Chapter 9

Partners Forever

Alexandra felt her muscles contract as she drove the blade forward deep into the chest of her enemies. Because the men where circling around them her back was constantly against a wall or on her masters. But now as she ripped it forcefully away from its hiding place from in the mans skull, she turned towards Ezio, finding him half slumped over, clutching his shoulder, that heaved with both the breath and the obvious pain she knew he was in. Pushing her hair back from where it was sprawled across her eyes, the chestnut strands obscuring her view of her masters broad back, she did not take a minute, only a deep breath, and then she jogged over, taking another breath in defiance; refusing to grumble about the pain her own shoulder was in. As she came up to him, cautiously, knowing that he could still be tense from the encounter with the enemy, reaching out she grabbed his open hand. He only tightened his grip around hers in response of her touch. Alexandra gave a hard tug on it to obtain his full undivided attention, and he turned to her, his eyes wide and nearly glowing, looking alert despite his sagging posture. "Come on!" Alexandra called over the sudden roar of the cannons, they had faded over the course of their battle, but now they began to regain their momentum, in the moment of silence between her and her master, Alexandra noted absentmindedly that the sound of the cannons where the enemies; none of theirs fired. The situation was getting desperate, the enemy would be storming the city soon, if none of their men were left alive on the ramparts that meant the worst was upon them meaning; they needed to move as fast as their worn bodies could go. In a bold act of dominance Alexandra heaved his arm over her shoulder, wrapping the other around his waist to keep him from falling over. He did not protest, instead he leaned on her with a sigh of relief. He trusted her. Her thoughts shocked her more than any blade cutting her flesh; and once more they did not move, it was shattered by the sound of running footsteps, they alerted Alexandra that the pair where still not alone within the city; in fact the depth of the sound of the moving feet seemed to be growing by the second. She looked up at Ezio to see his face drawn tight, and she was immediately frustrated that she could not tell how well he was doing, the only thing she could deduce from their silent connection was that he was in a great deal of pain and was attempting to bear it without a sound. Giving an exasperated low groan, Alexandra began to move despite her pain; and his. "Com'on" she grunted, half dragging him to the looming villa. Ezio's body was like a dead weight to her; he was barely shuffling his feet, moving as if his body was made of lead. "We can do this master, it's just around the next bend, come on..." Her optimism seemed to fall on dead ears, but only a moment later he began to speak.

"Alexandra." His voice was strong; Alexandra refused to look at him and only continued to move at a quickening pace. "If anything ever happens to me, just go." Ezio's voice paused, he was about to speak when Alexandra pulled him forward again, turning sharply around a corner to avoid a group of men that were passing them then she hustled him up one of the large flight of stairs leaning away from him and making him take a little of his own weight.

It was a time before she responded to him, but when she did her voice was full of malice; the untold anger of a breaking heart. "Don't talk like that you old man." Alexandra snapped, the words he spoke had only caused her more pain, emotional pain, a pain that was worse that the cuts on her body. "Fuck, don't ever say shit like that; it's not like you Ezio." She still refused to turn her head to gaze at him, forcing him forward, forcing him to move, forcing their conversation to become pained, their words coming in breaths; in almost a good bye.

"There is nothing witty to say when your home is being destroyed Piccolo. When your-OW!`" Alexandra had turned again purposefully steering her master into a broad low branched tree as he spoke, Ezio , flustered turned to look at her face, about to say something "witty" and full of himself but his words fell short on his tongue as he saw her expression; it was one that was contorted into pure emotional pain, Ezio took his well prepared smartass comment, buried it, and continued the statement he had spoken before she had ran them into the tree; even as he continued tears leaked from the girls eyes, but he refused to stop, he saying the hard words, but explaining to her what was needed. "When your Uncle has been killed before your eyes. I do not have much family left Piccolo." Now he found her shoulders heaving, and as they rounded the corner of the villa, he turned away from her, unable to bear the sight of her crying; Alexandra was aiming for the back of the house, and as she began to cry she managed to keep her sobs quiet, confined only to his presence.

"Maybe you don't get something.." Alexandra said with a strong sobbing voice, breaking one hand away from holding her master to amend the tears that caused streaks down her face. "I lost my home too here. I lost my Uncle too. Everything you lose I loose. We are family right? I stay by your side because I want to not because I need to, I would gladly risk my life and give it up for you; you're my master and my friend. We are partners Ezio, forever no matter what happens."

They had stopped moving; Ezio had pulled away, half in shock of her words, half because he didn't want to cause her any more physical discomfort, and was using the wall as a support. Alexandra stood in front of him, clutching her wounded shoulder like a unseen life line, her face tear stained again, the tears she had claimed on her sleeve before had returned with a small army. No words came between them, Alexandra had said it all. All the words from the day Ezio had picked her up in the Tomb, trained her, the words that explained why she stayed by his side, why he stayed by hers. He carefully watched her with his earth colored eyes, his shoulders drawn back, his face carefully distant. Ezio was purposefully leaning away from her as he took in the information, digested it, tried to understand and sort it. He never had thought much of her taking her presence for granted, thinking she was a someone he deserved, something that was always to be there, yet her loyalty to him was unmistakable: the bruise on her shoulder proved it. She was not someone he deserved, she was someone special he had been graced with, a companion that was always there for him, for she had always been there from the very first second he found her. She had never left him; Alexandra was his helper, his defender. No, he was hers, she was not his; she put a mark on him by marking her body for him. Each wound on her was like a chain on him, their relation depended on her, the chain that connected them was her loyalty. He would always look for her strength when he needed it, but if she wasn't there he would look for her, he knew this. Ezio Auditore found a chain that bound him to the world, no longer floating as a Master Assassin, he was a Man who needed to right the wrongs set before him; and the girl beside him was there to urge him along as he went about correcting them. Alexandra was an extraordinary Assassin.

And in that brief moment, Teodora's words slowly broke and fell into a void of nothing. Their threat becoming empty, they were letters and phrase that where forgotten. The two people standing in front of each other where there for each other; partners.

Ezio's distant face turned to gaze at hers, her blue eyes burned in an aqua fire that could not be quenched by any water, her body bleeding out with wounds she wore proudly. Her mouth set into a fine line that showed the defiance of her personality, her dirty and ruined cloak showing him that the loyalty she had to him and his family was not a cruel joke of fate, or Minerva. She was real and she was ready to die for him. How could the older man not be impressed by the bonfire in this girl's heart?

He placed his tan hand lightly on his chest, he splayed it out and gingerly reached for his shoulder the one that had the bullet holes in it, tracing the edge of one of the wounds lightly he wondered if she would have gladly taken the shots for him; but was glad the metal was in his body and not hers. Ezio looked her up and down, then his gaze returned to Alexandra's face, seeing the cuts and bruises that riddled it, but yet, they seemed only to amplify that fiery personality of hers. The slight swell to her lower lip brought a red to it, making it look like she had put on rouge. Those lips were parted slightly, her blue sky eyes where slanted; examining the bleeding wounds on his chest. Her brows knitted, focused. Ezio let his hand fall from the wall and reaching out to take her hand in his, once he captured hers it felt small but calloused in his own, it was no longer soft like it had once been. Staring into her shocked face and gaze that now searched his features for the answer of his actions. He leaned in, kissing her one and only un-bruised cheek, his lips feather soft on the bleeding cut that was there. The kiss only lasted a couple of seconds, when he pulled back he paused to squeeze her hand softly lingering on tracing the scratches before letting go.

Their physical confusing conversation was interrupted by a loud call that where coming from around the bend; it was his sister, and she was calling their names. Knowing they had to answer Ezio wobbled forward, determined to make it on his own, but his student was there slipping her hand under his arm and wrapped it across his back. "Lean into me. I can take your weight." She whispered this softly; and only to him. Knowing that she would not accept his defiance at her good smiled leaning on her shoulder only slightly, stubborn enough to walk in dignified to his sister; the footsteps of enemies where on them like hounds on a scent, they were groping the grounds looking for survivors.

Claudia cried with happy tones at the sight of her brother and his student came around the corner, Ezio broke away from Alexandra, one of his hands brushing her shoulder in thanks and he then walked over to his younger sibling querying her, prying for information: where was their mother and was she okay? How many people made it to the room? Did the citizens make it out alright? The list went on and seemed endless; he asked about the courtesans, about the thieves, asked how many mercenaries were killed.

Alexandra tuned out their conversation; none of it was relevant to her; besides her attention where on the sound of voices of the many men that lingered outside their poor hiding spot. They will find the hiding place. Tilting her head to the side, Alexandra waited for a brief moment as the voice whispered from her mind, then she spotted Atlair, who leaned against a wall, and even with the filtered sunlight from the clouds his translucent form was as striking as ever. His lips still drawn back in a familiar grim line. "They are coming, they see the door open. They hear the two loud people's voices." A pause followed his curt statements, then he began to mutter about how Ezio could possibly be his descendent and a wondering if he was ever that loud, the thoughts broken as he looked up at the girls raised eyebrows, the curious glint in her eyes, but it faded quickly and with a gentle wave of her hand, she urged him to continue, to tell her what was occurring outside. "They are coming over. Close." Altair paused again to look at Alexandra's face, her brows now narrowed, her lips drawing back in the grim shape his always formed. His grimace was slowly broken as his lips lifted from their usual expression and into one he rarely wore. "Going to do something foolish?" The curt question was given by an equally curt answer; a quick nod that served as an answer. Even though he knew he should be worried about her safety and well being Altair only laughed and said: "Good luck Novice."

Alexandra watched in a almost sedated state as Altair vanished; knowing that he was like her ever present genie, a man who was seemingly becoming something of an elder sibling to her. Knowing she could trust his words, she broke out into a long stride towards the door, stopping only when Ezio called to her.

"Alexandra where are you going? The hidden room is this way." Ezio sounded confused, and the Assassin girl couldn't blame him, he had every right to be confused. She was heading back into the fray they had only just escaped.

"Alexandra come with us! Hurry now they can't be far behind you." Claudia had on a big sister act, urging Alexandra to come. But both of them knew they couldn't get her to come. She was pretty sure Ezio could tell by the way her shoulders were set; ridged and stern. Her stubborn nature set on one thing; killing the men who had taken their home away from them.

"They are very close; go I'll meet you in..." Her voice died when she realized she hadn't the slightest inkling where her master was heading, hesitantly she turned to Ezio, who looked at her levelly in the eye, gauging her reactions and emotions, debating if he should tell her or not; if his choice of words would sway her from her decision or not.

"Rome."

A single syllable word, the place a war would take place, his answer told Alexandra he expected her to find him there, to tell him that the men who destroyed their home were dead. Closing her eyes, she gave them a slow understanding nod. "I'll meet you there. Don't worry I'm tough; I'll take these guys on and meet you there. Promise." A promise was iron clad; a chain that bound her to him and made her want to return to him. His statement caused her heart to pound with trust and the forbidden love she knew she had for him.

"Go, but come back to me."

It was a well timed breeze that came through the doors at Ezio's words, it rustled Alexandra's hair as she closed her eyes, feeling her lungs, hearing his breath, knowing even if she was not able to keep her promise to him that she would still always remember him, her first real love; her partner. Even in death his memory would pervade her form, whatever form she took on. "Promise." She said the word again, as if saying it once more would assure her safety and return. Not turning to gaze behind her, she dove into the cold light that resonated from the ominous doorway. Turning around sharply she gripped the chilled handle and she slammed it shut, holding it only for a moment, muttering a prayer from their safe departure from the place they had once called home. Then, forsaking the physical beings behind the doorway she ran out into the court yard, her mind set on protecting her family; protecting the man he loved and defending his morals. Immediately, as she looked up from the ground she spotted a man with a long lance, and the familiar odd garb. He was grumbling and looking around stupidly, as if he suspected nothing; an ill trained solder on the battle field, she almost felt sorry for him. But Alexandra bunched her leg muscles, forcing them to move in precision; knowing he was her first target.

Calm, breathe, feel your blade, feel the blood. Go forward toward your kill.

With Altair's well worded advice echoing in her mind Alexandra took to the air like the bird she was trained to be, her almost brown cloak flaring around her like the wings of the eagle, and she was an eagle, Ezio's eagle, the Brotherhoods eagle. The wind pushed her straight to the man, her legs that had been tucked under her struck out as she contacted the man's back; she broke both of the mans' shoulder bones, and as he cried out in pain and she flexed her arm, the blade escaping the hole it had created a while before. It found the solders main artery in his neck, and drank its fill. The gargling of the solders death rattle was like a cursed song; bringing him to the doorway of death, a invitation to the grim reaper to whisk him away to hell. Pulling the blade away from its feast Alexandra heard the war cries of many more men coming from behind her, turning she saw them, each in a row, at least fifteen of them, all well armed and more than likely better trained then the one she had just dispatched. She took in a sharp intake of air at the sight of their incoming charge.

Go forward toward your kill.

Repeating the advice once more in her mind she took a single step forward, then ignoring the pain that was building in her body, she rushed forward once more, her eyes slanting, her free hand pulling up her hood. Instinct took over as she flexed her forearm once again, she honed in on the first man she would take down. Her battered body moved with grace and knowledge of what it was being asked to do.

Alexandra was an Assassin.

….

Mal could not help but feel horror and absolute sorrow at the picture of his father; he had been killed in front of the boy so many years ago. Pushing his brown hair back he looked up and down the column of books, his mother had been so fond of books; she had been a painter and had even done a portrait of his father once, in fact it was the very one that hung in the library now, only a little ways away from him. But she had died too, not so long ago, attacked by his enemies for being what he was now, the book keeper. The boy shook his head and ran his sleeve quickly over his eyes. In an attempt to distract himself from the sad memories he ran his hands softly over the treasured items, then gave a sigh that dislodged the dust on the shelf.

"You're as semimetal as your mother was." The voice was cruel and harsh; and it was the voice of his uncle that loomed behind him against the door way of the library. Mal turned sharply lifting his chin defiantly into the air and pegged the older man with stare that was full of malice. "Come now Malik, must you continue to do foolish things? You are always doing something idiotic, that brings you harm. You're as bad as she was."

"I always thought you liked my inherited idiocy." Malik snapped as he returned, giving his back to his uncle and his attention to the books in front of him; seizing a random heavily bound book into his palm, finding that ironically it was one that was a story about one of his ancestors. Setting it down carefully on the couch he rolled his shoulders, in a useless attempt to rid the soreness that threatened to over take him. There was a squeak of the aging wooden floor behind him, and he watched as his relative came into his view, promptly flopping down on the seat Malik had been just about to claim, the younger man's face screwed up into a ugly expression that his parents would not have been proud of. His uncle gingerly picked up the book and rotated it in his palm, as if looking for the slightest imperfections in its hard leather cover.

"I never said I didn't." The smile under the hood was unmistakable, the faded scars that decorated his face gave him a harsh appearance, but this man was family, and the only real family Malik had left. Besides the two men he counted as brothers, Leanard, the Mr. Perfect more than likely still in the art room down the hall and to the left, and a man who reminded him of his mother above and beyond the scary factor. Acilino was a man you did not want to cross, but he was in Jerusalem at the moment, doing some important mission. No doubt he would come back with a broken arm or two. Malik groaned at the idea of the fussing man telling his fellow Assassin's that he was alright and fit enough to skin a Templar. At that thought Malik sat as gingerly down as he could, not wanting to jostle the wounds that decorated his strong body, as the soft fabric encased his nude upper torso he turned to gaze at his uncle, whom was still palming the book.

"Gunna continue your lovely compliments of my personality?" He said with a smirk, now that he was comfortable Malik wanted to poke and prod at the old man, see the frustrated glint in his eyes as they argued.

"And your mouth is like your fathers." Malik's uncle hissed as he set the book down on the table beside the sofa. His statement effectively shut down Malik's clear attempt to get in a fight. "I am not "gunna" continue anything, there is nothing to be said, your mother left you in my care so you need to listen to me; stop going out on foolish missions, your going to get yourself killed just like your parents did."

Malik laughed, a pained belly laugh that caused the wounds he had sustained earlier to begin bleeding again, he held them and continued to chuckle. "Lea can't stop me and the only guy who can is down in Jerusalem at your orders Uncle." Although he was laughing he hated his uncle for bringing up his parents deaths; it was not his fault he wanted to follow in their footsteps. It was in his blood.

"Acilino is your cousin, and he will return soon. I will make certain of it, if he is indeed the only one who can keep you from your antics. I will make him come home right away-."

The door squeaked open, interrupting Malik's scolding, and in walked a young man about the age of twenty with short chestnut hair and blazing blue eyes who had overly tan skin came lumbering in, his assassins cloak covered in dirt and some kind of black grime, Lea came babbling in after him, stopping when the man put his hands on his hips. A awkward silence over took the room as the man looked about, taking in every bit of information about the library, about the people in it; his eyes went to Lea first, who half covered in the paint he spilled as he came running after the man, and he was still babbling. Next the sea eyes went to Malik's uncle, but they did not linger, it was as if the man had caught the scent of the blood that was leaking from the wounds on Malik's chest; he lifted a hand and waved it, on his forearm he had a very old fashioned hidden blade on it, his hand though was mentioning towards the two lounging rigidly on the sofa. "What the fuck is all of this Mal?" He was speaking about the wounds; about the fall, his voice was low and threatening, dangerous, and no one wanted to cross him. So there was no answer from anyone in the room, even Malik's uncle reminded quiet, his head turned away, as if the sight of the man brought back sad memories. "Master Altair aren't you telling him to keep a low profile? Every Templar agent is looking for this idiot."

"I'm trying Acilino, I'm trying." Altair muttered rubbing his face in anxiety and staring at the picture across the room, the brown eyes of the painted man staring back at him. "I swear I am." It was as if the words were not meant for Acilino; but for the painting that hung far away from them.

Alexandra awoke with a groan, the last thing she remembered was nearly being over powered by the enemy, and running to the ramparts jumping off to escape them. Thank God the bustle of hay was still where she had left it. Sitting amidst the strands of yellow she recalled the vision she had had; Altair had been in this one, as did another man, Acilino, who looked a lot like her and apparently he was related to Malik, the man who she had seen in her visions the day before. She frowned at the ground, at a mouse that scurried by; Malik had lost both of his parents, how old was he? He didn't look a day over twenty. Loosing both of his parents so young; she could not help but relate, her life had been shattered at eighteen, being thrown from her home into this world. Taking a scratched hand she pushed back her fraying hair, and pushing the vision aside she focused on the most pressing matters: one was she being followed? Gazing around she checked that off her list; there was not a soul in sight for miles, just the sprawling grassland of Italy. Second; which way was Rome? As she stood she found this to be a bit trickier, she did not have a sense of direction and could not ride a horse, her cloak was conspicuous and if she walked into a town occupied by her enemy they would recognize her right away by the device she wore proudly on her arm. Looking around again and seeing nothing but sun that was almost completely gone over the horizon she gave a very low groan. Although she was close to her bathing cave she could not go there for shelter; soon the men would look for her body, but when they did not find it they would scout the remaining land around the hay. And being captured was not on her to do list.

So, Alexandra began to walk.

Night took over the sky fast and Alexandra's vision was beginning to blur as time went on, the distance was the first to become nothing but a haze, soon it was everything but the muddy dirt road in front of her. Her body was seizing up, the adrenaline was fading and the pain from the many wounds she had sustained where coming back ten fold. She stared at her feet, focusing on making them move, one in front of the other, just moving along. Until even her feet refused to move, and the pain over took her body, covering her ears with the ringing of blood and her eyes seeing nothing but blackness. Her knees buckled and she toppled forward, welcoming the feeling of the dirt onto her body; welcoming the sensation of lying down.

Rest seemed like a very good idea at the moment.

Her eyes closed, exhaustion claiming her like a long lost lover.

"Rebecca!" Her fellow prostitute called out to her, the lanky woman just walked forward away from the carriage that carried her sisters. The morning coming over the horizon giving her the light to be able to see where she was heading in her angry march. "Rebecca wait come on!" Abruptly a busty blonde appeared beside her, the woman's breasts nearly toppling out of the overly tight corset she insisted on wearing. Rebecca loathed her for her assets; hers always fell short no matter who she worked for or with. Which fueled her anger and pushed her forward on the beaten path away from Monteriggioni, away from the only semi stable place she had ever lived. She had no sympathy for many people, but for the women she worked with now she had a lingering soft spot, and even now she could not help but hear out the woman beside her. Inclining her head to the side, she gave a fleeting glance to the girl. Who began to ramble as quickly as she could. "Rebecca, come on, lets go to Rome! I think that is where a lot of the thieves and mercenaries went!" Rebecca halted her storming march to turn to the woman.

"You want to go there because your lover went that way." She pointed out harshly; she hadn't meant to be so harsh, but she had seen another one of her many homes burn up in flames. It had put her in a rather foul mood; but taking out of one of her friends was not how she wanted to express her sorrow and frustration. "Sorry.." She muttered rubbing her face with a long hand, then she returned to her walk again, but she was moving little slower and calmer now. The blonde remained beside her and took Rebecca's arm holding it to her chest in a vice.

"It's alright Rebecca I get it… Our home is gone, and we have to find a new brothel to work at, new people maybe meaner men… It's not fun." There was a hiccup to the other courtesans voice, tears that where teetering of the edge of spilling down the girls lovely heart shaped face. Rebecca took her arm back from the embrace and wrapped it around the shorter, plumper, girl, hugging her shoulders to her chest in a comforting gesture.

"Shh, it's alright Marie, it's alright, I am sure that the new woman we work under will be kind." Although Rebecca sounded confident she did not feel that way; a courtesan could only hope the woman she worked under would be kind, and that her choice of clientele was a healthy one for her girls. Rebecca had seen the little girl beside her bruised and beaten, by many mean and ugly men that had paid for her: it was a good thing Marie had a lover that cared about her despite her occupation; he accepted it and even beat up the men who dared harm her during a session. A lucky girl, a lucky man, the two where perfect together. Rebecca had no jealously for the couple, only happiness, not many courtesans got a happy ending.

Suddenly Marie let out a scream and rushed away from Rebecca, leaving the older girl confused until she saw and heard her cry. "Rebecca!" She wailed the tears bursting over their boundaries as she came up to a dirty cloaked figure laying face down on the ground. "Rebecca! Girls! It's Alexandra! It's Alexandra!" Rebecca rushed over at the sound of the name; Alexandra was an Assassin, a woman who dropped by the red light district occasionally to talk to the courtesans, although obviously embarrassed by the nature of their work, she came regularly to ask how they were and if there was anything she could do. Rebecca knew her; they had become something of friends.

The lanky woman scooped Alexandra in her arms, feeling the dead weight of the girl and seeing the wounds; Rebecca let a sharp intake of breath into her lungs as the liquid demons threatened to break through her own eyes. As more courtesans came from the wagon bubbling with conversation, yelling at each other to get bandages, Rebecca remained staring at Alexandra's pained face. What had she been doing that had caused her so many wounds? The girl's entire right ring finger was gone.

"Alex?" Rebecca whispered her pet name for the Assassin girl. "Alex what happened? Where Ezio?" The girl stirred, mumbling, rolling into Rebecca's chest, muttering, shivering, feverish. Alexandra even muttered Rebecca's name before succumbing to the sleep that refused to leave her. The red haired woman snapped to attention barking orders at the others. "We need bandages! Bring a dress! One without one of those fucking breath stealers! We need medicine! Salve! A blanket! Someone help me get her into the cart!" Her orders where heeded, the girls scrambling to do as she asked. It took time but finally Alexandra lay on a makeshift bed at last, her filthy clothing stripped and her body being wiped of blood, sweat and dirt. Rebecca applied the salve while Marie gave the Assassin the medicine.

When they finished Rebecca put another blanket on top of the bandaged girl. Praying Alexandra would wake up by the time they got to Rome. "Coming to Rome with us Rebecca?" Marie asked beside her. Rebecca's gaze remained on Alexandra though.

"Where Alex goes I go. She's like a sister to me."

A light laugh came from beside the red head.

"Yes, and she is very close to Master Ezio…"

Rebecca turned and raised her eye brow at Marie. "Then we should return her to him. She is his student after all."

Marie muttered a "that is not what I meant" but Rebecca tactfully ignored her; Alexandra's choice in men was not something she needed to know, it was private information, and unless the girl wanted to tell her then she would listen. Reaching out her long hand the red haired girl gently pushed back the hair that clung to Alexandra's sweat drenched face.

"Get well quick, Alex."