Monteriggioni, the place where it all started. Atronia was born there. Ezio became an assassin there. I would say that Monteriggioni is where our real problem started. We arrived, got set up and immediately got to work. It would take a while for Abstergo to track and find us. It would take us longer to get anywhere we wanted to go.
In other words, we were confused. Lost behind generations of ancestors, not even knowing where to start. We acted like we knew what we were doing, but we didn't. We only knew two things, we had to find the apple before Abstergo and the only way to do that was through Ezio and Atronia. We also knew it would be difficult, but we'd get there.
I was growing tired. I had never wanted to come back into this fight, not after what happened before at Abstergo and Subject 16. I had my chance to leave, and I wasted it. The only way out was forward, through dangers, trials and memories.
We were impatient with each other, constantly jabbing with harsh words. I wasn't the only tired one. We all were ready to take a vacation in Europe that didn't involve running and hiding. One that involved relaxation. I felt as if I would never relax again. The brotherhood was and is my life. Once you're in, there's no backing out. It's a permanent scar that I wish no one had to bear. Yet, here we are, a group of five running and fighting our way out of a never ending feud. Gosh, how I wish it had ended earlier.
"Good move, Atti."
"I have learned it all from you, Uncle Mario." twelve-year-old Atronia Auditore da Firenze replied, stepping back after knocking the sword from her uncle's hand. He picked it up again and stood in fighting formation.
"Lean into it, Atronia," another voice called from the side.
"Please, Giovanni, leave the teaching to me," Mario snickered, taking a jab at Atronia's legs, which she quickly parried. Giovanni chuckled, shifting against the pole he was leaning on.
Atronia took the opportunity of distraction to mess with her uncle's stance. She ran over to the edge of the training court, jumped onto the short wall and launched herself into a backflip. She landed to the right of Mario, who turned quickly and unsteadily, giving Atronia a chance to knock his sword out of his hand with a fast swipe of her own. He was disarmed and shocked.
"It seems we've both trained you well." he smiled at Giovanni, who was doing the same. Obvious progress had been made, "One more match, then we'll break for the day." Giovanni then left the conversation to prepare packing for Rome.
Atronia nodded in agreement, catching her breath. They fought for a couple of moments, Atronia finding herself with the upper hand. She managed to flick her uncle's sword out of his hands and in his imbalance, trip him with her own feet.
Mario fell with a thud and Atronia was smiling. When she noticed Mario was not getting up, that smile faded and she threw her sword away and ran over to him.
"Uncle?" she exclaimed, shaking his shoulder, "Uncle Mario!" she flipped him onto his back and in an unexpected move, the unharmed Mario lunged forward, pinning her to the ground and immediately began to tickle her. She let out a playful squeal then continued to laugh.
"Uncle, you scared me!" she chuckled, sitting up again and pulling grass out of her dark hair.
"Haha, that was my goal mia nipote!" he smiled, "And don't worry about that, Atti. I'll never leave you on your own." He grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug which she returned.
It was still the dead of night as Atronia Auditore made her way up the stone steps of the Villa Auditore in Monteriggioni. She had left Rome a couple hours earlier than Mario and Ezio and had arrived sooner than she had expected. As she walked into the Villa, she was greeted by a forced hug from none other than Claudia.
"Atronia! It's so good to see you!"
"Likewise, Claudia," she agreed, releasing the hug, "how have you been, sister? How is mother?"
"We are both quite well. We've been anxiously waiting for you to come home, we missed you." she replied. Atronia reunited with Maria and they talked of different affairs for many minutes. Maria asked about Leonardo. Atronia's stomach fluttered.
"H-have you heard from him at all?" she asked nervously, folding and unfolding her fingers.
"Sí, he visited not long ago." Maria said, noticing her fidgety state. With that, she continued onto another topic, noticing Atti's discomfort.
"Ah, Ms. Auditore, you've finally returned." a familiar voice said from the doorway.
"Messere Machiavelli, what a surprise." she greeted, turning to him.
"If we may have a moment alone?"
"Of course." she nodded, following her companion out of the room and into Mario's study. Volpe was already standing. Machiavelli stood next to him, seeming uncomfortable.
"Atronia, we…" the scholar hesitated, "we, being Mario, Volpe and I are worried not just for the safety of Monteriggioni and Ezio, but we also worry for you." She looked at him confusedly. "You see, the Borgia will be seeking revenge on Ezio and will follow him here."
"What?" a sense of urgency was suddenly prominent in Atronia's voice. "Why?" Volpe and Machiavelli exchanged a wary glance.
"Well, you see Atronia, now that you've discovered your power…" Volpe said the last few words slower when Atronia glared directly at him, "... we fear the Borgia will be after you as well." She hung her head, processing all the information being thrown at her.
"For my power?" she wondered.
"If they do end up finding you, Atronia, they will force you to use your power for their gain." Machiavelli explained.
"Yes, Machiavelli, but if they torture me you know I will not give them anything they want." she said. Machiavelli stirred. He noticed her overconfidence then and there and pitied her. What was to come would crush any confidence she had, and he felt that in his heart.
"We don't know the limits and extensions of your abilities. All gifts have weaknesses. Besides, you have had no experience with these powers." Volpe answered for him, noticing his hesitation, "We're only doing this to keep you safe, Atronia. We don't doubt you, we just want to know you are okay." Atronia found that oddly sentimental for Volpe, but she brushed it off while considering their offer.
"What do you suggest we do then?" she sighed, hanging her head sadly. This probably meant leaving Monteriggioni and possibly the region all together.
"Nothing too drastic," Machiavelli said, "and of course it's your choice, Atronia. We want you to go undercover. Things in Rome are not as peaceful as you saw them."
"Undercover?" she grimaced. That didn't sound reassuring to her.
"It's simple. We've had new robes made for you and we'll have to cut your hair." he explained. She sighed, thinking hard about her further actions.
"Who will know?"
"Mario, Volpe and myself. No others."
Her heart fell. She was hoping to see Leonardo as soon as possible. Now she would just be a stranger to him. After a moment of stroking her chin in thought, she sighed.
"Not Ezio?"
"No, not even Ezio, unless it's completely necessary."
"If it keeps my family and myself safe… I assume there is no other way?" she wondered. Machiavelli shook his head.
"Trust me, Atronia, when I say we did try to find an alternative solution," he said. Atronia then nodded in approval of the idea.
"I would like to see Ezio first. I will tell him I am travelling to Firenze before he gets suspicious."
"Perfect. Remember, around those who do not know you will have to keep your hood on, no matter what. You musn't let anyone discover our intent, especially that engineer friend of yours. What's his name? Leonardo?"
"Sí." she muttered, her heart sinking more at the sound of his name.
After about an hour, Ezio arrived at the Villa with Mario. She greeted him slightly then went to speak with Mario before telling Ezio her strange news.
"Niccoló told you the plan?" he wondered. She hesitated before answering.
"Yes," she said, looking up at him, "father." He took a step back, shaking his head in awe. His face was purely astonished.
"How do you-"
"Oddly enough, Rodrigo told me. Somehow he knew." she interrupted before he could say anything more. "Why didn't you tell me, Mario?" His gaze softened and he chuckled slightly, as if remembering all the memories before he'd let her go.
"I waited for the right time. You were just so busy with Ezio."
"Not when I was younger?" she countered. Mario smiled again.
"You were so happy with Giovanni, I didn't want to ruin that relationship. He didn't tell you for that exact reason as well." he replied, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Every time I've seen you, I've thought about telling you then and there. I just wasn't brave enough." She looked up at him.
"You? Not brave enough? Wow, that's not something you hear often." He let out a hearty laugh. Turning her around and walking her towards the Villa again.
"So, you will go undercover?" he changed the subject back to the original. She gave him a nod in reply, while hanging her head.
"I hope not for long." she said. He agreed and they walked into the Villa where Ezio was waiting for them. He turned to them with a smile and a hug. He immediately noticed something was off with his sister and took to work attempting to fix her foul mood.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Ezio, I'm going to Firenze for a short time while the others are sorting out things in Roma," she explained. Ezio sighed, placing his hands on his hips, "I'm sorry brother, but we need stability somewhere." He held up his gloved hands.
"No, sister, I understand you must do this. I will miss you though."
"As will I, brother." she smiled, giving him a long hug. She looked to Mario, who gave her an encouraging grin and sent her up the stairs to her room. When she walked in, there was a clothes stand covered with the finest robes that Atronia had ever seen. Her mouth dropped to the floor.
"Dio mio." she muttered to herself. She went through a head to toe examination of the robes from the white hood to bright red shoulders, white torso, and red lining around many parts. She stared in awe. "I cannot believe I have the privilege of wearing these."
Once putting them on, a man walked through the door. She turned and immediately liked this man. He was clearly a noble with a sturdy frame, yet he held a calm stature. His black hair ran to his shoulders, and while men's hair was usually pulled up, he let his flow loose around his shoulders.
"Ciao, Ms. Auditore. My name is Alessio Cypriani, I will be helping you this evening." he said. She stared hesitantly at him.
"How so?" she wondered, folding her arms.
He laughed, "You think you can walk around with that obnoxiously long hair of yours and not have others notice it's you?" He moved over to her and sat her in a chair.
"You-you do not have my approval-" she started.
"Tesoro, you do not need my approval. If you want this plan to work, you will have to trust me." Alessio interrupted. Atronia opened her mouth to retort, but she closed it when she realized he was right. If she wanted to keep her family and herself safe she needed to change herself. So Atronia became Demetra Soldati, the rough, short haired girl from Siena. She was bold, strong and spry. She had attitude, stamina and tall stature, and Atronia hated her. She absolutely despised being someone she wasn't, especially around Ezio. Her life was a whirlwind, and there was nothing that she could do about it.
She walked to the foyer of the Villa, hood covering her face while attempting to find Mario.
"Ciao, madonna." a voice Atronia didn't want to hear made her flinch. She turned to see Ezio waltzing down the stairs. She nodded her head in respect, even if she was desperate to greet him and punch him on the shoulder. "I have not seen you here, are you newly trained?"
Atronia opened her mouth to respond then realized Ezio would recognize her voice. She cleared her throat and attempted a different voice.
"You insult me, Auditore." she grunted. He looked hesitant for a moment, but to Atronia's relief he seemed to buy it.
"Forgive me." he responded, rubbing the back of his neck, "Where were you posted all this time?" She thought for a moment.
"Venezia." she said shortly, folding her arms and straightening her back, remembering who she was posing as. Ezio nodded in reply.
"Nice to meet you…?" he raised an eyebrow at her.
"A-" she stopped herself hoping he didn't notice, "Demetra Soldati da Siena."
Announcement: Hey! Welcome back, friends! WOW, THIS TOOK ME FOREVER. My deepest apologies friends, I hope you all stayed with me. Anyway, BEHOLD Prisoners of Rome, the epic sequel to The Other Ancestor. I hope you all enjoy this Prologue. It's just getting some things set up. School has been significantly busier than last year so yeah that's cool. I will definitely be writing more in the next few weeks, I'm starting to get back into it. I really hope you guys enjoy this one. :) Anyway, Melvick out.