered. You cannot disobey me now, and deny me of the fruit I wish to take... or do wish me to banish you from our glorious order, and disposed of quickly?"

".... Grandmaster, I apologise for my insolence. Seek to do as you wish.... but please may I ask of you, just one thing?"

"What? Make it quick."

"Don't hurt her."

---

The main hall of the manor was aglow with the warming lights of the chandelier, guests laughing, dancing and drinking. Just as a party should be. Except you found yourself alone, stood at the side of the room. You couldn't recall the last time you had seen Julien or Grandmaster Torres, or even Woodes Rodgers- who was mean't to be attending after his little excursion that had been going on for the last 3 months. 

Your (eye colour) eyes scanned the bustling room, a gentle sigh escaping your corset constricted lungs. This was turning out to be quite a lonely affair. 

Moments later, from the doorway at the other side of the room, you noticed the scarred face of Woodes Rodgers making it's way across the room to you, and you felt initially warmed by the appearance of a friend. 

"Mr Rodgers! I could use some company-" you had started to say, but he took hold of your wrist and alarmed you. He was barely even smiling. "Woodes?" you asked, furrowing your brow. 

"Do come with me, Miss (surname)," he insitgated in a quiet voice. When you didn't want he started to practically drag you, which set your mind off into confusion and fear. 

"What on earth is it? Could you please explain?" you whispered furiously. No heads at the party turned to the action, it was like they were all blind to see anything. Woodes pulled you from the warm life of the party, where the lights seemed almost opulent and heavenly- into the now dimly lit east hallway that led up to the bedrooms- on Torres' side of the building. 

A lump swelled in your throat, an animalistic urge in you told you to run, dart out of there like a dear. Whatever this was, it wasn't good news. 

With your back now to the main door of the hall, you only turned when you heard the soft footsteps of leather soles on the marble floor, and saw Julien. His face was emotionless, blank. 

"Julien!? Julien! Please, tell me what's going on!" you begged. He did not respond to the fear in your voice. You saw the pain and guilt in his eyes, and then understood everything he had been portraying over the past few days. The avoidance gaze, the half hearted smiles- all amounted in this moment. 

His tall, lean and well dressed frame walked between the two doors, arms outstretching and grabbing the handles as he pulled them shut. His eyes down the whole time, as the rectangle of light cast across the floor melted into the darkness. 

"Get up there." Woodes growled, and the demeanor of niceties fell to pieces. When you didn't move instantly he pushed you, feet stumbling and tripping on your dress as you scrambled up those steps. You wondered where this was coming from. 

Shaking, you edged across the landing with the tears rolling down your cheeks now. The door adjacent to the summit of the stairs had golden light filtering underneath it, and you nervously knocked on the wood of the door. 

"Enter, my child." oh how this all sickened you, as you took in everything that was going on. All this time Julien had clearly just been buttering you up, lying to you and telling you that he adored you and loved you so whatever plan was going on could be formulated. 

As your shaky hand forced the door open, you felt another sickness pit in your stomach at the sight of Torres smirking in that horrible cat like way men did when they saw something pretty they wanted to possess. You knew from the moment you'd first seen him that evening, that something was wrong about him. Clearly he had been excited the whole time that his two cowardly little minions were setting him up to have a taste. 

"Come here." he ordered. You defied him and stood frozen on the spot. "resistant are we? I like a girl with fight to her." he grizzled seedily, grabbing hold of your silver plated necklace and pulling so hard it snapped. You yelped out loudly at the feeling of it cutting into your skin, but the disgusting old man before you cared little. 

His horrible hands ripped and pulled at the expensive dress, which now made you feel less like a princess and more like a cheap whore. How could you have been so naive to think anyone in the world would have been different? How could you ever trust someone again?

He stripped you, hurt you, used you. Took what wasn't his to take, muffled your cries, pulled your hair, hit you and silenced your tears. 

Never before had despised any living being more than you did Torres after he soiled any hopes you had, made you hate yourself to every nerve ending in your body. 

That night you ran. Ran into the night and away from everything you'd built up in that place over the few months staying there. Once again it seemed like you were going to have to start afresh again, smash this slate and pull out a clean one. 

Your tear stained face and shaky body moped through the quiet alleyways of the town, just wandering with no real direction- when your glassy eyes spotted a familiar ship in the dock. You squinted- was this real or just a mirage?

'The Ranger'