I'm so so sorry for the long wait! I just had so much on my plate with school that I had to put the story on the back burner... Again! Anyways, thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! It really makes my day :)

Her ragged breath was all he heard. She had stopped crying after some time and had fallen asleep not too long after, probably exhausted by her long body-shaking sobs. Her damaged fingers were curled on his chest plate and Ezio couldn't help but look at them closer. He could see some purple veins under the pallid flesh and the unnatural look of the skin sent a shiver down his spine. He had rarely seen skin this damaged. Most burn victims he had encountered never survived long enough for Ezio to see scars. He sighed and cast his gaze aside, trying his best not to think about the pain such scars were born from. Ezio had another matter tearing his mind apart. He had no idea what to do with the girl. He couldn't let her roam the streets;she was far too weak, mentally and physically, to be left alone. He feared what would happen to her. Yet he couldn't keep her in the hideout indefinitely either, he wanted her to have a normal life... Or as normal as she could manage. He felt he was too involved with her now to handle the matter lightly, he had the moral obligation to do what was best for her, he owed it to her. He closed his weary eyes and rested his head against the stone column. The cool marble felt good against his head where a fire of emotion was stirring. This poor creature, what am I supposed to do with her now? He though with a sigh. He looked down at her sleeping figure, her thin lips, her soft fists. No, not creature. Woman. He added in afterthought. There was something warming about seeing her asleep as if all her pains vanished and all that was left behind was a budding woman. She could've been a mother, a friend, a sister, a friend, a lover… He shook his head and gently laid her down on her bed. He looked at her with regret shining in his eyes. How unfair life was. He pulled up the small blanket up to her chin and left the room as silently as he had entered.

"What took you so long? I was starting to wonder if you were avoiding me." Said Yusuf before throwing a date in his mouth.

Ezio simply waved his hand and rubbed his eyes tiredly. Watching the girl sleeping gave him the desire to do the same thing. He sat down on his favorite cushion and looked gaze to the Turk, silently showing he was ready to hear the news.

"A couple of Romanies have gone missing and they're suspecting a Templar thing brewing."

"How many have gone missing?"

"Six so far and they are afraid that is only the beginning of trouble." Yusuf said as he treated himself to another fresh date.

Ezio sighed and rubbed his forehead. He was used to this kind of trouble but it even after all these years he still found it as difficult and challenging defending his allies from a shadow threat. Although he had refined his senses and was able to track down a man in a crowded street, it wouldn't do any good if he didn't even know where to start. He thought about a summer many years ago back in Roma when something similar happened. Some of the Rosa in Fiore's girls starting disappearing and a few day later bodies were found across the city. Some had been burnt, other drowned and some lacerated to death. Ezio had only found the killer after a dozen or so girls had died. He remembered those nights in the warm air, desperately searching for the figlio de putana. He shook his head, trying to dissipate the guilt and the faces of the corpse from his exhausted mind. He had done his best given the circumstances and that's what mattered. But although he kept repeated that to himself, he felt the guilt would never truly dissolve.

"I'll go take a look around the Romanie's headquarter tomorrow at the first light. I'll bring Ahmet with me so make sure he doesn't go anywhere."

Yusuf nodded and left the study, closing the door behind him. Ezio didn't bother walking to his bed and simply fell asleep on the floor. Exhaustion weighed his limbs down and getting back up was a battle he gave up as soon as he had sat on the cushion. Despite his old age, he was glad he still had the ability to sleep anywhere without having excruciating back pains the next day.

The sun was rising behind the city's uneven roofs, giving to the still sleeping city a sense of dreamlike scenery. Both the mentor and the apprentice flew over the many rooftops like two passing shadows or two escaped dreams from a sleeper. Without words or directions they worked in absolute unison to reach the small red door. If Ezio grappled a hanging lantern, Ahmet would jump onto a nearby scaffold and soon they were running on the same roof side by side. Ahmet was always secretly impressed by his master's endurance and strength but always kept silent. Soon they entered the poor district and were standing in front of the small door leading to the Romanies' headquarter. They were greeted by two heavily armed and imposing tanned men with arms as thick as tree trunks crossed over their barrel chests. After saying the rights words, the two guards stepped aside and let them pass. Mentor and apprentice walked in unison to the center of the small courtyard, waiting silently for a leader to come talk to them. There Parmida, one of the most influential member of the Romanie clan, was waiting for them. She looked distracted and high-strung, unlike her usual self.

"Finally you have arrived." She said without a trace of joy or excitement.

Ezio nodded while Ahmet placed himself behind his mentor.

"You have to stop this crazy murderer! You have our support as long as you reciprocate the favor." She said, hand wildly gesturing making her many bracelet clatter and flash in the morning sun.

"How did this start? How long had this been going on?"

The woman turned her back to him and slightly turned her tanned face to speak with him.

"At first I thought the girls were simply doing what we do best; travel. It is only yesterday that we found their corpses in the Lycus river." She said, bitterness imbuing her typically soft voice.

"Yusuf did not mention the corpse; he only said it was a couple of disappearances." He said, taking a step forward and making a small gesture with his hand, a habit most Italian had.

"We didn't want the possible Templars eavesdroppers to know we had found the corpses; if they think we are still ignorant they will be less careful."

"Va bene, I understand. Is there a specific location where your people disappeared?" Asked Ezio

"Yes, all the girls were last seen at night on the southern port of the city. I think you should start your investigation there."

Ezio nodded and turned to leave, Ahmet trailing behind him like a faithful shadow.

"Oh and assassin." Called out Parmida.

Ezio looked at her over his armored shoulder.

"Godspeed." She said while grabbing her dagger, her way of telling him to not spare anyone.

He dipped his chin once, understanding flashing in his eyes.

She woke up feeling cold yet tranquil. She was alone again. Alone with her thoughts. Sleep had done her great good and so did crying. She could almost feel his lingering touch on her back, the warmth he brought her. She hadn't felt such tenderness since… Since everything. She couldn't remember anyone treating her with such softness. She had lulled her anger and tried to rationalize everything that happened. It was only her fault, her fault alone. They weren't the ones who had mutilated her hands, they only opened her eyes. A soft knock on the door made her jump back a bit. Halimah walked in, eyes glued to the ground.

"How are you?" the woman asked while remaining next to the door, not daring approaching the girl

"Better."

"And your eyes?"

"I can see clearly now, thank you."

The silence grew heavier by the second and Halimah fidgeted. She had dwelled upon an idea for too long and had to express it. She only wanted to help the girl.

"I was wondering if, now that you have your sight back, you wanted to see outside?"

The girl made a nervous laugh and placed one of her hand on her head.

"Outside? I-I don't… I've never-" she stopped in mid-sentence, her gaze stuck to the ceiling

She hummed and a small smile etched itself on her face, one of the few Halimah had ever seen.

"Is the sun shining?" she asked

Halimah nodded. The girl got up, using the stone column for balance. Halimah went next to her and offered her arm for support. The girl accepted it and so began her second venture out of her room. Everything looked different than what she remembered, the halls were bigger, the ceiling higher and the colors of the many tapestries and cushions much richer and deeper. There was only one other trainee in the main hall and he paid little attention to them. The soft white gown brushed against her frail legs gently with every step she took. Slowly, they made their way to the wooden bridge leading to the main door. Halimah laid her hand on the iron knob and turned to look the girl in the eyes.

"Are you ready?" She asked to the girl.

The girl tightened her grip on her arm.

"I'm ready."

She couldn't say if she was trembling out of fear or excitement. She hoped it was the latter for it was too late to go back now.

Halimah pushed the door open with one swift motion.

The sun poured into the darkened corridor like an overflowing river and engulfed everything the girl knew into a white abyss.

Here I am again

There it is, faithful readers! Please let me know what you think of this chapter with reviews! :)