Chapter 7

Argumentative

Alexandra cowered with the book in her hands; they sounded very mad. Mario's voice was raised; anger was clear in his voice. She flinched as Ezio retorted his uncle's obvious insult. Biting her lip she gave a quick glancing sweep around the room, her only thoughts were escaping; this was not the place for her to be at the moment. Turning towards the wide open door from which she came, she took a couple a steps forward before the voices of what was being said came to her ear; "Uncle! I do not see the problem; so I didn't kill him, what is the matter with that? It wouldn't have solved anything" Pausing she turned pulling her hood down a bit, and with a swift moment of her hand she pushed some hair behind her right ear. Waiting to see what Mario said to her Master.

"But you should have Ezio, instead you brought a bambina home." Confused Alexandra turned to the two men, her shocked gaze of her blue eyes trained on them and the chaos of her hair covering half of her face, almost amplifying the confused fear that was in her eyes. This was how she was thought of? This was what Mario thought of her? That she was just a girl that obviously is no help to the one man she cared about most. Her teeth clicked together in frustration and wiping her hair out of her face she took a stride forward; they had not noticed her presence yet, her footsteps fell almost silently, her body moving stealthily, she had her target. "It is great she is becoming a great Assassin. But we did not send you out to bring back a woman." The comment shocked her into stopping her advancements for a brief moment. Of coarse she wasn't something Ezio had planed upon bringing home with him! She had been torn away from her home and thrown into this world by a false goddess! Anger bloomed like an ugly flower in her breast, and she marched right over and grabbed her Master's hand. Ezio blinked his hand automatically closing around hers, Alexandra ignored his stunned expression as best as she could, turning to Mario; who was looking at her in realization, but before she could open her mouth the large brown hand that was fastened tightly around hers squeezed, and gazing back up she saw that Ezio's face was contorted into one of fear and sadness. Obviously she was not meant to hear this conversation; she shook her head and turned to Mario once more. Her words ringing loudly; her ears ringing as blood rushed through them.

"Well obviously he's still alive." She said with a growl. "That just means Ezio can just try to kill him again, and again and again, till he's dead!" Alexandra was leaning forward by this time, her voice raised high in her fierce anger. Ezio's hand slipped from hers and took her strong shoulders in his grip.

"Saite calmi la mina ragazza. Let me handle this Alexandra. Your interjection is not needed."Ezio's voice silenced her with its order; she grew ridged in his grasp. Staring blankly into Mario's now stern face she threw herself from her master's hands. Turning letting the tears burn in her eyes she spoke softly as the words came tumbling out with sobs intertwined; "I thought you looked at me as an Assassin not a woman." Alexandra was happy that he looked at her as female, but it also burned in her heart with anger that he did not trust her in the way of a partnership. She was furious because she had trusted him with her life and thought he had trusted her with his. Obviously he only looked down on her and thought her only as a student.

"Alexandra, no, that's not.." Ezio frowned, reaching out to her trying to get her to understand; but knowing she wouldn't want to hear it. He watched as she vigorously scrubbed her face with her sleeve and fought to contain the emotions that ran wild on her dirt stained face.

"Its fine.. Master." She said through clenched teeth. "I understand that I am just a woman." Alexandra spat the word as if it was the devil's name she had just spoken. Her left hand rose out to her side and she bowed gallantly, it sweeping to come across her belly that heaved with effort to control the ridiculous emotions she felt. "I will take my leave, Signore Mario," She paused and turned to Ezio next; his face was screwed up into one of frustration, he wanted to shake her for her stupidity, for her stubbornness. "Signore Auditore." Straightening she turned, leaving Ezio to stand in shock that she had not used his first name, and had even used honorifics to address him. As he watched her leave he held his chest, his hand balled up into a fist the way she had addressed him was a blow both to his pride and to his feelings towards the girl. He trusted her with his life, but she apparently was blind to the fact. His brown eyes stared at the carpet for a moment before closing, dropping his hand he tried to sort out a way to calm the girl down into listening to his words, but Mario called his attention back to the conversation Alexandra had so foolishly stumbled upon. Ezio turned to look back up at his Uncle; he could not hate the man, but he was not happy with him at the moment either.

Alexandra climbed the stairs, attempting to contain her seemingly uncontrollable sobbing. Her breath rattled in and out of her chest as she made her way to the room that had been hers for a year. The lush carpet and the paintings that she had found beautiful and comforting were now just horrible reminders that she was just an outsider in a world she truly knew nothing about. Stopping for a brief moment she wondered what exactly was the difference in this world compared to hers; she listed them, realizing that they were more than she probably originally thought. She wrapped herself in her arms as a sob ripped through her chest; she cursed her female responses. Closing her eyes she repeated her promise to herself and the mysterious man in her head over and over. No matter what she would not leave Ezio. Nothing could tear her from him. Not even herself. Alexandra then found herself loitering in front of her door; a big brown carven door. Its carvings where mostly flowers and other petty little items that held no significant interest to the distressed girl. Standing rooted in the same spot for what seemed like the longest time, she reached for the brass handle and pushed on the door it gave a creak before opening all the way, the young Assassin girl found a man standing with his back to her gazing out of her window. She blinked her hand tight on the door handle; her mind racing on what to do; her dagger was on her thigh, she could reach it. But what if he was to strong? Maybe she should scream for Ezio, surely he would still come to her even though the disagreement was still fresh.

"Come, don't try something foolish." The man said in the same irritated tone she had heard only a little while before, he turned, a brilliant red gleamed, it was a sash that was wrapped around his hips, a belt of knives covered a great deal of the red, while under his white hooded cloak he had a very sharp smile on his lips and as scar that seemed to be delicately placed on the corner of his mouth. "Come in Alexandra we have a lot to discuss." His beckon was formed slowly on the scared lips, and was something she could not ignore she took a cautious step forward into her room and slowly closed the door behind her. As it clicked shut Alexandra let her hand drift from the knob, a beam of light cut through her window; and through the man in front of her. His grin widened as if he felt the warmth of the sun penetrate his hollow form; "Hopefully your not scared of ghosts are you Alexandra?" Her eyes widened at his comment, surprise echoed on her face as she gazed at the shrouded mans face.

Ezio trudged away from the study; his head was throbbing from the intense argument he had managed to navigate through. But the worst part of it all was that Alexandra had heard it. Stopping he placed a hand over his eyes; off in the distance he heard his sister speaking to another person; who's voice was soft and drowned out under his loud sibling. Pinching the bridge of his nose he debated going up to Alexandra's room and demanding her to listen to him; he had been trying to stand up for her. But his words had backfired and she had only been harmed by the way he had been trying to protect her. She had gone of crying. In the year he had know her she never cried; his back hit the wall, as he took in the realization that he had harmed his friend a great deal. Dragging his hand over his face his hand skimmed his lips and he paused, his mind fleeting back to the kiss in the hay. What had that been? His finger traced the scar that was on his lip; what had she felt when she kiss him? But, what he felt? Dropping his hand Ezio pushed himself off the wall and rubbed his beard; it was not time to think these things he had to get to his meeting with Caterina. A smile teased his lips as he ascended the stairs to his room.

She stood rooted in the middle of her room as she watched the ghost paced around the furniture. "Alexandra you need to understand; your choice is admirable but you know you can't stay here." The man turned to look at her, his brown eyes gazing out from under his hood. "You know absolutely nothing of this world; you should be looking for a way home." He came up and towered above her. Alexandra turned away and brought her arms to her chest, crushing her breast to her chest. The window she gazed at was glazed over as deep blue cloud covered the sun with its blanket. Her eyes slanted as she hunched her shoulders; she knew he was waiting for an answer. A long minute passed between them before she looked back at his covered face.

"I tried looking for them every time I had a free day in-between my training. I never found one I'm stuck here." Alexandra squinted her eyes shut hoping the ghost would vanish. Gathered herself up in her arms wishing Ezio could hold her and tell her nothing was there. The man that loomed in front of her was the mysterious man, the irritated man, the man who haunted her sleep and dreams. He was the one who told her that man Mal would be harmed if she stayed. He wanted her to leave Ezio behind.

"There is a way.." He said his voice hesitatingly slow, as if he wanted her to understand that this was a way; but also the only way she would be able to return to her home. "You can die."

Her eyes snapped open; fear sprouted in her chest. "D.. Die?" Alexandra watched as he leaned back and tapped his chin.

"The only way one can escape their fate." He said with a knowing nod, then began to pace around the room. "But that is drastic.. That wench left you no other way out I believe." A hand went to rub his face; in the manner Alexandra saw Ezio do many times before when he couldn't believe something.

"Your.. Altair." She whispered his name; the outfit and everything finally clicking with the memory of the Assassin from the game before Ezio's. "W, why are you here?" Altair looked back up with a sigh of relief he grabbed her shoulders, guiding the dazed girl to sit at her table.

"I'm going to explain this slowly. Something happens here; and I'm not sure what, but I am tied to you, just as Mal is and just as Ezio is. Hell, my whole lineage is connected to you for some fucking reason." Altair took his hands back and paced again. "I'm trying to undo what that woman did to you. But I cannot find a solution that is not as drastic as the one I just suggested." He paused and gave a great shake of his head; his form wavering. Alexandra's ears perked as heavy footsteps echoed across the hall, they sounded like Ezio's. But with a snap of his fingers Altair brought her back to attention. She gazed up at his great frown and watched as he paced. "This person Mal.. Wait I take that back that is not his full name. His name is Malik; named after my old friend…" Altair was grumbling and Alexandra frowned, watching as his pace picked up.

"Does that mean something?" She asked tilting her head.

He paused. "It could mean nothing; it could mean something, I am not sure."

Alexandra gave a sigh, hanging her head as fatigue griped her muscles in its vice like talons. She was tired, she wanted a bath, and she wanted to get rid of this ghost of a past Assassin. As much as she was interested by the idea of returning home, she did not want to leave Ezio for the world. Hands gripped her chin and it was yanked up to face Altair's.

"If you want to stay with him so badly don't loose his trust. Novice."

His body faded and she was left alone, very confused.

Alexandra slipped away from her room, carrying some extra clothes and a towel; glancing both ways she jogged down the stairs and slipped out the back of the villa. Once outside she went to the battlements were she peeked over and saw the cart of hay she had purposely left there for such an occasion as this. Tucking the pieces of clothing into her belt she ran over the edge in a leap, letting the air cut around her and she landed in a heap in the hay. She scrambled out and made her way to an abandoned cave that was near by; as she entered it she picked up a candle and light it, lighting a bunch of them on the way, and finally there was a small underground lake full of cool water, perfect for a weary body like hers. Setting the candle down she stripped and slipped into the cold water, shivering, goose bumps appearing on her skin, just as a smile was sketched across her face. She had placed her dirty shirt on the rock and was leaning on it her hand reaching across towards the candle; her hand hovering over its flame, her mind going towards Altair and his expectation.

That made her wonder if Ezio still trust her.

Pulling away from the rock she plunged her whole body into the icy water and blew rebelling bubbles. Of course she still had his trust; one fight couldn't have changed that could it? She washed herself off as quickly as possible; getting out to the cold breeze of air that came from the opening. Grabbing the towel she dried herself off as quickly as she could, not trying to marvel at how strong she had become in a year of work. Snatching the garments she slipped them on, tied back her lengthening hair and slipped on her boots. Then trudged out of the cave and to the wall of the villa.

She stared at it, muttering to herself how stupid she was not to leave herself a ladder to climb back up on. Finding foot holds that were basically non-existent she began a slow ascension. Soon she was very close to the top; her hand reached out for another hole, but it broke under her hand and her hand slipped, she squeaked, but held onto the wall. It was dark, guards were patrolling; she would have to be careful, in the dark she could be mistaken for an enemy. But finally she was on solid ground once again; and with her head held high she stalked across the yard, to the villa. Sneaking into the side hall Alexandra knew she had to pass Ezio's room, and as she did she heard a variety of sexual noises coming from the hallowed hallway. Bringing her hand to her face she flushed as she heard her Master moan in pleasure; her mind slipping back into old habits and she wondered what it would feel like to give a man pleasure like the woman who was giving Ezio pleasure. Of course, Alexandra wondered what it would be like to give Ezio that pleasure. Giving herself a light slap she walked onwards to her room. Finally back in her room she shut the door and tried to shake of her perverted visions she was having. She reached down and undid her boots, kicking them off her feet and into the wall; where they hit it with a thunk against it. Next to her bed Alexandra took the ribbon that she had used to tie back her hair with, setting it down on the table she crawled into the blankets and laid there as she tried to shake the still lingering ideas. Sleep claimed her finally and she drifted off into bliss.

But she awoke to the sound of cannon fire.