Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Assassin's Creed or anything associated with the series. However, I do own all of my OCs. :D

Author Notes: I already had this chapter typed up so I decided to post it just for the sake of having more material up. I hope you're enjoying the story so far. Be ready for the strange twist in the next chapter!

Reviews are always very very nice! )

Prima del Terremoto

The sun rose earlier than expected that day. The blinding rays shone through the windows, casting a glow on the waking girl. She embraced the warming light around her, sitting up and setting her blankets aside. Her delicate feet caressed the cold floor, sending shivers up her spine. Still she set them down and casted her shadow across the room until she reached the window. Opening it, she felt the cool breeze touch her warm face and its scent dance around her nose. It was refreshing, especially after the events in the night.

Oh. Her training. She suddenly remembered and rushed about her room wondering what you dress to train in. Giving up, she dashed into the bathroom to wash her face. To her surprise, she found a stack of clothing items that looked as though they had belonged to her brother. Shrugging, she slipped them on and, in a hurry, washed her face. She stepped over to her dresser to brush her hair. Grasping the brush tightly, she frantically slid it through her dark locks. She began to plait them, but gave up and tied them back. As late as she was, there had to be no time left.

Evelina grabbed the door knob just as she heard a knock. She cursed to herself before answering with a polite 'sì?'.

"Have haste, my dear. I would like to start as soon as possible," he father uttered through the door.

"Yes, Padre. I'm almost ready."

Evelina spun around, stole her amulet from her dresser and raced after her father.

The amulet was a gift from her grandmother Maria Auditore before she passed away. It was a beautiful trinket, with a braided pattern circling a crimson gem. The gem itself was something of a mystery to Evelina. The center of the gem contained some sort of symbol. It had the appearance of the upper case greek letter, Delta, but there was a curve along the bottom. The amulet was a very meaningful object to Evelina, but was still full of unknown elements. But after the night before, what was known could've been a lie as it was.

Adriano awoke to loud shouting and grumbles from beds next to his.

"Scendere il tuo culo! Ora!" he heard one of the Seekers shout at the other Agiles. They thought themselves more important than the Agiles simply because of their armor when the Agiles were the ones who could actually keep up with an Assassin.

But Adriano kept to himself. There was no need to fight among themselves, or draw attention to himself. That was the last thing he needed. Attention.

Adriano leapt from his bed, pulling on a cotton shirt. Whilst assembling the rest of his gear he turned to the Seeker throwing out orders, as if he were the tower captain.

"Enrico! What is wrong?"

Enrico came dangerously close to Adriano's face, his expression cold and unwavering. "Do I need an excuse, something wrong to spit on you?"

Pushing him back, Adriano muttered, "I wish not to start a fight. I was only asking."

Tossing his head back, the stuffy seeker looked back at his apparent underling. "It's another tower. Those bastardi set it ablaze with Captain Mancini still inside."

"I don't mean to be insensitive but…if the tower has already fallen…what more can we do?"

Enrico's face turned a fiery red. "WE GO AFTER THEM!" he yelled grabbing Adriano's shoulders and shaking him.

With a final shout of aggravation, he stomped off to scream at more Agiles who were still rolling in their beds.

"What fun, eh Adriano?"

Lucio, a friend of Adriano's, waltzed up to him, laughing.

"Oh, Lucio. Yes. I'm having the time of my life," he said, a grim smile crossing his tired face.

"Do not worry, friend. We'll win this war soon enough. Free nights with the courtesans and as many drinks as we can fill ourselves with, no?" Lucio patted Adriano on the back, a hearty laugh escaping his lips. "But for now, we must fight. Here's your blade. I picked it up when I found mine." He handed the light stiletto to Adriano. "Meet you outside." And Lucio was off.

All of this was most unsettling to Adriano. He flipped the dagger around in his hands. If Lucio's wishes came true, if the war would end and be won by the Templars… what would be of the Assassins? Perhaps he was not ready for this job. But Lucio was his friend; he would not do him wrong. Maybe he could persuade the young and ignorant Evelina to join them! But what fool would believe someone as obvious as him? Not even he was foolish enough to believe himself.

Adriano stepped outside into the blinding sun.

The training exercises came more difficult to Evelina than expected. Her lack of strength came as a nuisance to almost every stance, every move, and every combat technique. This annoyance needed to be corrected and the only way Evelina saw fit was to free run around the city- as often as her father would permit or never know. This would prove most useful in her upcoming training sessions.

Her assigned trainer when her father was away on business was a nice boy about her age. He taught her many basic stances and combat techniques but her father knew so many more. Soon she was ready for sword-play, then work with daggers, then throwing knives and crossbow action. Finally after out-mastering her trainer, she met with her father in his office.

"Saluti, Evelina," her father said as she shut the door behind her.

"Have I done you wrong, Padre?" she asked as she sat in the wooden chair in front of him.

"No no. It's something else. Though I have found out about your adventures through the city while I've been away." Evelina felt an uneasy feeling in her stomach. "But enough of that. Your escapades have proven useful in your training and I believe you are ready for your final course." The feeling in her stomach was replaced by an unwavering excitement. Signore Auditore pulled a strange object wrapped in parchment out of his desk. Revealing the object, Evelina's eyes grew wide.

"Do you know what this is, mia figlia?" He smiled at her knowingly.

"Of course. It's the strange weapon from the armory."

He held it out to her and she took it gratefully.

"But…why are you letting me use this, Padre? It seemed so special to you," she murmured turning the apparatus around in her hands, admiring it once again.

"I'm not letting you use this, Evelina. I'm letting you have this."

She stared down at the hidden blade, barely able to breathe. It was a prized possession of the Auditore family, she found out from her trainer. It was crafted so beautifully, without a single flaw. Leonardo da Vinci remodeled it especially for her father using some sort of outline created long before her or her father's time. The blade has seen passion in both victory and loss. And with this last piece of training, she knew she would see the same.

"But…am I ready?"

"Yes."

"I can't believe we have to go through these exercises again!" Lucio complained under his breath.

Adriano chuckled, examining the edge of his blade. He would need to clean it soon. It was beginning to get a bit…disgusting. Crusting blood on the edges and a layer of dust covered the entire stiletto. The young Agile twirled the stiletto in his hand. "Agreed."

They sparred for a while until they decided to go for a free running exercise. With the permission of the over-seer, they ran for the rooftops of Roma. Leaping over ledges and catching themselves with the mere strength of their grasp. Overlooking Roma, they could see the different people as blurs under them. It was the thrill of the chase that kept them going. This was why they were here. Or was it?

Diving for the flagpole, Adriano spun around, landing on a haystack. Lucio landed beside him. "Quite a run, eh Adriano?"

He sat up. "Barely a run, Lucio. A mere walk in the square." They laughed.

"Of course, master of the sky." Lucio coughed out a laugh but directed his gaze past Adriano. "Look at that beauty."

Adriano turned around to stare at the courtesan gazing back at him. "She is… alright."

Lucio turned to him, shock spread across his face. "You do not believe she is beautiful?"

The Agile shrugged. "She is simply not my type. Calm yourself. I said she was alright!" Adriano laughed.

Lucio looked back at the courtesan, ignoring him completely. "I want to try and fetch Bella."

Adriano smirked at his friend. "You go on ahead. I will continue 'sky mastering', hm?"

"Oh, Adriano. Speaking of beautiful women, Evelina Auditore is said to have started her training as an Assassin, possibly even has finished by now. Or so the spies have informed us." The young lustful boy's heart sank, but he made sure not to show it through his face. "So watch yourself, amico. Even the beautiful can be dangerous," Lucio shouted as he ran humorously toward the courtesan. But even this did not bring a smile to Adriano. Evelina Auditore was now his enemy.

Flooded with emotion, he climbed to the top of the highest church tower. He sat at the very tip looking over the city- for nothing in particular. Just waiting for time to pass and… and… well… Nothing.

Scendere il tuo culo! Ora! – Get off your ass! Now!

Bastardi – Bastards

Saluti – Hello

Mia figlia – My daughter

Bella - Beautiful