Claudia looked at him inquisitively and then back at that woman. While the woman looked smug, Machiavelli's expression was impassive. He seemed to be startled to see the blonde haired woman and then moved slightly before Claudia, as if shielding her.

"This must be Claudia." The woman said, stepping down the stairs and then looked at Machiavelli again. "You never let us know that you were married to this cagna, now did you?"

Machiavelli clenched his jaw and glared silently.

"Who is she?" Claudia whispered. "Is it…"

"Lucrezia Borgia." She answered haughtily and then pausing as if the name was supposed to incite terror into her heart.

Claudia swallowed and then remembered how Cesare had been coaxed into leaving her alone by his Father mentioning Lucrezia's arrival.

Lucrezia made her way to her and Machiavelli stepped forward, but her guards threatened him with their weapons and he had no choice but to let Lucrezia proceed.

She studied her dark-robed appearance and made a face. Putting the tip of her dagger on her chin, she gave an icy smile. "I can't see why Cesare is so obsessed with you. You're nothing special."

"Of course not." Caterina said wryly. "You're the only special woman in Cesare's life."

Lucrezia glowered at her. "Shut your mouth or I'll cut out your tongue, you vipera!"

Caterina put her hands on her hips, challenging her, but Lucrezia was studying her again and then put her hand on Machiavelli's shoulder. "How very devious of you." She said. "You kept Cesare distracted and never once told us that you know where Claudia was. I even had you followed, but you never led us to her."

Claudia felt a shudder run through her. Lucrezia had kept a watchful eye on Machiavelli- the one person who was always careful and he too seemed no match for her shrewdness.

"I wonder what Cesare is going to do to you when I tell him how you fooled us all." Lucrezia continued.

Claudia winced when she mentioned his name. Cesare didn't know yet and when he did and when he came, she couldn't imagine what he would do to her. Then she looked at Machiavelli as she realized something. Lucrezia had been keeping an eye on him, so was that why he had been keeping his distance from her so that the Borgia wouldn't know where to find her?

This realization shook her and she almost reached out to grab his arm and then stopped herself. They were among enemies now and one sudden move could cause the guards to attack and since Machiavelli was standing in front of her, he would be the one who would end up injured the most.

Unless….

Claudia let her fingers slip into her pouch and she felt the small smooth ball that was a smoke bomb.

"There will be hell to pay when Cesare comes. And you, Claudia Auditore, I will kill you myself." Lucrezia said.

Claudia plucked the smoke bomb from her pouch and flung it to the ground. As the smoke erupted, everyone around her bent over and started to cough. She held her own breath and quickly moved between two guards and using her double blades, finished them off. She repeated the action with two more guards and then took out her sword and stabbed the dazed guards.

She heard Lucrezia howl and grabbed her hair and pushed her to the ground.

As the smoke cleared away, Claudia turned all around her and saw a Brute still coughing by the corner. She stabbed him and then turned to Lucrezia and pointed her sword at her.

"Guards!" Lucrezia called and Claudia bent over and slapped her hard.

"She has the key!" Caterina called, almost jumping. "Get it from her."

Claudia held out her hand, but Lucrezia didn't budge. "I won't. You can't make me!"

"Bring her over here." Caterina said.

Claudia dragged Lucrezia to the cell and Caterina reached down to grab the chain she wore around her neck.

"So classy." She mocked and used the key on the chain to open her cell doors.

"I am a Borgia. Cesare will come for you. He will not leave you." Lucrezia babbled.

Caterina reached out to hit her but Claudia caught her hand. "We have to think about what to do with her."

Machiavelli was standing frozen to the spot while all this was happening, but now he finally seemed to have regained his composure and looked out the doorway. "There are no guards here." He said. "But if she continues to scream, she may call reinforcements."

"Let us kill her." Caterina said.

"No!" Claudia said. "Our fight isn't with her. She didn't do anything. It was her Brother and Father who did all those despicable things."

"Petruccio didn't do anything to them. Neither did your Brothers." Caterina reminded her.

Claudia looked at Machiavelli, waiting for him to say something, but he stood silently as if agreeing with Caterina.

"I do not want to become like them." Claudia said. "I won't let revenge cloud my judgment."

Lucrezia looked up at them, nervous about what they were going to do with her. Then Claudia saw her looking at her dagger lying a few feet away from her. Claudia used her foot to kick away the dagger further away.

"If we leave her here, she'll tell Cesare everything and he will come to look for you." Machiavelli warned.

"If we kill her, he will know anyway." Claudia said.

"Guards!" Lucrezia screamed and Caterina tore off a long piece of cloth from her dress and tied it around Lucrezia's mouth.

"One more word and I'll kill you myself." Caterina threatened.

"I have to agree with Caterina." Machiavelli said. "We should kill her."

Lucrezia let out a moan and Claudia saw tears in her eyes. She was a young woman and without her guards backing her up, she looked helpless and lost.

Claudia steadied herself. Why was she pitying with the enemy? She guessed it must have something to do with her being a Mother which was causing her to want to show mercy.

"We do not have all day to decide." Caterina said.

Machiavelli waited patiently for her and then she saw him looking at the cell she had been held in. Claudia felt her eyes travelling there too and she was enveloped with those terrifying memories. She had been in so much pain and fear that she didn't think she could truly get over it.

But it was Cesare who had instilled fear in her. It was Cesare who had hurt her. Not Lucrezia. She was faultless.

"We cannot kill her." Claudia said. "I will not let that happen."

Lucrezia seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. She squeezed her eyes and a tear rolled down.

"Then we let her tell Cesare everything?" Caterina said.

"I didn't come here all the way to Roma to hide." Claudia said. "I came here to kill Cesare. One way or another."

"You are not thinking straight." Machiavelli said.

"She will tell Cesare about Niccolò too." Caterina reminded her.

Lucrezia shook her head, but Claudia knew that this woman could not be trusted regardless of what she would promise.

"That was bound to happen someday." Claudia looked squarely at Machiavelli. "His secret was going to be disclosed someday and it is better that it happens now. Besides, he is not alone."

Claudia turned to Caterina. "He will have your aid and your men to help him defend."

Caterina looked at her and then at Machiavelli and then back at her again. "Are you not an Assassin anymore?"

Claudia took a deep breath. "That is a long story. Right now we need to leave."

Caterina nodded hesitantly and they started to leave, when she went back to Lucrezia. Kneeling down, she slapped her hard against the face. "This if for threatening me!" she screamed and then returned to them. "Let's go, shall we?"

Machiavelli appeared to be disappointed by her decision, but didn't say anything. The three of them made their way downstairs, slowly and discreetly so as to avoid detection by the guards.

When they reached the gate, Claudia pointed to the cranks situated on either side. "Take that one." She told him and went over to the other one. She pulled on it and rotated it while Machiavelli did the same to the other crank.

The gate opened and they came to the courtyard where two horses were grazing.

"You both should take that." She said. "I'll distract the guards."

"Nonsenso!" Caterina said. "Come with us."

"You will have to go by the bridge and there are many guards stationed there." Claudia told her.

Machiavelli took the reins of one horse and walked over to her. "Here, take this one."

"I am staying."

"No you're not." Machiavelli said and put the reins in her hand. "The guards still think I am a friend of the Borgia. They will not stop me. I can distract them."

"This is my plan." Claudia argued. "You will not be able to distract them long enough for Caterina to ride by. They will see her and you won't be able to hold off that many guards."

"Can you both make a decision?" Caterina said. "I would love to get out of here...today!"

"I can manage." Machiavelli said stubbornly.

"Why don't all three of us get on the horses?" Caterina sighed and got up on one. "We can ride by the guards quickly and before they even know what is going on, we'll already have made our escape."

"Get on with her." Claudia said. "Keep her covered with this." She removed her cape and handed it over to Caterina. "The guards will think she's your….guest. Just keep her face hidden."

Caterina wrapped the cape around her head and shoulders and waited until Machiavelli got behind her.

"Keep her safe." Claudia said, getting up on her horse.

"Don't you want to know where I'll be taking her?" Machiavelli asked, not quite looking at her.

"No." Claudia said and rode her horse out of the gates.

Machiavelli came beside her and they stopped their horses near the bridge. "Follow me closely." He told her.

Claudia nodded and they rode away quickly on the bridge. The guards let out cries and immediately drew out their weapons.

"After them, ragazzi!" she heard a guard yell.

Claudia didn't turn back to look. "Here is where we part ways." Claudia said.

Machiavelli gave her a brief nod and rode off with Caterina in the opposite direction. Claudia paused just for a second and then rode off the other, mindful of the guards that were trailing behind her.