Chapter 25

The next few weeks were challenging for Ezio and I. After word of the Doge's death by an Assassin we were not safe to roam the streets. It was frustrating and I wanted to go out all the time but Ezio kept me in the guild using various methods. The first of his methods was challenging me to some type of card game that he, Rosa and Ugo had been playing. It was hard for me at first to remember the rules but after a week, I was on a mostly even standing with them with the exception of Rosa. I couldn't beat her at all and I suspected that she cheated.

The next of his methods was a little more personal. Ezio and I would hole up in his room and just talk about our lives. I learned a lot about Ezio in the following week and he, in turn, learned a lot about me. I found out that his favorite color was green and that he and Federico used to race every week to the top of a tall Firenze tower. He told me how he used to gather feathers for his younger brother, Petruccio and how his little brother was making something that he would tell no one but their mother about. He also talked about Claudia and her growing interest in Dante - he had chased off so many idiots in the old days that he just didn't want to do it anymore. I reassured him that my friend only had good intentions. Ezio spoke of his father some but I could tell that it hurt him. He told me of his last few days with his father and how he wished he could have been a more attentive son. Lastly, Ezio told me about Cristina and how they had met. He spoke about her so reverently that it hurt me to hear it but I knew that it helped him to speak of her and his life with her before all hell broke loose.

One day, when we were sitting in his room, eating a snack and talking about life in general. I asked Ezio, "Would you change anything?"

He grew thoughtful and his golden eyes flashed sadly. He looked away from me and out the window for a moment before turning back to me with a smile, "Some things I wish could have happened differently. Becoming what I am today, I would never want that taken away. I do, however, wish that you could have met my father and my brothers."

I nodded, agreeing with his words. I would have loved to met the Auditore family in full. "What about Cristina?" I asked, my voice was quiet because I was nervous of his answer. I was still surprised that I had enough in me to even ask that question. Ezio smiled at me gently. He watched me with scrutinizing eyes and I shifted in my spot on the floor. I watched as he gestured for me to come up on the bed and I complied, sitting down beside him stiffly.

"Cristina was important to me, Aria." He began and I felt my heart sink at his words. I didn't know why I thought I could compete with her in the first place. Ezio chuckled at my expression and knew my thoughts from the look on my face. "Let me finish, amore." I smiled awkwardly and patiently waited for him to continue. "She was important to me but that was a different time in my life. I was young and reckless - I knew no other way. Once I met you I knew that Cristina was just another part of my past."

"Truly?"

"You have my word." I smiled as I leaned toward him, kissing his full lips ever so slightly to tease him. That brings me to the third method of keeping me busy until Carnevale was fully upon us. Ezio and I had formed a type of competition - one that I always lost. It was a game of wills and teasing each other mercilessly. It was a game to make the other squirm under the others touch. We had not started this game purposefully but it developed quickly, pushing us both to our limits before we broke down. He still refused coming to my bed completely but that didn't mean other things were out of the question. A plus to being stuck inside the last few weeks, and it was probably the only positive side, was that Ezio and I had taken to wearing normal clothes - clothes that were easily removed. I pushed him back onto the bed and ran my hand along the hem of his pants, touching his flat stomach lightly. Ezio smirked up at me as he relaxed into the bed and I smiled back before capturing his lips in a kiss again. I was getting more confident the longer Ezio and I were kept locked up together. I ran my fingers up his chest before pulling his shirt away completely, causing him to laugh quietly at my enthusiasm. I think Ezio was still getting used to this new side of me as much as I was. I never heard any complaining, though, so I guess that was a good thing.

I looked over his smooth, taut muscles and smiled as I ran a hand along the hem of his pants again. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them to me again. I watched as the golden color of his eyes took on an auburn tone, darkened by desire. It was something that I had grown to love about him - I also loved to be the one to bring this emotion out in him. I smirked, thinking back to our game and lowered my head and licked where my hand had just moved across. I felt him tense slightly and I kissed his abdomen slightly while I ran my fingers down the trail of hair that went from his naval to below his pants. Ezio's mouth literally fell open as I ran my tongue up his body, kissing his nipples before moving to his neck. I positioned myself over his body - just to where his body couldn't touch mine completely but brush up against it occasionally. I could tell it was driving him crazy. I kissed his neck and sucked a little before nipping him hard - Ezio gave a low sound at the back of his throat and I coaxed him further, wanting to hear more. I moved up to his ear and took a deep breath before blowing into it softly, watching him shudder beneath me. It was empowering, having Ezio at my will and it excited me more than anything.

"Do you submit, Ezio?" I murmured into his ear as he arched up to press himself against my body.

"What happens if I don't?" Ezio asked back, sounding husky and a little tense. I smiled against his ear and licked it, causing Ezio to moan quietly and I giggled in his ear.

"You've no choice but to submit. You have to tell me that I am the winner and you are the loser."

"Never." Ezio returned and I laughed fully now, moving back to his neck and nipping his skin again. I'd found that I like biting Ezio as strange as that was and I loved it when he bit me back. Ezio groaned before saying, "Sarai la mia morte, la donna."

"Is this not a fine way to die?" I asked jokingly and Ezio turned his powerful gaze onto me yet again. I was speechless at the intensity of his eyes.

"I could think of better ways" replied Ezio with a smirk as he pressed his hips into mine, holding my lower back so I couldn't move away. I moved my hands to the hem of his pants and started to pull them down when a knock came from the door. I sat up, smiling at Ezio, who was silently cursing whoever was at the door.

"Cosa?!" Ezio said loudly at the door and I heard snickering come from the other side.

"Sorry to interrupt." Rosa said from the opposite side of the door. "We've had word that your artist friend, Da Vinci is back from his trip with his patron, Conte de Pexaro. Besides Carnevale has officially began!"

I grinned widely and hopped off the bed, ignoring Ezio's protesting. "We can finally go outside!" I exclaimed and Ezio sighed before sitting up.

"I was hoping to keep you here for just a little longer." He replied, good naturedly, forgiving me for leaving him wanting for the moment. I watched him as he stood and pulled his tunic back over his head and I felt a twinge of disappointment that his body was hidden from me again. I smiled to myself - I would fix that tonight. "What are you grinning about?" Ezio asked, smirking at me with knowing eyes. I shook my head and exited the room before he could question me any further. I went to my own room across the hall and I dressed in my black robes and new armor before pulling out my mask from under my bed.

I dusted it and blew the rest of the dust off before holding it up and taking a good look at it. It was intricately designed - it covered my forehead and the majority of my eyes but left my nose and mouth free. Vines and flowers twisted along the sides of the black mask and it was adorned with jewels like rubies and diamonds. Leonardo had wonderful taste in masks and color coordinating and I was thankful for that because I was clueless in that department.

I secured the mask on my face and walked out of my room at the same time Ezio was exiting his room. He looked me over with a grin pulling at his lips and I blushed instinctively. I looked over him as well and I realized that I was extremely attracted to him when he was wearing his robes. They suited him almost too well.

"Sembri bella. Mi piace la maschera."

I smiled at his compliment and replied, "Thank you, Ezio. Where is your mask?"

He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled at me lopsidedly before answering, "I never got one."

"Oh, Ezio. We'll need to find you one." I shook my head at him and continued, "You are terribly forgetful."

"I was distracted by someone." Ezio countered, looking over my body and I blushed, remembering the past few nights we had spent together. I glanced at his hands, making sure he had his hidden blades and shuddered at the thought of just what those fingers could do to me. Stop it! I told myself. I didn't need to obsess over him while we had things to do.

"Well, come on then." I said, my voice coarse and embarrassed. I turned and went down the stairs as Ezio followed me from behind, chuckling at my obvious discomfort. I felt his hand brush against my lower back and sink lower until I turned to him, lifting a brow. He laughed outright and I couldn't help but smile at him, although I was a little miffed by his behavior. It seemed that I had been letting a lot of things that Ezio did go by without a word lately. He was enjoying it too much.

We walked towards Leonardo's home quickly - Ezio kept his head lowered and I led him through the busy streets. The incident with the Doge was still fresh in everyone's minds and though a mask would only do so much, it would help. I knocked on Leonardo's door three times before entering with Ezio on my heels. Leonardo rounded a corner as we entered his home and pulled off our hoods.

"Aria, Ezio!" He exclaimed as he came towards us. "It's so nice to see you both again. I had thought you were dead for sure. I heard no more of you and then there was all that business over Mocenigo and Grimaldi and then my patron wished for me to travel with him."

"Where did you go?" I asked him and Leonardo smiled widely.

"Milan! It was quite beautiful and the fashions there are so diverse and off the wall! Revolutionary, I would say." Leonardo looked like he was thinking of such fashions at the moment before he shook his head and continued, "I wanted to rebuild my flying machine because the Venetian Navy have asked me to start designing stuff for them! Isn't that exciting?!" Ezio and I grinned at him as he continued on about something about designs for a weapon. It was hard to stop Leonardo once he started but he seemed to realize that he was droning on and on and said, "But the important thing is that you are both alive and well!"

"He's also the most wanted man in Venezia." I said, nudging Ezio with my elbow and Ezio shrugged as Leonardo laughed.

"Si, a double murderer, I'd heard. Two of the state's most prominent citizens dead."

"You know better than to believe that." Ezio said jokingly and Leonardo's eyes twinkled as he laughed.

"You wouldn't be here if I did." Leonardo looked over Ezio. "Where is your mask?"

Ezio laughed and said, "I forgot to get one." Leonardo tsked under his breath and smiled as a one of his assistants appeared with a cup of wine for him. Leonardo quietly asked him to find a mask that would be fitting for Ezio and as quickly as possible. Turning back to me, Leonardo said,

"Ah, your mask suits you."

"Thanks to you, mio amico."

Leonardo nodded with a bright smile as his assistant reappeared from another section of the house. He held a nice mask that was white on top and black on bottom. Ezio took it, thanking the two men gratefully and passed it to me to fixate it on his face. I stepped back to look at the mask after I was finished. It was white and black - white on top and black on the bottom. It almost covered his entire face but left his mouth free from its constraints.

"Quasi troppo bello." I murmured, mostly to myself but loud enough for Leonardo and Ezio to hear my words. Ezio had a smug look on his face while Leonardo laughed behind his hand.

"Before I forget," said Ezio, searching through the pockets on his robes. Unable to find what he was looking for, I lifted up the Codex page with a sly grin. Rosa had been teaching me how to pickpocket with success and I had been eager to try it out on someone. Ezio just happened to be near me when the urge struck.

"Si ladruncolo." He said as he snatched the page away from me. Despite his words I could tell that he was impressed with my growing skill. I laughed quietly as he passed it to Leonardo, who was bursting with curiosity and excitement.

"I studied it for a time, Leo. It's some type of weapon but it's much too complex for me to figure out." I said as he cleared out a spot on his cluttered desk. He studied it for himself, mouthing things to himself as Ezio and I waited for him to say something.

"It would seem you are correct about it being a weapon, Aria." Leonardo said, straightening up from the desk and looking at us both. "It's not another dagger, though. It is a type of firearm - it is so small, in fact, it's the size of a hummingbird."

"That's amazing!"

"That doesn't sound possible." Ezio mumbled after I spoke and Leonardo and I both laughed.

"For a man that has flown through the sky you have such little faith, Ezio." I teased and he rolled his eyes but I saw the small smile on his lips.

"Luckily, my assistants are quite the engineers. Both of you give me your wrist blades and I will have this done in a few days."

"Are you sure, Leo?" I asked.

"Si, what about your other work with the Venetian Navy?" Ezio asked, continuing my thoughts as if he could read my mind. It kind of scared me how intuitive he was.

Leonardo waved a hand at us and replied airily, "Don't you worry about that. They all think I am a genius and leave me be for extended periods of time."

We said our goodbyes to Leonardo soon after that, wanting him to finish the blades as quickly as possible before heading back to the guild. We didn't want to push our luck with the extreme number of guards at every corner. They eyed us as we passed but as long as we looked like a love struck couple enjoying Carnevale they would not bother us. When we arrived back at the headquarters, I noticed that my father was there, talking with Antonio. They both turned toward us as Ezio and I entered and greeted us kindly. We returned the gestured and began to talk for a time. After a while, my father whisked me away to the courtyard outside.

"Antonio told me what happened, Aria." Mario began and I looked down in shame at my weakness. "They said the burns went so deep into your sides that they thought you might never move right again."

"They were obviously wrong." I said tensely, not really ready to talk about what happened even though it's been years and this was a man that I could trust with everything I had. The thought of those nights brought back a memory of Nico, who I still mourned every day.

"Aria, you and I both know that you need to talk about this -" I cut him off, interrupting him rudely but he didn't seem to mind.

"How are the Mancini family? Once I was healed I went to see them but they have vanished from Venezia." I was worried at first when I hadn't seen them there but Ezio assured me they were safe from harm so I relaxed quite a bit.

"I gave them a nice, charming home in Monteriggioni. They cannot wait to see you again." Mario answered my question but I could tell that he wasn't going to let the other conversation topic go. "You and I both know you need to talk about what happened." I looked down, knowing that he was right and sighed. Mario lifted my chin and smiled down at me in a fatherly way, "If not me, then Ezio. Just talk to someone about it or it will haunt you. Trust me."

"I'm sorry that I was too weak to face Borgia, papa." I said quietly and Mario shook his head before pulling me into him for a hug.

"You were simply at a disadvantage. I have no doubt that next time, you'll get him for good." I smiled and squeezed him tightly. He always knew the right thing to say to make me feel better. I was so glad that he was here in Venezia. I stepped away from him and grinned, causing him to laugh in his usual boisterous way. I smiled as I went back inside to go to my room and relax.

I was passing Ezio's door when it cracked open. I stopped and looked at Ezio, who was smiling at me from the threshold of his room. "What?" I asked mischievously and he crooked a finger at me, telling me to come in. I rolled my eyes but entered his room anyway.

A few days later, Ezio and I went back to Leonardo's to see how the weapon was coming along. Leonardo already had it finished and waiting for us to try by the time we got there and we tested them both once. For such a small thing, it was loud and powerful, able to shoot further, faster than I could with my arrows. It was designed to attach to the spring mechanism which strapped to our arms and could be pushed back to conceal the deadly firearm and released in an instant when needed.

"How did I never think of something like this?" Leonardo said after we both tested the weapon out. I was still looking over the small thing, wondering over it and thinking of it's creator.

Ezio seemed to be on my train of thought as well and said, "Another question is how did a man living a hundred years ago come up with this?" I thought on what Ezio said and decided that the man must of held a Piece of Eden. The Epirus bow gave me all sorts of nonsense information that I had no idea what to do with but if someone sat down and pieced it all together - well, they would be a force to be reckoned with. There had been times that I wished to share the information with Leonardo but I was unsure how the world would change with this type of information. I simply put the thoughts away and never spoke of them, to anyone - not even Ezio.

"It's exactly what we need." I said and Ezio nodded, agreeing with my thoughts. The new Doge was simply to scared to come near any crowds and was too heavily guarded to get close to ourselves. "We should go see Antonio and Teodora at the bordello now."

"Be careful, I miei amici." Leonardo said as Ezio and I made our way out of his home. He may not have known the exact details of our plans but Leonardo was not slow by any means. His usually bright eyes betrayed the anxiety he felt for the two of us. We said goodbye and I tried to reassure him before finally leaving. Approaching the bordello, I let Ezio go on in while I tried to fix my mask - it was loose and falling off my face. It only took a second and I opened the door to the bordello to hear Antonio say,

"Have you met the girls yet, Ezio? Don't worry, I won't tell Aria."

"Antonio!" I admonished from the doorway as I closed the door and Antonio turned quickly toward me. His cheeks were a rosy red and he was very much drunk so I let his words slide.

His eyes were wide, though, and he said, "How long have you been there?"

"Long enough." I replied, crossing my arms and deciding to let the man squirm for a moment. He did just that and began to reply when a violent, feminine scream broke out from one of the rooms. The usually lively room grew to a deadly silence as a door flew open to one of the rooms. A wild-eyed man stood there, clutching a knife in his hands with a tight grip. Ezio and I tensed immediately, preparing for a fight as the man looked at everyone madly. I looked behind him to see a blood-soaked bed and a young woman writhing in agony.

"Stop him!" She screamed and I saw a small stream of blood come from the side of her mouth. It was probably already be too late for her. "He's cut me and stolen my money!" The crazy man let out a crazed roar of anger as he grabbed another girl that was near him. She whimpered and tears began to stream from her eyes as he pressed the knife to her throat.

"Let me out of here or I'll carve this one up, too." The man screamed at us. Ezio and I made eye contact and I nodded to him as the man pressed his blade closer to the girls throat, causing a bead of blood to appear. Antonio, instantly sober, stood close by Teodora in an effort to protect her from harm while Ezio stood in front of them both. The man started making his way across the bordello to the door and girls scattered away from him, leaving me to stand in between the man and his exit. The man screamed at me, "Open it!" I ignored him, looking at Ezio and watching as he lifted his arm. I scowled at the man as he dug the knife into the girls neck and turned to open the door. As I was pushing the door open, I turned quickly and caught the girl as the maniac dropped her to make a hasty escape and flinched as I heard the newly familiar sound of our new firearms go off. I felt something sticky and wet hit me and I closed my eyes, trying not to think about what was all over me.

I opened my eyes as the man fell to his knees in front of me and I grimaced when I saw that most of his face was missing. I pushed him back with my foot, ignoring the girls squeals as he fell back - dead. I looked down at the girl in my arms and she was unconscious but alive. I checked her wound and decided that it wasn't too deep and she would have a little trouble talking for a while but it would heal fine. Teodora took control of the chaos in the room, calling for her girls to take the girl from my arms and to check on the other in the bedroom. From the cries of anguish, I knew that we were too late to save her.

Ezio helped me stand and was looking over me for any wounds. "Mi dispiace. It was a risk and I had to take it."

"I would have done the same thing in your position." I replied and Ezio gave me a tender smile. I noticed that he was staying away from me and I looked down at my black robes, noticing patches of blood and brain matter on me. I groaned and looked up at Ezio. "Is it in my hair?" He nodded slowly and I lowered my head, feeling defeated and in dire need of a bath. Teodora came to my side, thanking Ezio for his help.

Ezio stared at the door with the dead courtesan within. "I was too late to save her."

"You saved the rest of us. He might have slaughtered more if you hadn't been here to stop him." Teodora replied.

Antonio, who was not so drunk anymore but still a little tipsy, exclaimed loudly, "What sorcery did you just use?!"

Ezio and I laughed as I struggled to keep my blood filled hair out of my face and off my mask. I knew it was a frivolous attempt and my mask was already covered in blood. "No sorcery. Just a little secret." Ezio winked at the two, who laughed along with him and did not press the matter.

Teodora led us back to her personal office and sat in her chair heavily. The rest of us stood, or in Antonio's case, swayed. "I can see how that is going to come in handy." Antonio said to us and Ezio nodded seriously.

"Marco Barbarigo will not even see what is coming." I said and we delved into planning the Assassination. Teodora gave us a lot of information about his whereabouts. It seemed that the only place he was coming out to see the public was at a very private party. Ezio apparently would need a golden mask to enter and Teodora explained a way of getting one of these golden masks. Teodora and I had already decided my method of entrance but refused to divulge the details to Ezio or Antonio. They would just have to wait and see. Teodora called one of her girls to escort me to a bath and I followed, giving Ezio one last fleeting look before I left the room.

I sunk into the water, groaning as the warmth flooded throughout my body. I was still a little unnerved by having all these girls in the room with me but none paid much attention to me. That is, until they began to wash out my hair. I protested but even I could not contend with the wishes of several grown women. They finished cleaning out my hair and was brushing it as I washed off my body awkwardly. I smiled to myself as I thought of telling Ezio about me and all these women helping me wash up - I'm not sure he would know what to do with himself.

I shaved my legs and underarms with a sharp dagger as a red-headed girl pulled my hair back tightly - so tight that it brought tears to my eyes. She twisted my long hair off before pulling it into a tight bun. I asked for a towel but the girls snickered and pointed at the towel rack across the room. I glared at them all but they all ignored it, smiling at me as if they had no idea what irked me so. I blushed furiously and stared at the towel, trying to will it to me in any way. I wanted to get out of the red colored water. Once I realized that these girls were serious about not getting me a towel. I stood and climbed from the tub, ignoring their pointed looked to my body and walked to the towels. A blush so red covered my body as the girls giggled, saying to each other quietly, "Oh, she's so innocent."

I dried off quickly and looked for my robes, realizing that they had been taken from the room. I glared at the girls, who giggled and swarmed around me, pulling me toward a vanity. I struggled, not too hard to hurt them but to know that I did not appreciate their hands on my skin. I tried to be polite after their sister was killed and another harmed but they made it hard. They didn't give a damn about what I wanted, though, and sat me down at the vanity. I scowled at my reflection - completely naked and being ogled by women was not how I expected the night to go. Teodora entered the room, carrying an outfit that was familiar to me. It was a gift that I had yet to use but now had the most opportune time.

She smiled at my uncomfortable look and shooed the girls away from me, much to their displeasure. I smiled gratefully at her but shivered, getting a little cold from not wearing anything. She passed me some strange, black stringy looking thing and I stared at it, unknowingly and the girls across the room burst into a fit of giggles that only intensified when I glared over at them. Teodora smiled and explained that it was my underwear. My eyes widened.

"You're kidding me, right?" I asked and Teodora shook her head, a smile threatening to break out. Well, I'm glad everyone else finds this so damn amusing! I thought to myself as I tried to figure out how it went on. Teodora stopped me with a repressed laugh and turned them the other way and I nodded, putting them on as quickly as possible. I looked at Teodora in discomfort. "I don't think I can wear this."

"It's the only kind that will go well with your outfit."

"Dammit." I mumbled and the girls behind me giggled again. "Shut up!" I snapped and that made them laugh harder. "I hate you all." I said quietly and Teodora smiled widely at me.

I pulled on my bright red skirt next. It was entirely too short and I was thankful for the see through lace that I put on under it. The white lace connected between my legs like pants did so I didn't have to worry about giving too much of a view - well, more than I was already giving. I tugged at the skirt and looked in the mirror to see that the sides of my underwear sat on my hips while my skirt went lower than that. I groaned and looked at Teodora, who was pulling out the top to the outfit. "I look ridiculous."

She looked me over for a moment. "I don't know about that, Aria. Girls, what do you think?"

"Shit, if I had money I would pick that hot ass up in a second." One, particularly brash, blonde said from across the room. I flushed, in extreme embarrassment. I didn't want to know what these woman thought of my outfit.

The red head who had tied my hair up in a bun said wistfully, "I wish my breasts were that perky still." I covered my chest and my blush deepened, causing the girls to chortle with laughter. I turned away from them and Teodora smiled understandingly and passed my shirt to me.

It wasn't much of a shirt, I decided once the sheer white shirt was properly on me. The sleeves were long, honestly they were probably the most fabric on the entire outfit. They flowed out from the wrist, leaving me able to keep my hidden blades on me, thankfully. The front was another thing. It was cut out into a deep v that went all the way below my naval, showing off my toned abdomen and plenty of cleavage. Though Teodora reassured me, I wasn't really quite sure how my 'perky breasts' were going to stay in this top. Teodora turned me, showing me the back of the shirt, which was open with laces going up the back. She tied them tightly, having another girl help but I sent the other girl away once she fondled me inappropriately.

They sat me at the vanity now, putting on foundation and various makeup on my face. The plucked at my eyebrows, making me growl every time they pulled out a stray hair. I wasn't sure how these girls did this every day - it was such a hassle. I averted my eyes once the girls started stripping and changing their own clothes. I almost didn't noticed Teodora pull out something that looked like blonde hair. I stared at it and she laughed, calling it a wig. I allowed her to put it on my head and pin it to my actual hair. I wasn't used to seeing me as a blonde and it was a little strange at first but I grew used to it after a few minutes.

Teodora finished styling my long, fake blonde hair to fall along my right shoulder in an attractive, enticing way. I was surprised at how well it was all coming together. They applied a bright red lip stick to my lips before Teodora showed me my mask. It was gorgeous, much more rich than the mask I had been wearing. It left my mouth and cheeks uncovered while covering my nose and forehead - also keeping my dark eyebrows from view. The top on the left side arched up a little, looking like a flame. Black feathers also hung from that side, tickling the tip of my left ear. While attaching my mask, another girl came and put heels on my feet. I detested the things but I knew how to walk in them in ease now. When I had first started practicing, I fell every few steps.

I stood up, looking at my appearance in the mirror. I was unrecognizable - blonde hair, pouty lips. My eyes were the only thing I really recognized and they pierced through the mask with the black lining around them. I looked over my outfit and down to my now impossibly long legs and nodded once, causing Teodora to smile.

"Perhaps you should be one of my girls. Think of all the money you'd make." I scoffed and she laughed before continuing, "I know, you're not interested. But keep it in mind." I nodded mostly to keep her from pressuring me about joining her little bordello.

"Is Ezio still around?" I asked, nervously yet hopefully. I was nervous about him seeing me like this but I had a feeling that he would like the outfit.

Teodora frowned and shook her head. "No, he already left to go enter himself into the contest. He said he would see you there." Teodora laughed suddenly. "I wonder if he will recognize you."

"Doubtful." I replied with a slight grin and said my goodbyes to her. Teodora gave me some last minute tips and told me to steer clear of men. My outfit was purely just to get me into the private party along with Ezio. I nodded along with her words. She had nothing to worry about that and though I knew I would attract a lot of men's attention, I would kick their ass if they came on to me too strongly. As I walked through the city, ignoring looks from men and women alike, I came across Leonardo standing at a Mercato with a pensive look on his face. He looked troubled and a little guilty so I approached him. He glanced at me for a moment before looking away and waving a hand, "I'm not interested."

"No time for a friend?" I asked with a teasing tone to my voice and Leonardo whipped back toward me with wide blue eyes. He looked at my outfit again and I smiled, trying to not seem uncomfortable as he pulled me away from the crowd.

"Aria?!" Leonardo said and began laughing. "What in earth are you wearing?"

"It's a disguise since I am well known as being Maria Barbarigo." I replied defensively. I knew this was a bad idea. I was suddenly regretting ever agreeing to doing this.

"Don't get me wrong, Aria. If I were interested in women I would be salivating right now. It's just that I've never seen you wear anything so revealing before." I blushed and shuffled my feet in the tall heels - heels that I noticed brought me about a inch above Leonardo's height.

"Does it look horrible?" I asked quietly and Leonardo shook his head fanatically.

"Has Ezio seen you yet?" He asked and I shook my head, causing him to give a low whistle. "I don't think he'll know what to say." Leonardo suddenly looked very guilty and I pushed him to tell me what was on his genius mind. Leonardo avoided my eyes before meeting my green with his blue. "I think I did something bad."

"Cosa?" I asked, wandering what had him all worked up and Leonardo frowned.

"I told Ezio that Cristina d'Arzenta was in the city, visiting my patron with her husband." I felt the blood fly from my face and I coughed, trying to cover up my reaction to the news. The thought of that woman being here scared me a little but I couldn't let Leonardo know that. "After I told him, he ran off… He said he needed to see her." I frowned at that and then cursed without thinking, causing Leonardo to sputter, "I'm so sorry, Aria! I didn't think he was going to do that!"

I waved his apologies away, though I couldn't keep the frown from my face. "You were only doing what a good friend would do, Leo." Leonardo still apologized until I put both hands on his shoulders and shook him a little, "Leonardo. I swear it's okay. Just tell me where he was going. We need to get started with our plans tonight." Leonardo nodded and told me that he said something about the Sign of the Sundial before he ran off. I thanked Leonardo one last time and reassured him that he didn't betray me in any way. He didn't seem reassured but I had somewhere to be, so I left him and headed towards the area he said.

I approached the spot that Leonardo had told me about and I waited. I watched Cristina arrive, leaving her escort a good deal away. She looked beautiful and as dainty as a flower, smiling to herself as she waited. She didn't pay much attention to me since I just looked like a courtesan hanging around the streets. I didn't have to wait long for Ezio to appear and he walked past me without noticing, focused on one thing only. He hesitated for a moment before pulling the woman into his arms and kissing her long and softly.

I stared at the pair with anger rising in my body. I fought tears that sprang up into my eyes because I didn't want to mess up Teodora's hard work. I felt like hitting something but resisted. I wanted to walk away but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the sight of the man I loved kissing another woman. Feeling betrayed, I stiffened as he leaned away the woman, looking down at her with a slightly amorous look. Cristina seemed confused and removed her mask, looking up at Ezio with apprehension. Before Ezio or even I could react, she pulled off his mask.

"Ezio!" I heard her shriek as she pushed his mask back into his hands and backing away from him. Ezio tried to calm the woman but it was to no avail. Cristina screamed at him, "What the hell are you doing here? How dare you kiss me like that?" I had never connected Cristina and a feeling of affection before but now I did, thankful that she was saying that words that I wanted to say. Ezio continued to try to defuse the situation but froze as Cristina slapped him sharply across the face before running past me to her escort in tears. Ezio stayed turned toward the wall before he fastened his mask to his face again and turned. He froze for a moment when he saw me standing there, watching him. He didn't seem distressed by my sudden appearance and sauntered toward me casually. I watched him push back the pain of Cristina's words in his eyes, replacing it with a cool and confident look.

"Are you one of Teodora's girls?" Ezio asked once he was a few feet away from me. I had kept my eyes downcast as he approached. I realized then that he didn't recognize me and I gritted my teeth in a sudden explosive anger. I stepped towards him, meeting his eyes for the first time. Ezio looked confused for a moment as a shimmer of recognition went through his eyes. His face fell and he stepped toward me quickly, holding out his hands - I stepped back as he came forward, keeping the space between us. "Aria, please let me explain!"

"No, Ezio." I said strongly, despite feeling like my world was falling beneath my very feet. I wanted to break down into tears but I wouldn't - not now. Ezio reach for me again but I pushed his hands away weakly. "We have more important things to attend to."

"Please, just talk to me for a moment!" Ezio pleaded as I began to turn away from him. I froze midway and met his eyes, letting my emotions shine out for but a moment before cloaking them behind indifference again.

"I don't care what you have to say for yourself, Ezio. I'm done."

"You're done?!" Ezio asked, sounding defeated and worried. His golden eyes glistened but I looked away, unable to deal with his tears. What did he have to cry about? He wasn't the one who had just witnessed someone they loved kissing another.

"That's right." I replied with steel in my tone, closing the conversation for what I hoped was for good. I had no desire to continue. I heard a nearby church bell chime and I pressed my lips together in impatience. "We'd better hurry. Your games start soon." I walked away, noticing that he had not followed. I turned to him slightly, not looking directly at him in fear that I would cry and said coolly, "I don't need you, Ezio. I'll whore myself in if you won't be my escort." I gestured at my outfit and continued, "I'd think it would be quite easy."

Ezio quickly began walking my way and I turned, leaving him behind. He stayed behind me, knowing that to come near me now would only result in more pain for him. I fought emotions as we headed to the area that the games were being held in. I heard Ezio's footsteps behind me but just pretended that it wasn't him. That it wasn't the man that just broke my heart. I cursed inwardly - I knew better than to get involved with him. It was distracting me impossibly and my mind couldn't focus on the mission ahead. I shook my head, sighing and thought to myself, of course Assassins couldn't live happily ever after.

A/N: WHOA. Sorry to cut that off right there but I had to spilt this chapter in two because it was going to be like 14000 words. lol. So much drama.. What's Ezio gonna say for himself once their mission is done and completed? What is Aria going to do? I'm almost done with the rest of the chapter and I MAY post it sometime this week if I get enough reviews! (please please please :D)

Translations:

Sarai la mia morte, la donna - You'll be the death of me, woman.

Sembri bella. Mi piace la maschera - You look lovely. I like the mask.

Quasi troppo bello. - Almost too good.

Si ladruncolo - You little thief.

Thanks to everyone that favorited, subscribed and a special thanks to the six that reviewed! YOU GUYS ARE SO AWESOME! :D

Anne Elric - We'll all see what Ezio was waiting for next chapter. It was supposed to be this one but it got WAY too long haha. Spero che ti e piaciuto questo capitolo!

xXspidercatXx - glad you liked it :D

xVentressx - lol, I think this one is much more emotional :P

Flowers of Dusk - I loved that part, too! That chapter was especially fluffy and I LOVED it haha! need more fluffiness!

SmileForMeNow0 - I considered having Ezio be like that, honestly. But then I figured that they were gonna have plenty of angst during Carnevale. And the surprise may be next chapter - I dunno yet :)

Flying Machine - Oh yeah everyone: SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE LAST CHAPTER FOR FLYING MACHINE. LOL. I hope you liked this one, too :P