So, everybody! it has been a loooong time, hasn't it? I AM SO SORRY! I really am! Actually this chapter has been finished for quite some time, but my beta-reader has been quite busy lately, so now, after some time I desided that I would give it to you, but this means that it is a unbeta-version, sorry for all the spelling/grammar-mistakes, but I am not perfect in english!

This chapter is in two parts, so next chapter will also be named "When Nightmare becomres reality" - I hope you enjoy and can see away from all the mistakes :)

And thank you for all the favs and reviews! I must say, everytime somebody take their time to write what they think, it warms my heart, and gives me more motivation to write on this story! So thanks you, everybody! :D


Chapter 7

When nightmare becomes reality

part 1

It felt like an eternity, lying in this bed, not doing anything at all. It got me frustrated, sighing countless of times, while my arms sometimes would fall down on the bed after being in the air in short moments. Damn this was so boring, I felt like I would corroded away. Another sigh left my mouth, making its boring way through the air. Of course the rest of the house had noticed my absence during the day after my little accident, Giovanni, however, had just answered their questions with his little white lie that I had been out for a small work accident, and soon would be back on my feet again. Well, that was an exaggeration.

On the fifth day I was still laying in bed, too excitable to be trapped in my soft, comfortable blankets anymore. I had happily got some visitors in those days, so I hadn't been all alone, and Annetta came every day with food to me, making sure that my bandage was clean and that I myself was comfortable. But this was getting to boring, I would rather scrub the whole floor then lying here anymore. The only one I actually hadn't seen of the family was Ezio, which got me to think that maybe he thought that this was his fault?

In the days I had been lying here, my anger on him had dulled, in the start it was the only thing I really could think about, but that was more because I was bored to hell. He was only a young boy, and drunk too at that time, of cause that just made the whole thing explored in him… I guess. So next time I saw him I would get this thing out of the world, which was what I decided on.

Seconds got minutes which became hours and suddenly two more days had gone by in a slow speed. Today, that would be the day that I finally would be out of this bed, this room. It was suddenly scary that I knew the numbers of dots in the ceiling, but now I didn't have to count them again, and I surely couldn't find new ones anymore or more crazy patterns in the wood. Annetta had brought me a new dress, since the old one needed to be sewn and fixed before I could use it again. This time the dress was a matt, dark, pinkish red colored.

Stepping out from the room was like a dream. I took a deep breath and then I began my way down to the hall that connected the rest of the palazzo and had its entrance to the outside world there. I caught Annetta in the kitchen, which was filled with a delicious smell that caressed my nostrils and made my teeth watering.

"What are you making?" I looked over the pots that stood over the fire, whishing that I could get some of this, God that tasty smell; I could almost taste it in my mouth. Annetta smiled when she saw me, saw how affected I was by the smell of her food.

"Something I'm sure you would like" She answered not looking at me, but just stirred in another pot as if that one was more interesting than me. I looked at her when she didn't reveled what it was.

"So secretive you are! Oh well, something I can help with?" I asked with a big vigorous smile and life full eyes. She giggled a little by my expression and nodded a little one.

"Can you go to the market and buy me some apples? I'm going to make dessert today" Surprised I was, dessert even.

"Are we celebrating something?" I asked in wondering as I began to walk over the wall were a basket was hanging, than looking at Annetta when she answered me.

"Well, I'm not sure, but Giovanni sounded happy when he asked me to make a dessert today" I lifted an eyebrow shortly but just shook with my head, making my eyebrow fall down to its naturally place and began to open the door. "Well, I will be going now, see you" I waved brief and out I was.

"Heeello world, miss me?" I asked as if the surroundings would answer me back, well not in a loud voice but I guess I got a few glares by nearby people, but oh whatever, I was finally free from my prisoner of a bed, and now outside in the fresh air, with lots of other people. It was a surprise that I could hold the desire to dance around back.

"Oh Oria! You're finally out!" I looked surprised as if the world actually had answered back, but I soon saw in the direction the voice had come from, and there I found Federico walking towards me with a pleased smile.

"Federico!" I bust out in surprise, really happy to see him.

"So what have you been up to now?" I asked while a smile took form on my lips as I took some few steps closer towards him.

"Oh, well, the usual" A brow rose on my forehead and my arms took a folded formation.

"The usual? Like what? Getting laid?" I teased and giggled a little afterwards, knowing him, he wasn't much better than Ezio, but he did have another style regarding ladies. He shook laughing with his head and couldn't hide his teeth filled smile as his hands took a hold at his hips.

"Such language young lady" He japed as he pointed a finger at me in a very determined way, but I couldn't really hold my masked and just giggled a lot – I was way too hyper.

"Haha, you know me! I say what I please!"

"I know" He laughed.

"So where are you going? Doing chores?" I nodded swiftly as answer.

"Yeah, so I should be going"

"Then let me accompany you for a little while, I'm going in the same direction after all" he smiled and showed me the way. We began to walk steady down the road.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"It seems like my younger brother is going to enjoy himself with beating the living life out of Vieri's men, so I will just be a good big brother and look out for him" He had too must amusement in his voice to be taken serious, but I couldn't hold my surprise back and a little worrying got me in.

"Don't worry, it's Ezio we are talking about, I have taught him well how to defend himself, sometimes it's like he is better than me, but of course that is not the case" He had seen my worrying face. He got me to smile again, it was nice to feel the friendliness, and a warm feeling buzzed in me.

"Well, now, bello (beautiful), I will have to go that way."

We made our goodbyes, and took our own ways after this, I didn't see him before night fall, and I didn't even get to see Ezio that day. A slightly disappointed feeling had make it ways through, but also a soothing feeling was in me, something in me was not yet ready to face him.

"To be yawing when you're already accustomed to be up this early, will you ever learn?" I glared out from the edge of my eyes on Annetta, I knew the last thing she said was more to herself than to me, but it was loud enough for me to hear it. Damn, why could I never really get used to get early up?

"So sorry." I said though it was an ironic voice.

"Uh, getting cocky are we" She teased, I just shut up after that, too tired to do this, I might have end up saying something really stupid, which I had a tendency to do. I was actually quite spirited yesterday, what had happened to all my energy? Argh enough.

"Oh, have you seen the young master?"

"Ezio? No I haven't. Why would I?" I asked wondering, it was still early, so he would probably still be sleeping, but when I thought about it, he hadn't been there at all when the dinner was served yesterday and his plate hadn't been used. So he wasn't even home, but then again the same thing happened with Federico, but I saw him later in that evening.

"Well, you just seem to have a good relation with the young masters, so I thought-"
"You thought that I would know where they were every hour of the day? Haha, no, I don't. Those guys aren't to get wise on" It suddenly hit me; Annetta was asking me about the boys… me. She should be the one to know them best.

"Haha, they are just young boys, he is probably with Christina, now that I think about it" My brow raised itself a little as I looked at her.

"Probably. What does their father say to this? That they are laying with so many women?" She saw surprised at me, as if it was not a thing a woman should ask, but then she just shrugged.

"Who knows, my job is not to know everything inside this palazzo."

"I see" I said while walking out the door with my arms full of plates ready to make the morning table.

Ezio hadn't been at the morning table, and for some reason I didn't like it, it wasn't the first time it had happened, but maybe my restlessness was due to that fact that I still hadn't made up with him. I took myself in just standing still, getting more and more away in my thought, and with a fast moment I slapped my hands against my cheeks as to wake myself up.

Damn Oria, pull yourself together.

It wasn't that late yet, still morning. It was at that time I heard Giovanni's voice outside. He was speaking rather loud one moment. I couldn't resist stopping at the window to look outside. It was Ezio. It was weird to see him again. It had been so long since I last saw him. The last time was when he had tried to make a move on me.

If I concentrated enough I could actually hear some of the words he was saying… Ezio had been with Christina and made a mess when getting away. Suddenly Giovanni's voice got much more calm and enjoyable. Men. I sighed and began to walk away, like father like son I see. All big players when young and unmarried.

Later that day Maria had asked me to get her some flowers at a nearby shop, glad to be so much outside I had gone immediately. So after getting the money I was off to the street. This time I took my time, not really wanting to hast through the city I made my way in my own comfortable speed. My eyes locked on a little group of playing children, and my thought wandered on a little sore spot – My past. How had my past actually been like? Had I siblings? How were my parents? Were we rich or poor? Were they even alive? I felt a slightly head killing pain as I thought through the things, stopping me from thinking anymore about it. An unknowing sadness was beginning to spread through the inside of me.

I left a huge sighed and took a deep breath. I felt sadness when thinking about stuff like that, so I decided not to think much about it. I came to an open space area. It was very familiar but just like me I couldn't remember the name of it. I felt a mental face palm inside me. A church and a big tower standing beside it filled the middle of the big space. A few men were standing beside the tower, and I could immediately recognize them as Veri de Pazzi's men. Should I go another way? Hell no, I have nothing to do with them. It's only Ezio that fool, who has a problem with them!

With that settled I tried my best walking with as much pride as I had, trying forgetting what had happened last time I was chased by them, making me yet again think about Ezio. He certainly did occupy my thoughts much more than to my liking. In the distance I could finally see a florist. Making my way through the crowd I was more than already certain which flowers I would be buying.

That was when I heard loud noises separating from the crowd itself. People was fast getting away from there, or making a lot of a distance to whatever was happening. I turned to see only to get surprised.

SMACK.

My eyes widen in shock. It was Ezio hitting… Duccio. I found myself dumbfound for a minute or two, before realizing what was going on. Forgetting all about the flowers I began to close the distance between them and me. I could hear on Ezios voice that he was angry, but the reason to let this anger go out on Duccio I had yet to understand. I felt like I should interrupt but that was until I understood why Ezio was angry, why he now was hitting Duccio.

So the bastard had been cheating on Claudia, feeling a little angry on the inside, I could feel how relived I was for every punch Ezio made. Maybe I was a little violent. Would normal young women really feel glad about somebody getting punched? - I guess not.

Ezio finished Duccio after his nose said a loud knack and blood was fussing out and with the last angry words Ezio left in a hurry, not seeing me in the crowd. Well maybe that was for the best. After I had turned my attention to the florist, brought the flowers I wanted, I began to walk home again.

Later in the afternoon it was time to entertain the little Petruccio. But when I entered the room, I only found an empty bed. I looked a little surprised around.

"Petruccio? Hey where are you?" But no one answered back, there were only me in the room making me a little nervous about the whereabouts of the little one. I peeked outside in the corridor, but as I expected I found neither him nor anybody else. Great, what now?

I decided not to yell in the whole palazzo, I would probably just making the whole situation much worse than it already was, so as I walked around I only let a little out of my voice. At the end of my search, I was standing before the big staircase in the hall. My search had been absolutely fruitless on the upper floors which had driven me down on the first floor. But when I began thinking about him, I suddenly on instinct made my way outside. I was relived, really relived when I saw him standing outside the front gate looking at something.

"Petruccio! What are you doing outside?" I asked calm as I walked closer. He looked surprised at me but just smiled in return.

"I'm waiting for my brother" My face turned a little wondering over this, waiting?

"On who?"

"Ezio!" he replied with a trend of sweetness in his voice, but this time he pointed onto the roof of the building in front of us, I looked as I puzzled a little over this. But just as he had said I saw Ezio hopping around doing something.

"What is he doing?" I looked yet again on Petruccio, I couldn't make any sense on this behavior, so it was much easier asking than trying to figure it out on my own.

"He is collecting feathers to me"

"Aaalrigh, but if I know him right, he wouldn't leave you without making sure you would go inside again, so off you go, come on" I said smiling as I took a hold of his shoulder in a gentle touch. He began to pout a little, but did as I told him to do. I giggled a little by his small face, but just shook my head as he ran inside again, leaving me behind but I felt a little discomfort by the fact that he couldn't go outside as so many other boys at his age. I sighed yet again that day but just as I was supposed to take the first step inside I heard how a bump was made close by and a little fainting breath took shape, as if somebody had ran.

I looked a little behind and saw Ezio coming through a small crowd with fine eagle feathers in his hand. Well he was a good big brother I supposed, but I began to feel a little discontent seeing him coming closer and my thought came onto the past where he had tried his moves on me. Of cause I wanted to be reasonable but a place inside me was still a little mad.

"So you can also be a caring brother and not just a lady killer, refreshing" I blurt out as he walked closer, I felt like a stone dropping down the ocean. His face stiff a little but just smiled a little in response as if he didn't really know what to say or make as an excuse from my unfriendliness. It was at that moment I suddenly realized something new was added to his face, a scar over his lip. When did that happen?

"I can see that you're alright now" He just said ending up in front of me.

"Well, it certainly has been some days since my little 'work accident'."

"Oria, I think we need to talk" He saw at me with a serious face but the voice was mild yet strong, it had been such a long time since I had heard his voice. I just nodded a little and with that we headed towards the door, but the moment we were at the atrium, Ezio was at the start of his new sentence, his name could be heard as a yell from inside. He looked a little surprised and a tad irritated.

"It's alright, we can talk later, give me the feathers and I will give them to Petruccio" I smiled while I raised my hand to receive the feathers. Ezio just nodded and gave me the feathers and then made his way towards his dad's office. I stood still a little before I made my way to Petruccio's room.

I knocked on the door before stepping in. Petruccio looked anticipating at me as I walked closer to him and finally handed the feathers to him.

"Here you go" I said laying them in his hands and getting a small stool that was standing near the bed. Petruccio smiled, thanked me and got a chest up from under the bed where he put the feathers in. I just looked a little at him, seeing how happy he was made me calm.

"So what are you going to use them for?" I asked a little interested. He just giggled and made a charming smile.

"It's a secret."

Well that made me only more curious, but I knew him, once setting his mind on something there was no going back, so I took his answered for the time being.

"Oria I have been thinking…" I raised my brows in question.

"Hmm?"

"Are you not really good with knives and such?" He took me aback by that.

"Huh? What do you mean? Sure I'm not a master in cooking, but I'm better at using knives than Annetta."

"I see, well, it's just that your hands are rather scarred for a girl and a servant" He looked a little concerned about this, which made me smile a little as a giggle left me.

"Oh, yeah, well I have had these as long as I can remember. Well there are probably some few new among them, but other than that, they are exactly as I can remember them" I looked down at my hands. Sure they didn't look like a noble lady hands, but they wasn't that bad. Well my hands weren't the only ones that were scarred, but only I knew of that. Of cause it wasn't something that you would see at first, these light colored scares.

"So, for today what do you want to do?" I asked changing the topic of our conversation.

"A story!" He said with a brisk voice and a big smirk.

Before I knew it time had fly by in such hurry and an hour or so had gone by. The time with Petruccio was over for now and I had some free time right now, before I had to help Annetta with dinner. The day hadn't been that much of a difference than the others… that was until some uninvited guests suddenly felt like they had to come.

As I was near the stairs I could hear loud voices, a lot of unfamiliar voices. Hoarse, sharp ones that made my hair stiffen and rise all over my body. I didn't like this. What I saw was a lot of guards invading the Palazzo, using violent forces and fighting with Giovanni and Federico.

What the hell is going on? I thought, I barely made any noise before Federico saw me.

"ORIA! Take Petruccio and get out of here" It was a shock suddenly hearing my own name in this situation, I only nodded a little half hearted and turned around as fast as my body could, but Federico's suddenly yelling had made the guards aware of me. Though I just ran on the hallway, I could hear the metal that jingled as a guard behind me ran after me.

In this speed I suddenly seized an object, long a woody that was standing up against the wall. I looked a little behind me seeing how the guard was getting closer and closer, I thought that a normal thing for a lady in this situation would have been screaming, just that, I didn't, I got irritated. Petruccio's door came in sight, and as I was at it I forced the door up with a big bang and turned around in the same moment as the guard came. I hadn't time to look at Petruccio reacting on this I just held the woody object in the air above my head. And as the guard was there ready with his sword the object I held, a broom, raced down towards his face, hitting him hard making him fall down to the ground, the broom knack with a loud noise, a second after or so I let go of the broom.

"O-Oria?" Petruccio asked worried but also a little frighten. I looked back at him a little stunned over my action but also a little lost for breath.

"No time to questions, we have to go NOW" I was fast over by his side, taking him out from the bed. Luckily he had normal day-clothes on, ready to be out on the streets. I took him by his hand and sat the course towards the door and out on the hallway, but before that I took the guards sword, not knowing why, but I just knew that a guard without his weapon wasn't as dangerous as one with one.