It was not even close to expecting Warren Vidic to show up at my door.
I was sitting in my living room, watching the news. It was a Saturday night, I had just got back from my job at the local police station.
Kicking off my shoes, I flopped onto the couch, feeling my tense muscles finally relax. My body sank into the soft cushions of the sofa, and just as I turned the television on, the room lit up. After a few short minutes of weather and traffic reports, there was a knock at my door. Annoyance plastered on my face, I got up, walking towards the door of my apartment. I slid up to the window, checking to see who it was. No one was there. I hesitantly opened the door to see a figure standing there right in front of me. I glanced behind him, trying to figure out where he could've come from. Then I actually looked at his face.
"Hello, Caroline Archer," he greeted. I jumped back in surprise. There was the name. There was a name I hadn't heard in five years.
"Warren?" I exclaimed. He gave me a smirk and I slammed the door in his face. Back against the door, I began to plan my escape. There was no way I was going back, no way I was getting involved again. No more assassins. No more Templars.
I sprinted across my apartment in my socks, slipped on my running shoes and jumped out the back door. Men in gray Abstergo uniforms began to swarm the block.
I ran through my backyard and flipped over the fence, ran a few blocks without breaking a sweat. I landed in a trap and was caught by Abstergo, placed in a machine and called good. I was a prisoner to the Templars. Every day I'd try to escape. Whether it be planning, attempting or killing, I never stopped. It's not my fault I was born into this wretched, corrupted world as an enemy of the Templars, an assassin.
The first phase of this new journey was Desmond Miles. He walked in like a relieving flood. Without him, I don't know what would've become of me. I had met him at the Farm before he ran away. We were best friends. The day he arrived was the strangest…
"Who are you?" I asked as he walked into my room, the day he arrived.
"This is Desmond Miles, Caroline. Don't murder him," Warren instructed, giving me a sarcastic smile. I narrowed my eyes in return, glancing from Vidic to Desmond, who gave me a blank stare, "I'll leave you two to it." With that, Warren left the room. Desmond continued to stare at me blankly.
"Well?" I questioned. He finally decided to say something.
"Where the hell am I?" he said. I chuckled at his lack of knowledge.
"You're in Abstergo, kid, and you'll be desperate to get out as soon as they put you in the Animus," I replied, brushing past him.
"I'm pretty sure they just took me out of it," the former bartender murmured, squinting and looking around, dazed. I gave him a half smile.
We started off in the Third Crusade. Samira Sami and Altair Ibn La'Ahad were our ancestors, so we played around and ended up finding a strange object, the Apple of Eden, or a Piece of Eden. Sadly, one of many pieces. The artifact interested me greatly, but nothing was too extravagant until I had the dream.
I was having probably the worst sleep of my life. Restless dreams, waking up in the middle of the night. But one dream interested me most. There was darkness, then light. A figure stood in front of me. I recognized her immediately. She was tall, broad shoulders. A white hood concealed her face from view. Strong arms were covered by white sleeves. A vambrace hiding a blade covered her left forearm. Her left ring finger was missing. It looked as if it were removed on purpose. Her blue eyes pierced mine from under the hood.
Samira Sami, my ancestor, walked straight towards me, "Caroline Archer, my descendant," there was an awkward silence. She finally began to take off her vambrace, "I give you my hidden blade. You must know, you and Desmond are in grave danger. Abstergo isn't your main problem." These words didn't make sense to me. When I woke up, Samira's hidden blade was sitting on the nightstand next to me, but the phrase that echoed in my head was the most confusing, "Don't trust the gods. You are the only true guardian."
There was something Warren wasn't telling me, not that it surprised me. Although, the more curious I got, the more danger I found myself in.
Florence (Firenze) - 1467
Ezio Auditore da Firenze is eight years old. Living in a family of nobility, he loves life (with the constant help of Federico, his brother, to brighten it). His happy living was completely flipped from happiness and joy to confusion in a mere hour. That's the day Atronia showed up.
"Ezio!" his mother called from the first floor. The boy intentionally ignored the call, knowing quite well he would get in trouble. But that was the daily routine, Ezio got in trouble somehow every single day (again, with the constant help of Federico).
"Ezio, you don't want to wait, this time, it's important," his older brother said from the doorway. Ezio turned, his brother looked strangely concerned. He got up from his chair and followed his brother, down the wooden stairs of the Auditore household and into the foyer. He followed eagerly, only to see something that created a deep distraction in Ezio's original line of thought.
"Boys, this is Atronia, your new sister," Maria Auditore said with a smile. A young girl stood beside her, hands folded in front. She had short brown hair with an age of around six years. Her head was down, shyness emanating off her. Her blue eyes flicked from Ezio to Federico, then back to the floor.
Ezio continued to study her with a confused expression. Federico, however, greeted her warmly. He walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, bending to her height, "Welcome sister!" Although, the other brother chose to take this personal. With a glare, he stomped up the stairs, away from his new sister.
He remained angry for a few years, refusing to look on her with kindness. Even Claudia had warmed up to her. Atronia had grown to be a true Auditore, but Ezio had denied it. She'd ruined his life by taking away his brother, but of course, Ezio was being overdramatic, it's just who he was. He didn't realize what a blessing she was for a few years…
Atronia is eleven and is walking down the streets of Firenze after her daily visit to the pond. Her day has been exquisite, she'd eaten at the Auditore house, run to the market and visited a small pond that lingered behind of a book shop. She visited the shop every day, reading a few chapters of an interesting book. The shop owner adored her and never ceased to let her read. She as much as she could.
This particular trip was the most interesting for Atronia. She had found a somewhat likable book that she even took home with her. She was as happy as could be. But her day was shot down as she tripped over a purposely placed foot. Her basket went flying, the items she had bought spilling onto the stone streets of Firenze.
"Forgive me, little lady," a boy said with a sarcastic smile, turning towards her. Atronia looked up at him, a scowl covering her face.
"Vieri, I should've known," she snapped, getting up and brushing off her dress. She didn't know at the time that Vieri meant to harm her. He began to approach her slowly. Atronia looked confusedly at Vieri, backing away at his pace. To her surprise, he swung a punch at her face. The impact caused her to fly back and drag on the ground. He moved forward, more menacingly this time and aimed a blow to her abdomen. He pulled back, and just before his fist collided with her stomach, a hand stopped his arm.
"I wouldn't be causing unneeded conflict, de Pazzi," a familiar voice relieved Atronia. Ezio smacked Vieri's nose with his elbow. The boy fell back onto the cold stone road. He backed away from Ezio and ran down the street.
Atronia lay in the street, a small streak of blood running from a wound in her head. She struggled to stand up, tears streaking and rolling down her face. She felt two strong hands wrap around her arms and help her up. Her vision blurred. Stumbling, she fell to her hands and knees again. Ezio helped her up again, putting her left arm around his shoulder.
"You shouldn't be messing with the Pazzi, sister," Ezio sighed, concern ebbed in his voice. Atronia's heart skipped a beat. Had he just called her sister? He'd never called her sister.
"Sis-," she stopped herself, "I-I didn't mean to," she mumbled, "I didn't really do anything, Vieri just beat me up." Ezio stopped in his tracks.
"He had no reason?"
"No. At least, not that I know of," Atronia said, swaying a little bit. Letting go of the topic, Ezio continued,
"Come, let us get you home."
After this interaction, Ezio enjoyed Atronia more. He seemed to acknowledge that she was a true Auditore, blood-related or not. Not only that, but Atronia had gained training in secret at the hands of her uncle, Mario Auditore. She had gone to Villa Auditore in Monteriggioni often, while Ezio believed she was traveling to Rome with Giovanni. Now Atronia is fifteen, and this is where it all began.
Announcement: Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed the prologue. The first few chapters may not be sharp as a tack. I've been super busy and haven't been able to write enough, so I'm a bit off. Also, again, forgive me for my lack of knowledge of the plot of Assassin's Creed II. I know the main plot, but now where Ezio kills what guys and what not. If I do something wrong, just say that Atronia was off doing whatever while Ezio was doing that :). Sorry for the font change as well. I don't even know anymore. See you next chapter? Leave reviews and (friendly?) advice!
