It was all her fault. Her plans had been haphazard and had resulted in her being trapped along with Machiavelli. When she closed her eyes briefly, all she could hear were the metallic thumps of armor and footsteps of the guards.

"Find that bastardo! That Assassino!" she heard a hoarse cry.

If only she hadn't been so egoistical in the first place and let Machiavelli kill the Doge instead. But she had been so angry then; seeing him with courtesans and imagining him cavorting with Marietta. If only she had the better sense to think this through.

When the footsteps moved away from the roof garden, she pulled back her hood and buried her face in her hands.

"I am sorry." She said in a whisper. Machiavelli shifted so that he was facing her. The space was tiny and they only managed to sit with their knees raised. "I should have thought this through."

"This was a night when all plans were in disarray." He said regrettably. "I was unable to acquire the golden mask in the carnival games and had to steal it. I entered the party by blending in with the courtesans." He leaned his head back and peeked through the gently billowing curtains. "It would have only been a matter of minutes before I was going to be discovered anyway."

"I should have been more careful." She said. "I thought it would be easier to kill him with this new weapon Leonardo designed for me. I was certain I had an advantage and didn't think I might end up putting anyone else in danger."

"Leonardo has been helping you?" his voice was sharp.

"Si." Claudia peeked out from the other window and saw three guards huddled a few feet away and deep in discussion. "He has been really helpful in deciphering the locations of the other seals as well. Without him, I would have not progressed this far."

She turned to look at him then and in the darkness saw him grimacing. The cold wind blew in through the curtains and Claudia shivered. She was glad to be dressed in her warm Assassin robes and cloak, but one quick glance at Machiavelli showed her that he didn't look too warm.

He was dressed in a black doublet with golden embroidery and dark breeches and boots. She supposed he wanted to be dressed for the party rather than stand out in his practical Assassin garb.

"Hmm." Machiavelli said distractedly and leaned towards the window as if listening for something. Claudia held her breath and could hear a guard below talking about the Doge's murder.

"Did you see who it was?" he was saying.

The other guard made a disgusted sound. "No we didn't see that bastardo's face, but it is no doubt the work of the Assassins."

"Someone is not going to be pleased with this news. The Assassini have been causing nothing but trouble in Venezia.

Claudia frowned and then glanced at Machiavelli who seemed relieved for some reason. He rested his elbow on his knee and took a deep breath.

And that's when Claudia realized what had caused this reaction. "You were afraid to be recognized?" she asked in a low tone. The guards were walking again, although she heard the footsteps going further than towards them.

"I cannot afford to have my identity compromised." He replied.

"What harm can it do?" Claudia asked. "I mean, Duccio knows who I am. But I don't feel like I am in any danger from him. Or perhaps it has got to do with the fact that he is so far away in Roma."

"The Auditores were always synonymous with Assassins." He seemed angry again and Claudia wondered if it had to do with her killing the Doge and compromising his identity. Her guess proved right when he spoke again. "But I would like to retain my anonymity as much as possible."

"Why?" she asked boldly. "Why does it matter if our enemies know us? We are all pledged to the Order and our families are aware of the danger we would be facing."

"Everything is not as simple, Claudia." He said impatiently. "Perhaps your Mother does not mind that you are an Assassin, but mine does."

Claudia sat up straight. "You have a family?" The question sounded odd, but then Machiavelli hadn't been exactly forthcoming with his personal life.

Machiavelli sighed. "Si. My father is an attorney in Firenze. Although now he has moved to Toscana with my Mother and my sisters and brother."

"You never talked about them before." Claudia said. She knew she was prying, but as his wife, didn't she have the right to know?

"We are estranged." He said and then quickly added, "At the moment." He looked at her then and she didn't see anger in his expressions but a buried sadness that was surfacing. "I was inducted fairly early at the Assassin Order and my Father didn't approve of my choices. He wanted me to join politics and focus solely on that."

"But you are." She said.

"I thought it would make him happy and it did until…" he paused and then turned away from her.

When he didn't reply for a long time, Claudia peeked out the window again and saw the group of guards checking their weapons. She should be thinking of an escape plan, but considering the error in judgment she had made by killing the Doge without letting the Assassins know, she now felt discouraged to make another plan. What if she made yet another mistake and Machiavelli had to pay the price for it?

She turned back to him and saw him looking forlorn and realized he had not completed his story. "Until what?"

Machiavelli flexed his hands and she saw him glimpse at the wedding band on his finger. Claudia felt as if someone had poked her heart.

"You Father does not approve of this marriage, does he?" she asked carefully. The tears in her eyes were threatening to flow and she wouldn't stop them.

Machiavelli was astounded by her statement but didn't deny it. He hesitated and nodded. "Not because of you, but because the Auditores were branded as conspirators and traitors. "

"But we're not!" Claudia said.

"I have tried to make him see reason, but my Father can be stubborn with his beliefs. Until the Templars schemes are not exposed, a lot of people are forever going to see the Assassins as the enemy."

Claudia felt her gut twist and she bit down on her trembling lip. Machiavelli had been hiding so much pain from her. He had wanted to save her and instead had strained his ties with his own family. Because of her! And what had she done in return? What happiness had she given him ever since the wedding?

"Claudia…" he said softly. "It's not your…"

"Don't!" she said in a tired voice. "Please, don't say anything."

Machiavelli took her hand and squeezed, then pulled her closer. It was getting colder and being closer to him felt warm. She could feel his hands getting cold and removed her cloak. Draping it over them she tried to clear her mind. She may not have done anything to make him happy, but she would get him out of the predicament she had inflicted on him.

Think, she scolded herself. There had to be a way to get out of this unscathed and with Machiavelli's anonymity intact. She was an Assassin and she had been trained to fight and survive.

"I have a plan." She said.

"We have no weapons." He reminded her.

"Well, I do have one, but if everything works out fine, we won't have to use it."

"I find it hard to think…"

"Trust me."

"Bene. What is the plan, then?"

Claudia raised her hand and banged against the walls of the roof garden.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"What was that?" one of the guards asked.

"Go check it out." Another said.

Claudia peeked through the curtains and saw a guard walking towards them with his sword drawn out.

She counted till five and then stood up slowly. As soon as the guard was close enough, she reached out and stabbed his neck with her Hidden blades while simultaneously pulling him inside.

She laid him on the floor and clamped a hand on his mouth to muffle the cries. Once the guard's eyes glazed over, she pulled the sword out of his hands and handed it to Machiavelli.

"Now you have a weapon."

Machiavelli stood up and took it from her.

"I'll go this way, while you climb down the roof." Claudia said. "I'll keep them distracted."

"You can't fight them alone." He said.

"I won't. I'll keep them distracted until you're safe."

Machiavelli looked like he didn't like the idea. "I can't leave you here."

"You're not. You have to protect your identity." Claudia said. "I will be fine."

"I can't take that chance." He said and stepped out with his sword ready.

"Ora!" she heard the guards call.

Claudia sighed, pulled the hood over her head and jumped out.

The guards charged towards them, but Claudia easily deflected them, while Machiavelli fought deftly and managed to kill two of the guards quickly. Claudia plunged her blade into the neck of the third and then caught Machiavelli's arm.

"I'll go this way. You go the other."

"Bene. We'll meet at Sister Teodora's." Machiavelli said.

"Be careful." She told him.

"You too." He said and ran the other side to fight the guards jumping on the roof they were on.

"Catch him!" they cried and Claudia watched with worry as Machiavelli fought them off. She turned and ran to jump on the adjoining roof where the other guards had noticed the dead bodies of their peers.

She managed to disarm one and kill him with his own sword while dodging the swinging blade of another. Her hands moved fluidly and the guards lay dead on the roof. She stopped then, catching her breath and saw more guards heading towards her. Looking back, she saw Machiavelli jumping off the rooftop and she did the same.

Landing on her feet, she ran as fast as she could. She had to evade the guards. There were too many of them and she would no doubt be outnumbered. Before her was the canal and she dragged her feet to a halt.

Taking one last look at the guards behind her, she jumped into the water and started to swim as fast as she could.

She heard the guards telling each other to pick up rocks and immediately dived underwater. Swimming as fast as she could, she kept her head ducked until her lungs felt hot and painful. Only then did she surface and catch her breath.

She was safe now. The guards were far behind and unable to detect her. She swam toward the steps and pulled herself up.

Her breath felt heavy and her muscles ached. She coughed into her hands and then got up. She still had to make her way to Sister Teodora's and meet up with Machiavelli.

She had walked halfway there, when she recalled their earlier conversation. She had caused nothing but trouble for Machiavelli and he had done only the opposite for her. What was she doing? No, she had to set him free from her. He deserved to be happy even if it meant that she would have to annul her marriage to him. This wasn't what he had wanted anyway.

Claudia turned around and felt a sharp pain in her heart. She was aware she was crying as she walked the other way, but she couldn't help herself.

Machiavelli would be better off without her. But he wouldn't leave on his own accord. Claudia realized this with dismay and knew that Machiavelli was a man of his word and he would keep his vows to her.

"Unless…" she said aloud, without even realizing it. Unless, he saw her being unfaithful to him. Then he would leave her.

Taking a deep ragged breath, she had an idea of just who might be able to help her. After all, she had a hunch that Machiavelli was already not in favor of her friendship with him. Claudia climbed up a roof and headed to see Leonardo.