My dad held me close to his chest in his strong arms. I had my eyes half open and could barely see where he was taking me, but I knew it was to my bedroom. There were bright twinkling lights shining from the tall skyscraper buildings through a window that spanned the entire length of the wall. With my eyes squinting at the lights they looked like bright stars glittering in the night sky.
He laid me down in my bed and pulled the covers over my tiny body. Then he gave my forehead a tender kiss and stroked my brown hair on top of my head. He said, "I love you, sweetheart," and turned to leave.
I grabbed his arm with my tiny hand and whined, "Tell me a story daddy." With my eyes looking up at his face his brown eyes melted.
A tender smile curled his lips upward as he sat at the edge of my bed. "Okay, what do you want to hear?"
"Tell me about him again, please daddy," I said smiling at my victory.
My dad knew who I was talking about. I wanted him to tell me about Ezio Auditore de Frienze. He was my favorite bed time story. I loved to hear about his adventures throughout Italy. It made me have dreams about one day being as an amazing assassin as he was. From the first time my dad told me about the incredible mentor for the brotherhood during the Renaissance period I had always craved to hear more and more of him.
Dad grinned down at me. "He was named after a eagle," he began slowly. I knew this was the beginning of the tale so I settled my head down onto the pillow and pulled the covers close to my face looking up at my father's face with admiration. "He would travel all across Italy in search of brave men and women who would dedicate their lives to the creed. These assassins that he recruited built the Brotherhood. They were all mentored under his great guidance. With the help of the Brotherhood, Ezio fought endlessly with the Templar Order. The Templar Knights sought after order and power. They did not care about there being peace." Dad's brow would furrow when he spook of the Templars as if their name was poison on his tongue.
I was beginning to fall asleep listening to my father's voice. It rang truth in my ears and reminded me of sturdy wood. Hearing his comforting tone made me drift slowly into a peaceful slumber. My dad saw I was beginning to fade into a blissful dream.
"Though the Brotherhood fought as fiercely as they could the Templars were never defeated…they were only weakened. That is why we still battle the Templars today…so that they never claim that power they seek over society. Remember, Arlene, where other men blindly follow the truth, nothing is true. Where other men are limited by morality or law, remember, everything is permitted."
He kissed my forehead as he stood up from sitting on my bed.
"We work in the dark to serve the light," he said as he crossed the room to the doorway.
"We are Assassins."
