The abyss was so deep, and wide that he could see neither the bottom nor the opposite edge, it was an empty void as far as his eyes could see. Yet somehow he knew that darkness and pain waited in its bowls, fear and struggles, strong enough to rip a man to shreds.

Looking around he sought somewhere else to go, only to freeze in place, heart pounding.

Soft glowing mists crept closer, like that which shrouded Florence on a cool spring morning. Light burned like a beacon in its centre, illuminating the three figures moving slowly through it.

His pounding heart stopped, as the trio emerged from the light, arms extended in loving greeting.

- Father.. Frederico.. Petruccio?!

His legs felt weak and powerless as he took a tentative step towards the patiently waiting men..

- i have missed you all so much, i... I'm sorry i failed. ...I'm so very..

Words tumbled haphazardly from his lips.

He was a child again, begging for his father to take the monsters under the bed away, before they ripped him apart, clinging to Giovanni's pale tan robes with tiny hands.

Crying the tears off a child left behind, the grief off that day nine years ago, still a red hot dagger in his heart.

Time flowed around them like soft waves,

After an eternity Giovanni spoke, and in his voice, lay the proud call off an eagle.

- once we wondered whether our ancestor could see our actions and be proud off us, i know now that they did indeed see us.. son you have made me more proud that i had ever thought possible. i only regret that i did not get to train you.. but i was selfish i wanted to watch you enjoy your childhood, i wanted for you to be children. Had i known what lay ahead i would have. ...i would have change so many things...

- Father no.. i am grateful for the life you gave us. you showed us how to be men, proud and free. and you showed us how to live good lives.

pushing out from his father's gentle embraces, he stood on sure feet meeting the golden gaze off his father, as he spoke.

The strength of each word filling him, flushing through him, washing all remains off the naive child he had once been, completely away, leaving only the man behind.

Now he was the taller as he stood back from his father, letting the man seen what he had become.

Giovanni nodded in proud acknowledgement, as he saw the man before him, saw him as he never had in life.

- I am content my son to know that i have you as my legacy..

- Even if i am in love with another man?

Nodding again Giovanni said: I know the heart off Leonardo, he is a good man.

- by my heart is also drawn by a woman

- yes a worthy woman, Rosa is the third off your soul. .. Ezio, you are an assassin, we are not like other men... we need, crave even, more than men who do not live like us. Ezio we live lives in the constant company off death, it is only natural to need the presence of life... to seek it out and cling to it. Grab hold Ezio, and hold on. The time where all slips from your finger can come all too soon, and if you are to go with a light heart, then you must no leave it wanting.

He turned his back on his father, to gaze out into the empty void before him. Darkness swirled in heavy clouds over the far horizon coloured by flashes off bright colours, reds, blues, and gold chief among them.

Watching the silent lightning, he sighed, and turned to lock eyes with his father once more

- Does it hurt?

- Hurt? Does what hurt? Death?.

Nodding: yes death..

Walking slowly to stand beside his still son Giovanni gentle took the young man's hand, and lead him to the very edge off the void.

- It is not painful as such, it is a sheading off the body, all slows down, and fades, and in the final breath you see everything as clear as day.. I saw you my son and as i took flight i did so secure in the knowledge that you would be my legacy, that you would guard my Maria, and Claudia.

Tears fell from Giovanni's gentle eyes, as he watched the rolling clouds.

- Are you happy?

A soft smile creased Giovanni's lips, at the unexpected question.

- Yes, we are happy.

- Father? is this heaven?

Shaking his head his father sighed: No... No this is. ... No this is not heaven...

gesturing towards the soft glow illuminating the plane behind them: through that veil lies the fields where we now dwell, and that is a heaven, that is where we will meet in the ripeness off time.

Swallowing down the fear that made his eyes wide, he whispered: Please father, don't send me back. It hurts so much... Please father...

- It is not your time yet.. : lightning filled Giovanni's golden eyes, and his voice brimmed with the cries of eagles, and a fathers love: you are an Auditore, you were born to fight.. Now fight!

Fight! Fight! Fight!

The word rang out, rolling around them forcing him towards the edge, with its power. Backing he spread out his arms, fingers brushing against the fingers off his brothers outstretched hands, as he held onto his father's gaze...

- Father, i... i will fight.

His father's lips were gentle and warm as he kissed Ezio's brow: I know son...

Standing at the very edge, Ezio smiled as he flexed his legs leaping blindly into the void...

Golden eagles plunged after him as he fell through the veil and into life.

His father's voice rolling in his mind.

- nothing is true... all is permissible.