Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Assassin's Creed or anything associated with the series.

Author Notes: Thanks to those of you who have followed the story so far! Round of applause to you!

This is the introductory chapter to our historical fiction. During Evelina's and Adriano's time was the Sack of Rome. Research it if you wish. I might be putting up a separate story later with all of the notes I took about how this piece of history ties to the Apple. Maybe tie it back to Shaun and his driveling...dunno. It'll be interesting, though!

So here it is! Enjoy! And don't forget to give me an update on how I'm doing via reviews!

Il 6 Maggio 1527

"W-w… where am I?" the wounded Agile mumbled groggily as he awoke to a frightfully beautiful woman.

"On Earth. Thanks to your friend." Evelina marched through the door, moving behind the courtesan tending to Lucio's wounds. "Now before you become alarmed, start swinging fists, and spitting out ridiculous questions, I would like to remind you that you are unequipped and thankfully under-trained. So please, take a few deep breaths and acquaint yourself with your new home." She motioned to the surrounding walls.

Lucio looked up in shock.

Evelina spun on her heel and headed for the door, calling over her shoulder, "Oh and don't get to comfortable with Elisabetta. She bites."

"Signorina!"

Evelina laughed softly as she exited the room.

But on the inside, Evelina was anything but laughing. Worry and guilt filled her to the brim and while the Thieves, few Courtesans, and other Assassins kept her company, her mind was still focused entirely on the events that took place a week before. Who was that man? The man she so willingly killed, dying for his friend who was now lying in a bed belonging to one of the Thieves. And who was his friend? Father seemed to trust him least. Even though we had recruited more Assassins than ever before in the history of the Brotherhood, it still seemed like treachery to him. A Templar, and that's all he would ever be- he would say. Whether Evelina believed him still remained uncertain.

She parked herself on a barstool in the Thieves' Guild up in the hills, cleverly disguised as an inn. La Volpe Addormentato, it was called.

Hardly inconspicuous, Evelina thought to herself as she noticed the bartender waltzing up.

"Ah, Evelina. What will you be having?"

"Something numbing, please."

The thief sighed. "That's not for you, bella. What is wrong?"

Evelina shrugged. "Just the wave of guilt that is supposedly so normal." She turned her gaze to a drunken man, swinging about the tables and dancing to the flute player by the fireplace. Everyone was clapping along and tapping their feet. "It seems so simple here. Yet we all know what we're surrounded by."

The tender set a glass of water in front of her. "Then maybe you should join us some time."

The young Assassin choked out a laugh. "It'll take a lot more than water to join him." She turned back to the drunken man who had crashed to the floor with a loud thud. More cheers and clapping followed as a few built men took him to a bed upstairs, taking all of the money for the night's stay from his primero winnings.

Evelina laid her head on the bar and tried to think. What was she doing? Complaining? It had taken practice to adapt to this lifestyle, and while it proved difficult and dangerous, it was exactly what she wanted- more excitement. She wanted to feel the wind on her face, feel the brutal cruelties of the real world…and she was…she was.

But when she looked around, she saw happy faces and joyous dancing. Granted, they were all tipsy, but it made no difference. They knew the terrifying things going on outside these walls as much as she did.

When they were together, it didn't matter.

Like a family.

No, not a family. A Brotherhood.

Yes. That's what it was.

A Brotherhood.

Gasping, he sat up, panting. A nightmare. Most certainly it had been a nightmare. But when he looked around, he was not in the barracks. He was in a strange and unfamiliar environment. It was lavishly decorated with bold red curtains and blossoming flowers by his bedside. The floors were a dark mahogany, matching the dresser propped against the north wall. It was a lush and beautiful place to wake up to. Perhaps it wasn't a dream. Perhaps this was Heaven.

The door creaked open.

"Messer?"

A gorgeous woman peeked from around the door frame and turned her gaze to the waking man. She was dressed sweetly provocative, in a bright red and white lace dress. Her hair was dark and wound in tight buns on her head with a few curls drifting down her shoulders. Her silhouette in the doorway only made him question his state of being even more.

"Madonna… what is this place?"

"The Rosa in Fiore, Messer."

He looked around at the room. "Why am I here?"

The Courtesan glanced behind cautiously. "We found you. Not myself, but others. They brought you here and had a doctor tend to your wounds. You nearly died, Messer."

The man felt his chest and a realization of pain flooded him. Grunting, he sat back on his bed, holding his torso and staring down at the floor.

So it was real.

How was he alive?

The man ran his hand through his tousled auburn hair. He sighed looking back up at the lady in his doorway. "Grazie, Madonna. I'll be sure to also thank the ones who saved my life."

"Piacere mio, Messer. If you need anything, the girls and I are down the stairs." She began to step out the door.

"Aspetti! Who should I ask if I want answers?"

"The owner- Claudia, Messer."

"Grazie. And Madonna, per favore, call me Adriano."

Elisabetta came and sat next to Evelina by the bar. "His name is Lucio. He-..he's asking questions, Evelina. I don't know how to answer."

"Then don't."

"But he's asking about-…"

"Never mind it, Elisabetta. Time will tell him when it's good and ready."

The Courtesan paused. "Are you Time, Evelina? Because if you are, you'd better be ready soon. He's coming down the stairs. Well…limping…"

The Assassin sighed.

"Mi dispiace. I could not get him to lie down."

Suddenly, a Thief burst through the doors of the inn, eyes wide and sweat pouring from her face. The woman could not speak, let alone breathe. The entire room went silent as bystanders tried to calm her, asking her to take breaths.

When she had enough air, she stared straight at Evelina. "Tuo padre…" she gasped for more air, "Evelina, we are being attacked in the city…we need more recruits…"

Evelina stood and nodded to the Thief. "Va bene. Go and rest, amico."

The young Assassin knew that the imperial army was coming for the Apple. Her father had warned her about this and that was why he left Lucio in her care. But so soon? It must have been something else as well.

"I don't understand this…" Evelina muttered.

"It's Giulio de' Medici. The Pope. And his damn League of Cognac. No one tries to limit the power of Charles V! And yet the idiota decides to make an alliance between Florence, France, Milan, and Venice!" the bartender continued to rant as Evelina walked away. So Charles V was behind all of this?

"Messere, who is the commander?"

"The Duke of Bourbon. Stubborn bastardo. Him and his men. Be careful, piccolo."

Evelina turned around to the rest of the Thieves. "Gather your things! They need reinforcements! Spostare!" The other recruits scrambled around for their weapons and armor.

The Assassin headed for the back room to fetch her sword and throwing knives. When she returned, a pale and grim face glared at her from the stairs.

"I need answers," Lucio grunted.

"We all need answers."

With that, she flipped her cape behind her and raced out the door, Assassin recruits and Thieves tailing her from behind. Every thought that raced through her head was focused on her father. Was he alright?

Piacere mio – My pleasure

Aspetti! – Wait!

Mi dispiace – I'm sorry

Va bene – Okay

Piccolo – Little one

Spostare! – Move!