A/N: Alright, I hope you guys are ready!

Disclaimer: This author owns no part of the Assassin's Creed series… as much as she'd like to. XD


Sette

It was in the waning hours of the night that Cristina and Ezio finally left the festivities. Cristina had no doubt that they both enjoyed their long-awaited time together, not a doubt in the world. However, Ezio had to remain undetected. It was important that even while they were celebrating, he had to keep a sharp eye out for any of his enemies and stay under cover.

Cristina thought of it as a sort of game. When a group of guards passed them as they danced, Ezio would bury his face into her neck, kissing there slowly and tenderly until they moved on. And whenever they weren't dancing, they retreated to that same alleyway and huddled close together, their faces hidden by their masks as well as the shadow from Ezio's hood. It was extremely romantic.

She couldn't help but still blush at this as they walked hand-in-hand. Ezio's cape was now draped over her shoulders to keep her warm. They strolled through the thinning crowd of Carnevale until they reached where Ezio had been staying.

"A brothel?" Cristina hissed in alarm at first. Ezio laughed softly as he brushed her cheek with his hand.

"My friend, Antonio, suggested it, since it is closer to Carnevale. Nothing more." he assured her.

They walked in together, and Ezio shut the door behind them before pulling his hood down and removing his mask. Cristina took her mask off as well, but then paused for a moment to study Ezio's face. She giggled a little.

Ezio turned to her with a smirk. "What is it?"

"I've been curious to see if the Ezio under that mask had changed from my Ezio." she explained. She kissed him on the cheek lightly and looked into his eyes. "I'm relieved to see that you are still my Ezio."

He returned her kiss, this time on the lips. Their faces were inches apart as he whispered.

"I always will be."

Cristina heard footsteps approaching them, and Ezio pulled away from her to take a slight bow.

"Sister Teodora."

"Ezio. I am glad that you've returned." The older woman stated. Cristina found herself staring at this lady, admiring her strong features.

"And this is?" Teodora inquired. Cristina's eyes flitted to the floor.

"This is Cristina Vespucci, Sister." Ezio said, his arm now wrapped around Cristina's waist.

Before Cristina could speak for herself, Teodora's expression darkened considerably.

"Vespucci?"

"Y-Yes…?" Cristina said nervously.

Teodora shook her head with a scoff. "Someone came by asking for a girl by the name of Vespucci. He was very intoxicated, and so I asked him to leave as politely as I could. He claimed that you were hiding among us, and he demanded that we return you to him. He searched my bordello in its entirety—in closets, under beds, anywhere he could fit inside— and at last, he left. My girls were very frightened."

"Manfredo!" Cristina gasped. "Oh no… he's looking for me!" Ezio's hold on Cristina tightened as he pulled her closer to him.

"Who is he?" Teodora pressed.

"Cristina's husband." Ezio clarified.

"Oh, Ezio…" Teodora tsked. "I knew you to be a ladies' man, but this time—,"

"This is serious, Sister." Cristina suddenly snapped. Both Teodora and Ezio looked at her with surprised expressions.

"Manfredo is a man that will be none too pleased if he discovered me here." she continued, tears welling in her eyes, as she faced Ezio and gripped his collar. "You don't know what he will do to me once he finds me! I cannot go back. You have to help me."

"He mistreats you?" Teodora said in shock.

Cristina pressed her lips into a firm line as she saw the change in Ezio's eyes. He was no longer the sweet, love-struck Ezio that she had danced with all through the night. The tide had turned now; a lust for blood swam in his narrowed orbs. The true assassin was rising to the surface. He moved away from her quickly.

"How long has it been since Manfredo came, Sister?" he seethed.

"A half hour…" Teodora replied quietly.

"Bene. Cristina, you will stay here." he commanded. "It is unlikely that he will return for a while. I will have all the time I need to find him… and end him."

Cristina's eyes widened as she tried to take Ezio's hands. "No, no, there's no need to kill him, Ezio! We just need to leave Venezia together! Please!"

"He won't stop, Cristina!" His voice was biting now. "He will go to the end of the world to find you, to make sure that you are his and his alone… to make sure that you remain his SLAVE."

"But does he have to die?" Cristina pleaded. Tears were now freely spilling down her face.

"Any man who abuses his woman deserves death." Teodora insisted, placing her hand on Cristina's shoulder. Cristina shrugged the Sister away, her hands cupping Ezio's flaming cheeks.

"Ezio… if you really are my Ezio like you say… you won't do this!" she sobbed. Ezio's hands folded over hers, and their eyes met briefly.

"I am," he answered. "And I will do anything it takes to protect you." He then sprinted out the door.

"YOU WOULD EVEN KILL?" Cristina screamed at the top of her lungs.

Yet, it was too late. Ezio was long gone. Cristina let out a frustrated cry as she collapsed to her knees, cradling her head in her hands. Teodora knelt beside Cristina, gathering her in her arms. Some courtesans now gathered around, confused by all of the noise.

"Oh, my child…" Teodora whispered as Cristina cried into her chest. "You have been away from Ezio longer than you realize."

Cristina refused to believe it. She tore away from Sister Teodora, breathing heavily and removing her shoes. She threw them to the floor.

"I'll stop him!" she said as she raced out the door as well. Ezio's cape flew off of her shoulders.

"What?" Teodora called out. "Cristina, wait!"

Cristina hadn't remembered running as fast as she did since she was a child. She must have been crazy to try and pursue him. She didn't even know where he had gone! But, she ran. She ran until her legs and feet ached. She went all the way to the Rialto Bridge. By some enormous stroke of luck, she suddenly heard yelling.

"Please, I beg you, NO!"

Cristina saw the flash of a blade before lunging forward. She was suddenly sprawled over a frightened Manfredo, pressed up against the wood planks of the bridge, and Ezio, blinded with rage and pinning him down. Ezio stopped right in his tracks, his eyes widening at the sight. Cristina was panting, pressing Manfredo to her chest.

"Don't you dare." she gasped.

"Cristina!" Manfredo sighed in relief. "Oh, Dio mio!" He clung to her as though he was a wet cloth. In the back of her mind, Cristina questioned whether he had sobered yet or not. It had been a while since he held her this way.

Ezio backed away, his hidden blade retracting. "What… are you doing here?"

Cristina didn't answer at first. She helped Manfredo to his feet, and he kept a now suffocating hold on her, his face buried into her neck.

"My darling, my Cristina! You don't know how happy I am to see you! You saved me!" he continued, his voice muffled into her dress. She placed a gentle hand on his chest, and their eyes locked. He fell silent as she moved away, her gaze now meeting Ezio's. The assassin stood, stunned.

"So… you really will protect him?" he whispered.

"Yes, Ezio." Cristina answered simply. "I married Manfredo. I made a commitment to him."

"A commitment to a man who hurts you, a man who doesn't love you and respect you?" Ezio's voice began to rise.

"Listen to me!" Manfredo suddenly intervened. Cristina's and Ezio's eyes were both on him now. Manfredo looked to the ground in shame.

"I've made a grave mistake in harming you, Cristina. I've been a horrible husband, and I could not be more sorry…" He pressed his lips into a firm line, glancing up at Cristina for a moment. "The day this man saved me in Firenze, I told him that I loved you and that, if he killed me, I would die still loving you. I meant that, Cristina. I really did." Manfredo's eyes shifted to Ezio. "Even he can tell you that."

Cristina looked at Ezio as the assassin nodded numbly.

"Si…" he murmured.

Cristina bit her lip, trying her best not to cry. She took Manfredo's hand, inhaling deeply before she spoke. Her words were directed at Ezio. Every fiber of her being screamed at her not to say what she did, but it was too late.

"Ezio…" she whispered. She desperately hoped that her voice wouldn't crack. "I'm leaving with Manfredo now. Never look for me again. Ever."

Before another word could even be uttered, Cristina tugged on Manfredo's hand, leading him away from the bridge. Ezio remained rooted to the spot, his eyes at Cristina's back, until she and Manfredo disappeared into the night.

Without quite realizing it, tears spilled down his face. Everything he had planned was ruined. He wanted to take Cristina back to his room and stay the night with her. He wanted to make sweet, passionate love to her just like they used to. And the next morning, he wanted to make her breakfast in bed and surprise her with a vase filled with fresh-cut roses. It would have been perfect; it would have been the perfect way.

Ezio rummaged around in his pouch and took two things out. One clattered to the ground at his feet, and he held the other in his hands for a moment. It was a piece of paper. Squeezing his eyes shut, he tore it in half and let it drop to the ground as well. Then, he was off. With nimble feet, he took off towards a building, scaled the wall, and vanished. What now sat on the splintered planks of the bridge was a silver ring with an emerald stone. Next to that was the ripped letter with a single sentence written upon it.

Cristina, will you marry me?


A/N: I'm… declining to comment. T_T

Translations:

Bordello- brothel

Bene- okay/good

Dio mio- my God

Stick around for chapter 8!