Chapter 1: Me and my big mouth.

A loud thud jammed my eardrums. That was the sound it made when I hit the paved road. The pain from my fall came later, a sharp, energy draining pain, which was impossible to avoid. It's the kind of pain you want to struggle against with all your might, but to no avail. I felt my hand palms tingle unpleasantly when they scraped across the ground, trying to soften my fall.

Around me, a small crowd had gathered, some laughing, some with honest concern in their eyes. A litter of dress wearing, gossipy, young females stared for a while, then pointed and started giggling, throwing some skanky remarks right after it.

I scrambled upwards, and softly beat my uncomfortable dress right around my waist, making sure no dirt remained on the delicate fabric. I groaned softly when I saw that I had made red smudges on the cloth, caused by small droplets of blood welling up from the small scratches on my palms.

''What's this? Did our little girl trip over her own poor little feet?'' A high voice sneered, followed by the sound a pig makes when it sees food. I rolled my eyes, before diverting my gaze to the person the voice belonged to. A young woman with bulging eyes and dirty-blond hair tied up in a bun eyed me like I was trash, while she was flanked by two similar girls, one with a nose like a pork, the other one an interesting wart close by her chin.

I was about to sneer back at her, but I wisely shut my mouth. One on one I would have crushed Theola, the girl who had made the pig noise, but she had the habit of traveling in packs. Girls who traveled in packs stood high on my dislike list and my fist itched to imbue itself into Theola's face.

''Oh go bury your head in a haystack, Theola, maybe it will provide some food for the rats.'' I turned around and made my way through the crowd. Behind me, Theola uttered some last remark, followed by her high pitched laughter.

I hadn't had an exciting journey in my 16 years of life. I grew up in Florence, tried my best to act like was expected from me, but somehow Faith had decided differently. I had grown up in a small, but luxorious villa near the Piazza della Signoria, my parents were unknown, and a stern, widowed lady had taken me in, when I appeared on her footstep as a little girl of 5 years old. I remembered little to none from my earliest years in life.

My breathing was made impossible by the tightened corset around my cavity and my crushed toes longed for a simple pair of boots. I made my way through the crowded market place, muttering excuses whenever I bumped into someone. I kept away from my villa. My patroness had the habit of detesting every single feature about me, making long speeches in which she expressed her boring, disappointed feelings.

I grunted softly under my breath. Very unladylike. The only thing she ever gave me worth something was a small golden locket, which I wore around my neck at all times. My patroness said that I had just picked it up from the streets one day, lying in the dirt. The slim chain was simple and plain, the locket only decorated with small incisions forming the image of a vine plant. Inside was a small, dried 'Morning Glory', a small funnel shaped flower, its petals a creamy white.

I softly brought my hand up to the chain, finding the locket, and traced the fine lines with my finger tip. Lost in thought, I slammed yet into another person, and once again I was about to head towards the paved ground.

Someone coming from the side, grabbed my elbow and stopped my fall, in the process painfully twisting my arm. I yelped in response, and my other hand shot out in reflex to remove the painful source. As reaction, my savior immediately let go of my arm. He had acted as a counterbalance to me, and as he removed himself from me, I was falling backwards again. I pinched my eyes shut, readying myself for the upcoming smack.

It never came, instead I landed flat on my back on the pavement with only a soft thud, the back side of my head barely touching the stone road. It was only then I realized, that someone was supporting both my neck and waist. I focused my gaze on the face of my savior, and my cavity ached when the air in my lungs escaped painfully.

Bowed over me, sat a young man, a smirk on his face, a small scar on the side of his lips stretching. Brown eyes peered at me, a hint of gold around the black pupil. Dark strands of hair were loosely tied together, a few rebellious hairs escaping from the grasp. He was dressed like most young nobility, fine fabrics encasing the young man.

'Signorina..' He spoke softly, his eyes twinkling with joy, to my annoyance. I tapped his hand that was still on my waist, and ignored his outstretched hand. I got up on my own, shook the dust of my dress once again, then eyed the lad again.

'Thank you, messere, for helping me, but next time do watch your step.' I sneered icily, my temper at its peak because of my earlier encounter with Theola. Of course this helpful guy didn't deserve such a comment, but I was ready to snarl at anyone who came on my path. I just needed an outlet for the moment.

'Mi dispiace, signorina, but to my knowledge, it wasn't me who bumped into someone else.' The lad answered, his smirk still on his face. I narrowed my eyes when I realized that he found my annoyance amusing.

'Well then, next time you might want to pay more attention, so that your knowledge doesn't fail you again.' I snapped back.

'Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, signora, but my knowledge does not fail me often, especially not when rescuing bella donnas like yourself.' I was surprised by his confidence. Most guys I snapped at ran away with their tails in between their legs. My surprise was replaced by flustering anger.

'Have you ever considered that some of those bella donnas don't want anyone rescueing them?' I sneered at him, my arms placed on my hips.

'Don't be ridiculous, cara,' a new voice spoke, and I whirled around to face the new participant. 'Every girl your age would kill for such a fellow to rescue her.'

I blinked softly. A tall, lean guy was standing on my other side, his hair bronze with a hint of paler strands, bleached by the sun. There was something very familiar about both his smirk and eyes. I looked back at the younger, more masculine guy that had saved me from falling. He stood there, smirking like a dumb goat. Identical smiles?

'Oh please. You're flattering him.' I shot back, pointing casually at my savior. 'I bet he's only looking for some puttana to satisfy his needs, as do all men.'

Finally my savior's brow furrowed and his visage turned grave. 'At least that means I don't insult certain strangers when they only want to help!'

I narrowed my eyes, and dared him to continue. 'Please, messere, please explain your opinion on me as fully as you can. I would be delighted to know.' I said icily, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

'I would, signorina, but then I would only show my incapability of showing manners to you, as you just showed yourself.' The guy shot back, and some of the people that had gathered around us hissed out the volume of their lungs. Women that hoped for any kind of stature were obliged to be well mannered, and by throwing out that remark, my savior had denied me to be anything like a respectable woman.

That remark also hit a very personal sensitive spot. I had worked so hard my whole life to simmer down my temper and act at least a bit like a girl should behave. As a child I had always enjoyed everything boys did; fighting, climbing, running down small alleys. My patroness wasn't very fond of those.. characteristics, and although she had not literally smacked them out of my head, her words had been stern and harsh from the moment she took me in. And still, even when I tried my best to act to her likeness, I didn't remember one single thing I had done she had approved of.

I flustered red, and I had to suppress a shiver walking down my spine.

'My apologies to disappoint you, signore, but know that I had no intention of reaching up to your elevated requirements.' I spoke coldly, and I had to keep the tone of my voice from pithing up high. I turned and inclined my head at the older guy, who had joined my argument with my dark haired, saving-girls-from-falling guy. Then I marched away, my head held up high and my fists clenched.

I made my way through the gathered mass of people, ignoring both stares, laughter and looks of astonishment. Only when I entered a deserted canal of small alleys, which I had printed into my mind in my earlier years, I let out a series of nasty curses.

'What was that stronzo thinking? Sei fricchettone! Vattene al diavolo!'

More curses in that way rushed out of my mouth, and as I made my way through the network of alleys, I scared away more than one couple who had searched the privacy of a dark corner.

I arrived very quickly at my patronesses house due to the quick pace my feet followed. Even though it was the house I lived in, I still refused to call it my home. I knocked on the door, which was opened by Guliana, the old maid that kept the house together. I slowly made may way up the stairs, reluctant to let my old patroness know I was back. She would throw a series of stern lectures upon me, and I wasn't in the right mood to hold my tongue against her.

The door to the upper stairs sitting room was slightly opened, and the old lady's voice emanated from the room beyond. A other, even higher pitched voice answered her, and I recognized it to be one of the lady's gossip friends.

'... the gallows have been readied for another execution! Can you imagine, another damned convict hanged to death! I just don't know where they get them!'

Another execution? So soon? It had been only days since three thieves had been hanged for stealing a woman's entire collection of jewelry, which was worth a small fortune.

'I heard it's going to be an execution of some of the higher families! I overheard one of the guards near the piazza talking about it! Seemed like the entire family participated in a treason conflict, treason of the worst kind!' The high pitched voice continued, and I found myself slowly moving closer to the door, curious to more details on the matter.

'Porca miseria!' My patroness reacted, 'Did you hear what family they were talking about? I refuse to believe it before I hear a name!'

Slightly disgusted, I pushed my ear slightly closer towards the door.

'Oh, the poor souls. I overheard a name that shakes my nerves as much as they ever had. To think that they might have been able of such treachery.. It is nearly impossible!'

'Lusiana, please, don't keep me waiting, get over your blubbering and tell me the families name!' My old lady snapped.

'The Auditore family, dear, the entire Auditore family seemed to be involved!'

The Auditores? They were a highly respectable family, their patron, Giovanni Auditore, a fine banker with a high reputation. If I remembered correctly, he and Maria Auditore had four children; three sons and one daughter. I pained my brain over their names. I did clearly remember little Petruccio, who couldn't be older than thirteen years of age. Petruccio was the youngest son, followed up by Claudia, who had now reached the age of fifteen.

When I had recalled the two youngest, the two eldest were not as hard to dig from my mind. The eldest would be Federico Auditore, and I vaguely remembered his loud laughter. And then, the second eldest, who only exceeded my own age by one year. I remembered Ezio Auditore only slightly from fights and chases in my earlier years. He would be the only one that would let me play with them, for I had once beaten him in a running bet. From that moment, he had been aware of my capability to keep up with the boys, and had never resented me another game.

Of course, right after Ezio recognized me as an equal, I had been forced by my ladyship to stay at home and act 'ladylike', which had caused the fond memories of playing with him to retract to the farthest corner of my mind.

I remembered him fondly with his dark brown hair and his sharp eyes, glinted with gold. How strange.. That description ringed a faint bell. A smirking face appeared before my eyes, and my breathing hissed out in a rush of air.

I had insulted Ezio Auditore, right after he saved me from a fall? My mind could not reach the fact that I hadn't recognized him at all, and then it suddenly shot into my mind that I had just overheard a conversation, in which was stated that the entire Auditore family would be wiped out in an instance.

My horrid thinking was interrupted by quick footsteps coming closer to the door I was listening against. I hastily shuffled backwards, careful not to make too much noise while making my way swiftly up to the second floor, up to my room.

I heard the door open, and noticed that if I had not moved in time, the door would have slammed me in the face. I walked up to my bed, retained from dressing and covered myself with a thick layer of blankets, pulling my knees up to my chest.

I had shown anything but kindness to the two eldest Auditore brothers, and if the rumor appeared to be true, they would be executed in one of the following mornings. Guilt washed over my senses, and the muscles in my back contracted almost painfully when shivers walked down my spine.

A looming sensation slowly tore me apart, making the shivers even worse. I hugged myself tightly, hoping that both shivers and the execution would merely disappear.


A.N. The first chapter is done, dear people!
And of course I need your help. I just can't come up with a name for the main character, so suggestions are very welcome.

So long, dear ones!