Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Assassin's Creed or anything associated with the series. I do, however, own Evelina, Adriano, Lucio, and any other characters you don't recognize from the series.

Author Notes: Aaaaand I'm late again. Been reading a lot about Egypt lately. I hope things get better soon. :( Egypt is such a fascinating country. Be safe over there!

Muchas gracias to DarkPhoenix1191 for the Author Fav and Anna Cahil for the reviews!

ANYWAY, here's the chapter! Enjoy! Reviewing is always appreciated. :)

Il Templar Vive

"Why are you helping me?" Lucio asked once again as he and Evelina walked towards the fields. It was nearing midnight in the Antico District of Roma and all that could be heard were the calls of the nocturnal and the soft whistle of the winds.

"I've told you, Lucio," she snapped impatiently. "We need your skills."

Lucio stopped in his tracks, forcing Evelina to halt. "But why do you trust me? Your father does not."

Evelina looked up at the sky and sighed. "I'm not my father."

Lucio cocked an eyebrow. "Even so, you trust me as no one as does. I don't understand."

The young Assassin felt a lump in her throat. She knew why she treated him this way- for the same reason she left her window open during the night. Guilt. As she looked into that dying Templar's eyes, she knew he had good intentions and he only wished the best of his friend. She would've done the same. But yet he still had to die. Evelina did not regret killing him, but all the same, she wished to grant the man's last wishes. May he rest in peace.

She gripped the amulet around her neck tightly as she brought herself back to reality. It was the only real thing to her now. It was all too real sometimes.

"We must begin our training. Let us set here. Begin with some sparring and then we'll move to some combat techniques you haven't covered."

The poor Agile was outmatched by a mile as Evelina's blade crossed his neck on several occasions. Their swords clanked and her voice was carried off by the wind as she instructed him on how his moves were erroneous. His stances were up to standard, but his impulsiveness made him susceptible to any unexpected attacks- which were used in all fights to break them and land one victorious. Defense was not his strong point.

Evelina relayed these thoughts to the trainee after they had practiced for a couple hours. He seemed to take the criticism well enough, explaining to her how his training was never proper. The only training he received was from sparring.

The Assassin took this in as they sat among the boulders. She then sat up and bent her head towards Lucio. "From what I've seen of you, we won't have much to work on. Who trained you in your techniques?"

The Aglie paused. "Adriano."

Evelina moved her gaze down to her boots, kicking up dirt of the same color with her heel. By the tone of his voice, she knew that this was the name of the man she had killed. "He was a good fighter, then," she mumbled.

"Too bad he never had the chance to prove it to you."

At this, the Assassin in her took over. She stood, unsheathing her sword and placing it at Lucio's throat. Her face grew hot and her fingers became numb, barely gripping the sword.

"Do it, if you so desire. Perhaps I will be of more use to God than una cagna like you!" Fire gleamed in his eyes as he spat words at his apparent captor and savior.

Evelina let her sword down from his neck. "Fetch your blade, Templar. Our training begins now."

He scowled as he paced over to where his sword lay in the grass. As he bent down to grab it, the cold metal of Evelina's sword flew to meet the air between his life and death. Lucio glanced up at her.

"I told you we begin now. When fetching a dispatched weapon, do not believe your opponent will wait for you. They want you dead as much as you want them. Be on guard and wait for the chance. It's similar to counter attacks…which we also need you to work on…" the Assassin muttered the last part under her breath.

She brought her blade from his neck, shouting, "Again, Lucio!"

When she disarmed him successfully, he dodged her swings until he could fire a kick to her stomach. He rolled to the side and swiped his sword just in time to meet it with hers.

"Very nice," she grunted, holding her stomach. Lucio laughed.

"How did you disarm me so quickly, Assassin?"

Evelina shrugged. "Quick hands. You need them if you're going to live with Theives. Especially you considering your attitude and… well, former league."

"Former league?" Lucio questioned, played with the tip of his sword.

"Templars."

"Oh, right… can you teach me your speed?" he asked, quickly switching the topic.

She laughed mockingly at the Agile. "One cannot teach speed. I can teach you techniques to make the moves less complicated, but I cannot teach you speed."

Lucio held his sword to hers and positioned his feet, one slightly behind the other. He smirked.

"Then let's begin."

The curtains swung slightly with each breeze that blew through the window. The room was dark and the door was closed, in some useless attempt to keep scent of sickly sweet perfume in the hall instead of Adriano's nose. The small gusts of wind were the only thing ventilating the room. It was enough. It was better than smelling the waters of Venezia. He had been there many times before and cringed at the thought.

Adriano lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. It was quite a bland sight. But that is what he needed. Something to fix his eyes on and think.

He chuckled to himself when he realized how much thinking he had been doing recently, seeing as it was the only thing to do. Others would possibly disagree- of course they would disagree. It was a whore house! But Adriano knew that Courtesans would distract him from what he really needed to concentrate on. Life choices needed to be made, not love- unfortunately.

Adriano heard a knock at his door.

"Entrare!" he called.

The door opened slowly to reveal the silhouette of what appeared to be a Courtesan. "Saluti, Messer."

He did not recognize this voice. Of course, he did not pay much attention to the voices of the women of the brothel but all the same…this one in particular seemed different.

Adriano sat up, holding his chest. "Who are you?"

She came to the foot of the bed where the moon shone on her face. She was beautiful, dark hair framing her soft face, but her expression was what worried him. She gripped the rail at the end of the bed.

"You're alive…"

Now Adriano felt uneasy. This woman was not from the Rosa in Fiore.

"Yes," he answered quickly. "But who are you?"

She glanced around the room, as if looking for eavesdroppers- which there clearly were none. "My name is Elisabetta. But that is unimportant. You're not supposed to be alive." Her eyes were wide as she back away from the bed.

At this, Adriano planted his feet onto the floor. "Who sent you here?" His tone was firm and demanding.

Elisabetta's shadow quivered. "No one! I heard rumors from the other girls that would come to help with the injured but… this cannot be possible!"

Adriano approached her, and she back away. He held out his hand as a sign of peace. "Please Elisabetta," he spoke calmly but urgently. "Where did you come from?"

She looked at the ground and then back up at Adriano. "I cannot tell you."

The Agile was frustrated. This woman was frightened out of her mind and would not speak a word to him.

He sighed and went to the window. His gaze focused on a lonely star in the night sky. "You're from where the Assassins reside, aren't you?"

He heard her swallow hard, but she remained silent.

"How is Lucio?" he continued.

"He is fine."

"Good."

A gust of wind flipped pieces of auburn hair in the Agile's face. He brushed them away with his hand.

"Messer?"

"My name is Adriano, Signorina."

"Um…Adriano, why are you staying here with Signora Claudia?"

Adriano turned to face Elisabetta, leaning against the window pane. "She trusts me."

The Courtesan cocked her head.

"If you wish to hear it from her, I'm nearly certain she is either in her room down the hall or down the stairs. Either way, she trusts me. And it's not like I'm able to go galloping off anyway," he explained, motioning to his bare, bandaged chest.

Adriano could barely see the girl frown. "I-…I'm sorry, Messer- er- Adriano. I must leave. The sun will be rising in a few hours and I wish not to be found outside my quarters. People will…um…worry, you know?" she stuttered as she skimmed the walls toward the door.

Adriano stepped forward. "You cannot tell the Assassins of my survival."

"I'm sorry, Messer but I must go…"

"Don't say a word. I can't let you say a word."

Fear crossed her face. "I must make my way home…"

Fed up, he grasped her shoulders- gently but with a jolt of energy. "Per favore, Signorina! Even Claudia has warned me to stay here for fear of my life and I too do not wish to die again. I was given a second chance, Elisabetta! By God, do not ruin that chance! What if they kill Lucio in response? He has done nothing!"

Elisabetta began to sob. "They will not kill him! Evelina is training him to be one of us! He will never be one of you again!"

She struggled against his grip. "One of me?"

"Yes! Your kind! Templars!" she squealed.

It almost burned to hear his former title. Or perhaps it still was his title? No.

He sighed. "I'm not who I used to be. Please. Don't tell them. I beg of you."

Adriano loosened his grip and let the girl go. She hesitated and then scooped up her skirts and dashed down the stairs, ignoring the chatter of the other Courtesans. He heard the front door slam.

There was no time.

He had to leave.

Tonight.

Una cagna- A bitch

Entrare!- Enter!