Daciana POV

Before I knew it my body felt cold. Everything began drifting away. I knew what was going to come next. They say focus on a happy memory to make it easier. The days of which I was a child. Running through a an apple orchard, a boy running behind. Laughing. Then nothing.

I opened my eyes to a pair of dark colored colored orbs staring down out me and dabbing my forehead with a cool wet wash cloth. I tried to move but my whole body hurt from the effort, even more from my left hand. I plopped back to the pillow. Everything that happened before I passed out came rushing back to me causing me to hyperventilate. Immediately the man took me into his arms rubbing my back.

"Ça va. Respirez, respirez mademoiselle Daciana." (It's okay. Breathe, breathe miss Daciana.)

I nodded while taking deep breaths. My breathing started to slow down while I take up my surroundings. It was a grey ordinary room with desk, candle, couple books and the bed I sit on. I then looked at my care giver. His hood up and was wringing water out of the cloth from the basin of water. I also noticed to the gauntlets that he wears that has strange mechanisms attached to it. An assassin? Like my mother's old friends? "Escusez moi? Where are we? And who are you? Are you an assassin like my master, Matsumoto-sama?"

He then turned to me, I couldn't see his face, but assumed that he must be studying me. He then lifted his hood to reveal a handsome chiseled face with dark hair. He must notice something for he immediately smirked. "Careful mademoiselle, my looks can be killer."

I laughed and gave him a punch on his shoulder with my left. I realized that was mistake as I cringed and cried out in pain while holding my left hand. It was then I remembered what happened to my finger. From there my hands traveled to my throat where the marquis slit my throat to bleed out. The assassin took my face in one hand started to dab my face. "My name is Arno Victor Dorian. And yes you're safe within the creed."

"Arno, where are we?"

"We are in one of the chambers of Paris' catacombs. One of our bureaus, you have been resting for nearly a week with a fever you've broke just last night."

"Th-the catacombs?"I said shuddering. I looked around again and noticed the wet earthy smell emitting from the cracks in the stone wall and the floor.

Arno's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Not up to an aristocrat's standards I suppose," he said grimacing. My jaw dropped and shut in shock at he said. Not caring that my left hand was going to hurt I lifted it to swing it at him when he turned to dip the cloth in water. I went open palmed this time to avoid hurting my hand more than I would with a fist. To my utter shock which was adding more and more, his hand caught my wrist before my hand could connect his head, without turning his body. I tugged hard to escape his hold on me but only for him to grip harder and turn fully around, cloth in hand, with a smirk painted on his face. "I jest milady. I didn't mean to offend you much. Besides I'm not one to judge or I'll be a hypocrite. And you should be more careful with your hand."

"You lived in a noble house?"

"Does that surprise you?"

"Well I'm getting to know you and an assassin can come from anywhere. I mean look at me. Part noble and peasant." We both chuckled at the comment. "Have you been here this whole time?"

"No milady, your guardian and hand maiden has been with you more than I have. They are somewhere about. I just arrived."

I smiled at the thought of seeing my family again. I heard a small chuckle and turned to see him with a big grin. "What is so funny Arno?"

"It's just that it's good to see you smiling."

"Oh, did I look terrible when I was rescued? Let me guess rabbit or stag?" I giggled at the last part but saw that he didn't and turned serious. "Arno?"

"We thought you were going to die. It was… unpleasant seeing you dangling like some hunted kill being prepared for burial."

I shuddered at the memory of being surrounded by funeral items in that room. "Well I'm okay now. What happened to the Marquis?"

Immediately he clenched his fists and stiffened. "He got what was coming to him!" he answered while grinding his teeth. "How could a man treat his own flesh and blood in that manner?"

"Well, I was his bastard daughter. I was only meant to be doll for appearances. But I had to say he looked more like a porcelain doll than I did!" I half-heartedly joke trying to brighten the mood. He stayed firm all the same but I could've sworn that I saw a ghost of a smile grace his lips.

"Oui, he did. You are a rare woman, Daciana."

I tilted my head in confusion. "Why? I am like every woman in France. There are women who are in worse condition than me."

"Not many can make light of a situation such as this." He said while raising my left bandaged hand. I moved to remove the bandaged. I paled at the sight of my hand missing a ring finger. Huh, assassin's creed used to do this but it was the whole finger. I noticed Arno studying my hand as well. Unconsciously out of shame, I went to hide my hand in the bandages. Before I could start rewrapping the finger, Arno took my hand in his and lowered his face to it. My cheeks started to blush at what was coming. A pair of lips pecked my knuckles, but he didn't stop there. His lips then moved to brushing over my ring finger which caused me to stiffen. He didn't remove his lips but instead lingered there as if they were admiring my wound. He stopped and turned to look at me. My blush was still present on my cheeks while he smirked. "Mademoiselle, never be ashamed of this. You have earned this while serving the people and protecting them from starvation. Wear this as a badge of honor." He finished firmly.

It felt like forever before I spoke. "Well I think this makes me into an assassin."

He smiled at my remark. "It must be in your family," he whispered.

"Do you have any roots to the Assassins, Arno?"

He paused a little before telling me, "Oui, je fais. (Yes I do) Both my mother and father. But my path to the Assassins was a little unexpected." His eyes turned to a little dark expression as he spoke. I decided to speak up.

Gesturing my arms to myself and every else in the room. "Well, what do you call my circumstance then Arno?"

A couple knocks were heard from the door. "Come in."

The door creaked as it opened revealing my master, Matsumoto-sama. Despite the pain, I immediately set myself in a kneeling position. Arno stood up but I saw his confusion. He glared at Arno before glaring at me. I couldn't help but shift uncomfortably under his glare. It means I have failed. Merde. "Daciana, it's good to see you awake now."

"I am very glad to be alive."

"Glad? If I were in your shoes I would be grateful that my carelessness didn't get me killed and be ashamed at my lack of skills. You brought shame to me from your failure." His voice boomed while saying the last part. I saw Arno clench his fists.

"Matsumoto, Daciana nearly died. You as her guardian should care-"

"Caring is a luxury boy! Her mission was counter intelligence and to stay as a noble to give the Assassin's political edge. Her caring for the people destroyed my work for this organization. I had enough. I am returning home to Japan."

"Sensei, it is not as bad-"

He put his hand up to silence me. "You could have been a great tool and weapon Daciana. But you are shame. I clean my hands of you."

Everything stopped for me. Why? "Arno can you leave us, please?"

"But-"

"Please!"

With much hesitation, Arno turned leave. Bumping his shoulder against Matsumoto's and slamming the door in the process. It was just the two of us. "Master, you have been the only father I have ever known. Please do not cast me aside. This is not what the brotherhood…"

"You should realize by now that I'm not part of the brotherhood."

"What." My heart began to lump in my throat from the shock.

"I'm only mercenary hired to care and train you to enter politics. And knowing that you wouldn't pursue that life, I had to make it possible for to enter nobility."

"Wait you-you arranged for me to be taken from my home into the lion's den? Do you have any idea what I went through? You didn't even say anything!" I was practically screaming.

"I would have told you last week had you not been stupid getting into trouble. Now the people think you are dead. You should not disappoint them." With this he threw a small bundle at me and left.

I looked at the bundle only guessing what it could be in there. Unwrapping it revealed a ceremonial dagger.

"What is that suppose to mean?"

Startled by the intrusion I saw Arno and my other guardian, Madeline, at the door. Madeline spoke up first. "That monsieur is a ceremonial for seppeku."

"Seppeku? Well what is that?"

"Well Arno," Both looked my way as I spoke. ", it means that I have dishonored my family and comrades. The only way to redeem myself is to commit suicide. Only then can my family have honor again. That's seppeku."

Don't worry no sudden suicides, I'm trying to give time and detail for Daciana to develop. And Daciana means noble wolf somewhere in translation. Daciana is an old brief friend of Arno before his Assassin father died. How the parents knew each other will soon be revealed.