Chapter 6

Alexandra's Final Decision

Once again Alexandra rode on horse back; her own rigid back against her master moving chest, his was breath heavy on her face, a comfort to her. Her eyes were closed as she faded in and out of a heretic sleep. The boat ride had been long and she had barely gotten any sleep at all, all except for the meeting with Girolamo Fracastoro, it had been very uneventful Alexandra had been bored staring at watching the waves crash against the boat, time had moved very slowly and many weeks past as they traveled back to their home; but now even though she was on one of hell's beasts; the very fact she was on dry ground made her feel secure. Opening her eyes a sliver she stared up at the man who directed the very animal she hated. Ezio's face was stern; his mouth was a tight line, his eyebrows were pushed together in an expression that seemed to be one of worry. But what had this great Assassin so worried? The horse loped over a beam of wood Alexandra didn't know was there; it caused her to lean off to the side to far, in a panic she reached out grabbing Ezio's arm to right herself, he grunted, as if just realizing she was there.

"What's wrong?" Alexandra asked her master; he gave her a great sigh in return for her query. It returned to silence as the miles dragged on, the scenery slowly changing from purely vegetation and the road to more sparse trees and rolling hills; soon a familiar stone wall came into view, as well as a familiar man, who on a black horse came galloping over to meet them. Glancing back up at her master she saw a smile on his face.

The man came over and offered greetings. "Welcome home Ezio, and Alexandra"

Mario paused for a moment; seemingly taking in his nephew's stern pose. Ezio raised his hand and gave him a brief smile. Alexandra gave them both a frown; even as they spoke about the mission that the she and Ezio had just come from. Their conversation was not for her, she understood this, tuning their words out and taking in the area sprawling out before them. In the distance she noticed something small, come flying from the wall of the approaching villa; it had followed a distinct noise. It was grey, and round, coming at a blinding speed. She blinked as her mind registered what the object was.

"C-cannon ball!" She squeaked; her voice teetering on the verge of soprano. Alexandra leaned back into the broad chest that now seemed like a restricting wall, the strong arms that encased her that seconds ago were comforting to her seemed like a barrier to keep her confined. Panic was rising in her chest; a cannon had been fired, at them. They were going to die.

Ezio's attention went down to the terrified girl; what was she worried about? He attempted to follow her gaze; to no avail, he found her frightened movements only to obscure his own vision. Taking one of hand Ezio clamped his palm down with a slap on her thigh. She stopped flailing; as something large passed them, and with a large crashing noise, the iron ball embedded itself into the earth. He blinked; his hand had tightened around Alexandra's flesh as the noise had startled him. The horses had moved a little ways away from the hole in the ground, but their gaunt had not been interrupted. "What was that zio?" Turning his head to face his uncle, Ezio expected an answer that was sure to come.

Mario gave a laugh. "We installed a few improvements while you two were away, as you cans see my men are still trying to get used to operating them." The man gave another belly laugh and kicked the sides of his steed, galloping a little ways ahead of them.

"Y-yeah, just trying to get used to them." Alexandra's had her hand on Ezio's her nails digging into his palm. Her panic was subsiding, but she quivered, trying to remove the thoughts of dying from her mind: it seemed to her that the even the very idea of her death gave her cause to feel a sense of dread; the idea flew in her mind that she wouldn't die if she was given a fatal blow. Her thoughts were interrupted as a great breath came from the large man behind her, and as they entered the town people called to Ezio in ecstatic voices. Alexandra was surprised about how many people where happy upon his return. He urged the beast forward, greeting them with a smile or a call back but other than that he seemingly ignoring the calls; and when he managed to have the horse trot next to Mario their conversation had returned to their lips, and Alexandra's presence was all but forgotten as they spoke. Her gaze was wandering, as was her mind. She leaned her head back against her Master's chest, looking at the smiling faces as they pasted. She could hear his heart thudding, and with each breath he took his chest rose and fell. Her head rocked along with his live giving breaths. Alexandra began to wonder about what it would have been like knowing him under different circumstances; one like her being born and raised here, not from another world. Indeed that would have been something else; if that had happened perhaps she and he could have been something other than just an awkward pair of master and student. Her eyes fell as she gazed up at his chin; it was moving as he spoke, his words fell onto her ears as nothing but background noise. Instead she was seeing something entirely different.

A man was running; his breath was fading as the life left him. One of his hand clutched his side, his other one held a book that seemed to be what he was protecting, a voice called out from a open window a little ways away as he slowed down to catch his breath. "Come on!" The voice called, a hand outstretched to the man. "You can make it! Hurry! They are coming!" Ruby liquid dripped down the white cloak of the exhausted man. A sound echoed and more blood came flying from his shoulder; his hood fell down. Now, Ezio's face stared out at the hand; but blue eyes glared at it.

"Take the book!" He yelled. Tossing it at the hand; a blade came from his arm, a hidden blade. "I'll keep them busy!" Men were surrounding him, the darkness of the night obscured his vision, but he could tell they were Templar's. "Go Lea.. I'll make sure they won't get you." The man in the window had caught the book; was holding it close to his chest.

"But!" Lea, the blue eyed Ezio's doppelganger companion was about to protest.

"Go! This is not a suggestion!" He yelled as they closed in around him.

Lea turned, and disappeared into the darkness of the house.

The other's man's hands dropped. "Alright.." He said to his pursuers. "You gunna shoot me?" His voice was hard; not a hint of remorse. "The book is gone you know, you wont get it." A single Templar separated himself from the group and came forward, balancing precariously on the top of the roof.

"Auditore. Tell us where he went, you will live."

"Non e un caso a cazzo di inferno." The blue eyed man spat. "I won't let you have it, ever." Through the shadow's guns were raised, aimed at the grinning Assassin man. His chest heaved with expectation, his eyes burned with anger and hatred for the people around him. "Bring it on. Bastardo." A wicked grin spread across his face, glancing behind him he saw the edge of the room; purposely taking a step back his foot slipped off the edge of the roof, a look of shock echoed on his face as the ringing of gun shots were heard throughout the area.

Alexandra's eyes opened, blinking back tears; she wondered when she had dozed off. When the strange vision hit her with full force reminding her of its presence; her blue eyes went wide, even though she was still unmoving against Ezio's chest, she saw the face of the Assassin that was smiling: had that man been Ezio? No, it hadn't. Alexandra remembered something important; a difference between her Master and that man; the man had had blue eyes.

And she felt like she knew him.

Ezio gazed down at Alexandra; her eyes had been closed a second ago, and he had wondered if the young woman had dozed off into a well needed sleep. But as he looked down he came into contact with the turmoil of a brilliant blue sea; that was her eyes. When she caught him watching her, her head tore away from his chest, leaning forward her arms wrapped around her chest. Her body jolted with the loping of the animal that they rode; causing her to look even more frightened. The Italian Assassin's eyes narrowed. One hand moving away from the reigns and clasping it around her in an awkward embrace, he held her shoulder, and had moved her back to the enclosure of his chest. His lips brushed her ear as he whispered; "Brutti sogni di partire." With a squeeze of his hand and a quick kiss on her neck, to seal his hope that the horrible dreams that had plagued her went away; then he released her. Feeling her tension even more as he did so, Ezio was now beginning to worry about her; she had been ridged ever since they came back to the Villa. But his uncle's voice tore him away from her.

There were many things for him to attend to at the moment, even if he wanted to pry into the mind of his student; it would have to wait till later.

Coming to the villa Ezio and his Uncle both dismounted; Alexandra was about to swing her legs off when strong hands grabbed her and pulled her down. She blinked and stared at the Italian man's face, he was sincerely disengaged from her. Both he and his Uncle made their way to the stairs; Claudia, Ezio's sister, awaited them. The young Assassin girl turned away, whatever the pair was talking about did not concern her. Shaking the lingering dream like memory from her mind she turned to the present, to the home she had come to love. The town opened up around her it bustled with life, many people stopped to greet her, asking her how she was and if she had seen Maestro Ezio. She laughed and had said they should truly pay attention and they would see him walking the streets. More jolly laughter followed her comments. The Assassin girl placed her hand on her pouch of money, wondering if she should buy a new dagger. As she was about to make her way into the streets; toward the shopping area a large brown hand grasped her shoulder. Alexandra stopped moving on instinct, she knew who it was; but why was he here? Didn't Claudia call his attention?

"Alexandra, were you thinking of abandoning your master?" His voice was teasing, though a hint of seriousness was etched in the underlying tone. She tilted her head back to smile at him. Ezio's brow knitted together in a frown, his deep brown eyes burrowing into her blue. "Where were you off to?" He queried.

"I was going to go shopping. I was thinking about buying a new dagger." She would need more of them if she was going to get into more fights like the ones before. A pause cut its way in-between the two constant companions. Neither of them understood their distant attitude with each other, but a wail called from an alley. It was a woman; her voice loud with complaints, both Alexandra's and Ezio's attention shifted to the calls. One glance at each other and they took long strides to where the voice echoed from.

When they came to the alley the way her fiddling around a box of flowers; she looked about in her mid thirties, with long black hair that fell in a wave down her back, she was hefty, maybe even a little fat. Her brown eyes caught sight of Ezio; a smile stretched across her face. Ezio approached the woman with a quick but elegant bow of greeting; Alexandra hung back, blending in with the shadows that surrounded them; nightfall was not far away. Ezio and the woman began to exchange a few words; then Ezio beckoned to Alexandra, he had a box of flowers in his arms; another lay on the ground, the young Assassin scooped it up and began to follow the woman and her master; eagerly listening as they began to speak.

The woman looked back at Ezio, a warm but apologetic smile on her lips. Her brow was upturned into an almost worried expression. "Back there, I may have given you the wrong impression."

Ezio chuckled; "Oh?"

Alexandra could have smacked her forehead; in fact, she was pretty sure she would have if it was not for the box she held in her arms; she would have indeed hit her face in exasperation. Her Master truly was a player; although it bothered her it was great entertainment.

The woman sighed, playing with her dress. "I have no husband; these flowers are for a party." She led them along and as she spoke her words almost dropped off into nothing as they passed groups with loud conversations.

The Italian man smirked; "Am I invited?"

"Of coarse you are idiota." Alexandra mumbled, earning a shooting glare from Ezio who had turned to walk backwards to stare at the chestnut haired girl, they watched each other for a long moment, Alexandra motioning with her head if he was about to run into someone; he heeded her warnings, then returning to his frontward position, leaving her to stare angrily at his back.

Once more, Alexandra realized she was seeing his back most of the time.

"To Claudia Auditore's birthday party in the villa? If you're willing to help me again, I need someone with class to accompany me."

In the pause the three of them could hear Alexandra's cough of surprise. Ezio ignored it and spoke with a flirting grin sketched on his face; "What makes you think I have class?"

Alexandra watched his back; how his head was held high, she just then noticed that Ezio was not wearing his hood. His deep brown hair was pulled back in a reddish ribbon; it swayed in the slight breeze that was blowing across her own face. His shoulders were erect and the way he swayed as he walked just proved he was a proud man. Alexandra's eyes slanted as she took the sight of the great Assassin man in. Her lips opened slightly in awe; he was a sight to behold, confident in everything he was, a shameless flirt, a man that was strong in battle and not afraid to kill. She could just imagine his grin that surely was on his face at that moment; his hands were probably gripping that box lightly, cradling the flowers. Her lips moved softly, unsure if she should even say what she wanted to; "It's the way you hold yourself, Master." She whispered her heart thudding as he turned to shine that smile on her. Her eyes widened as a slight flush flew across her face at the soft flirty grin; he had only glanced at her, but her heart was beating so hard from that look.

But the woman had not heard Alexandra's quiet comment, as she proceeded to speak; "I could tell from the moment I saw you, no one in this town walks with such bearing. I am certain Ezio Auditore himself would be very impressed with you."

Ezio turned to gaze back at Alexandra again; this time with a raised eyebrow, a silent question in his eyes. Don't I look like myself? It asked her. Alexandra's flushed face remained as she giggled, her shoulders buckling and her chin ducking into the small opening of cloak. Her eyes squinted; her lips cracked into a large grin. Ezio adored that laugh; the tension between them had finally broken with that one laugh. When she turned to gaze back up at him, he now winked and went back to his conversation with the oblivious woman. "What do you know of Ezio?" The silent humor in his voice was clear to Alexandra; her eyes still watching his way of moving intensely.

"Claudia thinks the world of him, but he rarely visits her. From what I gather he is rather distant." The woman's voice was harsh now; scolding Ezio without knowing that he was behind her.

Alexandra's face distorted into an expression of sadness. They had not seen Claudia in a long while, and tonight was her birthday, the Assassin girl picked up her pace to stride along side her Master; gazing up into his face she saw a disgruntled expression. He glanced down at her and with a sullen smile spoke; "She is right, I have been." The woman turned around stunned; she stopped walking all together, her eyes wide, her hands unclenched and her shoulders tight.

"Oh no." She said with a breathy voice. "You?" She paused and looked at Alexandra, correcting herself; "No, you two? The party was intended to be a surprise, please, promise you wont tell Claudia!" They had reached the front of the villa, where the woman indicated the site to place the boxes; Ezio set down his box, then Alexandra did, when they stood up again Ezio's face was one of a suggestive male. The girl did not hold back this time; and did bring her hand to meet her face with a smack. It stung.

"What will you do to keep me quiet?" Ezio said puffing out his chest a little; his head has held even higher, his chin sticking out a tad and the grin grew larger. The woman drew close to Ezio, another suggestive grin light her face up in a similar fashion as it did Ezio's.

"Oh, I am sure I can think of several things…" The woman glanced at Alexandra, the smile fading into one of thanks. "For the both of you." Alexandra cocked her head in recognition of the Madonna's thanks. The young Assassin bowed and turned as Ezio and she continued with their conversation, coming to the stairs she leaned against the wall; her mind fleeing back to the blue eyed Ezio doppelganger. Who was he?

Placing a hand on her forehead she took in a shaky breath; she was worrying that he had died, it had only been a dream, but her fear for him was real. She knew him somehow. Not from her world; there where no Ezio look a-likes there. None she knew anyways. But that man even had the scar. Alexandra's head was hurting; she could not place where he was from, nor could she find any connection between her, him, and the man he had called Lea. But; the blue eyed man had been an Assassin that much was clear to her. But, what year had that been in? They had had automatic guns; at least that was what she had taken from that vision. That didn't narrow down the year in which the vision could have taken place; her schooling was getting rusty, her mind was that now of an Assassin, not of a nineteen year old student.

Steps echoed down to her ears; Alexandra gazed upwards and Ezio was coming down, a smile on his face, his cloak was taking on the fade of the sun and throwing it off, hiding his face; although the reason for his gigantic grin was unclear to her; had the woman and he come to an agreement? In his fit of happiness Ezio grabbed her hip brining her close to his side; fitting her under his arm. Ezio did not stop his strides and began to drag her along. "Come there must be more we can do to help the town now that we are back right?" He had a warm smile, a warm touch; it broke through Alexandra's worries about the strange blue eyed man. Despite her intentions to remain frustrated at Ezio for ignoring her; she couldn't help but be infected by his joyous mood. She let out a laugh.

"Really! I couldn't have guessed that there could be more to do!" Reaching behind him she clasped his right pectoral, her master grinned pulling her closer so that he squished her frame to his side. It looked very uncomfortable to passerby's; but to Alexandra, being hugged like this was just the opposite; it was indeed a comfort that she rarely got. Ezio pulled her along the streets, weaving in and out of people to the outskirts of the city, outside the walls, to where there was a scrawny looking man, fiddling with his fingers by the horse stalls. His voice a nervous chatter, as they approached the man, they released each other; reluctantly, both already missing the others touch.

"Bonjouno." Ezio said with a tilt of his head, but before he was able to get another word out the man melted down into begging.

"Ezio!" The horse manager cried, "Madonna! I have lost Sire Mario's favorite horse!"

Alexandra walked over and took the man's shaking shoulders; her eyes soft and her touch was meant to soothe, "Breathe." She instructed and he did so, his shaking slowly stopped. "Do not worry, we shall find it."

Behind her Ezio nodded, "Yes do not worry."

The man bowed over and over, thanking them. The two set off their head's swerving in every direction, looking for the escaped horse. It was only sprawling grasslands as far as the eye could see; Alexandra sighed. "How frustrating.." Ezio patted her back, his other hand was curled into a point; his index finger pointing toward a sparse group of tree's , there a white horse stood, grazing. Alexandra watched her Master as he moved away from her and ahead slowly she followed in the same manner, as to not let the horse become startled by their presence, then as they were almost to the horse; it noticed them with a flick of its ears. Now they stared into its brown eyes.

"Don't." Ezio warned it his head cocked and his eyes narrowed into a glare, his body radiated intimidation but the beast it did not heed his warning, taking off in a gallop. Turning the Master Assassin took off after it not even motioning to his student to follow him or not. Although Alexandra already knew what he wanted her to do, taking a deep breath, she proceeded after them, Ezio was the one who closed in on the animal; Alexandra slowed down as she watched her Master throw himself on it, bringing it to heel with a jerk of its reigns. Then guiding the animal to her, Ezio came up beside her and leaned over the side of the beast to hold out his hand, inviting her to get on the horse with him. "Do you want a ride piccolo?" Alexandra gazed at the beast its eyes stared at her, still wide and anxious she decided not to get on it, and waved him off.

"I would rather walk; you know I'm not fond of horses." She grumbled beginning to walk ahead of her Master and the horse. Ezio gave a hearty laugh at her comment; he watched the sway of her hips for a moment before answering her.

"Indeed you are not!"

Bringing the horse back to the man; they received many more thanks, and then they departed. Back to wandering the streets looking for things to help the citizens with; but darkness begins to take root in the sky, and Ezio called for Alexandra to come back to the villa. Together they do chatting with each other about how they could help improve the town. Once they reached the villa Ezio swings the door open, and there a woman in a purple colored velvet dress stood contrasting with the white of the entrance a smile was on her face at the sight of Ezio entering the building. It was Caterina who stood awaiting him; Alexandra watched closely as Ezio came up to the other woman, promptly forgetting of his student's presence once again. Although it happened every time the lady was around Alexandra was sad, it seemed to be happening quite a bit today; the younger woman made her way away from the two who were now flirting with each other, and down the hall, her attention idly on gazing at the paintings that lined the walls, and entered into the study. Standing stationary in the doorway, Alexandra gazed at the great wooden desk that had many scattered papers on it, she passed it, looking at it in distain, and moved onto the bookshelves where she fingered the book, noticing that some were in disarray; and then onto the codex pages, where her attention was finally fully captured, Alexandra slowed turning to the wall, her eyes slanting with a sigh. She placed her hot hands on the cold aging paper. Her eyes closed; the thoughts of the vision before was dancing in her mind; filling her; and then she could see the blue eyed man again…

"It doesn't matter Lea!" He was yelling to his companion, his body bandaged poorly. The room in which he paced was one full of paintings, Lea, was covered in paint; and his friend's blood holding a bunch of wrapping that obviously been thrown.. "You should have just left me to die!" The blue eyed man hissed. "My existence doesn't matter! It is his existence which does! I'm a spoof! Some galactic joke!" The man was disgruntled, his hands wrapped around his body in an effort to hold onto his bleeding wounds; the blood had begun to seep through the bandages and trickle down his bare chest.. "I don't matter…"

"Why?" Lea asked hesitantly approaching him; the painter's short blonde hair in disarray, his grey eyes clouded in fear for his friend. His head cocked as he spoke; "Because you are a natural Assassin? Because you seem to live no matter what happens to you? You are a fighter, you deserve to live."

The blue eyed man turned away to face one of the many paintings that hung on the wall; his hair was not in a ponytail as it had been before, and his hand traced the scar on his lip, when he finished with his outline his hand fell back to his side; one finger missing.. "He's the one Lea, I'm just… the keeper of the book."

"Does it matter?" Lea's face was a soft smile. "You are an Assassino just as I am a painter. That may not all you are destined to be."

"Inventor, Architect... Damn Lea you're a lot of things." The other mans face was buried in his hands once more, his nails tearing at his face's flesh. Lea came close and hesitated on patting the Assassins back. Eventually he placed a cold hand onto his friends shoulder. Lea's voice was soft as his eyes turned to gaze at the picture; his own recreation of an event what that had once happened in history. A large man in a black cloak held a golden ball. Lea stared at the scar that he had lightly painted on the lip of the male. His eyes slanted as he watched it; his friend gazed at him, blue eyes followed his companion's stare. The blue eyed mans face contorted into one of pure sorrow and he tore himself away from his friend and began to walk away; Lea's voice calling after him.

"As are you Mal... as are you."

Alexandra opened her eyes. Mal; that was his name? It did not seem to fit him in the slightest. She closed her eyes once more trying to recapture the image she just saw.

"Figure it out." A grumpy voice echoed in her ears; it was that mystery man, the one who had invaded her dreams before. He was speaking to her. "Figure out why you are here. Maybe you will be able to go back home." His presence was fading but before he vanished completely he muttered; "Then that man won't be so sad."

He, wouldn't be sad if Alexandra found a way back home?

Opening her eyes again she rested her head on the paper, its words blurred with her vision as she thought; did she even want to go back home? Did she have something she wanted there? What was waiting for her back in that world? She began to think about Ezio; she had come to love him so dearly; although she knew she couldn't have him, but she wanted to stay by him. No matter what happened, she just wanted to stay by him. She thought of the kiss the two of them had shared in the hay; her fingers reaching up to trace her lips as she recalled his heated passion. Her hand falling to her side after she was finished with sketch. What had that been? Just an awkward kiss between two people? Alexandra pressed her eyes closed to fight back tears, her mind was in such turmoil; she could feel that mysterious man, he was waiting for her to decide. Alexandra now knew that her choice would affect the man Mal, whoever he was, and he would be happier if she left Ezio's side.

But she wouldn't.

"Be it hell or high water Mr. Mysterious Man; I'm not leaving Ezio's side. He can be a player all he wants he can hurt me he can even decide to hate me I'm not leaving." She drew back from the wall. Alexandra glared up at the ceiling this was her decision; she wasn't going to back down, she wasn't going to look for a way out. What she felt she felt; she was loyal, and she found someone she would be forever loyal too. "I'm not going to leave him; I love him."

The man seemed satisfied with her answer; drawing back into the depths of her consciousness. Alexandra paused at the momentary silence that filled her body; no visions, no voices, just her. A smile cracked on her lips; when her calm was interrupted by the sound of very loud footsteps that echoed from the side hall they were very close; Alexandra, startled, threw herself backwards, she didn't want to be seen touching the Codex, she maybe scolded if it was one of the other Assassins. In desperation to become anonymous she yanked up her hood and flew to the wall with the books, ripping one away from the shelf she franticly held it under her arm as she rearranged all the other books she had toppled in her attempt to grab the one she held. Alexandra then began to act like she was interested in the book and was reading it; although it was about some strange topic she had no idea what to make of. When all of a sudden Ezio's voice along with Mario's came bursting into the room. She flinched, trying to squelch the idea of taking a chance to gaze at the men.

Neither sounded happy.